Neela Vermeire Ashoka is coming this fall. Neela graciously sent me a preview sample, and I’m pretty damn happy about it. Bertrand Duchafour created this perfume for her, the inspiration is one of India’s greatest emperors. Ashoka was on the verge of victory, and his compassion won. He became a Buddhist and spent the rest of his life spreading Buddhist thought. Ashoka is meant to have that same journey, from a fierce opening to a soft floral heart to a peaceful end. . Ashoka has notes of fig leaves, leather, white and pink lotus, mimosa, fig milk, osmanthus, rose, water hyacinth, vetiver, styrax, incense, sandalwood, myrrh, tonka bean, and fir balsam.
Yeah, that’s pretty much it. It does open fierce as can be, all vetiver and fir, earthy woods, but early on you can smell the softness of tonka wrapping its tendrils around those woods, while the milky, yummy fig starts dismantling everything warlike about Ashoka from the roots up. This has that lovely sandalfig March used to go on and on about, a beautiful pairing with neither note pushing the other out of the way. Midway through, there is a nice floral show, with leather straps lacing them together. The long drydown is beautiful milky fig, sandalwood, incense and tonka. It is rich, warm, milky and is an amazing comfort scent. I’ve been happily wearing this and wishing for more!.
There is much to love about Ashoka, and I think it’s my new favorite from the line. That’s saying a lot because I’m a big fan of all of her scents.
I don’t have much of a sample of this to give away because I just have a small amount to test, but I do have ONE small sample I can give away to one commenter. So what’s your favorite Neela perfume? Or have you tried any of them yet?.
Ciao Patty !
I have bought and tried the wonderful three perfumes of Neela ( she has sent to me the samples with a very gentle card written by herself….Great class..!!! )…Mohur is a delicated, spicied Indian rose and Trayee is a very elegant, dry vetiver, i can say , stylish…
Really could I try the new scent ? It seems a gorgeous sandal….
Ciao ! Perfumes are my passion !!!
🙂
Never tried any of these, would love to!
Haven’t tried any yet but have had Trayee on the top of my wishlist since I first heard of it…Hopefully soon I’ll be able to make some long-anticipated sample orders. In the meantime, please count me in! I’m so excited for this release especially, love the story/history of Ashoka.
I haven’t tried any of them yet, but I’ve been eyeing them all for a while! While I am normally not a fan of fig notes, I am open to trying new incarnations of it. Thank you for the draw!
This sounds so amazing..I’d love to try it, I’ve been on a huge fig kick lately and it sounds perfect. I haven’t tried any of her other fragrances but they are on my list for when I’m less poor!
I have been wanting to try her other fragrances but haven’t had the chance yet. However, from you description I think this one might be my favorite. I love so many of the notes mentioned in the review. Thanks for the draw!
Haven’t tried any of them, but the more I read, the more I need to order samples of all of them. Would love to try Ashoka!
Thanks to a wonderful FG here, I’ve had the opportunity to sample all three and I really like them. Ashoka sounds gorgeous, too — thanks for the draw!
I’m very excited to try her others, having only tried Mohur just recently. It is lovely, but I have a feeling one of the other 3 of hers might be more me.
Ive wanted to try the discovery set for the longest time. And now i have to add ashoka to my must try list. Please, oh please add me to the draw!
The only Neela Vermeire perfume I’ve tried at this point is Mohur, which I really liked. I want to try the rest, just haven’t gotten around to them yet. Ashoka sounds pretty yummy and will definitely get on my to-try list.
Favorite Neela perfume is Bombay Bling!
Oh, mercy, Ashoka sounds like perfume nirvana to me–“sandalfig” you say? YES PLEASE.
I have a sample of Bombay Bling, which I found complex and lovely; Ashoka sounds even better! Would love to try this ????
Too scared to try this one after the other three…
Bombay Bling Baby!
Haven’t tried anything in this line yet but love the comparison of the Ashoka perfume to the emperor…fierce to peaceful.
And can I just say I still miss how March used to go on and on, whether it was sandalfig, skank, or whatever.
Haven’t tried any but this sounds delicious. I’m new to frangrances and currently looking for a vetiver with no patchouli (as my husband can’t stand the latter). This sounds perfect for fall!
I haven’t tried any Neela scents yet, but this Ashoka sounds good. I love a vetiver scent, and a woodsy scent. Thanks for entering me in the drawing. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this. I love Trayee the most with Bombay Bling a close second. If I could afford it, I’d own everything in her line. Thanks for the chance!
