The winners of the draw...

...for the 5 Aedes samples sets are:
Droneclone
Kokorico JP
Birte
Mandarin90 
and JanieK

Winners please email me with your shipping data using Contact so I can have these out to you soon. Your email should have AEDES DRAW in the title and your username in the body of the mail.  Thanks everyone for the enthusiastic participation and till the next one!

Guerlain Petite Tortue: new fragrance & re-issue of historical "tortoise" bottle

The Baccarat "turtle" bottle has just been re-issued in precious few numbered bottles by Guerlain and Vogue Russia dedicates a chapter to it, hence the info on notes, availability and design below.

via

The original "turtle" bottle (la tortue) was commissioned to the Baccarat studio in 1914 [ed.note: Vogue puts it as 1913] to celebrate the change of address to 68, Champs-Elysées to hold the appropriately named Parfum de Champs-Elysées. The scent was composed by legendary perfumer Jacques Guerlain. The shape of the turtle was an inside joke on the protracted construction work that it took to complete the new beauty shrine. 

Today Guerlain re-unites with Baccarat to issue a contemporary "turtle" bottle, the 4th re-issue* since its original opus, to house the new Petite Tortue perfume. The new tortoise like crystal design follows the craftsmanship of the famed house. The crystal is faceted into more than 80 facets to shed light from all angles and holds 60 ml/ 2 fl.oz.

Guerlain Petite Tortue is an extrait de parfum composed by in house perfumer Thierry Wasser. The scent of Petite Tortue is a spicy floral woody which opens with mandarin and pink pepper into a heart of osmanthus blossoms and fruits accord. The base of Petite Tortue is rounded with incense, vanilla and tonka beans recalling the tradition of Guerlain perfumes. 

Les Dames de Table are responsible for the finishing touches of the special presentation: the enamel cap holder can be accessorized with the customer's initials; in a choice of color and with a golden rim.

The special edition of Petite Tortue is presented internationally by Guerlain in only 47 numbered bottles, each retailing at a whooping € 9500.

*The last time Guerlain re-issued the "turtle" (or sometimes referred to as tortoise online) bottle it held  Extrait du 68 (an increased concentration of Cologne du 68 fragrance by Guerlain)

EDIT TO ADD: New information from Fragrantica suggests the Petite Tortue scent is indeed Extrait du 68.

Related reading on Perfume Shrine: 

Really Expensive Perfume Bottles to Feast Your Eyes On

The Guerlain series: Guerlain News & Perfume Reviews

Upcoming fragrance releases

Aedes de Venustas: fragrance samples set draw

We have all come to rely on Aedes de Venustas for the most exquisite niche brands in perfumery. But their own brand is also quite fearsome to behold with perfumes created with some of the world's top perfumers working right now; from the award-winning Iris Nazarena to the fiery Oeillet Bengale to the mysterious acqua incense of Copal Azur  Aedes de Venustas has proven its mettle many times.

via

The discovery set of Aedes de Venustas comprising 3 x 10ml perfumes has launched and I happen to have samples of all three scents.
5 lucky winners will get 1 of each of the 3 scents so they can decide which appeals to them most; or upgrade to the mini bottles for more prolonged enjoyment! Draw is open internationally to those who comment below this post saying what they'd like to read next on Perfume Shrine. Winners to be announced early next week.

An Interview with Yours Truly on Enscent Me

My love affair with the Italian culture is a known quantity. The fact that I discover new nuggets of fragrant passion in the beautiful language of Dante is one of the perks of the Internet. Laura Lecce is the latest, a blogger who has founded enscent.me written bilingually in both English and Italian. Laura was kind enough to interview me on some fun scent questions. It is my pleasure to share it with you; you can read my interview to Laura on this link (in English).
You're also welcome to comment on Laura's blog if you like.

Talking to the Experts: The World of Fragrance Today and Tomorrow

The Fragrance Foundation hosted the inaugural Fragrance Forum “Taking to the Experts: The World of Fragrance Today and Tomorrow,” at the French Institute / Alliance Française on Thursday, October 15, 2015.

All images credited to Casey Kelbaugh

Allure Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Linda Wells, led distinguished panelists Daniel Annese, Global President, Aramis and Designer Fragrances at The Estée Lauder Companies; Alexandre Choueiri, President, International Designer Collections at L’Oréal USA; Linda Levy, Omni Group Vice-President/DMM-Fragrances at Macy’s, Inc.; and Jerry Vittoria, President, Fine Fragrances North America at fragrance house Firmenich, Inc., in a wide ranging discussion on the current state of the fragrance industry and how best to meet shifting consumer expectations.

While the discussion touched on millennials, the Latino customer, hits and misses, storytelling, the importance of the juice and more, the overarching message was the need to focus on the customer.

“Our biggest area of opportunity is the customer,” said Linda Levy, Omni Group Vice-President/DMM – Fragrances at Macy’s, Inc. “The customer is the focus and center of every decision that we make.”

All images credited to Casey Kelbaugh

“It’s not one size fits all anymore,” added Alexandre Choueiri, President, International Designer Collections at L’Oréal USA, “Customers want to feel special”
The men’s category is seen as an area with growth potential.

“There is a significant percentage of users in North America who only use fragrances that are gifted to them,” said Jerry Vittoria, President, Fine Fragrances North America at fragrance house Firmenich, of men. “We need effective training tools to educate the consumer.” 

Millennials continue to be a hot topic. 

According to Daniel Annese, Global President, Aramis and Designer Fragrances at The Estée Lauder Companies – which has set up an advisory board of 500 millennials - “The best way to connect with consumers is online.” “But,” he added, “They need consistency in what they see. The experience online and in print should match what they are greeted with in-store.”

 “What’s really different today is it’s all about the experience and it’s all about sharing,” added Linda Levy. “A review online means everything to a consumer.”

Choueiri challenged the panel not to think of it as a choice between online or brick-and-mortar. “We send samples out online,” he said, “but people are buying in-store.”
Fragrance Foundation President, Elizabeth Musmanno summed up the evening, “It is about the story, but it’s still about the juice. Ultimately, we need that juice to be fabulous.”

All images credited to Casey Kelbaugh

The Fragrance Forum series in an opportunity for the fragrance industry to come together around topics and discussions that have a direct impact on the business.

“Part of our mission at The Fragrance Foundation is to inform and enlighten,” Musmanno said, “We are honored to have had such a distinguished group of panelists join us, whose breadth of knowledge and insight allows us to dive deeply into the issues surrounding the industry today.”

During Thursday’s Fragrance Forum, the Fragrance Foundation continued the long tradition of the fragrance industry giving back, raising money to benefit UNICEF – The United Nations Children’s Fund, which provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in need.