Description
The Vedic tradition suggests that wisdom is eternal. It exists within the eternal fabric of consciousness itself and is uncreated. It is the essence of India, the beginning of the journey. It is a eulogy, a hymn to the idea of India, an act of deepest reverence for the traditions of the mother country. the divine origin of the first three Vedas – Rig, Yajur and Sama – suggested the name of the perfume: trayee (pronounced ‘try-ee’, meaning ‘the triad’).
Trayee is a complex fragrance that represents the boundless spiritual landscape of the great Vedic period, which started many centuries ago: its intricate rituals and temple ceremonies, ayurveda, the universe of yoga and the holistic quest for knowledge. the perfume itself has a high percentage of natural ingredients used in many of the Vedic ceremonies.
Trayee was created in 2011. It was launched in the USA in January 2012. The nose behind this fragrance is Bertrand Duchaufour.
mcm76 – :
I seem to be the lone dissenting voice on this one.
Strong, off-putting cinnamon open. Dries down to nothing that my nose can detect. Smells like hippy essential oils from childhood with a off tang, like they’ve gone a little rotten. Way too sweet on my skin, like mom lotion.
Ended up giving the sample away so I can’t retry it and see if I was just having an off day. I REALLY disliked this, which is unusual for me, but I’m starting to think that I can’t hang with cinnamon.
ViagraPharmacie – :
Trayee (The Triad) is in my opinion, Bertrand Duchaufour’s masterpiece and to date the best offering from Neela Vermiere Creations. An ode to the three ancient Indian Vedas, the perfume incorporates most of the ingredients used in Vedic ceremonies. The perfumer has also brilliantly divided the notes into 6 beautiful groups: green (basil, cardamom, cassis), floral (jasmine), spicy (ginger, cinnamon, clove), leather (saffron, oud), smoky (ganja, vetiver, sandalwood) and balsamic (myrrh, vanilla). This is modern perfumery of the highest order. A mystical haunting and beautifully sweet fragrance that lingers pleasantly over your skin, and actually induces a meditative healing state, this has become one of my favorite fragrances to be worn at sacred and auspicious events. An absolute marvel of modern perfumery that brings us back to the ancient roots of perfumery!
qzc388Unlogrere – :
Wow a masterpiece again by Bertrand Duchaufour .It is so rich, excellent and very beautiful scent.
I love it and it’s perfumer.
I abate one number for it’s sweet that is not frightful.
9/10
dwf781 – :
Like others have said, a lovely, spicy well-made perfume with unfortunately, very low silage. The longevity is somewhat better. Because of the notes (especially ginger and cardamom), this is reminiscent of Hiram Green’s Voyage (which I think is longer and stronger), as well as Kenzo Jungle L’elephant. Though this and HG may be “better made” with “quality” and “natural ingredients”–I have to say I’m sticking with my Kenzo L’elephant–which is a LONG, STRONG, 80’s powerhouse, and frankly, came first, and in some ways, did it better. Trayee has more subtle nuances, and flickers of difference at various moments of the day. So, I enjoy this perfume and HGV–but the sticker price prevents me from buying more than 15 ml. of Trayee. If you want to go to the spice market bazaar, Kenzo may be the less pricey airline.
kazak – :
This fragrance is definitely related to Comme de garcons 888. I was looking for a smell that is quite different but they are both pretty much the same. I wasn’t impressed however it has a smoky balmy odor. It isn’t cheap or anything like that but by reading the reviews I ordered the 2x15ml from Luckyscent and thank God I will render the other 15ml to my mother as a Christmas stocking stuffer. lol
haker-seva – :
Fantastic fragrance.it is absolutely gorgeous perfume.This fragrance opened with a surprisingly clear Ginger.Took a little time to appreciate the opening Cardamom note but can’t get enough of it now.it is a very well blended aromatic fresh spicy fragrance.For me,this fragrance is smooth and sexy. Actually, I want to smell it all day and night.I Love it.
RiDeR-Z – :
What’s not to love about Neela Vermeire’s creations? Extremely good quality ingredients and classy. Unfortunately my cultural background is working against me. Living in Southeast Asia and having visited India, this fragrance immediately conjures up RAS MALAI and MASALA CHAI!
