Created by Elodie Durande, Geola is part of the first Permanent Collection from Ffern. They created 50 bottles of each of their first three fragrances which have since sold out. Named after spokes on the wheel of the year, each scent is inspired by the natural rhythms and ancient festivals of the folkloric calendar.
As the twilight thickens, laced boots crunch on silvered leaves. Along the edge of the forest, an ancient tradition is beginning. The Wren Boys march in single file - whooping, singing. One carries a brass birdcage. It glows in the lamplight. We are at the heat of Geola, the ancient twelve-day celebration of midwinter. This is the wheel's darkest spoke, marking the ending of the calendar year. Durande says "For me, this scent is all about warmth, shadow and comfort during the darkest days of the year. This first bath feels ancient and enveloping like stepping into a quiet, candlelit space to share stories in the stillness." Geola opens with a gently fading sunset, a gleam of bergamot that shimmers across a changing sky. Clove, cinnamon and nutmeg bring stronger colors, little sparks of heat. Around these spices we combined the luxurious warmth of vanilla and roasted tonka with the glowing meditative tones of tolu and Peru balsam. They sank these gourmand notes into a depth of almost bitter rooibos tea and coffee, cutting through the sweetness. Along the edges of the woods, the oak trees are brown and leafless, Further in, tall firs, a crystal chill turned evergreen. For this we called upon the dry, camphorous notes of cedar. Yet still we were looking for somethin grounding, amid the moonshadows and mistetoe. We found it in brown-eyed rock rose, a variety of cistus. This is an ingredient that's long been one of our favorites in resinoid form - but here, for the first time, we have used three of its extracts together, layering them to create an amber depth, lit from within. We blended rich labdanum resinoid, extracted from the resin that seeps from the plant's leaves and stems, with fresher, herbaceous cistus oil, obtained by steam distillation. To refine and sweeten the accord, we brought in cistus absolute. This is also derived from the resin but using the solvent extraction process - producing a subtle note that lifted the shadows. Approaching a distant stone circle, the Wren Boys are chased by darkness. Inside the cage they carry a wren, the King of the Birds, Captured, this winter songbird is silent. For the mystery of such traditions, an accord of enchantment was created with incense notes of olibanum, myrrh and agar.
Geola features top notes of roasted coffee bean, nutmeg, olibanum, Ceylon cinnamon bark and clove bud; middle notes of patchouli, bergamot rind, rooibos leaf, myrrh, tonka bean and roasted tonka bean; and base notes of agarwood, vanilla pod, brown-eyed rock rose, tolu balsam, red cedar and Peru balsam. It is an eau de parfum, edp.
FFERN GEOLA REVIEWS
Instagram: "The notes for Geola were right up my street!! Roasted coffee, myrrh, tonka bean, roasted tonka bean, agar wood and vanilla pod . . . take my money!! What I expected was a very deep, autumnal amber smokey vibe, perhaps on the sweet side. What i get from Geola is a hugely resinous agarwood, patchouli with a very balsamic cinnamon mix. And not sweet at all. I absolutely love Geola! I mean, just look at the colour of the juice. It’s so dark it could almost be a miniature bottle of spiced rum! Geola is a beautifully dark and resinous composition, and perfect for these winter nights in Scotland. Perhaps more masculine leaning than any of their seasonal offerings that I own, Geola is also a powerhouse of longevity on my skin, comparatively speaking. Geola is a beautiful fragrance, and I’m so happy that I took the leap and bought my bottle!"
Reddit: "Same for me, I’m being drawn to geola which I didn’t expect but it has such longevity and coziness perfect for winter. Not my standard style but I have been looking for a similar scent and they all had previously smelt like straight up leather and smoke on me. This is more like a smoky dirty chai which I obviously love to drink but with ffern classic whiff of smell so not overpowering."
