The Cologne House Osmanthus in A Major: A Melody of Spring Songbirds

The magic of spring is something I can’t ever stop talking about. The aromatic scents of the earth coming out of dormancy once more. Coming to life again after nearly dying, a glorious awakening indeed. The way the sun gently warms your skin, as the apricot trees bloom and throw their scent into the gentle breeze as the sun warms your skin. The smell of flowers blooming in unison and singing their jubilant song of merriment. It’s just a time of joy, for both humans and plants.

Enter The Cologne House, a house right out of Egypt, which is quite rare. Egypt is arguably the birthplace of perfume, yet there are so few houses from this ancient country. I met the owner by way of a mutual contact, and I saw what he was doing with his brand. I could see his passion and I agreed with him on many things, so I just had to review one of his scents. I will say that I did get this bottle for free. However, he only sent the bottle to me, along with samples from his line to get feedback for his brand. He never asked for a review, but I believe that this fragrance warrants it.

I will not sit here and act like I know what an A major note is. I am not a musician, only a mere fan of music. However, what I do know is perfumes. Well, sometimes. I am human like everyone else here. Osmanthus is one of those notes that I love, but it is seldomly utilized, and even then, it’s often used in a way that defeats the purpose of the material. I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I wasn’t expecting much from this house given the prices, but we will get to that in a bit. I have rambled enough, and you want to hear about the perfume.

Osmanthus in A Major starts its song with a jubilant offering of osmanthus, complete with the fruity apricot smell that captures my soul. A slight acidic bit from pineapple adds a sunny disposition to the soft radiance of dewy jasmine and cleanliness of neroli. Fresh green tea leaves add a grassy feeling without with the metallic bite that many tea and musk scents feature. Speaking of musk, there is some clean white musk in the base, that is kissed by tuberose, which seamlessly adds depth to the aromatic florals in the top.

This is a beautiful spring scent. It is soft and delicate, yet it has presence. The quality of the materials is outstanding. In Egypt, they have access to very high-quality jasmine for budget-friendly prices, which is certainly a boon for this brand. I am unsure if this is natural jasmine since there is only a whisper of it, but it doesn’t feel unnatural. The osmanthus feels authentic. The fruity decadence is not overly sweet or muted but feels like it’s in perfect harmony. The green tea is vibrant and lively, while displaying its aromatic side and avoiding the metallic or nutty facets. The fragrance just feels like each note was intentionally selected, with each ingredient having a purpose. There is also a listed chalk note, but I don’t detect it at all.

Osmanthus in A Major is not for people who like scents that project to the moon. This fragrance is meant to be present, but a part of you. It doesn’t overthrow your own voice. In my talks with the owner, he said that all his perfumes will be like this. The scent does endure, casting a clean fruity aroma around you for around 9 hours, so it is by no means weak. As I said earlier, this is the song of spring, but the use of osmanthus over a sweet apricot note allows this to be a pleasant wear during hot weather as well. This is something that you would pull out a white outfit for because it feels so pure.

The Cologne House is probably the most affordable niche house on the market. You can get this fragrance for a mere $84 for 100ml on their site. Seriously, this is a steal. They do sell samples, so I would encourage you to check out their entire line. Their Essentials line is only $64 for 100ml, and has the same quality, but in a lighter concentration. The only downside is that they are in Egypt, so it will take a little bit longer to arrive.

The bottles feature a minimalist design without looking generic. The wooden caps with a clean white label, along with the rounded square bottle just seals the aesthetic. The boxes don’t feel like anything special, but they serve their purpose.

Have you tried anything from this house? What was your favorite? Would you like to see me review any others from the house? Let me know!