New Niche Perfume Review: Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes Café V + Bob Dylan One More Cup Of Coffee Draw

 

    bob dylan drinking coffee

Several things I have a penchant for include coffee shops in which I love to write and grade papers, my morning cup of dark roast Sumatran coffee lightly sweetened and topped with cream, an afternoon cup of coffee with cinnamon, and a special occasion weekend afternoon cup of coffee with freshly ground cardamom. Given that, I’ve been always on a keen lookout for coffee perfumes, and I had lovingly worn and used samples of Ava Luxe’s Dark Café for an especially dark roast, Bond  No 9 Haarlem for a version of art project coffee set on a woody base, and Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s Holiday  Lumiere 7- coffee with spices made in the quietness of Christmas morning. Yet until I tried Café V I had not put together my penchant for coffee with another one of mine…Bob Dylan. And for a while I thought that my passion for perfume and my love for Bob Dylan’s music and lyrics would run on parallel courses. I never would’ve thought that they would intersect. Until they did.

 

  truckstop bob dylan

Truckstop  by Bob Dylan

 

When the perfumer Dr. Ellen Covey of Olympic Orchids described Café V she said:

 

"Café V is a spicy fragrance inspired by one of Seattle’s many cozy neighborhood cafes with its dark décor, warm fireplace, leather chairs, and espresso bar. It’s not quite gourmand, and not quite a fragrance of place, but something in between with notes of espresso-roast coffee, dark cacao, vanilla, cream, spicy chai bursting with cardamom, leather, and well-worn wood, and just a little skank from all of the rain-drenched actors who have over the years congregated in this little café in Seattle’s Capitol Hill".

  dallas-hotel-room bob dylan

 Bob Dylan 2010 Dallas Hotel Room

 The first time I sprayed Café V was in a hotel room where I spent a morning between a flight back to the rainy Pacific Northwest and a long drive home.  I sprayed the fragrance on a scarf, wary of trying a new perfume on my skin for the first time. A cloud of coffee, cardamom and something that smelled sweet, spicy and floral at the same time rose up. I inhaled. And then inhaled. And then inhaled. I could not help it – I spent longer than I planned in that room sniffing the scarf. And then I put the scarf on my neck right next to my skin without hesitation, took my bag, turned around, walked out of the room and got into the car. I had three hours on the road ahead of me.

 One more cup of coffee for the road,

 One more cup of coffee before I go

 Into the valley below…

backyard bob dylan

 Bob Dylan 2010 Backyard

 

No, I did not hear this Bob Dylan’s song which is called One More Cup of Coffee over the stereo in my car while driving home. Instead, I heard it rising toward the surface of my consciousness from the back of my memory as the Café V perfume grew more and more earthy, fleshy, and warm skinned as it was blending with me through the scarf. These warm skin/kitty fur smells made it into my memories where the song was stored and gave me a sense of intimacy and danger.

Your breath is sweet
Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky
Your back is straight your hair is smooth
On the pillow where you lie
But I don't sense affection
No gratitude or love
Your loyalty is not to me
But to the stars above

two-sisters bob dylan

  Bob Dylan Two Sisters

 

When I later read the fragrance description I was amazed at how perfectly the images of rain drenched slightly skanky actors fit with my image from the song – the image of two lovers who cannot trust each other completely because even when they are laying in the same bed they are keenly aware that they both came from two different worlds and these worlds create sparks every time they come together in close contact. 

 

 Your daddy he's an outlaw
And a wanderer by trade
He'll teach you how to pick and choose
And how to throw the blade
He oversees his kingdom
So no stranger does intrude
His voice it trembles as he calls out
For another plate of food.

  cassandra bob dylan

Bob Dylan 2010 Cassandra

 Since that drive I wore Café V on the skin, and it had been catching my attention every time with its smells of coffee, freshly chipped wood, maybe a hint of cocoa (I am usually wary of that note, so if you are cacao-cautious do not worry, it is not what I usually dislike in the cocoa notes, it is not even a mocha, it is just a hint of depth, a piece of super dark chocolate at the plate of someone at the next table). Then the fragrance progresses into some seriously sexy territory with the warm skin notes that I experienced before, and then, amplified by my skin, with leather. Are these leather seats at Seattle Café V or some actor’s rain drenched leather jacket, but for me the association continues with a strong passionate gypsy woman who continues to surprise the lyrical hero of Bob Dylan’s song as he goes along.

 Your sister sees the future
Like your mama and yourself
You've never learned to read or write
There's no books upon your shelf
And your pleasure knows no limits
Your voice is like a meadowlark
But your heart is like an ocean
Mysterious and dark.

