Persolaise Review: Cuir D’Ange from Hermès (Jean-Claude Ellena; 2014)
In David Almond’s book, Skellig, a young boy encounters a strange man in the ramshackle shed at his new house. He’s filthy, his clothes are in tatters and he reeks…
The Legendary Chantal Roos On The Launch Of Her New Brand, Dear Rose
From left to right: Alexandra and Chantal Roos, co-founders of Dear Rose “Oh, Bloody Rose! Bloody Rose has no rose in it. It’s a hypnotic white flower. It’s the naughty…
Change Is Here – Estée Lauder Buys Frederic Malle
It’s been only a few days since the announcement was made that Editions De Parfums Frederic Malle is to be bought by Estée Lauder, but already the finger-waggers are crawling…
Christmas 2014 Perfume Recommendations – French Kisses, Vintage Handbags & A Great Big Nothing
I can’t start thinking about Christmas until we’ve seen the back of All Saints’ Day; any sign of Yuletide shenanigans before then makes my stomach turn. But we are now…
The Psychology Of Airport Shopping – Niche Perfumery Comes To Abu Dhabi Duty Free
She reaches into the plastic tray, takes out her handbag and slings it over her shoulder. She hoists her bright orange case off the conveyor belt and places it on…
Persolaise At London’s Science Museum – Book Tickets Now!
On Friday 21st November, I’ll be giving a talk at the Dana Centre at London’s Science Museum on the subject of writing about perfume and smell. The event will part…
30th Anniversary Of London’s Les Senteurs – Interview with Betty Hawksley, Claire Hawksley & James Craven
It’s almost 100% safe to assume that if you’re the sort of person who has made the effort to come to this site and read these words, then you’ve heard…
Persolaise Review: L’Homme Ideal from Guerlain (Thierry Wasser; 2014)
It’s probably fair to say that Guerlain is in a tricky position. On the one hand, it has to satisfy its owners by churning out a steady stream of till-friendly…
Bring On The Bling – The Salon De Parfums At Harrods
I’m reliably informed that mere hours before its official opening, a few sections of Harrods‘ Salon De Parfums didn’t even have a floor yet. Well, someone must have worked their…
Persolaise Review: Rose Flash from Tauerville (Andy Tauer; 2014)
Roses are always an easy sell for me – the result of a youth spent in the Middle East? – but when they’re touched by the hand of Andy Tauer,…
The Salon De Parfums Opens At Harrods
In 2010, the site of the year’s most exciting perfumery event in the UK – the Perfume Diaries exhibition – was Harrods. And now, in 2014, it looks like the…
Persolaise Review: L’Incendiaire from Serge Lutens (Christopher Sheldrake; 2014)
I don’t often pass comment on the price of new perfume releases, but sometimes it’s hard not to. The latest scent from Serge Lutens – the first in what is…
A Very Full Day – Olivier Cresp on Angel, Penhaligon’s And The Manic Pace Of Perfumery
If Olivier Cresp is fed up with talking about Angel, he doesn’t show it. Since the fragrance was launched in 1992, he’s probably spent a frightening proportion of his life…
Persolaise Review: La Panthère extrait from Cartier (Mathilde Laurent; 2014)
Cartier‘s menagerie is growing. Less than a year since the eau de parfum of La Panthère was released, the brand has just revealed the extrait version – in an equally…
What We Really Wore This Summer – 2014
Guess what, I think we have a regular feature on our hands. About a year ago, I posted an article about the scents which Madame Persolaise and I actually wore…
Persolaise’s Tropical Perfumes In ParfumPlus
A few of you may remember that a little while ago, I gave in to football fever and I published a piece on my favourite tropical perfumes. A tweaked version…
Persolaise Review: Rien Intense Incense from Etat Libre D’Orange (Antoine Lie; 2014)
Could Rien possibly get any bigger? Yes and no. Soon after it bulldozed its way onto the market in 2006, the scent became the very definition of a perfumery juggernaut.…
Everything Is Personal – An Interview With Antoine Maisondieu
Anyone who’s a fan of the output of Etat Libre D’Orange owes a debt of gratitude to Antoine Maisondieu: working either on his own or with Antoine Lie, he has…
Essence Of Perfume Give-Away Winner
A big Thank you to everyone who entered last week’s draw for a copy of the new edition of Roja Dove’s The Essence Of Perfume. I’m pleased to announce that…
Persolaise Review: Oeillet Bengale from Aedes De Venustas (Rodrigo Flores-Roux; 2014)
Wearing Oeillet Bengale makes it clear why the collective noun for a group of carnations is usually ‘spray’. Rodrigo Flores-Roux has put together this new release from Aedes De Venustas…
