Grandiflora SASKIA Fragrance Review (Christophe Laudamiel and Ugo Charron) 2021 + 25th Anniversary Giveaway

Grandiflora SASKIA fragrance review

Grandiflora SASKIA photo courtesy of Grandiflora

This month marked the launch of Grandiflora SASKIA sixth and final fragrance eponymously named after the brand’s founder, Australian florist Saskia Havekes. SASKIA is the stellar new fragrance capable of conjuring all the emotion one experiences when entering the world of Grandiflora, Havekes’ iconic flower shop in the leafy Sydney suburb of Potts Point.

 

Saskia Havekes of GRANDIFLORA

Saskia Havekes surrounded by her colorful flowers

Grandiflora has been part of the cultural fabric of Potts Point since Havekes opened her flower shop in 1995. As Grandiflora flourished, so did Havekes’ reputation, not only as a florist but also as an author and creator of fragrances. Grandiflora’s first fragrance, Sandrine, was launched in 2013. It was named in honor of its perfumer, Sandrine Videault, who sadly passed away shortly after finishing the formula. Havekes wanted to capture the scent of newly opened Magnolia grandiflora flowers. Michel was Grandiflora’s second fragrance, named after perfumer Michel Roudnitska, whose fragrance was inspired by the same flower’s scent at the height of its bloom. In the year that followed Havekes worked once more with Mr. Roudnitska to create Madagascan Jasmine (2015). Next came Queen of the Night (2016) and Boronia (2017) with perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour.

Each fragrance was a detailed study of a rare flower Havekes had discovered through her working career with flowers. The final fragrance Grandiflora SASKIA (2021) followed the celebration of Grandiflora’s 25th anniversary and it is the interpretive essence of Grandiflora store itself.

 

James Burke and the Sydney quartet celebrate 25th anniversary of Grandiflora

 Photo of James Beck  and Saskia Havekes at the February 6th concert Remember Me which included the Sydney Quartet

The new fragrance was launched in Sydney amidst a multi-sensorial event; a performance presented by Havekes and her close friend James Beck, Artistic Director of the Sydney Art Quartet. The quartet performed six pieces of music from Debussy to Ravel, which the audience listened to as they smelled each Grandiflora fragrance paired with music. The event was set on a staged garden. Havekes spoke about the unsettling nature of the pandemic lockdown and the calming effect of plants, which is why her stage was covered in greenery instead of flowers. The highlight of the performance was a piece of new music written by composer Elena Kats-Chernin. Also called Saskia, the composer wrote music inspired by the new fragrance. The event was titled Remember Me. Onstage, Havekes reflected on the beautiful yet temporal world of flowers and people, and recognized it was her fragrances that would live beyond her. They are the heirloom gifts she will pass to her daughters to remember her by.

Grandiflora Flower shoppe in Sydney Australia

 Grandiflora store in Sydney

The event was clearly an emotional moment for Havekes, who retraced her journey in fragrance. She explained the story behind each of her creations before Beck explained the music chosen to accompany the scent. Hearing those stories was also a nostalgic moment for me. Being based in Sydney, I’ve had the great fortune of visiting Saskia Havekes at her Grandiflora store as each fragrance launched. Huddled around her work bench at the back, surrounded by buckets of towering foliage and flowers, she would tell me about the inspiration behind her latest fragrance and the creative process she undertook with her perfumers. I had the opportunity again to discuss the creation of the Saskia fragrance. She told me stories about recent and older scent memories as a florist, early morning visits to the flower markets and returning to the shop, her van laden with sweetly scented flowers. Her flower shop is also unique. It has a rustic urban spirit where Havekes celebrates nature’s imperfections instead of concealing them. It was fitting she worked with perfumer Christophe Laudamiel to create a scent that represented Grandiflora.

Christophe Laudamiel for Grandiflora Saskia

Photo of Christophe Laudamiel by Clayton©

Laudamiel has created fragrances with mass appeal for brands like Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie & Fitch, but it is his almost punk-rock approach to perfumery that has found traction under small independent brands like Strangelove NYC, TheZoo and now Grandiflora. Laudamiel saw the project as an opportunity to showcase some of Australia’s lesser-known botanical ingredients used in fine fragrance. “I like it when I can promote a region and show that Grasse and also the US is not the center of the world all the time in perfumery,” says Laudamiel who used Tasmanian myrtle (kunzea) and boronia leaves in his formula. He was also quick to point out that the mimosa flower, which he also used, is often considered French even though the plant’s origin is Australia.

best gardenia perfumes

Another technical challenge he faced was how best to incorporate a note of gardenia in the fragrance. The smell of natural gardenia extracts does not bear close resemblance to the living flower and perfumer reconstructions often mimic the work of early 20th century perfumer Jean Carles, who based his gardenia around the molecule styrallyl acetate that has a green, fruity odor. Laudamiel doesn’t strongly associate it with gardenia. Instead, he used Living Gardenia, a fragrance ingredient from IFF based on headspace technology to closely represent the smell of the flower in nature. This was paired with Laudamiel’s own gardenia accord to accentuate the feeling of velvety white gardenia petals.

