In the last post I mentioned that a theme that has been showing up for me is the “remix” and now I am ready to let the proverbial cat out of the bag (cats were BIG in Egypt, right?) and reveal that the first launch of 2013 at DSH Perfumes will be for the Secrets of Egypt collection. Yeah, yeah, I know. No one wants a “collection” after last year’s plethora of collection releases, but you know how I do. I can’t help what wants to come out of my head and therefore, my studio.
And I have to say that I am excited by these perfumes. Not only because I loved the first incarnations but with the addition of new materials they feel fresh and full of life.
Back in 2010, when I was first asked to create something for a lecture event at the Denver Art Museum in conjunction with the KING TUT exhibit, I was really inspired to research authentic ancient formulae and make them as true to the spirit of the original scents as possible so as to give the “smeller”/wearer as clear a vision of what these perfumes would have smelled like in their heyday. The first “Secrets of Egypt” collection did have a few modern adaptations and original works (1, 000 Lilies, Arome d’Egypte, and Cardamom & Khyphi) but most were meant to be purely based on early ingredients, ancient methods of extraction and even early formats (the “Egyptian oil” or “Unguent”). As any one who has read the posts about the Egyptian perfumes from 2010, you know how fascinated I was by the brilliant galbanum/bitter almond (Antiu), incense / lily (1,000 Lilies) and marjoram/oreganum/spice (Sampsuchinon) accords that come to us from the ancients. They knew their stuff for sure.
Yet, there was something academic about a few of these designs to me. I wanted more. Now I’ve got what I wanted but didn’t know it until now. Welcome back Antiu, Keni and Megaleion. Plus, I went ahead and created the design idea that I had edited out of my collection back in 2010. Welcome Iridum.
What’s the big deal you ask? New materials and a true fusion of ancient and modern. These perfumes are fully mixed media instead of nearly all-botanical and the feeling and energy that this shift imparts is a cleaner, clearer, more modern sensibility. I’ve also shifted the emphasis notes to push and pull on different chords and brought these perfumes out of the “oils and unguents” and into the world of alcohol based sprays. There is a greater coherence that makes them a true collection. The tonality of the perfumes all resonate harmoniously and they also have a common “chord”, which is that all of the ancient perfumes have (at least) three sacred essences : cinnamon, cardamom and myrrh. Every one. So, there is some similarity that is palpable yet, I hope each stands alone with a unique vibe. ( I’m sure you’ll let me know).
I am very proud to be releasing these new ‘remixes’. They didn’t have to go into the afterlife to breathe again. They have been reborn into the modern age.
image credit: Ra and Osiris images found here : http://4esoalbagautier.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html
Cairo images found here : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=449673
DSH notebook 