Noteworthy Fragrances

So long, farewell...

2007-11-04T13:58:00.000-06:00

Auf wiedersehen, Adieu, Au'voir and sadly...good bye.

Writing about noteworthy fragrances had been a dream of mine that I first envisioned this past Winter after reading so many great and creative blogs proclaiming marvelous and not so marvelous things about fragrances. From the major design houses to the small cottage in England creating a work of love...I've been impressed with this: Those who create beauty ~ are beautiful.

The knowledge I've gained will stay with me the rest of my life. Tihota by Indult became my perfume holy grail and I made so many incredible friends along this journey, both in the US and abroad. I've thoroughly enjoyed sharing links with many other blog owners as well as sharing samples across the miles. I'll always remember Andy Tauer's "Bottle on a journey" as a highlight of this experience. I wish each of you continued success and would love to keep in touch from time to time. I'm richer and wiser and more fragrant for having known each of you!

I leave the world of sampling and writing fragrance reviews to become my husband's copy editor for an upcoming book. He is hoping to have a contract with Zondervan Publishing House early next year. He has been waiting for this opportunity to be a published author for years and finally the time seems perfect. It's his dream come true! I can do no less than to offer this incredible husband of 38 years my undivided attention with editing and help him meet those manuscript deadlines.

I wish for each of you the very best and abundance in all you do.

Your friend forever,
Joyce

“Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Liz Zorn Perfumes ~ the girl makes scents

2007-11-01T22:38:00.000-06:00

It's always great to stay in touch with Liz and learn about all the new and luscious scents she is bringing to the world. With the appropriate fanfare, here is her latest and possibly greatest launch yet!

The Good Luck collection

"This collection is a reformulation and makeover of the "Fusionne' Collection. Originally only an oil parfume. We have expanded the vision of this series of perfumes to include a variety of selections for each fragrance. As we were making new, the packaging has also been updated to reflect a more contemporary aesthetic. We decided to relaunch with the top three sellers from the pervious collection, Ankhara, Calcutta and Quan Yin." (Known as the Amber Girls)

"Tea Trilogy, which includes a reformulation of the Chado parfume that so many love. These are mixed media scents. Which means that we start with a high level of natural materials and accent them with modern perfumery elements. We call this the Good Luck Collection because these perfumes, have been very good for us. Very popular with our customers, And we want to spread some good cheer."

EDP-X - 1 oz. Flacon (see photo above) A new concentration that we have created, that bridges the gap between a standard Eau D' Parfume and a Parfume Extrait. Rich and lasting, but not to overbearing or heavy on the base notes. Price: 90.00. Allow three weeks for delivery.

Perfumed Body Creme - A generously fragranced luxury formula. May be layered with the eau d' parfume for an added element, or used alone as a light r effect. To be used as one would apply a fine fragrance. Not for use on the face. 4.5 oz. 65.00 - allow two weeks for delivery.

Previously posted:
August/2007Like Patti LaBelle, there's more than just a new attitude rising up from ZZ's Petals Boutique. First of all, let's start with a new name: Liz Zorn Perfumes.

Now let's add a new collection! LZ ARTISAN is introducing five Eau D' Parfumes. I've tried them all and am madly in love with Palomino. Once I get past the opening 'green notes' my personal chemistry kicks in to high gear and the sultry, spicy floral takes over and charms me with its beauty. Long lasting, intensely fragrant...love at first whiff.

PALOMINO "Contrary to the obvious - this fragrance gets it's name from the palomino grape, not the famous horse of Roy Rodgers! The Palomino grape is commonly used in the production of sherry. And like Sherry, our Palomino is a touch dry, warm, spicy and rich. Steeped in Amber and Cloves, with a touch of pomegranate, in a base of Cedar, Sandalwood and Musk. Notes: Clary Sage, Juniper, Cabreuva, Galbanum, Clove, Cinnamon, Amber (house natural), Vanilla, Pomegranate, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Musk."

CITRINE ROSE "A conceptual scent, created around the idea of following the evolution of a rose from thorn to blossom. Citrine Rose starts out sharp and biting, and warms over time, to a citrus tinged softness, that is both uplifting and sensual. Notes: Citrus, Spices, Geranium, Carnation, Rose Otto, Rose Absolute, Amber (house), Cedar, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Vanilla, and Musk."

JHANGO BAY "Riding the fence between classic and modern. This scent is rich in Caribbean spices, masculine florals, warm woods, balsams and musky animalic undertones. Notes: Citrus, Jamacian Bay Rum, Spices, Rose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Natural Musk, and Ambergris."

ALLEGORY "A twist on the traditional Lavender Fragrance. Allegory, rich with leather and smoke is a Lavender, Vanilla scent, built around the Absolute of Lavender, which has a fruitiness not found in the essential oil alone. Allegory comes on strong, and mellows to a beautifully seductive rustic floral, with a rich herb and vanilla dry down. Notes: Marigold, French Lavender, Orange Flower, Lavender Absolute, Lavender Concrete, Vanilla, Spices, Birch Tar, Leather Notes, and Woods."

MAN SPRAY "An extraordinarily smooth natural masculine fragrance, that opens with a citrus and green wake up call followed by a slowly smoldering richness, that can only be described as Vintage Chic. Always on the edge, never out of style. Notes: Bergamot, French Lavender, Clary Sage, Cedar, Spices, Geranium Leaf, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Hay Absolute, Amber (house blend) Ambrette Seed Musk, Oak Moss, Vetiver, Tonka Bean, and Vanilla."

Her new Signature Collection of luxury perfumes will now be available in Parfume Extrait only and are created with well chosen, high quality natural ingredients, tinctured fruits and florals not commonly available to the perfumer, natural or otherwise. Liz refuses to outsource any part of the process allowing her to maintain complete control over the quality of her perfumes.

Liz, like the true artist she is, has succeeded in designing an incredible wardrobe of fragrances.Samples as well as full-sized bottles are available on her website and promptly arrive packaged with the flair of an artist.

Indult ~ An exclusive society of perfumes

2007-10-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

Indult: Privilege granted to certain people by the King of France or the Pope to few people in order to profit of certain exclusive favors. Indult Perfumes are inspired by these aristocratical privileges from the past centuries and the wish to present a new concept of perfume for people who appreciate the feeling of exclusivity. These exclusive and confidential perfumes are the result of delicate and exceptional ingredients. Each fragrance is edited in 999 bottles, Indult perfumes are made of natural and extremely rare extracts and contain no colorants or additives. The three perfumes were composed by nose Francis Kurkdjian who also created the MDCI perfumes that I reviewed several weeks ago.

TIHOTA

"Means Sugar in Polynesian. It’s an exotic marriage of musk infusion with the sensual vanilla pods. Like the blow of a warm breeze that wraps the body and invades the atmosphere in a singular way. Tihota is a magical trip, the incandescence of the sunrise that embraces the far horizon." The verdict: Have mercy! This is the mother of all vanilla scents, but with an incredible twist. If you are familiar with Vanille Abricot by Comptior Sud Pacifique, then just imagine that fragrance times ten. My sample was crushed in shipment, so there was only about a drop that I could safely test without cutting my arm with glass shards, but that one drop sent me over the edge of vanilla heaven. Full bottle worthy at any price!!

MANAKARA

"Madagascar’s area famous for flourishing the most beautiful lychees in the world.
When roses are fruits, they associate best with lychees. The most beautiful roses in perfumery are the ones from Bulgaria and Turkey; they could only find their alter ego in the heart of a Madagascar region where the most beautiful lychees are made. An exclusive fragrance where the voluptuous essence of rose is married with the fresh and subtle scent of lychee." The verdict: Sniff, sniff...I wish I liked this better, but I can only think of a very, very sweet rose flavored cotton candy and you'll get a very good picture of that this smells like on me. I think my chemistry intensifies the canned syrupy lychee fruits and I'll have this for dessert with ice cream rather than wear it.

ISVARAYA

"Meaning divine in Hindi. In India, the patchouli is traditionally the favorite scent of Vishnu, god savior of men and life, the guardian of universal harmony. From this secular legend, an olfactory allegory is born that associates the sensual intensity of the patchouli to the fruity and suave scent of the Indian plum trees and the flowers of Jasmine Sambac. Isvaraya is the fantasy of a diverse India, culturally and ethnically, between the spiritual legend of Vishnu and the fantasy of Bollywood." The verdict: It's really super rich and exotic, like Indian incense with heavy woods and florals. Not my cup of tea, but very exotic and sexy and it will be savored for those 'extra special' moments when only a mature siren of a scent will do.

Get over to Lucky Scent and order a sample when it's back in stock. And visit Indult.fr if you want to join the 'exclusive club' of the faithful and privileged 999.

Finding your 'happy groove'

2007-10-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

The aim of a fragrance is to make you feel happy! The packaging of Smiley alone started the smiles and chuckles even before I got to the scent inside. Fragrance therapy without an RX? And what's with those crazy bottles that don't even stand up but prefer to just roll around? So fun! When most fragrance designers add glamor and value to their scents by bottling them up in fine cut baccarat crystal, sometimes even studded with diamonds....Smiley says, "No thanks" and instead comes packaged in a pill shaped bottle tucked away in a box that looks like it came from a pharmacology company. So original!

Ah ha!! There in lies the genius of this product, created by the very famous Jean Pierre Bethouart, mastermind of fragrances such as Caron, Christian Dior and Versace with the packaging credit going to Ora Ito who's reinterpreted everything from Vuitton backpacks to Heineken bottles, mobile phones and Mac computers.
So famous!

The Smiley formula combines theobromine and phenylethylamine, both natural mood elevators found in cocoa beans, as well as the more conventional notes of bergamot, orange, pimento and bay leaves; the middle notes are cacao, praline and curaçao; the base note has patchouli, myrrh and musk. Is this the smell of happiness? Anytime I can get a legal giddy boost that's not from a bottle, not from a pill and not from someone who's billing me by the minute - that's got my attention. Smiley calls itself the first anti-stress perfume and those who wear it are 'in therapy'. Now, granted this could be a bit too much hype, but really, who cares? If there is something in these pill shaped bottles that ups the happy factor for my stressful day, I'm at least smiling more just looking at those cutsie bottles labeled in French, English and Braille with such great smelling fragrance. So quirky!

Available in a preponderance of potent perfumed products...you can get your smiles in bath gel and bath fizzies, body lotion, massage oil and my favorite, the Smiley perfume extract. Honestly, you can measure this out by the drop and it lasts all day. Now that is something you can smile about. So happy!

Go on...purchase your own Smiley products at HappyTherapy.com or BigelowChemists.com and let the happy begin!

Ebba Los Angeles

2007-10-17T14:59:00.000-05:00

"Mom I'm busy creating." When Viktoria Fisch's mom Ebba would wonder what her daughter was doing, she somehow new that the little girl and the elementary lotions and potions she was mixing in the bathroom would lead to greatness. Viktoria says that not much has changed in the years that have passed as one little girl grew up to demonstrate that anything is possible.

Finding the 'abundance within' must have destined her to become quite the talk around Hollywood, CA where flocks of the faithful drop by to experience first hand the fun and flirty scents that abound. Seems like there is always something new happening at Ebba Los Angeles. Perhaps the best known of the Miss collection is Miss Marisa and if you love mint, you'll love this fragrance. At first it developed with a somewhat 'soapy' opening, that made me wince just ever so slightly. It was also confusing as notes of peach and licorice played dueling matches on my skin. But wait...give this perfume oil about 15 minutes and then you have the most beautiful floral bouquet remaining with just a whisper of mint. I got raves when I wore this last week and it's definitely appropriate for office wear as it's not a suffocating scent, but polite in every aspect. The verdict: it's not your average floral bouquet, but you really don't want to wear 'average' do you?

The Miss perfume oils are packaged in a beautiful decorate box with a hand pressed wax seal. Available from Ebba online in a delightful collection of perfume oils, spray, bath and body and boudoir candles.

Get your samples here!

It's About Thyme

2007-10-15T23:19:00.000-05:00

you discovered the amazing world of Thyme's collection of personal, bath and home fragrances.
"Beauty, not superficial beauty but true beauty, lies in the small details of life. These details...a greeting from a neighbor, the feeling of a plush towel against your skin, a stroll in the warmth of the sun...nourish our individual selves and nurture our connections to others. Finding beauty in these moments brings a thoughtfulness, a sense of well-being and fulfillment, to our sometimes hectic, always demanding lives."

Leslie Ross Lentz, founder of Thymes has a singular and abiding philosophy: "Our mission is to help you enhance and enjoy the quiet moments in your life. We honor this through every aspect of our manufacturing process, and we try hard to treat ourselves, and one another with the same degree of attention and care."

The perfumer at Thymes works as an artisan mixing blend after blend, to find a crisper note of citrus, the lushest-smelling lavender, a bergamot with just the right bloom. The perfumer's staff gives attention to these small details to ensure that the fragrances you experience will always be complex, delightful and more. Their packaging is a work of art! Each fragrance package is uniquely and playfully styled to make taking the bottle out the box as enjoyable as spritzing the delicate yet long lasting scents inside the box! I love to spritz a cloud of fragrance and then 'walk into' the scent. I get a head to toe experience that lasts all day!

My favorite collections are Gold Leaf, Wild Ginger and Kimono Rose.

Goldleaf "When perfume is a work of art. Experience a fragrance of exceptional elegance and grace, enhanced with the skin-soothing properties of nature's most luxuriant ingredients. Bee pollen extract infuses skin with vital nutrients, and golden honey draws in moisture to keep skin supple. Smooth jasmine, fragrant roses, hyacinth and creamy lily of the valley blossom on a background of oak moss and musk to create an elaborate tapestry for the senses."

"Make both you and your skin happy all over with the fresh, inspiring scent of Wild Ginger. Bursting with the bright, mood-elevating essence of effervescent organic ginger balanced with refreshing cucumber; touched with creamy vanilla and spiked with a slice of Tahitian lime and Moro orange. Energized with organic red clover to soothe and moisturizing honey to hydrate, it keeps your skin (and your spirits) positively glowing all day long. Slightly Untamed, Entirely Uplifting."

"Sparkling and lyrical, Kimono Rose is unabashedly feminine, beautifully layered with an undercurrent of intrigue. A sheer, sensuous floral heightened with effervescent sweet clementine and voluptuous cassis on a creamy bed of satiny rose, peony and jasmine petals…finished with a kiss of smooth, silken vanilla. Delicate but dynamic; soft spoken, yet striking, it is a modern reflection of who you are, and who you want to be…all wrapped up in one truly lovely fragrance."

All Thymes are available online and tucked inside each uniquely created box (it's almost a work of art) is a matching sample of body lotion.

Susanne Lang~Fragrant Layers of Scent

2007-10-11T13:19:00.000-05:00

Behind the philosophy of Susanne Lang is the belief that a woman's beauty is most alluring when it's subtle. Not only a veil of her presence but the impression of poise and originality that she leaves behind. As a perfumer, this belief has inspired the creation of a palette of authentic essences which can be layered and blended in endless combinations letting every woman have her special signature fragrances that speaks uniquely to who she is and inspires to be.

Creating those endless combinations is precisely why Susanne created the Layers Wardrobe of Six. Susanne Lang's Layering Wardrobe includes six 7 ml bottles of Eau de parfum.

Midnight Orchid~Egyptian jasmine, balanced with soft musk and a beautiful vanilla absolute, so real it's almost edible. My favorite!

Lotus Blossom~Pink lotus, ginger lily, gardenia, freesia and just a hint of peach.

Tamboti Wood~Tamboti wood accord paired with fresh cedar, Indian sandalwood and vetiver.

Red Ginger~Ginger, pink pepper, patchouli and nutmeg meld perfectly with rose otto.

Vanilla Coconut~Tahitian vanilla, coconut, pineapple, with sultry notes of fig leaf and red torch ginger.

Cashmere~Cashmere combines rich and sensuous amber, incense, saffron and a variety of exotic spices

Reasonably priced at $72.00 and available from our friends at Lucky Scent.

Anglia Perfumery~Classic Fragrances From England

2007-10-08T14:55:00.000-05:00

Relaxing on a quiet Sunday afternoon nestled in my comfy reclining chair next to the fireplace was not when I expected to be jolted out of my 'fume sniffing' session. There is was! Oh my gosh, where has this sample been all my life? Wedding Bouquet by Angelia Perfumery is a full-out wedding in a tester vial. The dress, the beautiful bride, the pipe organ, the cake, the flowers...the everything!

The Angelia Perfumery website describes it perfectly: "A floral fragrance with a mixed floral bouquet of rose, geranium, jasmine, ylang, cyclamen, heliotrope, neroli and lilac. The base is woody with substantive, soft vanilla notes." I was definitely having one of those 'ah ha' moments where my nose finally caught up to all of my blog editing and I cold detect every single solitary note presented in this beautiful fragrance. There is a touch of honey that makes this a very romantic scent.

Available online at the English Scent.

b-Glowing ~ A LaLicious gift for you

2007-10-07T20:53:00.000-05:00

Lisa from b-glowing would love for all Noteworthy Fragrance readers to know about a very special offer. You haven't tried a Sugar Scrub until you've tried this finely whipped sweet concoction that locks in so much moisture that the water will literally bead off your smooth and silky skin! The fragrances are simply intoxicating! Purchase $65 or more of LaLicious and receive a FREE FULL-SIZE BROWN SUGAR VANILLA SOUFLE! Retail value: $30.00.
Certificate Code: yummy

Here's what Lisa says about the Brown Sugar Vanilla Soufle:

A scent so wonderful people will follow you around like a love sick puppy. The sweet, rich, decadent fragrance of French boulangerie! It's like wrapping your naked body in a cozy cashmere blanket. A product so luxurious it will melt on your skin. A scrub so fine your body will glisten. The shower water will actually bead off your skin. You've never tried a body scrub like this. The perfect amount of Oils, Pure Cane Sugar, Vitamin E & Honey whipped together to moisturize and exfoliate a very important part of our body, the skin.

This product is made with all natural ingredients. Using a whipped technique so the consistency will never change you will never need to re-mix them. Coconut oil absorbs quickly and easily into your skin, leaving it moisturized and protected without feeling greasy. Pure cane sugar crystals exfoliate dead skin cells while coconut, sweet almond and vitamin-e oils condition, moisturize and smoothes you to perfection!

Click here to view all the LaLicious products at b-glowing.

It's never to early to start your Holiday shopping.

Something new from Essense Collections

2007-10-04T12:08:00.000-05:00

New for Fall and Winter!

From the Essense Studio Collection, Noteworthy Fragrances invites you to explore some new scents ready for the cooler weather, cashmere sweaters and a steaming cup of spiced tea.

Blond Suede
New for Fall is a buttery, supple and sweet leather fragrance: Blond Suede. Experience a new wonderfully light and subtly textured take on leather! The notes include bergamot, spices, violet, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, hay, orris, amber, castoreum, honey, leather and sandalwood. The verdict: a new take on leather. Yeah baby!