 

Saskia Havekes in Her flower shoppe in Sydney

Saskia Havekes in her Flower Shoppe

Grandiflora SASKIA bursts open with chorus of floral notes. In the same way the eye it stimulated by colors and shapes of many varieties when entering the Grandiflora shop, the nose is stimulated with a myriad of complex floral accents, the delicate fresh floral scent of water hyacinth, intoxicating ylang ylang, powdery mimosa, and gardenia petals. These blooms are made more vibrant with spicy notes of fresh ginger and pink pepper. Laudamiel pairs herbal and floral notes, a technique he said increases the floralcy of the fragrance. For SASKIA he used Tasmanian myrtle. A verdant note of violet leaves leads to Tasmanian boronia leaves which is like a nest for the flowers. Immortelle and oakmoss cast a vintage light over the fragrance and a touch of petrichor is a clever reference to the wet environment of a flower shop, especially Grandiflora, with its charming stone floor.

Australia may be a world away for many perfume lovers, but Grandiflora SASKIA makes the trip possible with this charming floral tribute.

Notes: Ginger, pink pepper, violet leaves, Tasmanian myrtle, water hyacinth, gardenia petals, flower shop accord, petrichor, ylang ylang, Tasmanian boronia leaves, immortelle, oakmoss, French mimosa

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Saskia Havekes and Grandiflora Fragrances for the personal introduction to Saskia and the bottle provided for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Clayton Ilolahia, Guest Contributor and Editor of What Men Should Smell Like

All Art was supplied by Clayton and Grandiflora unless otherwise noted.

Grandiflora SASKIA perfume

Thanks to Grandiflora we have an avant premier 50 ml bottle of Grandiflora SASKIA for a registered reader anywhere in the world. To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Clayton’s review, quotes you will remember from Saskia Havekes, where you live and if you have a favorite Grandiflora perfume. Draw closes 2/19/2020

Please follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon @clayton_ilolahia and @grandiflora_fragrance @christophelaudamiel

The post was updated so that Ugo Charron is acknowledged as co-perfumer

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68 comments

  • Oh, my!

    I love Clayton’s detailed account and Christophe Laudamiel’s employment of aromatic materials native to Australia. I’d be fascinated to smell his rendition of gardenia – as it is one of my very favorite odors. Petrichor! Oakmoss! Swoon.

    I’m situated in the U.S., in NewEngland – were I so fortunate as to win a bottle.

  • I loved Clayton’s discussion about using botonicals native to Australia and the effects of mixing florals and herbs and Ms. Havekes’s description of driving her van full of flowers to stock her shop.

    I live in the US. Since this is a new brand, which I have not tried, I do not have a favorite.

  • Clayton, thank you for the fabulous review. Saskia and Christophe thank you for making this most amazing perfume and a thank you for the generosity of the draw.

    This is yet another new brand to me, and one that sounds magnificent with some of the best noses in the world behind it, not to mention someone who is a true lover of flora.

    Australia is just starting to be more prominent on the perfume radar and I must say that that’s rather exciting. I’d love to smell some of the native Australian plants, herbs and flowers.

    I am in the USA

  • The idea of a perfumer leaving a perfume as a legacy touched me: “Havekes reflected on the beautiful yet temporal world of flowers and people, and recognized it was her fragrances that would live beyond her. They are the heirloom gifts she will pass to her daughters to remember her by.” I also liked hearing about the technical side of trying to represent gardenia in a formula. I have not tried any Grandiflora scents. (USA)

  • I most certainly would love to visit Ms Havekes’ beautiful flower shop. I liked the idea of her fragrances being part of her legacy. Saskia sounds gorgeous. Thanks for another wonderful article and generous draw! Mich USA

