L'Artisan will introduce Dzongkha this fall. It will be the third fragrance in the travel series that includes Bois Farine and Timbuktu, and like Timbuktu, it was created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour. Dzongkha was inspired by Bhutan, and more specifically by the "odors of stones and incense from the temples called Dzongs":
In the top note of Dzongkha, the freshness of peonies and the pink flavor of lychees vibrate with cardamom. The heart of the fragrance is accompanied by chai notes (spicy tea with milk) that soften the strength of wood where vetiver stands out in the fumes of incense. This intensity is accentuated by cypriol (Indian papyrus) and leather notes. Iris with its powdery bottom note symbolizes both the stony aspect and the softness of the fragrance.
Read more at ALzD Duft-Tagebuch.
Update: see a review of L'Artisan Dzongkha.
Note: image of Trongsa Dzong in Bhutan via oneworld.net.
Sounds wonderful – the top notes sound a bit strange, but I'm very interested.
This better be really, really good. I'll scream bloody murder if it ain't.
Penies and lychees? I am a bit scared of that. but the rest sounds amazing.
It all sounds a bit strange…but Bois Farine & Timbuktu are both strange in a wonderful way 🙂
LOL — I know what you mean, although I didn't like either Bois Farine or Timbuktu initially, and love them now.
Lychee is low on the list of notes I like to see, but am hopeful…I love so many of Duchaufour's fragrances.
Hello R!
This sounds strangely beautiful! I love the idea of a “voyager” type series. Lovely! =)
Hi R!
I had a chance to sample Dzongkha from a lab bottle at a L'Artisan event, and I was fascinated by it. On my skin, I caught the woodsy notes, followed by a powdery, slightly damp scent that reminded me of tree roots and soil (or, now that I've read the official description, stones and vetiver?) in a misty forest after a rainstorm… It was a very “gray” fragrance, to my nose, and it seemed ethereal and earthy at the same time. However, on a man in the group, it smelled almost musky, and on another woman, it stayed woody and slightly sweet (cardamom?). I really do want to try it again!
Hey M, hope you are well! I like this concept too. Wish Hermes would do another one of the “Jardin” scents also…
Wow, thanks so much for the detailed comment! It sounds like it smells as interesting as its press release, which is rare indeed. Tree roots & soil in a misty forest is right up my alley 🙂 Can't wait for this one to go on sale…
Wow, that is a great description. I can't wait to try it!
Stones and incense and in the family of Bois Farine and Timbuktu? Bring it on! As fast as possible!!
I am dying to try this. I think it sounds like one I will absolutely love.
LOL…my sentiments exactly.
There have been so few really lemming-worthy new releases this year…hope this one will live up to its promise!
I've been lemming a lemming too! Ironically, I recently received a sample of Andy Tauer's Orris scent, and it is simply to die for on my skin. Just as I was comfortably settling into here's-a-lemming-worth-the-angst mode, I discovered that it's LE and can never be bought. Now I REALLY have a lemming. Sigh.
Thank goodness it was described in the comments section. The “chai” consumed copiously by the Buddhists in Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet is actually a horrible mixture of tea with butter. Glad to know butter won't be in the new blend!
Oh, that does sound unappealing! Had a quick sniff of Dzongkha on a scent strip, and have a feeling I am going to love it 🙂