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Notes06/10/2019
Duftsucht
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Duftsucht
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16
Elegance has a new name
Such a short trip to London must be properly planned - especially if a carefully selected typical English scented souvenir is to accompany me home. So I began to take an interest in Grossmith and began to test the creations of the house wherever I could Betrothal was particularly irritating as he shares the main notes with one of Roja's favourite fragrances: Madison. And so I was very curious whether there might really be a resemblance here? And yes, as amazing as it sounds, there is actually a kinship!
About as if the completely impoverished but beautiful cousin of a British family of high nobility emigrates to America, marries an oil millionaire there and then comes back to London for a visit. She is invited to tea with the head of the family, an awe-inspiring matriarch, whose quirky resemblance to Queen Victoria fills the rest of the family with a certain pride. There she sits, the undisputed ruler of the family, a wafer-thin cup of Wegdewood in her hand, at her side her darling, the young Rose. Rose sits, her legs crossed modestly at the ankle, her hair braided in one of those complicated hairstyles that delight her grandmother.
In front of them the American cousin, whose fortune - thanks to oil baron - now makes her look almost miserable. Let's just call her Rosemary. She sits, her legs crossed, so that the skirt of noble suede slips a bit higher, leans back relaxed, and watches her relatives. The scent of Roja surrounds you: self-confident, expansive, expensive, exclusive.
Her cousin Rose, on the other hand, has taken Betrothal, which is very British indeed, body-hugging, discreet, but quite seductive to feel.
Roja is like a new diamond bracelet, radiant and striking, but miles away from Bling-Bling, Betrothal are the family jewels that are taken out of the safe on special occasions and have long since lost some of their shine by not wearing them, but have gained in understatement.
Betrothal is immediately subdued after a short citric phase, in particular by a good portion of vetiver, which immediately removes any glare from the fragrance. It is a floral scent, bright, delicate, flowers with translucent petals, not exotic-sensual-exuberant, but very elegant. A little like a rose dressing up as an iris, but completely preserving its sensual spice underneath. The iris association is probably due to the fact that the scent on me is soft and powdery, but by no means dusty or dry.
Gradually Betrothal changes its orientation and the most beautiful, discreet, unvanilliest vanilla I have smelled in a long time comes to light. But there is still a hint of freshness hovering above it and the elegant bouquet is still present.
And this is exactly the moment when I (once again:)) lose my heart to a scent and I decide: It will be a scent from Grossmith that will accompany me home from London
.
Whether it will really be Betrothal, or Shem el Nessim, Sylvan Song or another fragrance from Grossmith, it will be decided spontaneously. But I can hardly imagine a souvenir that fits so well with my (admittedly influenced by Georgette Heyer and others) idea of a British Empire that disappeared long ago - and that will certainly keep the memory of London alive for a long time!
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