Tovah and I went on Saturday and had ourselves a great time. Hope some of the other So Cal BNers can join us next year.
Rather than give the play-by-play version (which was taking me too long to write), I thought I'd give some highlights and (just a few) lowlights. It seemed to make sense, coming from LA--land of the awards ceremonies--to use the awards format.
So here we go:
*Best presentation: Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfumes. Her genuine passion for plants, botanical fragrances, and the environment really shone.
Favorite Roxana frags: Q (a gorgeous woody frag based on the California oak) and Rosa (wild rose), both from her Californica series.
*Best up-and-coming perfumer: Kristen Michele of Kristen Michele Parfumeur. Her samples were generous and presented beautifully, and her inspiration classic French fragrances. She was also very down-to-earth and very interested in feedback by perfumistas.
Favorite KMP frags: Epice Orientale, a smooth, subtle, balanced and incredibly long-lasting floriental; and Fleurs Blanches, a very ladylike white-flower fragrance.
*Best sale reps: Strange Invisible Perfumes (knowledgeable and patient); L'Artisan and Diptyque (generous with samples).
*Least favorite sales rep: the rep for Serge Lutens, who was the same SA at Barney's from several weeks earlier (she hovered the entire time and attempted to discourage me from trying Carnal Flower, saying she didn't like it). I saw her and ducked, but Tovah was kind enough to grab me some samples.
*Nicest perfumista (besides Tovah, of course): Raphaella, editor-in-chief of Sniffapalooza magazine. A sweet lady and, of course, very knowledgeable.
*Best new release tested: Nani by Saffron James - finally, a pikake that doesn't shout at me.
*Best releases that were new to my skin:
Ellie by Ellie D. (another great Michel Roudnitska);
Amouage Homage (where are lottery winnings when you need them?)
Czech & Speake Cuba (delicious boozy tobacco floral)
i Profumi di Firenze Ambra di Nepal (an absolutely gorgeous amber laced with cardamom and vanilla)
*Best schwag: Tied between
- Apothia goodie bag (good sized-bottles of several fragrances, including Kai and
Acqua Motu; Diptyque candle; and lots of samples)
- Strange Invisible Perfumes, which gave us a FB ($175 retail) and the softest organic T-shirt
*Best supporting role: unscented baby wipes
Rather than give the play-by-play version (which was taking me too long to write), I thought I'd give some highlights and (just a few) lowlights. It seemed to make sense, coming from LA--land of the awards ceremonies--to use the awards format.
So here we go:
*Best presentation: Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfumes. Her genuine passion for plants, botanical fragrances, and the environment really shone.
Favorite Roxana frags: Q (a gorgeous woody frag based on the California oak) and Rosa (wild rose), both from her Californica series.
*Best up-and-coming perfumer: Kristen Michele of Kristen Michele Parfumeur. Her samples were generous and presented beautifully, and her inspiration classic French fragrances. She was also very down-to-earth and very interested in feedback by perfumistas.
Favorite KMP frags: Epice Orientale, a smooth, subtle, balanced and incredibly long-lasting floriental; and Fleurs Blanches, a very ladylike white-flower fragrance.
*Best sale reps: Strange Invisible Perfumes (knowledgeable and patient); L'Artisan and Diptyque (generous with samples).
*Least favorite sales rep: the rep for Serge Lutens, who was the same SA at Barney's from several weeks earlier (she hovered the entire time and attempted to discourage me from trying Carnal Flower, saying she didn't like it). I saw her and ducked, but Tovah was kind enough to grab me some samples.
*Nicest perfumista (besides Tovah, of course): Raphaella, editor-in-chief of Sniffapalooza magazine. A sweet lady and, of course, very knowledgeable.
*Best new release tested: Nani by Saffron James - finally, a pikake that doesn't shout at me.
*Best releases that were new to my skin:
Ellie by Ellie D. (another great Michel Roudnitska);
Amouage Homage (where are lottery winnings when you need them?)
Czech & Speake Cuba (delicious boozy tobacco floral)
i Profumi di Firenze Ambra di Nepal (an absolutely gorgeous amber laced with cardamom and vanilla)
*Best schwag: Tied between
- Apothia goodie bag (good sized-bottles of several fragrances, including Kai and
Acqua Motu; Diptyque candle; and lots of samples)
- Strange Invisible Perfumes, which gave us a FB ($175 retail) and the softest organic T-shirt
*Best supporting role: unscented baby wipes
.)
