Best of Show Esxence 2023: Nicoleta+ a colorful giveaway

Best of Show at Esxence 2023

Best of Show Esxence 2023 Iridescent photo courtesy of Esxence

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where—” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

“In that direction,” the Cat said, waving its right paw round, “lives a Hatter: and in that direction,” waving the other paw, “lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they are both mad.”
“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.” Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

 Best perfumes at Esxence 2023

Outside Esxence 2023 where the theme was Iridescent photo by Karl

My colleague Senior Editor Karl Topham perfectly conveyed all the fabulous and yet overwhelming sensorial and emotional overload that experiencing Esxence 2023 (here). The priceless energy of feeling surrounded by people who suffer (and enjoy every second) from the fragrant beautiful madness, from different sides of the fence, with buyers, creators, noses, corporate, content creators and  consumers make for a bubble of energy that, this year, was iridescent. The phenomenon of iridescence, characterized by the shimmering display of luminous, ever-changing colors, perfectly mirrored the ever-shifting and evolving world of perfumery, and returning home, after carefully organizing my samples, my memories, and my notes, I took a step back and saw that the iridescent theme, somehow, unconsciously guided and grouped my steps, my choices, and my picks for my favourites this year.  So here it is, my best hunts of this year, grouped into deeply subjective colorful synesthetic clusters:

Best rose perfumes at Esxence 2023

Best of Show Esxence 2023: The deep, the luscious, the opulent: The REDs (photos from the brands and the two in the middle are by Nicoleta)

I love roses – be they bright, dark, sweet like confiture, spectral and dusty or delicately blooming, covered in incense or spiked in patchouli, engulfed in oud, or just shining bright soliflores – I just love them all! As a dead-serious rose aficionado, and I say this with extreme care and responsibility, I might have just found some serious new contenders for the all-time top of my favorite roses:

First, on my list – she is dazzling, she is fun, she is giving main character b***h energy –  she is THE QUEEN, a rich, fun, opulent jammy rose from Eau de Boujee, made by the amazing Pia Long and Nick Gilbert.

Parfums Dusita had one of the most beautiful stands, a whimsical wonderland awash in a sea of natural roses. There, I met Parfums Dusita Rosarine for the first time, a mouthwatering rose of May infused with Pissara Umavajani’s trademark elegance and complexity.

Rose on the shore from Tobba – an earthy, airy, mineral, and cool rose unlike anything I have smelled before, from a brand that deserves all the attention.

Pepper Satin from Eila – a satiny, soft, silky bouquet built around a pink fresh rose. Beautiful, understated, and as comfortable as a second skin.

Also, special mention to Maroc Maroc and their Jardin Mille Roses – a rose-infused water with raspberry and loukoum notes that smelled just as pampering as it felt on the skin.

Lor Paris, Perfume.sucks, coreterno, Roads perfumes

 Best of Show: The ceremonial, the ritualistic, the enlightened: the WHITEs (photos courtesy the brands)

The fragrances that intrigued, challenged, and opened the doors to otherworldly landscapes, both through the power of scent and very on-point concepts were:

Andreas Wilhelm (Art & Olfaction finalist) from Perfume Sucks picked the theme of conspiracies for his latest collection and built the three fragrances using the principles of Fibonacci numbers, composed with ingredients that stand in golden ratio to each other: Wealth 4181 (if you want to literally smell like you are made out of money, as it’s based on a headspace analyze of fresh printed Swiss francs with fancy powdered iris and posh musks); Fuel 0987 (give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire: racing at full speed into the abyss with a mixture of gasoline and oud); and Flash 0021  (a mushroomy truffle that sends you on an LSD trip, with popcorn notes to enjoy while your bad choices in life flash before your eyes).

The Creator was the tarot card that I draw at the Argentum stand. Air, sugar, spice, and everything nice with this innovative fragrance that is created without chemical solvents, in a patented technology of water plant emulsion that mixes oil, water, and fragrance to create a superfine, milky microemulsion that offers a unique sensorial experience when applying the fragrance with added skin and hair benefits. Plus, the packaging is absolutely beautiful with a detachable silvered talisman hidden in the cap and spot-on visuals.

