This month? We try out Wild Coast Carmanah EDP eau de parfum…
Located on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia resides Cowichan Bay, a quaint town with an ocean view. Picturesque with its surrounding mountains, forests and water, the slow-moving community’s peaceful tranquility is expressed throughout every café, bed and breakfast, eco-adventure, and even, in every spritz of the local perfumery Wild Coast’s natural parfums.
“The calming and uplifting effect that comes from natural essences stems from our primal instincts,” notes Laurie Arbuthnot, the founder of Wild Coast Perfumery, on the brand’s website. “We believe in respecting nature, ourselves and that we are the sum of the choices we make. Natural perfumes will truly blend with your own body chemistry to become your own beautiful unique scent, so wear our fragrances with confidence!”
And so we are. Carmanah with its woody fresh fragrance feels bespoke to us.
Inspired both in scent and in name by the island’s Carmanah Valley’s ancient and mystical rain forest, the eau opens with bright, zesty and green notes of lemon verbena and petitgrain. Lush jasmine sambac intermixed with piney fir and dry cedar soon waft forward, before being absorbed into a blend of sensual oud, warm vanilla, sweet ambrette and woody oakmoss. The overall effect is earthy and fresh, aromatic and floral, enchanting and intimate. Yet somehow, it also manages to resonate as familiar and as exotic all at the same time.
Perhaps its because the unisex, vegan and synthetic-free parfum has been handcrafted over eight weeks in small batches using plant based essential oils, tinctures and absolutes from around the world, Vancouver Island and from the perfumery’s garden. Or maybe it’s the recyclable glass flacon’s crisp and clean white label with black typeface that speaks to our sensibilities. Most likely it’s our childhood adventures, led by our horticulturist father, spent camping, hiking and exploring, everything that Vancouver Island has to offer.
Wild Coast Carmanah EDP, $118 for 50 ml, available online at www.wildcoatperfumes.com.
