Ormonde Jayne Winner + Back To Grasse
Persolaise After a weekend spent decorating the house (under the watchful eye of Madame Persolaise, who has had to stay in bed for the last few days thanks to a nasty…
End Of Movember + 24 Hour Tauer Advent Give-Away
I know the world of retail has wanted us to believe that it’s been Christmas since the end of September, but for those of us who don’t shy away from…
Vintage Sample Winner + Symine Salimpour Interview On Estellana
Oh look, September’s nearly over, but good old Blighty’s decided to rewind to August for a few days. Time to put the jumpers away again! Yes indeed, it seems we’re…
London Perfume Evening + Give-Away Reminder
I hope you’re all having a good weekend, wherever you are. Just two brief items from me today. Firstly, please don’t forget that you’ve got until 10 pm tomorrow night…
Italians Don’t Like Shalimar + End Of Summer Give-Away
I need a few lessons in basic Buddhism. One of the main problems with having an extremely busy Day Job and a tendency to go away on long holidays is…
Review: No. 19 Poudré from Chanel (2011) and Miriam from Tableau De Parfums (2011) + Miriam Winners
There’s a lot of anti-Chanel feeling around at the moment. Before the venerable house had given everyone an opportunity to recover from the various Chance flankers, they released Bleu which…
Evelyn Avenue Interview + Miriam Give-Away
Some of you will no doubt be aware that perfumer Andy Tauer has entered into an intriguing collaboration with film-maker Brian Pera (of Evelyn Avenue). Over the course of the…
Give-Away Teaser + Reasons To Be Thankful
We’re surrounded by empty suitcases. The washing machine has been whirring away for hours. There’s a heap of unopened junk mail in the bin. All this means we’re back at…
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,…
BBC Perfume Documentary + Aftelier Draw Winner
Some of you may remember that a few months ago I wrote about being interviewed for a three-part BBC documentary about perfume, directed by Ian Denyer. Well, I’m pleased to…
Lily Of The Valley Winner + IFRA Interview + Silly Searches
I hope your weekend’s treating you well so far. As I type these words, the trees outside my window are being manhandled by the wind and the clouds are threatening…
A Brief Pause + Link To Basenotes Dior Article
François Demachy; photo by Dior A brief, utilitarian post today. I just thought I’d come up for air to let you know that the Invasion Of The Day Job is…
Sample Give-Away + Review Showcase: Angela Flanders
96 Columbia Road must surely be London’s best kept fragrance secret. A cosy shop decorated with Venetian masks, Rajasthani puppets and antique European furniture, it’s one of only two places…
Perfume? What Perfume? I Just Came For The Party + Opus V Winner
What’s the ideal setting for trying a new perfume? How about this: a darkened room; loud music thumping in the background; twenty or so people engaged in animated conversations; plates…
Zeta Winner + Smelling Oud For The First Time
Boozy fruit = Boozy Simnel I could do with a Bloggers’ Retreat. I’ve got so many things I’d like to tell you about, but the clock keeps ticking and the…
Sample Give-Away + Review: Zeta – A Linden Blossom Theme from Tauer Perfumes (2011)
Although I haven’t got the world’s greenest thumbs, I’ve somehow managed not to kill all the trees in our garden, two of which produce an annual crop of rich, dark…
Sample Give-Away + Review: La Belle Hélène from MDCI (2011)
If there’s one thing Bertrand Duchaufour can do with envy-inducing finesse, it’s using smell to paint incredibly precise, near-holographic visual images. La Belle Hélène, the latest release from MDCI, showcases…
Let Me Whisper In Your Ear + Orange Star Give-Away
It’s been a while since I’ve written in any meaningful detail about my own perfume making. Paradoxically, this isn’t because I haven’t been doing any, but because I’ve actually been…
Tauer Winner + Friday Give-Away Teaser…
Well, well, well. Who would’ve thought that a relatively simple question about the highs and lows of 2011 would’ve generated so many touching responses? (If you’re not sure what I’m…