The Tower of Babel and the esperanto spirit Jeroboam Miksado bottle – painting by Gianni Dagli Orti (©DeA) and picture ©Jovoy Paris, all edited by Emmanuelle Varron.
Jovoy Paris fans know the brand’s collection of perfumes, each more surprising than the next. And, you have read many reviews of the eponymous legacy brand on these pages, but you might not know the backstory of Jeroboam, Jovoy Paris’ second wholly owned collection. All perfumes are Extraits and use musk as a common ingredient. Jeroboam’s flacon is a nod to the 3-liter spirits (usually wine or champagne) bottle. Jerobaum’s tag line perfume for urban nomads. All 11 fragrances were given Esperanto names (Esperanto being an international language created in 1887), symbolizing the universality of perfume. Vanina Muracciole has signed all of all Jeroboam’s perfumes.
François Hénin showing to Editor-in-Chief Michelyn Camen a protoype of the flacon at Esxence 2015 – pictures ©ÇaFleureBon
At Esxence 2015, our Editor-in-Chief was snooping around and saw a bottle she didn’t recognize at the Jovoy booth. That is when François Hénin the founder and creative director of Jovoy Paris disclosed he was set to launch a new brand named Jeroboam. As summer vacations end in France, I thought Jeroboam Miksado would be a perfect perfume for this transitional time of the year. Miksado is inspired by the Esperanto word “Miks”, which means “the mixture.” A well-chosen name when you read the composition of this fragrance, which includes fresh, spicy, leathery, amber, woody and gourmand notes. Jeroboam Miksado is a cocktail of intense raw materials which immediately sets the tone; this perfume is intense and animalic. On my skin, the opening plays between the freshness of bergamot and the warm and leathery aspect of saffron. A surprising hot-cold sensation, is evoked by cedarwood and guaiac woody notes which add more depth to the “Hot/Cold” duality.
Jovoy Paris boutique 4 Rue de Castiglione ©Emmanuelle Varron
Upon first spray of Jeroboam Miksado I imagine a tête-à-tête with a American man I had never spoken to, although we rubbed shoulders several times at parties and passed each other on the Rue de Castiglione. Tonight is the last evening before he leaves my beloved City of Lights. Finally he speaks to me alone and he simply asked me one thing: “Don’t wear perfume tonight, I want to share something special with you”.
The English Patient 1996 ©screen shot apped with Miksado ©Emmanuelle
9 PM: time for scented seduction. Emanating from his unbuttoned white linen shirt I smell him although we are socially distancing. He shows me the bottle of Jeroboam Miksado: “I had this fragrance with me the whole time I was here. But it was tonight that I wanted to wear it. Give it a try“. He’s the one who delicately sprays the Extrait de Parfum on me. He chooses the base of my neck, the one called “the neck of K” in Anthony Minghella The English Patient. I immediately identify the same notes perceived from his skin. Here we are, linked by scents. I close my eyes and let myself be carried away by this spicy wave of absolute delight. Jeroboam Miksado also unveils the balmy side of labdanum on my skin, which pairs wonderfully with saffron leathery note. “Let me smell you, now” he asks. He comes closer to my neck. Our skins do not touch but the fragrance that intermingles intensifies our bond. “How beautiful it is on you! Even warmer than on my skin … I feel like we are hidden in a souk, surrounded by a thousand magical scents. And this hint of patchouli gives it even more body and sensuality”.
It is my turn to lean on his neck. Miksado ‘ musky spicy aroma mixes with his skin’s musk, leaving a trail of animalic sensuality .
But who brushed the other’s skin first?
It’s the early morning, and he’s gone. I can still smell Jeroboam Miksado on my arm. The spicy and woody notes have been grown softer during the night and changes. The leathery aspects of the scent now has a gourmand facet that I had not perceived the day before. Patchouli and vanilla add as a resinous sweetness in contrast to the the stormy opening I experienced with my beautiful stranger the day before. What a summer night …
Notes: bergamot, labdanum, saffron, cedar, guaiac wood, geranium, musk, patchouli, vanilla.
Disclaimer: A huge “merci” to Jovoy Paris for the Jeroboam Miksado bottle provided for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Emmanuelle Varron, Senior contributor
Jeroboam Miksado at Jovoy Paris -Picture ©Emmanuelle
Thanks to François Henin founder, owner and artistic director, we have a 30 ml Extrait de parfum bottle of Miksado for one registered reader in the EU, UK, USA and UAE. To be eligible, please leave a comment on what you enjoyed about Emmanuelle’s review of Jeroboam Miksado, where you live and what note in perfumery you consider the most sensual. Draw closes 08/26/2021.
Available on Jovoy’s website (shipping in Europe, UK and USA) and stockists worldwide.
Please read Nicoleta’s review of Boha, Dana’s review of Ligno and Michelyn’s review of Gozo.
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