There’s so much to love about labdanum. I love the sound of the word. It’s a potential tongue twister but once you get it, labdanum is a fun word to say. I also love the story of this resin. Goats would feast on Mediterranean rockrose shrubs filling their bellies while unwittingly collecting the sticky substance in their beards allowing their keepers to harvest the fragrant goo. Labdanum is still obtained via trusty goats, but more often with *leather rakes empowered by human hands.
What I love most about labdanum though, is its complex yet soothing aroma. All at once it encompasses a vegetal mossiness, subtle floral tones, calming incense and supple leather. The following was my impression the first time I smelled labdanum on its own: …”utterly rich and musty. It also struck me as quite leathery with great depth and amazingly animalic for a botanical”. How lovely I thought it would be to have a perfume composed mainly of this compelling essence.
La Via del Profumo, an Italian all natural perfumery, has recently launched an ode to labdanum in Mecca Balsam that exudes what I described above. Benzoin, frankincense, agarwood, tonka, tobacco, Indian tuberose and Damask rose help comprise Mecca Balsam, but it is labdanum that most inspires this olfactory visit to Mecca. La Via del Profumo’s website has an eloquent description of Mecca Balsam that is truly on point:
“Wrapped in the amber fragrance of Tonka and in the mystic aroma of the Arabic Frankincense, Labdanum wildness is tamed in an almost ecclesiastic scent that evocates at once the perfume of the mosques and the music of the wind organs in cathedrals.
The scent of raw Tobacco, always present in the background, is like an anchor that binds the base accord, giving them a common denominator.
The flowery notes of Indian Tuberose and of Damask Rose enrich the base of the balsam in the fashion of Arabic fragrances, bestowing to the perfume an opulence worthy of the precious aromatic elixirs worn by the royal family of Saudia.
Mecca Balsam is a fragrance that is liked by men and women alike, its aroma is warming, full, aromatic, and somehow gives a fatherly sense of security.”
My dad has never smelled like labdanum and the florals didn’t blossom on my skin, but otherwise, I fully concur. Mecca Balsam’s quartet of labdanum, frankincense, benzoin and tobacco suffuses the air with the caress of incense. The fragrance anoints your skin with a soft richness that has striking sillage and impressive staying power. It also layers beautifully with floral tobacco perfumes like Hermes Kelly Caleche and Ayala Moriel Parfums Espionage.
Dominique Dubrana (AKA AbdesSalaam Attar which is his Mulsim name) is the perfumer at La Via del Profumo whose creations have been given much praise in print. Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez have given Dubrana’s Grezzo d’eleganza, Hindu Kush and Tabac four stars in “Perfumes: The Guide” and please see the following blogs for more on Mecca Balsam:
Dominique Dubrana has been very generous in offering a full 50ml bottle (worth $125 USD) to a Scent Hive reader. Please leave a comment to enter. You can also get extra entries if you follow Scent Hive on Bloglovin, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Facebook’s Networked Blogs, or subscribe to Scent Hive. (Check the right sidebar for the Scent Hive links). We have our winner!
Mecca Balsam is available at the La Via del Profumo website. € 34,17 for 16mls and € 91,67 for 50mls.
Posted by ~Trish
*labdanum rake image from labdanum-creta.blogspot.com
Disclosure: Samples from La Via del Profumo were provided for this review. The opinons in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.
Would love to try this one! I’ve been following the chatter all over the scent boards – seems to have quite a following already. Must be fantastic! Thanks so much!
Lawladyda,
Mecca Balsam is indeed getting a lot of chatter, and mostly very positive
I’ll enter you in the drawing, thanks for stopping by!
~T
this sounds lovely, and with all of you singing its praises, i can’t help but want to sample some of the joy. so, thank you in advance for entering me in your drawing.
minette,
it is a must try, especially if you like labdanum/incensy type fragrances. I would be pleased to enter you in the draw
~Trish
It sounds fabulous – does it smell anything like Le Labo’s Labdanum 18? I’d love to be entered in the drawing, thanks!
Tara,
hmmmm, Le Labo’s Labdanum…..I was in their boutique this past summer and remember not falling in love with anything. If my memory serves me correctly though, it was pretty musky no? Mecca Balsam is not musky!
