So I apparently have some kind of predilection to trying out fragrances from independent perfumers in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). While last week I took a look at Blacklisted No. 1 from Âge de Querelle Perfumes, this week I’m lucky enough to be one of the first noses on a new house from the same region, Anjali Perfumes.
Much like Chad, Anjali Vandemark is the “one stop shop” behind this house. Anjali is the nose, director, bottler, mailer, do-all-the-things woman in charge and is launching her store on February 1st. Born in Nagpur, India (she currently lives in Washington), Anjali learned her love of perfume from her family, either buying incense, flower garlands, attars, and a particular love of sandalwood from her grandmother… all now beloved memories she draws upon when crafting her fragrances.
The first three offerings from this house are called Himalayan Dawn, Tiger Bright, and Monsoon Madness. She’s categorized them based on an overall spice accord, from cool, to mild, to hot. Now, when I first looked at the notes for each of these fragrances, I’d assumed Himalayan Dawn would be what I’d be most drawn to do a review of. It has neroli, and I have been on a massive neroli binge for a solid three months now. Or perhaps Monsoon Madness with a promised combo of saffron, rose, and sandalwood.
Tiger Bright was the last fragrance of this combo I was expecting to be drawn toward (coriander and I have a rather contentious relationship), and while any of three offerings are WELL worth your time exploring, I seem to be drawn towards Tiger Bright like a moth to flame.
Let’s take a look at the notes.
Tiger Bright Notes
Top: Cedar, patchouli
Heart: Jasmine, tobacco, iris, nagarmotha (nutgrass)
Base: Sandalwood, Indian and Haitian vetiver, amber, leather
Accords of cloves, turmeric, coriander , & black pepper are laced throughout the drydown.
As a side “note”, that sandalwood note in Tiger Bright is pure Santalum album (Indian sandalwood).
So what’s the verdict?
Verdict
Let’s take a quick look at an excerpt of Anjali’s inspiration behind Tiger Bright (go read the full description on her website) before I weigh in on what I got out of it and if it matches up.
My hometown in India is close to the well-known tiger reserves of Pench, Tadoba, and Navegaon. To go into a jungle, into the tiger’s territory, is an unforgettable experience. Just the resounding roar is enough to make one feel the power of this magnificent animal. You come back from the journey with a deep appreciation for our planet and its creatures.
Anjali Vandemark
So, quick technical discussion. All three of the fragrances in Anjali’s collection are extrait strength, mmkay? A little of this will go a long way, and the projection on Tiger Bright specifically is rather powerful.
Which carries into my overall thoughts on this scent. Tiger Bright commands attention, and not in an overly screechy, I’m going to gas everyone in this room out from my “pungitude” way. There’s something about Tiger Bright that carries an air of authority to it. A well-blended scent that a person who has their business together would choose.
Tiger Bright also feels timeless. Not in the way some vintage formulations do, in that you can tell this was a scent made decades ago because it just smells dated. Tiger Bright smells like it could’ve been worn by a powerful person in 2021 and feel crisp and contemporary just as much as it could on someone from 500 years ago.
A large part of this is credit to the quality of ingredients Anjali has used in her fragrances, but there’s definitely that intangible spark in her blending… that hard to come by X-factor that pops up in creators from time to time that announces “I have arrived, and I have plans.”
Tiger Bright is certainly here, with its many depths and layers of spice, and its arrival roar is definitely set to echo and reverberate for many a fragrance enthusiast. I, for one, am interested in following Anjali along on her fragrance journey.
As mentioned, Anjali Perfume’s website store will be open for orders on Feb. 1. There are currently grand opening discounts available on the three fragrances being offered if you purchase a discovery set, or full bottle set. If you want to try Tiger Bright specifically, you can grab a sample here for $6, or the full bottle for $97. Those who do purchase a bottle will receive a free drawstring pouch, made by women from Anjali’s hometown of Nagpur, in India.
Have strong thoughts about this piece you need to share? Or maybe there’s something else on your mind you’re wanting to talk about with fellow Fandomentals? Head on over to our Community server to join in the conversation!
The Fandomentals “Fragdomentals” team base our reviews on fragrances that we have personally, independently sourced. Any reviews based off of house-provided materials will be explicitly stated. In this article, for transparency’s sake, we want to clarify that Anjali Perfumes did contact Kori to send an explorer kit for early review purposes. However, she purchased this set with her own funds.
[rwp_box id=”0″]
