Fragrance Belles-Lettres Magazine

Fragrance Belles-Lettres: The Magazine is an online fragrance magazine established in 2009 dedicated to niche perfumes which includes natural/organic perfumes. This magazine is created to explore vintage and modern with a journalistic approach and an aristocratic flair. This magazine consist of perfume reviews, articles and exclusive interviews conducted with industry leaders, perfumers and authors. Fragrance Belles-Lettres: The Magazine is published through NOBLESSE LUXE PUBLISHING LLC.

NEW PERFUME SCENTED BOOK BY KARL LAGERFELD

Posted by Unknown 22 April, 2011 0 comments

BREAKING NEWS! BREAKING NEWS!

Fashion Designer Extraordinaire, Karl Lagerfeld has partnered with publisher STEIDL to create a perfume inspired book called PAPER PASSION.

This scented book is developed by Master Perfumer, GEZA SCHOEN who will create the fragrance to go in the book to smell like books!

Geza Schoen

Lagerfeld's passion for books( according to reports, he has 300,000 books in his personal library) has pushed him into ownership of a bookstore in Paris called 7L. Lagerfeld is reported to the fact he wishes to work with STEIDL on more ownerships.
If you cannot wait until the book is launched, then I have a few suggestions to calm your literary taste!
There are several book inspired fragrances that you can indulge with the following...

DEMETER'S Paperback, ZAGIG & VOLTAIRE'S Tome, PENHALIGON'S Hammam Bouquet, CB I HATE PERFUME'S CB EXPERIENCE In The Library, AFTELIER PERFUME'S Candide (FIFI AWARD FINALIST)

More information to come on this exciting event!

Also, my love for books at Perfumeries, Passions & Perfumers-NOBLESSE LUXE PUBLISHING VENTURE. COMING SOON!

Founder & Editor in Chief
Felicia M. Hazzard
Fragrance Belles-Lettres: The Magazine

PHOTO CREDIT: Scented Salamander, via Geza Schoen (Facebook) photo taken by Yulia Chekanova

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PROVIDENCE PERFUME COMPANY WITH CHARNA ETHIER

Posted by Unknown 21 April, 2011 0 comments

THE PERFUMER, THE PASSION and a PARENT

An Intimate Chat with Charna Ethier

I received an array of neat samples tucked inside a lime green box. When the box was opened, I was overwhelmed by the scents that came across my nose like rays from a rainbow.

   Articles and reviews have been written about Charna Ethier indicating she is a very talented perfumer, but she is more. Charna is a ‘Rising Star’.

   Charna is the “nose” and founder of PROVIDENCE PERFUME COMPANY in Providence, Rhode Island. This perfumery is one of the finest companies of natural botanical perfumes and NOW body products.

   It is not the size of the box that matters but the contents within it. Those samples were just an example of what Charna creates. Charna creates on a grand scale and her passion for perfumes peeked at a young age but it only intensified when she had an opportunity to work for large corporations like Aveda.

   Now that Charna has her own natural perfumery, she has another task to conquer and that is being a mother of two young children.

   My article is titled, ‘The Perfumer, the Passion and a Parent’ because Charna is handling all three requirements supremely. Yes there have been daunting moments but those moments only enhanced Charna’s rise to stardom.

   THE REVIEW/THE JOURNEY

My samples box consisted of five fragrances from the LUXE collection and one from the CLASSIC collection. The first is Osmanthus Oolong (LUXE) on Monday the fruits and hint of powder are the two items that I noticed immediately. It has an aristocratic quality that reminds me of emperors with the tangy teas and smooth consistency that last for hours.

FRAGRANT NOTES: green, red and black tea, Japanese osmanthus flower, apricot leather, powder

COCOA TUBEROSE (LUXE) on Tuesday I was smothered with the essence of chocolate and covered with buttery concoctions of tuberose that blended into exotic worlds that simply smelled divine. This is a master blend of the world’s finest ingredients.

