Naja

The new iPhone. Prince Charming. The window seat. A new perfume by Vero Kern. They say that the best things in life are worth waiting for, and Vero Kern’s Naja is no exception. It’s been years in the making, but this is a perfume that proves that good things come to those who wait.

We turn to Vero Kern for the shock of old forms interpreted in new ways, and Naja doesn’t disappoint. Thus we get a creamy, blond tobacco a là Habanita, but filtered through something wet and salty-fruity, so that the scent shifts between the familiar and unfamiliar, unsettling the wearer. The melon note isn’t noticeable per se, but its aquatic bitterness cuts right through the doughy apricot suede of the osmanthus, lifting and moistening the accord. The spicy, medicinal leather in the heart is reminiscent of both vintage Tabac Blond and Kern’s own Onda, but thanks to a dusting of camphor, apricot skin, and the honey powder of linden blossom, it also feels more aerated than either. Utterly wearable for both men and women. Bottom line: It's hypnotic. It's magic. It's poison. It's cure. It's joy. It's redemption. And it is exactly how you don't expect it to be.