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.

Showing posts with label SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 PERFUME PHARMER and the PATCH TEST BUNNIES. Show all posts

WILD CHILD#13-THIS SUMMER SCREAMS A WINNER

Posted by Unknown 14 August, 2011 0 comments

WILD CHILD #13

A Summer SCENTSATIONAL Winner

I must say in the World of Perfumery, this summer for me has been one of the most interesting and emotionally entertaining aspects of my summer experience. I took part as one of the “patch testers” with Monica Miller’s eclectic and unique scent event, SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 PERFUME PHARMER & THE PATCH TEST BUNNIES soiree dedicated to the Patchouli fragrance note.

I eagerly tested 13 patchouli sample creations by various natural perfumers and I was instructed to indicate my 3 most favorites. This was a very hard task for me, as I loved many of them but I did what I was told and my most favorite is #13.

Grant it at the time, the bottles were just numbered not named. So, like all of the patch testers, we had no idea who created them. This is why I call this scent event “unique”. You had to concentrate on the notes, not the person who created it. So much of the time I notice in this industry that we are caught up in “who” created the fragrance and not the character of the scent and the inspiration that prompt its arrival. Finally when the unveiling occurred and I found out that my first pick was created by Kedra Hart of OPUS OILS, I wasn’t surprised because it’s the unique character that she leaves behind every perfume creation and for that reason, WILD CHILD #13 was the overall favorite among voters in SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011.

The criteria for the natural perfumers were to create a patchouli fragrance with the theme of the 60’s/70's era Peace, Love and in this case, Patchouli.

Reports indicate that during the famous “hippie” era in the US and in the UK, Patchouli was the most favored scent, especially in the form of incense.

What struck me about WILD CHILD#13 is the smoothness of the scent yet there is an edginess that represents the artistic and charisma of the musical geniuses of that time such as The Doors’ Jim Morrison and the world’s best guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. Jim and Jimi were masters at engaging the audience into their world of musical embellishment that has become an icon in the music industry.

WILD CHILD#13 screams with celebration and liberation of a time when going against the establishment was within your rights and being yourself and expressing yourself in peace, love and happiness was the way of life.

Kedra left a trail of “character and inspiration that “spoke to mind, heart and soul of us who were so fortunate to be a part of this scent event and the first to smell it before it was known as WILD CHILD#13.

Obamas at Martha's Vineyard

Now that summer is coming to a close for SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 in Martha’s Vineyard, a good time was had by all and we will always remember this beach party and WILD CHILD#13 that made it happen for us just like it was done over 40 years ago for them. Goodbye!

WILD CHILD#13, “The Primal Scream in a Bottle” features…

TOP NOTES: saffron, cabreuva, blood cedar wood, peach tree leaf, Clementine, yellow mandarin and wild orange

MIDDLE NOTES: honey, milk accord, black currant bud, tuberose and peach accord

BASE NOTES: aged dark patchouli, sandalwood, ambergris, dark amber, vetiver and vanilla

NOTE: WILD CHILD#13 is available in both Alcohol & Fractioned Coconut Oil, but please make that request.

PURCHASE: opusoils.com

To read more about SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 PERFUME PHARMER & THE PATCH TEST BUNNIES go to perfumepharmer.com/organic-perfume-skincare-remedies

Photo Credits: photo of Perfume Pharmer design banner is designed by Katlyn Breene(mermadearts.com) and Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 banner is designed by Elizabeth Whelan (elizabethwehelanillustrator.com)

F.H.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Kedra Hart of OPUS OILS

Posted by Unknown 06 July, 2011 0 comments

EXCLUSIVE interview with Kedra Hart
The genius behind OPUS OILS perfumes

Kedra Hart, perfumer and owner of OPUS OILS JITTERBUG PERFUME PARLOUR in Hollywood, California is a perfumer with a unique style but with a simple approach to perfumery that has made her a household name around the globe.

The OPUS OILS collection include an eclectic of fragrances and themes to suit everyone such as The Absinthe Collection, The Afraid of the Dark Collection, Burlesque Collection, Dirty Sexy Wilde, The Divine Collection, The Fetish Collection, Island Girl Collection, Jitterbug, Les Bohemes, Roller Girl and introducing as of July 2011, Wild Child#13 Collection.

