Francis Kurkdjian – Aqua Vitae
Inspired during a trip to the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain, perfumer Francis Kurkdjian’s latest creation is not a postcard fragrance; it is a fragrance that is inspired by a moment, a...
View ArticleBottega Veneta – Pour Homme
The Venetian leather atelier Bottega Veneta is a jewel in the crown of Kering, one of the world’s most successful luxury and lifestyle groups. Alongside other luxury brands in Kering’s portfolio,...
View ArticleHermes – Eau de Mandarine Ambree
In 2013 Hermes have added two new fragrances to its Cologne Collection, Eau de Mandarine Ambree and Eau de Narcisse Bleu. The French luxury house began exploring the theme with Eau d’Orange Verte in...
View ArticleL’Artisan Parfumeur – Skin on Skin
In my previous post I wrote of Bertrand Duchaufour’s saffron and rose pairing for Penhaligon’s Vaara. For L’Artisan Parfumeur, the master perfumer works with rose and saffron in an entirely different...
View ArticlePenhaligon’s – Iris Prima
Iris Prima is the scent of the ballet as imagined by Penhaligon’s. The British perfume house worked with Master Perfumer and last year’s recipient of The Fragrance Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement...
View ArticleAedes de Venustas – Iris Nazarena
I am hopelessly sentimental at the best of times and my interest in perfume provides me with endless opportunities to bath in this gooey sentiment. For me, travel is also a passion and often when I...
View ArticleGuerlain – Mouchoir de Monsieur
Mouchoir de Monsieur (Gentleman’s Handkerchief) is one of the many chapters that form the fascinating story of French perfume house Guerlain. While the house’s most significant competitors have...
View ArticleCoSTUME NATIONAL – Cyber Garden
Cyber Garden by CoSTUME NATIONAL is co-founder, Ennio Capasa’s latest men’s fragrance. The idea is inspired by a tapestry of curated plants known as the CNAC Wall, one of three spaces in Tokyo’s...
View ArticleOriza L. Legrand – Foin Fraîchement Coupé
Guerlain’s Jicky is always eulogised as a symbol of change in perfumery. When Jicky was launched in 1889, it was heralded as one of the first perfumes to use synthetic raw materials and historians...
View ArticleChristian Dior – Dior Homme Parfum
Fashion critics say a great designer gives you what you want before you know you want it. Before Christian Dior launched Dior Homme in 2005, I did not feel a need for vanilla in the perfumes I was...
View ArticleAmouage – Journey Man
Journey Man is Amouage’s latest perfume in the house’s Main Collection. It syncs harmoniously with the collection’s existing perfumes, having many hallmarks of an Amouage men’s fragrance. Yet from the...
View ArticleBottega Veneta – Essence Aromatique
Bottega Veneta is one of the more discreet Italian brands, which hangs on the periphery of fashion without too much noise. Founded in 1966, the Venetian atelier developed a reputation with...
View ArticleCreed – Aberdeen Lavander
Master Perfumer Olivier Creed’s latest collection is described as a “living fragrance journal of countless globetrotting journeys with the fine art of perfumery as the narrative.” The Acqua Originale...
View ArticleCreed – Vetiver Geranium
Vetiver has been one of my favourite perfume notes for many years. Personal highlights from my collection include Chanel’s smoky Sycomore, The Different Company’s salty Sel de Vetiver, Christian...
View ArticleMalbrum Parfums – Tigre du Bengale
Last week I published an interview with B. Kristian Malbrum, the Norwegian founder of a new line of niche perfumes called Malbrum Parfums. Of the three extrait de parfums I discussed with Kristian,...
View ArticleArquiste – L’Etrog Acqua
In April 2013 I published my first post about Arquiste perfumes, which was a review of L’Etrog, a perfume from the brand’s initial collection. Arquiste’s founder, Carlos Huber, was in Australia at the...
View ArticleP Frapin & Cie – Nevermore
Perfume is a relatively new venture for Frapin, one of the great cognac making families of France. Cognac has been in the family blood for more than twenty generations and Frapin’s first cognacs date...
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