SCENTS OF IMAGINATION

Dear Isobutyl Quinoline....

2012-01-20T19:12:00.000-08:00

I have fallen in love with your CREATURE SOUL!

You are PURE BLACK LEATHER FLOWER... A fragrant fetish dream. I want to put you in a room next to voluptuous white petals & see how you play together. Your devilish charm is strange & intoxicating... You have a rebellious come-hither power that is deliciously dark,endlessly sexy, & completely irrisistable. In fact,you are nothing short of Animalic Aromatic Bliss! With your intense, exotic/erotic feminine allure, it's no wonder that Germaine Cellier became so entranced with you.

Smells Like: ROCK N'ROLL... Castoreum, Leather, Earthy, Oakmoss, Powerful, Mossy, Green, Woody, Leathery Vetiver... It is used in Chypre, Fougère and Tobacco accords... Hello BANDIT! (Piguet 1944)

Sounds Like: BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB

Odor Type: Animal

Makes Me Want To: SCRATCH N' SNIFF!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ SAY HELLO TO 2012!

2012-01-01T16:13:00.001-08:00

EAT A POMEGRANATE TODAY... POMEGRANATES SYMBOLIZE NEW BEGINNINGS AND ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ABUNDANCE AND FERTILITY. IT IS CUSTOMARY TO EAT THEM ON NEW YEARS DAY FOR GOOD LUCK.

... AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, NEVER LET A WOMAN BE YOUR FIRST VISITOR OF THE NEW YEAR. LET A MAN BE YOUR FIRST VISITOR, EVEN IF HE IS A STRANGER.

Opus Oils Announces The Official Release Of The Olfactory Breakthrough, “Eau Pear Tingle” - A Multi-Sensory Fragrance Experience

2011-12-09T01:26:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release: Contact:OPUS OILS
Ph: (323) 667-3376 opusoils@msn.com
www.OpusOils.com

Opus Oils Announces The Official Release Of The Olfactory Breakthrough, “Eau Pear Tingle” - A Multi-Sensory Fragrance Experience That Was Designed To Be Sensed By Those With Anosmia (Inability To Perceive Odors) & Savored By Connoisseurs Of Fine Artisan Aromatics.

Hollywood, CA – December 9th, 2011 – Opus Oils, a Perfume Atelier located in the heart of glamorous Hollywood, CA announced the Official Release of the olfactory breakthrough, “Eau Pear Tingle” - a multi-sensory fragrance experience that was designed to be sensed by those with anosmia (inability to perceive odors) & savored by connoisseurs of fine artisan aromatics. Eau Pear Tingle is available at OPUS OILS’ Jitterbug Perfume Parlour located at 4959 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90027 or online at www.OpusOils.com starting December 16th, 2011.

A delightfully fresh & stimulating fragrance, “Eau Pear Tingle” made its official debut at the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Fall Luncheon, where it was unveiled to industry insiders and billed as "the future of perfumery" by keynote speaker, Michelle Krell Kydd, award-winning writer for Perfumer & Flavorist Magazine & Glass Petal Smoke.

This special, first of its kind scent was born out of love and science. Created by Perfumer Kedra Hart, with love for her anosmic mother, per the request of award winning writer Michelle Krell Kydd, who was inspired to post the fragrance brief on Twitter, out of love for her friend Kathleen Cochran who is facing losing her sense of smell due to Parkinson’s disease.

Michelle Krell Kydd had this to say about Eau Pear Tingle:
"Eau Pear Tingle is as much about "sensation" as it is about the unique ability that perfume has to express periods of time. The fragrance starts out with a modern mouthwatering juicy twist that is redolent of green pear, pineapple and a hint of coconut. This is followed by the trigeminal effect of camphor, mint and black pepper that has a delightful side effect; it steadies the breath with a mild cooling sensation complemented by the essence of fir and wood shavings. The perfume dries down to an addictive classic base that is rich in sandalwood and musk. When you wear Eau Pear Tingle you journey from the present into the future and repose in the past. The fact that someone who has anosmia is able to sense this fragrance is truly an innovation in the art of perfumery. It is also cause for the industry to consider anosmia as a source of inspiration for scent creation targeting connoisseurs as well as the 65+ demographic that is regularly snubbed by the industry; whether they have age related smell loss or not…”

Eau Pear Tingle has intrigued the senses of none other than Dr. Leslie Vosshall, a renown neurogenetics researcher/professor who directs The Vosshall Lab at The Rockefeller University. Dr. Vosshall's work focuses on olfaction, specifically on how odor stimuli are processed and perceived. Her enthusiastic response was reported on Glass Petal Smoke, “…Eau Pear Tingle is a heady mix of a gazillion things—pear/pineapple/coconut predominate at the start. On the waning side it starts to really smell elegant in a way that I am unable to articulate. I wish I could experience it from the point of view of an anosmic to see how they feel about it. Fascinating.”

About Eau Pear Tingle: Key Notes Include Pear, Lime Blossom, Spearmint, Jasmine, White Musk, Pine & Sandalwood. Available in Alcohol or Fractionated Coconut Oil, ranging in size from 1 Dram Parfum Roll-ons ($35), 1/2oz Parfum Roll-ons ($55), 1oz Eau de Parfum ($58) sprays, 1.7oz EDP Fancy Atomizers ($135), 2oz Eau de Parfum Sprays ($100). Also available in bath & body products (Bath & Body Oils ($50), Body Lotions ($44), Body Butters ($55) & Dead Sea Bath Salts ($42)). A formulation designed for men is currently in development.

About Kedra Hart: Kedra is the master blender & co-creator of OPUS OILS' Jitterbug Perfume Parlour, an Artisan Perfume Atelier in Hollywood CA. Kedra designs custom fragrances for individuals and businesses, hosts "scent events" and "custom blending parties," and teaches perfumery in Los Angeles, CA. Clients Include: Four Seasons (Beverly Hills), House Of Belle (Beverly Hills), Raju Rasiah Rare & Exotic Jewels (Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills), The Nile Institute Spa (West Hollywood), Rouge Beauty Boutique (New Orleans). Kedra was one of the original developers of The Apothecary at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills Her sensuous creations are enjoyed by celebrities including Jodie Foster, Fairuza Balk, Vivica A. Fox, Paris Hilton, Cindy Margolis, Summer Phoenix, Patti Austin, Rosanne Barr, Gretchen Bonaduce, Felicia Day, Kayvan Novak, and Janet Varney.

About Opus Oils: Opus Oils is a Perfume Atelier located in the heart of glamorous Hollywood, California. Our goal is to create high quality, couture perfumes, made in the traditional methods of the artisan perfumers of centuries past. Our specialty line of boutique fragrances are hand blended, properly aged and poured in small batches by master blender Kedra Hart. "We are one of the few, niche perfumeries involved in the quickly growing field known as 'natural perfumery. Recent fragrance releases include: The Absinthe, Burlesque, Divine & Island Girl Collections, Jitterbug Perfume Parlour Teas & Champagne Roses, Roller Girl Perfume, Satan's Angel "Queen of the Fire Tassels" Perfume, The Fetish Collection featuring Tiger Powers Ltd. Ed. Pop Art and Gretchen Bonaduce’s “Unearthly Beauty?,” “Les Bohemes” Collection, and Wild Child #13. Our 400+ products are made in the USA and are not tested on animals. All formulas are available in alcohol or fractionated coconut oil.

Contact Information:
Lili Thomas,
Director of Public Relations, OPUS OILS
4959 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90027
Ph: (323) 667-3376
Email: opusoils@msn.com
Websites: www.OpusOils.com

Halloween Scents ~ October in Review

2011-10-28T18:36:00.001-07:00

Our October was off to a great start with with a Feature/Interview in Issue #34 of Gothic Beauty Magazine!!! GOTHIC BEAUTY is America's favorite Gothic magazine, and we were thrilled to be spotlighted. My thanks to Kirsty Evans for writing such a haunting review, and to Carrie for generously sharing her copy!

Glowey Joey Bunny at Beauty, Bacon, Bunnies, had a sleepless night tossing and turning with our CHARLIE #5, from The Afraid of the Dark Collection... What was she thinking, wearing CHARLIE to bed?

According to Joey, "Charlie #5 is a truly delicious, seductive amber. Upon application, I was knocked back by a hypnotic mix of deep amber, an animalic musk, and a rich, creamy vanilla. Oh god, oh god! I could not stop sniffing myself. Sillage was very good, and my room was scented with just the two-three dabs of the perfume oil I had applied on my wrists and neck." Visit her fabulous blog to read the whole review Beauty, Bacon, Bunnies.

Luckily, just in time for Halloween, Joey found her Inner Vampire & Eternal youth in our ODE DE VAMPYRE. She says, "Ode de Vampyre is my scent, bottled. The slightest hint of a spicy saffron mixes with this unbelievable powdery accord: orris and sandalwood, two of my weaknesses. A strong facade of innocence covers up the demon within - I get hints of rose, of resin, of wood, but they take a backstage to that beautiful babyish scent. Delicious, so close to the skin, and frighteningly familiar..." Click Here to read the full review.

Victoria at EauMG knows how to have grown-up Halloween fun... Be sure to visit her blog where she shares some of her favorite scented treats in her Halloween 2011 Fragrance Guide. We are so flattered that Victoria picked our VOODOO to be her Halloween Costume this year! In her words, "Voodoo is spine-tingling b-film in perfume form... Something about it is fiery and bewitching..." (We could say the same thing about the ever lovely Victoria!)

Enjoy the Scents of the Season, & have a Happy Halloween!!!

Perfumery's Future: IFRA Fall 2011 Presentation by Michelle Krell Kydd

2011-10-23T02:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to create a fragrance in response to a "Social Media Fragrance Brief," from one of my all time favorite Flavor & Fragrance Writers, Michelle Krell Kydd of GLASS PETAL SMOKE. Michelle is one of the Flavor and Fragrance Industry's most exciting and industrious writers. In addition to her own Blog she is a regular contributor to Perfumer Flavorist Magazine.

In "Twitter's First Fragrance Brief," Michelle asked independent perfumers to create a perfume which could be sensed by Anosmics - those who have no sense of smell. She wondered if it was possible to make a perfume that would stimulate the Tirgeminal Nerve 5, thus giving Anosmics the sensation that they were actually smelling something...

This idea was immediately intriguing to me as my Mother has been Anosmic, for all of my adult life(due to a head trauma). This means that she has never smelled any of my Perfume Creations... I think (most) all Perfumers share in that one of the biggest inspirations to their Olfactory Tapestry is their Mother. Deep down, we all want to make something beautiful that "Mother will Love". So it was a no brainer that I would respond to Michelle's challenge to attempt the seeminly impossible - to create a scent that could be sensed by people that have no sense of smell!

Michelle previewed the resulting scent "EAU PEAR TINGLE," recently during her Keynote Speech presentation at IFRA (International Fragrance Association 2011 Fall Meeting and Luncheon). In her words, "EAU PEAR TINGLE, is divine. (It)Starts out modern, trills with a fresh cooling effect and dries down with classic qualities... It was well received and indicative of the future of fragrance creation coupled with the power of social media...."

I would like to encourage my readers to check out GLASS PETAL SMOKE, Michelle's exceptional Blog.

Here's you opportunity to be a fly on the wall inside the hush hush world of the Fragrance Industry, as Michelle's presentation "Perfumery's Future," for the IFRA Fall 2011 Luncheon is embedded in the post!

Stay tuned for more details about EAU PEAR TINGLE ~ "The perfume you can feel!"

SEXY BEAST ~ Lusty Thoughts & Blog Love for Dirty Sexy Wilde!

2011-10-21T00:26:00.000-07:00

Our delightful friend Glowy Joey Bunny at Beauty Bacon Bunnies was sleepless in NYC a few nights ago... Not one for idle sleeplessness she wrote a delicious review calling DIRTY SEXY WILDE "Sex In Bottle"!

"It’s no small secret that I love Opus Oils, and it’s definitely widely-known that I think that Kedra Hart is hell-bent on driving her customers into a sex-drenched frenzy with her fragrances. What is fragrance but the ultimate tool for seduction? Kedra knows this, exploits this, and uses this knowledge to create dizzyingly addictive fragrances." ~Joey

You'll want to read the rest of her steamy review to see what happens when she puts DSW to the "Boyfriend Test", so be sure to visit her fabulous blog Beauty Bacon Bunnies !

Our'SEXY BEAST' DSW was the lucky recipient of another stimulating and highly erotic blog post by resident cyber Sex Kitten and Author Extraordinaire, Sheila Eggenberger on her delectable Scent Blog Scent Less Sensibilities where she says:

"By golly, this is one of the most erotic things I’ve ever had the pleasure to inhale. It starts off green and slightly soapy in an elegant scented lace-edged Victorian handkerchief way, but it takes no time at all for it to begin asserting itself in all the best and most anticipatory ways. This is where it’s closest to the elegant Oscar, the aesthete Dorian." Scent Less Sensibilities

What is it about DSW that's got these ladies so hot & bothered? Well, it could be a combo of all the Animalic notes (Ambergris, Civet, Musk), or it could be our Dirty Sexy poster boy Mr. Tiger Powers (According to Joey,"his appeal is thermonuclear!" And Sheila AKA Tarleisio is so smitten that she wrote not just 1 but 2 ultra fabulous Scent Stories that STAR our Lad Tiger! )... Dare to try it and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. WARNING: A little bit goes a long way!

Key Notes: Galbanum, Red Mandarin, Violet, Rose, Night Jasmine, Blond Tobacco, Oakmoss, Coumarin, Musk, Civet and Ambergris

DIRTY SEXY WILDE is available at OPUS OILS.

STRAWBERRY MADNESS

2011-10-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

INSPIRATION....

In the midst of her Pink Fuzzy Oblivion... She was Craving Strawberries & Cream... And Pink Champagnes... And having a Perfume Party in her wondrously decadent mind.

SCRATCH N' SNIFF!

SEXY BEAST ~ Lusty Thoughts & Blog Love for Dirty Sexy Wilde!

2011-10-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

Our delightful friend Glowy Joey Bunny at Beauty Bacon Bunnies was sleepless in NYC a few nights ago... Not one for idle sleeplessness she wrote a delicious review calling DIRTY SEXY WILDE "Sex In Bottle"!

Here's a teaser: "It’s no small secret that I love Opus Oils, and it’s definitely widely-known that I think that Kedra Hart is hell-bent on driving her customers into a sex-drenched frenzy with her fragrances. What is fragrance but the ultimate tool for seduction? Kedra knows this, exploits this, and uses this knowledge to create dizzyingly addictive fragrances." ~Joey

You'll want to read the rest of her steamy review to see what happens when she puts DSW to the "Boyfriend Test", so be sure to visit her fabulous blog Beauty Bacon Bunnies !

Our'SEXY BEAST' DSW was the lucky recipient of another stimulating and highly erotic blog post by resident cyber Sex Kitten and Author Extraordinaire, Sheila Eggenberger on her delectable Scent Blog The Alembicated Genie where she says:

"By golly, this is one of the most erotic things I’ve ever had the pleasure to inhale. It starts off green and slightly soapy in an elegant scented lace-edged Victorian handkerchief way, but it takes no time at all for it to begin asserting itself in all the best and most anticipatory ways. This is where it’s closest to the elegant Oscar, the aesthete Dorian." The Alembicated Genie

What is it about DSW that's got these ladies so hot & bothered? Well, it could be a combo of all the Animalic notes (Ambergris, Civet, Musk), or it could be our Dirty Sexy poster boy Mr. Tiger Powers (According to Joey,"his appeal is thermonuclear!" And Sheila AKA Tarleisio is so smitten that she wrote not just 1 but 2 ultra fabulous Scent Stories that STAR our Lad Tiger! )... Dare to try it and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. WARNING: A little bit goes a long way!

Key Notes: Galbanum, Red Mandarin, Violet, Rose, Night Jasmine, Blond Tobacco, Oakmoss, Coumarin, Musk, Civet and Ambergris

DIRTY SEXY WILDE is available at OPUS OILS.

Tiger Tea Party at The Gossamer Tearoom

2011-10-06T18:15:00.001-07:00

Fall is in the air which gives us the perfect excuse to join one of our favorite Tea Party Partners in Crime, The Gossamer Tearoom for a cup of delectable TIGER TEA! Our TIGER TEA is a delicious floral bouquet tea, with a fragrant taste, it's full bodied and leaves a delightful flowery aftertaste on the palate. Tiger Loves IT! Made with a yummy Black Tea blend of Lilac ~ Blackberry ~ Black Currant ~ also with Orange Flower Absolute Infused Orange Blossoms

CLICK HERE to visit lovely Betty over at The Gossamer Tea Room and read the full post...

OPUS OILS FEATURED IN GOTHIC BEAUTY MAGAZINE ~Issue #34

2011-10-05T15:21:00.001-07:00

This October is starting out right! We are absolutely thrilled & chilled to be featured in Issue #34 of Gothic Beauty Magazine!!! A warm thanks to Kirsty Evans for writing such a haunting review!

BREAK OUT THE BUBBLY ~IT'S CELEBRATION TIME!!!

2011-09-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend we celebrated the 3 year Anniversary of the Grand Opening of our JITTERBUG PERFUME PARLOUR!!!

It's been quite a whirlwind and it's hard to believe how fast the time flew by - it feels like only yesterday...

To mark this very special occasion, we officially launched our Les Bohemes Collection. (From Our Press Release) “Les Bohemes” (The Bohemians) is a throwback to the age of Speakeasies & wild abandon… Are you looking for an escape from the next Great Depression? Let us take you into the backroom on a journey through time where the secret password is “Jitterbug” & the good times flow like Bathtub Gin… Rich, Ultra Decadent & Shamelessly heavy on the Natural Essences – just like the scents that were constructed during Perfume’s Golden Age of the 1920’s.

