Fragrance Reviews: Juliana Parfums Co. Waiheke Island Dreams and Rakino Weekend (Juliana Van Kampen with Yves Dombrowsky) 2015 +The Jewel of The Hauraki Gulf

Sea by Emma Paton ©

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient.

One should lie empty, open and choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea”. -Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Pohutukawa,Waiheke DanuSeith-Fyr for CaFleureBon©

There are many places in this world that elicit feelings of adventure and delight, impassioning the person to action. A once secretive Island is now becoming more and more centre stage on the list of  destinations. Waiheke Island, known as the jewel of the Hauraki Gulf, a stretch of the Pacific littered generously with islands off the coast of Auckland. Living here one can easily becomes blinded to the wonder of it, but the plethora of international travellers tells us that here indeed is a magical place.

Juliana Van Kampen, Juliana Parfums Co

Just 30 years old, Juliana Van Kampen is totally at home on this land, Croatian, Maori and Rarotongan descent, she is a woman of land and sea, spending time creating food on a super-yacht, sailing the coastal waters.There is an ephemeral warmth and vibrancy about her that is both intriguing and calming. Immediately aware of her almost child-like wonder of the world, an inquisitiveness, questioning and absorption in the natural world.

Sand Emma Paton©

Passion for fragrance is something inherent within her; it is a part of her. Effusive when she speaks of her natural way of being, scenting rocks at high tide when they are wet, at low tide exposed to sun or rain, after storms, searching for the minutiae in every aspect of her daily environment inspires her.  Seeking to capture the infinitesimal variety around her.

Art and Olfaction Awards 2016 Finalist for Juliana Parfums Co

Juliana, (an Art & Olfaction Finalist 2016 in The Independent category for Waiheke Dreams), operates ‘under the radar’ as she puts it, seemingly at home in the outside world, yet with a rich and varied inner landscape that nourishes her creations. Family life encouraged her, to be who she is, fostering eccentricity and uniqueness and her mother’s extensive perfume collection proved to draw her time and time again to question the components and the structure. Studies as a graphic designer, once again bought her in cyclical fashion to fragrance, a one- time product brief lead her to look into the history of perfume packaging, vessels and bottles. Chance meeting with French born, Auckland based, Yves Dombrowsky, perfumer-creator led to the creation of her own collection.

 

Palm Beach, DanuSeith-Fyr © 

The first release was aptly named  Waiheke Dreams as this island represents a place of renewal for many, a rock blessed by the sea and the sun. Lush green swathes of sub -tropical bush leading to beaches of sand and a teal colour to the sea that is quite unique. Its natural richness is what Juliana has bought through with this fragrance, capturing the essence of a quintessential New Zealand summer.  New Zealand flora has a very unique scent, it is noticeable as soon as you step outside the airport, there is a woody, spiciness to the air, tropical and moist, emanating from the native bush that thrives in this climate.  Initially there is a play on sweet sunlight, shimmer of phosphorescence. Skin poised after sea, salt sparkling on bronze, a light drift of air across heated skin, the soft salinity of a hot summer day on the coast.

Gulf Islands, Danu Seith-Fyr ©

Praline creaminess that is reminiscent of a speciality ice cream found in numerous outlets at the beach; creamy vanilla with a touch of the gourmand crème patisserie, a light whisper of France.  The ripeness of scarlet fruits in an interplay with rosewater, warmly heated roses, sunbathed. Oleaginous coconut oil on skin warmed by sun. After a few hours there opens a play of tonka, amber, seagrass and rich sandalwood again warmed like the dry down of a hot day as it rolls into evening, the bush alive with cicadas and the native woods fragrance subsuming the scent of the ocean. Notes: Praline, Pina colada, Summer fruits, Vanilla,Coconut, Rosewater, Candy, Sandalwood, Amber, Marine accords and Seagrass

