The first offering from niche line Humiecki & Graef is Skarb, a new fragrance for men named for the Polish word for treasure:
No other than the famous perfumer Christophe Laudamiel himself, prize winning 'enfant terrible' of the perfume industry, created this extraordinary scent. Humiecki and Graef asked Laudamiel to create a perfume that captures the state of 'how men cry' – eruptive and sensual. Pictures from Slavic culture, as well as how they deal with melancholia and happiness served as inspiration. The result is a perfume that combines raw eruption, sensual strength, melancholic warmth and deep mysticism.
The “star-shaped” composition features notes of absinthe, myrtle, lovage, barley extract, musk, watery accord, carrot seeds, incense, myrrh, patchouli, orris, Roman chamomile and prune.
Humiecki & Graef Skarb is $210 for 100 ml Eau de Toilette Concentrée, and is available now at Luckyscent.
17 Comments
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I have read a lot of peculiar marketing descriptions of scents, but this is by a considerable margin the most bizarre. It captures the state of how men cry? It's star-shaped? That's just really messed up.
Also, it sounds horrible: myrtle, prune, lovage, chamomile, carrot seeds, and a watery accord? It's like the worst meal anybody ever ate.
“How men cry”, haha! That's really very slavonic and a WEIRD concept for a scent, indeed!!
Starshaped I guess means full of contrast, in contrary to round. Like zigg-zagg being the contrary of a straight line. Notes that stay close to the skin combined with strongly radiating notes.
Lovage, barley, patchouli… that sounds unusual and intriguing! Makes me think oriental candle dissolved in a Polish winter stew…
You can read a better description of what they mean by “star shaped” at Luckyscent, but all I gathered was it wasn't a standard pyramid. And yes, they are in the running for most outlandish description of the year, LOL!
It does sound unusual, but can't decide if it sounds *good* — we'll have to see! Oriental candle dissolved in a Polish winter stew doesn't appeal at the moment, LOL…
It's the sensual “raw eruption[s]” that give me pause.
I think they will win The Most Outlandish Description Prize this year. Not By Kilian, not even the copy for Chypre Rouge can bit this.
And I would so love to see those “pictures from Slavic culture” and be explained how DO they think Slavic men deal with melancholia and happiness. Drink, cry and dance kazachok? Or something else stereotypical? Oh, and how touchingly paysan of them to include a barley note. Aww.
Let's hope it doesn't CAUSE those eruptions in people who have to smell it. Imagine it made all men cry if you enter a room (or only the Polish?).
I can't think of a single traditional perfume house in Germany (if you don't count 4711) – there are only those young conceptual weirdos, like Elternhaus and Bless as well.
You're right about the clishées, Colombina, but somehow it's also cute, isn't it? On the other hand, the web site shows they are 100% serious about it…
By Kilian will give them a run for their money though! We seriously need to start an ad-copy contest.
Yes, please do an ad-copy contest! Also for name of the year, still chuckling over Moon Sparkle for Men.
ps – I wonder if Laudamiel is getting tired of being called the Enfant Terrible.
A contest would really be fun! And boy, if I were CL, I'd sure be sick of it. What a title to be saddled with for the rest of your life…
Let me preface by saying I am half Polish, but it isn't exactly the language of love, now is it? SKARB. Doesn't really roll off the tongue or make one go into reveries (well, maybe if one speaks Polish?).
Nice website and video with Chopin music, though, and I like the bottle. I might actually want to get a sample from Luckyscent to see how all those notes smell together. Could be … interesting. A bit pricey for me though ($210/100ml).
LOL — I didn't even think about it until I read your comment, but “skarb” doesn't sound like it will translate to “treasure”, now that you mention it. If you try it and it's wonderful, do come back and tell!
Or at least make their eyes water…
LOL!
I also laughed about the barley note. Barley??
Maybe kielbasa or 'kapusta' would have also been nice touches. Haha.
Well, above all I miss a Vodka note. And something like vinegar. Polish eat a lot of very sour, pickled vegetables. Yummy… But as a German you should never make fun of Polish.
On the other hand, come on, isn't all the CdG incense stuff or in fact many “geographical” fragrances a similar thing. Like: typical Italian? “Sicialian” lemon. Typical Eastern? Steamed rice. Typical Polish? Why not barley and lovage. Not less abstract, just less common.