Sonnet XVII

Sonnet XVII opens with a bright, resinous snap—mastic and citron cutting through honeyed champaca, then cubed pepper arrives with a gentle warmth. The heart settles into a luminous orchid framed by osmanthus's apricot-like sweetness, creating an almost luminescent core. As it deepens, oakmoss and nard emerge like earth after rain, anchored by a tender musk and bourbon vanilla that softens into ambergris. Haitian vetiver and woody notes ground the whole arc, leaving a faint herbal and amber warmth on skin.