We are all made of star-stuff. Our bodies are made of star-stuff. There are pieces of star within us all.” -Carl Sagan

 Berlin based botanical perfumer Tanja Bochnig of April Aromatics, has released a new perfume, Erdenstern, in a new aroma family for her line- musk.  “Erdenstern” is a German word meaning “Earth Star”, and also is a concept in which the Earth belongs to all. We are presented with musk which not only alludes to a shared aroma of humanity’s connection to the earth, but the origins of our genesis, to the holy place between worlds of gods and mortals when ancients contemplating the stars, burned incense to communicate with divinities that traveled on distant points of light..

Tanja Bochnig

 “And we are little 'Earthstars', Erdensterne. Each one in its own way. If we would all realize that, the world would shine so bright!!!” exclaims Tanja in explanation of the German name. Tanja's talent of seamlessly fusing botanical notes and accords allows for an unfolding of complex aromas, the hallmark of a true natural perfume. Erdenstern will task one to identify where one note ends and another begins. The perfume opens with a dark, wet leaf, freshly turned soil note- due to the seamless blending of vetiver into a botanical musk accord. This gives the impression of the autumnal equinox, of digging in the dirt- to plant, to build and to lay to rest. Beyond this earthen opening, the heart warms the cold earth with glowing resins of opopanox,  and a tobacco laced cocao as we pass through the mists of autumn and prepare for the winter solstice. This soil tinged incense glows throughout the dry-down, and ambrette seeds add a lovely sweetness to a fascinating ambergris accord.  Tanja Bochnig's  botanical version of this animal material is star quality itself, affecting the perfume in all the glorious ways real ambergris does.

 

Edisa Weeks by Michael Phillip Mandheim

Botanical perfumers offer a new definition of musk;  gone are the vicious animal extractions.   As this scent moves beyond musk as erotica or as an aphrodisiac, it offers instead the scent of our connection to ourselves and to humanity. Tanja has captured the human heart‘s capacity for compassion.  Erdenstern is the scent of hands clasped together in prayer or the closeness of a hug to someone in need.  Erdenstern clings to the skin, morphing, changing until we are one with nature, with all peoples past and present  yet is a scent that is intensely individual.

 During the holiday season when many of us can get caught up in commercialism of the material world,  Erdenstern is an olfactive reminder that we all exude our own personal musk which mingles with 6 billion others, hence we are all perfume unto each other- our bodies are factories of aroma singing the body electric, until the day we realize we all become erdensterne.

 Notes: botanical musk accord, ambrette, vetiver, tabak, oakmoss, opopanox, cocao, botanical ambergris accord, infused with clear crystal and Herkimer diamond

–Einsof, West Coast contributor

disclosure: my sample was provided by April Aromatics for review.

This is a pre-release for April Aromatics' webstore and selected locations as of December 15, 2014  (Official release for Germany and EU will be in the New Year.) 30 ml/EDP $169 Euros

Only one liter of Erdenstern has been produced and thanks to Tanja Bochnig we have a 7ml deluxe spray sampler for a ÇaFleureBon reader anywhere in the world. To be eligible please leave a comment on what appeals to you about Erdernstern, where you live and your favorite April Aromatics Perfume. Draw closes 12/6/2014

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