Concordia Maxima. The Lock Logbook

Sep 28

3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Chilini Private, archive fragrance

On the table in the house by the lock lay a thick logbook in a blue cover. Evpraksiya wrote every vessel into it: name, time, destination. Her handwriting was even, and over the years the logbook had become a chronicle of the river.

Evpraksiya had worked as a lock keeper for fifteen years. In summer the vessels came one after another, and between them she found time for the house and the little garden by the water where three old cherry trees grew.

In August the cherries ripened. On a quiet evening Evpraksiya put a pot of berries and sugar on a low flame and applied Concordia Maxima to her wrists. Mandarin and grapefruit sounded bright, tea leaf and green ivy added a fresh bitterness, and [a warm orange note, as if the peel had long been held in the tropical sun] warmed the opening at once.

The jam simmered quietly, and Evpraksiya, stirring it, thought how good it is when everything goes its own way. By then spices, Peruvian balsam and dried fruits had opened on her skin, soft and warm, while tiare and jasmine added bright flowers.

Then a horn sounded from the river. Evpraksiya turned off the flame, took hold of the levers and let water into the chamber. The barge rose slowly, and from the deck Zosima called to her, a river skipper who passed this lock every week.

"Evpraksiya, it smells of cherries all along the river. And of something spicy and calm. Is that what home smells like?" Zosima asked.

"That's what August smells like," Evpraksiya smiled and passed him a jar of last year's jam onto the deck.

The gates opened, and the barge went on upriver. Evpraksiya returned to the house and wrote it into the logbook.

By night oud wood, vetiver, patchouli and white cedar remained on her skin, deep and warm. The jam was cooling on the table, and the logbook lay open at a new page.

How it sounds

The opening is bright and warm: mandarin and grapefruit sound juicy, tea leaf and green ivy add a fresh bitterness, pepper a brief spark, and [a warm orange note warmed by the tropical sun] makes the opening soft.

In the heart spices, Peruvian balsam and dried fruits open. Together they recall cherry jam slowly simmering on a low flame. Tiare and jasmine add bright floral shades.

In the base oud wood, vetiver, patchouli and white cedar leave a deep, calm and warm trail.

What makes it special

Concordia Maxima belongs to Chilini Private and is now discontinued. Its motto: maximum harmony, in tune with yourself and the world. The brand says the accord resembling cherry jam appeared in the composition by chance. It recalls the calm process of jam simmering on a low flame while you think unhurriedly about life, about a dream and about creating your world beautifully and responsibly. It is a fine edge of harmony: a state of peace and moments of happiness that vanish and return.

Tatyana Li on VKontakte writes: "One of the fragrances I liked. Apricot jam with almond kernels."

People wear it for quiet harmony: on a long summer evening, over a favourite task and on a day when everything goes its own way.