Matthew Williamson's new fragrance, created by nose Clement Gavarry, will launch this May in the UK and should be in the US by September:
Top notes include bergamot, lime, neroli, tagete, ginger and cinnamon oils, a warm sand accord and schinus molle. The middle notes are jasmine sambac, orris concrete, ylang ylang java oil, magnolia flower oil, rose, gardenia and living heliotrope. The drydown is from labdanum resin, sandalwood oil, vanilla, olibanum resin, benzoin resin, patchouli heart and sensual musk.
Schinus molle, by the way, is the California Pepper tree. I have no idea what "living" heliotrope is, if you have a clue, do comment. Update: see a review of Matthew Williamson.
Calvin Klein is preparing to launch Obsession Night for women, with:
...top notes of bergamot, bitter orange, mandarin, white flowers and angelica root; a heart of gardenia, rose, muguet and night-blooming jasmine, and a drydown of amber, labdanum, sandalwood, cashmere woods, tonka and vanilla.
and Obsession Night for men, featuring:
...top notes of pear, silver armoise and cardamom; middle notes of Tuscan black suede, nutmeg and musks, and a drydown of vetiver, patchouli and vanilla.
(all above via Women's Wear Daily) Update: see a review of Obsession Night for men.
Fragonard has released Ile d'Amour, an "Eau de toilette with a marine note is a harmony of osmanthus, rose, jasmine, lilac, and lily of the valley on a background of musk and amber." (via osmoz & fragonard)
In the "unconfirmed rumor" department, Serge Lutens is said to be adding Chergui, currently available only through the Paris store, to its export lineup sometime later this year or early next year.
Wow, the new Matthew Williamson has everything but the kitchen sink! Can't imagine what all of that would smell like!
Laura
Good morning L! I think the only sure thing is that it will not smell like the much-missed Matthew Williamson Incense
Can I make a guess at “living heliotrope?” I wonder if they're just using headspace technology, like they supposedly used for Beyond Paradise. My other guess is that since heliotrope when blossoming and unplucked smells much more vanillic to me than after it's been either cut for a vase or to be dried, they're trying to imply this isn't your usual heliotrope.
Anyhow, doesn't that Fragonard one sound like it could be quite charming?
I'll bet your first guess is right…just another happy spin on a synthetic substitute.
Can't decide about the Fragonard. I love Osmanthus, but if it is heavy amber I won't be needing this one!
Chergui! Chergui!
May the anxious twitching commence.
Better calm down, you've got a long wait!
Schinus molle (the brazilian pepper tree, which grows all over California and Florida – like a weed!) is also one of the premier notes in The Different Company's Rose Poivree, which I reviewed just yesterday. I love that note because I spent several years of my childhood in Southern California, in the perfumed air of the pepper trees. I even had a swing that hung from a gigantic pepper tree which shared its space with about 40 eucalyptus trees. The air always smelled so wonderful there! Many people are a little put off by Rose Poivree because of this note (which has a slight similarity to juniperberry), and because of the heady centifolia and damask roses. I'm crazy about it.
Thanks for reviewing the new Rosine. I'm a major fan of rose perfumes and will want to try this, but from your listing of notes, and description that it's not *primarily* a rose perfume, I'll be calm and relaxed (instead of pacing) until I get my hands on it.
hah! I posted this in the wrong place!
so what else is new
I wanted to love Rose Poivree, but for me the problem note was the civette…it was just too animalic for me. But your review was lovely!
And I lived in Southern CA too, for about 10 years. Don't remember the pepper trees, but I miss the smell of the eucalyptus. Gorgeous!
Jo Malone is very big on this technology and terminology right now – the catalog is full of “living” this and “living” that.
I noticed that she has also trademarked the term “fragrance combining”…I wouldn't have thought you could trademark such a common term. And yes, lots of living going on over there!