For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony (Michael Schrammel) +Imperial Gardens Giveaway 

For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony

For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony bottle, courtesy of the brand

“What a riot of brilliant purple and tender crimson” – Tang Xianzu, The Peony Pavilion, 1598

Peony Pavilion Chinese Opera

Peony Flower and Peony Pavilion Chinese Opera collage, by Rachel K. Ng via unsplash

Peony flowers hold a powerful place in Chinese culture, from Imperial gardens to great legends. China’s greatest romantic opera, The Peony Pavilion, tells the story of a beautiful girl who falls in love with a handsome scholar she meets in a dream. This story of forbidden love is set in a garden of peonies in full bloom. Known as the “King of Flowers (in China),” the peony was adored most during the Tang Dynasty, China’s cultural golden age, as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Michael Schrammel of For The Scent of it

Michel Schrammel Courtesy of the brand

I was delighted to learn that small-batch artisan perfumery For the Scent of It has reissued one of its most accomplished floral scents, a take of one of our favorite flowers, Forsaken Peony.  Perfumer (and ÇaFleureBon Notes From The Lab contributor) Michael Schrammel has been inspired by this breathtaking bloom. For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony in a limited run.

Best peony perfumes

According to Michael, “Forsaken Peony was one of the first 5 fragrances released at For the Scent of It. After being discontinued in 2022, and several requests from people to bring it back, it has returned this summer. As a matter of fact, its inception began on a summer day back in 2019. I was walking the dog down the street and took notice of someone’s garden. It was a garden full of red roses surrounding a shrub of peony. The sunlight made the peony stand out bright pink, almost fluorescent. It looked as if the peony was lost & screaming to be seen above a sea of roses. It was from this idea – an attention seeking peony – that Forsaken Peony was born. I knew I wanted its voice to be heard above all else in the perfume.”

Chinese art peony

Yun Shouping, Peonies, Qing Dynasty wiki

For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony opens with a sunny bergamot note paired with litchi fruit that together lift the dry woody aspects of litchi skin in a way that recalls rustic bramble of a country garden. They combine brilliantly to enhance the floral nuances of one another, imparting a fresh naturalness right from the start. The peony accord is lush and sweetly spicy. Citrus and rose float around the peony accord, weaving shades of flesh and blush-colored pinks throughout the scent. Iris provides more layers of canopy, translucent and gauzy like the silky petals of the peony flower itself.

The base of For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony adds the magical colors of dusk into our garden of peonies. Golden amber and incense create the sense of smelling peonies during sunset, as the rich shades of peony petals seems to bleed into the sky, turning the world crimson and dusty pink. Shadings of cinnamon, clove, pepper, and balsamic smoky nuances slowly rise from the base, wrapping the peony accord in their incense and amber warmth. A musk accord creates a floating feeling, wrapping our garden in a kind of magical space that few are allowed to enter. For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony is a journey into magical, romantic gardens that few have a chance to experience – grab it while you can!

Notes: bergamot, litchi (Magnolan®), peony, rose, iris, incense, amber, musk

Disclaimer: bottle my own, opinions my own.

~ Rachel K. Ng, Editor

For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony

For the Scent of It Forsaken Peony bottle by Rachel

Thanks to the generosity of For the Scent of It  and Michael Schrammel, we have a 30 ml bottle of Forsaken Peony for one registered reader in the CONTINENTAL USA ONLY. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Rachel’s review and where you live. Draw closes 8/22/2024

PLEASE VISIT FOR THE SCENT OF IT Online Shop AND SUPPORT OUR ARTISAN PERFUMERS

Michelyn awarded Michael Schrammel of For The Scent of It Best Discovery of 2022,

Contributor Sandi Lundberg awarded Dreaming in Tonka a top ten of 2023

Michael Schrammel is 168th in our American Perfumer Series

Read Michael Schrammel’s Perfumer’s Deep Dive into Vanilla in his excellent Notes From The Lab post.

Check out  Rachel’s review of For the Scent of It Gardenia Colada

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurbonofficial @forthescentofit @rachel.k.ng

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22 comments

  • Ramses Perez says:

    I can see based on the notes how the prompt is the start of the show surrounded by the roses. Who knew one could get inspiration from just walking down the street and spotting a garden? I don’t see peonies too often in fragrances and to have one as special as this one for the fragrance’s limited run, it’s truly a one of a kind event. The amber and musk provide the moment captured by Michael in which the sun shines on the peonies and making it stand out from the rest, also helps with the longevity of the fragrance. All in all, a trip to an exotic garden in Asia is what I picture from the scent. Cheers from Continental USA.

  • Arron_Q says:

    I’m a long time fan of Michael’s work, but Forsaken Peony is the only scent he’s done that I have not had a chance to sample. I know he knows his way around florals, as Rose to Nowhere, Gardenia Colada, and Stone Roses (also discontinued), are all incredibly nuanced and vibrant. I enjoy the scent of peony as is, but reading Rachel’s review brought to my attention that Michael has incorporated incense into the base. I’m quite familiar with the incense notes Michael uses, and they are fantastic. (Still hoping/waiting for Dreaming in Incense). I really like the sound of these dusky tones supporting the juicy lychee and peony. Best of luck to everyone. I live in NC, USA.

