Fjord near Hardangerfjord, Norway ©all photos provided by the brand for this review of Skandinavisk Kapitel 12

‘Freedom to roam’ reflects an ancient Scandinavian law and an open invitation to explore all corners of the mighty peninsula provided only footsteps are left behind. ~ Skandinavisk

The Denmark-based fragrance house Skandinavisk, founded in 2012 – is comprised of equal parts inspiration, vision and philosophy. Skandinavisk embodies the belief that the tenets of respect for natural beauty, doing no harm, sustainability and responsible consumption are deeply interconnected with both practicality and pleasure. One needn’t sacrifice one for the other – and Scandinavia has certainly set us a glowing example over the years: a significant artistic and design presence, appreciation for the simpler beauties and ways of living graciously without exploiting our planet, combined with a genuine love for the environment.

I first experienced this 50 years ago, when I spent a month traveling through Sweden and Norway during the height of summer. Most of it was off the beaten path (although I visited the larger cities as well) – which led me to adventures with fishermen, farmers, forests, lakes and fjords. Sleeping in barns with livestock; hitchhiking; bathing in many lakes, washing my clothes with birch soap and hanging them on the birches to dry; being taught how to prepare gravlax and Janssen’s temptation by local folk. I was impressed by friends, both well-off and not – and the fact that how they conducted their lives didn’t vary that significantly. Social and environmental consciousness was important to each of them, and much of their free time was spent out of doors: in the woods, the mountains, the lakes, on the beach – hiking, climbing, cycling, swimming, camping.

Skandinavisk Founder Shaun Russell by Philip Ørneborg

Skandinavisk sent me abundant materials, samples; their website is chock-full of useful information. I continued to be very curious about details regarding founder Shaun Russell (you can listen to his podcast here). Shaun elaborates upon his business model and ethics, and how they continue to evolve. It’s quite a turnaround to switch from a successful advertising career in London to a completely different life in Denmark – after falling in love with a Danish gardener (who grew up in Sweden and summered in Norway) while working in Australia!  Twenty years of living and traveling throughout Scandinavia revealed to Shaun that values and manner of living were a state of mind and of being – a concept and belief bigger than any geographical location. What began with candles grew into fragrance, home and body care, and a series of brilliantly illustrated journals which reveal the compelling stories and aspects of life lived with beauty, dignity and simplicity. All Skandinavisk products are created with an eye towards decreasing carbon footprint, sourcing as many natural/local materials as possible (i.e. – candles are made with rapeseed-based wax, locally produced and environmentally safe/sustainable), along with responsible synthetics.

Shaun and perfumer Stéphane Coez amidst fruit trees in Hardangerfjord

“While in Grasse, I met Stéphane Coez, who had never been to Scandinavia but has since become my perfumer and traveled with me across Scandinavia several times. He teaches me the magic of perfumery; I teach him about Scandinavia.- Shaun Russell (excerpted from an email sent to CaFleureBon).

The brands eaux de toilettes are referred to as chapters, or Kapitel. I chose to write about Skandinavisk Kapitel 12, a fragrance which was designated as “freedom to roam” – a foray into the trails of the highlands and wilderness which lie above the tree line along northerly borders. The beautiful images which they shared with me are from the Hardangerfjord region of Norway – just about an hour’s drive from Bergen, on the western coast. This location is known for its painterly fruit farms (apples, pears, plums and cherries in particular) and villages, and for its scenic views of Folgefonna National Park and other nature conservation areas with varied animal and plant life, waterfalls and glaciers, high mountains, and deep forests. If you can imagine a summoning of such elements, then Skandinavisk Kapitel 12 would embody them brilliantly.

Shaun Russell and perfumer Stéphane Coez in Norway via Instagram

Skandinavisk Kapitel 12 possesses a bracing, tonic quality from the outset. It smells of elevation, of the nascent stirrings of soil and flowing sap seasoned with an undercurrent of slightly bitter green. A faintly floral presence exists in the guise of heather: delicate, discreet, herbaceous/mossy/musky – a characteristic which feels tranquil alongside Kapitel 12 initial flourish of terpene-abundant thyme, with its complex scent profile. One of the reasons Kapitel 12 feels grounding and soothing can be traced directly back to the naturally-occurring concentrations of linalool in thyme – a compound which has been shown to evoke a sense of calm and well-being. What commences as a brisk, determined hiking pace in a rugged environment softens as we perceive the natural charms which surround us: the verdancy of scrub, undergrowth and forest, the foraging of fruit (berry notes) and herb. One experiences an overall wholesomeness manifest in the fragrance, as if by applying it that goodness leaves its imprint upon the wearer. Skandinavisk Kapitel 12 with its lingering impression in the drydown is a nuanced murmur from a wild, beauteous solitary setting. As is the case with all four of Skandinavisk’s eaux de toilettes, it recalls a recurring theme which has haunted renowned myth teller Dr. Martin Shaw for years: the immense difference between being from a place vs. being of a place. Skandinavisk fragrances sing of the being OF a place – it inhabits you, not the other way around – and in so doing, veracity is paramount and fundamental. To my mind, that is what Skandinavisk is all about.

Notes: heather, thyme, ground berries, leaf sap

Samples and bottles kindly provided by USA PR for Skandinavisk – many thanks!  My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor

Deputy Editor’s Note: Skandinavisk is a member of the B Corp Beauty Coalition (bcorpbeauty.org), a global community dedicated to ethical and sustainable products – and therefore is held to very high standards.

Skandinavisk Kapitel 12

Thanks to the generosity of Skandinavisk, we are offering 50 ml bottle of Skandinavisk Kapitel 12 eau de toilette to one registered reader in the USA ONLY. You must be registered or your comment will not count. Please share with us what appeals to you about Ida’s review of Skandinavisk Kapitel12 and about the company’s ethos. Draw ends 8/3/2022

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