20th January: 20th January @ 9pm: First, we are unfortunately falling a little behind with work. Tomorrow we have a meeting that we can no longer postpone. Therefore, we must postpone all courier collections tomorrow. I absolutely promise though that we will be working through the weekend again and by Tuesday 25th we will have got on top of “retail” orders. As for big news, first Oakmoss Signature is now back in stock. This is a winter production, artisan produced, really labour intensive with low yields. The aroma profile is first class all the way, plus it is also not IFRA compliant. The only issues to report here is that batch two is aesthetically muddy-ugly and although it dilutes in alcohol, this batch benefits from filtration. All mentioned on the updated product listing. Next, although maybe a few months away, I can now confirm a project that is coming to fruition, we will be introducing Olive Absolute again, Italian made and exclusively distributed by Hermitage Oils. This is light years superior to anything coming out of Egypt. Next, my custom produced Hindi Oud (name still to be decided) will be released on Sunday 30th January along with a new big-ticket release that will be sold under the name of Vetiver Chocolate E.O. Subject to time I am also going to release another new oud on Sunday 30th named Oud Thai Sugar Orange (Maybe more musing is needed for the name!) I will write again on Monday and thanks sincerely to everyone for all the support. Adam Michael : )
17th January @ 8.35pm: Just to say all “retail” orders placed up to the 1st January have now been collected. This week we will clear all “retail” orders placed up until the 10th January. Of course, we will push to achieve better results but note we are working flat out. Beyond this, if you would like to see the return of MYSORE SANDALWOOD E.O, please do email to let me know as I am musing on bringing this back. Towards the end of this month I am also going to try to release my first WILD HINDI OUD e.o on the site, this is a custom distillation exclusive to Hermitage, it is extremely clean woody, floral, fruity and sweet in parts. It is pure perfection and will retail for just 1435 Euros per 10ml. This is a steal price. Sample vials will also be offered. I will write again by Thursday this week. Thank you, Adam Michael : ) 14th January @ 6.30pm update: Since I last wrote we continue to make progress. All “retail” orders placed up to the 29th of December have now been dispatched. “Retail” orders placed between the 30th December to the 1st January should all be dispatched now on Monday 17th January. And we continue to process little/quick orders we see regardless of date for one hour each day. Once we are on top of the workload, I will be working on product content for 12 new, big-ticket releases, and they will be added to the site throughout February. Across February the sites primary categories are also getting altered, because as we continue to transition into becoming a wholesale business, I want to draw attention to our Hermitage Oil custom distillations. A total of 84 SDS have now been uploaded to the site and as we get on top of our workload we will keep adding more : ) Also, emails, please note simply due to a lack of manpower, we are chiefly concentrating on responding to emails that are connected with orders still processing. Once back on track we will reply to all emails received of course : ) I think this covers everything for now and I will aim to write here again on Monday. Thank you, Adam Michael : ) Close
Adam Michael has this to say “In the world of natural aromatics musky scents are said to be practically impossible to obtain. Well, no longer! We have now sourced a mind blowing natural ambrettolide, obtained from fractionation of the already super precious (and pricey) ambrette absolute. The result is pure luxury in a bottle.
All the most beautiful musky notes found in ambrette seed have been perfectly captured, very soft and well rounded, with none of the sharp edges found in angelica seed and to a lesser extent in ambrette absolute. This natural ambrettolide is so soft it’s almost sweet, yet full bodied and with a very long-lasting fragrance and with extra fineness and beauty compared to the synthetically obtained ambrettolide commonly available to perfumers.
Although some people find ambrettolide quite delicate because it doesn’t really have top notes, its power should not be underestimated: it is a very tenacious scent with tremendous fixative and exalting properties, and a little goes a long way. In perfume blends it imparts unparalleled radiance and smoothness to the composition, making an invaluable and very refined base note.
For the natural perfumer this is indeed a game changer material, adding to the perfumer’s palette an all-natural, non-animal derived most enchanting white musk scent. A very special material, very rare to find, only retailed by Hermitage at the time of writing (June 2018).”
Arctander has this to say “….one of the finest fixatives among the distinguished group of those showing a synergistic and amplifying effect upon perfumes and flavors. At the same time it increases the diffusiveness of fragrances in which it is incorporated. Its fixative effect is easily recognized by the fact that solutions of 0.01% Ambrettolide (or even less) in slightly diluted alcohol show practically no odor of alcohol, only a faint, floral-musky, sweet and pleasant odor of the lactone. Ambrettolide is particularly useful in fragrance types of delicately floral, mildly animal or Ambre-like type.”
bobstolk (verified owner) –
I love this stuff, you can basically use this in any type of perfume. It helps the longevity and sillage of any natural perfume with its fixative properties. It’s a great musky scent and as Adam mentions one of the few ways to get a musk scent within natural perfumery. It’s not the cheapest ingredient but definitely 100% worth the price!
Charalambos Charalambous (verified owner) –
I find this material so different from the Ambrette absolute..this is sweet and gentle.soft and delicate. slightly musky and amazing what it does when blending with other oils ..actually i wouldn’t compare it with the absolute if its an option which one is better to have because this natural isolate is a stand alone beauty. Its better to buy them both!!
Aidan A (verified owner) –
When I first smelled this material I was completely blown away. It is one of if not the “cleanest” smells I’ve ever encountered…and not in a soapy way. This material is as sharp as a razor but light as a feather. It has elegant muskiness, a nice dry coolness but soft warm creaminess at the same time. It truly does improve almost anything. Compared to the ambrette seed absolute I’d say it removes that peanut butter smell, dials back the sweetness a little bit and in general really makes that musky quality of musk seed shine through.
joseph1 (verified owner) –
The second I inhale this crystal clear ambrettolide, I clearly see a structural understanding of how it will affect any other material or formulation it comes it contact with. Undeniably clean, cool rush of light, yet mighty, mineral-like airiness. Utter excellence. Quite frankly as a natural perfumer it gives great confidence, relief and joy to know I have access to such exquisite natural ingredients. I am grateful.
Ulrike S (verified owner) –
When the Ambrette CO2 was sold out, and I consulted with Hermitage about the suitability of this isolate, I bought it merely by faith in Adam’s scrupulous professionalism and honesty when he assured me that I would not be sorry if I ordered this. While I am not usually a friend of isolates, I went with his recommendation, and the only thing I am sorry about is that I only ordered 1ml. This is the Holy Grail of Ambrette material. And after working with both the absolute and the CO2, I can say with conviction that there is no way back after sampling this. Its staying power is phenomenal and coming back to the smelling strip several times a day for several days, I continue to find new delights. For someone who has traditionally been passionately wedded to “all natural” materials, I can only thank Adam for educating me once again!
CATHERINE A (verified owner) –
Very long lasting subtle scent without any animalic undertone
Improve all composition
Bring freshness and complexity to all composition