New Natural Fragrance Review: House of Matriarch Sacre Tabac Part 1: Sucre + Hookah Memories in a Bottle Draw

house of matriarch christi meshell logo

Christi Meshell of House of Matriarch has released a new scent with the help of a Facebook friend, aligning stars and her own spiritual voice telling her to remember and celebrate the sacred nature of tobacco. Sacre Tabac “Sucre” is the result. Always having loved the scent of tobacco in all its forms, the perfumer read of a young man on Facebook who was looking desperately for a perfume that smelled like his father’s hookah tobacco. Being in Sweden and quite homesick for the scents of his homeland, Christi‘s heart went out to this young man as she felt “something” stir her to do something she has never done: freely offer to make someone a bespoke fragrance!

cafleurebon HoM tabac sharingtabac 2

One of the things many of us do not know about tobacco is that it was always used sacredly and ceremonially by the Native Americans. Indigenous to the New World only and usually blended with sage and sweet grass, it was used to open one to the Great Spirit, to offer thanks and to celebrate new friendships. It was not until the plant was introduced to the European explorers that it was taken and overused overindulged in and made into the number one killer in the world. Anything taken to the extreme will become its opposite. This sacred and life-affirming herb once used reverently in moderation is now looked down upon by many as evil and deadly; when, in truth, it is just another gift from the Earth for us to use responsibly as medicine and for ritual. Hopefully the joyful nature of Sacre Tabac and the natural essences of the sacred leaves it contains will help us all to remember.

cafleurebon HoM tabac shisha 3

One of the main reasons Christi absolutely felt she had to make this perfume was that young Malek had the exact same birth year, month, day and time as her own son. This perfume is just the first in a line of perfumes that will celebrate tobacco in all its forms and beauty. This is a wonderful place to start. The ideal was to reproduce the “starbuzz double apple” shisa blend in a fragrance. It was a sweet warm scent with the sour punch of green apple and hints of spices that resulted in clouds of warm and resinous smoke. Needless to say, the young man loves his perfume and, now that he has it, the House of Matriarch has made it available to everyone.

cafleurebon HoM tabac flacon 4

Available only in parfum extrait strength, Sacre Tabac Sucre is bottled with a lovely ornate label that reflects the style and flourish of the Middle Eastern areas that inspired it. This perfume billows from the skin with an aroma that is thick, sweet and full. Unlike many tobacco scents, this opens rather boozy, rich and full due to the addition of naturally derived wine ether and heady davana. Swirled into the sweet and tart green and red apples that flavor this particular blend is a high quality star anise. This adds a warm and woody spiciness to the mix as opposed to the usually drier powdery more synthetic forms of anise in perfumery. The warm spices remain throughout wearing this and curl around you along with a specially designed accord that adds the human factor into the realization of this special scent memory.

cafleurebon HoM tabac drying 5

Many of us know the sweeter softer side of tobacco. The scent of the drying curing leaves is rather dank and earthy. Here the perfumer has smoothed the rougher edges with a bevy of beautiful notes. Violet leaves add a fresher greener edge and ylang ylang adds just a kiss of warm floral energy to the tobacco making it smell both more expensive and quite tasty. Copious amounts of sweet Tahitian vanilla were used along with an actual caramel accord made by the perfumer and dark molasses, which augments the spiciness of the whole blend. This thickens the sweetness also, without being nauseating or toothache-inducing.

cafleurebon HoM tabac oudburning 6

All this dovetails perfectly with the unique and phenomenal dry down of costus root, sassafras and just a drop of oud wood. The last ingredient was added mainly because many Middle Eastern hookah dens usually burn some form of oud wood chips or incense. That tiny amount of smoky slightly medicinal woodiness gives a smoke-kissed finale to the tobacco, vanilla and spiced apples, making it linger and echoing the sacred smoke of the hookah and the end of its sacred journey as it rises to the heavens.

cafleurebon HoM tabac alternate ender

I have many tobacco-based scents, as I am sure many of you do also. Sacre Tabac Sucre is extremely well-crafted. It is obvious, at first sniff, that it was created with a lot of love. Those who like sweeter earthier spiced scents will adore this, as I do. This captures the experience (as much as I can osmgaine it) of opening the tobacco, loading it, lighting it while puffing it and captures not only the tobacco, but the warmth and sacred nature it once had, and still has in some countries. I look forward with much anticipation to the release of the next Tabac perfume sometime early next year. Sillage: very good. Longevity: all day.

Disclosure: Review based on a sample sent to me by the House of Matriarch.

Thanks to Christi Meshell and House of Matriarch we have two 5mL flagons of Sacre Tabac Sucre to giveaway. One for our international readers and one for US readers. To be eligible leave a comment on why you would like to try Sacre Tabac Sucre or a memory you would like Christi to turn into a fragrance. Make sure to identify whether you are US or International, too. The draw will end November 16, 2013.

We announce the winners only onsite and on our Facebook page, so Like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…..or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

-John Reasinger, Senior Editor

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61 comments

  • Steve A says:

    I would like to try this because it’s said in the article that those liking sweeter earthier spiced scents will adore this. USA Thank you.

  • Claudia says:

    Anything from the HoM is quality stuff, I love a few of their fragrances and would love to be entered in the draw 🙂

  • Janet says:

    A tobacco scent sweetly spiced with caramel, vanilla, and violet leaves? What could sound better for the fall? I have never tried any of the House of Matriarch but it sounds like I need to.

    I am in the US. Thank you so much.

  • RVB says:

    I would love to try Sacre Tabac as I love tobacco perfumes and I love the tobacco note.I’m intrigued to see how the costus root was used as it has a smell that some liken to wet dogs fur! I’m in the US.Thnaks for the draw!

  • Ncmyers says:

    The review alone is amazing and what a backstory! I would like to try it because one of the few memories I have of my father, who passed when I was 6, is going to a tobacco store with him to buy his pipe tobacco.

    I’d love a recreation of the smell of Florida- palmetto, pine straw, orange groves, salt air..

    I live in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Devon H says:

    I love Tobacco scents, so I would love to try this for that reason alone! My father used to smoke a sweet smelling tobacco pipe when I was very small and I was always drawn to its lingering aroma. 🙂 I live in the US

  • Heather F says:

    I love so many of House of Matriarch’s scents, and I can’t wait to try a tobacco one from Christi!! I live in the US. Thanks as ever for the draw.

  • Ferris says:

    I would like Chisti to turn my childhood summertimes in Alabama into a perfume . Wet red sand being made into mud pies. The scrotching hot sun and unbareable humidity beating down on you as you try to keep cool in the shade provided by an old oak tree in the front yard. Cars zooming by, one after the other stirring up dust as it combines with the cars exhaust fumes. The joy of getting a brand new plastic swimming pool from Walmart. What a memory. I’m in the US and thanks for the draw.

  • Rákossy B. Brigitta says:

    I love tobacco note, but my perfume maniac husband more then me! So this is a must try for us!
    I’m an international folower of cafleurebon.

  • helical gnome says:

    I would like Christi to turn my memories of the first time I traveled to the Andes and I spent the invierno boliviano (bolivian winter which takes place in the summer!!!) in the mountains next to wooly lamas and biting on coca leaves. Amazing time, unforgettable scent of cool air, wool, bitter leaves, tea, and dust.
    I am in the US
    Thanks for the draw.

  • wefadetogray says:

    The reasons why I’d like to try Sacre Tabac Sucre are, first, the name, I love the alliteration; it makes it reverberate. I imagine swirls of tobacco repeating themselves like waves disappearing and reappearing in the air. Second, I just discovered tobacco as a note after trying Ambre Narguile and I fell for it. Now I need to try more. I got tabac aurea and is lovely too. I’d looooove to try Christi’s magic.
    Thanks so much!
    I am in the US

  • Lean S says:

    I am a US reader. Thank you for this draw. I am drawn to this sweet tobacco scent with naturally derived wine ether and florals like violet leaves and ylang ylang.

