Photo of Aether Arts Perfume Circe (collage of Circe Invidiosa by John Williams Waterhouse)
Earlier this year, I had the idea of collaborating once again with Art and Olfaction Award winning Artisan Perfumer Amber Jobin of Aether Arts Perfume after reading Madeline Miller’s book Circe. Amber and I speak regularly and often play off each other’s creative ideas. Amber is also not afraid to take risks and never plays it safe, instead uses her talent to break boundaries in the American Artisan community. After the success of Touchstone for CaFleurebon’s 7th anniversary Project Talisman, (which was a top 10 finalist in the Art and Olfaction), I didn’t want to wait a year.
Circe photographed by Sandi L.
When creating Aether Arts Circe, Amber was painstaking and meticulous about capturing both Circe as she was portrayed in the book, but her garden and her magic. Until Ms. Miller’s book the myth of Circe has only been told throughout history by men, most notably in the epic The Odyssey by Homer. Amber created 30 mods for Aether Arts Perfume Circe and narrowed it to three for me to choose from. There is some irony that although I knew Amber had already created Charybodyis, in 2018, (the whirlpool and lesser of two evils for Odysseus’s sailors to avoid rather than the monster Scylla). Perhaps that’s another perfume tale for another time. –Michelyn Camen, Editor-in Chief and creative director. Disclosure: I do not receive any financial gain from any of my collaborations; the proceeds are for the perfumer.
Amber Jobin
Circe: A Collaboration between Aether Arts Perfume and Cafleurebon.com
“When I was born the name for what I was did not exist. They called me nymph assuming I would be like my mother, aunts and thousand cousins. Least of the lesser goddesses, our powers were so modest they could scarcely ensure our eternity.” Madeline Miller, Author of Circe.
I was thrilled when Michelyn Camen approached me with the idea of creating a perfume based on the Madeline Miller novel Circe. This feminist retelling of the Circe myth had all the right elements for a great fragrance: a beautiful location and a character that transforms herself from a lesser nymph into a woman of power and strength. Banished to Aiaia, a verdant island caressed by Mediterranean breezes, Circe must learn to fend for herself. She soon discovers the secrets of the plants and animals, bending them to her will and using them to keep herself and other banished women on the island safe when confronted by boorish male marauders intent on having their way with her or stealing her treasures.
Aether Arts Perfumes Circe captures her island and the magical plants used to weave her spells. Ocean breezes carry the green scent of herbs featuring: Erigon, Lovage, and tomato leaf. At the heart of Circe’s magic are flowers, Wild Roses and Jasmine Absolute. All are held aloft by the scent of sand, sea and cypress.
–Amber Jobin of Aether Arts
Perfumer: Amber Jobin
Creative Director: Michelyn Camen
Perfume Family: Herbal/Aquatic/Floral
Unisex: Yes
Scent Strength: Perfume Oil Format comparable 35% Extrait
Contains True Animalics: No
Mixed-Media: 60% Natural to 40% Synthetic
–Amber Jobin of Aether Arts
Aether Arts Perfume Circe
Prices & Sizes (Perfume Oil Format) for Aether Arts Circe: 1ml Sample Vial $8.00, 5.5ml Roller Bottle $58.00, 9ml Roller Bottle $109.00
Thanks to the generosity of Amber Jobin and we have a 5.5mm rollerball of Aether Arts Perfume Circe for one registered reader in the USA To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about Circe and have you read the book ? Have you tried any other fragrance from Amber Jobin. Draw closes 7/31/2019.
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