Guerlain will launch Idylle, a new fragrance for women, this coming September. The scent was developed by Guerlain’s house perfumer, Thierry Wasser:
A mist of flowers.
A bouquet of lilies of the valley, peonies, fressias [sic], lilacs and roses…
When my friend Maryann opened the door to greet me, she said, “You smell nice! At least it must be you, since nothing out front is in bloom yet.” It was late April and not even lilacs or lilies of the valley bloomed, let alone roses. But standing in the doorway I knew Maryann recognized the faint fragrance of an early summer garden in the morning, because I wore Parfum d’Empire Eau Suave Eau de Parfum.
In 2003, Marc Antoine Corticciato, the perfumer behind Parfum d’Empire, created Eau Suave in homage to Josephine’s Chateau de Malmaison, famed for its gardens including 250 varieties of rose. In an article on Malmaison, Princess Michael of Kent wrote that roses were a natural for Josephine:
Josephine was christened Marie-Joséphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie and she would be known as “Rose” from her birth until the day when the young General Bonaparte (who made a habit of changing women’s names) began a letter with: “Sweet and incomparable Josephine. I awake full of you and of the memory of our intoxicating night…” From that moment she would enter history as Josephine.
Pretty cheeky of Napoleon to change her name, but I guess you don’t get to rule most of Europe without being at least a little domineering…
The Emilio Pucci brand, currently owned by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, is celebrating its 60th anniversary (see articles in the International Herald Tribune and The Telegraph) and as part of the festivities, is reviving a 1966 Pucci perfume called Vivara. The chypre fragrance has been updated by perfumer Francois Demachy:
But the new Vivara is a more modern chypre, said Demachy…
Coco Chanel lived at the Ritz for most of her life, but she kept an apartment above her boutique at 31 Rue Cambon “as a place to house her own clothes and host dinner parties” (via travelandleisure):
The décor is ornate and baroque with the artefacts ranging from lacquered Coromandel screens with Chinese paintings to elaborate life size models of deer ranged in front of the fire place. The mirrors have elaborate oversize frames while the chandeliers replicate the double “C” symbol used as a brand logo in most products including bags and belts. Everything in the rooms reflects the concept of duality in her products with nearly each antique or display piece having a twin beside it. (via thehindu)
31 Rue Cambon, the apartment’s namesake fragrance from the recent Les Exclusifs collection, is likewise ornate…
Acqua di Parma launched Iris Nobile in 2004, and the original version, in Eau de Toilette concentration, is one of my favorite summer perfumes, a beautiful blend of iris and orange blossom with just a hint of anise. This year, Acqua di Parma follows up with an Eau de Parfum version that puts a chypre twist on the original formula. Notes include bergamot, tangerine, iris, star anise, ylang ylang, oakmoss, vanilla, amber crystals and patchouli.
As you would expect, the Eau de Parfum is a denser, richer fragrance than the Eau de Toilette. The sparkling, summery feel of the original top notes has been replaced with something darker and flatter, and the anise and the orange blossom have both been toned down a notch…
Stella McCartney in conversation with Alexandra Shulman (video, talks about new scent L.I.L.Y) http://t.co/VAKYigvK "French parfumier Guerlain on trial over 'race slurs'" article at Telegraph http://t.co/lVDxoZMi Vote for NST's Mood Board on FB and win a Zoya Nail Polish collection! http://t.co/MXHMN7I3