An Interview with Neil Morris: Remembrance of Things Past (and Future) + Opening the Vault Draw

In 2007, I met Neil l Morris (and his partner David Garten  of Neil Morris Fragrances at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. for  brunch on a  picture perfect summer late morning. We drank cappucinos and ate berries and yogurt. I wasn't prepared for this big, charming man that had dozens of vials of  perfume in his pockets; handing them to me the way Santa Claus or a favorite unlce ( he's too youg to be mine)  hands out candy to eager children.

 

 

After four years almost to the day, I still call him the 'Proust of Perfume', based on his ability to create fragrances  that evoke powerful emotion connections and memories. Many of you know of him  by now, but back then only die hard perfumistas  and locals really knew his talents.

 

All in Black:  David, 'Our' Ida,  Neil  

He's been attending  Sniffapalooza for years as well and is a cult perfumer in the truest and most flattering sense of the word. Throughout my career as a journalist I have not missed an opportunity to feature Neil Morris, who is one of many perfumers who represent the indie spirit of American perfumery that I admire. But he was  the first I met and hugged; he will always will be special for that.

 

When we met in 2007, both you and David were doing trunk shows in Henri Bendel. I bought my first bottle of Neil Morris Fragrances then. (AFIRE) How does it feel to be back?

 

NM: First I want to say that I’m glad you’re feeling better and back to work.it really is great to be back at Henri Bendel! We think it’s a wonderful store and have made good friends there. Albert & Marinela in the fragrance department have been wonderful to work with when doing in-store events, as well as Jennifer & Kady, who are more behind the scenes.

 

 

 Pshaw , I never took a day off. I was blogging from the hospital. I was blogging after my marriage ceremony. Bloggers don't get a day off but thank you. The very first fragrance I bought and love the most….even with the dozens you offer is Afire.  What is it about Afire that still draws me to it after so many years?

 NM: I don’t know, you tell me what draws you to it! Chandler Burr wrote: “I have never smelled anything quite like AFIRE” and fans of AFIRE agree and can’t get enough of it! And all who wear it tell us it’s one of the sexiest perfumes ever.

Well that's exactly it, its darn sexy and who doesnt want to feel sexy and smell great at the same time; I remember an editor who worked for me at the time was quite dismayed it didn't suit her.

 

 

 

 

I believe you were one of the first perfumers to create 30ml sizes, now so many have followed.  Now there are companies selling 15ml!

 

NM: It seems a no-brainer now, but in 2008 it was rare.

 

 Which perfumer do you feel the greatest affinity for?

NM: Jean-Claude Ellena

 

 

What inspired the vault collection?

NM: The VAULT COLLECTION is a compilation of fragrances that I developed over the past 30 years.  After hearing from many perfumistas from around the world, we decided to launch the line for them because they were clamoring for something unique, fragrances you would never find in the mainstream marketplace.

 Your strongest of your six senses?

 NM: It’s as plain as the nose on your face!

 

 

It's also  my nom de plume–Fifthsensenyc! You don’t love the internet… facebook, blogging.. what are your passions outside of perfumery

 

NM: Well. we  are starting to get more involved with using social media for business. Personally, I’m a “child of the 50’s” and love anything that has to do with that era, including going to diners, drive-ins, etc. I also enjoy traveling and love old sci-fi movies!

What fragrance did your father wear?

NM: Bay Rum

First olfactive memory?

NM: As a toddler I remember the smell of a fresh, clean blanket!

Brand of sheets you sleep on?

NM: Not fussy about such things. Whatever’s on sale at Macy’s

Try Frette. Really, there will be no going back..in amazing patterns , old world craftsmanship, high thread count -sweet dreams may even inspire a new perfume.

 

Which fragrance was the most challenging to create and why?

NM: CLEAR. I wanted to create a perfume that was fresh and clean but since there were already so many out there, I wanted to make certain that CLEAR was unique and interesting. I worked many months with many revisions and finally achieved what I was looking to do. Therefore, rather than smelling like fresh laundry or something generic, it really does capture the memory of the bicycle ride I took on that perfect day!

Last book read?

