All perfume samples are authentic fragrances that Surrender to Chance, Topeka, KS, has rebottled into smaller sample and decant sizes, repackaged and distributed. Surrender to Chance has no affiliation, connection or association with the manufacturers or brand owners of the perfumes.
The first-ever Sigur Rós x Fischersund limited edition fragrance, Flotholt was created by singer and perfumer Jónsi Birgisson in celebration of the Sigur Rós 2022 World Tour starting in Europe and ending in Iceland. For nine years, Jónsi studied the art of perfumery on his own, even bringing fragrance materials on tour with the band. His resulting perfumes explore the natural elements of Iceland, using local botanicals and essential oils. He along with his three sisters created an experiential boutique and an exquisitely executed fragrance brand. Each member of the family has a role — including the Birgisson's father and uncle who built the shop — and the brand incorporates visual art, live scent experiences, music, perfume and home fragrances. The fragrances themselves are 100% natural, unisex, original and memorable.
From their website: Floating in the pitch black salt. Sea. Briny hair and leather. Burnt driftwood, still air, embers. Look, endless horizon. A ray of light. Flotholt features notes of amber, bergamot, birch tar, fresh air, seaweed, dirt, grass and vetiver. It is handmade in Iceland - wildcrafted sustainably. Flotholt is an eau de parfum, edp.
Handmade in Iceland - wildcrafted sustainably. Flotholt is an eau de parfum, edp.
Parfumo: "Flotholt starts as an Icelandic forest, with gnarled, crooked conifers, but also a few fresh notes of citrus fruits, which are certainly not native here and therefore appear somewhat muted and restrained. There is also some smoke, but it is not very dense, more reminiscent of fog. The smoke is absolutely tarry, even though birch tar is not mentioned in the pyramid, and is initially dark. The whole thing is quite spicy (probably due to the seaweed) and there is also a slight salty note. In my opinion, this is not directly aquatic and is reminiscent of the good initial phase of Oud Minerale, but is much harsher. I would also say there is a portion of vetiver in here; the dark, spicy, slightly earthy variety. The smoke quickly fades, but never disappears completely. This reduces the tension in the fragrance somewhat, but makes it more pleasant for me. Musk is also recognizable. It is warm, humanizing, like slightly sweaty skin (it is more pleasant than it sounds). Towards the base, everything becomes increasingly softer. There is still a hint of ambergris, but nothing much changes. Fischersund uses synthetic fragrances, sometimes very aggressively. However, this is not the case here; it is only towards the end (after 6-7 hours) that you suspect that the woods are not entirely natural. After 7-8 hours, the story comes to an end. A successful fragrance that would probably be a little too strenuous for me to wear, although the brand has much more strenuous fragrances in its portfolio. Thanks to Gandix for the short trip to Iceland!"
Ministry of Scent: "I am a diehard Fischersund fan, so I knew I needed this as soon as it was released. This is the smell of going to a bonfire on the beach on the longest night of winter. It goes on very salty and seaweed-y, and as it dries down the smokiness of birch tar comes out. Very strong, but the bergamot note brightens things up enough that it should be inoffensive to most people. Definitely an excellent winter scent as it smells very “cold”."
Ministry of Scent: "I was waiting for this scent my entire life. I am madly in love. It smells like a birch tar mixed with sand and fire, but in such elegant way, and it dries down to that soft woody-windy scent of a cold sea beach in November. It's such a well done unique scent."
Fragrantica: "Smells like the dark northern ocean at night after a storm in late october, with a dying campfire on the sand, doused by the sea water. My absolute favourite scent of theirs."
Fragrantica: "Bought a decant of Flotholt just so I could complete my sample set order, frankly the only reason I decided on it was because the name sounded interesting. I didn't have any sort of expectation going in but this fragrance ended up being one of my favourites. Flotholt brings back memories of travelling around the North Sea, visiting small coastal towns and letting the atmosphere around you consume you. On my skin it opens with a citrussy note with a faint whiff of fresh spruce, which slowly but surely gets overturned by a wave of salt water carrying seaweed that ends up clinging onto you. Finally after you've had enough of letting the waves surround you the base notes evoke an image of warming up by a fire in a small cabin. I ended up falling in love with Flotholt but this is 100% a fragrance that you *need* to try before buying."
Fragrantica: "This is an absolutely amazing fragrance, not one that I am entirely new to however. Flotholt was my first introduction to Fischersund. There is an amazing burnt forest fire after it’s been put out by rain smokey note accompanied by a light peet note. That said, Flotholt isn’t an easy blind reach fragrance, it’s dark, very strong and slightly offensive to the nose. Performance on Flotholt is good but nothing amazing, it is in fact what I’ve found to be fairly standard over the last 40 days. Longevity on my skin and clothes was a little more then 6 hours. A 6/10 here. Projection is strong on Flotholt, it projects in a zone around 3 feet. A 7/10 here. I really enjoyed Flotholt for what it is but it is a definitely not something I would recommend as a blind buy either. It’s definitely a fragrance that feels just slightly closer to art then daily wear. I personally think it works better as a fragrance to use in a layer with another fragrance to add a dark smoke like depth to it. Flotholt is an 8/10 for me but it’s not a daily wear fragrance."
Fragrantica: "Flotholt was released in 2022 in conjunction with the Sigur Rós World Tour. Its name comes from the Icelandic word for a circular lifebuoy used in water rescue, a reference that suggests steadiness and protection in harsh conditions. The fragrance takes inspiration from the open ocean, particularly its colder, darker, and more rugged character. From the first spray, spruce is immediately apparent. It smells crisp, green, and remarkably natural. A very soft citrus note sits in the background, subtle enough to feel almost hidden, yet it provides a slight lift to the opening. The overall impression is reminiscent of walking through an evergreen forest with a light trace of smoke drifting through the air, slightly dry and gently tar-like. As the fragrance settles over the next thirty minutes, cypress gradually emerges and reinforces the forest atmosphere. At the same time, a salty accord becomes more noticeable. The salt introduces a mineral, lightly musky edge that shifts the setting toward the coastline, blending the impression of trees with ocean air. After about an hour, ambergris becomes more defined, adding depth and enhancing a subtle seaside bonfire effect. The smoke that appeared early on resurfaces with greater clarity, though it remains smooth and well integrated rather than sharp or overpowering. By the two-and-a-half-hour mark, the scent moves into a darker and more earthy phase. The woods deepen, the smoke softens, and a restrained leather nuance develops. A very faint touch of seaweed lingers in the background, maintaining the green coastal thread that runs throughout the fragrance. The drydown feels woody, slightly smoky, and quietly rugged without becoming overwhelming. Having recently reviewed Utilykt, the shared signature of Fischersund is clear. The house seems to have established a distinctive natural woody coastal style and has chosen to continue developing it, which is understandable because it works quite well. Where Utilykt leans brighter and fresher, Flotholt introduces a more pronounced smokiness and, with time, reveals a darker, resinous leather base. Flotholt stands out for its realistic spruce and pine character and its balanced use of smoke. It feels particularly well suited to colder weather, especially outdoors, where its forest and coastal elements can develop fully. Another strong release from Fischersund that remains consistent with the brand’s aesthetic while offering its own identity."
