New Fragrance Review: Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes Woodcut + A Message in a Bottle Draw

Madrone  tree live and dead

Madrone Trees Live and dead photo Dr Ellen Covey

Dr. Ellen Covey of Olympic Orchids, a Seattle-based artisan perfume company has just released Woodcut. A perfumed call to arms, an anthem for the awareness of deforestation on national and global levels. “Ecology and natural perfumery go hand in hand. As a perfumer who uses a lot of natural materials, I like to know how they are obtained, and try to avoid ones that are endangered or clearly being over-harvested in the wild.” Dr. Covey goes on to explain the inspiration behind the ecological manifesto, “We live in an area where there's a lot of new development and clear cutting of old growth trees, so I'm constantly reminded of how quickly the natural environment is being destroyed. The Pacific Northwest is one of the areas where there is still quite a bit of intact land in its natural state, so I think many people here are highly aware that the environment needs to be respected and protected. Unfortunately, not everyone feels this way.”

the-wood-sawyers-1852 jean francois millet

The Wood Sawyers Jean-François Millet

Bracing and enveloping, the opening is exactly what one might expect from an eco-themed perfume: instantly recognizable shavings of cedarwood. Quickly joined by a beautiful pine distillate- the woods are warm, with an appearance of resin heated by the spinning saw blades. A caramel laced burnt sugar note provides the olfactive hallucination of heated bark and smokey pitch as logs are cut, piled and left to sit in aromatic forest piles. Dr. Covey has suggested the scent is like life essence spilled on the ground- a fitting description for the liquid rests on the skin, stained with sugar coated cedars is as beautiful in its insistent longevity as it is in the urgency of its message.

vanilla orchid

Vanilla Orchid II painting for sale by Helen Klebesdal who is best known for environmental and women centered watercolors

Radical in its seeming simplicity, Woodcut marries the majesty of cedar and pine with the gourmand coziness of vanilla as poetry only Olympic Orchids could recite. Orchids play well with Ellen and it shows- this is the most exquisite vanilla I have ever inhaled. Woodcut is also radical in its approachability– art which invites everyone to engage in its message; at once alarming in theory and appeasing in application. Approximately 80% natural, Woodcut captures a perfect balance between natural raw material honesty with the science of modern perfumery. Metaphor for the need to artificially manage and regrow forests- both the natural world and the science of forestry working together to benefit all.

wood forest  perfume bottle

Painting Wood Bottle Sergei Kostarev

So is this wooden sweetness a harbinger of a world deforested, without the lungs of trees we need to be able breath? A beauty which belies the horror of what we are slowly doing to ourselves? Dr. Covey suggests, “The message should be of both warning and hope. One can only hope that the warning will be heeded. If not, the world is in for a major crisis.” Certainly the perfume itself suggests there is harmony to be found between the needs of the forest and the needs of humanity. My message to you; if you are a fan of wood fragrances you should experience Woodcut, as it is a worthy addition to any perfume collection.

Notes: Fractional distillations of pine and cedar, oakwood absolute, tolu balsam, olibanum, caramel, burnt sugar, vanilla.

Disclosure: I received my sample from Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes

Einsof, Natural Perfumes and West Coast Contributor

Woodcut olympic orchids artisan

Thanks to Dr. Ellen Covey we have a world wide draw as follows: For our USA readers we have  a 30 ml edp spray of WoodCut and for our International readers we have a 5 ml travel spray. To be eligible please  leave a comment with what appealed to you in Einsof's review,where you live and if you have a favorite Olympic Orchids Perfume. Draw closes 12/25/2014.

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume

 

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26 comments

  • Everything I have tried from Olympic Orchids has been pretty good to wonderful (barring Kyphi, which I loathed), but the best to my minds Salamanca, which became one of the best leathers I have ever tried in the dry down.

  • Everything appealed to me about this review! I love Ellen Covey’s message and this fragrance sounds very appealing too. Amazingly, I have never tried an OO scent – I’ve been wanting to try to the Devil series for ages!! In the US.

  • I love the message about deforestation – this scent sounds amazing as well, especially if you think it’s the best OO yet! My favorite is Perfume, from the peace love perfume set. I’m in the US, thanks for the draw!

  • Living in Australia, I have become very interested to find out about sustainable growing of sandalwood. Not only the Australian variety, but apparently there are plantations of Indian sandalwood plants here.
    I fully appreciate the message in Woodcut and would like to try it. I am not familiar with any Olympic Orchid scents.

  • If Einsof says, “…this is the most exquisite vanilla I have ever inhaled”, that’s good enough for me. My favorite is still Blackbird. 🙂 US

  • im glad to read in the comments that Kyphi doesn’t play nice with everyone. I thought it was just me. Several of the line make my favorites list with Tropic of Capricorn and Dev 4 leading the pack. The few of Dr. covey’s scents I haven’t tried are the woodier ones so I would love to try this one, especially if it makes a statement against urban sprawl. I’m in the U.S. thanks.

  • The first thing that excites me about this fragrance is cedarwood since cedarwood has a particular beauty and I hope it finds its way in more and more fragrances. I also could not help but notice that this fragrance is example of how natural perfumers are expanding their palette and incorporating some of synthetic materials to give new dimension to their creations as this is 80 percent natural and 20 percent other. thanks for the generous draw. I am in the US

  • I love the concept “wood is radical in its accessibility. For me, wood scents are grounding, peaceful and calming and then if vanilla is added? A sure win. My favorite Olympic Orchids perfume is Blackbird. I love how the top note has juicy blackberries and after I wear it for awhile, the beautiful resinous wood scent arrives.

