The Scent of Stones.

I have been thinking of magic today, especially magic of scent and the element of air, so I was cruising around different places and came across a perfume blog that I found simply incredible, the author is a little wordy, but the perfumer he was interviewing was fascinating, wanted to share some of it with you...

The author has been commenting on the many trays of precious stones, and mannequins draped with jewelry in the perfumers work room

Olivier Durbano creates jewellery for international customers - many are one-off pieces for clients in far-flung locales like Saudi Arabia. When I ask where he sources his stones from, I see his eyes drift beyond me, as though he were looking straight through the wall behind me and off into time and space.

"The earth is made of stone. Stones are everywhere...

We talk for a while about how he goes about recognising all the physical and spiritual attributes of a stone, and translates them into perfume.

"It is like a story; a movie in my mind. A lot of sensations, emotions and travels come from our dreams. Perfume is a translation of these. I work with a chemist and it is a very special collaboration. We learn together to search for the best way in which we can open the doors to the universe of imagination. There must be a good harmony between chemistry and creation".

"Which stone will be featured as your sixth perfume?", I ask rather cheekily, knowing very well that his fifth launch Turquoise has really only just hit retailer's shelves.

Olivier's immediate response catches me off guard. "Why, rose quartz of course".

I turn on my heel sharply to face him, my eyes ballooning in size. I had somehow expected I would not get an answer, but am astonished at his matter-of-fact reply.

"For a long time, I have thought about the creation of a perfume focused on the legend and symbolism of pink quartz; in fact, since the first step of the collection. I don't know when I will launch this perfume because I like to work step by step. I take my time to find the real fragrance which will be exactly like the fragrance I have created in my mind. I don't like to rush... it is like a meeting between ideas and events. I've begun to write a lot of things down, and have begun to mix some ingredients".

Olivier's fragrances have always been intended to be worn  as one might wear a talisman around the neck. His collection of five scents to date appeal to me as an entire perfume wardrobe in itself - there appears to be something for any and every occasion.

"At Pitti in Florence, I wore Black Tourmaline", he confesses. "I am sometimes a shy person by nature and occasionally feel overwhelmed in rooms full of people. I had to speak with groups of industry people; the marketers and the bloggers, so I felt Black Tourmaline best in this situation. It is a stone of protection".

It fascinates me that Olivier chose to wear this perfume to empower himself in such a challenging environment, but am not at all surprised that his choices and motivations are far from arbitrary. I get a sense that every aspect of his craft is systematic, and that he relies heavily on his intuition and inner sense of what is good and honest and true. He dares to dream, and in doing so, affirms his aspirations and makes them tangible.

I found a description of the perfume at a place that sells it, the words were very evocative...

Black Tourmaline is Olivier Durbano’s third entry into his gemstone-inspired “perfume poems.” Decadent yet spiritual, it’s a resinous and sweet smoky scent that Durbano has built around the legendary stone of protection. Burned wood, sweet smoke, rich  and dried spice unfurl in a reverent ceremony, while earthy notes of patchouli, moss and leather provide a fragrant anchor to its otherworldly mystery. Black Tourmaline is the scent of a confessional, hauntingly beautiful with its ethereal sweet incense and smoky tones and earthbound with its base notes…one foot in the unknown and one in the here and now.

That gives me excited little chills :)  The thought of stones inspiring scent was new and captivating to me, and I hope it inspires a little wonder, a little magic in your day.

You can read the whole interview here  Sorcery of Scent