Monumental wood
A walk in a redwood forest is like entering a cathedral of nature. The legendary American writer John Steinbeck described it aptly in 1962: "You are mystically transported to another plane of existence, another dimension, just as the redwoods seem to be outside of time and outside of our ordinary thinking. Once you have seen them, the sequoias leave an impression or a vision that remains forever in your memory. It is not just their incredible size or the colour that seems to change before our eyes; no, they are not like other trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time."
The sky-scraping sequoias already dominated four continents in the Jurassic period. Today, redwoods are only found on the American west coast as an impressive reminder of the prehistoric world. The Spanish in California called the redwood ‘palo colorao’ (red tree) because of its beautifully coloured pink or reddish heartwood, which later became redwood.
The perfumer: Frank Voelkl
Norlimbanol is one of the strongest woody notes in all of perfumery, with a hypnotic scent of absolute dryness. Perfume critic Chandler Burr describes it as ‘a brilliant molecule that should be worth its weight in gold’ and compares it to a multi-sensory roller coaster ride. Discovered by Firmenich chemists and patented in 1986, this ‘vintage’ captive belongs to the exclusive group of green chemistry molecules that are easily biodegradable. Its dry, woody and amber nuances are a must in modern perfumery.
The fragrance: monumental wood
A monumental molecule is needed to capture the scent of the giant sequoia trees. Frank Voelkl's choice became the heart of this colossal composition. Norlimbanol permeates every fibre of our conceptual tree. First, it is absorbed by its roots along with fine suede, earthy patchouli and animal musk notes. Then it rises victoriously through its trunk, carried by sweet cyclamen stems, soft rose petals and fleeting pimento berries. When it reaches the canopy, chlorophyll-saturated juniper, balsamic eucalyptus, bright bergamot and heavenly star anise drive the glorious ascent forward, releasing a gigantic fragrance that has earned the name red_wood.
