Persolaise Persolaise Review: Laine De Verre from Serge Lutens (Christopher Sheldrake; 2014)
Uncle Serge is playing the trickster again. When he released the first of his Eaux (L’Eau De Serge Lutens, 2010) you could almost picture the wry smile on his face…
Four Perfume Books For Valentine’s Day 2014
According to advertisers, nothing spells ‘love’ as powerfully as flowers, chocolates and a bottle of perfume. So although I’d never dream of dissuading someone from buying a fragrance for their…
“You Have A Brand Here” – An Interview With Carlos Huber Of Arquiste
You never know who you’re going to bump into at Harrods. A few weeks ago, I had some time to kill in London, so I decided to pop up to…
ODOU Magazine’s Debut Issue Shortlisted Three Times For Jasmine Awards
Every single name on this year’s Jasmine Awards shortlists deserves to be feted, but there’s one success which is especially remarkable. ODOU Magazine – the creation of Liam Moore –…
Persolaise Shortlisted Twice For 2013 Jasmine Awards
The shortlist for this year’s Jasmine ‘Digital’ Award has just been released and I’m excited (make that: ‘ecstatically over the moon’) to announce that my name appears on it twice.…
Win Candles From A Room With A View + Interview With Founder Graham Way
I wonder whether the home scent market is harder to break into than the world of fine fragrance. At least when someone launches a new perfume brand, they can invoke…
“Frivolity Will Save The World” – An Exclusive Interview With Etienne De Swardt Of Etat Libre D’Orange
During a recent interview with Etienne De Swardt, founder of Etat Libre D’Orange, I asked him if it’s difficult to expand his brand without diluting its personality. “That’s the permanent…
The Osmothèque Reviews: Jicky from Guerlain (Aimé Guerlain; 1889)
Guerlain Jicky Osmotheque version review by award-winning perfume critic Persolaise (Aime Guerlain; 1889)
You Have To Be Modest Sometimes – An Exclusive Interview With Frederic Malle (part 2)
The first instalment of this exclusive interview ended with Frederic Malle commenting on the pressure he places on his perfumers – and on himself – to aim for the highest…
Getting It Wrong – When Perfume Criticism Loses Its Way
I’ve been meaning to raise this subject for a while. But it was only recently that an event crystallised my thoughts and convinced me it was time to put finger…
Persolaise Review: Oud from Reminiscence (2012)
As soon as I adopt a policy of never using the word ‘oud’ again, along comes an agar perfume which deserves a mention.The Côte d’Azur-based brand Reminiscence may seem like…
The Achilles Heel In Our Business: An Exclusive Interview With Frederic Malle (part 1)
If there’s one figure in the niche world who needs no introduction, it’s Frederic Malle. This is more than a little ironic, as the Frenchman owes his status and reputation…
Persolaise Review: Iris Nazarena from Aedes De Venustas (Ralf Schwieger; 2013)
Aedes De Venustas Iris Nazarena review by award-winning perfume critic Persolaise (Ralf Schwieger, 2013)
Happy 2014!
A lemon blossom photographed in 2013 a short distance from Maison Persolaise Okay, it’s time to pack away the fairy lights and get this blog-shaped ball rolling again. A very…
Best Perfumes Of 2013
Don’t look now, folks, but I think we’ve made it to the end of another December. Rose-tinted nostalgia goggles aside, it’s probably fair to say that 2013 has been as…
Christmas Wishes 2013
I can’t believe a year has gone by past since I last wished all of you a Merry Christmas. It’s a cliche, but I honestly don’t know where the time’s…
Persolaise Review: Oumma from 777 (Stéphane Humbert-Lucas; 2013)
If you’re going to do something that’s been done before, you’d better do it well. And if the thing you’re going to do is artistically suspect and quite possibly mercenary,…
Keeping It Moody – Karl Bradl And Bertrand Duchaufour At London’s Aedes De Venustas Launch
image: Aedes De Venustas Mood boards, rare irises and the conservativeness of the French market all came up when I met Karl Bradl and Bertrand Duchaufour in London recently to…
Twenty Blotters For… Neela Vermeire
Pick a blotter… read the question… give a short, snappy answer! Although her eponymous brand has been around for a relatively brief time, Neela Vermeire has already managed to convince…
Persolaise Review: Monsieur from Huitième Art (Pierre Guillaume; 2013)
Monsieur makes me angry. Sure, it displays the high levels of technical competence that we’ve now come to expect from Pierre Guillaume – it’s diffusive, long-lasting and generally cohesive –…