Description
“Memory is infinite, nothing touches it like the sense of smell.
For Volume 1: Intelligence & Fantasy, Schoen worked with Christiane Stenger, the youngest ever Grandmaster of Memory.
“It was exciting for me to gain an insight into something as hidden as the sense of smell and the way it spontaneously triggers emotive memories“, says Stenger.
For Schoen it was ‘amazing to watch Christiane use her extraordinary memory skills while we were working with the raw materials.” Stenger uses an ancient technique that requires both intelligence and a wild imagination. “Anything can be remembered,” she maintains, “so long as you embed it correctly in a crazy story, the more extravagant the better.”
This extravagant side of memory skills is represented in the fragrance by absolute of tiare blossom. The tiare is a type of gardenia native to Tahiti, rarely used in quantity due to its prohibitive cost. “Unlike many absolutes,” says Schoen, ‘absolute of tiare smells like the living bloom itself. It’s very special, very exotic.”
Tiare’s creamy sensuality is lifted by an abundance of luminous top notes such as magnolia bud, hedione (the greener, less sweet side of jasmine) and bergamot. Schinus molle (pink pepper), something of a Schoen signature, adds a spark of spiciness. The drydown is soft and woody, with cashmeran, sandalwood, cedar, and light musk.
The new packaging for Intellligence & Fantasy is an imaginative recreation of the web of neural connections that explode into life when Stenger is performing a memory feat. As Paul White of Me Company explains: “It’s a visual representation of memory, to which the play of colour adds the element of fantasy that is essential for creative thought.” – a note from the brand.
Volume I Intelligence & Fantasy was launched in 2010. The nose behind this fragrance is Geza Schoen.
querentrisede – :
You must understand that I love the molecule concepts and am infinitely and always in love with 01, and quite like 02 also. I find this perfume to be much like 02 but with a distinct two parts – the first being the light, peppery citrus of 02 that mellows and cloys into this intensely floral sweet smell, which reminds me too much of mainstream perfumes to like. The first time I used it I loved it instantly (before coming across 02) but what it turned into made me feel like the girly girl that I am not. So I have relegated it. I prefer Boudicca with its crazy fierce ‘Have at you!’ and am yet to try Precision & Grace. I have a great fondness for this house and their associations though, so I would say it’s worth a try. I think the colour of the bottle fairly aptly describes the sweetness you are left with.
vovin – :
I got a bottle of this awhile ago after sampling in a small niche arts and craft shop, and I’m pretty sure I either told the staff wrong or she brought me the wrong bottle because the one I smelled on paper was completely different. On me this smells very sharp and peppery, it’s weirdly synthetic but surprisingly doesn’t give me headache. I tried to love this but seems like it just doesn’t do the trick for me.
nwx461speagoessenda – :
I just wanted to share an interesting story about my experience of this perfume. Back in 2011 I used to work in an office in Kentish Town, London and we shared the building with these boutique graphic design company. I became friendly with one of the co-owners of this boutique as we were smoking buddies.
One fine day, we’re having the usual cigarette and a friendly chat, and he invites me up to check out his office as I have a passion for interior design and he was quite proud of his office. It was a quiet day there and he was on his own. His office was indeed beautifully designed and he started showing me a few graphic design commissions he was working on. Then he shows me the Intelligence and Fantasy perfume and tells me he designed it. I was so impressed with the holographic look and told him I loved the bottle. He then gifted me a full bottle from the entire series (100ml) each and said he had plenty lying around. I was really touched and quite frankly, on first smell, I didn’t really care much for any of the scents. Once I got home that evening, I googled them to learn more and imagine my shock when I saw they were selling for 100 pound each at Liberty’s and Harrods!! I’d just been gifted almost 400 pounds worth of perfume!! I still have all 3 bottles, and to this day I still only like Fantasy and Intelligence. I found the other 2 to be too masculine so gave one to my brother and used the other as a room spray from time to time. I find that Beauty and Intelligence layers well with J’adore which I pair together on nights out.
kurabaevdima – :
The citrus vibe of this perfume reminded me of Lale by Ys-Uzac. No wonder that they share some notes. However,while Lale is mellow, feminine and nice, this one is masculine peppery and disgustingly synthetic (perhaps due to the cashmeran). Why on earth should intelligence and fantasy smell like this?!
