At this time of year I must remind myself that I no longer drink alcohol … not even a drop. While I make a point of attending friends’ festivities and family gatherings, I am far from the irrepressible party girl that I was just a few years ago. Now, as an observer rather than a participant, I find myself surprised and amused by the antics and Bacchanalian shenanigans of my fellow guests – knowing full well that no matter how much I hate to drive, my services will soon be requested to transport the inebriated safely home. I too have been, on many an occasion, at least as sloshed as these friends and thankful for a sober chauffeur. Nevertheless, I can’t help but feel a wee bit put upon and resentful of the responsibilities foisted on me as Designated Driver. Staying home alone is not an option; so yet again I will ring in the New Year, as so many others do, chafing in my sober role. But happily, this season the sting and stigma of Designated Driver-ship has been mitigated by five remarkable olfactory “libations” created by OK Fine Fragrances, the new, unique and excellent adventure in perfumery, brought to us by veteran perfumer Steve DeMercado and his friend and band mate, innovative marketer and fragrance developer Michael Simpson.
Photo of Steve DeMercado and Michael Simpson courtesy of OK Fine Fragrances ©
OK (I can almost hear you ask) how can any perfume replace the desire for a good stiff drink? Here is my short version. Since approximately 2009, when I first encountered the EdP Queen Latifah, I have been enamored of and have been following the work of multi Fifi award winning master perfumer Steve DeMercado. His career in fragrance spans well over 30 years and his creations for Marc Jacobs, Vince Camuto, Calvin Klein, Coty and Michael Kors, among many others, are legend. With the 2019 debut of OK Fine Fragrances, Steve DeMercado’s signature style and Michael Simpson’s passion for creative marketing have come together in American Oak barrels, infused with a variety of alcoholic spirits.
Charred American White Oak Barrels. Photo via Wikipedia ©
The idea of aging fragrances in American Oak, infused or not, is genius! “This process has been used to add aroma, complexity and to smooth fine wines, whiskeys and bourbons for ages, and now we’re pioneering this creative process for an entire range of fine fragrances.” – Steve De Mercado and Michael Simpson. Amber in Mezcal, Smoked Oud in Bourbon, Santal in Gin, Double Vanilla in Bourbon and Patchouli in Golden Rum – each fragrance is a carefully wrought, limited edition, an olfactory cocktail that serves as a stand-in for the forbidden (to me) boozy shot, the spirits infused in the perfumes providing intoxicating pleasure, just short of inebriation.
OK Fine Fragrances # 401 AMO Amber in Mezcal, #302 OBO Smoked Oud in Bourbon and # 501 SGO Santal in Gin. Photo by Gail Gross ©
Upon reflection, the first OK Fine Fragrance that I tried, AMO Batch #401 Amber, aged for 39 days in a Mezcal seasoned, charred American oak barrel, is the most unusual, the most abstract of the five. The slightly dry, green, sweet clay-like and smoky aroma of excellent Mezcal, spiced with suggestions of what could be Yerba Mate, floats around my skin briefly before settling into golden woodsy amber, laced with dark labdanum. Despite notes of Benzoin and Tonka, #401 Amber in Mezcal is never thick or gourmand, but from start to finish, wraps me in a gossamer, otherworldly veil of scent, fading after about eight hours into a dry mist of vanillac woods. Notes: Olibanum, Labdanum, Benzoin, Tonka and Woods.
OBO Batch #302, Smoked Oud aged for 47 days in a bourbon seasoned oak barrel, begins as a beautiful somewhat traditional incense perfume touched with a brief suggestion of attar of roses, freshened with spicy ginger. Olibanum, frankincense and a hint of what could be burning oud chips transport me to memories of midnight Christmas masses and the obligatory swinging censors billowing fragrant clouds of incense. Just as I settle into contemplating the sacred mysteries, I notice a familiar comforting scent wafting from the man sitting next to me in the pew. An arresting presence, the suave warmth of fine, smoky aged bourbon, has me wondering if my role as designated driver must extend to a total stranger, one who has obviously had far more than his fair share of holiday cheer. No! This time my good deeds stop in the sanctuary! I am here to relax and partake of the incense and woods – and I do just that for twelve hours and more. Notes: Blonde oud, ginger, sandalwood, juniper berries and olibanum.
