Tonnerre, originally called 1805 - the year in which Nelson both won the Battle of Trafalgar and lost his life: The year in which Sir Francis Beaufort introduced his ‘wind force scale’.
The scent imagines moments within the battle itself. Powerful accords of smoke, gunpowder, blood and brandy combine with sea spray and a penetrating citrus note. The fragrance is singularly bold in its composition, yet ultimately refined, provocative and unique.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
Tonnerre belongs to a close, dim setting where its smoke and salt can unfold without being softened by distance. It feels like a scent for someone who wants a hard-edged, dramatic presence: dry wood, metallic air and a storm front of ash rather than polish.
How to wear
Best in cool weather and especially at night, Tonnerre needs a light hand because of its strong projection and smoky concentration. One or two sprays are enough; on skin it opens forcefully, then settles into an ashy, woody trail that lingers well and reads best when given space.
Who it’s for
For wearers who like dark, conceptual woods, tarry smoke and unconventional compositions with a maritime edge. It will appeal to people drawn to challenging niche perfumery, historical themes and fragrances that feel austere, salty and slightly feral rather than smooth or pretty.
Release year
2015
The nose
Julie Marlowe. Marlowe’s work on Tonnerre suits BeauFort’s taste for vivid, atmospheric compositions: bold contrasts, tactile smoke effects and a narrative structure that feels more cinematic than decorative. Here she turns maritime chaos into a controlled, polished composition, keeping the fragrance forceful without losing clarity. Her role in the fragrance is to translate Leo Crabtree’s concept into a wearable formula that still feels uncompromising. The result is a scent that moves from explosive, mineral-smoky impact into a drier woody trail, with the kind of tension and restraint that defines conceptual niche perfumery.
Collaborators
Leo Crabtree, BeauFort’s founder, shaped the concept and historical brief, drawing on British maritime history and the Battle of Trafalgar; the fragrance was then developed into a finished formula with professional perfumery input. His role was not simply to commission the scent, but to define its narrative, tone and visual world.
Beaufort’s story
BeauFort is a British house built around smoke, sea history and darker national myths. Its fragrances are deliberately conceptual, often abrasive at first contact, and designed to evoke atmosphere, memory and conflict rather than easy charm. The brand’s in-house production and custom lab reinforce that hands-on, uncompromising identity.
Tonnerre’s concept
Originally released as 1805, Tonnerre was inspired by the Battle of Trafalgar and the year’s wider maritime symbolism, including the introduction of Sir Francis Beaufort’s wind force scale. The fragrance imagines the battle itself through smoke, gunpowder, blood, brandy and sea spray, turning a historical scene into a dense, storm-lashed olfactory tableau.
Extra info
Tonnerre was first known as 1805 before being renamed and repackaged in 2016. It is one of BeauFort’s most discussed scents, partly because of its battle-inspired concept and partly because of its unusually vivid use of smoke, gunpowder and blood accord.
Tonnerre, originally called 1805 - the year in which Nelson both won the Battle of Trafalgar and lost his life: The year in which Sir Francis Beaufort introduced his ‘wind force scale’.
The scent imagines moments within the battle itself. Powerful accords of smoke, gunpowder, blood and brandy combine with sea spray and a penetrating citrus note. The fragrance is singularly bold in its composition, yet ultimately refined, provocative and unique.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
Tonnerre belongs to a close, dim setting where its smoke and salt can unfold without being softened by distance. It feels like a scent for someone who wants a hard-edged, dramatic presence: dry wood, metallic air and a storm front of ash rather than polish.
How to wear
Best in cool weather and especially at night, Tonnerre needs a light hand because of its strong projection and smoky concentration. One or two sprays are enough; on skin it opens forcefully, then settles into an ashy, woody trail that lingers well and reads best when given space.
Who it’s for
For wearers who like dark, conceptual woods, tarry smoke and unconventional compositions with a maritime edge. It will appeal to people drawn to challenging niche perfumery, historical themes and fragrances that feel austere, salty and slightly feral rather than smooth or pretty.
Release year
2015
The nose
Julie Marlowe. Marlowe’s work on Tonnerre suits BeauFort’s taste for vivid, atmospheric compositions: bold contrasts, tactile smoke effects and a narrative structure that feels more cinematic than decorative. Here she turns maritime chaos into a controlled, polished composition, keeping the fragrance forceful without losing clarity. Her role in the fragrance is to translate Leo Crabtree’s concept into a wearable formula that still feels uncompromising. The result is a scent that moves from explosive, mineral-smoky impact into a drier woody trail, with the kind of tension and restraint that defines conceptual niche perfumery.
Collaborators
Leo Crabtree, BeauFort’s founder, shaped the concept and historical brief, drawing on British maritime history and the Battle of Trafalgar; the fragrance was then developed into a finished formula with professional perfumery input. His role was not simply to commission the scent, but to define its narrative, tone and visual world.
Beaufort’s story
BeauFort is a British house built around smoke, sea history and darker national myths. Its fragrances are deliberately conceptual, often abrasive at first contact, and designed to evoke atmosphere, memory and conflict rather than easy charm. The brand’s in-house production and custom lab reinforce that hands-on, uncompromising identity.
Tonnerre’s concept
Originally released as 1805, Tonnerre was inspired by the Battle of Trafalgar and the year’s wider maritime symbolism, including the introduction of Sir Francis Beaufort’s wind force scale. The fragrance imagines the battle itself through smoke, gunpowder, blood, brandy and sea spray, turning a historical scene into a dense, storm-lashed olfactory tableau.
Extra info
Tonnerre was first known as 1805 before being renamed and repackaged in 2016. It is one of BeauFort’s most discussed scents, partly because of its battle-inspired concept and partly because of its unusually vivid use of smoke, gunpowder and blood accord.