Mixing with the nose - Perfumes & Cocktails

Back in 2008 I wrote about fragrances that had alcoholic notes in their compositions, or were inspired by cocktails. (for the article click HERE - in Portuguese).

The most common beverage scents found in these perfumes are: champagne, rum, whisky, tequila, gin, martini, vodka and cognac. Than you have the trendy ones such as caipirinha, mojito, curacao etc... 

Most recently we have seen the other way around - cocktails inspired by fragrances.

Remember when Cosmopolitan became famous because the girls of Sex in the City drank it? Maybe this was the starting point to bring back the cocktail popularity, or maybe the Mad Men TV series brought them back. Fact is there are many common grounds to the art of perfumery and mixing cocktails alchemy. Many famous bar tenders are applying both arts to create amazing drinks, or being trained by professional perfumers to extend their knowledge in scents and aroma combinations.

The introduction of molecular mixology to bartenders and cocktail creators brought a lot more interest for perfumery.

Tony Conigliaro

Tony's drinkable essence of perfume

Tony Conigliaro is the first bartender to work the principles of science to mix drinks. Although he dislikes the term molecular mixology, he was the one who started to experiment with culinary and perfumery techniques and methods to make his cocktails.

“My influences don’t always come from people— sometimes a movement in cuisine or a book can affect me. Perfumers, for example, bring something very new to the equation,” he says.

Just imagine a champagne flute in front of you, and its bubbles are ascending closer to your face, and once they pop and burst open, each bubble will bring an explosion of Chanel Nº5 fragrance essence. That was just possible with a creative technique developed by Tony Conigliaro, under Heston Blumenthal's influence. 

A sugar cube embedded with drinkable essence of the fragrance was placed at the bottom of the champagne flute. He found food grade equivalents to the Chanel Nº5 olfactive notes, and combined them recreating the consumable version of a perfume. The sugar cube was doused with the drinkable perfume. The name of the drink - Nº5 Champagne cocktail.

Tony started to study perfumery to marry this idea of perfumes and cocktails. Once he understood that the art of mixing fragrance notes to create a perfume was very similar to the mix of spirits and ingredients to create cocktails, he developed this idea of creating a champagne cocktail, inspired by Chanel's number one fragrance. It was the marriage of an iconic fragrance with an iconic cocktail. The notes of jasmine, ylang ylang and rose combined with the Perrier Jouet Gran Brut champagne brought a new sensory experience to cocktail drinkers

The drinkfactory was created inside Tony's bar - 69 Colebrooke Row to research and understand how many different fields such as perfumery, gastronomy, science, fashion, design and music could bring new ideas to mixing cocktails. Today it expanded and it is relocated to a new address and it has a blog of its own - DRINKFACTORY. Also click HERE for nice pictures provided by notcot.

And then there's also a trend in perfume events that are presenting cocktail preparation in workshops, inspired by he art of making perfumes. Penhaligons offered one - hard to understand the bar tender, but you can find the videos in youtube. The art of mixing cocktails and natural perfumery alchemy, provided by Julienne Zaleta from the Herbal Alchemy Apothecary is nice and she offers some recipes in her website.

Photo credit: MiN New York

Most of these workshops are a soiree to explore fragrances and learn how to prepare the cocktails inspired by them such as "Perfumed Spirits, a cocktail soiree" by Min - click here to see the program. The MiN New York events are simply fabulous! A must check.

Photo credit: NY Times

Ambergris in cocktails? Here is Meriton Latroon's Batam Punch recipe from the book Punch: the delights and dangers of the Flowing Bowl, page 117:

Ingredients:

1 piece ambergris [size of a grain of barley]

1 ounce sugar [Indonesian gula jawa or other dark, funky sugar]

1 bottle Batavia arrack

5 ounce sugar [Indonesian gula jawa or other dark, funky sugar]

6 fl ounce lime juice

3 to 4 cup water

nutmeg

Preparation:

Muddle piece of ambergris with one ounce of Indonesian gula jawa in a small bowl. Add two ounces Batavia arrack and muddle until sugar is dissolved. Break up 4 ounces of gula jawa, put it in a two-quart jug with six ounces lime juice and muddle until sugar is dissolved. Add the ambergris, sugar and arrack mixture and stir. Add the rest of the 750 ml bottle of Batavia arrack, stir again, and finish with 3 to 4 cups water, to taste. Grate nutmeg over the top.

