It might sound strange to say a perfume shop restored my faith in humanity, but to be honest, it did. Fischersund is the type of in-store experience that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired. I was travelling in Iceland and knew I had to visit the Rolling Stone-approved shop. Some people travel for food, me – skincare and beauty products. I knew I had to go to Fischersund to experience their incredibly chic fragrances for myself.
Jónsi – the front man for Icelandic band, Sigur Rós – founded the company with his family. He is the brand’s self-taught ‘nose’ – launching the first perfume after 10 years of studying the world of essential oils and aroma molecules. The passion for creation weaves through the generations in his family – with his sister designing the packaging and home goods (like their gorgeous fever blankets), and his Dad blow torching the tins they package products in to make each one individual.
The store is housed in one of the three oldest homes in Iceland. A small black wooden storefront that is equal part mysterious and cozy. It’s described as the intersection of ‘scent, shop, gallery, and art’. Every corner has been carefully thought out and feels perfectly balanced. The store was originally the recording studio for Sigur Rós – you can still see the hand-made moss walls for sound dampening from those early days.
Fischersund’s fragrance products are incredibly unique and I’ll do a undeserving attempt at trying to explain them – so I will quote how they describe themselves on their site:
“Inspired by the clean, unique nature of Iceland using herbs and oils harvested in the Icelandic wild via the most environmentally friendly solutions and materials for the modern lifestyle. Perfume is like composing music – different notes and they tell a story.”
Each perfume is made to evoke memories – childhood, summer homes, grandparents, and tool sheds, the harbour – smokey and fresh.
To date they’ve created four distinct scents – No. 8, No. 54, No. 23, and their most recent collaboration between Icelandic heritage brand, 66°Norður, with the new ÚTILYKT Spray – 66°Norður x Fischersund.
You have the option of taking a scent tour when you arrive at the shop – and we jumped at the chance. The tour walks you through each perfume as poems that encapsulate the perfume’s ‘notes’ are read aloud.
When we were smelling the new 66°Norður collaboration, ÚTILYKT – this was aloud read to us:
Headwind in every direction. Drifting snow creeping under coat collars. Snow beads on woolly mittens. Berry coloured tongue and head resting on a pillow of moss. Lawn mower in a distant garden. An undressed Christmas tree blowing down the sidewalk in the sea breeze. Frosted windows, weather forecast and the car heater on full blast.
It was all such a moving experience we almost cried as we were listening to the poems and smelling the finely crafted scents.
I can’t explain it! It was just so emotional and healing. With how heavy the world is right now, it’s soul-restoring to go to a place where passion leads, where families work together to create something truly special.
I ended up purchasing three of their scents and adore each one. They are unisex and my husband loves them as well – they smell so different on him than me and that makes them even more special.
ÚTILYKT – described as the scent of the outside
A combination of fresh oxygen, unearthed vegetation and crisp arctic air that lingers on your skin after being outside for an extended period of time.
No. 8 – the newest scent to be added to their permanent collection
The newest edition to our fragrance line-up, this fresh floral scent features bursts of tart rhubarb, citrus notes and crisp pine. When you purchase the scent in-store it comes wrapped in a family-made handkerchief that houses the poem that was just read aloud to you.
No. 54 – A woody scent that’s warm and comforting
This fragrance smells incredible on my husband – the smokey top note is so unique. It also comes wrapped in a family-designed handkerchief. It’s a woody scent that’s a go-to for its warm and comforting accord of vetiver, patchouli and animalistic musk.
When you go to their website (yes, the do ship to Canada!), you can read the poems each perfume has in the product description. I suggest you do.
What has been a store that has really changed your perspective, or made you feel something out of the ordinary? I’d love to hear about it.
M Fab
