Ineke Perfume Chemical Bonding

How swell, how fitting that this unique shared fragrance begins with a fizzy note of citrus cocktail. In Spanish, that one person who completes you is called the "other half of the orange." Chemical Bonding aims for a "flirtatious alchemy" with its bubbly citrus, tea, and blackberry linked to a heart of dewy peony and finishing with a powdery soft drydown of vetiver, amber and musk.

Like all of Ineke's fragrances, Chemical Bonding is transparent and eminently wearable. In spite of its seeming simplicity, a careful analysis reveals that each of the notes works in service of an effortless allure. Blackberry gives a a sweet tart tinge to the bright citrus tea opening. Peony's somewhat winey tone underscores the cocktail effervescence of the citrus, while also showing a rosy aspect that complements the tea. The base of the scent is more prominent than in some of Ineke's other fragrances. Its still relatively light vetiver, amber, musk accord would make it versatile for both men and women, and the idea of a couple sharing this scent is particularly appealing. Ineke's admiration for the elegant and minimalist work of Jean-Claude Ellena comes to mind when I experience this fragrance. It recalls the winning clarity of Bvlgari's Green Tea and some of the scents that Ellena composed for Hermes. With the moody movement of an abstract color field painting, Chemical Bonding's bright orange washes into a cascade of dusky tones.