Sunday was all I could do.
Much as I never, ever weary of sniffing, meeting, and greeting [and there are many folks who will violently attest to this bizarre, frightening capacity of mine 😉 ] …
These events aren’t paying the rent, or our gorgeous guys’ college tuition .
Mama had to hustle home to Beantown on the Megabus with her soon-to-be-beatified Mr. B. [DH of 28+ years, bless him!].
Work summons, and we obey- much like most of you, I’ll warrant!
I truly believe that – for the most part-
Those generous people, who engaged in thoughtful, meaningful conversation with me at the Elements event, were as sincere as I was.
I felt really close to them.
It wasn’t just a ‘trade show’, for me.
What an event.
My collection of cards reads like a Who’s Who; but that means little to me.
The relationships / interactions, are what I live for…
Here are some highlights; I hate to slight anyone.
[This post would become interminable, were I to elaborate on everything.]
For those who exhibited on the following Monday [and there had to be many !]-
I’m so sorry I missed you 🙁
I would have loved to stay one more day…!
Those who exhibited their work /wares varied greatly.
High-end, ultra-niche, newcomers on the rise, the already-well-established – – all were in attendance.
One particular exhibitor/ brand group that more than caught the eye was Intertrade Europe, Inc.
For myriad reasons.
They were the first thing you saw when the elevator doors opened, for one.
And under their umbrella, we found Carthusia, Boadicea, Esteban, Nasomatto, Nez à Nez, Profumi del Forte, SoOud, The Hype Noses, Silly, and Poetry Bath.
Amazing lines.
Dear lord- whom don’t they represent?
As I’d already sniffed all the Boadiceas and Nasomattos [along with the Profumi], I turned my attention to Carthusia’s latest release, Corallium.
I found Corallium to be a very attractive marine herbal scent of fine longevity;
I think it will bloom splendidly in the summer heat.
The SoOuds exist in both delicate and potent formulations for each scent – there are oud-based, and oud-less.
These are polished, refined perfumes that run the gamut of possibility.
The common thread is that Stéphane Humbert-Lucas is the auteur- as he has been in the Nez à Nez line.
My recommendation is that one go sniff them out for themselves; they are worth the effort.
An unexpected high point for me: an impassioned, lengthy discussion with perfumer Stéphane Humbert-Lucas.
I was simply doing what I do; Nez à Nez had displayed a gorgeous paintbrush dipped in Stéphane’s latest oeuvre- Hiroshima, Mon Amour….
So I was discovered with my eyes rolled back in my head, huffing this paintbrush for a very long time.
Long enough, that the outrageously handsome young perfumer approached me:
“Whenever I see a woman smelling something that way, I must speak with her!”.
Long story, short:
I adore this fellow; not only is he savvy and WAY too beautiful to behold without weak knees- but he’s a true creative spirit, intelligent and insightful.
Hiroshima, Mon Amour, by the way-
Is NOT for the timid.
It is a fully-fleshed, carnal floral of animalic complexity and ferocity.
[My way of saying that I liked it- a lot]
Check it out ….
We saw products to enhance our dwelling environments: candles, diffusers, all exquisite in form, and many in aroma.
Among these beauties were DayNa Decker– whose “Chandel” [OK, I’m not very fond of the name] was opulently, minimally designed with an organic, elegant-looking wooden wick which crackles like a real fire .
[She also carries lovely Body Essence products in several scents.]
If you craved candles, you had a plethora of choices…
D.L and Co. had absolutely spectacular candle-as-sculpture.
View here for yourselves!
Another high point was the candles we discovered, ensconced under bell jars- Belle Fleur.
In particular, their Bergamot Cedar and Figue Noir aromas were simply delicious.
Anthousa, The Hype Noses, Stillyness, and Joya exhibited diffusers and candles, as did many perfume-centric companies.
Perfume-wise, there were old friends and new friends.
Étienne de Swardt – creator of État Libre D’Orange– and I found all sorts of fascinating details to talk about, as well as singular common ground.
What a delightful man!
I found his new release, Archives 69 [soon to have an alternative name] wearable and wonderfully chameleon like.
Sabine Hernandez, of EM Distribution, displayed all her Nejma’s in a row.
I hadn’t smelled any, save the Puro line.
Our mutual fondness doesn’t prejudice me to the quality of these- each one is unique, and suitable for all genders.
[No. 4 was the most marvelous chypre! Nos. 5 and 6 made me want to buy, but I couldn’t make up my mind…;-)]
Sarah Barton- King, of The Pink Room
There is none truer.
I loved her the first time I saw her.
With her lovely bandbox style of product presentation, and her delicate usage of fine fragrant materials, Sarah’s vision is one of a gentler, saner time-
Beautiful scent, beautiful manners.
