Gentleman’s Nod MUSASHI bottle, courtesy of the brand
“One must have a true knowledge of food to be in the moment” – Charlie Trotter
Excellence in Fine Dining, collage by Rachel K. Ng
The vocation of a sommelier can be all-consuming. Passionate devotion to the intricacies of grape harvests and wine bottlings around the world, as well as following their development over time in cellars, requires continuous education in science, history, and above all, the culinary arts. I was especially fortunate to have spent much of my career in a Michelin 3-Star restaurant surrounded by excellence. From deep research into each ingredient on the menu, to complex table settings and stages in the kitchen, our team was encouraged to absorb and master everything. My olfactory training was top notch with particular attention to pairing wine with food. The delicately perfumed dishes of this rarified space were recently brought vividly back to my consciousness with my first spritz of Gentleman’s Nod MUSAHI.
Mane Senior Perfumer Patricia Choux, courtesy of the brand
Gentleman’s Nod owner and creative director Chris Christiansen (whose recent release SIDAMA was nominated as a Finalist for an Art and Olfaction 2024 Independent award) enlisted MANE Senior Perfumer Patricia Choux to create the fragrance and it did not surprise me to learn that Patricia grew up in Burgundy, home of France’s renowned food culture. The collaboration between Chris and Patricia was truly exceptional. Chris describes, “as the first original fragrance we began in cooperation with MANE, Gentleman’s Nod MUSASHI was a labor of love from start to finish. Every aspect of the fragrance from the story to the feel and notes captivated me so much that it kept me up at night. I felt I knew this fragrance so well that I could indeed smell it before I even received any submissions from Patricia.”
Gentleman’s Nod owner and creative director Chris Christiansen, courtesy of the brand
Gentleman’s Nod MUSASHI has one of the most refined combinations of citrus and pear that I have experienced. Thoughts of exquisite sorbets, purées, and reductions lift my spirit as I inhale more deeply. The buttery texture of a Doyenne du Comice pear combined with the rich melon aromatics and crispness of a Nashi pear support and interweave with woody and pine-forward Yuzu and herbaceous mandarin. Bergamot fills in this light and balletic opening that so happily reminds me of the grace and good health of eating well.
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The quality of MUSASHI continues with a well-balanced blend of jasmine, silver-leafed green tea, and wood. Jasmine Tea is a delicacy that involves infusing small jasmine buds into a tippy green tea made from large leaves and full of character. Gentleman’s Nod MUSASHI captures its distinct blend of light honey and fresh floral notes. The jasmine is well-balanced by a green tea that has the sweetness of a braised leek with hints of honeysuckle. The warm woody base retains hints of honey, jasmine and tea well into the luxurious dry down. Gentleman’s Nod MUSAHI is a perfectly silky and luminous late summer fragrance to up the caliber of any experience.
Notes: yuzu, yellow mandarin, nashi pear, bergamot, jasmine tea, violet, pink pepper, green tea extract, fir balsam, driftwood accord, Amberwood®, vetiver, cypriol
Sample kindly provided by Gentleman’s Nod; opinions my own.
~ Rachel K. Ng, Senior Contributor
Gentleman’s Nod MUSACHI perfume and soap collage courtesy of the brand
Gentleman’s Nod Musashi perfume and soap
Thanks to the generosity of Gentleman’s Nod, we have a 50 ml bottle of Musashi and a 6.75 oz Musashi Utility Bar Soap for a registered ÇaFleureBon reader USA & CANADA ONLY, (if you are not sure if you are registered click here – you must register on our site or your entry will be invalid). To be eligible please leave a comment on this site with what strikes you about Rachel’s review and where you live. Draw Closes 8/12/2024
Gentleman’s Nod SIDAMA was a 2024 finalist in the Art and Olfaction awards (Ugo Charron)perfumer
Patricia Choux is featured in ÇaFleureBon’s Young Perfumer Series, where you can learn more about her childhood and career. Also of note, Madame Choux was trained by Master Perfumer Maurice Roucel.
Chris Christiansen of Gentleman’s Nod is 177th in our American perfumer series, read his profile here.
Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebonofficial @rachel.k.ng @gentlemansnod @mane_1971_ @perfumer.patricia.choux
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