I am a sucker for romance, enthralled by exotic romances and in love with the idea of love. When I first heard about the inspiration behind this perfume, I had to read the novel of course. Aziyadé (pronounced as Ah-zee-ya-deh) or Constantinople written by Pierre Loti (the pseudonym of Julien Viaud) is about a love affair between a British naval officer and a Circassian harem girl named Aziyadé in Turkey. The 1879 novel is a fictionalised account based on Loti's own diary that he kept while as a French naval officer. Loti falls in lust and subsequently in love with Aziyadé who I imagine to be as beautiful as Circassian women are known to be, she in turn is whole-heartedly devoted to him and the relationship seems to go on his terms. At the end and in true Romeo and Juliet style, he returns to Istanbul after a period spent back in France, only to discover that Aziyadé had died in his absence. Heartbroken he enlisted in the Turkish forces under the name Arif-Ussam and was killed shortly after in battle.
Even the most undiscerning nose can feel the Orient in this scent. Even the most unfeeling heart cannot hide from the emotions that spring forth when memories are triggered by the essence of this. Aziyadé opens with a quick ping of citrus that disappears as a poof before cumin enters the stage and the spotlight focuses there for a prolonged period allowing us to soak in the pungent aroma laden with darkness and mystery, before the play unfurls further introducing new characters in the form of dried fruit, amber honey, warm heady spices and smoky incense. From the sweet to the acrid spices, the bright citruses to the smoky haze created by the incense, Aziyadé is truly a bewitching tribute to a tragic and touching love story between a naive young girl and an untamed melancholic male.
Woman of Constantinople, Jean-Léon Gérôme
The scent projects decently and longevity wise, Aziyadé is as unwavering as her namesake's love for Loti.
Yes I have a flair for the dramatic but this scent was created with Aziyadé in mind and it would be a poor offering if it were any less passionate.
As Rod Stewart said "Can't live without passion...Won't live without passion..."
“Il n'y a pas de Dieu, il n'y a pas de morale, rien n'existe de tout ce qu'on nous a enseigné à respecter; il y a une vie qui passe, à laquelle il est logique de demander le plus de jouissance possible, en attendant l'épouvante finale qui est la mort.”
― Pierre Loti, Aziyadé
― Pierre Loti, Aziyadé
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