Joya Âmes Sœurs

I haven’t read the book that was the inspiration for this new scent, but apparently the author, M J Rose sent the good people at Joya a copy since she had been inspired by burning candles from the company. I’ll have to rectify that, since I am told it’s a great read.

I’m not so sure about the scent. I like it, mind you. It opens on me with a bright whip-crack of orange blossom and quickly adds in a heaping helping of grapefruit. Before it gets too close to breakfast, mint comes in and lowers the temperature by about 20 degrees. I don’t see at this stage where it is about “Of an everlasting covenant ripe with possibility. Of lost souls reunited.”, it seems to me to be a pleasant scent that I’d reach for without thinking on a hot day. As the scent wears, I do get more: ginger in the middle and finally at the end the promised incense. If you’re expecting churchy or smoky, you won’t get it. It’s more an echo of incense and a memory of myrrh. Which may actually do better by the book’s plot than a more obvious interpretation.

Joya Âmes Sœurst is available at the Joya website in a limited (only 15) edition solid perfume in a beautiful hand-made presentation urn for $500. For the rest of us, it comes in a roll-on, 10ML for $28. I can definitely see that in my future: that cooling effect is miraculous and the scent is quite lovely to boot. At the Joya website or at Henri Bendel.

Image from the Joya Website. My sample was given to me by a friend.