RANDOM PERFUME PICKS - L'ANONYME BY A LAB ON FIRE

L'ANONYME Ou OP - 1475A EDP - A LAB ON FIRE - 2011 - UNISEX

Photo credit: A Lab on Fire flickr

Official Olfactive Notes: bergamot, geranium, white amber, blond woods, suede, leather.

Website describes it as spiritual, minimalist.

Olivier Polge, the master perfumer of this creation is also said to create perfumes with  a minimum of sophistication and juggles with paradox.

Cotton candy Katy, by Will Cotton

So what can I say about this fragrance with the minimum words required? 

Ethereal cotton candy mixed with a bit of lemony zests? 

Or dewy extra sweet lemon meringue cloud?

Frankly we have a list here of this type of fragrances, they were a trend not long ago - check random picks - day eleven. I think if this was a drink or something to eat, it would be a fantastic edible experience, but unfortunately it is not, it is to be sprayed on skin.

L'Anonyme EDP is an enigma (from the website of the brand), and an enigma it is indeed...why to bother launch such an inexpressive little soul? Katy Perry teenager fans will certainly love it... I want to eat my arm right now, literally!


OBS: fragrance sample provided by Essenza Nobile upon my request.

Random Post Mortem thoughts: after citrusy notes tuned down, the fragrance becomes very powdery-flowery after shower kind of perfume. It smells nice. Not an statement, not a perfume to wear if you want to be taken seriously but nice. The amazing thing about it: after drydown, after evaporating almost completely, the next day out of the sudden it bloomed again...cotton candy zombi? Post mortem fumum? a surprise indeed!

Perfumes & Shoes

Feet are many times linked to a source of bad sweaty stinky smells, caused by bacterias that find in our shoes, a perfect place to live. They build "summer villas" in our snickers, or "winter cottages" in our leather boots. 
Feet are also objects of obsession, for fetishists and fashionistas. I dare you to show me a metropolitan woman who doesn't LOVE shoes! If this person ever existed, she probably has never seen/felt authentic leather shoes. 

We all know that fashion has a close relationship to fragrances. But shoes? As strangely that may sound shoe stylists and shoe brands are launching perfumes.  I say strangely because it is really hard to detach from shoes, the idea of sweaty smells (when we are speaking of smells and odors, of course).
...
But let's think of the glamour of shoes, Shoe design bringing this accessory to a state of "art to wear", and let's explore this trend of "perfume by shoe designer" that has been showing up the last couple of years.

“See a shoe and Pick it up and all day long you'll have Good Luck.” — Andy Warhol

In 2008 Bond Nº9 launched a fragrance called Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue. It was the third perfume of the Andy Warhol collection, a chypre-floral perfume named after the location where Andy had his first apartment, with a limited edition bottle with a vintage shoe illustration by the artist. The bottle was also decorated with 04 silver shoes pendants. The fragrance composition brought notes of cardamom, cypress, fennel, iris, creme brulée, peonies, patchouli and sandalwood.

Two years later, in 2011, famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo debuted his first fragrance. The perfume, also a modern floral chypre, was named after the brand and offered a combination of caramel toffee and tiger orchid. The fragrance brought femininity and sensuality, just like the exquisite high heels of the brand.

At that time, co-founder and chief creative officer of the brand Tamara Mellon explained that it seemed to her the next natural step of the brand, since fragrance is also a very important accessory in a woman's wardrobe. As Murano glass was used in some chandelier's in the first store of the brand, Tamara wanted the fragrance bottle to have this as a reference. The packing came with a pink python leather illustration -  a very popular leather in luxurious shoe design.

In 2010 shoe guru Robert Vivier launched a collection of 05 fragrances. 

Inés de Fressange, the ambassador of the Vivier fragrances, explained that the brand decided to create perfumes with style and personality; and she also declared that they used high quality precious materials, just like in their couture collections. L'Iris, Le Neroli, L'Ambre, Le Santal and La Rose are all said to be heady but not excessive. Some commented that they are not exactly inspiring perfumes. Developed by nose Ramy Mekdachi (Israeli?) it is a collection of single notes, that was also an on going trend also in the same year. So, as the mantra "luxury is to choose not to choose", proclaimed by the brand...I think we choose not to choose these perfumes at all...

Vicent Camuto, the lord of shoes and accessories has also embraced the fragrance market when he launched his self-titled fragrance Vicent Camuto EDP.

This first fragrance by Vince Camuto is said to be a contemporary, sexy and sophisticated perfume. The top notes are enriched with notes of rum absolute and osmanthus nectar. The heart is opulent and floral, composed with Bulgarian rose and night blossoming jasmine, enhanced with leather notes. The base incorporates vanilla, absolute,  patchouli, hot Brazilian amber and leathery musk (?). The flacon has a Baroque appeal...and according to the brand, "it is VC's  first affordable & accessible luxury"...sounds like his shoes were very expensive...but in fact they are not really a big deal...

Love Fury by Nina West, made in collaboration with inter Parfums ( a company developing many of the shoe brand's fragrances), also took the fetishist obsession for shoes, and transformed  a fruity-floral fragrance into a charming iconic stiletto fetish.

The heel actually pierce the perfume, slipping into the juice. Very sexual, very feminine, and very commercial.

Francophiles worth her sel is familiar with Repetto, whose chic ballerina slips are favored by Parisians worldwide. Now, the 64-year-old dance company is preparing its first fragrance. What to expect from a brand known best for its chic flats? Philippe Benacin, chairman and CEO of Interparfums SA, says the partnership between his fragrance company and Repetto will draw on the world of dance, promising a "poetic, glamorous and ultra-feminine" line of scents. (edited from Bellasugar - Australia).

In 2011, Aldo, the Canadian shoes & accessories brand launched a collection of fragrances, said to be defined by colors: yellow, red, blue with white bottles, and red and yellow with black bottles. Check the video for more info.

Back in perfume history, in the 70's Charles Jourdan created his first fragrance. The collection today has in total 8 fragrances. The last launch was in 2004 - Charles Jourdan The Parfum, an oriental woody fragrance, with gourmet notes of mango, peaches and almonds, with a pink futuristic bottle.

Of course we can't finish this article by mentioning Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and all these sports brands making athletic shoes that has launched their line of cheaper fragrances. 


Or our beloved Melissa, whose fragrance I had the pleasure to evaluate when it was about to be launched.

Unfortunately, the fragrance is not the same scent of the shoes, and it smelled like a cheap fruity bubblegum-y perfume (which is not cheap by the way; it is rather expensive). But it was a trend setter here in terra brazilis.

Fact is, shoes are fashion accessories, and fashion brands are looking for/expecting the 6 digits revenues from perfume sales kick in, so they can expand their names worldwide. You may not have USD6,395 to buy Louboutin Daffodiles, but you will be able to afford a fragrance signed by the shoe designer  - if he decides to launch one.

If you ask me, what I prefer...a pair of Chanel boots or a fragrance from the exclusive perfume collection Les Exclusifs... you know the answer already...and I am a shoe lover just like you!

Hamman - A truly Indulgent Experience

Photo credit: Morocco Tourist Office

ANCIENT HISTORY

In Arabic "hamman" means spreader of warmth". Before steam baths were introduced to Arab societies, men and women bathed in cold water. In 630 AD, the prophet Mohammed observed the Roman inspired baths in Syria and recommended the "sweat baths" to his followers as a way to improve fertility. (It is known that the prophet wanted to expand the religion).

As the Islamic faith spread, so did Hamman baths. At first they were common practice among nomadic groups, and later spread to towns throughout Iran, Turkey, North Africa, Greece and eve to Southern Spain. Most of them, connected to the local Mosque, as a center to keep the hygienic standards of the religion. Very much likely the original Roman baths before them, hammams became both a place of rest, as well as an important social site in early Muslim culture. This was especially the case for women, who in many regions were discouraged from socializing outside the home. Hammams were a place where members of all levels of society came together, their low entrance fees making them accessible to the majority of the population. Even wealthy men and women with private baths in their homes would visit the hammam for its social appeal, and by some accounts, to show off their superior cleanliness.

Decidedly less decadent than their Roman predecessors, the first hammams were composed of three chambers with domed white roofs, the design best suited to trap their steam. Heated from the floor, each had hot and cold water for washing, and attendants present for massage and exfoliation treatments.

Scent has always been an important part of the hammam experience. Massage attendants were forbidden to consume garlic for its strong odor, and would rub their hands with fragrant pomegranate peel before treating clients.

