EnVoyage Perfumes Peche Noir- Life’s a Peach

 

 

Shelley Waddington, of En Voyage Perfumes, has just opened a brand new website!

 

She was kind enough to send me beautiful photographs, a sample of Peche Noir, and a list of the notes she used.

 

 

Naturally- I was full of curiosity, and Shelley obligingly answered all sorts of nosy questions ..

We had a delightful conversation; she was generous with her time and candor.

 

I share Shelley’s fondness for the symbolism of the peach itself, in ancient Chinese lore.

And the elaborate ‘split peach’ Geisha hairstyle which exposed the nape- prized as a highly erogenous zone.

 

She also alluded to the peach as being one of Venus’ fruits- a concept both sensual and playful.

And that Tao literally means ‘peach’; a union of male / female balance.

 

 

 

There are several facets that make Peche Noir unique.

 

Shelley has created her own all-natural Cuir de Russie accord, which she used sparingly here [as it is very dark, and requires a deft hand].

Her rose otto was an organic Iranian rose, very exquisite.

And the gardenia comes from her very own garden- she created the enfleurage herself.

 

Peche Noir is referred to as a fruity chypre- and that is truth in advertising.

 

It is a bold, peachy fragrance with just the barest nudge of smokiness; it opens with an exuberant flourish of galbanum and hyacinth [reminding me a bit of Crown Perfumery’s Crown Bouquet].

Peach and gardenia bound in right after them, and their presence is felt throughout the entire fragrance.

Rose, orris, muguet, jasmine, and lily comprise the heart.

The base is composed of vetiver, cuir de Russie, oakmoss, musk, amber, and sandalwood.

 

Shelley and I spoke at length about materials; she works both in naturals alone, and in mixed media.

[Her perfume organ consists of 379 or so natural substances, and 386 aromachemicals]

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Peche Noir is clearly a mixed medium scent; there are no aldehydes, but it is a very sparkling, tenacious fragrance.

It is consistent from beginning to end and very long-lasting, with a powerful sillage.

 

Shelley’s intention was to create a smoldering, smoky juicy chypre that is

“evocative of an elegant second skin”.

 

For me, it is an ebullient, bouncy peachy chypre- I find it more good natured than sultry.

Full of light, rather than a dialogue between dark and light.

 

 

 

We at Cafleurebon wish Shelley much good fortune with her new venture!

Visit her here:

 

http://www.envoyageperfumes.com/store/

 

Illustration of Peach via Wikimedia Commons by Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thome’

 

Ida Meister, Senior Editor

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13 comments

  • Shelley has brought her sparkling intelligence, creativity, and excellence as a perfumer to this line. Ida, I love what you have to say about Peche Noir. What a delight!

  • Ida, your dedication to understanding  the techincal as well as the spiritual elements of Peche Noir is really appreciated.  And you described it so well.  I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed our conversation.  You're a real peach!
    And thank you waftbycarol, Dabney and Marlene for your comments 🙂

  • This is great! I love peaches and so do I love them in fragrances. I wish Shelley good luck!

  • I’ve heard nothing but good about this and it sounds amazing. My favorite peach thus far has been Peche Cardinale. I am curious about Peche Noir for sure!

  • Peach and I go way back. Im going to take you on a trip own memory lane.
    I was about 12 and my best friend Lisa, and I got dropped off at the mall for a few hours. Combined I think we had $50 to spend that day we had the whole world to purchase and we were hell bent on spending every cent. We were going all over to all of the different stores browsing and searching.There it was the altar of teenager -dom. The Body Shop.
    We filled our basket with all of the favorites kiwi lip balm (the stick your finger in it kind that got trapped dirt in the lid and everyone asked to use it…ewww), mango body butter and fuzzy peach fragrence.
    It has always smelled like love to me because I got a compliment on it from a blond haired blue eyed boy( that I had a decade long crush on) in homeroom. Well, actually he wasnt complimenting me he just mentioned that he smelled someone who was wearing a peach scent and that he enjoyed it.
    I blushed and made a mental note.
    I wore it everyday for a long time hoping he would figure out that it was me. Sadly, he did not. But I can tell you that others began wearing it. Didnt mean as much to me from that point forward I moved onward. To white musk from the Body Shop.
    On my thirtieth birthday I was on a weekend trip to Maine. While at the outlets I stopped in to the Body Shop for old times sake and lip balm that I had left home.
    I gravitated to the fuzzy peach again and bought a travel bag filled with fuzzy peach items. When I came out my husband told me how good it smelled on me. I blushed and made a mental note. I had married well:)
    True story 100%.

  • Wow! if it’s half as good as the two new En Voyage perfumes, it must be wonderful – and a fruity chypre? One of my favorite things!

  • Carlos Powell says:

    I’ve become infatuated with Vents Ardents and Nectars des Iles. I would love to try this one. Great review (of course) Ida!

  • RusticDove says:

    Love Ida’s review of this, my favorite EnVoyage fragrance! On my skin it’s roses and peaches with a deep dark delicious sensuality. It’s not only one of my favorite EnVoyage scents, but one of my favorite fragrances period. Every Perfumista should check this out. 🙂