fir thing or: X-mas ghosts
I am still considering the critic I got for my Lavender; I posted about it last week and here is the second part of this critic:” My very first impression (to which Roudnitska attached so much importance) was that I wasn’t going to like it much. That is because it has that apple-strudel quality which you find in so many oriental mens fragrances, which I do not happen to care for. That is me of course, and probably means it would find favour with others since this type of note is so well accepted. I think of it as apple strudel, it is that spicy-cinnamon effect.”
I think I know exactly what my critic meant when he wrote Apple-Strudel Quality and it is one aspect that I am not entirely happy with, too.
Thus, I am thinking about making a line in the lavender theme less strudel-like and instead bringing out more of a already exisiting fir line. Now: Fir or spruce is a tricky scent as there are too many car freshener, bathroom sprays and X-mas-in-a-second-sprays that contain a fir or spruce like scent. What a pity: Fir as scent is over-used, I guess.
I already employed a touch of fir cone essential oil in my lavender fragrance but want more; more also of a resinous, and green fir, that does not sound like x-mas. There is such a thing, called fir balsam, which is I get as absolute from Eden Botanicals, and it is of a wonderful green, balsamic spicy, slightly sweet quality, with a deep brown resinous undertone. It is from Canada, and hopefully this northern twist will allow me to close the gap, one of the last remaining gaps I hope…..
Pix: fir resin somewhere in the Swiss mountains.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:20 am
I see lavender with that “melting in the sun”, only slightly sweet resins….and- don´t know why- some camomile. I´m looking forward your lavender, it seems to be a tough nut to crack!
October 17th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
That is a challenge.
Certain notes evoke stereotypical associations, which often are cultural…
My favorite illustration is the American partiality to wintergreen in chewing gum and candy- a note that the French find incomprehensible, because it is reminiscent of “Eau de Pissoir ” !
So many takes on lavender [vanilla, vetiver, spice, orange, herbal,coniferous, citrus].
What does lavender do with suede?
October 18th, 2006 at 6:29 am
dear Peppernuts, it sure is! And then I want to take my time and make it right, or at least make it right for me.
Dear Chayaruchama, maybe the lavender with suede turns out to be an old worn garden glove ;-) Absolutely write on the cultural stereotypes. like gingerbread=winter or lemon=clean kitchen, lime= Caipirinha hehehe….
October 18th, 2006 at 8:26 am
Well, the fir balsam sounds like an excellent idea - the Balsam Fir is a very special tree, there is nothing quite like it, it is not just any ordinary “pine tree”, and the sweetly complex balsam is the best evergreen scent I know of. Many years ago when I lived in another part of the country, it was possible to get Balsam Firs as cut Christmas trees - impossible now, I think, as they are being replaced with more durable and faster-growing types - but nothing else ever smells as good as those did. To think of that scent combined with lavender - how wonderful!
October 18th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Dear Flora
let’s hope for best. I wanted to do it earlier but just couldn’t for some private reasons. but now, this very instance I will gently warm the fir balsam absolute and add these drops to my mix and see what it is going to be like. I thank you for your comment and hush hush I go to my little table…..