50ml
50ml
PAPILLON ARTISAN PERFUME
Epona
Eau De Parfum
Unisex
Sizes
Starting
$198.47
£147
Description
Epona by Papillon Artisan Perfume is a deeply evocative fragrance that captures the spirit of the English countryside and the profound bond between horse and rider. It opens with a bright, clean saddle soap accord, quickly joined by the comforting warmth of worn leather and the delicate sweetness of violet. As it settles, the scent unfolds into a pastoral landscape, revealing golden hay and the subtle, intimate aroma of horse skin, grounded by rich resins and earthy undertones. This fragrance is a nostalgic and beautifully blended tribute to cherished memories and the natural world.
Perfumer: Liz Moores
Scent Profile
Leather
Animalic
Green
Earthy
Soapy
Resinous
Violet
Herbaceous
Notes
Top Notes
Saddle Soap Accord
PetitgrainMiddle Notes
VioletHay Absolute
Horse Skin Accord
Base Notes
Leather
Opoponax
Labdanum
Vetiver
Honey
OakmossAbout PAPILLON ARTISAN PERFUME
Papillon Artisan Perfumes, founded in 2011 by self-taught British perfumer Liz Moores in England's New Forest, crafts hand-blended, small-batch fragrances inspired by nature, history, literature, people, and artwork, evoking metamorphosis like a butterfly. The brand's philosophy emphasizes artisanal craftsmanship with no outsourcing, ethical cruelty-free sourcing including beachcombed ambergris and vegan options, and classical methods to create rich, vintage-inspired scents like the leathered Anubis and angelic Angelique. Its uniqueness lies in award-winning compositions—such as the entire collection nominated for FIFI Awards 2015 and praised by Luca Turin—blending romantic, literary depth with personal, evocative storytelling for sophisticated wearers.
Perfumer
Liz Moores
Liz Moores is a self-taught British perfumer who founded Papillon Artisan Perfumes after beginning her olfactory journey blending essential oils as a massage therapist. She underwent intense self-training through books and courses with the Fragrance Foundation, leading to her debut fragrance Anubis and the launch of her brand with Tobacco Rose and Angelique. Her contributions include innovative, artisan scents like Salome, White Moth, and Hera, demonstrating that independent perfumers can make a significant impact on the industry.
Reviews
Community Insights
Reviewers often highlight Epona's realistic and evocative portrayal of horse skin and leather, finding it a highly transportive and expertly blended fragrance. Many appreciate its nostalgic quality, connecting it to memories of the countryside and the bond with horses.
Pros
Performance excellence: The fragrance is noted for being long-lived, enveloping the wearer in a comforting warmth that lingers.
Versatile appeal: It's considered ideal for those who appreciate wild, timeless scents, evoking images of summer days, warm leather, and sweet meadows.
Quality composition: Praised for its realistic horse skin and leather accords, Epona is seen as an expertly blended, high-quality artisanal fragrance with a smooth evolution from fresh to warm notes.
Cons
Specific limitation: Some reviewers experienced a fizzy or aldehydic opening, and on certain skin chemistries, the drydown could become a 'pongy sweet leather'.
Comparisons
Reminds reviewers of old Chanel perfumes: The aldehydic top notes have been compared to the vintage feel of classic Chanel fragrances.
Reminds reviewers of Dzongkha: Some find a subliminal 'newspaper-whiskey tonality' similar to Dzongkha.
Vibe & Emotions
Nostalgia: The scent frequently evokes cherished memories of horses, saddles, and the serene English countryside.
Warmth: Many experience an enveloping warmth and a cozy, intimate feeling, akin to warmed skin.
Wild and free: It's described as embodying something wild, free, warm, and alive, conjuring imagery of human and horse connection.
Grief and healing: The fragrance is also understood as a personal tribute to grief, healing, and moving through loss, inspired by the perfumer's own experience.
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