Parfums Quartana Ierofante bottle, courtesy of the brand
Joseph Quartana’s latest perfume Parfums Quartana Ierofante is the beginning of a new era in his creative path, one exploring the magic of healing and positive energy. Our first glimpse into this new trajectory conjures visionary elements of ancient Greek rituals and early space exploration. Joseph describes Ierofante as “a glimpse of that special golden place that exists inside each of us, where we originally come from and the source of all life on Earth. Only, to keep it modern, we go there on a rocket ship.”
Hierophant tarot card, wiki
Pafums Quartana Ierofante is a name of depth and mystery that can guide us to the headspace of this fascinating fragrance. The Ierofante or “Hierophant” is a figure in the tarot deck. It is often interpreted as an embodiment of immortality, taking the form of a teacher or guide. The Hierophant (Ierofante in Italian) is a symbol for finding one’s way during challenging times and has associations of ascension to something greater. In the world of ancient Greece, the Hierophant was one of the elect members of a sacred priesthood who was able to officiate during the annual Eleusinian mysteries, secretive rituals conducted by the cults of Demeter and Persephone celebrating the return of life and springtime. The feel of this fragrance is indeed a powerful force of energy, motion, and celebration.
Joseph Quartana and Luca Maffei
What, in our modern world, can convey the awe, power, hope, and renewal. For many, including my family, that great mystery is outer space. My grandfather was the lead electrical and mechanical engineer on all the Mercury launches. The rockets did not go until he signed off on them. He also worked all the Gemini launches from the NASA control room. While our family has a special relationship, all of humanity can understand this deep connection to man’s reach for the stars. We all share in the wonder, the excitement, and the energy involved. Perfumer Luca Maffei has created a unique jet-fuel accord. Ierofante opens with a vaporous upward lift sufficiently vigorous to open one’s sinuses in a blast of heliotrope-edged jet fuel. Industrial suede smoke rolls out after takeoff. The sweet burn of ignition is cleverly attained through a deft touch of flinty nutmeg over the jet-fuel and suede accelerants.
Photo of James Irwin on the moon Apollo 15 via NASA
Parfums Quartana Ierofante is one of those rare fragrances that stimulates both the mind and the senses. It is intellectually exciting and full of visceral pleasures. After the raw power of the opening, fruity-resinous styrax pyrogene merges with a full-toned leather accord. Styrax pyrogen has a uniquely smoky aspect that adds to the normally balsamically sweet material. At this point in the journey Ierofante turns knowing and sensuous. We are softening down, relaxing, and taking in the full beauty of the mysteries of life. In a brilliant and innovative move, the structure of Parfums Quartana Ierofante flips our expectations. The fragrance becomes lighter as it dries down. Base notes of Haitian vetiver, smooth cashmeran, and gauzy amber leave us floating in zero gravity. On my skin, the scent has become gentle, intimate, and inviting. What a journey! From a daring lift of jet-fuel to the gentle rocking of the cosmos, the journey seems to arrive at a wisdom found by those lucky few who have actually been outside our world. After seeing Earth from space, Astronaut James Irwin of the Apollo 15 Program commented: That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man”.
Notes: Suede, Gasoline Accord, Nutmeg, Styrax Pyrogene, Smoky Leather, Golden Amber, Cashmeran, Vetiver
Bottle my own, opinions my own.
~ Rachel K. Ng, Contributor
Parfums Quartana Ierofante courtesy of the brand
Thanks to the generosity of Joseph Quartana we have a 50 ml bottle of Parfums Quartana Ierofante for a registered ÇaFleureBon reader in the USA ONLY, (if you are not sure if you are registered click here – you must register on our site or your entry will be invalid).To be eligible please leave a comment with what you thought of Ierofante. Draw Closes 4/18/2023
Editor’s Note: Parfums Quartana Ierofante is a 2023 Art & Olfaction Awards Finalist in the Independent Category
Former Deputy Editor Mark Behnke’s interview with Joseph Quartana in our Behind the Bottle series here.
Check out former contributors The Silver Fox and Pam Barr as they review Les Potions Fatales line here and here.
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