I feel blessed to have found this SQ Iriani. It felt only natural that such a rare oil would mark the first installment of Purple.

Vintage SQ Iriani is deep green, earthy, and perhaps dusty woody — a character unlike almost anything else. Oils of this quality are increasingly difficult to find today and rarely leave private collections.

The journey of the oil itself is as fascinating as the scent. Originally acquired through a Palace contact, it remained in private hands for years despite numerous serious offers. Convincing it to change hands required patience, persistence, and the right vision.

When I eventually met the last owner, I shared a swipe of Purple with him and asked him to try it alongside his SQ Iriani. Experiencing the combination convinced him that it was a beautiful destination for the oil — to live in the company of notes like iris, ambergris, and violet.

Welcoming Iriani into Purple was not simply a matter of adding it to the composition — as I often joke, perfumery is not merely a laying of things. It takes a quite a few more things to pull off a blend. For me, in particular, the main point of harmony between Iriani and Purple lies in the rooty aspect of Purple, which resonates beautifully with the deep green, earthy notes of Iriani.

To pull the profile even closer to the SQ caliber, I added SQ Silani Oud goodness equivalent to one-third of the SQ Iriani already existing in the blend. The profile already worked well. The blend is beautifully sealed by a whisper of cedrat for a slightly bright opening that adds sheen as opposed to glitter.

I am currently sourcing other ouds to explore Purple in new directions, as well as other materials to complement the series. For now, there is also a second Purple blend centered around Luban, which I invite you to discover.