Noblesse Luxe Publication

FRAGRANCE REVIEW

   

            ARTS&SCENTS - Forever Heart Bound

             

Noblesse Luxe Publishing

FRAGRANCE ARTICLE



                  WORLD MACARON DAY
                               A Collaboration of Scents

    On Thursday, March 20th of each year marks the celebration of WORLD MACARON DAY.  This sweet and slightly crunchy cookie as taken the world by storm with its delicate and delightful features with its array of festive bright colors that correspond with the flavors.

    According to the luxury blog, Luxuo (article dated March 20, 2014) WORLD MACARON DAY started out as a gimmick and fundraising event by Pierre Herme'.

   Pierre Herme' known as the French "Picasso" of pastries decided to showcase international spotlight on the macaroon because it was still a novelty in bakeries outside of France. So on March 20 WORLD MACARON DAY is celebrated intensely in cities worldwide such as New York, Mumbai, Toronto and Vancouver.

  The macaroon a richly submerged meringue-based pastry that has become common in most parts of the world...give or take their own cultural interpretation of the pastry.

  Where does this involve perfume? Well, a few months ago, the world's foremost creator of the macaron, LADUREE headquartered in Paris have collaborated with Nina Ricci, fashion designer extraordinaire to create a new fragrance named La tentation de Nina.

   Olivier Cresp, Fashion Director at Nina Ricci and Vincent Lemains, Head of Pastry design for Laduree have sweetened the deal by collaborating on the macaroon flavored fragrance by creating notes of lemon, rose, almond and raspberry.

  The bottle is breathless with the Nina Ricci iconic apple-shaped bottle that features bold pink and gold tones that sparkle with the effervescent of a modern fragrance designed with the French pastry as the core.

  La tentation de Nina is available in a 50 ml/1.7 fluid ounce apple-shaped bottle for 58 Euros.
   
  Launched January 20, 2014.

 
  Sources: www.luxuo.com; www.vogue.fr.com
  Photos: www.fragrantica.com; www.vogue.fr.com






 FMH



 

   

Noblesse Luxe Publishing

FRAGRANCE REVIEW


                                                                    ZELDA
                                           The Fragrance of a Movement

 I was honored to be a judge for the first annual International Artisan Fragrance Salon Awards in San Francisco, California this past summer. It was a competition of indie and natural perfumers to submit their latest creations of aromatic excellence in this unique and ever-growing industry of fragrances.

I had the difficult task to give my opinion of what was considered the "Best Of"...in certain categories.

I had the task of a sniff here and there, wearing scents day and night and ponder ing over several weeks of what I felt the International Artisan Fragrance Salon considered the "Best Of".

One of my selections and vote in regards to the Best Of...went to ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM by En Voyage Perfumes. ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM created by Shelley Waddington who in my opinion had the difficult task of composing a fragrance that tells the story of a woman who in my opinion entered a marriage out of love but wanted to maintain her own vision as a novelist, short story writer, poet and dancer.



Zelda Fitzgerald

ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM tells the story of ZELDA FITZGERALD, the wife of  F. Scott Fitzgerald, an American novelist and best known for his book titled, THE GREAT GATSBY.

How it must have been hard for Mrs. Fitzgerald to be a writer in her own right and then be married to the man who has written on of the greatest books.

ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM is brilliantly composed of dark, sometimes a little harsh and lavishly portrays a soft side of Zelda Fitzgerald.

Born Zelda Sayres in Montgomery, Alabama rose into Southern Society and out-glitzing those born into southern privilege told her own story from the beginning and never stopped to this very day.

Shelley begins the life of Zelda with a roaring of spices that kept me intrigued because I knew there was more to the story. It continue to blossom into a time of grandeur with streaks of creamy magnolia and effervescent floral blossoms that meant to me that Zelda was at the height of her career.

I loved how Shelley swept my heart with the real meaning and at times very sad life of Zelda because Shelley never stop telling the story by using darker scents of amber and vintage musk to represent how Zelda must have wanted at many times to run away in the depths of disappear.

However being dubbed by her husband as "the first American Flapper" in the 1920's is what made Zelda Fitzgerald become an icon in the 1920's.

Vanilla used in the base of this scent is one of my most favorite scents that means to me to go on and live on. It is the second most expensive spice and it is richly used to portray Zelda having strength in what was known later of a tempestuous marriage with F. Scott Fitzgerald.

ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM, is supremely a look into a life of a female writer who had a passion for dancing and wanted a more glamorous life for herself  in the Jazz Age but still wanted a marriage, too.

I finally had time to watch the 2013 release of THE GREAT GATSBY starring Leonardo Di Caprio.
I wore ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM while watching it. It gave me a sense of Zelda through a remarkable fragrance that lasted for many hours and the longer I wore it more notes jumped out at me.

The Sandalwood was so enticing and faithful. I loved every moment of ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM.

This is why I choose it as BEST FRAGRANCE. It is a fragrance so elegantly composed of a women's complicated life. It is a fragrance that tells the life and story as a remarkable masterpiece.

Shelley Waddington, owner and perfumer of En Voyage Perfumes was honored with the TOP ARTISAN FRAGRANCE SALON AWARD GOLD by the International Artisan Fragrance Salon for ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM. Congratulations Shelley!

TOP NOTES: Spiced Italian Bergamot, Spices, Iranian Galbanum
HEART NOTES: Creamy Magnolia Blossom, Garden Florals
BASE NOTES: Smoky Amber, Vintage Musks, Vanilla, Balsams, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Cedarwood, Mousse de Chene

                           www.envoyageperfumes.com

                            ZELDA EAU DE PARFUM  0.6 OUNCE $65.00 USD


Photos: Zelda Eau de Perfume courtesy of En Voyage Perfumes and photo of Zelda Fitzgerald courtesy of awhf.org






FMH


 

Noblesse Luxe Publishing

Indie Perfume Review

                            BLACKBIRD by House of Matriarch
                                               Packaging is a BIG part of it

   Long gone in my estimation are the days when indie perfumers did not have a voice and place to express their creativity in the perfume industry. Long gone are the days when perfumers were in their basements and selling their scents only to relatives and close friends.

  In recent years the word "indie" in the perfume industry is a ever growing market of wonderful and fabulous perfumers who own boutiques and shops worldwide with customers worldwide and big and bold attitudes that have climbed the scale of high end raw and mixed media ingredients that have been featured by niche online bloggers and  have gotten noticed by mainstream media both television and in glossy magazines.

 I am so happy to be a part of the hugely successful industry that now have their own indie category of perfumers nominated for The Fragrance Foundation's FiFi Award.

Niche perfumes have taken on a new look that challenge those fashion house perfumes and celebrity perfumes.

I know of a perfumer located in the state of Washington whose scents and packaging are a huge part of her remarkable success and from speaking with this perfumer during an email conversation,

"The packaging has to be NICE. There is no room for shortcuts". 

  Christi Meshell, nose and owner of the House of Matriarch has custom coated perfume bottles that sparkle like colorful gems and other extravagant perfume bottles that launch new collections with a spellbounding sensation.

 This brings me to the launch of BLACKBIRD perfume for men. Blackbird has been recognized by Men's Journal Magazine 2013 for being named TOP SCENT and in Sunset Magazine 2013 for BEST OF THE WEST.

 BLACKBIRD perfume created for the men's shop BLACKBIRD in Seattle to honor the "mysterious essence of stylemakers and artists".

 I have a sample and I was immediately transformed into this lush deep but engaging in a lighter version from what its name may implicate.

BLACKBIRD perfume is a scent that many women would enjoy. I wore it and totally forgot that it is made for men.

There is a sweet compelling nature but it is reassured with such rare and exotic aromas that will suit any attire.

I adored the complexity that talked to me with such essences that are not spoken in everyday conversation due to such unique ingredients in a fragrance.

BLACKBIRD will definitely be the center of conversation when asked by those who want to know what consist such an elaborate scent.

