New Perfume Review: A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes (Jane Cate) VAMP + Film Noir Femme Fatale Draw

Rita hayworth Gilda

Rita Hayworth in Gilda 1946

 I met Jane Cate, the perfumer from A Wing &  Prayer at the 5th annual San Francisco Artisan Fragrance Salon and was seduced by her new botanical fragrance Vamp (a synonym for femme fatale and not as an abbreviation for Vampire). This is a boozy rich sophisticated gourmand all natural fragrance that will bring you back in time when film noir cinema and femme fetales ruled the silver screen.

film noir smoke

Film Noir Smoke Gets in his eyes

Jane says,  “Imagine a smoke filled night club in the 1940s. The chanteuse is singing the popular song of the day ‘Smoke Get’s In Your Eyes’, her husky, whiskey fortified voice sultry in the delivery.” This is a very apt description, there is no specific smoke note in this composition — from cade or the like, however a strong luxurious vanilla and spice infused cigar feeling happens as soon as I open the bottle. And despite the name I would definitely consider this to be a unisex fragrance even for the most timid.

Lauren Bacall The Big sleep 1946

Lauren Bacall The Big Sleep 1946

VAMP is a delightful base note heavy blend of tobacco, vanilla and agarwood with a delicious saffron swirling throughout. The sweet bright bubbly opening of pink grapefruit helps create an entry point but once you’ve got this on your skin the dark syrupy lusciousness begins to take over. The dank agrestic tobacco and agarwood are softened and sweetened by the vanilla and the entire composition is exalted by the saffron. The dry down is lovely and will especially make any vanilla lover swoon.

Notes: Tobacco, Vanilla, Agarwood/Oud, Saffron, Virginia Cedar, Pink Grapefruit

Disclosure: I received my sample of VAMP from A Wing & A Prayer, opinions my own.

–Zee Boudreaux, Natural Perfumery Contributor

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen

awing and a prayer vamp perfume

VAMP Perfume (stylized MC)

 Thanks to Jane Cate we have a ¼ oz spray of Vamp EDP for a US and Canada registered reader.   To be eligible, please, leave a comment with why you would like to win Vamp from Zee’s review, who comes to mind when you hear the word Vamp and where you live. Draw closes 3/28/2016

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

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16 comments

  • RubyBirdy says:

    (Michelyn – I think the deadline might be a typo?)

    I would love to win this because I’m still searching for that perfect femme fatale scent. Nothing has quite done it yet! I thought ELdO’s Rossy de Palma might be it, but it grew sour on me. A few Agent Provocateur perfumes come close, but aren’t “it.” Maybe this one! As for vamp…Liza Minelli in Cabaret comes to mind, with the sharp black bob. I live in the US.

  • Koyel says:

    The description, which makes it sound absolutely amazing, makes me think (stereotypically) of Marilyn Monroe. I want it because it makes me think of smoky, sexy backrooms, bars of ill repute with sultry music on stage and plush banquettes–Mad Men style. All the glamour with none of the misogyny.

    I live in the US!

  • rodelinda says:

    Smoky and husky makes me think of Lauren Bacall’s voice, which is my personal favorite thing in film from the 1940s. I’m in the US. Thanks!

  • Lellabelle says:

    Tobacco, vanilla and Oud sounds divine. I love the glamour of the 40s, silk and cigarettes and animalic-heavy perfumes, back room bars, big cars and husky throated singers in pearls and silk stockings. Perfect pin tucked curls and a saxophone playing in the background. The perfect martini.
    Anything that creates this association will be something that gets my attention. I’m in Canada, please enter me for the draw. Thank you. Off to find some jazz and makes myself a martini!

  • sunmisun says:

    I’m still looking for my perfect vanilla – and saffron is one of my favorite notes these days. This sounds LOVELY – and I adore the era. I chose a vintage style wedding dress hoping to evoke this kind of image, I just love it. Thanks for the great draw, I’m in the US!

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    The line about the scent making “any vanilla lover swoon” is enough to catch my attention! But it all sounds great and love the images that went along with the review. When I think of vamps, I think Marlene Dietrich, Gwen Verdon, and Chita Rivera immediately…I’m in the US and thanks for the wonderful draw.

  • fazalcheema says:

    I am intrigued because it is a smoky and boozy creation that tries to capture the smoky environment of a 1940s club. I picture Angelina Jolie when I think of a vamp. thanks so much for the generous draw. I am in the US.

  • james weaver says:

    I am intrigued by the notes in this fragrance the smokiness and the boozy notes look great. I picture a tobacco and liquor when I think of vamp I live in America

  • Lori L says:

    I’m definitely swooning because any fragrance that is smoky and boozy is right up my alley! I love vanilla and agarwood, so this is going to be awesome I’m sure! While reading this, Billie Holiday came to mind for me as a Vamp. I’m in the US and thanks for the draw!

  • ringthing says:

    Love Zee’s review and the great photos that accompany it – she used the phrases “delicious saffron swirling throughout” and (especially) “dark syrupy lusciousness” in her description of Vamp, which sound swoony to me. Sadly enough, the word Vamp reminds me of the campy Sonny and Cher show – “she was a V A M P, VAMP!” But as for a real life vamp, the sultry Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not. Thanks for the review and generous draw, I’m in the US.

  • Diana Devlin says:

    Katy Perry comes to mind when I hear the word Vamp.
    This fragrance sound right up my alley – tobacco, oud and vanilla. Sounds yummy & sexy!
    I live in the U.S.

  • Patty P. says:

    I’d like to win this to see if I can become a vamp while wearing it, wouldn’t that be nice? 🙂 When see the word vamp I think of countless of the film noir femme fatales. US

  • pursejunkie says:

    I like my Vamps a little on the tough side, like Bacall in To Have and Have Not. This also sounds sexy, but not too soft….just like I like it.
    I’m in the U.S.

  • Greg Sh says:

    I would love to win this because I really enjoy the tobacco and vanilla combo. I think it’s a match made in heaven! The word Vamp makes me think of someone dark and mysterious, full of seduction and confidence. I’m in Canada and thank you so much for the draw!

  • Hemla says:

    I would love to see how the saffron works with the other listed ingredients, I’m curiouse. Honestly, vamp to me reminds me of vampire, I would settle for the film Interview with a Vampire. Live in the US

  • minteacup says:

    References to film noir are nice enough, but honestly the magic word for me here was “syrupy!’ Thick, rich, resinous scents are a delight when they have the proper heft and bitterness to counteract the sweetness. All natural perfumes often do this genre justice. I must confess that depending on context, when I hear the word “vamp” I am more likely to think of the part of a shoe or of a vampire or even dark lip or nail colors before I think of sultry ladies. I’m in the US, thanks for the draw.