Sequoia7 is a scent of earth, mystery and a vast knowing. This winter perfume is from deep within an ancient forest. An earthy blend of coriander and caraway seed, cypress, liatrix, elemi, ginseng accord, guiacwood, patchouli, tobacco vetiver, oakmoss balsam teakwood and woodsmoke accord. The verdict: perfect for "winter hibernation". Oh so soothing.

New for Holiday Season 2007 Essense Collection:

Lumiere
A hushed candlelight perfume; warm, delicious and pulsating. Lumiere brings dark and light together with shimmering spice, rhum and deep coffee notes. But that's only the beginning. Add cinnamon leaf, nutmeg, almond milk accord, hazelnut, amber, sandalwood, oppopanax and Peru Balsam. The verdict: celebrate the season of lights with lovely Lumiere! Romantic and then some!

And if these new scents weren't enough to delight you, a special fragrance returns! After a long search for new source ingredients, Dawn is re-launching the highly desired skin scent la Fête Nouvelle. Bitter almond, freshly mown hay, lavender, green wheat, sweet grass, toasted rice are anchored with sandalwood, tonka bean, treemoss and vanilla. The verdict: sun warmed fields; simple, clean. Perfect and natural.

Dawn M. Spencer Hurwitz Perfumer and Certified Aromatherapist

Dawn M. Spencer Hurwitz has a unique talent and has been called a Perfume Genius by her devoted clientele. Beginning her career as an art student in painting, Dawn came to Perfumery in 1991. But before she gained the title of Perfume Genius, she was a little girl playing in fields of flowers dreaming one day of painting masterpieces and creating perfume. Now Dawn has achieved the best of both worlds with Parfums des Beaux Arts ~ fine art fragrances and Essence Oils.

Since the early nineties, Dawn has been busy transforming the ESSENSE perfumery into her previous online emporium, "essenseoils.com," as well as developing her innovative lines of ready to wear artisan perfumes under her own label and consulting for niche marketers, such as Flora Napa Valley, Calypso, Jules & Jane and Zents Spa collection. Dawn continues to be one busy creative lady and is ever on the quest to create new and luscious perfumes.

Recently updated packaging on the very popular Essense Collections brings bursts of jewel tones and gold filigree to express the sensual and other-worldliness of these beautiful scents. These jewels are boxed up in elegant black to show off the gorgeous colors and make them perfect for gift giving.

If you have personal questions about fragrance, Dawn will respond immediately to your inquires. A delightful perfumer with an exceptional future. Don't forget to check out the samples section of her website. It's a gourmet feast for your sampling pleasure.

Earlier review posted May/2007

Somewhere between Heaven and Earth

2007-10-02T20:40:00.000-05:00

are some amazing handcrafted, fresh and lavish products for your bath and body that are sure to please the most difficult critic and that would be me! I don't like gooey, I don't like greasy and I don't want my jacuzzi tub clogged with oil after taking a long and luxurious bubbly soak. The Heaven and Earth products fulfilled my demands and left my skin totally softened with a delicate scent that did not overwhelm DH who is always such a great sport when I'm sampling and testing new products for review.

This line has offers moisturizers, sugar scrubs, salt scrubs for all skin types, hair care products, soaps and custom blended fragrances. There are even several products where you can choose to layer different scents for your own variety of 'heaven in a jar'. The products I sampled would be considered in the 'foody' or gourmand range. And you already know that I enjoy all things vanilla, so it came as no surprise to me that I loved the jar of Gingerbread and Frosted Vanilla Sugar foaming scrub the very first time I tried it. All I needed was a dollop of freshly whipped cream to go along with the warm, just from the oven gingerbread aroma. The sugar granules are refined enough in this scrub that you won't have to worry about sandblasting off a layer of skin. Finishing off with an application of Silken Glove Cream in Pure Vanilla, I was ready for a night of fragrant, sweet dreams!

I was especially drawn to Autumn, a fragrance with balsamic clove notes reminiscent of Darjeeling tea and undertones of burning leaves. Michele lists the notes as: "Golden Amber and Vanilla and then gently kissed with Orange Blossom. Orange Blossom, Vanilla Bean, Burning Leaves, Golden Amber and Cinnamon." These are long lasting uncomplicated fragrances that are fun, affordable and best of all, they are made in Minnesota. You gotta love that!

This is THE place to visit if you are looking for unique products that can be custom scented in an amazing choice of products.

Who wants samples?

Bermuda Perfumery Library

2007-10-01T18:41:00.000-05:00

The Bermuda Perfumery was founded in 1928 by William Blackburn Smith and his daughter Madeline Scott. Easter Lily Perfume was first produced experimentally in a small wooden building in Bailey's Bay. The family gradually acquired the surrounding properties to a total of six acres, which is immense to Bermuda standards. New fragrances were added, such as Sweet Pea, Eve, Gardenia and Jonquil. Most were successful but not all. Jonquil was judged to be too sweet and heavy by the public and was dropped.

The same traditions and methods of perfume making are still pursued to this day with the guidance and assistance of David Botello, the Perfumery's perfumer for the past 43 years. Each bottle continues to be filled individually by hand by their dedicated staff. The Perfume Library is an absolutely perfect way to try each of the exquisite fragrances. For an extra special treat ask them to gift wrap your purchase. Delightful indeed!

My favorite fragrance is Lily, a chic and sparkling lush floral bouquet. "The effervescence of tamarine, clementine and guava, hibiscus, calla lily, wild muguet and purple orchid, intertwine with pear flower and nectarine with a touch of blonde woods and a dash of seducing white musk that will linger on the skin long after." This is the perfect Wedding Day scent that is innocent enough for the processional down the isle yet spicy enough to dance the night away.

All fragrances are available in Perfume, Eau de Toilette, Body Lotion and Shower Gel online at the Lily Boutique.

The "Joyous Mistakes" of Armando

2007-09-29T15:14:00.000-05:00

Introducing the redesigned website for Armando Martinez has been on the top of my 'to do' list for the past few days. And since I've taken a 'sanity break' from the office today, it was at last time to get the review posted. The solitude of being away from a frantic, stressful call center has been delightfully refreshing and has allowed more hours to research both new and 'new to me' fragrances.

For the past six years, 'Mando' has taken his love for classic fragrances and has become a designer of classic fragrances himself. He calls his potions "joyous mistakes" as did the legend perfumer Jean Carles. I prefer to just call them inspired ingenuity. Armando's work is still new to the designer scene and yet with a childlike abandonment, he strives to improve and perfect his fragrances.

He doesn't shock you with just another repackaged, renamed fragrance. His collection of five perfumes are unique and his own. He doesn't shock you with provocative ads that seem to be selling sex more than scent. Instead he packages them in simple apothecary style glass bottles that are a refreshing change of pace. He doesn't shock you with anything...he's about as honest as you can get and I predict that one day Armando will have a loving following who admire and respect his fragrances. Here are links to each of his fragrances. Enjoy! Benefactor, Kitsune, Maquillage, Pillow of Flowers, and Satyr. Armando's fragrances are available internationally online at First in Fragrance and directly from his website.

Photo from Armando Martinez website

La Via del Profumo ~ A bath in chocolate?

2007-09-26T09:39:00.000-05:00

"The somehow aphrodisiac effect that chocolate perfume can have is due to it's capacity to awaken in our olfactory memory the sensual emotions experienced while enjoying cakes, pastries and creams, of which the sweet aromas of Cocoa and Vanilla are often the spirit." La Via del Profumo invites me to have a 'bath in chocolate'.

Wouldn't the ultimate fantasy be a day of chocolate spa services at the Hershey Hotel? If you can't quite fit that into your schedule, you can still enjoy the delights of the Chocolate Kit from La Via del Profumo.

Mention the word chocolate and I'm ready to party! Sampling the 'Chocolate Kit' by La Via del Profumo (The Way of Perfume) was shear joy as each of the fragrances evoked a very specific chocolate memory. Abdes Salaam Attar describes his scents so perfectly well that you know exactly what they will smell like, yet the surprise is how they will smell on you as they mingle with your specific chemistry.

My favorites were the Chocolate Orange and Chocolate Amber scents and what a close competition it was. I found it best to transfer the samples from the small bottles to a spray mist vial as the chocolate was much livelier sprayed than daubed. Within the first few minutes, the chocolate note made a very strong appearance that immediately sent me reminiscing about the tour I took inside one of the actual Hershey manufacturing plants in Illinois. Vats the size of a small house bubbled with enormous amounts of liquid chocolate as it morphed into millions of Kisses. Chocolate Orange, with a punch of orange zest gave way to whispers of frankincense and myrrh at the heart to play upon my skin. This is 'kissing under the mistletoe' chocolate and would be perfect to lavish upon yourself as a treasured Christmas gift.

Winning my heart however was the Chocolate Amber! Highly evocative bitter sweet chocolate mingles with a dark vanilla and tonka that stays surprisingly well connected from the first spritz. But the action that follows was very surprising.
Chocolate Amber is all about chocolate gourmand! Simple and simply addicting is the reaction from everyone who would stand still long enough to test this sample with me.

Working in a very intense customer service department for a cell phone provider, I thought it would be fun to see what others thought of Chocolate Amber. It wasn't long before I singled out two of my co-workers who eagerly consented to be spritzed. For the remainder of the afternoon, each time they walked by my office their nose was literally buried in their wrist. A good sign for sure! My peers are very familiar with my love of fragrance and often ask for a quick spritz of whatever I'm wearing for the day. But this was just insane.

They loved Chocolate Amber as much as I did. Emphasis on 'did'. So now my tiny treasure is all used up and even though I brought my jar of Bath & Body Works Wickedly Hot Chocolate Shimmer Body Cream to share, they sniff and walk away with a woeful look of disappointment. Hopefully, some day in the future, I may get my hands of more of this very limited and very beautiful perfume...ah...to dream.

Chocolate Amber provided a mysterious calming effect as frequently the intensity of speaking with someone not happy about their wireless service or crazed about the overages on their bill would ramp up my body temperature and at the same time, would cause a swirl of chocolate to provide that invisible emotional support I needed! Powerful stuff indeed.

"Chocolate Amber" blends Chocolate and Vanilla with Tonka, the exotic fragrance of the famous Indian Amber in a uniquely sensual fragrance.

"Chocolate Spicy" blends Chocolate and Vanilla with the essences of these spices that Mayas used for preparing with Cocoa the "Divine drink" Theobroma Cocoa.

"Chocolate Orange" blends Chocolate and Vanilla with the essences of citruses for an aroma that make us live the emotions of a box of Christmas chocolates.

"Chocolate Mint" blends Chocolate and Vanilla with the essence of peppermint in an aroma that reminds us the classic and unforgettable "After Eight" chocolate mints.

"Cocoa" Cocoa Perfume is made with pure bitter chocolate extract.

**Warning** Clicking to this site means you'll be spending an average of two hours just enthralled with all La Via del Profuma has to offer. It's like spending the day at an aroma university, where you'll improve your education of perfuming and base ingredients and at the same time, a unique fragrance boutique where you can purchase some of the most exotic fragrances in the world.

Silky and Sensuous Bodies by Bond

2007-09-18T20:06:00.000-05:00

Perfumer to the City of New York, Bond No. 9 is proud to announce a brand new departure that combines skin-scenting with skin pampering. Introducing 24/7 New York Body Silk, a collection of unspeakably lush creams that mark the start of a long-awaited program of sumptuous body smoothers that simultaneously soothe the skin in the city that never sleeps. I want to immediately get my hands, knees and elbows on Saks Fifth Avenue for Her 24/7 New York Body Silk, but I think this is were patience must become my virtue and I'll be waiting just a while longer. This all-white bouquet captures the fashion-forward essence of 21st century Saks, while at the same time expressing the eclectic downtown spirit of SoHo-based Bond No. 9. This is your classic gardenia eau de parfum, given a chic contemporary twist with the addition of sparkling jasmine and vetiver, along with smooth vanilla. Please hurry!!

24/7 New York Body Silk will instantly entice perfumed smoothness everywhere, including those problem areas, elbows, shoulders, knees, you know those body parts you’d formerly given up on.

24/7 Body Silk will be initially available in these Bond No. 9 scents:

Eau de New York A sense-awakening fruity-floral-green blend of neroli, white lily, gardenia, and skin musk, whose scent molecules positively whiz through the air.
Nuits de Noho An irreverent nighttime gourmand blend of jasmine, creamy vanilla, and sheer patchouli. Has the impact of a shot of icy vodka.
Chinatown Superpower meets Supercity in a sultry, mouthwatering East-West bouquet of peach blossoms, tuberose, and patchouli, with cardamom thrown in for spice.
The Scent of Peace Détente in the form of a sparkling citrussy-woody-musky mélange of grapefruit, black current, lily of the valley, and cedarwood.
Bryant Park Leading-edge fragrance fashion: a rose-patchouli-lily-rhubarb concoction with pink pepper added for dissonance.
West Side An undulating coloratura blend of dark-light, high-low, sweet-sharp, and floral-woody notes, including rose, ylang ylang, peony, amber, serious vanilla, and musk.
Chelsea Flowers An exuberant fresh-picked bouquet of peonies, tulips, hyacinth, magnolia, and rose, with vetiver, sandalwood, and musk added for a hint of insolence.

Suggested Retail Price: $105 for a 6.8 fl. oz jar and available at all four Bond No. 9 stores in New York, bondno9.com, Saks Fifth Avenue nationwide and online at www.saks.com.

"Everywhere you want to be kissed"

2007-09-15T19:25:00.000-05:00

says Isabelle Masson-Mandonnaud, of Crazylibellule and the Poppies, her sexy line of solid scents and first foray into beauty since she and husband, Dominique Mandonnaud, co-founded, industry-revolutionizing Shop8 (ultimately sold and renamed Sephora). What tempted this industry luminary back to beauty after an eight year break? Nothing less than a burning desire to re-imagine the very essence of fragrance.

The brand was named “Libellule,” meaning “dragonfly” in French, because, like fragrance, dragonflies delicately hover in the air and then lightly touch down. “Crazy” references the female proclivity for fantasy and “the Poppies” stand for freedom in nature. So, play, layer, collect, jump unabashedly from one to the next with no sense of loyalty whatever. All this and so reasonably priced at only $16.00. What's not to love?

My favorite of the Shanghaijava collection is called Blue Orchidée with top notes of bergamot, mandarin, orange; heart notes of jasmine, rose, ylang ylang and base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, musk. Swivel this little darling and you can seduce the nape of your neck, the tender spot behind your knee, around your navel or add a delicate caress on your inner wrists with this beautiful solid twist up perfume. Use it alone or by mixing and matching it with any other scent from Crazylibellule's Shanghaijava Collection.

Available from our friend Lisa at b-glowing.

Unique Fragrance Boutique ~ The Beauty Cafe

2007-09-11T20:39:00.000-05:00

News Flash - News Flash - News Flash!

Beauty Cafe is offering all Noteworthy Fragrances readers a 15% discount on any items purchased.
Simply add "Noteworthy" to your order to receive your promotional discount!
Thanks Lisa.
Serving up the Finest in Luxury Personal Care and Fragrances

Thymes Chocolate Candles...for the chocolate lover in us all and some of the finest candles I've ever experienced.
Chocolat Cassis
A deeper shade of cocoa embraces luscious cassis and wild raspberry
kissed with violet and mellowed with rich caramel and vanilla.
Chocolat Ginger
A fresh and uplifting take on chocolate, where bittersweet cocoa, spicy ginger root, sweet coconut and a twist of lemon come together for an unexpectedly engaging experience.
Chocolat Saffron
Chocolate, dark and passionate, infused with the intriguing scent of saffron, coconut milk and vanilla, creating a sumptuous fragrance.
Chocolat Mandarin
Bittersweet chocolate animated with the bright and clarifying zest of mandarin orange, sweet orange blossoms, neroli and a golden drop of honey.
Candles: $25.00

Looking for a cappuccino or a latte? Sorry, you won't find it at the Beauty Cafe, but what you will find is Lisa Slavik, owner of this unique boutique of fragrance, located in Historic Downtown Plano, Texas. All of the merchants on 15th Street have the 'everyone knows your name' vibe and believe me...everyone not only knows Lisa, they love her!! Imagine a fragrance store so popular that tours are booked from Dallas bringing bus loads of women to meet Lisa, who gives expert advise on what's new, what's trendy and what's happening in the world of perfume. Beauty Cafe is a favorite of even the Red Hat Society! Now that's a hoot!

Stepping into Beauty Cafe is exactly being like a kid in a candy store. Lisa, the reigning queen of customer service will go out of her way to find exactly what you desire. "We search the globe to find the finest in fragrances, bath and body, cosmetics, skin care, baby care, and men's grooming fragrances! If we don't love it...we simply don't sell it." Her loyal consumers adore her and on the day I met Lisa, she received an amazing tulip bouquet from a grateful customer in Oregon.

Lisa says, "You'll never find your everyday personal care products at Beauty Cafe...you can find them anywhere. Instead we search for the niche products, the products that are hard-to-find, start up companies that are looking for a reputable company to introduce their products to an already established clientele. My customers often laugh or are shocked when I recommend products to them that I don't carry. If we are out of stock on an item or an item has been discontinued I'll do my best to help them locate it elsewhere and yes, I will refer them to other online retailers."

Lisa states, "I want our customers to feel good about their shopping experience with us, while we are a small company, we spend time getting to know many of our customers. Just take a look at our phone bills! We love to chat and get to know everyone, that's why if we don't pick up the phone, leave a message, we will call you back as soon as we can!! Or drop us an email and we'll be happy to answer your questions or concerns." Lisa even has a 'live help' line available so you can have a virtual conversation and find out what new items were just delivered.

It's not at all uncommon for a celeb to call Lisa personally to reorder her favorite perfume or have a luxury gift basket created and shipped out for someone walking the Red Carpet. Anyone can sell fragrances, whether online or in a retail store, but if you want that personal touch, that element of 'my best friend would never steer me wrong' and just gracious Texas hospitality, then you want the Beauty Cafe experience.

Beauty Cafe opened its online doors in July 1997. One of Lisa's passions in life is fragrances and through Beauty Cafe she's able to share her love of fragrances and learn from others!! Beauty Cafe has been fortunate through the years to have been mentioned in the following magazines: WWD, W, Jane, InStyle, Allure, Mademoiselle, Redbook and recently in Star Magazine. Lisa specializes in locating the products that you read about in the magazines, bringing them home to you.

Brands you'll find at the Beauty Cafe

What are you waiting for?

Tell Lisa that Joyce from Noteworthy Fragrances sent you!

Don't tell my husband ~ I'm in love with FRANK

2007-09-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

FRANK - A name that salutes both heritage and forthrightness. Upfront, distinct and cutting-edge, FRANK/Los Angeles is a boutique fragrance house that keeps with the time honored tradition of artisan, small batch perfume making, smart, minimalist packaging and bold essence combinations. FRANK’s hand-crafted creations are a salute to men (and women) of this age. Okay...I'll admit that I really like this collection of 'guy juice'.

