Senyokô Duo des Fleurs illustration
“Under the dense canopy where the white jasmine blends with the red rose…Escape with me tonight, I hear Sarasvati calling us from afar!” ~ Senyoko website
Senyokô Duo des Fleurs via Senyoko
Poetic license may be summoned when artistic vision warrants it. Such is the case with one of the most stunning perfumes I’ve been privileged to smell this year, Senyokô Duo des Fleurs – inspired by the famous Flower Duet from Léo Delibes’ opera Lakmé. The original tale was based upon a story by French adventurer and author Pierre Loti, who brought back fascinating tales from his Oriental travels.
Lakmé poster via Bibliothèque Nationale de France
The story of Lakmé involves star-crossed lovers: Gerald, a British officer stationed in India during the tenure of The Raj – and Lakmé, the daughter of a Brahmin priest who protests the British injunction against practicing Hinduism. In Delibes’ opera all ends tragically, with beautiful Lakmé taking her own life by chewing a poisonous datura leaf and dying in the arms of her faithful lover; in the Senyokô version she and Gerald flee successfully, full of hope, embarking upon a new life together.
via Senyokô
I was curious about this plot twist and was told that all the endings of the Senyokô perfumed tales have been revised to end joyfully, with reference to “the vicissitudes or texture of life” – symbolized by the caps (resembling torn paper) which adorn their flacons. One never knows where their path will lead…
Scottish Perfumer Euan McCall by The Silver Fox©
Scottish perfumer Euan McCall of Jorum Laboratories was Senyokô’s nose of choice for these brilliant fragrances which were recently reviewed by well-loved essayist and photographer Alex Musgrave aka The Silver Fox. Euan’s touch is sure and nuanced: the entire collection fascinates. Some perfumes push boundaries with bravado (La Tsarine) while others are liltingly melodic (Art and Olfaction 2019 finalist Migration de L’Arbre).
Aiyshwarya Rai Times of India
Senyokô Duo des Fleurs treads the aromatic tightrope tenderly between these factions which needn’t be at odds with one another. In the context of marrying Franco-Japanese aesthetics and a necessary delicacy, Euan has created an operatic perfume which feels authentically Indian sans oud or patchouli.
Norman Edwards design for Maria Noelte as Lakme©
Profusion is the order of the day. We are bathed in blossoms much as Lakmé and her companion Mallika intend as the opera commences and they gather flowers by the riverbank. Lakmé and Mallika sing of the heady aroma of jasmines and rose (No blue lotuses here as in the duet; they cost a small fortune), of floating downstream amidst the current. Their impassioned lyricism is reflected in the deluge of indolent, indolic florals – native Indian jasmine sambac with its playful fruity muskiness; jasmine flexile, aka ‘Taruni’ – known for its radiant spice notes; rose de mai, so profoundly honeyed and velvety.
Aiyshwarya Rai in “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ Utsavpedia
These sumptuous materials converge with the deadly datura (aka Angel’s Trumpet aka Devil’s Weed), imbued with a narcotically sweet aroma – and the boozy dried-fruitiness of davana which is intoxicating on its own terms. What cushion could be more fitting than Mysore sandalwood, the Golden Standard? Further echoed by a mitti attar accord, the evocation of parched earth distilled in sandalwood which heralds the first rains? I think it’s ingenious that every single component might be found on native soil. The innate originality of Duo des Fleurs is readily apparent as it flows from ebulliently flowery, moist, tropical – to serenely dusky, earthy but not earthbound. Euan McCall transports us from flowered fanfare to the lovers’ murmured vows, sotto voce on ever-present wings.
Notes: rose de mai, jasmin sambac absolue, davana, datura leaf, rose otto, jasmin flexile, rose petals, jasmine buds, Mysore sandalwood, musk, mitti attar
Many thanks to for my marvelous bottle, which I treasure! My nose is my own…
~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor and Natural Perfumery Editor
Ida’s bottle of Senyokô Duo des Fleurs
Thanks to the generosity of Senyokô, we have a 50 ml tester of Senyokô Duo des Fleurs for one registered reader in the USA or EU. You must register here or your comment will not count. To be eligible, please comment upon what appealed to you in Ida’s review of Duo des Fleurs and where you live. Draw closes November 2, 2019
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