With the similarity between music and perfume, it’s no surprise that the former often acts as inspiration for the latter. I’ve talked before about the crossover of “notes” and “chords”, and even the array of ingredient bottles being described as a perfumer’s “organ”, and so it’s always fun to find a new fragrance that takes up the thread. Perfumes have been inspired by specific pieces of music, or particular pop bands, but an operatic season is a slightly different approach. Eight & Bob have taken the world-famous Glyndebourne Festival as their starting point, and the resulting La Musique de Christie hits all of the right notes.
Showing posts with label Mitsouko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mitsouko. Show all posts
Monday, 28 October 2024
Monday, 5 August 2024
EPONA by Papillon Perfumery
Creating a following in the perfume industry is something fragrance companies often spend tens of thousands of pounds trying to achieve. Indeed, the actual perfume can often become secondary to the marketing machine that surrounds it. With so many fragrances and ever-emerging brands to choose from every year, you can understand how important a loyal fan base can be. Most niche companies don’t have the finances to pump into adverts and PR - their product has to speak for itself. The perfect example of this is Papillon Perfumery, and their latest Epona perfume once again proves that they are a true thoroughbred.
Monday, 15 May 2023
STEPHAN'S SIX - ALEXANDRE HELWANI
The world of perfumery is one that can draw an individual in many different directions, and that is certainly true of Alexandre Helwani. He's the founder and lead writer for The Perfume Chronicles, perfumer in his own right, and also the insightful brand ambassador for Histoires de Parfums. However, I thought it was time to dig a little deeper and discover his scented secrets during “Stephan’s Six”.
Labels:
Alexandre Helwani,
Amber 114,
Chanel,
Coco Mademoiselle,
Dior,
Dune,
Egoïste,
Encens Roi,
Endymion,
Guerlain,
Histoires de Parfums,
Histories de Parfums,
Jovoy,
Mitsouko,
No.5,
Penhaligons,
This Is Not A Blue Bottle
Monday, 15 March 2021
STEPHAN'S SIX - ISAAC MIZRAHI
How do you begin to describe Isaac Mizrahi? He’s a designer, an actor, a TV host, a writer, and a producer... and he is also unbelievably funny. Born in Brooklyn, he was torn between fashion and theatre, so decided to do both. He received early backing from Chanel, had a client list that included Naomi Campbell and Liza Minnelli, and also does the perfect imitation of Barbra Streisand. Isaac eventually released his autobiography, I.M. A Memoir, in 2019 but I wondered what extra scented secrets we’d discover during “Stephan’s Six”.
Labels:
Annick Goutal,
Chanel,
Cuir de Russie,
Diaghilev,
Eau d'Hadrien,
Elsa Peretti,
Fracas,
Guerlain,
Halston,
Hammam Bouquet,
Isaac Mizrahi,
Mitsouko,
Penhaligons,
Perry Ellis,
Piguet,
Stephan's Six,
Z-14
Monday, 13 January 2020
LAMPLIGHT PENANCE by Chatillon Lux
The storytelling that is attached to the perfume industry goes hand in hand with the actual fragrances themselves and can often transform an adequate scent into something more appealing. However, occasionally a fragrance comes along that seems to transcend its own marketing and the combination of ingredients works perfectly without any narrative. Everyone likes a story and so when the inspiration and the perfume perfectly merge then you know that you’re in for a real treat. Chatillon Lux is based in St Louis and their Lamplight Penance fragrance blends the evocative with a wash of beauty to create something exceptional.
Monday, 16 December 2019
UNSCHEDULED WANDER by Elementary
Starting a new perfume company is a venture that can be fraught with delays and disasters but, if you’re lucky, can also prove to be one of the most exciting rides of your life. Everyone offers opinions on bottle styles, graphics, and even launch dates so navigating people’s good intentions can be tricky. Sometimes coming at the whole enterprise from a different angle can reap its own rewards and this is where we find ourselves with the latest addition to the perfume market. Elementary has launched Unscheduled Wander, an olfactory Time Machine that positively revels in the androgynous beauty of the chypre fragrance.
