MASQUE Milano 
Mandala 
Eau de Parfum 35 ml 
 
A triumph of myrrh, incense and spices. 
 
Act II Scene II. The whole universe. 
 
Masque Milano creative directors wanted a fragrance able to “sing two notes at the same time”. Having a change to step into a faraway monastery, and listen to monks performing “overtone singing”, is an out-of-this-world experience – hence the endeavour to recreate a fragrance conveying the same meditative, trance-like feeling. Myrrh and incense are the two most prominent notes of this composition. 
 
Mandala opens with a kaleidoscope of spices, creating the feeling of a whopping medical-dipped oud, sweaty, shuddering and sensual. Yet no agarwood was employed in the composition. 
 
A steroidal incense work, myrrh and frankincense smashed into one-another with great energy. Christian’s perfume work is cleverly composed of ingredients he understands very well and combined in such a way as to impact the senses in a vivid-fireworks-in-the dark style. 
 
The myrrh and frankincense punch out at you simultaneously; for a dizzying moment the mind and nose are overwhelmed. You’d be forgiven for thinking these two notes will be the only things you will smell, such is the kickass joy of the overture. Then then two coalesce into a single high-toned note, steady and unbroken, the odd vegetal bitterness of the myrrh smoothed out by the woody ancient Zen of frankincense.  Two materials in fascinating harmony yet still discernible as separate components. 
 
Fragance Family: Soft Amber. 
 
Perfumer: Christian Carbonnel. 
 
Head Notes 
Frankincense, Nutmeg, Angelica. 
Heart Notes 
Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cistus, Cedar, Incense. 
Base Notes 
Myrrh, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Tincture of Natural Ambergris.