Slumberhouse Discussion

[lpp]

to each their own; but i'm also against these type of layering, particularly with such complex & well made parfums like Zahd & Jeke.

Feeling a little left out here being somewhat Zahd-less, but don't personally feel that I'd play around with something that complex either - although good luck to those who do!

[ScentFan]

Zahd/Jeke Layering

Hi, all. Not sure this will make sense to anyone else, but I figured it out! To me, Jeke is a very male fragrance. All tobacco and leather and earth and such, but so glorious I just had to buy a bottle. Wearing it was another thing. I mean I'm not afraid of powerful scents, but I don't want to smell like a guy. One day, sniffing my Zahd sample, inspiration came out of the blue. Pair the fruitier Zahd with macho Jeke. Result? Heaven! I've since done more testing and it doesn't work with Jeke and lesser fruity or floral scents. For Jeke, that's like slumming. It only works with equally classy Zahd! The result isn't feminine by any stretch, but it's something I can comfortably wear to experience the genius of Jeke. Hurrah!

[lpp]

Silly question - but how is it the genius of Jeke if it's mixed with something else?
I'm probably not the best person to understand the experiment as I adore a lot of traditionally marketed 'girly' scents but don't actually find Jeke 'macho' at all.

[evogel]

to each their own; but i'm also against these type of layering, particularly with such complex & well made parfums like Zahd & Jeke.

I gotta agree. To each, her/his own and I am intrigued that it worked for someone but ultimately, these are specific, complex and artistic creations that took a lot of time to conceive and they stand on their own. Blasphemy is one word that comes to my mind when I read of layering Slumberhouse fragrances. Well, nothing like that but you get my drift! :-)

[lpp]

I gotta agree. To each, her/his own and I am intrigued that it worked for someone but ultimately, these are specific, complex and artistic creations that took a lot of time to conceive and they stand on their own. Blasphemy is one word that comes to my mind when I read of layering Slumberhouse fragrances. Well, nothing like that but you get my drift! :-)

Maybe genderising perfumes is just a complication?

[ScentFan]

Wow, you guys aren't kidding? There are really scent police?

[lpp]

No, just trying to understand!

Like I wouldn't mix 24, Faubourg with Caleche, or Amouage Gold with Epic Woman.

Is it maybe just about different styles of scent?
I dislike the 'blackberry jam', cloyingly sweet stuff, or the throat-catching things or the generic drydown ones so just avoid them.

[Redneck Perfumisto]

Wow, you guys aren't kidding? There are really scent police?

YOU RANG?

Just kidding. The only scent police are a few mods who can't agree on anything, either.

LAYERING TO SOME:



LAYERING TO OTHERS:



GOOD TIMES LAYERING SURPRISE!



I don't see why layering has to be viewed either negatively or positively. To me, it can easily be a transparency mash-up of two images, or a song mash-up. Not everybody likes that. And if you can focus on them separately, it's a lot like putting up two paintings - possibly by the same artist - next to each other, and trying to take them in at the same time.

Recombination of art is usually a lesser art, to me, but still art.

[ScentFan]

LOL! I see the problem. We're all total Slumberhouse fans. FWIW, if all the perfume houses vanished from the face of the earth EXCEPT Slumberhouse, I'd say, "Well, at least we've still got the best." I wasn't speaking for others by any stretch, just for me. I've bought every Slumberhouse I can get my hands on and I plan to buy everything he ever makes. Oh, except Ore. Keep forgetting. Must buy Ore.

Already in my collection are Jeke, Pear + Olive and Vikt. I found and bought Eki, too, and was heartbroken to find it's got an ingredient which troubles my nose. Hearbroken! I adore these fragrances. I mean, never in my life did I think I'd deliberately by something out of sheer love (Jeke), believing I couldn't wear it. For me, Jeke feels very male. I'm not saying that applies to anyone else. Just me. You'd think I'd give it to my other half, since he liked it, too, but no. I can't give it up! He has to buy his own (or I'll buy as a gift). I bought Jeke so I could smell it myself whenever I want, despairing of ever wearing it. Again and again I tried and it hasn't work. For me, the idea of layering came out of sheer yearning to find a way to do more than sniff Jeke. My nose can smell both Jeke and Zahd together perfectly well and it's almost deliriously happy as a result. The thing is, I'm betting the guy at Slumberhouse wouldn't be mad at me. Have you seen his website? Seen how he refuses to be dictated to? Have you read between the lines his fierce independence and dedication to his art? This is a guy who has zero interest in group think. As a perfume user (and in other areas of life), I'm just like him. He's a creative rebel, an individualist. So am I. I worship right along with the rest of you at the altar of Slumberhouse. In my own way.

