Agarthi Waterways Spell via the brand

From the dawn of time, people have believed there was another world, just lurking underneath the Earth’s surface and each civilization has woven a rich tapestry of lore and beliefs around this idea. In the theories of the underworld, the theme of a hollow Earth recurs throughout different forms and has gradually fused with mythology, literature, and science, seeping into conspiracies, popular culture, movies, and science fiction novels. Agarthi is one of these captivating myths, cloaked in mysteries and ancient legends – a fabled realm, said to lie at the very center of the Earth. Whether viewed as a spiritual metaphor or a fascinating piece of folklore, the concept of a hidden world continues to ignite our imagination, inviting us to wonder about the secrets that may lie beneath the mundane surface of our everyday world.

Collage of the Agarthi Waterways Spell, Hidden Shores, Burning Core and Floating Lands at Esxence, pictures by Amber Jobin for CaFleureBon©

 Agarthi is a brand that invites us on an escapist olfactive journey to the center of the Earth – so for today’s article, buckle up and let’s explore a hidden world, composed of four olfactive reams. The brand checked more than just the wild storytelling points on my checklist – and besides tickling my mythology-geeky side, Agarthi also joyfully scratched many of my analytical professional itches. As I have already mentioned in (too) many of my articles, I have a soft spot for brands that manage to align the physicality of the packaging with the soul of the brand. The bottles look like alien artifacts, with metallic reflections blending into vivid shades. The cap of the bottle is heavy and tactile – a heavy piece of decorative art made out of zamak that besides its aesthetic value, can also be re-purposed into everyday life as a paperweight, or turned inside out and used as a candleholder.

 

Agarthi perfumes are extraits 

I also enjoyed the attention to detail that breathes in the hidden corners of the branding elements – the name Agarthi means “inaccessible” and the entire theme is reflected from the first (subliminal) glance in the logo that resembles a ship’s wheel or a compass dial. The idea of Agarthi came from the creative process of an eclectic team, (including Editor Ermano Picco) who have been working in marketing, design, and artistic perfumery for years, each bringing their flair and know-how into the project. The conceptual depth was translated into fragrance by a team of perfumers from Mane.

Agarthi Hidden Shores (Cécile Matton Polge), photo via the brand  

The first dimension – landing on mysterious hidden shores: “We braved the fury of the waves under stormy skies until, exhausted, we welcomed the inevitable shipwreck on mysterious hidden shores. Lost but hopeful, we sense the faint breath of forest air slashing the curtain of age-old fog. Here’s the land. The mineral shade of vertiginous cliffs takes shape like a mirage, wrapped in a transcendent glow. The freezing reminder of Arctic currents urges us to face the impervious climb, clinging to wind-worn rock spurs. Once at the top, the breathtaking magnificence of an ancient woodland is revealed; huge trunks rise like emerald skyscrapers towards a vault engraved in spectroscopic crystal reflections. Bewitched by that glare, we cross the borders of the lost kingdom of Agarthi walking on a dark velvet carpet of moss and roots.”**

My (Nicoleta) POV: an exhilarating aromatic scent that is both mouth-wateringly fresh and intricately cool – with just a hint of Slytherin danger lurking in the balmy green shadows. Has a retro nostalgic thread weaved in its fabric that makes it instantly approachable and especially comfortable – and comforting to wear in the humid heat of summer.

Top: Blackcurrant, Juniper Berries Pure Jungle EssenceTM, Pine Essence; Heart: Violet Leaves Absolute, Immortelle Pure Jungle EssenceTM, Geranium Bourbon;  Base: Cedarwood, Fir balsam, Vetiver Bourbon, Moss

Agarthi Burning Core (Mathieu Nardin), photo via the brand

 The second dimension – the burning core of a Middle Earth: “We chase the glow of a barely perceptible purple sphere beyond the opalescent mist. The hours have lost track of time overwhelmed by the mighty stillness of an unknown star, the gravitational fulcrum of a middle earth, where day and night mingle with the transcendental light of dawns and sunsets. The star glows, returning the flame to its burning core.”**

My (Nicoleta) POV: the plot thickens with the adrenalized scent of molten lava – the Garden of under-earthly delights edition. Ambery, spicy, caramelized, with gourmand notes that flip from the hot delights of milky spun sugars to savory spikes and prickly gingers, all the way down to smooth and sleek leathers. If you love to ride old bikes, this feels just like pressing the kickstarter with your foot – that satisfying resistance, the solid connection, and then the low, strong hum of the engine roaring to life, sending a thrill down your spine and making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Head: Ginger Pure Jungle EssenceTM, Solar Note, Milky Accord; Heart: Benzoin, Vanilla Pure Jungle EssenceTM, Vanilla Absolute, Cade Essence; Base: Leather, Savory Notes, Crème Brûlée

Agarthi Floating Lands – composed by Serge Majoullier, photo by Nicoleta©

The third dimension: a horizon of floating lands: “A vision of pure beauty slowly rises: floating lands chisel the horizon as far as the eye can see like islands emerging from the thin mist veiling the wide valley floor.” 