My discussion with Ms. Hart is about THE DIVINE COLLECTION. This is due to its historical and mythical aromas around deities that surround beliefs from around the world and for the summer Scent Event, SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 where the main theme is peace-love and “patchouli “scent.

THE INTERVIEW

Kedra, I think THE DIVINE COLLECTION is just wonderful and it is 100% ALL NATURAL. Why is it important to have THE DIVINE COLLECTION an all natural perfume?

It felt like the best choice for the subject matter... With this Perfume Collection I wanted to tap into the concept of "Magical Perfumery," the practice of using the energy in Aromatic essences for the purpose of stimulating and affecting one's conscious states. While Aroma Chemicals may be pleasing to our noses, there is no power in them whatsoever, "energetically" speaking. Natural Aromatics have often been referred to as the "SOUL" of the plant, and these concentrated essences are capable of having a considerable effect on our physical and mental bodies.

Kedra, what is it that you like best about THE DIVINE COLLECTION?

While I was working on this collection I used lots of rare and unusual essences to create the scents. Several of them were a bit challenging (Seaweed Absolute, Choya Nakh) and so it was especially rewarding to be able to find a harmonious balance within these blends.

ISIS perfume is a representation of the GODDESS ISIS. How did you determine what notes to use to describe "mystical enchanting blend"?

For each perfume in the Divine Collection I incorporated notes that were somehow linked to the Deity that was the theme of the scent... The Blue Lotus flower is considered sacred to Isis, and Frankincense & Myrrh are two of the most ancient aromatics in existence, and they were used heavily in Egypt for Religious & ceremonial practices to produce a heightened awareness of the spiritual realms.

Kedra for PAN perfume, how did you come up with the name for it?

The Goat God Pan has long been one of my all time favorite God archetypes... What's not to love about a musky, earthy Goat-Man/God who "rocks" his Nymphs with his pipes, whilst celebrating nature by "stinking up" the place?... Of course his association with the world of fragrance was cemented in Tom Robbins' "Jitterbug Perfume," a treasure of a novel that blew my mind wide open when I was a youth, and continues to blow my mind every time I visit it again... I always felt especially kindred to this book as “KUDRA” is only one letter off from my name, after all...

PAN has a note of PATCHOULI and I know the 'Summer of Love PATCHOULI 2011' Scent Event created by Perfume Pharmer's Monica Miller favors PAN perfume. Kedra, what does it mean to be apart of this unique event dedicated to PATCHOULI?

Participating in Monica's Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 Event has been an absolute blast!!!... I am really enjoying the community spirit that it is inspiring, and not to mention some very DEEP experiences, as far as Scent Memories and all the deep dark secrets that Patchouli has unearthed for me personally...

Kedra, I love the notes you chose in Venus! It is an array of rich notes with highlights of floral. Kedra, what did you want to capture in this fragrance that gives a unique and edgy scent?

What I wanted to capture in this scent was the "Birth from the Sea," aspect of the Venus Mythology... This led me to include several unusual Natural Marine-type notes such as Seaweed Absolute, Choya Nakh (burned crushed Seashells), and Beach Found Ambergris. I chose to create a heart of floral notes with a chorus line of Rose, Jasmine, & Ylang Ylang (the notes most traditionally associated with Venus), in support of the "Leading Lady" Pink Lotus, an aquatic perennial.

I have noticed more and more creations of "green" fragrances on the market. Eros has the right balance of notes with a citrus flavor. How important is it to have a "green" fragrance in a perfume collection?

Thank you for the compliment! I am so very pleased to hear this :~)...

Yes, I definitely know what you mean about the "GREEN" Trend... And it is most definitely one of “THE” most important Categories of Fragrance to have in a Perfume Collection at the moment. I first noticed this trend stirring last February 2010, when
I was working with The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on a Valentines Day Custom Blend Perfume
Event. It was sort of a phenomenon actually - every single client that I worked with (from the Tourists, to the Producer & His Wife) requested a "Green Scent." Some of them wanted a "Gourmand Green," some wanted an 'Earthy Green," and some wanted "A Green Green," but it was across the board "GREEN" with a capitol G, literally EVERY time!

