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Givaudan launched a new version of its iPerfumer app, iPerfumer2. The app is designed to help people find fragrance. It can be used to create list of best-suited perfumes, to develop a list of favorites, to see how other fragrance buyers rate a particular perfume.

The updated version was inspired by the comments from the iPerfumer community. It is easier to use, its interface is much simpler and search is more efficient. Above all, the recommendation engine functions better as compared to the first version. The recommendations are based not only on fragrance families, but also on the information a user gives as well as the fragrance preferences of the iPerfumer user community, which makes this tool much more dynamic and interesting.

Check out the iPerfumer2 to find out more. To download the app for free on the iPhone, visit the iPerfumer Facebook page.  Android versions of iPerfumer2 is now available. (via press release.)

Cold evenings make me crave ambery perfumes and rich flavors. Tonight I made Shirin Plov, a Persian style sweet and savory pilaf with apricots, rosewater and saffron, which goes perfectly with grilled meat or chicken. Today, I felt that it needed no accompaniment, other than salad and soup.

While browsing online, I found a few articles that I would like to share with you.

Frankincense Fit for a King (One, Anyway): how to grow frankincense at home, something that I would like to do.

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Guerlain is introducing a new fragrance in its Les Voyages Olfactifs Collection. This time, Guerlain travels to London. According to Guerlain, “With its fruity, woody and green floral notes, London transports us to the heart of an ultra-trendy capital that is both eccentric and classic. A rhubarb accord, tangy and vegetal, instantly teases the nose, along with the grapefruit and the bergamot. At the heart of “London”, a duo of roses – the essence and the absolute – is strewn with cardamom and violets, which are interpreted here in a candied version. The light woody base adds a breeze of fantasy, very British, of course.”

London includes notes of bergamot, rhubarb, grapefruit, cardamom, rose, violet, vetiver, black tea and white cedar. 100ml, 150 euros. Available from Guerlain boutique and Bergdorf Goodman. Via Bergdorf Goodman.

The flavoring industry is the enabler of the food processing business – which depends on it to create a craving for everything from soda pop to chicken soup. It is Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory as a multibillion dollar industry; an industry cloaked in secrecy. But recently Givaudan, the largest flavoring company in the world, allowed us in to see them work their magic.

From a fascinating segment by 60 Minutes about the work of flavorists, experts at creating tastes and flavor sensations, at Givaudan. To watch the piece, or read a transcript, click here.

In spring of 2012, Serge Lutens will release a new fragrance in his “Water” series. L’Eau Froide (Cold Water) will follow L’Eau de Serge Lutens launched in 2010. The main ingredient of L’Eau Froide is frankincense, and although incense conjures smoldering, burning images, the raw material possesses a chilly, crisp scent reminiscent of crushed peppercorns and bitter lemon peel. It also includes a cocktail of musk and citrus notes.

Lutens noted about the original L’Eau, ‘When I presented L’Eau to my team, I felt like Saint Just informing the nobles they were going to lose their privileges.” Let’s hope that L’Eau Froide will restore of the spirits!

L’Eau Froide will be available as Eau de Parfum in 1.7 oz and 3.4 oz bottles, 69 and 100 euros respectively.