And to make the CELEBRATION even sweeter, my darling friend Carrie Meredith of EyeLiner On a Cat, paid me the great honor of including me in her New Perfumer Interview Series.

I was thrilled that Carrie asked me to be part of her Series, & strongly encourage everyone to check out her wonderfully expressive & abundantly creative blog! CLICK HERE to read my Interview!

I would like to thank all of our dear clients & wonderful friends & family who joined us on this fragrant journey & supported us in our scented endeavors!

Satan's Angel The Movie ~ Soundtrack CD

2011-08-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy this fabulous video for The Official Satan's Angel Motion Picture Soundtrack, featuring the lovely Audrey Deluxe! Limited Edition CD's Numbered and signed by Satan's Angel are available for purchase at www.satansangelmovie.com

Some scenes were shot OPUS OILS' Jitterbug Perfume Parlour!

Satan's Angel: Queen of the Fire Tassles is a feature film coming to you soon from Retrograde Productions,the partnership of Josh Dragotta and Tony Marsico,the guys who brought you Camp Burlesque!

Satan’s Angel “Queen of the Fire Tassels” ~ The Perfume

A fragrance inspired by burlesque star Satan's Angel. Strong and wild like the Lady who inspired it, this sultry, narcotic floral bomb explodes with key notes of Gardenia, Narcissus, Tuberose, Stargazer Lily, Jasmine, Bergamot & Pink Grapefruit, and finishes with a velvet Chypre dry-down reminiscent of glamorous days gone by… Scented Salamander

One spritz is all it takes to awaken your inner Burlesque Queen!

FREEDOM TRAIN ~ CAFLEUREBON'S PROFILES IN AMERICAN PERFUMERY SERIES

2011-08-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

It is a great honor to have been featured in Cafleurebon's Profiles in American Perfumery Series!!! Big thanks to my friend in fragrance and Cafleurebon's Editor in Chief Michelyn Camen, for including me in this unique and special series!

(Here's a teaser), "The concept of "America" to me is wrapped up in the idea of Freedom and the Spirit of Independence. There are so many talented Niche/Indie perfumers out there right now; I see a real renaissance happening in the Fragrance Industry. I believe this movement is in direct line with the American ideal of entrepreneurial activity, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to be creating in this unique type of landscape..." Please visit CaFleureBon to read the whole interview, and check out some of the other fabulous Perfumers in this ongoing series (Mandy Aftel, Alexandra Balahoutis Strange Invisible Perfumes, Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes, Sarah Horowitz-Thran of Sarah Horowitz Parfums and many more!)

SOTD: FLAPPER(Datura) from our Les Bohemes Collection... What Could be more American?

Key Notes of Sweet Lemon Blossom, Clementine, Tangerine, Pink Peppercorn, Perilla Leaf, Mango Absolute, Ginger Lily, Datura, Gardenia, Jasmine, Vanilla, White Musk, Blond Tobacco & Tonka Bean.

Click HERE & HERE for more FLAPPER Love Notes(AKA Reviews)!

TASTY TID-BIT: THE FREEDOM TRAIN

The United States has seen two national 'Freedom Trains'. The 1947–1949 Freedom Train was a special exhibit train that toured the United States in the later half of the 1940s. A similar train called the American Freedom Train toured the country for the United States Bicentennial celebration in 1975–1976. Both trains were painted in special red, white and blue paint schemes, and both toured the 48 contiguous states with displays of Americana and related historical artifacts. The two trains took different routes around the 48 states, but they both stopped for public displays in each of them... The 1947–1949 Freedom Train was proposed by Attorney General Tom C. Clark as a way to reawaken Americans to their taken-for-granted principles of liberty in the post-war years... The Freedom Train even had an official song, written by Irving Berlin and performed by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. The train's first public display stop occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1947.... A second Freedom Train, The American Freedom Train, toured the country in 1975–1976 to commemorate the United States Bicentennial. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

REMEMBER... FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S JOB!!!

WILD CHILD #13 Wins 1st Place in Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 Contest!!

2011-07-29T23:06:00.000-07:00

Summer of Patchouli LOVE 2011 OVERALL WINNER! PLAP!!!

……Drumroll please…...

The OVERALL WINNER

of Summer of Patchouli LOVE 2011

Perfume Pharmer and the patch Test Bunnies is…

#13 WILD CHILD by Opus Oils!!!

WILD CHILD #13 was selected as a top favorite by celebrity judge Academy Award Winning Actress Jodie Foster and Film Director Cynthia Mort, & Grammy Award Winning Vocalist Patti Austin, as well as Starhawk (Author of bestselling novel The Fifth Sacred Thing/Activist/Educator), and multiple Fragrance Bloggers!

Come on "FEEL" the Love!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT WILD CHILD #13 ~

Monica Miller (Pharm Marm) of Perfume Pharmer Says :

"I Was assaulted by woman at Morning Glory Farmstand Martha's Vineyard. WHATS THAT PERFUME??? WHERE DO I GET IT???? I sold her the one I was bringing to a store on MV for their sales approval.... ......... #13 Wild Child by Opus Oils"

Donna Hathaway of Perfume Smelling Things says:

"My penultimate selection was Number Thirteen, which is Wild Child by Opus Oils. I think this might just be the most applauded one in the bunch for all the Patch Test Bunnies and the celebrity testers and judges alike, and for good reason. It's easy to love and absolutely delicious with its buttery floral character and coconut-infused tropical tanning oil vibe..."

Carol of WAFT BY CAROL Says: "No 13 ~ Opus Oils - Wild Child, was my top pick , alot of test bunnies picked this one . Go OPUS OILS !! I found it creamy , sweet , musky , floral , sexy , patchouli rich...,it hit all my buttons just right ! Full Bottle Worthy !!"

Get your PLAP on! To purchase WILD CHILD #13 click on this link to be redirected to www.opusoils.com

Sample Boxes of all 13 Patchouli Perfume Samples are available - to order email Monica skyebird@capecod.net

$65 for all 13 perfumes including shipping in the USA or $35 for top 7 PLAP perfumes including shipping in USA. Email Monica to order skyebird@capecod.net

What I love most about this Summer is all the special friends that I have encountered ALONG THE WAY!

We are all winners, and we all are Blessed to have been brought together by the ever lovely Monica Skye Miller, over the common theme of Peace-Love-And-Patchouli ~PLAP!!!

EYELINER ON A CAT DOES FLAPPER & GIGGLE WATER

2011-07-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

It's been SO busy lately, that I can barely catch up with myself! Hectic schedule aside, I didn't want to miss sharing this wonderful review by our dear fragrant friend Carrie Meredith, from one of our favorite Blogs EYELINER ON A CAT (Carrie was recently mentioned along with Victoria from EauMG, by beauty director for Allure Magazine, Amy Keller Laird,in an article on Allure.com Daily Beauty Reporter !)

So pop on over to EYELINER ON A CAT to read Carrie's delightful take on "Two More Bohemians"!

SOTD: A fragrant melange of FLAPPER + GIGGLE WATER + HEAVY SUGAR ~ All from our Les Bohemes Collection.

FLAPPER Key Notes: Sweet lemon blossom, clementine, tangerine, pink peppercorn, perilla leaf, mango absolute, ginger lily, datura, gardenia, jasmine, vanilla, white musk, blond tobacco, tonka bean

GIGGLE WATER Key Notes: Tunisian orange flower absolute, Egyptian orange flower absolute, orange flower water absolute, bitter orange flower absolute, wild orange, mandarin, peach, honey, gardenia, beach found ambergris, white musk, sandalwood

HEAVY SUGAR Key Notes: Dark amber, aged labdanum, fossilized amber, vintage patchouli, sandalwood, beach-found ambergris.

I smell delectable and I feel like this...

Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 Blog ~ Kaleidoscope Eyes

2011-07-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

To read more about our Summer of Patchouli Love,2011 and the creative design process of WILD CHILD #13 please visit my "Inspiration Board"/Blog Kaleidoscope Eyes!

WILD CHILD #13 ~ Primal Scream in a Bottle!

2011-07-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

Well, SHE'S out on the streets, like the WILD Summer of PATCHOULI LOVE CHiLD that she is, .... #13, Yea, She's My Girl...

(SHE'S) Dirty Sweet with sensual lactonic tendencies... Layered with rich, Dark Aged Patchouli that smolders with a dash of Saffron & Incense when met with an undercurrent of playful fruity notes as Black Currant, Juicy Peach & hints of Coconut waft over a layer of creamy White Flowers on a cloud of Milk & Honey... Wild Child is a succulent Summer Breeze of a Scent that gets all cozy in the dry down as it moves into Oriental Gourmand territory... This scent was created for The Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 event hosted by Monica Miller of Perfume Pharmer. Come on "FEEL" the Love!

It was my intention to create a "Soliflore/Solifleur" style Patchouli Fragrance that focused on the warm, sunny (Summer) side of the Patchouli spectrum...

FRAGRANCE CATEGORY: Oriental Gourmand

KEY NOTES: Aged Dark Patchouli, Saffron, Honey, Milk, Peach, Tuberose, Black Currant, Dark Amber, Ambergris, Sandalwood, Vanilla

Top Notes: Saffron, Cabreuva, Blood Cedarwood, Peach Tree Leaf, Clementine, Yellow Mandarin & Wild Orange

Middle Notes:Honey, Milk Accord, Black Currant Bud, Tuberose & Peach Accord

Base Notes: Aged Dark Patchouli, Sandalwood, Ambergris, Dark Amber, Vetiver & Vanilla

WILD CHILD #13 is available for purchase at OPUS OILS

EYELINER ON A CAT Makes Us Blush!

2011-06-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Carrie Meredith of the legendary Beauty and Fragrance Blog EYELINER ON A CAT for her splendid review of two Scents from our Les Bohemes Collection; DAPPER ( of which she says,"This perfume is a no-brainer for every season, men or women-- it is a true delight.") And HEAVY SUGAR ("Heavy Sugar is linear, full of syrupy, powdered kisses, and will leave a scent trail behind you that will make people weak in the knees.")

Please visit EYELINER ON A CAT to read the entire review!

Although this Collection is still pending release, I'm happy to announce that we are selling Limited Editions of our Pre-Release Batch at OPUS OILS. We also have some Special offers on Limited Edition Les Bohemes Scent Coffrets at our Opus Oils Etsy Shop.

Our Les Bohemes Collection (The Bohemians) is a throwback to the age of Speakeasies & wild abandon… Are you looking for an escape from the next Great Depression? Let us take you into the backroom on a journey through time where the secret password is “Jitterbug” & the good times flow like Bathtub Gin… Rich, Ultra Decadent & Shamelessly heavy on the Natural Essences – just like the scents that were constructed during Perfume’s Golden Age of the 1920’s.

Celebrating Summer Solstice Fragrantly ~ GIGGLE WATER ON CALFEUREBON'S TOP SUMMER SCENT LIST!

2011-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

So excited to announce that our "GIGGLE WATER" Perfume made CaFleureBon's Favorite Summer Scents List !♥♥ (Two years in a row!!!)

Originally, I designed this scent for myself to wear to a special Summer night in the park performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream, that was being performed at the Barnsdale Art Park just up the street from The Jitterbug Perfume Parlour. It was super hot (LA Indian Summer style,)and I wanted a scent that would keep me feeling cool and refreshed, plus add something synesthetic to the texture of the play. I was thinking, “What would Titania waft?”... The scent of Orange Blossoms came to mind, as this is fragrance that has always transported me. I find it to be very magical and enchanting and it felt the perfect choice for a blast off point to my idea of "Wafting Titania." Plus it was a key note in my 'Solifleur Scent Palette Project,' that had yet to be tackled!

My "Orange Blossoms in Summertime," that temporarily became "Wafting Titania," has finally landed in our much anticipated Les Bohemes Collection with the official name GIGGLE WATER...

I was so touched when I heard from Michelyn (CaFleureBon's Editor In Chief) that she wore GIGGLE WATER on her "Honeymoon Night," when she recently tied the knot with her Fragrantly inclined Beau! I can’t think of a higher compliment than to be a woman’s choice in scent for such a very special night!

SOTD: Summer Scent GIGGLE WATER of course! Key Notes ~ Absolutes of Tunisian Orange,Flower Absolute, Egyptian Orange Flower Absolute, Orange Flower H20 Absolute,& Bitter Orange Flower Absolute, Honey, Wild Orange, Mandarin, Peach, Gardenia, Beach Found Ambergris, White Musk & Sandalwood

TASTY TID-BIT: BARNSDALE PARK is a unique park, which offers breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign, is also home to the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, Junior Arts Center and the famous Hollyhock House that was designed in the 1920's by the internationally acclaimed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Barnsdall Art Park officially reopened on June 4, 2003, after a 3-year remodel, with brand new visual and design art exhibits.**Excerpt from their website Barnsdall Art Park

BURLESQUE TEA PARTY AT THE GOSSAMER TEAROOM

2011-06-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Betty over at THE GOSSAMER TEAROOM has posted another lovely blog about our Jitterbug Perfume Parlour Teas! This time she writes a sweet scenario about our BURLESQUE TEA (Rose Congou Tea, Rose Oolong Tea, Rose Absolute Infused Premium Grade Organic Edible Rose Petals and Cocoa Nibs.)

Here's an excerpt:

"...Inspired by the luxurious, decadent and romantic combination of roses and chocolate in Opus Oils' luxurious Burlesque Tea from their Jitterbug Perfume Parlour Tea Collection! With its combination of Congou Tea, Rose Oolong Tea, Rose Absolute Infused Premium Grade Organic Edible Rose Petals and Cocoa Nibs, it is a singularly sensuous experience. I could not have imagined that the flavors of two of the most highly recognized symbols of love and sensuality could combine in such a perfect way! This really is a brilliant combination!"... To read the whole post please visit Betty over at THE GOSSAMER TEAROOM!

SOTD: STARLET ~ Key Notes include Absolutes of Turkish & Bulgarian Rose, Egyptian Orange Blossom, Orange Blossom Water, Neroli, Cocoa and Nutmeg.
Click on link to read a Review or our STARLET on EauMG a Fragrance & Beauty Blog!

TASTY TID-BIT: The word "BURLESQUE," first appears in a title in Francesco Berni's Opere burlesche of the early 16th century.'Burlesque' as a literary term became widespread in 17th century Italy and France, and subsequently England, where it referred to a grotesque imitation of the dignified or pathetic. Shakespeare's Pyramus and Thisbe scene in Midsummer Night's Dream was an early examples of such imitation.

JOHN LENNON'S PRIMAL PATCHOULI SCREAM

2011-05-17T13:37:00.001-07:00

LOVE ~ By John Lennon

Love is real, real is love
Love is feeling, feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved

Love is touch, touch is love
Love is reaching, reaching love
Love is asking to be loved

Love is you
You and me
Love is knowing
We can be

Love is free, free is love
Love is living, living love
Love is needing to be loved

As part of Perfume Pharmers SUMMER OF PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 Event, all the participating Perfumer's have been telling their personal "Patchouli Stories." Here's mine as told on PERFUME PHARMER ~

PATCHOULI: THE FEELING ESSENCE

If I had to choose only one word to describe PATCHOULI, it would be "Primal"... To me, it is the Essence of FEELING. I reach for it when I need a little bit of grounding or to comfort and sooth. One whiff and I feel like I just got a big "hug" from the Universe!

The scent of PATCHOULI has intertwined with our human experience throughout the ages, so I’m sure we all know the story by now of how Patchouli traveled the long and arduous road from the East to the West and everywhere in between...

It is certainly a love/hate thing for everyone that I have ever exchanged with on the subject... Not to mention an ultra fun Parlour Game wherein you gather a group and have everybody tell their "Personal Patchouli Story!" Be sure, Everybody has one...

Mine goes back to 1970 when I was around 4 years old. It was a hot Summer day in LA, and as fate would have it, my young bohemian self came to be at the Janov Institute for Primal Scream Therapy.

I remember it like it was a dream... I came into the waiting room and a very emotional John Lennon was there, winding down from a Primal "Session" with my father who was his therapist. To me he was all hair and looked like Jesus in his long white robe. Oh, and Smelly! It was a strangely familiar "Earthy" aroma that emanated from him, and I remember that this manly, almost animalic scent was so strong that it filled the entire room space!

When he saw me he beckoned me over to say hello... I imagine now, that from his spent primal self he must have felt a connection to something in my innocent child-self-mind-space that drew his attention to my corner at that particular moment... And so, there he was calling to me, wanting to engulf me in a warmly abundant hug, and as you can imagine the last thing I wanted was a hug from a smelly (you guessed it - PATCHOULI) Primal Screamer!...

Not one to be deterred, this industrious Patchouli Loving Jesus Christ Superstar proceeded to lure me over to his corner with a handful of Chiclets!... Yes, that's right, I have always been a sucker for the simple pleasures and those CHICKLETS did the trick! Yep, those pretty little candy gems were even more fun than I first imagined they would be, as I learned about gum and how to "chew" these tiny colorful treats instead of swallowing them whole... It was like a magic trick! And for a short while, this became a tradition with us - the "Jesus Man" would greet me with Chiclets, and I would give him big a hug... It turned out to be one of the few perfectly reciprocal relationships in my life ~ I was OK with the "Patchouli Hugs," as long as he didn't forget the Chiclets!...

TASTY TID-BIT #1: While working on writing this piece, I stumbled onto this book excerpt from the book "Daddy Come Home," by Pauline Lennon who married John's father Freddie in 1969. Here she described one of John's Primal Therapy sessions:

..."In the early summer of 1970 John Lennon was undergoing intensive treatment at the Janov Institute for Primal Therapy in Los Angeles. It was a hot day in June, but for some weeks now John had been isolated from the outside world, spending most of his time exclusively with his therapist, a highly trained, sympathetic man who had himself undergone primal therapy and with whom John had built up a high level of trust.

