The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Yassemi means jasmine in Greek. Angelos Balamis created this fragrance initially as his own signature scent, inspired by the early summer around his neighborhood in Greece, when jasmine and Pittosporum fill the air with an intoxicating combination. The result was so compelling that a plethora of people who loved the smell and wanted to wear it that he eventually released it to a wider audience in 2020. For Balamis, Yassemi is personal, it began as a private olfactory diary, a way to capture the atmosphere of a specific time and place. Releasing it meant offering that experience to others who might find in it their own connection to summer and garden.
The jasmine-Pittosporum pairing creates a distinctive character from the first spray. Pittosporum, sometimes called Australian lavender, contributes a green, slightly resinous quality that grounds the floral heart in something earthier, more complex. The aldehydes do vintage work here, giving the composition structure that lifts the florals. Mango leaf absolute adds a warm dimension that sits beneath the brighter elements, creating unexpected depth.
The evolution
The opening is aldehydic and bright, blood orange and blackcurrant create an immediate citrus-fruity sparkle that catches attention without demanding it. Within minutes, the jasmine enters, lush and full, supported by ylang-ylang and the green edge of angelica root. The aldehydes don't disappear; they thread through the heart. The drydown takes its time. Patchouli and sandalwood provide a woody foundation, but it's the ambrette seed and ambergris that linger longest, a warm, slightly salty animal note that stays close to the skin for hours.
Cultural impact
By grounding its aldehydic structure in Pittosporum, a botanical rarely featured in Western perfumery, Angelos Créations Olfactives brings a unique perspective to the field. The house demonstrates how local flora can be used as source material, offering an alternative to standardized ingredients. This approach reflects a broader interest in regional specificity, where perfumers look to their own landscapes for inspiration rather than defaulting to the same familiar components.
