Gydja Collection: Nordic Mythology Inspired Fragrances and Accessories

The only volcanic and glacial perfumes in the world are created by Gydja Parfum. Gydja specialises in exotic fragrances both inspired by and extracted from the natural landscape of Iceland. These fragrances are made with pure mountain and glacier water, often represented as the fountain of youth in ancient Nordic mythology. The volcanoes surrounding these rivers are said to possess mystical powers and energies, their landscape recurring in fantastic stories from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings to the cult TV series Game of Thrones. For this reason, when the Gydja Collection launches internationally in London in late 2015, their guest of honour will be Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, best known as ‘the Mountain’ from GoT.

It is this prestigious event which they are inviting you to become a part of, when you join their Kickstarter campaign. Gydja is not merely a phenomenon of the northern most parts of the Scandinavian region. Their products and their aesthetics are as timeless as they are modern, and they carry international appeal. Nicole Scherzinger is a Gydja fan. Eva Longoria loves their products. Emma Watson, star of the Harry Potter films, is a proud owner of designs from the Gydja Collection.

The founder, Sigrun Lilja, is known simply as ‘Lilja’, in the style of iconic modern women such as Madonna, recognisable by one name only. Nature lover, bohemian soul, self-styled ‘mermaid’, best-selling author, entrepreneur and perfumista, she began the collection at the age of 24, armed with only $1,500 and a personal vision. Today, her Gydja Collection is working its way towards being a worldwide brand, its unique perfumes and feminine accessory designs finding favour from Europe’s cultural elite to the Hollywood A-list.

Her products and designs are truly unique: Eyjafjallajökull eau de parfum and body lotion for ladies, prepared with hints of citrus, vanilla, roses and bergamot, made from the glacial water of the volcanic region that lends its name; Vatnajökull fragrance for men, prepared with hints of citrus, jasmine, white musk and cashmere wood – as with its feminine counterpart, every bottle comes with a piece of lava from the volcano that lends its name; Hekla eau de parfum for ladies, named after the queen of Icelandic volcanoes and made with water from the river Rangá.

The brand doesn’t just stop at fragrances either. They also product some awe-inspiring accessories. Such as their Watch Collection, this is made of exotic salmon leather and 24-carat gold coating in beautiful multiple colours – as with other fish-leather products such as their handbag and clutch-purse collection, it is an eco-friendly byproduct; their Jewellery Collection is inspired by the Icelandic magical staves and Viking runes of Nordic mythology. Gydja draws its unique inspiration from the geographical region of its origins. But this is no parochial Euro-enterprise. For Lilja´s personal goal is to Empower Women – the title of the project whereby she offers mentorship, refuge and retreat to women on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Evie Switzer

The Gydja Collection currently seeks a minimum of $25,000 with which to launch its partnership with major backers in the UK. And for every £20 sterling raised, £1 will be given to support the Gydja Collection Empower Women Organization in the Third World. You can check out the Kickstarter campaign for more information by clicking here.