Provocative Scents are an Utterly Delightful Addiction

Narcotic Delight, now that’s a name you would necessarily associate with a perfume, but it is a new fragrance from Initio Parfums. It is the latest fragrance to be in their Carnal Blends collection which is made up of uncompromising fragrances. Ones that tie into addictions like love and sex, as well as including in most one note, that has been shown to affect the brain directly, Hedione.; a form of synthetic Jasmine. This collection celebrates this note and the flower with its newest bedfellow being Narcotic Delight is no different.

Intense, sensual, sexy, aromas that set off our pleasure receptors and even become mind-altering experiences. What does that mean and how does it work?

Hedione is one of only two ingredients in perfumery that affect the pleasure centre in our brains. We know scented aromas have a huge impact on our emotions via our sense of smell but most don’t bring on ‘pleasure’. Iso E Super and Hedione are the only ones known to have this response. Both of course are synthetic notes made in a lab, not natural ingredients. But we know a good perfume should be a mix of both natural and synthetic notes. Research has actually shown that this synthetic note Hedione can stimulate the brain’s release of sex hormones, meaning it could be a potential aphrodisiac.

Hedione was created in the 1960s to capture a part of the Jasmine flower that had not successfully been attained by other synthetic versions of the flower. A fresher, floral, and slightly more citrusy version. Initially, it was expensive, but it became far cheaper to produce than natural Jasmine. Its fame and reputation and, its price drop, therefore, grew thanks to the fact that it was used in the original Dior’s Eau Sauvage perfume in 1966. It has become one of the most widely used ingredients in perfumery for both men’s and women’s fragrances.

Interestingly, Hedione also occurs naturally in tea, which let’s face it can also be a bit of an addiction. A very clever addition, acting as an ‘olfactory booster’, Hedione possesses the remarkable ability to prolong the freshness of fragrances, providing tenacity to the scent yet maintaining a lightness.

And to top it off its name is derived from the Greek word “hedone,” which unsurprisingly means ‘pleasure or delight’. In Greek mythology, Hedone is personified as a goddess of pleasure, enjoyment, and delight. Hence the Carnal Blends collection from Initio Parfums Prives with its hits of Hedione.

And so to Narcotic Delight. It is the intense Hedione at its heart that delivers a shot of adrenalin, obsession, addiction, and deep passion. But other notes that are also ‘addictive’ are included

Starting out at the top with the hugely popular note of the Vanilla bean, alongside the soft spice of Pink Pepper. Following on a ‘little pleasure tipple’ swirling via a rich cognac note. Then it moves into sharper spice via black Pepper, a juicy Cherry note, elegant Rose, and a cloud of sensual Hedione. Its addition is finalised by cigar Smoke via a  Tobacco note, earthy Patchouli soft Cedarwood and creamy Vanilla

Founded in 2015, Initio means “the beginning”, for them meaning that each fragrance in the collection is an initiation to the power of perfumes, which influence our mood and behaviour.

Olfactory emotions of a new dimension marked by a unique Naturoprint molecule, reproducing the action of ambergris and musk, those animal pheromones that are a source of self-confidence when used in perfumery.

The spell of Narcotic Delight is infatuating, entering a pleasure zone, an obsession and addiction from nose to heart. Love alcohol and nicotine all here to heighten the pleasure zones. In no way is addiction a good thing, but as long as it’s just to this perfume then it’s totally fine.

Find everything you need to know about the brand and the new scent here at uk.initioparfums.com

If you enjoyed reading Provocative Scents are an Utterly Delightful Addiction then why not read Le Corbusier, Contributing to a Better world here

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