FRAGRANT NOTES: dark African cocoa, white tuberose, tonka, vetiver, wormwood

MUSK NOUVEAU (LUXE) on Wednesday I went outright bodacious! This unisex fragrance kept me energized with the sweetness of jasmine, the age of patchouli and the richness of coffee. These tantalizing scents kept me entertained all evening as the “social butterfly”.

FRAGRANT NOTES: angelica, aged patchouli, oud, champaca, jasmine, coffee, sherry, black pepper

LEI FLOWER (LUXE) on Thursday I mellowed out after my exotic bliss from Tuesday and Wednesday. I took in the sweet sounds and scents of the faraway. I laid back and thought of tropical scenes and covered in pink sand.

FRAGRANT NOTES: coconut, frangipani flower, citrus

   GINGER LILY (CLASSIC) Happy Friday! This is a journey I will never forget. I close out with a thank you gift of zesty favorites and a dark note of amber that goes on sexy but never shy with ylang ylang standing by for him and her.

   FRAGRANT NOTES: ginger lily, bitter orange, amber, mango, clove, ylang ylang

   Charna’s rise in popularity certainly has not taken a toll on her warm and sincere demeanor and (also being so pretty). I truly have been inspired by her devotion to the craft of natural perfumery and being a loving mother.

We both have a devotion to perfume and being a mother and for this I am grateful for Charna sharing her most private moments with me in being ‘The Perfumer, the Passion and a Parent’.

   THE INTERVIEW

   Thank you Charna for your time. It is an honor to speak with you. Charna, before I ask questions about the perfume collection, I want to know what made you get into natural perfumery?

   I think it's in my blood! Some of my earliest memories are of working in the garden with my Mother, helping her plant seeds and weed. Growing up, my parents could only be described as "hippies." We lived in rural New Hampshire, on a farm (read commune) in a town called Unity. I'm not kidding! My brother and I spent most of our childhood outside. I remember rubbing blackberries on my lips to make "lipstick" and my mother and I used to peel limes and add the peelings to alcohol to make homemade "cologne." We would put our homemade lime cologne in the refrigerator and splash it on the backs of our necks during the summer to cool off. As a child, the most exotic, exciting person I could imagine was the Avon Lady. While I never met this mysterious Avon lady, I devoured the Avon catalogs I found at doctor's offices and imagined what sort of cosmopolitan life the Avon lady must have surrounded by lipsticks and perfume galore. I realized quickly the farm life was not going to be for me . . . I craved glitz and glamour.

   Fast forward thirty years and here I am! I've spent years working in the retail beauty business. One of my first jobs as a teenager was at the perfume counter at Macy's which I found incredibly glamorous at the time. After working for Aveda for a number of years I decided to venture out on my own creating my own line of natural perfumes, and Providence Perfume Co. was born. I never considered not working with naturals.

   So far, how has the journey been for you since starting Providence Perfume Company?

   It's been great! Don't get me wrong, I've hit some serious speedbumps along the way. I'm no mathematician, or scientist and both of these areas are an important part of being a perfumer. I've learned to study, weigh, and notate: things that my creative personality would rather not do.

   Charna, how enriching has it been to work with perfume blogs?

   Working with perfume blogs has been incredible. I often have Sally Field at the Oscars moments when reading reviews, a sort of incredulous feeling of "You like me? You really, really like me!" and of course the opposite can be true as well. As an indie perfumer the exposure I'm given by blog writers is enormous and gratifying. I don't have a big advertising budget and I owe a great deal of the publicity Providence Perfume Co. has received to perfume blogs. I love that many of the fragrance blogs are willing to give the little guy a chance.

   I know you have two children who are the same ages as mine. How do you handle raising small children and operating a successful business?

   Vodka! Just kidding. It's a juggling act. I feel very lucky that I am able to spend time with my children. My studio is in house, so I spend many late night hours blending perfumes after putting the kids to bed. I also have the "golden hours" as I like to call them from about 12:30-2:30 p.m. available to pack and ship orders while the kids are napping.

