Jul et Mad Stairway to Heaven Review (Cecile Zarokian) 2019+ Shades of White Draw

 

Jul et Mad Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven by Jul et Mad

Freedom, the sort of intoxicating, comforting, inner-happiness feeling – this is all I can think about while wearing Jul et Mad‘s Stairway to Heaven. Freedom represented by many levels and tones, different structures, various depths of white. Shimmering whiteness with swirling soft undercurrents, like invisible wavelengths of light, cool at the surface but simultaneously warming your skin from deep within.

  Photo by Jul et Mad

Madalina Stoica Blanchard and Julian Blanchard experienced that atmosphere, freedom and saturation of senses by the beauty of Nature during their hike to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. They also witnessed a sense of being so far away from home and yet belonging, and  inhaled the thin air that made them feel lighter and stronger at the same time. Madalina told me that, in a most strange way, her first olfactory impression of the Himalayan air was one of the first snows in the Carpathian mountains of her homeland, Romania.

Madalina Stoica Blanchard and Julien Blanchard at Annapurna Sanctuary, Jul et Mad stairway to heaven

 Madalina Stoica Blanchard and Julien Blanchard at Annapurna Sanctuary, photo by Jul et Mad

Stairway to Heaven is inspired by their adventure and composed by Cecile Zarokian who signed the brands’ previous release – Aqua Sextius (2014). Five years later in a creative process that lasted for over a year, Cecile spins contrasts of warm and cold/ fresh and deep to capture, as the brand writes: “dual whiteness: pure and immaculate but warming and enveloping.” The only request Madalina and Julian had was concerning the musk accord: they wanted to achieve a beautiful, powerful, multi-faceted, unisex musk, something that would be close to the natural smell of the original animalic musk that came from glands of the Himalayan musk-deers,  forbidden to use today.

Annapurna Trek, Stairway to heaven Jul et Mad review

 Madalina and Julien at the mountain peak  photo by Jul et Mad

The Himalayas! The highest, utmost vertical spots above the horizon of planet Earth, mythical snow-capped ridges of chains of mountains, the majestic Roof of the World, the Summit of Gods is one of those rare and special places that are bound to make you instantly feel humble and small compared to the vastness and eternal grandeur of Mother Earth. A Stairway to Heaven. A place that might make you cry in awe of its breathtaking beauty, the might of Nature you feel intensely in the core of your bones, and because of the many sad ways we humans continuously find anew to tarnish it.

I’ve never climbed the trek leading to a Himalayan base camp. My highest reached point ever was at about 2500 m above the sea level in the Alps but camping in deserts of Sahara or deep-sea sailing is my cup of tea that leaves me breathless: I feel free there and more in touch with myself and Nature than anywhere else, with an almost Avatar-like bond with Earth (I almost wish I had that Na’Vi consciousness-connecting blue tail).

Navigare Necesse Est, my baby’s first sailing trip, photo by Elena Cvjetkovic

 

Free from the material world, free to contemplate deeply, feel beyond limits of senses, ruminate, lose myself, sit in silence for hours, observe the three-dimensional darkness of sky when there’s no light pollution at all, feeling fully grounded, anchored and floating at the same time, inexplicably content, hit by intense joi de vivre generated bliss.

Stairway to Heaven is one of those perfumes that pull you in their ambiance so gently that details of singular perfume notes or accords seem irrelevant, it’s the overall atmosphere that matters the most.

 Ice Crystals, by Unsplash

The first streams of light that wake your senses up are aldehydes, pointy like snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, sharp like breathing the thin air high up in the mountains, crisp like crystallized ice, strangely addictive, the deeper your breath is the dizzier you feel, although strangely alert at the same time.

This glowing whiteness is softened by a slight touch of dry orange peels similar to the sensation of clean, soft, tenderly kissable skin of a freshly bathed infant, cuddling and relaxed after a bubbly bath, the most gentle and addictive baby-skin scent. As it develops further, the fragrance holds on to this impeccable aldehydic-sparkly whiteness and the structure changes becoming sheerer and softer, more like walking through strands of fluffy white clouds, their soft, dispersed edges soaked in sweeter, slightly flowery-fruity tones with an ever so discreet, resinous touch that adds depth and warmness to this newly discovered facet of white.

