For the Scent of It Folk Tale (Michael Schrammel) 2022+ Choose Your Own Adventure Giveaway

For The Scent of It Folk Tale

For the Scent of It Folk Tale by Michael Devine©

“The folk tale is the primer of the picture-language of the soul.” — Joseph Campbell

After For the Scent of It Folk Tale, (a fragrance composed by Wisconsin-based indie perfumer Michael Schrammel), hit my top ten list of best perfumes of 2022, Michelyn excitedly said, “We should do a full review!” And, of course, I responded with, “Great idea! I’m on it!” Then it dawned on me: how do I review a fragrance which was designed to eschew description? Structured with accords intended by its creator to be, in his words, “difficult to decipher,” I was, at first, up for the challenge of deciphering and attempting to identity notes (after all, I am the Fragrance Detective), but then a new question arose … should I? Acclaimed fantasy author Brandon Sanderson once wrote, “The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.”

Michael Schrammel For The Scent of it

Michael Schrammel, photo courtesy Michael Schrammel

According to Michael, “The idea for this fragrance began years ago. I have always loved the idea of a community-based fragrance where no notes are listed and people can discuss with each other what they think they smell. The name Folk Tale comes from the idea that folk tales change over the years from person to person, writer to writer. That is exactly the thought process on this fragrance.”

Perfumes for Book Lovers

Love of Books, Photo by Michael Devine©

How do I attempt to describe this olfactive choose-your-own-adventure? Let’s first examine the composition Sanderson-style; I’ll give you questions to think upon… What colors do you see when you close your eyes and turn toward the sun? Can you identify the moment—regardless of calendar demarcation—that a new season has begun? What’s your earliest childhood memory? What’s your favorite opening line from a book? Do you see the art that surrounds you at this very moment—even if it’s invisible?

In the spirit of the “choose-your-own-adventure” books, a series which allows the reader to determine the direction of the story by following prompts to different sections of the narrative, this review is about to diverge. If you’d like to know my personal interpretation of Folk Tale, read on … otherwise, skip to the next paragraph NOW! Still here? Ok, here’s what I personally perceive:  Folk Tale is a decidedly orange-hued, watercolor abstraction on pulpy, cold-pressed paper. I divine bergamot through orange blossom with a pleasantly-rubbery accord which may or may not be lapsang tea. Additional floral notes emerge and just as I’m ready to acknowledge their presence, disappear into soft cedar-y woods. There’s a touch of bright smoke, not from a campfire, but from a distant temple where silence is comforting, not cold. The aforementioned rubbery note stirred my soul and brought back memories of childhood toys, of carefree days before the burdens of adulting. For the Scent of It Folk Tale is olfactive Prozac, sun-drenched and spiritually weightless. At a time in my fragrance journey where I’m growing more selective about what I add to my collection, I now look for an emotional connection. Folk Tale has the “ah-factor” and instantly brought a smile to my face.

For the Scent of It Folk Tale

 Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books collage

I can assure you that  For the Scent of It Folk Tale, high-concept aside, smells wonderful and performs as should an eau de parfum at 20% concentration; it has excellent longevity (I get 8+ hours every wearing) and moderate projection. At the time of writing, Folk Tale is only available in 10ml bottles for $30 US, a reasonable price (as is all in his excellent line) for an indie, hand-made original. Samples are also available. Word has it that Folk Tale, like any story handed down and widely spread, may evolve over time. If you’re expecting Folk Tale to tell a story, don’t be surprised if it’s your own.

Disclosure: bottle purchased by the author from Michael’s Etsy Shop, For the Scent of It

Notes: You Decide

—Michael Devine, Senior Contributor

For the Scent of it Folk Tale 2022

 Folk Tale, Courtesy For the Scent of It

Thanks to the generosity of Michael Schrammel, we have a  bottle of For the Scent of It Folk Tale to give to one lucky randomly chosen registered ÇaFleureBon reader IN THE CONTINENTAL US ONLY. Please register here or your comment will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment with what intrigues you about Folk Tale and indicate that you are in the Continental United States. Draw closes 1/10/23

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Michelyn awarded  Michael Schrammel of For The Scent of It Best Discovery of 2022, and Molten Ambra Honorable Mention in her top ten of 2022

Michael Schrammel is 168th in our American Perfumer Series

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17 comments

  • Brad Woolslayer says:

    As a fragrance collector and reviewer, I love smaller bottles. I also love trying to decipher notes and smells, so this concept is certainly a fun one, and the name also indicates that the fragrance could lead the wearer down a path of familiarity. I live in Maryland USA.

  • opalbear says:

    I’m so glad you did this review!! Not only have I loved each of his fragrances (I’ve tried more than half) but I’ve been pining for people to get these so we could swap notes!! It’s an amazing fragrance, complex but beautifully blended. I also got cedar, but also vetiver, osmanthus, Iris, immortelle, peony and magnolia, coriander, musk, myrtle and sandalwood. But even with all that I felt I was missing something slightly fruity like apple blossom or basil perhaps but not quite? And not sure about the sandalwood tbh, the wood I’m still sorting beyond cedar.
    I really long to hear what others get? All of his blends are amazing to me. The forbidden Fig is one of my favorites of my dozen + fig fragrances!
    If it’s possibly changing all the more intriguing! We can talk editions.
    In USA

  • dLin says:

    Watched a video on this fragrance a while back and it has me interested. The idea of not having official notes listed and for the wearer to decide for themselves perfectly fits the name of the folk tale. From TX, USA.