To read all the history and the concept of this punch, click HERE.

Cooking with your nose

My father is very annoyed about the fact that one of my Balzaquian* sisters still smells her food before tasting, "like a little child sticking her nose in the food, even in public places like restaurants!" he says. It is known for a fact that 60% of taste is in reality aroma, and my sister does not eat if it does not smell good. Smelling the food before eating was a survival tool since the early ages of mankind. Today, some people succeed to do it in a stylish way, some just don't care about what others think like my sis. But fact is, that we all smell the food before tasting it.

[* Balzaquian is a Brazilian slang to women at the age of her late 30's, as referring to La Femme de trinte ans by French novelist Honeré de Balzac  - from the collection La comedie humaine]

Cooking with your Nose

Exploring fragrances beyond perfume bottles has been one of my favorite things. I would never be interested in just making perfume reviews. I love to explore this relationship between the senses, and how a specialist in one sense can adventure himself, and explore other ways to develop this interaction.


It is very exciting to me is when perfumers leave their fragrance projects on the side, and engage in different projects, such as joining the arts of Gastronomy and International Perfumery, by creating a group to produce a cook book with recipes that will tempt the reader's nose, and excite their taste buds. 

La Cuisine des Nez - Flavor & Scent in 46 recipes

La Cuisine des Nez is a compilation of 46 different recipes created by some of the most famous perfumers of the world, and written by both beauty and gourmet editor -  Sabine Chabbert. 

Artichoke salad with bitter orange 

I previewed the book in a French site, and all I can say is that it is magnificent, and it is already on its way to Brazil. CLICK HERE to preview it too. From the book: Carlos Benaim, is described by Sabine as a researcher for new molecules, an explorer of perfumes, and amateur of oriental savors. His shared recipe is a artichoke salad with bitter orange. 

Heston Blumenthal's Drink Me potion  & Glass vial

If you have been watching Heston Blumenthal's Feasts videos at BBC, you saw that the chef is a true master of the interaction of the senses. In the Victorian Feast episode he has developed a special device for his guests, to smell and taste at the same time a cocktail called "Drink Me", that was inspired by the potion served in Alice in Wonderland, with 05 incongruent flavors, with layers of toffee, hot buttered toast, cherry tart, custard and turkey meat (???). (The potion was drank by Alice to shrink and be able to cross the tiny door). His gastronomy & alchemy skills everybody knows already, but this time he created this crazy vial so guests would have a complete taste & smell experience. Needless to say, genius! I simply love Heston's dinners!

Mandy Aftel book & Essential oils for cuisine

One of the most famous natural perfumers of all times, Mandy Aftel, has also explored her skills in the kitchen, by writing a book with chef Daniel Patterson and introducing the use of essential oils in cooking. Cuisine became more fragrant for those who tried their recipes. Have you ever thought that bass goes well with rose? Well, according to these masters, yes it does! 
The name of the book is AROMA - The Magic of Essential Oils in Food & Fragrances.
The good news is that you can also purchase the essential oils from her. The Chef's Essence collection is a project developed by Mandy and sold at her website store, so everyone can have access to high quality essential oils and absolutes, that are 100% safe to be added in food recipes.

Jordi Roca & his version of Trésor by Lancôme

In May 5, 2011 I posted in my facebook the Gastronomy & Perfumery projects of chef Jordi Roca, one of the owners of Spanish restaurant El Celler de Can Roca. The pastry chef who loves to look for fragrances at the nearest Sephora store, goes back to the kitchen and reproduces these scents in form of desserts. One of these famous dishes is his interpretation of the famous Trésor by Lancôme with Japanese loquats, warm peach cream, apricot sorbet with notes of rose, vanilla and honey. He has already recreated Calvin Klein, Dior, Mugler and Hermés.
It all started while Jordi was reading the book Perfume the story of a murder, and one day a box of bergamots arrived at the restaurant. The fragrance coming from the box reminded him of a perfume by Calvin Klein, wore by his brother. The interest for scents awaken by the book, and the aroma of the fruits, gave him the idea of bringing the basic elements(notes) of these fragrances that he loves to the table, in the form of a dessert. Since that day he has already created 18 of these desserts.

The perfume

After the client savors the dessert of choice, Jordi presents the original perfumes in a paper cone infused with the fragrance. 
The restaurant belonging to the Roca family (Jordi, Joan and Josep) is considered one of the most advanced and specialized in olfaction experiences.

