Galbanum and other Strangers: ” The Master and Margarita by Michael Bulgahov” + Vol de Nuit Draw

 

 

  

“I am invisible and I am free,” said Margarita.

 

 

  

In Michael Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita Margarita is an unloving wife. She has found and lost the love of her life. When he is gone, she does not know whether he went to the jail, to the other side of That Old Cold Styx River, or to some other place unknown. (Turns out that he went to the insane asylum, so her thoughts were not quite far off).  One day she sits on the bench and silently speaks to her lover (yes, she always does). She pleads with him in her mind to give her a sign that he is alive or to release her from the memory of him and her everlasting need to reach out to all that's left of him and to her memory of him.

 

 

 

Then a strange looking gentleman takes a seat next to her and repeats to her the very words she has just spoken in her mind.  Stop just sitting here and watching your days go by, he says, there are things that you can do to change the charted course of events that can only lead you to the sad place. Of course, such a possibility comes with a leap of faith, or perhaps something darker.

  

The rest is history. You probably know it, and if you don't, I shouldn't be  the spoiler. But I am talking about it anyway. Why am I?

 

 

 

My experience of Vol de Nuit and the scenes of Master and Margarita run parallel. 

 

 

 

Margarita watches the clock for just the time to put on the cream given to her by the stranger.  As she puts it on her body, the cream smells a little bit like swamp water. She sees the amazing change, laughs as she watches her wrinkles disappear and her eyes shine, and finally dances to the bureau to write her husband a note, "Forgive me and forget me as soon as you can. I have become a witch from the grief and adversities that had struck me."

 

 

 

Vol de Nuit opens up with galbanum. When I smelled it for the first time at Dawn Spencer Hurwitz's studio, it reminded me of swamp. I hated it. I smelled it in its undiluted form then, but even now, when I smell Sikkim, Silences or Chanel #19, the jolt of galbanum makes my nerves tingle and my body get ready to jump at whatever happens.

 

 

 

What happens with Vol de Nuit is Margarita's laughter. Sparkling aldehydes — seems like they are jumping in the air, and if I swallow one of those bits of laughter, I will jump around and laugh, too. Vol de Nuit takes me with Margarita for a flight at night, filled with laughter and her boisterous energy bottled up for a long time and now bubbling out.

  

Most everyone who’s read The Master and Margarita has pondered the book's ending. What does it symbolize?  To Hell with the details(as the Devil would say).

 

 

 

This is how I feel about  the guerlinaide. I know there are others who know many more than I do. I cannot even tell how my experience with Vol de Nuit's base stacks up to theirs. All I do know is that it is very comforting. So I guess I have given you my opinion of the novel's ending despite my wishes.

Olga Rowe, Guest Contributor

 

For our draw is 2ml sample vial of Vintage Vol de Nuit from a friend’s (thanks to A.R.) extensive vintage Guerlain collection. Please comment on Olga’s first article, the magic of Guerlain, your favorite galbanum perfume (and if you have read the book your favorite character) or any  note that you learned to love. Draw ends Monday Oct 10, 2011 EST

   For our draw is 2ml sample vial of Vintage Vol de Nuit from a friend’s (thanks to A.R.) extensive vintage Guerlain collection. Please comment on Olga’s first article, the magic of Guerlain, your favorite galbnum perfume (and if you have read the book your favorite character) or any scent that you had to learn to love. Draw ends Monday Oct 10, 2011 EST Editor’s Note: The Master and Margarita (Russian: Ма́стер и Маргари́та) is a novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, woven around the premise of a visit by the Devil to the fervently atheistic Soviet Union. Written in 1967, many critics consider the book to be one of the greatest novels of the 20th century. The book has influenced Mick Jagger, Pearl Jam, and Scottish band song Franz Ferdinand "Love and Destroy" is based on Margarita in the novel. Fiction, Music tell stories… as do great fragrances.

 

 On  the Guerlainade :For 175 years, no one but the Company – whose in-house perfumers were all descendants until Thierry Wasser – knew exactly what notes compromised this mysterious and iconic accord; most fragrance experts believe it contains Bergamot, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, orange blossom, iris, (possibly linden, lilac and vetiver), tonka bean, and vanilla according to my sources

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

6 + 4 =

27 comments

  • Olga! What a fun review that was. You’ve made me very intrigued by that book, which I have never read. It’s on my Amazon wish list now.

