Thursday 28 January 2016

Guerlain Renames JASMINORA ... Again

Guerlain's trend for reissuing old fragrances under new names is well known, this year has already seen the 2008 Aqua Allegoria Figue-Iris released in the Parisiennes range under the name Promenade des Anglais, but the company's latest rebottling has left some feeling a little disappointed. In a similar way that Guet-Apens appeared five times with different names, Jasminora has been reissued for a third outing and again given a new name from the archives. Let's see how this fragrance has managed to reinvent itself yet again, and whether it really warrants the price increase from €80 to €550.

Monday 25 January 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - SARAH McCARTNEY


A true maverick in the world of the independent perfumer, Sarah McCartney has a wonderfully irreverent attitude to creation. She came from a journalistic background, not a chemistry background, discovered a love of perfume making, and with an eccentric approach has created some of the most challenging fragrances on the market under the name 4160 Tuesdays. Anyone who has smelt Dark Heart Of Old Havana will know that this woman has the ability to bottle pure sexual desire. So, with some trepidation, it was time to ask her "Stephan's Six".

Thursday 21 January 2016

Lancôme's NEW La Vie Est Belle Florale

I don't think that anyone could have truly predicted the phenomenal success of Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle back in 2012, and as we start 2016 few would have thought that a sixth version would be about to launch (excluding special editions). The key to the range's success was surely that each successive release was based on the original but pulled a different aspect of the fragrance to the fore, so the customer already had a familiarity with each new addition. The latest version, La Vie Est Belle Florale, launches in the UK on 21st February so let's take a journey through the whole series before seeing what to expect from the new one.

Monday 18 January 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - JAMES DREYFUS


Still probably best known for his role as Tom Farrell, the outrageous flatmate to Kathy Burke's equally outrageous Linda La Hughes in the BBC comedy series Gimme Gimme Gimme, James Dreyfus trained as a classical actor at RADA before getting swept into comedy. With a string of acting credits to his name, and most recently seen as Elwood P. Down in Harvey at London's Haymarket Theatre, what would he make of "Stephan's Six"?

Thursday 14 January 2016

Tuberose Gardenia by Estée Lauder

When Estée Lauder launched Private Collection in 1973 it was intended as a "thank you" to the loyal followers of her company. Created by Vincent Marcello, it was originally reserved for Lauder's personal use before the decision was taken to release it commercially. A Floral Chypre, it proved popular and is still in production forty three years later. Jump forward to 2006 and it was announced that Estée Lauder would be creating a whole Private Collection, with the original as its figure head. At a time when brands were feeling the pull between luxury and commercial would the first release, Tuberose Gardenia, bridge the gap and spearhead a new collection?

Monday 11 January 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - LIZ MOORES


Liz Moores founded Papillon Perfumery in 2011, and this self trained perfumer has created quite a stir with a collection of four fragrances which combine strength, lust, femininity, masculinity and euphoria. So, with a mischievous glint in her eye, what would she make of "Stephan's Six"?

Thursday 7 January 2016

Guerlain's New Les Parisiennes

Yesterday saw a new addition to Guerlain's “Parisiennes” line called Promenade des Anglais, which is named after the famous walkway that runs the length of Nice. The point of the “Parisiennes” is to showcase fragrances from the company’s past, whether these be limited editions or discontinued classics, but some of the choices have caused a few raised eyebrows. A couple of the original releases were quietly dropped in 2009, although Attrape Cœur did reappear as Harrods Exclusive Royal Extract. So, which Guerlain fragrance is now called Promenade des Anglais? Let's head back to 2008 to find out.

Monday 4 January 2016

STEPHAN'S SIX - JODIE PRENGER


Jodie Prenger shot to fame as winner of the BBC television show I’d Do Anything, in which the prize was to play the role of Nancy in Oliver at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. That was back in 2009, and since then Jodie has gone on to star in Spamalot, Calamity Jane, Street Of Dreams, alongside many TV and radio appearances. I caught up with her before she started rehearsing for her new musical to ask her “Stephan’s Six”.