  • Oh, “sugar-coated cedars” sounds amazing to me! I’d love to try it. I don’t know Olympics Orchids well enough yet to have a favorite. I have just received a decant of Olympic Orchids Bay Rum, and I definitely want to explore this house more deeply.

    I am in the US.
    The great city of Chicago, to be exact!

  • Though the description of the notes was beautiful, this was the piece that got me:

    “Approximately 80% natural, Woodcut captures a perfect balance between natural raw material honesty with the science of modern perfumery. Metaphor for the need to artificially manage and regrow forests- both the natural world and the science of forestry working together to benefit all.”

    I’ve never tried any Olympic Orchids fragrance, and I am a huge fan of woody scents. I’d love to try this.

    Re: old growth – I live in West Hollywood, CA, and while our city purports to care about old growth preservation, I watched in horror a few years ago as a *gigantic*, healthy and gorgeous avocado tree was brought down next door in front of my eyes – not for any safety reason, but to build a garage & driveway. I was appalled the moment they started cutting it & called the city, but they said they’d passed all their permit inspections, and gotten permission for the construction, so there was nothing they could do. I asked, “Do the plans mention this tree destruction?” They said no, but there was nothing they could do. I felt sick about it for days.

  • Jessica Marie says:

    I have yet to find a wood perfume that suits me but have fallen in love with my natural wood scented soy candles, with the addition of caramel and vanilla I think this may be the “one” for me!

  • Claire Spriggy says:

    I have yet to try anything by Olympic Orchids and this sounds gorgeous. I really enjoy woody scents and the idea that the vanilla in this is the most exquisite ever makes me NEED it!! I’m in the uk, thanking you kindly for the chance to win.

  • I would love to try a magnetic combo of coniferous woods an vanilla. Especially appealing is the phrase ‘ resin heated by the spinning saw blades’, which flashes childhood memories of winter time spent at my Granny’s near the woods!
    I haven’t tried many Olympic Orchids’ perfumes, only Golden Cattleya and Little Stars, but I like Golden Cattleya better.
    Thank you for the chance! I am in Bulgaria (EU).
    Happy Holidays!

  • I really like the analysis of the deeper message behind the perfume. My favorite Olympic Orchids is either Golden Cattleya, Red Cattleya, or Osafume. I’m in the US.

  • “Certainly the perfume itself suggests there is harmony to be found between the needs of the forest and the needs of humanity.” I find that to be a very beautiful statement. In the past year I have tried several of Olympic Orchid’s perfumes, but I have yet to try Woodcut. My favorites are Seattle Chocolate and Love from the Peace Love Perfume Project. I am from the United States.

  • The review suggests a “wooden sweetness”. That’s what is appealing to me. I like Dev #1. U.S.A.

  • What I loved in Einsof’s review is the description of how notes mix with another “the majesty of cedar and pine with the gourmand coziness of vanilla and caramel” really this perfume must be true poetry!
    And the way he associates the percentage of the natural raw 80% natural with the artificial material implying the message underneath this scent, the need to “artificially manage and regrow forests- both the natural world and the science of forestry working together to benefit all”.
    I am not familiar with any Olympic Orchid scents. I live in EU and I thank you for this lovely review and draw.

  • Thank you, EInsof, for this excellent review. I tried to post something here last night, but the comments weren’t working. I hope they’re fixed now!

  • The Silver Fox says:

    OMG this is good reviewing… Smoke & caramelised sugars, woods warmed by spinning blades…beautiful .. All blended in important olfactive eco messaging.. ( oh and that vanilla … Let’s not forget that)

  • I really enjoyed this review, on many levels: I is written well, with a great quote, I love trees, both as a part of a healthy world environment, and in my own life, I am originally from the Seattle region, so have a fondness for Dr. Covey’s scents, and lastly, this perfume sounds a-maz-ing! I have sampled some Olympic Orchids, and so far I think Carolina is my favorite. I live in the US.

  • I really enjoyed Einsof’s review and in particular where the sustainability principles are spoken of. Think its great that they are so aware and their messaging on this level is clear and simple- how it should be I reckon. never tried the brand and would love too.I’m in New Zealand. Hey, Merry Christmas and Happy hols you guys in the North 🙂

  • I loved Einsof’s description” cedarwood shavings joined by pine distillate” sounds fabulous! I do not have a favorite perfume but I think Cafe V could be a real contender. Im in the US.

  • What hooked me from the review was “Woodcut is also radical in its approachability– art which invites everyone to engage in its message; at once alarming in theory and appeasing in application.”

    I have not tried any of Olympic Orchids’ creations so I can’t speak of a favorite. 🙁

    I am in the US. Thanks for the draw.

  • Oh, trees! How I love them, and want to protect them. I agree with so much in this review, especially “Metaphor for the need to artificially manage and regrow forests- both the natural world and the science of forestry working together to benefit all.” I absolutely need Woodcut! Dr. Covey is a master of wood fragrances, and Olympic Rainforest is my favorite thus far, but I think Woodcut will certainly be a contender. Thanks, I’m in the U.S.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I like the idea of an eco-themed perfume and cedar wood, pine and vanilla sounds like a wonderful winter fragrance. I live in the US and have not yet had the pleasure of wearing an Olympic Orchids Perfum