Imogen (Russon-Taylor) ignited the fire behind a new brand, Kingdom Scotland. Her vision: to ‘bottle Scotland’ – using perfume to share old narratives in new ways, tapping into the rich stories associated with perfume and natural ingredients in Scotland.
A note from the brand
Being Welsh, I always feel a kinship with the tribes north of the border, so I was delighted to receive a discovery set from Kingdom Scotland. Founded by Imogen Russon-Taylor, her fragrances are inspired by Scotland and her background in the whisky industry, arguably one of Scotland’s most famous global exports. I’ve often found that a sip of whisky reminds me of perfume: a complex oaky, peaty taste and a robust scent in a precious golden concentration. What’s not to love?
Kingdom Scotland won the prestigious UK Fragrance Foundation Award for Best Newcomer in 2019, and a combination of originality and opulence makes this Caledonian Express unstoppable as hearts, minds and noses are won over. I’m going to look at the four fragrances that were sent my way. See what you think of them.
Metamorphic
It came as no surprise to me that the first thing that sprang to mind when smelling Metamorphic is whisky. Inspired by metamorphic rock, there is a damp volcanic heart to this, enhanced by deep incense, the scent of Islay Malt whisky (there it is!), Rose Absolute and a hint of leather. Having seen Outlander, this is how I imagine Jamie would smell. Lucky Claire! You could call this a masculine scent, if you like, but I say piffle to labels. This would smell incredible on anyone, especially in cold weather.
Albaura
Albaura is so much the polar opposite to Metamorphic that it serves as a credit to the versatility of its creator. Where Metamorphic is all rock, rose and richness with a wee dram at its heart, Albaura has a glacial coldness that evokes a sky that’s almost pure white. This is a fragrance that doesn’t let you forget that Scotland is on the fringes of the Arctic circle. The notes include iced botanicals, Arctic Poppy, and ambergris. To me, it smells like a frozen winter sky. It has a calming silence to it.
Kingdom Botanica
We’ve had rock, we’ve had ice, and now we have flora. Kingdom Botanica is verdant with breezy nuances, as opposed to any warm, green, jungle feel. This is Scotland, after all. To say this was a juxtaposition of fruits, flowers and woods would be to over simplify it. There are clustered, dark blackcurrant buds, not quite bitter, competing in ladylike fashion with the subtle spice of plum blossom. The blooms of a summer bouquet take over and blossom like mad, drifting gently into the surrounding woods of a pine forest. Woods, greenery, florals and a hint of spice- colour me in love.
Portal
I hadn’t heard of Portal until I received this discovery set, and I had no preconceptions. My very first exclamation was “wow, this smells like a vintage perfume!” because it does. Pine needles, woods, and a mossy floor to lie back on and study the clouds. This is all the herbs and leafy bits that conjure up those infinite acres of moorland and mountains that typify Scottish scenery. Maybe the fern it conjures reminds me of classic fougeres, yet this stays purely green without going off on a lavender tangent like many fougeres do (and I have no objection to their wanderings). No flowers here, just you, the trees and a hundred acres of sky.
Where to buy it
You can buy Kingdom Scotland fragrances from their website. Start with a Discovery set and you’re sure to fall in love with at least one of them!
Disclosure
I was sent these products by the team at Kingdom Scotland with no expectation or fiscal reward and opinions are my own.
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