J’s image of Headspace Parfums Cedre
Headspace Parfums Cedre, the house’s latest release is an exclusive to the Parisian store La Samaritaine located in the first arrondissement not far from the Louvre. Creative Director Nicolas Chabot with perfumer Julien Rasquinet have created something very special by taking cedar, a material that is usually used in a supporting role and elevated it to a solinote perfume. This is probably the closet of the line to being what one might assume is a representation of “headspace”, but Headspace Parfums always give us more, with a fresh take on ingredients. Here, there’s a rather clever twist that, gave me a whole new appreciation of this seemingly simple composition. It does what the French do best, taking something simple and elevating it with beautiful materials, imbuing it with elegance and style. In a two words…Headspace Parfums Cedre is très chic.
Nicolas Chabot and perfumer Julien Rasquinet courtesy of the brand
There’s a lecture by Nick Cave on the history of the love song, it opens with the sound of a match being struck. Headspace Parfums Cedre opens with this moment as the match strikes the pack, igniting in slow motion as soft spices flicker like the lights of the Eiffel Tower. You can feel sharp cedar woods shimmer around you with dark amber facets glowing as the spices oxidise. Nutmeg and cumin almost hit that sulphuric aroma but the woods and a vanillic sweetness pull it back giving you the effect of a struck match with dark swirls of smoke wrapping around you rising from the cedar wood aromas that are bursting forth.
Lit match and cedar tree via Wikipedia collage by J
Both Atlas and Virginia cedar woods are on show here, that soft smoke of Virginia’s is slowly turning white as Atlas’ facets start to shine through. A kind of honeyed floral heather with a nuttiness takes over from the ember of the spices that the flame has gone out leaving a soldering smooth elegant woody aroma in its place. Atlas’s ambery facets tease out a subtle darkness while soft woody abstract floral float around the edges with a gentle mimosa like feel, think fine wood shavings in soft focus. This cleverly plays into Virginia cedar woods facets picking up on some woody sweet ambery notes, along with a leathery darkness that’s waiting to be fully revealed. It’s incense side pulls Cedre together into this beautifully soft woodiness, there’s a real feel of movement here, from the initial match strike with some more wild elements leading to this smooth finish as it’s dries down.
Atlas and Virginia cedar trees via Wikipedia
That rather clever take on a constructed Iso e supra note shines here in the deep dry down. Its minimal contemporary feel brims with sophistication as the cedar notes are now a powdery soft smokiness as a woody vanilla merges with smoky amber incense enhancing the Virginian cedar wood’s facets. Its gentle spices add graceful clean lines to the edges of Headspace Parfums Cedre with a subtle leather trim over soft pencil shavings giving a stunning seamless interplay of textures. That hint of sweetness from the vanilla gives it’s a cosy feel, again highlighting various nuances of both the cedar woods on show here. It is incredibly long lasting too, as cedar is used often as a fixative for perfumes. I’ve always been a fan of Escentric Molecule 01; mostly for its brilliant olfactive concept although many wear it but can’t smell it. Julian Rasquinet has taken this everyday molecule and reignited it using stunning materials, pushing certain elements making the cedar woods shine, giving you a whole new couture version of a contemporary classic. This isn’t a dupe, far from it. Rather it’s like upgrading from an off the rack a polyester tee shirt and trading it for a heavy weight 100{9b0cebfefecba0e6bdf45dab380ff2aef24117588e828b835bd9eccaf84e3974} cotton, think of it like Carmy Berzatto’s white t-shirt, Jeremy Allen’s character from television series The Bear. The high-quality materials, heavy weight and beautiful make it stand out without shouting, giving you an attractive new take on a contemporary classic. Headspace Parfums Cedre also has a slightly darker edge to it with a depth to the ingredients giving Cedre a je ne sais quoi one imagines Parisians have as they strut down the street with careless joie de vivre. Very clever and well-designed perfumery showcased here.
Notes: Nutmeg, Cumin, Atlas Cedar, Virginian Cedar, Amber, Vanilla.
Disclosure: Headspace Parfums Cedre was sent to J for review, thoughts and nose are his own.
-Senior Editor J Wearescentient, artist & olfactive writer
Headspace Parfums Cedre courtesy of the brand
Thanks to the generosity of Headspace Parfums we have a 30 ml bottle of Headspace Parfums Cedre for a registered reader in the EU or US. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on J’s review and where you live. Draw closes 6/26/2024
Please read more about Creative Director Nicholas Chabot who was Michelyn’s best creative director of 2016
Julien Rasquinet is featured in Our Young Perfumer Series
Headspace Parfums Tubéreuse was a Finalist for the 2023 Fragrance Foundation France Awards: Best Perfume from an Independent Brand.
Enjoy Danu’s review of Genievre. my review of Kirsch which was in my top 10 of 2023, Lauryn’s review of Sauge, and Rachel Ng’s review of Myrrhe.
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