The session was being conducted in a small, sound-proof room without windows, the walls of which were padded on two sides to allow the patient readily to express the powerful emotions which would inevitably demand release. Audio and video recorders were in operation to provide a record of the session from which both patient and therapist could later gain useful insights.

But John was only minimally aware of his surroundings at the Institute. As he lay flat on his back on the floor, as was customary during primal sessions, his consciousness had returned to a day in June 1946, a day which had been so painful that he had attempted to blot it from his memory . But now, at the gentle insistence of the therapist, he began to recall every detail of the Saturday afternoon in Blackpool when, at the age of five and a half, he had been asked to choose between his parents but had finally ended up by losing both of them.

Slowly he began to tune into the atmosphere of the Hall's house in Ivy Avenue where he had been staying for some weeks with his father awaiting emigration to New Zealand. It was here that Julia had unexpectedly appeared on that afternoon to ask that John be returned to her.

The pungent odour of Freddie's Woodbine cigarettes suddenly filled his nostrils -he was once again sitting on his father's knee in the modestly furnished front room and his beautiful red-haired mother was standing opposite him, smiling at him with that irresistible smile of hers which always melted his heart. As he became aware of the haunting perfume she always wore, he recalled how much he loved her. But suddenly his father's voice interrupted the lovely warm feeling he was experiencing and the words he heard him speaking seemed strange and frightening.

'And what is your Daddy saying to you, John?' urged the therapist, noting John's distress but realizing the need to carry on. John's reply was barely audible. 'He's saying "Mummy's going away and she won't be coming back again. Do you want to go with her or stay with me and go to New Zealand?".' He spoke these words in a whispered voice, drawing up his knees and clenching his fists with anxiety . 'I'm staying with my Daddy, I don't want to leave my Daddy,' John continued, but then he came to an abrupt halt and his features contorted as if he was now beset by some new unbearable fear.

'My Mummy's walking away down the road,' he recalled, speaking in increasingly shorter breaths. 'I'm running after her, I've reached her and I'm holding her hand. Daddy's still standing in the doorway and I'm shouting to him to join us. "Come on Daddy, come on Daddy ," I'm shouting, but he won't come.'

The atmosphere in the session room reflected an electrifying degree of tension, and it was clear that John was experiencing a deep level of pain.
'Tell your father what you need of him,' instructed the therapist, encouraging John to follow through his pain and to discharge the strong emotions which were now nearing the surface.

John found it almost impossible to give voice to the words he wanted to say, but they eventually came out in a choked sob. 'Daddy, I want you to come and join me and Mummy. I don't want you to leave me.' As he spoke it was as if he had suddenly released a floodgate of sorrow, and for the first time in many years his tears began to flow freely. But there was still more pain to be unleashed and it was the role of the therapist to push John a little further until he reached the core of his anguish.

'Your Daddy can't hear you, John,' he pressed him. 'Tell your Daddy what you need of him.'
'I need you to come after me. I need you to hold me, Daddy,' pleaded John, his voice now raised to screaming pitch as all the hurt and rage of nearly twenty-five years came pouring out. He was now on his knees, pounding the wall as he screamed the words 'Daddy, Daddy' over and over again. And as he punched away the pain, his feeling of anguish was compounded by a new and totally overwhelming terror.

His consciousness now shifted to the day he fell into a deep gully of sand on Blackpool beach, from which he was unable to free himself until his father found him. He felt himself to be surrounded by dark walls on all four sides and he was gripped by a sensation of blind panic as the sand appeared to be closing over him, shutting out the light of the sky.

'Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,' he screamed, his whole body now shaking with fear. But there was no way that John could make his Daddy hear him, and once again he felt isolated and deserted. He was overcome by a sense of dread that he would never see his father again. It seemed that the trauma of the beach incident and the ordeal of his parents' parting a few days later had become inextricably intertwined in John's subconscious, resulting in an emotional burden which had remained with him since childhood but which had been too terrible for him ever to recall.

But now, as John curled himself into the foetal position, the therapist knew that the worst of the tension had been released, and at John's request he enacted the role of his father and bent down to stroke his head gently."

TASTY TID-BIT #2: John Lennon's debut solo album after the break up of the Beatles was "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" (Released Dec. 11 1970.) It was clearly a new direction for him musically, and he certainly used this album to exorcise some of the inner demons that he encountered in Primal Therapy,...

Tracks

Mother
Hold On
I Found Out
Working Class Hero
Isolation
Remember
Love
Well Well Well
Look At Me
God
My Mummy's Dead

**DISCLAIMER: ALL PHOTOS IN THIS ARTICLE ARE USED SOLELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. IF THERE IS A COPY WRITE ISSUE WITH AN IMAGE AND YOU DO NOT WANT IT DISPLAYED ON THIS SITE, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME.

TIGER POWERS AND THE "PATCH TEST BUNNIES"~ Summer of Patchouli Love 2011

2011-05-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Jodi Foster, TIGER POWERS, & Mary J Blige are just a few of the Celebrities judging PERFUME PHARMER'S upcoming Event: Summer of Patchouli LOVE 2011...

In Tiger's words, "I was thrilled to be invited to be a judge (AKA PATCH TEST BUNNY) in the SUMMER of PATCHOULI LOVE 2011 - that's being hosted by one of my favorite blogs PERFUME PHARMER & Starring 15 of the world's most talented Perfumers!"

"Patch Test Bunnies" are glamorous Human Test Subjects who have volunteered their noses for the sake of science and making the world a better smelling place! There will be 15 Perfumes featured, all 100% Natural Patchouli based perfumes. The Patch test Bunnies will be testing these Professional Perfumes “blind” meaning that they will be numbered, not labeled with the name of the perfumer. The Patch Test Bunnies then pick out their top 3 favorite scents and tell in a sentence why they like them!... Tiger, along with Jodie Foster, Mary J Blige and many other fabulous judges will be lending themselves to the lofty task of "Professional Patchouli Testing"...

Be sure to visit Perfume Pharmer regularly for LEAD UP to Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 Patchouli Posts… And INTERVIEWS with Summer of Patchouli LOVE Perfumers...

PLAP! PEACE-LOVE-AND-PATCHOULI!

Gothic Victorian Tea Party and Poetry Reading at The Gossamer Tea Room!

2011-05-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

For anyone who didn't make it over to Disneyland today for The Annual Bats Day in the Fun Park: "The Spooky Trip to Disneyland CA", our Lovely friend Betty over at The Gossamer Tearoom is having a Gothic Victorian Tea Party & Poetry Reading and your all invited!

Or as Betty says, "You... of the heart tattoos in places unmentionable, lipstick and matching nail polishin nightshade or abyss...enter here...and indulge in the celebration of crimson and ebon..join our sacred salon of sisterhood.

The samovar steeps a tea of exceptional fragrance and flavor tonight please share a cup with us as we ask for silence the poetry reading is about to begin..."

On Today's Menu ~ Roller Girl Tea & Fetish Envy Cake from the House of Pierre Hermé

SOTD: ROLLER GIRL PERFUME With Key Notes of Black Chery, Vanilla & Black Licorice...

TASTY TID-BIT: BATS DAY is a yearly event in which several thousand people, who are into Gothic attire and/or lifestyle, attend events over a three day weekend. Culminating in a full day of fun at Disneyland!

NATIONAL SENSE OF SMELL DAY

2011-04-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Today is National Sense of Smell Day. This is an annual event that is sponsored by the Sense of Smell Institute (The Fragrance Foundation's Research & Education Division.) It is held on the last Saturday of April at a selection of children’s museums & science centers across the United States (at this point it is strictly an American Holiday.) Typically, museums & science centers that are involved in celebrating the day, will feature hands-on interactive activities & informational displays about the sense of smell (Olfaction.) Activities can include finding out about different smells from around the world & remembering the smells from your childhood.

This is a day to celebrate your nose & it's amazing ability to smell and identify over 10,000 odors!

SOTD: In celebration of my Primal Sense, today I chose to wear some of my treasured Vintage Patchouli... Patchouli to me is a very primal aroma, and so it seemed the perfect choice for today!...

Stay tuned for updates on The Summer of Patchouli Love 2011
~ PEACE, LOVE, & PATCHOULI!!!

TASTY TID-BIT #1: Anosmia is an Olfaction Disorder, simply put it is the lack of the ability to smell. When Anosmia occurs, your nose literally forgets how to smell. Anosmia may be either temporary or permanent. It can happen as a result of a head trauma, medications or a even a vitamin deficiency!

Vitamin A deficiency is a leading cause of loss of sense of smell, though this is reversible with supplementation of vitamin A.

For Further Reading on Anosmia check out GLASS PETAL SMOKE

TASTY TID-BIT #2: The 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (announced 4 October 2004,) was won by Richard Axel and Linda Buck for their work explaining olfaction, doccumenting the human genotype for sense of smell. Their work was published first in a joint paper in 1991 that described the very large family of about one thousand genes for odorant receptors and how the receptors link to the brain. There are more genes dedicated to smell than any other of our five senses.

MY NAME IS TALLULAH ~ Perfume Blend

2011-04-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

"My name is Tallulah
My first rule of thumb
I don't say where I'm going
Or where I'm coming from
I try to leave a little reputation behind me
So if you really need to
You'll know how to find me..." ~ My Name is Tallulah

...Personally, I always imagined you could find TALLULAH by following her Perfume Trail. What did she smell like you ask?... Surely her waft would be heavy on the Tuberose, thick & narcotic with a sexy Chypre dry down fit for the sultry siren she was!

When I was a kid we used to play BUGSY MALONE... A few of us girls were actually planning our own total remake of the movie and we took the business of "casting" very seriously! Of course we all wanted to be TALLULAH!!! I remember quarling about it amonst ourselves endlessly... Eventually an aggreement was struck (I won the coin flip) - and joy of joys LUCKY LUCKY ME - my name was Tallulah Officially!!!... Pie fights, & pre-teen girls in lipstick & pin curls pretending to hang out in a "Speak Easy," - ah youth in Hollywood!

SOTD: TALLULAH ~ Les Bohemes Scent Combination (Remember we told you that they "Played well Together!"):

Lil'Nico(TUBEROSE) + Gold Digger(NARCISSUS) + Heavy Sugar(AMBER) = "TALLULAH"

TASTY TID-BIT: The "Splurge Guns," did not actually fire the "Splurge." Director Alan Parker first tried wax balls filled with cream but these hurt when fired, so in the end the splurge guns actually fired ping pong balls, which the actors fired at nothing and what we see on-screen is clever editing between this and shots of actors being hit by handfuls of cream thrown at them by others.

SPEAKEASY ~ Les Bohemes Collection Preview on Perfume Pharmer

2011-04-14T15:39:00.001-07:00

Our Lovely Friend in Fragrance Monica at the PERFUMEPHARMER.COM posted a "Top Drawer" blog previewing our New Les Bohemes Collection (Soon to be Officially Released!)

The fun Bugsy Malone inspired post brings out the kid in us!!! Slide on over to PERFUMEPHARMER.COM now and check it out! And don't forget to leave a comment on Perfume Pharmer for a chance to win a sample pack of Les Bohemes !

"SAY NO MORE SAY NO MORE NUDGE NUDGE WINK WINK!"

SOTD: SPEAKEASY (Wisteria)~ Key Notes of Citrus, Green Pepper, Green Mandarin, Jasmine Sambac, Lily, Orchid, Rose & Sandalwood.

TASTY TID-BIT #1: A SPEAKEASY, also known as a "blind pig" or a "blind tiger," is an illicit or unlicensed establishment dispensing alcoholic beverages. The speakeasy had been part of the American scene since at least the 1890s, but it reached its heyday after the Eighteenth Amendment took effect in January 1920, ushering in the Prohibition era. Though alcohol was officially illegal during Prohibition, bootleggers and distributors of illicit alcohol enjoyed a thriving business serving a public still eager to drink. At the height of their popularity (1924–1933), speakeasies were generally either bars or restaurants to which people gained admission by personal introduction or by presenting a card, usually informally. In social class they ranged from smart restaurants to underworld dens, but whereas before Prohibition, most "respectable" women would not be welcome in a public bar, women as well as men began flocking to speakeasies. (Dictionary of American History COPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc.)

Snow & Sunshine Tea Party ~ WHY WE LOVE THE GOSSAMER TEAROOM!!!

2011-04-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

Our Dear Friend Betty at the Gossamer TeaRoom has gifted us with another one of her deliciously delightful blog posts! Wont you join us for A Snow & Sunshine Tea Party...

Excerpt: "...Two nights ago, on the final night of March, my Mr. V and I were ensconced here alone in The Tearoom, waiting for our very late season snow storm to begin (which we hope is our last.) I was craving warmth and the sunshine of spring so much when I brewed one of Opus Oils’ Jitterbug Perfume Parlour Teas, Island Girl. And at 10 pm, under a cold sky of white, I found the sunshine I was looking for in this tea!..." (Click Link To read entire article Gossamer TeaRoom)

FREE PERFUME ~ CaFleureBon.com Birthday Bash Perfume Draw!

2011-03-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

Our Dear Friends in Fragrance CaFleureBon are celebrating their First Birthday and to mark the occasion they are giving away Free Perfume!!!

Opus Oils is participating in the Celebration & we have contributed a bottle of GIGGLE WATER from our soon to be released (April 2011) LES BOHEMES COLLECTION!!!

You have to act quick - the entry deadline is March 23, 2011!
So hurry up & visit CaFleureBon & leave a comment to enter the Perfume give-away draw!

CAFLEUREBON.COM

ABSINTHE & DREAMS TEA PARTY AT THE GOSSAMER TEAROOM

2011-03-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to Betty over at THE GOSSAMER TEAROOM for the lovely and creative review of our ABSINTHE Tea!

Here's an excerpt:

... "This tea starts out with strong tannic notes, but the next note is a divine, complex combination of herbal, flowery and creamy notes, with just a touch of anise flavor. At this point, I added a bit of sugar to bring out these notes even more. (Of course you may add whatever sweetening you prefer, but I find white sugar is more neutral in flavor.) The black tea adds the rich, resinous base, followed up with the green herbal notes from the pear and violet leaf absolute, the deeply floral violet, the creamy, but exotic note of the vanilla and anise seeds for a final note of absinthe; a unique and luxurious experience. This is a tea to be savored, sipped slowly and as they say it is “extremely addictive”! This tea was delicious hot and they do suggest serving it iced as well. I’m certain that sipping it iced on a hot summer night would be a decadent experience!"

Click on banner to read the full review...

Lovely Review of STARLET on EauMG.net!

2011-03-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

We absolutely adore this lovely review of our STARLET Perfume on EauMG.net!

Click here to read the review! EauMG

To celebrate we're having a special sale on Etsy right now!

Click Here to go to Starlet Sale Etsy.com

"Feel like a STARLET!"

FLAPPER ~ A Poetic Preview Review

2011-02-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Language of Scent is International...

Many thanks to Spain's own Vintage Lady for her lovely & poetic review of our dear FLAPPER!

El Perfume~Un Poema Errante

Here is the English Translation, but please do visit her blog to check out all the wonderful pics and the ultra fabulous video that she uses to support the review.

FLAPPER, DE OPUS OILS. YOU MAKE ME SWOON

"I think a woman is most happy if you are friendly, if you have a merry heart, unconventional, when the owner of his own destiny ... I want my daughter to be a" flapper "because flappers are strong, happy and beautiful."

Zelda Fitzgerald

With this phrase from the novelist icon of the 20's, also wife of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose stories set in the 20's have also come to the screen, take that word would take long and hard to analyze in all its proportions, and as this blog is about perfumes, the association of the word flapper in this case has to be synthesized and reflect the effect of the perfume I will describe below.

The 20's "The Crazy Years" as they called them, brought news from the world of women. He also worries. But some of these girls, who had seen their mothers are always dressed in long, with their bows at the beginning of the century Victorian top of the neck, long time each night combing with boar bristle brushes to polish, cooking for man of the house, silent and looking after the children, one day decided to cut to the chase: first the hair, resulting in a typical bob has never ceased to be fashionable, short skirts, so that the legs look good while dancing. Fringed skirts so that the movement is almost a flight on the hair bands, to extol the face, makeup, red lips, looks happy, trips to the dance, drive a car, enjoy life, and above all, laugh much. Other cataloged to such women as "women's life," shocked to see that some innocent girls became masters of their own destiny. And all the songs, the rhythms of the dances, a winking Josephine Baker, a Charleston that never ends and the eternal party favors for no matter what party were made at a time when flappers began to take initiatives and often challenge their own destinies, with results sometimes sad but also happy, and after all that time was a fun song to have as few existed. After a few years the New York crack left the United States in a terrible economic situation, but the flappers had managed to get ahead. Fashion had really begun.

A flapper is a woman who takes chances and not think about the consequences, because in the moment is what matters. Is flirtatious and know how to overcome obstacles, and sometimes luck will smile, because your heart is cheerful by nature. The jokes, the laughter, the mills, the surprises are typical of the era flapper. New words, swell, rather than pretty, rather ritzy rich (by the Ritz Hotel) and many words that could be written here are part of a world that has been reflected in film, with stars like Joan Crawford.

Well, why all this? First, I feel very identified with the time, and if I had to travel back in time, undoubtedly one of the decades it would be this, the 20's. In many cases I am very Flapper: The tape on the hair, the cigarette in long nozzle, fringe, fun, joy, dancing, singing, laughing, and also many of the things that are shallow but charming as it is know as a makeup Flapper genuine.

