Nirmal – fresh and a little powdery and exceptional

I received an early birthday gift a couple of weeks ago from my BFE (best friend in England). It was bottle of Nirmal from Italian niche line Laboratorio Olfattivo. The card that came with it was full of Happy Birthday wishes and said this: ‘I found this stunner in the Roullier White shop in south London and I’ve been wearing it for ages! Loving it lots in summer heat, so I’m sending it to you now instead of in the winter which is when your birthday is.’

I love birthday gifts, no matter when I get them and this one was well-timed. I own a few fragrances from Laboratorio Olfattivo and I’ve been meaning to explore more of their perfumes. As it turns out, Nirmal was on my short list. Oh, she knows me so well…

Laboratorio Olfattivo was started in 2009 by Daniela Caon and Roberto Drago with a mandate to give perfumers artistic freedom to"...produce creative sparks and dream fragments that are then transformed by Laboratorio Olfattivo into fine fragrances...’. I like it when artist are given the freedom to create

‘Nirmal’ means ‘clear’ or ‘pure’ in Hindi and the Laboratory Olfattivo  website says that ‘The original idea, transformed then in a fragrance by the Nose, was to create a perfume that was sincere and delicate as a loving caress. A simple and unforgettable perfume at the same time.’

It opens with a brisk, clear note of carrot. It doesn’t smell all vegetal because it’s the iris rhizome aspect that’s on full display here and opens the way for iris and violet. The flowers are fresh and delicate, with the earthy aspects subdued, but the EdP concentration means that they have a real presence.  As it blooms, it gets a little powdery, a little sweet and a little warmer. At the base, I smell cedarwood, just enough to support the flowers, and the smell of sweet suede from amber and Deerskin suede gives it a leathery softness.

Nirmal stays clear and transparent throughout its development and dries down to an extraordinary iris fragrance that stays close to the skin for hours. Could a man wear it? Sure, but only the right man, which makes it more of a feminine fragrance than a unisex one.

Another thing, the nose who created Nirmal was Rosine Courage. I can’t find any other fragrances by her anywhere, but I sure would like to.

I’ve been wearing Nirmal pretty regularly since it landed on my doorstep. It was a precious gift from a precious friend who wanted to share the experience with me. Now, I’m sharing it with you.

Check out Nirmal in our Shop.