L'Artisan Parfumeur Amour Nocturne, Deliria, Skin on Skin: new fragrances in Explosion d'Emotions collection

This September, L’Artisan Parfumeur launches Explosions d’Emotions, a thrilling new collection of Eaux de Parfum. Faithful to the vision of its founder, Monsieur Laporte, the cult Parisian perfume house sets a new standard with three exceptional fragrances. Three concepts, translating the extraordinary emotional power of fragrance, created without compromise, with master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour.


 According to the official blurb the collection includes:

AMOUR NOCTURNE

the intimacy of the night Infinite tenderness becomes ecstasy. Live a moment of sublime intimacy... Cedar, surrounded by soothing notes of hot milk and caramel, gives way to a powerful burst of gunpowder, and orchid. An explosion of love, beyond time and place.

DELIRIA

exhilaration of the senses
Prepare to be thrilled. Your senses will be shaken into a delicious blur. Déliria is the fantastic contrast between metallic, rhum and gourmand notes of toffee apple and candy floss. Top and base notes lose themselves in the heart of the fragrance in a dizzying cloud.

SKIN ON SKIN

a wanton embrace
Skin on Skin awakens our animalistic instincts...to touch, to get closer, to smell. It merges a sensual iris with a suede, velvet leather. The intertwining of saffron, whisky, lavender and rose, melts into musks and skin effects. A carnal creation to be used without moderation.

The new packaging is inspired by the aesthetic codes of L’Artisan Parfumeur; a harmony of luxurious materials: – sensual, thickly-textured white paper with original debossed motifs; precious metals; a beautifully facetted glass flacon. L’Artisan Parfumeur is proud to be ‘Made in France’, of its artisanal attention to detail, and, naturally, of ‘le luxe à la française’; the union of simplicity and sophistication.

PRODUCTS: Three Eaux de Parfum 125ml
LAUNCH DATE: Early September 2013
Available in L’Artisan Parfumeur boutiques, concessions and website.
RRP: £135

Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena: new fragrance

"With Iris Nazarena eau de parfum", perfume creator Ralf Schwieger explains "I had to face two major challenges: to find a point of difference with Chanel No. 19, which has always been a reference point for iris-based scents and an unsurpassable model since its launch in 1971, and to incorporate transparency so that the beauty of the Nazarene iris would be best expressed".



The second eponymous fragrance by niche haven Aedes de Venustas in Greenwich Village, New York City is launching this June and is inspired by the Bismarck variety of iris, also known by the name of Nazarene iris thanks to growing in the mountains east of Nazareth, which piqued Karl Brad's (the co-founder of Aedes) interest.

German perfumer Ralf Schwieger (with the perfume-producing company Mane), is winner of the Fragrance Foundation France Prix des Experts, 2012, creator of such successful fragrances as Eau des Merveilles (Hermès), Lipstick Rose (Frédéric Malle), The Afternoon of a Faun, and Philippine Houseboy aka Fils de Dieu (Etat Libre d' Orange) and Orange Sanguine (Atelier Cologne). Previously Aedes de Venustas had employed Bertrand Duchaufour for their first eponymous fragrance, in a flacon of deep purple glass. This time the bottle of Iris Nazarena takes on a fittingly dark grey tint.

In Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena ambrette, with its facets of pear, rose and musk, is luminous on the top notes while juniper berries introduce the theme of incense. The fresh and vivid green star anise evokes the stylized leaves and stems of the flower with woody notes such as patchouli and vetiver alluding to the roots in the earth. The clay like earthiness is further warmed by touches of cloves and oud.

Notes for Iris Nazarena by Aedes de Venustas:
Top: iris, ambrette, juniper berries, star anise
Heart: leather, oud, cloves, rose de Mai
Base: incense, woods, musk, vetiver

The winner of the draw...

...for that cute dress I posted about the other day is Manon729. Congratulations! Please email me with your full shipping data and I will have it delivered to your door.

Thanks everyone for playing along and till the next one! (soon)

Herbal & Tangy, Aromatic & Green: Unusual Scents from the Bountiful Garden

Have you ever wanted to bottle the sweet smell of an herb garden or the tangy scent of a tomato? Such a mental image is enough to send your mind spinning into fantasies of having your own little patch of greenery or the memory of cutting the stems of fresh, organic vegetables grown in your childhood's garden. I suppose these are daydreams we all have but have yet to find the perfect scented memento to make them come alive again. Well, now you can, apparently.



 Great American Scents, a New Albany, Ohio based company that creates unique fragrances and candles, recently launched a new line of scented candles and perfumes called Bountiful Garden. These artisanal scents were created for a woman (or a man!) who loves the natural smell of the earth’s bounty; they signal freshness and impart the free-feeling spirit of the outdoors.

