ARQUISTE ALMOND SUEDE 100ml

ALMOND SUEDE
Marzipan & Leather

An addictive and sophisticated unisex gourmand balancing almond marzipan and suede leather inspired by Medieval Andalusia, the city of Córdoba and almond sweets. A must try for gourmand lovers.

Top Notes
Pink peppercorn, Italian bergamot oil, Honeycomb absolute, Bitter almond oil

Heart Notes
Cistus concrete from Spain ORPUR, North African neroli oil ORPUR, Saffron accord, Orange flower accord

Base Notes
Candied sugar, Vanilla absolute, Pine tar from France ORPUR, Suede accord

Developed with Calice Becker.

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History

December 810, Córdoba, Al-Andalus / Sefarad, Spain.

In the golden age of Al-Andalus, confectioners crafted almond marzipan of unparalleled delicacy. The secret lay in the whispered exchange between Moorish and Spanish kitchens, transforming recipes of almond flour, sugar, saffron and orange blossom into an art. Nearby, within the vibrant streets of Córdoba, skilled artisans shaped leather into exquisite wonders. Thus, the velvety scent of marzipan commingled with the oaky Córdoba leather, their crafts a symbolic bridge between cultures and traditions, proving that even in the crucible of diverse rule, the sweetest symphonies could emerge from shared traditions. 

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Further Research

 During the Al-Andalus period, Córdoba, Spain was known for its many crafts, including leather goods, gold and silverwork, textiles, glass mosaics that decorate The Great Umayyad Mosque of Córdoba, and delectable dishes of Arabic and North-African influence using local Iberian ingredients. 

- Cordoba leather, also called guadamecies are leather pieces that are embossed, modeled, and colored with modern or classical designs. Cordoban leather has been made since medieval times to decorate chests, trunks, screens, cases, books, luxury shoes, and gloves and was traditionally gilt and thin enough to be embossed. This type of craft came from a technique mastered by the city of Ghadames in Libya (hence the name guadamacies), which had made it its specialty for a long time, and which was imported by the Moors under the Caliphate of Cordoba.

- Marzipan's geographical origin has been debated. Thought to have originated in Persia and introduced into Europe via the Turks, another possible geographic origin is Medieval Spain, part of which was then under Muslim control, known as Al-Andalus. Marzipan became an art form there, made possible by the Arab introduction of sugar to the Iberian Peninsula, combined with almond trees so plentiful that the Andalusian hills looked as if they were covered in snow when they bloomed.

- The three main religious groups in Al-Andalus, or Moorish Spain, were Muslisms, Christians and Jews, who coexisted for over seven centuries. Their interactions led to the creation of a unique culture expressed in the arts, craft and philosophy.