Persolaise Persolaise Review: Celtic Fire + Quince, Mint & Moss + Holy Thistle + Gothic Bluebell from Union + Diamond Jubilee Bouquet from Grossmith (2012)
It’s always tricky going for a unifying theme when creating a fragrance range. Some ideas seem more forced than others: the ‘Indian history’ approach of Neela Vermeire Creations generally attracted…
If You’re Going To Criticise Someone’s Work…
Yesterday, The Observer published Rachel Cooke’s review of Jean-Claude Ellena’s new book. Sadly, her appraisal did little more than remind me that mainstream media really shouldn’t tackle the subject of…
Persolaise Review: Peoneve from Penhaligon’s (2012) + Sepia (2012) + Secret Garden (2011) from Aftelier
In the catalogue of olfactory families, there’s a sub-set of florals that do everything they should with no unnecessary fanfare. They’re clever without being show-offs. They display excellent tenacity without…
Twenty Blotters For… Olivier Cresp + A Story About Angel
Although the man himself may need an introduction, his work almost certainly doesn’t. Elle (YSL), Dune Pour Homme (Dior), Midnight Poison (Dior), Light Blue (Dolce & Gabbana) and of course…
Any Questions For Jean-Claude Ellena? + Guess What: More Oud
Just a few quickies from me today. Firstly, it was wonderful to see an article on Basenotes last Tuesday reporting the imminent publication of my perfume guide. Please click here…
Persolaise Review: Interlude Man + Interlude Woman from Amouage + Light Blue Dreaming In Portofino + Light Blue Living Stromboli from Dolce & Gabbana (2012)
The subject of inspiration in perfumery often attracts sniggers. According to some critics, it’s acceptable for a creator to claim that a particular scent emerged from the experience of smelling…
It’s Official: Women Prefer Musky Toilets
I try to resist the pressure to think about and assess perfume in terms of inter-sex relations. But I was prompted to re-consider my stance by a fascinating Robin Dunbar…
Issey Miyake Interview + 2012 Hall Of Fame On Basenotes
Some of you will recall that in May, I published the list of nominees for the FiFi UK 2012 Hall Of Fame. The winner was determined by votes that were…
Persolaise Review: Mito eau de parfum from Vero Profumo (2012) + Escale À Parati from Christian Dior (2012)
Serendipity is surprising at the best of times, but perfume serendipity tends to be especially astonishing. A few weeks ago, I drew a parallel between the creations of Angela Flanders…
Poisonous Mistakes – An Interview With Givaudan (Part 2)
In the first instalment of this interview, Givaudan’s Jean Guichard and Hervé Fretay explained the cross-cultural ethos they now follow when selecting new students for their world-famous fragrance creation course.…
Persolaise Review: Séville À L’Aube from L’Artisan Parfumeur (2012) + Orange Blossom + Jasmine from Organic Glam
You’re haunted by a ghost… but unlike other spectres, it seems to be approaching you from the future, rather than shadowing you from the past. You feel its presence upon…
The Fragrant Melting Pot – An Interview With Givaudan (Part 1)
Chances are that if you’re a regular reader of this site, then you’ve already heard of Givaudan. For the uninitiated, the Swiss firm is one of the world’s largest manufacturers…
Could Robert Pattinson Teach His Fans Some Manners, Please?
The Invasion Of The Day Job is being as invasive as ever, which is why any free time Madame Persolaise and I manage to find is precious. So we weren’t…
Perfume Broadens The Mind – Top Travel Scents
We’re fast approaching the longest day of the year (Christmas is only 27 weeks away, folks!) which means it’s time for me to join forces with my fragrant side-kicks again…
Knowing When To Keep A Lid On It
After publishing my recent story about the poorly-informed YSL rep, I found myself pondering the question of what I’d consider to be a highly skilled sales assistant. Naturally, they’d have…
Persolaise Review: Vetiver from Roja Parfums (2012) + Pour Femme, Pour Homme & Jaïpur Homme from Boucheron (2012)
Do we really need another vetivert? Well, of course, the answer to that is No, but then, if perfumery were an art form driven by nothing more than need, it…
Is Alien Leaving Planet Earth? + The Latest From Grossmith
As many of you are no doubt aware, I don’t often publish press release-style news on these pages: there are plenty of other sites which do an excellent job of…
Persolaise Review: Wrappings from Clinique (1990) + Eau De Lacoste L. 12. 12 Rouge from Lacoste (2012)
Clinique’s PR people call Wrappings their best kept secret, and they may well be right. Since its original release in 1990, it’s been available solely at top-end department stores, often…
It’s That Time Again…
Prufrock said he measured out his life with coffee spoons and I think I’m beginning to do the same with mine, except I’ve swapped cutlery for capital letters. Not too…
Penhaligon’s Twitter Give-Away + Persolaise Review: Oud Ispahan from Christian Dior (2012) + Wood Mystique from Estée Lauder (2011)
It wasn’t too long ago that I was lamenting the inexorable rise in the number of oud-based releases. Although many people are willing to concede that some of these fragrances…