Scents of Wood

Scents of Wood is a brand from the U.S. that was founded with a singular vision: to create a fragrance house devoted to the essence of forests, trees, and wood. From the outset, the team sought to infuse the spirit of wood into every aspect of their creations, rethinking the foundational components of traditional perfumery. Recognizing that fragrances are essentially solutions of essential oils in alcohol, they questioned the long-standing reliance on ethanol, which has been the standard in modern perfumery for over 125 years. Instead, they asked if alcohol could move beyond its role as a neutral base and become an active ingredient, contributing depth and character to the final composition.

This curiosity sparked an innovative journey. The team began collecting wooden barrels from Scotland, Kentucky, Cognac, and beyond—some steeped in history from aging fine spirits, others new but rich with the story of their forest origins. They aged organic alcohol in these barrels, exploring how the wood transformed the alcohol and, in turn, enhanced the fragrances. The results were profound: aged alcohol infused with complexity, depth, and richness, adding a unique dimension to the scents it carried. Convincing perfumers of this groundbreaking approach was a next step, solidifying a new method of scent formulation that celebrates the power of wood in every drop.