NM: Dune by Frank Herbert

 

 

Explain your creative process

NM: There are many ways a creative process can manifest but for me it usually involves coming up with a “theme” for a perfume, whether a memory of something or someone from my past or sometimes in shows itself more organically, like the most recent perfume I’m working on – When Summer Comes. Summer is taking it’s sweet time arriving in New England this year so I just started blending Notes together to try and capture the scents of summer – Honeysuckle, Tulip, Cut Grass, Cranberry, Heather, White Amber. It’s developing a very “Cape Cod” feel to it. I’ll send you a sample when it’s done!

Thank you, I love Cape Cod during the summer and it's one of the greatest summer escapes for me, because I hate the heat . Whose memory ( a writer, poet, painter, musician ) would you like to bottle? What would it smell like?

 

NM: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan so the scent would obviously have smoke/tobacco elements. I’d also include Musk notes with Vetiver, Leather and Black Tea to capture the atmosphere of the rooms at 221 Baker St.

 

 How did you and David  Garten meet? Explain your partnership.

 ahhhh we have a guest

 

 DG :  Neil and I met through a good mutual friend Al who invited a group of us to dinner and a show.  While at dinner I was chatting with Neil and he told me that he created fragrances. I had never met a perfumer before and was so intrigued.  What struck me most was his passion for fragrance.  He told me that he created custom fragrances and sold some scents at a few stores in the Boston area.  I couldn’t get Neil and his passion out of my mind and called him up about ten days later and asked if we could meet.  I told him he had a unique story, being a self taught American perfumer, and that I thought he could be doing more with it on a broader scale.  I thought we should call it Neil Morris Fragrances because there are so few live perfumers that are the name behind the brand.  I handle the business side of things while Neil focuses on creating unique and beautiful scents.  We started out as business partners and have become the closest of friends.

 

 

 

You are a bespoke perfumer. How do you create a fragrance for a private client?

 

NM: I conduct an intuitive interview that I have created over the years that associates the client’s positive memories with scent.  The answers the client gives lead me in a “scent direction” and I have them sample a variety of scents.  Based on their reaction to the scents and how it works on their skin, we then work together to create a fragrance that has the right balance of top, heart, and base notes and works perfectly for the client.   They leave the appointment with their fragrance in hand.  Creating a custom fragrance for a client, and seeing their reaction when we are finished, is such an exciting experience for me. It’s why bespoke perfume creation is my favorite aspect of perfumery.

 

Since we know each other so long what would my fragrance smell like?

 NM:  Magnetic, complex and very sexy!!! 

  

Sounds just like Afire.

I am known for my interviews, but here is an excerpt from one of my fragrance reviews.

 

"Neil Morris for Takashimaya NY is in my opinion among Neil Morris’s finest fragrant offerings. At the launch I was free to spritz and test on Neil, the Takashimaya management team and my fellow editors; it always smelled beautiful and differently on each of us. The fragrance is a Japanese painting (絵画, Kaiga– one of the most highly refined of the Japanese arts, encompassing a wide variety of genre and styles). Brushstrokes of Black Currant, Mandarin and Bergamot are layered with such delicacy over sparkling Aldehydes. Plum Blossom and, Jasmine Tea, bring the fragrance of Japanese Cherry Blossom to the forefront; fine strokes of Bamboo and Dossinia orchid are accented by Oak, and Oud which cast their sepia and grey incense hues over the ochre and indigo colors of Tonka and Orris"

 

 Your fragrance Neil Morris for Takashimaya was one of the most evocative ever created to capture the spirit of a specialty store. It was nominated for a Fifi. How closely did you work with the ex-management there. Is it still being sold? It truly was Zen on Fifith Avenue

 

NM: The Takashimaya management weighed in on the process but gave me quite a bit of latitude because they trusted me to create a fragrance reflective of their brand.  I obsessed about the scent and can’t tell you how many versions I created.  Neil Morris Fragrances retains the ownership of the formula specifically for instances like the very sad closing of Takashimaya New York.  We will be launching the fragrance under a new name (which we haven’t decided on).  In the meantime readers may purchase the fragrance by contacting us.

 

 Well, we can make a deal—- name it "Zen of Fifth, which I know you adore, and keep me in Afire !  

