Cuir Tassili is less a fragrance than it is an entire scentscape, capturing the broad sweep of aromas gathered from the Tassili desert, in south east Algeria, home to the nomadic pastoralists known as the Tuareg Aijer. The lemon and iris in the topnotes conjure up the acidic tang of the powdery lemon sherbets the Tuareg people ingest to cool themselves after a long, hot day out in the desert, while tea, myrrh, and black pepper notes summon the thick swirls of smoke and tannins of the black tea they brew under cloth tents.
Pulsing through this fragrance like a heartbeat is that glorious leather. Smooth, herbal, and slightly rubbery (tea tannins), it is definitely suggestive of a well-worn saddle taken off a camel’s back. However, Cuir Tassili has been rendered in such a clean, elegant style that it’s clear that the camel itself has been firmly parked outside the tent. A dark, brooding ‘fine’ leather with a smoky black tea accent running through it – perfect for both the corporate crusader and the nomadic traveler in today’s modern man.
