Arquiste Anima Dulcis

Arquiste Anima Dulcis is part of a line of fragrances inspired by history. Created by architect and designer Carlos Huber and perfumers Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Yann Vasnier, Anima Dulcis is November, 1965, and is inspired by the Royal Convent of Jesus Maria in Mexico City, where nuns infused the darkest cocoa with a plethora of chilies, cinnamon for extra warmth; the vanilla from their native orchid rendering this potion divine. Such secrets cannot be kept forever...soon, the world will know of this powerful draught. Anima Dulcis is a darkly devastating,  spicy siren.

Notes: Sesame seed, Cinnamon bark, Oregano; Clove buds, Cumin, Huele-de-noche (night-blooming jasmine), Smoked chili infusion (ancho, guajillo and chipotle ), Mexican vanilla bean, Cocoa bean absolute, Oriental-chypre accord. It is an eau de parfum, edp.

Arquiste Anima Dulcis Reviews

Fragrantica - This fragrance is my chocolate dream in a bottle, I almost want to eat it whenever I spray ot on, the difference why it stands out from other cocoa based perfumes, is this surprising paprika note, which gives this mouth watering concotion a green berry like fresh and airy tissue, the accentuation of chocolate via cinnamon and vanille enriches the effect of this solo-floro cocoa scent, however if my notes is not mistaken, I get some distinct resins as well from ghis receipt, like frankincense dor example and also something zesty like bitter orange peels, also a very tiniest bit of animalic aura, like a very distant indolic ghost passes by time to time between the heart and base notes. I don't know, may be it's just my nose, but I adore this alternative chocolate perfume.

Fragrantica - 4 notes listed above. Incense most definitely. Maybe amber or something resinous? Leather or something else animalic?  This is hard for me to describe but it's this a very viscous, thick, rich, oil-seeming quality oriental - not at all smoky, dusty, or powdery the way some orientals can be (Shalimar for example feels like a much smokier powdery oriental - but I feel like if you are a man who wears Shalimar, but are looking for something w/fewer traditionally femme notes, you would LOVE this). Reminds me of when you burn incense that's a solid resin, not a stick or a cone.  Not surprised the noses behind this also did JV Dark Rebel (quite spicy) and TF Velvet Orchid (which very much also has this same viscous, warm feeling to it to me)  Definitely *not* just a gourmand

Fragrantica - This fragrance is WILD! ... I expected a gourmand, Mexican hot chocolate type of scent. This scent is not that! At first spray, this is intensely spicy, the chiles and cinnamon dominant and its like espresso for the nose! Certainly a wake-up call! After I get accustomed to the spice, the vanilla begins to peak through and brings some sweetness and coolness to the party. I don't particularly get chocolate, but I do get something boozy, which is likely the cocoa absolute. This fragrance reads as "dry" and does not really have any juicy/wet elements, which is super cool. This little chameleon is definitely a gem. I will sniff and sometimes smell red hot candies, sometimes a smoky bonfire, and sometimes good cooking vanilla. I'm definitely enjoying my wear of it and plan to further investigate!

Fragrantica - the warm, sexy scent of a campfire. I can smell the smoke coming off the fire, spicy and dry. An hour or so after spraying, it sweetens up some, and I get the cocoa (dry and warm-NOT sweet) and possibly a hint of vanilla. It is really loud at first spray, but tones down to nearly a skin scent quickly.

Fragrantica - I could go on and on about this fragrance.  The most gorgeous chocolate fragrance I've ever laid my nose on. It's blended to perfection and when I wear it, I can't stop smelling myself.  Starts off quite spicy with the paprika and cinnamon and the chocolate in the background but as it dries the chocolate takes over and reminds of warm, hot chocolate with the rich cinnamon note playing in the background just enough to get a little kick.  If you are a gourmand lover, you NEED this in your life. I've always loved chocolate notes in perfume, but none come close to this one. It's simply gorgeous. 

Basenotes - "Anima Dulcis, however, is everything I could hope that version of Femme would transform to on my skin and better. The cocoa plays greater role in the ad copy (a Mexican theme of chocolate and chilli) than in the perfume: it's merely in the background, creating a layer of soft-focused dusting to complement the powdery orris, indolic jasmine and liberating hedione, and leading to a sensual, earthy finale of dark patchouli of the best kind and the bitterness of arcane myrrh resin."

From EAUMG - "Anima Dulcis is a sweet and spicy Mexican hot chocolate. In the top I get a little bit of citrus with a "vanilla orchid" floral. The cocoa is present from the beginning. It's dry, dark and delicious. The heart of this fragrance gets creamier with vanilla scented steamed milk and cocoa powder. And I swear I get ylang ylang. The dry-down is spicy, dark and delicious."

From Kafkaesque - "The chocolate note, however, is the real star. It's unusual and nothing like the typical sort of chocolate notes which, to me, often feel more like powdery cocoa. At the same time, it's also not like purely dark chocolate. Here, it's more like the richest chocolate flourless cake covered with ganache made from bitter chocolate, covered by a dusting of smoky powder, cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, decorated with faint slivers of Madagascar vanilla pods, and then set on a plate of spicy, cinnamon red-hot candies. The richness almost has the feel of a British Christmas plum pudding, only tinged with incense.  It's an incredibly cozy scent that is, at the same time, very sexy. There is a rich, meaty, chewy, dark aspect to it that can certainly be called "baroque" but, to be honest, aristocratic Mexican nuns descended from the Conquistadors are not really what comes to mind when I smell it."

From Bois de Jasmin - "I find Anima Dulcis to be deliciously baroque. The dazzle of cinnamon, pepper and orange gives way to a beautiful heart of sweet amber. It evokes the warm and sticky resin of freshly cut wood and the softness of melting caramel. The layer of chocolate appears soon thereafter. It is sweet and creamy, but the strong animalic accent-a mix of tanned leather, dark musk and salty skin-transforms chocolate into something far more sensual. A splash of smoky incense gives an unusual somber twist to Anima Dulcis, becoming both a reminder of its austere roots and a relief from indulgence."