Tendre Est La Nuit Majda Bekkali Sculptures Olfactives

Source: shinycreation.com

I took a quick look at the notes for Tendre Est La Nuit on Fragrantica, realised I haven't smelt quite a number of them and decided not to bother describing things I don't know and work out what I do smell even if it's not what's listed. 

I am strongly reminded of Parfum d`Empire Ambre Russe, likely strongly reminded, don't call me crazy. I dug out my sample of Ambre Russe to compare and I stand by what I say, well minus the vodka opening of Ambre Russe. Calling Tendre Est La Nuit a boozy oriental leather in a nutshell might be overly simplistic but that's the major part of the scent, something I didn't expect by its name but am quite enjoying. 

I smell boozy, syrup-engorged (immortelle maple syrup like) fruit like in Serge Lutens' Arabie but instead of the all-spice mix of Arabie there is pepper, smoky resins and balms which I can't tell apart but together with the pepper gives Tendre Est La Nuit it's oriental genes, a smooth tanned leather like in Anubis from Papillon Artisan Perfumes and a dark earthy patchouli. A thick, concentrated scent that seems to transform from its syrupy start to a dry fine dust over time, almost like musty old books that have been sprayed with the perfume. 

I prefer Tendre Est La Nuit to Ambre Russe for being an easier digestif to swallow, Tendre Est La Nuit imbibes but stops short of heavy drinking, while with Ambre Russe although being wearable art, one still has to be in the right mood to wear it without being worn out by the whole experience. Tendre Est La Nuit is a heavy scent with a big projection so I would be careful with applying this to avoid inducing headaches and/or nausea, but its strength fades out over time so that by the eighth hour it's a pleasant skin scent. P.S: I was putting clothes aside for laundry when I smelt a most gorgeous smoky, sweet and dark patchouli coming from the top I had used when wearing Tendre Est la Nuit more than 24 hours ago. Beautiful!

Les Jeux sont Faits Jovoy

Les Jeux sont Fait. The bets have been placed.

Damn, this is a boozy opening and a loud one too. Rum, lots of it, reminding me of my mother dousing the Christmas fruit cake with rum, starting in September, so that when it is taken out of its container come December, the smell of rum soaked fruit fills the room. The cumin battles with the rum in the opening, but the tussle doesn't last long and they agree to a truce, living in relative accord with a dry, semi sweet, woody base (patchouli, dried fruit and tobacco present and accounted for).

Dark, luscious amber all tanked up. I smell incense in the base but it's not listed in the notes. Les Jeux sont Faits reminds me of a mix between Serge Lutens' Arabie, Chergui and Ambre Sultan, but not as honeyed, darker...more brooding. Feels more masculine initially but becomes sweeter and warmer with time, a woman could carry this off, a woman like Marlene Dietrich with her smoky, hypnotic voice.



Trivia: I stumbled upon a book by the same name, Les Jeux sont Faits, It was originally a screenplay, written by Jean-Paul Satre(part of the philosophical movement interested in existentialism) in 1943, in which two people, Ève and Pierre who have never met before, are destined soulmates, both dying in premature and violent deaths before meeting in the afterlife. They are given a second shot at life for 24 hours to prove their love, in order to keep that second chance. However both are distracted by unfinished business in their previous lives and that keeps them from concentrating on their love and they fail in their quest, dying once more. The story backs Satre's belief in determinism, i.e the philosophical position that for every event and action, there exists conditions that could result in no other eventuality, whether good or bad intentions abound, that destiny will always win over the power of life. In this play, Satre also shows that it is near impossible to know if a choice is the right one even if backed by the best intentions and that there really isn't an absolute truth or morality.

*An English translation is available to read on openlibrary.org (not affiliated, just read it there!)

“Say not, ‘I have found the truth,’ but rather, ‘I have found a truth.’- Khalil Gibran.

Arabie Serge Lutens

If Ambre Sultan channels sultry warm Arabian nights, Arabie channels...food. Spiced teas and thick coffees, honeyed cakes and flaky pastries, dried exotic fruit and candied orange peel...and the perspiration from toiling over the gourmand feast.

I applied with a heavy hand this morning but don't find Aarbie to be a loud scent despite its potent notes so no fear of smelling like a walking spice bazaar or sweat shop. Arabie settles down to a sweetly spiced woody base and the cumin to shake things up. A luxuriant and flavorful scent with roots in the Orient, Arabie is an animated guide who takes you on a foreign foodie trail and leaves you giddy with pleasure. It is a must try for lovers of the exotic and the East, gourmand fans and those who love cumin in their perfumes (sweaty beast).