Best Perfumes at Esxence 2023

I am an incense freak, so of course Freakincense drew me like a magnet to the Coreterno stand. Translating as “eternal heart” the lifestyle brand was conceived in Rome and born in New York and is inspired by the mysterious world of rebellious poets and engravers of long-forgotten pasts. In my imaginary (for now) haunted villa in which I will spend my wisdom days, surrounded by Victorian exquisite clutter (as Freddie Mercury would have said) and at least ten cats, I need at least 20 Coreterno candles burning on my mantle. Straight on my wishlist, it goes.

The concept for the brand Roads was born in a theatre, the seed being the idea of using scent on stage to create atmospheres for a play. A very interesting panel discussion during Esxence 2023 featured the founder of Roads, Danielle Ryan, and focused on the perfumery of the future (you can watch it here).

Conceptually fresh (filtered through the creative soul and mind of Rola Haddad) and olfactively flawless (again, shout-out to Nathalie Feisthauer, Michelyn’s Best of Scent Perfumer of 2022) L’or Paris was one of the finds I am smitten with. My favorite was Oud Latte, a comfortable, sleek, and urban modern reinterpretation of the ambery, woody spicy genre.

Osmanthe Liu Yuan

 Best of Show Esxence 2023: The bright, the radiant, the happy: the YELLOWs photos courtesy of the brands

More than ever, I feel drawn to airy, radiant scents that make me feel alert, awake, and ON. Come the yellow-ness I feel from zesty fruits, the freshness of sunny florals, or just the warmth and energy of some spices it matters less. The effect I crave came, and came in large doses, from these beauties:

Composed by Maxence Moutte using 90 % natural ingredients, Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan is a ray of sunshine in a bottle that feels just as joyous as stone skipping, each bounce coming out brighter, with citrusy zest, ripe apricots, and airy osmanthus. I loved running alongside this crystalline river, flowing in a garden of eternal sparkling delights, and couldn’t help but diving my nose in it each time I passed the stand (which reflected the spirit of the brand beautifully with the intricate magic world woven by – Cristian Marianciuc).

Smelling Room 1015 Sonic Flower made my inner Blondie burst into the lyrics of “Atomic Blonde” from the first seconds. Lipstick, powder, crushed flowers, skin & stage lights all the way ON.

Parfum Buro’s Butter me up feels like eating a croissant, eye half closed, in a cozy boulangerie near the boulevard Saint-Germain. A deliciously naughty grownup gourmand that slides on the skin with pink pepper, jasmine, and vanilla.

Burdin Amoroso by Nathalie Feisthauer paints the image of a Mediterranean garden bathed in golden sunshine, with sweet figs, bergamot, and vetiver. Relaxingly joyous.

A special shout-out to Manos Gerakinis Pivoine, which I smelled at Esxence 2023 for the first time. I usually don’t swoon at blushed peonies (read this with Morticia’s tone talking about pastel colors) BUT this is such a weak-in-the-knees, sigh-inducing, hyperventilating- gasp-for-air-and-bring-the-salts PRETTY peony I am at a loss for words. Extra benefit: it made me feel like an Olympian goddess for the countless hours it lingered on my skin (might have been Hera, as the show was so crowded, but not complaining, on the contrary, it has added benefits.

J-Scent and Reiner Perfumes at Esxence 2023

 Best of Show Esxence 2023: Shades of cool: the calm, the spiritual, the natural – GREENs & BLUEs

Each time I got lost in the maze of nearly 300 exhibitors, I was happy to cross the J-scents stand and test as much of their over 20 perfumes of the line (note to the organizers – the app should come implemented with its own GSM system for the next edition). I loved Hisui (inspired by the mysterious green and white colors of Jade, the national stone of Japan); Sumo Wrestler (an unexpected floral that bears the scent of bintsuke (hair oil) subtly floating from the hair of sumo wrestlers and their self-explanatory best seller, Roasted Green Tea.

EDIT(h) fragrances, born from SHUNIKU, the Japanese stamping signature culture, and their Green Velvet – a bittersweet green spicy floral.

