Sarah Horowitz Parfums Loves Comes From Within (Sarah Horowitz-Thran) 2006-Perfume Review + What’s Wrong with Smelling Good? Draw

“Il faut, dans ce bas monde, aimer beaucoup de choses, Pour savoir, après tout, ce qu’on aime le mieux.” ~ poet Alfred de Musset to Victor Hugo (“It is necessary in this lowly world to love many things, in order, after all – to know what you love the most”), since high school, my modus vivendi. Enter perfumer Sarah Horowitz-Thran of Sarah Horowitz Parfums who composed Sarah Horowitz Parfums Loves Comes From Within in 2006.  It’s no secret that I first met Sarah in the ‘80s when she was a student at Boston’s Emerson College. She was a performance major, but it was her ‘minor’ studies in philosophy and religion which continue to inform her creative process today.

William Andolphe Bougereau Elegy

She took John Keats at his word when he avowed:"Beauty is truth, truth beauty, – that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.“~ Ode on a Grecian Urn, May 1819. Keats’ controversial statement has lost none of its savor over time. You and I are here to explore the pertinence of beauty in current day perfumery; Sarah‘s perspective illuminates the subject via her prolific ingenuity (At this writing, perfumer Sarah Horowitz-Thran has created over 8,000 perfumes in 21 years. That’s quite a body of work by anyone’s reckoning).

Lentheric Tweed Vintage Ad

You likely have me pegged as a Perfume Snob. But you'd be Wrong. Consider Prince Matchabelli Wind Song, Jean Naté, 4711, Maja de Myrurgia talcum powder, Lentheric Tweed, Evyan White Shoulders, Coty Emeraude and Blue Grass by Elizabeth Arden (Tabu me, Jean Carles!).

So, my darlings: what-the-hell ever went wrong with perfume? Since when did it become a punishable offense to smell good? When did that become "not good enough"?

Adolfo Belimbau Roses

Once upon a time alluring, lovely-scented fragrances were sufficient. One didn't have to reek of cutting-edge, au courant trends while anointing the self. While recently ferreting through my perfumed drawers and “Closet of Shame” searching for just the right fragrance – one which made me feel kind, gracious, and gentle towards myself. To feel pretty and cosseted, partly because I was under the weather…I sniffed many a bottle and vial, and while they were delicious, they didn't hit that sweet spot. Having rummaged through an obscene number of them, only one sang the Siren Song that day – Sarah Horowitz Parfums Loves Comes From Within. Tenderly spicy, winsomely floral and balsamic, it bears our perfumer's signature musky subtext. Simply irresistible, frankly – and oh-so-serene. As pretty as pretty can be. It was precisely what the doctor ordered.

Jolie Laide via Flickr

Currently we pride ourselves on wafting skunks, pâtisserie, petrichor, aged single malt, horses, livestock, our own urine, the human armpit (cumin!!!) etc.

Pablo Piccasso Standing Ovation seated

I find all of these truly fascinating.  From the standpoint of art for art's sake, count me in!!! There is great joy to be unearthed in exploring the unusual and I will try anything more than once, because I wish to wrest its deepest secrets, unveil its torrid enticement. However, if we ever come up with a fragrance which smells like gangrene (my least favorite pong), I think I'll have reached my saturation point.

Pablo Piccasso The Peasants 1906

So, what about smelling delightful? Does it continue to be relevant? Does the earth need to move? Each one garners countless compliments, wears as comfortably as a well-loved kitchen apron (THAT’s a compliment!), smells simply fabulous. Numerous drugstore fragrances persist, beloved by many. Where's the shame? A perceived lack of status???  Affordability? Beautiful perfumes never lose their appeal. Sarah Horowitz Parfums Loves Comes From Within is one such. It smells enchanting, doesn’t break the piggybank ($40.00 for perfume oil!), and it does one a power of good.

