Yves Saint Laurent has launched Paris Premières Roses, their yearly limited edition springtime flanker for the brand’s well-known Paris fragrance.1 This year’s Edition Anniversaire celebrates the 20th oops, make that 30th! anniversary of Paris, which launched in 1983…
A few weeks ago, Robin posted an update to her much-loved post 100 Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try, adding twenty-five more fragrances worth seeking out. Angela has pitched in with a tempting selection of 25 Vintage Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try, while Kevin has expanded our view with a list of 50 Masculine Fragrances. And what’s my “beat” here on Now Smell This? I’ve always gravitated towards florals, particularly rose-based perfumes, so I’ll do my part with a run-down of some must-try rose scents.
Annick Goutal was one of my “gateway” houses into perfume obsession, partially because it offers several rose-inspired fragrances. Rose Absolue is the most “true” rose of the group. It brings together essences of six different roses (May, Turkish, Bulgarian, Damascus, Egyptian, and Moroccan) into a radiant bouquet…
More limited edition collector fragrance bottles, with the usual disclaimers: in most of these cases, the juice is unchanged, just the bottle is “special” (or not, as the case may be), and some of these may not be available in the US.
From Lalique, the 2013 collector’s edition of Lalique de Lalique: “For this 2013 Limited Edition Crystal Libellule, the bottle showcases an extraordinary dragonfly cloaked in black. The generously sculpted clear bottle is decorated with delicately hand—polished concentric circles, repeated waves of water on which the body of the beautiful dragonfly rests, plunging into the delicious fragrant nectar. A double pair of gracefully outstretched wings draws on an alternating interplay of shine and matte crystal. This entire satin finishing, paired with the geometry of the wings creates a veil of crystal in the Art Deco style.” $1800 for 100 ml Extrait de Parfum at Neiman Marcus…
Actress Jessica Chastain for the new Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto. Below the jump, le making of.
Two years ago I stood in line over two hours outside the Petit Palais to see the Yves Saint Laurent retrospective. It was a warm spring morning, and as I looked down at the fawn-colored gravel at my feet, I wondered if I should be squandering my scant time in Paris waiting in line. I did, and it was worth it. For me, Yves Saint Laurent combined emotion and elegance in his designs. A woman wearing his clothing was always properly dressed, but YSL’s wit and passion — he didn’t shy away from hot pink and hearts — stirred a little of the bohemian into the bourgeois. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz does the same in her fragrances for Denver’s Yves Saint Laurent Exhibition. Ligne Trapèze and Le Smoking are my favorites.
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz created six fragrances to complement the YSL exhibition. Three of them — The Beat Look, Euphorisme d’Opium, and La Vie en Rose — summon Yves Saint Laurent Y, Opium, and Paris respectively. (I only tested these briefly, but The Beat Look especially begs for more wear.) The other three fragrances were inspired by iconic YSL designs. An evening coat sparked Ma Plus Belle Histoire d’Amour, an airy wisteria and linden fragrance. Ligne Trapèze stemmed from YSL’s 1958 collection “Trapèze,” and Le Smoking from the iconic Tuxedo-inspired pant suit for women which he launched in 1966 and featured in several couture and prêt-à-porter collections after…