World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights (Laurent Marrone) Review+ Speakeasy Chic Draw

via @worldofchriscollins Intsagram
“J’ai deux amours, Mon pays et Paris…” ~ Josephine Baker

Chris Collins of World of Chris Collins Fragrances via Instagram

Chris Collins’ striking, suave presence has graced the pages of GQ, Fortune, Gotham Magazine, WWD – you name it: he is perhaps best-known as one of the iconic embodiments of Ralph Lauren’s brand of effortless elegance. In March 2018 he launched his own line of fragrance at Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman’s – The World of Chris Collins, a trio of luxe fragrances paying tribute to the 1920’s, a time of global cultural and political transformation both here and abroad.

news.nationalgeographic.com

In the U.S the Roaring Twenties coincided with Prohibition, sparking rebelliousness and a devil-may-care insouciance, the subterranean burgeoning of illegal watering holes where code words were required for entry and one didn’t inquire about the bootleg liquor’s origin or ingredients.

Cotton Club via flicker late 1920s

In Harlem the arts were flourishing with a new-found vitality which became known as The Harlem Renaissance / New Negro Movement – the brilliance of poet/storytellers Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay and Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God); painter Aaron Douglas (he immortalized Harriet Tubman); and the fabulous Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker among them. Jazz was king in Paris as well as Harlem, and Europe was generally more welcoming to African-American artists.

Chris Collins with his three fragrances Danse  Sauvage, Harlem Nights and  Renaissance ​Man

Chris, as creative director of his new brand – was influenced by his encounter with Killian Hennessy and subsequently spent time in France learning more about the fine art of perfumery. A passion evolved between his Parisian ‘immersion’ and brownstone home in Harlem which translated organically into Danse Sauvage (inspired by Baker’s infamous dance in her faux- banana skirt), Harlem Nights, and Renaissance Man.  Of the three I found World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights to be my personal favorite– an inviting feral floriental tailor-made for a night on the town in any ‘20s speakeasy – or the Cotton Club in its heyday.

Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club 1927

World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights is a hot night of cool jazz and the Mood is Indigo as The Duke tickles the ivories at the Cotton Club. Everyone knows you; they nod discreetly as they slip that copper-topped hip flask from either garter or pocket and cop a stealthy slug before passing it around the table. It may taste like bilgewater, but it’s got a kick to it. 

Billie Holliday at Cafe Society  Sheridan Square in 1938 (the first integrated  night club in NYC) via Ephemeralpress.com

Our singer sports that gardenia to cover the burn from her curling iron but it’s jasmine which fills the air, dense and spicy with murmurs of clove and nutmeg. Her skin is coffee-hued and smooth and it smells like sandalwood as brunettes do (if you believe Burgundian writer Colette); the natural musk of her body emanating from every pore. The joint is packed back to back and belly to belly; you can feel the drizzle of perspiration run in rivulets down your arms as you sway rhythmically to Ellington’s mellow tones. Your partner’s cautiously slicked back hair is an earthy paradise of patchouli and amber and you bury your nose in his neck. Each of you is lost in the fog of the moment. Until the alarm sounds and all vestiges of alcohol suddenly disappear as if by magic. Notes: rum, clove, nutmeg, jasmine, orris, patchouli, sandalwood, amber,musk

Discovery sample set kindly provided by Maison Duquesne, the distributor – many thanks! My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Senior Editor and Natural Perfumery Editor

~ Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights  via Instagram

We have a 50 ml bottle of World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights for a registered reader in the USA and two discovery set of Harlem Nights, and Renaissance Man for two readers anywhere in the world. To be eligible please leave a comment about what you enjoyed about Ida’s review of World of Chris Collins Harlem Nights, where you live and if you would like the discovery set (country restrictions). What do you know about the Harlem Renaissance? Draw closes 10/25/2018

Available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman and Ron Robinson in the USA and worldwide at World of Chris Collins and other select stockists, 

Please follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon and @worldofchriscollins

We announce the winners only on our website so like Cafleurebon and use our blog feed… or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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26 comments

  • Steve A says:

    I enjoyed the old Cotton Club photos along with the written words of what it might have been like. US

  • Harbinger says:

    I don’ t know much about the Harlem Renaissance but Ida makes this fragrance sound delicious..I am particularly drawn to the rum note and would love to win the bottle of Harlem Nights. USA

  • Alen says:

    Great reading on Ida’s review as always. This sounds pretty good, especially that i like the boozy fragrances a lot and the pyramid notes on Harlem Nights looks perfect. I would love to win the 50ml bottle, thanks for the chance. Oakland US.

  • cressit says:

    What a great read, Ida! Harlem Nights sounds very interesting. I could spend hours looking at the James Van Der Zee’s photographs of the people of Harlem durning that period. I’m in the US.

  • Kcast28 says:

    This review just sung to me! I can feel the jazz and hope to wear the scent! I would love either the bottle or discovery set! I’m in California USA

  • helenlam says:

    Yum, spicy and boozy and warm. Love the imagery and the jazz club feel. I live in the US and would prefer the bottle.

  • Onyinye says:

    The review did feel like listening to music. The choice of words and description were perfect. And I loved the pictures in black and white.
    I know nothing about Harlem renaissance.
    I live in California and would love the discovery set.

