Keiko Mecheri of Les Parfums Keiko Mecheri created La Collection Hésperidés as a thematic olfactive addition to her signature line. The muti faceted flacon in clear crystal that gleams like a diamond and houses Les Hésperidés fragrances; the perfumed travels to places Keiko has been and / or imagined.
KM: In 2009, we started on the creation of these fragrances which eventually evolved into the current La Collection Hésperidés, finally introduced at the Esxence in 2010.
My immediate thought when I heard the name Paradise Lost was the epic by John Milton. But after testing the fragrance I realized that might not be correct. What was your creative process?
KM: Paradise Lost is the latest addition to this collection and is around the theme of an 'escale' to the sun drenched beaches of Goa, India.
KM: One can only imagine the hippie jet set, with a nod to the extravagant lifestyle of the aristocratic adventuresses, end up on the shores on these beaches of paradise,surrounded by the picturesque city scape of Indo-multi-European influence, the hot air filled with the fragrant tuberose, jasmine, blossoming limette trees and patchouli.
KM: Think bohemian style meets jet set style, hâute flower power, the epicenter of orgiastic behavior with long haired "refugees" from the rich and powerful Western world.It is the celebration of naiveté and free-spiritedness of the counter culture ethos of a by gone era .Paradise Lost has its own inspiration although I am familiar with both John Milton's work .
In creating Paradise Lost which starts out with bright notes and ends in deep sultry notes what message are you trying to convey.
KM: The sultry notes enhance and add new facets to the citrusy freshness of these scents. A simple and authentic elegance for an olfactory escape. To capture the contrast between the youthful candidness represented by the fresh citrus notes, and, the mysterious, seductive oriental notes.(Notes Indian limette, bergamot, jasmine, tuberose, Bourbon vanilla, sandalwood, musk)
"Perfumes are rarely and if ever derived from flowers after which they are named" ~ Joris Karl Huysmans.
Lately many Houses are creating fragrances where the perfumista is an armchair traveler. You were one of the first . Was this conscious on your part?
KM: Perhaps it is because so much of what we do involves travel. Traveling is also sharing, even more important than evoking. Travel becomes the pivot of creation. It represents a kind of quest.The analogies that are drawn between perfume, music, and painting thus are stretched to encompass time and space.La Collection Hésperidés is about the escales: Les Nuits d'Izu – Japan, Mulholland – Los Angeles, Taormine – Sicily, Tarifa – Mediterranean coast.
A place you have never been where you would like to go or capture in a bottle one day
–Michelyn Camen, Editor In Chief
Keiko Mecheri is offering a 75ml full size flacon of Paradise Lost to one commentor. To be eligible name a place or time you would like Keiko to bottle and choose favorite perfume by Ms. Mecheri http://www.keikomecheri.com/ from one of the eight categories and name two ingredients from the perfume you love or would like to try. Draw ends July 20, 2011.For an extra chance to win LIKE our Behind The Bottle: CaFleureBon Q&A Facebook
Editor's note: I have included one of my own favorite reviews for a Keiko Mecheri's fragrance Datura Blossom, (although I am a Loukoum Soir addict, I adore this fragrance and its bruja magic to attract men)