Gong
January Scent Project (2021)

Gong opens with a green burst of bergamot and lime, but the green pepper comes to the forefront right away—it doesn't hide at all. I also noticed a woodiness, which I assume comes from the sandalwood and leather. The blueberry is very faint, only traceable with each sniff. The ginger isn’t particularly noticeable to me. On paper, the green pepper stands out strongly, but on skin, I pick up more of the violet. There seems to be a push and pull between the green notes and the floral sweetness with a light powderiness.

Green, fruit, and powder isn’t a combination I would have expected, but it’s definitely interesting, and I haven’t encountered anything like this before. It feels experimental, and I appreciate the blend. While it's a must-sample fragrance, I don’t think I would reach for it often. However, I do prefer it over Dinudisit, and it remains one of my favorites from the brand. The description of "fruit and green musk" is accurate and probably the easiest way to summarize this scent. It’s a smooth blend of a light blueberry accord with green, slightly vegetal notes. It’s neither overtly green nor overly fruity, striking a perfect balance by blending them with some musk and light amber. In the drydown, when I smell up close, I can detect a hint of leather mixed with sandalwood and light woods. It’s easier to pick out individual notes when you focus on them.

This fragrance feels suited for fall or spring. The performance is good—it’s not too light, unlike many green scents. It’s definitely an experimental fragrance and a must-try.

A fine piece of work that combines the fresh, stimulating – and rarely encountered in perfumery –scent of sliced green capsicum and an array of waterside green notes with a sheer and soft musk that has something of the high-end cosmetics counter about it. Strange as it may sound, this is a match that was meant to be and Gong is a great accompaniment to anyone’s summer – if they like green scents. Reverberates for pretty much the entire day.

Outside the blog entry excerpted in the BN Directory description, perfumer John Biebel describes Gong simply as a "fruit and green musk fragrance." I'm not a particular fan of either fruit or musk notes—so of course, I think this is great stuff. Biebel uses his vegetal notes, citrus, and ginger to cut the sweetness of the blueberry accord; and what really makes the musk work is mating it to a clean leather note, so it's mildly animalic without being overtly sexual.

Gong is a bit sweeter than my usual preferred fare, but it's special enough to give it a pass on that score. The hallmark of January Scent Project is fragrance that challenges preconceptions without the self-conscious "I dare you to wear this!" edginess common to a certain subset of indie perfumers. I like some of those, too, mind you. But JSP is in a territory of its own, and Gong is a good example of why.