07/23/2019
Konsalik
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Konsalik
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The well-structured house
My first three fragrances to grow my modest collection were Caron Pour un Homme, Knize Ten and Caldey Island Lavender. And only Island Lavender hasn't had a meeting yet. What's the matter with you? Because I always thought you couldn't write that much about a Soliflor. Because I was convinced that singular fragrances - like colours - were primary impressions that eluded description. Imagine having to explain to a colour blind what "red" looks like; you quickly notice that you are reaching your final limits (you can investigate this so-called "Qualia problem" in a more structured way in the Wikipedia article on the thought experiment "Mary's Room").
So write what? That lavender scent is so calming? A go, please... Others have stressed this several times (and rightly so!). Then we'd better take a closer look at the old Heimito from Doderer. An author who could sensitize me to perfumes and smells in general in the first place. As he wrote in the "Strudlhofstiege": "A somehow bitter, roundish, so to speak comfortable smell". Chubby and comfortable, that goes well together - but bitter? The most uncomfortable of all sensory impressions? Here there seems to be a dissonance that creates unity only on a higher level, as it were "synthesized". So maybe it seems to be worthwhile to tap the seemingly primary more precisely and decipher it.
At first the scent is rather light blue than violet (as you might expect), and with a peculiar cleanliness that reminds me of soap without being directly soapy. Next to it directly the actual contradiction, a friendly association of fresh (not stinking!) sweat, in addition light green grassiness. It is this bitterness of herbaceous soapiness that creates a certain severity, which in turn is not harsh but gives form: The cosiness of a carefully maintained apartment, without any neurotic tyranny, because the meadow comes uncut and close to the Varanda. And people can be people here, too. Cleanliness without sensual enmity. The ideal of a well-designed house, bright and quiet (almost Mediterranean-antique), rises. The dosed, bitter severity is necessary not to be overwhelmed by nature, to stay "awake" so to speak. So we perceive, for example, the company of people - in order to stay with Doderer - as comfortable, i.e. comfortable to the highest degree, when the conversations remain awake and clear despite all the peace and quiet, when one does not just dull in the armchair dawn and let every thought pass away in the chatter. All of this can be achieved by lavender, the English lavender in particular, which is much more herbaceous and sharper than its flowery counterpart from the mainland.
Forgive me for the strong, free-floating associative burden of my commentary; I have tried to remain as precise as possible. Indeed, it is not easy to describe a singular fragrance impression "positively", i.e. to provide it with attributes. Colleague FvSpee solved this intelligently in his review of the Meister Eckhart art by developing a "negative lavender theology" so to speak. At this point: Hats off! But how to evaluate? Shall I follow the previous speaker here and draw the 10? I give the 9.5. The remaining 0.5 is the pound with which the perfumers of this world grow and, in the best case, start to create fragrant works of art - in the very best case to the higher honor of the one who has given us the ability to experience this wonderful scent of lavender. That's how the monks might put it on Caldey. Me too, though.
So write what? That lavender scent is so calming? A go, please... Others have stressed this several times (and rightly so!). Then we'd better take a closer look at the old Heimito from Doderer. An author who could sensitize me to perfumes and smells in general in the first place. As he wrote in the "Strudlhofstiege": "A somehow bitter, roundish, so to speak comfortable smell". Chubby and comfortable, that goes well together - but bitter? The most uncomfortable of all sensory impressions? Here there seems to be a dissonance that creates unity only on a higher level, as it were "synthesized". So maybe it seems to be worthwhile to tap the seemingly primary more precisely and decipher it.
At first the scent is rather light blue than violet (as you might expect), and with a peculiar cleanliness that reminds me of soap without being directly soapy. Next to it directly the actual contradiction, a friendly association of fresh (not stinking!) sweat, in addition light green grassiness. It is this bitterness of herbaceous soapiness that creates a certain severity, which in turn is not harsh but gives form: The cosiness of a carefully maintained apartment, without any neurotic tyranny, because the meadow comes uncut and close to the Varanda. And people can be people here, too. Cleanliness without sensual enmity. The ideal of a well-designed house, bright and quiet (almost Mediterranean-antique), rises. The dosed, bitter severity is necessary not to be overwhelmed by nature, to stay "awake" so to speak. So we perceive, for example, the company of people - in order to stay with Doderer - as comfortable, i.e. comfortable to the highest degree, when the conversations remain awake and clear despite all the peace and quiet, when one does not just dull in the armchair dawn and let every thought pass away in the chatter. All of this can be achieved by lavender, the English lavender in particular, which is much more herbaceous and sharper than its flowery counterpart from the mainland.
Forgive me for the strong, free-floating associative burden of my commentary; I have tried to remain as precise as possible. Indeed, it is not easy to describe a singular fragrance impression "positively", i.e. to provide it with attributes. Colleague FvSpee solved this intelligently in his review of the Meister Eckhart art by developing a "negative lavender theology" so to speak. At this point: Hats off! But how to evaluate? Shall I follow the previous speaker here and draw the 10? I give the 9.5. The remaining 0.5 is the pound with which the perfumers of this world grow and, in the best case, start to create fragrant works of art - in the very best case to the higher honor of the one who has given us the ability to experience this wonderful scent of lavender. That's how the monks might put it on Caldey. Me too, though.
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