Spun Threads of all That’s Precious - Gold - Shalini Parfum 2024 - Shalini + Maurice Roucel

Danu Seith-Fyr
Apr 22
3 min read

Updated: Apr 23

GoldAlways believe in your soulYou've got the power to knowYou're indestructibleAlways believe in…. Spandau Ballet

A great admirer of the collection of Shalini Parfums, I am always in anticipation when she releases a new adventure. Her creations arise out of 2 realms, the outer and the inner, for Shalini is a bright soul concerning herself with not only her fashion and perfume business but infusing all with her luminous energy and compassionate nature. A rare, sought after combination that permeates into her perfume compositions. As with all of the collection they are crafted with Master Perfumer Maurice Roucel, hence they all pulse with a thread that binds them together as a collective. New York Couturier Shalini Kumar expresses excellence in all her works, her perfumes, no exception for each is a magnificent strand of place, a ‘genius loci’, capturing the spirit in a location, a capture from her extensive travel and seen through her extraordinaru senses. It has been my privilege to write on a number of her creations, I continue with ‘Gold’ released this year. From its merits as a precious metal to its artistic expressions in historical contexts, to its capacity to incite fervour and its luxurious conatations, yet there is more in this elixir than all that, something of a true luxury written inbetween the obvious.

Deeply aromatic and sun infused from the very first spray, Gold oozes a profound elegance, a luxury we can all associate with ‘Gold’. What is that feeling when we stand in a shaft of sunlight as it pierces a darkened coccon, we feel nurtured and enveloped, it warms us beyond the physical body, our soul is lightened and recognises its natural niche. Marigold elevates with and opens us to the infinite possibilties of devotion within ourselves. Richly opulent it invites the wearer to return to a more pristine luxury, all our impressions of gold in all its extravagance are layered over with its potential to bind us to higher aspirations. This is the closest I can come to ambrosia, that nectar of the Gods, so coveted, that confered immortality. Here is a liquid essence of what is referred to as a ‘Golden Age’, not something just written in the past but serves as an indication of potential, should we drop petty egos and obessesions. It exists written into the tales and history of every culture, every expression of humanity, a universal truth.

"Golden Age" denotes a period of primordial peace, harmony, stability, and prosperity. During this age, peace and harmony prevailed in that people did not have to work to feed themselves for the earth provided food in abundance. They lived to a very old age with a youthful appearance, eventually dying peacefully, with spirits living on as "guardians". Plato in Cratylus (397 e) recounts the golden race of humans who came first. He clarifies that Hesiod did not mean literally made of gold, but good and noble. Wikipedia

Frankincense and Myrrh swirl unbidden to bathe my form in sacred fumes, these are the gifts that elevate my spirit, dissolving lines of form so that physicality merges with the soul and the soul quietly shifts to become, sublimating the physical dominance of needs and ego fuelled drives. Gentle, gentle it whispers, relinquish your hold on desires, all is well, breathe deeply of peace and tranquility, it is your right. No need of conflict and strife for its fruitless ends are a circle of your undoing, liquify into my smoke of ages and see yourself for the first time with the eyes of all.

Resting under my flesh, Gold permeates me, in the fine droplets of an ancient mist, honeyed gold embraces amber traces,trailing upon me murmured voices from a past released at last in a soothing delicacy laced with a certainty of finding our true home.