Beaufort London Cape Wrath (Euan McCall) 2024+ Force Majeure Giveaway

Beaufort London Cape Wrath

Beaufort London Cape Wrath via the brand

At the end of 2024, to celebrate the brand’s tenth anniversary, Beaufort London quietly released the Force Majeure trio. Inspired by the rugged, unique coastline around the British Isles, the three fragrances Cape Wrath, Pyroclasm and The Grudge were all developed by Scottish perfumer Euan McCall, marking his first collaboration with the house. Having smelled some of his earlier work for his own Jorum Studio, it’s immediately obvious that McCall has the kind of open embrace of experimentation necessary to properly illustrate Beaufort’s nautical, geographical and conceptual briefs.

I’ve written here before about Beaufort’s unique approaches to their individual collections: how overloaded and larger than life the Come Hell or High Water collection is and how pensive the melodrama of the Revenants collection is. The Force Majeure collection proves to be a grandstanding of various unconventional aquatic ideas that are leagues away from the mainstream ‘blue’ of a pioneering aquatic fragrance like say, Davidoff’s Cool Water or D&G’s Light Blue. From the glassy, mastic tonalities of Cape Wrath, to the ocean pocked minerals of Pyroclasm and the ambergris allure of The Grudge, McCall leans further and further into a palette of unorthodox materials (at least for designer marine centric compositions).

Jorum Studio Euan McCall

Euan McCall courtesy of the perfumer

As McCall notes in one of his unrelated journal entries: “Marine fragrance profiles can be created a million different ways, depending on the intention of the perfumer. [In Phloem] I wanted to showcase the warmer, sensual and perhaps odder side of its character, in stark contrast to the ubiquitous ‘blue’ style of profiles we all know (and love or hate). I find commercially successful ‘blue’ notes rarely smell marine – they are more like laundry detergent and thus almost chlorinated – not a slight, but perhaps more functional-leaning than fine perfumery?

St. Ives Steps

St. Ives Harbour Steps by Oli Marlow

As I noted when I chose Beaufort London Cape Wrath for my Best of 2024 selection, I’s is the olfactory equivalent of staring through the bottom of a glass bottom boat; you’re peering through the toughened glass at a mottled, swirling, deep green, oceanic abyss. Using resins like elemi, frankincense and mastic in an aquatic fragrance might seem a bit counterproductive on paper, but in reality, it creates an otherworldly shapeshifting green tone that’s then made salty with touches of seaweed and ambergris. It exemplifies the grandeur and the danger posed by the jagged coastline on the North Westerly tip of Britain for which the fragrance is named…

Cape Wrath’s cliffs by Colin Wheatly via wiki commons

Pyroclasm might be the more bombastic fragrance of the trio – it imagines the ship building works of the Scottish River Clyde, who in their heyday produced a slew of massive boats and transatlantic liners with scorched tones of tar, oxidizing metal and saffron – and The Grudge could be considered the ‘cleanest’ – it’s probably the most nature identical, wearable ambergris perfume that I’ve yet to encounter – but there’s something weirdly spellbinding about the mossy green depths of  Beaufort London Cape Wrath. Like the ocean itself it’s something I won’t ever comprehend or understand but that’s where the perfume’s allure really lies.

Notes: Pink pepper, elemi, galbanum, angelica root, frankincense, mastic, geranium, ambergris, vetiver, ambrette, seaweed, oakmoss.

Disclaimer: samples of Beaufort’s Force Majeure trio were provided by the brand.

Oli Marlow, Contributor

Thanks to the generosity of Indigo Perfumery, we have a sample set of Beaufort London Cape Wrath, Pyroclasm and The Grudge available in the US only. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Oli’s reviews and that you live in the US. Draw closes 1/17/2025

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25 comments

  • Brad Woolslayer says:

    I generally love aquatic fragrances, and I would love to experience 3 different takes on the theme of the coastline around the British Isles. I live in Maryland USA.

  • I learned about the three new fragrances in one of the new year posts when Oli mentioned it as one of the top discoveries of the year. I remember being very interested in sampling all three. I appreciate the more detailed reviews by Oli, so I feel like I have a clearer picture of how they smell. The one I like the most (and which I choose for the giveaway) is Cape Wrath. I really find it interesting how a combination of different resins can conjure aquatic notes. I am a huge fan of elemi and frankincense in fragrances, and I think a combination of those two with ambergris will be something I could really love. I’m from Illinois US.

  • Jackie Rosenfeld says:

    I love the idea of being able to explore a different side to a sea scent–something more captivating the blue marine notes. Very curious!
    I’m in Texas.
    Instagram: jackierose618

  • I always say I won’t wear aquatics but I find myself eating those words more and more in the last year. With some great ones coming out from Bianchi and Dussita and now this one sounding also intriguing and more green than blue which is what I like. An aromatic scraggly beach, cold salty ocean I suppose. I am located in the U.S.

  • Beaufort London is a great brand and not widely known by many. I loved how oli explained that unusual ingredients were used to create the Force Majeure trio by Euan McCall so nothing smells like cool water etc. Beaufort London the Grudge with its ambergris sounds incredible as does Cape Wrath. USA

  • We love your review of Cape Wrath, Oli!

    Here at Indigo, the three new Beaufort London perfumes have proven to be fascinating and popular with our customers. Everyone has their favorite…

    And, yes, The Grudge is sure to be the “the most nature identical, wearable ambergris perfume”. Ambergris with the Beaufort touch.

