Mecca Cosmetica
Diana Vreeland’s grandson, Alexander Vreeland visited Australia launching the Diana Vreeland fragrance collection into Mecca stores Australia-wide. The colourful bottles feature statement tassels and are named with flamboyant fashion words – a fitting homage to Diana, the fashion icon’s life and career. The fragrances present raw materials in a new light. Absolutely Vital – sheer and feminine sandalwood, Daringly Different – an oud accord softened with iris, Full Gallop references Diana’s love for dance and ballet with heliotrope in the spotlight. A love of Capri is captured in the citrus, Smashingly Brilliant whilst Perfectly Marvelous contrasts sandalwood against airy summer jasmine, inspired by the scent wafting into a window in Tunisia.
Sapphire: The Scent
The Strand Arcade’s Courtesy of the Artist Loft was host for the launch of The Invisible Accessory Project’s first fragrance, Sapphire: The Scent. The launch was part of the Rare Earth Australian Made exhibition and collection, an annual exhibit of Australian gemstones and jewelry by six artists. The Australian made fragrance utilizes four key Australian ingredients; brown boronia absolute, kunzia, Australian sandalwood and southern rosalina. Boronia was ‘set’ into a bright mix of citruses and the remaining Australian materials were tamed with violet leaf, sandalwood, labdanum and lavendin absolute. The fragrance, by Ainslie Walker for Courtesy of the Artist is available from Courtesy of the Artist on level 3 of The Strand Arcade, along with ongoing monthly perfume making workshops. www.courtesyoftheartist.com
Exclusive to Peony Melbourne Haute Parfumerie
Naomi Goodsir added Nuit de Bakélite to the collection, exclusive to Peony. The fragrance is Naomi and perfumer Isabelle Doyle’s unique take on Tuberose and is an evolving and enchanting green leather – a reference to Naomi’s millinery work and the Bakelite caps on her 1950’s French glass bottles. Marc-Antoine Barrois, a French couturier for men has launched his first Eau de Parfum, B683 which transports the wearer into his fantasy universe, brought to reality by perfumer Quintin Bisch. Already selling fast, I’m sure we will be hearing more from the brand. Jill Timms, Peony owner, also travelled to Pitti where she met with her suppliers, including Santa Maria Novella and Ormonde Jayne, educating herself on developments to share with her loyal customers on her return.
Australia’s Tasmanian Boronia on trend in perfumery
Boronia Absolute, a precious and rare material is one of the most expensive ingredients on the market. Most famously in 1956 boronia was used as a heart note in Dior’s Diorissimo, a supporting note rather than a hero. 2017 sees the beginning of a wave of boronia-focused fragrances, an absolute that adds woody, fruity, spicy and floral nuances.
Perfumery Workshops – Melbourne
September saw the first Scentsmith perfume making workshops in Melbourne. The 3-hour class introduced more than 40 individual raw materials to attendees, creating their own perfumers’ organ, specific to the day. They then created their own perfume briefs and bottle of perfume from up to 100 raw materials. Perfume making workshops are available to individuals, companies and small groups in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and regional. For further information please email scentsmith@scentsmith.com.au
Grandiflora Boronia
Grandiflora travelled to Florence for Pitti Fragranze in September to launch their new fragrance, Boronia by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour. The fragrance celebrates boronia megastigma commonly known as brown boronia. As expected, floral artist Saskia Havekes set the magical display for the fragrance in a huge sea of flowers and botanicals, recreating their ‘floral cave’ back home in Sydney’s Potts Point.
Goldfield and Banks is working on a fragrance featuring Boronia in their country luxe collection in the new year.