The absolute last thing I expected to discover while wandering down a chic little alley in Paris was a trio of niche perfumes celebrating India in a way the country has never been celebrated before. Of course, we have had a plethora of fragrances that pay tribute to India’s treasure trove of sandalwood, jasmine, roses, marigolds and so on but nobody has really tried to capture the entire sensory experience of the country in a bottle.

Neela Vermeire’s fragrances, on the other hand, attempt to capture exactly this ephemeral quality of our land in three different avataars:

Trayee: “The divine origin of the first three Vedas – Rig, Yajur and Sama – suggested the name of the perfume: Trayee (pronounced ‘try-ee’, meaning ‘the triad’). Trayee is a complex fragrance that represents the boundless spiritual landscape of the great Vedic period, which started many centuries ago: Its intricate rituals and temple ceremonies, ayurveda, the universe of yoga and the holistic quest for knowledge…” With blue ginger, cinnamon, ganja effects, basil, jasmine, cardamom, clove, saffron, sandalwood, vetiver, incense, patchouli, myrrh, vanilla, cedar, amber, oud and oak moss, this “the essence of India, the beginning of the journey. It is a eulogy, a hymn to the idea of India, an act of deepest reverence for the traditions of the mother country.”

Mohur: “Known as Mehrunissa, the most powerful Empress of the Mughal dynasty, Noor Jahan was the favorite wife of Emperor Jehangir. She was the true power behind the throne while her husband lived, so much so that after his death her male relatives had her sequestered (in comfort!) for the rest of her life. In her confinement, she devoted herself to the art of perfumery as it had been passed down from her mother. Mohur is a rose-based fragrance, a combination of opulent moghul rose perfumes and a distinguished spicy leather bouquet that can only be imagined during a high tea after a polo match. To capture this moment, Mohur has been created as a refined rose-oudh alliance that pays tribute to Noor Jahan’s power and talent. It exemplifies the nearly 500-year span of India’s history that was shaped by a succession of influences from the outside world with cardamom, coriander, ambrette, carrot, black pepper, elemi, rose, jasmine, orris, aubepin flower, almond milk, violet, leather, sandalwood, amber, white woods, patchouli, oudh, benzoin, vanilla and tonka bean.”

Bombay Bling: “This joyful creation embodies every aspect of the very modern, colourful, eclectic, esoteric, ecstatic, liberal, happy side of buzzing India, a world economic power, where nothing is to be taken for granted, where the underbelly of the big city combines with the glitter of Bollywood on the vast sandy stretches of Juhu Beach and the Queen’s Necklace. Fortunes are made and lost on the Bombay stock exchange and gambling dens of Mumbai. Abandon yourself to the nightlife as dawn breaks over the city. There is nothing like it and there will be nothing like it. Welcome to a vibrant new India!” And what a welcome it is, complete with mango, lychee, blackcurrant, cardamom, cumin, rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, tuberose, frangipani, gardenia, patchouli, tobacco, white woods, sandalwood, cedar and vanilla.

And this is no fly-by-night operation. The perfumes have been crafted by none other than Bertrand Duchaufour, who has been responsible for such towering icons like Acqua di Parma Cipresso di Toscana, Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta, Givenchy Amarige d’Amour, L’Artisan Al Oudh and L’Artisan Nuit de Tubéreuse in the past.

Highly recommended – especially Mohur, which has become my current go-to scent!

The perfumes are packaged in gorgeous crystal bottles