New Natural Fragrance Reviews: Sarabecca Perfume Day & Night + Opposites Attract Draw

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Ken Grand, founder and owner of Alba Botanica until selling it in 1999, has forayed once more into the realm of naturals and founded Sarabecca Natural Perfume (named for his daughters Sarah and Rebecca) and released an intriguing duo of eaux de parfum entitled Day and Night. Sarabecca is a niche natural perfume House that only uses natural essence oils and natural fragrance essences.  Essential oils include vetiver, patchouli, ginger, lemon, bergamot and lavender. Other notes (such as melon, cyclamen and cut leaves) are constructed from a blending of natural fragrance essences-including rose petals, pine tar, coffee, orange peels and an array of herbs, woods and spices. The most wonderful thing about these perfumes is that even though they are bottled and packaged luxuriously, yet still contain a true product of Nature’s beauty and bounty.

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Four years after starting and countless iterations later, Ken finally came up with two versions of perfume that met his original olfactory vision. Creating something natural that is also luxurious and can stand up to many prestige scents and still project that air of sophistication was not as easy as it sounded. Mr. Grand’s perseverance paid off and this year we have two very interesting takes on the oldest of opposites: night and day. Packaged the same (except for the borders of the boxes and colors of the metallic sprayers), in simple elegant flacons, these both radiate a classic aura and waft a complex and rich aroma as subdued as they are strong. For their prices of less than eighty US dollars, they are an amazing bargain for completely natural 50 ml eau de parfum sprays!

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Photography: Yaroslavna Nozdrina

Sarabecca Day lists only a delicate blending of jasmine, muguet and tuberose, yet they are surrounded by a myriad of bright and shining citrus and slightly warm spices. This perfume is truly like day breaking: crisp, sharp and brightly clean without the usual sweet juiciness of citrus and the subtle spiciness coaxes out the shier (at first) white floral notes. The graphics on the box show peonies (or perhaps magnolias) and although none of these are listed the full richness of the complex and many-layered pure white blossoms rise sinuously about you.

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Sarabecca Day

 First, the soft innocence of muguet with its tender green leaves and soft bell-shaped flowers, then a clean very bright jasmine playfully runs barefoot through the middle of everything; inviting you to join her reverie. A slightly smoky tuberose watches from the wings, eventually sauntering in closer to the finish of a woody green kissed with herbs and a rather arid earthiness. From pure and fresh to naughty and musky, this scent runs the gamut of the white floral spectrum; without ever coming off overpowering, dated or even all that feminine.

Day captures all the brightness and clarity of its namesake. Because it is also completely natural, you don’t just smell LIKE white flowers; you smell like you are standing in the middle of real white flowers as the summer sun and its warmth embrace you. From sun up to sun down this captures more than just some flowers-it succeeds in bringing to life something invigorating and sensual simultaneously.” But soft! What light through yon window breaks? It is the light of the day-from the East…” Sillage: Average. Longevity: slightly above average.

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Sarabecca Night is, as I had hoped, a darker reflection of its sister scent; but not in the “usual” way. Anything with “noir” or “nuit” (black or night) in its name is usually dripping in vanilla, and often paired with darker woods or heavy musk and rich resins. This captures a more ephemeral shadow of nighttime that still has hints of those white flowers, only here they are anchored by a dark woody vetiver, crumbly shimmering amber and softer, gentler patchouli.

Silky smooth grasses blowing in the shadows, cool moonlight on softly sighing flowers and a rich sweet slightly dirty accord create something as utterly mysterious as it is enthralling. The perfume captures all this, yet even at its darkest hour Night still remains warm and luminescent, due to hints of ginger, sage, and citruses that blink and dance about in its development, like fireflies bobbing and weaving in the distance, lighting up the darkness. Towering trees cast shadows on the fertile forest floor, as all about an earthen and divine floral sweetness coils about you, cooler somewhat, but infinitely more complex.

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Sarabecca Night

This bottle has a darker almost bronze colored sprayer and its package bears the darker shades of carbon grey around its edges, other than that these two are identical twins…until you spray them that is. I favor this fragrance just slightly more than its diurnal sister, as it is woodier, greener and more resinous. The same things are there, in the night as are in the day, but there just seems to be more intriguing goings-on in the shadows than in the brighter harsher light of daytime. Sillage: slightly above average. Longevity: good.