sergem43 – :
I am delighted to have received two spray samples of A Beautiful Mind Series fragrances in my August H2BAR Box! I had heard of these fragrances, of course, but I have no idea how long it would have been before I’d gotten the opportunity to try them. I am thrilled that a subscription box includes non-mass market scents, and I find the concept of celebrating intellect and memory to be inspiring and fun. It’s also wonderful that the fragrances honor amazing people. Intelligence & Beauty is perfectly accurate for its honoree, Christiane Stenger, who, in 2001, became a Grandmaster of Memory in Memory Athletics. It begins with a punch of magnolia that evanesces into a cashmeran and cedar. The undercurrent of bergamot takes away the ultrafeminity of magnola and makes this a scent that those who are traditionalists about fragrance would consider to be unisex. This wears off quickly though, leaving behind a heady, voluptuous white floral dominated by tiare. I’m not much into magnolia scents, but I really enjoy wearing this one. It’s beautiful, yes, but I love it mostly because it’s so overtly creative and unique.
kulibin – :
I am man, and for last two years this was the most complemented of my little perfume collection. Plus we tried it one time on three different people, and on one lady it smelled strawberry like, on another closer to pineapple and on me like woody chocolate, if you can use this wording. Very interesting perfume and is always at stock in Liberty shop in London, if it helps anybody.
This perfume doesn’t project very strongly, but it draws other people to you with it’s milky like smell and it is so under radar, that for sure, you will be the only one wearing this in any company.
It’s very inoffensive, so suitable for any occasion.
pep1k – :
I just received the sample from Luckyscent and I cannot stop sniffing at my wrist; it is so pretty at first spritz and now
as it drys down it is becoming far more warm and woodsy. Very lovely. May buy a bottle when able.
svetyshka19 – :
The Beautiful Mind series is, to my eyes, an outstanding piece of work.
I get delicate tea-like floral notes, a hint of pink pepper sweetness sitting on a noble light woody and slightly musky base, leaving an outrageously feminine trail. Sweet, fresh, but never offensive or cloying.
A positively bewitching scent, for the smart, discreet and chic mademoiselle. I LOVE it. Best suited for spring.
RABBIT – :
Intelligence & Fantasy opens up with fresh, yet quite burst of citrus notes – mandarin most likely. As it warms up on skin, it evolves into sweeter, warmer scent. Freesia and rose settle down somewhere in the middle. The base is soft and subtle and sweet at the same time. It’s flowery kind of sweetness with some sparkly citruses in the background.
The smell is captivating and uplifting, stays not so far from the skin. I would describe it as a sexy scent, an intimate one.
I don’t really think it’s a perfect scent for me, but as it’s complex it was a big pleasure to be testing it.
borisock – :
guys don’t be fooled it’s complex and sexy on men too preferably for evenings in the fall and winter but I simply can’t remember what it was supposed to remind me of which makes it a totally new experience
ya-tiger – :
This opens citrus with mandarin and bergamot giving just a touch, develops with this delicious blend cashmeran embracing and grand. That pleases me a lot.
I sort of like this:
Smell: 10/10
Projection: 9/10
Longevity: 9/10
alione_joint – :
If you go to Lucky Scent.com you can find samples of this for 4.00 ea. !!!!
mr.bean – :
I really love this one as well as I love Molecule 01, and Molecule 02.
It’s also changing according to temperature of each one’s body and it comes and goes every once in a while.
(you can smell it one yourself from time to time)
This one is realy beautiful, fantastic and most of all sexy.
I’m sure Geza Schoen is a Genius!!!
qyj456speagoessenda – :
Oh my God, you don’t find it easily on-line or in this part of the world and after several searches over the months. I waited before i could review and am sure its possibly a rare one.Gosh I hope after the 2 bottles are over I will find it and re-stock, i once went into this shop that was shutting down, with 2 bottles left at a give away price, I blindly bought it, simply because the give away price was just about the actual price of most of the designer perfumes I have come across…even though I never got a chance to have a sniff before buying it, believe me the ” blind date with my perfume” was worthwhile because the secret was inside the bottle or should I say it was one of those rare opportunities & best buys ever…smells perfumilicious, I love it,love it, love it and forever wear this sparingly.
wesred – :
Los aromas para mí no tienen género. Por ende, no me cuestiono si es para hombre o mujer, simplemente valoro el perfume por su belleza y luminosidad.
