News: 582 posts

After discussing the elusive scent of figs yesterday, I was surprised to open my issue of Cosmetic World and discover a mention of an interesting new launch from Guerlain.  Figue-Iris was created by Jean-Paul Guerlain in collaboration with Sylvaine Delacourte, Guerlain’s creative director. As Ms. Delacourte described in the article, “Today, fig is very well known and popular… I wanted to contrast it with something very chic.” Figue-Iris combines the green freshness of fig with warm, powdery iris.

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Having seen the Parisian designer Clare Viola’s jewelry before, I feel compelled to quote the English novelist George Eliot, “These gems have life in them: their colors speak, say what words fail of.” L’Artisan Parfumeur shall explore the intrinsic and emotional link between being adorned by jewel and by perfume during their event “Jewelry for Scents.”

“Each piece plays with textures, light, colors and shapes to create a unique emotion. Many pieces in the collection were inspired by such L’Artisan classics as La Chasse Aux Papillons, Mure et Musc, Timbuktu , Dzing! and Voleur de Roses. Claire Viola herself will be present to talk about her inspirations and designs. Join us this Friday, November 28, at the flagship L’Artisan boutique in New York , 1110 Madison Ave , from 10am to 7pm” (from L’Artisan newsletter.)

Clare Viola website offers a glimpse of her gorgeous pieces, such as Kings Valley from Precious Wood collection, which is my coveted gem. Pictured above is Opera Garnier, from Neck Poetry collection.

It is the time for the 8th Annual Basenotes Awards recognizing the best of the best in various categories: best fragrance, best designer fragrance, best niche fragrance, best celebrity fragrance, best fragrance blog and much more. One lucky voter will win a $250 shopping spree from Fragrancenet, the sponsor of this year’s awards.

For the results of the 7th Annual Basenotes Awards, please see Basenotes.

The scent of forbidden is always tempting and intriguing. Fresh is about to present its second fragrnace on the cannabis theme–Cannabis Rose, which is a feminine counterpart to the masculine-unisex Cannabis Santal (pictured). The fragrance is developed by Robertet perfumers, and it features notes of Bulgarian rose, pomegranate floer, bergamot; jasmine, cannabis accord, dark chocolate; white musk, patchouli, oolong tea.

Cannabis Rose will debut in February, exclusive to Fresh stores, before being launched at Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue, Sephora and Blue Mercury in April.

“I have no interest in trying to reproduce nature … I want to transform it, create olfactory illusions. Perfume isn’t only about the scent of flowers. I can add molecules to make a fragrance harsh, soft, dry, fresh, bubbly, light, cool and warm,” says perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena in the LA Times article Perfume’s Master of Minimalism. The article notes various inspirations for some of Ellena’s famous creations, such as a glass of champagne served on a platter lined with fig leaves (Jardin en Mediterranée) or floral tonalities of Hermès leather (Kelly Calèche). The piece also quotes Jean Kerléo, the former head perfumer for Jean Patou and the founding president of the Osmothèque. Highly recommended reading!

Photo of Jean-Claude Ellena from Wikipedia.