New Perfume Review: Room 1015 Electric Wood + Purple Haze Draw

room 1025 perfume cafleurebon. Room 1015 and Michael Partouche

Room 1015 Michael Partouche at Esxence 2015 March 27, 2015 Photo: Michelyn

When Michelyn was in Milan at Esxence The Scent of Excellence back in March, she wrote about new brands that she found  both new and noteworthy. One fragrance collection that got her attention is Room 1015, who has released three perfumes: Electric Wood (a darkly spiced cedar scent), Blomma Cult (a woozy floral), and Atramental (an inky, leathery, heady scent.)  Room 1015 takes its inspiration from the transcendental lift of psychedelia, specifically the raw sounds of psychedelic rock and the instruments that create it.   Room 1015’s website throbs with psychedelic images, and features several scent review videos from young, hip and heavily-tattooed aficionados.

room 1015 dr mike

Dr Mike (photo courtesy of Room 1015)

Founder Michael Partouche, who prefers to be known as Dr. Mike, came to perfumery from a very diverse and eclectic background.  He’s both a former pharmacist and rock guitarist, who decided that the best way to express his artistic leanings was to fuse the chemistry inherent in pharmacy with the loud, brash, rebellious feel of performing on stage.  There’s a muscular, visceral energy to this line that definitely comes through in the perfumes themselves. All three offerings are bold, thickly-drawn and animated scents with decidedly offbeat note pairings.  (The website states that “hydrocarboresin” is present in Electric Wood.)

electric wood room 1015

For me, Electric Wood is the standout of these three, but I’m a hardcore cedar lover, and what Room 1015 does with this particular note is well worth seeking out.  Electric Wood fuses an oak and cedar wood heart to an opening of nutmeg, lemon and sage.  I absolutely love this combination of notes – nutmeg is also one of my favorites, and the pairing here is instantly alluring.

jimi hendrix burning his guitar 1967 london

Jimi Hendrx Burning His Guitar in London 1967 (digitalized MC)

Cedar likes to stay firmly rooted on the sharp and bright side of the spectrum, with that tangible, ancient, almost moldy feel to it.  But here the dark, sweet, slightly powdery nutmeg spice draws that brightness down into a much deeper and more resonant level, and the chirping brightness turns mysterious and spooky instead.  Electric Wood is a paean to the electric guitar, and it’s meant to symbolize the scorched wood of the guitar itself, as well as the scorched musical electricity that emanates from it.  There’s also some ambroxan in the drydown, blended with iris and musks that does a nice, airy impression of crackling amplifiers and electricity under high-volume duress.

Room1015 electric wood altramental blomma cult perfume

Room 2015 Electric Wood, Atramental and Blomma Cult

Dr. Mike brings his dripping, fuzzy, and slightly unhinged vision to life through the work of two perfumers, Amélie Bourgeois and Anne-Sophie Behaghel, and they have interpreted it magnificently.  Electric Wood is a memorable perfume, nearly three-dimensional evoking a weathered Stratocaster being played through into a busted, pawn shop amplifier.  Room 1015’s line is quite daring and bold, and pulls no punches.  I think Electric Wood is a perfect starting point for someone curious about what this house is all about – I feel it’s the most approachable of the three new releases.  But if you’re looking for a stronger statement, try Atramental for its sweaty, inky animalism or Blomma Cult, which is a earthy sweet collision between violet and cinnamon.

Notes: Nutmeg, Lemon, Sage Cedar Wood, Oak Wood, Ambroxan, Iris, Musks

Pam Barr, Senior Contributor

room 1015 perfumes

Twisted Lily samples

Thanks to Twisted Lily we have 3 sample sets of theRoom 1015 fragrances Electric Wood, Atramental and Blomma Cult for three US registered readers. Please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Pam’s review and which fragrance you think you would like best.  Draw closes August 16, 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 spilled perfume

 

 

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15 comments

  • fazalcheema says:

    These perfumes have taken inspiration from different instruments in music which is not surprising given founder’s professional background. I may be most intrigued by Atramental due to inky and leathery notes. I am in the US

  • Joyce says:

    I love the way Pam describes these fragrances as a musician would and pairs it with the rock background of Dr Mike using phrases like “off beat note” I really nearly tapped my toes! My favorite would have to be Atramental . It seemed to be what I might wear if I was to go to a Rock Concert. I wonder what Jimi Hendrix would be doing today with his music. I am a US registered reader.

  • Steve A says:

    Pam’s positivity makes me want to try even more than I already do. I’m going to like the Electric Wood best, just because of that name. USA

  • Systeme D says:

    I love it when a perfumer has a truly fresh take on the art and science of perfumery, and Pam’s description of Dr, Mike and his project filled with “offbeat note pairings” illustrates quite nicely his unique perspective as both a musician and a pharmacist.

    As a former musician, and as a longtime cedar lover like Pam, I know I’d be a fan of Electric Wood.

    I remain a proud resident of Windy City, USA.

  • Lori L says:

    I am truly intrigued after reading this because I love the blend of Dr. Mike (chemist/rocker) and what he has produced! Pam’s comment of “There’s a muscular, visceral energy to this line that definitely comes through in the perfumes themselves” had me clinging to each word as if I were right there smelling them myself. I’m in the US and thanks for the draw! 🙂

  • ringthing says:

    I too am a big fan of cedar and I enjoyed Pam’s description of cedar as it typically smells compared to the dark side of cedar in Electric Wood. The comparison of scent to sound is very well described and I like the way the line has a raw trippy vibe. Electric Wood would definitely be my choice of the three, I like my perfumes on the dark side. Thanks for the review and draw!

  • Valentine Girl says:

    I love the comparison of Electric Wood evoking a “weathered Stratocaster being played through a busted up pawn-shop amplifier” and would love to sample it. I have been very curious to hear more about Dr. Mike and his perfume line since the introduction from the Esxence post. Thanks for the draw. USA resident.

  • bunchofpants says:

    I often think of my favorite scents as having “hooks” sort of like the ones in well-crafted, catchy songs, so Pam’s rock analogies have “hooked” me into wanting to sample these fragrances! Electric Wood sounds fantastic, but I think I really want to try the “sweaty, inky animalism” of Atramental. I’m in USA.

  • Patty P. says:

    I quite like when a perfume house has a theme and/or back stories to their house and creations. The Dr. Mike paragraph made for a good read and increased my desire to try these scents. I went to the Room 1015 site and Blomma Cult seems like a fragrance I’d love. 🙂 USA

  • Ginny M says:

    I like the imagery of a vintage Strat and busted, pawn-shop amp! Electric Wood sounds terrific, and I live in the USA.

  • Cynthia says:

    I like the idea of a scorched, wood guitar, so I would probably like the wood notes in Electric Wood the best. USA.

  • lionceau says:

    I really enjoyed this review, especially this description”slightly powdery nutmeg spice draws that brightness down into a much deeper and more resonant level…” sounds very intriguing to me. I would love to try Electric Wood.
    Thanks for the opportunity. USA

  • hofken says:

    I enjoyed Pam’s review and I appreciate her advice that Electric Wood is the “perfect starting point for someone curious about what this house is all about – I feel it’s the most approachable of the three new releases”. I think I would like that one best.

  • Holly F. says:

    I loved Pam’s description of electric wood! I think that would be my favorite out of the three, as I am also loving the cedar scents. I’m in the US, thanks!