November in the Temperate Deciduous Forest is not a line from a poem, although it would be a lovely one if it were. On second thought, maybe it is a haiku that also serves as the name of a perfume. Regardless, these words and the accompanying fragrance feel very apropos at this moment because even though the Northwest is known for its evergreen glory, the city of Portland is surrounded by the deciduous splendor of fall.
Leaves are freshly fallen, and the soil is damp of course. The infamous rain has arrived. Fireplaces are being stoked once again and the outdoor smells of fall are among us. November in the Temperate Deciduous Forest- let’s call it November for short- is one of those fragrances that not only echoes these autumnal smells but also enhances them and makes them feel more vibrant.
November is a 2011 release from Jill McKeever of For Strange Women Perfumery. Jill’s product descriptions are vividly romantic, and the one for November is no exception. Her analogy of lapsang souchong tea brewing on a forest cabin’s wood buring stove could not capture the mood of this perfume more perfectly.
November starts with a smokiness that curls through the air, caressing the skin rather than consuming or overwhelming it. Lapsang souchong possesses a roasted, smoked scent and flavor and I wonder if Jill used a tincture of that tea since it is seems so prevalent in the opening. Additionally, a delicate lacing of neroli gives sparkle and a gentle floral quality to November’s rustic beginning. There’s also a minty quality that lends a fecundity and depth to the forest scene outside the cozy cabin.
The heart of November explores the richness of the woodland soil, digging up dark earth, roots and meandering mushrooms. The forest floor is now under your nails, knees damp with rain soaked dirt and crushed leaves. November is a long day of trekking through the trees, with an olfactory treasure as your reward.
The resins from the woods around you imbue the skin with a scent that is piquant, yet suggestive of an animalic muskiness. The fact that this is a perfume oil augments the process of November melding into your skin and becoming a fluid part of your natural scent, after much time spent in the temperate deciduous forest.
November is available at For Strange Women at etsy. $40 for a 1/4oz bottle.
Disclosure: I purchased this sample myself from For Strange Women. Opinions in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.
Image by Raceytay on etsy.com
thefloraesthetic.com 
I love Jill McKeever’s fragrances and how she paints olfactory landscapes. I love November, perfect for Autumn. November smells like a combo of her other fragrances Winter Kitty and Decadence & Debauchery. Winter Kitty and Horse are my absolute favorites! I really enjoyed your review!
I was just wearing Horse for the first time yesterday and fell head over heels for it! Be on the lookout for a review in the near future 😉
I love my Moss and Ivy and am going to go to ETSY and purchase November in the Temperate Deciduous Forrest RIGHT NOW!!! And I will have to try Horse and Winter Kitty too. Thank you for another wonderful and inspiring review! xoxo duVergne
In fact, I did just that! Bought November n the Temperate Deciduous Forrest, a triple sampler of the colognes – Coyote, Sand Dollar and Horse, an Absinthe lip balm AND a sample of Winter Kitty! Hurrah for fabulously Strange Women!!! Again, thank you for the tip, Trish and Scent Hive! duVergne
Woot Woot! You are going to be very pleased. All three colognes are terrific (Horse is my fave) and I haven’t smelled Winter Kitty for a while now, but I do remember liking it. I will have to pull out my sample and give it another whirl! You’ll have to tell me all about the Absinthe lip balm as I am a lip balm fiend.
Lots of love my fellow feminist sniffer 🙂
XOXO
T
P.S. I love the movie clip! “Let’s see, Lapsang Souchong, for those rainy mornings…” So funny!!
I’m so glad you watched it! I love the boyfriend, he played that scene perfectly. “English Breakfast…that’s more of a studying tea”
The Absinthe lip balm is addictive as are the bath salts; I just can’t enough of that scent!
Those are two items on my wishlist 🙂
Beautiful writing as always. This doesn’t sound my cup of tea, per se, but I clicked over to the shop and … wow! Decadence and Debauchery and Bollywood sound great, and I love the packaging. These are going on my to-try list.
D&D is the way to go. Bollywood is nice for sure, but not as complex as some of her others. And D&D is gorgeous!