When I received the press release announcing the collaboration between Le Labo founders Fabrice Penot and Edouard Roschi with the chain store Anthropologie I was thinking here is another step up the stairway to niche finding a wider audience.
These last few months have seen Ambrox, the aromachemical, getting a workout. Like the many headed hydra it seems to be showing up everywhere. I received the press releases for the two new Le Labo fragrances and there it was right at the top of both note lists; Ambrox. Upon reading further I learned that AnOther 13 was a fragrance built around Ambrox at the core. Baie Rose 26 uses Ambox as it has been used most commonly as a base note in combination with musk. These two fragrances are a good case study in how Ambrox is being used and gave me an opportunity to delve into the differences.
Chicago perfumistos have something to celebrate. The Windy City will be wafting its own exclusive fragrance, Baie Rose 36 courtesy of Le Labo.
An olfactive laboratory is where you imagine the mad scientists of perfumery performing alchemy; mixing potent concoctions of raw materials in beakers, dressed in white lab coats. Perhaps there is an explosion or two. In my mind’s eye I see frenetic perfumers, with gleaming eyes, adding a pinch of ambergris, a dollop of rose absolue, a soupcon of …
There is a certain taboo within wine circles that one does not mix fragrance with wine, (summed up pithily) to 'check your fragrance at the door'. You see, oenophiles don't appreciate perfume or cologne while sniffing, swirling, sipping (and often spitting). Auerole, New York City So, it was with both skepticism and a bit of curiosity when I received an invitation to …
Ahhhh, I remember my first experience creating “perfume” as a kid with a toy set. The fragrance I created had a cotton candy top note, a heart of plastic Barbie head and a drydown of playdough. I may be able to write about perfumery, talk shop with perfumer friends, but I never really learned how to created a fine fragrance from top down. …
