There are two words which both separately or in a combination turn me on in expectation of divine sensations – Kilian and Hennessy.
The lurid amber drink produced in the family cellars in Cognac is one of my favourite potions served in a glass, I admit. But it was not before now that I’ve discovered a new passion of mine carrying the same name and it is Kilian Hennessy.
The heir to a long line of Cognac makers and grandson of the co-founder of LVMH – the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate, this young Frenchman decided to take up the torch of family tradition and made a sassy jump into the world of perfumery. He dared to throw out a challenge to rare fragrances connoisseurs presenting his independently owned collection of perfumes called “By Kilian”. Before graduating the Sorbonne this charming man wrote a thesis on the semiotics of odours in search of a language common to gods and mortals. After training his nose alongside some of the greatest perfumers in the world and working for the most prestigious perfume houses he felt ready to compose his masterpieces, fascinated by the magic of aromas. He definitely enchanted me too!
His first collection was launched in 2007th. Amongst its ten unique fragrances turned out to be one of my favourite- Beyond Love prohibited…Love!? …even beyond…and so prohibited! Totally mesmerized me with its incandescent tuberose and narcotic charms. Others- based on absinthe, iris, honey and tobacco felt like a promise to a “Prelude to love” or a “Taste of heaven” to me. The redolence of alcohol sugar and the wood notes of cognac barrels in the odours carried me away to the old Hennessy’s cellars. A true delight…
“Perfume is an art”- preaches the philosophy of Kilian and each of his fragrances tells a story and opens doors in one’s memory. Composed with the highest raw materials, the rarest and most expensive essential oils these perfumes engage the senses in a long lasting obsession.
I was intrigued by each of the names. All offering an olfactory voyage that unleashes fantasies with its stories. I took a spiritual journey through the old times with the Asian tales and got carried away to fairy Arabian nights saturated in amber, musk and Oriental rose.
It i fascinating how each of the crafted bottles rest upon plump beds of satin like precious jewels. All that comes in a carved, black, wooden box each opened with its very own key… a key to an inviting secret world of passionate desires and unexpected pleasures to all senses. ..a true challenge for every connoisseur.
Where did all that happen? I will tell you…
Two chambers of olfactive sensations I found in Sofia – “Salon Olfactive” where I was welcomed by amazing professionals who dipped me into the magic of odours. For each of the bottles I reached out they offered me its enchanting story, talked about its components and how the fragrance changes in time, what I could feel in the base, heart or head of the aroma and the notes and accord I will experience in the different etudes it will go through. I was drifted away in clouds of perfume molecules and compelling stories… Completely mesmerized! They were brilliant!
Now I can’t wait for the Magician with pipette to serve us his next creation, launched with the befittingly naughty name this coming month… Tempting, I know… But I will share with you the addresses:
Salon Olfactive – 45 “Patriarh Evtimii” and 145 “G.S.Rakovski” Sofia
Enjoy it…
