Creed
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Black cherry explodes with almost bruised intensity whilst pink pepper immediately sharpens the composition into something peppery and slightly aggressive. Saffron weaves through with a dusty, almost medicinal presence that prevents the fruit from becoming merely sweet—within seconds, you're aware this won't be a conventional fruity floral.
The peony and May rose emerge with unexpected restraint, their green, slightly metallic edges exposed by cashmere wood's woody-creamy backbone. Violet arrives as a powdery whisper that adds depth without softness, whilst the fruit and spice elements meld into a warm, slightly resinous middle that feels almost ecclesiastical—think incense and dried petals rather than romance.
Musk, amber, and frankincense establish a dark, contemplative base that's more meditative than sensual. The myrrh deepens into something almost smoky, leaving behind a faint fruity ghost and a persistent, slightly austere amber that lingers with quiet insistence rather than projection.
Carmina arrives as a contradiction—a fragrance that marries the austere with the sensual, the sacred with the indulgent. Emilie Bouge has crafted something that feels caught between a Renaissance chapel and a silk-draped boudoir, never quite settling into either. The black cherry doesn't arrive as a fresh, bright fruit; instead, it emerges darkened and almost fermented, immediately complicated by pink pepper's sharp, almost peppercorn bite and saffron's metallic spice. This is fruit with character, with age to it.
What distinguishes Carmina is how aggressively the florals resist sentimentality. May rose pairs with peony in a way that feels botanical rather than perfume-counter romantic—there's a slightly green, slightly metallic edge that cashmere wood amplifies rather than softens. Violet adds a powdery iris-like quality that threatens to tip the composition towards vintage territory, yet the fruity-spicy accord keeps it grounded in something contemporary and slightly unsettling.
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3.3/5 (118)