Ierofante, Parfums Quartana’s 2022 release may not quite have matched its marketing to the product Parfums Quartana – Ierofante – Burning That Gasoline. But it wasn’t a million miles away, and I still thought it worthy of praise. Fast forward a year, and it’s safe to say that Joseph Quartana seems to like a challenge. Their 2023 release, Forest of the Golden Dream, has much to live up to with that evocative name, and it delivers on all fronts.
Forest of the Golden Dream forms part of the Les Potions D’Entéléchie collection. This set of 4 scents, which includes Ierofante (that one comes in a different bottle design than the other three), promotes healing rituals. There seems to be some serious soul-searching happening with these fragrances, which are directly antithetical to his previous collection of poison potions. Celine Barel and Quartana do a brilliant job of fostering a sense of contentment while skillfully bringing the forest concept to life with this perfume.
I feel like I’m deep in the forest right from the off. There’s a cool, earthy, fresh intimation to the opening. Eucalyptus plays its part with its serene, camphoraceous qualities, but it’s not the main protagonist. Make no mistake, we are in a coniferous forest. The trio of evergreens —fir, pine, and cypress—takes center stage. It’s crisp, spicy, woody, and indeed life-affirming.
Celine Barel is a big believer in synesthesia. And Forest of the Golden Dream has me seeing all sorts of colours and shapes. The obvious green colours come through with the woody forest notes. But even the golden colours register as the forest unfolds before me. As I walk along, autumn leaves crunch underfoot, the tangy resin of pine needles fills the air, and rays of bright yellow sunlight stream through the towering forest canopy.
Lemon and the IFF molecule pamplezest lift the perfume and add brightness. Mimosa absolute also plays a significant part, adding a touch of honeyed sweetness and woody warmth. I envision a shimmering forest floor filled with bright orange and yellow flowers.
Celine Barel sprinkles in spicy notes of pepper, coriander, bay, and incense that give the fragrance a meditative feel. Forest of the Golden Dream concludes on an appropriately grounding base of patchouli and moss. Barel balances all the elements beautifully, so even the pine notes don’t evoke associations with cleaning products.
Compared to other continents, we don’t have a lot of coniferous forests in Australia, so I can’t say I’ve spent a lot of time in them. But we have many eucalyptus and mimosa, and I sense their familiarity with this fragrance. Forest of the Golden Dream transports me to somewhere I’ve never been, yet it feels familiar. Like with Ierofante, Quartana breaks the perfume into three distinct phases. Instead of top, mid, and base, it’s “Crown,” “Heart,” and “Root.” Whichever way you break it down, stepping into this forest will give you a peaceful, easy feeling.
Note: The bottle image is courtesy of Parfums Quartana (https://six-scents.com/), and the wattle image is from unsplash.com. All other photos are my own.
Clarification: I note in my piece that the Les Potions D’Entéléchie collection has four fragrances. However, I’m not 100% sure whether Ierofante is part of the collection. Some sources have it there, and others don’t. Even Quartana’s website isn’t entirely clear. It doesn’t matter, though, as I’d say both Ierofante and Forest of the Golden Dream are well worth trying. I now need to get my hands on the other two, Soleil Invisible and Beaut’Air.
Here are some more photos that give me the impression of Forest of the Golden Dream.
Wonderful pictures! Great review! Another one i need to test!
Thanks very much, Tetê. Yes, it’s certainly worth a sample. I am curious to see what you make of it.
This sounds so appealing, dear Daniel. Something I’d love to try. Love the greens, yellows and oranges in your beautiful pics.
Thanks very much, Rich. Yes, from the two, Forest of the Golden Dream would be my pick.
Daniel, your post is incredibly timely. Last week, I watched an interview on Instagram conducted by Fragrance Vault with Joseph Quartana. He thoroughly discussed almost every perfume in the Parfums Quartana line. It was a delightful experience. You might want to check it out.
Although I haven’t had the opportunity to sample any Quartana perfumes yet, the interview piqued my interest in several. Some of the names that caught my attention include Bloodflower, Hemlock, Midnight Datura, Ierofante, and Forest of the Golden Dream.
Your overview is wonderful, and the photos are as beautiful as always.
Thanks, Flaconneur. Ah, I’ll have to check it out somehow. Though, I don’t have Instagram now, so it might be tricky. I hope you get to sample their wares.