christine nagel: 9 posts

The smell of sun-dried linens is one of those scents that invariably make me feel like all is well in the world. At the root of it is a childhood recollection of my grandmother’s linens (the memory conveniently blots out the less romantic realities of doing laundry by hand in a house with no running water). The aroma of starched fabric heated in the sun is so comforting that I look to the perfume bottle to satisfy this craving. An unexpected addition to my “sun and summer” fragrances has become Jo Malone Rain and Angelica, a recent debut from the brand specializing in simple, easy-to-wear scents.

There is no reason to expect that something called Rain and Angelica (an unsubtle nod to Frédéric Malle ‘s rain drenched angelicas, Angéliques Sous la Pluie) would smell of sun warmed sheets or even anything summery. When I checked the list of notes well after trying and wearing the perfume for several days, I was surprised to find little resemblance between the cold, aquatic elements on paper and the warm, soft perfume on my skin.

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French niche brand The Different Company is releasing Une Nuit Magnétique,  a perfume created by Christine Nagel (now the in-house perfumer at Hermès). “I have created this perfume as a magnet that physically attracts. The materials I have chosen create contrast and affinity,” says Nagel in the press release. The fragrance is described as warm, bewitching and sensual.

“This sensual sillage opens with the freshness of Ginger and mischievous Blueberry, to better let the carnal flowers appear (Jasmine, Rose and Tuberose), sustained by a luxurious amber and woody base.”

Une Nuit Magnétique Eau de Parfum (16% concentration) includes notes of ginger, blueberry, bergamot, jasmine from Egypt, Turkish rose, tuberose, prune, amber, woods, benzoin, patchouli, and musk.

Available at www.thedifferentcompany.com and its retailers worldwide. 30ml, 50 ml (98€), 90 ml (153€, refillable) and Discovery kit 3 x10 ml. Via press release.

That I’m obsessed with vetiver is obvious. If you select the note ‘vetiver‘ in Bois de Jasmin’s Find a Perfume feature, you’ll find around 20 reviews of perfumes sharing this earthy, woody leitmotif. Vetiver essence is distilled from the roots of a nondescript looking grass, but its scent is spectacular. It smells of milky hazelnuts, bitter grapefruit, licorice and driftwood. Every time I think that I have tried enough vetivers, something else comes along to tempt me. If I want dark and salty, I go for Annick Goutal’s Vétiver. If I’m in the mood for fresh and sparkling, Prada’s Infusion de Vétiver never fails to hit the spot. But if I had to wear a single vetiver perfume for the rest of my life, I would pick Lalique Encre Noire Pour Homme.

Encre Noire may not seem like an obvious choice, especially when we have vetiver gold standards like Guerlain Vétiver and Frédéric Malle Vétiver Extraordinaire. Without a doubt, those are perfumes that must be sampled at least once, but what makes Encre Noire so compelling is its elegance and versatility. It’s also impeccably crafted and memorable.

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Jimmy Choo is launching its second fragrance, Jimmy Choo Flash. Created as part of a collaboration between Jimmy Choo’s new creative directors Sandra Choi and Simon Holloway (Tamara Mellon is no longer part of the company) and perfumer Christine Nagel, Flash is inspired by the stylish, urban women of New York, London and Paris.

“The fragrance opens with pink pepper, tangerine and strawberry, for a fresh, sparkling introduction. As these glittering top notes evaporate, heart notes of strong, exotic white flowers, with a tuberose signature enriched with notes of jasmine and white lily, reveal a heady, sexy character. A base of white, powdery woods gives a lasting impression that is both seductive and sensual, but never too much. “As a brand, Jimmy Choo is so resolutely feminine that the perfume had to have a sensual background. I used white woods, a contemporary note that gives a feminine, sophisticated touch but maintains luminosity,” says Nagel.”

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