Pure class, that lady.
Keiko Mecheri.
What can I say?
Shy, consummately kind, sincere, a darling.
I want to be enbalmed in Attar of Roses– there, I blurted THAT out.
Or Isles Lointaines- possibly the most soothing scent I’ve smelled in a looooong while.
DH is a born critic, and he felt that Keiko’s bottles and presentation were THE BEST!
He told her so.
B was smitten.
Ineke Rűhland..
At Fall Sniffapalooza Ineke was pretty much monopolized by many well-wishers.
NOT an ideal opportunity to chat.
[As brazen as I may seem to some of you- I find it patently un-ladylike to force myself in between those engrossed in earnest discourse…]
At Elements, I found her desperately trying to down a lovely salad, seated next to my DH on a bench!.
They were discussing a book he was reading on critiquing social networking.
GO FIGURE.
Ineke has so many gifts; where to begin?
Everything she does appears as a confluent whole; her artistry informs everything she touches.
Her boxes, bottles, the fonts she uses, the colors- exquisite.
It seems that she, too, finds her Evening Edged In Gold to be under-appreciated, as do I.
[See my review of this beauty and enter our draw!]
And so, my B was conflicted.
He told Ineke that her logo was stunning, his favorite.
[I think he loved Keiko and Ineke in equal parts; that’s OK.
I’ll share ;-)]
Ulrich Lang: Ringmeister
If the Elements Showcase was a circus-
Then Uli Lang was The Ringmaster.
Herr Ulichen was the first face I saw, as I arrived very early.
Suffice to say, we got a thing goin’ on.
I’m Frau Meister, and he’s my Schmetterling.
Lovely Uli– the naughty schoolboy- was the perfect host, schlepping me lovingly from booth to booth, clucking uxoriously:
“Wait, wait! I have someone I’d like you to meet…”
Uli knows a LOT of people, but it doesn’t sour his sunny disposition.
Some of those I met were the marvelous Susanne Stoll- editor-in-chief of INSIDE beauty,from redspa media in BadenBaden..
Maria Christofilis , the very affable and enthusiastic creator/founder of Anthousa.
It is a joy see how well-received her products are in Boston- and my pleasure to tell her so.
Oliver Sweatman, and his dear henchman Emily, of Ursa Major men’s skin care, from Stowe, VT.
I fell hard for Oliver when I eagerly inquired:
“What brings you here? “
“I make outrageously expensive shaving cream” was his immediate response.
You all know how I adore candor– it was a shoe-in 😉
And, DAMN.
It IS good shave cream.
There were some fantastic reps, who do their perfume proud !!!
Geist Ussery of Parfums Lubin is one such fellow.
We enjoyed our foray into Lubin’s treasure chest.
Next booth over, we found suave François Damide of Crafting Beauty, Inc.
[They represent the gorgeously floral Summersent– once at Takashimaya-
And Sylvie de France, a trio of delicate, delightful fragrances]
David Pirrotta, who specializes in brand management, was extremely personable, and has many notches on his belt- Odin, and Rodin Olio Lusso, to name a few.
Great guy, very creative.
[I loved his crow statuette!]
How do I manage to include everyone???
I can’t!
But old, dear friends-
Such as Karen Dubin of Sniffapalooza fame [ aka Lil’ Karen], sweet David Ecker, kind Kelly Podorsek of Firmenich, wild Lloyd Leary with his ever-present camera, Zoran Knezevic [accompanied by Elena in Red, replete with camera and keyboard !] of Fragrantica, and last but not least our Fearless Editor-in-Chief, Ms. MC [and her elegant escort, Monsieur Didier !]….
Lucy Raubertas, of Indieperfumes- consummate artist in word and paint.
I greeted Laurice Rahme warmly as she entered oh so quietly.
Bond No.9 was exhibiting, as well as Lafco NY.
So many well-loved olfactory pleasures!
Beautyhabit had several participants- Duchess Marsden [ I LOVE their stuff !], Ursa Major, Rodin Olio Lusso, Tokyomilk, Lollia.
Not everything comes out of Europe and California !.
Brooklyn made an excellent showing, with the beautiful, matchless works of MCMC, D.S.and Durga.; NYC’s Joya provided high caliber niche delights worthy of much bigger companies.
Plenty to investigate and relish among these good folk.
They are the ones to watch.
WOWZERS!
Was this ever long, or what???
I hope you enjoyed the bird’s-eye-view.
Photo Credits:
Mr. B.
–Ida Meister, Senior Editor
Also see Michelyn Camen's experience at Elements here.
Please enter our Empire State of Mind draw
One winner will receive Darkly Audacious by Sarah Barton King www.MinNewYork.com and one will win Attar de Roses by Parfums Keiko Mecheri