Fragrance Reviews: African Aromatics African Dawn & Yirgacheffe + Perfumed Letters from Nettie to Celie Draw

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Nettie's Letters to her sister Celie from the Movie The Color Purple

One of my favorite things about perfume is its ability to transport you somewhere you have never been but that is strangely familiar. African Aromatics perfumes take me somewhere I have always dreamed of visiting. As I opened and smelled each scent, I was instantly reminded of the letters Celie received, in Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple, from her long-lost sister Nettie who she believed was dead for years. She was actually a missionary in Africa. Her letters to her sister spoke of exotic plants, other cultures and their ways. These perfumes do the same.

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Sophia-Suzette Shuttleworth, Natural Perfumer from South Africa

 I learned about Natural Perfumer Sophia Suzette Shuttleworth, while reading David Falsberg’s Perfume Workshop on Enfleurage and that was the impetus to want to experience her fragrances.  All of  African Aromatics products are crafted naturally from African raw materials, and when other materials are used they are certified and sourced to reflect policies of fair trade, artisan craftsmanship and reverence for Nature. Sophia-Suzette Shuttleworth, the nose and heart behind African Aromatics, is not only a member of the Natural Perfumer’s Guild, she is also quite an author and her website is a wealth of information in itself. Each and every product lists all ingredients, and their sources.

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When I wore  African Dawn I was transported to a savannah as the sun rises and the grass shimmer in the heat. The dry stalks sway as they release their aromas. Radiant and grassy this scent develops into a veritable cloak of flowers and spiciness. Savory herbs fill the air as meals are cooked, blending with the blossoms. As the day warms even more, the trees seep sweet resins in the heat. As this finishes its trek across the grasslands it settles close to skin. Warm and balmy with resins used by natives to perfume themselves for centuries, this captures both feelings of the exotic and the familiar. The use of hyrax here is perfect, adding a subtle dark muskiness tinged with leather, without occluding its piquant floral heart. SIllage: average to good. Longevity: very good.

Notes: blue grass, cape may, ylang ylang, jasmine, rose, coriander, clove, cinnamon, buchu, omumbiri, muhuhu, vanilla, frankincense and hyrax.

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  I prefer my coffee dark, both in my fragrances and my mug. Ethiopia grows some of the strongest most full-bodied coffee in the world and Ms. Shuttleworth has paid it homage in a beauty of a fragrance Yirgacheffe. The slightly citric opening tinged with coconut captures both the acidity and the creamy flavor in the beans. A very dense aroma filled with earthy and floral notes arises during grinding, as native coffee and cocoa add texture, with a sprinkle of mysterious tuberose. To call this scent a gourmand would not do it justice, it is inspired by coffee yet shows us more than a steaming cup of java. This encapsulates the rich earth with mitti attar, the warm wood of the tree and captured the musky aroma of dark roasted Arabica, weaving a perfume with the same glow and energy drinking the brewed bean would make one feel. Sillage: above average. Longevity: good.

Notes: Citruses, coconut, rose, jasmine, tuberose, ylang ylang, coffee, cocoa absolute, muhuhu, rooibos tea, hyrax, ambergris & mitti attar.

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Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) reads Nettie's letters to Shug (Margaret Avery) from the movie The Color Purple

As I sat with my remaining perfumed letters from Africa, I truly felt like Celie when she remarked “Oh they’s so many. Where us gone start, Shug?” From their recycled biodegradable packaging to the handmade wonders inside, these scented letters warm the heart. I will read each and every remaining one carefully, and then go back and reread them all again, losing myself each time.

Disclosure: Reviews based on samples sent to me by African Aromatics.

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First Edition Book by Alice Walker (1982) and Movie Poster for The Color Purple (starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and directed by Steven Spielberg, 1985)

Thanks to Sophia-Suzette and African Aromatics, a 12 ml bottle of either perfume reviewed to give away to one WORLDWIDE reader. To be eligible please leave a comment on which perfume you would choose and  if you read the Book The Color Purple or saw the Movie. If you like African Aromatics Facebook page, your entry counts twice. Draw will end March 22nd 2014.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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49 comments

  • Sophia-Suzette’s talents go far beyond the perfume bottle. I love reading about her enfleurage projects, her deep research into the plants of Africa, and her incredible grasp of ethnobotany. Thank you so much for featuring her.

  • JAMBO!

    African Dawn sounds just the thing to speed persephone’s journey to the above ground!

    i have both read and seen The Color Purple (…”everything you done to me, already done to you.”)

  • I would so love to try Yirgacheffe! Sounds phenomenal. I read The Color Purple as a teenager, and it was highly influential – and wrenching. Thanks!

