CaFleureBon Favorite Fall Fragrances 2011 Part 1: Tama, RedNeck Perfumisto & Michelyn + Autumn Draw

 Tama's photography!

Its September, but officially it's Autumn. It's 73 degrees today in New York, not quite sweater weather, but time to start  transitioning into cold weather scents.  We have grown over the past year, so let's begin with Tama Blough, Neil Sternberg (aka the Redneck Perfumisto), and Michelyn Camen's favorite scents as we get ready  to 'switch closets."

 TAMA

"Living in San Francisco, I can pretty much wear cool-weather fragrances all year, until fall, when summer starts. I could be cheeky and list out my summer favorites  now that it’s here, but cool weather will be upon me soon enough.  

My favorite autumn spice scent is Aurora, from Farmacia SS. Annunziata dal 1561. During a time of year when we start having more food-oriented celebrations, Aurora blends in beautifully. It is warming and cozy without being sweet, a rarity in a gourmand.

For everyday wear, I am loving Esprit d’Oscar by Oscar de la Renta. It opens with a lively soft citrus and floral song, and morphs into one of the most feminine drydowns I have in my collection. It makes me feel enveloped in a snuggly soft sweater that fits me very, very well

By Kilian’s Cruel Intentions is wonderful for fall. This is one of my most sensuous perfumes, and when I first tried it, I was transfixed, suddenly understanding what perfume enthusiasts mean by “Holy Grail”. It is a perfect animalic oud, tempered by sweet blossoms and vanilla.

 

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz  of DSHPerfumes   takes the prize with her new release, Pandora. This scent is a truly stunning blend of modern and vintage aromas, with an earthy, mossy quality.  Using a reinterpretation of a classic mousse de saxe and plenty of powdery orris,  Pandora is magnetic and impossible to resist. Time travel with me  to  Paris circa 1920s, and discover a fragrance that is a love child born of Coty Chypre and Frederic  Malle's Iris Poudre…Tama Blough, Contributor

 

 NEIL

Married to my fall favorites? Hardly! In fact, they're different every year. Fall is the time to try out those new, rich, robust scents. I don’t know – maybe it's just that I am SO wanting to see that hilarious Bridesmaids movie. In any case, here they are – the good luck foursome:

 Something Old: Fahrenheit

 Fahrenheit comes into its own as a fall fragrance. If you've passed this up as gasoline-soaked wood or death by violet leaf in the spring and summer, drop into the department store on a cold fall morning and give it another sniff. It will smell like it was meant to be. Daring women can pull this one off, to the kinky excitement of men, but if you're unsure that you can rock a lumberjack's flannel shirt open down the middle, try the next one.

 Something New: Chanel no. 19 Poudré

 I'm really loving this one now. Think of good old green-grass no. 19 being brought fully into the modern, extra-powdery Chanel vibe, but this time with Prada-level iris and Rodriguez-level musks. I'm not sure why this one is so appealing now. It seems like it should be a spring scent, but maybe the powder is reminding me of snow flurries to come. Just like Eau Première made the venerable no. 5 wearable by American guys, this one expands the target range for the already-very-wearable no. 19. Not your average flanker.

  

Something Borrowed: Lubin Bluff

My friend Primrose turned me on to this one – Lubin's tribute to the American Wild West, and a fragrant elegy for a Gold-Rush saloon gal who was buried with her cherished bottle of Lubin at her side. This is one of the freshest, coolest, windiest vetivers you're likely to smell, but with all of the classy French vibe that undoubtedly thrilled both the bordello clients and dandies of Deadwood. When I smelled a bit of Idole's rum in Bluff's whiskey, I had to smile. Colorado Charlie would have surely loved the stuff. Call this cowboy impressed.

