ÇaFleureBon Celebrates Six Years : Olivier Durbano, Frank Voelkl of Firmenich, Etienne de Swardt, Laurie Erickson Day 2 (Dedicated to Tama Blough)

beautiful  pink rose photo Tal Shpantzer for CaFleureBon

Pink Rose Petal image by Tal Shpantzer :  Cafleurebon 6th Anniversary ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 In our first 6th anniversary post I referred to past trials. One was the untimely death of former Deputy Editor Tama Blough. She entered the ÇaFleureBon world first as a reader and on September 12, 2011 she wrote her first review (of a note she always found difficult –iris and learned to love) Xerjoff Irisss. Her last post was Perfume for The Designated Driver, New Year’s Eve December 31. 2014, a little over a week before she passed away on January 9, 2015.

olivier durbano esxcense  photo Tama Blough

Olivier Durbano Photo ByTama Blough Milan Excense  March 20, 2014

What is the significance of the number 6? Does six years really deserve all this attention? I asked our spiritual friend Olivier Durbano of Olivier Durbano Stones Poems, jewelry and scarves of the  meaning of the number 6.  He said “Six is the number of beauty and harmony that is a loop from between us and the heavens. It is our third eye chakra, our sixth sense. We have all had hunches, when we open our third eye we act upon them.  If six had an odor it would smell like rose and stone”.

tama blough cafleurebon

Tama Blough, 2014

 Tama’s favorite flower was the rose. She formed a very close connection to Olivier when they met at Esxence 2014.  Also in Milan, she met Etienne de Swardt of Etat Libre D’Orange and  fell for their surprising scent simplynamed Cologne.  One of Tama’s favorite perfumes was Le Labo Benjoin 19 There are a lot of perfumes I love deeply, that sing to my soul, and they are not lesser than this, but this is, in perfumista terms, a Holy Grail. The perfumer behind this miracle is Frank Voelkl.”  And Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scent, was very much present in Tama's ground breaking article The Sisterhood of The West Coast Speaks Out.

Tama is always with us, in our hearts and her words live on our pages. So today, Day Two, is dedicated to Tama. She would be the first to raise a glass of cider to our 6th anniversary –Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

michelyn camen and  olivier Durbano

Michelyn and Olivier Esxence 2015

6 years ago , I received a message from Michelyn  that she was starting her own site, Cafleurebon.  Proud and touched by the words of Michelyn Camen. Step by Step, perfume by perfume, we learned to know each other better, with respect, discretion and affection…I met Tama in Milano and I loved her from the very first minute I saw her face.  Last year in Milano, I met Michelyn Camen for the first time, we fell in  each other’s arms, full of emotions  and without a word we communicated about  those we miss.  Perfume remains with us, as we celebrate life and the people we hold dear. With love on this the 6th anniversary-Oliver Durbano, Oliver Durbano Stone Poems

 

etiennene de swardt

Etienne De Swardt

On the sixth anniversary of Cafleurebon, Etat Libre d’Orange hails this outstanding perfume site and Michelyn Camen, its publisher and editor-in-chief.  As an authentic voice and advocate for niche perfumery, Michelyn’s commentary and her team’s reviews are greatly appreciated.  We rejoice in her compliments, we take her critiques seriously, and we know our efforts will always be treated with intelligence and sensitivity.  She has a permanent visa to enter into the Orange Free State! Congratulations on your anniversary, and we look forward to many more years of a warm relationship”.-Etienne de Swardt, Creative Director of Etat Libre D’Orange

Michelyn Camen and Frank Voelkl of Firmenicn

Michelyn Camen and Frank Voelkl of Firmenich (June 5, Fragrance Foundation Awards 2015: Photo Luca Maffei

"Congratulations to the 6th Anniversary of CaFleureBon ! You have done an amazing job as a journalist to bring fragrance and our world of creation closer to Consumers and fragrance lovers. It has been fun working with you and I wish you lots of success in the years to come!"Frank Voelkl, Sr Perfumer Firmenich

