Headspace Parfums Genievre– Keagan Henman, Michael Hlavac, Eugene Golovesou and Jordane Mathieu – all Unsplash Collage by Danu

“For Gin, in cruel, sober truth supplies the fuel for flaming youth” Noel Coward

Headspace Parfums Genievre Courtesy of the brand

I am, it has to be said quite a fan of Gin in its various incarnations and of one of its parent plants, ‘Juniper’, a member of the family of Cypress, ‘Juniperus Cupressaceae’.  A tree that commands special and sacred significance in traditions around the world, ranging from protection and cleansing in the burning of its wood to the tonic and medicinal properties of its berries, the source of our pleasure in gin. Herbalists and shamans, the world over have utilized these properties for thousands of years in ceremonies as diverse as honoring and placating God’s to healing those who suffer with maladies.

Michal Hlavac – Unsplash

Little wonder then, that still now in its distilled form, be it gin or perfume we are drawn to its aromas, there is something vaguely familiar in its odor, something wild and untamed yet a salve.  During my career as a winemaker in New Zealand I was able to distill my own grappa and I am fascinated by this process, truly alchemical that turns plant material into a sparkling, crystalline distillate, drop by drop of aromatic infused tincture. The stuff of sorcerers and bootleggers. The distillation of juniper berries is always present amongst the various aromatics that mark out gin’s particular character, in fact gin is not gin without this highly unique aroma and taste. How appropriate then that Nicolas Chabot of Headspace Parfums and Fanny Bal perfumer chose to highlight juniper in this gin orientated perfume.

Fanny Bal courtesy of the perfumer

Headspace Parfums Genievre utilizes Headspace technology to capture a component at a certain moment in its place of origin. Genievre is one of the highly impressive collections from the dynamic duo of creator Nicolas Chabot and Fanny Bal as the perfumer and they have drawn forth an exultant and effervescent accolade to this component. Its herbal aspects are gifted a rite of passage with a zest of freshly peeled mandarin, Genievre is the scent of a damn fine gin spritzed with mandarin oil, straight over ice, sipped in fine company at water’s edge.

Sandra Martins – Unsplash

More than that it evokes a sense of ‘joie de vivre, beachside frivolities at the edge of days descent, teasing feet between sand and oceans lap, toying with sensations, glass in hand. Should we escape, just we two, slip away as the twilight crepuscule envelops us. Take some distance from the revelers upon the sand and the rhythm of the dances pulse, a rendezvous out on the periphery of the gathering where the rippling reverberations of music are joined by another rhythm of waves and the breath of winds.

Mediterranean Sea Danu Seith-Fyr 2012©

Shall we stand, out there at the edges of water and earth, saline kissed, the pleasure of sea caresses around our feet and raise a glass to life. The liquid within bright and clear, ice in collision with gin, releasing its aromas as we voyage on its scents. Luminescence ignites, pink pepper in sparkling profusion partners the herbal lay as Juniper berries divest their secrets, complex and alluring.

Mandarin is a masterstroke here as it gathers up all its fellow components and rolls the entirety off my skin, evoking a complete moment of harmonious enjoyment, allowing my nose to imbibe initially, before that first sip, it is the scent of a dusk saturated grove of mandarin trees, dusty underfoot with warmed earth and the cicada’s evensong rise. As the night gathers her darkened robes about her, and our senses are shifted in priority, sight gives way to enhanced olfaction, the winds, gentle and warmed herald forth the forest’s exhalations at days end, cedarwood expanded by the days heat and sun’s attentions releases its warm and voluptuous richness melded with wisps of olibanum, resinous yet lifted aloft. As the last pigments tint the edges of the sea and we sip, the touch of the sun’s warmth is within, a contentment in company, a joy of living, the taste of aromatics, the beats of the music still within our body, dancing in abandon at the liminal, elemental lines.

Mellowing in deepened satisfaction and the tempo of warmer climes, Genievre leaves a tingling wake on skin married to the perfect gin martini gliding across your palate like the afterglow of a replete lover, it lingers long into the night’s folds.

 Beyond Blue Danu Seith-Fyr©

Headspace Parfums Genievre is the essence of carefree days and the pleasure of shared nights, of that sip of a fine gin at weeks end, strips of mandarin zest over ice, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else required. It is a moments repose, a chance in winters depths to find oneself on an estival shoreline in the best company and just watch the sun dip. Vibrant and relaxing, Genievre is a joyful revelation. Take a sip….

Headspace Collection at Pitti Fragranze 2023 Danu Seith-Fyr

My thanks to Nicolas Chabot and Headspace for samples gifted and the introduction at Pitti Fragranze 2023. My words are mine alone.

Mandarin, Pink Pepper CO2, Juniper Berries – Balkans, Cedar, Olibanum,  92.50% ingredients of natural origin

Headspace Parfums Genievre

Thanks to the generosity of Headspace Parfums we have a 30ml bottle of Genievre for a registered reader in the EU, UK or US. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Danu’s review of Genievre and where you live. Draw closes 2/5/2024

Please read more about Creative Director Nicholas Chabot who was Michelyn’s best creative director of 2016

Fanny Bal writes about her path to becoming a perfumer here

Headspace Tubéreuse was a Finalist for the 2023 Fragrance Foundation France Awards: Best Perfume from an Independent Brand.

J’s review of Kirsch which was a top 10 of 2023

Please enjoy Lauryn’s review of Sauge, Rachel Ng’s review of Myrrhe

Follow us on Instagram: @headspaceparfum @fannybalparfumeur @cafleurebonofficial @danu_sf  @ode_r_

Headspace Parfums Genievre is available on the brand’s website, in the USA at Luckyscent and Jovoy Paris.

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