Ras Malai is an Indian dessert of cheese soaked in a milky base of cardamom flavoured cream. Masala Chai is a sweet Indian beverage of black tea and spices. And I absolutely love both. Hence, despite Neela Vermeire’s stated dislike of gourmands, Trayee is an unmitigated gourmand for anyone who is familiar with Indian cuisine. I grew up eating it and I stilI eat it on a regular basis. This is an Indian equivalent of Serge Lutens’s Five O’Clock Au Gingembre!
I almost wish I didn’t have these associations so that I may enjoy this fragrance simply as an extremely well-crafted spicy Oriental. But we can’t escape our baggage can we?
Currently working my way (rather quickly) through a sample. I’ll see if I can live without it. There may be a FB in sight but I’m torn between this and Ashoka 🙂
ytm090bedyWelty – :
This smells so natural and high quality, it has many,many layers, many notes perfectly blended and intertwined, the sourness fruitiness of blackcurrant leaves, the mintiness of cardamom, the zestiness of ginger, ligthly pungent cannabis leaf, the right dose of cinnamon.It’s aromatic, spicy, herbaceous, incensey more than “smoky”. Despite its complexity it wonderfully manages to be ethereal and mystical for the incense working as an orchestra’s director for all the other notes. One of the few times in niche perfumery where the price truly reflects the quality. Not to be missed. It’s a masterpiece
soldavladimir – :
Wow… i like this one, i like it allot! it is like the essence of an ancient red and gold temple rug soaked in an Orange flower water in a roofless main room in spring. i can smell the fabrics soaked in that delicious orange flower water that is used in an Arabian sweets and desserts & that incense of that temple is hovering around with that peaceful atmosphere and that cooling breeze. GOD it’s quite captivating. The ginger, incense, sandalwood, and a combination of cardamom and cinnamon does make quite a superb mix. Quality with creative approach.
Pneumvefe – :
While one must admit this is truly a well crafted perfume, the opening is a bit too austere-meditative-smoky for me. The drydown gets more balmy, which is more to my liking.
I have a 55ml bottle for sale on Delcampe.fr, only tried once.
ira30 – :
sampled this yesterday and if i could afford it, i’d buy up a few bottles.
I really get the smoky, churchy, temple smell. It’s smoky sweet but complex and each stage is very beautiful, from first spray to the end.
It’s incredibly long lasting and unusual but remarkable perfume
etk646InsuffBooni – :
I really wanted to like this, as I think Neela Vermeire is a revolutionary. It’s an incredibly “oniony” scent in that it has many layers and evolves as it is worn. I applaud it for that characteristic. The opening is incredibly difficult for me to tolerate and get through. I get a strong basil scent that hits the back of my throat. Eventually that goes away and gives the spotlight to the more grounding, smoky aspects of the scent. And those are really what I enjoy in this one. These notes are done terribly well. Unfortunately, it’s not enough for me to tolerate the opening notes to get to that spot. Sorry, Neela.
DimaSmirnov – :
This perfume develops beautifully from start to finish. The quality of ingredients is immediately obvious. I smell sandalwood and cedar, not sure if the sandalwood is mysore but it does smell like it. (I had some powdered mysore sandalwood a while back)
The fruity note of blackcurrant reminds me slightly of rose in this composition, the spices are subtle (mostly cardamom) and blended and the incense gently smoky as opposed to the unlit raw resins.
After an hour or so though, the whole perfume becomes sweeter, almost milky with vanilla, sandalwood, saffron and, I think jasmine. I’m reminded of cardamom flavoured kulfi icecream, so this is actually a soft, sweet, sensual perfume in dry down, yet complex enough with its powdery incense to smell special.
Think ‘Sira des Indes’ with more spice and incense, or Epic Woman but less medicinal. I actually said in my review of Sira des Indes ‘I wish this had more cardamom’. Now I’m saying ‘I wish this wasn’t so pricy’! It’s worth the money I think, but sample first. This is a sophisticated, gorgeous Indian summer of a perfume (by which I mean – those unusual autumns in the UK when it stays warm right up to October, which we call an ‘Indian summer’) but this perfume is quintessentially Indian – rich oppulent, sensual and ethereal all at once.
