Vidi by Histoire de Parfums, 2012

Vidi, the middle child of the trio of golden bottled Edition Rare fragrances from Historie de Parfums, interprets Ceasar's phrase "I saw" to represent the primal element air. The notes for this ethereal incense spice fragrance are: Cardamom, ozone effects, plastic rose, cyclamen, water effects, saffron, immortal absolu, musk, ambergris, vanilla, white wood. The emphasis of the notes is on saffron giving Vidi a similarity to the scent of a traditional Indian Saffron Attar (saffron infused in sandalwood). The rarity of Mysore sandalwood today allows this recreation of a saffron attar to be accomplished by the amalgam of light woods, vanilla, ambergris, musk, immortal, cardamom and rose to recreate this warm ethereal light wood partnership with saffron. This is a very familiar and often considered holy incense scent, that is well made in the scent of Vidi. The smell of Vidi is very mild toned and it does soar lighter than air, with elevating breath of saffron, cardamom and expansive unstated ozonic elements. Saffron has a high pitched flutelike sharpness which combined here with tart elevating purity of woods makes this scent a favorite fragrance from HdP to my nose. I think of Vidi as fundamentally a saffron incense fragrance. Mr. Ghislain surrounds the highly evolved saffron soprano solo with expansive and light toned woods as well as gentle warmth to reinforce the open airy aspects of the fragrance. My favorite of the trio of Edition Rare, Vidi is smooth and elevating. Thiumbs up with a rating of 4 of 5 stars.

Vidi, the second of the new trilogy, embodies on the olfactory sphere the reconnection with the primordial element of the air with its "water-fruity", vaguely minty (cool/aromatic) and ozonic type of ambery woodsiness. The soapy/vanillic and musky light final woodiness is the common trail with its brother Veni but in this fragrance the beginning is decidedly less sweet-intoxicating and more watery, salty, yet woody and botanic with the initial cucumber-light flowers-ozonic trails-aromatic plants accord. The effect is lighter, far less sweetly dusty/intoxicating and more "windy" with a cool and lymphatic vibe all around (funned in the air by a touch of saffron). The ozonic notes-woods (i suppose cedarwood) chord, turned out drier and dustier with hints of cardamom, produces a vaguely salty (better to talk about a sharp, pungent and dusty) woodiness. The floral notes in the meanwhile turn out in the cool air a rosey spark of sophisticated light feminity. The cyclamen in particular is absolutely soft and ethereal. In the complex Vidi is a well appointed light floral surrounded by a pleasant and gracefully romantic airiness. Really natural and pleasant even if the salty/woody background hardly satisfies my full pleasure.