Penhaligon’s has launched Opus 1870 for men, named for the year the perfume house was founded. The fragrance features “spiced black pepper gently infused with a luxurious accord of English clove rose amid warm woods and musk…”
New contributor on perfume books
I am very pleased to announce that Marcello A. will be joining us as a contributor on perfume books. Marcello wrote his graduation thesis on the rise of unisex perfumes in the 1990s, and is currently working on a research project entitled Perfume and Gender Identity, in which he explores the social origins of the gender distinction in perfumery. He recently discussed his research in an interview on Bois de Jasmin. His own site, ScentedPages, is a virtual library catalogue dedicated to the culture of perfume. Look for Marcello's first article later in the week.
Perfume of the day: L’Artisan Vanilia
September was just beautiful in my neck of the woods, with one crisp, cool, sunny day after another. October has been, frankly, miserable. It has been grey, rainy and cold for the last week: just cold enough to require long sleeves and flannel sheets, but not quite cold enough to actually turn on the heat. I am not normally a huge fan of vanilla fragrances, but it is the sort of weather that calls for a cozy-comfort sort of scent, and vanilla fits the bill as well as anything.
L’Artisan Vanilia was released in 1978, and the notes are ylang ylang, vanilla bean, amber and sandalwood. It starts off smoky, and the smokiness intensifies over the next 20 minutes before fading into a lightly resinous floral-vanilla blend…
An “urban olfactory” installation in Washington, DC
SAUMA [Design as Cultural Interface] presents fifteen innovative contemporary design works from Finland. The exhibition includes an olfactory installation by visual artist Hilda Kozári, who in collaboration with Parisian perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour has created perfumes to represent three cities: Helsinki, Budapest, and Paris…
Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Extreme, Jacomo for her ~ new fragrances
Comptoir Sud Pacifique will celebrate their 30th anniversary with a new fragrance, Vanille Extreme, described as “sweet, warm and spicy”. Coming soon to beautycafe and sephora.
Update: Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Extreme is available in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Toilette, and the notes include Tahitian Vanilla, heliotrope, milk and spices…