Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scent Studio
Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scent Studio is an incredibly talented multi media perfumer, with a devoted following. I’ve always admired her work, and fell hard for Yin and Ylang, which was collaboration with our Editor in Chief, Michelyn Camen.
Pacific Forest joins Amber Incense , Cocoa Sandalwood and Spiced Citrus Vetiver in Laurie’s growing Natural’s Collection, and is a riff on her earlier work 2012 ,Forest Walk. Laurie’s creative process was to use those forest notes and to put them onto an all-natural amber base. She had just finished Amber Incense earlier this year, and wanted to expand her exploration of amber. Pacific Forest combines some of her favorite woodsy essences, and a rare hemlock spruce absolute that I found absolutely stunning; it has quickly become my favorite of all Ms Erickson’s fragrances. It is magnificent.
Evening Brooks Shane Salzwede
Pacific Forest opens with deep, rich hemlock spruce. It’s absolutely superb, very distinctive, and I have not experienced anything like it in any other fragrance. It is the hypnotic hemlock we were promised in Ormond Woman, the mysterious hemlock so sorely missing in Illamasqua Freak This one note captures the essence of the forest in a bottle. It’s breathtaking and I feel confident in predicting that you will be constantly lifting your wrist for another sniff!
The crispness of the wood gets more noticeable after about 20 minutes on my skin. There is a tang and spiciness to these wood notes that I strongly associate with California forests, which are drier than those of my native Blue Ridge nountains. A pitch-perfect note of freshly cut evergreen soon joins the woodsy accord; cedar and pine have joined the party, and because Pacific Forest is 99% natural, there is no harshness to the woods. Each is distinctive; pine with its sweetness, the cedar a bit drier, all mingling with the piquancy of sap and bruised needles. You’re deep in the forest and your quick mid-morning walk through the woods has turned into an hours-long ramble in paradise.
Brooks Shane Salzwede Reflection
As the perfume develops, Laurie’s gorgeous labdanum warms up and begins a slow dance with frankincense. They smolder and sway together in perfect harmony with the lushness of the woods, coaxing the amber in to her full, luscious bloom. Earthy patchouli and a striking velvety oakmoss replicate the forest floor, rounding out and completing Laurie’s vision. The dry-down of Pacific Forest is even better than the stunning opening. You’re lost in the forest now. It’s late afternoon, the sunlight is warm and golden above you. The enchantment is complete. You don’t even care that you’re going to be late for supper.
To my nose, this is truly the scent of a forest; it’s every bit as much about the needles and sap and soil as it is the wood. Pacific Forest pulls very chypre on me, but the oakmoss is very mossy and soft.
Brooks Shane Salzwede Nest High
Nothing to be afraid of! I get 8 hours of the full fragrance, with a few extra hours of the golden ambery base. It can be worn by both men and women, and I think it would be fun to wear as a couple, anytime year round. The amber is not at all suffocating or powdery, and there is coolness to the green facets of Pacific Forest that makes me think this would work beautifully in summer, as well. I certainly plan on finding out!
Disclosure: I received my sample from Sonoma Scent; opinions my own
–Tammy Schuster, Contributor
Art Direction: Michelyn Camen-I chose the multi media works of Brooks Shane Salzwedl a Californian artist who depicts natural environments juxtaposed with man made constructs.Mr. Salzwedl is not associated with Sonoma Scent Studio
Ms Erickson is as gracious as she is talented, and has offered two 3ml deluxe sprayers of Pacific Forest for two lucky readers! Increasingly restrictive Customs Regulations preclude her from being able to ship outside the continental United States, so this draw will be for US readers only.To be eligible: You must be a registered CaFleureBon reader (yes that again) Please leave a comment telling us your favorite Sonoma Scent Studio fragrance and what appeals to you about Pacific Forest. Draw Closes 12/25/2015
We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume