Lamb, the fragrance

No, not Lamb by Gwen Stefani, lovely as the site might be.
Another one, which aired in Australia: a sure-fire man magnet!


(uploaded by melliepanther)

What do you think?

Naturals Again

Perfume Shrine has always been interested in the developments in the world of perfumery and one sector of that is the perfumers who dabble in Naturals. Much maligned in the past, yet increasingly acquited of accusations of a blinkered approach, it is refreshing to see that they are gaining credence for what they are: simply a different approach and aesthetic. I was reading Anya Mc Coy's, from Anya's Garden line, article on Basenotes and nodding my head in agreement: I also don't see Natural perfumes and perfumers as competing with the mainstream brands. Rather as offering an alternative, which is as valid as ever in the ever-growing fragrance market that has a niche for everything.

Even Luca Turin, a man whose job is to synthesize aromachemicals, issuing the new "Perfumes: The Guide" (out on 10 April, but you can pre-order it here), has had a custome-made natural perfume by Dominique Dubrana/Abdes Salaam (from Profumo.it), as he recounts here.
Of course Dominique Dubrana has had an extensive experience in perfumery and an anthology of natural perfumes to stop us in our tracks. It is therefore with pride that Perfume Shrine will occupy itself with reviewing some perfumes by him very soon.

While we're at it, announcing upcoming articles and reviews that is -and unrelated to the above article- other perfumes which use a high percentage of naturals or defend the use of a variation of natural ingredients will have their own share of the limelight.

And to keep you abreast of current developments in the world of allowed ingredients, a matter near and dear to the heart of natural perfumers, Cropwatch has scored another point in the match against legislature that tries to limit the palette of perfumers around the world. You can read the full report here.
Nevertheless, new developments are highlighted by Octavian Coiffan here: 1000fragrances: SFP conference REACH. Let's hope reason will prevail in the end...

Pic through art.com

Winners Announcement

I admit I had a rough time choosing the wittiest comment among those left on the "What you want next?" poll. I enjoyed them all and found them wonderfully inspiring: all your wishes will be granted sooner or later.
However Rachel/Sabregoddess's one really had me laughing out loud, so she wins the contest. Please mail me your info so I can send you your prize.

The winner of the Lucky Draw for Une Histoire de Chypre was totally random, therefore much easier: it is Aimee L'ondee. Please mail me your info so I can send you your sample.

Thank you all for participating and more surprises up next!!

Shortly...

The Poll has closed, the results speak for themselves and I have to announce the winner of the Contest.
I had so much fun going through the answers! I have taken notes of your excellent suggestions in both the comments and your enthusiastic emails and everything suggested will be covered soon.

Travel Memoirs will begin next week!

Chandler Burr Scent Dinners: now in Europe!

The New York Times perfume critic and writer of two books in the fragrance world (The Emperor of Scent and The Perfect Scent) has been organising scent dinners in New York City. Those who have attended have been enchanted with the experience! After all, readers of Perfume Shrine had a chance to see how congenial Chandler really is in his interview to us.

Now readers in Europe have a chance to meet up with him and book a place for his "scent dinners" which combine culinary pleasure with olfactory escapades of the perfumed kind!

Context Travel is the boutique tour shop that created those special guided tours. Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals —including art historians, writers, architects, and gastronomes— who organize and lead didactic walking seminars in seven cities: Paris, New York, London, Rome, Naples, Florence, Paris, and Venice. In May 2007, Travel + Leisure named Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context visit contexttravel.com


Paris, Rome and Florence are the cities that will be featured this summer: June 5 for Paris (full scent dinner), June 10 for Rome (perfume lecture with food and wine) and June 11 for Florence (full scent dinner).


SCENT DINNERS EXPLORE PERFUME IN PARIS, FLORENCE, AND ROME

Context, the network of scholars and other experts who lead walking tours of major world cities, will host a series of “scent dinners” with noted perfume critic Chandler Burr as part of their “Out of Context” series of site-visits, lectures, and special programs. Combining taste and smell with a fascinating discussion of perfume history, chemistry, and politics, the events will explore the intoxicating relationship between some of the world’s greatest scents and some of her greatest cities.“Chandler Burr has the uncanny ability to unfold something as seemingly silly and ephemeral as perfume in such a way that you see the complexity of human endeavor and aspiration” says Context founder Paul Bennett. “We’re thrilled to have him join our network and apply his unique lens to understanding and appreciating some of the greatest cities in the world.

The series begins on June 5 in Paris, with a dinner organized inconjunction with the historic Left Bank restaurant, Laperouse. Working with chef Samuel Benne, Burr will design a gastronomic and olfactory experience that explores the intimate relationship between Paris and the perfumes it has created —arguably the best and most important perfumes in history.
This will be followed by a second event in Rome on June 10, at the enoteca Casa Bleve, located in part of the ancient bath complex of Agrippa, where Burr will look at perfumes that evoke the Italian landscape.
And, finally, the series concludes with a special event at the Palazzo Tornabuoni in Florence on June 11.

Each evening begins with a discussion of perfume, its history and aesthetics. Burr introduces the fundamental idea that perfumes, like architecture, or a chair, or a dress, are designed and thus can be analyzed and broken down into their constituent parts. Working with a category of perfumes known as culinary/gourmand perfumes —that is, perfumes that are made from such edible sources as spices, herbs, fruit, chocolates a nd teas— Burr then begins deconstructing certain perfumes for the group, passing around samples of the perfume itself or its component parts to allow participants to “rebuild” the perfume themselves. For example, Burr might explain how Thierry Mugler's megahit Angel was designed to evoke an amusement park, and then pass around the molecul ethyl maltol, which is what one tastes and smells when eating cotton candy. In the Paris and Florence events, each perfume will be coupled to a dish designed by the chef in a way that expounds on these themes and ideas, allowing the participants to more fully understand the total olfactory and gastronomic structure of what they’re sampling.

The events are programmed as part of Context’s “Out of Context”series. This is a series of special lectures, site-visits, and thematic dinners that explore the great cities of the world in new andinventive ways. The series runs through the spring and summer, and again in the fall and winter.
Chandler Burr is The New York Times’ perfume critic and author of several books. His latest is The Perfect Scent: A year inside the fragrance industry in Paris and New York)(Henry Holt, January 2008). He speaks around the world on scent and perfume and hosts interactive masterclasses in gourmand scents.

To book your own seat, contact:
Paul Bennett, +1 888-467-1986, +3906 482 0911, or paul@contexttravel.com

Pic from Angelina, 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris