There is a lot of mystique around the mythology of the Dance of the Seven Veils. At some point, the biblical story of the death of John the Baptist at the behest of a vengeful woman who used her daughter as a pawn became all about the poor daughter. In the Bible, Salome is not even mentioned by name (it is revealed in a text by Flavius Josephus), but through time her name has become synonymous with a dance of seduction and horrible death. In the books of Matthew and Mark, it is recounted that she danced for King Herod on his birthday, and he was so pleased he told her he would give her anything she wanted. Because John the Baptist had been critical of Salome’s mother Herodius’ marriage to her former brother-in-law the King, Herodius told Salome to ask King Herod to give her John’s head on a platter. A promise is a promise, and although it pained him, Herod delivered.

The dance of Salome was christened The Dance of the Seven Veils somewhere down the line. It is a striptease of the most elemental kind – removing one veil after another, showing ever more flesh though the sheer pieces of colorful fabric, but never actually baring all. It has become a part of the lexicon of seduction: as Grace Kelly’s character Lisa says to Jimmy Stewart in “Rear Window”, she would have to move “into an apartment across the way and do the dance of the seven veils every hour” to keep his attention on her.  Screen goddess Rita Hayworth danced it. Oscar Wilde wrote a play about it. Richard George Strauss wrote an opera. I just love it when one paragraph of a text is so expanded upon it takes on a life of its own.

Ben Gorham

Now, on to the perfume. When I first sprayed Seven Veils on paper, I was unimpressed, and went on to other things. But I kept hearing so much about it that I decided I had to try it on to give it a fair chance, so I did. That time, I was definitely impressed. My Barney’s SA Christina gave me a good sample and I was off and running. A week later I had a bottle on my dresser.

I have always loved spice. As a child (and as an adult) my favorite candies have been spice drops, Necco Wafers ™, Hot Tamales ™, and cinnamon imperials. I love to eat ginger, and foods with cinnamon and nutmeg. I learned to cook Indian food, and relished the aromas of cardamom and garam masala. When I wear Seven Veils, I feel completely enveloped in a shimmering cloud of my favorite spices. What is amazing is that none of them are actually in the perfume.

The first spray of Seven Veils is surprisingly earthy and rooty, from the carrot seed note, and occasionally this root vibe peeks through during the drydown phases. Then the spices come out to play. I don’t know how the notes in the list become the scent I smell on my skin. Truly, I feel like I am in a spice market. Well, actually it is more like an olfactory mirage of a scent market, because part of the artistry of Seven Veils is that it is never overt or loud or too colorful. It seduces the nose layer by layer, like the dance seduces the watcher. It is not timid, though; a customer came to my office and said, “Wow, it smells deliciously spicy in here, and a little bit floral”. High score for sillage.

Costume sketch for Oscar Wilde's play "Salome"

Ben Gorham, the creative force behind the Byredo perfume line, has interpreted the Dance of the Seven Veils literally. I am transported and seduced and left longing for more. I can spray it lavishly or lightly and take a different journey each time. I am sad when I can’t smell it anymore, and have found myself with my nose down my shirt, inhaling deeply, searching for that last molecule. Don’t get me wrong, this happens fairly well into the afternoon, so it is not short-lived. I just want more. Were it any stronger, though, it would not have the translucence of the veil, and therein lies the beauty.

The composition includes: carrot seed, pimento berries, Tahitian vanilla flower, laurier rose, glycine, tiger orchid, sandalwood and vanilla. (in this instance, I believe that glycine refers to wisteria, but don’t quote me on that).

My sample and bottle came from Barney’s New York in San Francisco.

We have a 5mL decant to give away to one lucky reader. To be eligible leave a comment on what you would have asked King Herod for if he offered you a boon; or alternatively your favorite Byredo fragrance. We will draw one winner on February 24, 2012 via random.org.

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

–Tama Blough, Senior Editor