From Art to Aroma: My Thoughts on Ffern Winter 25
While my blog is usually all about art, I couldn’t resist sharing a little inspiration from another sensory world—perfume. Ffern’s Winter 25 fragrance feels like a work of art in itself, and I thought it might be fun to explore how scent can stir the imagination, much like a painting or a piece of paper art.
Ffern is one of those coveted fragrances I’ve been waiting to get my hands on. Unlike mass-produced perfumes, to get a bottle you first have to get on the ffern waitlist and then are invited to purchase the upcoming release. Their format is a 4 season subscription with a single limited edition release each solstice/equinox. Each perfume is designed to reflect its season and is barrel aged and bottled in Somerset, England. For a handcrafted, artisan lover like me, this sounded delightful.
The company describes this particular season’s perfume as “For Winter 25, we have imagined a figure skating through a moonlit landscape of wild ice and frozen forests - notes of rose, Sicilian lemon, pink peppercorn and saffron revealing themselves as she glides.”
Personally as a girl who has figure skated in Canada, this definitely did not remind me of the rink or ice or even snowy forests. I was actually relieved to not smell obvious peppermint or fir trees.
The process:
I found the waitlist and invitation process much simpler than I expected. I was quickly offered a spot on the Ffern ledger (their subscription list) to purchase Winter 25.
One thoughtful detail is the inclusion of a small sample vial with each order, allowing you to test the perfume before committing to the full bottle. After reading some harsh critiques of their previous release, Autumn 24, I prepared myself for the possibility of disappointment. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here.
The perfume:
Absolutely divine. I personally smell lemon and rose notes the most, with a hint of cedar. The Sicilian lemon is more pronounced at first, but as the fragrance develops, the rose and neroli become more prominent. It’s an uplifting, warm scent—perfect for combating winter’s gloom.
The official notes are:
Top: Saffron, lemon rind, green mandarin rind, peppermint, pink peppercorn, bitter orange rind, key lime rind
Mid: Rose de mai, blue gum eucalyptus, neroli, palma rosa, bergamot rind, Jasmine sambac
Bottom: Lavender, red cedar, brown-eyed rock rose, vetiver root
Extras: You also receive extras such as a handmade clay diffuser, Winter tea (a herbal tea blend), moulinettes, artwork as part of a scent brochure and even a cinematic film. These are charming touches, but the main star of the show is the perfume.
The downside: Obviously for the price point at $129 per bottle, this absolutely has to be a perfume you love. While the packaging is exquisite, I was disappointed by the lack of a bottle cap. The perfume comes in a cardboard canister for storage, but a proper cap would have been a welcome addition.