In her collection What Comes From Within, the perfumer contemplates those qualities which we may emanate: beauty, light, love, peace. They embody HER particular vision – not specifically yours or mine (for that, one creates a bespoke fragrance – and Sarah will gladly oblige). Their delicacy is not in question. What emerges from each and every one her perfumes is this: a Taurean female’s sense of balance, proportion, intention and aesthetics. Sarah = Sent-Bon.

Roses of the Heliogabalus,detail,1888 Lawrence Alma-Tadema

I gravitated toward Sarah Horowitz Parfums Loves Comes From Within immediately, as I’m a sucker for rose, clove-y carnation, Indian sandalwood and amber. There exists a marvelous sense of well-being which floods the consciousness! What possible ill could befall anyone wearing such a fragrance? It’s infinitely preferable to the garlic necklace for warding off emotional vampires, and might well have been named Bien-Être, had that term not already been taken. Love Comes From Within is a radiant aromatic talisman: it draws others into your scented circle while it reveals one’s inner warmth and desire to do good in the world. What we send forth is of paramount importance; it is palpable and colors everything we do and hold dear. So much the better if it comforts us along this path.

Sleeping Beauty Ming Xi – by Nick Knight©

Is Sarah Horowitz Parfums Loves Comes From Within sufficient? It is. The world entire does not need to tremble with its sillage. The known fabric of the Universe needn’t unravel in its wake. What nonsense. Beauty is as beauty does, and to that I end I echo Lord Byron: “She walks in beauty, like the night, Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright, Meet in her aspect and her eyes.”

The Kiss 1901-4 by Auguste Rodin 1840-1917

Call me a Romantic; I don’t care.  Sarah Horowitz Parfums Love Comes From Within feeds our innermost Romantic. What is beautiful waxes eternal. Notes: clove, carnation, rose, Tunisian amber, vanilla, musk, Indian sandalwood

Bottle purchased by me in 2006. My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor

~ Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Horowitz Parfums Love Comes from Within 

Thanks to the generosity of Sarah Horowitz-Thran, we are offering  a  0.3 ml eau de parfum purse pen of Sarah Horowitz Parfums Love Comes From Within to one registered reader anywhere in the world You MUST register or your comment will not qualify. To be eligible, please tell us what appeals to you about Sarah Horowitz Parfums Love Comes From Within based on Ida's review, your favorite Sarah Horowitz-Thran fragrance and where you live. So, what is wrong with smelling good? Let’s Talk About it! Draw closes 3/9/2018

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

 

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28 comments

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    A fragrance to draw others into one’s scented circle while revealing one’s inner warmth and desire to do good in the world. So diametrically opposed to much of what is out there today–“Notice MEEEEEE” in-your-face and pummeling the senses stuff. I have tried several by this perfumer, and own Perfect Veil, it will always have a place in my dresser line-up. I live in the US and thank you for this chance.

  • INYA says:

    I also have reached for a fragrance in order to lift my spirits. “Love Comes From Within” just may be my new comfort blanket. Luck to all, I’m in the USA.

  • Teresa says:

    I thoroughly agree….sometimes smelling nice or pretty is enough! This sound like it fits the bill and I’d love to try it. I don’t have a favorite from Sarah Horowitz. I am in the US and thank you and her for the chance.

  • Margo DAngelo says:

    I loved this srticle, Ida. It was as if someone told the emperor he has no clothes. I can only imagine by the notes and the review, that Love Comes From Within will not disappoint in bringing out the love thtough fragrance. Just the name alone speaks volumes about the creator, Sarah Horowitz-Thran, in bringing about this birth. Because love DOES come from within. We cannot propagate it, unless we first love ourself. I would love to experience this perfume. I have tried Perfect Vanilla, which was a beautifully unique vanilla. I live in the USA.