    I am doing the dance with Vol de Nuit right now. I tried the extrait a couple of weeks ago and was in love. This last time. not as much. Next time. who knows? I have only been trying the current extrait – I am almost afraid to experience the vintage!

    Actually what I am really wanting right now is the spray sparkle powder scented with Vol de Nuit for the holidays.

    Thank you for a fun read!

  • kamajasmine says:

    Hello. I have been a ‘lurker’ for about 3 months now. I saw your blog’s name on basenotes as a ‘best of blogs finalist’ and I am embarrassed that before that, I had never heard of Cafleurebon. I love galbanum; my favorite is issey miyake A Scent. I would love to win this, as I have never smelled Vol de Nuit (vintage or current).

  • Natasolaire says:

    Olga, thanks a lot for this beautiful review. I love The Master and Margarita and every time when I start to read this novel I discover something absolutely new. I don’t have any favourite character, most of them many-sided personalities as result it is too hard to love them or to hate.
    From you review I can see that Vol de Nuit very especial I almost can smell it:-) And I know that I will love it or hate but I’ll not be indiferrent.

  • Wonderful review! I do love VdN – and yes – now I’m very intrigued by the book. Anything that bears comparison with VdN is a keeper. I took a while to appreciate Vol de Nuit, just as it took me a while to appreciate Guerlain in general. But now it’s all good. 🙂

  • 1966 is the year when the novel has been published.
    It was written in 1929-1940 years and his wife keep it in secret for 26 years after Bulgakov`s death.
    Brilliant novel and excellent article!
    Belle debut, Olga!

  • Sergey
    I did not know that his wife secretly held the book
    The US translation was a year later in 1967
    Thank you for letting us know
    It must have been so subversive that that the communist government would have sent him to a work camp
    Also the sample of vol de nuit is from 1993 before Ifra ,which has restrictions on jasmine and bergamot
    Guerlain does a remarkable job of keeping it close

  • chayaruchama says:

    Welcome, Olga !
    I thoroughly enjoyed your review.

    Another of my favorite books and perfumes ;-0

  • I have never read the book but now I must. I love Silences and Norrel both heavy on galbanum.

  • I like the witchy lady on the broom it looks like she might fun to hang out with . And definitely looks like the type of gal to be wearing Vol De Nuit. This would be a nice read and is that witch putting up the middle finger? I could easily seee myself trying swamp water tonics to stay youthful:) I have a limited knowledge of Guerlains. And in truth dont recall ever smelling or identifing the note of galbanum. Thanks for the draw:) xo

  • It’s a masterpiece of a novel, and I like the comparison to Vol de Nuit. I think I was first lured in to read it because of Behemot the talking cat, but I couldn’t say I had one favourite character, since all the characters in the novel are drawn with such finesse. Vol de Nuit is one of my all time favourite fragrances, and that although I have never smelled the vintage formula, which I would dearly love to.
    Thanks Olga for the beautiful write up.

  • Galbanum is a note I’m still trying to understand. It’s strange because sometimes I can’t stand it and other times I crave it. My favorite perfume which contains galbanum is A Scent by Issey Miyake.

    Congratulations to Olga on her first article. It has been a very interesting reading. That book has been in my “to read list” for months, and now thanks to this article I’m looking forward to getting down to it.

  • I thoroughly enjoyed your article, Olga, and now have this very interesting book on my wish list. Guerlain is such an amazing House and as for galbanum, I’ve worn and enjoyed Norell.

  • Great post, Olga!

    M&M is one of my favorite books, I read and re-read it many times. Now I really want to try the perfume that you associate with Margarita.

    A favorite character? Of course, Behemoth – a comic relief of the book. “Not causing trouble, not bothering anyone, just fixing the primus.” But all other characters are [much more] important for the plot and idea of the book.

    Ok… Now I want to read it again.

  • Lovely, Olga! 🙂 Thank you for that ‘cameo’ at the studio as well!
    Vol de Nuit! Such a glorious masterpiece! LOVE…

  • I’ve been meaning to read this book- I even bought it. Just have to actually read it..;-).. I’ve recently fallen in love with Guerlain’s Shalimar and realized I need to get my hands on some of the vintage stuff.
    Leather is a note that I never thought I’d love but now do. Also (darker) rose, though that took far less time for me to realize I loved it. I find vintage Chanel no. 19 too green and a little sharp but in the right mood, it might be perfect.

