Among the rarest of essences costus root oil possesses the aroma of fine wool. Though it has been employed throughout history in the composition of the finest natural amber perfumes, costus is rarely used in modern perfumery due to its scarcity and high price. A tincture of raw Icelandic black fleece (humanely sheared from the lovely Penelope) in grape spirits alchemizes the costus with notes of white pepper, clover, cistus, copal and barley which tame the unusual earthiness of the costus and reveal its underlying spice. The overall olfactive experience is more linear than pyramidal due to the exalting fixative qualities of the costus root, apparent from the top down. Projects mildly, yet lasts for days on the skin and indefinitely on fabric. The black sheep of antiquity were not set apart from flock by their wayward natures, but because of their value. Before dyes were readily available, their fleece was the only way to create black fabric. While the common people of antiquity wore clothing in neutral shades, black was reserved for the clergy, the law and other nobles who were considered a "big deal." The influence, magic and creativity of the black sheep cannot be denied. Black Sheep is a perfume.
Created by founder and perfumer Christi Meshell, House of Matriarch's fragrances are made using the highest quality, certified kosher, natural ethanol distilled in Washington (from organic apples and grapes) so they will continue to smell better and better with time. Halal approved.
HOUSE OF MATRIARCH BLACK SHEEP REVIEWS
Fragrantica: "A beautiful costus-based masculine scent. Pleasantly peppery for a long time, sweet with labdanum, toasted barley leather, chewy with copal and with a watery green background, unripe and fresh. Comfortable but decisive, winter, perfect for nighttime evenings. Mysterious."
Fragrantica: "Unique with a photorealistic scent and pretty wearable imo. I haven’t tried yet but I bet this would be an interesting layering perfume as well. Would love to read other reviewers’ experiences with layering this!"
Fragrantica: "Okay so I admit I bought this simply because I spin yarn and knit. It is not a sheepy suint smell that I enjoy when I stick my hands in a fresh fleece. It does smell like shearing day in a barn. It is earthy, musky, almost green aromatic with a smooth lanolin feel on your hands after you washed them. I do agree that I get some incense as well. If you wear jeans with a leather belt and work on a farm this is the going to town scent for you. Not for city folk. Reminds me of country barns. It hit me while out. Its Darlene and Jacob from Ozark."
Fragrantica: "Wow, this is a very different perfume. Black Sheep does smell like lanolin, a note I really enjoy as it reminds me of my father's hand balms, although this does not smell heavy like literal lanolin does. It's more like a lanolin cologne not perfume if that makes sense! This is my first introduction to Costus, a note I am excited to try. There is definitely some incense here, but I don't really get anything else, although I can imagine I smell barley (if you tell me it's there). This perfume is on the dry and unsweet side. It's definitely unisex tilting masculine. My overall impression is of a kind of herbal dry buttery grassiness. Even tipping into leathery. On cooler days I get more Costus. Black Sheep smells 100% natural. It’s odd, warm, and lovely. I recommend it if you like hay or straw-like dried grass and leather aromas, and the scent of lanolin. Edit: One more thing, I think I'm getting some orris on the dry down. I hope someone else reviews this and lets me know if they smell it too. It's a powdery, rooty vaguely mineral kind of smell."