Angel 2011 version

As I mentioned already, (click here to read the article)Thierry Mugler was the first perfumer to create in 1992, we call GOURMET FRAGRANCES. Since than we have seen many fragrances with notes of chocolates, marshmallows, cotton candy, truffles, etc... But if you really want to take one step beyond and experience a real gastronomical fragrance, you need to try Serge Luten's Jeux de Peau and Mandy Aftel's Cepes & Tuberose.

Croissants aux amendes 

Jeux de Peau is no exception for Julia Child's theory. After all, according to her "With enough butter, anything is good!". So this fragrance has at least 1/4 of quality butter that is smoothly blended with honey and spices. Than you have the croissant note evoking French boulangeries. Warm and mouth watering, this perfume is a complete brunch experience on the skin. It might sound strange, and I know some of you are at this very moment wondering "who the hell wants to smell like food?"...but I can assure you that the perfume is not just a concept, it is perfectly wearable. 
With notes of roasted bread, licorice, immortelle, spices, apricot, sandalwood, amber, woody notes, incense and osmanthus, you will perceive the spiciness of a blend of spices, followed by the sweeten note of butter and roasted almond coated croissant, and a beautiful flower bouquet, that changes this fragrance from unisex to momentarily feminine. The touch of skin, the sensuality, the smell of French treats, triggers the natural human drive for high energy foods (the butter and croissant) and once you start to smell your arm, it will be very hard to move the nose into another direction. The first time I wore this perfume, I constantly sniffed my arm like a dog sniffing a place where other animals left their odors. It was crazy, even awkward at some point, but very pleasant.
You will find Serge Lutens fragrances at my favorite online shop Essenza Nobile by clicking on his name.

Italian Porcini mushrooms

Another Gastronomic (and here I will not call it gourmet, but gastronomic instead) is Cepes & Tuberose EDP by Aftelier Perfumes (Mandy Aftel). It is one of the most exquisites fougère fragrances that I have ever tried in my life. Specially because I have never thought that mushrooms can be blended with tuberoses, and surprisingly it results in a scent that I have known all my childhood - the smell of humid sauna wood benches! Well, each person has his own fragrant memories! Yes, as funny as it may sound, since I was little I used to lie down inside the sauna. Belly touching the warm wood, arms crossed in front of my body, head facing down, and nose almost touching the wood, I kept smelling the bench inside the sauna, till my dad would tell me it is time to go outside. That would last less than a minute, but as I grew older I could stay in the sauna more, and appreciate this smell for longer periods. We would go to the sauna during the summer and jump into the pool, or during the winter and jump into our pajamas, just before bed time. Cepes & Tuberose contains resins that make me plunge into my childhood in such a way that I have never experienced before in my life, as fragrances are concerned. You will find all Mandy Aftel's fragrances in her website by clicking HERE, or just Cepes & Tuberose by clicking on the link above provided. 

Cepes & Tuberose EDP Spray

But back to the fragrance, you will experience a delicious note of wild porcini mushrooms, with an meaty - earthy - nutty quality that I promise you will never forget! Whiffs of tuberose will bloom from your skin. Sometimes it will standout, sometimes it will become more mentholated and blend in the mushrrom-y notes. To my delight I finally found a tuberose note that I don't relate to the scent of fabric softeners (as I usually do when tuberoses are pronounced in fragrances). There is no waxy-rubbery undertones in Mandy's composition, just a rich sensual tuberose.
The luxurious fragrance of the Moroccan roses are also there. Its petals will unfurl slowly and intensely, bringing a sophisticated aura to the fragrance. But the uniqueness of this perfume is the humid sauna wood bench sub-note. Also very curious is the fact that this fragrant experience is never the same. Sometimes I can perceive the woody soil-like notes more intensely; sometimes the rose and the tuberose are more pronounced. Needless to say that I enjoy both of them equally. The fragrance is striking beautiful. A must have to all perfume passionates. A master piece of liquid art. 


Now I bring you 02 Gastronomy & Perfumery Recipes that will bring you a joyful sensorial experience:

Mango Chutney with cardamom oil

The combination of mango with cardamom gives off an exotic flavor that is very appreciated. This sweet and spiciness blend gives a twist to your starters, main courses and will make your senses travel to exotic lands.