A very well known and successful perfumer, told me that most  classicaly trained perfumers are 75% are white, male and French (he is not)! I believe strongly in American perfumers. Thoughts?

 

 

 

Here comes David…

 DG We believe that what is happening in the fragrance industry is similar to what happened with the wine industry in America.  In the 1970’s in the US, for most Americans there were only three choices for wine – Burgundy, Rose, and Chablis.  If you were in a fine restaurant and had no knowledge of wine you were too intimidated to look at the wine list.  Then with the emergence of boutique vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, we saw the emergence varietal wines as well as wines with a mix of grapes that had never been done before.  The wineries started educating the public and took the mystery and pretense out of the wine experience.  Soon American wineries were winning international wine tastings.

  

In a similar way, American perfumers are educating people about fragrance and making it more approachable.  When we started the Neil Morris signature line of fragrances I wanted to include my inspiration as well as the notes of the fragrance on the packaging as a way of welcoming people into my way of viewing perfumes. I think you are going to see American perfumers push the envelope and be more adventurous with their creations.  It’s all part of the American spirit.  And the prominence of American perfumers will continue to emerge.

 

 

 Yes, we saw that at the FiFi awards in 2011 with Mandy Aftel,  -three finalist  spots- for natural perfumery and  Joseph Quartana , an American boutique owner, who actually won the  award! I test about seven hundred fragrances a year and there are times when I  am almost an ansomisiac. Advice?

 

NM: Fragrance appreciation – like everything else – goes through cycles. No matter how much you love something, there are periods when your mood says; "I've had enough for now". At times like these we may come to believe that nothing smells right on our skin when in fact it does. Case in point. When I was working on IZMIR I felt I was heading in the wrong direction and that it didn't smell good on my skin at all. But I wore it anyway – every day for a week – and guess what? I got more compliments on IZMIR than any other fragrance I'd worn!!! In fact, I was getting tired of people asking me what I was wearing! Now I love IZMIR and I feel it smells great on my skin. What changed?? Me. My attitude. My mood. Also, once you're feeling better you'll find that your favorite scents smell good on you again. (And maybe they still do, though you're not aware of it). Advice – When you've recovered, try wearing a perfume that you think no longer smells good on your skin. Then see how many people tell you that you smell wonderful!

 

Well that explains why I lost my mojo during an illness  but it's back !  I always credit you with unleashing my inner psychic. Actually, you' re-taught' me how to smell and pick a fragrance with great accuracy for another person.  Do you believe this is a gift people are born with, or can it be learned?

 

NM: I believe it’s like any other talent. For some it’s innate, but that doesn’t mean someone can’t learn it. Take piano playing, for example. Most people can learn to play the piano, with varying levels of proficiency, simply by taking lessons and practicing. But then you have people who have a natural ability, like you  and they can play well right from the beginning.

 

 

 

Lets talk about Asea

 

NM: ASEA was inspired by my first ever cruise taken in February 2010. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about being out to sea, completely surrounded by water, but I loved it! I remember walking on the top deck that first evening out and looking up at the bright stars, smelling the briny sea air and for the first time in a while I completely relaxed. I wanted to recreate the memory of that evening and so ASEA was born.

  You always sign your bottles….  When did this start?

NM: I always sign bottles when I’m doing any event where we sell our products. I also sign all VAULT bottles as these are made individually for the client. The reason I do this is because part of my approach to fragrance creation is to keep it as personal as possible. I want to make sure as many people as possible know how much I appreciate that they’re wearing our perfumes.

 

 I really would love for you to branch out into candles and home, any plans ?

 

NM: Candles and home scenting are most definitely in the near future!

 – Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

All paintings were chosen because they are American Artists..some like  Homer Winslow  are well known and some like Jeremy Lipking emerging.

Neil is offering an amazing draw prize. He is opening the vault. here is your chance to try any  of the 50 vault fragrance and he will sign your bottle. All you have to do is tell us your favorite NM fragrance. Haven't tried one… that's ok here is your chance. just mention the favorite exchange in the interview , a bespoke  memory for Neil  to bottle and you are eligible. PLEASE SPECIFY A FRAGRANCE. The Draw runs through Wednesday June 29, 2011

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70 comments

  • What a fantastic interview! There are quite a few fragrances of Neil Morris that I like a lot. My absolute favorite, which is a first row perfume in my collection, is Gandhara. It’s sublime!