Nissaba is a brand that makes 90% natural perfumes, with no colors, or additives, vegan, cruelty-free, with a low carbon footprint, and focused on purpose, sustainability, and giving back to the local communities of harvesters. My favorite was Provence – an aromatic green fragrance that pays homage to the aromatic plants cultivated in altitude around the Durance Valley.

Reiner Perfumes – a brand created by a plastic artist, with each perfume inspired by a painting. My heart melted into the cool waters of Guaynabo – a fragrance inspired by the scent of freshly sun-dried skin after a swim in the waters of the Caribbean Sea by Miguel Matos.

Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor

Best Perfumes at Esxence 2023

For our US and EU readers we have a gift bag of assorted samples from Nicoleta’s Best of Show Esxence 2023. To be eligible you must be a registered reader. Please leave a quality comment with what perfumes/brands from Nicoleta’s Esxence Best of Show 2023 captured your imagination and where you live. What color  tones attracted you the most. Draw ends 04/13/2023.

Follow us: @cafleurebonofficial, @nicoleta.tomsa, @esxenceofficial @argentum @tobbaparfums  @jscent_fragrance, @nissaba.fragrances @boujeebougies @renier_perfumes, lor.paris @coreterno @perfume.sucks @parfumsdusita @burdinparfums @jardinretrouve @room1015fragrances @eilaatelier @parfumburo @roadsgroup @edithfragrances @manosgerakinisparfums

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52 comments

  • I love this idea of colors to bring us your favorite perfumes at esxcence. I am the most attracted to the reds and yellows
    Great article. EU

  • Brad Woolslayer says:

    I’d love to try samples of these fragrances from Esxence 2023. Burdin Amoroso was one fragrance that caught my attention, with it’s interpretation of a Mediterranean garden. I tend to like blue fragrances. I live in Maryland USA.

  • Claumarchini says:

    After Karl’s article, I thoroughly enjoyed also this fantastic article by Nicoleta, thanks so much!! I have discovered brands I didn’t know and the amount of artistry displayed looks impressive! I would have to go with the red, as I am also a great fan of rose. Greetings from Milan

  • Nissaba and EDIT(h) captured my imagination the most because of how unique these brands are. I love there concept. I live in Trzebnica, Poland, EU. Green and white attracted me the most because when I think of this combination I feel like drinking a quality green tea.

  • Coreterno and Manos Gerakinis captured my imagination the most. I prefer green and blue color tones. From EU.

  • Sorohan Adriana says:

    Great article!
    I love Pissara
    Umavajani’s trademark elegance and complexity! I love touberose from Cavatina, Melodie de L’Amour, Anamcara,
    but I am curious about new parfume Rosarine with his rose.
    I am from EU

  • olgAPOISON says:

    I love the reds, all combos of rose. Oud Latte and Le Jardins Osmanthus are on my fave list, the arts and crafts of making all that! Thanks for the beautiful article. Im from EU

  • Nicoleta! ❤️ Wow! I Love how you are thinking through these fragrances!! Brilliant! I can’t wait to find and experience these fragrances! Yay!!! ❤️

  • bhernandez says:

    I like the concept of Nissaba, and Provence sounds like a great fragrance for sure.
    I am more of a Green/Blue regarding my type of fragrances, but from the aquatic, fresh standpoint, not what blue fragrances that dominate the market.

    It seems this event was fun.

    From Boston, MA

  • Gnossiennes says:

    Thank you for your lovely introduction, Nicoleta.
    For J-Scents, I have heard various editors’ compliments for years. Their Japanese aesthetics really intrigues me. Thanks to their very reasonable price, I have ordered several in the mail. I would also love to try EDIT(h).
    Miguel’s writings and creations have aroused quite some resonance in me. So I will definitely put his Guaynabo on my to-try list.
    And one more thing. I might be a little outdated, but I really find confusing the claim of a certain percentage of natural fragrances. It seems a trendy move nowadays as seen here in Nissaba. But most-most fragrances have a certain proportion of natural ingredients, don’t they? (And, which I believe is a shared common sense, this does not necessarily have a positive effect on either quality or sustainability.) Despite this, I am absolutely with them if they truly are committed to sustainability and other CSRs.
    Greetings from San Mateo, California.

