Iceland review - 2019, Síða 34

32
Iceland Review
Nordic Angan
A little east of Reykjavík lies the peaceful town of
Mosfellsbær, perhaps most widely known as the
stomping grounds of Nobel laureate novelist Halldór
Laxness. At its heart, overlooking the frothing
Álafoss waterfall, a young company called Nordic
Angan is slowly building up its own world of Icelandic
aromatics.
Nordic Angan is run by two friends, Sonja Bent
and Elín Hrund Þorgeirsdóttir. When we drop by for
a visit, Elín warmly welcomes us before showing us
some of their projects, one of which is their so-called
“fragrance library.”
“Our goal is to capture the scent of Icelandic
nature,” she enthuses. “It’s an ongoing project.
So far, we’ve captured many of Iceland’s gorgeous
smells, but also some unexpected ones, like sheep
dung, hay, and seaweed.”
Elín opens a little box in front of us, revealing
dozens of small vials inside, containing matter of
various colours and consistencies. I immediately go
for the one marked “bladder wrack.” This type of
seaweed (fucus vesiculosus) is abundant in Icelandic
nature, and sure enough, as I lift it up to my nose, I’m
transported to my youth as I played on the beach.
The vial gives off the strong aroma of ocean green,
it’s so evocative and transfixing I inadvertently push
my face too close and get some on my nose before
sheepishly wiping it off.
Elín takes me through the origins of Nordic
Angan. “Sonja and her dad were originally trying to
capture the scent of Arctic thyme (thymus praecox),
which was not an easy task,” Elín tells me, “but they
got there eventually. I joined the project about two
and a half years ago and that’s when we secured
grants to create our scent library. Our plan is to
open up our facilities eventually to allow people to
come here and immerse themselves in the scent of
Iceland.”
Nordic Angan not only employ the method
of steam distillation, but also CO2 and solvent
extractions. Not all materials contain oil in order to
capture every scent of Iceland, the Nordic Angan
sisters had to get creative. In fact, their workshop is
equal parts beautiful work of art and mad scientist
lair.
Special powers
The production of oils and essences is a deeply
scientific process. Both Hraundís and Nordic Angan
have sent their oils abroad for analysis only to be
pleasantly surprised by the results.
“As it turns out, Icelandic oils are more power-
ful than corresponding oils produced closer to the
equator, containing more of the beneficial chemi-
cals,” Elín says. “There are some theories as to why
that is. One is simply that due to the harshness of
the weather, plants grow slower here and need to
be stronger to endure.” Elín leans forward conspir-
atorially. “But then there is also the theory of the
volcanic activity of the island playing a role in the
oil’s strength. Some say that oils from Japan are also
of superior quality and strength, and Japan, like
Iceland, is a volcanic island, so that’s a very interest-
ing theory.”
Whatever the reason, the future certainly looks
bright for Nordic Angan, who just had a smash hit
at this year’s DesignMarch, Iceland’s annual design
festival, with their “Forest Shower.” Next fall, they
plan to open their doors to the public, allowing visi-
tors to enjoy their fragrance library, and to unveil an
all-natural perfume made from their essences.
As our interview winds down, I smell my hand
containing the bladder wrack I wiped off my nose
earlier. The scent has now dried down to an irresist-
ibly sweet, earthy, and slightly mossy note. It would
make a perfect base note for a perfume. Without
thinking, I lift my hand and let Elín smell, as if she
doesn’t know her own scents. She just nods and
smiles and for a moment we sit silently, enjoying the
fruits of her and Sonja’s labour.

Sustainable luxury
Back at Hraundís farm, as we wait for the first drops
of Siberian fir oil to leave her converted milk silo and
enter a special separation flask, I ask her whether
Icelandic essential oils might be a way for the mod-
ern city dweller to connect with nature.
“Very much, yes. I’m constantly surprised by
young people in the city. They have a deep-seated
yearning to connect with nature and preserve it. I
think they might end up saving us all.”
Both Hraundís and Nordic Angan stress the
importance of sustainability in their products, never
taking more than what’s needed, never risking over-
harvesting. It’s a model that hopefully will become
more prevalent. And one that will inevitably speak
to everyone looking to maintain their own sense
of health, vitality, and pleasant odour in a way that
honours the nature that birthed us.
Suddenly, the smell in Hraundís’ distillation room
has changed. The fir needle note is now so strong it’s
almost intoxicating. Hraundís jumps to her feet and
examines her flask as the first few drops of oily water
drip into it with a splash, the cloudy water almost
immediately separating into a whitish fir oil on top
and on the bottom the watery substance Hraundís
uses for shampoos and soaps.
“Awesome!” she exclaims, a huge smile spreading
across her face.
www.hraundis.is
www.nordicangan.com
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