Hi there Posse. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz samples arrived this week. I’ve been having the loveliest time trying them and there are a couple I adore, a few I like and one that really doesn’t like my skin at all and attacked my nose with great gusto. The completely joyous adventure of trying new perfumes is never lost on me. Some days I have to pinch myself. Taj Garden immediately stood out for me because of the name. My review is for the oil from a roller ball.
Taj Garden by DSH Perfumes
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz
Taj Garden’s opening is herbal, like gardeners hedging greenery nearby. Lightly floral, like peonies and hyacinths as the sun just hits them and starts to warm the day. Taj Garden is a green floral, delicate and calming. It has the spirit of warm water without feeling particularly wet and sunshine seems to be captured perfectly, that feeling of it hitting the back of your neck on a cool morning.
Soft resinous incense drifts languidly on the air through dappled shade. I can smell how Dawn is trying to recreate a water filled garden. Not really like the Taj Garden because there aren’t any real shaded sitting spots there. Taj Garden reminds me of the Deeg Palace Gardens nearĀ Bharatpur in Rajasthan even more. They were built in 1772 and have an incredible mixture of garden fountains, ancient trees, formally laid grass spaces and a wildness feeling as if nature is only being restrained from taking back over by a hairs breath. As a result this very pretty fragrance now shows me aspects of that wildness only just tamed.
Taj Garden is a beautiful, soft green floral. If you like CHANEL No 19 or Jacomo Silences but are looking for something a bit different then try it.
The Taj Mahal
On a side note: I’ve been to the Taj Mahal twice and it is one of the only places in the world that exceeded expectations a second time. In fact the second time I was there in 2012 with my BFF Kath. As we walked through the gates just before dawn I was overcome. I had to sit down and have a little happily overwhelmed emotional cry. Between my first visit and second they had turned the surrounding area into a western tourist Disney ride. Now there’s shops, barriers, police, guards, food stalls, guides and a million beggars. Before, you used to walk up to the surrounding walls ticket office, pay and wander in.
The Taj was also in a terrible state back then. It was dirty, unkempt, all the jewels had been picked out of the wall to about 8 feet. Further, nobody seemed to care for the edifice of love. Now it has been renovated to a shining newness that is astounding.
Have you been to India? Seen the Taj Gardens?
Portia xx
Ugh, so jealous, I really want to see the Taj Mahal. DSH I’m much more familiar with, she makes such lovely scents, and you’ve reminded me I really should get over to her website and try some things…. cheers!
Hey March,
I’ll be in India in the next couple of years. Meet me there.
Portia x
I’m really excited to see this review, Portia! Dawn gave me a generous sample of this one in early spring, when she was finalizing and packaging it for her Japanese market, for whom it was originally created. (I can’t remember the name she gave it for that market.) I immediately loved it for its bright, cheery, lemony-green jasmine effect; I thought the touch of marigold was inspired, and love the bright yellow tint it gives to the fragrance. This is such an easy, work-friendly scent to wear on a blistering hot summer day! I was really happy to see that she decided to go ahead and release it outside Japan so quickly. It’s a delight.
Hey LisainDenver!
WOW! You describe it so much better than I. “love the bright yellow tint it gives to the fragrance” is perfect!
Portia xx
I have not yet set foot in Asia, although it is on my bucket list. This fragrance holds appeal as No 19 is actually my favorite Chanel!
YAY! A CHANEL No 19 fan. I love it too.
Did you not go to Asia for any reason or did it just not come up as a destination you would like to see?
Portia xx
Great review Portia, you captured the essence of this beautiful scent perfectly! I have a teensy sample and love how gentle this is – so very comforting. I would love Dawn to make a skin lotion with this scent as well.
Hi Pats – Dawn can make lotions, body washes, and body cremes out of just about any of her scents. If body products aren’t currently showing as an option when you look up a fragrance on her site, you can shoot her an email, and if she can do it, she’ll add it as an available format to the picklist for that fragrance. She’s done this many times for me š
Oh wow Lisa, thanks – that is great to know. I will keep it in mind for the next purchase i make with Dawn. Cheers š
I love green florals, so this sounds beautiful to me. Your description of the Taj Mahal, its gardens, and the Deeg Palace Gardens is really vivid. I’m adding Taj Garden to my “To Try” list right now!
Hey DinaC,
Great to see you.
Green florals are my faves too.
Portia xx