It’s quite something when you meet a perfumer and they glow with satisfaction while telling you ‘…this is the most expensive perfume, ingredient wise, I have ever worked on. They told me to use the very best of the best, and I LOVE that. But I have to tell you, for us perfumers, that’s very rare!’
Domitille Bertier is the nose behind the latest fragrance for Liz Earle, and really couldn’t have been a better choice. As Domitille explains: I feel truly connected with Liz Earle Naturally Active, especially the brand’s passion for nature. I use natural extracts as a key starting point for all of my creations, Including Botanical Essence No. 20 – which was inspired by a trip to Isparta in Turkey, and the stunning rose fields for which the region is famous.’
Paying homage to the queen of all flowers is something that has, of course, been done before – there are many rose fragrances out there. What’s absolutely fascinating, though, is how many people (especially younger generations) believe they ‘don’t like rose perfumes’. We might well add that we ourselves felt that way for many years! Here, then, is finally a rose for people who don’t like rose… ‘I call it my portrait of a rose,’ Domitille goes on, ‘because it uses aspects of the whole plant, not only the petals alone. People who say they don’t like rose are probably used to thinking of it as a heavy, dusty smell – and it doesn’t have to be that way at all!’
Liz Earle say: ‘To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’ve collaborated with Grasse-based perfumer Domitille Bertier to make Damask rose the hero of our spicy floriental − Botanical Essence™ No.20 Eau de Parfum. Infused with beautiful, feminine sophistication, our newest fine fragrance is over 87% derived from natural ingredients and resonates with sandalwood and a heart of sumptuous Damask rose – the most opulent and quintessentially beautiful of all flowers.’
Upliftingly dew-speckled and joyously radiant, Botanical Essence No. 20 opens with a tingle of pink pepper cut through with bergamot, softened by translucent rose water and pepped up again with mandarin essential oil. The heart bursts with the surpring note (which we’re seeing crop up everywhere – definintely a trend to watch!) of carrot seed and jasmine sambac, then amyris sinks soothingly into sandalwood and vanilla beans at the base. It’s one of those perfumes you can happily wear the whole day through – and happy is the word, it just makes us smile.
Liz Earle Botanical Essence No. 20, £49 for 50ml eau de parfum
At Liz Earle
Written by Suzy Nightingale
