New Perfume Review: Olibere Paris Savannah’s Heart (Luca Maffei) 2017 +The Veldt Draw

 

African savanna, photo National Geographic©

The hot straw smell of lion grass,
 the cool green smell of the hidden water hole,
 the great rusty smell of animals,
 the smell of dust like a red paprika in the hot air.
 And now the sounds: the thump of distant antelope feet on grassy sod,
 the papery rustling of vultures.
 A shadow passed through the sky.”  -- Ray Bradbury, “The Veldt,” from The Illustrated Man                 

Promotional shot for Savannah's Heart by photograper Chris Ladewig

My vision of Africa as a child was delineated by Ray Bradbury’s virtual reality playroom in The Illustrated Man, where two children imagine the African Veldt with such intensity that it becomes real. While I was fascinated by the conceit of the story (written many years before virtual reality existed), what drew me most was the extraordinary way Bradbury made the enervating heat and the parched, wild aromas of the vast expanse of African grassland seem present, as if I lifted my head from the page and would find myself under a great baobab tree, lions feeding in the far distance. When I smelled Savannah’s Heart, the latest fragrance from 2-year old French House Olibere, I felt a pang of memory, though of something that had never happened. I smelled Bradbury’s veldt.

Creative Director Marjorie Olibere and Perfumer Luca Maffei

 2-year old French House Olibere got off to a flying start with 5 perfumes created by stellar noses Bertrand Duchaufour and Amélie Bourgeois. Now, with Savannah’s Heart, Luca Maffei joins this illustrious roster. Maffei’s has a talent for melding soothing and sharp notes, which he did to great effect in Jul et Mad’s Secrets de Paradis Rouge and Nobile 1942’s 1001. Savannah’s Heart opens with a puckery top note – rhubarb combined with the astringent zing of bergamot – through which a warm, sensual rivulet of coffee winds through.

African Love fashion editorial, photo by Nico Bustos for Vogue Spain, March 2016 ©

The coffee here is unusual: not the sweet, creamy brew of New Haarlem or Ava Luxe Café Noir, but the aromatic smell of medium roasted grounds, with acidic and savory aspects cutting through the bean’s inherent richness. The interplay between that sour note and the coffee continues for some time, and creates an olfactory a tromp l’oeil of aridity. I would almost swear there is vetiver in here although it is not listed, so potent is the dried grass note of the perfume’s early stage.

Glamour in the Savanna fashion editorial, photo by Shellina Ebrahim, FAS magazine, Mar 2017

Savannah’ Heart softens considerably in the middle stage, which comes some time after the tart opening.  The coffee becomes more prominent, taking on some sweetness now, amplified by the subtle emergence of vanilla. It is joined by a harmony of woods, which lend depth and smooth out the sharpness of the tangy fruit notes, and an increasingly noticeable mineral-clay note, like baked rocks.

Rianne van Rompaey by Harley Weir for Document Journal, Spring-Summer 2015

The dry-down adds the earthy savor of labdanum and some musk. Stepping back and inhaling Savannah’s Heart now, I can almost feel the heat rising. As I close my eyes, I see Bradbury’s veldt again. In the arid crackle of late afternoon heat, a faint breeze rustles the long, dried grass. Heat ripples in the air, as you look towards an endless horizon of no fixed point. An aroma rises in the torpor: a tang of animal sweat, of living hide, of muddy water, of baked, wizened earth and the parched wood of the acacia trees that sway softly. 

Notes: Bergamot, rhubarb, ciste labdanum, coffee Arabica, pure jungle essence, karma wood, sandalwood, cashmere wood, vanilla, musks.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by Olibere at Esxence – many thanks. My opinions are my own.

Lauryn Beer, Senior Editor

Savannah's Heart Eau De Parfum

Thanks to the generosity of Olibere Paris we have an avant premier 50 ml bottle of Savannah’s Heart  (available in July) for one registered reader int the US, Canada or the EU.  You must register here. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about Savannah’s Heart based on Lauryn’s review, and if you have ever read Ray Bradbury or have a favorite perfume by Luca Maffei. Please Like Olibere  Paris on Facebook. Draw closes 6/19/2017.

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33 comments

  • I really like coffee notes, but this one sounds very different from any I have experienced in the past. I am not familiar with Ray Bradbury. My reference for the African veldt was always Out of Africa, such a romantic movie! Thanks for the review and the draw. USA

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    Another exquisitely written piece, Lauryn! I really, really enjoyed it. (I am obviously not a writer… see how descriptive I am?) Thank you for sharing that memory with us.

