VYRAO
MAMAJUJU

2024

PERFUMER
Meabh McCurtin

black pepper
Pink pepper
cardamom
saffron
nutmeg

frankincense
living red clay
rum absolute

cedarwood
geosmin
sandalwood
vetiver

‘Smooth, balancing Australian sandalwood is layered with an energetic blend of saffron, cumin, nutmeg, cardamom and pink pepper for heightened focus and self-esteem. Warming rum absolute, wet red clay and calming olibanum seal this elixir for deep-rootedness and emotional equilibrium. Smell the earth, soaked by rain; feel grounded, connected, awakened.’ – Vyrao

A very spicy affair, with pepper and nutmeg ruling the opening minutes. Sharpness, but also a hint of earthiness that you get from nutmeg and it’s giving me a connection to my parents cooking Brussel sprouts or cauliflower with nutmeg growing up… not the best connection to have in a fragrance. I’m not sure if this vegetal connection is purely derived from the spices or if I’m also picturing a rooty, slightly vegetal facet on its own in Mamajuju. Orris for example, isnt listed, but I could imagine it being there.

It takes a while to smell anything besides the spiciness. As it starts to dry, you can really see the earthiness as one of the main themes here. The brand lists ‘wet clay’ as well as geosmin and its scents vary from muddy to asphalt on my skin. It feels mature. Woody alongside earthy and spicy. I keep getting a rooty, almost nutty facet. The more it dries, the more it feels smoky, ashy, dry.

I don’t get much (not enough?) of the rum, incense or sandalwood, which could make for a more cozy scent profile. That being said, there is some comfort to be found in this more earthy muddy scent, the way you get on a rainy Autumn day and it fits your mood. Contemplative. Melancholic even perhaps. Not bad at all and I could see myself enjoying this more on subsequent wears, even though it’s not a scent profile that I would usually expect to enjoy.