Frank: Notes - grapefruit, ginger root, green tea, bergamot, cassis, angelic seed, clove, sandalwood. The verdict: Masculine, but not to a fault. Woodsy, green, clean and just sweet enough so you won't need to add sugar thanks to the yummy, fruity cassis.

Frank 2: Notes - bergamot, white lavender, coriander, crushed plum leaves, cognac, plum, fir balsam, coffee bean essence, red maplewood, teakwood, white musk.
The verdict: Stronger, sexier and more sophisticated than the original. Way more sillage...reminds me of Christmas incense, although don't look for Santa to be wearing this when he pays you a visit this December!

Frank 3: Notes - cucumber, casaba melon, citrus, lavender, basil, clary sage, oak moss, suede, musk, patchouli. The verdict: This is the perfect fragrance for the 'tween' season of summer to autumn with a jasmine note that makes me weak in the knees followed by the earthiness of fallen leaves in a deep forest.

Available from our friends at Lucky Scent

Satellite of Paris ~ Technicolor fragrance

2007-09-04T16:56:00.000-05:00

Satellite of Paris - niche perfume collection has many fragrances for your many moods.

Sandrine Dulon's owner of Satellite of Paris has unique and diversified jewelry creations which are always original. Taking a personal and stylish mix of juvenile imagination, ethological spirit and recollections from her various travels around the world, Sandrine's talent in the fashion and fragrance world is drawing attention. Her quest for a collection of perfect fragrances draws upon her experience as a traveler to exotic destinations replicating the scent of secret gardens from around the world.

The highlight of sampling these fragrances was unquestionably Padparadscha, named for the the extremely rare glowing pink and orange sapphires of Burma. Opening with an earthy blast of black pepper, this fragrance meanders and takes several detours before it gets down to business and lets the sandalwood and musk bask in the limelight. Elusive to describe it's easier to tell you it's like a walk in a deep Evergreen forest as pine needles snap under foot releasing a resinous cedar/incense aroma. Longevity wise it was about six hours for me and I would recommend Padparadscha while wearing a silk dressing gown and sharing a glass of Shiraz as prelude to a very romantic encounter. Definitely not for the office unless you are a confident power-broker type who loves throwing caution to the wind.

Available at Lucky Scent.

Andy Tauer's Bottle on a Journey ~ Hyacinths and a Mechanic

2007-09-03T21:47:00.000-05:00

Andy Tauer is on a mission and his newest fragrance (in testing) Hyacinths and a Mechanic is on a journey around the world to perfumistas who will provide input on this complex and contradictory scent!

While this photo was not my initial vision of Hyacinths and a Mechanic it clearly demonstrates that opposing fragrance notes can be a delightful surprise! According to Andy, "It is a floral scent, a bouquet of powdery lilacs, green hyacinths and gentle lily of the valley. A bouquet of May flowers in the hand of a mechanic with an undertone of oily skin."

Having read the earlier reviews of this perfume, I knew it would not be prudent to spritz Hyacinths and a Mechanic with abandonment, so I tenderly rubbed the residue from Raphaella's test spray onto my wrists. This was at precisely 7:20 pm. I thought, "Oh no, this could be a migraine just waiting to happen." The 'oil' note was quite pronounced and just about caused me to run to the sink and grab the lemon scented Joy dish washing detergent, but I thought I should be fair to Andy, whom I adore.

After waited the obligatory 8-10 minutes before I sniffed again, the powerfully strong oil note was still definitely present, but the florals were beginning to debut. At about 7:45, there was an incredible soft, powdery floral bouquet that emerged as totally hypnotic and captivatingly sensual and was taking over the party. Nose to wrist; nose to wrist, over and over! I had become a slave to the Bottle Journey adventure!

The oil note clung with a fierce tenacity and took a good hour to dry down to the creamy mature Hyacinth and her little Lilac sister. Checking again at 9:00 the oil note for me was returning??? How could this be? Now this took me by surprise but then, we're dealing with Andy Tauer and he is a genius at creating complex fragrances, right? What I'll now share is the honest truth: at 6:00 am the next morning....I'm still feeling the love of the perfume, so that would mean that this fragrance could last almost 12 hours with a single drop. Andy, this is some mighty strong stuff.

The Verdict: This is a wonderfully complex fragrance that does become more 'wearable' as the hours go by, but I'm unsure of owning a perfume that I could not spray with abandonment. This is one of those scents, that if I choose to wear it, I'd have to get up an hour earlier than normal to begin my routine so the oily note could have dissipated enough that my peers wouldn't think I just completed an oil change on my Nissan. Now Andy, if you could just make a version sans oil? I'd be your raving fan for life!

Visit Andy Tauer to learn more about the bottle journey of Hyacinths and a Mechanic.

Photo courtesy of Raphaella Brescia and Kathy Patterson of Sniffapalooza Magazine.

Because life has no boundaries

2007-09-01T20:36:00.000-05:00

you'll need your VISA. Relaunched, rebalanced and released with a modern radiance and a retro glamor. Originally launched in 1945, Robert Piguet's classic oriental fragrance re introduced in the signature sleek black glass flacon is richly accented in gold.

A blend of spices, flowers and fruits from different areas of the globe, Visa Robert Piguet is perfume lovers passport to an exotic encounter. Visa opens with lush notes of white vineyard peach, pear, violet leaves and Italian bergamot and yellow mandarin essences. Mid notes include rich ylang essence mingled with rose, orange flower absolutes and immortelle. Osmoz.com says “essence of immortelle gives chypre, floral and amber compositions a particular charisma” and characterizes the smell as “red fruit, syrupy, nut, honey-flavored, tobacco.” Indonesian Patchouli and sandalwood, vetiver, moss, vanilla beans, benzoin and a gourmand leathery accord compose the drydown.

Describing the redesigned Visa, the peachy-floral impression that unfolds for a while is a high point of the perfume that is unmistakingly sophisticated and reminds new users of the cosmopolitan world traveler theme.

The press release reminds new users of the original cosmopolitan travel theme for the perfume.

"A sophisticated woman travels the world but never gets lost in the crowd. Her signature fragrance is reminiscent of all the places she visits and sights she sees."

Visa is scheduled to be launched in October and will be sold exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Le Bon Marché in Paris and at Harvey Nichols in London.

Advertisement from Okadi

Sali Oguri ~ A Noteworthy Original

2007-08-29T20:48:00.000-05:00

Whether she's writing music or blending fragrances...both involve a love affair with notes. Beautiful melodies or extravagant fragrances evoke a soulful, emotional response that is undeniable. Sali Oruri touches your heart with her music and your soul with her fragrance. Her first fragrance, Pink Manhattan was a run away success, selling out on Lucky Scent. I only wish I had met Sali sooner. I don't think there is a drop of this gorgeous, yummy peachy perfume left on the planet. (Oh woe is me!)

Sali Oguri is a classically trained musician based in New York who has put Bach and Mozart aside and has gravitated toward driving, hard-hitting and avant-garde styles of popular music. Her songs are true-to-the-heart songs about life, love, angst, fears, insecurities and pain. According to Sali, her modern pop crossover is an artist's study in multiple music genres.

You'll hear Hard Rock, Hip Hop, Soul, New Wave and Jazz elements sometimes in the same tune. Her sound is a contrast in extremes: heaven and hell, hot and cold, love and hate. With Sali, life is intensely on the edge, the ever-changing here and now. "All dressed up with no place to go" is a hypnotic, bitter-sweet ballad; a soulful cry of love lost seen through the eyes of a mother and daughter. This brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it. Sali has a way of framing the heart-felt emotions we've all experienced.

Toping the charts at a new number one is Sali's newest fragrance launch called Unreleased Mix aka Persephone, described as a forbidden skin scent: a skinful (I'll add sinful) blend of dark chocolate, blackberry, pomegranate, Mysore sandalwood and notes of royal purple flowers. Persephone as the legend recounts was the Greek mythological daughter of Zeus and Dementer who was abducted by Hades. He tricked her by giving her a pomegranate to eat, which forced her to return to Hades for one third of the year for the rest of her life. As revenge, her mother, Demeter imposed a bitter cold winter upon the world as her sorrow at loosing her daughter was inconsolable. (Wonder if that's how these outrageous Minnesota winters came to be.)

With dark, almost sinister notes of chocolate, this is not your every day Hershey bar. This is a chocolate you'd savor one calorie at a time, a chocolate you'd wouldn't share with the kids, a chocolate reserved for special occasions...a chocolate that makes sweet love to your taste buds. It's dark, decadent and defiant, but definitely not a loathsome gourmand. The chocolate gives way to a luscious ambrosia of blackberries and pomegranate reminiscent of a dark sweet cordials enjoyed after a fine dinner. The sandalwood adds a layer of sacred warm incense, but none of the musty overtones that unfortunately appear with other fragrances. A playful note of dark lavender completes the magic of this perfume. Like Sali's voice, it's soft, sexy and sultry!

Unreleased Mix aka Persephone is available here.

And congratulations for "Private Dreams" currently on the Top 10 at Broadjam in the genre of Electronic-Dance. Visit Sali's website at www.salioguri.com for her complete music bio.

Sali will offer a 20% discount on orders place through persephone@salioguri.com.
Just include the code "Noteworthy" for orders placed between now and September 30th.

A little bit of whimsy makes 'purrfect' scents to me

2007-08-27T19:55:00.000-05:00

As one of the Bay area’s most sought-after wedding florists, Laurie Stern discovered the world of perfume. Fascinated by this secret and mysterious world, she spent the next several years immersed in it, teaching herself the alchemy of scent by studying books on perfume from antiquity to the present and experimenting endlessly with scents and materials from all over the world. Creating the perfumes, the spa products and the exquisite packaging of Velvet and Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery feels like the inevitable culmination of all her past careers and passions. This is Laurie's dream come true.

Velvet and Sweet Pea perfumes bespeak Laurie's whimsical philosophy of creating quality products that are fun and made only with the finest natural ingredients. Velvet and Sweet Pea are the ever present 'kitty consultants' who purr and meander throughout the thousands of herbs and flowers growing in this perfumer's gardens overlooking the pristine Bay.

A passion for potions, a lover of luxury, an aromatic alchemist describe an incurable romantic whose Victorian studio holds a vast collection of ornate and antique bottles Laurie has collected from her world travels. The are transported into cherished gifts holding rare and precious oils, perfumes and colognes.

Jasmine Dawn & Dusk is at once an arresting melody of notes as both night blooming and dawn blooming jasmine harmonize with the citrus sisters of blood orange, mandarin and grapefruit. Keeping reign on what could be an overpowering burst of jasmine I find the long lasting base notes of honey, saffron, vanilla and cinnamon just perfectly balanced. Far from being a gourmand, this is a sweet sent and plays well with my chemistry. True to form, everyone will find their own comfort level especially where jasmine is concerned.

At a full dry down I'm left with a slightly bitter saffron which is actually quite pleasant. This is a close to the skin scent with frequent applications required every 2-3 hours as Laurie finds animal fixatives unnatural and not in accord with her philosophy to source on the finest ingredients from all over the world as well as tincturing and distilling her own specialties.

I could see myself lost in a mesmerizing afternoon, sitting in the garden as the afternoon son warms the scent her secret gardens. Everywhere you look, there is beauty to behold. I'll take my tour with a tall glass of tea.

Plan on spending a quiet, gentle time exploring Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery or better yet visit her in person. Here is the perfect place to find a cherished gift for a sister, a bride to be, or just to spoil yourself!

Who wants samples?

Marie Chantal ~ Seeing the world through rose colored glasses

2007-08-26T15:47:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm taking a break from fragrance reviews to smell the roses and to introduce you to Marie Chantal who lives in Toronto, Canada. We became friends when she stopped by to read a post on Noteworthy Fragrances several weeks ago. I've found a wonderful, delightful and inspirational new friend! She will be quite surprised to read this editorial on Noteworthy Fragrances, but sometimes there are people out there in the world that are just too nice to keep all to myself. She is an avid blogger as "Wild Rose" and has posted some of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen online.

Marie has followed her heart and has put her soul into creating a natural skincare product line that is rose based and formulated using organic ingredients whenever possible. Where it is not possible to source organic ingredients, she has carefully selected the gentlest ingredients currently available, resulting in products which are kind to sensitive skin. Starting a new business of skin care products is not the easiest thing to do, nor will it in all honesty make Marie independently wealthy. But when you believe in a philosophy and care about others like she does...with patience and a huge dose of Wild Rose determination, I know she will be ultimately successful.

Marie Chantal developed from an interest in handmade skin care products and the enjoyment of creating wonderful creams and lotions at home. After much research into raw ingredients and recipe formulation, she decided to launch her own product range. The philosophy behind the company grew from concerns about the ingredients commonly found in mass-produced creams and lotions and a desire to produce a purer alternative.

All products are handmade in small batches to ensure quality control and each of the products in our range has been microbiologically tested for safety, in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Standards for Cosmetic Products. Marie Chantal would welcome the opportunity to tell you more about herself and her products so please feel free to contact her with any questions you have on her products or just drop her a note of encouragement, especially those who've experienced the 'joys' of starting your own business! Thanks!

Jewels of AQABA ~ Ancient love lost in the sand

2007-08-23T16:53:00.000-05:00

When fantasy, sun and salt water meet the charms and atmosphere of antiquity...the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, a jeweled city city on an ancient caravan route becomes the inspiration for adventure, intrigue or a trio of fragrances created by Miriam Mirani, Jewels of AQABA.

Paying tribute to the ancient love story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The precious components are the same that were used by the Queen in her daily bathing rituals.

At the age of twenty, Miriam began the journey of a lifetime, traveling throughout the Middle East in search of antiquity. Armed with knowledge of Semitic civilizations, their languages and history, she traveled along with Bedouin tribes, falling in love with the magic of the Nile Delta.

Linking the passions of the past with the present, Jewels of AQABA, even the bottles were intricately designed to represent the cupolas of the King's temple.

SAND Fragrance notes of iris, chamomile, geranium, coriander, cardamom, vetiver, frankincense and tuberose. A hot, sultry fragrance that conjures up dunes and desert winds.

MIDNIGHT SUN Fragrance notes gardenia, freesia, damask rose, orange flower, sandalwood, musk and tuberose. A romantic fragrance that speaks in a hushed voice, with a gentle, spicy sweetness.

BLU Fragrance notes of peach, apricot, rose, ylang-ylang, jasmine, vanilla bourbon, patchouli and musk. Make a dramatic entrance!

Available either from Miriam's website or Lucky Scent.

Who want samples?

Nobile 1942

2007-08-19T22:13:00.000-05:00

The year was 1942, and a man had decided to start a new business. With the war at his doorstep and at the nerve center of a nation in turmoil was...Rome.

Umberto Nobile, a name that has always been synonymous with luxury fragrances, continued pursuing his passion, his lifelong vocation. The ultimate journey led to the creation of a very classy fragrance that is not for the uninitiated nor the timid. "Supreme seduction turned into fragrance" means wear this at your own risk! The perfume is amazingly powerful and wears for 8-10 hours.

PONTEVECCHIO W is a bold perfume with top notes of bergamot and mandarin and jasmine. The heart is distinguished by lush floral notes of rose, ylang-ylang and lotus. The dry down is a blend of citus, patchouli, sandalwood and vanilla. The sillage is truly beyond belief with this fragrance. The second time I tested it, I was busy cleaning our home as we had a group of special friends coming the next evening for dinner. As the party was concluding, one of the guests asked to have a brief tour of our new home. As we were in the master guest suite on the lower level, I could not believe that PonteVecchio W was still clinging in the air...as I had not been in this room for over 24 hours. Powerful indeed!!

PonteVecchio W A sophisticated, high energy floral with very seductive nuances. This is for seriously romantic encounters and could be too strong for the office if not used sparingly. Think mystery. Think seduction. Think PonteVecchioW.

NOBILE 1942 fragrances contain essential oils obtained through natural processes of steeping, filtering, and distillation. This results in a lengthy production process, but your patience is rewarded by heightened aromas and tenacious fragrances that maintain their substance and full body. In addition to PonteVecchioW, AnonimoVeneziano (for women) and PonteVecchio (for men) are available.

The patience of a craftsman is required in producing these fragrances. Once all of the ingredients have been blended, the mixture is left to rest for one month before it can be considered a fragrance ready to be bottled. The Italian tradition of creating fine fragrances is evidenced in the devotion that this small company adheres to in bringing you Nobile 1942.

All NOBILE 1942 products come with a seal that certifies their originality, and even the bottling, labeling, and packaging are done by hand with the care and dedication of a true craftsman. Stefania and her husband Massimo create their fragrances in a small laboratory in Italy, using natural essential oils that are purchased in Grasse. They produce the perfume and let it macerate in alcohol like a very good bottle of wine . They believe that their fragrance is 'alive' and that it changes not only in response with the type of skin but also with the temperature and the blood pressure of your body. "You can tell the difference from one person who is very active and anxious. The wood notes come out immediately even if they are not part of the top notes. In a quite person the flower notes come out before."

They are currently selling their perfumes in Italy and throughout the world in very selective channels. Don't expect discount e-tailers or U.S. brick and mortar stores to be glutting the market with their products. They plan to be as cautious about who sells their fragrances as the ingredients used in their manufacturing. The vision of Noble 1942 is to provide very qualitative products for a few people who love perfumes made with precious materials.

Send Stefani an email at: info@nobile1942.it for additional information and to find out where you can purchase these rare and seductive fragrances for your own collection.

Anya's Secret Garden

2007-08-17T14:43:00.000-05:00

Anya McCoy, well known in the circle of 'natural perfumers' as an acclaimed professional with 15+ years of creative and business expertise in the field. Her private garden Casa Jasmin allows Anya the opportunity to grow and then tincture the many rare and usually unavailable fragrant plants that she loves to use in her perfumes.

Fairchild, inspired by the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Florida and is a breathtaking blending of three distinct jasmines along with ylang ylang, champaca, citrus, beach dried ambergris, oakmoss, seaweed, and pandanus (similar in scent to a peppery saffron wedded with a rose.) Fairchild is not a floral in the truest sense. It's exotic, complex and quite earthy and has not been the easiest of fragrances for me to wear. At first 'sniff' it's as thought someone has shouted 'fire' and all the essential oils and tinctures are trying to leave a burning building simultaneously. If you're unaccustomed to wearing pure, organic fragrances, don't rush too quickly to judgment as I did. Fairchild takes a minimum of 15 minutes to evolve enough to appreciate the complexity and thought provoking nuances that this fragrance brings to the table. Anya invites you to wear Fairchild when you want to feel empowered and strong. And that is exactly when I will wear it...so that would be just about everyday!