HAMMAN TODAY

A Hammam (or public bath), is a time-honored cleansing ritual practiced in Eastern Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Traditional Hammam services begin with relaxation in large steam rooms to open the pores. You are then covered with a coat of an olive oil product followed by "gommage" (another name for a full-body exfoliation). A heavy clay mask is applied to help release impurities and is then removed with a cold cloth mask to close pores. To complete the treatment, you are given a full body massage.

WHERE TO FIND HAMMAN

The original and real experience is a public bath, which can be found in many Middle Eastern countries, Africa, etc... Now, a traditional communal bath is frequented by locals, and if you are paranoid by germs and diseases, dermatological pathologies...forget it. If you are not comfortable with a crowd of half naked strangers scrubbing themselves...forget it.

The second option is to find a Hamman in a spa. Hamman services in high-end spas are a truly luxurious relaxing experience, but do not expect low prices, as Hamman has also a full body scrub, facial clean and full body massage + the baths, and all the towels, robes, slippers, etc etc...included.

When I began to write this blog, I made an article in Portuguese about Hamman. In that article I described a Hamman experience, and taught my readers how to bring Hamman to their very own bathroom.  I decided to introduce the culture in a more personal way. The idea was that, any person wanting to give her/himself a indulgent treatment of hamman, can adapt it to hers/his reality, and perform a hamman at home.

So, if you can not enjoy a real Hammam bath, either because you won't find one in your region, or can't afford a spa right now, here I suggest a very pleasant experience home.

TURKISH BATH TOWEL

The Hamam is very similar to the sauna, and you can live this experience will be necessary to follow the following steps:

1. This step is the most important one in order to achieve a truly indulgent experience. Please stick to the rules as if you were not at home:

1.a)Take some time to turn off/hang up the phone, the cellphone, the intercom, computer, ipad, iphone and all the "Is" you have at home and any devices that can take the peace out of your mind. You are now going to travel to a distant land, where nobody or nothing can take out the peace of you. So, do not bake anything while experiencing Hamman, do take care of your children, or watch TV while in the process of Taking this bath. Any, and here I am not flexible with you, any action that is not directly connected to hamman will spoil the entire experience for you. If you are not capable of getting away of facebook for a couple of hours, I suggest you pay a spa, otherwise it is a lost of precious time.

1.b)If you don't have one, buy a CD of instrumental music of the Middle East. something soothing and relaxing.

2. Once the mind is clear of all the technological apparatus, separate all the necessary utensils for bathing. That must be towels, slippers, robes, sponges, washcloth, the oils you will use in your bath, the gommage products (home made or purchased), etc...

3. Prepare the drink that will you take after a bath: a herbal tea, a lemonade, water with sicilian lemon rinds, mint leafs and cucumber slices is very refreshing, or just water. Alcoholic or soft beverages are totally forbidden.

4. Prepare your body by taking a warm shower to refresh and cleanse the body. Here I recommend that you don't take a cold shower, even if you like it. But don't take to long.

5. Prepare the bathroom: Close the window(s) and door(s). The room must be warm. If you are in a winter season, I suggest you heat the room first. Fill the tub with warm to hot temperature.

6. Place your feet in the tub with hot water and relax, feeling the steam cleanse the body. Add a few drops of essential oils in water. (Hint: floral to sensual atmosphere; rosemary and eucalyptus for a truly Middle Eastern aroma bath; lavender oil + chamomile  for a relaxing bath). Soak a washcloth in water and cover the shoulders and back. Re-wet the towel every time it starts to cool. If necessary refill the tub with hot water.

4. Make a body scrub with exfoliating loofah or vegetable of your choice - starting with the feet and up toward the trunk.

5. Enter the water, but do not exceed more than 05 minutes - remember you are in a steamy hot room and it has been a while now.

6. Take a warm shower, and then immediately switch jets of hot water with cold water.

7. Soon after, lay down to relax, and enjoy the refreshments or the herbal tea that you have prepared in advance, to revitalize and hydrate the body. 

Before venturing in the delights of this extremely hot bath, make sure you are fit. Pregnant women, heart disease patients, high blood pressure sufferers, patients with diabetes and varicose, or someone with a history of fainting usually can not experience HAMMMAN. When in doubt, consult a physician.

I suggest a perfect Hamman experience with Ritual Hamman line.

I have already tried the following products they have:

Heavenly Hamman relaxing bath oil - the fragrance is outstanding. A real treat to the senses. The skin feels soft and nourished after using it. The product is really gentle. The combination of argan oil, eucalyptus and rosemary is simply outstanding!