  • Zee says:

    Such a sweet story. Lucky Melek! This sounds so unique. I love a good tobacco perfume and this has so many of my favorites in it. If I was having a fragrance memory made into a perfume it would have something to do with either lilacs or loamy earth. USA here. Thanks for the draw!

  • Olga says:

    I’d love to try this perfume! I love tobacco scents, and it is not that easy to get the US fragrance in Russia. That will be so great to get the perfume from House of Matriarch.

  • gulchatai says:

    Thank you for the draw! It is very interesting to try this perfume, notes of apples and wine ether are not common in natural pwefumery. US reader.

  • Agnieszka says:

    I’d love to try this one, because I find it beautiful when a scent and a passionate story are intertwined in a way that I find genuine. I can sense uncommercial openness in the things that Christi does, which is something I admire in perfume creators. I come from a country where the House of Matriarch’s products are not available, which is a pity not only because of the quality they offer, but also because their philosophy is much needed here. This, of course, means I’m an international reader, from a place on Earth where tobacco is cold and moist and some incredible people who have toiled in fields all their lives have fingers covered with tobacco stains. And it’s beautiful.

  • Elia says:

    I’d like to try this because it sounds lovely. The sassafras note intrigues me most. I have a few tobacco scents and generally enjoy the different interpretations out there, so I’l probably really like this.
    I think if I were to look to a memory that I’d like to be turned into a scent it would be of walking about the city as a student in the early hours of the morning and always hearing an echo of life around every corner because a city full of students never sleeps.
    I’m an international reader

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    as soon as i saw the title, i remembered Cafleurebon has posted this before because this fragrance has been inspired by hookah. I don’t smoke but actually love hookah smell and it is true i dont know of any fragrance that has captured hookah smell though some have been successful in capturing real smell of cig. ash. I am based in the U.S.

  • Iphigenia says:

    I simply can’t resist the smell of sugar while burning or while using it to bake biscuits or cakes not to mention the smell of tobacco especially the ones that are scented … imagine these two ingredients into one smell … it must be a wonderful smell!
    Not to mention the House of Matriarch and its famous products … I would really love to experience this new scent !
    I am an EU resident.
    Thank you for this draw!

  • Maryanne says:

    Sweet smoke and tobacco this sacre tabac sucre sounds beautiful. I would love for Christi Meshell to create a fragrance for me, but this might be the one. International but have a US address too.

  • Ramona says:

    What a great article! Tobacco has been vilified by the current which has decided to ascribe a moral value to an inanimate object. Kinda crazy IMO 🙂 I am in the US and would love to try scent- sounds like an absolute stunner!

  • SpenJaver says:

    Smokey tobacco, vanilla and apple! looks a lot like winter perfume to me.

    I would like to see my 10years of one sided love of me to be turned into a perfume.

    She was my best friend. I was in love with her for 10 years straight. But afraid of losing this kind of relationship, I never speak of how I was feeling. The feeling of happiness when she’s around, laughing and smiling. Sadness of how I can’t go further than this. She was in relationship with 4 guys in those 10 years. Always ended in tears. I can only give her some hugs. I was sad because I can’t make her happy. But I felt great to be hugged by her. It was always seems to be two constant feeling like this.

    Three months ago. I go out with her. She was single at that time. I wore by Kilian Back to Black. She loves it. The movie ended too late. I bring her back to my room to get some sleep and she’ll be gone in the morning. Nothing should happened that night. I’m out of my mind, I hugged her. I can’t control myself, I told her ‘I love you, more than a friend. And I want to be the one and only one to take care of you. Forever’

    Unfortunately… She said yes.

