Hayat Kemi / Al Kimiya 2014

What is life? Where will it lead me? What is the meaning of life? Like presumably many other young adults, I also deal with these questions. Some may think they have found the answer, others may not even bother with it and others may get lost in the eternal questioning. In short: you can no longer see the wood for the trees. In the spiritual world, there is often no real meaning to life, it is found in life itself, so they say. Every moment is a gift and by constantly thinking you lose your focus on the essentials and ultimately on the happiness that is inherent in every moment and in life itself. What does this have to do with the fragrance, you're probably wondering? I think a lot.

Hayat is a dry, ethereal oud fragrance that opens with light animalic notes and lavender. Deep, dark woody notes and something menthol-like give the fragrance its character. The longer the fragrance is on the skin, the warmer, sweeter and more supple it becomes. The mentholated notes recede somewhat, and the animal notes merge with the other notes and recede into the background. Saffron, amber and cinnamon give the fragrance a truly wonderful base that becomes more and more apparent as the scent progresses and makes Hayat seem almost pleasing. However, the oud and the character of the fragrance do not disappear.

As soon as you spray it on, you notice that the oil concentration is very high, as you would expect from Kemi. An oily, shiny film covers your skin, especially for the first half hour. The sillage is very good, you are noticed, but it is not too intrusive. Surprisingly, despite the oud, the fragrance is totally light and pleasant in the air. The longevity is absolutely terrific, the fragrance lasts until the next morning.

In my opinion, the bottle and the outer packaging also play an important role in the fragrance experience and the overall impression. With their heavy, solid feel and the engravings in the metal cap, the Kemi bottles are reminiscent of alchemy and times long past. This lends the fragrance something mysterious and, together with the fragrance itself, simply creates a well-rounded and harmonious picture.

To close the loop to the introduction, I want to talk about what Hayat does to me when I wear it. With its ethereal, dry and balsamic character, it totally decelerates. It lets the fast-paced life be life and takes me into a deep dark forest where the treetops hardly let the sun come in. I dare say that every one of us has been in the forest and knows how good it can be to simply exist there, listen to the birds and breathe in the cool air. My point is: perhaps the meaning of life is precisely to enjoy such moments in all their fullness and to move away from the endless pursuit of more and more. I don't want that to sound pseudo-philosophical and I think everyone has their own interpretation, but that's what the fragrance does to me and what it inspires me to do. I'm grateful for that and I urge everyone to order a sample and let Hayat unfold its full effect.