I'll review Pan at a future date when I can wrap my mind around the aroma of a tincture of 'rutting billy goat' hair.

Under the direction of Anya McCoy, the Natural Perfumer Guild is flourishing as a consortium of international perfumers, associates, suppliers and enthusiasts dedicated to perfumes made with natural aromatics. "The main principle of the Guild is to exalt and encourage the use of natural botanicals in perfume and toiletries. Standards of excellence in creating natural perfumes are demanded and met by our perfumers. We encourage you to sample these hand made artisan products, luxuriously experiencing the beauty of nature, captured in a bottle."

Fairchild and Pan can be purchased via Anya's Garden web store, in parfum extrait (3.5ml for $40), Eau de Parfum (15ml for $80) or in sample spray size (2ml for $20). A smaller size sample, is also available for $5.

Nemat International Oils

2007-08-15T15:19:00.000-05:00

Incense, attars and bottles oh my!

Nemat International Oils of India has an incredibly huge inventory of oils that are very reasonably priced, well crafted fragrances and attars. The Attarwala family has been involved in the art and science of making attars for over 160 years. Attar is the name given to the fragrant oils made from extracts of flowers, herbs, woods etc. The family name 'Attar'+'wala' means possessor of attar. The Attarwala family traces its roots to the beautiful city of lakes, Udaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, India. Udaipur is known not only for its lakes and majestic palaces but also for its art and culture in which flowers and fragrances have always occupied a prestigious position.

"Nature has provided abundant sources of wonderful fragrances which can invoke deep feelings of joy, excitement or serenity. Each of us is stirred by a variety of fragrances, may it be the fresh green note of the forest after a shower, the early morning scent of the earth or the ever present odors of the beautiful flowers."

My favorite fragrance by Nemat Oils is the Rose S.J. I've no idea what the S.J. stands for, but this is a very confident, very beautiful rose scent with whispers of soft lemon that is about as true to nature as you'll get. I think the inspiration for this may have been the hybrid-tea rose, Fragrant Plum. Call me crazy, but this little bottle of Nemat Oil is incredibly close to the sample I have of Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare by Creed that is part of the Private Collection, rather difficult to find and if you do find it, be prepared for some sticker shock!

Please don't take offense that I can compare a $10.00 fragrance oil with a finished perfume costing thirty times as much. But I'd be less than honest if I didn't commend Rose S.J. to all you rose lovers! It's pure, it's honest and one drop lasted the entire day.

The essential oils sold by Nemat International, Inc. are not diluted in a base oil such as Almond oil, Jojoba oil, etc. These are full strength essential oils. The essential oils can be used in blends to create perfume oils, and to fragrance products such as candles, soaps, incense sticks, etc. Therefore please use caution and apply a single drop or two at the most. These are very potent oils and could be overwhelming to you and to those around you if over applied.

The Nemat Oils website gives a complete listing of where all 200 oils are available for purchase. And if you're looking for bottles of all styles to make decants of your favorite scent to share, Best Bottles is the sister site of Nemat Oils.

Sevi ~ Mundo Botanicals

2007-08-11T21:43:00.000-05:00

"Love is more than a noun at Mundo Botanica. It is the foundation of all we do here and in life." The result...honest, vegan, earth-friendly, cruelty-free and as natural as it gets - products formulated with aroma therapeutic essential oils and organic and/or certified organic botanicals. Sevi Kay, founder of Mundo Botanica is a perfumer, aromatherapist and an author who has been working with holistic remedies professionally since 1996. Sevi, born in Istanbul, grew up in Stockholm and New York.

Handcrafted by Sevi, these aromatic gems are without animal by-products such as Musk, Ambergris, Castoreum or Civet. Their natural fragrance are all free from artificial fragrances and phthalates (such as dibutyl-phthalate DEP, diisononyl DINP and butyl benzyl phthalate BBP). If you are sensitive to many synthetic perfumes, you will find that Sevi's natural perfumes are quite different than commercial perfumes or products containing synthetic fragrances and ingredients. Two exquisite fragrances are now available for your organic perfume needs.

Anatolia
Rising of the sun, fruit bearing earth, ancient dreams... A divine blend with floral and bright citrus notes kissed by dark chocolate. Key Notes:Turkish Rose Otto, Chocolate, Jasmine, Vanilla Bourbon, Orange,Tuberose, Osmanthus. This is a very warm, deep scent that evolves over and over. The verdict: Lots of twists and turns with this one!! I'd love for the chocolate to be more pronounced to tame the jasmine and tuberose.

Acacia Eau de Parfum
It is floral and sweet, sprinkled with a dash of spice. Top that with a breeze from the woods. Turkish Rose Otto, Jasmine , Vanilla Bourbon, Petitgrain, Neroli, White Rose, Tea Rose, Myrrh, Vetiver, Pink Grapefruit, Clove, Wild Sage. The verdict: This is an earthy, wild and mature scent. The sage does eclipse the rose tones...almost 'too green' for me, but definitely wearable, especially as Fall approaches. I'd consider laying just a drop of this with a milder linear rose scent for added depth. Both fragrances wear close to your skin and due to the natural component of the ingredients that Sevi uses, you'll need to reapply frequently, but therein is the beauty of organic fragrances!

Samples and full sized products can be ordered online.

Accord Parfait

2007-08-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

The groom waited nervously at the altar as friends and family took their places on wicker benches placed in a casual manner throughout the garden. Amidst whispers that the bride was having second thoughts about her wedding day, the prelude continued. Loved by countless others before he arrived on the scene could she; would she, keep her vows? He seemed to know deep in his heart that she would always love only him, forsaking her history of 'love them and leave them'. All at once, at a predetermined precise moment, conversation ceased, and everyone knew that the bride had finally arrived. Slowly, but without hesitation, the bride, wearing a gown of creamy white satin, looking radiant and beautiful beyond compare, approached the altar where her groom blushed with thoughts of the honeymoon they would soon share. Our bride and groom pledge their abiding love and seal it with a long and tender kiss as the officiant proudly announces they are now Mirabelle and Gardenia Accord Parfait. Our groom, the Mirabelle plum is a small golden yellow plum with red speckles seems to have a history dating back to Asia Minor. His new bride is the very worldly and outrageously beautiful gardenia whose beauty and aroma takes center stage wherever she goes. Named by Carolus Linnaeus after Dr Alexander Garden (1730-1791), Scottish-born American naturalist, the gardenia has over 250 species that can be found from South Africa to India.

Accord Parfaits created, managed and are introduced by Quatre-Vents Prestige a young company of 'the four musketeers' who are all passionate about beautiful perfumes and have set before themselves a challenge: "to launch successful niche fragrances, which are simple and of high quality, at accessible prices, without advertising hype, focusing on a new consumer trend: the desire, observed in a growing number of countries, to find products which express the values of authenticity, quality and simplicity". How refreshing is that! And congratulations to each of you on your extraordinary vision and success.

Mirabelle and Gardenia Accord Parfait is a 'what you smell is what you get' fragrance with two linear notes of plum and gardenia, expertly combined at a precise concentration that gives you the same top, heart and base notes in an extremely long lasting, beautiful (and I mean beautiful) fragrance that has quickly advanced to the top five fragrances I own. Designed as a summer scent, not even 4 feet of snow in Minnesota will stop me from wearing this scent year round.

If you are like me and can't make up your mind...they have a perfect sample collection you can order. A "Discover Accord Set" is available for 28.00 Euro and contains generous 15ml bottles of six accords.

b-Glowing ~ A Noteworthy Scentational Experience

2007-08-07T07:20:00.000-05:00

Lisa James has always known what it takes to make a great advertising campaign. For the previous 15 years before she opened her on-line beauty bonanza, mega-shopping fragrance and hard to find niche apothecary, she wrote ads for Nike, Coke and other multi-million dollar giants.

A self proclaimed 'beauty junkie' (you wouldn't be reading Noteworthy Fragrances if you weren't one also!) Lisa's love turned to passion and that passion eventually became b-glowing. I consider this to be one of the best organized on-line retailers on the entire web.

The name comes from the call-to-action of “being”. “Be the best you can be”, “Be you”, “Be truthful”, “just be!” And the word "glowing" from reflecting the radiance we all deserve to have inside and out! Lisa obviously has 'the glow'.

Only the best of the fun, hip, sophisticated superior performing, independently owned brands make it to the catalog of b-glowing. Great packaging and a fair price point certainly are important to Lisa as well. She must feel like the proverbial kid in the candy store surrounded with fragrances, bath/body, hair and make-up. Noteworthy Fragrances recommends any fragrance by Crazylibellule & The Poppies.

b-glowing takes pride in presenting products that are: globally conscious, fair trade, eco-friendly and cruelty free. The concierge page is a wonderful place to learn more about Lisa's philosophy, what products are new, great gift ideas from just $15.00 and new arrival announcements.

All products are shipped to you luxuriously wrapped with scarlet red tissue paper and placed in their signature red organza pouch from b-glowing.

So get going and get glowing! Lisa is waiting!

Neil Morris ~ A passion for perfumes

2007-08-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

Making fragrant dreams is what Neil Morris does best. Fulfilling a life time desire to create meaningful and exotic scents, he is blazing new trails in the niche designer league. From the age of nineteen, he's been pursuing his first love. A declared 'self-taught' perfumer, Neil's greatest joy is assimilating your personal information as though he entered your psyche and then produces a mesmerizing perfume cocktail from his collection of over 800 essential and fragrance oils that becomes your very own holy grail. Hundreds of thankful customers have experienced this luxury of having a Neil Morris custom designed fragrance, never to be duplicated for anyone else in the world. I found a very interesting article in the Elegant Wedding magazine describing the minute by minute process of Neil's custom fragrance consultations.

When describing his creations, Neil loves to openly share the inspiration for his fragrances as well as the description of the various notes. Often inspired by imagery and dreams, he likes to have his fragrances transition through various stages while being worn - to move and dance on the skin. In keeping with the celebration of individuality, his fragrances are not gender specific and can be worn by men and women with total confidence.

In fact, my husband is a huge fan of Clear, which tickles his nose and his fancy with bright opening notes of pink grapefruit and linden blossom, then giving way to a beautiful combination of balsam and mint and finally a dry down of cedar and an extraordinary clean musk. This blends perfectly with his skin chemistry and always boosts my 'I'm going to follow you around for another whiff' quotient. On my skin...not so pretty...as the cedar and balsam are dueling it out quite fiercely. This is my man's scent and he doesn't mind for one second that I follow him around! (wink)

My favorite Neil Morris fragrance is Afire...oh la la, this is an amazingly seductive scent. Take an opening of tart citrus, luscious berries swirled in caramel, then a smoldering, passionate frankincense on the scene emerges that ever so slowly sets the stage for whispers of vanilla and soft wood notes. It's like Neil has blended this scent exclusively for me. Does this winsome, smiling teddy bear of a gentleman know me better than I know myself? How could he know what notes would transport me into a private sanctuary where memories have been stored away, where dreams need no permission to return? Although this is not a custom scent designed specifically for me...I truly believe with all my heart...this is what is would smell like. Thanks Neil.

Due to a delightful twist of fate, I have an extra sample collection that I'd love to share with the first person to email me with the correct answer to this question: What are the names of the two fragrances mentioned in the article about the launch of the Neil Morris collection at the Laguna Beach Montage Hotel 'Art of Fragrance'?

Who wants samples??

Purchase the entire NMF line of six 1.7ml spray samples for only $15.00. A perfect way to introduce yourself and your best friends to a collection of fragrances by someone certain to be known and adored throughout the world. I'll return to review additional scents in the future!

Possets 'a buzz' with Honey

2007-08-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Noteworthy News

Just announced - Possets is introducing a very special mid-summer collection of honey scents affectionately called "The Girls".

The first in "The Girls Love" series of Honey scents, is The Girls Love Pink Pepper is really a gorgeous blending of honey and that woody but feminine scent. This is PINK pepper and it dances beautifully with that deep from the comb honey and other secret ingredients within the blend.
The Girls Love Vanilla is for anyone who loves-loves-loves-the smell of vanilla, this is the supersaturated honey soaked, sinful, hedonistic custom rare and unabashed blend you have been waiting for. Outrageously lovely. Too pretty for angels almost, but not too pretty for you!
The Girls Love Limeys comes as really and truly beautiful pairing of honey and lime and secret ingredients, just like bees make. It is a real beauty again. Tart and sweet at the same time, a tiny bit spicy and full of life. And, yes, the word "limeys" is doing double duty!
The Girls Love a Good Posset! Oh so sweet, the honey and the pastry cream. This is the best French pastry cream, so buttery and makes love to your tongue. This is the stuff you find under those excellent plums, a thin coating of heavenly custard (no plums here though...nothing good for you at all). Yes, if you are the gourmand you pretend to be, you will love The Girls Love a Good Posset.
The Girls Love Clubbing! Imagine the thump of Club Bee music, the Girls show up and they are dressed to kill! Those wasp waists and big black eyes! That hair, those black leggings! The haze of clove with honey and other things. Yes. It's going to be a good evening!

Get your own Honey while they last!!

Today we discover a gem of a rose with a name that conjures up memories of my antique tea service, probably gathering tarnish, again in my closet or the sad epitaph of "A real rose dipped in sterling silver for your loved one." Nothing makes me cringe more than that description, unless it's being on the receiving end! But in the context of living, breathing hybrid tea roses, I can welcome Sterling Silver to my garden.

Sterling Silver Rose

The rose that pushed lavenders into popularity, 'Sterling Silver' is still notable for its clear, silvery lavender color and intense old-rose scent. Attractive pointed buds and cup-shaped open blooms come on a medium-size, moderately vigorous bush. One of the first light mauve colored roses. Parent of Angel Face, and second through fourth generation progenitor to many a fragrant mauve rose. Occasionally a bloom from this rose can seriously break your heart with its beauty. Unfortunately, Sterling Silver is not highly disease resistance and when the blooms fade, it can look quite ragged.

Stainless Steel Rose

An alternative rose with an even more unusual name is the Stainless Steel Rose. Also classified as a hybrid tea with impeccable lavender blossoms, up to 6 inches across, possessing a powerful, classic rose scent. Thought to be superior to its popular predecessor, Sterling Silver, because of it's long lasting blooms with a tough constitution. (I wouldn't expect any thing less from a Stainless Steel rose.)

Welcome Spring! Fabienne Christensen, the enchanting owner of the niche perfumery Possets warmly greets you as you step into her Over-the-Rhine studio at the Pendleton Arts Center in historic Pendleton, Ohio. The first impressions of Possets you get from visiting her website are: vintage, quirky, playful, coloring outside the lines and rather unconventional. It's precisely those qualities that endears Fabienne to her loyal customers.

What is a posset? A 'posset' is an archaic English term which originally meant a sweet smelling 'sop' or palliative which was concocted only to make you feel better, but not to cure anything. Later it came to mean something you treated yourself to, a small personal indulgence. It rhymes with 'cosset' because the two words could be used interchangeably. But, alas, the word 'posset' fell out of fashion, until now.

Fabienne has a lust to create fragrance with abandonment and creativity. Her corresponding artwork is also unabashedly creative. She explains, "Some of the ingredients I use are unexpected, some are classics of the art, some combinations are a surprise, and some are new twists on old favorites. As you may have suspected, I adore creativity and I bet you will, too."

It was that creativity that made me take notice of Silver Roses, the sister to Silver Violets. With rose notes of course, there's spun sugar, vanilla, musk and magic. Magic? Is that magic really something more like rose oxide? Fabienne says she once got a bottle of rose oxide and it smelled metallic and wooly. "There's no way this smells like a rose!"

One day, during her ritual morning walk, she notices a rose bush that caught her attention. Bending down to smell the fragrance, she was amazed to discover...what else... rose oxide. Eureka! Silver Roses was born.

"In general, Possets is my perfume company. All of my fragrances are original, hand blended by me, Fabienne Christenson. One of my most profound joys in life is to invent superbly imaginative gorgeous scents. My second most thrilling activity is to revisit ancient recipes and bring them up to 21st century tastes."

Fabienne makes two different kinds of perfume: perfume made with modern ingredients, which are referred to as Possets and 'Possets' 100% Naturals. She is totally strict about the Naturals and they cannot have so much as one drop of anything which is artificial, 'nature identical', man-made from a lab, or a blend of natural and man-made. If she designs a fragrance that has to have anything non-natural in it, it becomes a regular Posset. No ifs, ands or buts about it! At Possets it's either natural or it isn't. Simple. Fabienne wouldn't want it any other way and neither would we.

Try a sample pack and see for yourself what Possets is all about.

I'll leave you with a true temptation that sounds hard to resist. Hearts and Flowers. The 'lovey' perfume for lovers! Real cocoa and real Bulgarian rose make love to each other with the intervention of several other angelic ingredients...just like true love! Everything you could want, and more. Oh Fabienne, have you no shame?
To contact Possets: info@possets.com

2007-08-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

Multi-tasking at Eie Flud
is an art form!

Nestled among trees and streams is the Eie Flud dynasty of handmade toiletries, natural perfumes and noteworthy shaving items for the gentleman.

Heathers' custom products use all natural ingredients, with home grown botanicals, their own honey and beeswax and contain absolutely no chemical additives. Heather Platts, owner of Eie Flud in Leicestershire, England is about as busy as the bees she lovingly accommodates on her rural property. Natural perfumes, handmade soaps, toiletries and custom shaving supplies for men of distinction are just a part of what keeps Heather busy. In addition, Heather has a flock of egg laying (well some of the time) chickens she lovingly refers to as The Girls and how could we not mention Harry and Howie, the sheepish version of the Odd Couple who provide Heather with wool she will eventually spin for her apparel art and hand blended soaps and balms.

AND, there's more.

She is a superb blogger whose witty journal entries take you to 'life on the Eid Flud farm' much like Garrison Keillor and his Prairie Home Companion. You can stop reading this blog entry and check it out now...it's okay! Just come back.

"Made completely from scratch and clinically tested for safety, we don't let anyone else to make them for us- you can be sure of the very best - our products make wonderful gifts or simply that little bit of luxury just for you and your family. Each of our perfumes is made by hand in the classical traditional way using only pure essential oils and absolutes - we do not use synthetic fragrances - this offers you a unique and exclusive product that is a joy to wear."

Creating a bespoke rose perfume for the UK based Peter Beales Rose Nursery, has been one of the greatest highlights of her perfume designing legacy. The Mysterious Rose first entered the world as the 'unknown rose' while it was tweaked and polished for its debut! Some of the guidelines from Beales was that they wanted it to be an obvious rose, natural but not too heavy.

A red and full bodied Bulgarian centifolia absolute and a French musk rose absolute were blended along with a centifolia hydrosol. Heather then created a tincture of real roses from her abundant rose gardens which were originally bought from the Beales nursery. After much serious and careful thought the rose that had the purest and most beautiful scent for tincturing was Ispahan rose. This rose tincture would assure a delicate, light aroma without being cloying and too heady as the preponderance of the aroma of this rose is in the 'threads' of the flower and not the petals. So at last... roses that grace the gardens of Eie Flud have become memorialized in a perfume offered as an exclusive fragrance ultimately named by Amanda Beales.

