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CHANDLER BURR
at Seppie's restaurant
discussing his new book
The Perfect Scent
SCENT DINNERS EXPLORE PERFUME
IN PARIS, FLORENCE, AND ROME
Perfume critic and journalist Chandler Burr to present series
of “scent dinners” as part of a travelers’ lecture series.
Context, the network of scholars and other experts who lead walking tours of
major world cities, will host a series of “scent dinners” with noted perfume
critic Chandler Burr as part of their “Out of Context” series of site-visits,
lectures, and special programs. Combining taste and smell with a
fascinating discussion of perfume history, chemistry, and politics, the events
will explore the intoxicating relationship between some of the
world’s greatest scents and some of her greatest cities.
“Chandler Burr has the uncanny ability to unfold something as
seemingly silly and ephemeral and perfume in such a way that you
see the complexity of human endeavor and aspiration” says Context
founder Paul Bennett. “We’re thrilled to have him join our network and
apply his unique lens to understanding and appreciating some of the
greatest cities in the world.
The series begins on June 5 in Paris, with a dinner organized in
conjunction with the historic Left Bank restaurant, Laperouse.
Working with chef Samuel Benne, Burr will design a gastronomic
and olfactory experience that explores the intimate relationship
between Paris and the perfumes it has created—arguably the best
and most important perfumes in history. This will be followed by a
second event in Rome on June 10, at the enoteca Casa Bleve,
located in part of the ancient bath complex of Agrippa, where Burr
will look at perfumes that evoke the Italian landscape. And, finally,
the series concludes with a special event at the Palazzo Tornabuoni
in Florence on June 11.
Each evening begins with a discussion of perfume, its history and aesthetics.
Burr introduces the fundamental idea that perfumes, like architecture, or a chair, or a dress, are designed and thus can be analyzed and broken down into their constituent parts. Working with a category of perfumes known as culinary perfumes —that is, perfumes that are made from such edible sources as spices, herbs, fruit, chocolates and teas—Burr then begins deconstructing certain perfumes for the group, passing around samples of the perfume itself or its component parts to allow participants to “rebuild” the perfume themselves. For example, Burr might explain how Thierry Mugler's megahit Angels was designed to evoke an amusement park, and then pass around the molecule ethyl maltol, which is what one tastes and smella when eating cotton candy.
In the Paris and Florence events, each perfume will be coupled to a dish designed by the chef in a way that expounds on these themes and ideas, allowing the participants to more fully understand the total olfactory and gastronomic structure of what they’re sampling.
The events are programmed as part of Context’s “Out of Context” series. This is a series of special lectures, site-visits, and thematic dinners that explore the great cities of the world in new and inventive ways. The series runs through the spring and summer, and again in the fall and winter. Chandler Burr is The New York Times’ perfume critic and author of several books. His latest is The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris & New York (Henry Holt, January 2008). He speaks around the world on scent and perfume and hosts interactive masterclasses in gourmand scents.
Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals—including art historians, writers, architects, and gastronomes—who organize and lead didactic walking seminars
in seven cities: Paris, New York, London, Rome, Naples, Florence, Paris, and Venice.
In May 2007, Travel + Leisure named Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context
visit its website at: http://www.contexttravel.com/home/
Contact: Paul Bennett, +1 888-467-1986, +3906 482 0911, or
paul@contexttravel.com
Kingsbury Fragrances
Scented Très Bon Sandalwood Fans
Our beautiful and dear friend Dorothy McCall is up to it again. Not only does she make beautiful perfumes, soaps and body crèmes, she now has just made gorgeous sandlewood fans that are heavily scented with the incredible Très Bon parfum that she created in Grasse.
Dorothy explains "In honor of Mother’s Day, Kingsbury Fragrances is launching a limited edition of distinctive sandalwood fans embossed with traditional Chinese painting motifs of dragons or flowers. Très Bon, my signature fragrance, perfumes these fans.
Created in the classic tradition of French perfumery in Grasse, France, Très Bon is a fresh green woody floral that perfectly complements these 9” sandalwood fans which fully unfolds to 16”. These fans are great gifts for any woman to use with a stand to help perfume a small space, to cool oneself on a warm day or when having a hot flash!
Très Bon contains fresh top notes of mountain lavender, hesperides and rose de mai. The green heart is graced by ivy, pinewoods, fruity carnation, rose petals and muguet.
Finally, the rich warm base notes contains moss, orris, amber, musk, vanilla, and more green woods blending beautifully with the sandalwood scent.
To create these limited edition fans, each fan was painstakingly brushed by hand with Très Bon to saturate the wood then individually wrapped to seal the fragrance and allowed to mature for six weeks."
A luxury item at an economical price $35 or $40 with the stand. Shipping and handling are separate.
Contact Dorothy McCall at www.kingsburyfragrances.com
You can also view reviews on her web site.
If you have not read our interview with Dr. Dorothy McCall, please view here.
Dorothy has generously donated two of these fans for the "Sniffapalooza Magzine Raffle" at Sunday's luncheons at the Country Cafe for the upcoming Sniffapalooza Spring Fling!
SNIFFAPALOOZA MAGAZINE JAZZ
Sniffapalooza Magazine, an on-line international fragrance and perfume magazine, offers this fragrant collection of jazz music for your listening pleasure!Viva La Sniffa Baby!
SNIFFAPALOOZA MAGAZINE JAZZ
Vol. 2
Sniffapalooza Magazine, an on-line international fragrance and perfume magazine, offers this fragrant collection of jazz music for your listening pleasure!Viva La Sniffa Baby!
artwork by Kathy Patterson
Spring Fling Page 2 continuation. Click here to return to Sniffapalozza Magazine main page.
Isabelle Aurel of Desire in Sunlight Perfumes
Sniffapalooza will be serving Fragranced Chocolate Sauce, created and donated by perfumer Isabelle Aurel of Desire in Sunlight Perfumes.
Sample the delicious Chocolate Jasmine and Chocolate Lemongrass at Seppie's restaurant! Isabelle is also an accomplished perfumer and look for an interview in Sniffapalooza Magazine coming up.
Juvy Santos has written a review of the perfumed Chocolate sauce just for this event. (see review below)
Isabella wrote to us since she could not attend the Spring Fling but we are all invited to taste her perfumed chocolate at the event.. .
"Forms of aromatic traces swirled and delicately folded into delicious melted chocolat... for the sultry, hip party woman and the cravat wearing man this is the dessert to serve your guests... Jasmin is a rich floral, opulent, familiar yet surprising, glorious yet approachable. For the eclectic taste bud, Lemongrass is an exhilarating fresh presence, sparkling amidst the velvet chocolat.
Be imaginative, be genuine, surrender to the taste sensation, pour it on, life is beautiful with chocolat parfume! surprise your lover, a first date, pair it with exquisite style at your soiree, make your memory connection one of intense poetry and powerful fun, Chocolat Parfume is for now, uplifting spirits and drawing friends and family close together.
For the fortunate ones, Jasmin and Lemongrass are offered for tasting at the Saturday Luncheon of the Sniffapalooza Spring Fling.
Chocolat Parfume orders will be taken to ship by April 22nd. Please note: Subsequent orders will ship after July 1st!!! "
merci beaucoup, Isabelle Aurel Serrante
Bond. No. 9
Andy Warhol Union Square
Kathy Patterson
Notes: lily of the valley, green stem notes, freesia, white birchwood, amber, silver-cloud musk accord
The second in Bond No. 9’s series of Andy Warhol-inspired scents is a scrumptious green floral. “My favorite smell is the first smell of spring in New York,” Warhol once said. That elusive scent, of greening trees and spring flowers amid the concrete and steel is present in Union Square. There’s a bright floral note, strong but not overpowering or cloying, and lots of green. But not the green of grass or trees; definitely the green of stems. Perhaps stems that have been submerged in a vase of water, for there is an unusual watery quality in Union Square. I say unusual, as it’s not quite the typical marine or aquatic note but a gentler variety, non-salinated scent.
The floral opening never quite disappears. There is a hint of woods and amber to round out the scent, and lots of very light musk at the end.
Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Union Square is a bright, cheerful floral that should make lots of people happy this spring and beyond. I predict it will be a big hit.
Chocolat Parfumee:
Lemongrass, Tuberose,
and Frankincense
Fragranced Chocolate Sauce
Isabelle Aurel of Desire in Sunlight Perfumes
by Juvy Santos
I am a chocolate addict. Chocolate—good chocolate—has the
ability to haunt me for days. The package was innocuous—
normal white box, FedEx label, elegantly packaged jars
in turquoise and gold in bubble wrap.
The chocolat lies inside, inert, until you warm those jars
gently in a warm water bath.
Contrary to expectations, one does not immediately smell the lemongrass, tuberose, frankincense merely by sniffing the sauce. Rather, the scent is experienced on the palate as a taste. Ya gotta put the stuff in your mouth.
And then! Oh, and then…all your expectations of an ordinary experience are shattered into smithereens. Now, mind you, I consider myself an experienced chocolate consumer. "Perfumed chocolate?" I thought, "Hmm, I've had stuff like this before."
