Perfumer Mona di Orio passed away on 9 December following surgery-related complications, according to a post on her Facebook page. Her eponymous niche line debuted in 2006 and quickly found fans among the perfumista community.
She will be buried in Amsterdam; those wishing to send flowers can find instructions on her Facebook wall.
Such a loss. And so young!
It’s terrible, so young and so sudden. (At least, so far as I know it was sudden).
Thinking of picking up some samples at LuckyScent. Seems like the newer Nombre d’Or line is more beloved. Any recommendations? I’ve seen Oud and Vanille praised, but am curious about the Vetyver and Tubereuse too. Not so much of an oud fan, although I guess there’s a first time for everything.
Angie reviewed 3 of them here:
https://nstperfume.com/2011/07/11/mona-di-orio-les-nombres-dor-tubereuse-vetyver-and-vanille-fragrance-review/
I had read those reviews at the time but they totally slipped my mind! I think I’ll put in an order today for 4 samples, just have to decide which. All of the ones she reviewed sound like good candidates. I figure the best way to celebrate her memory is to wear her perfumes.
I’m still fairly in shock. She truly has been one of my favorite perfumers since I first discovered her work when Jabu was launched. I haven’t tried all the recent creations, but Oud is very interesting and I like the tuberose a lot. Very very sad at her young age.
Joe, it’s always shocking when people die so quickly, and all the more so when they’re so young. I do not know what illness she had, or if she was even ill in the normal sense.
I love Les Nombres d’Or Vanille. I’m wearing it on one wrist while testing Musc on the other. I’ve also have samples of Ambre and Carnation. I really like her work.
We just had a workshop with her a month or two ago at this niche shop in Warsaw. She was immaculately dressed, elegant, modest, and spoke with such passion about the perfume-making process and the scents she wanted to craft next.
This is such a shock for me because she looked young, healthy and looking forward to her future.
It just goes to show how death can strike anytime, and how we should live and enjoy the present because you never know…
Though I’ve never tried any of her creations (not for lack of interest but I just hadn’t gotten around to sampling them yet), this was very sad news and my heart goes out to her friends and family. So sad…
Perfume should be worn every day, not put on a shelf for special occasions because one never knows which day will be one’s last. I am not familiar with Mona’s work but people will wear her fragrances for a long time as a lasting memory and tribute. Somehow she will live on in the sillage. I’m sorry for her loss.
I was shocked to read this recently! I met her at Les Senteurs in London last June when she was there to do a launch for her new line, and she was so lovely in person. I was immediately smitten with her; she spent several minutes with me telling me her own personal perfume remembrances and ideals. I’m so very sad for the loss of such a beautiful soul.