    The top note of this – bergamot, rhubarb, and coffee? That alone is a head-turner. Coffee can be a tough note to get right, so I would love to smell it in this interpretation. My favorite Luca Marrei perfume thus far is L’Attessa. Thank you again for the review and the generous draw! USA

  • I love how Lauryn incorporates the African Savannah and Ray Bradbury’s virtual reality into her review. I remember reading Fahrenheit 451 () ,the Martian Chronicles and a number of his short stories, but somehow I missed the Veldt. My current favorite from Luca Maffei is Jul et Mad Bella Donna.

  • A very evocative “scentscape” from Lauryn; I feel like I can smell it in my mind and would love to find out how close my imagination is! It has been a very long time since I’ve read Ray Bradbury but Dandelion Wine sticks in my mind. I recall a death scene that has stuck with me over the years. I’m writing in from Canada.

  • xXxrootxXx says:

    Hi thnx for review and giveaway ,what appeals to me is the fabulous notes and some new interesting notes like pure jungle essence,and karma wood,
    Ive unfortunately never read any ray bradbury books,but my favourite fragrance from Luca Maffei is Oud Imperial Extrait by Perris Monte Carlo,amazing fragrance .
    I live in Canada

  • NiceVULady says:

    I read Fahrenheit 451 along time ago. I liked the juxtaposition of Ray Bradbury and the African Savannah. Interesting. I don’t have a favorite Luca Maffei fragrance. Thanks so much for the draw. I live in the USA

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    This sounds great! I especially love the sound of the acidic/bitter coffee nuance, as I love coffee but hate it when it’s treated like a frappuccino in scents. I’m reading and teaching F451! Not familiar with Maffei’s scents. Thanks for the draw–I’m in the US.

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    The appeal to me is that rhubarb is my favorite fragrance note of all. I have not read any Bradbury and although reasonably prolific, I am sad to say I have not yet tried anything by this perfumer. I live in the US.

  • fazalcheema says:

    I am intrigued because here the coffee note has been employed in a different way than other perfumes like New Haarlem. My favorite from Luca is Masque Milano L’Atessa. I am in the US.

  • Tempting review with nice hints to references, this sounds amazing. Luca Maffei must have busy times, he’s everywhere! If I win, please send this to Germany.

  • kaitracid says:

    What captivated me the most from the review is the acidic-sour-bitter coffee note used, that is different from the mostly gourmand take on coffee. I did not get the chance to test any of Luca’s creations, but surely would like to begin with this one. Thanks for the draw, I’m in EU.

  • Very nice review. I have not familiar with Ray Bradbury and I have never had a chance to try any perfume by Luca Maffei. Savannah’s Heart sounds wonderfully from the review. I very like coffee note. Thank you for the draw. I live in Europe.

  • Wow, this sounds absolutely amazing! It has many aspects I love in a scent: not sweet сoffee and woody notes.

    I read Fahrenheit 451 and it’s definitely one of my top 5 of all time.
    Thanks for the draw! I live in EU.

  • Always a big fan of coffee. I will love to see how different this notes is compared to the others I have smelled.
    I live in WA,USA.

  • This one sounds great with the roasted coffee beans, dried grass, woods, mineral, labdanum; what a lineup! I’ll be interested to smell this one for sure! I’m hearing frequently of Luca Maffei compositions, but haven’t been fortunate to try any of them. Thank you for the review and the draw, I live in the EU.

  • Dry landscapes appeal to me, so if Lauren is correct in saying that this perfume evokes the African Veldt, I’m all for it. I like all of Luca’s work that I’ve sampled, so that’s all the more reason to enter the drawing. Thank you!

  • If it’s coffee and Africa, I’m in. Makes me dream of Zanzibar and people, and sounds I can taste, and smells I can touch. So yes, please, draw me.
    (I like in Oakland, CA)

  • What I find appealing is the tart, fruity, rhubarb opening that settles down to let the coffee show off it’s amazing aroma. Then the smells of the Savannah environment cap off this amazingly themed fragrance. I love earthy, clay notes, animalic, woody and resinous notes. I’ve never read Ray Bradbury and I don’t believe I’ve ever smelled anything by Luca Maffei. I’m in the US. Thank you so much.

