Five Niche Fragrances I Love

Fragrance is such an integral part of a beauty routine, it is often a reflection of our personalities and essentially an extension of ourselves. When choosing a signature scent, everyone wants to have one that is uniquely their own. Therefore I love these artistic and one-of-a-kind scent offerings below that you might never have heard of before but should totally get your noses on. They will leave a memorable trail that’ll linger in the air for you and others to enjoy. Whether it’s a soft and feminine rose or a deep or a seductive vanilla, find your ultimate signature scent that is uniquely you with these niche luxury fragrances. Here are five that I adore:

Moresque
OROLUNA

An ethereal, mystical and unisex fragrance inspired by the one essential, yet elusive element of life: air. Oriental, feminine, yet masculine with an incense accord.

Top notes: cardamom, pink pepper, grapefruit
Heart notesTurkish rose, geranium, cedarwood, patchouli
Base notes: incense, agarwood, sandalwood, oakmoss, labdanum, musks

50ml Eau de Parfum for CHF 372.00

Philly & Phill
BOUDOIR BELLE

New and reminiscent of my beloved Teint de Neige below, but more alive. The final touch of your look, giving you confidence and gets you ready to be admired for your unparalleled class and femininity. Powdery and sensual.

Top notes: hawthorn, aldehyde
Heart notes: rose, ylang-ylang
Base notes: benzoin, musk, vanilla

100ml Eau de Parfum for CHF 214.00

Lorenzo Villoresi
TEINT DE NEIGE

My all-time favorite, my signature scent. A soft, gentle, enveloping fragrance, recalling images and atmosphere of the belle-époque. Sweet and powdery.

Top notes: jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang, sweet, powdery and floral notes
Middle notes: tonka bean, jasmine, rose, sweet, powdery and floral notes
Base notes: jasmine, rose, heliotrope, musk, sweet, powdery and floral notes

100ml Eau de Parfum for CHF 170.00

Blend Oud Private Collection
SANA

A fragrance for the an independent and combative woman. The sweet base notes remind me of the kindness and delicacy that can still be found even in the most warlike woman. A truly yummy gourmand.

Top notes: bergamot, blood orange, lavender
Heart notes: jasmine, cinnamon, licorice
Base notes: musk, vanilla, caramel

60ml Eau de Parfum for CHF 185.00

PROFVMVM ROMA
SORRISO

The taste of life and the enthusiasm of an embrace will make you smile radiently. Gourmand and woody – an unbeatable combination. You will easily become addicted.

Top notes: bitter chocolate
Heart notes: bitter orange
Base notes: vanilla, tropical woods

100ml perfume for CHF 300.00

In Switzerland, all these fragrances are available at Perfumery Osswald.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

My Favourite Niche Fragrances

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I have to admit that I am a total fragrance addict. Scent is such an important part of your identity. It communicates more than your clothes because one can smell you without having eye contact or talking to you.

We all know the big perfume blockbuster brands, but there are plenty of niche fragrance houses which deserve attention as they use very luxurious ingredients. And after all, who likes to smell the same as everybody else? Today, I would like to show you my eight favorite perfumes that you could call my personal signature scents, like my wardrobe of fragrances.

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KILIAN, Love, Don’t be Shy, Eau de Parfum, 50ml
Oriental – gourmand and seductive
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Top notes: Bergamot
Middle notes: Honeysuckle, Iris
Base notes: Civet Oil

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TOM FORD Noir Pour Femme, Eau de Parfum, 50ml
Oriental Floral – sensual and extravagant
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Top notes: Citrus, Spice and Bergamot
Middle notes: Rose Absolute, Mandarin and Jasmine
Base notes: Sandalwood and Vanilla

LouangesProfanes

PARFUMERIE GENERALE N°19 Louanges Profanes, Eau de Toilette, 50ml
Floral Oriental – fresh and powdery

Top notes: Neroli and Hawthorn
Middle notesWhite Lily and Incense
Base notes: Benzoe and Guaiac Wood

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MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN À La Rose, Eau de Parfum, 70ml
Floral – another interpretation of a rose
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Top notes: Damascena Rose from Bulgaria and Centifolia Rose from Grasse, Pear and Lychee
Middle notes: Violet and Magnolia Blossom
Base notes: Cedarwood

420988_in_xlARQUISTE PARFUMEUR Flor Y Canto, Eau de Parfum, 55ml
Floral – intense and intoxicating

Top notesMexican Tuberose
Middle notes: Plumeria and Magnolia
Base notes: Marigold

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iconBYREDO Blanche, Eau de Parfum, 100ml
Floral Aldehyde – the perception of the color white

Top notesWhite Roses, Pink Pepper and Aldehydes
Middle notes: Violet, Neroli and Peony
Base notes: Blond Wood, Sandalwood and Musk

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LORENZO VILLORESI Teint de Neige, Eau de Toilette, 100ml
Floral – powdery and delicate like the color of snow

Top notesJasmine, Rose and Ylang Ylang
Middle notes: Tonka Bean, Jasmine, Rose, Floral Notes and Powder Notes
Base notes: Jasmine, Rose, Heliotrope and Musk

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PROFVMVM ROMA Soavissima, Eau de Parfum, 100ml
White Floral – feminine and rich

Top notes: White Flowers
Middle notes: Amber
Base notes: Iris

OSSWALD_Faszination Duft III_KEY_final

If you are living in Switzerland, I truly recommend you the Osswald Night of Fragrances that will take place on October, 15 2015 between 6 and 10 pm at Schloss Sihlberg, Sihlberg 10, 8002 Zurich.

Six exclusive perfume brands will present their world in different rooms of the castle, among them two of my favorites Pierre Guillaume (Parfumerie Générale) and the Durante Family (Profvmvm Roma).

Tickets are available for CHF 25.00 at Perfumery Osswald, Bahnhofstr. 17, 8001 Zurich or online.

See you there!

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

The Art of Perfumery: Lorenzo Villoresi

Lorenzo Villoresi-1

Lorenzo Villoresi

Lorenzo Villoresi

As you might already know, I love perfume, especially extraordinary fragrances.
In the beginning of September, I was very lucky to visit one of the most outstanding perfumers worldwide in his studio overlooking the rooftops of Florence: Lorenzo Villoresi.

Me in front of the stunning view overlooking Florence

Me in Mr Villoresi's office

This view is truly inspiring, as well as his laboratory is where you are only guided by your senses. „I wanted to realize a dream. Spices and essences have always fascinated me. Perfumery became my passion and later on my profession“.


In the atelier in front of Villoresi's library of scents with over 2000 essences

In the atelier in front of Villoresi's library of scents with over 2000 essences.

His talent is not the fruit of specialised schools or master perfumers, but one which developed gradually thanks to his university studies in Biblical Philology and Ancient Philosophy, which in turn led him to travel extensively in the Middle East.

The experiences he gained there combined with the natural products  of his native Tuscany make his creations so special.

In 1990, he fulfilled his vision and founded his Maison of Perfume in an ancient palace in Via dei Bardi in Florence where he focuses on the great traditions of Florentine perfumery and the original methods which have been used in this craft for many years.

In 2006, he won as the first Italian and independent creator of fragrances, the prestigious Prix Coty, which can only be awarded once in a perfumer’s lifetime.

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LorenzoVilloresi2Donna and Uomo were the names given to Lorenzo Villoresi’s first collection, after which he focused on the creation of monothematic fragrances which included his own personal interpretations of classic themes such as Musk, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Incenses, Spices, Vetiver and Wild LavenderThose classic fragrances come in the blue bottles.

The green packaging stands for the Olea Europaea collection that is based on olive-oil offering products for the body, bath and hair.