  • I forgot-I want to tell anyone who is interested in these fragrances-it comes in this supremely gorgeous presentation box. There is a beautiful sleeve, to protect the box. The sleeve is decorated with a drawing if the flower. You slide off the sleeve, and there is a super lux box. Open the box, and there is the perfume, suspended inside. And to top it all off there was a small very stiff small card, detailing the perfumer, and telling the story of the fragrance. It’s so elegant. And I once wore this to a restaurant, and a man passed behind me. He stopped and inhaled deeply. Then he continued to walk, and look around, and stopped to smell a small vase of flowers. I could hear him ask what smelled so good-the waitress told him it was me. One of the best perfume compliments ever. 🙂 Saskia, if you’re reading this, you gave this bottle to Gwen at perfume niche, and they had a draw for their readers. I was lucky enough to win. This was in 2014. My mom had passed away and I felt so awful. And then I won their draw and I felt so special, so thank you very very much for helping me. I think you’re amazing and I wish you many many years of health and happiness. 🙂

  • This is the first time I hear about this brand! SO I also don’t have a favorite from this brand. I really enjoyed learning about it from this review! I love the notes in SASKIA. It was interesting to discover that it is hard to replicate true scent of gardenia. I didn’t know that. I’m from Illinois, US.

  • Anything by Christophe Laudamiel is worth checking out! Thank you for a wonderful review. I love Clayton’s detailed account of the history of the brand and the description of the multi-sensorial launch. Saskia’s approach that “celebrates nature’s imperfections instead of concealing them” strikes a chord with me. I’d love to discover this fragrance.

    I don’t have any favourite Grandiflora perfume yet since I’ve never had the chance to smell it. Hopefully this will change soon!

    Thanks for the draw. I live in Beijing.

  • I enjoyed Clayton’s review. The description of native Australian ingredients made me very nostalgic for when I used to live there as a student 10 years ago!! I would be delighted to smell this blend of notes I already love! Saskia’s description about the temporal nature of flowers was very poetic.
    Sadly I do not own any Grandiflora so I have yet to identify a favorite – but super eager to try!
    Hello and thank you from Canada!

  • Very entertaining review, Clayton! I appreciate Christopher Laudamiel’s desire to use material native to Australia to create Grandiflora Saskia. I’m not familiar with Tasmanian myrtle or boronia leaves but given the breathtaking flora in these pictures, I would love to sniff them. I gree with Saskia about the calming effect of plants and I’ve been accumulating a lot of indoor plants over the past year. Commenting from MD, USA.

  • I am especially drawn to the use of the flower shop accord and petrichor note in this interesting bittersweet bouquet. The use of raw materials from Australia is appealing too. I haven’t tried any of the fragrances from the line, so this would be fantastic start! I am in the USA.

  • The words of Havekes that will stay with me well beyond the years would be how your [legacy?] would live beyond you. Universally true, but the comparison between short, short lives of flowers and us, and longevity of Art, once again rings true gripping. Ars longa, vita brevis!

    I enjoy the deeper dive into perfumery that Clayton provided. Structure of a perfume. How molecules labelled one thing by the industry actually might not correlate with their namesake.

    Also I enjoy imagining the scent-music pairing, wondering about the mechanics (perfume plume in the auditorium? or are audiences given bottles with different shapes and given cues to smell each different one with each music?), as well as being reminded of the drama stage performance by the blind — with audiences in blindfold and scents used as part of each scene. Unique experiences that cannot be translated online, and can only await the pandemic to end! (Or send perfume packs to attendee’s residents? Now that’s an intriguing idea…)

    I haven’t tried any of Grandiflora perfume, but I suspect I would enjoy Boronia and all the glory of tea, suede and floras, and Saskia’s Tasmanian leaves and spices, very much.

    I’m based in Thailand!

  • It is bittersweet that this will be the last scent in this line. The few that I have tried were all so beautiful and thoughtfully done. I love that Saskia chose to name the final scent after herself. She deserves it! And the choice to go with Christophe Laudamiel as the perfumer makes me believe this scent will be amazing. I can’t wait to see his own personal take on gardenia! Thank you for the chance to own a bottle. My favorite Grandiflora scent is Michel. US

  • Wow! Quite a journey for such a fragrance. Loved the detail about sourcing gardenia. I’ve never tried any Grandiflora perfumes. USA based.

  • I really enjoyed this article, it brought me a lot of nostalgia.
    My sister had a mini flower shop a few years ago. Sometimes I accompanied her to the Jamaica market in Mexico City and God, how I loved the aroma of that place, the smell of wet floor covered with petals of all the flowers. I am a lover of petrichorous aromas.
    Unfortunately, my sister’s business did not last, it is a very difficult business and not everyone can excel.
    Anyway, what I liked the most about the article was reading about the Remember Me event, I would have loved to be able to attend such an event and it left a great message. Flowers, like us, are temporary, they are born, grow, reproduce and … die.
    To be remembered with the greatest possible affection after this life for our good deeds and for the love we gave is something that is priceless.
    I would love to be remembered one day through an aroma, a beautiful and powerful aroma, a flower that blooms and releases the strongest smell of life, as if we were reborn through that hyper-nostalgic aroma that even makes the skin chill, bringing with it tears of emotion and joy of satisfaction to whoever remembers me.
    Btw, nice to know the origin of mimosa.
    Thanks for the opportunity.
    Regards from Mexico!

