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.
Fragrantica: "God, I love this one. Wearing Útilykt gives me the same feeling I get at the apex of a hike. On top of the mountain, on top of the world, the air is a little thinner. You've been smelling the forest and the trees all along, but this is the first breath you take that isn't desperate, and it's like you're smelling it all for the first time. A perfect forest bath."
Fragrantica: "I encountered this perfume during my first time in Iceland while perusing the 66°Norður store and was immediately smitten with the notes of cold air and moss. I was limited in my budget and came home to the United States without it. But I could not stop thinking about it, or the girl I met in Iceland. Simple solution: have this girl (now my wife) bring me the perfume. It was that good. It is an ethereal, chilled scent like walking off-path to gather herbs in the volcanic tundra, with the last vestiges of snow leaving the smaller mountaintops, and the fog rolls in from the ocean. As someone who is frequently in such environments for work, I felt transported back. While this is more of a non-summer perfume in the temperate parts of the world, I would argue that this is an all-season perfume in places that don't get warm in the summer, like Reykjavik or Dutch Harbor, because above a certain latitude summer really *does* feel like this. For me, it is a must-have on my perfume shelf and it will stay there as long as I can find it."
Fragrantica: "I don’t think I have anything in my 700+ perfume collection like this. It transports me straight away to an idyllic cabin near a lake side, crisp morning air, greenery, serenity and peace. It is beautiful and relaxing. Once it warms up on the skin it becomes a little less fresh and more sweet. Yet has earthy qualities. A scent I did not know I needed until I smelt it. In love!"
Fragrantica: "A mossy, woody fragrance inspired by Icelandic nature. Útilykt opens sharp, earthy, green, slightly citrusy, and a little metallic. The earthy side reminds me of pulling a plant with roots still covered in dark soil. That soily, fresh dirt smell comes through very clearly. Siberian fir adds a lovely resinous forest note. There is a foggy, misty feel to it as well. Think humid air, mossy trees, damp ground, and low-growing rooty plants. The vetiver, moss, and fir notes in Útilykt transport you right to that place. The drydown warms slightly with ambergris and reveals some saltiness, all while keeping the same overall feel. Perfect for anyone who wants to smell woody, outdoorsy. If you like fragrances built around the idea of cold outdoor air, try Studio Pneuma's Air Rides as well."
Fragrantica: "Standing at the foot of a mountain after a long hike, cool marine air as one is facing the coast, pitch pine and reindeer lichen covering the ground. There is a slight chill from the wind, and there is a certain nakedness, a vulnerability in being here, that is liberating. The air. The landscape. I've perspired and struggled, my legs tremble, but here is the reward. Looking all around me, I inhale deeply. The smell of highlands meeting lowlands, exertion meeting calm, the wind picks up, carrying the aroma of fir trees, scrubby vegetation, and herbs. I watch branches swaying, grasses fluttering, distant waves crashing. I feel a shiver of exhilaration. I feel a stillness, while my surroundings seem to communicate their wisdom to me. This is what I think Útilykt smells like."
Fragrantica: "I actually visited their store in Reykjavik a couple years ago, which is when my father bought this (I was a bit younger then so I thought it was boring, but looking back it was a super interesting experience.) I've never really worn it, only admired it from afar- the scent is TOO realistic and beautiful! Every time I smell it reminds me of that amazing trip to Iceland. Probably one of my favorite fragrances in the whole world, even though it's nothing like the girly, sweet perfumes I normally wear. So amazing- I might be biased because I'm a big Sigur Ros fan. This smells exactly like Iceland- smoky, mossy, fresh, and cold. I wish I could smell this every day."
Fragrantica: "I was excited to dive into the house of Fischersund today. As a brand, they aim to represent the Icelandic outdoors through fragrance, translating its raw landscapes and shifting elements into something wearable. There is something special about exploring smaller proudly independent brands that draw inspiration from their homeland and this felt like the perfect place to start. Útilykt is a beautiful collaboration between two Icelandic brands, 66°Norður (Icelandic outerwear brand) and Fischersund, coming together to tell a shared story of the cold Icelandic outdoors through scent. The fragrance aims to capture the wind, the sea, the snow and fresh grass, that crisp almost indescribable yet universally familiar scent of the outdoors. Let’s step outside and breathe in the fresh Icelandic air to see what we get. The opening is brisk, airy, and slightly spicy. It has an immediate chill with a dry vetiver quality and a strong presence of ozone. The best comparison I can make is Encre Noire but imagine it covered in snow. It has that dark earthy character yet feels brighter colder and more open. After about fifteen to twenty minutes the spice settles and the scent shifts toward a more coniferous pine profile. There is a small touch of bergamot but it stays very subtle. Instead of turning citrusy it gives a faint tart edge almost like a slightly sour berry on a tree in cold air, though the focus remains on crisp ozonic pine. It smells like standing in a cold pine forest with sharp air moving across your face. A soft green undertone from moss keeps everything feeling natural and grounded. Around an hour and a half in the fragrance softens and becomes more watery while still feeling very realistic. After about two hours a light saltiness from ambergris begins to emerge and the moss feels damper and more earthy. The salt is subtle and cool rather than heavy. It creates the impression of a fresh slightly salty breeze drifting through a shaded forest. What really stands out is how natural this smells. It is very outdoorsy but not in a generic pine masculine way. It does not smell like a typical designer interpretation of woods. It smells like actual forest air. As someone who enjoys camping in the fall and winter and spending time outside in colder weather this feels authentic. I usually do not recommend blind buying but this feels quite safe if you enjoy fragrances like Encre Noire or pine driven scents. It leans masculine yet remains wearable for anyone who appreciates crisp green forest fragrances. I am not the biggest fan of Encre Noire itself yet this makes me appreciate that dry vetiver forest style more. This feels cleaner brighter and more uplifting. I can see myself wearing this often in the spring for its freshness but it also fits perfectly in winter. I was delighted by this one and I look forward to continuing my journey through these Icelandic landscapes through scent."