The gourmet chocolate market is, after all, peppered here and there with lavender-infused chocolate, orange-blossom, violet, rose, and even bergamot in the form of Earl Grey.
And yet, Isabelle's chocolate stands on its own. Perhaps it's the structure,
the method of delivery. Where other manufacturers (and Isabelle is not a
manufacturer—she's an artisan/artist, and her chocolate's made like that)
deliver scented ingredients in a bar, Isabelle offers a warmed, sensuous
chocolate sauce. The scent permeates your senses as soon as you put
that spoon in—it does not require the act of melting the solid chocolate
in your mouth the way a bar does.
Lemongrass was, well, orgasmic. I associate lemongrass with Thai cuisine,
an underlying flavor that lies at the heart of so many of that culture's dishes.
I'm not exactly sure what I expected with the Lemongrass Chocolat, but it
was surprisingly subtle, gentle, nuanced—and yet assertive. The flavor was
neither overpowering nor synthetic-tasting. Perhaps I feared it would taste tart,
the way a lemon cream chocolate does, or that the ingredients would jar against
each other in competition. What met my tongue was exotic—the richness of
chocolate in synergy with the lemongrass flavor, perhaps a hint of coconut
creaminess and ginger tang. There are warm nights in the tropic heat waiting
in that jar, I swear it, and perhaps a temple as well. And this chocolat would
seriously complement a southeast-Asian meal, perhaps on top of a sticky-
rice-and-mango dessert, or a coconut ice cream, or, if you're me, just by
itself in a little bowl.
The Tuberose chocolat was less pronounced, less 'obviously' tuberose than
the Lemongrass. In this iteration, Isabelle tucks that tuberose into the heart
of the chocolate. The floral aftertaste, though, lingers in your mouth after the
sweetness of the chocolate's dissipated. It almost tastes the way the color
purple looks. Now, white floral lovers should be cautioned: this ISN'T like
spraying Fracas into your mouth, and, say, gargling with it. Rather, it's the
gourmet equivalent of passing by blooming tuberose in the night.
And finally, my favorite…the Frankincense. Frankincense, you ask? Is that even safe? It's not a terribly well-kept secret that I love incense, the ouds, the woods. I love it when my food and my perfume pushes the envelope, and I love it when one of my favorite perfume notes finds it way into one of my favorite foods.
Unlike the lemongrass and the tuberose, or even rose, lavender, and jasmine,
frankincense isn't a flower, it isn't something that's intuitively organic. You'd never
think about eating frankincense, would you? Ever consider munching on those
lumps of resin? Definitely not the same way you'd think of eating a curry flavored
with lemongrass, right? Or a tea scented with jasmine?
But…there is something divine in frankincense-scented chocolate. This resin has
been used by humans for thousands of years in incense and perfumery, offered to
our gods, infiltrated our collective cultural consciousness.
This isn't like the Tuberose, with only the vague suggestion of the scent enfolded
in its heart, and it's definitely not like the Lemongrass, whose likeability is
unquestioned. Frankincense brings out the darkness in chocolate. I loved the
taste of it—an earthy, almost bitter tang, and then…the aftertaste, the ghost of
smoke, of incense, almost a kiss from a god. You breathe it after you taste it.
Now, I'm sure it won't be Isabelle's top seller. I don't think it's even in her stable of regular scented Chocolat. It's definitely idiosyncratic, definitely different.
Perhaps if you're a fan of Commes des Garcons' Avignon, or of Messe de Minuit, you would find an affinity to it. But more than the other two I've sampled, it truly was a 'scented chocolate,' and all the more unusual for its daring inclusion of frankincense into the mix.
I'd like to see Vosges, or Dagoba, or Knipschildt Chocolatier, or any other of the haute chocolateries top that.
“Palio”
by Lorenzo Siena
Fragrances
Lorenzo Siena Fragrances was formed in 2006.
I had always been fascinated with fragrances
and scents since my early teenage years and
actually developed “Palio” years ago. It was
one of those things where you experiment
and come up with your own “personal” fragrance,
however, the accolades were immediate and,
honestly, quite surprising to me. People
(strangers) started asking me “what I was wearing,”
the name, and where they could obtain it.
At this point, the project began to “take on”
a life of its own. Keep in mind, I do not claim to
be an “alchemist” nor a “perfumer” per se, but I
am a businessman with a “good sense for scent.”
Thus I decided to embark on this journey of
producing “Palio for Men.” With that, as
stated, my company was born in late 2006,
but the journey had begun many years earlier.
