Ojiim - limited edition perfume - coming soon in December 2020.

I’m excited to announce a new limited edition perfume that will be available in December 2020. It is called Ojiim. The name comes from the Ojibwe language and means “kiss”. It’s pronounced o-JIM (emphasis on the second syllable.) I have mixed a batch which will produce approximately 30 x 30ml bottles, with enough remaining perfume to make a certain amount of samples as well. I’ve been teasing out some information about the visuals and design of the project on Instagram, and was quite surprised at the keenly enthusiastic response (thank you all for this.) I am still working out the most equitable means of making the perfume available. I believe that I may make a limited number available as a presale, samples available at that same time, and then release the remaining bottles. I have a few days over the Thanksgiving holiday to figure it out (but not many!)

Ojiim Perfume Extrait, 30ml, January Scent Project, 2020.

Here is some additional info about this release: As some of you may know by following my social media activity, I came into possession of a group of antique / aged oils from a dealer here in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US. They are approximately 100 years old, and they’ve all aged remarkably, some of them becoming quite mellow and very nuanced. I knew upon obtaining them that I’d like to do some very special projects with them, and that will transpire over the next few years.

I have used three of the oils in Ojiim (Antique Citron essential oil, Oil of Palmarosa, and Styrax absolute.) There are still about 15 more vials of wonderful things I will be working with as time progresses and ideas present themselves.

I decided to group these particular oils with a very particular, spicy and full-bodied note: Cumin CO2. For those who don’t like perfumes with cumin, this may be your train stop (and it’s ok…) but it’s important to explain what a curious phenomenon the CO2 extraction of cumin smells like - it’s far airier, brighter, greener, “alive” than the cumin most of us may be used to smelling in spice jars. It’s a real thing of beauty.

A significant chunk of rose de mai was added, along with a synthetic castoreum accord, bergamot, pink pepper, Australian sandalwood, treemoss, and agarwood. There’s a hint of orange added as well which works into a kind of synergy with rose and cumin and jumps out at the very beginning of the perfume.

Because some of these oils are antique and in very limited supply, the perfume itself is a bit archaeological. It would be very difficult to remake it precisely. I may try to make a second batch if I can find similar materials, but it would be a challenge, and not for another few years at the earliest.

I will be sending out an email shortly with details about Ojiim. Thank you all for your interest and support, and I hope you all enjoy a safe and warm Thanksgiving holiday.