The Scent Track for “The Artist” + The Oscars Meet the FiFis Draw

Editor’s Note: At the recent Elements Showcase perfumer Yosh Han introduced me to Valerie Vitale and her perfume blog Soliflore Notes. After visiting her site I found Ms. Vitale to be a kindred spirit and asked her to write a guest piece. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and please go visit Soliflore Notes for more of Ms. Vitale’s passionate writing. –M. Behnke     

 

Sometimes there can be a graceful rhythm about New York City. You slip out of work onto the sidewalk and things just flow. As you exit your building, you think you might walk, but instead the limited bus is waiting for you and you fly through 10 blocks in 5 minutes. As you exit the bus, the driver smiles, and a gentle breeze caresses your face as your foot hits the pavement. You arrive at the theater and there isn't a line, rather the usher waves her hand for you to come in and you glide through the lobby. You step inside the theatre, and it's practically empty, you have an entire row to yourself and no one is sitting directly in front of you. The lights dim and as the film begins you settle in your chair. This is exactly how it happened, there I was sitting in my favorite theater, alone and content not yet knowing that the film that I was about to see was ultimately a continuation of the pace and ease of my evening, give or take a few dark emotional turns. 

 

One of the best things about The Paris movie theater is that it still maintains a working curtain that opens and closes at the start and end of films (more on that later) and it’s where I went to see Michel Hazanavicius' Academy Award winning film, The Artist. By now everyone knows that the film is a modern day take on the silent film genre. It actually took me a moment to adjust to the lack of sound and color, but this void created a kind of olfactive space that made it easy to imagine the kind of fragrances that some of the characters might wear, or how a fragrance could enhance a scene or capture the overall feel of the movie. 

Certainly, the physical grace and nuanced performances of Berenice Bejo and Jean Dujardin made it easy to imagine a signature fragrance for their characters. As Peppy and George moved across the screen effortlessly, I felt as if I could almost smell their sillage. The two have sweetly left an impression on my fragrance subconscious.

 

Now back to the curtain at the Paris. As the last credit rolled the curtain began closing much too quickly on a sepia tinted photograph. It was an image of a handsome man. It was a dedication, which said something like dedicated to one of the most charming men that Hazanavicius ever knew. I saw the first name of the man; it was Kamel. Turns out Kamel Ech-Cheik is the director’s childhood friend and musical collaborator on previous films. This dedication somehow perfectly grounded the whimsical and feel-good finale that celebrates the reinvention of self and winks directly in the eye and finally talks to the tough stuff that life can serve up. 

 

Here’s my list of glorious perfumes for The Artist, smell and wear them “wiz plesure”


Coeur de Vétiver SacréL’Artisan Parfumeur

For George Valentin.

Black Tea and Balsam notes merge to create a warm and spicy hum that gives way to a dark jammy heartbeat. Just want to get in there and snuggle up close. 


Vocalise, Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier

For Peppy Miller

This is a unique floral fragrance with the perfect amount of sweetness. Blackcurant, Ylang Ylang, Angelica, Rose and Vanilla create a rounded blend, no rough edges here. It reminds me of a sophisticated pastille.

 

Beau Bow, Six Scents, #1, Series Three

This is a floral for a man or a woman. A juicy citrus and herbal accord unites with delicate notes of magnolia and honeysuckle.  A vision of a perfectly white pressed tailored shirt, broad smile and a sparkle in the eye run through my mind. A feel-good and thoughtfully woven fragrance that I wish could be pumped into the theater during the finale, along with the bubbles below.


Amber Oud, by Kilian

A rich balanced fragrance that is Smoky, Leathery, and Boozy-Sweet, these notes put the perfect amount of Oud in its place. It is a completely comforting fragrance.

 

Les Bulles d'Agathe, Maison Francis Kurkdijan

I imagined these bubbles were pumped into the fantastic finale. Actually, I wish these scented bubbles could be everywhere, Cold Mint, Violet, Cut Herbs, and Pear.

