Perfumes mignon, detail, private collection

 

“Fragrance” by Beatrice Brandini 

“A woman without perfume has no future.” Coco Chanel

A good perfume has the power to make us more attractive, influencing even our unconscious, a bit ‘like when we wear the precious silk underwear, are those things that make us feel more sensual, vain, and even stronger, because they are more aware of ourselves …; but we can say that the perfume, with its research, the gesture that involves , the use to which it is derived, somehow puts into operation our five senses.

The unforgettable Marilyn , testimonial for Chanel N °5. Thanks to her this perfume has become a myth, she said to wear only a few drops of Chanel No. 5 before going to sleep …

Obviously the sense of smell, a pleasant scent intoxicates us and flows in us and those positive feelings of well-being that come immediately to our brain . But even the sense of sight, because we feel a perfume and lift our heads to figure out what and who we caught in its wake. Then the touch, the feel of touching, sensually , the object of our desires , thanks to its good smell . Hearing and taste senses are further away from the influence of the perfume, but can in some way be involved , if we think that the harmony created by a good fragrance can be mapped to that of a beautiful melody , or even to that of a good flavor. Although personally I find it more involved with the smell is the intellect, through the emotions that a certain smell has left us impressed .

      

Some of the oldest perfumes, entered the “legend”: “Jicky” by Guerlain, “Arpège” by Lanvin, “Shalimar” by Guerlain 

The birth of the perfume is very old, its name comes from the Latin “per fumus,” or through the smoke, as in ancient Rome they used to burn odorous substances to receive in return, or just draw them, divine graces. Formerly also performed a “functional” role because the pleasing scents departed plague and epidemics. Then the court of the Sun King, Napoleon … until the Belle Epoque, every era has adopted and loved fragrances for different reasons …

    

Yesterday: Isabella Rossellini in the advertising campaign for Trésor, Lancome       Today: Penelope Cruz, for Trésor 

I’ve always been in love with the parfumes, even more than “wear”, their history, their forms, labels, their evocative names …, a proof is my large collection of miniature bottles,  collected since I was ten …

Delicious Natalie Portman, Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior 

The creation of a perfume, especially if there is a major cosmetic house behind, and the name of some famous designer, it is a challenging and laborious process, as well as creative, nothing is left to chance, from its composition (it’s called “nose” the creator of the perfume), the testimonial, at its launch advertising, packaging, etc. etc.. If you think that “Jicky” by Guerlain was founded in 1889 and is the oldest perfume still on the market, we understand the power of perfume. But also Chanel N ° 5, born in 1921, Arpege in 1927, Shalimar (my favorite) in 1925.

    

Charlotte Gainsbourg, “L’essence” Balenciaga    Kate Moss, “Coco” Chanel

    

Charlize Theron,  “J’adore” di Dior                          Scarlett Johansson, “Desire” di Dolce & Gabbana

I also think of movies like “Perfume”, based on the best selling novel by Patrick Suskind, which translates very well in the pictures (and words in the novel), the evocative power of a perfume, the memorable final scene in which the smell perfect instead of hatred (the crowd attending the execution of the murderer) is created “love”, exaltation of the senses, resulted in a general orgy. Or in the exhilarating movie “Do not look, do not you feel,” in which two unlikely witnesses, Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, a blind man and a deaf man, are ecstatic and recognize the scent in the wake of the killer, a beautiful woman wearing Shalimar….

Naomi Watts, “Angel” di Thierry Mugler

Kate Blanchett, “Si” di Giorgio Armani

For some years the Perfumes has become a very important business world, considered as a luxury, and sometimes a real status symbol, also thanks to its association with the greatest designers and fashion brands, as well as looking for testimonials increasingly linked the world of cinema.

Some of the prominent face of Chanel No. 5 .. Marilyn, Catherine, Nicole and Audrey

To make a perfume usually use flowers, plants and fruits, and in fact when it penetrates the air we breathe makes us understand how much good there is in nature and on this precious and beautiful planet.

Flowers around us …. photo A.G.

Flowers around us …. photo A.G.

All these heady scent led me to imagine “my perfume” .. so the fantasy wandered and with it the pencil … “Mandarin” pour homme and “Mandarin” pour famme two fresh and fruity essences, of which I have created the bottles and the name for now.

    

Sketches for “Mandarino” pour homme and “Mandarino” pour famme  created by Beatrice Brandini

Chanel N° 5 performed by Andy Warhol 

“The men were able to close our eyes to the greatness, and in front the horror, close the ears in front to seductive words or melodies. But they could not escape the smells …” from the novel Perfume by Patrick Suskind.

Good life to all!

Beatrice