  • scentual healing says:

    I would really like to try your Takashimaya since Ms. Camen’s review had me drooling. I wear Zephyr all summer long. I guess my favorite part of the interview was the whole concept of American perfumery being recognized and the comparision to wineries in napa valley

  • I have not tried Neil Morris fragrances, but after this article (nicely done!), he is definitely on my list. I really liked Mr. Morris’ remarks about why he signs his bottles. It was a genuinely, warm response, and what a wonderful gesture to acknowledge fans of his fragrance.

  • Never comment before breakfast 😉
    And yes, I would love to call Neil’s new creation A Rose is a Rose mine.

  • Neil Morris has been never presented in Russia. I`ve never been in America.
    So we cannot meet other way than through generous sampling – and that`s the reason I must comment with my fingers crossed in order to win, get, smell and make my own testimonial. 🙂
    As for the best fragment of interview – I like the idea of Sherlock Holmes. Not modern Holliwood Holmes, but old-timer British one, that`s for sure.

  • Leather Garden
    Flowers for men: Gardenia
    Swoon
    Whatever is possible. Actually I`m lost in your Vaults, Mr. Morris! 🙂

  • Neil Sergey is an éditor for GQ Russia and one of our contributors
    Sergey perhaps it’s time for Neil to go global
    Also he is someone who loves vintage so if you have any recommendations David or Neil he must come out of the vault as he has a story due next month

  • marcopietro says:

    I love all the Neil’s fragrances built around flowers, but my favourites are spectral violet, midnight forest and Fetish. I’d like to try Neil Morris for Takashimaya NY.

  • Unfortunately I’ve never had the opportunity to try any of Mr Morris’s fragrances, Dark Season sounds like the perfume I’ve always dreamt of. There are so many perfumes which tells a fragrant story of the orient or of the south of Europe, but hardly any that tell of the north. And this one sounds like it compasses all the is nice about scandinavian winters.
    I’d love him to do the Sherlock perfume he’s talking about, the great detective surely deserves one 🙂
    Thanks for another great post and great draw.

  • Great interview. How could I choose one favorite. I love Midnight Tryst, Dark Season, Rose of Khali, Fetish, Gotham… I would love to add Takashimaya NY.

  • I have had the pleasure of meeting Neil at Sniffa , and dining across the table from he and David . Both are a pleasure to know .
    I love Afire ( it reminds me of going to the movies…?!? )
    and I also love Gotham .
    I would have a hard time choosing from the vault – but Dark Season or Leather Garden are at the top of my wishlist…!

  • I loved this interview!! I am a huge fan of NM perfumes and own many. My favs: Dark Season, Midnight Forrest, Summer of Love, Hippie and Dark Earth. I think my choice for a new bottle would be Skincense or Cathedral. Thanks for the wonderful draw!

  • rockirnuby says:

    I cant’ possibly choose one Neil Morris scent, as TWO of his scents are in my Top 10!! I hope that I will never be without Prowl and Fetish. And yet, I have not tried most of the Vault scents and would relish the opportunity to expand my Neil Morris horizons! 🙂 Perhaps Neil would recommend one for me to try next…

  • My husband and I both wear Neil’s fragrances. Don goes thru Hippie so fast that I think he drinks it. I would have to say my favorites are, Vanille Rose, A Rose is a Rose & Vapor. Lately, I’ve been wearing, Vapor, quite a bit. It is the best scent for a hot and humid summer day, in Virginia. I have no doubt that I will come across new loves as time goes by.

  • I’m also a big fan of Neil Morris fragrances but have yet to try Asea. This one really stood out for me in this interview because I have very fond memories of going on a cruise for my honeymoon! I’d be very curious to see if Neil has managed to capture that moment in time for me.

  • Thank you all so much, and especially you, Michelyn, for your kind comments. You all made my day!!! I’m so thrilled that we have so many wonderful fans out there. I create these perfumes for YOU! I look forward to sending a bottle to the winner! I wish we could afford to send you all a bottle of your favorite! So once again, everyone, Thank You!

