Tag: 2020

Fragrant advent calendars – #lockdown countdown, or daily treats ‘just because’!

Fragrant advent calendars (or at least, advent calendars featuring a number of scented offerings) are the way we’re going this year. Because goodness, it’s been quite a year, hasn’t it?

Although many of the beauty calendars sell out literally within hours, there are still some fabulously fragrant ones around. And whether you’re using the calendars as a countdown to the end (we hope!) of #lockdown2, or simply as a way of treating yourself a little every single day: you and/or someone you love but can’t be with, deserve one… or maybe, well, several!

 

 

Diptyque Limited-edition Advent Calendar £320

Selfridges says: ‘The lead-up to Christmas is always an exciting time, but it becomes even more thrilling with this limited-edition advent calendar from Diptyque. A festive treat in hand-illustrated packaging by none other than Ugo Gattoni, it’s home to this year’s seasonal signatures – the Moonlit Fir candle and yuletide decorations – and a selection of the brand’s most coveted candles, fragrances, body creams and scrubs. Hint: dream for a spritz of Eau Capitale or Do Son and you might just get it.’

We say: Who wouldn’t just adore this bumper offering by Diptyque?! Yes, it’s spendy, but it’s exclusive to Selfridges and you know you’ll love everything. The Eau Capitale was one of our favourite launches of late – the first Chypre for the house, and oh so worth waiting for…

 

Harrods of London Beauty Advent Calendar £250

Harrods says: ‘Delight in the Christmas countdown – all while feeling your very best self – with the Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar for 2020. Bringing together some of the most popular skincare, make-up and fragrance products from our hallowed Beauty Halls, each day will unveil a new surprise, with a mix of full-sized and mini offerings worth over £700 in total.’

We say: Of course our eyes (and noses) went straight to the dinky 6ml of iconic Acqua di Parma Colonia, and the stunning Maison Francis Kurkdijan Baccarat Rouge 540 Mini Candle 35g; but oh goodness what a treasure trove of luxurious treats awaits you!

 

 

Molton Brown 2020 Luxury Advent Calendar £120

Molton Brown says: ‘Celebrate in style this year and count down to the joyful Christmas day with our sensational luxury advent calendar, filled with intriguing new fragrances, bathing classics and much more. Inspired by the liberating glamour of the Roaring Twenties, this elegant calendar shimmers with holographic foil to evoke a 1920s chandelier. With a striking new design, it’s secured by a hidden magnet and opens from the side to reveal your 24 stellar indulgences.’

We say: Wow, what a sophisticated selection of gifts, worth £259. The new Juniper Jazz, Geranium Nefertum and classic Black Pepper fragrances amidst a fragrant flurry of candles, body and bath oils and pampering treats, oh my! A perfect one to ‘share’ (or at least pretend to) with a partner, we feel…

Psst! Are you interested in WINNING this Molton Brown Advent Calendar for yourself? Keep your eyes peeled for our competion on Saturday…

 

 

L’OCCITANE Hand Illustrated Reusable Advent Calendar £160 (web exclusive)

L’OCCITANE Says: ‘Created in collaboration with UK illustrator Isla Simpson, this hand illustrated Advent Calendar is made from recycled cotton and reusable for years to come. Inspired by nature and the magic of Provence, each pocket unveils a luxury size product.’

We Say: Worth a whopping £230 we love the saving, but even more the fact you can re-use this and stuff with your own scented treats for years to come. The floral illustrations are simply goregous, and inside you’ll find the herbaceously fresh 5ml Herbae par L’OCCITANE Eau de Parfum.

If you prefer to make your own calendars, why not fill some days with fragrant frivolity by adding minis and samples from our own Perfume Society Discovery Boxes, or the luxurious niche Brand Sets we have in store?

Maybe make one for yourself and one for a best friend who you’re missing – you can compare smelling notes each day of December! Fragrantly counting down the days ’til freedom, or simply scenting each day, was never more needed…

By Suzy Nightingale

 

Art & Olfaction Awards: register to watch for free!

The Art & Olfaction Awards 2020 are to be live-streamed online this year (as with so many other scented events we’re sadly missing in person), but the good news is, this means they have flung open the virtual fragrant doors, and you can register to watch as a guest…

The scented award season really is in full swing – we’ve just had the Fragrance Foundation and Jasmine Awards, the Perfumed Plume Awards, and now: The Art & Olfaction Awards sashay forth to the spotlight.

Far more than an exercise in self-congratulation, The Art & Olfaction Awards are open to any independent perfumer who wishes to enter a submission, and the results are blind-sniffed by a panel of judges around the world. As well as the indie brands, they celebrate artisanal fragrance and installation artists who work with fragrance as a creative medium as part of their work.

Some of the names you may have heard of, but we guarantee there will be many you don’t (and need to get to know!)

