I'm a big fan of lilies; Their scent is fleshy and narcotic and combined with the right materials can produce a scent that's mesmerizing, as they can very easily either take centre stage of hide between other notes to create illusions.
Maison Crivelli, one of the most interesting niche brands out there currently, has taken a moment that inspired their founder Thibaud Crivelli and with the help of perfumer Nathalie Feisthauer have bottled its essence.
Lys Sølaberg is inspired by the discovery of wild lilies during a nocturnal fjord hike at a village on the cliff edge, facing the sea. Midnight, in the middle of summer, the sun still hadn’t set. In the distance, rays of sun illuminating the waves, creating an iridescent shimmer. Between two wooden houses with thatched roofs where they found shelter, they were surprised to see and smell some lilies.
Top Notes: Wine leaves, Quince, Carrot Seed, Bergamot
Middle Notes: Lily, Calamus, Iris, Dried Fruits
Base Notes: Ambroxan, Guaiacwood, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Cedar, Tobacco Absolute, Mate, Labdanum, Roasted Oakwood Shavings
Lys Sølaberg is a quietly complex fragrance. It starts off with a tart, earthy green and humid feeling that hides a sweet bite of dried fruits. The lilies appear in an unusual way, lightly sparkling and shrouded in mist, mellow and sweet warmed up by a late setting sun. It's not your usual fleshy lily rather a wild growing flower in a misty humid fjord, next to the wooden cabins burning oakwood to warm up during the chilly summer nights. There's a smoky and spicy facet that's enhanced by oak moss absolute, patchouli, cedar and a puff of tobacco while an amber accord built around labdanum adds extra luminosity to the composition.
Overall a delicate gourmand fragrance with a heavenly floral shimmer and a caramelised, smoky / wooden drydown.
Another gem from Maison Crivelli
* The fragrance was gifted - opinions are my own.