Well done Duchaufour and Neela Vermeire!
ShanelleMi24 – :
buble gum fragrance!! not bad but verry feminine to my nmose sweat swat and moore sweatness,,
7/10 well blend! not for me
gia11978 – :
Thankyou Bertrand Duchaufour
After my first testing from a sample I knew this would be an instant buy! It opens up with the most beautiful fruity blackcurrant along with incense,cinnamon and some ginger. As time goes by you get cardamon along with saffron and the highest quality mysore sandalwood. The entire composition is a spicy incense that is just breath takingly beautiful and creamy. The aaoud here isn’t very loud and it seems to “hug” the entire composition. If you love Jubilation XXV you should definately get your nose on this
89051946066 – :
A very unusual creation that smells most definitely niche and exotic, yet familiar at the same time.
Opens with a spicy, camphorous blast of cardamom, green ginger, piney elemi resin and cloves. On paper it has a piquant intensity that rings clear as a bell and sits high in the nose, a bit sharp. On my skin, however, this phase is quite short-lived and is soon followed by a dry, smokey oud accord tinged with the leathery nuance of saffron. A whisper of fruity sweetness weaves shyly through the strong columns of cracked wood and incense.
Before long it settles into drier, dustier phase of muted spice, vague blackcurrant and milky sandalwood.
There are many layers here and the blending is well executed. Still, I don’t find myself falling head over heels. It reminds me a lot of “Jubilation XXV” -which I wasn’t crazy about- only with much more weight to the woods and smoke.
I do find that at some points, the sharpness of the opening makes me think of hairspray :/. This is probably due to the combination of elemi and saffron, which sort of mimics the bitter solvent smell in the air after you pump a can of Elle Net. I’ve observed a similar effect in Amouage’s “Beloved Man”. It’s a little headache-inducing.
That said, overall I do think “Trayee” is a better perfume than Jubilation XXV. It’s brighter, punchier and the ingredients are more defined. Longevity doesn’t seem to be terrific on me, but that could be fatigue. It is after all, highly concentrated. Definitely interesting, but sample before you buy.
плюх – :
This is spicy, peppery, but a bit different your usual dry, dark, incenses. This incense is a bit green, vegetal (basil). Therefore it’s a bit funky, interesting, different. If you want to wear a green, not so nosebleedingly dry incense, definitely give this one a go. Like everything in the Neela Vermeire line, it’s incredibly well blended and high quality ingredients are used. Middle Eastern style fragrance, made in France.
uncentNeunliz – :
There’s a fruitiness here that reminds me of those freezer pops in the long plastic tubes you get as a kid. You wouldn’t think so from the notes, but it’s there!
Maximax – :
One of the best Incense I have put my nose on, It has same DNA as Fusion Sacree but not as sweet. I like it better on women. Longevity is good projection OK, High quality juice and very expensive!
Getsaibiatece – :
I love Trayee on myself. It is calming. From the moment I wear it I feel composed and ready for the day, evening, whatever….perhaps it’s the sandalwood.
f117 – :
Wearing Trayee feels like being engulfed in a warm blanket. It’s a longlasting calm, spicy and rich smell. I’m kind of a novice to the perfume world but when I’m wearing Trayee I feel happy and I regularly receive compliments on the scent I’m wearing. That says it all !
sergeyvko – :
Trayee is an incense fragrance of such monumental beauty that I find it difficult to parse. Wielding a wide panoply of notes that range from spice to fruits to wood, Trayee nevertheless feels streamlined and elemental. This is due to its roots in both religious ritual and ayurvedic medicine, but that list of notes keeps one’s nose entertained for hours, seeking the basil, the ganja, and both the Javanese and Haitian vetiver. Without a doubt they are all present and accounted for, but so smooth is the composition that each one simply fuses onto the fragrance in such a way that what you smell is far greater than the mere sum of its parts.
If one had to name a benchmark incense fragrance, Trayee would be it; there is none of the gray clouds or sour smoke of so many other compositions. Trayee is restrained and as disciplined as its roots should require; when a note advances it does so gently. Such is the course that nearly every note follows, until the wearer is lost in the harmonious relationship of one note to each other, and, more importantly, to the whole.
