The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
BPC Sandalwood launched in 2015 by Brooklyn Perfume Company. James Peterson created the fragrance with sandalwood at its center, joined by notes of deep woods, fresh citrus, greenwood and tart Greengage plum. Maple adds a sweet woody edge, while curry brings a lightly savory spice. Vetiver deepens the composition with an earthy quality, and frankincense adds a resinous lift. The note list moves between smooth sandalwood, leafy wood, bright citrus, tart fruit, sweet maple and savory curry, creating a layered take on the material.
The composition is defined by its dialogue between smooth sandalwood and contrasting notes. Greengage plum brings a sour fruitiness, maple suggests warmth without becoming sugary, and curry introduces a savory flicker of spice. Greenwood and vetiver keep the fragrance rooted, while frankincense gives it a cool resinous lift. Together, these materials create a varied progression from citrus brightness through spicy wood and into a balsamic hush. The sandalwood remains recognizable as the central thread while fruit, spice and resin continually reshape the impression around it.
The evolution
The opening arrives with citrus, greenwood and a fresh edge over sandalwood. That brightness quickly hands over to fruit, maple and curry, introducing a playful, slightly savory warmth that makes the opening feel less ceremonial than expected. As those notes recede, vetiver and frankincense take charge, pulling the composition toward dry earth, resin and polished timber. Sandalwood remains the anchor, though it never sits still for long. By the drydown, the fragrance reads as warm wood, soft smoke and a faint balsamic hush. Over time, the sharper citrus and fruit facets become less distinct, while the woody heart gains weight. Maple and curry linger as subtle traces of sweetness and savory warmth. Frankincense leaves a cool resinous impression, and vetiver continues the earthy character of the drydown.
Cultural impact
BPC Sandalwood offers a distinctive interpretation of sandalwood through its pairing of familiar wood with fruit, green wood and curry spice. The fragrance moves between bright citrus, tart Greengage plum, mellow maple, savory curry and smooth sandalwood before settling into dry earth, vetiver and frankincense. That varied note structure gives the central sandalwood a layered character, with contrasting materials continually changing the impression of the composition as it develops.
The House
Brooklyn Perfume CompanyBrooklyn Perfume Company (BPC) is a boutique fragrance house rooted in the creative energy of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Founded in 2014 by James Peterson, the label offers a concise portfolio of modern scents that balance classic ingredients with a downtown sensibility. Signature releases such as BPC Amber, BPC Musk and BPC Oud arrived in 2015, establishing a line that favors clarity, balance and a tactile sense of place. The brand distributes directly to consumers and through a curated network of independent retailers, positioning each bottle as a small, personal discovery rather than a mass‑market offering.
The Creator
James PetersonPeterson’s technique blends laboratory precision with culinary intuition. He measures each ingredient on a scale, then lets the mixture rest as a chef would a broth, tasting the evolution over weeks.