  • Fantastic release! I have sampled the line and own “Queen of the Night”. I am very curious to try the new one, specially for the gardenia accord described in the article!

  • Great article! I have sampled the line and I own “Queen of the Night”. I am curious to try the new one, specially for the gardenia accord combination with “Living Gardenia” described in the article. I am based in Switzerland.

  • Bryant Worley says:

    I likedthe way Clayton gave good background of the store’s beginning, as well as Saskia’s journey of perfumery. His thoughts added details in such a way, that younere caught up with every word and picture.

    I live in Waldorf, Maryland, USA and, unfortunately, I haven’t tried a Grandiflora fragrance, sincethis is my first hearing of them

    From the note breakdown on the site, my favorite is Boronia, followedveryclosel by Magnolia Grandiflora Michel.

  • Bryant Worley says:

    I liked the way Clayton gave good background of the store’s beginning, as well as Saskia’s journey of perfumery. His thoughts added details in such a way, that you were caught up with every word and picture.

    I live in Waldorf, Maryland, USA and, unfortunately, I haven’t tried a Grandiflora fragrance, sincethis is my first hearing of them

    From the note breakdown on the site, my favorite is Boronia, followedveryclosel by Magnolia Grandiflora Michel.

  • Interesting concept, it’s similar to what Roja Dove did for Madison Perfumery in Bucharest when he created the incredible Madison as a special edition specifically for that store.
    Since I’m always interested in Laudamiel’s next project, there is an intriguing element to this composition and to have the 6th and final element in this interesting collection would be incredible.
    Laudamiel’s use of Living Gardenia combined with his own Gardenia accord plus the notes Tasmanian myrtle and Tasmanian Boronia leaves make this composition unique to this region of the World.

    I’m from Canada

  • I love this and I completely agree with Saskia Havekes.
    The scents are and will always be…
    “the heirloom gifts she will pass to her daughters to remember her by.”

    I also think that I will use only certain perfumes when I will have kids, especially in certain moments (playing around, saying good night and so on) … Just because I want them to asociate these scents with me, to be a forever living memory and presence in their hardest moments in life.

    When it comes to this new release, I must say that I would love to discover this “myriad of complex floral accents” described by Clayton because I love florals (my absolute favorite type of fragrances, esoecially white flowers, top 3 being Isabey Gardenia, Bois 1920 Come L’Amore and MFK Apom Pour Femme and because I’ve never had the chance to smell anything from Grandiflora. Sooo… I would love to try Saskia! Thank you for this chance .

    I am based in Europe.

  • This sounds wonderful! I used to have an indoor gardenia plant, and the smell of each bloom was so divine. I don’t know this house, but I love that it’s an Australian house, and I love that it’s a new interpretation of gardenia. I’m in NYC.

  • Grandiflora SASKIA bursts open with chorus of floral notes. In the same way the eye it stimulated by colors and shapes of many varieties when entering the Grandiflora shop, the nose is stimulated with a myriad of complex floral accents, the delicate fresh floral scent of water hyacinth, intoxicating ylang ylang, powdery mimosa, and gardenia petals. These blooms are made more vibrant with spicy notes of fresh ginger and pink pepper. Laudamiel pairs herbal and floral notes, a technique he said increases the floralcy of the fragrance. For SASKIA he used Tasmanian myrtle. A verdant note of violet leaves leads to Tasmanian boronia leaves which is like a nest for the flowers. Immortelle and oakmoss cast a vintage light over the fragrance and a touch of petrichor is a clever reference to the wet environment of a flower shop, especially Grandiflora, with its charming stone floor.

    Australia may be a world away for many perfume lovers, but Grandiflora SASKIA makes the trip possible with this charming floral tribute.

