Last night, Michelyn Camen, editor in Chief at Cafleurebon, made me a wonderful surprise and gift offering me an award on the website Cafleurbon. I wish to express my thanks for her consideration and her infinite passion for the world of perfumes.
The year 2011 was an excellent year and the huge number of perfume launches should not makes us anxious about a certain decline of this magnificent universe. On the contrary, it's bubbling with creation, ideas and passions as it was rarely the case in the past. Creation today is on an extremely fertile ground, however I must recognize that it is not at all easy to keep a global picture and find the right path, the one which is entirely devoted to beauty. I am absolutely convinced that the most beautiful years are about to come. The fragmentation of the market and the flood of perfumes should not worry anybody, on the contrary, it's the best thing because it means the end of the "image" monopole. Creators had the possibility to experiment so many things which will allow them in the next future to produce amazing creations when they will be asked. Even the public is more mature today because what was called in the past "niche perfumes'" is not something hidden or unknown. A consumer can choose today if he will buy a mass-market creation done for millions of other consumers or something unique and special. Following the idea of Michelyn, I made also a selection of things that I consider today as the best perfumes of 2011. Because I wrote almost everyday and probably I should have written at least 3 times a day to express the fabulous things under our nose, I will be rather short and will avoid the worst elements of 2011 in terms of perfumes. The names in the Top 8 of the best perfumes and ideas are ordered according to their importance.
Best perfumes 2011
Albertissime (code name Firmenich, not on the market yet)Santal blush (Tom Ford)
Mon parfum chéri (Annick Goutal)
Prada Candy (Prada)
Myrrhiad (Pierre Guillaume)
Lapsang Ylang (code name Givaudan, not on the market yet)
Chambre noire (Olfactive Studio)
Bottega Veneta (Bottega Veneta)
Best perfumers 2011
Yann Vasnier and Rodrigo Flores-Roux for ArquisteAlberto Morillas for "Hedione 50 years" (a future article will be devoted to "Splendione")
Olivier Polge for Balenciaga
Francis Kurkdjian for his anniversary perfume
Best new brand 2011
Arquiste (the entire line is absolutely fabulous)Best candles 2011
Arty - the line edited by Elisabeth de FeydeauBest collection of flankers 2011
Thierry Mugler Haute Cuisine (Angel, Alien and Womanity)Best trendy ingredients 2011
(not all were introduced in 2011) Koumalactone, Cascalone, Casmirone (Firmenich)
Mystikal, Karmaflor, Pashminol (Givaudan)
Filbertone, Terranol, Ambrostar (Symrise)
Narcisse abs DM (IFF - LMR)
Santal absolue (Albert Vieille)
Cypriol Coeur, Peuplier abs, Thé noir abs. (Robertet)
Read seaweed abs., Box tree abs., Licorice abs (Mane)
Black and Blue Hemlock abs (Cedarome)
Best perfume books 2011
(thanks to Givaudan we have two monuments of perfume science)Scent of the Vanishing Flora
by Roman KaiserScent and Chemistry: The Molecular World of Odors
by Gunther OhloffBest creative ideas (texts and events)
Alberto Morillas and the aesthetics of NatureOlivier Pescheux and his outstanding vision of the future
Firmenich for their new artistic dimension and outstanding innovation
Mane for their outstanding modern vision of natural ingredients and the constant reinvention of the classic palette (plus their catalogs, events and presentations)
You can read also BEST OF SCENT 2011 on Cafleurebon (and perfume draw).
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Fragrance is the 8th Art - Octavian Coifan - Le Parfum est le 8ème Art
