Esxence 2019:  Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7 Review + The Heartbeat of Scent Draw

 

- Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7 - The Heartbeat of Scent.

Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7 bottle – The Heartbeat of Scent.  Photo via Map of the Heart ©

“True navigation begins in the human heart. It’s the most important map of all.”  Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey

Photo_Art 1 - Sarah Blair and Jeffrey Darling of Map of the Heart

 Founders and Creative Directors Sarah Blair and Jeffrey Darling, via Map of the Heart ©

In 2013, Australian film producers, writers and designers Sarah Blair and Jeffrey Darling, focused their considerable talents and artistic vision on the world of olfaction, offering up a stunning new fragrance series – Map of the Heart. In collaboration with master perfumer Jacques Huclier and renowned bottle designer (and Perfumed Plume 2018 Award Winner) Pierre Dinand, Sarah Blair and Jeffrey Darling navigated a fragrant topography, creating an olfactory landscape of scent, texture, shape and color.

Givuadan Junior Perfumer Nisrine Bouazzaoui Grillié and Jacques Huclier

Givuadan Junior Perfumer Nisrine Bouazzaoui Grillié and Jacques Huclier via Map of the Heart©

Beginning with the first fragrance, Master Perfumer Jacques Huclier (subsequently with Givaudan Junior Perfumer Nisrine Bouazzaoui Grillié) incorporated Australian sandalwood into all the Map of the Heart perfumes, fostering a commonality, a blood type so to speak, that pulses through each anatomically correct vessel, designed specifically for the series by Pierre Dinand. Map of the Heart perfumes – Clear Heart, Black Heart, Red Heart, Gold, Purple and Pink Heart (one of Senior Editor Lauryn Beer’s top ten fragrances for 2018) – tell vivid tales of love and passion, using the poetry inherent in scent, memory and emotion.

Map of the Heart White Heart v.7 – Fragrance Foundation UK Best Media Campaign – Women.  Photo via Map of the Heart ©

The most recent in the Map of the Heart fragrance series, White Heart v. 7, was awarded the Newcomer of the Year and the Best New Media Campaign  – Women at the 2019 UK Fragrance Foundation Awards in mid May 2019; it charts in scent“…a surreal world where two independent dreams of love collide…”– Jeffery Darling. The dual nature of White Heart is evident from the first breath. Map of the Heart White Heart beats with a bright, ethereal innocence personified in the green purity of French lavender, countered and complimented with the sweetly spiced, slightly medicinal, woody qualities of cardamom. These opposing forces of clean air and nutty spice are melded and lifted by a radiant boost of Adlehydes.

 

Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7 Review

 Gardenia from Gail’s greenhouse with tasty Umeboshi.  Photo by Gail Gross ©

The initial bright, spiced sweetness of White heart v. 7 is overtaken in ten minutes or so by a dark, salted, fruity plum, reminiscent of the flavor, texture and aroma of Japanese pickled Ume fruit.  The richness of Umeboshi is supported and colored by the dry, resinous citrus qualities of frankincense and the warm leather of cistus.  The savory Umeboshi accord contrasts with the creamy carnality of gardenia, creating what Jeffrey Darling describes as “… a sense of love in a blinding white world intersected by a red line of passion”.

best Australian perfumes

 Kwan Yin in Red and White.  Photo by Gail Gross ©

 

Map of the Heart White Heart spares nothing in the dry down. The ethereal opening and pulsating heart are grounded in magical essences of earth.  White Heart v. 7 lingers in the sweet, dark beauty of Natural oud, the smoky leather of Cyprial (AKA Nagarmotha or Nutgrass), the soft woody richness of Copaiba balsam and green rooty vetiver. The heart’s blood, a smoothly metallic Australian sandalwood, continues to pulse for eight hours and more, radiating, to the last, a sensual, fascinating aura of precious woods, white flowers and dark, sweet, salty fruits.

Notes: French lavender, Aldehydes, Indian cardamom, Umeboshi, Somalian frankincense, Spanish cistus, gardenia, natural oud, Cypriol, Haitian vetiver, Copaiba balsam, Australian sandalwood.