  • Sherri Furedi-Volf says:

    I’ve never tried any sarah parfums but this resonates deeply:
    “Love Comes From Within is a radiant aromatic talisman: it draws others into your scented circle while it reveals one’s inner warmth and desire to do good in the world. What we send forth is of paramount importance; it is palpable and colors everything we do and hold dear. So much the better if it comforts us along this path.”
    Thank you for another enlightening review and generous opportunity to experience new fragrances ❤️

  • esz says:

    I absolutely agree – there is nothing wrong with smelling good! I don’t think we always need to be challenging people – it gets exhausting. Scent is what I use to set my mood – and i am usually wanting to set a GOOD and HAPPY mood – so a lot of what i wear is comfort scents.

    I would love to try DSH perfumes – fingers crossed I win!! Thanks for the generous draw as always. I am in Melbourne Australia:)

  • Chocolate Marzipan says:

    The relevance of smelling delightful..yes, I like that! My favorite perfume of Sarah Horowitz is the custom one she made for me almost twenty years ago when she owned Creative Scentualizations…it was a blend of grapefruit, lilac and sandalwood. I reside in the United States. Thank you for this draw!

  • Cynthia says:

    You ask a really good question, Ida. I have always been a big perfume person, and yes, wanting to smell everything out there. But lately I find myself reaching for lighter scents that are somewhat uncomplicated, and as you say, just pretty. Is it my age? Or is it that the world seems so taxing today that I just want a simple cloud of loveliness around me, nothing too challenging. And as for Sarah Horowitz, she was an early pioneer in niche scents although I had no idea she was so prolific. 8000, how is that even possible?! There are a handful of scents that really grabbed me early in my perfume journey, and her Bliss was one of them. It’s not shy, but oh so joyful. Thanks for a very thought provoking article.

  • audesko1 says:

    I love Sarah’s scents. Have a sample of Bohdi Sativa from the patchouli contest years ago. I would love to try this scent Thank you for the chance. I live in the US.

  • Catanosmia says:

    Serene? pretty? a marvelous sense of well being? Sign me up! I’ve never experienced any of her creations but I’m amazed that anyone could be blessed with enough creativity to have over 8000 perfumes!
    I don’t often reach for “challenging” scents–especially if I’m going to be around others. I save my “interesting” fragrances for when I’m spending the day at home. Just smelling good is often just what I’m looking for!
    I’m in the US, thank you for the draw.

  • Annatar says:

    I’ve been mostly into vintages ever since my perfume obsession started that’s why I have to say that I haven’t tried any perfumes created by Sarah Horowitz.

    Note-wise, Love Comes From Within sounds thrilling as is: rose, carnation and sandalwood? Count me in! Yet there’s another reason why I’d love to try this perfume: Ida talks about the scented circle, something we only reveal to those closest to us, a kind of aura, – that is exactly how I feel about perfumes: they talk and they tell our story in a special way. All the better if that’s a love story!

    Thank you for the draw. I live in Russia.

  • fleurdelys says:

    Ida nailed the review. Sometimes I really want to smell beautiful and am tired of avant-garde, edgy fragrances. Some perfumes remain timeless and don’t age. I love them.
    Unfortunately I haven’t tried any creations from Sarah Horowitz Parfums, but Ida’s review made me very curious.
    There’s absolutely nothing wrong with smelling good. I love 4711 and will buy it again and again because it makes me feel great.
    Thank you for the draw and for another great review.
    I’m from the EU.

  • Diana D says:

    I’ve been so curious about Sarah Horowitz fragrances but haven’t had a chance to smell any. This sounds really pretty. The mix of spices with carnation and rose, rounded out with sandalwood sounds really sensual. I am eager to try it so I may purchase a sample.
    I live in the US.

  • dukali says:

    There Is no love without feeling , the feeling will turn us back even If we did not fell In love from the beginning .

