2012 launches: 129 posts

Jo Malone the London Blooms Collection is now available in stores (Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue, select Neiman Marcus locations). The collection includes three fragrances: Iris and Lady Moore, Peony and Moss, and White Lilac and Rhubarb. The perfumes were created by Christine Nagel and are inspired by the English gardens.

Peony and Moss: “Contrasting the dainty and the dirty. The gossamer lightness of delicate peonies grounded in earthy green.” It contains notes of green sap, blackcurrant, jasmine, peony, rose, ivy, moss.

White Lilac and Rhubarb: “A daring juxtaposition. Tart-vibrant rhubarb cuts through the soft lilac, rose and sun-loving heliotrope. ” It is comprised of violet leaves, rhubarb, white lilac, rose, amber, musk, heliotrope.

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

My fingertips smell of peppery flowers and vanilla. The sample vial of Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Love has spilled in my handbag, and I have been trailing the spicy carnation with me for the past couple of weeks. Every time I reach into my purse to fish out my wallet or a pen, my fingers catch some of the fragrance as well. Soon, I started applying Velvet Love out of choice to indulge in its smoky sweetness.

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Robert Piguet Parfums, the maker of infamous Fracas, introduces Nouvelle Collection of five new perfumes: Casbah, Bois Noir, Notes, Mademoiselle Piguet and Oud. All five fragrances were created by perfumer Aurelien Guichard.

“From the corners of the souks of Marrakech with Casbah, to the heart of a balsam forest with Bois Noir, each of the five Nouvelle Collection conjures vivid images and visceral reactions in their wearers. Like the moving sounds of a symphonic masterpiece, Notes romances and inspires. The seductive Mademoiselle Piguet is a glamorous jaunt on the most coveted red carpet. Oud, the scent that completes the new family, is a jewel from the sands of the middle East.”

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When Denyse of Grain de Musc shared that she would be coming out with a perfume memoir, it was intriguing enough. However, to learn that The Perfume Lover will also be accompanied by a fragrance makes the news even more exciting. Séville à l’aube, created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, will be launched by L’Artisan Parfumeur. As Denyse shared in her recent post, it was “inspired by one of the most beautiful nights in my life, in Seville during the Holy Week under an orange tree in full blossom, wrapped in incense smoke and the arms of a Spanish boy…”

Séville à l’aube is “is an orange blossom oriental with zesty, green and balsamic effects, with notes of petitgrain, petitgrain citronnier, orange blossom absolute, beeswax absolute, incense resinoid, Luisieri lavender absolute and Siam benzoin resinoid.” It will be launched in July. Meanwhile, The Perfume Lover is about to land on the bookshelves in the UK next month and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.co.uk. You can read an excerpt on Denyse’s blog.

A piece of dark chocolate is my idea of a perfect dessert. It is bitter and creamy, sweet and nutty, tender and animalic. Chocolate has such a kaleidoscopic range of flavors and aromas that it would seemingly be perfect as a perfume note. Yet, instead of conveying luscious darkness, most chocolate fragrances go no further than the creamy cocoa impression suggested by vanilla and milky notes.

As beautiful as true dark chocolate can be, it is extremely challenging to work into a composition. The very qualities that chocolate lovers crave—bitterness and richness—can register more like a gamey stew than a mouthwatering confection. Enter Arquiste Parfumeur Anima Dulcis, a fragrance that does not shy away from bringing out the animalic facets of bitter chocolate, while remaining harmonious and tempting. It is an oriental composition that hints at gourmand, but ends up in an unexpected chocolate incense territory.

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