I get a sense that he is drawn to something in her that he cannot fathom, something that attracts and scares at the same time.  Perhaps he takes one and one more cup of coffee to postpone the moment that he has to leave her because he believes it is unrequited love. The song is full of questions that were never asked and will never be answered.  Will he ever know her enough to trust her? Will he ever get close enough not to be surprised? Who is this lover of his who rose from hard circumstances yet clearly came out as a strong woman with spiritual gifts? And what does she think of this relationship?

  bob dylan sidewalk-cafe

 Bob Dylan 2011 Sidewalk Cafe

 

The situation described in the song is enigmatic, and the smell of Café V does not let you to put a finger on it to call it just one thing. Some fragrances have a pyramid structure, some are linear, some have a structure of a kaleidoscope when each turn makes each colorful fragrant ingredient roll with a ring and fall in place to create a different picture. Café V does not seem to fit any of these descriptions since my experience of it is circular.  There it’s coffee, there it’s leather, there it’s the depth of cocoa – a piece of extra dark bitter chocolate on someone’s plate, someone else comes in and brings the whiff of their skin, and, like in the song, it always goes back to coffee. Perhaps, someone had just started an espresso machine in the café. But perhaps it is finishing the story by coming back to where it started. And the story is about so much more than coffee.

One more cup of coffee for the road,

One more cup of coffee before I go

Into the valley below… Bob Dylan 1976 (sung as a duet with Emmy Lou Harris on his 17th album Desire)

Editor's Note: "One More Cup of Coffee" tells the tale of a girl whose family are gypsies and drifters, and of the man who must leave her to enter the "valley below". The narrator describes a character who is beautiful: "your eyes are like two jewels in the sky" but for whom the narrator's love and admiration are not reciprocated ("but I don't sense affection no gratitude or love, your loyalty is not to me but to the stars above"). The song deals with themes of abandonment; the apparent end of a relationship and the concept of a coming journey. The song could be seen as a metaphor for Dylan's relationship with his then wife Sara; however, this is unsubstantiated. The song is also thought to have been inspired by a visit Dylan made to Saintes Maries de Mer in Provence, France, where there is an annual gathering of Romany people who venerate Saint Sarah the Egyptian. This would seem to point to another link to Sara Dylan. (Ref. Picknett,L. and Prince, C. "The Templar Revelation", 1997, p. 90.)

  Olga Rowe, Monthly Contributor

My sample was sent to me by Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes

All illustrations are from Bob Dylan's The Drawn Blank Series of Limited Edition Graphics

CafeV olympic orchids perfume

Thanks to Ellen Covey we have a draw for both  a 30 ml edp spray and a 15 ml of perfume of Cafe V. To be eligible, please leave a comment with your favorite Bob Dylan song AND  your favorite Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes fragrance (or one you like to try). Draw ends March 4, 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.

 

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58 comments

  • Your kidding right? Favorite Bob Dylan song (SONGS) Like a Rolling Stone, The Times They are a Changing, Blowin in the Wind. AND I love Siam Proun and Rose Chypre just to name a few. Congratulations on the new additions Ellen. Great Review and of course Ellen thanks for the draw..

  • My favorite Bob Dylan song is Tangled Up In Blue ( tough call, though ). I don’t know Olympic Orchids so I don’t have a favorite there, but I’d love to try Cafe V. Thanks for the draw.

  • I love a good coffee scent and there aren’t enough of them. My favorite Dylan song is Tangled Up in Blue & my favorite Olympic Orchids scent (so far) is Ballets Rouges. Can’t wait to try Cafe V!

  • What an amazing review I felt like I was on two journeys
    Dr coveys and bob Dylan’s Olga Rowe I am bookmarking this
    My favorite bob Dylan song is knocking on heavens door
    I haven’t tried any of the fragrances but I have read great things about ballet rouges and Gujarat
    First class writing

  • My favourite Dylan song is All Along the Watchtower, although most people are more familiar with Hendrix’s cover. My favourite Olympic Orchids scent is Sonnet XVII. Although, Cafe V sounds amazing!

  • It’s a tie between It Ain’t Me, Babe and The Man in the Long Black Coat. I’ve never tried an Olympic Orchids fragrance, but I live in Seattle and love coffee, so this one sounds great!

  • I just read this review. It’s so good that it literally gave me chills while reading! I don’t think a perfume review has ever had that effect before. The whole time I was reading, I was hearing the Dylan song, too. Olga, this is a wonderful piece of writing. The perfume may have inspired it, but you took it places far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Congratulations on a beautifully crafted work of written art.

