Where the dead wood grows deeper, rotting into the earth in dense mist, the last light glimmers through brown glass, flickering red over herbal ponds, and a swarm of champaca flowers flies, chased by the butterfly catcher of Spitzweg, there is the place where the soft animal lives. It digs in the warm mud for peaches, for traces of cows and their milk, its paws are dark brown and leathery, the fur is soft and somewhat bristly, smelling of roots, fur, and costus, of human hair and deer musk, of the gentle sepia-colored smoke in the underbrush above the mulch. It is rare, but if you see one, be mindful so you do not forget it.
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Gather Perfumes, based in Massachusetts, produces 100% natural fragrances. Ananda Wilson processes plant essences, extracts, and oils that come either from local wild growth or organic cultivation. All the more remarkable is the long-lasting nature of the fragrances, which can be attributed to Ananda's extensive experience and the masterful processing of the scents. She produces her fragrances in small batches, which are subject to natural seasonal variations.
A small exception in terms of plant essences is "Soft Animal," as it uses musk tinctures from musk and beaver. A video of the local trapper from whom she sources the materials can be viewed on her homepage. Her methods remain sustainable and transparent here as well. The lactone accord used, however, is of natural origin, not a chemical imitation.
"Soft Animal" combines the animal notes (bitter-sharp castoreum, muskrat musk) with the sweet and heavy scent of champaca, fruity-milky-soft lactone aromas, and woods into a fragrance that is mild-animalic, earthy-leathery, slightly fruity, resinous-medical, smoky, and darkly floral at the same time. I would have guessed blindfolded at animalic-earthy oud, fur-like costus root, and champaca, as the scent strongly resembles "Milestones" by TSVGA. The moderate fragrance does not undergo a noticeable development over the eight hours.
I gladly followed you to this place. The rare, soft creature has snuggled into my heart. And since Milestones is just lying around here, it’s getting tested now :)
….. a charming little mythical creature - the little animal you described so lovingly … - but I would probably have issues being around it - there would be too many little rodents for me ;)) …..
Impressive and melodious report, the encounter with the soft creature was a special and secretly romantic experience, so here’s a poor poet's trophy for you (I’m sure it won’t bother you much if a few drops of spring rain come through.)
The scent sounds interesting, although it's not wearable for me or really to my taste. But I'll keep an eye out for that little creature on my next wilderness trip :)
How wonderfully you describe the scent. I actually perceived it the same way at first, but then it became quite harsh and chypre on me, so in the end it wasn't for me. But your imagery is, as always, wonderful!
This sounds tempting again; you can bring so many scents closer to me through your words that my wishlist (if I had one!) would already be very long just from the fragrances you've discussed.
@Vinyldates: I'm not a fan of the shipping in beaver fur either, but that's only the case for one out of seven versions of the bottle. So it's not the norm!
Good champaca mint medicine. I like the scent, but since animal products are an absolute no-go for me and I find the shipping of the perfume in real beaver fur quite disgusting, I’ll stay away from it. Ethically, I only support synthetic.
Still, great words from you about a good fragrance.
Oh dear! This one is definitely not for me. Even Spitzweg doesn't appeal to me. But it's good to know that I probably shouldn't test this scent. Thanks!
The scent really packs a punch. Challenging but brilliantly crafted...
I will be mindful :D....
Still, great words from you about a good fragrance.