I’ve been looking forward to this one. I love the first three, Trayee especially.
Of the three original fragrances, I like Mohur the best, although it wasn’t enough love to spring for a full bottle. From the notes and your description, this one sounds as if it will be love. Can’t wait to sniff this one.
I haven’t tried any of her creations yet … (hanging head in shame!) but would love to try this one. Thank you for the draw! 🙂
I’ve tested Bombay Bling. The top is hypnotic, but I wasn’t feeling the rest as much. Will try again. Ashoka sounds much more my styled and I’d love to smell it. Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds gorgeous- I’m a big fan of the fig note! I haven’t yet tried any of Neea’s scents, but I have a sample set coming for my birthday- which is nine days away (and I’m turning eighteen)!
I love Trayee, and all of them are wonderful! Really good to see that she has created another. Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you!
I haven’t tried any of them yet but have read all of the reviews and am looking forward to smelling them all!
I have never tried any of her perfumes, but I would love to try this, as I trust your judgement and you seem to really like it. Please enter me in draw. Thank you.
All of Neela Vermeire’s perfumes are brilliant, but Mohur is the one that has completely stolen my heart. Can’t wait to smell Ashoka.
I love all of them but Trayee takes it beyond love to obsession. (How many perfume names in that sentence?)
Ashoka must be amazing.
Bought the discovery set and Trayee is my favorite. Bombay Bling and Mohur did not work for me. Would love the opportunity to try Ashoka.
I had not the chance to try any of them and this one sounds lovely!
Favorite so far is Trayee, followed by Bombay Bling. Unfortunately Mohur just smelled like a spice drawer on me. Ashoka sounds fantastic, would love to try it.
oh I hope I get to sniff this somehow somewhere.I love all three of th e NV creations. But Mohur is one of my all time favourite perfumes ever. It will, I am sure of it, go down in history.
My favorite is Trayee. I just love the way the pot note wafts in and out.
Out of the two I’ve tried I choose Trayee. The other, Mohur, is lovely and comes in a very close second. Even though the descriptions I’ve read of Bombay Bling don’t grab me, I’d still give it a try because I would bet that it is superb in its own way. Since I’m impressed with Trayee and Mohur, I am eager to try Ashoka. Thanks for the draw.
I’ve haven’t had a chance to try any of Neela’s scents yet, but this certainly sounds intriguing. Please enter me for the draw, and I’ll have to take a look at her existing scents.
I’ve had Neela on my samples Wishlist for a while now, but haven’t tried any yet. Would love to!
Ashoka sounds right up my alley!
A lovely perfume FG sent me Mohur and BB and so far had to buy a decant of Mohur, it’s unlike anything else I know. Does not last long on me unfortunately.
I’ve been more than a littlecurious about this line, and this sounds fabulous!
Ashoka sounds lovely. I’d love to try it.
I’ve only ever tried Mohur. Not spent enough time with it to really comment, but on first impression I do like it.
Ashoka sounds awesome and right up my alley… I haven’t had the opprotunity to try any of Neela Vermeire’s scents, and this last addition to the line sounds like the best way to start exploring! 😉 thanks for the draw!
Grr stupid auto type, I meant Mohur of course.
Mobutu is on my list to try, and now this one too. Sounds fabulous.
Hey Patty,
DNEM! I was lucky enough to try two of the final mods with Neela in Paris. I haven’t yet worked out which one she went with but can’t wait to get my hands on some, both of them were FB Worthy. She and Bertrand seem to be excellent working buddies.
Portia x
This one has been on the top of my list as soon as I read about it. What can I say, I live dangerously!
My favorite Neela is the one I thought I would rank number 3: Bombay Bling. I even like saying it. It is a joyful fragrance; it has such a bright and fun presence. I luvs it. I love Neela too. What a lovely person!
Oooh, oooh, Patty, this new Neela sounds fabulous! Can’t wait for it to get here. DNEM, of course, but I do love ALL three of her scents and couldn’t pick a favorite if my life depended on it.
I love all of the scents in this line and have run through several decants. I caved and purchased a FB of Bombay Bling – it lives up to everything the reviewers have said and more. It is fun and joyous and a pleasure to wear. Looking forward to trying Ashoka
I haven’t tried any except Mohur. Would love to!