  • mariotgomez says:

    My favorite is Swoon since it is inspired by my favorite movie & book, Perfume: the story of a murder.

  • I’ve never tryed anything from this brand but i find quite interesting scents in their site.I don’t know which I will perfer but I find a lot of them very interesting and I definitly have to try atleast some of them like Burned Amber,Cathedral,Fetich,flowers for men series,Hologram,Leather Graden,Midnight forest,India series.They all sound amazing!I have to try them all.

  • i have loved neil morris’ superb fragrances for years.

    dark season is my favorite, but i cannot wear it, alas, because it gives me contact dermatitis.

    that said, i’d say my favorite is still burnt amber — for that same charred smoke note that’s in dark season, and the ingenious plum note that ida was so inspired to suggest to neil. nothing else like it (and that’s saying something, coming from me 🙂

    another favorite is northwoods — it smells like actual decideous woods. and summer of love is among my most favorite patchoulis…

    i have not smelled afire (amazing to say) — but now i want to.

  • chayaruchama says:

    The Mattress Man is in the house !
    Anything I add is redundant…
    Love and admiration have no conditions; he’s my guy.
    Love reading about him, too.

  • Thanks Neil
    Check back tonight the comments keep coming
    My favorite is still afire and I found a new one i love vanilla

    Looking forward to thé home fragrance Line and the new summer scent that evokes cape cod

    I hope you enjoyed the art
    I must admit I am a perfectionist about that
    My favorite section Dune by frank Herbert I have every book in the series now melange would be a great perfume or mu adib or bene geserit
    Smoky spicy the fire that they had to put their hand in hmmm

    I was the most surprised by Jean Claude ellena
    I would love to know why?

  • Chaya
    What could be redundant ? You know Neil far better than our readers! I think we are all wondering why you call him the mattress man…
    Have you tried every single vault fragrance? Is there one part of the interview that is especially evocative ?

  • you smell!!! says:

    What a great interview! Thanks for the amazing draw too, I have and love Neil Morris Midnight Forest, is one of my favorites, if I win I’d love to get the Takashimaya NY, I always wanted to try that one. Thanks once again!!!

  • Wow! His Vault looks wonderful! It is hard to choose, but Leather Garden sounds too good to pass up! Loved the article!

  • My favorite part of the interview was hearing him describe the bespoke perfume process, and how inspiring it is to him.

    If I had to offer him a memory around which to craft a scent it would be sitting in Saunder’s Theatre in Cambridge, MA watching the Whirling Dervishes dance their ecstacy. I remember the scent of wood in that hall, released as people shifted in their seats.

    I am, of course, interested in Rumi from The Vault. 🙂

  • I have had the pleasure of knowing Neil Morris for nearly 15 years. His flare for capturing the essence of a “mood” in his fragrances is unparalleled. Neil’s fragrances have been turning-heads in crowded rooms, for years. I would enthusiastically encourage anyone to try his perfume’ offerings.

  • Love always to you too, darling Ida! Will need an Ida-hug soon!!!

    Thanks, Michelyn! So glad you enjoyed the sample of I LOVE VANILLA! I knew it would suit you. It’s quite new and not even on our site. I wanted to create the Vanilla-lover’s Vanilla!

    The art you chose (as ALWAYS!) was lovely, and I can tell you put a lot of thought into it. Many thanks!

    The DUNE series is awesome and I thought of a MELANGE perfume but one already exists, though not based on DUNE.

    I chose Jean Claude Ellena, though there are many, many perfumers I admire. But I like his minimalist approach to perfumery and though I haven’t met him, I feel him to be very approachable and knid. I also do love his creations, especially FIRST – a classic – and Une Jardin Sur Le Nil, which I love.

    Sergey, I too like the idea of a SHERLOCK perfume and have been thinking about it for a while now. And yes, the REAL Sherlock, not a modern version! Will keep you posted on it.

    Hugs to all!

    Neil

  • Paul Budrow says:

    I have been sampling Neil’s scents and the one that is staying with me, at the moment, is “Mariner”. I say “at the moment” because of the wonderful variety Neil creates. For me, I love deep earthy scents and Neil has some of the best.

