SELKIE | Eau de Parfum - musc marin, coquillage, ambregris

of the three, ('black sea', 'cape pelorum', & 'selkie' - which I now consider a trilogy; depicting the same scene / similar themes, just from different angles and perspectives) this feels the most intense & least conventionally perfume-like. there are no citrus nor florals notes here to add any levity to what feels initially like a brutal oceanside scene. after the opening of ferocious salt winds & briny, whipping arms of kelp, the tide pools are exposed; dried & quickly condensed. so much so, in fact, that it almost feels like honey, yet without much of the sweetness - just funky & animalic. leathery & oily notes emerge, in a way that suggests the still-warm, waterproof pelts from mythical creatures of the sea rather than land. they wrap around you as protection against the elements - a deeply musky, buttery, & cocooning embrace; tender, skin-on-skin. a beautiful consolation for the intense starkness of the opening.

I love this fragrance. I understand it might not be for everyone. Very animalic indeed, not a conventionally "pretty" scent, but so addictive? The description is spot on : feral is probably the best adjective for this perfume.

This smells exactly what I’d expect a fae seal to smell like. It is mammal and myth and utterly enchanting. Please never take this out of circulation.

This was a blind-buy, and I really couldn't imagine what it would smell like until I tried it. Now that I have, I can confirm that it smells exactly how LVNEA describes it. I get an extremely powerful animalic opening that reminds me of a beach at low tide (I hate this term, but it's seriously beast-mode). I was honestly a bit repulsed at first, it's pretty funky. But I found myself sniffing my wrist constantly throughout the day, slowly starting to love it. Once I got past the opening, I began to pick up on the pine. The sharp opening notes settle and soften into a cozy animalic cocoon. This is not a "perfumey" interpretation of wet fur and sea brine; it is impressively realistic.

To me, this is a lonely, rocky beach on a cold and misty day. You sit on the rocks by the water, unsure if your clothes are damp from the light rain or the ocean spray as the small waves crash against the rocks. Sparse coniferous trees sway slowly in the distance. You shiver under a heavy wool blanket.

Another image it conjures: a solitary lighthouse keeper looks out longingly across the expanse of the sea, wishing they weren't quite so alone.

When I read the description, I wasn't sure how this was going to smell, or even be wearable, so I had to try it. As soon as I sprayed it, the images in my head flashed to a Rocky beach, scorching under the sun, hot sand, hot shells and ocean breeze. It smells exactly as described but it's actually very wearable. I can confirm what the other reviewer said, that it lasts 24 hours. Ive worn it daily since I got it. It might be my new favorite summer scent. Do I think it will beloved by the masses? No. But if you're shopping here in the first place, you're probably in the niche market to begin with. I can't believe this isn't sold out already. I might just have to get a bigger bottle..... Or 2. I'm so glad I took a chance on this blind buy!