One of our favorite products in the beautylab scent gallery is a gorgeous hand-carved ball filled with (what we thought was) amber. During our sessions, participants seem to gravitate toward the scent, which is at the same time comforting and perplexing — the familiar scent of amber is transformed by verdant, salty undertones into something altogether new and intriguing. One of our clients described it as smelling “wise”.
We had no idea where the ball had come from, so I was surprised and excited to see it in the L’Artisan boutique during Fashion’s Night Out at Henri Bendel. I was pointing out the display to a friend when Celene Aguilar, of the L’Artisan marketing team, graciously offered to explain more about the ball and its unique scent.
It was a mad house in Bendel’s, so in case you missed anything…
She explained that the scent doesn’t come from amber at all, but a substance called ambergris, which was used as the primary fixative in most early perfumes and burned by the Ancient Egyptians as incense. This oily, waxy compound is created through a long process that begins when a sperm whale ingests crustaceans. The whale is unable to digest the rough shells and produces a substance to surround them as they pass through the digestive system. The mass of shells and coating is then “expelled” into the ocean where it rolls around for years, photodegrading and oxidizing, gradually turning a dark gray color and assuming a thick, waxy texture.
This wax is collected from the sand and ocean, then distilled and placed inside the ball, which is made of terra cotta and hand carved by a mother and daughter team in Paris. When placed in your home, it will emanate a soft scent for years.
To find out more, visit L’Artisan’s website and blog.
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