Michael Coyle of MIKMOI
San Francisco Indie Perfumer Michael Coyle of MIKMOI has released a new scent, Lingua Franca, one that uses fragrance as a shared language, encompassing 6 continents, infused with “...a spirit of cultural curiosity, romance and discovery.” When I received a sample of Lingua Franca from Mik, I immediately thought of our own ÇaFleureBon’s motto “Fragrance is a Language for Translating the World”. MIKMOI’S Lingua Franca does exactly that and is a scented bridge that links these far reaching places.
Photo: MIKMOI Lingua Franca Perfume
The definition of 'lingua franca” is a language used between peoples who do not share a common speech. Although attempts were made to institute Esperanto as a common global tongue, it was not adopted in any functional terms. However, with Mik's extensive travels throughout the world, and his ability to speak six languages, perhaps this new perfume is a fragrant metaphor to construct a new Esperanto- one which uses the human sense of smell and its evocative vocabulary to connect and unite.
Whampoa from Danes Island’ in China – its Scenery, Architecture, Social Habits, etc. Artist Thomas Allom, engraver W. A. Le Petit. Steel engraving.
In encouraging the wearer to 'Meet, Share and Embrace'– one is taken on a port to port call, retracing the voyages of the spice trade, romantic journeys of star crossed lovers, and the sense of adventure one finds in diving into cultures unknown and mysterious. The citrus-infused opening rises from a basket of palo santo blooms (palo santo means 'sacred wood' and is used in both perfumery and religious rites in South America), in fact we will encounter palo santo throughout the entire fragrance, although in seemingly different forms- bloom, green and dry wood. Although citrus are classified as top notes, a dance begins, changing partners and styles; palo santo and mandarin, tobacco and lime, carnation and pineapple, lemongrass and frankincense- culturally diverse ingredients which might not ever have met nor kept in step to a tune they have never heard. The heart of the perfume is agarwood (oud), freshly cut palo santo co-mingles with floral aspects of rose and ylang-ylang, while vetiver and the beginning of castoreum start to change the hue of better known ports of call to those more exotic. The longevity is well suited for vast voyages such as the one we will be making into dry down.
The Bosphorus with the Castles of Europe and Asia. 19th-century engraving by Thomas Allom
Frankincense, labdanum and ambergris add additional vocabulary to Lingua Franca which speaks of exchanges between our European ports and the world of mysterious sea creatures. Ambergris who has come to call along the shores of Jakarta, Auckland and Vancouver and Labdanum the 'aromatic glue' in this composition which gives sweetness and smoothes any rough edges this voyage might incur.
If scent as a language is meant to ease communication between cultures, MIKMOI serves us well in providing an olfactory passport to travel through endless countries, encountering a piece of each continent, to bring together lovers of aromatics- regardless of whether one has actually left the couch. A trip round the world in one spritz.
Notes: Antique Lemongrass, Yellow Mandarin, Tagettes, Yuzu, Lime, Pineapple, Blond Tobacco, Neroli, Ylang Ylang, Allspice, Gallic Rose, Carnation, Frankincense, Palo Santo, Agarwood, Ambergris, Vetiver, Castorium and Labdanum.
–Einsof, West Coast contributor
disclosure: MIKMOI provided my sample for review
Editor’s Note: Vesper was a finalist in the Art & Olfaction Awards in 2014.
Thanks to the globally minded MIKMOI, we have three 1.5mL atomizer of LINGUA FRANCA in a limited edition scroll for a reader anywhere in the world. To be eligible please leave a comment with what appeals to you about MIKMOI Lingua Franca and where you live. Draw ends November 30, 2014
We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume