New Perfume Review: Jardins D’Écrivains Junky + William S. Burroughs A Man Within Draw

william s burroughs opium jones junky perfume

Robert Frank,  William S. Burroughs as ‘Opium Jones’, 1960’s 

Lean, lanky, and almost cadaverous in later years, William S. Burroughs was an icon of the Beat Generation and Postmodern prose. His first novel, “Junky”, is a semi autobiographical account of his years spent as a drug addict and dealer, with occasional stints in rehab, in conservative Post-War America. “Junky” depicted a side of life that was barely heard about, and that novel and his later works, Queer and Naked Lunch are seminal masterworks of contemporary American literature.

junky ace books 1953

Burroughs' Junkie was the precursor to the modern graphic novel

 

 As I reported from Milan, Junky definitely got my attention.  Perfumer Anais Biguine, brand Jardins D'Ecrivains takes inspiration from famous authors, and although many are controversial (Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and George Sand) to create a perfume around the debauchery of “Junky”, is an interesting and bold choice. How does one interpret a man who was so talented and tortured. Born into wealth and introduced to drugs by the family housekeeper before he was a teen, his life sounds surprisingly "familiar" especially these days when drug abuse, rehab, and sexual abuse can seem commonplace and fodder for reality T.V.  Jardins D'Ecrivains has done a remarkable interpretation of capturing  the complexity of William S. Burroughs who was born February 5, 1914.

jardins d'ecrivains junky cafleurebon

The opening of Junky is quite green, with a resinous hint of fresh, sticky hemp. The sharp greenery wraps its tendrils around a softer heart of iris and flowers. The visual I get is of a leafy hand gently crushing fresh petals until they are bruised and emitting their last gasp of fragrance. A few violets unfold, their innocent aroma adding poignancy. The crushing hand waits for the petals to lie limp and spent, cuts them with the razor sharpness of galbanum, then submerges them into a warm bath scented with woods and resins, and a soft vetiver that adds a taste of salty tears. The hand emerges, then dips a small jagged bottle into the infused  grey liquid to capture the precious perfume. Junky is that fragrance; warm and beautiful, but slightly cruel at first, like the stab of the needle followed by the golden bliss of oblivion. Kudos to Anais Biguine for taking on such an ambitious project. I am a fan of her perfumes, yet Junky feels like she is taking her art into new territory for the brand. There is a quote in the book that rings true… “When you stop growing you start dying.”

Notes: hemp, rosewood, galbanum, iris, violet, gardenia, cashmeran, cedar, Javanese vetiver, sweet myrrh, frankincense, cade (a type of juniper oil), moss

I received my sample from Jardins D’Ecrivains at Esxence The Scent of Excellence.

-Tama Blough, Managing Editor

-Art direction, Michelyn Camen

william s burroughs and patti smith

Patti Smith and William S Burroughs

Thanks to the generosity of Anais Biguine, the perfumer  and  founder of  Jardins D’Ecrivains, we have a worldwide draw for a 100 ml bottle. Let us know which controversial or post-1920 author you would like to see a perfume for or your favorite Jardins D’Ecrivains  fragrance. Draw ends March 31, 2014.

Junky will be available worldwide in April 2014

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Tama on her promotion to Managing Editor. If you are interested in learning more about Burroughs, check out  the  2010 award winning documentary "The Man Within" which features undiscovered footage and interviews with his friends Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth, Gus van Sant and John Waters

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

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69 comments

  • This is going to be a winner just by the name alone. What a bold statement for a perfume. Hmmmm, how about a J.D. Salinger perfume??!! Maybe call is Franny or Zoey? Thanks for the wonderful and generous draw!

  • Carole Fallon says:

    I vote for a Hunter S Thompson perfume! Junky sounds strangely beautiful to me. I am in the US.

  • Oh, there are so many writers…Natalie Barney? Hunter S. Thompson? Alice Walker? Pablo Neruda? A graphic novelist like Dori Seda, so the scent could include ink? Thanks for the review and draw!

  • carole macleod says:

    Hemp and violets??? genius!
    How about Graham Greene (scent of tortured Catholic)? Or Stefan Zweig (old books).

    Sincerely,
    Carole

  • Lisa Wordbird says:

    Yes, I like the sound of a Hunter S Thompson fragrance. Or what about a William Gibson one? That would be an interesting one – very metallic I would imagine.
    But I’d actually vote for my beloved Iain M Banks – his baroque space operas would lend themselves to perfumery, I think.

  • Oh, we most definitely need fragrances inspired by Jose Luis Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jonathan Carroll.

    And, Congrats Tama!

