Ayala Moriel is a niche perfumer who makes her fragrances using only natural ingredients, and they are cruelty free. Palas Atena is named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, and is a rich oriental fragrance with a sensual heart of spices and exotic flowers. It opens on a slightly dry note of lavender and patchouli, underscored with dark amber, sandalwood and an animalic jasmine. As it warms on the skin, a spicy note of cinnamon emerges, beautifully complimented with a note of orange. At the heart I can smell a note of Champaca, which is a spicy, heady flower, native to India and Indonesia. I think this is a well composed, sultry oriental fragrance that would be beautiful worn at night. For me, it smells of warm tropical evenings, walking on the beach in a far away land. Good sillage and lasting power of about 3 hours on my skin.
Notes from Ayala's website: Amber, Champaca, Cinnamon Jasmine Grandiflorum , Lavender, Neroli (Tunisia) Patchouli, Sandalwood, Sweet Orange.
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Wow. I'm not normally a fan of orange or neroli, I really don't like lavender, and I have an aversion to patchouli, and all of these notes figure prominently here. But Palas Atena is a great example of how a skilled perfumer can blend components into a seamless whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. It's like a chorus of beautiful voices with no divas screaming over the others for center stage. I love this perfume! It's simultaneously fresh and mysterious, an unusual contradiction. It lasts quite a long time, and hours later the drydown had me wondering "what is that amazing smell? Oh, yeah, it's me!"

Harmonious with my skin. An Oriental that is almost a Chypre. Gentle sweetness of orange and neroli are lifted and cleansed by lavender. Compatible notes of jasmine and champaca add complexity. Cinnamon prevents the whole from entering the two-sweet realm. Patchouli grounds it with earthiness. Sandalwood lingers and floats throughout. Well-blended, spicy Oriental that is strong but quiet. I love this.