Mystery Of Musk: Musk Eau Natural by Dawn Spencer Hurwitz, Parfums des Beaux Arts … A Sublimely Decadent Soliflore

 

 

 

This just came in today’s mail…from Dawn !

Can’t help it; I can hear my own heart pounding in anticipation.

 

Dawn’s intention- by her own admission- was to create a complex, natural, musk soliflore- in keeping with a trend favored during the Art Deco period.

 

 

She wanted a fully-fleshed, rounded, complete perfume, not merely an accord-

And it wouldn’t be hyperbole to confirm that she most certainly achieved her aim.

 

 

 

Oh, boy.

Dawndear only admitted to beeswax, as an animalic note.

What my nose tells me may make me a fool-

 

 

But I’m getting a resinousness that speaks of labdanum, of possibly a cedar note as well…what other woody substances ?

I’m feeling amber here.

 

 

As if one had warmed it in their hot hot hands, and held it to their cheek.

Velvety, deep, but subtle.

And spice ! Not sledgehammer spice, sinuous spice.

Slinky spice , with beeswax and resins and oh oh oh.

Stop me now.

 

 

 

Because of the oft-lamented ephemeral nature of naturals, our friend chose a very high concentration [ 30% !]- perfume concentration-

For a richer, more sensual depth- and more tenacity.

Brava !

 

 

 

 

She speaketh  my language, folks…

And if you love the exotic, the erotic, the sublimely decadent but elegant-

Maybe, you’ll want it as much as I do.

 

I’m SO grateful that I got to test this one.

I intend to purchase as big a bottle as I can afford, and wear it ‘til I drop, in all seasons.

[Try to stop me]

 

Ida Meister, Sr. Editor

 

 

Editor's note: In Dawn's note accompanying Musk au Natural, she writes that Musk Au Natural is a play on the words nudity and intimacy. Both Ida and I agreed that my choice of artwork would feature Georgia O'Keefe, as seen through the lens of photographer Alfred Stieglitz, (her mentor, lover and husband, 30 yrs her senior)

 

 

I am wearing this RIGHT NOW, (yes Ida, AMBER  and labdanum are playing with my heart like a naughty lover) and Musk Au Natural is as steamy, multi-faceted and daring as Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Steiglitz's torrid relationship, art and marriage.

 

If this is your first exposure to Dawn Spencer Hurwitz,  who works in both natural and blended fragrances and want to learn more about her ART:

 

 I invite you to read an interview I did with Dawn called the True Colors of Dawn Spencer Hurwitz   

https://cafleurebon.com//per-view-dawn-spencer-hurwitzs-true-colors/,

 

Mark Behnke review of  DSH's Bancha, called Zen in a Bottle https://cafleurebon.com//zen-in-a-bottle-dawn-spencer-hurwitzs-bancha/ a natural fragrance

 

Ida Meister's  *hymn* to  DSH's  *Parfum de Grasse* https://cafleurebon.com//parfum-de-grassedawn-spencer-hurwitzs-hymn-to-grasse/  also a natural fragrance 

 

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If dear readers, you haven't surmised…all the artwork  and literary references for the Mystery of Musk project used on CaFleureBon, are from 1890-1938, corresponding with what  are known as the Deco and Nouveau eras…and feature global artists and writers of the periods.

 

A reminder, every comment entered for the 12 perfumers we review for this  project is eligible for "Temple of Musk", by Alexandra Balhoutis of Strange Invisible Perfumes. 

      

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19 comments

  • ElizabethN says:

    The reviews of this that I've read (including yours) make me want to purchase a bottle unsniffed. I am a sucker for labdanum! Especially in a "steamy" perfume….thanks for the interesting review!

  • i am a sucker for labdanum and amber, its very much a rich textural scent.. erotic . I really pull the amber after a brief spicy opening….4 hrs later, its still on 🙂

  • Ida,from your write-up, I can smell this one and it's heady. I want a bottle….

  • chayaruchama says:

    You won't be disappointed, dear friends 😉
     I  received  my sample  before the list of ingredients was put up on her website; so this was truly a 'blind sniff' for me !
    Nothing like one of those to taunt the nose …
    [ I confess to buying several bottles in the last 48 hours :-0 ]

  • This sounds wonderful!
    On an art history note, I studied Georgia O'Keefe and Stieglitz many many years ago, but I never knew those photos existed. The things our professors don't show us!

  • It sounds like Dawn really packed a punch with this one~ although I'd expect no less from her =)  Once again, I think through this musk project I really get to see how Cafleurebon highlights both the art, perfumer, and the scent itself beautiful and has really distinguished itself from other blogs I read. 
     

  • Michelyn!  Ida! 
    What can I say that could express my gratitude to you for shining your lights and gifts on my work?  I am still reeling from the perfection of poetry and art direction that have come together and made a lovenest in this review.  I feel truly blessed by this.  Thank you! <3
    ~Dawn
    ps: IMHO, Ca Fleure Bon excels in so many ways but this is really the TOP!

  • Dawn, on behalf of Ca Fleure Bon thank you. Your body of work is extraordinary as is DsH au natural. You made it easy 🙂 but the perfume … difficult to resist.

  • Oh my. OH MY! I 've been wanting to sample DSH's work, what a great place to start. Mmmm, labdanum….

  • chayaruchama says:

    Dawn- somehow, Stieglitz / O'Keefe spoke to me as I wrote.
    [ In such matters, very often MC and I feel a 'oneness' regarding the depictions… ]
    And I wanted to write as soon as I opened the package.
    I was that moved
     
    We appreciate everyone reading and thinking and 'sniffing in their minds ' 😉
    Thank you, all-
    For your thoughts !

  • This is my first visit here and I'm delighted to have found you. I love your use of art in your reviews. And this project on Musk is exciting. I love the focus on natural creations. And, I'm relieved they are cruelty free. (I feel I must say,, contrary to what is often still written and therefore commonly believed, real animal products ARE still used in perfumes – civet and castoreum- and they are cruelly obtained. Many of these perfumes are not obscure, but, prominent and widely available). Is there a set of these samples available? They all sound very interesting and how great it would be to be able to smell them all together!  Thank you for the draw – please enter my name. In great anticipation – Rachel.
     

  • Rachel… we write about all fine fragrance … scents, the arts and yes you are entered into the draw. Thank you for stopping by.Please return