Those who were disappointed by the limited distribution of gorgeous 2000 et Une Rôse will be delighted to know that Lancôme is planning to reintroduce this fragrance in June of 2006 as Mille et Une Roses (or 1000 et Une Roses, to avoid the association with the second millenium). The fragrance will be featured in a rectangular bottle and a white box, unlike the original. However, it seems that the perfume composition will remain the same. Please my review of the original 2000 et Une Rôse for a description.

L’Artisan Safran Troublant, a fragrance created by Olivia Giacobetti as a part of Epices de la Passion set is already available at Aedes. Available in 50ml and 100ml bottles, it joins Piment Brûlant and Poivre Piquant as part of the regular line. Although the perfume is not listed among L’Artisan fragrances on the website, it is already for sale at the New York store. Thanks to Tania for the news.

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

Aside from the siren call of novelty, Sira des Indes was to be eagerly anticipated, if only for the Jean Patou tradition. Jean Patou fragrances, from the breathtakingly perfect marriage of jasmine and rose de mai in Joy to the osmanthus bejeweled animalic richness of 1000, exhibit a kind of statuesque and confident beauty that is rarely encountered. Even En Joy, despite its compromises with the dominant fruity-floral trends and unfortunate powdery sweetness, delights with the delicate balance of its floral heart.

High expectations or not, I certainly could not have foreseen that Sira des Indes would be dominated by transparent and sweet pear notes before melting into the gourmand drydown of slightly balsamic vanilla, musk and amber. …

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LuckyScent is collaborating with a select group of the world’s top perfumers to create breakthrough scents for a new fragrance ‘collective,’ under the name “Untitled.” This series of limited edition scents will be exclusive to LuckyScent and its retail store, Los Angeles’ Scent Bar. Perfumers scheduled to collaborate on “Untitled” include Tristan Brando of Monyette Paris, Sarah Horowitz of Creative Scent, Sarah Barton-King of Pink Room UK, Jalaine Sommers of Jalaine, and Susanne Lang. The first in the “Untitled” series will launch on March 1, 2006 with Untitled #1 by Yosh Han. …

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“Ideas for fragrances strike Ellena like proverbial lightning bolts–or they ferment, their recipes jotted down and left to steep in palm-sized leather notebooks. His desk is strewn with tiny bottles of past, present and future formulas in various stages of development. Some of his favorite work has been the creation of Hermessence, a group of “olfactory poems” such as Poivre Samarcande (inspired by an old oak on Ellena’s property that had to be felled) and Ambre Narguilé (the evocation of an oriental smoking den, bubbling with water pipes). These are a perfumer’s perfumes–scents so elusive, half the challenge was bottling them.” Read the rest of the article here.

PS: Be sure to click on Comments under this post to read Mike’s excellent review of Terre d’Hermès. Thank you for sharing, MC!