Scandinavian dreaming with Skandinavisk’s new Eau de Toilette collection

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Oh how I long to head off to a little island somewhere in one of Scandanavia’s many beautiful archipelagos… Sadly not possible at the moment, of course, so until I can travel again I’ll have to content myself with a bit of daydreaming – and with soaking up the scent of the Scandinavian coast thanks to a new eau de toilette from Skandinavisk.

I’ve long been a fan of Skandinavisk’s candles, reed diffusers and bodycare products, so I was excited to learn that it’s now developed a collection of fragrances for the skin. Called ‘Kapitel’ (meaning ‘chapter’), it consists of three scents inspired by different elements of Scandinavian nature – and by different moments in the Copenhagen-based brand’s own evolution. There’s Kapitel 12 ‘Freedom to Roam’ – a green, aromatic blend which takes its number from the year Skandinavisk was launched and chronicles journeys into highland wildernesses, hiking along heather-fringed trails and foraging for herbs and berries. And there’s Kapitel 17 ‘Remote Refrain’ – a fresh, fruity mix of pear and delicate white blossoms that evokes a spring 2017 visit to the orchard-lined shores of Hardangerfjord in Norway. The one which appealed to me the most, though, was Kapitel 4 ‘Island Solitude’.

Described as a ‘marine floral’, Kapitel 4 was inspired by Skandinavisk’s English co-founders Shaun and Gerry’s early days in Scandinavia, exploring glittering waterways and rocky shallows under sail. It certainly hasn’t disappointed. It’s a beautifully light scent with notes of crabapple, dog rose, salt spray and moss, and it somehow manages to be uplifting and calming at the same time. Just one spritz transports me back to past adventures on various Scandinavian shores – a lazy week ferry-hopping between the wooded islets of the Stockholm Archipelago, sunset beach picnics in Skåne, drifting around Oslofjord on a midsummer sailboat cruise, a journey through west Sweden’s beautiful Bohuslän Archipelago in the frozen depths of winter… I can almost hear the lapping waves and the sea birds calling overhead.

All the ‘Kapitel’ fragrances were developed by French perfumer Stéphane Coez, who made numerous visits to Scandinavia to deepen his understanding of the region and its scents. They’re also made in a responsible way, using as many natural and organic ingredients as possible, and are packaged in FSC-certified boxes without any cellophane wrapping. They’re priced at €49 / £45 each and are available to buy online or via Skandinavisk’s concept store at Selfridges. You can find out more about the processes involved in their creation and the inspiration behind them here.

All photography by Abi Dare