My first reaction to JAR Bolt of Lightning was not good — fifteen to twenty minutes into it and I was hoping a bolt of lightning would strike whoever formulated what seemed to me a sodden, vegetal disaster (Joel Arthur Rosenthal, I’m talking to you). I was ready to thoroughly write it off and move on when it suddenly changed its tune, lowered the volume and slid into a much more pleasing register.
What began, to my nose, as a soaked pile of grass clippings and tree leaves in the back yard after a storm transformed into an airy, fresh, lightly green and subtly sweet concoction — warm sunshine on wet roses, thanks to a golden, shimmery musk shot through the heart of it.
Bois de Jasmin writes that “Bolt of Lightning is one of the most unusual creations from the house, with its pairing of white florals and green fruit, creating a deep wet accord against a hot floral breath”, Perfume Posse states that it’s “a rich, green, hair-raisingly sharp smell that made me think of bamboo”, the Non-Blonde states that it’s “wet, earthy and green, but . . . very complex and interesting . . . The scent and the price tag are not for the faint of heart”, and Marlen Harrison at Basenotes writes: “wet cardboard…dampness, soil…potting soil…a hotel room air conditioner . . . here come the flowers – rose? mimosa? a little powder…stale ice cube trays…a wet shirt after coming in from the rain.”
And so on.
It’s obvious that Bolt of Lightning is complex enough to inspire a variety of reactions, but beyond its complexity, Bolt of Lightning is, at the end, an expertly balanced and near perfectly crafted perfume — which it should be for the price it commands. If you can stagger your way past its perilous, rotting-vegetable opening (some people call it tuberose), the reward is indeed great.
JAR Perfumes can only be found at specific JAR boutiques (one is in the Bergdorf Goodman store in NYC, while the other is in Paris), and they have so far refused to offer them for sale online — which seems a rather charmingly boneheaded move for a 21st century business.
Photo of JAR Bolt of Lightning bottle with box:
You can find more photos of JAR Bolt of Lightning at the following link: JAR Bolt of Lightning: The Arrival