  • NiceVULady says:

    I applaud Ida’s review. There is much value in what she says in my humble opinion. Smelling lovely shouldn’t be frowned upon. It sounds truly beautiful and I have never tried any of this perfumer’ fragrances. Thanks for the draw. I’m in the USA

  • Sleepylizard says:

    I don’t own any strange, challenging perfumes! I have a small collection and I think they all smell lovely….although my son will likely have a different opinion- but that’s what I enjoy about perfumery, it’s so personal and subjective – make things interesting!
    So love to try one of Dawn’s 8000+ creations!
    Many thanks, an interesting topic.
    Australia

  • Ariane says:

    I love this review!I am sure it speaks to many of us.I love exploring challenging scents, and sometimes fall for them, but ultimately the ones that have stayed with me for a long time are timeless, elegant and beautiful!I have never been able to test any scents by Sarah Horowitz, but the name of this perfume plus rose, carnation and sandalwood has me more than intrigued!I live in the UK, thank you for the draw.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    Nothing is wrong with smelling good!! Of course a person can over do it. I save my challenging scents for when I am more alone. Sarah sure has created a lot. I will have to look her up and see if I have any of her creations. The notes in this sound amazing!! My daughter is a rose fan and I love carnations. Maybe we would share. Thanks for the draw. US.

  • doveskylark says:

    I love fragrances that provide a sense of well-being. I like old drug store classics a lot. I recently started wearing Chaps by Ralph Lauren again. It just smells nice. I have always wanted to try Perfect Gardenia from Sarah’s line. I live in the USA.

  • Wood4Ever says:

    I just so happen to have just started reading Perfumes: The A-Z Guide, and your rhetorical questions – “So, what about smelling delightful? Does it continue to be relevant?” – is exactly what Tania Sanchez referred to about not needing to smell exactly like flowers.

    I love this review, and the call to smell like – people! Well, people who like to smell a little bit like flowers and other aromatics, but recognizably human.

    Rose + vanilla + amber is just about the most comforting combination I can think of, and this sounds absolutely delightful. I’d love to win a bottle and am in the US. Thanks!

  • StaceyW says:

    I loved Ida’s confirmation that sometimes you just want to smell good and offbeat odours be damned. I’ve only tried Perfect Coconut Milk but that one was a winner and this one might be as well I’m thinking. I am in the U.S.

  • peppermoon says:

    Nothing wrong with wanting to smell good! But as someone who often puts, “it smells good, but…” in perfume reviews, let me explain why. From a perfume making standpoint, it’s pretty easy to make something that smells good. It’s a lot more difficult to make something that smells interesting. When I write reviews, I’m critiquing the artistry of the scent. I still wear the perfumes that I consider to be good smelling but not interesting. Sometimes you just want to smell pretty and uncomplicated. There’s a mood for every scent. Horowitz’s Perfect Coconut Milk is one of those scents for me – it’s pretty monotone and monochromatic, but it smells good and is a sort of fuzzy blanket scent. (not entering for the draw, just commenting)

  • bumbuliuki says:

    I appreciate bold and complicated fragrances, but only I’m in the mood. Sometimes I find myself reaching for the most simple yet beautiful perfumes that create a state of well-being. It’s absolutely nothing wrong with smelling good.
    I haven’t been able to try any Sarah Horowitz Parfums, but would like to.
    Thank you for a great review and for the draw.
    I live in the EU.

  • Larkin Small says:

    I don’t think that beauty has become anathema… as a perfumista, there is certainly a period of wanting to smell all of the things, and then you’ve done a lot of sniffing, and some things are just a rehash of other things, which in an art sense, can be boring.

    That said, I had a terrible experience this week, and I just wanted to cover myself in comforting smelling perfume, just easy to wear, beautiful things. Lyric by Amouage, 24 Faubourg by Hermes, Zorya P. by BPAL (you must try it, it’s a divine, easy, lemon-musk beauty.)

    I’m SO over oud. I definitely had a long couple of years of being fascinated by skank – cumin and oud and all of the things, but now I’m repulsed by them, and have decided, you know what? I don’t want to smell like poop!

    I 100% appreciate beauty for its own sake… and turns out, my boyfriend does too, ha ha!

  • cocoon says:

    thank you for writing this post. it is valuable and meaningful. we’ve grown so spoilt and demanding all sorts of things of a fragrance. it’s a precious moment of mercy when smelling good is just enough.