Grès has launched Caline Night, a new limited edition perfume created by perfumer Thierry Wasser (who also created the original Caline)…
Nu Essence Kyphi Incense ~ home fragrance review
The romance of the past drives many of us to seek out ancient fragrances — antique recipes and perfume formulas that have been resurrected for modern-day use. Egypt casts a spell on fragrance lovers, with its aromas of lotus, mint, papyrus, spices and resins. Add these aromas to images of pyramids and imposing sculptures of the gods, chanting priests (who would recite religious texts while mixing incense), pharaohs and queens, glittering scarabs, gaping-mouthed mummies grasping gold and lapis lazuli scepters between fragile bony fingers, and you have a heady mix of sight, sound and scent.
First mentioned in the Pyramid Texts (dated 2400 BCE or earlier), the recipe for kapet (or kyphi in Greek, meaning “welcome to the gods”) was also mentioned by Plutarch (c 46-127 CE) and Galen (129-200 CE) in their writings — linking kyphi with religious ritual and with medicinal uses. Instructions for the preparation of kyphi are found on wall inscriptions at the temples of Edfu and Dendera…
Perfume quote of the day
But increasingly, the perfume connoisseur is forced down the vintage or cult-brand route because the perfume halls have become places of despair and commercial overkill, devoid of innovation and inspiration.
— Bethan Cole on the creative bankruptcy of mainstream perfumery. Read the rest in today's UK Times.
L’Occitane Ruban d’Orange ~ fragrance review
Ruban d’Orange is the latest fragrance from the L’Occitane en Provence chain, which is becoming very nearly as ubiquitous as Starbucks. Ruban d’Orange is being advertised with the tag line “bring sunshine to winter”, and has notes of Calabrian lemon, mandarin and sweet orange of Sicily, bitter orange of Seville, green fig, vetiver, tonka bean and cedar.
I am a citrus-lover, and have found two holy grail fragrances in this category already: Carthusia Mediterraneo for lemon, Parfums de Nicolaï Balle de Match for grapefruit. Lime and orange are still up for grabs, and orange seems particulary hard to do right, or at least to do right in a way that keeps your attention for more than 15 minutes…
7th Annual Basenotes awards: polls are now open
Voting is now open for the 7th Annual Basenotes Fragrance Awards. This year, the awards are sponsored by Aedes de Venustas, and one lucky voter will win a $200 Aedes gift card.
The categories include best new fragrance, best overall fragrance, best packaging, best niche fragrance, best fragrance house, best fragrance blog and more. Voting is open until 12/31, and the winners will be announced next February.