Stairway to Heaven is the 7th Jul et mad perfume in the classique collection

 Soft Clouds, by Elena Cvjetkovic

As if the composition of white light is slowly revealing the colors of the rainbow that create it, allowing various hues to surface.  I felt a touch of cold orris rising as if dug out from under transparent layers of ice, layered upon frozen petals of a single pink rose and tender heliotrope flowers closed shut by chilling, dry floral whiteness lingering in the background. All these transitions and different textures glide smoothly and shift effortlessly in waves rolling deep, pulling back and moving forward in a steady rhythm. The whiteness is smooth, diving in and hovering above the skin like skiers in skin-tight suits carving powdery snow above thick layers of ice in a downhill race, all the way to the drydown finish line.

 Diamond Shine, by Unsplash

The steadily flowing string of aldehydes is felt at all times, a current of white that invites other elements to revolve and swirl around it, revealing different elements of white – similar to when you shine a beam of direct light on a diamond: every single facet will reflect the light differently, but the overall effect is depth coming from within, clearness and shine that is captivating.

Skin close, the drydown of Stairway to Heaven feels like a big plush duvet made of finest goose feathers, and this reminded of my great-grandmother’s huge oak hand-carved chest where she safeguarded clean and neatly folded bed sheets, pillows and covers with hand-made white lace she patiently weaved as a young girl for her dowry, keeping it stored away safely over many years until my grandmother handed them to me, just before I got married.

Stairway to heaven by Jul et Mad review

 Great-grandmom’s Dowry Lace, photo by Elena Cvjetkovic

Soft, musky whiteness caressing the skin is later warmed up by shaves of white woods, a very dry vanilla bean sensation, and a pinch of something gray and almost peppery against last remaining sparkles of aldehydes tuning quietly down, bathing in these warmer tones, remaining for hours an addictive and elegant, musky-hypnotising second-skin scent featuring an accord composed of, “8 different white musks” and their different shades and nuances, adding a lingering depth and seductive warmth. Seemingly simple but with a meticulously polished structure that projects a skin-enveloping bubble of multifaceted tenderness lasting for hours.

White on layers of white, flying high into thin air. I’ve been going through a rough patch lately and Stairway to Heaven felt like a wound-soothing, comforting and delightfully sensual medicine for my soul. Sleeping on my great-grandmom’s white lace sheets helped too.

Listed Notes:
Top: Aldehydes, Bergamot, Sweet Orange
Middle: Bulgarian Rose, Orris Butter, Red Berries, Heliotrope
Base: 8 White Musks, Vanilla, Patchouli, Ambroxan, Cashmeran, Incense (oliban), Dynamone (gunpowder note)

Disclosure: The 7 ml  sample of Stairway to Heaven was sent to me by Madalina of Jul et Mad, opinions and feelings of my own.

Elena Cvjetkovic, Contributor

Photos: Elena Cvjetkovic, Jul et Mad private photo archive, Unsplash

Jul et Mad Stairway to Heaven review

Thanks to Jul et Mad we have draw for a  7 ml  travel spray of Jul et Mad Stairway to Heaven for a  registered CaFleureBon reader for the EU, USA and Canada.  Please  let us know  what you enjoyed about Elena’s  review, where  you live and if you have a favorite Jul et Mad perfume. Draw closes 10/23/2019

Jul et Mad Stairway to Heaven marks the 6th chapter of the brand’s High-Luxury collection Les Classiques. Jul et Mad Nea was a co winner of the 2016 Art and Olfaction award .

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Available at Jul et Mad website E-shop and at @indigoperfumery.

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39 comments

  • A beautiful review by Elena which in my head brought me to the top of a mountain where my brother is standing after making it to the summit. I, too am visualising all the fresh whiteness and humming Led Zeppelin (well you have to, with a name such as this) 🙂 Seriously tho, this sounds like the next best thing to heaven – i hope it get the chance to try it.
    I have tried a few Jul et Mad perfumes and i think i like Terrasse a St-Germain the most. I am in the UK and fingers crossed that this may come my way! thanks for the draw.

