Sometimes the memory still shines like diffuse light through the lemon candies in her old, wrinkled hands. I wonder how long they have been living in her cardigan pockets. Occasionally, they pulled thin threads, sticky like the resin of conifers, through the blind windows into the dusty room. In her thoughts, she still bites into the candies, dripping spicy-sweet remnants of balm onto the leaves on the green carpets. The pendulum of the grandfather clock has stopped. The door of her heavy wardrobe is still open. It still breathes the wilted flowers, the remnants of powder, her musk perfume from the musty old dresses, the long pleated skirts that touch the shoes, which stand leather-clad at the bottom. A bit of smoke still lingers in there, the scent of the case with the cigarettes. And the sweet smell of crumpled skin. This is probably the presence of her absence.
***
Once, the early fragrances of the BeauFort brand from London stood for provocative creations that deliberately overdosed on some unusual ingredients, just think of the 'Come Hell Or High Water' collection with "Tonnere," "Cœur de Noir," and "Vi Et Armis," which did not hold back on ink, tarred leather, burnt paper, gunpowder, and whiskey, but later fragrances came across as increasingly adapted, exploring more familiar themes. This made them somewhat more wearable.
"Absent Presence" leaves me a bit perplexed, as it lacks both consistency and wearability. Here, a lemon candy initially transforms into an herbal candy (fruity bergamot, coniferous-balsamic galbanum, herbaceous-leaf-like violet leaf), dusted with pepper on creamy-sweet sandalwood, which soon reminds me of an open wardrobe door in an old lady's room, as slightly carrion-musty-powdery jasmine notes blend with subtly animalistic musk, reminiscent of old perfumes; the smoky leather smells more like old shoes, which are still perceptible in the background in a base of tobacco-leaf woody amber. This presence of her absence is moderate and lingers in the room for several hours, thus capturing the theme of the perceivable spirit quite well despite everything.
Beautifully described, as usual. Even though I don't want to smell like my grandma (God rest her soul for ages), it would indeed be intriguing to sniff at tough lemon-herb candies, Ricolas from 1970, let alone the other herbal, animal notes.
How beautifully written. It instantly gave me a flashback - memories of beloved, old ones who have passed away. It really does read like that sadly well-known "taming" of once wild fragrance houses. Remembrance trophy 🏆
Oh, what a pity... the lemon candies and galbanum green don’t really appeal to me, but the nostalgic room of the old lady does... though it seems like mustiness and worn shoes are giving the space its scent... so I guess I’ll have to pass on this one overall. I can sense a bit of regret in your words too.
I'm a bit torn about it too. The scent definitely sounds intriguing. But the question is whether it would resonate with me. However, you have shone here with your powerful presence in both words and images..!
What a great description. Apparently very fitting for the month of the dead, this perfume. I think of those who are no longer here. And I'm glad to have other scents.
I think it’s wonderful that you wrote such a beautiful, almost tender story about this fragrance that left you feeling puzzled. And the images tug at my heart a bit.
The scent of transience, so sensitively and lovingly described. I've experienced this sad scene many times. Whether a person is dying or slipping into another reality due to dementia, it's often the only thing that remains. I really admire how you manage to draw us into different situations again and again. For my part, I could clearly perceive the musty smell.
I admire how you manage to fully immerse yourself in the scents and capture them sensitively, almost tenderly. This is so much more than just a successful review!!!
Another hit from you! The story really touched me; you described it so genuinely and beautifully. Sad but lovely. I can perfectly imagine how the scent smells. That's really unbearable. Better to smell like flowers than like mold.
I’d like to test it when I get the chance, as I find the brand appealing. However, the slightly musty and smoky leather direction doesn’t give me much hope, to be honest. Thanks for the always vivid presentation!
The remnants of loved ones who have passed away still carry that unique scent you associate with them. When a perfume captures such a story, it's really hard to wear.
Open wardrobe doors in old ladies' rooms don't exactly win my sympathy 😵💫
The front cover of the bottle caught my eye, but your superbly vivid description is putting me off! So I'll pass on this one :))
The scent carries a spirit in its heart; what a magically beautiful mystique you’ve conjured with your words. I felt the presence despite the absence...✨
Sounds interesting at least. In a somewhat musty-morbid way. I doubt I would have liked the predecessors more. Here, at least the scent notes appeal to me...
Whether you can make money with fragrances like Tonnere is questionable. Whether this will bring a change is equally uncertain. But at least it sounds unconventional again. I'll stay curious without any expectations.
Browsing through old closets always brings out its own unique scents. Childhood memories of Grandpa's wardrobe or Aunt Ella's dressing room come flooding back... Thank you for that!
Somehow, I'm glad I threw away the five-year-old cough drops from the glove compartment today. Otherwise, I would definitely have the uneasy feeling of looking a few decades into the future ;)
It's a real shame that the brand is declining. I only know two fragrances, and I loved both of them.
Very melancholic images at the end. And yet, the composition seems strangely boring, especially since the scent associations remind me more of morbid apartments. In the end, it seems that mass appeal wins out, if one allows it. High risk for such a brand. What a shame.
It seems a bit forced to fully convince. One shouldn't overdo it. As you've already pointed out, the brand started off progressive but overstepped a bit here and there, which didn't negatively impact me; at least not for me. Then this almost 180° turn and now *this*. What we're being presented with seems more like a farewell than a successful restart. Such a shame. Thanks for your thoughts!
Remembrance trophy 🏆
I've experienced this sad scene many times. Whether a person is dying or slipping into another reality due to dementia, it's often the only thing that remains.
I really admire how you manage to draw us into different situations again and again. For my part, I could clearly perceive the musty smell.
Well described, as always 👍🏻
I prefer to stick with those... without the scent.
it doesn't sound that bad at all
Best regards
I'll soon get a sample to share.
Let's see if it could be a memory carrier for me.
The front cover of the bottle caught my eye, but your superbly vivid description is putting me off! So I'll pass on this one :))
It's a real shame that the brand is declining. I only know two fragrances, and I loved both of them.
And yet, the composition seems strangely boring, especially since the scent associations remind me more of morbid apartments.
In the end, it seems that mass appeal wins out, if one allows it. High risk for such a brand.
What a shame.
A "Participation" trophy 🏆 for you!