There was a really special moment at Twilight on Valentine's Day/Eve (I was totally saturated, covered in GREEN Bases with Orange Blossom Hearts, at this point) when the husband of one of my "Couples" was out on the wrap-a-round balcony (on the 16th Floor) and he called to his wife and I to…, "Come out her right now!" because there was a "Hummingbird going crazy!!!"... When we went out to join him, the Hummingbird flew up to me at eye level moving in to my Personal Space and started "buzzing" around me, circling like a Dervish as he proceeded to "Check Me Out," at close range... Let’s just say, it was clearly very erotic on His part, and I'm quite certain that he was responding to my green scent... So, I would have to say that even as far as "Nature" is concerned, “GREEN” is very alive as a premiere choice on our Aromatic Palates right now.

Thank you Kedra so much. I truly appreciate getting to know more about THE DIVINE COLLECTION.

Thank You, Felicia! I really enjoyed your very thoughtful and interesting questions!

F.H.

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OPUS OILS: DIVINE COLLECTION

Posted by Unknown 1 comments

OPUS OILS

Divine Collection… with a hint of Summer of

Patchouli Love starring Kedra Hart

Kedra Hart is no stranger to success. Ms. Hart is a perfumer and owner of OPUS OILS Jitterbug Perfume Parlor, a Perfume Atelier located among the stars in the sky and the ones in Hollywood, California.

Ms. Hart not only owns an Atelier but she offers an incredible array of products and services such as perfumes, skincare, perfumed teas, Bespoke service, Private Label service and a perfume school. Not only does Ms. Hart teach perfumery in California but also at OPUS OILS in Paris, France. Did I say that Ms. Hart is no stranger to success?

I had the honor of sampling two collections but I will talk about only one for this review, not that I am saving the best for last. There is no one best because both are equally engaging and spiritually uplifting with so much attention to detail, it is truly unbelievable!

My focus is on the Divine Collection that features four scents that are 100% All Natural. It’s composed using the world’s finest ingredients that are blended to perfection and leaves room for the imagination among your wildest dreams.

ISIS- An Egyptian goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs is the symbol of fertility and motherhood is blended with a note known to Ancient Egypt such as the Blue Lotus that grows along the Nile. This exotic scent of a divine deity brilliantly showcases the Blue Lotus. Reports indicates this flower opens in the morning, rising to the surface of water and then close and sink at dusk.

Ms. Hart’s attention and understanding of ISIS being and essence is truly visible in this fragrance that represents the opening of a womb and closing after childbirth.

ISIS is a temple of mystic blends that are smooth and soothing with a heady feature which represents the gem of the ocean.

Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Blue Lotus Absolute, White Water Lily Absolute, Jasmine Absolute

PAN- Is the controversial God that is wild and outlandish but loves and protects nature. This beautiful fragrance reminds me of the forest that led Alice in Wonderland into a blissful fantasy world filled with gigantic mushrooms, overbearing trees and the illusions of Peter Pan’s “Neverland”, but for only just a moment until Alice eats the cake and then…

PAN is also a representation of SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011, a scent event dedicated to the dark and mysterious Patchouli created by Monica Miller who provides a unique 60’s/70’s theme of Peace-Love and "Patchouli".

Fir Balsam Absolute, Patchouli, Oak moss, Vetiver, Mushroom Cepes Absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute and Wild Orange

VENUS- Who was a Roman goddess associated with love, beauty and fertility. This is a true representation of a fragrance that features the Pink Lotus, a flower that grows in aquatic areas like a pond. Its long time history dates back to Ancient Egypt were it grew along the banks of the Niles. The soft and feminine scent billows with an architectual essence and a guide for all women to aspire.

Rose, Pink Lotus, Ylang Ylang, Neroli, Choya Nakah (roasted crushed seashells), seaweed absolute, dark chocolate, beach found ambergris

EROS- The God of sexual love and beauty is worshipped as the fertility deity. EROS has the same meaning but called by different names pertaining to those religions. This unisex fragrance reaches its full capacity and peak of perfection with its citrus aroma and its deep and meaningful darker notes that speaks the only language, religion or belief that we should all care about and that is LOVE.

