![Miller Harris La Fumée [Arabie] fragrance packaging](https://nstperfume.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/miller-harris-fumee-arabie.jpg)
British niche line Miller Harris has launched La Fumée [Arabie], the first in a projected series of limited edition fragrances based on 2011's La Fumée:
La Fumée [Arabie] is the first in a series of limited edition fragrances inspired by the iconic scent of La Fumée. Created in celebration of the rich beauty and magic of the Arabic cultures, La Fumée Arabie is a sensual oriental fragrance centred around the exotic woods of the Middle East.
Incense and precious agar wood (oud) encircle dry and sensual woods in this dramatic arrangement of spice, smoke and wood. Opening notes of cistus absolute, cardamom from Guatemala, coriander seed and Egyptian cumin are combined with a smoky heart of incense from the Yemen, Moroccan cedar and birch tar. The final impression is one of smouldered embers, agar wood, rose oil and rich vanilla.
The fragrance is presented a glass bottle bearing the signature Miller Harris botanical design printed in 23 carat liquid gold.
Miller Harris La Fumée [Arabie] is £110 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum.
(via millerharris, found at extrait.it)
If I were rewriting this copy for the Prix au Faux, I’d be tempted to add “whiffs of freedom and oppression” in there somewhere! I guess Morocco hasn’t had a revolt, yet. . .
Hard for me not to associate the region with the changes happening there right now, in any case.
(Final thought: Robin–no “please no more oud” tag?)
I *think* (I ought to check to be sure) that I’ve only used the tag when they put the word oud in the title of the fragrance, not on every fragrance that has oud. I do like oud, just sick of it being the sole marketing point of half the fragrances on the market! And they managed to *not* name oud in the first paragraph — that’s an improvement!
Ah! I guess I didn’t catch that distinction! Thanks for clarifying!
I can see how a person could be ok with the note and not with the hype. Since I’m late to that party (oud had already flooded the market by the time I found my way here to NST and perfumista-hood), it doesn’t hold the same eye-rolling powers in any case! 🙂
Glad it makes some sense to someone besides me, LOL…
Morrocco has not had a change in government, but there have been changes in response to protests for more freedom.
A scent is iconic after only a year in distribution? I always thought it had to endure for a while, like a generation, maybe a decade minimum
Uh, yeah! That made me laugh too.
This is just further evidence as far as I’m concerned that La Fumee is the old Matthew Williamson Incense which could justifiably be described as iconic.
Did you find them that close? I didn’t, but on the other hand, it’s been so many years since I smelled the MW…
I think there’s rather less sandalwood, which is unsurprising given the price jump in that ingredient, but otherwise fairly close. The first time I tested it I absolutely knew it was something I used to wear but it took a few hours to remember what it was. I ebayed my last bottle of Incense quite a few years ago when I was very short of cash and sold it for quite a lot to a lovely man who sent me a message saying it was a suprise to make his wife happy. I replied asking if he had a single brother but he didn’t get back to me on that…
LOL…excellent story! And thanks, good to know.
Let’s see — I am a confirmed incense freak and I love the original La Fumée, so it seems likely that sampling this is in my future. (However, I agree that the “iconic” label is about a decade premature.)
If I buy more than a sample, though, I think I’d have to go for a decant — I wonder how much of the hefty price tag is due to the 23K liquid gold frippery?
Yes, I’d rather skip the frippery & have a lower price too. But if they’re marketing this to the Middle East, as I suspect they are, a higher price tag is almost a selling point.
That did cross my mind. And at any rate, I’m sure the bottle looks lovely.
I haven’t even gotten around to sniffing the enticing-sounding original yet, so this news is making me CRANKY!
Oh, I really liked the original, but found it a little on the sweet side… maybe the oud would counteract that and it would be perfect? Not sure I need a gold-printed bottle, though. :/