The Legend of Love in The Scents of Aqaba

01/09/08 14:51:06

I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
Song of Songs

Three thousands years ago a beautiful black queen traveled over the Sahara desert towards Jerusalem. According to the legend, thirsting for truth and wisdom she was heading to visit the wise king as she had heard of his great wisdom. She did not travel alone; her retinue included numerous attendants in a caravan of camels and mules laden with vast riches – gold, precious stones, oils, spices…

Her route took her across the Red Sea in ships specially built by the Wise King to carry the precious heavy cargo. There on the other side, her travel continued through the jeweled city of Aqaba placed on the ancient caravan route. Not knowing it then, she was heading towards her love, the love that became legendary, the love between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.

The legend about the love between Makeda (or Balqis in Arabian) and King Solomon still lives in legends, poems, tales…and in a fragrance. It lives again through Aqaba, a fragrant memento of legendary love…of all loves.

Miriam Mirani was born to parents originating from Eastern Europe and Mediterranean. At the age of 20, after completing her music studies at the conservatories of the United States and Europe, she decided to travel around the Middle East. She traveled with Bedouins through desert oasis of Sinai and the Nile Delta. At the Red Sea she got acquainted with the ancient Semitic civilizations and discovered the city of Aqaba right in the middle of this cradle of civilization.

Spending some time there, Miriam Mirani discovered Berbers in Marrakech and Fez and their ancient traditions, and was learning about the traditional art of Arabian perfumery. In 1993 Miriam Mirani returned to Aqaba and some months later, using her perfumery art she embodied her fascination with Aqaba and the story of the legendary love between King Solomon and Queen of Sheba in a fragrance that unites the ancient, traditional and modern. The fragrance she named Aqaba.

Aqaba Classic is a seductive and exciting fragrance which uses ingredients from the traditional Arabian perfumery. This amazingly lasting fragrance opens with powerful rose blended with spices and precious frankincense and develops into a charming and irresistible sweet trace. The composition is built of Damask rose, frankincense, Egyptian jasmine, Bulgarian rose, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, peach, tea leaves, white cedarwood and, oak moss.

The fragrance is captured into an interesting round-shaped bottle the details of which are reminiscent of the ancient love story – the faux ruby represents the ruby inlaid throne of Sheba, while the heavy brass bottle cap features the crowns of ancient royalty. The bottle comes in a red draw-string pouch reminiscent of Arabian jewelry pouches.

In order to capture and pass on the beauty of Aqaba through fragrance, Miriam Mirani has created a whole collection which besides Aqaba Classic includes Aqaba Spring and the Jewels of Aqaba – Jewels of Blu, Midnight Sun and The Sands of Aqaba.

The fragrances of Miriam Mirani received many accolades from world's renowned magazines such as Essence, German Vogue, Mademoiselle, Italian Elle, etc.

Read More on Queen of Sheba and King Solomon at African Queens