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The Paradox of Kallistik
First of all, a heartfelt hello.
After a long period of silent participation, I have decided to end this in favor of a somewhat less silent one. One reason is the urgent desire to try my hand at commenting. Another is to strengthen the Swabian Parfumo faction :)
I have consciously chosen to dedicate my first comment to Penhaligon's Elixir. The reason why should become clear in the following lines. I am by no means a professional when it comes to sniffing out individual ingredients, and I am quite glad that there are already extremely informative comments on this fragrance.
I would like to start with a brief definition of terms. The study of aesthetics (from ancient Greek aisthesis "perception") deals scientifically with everything that can be perceived through the human senses. Optics, acoustics, gustatory, haptic, and of course olfactory. The evaluation plays no role here, contrary to colloquial usage; aesthetics does not decide between "beautiful" and "ugly." This evaluation is the concern of a subfield of aesthetics. Kallistik (from ancient Greek kallista "very beautiful") deals with beauty in the field of aesthetics, which is characterized by laws and harmony according to the theory.
But is proportion, symmetry, and harmony really equivalent to beauty?
Every day, we unconsciously perceive so many things that we do not consciously notice because they are so normal and ordinary, almost boring. Only when something stands out do we become aware of it. Initially, we are disturbed by it, analyze it roughly at first, but through this, we gain the time to engage with it.
Elixir unites the cool incense and the warm rose, two unequal partners that enter into a fascinating symbiosis together.
The contrast runs through the entire scent progression. The fresh but subtle eucalyptus and cardamom transition to the incense through the heart, while the orange blossom soon introduces the rose (dark purple), which later fades out slightly vanillic. This slowly pulsating dance of hot and cold in the sillage takes place on a stage of subtle, dark wood and lasts throughout the entire day.
It is precisely the unusual that exudes an incredible fascination; the otherness defines the uniqueness.
How beautiful can a small scar be on perfect female skin, how captivating two differently colored eyes can be. How interesting can the traces of decades of use on an old herringbone parquet be, how successful an orchestral interpretation of drinking songs (cf. Orff's Carmina Burana), how refreshing the combination of sharp mustard and sweet figs.
And yes, how enchanting can a fragrance of incense and roses be.
The disharmonious can also be so beautiful because it stays much more in memory, as associations are created and memories are linked. On our floor, unlikely childlike primal forces have shattered Lego bricks, leaving deep grooves and dents, yet it would never occur to me to have them sanded down. And - well, this little scar, I love it anew every time.
This fragrance was a gift from a good friend who said it would fit me perfectly, as I too have two sides. Outwardly always a bit cool, distant, politely formal, but also romantic and passionate.
This may be a Swabian trait to be somewhat reserved outwardly, but I have absolutely discovered Elixir for myself, and it has become my - possibly somewhat unusual - signature scent.
Even though I would spontaneously place the fragrance in the colder and darker seasons, that does not prevent me from enjoying it in summer as well. Moreover, I see Elixir as authentic for almost any occasion.
The bottle is, apart from the label, known from other Penhaligon's fragrances, but to be honest, I don't care at all. Penhaligon's could deliver Elixir in a cognac barrel or a milk bucket (then I would have more of it), and it would not detract from the quality of the fragrance.
Experience teaches that beauty is hidden everywhere, sometimes more, sometimes less; sometimes more obvious, sometimes less obvious.
Therefore, paradoxically, contrary to scientific opinion, aesthetics in its entirety actually deals with the "beautiful" and thus renders Kallistik, which so misdefines the concept of beauty, superfluous.
Best regards, your
Murderbee
After a long period of silent participation, I have decided to end this in favor of a somewhat less silent one. One reason is the urgent desire to try my hand at commenting. Another is to strengthen the Swabian Parfumo faction :)
I have consciously chosen to dedicate my first comment to Penhaligon's Elixir. The reason why should become clear in the following lines. I am by no means a professional when it comes to sniffing out individual ingredients, and I am quite glad that there are already extremely informative comments on this fragrance.
I would like to start with a brief definition of terms. The study of aesthetics (from ancient Greek aisthesis "perception") deals scientifically with everything that can be perceived through the human senses. Optics, acoustics, gustatory, haptic, and of course olfactory. The evaluation plays no role here, contrary to colloquial usage; aesthetics does not decide between "beautiful" and "ugly." This evaluation is the concern of a subfield of aesthetics. Kallistik (from ancient Greek kallista "very beautiful") deals with beauty in the field of aesthetics, which is characterized by laws and harmony according to the theory.
But is proportion, symmetry, and harmony really equivalent to beauty?
Every day, we unconsciously perceive so many things that we do not consciously notice because they are so normal and ordinary, almost boring. Only when something stands out do we become aware of it. Initially, we are disturbed by it, analyze it roughly at first, but through this, we gain the time to engage with it.
Elixir unites the cool incense and the warm rose, two unequal partners that enter into a fascinating symbiosis together.
The contrast runs through the entire scent progression. The fresh but subtle eucalyptus and cardamom transition to the incense through the heart, while the orange blossom soon introduces the rose (dark purple), which later fades out slightly vanillic. This slowly pulsating dance of hot and cold in the sillage takes place on a stage of subtle, dark wood and lasts throughout the entire day.
It is precisely the unusual that exudes an incredible fascination; the otherness defines the uniqueness.
How beautiful can a small scar be on perfect female skin, how captivating two differently colored eyes can be. How interesting can the traces of decades of use on an old herringbone parquet be, how successful an orchestral interpretation of drinking songs (cf. Orff's Carmina Burana), how refreshing the combination of sharp mustard and sweet figs.
And yes, how enchanting can a fragrance of incense and roses be.
The disharmonious can also be so beautiful because it stays much more in memory, as associations are created and memories are linked. On our floor, unlikely childlike primal forces have shattered Lego bricks, leaving deep grooves and dents, yet it would never occur to me to have them sanded down. And - well, this little scar, I love it anew every time.
This fragrance was a gift from a good friend who said it would fit me perfectly, as I too have two sides. Outwardly always a bit cool, distant, politely formal, but also romantic and passionate.
This may be a Swabian trait to be somewhat reserved outwardly, but I have absolutely discovered Elixir for myself, and it has become my - possibly somewhat unusual - signature scent.
Even though I would spontaneously place the fragrance in the colder and darker seasons, that does not prevent me from enjoying it in summer as well. Moreover, I see Elixir as authentic for almost any occasion.
The bottle is, apart from the label, known from other Penhaligon's fragrances, but to be honest, I don't care at all. Penhaligon's could deliver Elixir in a cognac barrel or a milk bucket (then I would have more of it), and it would not detract from the quality of the fragrance.
Experience teaches that beauty is hidden everywhere, sometimes more, sometimes less; sometimes more obvious, sometimes less obvious.
Therefore, paradoxically, contrary to scientific opinion, aesthetics in its entirety actually deals with the "beautiful" and thus renders Kallistik, which so misdefines the concept of beauty, superfluous.
Best regards, your
Murderbee
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