"Joint Perception" - Byredo and Oliver Peoples
“Joint Perception” – Byredo and Oliver Peoples

Stockholm based niche fragrance house Byredo have teamed up with Californian sunglasses brand Oliver Peoples for a scented collaboration that pairs stylish eyewear with an equally fashionable fragrance. Inspired by the idea of synesthesia, the “joint perception of the senses”, where one can see colours or shapes when experiencing certain smells, a California-inspired fragrance was created to evoke the idea of a land seen through the varying shades of different coloured lenses. The result is a fragrance that is spicy, marine-like and warm, and in a link to the lense colours, is available in Byredo’s signature bottle shaded in either indigo, champagne or green to match the limited edition sunglasses.

“The conception of the collaboration was achieved through Byredo’s master perfume perceiving the sights of Los Angeles through different coloured lenses, and translating them into various smells, therefore producing a multi-faceted fragrance. This unique effort has resulted in an original frame designed by Oliver Peoples, through which the color of the lenses will correlate with the aroma of the custom blended fragrance by Byredo”

– Byredo/Oliver Peoples

"Joint Perception" Byredo
“Joint Perception” Byredo
"Joint Perception" Oliver Peoples
“Joint Perception” Oliver Peoples

Byredo and Oliver Peoples have created a space in the London department store Selfridges where customers can experience the fragrance, frames and lenses together. This retail space allows one to pick out the eyewear and fragrance bottle that speak to them, and is an interesting exercise in understanding what the individual eye is drawn to. Also, as we are so led by the marketing and packaging of our fragrances, it’s quite fascinating to see whether the fragrance itself is perceived differently when smelled in each of the three bottle shades. Does the indigo highlight the marine notes or does the champagne accentuate the warm sand? Intrigued by this, and the scent? Swing by on Monday for a full review.

A New Bohemia: Mimosa & Cardamom by Jo Malone London
A New Bohemia: Mimosa & Cardamom by Jo Malone London

This September, British fragrance brand, Jo Malone London are set to expand their cologne collection with the addition of ‘Mimosa & Cardamom‘.  Described as evoking a “new bohemia”, the fragrance was created by perfumer Marie Salamagne (Incense & Cedrat and Silk Blossom) pairs the spicy and exotic tones of cardamom with the plush, hazy tones of mimosa and tonka bean. The result is a well-travelled fragrance that displays a variety of textures and colours.

“A new bohemia awaits. Mists of honeyed, golden mimosa float above the spiciness of freshly crushed cardamom. Creamy tonka and sandalwood woven under powdery heliotrope and Damask rose picked at dawn. Warm, ethereal, mesmerising.”

– Jo Malone London

"The Reality of Love" - A Blend of Putain des Palaces and Dangerous Complicity
“The Reality of Love” – A Blend of Putain des Palaces and Dangerous Complicity

Serendipitously following my review of Putain des Palaces today, rebellious perfume punks Etat Libre d’Orange have announced the launch of their latest fragrance entitled, ‘True Lust Rayon Violet de ses Yeux‘. Launching 01 February online at Etat Libre d’Orange, True Lust is a blend of two popular fragrances within the brand’s collection, namely Dangerous Complicity, and the aforementioned Putain des Palaces. Bearing the tagline “the reality of love”, the fragrance is described as a “sweet and shocking folly”.

“When the Putain des Palaces enters into a Dangerous Complicity, a relationship is born. It is a marriage of mystery, an uneasy merger of hearts and minds and flesh. A blend of Putain des Palaces and Dangerous Complicity, a union of temptation and peril.”

– Etat Libre d’Orange

This launch comes hot on the heels of Etat Libre d’Orange’s big shift in direction, which saw them launch their first Cologne (and it really was a cologne) as well as their first flanker (Rien Intense Incense). All of which came after the brand launched a fragrance called La Fin du Monde (The End of the World) and stated that they may start doing things a little bit differently. Who knows what will be next? But for now, further details on True Lust are below the jump.

New from Penhaligon's: Ostara Eau de Toilette
New from Penhaligon’s: Ostara Eau de Toilette (Illustration: Melissa Bailey)

This spring, quintessentially British perfume house, Penhaligon’s will launch ‘Ostara’, the brand’s latest collaboration with venerable perfumer, Bertrand Duchaufour. Charting a fragrant journey of daffodil from “bulb to bud to bloom”, Ostara is described by the brand as a “modern interpretation” of an “incandescent flower”.

“An iconic feature of the British countryside, the daffodil symbolises the optimism and revival of spring. In 1802, the distinguished poet William Wordsworth wrote about a sea of daffodils in his poem, ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’. Excerpts have been included on the outer packaging of the fragrance to reflect the radiance of the flower.”

Lady Gaga Teases 'Eau de Gaga'
Lady Gaga Teases ‘Eau de Gaga’

Lady Gaga has released a teaser image shot by fashion photographer, Steven Klein for her new fragrance ‘Eau de Gaga‘. Few details have been released at present, but Gaga has stated on Twitter that the fragrance will be unisex, saying that Eau de Gaga is “inspired by the adventurous woman and the man who loves her”. Gaga further revealed that the base will contain notes of “sparkling water, lime and leather”, three ingredients that she claims to use on a daily basis.