    Thank you, Eaun and Leo!

  • Kudos to Oli for clear distinction between these three marine scents, Pyroclasm being the one that piques my interest the most but that’s not to say that The Grudge’s wearable ambergris and Cape Wrath’s green marine don’t induce any curiosity. I’d like to try them all! Also I appreciate how McCall sheds light on how blue fragrances aren’t necessarily marine fragrances which also gives me reason to favor salty sea of marines over the somewhat overly artificially clean waters of blues. From Oregon, USA

  • What a different take on aquatics, but focused not on beaches but on the industry Scotland and Glasgow are known for. I’m just fascinated by ambergris…. trying to imagine how it possibly became used in perfume, it boggles my mind. These scents sound lovely and complex, and Scottish, so I would love to win this sampler set. Thank you for the lovely review and generous draw.
    I’m in the us.

  • Arian Jamali says:

    As it states, Cape Wrath is inspired by the rugged, untamed landscape of Cape Wrath in Scotland, which immediately evokes a sense of raw, natural beauty. Oli’s description of it as a “storm in a bottle” is captivating. I live in USA.

  • I love aquatic perfumes, especially ones that lean more nature-identical than clean. This trio sounds fabulous! I already love Euan McCall’s work from his own house, so I’m curious to see how that translates to this brand. I’m in the USA. Thank you for the opportunity to sample these scents!

  • As some one who has lived by a body of water most of my life, I love how these sound like they could transport you to different types of bodies of water. I live in NC so there are a variety to explore.

  • I absolutely love aquatic scents and the idea of having 3 different marine fragrance profiles to sample would be awesome! I am new to the site so the detailed review by Oli really helped to understand the depth of the fragrances. I’m in Arizona, USA

  • yada.yada.yada89 says:

    I’ve always wanted to like an aquatic or marine fragrance but have not come across one that I like on paper or my skin. I’m hopeful the inclusion of resins will make 1 of these 3 be the 1 I’ve been looking for. I’m in Houston, Texas.

  • i really want to find an aquatic that fits my tastes, isn’t “overly blue” like oli talks about in the quote he brought in, and i wonder if picking something aligned to a natural landscape that i already adore would be the ticket. it’s an interesting way to think about what to choose for yourself in fragrance. i’m in the US.

  • goknitintheocean says:

    Hi there,

    Wow, Cape Wrath sounds really mysterious and wonderful; perhaps reminiscent of time spent on the beaches up in Maine, and not during the summer? I am a big fan of Eris Parfums’ Belle de Jour, and the only thing these two have in common, I’ve found out, is seaweed…So perhaps I’d pick that out of Cape Wrath and embrace it, too…Thank you so much for sharing these. I live in NYC/USA.

    Happy New Year!

    Deborah

  • I love Euan McCall’s beautiful and imaginative work (several of my absolute favorite fragrances are by Jorum), and I have admired the Beaufort scents I’ve sampled as well. I’m particularly intrigued to smell both Cape Wrath and Pyroclasm, and Oli’s review has sent Cape Wrath to the top of that list. I live in NY, USA.

  • I could not agree more with McCall when he said “‘blue’ notes rarely smell marine – they are more like laundry detergent” and am disappointed with most marine fragrances. Give me something with character!

  • I have had Beaufort London on my list of brands to sample for a year now. I don’t typically go for aquatics but I’m intrigued by the use of resins. I’m in Ohio USA.

  • I am eternally on the hunt for marine fragrances that actually smell like sea water, not like flowers citrus and detergent. These sound soooo much close to what I want to be smelling! I have sampled Beaufort London fragrances and definitely can see the challenging aspects, too, but they are undoubtedly interesting and different from anything else out there. I do live in the US.

  • McCall has an interesting style, so these Beaufort London collaborations are intriguing, especially with the evocative theme that is right in his Jorum Studio wheelhouse. I like how all three of these go for an opinionated, natural-smelling take on marine aquatics, versus “almost chlorinated” laundry blues. Cape Wrath’s use of resins reminds me of Zoologist Squid; I wonder if the frankincense is centered in the same way. The Grudge’s ambergris note is intriguing too, but Pyroclasm sounds utterly unique, bringing the smell of industry into the mix. These will be an excellent addition to Indigo’s catalog.

    I’m in the US.

  • Wonderful review! I’m so intrigued by this series. I remember the grasp aquatics had on us in the late 90s and early 2000s. I’ve been curious of what modern interpretations might be like. Euan McCall is such a versatile and distinctive perfumer, I know that his take on an aquatic theme would be fascinating. I love his work with JORUM. Rose Highland is gorgeous. The use of salty sea notes with rose is gorgeous. I would love to sample these. Thanks for the draw ! I live in the USA.

  • Sherin Thomas says:

    I learnt about this house at Scent Explorer. They are very upscale house. I generally love aquatic fragrances, and I would love to experience 3 different takes on the theme of the coastline around the British Isles. From PA, USA

  • foreverscents says:

    I have struggled with aquatic fragrances in the past, which is why I am always on the lookout for new ones to try. I love experimenting with what is challenging to me.
    I am extremely interested in Pyroclasm. The notes of tar, metal and saffron–the scorched notes–sound intriguing. As a fan of the British coastline, I truly want hope to sample the collection.
    I live in the USA.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the great review Oli.

    I loved the idea of using green notes like elemi, resins, frankinsence and mastic in an aquatic fragrance is a stroke of pure genius.

    Would love to give this a try.

    Cheers from WI, USA