Not only will you look good in your attire but if you want to sound even more intelligent tell them it has NW conifers, Puget sound seaweed, black leather, rare oud and cannabis.

 I bet the next time they talk to you, they might just take out paper and pen.

 Remember I spoke about packaging. Well, take some additional notes, BLACKBIRD perfume is offered in various sizes but there are two sizes of 666ml that is SOLD OUT! The 888ml size is going for a whopping $5,000.00! 

 

 I know WOW! So the whole packaging concept apparently works out. It also indicates what kind of customers cater to Christi's quality. Those who spare no expense and who want the best in quality and packaging.

Christi prides herself on creating unique and having one-of-a-kind bottles that will be immortalized in the history of indie perfumery.

Christi is a celebrity in her own right. I am truly glad to know her for many reasons and if anyone knows about indie perfumery, I would feel intimidated if I were a fashion house or a celebrity.

Indie perfumery has such a way of expressing in so many languages to so many people. Intrepretations from those who love to purchase such scents as those of the House of Matriarch always have a story to tell be it the scents, the bottles, the production and having spoken with Christi herself.

It is a win-win situation and no other category can defeat it.

So, for the men's grooming industry. Congratulations! You are into main stream with cutting edge fragrances that are also good to the Earth.

Men, take the plunge...get in the groove and experience the House of Matriarch for yourself and Happy Father's Day.

                              www.matriach.biz.com

Photos: Courtesy of the House of Matriarch









FMH

 

  

Noblesse Luxe Publishing
"Redefining the High Life"


                                               LONDON CELEBRATION
                                                               by: Bond No.9

    Bond No.9, the perfumery in New York that not only famous for wonderful fragrance creations but their dedication to honoring cities and neighborhoods in New York that make up a huge metropolis with a unique scent for each of them.

   The eventful and insightful perfumer and creator of Bond No.9, Laurice Rahme honors and celebrates the diamond anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II with her state side version fragrance but with all the bliss that befits the reigning Queen.

  Bond No.9 proudly introduces LONDON CELEBRATION. This floral fragrance honors Queen Elizabeth II (who simply loves flowers) with a unique creation that has an American flair but it stays true to the Queen's beliefs in what is a fine fragrance.

  The amazingly beautiful and colorful bottle (which Bond No.9 is most famous for creating such original designs) tells a story with an illustration of Buckingham Palace and the royal carriage.

  LONDON CELEBRATION is much admired for the delicate and rich notes of lantana leaves, dry dates, mace, orange rose, tuberose, iris , root sandalwood, musk and amber.

   This royal fragrance can be purchased EXCLUSIVELY at Harrods Department store in London for a LIMITED time by going to www.harrods.com for 290 euros.

  
   Photo: courtesy of Harrods. www.harrods.com




   F.H.

                            The Queen’s Secret Perfume
            The unveiling of BLACK JADE

     
Queen Marie-Antoinette was known for extravagant soirees but I think she would take a back seat if she had known what history tells us about her demise that help start the French Revolution or better yet known as a celebration of freedom each year on July 14th as BASTILLE DAY.


However for us who are steeped in the lure of fragrances from around the world, Marie-Antoinette did leave to the marvels of perfumery a mysterious fragrance that was tucked away for many years and only known as the “Jardin Secret” (Secret Garden).


Jean-Louis Fargeon the loyal and personal perfumer to Marie-Antoinette created a fragrance just for her while the grand Petite Trianon was being created for her.
  
Le Petite Trianon consisted of many gardens and it housed some of her favorite flowers such as the rose and the jasmine. It was a little oasis and retreat that Marie-Antoinette could go to for refuge when her responsibilities as queen got the best of her.


When Marie-Antoinette and her husband, King Louis XVI could no longer hide from the pressures of the citizens of France, they had to flee with what they had on them.
 
According to sources, what was also left behind was the mysterious perfume labeled “Jardin Secret”. Well, it was left behind for years until Fargeon’s young apprentice Pierre Francois Lubin recovered the black jade flask.

