Art Meets Art Lilac Wine (Frank Voelkl) 2017 +Heady Fougere Giveaway

Lilac Wine Art Meets Art

Art Meets Art Lilac Wine collage J.

Perfume and music share many traits, both are time-based performances that play out for our senses; perfume dances on your skin and teases your nose, while music makes your body move, while both create moments and feelings for us to treasure.

The French house Art Meets Art blends these two worlds together, playing scented notes to hypnotise us in a strange delight and do it in style. When I consider the success of a perfume, I think of it in the same way I do art or music. How does it make me feel, what was the intent or concept and how was it done? Art Meets Art  delivers everything I’m looking for and more. Each of their perfumes captures the sensation of their chosen music, not only that, but something of the performances as well. Sexual Healing drips with warm honeyed tones, while both versions of Like a Virgin give you two very different takes on Madonna and her classic hit, one more innocent than the other, you can tell they’re working with some world-class perfumers and people who love both perfume and music. For now I’m lost in a misty light of Art Meets Art Lilac Wine, a classic Fougère that’s sung in a new way.

Eartha Kitt and her album cover for ‘That Bad Eartha” collage via wiki

Lilac Wine the song, like the fougere, has been covered many times before. The lyrics yearn with heartache while taking solace from wine made from a lilac tree, focusing on the blissful oblivion achieved by becoming intoxicated by this delight. I have a soft spot for the Nina Simone version which bubbles with more of a lover’s rage, yet ends tender and close to tears. While researching I found many more that have done versions, Elke Brooks even had a chart hit. One of my new favourites  is Eartha Kitt’s version, recorded back in 1953 for herThat Bad Eartha LP. She purrs the lyrics in her usual seductive kitty-kat way, giving the song a different direction, more of the lover still in chase of the recently lost.

Frank Voelkl of Firmenich

Frank Voelkl of Firmenich courtesy of the perfumer

Art Meets Art Lilac Wine focuses on Jeff Buckley’s version of the song, from the 1994 album Grace. Perfumer Frank Voelkl captures more than the songs notes, in Lilac Wine he conjures the pared back, minimal feel and space of Jeff Buckley’s version of the song, in such a beautiful way. It wears like  the controlled power of Jeff Buckley’s voice, letting the main aromatic melody sing through and shine while being supported by luxurious woody musks that slowly envelop you, as you fall for this heady golden lilac fougere aromatic delight.

Jeff Buckley opened my eyes to many new kinds of music with his amazing live covers, please go listen to the extended Live at Sin-É or his Live À L’Olympia album for Lilac Wine and if you can find them other live bootlegs. He made other’s songs his, adding his style and musicality to them in a similar way to how perfumers take traditional style, chypre, floral, amber and fougere in this case, giving them a twist and new take, making them their own. In fact a lot of language of music and perfumery are shared, Frank Voelkl the perfumer talks about this too. “Fragrance and music have a lot in common. We talk about fragrance notes and fragrance accords. You can talk about a theme or a melody within a fragrance.”

 

Jeff Buckley Art Meets Art Lilac Wine

Image of Art Meets Art Lilac and Jeff Buckley  by J

Art Meets Art Lilac Wine opens with smooth creamy purple hues blossom from soft aromatic lavender, it’s slightly dried creating this gentle fuzz as cedar adds texture and soft powdery haze to the perfumes base. It feels like guitar stings gently jangling under a cool full smooth warm musky voice with the gentle fuzz of brushes on hi-hats. Violet leaf adds octaves of depth with subtle green woods and a delicate floral feel that when it oscillates with the aromatic lavender and sage, it’s notes play you this heady aromatic lilac melody. It’s paired with a softly herbal fruity boozy liquor that’s rich and smooth, whose flow is intoxicating as it melts into a mysterious musky haze that drunk on this heady lilac melody. Light and dark elements add a subtle complexity, with freesia bringing this gentle sweet sparkling high note, as moss brings a softer darker luxurious texture, giving just a hint of ennui and longing, like the ghost of a floral chypre is haunting the memories of this aromatic Fougère.