YOU RANG?

Just kidding... Recombination of art is usually a lesser art, to me, but still art.

I doubt if there's a single other instance where I'd combine accomplished perfumes. This was an emergency!

No, just trying to understand!

Like I wouldn't mix 24, Faubourg with Caleche, or Amouage Gold with Epic Woman.

Is it maybe just about different styles of scent?
I dislike the 'blackberry jam', cloyingly sweet stuff, or the throat-catching things or the generic drydown ones so just avoid them.

I wouldn't mix those either!

[Redneck Perfumisto]

LOL, I see the problem. We're all total Slumberhouse fans. FWIW, if all the perfume houses vanished from the face of the earth EXCEPT Slumberhouse, I'd say, "Well, at least we've still got the best." I wasn't speaking for others by any stretch, just for me. I've bought every Slumberhouse I can get my hands on and I plan to buy everything he ever makes. Oh, except Ore. Keep forgetting. Must buy Ore.

Already in my collection are Jeke, Pear + Olive and Vikt. I found and bought Eki, too, and was heartbroken to find it's got an ingredient which troubles my nose. Hearbroken! I adore these fragrances. I mean, never in my life did I think I'd deliberately by something out of sheer love (Jeke), believing I couldn't wear it. For me, Jeke feels very male. I'm not saying that applies to anyone else. Just me. You'd think I'd give it to my other half, since he liked it, too, but no. I can't give it up! He has to buy his own (or I'll buy as a gift). I bought Jeke so I could smell it myself whenever I want, despairing of ever wearing it. Again and again I tried and it hasn't work. For me, the idea of layering came out of sheer yearning to find a way to do more than sniff Jeke. My nose can smell both Jeke and Zahd together perfectly well and it's almost deliriously happy as a result. The thing is, I'm betting the guy at Slumberhouse wouldn't be mad at me. Have you seen his website? Seen how he refuses to be dictated to? Have you read between the lines his fierce independence and dedication to his art? This is a guy who has zero interest in group think. As a perfume user (and in other areas of life), I'm just like him. He's a creative rebel, an individualist. So am I. I worship right along with the rest of you at the altar of Slumberhouse. In my own way.

Awesome post.

I totally hear you. Josh is a rebel - I don't think he's gonna be raining on your creativity, for experimenting with two results of his. What visual artist would b*tch upon walking into a light-show with two of his works being morphed and faded and projected about the event? I think you honor him in your own way. But you know - I think he would be equally happy to hear that some person thought his works need to be kept pristine in some way. He's the kind of person who is just going to let people be.

I know what you're saying about things that just seem too oppositely gendered. Many people fight and overcome the cultural fragrance gender concept. I'm not sure I want to. I have decided to take a certain amount of enjoyment in the sexualization of fragrances - to let their stereotypes and human stereotypes interact, and not worry about it. Others go against that grain, and I say power to them. But I love to let fragrances tell me stories about men and women and not in equal measure.

I own feminine Chanels that I wear in public, and others that I just want to smell. But sometimes I layer a feminine Chanel with a masculine Chanel, and it's usually good, and often something of a completely new character. Or I can break up the stereo and see a man and a woman together. That's pretty cool, too.

Enjoy!

[lpp]

Sure, if it works for you, enjoy it!

[OctaVariuM]

I don't have an issue with layering in general, and indeed, do whatever makes you happy. For me though, layering two very complex fragrances is kind of a waste of the time and effort that went into making them, and indeed the subtleties that are found in both. This is especially true of Slumberhouse fragrances, which I find to be very complex, and even after wearing one scent for a dozen or so wears, I am still finding new stuff about it.

[lpp]

I'm inclined to wonder whether the Jeke might drown the sandalwood & stuff, but I'm happy with mine anyway.