   Charna, you have received rave reviews about Providence Perfume Company. I want to focus on the Luxe Line for a moment. Why do you refer it as the 'Luxe Line'?

   I created the "Luxe Line" as a way to differentiate between the more classically composed perfumes in the "Classic Collection" and those perfumes that are more complicated compositions, utilizing exotic and often costly botanicals.

   Could you tell me what inspired you to create the luxe line one by one?

I've always loved the scent of tea, so creating Osmanthus Oolong was something I knew I wanted to do from the beginning. Real osmanthus is breathtaking and beautiful, yet so few have gotten to experience it's aroma in a perfume.

Musk Nouveau was created for the Natural Perfumers Guild collaboration project "The Mystery of Musk" and thankfully received a warm reception. I was inspired by the prohibition era when creating Musk Nouveau and the blend of oud, ambrette, jasmine, champaca, and coffee sang together. I loved the boozy sherry top note I was able to achieve using phenyl ethyl acetate (a natural isolate.)

I LOVE tuberose, and my preference is toward the buttery, creamy type tuberose versus the strong white floral aroma of some tuberose. Once I located the perfect buttery tuberose I knew I wanted to create a gourmand type perfume based around this tuberose. I bumped up the tuberose with a small amount of butter CO2 and added liberal amounts of cocoa, wormwood, vetiver and amber. The result was a surprisingly unisex gourmand tuberose scent with a woody sweet pipe tobacco drydown.

Lei Flower is fruity, sweet and tropical based on the frangipani flower. Frangipani is such a pretty floral aroma that smells nothing like those mass produced "Plumeria" scented body sprays. Fruity notes can be difficult to create with naturals, so I bolstered the blend with tinctures of toasted coconut and strawberries I created.

Charna, I have a sample of Ginger Lily from the Classic Collection. This gorgeous fragrance is a unisex. Are natural raw materials more incline to be considered neutral or unisex than non natural perfumes?

Good question and thank you. I think that what occurs that may drive our scent classification is scent memories and marketing. While smelling Youth Dew may remind you of your grandmother, smelling natural aromas like a lily or grass or vetiver may remind you of easter, or mowing the lawn or a trip to Haiti. I've learned to not try to classify my perfumes as feminine or masculine. I created Tabac Citron with men in mind and I would guess that 90% of my sales of Tabac Citron are to women! I find Osmanthus Oolong a sweet, feminine floral but men purchase and wear this, so what do I know? So I guess that's a yes and no reply.

   Lastly, Charna, I believe you added a new product (body oil) to Providence Perfume Company, could you tell me about it?

   A labor of love. I've been working on launching a line of scented bath and body oils for close to a year now. I've finally launched them and I'm very proud. I spent a good deal of time finding the perfect blend of oils that hydrated well but did not leave the skin greasy. Then worked on creating the aroma blends which I describe as deceptively simple. While "Wild Lime Leaf" may smell like kaffir limes, it took some trial and error of blending juniper, Mexican lime, combava petitgrain and violet leaf to get the perfect smelling "lime." I was able to source vintage milk glass bottles to house the body oils which pleased me as they serve a dual purpose: the milk glass protects the essential oils from degrading due to light and heat exposure and they're repurposed and eco friendly.

Thank you so much, Charna it was indeed a pleasure and much success on your endeavors.

Thank you Felicia.

  PURCHASE: providenceperfume.com

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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM PERFUME EVENT

Posted by Unknown 17 April, 2011 1 comments

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
SHAKESPEARE’S NATURAL PERFUME

IT’S NOT A SONNET, IT’S A PERFUME EVENT

“ALL THE PERFUMES OF ARABIA WILL NOT SWEETEN THIS LITTLE HAND.”(Quote taken from MACBETH ACT V, SCENE 1)

This famous quote from the play, Macbeth is true for the extravagant perfume event that will take place for the writers (blogs) and the dramatist (perfumers) who will make it happen.

However, the main theme for this event is ‘A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM PERFUME EVENT-ACT 1- Scene1. It is a scented event based on Shakespeare’s play that was written around the year of 1560.

