by Elise Pearlstine There is limestone all around shoving its way up through the grasses, shrubs and trees of the surrounding mountains and valleys. A breeze blows by with the scent of aromatic plants, clean, herbal and slightly astringent. Rosemary hangs over a rock wall by an old olive press that is preserved in a small roadside park. The large, lacy white flowers of Queen Anne’s lace (wild carrot) poke their showy heads above the vegetation of the fields and sway in the breeze. I am disappointed that the lavender fields are few and far between along the main road but we spot a few and enjoy the hazy purple view. Continue reading →

Le Labo is launching a new fragrance Santal 33 on May 1st. It is the second addition to the classic perfume collection. Santal 33 includes notes of Australian sandalwood, papyrus, cedarwood, cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox and leather accord. Update: the perfumer is Frank Voekl. Le Labo has already collaborated with him on Iris 39, Baie Rose 26, Musc 25 and their Santal 26 candle. Santal 33 contains 30% of essential oils, and it is classified as the Eau de Parfum. It is currently available from Colette and is priced at 170 euros/100ml.

Inspiration: “Do you remember the old Marlboro ads? A man and his horse in front of the fire on a great plain under tall, blue evening skies – A defining image of the spirit of the American West with all it implied about masculinity and personal freedom.  This man, firelight in his face, leaning on the worn leather saddle, alone with the desert wind, an icon so powerful that every man wanted to be him and every woman wanted to have him…

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Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

Although this spring we have several new orange blossom perfumes, from Lancôme Ô de l’Orangerie to Guerlain Floral Romantique, I still pledge loyalty to an orange blossom fragrance that offers the most authentic tribute to the beauty of this marvelously contrasted note–Annick Goutal Néroli. Néroli is not a complicated fragrance, yet with a few carefully balanced accords, it conveys both the sparkling innocence and the languid warmth of orange blossom.

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Our topic today is quite wide: feel free to talk about anything perfume or food related. What are your most anticipated seasonal foods? What fragrances bring you out of the slumber of winter? If you are celebrating Easter this weekend, what is on your menu?

As I type, I am trying not to get the almond and lemon scented batter of my Easter cakes all over the keyboard. I think that it shall be my perfume this weekend, though I already anticipate changing into Guerlain Chamade parfum later tonight.

I love spring for the scents that it brings–fresh grass, cherry and apple blossoms, magnolia, maple flowers (they smell sweet and sour, with a hint of melon) and earth after the rain. I cannot wait for the first asparagus, green peas, strawberries and ramps. I look forward to baking my grandmother’s rhubarb pastries and making my springtime lemon scented risotto with asparagus.

Image: antique Russian Easter postcard.

Since I posted lists of the top 20 fragrances preferred by US and French women (men’s lists will be coming soon as well) I decided to compile a list of Bois de Jasmin reader favorites. You might recall a post I ran a few weeks ago in which I asked readers for their top five favorite fragrances. While blog readers are not at all representative of the general perfume-wearing population, I thought it would be interesting to see what perfumistas prefer. Moreover, many answers were unusual, with selections that inspired me to explore new lines and new fragrances.

So if you have not had a chance to share your top 5 favorites with me either here or on Facebook, please do. I will include your answers when compiling the Bois de Jasmin list of reader favorites.

Image: Chanel Cuir de Russie, one of my top 5 favorites.