Illuminated Perfume The Green Knight Review (Roxana Villa) 2021 + Otherworldly Green Draw

 

   The Green Knight

via wiki

“Wonder at his hue men displayed, set in his semblance seen;

He fared as a giant were made, and over all deepest green.

Well garbed was this giant geared in green, and the hair of his head like his horse’s mane.”

~ Sir Gawain and The Green Knight by The Pearl (or Gawain) Poet, 14th C. (thought to be a contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer in the English West Midlands)

Roxana Villa and Greg Spalenka

Roxana Villa and Greg Spalenka photo courtesy of Illuminated Perfume©

It was recently offered me to experience and review artisanal botanical perfumer Roxana Villa of Illuminated Perfume’s latest work, The Green Knight. As is frequently the case, Roxana has collaborated with her similarly gifted husband Greg Spalenka: between his innately compelling artwork and their combined highly-developed sense of myth and majesty, I was unable to resist. Throw in Celtic lore and Arthurian legend and I’m done for. I’ve spent much of my life engaged in the exploration of myth, oral and written tradition and storytelling; both Roxana and Greg are storytellers in the epic tradition – whether it be through our fifth sense, music or the brilliant visual media in which they excel.  Illuminated Perfume The Green Knight is a synthesis of the Green Man and King Arthur’s youngest knight Gawain’s nemesis/host – with all the nuance and ambiguity inherent in their symbolism. It is a fierce otherworldly green born of this world, the one preceding, and the one yet to come.

Illuminated Perfume the Green Knight review

 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight wikipedia (from original manuscript, artist unknown)

 Roxana Villa perceives Sir Gawain’s Green Knight as the “challenger on the seeker’s path, specifically the ultimate challenge of facing mortal death, thereby granting us the opportunity to re-member that our bodies are light, and we are immortal.” I agree, yet I also view him as teacher and the culmination of wit, spirit and cunning – an Odysseus of sorts. This is significant, because the actual poem is bookended by references to the fall of Troy in its narrative – and had I not digested the poem I might have missed this aspect entirely. He inspires fear, burning curiosity and commands absolute respect and loyalty.

Natural perfume The Green Knight

via stock photo

You may well ask: who, or what precisely – is The Green Man? He is a legendary entity associated with fertility and rebirth who represents Spring in all its burgeoning glory. Often depicted wreathed in leaves, branches, vines and ornamented with fruits and/or flowers, he exists as a vegetation deity throughout the ages and transcends cultures all over the world. He is carved upon the edifices of churches and secular buildings alike. The Green Man has correlates in the personifications of Osiris, Odin, Dionysus; in Islam’s esoteric Sufic tradition, he is al-Khidr (The Green One) – a righteous servant of the Divine who possesses wisdom and/or mystic knowledge. Despite his gifts and endowments, there can be a trace element of menace, an ability to inspire awe in those who view The Green Man. Any shamanic image suggestive of alchemy and both natural and supernatural forces beyond one’s control is predisposed to impassioned scrutiny.

Roxana Villa Illuminated perfume The Green Knight

Illuminated Perfume©

Roxana Villa’s The Green Knight inspires awe and sylvan reverence. She has employed every essential oil, co2 distillate, absolute and tincture imaginable in her pursuit of the larger-than-life Arthurian legend. The result is an exquisite verdant fragrance with good longevity which smells truthful and deeply soothing. This perfume’s initial impression is so rewarding: the blast of sparkling citrus accompanied by absinthe-like artemisia is an intoxicating marriage of the sprightly tonic and dry, bittersweet herbalcy tinged with an almost boozy medicinal tone. When eucalyptus follows, that additional terpenic twist is accentuated. The tenderness of rose, blue tansy (which possesses an aroma akin to German chamomile) and violet leaf are welcome accompaniment; palmarosa evokes a grassiness combined with lemony rose geranium facets, while calamus contributes a soft sweet spiciness similar to cinnamon. There are several hues of green in The Green Knight’s palette, provided by the balsamic depth of vetiver, gloriously tenacious galbanum, piñon, juniper, cypress, mastic and katafray. Loamy depth is inferred by cepes and patchouli; balsamic, woody aspects abound in the guise of cedar, sandalwood, amyris, and cabreuva (with its mimosa dimension). The forest’s richness wouldn’t be complete without oakmoss and moody, versatile labdanum; the smoky whisper of a hint of guaiacwood is enough to imply mystery without overwhelming Illuminated The Green Knight’s composition. Had I been able to smell this prior to the end of December, it would have been listed among the wonderful releases of 2021.

