Top Notes 
Myrrh
Heart Notes 
Beeswax
Gaiac wood
Base Notes 
Benzoin
Tonka bean
12/06/2012
Apicius
224 Reviews
Apicius
Helpful Review
10
Help! Fire!
Winter is here at last, and Annick Goutal's Myrrhe Ardente can be regarded as a winter fragrance - but with a special twist. In the colder season, people develop a longing for cosiness, for smoky fireplaces and warming ambry or oriental notes. However, Myrrhe Ardente lacks some of the typical ingredients of fragrant cosiness such as ambergris or Christmas gingerbread spiciness.
This strange perfume is very straightforward with not much development. It is all about one single contrast: oriental broadness and volume as represented by the myrrh and some vanillic tonka bean is one side. The other side is smoky woodiness as it may come along with the Guaiac wood. A resinous, gum-like note, presumably benzoin (?), sticks them together. And that's about it – Myrrhe Ardente is simple but good!
The overall character is considerably dry and smoky which makes this fragrance something particular different to the usual ambry, spicy and oriental fireplace fragrances. Myrrhe Ardente is rather red-hot than warm, and yes, I do get pictures of ardent myrrh or bright glowing wooden logs. You can almost hear the crackling and sizzling from the fireplace. There is only little development: Myrrhe Ardente might become slightly dryer and dustier as the fire burns down. Insofar, Myrrhe Ardente refers directly to glow and blaze, and not in a way as to use these imaginations to underline the idea of cosiness. I would say, the fire in it is a bit too dangerous to perfectly fit into such a concept. With its red-hot approach it could almost put you into a state of alert as real fire and smoke would do – if not the calming notes of myrrh and tonka soothed this impression. Yet, Myrrhe Ardente is disturbing enough to be taken seriously – it is nothing that can be worn easily and without consideration.
And Myrrhe Ardente is a strange fragrance: although it is without any too exotic notes, the scent impression is anything but common or banal. There is more to it than just a combination of notes, the perfumer obviously achieved one of those magic moments of alchemy where everything is transferred into something new and unique.
Myrrhe Ardente comes in Annick Goutal's square bottle and must be considered unisex. I think it can be a special treat for ladies who are looking for an unsweet fragrance. It should fit well to brown and beige colour tones and to suede leather outfits.
This strange perfume is very straightforward with not much development. It is all about one single contrast: oriental broadness and volume as represented by the myrrh and some vanillic tonka bean is one side. The other side is smoky woodiness as it may come along with the Guaiac wood. A resinous, gum-like note, presumably benzoin (?), sticks them together. And that's about it – Myrrhe Ardente is simple but good!
The overall character is considerably dry and smoky which makes this fragrance something particular different to the usual ambry, spicy and oriental fireplace fragrances. Myrrhe Ardente is rather red-hot than warm, and yes, I do get pictures of ardent myrrh or bright glowing wooden logs. You can almost hear the crackling and sizzling from the fireplace. There is only little development: Myrrhe Ardente might become slightly dryer and dustier as the fire burns down. Insofar, Myrrhe Ardente refers directly to glow and blaze, and not in a way as to use these imaginations to underline the idea of cosiness. I would say, the fire in it is a bit too dangerous to perfectly fit into such a concept. With its red-hot approach it could almost put you into a state of alert as real fire and smoke would do – if not the calming notes of myrrh and tonka soothed this impression. Yet, Myrrhe Ardente is disturbing enough to be taken seriously – it is nothing that can be worn easily and without consideration.
And Myrrhe Ardente is a strange fragrance: although it is without any too exotic notes, the scent impression is anything but common or banal. There is more to it than just a combination of notes, the perfumer obviously achieved one of those magic moments of alchemy where everything is transferred into something new and unique.
Myrrhe Ardente comes in Annick Goutal's square bottle and must be considered unisex. I think it can be a special treat for ladies who are looking for an unsweet fragrance. It should fit well to brown and beige colour tones and to suede leather outfits.
1 Comment
PostMortem
MRoth
