Italian niche line Laboratorio Olfattivo has launched the Masters’ Collection, featuring four new fragrances. Baliflora, Tuberosis are from perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena; Tantrico and Vetyverso are from perfumer Lucien Ferrero…
Frederic Malle Rose & Cuir ~ new fragrance
French niche line Frédéric Malle will launch Rose & Cuir, a new floral leather fragrance from perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena…
Hermes Rose Amazone, take two ~ fragrance review
Yes, you’re remembering correctly: Robin did write a brief review of Rose Amazone when it was launched in 2014 as a flanker to Hermès ‘s 1974 classic Amazone. Rose Amazone was developed by Jean-Claude Ellena, Hermès’s in-house perfumer at the time, as a modern interpretation of Amazone: “a sparkling, tangy and tender perfume, brightened by citrus fruits, currants and raspberries.”
The idea of a young and fruity flanker was already a cliché in 2014…
I wanted to snatch the fragrance of these flowers from the dawn sky
He describes his approach thus: ‘I don’t recall ever having challenged a scent in this way. Firstly, in a physical, hedonistic way, because I wanted to snatch the fragrance of these flowers from the dawn sky, together with that of the foliage that envelops them. And then, in a cerebral way, I worked on the coolness of its aura, the delicacy of its opalescence and the ethereal nature of its existence.’
[...] Sadly, 'Muguet Porcelaine' is Jean-Claude Ellena’s final perfume as Hermès’ in-house perfumer, but it’s a sparkling swansong: this is what we call going out on a high.
— Read more at 'Muguet Porcelaine': Jean-Claude Ellena’s sparkling swansong for Hermès at Wallpaper.
Hermes Rocabar ~ fragrance review
A fragrance for wanderers drawn to wide-open spaces. — Jean-Claude Ellena1
During my Now Smell This years, many men have written me asking for a review of Hermès Rocabar.2 I’m wary! I assume the guys writing me love Rocabar; what if I don’t? In that case would Rocabar fans prefer I keep quiet? Hermès is one of my favorite perfume houses so why was Rocabar unknown to me? Maybe I tried it ages ago and didn’t like it? Was it just a case of Fate — Rocabar and I always just out of each other’s reach? But last week, at the Hermès boutique inside my local Nordstrom, there was an easy-to-sniff tester bottle of Rocabar and I finally wore it. (This review is based on the current Rocabar formula; I assume late-1990s Rocabar was different).
Hermès says the name ‘Rocabar’ is a “contraction of ‘rug’ and the French words ‘à barres’ meaning striped.” Rocabar…