Ostens - Patchouli Heart No. 1
I’ve been on a bit of a buying spree, somehow it’s a way of celebrating my mom’s life, she LOVED perfumes. I always remember as I was growing up, she’d go down to the drug store and spray herself with the testers. White Shoulders was her signature fragrance, and we’re putting a bottle of it with her when we lay her to rest.
Ostens is a nice concept, founded by a couple of guys who have been in the perfume industry, they focus on raw materials. While watching Persolaies interview Co-Founder Christoper Yu, they made an offer to give one free sample to anyone watching live.
Being based in the UK, and with the joys of Brexit, it took some time to get the sample, but it was a stunner for me. It’s no surprise, I went with Patchouli, but wasn’t expecting the sample to be a phenomenal incense barbershop fougere. In fact sitting here right now, sniffing my arm, I’d rank it as my personal number one in that category.
Notes listed are:
Top Note: Pink Pepper, Liquorice Accord, Incense
Heart Note: Rosemary, Lavandin, Lavender Abs, Immortelle Abs LMR
Base Note: Patchouli Heart LMR, Ciste Labdanum Abs, Amber
As Ostens really wants to bring the raw materials to light, they have an interesting brief. They give a nose the material, and then tell them do what you like with it.
And in this case perfumer Domitille Michalon-Berthier really nailed it with an exquisite, light, beautifully composed fougere. I love all types of the genre, but there’s a really uplifting radiance to this one, especially in the opening half hour, that really elevates it to a new level for me.
The unique thing that Ostens does, is actually give a smaller dabbler bottle of the actual highlighted raw material, with a tasteful glass dipping rod.
They say you can apply the raw material and the the “Impression” (i.e. the perfume) on top, or however you like. I think it’s a very cool idea.
The only downside is longevity has been a bit short when using the sample. However, it’s so lovely, and so up my personal alley, that I just don’t care in this case, especially considering the reason I choose to buy this now.
Below are a few shots of the unboxing.
I’ll note I’m a sucker for this type of impressionistic touch and it well suits the theme of the house. And handwritten notes, always go a long way with me. They were also wonderful to deal with by email.
