spikenard, Nardostachys jatamansi

There are multiple forms of this available, but I favor the amber.  Spikenard is the renowned ‘nard’ that the woman (one of the women to form the Mary Magdalene composite character in the Bible) anointed Jesus’ feet with.

So, it has religiously symbolic trappings, which appeal.  A nose-governed friend of mine asked if Mary Magdalene could be a patron saint of perfumery, and I guess I could see that.

Honestly though, it just smells divine.  The green distillation is woody, biting, spicy,
dusty, diaphanous, and faintly herbaceous.  It ages well.

The amber distillation is woody, dusty, faintly acrid, faintly sweet, diaphanous, and resembles a single malt whiskey in its depth.  Imagine sipping a 12-yr old Laphroaig or even Oban, and then imagine what the taste smells like.

Spikenard is useful in leather accords, in meditational bases, and I’m learning it gets along quite well with florals as well.

It is also quite scarce.  I probably will not buy any more once my bottles are nearly empty, and it is likely I’ll store a wee bit for aging that only get brought out to be sniffed for inspiration.