My first trip to Venice was back in the Bronze Age. I was sooo excited for Venice – such history, such faded luxury. What I didn’t expect was the light, that weird, glancing light in courtyards. The sharp edges along the colorful facades in Venice’s many squares. Gorgeous, glinting light on the lagoons and canals…
…but nothing prepared me for the quietly awesome beauty of the light off Lido. I disembarked the vaporetto and walked into Lido (past my fantasy walled villa – such bliss, to find that fantasy manifest!!!) ….after a quick stop in the supermarket (because, c’mon – it’s LIDO! I have to know what a Lido supermarket is like! The answer? Pretty much like any midsized European supermarket, but with a stunning selection of sunscreen products and sandals)….anyway, I continued my walk down to the now-shuttered Hotel des Bains. I didn’t have the nerve (nor was I dressed) to walk through the lobby so I walked through the beautiful gardens, themselves awash in this weird, beautiful light. And then….omg. The Adriatic. Pale greyish-blue water, with gold-tipped waves. And ……omgosh………this incredible lilac mist on the horizon (which, btw, I thought was the portal to Morocco because Stupid. But hey…roll with my geographically-challenged self)….
…it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
Neela Vermeire had much the same reaction at Pichola, the gorgeous lake region of Udaipur,Rajasthan. This scent is all about glinting reflections. The bright citrus notes (clementine & neroli) are the golden reflections on the waves..underpinned by a decidedly ‘Eastern’ note of cardamom (yum!) and saffron, much like the imagined gateway to Morocco of my first trip to Lido. Everything about this scent is playful, chiaroscuro, glinting, glancing light,, with the morning (first spritz) bringing the lilac mist to fore and the evening (the gorgeous drydown) providing the golden glow. It’s unusual in that I find it both light and playful and deep and compelling. That’s a toughie to pull off in what I consider to be a citrus-based scent. And it’s freaking GORGEOUS. golden sunlight dancing on pearlescent lilac waters! I am not going to embarrass any of us by trying to be any more lyrical than that. It’s gorgeous. And it has pretty fabulous longevity, too, though you probably won’t be able to experience that because you’ll keep spraying it because it’s like crack. Or meth. Or whatever drug it is that grabs you and turns you into an addict the first time you use it. Except it’s not likely to do more than dent your wallet just a little bit and haunt your waking and sleeping hours. I wore it yesterday and the day before and I can swear it’s still in my olfactory brain. It’s not heavy – at all. It’s just perfect. And it made me happy as an Adriatic clam to wear it.
So it would be my pleasure to clam someone else! Tell me a leetle story – what’s your favorite Neela scent? A story about light? Have you been to Lido? Do you like it? We’ve got an emergency Corso foster staying with us (more on that later) and her name is Cleo- we are calling her baby and sweetie and smoochieface and giving her lots of hugs and kisses. She’s agreed to poke ‘random’ and pick a winner, which I will announce on Wednesday. We have to do it fast so I don’t use up the sample! LOL! There’s plenty in there, I promise. And I’ve already packed it up so I don’t spray again! So get those stories started, lovies!!!
TOP NOTES
Cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, juniper,
magnolia, neroli oil, clementine, bergamot
HEART NOTES
Orange blossom absolute, rose absolute,
tuberose absolute, Jasmine sambac, ylang-
ylang
BASE NOTES
Benzoin absolute, sandalwood, driftwood,
vetiver from Haiti
Have not tried any of the Neela Vermeires, but this one sounds delightful.Trying to think of an exotic location and light scenario, but it’s been so long since I traveled anywehre interesting. I do love the light anywhere in the late afternoon in the summertime.
Mohur is my favorite Neela Vermeire perfume.
I love the lightbeams that show up through the clouds after a strong rain… and the rainbow, on the fields of my grandma’s village. Nowhere on world is THAT light… a special muted color that makes you breathless…
My favorite has got to be Mohur, though I do love the second half of Trayee too. I have a sample of the Mohur extrait and you should realllly try to get a hold of some if you are a fan of the edp.
I’d like to try for the sample. I haven’t tried any Neela V yet! Pichola sounds beautiful. i’ve always loved light. As a child I’d take naps in sunny patches like a cat. As an adult, one of my favorite sights is seeing dust motes swirling in a column of golden afternoon light.
My favorite NVC scent thus far is Mohur. I will likely be purchasing a bottle within the coming months, unless Pichola steals my heart. Even after a treacherous New England winter, I love that I can still find the beauty in the way snowflakes sparkle against a night sky with light cast behind them. It might not be Udaipur, but it is beauty I appreciate all the same.
Lido sounds lovely! And so do all these other places. Wherever I am, I love the Golden Hour. Nearby there’s a lake with a path and benches, and I have loved visiting in all seasons especially then, watching the shadows change and their blue intensify and then fade into dusk, looking at the leaves backlit with halos, all the different colors…. I think being near water does something.
When I traveled many years ago I noticed a shift, how light could be watery and kind of yellow/blue or in the desert dry and dustly and gold/purple.
please count me in! I love Trayee.
I love Bombay Bling and wore it almost everyday for months. So gorgeous. As for light….the setting sun on the Sandia mountains in Albuquerque is almost a religious experience for me. Amazing.
I too wandered along the canals of Venice as part of a 50-voice college choir, back when dear Victoria still occupied the English throne. We had put money aside in an emergency fund, and late one afternoon our leaders wisely decided that it would be an emergency if we left Venice without a ride in a gondola. So, all 50 of us set out in a fleet of about a dozen gondolas poling down the Grand Canal. But then, each boat slipped away from the others into the city. The sun went down and a full moon came up, and the light changed from red-gold to silver. At our urging, our gondolier sang to us–it was magic. Unbelievably romantic, and one of my favorite memories.
Your story is great but to have been in Venice when Queen Victoria was still alive surely you must be a vampire, Did you get “turned” in Venice? Was that the last dusk you ever experienced? How cool!
I can relate to that post 100% and this is not me kissing ass. I have been fascinated by Venice ever since I was a child. I visited that urban fairytale for the first time when I was nine and ever since I fantasised over and over again living there, amidst all that sinking beauty, like a hero from an Hugo Pratt story, Corto Maltese. I totally understand what you say about that magical light that permeates everything and it is quite un-photographable 🙂 The walled gardens, the paved courtyards, the elegance stonework… if there is a fragrant translation of this I must try it!
And funny thing… the Monsoon Palace is my other life-long phantasy! I remember I was so impressed by it from that Bond movie… Octopussy (niarrr). It is like it is made of custard sugar and it will dissolve in the lake any moment now. I guess stone floating on top of water has some perpetual magic over me, don’t you think?
Well, ‘nough said. I confess I am not a big Duchaufour fan but your inspired description really got me keen on trying this… obsessed even. Evocative writing… gets me every time 😉
Trayee is my favorite. But Ashoka is a close favorite. Love them all really!
I love the light in the upper Midwest in the late afternoon and evening when there’s going to be a storm later. The sky goes dark blue-gray and the sunset hits the leaves of the trees and makes them glow bright green, almost as if they’re illuminated from within.
I’ve never tried an NV scent…but I’d like to.
Favorite Neela Vermeire is Ashoka (it’s also the only one I’ve tried). My best experience with light so far was a gorgeous sunset that I got to watch while driving home with my ten year old son, who was also entranced. He still talks about it.
thanks for the draw!!my light story involves a beach at night time and a full moon bouncing rays off the water and the wet beach in infinite reflections of itself and to top it off we saw a fireball meteorite shoot across the sky…it was a magical night : )
Ah, I’ve heard so many great things about all of Neela’s scents, but have yet to try any. One day… one day. Come on Cleo! Help a girl out! 🙂 I’ve never been to Lido, but I do remember how pretty it was to see the sun sparkle off the water when taking a boat tour in Copenhagen. It was so sunny, and the water just shimmered from the sun. There were also beautiful reflections of the lovely colorful rowhouses/buildings that lined the water. But in general, I just looooove water (growing up around Seattle, there was ample opportunity to fish on the sound), so when I moved cross country to Baltimore, I bought a condo that had a small view of the harbor so that I could feel grounded in my new locale. Thanks for the generous draw!!