Trayee intially gravitates towards the spicy and the green, with a non-foody cinnamon note mixed into a “green bud” ganja accord that makes me smile in its humidity and edge. Details soon accumulate: lively ginger note with its clean sweetness meets a brilliant cardamom absolute in an ornate complexity that defies language but not smell–smoky facets are as present as grounded, oud-based facets. This is a perfectly balanced fragrance that transcends, in my opinion, perfume and takes on a homeopathic facet. I feel more grounded when wearing Trayee and it is the only fragrance I can say that about.
In general, Neela Vermeire Creations sources and uses the very finest ingredients available and it is very evident when one acquires an olfactory library from which one can make comparisons-there is no doubt that NVC holds to the highest standard. The brilliant overlapping of earthy, floral, and green notes in Trayee is a case in point. Of my many incense fragrances, Trayee is an easy favorite; it is just smoky, sweet, and earthy enough to elevate itself beyond a mere incense motif into something more complex–it is a feeling even more than it is a fragrance, and it feels marvelous. That it is hard to pin down, note-wise, only adds to its allure. This is a major swoon.
PLATON132996 – :
I’m a bit baffled by the previous reviewer’s comparison to Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant, for Trayee is quite simply one of the most evocative, calming and numinous perfumes I’ve ever encountered.
So naturally, I had to run to find my sample of Jungle L’Elephant, and while I understand some of the similarities, it’s a bit like comparing handwoven and embroidered Kanchipuram silk with 150-thread count bargain basement cotton. The Kenzo is so much cruder, ruder and louder with its dragon’s breath of cinnamon, and Trayee is infintely more refined and restrained.
A luminous blend of spice, fire, woods and incense and if Orientals or any of these materials make you run for the hills then Trayee likely won’t change your mind, but if like me you love sandalwood and incense and all that is truly sacred – after all, that’s where all perfumery began a few thousand years ago – then somehow, Ms. Vermeire and M. Duchaufour managed to wrap up both emotion and connection and turn it into a perfume that sets an astonishing standard for a perfume that straddles a fine divide between the East and West, as all the NVC line do. Yet it never compromises – neither on the quality on the ingredients nor on its overall concept.
Longevity is outstanding and the sillage is literally divine – isn’t this the kind of fragrant epiphany we all say we’re searching for but don’t encounter nearly enough? 😉
myki – :
I tried and tried to judge Trayee on its own merit, but I can not get the thought out of my head that it smells nearly identical to Jungle l’Elephant without that awful heap of hot cinnamon that smothers the wearer to death along with anyone who is in the same room. It has the same spiced vanilla custard in it that I found to be the only redeeming quality in Jungle l’Elephant.
Trayee also reminds me of my beloved Aedes de Venustas, created by the same nose, which was interesting because Aedes contains an intense cassis note. So I double checked the pyramid, and I am surprised to see black currant as I simply didn’t realize the note was in here.
The incense upon application reminded me of Timbuktu (also the same nose). It’s an airy smokiness and perhaps a bit green.
Because Trayee reminds me of too many other perfumes, it fails to inspire any strong feelings in me. While I think it’s a really nice fragrance, I don’t think it warrants the hefty price tag. I think more highly of the other perfumes I mentioned above (except for the Kenzo), and yet they are more affordable, and they don’t remind me of each other.
@Tarleisio: Why are you “baffled” when you have essentially agreed with me by saying that you “understand some of the similarities” between Jungle l’Elephant and Trayee and that Trayee lacks the strong cinnamon? You stated almost exactly what I said! I said that Jungle l’Elephant has a vanilla custard effect that I also smell in Trayee. I never said they were the same perfume, far from it! However, the two perfumes have a lot of notes in common. I also mentioned other perfumes that simply REMIND me of Trayee. A perfume can REMIND someone of another.
AKrava – :
Stimulating, clarifying, meditative, calming. This is the last scent I’m sampling tonight. I’m hoping for revelations or divine epiphanies in my dreams as I deeply inhale Trayee’s ethereal vapor.
A transcendental fragrance with curative notes. I especially love the elemi and encountered it noticeably for the first time in Guerlain’s LIDGE. I think in that review I described it as peacefully euphoric, and it is no different here–a little citric and balmy.
