Sirenide by Beaufort London takes us on a trip to Scotland. More precisely: to the Orkney Islands. Outside my window, squalls are whipping through our village. Everything is covered in snow. It’s gray, cold and uncomfortable up here on the Baltic Sea. For me, this weather is just perfect for a fragrance about the Orkneys, the archipelago north of Scotland, which is characterized by green meadows, steep cliffs, sandy and rocky beaches and a harsh climate with lots of storms and rainfall. The Orkneys are the origin of the legend of the Selkies, mythical maritime creatures that were the source of inspiration for the Sirenide fragrance.
Selkies – Sometimes seal, sometimes human
We probably all know mermaids. Half human, half fish, mermaids represent allure, fantasy and a romanticized idea of the ocean. The Selkies, on the other hand, come from a completely different tradition – less fairytale-like, closer to loss, melancholy and the harsh reality of the North Atlantic.
They originate from the legendary world of the storm-tossed islands of Scotland and are by no means a hybrid creature, but shape-shifters. In the sea, selkies live as seals, but on land they can shed their animal skin and take on human form. They bury their sealskin in the sand or hide it between rocks. It is the key to returning to the sea.
It is precisely this desire that characterizes the stories about the Selkies. In human form, the women are always surrounded by a quiet melancholy, a deep longing for the ocean. The old stories of the North Atlantic tell of this without glorification: quiet, thoughtful, steeped in loss.
Sirenide by Beaufort London – Homage to the Selkies
For the olfactory realization of the shape-shifting fragrance Sirenide, Beaufort London engaged Scottish perfumer Euan McCall, who lives and works in Edinburgh. Together with Chloe Mullen, he founded Jorum Studio in 2019, an independent fragrance laboratory in which all creations are made entirely in-house. McCall’s path into the world of perfumery is not a classic one. He is self-taught, characterized by craftsmanship, working with raw materials and a deep connection to the Scottish landscape. This is also reflected in his clear, often edgy compositions.
In addition to his work for Jorum Studio, McCall is also known for external projects. Among other things, he is responsible for the Neandertal fragrances, which deal with archaic, primal and mineral themes. He is also responsible for the Force Majeure Collection by Beaufort London – a line that also includes Sirenide, which focuses on the harsh forces of nature in Scotland (you can find more information here and here).
For Sirenide, perfumer Euan McCall combined the ingredients iris, hawthorn, almond, aniseed, nymphaea (water lily), lotus flower, ambergris, Atlas cedarwood and green notes. The eau de parfum is described as a “suitably impressive fragrance: powerful and haunting, with three aspects of ‘skins’ that unfold on your skin.” described. Sounds adventurous, doesn’t it?
What does Sirenide by Beaufort London smell like?
Sirenide is greenish-powdery and ethereal, almost out of this world. The composition is imbued with striking plastic nuances that are infused with a fine, slightly sharp tension. The aromatic coolness of aniseed is clearly perceptible, accompanied by a light, creamy almond note. The floral accents of water lily and lotus blossom pick up on the maritime, salty water aspects of the Selkie source of inspiration. Light, airy, ethereal and subtly aquatic, the eau de parfum finally fades away after a long time.
How much Selkie is in Sirenide?
Of course, there is no actual shapeshifter in this creation – but it has to be said that Sirenide is decidedly idiosyncratic and unconventional. Perfumer Euan McCall remains true to his line and proves once again that extraordinary and exciting fragrances can also be created beyond current trends. The composition is harmonious and finely balanced. On my skin, Sirenide develops over time into a powdery-creamy, aquatic-floral, light and very round fragrance that ultimately appears somewhat more accessible. You will probably have to test for yourself how the eau de parfum unfolds on your skin. Overall, Sirenide by Beaufort London is not a crowd pleaser, but a creation for all those who are looking for the extraordinary. Another exciting composition from Scotland that impressively reflects Euan McCall’s remarkable creativity. Be sure to try it.
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