1- a story
I would like to tell you a story, a little history of things that happened a long time ago but might still happen in our days. It is a story that an old storyteller was singing during long nights under a clear, dark sky with brilliant stars twinkling over an Arab desert. Every evening, after a long day walk with lots of camels under a burning sun, this little man with his white mustache gathered us around him and would tell his story. After a simple meal consisting of camel meat and dried fruits with hot tea, he would murmur a few words, make himself comfortable on a pillow and start raising his eyebrows. In a few seconds silence is around him, the silence of the desert, and he would start singing this most wonderful story that I have ever heard.
Only interrupted by voluminous puffs from the story teller’s shisha pipe, the tale developed night after night and followed me into my dreams and through the long marches under a burning sun during the day. It is a simple story, but as always: Simple things quite often turn out to be rather complicated when you really start thinking about them. Therefore, telling this story is a tricky issue, and I want to make sure that I write it down just the way I have heard it, and leave no detail out.
Thus, let me start today with the surroundings where this little story took place. It is a special location, at the foot of a mountain in midst of a desert. It is a high mountain, very high indeed, as you could hardly ever see its top when wandering and sweating in the desert plain surrounding it. It is basically the ideal mountain in an ideal desert. It is a mountain with a white collar of clouds, surrounded by an endless blue sky. You can see it from far, far away as the desert plain is flat and on a day without clouds you would look down from the mountain’s top over an ocean of sand with little green dots being trees fighting their desert fight of survival every day.
In midst of this ocean you would see some dunes that are all built from sand, turned up by winds and changing their size and position every day. Like a rose changes its scent during the day, voluminous and empowering in the morning, timid and modest in the evening, you would rarely see these sandy hills on the same spot one morning after you inspected them last in the evening.
We call these dunes migrating dunes, which sounds much nicer than it actually is and it is there where this little story starts, and where it might eventually end one day: At the flanks of the dunes. This is the story of the migrating dunes and the little village Bankonupatut.
======================
Advent calender story
This blog brings you an advent story, developing day after day, from December 1- 24. And like with an advent calender, you get a chance -every day- to win your sample(s) of my newest baby, Incense extrême (which will be available in shops end January 2008). You want to be entered in the drawing? -> Just leave a little comment that you want to be included once. No need to comment daily. Every day I will pick a happy winner from all comments!
December 1st, 2007 at 8:33 am
Thanks for the Advent story, Andy! a little cheer is needed on this grey Berlin day. I bought myself a “Tea Advent Calendar” this year - now i’m off to make the first cup! and…of course I would love to have the chance to try the incense sample.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:05 am
Now, that’s a great idea, too: A tea calendar. Maybe next year, I could make a true advent calendar, featuring scents and fragrances. Hmm…..note in outlook…..
I send you fragrant greetings and hope your tea will help you start in this grey December day.
December 1st, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Andy, the remarkable story - you possess also fine feeling of a syllable. Rather talented person - is talented in all for what it only will not undertake. Both your Photos, and your stories, and your delightful perfumes - you have still what that the sides of talents hidden from us?:) And certainly, undoubtedly, I want participation in a lottery too. I managed drop Djedi - Guerlain and I send a smell of these great perfume to you with the embraces.
December 1st, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Wow, I love your idea of advent stories. I feel myself transported into the presence of the storyteller, listening to his story after good meal. I’d love to be included in the drawing.
P.S. My oldest daughters birthday is January 25th, very close. Who, by the way, loved your L’eau d’epices and was very sad when our sample ran out.
Advent greetings to you.
December 1st, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Beautifully written. I will look forward to reading your Advent Story and watching it unfold. Thanks Andy. Please enter me in the contest.
Kelley
December 1st, 2007 at 4:07 pm
According to the very talented and, not least, ample-bosomed singer Jessica Simpson, male ballet dancer is a ballerino. By the same token, that would probably make you Scherezado, no? ;-)
Thank you for keeping this blog fresh with fascinating new ideas. You have us huddled around the crackling fire, smelling the swirling smoke, listening to you spin the yarn about the incense road…
You do know that I love incense? ;-)
Hugs!
December 1st, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Intriging beginning, beautiful visualizations…I look forward to the unfolding story. I am interested in being included in the drawing for the incense extreme.. Thanks.
December 1st, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Nice story, master. I would also like to be entered in the drawing. Thanks
December 1st, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Lovely story and concept….I love advent, and I grew up on the Arabian Nights…your writing is as evocative as your perfumes (of which I am privileged to have both L’Air du Desert Marocain and Le Maroc Pour Elle). I would love to try a sample of the newest, and I really love the idea of an advent calender next year—I am fascinated by both theology and fragrance….now your thought has me exploring the nexus of the two! :)
December 1st, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Onward towards the completion of this inviting story. I’m eager to “tune in” every day throughout the month. Please enter me into the drawing for your next creation as well.
All the Best.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:10 pm
What a wonderful idea! And so lovely so far! I will definitely tune in for the rest. And I am dying to try your incense scent, so please enter me in the drawing.
December 1st, 2007 at 11:13 pm
What a lovely idea, something to look forward in my daily after work *blog time*. I love incense and your other fragrances, so would very much appreciate being entered in the drawing. Thanks!
December 2nd, 2007 at 1:29 am
Yes, “simple things quite often turn out to be rather complicated when you really start thinking about them.”
But a simple idea, like the generous gift of your time and talent here on this blog, remain simply beautiful.
Best of wishes to you.
December 2nd, 2007 at 1:38 am
Thanks Andy - clever and creative (as usual).
I will explode with happiness if I get to try your new incense scent. Well, explode in a good way. :)
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:07 am
I was wondering when you were going to offer advance samples of Incense extrême! For me, this is the most anticipated fragrance release of 2008! I’m really dying to try it!
Oh, btw, I would also love to be entered into the draw as well. ;-)
Season’s greetings.
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:06 am
Hi Andy,
I can’t wait to smell your next offering. I wore Le Maroc Pour Elle on a five day float down the Nile (nourelnil.com….fabulous!) because I wanted a scent that would evoke memory of place and time. Now, whenever I wear this scent, I am flooded with wonderful memories of that special trip.
Creative idea on your story. I’ll enjoy reading.
Please enter me in your draw.
All the best for the season.
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:11 am
thanks andy, this is a nice contrast to all the crazy marketing blitzes we’re typically overwhelmed with this time of year - i look forward to reading the rest of your stories :)
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:56 am
Oh, Andy,making a Fragrant Advent Calendar is such a great idea! It would make the days in it literally be full of scented meaning and images. Maybe next year.:) I love, love, love listening to stories especially around this time of year, thanks so much! And of course, I would love to be in the drawing.
Be well, lots of love!
December 2nd, 2007 at 6:09 am
Oh, how exciting! I love this story already. I am already looking forward to the next chapter.
And yes please, I want to be entered for a chance to win the Incense Extreme sample.
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:03 am
Thank you all for your lovely comments.
Vladimir: You are a darling!
Sabina: Well, maybe the coriander in incense extrême might sooth her ;-)
Dusan: Let us see where the incense road will bring us! I am with you on this fire….
Pia: I have written it down as idea for next year…but first the little story this year
Robert: So, you have seen the pattern in the past, haven’t you ;-)
Cynthia: Oh, how wonderful, what a great combination, Egypt and Le maroc, to imprint memories!
Michael, this was one of the reasons, why I did not want to launch before x-mas but said to myself…” let’s do it peacefully in January “