February 25, 2013
New Niche Fragrance Collection: Shay & Blue London Perfumes- Artisanal Crafting,Made in England
Perfumer Julie Masse and Shay & Blue Founder Dom DeVetta
I met Dom De Vetta, ex Senior Vice President of Chanel (and until recently, the former Global General Manager of Jo Malone Ltd) at an event three years ago and was struck by his passion for perfumery and natural ingredients. We are thrilled that he has formed a new boutique fragrance company Shay & Blue , which is available at select stockists in England and online www.shayandblue.com.
According to Dom De Vetta, he created Shay & Blue to recapture the lost quality of the great, classic perfumes. “Many of today’s perfumes can seem thin, simple, and one-dimensional. Many of today’s perfumes are churned out in their millions in anonymous factories. Shay & Blue’s defining purpose is the nurture of perfumery’s artisanal expertise: The preservation of time-honoured methods of quality fragrance-making; Championing men and women who have learned the patient skills of working with real flowers, fruits and spices employing the people who have carefully and quietly acquired an invaluable expertise; Hand harvesting; Hand weighing; Hand distilling”.
To create the six fragrances, Mr.DeVetta enlisted the talent of Julie Massé, a young perfumer who studied under Master Perfumers Christine Nagel and Pierre Bourdon.
Inspired by the great classic perfumes of the belle époque, Shay & Blue’s creators have crafted richly textured fragrances that are also strikingly modern.
Atropa Belladonna
Wonderfully dramatic. Inspired by deadly nightshade, dark cassis berries are blended with the heady white flower blooms of narcissus and jasmine, on a base of rich bourbon vanilla and patchouli. Truly different.
TOP NOTES: First impressions of decadent, mesmerizing berries and cassis liqueur. A top note that intoxicates and draws you in.
HEART NOTES: In the heart, the strength of the narcotic full blooms of white narcissus and Grasse jasmine.
BASE NOTES: Into the dry-down, Atropa Belladonna yields her end-of-day secrets of patchouli, sandalwood, rich bourbon vanilla.
Blood Oranges
Blood Oranges yields the bursting freshness and well-rounded flavour of orange flesh and juice, underpinned by a richly sensual blend of musk, charred woods and passionate, intense leather. Ideal for both men and women.
TOP NOTES: On the nose, instant fresh bursts of blood orange segments and juice. Immediately refreshing.
HEART NOTES: At the core of this scent, a well-balanced note of hot leather. Intense, animalic and attractive.
BASE NOTES: A few hours into the drydown, and Blood Oranges gives off a musky sensuality, with dark woods and amber
Amber Rose
Amber Rose is suffused with sophistication and expense, composed of majestic May rose with gourmand dulce de leche and refined white amber. Seductively and elegantly poised.
TOP NOTES: The soft opening melody of the fresh petals and moist leaves of rare May rose.
HEART NOTES: Then, an elegant symphony of delicious dulce de leche, an enveloping, voluptuous chord.
BASE NOTES: Now approaching the beauty of sundown, woods and fine white amber radiate the warmth and soft-light romance of dusk.
Sicilian Limes
As a finished cocktail, Siciian Limes is the full-liquor hit of a salt margarita, straight-up, no ice.A fragrance designed for men, that sits equally well on women.
TOP NOTES: A rush of salt limes, a sensation of sea air and citrus cocktails.
HEART NOTES: The Sicilian drama continues in the heart, where a Mediterranean tang of rosemary adds to the overall intensity.
BASE NOTES: A solid base of cedar woods and masculine moss draws out the late-stage, fragrant trail of warm summer air.
Suffolk Lavender
Lavender, in dramatic rows of purple-y blue, giving off its exotic summer scent of spicy, aromatic flowers. Here, deeper and darker than usual, with the seductive impact of someone who knows their own mind.
TOP NOTES: Immediate lavender tones of aromatic warmth, the spicy, delicate waft of these well-known stalks as a first hit on the nose. Wrapped in a mouth-watering touch of melon.
HEART NOTES: An explosive cluster of a bouquet of spices with smoky incense – and more lavender.
BASE NOTES: Touches of tousled musk with restless pine wood.
Almond Cucumber
Almond Cucumber epitomises refinement and watery softness. This Ophelia of fragrances leaves a subtle whisper in her wake.
TOP NOTES: Cucumber on the nose, an instant splash of refreshing, green slices cuts a clean, thirst-quenching first impression.
HEART NOTES: Almond blossom warming the blend in its heart, mixed with bursts of delicate mimosa from Grasse and summer-flowering heliotrope.