    Notes: Ginger, pink pepper, violet leaves, Tasmanian myrtle, water hyacinth, gardenia petals, flower shop accord, petrichor, ylang ylang, Tasmanian boronia leaves, immortelle, oakmoss, French mimosa. I am intrigued by the notes especially myrtle and boronia and petrichor. I like it when I can promote a region and show that Grasse and also the US is not the center of the world all the time in perfumery,” says Laudamiel who used Tasmanian myrtle (kunzea) and boronia leaves in his formula. He was also quick to point out that the mimosa flower, which he also used, is often considered French even though the plant’s origin is Australia. I am intrigued by the perfumer and his approach is something new for me. A house that I am not familiar with but I am intrigued by nonetheles. Thanks a million from the United Kingdom

  • Laudamiel has created fragrances with mass appeal for brands like Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie & Fitch, but it is his almost punk-rock approach to perfumery that has found traction under small independent brands like Strangelove NYC, TheZoo and now Grandiflora. Laudamiel saw the project as an opportunity to showcase some of Australia’s lesser-known botanical ingredients used in fine fragrance. “I like it when I can promote a region and show that Grasse and also the US is not the center of the world all the time in perfumery,” says Laudamiel who used Tasmanian myrtle (kunzea) and boronia leaves in his formula. He was also quick to point out that the mimosa flower, which he also used, is often considered French even though the plant’s origin is Australia. I am intrigued by the this house and the perfumer really excites and the notes of myrtle, petrichor and oakmoss sound sumptuous. Thanks a lot from the UK

  • A beautifully written review for a beautiful sounding fragrance. I loved the mental imagery of Saskia’s flower shop and how this perfume represents it. Thank you from Oregon, USA.

  • I really enjoied Clayton´s description of the multi sensorial launching of this fragrance combining music and perfume in an unforgettable setting.
    The quotes from Saskia that have resonated with me would be to celebrate nature´s imperfections and to recognice the beautiful yet temporal world of flowers, seeing perfume as something that will remain.
    I have yet to try one Grandiflora´s fragances, but I would love SASKIA to be my first one.
    I am from Spain, EU.

  • I really enjoyed Clayton´s description of the multi sensorial launching of this fragrance combining music and perfume in an unforgettable setting.
    The quotes from Saskia that have resonated with me would be to celebrate nature´s imperfections and to recognice the beautiful yet temporal world of flowers, seeing perfume as something that will remain.
    I have yet to try one Grandiflora´s fragances, but I would love SASKIA to be my first one.
    I am from Spain, EU.

  • It makes sense that the fragrance named after the founder of the brand has ingredients from Australia where the original flower shop was established in 1995. I have not tried anything from Grandiflora yet. I am in US.

  • Constancesuze says:

    I haven’t tried any Grandiflora fragrances yet, but I remember Sandrine and Michel coming out in 2013. I think a lot of people have turned to plants to ward off bad pandemic feelings. And I like the idea of perfume as an heirloom, because while it is ephemeral as an art, we can still experience scents that people living centuries before us did (barring reformulations and ingredient rarity). In some ways it’s like knowing you’re looking at the same moon as did Shakespeare, Dante, Cleopatra, whoever. I’m in the US.

  • I would love to win this scent I love the scent of gardenia and I’m crazy about very realistic white flowers even though I’m a guy.
    I love Jasmin de pays Perris Monte Carlo, Hiram Green Moon Bloom, Melodie de l’amour Dusita.
    I love when Clayton says that Laudamiel:”he used Living Gardenia, a fragrance ingredient from IFF based on headspace technology to closely represent the smell of the flower in nature.”That’s exactly why I would love to wear this!
    I agree with Saskia: “Havekes spoke about the unsettling nature of the pandemic lockdown and the calming effect of plants, which is why her stage was covered in greenery instead of flowers” yes plants have this effect on me.
    I never tried a Grandiflora perfume.
    I live in France, EU.

  • “I like it when I can promote a region and show that Grasse and also the US is not the center of the world all the time in perfumery,” is definately memorable and I couldn’t agree more. I also loved the description of the challengescreating the perfume, they really make me want to try it. I don’t have a favorite grandiflora perfume, not yet anyways. I live in Spain.

  • I would dream to visit this amazing shop (maybe in the future after alla this pandemic situation has gone away). I’m really curios about the frangrance since I think I would appreciate the note descripted. Greetings from Italy (Milan)

  • I’ve never been to Australia, so I’m not familiar with any quotes from Saskia Havekes. I would love to visit that shop though. It sound slike heaven. And I’ve read about some of the events she has done. Absolutely amazing. I enjoyed learning about Saskia and Grandiflora. I am in the USA and have not tried a Grandiflora perfume.

  • Very good review from Clayton, with a lot of inside knowledge of Saskia Havekes creations.
    Interesting the way this perfume was presented – paring it with visual and music experiences must have been a memorable presentation.
    As Saskia said, we are like flowers, with a shot lifespan, and since smell is also memory, nothing better than a scent for someone to Remember Me.
    I’m from EU (Portugal)

  • I love how evocative the review was and it was interesting learning a little about the background of the perfume. I loved how Saskia Havekes likened our temporal presence to flowers, and that perfume was her own legacy she would leave behind. I thought that was beautiful. I haven’t tried any grandiflora perfumes but id love for this to be my first. Thanks from singapore

  • I’ve tried Madagascan Jasmine from this brand and absolutely loved it! After reading the notes in this new perfume from Grandiflora, I’m really keen to try out the flower accord.
    I loved learning about gardenia accord.
    Many thanks for this review. I live in France.

