Perfume Shrine

Perfume Appreciation & the Quest for Objective Beauty

2009-11-24T05:17:00.058+02:00

It is all too often that I come across pronouncements having to do with differing perceptions on fragrances that end with "Everyone is different and perfume is so subjective" or "One woman's poison is another woman's meat" (no reference to any specific Dior fragrance infered!). I fully realise that it is a polite way to agree to disagree. Nevertheless it accounts for a severe skewing of

Balenciaga La Fuite des Heures (Fleeting Moment): fragrance review

2009-11-23T00:03:00.002+02:00

There is no question that Germaine Cellier was a formidable woman and an innovative perfumer mapping history with her Balmain and Piguet creations. Hers is nevertheless the lesser known, but none the less majestic, La Fuite des Heures (pronounced la-fou-EET dez-erh and translating as Fleeting Moment) for Balenciaga in 1949; a Provençal herbs and jasmine formula of great radiance and

Christmas '09 Gift Ideas: Sample your Way into Oblivion!

2009-11-22T08:02:00.001+02:00

In the pursuit of finding the perfect gift Sephora had the perfect idea: Why not cater your loved ones to the Deluxe Fragrance Sampler? It 12 fragrance samples (one masculine and one feminine set each), an atomizer, a fragrance guide, and a gift certificate. The recipient can redeem the certificate for a full bottle of whichever fragrance caught her or his fancy. talk about solving the dilemma of

Christmas '09 Gifts Ideas: Chanel Les Grands Extraits

2009-11-21T00:31:00.002+02:00

Chanel in a gesture of "ginormous size equates luxury" thinking (a practice not unheard of and certainly one which was in effect for loyal customers of the house in the past decades) is issuing three of their fragrances into really big flacons of extrait de parfum (i.e. pure parfum). The biggest one standing 8.4inches of proud height is the equivalent of four cups of pure parfum, enough to last

Prada L'Eau Ambree: fragrance review

2009-11-20T00:31:00.000+02:00

L'Eau Ambrée, maestra Miuccia’s latest fragrance, talks with the whispers of a ghost; an ectoplasmic take on the dry woody, patchouli and ~most imporantly~ ambery core of the original Prada fragrance mingled with the saline note of Eau de Merveilles that reproduced the scent of ambergris rather than sweet resinous amber (For more on the differences between amber and ambergris read this article).

The fragrance of Ma-I: scent exhibition in Singapore

2009-11-20T00:00:00.008+02:00

A scented exhibition is taking place at the Singapore Art Museum where the fragrance bar installated showcases fragrances with names like Squalor, Opulence and Pahinga (the last one evokes coconut massage oil memories of the creator's childhood."Filipino artist Christina Goldie Poblador has created the smells of a city: Think whiffs of gasoline or rotten eggs, which is supposed to remind people

Christmas '09 Gifts Ideas: Special Flacons

2009-11-19T15:00:00.029+02:00

Christmas is a prime time for treating others or you to that special something that seemed unatainable the rest of the year. Accordingly, perfume companies issue their very best, choicest , weirdest or just plain ginormous at the countdown till Christmas and the New Year (especially since they have been witnessing a 11% decline in sales). Here are some of the most impressive specimens this

2009-11-18T12:14:00.003+02:00

Smelling like dead celebrities?

2009-11-18T00:45:00.012+02:00

"If you ever wanted to smell like Elvis or Marilyn Monroe? Now you can. According to the Daily News, a company in Beverly Hills is formulating a line of "antiquity" fragrances. The scents are based on the DNA of dead celebrities. Bottles of the perfume are sold online for about $60. Other celeb scents include Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson and Richard Nixon". [quote]Nah....just go participate

The Perfumista Challenge: A Project to Spread to those you Know

2009-11-17T12:01:00.002+02:00

Sometimes one needs to shout in order to be heard. Sometimes one needs to kick people in the shin to get their attention. Sometimes one just needs to grab a public venue and challenge people in their perceptions in a much more civilised way. Which is what I am going to do today and I am calling every one of you who has been fed up to the brim with all the trashola that has been circulating under

The winners of the draw....

2009-11-16T00:10:00.004+02:00

...for the free bottles of CKfree are Orchidfae and Michael K. Congrats!!Please email me with your shipping addresses using the contact email in profile so I can forward it to the company (which will have these in the mail for you). Thanks for playing everyone and till the next one!

Christmas '09 Gifts Ideas: Jo Malone

2009-11-16T00:01:00.011+02:00

Jo Malone is spoiling us rotten this Christmas with nifty gifts and sets encased in their delicious waffle-like, chic packaging. Here is the round-up for your ease, take notes:TEA BOX DELUXE CANDLE COLLECTION A suite of three Deluxe Candles are presented in a stately cream-coloured box accompanied with a silver-plated wick trimmer, candle snuffer and key. The Collection features Eau De Cologne,

Caleche Fleurs de Mediteranee: reissue by Hermes

2009-11-13T11:24:00.013+02:00

Calèche Fleurs de Méditerranée, a variation on the classic Calèche is being re-issued by the house of Hermès for spring 2010. The till now discontinued fragrance, a limited edition in only 2500 bottles from 2003, is being brought back, as a line-up contestant alongside the many lovely variations on the classic Calèche (three of them being Kelly Calèche in all its concentrations of Eau de Toilette

