HAVANA
It’s 1959 and you’ve just entered your room in Hotel Ambos Mundos where the ghosts of its former inhabitants still visit from time to time. There is the faintest whiff of Hemingway’s cigar smoke and well worn leather jacket. The rattan desk where you sit to write faces shuttered windows now thrown open to the scents and sounds of the street below, alive with the smell of spicy rice, ripening fruit and the sultry Havana night.
Notes
Top: bergamot, cumin
Middle: date, tobacco leaf
Base: tobacco, leather, smoke, incense, musk
ISTANBUL
There was a time when Constantinople was the center of the cultural universe and much of that vibrance still remains. At this convergence of Europe and Asia, ancient meets modern in a city of unbridled energy and spirit. The Bohéme Woman returns here to touch the beating heart of humanity, to explore an unknowable labyrinth of alleyways, to feel jubilantly alive and present. She stands at the center of the Grand Bazaar and inhales the intoxicating aroma of green, sweet cardamom from the spice merchants, the fragrant aromas of ripening fruit, the lushly romantic depth of Turkish rose. A rich, true note of exquisite saffron threads slows the world around her, creating an unforgettable memory. This mystical city weaves itself into the tapestry of her life and leaves an imprint on her soul.
Notes
Top: cardamom, ginger, bergamot, cassis
Middle: turkish rose, iris
Base: cedarwood, amber, saffron
JOSHUA TREE
Imagine an oasis in the desert. There is jasmine & mint tea for after dinner and the dry air is still pulsing with the radiant energy of the Mojave sands as the heat of the day wanes. Take in the vast emptiness of the indigo night as incense rises from the sheltering fire and sparks rise heavenward. Restoration at its best.
Notes
Top: bergamot, agave
Middle: tuberose, cactus blossom
Base: desert sands accord, amber, patchouli, incense
GOA
As with so many locales that are at a crossroads of culture, Goan life is a mélange of Portuguese-Indian elements redolent of citrus, incense and tropical flowers. The scent of bergamot sparkles like the sun over the Arabian Sea, energizing the mind while the warm blend of nag champa and white musk soothes the soul. When the Bohéme Woman craves true replenishment, she rediscovers herself in the unique Portuguese-Indian spirit of relaxation known as Susegad. As the sun sets to the sound of revelers, a cool breeze tinged with bonfire smoke and patchouli drifts past. She laughs in delight. This is where she is supposed to be.
Notes
Top: citrus blossoms & peel
Middle: nag champa, rose
Base: sandalwood, patchouli, incense, clove, white musk
TAHITI
Salt water on skin, blindingly blue water, and air so drenched with scent, it is an entity unto itself. Monoi from the tiaré flower, the ever-present aphrodisiacal fragrance of Tahiti when experienced in its native habitat does not disappoint and is a far cry from the common over-perfumed version stateside. As Sadaf, brand founder of Bohème writes, "The distance between Tahiti and the rest of the world is measured in more than miles. It's a place that calls to the Bohème Woman's adventurous spirit and open heart in harmony with nature."
Notes
Top Note: sea salt, ozone, fleurs de Jamaica (hibiscus flower)
Middle Notes: frangipani, tiare, strawberry, gardenia, coconut
Base Notes: driftwood, white amber, musk
NOTTING HILL
You’ve just woken up to to the sun pouring in through the vine covered windows of an achingly adorable English cottage set in the Cotswolds outside London. Someone is bustling about the kitchen making Earl Grey to add to the breakfast tray and you can still smell the remnants of last night’s cozy cedar fire plus just a tinge of the fine amber-hued whiskey you may or may not of indulged in. Have you stumbled into a scene from The Holiday? Will your toast and tea be delivered by Jude Law? Fantasy or reality, Notting Hill captures the essence of the British Isles - from verdant countryside gardens to the energy of Portobello Road. It’s a mini-vacation in a candle.
Notes
Top: Earl Grey Tea, Bergamot, Black Currant,
Middle: Honeysuckle, Rose, Carnation, Violet, Jasmine, Peony
Base: Vetiver, Moss, Amber, Cedarwood
ARABIA
Close your eyes. If anything could transport you to the perfumed streets of a Moroccan souk, Arabia will. I have never been to a place where the air was so deeply perfumed, the ochre and pink plastered walls so vibrant and so infused with the enchantingly deep, smoky richness of oud, entwined with fruits and spices found in the marketplace. The fragrance opens with warm cassis, thyme, and bergamot before notes of cypress, violet, sandalwood, and patchouli hearten the scent. A base of oud, amber, saffron, labdanum, and musk add depth.
Notes
Top: Cassis, Thyme, Bergamot
Middle: Cypress, Violet, Sandalwood, Patchouli
Base: Oud, Amber, Saffron, Labdanum, Musk