Extrait de Parfum The inspiration for this potent aquatic floral is Nāmaka, the sacred Hawaiian goddess of sea and waves, sister of the tempestuous Pele, goddess of fire and volcanic turbulence. Hawaiian legends tell of the eternal cycle of conflict between oceanic Nāmaka and the blazing rage of Pele. Studio Tanaïs has captured both the paradise and the power. At the heart of Nāmaka is monoï, the evocative and transportive scent of tiare buds hand-picked early in the morning and macerated in coconut oil. We are familiar with its luscious, oily velveteen perfume from sun protection creams and post-sun oils, but true monoï is prohibitively expensive and rare to find outside niche perfumery. Nāmaka is suffused with it: an ivory bouquet of tiare flowers, thick with heady scent, laid upon waves as offerings. The tiare carries an addictive erotic ripeness with hints of vanillic tonka and coumarin, its decadence deliciously aphrodisiac and moreish. Mimosa Olessence brings a more pronounced anisic note to the composition, produced by a lower temperature extraction process that many perfumers consider a truer representation of mimosa than other absolutes. Plumeria adds a further plush dimension with its hints of peachy citrus, gardenia and clove. Creamy coconut milk, jasmine and a delicious amber accord complete the floral body, assembled to honour the paradise birthplace of sacred Nāmaka. A marine accord underpins everything, both briny and lactonic, refreshing and a little ominous. Then there is choya nak, the strange result of roasting seashells with sandalwood, producing a compelling scent of atramental ocean that exalts the marine accord and tempers the lavish tiare flowers. Nāmaka has huge solar projection, the familiarity of monoï boosting our attraction to it. Studio Tanaïs has created a beautifully addictive perfume of considerable power, a vast oceanic floral with impressive longevity. If you close your eyes, you can smell the crashing waves, tossing flower garlands in eddies of blue and white foam, nights of indolic blooms suffusing the air. Composition: Egyptian Neroli, Marine Accord, White Grapefruit Tiare Flower, Mimosa Olessence, Coconut Milk, Jasmine Sambac, Plumeria Petal Eucalyptus Absolute, Nutmeg, Botanical Ambergris, Roasted Seashell inci list: Organic Cane Alcohol, isopropyl myristate, essential oils, resins, absolutes, fine fragrance raw materials
