Over the past six months, perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour has created three startlingly original floral fragrances. Beginning with his “corrupted floral oriental” Penhaligon’s Amaranthine. Amaranthine was a fragrance that delved into all the dark and private places that a floral fragrance can go (amusingly dubbed “Amaranthigh” by many because of the sensuality it oozed). The second in this …
From a fragrance perspective Middle Eastern aesthetics have slowly been creeping into Western consciousness. The Internet has opened up the availability of the classic Arabian Attars. Besides perfumer's Salaam Attar's authentic natural fragrances for his line Profumu.it , and the luxury fragrance company Amouage (which is taking these influences and adding a decidedly French twist to …
My life partner for the last 15 years, Al Schackman was Nina Simone’s Music Director, guitarist, and one of her closest allies and friends for 46 years. It was a complex relationship with many ups and downs mostly due to Nina’s emotional condition but through the years when people would take him aside and question “why do …
Ever since Christian Dior spun-off Miss Dior into Miss Dior Cherie and Chanel transformed Coco into the top selling Coco Mademoiselle, the fragrance industry has seen a plethora of flankers. Flankers are new formulations of a familiar fragrance with enough of the original DNA present to be identifiable and enough new ingredients to make you think you …
As the weather turns warmer, I usually wear my classic eau de colognes. Most meet my expectations; fine if not extra-ordinary colognes with a typical citrus opening followed by a mix of subdued herbal, spice, or floral notes resting on a base of vetiver or sandalwood. It is a classic recipe that has stood the test of time. The …
Visualizing the Invisible Visual Metaphors of the Scented World In the work of John Singer Sargent, Pierre Bonnard, and Michel Roudnitska Woody Oriental/Oriental Boise (http//www.fragrancesoftheworld.com) Imagine that you are taking a course in painting. After having done landscape and still life paintings, your instructor asks that you …
