If one has been wondering why the waters of the olfactory world have been heated in recent times (examples would be Creed Aventus Cologne, Yves Saint Laurent Libre Le Parfum and Bvlgari Man Glacial Essence), the answer could be solely due to one spice: ginger. We pick up notes of fresh ginger and not the root, which has made its way into our diets for thousands of years or the flower used as a nausea-combating ingredient.

One can expect fresh ginger to smell nose-tinglingly spicy or fresh-from-the-earth woody, but instead Kilian Hennessy — the man behind Kilian Paris — wants you to take a deeper sniff and think otherwise. “The ingredient makes a fragrance fresh in an interesting way as it’s lemon-like without the usual aggressiveness of the ingredient. It’s cleaner and slightly soapy; especially the essence we used in Blue Moon Ginger Dash”.

 

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The sixth edition of the Liquors Collection has a more straightforward recipe than the rest. While Apple Brandy On the Rocks and L’Heure Verte were inspired by New York City and Paris respectively, the inspiration behind Blue Moon Ginger Dash is Hennessy’s favourite cocktail to drink during the summer.

Reputed to be invented in Joel’s Green Room — the previous home of New York’s true Bohemians before Greenwich Village became their playground — the cocktail with three simple ingredients — vodka, blue curaçao, and lemon — was described by its staff as being “so deep that it left a persistent stain on anything it spilt on”.

 

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However, inside Kilian Paris’ cocktail glass is a decidedly more elegant take on the classic. To a fellow editor, there was a nostalgic pull to the 1990s, courtesy of calone — a chemical compound that made a splash in the era with icons like Acqua di Gio, Calvin Klein’s Escape, and L’Eau d’Issey. To another, it was a full serving of bitter vodka with a twist of lemon and a slice of ginger.

Without diving too deeply into my drinking habits, I have to note that how one likes his alcohol is exactly how one will experience Blue Moon Ginger Dash. The fragrance truly comes to life for those who fancy a gin & tonic, spritz or mojito — genderless and versatile with its fresh lemon-water opening, refreshing with its aquatic ginger zing and white dusky musk that increases its sillage despite it being categorised as a classic summer scent.

“When you love a perfume, you will naturally perceive it as more versatile,” answers Hennessy perfectly when asked about its seasonal appeal. After all, there is no right timing for a scent that is freshly mixed, shaken, not stirred and beautifully garnished with ginger after copious amounts of vodka are added.

Shop Kilian Paris Blue Moon Ginger Dash here or click here for our August 2023 issue.