  • Such gorgeous sentiment associated in this fragrance. It seems that all that is perfect, pure, and good has been channeled into this bottle. A potential masterpiece already without having smelled it. (Commenting from FL, USA.)

  • I am intrigued by this crystalline fragrance inspired by the many facets of white. My favorite fragrance of the line is Stilettos on Lex, which I have been wearing on a daily basis. I live in the USA.

  • The description of the stages of the fragrance along with the note list has me wanting to experience this one. I like the Aqua Sextius from the house. US

  • The 8 white musks and the gunpowder note along with the red berries and incense notes has me already adding it to my wishlist! Thanks for another great article and generous draw! USA

  • I liked the personal story of mountain climbing. I am in Ohio and LOVE Amour de Palazzo. It was one of my unicorns. I finally got it and love it. Looking forward to cold weather to blanket myself in amber coziness.

  • Haven’t tried jul et mad but heard great things about acqua sextius and stilletos on lex. Elena really makes me feel all shades of white from this review
    USA

  • You had me at baby skin! And the beautiful vintage lace. So gorgeous. I’d love to try this one! I live in the USA.

  • Stairway to Heaven! Lovely and well written article by Elena. Thank you for keeping me on mountain high while reading it. The white and beauty looks truly breathtaking. 8 musks in a fragrance is totally mind boggling. I would love to try. This is a new brand to me. USA

  • I really enjoyed this review. Both the part about the journey in the Himalayas and thebdesctiption of the fragrance. It sounds truly special and the white theme is intriguing as is the 8 white musk accord. Really just the whole review and the fragrance seem captivating and original. I have not had the good fortune to try anything from Jul et Mad at this time but would like to. In the U.S. Thanks.

  • Bryant Worley says:

    Unfortunately, I have not had the privilege of trying any offering from Jul et Mad (but I hope that changes). Elena is a wonderful writer, and explained the fragrance so eloquently, and comprehensively, which should make anyone reading this want to get their hands on this. I really enjoyed the fact that she focused on one theme throughout – the whiteness (or purity) of the fragrance, while explaining the many layers of it. This helps one to envision what she meant when she said that the ambiance is such that singular notes become irrelevant, that the whole atmosphere is what matters most. I live in Waldorf, Maryland, USA, and need this fragrance In my life.

  • What an amazing fragrance this Jul et Mad creation must be 🙂 the link between this fragrance and a baby skin scent is just wow. I would love to try it and see how it develops on my skin. Congrats to Elena for the review and thank you for the draw! Kisses from RO, EU

  • The snow, the winter, fresh air, a cooling breeze in combined in one bottle. Would love to try this fragrance. Living in the EU

  • Cecile Zarokian is one of my favourite perfumers. I loved all the notes especially white musks, bulgarian rose and patchouli. From UK

  • Hello, sounds like a walk in a crisp, white winter morning. Love to sniff it. Ana, Romania, EU

  • This review is truly extraordinary, because with words it is difficult to explain this wonderful feeling, you can only breathe like air. A perfume that evokes this state is to be tried immediately. Traveling, experiencing, living, freedom is doing what you love. Thanks for the nice words.
    Linda – UE

  • Thank you Elena for a glowing review. I love bergamot, Bulgarian rose, vanilla and white musk so there is something to dote on in every stage of the perfume’s development. Thanks to Jul et Mad for the giveaway and this would be the first for me from the house. I’m in USA

  • Cecile Zarokian is one my favourite perfumers. I recently tried this new creation and I love it!! I sampled almost all fragrances from Jul et Mad. Nea was my favourite until I discovered Stairway to Heaven 🙂 WOW…(I’m based in Ireland).

  • This is not only an awesome description, but a true virtual therapy of the senses. Congrats Elena! Vienna, Austria.

  • Lorie McMillin says:

    What’s gorgeous review! I love the aldehydes description and imagery of frozen rose and heliotrope! I have to try this perfume! I have Stilletos on Lex, which is very sexy! I’m in the US. Thanks!

  • bigscoundrel says:

    I’d love to try Stairway to Heaven with its soft, white, fluffy aspects. I am in the USA.

