Due to the sub-zero temperatures still prevailing here on the Baltic Sea and the thick blanket of snow, I’m in the mood for a warming fragrance today. And what could be more obvious than a creation that revolves around wool, or more precisely yak wool? Khullu by Hima Jomo is inspired by this special raw material, which has always been of existential importance to the nomads of Central Asia.
Inspiration yak wool
In the Tibetan highlands, where cold and wind are part of everyday life, yak wool is not a luxury item, but a basis for survival. It warms, protects and makes life under extreme conditions possible in the first place. Between barren steppe and snow-covered peaks, nomads – also known as dropka – move through an inhospitable landscape with their animals, following the rhythm of the seasons.
At altitudes of over 4,000 meters, where agriculture is virtually impossible, the yak is the main source of livelihood for the nomads. It provides milk, meat, fuel and its dense fur, whose fine undercoat – called khullu – is exceptionally soft and at the same time very insulating. In spring, this undercoat is carefully combed out during the natural shedding process, spun into yarn and then made into clothing, blankets or felt. Textiles made from yak wool are light, warm and enveloping without restricting movement.
In addition to yak wool, life in the highlands is also characterized by butter tea. It is traditionally made from yak butter, tea and salt. Butter tea warms from the inside, provides energy and balances out the high calorie requirement in the thin, icy air. Its fragrance is peculiar: milky, slightly salty, with a subtly tart tea note. Not a sweet, feel-good drink, but nourishing and invigorating.
Khullu – woven from wool
Hima Jomo was founded in 2020 by Vittoria Jiaxin Lui and Randry Glorieux. The name refers to the Himalayas – a mountain range known for its altitude, vastness and climatic extremes. The brand’s creations combine the art of French perfumery with Asian-inspired themes and raw materials.
Back in 2022, I introduced you to the brand in more detail here on the blog and presented the first four fragrances in the collection – Autumn in Lhoka, Winter in Manaslu, Spring in Bome and Summer in Paro. But today it’s all about Khullu. The latest eau de parfum, composed by Bertrand Duchaufour, is a tribute to the people and animals of the Tibetan highlands – the “ultimate embodiment of the nomadic spirit”.
Top notes: black pepper, cinnamon, clove
Heart notes: cedarwood, sandalwood, incense
Base notes: hay, milk, musk
Khullu from Hima Jomo in the test
Light, airy and infused with gentle spices, Khullu presents itself from the very first moment. A delicate, almost floating freshness pervades the composition – probably due to the black pepper – and combines with milky, cozy nuances. Cedar and sandalwood lend the fragrance a subtle sweetness and clean, warm accents, while at the same time ensuring stability and grounding. Thanks to the woods, Khullu does not lose itself in pure transparency and lightness, but always remains tangible and grounded. Delicately smoky veils of incense pervade the composition before creamy, off-white facets increasingly determine the direction. The musk is not powdery and crystalline here, but blends with the milky moments to create a buttery impression that is underpinned by greenish, pleasant hay accents. Warm, soft and soothing.
Khullu by Hima Jomo is a fragrance for the cool season – not opulent and warming in the classic sense, but silky, enveloping and calm. It stays close to the skin, has a contemplative and calming effect without ever becoming heavy or dark. The composition thrives on its balance. Spices, woods and milky facets intertwine harmoniously, nothing pushes itself to the fore. Khullu is not a gourmand fragrance, even if the buttery impression may briefly evoke this association. Rather, it is a clean, transparent, light spice and woody fragrance with a gently creamy base reminiscent of butter tea. The eau de parfum is aimed at all those who prefer understated, minimalist yet expressive creations that radiate meditative calm.
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