Xenia

XENIA (ZEE-nee-ah)
Greek, "hospitality."

In ancient Greece, xenia was a duty as much as a courtesy. It grew from xenos, the word for both guest and stranger, and it bound host and visitor to each other. The host offered shelter, food and often a gift. The guest offered respect and left no harm behind. Anyone who arrived at a door unknown was received as someone owed a welcome.

The fragrance enacts that welcome. Saffron and black pepper greet first, bright and spiced, and a dewy red rose rises right behind them. Then the room opens. Oud settles in, smooth and clean, and ambergris warms it from below, glowing and faintly salt. It carries well and holds for most of a day, the way a good host stays in mind long after the evening ends.

A welcome that lingers.

Top: Saffron, Black Pepper
Heart: Rose
Base: Oud, Ambergris

Extrait de parfum, 20–30% fragrance oil. Hand-blended in small batches in Ontario.