But there is more, a whole philosophy of life. A Persian of being frowned at first, began to be reflected Flappers in the cinema. The first appearance came at the hand of Olive Thomas in the film Flapper. Then came Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Colleen Moore and the already named Joan Crawford. The ban led these girls to the street saliesen showing a disdain for authority, which closed cabarets and nightclubs, which prohibited many things. And Flappers also became adult women voted differently.

His visits to the jazz clubs, its short but numerous engagements, one that may lead to the altar, finally, the fact cycling, driving their own car, drinking alcohol without caring what others think, was a total challenge the years of Prohibition. Work outside the home, fighting for civil rights, the Bunny Hug, the Shimmy. the aforementioned Charleston ... was a total challenge to the company was still maintaining many of the Victorian traditions.

This preamble leads me to present a perfume that I wanted to talk for days: OPUS OILS and their fragrances: FLAPPER here that do not smell any perfume, but at a time, that does not smell of perfume simply, but much more of a lifestyle.

In one of his collections, there is a collection called Les Boheme: 10 Opus Oils fragrance of which I have not got one already (Bootleg), because my brother is the appropriate, base of vetiver and other scents such as grain coffee makes it so mysterious and seductive at once.

Names like Giggle Water, Speakeasy, Gold Digger, Heavy Sugar, Lil Nico, High Hat, Dapper, Flapper Jazz ... and, among others make up this collection that, when opened, turns my senses literally and emotionally.

FLAPPER, says the briefing note is Datura. But Flapper, this fragrance is one of the most special perfumes have smelled. Usually we say it smells like roses, or smell of hyacinths, and smell of moss, or wood ... But really what do you smell Flapper? This has been one of the most amazing scent experience for me.

FLAPPER GLOVES LEATHER SMELL, A FLOWER IN A GARDEN AFTER A HOUSE, WHERE LIFE IS FULL OF STORES, MOVING, BUT THAT GARDEN, THIS SMALL CORNER, HAS ALL THE DELIGHTS OF COUNTRY, IS A SMALL HIDE, WHERE WE SORRY TO SEE THE RAIN FALL, AS TO THE RAY NOBLE PLAYS AWAY WITH "MIDNIGHT, THE STARS AND YOU" OR THE SINGING Bowlly "GUILTY" .. AND WHILE WE READ LOVE NOTES BETWEEN FRIENDS, AND LAUGHING COMMENTING THIS OR THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN. PREPARING OUR NEXT WEEKEND, WHERE DO WE GO, TO WHOM WE SEE. FLAPPER TRUNK IS FOUND IN SOME OLD HOME THAT WELCOMES YOU FOR ANY REASON IF YOU ARE EMPTY. AND THERE UP IN THE ATTIC, OPEN DEPACIO THIS BOX OF OLD WOOD, to surprise with feathers, hats, necklaces, LETTERS LINKED, OTHER HALF BROKEN, FOTOGRAFRÍAS, RECORDS OF 78 REVOLUTION IS, empty packets of Cigarettes CHESTER, lipsticks, KOHL EYE, compacts, A BOTTLE OF 20 KILOS AND NO 20 carat Dana DANCING WITH GOLDEN BLADES IN A OLD PERFUME BOTTLE, BOX WHICH REMINDS A FORMER CIGARETTE a flask, BECAUSE IN FACT IT IS. COATS, MAGAZINES, A PICTURE OF VALENTINO ....

AND THEN we decided hats, ostrich feathers, and look in the mirror. AND THEN WE KNOW THAT WOMAN WAS HAPPY, AND UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAD SO GOOD SENSE IN THAT HOUSE THE FIRST TIME WE ENTER. WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OUR BOYFRIEND, BUT WE WANT TO BUY THIS HOUSE, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS OUR ...

I could not write the above text to lowercase. It's all a song of joy, romance, kisses on the hand, given by someone who is dedicated to conquer by gentleness and understanding. There comes a time when this becomes Flapper loving and romantic, as does this perfume, it becomes warm and receptive to true love.

Flapper So I wrapped in exotic aroma but also of city, a mixture of many mixtures, on a night that never ends. The powdered flavor adds something very glamorous, and a slight aroma of coconut, to gloves ancient, peach skin, the eyes that look, to quiet walks and also, my skin still taking me to these times.

FLAPPER a floral fragrance: orange blossom notes of sweet lemon, mandarin, pink pepper, mint leaf perila, all mango, lily of stream (white butterfly), datura, gardenia, jasmine, vanilla, white musk, blond snuff leaves faba and tonka.

An aroma, extraordinary poisoning is extremely powerful, it is a time that does nothing but offer beautiful emotions. The set of notes has a lot of magic, is an example of the adventure in the eternal world of perfumes.

Flapper, this Hollywood-based company has all the aura of a time back through these fragrances. And although Flapper is my favorite, the others deserve to talk about them in future articles, as I will with their new fragrances Absinthe.

Flapper Test

Opus Oils is really a journey to another time. His other collections are inspiring BURLESQUE (Where I want to try Gypsy) DIVINE (where Isis and seduce me without having even smelled), ISLAND GIRL (Tropique, Tiare, I have to try too) ..

Opus Oils perfumes are made for all those who love that era. Men and women who are part of his heart in any enclosure, a box on the shelf of an antique shop, hoping that someone decides to open it.

El Perfume~Un Poema Errante

GOODBYE PUSSYCAT ~ R.I.P. TURA SATANA (1935-2011)

2011-02-05T15:03:00.000-08:00

MOON GARDEN ~ Cafleurebon.com Best Scent of 2010 Awards!!!

2010-12-30T17:48:00.000-08:00

OPUS OILS' Moon Garden has been named as one of the Cafleurebon.com's Best Scent of 2010!!! So honored to have made the List! Thank you Michelyn Camen, Monica Miller & everyone at Cafleurebon for the amazing job you do of translating the world through the language of scent!!!

~ Vampira Moon Garden Perfume by Opus Oils ~

A highly erotic floral jasmine oriental this love potion “take no prisoners” … so much so that it inspired a poem from me named after the scent Vampira.

Notes: Night scented flowers, jasmine, black violet, orange blossom, tarragon, amber,vetiver, sandalwood, civet, vanilla, white musk

http://www.cafleurebon.com/best-of-2010-fragrances-or-my-biscentual-year-a-draw-naturally/

"LES BOHEMES" (The Bohemians): A Preview by OPUS OILS

2010-12-03T21:19:00.000-08:00

Our latest collection, “Les Bohemes” (The Bohemians) is a throwback to the age of Speakeasies & wild abandon… Are you looking for an escape from the next Great Depression? Let us take you into the backroom on a journey through time where the secret password is “Jitterbug” & the good times flow like Bathtub Gin… Rich, Ultra Decadent & Shamelessly heavy on the Natural Essences – just like the scents that were constructed during Perfume’s Golden Age of the 1920’s.

Soon to be available to the masses, this exquisite House Collection was designed to be worn alone or in layered combinations with each other. "Les Bohemes" were first used in creating custom perfumes during the Four Seasons' (Beverly Hills) event, “Everlasting Valentine’s Day.” Word of mouth about the collection quickly spread & now Opus Oils is releasing them in their very own collection (early 2011)…. So forget your everyday worries & “Name Your Poison.” These Affordable luxuries wont break your bank.

GIGGLE WATER (Orange Blossom) ~ Olfactive Group: Fruity Floral
A Sheer Delight! This abundant, enchanting floral “aperitif” is sure to lift your spirits & brighten any day or night! Playful Orange Blossoms are perfectly enhanced by sweet White Musk, with a creamy Sandalwood dry down. Giggle Water is a “Crowd Pleaser,” no doubt!

Key Notes of Tunisian Orange Flower Absolute, Egyptian Orange Flower Absolute, Orange Flower Water Absolute, Bitter Orange Flower Absolute, Wild Orange, Mandarin, Peach, Honey, Gardenia, Beach Found Ambergris, White Musk & Sandalwood.

LIL’ NICO (Tuberose) ~ Olfactive Group: Floral

Not for the shy at heart! “Lil’ Nico” is a Sultry & Intoxicating scent. This Luscious, Voluptuously Velvet Floral is simply put, “The Bee’s Knees!” A full bodied narcotic, creamy, floral bomb that is sweet & carnal from the get go. Get ready to cause a ruckus, a scene, a stir or commotion wherever you go!

Key Notes of Creamy Tuberose Absolute, Orange Flower Absolute, Honey, Narcissus, Rose, Civet & Benzoin.

HEAVY SUGAR (Amber) ~ Olfactive Group: Amber/Oriental

A classic Vintage Amber scent that is deeply rich & completely irresistible! Our “Heavy Sugar” is composed with the exotic timeless aromas of dark Amber, vintage Patchouli & creamy Sandalwood. “Heavy Sugar” is the perfect blender note that can be worn with all “Les Bohemes” scents to create an exotic base that will linger on… Amber has been long known as “The King of Scents,” one whiff of our “Heavy Sugar” & you will see why!

Key Notes of Dark Amber, Aged Labdanum, Fossilized Amber, Vintage Patchouli, Sandalwood & Beach Found Ambergris.

FLAPPER (Datura) ~ Olfactive Group: Floral

Captivating, Creamy, Floral Decadence! “Flapper” is a strangely alluring, blooming floral fragrance that starts off with an airy exotic narcotic green note & hint of spicy ginger that is soon taken over by wafting plumes of intoxicating sweetness…. Deadly Datura, AKA “Angels Trumpet,” is a fragrant Diva that fascinated Zelda Fitzgerald at the end of her life... With its both mesmerizing & hypnotizing fragrance, Datura has been known to produce states of delirium. It was well known to be an essential ingredient in love potions & witches' brews...

Key Notes of Sweet Lemon Blossom, Clementine, Tangerine, Pink Peppercorn, Perilla Leaf, Mango Absolute, Ginger Lily, Datura, Gardenia, Jasmine, Vanilla, White Musk, Blond Tobacco & Tonka Bean.

DAPPER (Violet) ~ Olfactive Group: Floral Green

Dapper explores the theme of the Violet Berry note. Elegant & non-intrusive, this is a soft, velvety violet flower that is lightly powdered & sophisticated. A rich, elegant scent that is deep & alluring - a timeless classic.

Key Notes of Violet absolute, Orris Root, Blond Tobacco, Sandalwood & Aged Dark Patchouli.

SPEAKEASY (Wisteria) ~ Olfactive Group: Floral

Sweet & Delicious, Narcotic & Enchanting. Wisteria was one of the most popular flowers in the Belle Époque period. Our “Speakeasy” scent is a reproduction that is true to the flower & is romantic, delightful, ethereal & completely intoxicating!

Key Notes of Citrus, Green Pepper, Green Mandarin, Jasmine Sambac, Lily, Orchid, Rose & Sandalwood.

GOLD DIGGER (Narcissus) ~ Olfactive Group: Floral

Pure voluptuous floral decadence. “Gold Digger” is a heady, lavish blend of creamy white floral notes. There's something very retro about this scent. Ladylike & Glamorous, with a bit of a sparkle. An intoxicating mix of Narcissus & Orange Blossom that explodes, then subsides into a hauntingly delicate blanket of voluptuous femininity. This fragrance is very luxurious & sophisticated, but still equally appropriate for day or evening wear.

Key Notes of Narcissus Absolute, Honey, Orange Blossom Absolute, Egyptian Jasmine, Wild Orange, Tuberose, Lily & Sandalwood.

JAZZ (Jasmine) ~ Olfactive Group: Floral

In the Roaring 20’s, the term “Jazz” meant “Excitement & Fun.” Our “Jazz” Perfume is all that & more! A bubbly full bodied night blooming tropical Jasmine – “Jazz” is a unisex floral scent that is sexy, sassy & fun! A sneaky little Minx of a scent that is sure to delight your senses & tickle your fancy any time!

Key Notes of Red Mandarin, Egyptian Jasmine Absolute, Moroccan Jasmine Absolute, Star Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Nutmeg & Sandalwood.

BOOTLEG (Vetivert) ~ Olfactive Group: Woody Chypre

Rich, Earthy, Exotic & Deliciously Dark! “Bootleg” opens with a smokey Vetiver note that is pure earthly intoxication… A mysteriously seductive scent that is deep, rich & slightly animalic. Wear with florals to add a sexy deep base note that is both delicious & persistent.

Key Notes of Sri Lankan Vetiver, Aged Dark Patchouli, Amber, Blond Tobacco & Roasted Coffee Bean.

HIGH HAT (Green Tea) ~ Olfactive Group: Aromatic Green

A fresh clean Green scent that is crisp, sophisticated & delightfully refreshing! “High Hat” opens with a clean fresh citrus blast, tempered with a soft, powdery green tea note that is delicious, delicate & discreet. “High Hat” mixes especially well with floral notes & is suitable for both men & women.

Key Notes of Citrus, Green Tea, Gin, Lily & Rose.

Party Well Together: (Suggested Scent Combinations)

(Giggle Water + High Hat) (Jazz + High Hat) (Jazz + High Hat + Bootleg)

(Gold Digger + Heavy Sugar) (Flapper + Bootleg) (Flapper + Heavy Sugar)

(Speak Easy + Gold Digger + Heavy Sugar) (Dapper + High Hat + Bootleg)

(Dapper + Heavy Sugar) (Lil’ Nico + Heavy Sugar) (Lil’ Nico + Bootleg)

A Preview of things to come from OPUS OILS in 2011 on Cafleurebon.com

2010-12-01T17:30:00.001-08:00

It's been an especially chaotic past couple of months for me, and I've been busier than ever completing several projects for Opus Oils....

I'm hoping to get to a more detailed blog on these exciting projects shortly, but I wanted to do a quick post noting a recent mention from one of our favorite Fragrant Friends - www.Cafleurebon.com!

We wont be releasing these fragrant gems until 2011, but here's a little teaser!

http://www.cafleurebon.com/new-fragrance-opus-oils-les-bohemes-the-bootleggers-and-molls-of-boardwalk-empire-would-approve/

"The Essence of Good Perfume"

2010-08-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

MEMORY LINGERS ON

YOU'RE like the
Aroma of my perfume
Still haunting me
And lingering in my room.

But mere mention
Or thought of you
Inevitably brings
Memories of your love so true.

I can see a cigarette
And then a light
As you close your eyes
As though it were night.

And as you day-dream
Your cares away
And your ashes carefully
Place on the tray.

Your thoughts are on
What you must do,
Whether easy or difficult,
You must carry through.

So here's to the fond
Memories of playing the game!
May you always win
And your love be the same!

~ The Essence of Good Perfume, A book of Poems by Nellie Victoria Conner

...I found this lovely treasure of a poem in a delicious collection from 1940,
"The Essence of Good Perfume," a book of Poems by Nellie Victoria Conner.
LOVE her photo!!!

I wonder what perfumes were on her boudoir tray... She looks like a
Gardenia lover to me. My money is on Tuvache's 1932 "Jungle Gardenia"
being center stage on that tray!

SOTD: A Gardenia Mod that I've been calling "Gardenia Garden".
Key Notes: White Grapefruit,Coconut Aldehyde,Gardenia,Ginger Lily,
Lychee,Sandalwood,Oakmoss,Incense Labdamum,Blond Tobacco,Haitian Vetiver,Musk

This scent makes me happy!And it seems to have the same effect on other people.Every time I wear this scent out in public, I get compliments, & more often then not, someone chases me down asking where they can get it. My Doctor even had her receptionist follow me back to The Jitterbug Perfume Parlour to get some. Her words were, "I HAVE to have that Perfume!"

Wearing it gives me that lazy,carefree Summertime when you were a kid feeling...

I have been fine tuning this blend for several months, and have had the latest version aging for over 8 weeks(it is a luxury these days for commercial scents to age or "mature" for that long, but it is truly beneficial to do this if at all possible. Especially if the blend contains lots of natural essences & resins!)

TASTY TID-BIT: Fay Wray wore JUNGLE GARDENIA by Tuvache during the filming of the original King Kong movie. "She said she believed King Kong thought she was a new type of flower he'd found. In her mind, she felt that being so tiny to him, he could only identify her from other women by her scent, Jungle Gardenia."
(Excert Per http://www.timelessperfumes.com/Jungle%20Gardenia%20Perfume.htm)

Scent: Top Notes of bitter orange oil, clary oil, heliotrope and sage. Middle Notes of gardenia, jasmine, lily of the valley, tarragon, tuberose, violet leaves and ylang ylang. Base Notes of musk, oakmoss and sandalwood.

Here's more info about Tuvache's Jungle Gardenia:

"There is only one genuine Jungle Gardenia, a U.S. Registered Trademark. Do not be fooled by poor imitations called versions, types, formulas or recipes, etc., Check for the registered trademark symbol next to the name Jungle Gardenia®

Jungle Gardenia was first introduced in 1932 by the original Tuvache' company, which no longer exists. Tuvache' was a New York company who used a French name to try and compete with all the pre-World War II French fragrances who controlled the industry. Madame Tuvache' is a character in the famous French novel, Madame Bovary, by Flaubert. Bernadine Angus, the founder of Tuvache', often used the pen name, added a royal flair to the name. When they mistakenly reported that Tuvache' was a French perfume house, it was not corrected, as French perfumes were the most popular then. In the early days, Bernadine sometimes included a little booklet with her fragrances, written by the fictious Madame Bernadine de Tuvache'.

After Bernadine Angus and her husband, Howard, died, Tuvache' was sold in the late
60's and merged into Swiss perfume house, Germaine Monteil. By the late 70's it became the property of Yardley of London, a division of British American Tobacco Company who had also purchased Germaine Monteil. In 1989 it was sold to the Jovan division of Coty who decided to use the bottles for a different Jovan fragrance and discontinue Jungle Gardenia.

