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Elemi: A Fresh and Exotic Touch in Perfumery
Elemi gum is cherished by perfume creators for the delightful fresh and invigorating touch it adds to fragrances. Primarily incorporated into top notes to enhance them, elemi gum can be found in oriental, fern, and woody scents. Guerlain's L'instant de Guerlain pour homme, for example, features elemi as a top note alongside pepper and bergamot. Middle notes reveal a floral hint with jasmine petals, while the base notes combine patchouli with hibiscus seed. The result is a radiant, woody fragrance with a seductive edge, often described as a travel diary in scent form. Elemi is frequently present in perfumes that evoke dreams of faraway lands, mysterious destinations, and elegantly fresh trails.
Fun Fact: Elemi gum is derived from the elemi tree, Canarium luzonicum, native to the Philippines. The tree's resin has been used for centuries in various applications, from traditional medicine to the construction of traditional boats in the region.
Elemi: Exquisite Combinations in Perfumery
The freshness of elemi gum harmonizes beautifully with floral, flowery, and woody fragrances. It can also be found in more oriental scents, such as Hermès' Eau des Merveilles. In this perfume, elemi appears as a base note, combined with lemon and bitter orange amber. The heart note features ambergris, while the top notes include balsam of Peru, oak, vetiver, and Atlas cedar. The woody-amber notes take center stage in this feminine scent, which intriguingly lacks floral notes and playfully blurs gender lines with sweet-salty ambergris nuances. Eau des Merveilles transports you to a distant, unknown world for an unforgettable journey. Another exceptionally successful blend is that of elemi with aquatic notes in Christian Lacroix's Bazar pour homme. Here, elemi appears as a heart note, accompanied by cedarwood. The top notes feature aquatic fruit notes, leaving behind a trail that transitions from sparkling to airy and ultimately woody. Passion and imagination intertwine in this distinctly masculine scent.
Fun Fact: In aromatherapy, elemi essential oil is known for its harmonizing and uplifting properties, promoting mental clarity and a sense of peace.
Elemi, a gum-resin with a long history, offers a lemony, woody, and sometimes peppery scent in perfumery. Perfumers appreciate its refreshing notes, often employing it as a top note. When combined with other fragrances, elemi produces astonishing yet genuinely beautiful pairings.
