Raquel Welch entertaining the troops Vietnam 1967

July 4th weekend is here and that has me in an understandably patriotic mood.  I come from a long line of fighting citizens, with family having served in all branches of the military.  We Barrs always fight for what we believe in, and while I haven’t fought as a soldier, I do however keep campaigning for the right to introduce people to great perfumes.And while this isn’t at all as magnificent as waging a war for independence from another country, it is pretty important for a generation of children who don’t want to use laundry detergent as cologne on first dates.   My family fought in the Wars, and I fight small battles for scented freedom.  And so here are three of my favorite Red, White and Blue scents – they’re all American, and all as indie as a gang of scruffy rebels scrapping against the British Empire.

 RED: Paul Kiler – PK Perfumes Red Leather:

Paul Kiler is the award winning nose behind PK Perfumes in California (as well as Zoologist Panda and Rhinoceros).  He’s an incredible artist who makes deeply complex and textured compositions, which also immediately resonate emotionally.  Red Leather is everything a true revolutionary needs in scented form:  fiery spices, cool notes, and no small heaping of animalics to fire the blood. It also happens to be sex on wheels.

There’s rhubarb and pink pepper, cedar, rum, patchouli and rose in here, as well as a strong lashing of leather.   This is not a scent for a fair damsel who waits to be tied to the railroad tracks, but definitely for the assassin in hot red spandex who wouldn’t mind being tied up at some point.   Notes: Buchu Leaves, Rhubarb, Pink Pepper, and Pink Grapefruit, Dianthine Base, Pink Carnation, Red Rose, Ylang, Neroli, Davana Spices, Bay Rum, Rum, Patchouli Teak, Blood Cedar wood, woods, musks, amber Suede, Castoreum, Civet, and Leathers

WHITE Hans Hendley, Hendley Perfumes – Auric

Hendley Perfumes out of Brooklyn, NY knows a thing or two about subterfuge and the art of illusion.  Hans Hendley is a self-taught and brilliant perfumer who appreciates subtlety and misdirection when it comes to describing his work.  This, from a description of Auric from the Hendley Perfumes website:“Gold rush. Honeyed bloom. Bittersweet radiance. Refined perfume for nostalgic aesthetes, aura readers and subcultural diplomats. A bouquet of understated elegance”. So, of course Auric is a scent that provides what every good revolutionary spy requires in perfume:  namely, something left on the skin as a calling card so you can infiltrate and gather intelligence on the enemy. Auric would be my choice if my nation demanded me to be demure, coquettish and memorable in the line of fire.   It has one of the softest, silkiest, creamiest jasmine notes I’ve ever smelled, combined with cacao extract, orange blossom and sandalwood.

It’s sweet without being cake frosting, and carries a strong earthy hit of twice-distilled patchouli so the Empire still knows who it’s dealing with should the mission fail. here’s also some light petitgrain in the top notes because every good spy needs an introduction at some point, and light citrus is just the thing to ingratiate oneself in an unknown and possibly dangerous situation.  Founder and nose Hans Hendley calls Auric a perfume for “subcultural diplomats.” Notes: Petitgrain, orange blossom absolute, ylang ylang, jasmine, rose, twice distilled patchouli oil, cacao extract, sandalwood.

BLUE: Ellen Covey, Olympic Orchids – Blackbird

Blue for me is a melancholy, soothing color.  It’s the color of wistful regret, sadness, and remembrance. In other words, a perfect hue for July 4th weekend, and recollecting just how much sacrifice has gone into preserving our freedoms.   For me, the smell of blackberries always brings this on.  I grew up picking them from bushes along the road when visiting my cousins, and the scent will forever bring to mind my family and how much I love them.

So for my patriotic blue note in perfume, it HAS to be Blackbird by Ellen Covey from Seattle’s own Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes. This fragrance is a sweet, herbal ramble in the woods, with a smoky blackberry tinge throughout that will instantly put you into calm, soothing reverie.  On me, it penetrates so deeply into my skin and senses that it’s like Icy Hot when I wear it – perfect for exhausted muscles and addled brains after a long day at work.  This perfume is one of my all-time favorites, and it’s fantastic to see founder and artisan perfumer Ellen Covey  get her due as anOlfactive artist at this year’s Art and Olfaction Awards for her latest creation, Woodcut which won an award for Best Artisan Perfume.

Notes: Himalayan blackberry fruit, dry grass and leaves, elemi, cedar wood and resin, amber, fir balsam absolute, musk.

Vintage Photo Marilyn Monroe July 4, 1953 Fireworks

So there you have it, fellow weekend warriors and perfumistas– my three patriotic picks for what to wear over July 4th weekend.   From the sultry to the serene, with some sexy jasmine happening in between, you’ll smell fantastic no matter how you plan on celebrating our country’s independence.  Get out there and enjoy the fireworks and make some of your own!

Pam Barr, Contributor

Disclosure: From my own collection, opinions my own

Thanks to indie artisan perfumers Paul Kiler, Hans Hendley, and Ellen Covey we have a draw for a REGISTERED USA reader of their choice of 30 ml Red Leather, 15ml of Auric or 30 ml of Blackbird. To be eligible, please leave a comment with what Independence Day means to you (or your plans) and your choice of Fragrance either based on color or Pam’s review. Here’s to all our CaFleureBon Indie American Perfumers and those yet to come!!!! Draw closes July 6, 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