If there is one thing the Swedish fragrance house of Pana Dora Sweden has mastered, it is the art of opulence. Sumptuous compositions, complex craftsmanship, emotionally charged. But with its latest creation, the brand strikes an unexpectedly quiet note. In collaboration with Herbert Stricker, the founder of Classic Parfums, a fragrance has been created that takes a quieter, more subtle approach. Eau de Parfum Stricker is the result of a creative dialog that spanned several years. Between Ibrahim Al Zouabi, the perfumer and founder of Pana Dora Sweden, and Herbert Stricker, who has been exploring the world of fine fragrances with a keen eye for decades.
In yesterday’s article In conversation with Herbert Stricker – about style, perfume and the “Stricker” fragrance, we were given an insight into the creation of this extraordinary composition. The idea behind it was a gentle oriental, creamy, elegant, unisex. Not a statement fragrance, not a noisemaker. Instead, a composition that takes its time and unfolds slowly. An olfactory alternative to the louder representatives of its genre.
Stricker tells of silence and vastness
Ibrahim Al Zouabi and Herbert Stricker selected the ingredients saffron, thyme, aldehydes, Bulgarian rose, agarwood (oud), white musk and ambroxan for the olfactory realization of this gentle oriental. All exquisite raw materials that are special in their own way. Saffron, the precious spice from the dried stigmas of the crocus. Its extraction is laborious, its fragrance incomparable. Slightly metallic, warm, dry, with leathery facets.
The Bulgarian rose is one of the noblest representatives of its kind. It grows mainly in the Rose Valley south of the Balkan Mountains and is harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning. Its fragrance profile is more complex, less sweet than that of its Turkish relatives, greener, fuller, with an almost spicy nuance. Aldehydes are a modern invention, synthetic molecules that went down in history with the creation of Chanel N°5. They come in countless variations: sometimes waxy, sometimes metallic, sometimes fruity, sometimes floral, sometimes almost ozonic. They smell abstract, “molecular”, like fresh air, ironed linen or electric light. And then there is oud, one of the most precious woods in the world, obtained from the resin-soaked heartwood of Aquilaria trees, mostly from South East Asia. In its best form, it smells dark, velvety, medicinal and smoky.
All these raw materials come together in Stricker to create a single fragrance story that is reminiscent of a mild night in the desert. Slightly chilled, moved by the wind, still and yet full of presence. A composition that leaves room to take a deep breath. And which unfolds its power precisely in this restraint.
In Stricker’s opening, the dry, metallic notes of saffron meet the subtle, aromatic pungency of thyme, evoking a wonderfully spicy opening. Agarwood soon enters the fragrance stage, dark, resinous, infused with a delicate smokiness, yet surprisingly transparent, light and airy. Aldehydes and rose ensure that the incense is not too dominant or heavy. They lend the oud a gentle, almost cozy note without distorting its character. The rose is clearly perceptible, its fine freshness cool and invigorating and yet so seductive. Stricker is bedded on the powdery-soft notes of musk and ambroxan, which lend the composition a well-measured, fluffy warmth and bring the fragrance to an elegant close.
Stricker is an eau de parfum for anyone who appreciates stylish, modern fragrances with oriental nuances, oud, rose and a soft finish. An all-round harmonious creation, which for me reflects exactly what Herbert Stricker already announced in our interview yesterday. The signature of Pana Dora Sweden and Ibrahim Al Zouabi remains unmistakable. At the same time, the composition embodies the values that Herbert Stricker stands for: timeless style, understated elegance and charismatic clarity. A fragrance with a balanced presence and outstanding longevity that can be worn at any time of year, for any occasion. Beautiful!
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