Perfumes That Smell Like French Avenue Obsidian

Perfumer: Bertrand Duchaufour

Visual artist: landscape artist/photographer Martin Hill.

The same way in which Martin goes to a sight and rearranges what nature left there into an installation, the perfumer rearranged some molecules and materials to put the beauty of a natural material into focus.

Also Martin aims to let his structures be absorbed back into natural chaos. Perfume evaporates into the environment in a similar fashion, beautiful but transient.

In Vanilla Shot all of the focus is on vanilla (natural, dark and balsamic). The concept of the perfume is inspired by a photo of a piece of Martin Hill's land art shot at dreamy dusk (below). The twigs used in the structure balanced over the lake are reminiscent of vanilla beans. The installation transcends two planes - liquid and ether and in the perfume vanilla spans the sweet and bitter corners of the scented universe. Vanilla Shot is not an ordinary sweet gourmand. In this perfume all nuances of natural vanilla get proper attention: balsamic, fruity, spicy, sweet and even leathery.

Some perfume magic, a perfume that captured the soul of autumn, complete with foggy cold mornings (orris), dry leaves (the effect of various balsams and resins), sleepy sun (played by vanilla absolute and Indian oud) and fireplaces (gaiac).

Important notice:

Anna Zworykina’s blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes). Her blends are sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).

Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in her 100% natural perfumes may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Anna Zworykina’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). This said, Anna Zworykina has acquired a huge fan base over many years and people interacted with her blends for quite a while now. We are not aware of any reports of any skin reactions so far.

However, Anna advises that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.

Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Anna’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.

The Nero collection

Nose: Pierre Guéros

“When I received the first samples of the fragrance that would later become Nektar, I was ravished by its personality and by the quality of its composition. Full of softness and creativity, Nektar recalls honey without being overwhelming, while drawing a distinctive character from its intense notes. Working with Pierre was a real pleasure. In little time, we gave life to a perfume that does not go unnoticed, now available in our flagship stores and at authorized retailers across the globe.”

Roberto Drago, LO's owner

HAF translates to summer and is pronounced "haarv".

A niche perfume with an intense burst of citrus gradually unfurls to reveal vibrant florals conjuring up the heady sunshine of a summer’s day.

Beso Dorado is inspired by the 10 years of magic and splendor of Beso Beach. It is an addictive perfume with intense and fresh aromas. Capture the authentic Mediterranean spirit of summer evenings with the sunsets and endless nights. Pink pepper and juniper give a lively and spicy opening, cinnamon and patchouli make Beso Dorado a warm and seductive fragrance, with vibrant and refreshing notes of vetiver. A woody personality with a touch of mystery.

Dominique Ropion: “ I wanted to mix deep, nocturnal, distinguished ingredients with an aromatic freshness. I wanted to create the perfume of a summer afternoon, a Mediterranean and sensual fragrance ”.

Inspired by the splendor of Damascus, this fragrance blends the vivacity of grapefruit with the elegance of rose. Labdanum adds a subtle amber touch that enriches the composition with a warm depth.

The cologne range has a perfume concentration of around 20%, making them longer-lasting than traditional colognes, while retaining the freshness and lightness that define this type of creation.

A beach party… from Ibiza to Miami

Pierre Guillaume revisits chypre a classical perfume formula by boldly redrawing its outlines to offer a modern, hybrid composition.

Though the scent is built around classic chypre ingredients: patchouli, vetiver, labdanum, vanilla and oak moss the fruity aromatic twist adds an offbeat, playful touch.

Lime, fresh mint, strawberry aldehydes and rum absolute make up an explosive, exhilarating mojito accord that conjures the atmosphere of beach parties and summer celebrations.

 As the perfume quietens down, the chypre structure asserts itself with warm woods and sensual moss.

This fragrance is inspired by love, drama and opulence of the famous painting by P. P. Rubens and the legend of Samson and Delilah. Osmanthus Noble is intense and has a strong personality and notes of Osmanthus, Ylang Ylang and Jasmine absolute flowers, spicy tobacco, warm amber and sandalwood.

At opening you can feel fresh, spicy and aldehydic notes blended with bergamot and mandarin that give vividness and intensity.  The noble osmanthus absolute combined with an aromatic clary sage play together to form a soft suede accord. Tobacco absolute, delicious black cherry, saffron and tonka beans play an important role in creating a sensual atmosphere. Floral notes of jasmine sambac and ylang-ylang give vitality and bloom in the heart. In the dry down, oakmoss absolute, labdanum, sandalwood, smoky vetiver and animalic musks bring a spiritual feeling and allow the perfume to linger on the skin.

Rien ('nothing' in French) is a beautiful animalic chypre, with an aldehydic (rather than classic citrus) opening and seriously naughty leathery vibes provided by the cumin and labdanum duo.  Also check this perfume out if you like frankincense in bold oriental interpretation. 

A zingy citrus, with champagne fizziness, sweet spices and gentle sandalwood/amber theme in the drydown.

It's a cosy happy perfume, easy to like and easy to wear and according to the house, it's the wearer who will make it quite remarkable.

Perfumer: Cecile Matton

A novel material: curry essence, extracted with a breakthrough method where the resulting oil is a true rendition of the original material's aroma.

The Etat Libre d'Orange's story for this perfume:

In classical mythologies, there were the demigods, the offspring of a god and a human, or a mortal who was raised to divine status. An ancient Greek poet used the word demigod as a synonym for hero. They demonstrated strength and power, a willingness to face challenges and confront danger.

In the New World, there were the explorers, who discovered unknown lands. They were heroes too, battling forces of nature to find new territories. And throughout history — scientists, artists, composers, entertainers — all heroes in their own way.

New heroes are born every day. There is an element, or an event, or a circumstance, or maybe just a quirk in their personalities that changes them, empowers them, enables them to transcend the ordinary. They believe in something different, something better. They want to change the rules, break the rules, alter the status quo, in whatever grand or small way they find meaningful. They are on a journey, and maybe it’s the effort alone that makes them remarkable.

For some, their efforts bring fame and glory. Many others remain unknown. But they cannot — they should not — be ignored.

These are our people — the remarkable citizens of Etat Libre d’Orange, the Orange Free State. The “un” people — uncompromising, unexpected, unconventional, unpredictable. We salute them, we honor them, by offering the extraordinary fragrance they deserve.