This chutney goes wonderfully with white meat and shellfish. For a more sophisticated touch, try adding a touch of chutney on a piece of foie gras on toast and serve warm bread ... A real treat!

Ingredients:

700 g of mango

150 ml boiling water

1 onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

125 g golden raisins

150 ml of fruit vinegar

250 g brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 drop Cardamom Essential Oil

Preparation: 60 minutes

Peel mangoes and cut the flesh into small cubes.

In a saucepan, place the mango, water and other ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes, or until mixture is fairly thick and syrupy. Remove from heat, add 1 drop of Cardamom Essential Oil and mix well.

Preserve in pre - sterilized jars (4 months storage/15 days after opening)

Clafoutis d'Abricots with Vanille Bourbon et Petitgrain

The Petitgrain Essential Oil blends perfectly with all yellow-orange fruits, giving them a reminiscent touch of the floral scent of orange blossom. This dessert can also be served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

500 g sliced ripe apricots (fresh or frozen)

3 eggs

60 g fine powdered sugar 

2 tablespoons whole wheat flour BIO

1 vanilla pod split BIO

20 ml milk

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

1 tablespoon honey

1 pinch salt

3 drops Petitgrain Essential Oil

Preparation: 15 minutes (baking time 50 minutes)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Boil the milk with the vanilla pod. Meanwhile, mix together eggs, sugar, salt and flour. Mix the drops of essential oil of Petitgrain in the tablespoon of honey and add to mixture. Finally pour the milk into the mixture by removing the split vanilla pod, then add the sliced almonds. Place the apricots in layers round baking tray or tart pan, then pour the mixture on top. Bake for 50 minutes. Serve warm!

Question is...what do you love the most: recipes inspired in fragrances or fragrances inspired in gourmet treats?

Dica de última hora para o Dia dos Pais

O Dia dos Pais está quase chegando, e este ano vou ajudar dando dicas de como comprar presentes que agradaram a todos eles:

1. Se o seu pai é do tipo vaidoso, vale mais a pena dar um coffret de uma marca do que somente um perfume.

Exemplificando:

A Dior oferece uma combinação de produtos da fragrância Fahrenheit com um perfume de 100ml, mais o gel para banho de 75ml e um desodorante de 50ml, com uma necessaire preta de design bem bacana.

Coffret Fahrenheit Masculino EDT 100 ml + Shower Gel 75 ml + Desodorante 50 ml + Nécessaire – valor R$352,00

Veja como vale a pena: um perfume de 100ml EDT igualzinho ao do conjunto, quando comprado sozinho custa também R$352,00. Na coffret você recebe mais dois produtos e a nécessaire.

2. Uma outra idéia bacana, para um pai esportivo e aventureiro é compor a sua própria coffret.

Exemplo: comprar um perfume Vitorinox Swiss Army para dar junto com um canivete da mesma marca. Você pode colocar numa nécessaire da marca, ou se quiser investir um pouco mais, numa mochila ou mala de viagem. Você encontrará os produtos Vitorinox em lojas de presentes masculinos.

3. Uma versão clássica, para pais mais tradicionais, ou para pais que curtem esportes náuticos pode ser a coffret da Aqua di Parma:

Coffret Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri Unissex EDT 120 ml + Shower Gel 75 ml + Body Cream 75 ml por R$296,00.

Neste caso, se seu pai for do tipo clássico – você pode dar também uma gravata, ou uma camisa de botão.

Se o seu pai for do tipo esportivo – náutico, combine uma camisa pólo, um tênis de iatismo, uma sunga ou um boné com estilo.

4. Se seu pai é jovem, baladeiro e curte musica, que tal um CD e o novo perfume LOUD EDT de Tommy Hilfiger? Esta é uma excelente idéia se você é casada a pouco tempo e o maridão está comemorando o primeiro dia dos pais da vida dele.

5. Caso o seu pai seja uma pessoa mais difícil de agradar. Aquele que tem tudo, está sempre impecável e gosta de coisas muito elegantes, a sugestão é arrasar dando pra ele um perfume Chanel exclusivo, como o Sycomore, vendido somente no Shopping Iguatemi em São Paulo. Você também pode optar por um perfume da marca Hermès, como o Terre de Hermès ou o Voyage, e  combinar com uma capa de couro preto para ipad. Se ele não é tecnológico, pode ser uma carteira ou um cinto Hermes chiquérrimo.