Jeff Buckley – Lilac Wine | Cabaret Metro | Chicago, IL | 5/13/1995 youtube

Art Meets Art Lilac Wine has a classic melody, yet is played a new way with cedar, moss and musk giving it a more contemporary feel. I love the combination of heady drunken lilac floral aromatics meeting cedar, moss and musk, making it feel like an acoustic number has gone electric. It sings with sage turning the herbal liquor into a rich golden cognac, adding rich smooth dulcet tones to the voice of the perfume, also letting the sage shine with a loving embrace of herbal tea like warmth. Where the violet leaf gave things space, this boozy accord pulls you in with a creamy depth and flow, that reverberates into the ether of musk that make Art Meets Art Lilac Wine a smooth and luxurious, as if a powerful voice is softly wrapping notes elegantly around you like a silky veil. Its intoxicating warm heady musk echoes, haunting your skin with a dreamy and refined air of elegance. A suave melody that’s hard to forget. I’m excited to see what songs might be next. All I know is that Art Meets Art will do it with a beautiful French touch.

Top notes: lavender, violet, plum: Mid: cognac composition, clary sage, freesia: Base: cedarwood, musk, moss

Disclaimer: Review is based on a bottle kindly sent by the Art Meets Art. My description is how the perfume sings to me and like music we all have our own tastes.

-Guest Contributor J Wearescentient, is an artist and olfactive writer.

Art Meets Art Lilac Wine

photo courtesy of the brand

Thanks to the generosity of Art Meets Art, we have a draw for one 50 ml bottle of Lilac Wine for one registered reader in the US, UK or EU. To be eligible, please leave a comment about what appealed to you about JScentient’s review and where you live. Giveaway closes 9/20/2023

Please read Michelyn’s Interview with Frank Voelkl here

Frank Voelkl was featured in our Perfumers Signature Series here

Available on the brand’s website and JOVOY PARIS

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebonofficial @wearescentient @artmeetsart @frankvoelkl

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35 comments

  • olgAPOISON says:

    “Art Meets Art Lilac Wine has a classic melody, yet is played a new way with cedar, moss and musk giving it a more contemporary feel. I love the combination of heady drunken lilac floral aromatics meeting cedar, moss and musk, making it feel like an acoustic number has gone electric.” I love art and lillies and scent
    I’m from eu.

  • Jeremi says:

    The fascinating notes really appealed to me, especially Lavender of which I’m a great fan of, it’s so calming and relaxing. The review was very in-depth and beautiful. I live in Trzebnica, Poland, EU.

  • Torax says:

    Fantastic review here. It is the first time I read something about A.M.A. but surely will not be the last time. I am so intrigued about their fragrances.
    Liliac Wine looks something so creative and so unique that I want to get my nose on it asap. Jeff Buckley surely would feel so honored about this fragrance. This fragrance is surely a moss, musk and violet melody that anyone would love.
    USA here.

  • FC says:

    Art Meets Art Lilac Wine does not focus on lilac as some may assume due to the name but is rather a modernized fougere. The lavender has been incorporated in such a manner that the composition has purple hues. I am in US.

  • Januarililjan says:

    The subtle greenery and lush flowers combined with the cognac composition sounds great. Would love to try. I live in the EU.

  • Amaziz89 says:

    into a mysterious musky haze that drunk on this heady lilac melody. Light and dark elements add a subtle complexity, with freesia bringing this gentle sweet sparkling high note, as moss brings a softer darker luxurious texture, giving just a hint of ennui and longing, like the ghost of a floral chypre is haunting the memories of this aromatic Fougère.if a powerful voice is softly wrapping notes elegantly around you like a silky veil. Its intoxicating warm heady musk echoes, haunting your skin with a dreamy and refined air of elegance. A suave melody that’s hard to forget. I’m excited to see what songs might be next. All I know is that Art Meets Art will do it with a beautiful French touch.

    Top notes: lavender, violet, plum: Mid: cognac composition, clary sage, freesia: Base: cedarwood, musk, moss. I am intrigued by the notes especially plum, cognac, lavender, cedarwood and musk. You have got to listen to the late Jeff Buckleys Lilac Wine perfect balance of honey and melancholy. RIP Thanks a million from the UK

  • Ozzyaziz says:

    into the ether of musk that make Art Meets Art Lilac Wine a smooth and luxurious, as if a powerful voice is softly wrapping notes elegantly around you like a silky veil. Its intoxicating warm heady musk echoes, haunting your skin with a dreamy and refined air of elegance. A suave melody that’s hard to forget. I’m excited to see what songs might be next. All I know is that Art Meets Art will do it with a beautiful French touch.

