Tomorrow our special guest AbdesSalaam Attar , natural perfumer/composer from La Via del Profumo
will be here to answer your questions . He has offered three bottles of Balsamo della Mecca for give-away and I thought you might like to re-read this post from last January .
1/31/10
An exciting envelope arrived in the mail yesterday , with beautiful stamps on it and an Italian postmark....Mecca Balsam nestled inside a beautiful shimmery gold box...and a 16 ml sample bottle !! OMG...squeee !!!!
Labdanum is one of my favorite notes in perfumery . In the winter I crave it . Last year , my go to scent was Donna Karan Labdanum . This year I discovered DSH Vintage Patchouly ( not just patchouli , but resinous and powdery and YUM )....now Mecca Balsam crowds it's way to the top of my HG list with it's opening note of leathery labdanum . I tore open the package and sprayed and swooned . So did the Captain !!
The rich luscious labdanum is supported by tobacco and damascene rose , a touch of tuberose adds softeness and balance , though hardly discernable, enriched by sacred frankincense .
The tobacco is the star of the show to my nose , and I only wish there were more labdanum . The warmth and thrum of oud is mild , but over 12 hours later
when I jump in the shower , suddenly the oud jumps out , aromatic and animalic , what a surprise !!
when I jump in the shower , suddenly the oud jumps out , aromatic and animalic , what a surprise !!This is beautiful , rich , deep and dark . Imagine the throngs of worshippers on their pilgrimage to Mecca . The spirit of seeking palpable in the air around you . There is nothing timid about this scent , the heat of thousands of seekers moving in unison to reach the goal of enlightenment and spiritual nourishment . Mecca Balsam is the scent of yearning , striving for the unattainable....
I am so thrilled to have my little bottle ! The most special thing about Mecca Balsam ? It is certified 100% natural !!
Tomorrow , beginning at 6:00 AM EST our fun begins . Don't miss it !!
28 comments:
Pea green with envy!
Christen
You get half my darling...
I love you, I love you, I love you...not be redundant ;)
Christen
I thought you were going to ask how we feel about labdanum. :) I adore it. But oud is a different story all together. I didn't like it in the start (well, not strange since I started with a sample from MOntale that was really oudish) but now it's growing on me and I'm seriously contemplating my first bottle (L'Artisan's of course). :)
Hi Ines - L'Artisan's is one seriously spicy oudh. Loads and loads of cumin, which I happen to love, but it's definitely (to my nose, at least!) not your standard oudh. I love Duchaufour's work, and this one is no exception, but I'd go the sample route on this one first if you can. Have you tried Kilian's oudh or Juliette Has A Gun's? Carol can always chime in, too - her nose is far more talented than mine! Cheers! Christen
I've only tried the Montale ouds and liked them well enough. Actually, I usually ended up wishing the other notes hadn't gotten in the way. And I've been told by another blogger that they weren't "good" ouds. So I don't know. But I'm more excited about the labdanum and tobacco here. This sounds fantastic! Your writing makes them all sound that way.
Ines ( I know you love labdanum as much as I , and this really delivers ! Soon the tobacco is more prominent but still I love it very much . You are in the draw !
My dear C , you are too modest ! If only I could get you to write guest posts for me....Kilian's Oudh is deeper and richer still , it just GROWLS and I love it but can't afford it...( you don't need to be in the draw cuz you are special and get some no matter what ! Can't wait to recieve the Tonka Imperiale from you ! * GRIN *
Rapp - you are in the draw . This is sooo wonderful . I'm trying to get Dominique to come to the next Sniffa !
Christen, I did get a sample and I just love cumin. :) Not only in Al Oudh but almost everywhere I find it. I know that's not really a note people tend to like but once I give it 5 minutes it just emanates warmth from my skin. It never ceases to amaze me.
And now I read Carol's thoughts on Kilian's oud - I definitely need to try it. :)
*GRIN*
I don't have enough experience with oud yet to have formed an opinion. My guess it will become a favorite as I love woody notes. Glad to discover your cool blog [you left a comment on NST about it]. Your acronym is very clever - love it.
I don't like Montale ouds or anything where oud is the starring note but in a blend like 10 Corso Como, it definitely has its place. Labdanum on the other hand is one of my favourites! I would love to be entered in the drawing. Many thanks.
RusticDove- I read nst almost everyday , and it was obvious nobody over there had seen my post . So honored you came over to check it out . Mecca Balsam is so rich and thick , not like any other oud I have ever sniffed ( By Kilian Pure Oud has similar notes...)
London-you're in the draw too !!
I've yet to try any ouds! Perhaps I'll win your sample of Mecca for my first sniff. . .
Gretchen
Hi Gretchen and Welcome !
Good Luck !!
Hi Carol! Just discovered your blog today (via NST). I love Montale Black Aoud, but I have yet to try any others. Does anybody else feel like the wood in Timbuktu has an oud-ish aspect to it?
I love them both, and to me the smell is something like antique furniture, or even pungent wood with a bit of water damage. That doesn't sound very nice, but to me it is comforting, like something dark and ancient. I've been wanting to try other ouds, and with the oud craze of late, it seems it's time. I would love to be in the draw if it's not too late! ;)
Welcome Laure !!
You're in , the drawing will be Feb 12 and entries accepted until then...
yes I agree , ancient furniture that is slightly decayed and comforting because of it's history . A great description !!
I don't get that excited about oud in perfumes. However, I am going to try the By Kilian oud-like Cruel Intentions soon. On the other hand I am always excited to try any profumo.it/ La Via del Profumo
Best,
J
I think I'm still working my way up to Oud. Is there any in Lyric Woman? (I love that). But I know I already love labdanum.
Hi Nina ,
As far as I know there is no oud in Lyric .
This is a very gentle oud that plays a background role adding furry richness , not the medicinal tang of most oudh fragrances !
I love the calm feeling that oud gives me... and can't wait for my decant to arrive as it is, although more the better =)
Loved your review.
Mecca Balsamn seems to be intoxicating.
I have never had a frangrance which has a labdanum main note but I would like to.
Living in Spain, I should be familiar with labdanun/rock rose smell, but I am not.
I have only smelt it thanks to the Woods and Resins set from Osmoz. I wrote down "sweet, wine, fruity, woody, floral, frankincense, cave".
I'm intrigued by what Mecca Balsam would smell like to me. Oud is a note I don't know yet.
Ohh, I would like to win it, the notes are my favorite ones. Alica - alica@cleis.net
This sounds deep & rich. That's just how I like my perfumes.
MMmmm... Oud was love at first sniff for me, though Montale's Black Oud is a little much after the first hour or so (it's got about 30 hours longevity on me!).
I didn't even realize that BdM contained the note. I think I need to spend some time with it... today the weather looks to be a bit on the cool side; it must be a sign!
Looking forward to the Q&A tomorrow Carol!
Hi.
Abdes Salahaam answer questions? Beautiful event!
PS: I love this layout! Bises . Elisabeth
Thank you !
Looking forward to a lively conversation tomorrow . See you there !!
Hi Carol!
I don't think I'll make it to the online conversation, but please let AbedesSalaam Attar know I LOVE his fragrances! Particularly Samarai(which turned me on to the line) and Mecca Balsaam.
I'd like to know where he gets his materials for his fragrances? Would you ask him for me?
Hi Dixie !
I will ask him for you , wish you could join us !
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