    PS. I’m from Thailand so International.

    Thank you for your lovely draw. as always =)

  • susie frankel says:

    A great review…thanks John. As a past smoker who loved her smokes, I am drawn to tobacco related scents. This sounds appealing on many levels. Thanks for the draw. USA

  • d3m0licion says:

    Sounds really amazing specially the drydown where is added sassafras and a drop of oud to make it even more interesting. I live in the US. Thanks

  • merlina says:

    I love tabac in scents, specially in winter. My favourite one is the wonderful Caron’s Tabac Blond. Anyway, I would like to try this one because it seems sweeter with the vanila and the violet appeals to me. I’m curious to smell this one!
    I’m International-

  • Barbara says:

    Love tobacco in fragrances. With vanilla and apple this sounds like a great autumn fragrance. I am in the US, thank you for the draw.

  • Lisa R says:

    Oh wow, as usual with HoM this sounds absolutely gorgeous! Between the tobacco and apple… perfect fall scent.

    Thank you Cafluerebon and HoM for the draw.

    I’m in the US

  • lamont says:

    Forget the draw when you read the line what memories you want created it made my mind race chill bumps in a tear form up maybe its just me but I think this is very Special. So many memories of my grandmother came esp of the draw she had filled with scarves n jewelry and what nots but she used Norrell and white shoulders powder I can see these vividly. Thanks

  • angiefunk says:

    The magic words oud were spoken and you had me. I love oud and would love to try this little bit of magic. I live in the US.

  • lucasai says:

    I’d like to try this perfume because as I try more and more perfume I realize that I actually really love tobacco perfumes.

    As for a memory that could be turned into a perfume. A memory of the first time I saw snow falling from the skies.

  • lucasai says:

    I’d like to try this perfume because as I try more and more perfume I realize that I actually really love tobacco perfumes.

    As for a memory that could be turned into a perfume. A memory of the first time I saw snow falling from the skies.

    I’m an international reader, from Poland

  • danuta says:

    Sounds like such an intriguing fragrance and I’ve always loved the smell of tobacco, especially scented pipe tobacco. Yes, everywhere it grows, the plant has been revered by aboriginal peoples and is fondly named “Green Gold”. Who wouldn’t want a spritz of some of that and it seems Christi Meshell has succeeded to capture some of tobacco’s sacredness in a bottle. Quebec, Canada.

  • julesinrose says:

    Great article with excellent observations about tobacco.

    Bottom line about why I’d like to try this perfume? It sounds awesome!

    Never mind trying to be eloquent on this luscious sounding juice.

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I would love to try this and see how it compares to the real double apple hookahs (or shisha as it is called here). It is such a common smell in the Middle East and I really enjoy it. International

  • StaceyW says:

    Tobacco and vanilla together are two of my favorite scents. I can’t wait to try this! I am in the U.S. Thanks for the draw.

  • LauraT says:

    What a lovely sounding scent, a lovely reason for a bespoke scent! I love tobacco and vanilla, molasses and caramel… this sounds as though it may be my perfect scent for winter.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • leathermountain says:

    I would like to try Sacre Tabac Sucre because the whole story is so touching. What a beautiful and generous act. I want to smell it, too! (Also I have one fantastic tobacco scent and would love to smell another.) I’m in the US.

  • Kim M. says:

    I’m imagining pipe smoke and a cool leather recliner in a library. To me, the ideal scent would be leather and tobacco, but not cigarette smoke… more a sweet pipe smell.

    I loved reading this review and can picture the scene so vividly! This sounds like a winner and I’d love to smell it.

  • Ginny M says:

    I love what Christi does with HOM and am partial to several of her adventurous, innovative scents — this one sounds just as amazing. It was the touch of oud at the end that really “hookahed” me, though. I do so adore it. I live in the U.S. and, as always, thank you!

