Firstly, if Christmas is getting you down, or you are down, or lonely, or you are over it, then Portia Turbo will be posting something just for you tomorrow over at Australian Perfume Junkies to get you through the day. As for the night, The Cookie Queen herself will keep you company, also over at APJ. If you think you are going crazy then a day with those two will reassure you that you are just fine. They make crazy, CER AY ZEE!
On Boxing Day, 26 December, Portia and I will be catching up with The Three Kings of Cologne; a legend not written by Goethe but rediscovered by him in 1818 and reinterpreted by us for the 21st century.
Meanwhile I am channeling Melchior…
Melchior
Not the candle of the same name! The candle was named after one of The Three Wise Men. This season this magi is presenting Noora, Nazareth and Gold to the baby Jesus, who is known as The Prophet Isa in the lands of frankincense and myrrh.
Noora, Nazareth and Gold
Noora
Noora is a mukhallat with rose, jasmine, marigold, mimosa, saffron, red berries, oud, sandalwood, musk and vanilla, none of which I can smell. The wonders of marketing imagination! To me, Noora is more like a blend of plum, orange, honey and ginger, with a delightful zephyr of hyacinth. Very synthetic in the modern way but this Swish and Swiss Arabian is also very enticing – so enticing that when I received a complimentary sample with another purchase from Saudi Arabia I ordered a full flacon the next day. And what a flacon! With a perfect applicator! Endure the shriek of an opening for a dazzling dry down which will have you camel riding, star following and hearing angels sing. Musette thought it was like an unidentifiable blossom dipped in wild honey but maybe she was describing herself? Noora means divine light.
You may also like Swiss Arabian’s Zahra – A Marigold Oriental. Fragrantica commenter Sumukorento describes it thus: “Like Egyptian musk oil + The Boucheron Trouble drydown. Love that.”
Oils are all about constant reapplication. Ha, that’s what I thought but no they are not.
Nazareth
Nazareth. This is a scent I discovered three years ago but I did not buy it immediately and then it sold out as it is a seasonal release. It was still blowing through the scentmills of my mind a year later and that year I did not hesitate. Nazareth is a candle by Cire Trudon, a Christmas candle which wafts a whisper of frankincense and billows of cinnamon, orange, and clove from a ruby red holder. Burn for a hour, an hour before you want a scented room. Trim that wick before reigniting. Bees and other pollinators receive protection from this candle as a percentage of sales goes to Terre d’Abeilles.
Gold – well I am going with the gold bukhoor burner to smeek some oud chips from Ensar.
Khao Yai Oud Wood Chip
If you prefer ‘through alcohol’ rather than through smoke then Amouage Gold Man has been described as Chanel No. 5 for Men. And it is. Not me but many men rock this ‘fume.
Amouage Gold Man
Perfumistas, what scented gifts would you bring to Bethlehem?
Wishing you Scent Serendipity this Season.
Modern Magi Gifts
Waft on through the day , waft on through the night,
You’ll never waft alone on the world world web.
Jordan River
The Fragrant Man 
The three kings are one of my favorite parts of Christmas, as they were also astrologers (an art I am trying to create awareness for). From my collection right now, I would bring Bois Farine, a comfort scent fit for a savior born in a stable. 🙂 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Starlight Stabright. Happy everything to you Nancy! I like your idea of Zahd as coin of the realm. Of course it would have to be pegged to Iris Gris. Bois Farine; what a beautiful beautiful gift.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays! May you be surrounded by love, happiness and good fragrances x
Terima kasih. What strong wishes you wish; they have all come true already. May you be surrounded by art, love and a 1000 beautiful things. I was going to add food but hey, in your country that gift is a given. Keamanan.
Terima Kasih! ya there’s so much food around I have to sometimes turn it down! ;p
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Jordan, Where can I get a sample of Noora? It sounds exquisite!
Zahras! But it is the most clunky website. Byzantine without any glamour. They also have amazing stock. You have to download each catalogue as a PDF to browse.
So, clunky but reliable to deal with commercially. I am a customer. They are very good at email responses That can take several days but they do reply. I have had the note nightmare though where as you can see above their listed notes were incorrect.
To get a sample you propably have to order something and then request samples of one or two other items that interest you.
A word to the wise; they stock accurate iterations of Western brands. Maybe start with the Surrati catalogue and then trawl through Swiss Arabian. Allow an hour or so of patience for this investigative task!
If you are thinking Noora then I will repeat here what I said above as endurance, compatibility with aromachemicals as well as patience is needed to shine in this Divine Light.
Endure the shriek of an opening for a dazzling dry down which will have you camel riding, star following and hearing angels sing. Musette thought it was like an unidentifiable blossom dipped in wild honey but maybe she was describing herself? Noora means divine light.
http://perfume.zahras.com
email us on info@zahras.com