Robert Frank,  William S. Burroughs as ‘Opium Jones’, 1960’s 

Lean, lanky, and almost cadaverous in later years, William S. Burroughs was an icon of the Beat Generation and Postmodern prose. His first novel, “Junky”, is a semi autobiographical account of his years spent as a drug addict and dealer, with occasional stints in rehab, in conservative Post-War America. “Junky” depicted a side of life that was barely heard about, and that novel and his later works, Queer and Naked Lunch are seminal masterworks of contemporary American literature.

Burroughs' Junkie was the precursor to the modern graphic novel

 

 As I reported from Milan, Junky definitely got my attention.  Perfumer Anais Biguine, brand Jardins D'Ecrivains takes inspiration from famous authors, and although many are controversial (Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and George Sand) to create a perfume around the debauchery of “Junky”, is an interesting and bold choice. How does one interpret a man who was so talented and tortured. Born into wealth and introduced to drugs by the family housekeeper before he was a teen, his life sounds surprisingly "familiar" especially these days when drug abuse, rehab, and sexual abuse can seem commonplace and fodder for reality T.V.  Jardins D'Ecrivains has done a remarkable interpretation of capturing  the complexity of William S. Burroughs who was born February 5, 1914.

The opening of Junky is quite green, with a resinous hint of fresh, sticky hemp. The sharp greenery wraps its tendrils around a softer heart of iris and flowers. The visual I get is of a leafy hand gently crushing fresh petals until they are bruised and emitting their last gasp of fragrance. A few violets unfold, their innocent aroma adding poignancy. The crushing hand waits for the petals to lie limp and spent, cuts them with the razor sharpness of galbanum, then submerges them into a warm bath scented with woods and resins, and a soft vetiver that adds a taste of salty tears. The hand emerges, then dips a small jagged bottle into the infused  grey liquid to capture the precious perfume. Junky is that fragrance; warm and beautiful, but slightly cruel at first, like the stab of the needle followed by the golden bliss of oblivion. Kudos to Anais Biguine for taking on such an ambitious project. I am a fan of her perfumes, yet Junky feels like she is taking her art into new territory for the brand. There is a quote in the book that rings true… “When you stop growing you start dying.”

Notes: hemp, rosewood, galbanum, iris, violet, gardenia, cashmeran, cedar, Javanese vetiver, sweet myrrh, frankincense, cade (a type of juniper oil), moss

I received my sample from Jardins D’Ecrivains at Esxence The Scent of Excellence.

-Tama Blough, Managing Editor

-Art direction, Michelyn Camen

Patti Smith and William S Burroughs

Thanks to the generosity of Anais Biguine, the perfumer  and  founder of  Jardins D’Ecrivains, we have a worldwide draw for a 100 ml bottle. Let us know which controversial or post-1920 author you would like to see a perfume for or your favorite Jardins D’Ecrivains  fragrance. Draw ends March 31, 2014.

Junky will be available worldwide in April 2014

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Tama on her promotion to Managing Editor. If you are interested in learning more about Burroughs, check out  the  2010 award winning documentary "The Man Within" which features undiscovered footage and interviews with his friends Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth, Gus van Sant and John Waters

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.