Asja Fendi

Coherent to its name, Asja is all you could imagine of a classical old-time oriental, but has a modern upside down twist that will make it interesting even by those who typically can’t stand Great Orientals. Firmly hanged to a ground foundation of notes which make a perfume undoubtedly oriental (patchouli, musk, amber and clove bud extract) Asja radiates brightness and vivacity to this pattern by displaying a perfectly calibrated heart of a floral bouquet composed mainly of carnations, and topped with a yummy fruity concotion. Asja starts its enchantment with a captivating lavish fruity accord that is sweet without being sickening and fresh without being trivial or flat. Top notes is engaging and inviting, and openly declare what this fragrance really is: a stunnning, opulent, yet not overpowering Oriental, a well -molded fruity-floral, not headache- inducing at all. The eugenol prominence (eugenol is the most important chemical molecule of clove buds and carnations) that identifies this composition permeates “Asja” through all of its layers but does not waste the blend, and is not medicinal or syrupy as one may presume. There is a hint of coziness about the overall first impression of the leading notes that reminds me to a hot, rich, cup of “vin brulé”. As applied on the skin, a carnation flower blooms, surrounded by mouthwatering fruity notes of peach and apricot, and a zest of citrus bitterness and freshness. The carnation heart is timid and mysterious, like a comforting background sound, and is rounded by exotic, dazzling white-greenish notes of ylang- ylang and a rich, refined Turkish rose. It is also supported by other spices that slowly appear as the perfume develops on the skin: primarily Allspice Berry – the exotic large peppercorn-like spice, prominent and interestingly torrid and multi-layered. Allspice smells a lot like garam masala – a combination of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. The eugenol note at the base is both dry and sweet, like clove-bud extract, which is much more sophisticated, profound and tantalizing feminine than the essential oil. The accord at the base is especially complex and lovely – the Orient in its most beautiful dress : patchouli, an unminstakenly print of dry spices, amber, musk, honey and vanilla, and perhaps even a brim of dry moss or hay. Asja is a real pleasure for everyday life, and an easy-to-wear Oriental. It is voluptuous, evoking, subdued and comforting all at once. It’s a perfume you could apply everywhere for any reason (be careful of the doses: sillage is HUGE and staying power is generally impressive ) Asja is an enticing and lovely poison and it is a real shame that is no more manufactured by Fendi.

I can honestly say that first time i ever tried this one it was about a year ago from a mini in EDP concentration and it was too much for me. Too strong. Too spicy. Then i bought a 40ml bottle of EDT just in case since i like the name and the bottle is quite funny and the price was very low, considering that this has been discontinued, but not because of the scent. I thought i will sell it later, so it was more as an investment. It has been standing in a darkest corner of my perfume wardrobe hidden in box with other perfumes that i don ́t like. Then i bought another bottle (absolulty new and sealed, neevr opened 40ml EDT). I still don ́t know why if i didn ́t like the fragrance as much that i would wear it. Now i know that this was a destiny. About 2 months ago i took it out the box and thought, "whatever! Let ́s spray it, just to have a different perfume day today". That was love!!!!! Late love!!! it has been almost a year, but thank God i aqquiered all those bottles since it is now amonsgst my top favorites. Maybe a different concentration helped as well, but still this one is very spicy and gourmand fragrance. To me this is a smell of glintwein or glögg of high quality. Spices, spices, spices.... carnation, honey, a lot of cinnamon, raspebbies, rose. Just everything to get you in a right mood before christmas. Though i have worn it in october-november. YUMMY! Now i don ́t mind at all to smell like that. It adds a lot of colours to life when you wear it and i don ́t think it is heavy in a bad way,, it is just very sweet ́n ́spicy. And very unique, since i can ́t really recall any other perfume that smells the same. Excellent sillage for this kind of perfume, it is not overpowering and disturbing others, but i wish it would have a better lasting power on my skin since it stays on for a 4-5hours, but for days on my hair and clothes. UPDATE: (22.may.2013) I always thought that this fragrance is strictly a autumn-winter time fragrance until i have worn it on a chilly day in may. Wow! Honestly, this sounds even better now than during winter time, when it doesn ́t stand out much and make you smell like a spiced red wine we drink for christman). Now it sounded so potent and powerful! I guess due to it ́s softer sillage. It can definitly be worn during spring as well and i guess also during summer night, when it is not overwhelmingly hot. SOOOOO GOOOD!

This is a beautiful original and never boring fragrance. The better of the two of what I call my anti-nausea perfumes- this and KL,but this is better due to entire absence of even a trace of a "heavy" "rich" note which is only evident in KL when I over-do it,but never appears even with an o.d. of Asja. Asja is truly aroma-therapeutic-KL and Asja are both in my top 10 favorites and share a similar fresh delicious slightly dry spicy slightly resinous quality. Asja on occasion surprises me and reveakls a her lovely moist stone fruit aspect- plum and apricot. But oh my- the bottle is horrid! the bottle is actually worse in person than in the photos. One friend saw it and had us both crack up laughing as he pointed out how the bottle reminded him of baloon-y clowny pants!! The miniature version is at least cute and is glass vs yucky plastic- but it is not a stable bottle- needs to stay in the little "stand" it sits in inside the charmingly odd shaped box- otherwise it tips over as does the cute but even more unstable miniature of La Perla. The big Asja bottle is a bit tipsy as well and the plastic feel of the goofy bottle does not do justice to this masterpiece juice it contains.

As I write this while wearing Asja, I am also listening to my favorite Christmas carols. Its spices of nutmeg and cinnamon hug a clove-forward carnation (heavy in carnation for my fellow lovers!) stirs up so many nostalgic feelings of childhood anticipation and wonder. The lights and the tinsel, the Rankin Bass specials, eggnog and mince pie. I know that fruit cake is an acquired taste and the brunt of much ridicule, but I absolutely love it. The dried apricot and honeyed amber in Asja reminds me so much of a good quality rum-soaked fruit cake, with hints of rose water (imagine that twist on this holiday staple!). As the spices begin to calm, I feel the enveloping of a floral core with the warmth and comfort of benzoin and woods. I imagine being in front of a roaring fireplace wrapped in an HBC point blanket. It makes me want to have not only a merry little Christmas but a winter of hygge and snuggling in with a Pendleton sweater and a good book. Sadly, Asja has been discontinued for some time, but bottles of the EDT can still be had for not so horrifying prices, so if you gravitate toward spiced ambers, you may find Asja a true pleasure.

Asja is a perfection, this fragrance has got it all - depth, entertainment, sillage, longevity, originality, sweetness, incense, spices, Asja wowed me from the moment I smelled it the first time around four years ago. My description of how I smell it: Dad just brought few bags full of varies berries and fruits from Grandma and left them in the kitchen. Mum, running away to work, would ask 13 years old me to wash the berries and to start making a jam, if I don't mind. And I don't. Huge bowl, mixture of wild strawberries, black-currants, apricots, plums - lots of sugar and a book in my hand. And you just stir, stir, stir, stir...while reading a book. Eventually on the top of that aromatic, hot bubbly concontion the foam appears, that I supposed to skim, but I keep reading and stirring. The foam is getting thicker, heavier, more and more caramelised. I started to smell that beautiful burned caramel berriesh aroma and eventually skimming the rest. But the best treat was to slide the finger around that cooled empty bowl, where jam was cooked, and where delicious slightly burned foam was still sticking to the walls. Asja...mmmmm...