During the 1990's, Coty made a re-formulated version, a totally different scent really, in entirely different bottles and boxes. Coty removed the Tuvache' name from the Jungle Gardenia brand and replaced it with Coty. This totally different scent pleased few people and was quickly discontinued. Since 2004 the original Jungle Gardenia scent is being made again in the USA. It is no longer associated with Coty which is now owned by a German firm, GMBH.

This most exotic fragrance was the signature scent of famous actresses, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford and Joan Bennett. Also favored by Annette Funicello, Natalie Wood, Elizabeth Taylor and even her close friend, Michael Jackson. In an article about him titled, "The Boy Who Would Be King," in the September 2009 issue of Vanity Fair magazine, the author, Lisa Robinson, reports that Michael Jackson loved Jungle Gardenia and wore it onstage.

It's also been written and said by close friends of Frank Sinatra (Joe Fischetti and George Jacobs) that he was known to apply Jungle Gardenia sparingly. He'd had a big hit song in 1946, "The Girl That I Marry" written by Irving Berlin, with lyrics that included "Her nails will be polished and in her hair, She'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there"

The young, beautiful, Fay Wray wore Jungle Gardenia during the filming of the original King Kong movie. She said she believed King Kong thought she was a new type of flower he'd found. In her mind, she felt that being so tiny to him, he could only identify her from other women by her scent, Jungle Gardenia. Kong apparently agreed with the many men who have told women that Jungle Gardenia just drives them wild!

Jungle Gardenia is also the fragrance worn by Auntie Mame, the character in the famous Broadway play and movie of the same name, that starred Rosalind Russell. Some lines in the play gave Jungle Gardenia its rumored reputation of being an aphrodisiac that attracted men. The play was later made into a musical starring Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur and was a huge success. The movie version of the musical starred Lucille Ball.

Jungle Gardenia enjoyed a big revival during the 1960's and 1970's when it was heavily promoted on the TV show, "Truth or Consequences" hosted by the famous TV game show host of over thirty years, Bob Barker. He quipped it was the sexiest fragrance he'd ever smelled. And now, more than 75 years after its introduction, women still love the exotic intriguing scent of this timeless fragrance which is in a class all by itself."

(Per http://www.timelessperfumes.com/Jungle%20Gardenia%20Perfume.htm)

Perfume-Smellin' Things Perfume Blog: Opus Oils Vampira: Moon Garden

2010-08-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Great Review by Tom on the soon to be released Vampira Moon Garden Perfume!

More detailed blog coming soon about the scent creation/collaboration with
Rock N' Roll Lifestyle brand COFFIN CASE - stay tuned...

Follow this link to read full article on Perfume Smellin Things Blog:
Perfume-Smellin' Things Perfume Blog: Briefly- Opus Oils Vampira: Moon Garden#links

Previewing Vampira Moon Garden at The Weekend of Horrors 2010

SKY FLOWERS, SWEET SUMMER SCENTS & COTTON'S CANDY SKIES

2010-07-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! Hope you all see lots of pretty Sky Flowers tonight!

SOTD: A new Mod from a current Scent Design project,that I just can't just get enough of lately... It's a heady blend of summer florals that goes creamy in that "I want to eat my own skin," kind of way... My client hasn't even smelled it yet, as I am waiting on the aging process to complete, but"She" is yummy, yummy, yummy,& getting yummier with each day of aging! I find myself gravitating her way over & over again...

I've nicknamed her "LIBERTY, 2010"

KEY NOTES: Frangipani,Freesia,Muguet,Jasmine,Wild Rose,Mango,Green Tea,White Musk,& Sandalwood

She smells Pink like Rose Champagne & Cotton's CANDY SKY...

TASTY TID BIT: Hot Artist Alert!!!

Will Cotton paints beautiful, creamy skinned nudes amidst luscious surroundings. Instead of painting high on the sugar of that decadent lost age in art, Cotton updates his opulent source material by replacing pastoral love scenes with mountains of sweets and erotic treats. Ala "Candy Sky"(See above pic)...

Candy for Cotton is what dark lush forests were for the 18th masters; an ideal of plenty and a site for temptation. There are no consequences depicted in these hedonistic scenes, but viewers know that outside the fantasy indulgence will have its price. Whether the models are his scenes' protagonists, or just eye-candy, they never appear satiated or at peace. As we know, Candy may satisfy emotional needs and frivolous fancies, but in the end it only distracts the body from its genuine hungers, producing fat not fulfilment. Like the fatty foods he paints, Cotton's paintings might appear light, but they are heavy with meaning.

WILL COTTON SAYS: "Sweet is such a delightful and complex word. It represents everything I want to paint about: the pure, the fragrant, the desirable and the dream of complete indulgence in a perfect world. But sweetness taken to an extreme degree, as it is in my pictures, becomes cloying, even repulsive and that's where it gets interesting for me." Per the Saatchi Gallery.

Will Cotton Paintings

Angels' Last Fire Dance in La La Land/ Miss Exotic World Pagent 2010

2010-05-18T16:18:00.001-07:00

A few Mondays back, I was invited by Lili Von Schtupp to attend her ultra fabulous MONDAY NIGHT TEASE (LA's Longest Running Weekly Burlesque Show)at The 3 of Clubs. It was a very special occasion, that I was thrilled to be invited to! One of my Favorite People in the whole wide world - The One and Only MZ SATAN'S ANGEL, was scheduled to twirl her flaming "Ta Ta's" for the last time ever in La La Land, before retiring to Australia.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with our beloved Angel, let me tell you a little bit about this very fascinating Temptress who happens to be a Legendary Burlesque Queen...

Satan's Angel began her burlesque career in 1961 in San Francisco. She toured with Bob Hope & the USO, appeared on the Gypsy Rose Lee television show, dated Clint Eastwood, Bobby Darin, Hedy Lamarr, and Janis Joplin, defied the convention of The Folies Bergéré in Paris, and worked with Ann Corio, Harold Minsky, Barry Ashton while running with The Rat Pack in Vegas. This Lady has some stories... Everyone who knows her is eagerly awaiting her memoirs!

Angel is true Burlesque STAR, who traveled around the world, known as Satan’s Angel -Her full moniker is, "Satan’s Angel, the Devil’s Own Mistress, Queen of the Fire Tassels." She is the QUEEN and ORIGINATOR of fire tassel twirling! She has performed this act for over 40 years, lighting her tassels approximately 25,000 times all over the world! In 2007, she won “America’s Most Outrageous Talent” award on The Maury Povich Show, & in 2009, Angel received the "LEGEND AWARD" for Life Time Achievement in Burlesque. After the annual Miss Exotic World Pageant, this weekend in Las Vegas, you can catch Angel in San Francisco on THE TA TA FLAMBE TOUR June 16-30, 2010.

In her own words, "The fire tassels was something I came up with after I talked to one of the dancers at the Moulin Rouge. Her name escapes me, but she was a little older, I was about 18 at the time and she was 35. I talked to her and she asked me “what do you do? What’s your thing?” And I said “I twirl tassels.” And she said “oh, they all do that, these days. You need something to stand out, honey, you need a gimmick!” And she was right, it wasn’t enough to just twirl tassels. There were girls out there who did that as well as one could, already. Like Tura Satana—who was, somehow, my competition—she would bend over backwards twirling her tassels. So I asked “What do you want me to do? Light the tassels on fire?!” And she said “Now, there’s an idea!” Read more about Angel here: http://www.satansangel.com/

A few years ago, I had the special honor of creating a Signature Scent for Angel,whose favorite perfumes included Jungle Gardenia, & Miss Balmain...

Angel was one of my inspirations when I was creating Opus Oils' BURLESQUE COLLECTION, so to be able to design a Signature Scent for her was an absolute thrill!!! This is not a woman who takes the subject of Perfume lightly... She is an Old School Glamour Girl with luxury tastes so the stakes were high & I pulled out all the (floral) stops for this one!

ANGELS' SHELF in The Burlesque Lounge at The Jitterbug Perfume Parlour

Angel & I In The Burlesque Lounge

SOTD: SATAN'S ANGEL PERFUME
KEY NOTES: Gardenia, Narcissus, Tuberose, Stargazer Lily, Jasmine,Bergamot, Pink Grapefruit, Labdanum, Oakmoss

***Available exclusively online at www.satansangel.com***

From Opus Oils' Press Release: "Strong and wild like the Lady who inspired it, SATAN'S ANGEL PERFUME is a sultry, narcotic floral bomb that explodes with key notes of Gardenia, Narcissus, Tuberose, Stargazer Lily, Jasmine, Bergamot & Pink Grapefruit, and finishes with a velvet Chypre dry-down reminiscent of glamorous days gone by... "Just a Spritz is all it takes to awaken your inner Burlesque Queen!" "

TASTY TID-BIT #1: ATTENTION Burlesque Lovers ~ This weekend is the Annual MISS EXOTIC WORLD PAGEANT in Las Vegas,NV!!!

(Per Wikipedia) The Miss Exotic World Pageant (officially, the Miss Exotic World Pageant and Striptease Reunion) is an annual burlesque pageant and convention, and is the annual showcase event (and fundraiser for) the Burlesque Hall of Fame (formerly the Exotic World Burlesque Museum). From 1990 to 2005, the pageant took place at the Exotic World Museum's grounds in Helendale, California where Exotic World Museum curator Dixie Evans initiated the Miss Exotic World pageant (in 1990) as a way to draw people to the museum. The pageant, sometimes referred to as the "Miss America of Burlesque," is held in Las Vegas now & attracts former burlesque queens from past decades, as well as current participants of the neo-burlesque scene. The pageant consists of burlesque performances spanning a weekend, culminating with the competition to crown a single performer as Miss Exotic World. Because of the significance of the Exotic World Burlesque Museum to the burlesque community, winning the pageant is considered a top honor for a burlesque performer.

TASTY TID-BIT # 2: BURLESQUE LINKS
(Photo of Dixie Evans,Then)

http://www.satansangel.com

http://www.mondaynighttease.com/mnt/Home.html

http://www.burlesquehall.com/

Article: Burlesque Hall of Fame salutes legendary stars of striptease By Robin Leach

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/luxe-life/2010/jun/03/burlesque-hall-fame-salutes-legendary-stars-stript/

"GIGGLE WATER" AKA "Orange Blossom & Green Tea Private Blend" Top Spring Scent on Cafleurebon!

2010-04-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to be included as one of Michelyn Camen's Favorite Spring Scents on Cafleurebon!

Here is an excert from the article: "It is my vampy "day and play" scent all spring long. As layers of clothing are peeled off, my skin is exposed and by the sun. when a fruity floral is well crafted, it performs a burleseque on my skin. The "greenness' of the tea note is tempered with honey, a touch of gardenia and natural ambergris. Kedra uses four different Orange Blossom Absolutes."

See the Full Article by Michelyn Camen & Mark Behnke.

SOTD: Orange Blossom & Green Tea Private Blend ~ Of Course!!!

KEY NOTES: Tunisian Orange Flower Absolute, Egyptian Orange Flower Absolute,Orange Flower H20 Absolute,& Bitter Orange Flower Absolute, Honey, Gardenia, Beach found Ambergris.

TASTY TID - BIT:

Michelyn Camen is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of
www.cafleurebon.com and the Editor-at- Large for www.Fashiontribes.com. She is a formerly an Editor for Fragrantica, the Fragrance Editor for Uptown Social, a Senior Contributor for Sniffapalooza Magazine, the New in Niche Columnist forBasenotes, the Managing Director for BeautynewsNYC and the former publicist for www.luckyscent.com and Scent Bar, Los Angeles. She has been awarded Brandweek Magazine Marketer of the Year, Ad Age Magazine 100 and is a two time recipient of License Magazine’s 40 under 40 and recipient. She slipped off her corporate power suit to pursue her passion for fragrance.

Over the past six years, Michelyn’s articles and interviews on perfumery have appeared in major print magazines, newspapers and on online fragrance and beauty sites. She is best known for her in-depth and intimate interviews with independent, emerging and established perfumers and influencers. Many of her interviews have been the first exposure for her subjects to a global audience. In 2006, she was the first American to interview Olivier Creed in fifteen years, as well as the first ezine writer in the USA to interview Kilian Hennessy, Jean Claude Ellena, Bertrand Duchaufour, Thierry Wasser, Michel Roudnitska, Romano Ricci, Mandy Aftel, Neil Morris, Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Mark Buxton, Geza Schoen and Yann Vasnier.

As an advocate of fine qualitative fragrance and collaborate intelligence, launched www.cafleurebon.com (translated from French, this phrase has a dual meaning: this smells good and a more obscure one… as an affirmation of a good idea). It is her goal to create a “scented salon”, where perfumers and owners of fragrance companies, poets, chefs, painters, students, writers, bloggers, posters, dancers, and retailers can gather and share their love of the 8th Art – without politics but with one important collective understanding; we must embrace and support the art of fine fragrance in the 21st century.

She is the owner of Brandwidth Marketing Co., where she curates fragrance ‘wardrobes’ for private clients and is a marketing and merchandisng consultant for global, luxury, fashion, beauty and fragrance companies.

Follow her on twitter at @fifthsensenyc and become a fan of Cafleurebon on Facebook.

GETTING EGGY WITH IT!

2010-04-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

CENTURY EGG

EGG INNARDS

FOIL EGGS

EGG ART

GIANT EGG

GOLDEN EGG

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

TASTY TID-BIT #1:

Who Put The Egg In The Easter?

Did you ever pause between mouthfuls of Easter candy to ponder the history of this chocolate, egg and bunny filled holiday?

The origins of Easter have their basis in Christianity, but the holiday also has strong connections to pagan times and the celebrations of spring equinox. The holiday’s name is derived from the Saxon goddess of dawn, Eostre who was honored in the pagan spring festivals, which coincided with the timing of the Christian celebrations of the resurrection.

Though the roots of the celebrations are different, many cultures around the world observe spring holidays and festivals centered on the common theme of rebirth and the egg as a symbol of the source of life.

Dyed eggs were shared and eaten at spring festivals in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia and China. Gradually these traditions made their way westward and were expressed in various forms – from dyed goose eggs to beautifully decorated paper mâché eggs in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the late 19th and early 20th century the ultimate Easter eggs – the Fabergé eggs made their royal appearance.

Chocolate eggs come from Europe! Today’s European tradition of giving chocolate Easter eggs as gifts can be traced back to 19th century France and Germany. The first eggs were small and solid and made of a course, bitter dark chocolate. As technology improved and cocoa became more widely available, so did chocolate Easter eggs. The tradition spread to many parts of Europe, often with each country making their own unique mark.

The first mass-produced chocolate egg appeared in England in 1873 when Cadbury debuted their first Easter egg. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that milk chocolate Easter eggs became available. Today’s European Easter eggs are available in dizzying variety – from those found on supermarket shelves to the top quality uber-thick chocolate works of art, beautifully decorated and filled with chocolate surprises from specialty chocolatiers.

(per http://www.hotelchocolat.com/chocolate-easter-gifts-AEasterEggHistory/)

TASTY TID-BIT #2:

Chocolate Scented Plant ~

The common name for Akeiba is chocolate vine. It is said the vine emits a chocolate scent when in bloom.

Chocolate Vine

White Chocolate Vine

GREEN THOUGHTS...

2010-03-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

"The poetry of the earth is never dead." ~John Keats

"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars." ~Walt Whitman

"There is nothing in the world more peaceful than apple-leaves with an early moon." ~Alice Meynell

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."
~Albert Einstein

"Nature never goes out of style." ~Author Unknown

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair." ~Kahlil Gibran

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~Lao Tzu

"Drinking nature is an unquenchable thirst." ~Berri Clove

Happy Saint Patty's Day ~ May the Luck of the Irish be with Ye!!!

Green Clean Scents ~ Flowers for Demeter

2010-02-26T14:58:00.001-08:00

I am exploring the world of Green Clean Scents...

When I was blending custom perfumes at the Four Seasons "Everlasting Valentines Day" Event, I noticed there was an overwhelming trend - Everyone, had the same request for a "Green-Clean Scent."

Even when I spoke with Kim (Director of Public Relations at The Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills), about her Bespoke Perfume, she told me the same thing - that she wanted "A clean, fresh, green scent", that she could wear everyday...

I mentioned this trend to my Mom, and she told me a story about one of her last Scent Memories (she's completely anosmic due to a head injury). There was a hair salon in Toluka Lake where she especially enjoyed going to have her hair shampooed, because they used a wonderful "Hay"/Grass scented shampoo. (She's an outdoorsy Horse-Person who brightens whenever she talks about her favorite scent memories.)

How could I have missed this?!... Through all our years of "Shared Scent Experiences", it never dawned on me that she was focusing on the GREEN aspect of our scent environments...I guess I have always been so pulled by the narcotic allure of floral scents that I never even stopped to think that maybe she was experiencing a simultaneously overlapping Scented Moment...

In other Words: Green Clean = "Demeter's Choice"

Well that makes it official - I am off and running on a mission to create the ultimate "Green Clean" Perfume for our House Collection!

To me, GREEN smells like ~ SPRING...Fresh, clean, happy, bright... Aromatic, light, Pear, fertility, abundance, possibility...Young Love, a walk in the rain... A pile of fresh cut grass just as the rain begins to fall...COUMARIN...

*** What does Green smell like to you?***

The first 3 people to post a blog comment with their definition of "What Green smells like" to them, will receive a 1 Dram bottle of said perfume when it is finished!

TASTY TID-BIT:

COUMARIN; (Per Wikipedia)Is a chemical compound (specifically, a benzopyrone) found in many plants, notably in high concentration in the tonka bean(Dipteryx odorata), vanilla grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), woodruff (Galium odoratum), mullein (Verbascum spp.), and sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata). It has a sweet scent, readily recognised as the scent of newly-mown hay, and has been used in perfumes since 1882. The name comes from a French word, coumarou, for the tonka bean. It is a crystalline white solid when seen pure.

