Eau de Polder from L'Essence de Mastenbroek launched in 2005, and has one of the best perfume backstories I've ever heard. It was created by artist Birthe Leemeijer and perfumer Alessandro Gualtieri in collaboration with the residents of Mastenbroek, a polder in the Dutch province of Overijssel. The project was initiated by Skor as part of a larger effort to preserve the cultural heritage of the polder:
The polder is under pressure from urban and industrial developments and has therefore been included as one of the projects in the government’s Belvédère National Heritage scheme. The crucial issue here is: to what extent can cultural-historical values be safeguarded and incorporated in a new economic and social reality in the polder?
The creators hope that the fragrance, which has notes of hay, grass, earth and herbs, will preserve the memory of the polder in the minds of the young, many of whom are leaving the polder for futures elsewhere.
L'Essence de Mastenbroek is in perfume oil form, and is available at luckyscent for $130 for 40 ml; samples are available.
More reading: an interview with Birthe Leemeijer. Update: And with thanks to Marcello for the link, here are some pictures of the Mastenbroek polder.
It's a bit pricey, and they might want to consider an EDT or EDP spray, but that bottle is spectacular, even if I can't imagine what it might have to do with the Dutch countryside (unless a scientist from the future happens to live there).
Does this remind you more than a teensy bit of that other Dutch one-off, POTL? I mean, the flask and all?
Would love an EdP spray, but given the way this one was developed, I can't really quarrel with the price…it doesn't sound like their primary motivation was money. Don't know the story behind the bottle though!
Hey, good point!
But — hoping POTL is not a one-off, and keep hearing another fragrance is due from them this year. Hope its true!
I would love to try this. Such a good cause. Hey, NST, why don't you come up with an Eau de Bucks County or something?
I would love to try this one too, but am a little perplexed by the “cattle” note/accord described at luckyscent. Would that be meat, leather, or poop?
LOL — I think the unspoiled part of Bucks County is already long gone…
Perhaps it is all of the above, just for the realism of it 🙂
It's a pity it was made in Grasse rather than by Naarden (now Quest) in Holland. Anyone know where in Europe I can purchase a couple of bottles by mail? – it was supposed to be offered at about 35 euros.
John King, UK
I am not finding any leads via Google…perhaps because there are so many news stories about it that the stores aren't ranking? You might try emailing first-in-fragrance in Germany to see if they are going to pick it up, they often get the obscure niche scents.