Николас Бриттен Шэйбер

The Journey of the Creator of Icelandic Perfumery

Nicholas Britten Shayber is a man in love with the rugged beauty of Iceland who has managed to translate it into the language of fragrances. He is not just a perfumer, but a true architect of scents: he is the one behind the concept and realization of the brand Ilmur & Sjór, which translates from Icelandic as 'Scent and Sea'. As the owner and creative director, he personally creates each fragrance, blending ancient Icelandic traditions with modern niche artistry.

The birth of the brand was a logical continuation of his passion for nature and perfumery. After studying the fundamentals of composition in Europe, Nicholas returned to his homeland to show the world through the lens of Icelandic landscapes: mossy lava fields, cold fjords, and dense coniferous forests. His signature style is a minimalist yet voluminous structure where each note rings crystal clear, like the air after rain in the Þingvellir valley.

Signature Fragrances and Distinctive Style

The master's most famous work is Ilmur & Sjór - Skógurinn 17. This fragrance became Shayber's calling card: woody, resinous, with accents of juniper and pine, it perfectly conveys the feeling of a walk through an Icelandic forest. Equally popular is Ilmur & Sjór - Grasið 9 — a green-grassy homage to meadow herbs that instantly transports you to the foot of a volcano.

For connoisseurs of deep, earthy compositions, Nicholas created Ilmur & Sjór - Skógarbotn 16 — a scent of forest floor with damp moss and mushroom notes. And Ilmur & Sjór - Mosinn 33 captivates with its mossy velvetiness, evoking eternal glaciers and meltwater. Each of these perfumes is a separate chapter in Shayber's book about Iceland.

Recognition and Community Love

Fans of niche perfumery highly value Nicholas Britten Shayber's works for their authenticity and purity of sound. Reviews often note that his fragrances are unlike typical mass-market compositions — they seem to breathe and evolve on the skin, revealing new facets. Ratings on perfume platforms confirm: Skógurinn 17 is among the top hundred woody fragrances in Europe, and Grasið 9 receives rave reviews for its photorealistic quality.

Shayber continues to surprise: he often holds private presentations in Reykjavik, where guests can not only hear the story behind each bottle but literally 'smell' Iceland. His contribution to popularizing Scandinavian perfumery cannot be overstated — it is masters like Nicholas who prove that a fragrance can be a journey to the most remote corners of the planet.

If you are not yet familiar with this perfumer's work, start with Skógurinn 17 or Mosinn 33 — these creations most fully reveal his unique vision. And on each fragrance's page on our website, you will find a complete list of notes, detailed reviews, and, of course, live user comments from those who have already fallen in love with Nicholas Britten Shayber's Icelandic perfumery.