Tonka Bean Tree / Dried Tonka Bean

Coumarin in Perfumery:

Coumarin has a history of importance in perfumery, being the first synthetic (synthesised by W.H. Perkin 1868) to be used in a fragrance. Fougère Royale,from the house of Houbigant was created by Chief perfumer Paul Parquet who used coumarin,combined with lavender, citrus and woody notes to Author the first fragrance that defined the Fougère(fern)genre. It is said that the creation of Fougère Royale marks the birth of modern perfumery.

Soon after the release of Fougère Royale, perfumer Aimé Guerlain (1834-1910) combined natural and synthetic fragrances to produce Jicky in 1889, a scent that is still sold widely today. Guerlain added the synthetics coumarin and vanillin (the fragrance principle of vanilla)to natural fragrances. Like Fougère Royale, Jicky is a fern based fragrance.

Valentines ~ In the mood for Love

2010-02-05T14:50:00.000-08:00

"I'm In The Mood
For Love
Simply because you're near me
Funny,but when you're near me
I'm In The Mood
For Love
Heaven is in
your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
I'm In The Mood
For Love?
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one,
I'm not afraid
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it
I'm In The Mood For Love..."

~Lyrics by Dorothy Fields

Maybe it is because I am a hopeless romantic,
or maybe because my last name is Hart, but I
have always had a sweet spot for Valentine's Day...
It's a day that focuses on all of my favorite things,
Love, Perfume, Chocolate, Champagne & Flowers!
What's not to love?

The history of Valentine's Day,and its patron
saint,is shrouded in mystery...

Like many other modern Holiday traditions, the origin
of Valentines Day can be traced back to a Roman Pagan
Celebration. For eight hundred years prior to the
establishment of Valentine's Day, the Romans had
practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February
commemorating young men's rite of passage to the
god Lupercus. Lupercalia, which began at
the Ides of February, February 15, was a fertility
festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman God of
agriculture(the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Pan),
as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

After the Emperor Claudius II banned marriage (he was
of the mind that single men made better soldiers than
those with wives and families), Lupercalia festivities
came to include the pairing of young women and men.
Men would draw women's names from a box, the girl
assigned to each young man in that manner would be
his sexual companion until next year's celebration.

So how Did the mysterious Saint Valentine get involved?...

Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three
different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of
whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest
who served during the third century in Rome.
Valentine, realizing the injustice of Claudius's
decree banning marriage, defied Claudius and continued
to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When
Claudius discovered Valentine's actions he ordered that
he be put to death. He was stoned and beheaded on
February 14Th. After Valentine's death, he was named a
saint. As Christianity spread through Rome, the priests
moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14 and
renamed it St. Valentine's Day to honor Saint Valentine.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed
for attempting to help Christians escape the harsh Roman
prisons where they were being beaten & tortured. According
to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine'
greeting himself. During the days that Valentine was
imprisoned, he fell in love with the daughter of his jailer.
Before he was taken to his death, he signed a farewell
message to her, "From your Valentine." The phrase has
been used on his day ever since.

Here are some Unique Ideas for your Valentine ~

How about a Chocolate Bath?

A Perfume Vending Machine!

A Chocolate Shoe - Everybody needs one!

The "Everlasting Valentine's Day Package"
at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles,Beverly Hills

***From the Four Seasons Press Release:

EVERLASTING VALENTINE’S DAY PACKAGE-
Meant to Provide an Experience for Couples
that Lingers after the Special Day

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 27, 2010 – This year,
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is
offering the Everlasting Valentine's Day Package,
meant to create an experience that will linger long
after the romantic hotel visit.

Couples will enjoy a private aromatic journey with a
custom perfume specialist to create their very own
fragrance. Kedra Hart from Opus Oils’ Jitterbug Perfume
Parlour will bring couples on an aromatic journey in a
private suite to create personal custom-blended fragrances.
Couples will explore different perfume base blends and select
the scents they prefer. Kedra then works with the scents
chosen as favorites to blend each couple’s signature perfume.
While creating an everlasting romantic memory, Kedra will
discuss the history of scent in conjunction with love
rituals throughout the ages.

EVENT PRESS:

http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/28/valentines-day-specials-four-seasons-los-angeles-finds-your-sc/

http://www.luxist.com/tag/ValentinesDay/

http://elitechoice.org/2010/02/11/romantic-couples-massage-treat-at-redone-fourseasons/

http://blog.americanspamag.com/2010/02/four-seasons-hotel-los-angeles-at-beverly-hills/

http://www.travelagewest.com/article_ektid39558.aspx

http://jianantonic.com/2010/02/02/have-a-valentines-day-to-remember-at-the-four-seasons-beverly-hills/

http://www.luxury-links.net/blog/beauty

SOTD: A combination of EROS & VENUS for the best of both worlds...

THE DIVINE COLLECTION

...I designed The Divine Collection ~ A Natural Perfume
Collection made with 100% pure & precious essential oils
& absolutes, so they can be worn alone or in layered
combinations with each other. Venus & Eros make an
especially exquisite combination. The lime in the Eros
brings a bright and uplifting quality to the Oceanic Floral
Sex Bomb that is Venus!

KEY NOTES VENUS: Pink Lotus, Rose,
Ylang Ylang, Neroli, Chocolate, Ambergris,
Choya Nakah, Seaweed Absolute

KEY NOTE EROS: Lime, Green Mandarine,
Rose, Dark Amber,& Vetiver

...I am invoking two of my favorite Deities
to give their special dose of Divine Love
to the Perfume Bases I will be using for this
weekends Scents of Imagination Event,
as part of the "Everlasting Valentine's Day
Package" at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles,
Beverly Hills (**See above for Details**)

TASTY TID-BIT#1:

CHOCOLATE
During the 1800’s, doctors commonly suggested that their lovelorn patients eat lots of chocolate to soothe their nerves and calm their emotions. Chocolate has long been thought to be an aphrodisiac, and as far back as the Aztec empire this delectable creation was used in the pursuit of love. While we only know the heart shaped candies today, when they were first introduced, these imprinted candies were typically made into such shapes as horseshoes, baseballs, watches and even postcards, and they often sported messages that were far longer than the short and sweet ones we know today.

TASTY TID-BIT #2:

CANDY HEARTS

For more than a century, the makers of NECCO
Sweethearts Conversation Hearts have come up with
some of the sweetest ways "I love you." Every Valentine's
Day the company presents new messages on the tiny colored
hearts that have been a holiday tradition since the Civil War.
For the first time in its 145-year history, the American
public was invited to participate in an online survey to
decide which phrases of love would appear on conversation
hearts in 2010. The winners include: "Tweet Me," "Text Me,"
"You Rock," "Soul Mate," "Love Bug," and "Me + You."
The following classic expressions reappear on the candies:
"Puppy Love," "Sweet Love," "Sweat Pea," and "Love Me."

FINE FRENCH PARFUM

2010-01-27T18:50:00.000-08:00

I just received a wonderful surprise in the form of two lovely Gift Sets of Fine French Perfumes from the Fragonard House in Grasse, France. My Uncle and Aunt were the source of these delightful gifts which they picked up when they were visiting my cousin who has the good fortune to live in Grasse.

There are 2 gift sets - 15 Fragrances in all. The sets are housed in delightful gift boxes with beautiful floral designs.

The First one is "Eaux Naturelels" and contains:Cerisier, Rose de Mai, Oranger, Freesia, & Verveine.

The second set is "Dix Parfums" and contains :Eau fantasque, Emilie, Eclat, Ile d'amour, Diamant, Belle de nuit, Fragonard, Etoile, Miranda, Capucine.

Each scent is as lovely as the next... And they are all above all else - unmistakably FRENCH!

Really, there is just nothing like a Fine French Parfum - Perfect Harmony,Perfect Bloom, Sophisticated Dry-Down...

"Olfactory Novelist" Colette describes French Perfumes as, "The precious honey of French Chic."

One whiff of these tiny magical elixirs and I am immediately transported back in time to my first encounter with the Fragonard House... I was 14 years old and on a school trip to Europe and we were touring the Parfumerie Fragonard. At the time, I had no idea how much of an impact this would have on me - I was just exhilarated in a way that is unique to a 14 year old girl... I knew how lucky I was to be be in France with all my friends (and current crush)!

As I was all ready on a conscious mission to soak up everything that I was experiencing through all my senses, I was in a predisposed perfect mindset to have my first encounter with the world of Fine French Perfumes...

The scent that stole my heart was their Muguet. I still remember my first whiff - it was unlike anything I had ever smelled before! Like a breeze from Heaven - it was sweet and delicious, green and floral and, well - "Heavenly" is really the only way to describe it...

I even loved the little gold bottle that it came in that seemed like something from the days of Marie Antoinette, and had the feel of a treasure straight from the souce. I still have that little bottle to this day. Even though the precious liquid is long gone, the flask contains a lingering trace of that lovely scent. Whenever I want to go back in time all I have to do is unscrew the little top and inhale deeply... And then I am there, 14 years old in a French Parfumerie sniffing Heaven.

SOTD: A comparison test - on one arm I am wearing the Lovely "Oranger" from the "Eaux Naturelels" set; on the other arm I am wearing our House Orange Blossom Accord.

This Accord is one that I use often in many of our ready-to-wear scents,as well as in Bespoke Perfumes. It is the base for "Green Tea & Orange Blossoms," AKA "Orange Blossoms in Summertime", AKA "Wafting Titania", a fragrance that I originally designed for myself to wear to a Shakespeare performance at Barnsdall Park. This scent caught the nose of Hollywood Starlet FAIRUZA BALK, who adopted it as her "Signature Scent". And notable Fragrance Expert/CaFleureBon Editor In Chief Michelyn Camen, who named it a Top Summer Scent two years in a row!

KEY NOTES: It is really quite remarkable to me how similar these two scents are to each other! According to the Fragonard site "Fleur d'Oranger" contains "Tender neroli blossom joined with bergamot, jasmine and musk." By sheer coincidence, my "Orange Blossoms in Summertime" includes the very same notes! This was purely coincidental as I had never smelled Fragonard's "Fleur d'Oranger" Perfume before today...

TASTY TID-BIT: Parfumerie Fragonard was opened in 1926.Founder Eugène Fuchs chose to name it after the famous Grasse-born painter, Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806). The historic perfume factory in the heart of the Old Town is one of the oldest in Grasse...

The Historic Factory ~
20 Boulevard Fragonard
06130 Grasse, FRANCE
Tel: +33 (0) 4 93 36 44 65
Fax: +33 (0) 4 93 36 57 32

Le musée du Parfum ~
9 rue Scribe
75009 PARIS, FRANCE
Tél: +33 (0) 1 47 42 04 56
Fax: +33 (0) 1 47 42 17 45

Fragonard's Perfume Museum in Paris occupies two stories of a 19th Century townhouse on rue Scribe in the 9th arrondissement. Visitors enter on the ground floor, then head upstairs to a series of large rooms with a mixture of period furnishings and perfume exhibits. Displays trace the history of perfume manufacturing and packaging from ancient through modern times. It is very interesting to see how natural ingredients such as Jasmine & Rose are combined with fats and other substances to create raw perfumery ingredients.

Kelly Inside The Fragonard Museum - Photo by John L. Hart

Grasse Parfumerie - Photo by John L. Hart

DELICIOUS DECADENCE ON A RAINY DAY IN LA LA LAND

2010-01-17T13:28:00.000-08:00

Nothing could be more delicious or more decadent than
lounging around on the Velvet Fainting Couches in our
Jitterbug Perfume Parlour, sipping a glass of fine
champagne laced with Tuberose Absolute, listening to
Edithe Piaf sing "Adieu Mon Coeur", & watching the rain
fall down on Hollywood Blvd... Perhaps, if we were in
Paris, and chocolate and/or feathers were involved...

SOTD: TRAMP
KEY NOTES: Vanilla, Blond Tobacco, Sweet Lemon

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TRAMP:

Rebella says, "Among the burlesque-line, Tramp is my
favourite. It is rich, vibrant and sexy, but in a
soft spoken and almost shy way. Tramp is a gorgeous
kind of golden blend with hints of something lemony
and the tobacco is laid back and creamy. The patchouli
and sandalwood add a richness to the base, but very
soft and lingering. Overall this perfume is very soft
and lingering, seductive, kind of old school... Really
nice, long lasting... A must try for creamy vanilla lovers."
(http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Opus-Oils/Burlesque-Tramp-5704.html)

Livia Says, "Today, I decided to wear ‘Tramp’ – when I
read that the notes included Sweet Lemon Blossom, I
thought it’d have a bit of a floral-citrus hit to it,
but on my skin, the Warm Vanilla, Sugar and Blonde
Tobacco are the stand-out notes. Beautiful!! I never
thought I’d enjoy the smell of tobacco in a perfume!
But the blend with the vanilla sugar note has really
surprised me!! I think I know what I’m going to ask
my parents to get me for Christmas!"
(Perfume Critic: www.perfumecritic.com)

TASTY TID-BIT #1: Young Sally Rand literally
ran away from home to join a carnival as a teenager.
Over the years she worked as a nightclub cigarette
girl, figure model, cafe dancer and stage actress
(under the name Billie Beck). Notorious Sally was
considered the greatest fan dancer ever, she caused
a national scandal by performing her first "obscene"
dance at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair... When she
was unsuccessful in gaining a role at the Fair, she
industriously staged a Lady Godiva inspired stunt at
the gates, arriving entirely nude, atop a white horse!
The scandal boosted the World Fair’s popularity and
Sally was invited to be a featured performer in the
‘Streets of Paris’ exhibition, where she performed her
feather fan dance in a mock Parisian street scene...

TASTY TID-BIT#2: The Victorian Coupe glass
is rumored to be styled from Marie Antoinette's breast...

Eau De New Year ~ The Essence of 2010

2010-01-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Selecting the first scent of the year is in my opinion, a very profound decision.
Therefore, it is never a choice that I make lightly. After all, the perfume that I choose to inhale on my very first breath of the New Year is forever going to remind me of this particular day and who I dreamed of being in the year to come... And on this New Year, my perfume of choice is also the first scent of a new decade, which makes the decision even more lofty than usual.

So who is this fantasy person that I would have myself become in 2010 and beyond? The first thought that comes to mind is that "she" is Joyful... I would also love to be enchanting,mysterious,feminine, playful, and carefree(I can dream can't I?)! As I conjure up adjectives that describe my dream of self for the year to come, one scent drifts very clearly into focus - ABSINTHIA!

ABSINTHIA is the perfect scent for celebrations! One spritz and I am ready to enchant and be enchanted. It's likewrapping myself in a green velvet cloak as I venture off into the wild night. Whenever I wear ABSINTHIA, I find that I am in a similar mood to the bygone times when I would reach for one of my all time favorite fragrant friends,YSL PARIS. The key notes are very different from ABSINTHIA, but the powdery,romantic,feminine feel is quite similar.

PARIS the Perfume, is named after Yves-Saint-Laurent's beloved French city. It was created by Perfumer Sophia Grojsman,and was intended to be a tribute to Parisian women who are known for their elegant romantic style and their eternal sophisticated charm. It is a heavenly woody-floral scent with key notes of Rose, Violet, & Bergamot finishing with a soft, warm Sandalwood dry-down.

What beautiful memories this scent triggers! This was the scent that I was wearing when I was a "PYT" living a dream life as a fashion model in Paris. One whiff and I am instantly transported back to those magical times of dancing all night at the Bain Douche(AKA "Les Bains"),leaving the club at Sunrise and walking though the streets in a somnambulist's stupor...

As Hemingway said, "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris (as a young man),then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast."

FIRST SCENT OF 2010: ABSINTHIA
KEY NOTES: Wisteria,Sugar,Vanilla,Absinthe(Wormwood)

TASTY TID-BIT: (Per Wikipedia)

"Absinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic (45%–74% ABV) beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, commonly referred to as "grande wormwood". Absinthe traditionally has a natural green colour but can also be colourless. It is commonly referred to in historical literature as "la fée verte" (the Green Fairy).

Although it is sometimes mistakenly called a liqueur, absinthe is not bottled with added sugar and is therefore classified as a spirit. Absinthe is unusual among spirits in that it is bottled at a very high proof but is normally diluted with water when consumed.

Absinthe originated in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. It achieved great popularity as an alcoholic drink in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers. Due in part to its association with bohemian culture,absinthe was opposed by social conservatives and prohibitionists. Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Amedeo Modigliani, Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Aleister Crowley, and Alfred Jarry were all notorious 'bad men' of that day who were (or were thought to be) devotees of the Green Fairy.

Absinthe has been portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug. The chemical thujone, present in small quantities, was singled out and blamed for its alleged harmful effects. By 1915, absinthe had been banned in the United States and in most European countries except the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although absinthe was vilified, no evidence has shown it to be any more dangerous than ordinary spirits. Its psychoactive properties, apart from those of alcohol, have been much exaggerated.

A revival of absinthe began in the 1990s, when countries in the European Union began to reauthorize its manufacture and sale. As of February 2008, nearly 200 brands of absinthe were being produced in a dozen countries, most notably in France, Switzerland, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Commercial distillation of absinthe in the United States resumed in 2007."

The Christmas Spirit

2009-12-21T21:31:00.000-08:00

Today is the Winter Solstice, also known as "Midwinter."
Today marks the shortest day, and the longest night of
the year,and the sun's daily maximum position in the
sky is at it's lowest.

Winter Solstice celebrations can be found across many
ancient cultures...

The ancient Egyptians decorated their homes with palm
fronds on the shortest day of the year and celebrated
for twelve days. Hence the popular song, "On the 12Th
Day of Christmas"... Similar traditions can be found
among the Hebrews and in Asia.

