When testing this fragrance, two images immediately came to mind:
The wife of my esteemed - unfortunately already deceased - senior boss and Consul Buddenbrook. I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to classical music, but "classical" still applies to me in this case, both for the wife of my boss and for Consul Buddenbrook, and I immediately associate both with this fragrance.
I deliberately did not look up the fragrance here first, intentionally did not check the pyramid, and just wanted to jot down my thoughts on it and possibly make a comment, even though the name of this perfume already fills me with awe, as I am unable to associate it with music.
Right after spraying this fragrance, one thing became clear to me:
As a student at a secondary school in Lübeck, "The Buddenbrooks" by Thomas Mann was of course required reading, and I still remember that while reading the line "...a hint of patchouli..." I asked myself: "What on earth is patchouli? What does patchouli smell like?" In the mid-80s, it wasn't exactly easy to find out, but the question never left my mind, and when I started my training in 1989 and thus had to pass by a perfumery every day, I saw my chance to finally find out something about it and did so with enthusiasm. Since then, whenever I perceive even a hint of patchouli (as a note: the correct German spelling then and now), I initially associate every fragrance with Consul Buddenbrook, keeping that line of text in mind.
Thus, due to my lack of knowledge, I do not associate this fragrance with classical music, but rather with women whom I consider "classical." Musk is unmistakably present for me, and I suspect that roses or other flowers and woods should be included, but I only ever recognize sandalwood somewhere, never other woods, and that is also the case here. Sandalwood probably not, which woods otherwise elude my knowledge.
This perfume is not bound to seasons and/or times of day, but rather to a specific type of wearer.
Classically elegantly dressed, a lady like Consul Buddenbrook or the wife of the senior boss, a former teacher in the 60s at one of our then all-girls high schools. Always elegant, but never "overdressed," as one would say today. Always with a straight posture, never loud but always determined and full of assertiveness, and always and at any time the mistress of the respective situation, that is what I associate with a lady who can wear this fragrance, and even though I really never wanted to use this word, I must here, because otherwise some may not understand this description, NOT A GRANDMA FRAGRANCE! (Unfortunately, this nonsensical term is often seen in connection with - for me classic, mostly sandalwood-based - fragrances).
In my opinion, not a fragrance for sneaker wearers. In today's time, it could also work with jeans, but please with a classic white blouse, with a lot of "good will" even a light blue one, and definitely classic elegant footwear, high-quality but discreet jewelry, that is how I imagine the wearers of this fragrance, and she may well have left her twenties behind.
Now, at the end of my comment, I take a look at the "fragrance pyramid," and now I also know why I cannot perceive a significant change. Everything that is included seems to be present from the beginning and remains so, possibly with a very slight change towards the end, which again fits the description of Consul Buddenbrook: The description in the book refers to the "appearance" of Consul Buddenbrook on Christmas Eve, and yes, here I can perceive the mandarin, which I inevitably associate with Christmas just like an opulently decorated Christmas tree.
In the "pyramid," patchouli and musk are found, which was also not really difficult to smell. None of what is listed could I really identify individually, but only suspect, because - and now I will make a tiny little detour towards music - patchouli and musk are simply "dominant," everything else "underscores" this wonderful fragrance for me, which I personally would probably never wear, only possibly for a very special occasion when I am really well and elegantly dressed; otherwise, I would feel "overdressed" with this fragrance.
Wearing this fragrance, in my opinion, should be well thought out and should really suit the wearer; anything else would in one way or another undermine the "overall picture" and make it unbelievable, and so I would also like to ask today’s teachers:
"If you do happen to go to a theme park with your children in more comfortable shoes, I recommend a 'more comfortable' fragrance for that occasion."
It has a decent longevity that can easily last through a "morning of lessons," and the sillage is pleasant but not to be underestimated, and the dosage - as usual with such fragrances - should definitely not be overlooked.
Lily
Patchouli
Mandarin orange
Rose
Tagetes
Tuberose
Vanilla
Watermelon
Woody notes
Caramel
Granny Smith apple
Papaya
Water hyacinth
Ergoproxy
Seerose
Scheeheratze