  • I didn’t know the mimosa flower originated in Australia! Great review by Clayton, this seems like a very heartfelt tribute. I don’t have a favorite Grandiflora perfume, nor did I personally know Saskia Havekes, but in a previous CaFleureBon review I liked how she wanted to bring Australian scents into her Australian gallery. California

  • I enjoyed hearing about this newest perfume and how it mimics walking into Saskia’s flower store. I am curious how she knows this is her final perfume? I enjoy several but especially Madagascar Jasmine which smells so realistic and beautiful. I am sure this one must be gorgeous as I love walking into a flower shop, and you always see some unusual blooms in Australia. I am in USA.

  • wandering_nose says:

    I am grateful to Clayton for familiarizing us Cafleurebon readers and perfume enthusiasts with the fascinating persona of Saskia Havekes and the amazing flower shop in Sydney’s suburbs she managed to create and maintain, surely making lives of the locals more beautiful and fragrant. I loved the concept of pairing classical music pieces with fragrances, and presenting them in a serene environment full of greenery, albeit inside. So creative! I have yet to try Grandiflora perfumes. Thank you from Ireland

  • This was a soothing and inspiring article about a soothing and inspiring theme. I do agree with Saskia’s words about plants having a healing and calming quality, especially in these times. I have found myself doing something I have NEVER done, in the past months: buying small plants in pots (waxy ones, ivy and those easy-to-tend ones) and placing them in my apartment. Living at the 5th floor of a big city only allows this much proximity to nature in one’s own home, and I often find myself talking or singing to these plants, and it fills me with positive energy.
    The Saskia fragrance itself sounds absolutely gorgeous- it has three of my favorite flowers: hyacinth, gardenia and ylang ylang, as well as one of the most beautiful, touching notes in the world – petrichor. So this connubium would be a joy for me to experience, especially since I have never smelled a Grandiflora creation before.
    I am in Europe. Thank you!

  • Clayton, I appreciated your deep dive into this article and the informative descriptives. Flower shops are one of my happy places having friends that I have helped in their own shops I found tranquility beyond words. Not to mention the genuine and profound souls of my florist friends, they are certainly one of a kind. I have a kinship with Michel one of her perfumes that I treasure. I love that she intends to leave a legacy of her love of flowers to her children. I am in the US and would love to add this memorable fragrance beside my bottle of Michel.

  • Cezara Alexandra says:

    Thank you, Clayton, for the fabulous review! The details about Haveke’s fragrances, inspirations, and even people who inspired them to give the public the same feeling as the perfumer are giving this review a new shape. I especially liked Haveke’s point of view about the unsettling nature of the pandemic lockdown and the calming effect of plants, „which is why her stage was covered in greenery instead of flowers.” – Beautiful! This is true, we live in weird times and we have to do what it takes to make us feel better and.
    I have not tried yet any Grandiflora perfumes, but I hope to get the chance to do so soon! I live in Europe, Romania.

  • Claumarchini says:

    I really enjoyed Clayton’s history of Grandiflora, a brand that I personally haven’t tried yet. I would love to be the lucky winner of Saskia, I admire Laudamiel’s work and the fact that he has used botanicals that are original from Australia and Tasmania. The notes sound very appealing to me, and very interesting the rendition of gardenia. I live in Milan, Italy

  • Sounds magnificent! My mom has gardenia plants in her garden, and the smell is unique. Although I don’t know this house, I’m sure it must smell like heaven. I’m in Miami, Florida

  • What a beautiful ode to Grandiflora by Clayton! I have never heard of the House before, but I love florists and perfume so it sounds amazing. I was supposed to visit Sydney in August, but the virus is throwing a spanner in the works. Will add a visit to Grandiflora to my list when I rebook. Saskia the perfume sounds lovely. So jealous there was a release with beautiful music, fragrances and flowers! I’m a great fan of Christophe Laudamiel and really enjoy tubereuse organique which also captures that scent of the flower stem. Would love to try some from Grandiflora. Marit UK

  • I really enjoyed Saskia’s comments about her fragrance, “her fragrances that would live beyond her.” Also the calming effects of plants, it would be nice to hear the song written for her as well. Clayton really captured the history and essence of Saskia and her beautiful flowers and plants. I have not tried any of Graniflora fragrances. Gardenia is an amazing flower as well as scents. USA

  • I appreciated learning about how difficult it can be to have the scent of a living gardenia flower in fragrance making. I’m very interested in trying this floral fragrance. I also found it interesting that to pair floral notes with herbal notes increases the floralness of the fragrance. I haven’t tried anything yet from this fragrance house yet. I live in MD., U.S.A.