Pierre Francois Lubin

 
To make a long story short, this mysterious fragrance is now unveiled to the world and thanks to young Lubin, we can now find out what this “secret” is all about.


The original formula created by Fargeon known as the “Jardin Secret” is now christened as BLACK JADE.


BLACK JADE by the House of Lubin debuted on Bastille Day 2011 but for the sake of Marie-Antoinette, I did not post this review on that day. I wanted to let the Queen of France enjoy her last days with the notion that a fragrance of her most favorite flowers would be created.


BLACK JADE features... galbanum, bergamot, cardamom, rose, jasmine, incense, cinnamon, Indian sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean and amber.

PURCHASE: lubin-parfum.fr     aedes.com






























F.H.

                                     A Winter Blossom in July

                               My Christmas in July Fragrance

  Imagine how beautiful it is to be in the South of France this time of the year. Sipping on a mimosa and watching the rich blue waters waving in the soft and warm breeze on a sunny afternoon.


  Mimosa, is a bright and zesty yellow tree that billows with highly aromatic leaves that blossom in the winter. Yes, the winter! It is especially beautiful I am told in the month of February when all of the south of France is covered with different shades of yellow leaves lying on the ground like a vintage painting.


  “La Fete de Mimosa is widely celebrated in the south of France with several towns and villages joining in the festivities by decorating the houses, shops and buildings with sprigs of mimosa.


  The mimosa is quite a festive bloom for winter because with the holidays approaching it is quite a difference to have yellow blossoms flowing from trees as early as December and continue flowering right until April or May. This is way so many celebrities flock to the south of France because of the difference in experiencing the holidays then the usual and sometimes mundane approach to Christmas.


  I am sure you have heard the phrase, “Christmas in July” but what does it exactly mean. Well for me, wearing a light, bright, sweet and zesty fragrance in the summer is my Christmas gift to me.


  L’Artisan Parfumeur is one of my favorite French  perfumeries and their most beautiful fragrance created to embody holidays on the French Riviera is MIMOSA POUR MOI composed in 1992 by Anne Flipo.


  MIMOSA POUR MOI is a rich and creamy scent composed of the luscious mimosa flower that basks in its yellow brightness that puts the sun to shame. There is a healthy dose of green cucumber like note that gives MIMOSA POUR MOI that true natural beauty.


  I simply love how long this delicate scent stays on my skin when it is the hottest of days. It stays true to its scent and it doesn’t waver when it’s a cooler day.


  MIMOSA POUR MOI reminds me of a beautiful  movie that I have watched many times and it is called, “The Uninvited” made in 1944 starring Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey and introducing, Gail Russell.


  To make a long story short, it is about a composer and his sister who purchase a beautiful gothic cottage along the English coast. This supernatural movie  intensifies with the spirit of two ghosts and one of them will eventually be known as the loving mother of a young girl who is always represented with the scent of mimosa.


  How enchanting it would be in the south of France  sipping a mimosa, watching the movie, “The    Uninvited” and wearing MIMOSA POUR MOI EAU DE TOILETTE. Now, this is my idea of a Christmas gift in July.

  Features: mimosa (flower, leaf and stem), violet leaves and black currant bud.




PURCHASE: lartisanparfumeur.com    luckyscent.com

******************GIVEAWAY******************************
One eau de toilette sample of MIMOSA POUR MOI for the lucky winner who makes a comment in the box. The question is "What place would you like to visit in the summer"?   Good Luck!


*************************************************************************

UPDATE: We have a winner for the DRAW of MIMOSA POUR MOI by L'Artisan Parfumeur and the winner is...BLOODY FRIDA!

Congratulations BLOODY FRIDA!  Thank you so much for your interest in this DRAW.




F.H.