  • Loved everything about this review including seeing the lyrics and the artwork. So there is only one thing left to do, try Cafe V! Thanks

  • My favourite Bob Dylan song is Knockin’ on Heavean’s Door. Never tried any from Olympic Orchids Artisan, but I would love to have the chance to test Olympic Rainforest.

    Thanks!

  • Matildaben says:

    Great review, Olga my dear. My favorite Dylan song is She Belongs To Me. I have several favorite Olympic Orchids perfumes, including Ballets Rouges, Olympic Amber, and Little Stars. Thanks to Cafleurebon for offering this draw.

  • My fave Bob Dylan song would be Like a Rolling Stone and my fave Olympic Orchid scent is Ballets Rouges.

  • My favourite Bob Dylan song is Boots of Spanish Leather.
    I haven’t had the fortune of testing any Olympic Orchids’ fragrances as of yet, but for many years I’ve had my eye on Golden Cattleya.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • My favorite Bob Dylan song is Like a Rolling Stone (I also love Highway 61 Revisited and once knew all the words to the song, but that was a long time ago. 🙂

    I love Dr. Ellen Covey. One of my favorite Olympic Orchid fragrances is Lil. That perfume is powerful…in a good way.

  • I like Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.
    From Olympic Orchids – Little Stars sounds nice

  • One of my favourite albums from Bob Dylan is “Love and Thef”, specially the song Moonligjt and Summer Days. I ‘ve visited the Olympic Orchids site and I think I would like Ballets Rouges….but this Coffe scent can also be good!

  • One of my favorite songs in Dylan’s repertoire is ” Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” it’s an icon of an era.
    I’ve never smelled Olympic Orchids scents but among them I’ìd like to try Kingston Ferry or Salamanca.

  • Thanks for the draw!
    My favourite Bob Dylan song is Blowin’ In The Wind.

    I would like to try Cafe V.

  • Well, I guess the closest thing I have to a favorite Dylan song is the one in The Big Lebowski movie, The Man in Me. At least I think that’s the name of it.
    Favorite Olympic Orchids is tough but I’d say Red Cattleyea or Little Stars. Honestly I like the whole orchid series.

  • Olga this was a beautiful review…I did not know that Dylan was a painter as well! Favorite song is Like a Rolling Stone and although I have not tried any Olympic Orchards perfume I would very much like to try this one!
    Thank you for the draw!

  • Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door. 🙂
    There are a few olympic orchids releases I want to sniff out, but the most urgent has got to be Salamanca.

  • My favorite songs Dylan’s song is ” Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” .
    I find many of Olympic Orchids scents are gorgeous, my fav are Salamanca, Golden Cattleyea and Ballets Rouge.

    Great great review!

  • Wow, what a great review! I so enjoyed seeing Dylan’s artwork illustrating it. Proves that artists often excel in various media. To add a not-yet-mentioned Dylan fave to the list: Lay, Lady Lay.
    I have never tried any Olympic Orchids scent and would love to make Cafe V the first!
    Thank you for this generous draw.

  • My favorite Bob Dylan song is Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. The cover by Warren Zevon recorded when he was terminally ill is particularly moving.
    Have never tried an Ellen Covey fragrance, but Gujarat is on my to-try list after reading a great review of it

  • susie frankel says:

    Favorite Dylan (if possible to choose) is Girl From the North Country with Johnny Cash and the great Lay, Lady Lay.
    A beautiful piece of writing…congrats Olga.
    I have never tried any EC scent but LOVE coffee, so your review stirs my desire for the latest – Cafe V.

  • Oh, Dylan, I didn’t know you were a kick-ass painter on top of everything else you do. Some people get all the talent!! I really like his style. Anyway, Hurricane is my fave Dylan song, Lay Lady Lay is up there too. I Great review! I haven’t heard of this line before. I love coffee. I would love to try Cafe V. Thanks! 🙂

  • I love to drink coffee and smell it brewing. My favorite Dylan song would be “It Ain’t Me Babe”. I have not been lucky enough to smell any Olympic Orchards fragrances, but this does sound like something I would love.

  • I haven’t tried any of this line but The Main Act description sounds pretty fab!
    Some of my favorite Dylan songs are Forever Young, Lay Lady Lay, and Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, but there are too many to mention!!

  • Lorraine L says:

    The Times They Are a Changing of course. Such a moment in time.
    I love coffee notes so I’m dying to try this. Thanks for the draw!

  • Lay Lady Lay is my favourite Dylan song and Ellen Covey’s gorgeous Golden Cattleya is just too good to be true…
    Thank you for this draw

  • Favorite song is Lay Lady Lay. Love that song.

    I’ve not tried the Olympic Orchid line, but the name Sonnet XVII enchants. I’m thinking Cafe V and Dillon are perfect together!

