photo courtesy of @brownpaperparcels

Independent perfumer artist Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s fertile imagination never lies dormant – there’s always something new sequestered up her scented sleeve. These days one of her pet projects is the new Heirloom Elixir Collection – a collaboration with Editor-in-Chief Michelyn Camen, who planted and watered this seed: what if some of Dawn’s prolific but currently unavailable fragrant beauties were to be showcased at regular intervals?

Monica Bellucci Vanity Fair 2012. 

And then – once you’d purchased it – you would have access to it whenever you wished? I think it’s a brilliant concept and was tickled pink when the first foray was sent (from Dawn’s Italian Journey in 2006, now Heirloom 1) – DSH Perfumes Essenza dell’Ibisco – Essence of Hibiscus. I remember the Italian Journey series fondly and this perfume in particular; to me, it will always be Il Profumo Voluttuoso – as gloriously rounded, plush and envoûtant as Monica Bellucci’s curvaceous silhouette-made-scent.

Monica Bellucci via  Instagram

Bosomy Floriental? This might be as fine a place to begin as any. When you are effulgently floral, employing exquisitely spicy tuberose, rapturous French orange blossom and swoony jasmine – why wouldn’t you partner them with succulent fleshy fruit tones? A little mandarin, bergamot and neroli for zest? Apricot, peach and juicy plum for ripeness? The complex loveliness of rare boronia: herbal, tealike, floral/fruit? The delicacy of rose is an instinctual counterpart with her fluid ability to harmonize effortlessly…

Monica Belluci by Paolo Roversi

Ah, but the base! We want for nothing as all the stops have been pulled out for us, a seraglio of precious resins (myrrh, ciste labdanum) laced with sandalwood, musky ambrette and ambergris like a designer drug. The entire composition makes one dizzy, it all goes to your head and fills your nostrils greedily like too much grappa. Is DSH Perfumes Essenza dell’Ibisco a controlled substance? Ought it to be?

Monica Belluci Vogue Italia

I feel it as one of the consummate femme-fleur perfumes, an awakening of the senses via intentional aromatic overabundance. Its lavish, extravagant curves and unbridled sensuality unmask our deeper nature. DSH Perfumes Essenza dell’Ibisco 2018 is openly generous and easy to love as it laughingly overflows its black lace balconnet-pigéonnant, unselfconscious and radiantly déshabillée.

DSH Perfumes Essenza dell’Ibisco 2018 notes: Ambrette Seed, Australian Sandalwood, Ciste Absolute, French Beeswax, Green Oakmoss, Ambergris, Myrrh Gum, Boronia Absolute, Centifolia Rose Absolute, Damask Rose Absolute, Grandiflorum Jasmine, Orange Flower Absolute, Tuberose Absolute,Tuberose accord, Apricot,Bergamot, Italian Neroli, Mandarin, Peach, Plum

  Thank you so much, Dawn – for my samples of DSH Perfumes Essenza dell’Ibisco! My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor and Natural Perfumery Editor

Monica  Bellucci at 21 and at 52

~ Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief (for me the 2018 version of Essenza dell'Ibisco is better than the original thus the two Monicas (she is  aged 52 on right).

DSH Perfumes Essenza dell’Ibisco 2018 Heirloom 1 Elixir Extrait

Thanks to the generosity of Dawn Spencer Hurwitz we have a worldwide draw as follows: CONUS- DSH Perfumes Essenza dell’Ibisco (2018) 1/4 oz Extrait for one registered reader  USA  and a 3ml voile de parfum to a reader elsewhere in the world. Please be sure to register. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Ida’s review and where you live. Which would you love to see return as an Heirloom Elixir? Draw closes 10/13/2018

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like ÇaFleureBon and use our Blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.