Opus VIII

In everyday terms

Jasmine and ylang-ylang over frankincense and saffron with balsam and benzoin.

Jasmine

The sweet white “lady of the night” flowers on compound fences

Ylang-Ylang

Sweet, creamy, banana-like flowers

Orange Blossom

Honeyed white flowers of the orange tree

Frankincense

Church incense, like at Catholic Mass

Saffron

Warm and honey-like, a bit like the inside of a brand-new leather bag

Ginger

Zesty, warm ginger, like the ginger in zobo or kunu

Vetiver

Earthy, rooty grass, like wet soil after rain

Guaiac Wood

Smoky, sweet wood

Balsam

Warm, sweet and resinous, like soft incense glowing in a room

Benzoin

Warm, vanilla-like resin, like sweet incense

Bay Leaf

Dry, herbal and slightly spicy, like the bay leaf in jollof rice

How it wears

In Nigerian heat, most perfumes project more but fade faster. Spray some on your clothes to make it last longer.