Friday, July 2, 2010

The Mystery of Musk: Providence Perfume Co. Musk Nouveau

















I'm starting off my MoM posts with Musk Nouveau from Charna Ethier's Providence Perfume Co. for two reasons: 1) Musk Nouveau is the fragrance for which I'll do a bottle draw; and 2) it's so gorgeous it deserves a place at the head of the line.

I'll say up front that Musk Nouveau is not a fragrance to wear if you're the type who wants to go unnoticed. If patchouli gives you fits or you can't bear the potent kick of champaca...well, forget it--this baby's not for you. However, if you're a fan of Anya's Fairchild or Aftelier Tango, then Musk Nouveau should be on your short list to test. Charna describes it as "a nostalgic blend of aged patchouli, angelica and oud made new with the introduction of champaca, night blooming jasmine and a dash of coffee." Truth in advertising there, although to my nose champaca absolutely dominates for most of the life of the scent, and the oud is a mere olfactory wraith lurking amidst the flowers and patch. Charna also makes reference to a sherry top note and black pepper, but I have to sniff awfully close to get either one. The coffee is most definitely present, lending a faint gourmand quality to what is otherwise a very brash and ballsy floral composition with an earthy, tropical character. And speaking of ballsy, yes, a guy could definitely wear Musk Nouveau (though, depending on who he wants to impress,  he might want to wait 15 or 20 minutes to let the champaca subside a bit before he leaves the house.) As for the musk note, it's embedded deep in the scent, quietly providing a little animalic warmth and softness--the proper job of musk, IMO.

If you'd like to enter the draw for a 5 ml bottle of Musk Nouveau, leave a comment or email me at the link on my profile. I'll pick the winner and then coordinate delivery of the bottle directly from Providence Perfume Co.

Rainy Season in the Tropics, Frederic Edwin Church, 1866

21 comments:

Tamara said...

Good evening Maria,
Yes please enter me in the draw
as I'm interested in natural perfumery and would love to try this.
Hope all is going well for you!

Thanks for the chance to smell something strange and different.
My nose is always happy to discover new scents.

~Tamara
zebra_cupcakes@yahoo.com

ElizabethN said...

I have to say that the combination of notes sounds a bit strange! But I'd love to try it, especially given that it has oud in it...

Lys said...

Hello,

This sounds fascinating indeed, and perhaps like a slightly unexpected combination, with a gourmand-like coffee note in it as well!

Bellatrix said...

Patchouli... The other I went to perfumery and there was one (niche) brand that had patchouli inside. I couldn't identify it clearly... but I am sure, reading your post and knowing patchouli as a raw material and in natural perfumery - this one will be very noticed :) Would love to try!

Unknown said...

I'd love to try it. Champacca and coffee in the same perfume sounds so interesting!

chayaruchama said...

This sounds POTENT !
One of the ones I didn't get to sample...

Don't you love the process ?

Sending love from Southie,
sister;-)

Anonymous said...

Intriguing - I'd love to try this!

Not sure I've ever commented here before, but I pass by regularly for a taste of wisely-selected poetry, art and perfume. Thank you so much for this beautiful cove on the internet! ~~nozknoz

hotlanta linda said...

All this musk magic is going to my head, even though un-sniffed!! Please enter my name in the hat, and many thanks for an artful blog!

em said...

Musk Nouveau sounds really interesting. I've recently turned my nose to natural perfumery and would love to try this one. Count me in please!

Dionne said...

The whole Mystery of Musk project is such a great idea. I've got a bunch of new blogs and perfumers bookmarked because of it. Please enter me in the draw. :)

womo531 said...

coffee, champaca and angelica sounds gorgeous! Champaca really says luxury and sensuality to me and I am very curious to see how theses combine in Musk Nouveau~

CynthiaL said...

I can't even begin to imagine the scent, it sounds like it has alot of elements. Please enter me in the draw.

ginamused said...

I would love to try the Musk Nouveau. Thanks for a great review.

Anatole Lebreton said...

I Really enjoy this MoM project! So nice to discover new perfumers and new blogs. Yours is really beautifully done, I like the paintings! I would love to try one of these natural creations, as musks have always been a challenge for me, often on the weird synthetic side, so a natural renditions would be very interesting to discover.

chris g said...

This is such a great project! Please enter me in the draw - thanks.

queen_cupcake said...

I would love to win this--please enter me in the drawing. I have so enjoyed reading about the Mystery of Musk project. Such wonderful things are happening in the world of natural perfumery!

queen_cupcake said...

Oh this sounds delightful! Please enter me in the drawing. I bought champaca incense yesterday just to keep at my desk--it wafts a lovely aroma even without burning (which would not be too good so near to my computer...?)What a wonderful project is this Mystery of Musk!

Fernando said...

This sounds interesting; please enter me.

Lou Anne said...

I've fallen in love with Providence Perfume's Cocoa Tuberose and would love to try another of Charna's fragrances. Please enter me in the draw.

Many thanks

UrbanEden said...

Oh! I love champaca, and I've been wanting to try Charna's perfumes for a while. (I enjoy her blog.) What an intriguing, unusual mix of notes. I would never have thought to pair champaca with oud. Thanks for the chance to enter this drawing.

BitterGrace said...

Many thanks for all the nice comments, and welcome to all newcomers and emerging lurkers!

The winner of the draw is Kjanicki--Congratulations. Click on the email link on my profile and send me your mailing address. I'll forward it to Providence Perfume Co., and Charna will mail your bottle directly.