MEMO PARIS
ITHAQUE
2023
PERFUMER
Marypierre Julien
blackcurrant absolute
bergamot
bitter orange
mandarin
timut pepper
black pepper
red currant
cedarwood
jasmine absolute
patchouli
‘Set off for Ithaca, that mythical island in the Ionian Sea, home to the epic tale of Ulysses and Penelope. An island of encounters at the heart of the archipelago, where the strength of cedar, vivacity of bergamot and sweetness of blackcurrant come together as one. A coveted destination if ever there was one, it embodies in itself the ultimate travel experience. This Ionian island is inseparable from Ulysses, the hero of Greek mythology who took more than ten years to reach his home, through a journey narrated in Homer’s Odyssey. Imagining its perfume means overcoming obstacles, creating the formula capable of charming creatures, divinities and chimeras, but above all of ravishing a cherished skin, to better rediscover it. Land in sight! The sea spray heckles the air, gives the energy necessary to complete the crossing. It needs the invigorating force, the inviting song of citrus notes. Oils of bergamot, bitter orange and mandarin. A first flight, tonic and green. The slight relief of the island becomes clear. With temperament and conviction, here are the spices and berries: black pepper oil from Madagascar, pink pepper, Timut pepper oil from Nepal, juniper. The emotional memory of the reunion to come is celebrated with fruits and flowers: blackcurrant bud absolute, redcurrant accord, raspberry note, Egyptian jasmine absolute. The earth is firm again and the joy of reconnecting with this vegetal and woody emotion that says homecoming. A rounder, more caressing feeling emerges. Cedarwood oil from Texas, patchouli from Indonesia. Ithaca, at last.’ – Memo Paris
This is quite a nice fragrance, albeit not fully to my taste. I wore this alongside Zante, which I think shares some DNA, but I prefer Zante, as Ithaque has a greener, more forest-like tinge.
The opening is a mix of green and orange hues, with underripe citrus, having that green, bitterness to it. Followed by blackcurrant, but it has an edge that I couldn’t pin-point; at one moment I was reminded a bit of tomato leaf.
As mentioned, I felt like this was a greener, but at the same time sweeter scent than Zante, making it less conventional and interesting to sample, but I didn’t fall in love with it.