Chypre Siam is synthesis; a creative movement that moves the past into the present along the wings of inspiration. It begins with a respectful nod towards the original Chypre by Coty (1917), the fragrance that made a category out of its bergamot-amber-oakmoss schema, producing a striking effect of light and dark, sharply textured and rounded, simultaneously. A scent of co-existent contradictions.
Maintaining this, Chypre Siam voyages through Thailand, gathering scent on its journey which share an affinity for this classic structure. Added to the faceted and grippy brightness of bergamot is lime leaf, holy basil, and lemongrass – notes that maintain a similar intensity whilst broadening its fresh aromatic reach into herbal and spicy domains. The sensual heart of a chypre keeps its traditional jasmine note, but combines with ylang-ylang to lend a humid, creamy, and tropical feeling. The petals of these flowers exude an intoxicating and powerful smell – familiar yet strange all at once – melting onto a deeply balsamic surface of benzoin resin, civet, sandalwood, and leathery moss notes. Perfumer Manuel Cross keeps much of this vintage base intact in this fragrance, emphasising this feeling with glorious nitromusks, which add presence and complex undertones to the scent that are now rare in modern perfumery.
True to the category, Chypre Siam is without sweetness; its brilliance takes time to discover, and is often found in its long and intensive sillage, which manages to stay composed and robust all at once. Chypres have long been fragrances that demonstrate their glory and intricacy in the drydown, and this scent is no exception. It grows and grows. With Chypre Siam, Cross has created something extraordinary – both an archetypical reference for a genre, and something that extends it, confidently moving into new creative fields.