Hamman Olive Secret - it is a paste with an olive oil base, to exfoliate and remove dead cells. The fragrance is less intense and less luxurious than the Heavenly Hamman, but still a treat for the body. I am applying for a month and I see the difference. 

Hamman Delight Foam Shower Gel - it is as goos as the bath oil - the scent is the same. It feel nice to use the foam.

Hamman Happiness - it is a conditioner with the same scent of the heavenly Hamman. I confess I bought it just because of the scent. Later i found out that it gives a refreshing sensation and shine to the hair. I like it.

If you wish to explore the Hamman experience of Rituals, please click HERE to learn about the line. But you are free to use the beauty products of your choice. There are many recommended products to use while experience Hamman, especially Aleppo soaps.

Final Observation: This article is independent, and this blogger did not receive any financial or beneficial encouragement by Rituals to mention the products, or even to write about Hamman. This article is a result of my true love for Middle Eastern culture and rituals, and I do LOVE the products I listed here.
Baths are one of my favorite ways of discovering scents, after wearing perfumes. it is fantastic how the scents spread in the bathroom, on the skin and hair. I close my eyes and I travel in time and space. I go back to the forests of Israel, the lavender fields of Provence...the beaches of Brazil...

THE LALIQUE CRYSTALS - EXHIBIT - BRAZIL 2012

Shéhérazade by Lalique, 2008

Photo credit: + Q Perfume Blog

If you wish to take a look at more pictures of beautiful rare flacons by Lalique, please enter to my album, by clicking LALIQUE.

They were taken here in São Paulo, today, while I visited the exhibition "The Lalique Crystals", opened to celebrate the 150 years of the birthday of Rene Lalique.

The nose & the chef

I have been writing about fragrances while a while now, and it is always a pleasure to scape the borders of the lab, and take a tour in the kitchen.

Many perfume brands offer scented teas, like Miller Harris, Joe Malone, Aftelier, Myia Shinma, etc, etc... well, that is no news. Perfumers cooking? We have seen many projects here involving food recipes and cooking with the nose.

Photo credit: Libertin's facebook 

Scratching the same issue again, today I want to bring you the confitures made by Belgian perfumer Libertin Louison (owner of the brand Technique Indiscrete), offered only in his shop located in Antwerp - Belgium. Yes, I know it is quite disappointing - we are not there, but the reason is that the confitures are always fresh, developed without any conservatives.

Orange Canelle Mint, Tomatoes with Thyme & Basil...each week he prepares a different one to offer his clientele. The quantity is also very limited. Libertin makes 5 to 10 pots every week. Last week while I chatted with him, he told me he was preparing the one with tomatoes. It was such a pleasure to here details while the product was in development!! 
As he explained, the process of making food for him is just like making perfumes. He mix ingredients just like he does in his formulations. 

Photo credit: Libertin's facebook 

This week he is preparing one with beets and red peppers. I will get more details with him and try to update from jar to jar...

Photo credit: TI

Technique Indiscrete also offers scented teas. You will find 03 flavors: Rose, Mandarine and Violet. Mandarine is a combination of black tea, neroli and spices. Rose is a blend of black teas from China and Ceylon, flavored with rose and sprinkled with rose petals. Violet is a chinese black tea combined with violets.

Photo credit: Talchá facebook

I have been drinking lately a lot of blends that I am making in my very own kitchen. It is not that difficult. My mom brought chinese dried roses to me from her trip to China, so I am blending them with Russian black tea. I love the contrast of the strong smoky tea flavor and the delicacy of the rose aroma. Feels like turning this into a perfume. I also bought rooibos tea, and I mixed it with dried lavenders. You can also try, it is really fun. Just make sure all ingredients are organic and free from chemicals, otherwise they are not good for blends.

Last week I did a tour inside Brazilian tea shop called TALCHÁ. They have exquisite tea blends and cool design accessories. So, if you are beginning to enjoy scented teas and you are in São Paulo, it is a good option to start there.
Tomorrow I will buy vanilla pods. I feel like making a gourmet blend. Something with chocolate, oranges and vanilla...


Updating TI's confitures of the week (10.07): Rhubarb and banana

Photo credit: TI's blog

Novidades de Perfumaria no Brasil

Estamos entrando no segundo semestre de 2012 e muitas novidades estão perfumando o ar do Brasil.