Laurie erickson sonoma scent studio

Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scent Studio

"Happy Birthday to Cafleurebon! Congratulations to Michelyn and the team on six years of amazing and comprehensive coverage of the perfume world. Many thanks for all you do for artisan perfumery and for helping to nurture a strong community. Your creative combinations of unique stories and beautiful artwork bring the passion alive for your readers. Best wishes for many more years to come!" Laurie Erickson, Artisan Perfumer and Founder of Sonoma Scent Studio.

Over the next five days you will read many more personal thoughts and congratulations from wonderful people in Perfume World. Their heartfelt best wishes are truly humbling. Of course there will be a surprise for one reader on day 6. Feel free to leave a comment !

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18 comments

  • Tama cannot be replaced, she will never be forgotten, and she will always be remembered. I know how proud she was to be a contributor here, and how much she loved you, Michelyn. I am still in awe of how the fragrance community surrounded her with so much love and support, culminating in her dream-come-true trip to Milan.

  • I remember the sisterhood post. What a wonderful story about the number 6. I love that photo of Michelyn and Oliver and seeing Tama. Cafleurebon rocks !! I enjoy reading each of the perfumers testimonials

  • I am glad you dedicated this to Tama Blough. I liked reading her posts and was saddened to hear of her illness and death. What added to the sadness was that she seemed like a person who truly enjoyed life. What was good was all the love sent her.

  • Elizabeth T says:

    It’s so nice to read these great thoughts! CaFleureBon truly does foster the perfume community… all aspects of it, too, from the natural and indie perfumers to the great perfume houses. You are truly appreciated!!!

  • fazalcheema says:

    I remember Tama loved Rose the most which may be also why Tanja created San Francisco Rose for Tama. Reading this article has really made me curious about Benjoin and I clicked and read the article on Benjoin that Tama wrote. I think Frank has probably been the most successful collaborator for Le Labo given he has given them Santal 33 and Benjoin 19 among others.

  • I am enjoying all of these messages from the perfumers and I respect today’s remembrance of Tama.

    (And I especially love Laurie Erickson!)

  • Thomas Turbano says:

    I see it’s not just us, readers, thatlove Cafleurebon, but also perfumers that make this happy community!!! Happy Anniversary.

  • What a beautiful article. Even though I never got to met Tama in person, I felt a strong connection here with her on FB. We both loved perfume, animals, Words with Friends and Hawaii.
    She was so kind and generous and I am grateful for what I learned from her.
    Congratulations Cafleurebon! Keep up the awesome work you are doing!!

  • Many congratulations Michelyn and the team on six years of Cafleurebon! A lovely tribute and such beautiful words from Olivier Durbano. All of the perfumers quotes are heartfelt and humbling – a true testament of the deep respect and friendships that you have built, and the impact you have made. Thank you!

  • This article was a beautiful tribute to Tama! I remember her articles and her love for fragrance. She is the CaFlerueBon angel that you know by name. Rest in peace sweet angel!

  • Always enjoyed reading Tama’s fragrance reviews, though them one could get a feel of what a beautiful person she must have been. RIP Tama.

  • I have a friend who believes the number 6 represents harmony. I think that fits CaFleureBon’s sixth anniversary very well. It is a place where the super-stars of fragrance work together to create a lovely harmony. I am grateful for the thoughts they share with us as readers.

  • I never read about Tama until now but I will read her past reviews so tragic. Love all the people featured and that dress Michelyn oooh la la
    My favorite was Olivier Durbanos scent of 6

  • Tama is indeed missed. I bought one of the lovely limited edition rose perfumes that April Aromatics created on her behalf and I think of her, a fellow perfume lover, every time I spray it. RIP

  • Thank you for deticating this post to Tama–she was a wonderful person. and greatly missed.