Terra Firma

Similar to another reviewer, I got this from Anthropologie back in the day when it was called “Balmoral Rain” (so I’m using that name instead of “Terra Firma”. Full disclosure: I’m not sure if this fragrance has been reformulated since the rebrand, so I’m reviewing the rendition I had once upon a time. I remember it being the most intense, intoxicating petrichor scent. I felt like Cathy from Wuthering Heights or a Jane Austen protagonist whenever I wore it. It’s reminiscent of something between an English garden, a Scottish moor, and a very old library (like the one Gandalf visited in LOTR when he was doing research on the ring). “Balmoral Rain” wasn’t a very feminine scent- it leaned unisex, and it had ridiculously strong longevity, projection, and sillage. It was almost too much at times, but I liked it and have such a pleasant nostalgia attached to it. The only reason I’m writing this review is because I was testing Fine’ry fragrances at Target today, and “Before the Rain” reminded me SO much of “Balmoral Rain” in the dry-down. I know the Fine’ry one is supposed to resemble Jo Malone “Wood Sage & Sea Salt” (which I’ve never smelled), but I just had to share for anyone who has enjoyed this type of fragrance. They aren’t exact dupes- if “Balmoral Rain” is the matriarch, “Before the Rain” is the young ingenue. However, just to pay all due respects to Royal Apothic as a perfume house, “Before the Rain” has NOTHING on “Balmoral Rain” in terms of potency.

I first smelled Terra Firma in their bubble bath format. It was something like I hadn't smelled before and it intrigued me, kept me thinking about it.I couldn't control my curiosity, I had to get the perfume. The perfume and the bubble bath are almost identical in scent. The perfume unfortunately has an added sharpness at the beginning with citrus/alcohol. However about 10 minutes it turns into its real form which I describe as earthy sophistocation. I get moss and wet soil with a hint of geranium all throughout its wear time. I imagine this is how an aged matriarch's garden would smell like after a heavy rain. In that garden the bushes and plants have taken over, it's gloomy, almost all of the flowers are gone. Noone has stepped foot in this garden for a long time. But there is an old stone fountain covered in moss in the center of that garden and the sight of that pulls you in... There is a certain sophistication and mistery in this fragrance, yet it has the raw "purity" of earth. Definitely not for everyone.

This perfume is strange. At least on my skin, I had a hard time detecting the floral scents. They showed up way later, almost after I had given up.. What hit me first was the sandalwood and the moss. I am no expert, but if any flowery kick was there at all, it was probably geranium, which is not a flower from humid places but from arid, rough soils. So it does have a "down to earth" quality... (Ergo: "Terra..Firma"). As for the orange, I didn't smell it at all. As it dried out, I begun to detect the wild rose, and the magnolia. But what confused me is that I was expecting fruits and flowers to hit first, and sense the moss and sandalwood later, towards the dry down.. This perfume took me a while to "get it". It's not for the faint of heart... A bit too bold, almost uncivil. But it does have a certain personality that I am learning to appreciate..

Tried this at an Antropologie on a warm summer day when it was called "Balmoral Rain" and received multiple compliments throughout the day. It's like damp moss on a misty day, with all the flowers in bloom. It's deliciously magical and I treasure the small bottle I was able to track down.

I just love the smell of moss, and this perfume makes me day dream about a walk through the forest. This perfume is full of mystery and enchantment.