I believe many of our readers would agree with Mark Behnke's Esxence 2013 "Best of Show" award for most anticipated fragrance- Ashoka from Neela Vermeire Creations.
Neela Vermeire Créations’ new release Ashoka, created in collaboration with perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, is a tribute to one of India's greatest rulers known as Ashoka the Great (he ruled from 269 B.C- 232 B.C). The emperor was a ruthless warrior at first, but was conquered by his own compassion at the moment his victory was assured. He converted to Buddhism and devoted the rest of his life to spreading the Buddha’s teachings, to truth, to justice and to compassion for all living creatures beneath the sun. His own evolution from ruthless conqueror to benevolent emperor is reflected in Ashoka’s journey from the fierce opening to a softly floral heart & the gentle embrace of its richly complex drydown.
Notes:
Fig Leaves, leather, white & pink lotus, mimosa, fig milk, osmanthus, rose, water hyacinth, vetiver, styrax, incense, sandalwood , myrrh, tonka bean, fir balsam
Fig Leaves, leather, white & pink lotus, mimosa, fig milk, osmanthus, rose, water hyacinth, vetiver, styrax, incense, sandalwood , myrrh, tonka bean, fir balsam
When I emailed Neela, I wanted to learn more, it seemed the logo for the brand was similar to Ashoka's wheel. According to Neela Vermeire, " Ashoka's wheel was the inspiration for the NVC logo (though ours has adapted an Eiffel tower within each spoke). Ashoka The Great spread Buddhism and was millenia ahead of many great rulers of his time. The new bottle designed by Pierre Dinand has 24 ridges to represent 24 spokes."Conquered with compassion" is the way I described this creation to Michael Edwards, the world’s leading fragrance expert ( who created a wheel of his own, the fragrance wheel)”;.
I have a feeling Ashoka will conquer our hearts when it debuts in the Autumn 2013.
–Michelyn Camen, Editor-in Chief