Green Clean Scents ~ Flowers for Demeter

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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.