  • oh! How wonderful! I was so happy to read that Mr. Morris is a Sherlock Holmes fan, this is a part of the interview that I will never ever forget.

    My favorite Neil Morris perfume is Midnight Tryst, but I loved Rose of Kali which I tried as well. Midnight Tryst I have discovered through a blind sniff, and I absolutely adored it. At the time of the Blind Sniff I did not know Neil Morris perfumes, so this pushed me to exploration.

    On the Basenotes threads devoted to Neil Morris perfumery I read about a perfume called “Spirit of Air” containing linden and some other beautiful notes. Can I have a bottle of that if I am the lucky, lucky, lucky winner? And if this one is not available (as it is not listed in the vault), then Parfum d’Odette, may I please?

    Many thanks for a draw and a great interview. I am looking forward to knowing more about Neil Morris and his fragrant creations informed by everyday experiences and spiritual connections.

  • Michelyn-

    DG here-Just when I think you can’t out do yourself- YOU DO! What a great interview and I know how hard you must work on matching the art with the story-terrific! Neil and I have really appreciated your wonderful support over the years since our meeting at the Algonquin. We are thrilled to see how successful Cafleurebon has become-kudos to you and your team. And thank you for including Neil Morris Fragrances.

  • I’ve never tried any Neil Morris scents (never come across them in Sweden yet). I’d love to try some but how to chose between them they all sound so interesting!perhaps Dark season (to wear during cold winters hear in northern Sweden!) or Izmir.
    I found Neil Morris comment about how you go through cycles when it comes to fragrance appriciation really interesting.

  • rockinruby says:

    Well, I’d hoped Neil would choose one for me if I were to be the lucky winner, but alas, it seems I must specify my Vault scent of choice. I guess I’d go with Dark Season….so hard to choose!!

  • I have known Neil for more than 20 years and he is personally as wonderful as his fragrances. I always get compliments at work when I am wearing a Neil Morris scent. You have to try ASEA if you haven’t already. It has easily become one of my favorite. And I have, over the years, probably worn 30 different Neil Morris Fragrances.
    Signed,
    neil’s Number One Fan

  • ElizabethN says:

    I’ve only tried one of his scents – Dark Earth. I loved it! I think Dark Season sounds right up my alley, too. I also am intrigued by the India series. Hp[e to get to try more soon!

  • I truly enjoyed this interview! I think my favorite part of it was actually the camaraderie between interviewer and interviewee. Truly a delight! Dark Season is the one that captures my heart in words of description, and I’d love to have the chance to try it in reality. I have no doubt that it would far exceed my expectations!

  • sonia garcia says:

    I never tried any of his creations, but now I’d love to! Wow! the description to some of them sound amazing! The part that really got my attention from your interview is the part when you are talking about the Takashimaya NY perfume, OMG the notes and the description sound so amazing! If I win this one (I hope so cause now I really want to try them) I’d love to get the Takashimaya NY if possible. PLEASE!!!!
    Thanks a lot for another excellent interview and amazing draw.

  • Thank you for the interview and the draw! Burnt Amber is, without a doubt, my favorite NM fragrance….though I love the earthy Dark Season as well.

  • cassandra franklin says:

    I have never tried any of these perfumes either but the talk about Afire has me onfire to try it…My favourite part of this interview was the personal exchange where he says he is a child of the 50s and loves the drive in ,diners and Sci-Fi..way cool…

  • I am a fan, too, of Neil Morris and his wonderful rich fragrances. My favorite Neil Morris, and one of my top favorite fragrances from anyone, is Hologram. There’s nothing else like it, and it suits me very well. I also own and love Dark Earth and Mariner. If I’m the lucky winner, I choose Asea!

  • First rate piece Ms. M!

    Have not had a real chance to get to know the Neal Morris fragrance line (but planning on making a beeline to Bendel’s sooner then later!).

    My favorite exchange would be where Neil speaks of his mood changing from loving something and then feeling like you have had enough to getting your mojo back by changing oneself.

    Also, AFIRE got me from your first meow! You sold it well (and probably wore it well, too) my lady!

    Ok, since I’m spinning in the dark here let’s go with Dark Seasons!

