Art by Jasia Julia Nielson Happy Birthday Cafleurebon.com

Five years ago, March 22, 2010, the first post on ÇaFleureBon went live. I interviewed Michel Roudnitska on ethical perfumery.  That set the tone from day one.  Ever since, we have been posting 365 days a year for five years.

When I started contributing to online and beauty publications in 2005, bloggers were not considered to be legitimate journalists.  The digital age has changed that and now most print magazines have online presences.   For most lovers of fine fragrance, it is the perfume blogs that are their first source for information. I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the quality and veracity  of the information  we publish as well as for every review and for every post that appears on ÇaFleureBon.

Christopher Brosius:  Demeter "Snow" 1999 and "Dirt"  1996 were unlike anything else in fragrance; I discovered the line at Henri Bendel

Living in New York City, I was exposed at a young age to hard to find fragrances.   Jean Laporte for L’Artisan Parfumeur and Christopher Brosius of Demeter and CB I hate Perfume influenced  me quite a bit during the late 90s.  M. Laporte’s mission was to perpetuate the art of fine French perfumery rooted in Grasse and Christopher Brosius of Williamsburg,  broke every rule and  changed  the definition of fragrance.

Maurice and Me 2010

Until 2003, I did not know the names of the perfumers behind some of my favorite fragrances.  As Maurice Roucel told me during our interview  in 2010,  “we are ghosts”. Outside of a very small circle, the noses behind the art were for the most part unknown.  Frederic Malle changed that to some extent in 2000. I hope tha CaFleureBon  raised awarensss  of these authors of scent,  through interviews and profiles.

 Charlotte Rampling at the Hotel Nord Pinus II, Arles by Helmut Newton.(one of seven photo images used for The Silver Fox's review of Pierre Guillaume's  Liqueur Charnelle)

 I minored in fine art in college, which is why there are so many visuals and references to the arts.  In 2010,  it was rare to see so many paintings, videos and photos integrated into a  review. As I do most of the art direction,  I often spend up to two hours finding the perfect images.  It was Ocatvian Coiffan, of 1000 fragrances (who is now a perfumer) who coined the term "fragrance is the 8th art". If any one blogger influenced and changed my perception of what fragrance can be at its best (and worst) it is Octavian.

 From our inception, ÇaFleureBon was one the few blogs that  has always had a natural perfume editor.  A great Fragrance is great fragrance no matter the materials used and we honor ancient artisan techniques as well as the latest technology in aroma chemical molecules.  Discovering emerging independent and artisan perfumers from around the world, shining a spotlight on American perfumers, celebrating the olfactive artists and the Creative Directors who set the vision, discovering young perfumers who are the next generation of 21st Century perfumers; all of this is what makes my role as Editor in Chief so exciting.

Why do I spend so much time with our blog? After all, I am a  free lance magazine editor, a social media consultant and a former executive who worked in Marketing and Public Relations for fashion, hip-hop, beauty and major media companies. I would still be in a suit  if  I didn't want to break new ground; if I didn't think we could make a difference.  I blog because I love fragrance and beauty, and  of course for our readers, whether they are just discovering fragrance or are long time perfumistas who read ÇaFleureBon we strive every day to surprise, delight and engage everyone.

 I have been blessed to work with many writers, contributors and editors over the past five years who believe in the ÇaFleureBon vision.  Without them, ÇaFleureBon would not be the success it is today.  Each brought a unique perspective, knowledge and of course beautiful writing. Thank you to every perfumer, to every Creative director who has shared your path with our readers.   To Tanja Bochnig, Ellen Covey, Neil Morris, Dawn Spencer Hurwitz, Laurie Erickson, who allowed me to be Creative Director on fragrance collaborations; I love working with each and every one of you.  Much gratitude for the generosity of the hundreds of sponsors of our draws, too many to list.

Tama Blough by Jasia Julia Nielson

As  I reflect on the past five years,  there is a shadow of sadness.  RIP Didier Cholay, my late husband and Managing Director and  former managing editorTama Blough . Both passed within days of each other.  They live on in our hearts and on our pages.  A special thank you to former contributor, Jasia Julia Nielson of The Sound of Scents who created this stunning watercolor for the  our 5th Anniversary and the memorial watercolor painting celebrating Tama's life.  If you have not read Jasia's blog, it is a multi-sensoiral feast for the eyes, ears and the soul.

Here’s to another five years. Thank you all.

–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

 

Christopher Chong

Enough editorializing, let’s start the party with a quote from Creative Director Christopher Chong from Amouage

"Congratulations on 5 years to Michelyn and Cafleurebon! I am always impressed with the in-depth stories and passion that Cafleurebon has become known for.  Such a passionate and strong community which we are thankful for as we pursue the creativity and art that is the world of perfumery”. Christopher Chong, Creative Director

 What would a party be without presents? Thanks to Europerfumes, the distributor for Amouage in the USA we have a 100 ml bottle of Amouage Sunshine Woman ($450) for a US reader

and

A $150 E Gift Certificate from  Eric and Stamatis of Twisted Lily for any reader in the world (no restrictions).  To be eligible for either, please leave a comment on what ÇaFleureBon means to you, how long you have been a reader, and if you have a question or ideas how we can make your ÇaFleureBon experience even better. Don't forget to include  your choice of prize should you win. Draw closes 3/26/2015

Note; The ÇaFleureBon is pronounced Sah-fleur-BON. Jean Claude Ellena of Hermes once told me that when he was satisfied with a perfume, when it was done, he would say "Ça Sent Bon" (This smells good). The domain in  dot.com was taken; Didier who was born and lived in Paris for most of his life named the blog ÇaFleureBon which as two meanings- "This is a good idea" and in arcane French "This smells good." He was right.

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume