New Perfume Review: Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes by BRUNO FAZZOLARI + The Hills Are Alive Draw

bruno fazzolari perfumes photo bt cafleurebon twisted lily boutique in brooklyn

Photo of Bruno Fazzolari Perfumes  Launch at Twisted Lily in Brooklyn October 25, 2014  by Michelyn

I recently had the opportunity to meet and talk with visual and olfactive artist Bruno Fazzolari at the launch of his fragrance collection at Twisted Lily in Brooklyn New York. Bruno is warm with a sensitivity that is very much present in the paintings he is best known for. I find his work full of color and energy; that same sense of light and movement are present in all his perfumes

sound_of_music yellow flowers opening scene

Opening Scene from the Sound of Music Austria

"The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears " -Rogers and Hammerstein

julie andrews in the sound of music movie

Julie Andrews The Sound of Music 1965

These famous lyrics played inside my head upon my first whiff of Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes perfume.This perfume is musical and akin to a sunlit walk among the wild flowers that grow perched upon a hillside. It conjures up images of Julie Andrews in all her young beauty singing with joy as she becomes one with nature; an ideal back drop tying into the natural themed work of Bruno’s favorite composer Olivier Messaien.

olivier messiaenn with his notebook in nature

Olivier Messaien outdooors amongst flowers and birds

My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds  that rise from the lake to the trees

The construction of  Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes has  many similiarites to a musical composition and one can clearly see how this so inspired Bruno Fazzolari. Listening to just a small portion of this composer's work, I would have firmly placed him in Europe’s Avant-Garde movement although Messaien is generally known for his religious music (I found the Fazzolari’s “Lamp Black” more closely relates to Messaien’s body of work. It’s an usual  fragrance which I love for its ability to stand outside of what’s conventionally considered beautiful and alluring).

"My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies  from a church on a breeze
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over  stones on its way
To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray"

julie andrews sound of music flowers

Julie Andrews lying in a bed of flowers

 The music of this perfume continues and images of Julie Andrews as the nun who could not be tamed, who although deeply spiritual needed to be in a world of children laughing, where there is romance and beauty, not locked away in a convent.  Au Dela Narcisse des Montagnes seems steeped in  melody, where joy, discovery, longing and passion exist together in the same space.

“I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I’ve heard before"

narcissus flower in bloom

Narcissus flower in bloom- photo: Michelyn and Sandi

Au Dela Narcisse des Montagnes is a very bold floral perfume that opens with a burst of jasmine and orange blossom, supported by the greenness of bergamot and a most glorious crystalline narcissus absolue.  Au Dela means “the beyond” and that is where I went  as I was nearly overcome with a bright  beauty that was dizzying to my senses. Before I  even realized it, I was irrevocably in its trance.

captain-and-maria-sound-of-music gazebo scene

The Captain and Maria in the Gazebo Scene from The Sound of Music

Hidden inside all the flower power is a strong sensual undertone, that reaches out to our most animalistic nature and desire.  Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes is not a soft retiring floral and what keeps my nose glued to my wrist is the introduction of a shadowy scent given off by Indole, Amber with just the right amount of Oakmoss to delicately smooth out the musk peering ever so slight through the overall composition.

au de la narcisse de montagnes bruno fazzolari limited edition print

Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes Limited Edition Print by Bruno Fazzolari

It’s a masterpiece steeped in the history of vintage perfumes yet is incredibly modern with amazing overnight longevity and above average sillage. It is a joy to be "one" with Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes"…. My heart will be blessed with the sound of music And I’ll sing once more".

behindthebottleBrunoFazzolari

Editor’s Note:  For a glimpse into Bruno's Creative process in composing Review Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes please re-visit  Behind the Bottle with Bruno Fazzolari. Read former Managing Editor Tama Blough's perfume April 2013  reviews of Lampblack, Five, Monserrat, Au Dela and Jimmy  here, Tama was the first perfume blogger to write about Bruno Fazzolari's perfumes.

– Rodney Hughes, Contributor  (with contributions and art direction from Michelyn Camen Editor in Chief)

bruno fazzolari perfume sampler jimmy five lampblack monserrat Au Dela

Bruno Fazzolari Fragrance sampler

Thanks to Bruno Fazzolari we have a sample set of all six BRUNO FAZZOLARI perfumes including Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes which is a limited edition for one US reader. To be eligible please leave a comment with why you might enjoy Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes and what was memorable about this perfume review. Draw ends November 18, 2014.

