Cinquieme Sens

In my wildest dreams, I travel to Paris and develop my love of perfume into a skill. I would imagine other perfume lovers have a similar dream. I am pleased to announce a school of perfumery, with primary headquarters based in Paris, near the Eiffel Tower! How lucky for us that this school is offering courses in the United States. A jaunt to New York City is all it takes!

Here are some details regarding upcoming courses:

2 trainings depending on needs and interests:
- The Perfumer Palette (3 hours): an introductory session to measure olfactory abilities and acquire methods for memorizing odors. September 16, 2009
- Introduction to Technique and Language of Perfumery (2 days): an introduction to the universe of perfume from raw materials to fragrance classification. September 22-23, 2009

For more detailed information, please contact Laura at (212) 686-4135 or laura@cinquiemesense.com. Enjoy!!

Dear Readers

Hello Dear Readers,

The bad news: My daughter is now 5 and 1/2 months old and I am slowly, very slowly, adjusting to my new life with a baby. She takes top priority. And my old self has expired. I am no longer able to be the woman I was pre-Mommyhood! My outlook on life and priorities in life have changed drastically. With that said, I sincerely apologize for not being able to post as often as I, and mabye you, would like. My goal is to post once per week but I have not been able to keep up with even that in the last few months.

The good news: My love of fragrance and perfume remains intact! I hope that I can deliver on my once/week promise in the coming weeks. As always, thank you for your patience and loyalty. God bless you and yours.

Love,
Tamara

Bond No. 9's Stimulus Package!

Very rarely does a perfume house offer free perfume and this deal is too good to pass up!

Bring your empty bottles to any Bond No. 9 counter and you'll receive a refill - on them!

Visit Bond No. 9 Sunday, May 31 through Saturday, June 6 at any of the four Bond No. 9 New York City boutiques (9 Bond Street, 680 Madison Ave, 897 Madison Avenue and 399 Bleecker Street) or any Saks Fifth Avenue and receive a refill with a purchase of any two Bond No. 9 items. Here are the details:

Purchase any Bond No. 9 Scented Candles, the I Love New York Double Decker box of a dozen flacons, the Perfumista’s Custom Blending Box, the Bon Bon or Mini Bon Bon Boxes, Body Silk, Solid Perfume Token, OR any of Eaux de Parfum. And of course bring your empty fragrance flacons as well. Then make a purchase of any two of the above, and you will receive a quick refill. What a green idea to lift a perfumista's spirits!

Bond No. 9 Astor Place

Gemstone colors, warmer temperatures, shorts, sandals, sunscreen, cool, green grass, daffodils in bloom, fluffy clouds in a clear blue sky - all of these have one thing in common: they remind me of spring. I am pleased and honored to review the new offering from one of my favorite houses - Bond No. 9 Astor Place. It represents springtime in a bottle, although its inspiration comes from 4 Astor Place, New York, NY.

"Astor Place, the scent, an intoxicatingly fresh spring floral that starts out with a bold and unapologetically seductive freesia-poppy-violet leaf composition, and then simmers down into the smooth, steady notes of teakwood and musk. It's contemporary Downtown all right, with a lot of grace." Regarding this quote from the press release for the fragrance, I could not have said it better myself. In this case, the marketing description fits perfectly. Floral, flirtatious and graceful drescribe this fresh-as-cut-flowers scent that takes its name from an enclave housing a popular pub, rows of townhomes, a well-known theater and an avante-garde sculpture. They all conspire to create Astor Place - an area buzzing with activity, drawing skateboarders and hairstylists alike.

The juice itself is noteworthy with a long-lasting yet soft floral bouquet that quietly makes its presence known. Violet leaf gives it a freshness reminiscent of dawn on a spring day and although the teakwood and musk are present at the base, the fragrance as a whole possesses a squeaky clean quality. Astor Place would be a great addition to our Perfume for the Occasion: For the Office list for its smoothness, freshness and elegance. Astor Place is indeed a great choice as a Mother's Day gift. It reminds me of the tender, nurturing arms of a mother, a beautiful and graceful mother that is.

The magnificent bottle design, mimicking the mosaic lamp posts and geometric design of "the Cube" of Astor Place in lively spring colors, rounds out this offering from Bond No. 9. Very well done!

Bond No. 9 Astor Place is currently available at Bond No. 9 in two sizes: 100ml for $220 and 50ml for $145. A limited edition 100mL Swarovski crystal bottle is available for Mother's Day for $300.

Tom Ford Champaca Absolute

My inaugural review following the birth of my daughter needed to feature a fragrance I consider unique, posh and enjoyable. I am pleased to feature a Tom Ford creation for his Personal Blends Collection - a hearty floral with an edge - Champaca Absolute.

I must admit from its description I did not expect to like this fragrance. The notes appeared good enough in writing, but held little promise of captivating my newly evolved nose. (Pregnancy had a profound effect on my appreciation of spicier, heartier scents. I was mostly a floral girl prior to carrying a child.) By description, Champaca Absolute appeared a very heady and sweet floral. What I found instead after testing is a heady floral indeed, white in color, with a pinch of golden warmth, making it likeable and interesting enough to consider a purchase.

Its beginning reminds me of sweet fruit, although it is described by its creator as Tokajii wine and cognac. I experience this layer as succulent rather than intoxicating. However, the fragrance does offer an intoxicating effect which develops much later. Following the initial burst of sweetness, the exotic flowers bloom into being with Champaca leading the way and jasmine following closely behind. Heady, powdery and slightly tea-like, this ultra feminine stage of the fragrance turns heads and noses. A creamy undertone lurks as well, making it completely and utterly likeable, like the soft and enveloping petals of exotic white flowers. Finally, the base holds the golden warmth and intoxication I spoke of earlier, with vanilla bean, amber and marron glace (candied chestnuts) offering the flowers a bewitching quality. Altogether femine, warm and sweet, Champaca Absolute is a winner in my book and one that I envision adding to my collection. It asks to be worn on a cooler day, due to its sweetness, and is probably more appropriate for women than men. I am certain many men will enjoy its charms though!

Tom Ford Private Blend Collection Champaca Absolute is available at Nieman Marcus, $180.00-$450.00 for 50ml-250ml of Eau de Parfum.