  • rachelng says:

    Michael!! ❤️❤️❤️
    Thank you for the Gorgeous description of For The Scent of It Folk Tale and the Fantastic intellectual query into how we experience, name, and put boundaries around Art. Fascinating! It’s important to remember that these boundaries are constructions (helpful constructions) that can (should) be dismantled from time to time. We should always return to our own experience. ❤️ I’ve been wanting to experience this house, so thank you for the Wonderful opportunity! USA ❤️

  • roseylis69 says:

    When you said that Folk Tale had the ” ah-factor” is where it caught me.
    I like that none of the notes are listed and wonder what I would get out of it.
    USA

  • Torax says:

    Oh boy, I think For The Scent of It are making true gems and this one is an amazing gem. I love the concept of choose-your-own-adventure behind.
    The braight smoky accords seems really interesting. I would love to try this one soon, so I hope I can win this amazing fragrance.
    USA, VA, here.

  • Arron_Q says:

    I absolutely love everything I have tried from For the Scent of It, which would be all but the most recent two releases. I have Folk Tale and Michael D.’s description of it as sun-drenched is absolutely spot-on. (I’m using his last initial to avoid confusing him with Michael S., the perfumer of the fragrance.) The citruses are bright and settle into some gorgeous woods. In between, though, I picked up some fruitiness – a juicy, fleshy fruit somewhere between a peach and a mango. And the musks…oh, the musks he chose for this… stunning choice. They are soft, clean, and elegant but last for days.

    During my journey, I pictured sitting on the porch of a cedar cabin in the middle of a sun-filed clearing deep in the woods. Everything is bright and glistening, but its not too hot. Rather, there’s a breeze coming through carrying the scent of the magical fruits growing in these woods. I lean back in my chair and daydream about the adventures to come.

    Reading from NC, USA….but if my comment is selected, please re-roll – someone else needs to have this experience.

  • skye says:

    I like Michael Schrammel’s approach to the wearer experiencing FolkTale without the pressure of knowing what the notes are and what we “should” be smelling. It seems to me a more holistic way of approaching scent. From the review, Folk Tale seems like a well composed fragrance with some decidedly citrus notes. Would love to try this. MD, USA.

  • Emily L says:

    I can’t wait to try Michael’s fragrances, especially Folk Tale! It’s thrilling to try a new indie perfume house. The 10 ml bottles are perfect. I’d rather have a small bottle than a large. Thank you for introducing me to For The Scent of It! ~Indiana

  • roxhas1cat says:

    Interesting to release a fragrance without notes, I always gravitate to the list of notes first. I love folk tales and the twists they take through the generations. Thanks for the chance. USA.

  • Bryant Worley says:

    This going to be a conversation starter, from the name down to the ‘No listing’ of notes. And I love the 20% concentration, as it’ll make me smellarific for a long time.

    I live in Waldorf, Maryland, USA

  • mmerline says:

    This is one of the For the Scent of It perfumes I haven’t sampled yet, because I didn’t know what to make of the concept, but you’ve converted me. I’ll try one with my next order. I’m curious if I’ll pick up any notes immediately; my nose is completely untrained, and I often need a nudge in the right direction to correctly identify notes, or to at least parse them from the blend. I’m up for the challenge, even if I get rank-novice results. Terrific review for a difficult-to-review fragrance, Michael!

    I’m in the Continental United States. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • Michael Prince says:

    What interests me about For the Scent of It Folk Tale is learning more about Michael Schrammel the Indie Perfumer behind the scenes of For the Scent of It from his upbringing in Wisconsin and I love how Michael Devine describes Folk Tale relating to a story from the citrusy floral notes to that interesting rubbery accord I would love to try this. I’ve heard great things about so many of his other fragrances including Molten Ambra. I am from Ohio, USA.

  • drjedi says:

    Very interesting concept. I like the idea of letting the user appreciate the olfactory art by sensing how they feel and from what they know of notes and accords. More like enjoying a painting or piece of music from the feelings they evoke rather than dissecting the colors and musical notes. Like also that Folk Tale is reasonably priced even though it is an eau de parfum at 320 % concentration. Would love to try this and other offerings by this brand. From USA.

  • sephrenia300 says:

    Wonderful article Michael! What intrigues me about Folk Tale is the idea of a community-based “choose-your-own-adventure” fragrance that, like a folk tale, changes over the years from person to person, writer to writer. As a child, I LOVED choose-your-own-adventure books, and I love the idea of coming together and being a part of a community effort to create a fragrance. I live in the Continental US.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the great review Michael.

    I loved reading about the creative brief behind this fragrance. I’m also very surprised at it’s reasonable price and love trying to figure out notes in a scent.

    This sounds like a fascinating fragrance for this.

    Cheers from WI, USA