  • I would like to enter the draw. I am located in the US, and I would most like to see a perfume based on Simone de Bouvoir.

  • Hmmm, how about a perfume inspired by the work of Joyce Carol Oates, still doing great things with her life. Many of her book titles sound like fragrances, Bellefleur, Solstice, A Garden of Earthly Delights. I’m in the US. Thanks!

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    What a generous draw, thank you Anais Biguine! I would love to see a fragrance on George Orwell. This one sounds fascinating though. Thank you, I’m in the USA!

  • Your review had some incredibly powerful imagery! I would love to try this perfume. How would a perfume inspired by Ayn Rand smell? Definitely controversial 🙂 I am in the US, thanks!

  • One much beloved yet controversial author I’d love to see considered is Roald Dahl. US Resident.

    Congrats to Tama!

  • Sounds really cool. Maybe a little obvious, but how about a fragrance based on Bukowski. I also think, one on the works of Salman Rushdie might be interesting. Thank you for the draw, I am in the US

  • Don’t have a favorite Jardins D’Ecrivains fragrance, but would like to try La Dame aux Camelias.
    Junky sounds really cool and I’d love to try it. I am in the US.

  • Goodness, what an awesome review. Hemp and a slicy galbanum sound marvelous. Let’s see, Harper Lee, that mysterious woman, or the self destructive Truman Capote, maybe the fragile Carson McCullers – the heart wrenching American South makes good perfume fodder. Thanks for the generous draw and congratulations, Tama!

  • julesinrose says:

    I am really curious about this fragrance as the notes sounds beautiful, but to my mind, so unlike Burroughs, a very dry man indeed! Must try a give it a think.

    Haven’t a fave Jardins D’Ecrisvains. . .yet. In the US. I’d like a scent inspired by Allen Ginsberg’s Howl. That would be a challenge!

  • Hmm. I’m not a fan of William Burroughs, but Junky sounds kind of brilliant. I’d like to see a perfume honoring Toni Morrison, or maybe Joseph Heller (it could smell like Coney Island!).

  • Congratulations Tama! Well deserved!
    My fav is La dame aux camelias. Junky sounds intriguing.
    Maybe for Hunter S Thompson.

    I live in US.

  • My favorite Jardins d’Ecrivains perfume is Orlando but I love them all and this one sounds so intriguing. What a great name! Thank you for the draw.

  • helicalgnome says:

    Ezra Pound! I haven’t tried, sadly, any Jardins d’Escrivains but I’d love to try Orlando and Burroughs of course
    Thanks for the draw.

  • wefadetogray says:

    I think a scent created around the enigmatic Comte de Lautremont or Antonin Artaud would be wild, deep, insane yet deep and compelling.
    I want to try this hemp green junky scent!
    Thanks!

  • I would go for Pablo Neruda, not the one from 20 love poems but the one from Residence on Earth and Canto General. I have always wanted to try Jardins d Ecrivains perfumes so wish me luck 😉
    Thanks for this generous draw.

  • I love Gigi from their line. Junky sounds interesting and beautiful although the name might be a bit misleading if one doesn’t know the background story. 🙂

  • Marcopietro says:

    Great rewiew! I love Burroughs’ novels and I’m looking forward to try this new frgrance by J.d’E.
    I would like a fragrant tribute to Tolstoj.
    Thanks for this generous draw!

  • Simon de Bouvoir would be such an interesting author to create a fragrance for.A very generous draw for us worldwide readers. We do appreciate it!

  • I am thincking of Pascal Bruckner and his Paria or Bitter Moons novels .
    Wilde and Orlando are my favorites from this beautiful perfume line.
    Thank you for this draw! I am from Romania,Europe.

  • Congratulations on the promotion.
    I think a Bukowski perfume would be interesting, I like the idea of decay dominating a perfume theme.
    ty

  • The ingredients sounds absolutely fascinating! I don’t know how it could be possible but I’d like to see (smell) a perfume based on James Joyce’s work, especially Ulysses. It might be chaotic…
    Thanks for the draw and congratulations to Tama!

  • Thank you for the generous draw.
    The ingredients sound fabulous.
    I would like to smell a perfume insired by John Seinbeck. East of Eden? Or maybe Tortilla Flat? 🙂

  • Junky sounds bold brutal and tender, what a feat. Nice review and love that he knew the whole young punk crowd. I would love a fragrance inspired by ruby fruit jungle by Rita Mae brown.

  • I’d like to see a perfume inspired by Anais Nin or Marguerite Duras. Thanks for the draw!

  • Congrats Tama! A Hunter S Thompson would be very interesting.
    Thanks much for the draw!

