Monday, 18 January 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - JAMES DREYFUS


Still probably best known for his role as Tom Farrell, the outrageous flatmate to Kathy Burke's equally outrageous Linda La Hughes in the BBC comedy series Gimme Gimme Gimme, James Dreyfus trained as a classical actor at RADA before getting swept into comedy. With a string of acting credits to his name, and most recently seen as Elwood P. Down in Harvey at London's Haymarket Theatre, what would he make of "Stephan's Six"?

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Thursday, 14 January 2016

Tuberose Gardenia by Estée Lauder

When Estée Lauder launched Private Collection in 1973 it was intended as a "thank you" to the loyal followers of her company. Created by Vincent Marcello, it was originally reserved for Lauder's personal use before the decision was taken to release it commercially. A Floral Chypre, it proved popular and is still in production forty three years later. Jump forward to 2006 and it was announced that Estée Lauder would be creating a whole Private Collection, with the original as its figure head. At a time when brands were feeling the pull between luxury and commercial would the first release, Tuberose Gardenia, bridge the gap and spearhead a new collection?

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Monday, 11 January 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - LIZ MOORES


Liz Moores founded Papillon Perfumery in 2011, and this self trained perfumer has created quite a stir with a collection of four fragrances which combine strength, lust, femininity, masculinity and euphoria. So, with a mischievous glint in her eye, what would she make of "Stephan's Six"?

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Thursday, 7 January 2016

Guerlain's New Les Parisiennes

Yesterday saw a new addition to Guerlain's “Parisiennes” line called Promenade des Anglais, which is named after the famous walkway that runs the length of Nice. The point of the “Parisiennes” is to showcase fragrances from the company’s past, whether these be limited editions or discontinued classics, but some of the choices have caused a few raised eyebrows. A couple of the original releases were quietly dropped in 2009, although Attrape Cœur did reappear as Harrods Exclusive Royal Extract. So, which Guerlain fragrance is now called Promenade des Anglais? Let's head back to 2008 to find out.

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Monday, 4 January 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - JODIE PRENGER


Jodie Prenger shot to fame as winner of the BBC television show I’d Do Anything, in which the prize was to play the role of Nancy in Oliver at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. That was back in 2009, and since then Jodie has gone on to star in Spamalot, Calamity Jane, Street Of Dreams, alongside many TV and radio appearances. I caught up with her before she started rehearsing for her new musical to ask her “Stephan’s Six”.

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Thursday, 31 December 2015

Guerlain, YSL and Penhaligon's - The Accountant Effect

As we take our first steps into a new year it's customary to look back on the previous twelve months and celebrate successes, whilst saying goodbye to failures. Well, the perfume industry is no different. The list of new releases gets longer every year and so casualties are inevitable. When decisions are made commercially, rather than artistically, love goes out of the window. With accountants entrusted to make the choices, is it true that "when love goes wrong, nothing goes right"?

There has always been a rush to copy successful perfumes or styles, but when a marketplace gets flooded with them then it is inevitable that the original will be the one to survive. The accountant’s spreadsheet will always aim to end in the black, but when commercialism starts to fight against a brand’s heritage, or the public’s expectations, then it can quickly spiral down into the red. Yves Saint Laurent, Guerlain and Penhaligon’s have all fallen foul to this trend during 2015, and whilst there’s light at the end of the tunnel the journey is far from over.

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Monday, 28 December 2015

STEPHAN'S SIX - ODETTE TOILETTE


What is there left to say about Odette Toilette that hasn't been said already? Well, her real name is Lizzie Ostrom and she has the craziest approach to "perfume appreciation" that you could ever hope to experience. Her sold-out "scratch and sniff" events are now legendary, and she is also the author of A Century Of Scents, a stroll through one hundred years of perfume. With herself as the subject for a change, what would she make of "Stephan's Six"?

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Thursday, 24 December 2015

Scented Christmas Memories

When I was a child the scent of Christmas was something that I didn't give a second thought to, I was more concerned with whether I was going to get He-Man's Castle Grayskull. Look, cartoons and action figures were big business in the eighties. As I grew up however I realised that those scents had become part of me, and within them the memories of my childhood were stored. Christmas was a big thing in my house, I even spoke to my brother for one day a year, although it was probably a grunt. My parents gave us everything that we could have wanted, but what are the scents that have stuck in my head twenty years later?

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Monday, 21 December 2015

STEPHAN'S SIX - CAROL DRINKWATER


Forever associated with the character of Helen Alderson, James Herriot's wife in the BBC series All Creatures Great And Small, Carol Drinkwater set pulses racing as the sexy wife of the Yorkshire vet. She left the programme after three series and two Christmas specials, because of other work commitments, and was replaced by Lynda Bellingham. Carol's television and film career is extensive, but a love of writing revealed itself when she bought an old olive farm in France's Le Cannet. Now a successful author of the Olive Farm Series of books, amongst others, what would she make of "Stephan's Six"?

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