Glühwein
Pineward Perfumes (2021)

Oh, wow! It’s a fruited woody scent that is also somehow dark. It smells like mulled wine, cherry cobbler and chocolate. There’s the hint of fir needles, the warmth of the incense…lovely. And is most likely what a medieval Saint Nicholas smelled like. Or Krampus after a good grooming. Dark, heavy but tartly fruity and rich, with a good dark wood base soaked in wine. The absence of amber here is brilliant; nothing buttery or vanillic to drag it down.

Glühwein is a 2021 release, and one of the (currently) only two rotational seasonal offerings, the other being Christmas Wine.

When Glühwein was first released, Nick said to think of it as an almost "Christmas Wine 2021". It is built upon the same base as Christmas Wine, but with additions of a handmade cherry absolute, raspberry, dark chocolate, davana attar, olibanum, and an increase in cranberry absolute. Whether or not it's because of the heavier fruit backbone, or because the balsam fir is actually dialed back here, I'm not sure, but I find this to be substantially less coniferous than Christmas Wine.

Cranberry is the star of the show here. It's such a gorgeous cranberry note, and the only natural cranberry I've ever smelled in perfumery. It really does smell like fresh homemade cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving. So incredibly jammy, sweet, and organic. It's so concentrated and boiled-down, it's almost boozy. Against this cranberry jam, we also have the addition of cherry, which, much like the cranberry, is reduced to a jammy compote. The cherry provides a syrupy sweetness which tempers the tartness of the cranberry, which is more apparent in Christmas Wine. Raspberry completes the trio, contributing to the jammy red fruit sweetness, and it's all backed by the addition of some luscious dark chocolate, which again, is incredibly natural. The chocolate is subtle, but it lends a bit of a chocolate cherry cordial vibe to the composition. I find the chocolate is at its boldest in the opening, but it remains detectable and balanced throughout the wear. Finally, we have champaca. I can't quote describe the smell of champaca. It's this deep, heady, waxy, floral sort of earthy note, and it pairs so well with dark fruit - singing throughout the midlayer of the whole thing. I don't get a ton of oakmoss or olibanum, but I think the davana is adding a bit of sharp, earthy greenness, which is acting as a counterbalance to the dense, sweet base.

It certainly does share that Christmas Wine base DNA, but it takes it in a different direction, taking out much of the fir and spice, and replacing it with an even bigger, even jammier red fruit reduction, and the chocolate and champaca just sing beautifully together, tying the fruity notes together so well.

If Christmas Wine is a festive Christmas elixir, with a hefty conifer addition so you don't forget what holiday you're celebrating, Glühwein is a festive Thanksgiving elixir. Jovial, joyful, and celebratory, bountiful excess, with all things sweet, fruity, and liquored. A really outstanding "flanker", if you will, and stands miles apart from the "typical" Pineward lineup. Additionally, this one is wildly approachable - perhaps one of the most beginner-friendly offerings, due to its pleasing candied sweetness, and lack of anything too woody, balsamic, earthy, or otherwise challenging.

If you enjoy holiday cranberry sauce, and all the festive aromas and treats associated with such celebrations, you're likely to appreciate it. If for no other reason than the fact it is one of, if not the very best red fruit/cranberry/cherry perfume I've ever smelled.

As per all Pinewards, at 30+% concentration, this will glue to the skin for an entire solar day - cloth, until washed, and you, or anyone else will have no trouble knowing that you smell like this. All Pinewards are squarely unisex, but this one will be one of, if not the most accessible to women, as its sweet fruity "red" character can certainly be perceived as feminine when paired with feminine energy. A must sample from the house, and a uniquely festive crowd pleaser.

Gluhwein is definitely heavier in terms of performance. What is the most detectable is lovely chocolate, spiced chocolate with a hint of vanilla, this acts like a sauce or syrup that stewed fruits are dipped in. Not only this is much more gourmand than Christmas Wine, also - yummy! Immediately makes me wanna eat what I’m smelling.

Sampling one of the most recent couple of releases from Pineward Perfumes, Gluhwein, a more liqueur-leaning cousin to Christmas Wine, a rich, sweet blend of chocolate, resins, florals, and fruits, with a bit of a “stewed fruit” vibe along with some darker accents like the chocolate and resins, especially, in line with similar fragrances but not executed quite as well as Christmas Wine or perhaps one or two other items from the line. Still, Gluhwein is another welcome variation on a similar concept and one of the relatively few options from the house that does not lean heavily on pine-like notes. It’s great that the house has built out such an interesting catalogue featuring nuanced offerings with their own personalities that nevertheless belong in somewhat similar categories.

The pricing of Gluhwein is the same as the rest of the line, at $220/128/80 for 57/37/17ml, and as with most of the line, it performs very well, the dark juice projecting and lasting a while.

7 out of 10