Maison Tahite I_Ristretto, photo by Nicoleta
The house explored the richness and complexity of vanilla in their debut collection, then tempted gourmand lovers everywhere with their delicious cocoa line, and now Maison Tahité returns to wake us up with four new scents inspired by the various facets of coffee:
(Unsplash) coffee collage
Velvet Coffee (Delphine Lebeau): gourmand, milky and voluptuous, with sandalwood, cocoa, and cardamom
Coffee Bomb (Arturetto Landi): spicy, warm, rich, and enveloping, inspired by Arabic coffee
Cafe Gourmand (Stephanie Bakouche): a creamy, dense, and delicious hazelnut coffee
And, Maison Tahité I_Ristretto (Paul Guerlain), the tribute to the most iconic Italian coffee, and also my preferred way to drink my coffee: short, dark, strong, dense, and bitter: The Ristretto.
via the official Instagram page
The history of espresso dates back to the early 20th century in Italy. At the time, coffee was typically brewed by boiling water with ground coffee beans, resulting in a beverage that was often bitter and too weak. In 1901, an Italian inventor named Luigi Bezzera developed a method for making coffee by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans using steam pressure. This resulted in a much more concentrated and flavorful coffee, and the process became known as espresso. The ristretto, which comes from the Italian word “ristretto”, meaning “restricted” refers to the smaller amount of water used in the brewing process, thus resulting in a more concentrated and intense coffee. Today, ristrettos are a popular choice for coffee connoisseurs around the world who appreciate the rich, full-bodied flavor and their ability to highlight the special characteristics of the coffee beans used. Many pages have been written about the positive effects coffee has on health, but researchers are also looking into the power of the smell of coffee alone, which seems to have similar effects to drinking the real thing. The aroma of coffee tantalizes the senses, waking up the mind and invigorating the senses. Its rich, full-bodied scent evokes memories of cozy moments and contentment, providing a sense of comfort and relaxation, and as the aroma fills the air, it can also have the power to calm the mind, reducing stress levels and anxiety.
The SCAA Coffee Taster’s Flavour Wheel
As a lover of everything coffee-related, I have searched and worn many fragrances centered on this miraculous ingredient. In my top of coffee-licious scents, the first that come to my mind are: Akro Awake with its gourmand-ish take on a cup of heavenly dark coffee, Kerosene Follow that feels like submerging your soul into a bag of freshly roasted Arabica, DSH Cafe Noire with its rich and warm eyes half closed seductive gaze, the mystical Xerjoff’s Golden Dallah or the light-hearted Terra Mia from Carthusia.
Iris is a note in perfumery with which I had a very complicated relationship – that is until I fell under its spell and smitten I’ve remained ever since. I wrote more about my awakening into iris here, with L’attesa from Masque Milano, and I stand by the very special type of light that iris lights up in my mind – a certain type of lavish nostalgia with all the ghostly glamourous emotional baggage and faux memories it drags along.
Screenshot from the Film-Noir movie Double Indemnity 1944
Maison Tahité I_Ristretto is the best of both scented worlds. The top notes do not play around, and gets to the point quickly as does a highly concentrated, heavy-bodied shot of intense coffee flavor. It’s a thick, creamy, bitter coffee shot that wears on the skin like some interpretation of freshly grounded dark heaven, the bitter complex Arabica kind. The bitterness is further played on with an earthy and powdery veil of iris mixed with violets, and a dusty mysterious dark patchouli backdrop that adds extra layers of contrast.
Sensual but restrained, alluring and tempting, Maison Tahité I_Ristretto is a mysterious, dark, rich perfume with just a hint of danger lurking between the notes. It made me feel like I’m a film noir heroine, dressed in a tailored plaid suit, drinking a cup of coffee, and plotting seduction. Having just cut my bangs, it was easy to channel my inner Phyllis Dietrichson, cup of coffee in her hand, left eyebrow raised, deadly smile activated.
Beautifully balanced, dry, bitter, complex, and smooth, Ristretto from Maison Tahite is yet another reason to fall in love with coffee.
Top notes: Coffee Absolute Arabica, Pink Pepper CO2; Heart notes: Iris concrete, Violet Accord; Base notes: Patchouli Oil Indonésie, Cashmeran.
Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor
Disclosure: Perfume kindly offered by the brand, opinions are my own
Maison Tahite I_Ristretto, official photo via website
Thanks to the generosity of Maison Tahité we have a 100 ml bottle for one registered reader in the EU or USA. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Nicoleta’s review of I_Ristretto and where you live. Draw closes 1/20/2023
Also from Maison Tahite, read our reviews of Cacao in the sun, Vicious Cacao, Vanilla2, Sel_Vanille
Maison Tahité I_Ristretto was awarded a Top Ten Perfumes of 2022 by Nicoleta
Editor’s Note: For Maison Tahité sustainability is a main objective, as is respecting the environment: they use recycled cardboard, vegetable glue, and paper made from almond shells. Also, in every package you will find a plantable card: a small gesture to make a flower bloom and offer a symbolic yet concrete contribution to making the planet a better place.
Available in the USA at Luckyscent.com
Vanille and Cacao Collection at Indigo Perfumery
Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebonofficial @nicoleta.tomsa @maisontahite @paulguerlain
This is our Privacy and Draw Rules Policy
We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like Çafleurebon and use our blog feed… or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume
Like our Facebook page: Çafleurebon and use our blog feed for new updates and articles
