Al-Kimiya is a new niche line from Sergio Momo of the Italian brand XerJoff. They debut with 8 fragrances: Hayat, Kemi, Layla, Luna, Jãbir, 'Ilm, Elixir and Tempest.
Hayat (shown) ~ "Arabic word means "LIFE" All things in the universe were formed from only four elements: Earth - Air - Water - Fire. According to Aristotle, aech [sic] element had a shpere [sic] to which it belonged and to which it would return if left undisturbed." With bitter orange, lavender, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, amber, cypriol, cedar, patchouli and oud. In 100 ml Eau de Parfum, €340.
Kemi ~ "The ancient Greek word may have been derived from a version of the Egyptian name for Egypt, which was itself based on the Ancient Egyptian word kême. Furthermore the word Al Kemi means "Egyptian art" since the Egyptian called their land KEMI and they were believed to be the most powerful magicians in the world." With cedar, oud, gurjum, caramel, castoreum, civet, sandalwood, vanilla and woods. In 100 ml Eau de Parfum, €340.
Layla ~ "Arabic: NIGHT. Various studies and formulas were conducted at night since Astronomy had an important influence over the alchemic process and solutions." With clove, nutmeg, ylang-ylang, cedar, amber, patchouli, musk, sweet and vanilla notes. In 100 ml Eau de Parfum, €290.
Luna ~ "In ancient Latin and Italian: MOON. Alchemy and Astronomy were closely connected. Traditionally each of the seven celestial body [sic] of the solar system known by the ancients were associated with a precise metal. The MOON was associated with SILVER." With lemon, mandarin, apple, mango, herbal notes, currant, apricot, incense, spices, cedar, jasmine, rose, iris, leather, amber, musk and vanilla.
Jãbir ~ "JABIR IBN HAYYAN was considered the "father of CHEMISTRY", introduced a scientific and experimental approach to ALCHEMY. He introduced experimentation, invented teh alembic still and retort, many chemical processes such as filtration and substances such as distilled alcohol. He also estabished the perfumery industry. The word ALCHEMY itself was derived from the arabic word AL-KIMIA." [sic] With pink pepper, freesia, violet, rose, muguet, peony, vanilla, patchouli, vetiver, musk and oud. In 50 ml Extrait de Parfum, €325.
'Ilm ~ "Arabic. KNOWLEDGE is the Islamic term for knowledge. It explain the study and development of sciences during the golden age of Islam." [sic] With aged Assam tea and notes from Bangladesh and Laos. In 50 ml Extrait de Parfum, €320.
Elixir ~ "Elixir of life, also know as elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone was also said to be able to create life." [sic] With floral notes, copaiba balsam, estragole, cade, cypriol, labdanum, oud, gurjum and amber. In 15 ml Attar, €240.
Tempest ~ "The Tempest is the most alchemically influenced of all William Shakespeare's work, steeped as it is in alchemical imagery (dying Kings and sons, Ariel as the spirit Mercurius etc.) with Prospero as the archetypal Magus." With fresh notes, bergamot, lemon, orange, petitgrain, lavender, elemi, ginger, cedar, cypriol, gurjum, cashmeran, jasmine, rose, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, musk, amber and oud. In 15 ml Attar, €240.
Al-Kimiya Hayat, Kemi, Layla, Luna, Jãbir, 'Ilm, Elixir and Tempest can be found now at Essenza Nobile in Germany.
(quotes via alkimiyaperfume, additional information via essenza-nobile.de)
I think these people might do well to slow down. It’s hard to keep up with all the Xerjoff stuff on offer now, and the market seems to be ballooning faster than ever. It really makes me wonder where the saturation point is. I’m past it somewhat myself. It’s tough to maintain interest when the number of niche offerings and the almost daily birth of a new niche house turn the entire enterprise into something dead common. I foresee, if it hasn’t already surfaced, an emerging descriptor vocabulary to account for the new layers of niche stratification — ultra niche, super niche, super premium niche, haute niche, niche supérieure, high octane gluten-free ultra super mega niche, etc., or perhaps something roughly mirroring the classification systems of wine and liquor. Silly and disappointing, but not, regrettably, surprising.
I hear ya. It is impossible to keep up, and it just gets more and more tiresome with all the new releases, niche or not. Maybe I should just stick to sampling things that have been out 5 years or longer, although that list is enormous too.
Have never sampled anything from Xerjoff, and will likely never encounter any of it anyway, just as well because it is so prohibitively expen$ive.
All the stuff I’ve sampled from Xerjoff and its flanker brands has been underwhelming. And absurdly overpriced to boot. Perhaps I just haven’t hit upon one of their winners, but there is nothing about the way that house presents itself that piques my curiosity. Instead, it seems kind of silly and smug. Pointless, vapid luxury.
I have a feeling they’re making very good money and the more they make, the more they sell. So I hear you, but doubt they will.
Evidently people have lots of money to burn.
There are several niche houses I don’t even bother to sample, due to insane pricing. Xerjoff being just one.
We need another niche line like we need a 1000 plus releases a year. It’s just getting very silly.
Yep. But somebody, somewhere, wants these 🙂
At those prices, they might employ a professional translator or at least a proof-reader to check their advertising copy.
I ageer wiht you competely.
🙂
I also have a feeling that their market is not primarily English speaking. So doubt they care about that either!
They may very well be nice, but I think I’m ignoring most Xerjoff spinoffs in general, and most things at that price point.
It makes my perfume-following existence about 0.8% easier.
Join the club (ha ha ha, very bad pun and if you’re ignoring Xerjoff hard enough, you won’t even get it).
JTC. Good one, Robin! 🙂
Sadly that was my comedic high point of the day, LOL…
As soon as I saw the name of the line I thought, “And they’ve all got oud in them.” But they don’t! Not all of them!
Most of them do, though.