Autumn is my favorite season. I recall many comforting memories of shorter days and crisp evenings infused with the scent of wood smoke. The Fall of my seventeenth year was especially memorable because I had just finished a European tour as a violist with the San Francisco Youth Orchestra. It was an exciting time of personal growth as I fulfilled a musical dream and prepared for college.
It was during this assignment with the orchestra that I played Le Chante de Rosignol. The suite, or tone-poem, composed by Igor Stravinsky and based on the fairytale, The Nightingale, by Hans Christian Andersen, depicts the triumph of nature over artifice. A natural bird’s beautiful, loyal song is contrasted by a magnificent and impressive artificial bird which temporarily captivates the main character’s attention. Themes of impermanence and acceptance, nature and artificiality, even life and death are played out through the simple beauty and authentic talent of the natural bird. Golden Pheasant is a fragrance inspired by this story and the moments that capture the spirit of autumnal transformation and change.
I reinterpreted the nightingale’s devotion and authenticity through the lens of the Golden Pheasant. Like the nightingale, the pheasant is not guided by pretense, desire, or arrogance, but by genuine talent and dedication. Though the pheasant is a common bird, it symbolizes creativity, self-expression, and renewal. Its keen perception is both present and deeply aware, while its vibrant colors and natural instincts reflect the simple confidence of embracing one’s true self.
As a reminder of the cyclical nature of seasons, autumn woods and smoke set the stage of a forest woodland. Musk, suede, and rich amber evoke the Golden Pheasant’s primal authenticity, while pink pepper and cinnamon reinforce its confidence. Finally, caramelized sugar, Valencia orange, and coconut project a sweet, nutty accord that reflects the exotic essence of individuality within us all.
As you wear this fragrance, consider revealing the secrets you’ve kept hidden; proudly share your genuine allure with the world.
—Sean Colbert