  • LovelyMouse says:

    Thanks to Nicoleta for such a precise review. I was captured by Rose on the shore from Tobba because of the mineral facets and I am also a big fan of roses in perfumery. Of course Andreas Wilhelm’s concept is intriguing as I love everything about mysticism ans conspiracy. Especially Flash 0021 caught my attention (truffle mushroom with popcorn is something extraordinary!).
    I already wrote that under Karl’s review that I am interested in Le Jardin Retrouve’s Osmanthe Liu Yuan. Here it is no exception.

    And I’ve heard of the popularity of Roasted Green Tea by J-scents so this is also captivating.
    I enjoyed reading this reportage as well as Karl’s. Thanks a lot for your job!

    I love pink color tones, green and black color.

    Best Regards from EU.

  • To my surprise I’m most drawn to your Blue / Green section. Not just because of the J-Scents, but these I find very intriguing! And then your wording makes me want to smell a floral one, which is rare, the peony Manos Gerakinis Pivoine. Thank you for your atmospheric and jocund report! I’d love to win this piece of Esxence to Germany, thank you for the draw!

  • I also love roses in their many forms though I still think the Taif Rose must be one of the most beautiful smelling ones :). In addition, I’m also drawn to frankincense thus it feels like Nicoleta and I might be peas in a pod 🙂 I’m into the reds and blues and in the USA.

  • Bright, Radiant and Happy… it’s Yellow for me.

    Room 1015 Sonic Flower and lipstick sounds great. Make me want to rock my DHI Vintage this week. Also Burdin Amoroso sweet fig and bergamot sounds tasty. And the far east house of Le Jardin Retrouve.

    Thanks from the USA.

  • Patricia R. says:

    Theatre set fragrance sounds interesting. And would love to try Oud Latte. Sounds divine. Thank you for this opportunity from Slovakia

  • Like Nicoleta, I love rose in all its forms. Rosarine is a beautiful and elegant rose. The Maroc Maroc Jardin Mille Roses perfumed water sounds quite nice.

    The three new releases from Perfume Sucks sound very interesting. I would be curious to smell all of them. I have been intrigued by Argentum’s fragrances and aesthetic. I have had the opportunity to try Caregiver, but I would love to test more from them.

    I’ve really enjoyed the Coreterno fragrances I’ve tried and Freakincense sounds great. I also love the brand’s aesthetic; their candles are very beautiful.

    I have been excited to try Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan after reading so many great reviews. Parfum Buro Butter Me Up! is definitely going straight to my test list; it sounds delicious. I agree with Nicoleta that Manos Gerakinis Pivoine is a very beautiful peony fragrance.

    J-Scent Roasted Green Tea is one of my favorite green tea latte fragrances. I still need to test more from the house. Hisui sounds very pretty.

    I love how Nicoleta used different color schemes to match her favorite Esxence 2023 fragrances. I was most drawn to the reds and whites, but fragrances appealed to me from every color.

    Thank you, Nicoleta, for the great reviews, and thank you for the giveaway. I am located in the USA.

  • I tend to associate colors and scents as well, and am thrown off when a scent doesn’t match its bottle (in color and/or form). Rose is also one of my favorite notes, and every time I try to stop buying another rose fragrance, I learn of yet another one that sounds interesting. In this case, it’s The Queen by Boujee Bougies, as I’m also a sucker for rhubarb and black tea notes. Creator by Argentum sounds interesting as well, since osmanthus is another one of my loves. Of course, that means I also need to try Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan, which I saw was mentioned in an earlier article as well. Thank you for your list – I have bookmarked those and more as ones to sniff out! Best, Kris from NC, USA

  • Great Essence 2023 reportage–I’m looking forward to seeing many of these hit the market! I love the theatre concept of the Roads line. I’m also drawn to gourmands that evoke savory rather than sweet flavors, so Butter Me Up definitely pings my radar. I’d love to be entered in the draw. Michigan, USA

  • johnmadison says:

    So many stunning fragrances, thank you for the review!

    As a rose lover in fragrance, I am so excited to read your thoughts on some of your new favorites.
    The two that just saw absolutely lovely to be are The Queen from Eau de Boujee and Rose on the Shore by Tobba.
    I love the idea of a jammy rose in The Queen for a more rich, evening wear of the rose, and Rose on the Shore sounds beautful with its earthy and airy elegance. Possibly perfect for a Spring day.

