Soul of the Forest Maison Margiela 2016

In the last eight years on Parfumo and beyond, I’ve noticed that no matter how much one tests, there comes a point when one focuses on the essentials. Over the years, I have tested hundreds of fragrances, far more than I have noted here. Some I found so insignificant that it wasn’t worth writing them down, while others were so convincing that I didn’t need to write them down. Currently, my collection consists of 11 fragrances and 14 decants; I haven’t updated this here either, as I know that decants can sometimes disappear quite quickly. So every day I have the choice between 25 fragrances, and I must say, I even find that too much. Why? Because I believe I could get by with just 5 fragrances to cover what is essentially the core. Sure, sometimes one comes in that you’ve missed for a long time, and another one goes out that you’re no longer in the mood for. But the essence remains, at least in my eyes, that less is definitely more. For me, there are four important categories: festive fragrances, incense, forest, amber. Of course, within the categories, there are several beauties; for example, I recently replaced "Ambre Précieux" with "Peau d‘Ambre." Not forever, but simply because I believe there shouldn’t be multiple amber fragrances side by side. Just as, fundamentally, there only needs to be one from each of my categories. That one can be exchanged as desired, of course. But I’m no longer participating in this madness of 30, 40, 100 fragrances. I am slowly working on using up my fragrances and not replacing them. There are few that are allowed to stay. One of them is "Soul of the Forest." Why? Because it smells like the forest as I know and love it. During my student days, I would get up every morning at 6 a.m. to take a run through the forest. I loved it, especially in winter. When the trees smell frosty cool and majestic, when nature can pause time in picturesque dignity. When firs shine in full splendor and squirrels bury their last supplies, when robins sing on snowy branches, when one decorates the home with mistletoe. A few sprays and I am exactly where I love to be. In the soul of the forest.