I adore gin. There really is nothing better than a good gin & tonic (ice and a slice, thanks).
I also adore perfume. So what if the perfect storm happened and a gin fragrance was launched?! Well lucky for all of us gin-soaked fragonerds, Penhaligon’s are launching just that. A full review of their latest launch, Juniper Sling, will follow in the week.
Today I want to talk about the why and how the two subjects are so wonderfully interlinked. (Also, you should read the blogpost from Louise on Get Lippie about her tour of the Sipsmith distillery. I want to go to there, too.)
Gin, to be called Gin, must be made with Juniper berries (genievre in Frenchish). Juniper has a wonderful, bright, green and tart scent. Un-shockingly they use Juniper in fragrance too. Hurrah! Aside from juniper, gin can contain various botanicals that are also famously perfume raw materials, mostly barks, roots, spices and citrus fruits, including: orris root, saffron, angelica, lime/lemon/orange/other citrus peels, anise, licorice root, cinnamon, almond, saffron, baobab, frankincense, and coriander.
As you might guess from my review of Aftelier Perfumes Frankincense Oolong, I’m on the lookout for a frankincense heavy gin.
Here are a few suggestions of Gin like ‘fumes:
Frederic Malle Angeliques Sous La Pluie – rain soaked crisp coriander, angelica and juniper with a hint of tonic watery fizz.
Frapin et Cie L’Humaniste – if gin were a shower gel, that somehow became a perfume, this is it. Fresh, uplifting, and so so good!
Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Men – mostly a sweet amber in the general direction of Paco Rabanne’s 1Million, however, it’s also got a fantastic smooth, soft gin note that lingers for age
Bombay Sapphire Infusion – the famous blue bottled gin also comes in fragrance form and I’m over the moon that it does. Based on their secret formula of botanicals (see the ‘fume link here?) it smells almost exactly like a gin and tonic, but not sure it’s 100% appropriate for wearing to work.
How do you feel about ‘alcoholic’ fragrances? Please let me know too if you’ve ever tried Demeter’s Gin & Tonic fragrance!
[picture credit: thenibble.com]
g & t and that 
Great post!
You have opened my eyes to gin, firstly I didn’t know just how damn frickin’ tasty it was and secondly I never knew it could contain all of those amazing perfumery ingredients.
As for alcoholic fragrances I love Virgin Island Water for it’s tropical, limey rummyness and Guerlain Homme with its minty Mojito!
Thank you!
I hope I’ve made a you convert to gin now. It even goes well with 7up (I didn’t say that though, because the gin purists will cast me out)
You know I love that Mojito goodness in Guerlain Homme. You can keep your Virgin Island Water though. I don’t dig the lime and the coconut there.
If it makes you feel any better, I have two gin and west coast cooler for the night. Tastes devine and you don’t need much else! Plus I’m not a big drinker (despite that suggestion) but I’m with Thomas there on Guerlain Homme, I like L’eau.
I must sound like a total lush then… compared to you guys!
I keep meaning to revisit L’Eau, because I love the original.
L’Eau was a bit of a let down for me, all of the lime and the mint but none of the rum or wood.
I’m looking forward to your Juniper Sling review Nick.
I’m looking forward to yours, too. Plus I will attempt to remember some of the events of the evening. Too much gin was consumed, glad I didn’t have a Negroni 😀
Great post, you might like this video that Bombay Gin put together on the Artisans Journey, the culture of the Artisan, they cover both Gin and your love of perfume. They interview DS&Durga here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBKXEPzyVHM#t=8m28s and the entire piece is mixed in with discussions on Gin.
Well worth a visit 🙂 Thanks for the great article, and also the review on Penhaligans Juniper Sling, which is next on my list of scents to buy.