The wonderful Sonia Constant has launched a new fragrance with her label Ella K, namely Orchid K. The perfumer has been inspiring me with her creations for years, but ever since I was allowed to sniff Musc K, I was completely smitten. I introduced you to the eau de parfum in August last year in my article Musc K by Ella K – pure idyll and can only recommend the fragrance to anyone who prefers clean, minimalist musk compositions. It is definitely high up on my must-have list. But let’s not focus on the musk today, but on the orchid.
Born far from the tropics – Orchid K
When you hear orchid, you automatically think of tropical climes, South Sea islands with lush vegetation, white sandy beaches, coconut palms and beautiful, exotic-looking plants that enchant people and insects with their picturesque blooms. Of course, I’m not talking here about the inflationary cultivated orchids that appear in windows in this country, which are bred and cultivated as mass-produced goods and have driven many people (me) to the brink of despair due to their unwillingness to bloom and capriciousness. I would like to say that I have green fingers, but I just don’t warm to this type of plant.
It’s a good thing that Sonia Constant’s inspiration for Orchid K didn’t come from the DIY store, but from the Alps. More precisely, she seems to have been traveling in the Monte Rosa massif, where she came across a plant that belongs to the orchid family and goes by the name of the common cabbage. Presumably the common cabbage(Nigritella nigra) was the source of inspiration and not the black cabbage, which only occurs endemically in Scandinavia, even though the press release explicitly focuses on the color black.
The cabbage is rather inconspicuous in appearance. A spherical to oval inflorescence consisting of several small, reddish-brown to purple flowers sits on an elongated green stem. The plant grows to a total height of just over twenty centimetres. Compared to tropical orchids, the cabbage plant is visually quite unspectacular, but it impresses with its strong vanilla scent.
Orchid K – Romantic Italy
Apart from the Italian side of the Monte Rosa mountain range, where the vanilla-scented plant is said to have been found, Sonia Constant has apparently also visited Lake Como. This is explicitly mentioned in the text for the fragrance by the Ella K brand, along with its lush vegetation. Numerous flowers can be found here, which were also used in the composition of Orchid K. The fragrance notes of petitgrain, oleander, marshmallow, vanilla, magnolia, rose, sequoia and ambergris are also largely a tribute to the idyllic lake in northern Italy.
Sweet scented dreams
When I first sniffed Orchid K by Ella K, I spontaneously thought of Eurythmics and their song Sweet Dreams. Because this eau de parfum is definitely sweet. Lush and floral are other characteristics that come to mind ad hoc. The creation features warm and opulent vanilla nuances accentuated by greenish-fruity nuances. Magolia and rose breathe airy, floral water notes into the composition, providing lightness and transparency and preventing Orchid K from drifting into overly heavy territory.
Vanilla is at the heart of the fragrance, which is dark, deep and quite complex, but also brings tension to the composition through changing olfactory companions. Ambry, woody facets lend the eau de parfum a harmonious framework and underline the lush, spicy sweetness of the creation.
Orchid K is an opulent and expressive mix of lovely vanilla and beguiling flowers, surrounded by velvety-warm amber and woody-creamy notes. For me, the fragrance has certain BR540 vibes, which of course you have to like. But you also get a beautifully composed vanilla-floral melange with a medium presence and excellent longevity, which is perfect for anyone who prefers feminine, powerful and intense compositions. Wearable all year round, but rather a fragrance for the evening, for going out or for leisure. Who of you already knows it?
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