Into the Blue,Waiheke Island, DanuSeith-Fyr©

Rakino is a different Island, not far from Waiheke but far more of a retreat, less populated and more removed from the cityRakino Weekend has a whiff of 4711 about it, a colognesque spritz that immediately conjures the salinity of sea salt mist as huge breakers surf into the beach, it is ozonic and vaporous, on the opening, a clearing of the mind, an inhalation of pure oxygen. West coast beaches with tumbling forces of wind and surf, and a continuum that reaches into the moist native bush, like hands delving into warm compost unearthing aromas of rich spice, a bursting pink peppercorn strides out mid opening doused in gin and native wild ginger flowers, boozy and heady. Carrying the fragrance into its depths are woods in profusion, sandalwood again, cedarwood, rimu and an exotic teak, all imbibing this fragrance with a yearning for solitary moments in a luscious landscape. Notes: Green accord, Grass, Paper, Pepper, seaweed, Sea spray, Gin, Cucumber and Cologne, Amber, Sandalwood, Leather, Marine accords.

Juliana Parfums  Co Rakino Weekend and Waiheke Dreams, photo by Danu Seith Fyr ©

Thanks to the generosity of Juliana Perfumes, we have  30ml bottle of Waiheke Dreams 

Or

1 x 30ml Rakino Weekend

Or

10 ml rollerballs of both Waiheke Dreams and Rakino Weekend.

 A registered reader anywhere in the world can enter. To be eligible please leave a comment with what appeals to you about Juliana’s fragrances based on Danu’s reviews, where you live and which of the two you think you would like, if you are a sea or sand type of person, and the Juliana Parfums  Co fragrance (set or individual) should you win. Draw closes 2/28/2017

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

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28 comments

  • I loved to read this.. They both sound wonderful. I live in Madeira Island Portugal and I’m surrounded by sea and sun. But we don’t have the beautiful golden sand as New Zealand does, so I’d love to win the 30ml Waiheki Dreams. Thank you for this giveaway

  • acquiredtaste says:

    I like how the perfumes are based on the beach. I think I would prefer Waiheki Dreams. I am a sea type of person. I live in Malaysia and I would live to win the rollerball set.

  • Patrick Echevarria says:

    Love the beach and being the theme in her fragrances,it makes it more interesting to me. The 30ml Rakino Weekend appeals me most.Hope to win it. Cross fingers. From San Diego California here.

  • Beautiful article, sounds like a lot of love and sea was put into these. I’d be honored with either, although if given the choice I would choose rakino weekend !

  • The fragrances sound so warm and at the same time fresh. They are a different kind of aquatic, don’t seem thin and baseless. I am in the US. I do love the sea and sand, I find them so calming, I could spend all day just wandering around on the beach (I have!) I would like to try the 30 mL Waiheke Dreams, the individual.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Never heard before about these perfumes Thanks for the introduction and review of Waiheke Dreams and Rakino Weekend. Both sound freshness but Rakino Weekend is appealing more to me. Sea & Sand has close relation to each other so love both. Thanks to the generosity of Juliana Perfumes and Cafleurebon for the opportunity, would love to win 30ml bottle of Rakino Weekend.
    Peshawar, Pakistan

  • As soon as I read salt mist and ozonic I knew which of these I wanted most. Love to have the bottle of Rakino Weekend should I be picked. Oh and I’m a sand type. 🙂 US

  • I think I’d like both, but the Waiheke Dreams sound more original and something that lacks in my collection. I go for the beach! I live in Europe, thanks for the draw.

  • Kia Ora Juliana 🙂 thanks for igniting my Waiheke Island memories, a place my parents lived in and where I was many a time-I’m a sea type- can’t wait to find your treasure! love to try the 30 mL Waiheke Dreams of course and congrats on getting to the finalist round-. Much success to you. I an in Wellington NZ. Thanks as well for the generous draw

  • Waiheke Dreams sounds positively.. well, dreamy! Like a summer vacation in a bottle. Praline combined with marine notes is so unique, I’ve never smelled anything in that vein. Would love to win the 30ml of Waiheke Dreams 🙂 As for sea vs sand – I’m definitely a sand person. The ocean is beautiful to look at, but large bodies of water terrify me. I’m okay dipping my toes, anything deeper I just can’t do. In the US. Thank you for the draw!

  • The notes in Waiheke Dreams sound sooo appealing! that is the one I’d like should I win, for sure (the 30ml)! the combinatio of sun lotion, ice cream, ripe fruits and herbal qualities really is a whole package for a “by the seaside” vacation-inspired fragrance.

