Exaltatum Ruby Wood

I first read about Exaltatum Ruby Wood in a lovely article published in the artistic perfumery magazine Çafleurebon. The talented author Samantha Scriven compared wearing this fragrance to an enchanting, fairy tale-like experience, mentioning many magical stories we heard growing up.

This parallel very much resonated with me and, at first sniff, I was instantly transported to moments in my childhood. The fruitier facets of this fragrance remind me of a small scented doll my grandma bought for me when I was four years old – a gift I still keep and cherish – and also scented pens and other stationery.

Ruby Wood is a kaleidoscope of intricately combined notes and accords that call to mind deep hues of red with specks of black. A luxurious blend of freshly picked, delicious red berries, brightened by effervescent tangerines and cassis, melds with rose petals spiked with spices. I take in the scent of cardamom, coriander, and black pepper along with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and something delicious, reminiscent of praline cake. The composition is deepened by resins, woods, incense, and myrrh, with patchouli and coffee grounds adding earthy touches.  

This is a crowd-pleasing fragrance that combines fruity, gourmand, floral, and darker spicy nuances – lovers of these fragrance types will be equally satisfied. It is a fragrance that can be happily worn on a breezy autumn day while enjoying scented candles, warm drinks laced with fruits and spice, and delectable desserts in the cozy comfort of one’s home. I still really enjoyed it in warmer weather too.  

The nose behind this creation is Grasse-trained perfumer Eglija Vaitkevice who launched Exaltatum in 2016 to honor and celebrate her love for nature, art, history, and storytelling.

The notes are listed as they appear on the houses’ website:

Top notes​​: rose petals, red berries, cassis, tangerine, pink pepper, coriander, cardamom.

Heart notes​​: rose absolute Bulgaria, geranium, jasmine grandiflorum India, raspberry, violet, coffee absolute, patchouli, frankincense.

Base notes​​: myrrh, olibanum, labdanum, oud, sandalwood, musk.

I reviewed Ruby Wood from a 15 ml bottle I won from a giveaway kindly offered by the Facebook fragrance group Eau My Soul. I’d like to thank Christi Long of Eau My Soul, Eglija Vaitkevice of Exaltatum, and Elizabeth Rose of Ave Parfums for making this possible.

The fragrance is available in different size bottles as Eau de Parfum at Exaltatum in London and at Ave Parfums in the USA.

Photos: Sarah McGuire.