  • Oh, Midnight Sea. Because I know how good Neil is at capturing the scent of places and times, and walking by the sea at night is one of my favorite scents, and I feel sure, even though I’ve never smelled it, that this would be the calming of my soul in a bottle.

    Thank you for the interview and the draw!

  • d3m0lici0n says:

    I always heard about Neil Morris, I don’t have any in my collection but know is the perfect chance! I love how his favorite thing to do is creating personal fragrances, I’d love to do that! Who knows! One of these days I just go for it and get a personalized fragrance just for me, wow that sounds really cool, if I win (fingers crossed) I’d love to get the Burnt Amber.

  • P.S. I did not pick a scent in my earlier comment, but it is so hard to choose! I suppose it could be Afire or from the Vault, Asea is appealing because Mr. Morris was inspired by a cruise or maybe Hippie would be fun. Mr. Morris sounds like a genuinely nice individual. Well done on the interview!

  • angie Cox says:

    I’ve never tried one but I loved his idea of working on a Sherlock Holmes inspired perfume. I shall dream of the Rupert Everett languid Holmes as being the inspiration. Lots of B.B.C viewers were shocked at the rather blatant drug taking scenes and dreamy mystical expression caused . I think that helps me smell the leather and wood of his chair the rubber in the band he brings his veins up with and a whiff of opium maybe ?

  • angie Cox says:

    P.S I love the sound of “Flowers for Men , Rose ” . I am a great believer that Rose is wonderful on men.

  • Oh, I loooove this interview! Since the Neil Morris fragrances are so complex, I didn’t think he’d be such a clear-spoken perfumer. And I love that they sell 30ml sizes! I admit that when I started in the hobby, I didn’t care so much about bottles and only the juice, so I was perfectly happy to split a big bottle if needed to get a small amount— but now I really love having the entire presentation (bottle, box, juice, sprayer that eeks out the perfect amount of scent). Thank you for doing 30ml!

    And I love that NM is a fan of Jean Claude Ellena. I wouldn’t have guessed that, because my favorite NM scent (Gotham) is much bigger-boned in my mind than JCE’s style, so I would have thought he wouldn’t like that aesthetic. It’s so interesting to read about what perfumers like!

    There are so many good ones in the Vault… but I think that I would pick Cathedral. I need a really good incense for my collection, and I can hardly think of a better one than that.

    Michelyn- I’m sure that it’s a TON of work to get these interviews, but I really love them! Thank you for putting in the hard work through both sickness and weddings!!

  • to clarify…burnt amber would be the choice for me if I had to choose. There are so many amazing scents in his line but a sample I had of this one satisfied a craving for a smoky sweet ambery perfume when SL’s Fumerie Turque got me interested in the “genre.” I even found Burnt Amber to have some similarities with the late drydown to FT (minus leather), so yes, if God (Neil) were to gift me a bottle it would be that!

  • I have never tried a Neil Morris fragrance, but I have read the description and notes of all of them in the Vault and I would pick Drifting if I won.

    The inverview was really interesting. I loved the comparison between what happened in America with wines and perfumes. I had no idea about the innovations in wines.

    And I love that Neil admires Jean Claude Ellena 🙂

    Thanks for this draw!

  • I picked one fragrance — went with both aldehydes and mimosa/linden. If I am the lucky winner, may the Midnight Star shine on me!!!

  • Yes, it is great to have 30 ml sizes. Sometime even 15 Ml would be enough, because I like a scent for its beauty but it does not always fit my mood or it is a little bit to difficult to wear in public.

    I love those Neils backgroundstories but they make it very difficult to pick a favourite. They are all so intriguing. I would play it save and go for Flowers for Men: Rose.

    Or should I be more daring with Leather Garden? 😉

    One memory I would like to see bootled is a night I slepped outdoors in switzerland on a small hilltop (In my down-sleeping-bag). The moon casted light on the snowfields on the distant mountains, turning them in to cold glittering gemstones. There were occasional sounds of cow bells. All was very peacefull. But besides the fresh mountain air there were no particularly strong smells. So there is now way to translate this to literal into a perfume.

  • One that I tried at the Sniffapalooza Spring Fling and really loved is Mystic Dragon!