You know that I am a 'lover of roses' and I could hardly wait to get my hands on a sample of Mysterious Rose. The initial blooming of this perfume was indeed a complex authentic rose. Whispers of buttery smooth orris and nasturtium debuted next in a quiet melody which makes the name of this rose fragrance credible. It is at once familiar and unknown, but it grows on you and I will have to have more. Often designers 'name' a rose fragrance with an exotic title and there are the initial "Oh I got to have that." But the disappointment comes crashing in when you discover it is simply a single noted, linear scent that doesn't even beg a second sniff. Not so with Mysterious Rose. She lives up to her name and almost defies description. Therein lies the mystery of personal skin chemistry and the mystery of a well blended perfume. A+ Heather Platts!

Incredible samples of all the Eie Flud fragrances are available from the website.

Who wants samples?

The picture of the Ispahan rose is from the Beales Rose Nursery website.

Floris of London ~ US Website

2007-07-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

Noteworthy Fragrances announces the US website for Floris of London

"The new American site has been modified to meet the needs of US customers, with the UK site still carrying much of the extensive historical background about Floris." Debra Courtright brings us this good news about developing their presence and profile in the United States. To celebrate, Floris-US is having a clearance sale party you don't want to miss.

Order a Floris Catalog

Order a Floris Sample Box

Immersed in the infinite old-world beauty of London, my afternoon had been perfect, and still savoring the elegant High Tea I had just taken in the Rose room at the St. James Hotel in London, I set out to discover the boutique shops on Jermyn street. Red double-decker buses packed with tourists darted through the streets, while taxi's honked and gestured their way through traffic. I was grateful I did not take public transportation and was free to window shop with abandonment. My husband had left earlier with the rest of our tour to watch the changing of the Palace Guard and 'see the Queen'. I was setting out on Jermyn Street to shop like one!

I found a Royal Dalton china cup and saucer that I just had to have for my collection, tins of familiar teas, jams and lemon curd would also be going home as gifts. Lovely stationary, little vintage pop-up cards and calligraphy pens joined the shopping bags on my arms. I had to reward myself for finding such great selections so I purchased three dark chocolate truffles to be enjoyed with immediate gratification. What a way to experience London.

Being the ever curious person I am, I kept walking on Jermyn Street just to make sure I hadn't missed anything and found my 'heaven on earth'. Floris of London, located at 89 Jermyn Street, is a voyage into the past! Imagine the essence of beautifully crafted fragrances greeting you as you open the door. Imagine the immaculately spotless, gleaming Spanish mahogany counters, the glowing chandeliers and the very proper sales staff nodding politely, not aggressively, but letting you have your personal space just to appreciate the beauty surrounding you. With only a few minutes left before I'd have to return to the hotel lobby to meet our touring group, I was frantic to decide what to sample first and purchase. So when in doubt, I immediately tried the Rose scents of this historical floral perfumer.

Floris of London is one of the world's most traditional perfume makers, established in 1730 by Juan Famenias Floris. After securing premises in London`s St.James, Juan initially set up business as a barber and comb-maker, however, he soon missed the aromas and sensations of his Mediterranean youth. In an attempt to put form to these memories he began blending oils, essences and fixatives, transported from Europe, into the first Floris fragrances. His timeless creations, nine generations later have made Floris of London the ongoing official perfumer of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the supplier of toiletries to the Prince of Wales.

This perfumer is so steeped in history that staff continue to practice vintage/old world charm practices without a second thought. One of the most endearing of these goes back to the late 19th century when Floris began to accept cash as well as account customers. It was then considered rude to give customers dirty or crumpled change, so all coins were scrubbed clean and paper notes were ironed flat. Because my purchase was made with Visa, (never visit London with out it!) I didn't enjoy the time honored tradition of having 'scrubbed coins' returned in my change. Next time for sure!

Floris China Rose, is a warm, romantic and sophisticated scent. A complex bouquet of exotic roses, very sweetly oriental, it is a fragrance of seduction. Though originally created to appeal to women who love strong fragrances, I didn't find it overbearing in the least. "The China Rose woman adores romance, it suits her voluble nature and like the fragrance, she is complex, often mysterious, but always sophisticated and self-assured." Reminds me of "Scent of a Woman," where Al Pacino's character said he could pick out a woman wearing a Floris fragrance.

Floris Rose Geranium, a classic, was first introduced by Floris in 1890 when Pink Geranium was added to an existing Geranium. Floris Rose Geranium are inseparable - an almost holistic fragrance with warn hints of rose, this is a very calming scent. The Bath Oil leaves my skin cocooned in delicate petals and luxuriously soft.

The entire catalog of Floris of London products is vast and includes Tuberose, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Malmaison, and Gardenia fragrances just to name several. These are available in the 50ml and 100ml Eau de Toilette Atomizer, as well as Ead de Parfum, Bath and Body luxury products, Shampoo, Shaving, Linen Sprays and so much more. Free samples are always shipped when you order the catalog!!

The candles Floris of London features delight you on two sensory levels, both visual and aromatic. Each candle is carefully blended and contains a high level of pure fragrance to ensure quality aroma throughout the entire room. Before you leave on your next vacation, be sure to check where Floris of London products are available throughout the world. They're closer than you think! www.florislondon.com

2007-07-29T13:15:00.000-05:00

Florascent Fragrances

Available at Saffron Rouge Organic Boutique

Captivatingly beautiful and natural, Florascent fragrances are delicate floral waters made by combining pure organic essential oils and absolutes, aromatic waters with organic plant and fruit alcohol to create unique and romantic scent combinations that will have you wanting the entire collection.

Precious, natural raw materials produce unique, standout scents, which are hand-bottled, hand-sealed, and packed in unique handmade paper containers.

Florascent was founded in Germany in the mid 1990's. A lot goes into making each bottle of fragrance. Perfumer Roland Tentunian has combined his technical skills and superior sense of smell to revive the traditional art of 17th century perfumery.

During this time, leather gloves were quite fashionable in the royal courts. Acids used in the tanning process gave the gloves a bitter nose stinging acrid smell. Lest you think that perfuming gloves was a strange thing to do, you may want to read exactly how leather used to be tanned. No wonder glove makers searched for a solution to a stinky problem.

Long before Grasse, France, became the perfume capital of the world, it was widely known for glove making. The odor from curing the leather was so offensive that it had to be covered up. The glove makers started to sell fragrant oils along with the gloves. Each customer was now able to have their gloves scented in a fragrance of their choice.

At the time, King Philippe Auguste granted glove makers the exclusive privilege to "prepare perfumes. creams and unguents." For centuries, tanneries, which were Grasse's principal activity, used myrtle and lentisque powders to give their leather a green color and exceptionally fine quality. It wasn't long before a number of them changed their focus entirely from glove making to perfumes, as their fragrant waters became increasingly popular among ladies and gentlemen of the nobility.

Umami: The fifth taste? It’s usually stated that the human tongue can detect only four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter and salty, and that all tastes are combinations of these but in recent years some scientists have added a fifth taste, umami, to the other four. It’s sometimes associated with a feeling of perfect quality in a taste, or of some special emotional circumstance in which a taste is experienced. It is also said to involve all the senses, not just that of taste. There’s more than a suggestion of a spiritual or mystical quality about the word. Explore the embodiment of umami in this delightful fragrance with a strange sounding name.

Umami Notes: Succulent yuzu and delicious vanilla mix with pimento, ginger, osmanthus, tonka bean and sandalwood for a scent that's truly a delicious 'almost culinary' delight. This is a very creamy light scent that just melts into your skin. It is a remarkably long lasting fragrance with just the right amount of vanilla. Definitely not in the gourmand family although the pimento note keeps it slightly elevated on the spicy side.

Umami belongs to the Aqua Composita thematic scent compositions. All fragrances by Florascent are similar in strength to an eau de toilette, but are surprisingly very long lasting. Try Umami for yourself! You truly may have discovered your new 'fifth taste' in a signature fragrance.

A great place to find all of the Florascent fragrances and so much more is a delightful store called Saffron Rouge Organic Boutique located in the Old Quebec Street Shoppes 55 Wyndham Street North, Guelph, Ontario or visit them online. All products purchased from Saffron Rouge Organic Boutique come with a 60 day guarantee that if you don't love it, you can leave it!

2007-07-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Andy Tauer
The Lonestar Memories Maker

Andy Tauer is both a gentleman and a genius when it comes to blending exotic, daring and provocative notes together. His creations include Le Maroc pour Elle, L'Air du Desert Marocan, Reverie au Jardin and Lonestar Memories. Andy Tauer has secured his place in the niche hall of fame with a cult following of admiring fragrance lovers. Humble, unassuming, honest and generous, he exudes an extreme confidence without being haughty. He's witty, playful and a very creative writer as expressed in his own blog.

I presented Lonestar Memories to my husband and asked him to tell me what he thought of the fragrance. Before I could advise him to wait the obligatory 2-3 minutes post-spritz, his nose was buried in his forearm and when he came up for air, there was a pained expression on his face. Entreating him not to rush to judgment, I asked him to give it a chance to settle down and warm to his chemistry. Here was my perfect opportunity to try Lonestar Memories myself and make note comparisons. One spritz was perfectly metered out on my arm and of course being a perfumista in training, I did wait the appropriate time and then a deep inhalation announces..."Andy, you have this blended this very complex fragrance to perfection." My chemistry welcomed the smokey/sweet notes of birch tar, jasmine and tonka while my husband reflected the woody notes of cedar, vetiver and sandalwood. It was unanimous, we both loved this! Snuggle time that evening blended them even better. (wink)

My memory was immediately taken back to a summer vacation at Latigo Dude Ranch in Kremmling Colorado. Picture this scene: The evening ride takes you by horseback to a mountain ridge overlooking a stand of aspen to witness a breathtaking sunset. Already the air is heavy with dew, the sweetness of the native grasses and evergreens surround you with deep aromas reminiscent of cathedral incense. As we dismount, our guide has prepared a campfire and our 'cowboy' coffee. The wind picks up a bit and the smoke reaches out with small embers bursting in the air. The air becomes even heavier as night approaches and millions of stars make their debut in the sky. Even after the memory of our vacation has faded, Lonestar Memories is the fragrant microcosm of this experience. Thanks for the memories Andy!

Unafraid to use the unusual; Geranium, Carrot seed, Clary sage, Birch tar, Cistus, Jasmine, Cedar wood, Myrrh, Tonka, Vetiver and Sandalwood bring wave after wave of olfactory emotion in this incredibly long lasting fragrance.

Andy's fragrances are available at: LuiLei, Lucky Scent, First in Fragrance and the charming Eie Flud. Reverie au Jardin be reviewed in the near future.

ILONA ~ A love story born in Hungary

2007-07-27T10:59:00.000-05:00

At first mist, WITHIN enchants the senses with a floral effusion. As mysterious as the name implies, WITHIN is waiting to express its inner beauty with floral accords that reincarnate the essence of every blossom and flower.

Ilona Makari created WITHIN to represent a personal beauty within every woman and this complex floral scent makes a stunning debut emerging with notes of soft pink cyclamen, delicate African rose petals, fully bloomed pink peony, with a hint of passion flower and a dash of sweet clementine. This floral bouquet is enlivened with suggestions of English ivy leaf and Italian mandarin nectar. Minutes later, deeper notes take center stage with white orris, high mountain jasmine, blue hyacinth and gardenia petals are anchored with Australian boronia flower, authentic teak wood and a sheer sensual musk. WITHIN is unmistakably feminine, unyielding alluring and undeniably sensuous. Definitely not your 'little girl' fragrance, this should be worn by a very secure woman who's not timid! Limited to three products, WITHIN is available in eau de parfum, perfumed body lotion and scented candles. Ilona keeps it simple and keeps it wonderful!

I've been holding back this review back until I thought I had a better understanding on how this fragrance kept evolving on my skin. Since I've gained more confidence in how designers achieve such complex fragrance blending, my conclusion is: this is a very sophisticated floral perfume that refused to be ignored by me. I was hoping for something just a little more 'sweet' to come forth and finally my patience was rewarded when the gardenia notes were fully bloomed and that juicy tart citrus clementine engaged in a seductive slow dance with peony while the rose petals looking on and blushed. This scent is slow to develop, takes a few detours in the journey, but in the end I was rewarded with a beautiful, mysterious and very long lasting scent.

The founder, Ilona also has an amazing skin care line that was actually developed first. She owns a very prestigious Day Spa in the very upscale Cherry Creek shopping district in Denver, Colorado. Several years ago, while Christmas shopping, I happened to visit her salon. All I can say is, "breathtaking luxury" and had I not been sharing a ride with my best friend, I'd surely have spent the rest of the day and my entire shopping budget enjoying the pampering treatments offered. Founded by a Hungarian immigrant, Ilona Makari, the spa offers authentic European facials using their exclusive products line to its devoted clientele. Miss Ilona herself still can be found behind the counter, examining the work of her experienced team of aestheticians. WITHIN is available online at www.ilona.com

Talk a walk in Evan's Garden

2007-07-26T18:46:00.000-05:00

The perfumes of Evan's Garden are highly sophisticated scents made only of pure plant essences (no animal musks or synthetic fixatives). You are invited to indulge yourself with scents that are intended to be deeply moving, aesthetic experiences. Explore these aromatherapy perfumes and you may find a signature scent that expresses your individuality and enhances your overall wellbeing on many levels.

Evan's Garden was founded by Evan Johnson in 2000. With a singular goal to create a very diverse collection of the finest natural and organic products for home and body available anywhere, she is known for her strong belief that you should never compromise quality. She is also well known for her personal touch and truly caring about her customers. Evan proclaims that each of their products delivers the power of whole plant nutrition, including nutrients, trace minerals and powerful anti-oxidants.

Evan's Garden takes great pride in offering nine unique fragrances for women in Eau de Perfume and Perfume Oil. Bouquet de Reves (Bouquet of Dreams) is a perfume of delightful surprises. I love the way the notes fade gracefully into each other as though taking a stroll through an English garden. A citrus splash of bergamot and tangerine are backed up with feminine floral notes of jasmine and orange blossoms. The dry down gradually finishes with interesting and surprising notes dominated by the fresh, woody and slightly masculine vetiver notes, and hint of rose and vanilla. Perfect when you want a subtle, delicate daytime fragrance that is not overpowering and promotes a sense of comfort an femininity of a bygone era.

Evan recommends that when you put the perfume on to allow a few minutes for the scent to develop on you. "Each of my true organic perfumes is a fascinating mixture of many plants and tends to have a somewhat different fragrance on different individuals. If you inhale it every little while, you may notice that the scent is going somewhere. Now the flowers are blooming...now the deeper elements are coming forth. Give the perfume time to get acquainted with you."

Who wants samples?

Additional information and samples are available online from Evan's Garden.

2007-07-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Parfums Divine

In the elegant Edwardian resort of Dinard, on the North coast of Brittany, Yvon Mouchel created a scent and called it Divine. It was sold in a tiny shop. People discovered it, fell in love with it and told their friends about it...and through word of mouth people all over the world have discovered this treasure and hoarded it like the precious gem that it is.

Divine opens with a fruity peach note garnished with coriander, gardenia, tuberose, May rose and basenotes of oak moss, vanilla and spices. The designer Yvon Mouchel started with this perfume and is my favorite of the women's line. Heady, sophisticated and confident would be a perfect match for the woman who knows what she wants and how to get it.

L'Infante is a perfect bouquet of white flowers; Ylang-ylang, Chinese jasmine, peony, blackcurrant and ivy leaves. Finished with sensual ambergris, vanilla, musk and tonka. Perfect for daytime, L'infante does not overpower with the jasmine but rather maintains a green freshness that makes this a great scent for early summer. It's like a dew laden morning as the sun rises on my garden.

L'ame Soeur opens with a burst of jasmine, rose otto, ambergris. Truly a sophisticated scent for special occasions, it's very refined, sparkling, with a highly powdery dry down that is sweet...and reminds me of what my younger sister might enjoy wearing. And if my younger sister would love it...I'd enjoy wearing it too. We are two peas in a pod!

L' Inspiratrice, newest of the collection has notes of rose, patchouli, ylang-ylang, bergamot, peony, white musk, vetiver, vanilla, tonka bean. I thought this was going to be another rose fragrance that would rise to the top of my list of favorites. And I was not disappointed. For a brief time, I thought that the patchouli was going to drown the beloved rose and ylang-ylang, but the peony with its tender kiss of sweetness makes this a coveted fragrance.

I ordered samples from Parfums Divine and they arrived in lightning speed so beautifully packaged that I didn't want to open them right away...yes they are this delightful. It was as though a very dear friend was sending me a treasured gift. Note cards always open with "Chere Madame" and close with "Tres Cordialement." I feel so French...Oui, Oui!
Parfums Divine believes that a woman loves attention to the smallest details and smells the fragrance first with her eyes and then her heart.

Available at
Parfums Divine
Lucky Scent
Luscious Cargo

2007-07-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

Majenty Perfume Oils ~ A tropical vacation in a bottle

Distressed about the high cost of travel? Want to leave your cares behind? Is it time to give that pesky ________ (fill in the blank) a rest? Grab your bikini, your sandals and your beach towel. We're taking a scented vacation to Paradise.

For an Indi perfumer who only launched Majenty perfume oils in March, 2006, Jennifer Auspitz of Los Angeles, California has blazed some incredible trails and has celebraties boasting how much they love her fragrances. Lisa Rinna's Belle Gray boutique in Sherman Oaks now carries Majenty perfume oils.

Irresistible hand-blended, alcohol free roll-on perfume oils by Majenty are a great way to take my perfume with me and never worry about it leaking out and ruining my day. Hand blended and long lasting alcohol free perfume oils come in three luscious tropical scents. Don't worry...these are not the 'gag me with gardenia' perfumes that scream tropical paradise you might be familiar. They will get you noticed, but will never overwhelm you.

Written with a lyrical description you'll fall in love with:

Hidden Cove: "Behind an ocean's stone, she dove and found the Hidden Cove." Inside you'll find an island of water lilies so inspiring, coconuts falling on virgin sands and flower fields across the lands. An "Island getaway" with coconut, flowers of the Far East and fresh water lilies. You feel the warm scented breeze all around you and the sand between your toes.

Embrace the Day: "Embrace the day and get ready for anything that comes your way." Inside is the light that awakens you, a tuberose that allures a love so true, the celestial scent of a wise gardenia sky and jasmine dew that welcomes the sunrise. Notes of gardenia, tuberose jasmine and a gentle mix of plumeria are in perfect blend to take you through your day, whatever it brings...you can handle it inspired and refreshed.

