The Azalai is a caravan route through the Ténéré region of the Saharan desert where camel trains have transported salt and gold for a thousand years. Along the route stood one single acacia tree, the only living thing in an ocean of sand. This was the most isolated tree in the world, 150 km from any other. This acacia, known simply as The Tree of Ténéré, was the last surviving plant from a time when the desert was less parched than it is today, thanks to roots reaching deep down into a water pocket, an underground pool hidden more than 30 meters below the desert.
It’s easy to see how the Tuareg caravan riders, themselves desert survival specialists, held the tree and its amazing fortitude in highest regard. Breaking its branches for firewood or letting the camels eat from the leaves were considered blasphemy. This loneliest tree in the world was one of very few landmarks along the Azalai, a sacred testament to the resilience of life, that had guided caravans for centuries. In spite of this, and the fact that it was the only obstacle for miles around, a truck driver that had drunkenly fallen asleep behind the wheel crashed into it in 1973, and killed it.
The scent is as an olfactory impression of gold, with radiant warmth from saffron and blood orange, and the glossy, luxurious musk velvione (a material that has been described as pressing the nose to the skin of a newborn’s scalp). Gum acacia, a syrup made from acacia sap, provides sugary sweetness balanced by salty amber and incense. A touch of mint tea and dried fruit pays homage to the Tuareg caravan riders. It features top notes of blood orange and mint; middle notes of saffron and dried fruit; and base notes of amber, incense, gum acacia and Velvelone. Azalai is an eau de parfum, edp.
STORA SKUGGAN AZALAI REVIEWS
Fragrantica: "I love oranges. Where I live in Northern California we produce the vast majority of orange fruit in the United States, which means you cannot take a drive anywhere without running into an orange orchard. When the orchards are in bloom the aroma is enough to make your knees buckle underneath you. The flowers are pollinated in the spring months where they will spend the summer and most of the fall producing orange fruit that is typically ready for harvest in the winter. Azalai effortlessly transports me there. Curiously though, Azalai has a lot more to do with acacia than with orange but Hemmendorff is clearly a nose that truly understands how things “smell”. The very obvious orange citrus opening perfectly links to crystalline fruit and a hay-like and floral saffron before going to an acacia accord that is beautifully honeyed and smells of orange blossom. It’s such an effortless, obvious, and beautiful movement. Surrounding these notes are smooth amberic balsams and a creamy lactonic quality that creates supple comfort and a cool dusty feeling. The latter might be the Velvione according to the brand’s description, an aromachem I am completely unfamiliar with so I cannot say either way. Floral and citrusy, woody and creamy, pleasantly sweet yet a bit bitter boozy - the balance to this perfume is superb. Azalai is a perfume about smart choices. It strikes as being quite minimalist in that there does not seem to be much to it, but the choices made as to which materials to use are without misstep; as if the formula was created, and then Hemmendorff said “now subtract one material” or asked “which material is unnecessary” - removing anything unnecessary or extra. It is seamless, well thought out, tells a story through good performance, and smells great. Excellent work."
Fragrantica: "I love this so much. The scent is so good and it changes character several times and all of them are pleasant. The dried fruit notes and incense should really be top notes because I mostly smell them in the opening. As it dries down it gets a smell that shares some similarities with something I smelled from Lush. It is very pleasant. The projection is not large, it is a very safe and mild scent in that sense. It is also very unique 10/10 scent although I suspect i might use up a bottle in no time. It lasts a long time. I am now 7 hours later and I can still smell it although it is a skin scent. If I had a work meeting in a small room I don't think I would bother anyone. It is pleasant and work safe. Maybe it leans a little bit feminine on the drydown. But I sprayed it on my beard and I just been smelling like I just had a pleasant conditioner on it. The opening reminds me of Camel by Zoologist. It is very different, but I think whatever they use as "dried fruits" is probably the same. Someone else here said they could only smell dried fruits in the drydown, but for me it is mostly in the opening. Although it is there all the time."
Fragrantica: "Orange fruity saffron over dehydrated amber. The idea of the bitter-sweet blood orange rind expressed via spice and leathery saffron is something well known to me through the pleasantly polarising Diptyque Eau de Tarocco. Indeed Azalai opens very similarly with a sweet almost mandarin-like blood orange against bitter leathery Saffraleine. Azalai is however sweeter and quickly enters candied fruit territory. Soon the ambery facets manifest, dry amber raw materials adding a parched sandy texture making your mind wander to the hot dusty desert dunes. The effect is very successful olfactory image Stora Skuggan is trying to evoke, the absolute dryness of the desert with spice and precious goods transported by the Tuareg nomads cutting through the stillness. Personally I don't particularly enjoy saffron overloads, so I struggle a bit with the opening, but I definitely see the appeal of this one as it develops. It’s quite a well blended statement fragrance that demands attention without overwhelming. Make sure to sample it if you enjoy saffron leather ambers."
Fragrantica: "This is SO sexy on a man. This is my boyfriend's signature scent and I loveee smelling it on him. Something about it with his body chemistry makes it smell so sweet and warm, like you're nestling your head into a hot biker's neck, dressed head to toe in leather, who just rode his motorcycle through an open field with clear skies. Beautifully deep and sensual without making me feel nauseous. This shines on cold days and nights in, would be suffocating on a hot day."
Fragrantica: "Saffron; plenty of it, and unmistakable from the very first seconds. Although leather isn’t listed, I’m convinced it’s present in some form; or perhaps this house has a subtle, signature DNA where balsamic, smoky, leathery facets quietly reside. After reading the official description, I started to think that this leather association might stem from the following note: “luxurious musk Velvione (a material described as pressing the nose to the skin of a newborn’s scalp)”. This fragrance is extremely appealing. I may have smelled many scents in this vein, but this one has taken the front seat for me. There’s something irresistibly attractive about it.... What else do I perceive? The warmth of dried fruit notes; warm, but not super sweet but sweet; more human, skin-like, almost intimate. Powdery soft musk. There’s something reminiscent of the milky softness of a kitten’s fur; deeply comforting and instinctive. There’s also citrus, but of the gentlest kind: soft, rounded, never sharp or jarring. And finally, a dry, hay-like nuance that feels warm and textural rather than herbal. I held off on writing this review for a while, wondering whether this warm, syrupy richness might start to wear on me over time; and unfortunately, it did. Quite a bit. As much as I enjoy the incense-laced, spicy date-like dried fruits and can genuinely appreciate them on a cold winter day, even in the middle of snowfall, it feels like a scent that gradually moves away from love. What once felt indulgent and comforting now risks becoming a little too much for me. But... in the end; it is a truly beautiful blend."
Fragrantica: "Okay I have fallen in love with this very quickly today. The notes (especially saffron) are beautiful. But it’s how this has made me feel. After a very long and stressful 10 days or so I’ve felt very calm wearing this. What I love about it is it’s not too loud and in everyone’s face. (Not that I mind crazy spicy perfumes, after all Desert Suave is my signature) (p.s. this is nothing like Desert Suave) and it’s not a tame perfume. It’s just perfect for a day where you want to smell amazing and enjoy keep smelling your skin. (The amount of times today I’ve just had to get a sniff!!) I am absolutely in love with this and it’s my first from the brand so now I have to get the discovery set. Edit - To say I’ve worn this several times over the past few weeks. This has become my go to if I need something relaxing at night."
