Thursday, November 25, 2010

Anya's Garden Light and Amberess: fragrance review & bottle giveaway

In the season of thanks, I'm especially thankful for being part of a discourse on perfumery which takes diverse and interesting turns all the time. The Outlaw perfume project was one of those moments in time which I feel might kickstart something bigger soon. And I'm hopeful! For now, I'm thankful that I got sent samples of two outlaw perfumes created for it by its instigator, Anya McCoy, president of the the Natural Perfumers' Guild: Light and Amberess.




I will come back for Amberess soon because it's so very snuggly and unusual for an amber-based scent (an amber mix that's not too sweet and is more spicy-rosy than most, yeah!), but Light just needs to be brought into the light (ha!) now that the natural light is diminishing in the Northern hemisphere and we tend to hanker after it. It's no accident the feast of St.Lucia (which means..."light") is on the shortest day of the year...

Anya based the composition of Light on the flower absolute of a Chinese perfume tree with beautiful yellowish blossoms belonging in the family of mahogany, named Aglaia odorata (also known as Chinese Rice Tree). Originally she meant to call the perfume Aglaia after it; a Greek name which comes from the verb αγλαΐζω (ah-gla-EEzo); it means "to beautify", to "aesthetically enhance" and is literally the origin of the english word "glamour" (nifty, eh?) In Greek mythology, Aglaia is one of the Three Kharites (the Three Graces) symbolising splendour, glory, magnificence and adornment. I personally wish Anya would have kept it, for reasons of uniqueness and...well, fitting the spirit of the perfume! But hey, I know most people would have a hard time manipulating their tongue over those heavy Greek ls and the most difficult γ for which is there is no English sounding equivalent, really... The name change into Light came naturally: The fragrance is luminous and breezy!

It's built on a "cologne style" (lots of that neroli and citrusy-woody-musky impression you get when you use a really good traditional Eau de Cologne), floral and citrusy and admist it all, the aglaia flower is the soliflore which sings the beauty of "less is more". Aglaia smells between neroli and a light, green jasmine to my nose in this mix and it's an absolutely delightful impression. Frankincense lends beautiful citrusy aspects with a gentle bitterish smokiness which couples very well with the slightly tarry-cool note of broom (that's what the French call genet); the combination makes the whole quite sophisticated!

How is Light, so delicate, so innocent, an Outlaw? The notes that are either limited by, or untested by IFRA are shown in red:
Top notes: Sicilian cedrat, Israeli yellow grapefruit, French juniper berry.
Middle notes: Chinese aglaia flower, French genet flower, North Carolina
ambergris.
Base notes: Hojari frankincense oil, edible frankincense sacra resinoid.

In order to get the most lasting power from this Outlaw perfume it's advisable to use on hair, clothes (it doesn't stain as far as I was able to test on regular non-silk fabric) or in a perfume locket! (A romantic idea which is enthusiastically embraced by the Outlaw perfumers!)
Light and Amberess are included in the newest sample set at Anya's Garden online, ten samples of all-naturals perfumes for 65$ with the option of a 10% discount with voucher code OUTLAW used upon purchase.

Anya is doing a giveaway of both Light and Amberess in 3.5ml minis, pure perfume/extrait de parfum. She prefers to ship in the USA only at the moment. Enter your name in the comments if you are eligible and I will pick two random winners! Draw is now closed.

pic via http://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/

40 comments:

  1. I would love to try these!

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  2. annoula18:53

    Oh, please enter me in the drawing! They both sound beautiful.

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  3. sounds lovely, please enter me in the giveaway!

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  4. It sounds so tempting. Please include me as well. Thank you.

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  5. d3m0lici0n20:10

    it sounds great, please enter my name in the draw...
    Thanks

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  6. cjj8821:08

    Sounds interesting..please enter me in the draw.

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  7. This is a lovely giveaway and I would love to try either one! Thanks you!