  • “A current of white that invites other elements to revolve and swirl around it, revealing different elements of white – similar to when you shine a beam of direct light on a diamond: every single facet will reflect the light differently, but the overall effect is depth coming from within, clearness and shine that is captivating.” This was the part that caught me the most. Would be interesting to experience such a multi faceted perfume. I didnt try and Jul&Mad yet. Would be my first. From EU.

  • The impression of Himalayan air, in and of itself, is enough reason for me to wanting to try this fragrance. Add on to that white musks, warmer tones and smooth transitions…makes this sound even more intriguing. Thank you CaFleureBon for introducing this brand to me, and Jul et Mad for the draw. Regards from Boston, USA.

  • Shannon Gaines says:

    Greetings from Lexington, Kentucky USA! Elena’s review makes it seem as though the fragrance is almost transporting her to the Himalaya’s and then later her grandmother’s big featherbed. I love fragrance’s that can produce such imagery in the wearer. I also like her description of the aldehydes that run throughout the fragrance as I enjoy a good aldehydic fragrance. The gunpowder note that is listed in the base has also peaked my interest. I don’t think I have ever smelled a fragrance with this note and admit I am curious to test it out. I have never tried any fragrances from Jul et Mad before.

  • This sounds gorgeous! It’s like the feeling you get when you’re on top of the mountain in the winter, that blanket of silence as the snow falls and the beauty is breathtaking. Stilettos on Lex is the only Jul et Mad fragrance I’ve had the opportunity to experience so far, thank you for the chance to experience Stairway to Heaven! Live in the US.

  • Shamrock1313 says:

    Love fragrances that capture the mountains ie Creed Himalaya.
    With Bergamote, rose, vanilla, this sounds absolutely beautiful.
    Pennsylvania USA

  • redwheelbarrow says:

    What a beautiful review! This time of year I tend to crave comforting scents in the evening while sipping a cup of tea. I love the comparison to a big plush duvet made of finest goose feathers. There is something about orris butter that always gives me that cozy feeling. I have not yet had the pleasure of tyring Jul et Mad’s fragrances. Thank you for the draw. I’m in the US.

  • My favorite Jul et Mad scent is the warm leather of Mon Seul Desir! Garuda is a perfectly blended scent, and I love it when my wife wears Aqua Sextius in the summer.
    Now, I really long to get to know this freedom of a scent as Elena describes it. Would love to win this to Germany, thanks for the draw!

  • What’s most appealing to me are the “strangely addictive crystalized ice aldehydes.” USA.

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I love the dichotomy of chill and warmth in the same scent and the fact that it is by Cecile makes it immediately intriguing. I would love to try this! I’m in the US.

  • Elena’s review made me think of rocking chairs as they push back and forth. Quiet, almost sleepy from the freshness of the air. Sounds awesome. Although I have no Jul et Mad fragrances, this certainly sounds like one that I would like to own. Thanks for a great review and a terrific draw. I’m in the USA

  • I know the Carpathian air Madalina is talking about and indeed it’s so white, crisp and humbling. I have yet to discover how can it also be enveloping and comforting, since it is not a feeling I ever got. So i hope to discover it in this fragrance. I never tried Jul et Mad. Thanks for the draw, from Romania.

  • Wonderful and personal review. I love that they have asked the perfumer to try and make as close to a real deer musk smell as possible. Really looking forward to sampling this someday. In VA, USA. My favorite from this house is Aqua Sextius. Thanks for the draw.

  • I enjoyed every single word, I don’t think I had patience to read something so lengthy for a while now. But here I devoured every line, everything kept me connected to the story. I felt proud to be a Romanian just like Mad and I almost felt the idea of Carpathian mountains being materialized in my heart and mind. Interesting is that my favorite perfume from Jul et Mad is Nea which mean snow in romanian:-) btw, I am from Romania, but I think you already know that by reading my comment:-) thank you

  • wallygator88 says:

    While I did enjoy reading about the story behind this fragrance and the general impression, I found it very hard to imagine what it might smell like – I was lost in the clouds.

    I’ve not had a chance to smell a Jul et Mad fragrance before.

    Love from Madison, WI, USA

  • The Plum Girl says:

    Thanks for all your lovely comments, I know it’s a bit lengthy read but I felt that this perfume goes a way deeper than just being a nice&cozy musky fragrance!