 Something Blue: Bleu de Chanel

 OK, I will admit that I'm married to this one. When it was introduced last fall, I was wondering why on earth a fresh blue scent would be introduced in the dog days of summer instead of the beginning. Now I know. This fragrance is great year-round, and it wears like a different fragrance every season. Whether you think Polge is a genius for coming up with such a universally lovable scent, or an evil genius for planting the Chanel flag squarely in the middle of the mainstream, one thing is certain. This fragrance rocks in the fall. –Neil Sternberg aka Redneck Perfumisto, Contributor

 

 MICHELYN

Roja Dove is not just a perfumer, but a perfume designer; there is no other explanation why Unspoken, a modern chypre transforms from a summer garden in Provence into the hidden passage way  of a mysterious Nobleman's chambers. I discovered this in 2008 through my skin twin Carol Tatti, and bought Unspoken UNSNIFFED. When I waft Unspoken (even in a pair of sweat pants) anyone within two feet  away gets a sense of décolleté, my Louboutin  stilettos (sorry YSL I prefer  CL red soles)  and  my doppelganger, Emma Peel …charming ,elegant and deadly (and the English are supposed to be so sensible).

I admit that the opening of Caron En Avion is my absolute favorite in perfumery (that I have experienced so far)… it's bewitchingly beautiful, daring, sexy and breathtaking. (I own En Avion in extrait (there is no point in getting the EdPs of a Caron urn fragrance IMO). I don’t understand why Tabac Blonde gets the all press, when En Avion,a  slightly sweeter ‘leather- floral’ (actually an illusion of leather and not as harsh on me). I applaud Richard Fraysee for keeping the formula so close to the original by Ernest Daltrow’s from 1929. I have tried both and I prefer the modern version. I suppose I am not meant to be Blonde

It wasn’t an apple that tempted Adam, it probably was Eve’s scent. And she would smell like Michel Roudnitska’s frankly sensual and intriguing perfume for Parfums Delrae. Bois de Paradis is a warm blend of woods, blackberry, fig, rose, amber, and spices that undulates like a snake, beckoning you to abandon all thoughts of heaven and flee into the wilderness; who wants to be ignorant even in paradise?- Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

Now how can we leave you without an autumnal draw. Never offered before on any other blog  15ml of Dawn Spencer  Hurwitz's Pandora AND a 1.7 ounce of  Parfums delRae Bois de Paradis which has made my favorite autumn scent two years in a row.

sorry its 10ml  for pandora, DSH doesnt make 15ml

To be eligible, leave a comment on which of these eleven fragrances you are lemming  or love and send some extra love to Michel, DelRae and Dawn.  Draw closes Friday September 30, 2011 .We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume

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40 comments

  • I’m a fan of Bois de Paradis, and all the recent reviews of Pandora make it sound so great! I also like Cruel Intentions (really, the whole By Kilian line)

  • Lovely post…and how does one exactly come up with only ONE choice?? I’m excited to try both Pandora and now En Avion…but I do adore Bois de Paradis!
    LOVE,
    Ragna

  • Oh my gosh, now I must try Aurora. I followed the link to Lucky Scent, and that bottle just went on my want-list!

    I’ve sampled Bois de Paradis, and it’s just not my thing. I’d love to try Pandora, though. I have yet to miss the mark with a DSH fragrance.

  • I am lemming Pandora, it should be my fit according to description. Much love to Michel,. DelRae and Dawn!!

  • I’m seriously lemming Pandora. Dawn has several fragrances that I love and after reading all the good review of Pandora, I’m dying to try it! Thanks for a great draw!

  • I feel most of the Lubins are underrated maybe because they do not demand the typical niche prices. I own Idole and L’eau Neuve. The classical Vetiver is on my buylist, but I have to sample Bluff and Itasca before buying.

    Among the perfumes on you list I still like Fahrenheit. It is a nice late summer, early autumn scent.

  • I would really love to try Pandora! I wouldn’t mind a bottle of Bois de Paradis too. Thanks to DSH and DelRae and CaFleureBon for the giveaway!

