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12/16/2012
Bellemorte
4 Reviews
Bellemorte
Helpful Review
1
Qasr al-hamra – the red fortress
The Alhambra a World Cultural Heritage in Granada, south Spain is one of todays greatest tourist attractions all over Europe. It´s a fortified (palace) village including a citadel built in a traditional moorish architectual style. For years now I´m fascinated by this seemingly plain reddish brown fortress sitting on top of a mountain defying the centuries. But there is great beauty to be found inside such as the Court of Lions or the Generalife – combining oriental overabundance and natural elegance.
Also this is how I perceive Antonio Viscontis olfactorial interpretation of the Alhambra.
The perfume Alhambra is a sweet, spicy and woody oriental – a thick and multi-faceted fragrance which encases its wearer kind of like a warming cashmere shawl. But also it has a space-filling sillage and great longevity.
It starts with a kind of freshness representing the dawn of a new day when it´s still cool and calm outside but with the foreboding of warmth and bustling activity in he air. Early bakermen are already busy making their famous sweets with coriander and saffron. This sweetness captivates my senses while taking me along into the resinoid and nearly fruity heart of the fragrance. There I find rosebushes in full bloom shedding their scent into the withering heat of the day. A hot gust of wind now rushes through the city whirling up all the long-lost notes – here´s a hint of coriander, there´s a touch of bergamote... Whilst I´m awaiting the oncoming night in the shadows of old knobby trees, hoping for relief from the heat of the day by darkness and golden-citric myrrh.
Alhambra is a fragrance for dreaming, so alien and at the same time so protecting, so encasing you feel safe and sound wearing it. A fragrance like a hug from your father – strong, ever-present but not overwhelming. And it accompanies you all day long.
Also this is how I perceive Antonio Viscontis olfactorial interpretation of the Alhambra.
The perfume Alhambra is a sweet, spicy and woody oriental – a thick and multi-faceted fragrance which encases its wearer kind of like a warming cashmere shawl. But also it has a space-filling sillage and great longevity.
It starts with a kind of freshness representing the dawn of a new day when it´s still cool and calm outside but with the foreboding of warmth and bustling activity in he air. Early bakermen are already busy making their famous sweets with coriander and saffron. This sweetness captivates my senses while taking me along into the resinoid and nearly fruity heart of the fragrance. There I find rosebushes in full bloom shedding their scent into the withering heat of the day. A hot gust of wind now rushes through the city whirling up all the long-lost notes – here´s a hint of coriander, there´s a touch of bergamote... Whilst I´m awaiting the oncoming night in the shadows of old knobby trees, hoping for relief from the heat of the day by darkness and golden-citric myrrh.
Alhambra is a fragrance for dreaming, so alien and at the same time so protecting, so encasing you feel safe and sound wearing it. A fragrance like a hug from your father – strong, ever-present but not overwhelming. And it accompanies you all day long.
