Many of you will remember (and some are too young) when the doorbell would ring and it would be “Avon Calling!” and the Avon Lady would come in with her  brochures, mini-lipsticks and perfume wipe samples. For many, back then, this was the only way to try new perfumes and products; with the advent of the internet many people just order from the website and that personal connection is now gone. One woman, Tara Swords, (read Michelyn's May 2013 interview with Tara here) had a vision and has made experiencing artful perfumes in the comfort of your home a reality.  Olfactif is a wonderful new subscription service that brings niche perfume to YOU and not the other way around. This is truly a blessing for those of us who do not live in major cities and also for trying any of the many perfumes from companies without larger North American distributors.

I live in an area that is in the hinterlands, as far as perfumes go; I have to drive almost an hour to get to any “real” perfume counters that carry anything above mass-market and designer fragrances. Occasionally, a prestige perfume or two slips through and makes it to the one high-end department store in the closest town; usually this is four to six months AFTER it has been released. For many of us, that is not enough. The beauty of this service is that, for a small fee ($18.00 USD), Olfactif will ship right to your mailbox, three generous 2.5 ml glass sprayers of  artistic niche perfumes every month. That's great, but just wait! That monthly fee will be taken off the purchase price of  any full bottle you buy that month. Who else does this? I’ll tell you….NO ONE.

The samples arrived in a beautiful matte black paperboard box with the logo emblazoned on the top in a shinier black. There is a ribbon loop at the front and when pulled, it snaps open and slides forward, revealing your monthly selections inside. Considering shipping is included in the monthly fee, I do not really see how anyone who is looking to explore niche perfumery wouldn’t jump at the chance for something like this! I have spent more than sixty dollars with other services, on samples, and ended up  not buying anything. Or, if I did purchase something, I certainly did NOT get my sample costs applied to my purchase.

Another interesting thing about each month’s selections is that they all have a theme.  June's scent curation are all “Eaus” and have a common theme of travel called “Notes on a Journey”. From a floating down a fragrant canal in southeastern Asia to a bustling street market in India to the beauty of the Mediterranean shores, Tara has put together an amazing and artful selection for early summer. I was honored and privileged to receive this sampler and of the three scents included, I had only ever been exposed to Mona di Orio’s work. I had never, despite my rather large collection and worldwide network of fragrance-fiend friends, had the chance to try any scents from Thirdman or Tommi Sooni. Already I was breaking new olfactory ground, in my very first shipment, impressive to say the least.

Tommi Sooni’s Eau de Tommi Sooni II was released in 2011, but smells like something both vintage and rich. Surrounded immediately in jasmine, daphne and ylang it wasn’t too hard to imagine paddling down an Asian canal on a humid hot day. The sweet florals that I imagine growing along the riverbanks keep from getting oppressive thanks to the tart juicy rhubarb and fizzy citruses in the opening. This duality keeps a beautiful balance  then descends into the dry down of honey, vanilla, exotic amber and creamy sandalwood. This is a superbly crafted floral oriental perfume with the emphasis on oriental. Eau II is  a perfect unisex scent with great projection and stunning longevity. Read Tama's Review of Eau II here

Thirdman’s Eau Nomade (composed by Bruno Jovanovic) is a 2013 release that has managed to capture the beauty of my absolute favorite citrus note (blood orange) without coming off a weak and watery citrus scent or overly fruity. It has a delicate elegance that makes it more of a spicy aromatic with firm and mildly sweet citric nuances, due to the inclusion of a softly spicy and fuzzy cardamom. This Indian market inspired scent defies the belief that “citruses always fade too quickly”, as it continues the tart blood orange and Sicilian lemon notes into its heart where they are enmeshed perfectly in harmony with soft spice and manages to develop and reveal more intricacy than I ever thought three “notes” in a perfume could have. A nice twist on citrus and spice (without that spice cupboard accord),  Eau Nomade has just the right projection to it and more longevity than I had dared to ever hope for in a citrus-centric perfume. Read Mark's review of Eau Nomade here

Mona di Orio’s Eau Absolue is the second perfume released posthumously (after Mme. di Orio’s sudden and shocking death at the end of 2011) and  is the ninth scent in her “Les Nombres d’Or” line. Each previous scent in this collection showcased one specific note and surrounded it with evocative and innovative supporting notes to bring out its (often missed) true beauty. This perfume does the same with the classic eau de cologne structure, in a way only Mona could have. One of the most beautiful bergamot notes I have ever smelled is united with sweet clementines and crowned in petit grain leaves giving a sharp darker green edge to the normally clear citricity found in most colognes. Dry pungent geranium is amped up with pink peppercorns, bay leaf and vetiver adding a solid spiciness that warm the flowers and makes this more savory than sweet. The surprisingly animalic dry down of musk, arid labdanum and regal cedar makes this anything BUT the “classic” eau de cologne (think Eau Sauvage, 4711, etc…) yet it resonates class: in its enticing aroma, moderate projection and better than normal longevity. Read Mark's review of Eau Absolue here

Okay, so you have now read about June's niche sample selections and about the service itself. This really does sound too good to be true, right? If it does, usually it probably is…but here the only "con" I can find—  you never know exactly what is coming to your mailbox each month or if you will like any of them( Editor's Note: also at this time its available to US residents only so that is the second "con"). In a cost/benefit analysis, this one negative for those of us in the USA does not, in my opinion, negate any of the possibilities one has, after subscribing, to be absolutely floored by the beauty of real artful perfumery. In my neck of the woods (literally) ANY niche perfume is better than no niche perfume…or small hard to apply samples from partially full vials. Forget Coffee of the Month and Cake of the Month, OLFACTIF is where it is at for the discerning perfumista. Now that niche is knocking at your door…will you answer?

Disclosure: Reviews based on June 2013 sampler set from OLFACTIF.

–John Reasinger, Senior Editor

Thanks to Tara and Olfactif we have a special opportunity for CaFleureBon readers.

Are you already a subscriber? You will have the chance to win July's  (next month's) subscription.

If you are not a subscriber to June, sign up for the newsletter  (at the bottom of every page), or have signed up you will have the chance to win Olfactif's June 2013 "Notes on a Journey" three deluxe niche perfume sample selection

Here's what to do:

In your comment, either  let us know if you are a current subscriber and want July's curation (three perfumes that have been selected for next month)  or  that you have signed up for the newsletter. Also in your comment indicate which of (any or all of) the three niche perfumes you are the most interested in trying. This draw is for USA readers only. Draw closes June 8, 2013

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 spilled perfume.