After Hours: "At twilight we gather and channel the power of After Hours." You hold the key to opening a jasmine impulse of love everlasting, a tropical world of charity and rain, the allure of coconut and hyacinth in spring. An irresistible concoction of coconut, jasmine and tropical florals to take you effortless from day to evening. What's happening in your 'after hours?

For more information on where you can purchase your own 'vacation in a bottle' please visit www.majenty.com.

2007-07-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Parfums d'Armando
Noteworthy Newsflash for US readers:
All four Parfums d'Armando are now available in the US directly from Armando on his blogsite. Be sure to check this out and stay tuned to reviews of the newly launched Satyr and Benefactor.

Inspired by the love for classics, Armando Martinez a delightful newcomer on the niche scene of fragrances has quickly established himself as a designer to be reckoned with. From Armando: "I am an amateur perfumer that has been creating scents for over 5 years. A work in progress. I feel it's now time to unleash my creations to the public and I hope that they will be enjoyed and loved. I hope they awaken memories, emotions and above all else, make you feel good, my primary focus."

With four fragrances now available on First in Fragrance (no easy task to be listed here) Armando offers Maquillage, Pillow of Flowers, Satyr and Benefactor. Since I have not sampled Satyr and Benefactor, I will focus my comments on Maquillage and Pillow of Flowers and will look forward to reviewing his two newest fragrances in the coming days.

Maquillage: The name for this fragrance is taken from the French word for makeup reminiscent of fine dresser sets gracing the boudoir of the most dignified ladies. Armando's love of vintage and classic fragrances pays homage to Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique. Maquillage is a very feminine, powdery fragrance with a rich floral/citrus blending. When I wear a fragrance with dominate 'powdery notes' I refuse to smell like baby powder. Never fear...you're not getting baby powder with this scent. Armando captures the essence of a bygone style of elegance and glarmour with Maquillage. The official notes are: lemon, lime, linden, honey, peach, rose, jasmine, violet, musk, iris, vanilla. I've often wondered how successful a marriage would be between multiple citrus, honey and vanilla notes would be and Armando has answered my questions. This is a well crafted scent that is not overpowering and is well anchored.

Pillow of Flowers: Asking Armando about his inspiration for Pillow of Flowers he delighted me with this: "I wanted a very vintage in feel but modern white fuzzy floral scent. Something that evoked white clothes (couture like vintage Balenciaga, Givenchy, etc...), white interiors of a chic apartment or a chic restaurant of the 1950's like in a movie with Doris Day or Audrey Hepburn for example. I imagined vases of white flowers all around as well too. I wanted the scent to be a homage to an older era when aldehydic florals were very much appreciated. This scent stands apart from the others because it's more mature, more complex and more sexy in a goddess way." I personally see Pillow of Flowers as the epitome of flowers and aldehydes in a harmonious marriage. In a reversal of fragrance composition, Armando has taken what is normally considered basenotes and turned them up side down. No doubt that this scent is a basenote junkie's dream. The opoponax could get out of hand combined with frankincense and vetiver, but they continue to mellow into a glamorous white floral bouquet. Retro, yet strangely modern as the florals, aldehydes and basenotes dance upon you skin wearing luxurious satin gowns.

Armando is confident enough not to be intimidated by his trial and error approach to fragrance blending. "I like to think that the scents I create fall into this sort of happenstance category. I have the best intentions of creating something from an inspiration of another great classic of perfumery. But the outcome ends up to be quite unique unto itself and totally my own, which is a blessing."

An esteemed lady close to Armando's heart lived her life by this inspiration and now Armando, congratulations as you've entered your moment in the spotlight. "I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it." Audry Hepburn

Parfums d' Armando are now available for sampling and purchase to the entire world at First in Fragrance.

L'Artisan Parfumeur ~ La Chasse Aux Papillons

2007-07-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

Chasing Butterflies
Child of mine

innocently chasing butterflies,

your outstretched hands hide in the flowers

hoping to cradle in your fingers

the prize of iridescent wings.

From flower to flower you play hide and seek,

yet she escapes again and again.

Far better, child of mine to ravish

her beauty with your eyes, than to crush

such a gentle spirit trapped in a winged body who only longs for one more day.

You cry, yet she rejoices and flies away. J. Boyce

Evoking the image of chasing butterflies in fully bloomed summer gardens, La Chasse Aux Papillons is frequently critiqued as 'ordinary', 'non-specific', 'no sillage', 'not full bottle worthy'. I cant imagine that we're even wearing the same fragrance when I note those comments. La Chasse Aux Papillons is a floral garden in a bottle, a sparkling summer shower of linden, lemon, tuberose, playing a game of hide and seek with orange blossom and jasmine. I don't necessarily expect such an seamless blending to last an entire day. This is a 'close to the skin' kind of fragrance that inspires a calmness in my spirit. As the tuberose gently wafts into the air, I'm walking through a tropical promenade as animated flowers beckon me to sip their nectar with tiny giddy visitors darting about with gossamer wings who are refreshed with liquid perfume spilling from the flowers.

L' Artisan Parfumeur, created by Jean Laport in 1976 is truly without rival among fragrance designers with a cult following of devotees on every continent. Luscious Cargo appropriately describes L'Artisan's fragrances "are for those of us who crave a unique scent that will stand apart from the maddening crowd of scent strips cluttering up glossy magazines. They are created to evoke memories – the bittersweet nostalgia of childhood, first loves, possibly heartbreaks...in other words, the beauty and wonder of life."

If you're looking for innocent, you chose La Chasse Aux Papillons, if you'd rather venture towards the mystical, spiritual hallways of cavernous cathedrals, you're destined to love Dkonzgkha an intriguing fragrance, an invitation to spirituality, an inside journey. Dark and startling incense from Dkonzgkha draws reverence from my cynical competitive nature and slows me down. What could it do for you?

L'Artisan Parfumeur simply boggles my mind with endless olfactory offerings of perfumes, body care, candles and custom gifts...new temptations greet with each clock of your mouse when you browse this website. Enjoy!

Who wants samples?

2007-07-22T17:47:00.000-05:00

Spawned in the azure lagoons of the South Pacific, black pearls are the magnificent result of a unique collaboration between humans and mother nature, so too are the fine products of Black Pearl Botanicals.

Founded in 2001 by Jill Gibbs this line of wild crafted, 100% essential oil fragrances will have you saying "YES" to"NO."

Let me explain: NO Chemically Modified or Artificial Ingredients, NO Synthetic Preservatives, NO Artificial Dyes, NO Fragrance Oils, NO Phthalates, NO Mineral Oil, NO Lanolin, NO Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, or Ethyl Parabens, NO Synthetic Emollients, NO Synthetic Oleochemical or Petrochemical Detergents, NO Animal Testing, NO Adulteration!! Believing in 100% full disclosure on the ingredients in her products, Jill provides detailed information on usage and storage of Black Pearl Botanicals.

Rejuvenation: Is a zesty invigorating citrus scent. It is sparkling, fun, sporty, fresh, green and spicy. This perfume is stimulating and will help evoke mental clarity, confidence and youthful energy. Both men and women can wear this fragrance.
Vitality: Can be described as soft, sweet, fruity and vibrant anchored with Sandalwood. It is fun, flirty, and very feminine. Fantastic for those who are feeling bored and in a rut.
Paradise: Is soft, warm, rich, voluptuous, tropical, exotic, floral, citrus with a hint of vanilla to round out the blend. Its rich in these aphrodisiacs: ylang-ylang, neroli also known as orange-flower, vanilla, rosewood and cardamom. This perfume is sure to spice up your love life!
Evergreen:Is like walking through a forest with sun warmed pine needles. The aroma is sweet, woody, balsamic, soft and warm. One of the key ingredients is fir balsam which has a Christmas Tree aroma. The scent gives one confidence and strength during stressful times. This fragrance was designed for both women and men.
Joy: Is Black Pearl Botanicals #1 best seller. It is rare to find an all natural gardenia themed perfume. The aroma is sweet, sensual, sexy, soft, velvety, euphoric, romantic, floral with a hint of coconut.
Indulgence: Can best be described as divine, delicious, velvety, feminine, soft, intoxicating and floral. This perfume has four known aphrodisiacs that elicit feelings of confidence, sensuality, fantasy, relaxation and fun.

Samples, samples...who wants samples?

Miya Shinma

2007-07-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Noteworthy Fragrances is proud to introduce you to
Miya Shinma.

Miya began studying perfumery in Tokyo in 1992 but discovered that she also loved living in Paris, where she continued her studies in more depth and has exhibitions at the Shizuoka Perfume Museum in Japan. Within the year she began teaching perfumery in Japan and also launched her own brand. Today she divides her time between teaching in Japan and creating fragrances in France. Miya has five beautiful fragrances that are unique, mysterious and worthy of your investigation.
Each perfume comes in a beautiful, delicate glass bottle, house inside a Japanese box.

Sakura features notes of cherry blossom, white rose, rose, peony, cassis, lemon, cedar, and white musk. Cherry Blossoms are Japan's national flower and play a dominate role in Japanese culture. Many Japanese celebrations are held under these beautiful blossoms.

Kaze is like a clear, crisp breeze sweeping in from the ocean. Grapefruit, melon and slices of white flowers combine with musk, cedar and hinoki to create a transparent and fresh marine fragrance that's addictive.

Feuillage Vert has the scent of freshly bought flowers and buds that envelop a room with their sweet aroma. Like petals and leaves, this truly does have the fragrance of a beautiful garden. Exquisite, fresh and sweet, with bergamont, cardamom, rose, bamboo, cedar and white musk.

Hana A harmonious fusion of Ylang-Ylang, Fleur d'Orange, Rose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Iris, Vanilla. For some strange reason, this fragrance induces deep and restful sleep. A welcome relief after a stressful day.

Tsuki Elegant and seductive notes of Bambo, Ozone, Iris, Rose Framboise, Santal, Musk, Vanilla. Probably the most mysterious of Miya's collection.

A little hard to find, but worth the search...available online at HQ Hair and beauty store.

2007-07-19T21:25:00.000-05:00

From 'Rock Chick' to Rock Solid

Jo Wood, wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood is an original rock chick. But far from living a life of rock'n'roll excess, these days she's greener than green, having embarked on an organic lifestyle. The minute she saw the difference a chemical-free diet made to her health, there was no looking back.

Jo Wood is dedicated to organics, having great respect for the incredible properties of nature they have committed to making the purest, most natural products possible using only the highest grade of essential oils and plant extracts.

Capturing the spirit of the Caribbean, Mexico, Africa's Indian Ocean and the Far East, Jo's target was to create a line of organic body fragrances that was also exquisite. One of the most interesting facts about the line is that it contains no water, but features an ultra-filtered form of orange juice known as vegetal water which provides anti-oxidants to the skin.

Jo's philosophy is quite simple, yet quite profound, "I’m passionate about organics. From the food in the fridge to the sheets we sleep on, our house is totally organic."

Inspired by the Swahili word Usiku which means 'night' is warm and sensual, with a fresh, vibrant edge, this is a scent for men and women alike. Top notes of rosemary and pine needle with a spicy hit of cardamom and hot ginger. Complex heart notes of coriander, clove, and clary sage. Base notes of Moroccan cedar wood, patchouli, and vetiver.

Amka, also a Swahili word means 'to wake' and begins with bright fresh top notes of neroli and bergamot. Heart notes of Iranian rose otto and Egyptian jasmine. Base notes of green mandarin and sweet orange add a layer of fresh vibrancy.

Available from our good friends at Saffron Rouge and Beauty Habit and online at Jo Wood.

She simply has no common scents!

2007-07-17T17:17:00.000-05:00

Sonoma Scent Studio

The Sonoma Scent Studio was formally established in 2004 by Laurie Erickson who has always taken inspiration from and sanctuary in the beauty and serenity of nature. Laurie's studio is located in the beautiful rolling hills of Sonoma County in Northern California's wine country. The cottage-style studio and gardens are surrounded by majestic oaks and overlook the neighboring vineyards. Introduced to fragrant gardens tended by her mother and grandmother, Laurie began blending jasmine and rose absolutes to capture the aroma of her favorite flowers long after the blooming season was over. Some of her favorite scents have been from the house of Rosine and Caron. After years of experimentation, Laurie decided it was time to launch Sonoma Scent Studio and a dream became reality.

"It's taken many years to acquire a big enough stock of materials to create really professional perfumes with both naturals and synthetics. My inspiration originally came from nature and gardening, then moved to niche perfumes, and then back to nature again for creating some specific accords. There’s always more to learn."

When I asked Laurie where she sees Sonoma Scent Studio in the next two years, she replied, "My goal has been to offer a small line of high-quality, unique perfumes and body creams through my online shop and through some boutiques. I've had interest in my scents from several online niche boutiques, but I'm making myself wait until I have my scent list the way I want it before I start to wholesale. My scent list had become a bit too long and I wanted to pare it down to focus on some of the most special scents." Laurie has learned that being a niche perfume designer has its growing pains of change and she is narrowing her focus by paring down the number of scents she offers for sale on her website.

Among the many luxurious ways you can pamper yourself with Laurie's unique hand blended scents, are the indulgent body creams, eau de parfum and perfume oils. I'll quickly cast my vote for Opal, the concentrated perfume oil made with a natural pure fractionated coconut oil base; no alcohol, silicones, water, emulsifiers, sunscreen additives, or colorants are added. The fractionated coconut oil has no odor of its own, has a long shelf life, is very light, dries quickly, and is an excellent light moisturizer. Opal has become one of my new favorite fragrances with notes of a delicate musk, vanilla, ambrette, bergamot and sandalwood. This perfume has an excellent sillage and is remarkably long lasting. I normally shy away from many scents with bergamot as this note is not as complementary to my personal chemistry as I wish it were. The vanilla makes for a warm and snugly scent that radiates desire. This weekend when I was sampling Opal, I know that I'd been wearing it at least two hours, when my hubby looked up from a novel he is writing and asked, "Honey, what did you just put on?" His way of asking what sample I was testing...my surprise was that the oil I had earlier put my wrists had suddenly bloomed again and was a fragrant surprise to us both. I love my fragrances in the perfume oil version and Laurie has so many unique and intriguing blends, that I'm sure you'll all find your favorite as well!

Be sure to visit her delightful blog written in a true journalistic style. I enjoy keeping up to date on what she's busy doing by visiting her blog on a regular basis.

Sonoma Scent Studio products are available online with amazingly fast shipping and come in chic packaging that bespeaks quality all the way. Working in the customer service field for years, I can't emphasize enough her conscientiousness in returning any inquiries I've made with lightning speed. Kudos to you Laurie.

Keep those fragrances coming!!

Who wants samples??

2007-07-16T22:16:00.000-05:00

Finding Your Inner Goddess ~ Lakshmi NYC

Are you still looking for sultry, sexy and 'scentsational'? I think you can end your search with Lakshmi NYC fragrance oils. A drop of these potions on your wrist, behind your ear or anywhere you want to get noticed will have you feeling like a goddess in your very own world. Athena, Lakshmi and Parvati are perfumes developed by Jo Hook. Her loyal following of customers apply the oils as part of their morning ritual and invoke the characteristics of a particular goddess.

ATHENA is the multi-faceted warrior goddess of wisdom, practical reason and handicraft. Who doesn't need all that? The scent is crisp, direct and infused with natural lemongrass.

LAKSHMI is the Goddess of Abundance. She is personified as the goddess of fortune and wealth and as an embodiment of loveliness, grace and charm. She grants worldly prosperity, as well as liberation from the cycle of life and death. Wear the scent of Lakshmi. Spicy and sultry, Lakshmi is an earthy musk-based fragrance.

PARVATI is the Goddess of Perseverance. She is worshiped as a goddess of perseverance and devotion. Receive the blessing of perseverance by wearing the scent of Parvati. Flowery, cool, light and sweet, Parvati is an ethereal vanilla and amber-based fragrance.

Available in an impressive collection of products at Lakshmi NYC .

Today I've become a Rich Hippie

2007-07-15T23:01:00.000-05:00

Exquisite, chic, hip and luxurious…all describe a line of organic fragrances from Rich Hippie, a California-based perfume house. Looking for the ultimate trip back to the 60's? Are your tie-dyed tee shirts, and your love beads missing or long ago sold at your neighbor's garage sale? Your inner 'flower child' is easily recaptured with any Rich Hippie fragrance.

The company has brought back traditional perfumery techniques employed by the great French perfumers at the turn of the late century to create a line of perfume that is truly beautiful and unique. In the words of Rich Hippie creator and perfumer Nannette Pallrand: "There is nothing more beautiful than an all-natural perfume where you can actually smell the real flowers as opposed to a man-made chemical perfume that uses synthetic versions of flowers concocted in a laboratory. Studies have even shown that a real and all-natural perfume actually creates a chemical reaction in the body that uplifts the senses whereas a man-made, synthetic perfume brings the senses down." Rich Hippie is a line of completely organic, wild-crafted perfumes, created from carefully selected plant extracts and packaged in apothecary bottles that is hip and original. On the pricey side? You bet! Worth it? You decide!

Rich Hippie now has fifteen perfumes in its ever expanding collection: Bliss, Maharishi, Devotion, Rock Star, Rich Hippie, Bohemian Wedding, Spring, The Kiss, Purple Haze, Marrakech, Wild Thing, Kalachakra, Utopia, Nirvana and Psychedelic. While the first nine scents are predominately feminine, the last three are classified as unisex fragrances.

Bliss, my favorite is deeply romantic, uplifting with feminine floral notes of Bulgarian Damascena Rose and Tunisian citrus. Extracts from organically-farmed plants and flowers from all corners of the world including Davana from India, Rose from Bulgaria and Turkey, Vanilla from Madagascar, Citrus from Brazil, spices from east Africa and Orris from Albania combine to make this a world class fragrance, expensive, but world class.

So strap on your Birkenstock's, get your grove on and head over to the Rich Hippie, website where any of the fragrances can be purchased online or from one of my favorite power shopping boutiques, Luscious Cargo.

Whole Fragrance

2007-07-14T10:52:00.000-05:00

Whole Fragrance by La Dolce y Vito was founded by Irma Bustos an individual with vast knowledge of the healing and mood-enhancing powers of plants. "Our philosophy is that humans should live in harmony with nature." Irma is an exotic chef and a student of nature, photography, and architecture. For decades, she has researched botany, homeopathic medicine, botanicals, organic perfumes, essential oils, nutrition and natural sciences. Other interests are philosophy, yoga, astrology, tarot and psychic self-defense. Irma’s art collection and extensive library are testament to serious study. Out of Irma's eclectic background comes a unique line of earthy natural, cruelty-free, eco-friendly body care and perfumes, with a hint of added magic, and easy to live with pricing. While I definitely appreciate Irma's philosophy and would encourage her to continue developing additional products, this line was slightly beyond my ability to appreciate them as fragrances I'd wear on a frequent basis.

