Indie natural line Aftelier will launch Haute Claire in July:
This name suggested by Nathan Branch refers to a famous sword from 12th century French literature…
Aftelier Perfumes Parfum Prive ~ fragrance review
What kind of fragrance does a perfumer make for herself? When someone has smelled through the full range of olfactory materials and has the skill to compose something personal, what is it? In the case of Mandy Aftel of Aftelier Perfumes, it’s a dense, sophisticated floral oriental built on real ambergris, a perfume she calls “the most extravagant in my collection.” Fittingly, she named it Parfum Privé.
A few years ago I saw Aftel speak in New York City. Her casual, down-to-earth appearance set her apart from many of the high-heeled, artfully coiffed perfume industry women I’d soon meet at the Fifi semi-finalists’ awards breakfast. She was friendly but not pandering, and smart but not pretentious. My impression was she had nothing to prove, but was happy to share her love of natural perfumery if you were interested enough to listen.
Aftel said her route to becoming a perfumer wasn’t straightforward…
Top 10 Winter Fragrances 2011
Fall? Bah, humbug. I’m a summer person. The best thing I can say about fall is that at least it isn’t winter yet.
That’s me a couple of years ago, opening the Top 10 of Fall by complaining that it wasn’t summer. Imagine how I feel now. There is nothing good I can say about winter except that at least it’s already part of the way over. So, let’s move on to the perfume, shall we?
Citrus. Angie recommends avoiding citrus in winter; instead, she says you should find a good tropical fragrance to psych yourself out of the winter doldrums. She’s right that citrus doesn’t really have the same effect when you’re wearing several layers of warm clothing, but it cheers me up all the same — some winters, I wear an awful lot of citrus. I’m including two in this category. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Pamplemousse is cheerful, reasonably long-lasting, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. As an added bonus, it layers nicely with just about anything. Aftelier’s Candide costs more (and is perhaps more accurately termed a citrusy floral), but it’s so happy, it makes me smile just to think about it…
Holiday fragrance gifts 2010, part 5 ~ indie edition
More gift ideas, this time featuring some indie brands. If you missed them, see part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 of this year’s gift series.
From Aftelier, a vintage two-sided enamel cloisonne compact (“Exquisite enamel cloisonne compact with mirror framed with brass rope inside lid. Blue and white enamel framed in brass creating geometric pattern on lid and base. Side has floral ribbon pattern.”) to be filled with 7.5 ml of the solid perfume of your choice, $325-550…
Aftelier Honey Blossom, Memento, Wildflowers ~ new fragrances
Indie natural line Aftelier has launched three new fragrances. Honey Blossom and Memento are liquid perfumes; Wildflowers is a solid perfume…