Amanda Feeley

The fascination with literature and natural perfumery belongs to the creator and host of this event, Amanda Feeley who is a perfumer and owner of Esscentual Alchemy.

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scene 1 portrays events surrounding the marriage of Duke of Athens known as Theseus and the Queen of the Amazons known as Hippoiyta who becomes manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest.

Ms. Feeley’s version of the play features 13 perfumers who will create their individual fragrance to represent some aspect of the play. While the 12 bloggers will critic these fragrances and give individual reviews and post them on their websites.

However, in A Midsummer Night’s Perfume Event, Scene 1 there will be no manipulation of fairies because the requirement for this event is to have “oodles of fun.”

Let’s introduce the cast members of Perfumers for this enchanting event.

Charna Ethier-Providence Perfume Company

Lisa Fong- Artemisia Perfumes

Yuko Fukami- Parfum Phyto

Shelley Waddington- Envoyage Perfumes

JoAnne Bassett- JoAnne Bassett Perfumes

Ambrosia Jones- Perfumes by Nature

Libby Patterson- Libby Patterson Organics

Ane Walsh- Artesa Perfumista

Justine Crane- The Scented Djinn

Lisa Abdul-Quddus- Blossoming Tree

Ayala Moriel- Ayala Moriel Parfums

Ankica Milic- Be-Bellatrix

Amanda Feeley- Esscentual Alchemy

So, Macbeth’s quote is true that the sweeter hands belongs in this case to the natural perfumers who will begin this play (perfume event) with creations that will broaden our minds to the ever pressing need of natural perfumery.

I had the honor of speaking with Amanda Feeley who told me why this event was created and the importance of natural perfumery. Also what is really means for Mandy Aftel and natural perfumery to be included at this year’s FIFI AWARDS for the very first time in its history.

THE INTERVIEW

Hello Amanda and thank you for taking the time out to speak with me!

Hello to you, Felicia, and to all of your readers!

Amanda, how long have you been a natural perfumer?

I have been perfuming only a very short time. I started working in January of 2010, and in July 2010, I “took the plunge” and started selling online. However, I’ve been a creative person my whole life. I’ve dabbled in visual art, written art, and I am a fully trained classical musician. Specifically, I am a Lyric Coloratura. I’m also a mommy :D and that takes a great deal of creativity!

You were originally from Iowa, but now you live on the Fiji islands, why the change?

Iowa is in the middle of a HUGE land mass, as in it takes 3000 miles to get to the East and West coasts from here. The times I have visited the ocean, it really spoke to my soul. I wondered what it must be like to live in a place where you are surrounded by the ocean. How it feels to only be able to go only a short distance before you see the endless water again. I think it must help keep things in perspective. So I say I’m now on Fiji, because I have wanted to retire on a tropical island for many years now, and it’s my way of “reminding” myself where I want to be someday.

Amanda, thank you for the privilege of being a part of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Perfume Event. Why did you create this unique event?

I’m also an astrologer, and pagan. There are certain times of the year that are especially powerful and spiritual due to the energy that is flowing. I thought it would be a good way to celebrate, especially considering the Shakespeare play of the same name. Plus Fairies are always fun, and I like to have fun! Probably because I spend alot of time with children *laughs*.

How important is it to keep the focus on natural perfumery?

I think that Natural Perfumery is growing in an organic way. There are more and more people who want to know what is IN all of the products that they are putting on their bodies. The skin is our largest organ, and absorbs very efficiently. There are no long term studies done, on what absorbing many many chemicals does to your body. Synthetic fragrances use chemicals and petroleum byproducts. Companies are not required by law, to list their components. They only appear on labels as ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’. There are no long term studies done on these compounds regarding the safety and effect of these chemicals on our bodies. Recently I learned that in the 1970’s, a synthetic musk was developed, and heavily used in main stream perfumes, which after a period of time, was discontinued due to photo-toxicity and neuro-toxicity issues, and the lack of breakdown in the environment. Who’s the test subject for safety? Human beings.