Amber, Mandarin Orange, Rose, Vetiver

PURCHASE: opusoils.com

PHOTO CREDITS: photos of perfume, storefront and inside of store by opusoils.com, photo of Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 courtesy of Monica Miller perfumepharmer.com/organic-perfume-skincare-remedies

Next review is on WILD CHILD #13 by Opus Oils...The fragrance that "ROCKS" a culture and I will tell you why. Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, George Harrison, psychedelic...

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PATCHOULI: The Dark Scent of Dignity

Posted by Unknown 29 June, 2011 1 comments

PATCHOULI

The Dark Scent of Dignity

I, like most people appreciate the people, culture, language, food, architecture and cultivation of the Far East.

The scent of Patchouli through testimonies, books and documentaries has stated that Patchouli is associated with the Hippies era of the 60’s and 70’s here in the US and in Europe. These testimonies indicate that Patchouli was the signature scent for Hippies but to set the record straight, Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin)-(Benth) has been around for many centuries.

It did not become in existence during the hippie movement but the real heritage of this plant is native to tropical regions of Asia and now is extensively cultivated in China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and West Africa.

The intense and bewitching scent grows well in warm to tropical climates and it thrives in hot weather but not in direct sunlight. So for those who are new to scent events, the recent and new scent event that I am involved takes place in the summer, the theme is a throwback to the Flower Power, Peace-Love days and it has everything to do with Patchouli!

SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 PERFUME PHARMER AND THE PATCH TEST BUNNIES is the scent event created by Monica Miller who recently decanted and sent 13 sample size roller ball vials of Patchouli perfumes created by 13 natural perfumers to be tested by bloggers and celebrities who are called "Patch Test Bunnies".

The object of this is to choose three most favorite scents from the samples and for bloggers like myself, to write why I like it and what I suspect the notes are without being told anything about it.

So, this is what I will do but with one additional scent that I like and respect after sniffing these samples for the third time! I put this in the Honorable Mention category.

#13 This is my most favorite because it is sweet with a gourmand flair. It has a woody decadent with a layer of rosewood, oak moss and vanilla that is so smooth and tranquil. However it is light enough for day wear.

#14 This scent is composed with the most beautiful robust clear brown color. It looks simply gorgeous in the bottle. It has a citrus scent with a lemony note, a hint of lavender and undertone of vetiver.

#1 This scent is deeper than the last two, it has more of a leather scent with Tonka bean, civet and it brightens with orange blossom. It is a smooth scent for both men and women.

#11 (Honorable Mention) I make reference to this scent because it is a wonderful and classic scent with a twist of modern essence of chocolate (cacao) and gardenia. This is more of a evening scent for both men and women.

PURCHASE: Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 Sample Box contains 13 samples (retail value over $100). Go to perfumepharmer.com/organic-perfume-skincare-remedies

PHOTO CREDITS: Patchouli Wall-Paper (scenicreflections.com), photo of hands (magnoliahealthandhome.com), logo and sample perfume box courtesy of Perfume Pharmer (perfumepharmer.com/organic-perfume-skincare-
remedies

F.H.

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SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 (ARTICLE & INTERVIEW)

Posted by Unknown 18 June, 2011 1 comments

SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE

A Scentsational Celebration of the Senses

I know the best summer party and you don’t even have to come dressed in costume, well only if you want to do so. It’s happening at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, you the place where movies have been made such as “Jaws” and the “Inkwell” just to name a few and home to vacationing Presidents of the US such as Clinton and Obama.

This summer 2011 is a whole new kind of gathering of perfumers, bloggers and celebrities at Martha's Vineyard and it has everything to do with the scent of Patchouli.

SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 PERFUME PHARMER AND THE PATCH TEST BUNNIES is receiving a lot buzz from newspapers, online and hard copy magazines on this summer long event.

SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 is a sensory of senses relating to everything that is made with Patchouli and with the help of some of the fragrance industries most noted individuals, this summer event was made possible.

Monica Miller

Monica Miller, owner of Skye Botanicals, a natural products company and brainchild of SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2O11 created this unique scent event based on her devotion and passion for natural perfumery. It relates to her popular online perfume blog, PERFUME PHARMER where she writes about natural perfumes and perfumers from around the world.

SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 consist of 13 perfumers, 13 Patchouli perfumes and fragrance bloggers. The fragrance bloggers will evaluate and write about their most favorite three scents. these bloggers will be known as "Patch Test Bunnies".

The 13 perfumers were instructed to send their creations to only Monica who decanted them herself and put them in 1ml roller ball pilot vials and each of these 13 Patchouli scents were numbered individually for clarity.

This 'Scentsational Celebration' is attended by world renowned figures from the music industry, television industry, authors, fashion industry and a host of other businesses and entrepreneurs who are considered "Celebrity Patch Test Bunnies". Although, no one is physically at Martha's Vineyard (except perhaps/ for the celebrities/Celebrity Patch Test Bunnies who live or visit the island). It is home to Monica and Skye Botanicals.

Mary J. Blige

Jodie Foster

The celebrities included are Patti Austin (Grammy Award winning Vocalist), Mary J. Blige (Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter), Jodie Foster (Academy Award winning Actress), Kim Novak (Legendary and Golden Globe winning actress), Simone (Broadway and Jazz singer/daughter of Nina Simone), and Starhawk (Author, Educator, Earth Activist, and Witch. These are just a few of the celebrities participating in SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011.

What is it about Patchouli that fascinates Monica Miller? Why the 60’s Flower Power and hippie theme? Most of all the fun is not over yet, because beginning in August these Patchouli perfumes will be available for purchase!

I was honored with an EXCLUSIVE interview with Monica Miller to find the answers to my questions and bring the enlightment of natural Patchouli, harmony, peace and natural fragrance lovers from around the world to share in SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011.

You are cordially invited.

THE INTERVIEW

Hi Monica and thank you for sharing your time with me!

What a unique scent event, "Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 Perfume Pharmer and the the Patch Test Bunnies". Monica, tell me why you chose the scent of Patchouli?

Actually it was Libby Patterson’s idea. Libby of Libby Patterson Organics is an amazing visionary who comes up with the most fabulous ideas around what she calls “Quantum Alchemy” and perfume design. From my limited understanding of “Quantum Alchemy” I intuitively feel it is about our evolution as a species, our human consciousness evolving together as a group, towards living in peace and harmony. Patchouli symbolizes what was started in the 60’s and 70’s when many of our parents protested war, went “back to the land” to grow their own food and explored ideas unexplored by their parents. We are the next generation from the 60’s, we are “older and wiser” and are exploring those same values but perhaps with a clearer head.

The theme is a throwback to flower power, love, AND PEACE. Does this have a deep meaning for you?

It does, thank you for asking! My parents were part of the Peace and Love movement. They were members of a group called the Catholic Worker who are committed to “nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and forsaken.” Catholic Workers continue to protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms.

On May 1, 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression, The Catholic Worker newspaper made its debut with a first issue of twenty-five hundred copies. Dorothy Day and a few others hawked the paper in Union Square for a penny a copy (still the price) to passersby.
http://catholicworker.org/

My Father burned his Draft Card in public to protest the Vietnam War and was sentenced to two years in federal prison. As a newborn I was baptized in Penn State Prison by Father Daniel Berrigan while Joan Baez sang unaccompanied.

As an aside I will say that my father David Miller has a beautiful singing voice and would entertain the inmates with classics such as Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire and Woodie Guthrie songs. My favorite lullaby was Hobo’s Lullaby.

My parents are no longer Catholics but both still strongly believe in Peace and Love. My father David Miller is the author of a wide ranging memoir of draft resistance and how that connects to Witchcraft, Mayan ballgames, and sports as masculine religion: I Didn’t Know God Made Honky Tonk Communists (Regent Press) by David Miller can be ordered directly from the independent store 100Fires.com. David's website is at www.honkytonkwitch.com

David is currently writing a new book.

I strongly believe in the power of LOVE, social activism and earth activism to change the world for the better. Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 is designed to bring light to all of these values as well as celebrating professional natural perfumery.

What does it mean to have a scent event with natural perfumers and bloggers? All of them focusing on one common good and that is perfumery.

Natural everything is just something I have grown up with. It comes to me naturally *smile*. I simply adore flowers and natural scents of all kinds. I also like mixed media natural/synthetic perfumes but lean heavily toward the natural in my preferences. I am also an herbalist and rather obsessed with health, that of the earth as well as our bodies.

