Yes! I had bay rum leaf essential oil and it smelled wonderful, between clove, bay leaf, and geranium with a sweetness something like tolu balsam. Great room freshener in a diffuser
I remember seeing the description (small engraved botanical marker) on a 'piment' tree, either in the US Virgins or Jamaica (golf course?) and realizing my mistake that 'Bay Rum' (Rhum?) was not bay leaves macerated in rum alcohol, but maybe This. Also the leaves (berries?) and branches used in making the seasoning and the actual 'jerk' process (smoking). This was back in 70s-80s. Field's (in Chgo) carried the St. John line for many years -- and in addition to wearing the Bay Rum, I liked the 'Lime' (maybe called 'West Indies Lime' ? don't recall. The cute rattan packaging was also a draw.
The suit store in front of my office carried the brand, so I just had to buy. I agree, an informal, understated clove-all the more interesting because clove is now so rare in perfumery (Caron and others having strayed far away).
The vetiver of the brand seemed less interesing. Thery also had something called Madras that felt more in Bays rum neighborhood, but I haven't sprayed on skin.
The key note in Bay that makes it so addictive and irresistible to me is the myrcene. It's rarely seen in a warm spice context, as usually it's in things like citrus oils and aromatic things like lavender and pine. The myrcene + eugenol combination is such a good match due to each others' relative strengths. Nature is the best perfumer after all!
This is not something you will find quickly in the Netherlands. Maybe in a trendy barbershop. I do not know it, but it makes me curious to go and search for it and smell🙂
I'm finding myself hung up on the idea of traveling without perfume for fear of security scrapping it. Is this something that's happening nowadays? I always travel with perfume and have never given it much thought, but my niece expressed similar anxieties recently.
Bought it for my husband and it is as you describe. He likes it; I like it. It has a certain airiness that makes it sheer and wearable despite the summer heat. I might have to look into other flavors and maybe some soap. Thank you for posting a picture of that irresistible bottle :P
I hadn't realized it was not just tarragon but common basil. What an amazing chemical. Have we any idea how many mg of estragole are usually present in a generous serving of poulet a l'estragon or ordinary pesto? I would just like to see some EU authority trying to ban either of those herbs in cookery. But perfumes seem to lack influential defenders?
If only Balzac were alive, he would be defending perfume to the teeth! Even though in Bette he was mean about the ex-perfumer Crevel. In that book there is a great paean to luxury, which is as essential to some as bread - - or something like that. Perfume would be included in that. Also I wonder if anyone has made a specific study of Wagner and his obsession with perfumes.
Edit: I found it! I read the whole article with the belief that Luca was really wearing rum the whole time, something nice like Zacapa, and I thought how interesting, eccentric and elegant it was... :D I'm a little disappointed... :D
Yes! I had bay rum leaf essential oil and it smelled wonderful, between clove, bay leaf, and geranium with a sweetness something like tolu balsam. Great room freshener in a diffuser
It's almost as if it were a natural accord?
definitely
Coincidentally, this was posted on here last week:
https://gonzofumes.substack.com/p/bay-rum
I had read that and what memories it brought back! I must get the essential oil and see if it is true to memory.
I remember seeing the description (small engraved botanical marker) on a 'piment' tree, either in the US Virgins or Jamaica (golf course?) and realizing my mistake that 'Bay Rum' (Rhum?) was not bay leaves macerated in rum alcohol, but maybe This. Also the leaves (berries?) and branches used in making the seasoning and the actual 'jerk' process (smoking). This was back in 70s-80s. Field's (in Chgo) carried the St. John line for many years -- and in addition to wearing the Bay Rum, I liked the 'Lime' (maybe called 'West Indies Lime' ? don't recall. The cute rattan packaging was also a draw.
The suit store in front of my office carried the brand, so I just had to buy. I agree, an informal, understated clove-all the more interesting because clove is now so rare in perfumery (Caron and others having strayed far away).
The vetiver of the brand seemed less interesing. Thery also had something called Madras that felt more in Bays rum neighborhood, but I haven't sprayed on skin.
I sprayed bay rum in my inner elbow yesterday evening, and it's still there at 11 am. Low key, but still there. Impressive.
I know! I’m surprised too. Maybe there is a fixative in there….
Very possibly (they do list musk and patch as a base note). But all the best for it, because it still smells like clove, not of woody ambers.
The key note in Bay that makes it so addictive and irresistible to me is the myrcene. It's rarely seen in a warm spice context, as usually it's in things like citrus oils and aromatic things like lavender and pine. The myrcene + eugenol combination is such a good match due to each others' relative strengths. Nature is the best perfumer after all!
Thank you, very interesting.
This is not something you will find quickly in the Netherlands. Maybe in a trendy barbershop. I do not know it, but it makes me curious to go and search for it and smell🙂
I'm finding myself hung up on the idea of traveling without perfume for fear of security scrapping it. Is this something that's happening nowadays? I always travel with perfume and have never given it much thought, but my niece expressed similar anxieties recently.
Only for cabin luggage…
Moving on 👿
I couldn't resist the bottle+description so one is on the way. TY!
Bought it for my husband and it is as you describe. He likes it; I like it. It has a certain airiness that makes it sheer and wearable despite the summer heat. I might have to look into other flavors and maybe some soap. Thank you for posting a picture of that irresistible bottle :P
I'm trying to understand what IFRA has against estragole? Would they want, too, to ban tarragon, without which la grande cuisine could not exist?
Allyl double bonds…
I hadn't realized it was not just tarragon but common basil. What an amazing chemical. Have we any idea how many mg of estragole are usually present in a generous serving of poulet a l'estragon or ordinary pesto? I would just like to see some EU authority trying to ban either of those herbs in cookery. But perfumes seem to lack influential defenders?
Food has a measurable benefit. Perfume does not.
If only Balzac were alive, he would be defending perfume to the teeth! Even though in Bette he was mean about the ex-perfumer Crevel. In that book there is a great paean to luxury, which is as essential to some as bread - - or something like that. Perfume would be included in that. Also I wonder if anyone has made a specific study of Wagner and his obsession with perfumes.
I am confused, it is not a drink?
Edit: I found it! I read the whole article with the belief that Luca was really wearing rum the whole time, something nice like Zacapa, and I thought how interesting, eccentric and elegant it was... :D I'm a little disappointed... :D
As a Guatemalan, I approve this message ;P