Disclaimer:  I would like to thank Map of the Heart for the sample of the beautiful White Heart v. 7.   My opinions are my own.

Gail Gross – Senior Editor

Follow us on Instagram:  @cafleurebon, @mapoftheheart and @azarsmith7 @jacqueshuclier @.

White Heart is currently exclusively available as 90ml Eau de Parfum at Harrods in London,  in the USA through their website  and at stockists everywhere else online.

Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7 - Fragrance Foundation UK New Comer of the Year.

Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7 – Fragrance Foundation UK New Comer of the Year. Photo via Map of the Heart ©

Thanks to the generosity of Sarah Blair and Map of the Heart, we have a 90 ml bottle of Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7 for one registered reader worldwide. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about White Heart based on Gail’s review and where you live.  Draw closes 6/6/2019

We announce the winners only on our website and on our Facebook page, so like Çafleurebon and use our Site feed … or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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58 comments

  • kb1993 says:

    What mostly appeals to me is how the Dry down is described sweet and dark. Sounds right up my alley.

    I am in the USA thank you for the chance.

  • Timea says:

    Wow! That bottle is stunning! And from the base of the review and the notes, the fragrance itself also sounds very nice and interesting. I would very love to win a bottle of this. thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • INYA says:

    A dark, salted, fruity plum? This would be delicious, imho. Please count me in, as I haven’t tried this brand as of yet. Thank you for the opportunity! USA

  • smellslikehappiness says:

    White Heart v. 7 sounds fascinating, a study in contradictions. Ethereal yet deep and rich. Green, light spices and white flowers with smokey cyprial and oud. Thank you for the opportunity to win, live in the US.

  • AlwaysWater says:

    I’m shocked by how many of my favorite things made their way into this perfume. Australian sandalwood, cardamom, frankinsense, Umeboshi, lavender, oud….I haven’t been this excited about a release in a while. Thanks for bringing this brand to my attention! –usa

  • Crisstyyn says:

    OMG, music to the soul. That mix of ingredients: lavender, cardamom, frankincense, Copaiba, sandalwood…they are all fragrances that heal the soul. I would so much love to try them all mixed together in that beautifully described by Gail perfume.
    Best regsrds from UK.

  • Damiana says:

    I am thrilled to hear about the opportunity to win such an inspiring scent. Lavender scents aren’t easy to develop so I am curious about this one. Also, the combination of salty Ume fruit and creamy gardenia on a darker base is intriguing. Thank you for the opportunity. I live in the USA.

  • fazalcheema says:

    The Heartbeat of Scent seems to have quite a classical composition with many notes I enjoy such as cardamom, French lavender and sandalwood. The addition of contrasting notes such as oud and cypriol do make it a struggle to predict the composition and also make it intriguing. I am in US

  • NiceVULady says:

    A salted plum with a carnality of gardenia…..mmmm sounds gorgeous. I like the contrasts and also the sandalwood in the dry down. Anything with frankincense always gets my attention. Thank you for an informative review and a most generous draw. I’m in the USA

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    This sounds… fascinating. I can’t for the life of me imagine how these notes come together. Salty fruits, gardenia… I’m trying to wrap my mind around it. I would love to smell how these notes play together! I’m in the USA. Thank you for the review and draw.

  • bigscoundrel says:

    So glad they are using a note I’ve never experienced before in Umeboshi. I’m in the USA.

  • Caliwas says:

    What an amazing review by Gail and what appeals to me about White Heart from the review is the details of the notes bringing this fragrance to life. Being a Nurse this excites me. I live in CA, USA.

  • tuiu silver says:

    Spicy, bright, salty and fruity that dries down to a sweet, dark woody base is definitely my cup of tea.
    The way Gail described the transition and the notes of lavender, umeboshi, aldehydes and sandalwood made me intrigued to try this beautiful creation.
    I would love to join this draw please, and I’m from US.

  • Robert Quinlan says:

    The review was as fascinating and as multi faceted as the people behind it. What interests me most is how a change from a visual medium translates to the olfactive one and how it can intertwine to create beauty in a form the owners previously weren’t as well versed in.

    It would be interesting to see how it translates.

