With Cerana and Ambre Cristal, Nectar Olfactif is opening the door to a new line that quietly but impressively strikes a different note from what we have known from the niche fragrance brand to date: Opus N°2. Two fragrances that evoke very different worlds and yet are linked by a common symbol, namely the bee. Behind the label is David Perrin, a passionate perfume lover who has been in the fragrance business for many years. By founding his own brand, Nectar Olfactif, he has demonstrated a keen sense for something special and the courage to go his own way. His perfumes are by no means created under time pressure, but with dedication. Nectar Olfactif may be a young brand, yes, that is true. But it has long been more than just an insider tip. Perrin’s compositions are quiet, thoughtful and memorable for this very reason.
Opus N°2 – Between amber and mango blossom
The new Opus N°2 line is noticeably bolder than the first Nectar Olfactif collection with the Extraits de Parfum Melipona, Secret du Nil, Etoile de Bali and Suprême Nectar. It is more sensual, warmer, more oriental. And yet it remains true to the central idea: the bee, this small, industrious nectar collector, becomes the muse here. While Ambre Cristal takes its inspiration from an ancient bee fossil encased in amber, Cerana looks to Southeast Asia. To the mango blossoms, which would not be pollinated without the Asian honeybee.
The beautiful, high-quality bottles are also worth mentioning: heavy, angular, bright honey-colored, with a golden seal on the front and a lid with magnetic closure. Here, too, there is an image of bees. A silent tribute to this special creature that is so clever, so persistent and timeless.
Cerana – Gentle and sensual
The Eastern honey bee Apis cerana lives in the forests and gardens of Southeast Asia. It is presumably somewhat smaller than its European relative Apis mellifera, but is more agile, adaptable and calmer. Of course, it also plays a central role in the interplay between blossom and fruit, especially in the mango. Without the Cerana bee, many a mango tree would remain unpollinated. During the mango’s short flowering period, it flies from flower to flower, laying the foundation for sweet fruit. Incidentally, it can take up to six months for these to ripen. The mango itself is a symbol of wealth, sunshine and sensuality. Its scent – juicy, slightly green, sometimes with a hint of resinousness – is incredibly delicious and seductive. Perfumer Julien Rasquinet has conjured up a fragrant homage to the Asian honeybee from the ingredients lychee, mango, blackcurrant, geranium, rose, labdanum (cistus), musk and eaglewood (oud): Cerana.
The opening of Cerana is fruity and sparkling, but also has an unexpected depth. Tart lychee, tropical-sweet mango and fine notes of cassis open the fragrance and meet the smoky-sweet resinous notes of oud and labdanum early on. These resinous notes appear somewhat impetuous at first, but quickly blend in harmoniously and, together with the mango, form an exotic, fruity composition that is immediately captivating. What is particularly fascinating about this mango is that it is not squeaky and shrill, but mysterious and profound. Rose and geranium add delicate floral accents – greenish-fresh, almost floating – and lend the fragrance a certain lightness and transparency. As the fragrance progresses, powdery, crystalline musky notes are added, gently rounding off the overall picture and lending the composition an elegant softness.
Cerana is a fragrance for anyone who loves mango and would like it to be a little deeper, darker and more seductive. Not a tropical, sugary fruit bomb, but a finely balanced, beautifully crafted mix of mango, oud and flowers that is very elegant, mature and, to me, a little glamorous. Unisex, absolutely suitable all year round and wearable on any occasion, Cerana is particularly suitable for anyone who wants to experience a mystical mango on their skin. Simply beautiful!
Ambre Cristal – Spicy elegance
Ambre Cristal is inspired by a bee fossil. Not just any fossil, but the “oldest bee fossil discovered in Myanmar (Burma), which is 100 million years old.” The small insect lying encased in amber looks like it’s from another time. With features reminiscent of both wasps and bees. It tells of a moment in evolution when the first pollinators developed. Particularly remarkable: fine pollen grains, which still adhere to the small insect body today, reveal that even these early, primitive bees were already visiting flowers. Their ancestors had completely different preferences; they were carnivores, not pollen collectors. In the quiet glow of amber, we contemplate the history of those animals that later became nature’s most important gardeners. And an incredibly fertile source of inspiration for Nectar Olfactif. Perfumer Alice Le Ber combines the ingredients pink pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, rose, saffron, incense, leather, ambergris, eaglewood (oud), sandalwood and tonka bean for Ambre Cristal.
Ambre Cristal has a spicy and fresh opening. Dry, hot pepper meets green-aromatic cardamom, nutmeg and a hint of sparkling cinnamon, rounded off by a dark, almost earthy saffron note. In the midst of this warm and spicy scenery, a delicate rose appears, adding lightness with its honey-sweet floral note. It lends the composition a gentle transparency and takes away the sharpness of the spice without masking it. In the background, cool veils of incense drift by, restrained and delicate. At the same time, the soft nuances of leather and ambergris slowly make themselves felt. The two merge to form a velvety, warm base with a subtle honey shimmer. Subtle notes of sandalwood and tonka bean gently flow in and round off the composition with creamy depth.
Ambre Cristal is a fragrance for those who like spices but are not looking for an olfactory powerhouse. Transparent, soft and finely balanced, it is rather subtle and therefore very much in the style of Nectar Olfactif. Despite its powerful raw materials, this is not a heavy amber fragrance. Ambergris does not play a leading role here, but gives it body, volume and warmth. Unisex, wearable on many occasions and particularly beautiful in the cooler seasons. A fragrance that sneaks quietly into your heart.
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