Big Sur is the scent of majestic waves crashing against a foggy, redwood-covered bluff. A clean, surprisingly refreshing fragrance that includes handmade California bay leaf tincture. This aromatic green fragrance was created by Loreto Remsing of Marin County, California and features notes of nettles, wild herbs, sagebrush, ocean air, California bay leaf, coastal redwoods, mosses and lichens. It contains only pure essential oils, absolutes, tinctures and natural isolates/compounds. Diluted in organic cane alcohol. Vegan and cruelty-free. Big Sur is an eau de toilette, edt.
LARO BIG SUR REVIEWS
Fragrantica: After about 30 minutes the sweetness dies down, there is a warm almost cinnamon type feeling that comes out along with the aquatics. I’m not sure what the perfumer uses for aquatic notes but it’s probably the best I’ve smelled. None of the stinky or ultra synthetic puke inducing calone. I travel to Big Sur every year and absolutely love the California coast. and I just might buy a full bottle of this to remember it when I’m not there.
Fragrantica: Very nice! I tend to hate aquatic notes but love it in this one because it's less of a "fake, ocean/blue note" and more like an overall impression that you're near the ocean from all the other notes. It feels like you're on a cliff overlooking the ocean, with trees, as someone else said. The aromatic notes are very calming and draw you in. The scent feels extremely spa-like. I expected this to smell a little dirtier and earthier but that doesn't come across at all. I get the impression of a little bit of cinnamon from this (I think from the combination of bay leaf and sequoia). I also get a nice black pepper. These notes actually give me an overall 'soft spicy' impression, but again, it's something that's created by the sum of its parts rather than actually there. On me, there's a very slight sweetness to it that rounds things out. I don't notice any of the eucalyptus people mention, which I'm glad of. This doesn't smell medicinal at all to me, and the woods and herbs feels balanced. This fragrance is something different, while being very inoffensive. Unisex, though maybe more traditionally masculine.
Fragrantica: Big Sur is a natural perfume tour de force mixing fresh wild herbs, mosses and lichens with redwood. Inspired by the 90 miles of redwood and fog rimmed coastline in California, it's handcrafted using all natural ingredients. A fitting tribute for this renowned forest wonder. Loreto Remsing, who has roots in herbalism and aromatherapy, has an uncanny ability to create perfumes that reflect nature while smelling sooooooo good! This is the 3rd from this house I've worn, and I already want FBs of all 3. Big Sur has an exciting freshness with all sorts of aromatic notes. Especially potent is the California Bay Leaf, which I thought was amazing. Also known as pepperwood or Oregon myrtle, it is similar to the Mediterranean bay leaf but stronger. Its pungent, soothing aroma has a medicinal quality. Wild sagebrush adds a leafy spice smell, and there are all sorts of other organic plant-based ingredients chosen for their incredible aroma. If you've ever smelled any of these growing wild (or as I often do at the local nursery!), they are known for their savory redolence. Remsing's combination distills their essence into a perfume that any naturalist would love. The scent of the outdoors translated into a subtle perfume that takes you to the California coast. Sillage moderate, longevity all day.
Fragrantica: In the bottle it starts with something a akin to tea tree, maybe some menthol and a touch of eucalyptus, I’m not sure what Big Sur smells like as a place but this definitely takes me to the beach, not so much the salt water, seaweed and sand part of the beach, but the fresh crisp air and the plants and rocks on the way down there. It’s really lovely fresh fragrance, would be great in the summer. I’m afraid I’m not sure what nettles and artemisia smell like (I’m new at this) so I can’t comment there. On the skin there’s a burst of green followed by more tea tree which dies down a bit to reveal sequoia and a little bit of salt. Sits pretty close to my skin, very fresh and clean feel, maybe a tinsy element of bug repellent but not in a bad way. Bay leaf is there too but it doesn’t come until later. I’ve tried mixing this with a tinsy bit of seaweed absolute and it was uncanny how much it reminded me of summers down the coast. Of all the ocean/beach style fragrances out there this one for mine is the only one that comes close to the real experience. It’s lovely.