    I’m more of a sea person, sand gets stuck everywhere, and it’s hell to get it off you, haha.

    I live in Romania, EU.

  • I am a sea type of person. I always very love to swim in the beautiful sea. Unfortunately, I can do it very rare. These perfumes sounds very interesting from the review. One of my dream is to go one day to New Zealand. If I would win. My choice is Waiheke Dreams. Thank you for the draw. I live in Europe.

  • Wow, what a beautiful place, I would like to go there. Although the fresh air sense of Rakino Weekend sounds fabulous, I would choose Waiheke Dreams, still looking for that perfect suntan-beachy scent. I am both a seas and sand person, I’ll take either! I live in Canada, thank you for the draw.

  • I love marine scents. I can’t stop smelling myself if a fragrance captures the smell of sea salt. I like to look at the sea but reside on the sand. I’d welcome the two rollerballs should I be chosen. USA

  • I’m definitely a sea person. Both of these sound lovely, but I think I’d take Weekend if i were lucky enough to win. Thanks so much for the draw. I live in the USA

  • Thanks for introducing new perfumes and places. “A woman of land and sea” is a very simple and complete definition. I like green/woody notes and I would take Rakino Weekend. Live in the USA.

  • Wow that review makes me think of being on Capri and also St Thomas, loving the sea. I am a sea person, I love the water. I used to swim every day. I love the description of the Waiheke scent especially, the writing makes you get a sense of what it would ‘feel’ like as well as smell like. Very evocative style. Also those bottles are gorgeous!!! Really lovely, I need some just for the art style alone.

    I’m in the USA, and would love to try the two rollerballs.

  • Having grown up by the sea, this article made me miss the ocean. What a lucky young lady to be doing what she is doing. Beautiful photos as usual. I would love to win the Waiheke Dream scent. I live in the U.S. Thanks for the draw and keeping us readers informed on what’s exciting in the fragrance world.

  • Elaine Richard says:

    I’m a sea person and would love the Rakino Weekend. It’s so different than most of the florals I usually use. Love the unique New Zealand spicy, with fragrant ginger blossom scent. Also the sandalwood, teak base sounds divine.
    I am in the US. Thanks for the contest.

  • While I would consider as the sand type I would love to receive that bottle of Rakino. I am curious to experience an aquatic scent by someone who seems to live that concept!

  • I love the concept of Waiheke Dream, incorporating not only the blue, green and florals, but also ice cream! I am sadly only a sand person, as I never learned to swim. I would choose Waiheke Dream as it sounds like a wonderful fantasy to me. I live in the US.

  • Sounds absolutely wonderful. I love summer fragrances and the description of Weekend is so tempting: “a colognesque spritz that immediately conjures the salinity of sea salt mist as huge breakers surf into the beach, it is ozonic and vaporous, on the opening, a clearing of the mind, an inhalation of pure oxygen…”. I’d love to win a bottle of Weekend. Thanks for the chance and greetings from Norway!

  • I am a sea type of person. Love swimming, diving, fishing, breathing in the salty air. Nothing makes me more happy than a holiday by the seaside.
    I admire Juliana’s creativity and curiosity about the world. I am sure both scents are great but my choice would be 30ml Rakino Weekend. Thank you for the draw. I live in the EU.

  • Visiting the beaches of New Zealand has been a dream of mine for a long time. I imagine such purity and an immediate feeling of renewal. Would it be tropical like Brazil, a country I know so well?
    I would choose the rollerballs if I were to win the draw.
    I live in the USA.

  • I am a sand type of person, but when it comes to perfumes, I think I would enjoy Weekend more, especially if it is really a little similar to 4711 which was one of my very first colognes. I love the pictures, NZ looks like a real heaven on earth.

    I would choose a bottle of Rakino Weekend. Thank you for so generous draw.

    (EU)

  • Definitely a sand type. Both of these scents sound so good! Perfect vacation fragrances. My choice would be Rakino Weekend

    Canada

  • Probably more of a sand than sea. Lean towards Rakino but would love to try rollerball of both. Im in the USA