    Also, catching my eye is Parfum Buro’s Butter Me Up.
    I’ve really been into buttery gourmands lately and I’m so curious how the jasmine plays a role in this one. The pink pepper and vanilla paired with the jasmine is what I imagine is the recipe to this being the smell of a buttery croissant as mentioned. Yum!

    John – Minnesota, USA.

  • Thanks Nicoleta for a very exhaustive account of an increasingly vast fair. I liked that your idea of using a “deeply subjective” colorful guide of what you sniffed and enjoyed. The Reds with the main character, the rose, in all its facets: As a fan of Pissara from Dusita, I think her mouthwatering Rosarine must be lovely; Also the first Eau de Boujee with Alicia stepped through the looking glass and made Queen must be a must try. I have a soft spot by the yellow, so you also give (as Karl) a kudos to Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan: I wanna add the osmanthus scent to my collection now!! and one more work of the genius Mme. Feisthauer, Burdin Amoroso, to take us to a late summer sunset in a mediterranean garden! Ready for the hot season! I live in Spain, EU

  • I’m definitely most attracted to the reds. I am fortunate to be a part of the Eau My Soul facebook group and to have sampled Rosarine. She’s so gorgeous, and quickly rose (haha) to the #1 spot in my small collection of rose fragrances, only perhaps rivaled by Sultan Pasha’s Juriah.
    I am glad you were able to explore so many fine fragrances all in the same building!
    Indiana, USA.

  • I loved the Yellows selection, with Osmanthus Liu Yuan and Butter me up – they sounded so smooth and delicious. I have had the chance to smell Pivoine by Manos Gerakinis and I absolutely would have included it in the selection as well.
    Reiner Perfumes also inspired me, with its coroboration of smell and image.
    I live in the EU and I always get terribly excited when I get a chance to sample a variety of new and wonderful frags.
    Thanks for the draw!

  • Nicoleta surely had a blast at Esxence. It was cool to know her experience with the brands and the new fragrances. I love trying new fragrances and the ones that got my attention the most are: Reiner Perfumes- Guaynabo, Parfum Buro’s Butter me up and Smelling Room 1015 Sonic Flower , they surely are amazing and I hope to try them soon.
    USA here.

  • How exciting to be able to walk through all these fragrance booths!
    If only!
    So, until one day i can attend, maybe i will be lucky to get some samples!
    I was attracted to the Yellows described in the article, especially such fragrances as Pivoine by Manos Gerakinis, with notes such as peony. Intriguing!
    Also Parfum Buro’s “Butter Me Up” sounds deliciously sexy!
    I’m in the US.

  • I’m most drawn to the tones of yellow in this post, and I’m really intrigued by the fragrances: Pivoine, Sonic Flower and Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan.
    In the U.S.

  • Most of these perfumers/houses are completely foreign to me. I am familar with J-scents having sniffed a sample set of theirs. Very ‘modern’ Japanese scents, great scents. Thank you for the opportunity, Southern California here.

  • Nom de Guerre says:

    Give me greens and blues (Sumo Wrestler & Roasted Green Tea) followed by the whites (Argentum & Wealth 4181). I can’t even imagine what it would be like to visit Esxence, I’d be so overwhelmed – time to make plans for 2024? 🙂 Thank you Nicoleta for the write-up, greetings from Riga, Latvia!

  • Lots of new houses that I have not heard of before. Sounds like an amazing journey of discovery when trying out the new releases.
    Thanks

  • This time the radiant yellows draw me in, and the full spectrum from sunlight to flowers to food sounds irresistible. Osmanthe Liu Yunnan, Butter Me Up and Pivoine are all calling my name. I’m in the US, thank you for sharing highlights from Esxence and for hosting this draw!

  • Is Freakincense a new perfume from Coreterno? Smelled last month Hardkor and really like it. So would be interested to smell more from the brand.
    I’m in the EU.

  • Parfums Dusita always puts out beautifully blended fragrances so Rosarine gets my attention right away. Also, Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan calls me. Lots of naturals? Osmanthus my favorite note? I have no doubt I will love this.