    I’d love to be entered in the draw!

  • Dear friends, that you so much for kind comments on my debut. I feel incredibly honored! I could not be happier to have my writing appear on Cafleurebon so that you all can read it and comment on it. I am very happy that my impressions are inspiring some of you to read the book, to re-read the book, to try Vol de Nuit or to do all of the above! None of you will be disappointed, and I say this with confidence – such is the advantage of loving the finer things in life (perfumes, books, and music come to mind first)

    I am making a note for myself to try Norrel since it appeared in the comments twice.

    Anyone who knows my taste in perfume will have a hard time believing it, but aldehydes was another fragrance component I started out not liking, but one day a friend gave me a decant of Fleurs de Rocaille and I drained it in two days to experience those sparkly lemony aldehydic top notes again.

    You all know my favorite character in M&M, don’t even ask. She’s controversial, but what wouldn’t she do to get her lover back. My kind of woman.

  • Ah, if you are a native English speaker and not sure which translation you’d like, contact me.

  • What a brilliant debut! As a lover of great literature I was thrilled to see this comparison of classic literature and vintage fragrance and would love to see more in the future! I am definitely getting this book to read as you have piqued my interest! I enjoyed actually seeing the speculated notes in the Guerlainade. My favorite galbanum? Vintage EDT Chanel no.19. And the note I thought I would detest but absolutely adore? Anise, which I chanced upon when I bought Reglisse Noire thanks to Cafleurebon’s blog-a-thon. I have been wearing it religiously for a few weeks now because it just makes me happy every time I huff my wrist! Thank you for this draw!

  • What a fantastic article,your passion shines through every line!Did you mention music?Oh please,do one with music that inspires you next time!!!My favourite galbanum has to be no.19.I only know the current version of vol de nuit,and something put me off,but after reading this MUST try the real thing!!

  • My favorite galbanum are Safari, Chamade, Ysatis so far and I would really like to try Vol de Nuit. Nice comparison to the book and I’m curious to find out if it is true. Great article.

  • What an interesting article. i have to admit I had not heard of the book but you have prompted me to seek it out. As for Guerlain, I love Shalimar but have yet to try any vintage. I am interested to try Vol de Nuit. I do not think I have a favourite galbanum perfume but I have been intrigued by Mandy Aftel’s Haute Claire , of which I have a sample.

  • Oh what a great review! I have never thought of Master and Margarita while reading about Vol de Nuit though I’ve always felt the warm nocturnal wind caressing my hair.. I’ve stumbled upon this review while googling about this perfume and it made a great introduction to this wonderful website which I haven’t been familiar with so far. And returning to Master and Margarita – the dark Woland has always been my favourite character of the book, as well as his demons Behemoth and Azazello.. However, I’ll have to disagree with Olga about the galbanum in Chanel No.19 – this is my favourite perfume with galbanum so far.

  • Thanks for the interesting article – I’m definately going to seek out the book Master and Margarita as I’m always on the hunt for something interesting and entertaining to read. I obtained a 1ML sample of vintage Vol de Nuit and it was instant love and have been looking for more ever since. I found some vintage EDT, but it’s not the same as the EDP. Not. the. same. Galbanum seems to be a standout note for me: I love it in Chanel #19, MMM Untitled, and PdN Le Temps d’Une Fete.

  • Thank you for this article, Olga. I don’t know the book, but I am certainly intrigued, and will be looking for it.

    For galbanum I’ve always gone to No 19.

  • The vintage Guerlain fragrances that I have been able to smell (L’ Heure Bleue and Mitsouko) have been dazzling, so I’d love the opportunity to smell vintage Vol de Nuit. It was already on my “To Smell” list. And the book you mentioned is now going on my “To Read” list.

  • I would love to try Vol de Nuit! The magic of Guerlain began with Shalimar for me but it was not love at first sniff. Not only did I come to appreciate this classic, but I adore it now. L’Heure Bleue I did appreciate from the start, but it took me awhile to understand it. I don’t know if it was my chemistry, but when it clicked, that click resounded! Guerlain is my favorite house and I absolutely love the “Guerlinade.”