On Friday October October 29, aboard the Orient Express, Linda Pilkington, founder and creative director of Ormonde Jayne launched “The Four Corners of the Earth”, a quartet of perfumes which pays homage to the different parts of the world that have inspired her and acknowledge the rich diversity of Linda's hometown, London. (Perfumer Geza Schoen is the perfumer for all Ormonde Jayne fragrances and has known Linda for twelve years and has collaborated with her on this and all of Ormonde Jayne’s fragrances). This is the first new perfume release from the company since Tiare in 2009.
‘At last I have fulfilled my lifetime’s dream – I have brought together some of the world’s rarest and most elusive scents: from the deserts of The East, the jungles of Latin America, the ancient walled cities of China and from Russia of the Romanov Tsars’.
MONTABACO
‘Montabaco is a perfume to capture the essence of Latin America: leather, suede, wood and tobacco leaf repeated over and over again creating a suggestive sensuality and Latino temperament. It sits above the rich floral presence of magnolia, jasmine and rose. It is all unashamedly seductive yet profoundly simpatico'.
top: air note, orange absolute, bergamot, juniper, clary sage, cardamom.
heart: magnolia, hedione, rose, violet, tea notes.
base: tobacco leaf, iso e, suede, sandalwood, moss, tonka, ambergris.
100ml/£260.00
NAWAB OF OUDH
‘Nawab (Ruler) of Oudh is a province of central India. The perfume is inspired by the Nawabs who once ruled over it. It is a potent blend of amber and rose with a soft oudh edge. Yet surprisingly not one ingredient stands out from the others. It achieves a perfume synergy that defies traditional analysis, releasing a pulsating pungency, brooding and hauntingly beautiful, a rich tapestry of fascinating depths, a jewelled veil to conceal its emotional complexity and extravagance’
top: green notes, bergamot, orange abs, cardamom, aldehyde.
heart: rose, magnolia, orchid, pimento, bay, cinnamon, hedione.
base: ambergris, musk, vetiver, labdanum, oudh.
100ml/£332.00
TSARINA
‘Tsarina captures opulence and passion. It demands fur, leather, brocade, heavy silks in sweeping dresses and fabulous jewels to go with her haughty heritage. To call it a floral oriental is to misunderstand its rich complexity, it is more baroque. The perfume is profound, blending leather notes, rich Madagascan vanilla, amber and orris butter.’ This is a powerhouse perfume, ravishing and regal, distinctive and synonymous with the glamorous world of luxe’
top: mandarine, bergamot, coriander, cassis
heart: hedione, freesia, jasmine, sambac, iris, suede.
base: sandalwood, cedar, vanilla bean base, labdanum, musk.
100ML/ £280.00
QI
‘Qi (pronounced “key” or “chi”) means Breath of Life. It’s an ancient word that permeates the Chinese language and everyday life. This perfume is inspired by the Chinese people’s love for the lightest and most delicate scents. Qi is constructed to make no great statement thus offending no-one, it does not tear down any great walls but is rather something more spectacular, like an amazing dawn, a softly-scented fragile breeze, Qi is an honest, open and natural perfume, it makes its mark for those who don’t want to be too obvious but may feel unfinished without it.’
top: green lemon blossom, neroli, freesia.
heart: tea notes, osmanthus, violet, hedione, rose.
base: mate, benzoin, musk, moss, myrrh
100ml/£260.00
The collection are EDPs and will be available on www.ormondejayne.com and at all (alas) London stockists.
Via official press release
–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
I received this during Hurricane Sandy on October 29 and it was kindly resent by the company this morning. Which do you think will be your favorite?