Plus the already mentioned La Religieuse from Serge Lutens.  I haven’t been swept away since Fille de Berlin so fingers crossed for this one, although Persolaise  described it as a soapy floral, so I’m not sure if this one is going to appeal either.  Anyway I’m definitely giving it a whirl when those samples are released.  Lutens perfumes always tell a story and indeed these inspired tales of religion, loss, life and death cast a shadow over his  creations.

“C’est un jasmin pur et cristallin avec un fond de civette, plus animal, vous diront les spécialistes. Pour moi, elle incarne la pureté sensuelle de la féminité. Celle qui m’obsède depuis toujours. Une femme glacée qui brûle les doigts. Le bien et le mal à la fois. Comme la neige. Blanche, intacte, mais qu’on a envie de piétiner. La Religieuse, c’est moi.”

My very rough translation of this.  (I’m no French expert) : It is a pure and crystalline jasmine with a civet background, more animalic, the experts will say. For me, it embodies the sensual purity of femininity. One that has always obsessed me.  An icy woman who burns her fingers.  Good and evil at the same time.  Like the snow.  White, intact but we want to trample it.  The nun, that is me.

Chanel is adding another perfume to its Les Exclusives collection.  It is named Misia, after Misia Sert, a gal pal of Chanel’s and has been described by Grain de Musc as “a gorgeously sensuous lipstick note on a furry, balsamic base.”  The notes have been listed as comprising of violet, iris, orris root, Turkish rose and rose from Grasse, benzoin and tonka bean.

This will be the first creation for Olivier Polge at Chanel, who has been welcomed into the familial fold by his father Jacques Polge.  He has already created many blockbuster perfumes (Dior Homme, Valentino Uomo,  Invictus, Flowerbomb with Carlos Benaim and Domitille Berthier, and La Vie Est Belle with Dominique Ropion and Anne Flipo ) as well as niche classics (Cuir Beluga for Guerlain) so I’m really interested to see how his obvious talents will enhance Chanel‘s line up.  Here’s hoping that when he takes the reins, he will add some glamour to the brand and not play it too safe.  Chanel hasn’t had an interesting release in the regular line for a while now and needs an injection of creativity.

L’Artisan Parfumeur is adding a perfume to its regular line called Rose Privée, a blend of Rose de Mai from Grasse, carnation, magnolia, lilac, basil, violet, patchouli and hay.  L’Artisan mainstay Bertrand Duchaufour and his Grasse apprentice Stéphanie Bakouche have created this scent. It will be available in 50ml and 100ml bottles from April.

French perfume house Teo Cabanel makes refined, well crafted perfumes and is releasing Lace Garden a feminine floral to its range.  It is priced slightly higher than its stable mates and will be available in 50ml and 100ml bottles.  I really love Alahine a beautiful floral amber and Oha an elegant dark rose.  Their perfumes  smell slightly old school French, and indeed many of them are in fact old blends as this is a restored historic perfume house.  It will be interesting to see what direction they take with their new releases.

“The delicate scents of white flowers have woven a veil of soft lace as an ode to timeless feminine grace. Let yourself be swept away by just its touch of light lemon ylang-ylang. Now lean closer into the heart of a lavish bouquet of jasmine, orange blossom and tuberose where mysterious magnolia awaits to be discovered.”