Neela Vermeire Creations- Trayee

The complexity of Trayee from Neela Vermeire Creations caught me unprepared. You don't come across many modern perfumes that smell like this, that have so many parts and facets while creating a rich mosaic-like  picture. When you come across something that smells like this you have to stop, smell and try to take it all in, little by little.

Perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour composed Trayee for Neela Vermeire as a homage to the spiritual Vedic age and its quest for knowledge and wisdom. Many of us are probably somewhat familiar with one expression of that quest: yoga and the ancient holistic philosophy behind it. We might have come across some of the rituals and ceremonies or seen images of them, visited temples and maybe even witnessed a ceremony. That's the world of Trayee and the inspiration for it. Thus, the first impression the fragrance creates is of smoke, incense and spice, a heavy veil  that greets you as you enter the temple. As your eyes (or nose) adjust, you notice the details, the colors and the intricate artwork on the walls and the objects around you.

The colors are intense, as are the aromas in the air. There are garlands of jasmine served as offering to the gods and goddesses. Beautifully carved bowls of spices in rich hues, embroidered fabrics, and in the background: the smoky sweet incense.

Wearing Trayee fills me with awe. I suspect that this is exactly what the fragrance was created to do. The light and the shadows within were meant to give us perspective, to remind us that there's a lot to experience and learn, far beyond what the eye can see. There's a story here, told in rhyme, probably in a language we don't fully understand, but wearing Trayee and letting it take us on a journey feels like the knowledge is almost within our grasp. It's there, waiting, and this thought, just like the incredible smooth and silky dry-down, is sweet and comforting.

Notes: Blue ginger, elemi, cinnamon, ganja accord, blackcurrant absolute, basil, jasmine sambac, Egyptian jasmine, cardamom absolute, clove, saffron, Javanese and Haitian vetiver, incense, Mysore sandalwood oil, patchouli, myrrh, vanilla, cedar, amber notes, oud palao from Laos, oak moss.

Neela Vermeire Creations- Trayee ($250, 55 ml) is available from Luckyscent as well as from the perfumer's website, neelavermeire.com. The site also offers a discovery set, 10 ml of all three Neela Vermeire perfumes (90 euro), as well as samples.

Art: Hindu Goddess of wisdom and knowledge, Saraswati, from artoflegendindia.com