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  8. ahsu21:25

    Would love the chance to win. Thanks to you and Anya for offering such a wonderful prize.

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  9. Fernando21:42

    That Aglaia did sound wonderful, even disguised as "Light". And Ambress sounds intriguing as well. Sign me up. I'm all in favor of these Outlaws.

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  10. What a great giveaway- Anya's perfumes are unusual, lovely and oh so evocative. I'd love to be entered in the draw! Thanks!

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  11. I would love to win!

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  12. I'd love to enter as well. Thank you!

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  13. Sounds very nice, I'd like to enter too. Thanks!

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  14. If it's not too late, I'd like to enter the drawing. Thanks!

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  15. These two new perfumes sound wonderful and I am glad to hear they 100% non-compliant! Suck on this, INFRA. We should what we can to support real perfumes before all you can buy is 95% SB alcohol with ambrox, ISO-e and touch of fake citrus. Already most of the commercial perfumes smell like glorified household detergents with a hint of Jolly Ranger. And yes, I would love to enter the drawing.

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  16. I've collected a few antique perfume lockets in the past year and I would love to grace them with a few drops of an "outlaw fragrance". Amberess in particular sound wonderful for the cold weather, but both sound lovely. Please enter me in the drawing. And bravo to Anya for her outlaws!

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  17. Olivia A05:20

    These sound lovely! :-) Please enter me? Thank you for hosting this giveaway!! :-)

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  18. Please include me in the draw! I've been dying to try some of Anya's perfumes, and Light sounds wonderful!

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  19. I'd love to try these!

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  20. These do sound so lovely! I've never tried any of Anya's perfumes and would love to be included in the draw! Thanks. :-)

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  21. These two scents seem so beautiful. I would like to be in the draw if possible.

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  22. Geordan19:25

    I would love to try. Please enter me in draw.

    Best,

    Geordan

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  23. These sound lovely! I've been reading about Outlaw with great interest. I actually have severe allergies and I have to say natural perfume ingredients have never caused me any issues, so I tend to disagree with IFRA.

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  24. These sound great and I really like the "Outlaw" out look!
    -thanks-Ross

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  25. I would LOVE to give these a try!


    Natalie
    stopmunch@gmail.com

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  26. This sounds utterly gorgeous, and like something that would be uplifting and and cheering. I could totally use something like that! Please include me in the draw :)

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  27. I would be a fool to pass up an opportunity to try any of Anya's Creations! Please include me in this drawing. ~keeping fingers crossed~

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  28. I want to try :)
    Thanx!

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  29. Anonymous00:35

    Anya's Light and Ambress sound wonderful! I'd like to try them....

    ~ Susan

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  30. They both sound nice, and I would love to try them.

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  31. I love the whole Outlaw concept, and I'm grateful that we can count on someone to continue using the beautiful natural ingredients that are being ridiculously eliminated from mainstream perfumes and replaced with artificial chemicals. I would really appreciate the chance to try some of these fragrances.

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  32. They both sound like the perfect remedy for the cold we are having here in Chicago! Please enter me in the draw, thank you!

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  33. Please enter me in the draw, thank you!

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  34. Valentine22:52

    Amberess sounds like it will best with my dearest fragrance loves, although I love your review of Light (and the name!). I would love to be entered in the draw and do live stateside.

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  35. Fernando,

    Aglaia is surely a very evocative name with its mythological and etymological references....

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  36. Akimon,

    you make great points! Why indeed. I hope this trend of rebellion catches on!

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  37. Melissa,

    wow, would love to get a glimpse of your collection, sounds absolutely riveting!

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  38. VA Gal,

    don't say!! This is actually tremendously interesting: I hope IFRA is listening!

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  39. Nina,

    indeed it's great to be able to count on some people using those wonderful materials which have been so lamentably chastised for being...beautiful.

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  40. Aimee,

    hope there is a warm ray coming your way soon, I bet it's cold in the wind city!

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