    From , Ireland. Thanks for the opportunity and the introduction to a new house.

  • marcopietro says:

    This scent with its contrast of brighting lightfull woody notes and dark, sweet salty fruits sounds amazing.
    I’m in EU. Thanks!

  • Cuttyj77 says:

    The bottle is really cool. The scent sounds fantastic. I will be looking into the other bottles as well. Would love to try this one! Thank you for the article, and draw. US.

  • fleurdetilleul says:

    Wow! An awarded fragrance with such notes that seem to dance so beautifully! I wanna try it! I live in EU. Thanks!

  • aurora_ru says:

    Pulsating fragrance, “opposing forces of clean air and nutty spice” that sounds very attracting, also i wander how Umeboshi blends with gardenia. The publicity photos look very inspiring.
    Thank you, I live in the EU.

  • Linda70 says:

    THE HEART CONTAINS MANY MEMORIES AND THIS PERFUME INSPIRES ME WITH THE NOTES OF A JUICY PLUM, A PERFECTLY “FASCINATING” PERFUME. LINDA – EUROPE

  • IvanVelikov says:

    Before sharing my thoughts about White Heart v. 7 , and Gail Gross review , i have to say bottle design is astonishing . One of the best looking bottles i have ever seen.

    Spicy , aromatic , sweet fruity fragrance with lavender , cardamom , fruity plum , frankincense and some leather touches and vetiver at the end . What a stunning creation. I am a sucker for everything plum – i will 100% check White Heart v. 7 .

    Thank A LOT Gail Gross for introducing this fragrances , and house to us … to me at least , and of course Map of Heart for the opportunity .

    USA based , but i’ll be in France for ~2.5 weeks late june

  • Alen says:

    I’ve always wanted to try this house with such a particular bottles. Nice review, i like the notes list for this perfume and i would love to test it. Thanks for the chance, greetings from Europe.

  • redwheelbarrow says:

    Oh that bottle! And I love this description so much “The heart’s blood, a smoothly metallic Australian sandalwood, continues to pulse for eight hours and more, radiating, to the last, a sensual, fascinating aura of precious woods, white flowers and dark, sweet, salty fruits”. This really sounds like a stunner. Thank you for the draw. I am in the US.

  • Bubeto_GG says:

    Nice job Pierre Dinand – nice job. In 2019 fragrance world presentation is important , and no doubt Map of Heart bottles are unique .
    “The initial bright, spiced sweetness of White heart v. 7 is overtaken in ten minutes or so by a dark, salted, fruity plum, reminiscent of the flavor, texture and aroma of Japanese pickled Ume fruit.”
    I’m sold . If White Heart v. 7 on my skin smells like Gail description , and the performance is good-i’ll get it. Performance is important to me , if i have to pay niche prices.
    Thanks for the generosity .
    Back and forth between USA and Scotland. 1 week in USA -> 1 week in Scotland , and so on.Basically both USA and EU/UK at the same time.

  • Vahagn says:

    “What a interesting review! Thanks!
    I didn’t expect that named “white” or white bottle has so “strong” aroma- oud, frankincense, balsam, sandalwood !!! If true, I thought it would be about white flowers as usually.
    US

  • Uncle1979 says:

    Just like some other subscribers mentioned heart shaped bottle is unique , and
    good looking at the same time. I do like good looking bottles , BUT what’s inside is way more important to me. As we all know there are a lot of fragrance brands with unique bottles and high prices, but cheap synthetic smells.
    Pretty sure White Heart v. 7 will deliver – Gail Gross review is top notch. Plum is great-for cooking, and as a fragrance note. As a Pastry Chef I use plums every day, and also love plum fragrances. 8 hours and more of longevity? Count me in.
    Where can I buy samples of Map of Heart fragrances? If someone from Map of Heart is reading this please reply.
    Appreciate the giveaway campaign
    USA

  • WaltherP99 says:

    A few days ago i saw a review of White Heart v. 7 on a UK based blog , and the author not only said it really good ,it lasts , but also compared it to Plum Japonais by Tom Ford. He said they are in the same vein . I am a fragrance lover , frag-head … call it what you want for ~25 years , and i have to say Plum Japonais is my favorite fragrance ever.
    Judjing by Gail Gross review i have to say do have a lot in common , but at the same time i see a lot of differences. Twins ? NO , Brothers – not really , but cousins – that’s what i expect.
    I’ll be in London nex week so , Harrods … i’m comming to smell White Heart v. 7 .
    Great draw – thank you.
    Virginia USA , or London UK … at least 97/100 times.