These houses and artists represent some of the most interesting movements in perfumery right now, and it’s always fascinating to keep an eye (and, indeed, nose) on them by way of glimpsing to future trends for the fragrance industry as a whole…

 

 

The organisers of The Art & Olfaction Awards say: ‘Grab a bottle of bubbly, wear your fanciest outfit, and join us to celebrate this very strange year’s most excellent finalists in the artisan, independent and experimental categories. The ceremony will take place on September 17, 2020, from 2pm to 3:30pm PDT. Join us!’

To watch the event, you need to register for free tickets first.

Meanwhile, check out the list of 2020 finalists (always names worth knowing, as these awards are hotly contested…)

By Suzy Nightingale

Pitti Fragranze goes virtual – here’s how to watch the fragrance festival online…

Normally, right about now, I’d be planning my annual trip to Florence, and the fragrance fair Pitti Fragranze. A meeting place for perfumers, founders, makers, buyers, brands, olfactory artists and anyone obsessed by scent; it’s always a highlight of my year.

It’s also a wonderful opportunity to sniff the not-yet-launched fragrances, see interesting new niche houses and spot possible perfume trends for the next few years ahead. You might like to have a look at my report from last year’s Pitti Fragranze, to get a sense of the scale of the event. It’s huge! And quite overwhelming. But always wonderful.

 

 

Of course, this is not a normal year, and any such in-person events have sadly been cancelled or postponed. But while I am mourning meeting up with fragrance journalists and fragrant friends from around the world; I am heartened that Pitti Fragranze have taken to decision to still run their fair, but as a virtual, online fesitval.

Along with events, talks, special guests, and focuses on new trends (all in English), do check out the complete calendar to see which you might wish to take part in. The various events begin on Monday September 7th  – Monday September 21st 2020.

 

 

Included in the lineup are Chandler Burr talking to Laura Tonatto, and again, discussing the art of incense with Hiro Nakayama; the evolution of the ‘wellness’ concept in fragrances with MANE, and a talk about the new defininition of what ‘green’ actually means.

Being held online has the added benefit that perfume-lovers around the world can watch and join in the fragrant fun, so I suppose we must look to (scented) silver linings.

 

 

I will miss the gelato, though. There’s nothing that can console me; only hoping that I may return next year…

Written by Suzy Nightingale

 

Jasmine Awards 2020

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and this year, The Fragrance Foundation U.K. held their presigious annual awards in a live-streamed, scent-filled ceremony, held on YouTube last night…
Linda Key Jackson, CEO of The Fragrance Foundation UK, explained in a statement:
‘…we had to make the sad decision to change the format of this years award ceremony. When lockdown came into effect in March, we had already been working for months with the aim of producing our best awards ceremony yet. However I can assure you that it will still have the glamour, excitement and anticipation and we will deliver an awards to remember.’

The ceremony split into two parts: The Fragrance Foundation Awards – showcasing the best new fragrance launches that made it to the finals; and The Jasmine Awards – celebrating fragrance journalism.

And the winners are…

 

LIMITED DISTRIBUTION WOMEN

FLORAL_STREET_ELECTRIC_RHUBARB

And the winner is… Floral Street – Electric Rhubarb!

 

LIMITED DISTRIBUTION MEN

And the winner is… Giorgio Armani Prive Orangerie Venise!

 

MEDIA CAMPAIGN 

And the winner is… Jo Malone London – Gent Campaign with John Boyega!

 

DESIGN & PACKAGING

And the winner is… Gucci – The Luxury Collection: The Alchemist’s Garden!

 

INNOVATION

And the winner is… Lancôme Idôle!

 

INTERIOR FRAGRANCE

And the winner is… Cire Trudon – Ernesto!

 

INDEPENDENT

Floris – Vert Fougère!

 

NEWCOMER 

And the winner is… Sous Le Manteau!

 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE (Voted for on boots.com)

And the winner is… Dior – Joy eau de parfum Intense!

 

PERFUME EXTRAORDINAIRE 

And the winner is… Marc-Antoine Barrois – Ganymede!

 

RETAILER OF THE YEAR

And the winner is… Harrods!

 

ONLINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR

And the winner is… (A draw!) Harrods / The Perfume Shop!

 

BEST NEW FRAGRANCE: WOMEN

And the winner is… Yves Saint Laurent – Libre!

 

BEST NEW FRAGRANCE: MEN

And the winner is… Le Labo – Baie 19!

 

READER’S CHOICE

 

And the winner is… Chanel – Gabrielle Essence eau de parfum!

 

ULTIMATE LAUNCH 

 

And the winner is… Yves Saint Laurent – Libre!

