The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Celestial Jasmine captures the essence of jasmine in a way that feels both timeless and contemporary. Eric Buterbaugh collaborated with perfumer Ilias Ermenidis, a Greek perfumer born in Istanbul, to translate this vision into scent. The Persian jasmine served as the foundation, a flower with centuries of cultivation behind it, reimagined through the mineral warmth of ambroxan and the soft, fabric-like quality of cashmere wood. The result is not a soliflore, but a nuanced translation of the bloom's character. There is a luminous quality to the opening, a crispness that suggests petals catching morning air. The jasmine itself feels elevated, its sweetness balanced by cooler, greener elements that keep it from becoming heavy.
What makes Celestial Jasmine unusual is its restraint. Jasmine sambac sits at the top of the pyramid alongside linden blossom and freesia, three materials that could easily compete. Instead, they layer. The freesia adds a clean, almost aquatic lift that keeps the jasmine from cloying. The linden brings a specific sweetness, not vanilla, not honey, but the actual scent of linden trees in bloom. Tuberose in the heart could dominate, but here it stays secondary, lending body without the cream. The ambroxan in the base is the structural choice: it mimics ambergris without the ethical baggage, giving the drydown a mineral warmth that extends the wear without heavy patchouli oroud.
The evolution
First impression: a bright, almost transparent floral. The jasmine sambac opens crisp, immediately joined by linden's green sweetness and freesia's sparkle. The freesia eventually recedes and the tuberose begins to show, not a tuberose bomb, more a suggestion, a warmth in the heart. The jasmine and tuberose weave together, cushioned by cashmere wood. The ambroxan appears gradually, adding a skin-like warmth that rounds everything out. The composition feels seamless as it develops, the florals moving together rather than competing. A soft musk and ambroxan presence emerges, intimate and close. No harsh drydown. No separation. Just a slow fade into warmth.
Cultural impact
Celestial Jasmine occupies a distinctive position in the floral fragrance landscape. It offers a bright, transparent jasmine character that avoids heaviness while still delivering the depth that makes the flower compelling. The tuberose appears as a supporting element, adding warmth and richness without dominating. Community testing suggests consistent performance, with moderate sillage and reliable longevity that neither overwhelms nor disappears. The composition performs across a range of settings, its balanced floral character allowing it to adapt to different contexts without losing its essential nature.
The House
Eric Buterbaugh FloralsEric Buterbaugh Florals translates the language of flowers into scent. The Los Angeles‑based line offers single‑note and blended perfumes that echo garden bouquets, from osmanthus to gardenia. Each bottle carries the same attention to detail that the florist applies to his celebrated arrangements, giving wearers a fragrant glimpse of a curated blossom. The collection debuted in 2015 and has grown to include more than a dozen scents, each anchored in a specific flower or aromatic theme.
The Creator
Ilias ErmenidisThe Greek-Turkish nose favors transparent structures built on a solid base of natural absolutes. He reaches for oud, ambergris, and rose de mai, but always layers them with unexpected modifiers—citrus zest, spice tinctures, or a whisper of leather.
