In my last post, Estoras – Under the sign of adventure and heritage, we already took a look at the Estoras fragrance house and its first creation, Antal – a tribute to Prince Antal Esterházy, whose legendary Sahara expedition in the 1920s formed the starting point for the brand. Together with Count László Almásy, who later became known to a wider audience through The English Patient in book and film form, he set out to cross the Sahara in an ordinary road vehicle – a venture that became legendary.
The Adventures of Antal collection follows this historic route and translates stages of the journey into olfactory compositions. Each fragrance is like a separate chapter of this expedition, capturing the atmosphere of a place – from the arrival in Alexandria to the shadows of the pyramids of Giza to the banks of the Nile in Asyut. The result is a journey that connects the past and the present, history and the world of perfumes.
Port of Alexandria – The beginning of a journey
On February 22, Antal Esterházy and László Almásy arrived at the port of Alexandria. In the 1920s, the city was a cosmopolitan metropolis: European influences shaped its architecture and society, while its markets, alleys, and port facilities remained deeply rooted in Oriental tradition. Alexandria was both a gateway and a threshold – cosmopolitan, vibrant, and full of stories, tales, and legends.
For the Estoras perfume Port of Alexandria, perfumer Zsolt Zólyomi used his interpretation of the first stop on the Esterházy safari, combining the ingredients lemon, bergamot, grass, juniper berries, cypress, salty notes, cardamom, maritime notes, Atlas cedarwood, pine, and moss.
Port of Alexandria is refreshing and sparkling at the outset. Citrus fruits combine with greenish nuances, coniferous cypress, and tingling woody juniper berries to create an airy ensemble that is enveloped by a salty sea breeze. Light wood notes underline the transparent character of the composition, lending the fragrance fine, creamy-clean accents and a certain grounding despite its maritime-salty and citrus-sparkling character. Port of Alexandria is a Mediterranean, aquatic creation with a medium presence and good longevity. A unisex freshie that can be worn at the office, during leisure time, in the evening, and even while exercising. Elegant, modern, and at the same time with a classic twist, this eau de parfum exudes the magic of the beginning of an eventful expedition into the vastness of the unforgiving Sahara. A pleasant, fresh fragrance for all who love modern elegance and citrusy-maritime creations.
Shadows of Giza – The scent of adventure
On February 23, Esterházy and Almásy finally reached Giza, near the Egyptian capital of Cairo. The outlines of the pyramids stood out in the distance at dusk. As it had done for many millennia, the majestic Sphinx watched over the sand-covered plain. Giza had always been a place full of symbolic power. A monument to a bygone advanced civilization and, at the same time, a gateway to unknown adventures. Antal Esterházy and László Almásy took in the special atmosphere of this unique landscape before continuing their journey south along the Nile toward Asyut.
For Shadows of Giza, perfumer Zsolt Zólyomi combined the ingredients bergamot, hedione, mineral notes, angelica (angelica root), iris, tea, violet leaves, leather, patchouli, oakmoss, ambergris, and white musk to create a perfume that captures the mysterious magic of the pyramids in the twilight.
Shadows of Giza opens with a subtly cool hesperidic note accompanied by creamy floral hedione and mineral notes. Angelica, oakmoss, and violet leaves add green, herbaceous facets, while the powdery aspects of iris underscore the sandy component of the creation. A hint of light leather and the tart, flowing nuances of tea give Estoras perfume an atmospheric aura that is very elegant and modern. Finally, the composition gradually fades away with crystalline white musk and a gentle amber warmth. Shadows of Giza is a greenish-herbal and mineral-powdery fragrance that is very transparent, airy, and quiet in nature. A pleasant companion in the office, in everyday life or during leisure time, it can also be worn in the evening or for sports. With a slightly masculine touch, this unisex creation is an uncomplicated and sociable companion for every season. Perfect for those who love more tart, herbaceous and powdery fragrances with a cool, mineral touch.
Shores of Asyut – Along the Nile
From Giza, the route continued south, following the Nile to Asyut. The city, which had been an important hub between Upper and Lower Egypt for centuries, formed the transition between the fertile river valley and the foothills of the desert. For Antal Esterházy and László Almásy, Asyut was a stopover. Here they could prepare themselves once again for all the hardships and challenges that the journey through the Sahara would demand of them.
The Estoras perfume Shores of Asyut is dedicated to this second stop on the safari. It was created by perfumer Marie Urban-Le Febvre using the ingredients gin, black pepper, pink pepper, violet leaves, iris, tuberose, ambergris, moss, oak, woods, and sugar cane.
Peppery-spicy gin nuances open Shores of Asyut, followed by powdery iris and creamy-greenish tuberose, which has been used harmoniously and discreetly. Ambergris brings cozy warmth to the creation, underscored by the gourmand sweetness of sugar cane. As a result, the eau de parfum evokes a soft, velvety, and spicy-balsamic aura that you just want to sink into. Moss and woods provide delicate earthy and creamy accents, while oak lends delicate barrique nuances. Shores of Asyut is very harmonious, calm, and stylish, yet elegant. A beautifully balanced mix of spicy, woody, gourmand, and creamy-powdery facets that radiates comfort, warmth, and softness. Estoras’ journey continues, and the brand demonstrates this in a particularly beautiful way with this eau de parfum. More suitable for cooler days, but wearable for any occasion. The presence is medium, and I find the longevity to be excellent. A truly great creation that I like very much.
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