  • I have never read The Color Purple nor have I seen the movie. I think it’s about high time and now that there’s the connection made to Sophia-Suzette Shuttleworth and African Aromatics I think it will be that much more enjoyable. Both perfumes sound heavenly but I’d have to choose Yirgacheffe. Paying homage to Ethiopian coffee certainly drew me in. I’m currently anxiously awaiting the arrival of a package from African Aromatics. What timing to read this review. I have liked the page as well. Lovely review.
    Thanks for the draw,
    Suzy Larsen

  • I’d love to try African Dawn. I haven’t read or watched The Color Purple but your synopsis sure makes me want to read it. Thanks for the draw.

  • I’d like to try Yirgacheffe. I’ve unfortunately not read The Color Purple nor seen the film version. Thanks!

  • I’ve read the book, seen the movie, and have liked Sophia’s Fb page for several years- but I’ve never had the opportunity to try her perfumes. I admire her work, and have learned a lot about enfleurage from her, and been inspired to try it myself. I guess I’d like to try the Yirgacheffe perfume, but they both sound very tempting. Thanks!

  • Laura Matheson says:

    Hi, I have not read the book but have seen the movie as a child however much of it would have been lost on me. I will be sure to watch it again soon. I would love to try both of these but will chose African Dawn. Thanks for the opportunity. I will pop over to the facebook page now and I look forward to reading your blog.

  • I love what Sophia does and I would be honored to try Yirgacheffe. I always think she nails my vision of Africa, and of course she does, its in her blood and reflected by the way she weaves her perfumes. Exciting work! Color Purple is a classic in many directions and a must for all to see. tributes all around..Thanks for the opportunity of the draw and the lovely review

  • I have not seen the movie or read the book, but I am very familiar with Sophia and her work and she is amazing! She shares a wealth of information on her blog about innovative techniques she is exploring, the locally sourced materials she produces and uses in her perfumes, and her perfumed creations. I have had the pleasure of sampling some of her creations and they are beautiful. She also sources and sells some amazing local resins and hyrax! Its so great to see her work reviewed here! I have not yet tried Yirgacheffe, but your review has me drooling to try it!

  • I’d like to try Yirgachaffe. I have seen the movie The Color Purple. I like African Aromatics on FB. Thanks for the draw!

  • I think I would choose African Dawn. I read the book The Color Purple and saw the movie. I preferred the book, such wonderful writing!

  • Tough call, but I think I’d like to try African Dawn — And I’ve both read The Color Purple (a wonderful example of the epistolary form) and seen the film (not as good as the book, but still good). I live in the U.S.

  • I have read it, I have watched it. 🙂
    I had a great opportunity to live in Africa (Tanzania) for 6 month. It was soooo different to what I was used to! I remember the clear and beautiful night sky with zillions of stars, the tantalizing scents of night flowering flowers… There were some truly magical moments.
    Which fragrance would I prefer? Honestly, it’s a hard choice but I think I slightly more drawn to African Dawn. I live in the EU and thanks for the draw!

  • Oh, that sounds amazing, thanks for the review. I didn’t know african aromatics before. I would choose Yirgacheffe, looks like it has many of my favorite notes. I’ve seen the movie some time ago, after reading this review, I’d like to see it again!
    I live in the EU.

  • I must now hunt down the book and read it… and just checked out the website =) Thanks for introducing me to this lovely perfumer! I would love to try Yirgachaffe, inspired by one of my favorite single origin beans.

  • I’ve seen the film, but it was so long ago, I recall nothing of it.
    I’d like to try African Dawn, it sounds better suited to me than the coffee fragrance,
    ty

  • Hello, please count me on the draw, as I liked both Cafleurebon and African Aromatics.
    I didn’t read the book, nor saw the movie, but it would be a nice choice for the next weekend.
    Both perfumes sound fascinating, but I would prefer theYirgacheffe, as I have a soft spot for the scent of coffee.
    I live in Europe.

  • African Dawn sounds almost like a comfort scent to me, and it is the one I would most like to try. I have liked the AA page and will have to investigate this line further. I live in the US>

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    I would like to win African Dawn. I have seen the movie Color Purple but not read the book and have liked Facebook Page. I am in the US

  • Oh! They sound wonderful….especially Yirgacheffe, which combines some of my favorite aromatics. Liked African Aromatics FB page. Will explore it more, later.

    The Color Purple was a hauntingly powerful movie…a small reminder like your review brings the tone right back. Perhaps time to see it again. Haven’t read the book, might be too intense as my imagination’s extremely vivid.

  • Yirgacheffe sounds so wonderful .
    I I am in The USA.
    I have seen the movie , it is amazing !

  • I had watched the Color Purple many years ago. Both perfumes sound interesting but since only one can be selected, it would be Sophia-Suzette’s Yirgacheffe.

