News: 582 posts

Le Lebo, a niche New York based lab, is offering its newest fragrance, Tubereuse 40. Developed in collaboration with the renowned perfumer Alberto Morillas, Tubereuse 40 is described as a non-heady tuberose “shaped around citruses and musks that give it an unexpected unisex “eau de cologne” identity despite its impressive 30% dosage of oil in alcohol.” 40 refers to the number of ingredients in the perfume formula, as with other Le Labo fragrances.

Tubereuse 40 is the first in the series of city-centric fragrances that Le Labo is planning to introduce. Paris, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Dallas will follow in the future. “Nostalgic of the days where brands and their soul offered authenticity that deserved that little extra travel commitment to be truly experienced, Le Labo will develop a scent exclusive to every city that it will decide to be in. Its own little contribution to the fight against globalization. Small productions that lie at the opposite spectrum of economies of scale and critical masses : the Internet and phone will be useless, you will have to travel to get it.” Now, in my experience, such hurdles have not stopped many perfume maniacs I know! I am curious to see what the fragrances shall be like.

Tubereuse 40 is priced at $230 for 50ml and $360 for 100ml. Le Labo fragrances are available from their boutique in New York’s Nolita as well as Barneys. More information can be found at Le Labo website.

Temptations and Libations (Williams-Sonoma at the Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle @ 59th St; 6pm)
Takasago perfumer Andrea Lupo, master mixologist Jerri Banks and chef Gretchen Young will create cocktails, gustatory delights and fragrances, displaying how the world of food and beverage can inspire creative perfumery.

Le Labo (233 Elizabeth St; 2pm-5pm)
The co-founders of Le Labo will introduce the art of fragrance making by exploring the main olfactive families and their most representative raw materials.

The encapsulated fragrances can be used not only for scented strips inside magazines, but also for stamps, as Stamp Center Blog shares in one of its recent entries. You can get a whiff of Chanel No 5, an aroma of blooming flowers from Greece, or a fragrance of New Caledonia’s sandalwood. Stamp Center website offers the examples of scented stamps for sale. Of course, this made me immediately think of numerous other possibilities, from the state centered fragrances, such as that of Oregon blackberries, New York bagels and Florida oranges, to the seasonal aromas.

In other news reported in auFeminin, the perfumer Francis Kurkdjian has created a scent for the burning incense paper, Papier d’Arménie, in celebration of a year dedicated to Armenia in France. The traditional paper is heavily scented with the vanillic powderiness of benzoin, while the new fragrance created by Kurkdjian augments its warmth with incense, vanilla, woody notes and myrrh. Please see Papier d’Arménie website for more information and history of Armenian paper. Also, Guerlain has recently released a fragrance Bois d’Arménie created by Firmenich perfumer Annick Ménardo.

Sugar Lounge (Trump Tower, Lower Level, 725 Fifth Avenue @ 57th Street; Tuesday, from 10:30am-11:30am and 1:30pm-2:30pm)
Firmenich sponsored event that explores gourmand scents and confections, inspired both by the current and retro candy themes.

Bergorf Goodman (Fifth Avenue @ 58th Street; Tuesday-Friday)
The Clive Christian perfume expert Bukurije will host personal, one on one introductions to the line. The appointment must be made in advance (212-872-2581).

A number of New York stores have specials during the Fragrance Week. New London Pharmacy (246 8th Avenue @ 23rd St) will offer 10% off any purchase of fragrance. Calypso boutiques will offer 1 free fragrance with a purchase of any 2. Bond No. 9 will give a complimentary 1/2oz with a purchase of any 3.4oz fragrance.

The first day of Fragrance Week 2006 in New York opens with the following events which welcome everyone:

Visionaire Presentation (Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Avenue @ 57th Street; 4pm-5pm and 6pm-7pm today only)
In a collaboration between International Flavors & Fragrances and Visionaire, the art and fashion quarterly, Visionaire 47 TASTE will offer creations that engage the visual, olfactory and gustatory senses.

Exhibit of Perfume Bottle Sculptures (Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Avenue @ 57th Street; Monday through Friday this week, from 11am-2pm)
The exhibit of 6-foot perfume bottles sculpted in fiberglass and decorated by the team of artists.

Vintage Perfume Bottle Exhibit (Manhattan Art and Antiques Center, 2nd Avenue @ 55th Street, Gallery 47; open Monday through Friday this week from 11am-6pm)
The exhibit will feature more than 300 perfume bottles and factices including rare Lalique and Baccarat pieces.