“Rock the Casbah” Interview with Bertrand Duchaufour: The Winner of Our Draw for L’Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu

October 16, 2010October 16, 2010

“Timbuktu is probably the first true masterpiece of what, by analogy with nouvelle cuisine, I would call nouvelle parfumerie”… characterized by complete transparency, an unusually high proportion of high-quality naturals… vetiver, sandalwood, and incense that seems quiet until you realize that, like modern sound systems that can pipe music into every room, one spritz fills a house with an odd, distinctly perceptible, but almost infrared shimmer of woody freshness.” The winner is

Amouage Memoir Man: The Road To Hell Is Paved With Pine Trees

October 16, 2010

From the very intense description of Amouage Memoir. My expectations were for an Amouage journey into the darkside. The note list which contained a central axis of absinth, frankincense, and vetiver made me think this journey into hell was going to be a real pleasure. Instead Karine Vinchon must believe one of the circles of hell is landscaped in pine trees because Memoir Man comes off as an intense study in heady camphoraceous conifers.

NEW FRAGRANCE: Panache by Parfums DelRae Inspired by Literature’s Famed “Nose” Cyrano De Bergerac

October 15, 2010October 15, 2010

How can we not love Cyrano? Although he is far from handsome (alas, the famous nose!), Cyrano possesses beauty of intelligence and an indefatigable spirit. And we, and eventually Roxane, fall in love with him. In the final heartbreaking act, the very last word spoken by Cyrano is panache. Co-creator Yann Vasnier describes Panache as a “coup de threatre! ambrette seed absolute and rum extract provides a dashing entrance to the flamboyant jasmine Sambac absolute and the vetyver and musk add a stylish and rich confidence.”

Annick Goutal’s Rose Splendide: Indeed It Is!

October 14, 2010

It is always a pleasure to meet up with Tom Crutchfield of Annick Goutal.
Tom explained to me that Annick Goutal was always obsessed with how a rose tasted of pear, and why a pear smelled like a rose.
This trio, Rose So Chic, was released in loving remembrance of Annick’s battle with cancer, and her lifetime love affair with the rose.
Rose Splendide is the fragrance which infuses all AG’s creamy skin care products.

NEW FRAGRANCE: Aftelier Perfumes Debut’s Candide “Liquid Valium”

October 14, 2010October 14, 2010

Recent research in the Journal of Biological Chemistry finds that the scent of jasmine is better than Valium at calming and soothing. But who needs Rehab?

Mandy Aftel’s, aka the ‘Queen of Green’ debuts Candide, a natural fragrance inspired by Voltaire’s ever optimistic character, contains a high percentage of jasmine… the fragrant world’s botanical alternative to chemical sedatives.

Serge Lutens Boxeuses: Bye-Bye Anti-Perfume, Hello Perfume

October 14, 2010

In the Dog Days of August before the first new fall releases begin to arrive I think most perfumistas go through a momentary bout of despair. Then like magic the new fall releases begin to arrive and our fascination with fragrance is re-kindled. In a fall of some excellent releases already, Boxeuses was the spark that set my perfumed desire blazing again.