My (Nicoleta) POV: The closest thing to what I’m imagining flying on Falkor would be, re-imagining the universe in the Neverending Story. A purple haze of iris with powdery facets and a floral bouquet that feels frozen in time, in all its mineral beauty. If you like the vegetal, carroty reincarnations of the iris, this is a must-try.

Head Notes: Bergamot*, Magnolia Champaca E-Pure Jungle EssenceTM; Heart Notes: Tuberose Absolute, Iris; Base: Vetiver, Honey, Cistus Absolute

Agarthi Waterways Spell (Alex Lee)  – photo of Agarthi Waterways Spell via the brand

The fourth dimension is Agarthi Waterways Spells: enchanted rivers: “The roar of waterfalls leads us to the murmur of springs gushing into the air outlining a new and unexpected panorama. The crystal-clear waterways’ spell creates a euphoric wave of sparkling aquatic particles, rising like a nebula tracing the joyous vault of a rainbow. Rich floating garlands and lichens lap banks and leafy roots, embracing notes of damp woods and cold spices. Dew-covered flowers join the hypnotic chant of meandering streams and the reassuring transparency of silent lagoons that transform the scene into a limpid aquatic enchantment. The moist air, filled with hydrogens and luminescent pollen, dances among the juicy fruits and green foliage in a lush lost paradise.”

Agarthi Waterway Spells: Just from reading the notes, I would not have expected Waterway Spells to be my favorite  from this first “Scent Core Collection”, but the name does it justice, for indeed it feels, wears, and boosts your mood the same way a (positive) spell does. Marcel Proust said that “the only true voyage of discovery would be not to visit strange lands, but to possess other eyes.” I applaud the way Alex Lee manages to put this concept into practice in the olfactive realm with Agarthi Waterways Spell, taking the smell of nature, and repainting it back to life with an “other-worldly” artistic sensibility. In the same way he brilliantly composed the smell of an “alien flower” in Masque Milano’s Ray-Flection. With Agarthi Waterways Spells we are here in the deep water of a foreign underworld realm.

Alex Lee composed Agarthi Waterways Spells, image via Agarthi

In an interview with Michelyn, 14 years ago, when he was still a student, Alex Lee of MANE said: “My personal goals are simple and that is to become a perfumer able to put the best fragrances in the reach of as many people as possible. While I dream of working as a fine fragrance perfumer, I am open to all experiences that will allow me to learn and formulate. I will follow where the wind takes me…. Being in a big company would be great because I am a workaholic and I need to be in a fast-paced environment where I am constantly challenged. I believe that there is a place for sensory research and new technology in fragrance design, so to be near the front lines of research and innovation would be fantastic.”

My (Nicoleta) POV: Agarthi Waterways Spells is a synaesthetic whirlwind of shades of cool. Imagine the crisp and juicy vegetal crunch of stems, filled with iridescent sap. Picture jungle leaves with nervures blurred by the hazy aroma of clary sage, and the deep green of moss and lichen dripping with moisture. Feel the bursts of astringent lemon juice, the sweet mandarin peel bent between fingers, zest bursting into the air as a fine mist. This fragrance evokes the sensation of standing near a waterfall, where the air is cold and the particles of water create an otherworldly experience, like swimming through gravity inverted in a mist of water droplets. Joyous, lung-opening, a hesperidic delight that opens worlds and hearts and fires up the imagination.

Notes: Head: Bergamot*, Mandarin, Lemon, Jungle Leaves; Heart: Green Bell Pepper Jungle EssenceTM, Violet Leaves Absolute, Waterfall Accord; Base: Clary Sage, Cedarwood, Moss, Lichen

Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor

* courtesy of the press release.

“My POV” is Nicoleta writing.

Please read Michelyn’s Esxence Report 2024 naming Agarthi best concept.

Read more about Alex Lee and the 2019 Esxence FragranceXperience: here and also his entire interview with Michelyn here

Disclosure: The discovery kit and Floating Lands were offered by Agarthi. Opinions are my own.

Thanks to the generosity of Agarthi we have a bottle of Agarthi Waterways Spell

And

photo by Nicoleta©

Discovery Set including and a sample set of all four for one registered reader in the US and one in the EU. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Nicoleta’s review, and where you live. There are two winners. Draw closes 6/6/2024

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