New Perfume Review: Slumberhouse Kiste + Take Me To Church Draw

the-garden-of-allah

Maxfield Parrish

There is a golden land, a drowsy, languorous place where time doesn’t pass, but slowly drips, moment by moment.  A land that does not belong to any map, nor any country, but can only be found when the shadowed light suddenly blazes with brass and amber.  And when you raise your head to the warmth of that light, the scent that falls from the clouds is Kiste, by Slumberhouse – a fragrance inspired by the saturated Southern heat of Savannah, Georgia.  But truly  – it visits us from a far more holy place.

[Bacchus und Ariadne by Jacopo Tintoretto, 1578

Bacchus und Ariadne by Jacopo Tintoretto, 1578

This is my first experience with this line, and I am absolutely floored.  Kiste is the purest nectar, what I imagine Greek gods in their high marbled pantheons drank while debating the fate of mortals.  It is built from the ripest peach note, with an astringent hit of tobacco that keeps the peach from tipping over into overly-ripe mush.  Honey is also present here, and Kiste just shimmers and slides between the dry and the sumptuous qualities of these notes.  The ancient Egyptians believed that their departed had to smell a certain way to attain the Afterlife, and so help me God, when my time comes, I’m going out drenched in this perfume, and no deity will refuse my entrance anywhere in the Cosmos.

Cafleurebon has gone to the top of the mountain with Slumberhouse before, and communed with this Portland, OR-based perfume house for other transmissions from the Divine realm, expressed through perfumer Josh Lobb’s  always aniticipated releases (  Sadanne  ,Zahd Flou, Sana   Or). Lobb’s descriptions of his scents are as elliptical and confusing as trying to understand a deity.  His introductions to the perfumes he’s created seem more appropriate if they were found in a free-verse poetry book, or perhaps transcribed from some arcane, archaeological tome discovered underneath the Pyramids.  Here’s his way of announcing Kiste:
 “The honeysuckle hammer and the sundial

The cigar skinned chevrotain

The thimble of peach cocoonase

Here is where the world become so silent and so still

The nothingness of it all becomes my own laughter”

Communion

And despite the seeming existential dread implied in that last line, Kiste is a perfume of profound transcendental peace.  The honey and peach, combined with the astringent qualities of the tobacco all coalesce to bring out a deeply-rooted muscular relaxation in the wearer, a stretching slowness and drowsiness that only sunlight on your neck can mirror.   There’s also some tonka bean, elderberry and patchouli floating through this scent, but  my nose only seems to care about the sweetness of the fruit and the old-timey, “sitting at the feet of your grandparents” feel of the tobacco.

salvatore dali-painting church

Dali

And, just as wisdom is passed from generation to generation, Kiste is saturated with the acolyte’s rush of receiving ancient knowledge.  You don’t feel as if you’re wearing a perfume as much as being initiated, or escorted out of this world and set free in a dappled, drowsy Elysium.  It provides a passport to The Golden Land, where all is quiet and still and High Summer reigns forever.  Kiste is a drunken, delicious and profound work of art that is as much about wearing fragrance as a saltine is about receiving Communion.  Take me to Church.

Steve Johnson, Editor

Notes: pipe tobacco, spicy peach, scotch heather, tonka, honey, patchouli and elderberry

Disclosure:  I received my sample from Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique

Thanks to Twisted Lily, we have a wonderful draw of three samples of Kiste for our US readers.   To be eligible please leave a comment about why you would liket to try Kiste and if you have a favorite Slumberhouse perfume. Draw ends 3/30/2015

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

Leave a Reply

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

63 ÷ 9 =

23 comments

  • Steve has hit the nail on the head. Living in South East GA, this scent is a Holy Grail for me. It’s all about the delicious scents of the South. Everything rolled into one gorgeous scent, Josh has outdone himself and made one of the most wearable Slumberhouse scents to date. I will be wearing this a lot. My very favorite Slumberhouse is Flou.
    Thank you for the draw!!

  • I think that first paragraph is one of the most beautiful reviews I’ve ever read here on Cafleurebon. You’ve made a believer out of me! I love summer when it’s peach season. It’s not always a good year for peaches, bbut when it is, oh my. The juicy suculence…it is heavenly. I can’t wait to try this scent. It sounds like the perfect summertime wear. To date my favorite Slumber house perfume has been Sadanne. Thank you for the draw.

