Rabbie’s life – in the great Homecoming Year – will be celebrated in
myriad ways. Many a dram will be supp’ed as we think of the vigour of
his ways. Critics will pore over the minutiae of the most arcane
passages in his manuscripts. Ladies will weep gently as they think about
the charms of Rabbie; the man.
Our celebration of Rabbie; is different. Scents and aromas summon our
hidden memories, and the right perfume can make us passionate; beyond
your wildest dreams. So it is that the Scottish Partnership – guardian
of the ancient art of perfume making in Scotland – celebrates the
intense emotional life of our national poet in two fragrances.
The perfume for ladies would surely have inflamed Rabbies often white
hot passions. A heart of rose – and surely we must have this romantic
scent note – /..O, my luve’s like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in
June…/is prominent in the perfume; but in a modern Scottish
interpretation. There is a refreshing greenness, reminiscent of the
lively fields and grasses which Rabbie loved. Above all , there is a
lively spirit which would have inspired the poet into some romantic
verses. And if you pay attention; you can sense the soft hidden notes
from fine classical musks, which give the perfume that essential
feeling of romantic love – undoubtedly one of if not the – immortal
springs of his immense life force. Rabbie would have loved this scent on
his ladies.
The fragrance, for the modern man, is a Scottish interpretation of
classical perfume themes for men; and had Rabbie been able to get his
hands on it; indeed he might have been even more successful with the
ladies. A fresh and green and subtly fruity suite of opening notes
ushers in the heart notes; which are suitably garlanded in deep green
and distinctive woody notes. These are the woody notes of the ancient
Scottish woods; poignant with our racial memories; perhaps even engraved
in our genes; and so potent is this virile masculine note; that we can
perhaps sense kilted warriors revelling in its power. Sniff a little
deeper and more thoughtfully and you have a surprise. For in the midst
of the distinctive woody notes; sit a family of whisky aroma notes. You
must surely be able to sense the spicy notes ? And a whole display of
sensuous aroma notes; reminiscent of the finest single malt Scotch
whisky’s; tell us what it is to be a Scotsman in the 21^st century.
Rabbie, we feel; would also have taken to this fragrance for a modern man.
Robbie Burns
The gentleman’ fragrance
This fragrance was specially created for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns
– 2009.
Created by the Scottish Partnership team; it aims to capture the inimitable spirit of both Robbie the man and poet; and also Scotland – in a modern 21st century interpretation.
Naturally, the fragrance was created by the Scottish Partnership perfumer George Dodd
at the Scottish Partnership Perfume Studio in Mellon Charles, Scotland.
Notes on the fragrance are given overleaf
Robbie Burns
The gentleman’ fragrance
This contemporary fragrance for gentlemen is rich in natural scent oils and it aims to express in a fragrance the paradoxical; exciting; and romantic values of the poet and man – our very own Robbie Burns.
The opening Notes
A wave of zesty green fruity notes; rumbustious in character; like the man himself; rise up to greet you. They also remind us of Burn’s love of Nature.
The Middle Phase
In this dominant phase of the fragrance we meet Robbie in a different guise, perhaps in a grand drawing room in Edinburgh. We notice the warm soft powdery spicy notes emerging; they would surely have captured the heart of many a lass.
There is also another spicy note of the kind found in some celebrated single malts, so beloved of the poet.
Underpinning the various spicy notes is a bed of manly wood notes; predominantly cedarwood in character; perfectly integrated with a soft almost hidden floral nuance expressing the poet’s romantic nature.
The Final Phase
The notes of the middle phase; noble and manly in character; gradually lose their sexy spicy notes; revealing the elegant woody-musky complex at the heart of the plinth notes in the fragrance. These notes last on the skin for a long time; conveying an aura of sophistication with just a hint of wild spirit.
The Scottish Partnership
The Scottish Partnership exists to introduce Scottish products to the overseas marketplace, in particular to USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to the large ex pat Scottish community.
More information about the activities of the Partnership are found at
The team in the Scottish Partnership developing a range of Scottish perfumes and allied products for the international Scottish diaspora include –
- Coll MacLean; founder and director of the Scottish Partnership
- Gus MacDonald; founder of Isle of Skye Cuillin Marbles
- George Dodd; who has the only working perfume studio in Scotland in the crofting community of Mellon Charles
All of the perfumes are original creations and aim to express various facets and moods of the unique Scottish heritage and culture.
Journalists who require more information about the Robbie Burns perfumes and fragrances (and allied products) are asked to contact Coll MacLean in the first instance { coll.maclean@sky.com . Working through Coll; our perfumer; George Dodd will be very pleased to talk about the philosophy and design of the fragrances in more detail.