Labels:
Becky Stacey,
Chypre,
Cuir de Russie,
Elementary,
Guerlain,
Independent,
Jacques Guerlain,
Lazy Sage,
Lowbrow Jazz,
Mitsouko,
Niche,
Steve Foulkes,
Unscheduled Wander,
Vintage
Monday, 14 October 2019
STEPHAN'S SIX - OLIVIA BRANSBOURG
Olivia Bransbourg is no stranger to the world of perfume. From Christine Nagel and Benoist Lapouza’s Attache-Moi to a three year stint at Takasago, Olivia’s role as Creative Director has resulted in some truly spellbinding fragrances. Currently enjoying success with her new Sous le Manteau collection, which was created in collaboration with Nathalie Feisthauer, I thought it was about time to discover her own scented secrets during “Stephan’s Six”.
Labels:
Arpege,
Aspects Beauty,
Cacharel,
Fontaine Royale,
Harvey Nichols,
Hermes,
Jardins de Bagatelle,
Jovan Musk,
Lanvin,
Loulou,
Mitsouko,
Nathalie Feisthauer,
Olivia Bransbourg,
Sous le Manteau
Monday, 16 September 2019
STEPHAN'S SIX - ADRIANA CARLUCCI
Labels:
Adriana Carlucci,
Ancienne Ambiance,
Annick Goutal,
Chanel,
Colonia Nine,
Colonia Seven,
Courreges Empreinte,
Cristalle,
Grand Amour,
Guerlain,
Jacques Polge,
Mitsouko,
No.19,
Shalimar,
Stephan's Six
Thursday, 23 May 2019
CHIENOIR by Amanda Beadle
Chypre fragrances have made a huge comeback in the past few years, although some would say that they never really went away. Many companies merely started to refer to them more as “woody” scents, because it was easier than explaining the term “chypre,” but they also started to pull back on the mossy quality of the perfumes. This forest-floor earthiness was what truly defined this style and so it is wonderful to see it alive and well in Amanda Beadle’s award winning fragrance, Chienoir. This self-taught perfumer has stripped back the chypre and revealed the glorious layers that have been hidden for too long.
Monday, 13 August 2018
STEPHAN'S SIX - TANIA SANCHEZ
One half of the formidable duo behind Perfumes: The Guide 2018, Tania Sanchez is a writer and editor now based in Greece. After growing up in California East Bay, Tania moved to London to co-author the first perfume book, Perfumes: The A-Z Guide, with Luca Turin. Now married to the “Emperor of Scent”, and with a style that is arrow-head sharp, I wondered what we would find out about Tania’s own perfume memories during “Stephan’s Six?”
Labels:
Cartier,
Guerlain,
L'Heure Bleue,
Luca Turin,
Mathilde Laurent,
Mitsouko,
Old Spice,
Paris,
Perfumes: The A-Z Guide,
Perfumes: The Guide 2018,
Shalimar,
Stephan's Six,
Sung,
Tania Sanchez,
XI L’Heure Perdue,
YSL
Monday, 26 February 2018
STEPHAN'S SIX - PIA LONG
Originally from Finland, Pia started her UK adventure working for Elizabeth Arden before training in perfumery. An eye for detail and a nose for success saw her move to Lush Cosmetics where she created HQ/29 High Street, “the smell of a lush shop in a bottle”. After moves to Equinox Aromas and Orchadia, Pia launched Olfiction in July 2016, which is described as “the hub for all things fragrance”. With a rich background in fragrance, what would she reveal about her own scented memories during “Stephan’s Six”?
Labels:
Aedes de Venustas,
Annick Goutal,
Chanel,
Chaos,
Copal Azur,
Donna Karan,
Guerlain,
Mandragore,
Mitsouko,
No.5,
Olfiction,
Ormonde Jayne,
Pia Long,
Ralph Lauren,
Rive Gauche,
Safari,
Shalimar,
Stephan's Six,
Y,
YSL
Thursday, 12 October 2017
GUERLAIN'S RUSSIA
Guerlain has always enjoyed an unparalleled affection amongst perfume fans and part of this is the continuing transparency that they are displaying in their current releases, and also in the rewriting of parts of its history. Over time a "good story" can cover up the true facts and it is refreshing to see these being peeled away piece by piece. As part of this openness, Guerlain allowed Thierry Wasser and Frédéric Sacone’s vintage recreations to be made available to smell at the Champs Elysees boutique and this means that we can travel to Russia, via France, and discover Impérial Russe and Cuir de Russie.