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 spilled perfume.

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16 comments

  • Sun Mi says:

    This sounds lovely – I’ve never smelled narcissus but I love orange blossom. I adore the comparison to music – though there are certainly perfumes I find pleasant, very rarely do I find any that evoke such a passionate response. Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US.

  • Cynthia says:

    Wow, what a review! I love the “Sound of Music” lyrics and the joy they impart. I’ve had a similar experience when I’m here part of the year in Singapore. In the Botanic Gardens is a tree called Tembusu that is supposed to bloom twice a year, but has only bloomed twice in five years since I’ve lived here part time. The first time it bloomed I was running all over the garden trying to find the source of the smell. The second time was this spring. I live 1/2 mile from the garden and I was outside my house and the air was filled with this glorious smell. I was texting my friends saying, “Go outside and smell!”. (Yes, they all think I’m crazy). Anyway, I know that feeling of being overcome by the beauty of nature, so I would LOVE to see if this perfume can give me that elation. Back in the US this Friday!

  • Nemo says:

    I am very curious about exploring the narcissus note in perfume. This sounds absolutely gorgeous 🙂 I am in the US, thank you.

  • sunnlitt says:

    I love narcissus, and the way that you have discribed this scent make it sound intoxicating.
    I would love to experience it.
    I am in the U.S.
    Thanks.

  • fazal cheema says:

    This review has made me want to watch The Sound of Music as soon as possible. I thought it was filmed somewhere in US< didn't know the location was Austria. Now when I think about Au Dela, I think of the flowers in The Sound of Music…thanks for the lovely sample set. I am in the US

  • Lisa A says:

    A sunlit perfume in this near-Winter? I’ll take it! I’m intrigued by the narcissus and orange blossom. It sounds beautiful. I love vintage made modern, so I think I’ll love this one. I’m in the US.

  • Connie says:

    I’m in the US and would love to try this. Narcissus is a great note- I love it in Le Temps d’Une Fete and I love its horsiness. I loved the The Sound of Music references. Such a lovely movie and one I was obsessed with when I was little.

  • Steve A says:

    I might enjoy this because it’s a narcissus based scent that is said to be unisex. I’d love to have that entire sample set. USA

  • Sue K. says:

    Anything with flowers just now, especially orange blossom and narcissus. We just got a foot of lake effect snow yesterday. I live in the US. Thanks for the draw.

  • Patty P. says:

    I love the inclusion of the orange blossom. This would be great to wear in the cold weather. Something different for winter. U.S.

  • Xiaoxi says:

    I am in the US.

    From the name, I was kind of expecting a light floral, but the review said it was to the contrary!

    Hidden inside all the flower power is a strong sensual undertone, that reaches out to our most animalistic nature and desire. — would love to smell how this was done! 🙂

    The blend sounds very interesting to me 🙂

  • FearsMice says:

    I love narcissus and am encouraged by Rodney’s comment that this is not a soft retiring floral — we’re going to need something bold to get us through what promises to be a long winter. I’m in the US; thanks for the draw.

  • jiminy says:

    I have a sample of the original Au Dela that I haven’t gotten to, yet, as Blacklamp demanded all my attention. When I found out, here, of the special edition, it made me perk my ears up as narcissus is a flower that has always been dear to my heart (childhood memories).

    I just hope I don’t start running around and singing like Julie Andrews when i finally smell it or my neighbors will have a fit. 🙂

    I’m in theUS. thanks for the draw.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I think I would enjoy Au Dela – Narcisse des Montagnes because it is described as “a masterpiece steeped in the history of vintage perfumes yet is incredibly modern”. That sounds amazing. I’ll remember this fragrance and its tie-in with The Sound of Music.

  • mim says:

    That feeling of being outside in springtime, with fresh air and sunshine and flowers and green… the sense of renewal is a primal, ancient part of the spirit. That’s why I think I’d like Au Dela– Narcisse des Montagnes, that sense of the old being renewed in one’s own experience. The image of that moment in The Sound of Music is a powerful association!

    USA

  • Holly F. says:

    I think I’d like this because of the indolic nature outlined by the “strong sensual undertone.” I love the sound of these, vintage yet modern. Thanks for the beautiful review and the draw. I’m in the US.