Julia Zangrilli

Julia Zangrilli founded NOVA in 2012, and has been creating custom fragrances for the hipster niche-set steadily, so I was excited to hear about her first retail debut CHAKRA, and I wondered how her talent for working one on one would translate on a larger scale.

The High Priestess from the Wild Unknown Tarot Deck

For me finding out the back-story of a fragrance is just as captivating as the fragrance itself, so I felt lucky to meet Julia in her studio a few weeks ago, where she introduced me to CHAKRA. I asked Julia if CHAKRA was inspired by one of the seven body chakras, she told me that it shouldn’t be taken literally. Rather her description for CHAKRA was a kind of an eclectic visual storyboard. She wanted CHAKRA to tap the many sides of feminine energy. When she visualized the fragrance, she saw deep dark earthy soil with red rubies radiating from its center that lit up the night. She also spoke of the High Priestess card in her Wild Unknown Tarot Deck and how the card’s attributes lean toward the dark feminine, and inner mystery and strength.

Bulgarian Rose

What hit me most about the fragrance was the big gorgeous Rose in the heart of this fragrance. The top notes are experienced as aromatic, green, and fresh. Julia mentioned Bergamot too. It is the Rose that holds my attention though, namely Moroccan and Bulgarian Rose. It is velvety, round, full, and bold. There is also tobacco flower in the heart that smells a little like jasmine, and seems to make the rose almost hypnotic and smoky. CHAKRA is the kind of fragrance that keeps me guessing, because of its nuance. At first I didn’t catch its complexity because I was enthralled with its Rose, but soon I began to discover its sharp leathery undertones that seem to pull and elongate the fragrance, and work closely with its other base notes of cedar, sandalwood, and musk.

Photo Credit: FAREWELL

Julia somehow wanted to translate a bit of spiritual and mystical notes into the fragrance, and for me she achieved this with the base accord, it adds a dimension of dreaminess that resonates like a never-ending ohmmmmmmmmm. CHAKRA is a thoroughly modern take on a leather chypre, centered on a lush earthy rose. Once CHAKRA settles on my skin, my intuition tells me it wants to be worn in the evening, where mystery lives and stars light up the night.

Thanks to Julia Zangrilli and NOVA we have a draw for a 2mL sample of CHAKRA. This is a worldwide draw. To be eligible leave a comment on where you find your inner mystery. The draw ends July 30, 2013.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

–Valerie Vitale, Contributing Editor

Editor’s Note: If you want to learn more about Julia Zangrilli head over to Valerie’s solo blog Soliflore Notes for her Q&A with Ms. Zangrilli.