  • What a great idea to present new perfume with music! Abtrue synesthetic experience! The fragrance also sounds very appealing.
    I’m in Slovenia, EU

  • Danu Seith-Fyr says:

    Clayton, ah so jealous….. I have been privledged to attend Saskia’s perfume launches in Auckland, they are a rapturous affairs. Her presence is sublime and the floral extravaganza is just a heavenly experience. Her books are a beautiful experience too, I now just have to visit her shop, one day…… I have personal favourites in Queen of the Night, Boronia and Sandrine. What is there not to love, and I was delighted to hear that these beautiful creations will be passed to her daughters, a legacy beyond time. I would love to add Saskia to my collection. Many thanks Clayton, I live in SW France.

  • I would love pop in this small flower shop, it’s a very nice image with her surrounded by all the flowers. It is the first time I hear about this brand, so I have not tried anything from them. I would love to try them, though, I hope to win one in the draw. Thank you for the opportunity! From Finland.

  • I love Christophe Laudamiel, not only for his talent when it comes to the fragrance world, but for his straight forward style. Regarding Grandiflora SASKIA, it does sound like a real floral tribute. Some of the notes are between my favorite, like ylang ylang, immortele or mimosa. This one is a must try fragrance, especially for flower lovers. I currently live in Romania.

  • I’ve been waiting for this perfume to be launched for sooooo looong!

    I love how Clayton describes Saskia! So that I could find out the notes in the fragrance and almost imagine what it smells like. I’m more intrigued after reading this article. What i liked most in this article is the background of how Christophe created this perfume and used his own gardenia accord.

    And it’s really lovely that Saskia Havekes will pass her perfumes to her daughters to remember her.

    Even tho I have not tried her perfumes yet, i’ve been so interested in this house. Especially I’d like to try Saskia and Madagascan Jasmine. Hope I could get chosen for this nice giveaway! I’m dying to try this perfumeeeee.

    I live in Korea! (South, not North lol)

  • It’s not common that a florist wanders into a perfume business, even the connection among both art forms is obvious. However, according to the article. Saskia’s transition into a fragrance-making seems completely natural. Clayton’s depiction of the flower shop and how the new fragrance was introduced provided us a great insight into an ever- developing Saskia’s creativity and interconnection of music, floristry, and perfumery.
    I appreciate learning about perfumers and their portfolios. Christophe Laudamiel seems like the one who masterfully captures the zeitgeist in the bottles, some more mass pleasing and others more for the connoisseurs.
    Reading about technical challenges that he encountered when incorporating a note of gardenia in the fragrance was also a highly interesting.
    Yes, Australia is geographicly on the other part of the world and at the moment even more distant, so an opportunity to acquaire a flacon of the scent of the cult flowershop in Sydney is a wonderful way to symbolicly defy momentual challenges.

    Thanks for introducing

  • I enjoyed the amazing description of clayton(very detailed and informative),the photos and the fact that the fragrances were thought to be part of someones legacy.I live in Greece

  • It might not be trendy but my favorite fragrances are, have been and will always be florals. Roses, white florals, osmanthus… Saskia, what a wonderful idea to capture the fragrances of your own flower shop, separately and now all together. And what a great gesture by the perfumer to honor the native plants of Australia.
    I live in USA, but I have a very dear cousin that lives in Sydney.
    I would love to see Saskia’s flowers, and smell them, if I ever get a chance to visit that beautiful continent.

  • A wonderful review and very touching story. “Havekes reflected on the beautiful yet temporal world of flowers and people, and recognized it was her fragrances that would live beyond her. They are the heirloom gifts she will pass to her daughters to remember her by.” This is so bittersweet in the best way possible. Memory through scent is so powerful in this way. I sadly haven’t tried any Grandiflora perfumes but I am keeping an eye on the Qeen of the Night! Reside in CA, USA.

  • It’s so beautiful and touching that Saskia created a perfume that would live beyond her as a gift that she will pass to her daughters to remember her by. She is such a lovely person that the perfume that bears her name and reflects her personality must also be wonderful. The more so because Saskia selects the best perfumers who guarantee that their works will be extraordinary. I know Christophe Laudamiel from his works for The Zoo and like his „almost punk-rock approach”. I have not tried anything form Grandiflora but would love to try Saskia.
    I live in the EU.

