Citrus scents are fleeting by nature. That is why citrus notes are usually top notes, opening a fragrance with its light and effervescent brightness and then evaporating into thin air, leaving only a beautiful memory.
Anya McCoy, founder of Anya’s Garden, head of the Natural Perfumer’s Guild, created a citrus scent that does the impossible – stay. Citrus notes on a base of incense, Light is exactly what it proclaims to be – light, probably Floridian sun light, in a bottle.
Light is the newest (2010) fragrance by the natural perfume house Anya’s Garden. It is a 21st Century cologne soliflore. The bright composition includes Sicilian cedrat, Israeli gold grapefruit, neroli and Chinese perfume tree flower. The base is composed of various frankincenses. Bright.
-from Anya’s Garden PR materials
Sometimes I have a hard time getting in gear in the mornings (sound familiar?), but life demands immediate attention, two small children do not care how fast or how happy I am at five o’clock. In the last weeks I have found something to wake my zest for life (okay, my “I have to get up, there is no way around it” view of life at least) – I dab a little of the pure perfume oil that is Light on my hand and breathe deeply. No way to stay in bed after that. Light is very uplifting, it is quasi aroma-therapeutic, yes, but so much more too.
Light is happiness, Light is energy, Light is wakefulness and alertness, Light gets me going.
So how does Anya achieve the lasting citrus impression? By cheating.
Following the top notes of cedrat and grapefruit the heart notes are dominated by the Chinese Aglaia Flower, it gives the impression of lasting citrus. It smells a lot like neroli with a little fresh jasmine cut in. The base of frankincense adds a cool smokiness to the drydown, still keeping up the appearance of citrus in the sun, although with the shadows getting longer, the air becoming cooler. For me Light encompasses an entire day in its evolution of a few hours.
I cherish my little sample vial and carefully mete out only a tiny drop every morning, to make it last as long as possible. I fear going back to mornings without my drop of Light.
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Beautiful imagery with frankincense and long, summer shadows, the air becoming cooler… I have to try a sample of this! 🙂
Anya’s perfumes are certainly worth a try.
I won a bottle of Light in a draw last year, and was super thrilled. At the time, I had nothing like it in my perfume collection, as I’ve traditionally shied away from citrus fragrances. It wasn’t until I used Light that I realized what pure joy can be found in the right kind of citrus essences. It is truly a work of art, and I adore it!
Light really is an example that citrus isn’t always like we expect. I am glad you love it too!
Citrus. And frankincense. Heaven!
In a nutshell, that’s it. 🙂
Anya’s really amazing, isn’t she? Once I have more time, I want to go down to Miami and take her class. I’ve been working with aglaia flower for over a year, and had no idea what to do with it until 3 days ago, when my hubby and I worked out a lovely scent that combines it with evergreens. So kudos to Anya, I’m going to have to get a sample of this one. Beautiful review.
Oh, yes, you must take a class with Anya, it is bound to be incredible! So being back in Florida has another plus-side! 😉
Are you training as a perfumer? Please tell me more, Marla, I’m so curious!
I can sniff-a-long to this review!
I always think I dislike citrus until I try a really good one like Light. It’s very well done. It’s sunny and optimistic without being blindingly bright. I don’t have to put on my shades for this one 🙂
That is true! 😀
If I compare something like Light directly with something like CK One, I could cry with gratitude towards Any McCoy! 😉
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