Notes: bergamot, mandarin, petitgrain, artemisia, eucalyptus, calamus, rose, palmarosa, orris, blue tansy, violet leaf, cepes,  piñon,  galbanum, myrrh, copaiba balsam, labdanum, oakmoss, vetiver, patchouli, palo santo, sandalwood, Himalayan and Virginia cedar, amyris, cypress, guaiacwood, katafray, cabreuva, juniper, mastic

 Illuminated Perfume Green Knight

Illuminated Perfume©

Roxana has created a Green Knight Perfume Ritual Box which is currently available. It includes both liquid and solid perfume; Greg Spalenka’s beautiful painting emblazoned upon a postcard with suggestions for ritual guidance on the back; a soft grey lined journal embossed by Roxana, and several instructional cards (within a deep green velvet pouch with the perfumes). The perfumer delves into the fragrant materials themselves with more detail, as well as their significance from a holistic viewpoint.

Perfume Ritual Box graciously provided by the perfumer – many thanks!   My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor

 Thanks to the kindness of Roxana Villa of Illuminated Perfume, we are offering a draw for either the 4 gram liquid or the 6 gram solid perfume versions of The Green Knight for one US registered reader. To be eligible, please share what appeals to you about Ida’s review of Illuminated Perfume The Green Knight and which version you prefer.  Draw closes  1/31/2022

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18 comments

  • Greg Spalenka says:

    Dear Ida,

    An eloquent and poetic review as always! I love your writing. You perfectly captured the spirit of this project.

    Your sentence– “It is a fierce otherworldly green born of this world, the one preceding, and the one yet to come,” reflects the symbolism at the core of the myth, the perfume and the art. I felt the Green Knight also represented aspects of our karma– something we must face in this lifetime and beyond.

    When I conceptualized the art, the roots growing out of his legs
    symbolized this reality, while the ethereal nature around him mirrored the astral plane. The saplings sprouting from his armor is our potential. Every day, life presents some challenge. The Green Knight would encourage everyone to greet it, “Be Brave, Be Audacious.” He was a great symbol for times past, and today.

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I love the presentation of this fragrance, so artistic and authentic. And if Ida says it would have been one of her top 2021 scents I know it must be worth smelling. I always enjoy natural green scents and that this one is “truthful and soothing” sounds like something I need about now! I would love to try the solid version of this since I don’t currently own any solid perfumes. Thank you for the lovely review, as always, Ida! US

  • Aquafortis says:

    A wonderful review by Ida, indeed. As I stare at a cast Green Man plaque hanging on the wall behind my desk, her review enriches and illuminates the mythology, wonder, and force imbedded in the imagery and archetypal power of the character. I enjoyed Ida’s description of the myriad and multiple components that went into Roxana’s new perfume, as it communicates the appropriate complexity, depth, and multi-layered dimensionality of notes which seem perfectly matched to the verdant theme. I can imagine Roxana’s Green Knight embodying the olfactory spectrum and mysterious spirit of the forest: drawn up from the depths of the mineral soil, rooted through the teeming life of the humus, embodied in the magnificence of the trees, and illuminated by sunlit brilliance. Yet, the tender green shoots emerge from the more deeply rooted thickets held in shadow and the unseen…I would love to experience the solid version of Roxana’s creation in the gorgeously crafted box! I also really appreciate the added artisanship of the journal and Greg’s stunning illustration!

  • Cynthia says:

    Although I haven’t tried any new ones in some time, there was a time when I was familiar with the entire catalog of this very talented perfumer. She and her husband both seem such gentle and creative souls, living a life of arts many of us would like to aspire to. The lavender solid I bought from her over ten years ago still smells wonderful. She used to have a variation of Sienna called Sienna Gold, and it was one of my favorite Christmas perfumes. Anything she creates is of interest to me. I would love to try the solid version of this one. Thank you for the story and the draw.

  • skye says:

    I’m currently reading a history of early Britain which touches on the legend of Arthur and his knights. There was a lot of synthesis of pagan beliefs with Roman occupation which produced some interesting tales. The use of the Green Man as a symbol of birth and fertility is inspiration for a unifying scent. The verdant smell of the forest seems soothing and grounding. I would love to try the solid to experience the resinous base. I imagine it would smell like a cathedral in the woods. I’m in MD, USA.