  • Hillary Curtis says:

    I love how detailed his reviews are. He doesn’t simply explain the notes but goes into the molecules and the inspirations of the perfumers. For example, in this article he explains the how the gardenia note was created to give you a really clear picture of it. In covid times when we aren’t able to smell things in person, Clayton’s perfect descriptions are a life preserver. So much love xx

  • Thank you for the excellent review Clayton.

    I’m a huge fan of the work that Christopher Laudmiel has been doing with Strangelove and Zoo (especially his touching gesture to the dear late Carlos)

    I really liked the way you stepped out all the details in this review. A perfume is a story that is a sum of many parts and often reviews miss the events that lead to the creation of this work of art, which makes for a little empty reading.

    Also loved the fact that Laudmiel decided to focus on materials native to Australia.

    I unfortunately have not smelt anythnig from this house before.

    Regards from WI, USA.

  • What could be better than flowers,perfume,music..?
    A very poetic description of a flowery perfume
    accompanied by a piece of music that bears his name.
    An overview that will be kept in memory.A fragrance to remember.
    A perfume that will exist long after its creator is gone…
    Wonderful review from Clayton!
    I have not tried any Grandiflora scents.
    I live in Romania (UE)

  • First time I hear about Grandiflora, but Mr. Laudamiel is one of the geniuses in the perfume world, so the use of lesser-known botanical ingredients from Australia is outstanding. Love the way Clayton introduces us to a brand, to a flowershop. her owner and the perfumes… you can feel the passion of Mr Ilolahia and you feel for a moment you are inside the Grandiflora store in Sydney. A pity is so far from Madrid to have a look inside ;). Mrs. Havekes gives us a lesson acknowledging flowers and people are mortal but a fragrance would outlive us. I live in Spain, EU

  • I had never heard of Grandiflora, but I’m so glad that I read this post!! I’m very fascinated by the background of this line! The way that SASKIA was launched, paired with music, is incredibly interesting. Saskia’s floral shop in Australia looks incredibly beautiful as well! Thank you for the introduction to this house, and for the opportunity to try SASKIA! Thank you also for sharing the beautiful photographs! Located in the USA.

  • I love that Clayton emphasized the connection between Saskia and flowers. It seems to me that if flower wouldn’t exist, Saskia would live a life in which she would endlessly search for her happiness. I never had the pleasure t smell a Grandiflora perfume…it may be because we don’t have it in Romania.. Thank you

  • I liked Clayton’s introduction to Grandiflora shop and Grandiflora SASKIA perfume. I’m not aware of Grandiflora, or other Australian flowers, so it was nice to learn new things. Grandiflora celebrating nature’s imperfections instead of concealing them reminded me of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, where imperfections reflect the humanity of the creators and show their unique characters, and are sometimes deliberately left in the artwork, also as a sign of humility as our work is never-ending. And then again the musical-olfactory event and Havekes’ story reminded me of hanami, the Japanese festival of celebrating the short lives of beautiful sakura, or cherry blossoms, that show up in the spring.

    I didn’t know Mimosa was of Australian origin. Don’t know how Tasmanian myrtle, or boronia, or grandiflora smell like. So winning this generous draw would be awesome. Beautiful pictures, beautiful bottle, great story and a great review of Grandiflora SASKIA. Thanks for the review and the draw. Writing from the USA.

  • Interesting choice of introducing fragrances, qith differennt audio backgrounds. I wonder how much it can influence the perception of the fragrance.
    Other than that, I’m a big sucker for florals and minimalis and beautifuuly designed bottles. I am sure Saskia checks all the boxes.
    I live in Europe and nope, never tried a Grandiflora fragrance so far.

  • I enjoyed how Clayton highlighted how Australian raw materials can create something unique that can compete with the traditional fragrance powers. I also like how Saskia Havekes has turned her floral experience into creating novel scents. I haven’t tried Grandiflora yet. I live in the USA.

  • Thank you for sharing this review which has really brought the brand to life for me. I especially enjoyed reading about Laudamiel’s creation of this scent and his ingredient choices. This sounds beautiful.

  • Michael Prince says:

    I enjoyed Clayton’s review of Grandiflora SASKIA and how he described the fragrance brand Grandiflora and the history of all their fragrances. Each fragrance was a detailed study of a rare flower Havekes had discovered through her working career with flowers. The final fragrance Grandiflora SASKIA (2021) followed the celebration of Grandiflora’s 25th anniversary and it is the interpretive essence of Grandiflora store itself. I love how the brand is is doing this dedication to Havekes. My favorite fragrance from Grandiflora is Boronia. I am from the USA.