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“Marketed” as these may be towards the fairer sex, I find both of them equally unisex enough for anyone to wear and enjoy. These are both extremely well-constructed natural fragrances that deliver not only a magnificent blend of harmonious notes in each, but manage to do so with nothing synthetic or artificial and use no animal products (or testing) and are completely cruelty-free. They do not project or last as long as more mainstream fragrances; but, I ask you: would you rather have a nice scent, made of synthetics, that lasts well OR would you rather have a truer (but subtler) fragrance that truly uses the fragrant essences of Mother Nature herself? For me…that’s a no brainer!

Disclosure: Reviews based on samples sent to me by Sarabecca Natural Perfume.

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Thanks to Sarabecca Natural Perfume we have two draws. For our US readers it is a reader’s choice for 50ml of either Sarabecca Day or Night Eau de Parfum. For our international readers it is for a sample set of both fragrances. To be eligible leave comment on whether you think you would prefer Sarabecca Day or Night and if you are a day or a night person. Let us know if you reside in the US in your comment. The draw will end on June 29, 2013.

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.

John Reasinger, Senior Editor

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

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56 comments

  • GregorySop says:

    Well, I would like night…the reason is simply that it is unisex and I would be able to use it as well as the wife… 🙂

    USA reader from Ohio

  • well, it's way past midnight now, and i've always been a night person, so night has more appeal to me. 

    I also like that it has a darker side.

    I'm in the EU,

    ty

  • leathermountain says:

    Night appeals just a bit more.  Without smelling, I'm going on instinct.

    Why would a flower be white?  Why would it have such a potent aroma?  It's not competing for the passions of birds and bees.  It exists to seduce nocturnal creatures.

    Colors are indistinct in low light, but white delights in moonlight.  When the moon wanes, there is still air, and so the chemical lure directs night-fliers.  The moths.  

    And me.  Please.  

    In the US, and thank you for the draw.

  • I'm in the US and more of a day person by nature, with my perfume preferences generally as dark as they come. In this case though, I'd like to try Day the most as I like the description of the tuberose. Thanks!

  • I live in the US, and am actually a day person — but I really like the description of Sarabecca Night so that's my choice.  Thanks for the draw.

  • I am in the US. I am definitely a Day Person, but would probably prefer Sarabecca Night. The notes appealed to me 🙂 Thank you for the nice draw.

  • I live in the US, and I am a late afternoon sort of person normally (and a sucker for white florals and tuberose)…BUT Sarabecca Night has intrigued me 🙂 so I would love to try it. Thank you for the draw!

  • I am a night person living the life of a day person. I live in the us and would love to try night. Thank you.

  • I am definitely a night person, so Night would be fitting.  Those bottles are gorgeous!

    Thank you for the draw!

  • I have always been a night person – there are so many more intriguiging or mysterious goings on in the night. You can see the moon and stars at night. Some amazing flowers only bloom then. You don't have the harsh light or heat of the day.  It is my favorite time of the day. It's when magic happens. 🙂 beautiful bottles for equally beautiful fragrances. Thank you for the draw! I live in the USA.

  • Sarabecca Day sounds more appealing to me, even though I consider myself a night person as I find I can concentrate better at night. International. Thank you for the draw.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    I would Sarabecca Night but I am a day person. Day allows me to make observations and I like the fact that the world becomes alive..Night is dark and mysterius, thus, it limits how much you can observe. Night denotes an end and I like things without ends

  • Laurentiu says:

    Sarabecca Night sounds wonderful and I would prefer it over the day version for at night I am conquering darkness. 

    I do not live in the US.

    Many thanks!

  • I live in the US and would love to have a bottle of Day, as I'm an absolute sucker for a beautiful white floral and this certainly sounds like one!

  • PatriciaC says:

    Sarabecca Day because i am a day person -"From pure and fresh to naughty and musky " what more could you want? Would love to try, i live in the U.S.Thanks

  • I would prefer Sarabecca Night, as this sounds like something I have to try. I like the idea of white flowers anchored by a dark vetiver, amber and patchouli. Thanks so much for the draw! I am in the U.S.