Maybe you’ll win and be able to let me know how they compare
~T
Between you and March, this sounds irresistable. Please enter me in the draw!
rosarita,
I know, I was pleased to see that March liked it too
Good luck,
Trish
Mmmmm- sounds lovely. I too like the word labdanum. Please put my name in the hat!
helenviolette,
I know….”labdanum”…..such a great word!
Good luck,
Trish
How can I resist? I’d love to be entered in the drawing.
Carter,
No need to resist! You are entered and I wish you much luck
~T
All the perfume blogs cannot be wrong … I’d love to be entered in the drawing. Thank you.
Connie,
I’m sure there are people out there who might prefer something else, but I’d be surprised if someone really loathed it. It manages to be special and unique while still being universally attractive.
Cheers,
Trish
This scent sounds fantastic! I’d love to be added to the drawing. Thanks.
Will do Heidi! Thanks for entering
~T
Wow, if I don’t win your drawing, I’ll definitely add this to my Must.Try “wishlist”. Thanks for your review.
ggs,
It’s wishlist worthy
Good luck,
T
Please enter my name in the drawing!
It sounds marvelous!
Kristen,
You’re right…..it is marvelous
Best of luck,
~T
I’ve been avoiding reading bout this one for fear that it’d flick a spending switch. See what you made me do!
Hope you don’t mind a first time commenter enter the drawing? Thank you kindly!
monoi,
Not at all, you are more than eligible for the drawing! Hope to see you here in the future
Cheers,
Trish
I will be back, to be sure! Been digging through the archives a bit and enjoying myself thoroughly. Cheers!
So glad to hear that!
Take care,
~T
I would really love to be entered into the draw!
I would really love to enter you in the drawing!
Good luck Christine!
~T
Thank you so much for this evocative review. I had heard the murmurs all over fragrance board, but hadn’t listened much. After this review, I must order. It would be nice to be entered in the drawing
You are very welcome isadore
Thanks for reading!
I will enter you in the drawing, and best of luck!
~T
Sounds absolutely beautiful! Please enter me in the draw – thanks!
I sure will Chris, thanks for reading and best of luck!
~Trish
Oh, this sounds wonderful, I’d love to try it!
Julie,
Thanks for stopping by!
Best of luck,
~T
I’m an utter hoor for incense scents, so do please count me in!
Stella, then you must give Mecca Balsam a try!
Thanks for commenting and good luck,
~T
This sounds like a perfume I’ve been wanting to try a long time! I’ve a dark rose oil from Arabian Oud which is absolutely stunning, and sounds like those two are related scentwise.
Count me in!
They do sound similar
Good luck and thanks for reading,
~T
The perfume of mosques and the music of the wind organs in cathedrals – oh, that sounds lovely. Please enter me in the draw, and thanks for the review.
Lisa,
The scent descriptions on their website are really lovely.
Good luck in the drawing!
Cheers,
Trish
Would love to win this! Please enter me in the draw (:
Jorid,
Good luck!
I certainly will
~T
Would love to try this one!
Yes, a good one to try! Good luck!
~T
Please enter me in the drawing!! It sounds right up my alley,,,as does the whole La Via del Purdumo site. Oakmoss sounds really intriguing!!
Lynne,
If I remember correctly, Tania Sanchez wrote a comment on NST praising Oak Moss. It too sounds wonderful!
Good luck,
Trish
Can’t spell:) Should be: La Via del Profumo site
Sounds wonderful! Please enter me in the drawing!
I sure will Tracey! Thanks for stopping by
~T
Well I knew that goats enjoy playing around but had no idea about their connection to labdanum! Fascinating. Thanks for the info and for the opportunity to enter the drawing.
Nicolibba,
Such a great story with the goats, right?
Best of luck in the drawing,
~T
This sounds just gorgeous! I’d love to be entered in the draw..
(and just started following you on twitter)
Thanks for the follow Lavanya! That’s 2 entries for you
Best,
~T
Boy that sounds amazing! Can you please enter me in the draw?
I also follow you on Twitter (fountain_girl), feedburner, google friend connect, and via email just for good measure.
Hi Fountaingirl!
Good luck and thanks for the follow. That’s 2 entries for you!
I’d love to enter you in the drawing
Cheers,
Trish