Monday, 8 May 2017
STEPHAN'S SIX - TESSA WILLIAMS
Labels:
Aveda,
Azzi Glasser,
Bella Freud,
Caleche,
CK One,
Cult Perfumes,
Guerlain,
Hermes,
Je T’Aime Jane,
Joseph de Jour,
Love,
Mitsouko,
Paris,
Rive Gauche,
Shiseido,
Stephan's Six,
Tessa Williams,
YSL,
Zen
Monday, 28 November 2016
STEPHAN'S SIX - VICTORIA FROLOVA (BOIS DE JASMIN)
Meticulous attention to detail is the quality that has set Victoria Frolova, aka Bois de Jasmin, apart from most other perfume writers. An encyclopedic knowledge and a wonderful way of making even the most stuffy subject feel exciting is why her website has become a regular stop for any perfume enthusiast. After writing about everyone else’s perfume, what would be the ones that resonate with her? I asked her “Stephan’s Six” in the hope that we would find out a little bit more about Victoria Frolova.
Thursday, 17 November 2016
GUERLAIN'S TOP FIVE by Stephan Matthews and Monsieur Guerlain
It's difficult to imagine having to choose your top five Guerlain fragrances, but that's exactly what Monsieur Guerlain and I were asked to do. We were set the challenge of deciding our favourites from those that are still in production, and hopefully it will inspire you to add one, or possibly two, onto your Christmas list. Fragrances mean different things to different people and, whilst our choices have some similarities, there are some interesting differences. Monsieur Guerlain's five are firmly rooted in the company's classic period, but one of my choices will definitely cause a few raised eyebrows. So, get a stiff drink and let's begin the Guerlain Boys' Top Five.
Monday, 24 October 2016
STEPHAN'S SIX - JO FAIRLEY
Labels:
Bois de Paradis,
Femme,
Flores,
Guerlain,
Jo Fairley,
Lorna McKay,
Lynx,
Mitsouko,
Opium,
Oud Wood & Dark Vanilla,
Parfums Delrae,
Perfume Society,
Rochas,
Rose Geranium,
Stephan's Six,
Tobacco & Amber,
YSL
Monday, 26 September 2016
STEPHAN'S SIX - JOHN STEPHEN
When the Cotswold Perfumery opened in 1965 few could have thought that it would reach last years' milestone of forty years. Based in the English village of Bourton on the Water its perfumer is John Stephen. He creates fragrances for his own company but also for much larger organisations, although which ones is a closely guarded secret. So, I thought it was about time John came out of the shadows, and the laboratory, to answer "Stephan's Six".
Monday, 18 July 2016
RUTH MASTENBROEK - The Lost Interview
When Ruth Mastenbroek took part in “Stephan’s Six” back in April 2016 her wonderful answers were unfortunately too long to use in their complete form, so I had to edit them down. However, when I was looking through some old files last week I came across her original interview and realised that what had been removed actually provided a great insight into her creative inspirations. Since launching her own brand, Ruth Mastenbroek has released three fragrances, Signature, Amorosa and Oxford. So, with Ruth’s kind permission, let’s finally read the answers that escaped last time … we'll call it the “lost interview”.
Monday, 20 June 2016
STEPHAN'S SIX - LUCA TURIN
The subject of Chandler Burr's The Emperor of Scent, Luca Turin is a biophysicist with a love of all things olfactive. He started his famous perfume column for NZZ Folio in 2003 and was immediately respected for his honesty. With words that can cut you down to size, but still winking at the same time, he is a popular speaker and writer. When someone has spent thirteen years discussing perfume, I wondered what more we would learn during the Emperor's "Stephan's Six"?
Monday, 18 April 2016
STEPHAN'S SIX - ELIZABETH CHADWICK
Elizabeth Chadwick is a bestselling historical novelist of more than twenty books, with a particular interest in the Medieval period. Her novel The Greatest Knight, about the legendary William Marshal, was a New York Times bestseller in 2012. She says she "collects perfumes for the sheer joy and curiosity of the experience", so what treasures would she unearth during "Stephan's Six"?
Labels:
Apple Blossom,
Blasé,
Bubblegum,
Cabochard,
Carven,
Coty,
Demeter,
Elizabeth Chadwick,
Funeral Home,
Gres,
Guerlain,
Helena Rubenstein,
L'Aimant,
Ma Griffe,
Max Factor,
Mitsouko
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