So far this year, indie perfume house Dawn Spencer Hurwitz has launched Au Crépuscule de Lavande, Avocado Toast, Gardénia Vitreux, Le Jade, Royal Grey Cologne and Vers la Voute Etoilée.*

Au Crépuscule de Lavande {In the Lavender Twilight} ~ "A candied fougere retro nouveau perfume: sweet and delicious lavender mixed with dense, golden, resinous immortelle, myrrh, and tonka bean. The aldehydes and blackberry top notes make this unlike the aromatherapy lavender versions we are all so familiar with. Instead it’s a beautiful perfume filled with a deeply felt medicine for the soul… it’s joyful and restful at the same time."

Avocado Toast ~ "From hipster comfort food to artisan perfume… we know how to translate creamy goodness into a fabulous new, summer skin scent. What’s really terrific about Avocado Toast is that it feels fresh, creamy, and deliciously toasty all at the same time. Plus, who doesn’t love a little playful humor in the perfume world? Avocado Toast is the first of a few, summertime fun designs we plan to release to our Essense Studio collection. We haven’t designed very much for this collection in some time, so this makes it extra exciting!"

Gardénia Vitreux {Glassy Gardenia} ~ "The third release in our “Flowers for Men” series brings a new way of experiencing the glorious, glamorous, gardenia: as glassy. Instead of the typical fleshy petaled, or tropical coconut tinged, or even the blue-cheese nuanced gardenia interpretations, I wanted to find not only an ultra-modern expression, but one that had the framework of classical “men’s” fragrance designs to balance what might be considered a ‘too feminine’ floral to ever be created with men in mind. With Gardénia Vitreux I feel that I have done just that: made a gardenia soliflore of sorts that feels modern, crystalline, somewhat sharp, and yet very true to the flower’s depth and sensuality."

Le Jade ~ "’m SO VERY EXCITED to share ‘Le Jade’ with you! This is a retro-nouveau design that I have been working on for the last few years in my studio. It’s got multiple inspirations including my work in Japan and the beauty of the lush forests of Asia; as well as a couple of vintage perfumes (Le Jade by Roger et Gallet, and Inoui de Shiseido). The story of Le Jade played out like this in my mind: when you first arrive at the forest grove you are dazzled by the opulent shades of jade-like green. The verdant explosion is nearly overwhelming. You walk in further and everywhere you look is ever more beautiful… but as you continue to explore your surroundings, you sense the ombre of memories and days gone by. Perhaps behind any of these majestic trees is a ghost; of young lovers, poets and dreamers, and perhaps a fallen samurai. As you linger in this beautiful enchantment, your reverie is haunted with shadows of centuries of experience which have transpired here and become embedded in the woods. All this beauty, and life itself."

Royal Grey Cologne {an all botanical earl grey scent} ~ "Earl Grey Tea is one of the beautiful ‘perfumes’ of the culinary world, so it’s no wonder so many clients have requested an Earl Grey fragrance over the years. There are many interpretations of this famous tea; some quite bright and others deeper with especially dry undertones. I am delighted to have come to my own design after exploring many Earl Grey Teas and its myriad facets. Royal Grey Cologne, with its bergamot intensity bears much in common with the traditional ‘cologne’ style but combined with the dense richness and liquor / floraclcy of black tea, it becomes unique, aromatic and luscious."

Vers la Voute Etoilée {Towards the Starry Vault} :: Nocturne no.2 ~ "I’m thrilled to introduce you to the second in my series of Nocturnes : Vers la Voute Étoilée (Towards the Starry Vault). The instant that I learned of this phrase through a wonderful piece of music, I was enthralled. Yes! This needs to be a perfume! (What better way of contemplating the glorious night sky than this?) For this perfume I was not only inspired by the musical work (written as a symphonic poem) but also the period in which it was produced: the 1930’s. Vers la Voute Étoilée, the fragrance, has a wonderful retro feel as it is technically an aldehydic chypre, but there are such rich florals and spice elements that it also could be defined as a floriental. This is a design that I have been working on for over 4 years; developing the lush night scented stock accord that dominates the heart, made all the more exotic by star jasmine, stargazer lily, and a black petunia accord."

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Au Crépuscule de Lavande, Avocado Toast, Gardénia Vitreux, Le Jade, Royal Grey Cologne and Vers la Voute Etoilée are available in a variety of concentrations, sizes and formats, for more information see the website.

(via dshperfumes)

* Note: I am perpetually behind, so in addition to the above, DSH has released a number of limited edition fragrances ("Heirloom Elixirs") that have gone off the market before I got around to announcing them. The one that is still on sale, Sharkskin, will be reviewed by Jessica later today.

Possibly of interest