It was the Scandinavians that gave us Yule logs and
Christmas trees from their ancient celebrations.
There, Evergreens were seen as a promise of the return
of Spring. In Celtic culture holly and mistletoe were
significant,as they symbolized fertility. In ancient
Rome the celebration was called Saturnalia, and from
the Pagan Romans we get the decorating of trees with
lights and ornaments. The history of Santa Claus
traces back to the pre-Christian times of Northern
Europe.

(PER WIKIPEDIA) In 46 BCE,Julius Caesar established
December 25 in his Julian calendar as the date of the
Winter Solstice of Europe. Since then, the difference
between the calendar year (365.2500 days) and the
tropical year (365.2422 days) moved the day associated
with the actual astronomical solstice forward
approximately three days every four centuries, Christmas
or Christ's Mass is one of the most popular Christian
celebrations as well as one of the most globally
recognized midwinter celebrations. Christmas is the
celebration of the birth of the Christian Deity God
Incarnate or Messiah, Jesus Christ. The birth is
observed on December 25Th, which was the Roman winter
solstice upon establishment of the Julian Calendar.

However, it is interesting to note that Christ was by most
accounts not actually born on December 25Th. In the Fourth
Century Christianity was adopted as the official religion
by the Roman Emperor Constantine, the first Christian
Emperor. Constantine was eager to pacify his people, many
who were still steeped in their old Pagan ways and
celebrations. So rather than upset them by taking away
their Solstice party, Constantine declared Christmas an
"immovable feast" to be celebrated on December 25Th. Over
time, the Church would co-opt many Pagan festivals and
customs, reassigning them Christian meaning. For example,
the Christmas Tree, was proclaimed, because of its
triangular shape, to symbolize the Holy Trinity. The Winter
Solstice Festival, the celebration of the birth of the Sun,
was changed to celebrate the birth of the Son.

As is the case with most traditions, CHRISTMAS was
not an overnight sensation... In fact, the Protestant regime
of Oliver Cromwell in England actually banned Christmas
celebrations, and Christmas as we know it today did not
begin to really take shape until the 19Th Century.

SOTD: PAN
KEY NOTES: This Sexy Unisex Perfume Oil is made with key
notes of Fir Balsam Absolute, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Vetiver,
Mushroom Cepes absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute, and Wild
Orange

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT PAN:

Kezbekistan says, "Pagan sex-inna-bottle. If you've seen the movie 'Mists of Avalon', where the Stag King is running
through the forest, and finds his Goddess/Bride in the
bower and claims her? Well, that's what this fragrance
smells like. Pagan sex-inna-bottle."
(http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Opus-Oils/Divine-Pan-5708.html)

Justine Crane, Rebel Perfumer says, "Well, it smells dead sexy, baby! It smells... like a man, yeeaaahhh. It's firey, smokey,
earthy ~ has a pencil-shavings timbre to it that reminds me
of my 7Th grade science teacher, Mr. Stevens. Ever try
studying the core of the sun while you're drooling over
something a thousand times hotter? Leave it up to your
man to provide the animal funk. Pan ~ lust in a bottle."
(http://ohtrueapothecary.blogspot.com/search?q=Opus+Oils)

TASTY TID-BIT: The Pine family includes the Pines, the
Larches, the Spruces, the Hemlocks,the Firs, Cypresses,
Sequoias, Cedars, Arbor-Vitae, and Junipers. They are all
commonly referred to as Evergreens because, with the
exception of the Larch and the Bald Cypress, their leaves
do not fall all at once as do those of most trees. Within
the United States, there are thirty-nine species of Pines.
Our European ancestors used to decorate their homes with
the branches of the Evergreens in winter as a refuge for
the spirits of the woods from the bitter weather.

VIP Gift Baskets -2009 Fox Reality Channel Really Awards

2009-10-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Was thrilled to get a call from Natural 9 Entertainment,
asking us to do the honors of designing the Dressing Room Gift
Baskets for Paris Hilton, Vivica A. Fox, & Cindy Margolis,
For the 2009 Fox Reality Really Awards! How exciting!!

Today, as we put the special finishing touches on these
drewl-worthy fragrant treasure troves, I must say that
I am extremely pleased with the results, and I hope they
will be too...

At this point (I could still change my mind),
For Paris I've decided to go with Mostly ABSINTHIA
products as my dominant theme...

With a Special Edition VAMP Coffin Flask..

And for VIVICA, I'm doing a combo of Island and Isis...

For Cindy Margolis... I'm feeling KITTEN..
and STARLET...

...Just back from dropping off the baskets - what an
adventure! The venue was the Henry Fonda Theatre
(again - same place where Vampire Con was!), And as
Murphy's Law would have it (it never rains in SO CAL, so-)
it was raining... So here we are trying to get the baskets
from the car to the dressing rooms without getting them wet!
No easy task, yet somehow we managed, with the help of a
friendly security guard and not one, but two over sized
umbrellas...

TASTY TID-BIT: (Per Wikipedia)
"Reality," the concept, is contrasted with a wide variety of other concepts, largely depending upon the intellectual discipline. Some believe that it can help to understand what we mean by "reality" to note that what we say is not real because we see it through different perspectives, therefore there is no basis for reality. But usually, if there are no original and related proofs, it isn't reality. Others believe that reality is consistent for all people, and it would be the perceptions and interpretations of this common reality that are different. An example of this is the belief that rain is the work of gods rather than a natural occurrence that has a scientific explanation. The perception and interpretation of rain is that it involves the supernatural, but this belief does not change the fact that rain is caused by water moving from a gaseous state into a liquid state. The reality is consistent, and it is the interpretation that is different, not the cause of the event..."

Never Ending Summer

2009-10-01T15:04:00.001-07:00

It's October, but here in LA LA Land it feels like July...
Welcome to the Never Ending Summer of 2009!
I think everyone in this town agrees that there is
such a thing as Global Warming.... Today's high is
93 degrees - That's just not right!

So the big question I've been getting from all my clients is:
What is the perfect scent to wear for Summer in October?

This is a trick question because the usual inclination
at this time of year is to reach for the Chypres (Siren, Pan),
or the Orientals(Mantra,Toro), but somehow, these scents
all feel too heavy for the current state of weather and
mind. While at the same time, my usual go to summer scent
suggestions, (Kitten,Island,Tropique,Eros), don't exactly
assuage the mood either...

Luckily, I have the perfect scent to answer this dilemma!

SOTD: LADY DEATH

Her spicy floral Lily/Datura Note, satisfies in the
the floral realm,and the Isobutavan Note(creamy candy
Vanilla), satisfies a craving for comfort that comes
with the longer nights of Autumn/Fall, without imposing
the usual earthy heaviness of some Vanillas. Lastly,
the touch of Oakmoss(subtle and barely discernible)
gives a nod to the Chypre category, without being
overpowering or heavy. The overall effect is an
intoxicating, ethereal scent with a diffusive bloom,
and a long linger...

TASTY TID-BIT:
From http://www.noaawatch.gov/themes/heat.php

How Heat Affects the Body Human

"Human bodies dissipate heat by varying the rate
and depth of blood circulation, by losing water
through the skin and sweat glands, and-as the last
extremity is reached by panting, when blood is heated
above 98.6 degrees. The heart begins to pump more blood,
blood vessels dilate to accommodate the increased flow,
and the bundles of tiny capillaries threading through
the upper layers of skin are put into operation.
The body's blood is circulated closer to the skin's
surface, and excess heat drains off into the cooler
atmosphere. At the same time, water diffuses through
the skin as perspiration. The skin handles about
90 percent of the body's heat dissipating function."

Dirty Sexy Wilde Dandy Launch Party /Jitterbug Perfume Parlour 1 year Anniversary

2009-09-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

From our press release: Hollywood, CA – September 1st, 2009
Opus Oils, a Perfume Atelier located in the heart of glamorous
Hollywood, CA announced today the Official Release
of their all new “Dirty Sexy Wilde” Collection.
The Launch will mark the 1 year anniversary of OO’s
“Jitterbug Perfume Parlour” (retail boutique & HQ),
and the Debut of their Coffin shaped "Perfume Flasks"
with decorative frames and pictures.
It will all take place at Opus Oils’ Jitterbug Perfume
Parlour, 4959 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90027
on September 5Th, 2009.

I am happy to say that "Dirty Sexy Wilde" was a fragrant hit!
I took it as a compliment that multiple people told me it was
"Like nothing they had ever smelled before", and "Vintage,
but with a modern twist..."

The temperature was in the high 90's all night, but despite
the lingering heatwave, a "Dandy Good Time" was had by all!
Actually, there was something beautifully languid and
Southern-Victorian to it... Between the heat,the fine
company, the perfumes and the punch it was quite surreal!
With the fancy dress Dandy-inspired costumes, and all the
Velvet Fainting Couches it was easy to imagine that we were
in another time...

A very special thanks to all our friends who came by
to help us celebrate, and were such good sports to dress
in their "Dandy Best",despite the high temperature!
Extra Special thanks to our DJ's Harvey Wallbanger,
Professor LaCroix,Eva Bunny and our stylish
San Francisco chums who made the trek all the way
from the bay area (extra top hats & spats in tow),
Riddle & Feng for the groovy photos (above) &
the lovely wildflower sculpture from their garden,
and the La Dance Macabre girls who helped me keep
my hat(and my head)on all night long! We are so
lucky to have such wonderful friends who grace
our establishment with their fabulousness!

I like to think that Oscar would have been pleased...

For a good time call on:
~Dirty Sexy Wilde Punch~
Rose Petals
Raspberry Syrup
Rose Syrup
Pink Lemonade
Seven Up or Ginger ale
Vodka

We must have been thirsty - we got to the bottom of 4 huge punch bowls!

SOTN: Dirty Sexy Wilde (Of Course)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT DIRTY SEXY WILDE:

Kezbekistan says,"I was warned this fragrance was
very earthy, but since I love earthy scents (vetiver is a
huge favourite)I thought, "what the hey!"And... "What the
Hey!" indeed! Not too earthy at all, actually I think the
person who warned me confused 'earthy' with 'musky, sweaty
and sated'.It has a beautiful, just barely there smokiness
about it. Not an incense smokiness; more a small fire deep
in the forest, to rest by after a night of carnal delights.
The citrus balances the deeper tones nicely. Honestly,
it's like laying on a bed of crushed grasses and flowers,
deep in a deciduous forest. With your lover in your arms.
And that little fire flickering beside you as you rest in
the afterglow. I wear it very lightly, and notice people
sniff and turn to see if they can track down the source of
the fragrance. Perfect sillage! And a little lasts a
loooong time. I've had nothing but positive comments
about Dirty Sexy Wilde. It's unusual, different and far
from common. I absolutely agree with Mirabelle Jee in
that it may be more for men... men who want to get laid!
And for the woman who wants to be not just noticed, but remembered."
(http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Dirty-Sexy-Wilde-perfume-by-Opus-Oils-new-coffin-edition-985.html)

**PRESS**
http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Dirty-Sexy-Wilde-perfume-by-Opus-Oils-new-coffin-edition-985.html

http://perfumesmellinthings.blogspot.com/2009/09/wilde-in-streets-opus-oils-dirty-sexy.html

TASTY TID-BIT:
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" was Wilde’s only full-length novel.

"Afraid of the Dark" Collection Launch at Vampire-Con 2009

2009-08-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Our "Afraid of the Dark" Collection Launch at Vampire Con
was a blast!

At 5:00 AM the day of the event, I was still putting the
finishing touches on the Collection... By 8:00 AM I was
totally delerious from a combination of lack of sleep
and aroma inhalation overdose... Needless to say,
the Vampire Coffee was a life saver!

The event took palce at the Henry Ford Theatre,
a Striking Art Deco ghost on Hollywood Blvd rich
with history... The lighting was atmospheric
(should have brought the candelabra,) just the way we
like it,and we had the perfect view of the stage for
the Panel Discussions & Deliciously Vampy
entertainment provided by our dear Friend
Count Smokula & the ever lovely Scarlet Rose.
Scarlet's "Gypsy Rose Dance" to Smokey's timeless
serenading was my favorite moment of the day!

"Location,Location,Location"... So LOVED our next
door neighbors!!! On one side we had La Dance Macabre,
The delicious duo with the grooviest stuff ever (one
of everything please)! ...And on the other side was
Count Smokula, giving us plenty of time to enjoy
his most enchanting company... (Stay tuned for updates
about the Custom Scent we will be creating for this very
special Hollywood Icon!)

SOTD: Hands down our most popular scent of the day was
"Ode de Vampyre". Both Girls and Guys were grabbing
it up with equal enthusiasm - love it when a scent goes
both ways!
KEY NOTE:Blood Cedarwood, Saffron,Dark Rose,Orris Root,
Sandalwood, Black Agar, Vetiver, Honey & Temple Incense...

**PRESS**

http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/fashion/2009/08/spray-after-darkvampireinspired-perfume.html#more

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/Article.aspx?articlepath=RSS\Beauty\20090818\Trend-Alert-Vampire-Inspired-BeautyProducts.xml&cat=style&subcat=beauty&pcur=1&ipp=10&pageid=1#Trend_Alert:_Vampire_Inspired_Beauty_Products

http://www.nstperfume.com/2009/08/18/opus-oils-afraid-of-the-dark-new-fragrances/

http://www.mimifroufrou.com/scentedsalamander/2009/08/opus_oils_afraid_of_the_dark_c.html

TASTY TID-BIT: The first full work of fiction about a vampire
in English was John Polidori’s influential "The Vampyre",
which was published incorrectly under Lord Byron’s name.
Polidori (1795-1821) was Byron’s doctor and based his
vampire on Byron.

The 4th of July smells like...

2009-07-04T22:00:00.001-07:00

Night Blooming Jasmine & Orange Blossoms....
Honeysuckle, Bar-B-Q, Margaritas,Chips...
Sulfur...

We had a special treat tonight at the Parlour -
several neighborhood firework shows that were
visible from my favorite seat on the Black Velvet
chaise lounge! It doesn't get any better than that....

SOTD: JITTERBUG PERFUME
KEY NOTES: Our Boutiques Signature Scent is a
luscious blend of Jasmine,Jasmine, & more Jasmine!
Reminiscent of a vintage French Perfume, this is a
classic scent perfect for any occasion...

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT JITTERBUG PERFUME:

Helg from Perfume Shrine says,
"Jitterbug Perfume, a rejoice for jasmine lovers,
includes notes of jasmine, honeysuckle, lemon essence,
orange blossom, beach found ambergris, blond tobacco
and sandalwood...Lush, full-bodied, with the sweet
interlay of what reminds me of exotic ylang ylang
and a round sweetish finish of the gingerbread
goodness of sandalwood, it is predomintantly about
the king of flowers: jasmine in its heady glory."

Rebela says,"Do you like magnetic, strong
and sensual white florals? Then I guess you also
would like Jitterbugg, it´s a magnificent, beautiful
and happy fragrance. The jasmine and orange blossom
is stunning. The basenotes makes it warmer, softer
and very sensual. In one way a very youthful fragrance,
but another part feels very retro. This is a fragrance
to put on when you feel like dancing all night long,
and feel free, happy and don´t have to worry about
the days to come."
(http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Opus-Oils/Jitterbug-5695.html)

Mirabell Jee says,"An unusual floral scent.
In the whole it reminds me the one garden flower,
none of mentioned in the fragrance notes, and I can't
remember what exactly. It's so well done, that the
citruses don't lead as they usual do. If you like
floral scents, you are tired of usual light floral
scents and need a sign scent this one is for you."
(http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Opus-Oils/Jitterbug-5695.html)

**PRESS**

http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2008/09/jitterbug-perfume-oil-from-opus-oils.html

http://perfumesmellinthings.blogspot.com/2008/09/opus-oils-jitterbug-perfume.html 4 different

http://www.nstperfume.com/2008/08/18/banana-republic-classic-limited-edition-opus-oils-jitterbug-new-perfumes/

TASTY TID-BIT: The History of Fireworks
Per the "FIREWORKS UNIVERSITY" http://www.fireworks.com/safety/fireworks-history.asp

Fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago.
The most prevalent legend has it that fireworks were
discovered or invented by accident by a Chinese cook
working in a field kitchen who happened to mix charcoal,
sulphur and saltpeter (all commonly found in the kitchen
in those days). The mixture burned and when compressed
in an enclosure (a bamboo tube), the mixture exploded...

Summer Solstice - Scents of Summer

2009-06-21T19:39:00.001-07:00

"His face was turned without regret toward the endless
possibilities of Summer." - F.Scott Fitzgerald

Summer Solstice takes place today June 21,2009 at 5:46
(1:46)AM,Universal Time. Today is the longest day of
the year,and this year it corresponds with Father's Day.
This seems very fitting,as the sun is a male symbol
of constancy and growth.

Today as I was walking,I paid special attention to the
familiar scents of summer that are abundant and bountiful
in beautiful sunny Southern California. The first scent
to hit my nose is a lush blast of Jasmine - heavy,sticky,
sweet and mercilessly indolic,I pet a fence of little
white blossoms and they release their heavenly scent for
me to enjoy & savor. The next scent to hit me is
the airy lemony sweetness of Magnolia Blossoms, floating
above my head from several over flowing trees. There is
a gardener nearby, mowing a lawn and the green sweetness
of fresh cut grass is unmistakable. Next comes the sticky
sweet slightly spicy Yellow Datura, I stick my face in it's
delightful cups and inhale a whiff of pure Summer heaven...

When I get to the coffee shop on Kenmore I smell the warm
inviting scent of fresh dark Mid-Eastern coffee mixed with
the sweet smokiness of the charcoals heating in the back
for the hookah pipes. I walk past the usual crew sitting
outside puffing away like Caterpillars (in Alice's'
Wonderland),and inhale the sweet aroma of Apricot tobacco .
Next,is the bakery and the unmistakable sweetness of baking
sugary delights. Finally,as I open the door at the Jitterbug,
I am greeted by a delicious mysterious aroma that has become
so familiar to me that it is almost in-describable, but hints
of Incense and Musk, and Floral sweetness...