[ScentFan]

The problem is I just can't wear Jeke alone. I bought it because I love it, but when I put it on my skin, my brain cells scream "too male" and tell me to take it off. So saying I should wear it, is like saying guys should wear what they consider a female scent. Doesn't work. If it weren't for that, I'd wear Jeke because I think it's brilliant. So I'm left to either give it away, sell it, or trade it. Then an thought came. What would happen if I mixed it with Zahd? The result, to my nose, was utter bliss.

There's no more to the story than that. I'm not on a mission to change what others think/do.

As for Zahd, I still have the test strip from days ago. The scent's still there and it's incredible. In its own way, it's as strong as Jeke. I can and will wear it for its own merits. Mixed together, these potent fragrances happen to meld into a third wonderful thing. Very lucky for me because, now, I don't have to discard my bottle of Jeke.

[lpp]

I do understand what you're saying, Scent Fan, that's your way of doing it, no worries!

I guess that the thought of using such valuable & scarce ingredients in that way just made me wince so I was exploring around the whole thing!

The attar used in Zahd was specially made and is not repeatable if I have understood correctly and decent Mysore sandalwood in a rarity these days.
http://thefragrantman.com/2013/10/18/zahd-slumberhouse/

[ScentFan]

No worries, Ipp. You're a good moderator.

I do understand what you're saying, Scent Fan, that's your way of doing it, no worries!

I guess that the thought of using such valuable & scarce ingredients in that way just made me wince so I was exploring around the whole thing!

The attar used in Zahd was specially made and is not repeatable if I have understood correctly and decent Mysore sandalwood in a rarity these days.
http://thefragrantman.com/2013/10/18/zahd-slumberhouse/

[rouj]

The problem is I just can't wear Jeke alone. I bought it because I love it, but when I put it on my skin, my brain cells scream "too male" and tell me to take it off. So saying I should wear it, is like saying guys should wear what they consider a female scent. Doesn't work. If it weren't for that, I'd wear Jeke because I think it's brilliant. So I'm left to either give it away, sell it, or trade it. Then an thought came. What would happen if I mixed it with Zahd? The result, to my nose, was utter bliss.

There's no more to the story than that. I'm not on a mission to change what others think/do.

As for Zahd, I still have the test strip from days ago. The scent's still there and it's incredible. In its own way, it's as strong as Jeke. I can and will wear it for its own merits. Mixed together, these potent fragrances happen to meld into a third wonderful thing. Very lucky for me because, now, I don't have to discard my bottle of Jeke.

You are a bad fragrance lover, and should feel bad

There was a thread on layering Puredistance M with Aventus, and the feeling there was "blasphemy!" A part of me agreed, seems like a terrible idea. Then yesterday I'm driving home and certain qualities about both fragrances came to my mind, and I thought that yeah, they probably will layer very nicely and I'll have to try it at some point. Jeke is AMAZING, but I can see how it might be nice to have a fruity note to it, especially as a lady. Glad you have found a way to make Jeke work for you!

[ScentFan]

You are a bad fragrance lover, and should feel bad

There was a thread on layering Puredistance M with Aventus, and the feeling there was "blasphemy!" A part of me agreed, seems like a terrible idea. Then yesterday I'm driving home and certain qualities about both fragrances came to my mind, and I thought that yeah, they probably will layer very nicely and I'll have to try it at some point. Jeke is AMAZING, but I can see how it might be nice to have a fruity note to it, especially as a lady. Glad you have found a way to make Jeke work for you!

Yes, it works for me and I would feel bad about it, except Norne arrived today and made me absolutely jubilant! I was already wearing Vikt! I told my other half that if I start dying, grab Vikt and spray the whole thing on me. Now I'm not so sure. Should a person really die without one last sniff of Norne, of Jeke, Pearl+ Olive, much less Zahd? I'll have to think about this very seriously.

[rouj]

Yes, it works for me and I would feel bad about it, except Norne arrived today and made me absolutely jubilant! I was already wearing Vikt! I told my other half that if I start dying, grab Vikt and spray the whole thing on me. Now I'm not so sure. Should a person really die without one last sniff of Norne, of Jeke, Pearl+ Olive, much less Zahd? I'll have to think about this very seriously.