Amusingly, Trayee softens into a fragrance evocative of a blackcurrant ginger-spiced ale, aged in a wooded barrel parched with sunshine and salty beach air. So perhaps instead, tonight I’ll dream of El Diablo cocktails on a Tunisian beach.
Evgeniy_Trifilov91 – :
I have a small sample of 3 scents and Trayee is my fave. It was so long time I didn’t feel my nose with great sandalwood! It is much more than linear sandalwood, but it’s all so packed together in this perfume, all the notes so stuck together… at the end it smells just like glorious mellow sandalwood on my skin. I love it.
KynuBa9H – :
This is probably the best spice-oriental I have ever worn, and I’m a devotee of the genre and own a lot of the vintage greats. I hesitated to buy a decant because I had read about the “Ganga accord” and I dislike the smell of MJ, but I find Trayee so beautifully integrated and balanced that no one accord stands out. I had to have a full bottle, no choice about it.
Nikola0788 – :
I love Neela Vermeire and think she is an absolute perfume genius. That said, Trayee is my least favorite of all her scents. It opens with a gorgeous spice-infused incense, and if it would stay right there, it would be a love match. Unfortunately, my chemistry takes amber and turns it into a Very Bad Thing, a screeching resinous wail that makes me want to scrub. If a scent note were art, amber would be Edvard Munch’s The Scream.
It is not Vermeire’s fault, of course. Her perfume composition is brilliant, and my body chemistry imperfect. It is unrequited love, if you will. So, Trayee falls to the bottom of my Vermeire list, but with Bombay Bling, Ashoka, and Mohur to console me, my scream of disappointment will be short indeed.
Grerterle – :
This is one of my new favorites. What a rich scent! The only problem is that they should have gone with a better spray cap, especially for the price paid. There’s heavy scent leakage and there’s always an oily residue on the bottle where it joins the cap. When I open my perfume cabinet, all I smell is Trayee (not a bad thing to smell but nevertheless). I think I might have to tape the bottle or it will evaporate far too quickly. Or I might put the non-spray cap back on (it came with both spray and non-spray) to keep it contained.
ErerlidgE – :
This is such a stunning scent, a Duchaufour masterpiece in my opinion. The opening notes are heavy spices with a fairly heavy animalic undertone which you may not like initially, but give it time. This one develops into such a beauty. After about 30 minutes to an hour you will smell the most beautiful currant and spices with florals and woods coming in the base notes. The ginger is in the background adding a freshness but does not stand out awkwardly like it does in some fragrances. This is the best perfume I have ever tried with oud. The oud is barely discernable as an individual note but as a part of a seamless whole it is stupendous.
After wearing this scent for a few days, it does go to a skin scent after about 4 hours but it’s still definitely there. I will be re-spraying because I love a bit of sillage. The bottle is big so there’s plenty for re-spraying.
I still think this is worth every penny I paid for a full bottle. As Keats said, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” That is true of this perfume.
vortee – :
I find Trayee wonderful, delicious, great great great!
I’m afraid I wouldn’t wear it since it is totally feminine for my taste but it’s a pleasure to spray some on my arm and smell this for hours and hours. It stays looong and it’s truly charming. Well blended, gorgeously composed… an oriental goddess indeed. I hadn’t been this content with an oriental since my beloved Arabie.
Outstanding work (again!)Bertrand.
serovers – :
This fragrance is absolutely sensational, a masterpiece, but definitely not for the faint-hearted or anyone who isn’t totally sure of themselves. Like Estee Lauder’s Knowing, this truly is a POWER fragrance – if you’re going to wear it, you need to own it totally, otherwise it will own you.
I can’t imagine anyone other than a mature, confident person successfully pulling this fragrance off.
Knowing has been my signature fragrance for a very long time, but I’m now deciding whether its been deposed by Trayee.
This is the most expensive fragrance I’ve ever purchased for myself but I love it, love it, love it – worth every costly cent I paid for a 55ml bottle.
xzk291Negeltzex – :
Trayee is a very calm and composed fragrance. I am reminded of Serge’s Cherugi with a good heaping of the old candies “red hots” while testing. The woodiness is rich and full of flavor with a little sprinkle of cinnamon that keeps it from being too serious. There is nothing loud, in your face, harsh or citrus here. Incense is what they call it, oh it’s classy alright.
