INITIO Parfums Privés Blessed Baraka by Olya Bar
We have seen many vanilla-focused perfumes arrive on the market. Why is it always popular? Vanilla is 90’s nostalgia bottled up, for many of us at least. If you grew up during the days of Body Shop and Bath & Body Works, you must remember smelling the sweet whiff of comfort from every aisle. This glorious ingredient’s revival waltzed into the niche world a few decades ago. It flirted with our senses, reminded us of all our good times, and slowly but surely seduced us into its submission once again.
Alberto Morillas, courtesy of the Perfumer
INITIO Parfums Privés Blessed Baraka is part of the Absolutes collection, which celebrates the rediscovered grandeur of the world of scent, restoring all its significance and elevating it towards the sublime absolutes call upon a selection of mystical, narcotic substances. The fragrance pays homage to the soothing ingredient we associate with baking and comfort, but it explores a a very different facet of vanilla, quite a risqué one. In my book, Master Perfumer, Alberto Morillas can do no wrong; I haven’t tried a perfume created by him I did not like. The master perfumer has impeccable style, from his fashion sense to his stunning work for various fragrance houses and his INITIO Parfums Privés Blessed Baraka composed in 2015 is no different.
Affogato via Unsplash
So what does it smell like? The carnal opening of INITIO Parfums Privés Blessed Baraka is all white florals with a fragrance so potent; you can almost taste them oozing with sensual nectar. Next comes a sensual caress of sandalwood, gently wrapping itself around your skin with its slightly peppery and sophisticated scent. Finally, the vanilla steps out of the shadow to play, and it’s the most decadent, rich, and delectable kind you can get. It’s boozy and smoky, with a touch of dark roasted coffee. It’s a ghost accord and isn’t listed anywhere, but it turns the whole composition into a vanilla affogato for me. I love a slight touch of cocoa powder on top, rounding up this blend effortlessly. I feel its warmth slowly seeping deep into my skin.
Finally, there is a backbone of amber and musk, with a dash of something quite naughty. Is it a need or just pure desire? Is this a fleeting moment of weakness, a nostalgia we will grow out of once again, or is this craving something primal within us that keeps us wanting more? Time will tell, for now we can keep indulging without any remorse.
INITIO Parfums Privés Blessed Baraka by Olya
Trends will inevitably come and go, just like in any industry. Still, I foresee the love for vanilla going nowhere soon as it’s rooted deep in our psyche and closely tied to our instinct of sugar consumption necessary for our survival. So argue or not but evolution has written this chapter for centuries to come, and I am not fighting the instinctual craving for one of the most delicious ingredients on earth. Long live Vanilla!
The bottle was kindly gifted to me but opinions are always my own.
Notes: White Flowers, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Amber, Musk
–Olya Bar, Editor.
INITIO Parfums Prives via the brand
Thanks to the generosity of Fine Fragrances, the US distributor, we have a draw for a 90ml bottle of Initio Parfums Privés Blessed Baraka from the Absolutes collection for one registered CaFleureBon reader in the USA ONLY. To be eligible, YOU MUST REGISTER and leave a comment on this site, with what you enjoyed about Olya’s review. Draw closes 04/28/2023 but will be announced within 2 weeks after.
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Enjoy Olya’s review INITIO Parfums Prives Addictive Vibration
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Watch Steven’s Review of INITIO Parfums Side Effect and the 3 You Should be Wearing
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