Histoires de Parfums 1876 Mata Hari photo by Neringa with Mata Hari via History of yesterday
Histoires de Parfums 1876 Mata Hari which first debuted under the creative direction of Gerald Ghislain in 2001, weaves an intimate scent story based on the life of Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, the Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy in World War I. Mata Hari was executed (she refused to be blindfolded) in 1917 -in front of a firing squad. Many believe she was used as a scapegoat by the French and throughout the years film and books memorialize her beauty, charm, and seductive persona. Perfumer Sylvie Jourdet captures the mythic essence of a woman who may have been maligned by history.
Mata Hari, colored photograph, 1899 a femme fatale with courage
To that end, Histories de Parfums1876 Mata Hari is an embodiment of the scent of carnal sensuality and courage. Wearing it is like being swept into her engrossing story, with layers upon layers of intrigue and nuances slowly unfolding on your skin: from the sweet lychee overture and the juicy citric fruitiness, all the way down through the burning avalanche of spices, the capricious rose floral heart and the unrivalled sensuality of the drydown which blooms on the skin; dusty and powdery, arousing and plump. Pitched at exactly the right tonality between lustful and fresh, its’ skin-biting deliciousness is simultaneously heroic and erotic. Multiple florals dance in sensual slow motion around the centrepiece of the composition – an intoxicating Moldavian rose – ever so gently, ever so hypnotizing: heated, breathy carnation, fragile violet and a touch of aloof, powdery iris; whispering delicate femininity – like a warm, beautiful flesh wrapped in folds of finest silks.
Histoires de Parfums 1876 Mata Hari with roses and carnations by Neringa
The rose remains the pivotal note throughout the life of fragrance, so honeyed and voluptuous, it’s begging to be made one with the skin, a complete, blissful melding of flower and the body. The drydown is impossibly lavish; decadent with vanilla and sensual musks – a creamy veil underscored by the gentle, milky notes of sandalwood and a whispered lullaby of earthy vetiver. Unctuous like the fragrant lava slowly rolling over hot skin, Histoires de Parfums1876 Mata Hari paints it with bold strokes of rich browns, muted violets, fiery crimson and flicks of white, conjuring up the image of an unmade bed, the flickering glow of lit beeswax candles, and nude lovers locked in a blissful embrace. Histoires de Parfums 1876 Mata Hari is a plush, addictive composition one that wears close to the skin but is unmistakably sexy. An ultimate intoxication of the senses – a blazing kiss of the flower on fire; the sweet, vanilla tongue licking your skin ever so softly — a highly charged olfactive composition, which is as enigmatic as the woman who inspired it.
Notes: Orange, Bergamot, Litchi, Rose , Iris , Violet, Cumin, Cinnamon, Carnation, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Guaiac Wood, White Musk, Vanilla
Disclaimer: Bottle from my personal collection, my opinions are my own
–Neringa Svobutaite, Contributor
Histoires de Parfums 1876 Mata Hari photo by Neringa
Thanks to the generosity of Gerald Ghislain of Histoires de Parfums we have a 120 ml bottle of 1876 Mata Hari for one registered reader in the EU, USA and UK. To be eligible for the draw, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about Histoires de Parfums 1876 Mata Hari based on Neringa’s review, did you know the history of Mata Hari, if you have a favorite Histoires de Parfums fragrance, and where you live. Draw closes 5/25/2021
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