  • Very nice review! Especialy I liked this line: ” the arid crackle of late afternoon heat, a faint breeze rustles the long, dried grass. Heat ripples in the air, as you look towards an endless horizon of no fixed point” Amaizing!!!
    I like Rossa Boheme Onyrico from Luca Maffei’s compositions.
    USA, DE

  • gregorysop says:

    Bergemot and Sandalwood are staples in my fragrances. Add a little coffee to that and my wife might even like me when I put it on! I love that it has a mineral like and earthy tone to the frag.
    From USA

  • Lellabelle says:

    Luca Maffei has been producing such interesting scents, with unusual combinations and devlelopment. Would love to try this. The savannah imagery is super, and the link to Bradbury is both unexpected and welcome!
    I’m extremely curious to smell “pure jungle essence”: I’m imagining animal musks, vines, damp woods and meaty florals – equal parts danger and decay.
    Please enter me for the generous draw. Canada please!

  • What a great review of a brand that I had known before.
    Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles are my favorites and I vaguely remember the Veldt so I need to read it again.
    My favorite perfume by Luca Maffei is Garuda which I just received a sample of
    Thanks I am in Canada

  • Sounds really nice. I love coffee and rhubarb. My parents have always grown rhubarb plants. Sounds like a great team putting this out. Thanks for the reading to break up my day, always look forward to my ‘fragrance break’. I live in the US.

  • doveskylark says:

    I’m curious about the coffee note in this fragrance. I love fragrances that are meant to evoke a sense of place. I have never been to Africa, but I think I have an idea how it might smell–I wonder if this perfume will confirm that.
    I have read “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradbury. Now I want to read “The Illustrated Man.”
    I live in the USA.

  • Beautiful review, I was always fascinated by the thought of living in Africa but I have b=never been. Coffee note and the mineral clay note peaked my interest immediately, so many fragrances these days seem to be the same thing over and over, this one sounds like it stands out from the crowd and a treasure to wear. Quelques Fleurs Jardin Secret is the only one I had the pleasure to try of the Lucca Maffei created fragrances and I loved it. I am in the US and would love to be entered as this fragrance really peaked my interest. Thank you so much.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Thanks for the review! The notes are unusual. Although I am not into sweet & coffee type fragrances but the end stage of the middle dry down and the final dry down at the base tempting me. I don’t own any perfume creation by Luca Maffei but there are some on my want list.
    Thanks to the generosity of Olibere Paris and CafleureBon for the opportunity to participate in the draw by letting my relative address in US or Canada.

  • Immediately drawn to the rhubarb and coffee. Two very singular scents and am interested in that particular blending. The bottle is absolutely gorgeous! 🙂 I always enjoy reading about what inspires people to create a fragrance. I live in the US. Thank you for this opportunity to try another intriguing fragrance.

  • ntabassum92 says:

    What an intriguing perfume. I never would have thought that coffee would remind me of Africa, but I can see how the dryness in this perfume would work to make that possible. I have not read Ray Bradbury or tried any perfumes by Luca Maffei – but I do love coffee notes and the smell of coffee, so I would love to try this.

  • I love coffee and if this perfume is an interpretation of its true smell then I’m sold. Rhubarb is also a very interesting note and now that I think about it more it does go well with coffee. the bottle is quite gorgeous too. I haven’t read Ray Bradburry but I love Luca Maffei’s creations especially his Gabriella Chieffo collaboratin,the new Houbigant and Lilas esquis from Jacques Fath.
    I am in the UK and thank you for the draw!

  • MichelleU says:

    Favorite part of the review “The coffee becomes more prominent, taking on some sweetness now, amplified by the subtle emergence of vanilla. It is joined by a harmony of woods, which lend depth and smooth out the sharpness of the tangy fruit notes, and an increasingly noticeable mineral-clay note, like baked rocks.” Coffee and vanilla sunds like heaven.
    Sadly I have not tried any of Luca Maffei’s creation but I hope to do so in the future!

    I am a reader from the EU. Thank you very much!

  • BlessedTA says:

    Great review as always! I enjoyed reading about the description of the perfume – it is so vivid that I can almost smell it.

    I have never tried any of Luca Maffei Perfume.

    Thanks for the chance, I’m in Canada.

  • Another great read! I have never tried anything from this house but I remember it being amazing! Hope I can get my nose on a few from this house in the future. I’m in Canada and thanks for the draw!