While the olfactory industry is in no shortage of nature-inspired fragrances, convention typically sees noses and perfume houses look to the usual suspects: flower gardens, fields of grass, and naturally, the Mediterranean. However, a new breed of fragrances have looked towards atypical forms of nature for inspiration. Think Aesop Miraceti, inspired by seafaring adventures; Heretic Parfum Dirty Hinoki, forest-bathing in olfactory form; or Creed Silver Mountain Water which draws from the crispness of fresh mountain air.
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An apt fit amongst these more rugged nature-inspired scents is British fragrance house Jo Malone London’s latest limited-edition Scottish Highlands collection.
“Often, when we think of the British countryside, we think of something that’s a bit more orderly, a bit more groomed,” says Céline Roux, global head of fragrance development at Jo Malone London. “But with the Scottish Highlands, nature runs wild in such a dramatic way. We really wanted to embrace this with this collection. The idea that however much you may try to control nature, when left to its own devices it just takes over.”
Redolent of the untamed beauty of the region, the quartet of new releases seeks to bottle the misty moors, reclaimed castles, mysterious lochs, and heather-clad hills of the Highlands. Co-created by perfumers Anne Flipo, Marie Salamagne, and Yann Vasnier, the scents represent a romantic take on the rugged landscape.
Melancholy Thistle
A unisex scent, Melancholy Thistle is bold and bright, with perfumer Anne Flipo referencing thistle and honeysuckle growing in the cracks of a long-abandoned castle. Woody and green, it sees thistle meet the herbal, verdant notes of English ivy with patchouli for earthiness and coolwood to recall the smell of moss on wet stone. Its fresh, green notes lend it to layering, with Melancholy Thistle able to be paired with the other three fragrances in the collection; our favourite is alongside the equally fresh Wild Achillea.
Highland Heather
With Scotland’s national flower at its heart, Highland Heather sees Marie Salamagne create a woody, floral cocktail of heather, cypress, vetiver, and amber, with a hint of lavender. “I was fascinated by how heather turns whole hillsides purple when in bloom, attracting bees that make the most prized honey,” she notes.
Mallow On The Moor
Soft, sweet, and powdery, Mallow On The Moor draws inspiration from purple mallow flowers. “To retain a sense of petaly freshness in the top, we used violet leaves to keep things green and fresh,” explains Yann Vasiner. “In the heart, we worked around orris and heliotrope for softness and, in the base, we blended exclusive roasted oak to represent the earthy, peaty textures of the moors.” A quaint, comforting scent for winter.
Wild Achillea
First present in the Jo Malone London Wild Flowers & Weeds collection, Wild Achillea makes a triumphant return. Yellow achillea flowers are combined with bright bergamot and neroli, stinging nettle, soft waterlily, and a comforting base of white musk to create a scent that’s equal parts fresh and enticing. The addition of nettle adds an unexpected ‘sting’ upon first spritz, making it the ideal atypical spring or summer scent.
The limited-edition Scottish Highlands collection is priced at $120AUD (30ml) and is available via the Jo Malone London webstore.
Words by Arabella Johnson
