Rahele, a name of Persian origin whose meaning is “traveller“, is the inaugural fragrance of a new collection by Neela Vermeire Parfums Paris.

Neela has thrilled us with the wonderful chapters of an olfactive novel set in her country of origin: India. She guided us to the discovery of the most suggestive places, through a portal of time that has fascinated and mesmerized us, starting from the contemporary India of Bombay Bling, to Vedic era of Trayee, to Moghul Empire, amid the roses of the great Empress Nur Jahan, with Mohur, to the origin of Imperial Buddhism, with Ashoka, making us dream in front of the majestic reflections of lake Pichola. Now, it’s time to start a new journey and to take the long way back home, on that magical bridge connecting India and France and that Neela has built for us together with the great nose and perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour.

We are in the 17th century and at the court of Shah Jahan we meet our fellow travelers: three adventurers, social historians and writers who, by their pen, have traced the indelible portrait of an era of splendor, of fervor and unequaled richness.

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, the rich merchant who jealously tightens its saddlebag full of precious stones and jewels, not last, the giant French Blue diamond that will adorn the crowned heads from Louis XIV to Marie Antoinette, to then vanish for half a centuary to reappear in the hands of a wealthy collector named Thomas Hope. Francois Bernier, physician to the eldest sont of Shah Janan that will recount his twelve years at the Court in his book of Travels in the Mughal Empire. Jean Thévenot, linguist and botanist, whose adventures in India will be widely described in the book The travels of Monsieur Thévenot into the Levant.

It took 242 trials and almost two years for the creation of Rahele, the same time spent by Jean Pitau, jeweler at the court of King Sun (Roi-Soleil), to carve the wonderful Blue diamond that Tavernier had purchased in India and then resold to Luigi XIV for the equivalent of 147 kg of pure gold. A meticulous pursuit of beauty continuously evolving, that collects the strong sensuality of an exotic and misterious land and melts it with the refined elegance of classic French perfumery. Rahele is a bright fragrance, multi-faceted as a diamond, that lays on the skin radiating its irresistible magnetism, while remaining elegantly discreet.

The composition is centred around the note of Osmanthus. A flower that becomes itself the symbol of travellers and, not by chance, chosen by Neela paying tribute to an ancient tradition according to which the finest fabrics were kept in wooden cases and sprinkled with osmanthus flowers to protect them from insects during the long naval journeys.

The delicious and intoxicating aroma of the small flower takes us through the entire evolution of Rahele, exhaling its warm fruity-floral breath in a suave harmony of woods and indian spices melted with herbal, musky and floral notes of classical French perfumery.

Vibrant, aromatic and slightly bitter, the elegant note of green mandarin is the thin beam of light that cleaves the gem and remains trapped, for an instant, under the austere surface. Sparkling reflections of jasmine and magnolia open the way through the rich heart of osmanthus, whose delicious fruity facets drip dense like honey on soft, silky petals of rose, iris and violet. A thiny amount of cinnamom and cardamom reverberates iridescent through the deep blue of oakmoss, enhancing the regal beauty of a diamond set on a precious base of patchouli, sandalwood and cedarwood and in a refined leather note.

As Marcel Proust said “The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes” and through the uncomparable beauty of a fragrance inspired to a legendary diamond, a new delightful olfactory journey begins.

Rahele, in 60 ml Eau de Parfum,  and all the beautiful fragrances of the collection are available in few selected boutiques and can be purchased directly on www.neelavermeire.com/neela-vermeire-creations/eboutique where, for some of them, you can also find a useful and lovely travel size of 15+15 ml spray (Take two series).