Thanks to Joseph Quartana and Six Scents we have the 2011 Fifi Award Winner Beau Bow by Rodrigo Flores-Roux to go with Oscar Winner The Artist. Leave a comment pairing a fragrance and a movie of your choice. We will draw one winner on March 12, 2012 via random.org.

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

Valerie Vitale of Soliflore Notes, Guest Poster

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41 comments

  • Great article! I love this film.
    My favorite one is “In the mood for love” by Kar-wai. I always thought that main heroes were wearing Bois des Iles – both. It’s pure melancholy in a bottle.

  • amber oud or Serge Lutens leather scent — girl with the dragon tattoo–

    descendents.. Yosh Han’s Ginger Ciao.. it just seems to fit the diffrerent aspects of the film

  • My scent and movie pairing would be Etat Libre d`Orange Sécrétions Magnifiques with John Waters’ Pink Flamingos.

  • I love silent films. A friend has a huge collection of them, and a group of us get together once a month and watch them. Recently I saw “Exit Smiling” with Beatrice Lillie. Her character might have worn Coty Chypre – not hers, but from a bottle owned by the leading lady in the traveling theatre company.

  • wonderful article, a silently happy day to cherrish
    my movie/character pairing would be Tarkovsky’s “Stalker” and Byredo “M/Mink”

  • No better match comes to my mind than Barry Lyndon by Maria Candida Gentile and the Stanley Kubrick movie…

  • a little known movie “castaway on the moon” should smell like six scents 3 “spirit of wood”. Wood, honey and crushed greens mmmm

  • Strangeways says:

    My movie/scent pairing would be “The Name of the Rose” and Avignon (Comme des Garçons).

  • When I watched the classic (and one of the best IMO) film noir ‘The Strange Love of Martha Ivers’ it occurred to me that Lizabeth Scott as Toni was the PERFECT impersonation for Tabac Blond – her looks, her (hoarse) voice, a tough shell, but soft to the core… all this!

  • What a great piece! I loved The Artist, and I love your choices–and it’s been a blast reading the comments thus far. I’ll have to check out Vocalise. I sell MPetG in the shop, but haven’t tried that one.
    I wrote about scents in some of my favorite films–inspired by reading The Hunger Games a few months ago–and it’s so fun to speculate and to give your own opinion as to what a character would wear.

  • L’Illusionniste by Sylvain Chomet and De Profundis by Serge Lutens, both are pure melancholy in their own way!
    Thanks for the draw.

  • What a lovely blog! Appreciated your insights on Paris, and a fan! Awaiting to read more about movies and perfume- 2 things that triggers the senses! I needed to wear un parfum de Charmes & Feuilles today!

  • Loved this scent trak and the post was so imiginative
    ambre rousse and dr zhivago come to mind

  • I can see Indiana Jones wearing the Yosh Sombre Negra or Sel de Vetiver.
    Or James Bond wearing Puredistance M.

  • What a wonderful piece Valerie, I hope to see you back again soon. I haven’t seen The Artist yet, but am really looking forward to it, even more so now:-)
    Witness for the prosecution, and Habanita for the outstanding Marlene Dietrich. And Lubin Idole as the scent-track for Out of Africa. Thanks for the fun of this game, the beautiful writing and the generous draw

  • When I first smelled Blood Type O I envisioned a horror movie set in a hospital room, and the creeptastic thriller Session 9 fits that theme all too well.

  • American Psycho and Jubilation XXV would go well together. Killing while you smell of pure class haha
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  • I am thinking Murder on the Orient Express should have Shalimar flowing through it!!!! Love the read (and the draw).

  • tomatefarcie says:

    lovely post… I think Lara in Dr Zhivago would be wearing Serge Lutens’ Iris Silver Mist.

  • My wife sort of got into this game… Some of her ideas:

    For Titanic, Amarige is the right perfume. It might get people off the ship faster.

    For Le Chateau de ma Mere, a beautiful French film we watched recently, Givenchy Organza.

    For Brother Son, Sister Moon, she suggests Jo Malone French Lime Blossom.

    For Young Frankenstein, chlorine bleach.

    For Star Wars, L’Air du Desert Marrocain suits the Tatooine scenes, but the Millennium Falcon just smells like motor oil.