SOTD: Tropique (from our Island Girl Collection)
KEY NOTES: Cocoa, Coconut, Vanilla, Coffee Bean,Yuzo

TASTY TID-BIT:
Pagans called the Midsummer Moon the "Honey Moon",
for the mead made from fermented honey that was served
at midsummer celebrations. Ancient Pagans celebrated
Midsummer with bonfires,when couples would leap through
the flames. It was believed that a persons crops would grow
as high as they were able to jump. Midsummer was thought
to be a time of magic, when evil spirits would appear,people
would wear garlands of flowers and herbs to ward them off.

He wants a "Lady Killer" Scent...

2009-06-04T01:42:00.001-07:00

Tiger sniffs at my wrist and wrinkles his nose, "Too earthy", he says..."and too leathery -I don't want to smell like leather,or s**t!"(Must be the Civet note).... It's too old... I'd rather smell like 'Old Spice' or better yet Drakkar Noir.

This is not what I want to hear! Especially when I was going for "Earthy, Leathery, Vintage, & Animalic"...

So for a point of reference,it's off to google I go, to look up the notes for DN . Come to find, they are very close to the notes in my working blend!
To please the Tiger - it's his image on the bottle,and he wants "A Lady Killer Scent" he can get behind, it seems all I have to do is a bit of rearranging. Hmmm....

Days later, after a bit of tweaking,and a healthy infusion of green notes(galbanum +),the working blend passes Tiger's rigorous sniff test, and I am headed to a gathering with some friends and a tester bottle in tow. My mission for the evening is to do a bit of market research...

After a healthy feasting on a most delicious spread, the guests were all gathered in the kitchen,as our host spontaneously broke out into song(A Capella,and pulled it off,no less!), when my little bottle started to get passed around... Well, even in my wildest dreams, I was not expecting the reaction it caused - I won't get any more specific than the squeals of delight and actual licking of persons
(AXE cologne eat your heart out!), but it was certainly something verging on the XXX rated... And by all accounts it lived up to the name "Dirty Sexy Wilde"...

SOTD: Dirty Sexy Wilde
KEY NOTES: Galbanum,Red Mandarin,Carnation,Violet,Rose,Night Jasmine,Blond Tobacco,Oakmoss,Coumarin,Musk,Civet,Ambergris

TASTY TID-BIT: (Per Wikipedia)
Sex pheromones
In animals, sex pheromones indicate the availability of the female for breeding. Male animals may also emit pheromones that convey information about their species and genotype. Many insect species release sex pheromones to attract a mate, and many lepidopterans (moths and butterflies) can detect a potential mate from as far away as 10 kilometers (6.25 mi). Traps containing pheromones are used by farmers to detect and monitor insect population in orchards. At the microscopic level, a gamete pheromone may provide a trail leading the opposite sex's gametes towards it to accomplish fertilization. Pheromones are also used in the detection of oestrus in sows. Boar pheromones are sprayed into the sty, and those sows which exhibit sexual arousal are known to be currently available for breeding. Sea urchins release pheromones into the surrounding water, sending a chemical message that triggers other urchins in the colony to eject their sex cells simultaneously.

The Birth of "Dirty Sexy Wilde"

2009-05-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

"And so he would study Perfumes,and the secrets of their manufacture,distilling heavily scented oils,and burning odorous gums from the East. He saw that there was no mood of the mind that had not it's counterpart in the Sensuous life,and set himself to discover their true relations,wondering what there was in Frankincense that made one mystical,and in ambergris that stirred one's passions,and in violets that woke the memory of dead romances,and in musk

that troubled the brain,and in champak that stained the imagination;and seeking often to elaborate a real psychology of perfumes,and to estimate the several influences of sweet smelling roots,and scented pollen-laden flowers,or aromatic balms,and dark and fragrant woods,of spikenard that sickens,of hovina that makes men mad,and of aloes that are said

to be able to expel melancholy from the soul."

~ The Picture of Dorian Grey

Oscar Wilde

For our new class "Animalic Instincts", I will create a historically influenced scent inspired by Mr. Oscar Wilde. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) Wilde was an eccentric Dandy (Per Wikipedia "A dandy[1] (also known as a beau, gallant or flamboyant person[2]) is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies. Historically, especially in late 18Th- and early 19Th-century Britain, a dandy, who was self-made, often strove to imitate an aristocratic style of life despite coming from a middle-class background." )

So what would Mr Wilde have smelled like? ... My mind wanders through 19Th century cafes & Parlours in search of clues... I stumble upon the spirit of Mr Wilde,lingering at his favorite Cafe,sporting a Malmaison Carnation (Oscar Wilde is famous for having had a fetish for the bloom, which he liked to dye each day anew in green.) Clue #1 - Carnation.

Clue #2 -I will take from the words of Mr. Wilde himself (above): Frankincense, Ambergris, musk & Champak.

Clue #3 - (Fortunately),I have a book from 1892 with formulas for "Handkerchief Perfumes", the list of popular notes used at the time included : Orris, Rose, Bergamot, Cassie,Violet, Jasmin,Neroli, Tonka,Patchouli,Vetiver,Santal,Vanilla,and tinctures of Musk,Civet ,and Ambergris.

The Animalic aspect of this scent is obviously going to play a key part in this scent's makeup as the purpose for making this particular product is as a historic compliment to showcase in my new "Animalic Instincts" class. Originally I had planned to incorporate the "Dandiliscious" civet note, but the hunt for "Free Range Civet" paste was disappointing,to say the least. The closest I got was a certain Ethiopian farmer who said "We obtain civet paste from cats in captivity. On our own farm, Cages are modern and animals are not abused or slaughtered in any way. "... Unfortunately, this goes against my animal loving grain,and our idea of "no animal testing". Until we can find a civet source that pleases us, we will have the true civet version of the scent on hand at the Jitterbug Perfume Parlour as an historic example only. The same will be true for the musk note. Ambergris will be the one true animalic used in the commercial release, as I do have a good source for "beach found" Ambergris.

On a side note,this has set me to wondering... Why are there no free range civet farms?

TASTY TID-BIT: (From article by Franny Syufy) http://cats.about.com/cs/basichealth/a/civetcat_2.htm
"The civet is a mostly nocturnal animal, from the Viverridae family, found in Africa,and the East Indies. It is approximately 17-28 inches in length, excluding its long tail, and weighs about 3 to 10 pounds. Although classified within the Carnivera order, the palm civet of Southern Asia (named because it can be found in palms), is a fruit-eating mammal. Although the Viverridae family is distantly related to the Felidae family of which the common domestic cat is a member, the civet "cat" is not a cat. Indeed, it is more related to the mongoose than to any cat.

The civet is a cunning-looking little animal, with a catlike body, long legs, a long tail, and a masked face resembling a raccoon or weasel. In some areas of the world, it has become an endangered species, hunted for its fur or as a food source. The civet's taste for fruit has been its downfall in at least one area of southeast Asia; as early as the 18th century, the durian fruit was also called "civet fruit," because it was used as bait for catching civets.

The civet not only is fond of fruit, but has had a love-hate relationship with growers of a particular coffee bean in Viet Nam. Civets love this bean, and search out the tastiest examples with their long, foxlike nose. The hardiest beans survive the digestive process of the civet, and are prized in caphe cut chon, or fox-dung coffee (Vietnamese call the civet "fox.")

Unfortunately for the civets, their habitat has been razed for new coffee orchards, and their decline has furthered because of the Vietnamese appetite for barbequed civet meat. A restraunteur admitted that he was not troubled by the scarcity of Caphe cut chon, saying that he'd rather "eat the fox." Actually, the new scarcity of fox-dung coffee beans has been a boon for entrepreneurs who market fake caphe cut chon as the real thing. However, that doesn't help the fate of the civet cats who are killed for food.

Last, the civet has been the source of a highly-valued musk, used as a stablizing agent in perfumes. Although civets were at one time killed for their musk, they more recently have been "recycled" for this purpose. Also called "civet," excretions are scraped from the civet's perianeal glands, a painful process. Both male and female cats produce these strong-smelling excretions. At least one civet cat farmer in Ethiopia raises civets for their musk, although this practice is dying out as perfumers move toward using synthetic fixatives.

Maligned, abused, and beleageured, the civet cat has an unknown future on many fronts. But it is not a cat."

DELICIOUS DECADENCE ON A RAINY DAY IN LALA LAND

2009-04-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

Nothing could be more delicious or more decadent than lounging around on the Velvet Fainting Couches in our Jitterbug Perfume Parlour, sipping a glass of fine champagne laced with Tuberose Absolute, listening to Edithe Piaf sing "Adieu Mon Coeur", & watching the rain fall down on Hollywood Blvd... Perhaps, if we were in Paris, and chocolate and/or feathers were involved...

SOTD: TRAMP
KEY NOTES: Vanilla, Blond Tobacco, Sweet Lemon

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TRAMP:

Rebella says, "Among the burlesque-line, Tramp is my favourite. It is rich, vibrant and sexy, but in a soft spoken and almost shy way. Tramp is a gorgeous kind of golden blend with hints of something lemony and the tobacco is laid back and creamy. The patchouli and sandalwood add a richness to the base, but very soft and lingering. Overall this perfume is very soft and lingering, seductive, kind of old school... Really nice, long lasting... A must try for creamy vanilla lovers."
Fragrantica.com

Livia Says, "Today, I decided to wear ‘Tramp’ – when I read that the notes included Sweet Lemon Blossom, I thought it’d have a bit of a floral-citrus hit to it, but on my skin,the Warm Vanilla, Sugar and Blonde Tobacco are the stand-out notes. Beautiful!! I never thought I’d enjoy the smell of tobacco in a perfume! But the blend with the vanilla sugar note has really surprised me!! I think I know what I’m going to ask my parents to get me for Christmas!"
PerfumeCritic.com

Interesting TID-BIT #1: Young Sally Rand literally ran away to join a carnival as a teenager. Over the years she worked as a nightclub cigarette girl, life model, cafe dancer and stage actress (working under the name Billie Beck). Notorious Sally was considered the greatest fan dancer ever, she caused a national scandal by performing her first "obscene" dance at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair... When she was initially
unsuccessful in gaining a role at the Fair, she industriously staged a Lady Godiva inspired stunt at the gates, arriving entirely nude, atop a white horse! The scandal boosted the World Fair’s popularity and Sally was invited to be a featured performer in the ‘Streets of Paris’ exhibition, where she performed her feather fan dance in a mock Parisian street scene.

INTERESTING TID-BIT#2: The Victorian Coupe glass is rumored to be styled from Marie Antoinette's breast...

Tea Time at The Jitterbug

2009-04-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

Crazy Tea Cup Dreams & Mad Hatter Moments...

I was in a sweat when I awoke this morning. There was
a decadent Tea Party happening in my dream,and I was in
a mad flurry of activity that seemed to yield no results,
no matter how quickly I spun around in circles trying
to accomplish the impossible . The problem was that
there were no clean cups for tea and every time I
cleaned a cup and brought it back to someone it was
magically dirtied up again before I could pour their
tea. Despite the lack of clean cups,everyone seemed to be
having a delightful time...

Obviously, I have Tea on the brain! Which is no surprise,
considering the vast quantity of tea that I have been
consuming for the past several months while we've been
in development on our line of Jitterbug Perfume Parlour Teas...

We created a tea for each of our Signature Fragrance lines.
I'm happy to say that these are not just your ordinary teas -
they are highly fragrant flavorful creations! Not only are
the teas aromatic ,they also fall into the category of
"Perfumed Teas" (In tea culture, the term "Perfumed tea"
refers to a tea that gets its fragrance and taste from direct
infusion with aromatic plant matter),which we take a step
further by infusing our Flower Petals with Precious Organic
Flower Absolutes. The teas are quite lovely, visually as well -
exquisite leaves blended with bright beautifully colored
flower petals. It's a real treat for the senses!

TASTY TID-BIT: Plants love tea too! Just mix
your used tea leaves in with the dirt... You can
also water your plants with tea, this is a great
option if you happen to over steep a pot (it happens
to the best of us), and it is to bitter to drink...

COMPLICATED FLOWERS

2009-04-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

"Simple as a flower, and that's a complicated thing..."~ Love & Rockets

The SOLIFLORE ~ is a scent that focuses on highlighting the specific beauty of one particular flower or dominant note.

For several years, I have had a special project brewing that I love to escape to whenever I need to activate my imagination and get my creative juices flowing. This is a collection of Soliflores ("Solifleurs" in French)...

Soliflores, are unique interpretations of generally familiar scents. All though Soliflores are often referred to as "single note" perfumes, they are actually constructed of many notes that are carefully blended together to create the illusion of solidarity. In other words, these ladies & gents are some Complicated Flowers!

Soliflores like all perfumes, need to tell a complete story. They must have a beginning, a middle, and an end. As the theme of this story, there is a specific single flower or dominant note (Tuberose, Orange Blossom, Narcissus, Patchouli, Amber, Etc.). Each stage of the fragrance (opening,soul,dry down), should remind us in some way, of that specific theme.

My end goal with this project, is to have a Soliflore Collection completed that can be worn in layered combinations with each other. One of the biggest challenges I am finding as I progress on this project, is in keeping the story of each fragrance simple enough to be able to contribute to the layering side of this project... The way I have been able to deal with this, is to pick a certain aspect of my chosen theme to correspond with each stage of each Perfume. For instance, my Tuberose Soliflore AKA LIL' NICO (Les Bohemes Collection,) begins with the slightly green aspect of a Tuberose bud, next comes the sticky-sweet honeyed soul note of a Tuberose flower in full bloom, with a dry-down note that captures the lush creaminess of a Tuberose flower in full blossom wafting her intoxicating narcotic ambrosia.

Most recently, I've been working on a Narcissus Soliflore. This one begins with a bit of spice that is quickly enveloped in a heady Blond Tobacco bitter sweetness that swirls like a dervish,ending in a smokey narcotic,indolic haze that's so addicting I can't stop sniffing myself (Perfume Narcissism!)

As I daydream during the creation process, each of these perfumes is beginning to take on the personality of a special iconic personage that in some mysterious, almost alchemical way, seems to embody particular aspects of each flower, (guess who my NARCISSUS is?) They are like lucid dreams, whispering to me of enchantments & mysteries that are too extravagant and surreal for normal waking life. These special Perfumes have come to represent living, breathing works of art that exist behind the shadows of reality... I feel indulgent, even extravagant, each time that I daub one on my wrist... For they are in effect, the precious essence of a unique being that longs to be treasured and savored on special occasions that warrant celebration & remembrance!... After all, is not each of us in their own way, a Complicated Flower?

SOTD: ~Narcissus Soliflore AKA GOLD DIGGER (LES BOHEMES COLLECTION)
KEY NOTES: Narcissus Absolute,Orange Blossom Absolute,Blond Tobacco,Hedione

TASTY TID-BIT #1: Marlene Dietrich was an infamous Narcissist. When shooting a film she always insisted on having a full length mirror placed next to the camera so that she could make sure that she was lit perfectly. She knew she had the right angle when the tip of her nose cast the shadow of a reverse butterfly...

TASTY TID-BIT#2: Fittingly to my Theme of Marlena D., Narcissus is the most popular flower in Germany. A spring-flowering bulb, Narcissus is the name of a genus which includes flower bulbs like Daffodils, Jonquils, Paperwhites and so forth. Narcissi (plural form of Narcissus) are easily grown from bulbs.... The word Narcissus is derived from the Greek word narke,meaning numbness or stupor. Some attribute the naming of the flower to its narcotic fragrance while others debate that it is associated with the poisonous nature of the Narcissus bulbs. According to classical mythology, a young lad Narcissus was so enamored with himself that he stared at his reflection in a pool of water until he eventually turned into his namesake flower. And this is how Narcissus flowers came into being!

Scent Awakening

2009-04-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

It was a feeling that came over me like a dream...
Lucid thoughts, tickled my mind and awoke my senses.
I imagine myself in another time and place...
Where glamour and beauty were the most important things
in the world. I am the center of attention; a young movie
actress being coached and publicized for starring roles,
About to become Legend... Today, I am Lana Turner,
Marilyn Monroe, and Rita Hayworth - all rolled in to one...

SOTD: STARLET Natural Perfume
KEY NOTES: Rose,Neroli,Nutmeg Absolute,Cocoa Absolute

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT STARLET:

Dixie Evans Burlesque Legend says, "I feel like Marilyn when
I'm wearing my Starlet Perfume!"

Justine Crane said, "Starlet by Opus Oils ~
oh,mama! Kedra Hart of Opus Oils is a master when it comes
to this blending gig. When I first sniffed this gorgeous
parfum, I was immediately taken back to my childhood as
memories of my grandmother’s perfume box crowded in on me.
This stuff is heavy, it’s thick, it’s floral and spicy and
rich and clean ~ oh, mama! Just a drop will do and you’re
good for the whole day . . . the whole night, even."
(http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art31249.asp)

Mirabell Jee said , "It reminds me light geranium
smell with a bit lemon and roses. Voluminal and hot
at the beginning,a little sweet and fresh then. A smell of the
south young girl on the Seaside in summer."
(www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Opus-Oils/Burlesque-Starlet-5699.html)

TASTY TID-BIT #1:(Some) Butterflies have a scent!
It has been described as "Musk-like, Vanilla,
& Pleasantly Piquant"...

TASTY TID-BIT #2:The Large blue Alcon Butterfly uses
chemical mimicry to disguise the smell of their larvae
so that ants will neglect their own brood and feed them...