                                         AVENUE MONTAIGNE 
               The Fragrance of the Paris boulevard

   I learned about Brecourt fragrances recently thorough the announcement of the SMELL FESTIVAL 2011 that was held in Bologna, Italy. There was a listing of perfumers who were presenters for this high-end scent event and Emilie Bouge, founder and perfumer of BRECOURT located in Paris was one of them , BRECOURT has a massive worldwide following since its debut in 2010. This sophisticated niche perfumery has its own personality and style that appeals to both men and women.

  Emilie is a graduate of ISIPCA, school of perfumery but this is no surprise because she comes from a family of perfumers. Just before launching BRECOURT, Emilie worked as a perfumer at Charabot in Grasse and produced world acclaim for fragrances such as Cathy Guetta Ibiza for Her (2004), Clarins Par Amour Tonjours (2005), Esteban Orientalissime (2008), Currara Antidote (2009), Salvador Dali Little Kiss Cherry for Her (2009) and Isabel Derroisne Gandali (2009).

  BRECOURT also has a co-founder which is her sister, Marie-Eugenie Bouge who has made this company into a stylish and "fashion house of perfumery" by acting as the Artistic Director.

  I encountered one of the fragrances from this magnetic line of a bold black and white theme coloring with AVENUE MONTAIGNE.


  The actual Avenue Montaigne boulebard in Paris is home to the top French fashion designers such as Dior, Vuitton, Chanel and many more.

  AVENUE MONTAIGNE is a chypre floral/fruity fragrance for women that burst into a magnificent burst of sweet fruit with notes of white floral and it bends its respect to the woody notes. I love the raspberry that pops up over time while wearing it. It gives a juicy waft of energy to help keep stepping high in those Christian Louboutin shoes.


  This fragrance is definitely for the woman who is confident and stylish to the max. If you know what is takes to be the best, then AVENUE MONTAIGNE is your signature scent.


  Top Notes: freesia, raspberry, dewberry, grapefruit

  Middle Notes: rose, jasmine, gardenia, water lily

  Base Notes:  patchouli, peach, musks


 PURCHASE: brecourt.fr          indiescents.com






F.H.
  

                                                          PAN

                          Wild about Nature

  The most talked about fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare is Puck. Puck was the obedient servant of Oberon, King of the Fairies.


  Whatever had to be done, you could always count of Puck to complete the task. There is another version of this story but it comes from a Greek legend. In Greek mythology there is a figure that is not quite considered a fairy but he is considered a God.


  Pan, is the God of Nature and that would include meadows, forests, beasts and even human nature.


  The character of Pan can be quite controversial between Christians and Pagans but nevertheless, there are qualities about Pan that are worth mentioning. First, Pan speaks for the innocent such as the children, he protects all animals and especially women.


  I honestly see Pan has a passionate God, he sees the good in the living and protects it from destruction. Shouldn’t we all be like this?


  I picture in my mind the scene of the forest in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The fairies are always in the forest and this scene of enchantment deals with the fairies who deal with humanistic situations with serene  tall trees, green grass and animals roaming freely.


  Pan is known for taking the forms of different animals. I think of Nick Bottom for example, who was turned in a donkey.


  When I think of nature, I think of green earthy tones that fill the air with a mossy scent buried inside a musky log hidden behind a pine tree that is  bursting with a lemony smell.

                                                     TITANIA

                                   The solo flight to realization 

  Titania, Queen of the fairies married to Oberon, King of the fairies is a very proud creature that is always surrounded by her fairies who sing sweet lullabies while she falls to sleep.


  Titania is a loving person who hasn’t experienced the horrors of life in respect to be dealt with wrongly. She has her fairies there to protect her from the unpleasantness of life such as snakes, spiders and beetles.



  Well, this issue for Oberon was bigger than it seem  so therefore he had to do something about it. The fairies do not have powers over the King, so while Titania was sleeping, Oberon’s servant, Puck used the flower, “love-in-idleness” and placed the drippings of this flower onto Titana’s eyelids for her to wake up and be in love with the first thing she would see.


  Oberon’s bet would be an animal in the forest but while Titania was sleeping, it was one of the most pleasant dreams of her life.