  • d3m0licion says:

    Great review, sounds awesome. My favorite from the line is Wilde. I live in the US. Thanks!

  • I would like to see a perfume for Albert Camus.
    Thank you for this lovely review dear Tama and congratulations for your promotion, I wish you all the best.
    I live in EU.

  • Fascinating review!
    I would like to smell a perfume based on ”The Castle” by Franz Kafka.
    Thanks for the draw.

  • Nathalie Foy says:

    There should be a perfume called Radclyffe Hall! Leather, smoke, iris, something salty….

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    for me it would be Ayn Rand because while i agree with most of her ideas, i hate the fact how her ideas have been manipulated by conservatives to suit their personal interests which has unfortunately resulted in negative perceptions for Ayn Rand she doesnt deserve ..i am in the US

  • I wonder what a D. H. Lawrence perfume would smell like? Deliciously scandalous, I hope!

  • I’m with Gentiana–Steinbeck/East of Eden would be a great inspiration–the fields of California, the whorehouses of Salinas row…

    Btw, Burroughs lived down the street from me growing up. Used to see him on his bike from time to time.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • susie frankel says:

    Congratulations Tama….
    I like Orlando….usa….thanks for generous draw.
    Thank You to all the comments and author suggestions. What fun to read all and learn we are Readers..Yeah

  • Wow what a generous giveaway!I already own George and Junky sounds really interesting.I wouldn’t mind a perfume inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marques,as I love the searing sensuality and fullness of living depicted in his books. Solar and alive!

  • I’d love to see (smell) a perfume inspired by the work of Jack Kerouac. I can’t wait to try Junky. Thanks so much for the draw. Btw, congrats Tama! I’m in the U.S.

  • One of my favorites so far would be “George”. Wonderful aromatic. Love the coffee playing in the background. Ready for “Junky”. In the USA. Thank you.

  • I have not tried any fragrance from Jardin d’Ecrivains and I would like to see a fragrance inspired by Thomas Woolfe. A great writer which is very underrated, at least here in Europe. His masterpiece Look homeward, Angel should be read by everyone!

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Thank you for the draw! I have not yet tried anything from Jardin d’Ecrivains. I would love to smell a perfume inspired by Marguerite Duras that encompasses the paradox of sentimentality and detachment. I am in Australia.

  • I think Haruki Murakami’s magical realism deserves a fragrant expression. Perhaps my most favourite short story is his “the second bakery attack”. I can already smell the pyrazines.

  • Orlando is quite the fragrance. I love how the clove really mixes with my chemistry in this one. In the US, Thanks.

  • Chapeau Clack says:

    I suppose Anais Nin would make for quite a fragrant experience.
    Thanks for the chance to try Junky and I’m outside of the US.

  • TexasDamsel says:

    I agree that a fragrance based on Anais Nin’s life and writings would be so intriguing. Just thinking about her “bicoastal trapeze” marital life, her involvement with June and Henry Miller, and her journey into erotica…I can just imagine the heady complexity of that voluptuous scent!
    I have not yet experienced the products of Jardins D’Ecrivains, and I would be delighted to have the opportunity to do so. I am in the US.

  • oh, gertrude stein. in paris. that should be one interesting scent. particularly if it were an olfacotry depiction of getrude stein impersonating alice b. toklas. ha! — and for a little later: paul bowles, any of his novels (one more sinister than the other), — also, i remember reading junky when i was about 15. i did not understand *at all* what it was all about — just was intrigued by the general feel of it. i suppose the perfume must be much like that.

  • I would like to see a fragance from a controversial french writer : CELINE. It’s a great writer but his opinions are sometimes hard to understand.
    I,m in Spain, Europe.

  • Valentine girl says:

    I think “A Clockwork Orange” (Orange mécanique?) perfume inspired by Anthony Burgess would be an interesting choice. Thanks for the chance to try “Junky”….based on the review, it sounds incredible. I am in the USA.

  • I would love to see a perfume inspired by Richard Wright. He was such a complicated and controversial author during his time and wrote some very poignant stories. Junky sounds great! im in the US. Thanks for the draw

  • I am so excited about this scent!! I hope that I am not too late to enter.I am just beyond thrilled that a scent inspired by him/the book exists… I would not choose anyone else.Thank you so much for the chance to possibly own a bottle of this since I can not afford to buy my own right now.I am in the USA.Best Wishes 🙂

  • freeestyler says:

    A perfume inspired by Stefan Zweig would be somethign very interesting! Greetings from Germany!

  • Ive tried the whole line a while ago and have been fairly impressed with the quality. I think George was a favorite at that moment for me. USA