One of my first stops at Barnes, after buying my essential copy of On The Scent Magazine, was Vallense. The name is short for Valley of The Senses.
In flamboyant emerald green to match his branding, co founder William Borrell demonstrated and introduced this small, but perfectly formed collection of fragrances: Spirit, Sun and Source, to a captivated crowd. Rather fittingly, the perfumer, Pia Long, was just a few feet away with her business partner Nick Gilbert, at the Olfiction stand, more of which anon. Let’s have a sniff.
Spirit is a 21st century homage to the classic fougères of old: mint and geranium make this gentleman toothpaste-fresh whilst patchouli, fir and petrichor (rain on a hot pavement) add muscle and a twinkle to his eye. A gentle, snuggly musk adds the perfect finishing touch.
Source also features a nod to classic fragrance heritage, with a dark, smoky trail that reminds me of jazz clubs and speakeasies. With oud and rose making their presence felt, before falling into an amber embrace, this strident and beautiful fragrance is a head turner for all the right reasons.
Sun is a tropical fruity floral, and like the other fragrances in the collection, is gender free, (as are all perfumes IMO). Sun is uplifting, citrussy and refreshing with a kaleidoscope of rich, beguiling florals. My favourite tuberose is in there, showing off as usual, but surrounded by a choir of exotic darlings: frangipani, passion fruit and ylang ylang (which smells a bit like a fictional banana blossom to me). It’s bright, uplifting and captures that moment on holiday when you open the blinds and see the sea glimmering in front of you.
The common thread running through this trilogy is an addictive finale of subtle skin musk and the inclusion of holy grass as a scent note in all three. In the words of the brand website “These scents awaken our senses and become an integral part of our energy field.”
Reader, my senses were truly awakened.
Where to buy it
Vallense is worth discovering. I picked up a Discovery Set without hesitation, and you can too, via the website.
Disclosure
Opinions are always my own, and my Discovery Set was purchased by me. Vallense SUN gets ten out ten from me.
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