Victoria: 2669 posts

Do you wear perfume to bed? What is your favorite scented nightgown?

When asked what she wore to bed, Marilyn Monroe answered, ” five drops of Chanel No 5.” The idea was so sultry and thrilling that the sales of Chanel No 5 skyrocketed in response. No 5 sounds interesting as a scented nightgown, but nothing beats a splash of rosewater or orange blossom water for me. Their delicate scent is soothing, and both waters are excellent for the skin.

I also love simple scents like Annick Goutal Rose Splendide or Le Muguet. Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia starts as spicy and sparkling, but the drydown of musk and vanilla is comforting.  While Penhaligon’s Violetta lacks the sensual twist of Marilyn’s favorite perfume, it helps me wind down after a long, stressful day.

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

Arquiste Parfumeur is launching its 7th fragrance Boutonniere no.7 in November 2012. Created by perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, it is a masculine rendition of a gardenia blossom.

“May 1899, Foyer of the Opéra-Comique, Paris

During the Opera’s intermission, a group of seven young men gather at the Grand Foyer in search of new flirtations. Women of all sorts are lured in by the crisp, green scent of the men’s gardenia boutonnieres, enlivened with the bergamot and lavender colognes they wear. As they draw closer, the “Opera Flower” exudes its elegant masculinity, the last breath of a bloom sacrificed on a black-tie lapel.”

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I already posted about the scented leather gloves L’Artisan Parfumeur created for La Collection de Grasse (The Grasse Collection), but today I wanted to mention two new candles from the same range. L’Automne (autumn/fall) and L’Hiver (winter) are inspired by the perfumes of Grasse, the heart of perfume industry and artisanal craft. L’Artisan Parfumeur pays homage to the Grasse “arrière-pays,” or back-country. “These two L’Artisan Parfumeur candles transport you to the Grasse back-country, creating a warm and cosy atmosphere for your home, redolent of the seasons.”

L’Automne
“A stroll through the wild landscape surrounding Grasse, where leaves and nuts fall onto the humid earth.
The L’Automne candle recreates this special muffled atmosphere, where leaves on the ground soften the sound of footsteps. The air is getting fresher, and more humid, the light is getting paler, comforting as the wind picks up. At first, we detect a lavender note, which carries us into the countryside, then chestnut, caramel and blackcurrant notes. Finally, a cedar and lichen accord brings to a close this promenade in the Grasse back-country.”

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Parfums de Nicolaï has just released a new fragrance inspired by the rich musks used in the classical fragrances. Created by perfumer Patricia de Nicolaï, Musc Intense is a deep and rich blend with notes of rose, jasmine, violet, carnation, clove, and musks.

“The fragrance I imagined is a flowery, soft, extremely sensual caress. Musc Intense is a union of rose and white musk. I like the liqueur top note, the elegant essence of Turkish Rose. Carnation and violet take over from there, sustained by jasmine and rose absolutes. Musc Intense is an explosive cocktail of musk notes… A sensuous and particularly sophisticated fragrance. So Nicolaï!”

Musc Intense is available from Parfums de Nicolaï boutiques and soon to be available online. 30ml Eau de Parfum/49 euros. Via pnicolai.com

Odin New York introduces 08 Seylon, a perfume inspired by the South Asian island of Sri Lanka. It is a vetiver fragrance that “takes us on a journey through the damp soils of untamed Sri Lanka.” The notes include yuzu, bitter orange, bergamot, nutmeg, resinous elemi, wormwood, benzoin, oakmoss, and vetiver. The perfume is part of the Odin New York collection that features 01 Sunda, 02 Owari, 03 Century, 04 Petrana, 06 Amanu and 07 Tanoke.

“Harvested from the wild landscapes of Sri Lanka comes a scent that truly represents an authentic interpretation of pure vetiver. Seylon opens with the watery crispness of fresh yuzu followed by the tartness of bitter orange and bergamot. Middle notes of spicy nutmeg, resinous elemi and wormwood merge together with a rich base of warm benzoin, damp oakmoss and the soft earthiness of calming vetiver.”

Odin perfumes are available at Odin New York, Aedes de Venustas in New York, Barney’s New York, Colette in Paris, Liberty in London, Quartier 206 in Berlin, Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, and Isola in Madrid. $165/100ml. Via press release