The 2013 Spring and Summer Collection features these enticing fragrances:

Tomato Leaf
Nothing signals a garden in full bloom more than sweet and luscious red tomatoes on the vine. And to their succulent charm Great American Scents added the oh-so slightly tart scents of verbena and rhubarb. Plus the beguiling earthiness of oak and moss. This is summer heaven. Top Notes: verbena, rhubarb, tomato stem; Mid-Notes: Olive flower, crushed green leaves; Dry Notes: oak moss, guaiac wood

Flowering Herbs
Nothing complements a garden and kitchen like a delightfully fragrant herb garden. Bright grapefruit and crisp apple scents, followed by fresh hyacinth and luscious peonies with pretty patchouli notes underneath will greet anyone who walks through a room. Top Notes: Grapefruit, green herbs, apple; Mid-Notes: Hyacinth, lotus flower, peony; Dry Notes: sycamore, patchouli, blonde woods

Sweet Magnolia
Conjure up the romantic South more with the honeyed goodness of magnolia blossoms. With a touch of lemon and hyacinth for brightness, and that most charming of scents – gardenia. Beneath it all Great American Scents has stirred in the timeless intrigue of iris and sandalwood. Top Notes: Lemon, gardenia leaves, hyacinth; Mid-Notes: gardenia blossom, lotus flower, magnolia; Dry Notes: skin musk, sandalwood, iris.

Beet Root
Delight in the earthy and spicy scents of bergamot, cedarwood and musk, wrapped with a hint of green leaves, orange blossoms and sea lily. Then sweet and fruity notes of fig, oleander and orange blossom join in this fragrant melody. Top Notes: Bergamot, green leaf, fig; Mid-Notes: sea lily, oleander, orange blossom; Dry Notes: cedarwood, warm wood, musk

Victory Garden
During World War II, Victory Gardens sprung up all across America with their crisp aromas of basil and sage. Walk a little further and a touch of citrus, violets and lavender appeared on the nose. And for good measure the warmth of cedar and mahogany added depth and dimension. Top Notes: Bergamot, petitgrain, basil; Mid-Notes: lavender, violet, crisp sage; Dry Notes: warm woods, cedarwood, mahogany

Orchard Blossom
When the orchard begins to blossom the delicious scents of fresh fruit can’t be far behind. Here Great American Scents starts with sweet apply, lush apricots and morning dew. Then delicate tiare flower joins in. And the warmth of orris and musk add a comforting finish. Top Notes: Apricot, apple, dew fruits; Mid-Notes: Apple blossom, tiare flower, stardust peony; Dry Notes: blonde woods, orris, musk.

Sunshine Grove
Come to the Grove and pick the sparkling fresh scents of citrus fruit with Great American Scents. And take joy in the uplifting fragrances of lemongrass blossom, sage and iris. Plus Great American Scents has added a whiff of intoxicating vanilla and musk. Top Notes: Orange, sage, clementine; Mid-Notes: lemongrass blossom, neroli, lily; Dry Notes: vanilla, iris, musk


For more information about Bountiful Garden, visit http://www.greatamericanscents.com, http://www.facebook.com/GreatAmericanScents or http://www.twitter.com/AmericanScents.

A Very Special Giveaway for Our Readers

There are several giveaways on Perfume Shrine, because hey, who doesn't want to win something, and it's a good way to connect with my shyer readers as well. I don't usually post all the giveaway opportunities that come into my inbox from companies and PR agents because so many of them have no relevance or are boring and staid. But I was sent a courteous email by Shabby Apple, a vintage clothing line, and there was a variety of dresses to choose for my readers.

So, this is what I did. I made it a giveaway of one gorgeous, easy, stylish dress of my choosing for you to wear & enjoy and think a little of Perfume Shrine every time that you do.  :-)

I chose this model above, called Jacob's Pillow (click on the link to see details and alternative views). Not only is it something I'd wear myself in a heartbeat (in fact I do own similar things), but I thought it was both cute and streamlined enough, with its French-style polka dots and its trendy peplum detail; plus I should image it would hug curves and bring out the best of them. It's also available in a variety of sizes, is cotton stretch and would look good any time, dressed up or down (and would go perfectly with a classy vintage fragrance too!).

Careful: there's one caveat; the giveaway is open (due to specifications of the company) only to US readers. (And sorry guys this is a feminine thing, and you're not catered this time, but perhaps you could grab it for the woman in your life if you have one?) So if you have an address in the United States, please write a comment as to whether you enjoy vintage-looking clothing and why and you're eligible for winning this lovely dress. Draw is open till Thursday 8am and I will announce the winner later that day. Good luck!