  • This new fragrance sounds incredibily different. By the descriptive words and the note list. Pipe tobacco can be a great note. I’d love to tryy this. My favorite is Grev. USA

  • Please please…I’m so tired of trying new scents and bring so disappointed …I’m about ready to just give up and forget about chasing scents. This one does sound beautiful for sure….soooo…I’m in the US. Thank ypu for the draw as usual. 🙁

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    Josh has really distinguished himself..he is the kind of perfumer who focuses on bones in perfumery…no skin or decorations, just the ingredients mixed in their raw form….I would like to try this because it has tobacco and fruity elements and I feel it will also be impressive like Sadanne. My favorite Josh creation is Norne. I am in the US. thanks for the lovely draw.

  • This sounds really amazing – peach, tobacco, Savanna GA. I have only tried Sadanne, and although it didn’t work for me at all, Kiste sounds so lovely I really want to try this one. Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US!

  • why? because everything josh does is brilliant. if sometimes strange (and more likely because.)

    my favorite is a tie between miel (never in the line-up) and the meanwhile unavailable rume (still *the* best labdanum perfume ever made imo.)

    and so. i would love to try kiste (and yes, i’m still in the u.s.)

  • This perfume sounds so delightful. I love peach, both in perfume and in the flesh, and so many other notes that are in this one… it sounds simply delectable and luscious. I haven’t found a Slumberhouse to love yet, except Vikt, which a friend made me in a lotion. I’m in the US.

  • Interesting combination of notes: pipe tobacco, honey and peach. Sounds wonderful!
    My favorite is Jeke.
    I’m in the US, thank you!

  • Wow, that description…just about takes my breath away. Sounds (and is meant to sound?) like the Elysian Fields of mythology in a bottle. I would love this for the peaceful feeling since I often feel very stressed out. And I love tobacco and honey!

  • Sweet tobacco reminds me of my Father smoking his pipe. What a great smell. My favorite is Zahd. I am in the US.

  • Jeke is my favorite because it takes me back to college and going out to party in Georgetown; clove cigarettes, leather jackets and the patchouli perfumes fellow revelers wore. Kiste intrigues me with its mix of peach and tobacco notes. Thanks for the draw!

  • Pipe tobacco and spicy peach. How unusal, gotta have it. I still like Pear & Olive the first I tried from Slumberhouse. 🙂 US

  • Nectar of the gods – how could I not want to try Kiste? It would be the first by Slumberhouse that I tried. US

  • I’m curious about this one. The notes suggest something incredibly sweet, but the review makes it sound wonderful.

  • I appreciate the enigmatic quality of this line, leaving us the space to enjoy the work and fill in the blanks for ourselves. I’d love to try Kiste because I want my imagination to run wild. I’ve only sampled one Slumberhouse perfume, Norne and was impressed by its originality and depth of character. I’m based in CA and thank you for the draw.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I would like to try Kiste because I would love to experience one of my favorite places – Savannah – in a bottle. I have not yet had the pleasure of wearing a Slumberhouse perfume.

  • This sounds so decadent! I love peach and honey and tobacco, so this one is right up my alley. Norne is my favorite Slumberhouse fragrance so far, and I’m in the US. Thanks!

  • Oh, I would love to try this! It sounds like such a different take on peach, and I love the notes. ALL of them. My favorite thus far is Sova, but Kiste may be it for me. I’m in the US, thanks.

  • Wow, Kiste sounds like an experience! Like the golden hour in the golden season, when everything is full and lush and slow. Everything about the description appeals to me! I don’t have a favorite but have been meaning to get a sample set–Flou especially sounds amazing! USA

  • Who could read that review and not want to try Kiste? I haven’t tried any Slumberhouse perfumes yet, but Kiste is joining Pear and Olive and Norne on my list, which never seems to get any shorter.I’m in the US.

  • Extremely intrigued by the tobacco, peach and honey notes! I must try this immediately. Your review captivated me in such a way. Can’t wait to try this.