Photo: Jo Zarth

I know I should be above wanting to try a fragrance solely because of the name. Usually it isn’t a problem but when someone makes a fragrance which tickles my geek senses it causes me to throw good judgment away and just click on buy. The latest occurrence of this came with the new release from Erik Kormann called Steampunk. For those not versed in all of the various geek subcultures Steampunk is most simply described as imagining modern technology as if it was powered by steam and set in either Victorian England or the American West during the 1800’s. Steampunk, as a genre, arrived in 1992 with the publication of “The Difference Engine” by cyberpunk authors William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. Although that was the beginning the early influencers would include Jules Verne, HG Wells and the 1960’s TV show “The Wild, Wild West”. One of the reasons I was excited about this fragrance was that there was an etching of a diving helmet on the flacon, designed by artist Jo Zarth, providing a nod to Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”.

Hr. Kormann also blogs, in German, on his Aromatisches Blog. He uses the blog to discuss in-depth about the ingredients used in his perfumery. For Steampunk Hr. Kormann wanted to, “create a fragrance with Atlas cedarwood – and one that is reminiscent of an old library with wood paneling that evokes wanderlust. This desire fitted perfectly to the steampunk theme which also abounds with explorers and adventurers.” What struck me as I wore Steampunk was that Hr. Kormann was able to capture that drawing room vibe especially with the cedar but also by using violet and cashmeran. Steampunk ends up feeling like a modern composition with a Victorian attitude.

Nathan Fillion as Castle in the episode "Punked"

Steampunk opens in that Victorian library as you smell the freshly polished cedar paneling and the violet imparts its powdery aspect to evoke powdered wigs on the ladies in attendance. All of this is cut with a citrus cocktail of orange, lemon, and lime. It adds a bit of energy to the room. The future is represented with a mix of cashmeran and Iso E super along with elemi. Iso E Super always gives me a sense of red mineral dustiness and with a fragrance named Steampunk my imagination has me on Mars, in a huge diving suit as my spacesuit, exploring a new planet.

Stempunk lasts all day on my skin with above average sillage.

All too often I am disappointed when a perfume chooses to evoke a sense of my many other interests. There has yet to be a successful punk rock perfume, as an example. It is why I am so happy with Steampunk because it seems Hr. Kormann has created a perfume worthy of the name.  It has all I could want from a fragrance called Steampunk. Danke Hr. Kormann.

Disclosure: This review was based on a sample I purchased.

–Mark Behnke, Managing Editor