Solid Perfumes : Perfumed Balms
Nicolas de Barry has created, in 2016, a collection of solid perfumes : Perfumed Balms. To be applied on the skin, these balms are more concentrated in fragrance than alcohol-based perfumes.
He offers several creations that bring back yesteryear fragrances, adapted to the contraints of contemporary perfumery.
The Pomanders: The 'Pomander' or amber apple, designates a gray amber nugget or a scented stone embedded in a ball. The large pomanders are hung on the belt and the smallest as a pendant around the neck.
Passed down from generation to generation, the pomanders were indeed much more than objects to be perfumed: one lent them magic virtues protecting from the forces of the evil and the disease.
The copies we offer use small resins scented with Alexandria balm
Baume d'Alexandrie: Egypt is the cradle of our civilization, and also in terms of perfumes and cosmetics. Several Latin authors will take up, like Pliny, the Egyptian recipes. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the trading of perfumes was always done in the East. Alexandria is one of the ports of this "import-export" and a symbol of "good oriental smells".
The Balm of Alexandria, as in Antiquity that of Judea, is an uncontrolled appellation: each one makes his Balm and also his Cyprus in the souk of Alexandria. The products reach the West through the Crusaders, the Turks, the pilgrims, the slaves and the merchants. Sandalwood, Oud (Aloe Wood), Myrrh, Damascus rose and beeswax are the main ingredients.
- 12mL, 40% concentration. Produced in Nicolas de Barry's workshop: 250 Euros.
Baume de Margot: The Queen Margot, made famous by the novel that Alexandre Dumas wrote about her, was born Marguerite de Valois, in 1553. Her image is that of a very beautiful and highly cultured woman, as can been seen by her memoirs and various poems that she wrote.
The Queen was always faithful to classical scents of ambergris and musk that accompanied the potent jasmine. These three very expensive scents were regularly ordered by Marguerite from her Parisian supplier.
Like her mother, Catherine de Medici, she carried on the elegant traditions of the royal houses by writing on perfumed paper bearing her coat of arms.
Many witnesses of the time spoke of her charms and of the elegance of her perfumes, either to praise her or to shower abuse on her, giving her the reputation of a « femme fatale » such as depicted by Alexandre Dumas in his novel.
It is thanks to research done by Janine Garrison that Nicolas de Barry managed to re-create this perfume worn by this exceptional queen.
Janine Garrison has spent many years in the National Archives studying this Queen and in particular the accountancy of the House of the Queen of Navarre. In these accounts appear orders at regular dates, for the following articles : musk, ambergris and jasmine. As a woman of the Renaissance Period, and as a creative woman (fashion, poetry…), Marguerite prepared the perfumed ointments herself using these precious raw materials.
In order to re-create Marguerite's perfume in a more contemporary version, Nicolas de Barry had to reconstitute or imitate certain elements that no longer exist on the market such as jasmine essence obtained by ancient cold extraction methods or natural musk.
With these three reconstituted elements, the harmony of the accord jasmine/ ambergris/ musk is instantly recognizable, with a dominant note of fresh smelling jasmine, softened by the presence of ambergris and an almost honeyed and « spiced » sensual musk.
Marguerite de Valois, rediscovered perfume, the "La Reine Margot", leaves a lingering scent of jasmine that Brentôme loved so much; and Dumas transformed into: Margot the "femme fatale"...
- 12mL, 40% concentration. Produced in Nicolas de Barry's workshop : 250 Euros.
Pure Jasmine Balm:
In southern India, in Karnataka State, Jasmine is picked at dawn and treated immediately. A floral explosion, but also very complex fact that it is a perfume alone.
We offer solid perfume in its purity of concrete and conventional version, backed by a bouquet of citrus.
- 12mL, 40% concentration. produced in Nicolas de Barry's workshop : 250 Euros.
Pure Rose Balm:
There are more than a hundred varieties of Roses. The most used in perfumery is the Rosa Damascena. The Bulgarian one, the most famous, is treated to obtain the absolute or distilled to obtain an essential oil. Here the balsam comes from the Bulgarian concrete, associated with Sandalwood and Calabrian Bergamot.
100% natural.
- 20mL, at 40% concentration. Produced in N. de Barry's workshop: 250 Euros
Pure Immortelle Balm:
The Immortal is a shrub of the Asteraceae family. Its Latin name "helichrysum" means "golden sun". The Immortelle is widespread around the Mediterranean because it loves the sun, dry and stony soils. These bright yellow flowers bloom from June to October.
If the essential oil is appreciated in aromatherapy, we prefer the more powerful concrete with complex aromas. Here we propose an association with the dark note of bourbon vanilla .
100% natural
- 20 mL, at 40% concentration. Produced in N. de Barry's workshop: 250 Euros
Pure Frangipane Balm:
Native to tropical and subtropical America, plumeria or frangipani trees are part of the Apocynaceae family.
The different varieties of plumeria produce flowers with different shades of white and pink. It is Mr. Frangipani to whom the shrub owes its name. Nicknamed "flower of the temples", the frangipani flower has a strong symbolism among Hindus and Buddhists.
It is presented here in its purity and inimitable fragrance.
100% natural.
- 20 mL, at 40% concentration. Produced in N. de Barry's workshop: 250 Euros
Pure Tuberose Balm:
The tuberose is a herbaceous plant, composed of a tuber overhung by a stem bearing spikes of white tubular flowers, its flowering takes place in summer towards the end of July.
It is one of the "stars" of perfumery: probably the most sensual of all the flowers that the "femme fatale" is looking for...
100% natural
- 20 mL, at 40% concentration. Produced in N. de Barry's workshop: 250 Euros
Pomanders:
The 'Pomander' or amber apple, designates a gray amber nugget or a scented stone embedded in a ball. The large pomanders are hung on the belt and the smallest as a pendant around the neck.
Passed down from generation to generation, the pomanders were indeed much more than objects to be perfumed: one lent them magic virtues protecting from the forces of the evil and the disease.
The copies we offer use small resins scented with Alexandria balm
Price: 90 euros.
As all of these perfumes are pure and natural, they may contain some substances that are likely to cause allergies as all natural products do. Therefore, please use them with precaution; avoid exposing your skin to sun after application.
All orders will be confirmed with a detailed quote mentioning and the total price for the order including transport costs and the expected delivery date. Payment is made once the order has been confirmed.
These solid perfumes, with a capacity of 12 mL , 50% are concentrated. To order these balms, please add the ones you would like to your to cart.