JUST ADDED THE NINE 50ML BOTTLES FROM THE ORIGINAL 2018 BATCH TO INVENTORY. BOTH WAITLISTS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. IF THEY RUN OUT BEFORE YOU GET ONE OR IF YOU’RE HOLDING OUT FOR ONE IN THE 100ML SIZE PLEASE SIGN UP AGAIN TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE NEW BATCH/VERSION IS RELEASED IN 2026.

Like ENIGMA, EASTERN LANDS is a WWII concept fragrance, this time based in a much darker history. The original “Freedom Fighters” were Muslims recruited from German POW camps who were deceived into joining the German side with promises that they were fighting for the independence of their regions from the USSR, a strategy the US inherited after the war and used in Afghanistan to devastating effect for all parties involved. As a fragrance it’s intended to conjure the destructive power of war, but also the blood, sweat and heroism of the common soldiers who fought on both sides but had no real say in any of it. That’s a tall order for a fragrance concept, of course. Still, it evokes vivid emotions and imagery for those who have tried it so far. It’s also shockingly pleasant to wear in hot weather.

EASTERN LANDS is also the first in a series of incense fragrances, in this case a dry incense-clove married to a massive dry-sour-green petitgrain note that’s accentuated by a weirdly fresh galbanum oil and blended with elemi, which bridges the green, spicy and resinous qualities. It wears extremely well in hot weather; the dry-resinous, spicy and sour-green qualities along with a healthy dose of frankincense make it strangely refreshing in the heat and tbh it does a great job covering the smell of stale sweat. It’s one our perfumer has been wearing for years for that reason, but somehow hadn’t considered a serious contender. That changed when we began sending out samples to a few regulars who had sampled everything else.

Notes include petitgrain, lavandin, galbanum, elemi, incense, clove.

There will be nine bottles from the same batch released at some point in 2024. After that there will be a slightly different batch/version with a different blend of petitgrain oils to be released in 2026. The plan was to release it this summer but there’s so been so much going on.