  • ringthing says:

    I’m in the US. Just now getting into tobacco perfumes and this one sounds absolutely gorgeous, plus it has a backstory filled with love and generosity that makes Sacre Tabac Sucre especially appealing. Great review, thanks to all for the draw.

  • Laurels says:

    I’d like a perfume that smells like Chicago in the winter: the cold, clear air, slightly damp wool, a hint of smoke, the train full of people going home after a night out… Maybe I’d just like to be young again. US.

  • Amy K says:

    When I was around eight years old, I visited a tobacco farm on vacation with my parents. The smell of the tobacco leaves drying was amazing, and the farmer gave us a small cluster of them to bring home. They hung on the wall in our garage and scented it wonderfully for many years. A decade later, I went to college in North Carolina. One of my close friends was a cheerleader, and when she sat down next to me before a class, I sniffed the air and immediately asked her if she’d been to a tobacco farm. She was impressed — it turned out the cheerleaders had just gotten back from a “Girls of Tobacco Road” photo shoot with Dick Vitale and she’d been kneeling in tobacco leaves for the last couple of hours.

    I’m in the US, and I would love to smell a perfume that reminds me of those scent memories.

  • Frederic says:

    I’d like to try this perfume because I really love tobacco perfumes in all its shades. (50?)
    I’m an international reader

  • Lubka K. says:

    I would like to win it since I have only one fragrance which contains tobacco notes (BLV notte) and I like it a lot. Thanks for doing an international draw again.:-) Slovakia

  • Merlynn says:

    Tobacco notes in perfume always make me feel safe and warm! My favorite ever is Chergui, but I love several others. I would love to try this!

  • Holly F. says:

    This sounds amazing, like something I’d really love. The first memory that popped into my mind is of my first boyfriend, how his neck smelled like his wool scarf, a hint of masculine warmth, and the cold air swirling around us when we kissed outside the train station. He gave me that scarf, and I saved it and buried my face in it many, many times, to remind me of that moment. The scent of first love, that is my cherished memory I would like for Christi to turn into a fragrance! I am in the U.S. Thanks for the draw.

  • Jacob says:

    I am on hunt of perfect tobacco scent! Plus every Middle Eastern inspired scent is must sniff for me!
    Thank you for the draw! (International entry)

  • Michelle U says:

    I would like to try Sacre Tabac Sucre because it is a very difficult but very interesting note in a fragrance.

    International reader here.

    Thank you for the draw! Wish you all the best!

  • Sujaan says:

    Sacre Tabac Sucre, a sweet spicy tobacco with oud sounds like a must try because it sounds so transportive. I really love a perfume that takes me on a journey. I love the bottle too. I’m in the US.

  • mim says:

    USA
    Thanks for the review and draw! This sounds amazing– put simply, I like sweeter earthier spiced scents, so will probably adore this. Everything about Sacre Tabac Sucre sounds lovely, right from its inception.

    Memory is tricky…maybe the smell of fall when I was a child? I pay attention now and still get that wonderful leaves/apples waft everywhere, but something about jumping in piles or crunching through leaves on my way to school…hayrides, wool and other fuzzy things, orchards, dirt, dark green growth, warm kitty tummies, stones in the sun, cold water running, moss, rubber sneaker soles, new books, paper and pencils, baking, woods, childhood?

  • Vick G says:

    I’ve started to fall in love with tobacco in fragrances. I would be thrilled to try this! Thanks for the draw.

    I’m international.

  • Chris Schaefer says:

    I love reading of Christi’s generosity. I would love to see a perfume capture the love and preciousness of a baby. Remember just inhaling those precious smells?

    I am in the US.

  • Muzzi says:

    I am always looking for the next perfect tobacco scent!
    Thank you for the draw! (International entry)

  • Greg Esa says:

    I don’t have much experience with tobacco scents, so I’m really interested in smelling this. It sounds lovely though. Thanks for the draw. I’m international.