Seven for Men is an herbal fragrance for men like a walk on the beach, airy and breezy. A refreshing herbal blend that makes men wonderful and confident. Definitely unisex!

Spice of Life is a romantic herbal spray for men relaxing and transcends all your cares. A light and appealing blend of natural essences.

In the Spirit of Luck is a beautiful, unisex herbal blend for those who prepare for luck. Expecting luck is a positive anticipation that makes you feel great.

Evening Spirit is an unique anise herbal blend for unisex. It inspires celebration and carefree action. Be spontaneous.

Flowers of Love is a delicate, delightful, light herbal spray for women. Divine, alluring and mysterious. Flowers of Love gives women an added elegance.

Flame Minx is a passionate burst of fresh air for the women who enjoys surprises. A daring yet mystic blend of flora essences that create enchanting moments.

Whole Fragrance products have been featured in New Age Retailer, NY Yoga Magazine, Daria Magazine, Gothic Beauty, and Faerie Magazine. Samples were included in the Swag Bags for
the Monaco Film Festival 2006, Cannes International Film Festival 2006, and the Toronto Film Festival 2006, and the San Diego Film Festival 2007.

You can learn more about Whole Fragrances and how to order a set samples on their website.

Had any good dreams lately?

2007-07-13T00:06:00.000-05:00

Dream Esscents is a delightful Chicago based business with some of the most yummy gourmand scents I've ever experienced. Created by Tanya Casteel, whose lifelong love for fragrance began as a small child when she started collecting perfumes. She simply cannot remember a time when she was not blending her own fragrances.

Dream Esscents is known for their gourmand fragrances. However, Tanya has many customers requesting spices, woods and resins and she is slowly adding those to her line, while still trying to keep the amount of scents that she offers at a manageable level.

Specializing in high quality long lasting parfum oils and eau de parfum sprays, each one is custom created and hand blended. Original, one of a kind, signature fragrances are also available if you would like to create your own unique scent.

The Dream Esscents collections include: Gourmand/CakeAccords, Floral/Green, Musk, Sheer, Chocolate, Woods/Spices and Citrus.

Dream Esscents offers a wide variety of 'collections' that rate a 'must have this one for sure' but one really stood out to me and has become my favorite. From the gourmand collection is a perfume called Honey Bee. Honey, vanilla bean and toasted nuts appears to make this pretty much a linear fragrance, but only at first sniff. The blending of the vanilla bean and nut notes (that sounds funny to say) gives the aroma of the waxy honeycomb as well. I was re-sniffing every two minutes and the fragrance kept evolving into a sweet, warm, comfort scent, that probably might be better suited in the Fall and Winter, but I love wearing it now!! It is quite similar to Allesandro by Mazzalori without the cherry/almond extract note. And it's certainly a bargain at $25.00 for a 1 oz Eau d Parfum spray. I'm not sure if I wear this or put this on my English muffin...it's that realistic! Bee-lieve me!

All scents come in a dry oil and shea butter oil sprays for luscious aromas from head to toe and are available online at Dream Esscents.

Who wants samples?

2007-07-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

The ABC's of Ineke Fragrances

Born out of great desire to accomplish a signature line of non-cloying, easy to wear scents, Ineke Rühland who perfers to be known as a parfumier decided to develop her own line and has garnered shelf space in some of the most famous retail stores in the world. In her mid 30s, shegot serious and enrolled in the two-year perfumery program offered by France's Institut Supérieur International du Parfum, de la Cosmétique, et de l'Aromatique Alimentaire, the world's only university-level perfumery school. From appearances, she did her homework and passed with an A+. Undaunted in this adventure as the sole employee of her company, Ineke's fragrances are developing a rapid following. Count me among those who are delighted to wear each and every one of these straightforward scents.

This August, she will launch her 5th fragrance called Evening Edged in Gold. Scented with angel trumpet, it promises to be just as unique as her others.

Keeping with the 'letters of the alphabet' which is a perfectly delightful way to name her scents, Evening Edged in Gold will follow:
After My Own Heart ~ "The scent of fresh lilacs floating on the early evening breeze", includes notes of bergamot, raspberry, green foliage, lilac, sandalwood, heliotrope and musk.
Balmy Days and Sundays ~ A Sunday afternoon in a park, wispy clouds floating by, carefree... with notes of freesia, leafy greens, grass, honeysuckle, rose, mimosa, chypre accent and musk.
Chemical Bond ~ Opposites attract across the bonds of the periodic table. "Sparkling citrus and powdery soft in a flirtatious alchemy." Notes of a smooth citrus cocktail, tea, blackberry, dewy peony, vetiver, amber and powdery musk.
Derring-Do ~ Clark Gable in his smoking jacket lookint quite dapper. Fresh citrus blend, rain notes, cyclamen, magnolia, fougère accents, cardamom, pepper, guaiacwood, cedarwood and musk.

Who wants samples?

The Ineke deluxe sample collection offers beautifully packaged 1.5ml sizes of her four fragrances and provides a low-risk way to try her fragrances. The $12.00 price will be fully redeemable against any future product purchase. The deluxe sample collection is available only on the Ineke website.

Jalaine Fragrances

2007-07-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Introducing JALAINE fragrances developed by Jalaine Sommers. (Formally known as Bagutta Life fragrances.)

Like precious stones, perfumes vary in quality. Creating a fragrance that stands apart from the ordinary is costly, time consuming and takes a great deal of patience. Combining impeccable oils found throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Jalaine has developed a line of fragrances that are alcohol free, allowing the full potency of each scent to be experienced for hours. When Jalaine says that a single drop will last for hours, she is absolutely correct. Her fragrances are pure perfume oils and intensely concentrated packaged in stunning hand-cut Italian glass bottles.

My favorite is Jalaine's Vetiver, a gorgeous deep, dark, delicious blending of Vetiver, patchouli, musk and amber. The dry down is soft, sensual and powdery. It reminds me of oriental tapestries, secret labyrinths and seduction.

Gardenia: Gardenia extract, white musk, Egyptian musk. This emphasizes the ethereal qualities of the blossom, rather than the sweetness of the dominate flower.
Amber: Moroccan amber, hints of 3 different white musks. Seductive, mesmerizing rendition of amber's wilder side tempered with soft, clean musk.
Vetiver: Patchouli, sandalwood, musk, amber. Ceremonial, sparkling blend that's definitely not your everyday vetiver, but sweeter.
Citrus Dream: Sweet orange, grapefruit, musk. A delicious burst of citrus, sunny and beguiling for a summer day.
Patchouli: Tunisian Patchouli, musk, vanilla. Muted, mystical, magical with a chocolate drydown. Warning: This is for women, not little girls.
Vanilla: French vanilla, vanilla musk. Rather foody, not especially creative, but super long lasting.
Ocean: Oceanic oils, lily of the valley, musk. Sheer, luminous, like a chiffon veil blowing in a South Pacific breeze.
Silk: White amber, vanilla, marine notes. Soft, buttery elegance with a twist on vanilla.
Green Tea: Extract of two different teas. I love the citrus note that opens this tea blend. It has unfortunately been compared with Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea. So not true! This has incredible lasting power and is one of the best tea fragrances I've worn so far this summer.

Available at Lucky Scent and online at Jalaine.

JoAnn Bassett

2007-07-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

The journey of JoAnne Bassett, Master Natural Perfumer

Occasionally a perfume designer touches my heart in such a way that I cannot help but share her perfume journey with all of my readers. This person is JoAnne Bassett. I've rarely done a full interview with the designers that Noteworthy Fragrances has showcased and I want you to know more about this extremely talented and amazing woman.

Before you read this interview, I simply must tell you about my favorite perfume that JoAnne has designed. It is Le Voyage and it is amazing! Le Voyage is truly an unparalleled fragrance offered in eau de toilette or perfume. Each bottle is lovingly blended from rare and precious essential oils to form a harmonious potion. A symphony of exotic flowers and sacred oils marry to create a concerto never before heard. The painstaking method of creation, uses the finest, most expensive ingredients available. This is definitely not a simple linear perfume, but one of great mystery that evolves during the course of wearing. At first glance you might think this fragrance could be almost overpowering, but it is a well mannered, polite and demure accessory that could be worn everywhere from the boardroom to the ballroom. Leaving the office, I'd recommend switching to the perfume and you are ready for a night of dining, dancing and shall we say daring? Le Voyage can be sampled in the eau de toilette version for $2.00.

JoAnne combines pink lotus (hydrodistilled essential oil not the absolute), hydrodistilled frankincense from Oman, Bulgarian alba rose otto (white rose oil), East Indian Mysore sandalwood, litsea cubeba, jasmine sambac absolute, ylang ylang, linden blossom absolute (tillea cordata) from France, in organic grape alcohol. The parfum is in organic jojoba oil.The sensuous fusion has a mystical quality with the potential to transform its wearer with a haunting fragrance.

Joanne Bassett offers her fragrances in delightful collections that can be sampled as well. Warning: you'll try one and then want them all. Yes, they are that wonderful.

The French Collection
The Divine Collection

The Royal Collection

JoAnne also offers one of the best all-inclusive fragrance design kits available, including 39 perfume essences, charts, recipes and all the supplies needed for making your own natural perfumes. Develop your inner perfumestia with this essences kit.

So tell me JoAnne, how did you become interested in natural perfumery?
I have always been interested in fragrance. As a child I loved to smell all of the flowers in the yard. I loved the lilacs, iris, old fashioned roses, peonies, lily of the valley, apple blossoms, and even the smell of some wild flowers that were unusual. Walking in the woods was a great experience for me as I loved the smell of pine trees. Herbs like dill were used in cooking and canning pickles....and the smell of garlic were perfumes I smelled often. These were the beginning of the natural scents in my mind. As an adult I had my own organic herb and vegetable garden, cutting flower and rose gardens. I began to make potpourri and soap from the materials in my yard. My company Bassett Aromatherapy was started 16 years ago. Traveling to over 40 countries sourcing essential oils and raw materials opened my eyes to a whole new world. Perfume materials that were natural and exotic piqued my interest. As an aromatherapist I was hired to create private label products for stores and spas. This meant designing a natural scent for ambiance for their environment that could be used in an electric diffuser. A natural scent for their product line was also developed to be added to lotions, soap, bath salts, and to fragrance everything else. As a result of this the owner would want a perfume created for them. My natural perfume career began without my calling myself a perfumer. Many clients were having me make custom formulas for emotional or physical ailments. It was just a natural progression that some of these "feel good" formulas contained rose, sandalwood, and some pretty smelling botanical essences. So the small vials and bottles I made and sold were my beginning perfumes. True aromatherapy does not use the absolutes so when I worked with the jasmines and other absolutes I designated them perfumes. That was way back in the early 90's. I still have some of the formulas.

Who or what was your inspiration?
My Mother always wore fragrance...Youth Dew was her favorite scent. She layered it ..She would wear powder, lotion, and eau de toilette every day of her life. Everything was scented to soap and bath salts...always. Fresh flowers in the house and herbs in the kitchen. I grew up with scents everywhere and with 4 sisters and a French father with roots to Paris; fragrance is in my blood. I received my first fragrance set from Avon when I was still a child. I was fascinated and began to wear it everyday.

What was the compelling force the decision to use 'natural' ingredients in your fragrances?
At some point I was not able to wear my Chanel 5 or Coco or some other synthetic commercial fragrances. I would cough, and get an irritated throat, my eyes would tear, and my nose would become plugged. I would have an allergic reaction when I walked through a fragrance department in a store. So after years of wearing the synthetic fragrances made mostly from laboratory chemicals, some essential oils, and DPG I had to stop wearing them. I traveled Europe trying fragrances that were labeled Naturelle to be disappointed to discover they contained synthetic fragrance oils. Becoming weary of natural labels I researched and found that "nature identicals" is only copying the smell of a flower in a laboratory. Then they make the compound from chemicals and call it natural..like the lilac and Lily of the valley we see in stores. Totally synthetic. The naturals have more nuances than the synthetics which are more linear. I began to create my own fragrances from essential oils and raw materials from only naturals.

Do you source your ingredients both US and International?
Yes I have imported from many countries for Bassett Aromatherapy. India has a wealth of oils and raw materials that are perfect for perfumes.

You have several collections...Please tell me about the Royal Collection?
I love travelling and have spent as much as 3 months in Europe at a time on fragrant and historical journeys of my own. My father's family (Bassett) is a descendant of Emperor Charlemagne. So being of royal blood I have an interest in the history and the nobles of long ago. There is also royal blood on my Mother's side of the family. The palace of Versailles is one of my most favorite places. I love the gold gilding and the grounds...the style and elegance of the Austrian crystal chandeliers. My memories of the palace came to me one day when I sat down to formulate and Versailles eau de parfum was born. The whole Royal Collection was already alive in my head and I merely had to bring out the paper and start writing down the formulas and placing the oils in the bottles. It was meant to be. The various Royal perfumes represent a number of the fragrance categories. It is very complete. Napoleon is a musky fragrance that is one of my favorites. I also wear it layered with Chantelle and sometimes Versailles. Madame Pompadour contains almost 40 essences so it is very complex. All of my collections are for both women and men.

Do you tincture any unusual fruits or flowers for your perfumes?
I make tinctures of tuberose, honeysuckle, pittosporum, and some uncommon flowers growing in California that are very unusual, vanilla beans, ambergris, various spices, and gardenia infusions in jojoba oil. I make perfume in the old classic French style with salon strength. Everything is done by hand, macerations, tinctures, infusions, marrying for a month, filtering, hand bottling and labelling. It is a very serious labor of love.

What has been the most rewarding achievement you've accomplished in your fragrance journey?
Making custom fragrances for both women and men and the wonderful responses I receive from my clients. They love the natural parfums and the French flacons I sell them in.

How has being a member of the Natural Perfumer's Guild assisted your progress as a natural perfumer?
The Guild has given me more visibility. Companies contact me who want me to design custom signature scents for them and develop a whole line based on my creations. I am happy to offer this service along with consultations for various projects.

Where do you see your business in 2 years?
For almost 2 years I had a natural perfume boutique, Le Bijou in La Jolla. I closed the boutique in March 2007 so I could develop more perfumes and get my lines in high end department stores, boutiques, hotels, spas, and apothecaries. In 2 years I will be a major natural perfume line sold in many fine stores throughout the world. I will continue to make quality a priority and my line will be known for the rare and costly essences used.

JoAnne, thank you for spending the afternoon with me and for this lovely interview. Noteworthy Fragrances wishes you the absolute very best in your journey and invites you back again in the future.

2007-07-06T18:30:00.000-05:00

Shelly Kyle ~ Indulging your inner princess!

Inspired by a desire to make some changes in her life and become more independent, Shelley Kyle began gluing Austrian crystals and antique pearls onto bottles as an expression of her creativity. These bottles were well received by friends and family, who encouraged her to share them with others. She rented a booth at a gift show and quickly sold out of bottles. Over the years, Shelley Kyle Inc. has expanded into a unique line of fragrance, skin care and gifts that are modeled after timeless European bathing rituals that enrich the spirit. Today her collection consists of four fragrances that include parfum, lotion, bath & shower gelee, soap, bath salts, linen & body powder, candles, sachets and gift sets. Now you can have it all and indulge your 'princess' fragrance desires. It's quite rare to find a collection that offers matching scent powders and bath salts, so please warn your family if you get this collection...you may never leave your private spa. But then again...a princess doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to right?

My favorite is Tiramani, a light and feminine bouquet of blood orange, madonna lily, white nectarine, cashmere musk, and night blooming jasmine. "Unspeakable pleasure, the heartbeat of early young love, a moment in time."

Anna Belle is a romantic and sophisticated scent infused with the fragrance of honeysuckle, grapefruit, peony lily of the valley, tuberose and lime blossom.

McClendon a citrus burst of grapefruit, bergamot, key lime, black currant absolute, cut grass, mandarin leaf, basil is both passionately male and passionately female, without limits and unmistakable.

Shelly Kyle a deftly created fragrance, the signature scent of the owner is a delicate blend of citrus and floral. Notes of lemon, bergamot, petitgrain, lilac, gardenia, orange flower, lily of the valley, jasmine and rose balanced with a base of musk and cedarwood.

You can find Shelly's collection all over the world in the finest spas, boutiques, and selective department stores. Her products are formulated from the highest quality of raw materials, and our packaging is imported from Italy.

Nothing in this collection is shelved and each product is put together just for you...princess.

You can purchase Shelly's collection from

Bella Lino
Gift it women
Bath Lux
The Bathroom
Veronica's Attic

Just for fun

2007-07-05T19:33:00.000-05:00

DEMENTER Delivers!!

You've wanted it
now
You've got it

Dementer proudly announces that their entire library of scents are now available as HUMONGOUS minis. A full 1/2 oz size of your choice of fragrance.
WARNING ... there's 200 different scents so don't go all crazy on me, okay?

You might like to try the 'Happy Hour' collection, or how about 'Herbology' or maybe you feel playful and you're heading straight for the 'Jelly Belly' line up.

A free full size bottle of Hot Toddy is shipped for any order over $25.00

2007-07-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Illuminated Perfumes of Roxana

In the tradition of alchemists and perfumers of ancient times, Roxana creates an illuminated line of exclusive, signature fragrances along with extraordinary custom perfumes.

Creating perfumes from the highest grade botanical materials from Arabia, Madagascar and Mediterranean meadows, Roxanna creates fragrant masterpieces in small batches that resonate with a deep connection drawn from the plant kingdom.

Roxana Villa, both an artist and an alchemist has three fragrances that bespeak honor and reverence for the living essences from which they were born. Quercus: an illuminating combination of green notes with underlying notes of deep woods reminiscent of forest cathedral...earthy, green, but not a fresh green. The warm notes anchored by subtle woods creating rich, and well rounded scent. Amber: Named after the orange-yellow color of fossilized tree resin evoking a deep inner strength. A warm, sensuous perfume melding vanilla orchid bean, Indian wood, balsamics and a hint of smoke. My favorite, Lyra is best described as a veil of tropical flowers with an amber base and a burst of effervescent citrus notes. The original blend was a very special gift from mother to her daughter Eve. Lyra is the perfect fragrance for men or women who desire a light, fresh scent that never screams, "Hello, I'm wearing perfume!" Clean, uncomplicated summer scent and just what I was looking for.

Recently returning from the Lavender Festival in Ojai, California, Roxana was one of the featured speakers. She shared how Quercus inspired by four oak trees was her inspiration for the first perfume of the Californica line. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Quercus go towards supporting the California Oak Foundation.

Currently she lives and works out of her studio in the Santa Monica Mountains with her family, where she continues to meld her love of nature into an authentic self expression as an artist working in several mediums.

Visit Illuminated Perfumes for additional information and where you can purchase these extraordinary perfumes.

