Photos by William Eadon from No. 11 and No. 12 perfume campaign

Brooklyn photographer William Eadon wears his share of hats: visual artist, musician, designer (he worked for Cynthia Rowley for 21 years), jeweler. Now, Eadon has turned his creative mind to perfumery, using essential oils and extractions and the occasional “unique molecule” not found in nature (such as ISO Super E). He mixes, bottles and labels each perfume by hand in the William Eadon Atelier in Williamsburg.

William Eadon, photo by Backyard Bill

Eadon’s photos grabs moments with a cheeky, hip visual style. A model might be in mid hair flip as if the shutter clicked too soon, or show her chagrin at the uncomfortable, stilted poses models often find themselves styled into.

Another Photographer Does Light, Photo by William Eadon

Eadon’s first two fragrances, humorously monikered No. 11 and No. 12, are as offbeat and striking as his photography might lead you to expect.

Photo by William Eadon for Cynthia Rowley-S /S 2013

I’ll start backwards. No. 12 is an angular fougere-like scent, with more citrus notes than a grove of fruit trees and brightness not unlike some of Eadon’s fashion photos, shot with streaks of color against white backgrounds.  After its minty-mentholic opening from a potent rosemary note, astringent lemon rind surfaces along with spikes of petitgrain and orange. From here, the citrus rapidly takes over the show.

William Eadon photo  on instagram

But just at the point when you might think this will turn into classic barbershop cologne, a carnation and clove, happily married, turn up at the door. The rosemary, citrus and carnation-clove trio then perform a three-part harmony for the next half hour or so. Some time later, the composition warms up with the arrival of savory lavender which merges with the rosemary in the minty-musky dry down.

No. 12 Notes: neroli, bergamot, lemon rind, carnation, orange, petitgrain, clove, lavender, rosemary, benzoin, musk, ambergris.

Photo of  Victor Rassenback William Eadon

No. 11 is deep woods and incense. If No. 12 is an olfactory representation of Eadon’s fashion shots, No. 11 is his broodier portrait style.  A forest of woods opens No. 11. Cedar dominates the first few minutes after which incense and sandalwood and assertive anisic note push their way to the top. The natural frankincense used here has a spearminty quality, as it often does to my nose, which, along with the wood notes, lends No. 11 a dichotomous quality of being both indoors and on a nature walk. As the scent develops, it starts to soften out. The light sweetness of honeysuckle hovers like a bee over the deeper resinous and woodsy notes until the dry down, when the anise and incense take over again.

No. 11 Notes: anise, honeysuckle, jasmine, elemi, ambergris, patchouli, frankincense, ylang ylang, sandalwood, cedarwood, rosewood, musk, ISO E Super.

Photo by  William Eadon for Ammerman Schlosberg

Both perfumes are designed to be unisex and there is a certain androgyny to them. The masculine edges of the fougere accord in No. 12 is tempered with carnation and benzoin, while the dark incense and woods of number No.11 are brightened by flowers.

William Eadon Something Special via instagram

Eadon says on his Instagram page @gauchedamned, “All good things must come to a trend.” Of his forays into perfumery, let’s hope so.

 

I received my samples from Twisted Lily; opinions my own.

Lauryn Beer, Sr Contributor

William Eadon No 12 Perfume

Thanks to the generosity of Twisted Lily, we have samples of No. 11 and No.12 for two registered readers in the US. To be eligible please leave a comment with what appeals to you about William Eadon perfumes, which one you might be based on Lauryn’s review and if you have seen his photography before. Draw closes 9/9/2016

 

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