Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Aftelier Perfumes: Prestigious Nomination for an Indie Brand


AFTELIER PERFUMES PRESTIGIOUS NOMINATION FOR AN INDIE BRAND

By Felicia Hazzard


I wrote a review on CANDIDE PERFUME (for women) by Aftelier Perfumes for Shesdaily a month ago. I was intrigued by the unique vision of Master Perfumer and owner, Mandy Aftel’s use of literature in a fragrance that gave voice to the novel written by VOILTAIRE in the 18Th century. Ms. Aftel uses the voice of VOILTAIRE’S most famous book, CANDIDE to create her version of the story with brilliance in the form of a perfume. This particular review is on two more of Mandy Aftel’s creations and that is HONEY BLOSSOM PERFUME and LUMIERE EAU DE PARFUM. It gives me with great pleasure to announce that CANDIDE, HONEY BLOSSOM AND LUMIERE have all been nominated for the prestigious 2011 FIFI AWARD created by The Fragrance Foundation (New York). If you are not familiar with The FIFI AWARDS then let me briefly explain. Each year The FIFI AWARDS celebrate perfumes and give perfume OSCARS which honors the fragrance industry’s creative achievements and is the most prominent and celebrated event in the fragrance industry. These awards are given in various categories such as WOMEN’S FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR-LUXE, MEN’S FRAGRANCE OF THE YEAR-LUXE, BOTTLE DESIGN, ADVERTISING, etc., but this year, the INDIE BRAND has been included and has been dominated by Mandy Aftel’s three perfume creations. On April 8, 2011, The FIFI AWARDS will organize an event in honor of this year’s nominations (FIFI Finalist Breakfast). Later, the actual finalist announcement will take place on May 25, 2011 in New York City. This star-studded event is attended by thousands such as celebrities, members of the international fragrance community, designers and others from the fashion, film and television industries. HONEY BLOSSOM PERFUME (women) is a beautiful sweet sensation that is a honeyed floral honeysuckle fragrance that makes me swoon with its magnetic notes that smells of dripping honey right out of the honey jar. You know the kind the Winnie the Pooh eats so succulently with his robust finger. Featured Notes: Top Notes: mimosa, linden blossom, CO2 Heart Notes: orange blossom absolute, phenyl ethyl alcohol Base Notes: ambergris, benzoin LUMIERE EAU DE PARFUM (women) is a “light” and elegant floral designed to feel like fine silk on the skin. It is based on green tea which is not only good for the body but LUMIERE EAU DE PARFUM is good on the body. Just a small amount broaden into a billow of plush floral that is good for day and evening and with the gentle breeze, you can smell the fragrance follow you wherever you go. Featured Notes: Top Notes: phenyl ethyl acetate Heart Notes: honeysuckle, blue lotus, boronia Base Notes: green tea, ambergris The bottom line is that natural perfumes are finally getting the recognition it deserves. Grant it, this has been an art form since Ancient Egypt when incense was the first form of perfumery. It is wonderful to see that individual artistic form of expression is being represented at the fragrance industry’s most prestigious event. What other way should it be, if natural perfumery is not a part, then do we really need a ‘fragrance award’? Aftelier Perfumes is the beginnings of many natural perfume nominations for the FIFI AWARDS but for now let us Congratulate, Mandy Aftel for entering The FIFI AWARDS and helping give back the “starring voice” of natural perfumery that was lost. PURCHASE: aftelier.com Note: The bottles shown of CANDIDE, HONEY BLOSSOM AND LUMIERE ARE ¼ ounces but these fragrances come in various sizes. PHOTO CREDIT: The Fragrance Foundation (fragrance.org), aftelier.com