Power Speed and Grace by Tama Blough

January 31, 2014 marks the start of Year 4712 on the Chinese Calendar. It is the year of the Horse, my Chinese astrological animal. This year is actually the year of the Wooden Horse. I looked at several predictions for my year, and I won’t make a lot of money but will do okay as long as I’m careful, might be more susceptible to illness, and shouldn’t get married. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but I will make the most of it and avoid sharp objects. Despite this lack of a prediction of a massive upswing in wealth, health, and love life, I am determined to make this year a good one.  

Running Horse by Tama Blough

The perfume I have chosen to wear to celebrate Chinese New Year is Cartier Les Heures de Parfum L’Heure Fougueuse IV, The Ardent Hour, which is known for its use of an accord of thoroughbred horse. I have always loved the smell of a horse, and have been known to bury my face in an obliging equine neck or lean closer than I need to when patting a shining flank. I have no issues with the smell of “road apples” (my favorite slang for horse manure), and love the clean smell of hay.

Untitled by Tama Blough

I remember well the first time I tried this perfume on my skin at my local Saks Fifth Avenue. I was so instantly transported to the animal smells of the state fair that I had to laugh. I had never smelled a perfume that so perfectly captured the smell of hay, fresh manure, and farm animal. My disclaimer to those who are horror-stricken: my skin grabs anything remotely resembling an animal and magnifies it. I loved wearing this fragrance around while I was downtown, and kept smelling my wrist and bursting into laughter. I declared the thoroughbred mane accord a rousing success.

Horses in the Water by Tama Blough

When people in the perfume community discuss this perfume, they are most compelled by the floral aspects, and generally pronounce it as a beautiful fragrance. As I re-explore it, I can see what they mean. Magnolia is a great floral note for this composition, with its almost lemony waxiness. To me, it restrains the animal notes and keeps them from becoming overripe. I also suspect it makes the perfume more wearable for the general public. I love what it does on my skin; it is one of those “me but better” types of perfumes, I adore it, and would love a bottle.

Notes lists I have found for L’Heure Fougueuse are full of contradiction, except for magnolia, thoroughbred horse (or mane) accord, and oak barrel, so I will leave you with the words of perfumer Mathilde Laurent: “A magnificent combination of animal notes recalling the history of luxury perfumery and humanity.”

馬年安康 – mǎ nián ān kāng – Peace and good health in the Year of the Horse!

I received my sample from Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco. The Cartier Les Heures de Parfum L’Heure Fougueuse IV is available online at Saks and Cartier, $275 for 75 ml.

Tama Blough, Deputy Editor

Note: When I was researching art for this piece, it occurred to me that horses have been key figures in my own artistic life since I was a toddler, so I decided to be an egomaniac and showcase some of my own work.