New Perfume Reviews: DSH Perfumes Giverny in Bloom, Le Jardin Vert, La Danse des Bleus et des Violettes & Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses + Olfactive Impressionism Draw

Claude Monet, in his garden, by Étienne Clémentel, c. 1917

Claude Monet, in his garden, by Étienne Clémentel, c. 1917

Ahh, the sights and smells of Giverny….what a glorious place it must have been and still is. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes has created  olfactive paintings for her upcoming collaboration with the Denver Museum of Art  entitled In Bloom: Painting Flowers in the Age of Impressionism which debuts July 19, 2015.  Dawn has composed four different fragrances, based on accords that will be used as ambience scenting at the Exhibition. Each has been expanded into more complex composition and  translate the key aspects of this artistic genre into scent; there is a sense of light, movement and fine visible brush strokes that defines Impressionist Art of the late 19th-early 20th centuries.  Each have an airy and pleasant aura – like clean air on a bright dewy day infused with the gentle wisps of all the lovely things the eyes and nose behold.  Each are as relaxing as they are exhilarating to the mind; conjuring it to wonder in anticipation –  giving the impression – of the beauty that can enrapture both visual and olfactive senses.

 

Two Vases of Flowers - Paul Cezanne

Two Vases of Flowers – Paul Cezanne

Giverny in Bloom: To begin the tour we get an overview of all that is to come.  The impression I get is of a lovely bouquet that meets us at the door.  This is not just any bouquet – it is freshly plucked from the garden.  The smell of green stems and leaves have not left the room and are still quite heavy in the air.  Soon thereafter the green dissipates and we are left with the blooms that are meant to be the star of the show.

Édouard_Manet_Boy_in_Flowers

Édouard Manet Boy in Flowers

Light hints of iris and other mixed flowers please the senses working into a deep and beautiful carnation augmented by rose whilst an underlying element of earth and water reminds us that we are indeed in or near the garden of their creation.  All said, this is a marvelous overview of a each of the the other three fragrances and brings the story to us as a whole  and hints of it individual parts.  In a sense, it’s the bouquet at the door to great us.  Welcome to the garden!

Water Lily Pond and Weeping Willow Claude Monet

Water Lily Pond and Weeping Willow Claude Monet

Le Jardin Vert: As the name suggests, this fragrance is all about green – verdant green, full of life.  If you have ever smelled freshly cut/disturbed iris, tulip, hyacinth, or lily, you will most certainly recognize the resemblance here.  While the green represented upfront is very intense to start, much like in nature, it fades fairly quickly, but, in this scenario, it’s followed by light hint of watery florals and the sense that body water is near.  In the bottom notes there is evidence of a green of a different type – like moss growing near a rock on a pond amongst the lily pads and fresh water.  Altogether it’s fresh, clean, watery, and chlorophyll centric – its green leaves meeting waters of clear blue.  In another sense, it’s the smell of tending the garden.

monet giverney  museum in bloom

Claude Monet Dawn used this painting in her studio for inspiration

La Danse des Bleus et des Violettes: To me this fragrance represents the heart of the garden- the place where I would go to dance or sing.  Here the sun shines down and and a few more “colors” are added to the chorus .  The florals here are much stronger and add to the element of “”color to the canvas” of green and blue (blue taking on the facet of the sky as well as the water) as discovered in Le Jardin Vert.  The main new color to the mix is purple, as represented by heliotrope and violet.  The two intermingle with the air to make a very attractive place to sit and stay awhile. In just a few words, it’s a scent that is as calming as it is inspiring.  In a word, beautiful.

odilon-redon-le-reveur-eveille

Odilon Redon Flowers 1904

Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses: There is an air of vintage to this that makes me adore this one more so than the others; this fragrance truly operatic and theatrical in every sense.  In my opinion, this is the dark beauty and crown jewel of the collection.  Within the walls of the bottled opera house stands the regal rose in all her red glory accompanied by a few other colors of the rose court.  She is happy to the starring act of the show.  Alas, she is not the total star of the show – that would go to carnation.  If the carnation would be a person, she would be smoking a clove cigarette in velvet gloves in the back of the room not wanting to be noticed, but noticed all the same – she is impossible to miss.  Men hover around her like bees on a honeycomb.  When she sings with the rose, their combined voice is such a pleasing accord that all else pales in comparison.  I can see the elements of this one by and large are what dominate the overview given in Giverny in Bloom. This is pure opulence.

edouard-manet-flowers-in-a-crystal-vase-24728

Title Image for the Denver Art Museum Show Edouard Manet Flowers in a Crystal Vase

As an overall collection,  Giverny in Bloom is as gorgeous as its name, and Dawn once again  shows how some of her finest work is inspired by her collaboration with DAM.  For those lucky enough to be in the Denver area, I think you are in for a real treat.  The thought of these lovely fragrances filling the room whilst enjoying the painted interpretations of the great Impressionists is awe inspiring.

