We booked for a fancy eight course French breakfast /lunch on Saturday morning at the Koga Residence – one of Kamakura’s three ‘Official Western Buildings Of Interest’ (one of the few to withstand The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 that destroyed almost everything in its wake) for D’s upcoming birthday, having seen it down a lane a couple of months ago after being unaware of its existence our entire time living here, feeling like celebrating in style, just to try something different.
Perfume-wise, we both wanted to try something new that we had never worn before. To mark the occasion, D opted for French Cuffs by Pink MahogHany, a very elegant boisé animalic tobacco by perfumer Chavalia Mwamba that is just on the perfect cusp of suggestiveness – the husky smoke breath of the rich pipe tobacco melded with woods and what smells like vetiver inverting the usual scent pyramid so that you get a full, rich, but mellow and unobtrusive base accord on first spray, very suitable for the environment we were in (an interesting mix of people, from old couples to close friends gathering for their own special events, all apparently getting happily wasted in the a/m with the generous wine-tasting option which paired wines, poured with a generous elbow, for each of the chi-chi courses that were delivered and given overly lengthy explanations by the gusto staff; some of these old girls sipping their seventh glass of rosé could definitely drink us under the table while still keeping their dignified chops – just I did see the odd wobble and hesitant step on the way to and back from the bathroom). French Cuffs, though is an excellent, and really quite erotic scent ( I feel slightly restless just thinking about it again) with lost Cuban memories of Molinard Habanita, nicely balanced, even if the end accord is not quite as exciting as its beginning (just an attenuation of the first). This is a definitely a scent though with an emotional pull and core of soft gravitas that is gentlemanly – but definitely a living gentleman with a libido.
For myself, rushing to get ready in the morning after a really exhausting and hard week at work, my eyes barely open as I showered and tried to spruce up for the overly rich food ahead (Japanese French is never our favourite: just a once in a blue moon kind of thing as you are always deluged with a whole fine array of luxuriantly appointed lipids; foie gras and conger eel, beef cooked half rare, duck fat drenched pumpkin mochi, all kinds of lovingly prepared dishes followed of course with even richer dessert; for us there was almost an amusing sense of dread of what the hell was coming next; for me the joy is experiential more than gastronomic ). I had been trying, frantically, to find the sample of the Gent, also by Pink MahogHany, which is a curious, milky-fresh creation that felt very talcum decadent and obliviously nonchalant in the manner of Caron Royal Bain De Champagne, or Creed’s regretted Acier Aluminium (1973) that would have been ideal to grace my own person but I simply couldn’t find it in our chaotic perfume/ bedroom chamber that was in a hell of a mess but which we didn’t have time to tidy up. Instead, I decided on a last minute duo of Guerlain Habit Rouge on the body (that long-neglected perfume had come floating up into my consciousness the night before), and a few spritzes of Fedora on the wrists and hair, a tight, mint-fresh tea citrus cologne (lovers of Herba Fresca should definitely try this one) that felt perfect as I left the house under my umbrella in the light mists of rain and got into the taxi, the always strange soft contradictions of the Guerlain highlighting the herbaceous gracefulness of the Fedora.
Photos of the Koga Residence and the antique shop we went to after to get a birthday present (The Boy) by D himself.
The Black Narcissus 
Those food creations look amazing, even if one doesn’t manage to eat them all.
Happy Birthday to D!
Thanks. We had a fantastic time, and it was definitely all nicely put together, even if ultimately that is not my kind of cuisine (where were all the vegetables?) When Japanese people want the luxury experience it is all luscious dripping proteins – a bit much, but interesting for the senses. I just wish they would understand what I mean when I say VERY VERY VERY WELL DONE. I am not a big meat eater, and when I do have steak I like it to be extremely well cooked, not a spot of pink in sight. In this rare regard I am just like Donald Trump.
The Macarons on a Log are really sending me. Pink MahogHany stood out to me from a list I saw of Black-owned fragrance companies, and your testimony greatly adds to that interest, oh my.
I don’t know anything about the price point or anything like that, but French Cuffs especially is very good indeed. A really good masculine that would smell very intriguing on anybody. ‘The Macarons on a Log are really sending me:’ that sentence is going to see me through the day.
I would love that place. Your photos really take me there.
You’ll understand the reluctance to destroy a perfectly good piece of cow.
Genius, Neil, pairing Habit Rouge with Fedora. I love Habit Rouge and Herba Fresca and I can imagine the two together vividly. Great, unorthodox juxtaposition of Guerlains, and ideal for the weather we’ve been having (which hasn’t been ideal, with all the smoke drifting up here from those horrendous wildfires in California and Oregon.) That’s high level, black belt stuff, putting those together. Must insist Ric do it tomorrow. Hmm. I think I’ll do the same.
Thanks for a great piece, happy belated returns to D., and happy you enjoyed yourselves in all sorts of ways.
Thanks Robin. Habit Rouge is an odd one, isn’t it? I literally suddenly started craving it out of the blue on Friday night and it was pERFECT.
I know I have said it many times, but I love your photos!
As long as you also like some of the words, I am delighted!
That looks like a fun & glamourous birthday brunch. Thank you for sharing the pics of the chi-chi offerings. Fedora sounds refreshingly unisex, I shall have to try it. Happy Birthday D!
It is. Have you tried any of the other perfumes in this line? I am going to review more of them – A Mother’s Love is a gorgeous rich floral with real emotion in it.
I just recently found Pink Mahogany on Etsy (thanks to your reviews). I am still sealed off from the world in Nepal. I shall have to try them when I return to civilization.
We are all sealed off from the world; it’s the new reality (hopefully only for the time being). It’s nice when these things arrive in the post – both me and D took to them straight away.
Some of those food items look pretty dodgy, but glad you enjoyed yourself. Have been a vegetarian for many years but always demanded my food be cooked through – rare meat and runny eggs make me gag. Never heard of Pink MahogHany. Happy birthday to D!
We are the same with meat and eggs: I find anything less than properly done truly abhorrent, and Japanese cuisine thinks the opposite, unfortunately. wet scrambled eggs, meat with tons of fat barely cooked – it is sickening.
Happy birthday, D! The dinner looks and sounds very special. And what scents!
French Cuffs smelled HAWT.
Sounds like you both had a wonderful time. The photos are wonderful, and the food looks divine.
Do wish D a very happy birthday!
Thanks B. Don’t you love days like that when you can just forget everything else and be in the moment, especially when the perfume is right?
I do adore days like that.