A mais importante delas é a chegada da cadeia de lojas SEPHORA, que promete abrir finalmente suas portas agora em julho. O plano original era para o lançamento acontecer em março, mas obras no shopping e problemas com o trânsito local tiveram que adiar a data. No primeiro ano a empresa lançará 16 lojas no eixo Rio-São Paulo, para expandir a um total de 50 lojas. 

Bom para o consumidor: sim, pois a Sephora tem um portfólio muito grande de marcas.

Ruim para o consumidor: ainda sim, pois os lançamentos continuam chegando em atraso no Brasil, as vezes de dois anos. Isso quando chegam.

Também está chegando ao Brasil a exposição de frascos Lalique, que estará disponível a a partir do dia 06 deste mês. Os brasileiros poderão finalmente conhecer frascos de perfumes que são verdadeiras obras de arte, bem como ter a oportunidade única de ver perfumes que já saíram de linha e tornaram-se objetos raros.

Bom para o consumidor: Sim, pois esta exposição só foi montada em Montreal e Moscou.

Ruim para o consumidor: enquanto lá fora, a marca já lançou mais de 32 perfumes, aqui no Brasil sua presença é bem tímida. Eu diria que quase nula. Encre Noir é um dos perfumes masculinos mais maravilhosos da face da Terra, e vive escondido nas perfumarias brasileiras - lá no cantinho da loja, onde ninguém vê. Que pena... 

A Cinquiéme Sense, famosa por seus cursos de formação em perfumaria na França, apresentará amanhã um curso dedicado ao Brasil. O programa inclui preferência nacional, visão qualitativa e quantitativa do mercado brasileiro, história da perfumaria do Brasil. Enquanto isso, por aqui, os cursos de perfumaria estão indo muito devagar. Existe um de pós-graduacão na faculdade Oswaldo Cruz e um na faculdade Santa Marcelina.

Na verdade, cursos para o público em geral, que quer ampliar a sua cultura geral, snao praticamente inexistentes. Não existe um local como a Cinquiéme Sense aqui no Brasil.

Já a Fragrance Foundation anunciou sua vinda ao Brasil - vamos aguardar...expectativas... 

Bom para o consumidor: sim, o Brasil está em destaque mundial.

Ruim para o consumidor: sim, pois tudo parece lindo no papel. Na prática a coisa é bem outra. Se você não tem formação em química, mas gostaria de fazer cursos sobre perfume, o jeito é comprar uma passagem para a França.

Ontem o site FRAGRANTICA.COM lançou a sua versão brasileira em português: o FRAGRATICA.COM.BR

O Fragrantica contém o melhor compêndio de perfumes atualmente, e está 24 horas antenado nos lançamentos de fragrâncias pelo mundo afora. Além disso, o site oferece uma biblioteca imensa de matérias-primas. 

Os membros e contribuidores do Fragrantica são figurinhas já conhecidas na comunidade de perfumes, pois muitos possuem seus próprios blogs. Com experiência dentro e fora da comunidade, o Fragrantica viaja para feiras internacionais, cobrindo praticamente ao vivo todos eventos e novos lançamentos que estarão por vir.

Bom para o consumidor: sim, isto mostra que o Brasil realmente foi posicionado com importância na perfumaria mundial.

Ruim para o consumidor: não, não vejo nenhuma desvantagem em relação ao site, que é um dos melhores acontecimentos do ano. 

Mas em termos de fragrâncias, volto a dizer, muitas não chegam aqui, e as que chegam, estão atrasadas. Quem sabe a participação brasileira dos membros fará com que a indústria acorde! Acho que na verdade são dois fatores responsáveis pela letargia - legislação, inclusive a tributária, e a falta de verba, uma vez que a maioria do capital vai para o bolso das celebridades que emprestam seus rostos para as marcas e a publicidade. No final da conta, sobra pouco para a terra brasilis...

REDHEADS, CARROTS & FRAGRANCES!

The most seductive redhead of Hollywood - Rita Hayworth

"Gentlemen may prefer blondes, but it takes a real man to handle redheads!" (unknown author)

I am fascinated by red hair since I was a little. I was once told that children with red hair and freckles were in fact rusty by water, and it happened because they had stayed too long in the bathtub. Probably that was sad attempt to shorten my baths - I say that because I till today I have the habit of taking very long ones, but I don't really recall if this was was said to me in that context. Truth is, all the friends that I loved the most for being naughty, witty and cheerful, were redheads. The more freckles they had, the wittier they seemed to be!

