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Monday, September 24, 2007

Perfume Review: Yosh Kismet

"Kismet", derived from the Arabic word "qisma", refers to the concept of predestination, to the Muslim doctrine that "God has measured out the span of every person's life, their lot of good or ill fortune, and whether they will follow the straight (righteous) path or not". (Wikipedia) My inner Sartre would not allow me to accept a concept of predetermined fate; however, there is an undeniable appeal in such a fatalist point of view. It is the appeal of mysteries to be solved, of hope and of the dark comfort that lies in the acceptance of the inescapable...

The new perfume by Yosh, Kismet has just that kind of dark, bitter, strangely comforting appeal. It has a quality that is not just retro but actually ancient. It smells thick, deeply resinous, pungent, witchy...like an oil miraculously preserved in its black and gold amphora, found in a secret chamber. I am not ordinarily a fan of oils, but I can't imagine Kismet in any other form. The note that is the strongest on my skin, perhaps because I am so very familiar with it, is narcissus. Woods, incense and hay underscore the leathery, smoky, almost "meaty" aspect of the deceptively innocent flower. The sweet, slightly fruity aroma of chamomile softens the blend, and, as far as I am concerned, it is the presence of chamomile that makes Kismet an unlikely comfort-perfume of sorts, turning the dark brew into a serene and soulful scent of complete acceptance.

Kismet is a Barneys exclusive and costs $150.00 for 8ml.

Image courtesy of Yosh.

29 Comments:

Blogger lilybp said...

I can't believe you are praising an oil! It must be really wonderful! It does sound great--right up my alley, too, and perfect for the colder weather.

7:02 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Judith,
I know! :-)
I am quite sure you will like it too.

7:57 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps this requires a jaunt up to Takashimaya next month, if I actually have time to do anything recreational before Dec. Horrible, vile tech class starts today. It is Kismet that my 2 co-workers are out sick, I have a new project, am starting said vile tech class but need today to organize for trip this week. I will think about perfume instead.

8:06 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Divalano,
:-( When it rains it truly pours.

8:37 AM EDT  
Blogger leopoldo said...

Sounds magical - in its own way (i.e., in a NFM way...).

Has your scentnui passed now, M? And Ina's? I'm troubled by hers and want to find something to reawaken her nasal delight...

9:54 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Lee,
Being slow today, what is NFM? :-)
My scentui is more or less gone. It is now replaced by scentragedy. I feel out of love with Dzing. Or (s)he fell out of love with me, I don't know. Either way, we are on a break :-(

9:58 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you sure you have this right: $150 for 8 ml???

I'm so scared to get into the Yosh line becuase I've read so many bad reviews of the scents...the price tag isn't exactly helping either.

10:01 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Billy,
I am almost positive. You know, I look at prices this way- if you like the scent- it is worth it. And that is my story and I am sticking with it :-)

10:05 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This sounds lovely. Of course, like Billy, I yelped to see the price. A newbie question: is there a "proper" way to apply an oil? Does it absorb easily, or do you have to worry about getting it all on clothing, etc?

10:13 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Denise,
I don't know if it is a right way or not, but I massage oils lightly into my skin (wrist, for example).

11:13 AM EDT  
Blogger leopoldo said...

NFM = not for me

You and Dzing! - I always thought that was a love eternal...

And, I also thought that once you fell out of love, that was, err, it...

:-(
Mind you, I'm falling out of love with a few too...

(I'm so guilty of ellipsis overload on this post)

11:29 AM EDT  
Blogger NowSmellThis said...

LOL at "that is my story and I am sticking with it"! Seriously, this sounds lovely, will have to try it.

11:39 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Lee,
I thought we were forever too. This feels like when Pitt and Aniston split up. If Dzing and I could not do till death do us part thing, then...well...there is no hope :-(

11:40 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

R,
I thought it was very nice. I hardly ever think that of oils.

11:41 AM EDT  
Blogger marchlion said...

Wow. You've made this sound totally sniff-worthy. I was sort of underwhelmed by the Yoshes, I can't remember, did you love any of the others? (like one of the LOTV ones?)

Okay, you've fallen out of love with Dzing!?!?! Please stand by, I'm sending the exorcist...

12:05 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

March,
I am standing by, help me! :-)

Yes, the only one I loved so far was Sottile (the LOTV one).

12:08 PM EDT  
Blogger Erin said...

M: I don't fall out of love with scents - I'm a very solid, stubborn, some-would-say boring Taurus, and so I am mostly faithful. I think what you are experiencing is normal, though. You will find new loves, and Dzing! has enough fans that I am confident that there will always be a little left for you to rekindle your passion. And if you don't find the flame again with Dzing!, they are so many others out there, waiting for you. (Kizmet sounds great, btw, maybe the Yosh for me to try.)

12:43 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree w March, you must be possessed by the evil spirit of some noxious mass market brew. I can help w the exorcism. Will send white candles, sage smudge, I may have an amulet or something about. I mean, Dzing!!! You cannot fall out of love w Dzing!

12:45 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Erin,
Tauruses are the best. I speak not from the desire to be nice, but from experience :-)

Don't care how many fans Dzing has...*I* want to love it forever. (spoken as a true selfish Leo :-))

12:45 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

I don't think I even want to try this one if that price is correct!

12:46 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Divalano,

I know!! Trying to think...what mass-market brew have I tried recently...Would "not-really-a-sample" sample of M by Mariah Carey count? (which I did not like, but still...)

12:48 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Tom,
I think they all are more or less the same price...

12:50 PM EDT  
Blogger saralevy said...

I think this is the scent that will get me out of my "I don't care about fragrance" funk. Love Yosh. Love her fragrances and her aesthetic. Cannot wait to try this one. Thanks for the lovely review.

5:13 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Sara,
I wonder why so many of us are in this fragrance funk...is it the unexpectedly long summer, hot weather, or...what?

5:16 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Speak for yourselves - we've had a damp and drear summer over here uefdi)though September has been wonderful).

5:18 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Lee,
Bad weather can be even more funk-inducing :-)

5:19 PM EDT  
Blogger Gaia said...

This sounds like something I must try. I like several of her scents (though I dislike her. there's a story here), and even bought The Heart is Deceitful (which I'm probably its only fan). I swore not to go there again, but this sounds too tempting. I might go to Barneys later this week.

I can't believe you fell out of love with Dzing! This is scary. I sometimes get tired and overwhelmed with trying on new samples. They all look the same in those vials and I get this crazy thought of "who cares?", but spending some time with old favorites and extensive shoe shopping usually do wonders.

8:36 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

G,
Extensive shoe shopping. There. There is my recipe against this Dzingless feeling :-)

8:45 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I tried my sample today. Don't just sniff. It is totally different to wear. And don't be put off by the initial scent - it's kind of overpowering. It gentles down quickly into an interesting floral. I normally don't like florals, but the incense and cedar and herbals in this keep it from being too girly. I highly recommend checking it out - there are going to be some who will absolutely love it.

5:01 PM EST  

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