The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Equestrian is named for the world between horse and rider, not the competition, not the spectacle, but the quieter relationship. The brand's own copy describes it best: filtered sunlight through a hay room, well-oiled tack hanging in the tackroom, horses grazing on crisp grass. Apples carried in pockets for four-legged friends. That specific atmosphere, green and animalic and sunlit, became the fragrance. Laurie Erickson built the composition around hay absolute and leather as equals, neither one overwhelming the other, with apple and grass lifting the whole thing into open air. The jasmine sambac adds unexpected richness. The violet keeps it soft. This is the equestrian world as felt experience, not costume.
The pairing of hay absolute and leather is harder to balance than it sounds. Hay can go dry and dusty; leather can tip into motorbike rather than saddle. The solution here is the apple and grass, they keep the opening green and bright, preventing the heart from settling into something too heavy too soon. Then the jasmine sambac absolute enters. It's not the first note you'd expect in a leather-and-hay fragrance, but it works: the tropical warmth of sambac raises the temperature of the composition just enough to keep the leather from reading as cold or metallic. Violet adds powdery elegance that bridges the heart to the base.
The evolution
The opening is crisp and immediate: apple, grass, air. This is the paddock before the ride, that first moment of stepping outside. The hay absolute announces itself, not hay as dried dust, but hay as warm plant matter, sunlit and slightly sweet. The leather enters quickly after, overlapping with the hay rather than replacing it. Here is where the fragrance earns its name. Well-oiled tack, leather warming in afternoon light. Violet and jasmine sambac soften the edge without making it sweet. The interplay between these florals and the green, earthy tones creates a sophisticated balance that feels natural rather than constructed. Then the base unfolds with depth: patchouli, labdanum, New Caledonian sandalwood, benzoin. These notes weave together to create a rich, resinous foundation. The drydown is described by wearers as cozy, and that tracks.
Cultural impact
The equestrian theme is uncommon in perfumery, which tends toward abstract florals or orientals rather than specific environments. Equestrian occupies a niche subgenre, nature-adjacent but crafted, rough but refined. It appeals to wearers who want the outdoors without smelling like a hiking supply store. That balance is harder to find than it sounds.
The House
Sonoma Scent StudioSonoma Scent Studio is an independent fragrance house based in Sonoma, California. Founded by perfumer Laurie Erickson, the studio creates handcrafted perfumes that blend natural and synthetic materials in carefully considered proportions. The collection spans from all-natural compositions to mixed-media fragrances, offering wearers a range of olfactory expressions rooted in classic perfumery traditions. Each scent emerges from Erickson's hands-on approach, combining high-quality aromatics into coherent, wearable fragrances. The house has developed a devoted following among fragrance enthusiasts who appreciate its commitment to craftsmanship over commercial appeal. With approximately 31 fragrances released since 2006, the studio maintains a focused catalog that emphasizes depth and longevity over breadth.
The Creator
Laurie EricksonWoody, labdanum, and incense form the spine of Erickson's most recognizable work. She gravitates toward materials with depth and shadow, building fragrances that unfold over hours rather than minutes.