2007-06-29T22:33:00.000-05:00

Flora Napa Valley

Inspired by the scents and history of her beloved Napa Valley, food writer and perfume creator Susan Costner-Kenwood launched this line of finely crafted, remarkable fragrances. Creating this fragrance along with her husband, wine executive Tor Kenward, Cielo is a fragrance that comes straight from California's lush Napa Valley, truly one of the world's most enchanting destinations and truly heaven on earth. With each spritz of Cielo fragrance, a love story unfolds of golden hillsides, oak trees and warm afternoon breezes redolent with the essence of sun drenched grape leaves. The fragrance with notes of citrus, grape leaf, jasmine, fig and sandalwood is expertly blended precisely like a fine wine.

EAU DE PARFUM The original scent that started our company, inspired by vineyards and hillsides of the California wine country. Fresh on the top (Daphne), warm in the middle (grapeleaf, fig and honey), seductive on the finish (oak and sandalwood). Unmistakably alluring. 50 ML

CIELO SOAP French triple-milled soap. All vegetable base with shea butter. Earthy, sparkling green Cielo fragrance.

CANDLES Earthy-green aroma transports you to hillsides of vineyards and oak trees. Simple clean scent, clean burning with a non-lead wick. A unisex scent packaged for gift giving or to indulge yourself. Create an atmosphere of luxurious comfort in your home with this warm and richly glorious scent of a Napa Valley vineyard on a golden autumn afternoon. Notes of sweet daphne, grape leaf, honey suckle, fig leaf, honey, oak, sandalwood.

Available at Lucky Scent

2007-06-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

News flash from Kaponga

New NUTS are ready for you!

Noteworthy Fragrances is very pleased to announce the arrival of six new NUTS for your cream perfume pleasure!

Six new delightful and playful summer scents that the world has been waiting for have finally arrived and can be purchased online right this instant. Your shipment will normally arrive within 2-4 business days. Kaponga cream perfumes contain a concentration of at least 20% essential oils making them last a long, long time, are priced to be affordable and come with a satisfaction guarantee! And Kaponga NUTS are packaged in containers made in a refreshingly different, environmentally friendly way and from a renewable source. All packaging material as purchased as residual wood from small mills. And, every effort is made to buy raw materials from suppliers meeting the criteria set out by the Forest Stewardship Council whose mandate is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially responsible, and economically viable management of the world's forests. 'Just makes me want to hug you!! (I'm wearing the Honey Vanille layered with the Apricot Chypre...oh baby...is that heavenly.) Click on over to Kaponga and get your own new NUTS...you'll be glad you did and you'll have your own tiny tree to hug!

(Previous post from May 31st)
Fragrances for an active lifestyle

A customer's letter to Kaponga:
"Dear Kaponga,

Nuts #13 just arrived and I must say with lighting speed as I only ordered it a few days ago. Forgive the gushing, but the fragrance in your cream perfume transported me from my 'no window view' cramped office to a tropical sunny beach, sand castles, Mai Tai's and I'm being attended to by a gorgeous cabana boy!!

Wow, I sure had no idea your product came with these added luxuries! Where have you been all my life? Seriously, thanks for making such a fun product that's good for my skin and smells so delicious. Your marketing designer is a genius; the cute little wooden container looks just like ... a nut! Oh I get it! Anyway, I'll be looking forward to trying all the other nut's so hurry and get them finished, okay? Now, where's that cabana boy?"

Based in Southern California, Kaponga, caters to active lifestyle enthusiasts and to people all over the world who share an appreciation for natural, effective and affordable personal care products. Kaponga cream perfume is big on luxury without being big on price!

For those of you well read and traveled in the South Pacific, you will recognize the fast-growing Kaponga brand of cream perfumes as a Maori term for 'fern' and the little flightless Kiwi bird as being indigenous to New Zealand. Both the fern and the kiwi are well regarded emblems of New Zealand.

Fun-loving New Zealanders are also known for creating some unusual outdoor lifestyle activities such as jumping off really high things or rolling down hills inside a ball called zorbing. Which, by the way, is not why they called their product 'nuts', although it couldn't possibly hurt.

So where did this quirky, fun loving company come up with 'nuts'? According to Mary Johnston, founder and president of Kaponga, "The first prototype container looked like an acorn to several younger members of our focus group. And before long, they became affectionately referred to as nuts." This convenient little wooden container goes everywhere you do and since the perfume is a cream consistency, no worries about leaking or bottles breaking!

Product Description
Natural essential oils with top notes of pepper; middle notes of coriander, jasmine, rose and, base notes of elemi wood, sandalwood, amber, vanilla and musk. Apply the parfum to your pulse points: behind the ears; on both arms; and you could even dab a little anywhere you want to drive your lover nuts! The refreshing notes of green tea and gardenia are not at all heavy to wear and perfect for my dry skin leaving no greasiness or residue.

Kaponga is all about temptations and coming soon are the following new nuts! Melon d'eau, Apricot chypre, Mango pourdre', Honey Vanille, Jasmine floriental and Lavender terrior. Show some mercy Kaponga!

These will be incredible additions to the 'nuts' family and I can hardly wait for them to launch, so hurry...please.

Kaponga products can be purchased on-line or at fun and fine retail boutiques around the world. Read more about the Kaponga story here!

2007-06-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

Pecksniff's ~A preponderance of perfectly - practical - pretty - perfumes and products

That might be a 'tongue twister', but it's what you'll be chanting once you try the luscious aromas from Pecksniff's, one of Britain's finest family owned fragrance houses.

Pecksniff's invites you to "step into a world of pure pampering and fragrant indulgence. Pecksniff's understands the role of fragrance in helping you to convey your style and mood. It is the invisible veil that inspires and reassures."
Perfumes
Body Care
For Him
For the Home
Mood Therapy
Essential Oils
Fragrant Remedies

Unique to Pecksniff's philosophy: "When you choose to buy, you can do so with complete confidence in our Pecksniff's guarantee. Every product is covered by our 'no quibble' exchange, even if it has been used."

Who Wants Samples?

Women's Fragrant Wardrobe Collection

The ultimate collection of all six women's Eau de Parfum was inspired by their belief that fragrance can mirror our personalities, and enhance the clothes we chose to wear. From cool and grown up for the office, to giggly and flirtatious for a party, each fragrance has been created with its own personality and style.

The complete line of Pecksniff's products is available online at Pecksniff's or selected items at Luscious Cargo.

2007-06-25T23:19:00.000-05:00

Competing with the giants ~ elizabethW

The spirit of determination and independence. A romantic nature and classic elegance. Unique and original bath, body, and home fragrance gifts from San Francisco's favorite perfumery. Such is the inspiration for elizabethW the perfumery of Albert Nichols and Michael Lindsay.

Formerly an architect, Albert Nichols has named his line of fragrances after Elizabeth Wightman, his great-grandmother and the matriarch of the family. Tucked away in the city by the bay is a gorgeous little boutique in San Francisco that produces some of the finest scented products in the world. Partnering with this creative 'nose' is London born Michael Lindsey who maintains the relentless vision of making elizabethW a globally known company. With the successful launch of elizabethW in London just last month, I'd say Michael is right on track with his goals.

An elegant and sophisticated line of perfumes, creams, home fragrance candles, bath products, and drawer liners are handcrafted in their workshop and include silk and linen drawer liners featured on Oprah's 'favorite things' travel sets and travel candles, lingerie bags, eau de parfum, and oh so much more. In addition to being loved by Oprah, some of the most prestigious hotels and boutiques in the world carry elizabethW.

Being a southern gal from Texas, I love my Sweet Tea. And now one of favorite summer favorites is also one of my favorite fragrances. Cool notes of Black tea, brightened with Amalfi lemons and sweetened with golden almond honey. You could wear this everyday and never tire of it. Sweet Tea nirvana is directly ahead for me!
There is however one huge drawback for me with this fragrance. I want to slice about a dozen lemons and fill my jacuzzi with this stuff but I can't figure out how to order that much perfume. This is scent is very powerful, sexy and although you won't be pouring this sweet tea over ice, you will love how it cools you down on a hot summer day. You have notes of black tea with lemon from start to finish that is sweetened with almond blossom honey. It's uncomplicated, straight forward and incredibly long lasting!

The Butterfly Collection of scented candles and room sprays brings the garden indoors. Featuring Tomato, Parsley, Asparagus topped with a Lime dressing. Does it get more creative than this?

The entire collection, packaged and presented in a gracious and refined manner is available at many prestigious boutiques as well as online.

Visiting the elizabethW website is an extremely enjoyable experience that I highly recommend. Additional information on the entire line of fragrant gifts and perfumes is available at www.elizabethW.com

2007-06-11T19:20:00.000-05:00

Noteworthy News Flash!

The fine folks at Floris of London fragrances are offering all Noteworthy Fragrances readers a very special "Let's celebrate summer" promotion. Any items purchased between now and June 30th will receive a discount of 15%.

And don't forget, Floris let's you sample free!

Add the promo code: "NOTES 15%" in the special instruction box at the end of the last page of the ordering process. When the order ships and the credit card is charged, the discount will be applied accordingly.

Tempting you with a fresh and welcome change of fragrance pace is Floris of London Limes. A vibrant, zesty and freshingly delicate scent of the Lime Blossom of the Linden tree. A fresh and reviving citrus fragrance that powerfully evokes memories of a lemon groves in the Mediterranean.

2007-06-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

What a girl wants...is Ava Luxe

Quite honestly the best site in the entire world to try over 125 different, delicious, daring fragrances. These are not the 'pour from one bottle to another' single note oils that you can buy off the internet. These are thoughtfully and artistically custom blended scents that you'll fall head over heals in love with created by Serana Ava Franco who has quickly gained a reputation of one of the finest private perfumers on the internet. All of her fragrances and body care products are hand crafted and are made to order. Her products are of the highest quality and are reasonably priced. Serana also offers custom blending to satisfy your ultimate fragrance desires.

Fragrances at Ava Luxe are grouped by category for ease of sellection. Here's what you can expect to find at Ava Luxe and my personal recommendations:

Chypre ~ BIBA ~ A dark blend of spices and sensual woods. Powerful and heady!
Floral ~ HEART OF GLASS ~ Intoxication in a bottle! Tuberose, musk and star jasmine.
Fresh ~ WHITE TEA ~ Light, breezy and sophisticated with a touch of lemon. Fruity ~ FORBIDDEN FRUITS ~ Mysterious with cinnamon, red pepper and pomegranate.
Gourmand ~ VANILLA APRICOT ~ Fruit Ambrosia Salad. Serve it with a spoon.
Green/Herbal ~ JOHRI ~ Perfectly blended Unisex scent of lemon, fig, sandalwood and more.
Musk ~ WILD BLACKBERRY MUSK~ Magical, juicy, and...well the name says it all.
Oriental ~ VAMP ~ Satisfy your inner Vamp with Cashmere musk and spices.
Spice ~ QUEEN BESS ~ Honeyed roses, black tea fit for a Queen!
Tropical ~ VENUS SANDS ~ Conjure up a personal island escape with florals and incense.
Wood/Incense ~ FIRE WOOD ~ Warm, cozy scent of a crackling fire...sweet and smoky.
Vintage ~ Oh! de London type ~ Bergamot, nutmeg and musk take you back to the 60's.
Luxe Edition ~ VIVA ~ Divine decadence! Black coconut and gardenia...this should be illegal!

Most scents available in Parfum Extrait, Eau de Parfum, Body Lotion, Cream and Liquid Body Powder. Some scents are also available by request in a Liquid Splash.

Who wants samples?

Individual samples are available on the main page for each Ava Luxe fragrance. Trust me on this...you tell yourself you're just going to try 1 or 2 and before you know it...you own the entire collection of samples. It's the perfect way to 'try before you buy' and you'll have a different scent to wear everyday for at least 4 months without a repeat.

Renee ~ Innovative Fragrances

2007-06-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

The reward of following your dream

What would it take for you to leave behind the comforts, prestige and paycheck of a high profile, highly successful career and follow your heart with no guarantee that you'd ever be successful? Renee Griffith, founder and owner of Renée Innovative Fragrances took such a leap of faith and has landed in a unique circle of perfume entrepreneurs with an established clientele of devoted followers.

It all began after a romantic holiday to Bali with her finance. Each evening as they would walk back to their room Renee noticed a small white tuberose blossom imparting a scent like nothing she had ever experienced before. Taking a single blossom and placing it on her pillow, the humidity and warmth of the air released this fragrance filling the room. Renee know from that moment that she must create this special scent for her wedding day. It is still a closely guarded secret and is not part of her collection available for the public. It calls forth a very personal and intimate memory of her wedding day. As a memento of this special occasion, she custom blended her wedding fragrance which she decanted into antique vials that were presented in handmade boxes as gifts. The response was overwhelming and Renée realized that women were captivated by inspired scents they could personally relate to.

Women who wear these fragrances are looking for something classic, but unusual and not a copy of a mass-marketed scent worn by millions. They want to say, "This is my fragrance. Not something that everyone else wears." Endless experiments in her Melbourne kitchen evolved into a self-named boutique collection of perfume, body lotions, soaps and scented candles.

Mediterranean Lily, my favorite of her seven fragrances, is a bouquet of soft white blooms of waterlilies, lys blanc, gardenias and jasmine are interlaced with the freshness of Italian bergamot and the sensuality of sandalwood. I'm definitely getting a picture of walking in a Mediterranean garden on a sunny day when the warm summer breeze carries the scent of wild flowers through the air. Sophisticated and elegant! Super feminine. I wore this to lunch with friend recently and her response was, "Where you just on tropical vacation...you smell go good." The thing I like best about this fragrance...it's not overpowering and does not scream LILY!! It's perfectly blended and lasts for hours. Following is additional information about each fragrance. Source is from Renée's website:

Amber Seductive and sensual, Amber combines notes of earthy vetiver, musk and tolu with tea, ginger, cardamom and lime leaves for a rich, warm scent that is truly exotic and intensely captivating.

L'eau L'eau is the French word for Water. Sheer, clean and soft it’s a dreamy, soothing scent as pure as fresh spring water and ethereal as crystalline mountain air beckoning you to breathe it. Green leaves, air and water are sprinkled with nutmeg, spearmint and basil and cool mint resting on delicate rose and violet feuilles and dewy oakmoss gives a subtle “anytime” scent that is sparklingly refreshing.

Mediterranean Lily A sublime bounty of soft white blooms of waterlilies, lys blanc, gardenias and jasmine are interlaced with the freshness of italian bergamot and the sensuality of sandalwood transporting you to a magical Mediterranean garden on a sunny day when the warm summer breeze carries the scent of wild flowers through the air. Sophisticated and elegant, super feminine.

Snowpeach Dreamily delicious, Snowpeach is a luscious, mouth-watering blend of ripe peaches combined with notes of green leaves, delicate orange blossom. Zesty white grapefruit adds a hint of sparkle while seductive undertones of mulberry, hyacinth and musk emerge to further tantalize the senses.

Tuberose An exotic white floral of alluring and intoxicating tuberose flowers combined with freshness of bergamot, sweet orange blossom, seductive ylang ylang are laced with sensual undertones of musk, amber, moss and vanilla.

Musk Fresh top notes of Italian bergamot, french lavender and sweet orange are blended with exotic spice and the freshness of woody rose de mai, but the real character of the fragrance lies in the base which embodies the warmth and sensuality of creamy musks, earthen woods, amber and the richness of tonka and vanilla.

Jasmine Jasmine begins with a sparkling blend of bergamot, mandarin, cassis and leafy vines combined with lusciously sweet french jasmine, exotic ylang ylang, tuberose and elegant bulgarian rose unveiling a smooth, mellow base of oakmoss, patchouli, vanilla, tonka, amber and a hint of musk.

Renée perfumes are packaged in chic white boxes tied with black grosgrain ribbon. They may be purchased online at renee.com.au. A delightful gift pack of all seven fragrances is available.

Who wants samples?

Scent by Alexis

2007-06-07T14:18:00.000-05:00

When you tire of the 'just like everyone else' scents and you want truly unique fragrances presented in museum quality packaging...they you are ready for Scent by Alexis!
From glamour to goth, Alexis Karl has launched a collection of scents inspired by the way elixirs and potions were developed in ancient Greece and Egypt. Everything about Scent by Alexis is made by hand. From the custom blending of perfumed oils to the gilding of the intricate bottles...each piece is a treasure!

Scent by Alexis ~ Hand blended perfumed oils are luscious mixtures of essential and fragrance oils presented in hand gilded antique perfume bottles and ornate silver lockets. Each bottle is laboriously hand gilded with gold and rare hand dyed leafs. The gold leaf is the thinnest, most delicate form that gold can take. After gilding, it is then baked with a varnish. You'll want to display these bottles in a prominent place they are so beautiful.

An Ivy League-educated, classically trained painter, who received her masters from the New York Academy of Art and studied the fine art of gilding at Palazzo Massimo in Rome, Alexis Karl has marked her presence in the New York art scene with her seven-foot tall realistic paintings of nude women, painted from life.

Everything about Scent By Alexis, is made by hand, from the mixing of the perfumed oils to the gilding of the bottles.The design of the line is based on the idea that each piece is a treasure. It's an artistic and old world approach to a modern must-have. From her website comes these intriguing and delicious descriptions.

Amber, vanilla, and gardenia work together to create White Sable, a soft, creamy, warm scent with a hint of spice. Soft, trance-like, and seductive, it carries us into a painting by Manet, or aFragonard nude.

Minx is pure seduction, pure sexuality. Chocolate, merlot, and fig blend to create a scent that is sensual and dark, like great Cognac by a fire...

Amber, freesia, vanilla, and florals blend to create Venus in Furs, a truly elegant, warm and cold scent, like an 18th-century powdered woman at the opera: beauty mark, pastel silks, satins, brocades, coquettish smiles, petit fours.

Queen Bitch is a haughty and sophisticated scent, a strong, bold and sweet blend of narcissus, chocolate, and orange blossom. A bejeweled queen winks at a lover, who awaits at the feet of her throne.

Goddess is elegance, sweetness, pure femininity. Vanilla notes enwrap you in warmth, while jasmine dances with dashes of citrus. You are Isis, Aphrodite, Venus, Athena.

The violet notes of Courtesan flirt seductively with green tea and orchid. It is a fragrance full of subtle desires and dangerous promises.

Femme Fatale, spired by the Hollywood of the 1930s, is deadly delectable. Spicy ambers mingle with nutmeg and ylang-ylang, while hints of jasmine playfully linger with vanilla and a mélange of secret ingredients...

"Why you little Vixen," he utters under his breath, as the trail of your scent -- rich Ethiopian coffee, dry red currant, juicy blackberries -- entices his memory. You smile and walk away.

Aristocratic Duchess rules over regal hints of pear and decadent chocolate which play haughtily with elegant linden blossom.

Please contact scentbyalexis@yahoo.com for additional information.

Alexis is very responsive to all inquiries and every detail of your order will have her personal trademark of elegance.

Samples are available upon request.