New Fragrance Review: Shay & Blue London Scarlet Lily (Dom De Vetta and Julie Massé) 2017 + My Lily Love Draw

Over the years the florist, the grocer and my own garden have been my only sources for a fresh, lily fragrance. I have never been able to find the lily scent I crave inside of a bottle, until just the other day, when I received  Shay & Blue London Scarlet Lily , the new collaboration between Dom De Vetta and Julie Massé’which, for me, is a floral masterpiece.

 

Flower House, Vogue Korea March 2013

No matter how small the establishment, how tiny the room, when I step over the threshold of a florist shop I find myself lost in another world, a place outside of time where even minute details becomes larger than life. Buckets of blossoms – bright yellow sunflowers, deep pink peonies, tulips, exotic orange Heliconia and Protea – crowd the floor and seem to extend their textures and colors beyond forever.  The refrigerated cases against the wall preserve bouquets of long stemmed red roses, gardenia corsages and the frilly fragrant purple and white blossoms of Cattleya orchids. Baskets of living lipstick vines (Aeschynanthus) float from the ceiling and miniature African violets and maidenhair ferns are tucked into every corner. 

Astrid Eika by Sean McMenomy for Elle Denmark May 2016 fused with a stargazer lily

The atmosphere  is moist, cool, dewy and laced with the scent of tuberose, freesia and stock.  Suggestions of moss and hints of green leaves, growth and decay carry the weight of the predominant floral perfume that saturates the humid air – the scent of the  “Stargazer” lilies. This is the fragrance that inevitably draws me, like a large pollinator, to the florist! The scent of these lilies is irresistible to me, spicy, green, waxy and   freshened with a breath of slightly tart berries and watery lotus.

Ariadne Lilies in a Scottish Garden apped MC

Scarlet Lily, is a brilliant rendition of the scent of the famous Asiatic hybrid lily  “Ariadne”, created in the 1960s by the Scottish horticulturalist Dr. Christopher North. The original “Ariadne” lily was an inter-species hybrid with a tall (up to 6 ft) sturdy growth habit, dusty rose colored, re-curved pendulous flowers with creamy peach centers and the marbled spotting pattern and enticing light fragrance of its L. lankongense parent. In 1976 the Czech hybridizer Vaclav Jost created his “Eurydice” lily, the raspberry/scarlet red daughter of “Ariadne”.  Both of these hybrids are able to produce abundant panicles  of long lived, shimmering flowers that adorn and scent the summer garden for weeks at a time.

Vàlerie Belin©

 Like Christopher North and Vaclav Jost, the hybridizers who brought the best of each chosen species to the creation of something new and robust, Shay &Blue creative director Dom De Vetta and perfumer Julie Massé have been able to transform the ideal of classical perfumery and infuse it with “a fresh and contemporary sensibility.” Dom De Vetta is “a man with a personal aesthetic that is strongly guided by the visual, disregarding the austerity of minimalism for the richness and depth of decadence in all its forms, savouring the edge of creativity that comes through contrast and contradiction. Light and dark, innocence and eroticism, boldness and softness all play against each other in ever-inspiring and original new ways.” – shayandblue.com.  The new Scarlet Lily fragrance is a perfect example of what the Shay & Blue mission and aesthetic can bring to a perfume. 

Harper’s Bazaar UK May 2017

Scarlet Lily begins  with the unmistakable scent of a newly opened  “Stargazer” lily bud, spicy, green and waxy, but brighter and lighter than the original “Stargazer” and more like the perfumes of the “Ariadne” and “Eurydice” lilies. This very realistic scent envelops and entices with a floating dew-like transparency and the freshness of lotus that keep any indolic tendencies under control.  The sunny “Ariadne”/”Eurydice” effect mingles in the heart of the fragrance with the rich, luxuriant and sedative profile of ylang-ylang, creating a relaxing, ardent glow that lasts on the skin for many hours.  As Scarlet Lily dries down, a touch of amber (with a little of vanilla perhaps) replaces the freshness of the lotus with an effect of warmth and seduction.  This final phase of the perfume, which can last several more hours, is reminiscent of the original lily fragrance – but now in full bloom.