The “long and winding road” led to several meetings with business executives who liked my cologne but told me it was impossible to “break into” the business which was why I was so recently intrigued by Chandler Burr’s excellent examination of the fragrance business in his expose′ The Perfect Scent since it brought back many of my own recollections and experiences.
My wife and I have traveled extensively over the
years and had always found time while touring to
visit the European fragrance houses both large and
small. I collected many ideas about fragrance while
there. “Palio for Men” actually had its birth, in name
anyway, after visiting the beautiful Tuscan city of
Siena, Italy from which my surname is derived.
The city is divided into seventeen (17)
“contradas” or “districts,”… seventeen
(17) being their lucky number. I was so
impressed by the beauty and serenity of
this classical place which is “frozen in time”
that I decided to name my “first launch”
after a medieval event that has been held
there since the early 1100’s and continues
to this day, “Il Palio Di Siena,” a race known
all over Europe. Palio is loosely translated
as the “Winner” or “Prize” of Siena.”
I wanted to incorporate the “softness” of the
Tuscan countryside with the “excitement” of
this medieval race to produce a cologne that
is distinctive and unique with something I like
to describe as “memory recall.” Once you
come in contact with Palio, you are not
likely to forget it… a truly memorable
experience. I wanted something that
would “transcend time” which soon became our “ by- line
” I wanted a men’s cologne that had “staying power.”
I wanted a true Classic! Some have described it as
“woody” but “soft,” even “powdery” but most definitely
“masculine” which was what I really wanted to achieve. Since the “Top Notes”
are perceived immediately upon application, I used citrus sparkles, fresh
ineapple, ivy greens, and mint leaf. These lighter molecules generally are
designed to evaporate quickly but definitely form the “first impression.”
The Mid Notes ideally emerge just prior to the dissipation of the top notes.
These are the heart of any fragrance. Here I employed iced lavender, rose,
muguet, and star jasmine. The Base Notes giving it depth and solidity are
sandalwood, patchouli, and white musk. These base notes give Palio the
boost and depth I wanted since they are heavier molecules; these emerge
and last longer during the “dry down period.” Certain base notes in Palio
can be detected as late as twenty four hours after application.
Everything about Palio is designed to evoke the magnificence of this
classic scent from the design of the artwork on the label and packaging
to the structure of our bottle and atomizer. The “elegant, safe, easy to
grip” bottle design is a classic in itself. Our bottle does not employ
an inexpensive “crimped sprayer,” but rather a beautifully designed
“removable” and “reusable” atomizer stylishly integrated with our
“cut glass” bottle. We are extremely environmentally friendly.
Palio is “clear” and does not contain any coloration.
Since Palio for Men is our first release, many have asked me what is
next. Well, all I am at liberty to say at this point is that there is a follow up
for men called “Palio Gold” which is nearly completed and yes, I am
presently working on “Lady Palio” and hope to have that ready shortly.
It’s funny. I received a call some time ago from the manager of
my packaging company who (at the time) was about to ship
my first order of just a few thousand bottles. He was concerned.
He found that he had a total of 117 boxes of Palio and that
each box, no matter what the configuration, would only hold
17 bottles , an odd number. HMMM. He wanted to know if I
desired any change in the packaging for inventory purposes.
I smiled and told him not to worry. It was probably just a
coincidence; my birthday is the 17th of May. He laughed
and continued shipping.
I am very happy to be attending the Sniffalpalooza
Spring Event in New York City this April and am looking
forward to meeting so many of our fellow fragrance lovers.
I will have some samples of Palio for everyone and special
Sniffapalooza pricing for anyone who may be interested
in this new Men’s cologne.
Our web site is up and running and for those who cannot be
at our Sniffapalooza New York City event, you may email
Customer Service or me personally at:
www.LorenzoSienaFragrances.com for special
pricing and ordering instructions.
Please be sure to state in your email that you read about this in Sniffapalooza Magazine to obtain the special pricing. Best Wishes to all……….
IntelliScents
Lee Cuthbert, founder of IntelliScents, presenting his innovative new way to sample fragrance. Lee also has a fragrance game for us, with prizes supplied by the Estee Lauder Company!
IntelliScents, LLC teams up with Coty, Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder to
develop the DemoScenter™ a unique fragrance sampling display at Target
and Wal-Mart stores
March 15, 2008: In a 50 store test at a top U.S. retailer in 2007, the
DemoScenter™ more than doubled sales for 10 promoted fragrances
driving $25,000 of incremental sales per store in a three month period
versus stores that did not deploy the DemoScenter™
The DemoScenter™ developed by IntelliScents, LLC uses the
ScentPak™ tethered to a retail display to deliver a sample of any
fragrance without the use of tester bottles.