    Sheer summer colors attracted my attention. I guess I’m ready for a vacation. 🙂

    Thanks for the inside information, Nicoleta. I’m in the USA.

  • Like in Karl Topham’s article, I am curious here about the Japanese perfumes mentioned, such as Hisul, Sumo Wrestler, and Roasted Green Tea. Also curious about Oud Latte (love oud) and Fuel 0987. EDIT(h) brand seems intriguing too. Thanks for the article and draw. From continental USA.

  • Pissara always capture’s my imagine with how she ties her father’s poetry with scent. She has taken it up a level by now including visual aspects in the way she did at Esxence with the rose showcase. Rose is my favorite note so I am really looking forward to trying Rosarine given I know how good Dustita quality tends to be. I find myself most attracted to the Reds. I just love all shades of it and I associate it with confidence.
    Cheers from Illinois, USA!

  • Wow, what a wonderful collection! My favorite might be the Wealth 4181, because it not only sounds funny, the listed notes really appeal to me. But the Manos Gerakinis Pivoine is going to be a must try for me, because my grandfather and father both hybridized peonies and it is a huge part of my heritage, yet I have not smelled a peony fragrance that smells like their flowers. That would be amazing. And the description here makes it sound like a spiritual experience regardless! I live in the USA.

  • Blues/Greens are most attractive to me and Guaynobo sounds like a beautiful summer fragrance. Based in the UK.

  • I always enjoy reading up about new fragrances and the inspirations behind them. Parfum Buro’s Butter me up really drew my attention and my imagination within this list, especially since I’ve been looking at gourmand fragrances. I tend to prefer warmer, more red color tones. From TX, USA.

  • Nicoleta creates visions with words!
    In this wander through her esxence selections, I am intrigued by the cerebral, yet psychedelic brand “Perfum Sacks “. She makes me feel inside Aronofsky’s movie “π” , but then you totally change scenery and land, with “Flash 0021,” in the opening scene of the movie Trainspotting. That crazy ride that yes, could smell of mushroomy truffle and popcorn!!!.
    Ewan McGregor, can you confirm that?

    Perhaps a contemporary Genji, on the other hand, would choose the scents of the Japanese brand J- Scents.
    I need to smell their Sumo wrestler, it might look good on a Sicilian girl with a Japanese soul.

    Thank you, Nicoleta, for such an accurate and inspired report.
    Valeria, Rome Italy, color fanatic. My favorites: Crimson, Plum, Purple.

  • emorandeira says:

    There are lot of brands that I LOVE in Nicoleta’s List. Beginning from Renier perfumes to Room 1015 or Coreterno.
    I think It is a great idea to asociate perfumes with feelings an different colores and help me to imaginé how these perfumes Work.
    I am Writing from Lugo, Galicia, Spain (EU)

  • foreverscents says:

    Wow! 300 exhibitors! Organizing by color tones all the riches at this event sounds like a good way to control, maybe just a little bit, the certain overwhelming feelings. I certainly would be overwhelmed–in a good way–at an event like this. The yellow fragrances intrigue me the most, especially Osmanthe Liu Yuan by Jardin Retrouve. I love anything with apricot notes.
    I live in the USA.

  • Thank you for this lovely update! So many of these new scents sound worth trying. In particular, I’m all about the red tones – I’ve heard great things about Eau de Boujee in a number of places and I am eager to try their new line, especially The Queen as rose is one of my favorite notes. Rose on the Shore from Tobba also sounds really cool and different. I’m in MN, USA.

  • wandering_nose says:

    What an amazing, insightful journey through the colors and shades of the amazing journey that Iridescence must have been – thank you, Nicoleta! I was by far most drawn to the WHITES category, with their mysterious and mystical inspirations and historical provenance. I would more than love to test Andreas Wilhelm (Wealth4181 and Flash 0021 shot me out to space just on reading about their concepts), Freakincense, Roads (I love their creative approach!) and L’Or (Oud Latte sounds amazing). However, Tobba;s Rose on the shore feels like something I would cherish and admire, and Butter me Up – oh well, a guilty pleasure everyone (who likes pink pepper, vanilla and jasmine) should be allowed. Thank you from the EU

  • Parfumista says:

    Hi!
    Thanks for the overview of the latest releases, first of all!
    As a rose lover I’m craving to test all the rose-centered perfumes mentioned. Then, I’m really curious about Perfume Sucks new line, in particular about their ” what money smells perfume”.))
    Finally, like many other perfumista I’m in a constant search for a beautiful peony, thus, Manos Gerakinis’ Pivoine speaks to me.
    Sure, that would be a great pleasure to test all the rest of the selection mentioned.
    Thanks!
    Greetings from Switzerland!

