Blessed are The Pure of Heart for they shall see G-D Alphonse Mucha MFA.org

Mache dich, mein Herze, rein…(Make yourself pure, my heart!) ~ Saint Matthew Passion, J.S.Bach

Tanja Bochnig of April Aromatics

Berlin-based natural perfumer Tanja Bochnig kindly sent me a sample of The Preciousss (aka April Aromatics Irisistible) last week – and Bach’s blessed triple meter, his Saint Matthew Passion – immediately minuetted into my consciousness. Yes, I’m fully aware that the Passion heralds Eastertide; it’s the overwhelming emotion, the sentiment of creating a pure heart (very like the Hebrew prayer “Lev tahor b’rali Elohim” – “Create in me a pure heart, o G-d of G-ds”) which moved me. When you factor in the Goddess of the Dawn whose Homerically ‘rosy fingers’ illuminate the heavens, whose flowing multi-hued robe is visible upon the horizon trailing every possible coloration in its wake – it felt entirely fitting (Welcome to my world; this is how my convoluted brain works).

Nocturnal Slumber collage Alphonse Mucha 1898 with detail

If the rainbow weds earth and the heavens, lightness and dearth of it, Tanja’s timing couldn’t be improved upon. The Winter Solstice arrives in the Northern Hemisphere in less than a month, that longest night of the year. Sacred and pagan observances abound. 36 years ago, right after I met my husband-to-be in Harvard Square during a nor’easter – I held a Saturnalia celebration in my three-room flat for 33 people (everyone from housekeeping staff and nurses, opera singers to brain surgeons!) and cooked for three days in preparation, an intense form of hygge. How timely to suffuse this energy into the Cosmos just when we are most in need of it.

 

Iris 1898, Alphonse Mucha

April Aromatics Irisistible literally explodes upon initial spritz, just as the cork on a champagne bottle will (under most circumstances). It is fizzy with irrepressible Italian lemon that pops right out at you. So delicious. On its coattails clings silvery floral/rooty iris; she carries her costly comrades in tow, a wealth of finest quality aromatic materials from the world over: Bulgarian roses, Indian jasmines and tuberoses, cassia from Sri Lanka! I’m fairly certain that I smell ambrette along with the sandalwood listed (Tanja alludes to many other undisclosed components), with its tenaciously subtle botanical muskiness. The cassia contributes a bright spiciness which settles into delicacy, part of the fabric’s weft.

Les Fleurs-The Iris" 1898 Alphonse Mucha

Irisistible is truly a thing of beauty and among my most loved releases of 2018; the more I smell it, the more I am smitten. My only (minor) caveat here is its ephemeral nature. As is not uncommon among botanical perfumes, it soon lies close to the skin very intimately; perhaps if applied lavishly, the pleasure might be more prolonged. I didn’t want to relinquish the drops I had left because they are so precious to me, so I didn’t test this theory. If any of you have – do share your impressions with us. 

Notes: Italian iris pallida, Indian jasmine grandiflorum, Bulgarian rose absolute, Italian lemon, Indian tuberose, Sri Lankan cassia, sandalwood, other undisclosed notes.

Many thanks, dear Tanja, for the sample! The best of the season to you and yours! My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor and Natural Perfumery Editor

~ Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief- I chose Alphonse Mucha throughout as his art and watercolors seemed to be a visual realization for my own exp erience of testing Irisistible

Thanks to perfumer Tanja Bochnig, we have one 7ml bottle of April Aromatics Irisistible for one registered ÇaFleureBon reader anywhere in the world. If you are not sure if you are registered, click here (you must register on our site or your entry will be invalid). To be eligible, please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Ida’s review, where you live, and  if you enjoy natural perfumes.  If you have a favorite April Aromatics Perfume, please let us know. Draw closes 11/29/2018

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