By Kilian Arabian Nights "Incense Oud": new fragrance

Periods and continents diverge to give birth to a new oriental collection By Kilian. Kilian Hennesy, grandson of the founder of LVMH and cognac heir, is well known among perfume enthusiasts for his eponymous collection By Kilian which includes such fragrances as the glorious rosy floral of Dangerous Liaisons and the more masculine woody Cruel Intentions or the more extroverted Love, Prelude to Love or Love and Tears.

The “Arabian Nights” is Kilian's newest project, composed of 5 perfumes, 5 olfactive harmonies, all built around essential oils with strong symbolic values from the East: Oud, Rose, Incense, Amber and Musk.
Pure Oud, Rose Oud and Incense Oud are the first stopovers of this olfactive trip, with Incense Oud to come out shortly.

Oud is an extremely rare and precious oil found in Agarwood, the resinous heartwood of the
Aquilaria tree from southeast Asia and is possibly the strongest trend in perfumery in the last two years, mainly thanks to developments in synthetic replications. (You can read a comprehensive article on oud/agarwood on this link on Perfume Shrine). Still some companies use the real stuff to extend the effect.
The natural oil itself is dark in coloration and has a complex scent, being warm and woody, yet strongly animalistic at the same time. In many Middle Eastern countries, Oud is believed to be worth more than its weight in gold. To echo this belief, the Kilian Incense Oud bottle has a gold plaque engraved with the name of the perfume and the box is decorated with a gold plaque on the top.
Incense, a mystical aroma whose smoke was said to be one of the links between mortals and Gods, is combined with oud, giving birth to a fragrance that is mysterious and warm, yet modern.

1.7 oz/50ml PURE OUD spray $ 395
1.7 oz/50ml ROSE OUD spray $ 395
1.7 oz/50ml INCENSE OUD spray $ 395

Points of Sale:
Bergdorf Goodman, select Saks, Lucky Scent Bar, MiN (and online at BergdorfGoodman.com, Saks.com, luckyscent.com and MiN.com).

some info via press release

Petite Mort: Parfum d'une Femme by Bertrand Duchaufour for Marc Atlan

Sly advertising that cleverly crosses the lines without vulgar displays is the image that accompanies one of the most provocative concepts in perfumery nowadays: La Petite Mort is of course codename for orgasm...

"Inspired directly by the only bodily fluid secreted solely through desire and brain chemistry, Petite Mort™ (Parfum d'une Femme) embodies the elusive substance that is created by a woman when she is about to climax. Petite mort, little death, total release; beyond a scent, more like a convulsion of the senses, like a hot, gasping breath that penetrates your memories and alters your subconscious".

I can tell that it will create endless discussion on the boundaries (and artfulness) of advertising, just like some of the best examples have in the past.

Bertrand Duchaufour, star perfumer of niche perfumery, collaborated here with Art et Parfum and Kilian Hennesy (of By Kilian fame) for Marc Atlan, creative director & designer issuing this new fragrance under his own name. Duchaufour worked in this no doubt provocative concept like a challenge. Petite Mort’s fragrance exudes an animal carnality with salty notes of sweat and urea. But warm milk, which is supposed to be the scent that the human brain most closely associates with human skin is also featured in the form of Sulfurol. According to the perfumer, certain subtle ingredients in the perfume are discriminatory, and these notes will not be perceived by everyone. He also describes Petite Mort as “aphrodisiacally compelling”.

Only 100 bottles by renowned verreries Pochet (purveyors to Empress Eugénie of France since 1858) will circulate as well as 15 artistic mods for exhibitions. The price of 1000$ for 10ml reflects the exclusive side of the project and allegedly the intensity of concentration (supposedly 100% compound). The scent was introduced at the Elements Showcase in New York on January 30, 2011. (more on that one on these pages shortly!)

More info and availability for purchase (from this coming April onwards) on the official site.

pic via punmiris