  • snowflake15 says:

    I love when the peonies bloom. Every color has a different scent. It’s about time there is a peony frag. NY state

  • kusudamakitten98 says:

    My interest in this fragrance was peaked by Rachel’s description of the inspiration for it — The Peony Pavilion. I would love to try this peony-based scent that comes from such a beautiful story. I remember seeing peonies in Chinese calligraphy paintings growing up, but I didn’t know until reading this review that they were considered the “King of Flowers.”

    From NJ, USA

  • David Furman says:

    The note breakdown seems simple but im sure based on the order things can get quite complex. Peony is not a flower I have much experience with. Couldn’t recognize the smell alone but with the rose and iris mid I picture a clean and smooth texture with a freshness to it. The base of incense, amber, and musk brings a familiarity to it a rounds it out. Would love to experience for myself, from Jacksonville, NC.

  • madamepeace says:

    The brightness of a countryside garden and contrast of incense and amber nuances to the character of Forsaken Peony appeal to me most in Rachel’s description. I also love Michael’s story behind the scent and wanting the peony to stand out amongst the roses!! From Oregon.

  • AromaDulce73 says:

    I’ve sampled a few of Michael’s FTSOI creations and this one sounds very interesting. Not big on florals but with an incense and amber base this truly sounds like something I would like to check out.

    Los Angeles Ca, USA

  • opalbear says:

    Oh how amazing is this?? I had a sample but missed getting a bottle. I’m so thankful it’s back. I always love Michael’s work. His Forbidden Fig holds a special place in my collection because I adore fig and he got it just perfect on that one! I love the litchi in this and just everything about it, all well balanced.
    I am in California. Thank you for the generous give away.

  • Eris.can.swatch.kaos says:

    Forsaken Peony sounds like a floral dreamscape, where you can dance among the blooms and then rest and recite beautiful poetry. I adore a peony scent, it’s one of my favorites, and pairing it with incense is just enchanting. It’s too bad this is a limited run as I’m sure it could be a favorite. I live in Oregon

  • lavieest says:

    Omg, bow I love frags with peony! I’ve never had the opportunity to try this brand. I am excited to try to win this giveaway. Thank you
    Usa

  • jessica.rauch says:

    I love the idea of peony standing out in a garden. It is such a vibrant color and scent. I also love the description of its significance in Chinese culture. Definitely a unique fragrance! -NYC, NY

  • marioescobar503 says:

    This fragrance sounds really good and i would love to own it! I live in the usa, thank you!

  • yvree says:

    I love the opera images. Peony as a scent is new to me but I am intrigued by the incense in the base notes. “Shadings of cinnamon, clove, pepper, and balsamic smoky nuances slowly rise from the base” sounds like a fantastic sensory experience. I Live in the Cont USA

  • Annika says:

    I always thought that peony was one of the most unabashedly feminine notes in perfumes. I didn’t realize the strong ties the flower had to Chinese culture, from the Imperial gardens to traditional Chinese opera, Michael seems to pay homage to this connection with the use of the synthetic litchi accord. The addition of rose and iris on a spiced amber musk base makes for a lovely scent. MD, USA

  • Teresa C says:

    Well, my grandfather propegated famous peonies, so of COURSE I have to sample this one. I am familiar with many different peony scents, but am always looking for one that takes me home, as it were. The peonies at sunset, standing over all the other flowers sounds great, and I am curious how the spices in the base bend the fragrance from pure floral. I Live in the US.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    Must be good if people wanted it to come back. It’s been awhile since I’ve smelled a peony so happy to have it described to me. I like that the peony wants to be noticed over the rose (considered the queen of flowers I’ve noticed). Love the name of the scent. Nice article. USA.

  • mmerline says:

    An “attention seeking peony” is a great concept for a fragrance and I’m happy to hear Michael is returning to some of his earliest compositions. Rachel makes it sounds like all the floral and fruity notes in Forsaken Peony serve the namesake flower, highlighting its bright and blush pinks, adding texture and naturalism. And the turn into incense, amber, and “floating” musk accord in the base sounds wonderful.

    I’m in the continental USA.

  • angeldaleccio says:

    Thanks for the backstory on peonies! This os my wife’s favorite flower. I discovered this house at a farmers market last year and got quite a few bottles from Michael since. Would love a bottle from his first few expressions.

  • Diana D says:

    I did not know that the peony was adored most during the Tang Dynasty, China’s cultural golden age, as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Peony has always been my favorite flower and favorite fragrance note. It is such a pretty, powdery floral that blends so beautifully with just about any fragrance. The notes in this fragrance sounds so magnificent. I have never tried anything from this perfume house, so I’d be incredibly grateful to have this be my first.
    I live in the USA.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the nice review Rachel.

    I really loved the idea behind this fragrance. I have often seen peonies by themselves while walking around and then seem to want to make their presence known to me. I’ve been following Michael and his writeups for a while, so I’m glad this fragrance is returning.

    I would love to get a chance to try this.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • foreverscents says:

    I am glad Forsaken Peony has been brought back for a limited time. This fragrance sounds dreamy, with the litchi, peony, rose, and iris notes. The amber note, to suggest smelling a gorgeous peony at night, sounds absolutely beguiling.
    I live in the USA.

  • Michael Prince says:

    What sparks my interest based on Rachel’s review is learning more about this beautiful floral fragrance perfumed by the talented artisan perfumer Michael Schrammel featuring Peony. It sounds lovely and I would love to try it. I am from Ohio, USA.