Este perfume es claramente producto de una inspiración real, sin un objetivo netamente comercial.
Al olerlo en mi mano, de verdad se manifiesta lleno de una personalidad no invasiva, sino acogedora.
Ahora sólo queda disfrutar esto y entregarle la nota final… nuestro propio aroma.
Recomendable!
Preedlyglycle – :
Just ordered a sample from luckyscent, its listed it as unisex?? Even if its not I could care less will update if I like. 🙂
Update Mar. 1, 2012: MMMMMM! I’m In love its so light && beautiful nice clean citrus with just a hint of florals I can really pick up the magnolia on my skin, ugh a new love for spring && summer that’s 2 expensive fragrances I need now! OMG my poor wallet, lol its so worth it when you love it though! 🙂
lms61 – :
Light, juicy with citrusy flavours and bright, this is perfect for the day. This isn’t the most exciting perfume I’ve tried, but it’s a pretty scent.
lyaksevna – :
This is listed as a unisex fragrance at luckyscent, and as a man, I am quite willing to wear this wonderfully light product. This is a close to the skin subtle, absolutely beautiful perfume. The beginning indeed has some citrus, not overwhelming, and it is slightly warm…ever so reminiscent of Antidote with a musky sweetness. The citrus burns off within an hour, and that is when the beautiful florals start to bloom with an ever so subtle woodiness to anchor them. The florals are fresh and quiet and its possible that cedar or the cashmeran is giving it this very non pepperminty mint. A very fresh live mint that does not overwhelm. I don’t even have the words to describe how lovely this is. If this is Schoen’s interpretation of the brilliant 22 year old prodigy, Christiane Stenger, then I want to meet her. Without a doubt this is a subtly evolving perfume that is warm in the beginning and cools off at the end, with nuances of fresh citrus, sweet musk, light florals, and green wood. I could easily see myself wearing this in the spring and summer, and would be delighted to find this in the curve of a woman’s neck. Nice and quiet with a lot of things to say. Lasted 6 hours on my skin.
dfkthf1976 – :
This is such a strong citrus to begin with and citrus and me don’t like eachother much. I coulnd’t really smell the other notes much and 8 hours later it was gone. My husband didn’t love it either. Too boring.
КОМУШКИН Д. – :
I don`t think this is something different from others mainstream perfumess and it doesn`t justify the price at all. It is really pleasant floral with musk and a bit of woods. Starts way too citrusy and ends way too boring. It is quite plesant though but I would finish my 10ml and wouldn`t bother my mind with The Beautiful Mind Series any more…
asjfueiclfj – :
Actually from the first sniff I didn’t like it so much – it was too peppery and musky. But every time I wear it, I become a complements from people around and my husband likes it! So I’ve dicided to revise my opinion. And I have to say that it is really very complicated scent with it’s own personality. Not for every day. For days when I want to be radiant.
I like the bottle so much and love the name – it is so ME!
mishok79 – :
Ah-loss of words-pleasure! A smell I want to associate with love!
They finally added this treasure. Instant favorite-The most shimmering, vibrant dry floral smell-the tiare note is intoxicating, but the whole fragrance is so light…..
This is one of the most exotic-smelling perfumes, without being Oriental, heady, sweet, or over the top. It’s far too expensive for buying new or FB for most, including me. Being used to fragrances that try harder with strong contrasts, sharp turns and grand efforts to smell like a few particular notes-with all respect to the wonderful fragrances that do those things well-this perfume is very special for smelling modern but bringing together essences to create a smell that is both natural and abstract-transparently lush, ethereally sexy without smelling ethereal, alien or fairy creature. The name of this fragrance is supposed to be an homage to Geza Schoen’s taste in women: “The most beautiful part of a woman is her mind”
A beautiful fragrance for an ideal of a woman. I may not be a worthy woman of the fragrance, but I have internalized the fantasy and breathe in the love.
P.S. I personally like the bottle very much-it’s not my usual taste, but I find it to be sci-fi ubermodern art. It’s a bit coy, and absolutely unique.