  • julesinrose says:

    I saw the movie The Color Purple quite recently after realizing I’d never seen it. I am in the US and would like to try Yirgacheffe. Cheers!

  • I would love to try African Dawn. I don’t think I’ve seen The Color Purple and am surprised I haven’t. Need to remedy that. I am in the U.S. and I thank you.

  • Wow, I never expected to read an article like this: fantastic! I love the sound of both perfumes but I would probably go for the Yigacheffe. I love the coffee and love the back story of the perfumes. I only saw the movie and Im in the US.

  • I would love to try Yirgacheffe. I’ve read the Color Purple but not seen the movie; it’s been years, and this makes me want o read it again. I am in the US.

  • Sophia’s knowledge of botanicals is amazing and her perfumes are lovely. It is so wonderful to experience another country through its perfumes and fragrant plants. Thanks for this article! I have read the book.

  • I’ve read the book and seen the movie several times; I remember being shocked that Spielberg didn’t win an Academy award, because the movie felt so perfect. It still does. African Dawn sounds perfect too, it would be my choice. Thanks for the reviews and draw.

  • I have read the book and I have seen the movie but never had the chance to try Sophia-Suzette creations and African Aromatics,perfumes. However I did like her FB page African Aromatics.
    I definitely want to try Yirgacheffe perfume since I am a coffee lover.

  • I have read the book and I have seen the movie but never had the chance to try Sophia-Suzette creations and African Aromatics,perfumes. However I did like her FB page African Aromatics.
    I definitely want to try Yirgacheffe perfume since I am a coffee lover. I live in EU

  • I have read the book The Color Purple, and am an Alice Walker fan. Have not seen the movie,

    African Dawn would be my choice . I am in the US.

  • susie frankel says:

    I would try African Dawn…nice write-up, they both sound great. Read the book, saw the movie…usa

  • This is a wonderful business model and concept that I would love to support. I have read the book and seen the movie The Color Purple multiple times. I would like to try Yirgacheffe and I have liked the African Aromatics Facebook page.

  • African Dawn sounds transcendent! John you have outdone yourself with this captivating portrayal of Sophia’s talents! I have read the book and seen the movie both! Thank you for a very interesting, articulate and enjoyable article! Regards and thanks!

  • These scents sound wonderful; as I’m a coffee fiend, I can’t resist Yirgacheffe. Please put me in twice, as I did like the African Aromatics Facebook page. Thanks for the great reviews!

    (Alice Walker is one of my favorite authors. I love both the book and movie of The Color Purple, but not as much as I ADORE the book The Temple of My Familiar, which is the sequel. It’s one of my all-time favorites.)

  • I would choose African Dawn. I have not seen the movie, but I did read the book The Color Purple.

  • Thank you John for capturing what I want to convey through my perfumes, my environment is an endless source of inspiration. Many thanks for all the praises, I feel quite speechless.

  • They both sound wonderful, but if I have to choose, I’ll take Yirgacheffe. I’ve read some of Alice Walker’s poetry, but not The Color Purple.

  • I would love to try African Dawn. It sounds just wonderful. I saw the movie The Color Purple two times. Once when it just got out and a year ago. Even though it’s an older movie, I loved seeing it again. Maybe I’ll watch it again in about ten years.

  • The color purple is my mothers favorite book. I’ve read it as a child, but don’t really remember it anymore.
    I’ve long been following her site, truly a wealth of information.
    I would like to try African Dawn, Van der Hum, Yirgacheffe
    and most of all would love to share a conversation with Sophia Suzette Shuttleworth with local, ecological, natural art as the leading topic for discussion. I find myself turning in that direction too in more and more areas of life.
    I’ve ‘liked’ her FB page.

  • You raised my interest – I would search for the book and read it!
    I would choose the coffee thing – Yirgacheffe! In everyday life, I looove the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and just brewed coffee (Turkish way), but I don’t drink coffee. I prefer a cup of green or black tea for an energy kick!
    Thanks for the draw!
    I am in the EU, Bulgaria.

  • I would be happy to win the African Dawn . The blue grass caught my interest right off, I don’t even know what it is. At the time of it’s release I did see the movie “The Color Purple”. USA

  • I am always fascinated by the ways perfume artians are able to paint a fragrant portrait of the places or events that inspire them! I would choose Yirgacheffe.

    The Color Purple is one of my favorite books, though I enjoyed the film as well.

  • I read the book, and saw the movie as well. I am a huge fan of Alice Walker. Yirgacheffe is the one for me. Thanks so much for the draw. I’m in the U.S.

  • Yirgascheffe sounds fabulous! And I have seen the movie, and also read the book. They were somewhat devastating: even more so than most books/movies in this particular genre.