Had you not smelled norne before?!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ScentFan]

Had you not smelled norne before?!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Only in a sample a while ago.

[ScentFan]

By the way, fwiw, my Zahd/Jeke layering experiment now has a second data point. My fella smelled Jeke and said, "It's that guy in a western movie who bursts open the swinging doors to get into a bar." He smelled Zahd and said, "It's like candy." I layered it over Jeke and he said, "It slightly tames Jeke. Now it's a woman who bursts open the swinging doors to get into a bar." LOL! His favorite is Norne, unadulterated.

[ScentFan]

We can accommodate up to 3 more in the sample pass of present and past Slumberhouse fragrances. If you're interested, post here asap:

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/372...se-Sample-Pass

[Mick_Trick]

A few thoughts on Zahd from recent samplings, I'll come straight out with it, I LOVE it.

I was expecting the cranberry and champaca, which are both executed perfectly. The cranberry neither too sweet or bitter, but wonderfully aromatic, with champaca balanced with finese. What really surprised me was the wonderful indian attar accord.

It teleports me straight into an Indian temple with rich incense permeating the air. I have some Indian temple grade incense at home and it bears more than a passing resemblence to a couple of the more fruitier floral ones. The new Slumberhouse direction towards more refined and polished creations is most evident in Zahd. There is a definite progression from the vibrant cranberry/champaca opening to the heart and drydown where the dry cocoa and incense/attar takes centre stage while still retaining the attenuated opening notes to the close, especially the cranberry. Late drydown highlights a smooth creamy sandalwood to close. It's a pleasure to wear from start to finish, fascinating and transporting, but with no challenging elements. If we're talking Indian temple aesthetics, this is way more to my taste than Trayee. There I've said it... am I a philistine? Perhaps, but I can live with that.

For anyone who struggles with the 'wall of scent' aesthetic of the earlier Sova, Jeke and Norne, I would definitely recommend sampling the newer creations Zahd, Vikt and Ore. Everything is smooth, balanced and coherent, projection is dialed down to a personal level, but longevity is still great.

As in music how it is bloody hard to follow up the wonderful first album, it is great to see Slumberhouse not only matching, but really moving to a new level. I know this has been said previously by others, but I have to repeat it, I'm really very impressed. Slumberhouse still may not be for everyone, but the new direction makes it more accessible without losing any of it's unique essence. I'm sorry for babbling like a schoolgirl with a crush, but for me at least, Zahd is perfection.

[badarun]

wonderful review mick_trick!!!

[Akahina]

I am wanting to flog myself. Many months ago Josh sent me samples of two unreleased scents. When I asked about them he said one was a scent with cranberry (Zahd). I have gone through every sample in every box and I simply can not find it. Must have been lost in my move. Damn, damn, damn. Wanting it so bad.

[badarun]

It teleports me straight into an Indian temple

The fact that my terrible nose (helped by my indian upbringing) said the same words as the above to deadidol on the first time I sampled Zahd months back is making me feel quite happy

[Buysblind]

For anyone who struggles with the 'wall of scent' aesthetic of the earlier Sova, Jeke and Norne, I would definitely recommend sampling the newer creations Zahd, Vikt and Ore. Everything is smooth, balanced and coherent, projection is dialed down to a personal level, but longevity is still great.

What you said right here is what I'm most pleased about regarding Ore, Mare, and Vikt (I haven't tried Zahd...yet). I love the way he reeled them in...they feel much more intimate and personal. Not soft, or quiet necessarily, just closer. With Ore, it creates something completely mellow and comfortable--perfect for this type of scent--a relaxing, fuzzy gourmand. With Vikt, it creates something mysterious and contemplative, a little dark. The closeness allows this.

Nice observation, mick.

[lpp]

Thanks for the review, Mick_Trick - still kicking myself!

[ScentFan]

A few thoughts on Zahd from recent samplings, I'll come straight out with it, I LOVE it.

I was expecting the cranberry and champaca, which are both executed perfectly ... Slumberhouse still may not be for everyone, but the new direction makes it more accessible without losing any of it's unique essence. I'm sorry for babbling like a schoolgirl with a crush, but for me at least, Zahd is perfection.

Beautiful description! Question. By what magic did you train your nose?

[noideawhatimsaying]

So, when is Zahd shipping?