6. Se o seu pai é super workaholic, ligado em tecnologia, ele é um pai moderno. Neste caso, uma opção metrossexual pode ser uma boa pedida. Combine um esfoliante para rosto da Biotherm com um mousse de barbear da mesma marca e o perfume Force EDT.

7. Se seu pai anda muito estressado, a sugestão é dar uma massagem de presente, e combiná-la com um perfume ou um after shave bacana para ele. Sugerimos o perfume Montblanc Legend EDT (R$189,00) ou After Shave Balm Colonia - Collezione Barbiere 100 ml + Grátis Kit Miniatura Acqua di Parma, [or R$212,00. Caso seu pai não goste de massagem, troque por uma sauna.

Lógico que todos perfumes podem ser presenteados sem os demais produtos, caso seu orçamento este ano esteja mais reduzido. Nesta linha, aposte mesmo nas coffrets que fazem vista e custam a mesma coisa que o perfume.

Ofereci essas idéias mais elaboradas porque acreditamos que o seu pai merece. Afinal ele te deu (dá) carinho, atenção, educação e fez de tudo para ver um sorriso no seu rosto esses anos todos.

Feliz Dia dos Pais para todos os brasileiros. Vocês são os verdadeiros super heróis!

REVLON SCENTED NAIL - os esmaltes perfumados da Revlon chegam ao Brasil

REVLON ENAMEL SCENTED NAIL

Produto aprovado somente para a faixa etária 13 aos 16 anos. 

Mais um lançamento recente no Brasil, e que + Q Perfume Blog já testou no exterior, é a coleção de esmaltes perfumados da Revlon - Revlon Enamel Scented Nails. O cheiro é de frutas,  e o preço é salgado - R$15,90.

Na verdade, quem usa esses esmaltes é a minha sobrinha adolescente que mora em Israel. Lá os esmaltes já estavam a venda em todas as drogarias do país.

Para quem gosta de borrachinhas e canetinhas perfumadas, o esmalte será um sucesso absoluto. Mas se você já deixou esta fase aviso: esta tendência de super perfumação é realmente irritante e de mal gosto. Para que usar tantos perfumes ao mesmo tempo? Se você já coloca shampoo, condicionador, desodorante, creme para o corpo, protetor solar ou creme para o rosto, creme no cabelo, etc... saiba que já está pra lá de perfumada. Fica até complicado aplicar perfume depois de tudo isso.

Os esmaltes possuem uma fragrância forte (pelo menos no exterior), e na opinião deste blog, é totalmente desnecessária para adultas de bom gosto.

Aviso a todos: a fragrância não pode ser sentida no frasco pois só é liberada quando o esmalte seca na unha.

Bom...eu já odeio acetona perfumada, esmalte perfumado então...fácil de entender: eu não tenho 13 anos de idade!

Tem mais um produto do tipo over e desnecessário:

Spray Leave In Jardin Délices Rosas

  L'Occitane

Produto reprovado por + Q Perfume Blog.

A marca promete maciez, perfumação de rosas e um efeito "Glade desodorante de ambiente" que neutraliza odor de cigarro e odores de cozinha do cabelo.

Na verdade, rosas não neutralizam nada. No máximo você pode combinar o cheirinho de rosas com pimenta da cozinha. Quem sabe...

Não quero meu cabelo com esse cheiro, e não curti o efeito também. Prefiro passar um creme de uma marca que é verdadeiramente especialista em cabelo, e um perfume, de uma marca de perfumes. 

Sorry, mas é a minha opinião.

Aqua Allegoria Jasminora by Guerlain - fragrance review

The Aqua Allegoria Collection was introduced by Guerlain in 1999, to offer simple formulas that reflect different moods and are inspired by Nature. The latest launch is Jasminora -  a floral, spinning around a fresh delicate Jasmine note. I confess that the only Aqua Allegoria I really liked so far from all Aquas, was Pamplemousse (Grapefruit). But that changed yesterday when I tried Jasminora, thanks to a friend who gave me a tiny sample.

Rating:✭✭✭✭✭

Brand: Guerlain

Origin: France

Launch: 2011

Perfumer: Thierry Wasser

Gender: FEM

Olfactive Family: Floral Jasmine

Type: EDT - Special collection Guerlain

Olfactive Notes: Bergamot, jasmine of Calabria, freesia, cyclamen, galbanum, muguet,    musks and amber-y notes.