  • Thanks for the coverage Nicoleta—I appreciate that your thoughts from the event complement Karl’s with new highlights. I also enjoyed the way you broke this down into the big, bold colors of the show.

    Of all your profiled rose fragrances, Rose on the Shore sounds the most compelling, with its ethereal, mineral facets. From the WHITES, Flash 0021 caught my attention; mushroom notes are nothing if not inventive and compelling. From the YELLOWS, I’m intrigued by Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan with its natural-materials citrus. And finally, the GREENS, which best fit my day-to-day preferences. I want to try Roasted Green Tea; I’ve been on a tea fragrance kick and I should add this J-scents perfume to the list.

    I’m in the USA.

  • The perfume and brand that really captured my imagination and appeal was Nissaba who creates fragrances that are 90% all natural leaving a small carbon footprint, sustainability and giving back to the local harvesters. My favorite color is blue/green which are the color tones going to be that attracted me the most. Greetings from the USA.

  • I love the concept of using colors to organize your impressions of so many perfumes! I think the fragrances by Andreas Wilhelm sound super interesting. I’m in the USA.

  • Regis Monkton says:

    I’m very intrigued to try “Burdin Amoroso” by Nathalie Feisthauer when Nicoleta describes it as an “image of a Mediterranean garden bathed in golden sunshine, with sweet figs, bergamot, and vetiver. Relaxingly joyous.” I’m also interested in trying “Eau de Boujee” because I can like rose fragrances, and Nicoleta said that it’s one of the best she’s ever tried. I love to discover fragrances which are new to me, so I’d truly appreciate it if I won the bag of samples. I live in the U.S.A. I like all the colors.

  • ‘Shades of cool: the calm, the spiritual, the natural – GREENs & BLUEs color tones’ part of Nicoleta’s article attracted me the most.

    The Hisui fragrance from J-scents piqued my curiosity. How could a gemstone spark a perfumer’s inspiration?
    It has been considered a symbol of purity, beauty, and nobility for centuries, but how it smells?
    Mysterious green and white colors of Jade surrounded with Japan’s nature. Fragrant calmness, right.
    Could there be an evocative hinoki forest nearby?
    Or sweet sakura blossoms’ scent, wafting by?
    Perhaps an aromatic tea house on Fuji’s path?
    Or the salty ocean?

    Thank you for this fragrant journey of imagination.

    Hope to read the violet-purple-lilac enigmatic-inspired review from Esxence 2024.

    DE,USA

  • Definitely the reds here. Very interested in try Quees and Rosaline, butt all the roses appeal. I have Roasted Green Tea from J scent but would live to try the others on the line.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    So many nice new things. I wish I could go to the event, but I have to trust Nicoleta to do the “dirty work”. I’d love to visit, but for now I love Cafleurebon writers to bring the event to me. I’d love to win and hope there are lots of Rose fragrances in this. I love roses too. USA.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the great review Nicoleta!

    I really loved the description of Le Jardin Retrouve Osmanthe Liu Yuan. I’m a huge fan of osmanthus and it’s olive, floral, umami facets and to see it being used in this kaleidoscopic fashion to create the feeling of an eternal garden is quite neat.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • sephrenia300 says:

    Lovely article and pics Nicoleta! The perfumes/brands from Nicoleta’s Esxence Best of Show 2023 that most captured my imagination were Parfums Dusita Rosarine, Tobba Rose on the shore, Coreterno Freakincense and Manos Gerakinis Pivoine. Rose and Peony are two of my favorite flowers and frankincense is one of my favorite basenotes so those all really interested me. The color tones that attracted me the most were the reds tones, with their lush and opulent luxury. I live in the U.S.