SGO Batch #501, Santal aged in a Gin seasoned, charred American Oak Barrel, is a potent, smooth hybrid sandalwood warmed with woody, spiced notes of cardamom. Juniper berries and the gin infused oak barrel manage to tame the mineral and slightly raw qualities of Australian sandalwood, offering me olfactory recollections, the smells of the antique wooden furniture in an historic, upscale bar where I used to order a drink or two. #501 Santal in Gin progresses over a period of ten hours, from the earthy and edgy to an almost buttery, round Mysore-type sandalwood, all the while retaining a dark, totally sensual, polished and politely seductive persona. Notes: Sandalwood, Cardamom, Cypress and Juniper Berries.
OK Fine Fragrances # 101 VBO Double Vanilla in Bourbon and # 201 PRO Patchouli in Golden Rum. Photo by Gail Gross ©
Ultra smooth, exotic, complex and sultry – words fail as I attempt to describe OK Fine Fragrances VBO Batch #101 Double Vanilla in Bourbon. OK’s luscious (yes it is!) vanilla fragrance is seasoned for 62 days in a bourbon infused charred American Oak barrel. The already inimitable luster of an amalgam of several gorgeous types of vanilla is amped up by tonka and vetiver and finished with a creamy suede note, enhanced and refined by the magical enzymatic actions and reactions that oak barrel aging provides. Aging in oak is known to impart smooth, round, vanillac qualities to pretty much whatever is in the barrel or cask. American white oak from Oregon is especially prized for this effect. Fruity notes, florals and even coconut nuances are often developed in the process. As VBO Batch #101 Double Vanilla in Bourbon matures on skin, the perfume becomes even more beautiful. Fruit and smoky bourbon build on a structure of fine vanilla and woods to create a stunner of a fragrance that leaves me tipsy with the pleasures of pure vanillac delight. Notes: Vanillas, Tonka, Vetiver and creamy Suede.
PRO Batch # 201 ages real Patchouli in Golden Rum for 52 days. As the enzymatic interaction between the fragrance and the charred oak barrels works its magic, the rough head-shop vibes of patchouli are transformed and refined into a new intoxicating, sweetly profound dimension of scent. Sheer notes of golden rum, vanilla and fresh cut wood smooth and resurface the dark patchouli with veneers of burnt sugar, caramelized molasses and smoke. In fact, PRO # 201 Patchouli in Golden Rum enjoys a double dose of enzymatic action, the Rum itself also having first been aged in oaken barrels! Rum, fruity nuances and a unique buttery quality developed from the barrels create a new, irresistibly fresh and intoxicating perfume that raises the bar for patchouli fragrances in general and redefines for me what a fine gourmand perfume should really smell like. Notes: Patchouli, Tonka, Vanilla and Wood.
Art by Gail Gross©
Now back to the Designated Driver: Are you “on the wagon” this New Year, feeling down, bored at parties and functioning as an under appreciated Designated Driver? Don’t fret! Just remember “EGBOK (Everything is Going To Be OK)”, especially if you’ve had a generous shot or spritz of one of the five fabulous new perfumes from OK Fine Fragrances. Best Wishes for a Happy and Safe New Year!
Disclaimer: I would like to thank OK Fine Fragrances for my soon to be drained bottles of the five perfumes reviewed above. My opinions are my own.
Gail Gross – Senior Editor
And to our readers, spritz don’t drink and drive. Happy New Year, perfumistas –Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon @okfinefragrances and @azarsmith7
If you’re in the USA, please enter to win a 30 ml bottle of your choice from OK Fine Fragrances in the USA only. To be eligible you must be a registered reader, register here or your comment will not count. Tell us what you like about any of the OK Fine Fragrances, based on Gail’s review. Which OK Fine Fragrance you would want should you win. Have you ever been a Designated Driver? Draw closes 1/3/2020
This is our Privacy and Draw Rules Policy
We announce the winners on our site and our Facebook page so like Cafleurebon and use our blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.