Spice and Wood was created by Olivier Creed and as his inspiration he took the romance of Antony and Cleopatra. M. Creed chose to pair notes from Italy and Egypt in each phase of Spice and Wood to create an olfactory marriage of the historical lovers’ countries of origin. I’m not sure how much it really represents the masculine and feminine ideal in the end but the one thing it does do is live up to its name, Spice and Wood.
As I enter the latter days of 2010 I begin to consider which perfumers have produced a body of work which will have me consider them for my perfumer of the year. With Coup de Foudre, Bang and now Panache I can tell you Yann Vasnier will be on my short list as I consider who will receive that accolade. M. Vasnier has fashioned his own panache quite brilliantly.
The House of Madini , based in Tangiers, has been in existence for 14 generations
[or 400 years, according to the Talisman website]; Suleiman Madini is the current head of operations.
I’ve collected many of their fragrant concoctions over the years. A prime example of bang for buck is Mokhalate Malaki- loosely translated as ‘blend for the well-born’.
The most recent release No. 12 Eau D’Epices has been a “work in progress” which has been finally released as a finished fragrance. I didn’t have the opportunity to try Eau D’Epices in its different embryonic stages and as such have only become acquainted with it in its mature form. That mature form seems to have taken some themes from an earlier Tauer Perfumes release of 2010, Orange Star, and added some more depth to them making Eau D’Epices a more complete fragrance than Orange Star was for me.
Seven is a lucky number.
At least, I think it is.
And Midnight Shadows is the seventh scent in Neil’s Midnight series, already comprising Midnight Flower, Midnight Forest, Midnight Moon, Midnight Sea, Midnight Star, and Midnight Tryst.
Many midnights!
What better, as we approach a Full Moon- and a blue moon, as well-
To introduce a new, deliciously dark fragrance to wear while howling at the moon???
