Mystery of Musk: Temple of Musk - andra Balahoutis/Strange Invisible Perfumes

[Guest guest]

I have to admit that before the arrival of SIP's Temple of Musk

perfume sample I had never before smelled any of andra Balahoutis'

perfumes, though I have always been ravished by SIP's luscious website

for several years. When the sample arrived, I wanted to tear open the

envelope and open the vial immediately, of course, but I didn't. I

waited until I could pay full attention to the experience of smelling

this perfume.

The initial whiff of this perfume on the scent strip brought me

immediately to an arena where the soft rich temple mandarin stands

face to face with a most lush myrtle, with the musk of black currant

teasing from deep within the smell. I smelled something secret and

citrusy around the corner from that, which might have been part of the

mandarin but which had a neroli luster with an almost moonlit grace to

it.

The citrus and the myrtle continue to circle each other until they

begin to merge softly into the middle note, which is also when an echo

of vanilla seems to appear suddenly yet quietly. A sacred grove

breathes within this fragrance.

This all softens in an almost imperceptibly gradual way, seeming to

merge finally in an unmistakable musk note, at once animal and deeply

sweet. It seems to almost grow in intensity at this point, as if the

perfume somehow magically conceals surprises of fragrance hiding in

the folds of its drydown.

The final musk note is long and lingering, " Musk " being writ large yet

elegantly.

I have a little left of the sample that was sent, and I'm going to

save it for a really special occasion.

Alfred Eberle