Trillium

HOUSE OF MATRIARCH is a unique blend of classic perfumery, pagan magick and ultra-natural materials alembicated by dynamic perfumer Christi Meshell, in harmony with celestial events and energies. Each full bottle (from the High Perfumery) has a "horoscope" chart on a holographic sticker at the bottom, for the date on which its formula was created, and each bottles' packaging also carries a "Vintage" or year of production. It's no secret that I love House of Matriarch. Most releases are 100% natural (organic whenever & wherever possible) and besides smelling good, they help the wearer, whether they realize it or not, to harmonize with Mother Nature and create an almost "sacred space" around one. Taking the best materials and blending them, steeped in the ancient traditions flawlessly; while adding modern accents along the way creates a breath-taking beauty that (as our intrepid Nose likes to say) could Save the World. The plants and ingredients used within may have been destroyed, true-but their essences live on. Their sacrifices allowing them to reach and touch many more than would have experienced them in Nature. Today's selection, Trillium, is equal parts pretty perfume, aromatherapy and balm for the spirit. It's a "fantasy floral"; a divine concoction that brings to life (and nostril) the white trillium flower and celebrates it with a Tea Party! This perfumer did (what most would consider) the Impossible. Her line of 100% natural perfumes are available nationwide at level one Nordstrom department stores and online from Nordie's (and, of course, the MATRIARCH website). Each fragrance of the nine new Haute (High) Perfumery line has a video by the perfumer with images and explanations of the scent (another first!) to give an auditory and visual aspect to the perfumes. In Trillium, an intoxicating and uplifting opening sees Nagori sake (hints of cherry blossom and plum) and its fruity vapors combining with shiso leaves, which are invigorating and intensely verdant; yet cool. Floral top notes of mimosa, aglaia (silk tree blossom) and double-blooming Roman chamomile brings us from cool forest shadows to a grassy patch where the sun illuminates a single three-petaled creamy flower reaching to the heavens. This silken fuzzy herbaceous florality smells unlike your typical "white floral/tea" construct, as there are unusual and exotic blossoms hidden in every level of the pyramid; so the floral aspect never withers and dies (LOVE that!). Lavender keeps this from being overly feminized and coffee tree flower adds some gourmand whispers. The teas in Trillium (also found at all levels of the olfactory framework) include rooibos tea, white tea, green tea and even sweet black tea; before cooling to jasmine tea in the drydown. These lend a subtle leafiness, but also waft their brewed infusions as well; almost like you smell the leaves then brew them fresh before sipping softly and sighing deeply. Where the prelude was eye-opening, the heart is utterly relaxing. This phase borders on playful even-it's such a carefree and utterly unpretentious aroma. A base of balsam and amber provide the warm glow of sunset on this idyllic romp through nature. Sillage: heavy, softening to moderate Longevity: very good (long-lasting) Overall: 4.25/5 I mentioned aromatherapy only due to the fact that on July 7th of this year (2016) was the first time I wore this (read: BATHED in) and it lasted far longer than most natural perfumes and kept me from having a serious case of road rage when four different people did four distinct and idiotic things (in the span of 25 minutes) while driving, two nearly causing accidents. It would be pretty difficult for ME to express (let alone FEEL) even a twinge of negativity while sporting this scent. That alone makes it worth the $6+ per ml asking price, in the 1.7 oz size I own, as far as this usually penny-pinching parfumista is concerned-not to mention the splendid blue cobalt glass and repurposed antique copper used in overlaying the bottles. You get what you pay for from House of Matriarch: high perfumery, true luxury and something sadly missing from perfume counters for decades: MAGIC!! (Projection falls shortly into the wearing, but when the sillage subsides the true alchemy occurs and the longevity is incredible).

HOM scents are all really different. Kinda weird. Just like Guerlain has their "base" so does HOM. There is an herbalness in all the scents. But this is one of my favorites and the most wearable. I'm at a loss to describe it. It's floral. It is not tea-like to me, and there's a beautiful honey-like sweet note that is not "cat pee" honey, not cloying, but airy. The florals are NOT recognizable whites or yellows like gardenia or tuberose--and mimosa is probably the only one I can say "Yeah, that's it." In the drydown there is something a bit spicier. I think it's a lovely powerhouse of a perfume, more feminine than masculine, but whatever. It's simply beautiful, well- constructed with clearer, cleaner lines than other HOM perfumes. I think if one likes tropical or Hawaiian Island-like scents, this would be the ticket--but--don't think coconut or other island tropes. This is a fantasy, mythical island with flowers not on the mainland of reality. I have a lot of HOM. This is one of their best, and a definite try (go for a sanple).

Opens with a sharp green & juicy bright floral tone, but quickly turns into a dry powdery (almost incense-like) crisp white floral.. I guess that's the mimosa, camomile, and whatever aglaia is. Then it soothes down into a slightly peppery vetiver-like scent, with a hint of gourmand (coffee blossom?) The dry down is warm and soothing (amber), slightly sweet (balsam) and somewhat fresh (jasmine tea), but nothing like the rejuvenating opening. Overall an intriguing multi-faceted fragrance, clean yet somewhat mysterious.

this starts super herbal and green-it smells like you're laying in the grass on a warm summer day. it's very grassy and bright and vegetal. after about 5 minutes there's something slightly earthy coming forth. i am assuming this is chamomile? i don't recognize some of the notes and they must be making the herbal thing happen here. after awhile i get some mimosa and tea. the scent is definitely more floral after about 10 minutes but still quite green. i've never smelled anything quite like this. it's spring in a bottle, but less typical floral and more green and weedy florals and trees. i like it because it's an interesting experience, but probably not something i would wear a lot.

A very green, fresh kind of scent. It smells as if I picked up a bunch of dandelion stems, then rubbed them all over me. This is a fragrance you'd wear for yourself. I can appreciate the artistry that went into this. Really, nothing smells like it, and it really smells natural. This will not get you compliments. I do think it's a good gym scent. Smells like I just mowed the lawn, except none of the smell of sweat is there. I have a hard time recommending this at the $330/50ml retail price, although I did get this on one of their scratch sales, in addition to my already having enough points to get an additional 1/2 off (so I basically only paid $82 for it).