I have always sought a certain sweetness in perfumes—a honeyed sweetness of orange blossom that would encompass within its essence tones of honeysuckle and jasmine, but also a carnal and seductive tuberose.
I was five or six years old when my mother used to scent me with her perfume—Gabriela Sabatini—a fragrance forgotten by many but not by me, because that was when my search began for the perfect orange blossom, one that would remind me of that moment so dear to my heart.
Years went by, and I searched through various perfumes for that honeyed, velvety, golden nuance of the perfect orange blossom. I couldn't find it. It is hard to search for a memory, because at that point, the search itself becomes the very requirement of perfection with which you dissect the notes. The scent and the whole concept turn into a fierce quest for emotion—for a single moment frozen in time.
Recently, I tested Honey and Bee by Jillian Switzerland. Within the fragile space of my memories, something stirred inside me. I do not know if it resembles that perfume—I do not own it, nor do I know if they share the same notes—but I know one thing: something inside me shifted the first time I put Honey and Bee on my skin.
Perhaps the fragrance, possessing a rare finesse and beauty, moved me with its delicacy, innocence, and grace. Or perhaps a part of it brought to light the little girl who yearned for her mother's perfume—the little girl who wanted to keep her mother's memory intact while also treasuring her father's gift: the perfume.
My stories are always true, carrying pieces of my soul, of dreams, and of memories within them. And just as perfume has been a bridge between joy, nostalgia, and remembrance, it becomes, alongside me, one of the protagonists of my life.
But let us return to Honey and Bee—it is the protagonist of this article, and it is what I want to dedicate myself to right now.
Honey and Bee is light. That radiant light that penetrates your pores and floods your heart with sunshine, life, and warmth. You feel yourself awakening inside a reverie, inside a story that belongs to you, as you too transform into light while wearing it. It caresses you with an almost translucent yet vivid delicacy, enveloping you in rays and luminescence, in white and gold, without asking or saying a word. Quite simply, this fragrance radiates life, beauty, joy, and pure emotion.
If it were a painting, Honey and Bee would be the shimmering morning light—that white-golden light that invites you in and dresses you in the sun’s early energy. There is nothing dark about this perfume; it is pure, innocent, yet radiant. It knows it shines, and it isn't afraid to show it. It knows its flower petals touch hearts, it knows its beauty overwhelms, it knows its aroma moves people, and it is not afraid to just be. Because it is sublime—the quintessence of grace and femininity.
The perfume opens with fine, delicate notes of white magnolia infused with the subtly bitter nuances of grapefruit. The delicacy of the magnolia is almost ethereal, lingering on the skin like a fine, floral, airy cream. In the heart notes, I encounter that perfect orange blossom—golden and honeyed—alongside a creamy, velvety, and sweetish orchid. The base of the fragrance is powdery, light, and creamy, slightly sweet and ambered; here, we encounter notes of tonka bean, musk, and amber.
Honey and Bee is the second fragrance from Jillian Switzerland that has moved me with its beauty, grace, and femininity. A beauty that acts as a mirror to a pure soul, in which you see yourself reflected because you carry that very same beauty within you. This is how I merged with these gorgeous, enchanting aromas—I rediscovered in them a sublime beauty, elevated almost to the level of perfection.
*
You told me that if I were a flower
I would have white petals,
And the dew would caress me
When the dark night came.
But I was afraid of being
Alone among the sparkling stars,
When the stars themselves were
My guides through the darkness.
You promised me that if the wind
Carried my sap into nothingness—
Enchanting, softly, gracefully,
Like the whisper of a dream—
I would turn into honey,
Sweet and velvety,
And my fragile petals
Would no longer be afraid
Of the gloaming night.
Because I would be stardust in the wind,
Far, far away from here,
Across the whole world,
And I would remain forever
A sweet and tender memory,
As my sap, my soul, my body,
I gracefully gave to LOVE.
THE STORY OF A WHITE FLOWER , poem written by me for Honey and Bee
*
And I am so curious to discover their other creations, journeying through the scents in the Discovery Set I received.
* COME OUT
A white-floral fragrance with fruity nuances, but also subtly spicy. I would say it is slightly aquatic as well, with a soft woody touch. The nuances of white jasmine flowers, orange blossom, and sweet, delicate peony interweave perfectly into a floral harmony that is both seductive and feminine! A joyful, feminine, and fresh perfume that inspires the joy of living every day in harmony—a life full of smiles, sprinkled with magical moments and fragrant flowers!
* FALL IN LUST
Mmmm... what an interesting, warm-spicy yet aromatic fragrance, perfectly unisex, though the scale tips slightly more towards the masculine. Notes of pepper, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg interweave with balsamic resinous notes like olibanum and fir balsam, alongside marine notes. An eclectic juxtaposition of nuances, notes, and olfactive styles makes Fall in Lust an extremely intriguing and captivating perfume.
* INTANGIBLE
This is a beautifully crafted fragrance—a floral-fruity blend that features sweet, gourmand nuances anchored by a woody base. It opens with juicy notes of peach, mandarin, bergamot, and look at that, notes of marigold—one of my absolute favorite flowers in perfumery. The heart of the fragrance is simultaneously floral, gourmand, and spicy. What I notice most about this perfume is the sheer craftsmanship with which the notes were paired to create a unique yet incredibly beautiful melange. Here, we encounter notes of violet, caramel, rose, jasmine, ginger, cardamom, and aquatic notes. The base is woody, with notes of patchouli, vanilla, leather, and a warm, well-rounded amber. A superb fragrance that I would love to have in my olfactive wardrobe!
* THE ART OF SEDUCTION
Another superb fragrance, and I would love to have this one in my wardrobe too, because it is a gorgeous autumn-winter perfume! A symphony of woody, creamy notes, vanilla, and hot spices to warm you up, along with a warm, well-rounded amber to caress your senses! I adore cardamom and sandalwood, which is why I love this perfume—it enchants through its gentleness and beauty. Beside cardamom and sandalwood, we also find ylang-ylang, notes of jasmine, vanilla, patchouli, amber, and saffron. A fragrance as warm and gentle as a sunny October day!
* EDELWEISS
Edelweiss means Floare de Colt. So, this is a poetic fragrance dedicated to this beautiful flower, which is all too rarely encountered in perfumery. The perfume is delicate, almost translucent, and extremely beautiful. The opening is citrusy-fruity, with notes of lemon, blueberry, grapefruit, and sweet mandarins, while the heart and base reveal floral, aquatic, and subtly woody notes. Rose, edelweiss, jasmine, water lily, and orange blossom join forces with sandalwood, musk, and patchouli to create a floral fragrance as light and delicate as a white feather!
If you are curious about their perfumes too, I invite you to explore them on their website, www.jillianswitzerland.com, or on the Jillian Switzerland Instagram page.
