costus

The substance called costus was highly prized by the ancients, and specimens may be met with at a few of the London drug-houses.

The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom Considered in Their Various Uses to Man and in Their Relation to the Arts and Manufactures; Forming a Practical Treatise & Handbook of Reference for the Colonist, Manufacturer, Merchant, and Consumer, on the Cultivation, Preparation for Shipment, and Commercial Value, &c. of the Various Substances Obtained From Trees and Plants, Entering into the Husbandry of Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions, &c. P. L. Simmonds

In a connotation that now seems to be everything but original, I have paired notes of carnation (chosen for the association of Spain, Flamenco and carnations) with sweet animalic base notes dominated by costus, which turned out fantastic even though a bit quirky and peculiar (costus will add peculiarity to any perfume with its animalic sensuality).

Archive 2008-02-01 Ayala Sender 2008

Another note that stands out is that of labdanum, a resinous, ambery oleoresin from the rockrose bushes also grown on the Mediterranean mountains and hillsides and a pulsating undercurrent of costus, with its musky goat-like horns that is perhaps the reason why Pan jumps into the picture.

Kouros Ayala Sender 2008

I was wearing Espionage my original, costus-based formula ad sipping a blend of earl gray and lapsang suchong.

High Tea and Espionage Ayala Sender 2008

Once I have discovered that costus should not be used on the skin, I had to neglect the idea of letting anyone but myself use my Altamira perfume.

Incarnations of Carnation: Exploring the Layers of a Flower Ayala Sender 2008

I was wearing Espionage my original, costus-based formula ad sipping a blend of earl gray and lapsang suchong.

Archive 2008-10-01 Ayala Sender 2008

To this I added tobacco and cade to create and even smokier, leathery impression which was what I mostly associated with the concept of a gaucho; and costus for an animalic presence.

Archive 2008-03-01 Ayala Sender 2008

To this I added tobacco and cade to create and even smokier, leathery impression which was what I mostly associated with the concept of a gaucho; and costus for an animalic presence.

Gaucho’s Journey Part 2: Premature Steps Ayala Sender 2008

Once I have discovered that costus should not be used on the skin, I had to neglect the idea of letting anyone but myself use my Altamira perfume.

Archive 2008-02-01 Ayala Sender 2008

Another note that stands out is that of labdanum, a resinous, ambery oleoresin from the rockrose bushes also grown on the Mediterranean mountains and hillsides and a pulsating undercurrent of costus, with its musky goat-like horns that is perhaps the reason why Pan jumps into the picture.

Archive 2008-06-01 Ayala Sender 2008