Azman Where We Used to Live Review (Euan McCall )2022 + Gateway to Memories Giveaway

July 14, 2022July 14, 2022

Azman Where We Used To Live with fx of nebula by Karl©

Creative Director and founder Husen Baba of Azman Perfumes is constantly looking for the most forward-thinking olfactive artists to collaborate with and for Azman Where We Used To Live, he enlisted Edinburgh-based star perfumer Euan McCall (Jorum Studio for his own brand and Jorum Laboratories for his work for others) to create what is in my opinion, one of the most intriguing fragrances of 2022. It is also one of the trickiest to describe. Without further ado then, let us delve into this tantalising and complex perfume.

Euan McCall of Edinburgh-based Jorum Laboratories courtesy of the Perfumer

Nostalgia (noun) is described as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. When referencing nostalgia one may make a comparison to the vintage, old-school, time gone by. Fragrances with such a theme can be placed firmly in a room 101, locked away and revisited purely for their schmaltzy value. Azman Where We Used To Live turns this notion on its head. It is a difficult scent to pin down and place in a specific genre. Nostalgia here is experienced via the use of heliotrope. However, it is utilised in a thoroughly inventive way. One can envisage this fragrance as a transition from earth into space, the place “Where We Used To Live”.

“Heliotrope is one of the most universally nostalgic materials, I think. It is also very versatile. I didn’t want to take the Heliotrope sensation in a traditional sweet-powdery direction”. -Euan McCall Exclusive quote for ÇaFleureBon

This heliotrope sensation is a dense and dramatic sheer juxtaposition, which creates a silken veil that is special, slightly carnal and most addictive. Azman Where We Used To Live calls upon vivid memories seen through the lens of the mind’s eye. It is a perfume to evoke happiness and creates a kaleidoscopic theme with layers upon layers of decadent and dreamlike touches. One enters the wearing with a blast of transparent white florals which orbit the heliotrope pulsing out jasmine, magnolia and orange flower. It emits a sultry sweet undercurrent which lies underneath white clouds, here we can delve into blackcurrant bud absolute, honeysuckle and rose. The heliotrope acts as the gate to access your deepest thoughts, times that ignite the best of memories, be that a sticky first kiss, a euphoric festival with friends or sunsets in far away lands.

First Kiss Image Wikimedia Commons

“The Azman line explores traditional Middle Eastern perfumery traditions with a new-age sensibility, Oud plays a crucial role as a bridging sensation. With Where We Used To Live, the Oud oil needed to homogenise within the formula so as to create a novel Oud sensation, one that can be easily perceived by the wearer if they look for it but it was important that Where We Used To Live didn’t register as overly oud-y or tired – we didn’t want a stereotypical Oud motif to override the perfume.” -Euan McCall exclusive quote for ÇaFleureBon

The scent feels incredibly modern in its composition, initially beaming out tropical bright accents and a translucent osmanthus absolute. As it transitions, Where We Used To Live explores spicy saffron and Assam Oud. This is unexpected because one must search for the depth of the oud as it melts effortlessly in and creates a bridging sensation as opposed to a slap in the face harsh tonality. This unique sensation places Azman Where We Used To Live firmly in the new age of perfumery bracket. The collaboration between Mr. McCall and Mr. Baba is of mavericks pushing barriers and subverting the norm.

Azman Where We Used To Live Painted Canvas by Karl©

There is a powdery almost stardust experience about this scent, it smells cosmic to me. This is no classical reinterpretation. It feels almost futuristic with a sci-fi profile. The oud can be perceived as the bridge a dark silhouette against the heliotrope and florals a luminous matter, almost as if one were in the vastness of space and encountering an indistinct bright patch of light such as a cloud of dust. This is how the heliotrope and oud interplay in my mind. It is a risky scent. I think those who love it will truly adore it. However, it might be too much for others. Should you wish to venture forth and unlock your memories and find a gateway to new horizons then Where We Used To Live could be the scent for you.

Top: Honeysuckle – Magnolia – Blackcurrant bud Absolute
Heart: Heliotrope – Jasmine – Orange Flower – Rose – Saffron – Osmanthus Absolute
Base: Assam Oud – Patchouli – Vetiver – Musk – Vanilla – Cypriol

Azman Where We Used To Live kindly sent to Karl for review purposes. Thoughts are my own.

Karl Topham, Senior Editor, UK brand Ambassador and Associate Editor

Please Read: Azman Riad Jasmine by Nicoleta Tomsa, Azman Majnoon Review by Nicoleta Tomsa, Azman I am Darkness Review by Lauryn Beer and Azman Killer Vavoom Review by Karl Topham.

Thanks to the generosity of Azman we have a 50 ml of Where We Used To Live for one registered reader in the EU, USA, UK, UAE. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what you find most interesting based on Karl’s review of Azman Where We Used to Live and where you live. Draw closes 7/18/22

Perfumer Euan McCall has won numerous CaFleureBon Best of Scent awards including Michelyn’s Rising Star of 2019

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