Today is the UN International Day of Peace, and to celebrate, not just for profit perfume company The 7 Virtues is releasing a very special package – a custom blend box of the four signature fragrances that make up the brand. This week we have been reviewing each fragrance individually – Afghanistan Orange Blossom, Noble Rose of Afghanistan, Vetiver of Haiti and Middle East Peace. The custom blend box is made up of 15ml bottles, with the exception of Middle East Peace, which comes in a 30ml bottle.

While each fragrance is perfectly balanced on its own, The 7 Virtues believes in binding the scents to create new and unique fragrances that surprise the wearer. To unite the line, each fragrance in The 7 Virtues custom blend box has a kiss of citrus.

Essential oils are like people; they have effects on one another. We are better together.
– Barb Stegemann
– The 7 Virtues

On the blotter paper provided to me, The 7 Virtues recommended four blends, but because curiosity gets the better of me every time, I’m going to review the six possible blends in the box. This was my first experience with blending perfumes, but I went into it with gusto, and after a few hours of sampling, blotter paper was strewn everywhere; I turned into some sort of perfume-crazy mad scientist!

But in all seriousness, testing out the blends was a great experience. So without further ado, let’s go on a fragrant journey through the custom blend box by The 7 Virtues.

Sweet Jasmine
Afghanistan Orange Blossom and Noble Rose of Afghanistan

Blending the fruitiest and the boldest fragrances in the range seems like a daring move by The 7 Virtues, but the resulting scent is surprisingly enjoyable to wear. The blend starts out with a burst of bergamot from the Afghanistan Orange Blossom and quickly relaxes into sweet seduction by the Noble Rose, but before long, sweet jasmine and freesia appear to complete the bouquet. This blend is like the perfect first date – sparks, sexiness… and a big bouquet of flowers.

Warm Citrus Kiss
Middle East Peace and Vetiver of Haiti

Autumn is taking hold in the Pacific Northwest, and my perfume choices are changing accordingly. Maybe it’s the slow descent of leaves from the trees or the colder nights, but I’m gravitating towards warm and woody scents, particularly at night. The Warm Citrus Kiss blend starts out with a swift spritz of citrus, but once the woody notes of Middle East Peace and the nutmeg found in Vetiver of Haiti take hold, I am in autumnal heaven. Another beautiful and romantic fragrance, but this is perfect for those cooler nights.

Wild Woods Flower
Middle Eastern Peace and Noble Rose of Afghanistan

While this was one of the recommended blends in the box, I’m not entirely sure I enjoyed this pairing. The strong grapefruit top notes of Middle East Peace combined with the petal-rich Noble Rose of Afghanistan didn’t gel in an enjoyable way for me. I really love the subtlety of Middle East Peace alone, and the boldness of the Noble Rose didn’t quite complement it. There are plenty of other mixes that temper the boldness of the rose (see below), but this isn’t one of them.

Masculine Rose
Noble Rose of Afghanistan and Vetiver of Haiti

Of the four scents recommended on the blotter paper sent with the custom blend box, I had to leave this review until last. The most intriguing pairing of the entire box, Masculine Rose pairs up the Noble Rose of Afghanistan and Vetiver of Haiti. The masculinity of the Vetiver and femininity of Noble Rose are a truly beautiful union – the nutmeg and fern middle notes of the Vetiver of Haiti really come through in this blend, cutting through the floral notes of the Noble Rose. If this were its own bottle, I could see it being shared by a perfume-loving couple. It is a truly genderless scent – neither masculine nor feminine.

Vetiver of Haiti and Afghanistan Orange Blossom

This is first of the two blends that weren’t expressly recommended, and I can see why. A double dose of bergamot on the top dries down until Vetiver’s fern and Orange Blossom’s jasmine and freesia get together in a way that is quite confusing to the senses. Perhaps that’s why pairing these two wasn’t expressly recommended!

Middle East Peace and Afghanistan Orange Blossom

The second not-expressly-recommended fragrance, unlike the pairing above, is a beautiful union! I’m happy with how they come together – the freshness of the orange with the understated lime and basil oils of the Middle East Peace create a delicate fragrance. The orange blossom scent alone may not be for everyone, but coupled with Middle East Peace’s delicate notes of lime, basil and even green tea in the blend go well together. Like any good relationship, the two fragrances together work to enhance each other’s strengths.

A Final Treat

If you have fallen this far down the beautifully fragrant 7 Virtues rabbit hole with me, I commend you! I can also reward you with a tip. Stay tuned to The Fragrant Man tomorrow, when a very special giveaway is announced. It doesn’t take a perfume-crazy mad scientist to figure it out, but even if you’ve picked it – you will have to wait until tomorrow!

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Rose Harvest and Distillation for The 7 Virtues, Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan.

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Orange Blossom Harvest and Distillation for The 7 Virtues, Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan.

Further Reading
Middle East Peace at Daly Beauty – review by Jane Daly
The 7 Virtues: Noble Rose of Afghanistan
The 7 Virtues: Vetiver of Haiti
The 7 Virtues: Middle East Peace – The Perfume
Vetiver of Haiti at The Perfumed Dandy
Afghan Woman
Making Perfume not War

Afghanistan Orange Blossom
A Week of Virtues – The 7 Virtues – Afghanistan Orange Blossom
Australian Perfume Junkies – review by Feral Jasmine
The Scented Salamander – review by Chantal-Hélène Wagner
Beauty on the Outside – review by Dionne
Afghanistan Orange Blossom at Daly Beauty – review by Jane Daly

The Perfumed Dandy talks with Barb Stegemann

The 7 Virtues – website