The Whistling Thorn

I am very proud to support and celebrate Jakki Kerubo, the first Black/African niche perfumer that I know.

Though female perfumers are gaining more recognition, their number is noticeably small as compared to male perfumers. Black/African perfumers are conspicuously few, so it's great to see Jakki also breaking that barrier, especially in the niche market.

Jakki lives in New York and founded her own company, The Whistling Thorn, which specializes in clean/natural skin-care products and recently, niche fragrances. 

Her two creations, Naivasha Rose and Seítho, are already making a name for themselves. The personal story behind each fragrance is on her website.

I did not think twice about sampling Jakki's fragrances. The problem with mainstream/designer fragrances is that at some point, they smell the same, particularly when you favor the same/similar fragrance notes.

The great thing about niche/artisanal fragrances is that they are unique, smell more sophisticated, and are more complex. As a result, none of the niche fragrances I have smell similar to anything else I own. Additionally, many niche perfumers favor cleaner/more natural ingredients making them more appealing for health-conscious consumers. 

Buying perfumes without testing them first is usually not a great idea unless you understand notes. Even then, there's still a risk you won't like the product. You can purchase 2 oz sample sizes of Jakki's scents before committing to a full flanker.

I love both these scents!

The packaging, which included a hand-written card, is impressive. Everything from the fragrance name to the package design has ties to where Jakki grew up.

Seítho

Seítho is a unisex scent. It's a beautifully composed, well-blended, and balanced fragrance that combines citrus, floral, spicy, and woody notes. I could still smell it at the end of the day, so a few spritzes on your pulse points is all you need. The sillage and longevity are moderate.

I would use this scent year-round and recommend using a light hand if you plan to wear it outdoors in hot/humid weather.

Seítho has several more notes, but the ones that stand out the most to me are:

1. Lemon, bergamot, sweet orange, grapefruit, and neroli (top/opening)
2. Rose, ylang-ylang, ginger, and star anise (heart/mid)
3. Frankincense, myrrh, cedar, and vetiver (base). 

Naivasha Rose

I was not going to purchase Naivasha Rose based on my past terrible experience with the rose note.

When not well done, rose perfumes can come off cheap, watered-down, and alcohol-infused, leading to a fragrance that smells like cough syrup.

I'm so glad I gave Naivasha Rose a chance. The best way to describe this scent? It smells like a rose garden (specifically red roses) after the rain. It's a warm, earthy, spicy, woody, sophisticated fragrance. Whether this scent works best in cooler or warm temperatures will depend on individual preference and body chemistry. I can't wait to test it in the Fall/Winter months.

The notes that stand out the most are:

1. Bergamot and pink pepper (top/opening)
2. Rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, and star anise (heart/mid) 
3. Labdanum, oakmoss, vetiver, and cedar (base)

For her first niche fragrance launch, Jakki's done well. I have sampled niche fragrances from established perfumers and hers measure up to some of their scents.

I look forward to seeing more from her!