Scentzilla!

L’Occitane’s spiel for Eau d’Iparie on the box qualifies as marginally dippy. “Imagine a place where myrrh and incense reign: Iparie (Upon looking up this word, all I can come up with is that it’s the name for a type of non-locking gas spring for vehicle parts). Its generous walls (that wall gave and gave - ’til it hurt!) contain a blend of precious resins. The air is filled with myrrh and incense, a blended scent which is like a limitless gift (like herpes?). Transported (moved along in a vehicle with iparie parts, naturally) along the ancient incense road to the eastern Mediterranean countries (which is weird, because the incense trade along that route moved to the west rather than to the east, but whatever, geography isn’t my strong point either), these rare ingredients are now combined to create the intense, sensual and mysterious wake of Eau d’ Iparie.” Okay, so this is not the worst “story” I’ve ever read (looking at you, La Prarie Silver Rain) but I did giggle a little.

The juice itself is quite nice, though the description might lead you to believe it’s thicker and richer than it really is. Eau d’Iparie seems like it will make an ideal spring/summer incense fragrance, as it wears with a airiness that never weighs down.

The opening blast is surprisingly citrus filled, with what seems like bergamot and a light touch of lemon. As the scent warms on my skin, a fruity but non-cloying myrrh takes over. The fruitiness comes across like the smell of a warmed up jar of apple and pear baby food. However, the dryness of a woody and lightly musky-amber base prop up a predominating and transparent resin. Any sweetness is carefully kept in check.

This isn’t a particularly original composition - however, I feel that the better standard to judge a scent by is if it’s well done for what it is. And Eau d’Iparie is well done. Like many L’Occitane scents, this is ridiculously easy to wear, and smells simple but lovely to others who may catch a whiff of your sillage. It should suit either gender, although I’d suggest men especially check it out.

ON A WHOLE ‘NOTHER SUBJECT: I was skimming through the Boing Boing headlines, and read that the New Orleans Public Library is asking for donations in a effort to restock their shelves since Hurricane Katrina did its worst to their collection. When I first saw the item I thought they were requesting books only, but Boing Boing has updated the details of that item to reveal a need for cash. (Thanks Robin, for pointing that out to me!)