  TITANIA is a compelling fragrance that literally takes you inside the woods while Titania is laying down fast asleep with the scent of roses and violets and chypre scented grass and trees hovering over her like a full bloom Rosewood tree.


  Puck takes center stage again as he uses a flower to help him make the spell a success. He doesn't care  about the results. He just does what he is told for the most part but there are those times he adds his own  version of the story.  This time Puck stayed on course and took the “love-in-idleness” to Titania's eyelids but according to faith, that was not strong enough.
 
  Ankica took the spell on Titania and placed it carefully and completely with the surrounding in the forest so beautifully in a poetic form that keeps Titania's dreams pure and pleasant.


  Titania, the perfume features rosewood, pink pepper, menthe peperita, tuberose, rose damascene absolute, Neroli, Iris, labdanum, violet leaf, orris butter, sandal album, angelica root, ambrette, oak moss and patchouli






  Titania, the perfume takes me through each chapter of Titania’s life with an elegant portrayal of love being tested by an evil-doer.








  INFORMATION: bellatrixperfumes.com


  BLOG: be-bellatrix.blogspot.com

  PHOTO CREDITS:    Rosewood Trees at Morme Seychellois National Park (victorianogden.blogspot.com), Puck sprinkling spell on Titania (art.com), Titania's beautiful world (100prettythings.blogspot.com), Vivian Leigh as Titania (lib.washington.edu), Ttitania and the Indian Boy (by Joseph Paton 1821-1901) delivery.superstock.com

                                                      DREAMS

             The scent that evokes the enchantment

  Dreams, we all have them. Rather it is dreaming about going to an exotic location for a vacation, obtaining a bigger home or dreaming of starting a business venture, we all dream.  


  A Midsummer Night’s Dream-A Scent Event is a sensory celebration that allows natural perfumers to envision or to “dream” of what it would be like to be in an enchanted fairytale located in the woods where fairies are obligated to help the lives of humans who often times make mistakes in decision making.


  These perfumers take those visions in their minds and translate them using the world’s finest fragrance notes into a poetic literary marvel that speaks to our minds, hearts and souls.

Hermia & Helena

  All of the characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare have a dream. For example, Helena’s “dream” or conquest is to have Demetrius fall in love with her and Hermia dreams of being able to marry Lysander and not Demetrius as her father wishes.


  It takes a lot of ingenuity to makes your dreams become a reality and that is why I am obligated without any persuasion to write about my aromatic experiences with the fragrances designed for this artistic scent event.


  Dreams can come in colors as well as scents and the fragrance, DREAMS is an indication that in this case dreams do come true if you follow your "nose".


  DREAMS is a fragrance composed by Yuko Fukami of Parfum Phyto. DREAMS takes us deep inside the walls of our minds and into a place that is deep inside the woods. It is a place of solitude that speaks to our soul with plenty of room for self-evaluation.


  Yuko eloquently simplifies this most difficult task of having our most innermost moment exposed into an enchanting scent that brings the essence of Shakespeare’s play into a thought provoking piece of literature.


  DREAMS is a woody scent that brings a lively spirit to an area in the woods that can be dark, dreary and damp. Its enchanting and magical powers bought many fairies to this area to perform their duties for humankind.


  This woody scent is a bright indication that all dreams are not bad. It creates the attitude that “I can do all things that are possible”. It magnifies the mind with the following.


  Top Notes: coriander, Virginian cedar wood


  Middle Notes: tuberose, violet leaf, cassie


  Base Notes: hay, flouve, ambrette seed and ambergris


  DREAMS, the fragrance is not just for sleeping or the faint of heart, it is also for daydreamers, too.






  INFORMATION: parfumphyto.blogspot.com


                               yuko@parfumphyto.com


PHOTO CREDITS: Green FairyWP by Pygar (escapeintolife.com), A Day in the Forest by Celtic Dreaming (deviantart.com), Helena and Hermia (artexpertswebsite.com), Girl sleeping by saintssilkymoped (photobucket.com)






F.H.