Byredo channels Scandinavian folklore for A Midwinter’s Tale
The Swedish fragrance house draws inspiration from the Julkors, a centuries old Nordic tradition of crafting protective ornaments, translating ancient ritual into contemporary festive ritual.
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The Julkors ornaments of northern Scandinavia carry within them centuries of protection, woven from fir branches or hay and hung to ward away unwanted spirits as winter deepens. Byredo has drawn this ancient ritual into the present moment, translating the layered symbolism and tactile craft of these protective charms into a contemporary fragrance collection called A Midwinter’s Tale.
The collection moves beyond mere homage. Rather, it absorbs the essence of what makes the Julkors significant: the idea that beauty and protection need not be separate, that craftsmanship holds purpose beyond the aesthetic, and that folklore offers us permission to believe in the unseen. In Byredo’s hands, this becomes something simultaneously grounded in heritage and startlingly modern, rooted in the sensory language of scent.
The presentation itself speaks this language of handmade ritual. Pale straw coloured spheres emerge from a mandala of blue triangles and a crimson circle, the palette moving between the natural tones of traditional crafting and colours that feel almost Byzantine in their saturation. Against deep wooden boards, the arrangement suggests both ancient protection and contemporary design. A Midwinter’s Tale is not simply a collection that references folklore; it is one that recognises folklore as a living conversation between past and present, between what our ancestors believed could protect us and what we, in turn, choose to carry forward.
Imagery courtesy of Byredo (@officialbyredo).