Compare this with Essential Oils or Raw Botanicals. Essential oils have numerous emotional and health benefits to offer. They have been used safely for hundreds or thousands of years.

Amanda will 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Perfume Event take place yearly?

Depending on the outcome and the feedback on this event, I am considering putting together a similar event for the Winter Solstice. I’d like to do a yearly event, thought not having to have the same theme each year. I’ll leave it up to my Muses to decide.
Amanda, what does it mean for Mandy Aftel, Master Perfumer and owner of Aftelier Perfumes in California to be a FINALIST for the 2011 FIFI AWARDS?

I think this is outstanding, and I’m so excited for her! If anyone deserves that award it is Mandy. She’s the pioneer of the back to natural perfume. I think of her, and respect her in the same way that I think of, and respect, Ina May Gaskin. Ina May Gaskin, was the pioneer of the back to natural childbirth movement.

What does it all really mean for the fragrance industry in general and especially for natural perfumery?

*laughing* What it means is that we’re no longer considered the “red-headed stepchild,” if you will. Dabblers that are oh so cute, just playing around like the big kids. This is a huge step, towards the recognition of so many people who have been working hard at this artform. I think this will only get bigger as time goes on. The pendulum always swings back from the edges. To me, this movement is similar to the natural/slow food movement in many ways. People are tired of putting things and ingesting things into their bodies, that can cause long term side effects or reduce the quality of life they will have when they get older. There is something to be said for quality over quantity. Perfumes historically were offerings to the gods. They MEANT something special. It wasn’t about “sex and preening.” It was supposed to move you, emotionally. Put you in an aromatheraputic head space, as my friend David Lincoln Brooks says. The old perfumers of the great houses knew that. Somehow over the years that has been lost in the larger houses. Not the perfumers of the larger houses persay, but the people behind it. The ones who want the big bottom line at the end of the year. TO me, natural perfumery is bringing this back.

Tell me about your fragrance company, ESSCENTUAL ALCHEMY? For readers new to your company, what types of fragrances do you create?

What I really want is to make perfumes, that smell good, and also make people FEEL good. Feel loved, cared for, and put them in a wonderful place emotionally. If someone enjoys wearing a perfume as much as I enjoy making it, than I feel that I have succeeded. I have a lady whom has become a friend too, who told me that she had suffered from anxiety for years, and panic attacks. She says that since she has been wearing the samples she has gotten from me, they have reduced. How much better could I ask for? I have improved the quality of someone’s life! That is what this is all about for me! This is important work, and I’m grateful to those people who appreciate and support my work.

I am often inspired by a piece of music, visual art, or written word. Many times, I have an idea. I write the idea down, and then I must WAIT until the Muses speak in my ear, and give me the formulation. I have a leather bound journal that I write these concepts in, and I just never know when the mood will hit, so I keep it close by at all times.

Amanda thank you so much! It has been a pleasure and best of luck with the perfume event.

Felicia, thank you! It’s been a great deal of fun, and I thank you for your time!

CONTACT: esscentualalchemy.wordpress.com
esscentualalchemy.com

PHOTO CREDIT: wikipedia.com, thinkingwithshakespeare.com.org, journal.illuminatedperfume.com,

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COVERAGE OF FIFI AWARDS UK WITH NATHALIE GRAINGER

Posted by Unknown 14 April, 2011 0 comments

Today is the FIFI AWARDS UK!

Fragrance Belles-Lettres: The Magazine is proud to announce that NATHALIE GRAINGER, Head of Sales & Marketing at QUINTESSENTIALLY PUBLISHING (LONDON) and the Perfume Consultant & Expert for the book, QUINTESSENTIALLY PERFUME will give an EXCLUSIVE review of the FIFI AWARDS UK and pictures!

Nathalie states, "400 books of QUINTESSENTIALLY PERFUME will be donated for the Guest Goodie Bags & QUINTESSENTIALLY TV is filming the event in part and interview guests.

Stay tune for this exciting adventure!

