Avicenna Myrrha Mystica

The philosopher known as Ibn Sīnā, or by the Latin name Avicenna, was a Persian physician, astronomer and thinker, who wrote several fundamental treatises on a variety of subjects, but essentially on themes of philosophy and medicine. At the age of eighteen, it was said that there was nothing he had not already learned. He became the Islamic Golden Age most followed and studied scholar, and lived in the tenth and eleventh centuries of our era. Myrrh is a resin obtained from the stem of a spiny tree (Commiphora myrrha), with red / yellow flowers and spiky fruits. The gum extracted in northeastern Africa, namely in Somalia, is usualy more valued. To obtain the aromatic resin, locals cut the myrrh trees at harvest time and collect the milky and sticky juice that drips from the bark. After exposure to the dryness of the middle eastern sun, myrrh dyes and hardens into grains the size of a reddish-brown berry. The beginning of its use coincides with the primordial ages of several ancient Middle East civilizations. It was indispensible practices of religious, of medicine and of aromatherapy nature. Its musky spirals of smoke since long ago have been associated with the mystics of embalming, seduction, perfumery and several other different rituals across different regions. Common myrrh has a resinous, woody and slightly medicinal aroma. Depending on its nature and treatment, the myrrh scent can vary from bitter and astringent to hot, comfortable and sweet. It has always been considered a cooling fragrance. The resin - commonly preferred in perfumery over the more medicinal essential oil - tends to smell smokier, sweeter and smoother. Annette Neuffer masterfully blended Avicenna's secrets, mysticism through time, and Somali myrrh resins with exquisite spices, exotic and fragrant roses, precious woods and soft amber. As a result, one of the most dramatically alluring and intoxicating oriental perfumes has been revealed five years ago. Upon first smell, I felt embraced by the loving arms by Sherazade in a never ending enchanting tale. This perfume relates more to wizardry and alchemy than to chemistry. Trivial info like enormous longevity, great sillage, and strong projection, seem almost unnecessary. I thank all those who contributed for me to discover this masterpiece. Musics: * Eurythmics - "Sweet dreams (are made of this)" * Annette Neuffer Quintet: "Stairway To The Stars"

Upon spraying I smell rose, myrrh and beeswax, deep and sweet with a little fresh, green twang from the petitgrain and citrus. As it warms on my skin the cinnamon and a little cardamon show themselves along with more resins and creamy sandalwood - everything starts to warm up and becomes richer - oh yes, the richness in this perfume is gorgeous, it’s intoxicating. I’m carried away into my own imagined realms of history; the silk roads and spice routes, European castles with exquisite gardens. Avicenna Myrrha Mystica speaks to me of Medieval courtly opulence, beauty, splendour and warmth. Who would smell like this? - A Lady in fine velvet, with a benevolent smile, much loved by her courtiers. She is being serenaded by the sweetest troubadours in the land and the warm evening breeze carries the scent of roses from the gardens. They are subtle but deep, red velvety roses couched amongst rich balsamic incense resins and dusted with exotic spices. This is the stuff that perfumed dreams are made of and I really want it in my collection.

Ahhh yesss. Deeply lovely stuff with such a classy hand that it overcame ALL my usual reservations about myrrh. The note can get somehow too acrid-chemical-alcohollish for me often, a bit too bright and brittle. As in say Keiko Mecheri Myrrh des Marveilles - I feel a little poked-at, a little yelled-at, if myrrh gets too mouthy. But this? This is myrrh mellowed out to sheer perfection, rounded and smoothed by that fantastic menu of amazing things above ... a zingy, sunny orange tang to start off, with soft, warm resins below making it all fuzzy and welcoming throughout. I blench at too much rose (and some other Neuffers are wayyy too rose-heavy for my comfort) but here the petals just peek cheekily through the rest now and again, rather than burying everything. Overall - truly sophisticated and opulent but still entirely friendly, rather than an intimidating grande-dame performance. All those gorgeous warm spices conjuring one facet of the cinnamon-scented calm of Hermessence Ambre Narguile, though this is a more femme and more exotic beast altogether. You could wear it to anything, from a grand state occasion to bimbling around at home wanting to smell lovely, and it would never ever be wrong. Also has the lovely meld-to-your-skin texture of the rest of the house's work - that all-natural manifesto means this doesn't pop out ahead of you or smother your own body. It never shouts, it just rumbles away discreetly while hanging on strong and with very respectable longevity on skin (6 to 10h) or fabric (literally days). Costs a fortune but would seriously be worth it if this sort of intimate, bespoke, quality work weaves its magic on you. I could rhapsodise further but it seems pointless - look at that note list! JUST LOOK AT IT! If you want to smell all those wonderful things in a near perfect balance - yes, it really will do that. A jewel, truly.