Estoras is a fragrance house that acts as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting stories and experiences from earlier times with the here and now and interpreting them in a modern way. The brand’s roots lie in the fascinating life story of Prince Antal Esterházy, a man who stood for daring, a spirit of discovery, and aristocratic elegance in the 1920s.
It all began on a winter evening in 1926 in the Swiss Alps. Antal Esterházy and his friend, Count László Almásy, whom many of you will surely know from the novel and film “The English Patient,” sat in front of a crackling fireplace. What began as a small bet on a whim was to become legendary. The two decided to be the first to cross the Sahara in an ordinary car.
No expedition vehicle, no military vehicle, but a Steyr from Austria, carefully unpacked from a crate and made ready for the greatest adventure of their lives. The so-called Esterházy Safari was more than just a journey. It was a symbol of pioneering spirit, of the courage to venture into the unknown, and of the art of not compromising on style even in the face of the unforgiving desert.
Estoras – a fragrant legacy
Almost a hundred years later, Antal’s grandson revisited this chapter of family history. A small, old perfume bottle from his grandfather’s estate provided the impetus. This memory gave rise to the vision of preserving the spirit of adventure and pioneering spirit in the form of a fragrance. This marked the birth of the Estoras brand, which is Latin for the name Esterházy.
For centuries, the Esterházy family has been one of the most influential noble families in Central Europe. Their castles, collections, and cultural engagement have made history. They have left their mark on politics, art, and music. Prince Antal Esterházy plays a special role in this long line of personalities: he expanded the aristocratic legacy to include the facet of the daring adventurer who sought the unknown.
Another part of the fascination of the Estoras fragrance house lies in the travelogues of Count László Almásy. In them, he recorded his impressions of the Sahara expedition with meticulous accuracy, but also with literary passion. Shimmering horizons, night storms, encounters with Bedouins, and the endless expanses of sand dunes. These records provide a wonderful insight into the reality of the journey and allow us to understand even today how extraordinary the undertaking was.
This is exactly where Estoras comes in. The “The Adventures of Antal” collection is a continuation of these memories. Not as a historical factual account, but as a free, olfactory interpretation of the experiences of that time. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
Antal – Scent of the adventurer
Estoras begins its fragrance journey with Antal – named after Prince Antal Esterházy, whose spirit of adventure inspires the brand. For the composition, the brand relied on Marie Urban-Le Febvre, a renowned perfumer who is valued in the niche fragrance world for her creative independence and technical expertise.
Marie Urban-Le Febvre trained at the renowned ISIPCA perfume school in Versailles and gained experience at major houses such as Symrise and Takasago. In 2014, she set up her own business as an independent perfumer and founded a fragrance laboratory in Berlin with her husband. She now lives in Trieste.
For Antal, she translated the story of the young nobleman Esterházy into a contemporary fragrance composition, for which she combined ingredients such as bergamot, pink pepper, Szechuan pepper, rose, geranium, incense, woods, vetiver, patchouli, cedarwood, ambergris, tonka bean, tobacco, musk, Iso E Super, and suede.
What does Antal by Estoras smell like?
Woody, spicy, and fresh, Antal opens with peppery, tingling notes and tart bergamot, which are soon accompanied by cool incense and earthy woods. The creation is very light and airy, restrained and subtly smoky. Rose underscores the transparency of the fragrance with fresh, floral facets that provide a backdrop, while Iso E Super creates a molecular, skin-like and woody aura in the composition that seems almost unreal. Tobacco and tonka bean add golden-sweet and spicy-vanilla notes to the eau de parfum, which is gently and harmoniously rounded off by light cedarwood and delicate suede.
When is the best time to wear Antal?
Antal is a pleasant, unobtrusive unisex fragrance that is particularly suitable for cooler days—in spring, fall, and winter. It goes well with business outfits as well as everyday and leisure wear. However, other creations are a better choice for cozy afternoons on the sofa. Beautifully composed and finely balanced, Antal by Estoras is not only a successful start to this historic collection, but also further proof of the masterful skill of perfumer Marie Urban-Le Febvre. Are you already familiar with the fragrances and the brand?
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