  • NiceVULady says:

    I can almost hear the jazz playing from reading this review. This sounds cool and hot. I’m in the US. Thanks for the draw. I’d love to try the discovery set.

  • Yana_Tommelise says:

    I never heard of this line so this article is very helpful, thanks! Harlem Night… The name sounds so exotic would love to explore discovery set! I am in Germany

  • Timea says:

    I very like the review. And the fragrances also sounds really nicely. I would very like to try them. Thank you for the draw. I live in Europe.

  • Cynthia says:

    What an interesting post! I like that he was influenced by Kilian–seems a good fit for the type of fragrance you describe–and that he spent time in France, so not just rubber stamping a product. It’s and interesting concept he came up with and I love the visuals, especially the man himself! #goodmorningeyecandy

  • cwoody says:

    I like how Ida’s review took you back to the 1920s – such a fun era. I would prefer the 50ml Harlem Nights. It sounds like a rich yet smooth fragrance that is perfect for a night out. The Harlem Renaissance was an explosion of literary, musical, theatrical, and visual arts in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. USA

  • audesko1 says:

    With Ida’s descriptions, you can almost feel like you are in the room! Harlem nights sounds amazing. I live in the US.

  • doveskylark says:

    I am a big fan of the singers and jazz players of the Harlem Renaissance. I wish I could go back in time and see Sarah Vaughan at the Apollo. I’d love to spray Harlem Nights and listen to my old Billie Holiday records. I’d choose the 50 ml bottle if I were the winner.
    I live in the USA.

  • twong says:

    I do not know anything about this brand but thank you Cafleurebon for introducing it to us. Ida’s description of “Hot night of cool jazz and the Mood is Indigo…” is lovely. My limited knowledge of the Harlem Renaissance is that it was about flourishing arts movement. Would prefer the 50ml bottle if I win. Regards from Boston USA.

  • Zibbyz says:

    Oh my gosh, love jazz and Billy Holiday, what a fabulous story begone the scent! I would love either the full bottle or the sample set (if the international winner me claim it. :)). I’m very much enjoying the diversity that cafleurebon is supporting. Oh, and their eyes were watching God is one of my favs, it’s one book that I own. Thank you for the draw! In the us.

  • RinB says:

    What an evocative review! The whole las paragraph is just magic: ‘The joint is packed back to back and belly to belly; you can feel the drizzle of perspiration run in rivulets down your arms as you sway rhythmically to Ellington’s mellow tones. Your partner’s cautiously slicked back hair is an earthy paradise of patchouli and amber and you bury your nose in his neck. Each of you is lost in the fog of the moment.’ I love boozy, spicy scents, especially at this time of year, and this one sounds like it’s smouldering. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the Harlem Renaissance except that I love some of the music it produced. I’m in the US and would love to win the 50ml bottle. Many thanks!

  • tooka81 says:

    Loved this review, the vivid description of what it may have been like to be in the Cotton Club in the roaring 20’s listening to Duke Ellington tickle the ivories while you still have the very real fear of the cops coming to break up the club because of the illegal booze flowing freely throughout! I love Chris Collins concept and tribute to the Harlem Renaissance and Josephine Baker, I learned about the Harlem Renaisaance in school and I have always been fascinated by it and the people who helped make it the historical movement that it was! i would love to win the bottle or discovery set ! I live in the US.

  • Hasib says:

    Sounds like a good fragrance. I enjoyed this read and description about the fragrance. Would like to get a chance to try these. Thanks
    U.S

  • Pato Loco says:

    That is a fantastically written review. Live in the US, and greatly appreciate the opportunity to win the bottle or discovery set. Cheers!

  • Ivan.napoleon says:

    Love the.fotos in this review
    Nothing about renaissance
    Great review as usual Id love to try this one Great review
    Miami Florida Thanks

  • sowa says:

    The review creates such a wonderful and vivid vision, that it’s impossible to resist. I would love to sway to Ellington’s mellow tones, smelling sandalwood skin and jasmin in the air on a hot Harlem Night in 20’s. As I live in the EU I’m only eligible for a discovery set. Thanks!

  • doowtnehpets says:

    What I enjoy about the review is the influence of the roaring 20s for a fragrance. Note breakdown sounds awesome. 50ml bottle of that would be amazing. I live in Albuquerque NM USA. Don’t really know much about the Harlem Renaissance :-/

  • Diana D says:

    What an enjoyable review. I love that it was almost like hearing music while reading it.
    I love the description of Harlem Nights. I would be happy with either a full bottle of the discovery set!
    I live in the USA.

  • bumbuliuki says:

    What a great review Ida !
    I enjoy jazz a lot, Billy Holiday being one of my all time favorites. While reading the article I felt transported to a jazz club in that unique ’20s atmosphere.
    Harlem Renaissance was a turning point, a very important period for the African-American culture, a rebirth of arts.
    Thank you for presenting new brands of perfumes.
    Would love to try the discovery set.
    Thank you.
    I’m from Romania.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    I don’t know a thing about the Harlem renaissance, I’ve lived my whole life on the west coast, never been to NY. That time period is fascinating, I remember my Grandma telling of when the “revenuer” (I believe that’s what she called it) was coming she had to run out to the barn and cover up the illegal still. Chris has a very nice website!! I’d love to win the Harlem Nights, the notes sound great for fall! Thanks for showcasing new talent. USA.