  • riddlemo says:

    Most captivating about this fragrance to me is the bottle design. Having fallen in love with the fragrance world, bottle designs have become almost as important to me as the fragrance itself. Add to that that the juice concoction sounds irresistible also, and its a must-have. (FL, USA)

  • Zibbyz says:

    I love lavender, cardamom, and sandalwood, so I would love to try this. I like the idea of a certain note that ties all scents together from one house, and it would be interesting to sniff how they have accomplished this. Lovely review, I like how Gail tied the sandalwood note to blood type. Thx for the draw and the lovely review! I’m in the us

  • greenhill says:

    The review told a lovely story of the ethereal opening, plum middle note, and the dark woody drydown. I would be very grateful to get to try it! I live in the Usa

  • Annatar says:

    Beautiful review, Gail. I love a rich plum on a woody base in a perfume, White Heart v. 7 seems like my cup of tea.
    Thank you for the draw! I live in Russia

  • newyork318 says:

    This sounds like an incredibly complex and thoughtful fragrance. With so many notes, it’s hard to imagine what it actually smells like just from reading, but I’m very anxious to experience the whole. I haven’t yet tried any from this line, but sounds like a very interesting concept. US.

  • Dosva says:

    So gorgeous bottle, as other bottles from this brand. And amazing review- Thanks! Mostly liked this simple but very informative sentence: “The ethereal opening and pulsating heart are grounded in magical essences of earth”.
    Natural oud, gardenia, vetiver, spice- sound very rich perfume.
    From Armenia

  • Barber82 says:

    Wow
    I have never seen a bottom like this one. Bold choice to use it. I feel like the shape almost demands a smell that will make me say ” Wow” again .
    To me plum is one of the best notes in perfumery.
    Gail description reminds me a lot to the homemade plum jam my grandma is making each year , with whole plums – sweet , sour , with cardamom , and a small pinch of salt.
    Thanks for the review that reminded me of my grandma jam.
    I hope with this great review some fragrance boutique in USA will start selling Map of the Heart here.
    USA

  • Sngash says:

    Thank you Gail for the detailed, vivid review and the chance for the giveaway. The beautiful white heart shaped bottle and the entire fragrance review invoke imagery of a lovely heart beating with passion and ready for love. I’m in TX USA

  • Diana D says:

    That has got to be the strangest bottle I’ve ever seen. While it’s a little off putting, the notes sound beautiful. That drydown of oud, smoky leather and vetiver sounds gorgeous.
    I live in the US.

  • Salem says:

    Would love to win this. The “ethereal opening and pulsating heart are grounded in magical essences of earth” part triggered my interest. Sounds like a soothing, spiritual fragrance to me. Beautiful review! I’m from EU, Romania.

  • JozefJak says:

    On first place, I always was amazed by the concept of this house and the incredible bottles design. I’ve never try the scents from this house, but after the review I expect that they will be also extraordinary and extravagant. The list of notes for this one is incredibly reach, I’m dying to try the smell of this. Thank you for the draw, I live in Poland.

  • DulciusExAsperis says:

    Wow, this sounds stunning. I love cardamom in fragrances and married with lavender and woods I think it would be divine. I live in the USA.

  • zimmerj6 says:

    Aside from the wild bottle, I think the notes gardenia with the resins (especially Frankincense). I love the smell of natural gardenia flowers. I also like that there is a thread that runs through all of the fragrances in the heart series. I’m in the USA.