    Top notes: lavender, violet, plum: Mid: cognac composition, clary sage, freesia: Base: cedarwood, musk, moss. A beautiful description by Guest Contributor J Wearescentient. I am really fascinated by the notes and Jeff Buckleys version is just like a piece of heaven. Thanks a lot from the United Kingdom

  • bigpapa says:

    As someone that plays a lot of music myself, that quote from Frank Voelkl about how fragrance and music share a lot of similarities is something I had admittedly never considered. It makes perfect sense, though, notes, accords, inspired expressions being like covers. Very cool. From NYC.

  • Sonbahia says:

    Nice review! I agree with you that perfume and music share many features that play out for our senses. I had not realized before lot of language of music and perfumery are shared and terms of accord or notes are so close in both arts. Meets Art has found a place where the perfume represented an appropriate companion to the music: here Lilac Wines. I loved Bohemian Rhapsody because of the song and the perfume of also Mr. Voelkl with the soprano white flowers. Here, even the flowers are lilac: lavender, sage, violet, freesia, purple plum(¿?). Accurate your resume as a floral chypre haunting an aromatic Fougère. I live in Spain, EU.

  • Rhys says:

    Good comparison of fragrance to music. I agree that they both have similar intentions of trying to associate the user with a mood based off the concept of the fragrance or song. Wearing a different fragrance and listening to a different song can really change your mood and have a certain setting that matches them best.
    This fragrance sounds interesting, a soft and enticing scent that gives a sense of gentleness and affection is what I think about this.
    I live in UK.

  • cnii says:

    I, too, love Nina Simone’s version of Lilac Wine, so now I’ll have to search out Jeff Buckley’s! Many thanks to J Wearescentient for pointing me in that direction. I love the idea of a perfume based on that lovely, melancholy song, and am thrilled to have a chance to try it!
    I’m in WV, USA

  • Arron_Q says:

    Wow, Lilac Wine is a very intriguing composition. It sounds like bottled eccentricity in many ways. The notes listed are traditional in their own ways but you don’t often see these players together. The combo of heady florals with the cognac sounds like it could be an intoxicating twist. I would love to give this one a try and see where its melodies take me. Best of luck to everyone. I live in NC, USA.

  • wandering_nose says:

    I am mesmerized… Apparently simple notes have been masterfully woven into something that feels to me like a masterpiece from the get-go… JScentient provides so many intricate details describing the evolution of the composition, i just want to follow the trail… “Aromatic lavender and sage (…) paired with a softly herbal fruity boozy liquor that’s rich and smooth, whose flow is intoxicating as it melts into a mysterious musky haze that drunk on this heady lilac melody”. Gosh. This could well be the new nectar of gods. Heady, intoxicating, dreamy and refined. I long for it to be mine soon – how amazing would that feel! Thank you from Dublin, Republic of Ireland, EU

  • zibbyz says:

    I immediately had to look up this song since I have not heard of it, and enjoyed it. Boozy, fougere, sparkling, Lilac Wine sounds beautiful and interesting. In the US. Thanks for the lovely review and draw.

  • Annika says:

    I love lilac fragrances and have a few soliflore scents in my collection. Lilac Wine is an interesting take on the concept because of the fougere structure. Despite the lack of a lilac note, the composition seems decidedly purple with the addition of lavender, violet, plum and freesia. I was introduced to the song via Jeff Buckley (RIP) and sought out the Nina Simone version shortly after. I’ll have to listen to Eartha Kitt. I’ve no doubt she’ll do it justice. I’m in the US.

  • Teresa C says:

    The description of how the fragrance wore sounded like something I would really enjoy, but the music references made me want to hop over to youtube and spend the rest of the night browsing! I live in the USA and my favorite Jeff Buckley song is New Year’s Prayer.

  • Laurentiu says:

    These notes sound really intriguing to me – lavender, violet, plum, cognac -, and a boozy liquor fragrance is something I look forward to as it can be very interesting and unusual. Thanks!

