As a young boy growing up by the Baltic Sea, I knew that amber had its own smell. I wanted to bring it out at all costs. I developed a series of scented ingredients from natural Baltic amber and exotic amber from the Dominican Republic. I based each perfume within this series on a different amber ingredient, so as to show the full olfactory spectrum offered by this unique ingredient," says Alan Balewski.
Why is his perfume comparable to finding the philosopher's stone and the Holy Grail? Because „amber” perfumes have for centuries only contained the so-called „amber chord”, a set of ingredients that, in the right proportions, mimic the smell of amber. Alan Balewski, on the other hand, was the first to create a perfume based on natural amber, which made the dry distillation process possible.
This is how three fragrances were created: Mare Goticum (Sea of the Goths, or Baltic Sea), Eridan (mythological amber-bearing river) and Hispaniola (inspired by Dominican amber). Each of the fragrance compositions is based on seasonally available ingredients from around the world. Each, handcrafted series, even if it contains a similar recipe, will differ slightly from the previous one. How do they differ?
Mare Goticum
First release in the series based on dry distillation amber oil. A green-maritime profile, intended to reflect the powerful character of the Baltic sea. Industrial touches are reminiscent of the divers who once descended to the bottom of the Gulf of Gdansk to pluck amber straight from the sea's embrace.
- Top note: violet leaf, seaweed absolute, pine absolute
- heart notes: smear, Baltic amber oil, patchouli
- base notes: diving suit chord, sea salt, underwater rocks, sea wood
Eridan
The city of Gdansk - in the 18th century one of the most powerful commercial centres on the Baltic Sea. It was at this time that Sigismund Marggraf came up with the idea of using amber to create artificial musk - an extremely prized and rare perfume ingredient. The amber musk immediately conquered the market, especially in Gdansk Pomerania.
- Top note: goldwasser chord, pine, pink pepper
- heart notes: Baltic amber absolute, suede
- base notes: oak absolute, Marggraf amber musk, honey
Hispaniola
The second largest island in the Caribbean, it was once brutally exploited by colonisers. However, it hid its treasure from them - an exotic Dominican amber. In the sunlight, it sparkles with blue reflections. Clad in fragrant ingredients typical of Central America.
- Top notes: bergamot, red mandarin, ginger extract
- heart notes: Haitian vetiver, vanilla absolute, copaiba balsam
- base notes: amber extract from the Dominican Republic, salt, benzoin, white musk
A unique opportunity to learn about the history of the creation of perfumes based on natural amber, but also to get acquainted with the scent of three unique fragrances aimed at women and men, will be the meeting with Alan Balewski at the Amber Museum. During the meeting with the fragrance designer, each participant will be able to get acquainted with the fragrance and test the perfumes on their own skin. During the meeting, there will also be a sale of these perfumes (in limited quantities). The new series will be available for purchase next year in the Amber Museum shop.
Alan Balewski - perfumer and perfume enthusiast, founder of Bale - an independent laboratory where perfumes are created using artisanal, traditional methods. Co-organiser of the Smells Like initiative, which brings together perfume enthusiasts and popularises knowledge of fragrances. Master's degree in psychology with experience in the study of olfactory perception and imagination. He acquired his skills in the field of perfume composition at the prestigious French school for noses, ISIPCA.
More than 5 years of hands-on experience led to the creation of her own perfume brand, which includes limited edition artistic fragrances. She now runs her own private label manufactory, combining fragrances from different parts of the world. Each series has a unique, unmistakable scent, even if the ingredient base is the same.
Meeting with Alan Balewski
19 October 2024, 4pm
Amber Museum in Gdansk
Free entry
Photo: S. Janicki, mat. Bale / A. Zemojdzin Luks Sfera, mat. Alan Balewski