Description by the Brand: " The spirit of jasmine and a note of freesias. A stroll at twilight. Be enraptured by the sensual aromas of jasmine. And fall under their spell".

Description by + Q Perfume Blog: FEMININE, DELICATE, NYMPH BEAUTY, HONYED

Sillage: One has to come closer to really feel that beauty!

Fixation: Medium/said by the brand to be concentrated

When to wear: Always you feel like it

Range: 125ml EDT

Where to find: Guerlain, Sack's, Sephora etc...

Could pair with: L'Abeille's honeyed notes

How would delicate nymphs smell like? Their skin perhaps would have the smell of amber. The lips, the smell of honey and cyclamens. The hair, the smell of jasmine. The breath, the smell of lilies.
In a nutshell, the smell of Aqua Allegoria Jasminora!

Last year I had the pleasure to visit Takasago for one entire day, and one of the most beautiful memories I have from that day was to open a bottle of cyclamen oil. So delicate, so feminine, so transparent! It is my favorite flower and the national flower of Israel.

Photo credit: + Q Perfume Blog

Jasminora starts slightly green-y and flowery at the same time. Not the greens of the fragrances I mentioned in my last article, but the green of a flower pedicel (the part of the plant that holds the flower). It has a slightly lemony undertone, typical of crushed green parts of plants, like when you crush lemon blossoms pedicels in the hand.

Its jasmine is not opulent or hypnotic, nor sensual. It is a naive jasmine, with a honeyed nectar that makes it very natural. It is a Guerlain signature fragrance, signed with watercolors, as if every note was tuned down, watered to be delicate. The combination of muguets, freesias, amber and musk might bring you the idea of a heavy powerful perfume, but Guerlain mastered it to be like a veil, like a quick tickle to make you smile.

If Nymphs were for the Greeks, personifications of Nature's activities, I am positive Guerlain designed this fragrance for us to feel like flowers, therefore Nymphs.

One more thing to add - Guerlain mastered to do what François Demarchy did not with Escale aux Marquises! Bravo!!!

Chanel Nº19 Poudré - fragrance review

It is not a secret that I love powdery fragrances and that iris is my favorite note. That said, is it possible not to love the newest Chanel launch?

Chanel Nº19 Poudré is a flanker of the original fragrance launched by the brand in the 70's. The modern version is a part of Les Exclusifs de Chanel Jersey with notes of neroli, galbanum, jasmine, iris, white musk, vetiver and tonka beans. It is supposed to be another green-ish like many recent launches in the market, and in fact it is green for the first 05 seconds. A combination of green notes of galbanum with a mineral, gray, wet cement note that reminds me of Untitled by Margiela. 
The iris notes are fantastic, brilliant, amazing. Chanel's at its prime quality standards.
That said, the development of the fragrance made me wonder... first of all I have seen this before in Bois des Îles and in Chanel Nº5 Eau Premiere. It is like the Maison is taking fraction of their perfumes and developing new others with a slight difference, a new detail, a new dose, or emphasis in  one particular note. 
To be honest, if I have to choose between Chanel 19 Poudré and Premiere - I stick with Premiere. Secondly, in my opinion what is the real annoying facet of this fragrance is the creaminess of it. I hated it in Narciso Essence for women, I hated it here. This white musk creamy cleanness is just not for me.
Than I remembered that Ninfeo Mio by Annick Goutal was also a fragrance that annoyed me very much. I recall calling it a vanilla pudding that rolled of freshly cut grass. Chanel Nº19 Poudré is not a vanilla pudding, but a grey pudding that rolled on grass, and than rolled on avon facial cream.
I found out when wearing in Margiela that I don't like this green-ish bitter green thing of that made me dislike the fragrance at one point. Same thing found in Prada's Infusion d'Iris
I guess the problem with all these fragrances mentioned is in fact the green note, combined with creamy or pudding like scents. I just don't like it! But Chanel made my nose spin to the other side even more, by combining these two and adding the creamy white musk. That my friends made me run to the bathroom and wash the arm.
So what is not to like, I ask again...hum...almost everything, besides the iris. The lack of powdery accent promised in the name...
And I thought Chance Eau Tendre and Bleu were the only mistakes Chanel ever did...

