Shelley Waddington of En Voyage Perfumes

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role as Editor in Chief of ÇaFleureBon is that I have collaborated on a number of fragrances with some of the most talented artisan perfumers on the planet . While each project allowed me to flex my creative muscles, perhaps the most challenging was to work with Shelley Waddington of En Voyage Perfumes on Zelda (2013), an olfactory exploration of the complicated life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald.  Incredibly,  Zelda (the perfume) took on a life of her own.  Blogger accolades, multiple awards, this fragrance resonated with so many perfumistas worldwide

Zelda Fitzgerald, 1927 and Vintage ad for Caron Bellodgia

Last week, I received a note from Shelley that she was set to launch a new perfume named Fiore di Bellagio.   She had spent the past year delving deeper into the history of women's fragrances that were popular in the Roaring Twenties when Zelda was the "First American Flapper" .  The 1920s was a turning point in the twentieth century especially in the Arts and in American Culture. Women were discovering their sexuality and independence; they bobbed their hair and they threw away their corsets. Like the "Lost Generation", the vintage formulas of the great fragrances created during this time, including Guerlain Shalimar (1925) which Zelda Fitzgerald was thought to have worn, CHANEL No 5 (1921), Lanvin My Sin (1924)  are lost or preserved in tiny amounts in musuems.  So what was the genesis of Fiore di Bellagio? Shelley wrote me,  "I mused for months about which perfumes might have been on Zelda’s dressing table.  What was THE arresting new fragrance of that time that would best suit her complex personality? I knew immediately; Caron’s Bellodgia which was composed by the legendary perfumer Ernest Daltroff in 1927.”

Fiore di Bellagio Eau de Parfum: inspired by the astonishing beauty of the carnations Perfumer Ernest Daltroff encountered in the garden of Villa Serbelloni during an Italian vacation to Bellagio on the shore of Lake Como. An opulent blend of Florentine Iris, Bulgarian Rose Otto, and Vintage Resins are a sensual backdrop for the spicy facets of the precious carnation.

According to Shelley, "When creating Fiore di Bellagio I was not interested in reconstructing Caron’s Bellodgia, but reinterpreting it so that it was modern with a nod to the vintage origins. Carnation is still the star of the show, with a brighter less sweet opening.  Fiore di Bellagio is more dramatic, less "perfumey", bolder, and spicier than its inspiration with a dark animalic base; a perfect scent for Zelda.  I used a high percentage of natural ingredients as was customary during that time".

*Top Notes: Italian Lemon and Citrus, Green Leaves, Ylang Ylang

Heart Notes: Spicy Carnation; Gardenia absolute, Jasmin absolute, Bulgarian Rose Otto, Muguet, Violet, Bois de Rose

Base Notes: Dark Vanilla, Antique Sandalwood, Iris Florentine (Orris absolute), Costus Oil, Vintage Resins, Civet and Musks

Fiore di Bellagio is an exquisitely crafted eau de parfum using a very high percentage of pure extraits and proprietary blends. All En Voyage Perfumes are created, compounded, bottled and packaged at Shelley Waddington’s Studio in San Jose, California.

Fiore di Bellagio will be available at EnVoyage Perfumes and select stockists beginning September 15, as .6 oz Eau de Parfum spray ($75.00) and as .25 oz parfum extrait ($95.00).  If you would like to preorder you can do so here

–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

 

 "Ellerslie", located in Edgemoor, Delaware was home to F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald from 1927 to 1929

Editor's Note: *According to Caron, the original notes for Bellodgia are bergamot, lemon, nutmeg, pimento berries, carnation, ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine, orris, vetiver, vanilla, sandalwood and musk. Zelda, F.Scott Fitzgerald and their daughter Scottie moved to Delaware in1927, and lived for two years in a mansion named Ellerslie, which was rumored to be haunted. They continued to throw wild parties, entertain the literati, and it could have been possible that a guest returning from Paris brought a bottle of Caron Bellodgia for Zelda or perhaps Zelda found it herself when the Fitzgerald family left once again for Europe in 1929.

Thanks to Shelley Waddington we have a worldwide draw of five samples of Fiore di Bellagio Eau de Parfum for five ÇaFleureBon readers. To be eligible please leave a comment as to why you would like to win Fiore di Bellagio and where you live. Draw closes September 15, 2014.

We announce the winners only on site and our Facebook page, so like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will just be spilled perfume.