A Wren Says

I had a week. It was one of those times where I was reminded over and over again of all my shortcomings, and none of my strengths. All I wanted was to find somewhere to hide away until everything got better. But unfortunately, I had an event to run. My first thought was to find the fragrance equivalent of making myself invisible. Maybe a basic vanilla that would be palatable enough to others to go unnoticed. Or maybe there is something in my collection that would help me shrink back and fade into the background. And then I thought, “No.” Let’s try something new. Now matter how others might feel about it. With a name like Blessed Baraka, this scent from Initio Parfums seemed like the right choice.

Baraka roughly translates to blessing. As Initio Parfums describes it, they write this:

Surrounding the wearer with an intangible aura of power and grace, BLESSED BARAKA masterfully weaves a protective energy into a harmonious blend, evoking a sense of destiny and sacred purpose.

That was definitely what I needed for the day.

I sprayed Blessed Baraka on gingerly at first as I tried to understand the notes. It felt boozy. Or maybe it would be better to say that it felt liquid. (No, definitely not better) Or rather that was the amber, so slightly sweet, yet powerfully there. I liked it, and it was definitely not the norm for a female fragrance. I did a couple of more spritzes as I emboldened myself to go throughout the day.

No one said anything about my scent. No one seemed to shrink back from the smell. No one seemed to care. But I noticed, and I enjoyed my scent throughout the day as it lingered on my skin into the evening. And as I walked about with a stronger spirit, I felt free to perform my duties and be unapologetically myself. Perhaps it was the “protective energy” of the fragrance, or maybe it was just the ritual of applying it and choosing to show up more powerfully.

While I can’t guarantee it will impart blessings on you, this may be one for you to try if you like amber fragrances.

Blessed Baraka eau de parfum

$410 for 90 mL

Notes: White flowers, amber, sandalwood, vanilla, musk