Models Anja Rubik and Helena Christensen Launch Their Own Celebrity Scents

Original by Anja Rubik (a former Chloe face) and Dead of Night Perfume Oil by Helena Christensen are  two new perfumes by two supermodels, one of the latest trends in fragrance launches.

Dead of Night Perfume Oil is an exotic blend of jasmine, oudh and amber, inspired by an oudh oil which had an "intoxicating and hypnotic" effect on Helena Christensen. The former supermodel promotes it as the creative director for the artisanal fragrance house ERH1012 which was founded by entrepreneur Elizabeth Gaynes.

Original by Anja Rubik on the other hand is a combination of lilies, green tea and amber, developed in collaboration with perfumer Patricia Choux, and is inspired by the black & white photography of Robert Mapplelthorpe which had always fascinated Anja. The model, who has worn Yohji and Angel in the past, specifies in Allure that her scent is intentionally unisex and niche-smelling. The eau de parfum Original by Anja Rubik has made its debut on Net-a-Porter.com.

Parfums Babani: Orientalism and "le Japonisme" in retro fragrances

The history of modern perfumery isn't written only in terms of Guerlain, Caron, Houbigant, Piver, Floris, Penhaligon's, Chanel, Poiret's Parfums de Rosine fragrances and all the better known representatives of the 19th and early 20th century which are common lore on the lips of fragonerds online. More obscure entities exist, companies steeped into the lethe of history, but not without merit; companies, in fact, ready for a resurrection!

Among them parfums Babani is among the most exotic, the poster child of the sweeping vogue of Orientalism in the turn of the 19th century on to the 20th and a re-interpreter of the chypre fragrance recipe in an... Egyptian fashion! (aka Chypre Egyptien 1919) The sumptuous robes japonaises (particularly the nagajubans peignoirs they made to great success) and the eastern artifacts the Babani boutique on 98 Boulevard Haussmann carried were the foreshadowing of a great line of fragrances with such names as Sousouki, Afghani, Yasmak or Ming.

"Parfum inconnus d'orient et d'extreme orient" was the slogan attached to them in glorious dream-like illustrations by Michelle Puchon dotting the periodicals of the era, as well as the American imports that Elizabeth Arden stroked a deal to promote on their behalf.

The entire history of Babani perfumes appears on the article I have published on this link on Fragrantica. (You're welcome to comment here or there).

Lisa Eldridge Goes to Lancome

Perfume Shrine is mostly dedicated to scent-related subjects and trivia (with a side dish of some art history and some style from time to time) rather than cosmetics, but the news was too big not to share with some of my regular readers.

The star make-up artist (and the down to earth tutor for many, with her "be accessible" motto transpiringly so lovingly on her tutorials) has changed alliances from her former position as Chanel ambassadress (her videos on Chanel.com were wonderful) to Lancome (a company of the L'Oreal group). Encouragingly in a video aired on January 6, Eldridge promises to work on developing new products and new colors, as well as limited editions, and she will have a hand on the official site.

Her own site and Youtube channel will continue to remain independent.

Fragrance Articles You Have Been Searching For

Happy New Year to all!!!
With several years of historical presence of the Perfume Shrine on the ether it's expected that some things need to be specifically Googled in order to unearth links. Therefore I have updated the Search function on this blog (you will see a blank space with a headline of "Search This Blog" at your right hand top) and I have compiled a small selection of some links: here is a round-up of some articles readers have shown an interest in, but which are not immediately appearing on the Right Hand Column menus. Enjoy!

photo by Steven Meisel, Vogue Italia

• Under-appreciated Fragrances (Reviews)

Boucheron Boucheron Femme
Cacharel Anais Anais
Cacharel Eden
Cacharel Loulou
Chanel Coco de Chanel (original)
Estee Lauder White Linen
Guy Laroche Fidji
Jean Coutier Coriandre
Jil Sander No.4
Givenchy Ysatis
Laura Bagiotti Roma
Montana Suggestion Trio: Eau d'Argent, Eau d'Or, Eau Cuivree
Prescriptives (now Clinique) Calyx
Rochas Moustache
Top Under-appreciated Fragrances Flying under the Radar

• Romantic Fragrance Ideas (Valentine's Day & Beyond)

12 Quintessentially French Perfumes
Regency Scent Rings
Victorian Perfume Buttons
Valentine's Day Style: Looks and Perfume
Romantic Scent: Celebrity Style Tips
Most Complimented Perfumes by the Opposite Sex
Sexy Perfume Notes & Styles (part 1)
Sexy Perfume Notes & Styles (part 2)
Pairing Perfume & Lipstick

• Guerlain Elusive Perfumes from the Past

Guerlain 180 Ans de Creation (2008)
Guerlain Atuana (1952)
Guerlain Chypre 53 (1909)
Guerlain Coq d'Or (1937)
Guerlain Cuir de Russie (1875)
Guerlain Djedi (1926)
Guerlain Fleur de Feu (1948)
Guerlain Guerlinade (1921 & comparison 1998)
Guerlain Loin de Tout (1933)
Guerlain Mitsouko Fleur de Lotus (2009)
Guerlain Ode (1955)
Guerlain Pour Troubler (1911)
Guerlain Shore's Caprice (1873)
Guerlain Vere Novo (1895)
Guerlain Vetiver pour Elle 
Guerlain (Aroma Allegoria): Vitalisant, Apaisant, Exaltant (2002)
Guerlain Heritage Collection: Recreated Scents according to Original Formula part 1, part 2, part 3

• Historical Snippets

Joan of Arc & Egyptian Mummies: Tied by Scent
Scented Air Travel (60s history snippet)
The Perfumatic: Coin-Operated Perfume Dispenser
Grossmith house: history


Also check out:

Misleading Fragrance Marketing
Perfume Chemistry: Three Cheers
Personal Body Chemistry & Perfume
Perfume Quotes
Perfumes of the Rich and Famous
Perfumes of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Scented Candles Absolved 

Fragrances for Celebration: New Year's Eve & Readers Favorites

The New Year Eve's celebration is always taking the biggest piece in the pie of festivities, ushering a new period of hope, dreams and expectations. To seal it off our fragrance choice tends to be festive, optimistic, hopeful and gorgeous (to us at least). With these criteria in mind I have personally chosen to wear Amouage Jubilation 25 which checks all boxes (and goes well with the subtle flesh-colored paillettes on my festive top). Mr.Perfume Shrine will be in his (and mine) favorite Cartier Declaration eau de toilette. What will you be wearing tonight?

In the meantime, here is a statistic of sorts (i.e.most mentions) of Reader's Favorites from 2014 (in our dedicated poll) which I promised as an addendum to our Best Fragrances of 2014 post posted yesterday.

Guerlain Shalimar and Mitsouko
Chanel Coromandel, No.5, Bois des Iles and Cristalle
Hermes Jour d'Hermes
Diptyque Philosykos and Geranium Odorata
Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio
Tauer Perfumes Phi
Prada Infusion d'Iris
Ungaro Diva


Popular niche brands (apart from specific scents from the above brands) with lots of mentions include, in no particular order:

Tauer Perfumes
Mona di Orio
Annick Goutal
Frederic Malle
Vero Profumo
Serge Lutens
Patricia de Nicolai
L'Artisan Parfumeur
Tom Ford

Of course the readers of this blog are highly eclectic and have mentioned also lots of vintages, some cult vintages (some of which I had highlighted on this blog this past year, such as Laura Biagotti Roma, good on you!) and several indie/artisanal brands. They all bring something worthwhile to the table!

Have a very Happy New Year filled with love, hope, creativity and good health!