2013 launches: 55 posts

The first time I tried Parfums de Nicolaï’s Eau Soleil I was surprised. I expected a walk in a Sicilian orange grove perfumed with the zesty freshness of orange flowers and crushed green leaves, but instead of a gauzy, sunlit vision, the fragrance opened on my skin with a peppery, bitter tang. My orange blossom garden fantasy was nowhere to be found.

The mark of a good perfume is its ability to hold your attention. However different Eau Soleil was from my expectations, it followed me throughout the day. I would catch myself stealing little sniffs from my wrist or else enjoying the herbal and green scent that hovered around me. The next morning, I reached for the same scarf I wore the day before and for a few minutes I stood with my face buried in the silk scented with white flowers and soft musk. Eau Soleil courted me successfully.

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For the summer, Bath & Body Works has released an Italy inspired collection. Rome Honeysuckle Amore, Venice Dolce Berry and Capri Seaside Citrus are meant to evoke the Italian sunshine.

Rome Honeysuckle Amore is “a glamorous fragrance,” with notes of Italian Peach, Blackberry, Green Mandarin, Pink Honeysuckle, White Raspberry, Peony, Golden Amber, Soft Sandalwood, and Cypress Wood.

Venice Dolce Berry is about ” ‘la dolce vita,’ the sweet life,” and it includes Pink Plumberry, Apple Blossom, White Iris, Venetian Raspberry, Red Apricot, Frosted Magnolia, Blackberry Musk, Sandalwood Sugar, and Vanilla Biscotti.

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Parfums de Nicolaï’s Eaux Fraîches Collection (L’Eau à la Folie, L’Eau d’Ete, L’Eau Mixte, and L’Eau Chic) will include a new fragrance this summer, Eau Soleil. The new Eau de Toilette is based on orange blossom. Perfumer Patricia de Nicolaï was moved by a particularly beautiful grade of neroli (steam-distilled orange blossom essence) to create Eau Soleil. Eau Soleil includes notes of bergamot, mandarin, lemon, petitgrain, thyme, artemisia, neroli, ylang-ylang, jasmine from Egypt, patchouli, and musk.

Parfums de Nicolaï Eau Soleil Eau de Toilette is available in 30ml and 100ml spray bottles and can be found at Parfums de Nicolaï boutiques, counters, and at their online store. Via press release

New York perfume boutique Aedes de Venustas is releasing another fragrance on June 1st, 2013, following the launch of Aedes de Venustas Signature EDP. Iris Nazarena was created in collaboration between co-owners Karl Bradl and Robert Gerstner and perfumer Ralf Schwieger (the creator of Frédéric Malle Lipstick Rose, Hermès Eau des Merveilles, Etat Libre d’Orange Fils de Dieu, and Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine). The fragrance  is described as an incense layered iris, and it was inspired by the rare Iris Bismarckiana (also known as Iris Nazarena), which grows mainly in the mountains east of Nazareth.

“The suede-soft petals of the mystical muse are sketched in a subtle sfumato of brown, purple and white, brushed with powdery iridescence. The limpid ambrette, with its pear, rose and musk facets, sheds the tender light of dawn on the top notes. Rose adds a touch of floral sensuality, while the aromatic, resinous juniper berry introduces the incense theme. The cool, vivid green of star anise conjures the stylized stems and leaves of the flower. Patchouli and vetiver allude to its roots, driven into dark earth and rock. The sacred smoke rising from the altars weaves its mineral, leather-scented tendrils throughout the development with incense, clove and oud.”

Iris Nazarena Eau de Parfum will be available June 1st, 2013 at Aedes de Venustas, www.aedes.com and Barneys New York. 3.4oz/$245 Via press release

After reformulating its 1927 classic Bellodgia to death, Caron added a new version called Più Bellodgia. Più in Italian means more, but Caron fibs when promising more of anything with this take on Bellodgia. It’s a pale floral that I imagine more as a shampoo than a fine fragrance.

Now that I’ve told you how I feel about it, I’m tempted just to move onto something else. But I don’t like to write grumpy reviews without offering further details, and it’s far too easy to be cross about Caron these days. Their classical collection has been dramatically reformulated (to be fair, it’s not entirely their fault), and in the search for a new consumer, they keep releasing perfumes that don’t fit their aesthetic. We all need to move with the times, and it’s a tricky compromise to keep the loyal customers happy while attracting a generation of fragrance wearers who recoil at moss and leather.

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