  • Sorohan Adriana says:

    Art Meets Art Lilac Wine a smooth and luxurious, intoxicating warm heady musk echoes, haunting your skin with a dreamy and refined air of elegance. I am from EU

  • MoSho says:

    I liked the parallel between the takes on fougère and the music covers. I even had a crazy question in mind – what would every version of Lilac Wine the perfume, reinterpreted for every Lilac Wine the song smell like?
    But crazy thoughts aside :), I’d be very curious to sample Lilac Wine and also to get acquainted to the french artistry of the brand.
    Thanks for the review and the draw, from EU.

  • HAJ THAMI Anass says:

    If a fragrance is music (Rock and metal) related just sign me please 😀
    The notes are appealing and the review has highlighted the fragrance in a way that made it more interesting.
    From EU (France)

  • Patricia R. says:

    Life imitates art often, in this manner – how many times it is that the song gets stuck in our heads and the rest of the day follows and the idea of music dictates what we do and think and feel. Great art does that. This song is unknown to me yet, but I have great expectations. Fougere seems a good style to perform in.
    I live in Slovakia

  • BigMickyD says:

    I love how complex yet sleek and modern this sounds. I would love to have a fougere like this in my collection. Boozy notes (cognac especially, Ermenegildo Zegna’s Passion being one of my all-time-favorite fragrances) being a love of mine, I would love to see how it blends with the floral aspects of this fragrance. I live in Sweden, EU.

  • Wendy says:

    J Wearescentient’s review of Art Meets Art Lilac Wine showcases a seamless blend of fragrance and music, encapsulating the essence of both art forms. It vividly illustrates the nuanced experience of Lilac Wine, drawing comparisons to different musical renditions and conveying the perfume’s unique character. JScentient’s description of the fragrance, likening it to a musical composition with notes, crescendos, harmony, and an interplay of various elements, invokes from me, a deep sense of understanding and appreciation for the carefully crafted composition of Lilac Wine. Much love from NY, US! ❤️

  • Regis Monkton says:

    I would love to try Art Meets Art Lilac Wine. I like to hear that this company makes fragrances with a beautiful French touch. I’m very interested to see what the boozy accord is like: I like to hear that it’s like a rich, golden cognac and that it’s creamy. I live in the U.S.A.

  • mmerline says:

    I really enjoyed the musicology aspect of this review; the comparisons between music and perfume are thought provoking. (Plus I’ll need to listen to a few of these “Lilac Wine” covers this week. Buckley’s version is the one I’m most familiar with.) Lilac Wine sounds like an interesting twist on a very well-explored genre, spiked by violet, stone fruit, and the boozy heart. J Wearescentient’s description is detailed and evocative and yet I’m still having trouble imagining how this smells relative to other fruity-floral fougères. Great review!

    I’m in the USA. I’d love to try this one.

  • RonaldProkes17 says:

    I am such a huge fan of Jeff Buckley and he has been an immense influence on me as a musician. His rendition of Lilac Wine is so hauntingly beautiful and full of yearning and love. I think Frank Voelkl did such a great job in picking the notes for this. Gentle yet ferocious, heady, yet carnal, comforting yet lonely. I would love to smell this composition, and wear it perhaps when playing music or listening to Grace.
    Located in USA.

  • Michael Prince says:

    I loved JScentient’s review of Art Meets Art Lilac Wine. I’m a music fan and lover so I was really drawn into all the inspirational and muscial references listed. I am also intrigued by the unique breakdown and combination of notes with the fresh florals, aromatic Lavender and Sage, along with that boozy Cognac and a woody yet earthy base. I am from the USA.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the great review!

    I absolutely love the idea behind this brand. I often think of the similarities between fragrance and music notes, and chords and accords. I think of tempo in terms of time the fragrance takes to evolve on my skin i.e citruses are the allegro equivalent.

    That Art Meets Art Lilac Wine is a fougere is no surprise. There is so much of a classics tone to the tune, with the beauty and charisma that Buckley’s voice, similar to the addition of the cognac accord.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • khoifishatuw says:

    You got me interested with the Nina Simone reference, then killed me with Eartha Kitt. Love the idea of soaking this lavender concoction rounded out with plum/cognac/cedar in with a good bottle wine and listening to these tunes on Sunday afternoon. – I live in the US.