Chandler Burr Scent Dinner in New York City

2009-11-13T00:01:00.001+02:00

If you're in New York City this December and with an appetite of combining scent learning and fine cuisine, another scent dinner organised by Chandler Burr is waiting for you.The details are:December 2, 2009 Scent Dinner Two menus, one olfactory, created by Chandler Burr, The New York Times scent critic, and one culinary, created by Fabio Trabocchi, Exec. Chef of The Four Seasons Restaurant.The

Helena Rubinstein Wanted: fragrance review

2009-11-12T14:27:00.037+02:00

Helena Rubinstein proposed that Wanted "unveils the ineffable and mysterious link that binds a woman to her love, a woman to her desires, a woman to her fragrance". Supposedly the name derives from the advertising phrase "All you've ever wanted" (Yeah, like another PhD, a second summer house, this one on Santorini so I don't end up paying exorbitant prices when there, and my offspring to behave

Ormonde Jayne 10% off the whole line

2009-11-12T00:01:00.004+02:00

Come and see falling snow along London's Old Bond Street, rickshaw sleighs, Father Christmas, carol singers, musicians, bell ringers, roasted chestnuts and entertainers in period costume, all organised by the Bond Street Association.You're invited at Ormonde Jayne for a glass of champagne and mince pies on:Thursday 19th November from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm(12 The Royal Arcade28 Old Bond StreetLondon

Anya's Garden Moondance and Starflower: fragrance reviews (& a draw!)

2009-11-11T00:35:00.001+02:00

When the well-trodden becomes anew there is reason for joy. If certain white flowers have always seem unatainable to you, if you found yourself avoiding tuberose for reasons too complicated to unfold, all naturals indie brand Anya's Garden has two aces up her sleeves: Moondance and Starflower, two unconventional new fragrances that ~in typical Anya style~ will surprise you!In the words of Anya

Avery Gilbert talks to Katie Puckrik

2009-11-10T16:19:00.007+02:00

Very interesting interview: cute, relevant questions, non-technical, accurate replies.

How to rekindle your sex life through perfume

2009-11-10T15:56:00.011+02:00

"If your wife smells of ikan keropok, try telling her in the nicest way possible that she stinks. If you want to see your wife wearing some sexy lingerie “once in a while” (remember what happens when familiarity sets in), go out and buy her something alluring. If you think sex is boring with your partner, you might want to ask yourself what you’re doing about it. After all, it usually takes two.

Kate Moss Vintage: her love for old things (new fragrance)

2009-11-10T14:15:00.031+02:00

In an interview she gives to Brendan O'Connor (a professed lover of scent, judging by his wearing of Chanel Bel Respiro), alongside the watching eye of Steve Mormoris, vice president of Global Marketing for Coty, Kate Moss talks about her newest fragrance after Kate (2007), Velvet Hour (2008) and Kate Summer Time (2009). It's called Vintage to reflect her love for old things "that have stories"

Perfume Use in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance: myths and truths

2009-11-09T14:11:00.057+02:00

It is not unusual to hear the Middle Ages considered as the age of the Great Unwashed or to think that Western Europe had by that time ceased to partake of the pleasures of perfume and aromatic components used for reasons of well-being, aesthetic advancement and spiritual therapy completely. Nothing is further from the truth, which we will try to clarify with this article on fragrance history.It

Mythology Series: Pomegranate

2009-11-06T14:27:00.089+02:00

Whenever I break open a big, heavy pomegranate (Punica granatum), admiring the scattering of its brilliant, wine-coloured tangy-tasting seeds, I can't help but cast my mind to the myth of Persephone and Hades, the chthonian deities forever linked with this autumnal aromatic feast. Its name deriving from the Latin (pomum for apple ~meelo in Greek~ and granatus for seeded, resulting in the Italian

CKfree Bottles Giveaway

2009-11-05T08:58:00.003+02:00

We are hosting a giveaway of two full bottles of CK Free, the newest Calvin Klein fragrance, courtesy of their promo company. Simply enter a comment you'd like to be included and we will pick two winners. (Contest is reserved to US residents, only*)If I were to review the brand, Calvin Klein fragrances have gone through an arch, I notice: from the provocative/innovative (Obsession for men and for

The winners of the draw...

2009-11-05T01:54:00.000+02:00

...for the Le Cherche Midi gift set of candles is Samantha D and for the Le Cherche Midi complete fragrances samples set is Zazie. Congrats and please mail me using the email on profile with your shipping addresses so I can send these out to you!Thanks everyone for the participation and till the next one!

Hello Kitty Woman: new fragrance (or Embracing Your Inner Child)

2009-11-05T00:01:00.012+02:00

Fans of the definitive girly brand Hello Kitty by Sanrio ~and there are many~ will be delighted to find that after children's fragrances and millions of accessories, a new (pink) juice for adults (debatable...) under the name Hello Kitty Woman is launching under the aegis of Koto Parfums. Composed by Corinne Cachen, this new gourmand is based on the preference of the creator on candied red apples