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FIFI AWARDS UK

Posted by Unknown 13 April, 2011 0 comments

On Thursday, April 14, 2011 the FIFI AWARDS UK will be held at the Banqueting House, one of London's historic places.
.

I had the ultimate pleasure of speaking to one of the perfumeries that have made it to the FINALS in the BEST NEW INDEPENDENT NICHE FRAGRANCES category that was supported by BASENOTES!

In honor of this occasion, this perfumery (which shall be nameless for now) will be a part of the Fragrance Belles-Lettres: The Magazine GIVEAWAY!
Stay tune for more information to come.

Felicia M. Hazzard
Editor in Chief

PHOTO CREDIT: BASENOTES.NET

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WEDDING BOUQUET by FLORIS

Posted by Unknown 12 April, 2011 0 comments

WEDDING BOUQUET

The ROYAL fragrance that honors a ROYAL wedding

FLORIS, the Purveyors of the finest perfumes and toiletries to the Court of St. James since the year of 1730, has honored the ‘Celebration of Marriage’ of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton with a white floral eau de parfum.

   The house of FLORIS is equipped to handle such as an occasion as this with a delicate fragrance bursting with white symbolic flowers that will ‘seal the crest’ of love for Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

   WEDDING BOUQUET is part of the PRIVATE COLLECTION with a lush mix of eternal love, innocence and happiness to make any marriage complete but in this case we are talking about the Royal Wedding to take place in approximately 18 days!

   Everything has to be in tip-top shape with a long list of royal and celebrity guests, the blend of choirs in the Westminster Abbey and of course, the flowers.

WEDDING BOUQUET is composed by Master and house perfumer, Shelagh Foyle who used traditional flowers with a language of their own and added a ‘special message’ in WEDDING BOUQUET that focuses on the past wedding fragrances from the house of FLORIS that now has a modern twist using a white flower theme that is exclusive for Prince William and Catherine.

Shelagh Foyle, Perfumer

WEDDING BOUQUET is created exclusively to honor the marriage and it is intended to bless Prince William and Catherine with the spoken flowers such as the following.

Jasmine to signify eternal love, Lily of the valley says ‘you have made my life complete’, Orange Blossom signifies innocence and marriage and Stephanotis signifies happiness in marriage. There are other notes that makes WEDDING BOUQUET the fairytale fragrance for the twenty-first century with…

Top Notes: bergamot, lemon, lily of the valley, marine

Heart Notes: jasmine, orange blossom, stephanotis

Base Notes: musk, sandalwood

Did you get your wedding invitation in the mail? No, I didn’t get one either, but at least you get exclusive insight to Royal love with WEDDING BOUQUET, the only exclusive fragrance created for the Royal couple by FLORIS.

PURCHASE: florislondon.com 100 ml

PHOTO CREDIT: florislondon.com, mamapop.com, gossip.whyframe.com, wedwebtalks.com

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L'Eau de Parfum 6 by Ida Delam

Posted by Unknown 07 April, 2011 0 comments

L' Eau Parfum 6

The fragrance that captures the essence of Gabrielle Chanel

IDA DELAM

According to a survey in December 2009 from a poll of women it boldly stated, “Chanel No. 5 rated ‘most seductive scent’ in poll of women”. I recently read a fabulous book, The Secret of CHANEL NO. 5: The Intimate History of the World’s Most Famous Perfume by Tilar J. Mazzeo (2010) exclaims that “Chanel No.5 is one of the few remaining “legacy” perfumes.

So, in other words, Chanel No. 5 is voted the world’s sexiest perfume and is still No. 1 in the hearts of women worldwide.

I am always amazed at how fashion designer, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel came from humble beginnings with a life at an early age experienced the loss of her mother to tuberculosis and shortly afterwards her father abandoned Gabrielle and her brothers. Gabrielle was sent to a convent abbey known as Aubazine.