LorenzoVilloresi1His so-called fantasy fragrances currently draw inspiration from actual „olfactory visions“ which conjure up exotic and mystical worlds, moods and settings, including among others:

the suggestive Piper Nigrum (fresh, aromatic, spicy and peppery with reminiscences of oriental and arab markets),

the warm Alamut (rich, opulent and velvety flowers of a Thousand and One Nights, a sensual journey to the Orient),

and my absolut favourite, the sophisticated Teint de Neige, „the colour of snow“.

My Teint de Neige collection

My Teint de Neige collection

Teint de Neige consists of  powdery and sweet notes of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang on a base of musk, Tonka beans and heliotrope. The  aroma is delicately permeated by the richness of the natural extracts of precious flowers, recalling the light, images and atmosphere of the belle-époque.

A whole range of products is available from shower gel to body cream, from scented candles to room fragrances featuring this wonderful scent.



Getting to know Villoresi during the process of creating your personalised fragrance.

Getting to know Villoresi during the process of creating your personalised fragrance.

If you have always dreamt of having your own custom-made fragrance, Lorenzo Villoresi’ s atelier would be the place to go. During your appointment, you are spending 2-3 hours approximately with the artist himself. Your „tailor-made“ fragrance is then the result of a direct exchange between you and him; desires, words and feelings are processed together and transformed into a perfume.
Villoresi becomes a sort of Demiurge who, through his intellectual capacity and technical skills, can translate the essence of an ambition, dream or adventure into a fragrant product.


At the end of your appointment the personalised fragrance will be consigned to you. The price starts from €3600.-.
You have different options to choose from. One could be for example that you get the following:

1 Perfume 30ml in a crystal bottel with sterling silver top and label
1 Perfume 30ml in a glass bottle
1 blown glass funnel
1 velvet pouch
1 Exclusive fragrance certificate
1 Eau de Toilette 100ml in an extra bottle, with silver plated top and label
1 Eau de Toilette 100ml in  a glass bottle


Villoresi describes his Haute Couture of the Senses like this: „ A perfume should provide a privileged insight into your own personal essence, a clue to your innermost thoughts and journeys of the soul; a door which can either be kept locked or left wide open, leading to opportunities, games and seduction.“
The genius could probably use a perfume rather than words to describe how he feels and also mentiones: „Perfumery is an unlimited world. In the creation of a scent it is possible to recall a feeling or a place, to move to an imaginary space or to invent new emotional dimensions“.

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Lorenzo Villoresi also offers a wide range of wonderful home products from pot pourris and scented sachets to jars and dishes to exalt the beauty of your chosen fragranced leaves and woods. Scented candles are also available along with aromitizers and room fragrances with reed diffusers (launched last month).

Two new creations were introduced last year: the incense and perfumed crystals. Conceived from a deep knowledge and love for the Orient, they have been created for perfuming living spaces in a sophisticated way.

Incense
Incense

Interesting to know is that the term “perfume” comes from Per-Fumum: through smoke, referring to the sacred fumigations to offer thanks to the gods. The incense has always been linked to the world of perfume and can create a magical atmosphere in any room.

incenso bastoncino acceso

 

The maestro is recently in the process of building the Academy of the Art of Perfume, the world’s first interactive atelier, dedicated to essences and perfumes.

In the ancient family Palace in Via dei Bardi, Villoresi realizes his long-life dream: a centre, split on three floors with an internal garden, aromatic terraces and botanical trails, divided according different themes and study areas, where visitors can discover and delve into the ancient secrets of the art of perfumery and spice hunting.

DoorbellVillloresiThe “wunderkammer” is said to open next year. I cannot wait to go there on a journey to stimulate my inner senses and to indulge in one of my biggest passions: perfumes!

If you are interested, Lorenzo Villoresi products are available through his online shop and in Zurich at Perfumery Osswald.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lorenzo Villoresi and © Sandra Bauknecht