  • I think I would prefer Sarabecca Night. I usually go for darker versions in perfume. I'm actually a day person, but as in summer and winter scents I usually like the winter scents, while I am a summer person. I live in EU.

  • I am physically a day person, but personality wise, most

    definitely, a night person…so Sarabecca Night for me! I live in the US.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • I love love the description for Sarabecca Day! I usually go for more vanilla-amber perfumes but this one seems just perfect, even though I m not a day person!

    Thank you for the draw! I live in EU

  • Being a day person living in the USA, I think that Sarabecca's Night sounds wonderful.

  • I am more of a night person, but I like the description of the white flowers for Sarabecca Day, so I would choose that one, if a winner.

  • Wonderful! Always happy to see more natural perfumes! I think I would prefer Day, and I'm mainly a daytime person. I live in the US.

  • I too am so happy when I hear of more natural perfumes being created. I used to love Alba Botanica products but I think it may have changed since he sold it. I wouldn't categorize myself as more of a day or night person; I love them both for different reasons. I would love to win Sarabecca Night.

  • I am in the US. Your descriptions of each of these fragrances sound wonderful.   I would love to try a truly natural fragrance, as I have none, and I think I would like the Sarrabecca Day.  Thank you for the generous draw

  • I love jasmine! The bottles are nice. Thanks for the descriptions. You used the word "resinous", so I'll have to pick the Nuit version if i win. Thank you.

  • Wow, they both look wonderful–lovely packaging–and sound wonderful too!  So cool  that they are naturals. Thank you for the vivid reviews and the draw!

    I would probably prefer night, as I like woody/earthy/green scents and prefer how the world smells at night too.

  • Marion Low says:

    While both sound lovely, being a late afternoon person (sun going down type languor) I would prefer the Night, as it sounds deeper, lusher and more mysterious, but still not heavy enough to extinguish the stars.  I'm in the USA.

  • Even though I'm a day person, having gotten up for work at 4:45am for over 25 years, I much prefer deeper, darker fragrances.  I live in the US and would love to try Night.

  • I love night out times. Dark sexy muskier nights. So I prefer sarabecca night.

    Thanks

    USA

  • Day sounds very slightly more appealing although they both sound nice.  I am in the US.  Thank you.

  • linnea wiedeman says:

    Day would be my choice.  I love love love jasmine.  thank you for the draw.  I am in the US

  • I've always been a day person. I just love seeing the sun and truly enjoying nature in the daytime. Also gives me the chance to pay outdoor sports, which I love as well. 

    I'm living in Canada. 

  • They both sound very tempting, but based on the lovely description, I would choose Night. Thanks for the chance.

  • I'm usually an early morning person, but Sarabecca Night has me totally intrigued.  I would love to try it!

  • I am most definitely a night person and my choice would, indeed, be Sarabecca Night! Thanks for the draw, everyone, and I live in the U.S.

  • International here!

    If I had to choose, I would try Night first as I truly am an owl.

    Thanks for wonderful review and the generous draw!

  • I'm definitely a child of the night! Love the notes in Night, maybe because I'm not much of a floral fan! Thanks for the draw, international reader here!

  • Being more of a night person, I'm pretty sure I'm more suited for Sarabecca Night. And I'm still in the US. Thank you for another thoughtful review, and opportunity to participate in the draw. 

  • Definitely a night person…. i come alive at night.

    Live in the US here… thanks for the drawing.

  • I'm a day person, a morning person, but the best scents come out at night.  This is a very generous draw, and I would love to try Night.  I'm in the U.S. 

  • Michelle U says:

    As I am a night person, for me Sarabecca Night sounds very interesting.

    I am from the E.U

    Thank you for the draw! ^_^

  • I'm a night person, and the night fragrance sounds more my style.  I live in the USA.

  • Most definitely a night person!  Sarabecca Night sounds good to me. Reside in the US.

  • Oh goodness, I'm in the dark camp!  Anything with vetiver and I perk up!!!  Great giveaway again, thank you!  I'm in the US.