Young Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

Aubazine for Gabrielle was a blessing in disguise and in The Secret of CHANEL NO. 5: The Intimate History of the World’s Most Famous Perfume, Tilar J. Mazzeo explains that life at Aubazine for the young Gabrielle was of hard work and strict discipline but for Gabrielle “it was focused on clothing. There was nothing luxurious about it, however. Days were spent washing laundry and mending, and it was here that she learned, of course, to sew.”

The key word is “to sew”. Although at that time, Gabrielle did not realize it but that is what made her into the person we know as "Maison de Couture"(House of Couture). It was a way out of nowhere and due to this humble beginning into a lap of luxury as a fashion designer and then it got better with the launch of the world’s best selling perfume, Chanel No. 5.

It wasn’t so much that Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was a success. Yes, this had to do a lot with it but the idea that an extremely poor girl that what looked like no bright future in sight could and did rise to be the most loved fashion designer with the most loved perfume in the world.

Coco Chanel gives hope to the hopeless and what seems small now can become the world’s best loved (you fill in the blank) is what I love most about the story behind Chanel No. 5 and this is also what inspired, Ida Delam. You may not know the name of Ida Delam as you do, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel but her Chanel No. 5 inspired fragrance, L' Eau de Parfum 6 has all the qualifications of Chanel No.5 but in a natural format.

Le Six Spa

Ida Delam is a young pretty brunette (like Gabrielle) based in France and became the owner of Le Six Spa at the turn of the century in 2000. As a child, Ida admire the talents of Coco Chanel and as she got older, Ida realize how important and magical the life of Coco Chanel became so she decided to look into having a perfume created to represent the essence of Chanel No. 5 as a tribute to Coco Chanel.

I see how deeply the soul of Coco Chanel runs through the veins of Ida Delam. Le Six Spa and the perfumery are just down the street from the Chanel flagship store located at 31 Rue Cambon and how L' Eau de Parfum 6 likes its predecessor and model reveals an aldehydic facet.

L' Eau de Parfum 6 is a clean scent. The idea of “clean” was very important with Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel once she met a courtesan, Emilienne d’Alencon in high society of France. Tilar J. Mazzeo mentions in the book that “the smell of something at once clean and sensual that was the combination Coco Chanel admired”.

The sensual aspect of L' Eau de Parfum 6 is the star anise that gives a warm and moving sensation and the lushness of musk to tone down the bitterness of star anise with a nice gesture of vanilla to sweeten the moment. L'Eau de Parfum 6 features…

Top Notes: Almond, Star Anise, Aldehyde

Heart Notes: Myrrh, Iris, Violet

Base Notes: Musk, Vanilla, White Amber

Ida knew exactly what she wanted her fragrance to represent, but she had to find the perfumer that could turn her vision into reality. It was important that a relationship be cultivated so with luck, Ida met a young man named, Fabrice Olivieri.

Ida wanted the essence of the fragrance to be clean, sensual and a wink at Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.

Coco Chanel knew the type of perfume she wanted and it would take a special perfumer to create it. Her quest was met when Ernest Beaux accepted the assignment.

Fabrice Olivieri, a Master Perfumer and owner of Trendslab in France knew exactly what Ida wanted and to give that clean scent that made Chanel No. 5 so successful was due to the aldehyde. Aldehyde and the combination of the of the other fragrance notes is a virtual creation of Chanel No. 5

This fragrance tells the story of the past, puts the essence into the soul of Ida Delam in the present and the success of L' Eau de Parfum 6 has a longevity future like Chanel No. 5.

I love the quote, “Never judge a book by its cover”. This is so true, what may look like it has little to no future, will jump up and grab you by surprise and become the household name of tomorrow. Ida got the message loud and clear and that is why you now know the name of Ida Delam and L' Eau de Parfum 6.

THE INTERVIEW

1) Ida, qu’admirez-vous le plus par rapport a Gabrielle « COCO » Chanel?
    Ida, what is it about Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel that you most admire?

I have always been in love with fashion and beauty like many young girls and therefore (I admire) Coco Chanel because she was forward thinking- avant-garde - and resolutely modern. Initially I discovered the brand: Chanel, then its creator: Coco and finally the woman: Gabrielle.