Lily Potter Holding a Flower ©

The life of this perfume could be compared to a lily opening in time-lapse photography. The sillage envelops the wearer with an almost narcotic effect, and entices those within arms length to come closer and smell the flowers. Shay & Blue Scarlet Lily is my new lily love. Perhaps it will be yours too!

Fragrance notes: “Ariadne” lily, lotus blossom, ylang-ylang and amber.

Disclaimer:  I would like to thank Shay & Blue London and Dom De Vetta for the bottle of my new love, Scarlet Lily. Opinions are my own.

Gail Gross, Editor

Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief and Art Director

Thanks to the generosity of Shay & Blue London and Dom De Vetta we have one “avant premier”(not released until later this summer or early fall)  30 ml bottle of Scarlet Lily for one registered reader in the US, the EU or Canada. (be sure to register or your comment will not count). To be eligible, tell us where you live, what appeals to you about Gail’s review, your favorite fragrance by Shay & Blue and if you have a favorite lily varietal or perfume.  Draw closes  5/5/2017

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

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26 comments

  • GrandmaGaga says:

    Although I haven’t had the opportunity to try it, I love blood orange scent so I will say my favorite Shay & Blue fragrance would be Blood Oranges! Regarding Gail’s review, the imagery of a florist’s shop…moist, cool, fragrant is jogging my memory of what I love about a florist shop and Stargazer Lily’s are my favorite, as well. I am in the US and thank you for the chance.

  • I also have not had an been in a position to put my nose around the Shay and Blue House… Gail says the essence of this fragrance is like the lily’s only found in a florist shop. What she says most appealing is “The life of this perfume could be compared to a lily opening in time-lapse photography” Very visual! My wife would love this new creation from Scarlet Lily. I do live in the US… THANK YOU!

  • MikasMinion says:

    I loved this review! The image of the florist grabbed me and sucked me in to a review I had intended just to scan. I’m always looking for a realistic lily scent and am often disappointed. I know that all lilies smell different but most so-called lily perfumes are far too abstract for my tastes.
    I’m in the US. Thank you!

  • Anna Egeria says:

    Gail describes Scarlet Lily and its’ Stargazer, Ariadne and Eurydice lily notes so beautifully. My favorite lily is the Stargazer which I grow and my favorite lily fragrance is Angel Lily. I’ve never tried a Shay&Blue fragrance. I’m in the US. Thank you for the draw.

  • Iuno Feronia says:

    I discovered Shay & Blue a few weeks ago and I have already 4 beauties of this wonderful perfume house. When I heard about Scarlet Lily I got really excited, I love Lilies. The scent of the real flowers is narcotic, sensual and heavy and I am looking for a Lily perfume my whole life. I hope my search will be succesful this time.

    Thnaks for the draw!! i Live in the EU and I would love to win this treasure bottle.

  • cardinalmind says:

    I’m in the US. Gail’s review made me curious on what that “Ariadne” lily smells like. I’ll be cheating LOL but my favorite perfume with lily (of the valley) note in it is MFK’s Aqua Universalis. Haven’t smelled any Shay and Blue fragrance! Thanks for the chance!

  • kaitracid says:

    I’ve read other reviews for Shay&Blue fragrances, but haven’t tried any. I like how this perfume is fully loaded on flowers and the phrase at the end is so cool: “the life of this perfume could be compared to a lily opening in time-lapse photography.”
    I live in Europe.

  • In the article, I liked that I found out informations I never knew before like that concerning different hybrids of lily and who created them.
    I have yet to try a Shay & Blue London fragrance, but maybe I would care for “Blacks Club Leather”.
    I don’t have a favorite lily varietal or perfume.
    I live in Romania, EU.
    Thank you.

  • Very nice review, I really enjoyed to read it. I have not tried anything from Shay & Blue, but I had read about this brand. I have not tried any perfume with lily note, but I like the scent of the flower. Thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • The idea that a fragrance can smell like a flower shop is so appealing. I really like lily fragrances especially Malle Un Lys so I know I would love Scarlet Lily. My mom read the article too since she is a Gardener and wanted to learn about the hybrids
    If I won we works share this
    My favorite Shay and Blue is Blueberry Musk
    I live in the US

  • I like the concept of the fragrance as described in the review as ‘opening’ over time, as a real lily would. My favorite from this house (so far, but I have only tried a few to date) is Salt Caramel. My favorite lily fragrance is Un Lys by Serge Lutens. I live in the US.

  • What most appeals to me about Gail’s review is how it’s compared to a flower shop. My wife is a diehard flower fan, and I’d love to be able to give this to her. My favorite Shay and Blue would be Oud Alif. My favorite lily fragrance would have to be L’eau d’Issey perfume. I live in the USA.

  • The realistic rendering of the flower and the description of the development from top to base is what it does for me. My favourite Shay and Blue is Framboise Noir which is also one of my favourite perfumes in general. The nicest lily perfume for me so far is Lutens’ La vierge de fer. I live in the EU, thanks for the draw.

  • I love Attropa Belladonna from Shay & Blue, and lilies are my favorite flowers. Lys Soleia is one of the creamiest lilies out there!
    Thank you for the draw, i’m in the UK

  • Hi im in Canada,the detail of flowers in gails review is wat most appealed to me.Favorite shay n blue Oud Alif,and dont have a lily frag i love yet,thnx 4 giveaway throw me in.

  • ntabassum92 says:

    I am in the US. I LOVE LILY. So just the fact that Gail states that this is her new lily love has me so intrigued. I really want to smell this, I’m crazy about photorealistic lily scents. My current favorite lily perfume is Baiser Vole by Cartier, but I also love Donna Karan’s Gold.

  • I haven’t tried anything from this house but I’m dying to! They have some scents that I’d love to use for the spring and summer months. Thanks for the draw! I’m in Canada!

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    An outstanding article & review by Gail! So this is like a blanket of lily. These two statements are fascinating: 1) Light and dark, innocence and eroticism, boldness and softness all play against each other in ever-inspiring and original new ways. 2) The life of this perfume could be compared to a lily opening in time-lapse photography. The sillage envelops the wearer with an almost narcotic effect, and entices those within arms length to come closer and smell the flowers.
    My favorite lily based perfume is Anais Anais.
    Thanks to the generosity of Shay & Blue London & Dom De Vetta and Cafleurebon for the opportunity to participate in the draw by letting my relative address in US.

  • NiceVULady says:

    I too am drawn to the scent of lilies when I enter a florist shop. As a gardner, I have cultivated lilies for many years and am in love with their fragrance. The Asiatics and Orientals have the best fragrance, and by best, I mean they can perfume an entire room. I don’t have a favorite Shay & Blue scent. One of my favorite lily perfumes in Un Lys, and another is Passage D’Enfer. Thanks so much for this draw. I live in the USA

  • The bottle looks cool. The notes great and the offer to experience it early is the best. Will make the perfect instragram post.

    IN USA

  • Gail has called this a “floral masterpiece” so now I have to try it! My favorite Shay & Blue is Blacks Club Leather which I bought blindly and is the only one that I’ve smelled from the line.

    My favorite lily is perhaps Un Lys.

    I’m in the US. Thanks for the draw.

  • MichelleU says:

    A fragrance that resembles a lilly in time-lapse photography is something I would love to smell! A favorite lilly perfume is vintage Anais Anais.

    I am a reader from the EU! Thank you!

  • doveskylark says:

    I love walking into flower shops and I have often dreamed of bottling the fragrance if I were a perfumer. I like Cartier’s Baiser Vole.
    I haven’t tried anything from this line, but I would like to try English Cherry Blossom.
    I live in the USA.

  • I love the description of how the sillage envelops the wearer and brings others closer. I love wearing fragrances that bring people in for a closer smell, but not so overpowering that a scent remains in a room I left an hour before. I would so love to try this scent, it sounds amazing down to the drydown of vanilla and amber – one of my favorite perfumes (Aerin).
    I like Baiser Vole/Cartier, and Tiger Lily/Demeter.
    I am truly thankful to have received a gift of Framboise Noire/Shay and Blue, given to me by a wonderful friend who knows I spend hours and hours each year picking wild black raspberries and making homemade jelly. It is an amazing scent.
    Thankyou for this very generous draw! I’m in the US.