Creative director Ben Gorham has once again teamed up with Robertet Perfumer Jerome Epinette to create Flowerhead Eau De Parfum, a scent inspired by Mr. Gorham’s sister (who was married in a traditional Indian wedding) and is a perfumed amalgam of his family's Indian heritage.
An Indian Bride Covers her face with garlands of flowers known as gajras(Sam Panthaky/AFPgetty images)
As part of the wedding preparations, blossoms are woven into garlands (gajras) and hung all about. Lotuses are floated in water and large bowls. In the ritual itself the bride’s head is covered completely in a veil of real flowers, hiding her beauty and enhancing her divine femininity. Bride and groom exchange garlands and afterwards the brother of the groom showers the newlyweds in loose petals. All of this would create a sublime aroma of flowers everywhere, lingering in the air for the many days of the celebration.
Jerome Epinette and Ben Gorham of Byredo
Flowerhead begins with an amazing accord that reminds me of the often discordant notes of the opening strum of a sitar. Strangely incongruous aromas of intensely herbal angelica, tart sweet lingonberries and sharp Amalfi lemon swirl together into a lively verdant fruity harmony. This captures the scene and setting perfectly: the excitement, the freshness of the spring air and an almost tangible happiness in the crowd. All of this permeates the air, heavy with the aromas of flowers entwined with sweet tendrils of sheer incense. I closed my eyes and sighed. Flowerhead projects the air of many flowers all thickly braided, strung together and draped around my neck as I join in the festivities.
Raja Ravi Verma: Nair Lady adorning her hair 1873
Wild jasmine Sambac is maneuvered deftly into a dewy green tuberose, radiating a lush velvety almost lactic aroma. Rose petals, often strewn about the aisles and altar, mute some of the white flowers’ indoles while lending a tender almost innocent passion underneath it all. Ethereal yet palpable, Flowerhead dries to become a sultry combination of amber and suede leather that clings to skin and fabric for hours, never really losing that pleasing and festive floral aroma. With few simple notes and three of the most intensely scented flowers in perfumery, M. Epinette has deftly woven a gajra (garland) of scent that encapsulates a myriad of joyous blossoms and fruits, with scintillating freshness and delicate sweetness. Sillage: above average. Longevity: good.
Notes: Angelica seeds, lingonberries, Amalfi lemon, wild sambac jasmine, dewy tuberose, rose petals, amber & suede.
Disclosure: Review based on a sample sent to me by Sebastian in Fine Fragrance at Barneys New York
–John Reasinger, Senior Editor and Natural Perfume Editor
Art Director Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
Thanks to the kind people at Barneys New York, in NYC, we have a boxed spray sample of Flowerhead EDP to give away to one US reader. To be eligible to win, please leave a comment about why you would like to try Flowerhead or your favorite BYREDO perfume and that you live in the US. Draw will end March 12th 2014.
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