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“What I want is an art of balance, of purity, an art that won’t disturb or trouble people. I want anyone tired, worn down, driven to the limits of endurance, to find calm and repose in my painting,” said French painter Henri Matisse: (quoted in Matisse the Master by Hilary Spurling). From 17 April to 7 September 2014, Tate Modern will host an exhibit called Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs. It’s devoted to the artist’s work with paper.

A new fragrance will join Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle in June 2014.  Eau de Magnolia was created by perfumer Carlos Benaïm and is described as a fresh chypre perfume. It is based on a study of magnolia’s aroma by IFF scientist Braja Mookherjee. When analyzing the components that give magnolia its unique fragrance, Benaïm found that it resembled a citrus cologne. Therefore, he composed Eau de Magnolia for both men and women, taking the zesty freshness of the flower as his starting point.

Eau de Magnolia Eau de Parfum includes notes of bergamot, magnolia headspace, vetiver, patchouli, cedarwood, amber, and tree moss. This is Benaïm’s first perfume for the house, but he has already left his fingerprint on the Fleurs Mécaniques collection of home fragrances: Saint des Saints, Rosa Rugosa, Rubrum Lily, Cafe Society and the magnolia based Jurassic Flower.

Eau de Magnolia will be available in June at Frédéric Malle’s boutiques and department store counters. 10 ml/$125, 50 ml/ $175, 100 ml/$225. Via press release

“The EU Commission should protect health, and the cultural asset perfumery,” says a group of perfume lovers at Parfumo.net who drafted a well-argued petition addressed to the EU Commission. It’s a response to the ongoing discussion on fragrance ingredient regulations (read this article for more background information.) Please take a look: http://www.parfumo.net/petition/

Paris jeweler Ann Gérard is introducing a new fragrance in her collection this spring.  Rose Cut was created by Bertrand Duchaufour, the same perfumer who worked on other fragrances in Gerard’s collection, Cuir de Nacre, Perle de Mousse, and Ciel d’Opale. The name derives from a diamond-cutting technique which gives stones a soft radiance.

“My inspiration for Rose Cut was a word: Allure. While beauty often fades over the years, allure lasts forever. Rose Cut celebrates women who fully embrace their personality and femininity. To reflect their many facets, I wanted an “oxymoron fragrance” that would combine opposites: femininity/strength, luminosity/depth.

In the composition, these opposites translate into luminous notes (pink pepper, aldehydes) associated with warm, balsamic, velvety notes (vanilla, peony, benzoin), and through the association of rose (wildly feminine) with patchouli (strength and character).”

Rose Cut includes notes of aldehydes, rum, pink pepper, roses, peony, patchouli, vanilla, oak wood absolute and benzoin absolute. 60 ml Eau de Parfum, $165. Via press release

Creative director of Editions de Parfums, Frédéric Malle offers some tips for selecting the perfect spring scent in the recent leaflet sent out by the house.

• Fragrances are like clothes: some are warmer than others. It is uncomfortable to wear a heavy dose of warm oriental on a hot day, but a hint might work
• Consider changing your perfume every season if you are wearing a very fresh or heavy Chypre fragrance
• You should always try a new fragrance before purchasing. The top notes function for about 15 minutes, then leave way to the heart of the perfume, which is it’s real personality

Out of his collection, Malle recommends floral fragrances like Carnal Flower, En Passant and Lys Mediterranée to evoke the sunshine. For my perfect spring etude, I select L’Eau d’Hiver, which despite its wintery name, smells of early spring with its melted snow, violets peaking under the wet soil and sweetness of first buds. But if I want the Mediterranean sunshine, I will turn to Le Parfum de Thérèse, which smells of ripe Cavaillon melons and jasmine.

Painting: Spring in Italy, Isaac Levitan, 1890. Via wiki-paintings, some rights reserved.