BASE NOTES: Deep in the dry-down, the almonds ripen into the crunchy scent of nuts, with intensely dense almond wood.
The Collection will be available in 100ml and 30ml natural sprays (approximately $85US for the 100 ml and $45US for the 30ml)and a range of candles, (approx $55) using 100% natural wax are also offered.
Source: Via Shay & Blue Photos copyright
Which fragrance appeals to you, because as you know, you never know !
-Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief
While sitting here waiting on yet another snowstorm, I wish I could smell Blood Oranges right now! Atropa Belladonna is not my kind of thing but I’d like to try it. Great price point on these and the 30ml option is perfect; I wish all perfume came in 15-30ml bottle sizes.
All sound like worth trying. Lavender sounds nice, and oranges and limes (I need some new citrus)
Oh they all sound so lovely! The Almond Cucumber in particular appeals to be, it sounds like it would be perfect to wear on spring days.
Atropa Belladonna sounds like something I would truly enjoy.
Blood Oranges sounds great, with its bright citrus opening, then leather followed by dark woods and amber. Can’t wait to try it! Sicilian Limes also intrigues me, though it might be a bit masculine for my taste.
All of these sound amazing. I cannot wait to smell. Almond Cucumber, Sicilian Lime, and Amber Rose…. aahhh! Can’t pick!
They are trully lovely!! The perfumes are exquisit and their boutique in Marylebone gorgeous!! As of today they are launching in Harvey Nichols as well! A must try!
These sound intriguing and I am always interested in UK perfumers and I see they do candles as well. Sicilian Limes and Atropa Belladonna seem very enticing. I am however, struggling a bit with the idea of lavender with a melon note. I am currently looking for a lavender perfume so I would be quite interested to see how this works. Good to see the smaller size bottles too.
This new line sounds really interesting. I would love to try Sicilian Lime,Amber Rose, Blood Oranges, Suffolk Lavender and the Almond and Cucumber. Do you have information on where they will be sold in the
US ? I would really love a sample set of these fragrances.
They all sound amazing, but my first pick would
be Atropa Belladonna…love dramatic!!
I was very impressed by the Photography- congrats, lovely ambience. Names most evocative and Belladonna would be where I would start- I like the obscurity of the pairings as well. Nice work!
Rosiegreen- it is a brand start up. So I don’t know of any immediate plans, but you can buy online.
Maria A- Please say hello from CaFleureBon. ChrisB when jo malone started over 20 years ago no one put amber and lavender together, or basil with lime
I would love to try Atropa Belladonna just because of the notes listed. However, Blood Oranges and Amber Rose sound lovely as well. Thanks for the introduction to a new line!
Amber Rose sounds so lovely! That’s one I would go straight to and spritz, spritz, spritz away! I need to try it!
Atropa Belladonna’s notes sound wonderful to me. I need to try it.
Every single one of these is appealing to me! And I also love the smaller (ergo, more affordable) bottles. A sampler of all of them would be nice too
!!
I’vr been curious about this line! Would like to try them all, of course, but thinking I may like the Belladonna and Lavender?
All sound interesting but I’m curious about Blood Oranges-,.
Blood Oranges sounds wonderful…
They all sound lovely, but if I had to pick one it would be the Almond Cucumber. Considering that we approaching warmer weather slowly but surely. I like that they offer these in 30ml sizes
Oooo these all sound gorgeous, but the most intriguing to me is the almond cucumber frag. Though I wonder about the longevity, it sounds like such a delicate perfume.
Atropa Belladonna: what an interesting concept!
Good concept in each one of them, nicely presented. Loved the bottles and the photographic presentation. Prices are also very enticing. In all, if the fragrances are as interesting as they read on paper we have a very good new entry. I will definitely seek them out
Amber Rose and Suffolk Lavender both sound very intriguing. Thanks for bringing this line to my attention!
Almond Cucumber sounds the most interesting to me–I would never in a million years have thought of that combination! but it sounds very cool indeed (geddit?)
I also love the sound of Atropa Belladona, all sensual and mysterious…
Amber Rose sounds amazingly delicious… I look forward to trying these!
I’d say Blood Oranges, closely followed by Atropa Belladonna, are the most appealing to me!
My quest for a lovely ( on me) orange scent continue, so Blood Oranges most appeals. Lovely article — Glad to hear tradition is alive
The only appealing to me is Blood Oranges….
for me its blood oranges too
They sound interesting, and the prices are reasonable… and that’s quite something!
I can’t explain, but Almond cucumber sound appealing to me..
Suffolk Lavender sounds the best by far!