  • I’m lemming Pandora and Chanel 19 Poudré. And now that I read about Bois de Paradis it sounds absolutely wonderful.
    Much love to Michel and Dawn. They are really talented.
    And I have tried some DelRae perfumes and they are lovely and really well made.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Some lovely ideas for autumn fragrances, and lots of lemmings… The two I am most lemming to are Bois de Paradis and Unspoken. The Roja Dove fragrances are haunting me, and need to be tried soon, very soon.
    Thanks for the autumnal draw:-)

  • I would love to try Pandora! I’ve heard so many good things about it. And Bois de Paradis has been one I’ve desired for a long time now. Autumn is my favorite season! For fragrance as well as all of my senses, I look forward to the sights and the smells and the sounds, all the feelings that go along with the changes that the season brings are so cozy and warm. Autumn blessings and love to Michel and Dawn and everyone at Cafleurebon!

  • I’ve read only good things about Bois de Paradis, and I’ve read only praise for Dawn’s perfumes! I’m intrigued by both of these scents, as well as by Aurora and En Avion! I love fall scents. Love to Michel, Dawn, and DelRae!

  • I am dying to try Pandora! After reading all of the reviews, I think it’s one that could become a favorite. Thank you for the giveaway!

  • I’ve received a sample of Pandora (thank you Dawn!) and would not, at all, mind 15 mls of it. Chanel #19 Poudre, while lovely, is too much like Prada Iris to get too excited over. Unspoken, on the other hand, any day any way. Thanks all!

  • I think I have tried every DelRae but Bois de Paradis (Amoureuse is one of my Top Ten perfumes), now I’m itching to try this as well. And Pandora? You had me just with the name, but “Paris circa 1920s” doesn’t hurt either!

  • I won’t enter the draw so as to let someone else have the opportunity to win. Just wanted to say that the photograph on top is breathtaking…it looks like an impressionist painting! And thank you CaFleureBon for introducing me to some really talented perfumers. Due to your great articles on American perfumers I have enhanced my fall perfume wardrobe and will be anointing myself with the following: Sonoma Scent Studio Lieu de Reves and Champagne de Bois, Ineke’s Field Notes from Paris (if I can figure out a way to reclaim my full size bottle which was confiscated by my 12 and 14 y.o. daughters 🙂 !!!!) and 1000 Flowers Reglisse Noire (which brings me such incredible joy as I huff away at my wrist all day long!) Happy Autumn to all!

  • What a great draw! Thank you! I’ve been lemming the By Kilian Cruel Intentions after hearing much discussion of it. I haven’t tried any of the scents listed above but I did just remember that I have a sample of Esprit d’Oscar I should try out! Shout out to Michel, DelRae and Dawn!

  • I am afraid that I am lemming all — that’s right, a-l-l — scents from Michelyn’s lineup. The only difference is, I also love Tabac Blond. (I have auburn hair). I haven’t tried En Avion and I will make an effort to try it. Bois de Paradis sound really beautiful in your writing, Michelyn, their smell and the philosophic underpinning. Never tried Unspoken and guess what, how would anyone not want to try it after such intro!

    I am also interested in trying #19 Poudre, sounds lovely year around, and chances are that I will try it this Fall… which is, as Tama aptly noted, when the Summer starts in some parts of the world!

    I tried and liked Pandora (thank you Dawn!) and I cannot wait to try it on a really cool and crisp Autumn day. It’s vintage and elegant, it’s green and earthy, and it is very lovely! It had not opened up all its secrets to me yet, and I know that Hope is on the bottom.

    Thanks for a great Fall inspiration and another fabulous draw!

  • I have a small decant of En Avion and I just love it! I also have a love my small decant of Tabac Blond. I have heard so many good things about Pandora and I would like to try it. Our weather here in New England has gotten warm and humid again but we are expecting it to break by the end of the week. I can’t wait! I am so over summer.

  • I am a DSH fangirl from a long time back, so I would have to say I’m lemming Pandora ever since I first read about it. However, Unspoken has me curious as well. I have heard repeated positive reviews.

