Lithium [3Li] by Nicolas Bonneville for nu_be 2012

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

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Post by Tina G

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“The perfume becomes, even if only for a few instants, the object of an exclusive and absolute desire.” – nu_be

The concept behind nu_be is an olfactory mapping of the fusions which create matter – the primal sparks of chaos that slowly settle into order and being. nu_be harks to the fundamental building blocks of the universe by creating ‘elemental’ fragrances – hydrogen, helium, lithium, carbon, oxygen, sulphur and mercury.

Lithium [3Li] by Nicolas Bonneville for nu_be 2012

Lithium [3Li] Nu Be FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Cedar, patchouli, musk, saffron, iris, woods, spices, rose

I’m intrigued to smell black rubber when Lithium [3Li] opens. Specifically, inner tube rubber as from a bicycle tyre, being slightly powdery. It is not listed in the notes anywhere but I find it consistently on first spritz. Dancing high over the top is a sharp metallic tang like the smoke and sparks you get when hitting granite with a metal hammer. It is a very light, airy metal, unlike the wet blood-metal in Le Cherche Midi ‘28’ or the metallic-fruitiness in Blood Concept ‘O’.

Deep in the heart of Lithium [3Li] the brown leather is heavy and thick like leather of a welder’s apron – made roughly tactile from the scratches and wearing of its use. After only a short time the rubber has gone but the metal and leather stay on, rounded out by earthy, powdery floral notes of iris and saffron. There is a hint of woods and musk in the background, which become more prominent in the dry down.

Lithium [3Li] Nu Be Blacksmith Alan Ellis FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

The combination makes me think of an old fashioned blacksmith’s workshop. Springtime. In the corner of a green field, surrounded by wildflowers, is a rustic wooden workshop. As you walk in, the fresh scents of the flowers merge with the damp earth floor, wooden beams, and metal tools hanging up around the walls. In the centre of the room is a fire and anvil, and the smithy himself, clean musky sweat of his work shining on his arms, mingling with the heavy leather apron of his trade. As he drops each blow of the hammer, showers of sparks fly randomly in split-seconds of brightness, filling the air with a flinty smoke.

Lithium [3Li] Nu Be Salt Flats FotopediaPhoto Stolen Fotopedia

At 5 hours Lithium [3Li] is still lively, having warmed up to a comforting woody/spicy rose, with silage strong enough that I wasn’t needing to hunt for the scent on my skin to appreciate it. At this stage it reminded me of another favourite spicy rose fragrance, Pink Quartz by Olivier Durbano. Lithium [3Li] is totally wearable, even for all its interesting industrial opening overtones. I spritzed this 10 minutes before going into a work meeting, and it totally derailed the conversation. Eyes widened, people looked around and asked what the great smell was. One co-worker then spoke about her close encounter with a workman on a train, freshly clocked off, dirty with a clean sweat smell and how desperately sexy it was. I’d said nothing about my thoughts on the fragrance; it was her own random memory trigger from the muskiness of the scent. Unexpected, but interesting…..

Further reading: Now Smell This introduces the line
IndieScents has $160/100ml and samples

xx Tina G

17 thoughts on “Lithium [3Li] by Nicolas Bonneville for nu_be 2012”

  1. Off to grab my sample. Interesting. I have enough bike tires and innertubes in my life, heaven knows, but let’s see.
    xxx

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    • It’s worth a run through, Val. The black rubber isn’t listed as a feature, but it was there each time for me however it does dissipate in maybe 15 mins…? The saffron, iris and rose with spices and leather are really what you’re getting. Would be interested to hear what you think of it.

      Tina xx

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      • Oh – and thumbs up on the last photo of the salt pan – one of the ways that Lithium is mined. Nice choice!

        T

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        • You’re welcome Tina. I thought you would get a kick out of both those photos. I’m glad we both go0t a mini thrill
          Portia xx

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  2. Hey TinaG,
    Wonderful review. You make me intrigued.
    This house annoys me a bit though, you have to destroy the packaging, super try hard name, just like they’re working a little too hard to be cool.
    In light of that I am glad the frag is good, wearable and different.
    Portia xx

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    • Hey Portia, yea… as someone with environmental tendancies I find the packaging upsetting. Really – in this day and age, styrofoam? At least you know it will be safe in transit when you order. But the frag was fascinating, and has been one of the highest complimented fragrances I’ve ever worn, the other being Pink Quartz. Both are spicy rose, interestingly. Seems to work for me.

      Tina xx

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  3. Haven’t explored this line… I tend to get disinterested when the marketing is so high-concept, but that’s my bias and I recognize that.

    How much for the Irish blacksmith? WANT. (Though he could do with a little chest hair.)

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    • Hi mals86 – funnily enough I came across this line through the name of the scent, not the marketing. I’m a bit of a chemistry nerd and was tickled to find an elements line. I’ve not tried the others yet, but I’m sure I will at some stage.

      Tina xx

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      • Oh, and yes…. N.I.C.E. blacksmith photo. Last night I was watching TV (rare event these days) and saw an ad for one of those dating reality shows – something about country boys and city girls. And right in the middle of the ad was a blacksmith, just like that photo. Seriously, how often do blacksmiths feature these days? Not… that I’m complaining…. 😉

        T

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  4. I have been curious about the nu_be scents for awhile now. Last night I ordered a sample set and am hoping for the same effect and reactions described in your review. Thanks Tina G.!
    Azar xx

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    • Hi Azar, would definitely be interested to hear your take on them. And…um… sample set? Where from? Did it have Mercury and Sulphur aswell? I’d be keen to try others from the line.

      Tina xx

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      • Hi Tina,
        I ordered the sample pack from Lucky Scent. In the pack there are seven Nu_Be fragrance samples including Mercury and Sulfur as well as a a sample of Byredo Flowerhead.
        Azar xx

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      • Hi Azar – thanks, I just spotted LS’s email today so thought that may be the one – I don’t know of any other sample packs. I will pick one up myself, curious about the range and could do with a smudge more Li.

        T x

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  5. Enjoyed your review, but I also dislike their name and marketing very much and had already decided to pass on them. “The building blocks of the universe” perfume? I’ve heard of the “music of the spheres” but never the SMELL of the spheres. 😉 There are still too many others that I want to try first.

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    • Hi Maya, funny that people can be put off so much by OTT marketing. I hadn’t quite considered that, I just want to smell everything… 🙂 But there is a lot out there, and there has to be some selective process – I know I’m struggling to get through my recent sample purchases. Happily struggling, mind you.

      xx Tina

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      • Marketing does matter in getting you to try something but good marketing can’t make a bad product good and vice versa. This one just hit me wrong. I would try nu_be, but not go out of my way for it. Keep the on happy struggling. I’m with you on that one!

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