Persolaise “This Is The Moment To Do It” – Madalina Stoica On The Fairy Tale Beginnings Of Jul Et Mad
The story behind the creation of Jul Et Mad has ‘PR gold’ written all over it in letters so shiny, it’s difficult to stop the cynic in you from questioning…
Home Scents For Christmas 2013 – From Diptyque’s Mechanical Air To Kurkdjian’s Supernatural Jasmine
You can keep your boughs of holly and your clove-encrusted oranges. If there’s one thing that’s enjoyable about the yuletide season, it’s the opportunity to scent your home with olfactory…
The Osmothèque Reviews: Fougère Royale from Houbigant (Paul Parquet; 1882/1884?)
*** For background information on my Osmothèque Reviews, please click here *** Oh, what a monster we’ve created! Mention the word ‘fougère’ nowadays to a knowledgeable perfume lover, and you’re…
Tauer Advent 2013 – Explorer Set Winner
Thanks very much indeed to all of you who entered yesterday’s Tauer Perfumes draw. I enjoyed reading all your entries. Sadly, there can be only one winner, and on this…
Persolaise’s Osmothèque Reviews + Andy Tauer’s Advent Give-Away
*** To skip to the Tauer Perfumes Advent Draw, please scroll to the bottom of this post. *** I’ve decided that we need to build a nuclear bunker around the…
Persolaise Gets Angry In ParfumPlus
I’m pleased to announce that the latest issue of Dubai-based ParfumPlus magazine features a piece by yours truly. Some of you may recognise the article: it was first published here…
Persolaise Review: Épice Marine from Hermès (Jean-Claude Ellena; 2013)
If only all press packs were as helpful as the one for Épice Marine. Amongst the various bits and pieces of info provided by Hermès for this latest addition to…
From Mick To Madonna – The Winner Of The Etat Libre D’Orange Competition
A big Thank you to everyone who entered last week’s Etat Libre D’Orange competition. From your submissions, it looks as though you had tremendous fun trying to match the various…
Christmas 2013 Perfume Gift Recommendations – Little Black Dresses, Smoky Vanillas… And A Good Read
Please don’t mention sprouts or cranberries. I haven’t even done my cards yet! And as for presents… well, I expect there’ll be a fair amount of mad dashing around in…
The Smell Of Half A Century – Doctor Who Discovers Perfume On The Programme’s 50th Anniversary
Image: Grant Osborne Geek Alert: this could be the nerdiest piece I’ve ever written! Doctor Who, the world’s longest-running sci-fi TV series, is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary… which…
Win A Bottle Of Perfume From Etat Libre D’Orange
A little while ago, I was fortunate enough to interview Etienne De Swardt, the founder of Etat Libre D’Orange, at his brand’s flagship store in Paris. The full text of…
Persolaise Review: Phi – Une Rose De Kandahar from Tauer Perfumes (Andy Tauer; 2013)
I wonder if Andy Tauer has ever smelt the original Fougère Royale. I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Paul Parquet‘s masterpiece quite recently at the Osmothèque in…
“Nahema Is A Weapon Of Mass Destruction” – Guerlain’s Thierry Wasser Pops Into London Again
Thierry Wasser was on fine form during a recent visit to London. When one of the writers in attendance suggested that Boots is the British equivalent of Sephora, he begged…
Persolaise Review: Égoïste from Chanel (Jacques Polge; 1990) + No 5 Jumps In The Bath
As Égoïste has now been allowed to take its rightful place at all UK Chanel counters (until very recently, it was available only at the brand’s own boutiques) the time…
A Little Bit Of Oud – Alberto Morillas On Making Iris Prima For Penhaligon’s
When Alberto Morillas (CK One, Kenzo Flower) hopped over to London a few months ago to launch Penhaligon’s Iris Prima, he revealed that the perfume contains – shock horror –…
Perfume, Poland And The Past – Scented Memories On All Saints’ Day
“Sometimes, this is not easy,” she says. “You know, after a long day at work, when you’re far away from home and nobody has much time for you, the last…
Persolaise Review: La Fin Du Monde from Etat Libre D’Orange (Quentin Bisch; 2013)
There are several reasons to be excited about La Fin Du Monde. Firstly, it’s this year’s only release from Etat Libre D’Orange, a house which consistently manages to combine quirkiness…
Persolaise Review: Bottega Veneta Pour Homme from Bottega Veneta (Daniela Andrier & Antoine Maisondieu; 2013)
I keep smelling Amouage‘s Epic Man everywhere! Perhaps the substances responsible for its distinctive, ghosts-of-antiquity woodiness are becoming more readily available to perfumers. Or maybe other brands just want to…
As Playful As Ever? – New TV Ads for Gaultier’s Classique And Le Male
At the recent London launch of the new TV advert for Gaultier‘s Classique and Le Male, Isabelle Fulconis* claimed that one of the main challenges faced by the team responsible…
Persolaise Review: London, Tobacco Oud, Oud Fleur & Oud Wood from Tom Ford (2013)
Back when YSL‘s M7 was worthy of the image of a naked, hairy martial arts expert, I bought myself a bottle of one of the scent’s ancillary products, a so-called…