Voyages Imaginaires Tea & Rock’N Roll photos by Camille Goutal© collage by Michelyn
Oh, to be in England
Now that April’s there.~ Robert Browning, from Home-Thoughts, From Abroad
Temperate zones, such as those in the British Isles – come to greening so much sooner than we in New England! There is a lush verdancy, a fullness which surrounds one like a mossy velvet mantle: moist, enveloping and accompanied by brilliant birdsong. And then, there’s tea: be it Assam, Darjeeling, or any number of choices – a steaming cup of Earl Grey revives one like nothing else. As fond as I am of the varied complexities of malty delicacy, smoky intensity (Lapsang Souchong!) and a plethora of olfactory/culinary delights, the rousing vibrancy of bergamot-inflected tea never ceases to give me pleasure. I have the distinct impression that Master Perfumer Isabelle Doyen and Creative Director Camille Goutal feel similarly: their aromatic impression of post-party madness assuaged by a cuppa prior to retiring in the wee hours after a night’s revelry; sanity and a sense of order somewhat restored after a raucous rock’n’roll evening. Earl Grey levels the playing field, be you dignified or debauched; its jaunty character can suit virtually anyone, and it’s the star of Voyages Imaginaires Tea & Rock’N Roll.
Camille Goutal and Isabelle Doyen photo by Elodie Daugin©
Checking in and checking out, oh-oh-oh
I got ’em, wild, wild life
Spending all of my money and time, oh-oh-oh
On too much wild, wild life
We wanna go and we go where we go, oh-oh-oh
Ah, doing wild, wild life
I know it, that’s how we start, oh-oh-oh
Got some wild, wild life
Take a picture here in the daylight, oh-oh
And it’s a wild, wild life. ~ Wild Wild Life, David Byrne of The Talking Heads
Senior Contributor Emmanuelle Varron admirably introduced us to Voyages Imaginaires last year, when she illuminated the concepts and philosophy behind the house. It is not customary for famous perfumers to step outside the usual boundaries and decide to create an all-natural and sustainable line of fragrances. I was particularly struck by the inherent truth uttered by Camille Goutal in the afore-lauded article: “You have to stop believing that a good perfume lasts for a long time”. Composing from an all-natural palette is wickedly expensive, as anyone familiar with the materials is well aware (that isn’t to suggest that certain aromachemicals aren’t costly; many are). A significant portion of the public has come to expect longevity and linearity from their fragrances – and while some naturals may extend the wear, the journey is full of twists and turns as a composition develops. This aspect may require a level of acceptance and adaptation from those new to the perfumed world.
Dominique Tarlé’s photo of Keith Richards ,Anita Pallenberg and Gram Parsons at the 16-bedroom Villa Nellcôte where they recorded Exile On Main St in 1971© inspired Camille and Isabelle
Absolutely everything about Voyages Imaginaires is sustainable – from the dyes, inks, labels, classically refined refillable glass flacons, packaging – you name it. If we look beyond all of this, what remains is simply divine perfume, fin. That’s the bottom line, and the bottom line is beautiful no matter how you look at it. Voyage Imaginaires Tea & Rock’N Roll is delicious, spirited and perfectly soigné. You can be as louche and saucy as a young Keith Richards or as suave as David Bowie in his later elegant phase and it will still hit all the sweet spots. Lashings of glittering bergamot and lime pave the way for maté’s leathery, dried hay cadence gently mellowed by tonka. Appearances may matter, but in the final analysis, if someone smells wrong to you – the magic isn’t going to happen. It all boils down to chemistry, and Voyages Imaginaires Tea & Rock’N Roll is a class act which transcends boundaries of status and gender. It’s equally at home in a tux/ball gown or ripped jeans; how many fragrances can make that claim?
Notes: bergamot, lime, maté, leather, tonka
Bottle of Voyage Imaginaires Tea & Rock’N Roll generously provided by Ann Bouterse of Indigo Perfumery – many thanks! I love it. My nose is my own…
~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor
front and back of Voyages Imaginaires Tea & Rock’N Roll courtesy of Voyages Imaginaires
Thanks to the generosity of Voyages Imaginaries and Indigo Perfumery , we are offering a 75 ml flacon of Voyages Imaginaires Tea & Rock’N Roll for one registered reader in the USA, EU and UK. In order to be eligible, please leave a comment regarding what appealed to you in Ida’s review and where you live. Draw closes 4/23/2022
Editor Emmanuelle Varron chose La Coleur de la Nuit as a top 10 fragrance of 2021
Voyages Imaginaires was Editor Ermano Picco’s choice for “ÇaFleureBon Best Buzz of 2020”
Ann Bouterse of Indigo Perfumery
Ann Bouterse of Indigo Perfumery is hosting an Instagram Live with Ms. Goutal and Ms Doyen on April 24, 2022 12 Noon EDT
https://bit.ly/vionindigoigliveapril2412noon @indigoperfuemry https://indigoperfumery.com/pages/meet-voyages-imaginaires-on-indigo-ig-live-sunday-april-24-2022-12-noon-edt2
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