  • wildevoodoo says:

    This contains so many of my favorite perfume elements! Lavender, cardamom, vetiver, Copaiba/Copahu balm, and cypriol are all on my loves list. The ethereal, clean, innocent opening transitioning to the woodsy-sweet, smoky, leathery drydown sounds incredibly appealing, and I love umeboshi but I’ve never seen them used as a perfume ingredient, so now I’m curious to see the results of that as well! This sounds like a fantastic and unique fragrance. I would love to get the chance to try it! I am in the US 🙂

  • Gig84 says:

    I know we’re not supposed to comment other subscribers posts , but I have to say @WaltherP99 post intrigues me a lot. I am Plum Japonais fan too.
    Not every plum fragrance is good of course, but if it’s done the right way the smell is special. Plum Japonais , long gone Andy Warhol Bond N9 , Chambre Noir Olfactive Studio , Boxeuses Serge Lutens , Ume Keiko Marcheri and Floriental Comme des Garçons are my favorite plum fragrances. I need to check each and every plum fragrance out there, and get it if I like it. Obsessed with plum? Yes guilty as charge.
    Thanks to Gail Gross review , and @WaltherP99 post my hands are sweaty for White Heart v.7 .
    Top opportunity thank you all.
    USA most of the year, and Germany from time to time

  • Onyinye says:

    First of all, the bottle is gorgeous. I love that it lasts for at least 8 hours. All the notes sound wonderful too.
    I live in USA.

  • Vlach says:

    Metallic sandalwood as its blood, that’s all I need to know in order to be very interested in this fragrance! Thanks for the draw!

    Living in Germany, EU

  • mmkpa says:

    The bottles are beautiful. I have an abiding love for cardamom, the notes in this perfume sound fascinating – I don’t think I have ever smelled Umeboshi. I am in the USA, thank you for another amazing giveaway opportunity.

  • samppahoo says:

    The combination of oud, balsams, sandalwood and vetiver sounds beautiful. Must be a glorious perfume and I’d love the chance to sample it. I’m from the EU, thank you!

  • Dorian Fischer says:

    The bottle design is really beautiful. The dark drydown sounds really interesting and I would love to win a full bottle 🙂 Thanks for introducing me to this house and for the giveaway. Greetings from Austria

  • Marvalicious says:

    This sounds like a winner to me. The way this fragrance has a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde vibe to it sounds amazing. I’d love to win this fragrance. I live in the USA

  • Hasib says:

    Nice looking bottle and sounds like a nice fragrance. A sweet dark. First time hearing of this House as well. Thanks for the draw, US

  • Michael Prince says:

    Gail, great review of Map of the Heart White Heart v. 7. The opening of lavender and cardamom with the sweet touch of plum transitioning to oud, leather, vetiver, and eventually creamy sandalwood…what is not to like. I am from the USA.

  • brindusa says:

    The bottle is jewelry. The scent, as it is described is a savory temptation. Gail argued so well, she added an inspiring picture. What to say more? Thanks for the opportunity. I am from EU

  • susie q says:

    Thanks Gail for the review and Sarah For the lovely bottle! What’s not to want French Lavender gardenia Ume which I Love cardamom frankincense copaiba balsam Australian sandalwood it sounds gorge I’m hoping to try it I’ve been scoping those bottles for awhile now. USA

  • sowa says:

    I like the quote at the beginning. Indeed „True navigation begins in the human heart.” „Love and do what you will” as St. Augustin said, because when you truly love you can not go wrong. For me Map of the Heart is an interesting way of speaking of different kinds of love and reaching heart without using rose as a main component. Instead we have sandalwood connecting all the fragrances. One of my favorite notes. Spiritual and soothing. I can easily believe that White Heart radiates a sensual and fascinating aura. I know Black Heart from the brand and it is one of the most exceptional perfumes. Would love to know the rest, especially Purple Heart and of course would love to win White Heart. I love, oops, I live in the EU.

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I was able to try the scents from this house recently and really enjoyed them all. They are so unique. I didn’t get to try this one but, the description of a dark, salty plum note intrigues me! I would love to try this one. I’m in the US.

  • LORI LAWS says:

    Excellent review by Gail! Sounds like an amazing fragrance. I love the dry down being dark and sweet. My favorite line: “A salted plum with a carnality of gardenia” and I want a vat of it. Thanks for this generous draw and I live in the US! 🙂