Hello, darling! I have no “light” stories of my own to share, but I did so enjoy yours, as always. And the new Neela sounds quite interesting and lovely. Will definitely have to try this. Of course, DNEM. Hugs …
The one time I got “near” Venice, it was the early ’80s in February, raining cats and dogs and elephants and every bed was filled so no room at an inn (or anywhere else) for seat-of-the-pants travelers like my BF and me. We ended up backing out of town and staying in nearby lovely Padua instead. So my Venetian dreams were dashed, alas.
I remember my first view of Venice, coming across the water and seeing it rise shimmering out of the sea. All the buildings looked rosy in the light.
I have gone through two decants of Mohur, absolutey love it. I would buy the Extrait if they would ship it here….are you listening Neela?
I love the flicker of candlelight. I also love how bright everything seems under a full moon.
Can’t wait to hear about the emergency foster you’ve got.
Not sure if it counts as a full story – there’s not much plot. But, I love the contrast in light and color during spring break. I got on the plane in northern Indiana and the world was all white grey and sepia toned. The white snow, dark trees, muddy streets… And, I arrived in southwest Florida to blue skies, green shrubs and trees, bright pink flowers, not to mention the beauty of the sunset at the beach that evening. Sadly, I fly back tomorrow, but it was beautiful while it lasted. Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz has nothing on me.
I love Trayee, the only one I have tried so far.
And I love the light in Spain, took a long railroad holiday there once, it was magic!
Thanks for this wonderful draw!
Sunset on Lake Clear NY (the Adirondacks) during autumn. The trees reflected in the deep blue waters. Just magnificent.
I love Trayee! Thanks for the giveaway
Love Lake Pichola best at dawn and sunrise! Thank you for the draw – please include me!
My family took a trip to Europe when I was 15 (and my sister was 13), and by the time we got to Venice, we had been to what felt like every church & museum on the continent. Finally, someone came up with the idea of taking a day off from all the culture and going to the beach — Lido!
saw a most beautiful site from my living room window sun hitting the mountains making them lok like pink quartz and the it was gone, fleeting but so memorable.
A Kaanapali sunset. The sky is shades of yellow and orange and red. The warm trade winds are blowing, carrying the scent of tropical Hawaiian flowers. Wish I were there now! It sounds like Pichola might be a scent to wear here.
Stories about light? I am happy that the sun has decided to come out again after months of grey dreary winter darkness 🙂 Not to be cheesy, but I honestly forgot how much those little things can make a difference! Thank you for the draw, and for sharing your stories 🙂
Alas, I have not had the opportunity to try any of this house yet. They are all on my list to try, but based in your description this might be my favorite. I could use some light right now. This cold, gloomy winter has really gotten to me this year. Thanks for the draw and your lovely description of the light in Venice. I’d love to see that someday!
I love the first three perfumes from Neela and just recently got to try Mohur extrait for the first time… it is gorgeous. My new favorite.
Your recollection of Venice is lovely, geographical challenges notwithstanding. I was reading a little nervously because it made me think for some reason of a story called “Never Visit Venice” by Robert Aickman, in which he also describes the incredible light but then it takes a completely different turn.
The only one I’ve tried so far is Trayee, which I find unbelievably stunning. I’m very eager to try the others. Pichola sounds wonderful. I visited the Lido for a day almost two years ago, when I was spending some time in Venice helping a friend who was exhibiting at the Biennale. It was one of the best days of the trip. A warm, sunny day in late April, walking barefoot along the beach collecting seashells, eating pizza with our toes in the sand… ahh, I miss it. Thanks for the draw!
Never tried any Neelas–not usually an oriental wearer, but this sounds nice! Went to Normandy last fall, and the sun beaming over the water & the incredibly majestic American Cemetery sent shivers down my spine (in a good way). Thanks for the draw.