  • Hi Everyone! @angie Cox – The Sherlock Holmes scent is in the preliminary stages(it will reflect the stories themselves with Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett thrown in!) and I assure you it will capture the essence of 221B Baker St.! The tentative name for the scent is DEDUCTION. You heard it here first! Lot’s of wood smoke, and since I am also an aficionado of the pipe, there will be ample pipe tobacco scents blending with Black Tea, Vetiver, Leather and White Cedar.

    I am so appreciative to you all for your enthusiasm and very kind comments. You’ve all “made my day” since this interview was posted by the lovely Miss M! And if the winner isn’t sure of their fragrance choice they can contact me directly by phone or email and I’ll be happy to help you decide. Contact info is on our website.

    Fragrant Dreams to All!

    Neil

  • WOW! What can be said about this opportunity. I am painfully not familliar with Neil Morris fragrance. I would be happy to pass the word on about his bespoke creations and a sample that I would be privileged to win.
    It was very intimidating to use a wine list and also complex to undrstand how the flavor pairings would work together and layer. It s a brilliant comparision, really makes a ton of sense. Scent and perfume can intimidate people with the same unfamilliarity. Neil, looks like a fun person to be around nice warm smile. Takashimaya, sounds beyond unique. I would love to give that one a whirl and I could impress all the mommies at the playdate. Perhaps, even inspire them to purchase fragrences that dont come from a Celebrity 🙂 thanks again for a great read.

  • i am a great fan of lilac and i’m dying to try Lilac for men! should i be the lucky winner, i’ll be very happy, if not, i’m purchasing a sample right away.

    thank you for a wonderful interview.
    also loved Ellena reference, and wine comparison (being a wine drinker that i am :))

  • taffynfontana says:

    I have yet to experience a Neil Morris fragrance. I love that he is so passionate about creating fragrances and also enjoyed the insight into his creative process. Bringing memories to life is such a gift. I would love to try Rose of Kali it sounds bewitching.

  • I have only tried one NMF: Rose of Kali. It’s stupendous. That said, I’d be pulled to try almost all of the Midnight scents and the memories of India…

    But boiled down to one choice, I think Rumi calls to me. I’d love to spin, dervish-like.

  • Love that the perfumer recently read Dune. I usually prefer forest scents (Ormonde Woman), but I’ve always wondered how the deserts of Dune would smell. I had high hopes for SL Chergui, but it’s too sweet.

    Leather Garden. There’s something about leather and flowers.

  • Scentabulous says:

    I adore Neil’s fragrances! Gotham is a favorite that I wear the most. I am thrilled to see NMF growing and reaching a wider audience. This fragrance house led by pure heart – my beloved Neil – is going to the stars and beyond! Keep bringing scented joy to us, Neil and David!!

  • I’m a huge huge NM fan as well! Own Gotham and Midnight Tryst, love the smell of Midnight Flowers, Zephyr, Afire and Burnt Amber…from the vault I would love Desert Wind…or Dark Season…or MYSTIC DRAGON! all are amazing! Thanks for the lovely article!

  • I’m still working on my favorite NM fragrance but I come back to Rumi, and that one is in my head.

    I enjoyed the “Frangrance appreciation” section. We all have noses that go off now and then, I think….

  • I love Neil’s obvious passion for his art and his desire to push the boundaries of American perfume and I’m looking forward to trying his fragrances and following what he does in future. I would really like to try his “Intimate Vanilla’, being a vanilla fanatic…’Vanilla for grown-ups’? Sounds perfect!

  • Michelle Hunt says:

    Hooray for self-taught American perfumers! I love reading such an inspiring interview! My favorite part of the article was a small detail – the favorite childhood memory of the scent of a blanket. How easy it is to forget that kind of tender memory, and how wonderful it is to remember it! My vision for the perfect bespoke perfume would be one that captures comfort, serenity, and just a bit of what an individual aspires or imagines to be – a bit of the daring side to contrast against the tender side.
    I would love to enter the draw for Cafe…I’m a sucker for a wonderful gourmand, cafes, and September 🙂

  • Add on to my post way above: I own many and love them all, but would love to add a bottle of Takashimaya or Gandhara to my collection. Thanks!!