Aaron Potterman, Guest Contributor, Founder and Perfumer for Les Parfums de la Maison 303 

Disclosure samples sent by DSH Perfumes

Editor’s Note: The DSHPerfumes Collection Giverny in Bloom will be available on dshperfumes.com as of July 14th, 2015 as limited editions, so if you want to preorder please email dsh@dshperfumes.com. I chose the artwork based on Aaron’s reviews and some help from Dawn Spencer Hurwitz. They do not neccesarily represent what will be at the actual exhibit- Michelyn

Giverny in Bloom Le Jardin Vert La Danse des Bleus et des Violettes Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses

For our USA  registered readers we have a coffret of Giverny in Bloom Le Jardin Vert La Danse des Bleus et des Violettes  and Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses

and

dshperfumes giverny in bloom samples

for our International registered readers there is a sampler set.

Please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Aaron’s review, which of the four fragrances you might like the best, where you live and if you have a favorite Impressionist painter. Draw closes July 9, 2015

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

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29 comments

  • I love Aaron’s descriptions of all of the perfumes. Dawn is one of my favorite perfumers, and I can almost smell them from his review! I think I would love Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses the most, although the all sound lovely. I don’t have a favorite impressionist painter. Thanks so much for the draw!

  • Just signed up for an account! Please disregard my last comment. 🙂

    I love Aaron’s descriptions of all of the perfumes. Dawn is one of my favorite perfumers, and I can almost smell them from his review! I think I would love Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses the most, although the all sound lovely. I don’t have a favorite impressionist painter. Thanks so much for the draw!

  • fazalcheema says:

    From the paintings and the descriptions, I can feel Dawn also took inspirations from certain colors…Green, purple, and red seem like the colors that inspired three of the creations while I am still trying to determine which was the fourth color 🙂 The one that may impress me the most is Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses because of vintage rose and carnation elements..there seem to be smoky elements in Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses, too.

    My favorite impressionist painter may be Renoir..he drew beautiful portraits that some may even confuse for Manet…Renoir and Manet did have similar style.. thanks so much for the draw. I am in the US

  • I love Aarons description of the Opera, I am standing there a part of it and the colors which inspired Dawn. Lovely story woven here. My favorite Impressionist painter is Monet. I am a US registered reader.My fragrance choice would be Le Jardin Vert, all about the green for a change. Thank you for the draw.

  • We love the whole ball of wax!! Wonderful writing Can’t choose an artist either! Lol! Thank you for the contest, and we are in the USA.

  • Elizabeth T says:

    What a glorious draw! I just recently had a chance to try a handful of DSH perfumes, and was utterly impressed. Passport A Paris was beautiful, so I can only imagine that this collaboration is equally as lovely. Giverny in Bloom sounds especially so. What a great photo of Monet in his garden…
    Thank you for the review and draw! I’m in the USA.

  • greennote says:

    Absolutely love the impressionists (particularly Monet’s non-waterlilies) but also the post-impressionists (Seurat, Signac). The waterlilies for me are so ubiquitous that I can no longer appreciate them, much like most Beatles songs that I’ve heard too many times in my life.

    Aaron’s review is beautiful, his descriptions meant that I felt I could smell each one, with Le Jardin Vert being the one that reached out to me most.

    I adore the idea of mixing art forms – perfume and Impressionists will be fabulous. Congratulations to Dawn and the Denver Museum of Art for coming up with the concept.

    I’m in Australia.

  • MikasMinion says:

    Great review! I really want to try them all, of course, but think that Le Jardin Vert will be my favorite. I’m not sure I can choose a favorite impressionist but I do love Pissarro, Cezanne, and Manet perhaps a bit more than some others. I’m in the U.S. and am very sorry I will miss the exhibit.

  • Aaron creates a smooth flow of one scent story to the next and ties them all together beautifully. It is difficult to decide which fragrance I would like the best. It’s usually the one I least expect, but I would choose either La Danse des Bleus et des Violettes or Les Opera des Rouges et des Roses. I love the Impressionist painters! Claude Monet is definitely number one for me, followed by Cezanne and van Gogh. Live in the USA.

  • Donna Spiegel says:

    Beautiful read on a pretty morning love Aaron capturing the elements of the gardens and bringing the reader into the garden. My initial interest was his favorite so that is where I am leaning first as mine too. I think it’s really neat that DSH collaborates with DAM and it would be a real treat to see this exhibition. I am most familiar with Monet. However the Manet selections in this piece are quite beautiful. I live in the U.S. Thanks so much.

  • The nicest thing about Aaron’s review was the trip around this online garden – the words and pictures used to describe the scents worked seamlessly and was a real pleasure.
    I think the fragrance i would like best would have to be ‘La Danse des Bleus et des Violettes’ -the smells, the colours, the flowers – indeed are all calming and inspiring!
    My favourite Impressionist would have to be Walter Frederick Osborne, an Irish Impressionist landscape and portrait painter.
    Finally i am in the UK and thanks for the chance of a potential prize! 🙂

  • madeleine gallay says:

    The stories dance. Les Opera des rouges et des roses, such a magical name. Visions of dancing in bias cut dresses, curls and heat. It sounds so lovely. In the USA, always hopeful.

