301 Eau de Parfum – Sandalwood, Amber, Cardamom – Sample

What is a cold spice? It might seem strange but, just like colors, spices can be warm or cool. Cardamom is considered to be a cold spice, unlike cinnamon, cumin, cloves or nutmeg, for example. It has a slightly green, initially camphoric, terpenic scent, which is what earned the spice this label. Juniper berry also belongs to this family and injects real vigor. Karine Dubreuil Sereni used this spice in our 004 to recreate the idea of an icy gin. Perfumers use these fresh and explosive notes to structure the openings to their creations, drawing on warmer ones to build the heart and body of fragrances. Warm ingredients also add sensuality. Here, cumin introduces an animalistic dimension.

What is amber? Amber reminds us of the scents of ambergris and oriental fragrances. These perfumes have sweet, smooth, vanilla-like notes with accents of cistus labdanum. Although we all picture amber as a yellow-colored substance, this isn’t the kind used in perfumery.

Where does sandalwood come from? Its subtle charms captivate everyone, everywhere. Sandalwood is a soft, milky, mild and sweet wood that thrills us to the core! What makes it special is its very long trail. White sandalwood has a long history, originating in India over 4,000 years ago. The tree must grow for more than 30 years before its wood can be distilled and its essence enjoyed. The finest sandalwood is cultivated in Mysore in the Chamundi foothills in the south of the country. While revered around the world, it is strictly controlled by the government. A victim of its own success, sandalwood is becoming increasingly rarer. After heavy consumption, its production and export have declined over the last decade. In India, temple doors and sculptures are made from this mystical wood. Imagine the sublime soft scent that wafts through these special surroundings. Sandalwood is an integral part of religious rituals and wedding ceremonies.