My impressions(I)
Maria B.
“When Andy asked me if I would be willing (!) to try mods of the two frankincense fragrances he’s been working on and then share my impressions with my fellow blog readers, I was thrilled. Now that I have tried them, I am ecstatic.
The first one I tried on has the working title of Incense rosé. This trial is an eau de parfum at 25%. It is perfect. I rarely use that adjective. Not a molecule should be changed in it.
I spritzed it on, and what greeted me was a delightful, effervescent citrus cocktail of clementine and bergamot. My DH’s reaction upon smelling it was, “Wow! Whoa! I think he hit a home run!”
Around eight minutes later the heart began revealing itself: smoky Texan cedarwood enveloping sweet Turkish rose absolute and orris. Then I distinguished the frankincense. The description Andy included with the mods reads in part: “I want to capture the floral beauty that hides in frankincense.” He has achieved his objective. The DH commented, “It’s amazing! It’s REALLY amazing!” Fifteen minutes after spraying, I began to notice labdanum with the frankincense. The enigmatic effervescence was still present.
An hour and a half into the process, I perceived a column of incense rising toward my nose from my chest. As the drydown continued, what was playing on my skin was a beautiful combination of frankincense, labdanum, amber, and smokiness. I started humming “These are a few of my favorite things.” “It’s lovely,” murmured the DH. He’s the sort of guy who won’t wear fragrances with floral notes in them, but he wants to wear this one. Oh, yes.”
(Post sent by Maria B., and published by Andy)
(picture uploaded by raichinger on stock exchange, modified by Andy, www.sxc.hu)
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:50 am
Andy / Maria - it sounds wonderful. And look at that skill in defining individual notes and lines. Superlative work!
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:59 am
Woohaaa, maniac frankincenselover as I am, this sounds beautiful. I´m always fascinated, how incense brings out the dark side of the flowers, and giving them a strange, higher freshness (can´t describe it in a better way…), and to focus now the the hidden floral beauty in the resin itself is a tantalizing approach. Want to sniiiiiffffff:)
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:23 am
Dear Andy - at me only one question-when?
Maria - you impressions (I)
Are very temperamental are-very beautiful and clear, with humour and a good syllable
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:05 pm
I’m enjoying your description, Maria.
Very evocative.
This sounds tempting…my favorite things as well.
I could bathe in labdanum, I think.
August 23rd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Oh, I want this–I NEED this! Thanks, Maria, for the description; you have just given birth to a HUGE lemming!!
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
“A column of incense”…I want!! Thank you for the great review, Maria!
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Well, I must say, you both do beautiful work! I can’t wait to try this.
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:21 pm
As this is Maria B.’s post, I just say thank you to Maria and greet you all.
And one little answer to Vladimir: time….I do not know yet. I am waiting daily for a sign coming from the gods telling me what to do and giving me some time to do it.
Fragrant greetings to you all.
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
This makes me giddy with excitement. I think I’ll join Chaya for bathing in this stuff. I can’t wait.
Many thanks to Maria for the review.
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:07 pm
This mod sounds very lovely indeed and so does your review, Maria..Thanks!
“beautiful combination of frankincense, labdanum, amber, and smokiness”- I want!!..:)
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I had to attend a three-hour faculty meeting. =:0
Anyway, fellow perfume lovers, I’m not given to exaggeration (except now and then for comic effect). This fragrance really is that good.
Lee, Andy gave me a list of notes. I had to be very careful to match the note to the scent. Wait till you read tomorrow the extent I went to.
Peppernuts, I don’t think anyone could have described the darkness/higher freshness effect better than you just did. Kudos!
Vladimir, I wish I knew how to insert Cyrillic in here. Spaciba. And, yes, “when” is an excellent question.
Chaya, you’d fall for it completely at first sniff. You’d be in a swoon.
Judith, Incense rose went immediately onto my full bottle list, even before there are any bottles.
Marina, we all want!!! And thank you.
AnneE, the higher-level beauty was provided by the perfumer. Dear I say, the essential beauty?
Gaia, I did have images of bathing in it.
Lavanya, thank you. I still think of our meeting in L.A.
Andy, thank you for the opportunity to try this and comment on it.
Tomorrow you will be able to read my suggestion for what we all should do if Andy doesn’t release this fragrance to the public. :-)
August 24th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Beautiful description of the scent, Maria. Love your description, love the notes. Want some.
August 24th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Sabina, those notes had my name written all over them too.