  • I’d love Bois de Paradis!! I think the Oscar de la Renta sounds interesting. I’m lemming L’Etat Libre d’Orange’s Like This!

  • I would love to have any of these fragrances, but the only one I am familiar with is the Chanel #19 Poudre, as I am a Chanel girl from way back. I would love Pandora. Thank you for offering the draw.

  • I was already lemming Bois de Paradis before this post because I’ve got the body cream (deliriously delicious) but not the EDP, except for this tiny sample from which I’ve been judiciously dabbing. It’s my favorite of the Delrae line, though I also love Eau Illuminee.

  • I would love a sniff of Pandora. I do not own any DSH and I have always read and heard wonderful things about her scents. I love Cruel Intentions. Another great job by Tama and the redneck and Michelyn, Michale, DelRae and Dawn>

  • Eventhough i was never a huge Chanel fan, i find myself being drawn to some of their fragrance. I ended up buying Chanel No.19 Poudre and adore this easy to wear fragrance. It will be in my year round arsenal. The one i would love to try is the DSH Pandora, i heard so many great things about this one, so its a must try. Thank you again for a fab draw.

  • taffynfontana says:

    The scent that triggers my inner lemming is Bois de Paradis by Parfums Del Rae, I love your vivid description.

  • I’d love to try anything, I tried Eau Iluminee from DelRae and it was fantastic, I’d love to try and win Bois de Paradise. And also now that autumn is here i’ll try to get some Cruel Intentions. So many choices…so little money…

  • Thank you, Tama and Michelyn for your lovely words for Pandora! And to be in the line up with so many other glorious Fall fragrances; you honor me.

    Thank you SO much for the awesome SHOUT OUTS! You sure know how to make a perfumer feel good! 🙂

  • I’ve been dying to try Dawn perfumes for a while and Pandora seems an amazing start!

    I tried Cruel Intentions and it is a good fit for the fall. Love it.

  • I am lemming Pandora so bad, I can nearly taste it (well, I could actually taste it from my sample, but probably shouldn’t). So many other perfumes in this article are lemming worthy that I couldn’t choose just one.

  • there has been so much talk about pandora now that if I don´t get to try it soon I will selfcombustLOL My favourite DSH is cimabue. My favourite DelRae is emotionnelle.

  • Recently I read many great things about Unspoken so I lemming it a lot.

    Out of all other perfumes mentioned I enjoy wearing the latest Chanel’s flanker – No.19 Poudre.

  • florence raab says:

    En avion by CARON is a mystery for me, a kind of secret a few women would exchange each other since many years. I could have tried it a few times but I never really did…..I didn’t meet this scent whereas I want to…..The little store of Caron on Avenue Montaigne in Paris is very impressive, tiny, cute, smart and just like it’s been built two centuries ago.
    I will smell En avion because I’ve read your comment, it’s completely different of what I heard about it before……. I wanted to test it before this evening only to know it.
    Now, I want to smell it because I feel it could be a moment of pure pleasure and become a love story. Thanks…….again…… The world of perfumes is so rich……endless.

  • Loved this article. Art is beautiful too. Tama great shot. Don’t enter me in the draw either this time. Fall is on of my favorite times of year. Hard choices as they all sound amazing but my lemming is for Bois de Paradis:-) As always a wonderful read.

  • Hi Tama, Neil, and Michelyn, and Happy Fall to everyone! I’m with Michelyn on En Avion. What a beauty, and such a wearable leather fragrance! Lemming? I’m very eager to try Pandora. Everything about it sounds wonderful! Thanks for the draw.

  • I can’t wait to try DSH’s Pandora, especially after so many wonderful reviews! Wonderful post with lots of scents for me to go research and ponder. Although my bank account may not thank you, I certainly do! 😀
    Holly

  • I recently got DSH Bancha Extreme and I loved it! From your article i’d love to try Caron En Avion, I always wanted to try all Caron Urn perfumes, but they are really hard to find.
    I’d love to get Bois de Paradise. Thanks!