Batavia

I have always had a great love for spicy oriental fragrances, and this one fills my yearning to perfection. I have this in the oil base, a form of fragrance I rarely wear. I don't know why. It's a different beast entirely, and there's no waiting for the ultimate beautiful drydown. This fragrance is spicy, but subtly so, and so artfully blended that no one note competes with another. It's also sweet, but not sticky - sweetened subtly with a vanilla so deep, dark and boozy you'll want to eat your wrists. Anchored with the perfect earthiness of patchouli, vetiver and benzoin, this scent stays the distance, and lives just close enough to your skin to leave a wispy scented trail along your path, and makes the love of you life nuzzle his nose in your neck and stay there. But this one I wear for me. It was a sweet surprise and a gift that cheers me with each wearing. It's feminine and sensual enough for me, but I can imagine it on a man as well. I love the stories that Teone weaves into her fragrances, but as a woman deeply proud of her Dutch descent, the story of the ship Batavia is intriguing, and more than a little disturbing. If you want a good read that seems impossible, google it. But, if you're Dutch, brace yourself. This blip in our history is one I would much rather forget, and have it erased from history forever. It's wild and weird and almost impossible to believe, but there are so many stories just like this one, and I can accept that. Thankfully, it doesn't clouds my love of this scent.

I own a full bottle of this golden beauty. For an all natural amber, this is a heavyweight and no pushover. Benzoin lovers, take note! It is there in all its sticky gooey cinnamony glory. The clove lends a mysterious depth to the resinous goodness. Everything is very well-balanced here. It is equal parts spice and resin, at once warm and comforting. When I put this on my skin, I'm enveloped in a warm golden aura. All of Teone's perfumes have this rich earthy energy to it. No doubt from the hefty amounts of high quality EOs and botanicals. Batavia is the equivalent of a fortifying potion. Think hot spiced milk tea sipped in front of a roaring fire. It lends quiet strength and inner peace. It's almost like you've wrapped a protective cloak around your person. On TOP of it all, the vintage crystal flacon that Batavia comes in is such a precious thing! I read the amazing story of how she came across them on her FB page. It looks breathtaking among my perfume collection.

Batavia is a truly beautiful composition. I received this at the same time as a number of Teone's gorgeous concoctions and didn't sniff it with the notes in mind. I was immediately transported to the redolent streets of Ubud in Bali. The perfect synergy of resins and spices wrap you in a true Balinese time capsule. The clove and benzoin are most noticeable at first, followed closely by the cardamom. I would swear there's a hint of ginger in here too but it's not listed. This is a definite full-bottle worthy scent!

Have this perfume in the oil base, very gentle on the skin and lasts for hours. It has a delicious wintery spicy quality that retains enough subtlety to turn many a head.

If you feel short on fun only gentle and warm, "Batavia" which has a scent of spicy oriental would become to your best friend. You can enjoy rich and condensed Benzoin and would do experience that it's complemented by woody cloves with spicy cardamom. I became to feeling of an exotic trip while at home...at least, I am. Aalmost people too? Surely! This balsamic scent always makes us happy from cold season to early spring.