Despite the fact that her most recent endeavours have suffered due to over-exposure, Lady Gaga is still an innovative and dynamic artist who likes to push the boundaries of pop music. Unfortunately, her debut perfume, ‘Fame‘, wasn’t anywhere near as avant-garde as Gaga would liked to have thought and in reality was nothing short of a disappointment. Let’s hope that Eau de Gaga delivers, although I cannot say that I hold out much hope…

Below the jump is an image of the rumoured bottle for Eau de Gaga.

The Trade Routes Collection from Penhaligon's
The Trade Routes Collection from Penhaligon’s

Quick off the back off the recent launch of their Bayolea fragrance and gentleman’s grooming range, Penhaligon’s are spoiling our noses with a brand new collection consisting of three historically-inspired fragrances. Launching in September, the three fragrances within this new collection are inspired by the “luxurious and decadent commodities which were traded through London’s historic docks at the turn of the 19th Century”.

“Piled high on the quaysides and arriving daily from the farthest flung corners of the globe in a burst of exoticism; the rarest treasures in dizzying abundance; London was the Warehouse of the World.”

– Penhaligon’s

Lara Stone for Stella McCartney
Lara Stone for Stella McCartney

Good news, folks! Stella McCartney is re-launching her eponymous fragrance, ‘Stella‘. The composition of the perfume, originally launched in 2003 and created by perfumer Jacques Cavallier (Alexander McQueen’s Kingdom, Issey Miyake’s Le Feu d’Issey and Yves Saint Laurent’s Nu), thankfully remains unchanged, whilst the bottle has undergone a very slight revamp with a number of new sizes available. Stella launches exclusively to Harrods in the UK today.

To celebrate this welcome relaunch (I’m a personal fan as it’s my beloved sister’s signature scent), Stella McCartney has teamed up with fashion photographers Mert & Marcus, and model Lara Stone to create a provocative print and television ad campaign that shows the woody rose fragrance in an entirely more edgy light. One image (NSFW, FYI) displays Stone completely nude and covered with strategically placed flacons, positioning Stella’s relaunch as entirely unmissable.

Check out the TV spot below the jump.

Daisy Dream
Daisy Dream

It’s hard to deny the power of Marc Jacobs’ popular fragrance, Daisy. Since its launch in 2007, the wispy floral has become a best seller and has found many fans, thanks in part to the super-cute vinyl flowers that adorn its bottle. It has spawned a family of spin offs and most of Jacobs’ fragrances since have tried to recapture the magic of the original, resulting in a family of vinyl clad bottles and airy juices.

For 2014, Marc Jacobs is launching the latest instalment in the Daisy narrative, the languid-sounding ‘Daisy Dream‘. Created by venerable perfumers, Alberto Morillas (the gent behind the original Daisy, Amouge’s Opus VII and Salvador Dali) and Ann Gottlieb (responsible for Marc Jacobs’ Lola and Sarah Jessica Parker’s Covet), Daisy Dream is a wistful and pastel-shaded perfume that seems to be made for long summer days under blue skies.

Created to present “an airy and ethereal new chapter in the story of Marc Jacob’s free-spirited Daisy”, Daisy Dream is a fruity floral fragrance with a subtle touch of gourmand. It’s accompanying film, directed by Jacobs’ friend, Sofia Coppola, is an otherworldy affair inspired by Coppola’s cult indie film ‘The Virgin Suicides’ and presents this fragrance as something surprisingly light and ghostly.

Bayolea
Bayolea – New from Penhaligon’s

Eccentric British fragrance brand, Penhaligon’s, have launched ‘Bayolea’, their new fragrance for men and an accompanying ‘Gentleman’s Grooming Range’. Recreated from a classic formula within the Penhaligon’s archive, Bayolea (and its accompanying grooming products) cater for all elements of the modern gent’s grooming ritual, and appear to be a more traditionally masculine entry in to the line.

Bayolea is described by Penhaligon’s Head of Global Marketing, Matthew Huband as being “wonderfully fresh and masculine”. The perfume, in limited edition candle form, was chosen to be the official fragrances of London Collections: Men 2014, earlier this year.

“I’m thrilled that we’re releasing this range, responding to our customers and applying a spritz of Penhaligon’s elegance to a modern grooming range. The fragrance is wonderfully fresh and masculine and I can’t wait to see it on the shelf (as well as in my bathroom!).”

– Matthew Huband,
Penhaligon’s Head of Global Marketing

New From John Varatos: Artisan Acqua
New From John Varvatos: Artisan Acqua

This August, American menswear designer, John Varvatos will launch Artisan Acqua, the third flanker to his popular Artisan fragrance launched in 2009. The fragrance, created by venerable perfume Rodrigo Flores-Roux (John Varvatos Artisan, Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino and Arquiste’s Flor y Canto), is a spicy/woody citrus perfume that reportedly “embodies the panache and leisure of the Mediterranean man who, without over thinking, achieves high style and an effortless nonchalance.” This limited edition fragrance perfume presented in a hand-woven rattan bottle, made from natural materials to give a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

“Artisan Acqua is the new and reinvigorated addition to the Artisan fragrances […] Inspired by a unity of artisanal craftsmanship and sophisticated technique, this fragrance is truly a one-of-a kind creation that brings to life the artisanal approach used in old Italian hand finishing and unique DNA of my collection.”

– John Varvatos