J’s image of Scents of Man Ancient Forest

Scents of Man is the only perfumery on the picturesque Isle of Man, a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. A passionate team runs this boutique business with expertise in perfumery, herbalism, formulation and medicine. Founded by perfumer Andrea Byrne in 2014, the brand launched its perfume line in 2015. Scents of Man’s focus is on crafting perfumes and skincare products that they themselves want in the world, using only the highest quality ingredients and innovative, research-driven techniques. They cultivate and distill their own botanicals whenever possible, while sourcing others from trusted suppliers of premium oils, resins, and eco-conscious chemists. Each ingredient is meticulously selected for its excellence and effectiveness, all while upholding a commitment to cruelty-free beauty. There’s currently 20 perfumes in the line, I felt a distinct signature and style present in the 7 perfumes I got to sample, having smelled the beautiful fruit accords, like in the beautiful Godred, I can assume the more floral centric perfumes are equally as stunning.

 Scents of Man perfumer Andrea Byrne courtesy of the brand

A symphony of woody scents unfold on your skin as Scents of Man Ancient Forest comes to life. Fresh green aromatic notes intertwine with delicate berries and blossoms, while the sharper, damp essence of pine mingles with airy violets, evoking the vastness of a serene woodland. This lush landscape is further enhanced by a gentle, powdery heliotrope that spreads its velvety touch throughout the forest. Scents of Man Ancient Forest has a unique woody fougère character, brimming with opulent aromas of verdant greens and cedar, where the cypress exudes a soft, powdery sensation, like a floral snow dusted over the cypress fronds like silk. Echoes of traditional Italian fougères linger in this fragrance, as creamy basil imparts a soapy, fresh green aroma, seamlessly blending with the deeper, sweeter notes of tobacco and blackberry. This delightful sweetness is enveloped in the crisp embrace of musky fir and pinewoods.

J’s AI Forest image

Scents of Man Ancient Forest has this edge of Europe Forest feel to it too, it’s a different kind of forest from the ones I know from Scandinavia and Germany, this feels like home to me, out in the forests around Dublin and Wicklow. A gentle breeze carries the subtle fragrances of gorse and lightly sweet heathers, harmonising beautifully with the aromatic greens scents I’ve only experienced on the islands at the edge of Europe. The ground feels delightfully soft, as if walking on damp earth and moss, with twigs and pine needles cushioning each step, while the soft embrace of cypress branches adds a comforting touch. The clever inclusion of violet and myrrh introduces a hint of intense sweetness, suggesting the presence of nearby wildlife.

At the middles stage of Ancient Forest, there’s a lovely transformation as the vibrant greens of the pines shift into a warm musk, while powdery woods take on a smoky feel, enriched by resinous notes that deepen the atmosphere. Despite these transitions, Ancient Forest retains an elegant translucency, creating a sense of spaciousness within the woodland.

Scents of Man Ancient Forest courtesy of the brand

Ancient Forest’s dry down is a rather beautiful smooth green floral, cassisesq with its sharper edges rounded out with a soft sandalwood and vanilla. The forest feels lighter now, there’s a soft clean aldehydic musky breeze giving a clean facet to the air Soft pines and fir trees linger at the periphery, intertwining with the cassis, whose roots guide you toward subtle animalic undertones, just whispers for those that get deeply intimate with you. This green cassisesq sharpness and oud, this subtle addition adds a beautiful realness to this Scents of Man Ancient Forest, those subtle dark notes conjure the wildness that lurks behind the bushes and trees, whose traces are found on slick mosses that coat the forests floor where mushrooms grow in scattered clumps amongst the flora and fauna that live there.

J’s AI forest 

Soft smoky woods, feeling like they’re gently charred give off this light pine tree incense cosy feel, its hard to not think of Christmas smelling it at this time of year as soft swirls of tobacco and hay give off a wonderful warmth. Everything is composed with a deft touch; Andrea Byrne’s composition in Ancient Forest gives you just enough to make this old forest packed with nature surround you, taking you deep into its heart where soft elegant flowers grow. Its captures the beauty of the woods, while being a beautiful perfume to wear using sweet notes to balance the more aromatic greenery.This is an Ancient Forest that’s filled with magic.

Notes: Violet, Pine Needles, Winter Heliotrope, Juniper, Bluebell, Blackberry, Sweet Basil, Fir, Vanilla, Cedar, Gorse, Cypress, Cistus, Tobacco, Moss, Vanilla Oak, Mushroom, Hay.

Disclosure: A sample of Scents of Man Ancient Forest was to J for review, thoughts and nose are his own.

-Senior Editor J Wearescentient, artist & olfactive writer

 

Scents of Man  Woods and Fougères Sample Box courtesy of the brand: includes Ancient Forest, Greenman, Druidale, Manannan and Skyhill

Thanks to the generosity of Scents of Man we have a Scents of Man Woods and Fougères sample box of 5 deluxe samples available for one registered reader worldwide You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on J’s review and where you live. Draw closes 11/16/2024

You can purchase Scent of Man’s artisan perfumes and beauty products directly from them here

Check out their other sample boxes: The Florals, Fruity and Gourmand, Chypre and Fruit Florals

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