The quality of the ingredients is front and center. The woody notes combined create a bold and deep elegance while the vanilla levels the smoothness. This would be completely wearable on a cool and sunny winter’s day.
I think this would be a good fragrance for a casual social gathering, maybe game night at your best friend’s house or for a second date on a picnic in the park. Since these types of settings don’t happen ever day it could be reserved for special occasions.
This fragrance reminds me of the way my dad used to smoke a cigar, not very often, only on special occasions, and savored to the very last drop!
Thank you for gifting me this sample FGM #10!
Fuckyou – :
I ordered the Discovery set as I knew that I already loved and wanted Bombay Bling so I thought what the hell, in for a penny, in for a pound.
I did not xpect to like this at all, it has incense in it, not a note that I find particularly pleasant or wearable for me, what a surpise I got with this, the incense is not like a ‘churchy’ incense at all, instead it is much sweeter and lighter.
I know that Trayee is reviewed by most bloggers as being the gem and after sniffing it I can see why which leaves me with a huge dilemma, I want a full bottle of this and a full bottle of Bomabay Bling, oh what to do????
nayman0989 – :
Trayee is absolutely gorgeous and quite probably my favorite incense/olibanum perfume. Every note in it is in perfect balance with the rest of the composition, a charming orchestra on which the smoky-sweet incense and spicy ginger dance together a flawless waltz.
The myrrh and incense here are not reminiscent of a church interior, like most perfumes featuring these notes tend to be. This incense is playful, sexy, spirited and has none of the solemn heaviness of Roman Catholicism. The myrrh is soothing and inviting, almost sensual and the ginger is spicy and mischievous as always. All in all, the effect is surprisingly sexual, in the best of ways.
A harmony of aromatic notes give character and ampleness to the whole composition: jammy blackcurrant, fresh cedar, rooty vetiver, aromatic basil, nutty cardamom, bitter saffron, sour oud… all singing together in perfect accord until the drydown, which reveals the amber and vanilla at the very base.
Trayee is a brilliant creation – Bertrand Duchaufour is surely a genius of perfumery! I whole heartedly recommend all 3 perfumes from Neela Vermeire, each of them is a wonderful work of art. But I think Trayee is probably my favorite and a must try for all perfume lovers.
zxzx.84 – :
Trayee is a stunner. I guess if you combine a talent like Bertrand Duchaufour with a bunch of premium ingredients like oud and Mysore sandalwood oil, excellence is to be expected, but still, I was wowed.
If you’re familiar with CdG’s Avignon and Kyoto, then you know what magic Duchaufour can weave with incense, and Trayee has plenty of incense. It also has the kind of opulent spices and woods that I associate with the Amouage frags. The sandalwood in Trayee is the gorgeous kind that you seldom find these days now that the tree has become endangered and Polysantol is the rule, rather than the exception.
With all that olfactory luxury, you might expect Trayee to be over the top, but it isn’t. It is gorgeously serene and dignified, and it reminds me of Aishwarya Rai, the Indian actress who shares those qualities. Highly recommended, especially for fans of incense, sandalwood and materials of superb quality.
Thanks to Fragrantica and Neela Vermeire Creations for the lovely sample. I will be trying the other two NVC frags, no question.
den1313 – :
Woody, warm, spicy, balmy, smoky, honeyed ginger, moss and light basil that comes out.
Starts off like a sweet celery, weird, then settles into its saffron, clove light suntan lotion fragrance that’s addictive.
No one has this yet in the US but Lucky Scent that just started to carry it this late Jan/12
Sample of 0.7ml was a steep $6. $260. for 55ml Jesus!
OK but it won’t be my signature scent real soon
irkmen – :
I ordered the try out package, with samples of all three fragrances, and I liked Trayee the most. The insence blends in with the oud, ginger and the cedar wood (these ingrdients I could smell the strongest)and remains for along time. The other components build a beautiful background, like in a well done painting. I think this one is really a master piece. Congratualtions, Neela!