    The Ingrid Bergman character in Casablanca clearly wears Chanel No. 5, but Humprey Bogart is harder, she wasn’t quite sure what. Something elegant but traditional.

    For Jeeves and Wooster, Guerlain Derby is probably right.

  • French Kiss, Meg Ryan wearing Caron Pour Une Femme – sexy, female, just the teensiest bit innocent. I can’t wait to see The Artist, and thanks for the draw!

  • Val,

    I always enjoy your posts. So insightful and thought provoking, you have a real talent. I really need to smell Les Bulles d’Agathe, Maison Francis Kurkdijan as your description makes it sounds so delightful!

    Love the blog and love you!

  • The character without name from Hiroshima mon Amour, “Elle”, I suppose it would wear Femme from Rochas and the male, “Il”, would wear Caron Pour un Homme.
    Two classics for a classic movie.

  • I’m going to pair Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess with my favourite movie, the epic “Troy”. The beautiful Helen, a goddess to many men, also carries that elegant yet fresh feel. The beachy-ness makes me think of all those Greek ships heading towards Troy, in order to return Helen to her rightful husband.

  • Hmmm….pairing scent with film is even harder than it looks, I discover when I attempt it!

    Snow Falling on Cedars: Ormonde Jayne Woman, CB Black March. Very natural, atmospheric.

    Princess Bride: Buttercup– Gobin Daude Seve Exquise. Wesley– Amouage Jubilation XXV.

    The Matrix: Indult C16. Utterly synthetic recreation of pure animal.

    I Am Love: Caron Parfum Sacre, Poivre, Tabac Blonde…I don’t know why, really.

  • Paul Matem. says:

    I choose one of my favourite: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That movie and Dans tes Bras from Frederic Malle. Perfect!

  • In all my years of sniffing “theme” perfumes I can think of none that matches it inspiration more than PG’s Private Collection “Querelle”! *sighs*

    Personally I have always thought that Essentially Me’s Empress of India would “mesh” very nicely with the mini-series “The Far Pavillions” adapted from the novel (I read in High School) by M.M. Kaye! <3

    Thanks for the chance to win…never have sniffed any Six Scents fragrances! LOVED the piece by Valerie!! 😀

  • I love movies and perfumes. What a great combination! And I have enjoyed reading the comments too!

    I’m going to pair “The Tree of Life” with Lotsmarch Ael-Mat. It’s a very “peaceful” perfume, like some moments in the movie.

    I have always wanted to find a perfume for that moment in “The sound of music” when Maria is singing in the mountains, when the movie starts. Please, if someone knows a perfume for that moment, tell me 😀 Snowed mountains, flowers, fresh air, grass… Just perfection.

  • rosiegreen says:

    My movie perfume match is ” Grand Torino ” with Clint Eastwood and Old Spice. The classic american guy scent. Thanks so much for the draw.

  • I watching this movie just a few weeks ago… 🙂
    I will pair people from Midnight in Paris:

    Gil (O. Wilson) smells like: Reflection Man by Amouage and his Adriana (M. Cotillard): First by Van Cleef & Arpels.

  • I would scent “La Vie en Rose” with Balmain La Mome, because it was dedicated to Edith Piaf, and I can see why. Thanks so much for the draw!

  • I would pair Piano (and especially the music!) with L’artisan’s Iris Pallida for the beautiful melancholy mood. Thanks for the draw!

  • Borko Boris says:

    The Notebook. He would wear Dia pour Homme and she would wear Carnal Flower. Two fabulous fragrances for two fabulous movie characters.
    Thanks!

  • Love this game!!! I am picturing Kim Basinger wearing Blonde by Versace in LA Confidential!!

  • “The Devil Wears Prada” – Chanel 5
    “Mean Girls” – Charlie
    “Blue Velvet” – Opium

    Fun game!!

  • Oh, I’m so sorry I missed this draw! Gardenia is so rarely seen in perfume and it sounds so lovely!

    I would have chosen Moulin Rouge and Rose Ikebana. They are both vibrant, beautiful and stand out among their peers.