Persolaise New Cure For Insomnia: Counting Perfume Releases
It’s the final week of August, the holiday’s nearly over and life will soon have to return to normal at Maison Persolaise. It’s going to take a little while for…
Reviews: Yuzu Man from Caron (2011) & Hiroshima Mon Amour from Nez À Nez (2011)
The spirit of orientalism is alive in the latest masculine from Caron. Yuzu takes its inspiration from the East Asian (predominantly Japanese) fruit of the same name, and as you’d…
What’s My Credit Card Limit Again…?
It’s always at this point in our epic summer holidays that Madame Persolaise and I wish we could slow down time. There’s still so much to do, so much to…
Reviews: Juniper Sling, Esprit Du Roi & Eau Sans Pareil from Penhaligon’s (2011)
Would it be too cruel to say that Penhaligon’s Anthology series of re-issues comes to a close not with a bang, but a whimper? Eau Sans Pareil is pleasant enough,…
Review: Stecca from Hilde Soliani (2008)
If I must have a fragrance that isn’t flawless in its entirety, then I’ll choose one whose weak section is the top notes: at least they fade away fairly rapidly.…
If It’s Friday, This Must Be Grasse
Free Wifi hasn’t been as easy to find as I’d hoped, but I’m pleased to say that so far the holiday has gone very well (although I gather the situation…
Review: Mon Numero 1, 6, 8, 9 & 10 from L’Artisan Parfumeur (2011)
Is there anyone out there who thinks there should be more perfume releases? Clearly, the answer to that question is a resounding Yes, because the number of new creations emerging…
Poisonous Candles + Roja Dove At The Wellcome Collection
I hope you’re all behaving yourselves while I’m catching up on my summer reading. I’m just breaking my cyber-silence for a few moments to let you know that an article…
Review: Auburn Pentachord, Verdant Pentachord & White Pentachord from Tauer Perfumes (2011)
One of the reasons I’m an admirer of the music of Björk is that it combines the finest elements of classicism with a reckless love of everything that modernity has…
London Perfume Shopping Guide (SEE BELOW FOR NEW VERSION)
ON 8th FEBRUARY 2012 THIS POST WON THE 2011 JASMINE AWARD FOR ‘BEST WEBSITE FEATURE ON FRAGRANCE’ *** THIS PARTICULAR VERSION OF THE LONDON PERFUME SHOPPING GUIDE IS NO LONGER…
Ciao For Now – Summer Break 2011
It’s hard to believe, but almost twelve months ago to the day, I published a post saying that Madame Persolaise and I were busy packing for our summer holiday. Well,…
Reviews: Fareb, Sucre D’Ebène, Manguier Métisse, Ambre Céruléen & Naïviris from Huitième Art (2010)
The unifying concept behind Pierre Guillaume’s Huitième Art certainly seems promising on paper. “What would Chanel N° 5 be without its aldehydes,” asks the range’s dedicated website, “L’Eau Sauvage without…
The Lynx Effect – Episode 3 Of The BBC’s Perfume Documentary
If divisiveness is a measure of the quality of a piece of work, then Ian Denyer’s final entry in his Perfume documentary is probably the best of the series. Whilst…
Is That CK One Summer On Your Dressing Table?
For the last few days, the atmosphere at Maison Persolaise has been filled not with the scents of lilial, isobutyl quinoline and phenyl ethyl alcohol, but melting chocolate, hot butter…
Reviews: Shalimar Parfum Initial from Guerlain and Miss Dior Chérie Blooming Bouquet from Christian Dior (2011)
Okay, here we go. Time to bite the bullet and articulate my thoughts on what is unquestionably one of the most important perfume releases of the year, regardless of the…
To Snub Or To Scathe?
You know you’re exhausted when you place an order for what you think is a new raw material only to discover that you’ve already got it in your lab. In…
Mona Di Orio Draw Winner + Impossible Potion – Episode 2 Of The BBC’s Perfume Documentary
Despite the best efforts of an eccentric, pipe-smoking, kilt-wearing American, the trans-Atlantic battle in the second episode of BBC Four’s Perfume documentary is again won by France. In this instalment,…
Review: 02 Owari from Odin (2009)
You know the onomatopoeic ‘sound effect’ captions used in comic books? Well, Owari opens with a KA-POW, BANG, SHAZZAM! The top notes leap off the skin in a burst of…
Persolaise Inhales Again
I don’t want to speak too soon, but I think it’s safe to say that the Invasion Of The Day Job (Summer 2011) is just about over. If you experience…
Wake Up And Smell The PR – Episode 1 Of The BBC’s Perfume Documentary
Irony is alive and well… at least in the world of TV documentaries. After months of anticipation, those of us based in the UK finally got to watch part 1…