Monica, where did the idea of Patch Test Bunnies?

Hmmm, do I remember? I think it was a comical idea I came up with to bring a little light to the issue of the cruelty of animal testing. Products that employ GRAS ingredients (generally recognized as safe) because they have been used safely for hundreds of years do not need to be tested on animals to be proven safe. The joke is that the smell testers of the perfumes for this project are the Patch Test Bunnies and they are humans. Please forgive me if someone else came up with this idea and let me know who you are! During co-creative projects it is sometimes hard to remember who came up with which idea and to give proper credit. That’s what happens when a project takes on a life of it’s own as has happened in this case. Another fun idea is the greeting PLAP! Meaning PEACE-LOVE-AND-PATCHOULI. One can give oneself a PLAP on the back for good works! Or give someone else a PLAP!

I noticed that you have a guest list of celebrity Patch Test Bunnies, such as Simone, daughter of Nina Simone, Patti Austin and others. Monica, are these celebrities really going to be a part of scent event or is this just for publicity?

It’s for real  Simone’s Box Set of Patchouli perfumes are shipping to her today, as are Patti Austin’s, Jodie Foster’s and others. 100% natural perfumes are a different animal from mixed media synthetic/natural perfume or mainstream perfumes so I am waiting and hoping for good responses. I know Simone is used to natural perfumes because she has used many of my natural products and perfumes and loves a natural perfume I used to make for her mother Nina Simone. The celebrity Patch Test Bunnies represent the “average customer” as if a regular person walks into a natural perfume shop while on vacation. They decide they are going to buy three perfumes and so choose their top three from the patchouli blend perfumes presented to them. If you imagine a regular person (non NOSE or Perfumista) sniffing perfumes in a store many perfumes do not make it past the first sniff from the bottle. They are dismissed right away for various reasons. If a perfume makes it past the first sniff the customer might spray or dab it on a scent strip or on their skin. Then the next dismissals or acceptances happen. From there they choose their top three favorites. It is a low tech event. A simple “which 3 would you buy if you had to buy three” decision.

The NOSES on the other hand, the bloggers… are much more trained and will offer comments about the perfumes on their blogs or on Perfume Pharmer if they do not currently write a blog. They will pick their top 3 favorites also but will go into detail as to what drew them to choose those particular perfumes. They may choose to comment on every perfume. I hope every perfume is reviewed and given a chance to shine. They are indeed a noteworthy set of perfumes. I had an artist test them on Martha’s Vineyard a few days ago and she immediately understood the couture nature of the perfumes. They are very special, like clothing made from the best silks, satins and linens with embroidery and gold threads and real jewels. I was very pleased that my artist friend “got it”. There are some amazing people living on Martha’s Vineyard. I will have a group of select Islanders test the perfumes so part of the project can be an “Islander’s Choice Award”.

Monica, I think Martha’s Vineyard is the perfect back drop for this event. What makes Martha’s Vineyard so special to you?

It is my home  I have lived here for 16 years. My children grew up here and consider themselves Islanders as well as Montreal Canadians. Martha’s Vineyard is an incredible natural location where we attract many visitors each year and a vibrant summer community of residents and tourists. Martha’s Vineyard is such a well loved place and a haven for many city folk. The beaches are spectacular and our locally grown farming community is growing yearly. We have the best ice-cream 

Lastly, Monica will there be another scent event in the near future similar to Summer of Patchouli Love 2011?

Yes of course. The next co-created event will be cooked up with the Perfume Pharmer team Justine Crane and yourself as well as Amanda Feeley, Natural Perfumer of Esscentual Alchemy who is a bastion of good ideas.

Monica, it has been an honor and I look forward to being a part of this event!

I look forward greatly to your feedback Felicia, your box set of patchouli perfumes are shipping today! Thank you for drawing me in to express my thoughts!

INFORMATION: perfumepharmer.com/organic-perfume-skincare-remedies

skyebotanicals.com

PHOTO CREDITS: flowerpower2 (visualbliss.co.uk) Au Natural (l.bp.blogspot.com)

F.H.

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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