I’ve always been suspicious of Black Orchid. Something about its strident assertiveness – its poking, prodding, finger-stabbing insistence – has made me feel that its facade conceals a quagmire of…
Here’s part 2 of my latest round-up of Twitter mini reviews. Aqua Divina from Bulgari (Alberto Morillas; 2015)* Intriguing, weirdly nutty, earthy composition. Burnt, yet quiet. Grated, rather than powdery.…
As my series of #PersolaiseXmas tweets is now over, I thought I’d put them all together using Storify so that you can peruse them at your leisure. Enjoy! Persolaise
Perfume is more than a smell. That’s the premise of the wonderful new book by Lizzie Ostrom, the unashamed scent aficionado whose alter ego, Odette Toilette, has provided London with…
Here’s an idea. If someone says they’d like you to buy them a bottle of perfume for Christmas, then don’t. At least not straight away. Do something different. Tell them…
In my stockpile of half-written articles and abandoned projects – otherwise known as my blog’s ‘drafts’ folder – one idea has been nagging at me for years, refusing to be…
This year, I’m turning to social media for my annual thoughts on how best to indulge in the consumerist orgy that is Christmas. I’m posting individual recommendations on Twitter, marked…
Normally, the appearance of a stain on my jacket is a cause for mild panic. It leads to a frantic search for paper napkins. A hunt for water. Gravity-defying contortions…
It’s that time again: another round-up of my Twitter mini-reviews, covering the period July to September 2015. Ultra Male from Jean-Paul Gaultier (Francis Kurkdjian; 2015)* An interesting, edible lavender, with…
On Thursday 19th November, Harvard’s Graduate School Of Design will present a live stream of a lecture by Frederic Malle and Carlos Benaïm. According to the official blurb, the lecture…
Indie scent creations tend to be either reactionary monsters or paeans to the past (or both, come to think of it). Ryder, the latest from Matthew Zhuk‘s UK brand, Ex…
Thierry Wasser has had the thankless task of creating flankers for classics such as Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue and Habit Rouge (could any other perfumery endeavour be more worthy of the…
Once again, heartfelt thanks to each and every person who entered my Century Of Scents draw over on Instagram. The winner is: Amusedarcher Congratulations! Please send your postal details to…
illustrations: Cynthia Kittler Many thanks to everybody who entered my Twitter give-away for a signed copy of Lizzie Ostrom’s A Century Of Scents. Drum roll please… the winner is @KingaMkinga88…
Massive thanks to everyone who entered my recent draw for a signed copy of the new book by Lizzie Ostrom, Perfume: A Century Of Scents (published by Hutchinson). The oracle…
The arrival of any perfume book is an exciting prospect, as there are so few around. But this year, the pre-Christmas season brings us a particularly enticing treat in the…
I have written precisely nothing about the commercial phenomenon that is Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million, but the arrival of this new ‘Cologne’ version provides an opportunity to make amends. I…
Some of you may remember that last year, I interviewed Dana El Masri about her Montreal-based perfume brand, Jazmin Saraï. She has just launched an Indiegogo campaign to help her…
Many thanks to everyone who entered the draw for a VIP subscription to the Perfume Society. The winners are: Joanne Delaney Cecilia Olfa Labs Please send your address to persolaise…
When the UK’s Perfume Society emerged last year, everyone in the ‘fragrance community’ – if there is such a thing – had an opinion about it. Some felt it was…
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