The ScentPak™ uses a fragrance’s derivative oil to infuse a blotter
inside the ScentPak’s™ patented hollow inner envelope/tube structure.
The ScentPak’s™ design prevents evaporation of that scented blotter
core to deliver over 50,000 squeezes to passing shoppers.
Since there is no overbearing smell of the alcohol diluent, the consumer
can sample one fragrance after another without confusion. It is also the
only sampling method that delivers all of a fragrance’s accords instead of just the top note.
So Coty, Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder partnered with IntelliScents to bring the DemoScenter™ to a select number of Wal-Mart stores and 400 Target stores across the U.S. in early 2008. Dr. Leslie C. Smith, Vice President Fragrance Technology at Coty said of the in-store unit, "Initial consumer tests of the ScentPak have exceeded our expectations. We feel that the ScentPak will revolutionize retail product sampling and we are confident that it will significantly boost sales of our fine fragrances.”
IntelliScents, LLC is a scent technology firm based
in San Francisco, CA. Lee Cuthbert, President and
Chief Innovation Officer, invented the ScentPak™ in
2001 and received a patent for his technology in 2004
and has additional patents pending. IntelliScents
has worked with a number of manufacturers and
retailers including Chanel, Procter & Gamble,
Unilever, S.C. Johnson, Bloomingdales and
Tommy Bahama and the Four Seasons Spa at
their Papagayo Peninsula location.
IntelliScents has developed an application for dog
reward and attention focus called the Scent Treat®
A product line under the Aromatherapy-To-Go name
will offer consumers the ability to take the therapeutic
and energizing benefits of aromatherapy with them in
a convenient, air-based form. A portion of IntelliScents’
profits will be donated to Guide Dogs for the Blind in
San Rafael, CA.
Prior to founding IntelliScents he served as vice
president of business development for Consumer Product Innovations,
which creates and produces
scented personal care and household products for specialty retailers.
Previously, he was vice president of business development at
ScentAir Technologies, which markets an environmental scent device
for use in a wide variety of retail applications. He is active in a number
of sports and is a regular volunteer at Guide Dogs for the Blind and
Disabled Sports USA Far West.
Lee Cuthbert
Phone: 415-235-2210 Email: lee@intelliscents.com
Palio Winner 2005
FLORIS OF LONDON
Sniffapalooza Magazine exclusive
Floris United States closes it's doors
April 3, 2008
Dear Sniffapalooza friends,
I'm sure many of you have seen or heard the numerous comments on the various blogging sites concerning Floris pulling their product line from the United States. In fact, this is true and we have officially closed our doors as of March 31, 2008.
London decided in December to close the corporate offices in the United States and to pull the product from the United States market. Because I love the Floris products myself and have developed a heartfelt need to represent this brand, I worked to bring about a new partnership with Mitch Diehl of Londons Bathecary in Virginia. Londons Bathecary (shoplondons.com) will now act as the distributor. I will still be handling the
growth of the product line to retail stores throughout
the United States marketplace. The 800-5-Floris
telephone number will still connect to our offices
and we'll gladly help you purchase your favorite
product. {In fact, if you have a favorite specialty
boutique you would like to see the product at
locally, please e-mail me at
florisoflondon@pobox.com, and I will contact
the boutique owner and see if we can get the
product closer to you.}
In this transition period, certain fragrances
are being discontinued (both by London and by
Londons). The fragrances that are being
discontinued are Florissa, Gardenia, Stephanotis,
Rose Geranium and the Natural Benefits line.
All body creams and silken dusting powders
are also being discontinued. By the end of the year,
Lavender and China Rose will also be discontinued.
The good news is that No. 89 will now be a full
product line for the men. {Even though I know
numerous women who love to wear the
James Bond fragrance as well.} We are expecting the delivery of No. 89 to be delivered just in time for Father's Day. I will make sure that I keep everyone informed.
An added note: Floris of London has hired an in-house perfumer (bespoke perfumer) to create your own personal fragrance.
So if you are ever on Jermyn Street in London, please stop by and have a bespoke perfume designed just for you. You can even have a Signature eau de parfum with certificate of provenance created for £2,500.
I would like to thank each of the Sniffapalooza friends who have been faithful followers and lovers of Floris. And I look forward to a continued relationship with each and every one of you. I look forward to seeing you at the Spring Event next weekend.
Best wishes always,
Debra Courtright
CFO/National Sales Manager