JULIENNE MOORE 

Ever since I have been trying to change my blonde locks to auburn (something like Julianne Moore's), but never succeeded. Every hair dresser I consulted told me the same thing: technically it can't be done. Seems that I have a special texture of hair that color won't spread harmonically, and I will end up with stains. So my last and final attempt, ended in frustration, so I decided to settle with my blond color, and that the fantasy of having the looks of Debra Messing from Will & Grace had go for good. I am considering a wig thou...
Fact is that redheads cause more impact on people than any other. I went to look in the internet what kind of emotions redheads cause on people, to try to understand why I am so drawn to it. I found some curious things. For instance, during the Middle Ages redheads were considered witches that have stolen the fire of hell. 
Many magical potions used red hair and they were also ingredients to make certain poisons. Greeks believed that redheads turned into vampires when they died. Russians once believed that people who had redhead were mad, although Russia means "the land of reds". Myth or not, redheads are said to have a hot temper and fiery. I first heard this in my life in Israel, where coincidentally there are a lot of Russians.
On a second thought, having red hair is not such a good things according to history. Redheads were not exactly loved as I thought they were...(ok, we blondes are not alone..I don't know what is worst - being called carrot top, or having to listen to all the dumb blonde jokes).

Carrot top... That gave me a super good idea! If I cannot be a redhead and look like a carrot, at least I can have a whiff of carrots in my life! I love carrots, and there are some great fragrances with carrot notes. Carrot seeds, carrot juices...So let's leave the thoughts about redheads aside for a while, and focus in what we love the most: fragrances!

I LOVE LES CARROTES EDP by HP

In 2010 French organic niche perfumery brand Honoré de Près launched the so called "Bugs Bunny" elixir called I love Les Carrotes EDP, crafted by brilliant perfumer Olivia Giacobetti. It is controversial. A love or hate perfume. Usually, people love it. But some people thought Olivia has gone mad (probably under the spell of a redhead). In my opinion it is quite exquisite. It is the very essence of the carrot, that it seems like to be pulled from the soil (remaining a bit dirty), and squeezed right into the perfume bottle. What I found interesting about this fragrance is the crunchiness of the carrots, combined with the freshness of citrusy notes of oranges. Seems like a juice coming from the kitchen! But there is also a spicy earthy aromatic patchouli-orris combo that drives us away from the kitchen straight back to the garden. It is sweet, it is strange, and irreverent just like Bugs Bunny!
Olfactive notes are: orange, orris butter, vanilla, patchouli and benzoin.
You will find this fragrance at HP's website.

LIKE THIS - TILDA SWINTON EDP by ELO

Another carrot extract also launched in 2010 is Like This - Tilda Swinton EDp by Etat Libre D'Orange, developed by perfumer Mathilde Bejaoui. Here I must say, you will find the liquid representation of the orange color. According to the muse of the fragrance, celeb Tilda Swinton, in her fantasies, there is a lost chapter of Alice in Wonderland, that after drinking from the bottle of Drink Me and after eating from the cake pleading Eat Me, Alice on her way down the rabbit hole finds a flacon with a ginger stem reaching down into a pale golden scent that suggests "Like This" . Well, if it this fragrance would indeed smell like carrots, it would not last inside a rabbit's hole don't you think? Like This could easily be added to my list of Delicious Perfumed Goumandises posted some months ago. It does also remind me of Serge Luten's Jeaux de Peau EDP, but with much less butter, much less pastries, and a very intensified Immortelle.
Olfactive notes composing this fragrance are yellow tangerine, ginger, pumpkin, immortelle, Moroccan neroli, Grass rose, vetiver, heliotrope and musk.
You will find this fragrance at ELO's website.

SEVEN VEILS - BYREDO

Seven Veils by Byredo is another fragrance with an exquisite carrot accent. Click HERE for my full review. Here carrots are combined with pimento berries and liquor notes, using the iris-like quality of carrots, progressing thou to a less tempting vanilla perfume. It is worth sampling due to the carrots. It is really a brilliant opening for a fragrance.
You will find this fragrance at Essenza Nobile website or Byredo's.

NIRMAL EDP BY LABORATORIO OLFATTIVO

Another fragrance reviewed by me with an interesting facet of carrots is Italian niche Nirmal EDP. Usually carrots bring the idea of soil, of earthy - muddy root. It is found underground, and this is exactly why we have this dirtiness sensation about carrots. Here in Nirmal, you will find a fragrance that brings the notion of white. Despite the fact that you think of a clean, fluffy, serene perfume, still you will find some earthiness to it due to the fact that it contains carrots notes. The idea of including a "dirty-earthy" note to create the idea of a clean white cloudy perfume amazed me. To read the complete review of Nirmal, click HERE.
You will find this fragrance at LO's website.

IRISSS EDP by XERJOFF

Luxurious brand Xerjoff oferrs a superlative iris fragrance with many S's - XJ 17/17 IRISSS.
Belonging to the XJ 17/17 collection which fragrances are created by master perfumers in Grasse, using extremely expensive raw materials, IRISSS brings a Florentine iris combined with ylang ylang absolute, violets and carrot seeds.
Well here you will also find a bergamot oil that will combine perfectly with the iris _ ylang and the result is a luxurious and divinely balanced perfume.
You will find this fragrance at XJ's website.


We can also add to the list of fragrances with carrots the following perfumes:


Un Jardin sur Le Nile by Hermès - carrots, tomato, grapefruit, green mango
Iris de Nuit by Heeley - carrots, violets and orris
Sienne D'Orange by TDC - carrots, orange, watercress, suede, cardamom
Mon Numero 8 by L'Artisan Parfumeur - carrots, coriander and apricot
Hiris by Hermès - carrots, coriander and ambrette
Essenza Del Tempo by Trussardi - carrot seeds, bergamot, ginger, ambrette, amber
L'Eau en Blanc by Lolita lempicka - does not contain carrot as a raw material, but certainly it has the carrot seed effect!
Mohur by Neela Vermeire - carrot seeds, cardamom, coriander, ambrette, back pepper, elemi




Well, the list could be long, but a chose some examples that are worth trying...
What we learned today is that carrots can bring dirtiness & earthiness to fragrances; it helps to compose irises notes; and it is mostly seen combined with oranges, coriander, ambrette, cardamom and violets.


OBS.: I have also seen carrots combined with vetiver - which makes perfectly sense to me. I also like Verdoracine by Givaudan, where carrots are freshly peeled, combined with galbanum.

YES TO CARROTS DAILY FACIAL MOSITURIZER

The last but not least, king of carrot products: YES TO CARROTS, owned by lovely Ido Leffler, an Israeli shinning worldwide with his natural, high quality organic cosmetic products.
The reasons why I will always say YES to Ido's products is the fact that he started this business with the idea of offering natural products that really work. The positiveness and the high vibe of the company (say YES to something, embrace it) is contagious.
When I first tried YES TO products 02 years ago in a store in the Dead Sea - Israel, I knew absolutely nothing about the brand. A fragrance freak as myself, I started to smell all the products on the counter. Suddenly I opened a shower gel that had such an amazing comforting scent. So soft, so delicate, sweet-powdery and yet, a bit of an earthy accent of carrots, that brought such a huge smile on my face, that 2 minutes later my husband was negotiating with the attendant a huge discount to take the entire line. And YES!!! I got all the YES TO carrots product, and a bonus: a cucumber calming moisturizer (needles to say, amazing as well). 
I ran to the hotel, filled the tube with warm water (it was a winter vacation) and bathed with the shower gel. To complete the experience I used the shampoo and the body lotion. The thing is, I have never found any product to layer with irises fragrances. And here I was, vacationing on Dead Sea shores, when this carrot scent stroke me as loud as Ido says YES every time he checks his bank account ;-). Maybe he says IECH? I wonder...

IDO saying YES!!

Also adding info, my sister was pregnant and living in NYC where she purchased the products. One day she came to visit me and saw the products in the shower. She told me that the only beauty products she could use while she was in her first trimester was YES TO CARROTS. To me it was very easy to explain to her. Because it is so delicate, so gentle to the nose, and so natural, that her body accepted it immediately. 

Well today I know that YES TO CARROTS awards, so I went on line to look for them to complete this article - the truth is, they received so many prizes and awards (more than 30), that I can't really list here...

I truly recommend this line to be layered with irises fragrances. Needless to say, recommended regardless the layering. It is top quality stuff.

So here you have it my darlings, 

I won't be ever a redhead, but one thing I can say: I can smell naughty, cheerful and be on fire with many fragrances such as the ones listed here!