Kenzo Jungle

Jungle L'Éléphant

Kenzo 1996

A few years ago:

Late afternoon in the big city.

Time to try something new!
Time to dive into life!
Time not to think about tomorrow!
Time to exaggerate!

I am standing with my best friend right in front of the most luxurious hotel we young folks have ever seen up close.
We are currently admiring the pompous, shiny, glass entrance.
In front of it is a large roundabout for arriving and departing guests. A taxi is parked there with its newspaper-reading driver.
Suddenly, a dark green Jaguar comes racing up, boldly brakes right next to us, and backs up assertively, then moves forward again and back again, all with the aim of getting as close as possible to the curb and the hotel entrance. At the wheel, I see an elegant beige hat with the widest brim I have ever seen.

KRAWUMMS
it suddenly goes, and the taxi driver jumps out of his car, startled after the first shock seconds, to inspect the slight but visible damage caused by the Jaguar.
Meanwhile, the lady in the Jaguar nonchalantly reapplies her lipstick while looking in the rearview mirror.
The taxi driver can’t take it anymore and nervously opens the driver’s door of the Jaguar.
A cloud of fragrance wafts out of the car, reaching us even at a distance of about 1.5 meters. I have never smelled a more striking scent. So intense, so sweet, so spicy, so mysterious, so daring!
Wow!
The lady calmly steps out and smooths her pencil skirt and perfectly fitting blouse. A slight smile plays at the corners of her mouth. In no way arrogant, just friendly and relaxed.

A short dialogue follows:
Taxi driver: "You hit my taxi!"
Lady: (slightly amused): "Oh, did I?"
Both glance at the damage (she briefly, he intensely)
Taxi driver: "Did you not see me in the rearview mirror?"
Lady: "My dear sir, you can see that I am wearing a hat. I obviously can’t see what is behind me!"
The taxi driver’s jaw drops in speechless disbelief.

We stand, enveloped in her opulent scent trail, watching in awe.
She rushes through the large glass door and calls back to him to leave his details at the reception. She will call back soon.
As she passes us, the lady notices us and winks conspiratorially, "Now I want to freshen up first!"

Fascinated, we follow this spice bomb of cinnamon, clove, cinnamon, exotic fruits, and... oh yes: cinnamon.
We are politely welcomed at the reception.
Shortly thereafter, we hold our room keys in our hands and take the elevator to the 5th floor. How do we know that the lady is also going up?!
In the company of this extravagant scent, our little adventure feels even more surreal.

Later in the hotel bar, this unmistakable scent wafts back to me during our welcome cocktail. Is the drink going to my head? Or this scent? Or both?
All heads gradually turned, some more, some less conspicuously, both male and female, towards the bar.
There she was. La grande dame. In a red sheath dress, matching lipstick, and with a perfect updo. Elegant and self-assured, she swings herself onto the bar stool. All eyes glide, magnetically drawn, repeatedly towards her.
Is it her presence?
Is it her appearance?
Is it her perfume?
This lady and this scent form a unity.
Powerful, mysterious, self-confident, and prone to playful exaggeration.

I didn’t have to search long to find this enchanting scent. After a brief description, the saleswoman smiled knowingly and bam, I was holding it reverently in my hands. The bottle startled me at first glance, but then I smiled. The bottle fit too. The Jaguar, the hat, the woman, the scent, the bottle. A unity.
I stand in front of this perfume time and again, but it is not mine. It belongs to her. This scent belongs to her, like to no one else.

And I hope so much that I will also find that one perfume for myself, which merges all senses into one and becomes a complete unity with me.