  • Kevin Pedrazs says:

    What a review by Ida!
    I enjoyed everything about it: the mythological aspect of the fragrance, the development of the aroma and the idea behind it.
    This Green Knight fragrance is a refreshing release that breaks trough the overpopulated world of fragrances.
    Would love to win the 4 gram liquid version of the perfume.
    I live in the U.S.

  • sunnlitt says:

    What an amazing review!
    I love green, in all its colors and scents, and this sounds like a wonderful green fragrance.
    Ida mentions “awe and sylvan reverence”. What a beautiful way to describe a scent. She also describes it as “truthful and deeply soothing”. It just sounds lovely!
    I went to the Illuminated Perfume website and was captivated by the ‘Inspiration Wall’ for the scent. That collage was a work of art in itself.
    If chosen, I would like to experience the solid perfume.
    Thank you.

  • drjedi says:

    I enjoyed Ida’s review of The Green Knight and it’s connection with various myths around the world. What impressed me was the long list of notes, combining which into a balanced perfume would require a skillful hand and nose. Another thing is Ida’s saying that The Green Knight would have made her list of wonderful releases of 2021, had she smelled it in 2021. Were I to win this draw, I’d like to try the 6 gram solid perfume. From the USA.

  • mdellaroc says:

    I think I would prefer the liquid version. This particular scent sounds vast and bold, like the myth himself perhaps. What an intriguing muse. In maryland.

  • Trinity33 says:

    Lovely review Ida! I like a green, verdant perfume and the connection with Gawain and the Green Man is very inventive. The quality of the ingredients Roxana uses are outstanding and seem to be blended masterfully. From what I’ve read, the liquid seems to emphasize the brighter citrus aspects of the fragrance and I would love to try that version. I live in MD.

  • Ben A says:

    I appreciate Ida’s elaboration of the mythic background to this scent. But what draws me to it is my love of green fragrances. And the presentation, which is just gorgeous. I’m in Oklahoma, USA. If I won the draw, I’d prefer the solid version.

  • mmerline says:

    I love this whole concept—the perfume design, the illustrated packaging, and the multifaceted box. I enjoyed how Ida’s review explored the Green Man legend and broke down this perfume’s complex note structure in sharp detail. This one sounds like it rewards many attentive wears.

    If I’m lucky enough to win, I prefer liquid perfume. Thanks!

  • xoe says:

    Lovely. I am very into green lately, and the Green Man is one of my favorite legendary/mythological figures. Ida’s description is beautiful. There is so much to this fragrance that it is hard to imagine. I would like the solid version and I am in the US.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thank you for the great review Ida.

    I am absolutely in awe of what both Roxana and Greg have achieved. I can’t figure out if the art inspired the fragrance or the fragrance inspired the art.

    Reading this review and Greg’s comment made me think – “What can I do today to better myself tomorrow”.

    I also love the rich menagerie of green smelling notes that have gone into this fragrance.

    I would like to do the liquid version of this!

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • goldenswan says:

    Ida’s review of this fragrance was very entertaining and enlightening. I hope the scent of this work is as delightful as the story surrounding it. Liquid preferred.

  • Kr1ms0nk1ng says:

    Ida’s description of the Green Knight as a teacher, or Sage, along with the account of the multitude of ingredients conjuring these multiple hues of green, evokes recollections of Forest Lungs (Nue Co.) and Fou d’Absinthe (L’Artisan) from what I am reading. The floral, earthy, musky texture references do also link my mind to Iris Bleu Gris (MPeG). A sense of tranquility seems to exist concurrently between them all.

    I would be interested in the liquid sample. California, U.S.

    Thank you for the opportunity.

  • sephrenia300 says:

    Wonderful review Ida! What appeals to me about Ida’s review of Illuminated Perfume The Green Knight is how she describes it as both green/sylvan and yet otherworldly and meditative, with boozy/mentholic/terpenic aspects that she describes as awe inspiring, just like the mysterious and ever-wise Green Knight. It sounds perfectly eerie and beautiful, and I can’t wait to try it. If I were to win, I would prefer the solid perfume. I live in the US.

  • Karl says:

    Thank you Ida for taking me back to my youth. This article brings back fond memories of having the Arthurian Legends read to me.

    Beautifully written.

    Loved every sentence.

    Karl.