Novo Confort Concentrado - avaliação

Tendência house-hold que já vem sendo explorada no exterior finalmente chega no Brasil. A tecnologia de micro-emcapsulação para conseguir uma perfumação prolongada em produtos para lavar roupa não é novidade lá fora. Aqui, foi lançada pela Unilever para a nova linha do Confort. Segundo a empresa, as micro cápsulas de perfume se depositam nas fibras durante a lavagem, e são liberadas durante o dia (Polyfiber Technology).

Badin, o confort israelense da Unilever Israel

Em Israel, o produto equivalente ao Confort, se chama Badin (ambos Unilever). Eu sempre usei o original durante os anos que morei naquele país, e a qualidade da fragrância era muito superior ao produto nacional. Quando a reformulação mais concentrada foi lançada no mercado israelense eu já estava morando aqui, porém no ano passado tive o prazer de lavar a roupa durante a minha viagem, e aproveitei para testar os produtos novos. Simplesmente magníficos, com perfumação intensa e duradoura. Tão duradoura que tenho peças de roupas que não usei desde a minha chegada, e que estão guardadas na gaveta, e por incrível que pareça, ainda estão perfumadas. Seis meses depois o perfume ficou preservado.

SOD Verão

Outra produto israelense e concorrente que apresenta alta performance é o SOD da Henkel. Versão 04 estacões, apresenta 04 fragrâncias diferenciadas para cada estacão do ano. Excelente em qualidade olfativa, Sod também era um produto que estava presente na minha casa.

Muito bem...

Animada resolvi levar o Confort Concentrado -  fragrância original para casa, e testei o produto. Infelizmente o resultado obtido não foi o esperado. Não vou avaliar em termos de sustentabilidade, produto eco-friendly, economia de água e embalagens, ou qualquer assunto eco-chato que ajuda a minimizar o impacto ao meio ambiente... essa não é minha área. Faço aqui uma avaliação  OLFATIVA somente.

Confort Unilever Brasil

Em primeiro lugar, se uma empresa descreve o produto na embalagem como sendo o Confort ORIGINAL, espera-se que a fragrância seja a original. Estou errada? Lógico que não! Todo mundo entende original, como sendo igual ao primeiro. Pois bem. Eu e o Brasil inteiro cresceu com o cheirinho de Confort nos uniformes, pijamas, roupas e lençóis. Afinal,  Confort está no mercado brasileiro desde 1975. Ou seja, ainda que você não tenha o olfato apurado ou treinado como o meu, você conhece bem a fragrância. Muito bem. Lavei a roupa e fui estender na corda. De cara percebi que não é o Confort original. Tem um outro perfume, que no site da Unilever é descrito como aroma de flores e frutas. Na minha opinião a fragrância é enjoativa, muito adocicada. Um aroma de balinhas para criança simplesmente horroroso.

Aí fica a pergunta: quem vai querer uma performance prolongada, que libera moléculas da fragrância dentro da gaveta onde as roupas são guardadas, se essa fragrância não é boa???

Eu entendo que atualmente alta perfumação é uma tendência de mercado para tudo. Basta por exemplo, entrar num shopping center para você ficar sem ar com a quantidade de fragrâncias dispersas no ar. Ou compre um Veja Multiuso Floral ou Campestre, diferente do original, e vomite com a alta concentração de uma fragrância horrorosa de flores.

A verdade é que num país cujo índice de poluição e sujeira que são despejados no meio-ambiente vem crescendo de maneira alarmante, só poderíamos ter uma redução da nossa percepção olfativa, e como consequência, uma necessidade de uma maior concentração de fragrâncias nos produtos em geral.

Mas vamos combinar que deve ser um verdadeiro pesadelo ficar andando com a roupa impregnada de um perfume que não agrada, e que cada vez que você se mexe esse perfume é liberado!
Produto não aprovado por + Q Perfume Blog - que continuará a usar o Confort original, sem alta performance - pelo menos até a próxima viagem. Vou trazer litros de Sod da Henkel na mala!!!

Parabéns para a Olgivy pela campanha de marketing e a criação da família Comfees. Parabéns a Unilever pela nova embalagem dos produtos Confort, e por tentar reduzir o impacto negativo ao meio ambiente. 
Quanto a fragrância, sugiro que voltem para o laboratório e repensem esta fórmula!

Leia a história de mercado completa do produto clicando AQUI

Para ler em inglês a campanha Badin Unilever Israel - estudo de caso - clique AQUI