I’ve only had the opportunity to try Mohur, which is really excellent. My favorite story about light? Being at the cabin at the lake, waking up in the morning and watching the light sparkle off the water like diamonds. Best light show ever! I think I would really like Pichola. Thanks for the draw!
What a beautiful review. I have not tried any Neela Vermeire but would love to remedy that. One my favorite views is sunrise over the ocean on the outer banks of NC. So peaceful I almost feel I am in heaven.
I loved reading this! My favorite Neela is Bombay Bling; although I’ve never been to India, it smells how I imagine a marketplace looks, all hot pink and vivid orange and swirling colors and saris….as to light, Montana has such clarity in those endless skies and rivers, it’s beautiful. Thanks for the story, giveaway and getting me to think about light!
Mohur Extrait is lovely. Such a beautiful composition. This sounds like a lovely perfume for Spring and beyond. Love bright notes. Especially after this winter! I would love to try this. Thanks for draw.
My favorite NV fragrance is Trayee… except for when it’s Mohur. They’re all wonderful and I’m really excited to eventually try Pichola.
Nnever had the opportunity to try a Neela fragrance. I’m sure I would enjoy this one though- especially while waking up to the light from my sunroof ; )
I have sampled three of the Neela scents thanks to the generosity of a darling Posse friend: Ashoka, Trayee and Mohur. Trayee is very fruity, which is a family of scents I don’t normally connect with. Ashoka is a beautiful, unisex incense scent with a minty topnote to my nose. It’s really refreshing, like a walk in the Maine woods. But have no fear, it smells nothing like the green pine-tree shaped car freshener that dangles from the rear-view mirror! Mohur is an exotic rose scent. Based on the fact that there is only one drop left of it, I’m gonna say that it might be my favorite of the three. 🙂
As for light on the water, I love that! I find water views really compelling either at the beach or lake. In my life, I’ve had parents and grandparents who have owned houses on lakes, so those are the light-on-the-water views that I think of first. Anyone remember the old movie, “On Golden Pond” with Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn and Jane Fonda? Just like that. 🙂
My favorite Neela scent is Bombay Bling- just so uplifting and exuberant.
The first light memory that comes into my head is from my childhood. My parents and I would stay in a cabin on the Ipswich River Wildlife Reserve called Innermost House- usually during the winter, when we could go on the maple sugaring tours. The bathrooms were in the visitor’s center across a big snowy field. I remember waking one of my parents up, putting on my snow boots and coat over my footie pjs, and tromping across the field and snow. There would be deep shadows, and in my half asleep state I would imagine that they were holes and chasms- because they really looked like it. It made the nighttime walk very exciting, and I would take a deep breath every time I put my foot down in a shadow.
Alas, I have not tried any Neela scents. They’re on my to do list. Your description of Pichola sounds divine. I need something to give me a lift right about now. I’d love to try it.
Evening light over mountains here in Switzerland. The village is already dark, but the mountain peaks are rose and golden. Or another favorite, driving past lake Zurich in the early morning, just as the first few rays of winter sunshine poke through the mist swirling above the lake. Haven’t tried any Neela Vermeires yet, but all of the reviews sound fantastic. Thanks for the draw!
I tried a sample of Mohur today so am experiencing this house for the first time. Being a rose lover, I was surprised how magical this is. Unlike my many other rose perfumes. It makes me nostalgic. I remember the rose garden of my first house, and how it smelled on the stone veranda in the early mornings, the hot air on the flowers. There were whiffs of other things in the air — grass, eucalyptus, lavender. The house is long gone and so is the garden. And yet the memories are vivid. Mohur brought all of this back to me.
My favorite Neela Vermeire Fragrance is Ashoka. Thank you so much for the giveaway!
I’m wearing Mohur tonight, my favorite Neela Vermiere so far. Yum!
One of my favorite light views is seeing the buildings of Manhattan turn golden at sunset from the opposite side of the Hudson River (usually from Hoboken)