 

Creativity: Harvey Nichols ‘In the Air’ Rakes Progress

Practical Guide Award: Alice Du Parcq ‘Message in a Bottle’ Glamour Magazine

Short Piece: Fiona Embleton: ‘Cancer Stole My Mother’s Scent’ marieclaire.co.uk

Literary Award: Amanda Carr ‘Fragrant New World’ Rake’s Progres

(We admit a particular patriality to Amanda – she’s a long-time friend and regular contributor to The Perfume Society, and we are so happy for her!)

Rising Star: Sophie Elkan ‘The Scents of Britain: Penhaligon’s’ OX Magazine

Even though we weren’t lucky enough to win this year, we were uttely thrilled to be finalists for SIX awards in varying categories, and we’ve linked them below if you’d like a moment of fragrant reverie…

Finalist: Literary Award – Perfuming a Part, by Suzy Nightingale

Finalist: Literary Award – Scents of India, by Amanda Carr

Finalist: Practical Guide – Scents of Place: Venice, by Jo Fairley

Finalist: Practical Guide – The Future of Fragrance, by The Perfume Society Scented Letter Magazine team

Finalist: Short Piece – Orange Blossom, How to Bottle Sunshine, by Suzy Nightingale

Finalist: Short Piece – Scented Inks & Inky Scents, by Suzy Nightingale

Do, please, make time to have a look at the full list of finalists and their work – fragrance journalism is such a difficult task, and these writers all deserve recognition for their creativity, and the immense value they add to the fragrance industry.

Congratulations to ALL our fellow finalists, and all the winners. And congratulations are due, too, to The Fragrance Foundation team for their hard work – especially under such trying circumstances! We look forward to next year, when hopefully we can all be together again…

By Suzy Nightingale

 

Perfume Bottles Auction 2020: WOW! We love these (and you can now bid online to win!)

From Mae West’s signature scent stored in a cigarette packet, bejewelled bottles from the 1800’s to novelty perfumed powder puffs chaped like 1920’s flapper girls… the Perfume Bottles Auction will delight and tempt every fragrance fiend…

The annual Perfume Bottles Auction really is a date in the diary of serious scent collectors – with the most stunning examples of artistic and rare fragrance flaçons you wever will see (outside of a museum, anyway).

Since 1979, organiser and founder of The Perfume Bottles Auction, Ken Leach, has been working ‘to create public and corporate awareness of the artistry to be found in vintage perfume presentation.’ His antique shop’s show-stopping merchandise ‘has served as a source of inspiration for glass companies, package designers, and celebrity perfumers, before ultimately entering the collections of perfume bottle enthusiasts around the globe.’

This year, because of the on-going global pandemic, it has presented something of a challenge to the organisers, but happily the entire catalogue is now online for you to view (and gasp outloud at!) with the auction to take place via live stream on Sat, Jul 11, 2020 8:00 PM BST.

What’s more, in response to the global crisis, the LiveAuctioneers website is dontaing to COVID causes such as Meals on Wheels COVID Response Fund and global relief efforts, with over $50,000 already donated.

Here’s just some of what we’d be bidding on (and would be gracing the dressing table of our dreams…) in this year’s incredible collection of lots…

 

How completely wonderful is this novelty ‘cigarette packet’ style packaging for what was Mae West’s signature scent? Made in 1933, the box is covered in iconic quotes from the bombshell movie star, and the lot includes five ad cards and a counter display. A case of ‘come up and smell me sometime…?’
Estimated price: $2,000-3,000

 

In 1937, Pinaud trademarked the name ‘Scarlett’, releasing the ‘Flirt’ perfume in 1939, with a matching Clark Gable ‘Bittersweet’ scent when the film premiered that year. The bottles were available with a choice of scents, including Apple Blossom, Maghnolia and Honeysuckle, and came with an autographed photo.
Estimated price: $1,000-$2,000

 

Lalique were instrumental in revolutionising perfume bottle design and production, and we love their contemporary fragrances (and the way they incorporate their heritage into bottle production today), but this 1929 bottle for Lucien Lelong in frosted glass with enamelled swags and silvered metal case is just exquisite!
Estimated price: $7,000-8,000

 

Our co-founder, Jo Fairley, loves Schiaparelli Shocking perfume so much she wore it on her wedding day – and did you know the pink for the box was designed by Schiaparelli herself, and gave name to what we still call ‘shocking pink’ to this day? Dating from the 1930s, the auction includes 3 figural soaps, a 1938 ‘Shock in the Box’ perfume, a Salvador Dali-designed face powder and scented boy lotion bottle. Truly, our heart’s desire!
Estimated prices from $200-600 per item

 

Fragranced dusting powders were all the rage once, and we don’t think we’ve ever seen a more fabulous version than this 1920’s Goebel glazed porcelain powder dish. Imagine being a movie starlet or ballet dancer and reaching for this to dust away shine with puffs of perfumed powder – it’s enough to make us swoon with delight!
Estimated price: $600-$800

Written by Suzy Nightingale