J’ai toujours adoré la mode et la beauté comme beaucoup de jeunes filles et Coco Chanel parce qu’elle était avant- gardiste et résolument moderne.

J’ai d’abord découvert une marque : Chanel, ensuite la créatrice : Coco et enfin une femme : Gabrielle.

2) Quelles sont les similarités entre l’eau de parfum Chanel N°5 et Le 6 d’Ida Delam ?
    What are the similarities between L' Eau de Parfum 6 and Chanel No. 5?

There is no similarity between the two. I just wanted to pay homage to Coco Chanel by launching my own eau de parfum and to call it Le 6 as a nod, as acknowledgment to her.

Il n y a aucune similitude, j’avais juste envie de rendre un hommage à Coco Chanel en lançant mon eau de parfum et en l’appelant Le 6 comme un clin d’œil.

3) Ida Delam, diriez-vous que l’eau de parfum Le 6 est naturelle ?
     Ida, would you say that L' Eau de Parfum 6 is a natural perfume?

    Oh yes! My friend Fabrice Olivieri, the perfumer who worked on the eau de parfum ‘Le 6’ has created something exceptional.

Oh oui ! Mon ami et parfumeur Fabrice Olivieri qui a travaillé sur L’eau de parfum « Le 6 » a fait un travail exceptionnel.

4) Que dois transmettre l’Eau de parfum Le 6 aux femmes qui le portent ?
     What should L' Eau de Parfum 6 convey to women who wear it?

A new fragrance that makes you feel beautiful and attractive.

Une nouvelle fragrance qui fait que l’on se sent belle et séduisante.

5) Ida Delam, si Gabrielle Chanel était encore en vie, qu’aimeriez qu’elle pense de l’hommage que vous lui faites ?
    Ida, if Coco Chanel were alive today, what would like her to think of L' Eau de Parfum?

To create a brand and to place it on the market requires enormous energy and I am sure that she would have been really touched by what I have done in paying homage to her. Her work is exemplary to me, it stands for the sort of work I aspire to and as I learned about her life, I came to understand that you absolutely need discipline in order to succeed in life. She is a role model and inspiration to me...

Crée une marque et la mettre sur le marché demande une énergie incroyable et je suis certaine qu’elle aurait était très touchée par ma démarche en lui rendant cette hommage, elle est un exemple de travail pour moi et en lisant et en découvrant sa vie, j’ai compris qu’il fallait pour réussir avoir une discipline .Elle est pour moi un modèle et mon inspiration…

Thank you Felicia

Merci Félicia

Ida,

PURCHASE: idadelam.com     75euros
Master Perfumer, Fabrice Olivieri. contact@trendslab.fr

PHOTO CREDITS: thefrenchsampler.com, gloss.com, olemiss.edu, idadelam.com, Ida Delam
(Facebook)

The Secret of CHANEL NO.5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume by Tilar J. Mazzeo
Published by HarperCollins   harpercollins.com
Tilar J. Mazzeo, author    tilar-mazzeo.com

*SPECIAL THANK YOU to Nathalie Grainger of Quintessentially Publishing in London for the language translation. Nathalie I am extremely greatful to you.

********NOTE TO FANS OF IDA DELAM******
Ida Delam has moved from LE SIX SPA and now it is called LE SPA IDA DELAM 6 rue de Bellefond Paris, France.

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Fragrance Belles-Lettres Est 2009 CHICAGO

The word "belles lettres" is a French phrase meaning "beautiful or "fine writing. Since this is a term to describe a category of writing, this will pertain to my passion about fragrances. I will review niche,natural, artisan and designer perfumes from all over the world. I write with passion but will use my journalistic skills that I obtained in college. Not only will I feature fragrances but I will feature new books on fragrances/perfumes, fragrance events and interview authors and perfumers.

I hope you take this journey with me and begin your own passion for the ART OF PERFUMERY!

Fragrance Belles-Lettres Magazine is a division of Noblesse Luxe Publication.

Felicia M. Hazzard
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief