Earlier this month, Osswald Parfumerie NYC opened their doors to what was originally going to be a meet and greet for the creators and owners of Profvmvm Roma. The four Italian siblings Giuseppe, Luciano, Maria and Felice Durante were set to be present, when sadly and suddenly their father, Celestino Durante, founder of Profvmvm Roma passed away. Tanja Dreding Wallace, Proprietor of Osswald NYC decided not to cancel the event, but rather kept it in honor of Celestino’s memory, a small way to pay tribute to the family and their work. Campari cocktails and wine flowed, as well as cibo and dolci were served throughout the evening. A peaceful display designed by Nik Anderson-Hays, Creative Director of Osswald NYC, intricately weaved a perfect balance of stone, flower, perfume, and candles to pay tribute to the family, and their work. A note next to a beautiful bouquet of roses read:
“Nulla può impedire al Sole di rinascere. Ciao Celestino !”
[Nothing will keep the sun from rising again. Ciao Celestino!]
The evening was a tribute to a fragrance family and their fragrances that in the end ultimately remain. Tanja described that she couldn’t imagine not having the tribute to the Durante family whom she met earlier this year, and was taken not only with their story and fragrances, but their genuine warmth and good nature. Profvmvm Roma has graced niche perfumery since 1996, the line has over 30 fragrances, and some of the fragrances have ancillary products in the form of body oil, shower/bath, and room fragrance.
What I remember most about the evening was a small group of us that gathered around the Profvmvm display, some new comers, other reminiscing about their favorite scent and why. This went on for some time. A bunch of us just smelling and talking, and afterwards I realized that my experience mirrored Profvmvm’s philosophy of transmitting emotions and sensations through scent. I applied Acqua e Zucchero on my neck, and placed its body oil companion on my wrist. The perfume enveloped me, its opening full of red berry notes, an almond accord that immediately rose to the top on my skin, orange blossom, and vanilla are working their depth and magic, in both the EdP and the body oil.
Soon the room filled with silence and then opera singers began to sing. Tenor, Joseph Beutel, and Soprano, Megan Nelson sang a selection of Italian Opera, including Mozart’s Don Giovanni in a duo. The room was alive, a little girl dancing, others smiling.
After, and once on the street a steady breeze hit me; I felt self-assured walking with Acqua e Zucchero leading the way.
Courtesy of Osswald Parfumerie NYC we have a draw for a sample set of the body oil and EDP of Acqua e Zucchero. This is a US only draw. To be eligible leave a comment on your favorite Profvmvm fragrance and if you live in the US. The draw ends on December 3, 2013.
We announce the winners only onsite and on our Facebook page, so Like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…..or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.
–Valerie Vitale, Contributing Editor