Vanilla Seller in Madagascar (photo by National Geographic©)

"The first Eau de Parfum of The Different Company's Esprit Cologne Collection,"Majaïna Sin" underlines the transgressive aspect of the perfume, reminiscent of the vanilla plants in Madagascar.  "Aïna" means "life" in Malagasy, and the color reminds us of the color of amber rums, and unveils its addictive facet. The vanilla base notes take us on an exotic trip to the heart of this mysterious island.” –The Different Company

image via alphacoders.com©

Inspired by the extraordinary natural ingredients of Madagascar, which is located off the southeastern coast of the African continent,the fourth largest Island on Earth, and home to plant and animal species (including the iconic Baobab tree), 90% of which are found nowhere else on the planet. Madagascar is also home to some of the finest vanilla and ginger available for both culinary and olfactive use, and these ingredients factor heavily and beautifully in  Majaïna Sin.

The Different Company Luc Gabriel and founder Jean-Claude Ellena

I am a huge fan of The Different Company. Founded in 2000 by Jean Claude Ellena and Thierry de Baschmakoff, with Luc Gabriel, the company's creative director and owner, joining them in 2004 (right before M. Ellena moved to Hermes). Their mission from the onset was to work in collaboration with renowned perfumers (Jean-Claude Ellena, Celine Ellena, Bertrand Duchaufour, Christine Nagel, Alexandra Monet and Émilie Copperman)  to “bring back true contemporary luxury and emotions in the fragrance world, with a twist, an angle, a different perspective for every scent we dare to bring out in the open.” It is no surprise that they continue to succeed seventeen years later. The Different Company creates perfumes that delight, engage, and push boundaries. I love their aesthetic, their manifesto on the art of perfumery, and eagerly anticipate each new release.

Perfumer Émilie Copperman in Madagscar working with growers and producers via TDC

With Majaïna Sin, perfumer Émilie Copperman journeyed into the heart of Madagascar to work with growers and producers of the very best vanilla she could procure to create an unforgettable oriental gourmand perfume.

Carolyn Murphy by Alexi Lubomirski for Vogue Germany June 2012©

Opening with pithy and juicy blasts of orange bigarde citrus, Majaïna wastes no time at all introducing the vanilla gold extract from Madagascar, a spicy herbal, and complex vanilla which glimmers with facets of chocolate and musk. The ginger note is the uplifting sting of a ginger-root being freshly grated, at once sharp and astringent and sinus-clearing and sweet/spicy like the ginger hard candies from the Chinese grocer. The amber and sandalwood create a velvet cushion for the other notes to rest upon and take their ease. The florals peek through, the chestnut and cinnamon vie for attention, but the story here is all about the extraordinary vanilla shining through, slightly dusty and adding to the overall feeling of a very grown-up gourmand. Leave the pink and spun sugar-sweet fragrances to the babysitters and the kids, Majaïna Sin will be out with the adults having cocktails, attending a cutting-edge art installation, or just creating a scene by being seen. Notes: Orange Bigarade, Bergamot, Neroli, Orange Blossom, Ginger from Madagascar, Orchid, Heliotrope, Chestnut Cream, Cinnamon from Madagascar, Tonka bean from Guatemala, Amber, Sandal Album (Indian Sandalwood), Vanilla Gold Extract from Madagascar.

Disclosure: Thank you very much to The Different Company for supplying my sample. The opinions are my own.

–Robert Herrmann, Senior Editor

-Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Thanks to The Different Company, we have a  100 ml bottle of Majaïna Sin for one registered  reader in the EU, USA or Canada so be sure to register if you have not done so. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Robert’s review of Majaïna Sin, where you live and your favorite The Different Company perfume. Draw closes on 10/5/2017

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