You have read quite a lot from The Silver Fox and me, Our Best and Worst of 2014 and our Top 30 so I want to turn today’s "Best of 2014" Perfume post over to Steve Johnson, Sr Contributor, Einsof, Natural Perfumes Editor and West Coast Contributor and to Susie Baird, Contributor.
Steve Johnson, Sr Contributor
Beaver Zoologist Perfumes (Chris Bartlett) Finally an animalic I can wear! Castoreum and linden blossom make for an odd, but delightful and approachable combination. This is the scent that convinced me to wear "skanky" perfumes -although it is relatively subdued, smelling of clean wet fur and fresh air. An absolute joy and a great debut for Mr. Wong.
Corsica Furioso Parfum D'Empire (Marc Antoine Cortichiatto) Fifty shades of green. Verdant and spicy, with tart lime and massive amounts of mastic. This is Marc-Antoine Cortichiatto’s first fragrance under the Parfums D’Empire brand since 2012 and well worth the wait.
Paris * LA A Lab on Fire (Laurent Le Guernec)- kooky, sweet and irresistible. an endless candy-colored horizon of fizzy Coke and French almond cookies dusted with baked seafood spices.
Pluriel Homme Maison Francis Kurkdjian (Francis Kukdjian ) An innovative twist on a classic category- the fougere and an example of why Francis Kurkdjian is one of the world’s greatest perfumers. Gorgeous lavender absolute and a surprising leather accord. A sharp as a razor vetiver note roughens things up and takes it out of the barbershop.
.Sea Salt and Wood Sage Jo Malone (Christine Nagel)- Earthy and comforting – a virtual trip to the beach I'll definitely require in the cold ferocity of February. Christine Nagel’s Swan song and one of the best Jo Malone fragrances in recent years.
Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor and West Coast Contributor
Capricorn Strange Invisible Perfumes The Perfumes of The Zodiac Collection (Alexandra Balahoutis) I enjoy the way the entire collection can be layered to address different astrological and olfactive aspects of ourselves. Even if you don't believe in astrology, this 100 percent botanical fragrance is one of masterful duality, just like those born under this star (December 22-January 21). There is a sensual play of iris and jasmine which is juxtaposed against a warm vanilla and rich white cognac note. Smoldering frankincense curls throughout. I have gone back to it again and again as a scented respite from the cold.
Edernstern April Aromatics
Edernstern April Aromatics (Tanja Bochnig): This house continues to be a vanguard of botanical perfumery, and Tanja’s rendition of botanical musk has become an obsession of mine.
Dr. Dreidel 3000 Smell Bent ( Brent Leonesoi) A seriously complex and intricately woven scent from the pop artist of the perfume world. The depth of the wood notes is superb– I used every drop.
Samarinda EDP Providence Perfume Co
Samarinda Providence Perfume Co. (Charna Ethier) From one of my favorite natural perfumers, Samarinda is a perfumed journey to a tropical rainforest.. Brilliant use of roasted seashell, (also known as Choya Nakh) which gives this Oriental perfume smokiness that serves to enhance the spices and steamy florals. Loamy, spicy and darkly sensual but never overwhelming. Just beautiful.
Shangri-La (Hiram Green) is a lovely nod to the history of chypres in perfumery and a stunning second offering from natural perfumer Hiram Green. Shangri La is proof that natural perfumery in the 21st century doesn’t have to be paradise lost but indeed can be paradise found. For those who seek the Lost Horizon, the vintage perfume treasures of a bygone era, Hiram Green’s Shangri La honors and respects the legacy of Francois Coty's masterpiece Chypre; which is remarkable in an all natural palette.
Woodcut Olympic Orchids (Dr. Ellen Covey) is a fragrance that speaks directly to environmental concerns that suggests life essence of precious trees spilled on the ground. Woodcut, a fitting name for the liquid that rests on the skin, stained with sugar coated cedars. This is as beautiful in its insistent longevity as it is in the urgency of its message.
.Susie Baird, Contributor
Angelique Papillon Perfumes (Liz Moores). A shape-shifting green nymph and deeply evocative.
Architects Club Arquiste (Yann Vasnier). A truly sophisticated vanilla with the perfect balance of citrus, woods and sweetness. (3x winner ÇaFleureBon)
Hedonist Iris Parfums Viktoria Minya (Minya Viktoria). Extremely classy and understated yet rich with Ms. Minya's signature opulence.
Ombré indigo Olfactive Studio (Celine Verleure and Mylène Alran). Brooding, shadowed, resinous and narcotic.
Rozy Eau de Parfum- Vero Profumo (Vero Kern). The perfect vintage-style floral. Powdered rose, thorny and and uni sexy. If you have not been intrigued by this most wondrous of scents after reading three days of accolades for Vero Kern and Rozy perfume from ÇaFleureBon, what are you waiting for? (3x winner)
Terracotta le Parfum– Guerlain. (Thierry Wasser) The one Guerlain that shined for me this year and ever so brightly. Reminds me of sun-kissed rooftops made of baked tiles. Soft, glowing and oh so feminine.
That is a wrap… On behalf of all of us at ÇaFleureBon A Happy New Year and we look forward to the scents that will rock our world in 2015.
For our Best of Perfume 2014 Draw: Thanks to Tanja Bochnig we have a 7.5 ml deluxe sprayer of Erdenstern for all readers worldwide. For our readers in the US and Canada, Victor Wong of Zoologist Perfumes is offering a 60 ml bottle of Beaver. For our US readers we have a 5ml Travel Spray of Hiram Green Shangri La thanks to Indigo Perfumery. To be eligible please leave a comment with your thoughts on Steve's, Einsof's and Susie's picks for the best of the year, where you live and which you would like to win. Draw closes January 3, 2015
Our draws for Our Best and Worst of 2014 and our Top 30 are still open, so if you have not entered to win full bottles of Masque Milano Tango, Russian Tea, Mona Di Orio Myrrh Casati, Imaginary Authors Yesterday's Haze and Arquiste Architects Club, click on the two links provided above.
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