Branddecant’s previous post introduced the Top 10 fresh forest fragrances. In short, these fragrances represent “fresh forests.” This week, we will continue to refine this topic by exploring the other side of fresh forests—primal, wild, and dense forests.
What’s the Allure of Dense Forest Perfume?
A fresh forest is like an idyllic paradise, a fairytale realm where everything is lush and the air is crisp, a place where princesses and princes live happily ever after. However, real forests are far from this ideal. They are often filled with mud, decaying vegetation, and fallen leaves, with complex scents lingering in the air. These scents can be wild, dark, and unlike any conventional perfume. They are real, and a mere whiff can transport us to another world—a real, unspoiled forest.
A true forest is complex, and forest fragrances are not just about woody notes. They represent complexity and wildness, with more pronounced layers of scent. A forest fragrance typically needs several elements to create the feeling of a forest.
What elements can create a true forest feeling?
- Woods & Green Leaves: Woody or green leaf elements are the core of forest fragrances, the most basic elements. Without them, we cannot associate the scent with a forest.
- Herbs: Compared to green leaf elements, herbs add a spicy feeling, giving an impression of raw, unrefined nature.
- Earth: Earth is a crucial element in a primal forest. Its presence immediately adds weight and wildness to the fragrance. Patchouli is the most commonly used ingredient, with a distinct earthy scent.
- Moss: Moss usually plays a supporting role, pairing well with woody or green leaf notes, adding a moist forest impression. The most common ingredient is oakmoss.
- Resins: Resins are naturally exuded by trees and are an inevitable scent in forests. Their use in fragrances naturally enhances the forest feel.
- Spices: Spices are typically made from dried plant seeds, fruits, roots, or bark, with natural spicy aromas that help to present the wildness of a primal forest.
Branddecant has summarized the 10 most representative wild forest fragrances. Each has a magical quality, like a portal, instantly transporting you to a real forest.
Lalique Encre Noire
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Transport Location: The Muddy Forest in Night Rain
Amidst the thunder and lightning of a heavy downpour, the scent of the dark forest emerges. The aroma is slightly bitter, with a very distinctive profile of damp earth, accompanied by the rich scent of plant roots. It evokes the sensation of running through a forest in the rain, where the air is filled with the aroma of muddy soil mingled with greenery. This feeling is incredibly vivid, making you almost feel the raindrops on your face. As the fragrance settles, it transforms into the ambiance of a wooden cabin in the woods. The sky is darkening, and an elegant black piano plays a melancholic melody. The haunting piano notes blend with the sound of rain outside, creating a somber moment.
Vetiver is a multifaceted ingredient, classified as a woody note with citrus-like nuances and damp earthiness. High-quality vetiver can be quite expensive, which naturally drives up the prices of vetiver-based fragrances. However, Encre Noire stands out as an exception—it not only boasts high quality but also comes at an affordable price, making it undoubtedly the king of cost-effectiveness among vetiver fragrances. Due to its increasing popularity, counterfeit versions have started circulating in the market, a rarity in the niche perfume sector.
Chanel Sycomore
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Transport Location: Winter Forest & Bonfire
Sycomore is often compared to Encre Noire, as both are vetiver-themed fragrances with some similarities in scent; however, their evoked imagery is entirely different. While Encre Noire embodies a damp forest, Sycomore represents a dry and scorching woodland. The fragrance envelops you like sitting by a bonfire, where the dry scent of vetiver wafts through the air along with the embers. After the initial warmth dissipates, it gradually transforms into a clean and dry woody aroma, reminiscent of a winter forest stripped of vegetation, where the greenery has long since faded, leaving only bare branches. Yet, the forest appears purified, retaining only the essence of the wood. In the distance, it seems someone is tending a bonfire, and a faint smokiness lingers in the air. In 2016, Chanel made subtle revisions to Sycomore, upgrading it from EDT to EDP. The smokiness was reduced slightly while enhancing the sweetness of the tonka bean, although these changes were minimal overall.
Guerlain Vetiver
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Transport Location: Deep in the Dim Forest
This Forest Perfume primarily combines vetiver, tobacco, and oakmoss, resulting in a dry and cold scent profile. The dominant vetiver provides a woody aroma with a hint of earthiness. The addition of tobacco creates a spicy, smoky element, adding dryness to the overall scent. Oakmoss contributes a dark and cool undertone, reminiscent of stepping deep into the forest, where towering trees block out the sunlight, leaving the surroundings dimly lit, with moss thriving on the trunks. In this dark, deep part of the forest, the vegetation has evolved and regrown over the years, emitting scents of decaying leaves and leather, with a touch of profound bitterness.
Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles
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Transport Location: A Pine Forest in Autumn
This Forest Perfume is not at all “girlish” but is more suitably described as witch-like. Thanks to the myrrh, it exudes a medicinal bitterness, rich and deep. The layers of the “Pine Forest Girl” scent are quite complex, revealing numerous aromatic elements: bay laurel, amber, spices, and the unique aroma of pine needles. Combined with herbal and natural scents, it feels like walking through a pine forest in autumn, where the vibrant greens of summer have faded into a palette of yellow and brown. The resin has long since solidified on the branches, filling the air with the scents of dried fruit and leaves, with scattered fruit emitting a sweet and sour aroma—an olfactory portrait that is unique to the pine forest in autumn.
Miller Harris Terre de Bois
Location Transported: Untouched Primal Forest
Just from its name, “Terre de Bois” (Forest Earth), you might expect a woody fragrance, but true forest scent is more about vegetation, raw earth, spicy moss, and humid air. Terre de Bois is a true representation of the natural forest, where layers of vegetation have created thick moss over millennia. Unlike other perfumes that are heavily polished, this one remains raw and intense, possibly making some abandon it at first sniff, mistaking it for a medicinal concoction. However, if you’ve experienced a real forest, you’ll appreciate it, feeling the freshness of the woods and the cold earth beneath your feet. Smelling it, you escape the city and journey to an untouched forest.
CB I Hate Perfume Wild Hunt
Location Transported: Mossy and Fungus-filled Forest
At first sniff, you immediately get a whiff of damp earth, evoking the depth of a forest. The moss combined with the intense green of the leaves creates a robust and chilly aroma, reminiscent of a cold autumn air that makes you shiver, painting a harsh portrait of the forest. Exploring deeper, you detect the scent of fungi, thanks to the inclusion of porcini mushrooms. This addition is not only intriguing but also enhances the primal forest feel. The fragrance brings to mind a mix of yellow and green, like an easy outdoor adventure.
Tom Ford Italian Cypress
Location Transported: Stream in a Forest
Italian Cypress evokes a green forest with a flowing stream, where the moss-covered stones by the creek come to mind. Unlike other woody forest scents, this perfume’s main note is moss, creating a portrayal of a damp, cold, and serene forest where the leaves perpetually block out the sun. The dense foliage gives off a slightly spicy green scent, and the moss on the tree trunks emits a potent aroma. With further exploration, you can catch a tangy citrus note, adding a refreshing moistness to the already humid air.
Serge Lutens Chene
Location Transported: Autumn Forest with Fallen Leaves
Oak and birch combine to create a dry woody scent with a hint of coldness, akin to an autumn forest where all the trees have turned yellow, shedding their green and exuding a dry woody aroma. The fallen leaves blanket the earth, starting their journey of decay. Among these wood scents, there are hints of resin and beeswax, which add a slight sweetness. Over time, these resins feel heavy and somber. Interestingly, there’s a whiff of rum in the wind, bringing a mildly intoxicating feel, with hints of spices, capturing the wildness of a primal forest.
Nasomatto Hindu Grass
Location Transported: Gentle Primal Forest
Although named “Hindu Grass,” this fragrance centers around patchouli, with the grass acting as a supporting element. Most people are familiar with patchouli’s bitter medicinal scent, which is strong enough to dominate any blend. However, in this perfume, the patchouli takes on an unusually gentle demeanor, almost hypnotizing with its soft power. Despite this gentleness, it remains strong, like a hand in a velvet glove. The grass scent is faint, only peeking through intermittently. This maternal patchouli contrasts with its inherent wildness, creating a unique combination akin to a Middle-earth elven archer: delicate and gentle in appearance, yet exuding natural and primal energy, with a soft power capable of deadly precision.
Conclusion
Dense forest perfume captures the essence of primal, untamed nature. They transport us to the depths of ancient woods, where the air is thick with the scent of moss, damp earth, and resin. These fragrances evoke a sense of mystery and adventure, blending woody, herbal, and spicy notes to create a rich and layered olfactory experience. Embrace these complex and wild scents to experience the true allure of dense forest perfume.