As you guys always ask me which perfumes I am wearing myself, I’d like to present you my current daytime fragrances. As you possibly may have noticed, I have a little baby boy born in January and therefore I can only wear light scents – sometimes even nothing.

My absolute favorite after a short night – one doesn’t really get a lot of sleep during the first months – is Absolue Pour le Matin by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. In this little cloud of freshness and ease I can smell a certain Nivea note which I totally love. Some time ago I have read an interview with perfumer Francis Kurkdjian in which he revealed that Nivea is his grooming staple. Absolue Pour le Matin has everything in it that I love: bergamot, lemon, neroli, thyme, lavender and a powdery violet.

Dahlia Noir L’Eau by Givenchy is the new kid in town. In this case the flanker is better than the original. I really love this cool, green scent which is so elegant and chic. Soft rose petals, peony, slightly tart lemon, some patchouli – gorgeous!

My Little, the smallest size of Chloé by Chloé is always in my handbag. I had loved this scent already when it came out but back then everybody seemed to wear it, so I waited and some Chloé releases later, I dare to wear it. It is an absolutely amazing clean rose scent which has an outstanding longevity. I have to buy a large bottle because I love the vial with the nude ribbon so much!

Unter den Linden by April Aromatics has healing vibes. When I am totally exhausted after a day with my little baby crying and not sleeping, I spritz a little bit of Unter den Linden and lean back. Silence, ease. All perfumes of April Aromatics are infused with precious stones that reveal a certain energy to the scents. Unter den Linden was infused with Herkimer diamond. By the way all ingredients are 100 per cent natural, if possible organic.

Last but not least my all time favorite: Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic by Guerlain. You can bathe in this perfume without smelling too intense. This scent has real power. Smells as if you squeeze a tangerine and add some green tea and basil. There is nothing better for hot weather. I’ve put it in the fridge to cool down.

About the picture above: I’ve arranged my collage on my favorite magazine Self Service. I really like the Charlotte Casiraghi issue.

Which are your favorite fragrances for the daytime?

Voilà, the new Rajasthan by Etro. I have been waiting for a long time to experience the Italian interpretation of India. I thought I would get an oriental perfume, of course, and was really surprised when I smelled something so delicate and shy. Soft, clean, powdery – it seems as if they have even added some ambroxan which I can only smell the next day. The rose is slightly sour, similar to Chloé, mixed with lemon and mimosa. The pink pepper adds a little spiciness but only as much as pink pepper is able to reveal in general. Somewhere hidden I sense a sandy wood. Amber and labdanum may sound oriental, but they are added sparingly. Hours later I can still smell some sugar with a hint of vanilla.

A very beautiful and silent perfume, nothing typically Indian, maybe an idea of cardamom which is not listed. Compared to the powerful, loud perfumes of Neela Vermeire in collaboration with Bertrand Duchaufour which are overflowing with metaphors, Rajasthan breaks ranks. The state of Rajasthan has mesmerized many brands and perfumers before. Take the wonderful Jaisalmer by Comme des Garçons which is inspired by the desert city Jaisalmer.

When I smell Rajasthan I rather picture a European beauty lying in the middle of nowhere at the poolside of a luxurious desert resort. Rajasthan is an absolutely wearable scent for the daytime in summer. Do Italians imagine India this way? I think of how they will pronounce Rajasthan with a rolling r and I suggest: other name, other story, wonderful addition to the perfume collection. And please give the vial a textile coat. That would be a better fit for a fashion house.

Category: unisex
Year: 2013
Notes: lemon, Rosa damascena, mimosa, amber, white musk, pink pepper, labdanum, acacia

On the occasion of its 50th anniversary celebration in 2011 Diptyque launched 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain. Named after the address of the first Diptyque boutique in Paris the unisex scent presents a mixture of green notes, spices and a woody base. I smell geranium and finest suede and think it is a very delicate scent for men.

Now the French perfume house has released the unisex fragrance L’Eau du Trente-Quatre, the white companion and a homage to the change of seasons on Boulevard Saint-Germain. Perfumer Olivier Pescheux created a soft spring melody with citrus notes like bitter orange, lemon, grapefruit and verbena in combination with spicy nutmeg and cinnamon on a base of incense, patchouli, moss and musk. The result: A great citrus scent with longevity that doesn’t drown in the quicksand of thousands of other citrus scents. The longer I wear it the more I love it. Bitter orange and musk are the two dominant elements of this creation. For me this one is for the girls! And as a lover of purism I adore the simple chic of the vial with its magnetic white cap and the sheathed atomizer tube.

If you prefer a scented candle I have good news for you: Diptyque has added a new spring candle to its collection – Jonquille, the French term for narcissus. The funny thing is that I don’t smell narcissus but jasmine. Try it out yourself…

Category: unisex
Year: 2013
Perfumer: Olivier Pescheux
Notes: bitter orange, lemon, verbena, grapefruit, lavender, juniper berries, nutmeg, cinnamon, geranium, tuberose, musk, patchouli, incense, cedar wood, cistus

www.diptyqueparis.com

For those who will be in Paris in May or June I recommend the N° 5 Culture Chanel exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo.

“Made up of subtle plays of correspondences, N° 5 Culture Chanel cracks the N° 5 code to reveal the links which connected it to specific moments in time and to the avant-garde movements it spanned.

May 5 – June 5, 2013
Palais de Tokyo
13 Avenue du Président Wilson
75116 Paris

www.5-culturechanel.com

I am back with my heart full of love for my son Vincent ♥♥♥ 

…and today is Valentine’s Day! Here is my last minute top 10 list for Valentine’s Day perfume presents.

For her…

Rouge Bunny Rounge: Vespers
For those who love Narciso Rodriguez For Her but are looking for something that all the others don’t have. With rose, lily of the valley, violet leaves, musk and vanilla. Sensual, seductive, elegant.

Terry de Gunzburg: Flagrant Délice
My favourite of the Terry de Gunzburg line and my new darling fig scent. Delicious fig meets powdery almond meets soft musk.

Serge Lutens: La fille de Berlin
Rose and pepper – la maison Lutens doesn’t tell us more. This red elixir looks like a vampire’s perfume and smells as sexy. Rose with an oriental twist and powdery elegance.

Chloé: See by Chloé
The vial in form of a bird cage is inhabited by a scent that seems to be fresh and fruity but ends up in an amazing honey wonderland.

Guerlain: Cuir Beluga
Because this one is pure luxury. Leather, tangerine, amber, heliotrope. Perfect!

For him…

Erik Kormann: Eau de Fröhliche No. II
An insider’s tip from Berlin for incense lovers: For his second perfume Erik Kormann mixed incense with mint and anise. Feels like sitting in the shadow of an old church drinking pastis.

Etro: Ambra
A very mild amber without this clinical note amber sometimes has. A vanilla kiss makes this scent so gorgeous.

Parfumerie Générale: Cozé
Cozé was the corner stone of the success of Pierre Guillaume’s line Parfumerie Générale. With cannabis, pepper, chocolate, coffee, ebony and vanilla. Wonderful!

Maria Candida Gentile: Barry Lyndon
Maria Candida Gentile was inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s movie version of William Makepeace Thackerays novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon. Can you smell Barry Lyndon walking with his horse through the country side? A special kind of lavender, heather and leather. Please try, it’s amazing!

Divine: L’homme de coeur
L’homme de coeur is a delicious mix of juniper berries and iris with a hint of vetiver. Very virile.

Have a nice day… Love, Lena

Photos: Le Love, Chloé

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year 2013!

There will be a short break on OLFACTORIALIST, I will give birth to my son in the beginning of January and I can’t wait to hold him in my arms!

That was my best kept secret in 2012…

Love, Lena

I got my first X-mas present: Gucci sent me a bottle of Gucci Première with my name engraved on the stopper. I like! And by the way… great idea for an individual present. I never thought about engraving perfume bottles. Maybe I would prefer my initials, but… I don’t want to complain.

Gucci Première is a very elegant perfume, for me a little bit too flowery for an autumn/winter launch. The sensual base could be more intense but don’t try this scent on paper. Try it on your skin and give it a little bit more time to develop. The base smells very sophisticated.

Category: women

Year: 2012

Creative Direction: Frida Giannini

Notes: bergamot, orange blossom, white flowers, leather, wood

Much has been written about the new luxury line & Other Stories by H&M that will be launched in Spring 2013 offering ready-to-wear, lingerie, accessories and beauty products.

And there will be a perfume! Who is the man behind Rose Revival? No other than perfumer Ben Gorham, I can’t tell you often enough to try Rose Noir by Byredo (his own brand) – it’s amazing. He’s definitely the perfect choice for a rose scent. And this makes me very curious!

This short movie allows us a first exclusive glimpse at his work… it’s only a moment… click here

www.stories.com

Tomorrow is the 1st of December, time to open the first door of our Advent Calendar. Planet Prestige opens its doors for perfume aficionados and beauty lovers. The new perfume store is situated in Berlin-Mitte. Happy me! They offer exclusive niche brands, such as Serge Lutens, Bond No 9, Creed, Honoré des Prés and many more. Now you know where you find your X-mas gifts.

Planet Prestige
Oranienburger Strasse 27
10117 Berlin 

www.planet-prestige.de

Today is the opening of The Art of Scent 1889 – 2012 curated by Chandler Burr at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York. I announced this exhibition here. And there was an interesting article in The New York Times… please click here

Maybe you are interested in one of the limited edition catalogues (250$), there are only 1000 pieces, each catalogue is numbered! The catalogues include 11 vials of famous perfumes and  a booklet, written by Chandler Burr, of 11 essays on the art historical context of each of the 11 works. You can order the catalogue on the museum’s website.

Chandler I wish you a successful opening!

www.madmuseum.org