There is a certain peace that comes in the winter. A stillness that mirrors the hushed, silent tones of the first snowfall and is ever present in the swift-to-arrive darkness that marks the Winter Solstice.
What if this year instead of trying to escape from the darkness and the cold, you embraced it as a beautiful and inevitable season that brings about stillness, reflection, rest, and peace? What if we sat still for a moment in the winter months. The more I live the more I realize stillness is an art form that most of us don't know how to accommodate.
Tomorrow marks the Winter Solstice. The beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year. It's a day marked important in both the science books and the folklore tales. Perhaps it's because I spent a day at Stonehenge this year and studied a bit about the history of the region, but the lore surrounding the Winter Solstice is particularly fascinating. It's recorded as both a celebration and a chance for rebirth with fire and light, feasts and festivals. A new bucket list adventure of mine is to be one of the first to welcome the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge one day.
As someone who is particularly inspired by the steady changing of the seasons, I'm always on the hunt for products and brands that embrace the significance of the change and the beauty of nature.
One such brand that does this effortlessly – so much so it is their entire ethos as a company – is Ffern ( pronounced fern).
Ffern is a small batch, organic fragrance maker based in Somerset, England. They carefully produce four - and only four - bespoke scents per year and each is delivered on the Solstices and Equinoxes throughout the year.
I came across the brand thanks to their beautiful podcast called "As the Season Turns" which releases a new episode on the first of every month. Having spent some time in Somerset, England this year I felt an instant and strong connection to the brand and to their product.
But like most well-made things in life there was no guarantee we would be able to receive a bottle of Winter '23 - their winter perfume this year. To keep the production high quality and small-batch they work off a personalized ledger system that, thanks to some careful monitoring by my husband, we were able to get a spot on.
So, what does this winter fragrance smell like?
The Best Winter Scent
In a word: enchanting
In many words: spicy with a fresh undertone that develops into a deep citrus over the course of the day
In their words: "a shaft of sunlight through the canopy illuminating the winter green"
Top Notes:
- Peppermint
- Tarragon Leaf
- Sweet Orange Rind
- Lemon Rind
- Rosemary
Mid Notes:
- Bergamot Rind
- Clove Bud
- Osmanthus
- Jasmine sambac
- Lavender
- Patchouli
Base Notes:
- Ambrette seed
- Oakmoss
- Red cedar
- Balsam fir
What Makes Ffern So Unique?
Besides their commitment to quality, their small batch production process, and their synchronization with the seasons, each Ffern bottle is a statement piece on any dressing table or dresser top.
It's the finishing accessory to any outfit and is well suited for a day at your computer or a Yule Ball.
They are the first fragrance maker to eliminate plastic completely from their packaging and everything from the tray to the bottle is recyclable or compostable.
And if you're particular with fragrances (like I am) the package comes with a well-designed tester to be able to use the scent several times before tucking into the actual bottle. If it doesn't suit you, you simply return the bottle and wait for the next solstice or equinox launch.
So, this is my challenge to you. As we dive into the bowels of winter and the days are cold and the responsibilities loom, take some time for grounding. For chilly winter sunshine in your eyes first thing in the morning. Buy a piece of luxury cashmere and wear it for a seasonal dinner topped off with a special winter fragrance.
Embrace the season, because it's here and there's no need to escape it. Life was never meant to be spent wishing you were elsewhere. Enjoy your Winter, no matter how long it lasts. And maybe pop your name onto the Ffern ledger for the Spring '23 Equinox! After all, there's nothing wrong with being here but looking forward to there.