  • I envy Aaron, getting to smell these already. I loved the DSH jewel based collection last year. I love everything Dawn creates; I’m sure this collection will be no exception. I would love any of these, but the Les Opera des Rouges et des Rose captures my attention. When Aaron mentioned the carnation note…well, nobody does carnation better than Dawn! To me, a new collection by Dawn is 50 times more exciting than some new perfume by Chanel. Out of all the contests I enter here, this is the one I really, really really want to win! Matisse is a favorite impressionistic painter of mine. I am in the USA, Thanks for the review and the draw.

  • Very nice review. I think I would love all of these four perfumes. All of those sounds wonderful.
    I live in Europe.

  • bunchofpants says:

    My favorite part of Aaron’s review was the description of rose and carnation singing together. But I believe Le Jardin Vert would be my favorite of the four. I’m in USA.

  • silvrolive says:

    I think Aaron linked the scents to the places and artwork beautifully! My favorite would probably be Les Opera des Rouges et des Rose because of the fusion of rose and carnation. I am in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Robert H. says:

    I love Dawn’s perfume, and own more than a few so reading about new ones makes me VERY happy! Thank you! The one i’d choose would be Danse De Bleus. I live in the usa.

  • I enjoyed Aaron’s review and his descriptions of the four “olfactive paintings”. Of the four fragrances, I think I might like Giverny in Bloom the best. I live in the US and my favorite Impressionist painter is Mary Cassatt.

  • Wow, these sound great but I’m particularly interested in the Les Opera des Rouges et des Rose. The Odilon Redon Flowers is also so amazing, I actually want to buy a copy to display. There’s something about that piece of artwork that is really inspirational to me. I don’t have a favorite impressionist painter, but Odilon Redon is quickly gaining! Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US.

  • I’ve just discovered this blog and what a treat–lovely review and post. Impressionism and perfume are match-made. Thoroughly enjoyed the dreamy and colorful descriptions, truly felt like walking through various daydreams. I already know Le Jardin Vert will be my favorite. Green, lush gardens and aquatic notes…oh my…hands down my ideal. One of favorite impressionist painters is Monet (U.S.A.)

  • Le Jardin Vert is definitely my fav! I love green fragrances and this one sounds totally amazing. My favorite artist will always be Monet. Truly a legend and one of a kind!

    I’m in Canada and would love the sample set

  • thegoddessrena says:

    Anything with a prominent carnation note catches my fancy so Les Opers drs Rouges would probably be my favorite and my favorite Impressionist is probably Renoir

  • Iphigenia says:

    I loved Aarons’ description of the opera, especially the amazing colors to describe dawn. My beloved impressionist painter is Monet. My favorite perfume would be Les Opera des Rouges et des Rose because of rose and carnation mixture.
    I am an EU registered reader. Thank you for this draw

  • JazzBelle says:

    I love this review especially comparing fragrances to paintings! The connection between the two truly confirms my feeling that perfumery is an art form!

    Le Jardin Vert sounds like my favorite of the four. I love lush green scents! Watery florals are also so beautiful.

    My favorite impressionist is Renoir. I think it would be great if the art museum experience could also be combined with scent. To be able to have a visual as well as olfactory experience art would be an ideal experience!

    I’m in the USA. Thank you!

  • Aaron makes me smile with the words relaxing and exhilarating to describe Dawn’s impressionist fragrances. Lovely! I think of Impressionist art in just that way. Giverny in Bloom very much appeals to me. I love fragrances that represent a bouquet of florals.

    I live in the US, and my favorite Impressionist painter is Monet. I have a postcard of his Chrysanthèmes (1878, musée d’Orsay) on my desk at the moment. I also have in view a postcard of Manet’s Peonies (1864, The Metropolitan Museum of Art), so I admit Manet is another Impressionist artist whose work I admire.

  • I loved how detailed the descriptions of the fragrances were. Great article! My favorite would probably be Giverny in Bloom. I just love florals and this one sounds really authentic and fresh! I’m in Canada and my favorite impressionist painter would be Renoir. Just a brilliant mind!

  • How I wish I could see this exhibit and smell it’
    I am a big DSH fan and love her passport a Paris and le smoking
    All done with DAM
    Jardin Vert sounds so refreshing but I would enjoy them all
    I really loved the writing and the art
    I live in the U.S. and my favorite impressionists are Cezanne and Degas

  • Greg Mayne says:

    Le Jardin Vert sounds exquisite! Green fragrances have always been a fav of mine. And DSH always makes very high quality scents! I’m a Canadian reader and I’d love the sample set