  • Catherine says:

    My favorite Dylan song is “Simple Twist of Fate”. I haven’t any of the Olympic Orchards perfumes, but like the description of A Midsummer Day’s Dream.

  • Olga (Warum) says:

    Wow, thank you everyone for such wonderful comments! I was so happy to read a list of everyone’s favorite Bob Dylan’s songs. It felt like being a part of a great community of lovers of art in all its forms!

    I literally have a top 25 Bob Dylan favorite songs, but today my favorite is One More Cup of Coffee because it makes me realize how our works of art can be in perfect harmony with each other.

    The Olympic Orchids perfumes I love are too many to list – Cafe V, Sonnet XVII, Golden Cattleya, Arizona, Ballets Rouge, keep them coming! The ones I want to try most are the Devilscents, the most desired of them all is #4 the Reprise.

    Once again, thank you so much for all your kind words, everyone! It is a joy to write for you!

  • Marion Low says:

    Such wonderfull replies all! My favorite Dylan is Lay Lady Lay. Now it’s going to be in my head all day!. I love Ellen’s perfumes, am wearing Golden Cattleya and Ballet Rouge. The scent of place, Arizona is “right on”. Would love to have a bottle of Cafe V. I bet it’s special.

  • Blowing in the wind and knocking on heaven’d door are my favorite Bob Dylan songs, can’t choose between those two like I cn’t pick a favorite Olympic Orchid perfume they are all so lovely although Golden Cattleya might be a bit more favorite! Thank you for the draw!!!

  • just breathe says:

    I love the words to ONe More Cup of Coffee and although I have not tried any Olympic Orchid perfume I would love to try Cafe V.
    thanks for the draw!

  • My favorite Bob Dylan song is All along the watchtower. Battlestar Galactica fan here!
    And I think that I would love Arizona.

    Thank you!

  • rosiegreen says:

    My favorite Dylan song is Girl from the Northcountry. My favorite Olympic Orchids scent is Dev 1 from her Devilscents project. Great review,now I need to go make some coffee.

  • I’d probably have to go with Tangled Up in Blue, but it’s a tough call. This is definitely the fragrance from the OO range I most want to try…particularly after that review!!

  • My favorite Dylan song is lay lady lay
    I never knew he was an artist too!
    Great review and I loved how everything was woven together

    I would love to win Cafe V

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    my favorite Bob Dylan song is Lay Lady Lay and the fragrance i want to try is Sonnet XVII

  • I like The Times They Are A-Changin.’ The only Olympic Orchids fragrance I’ve yet tried is Salamanca, and it is certainly very interesting, which bodes well for my interest in the rest of the line. I’d love the chance to try Cafe V. Thanks for the draw.

  • Best Dylan Song is Like a Rolling Stone, Although not familiar with their frags, I checked out their site and some reviews on fragrantica and there are several that seem appealing, possibly Arizona, Gujarat or Olympic Amber. Would appreciate the chance to try Cafe V. Thank You.

  • Blowing in the wind ot The Times they are a-changing! Yes, I know, it’s tipical but i’m not very much into Bob Dylan, but I must admit that the second one was masterfully used at The Watchmen.
    I’m very curious for Olympic Rainforest, but the whole line sounds very interesting.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Like a Rolling Stone-the best for me!
    I think that Midsummer Day’s Dream should be great, I should try it some day!

  • ElizabethN says:

    I don’t know Bob Dylan’s songs. Actually, I know some of the ones listed above, but I don’t really like them, sorry! I would live to try Cafe V, and I don’t know her other scents.

  • My favorite Bib Dylan songs are: Knocking on Heavens Door and The Times Are Changing! This was an excellent article and I really enjoyed reading it! I haven’t tried anything by Olympic Orchids. Thanks for the draw! 🙂

  • My favorite Bob Dylan song has always been Tangled Up In Blue.
    I have never tried anything from Olympic Orchids, although Cafe V is definitely one I would like to try! Also Kyphi and Olympic Amber sound fabulous.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Thanks for the draw and the review! I don’t know enough of Dylan, really, but I like Like a Rolling Stone and All Along the Watchtower (thanks, Battlestar Galactica).

    I am most interested in Golden Cattelya, Cafe V, Sonnet XVII, Gujarat, and those new (to me) Devil Scents…whoa. So much to love!

  • I think SONNET XVII sounds very interesting and I would be happy to try it. I like “Like a Rolling Stone” song of Bob Dylan. Thanks

  • I like Tangled Up In Blue AND I would like to try this perfume, Café V, since I like coffee!

  • My favorite Bob Dylan is probably “Like a Rolling Stone” as well as all the songs on the album “Self Portrait”. My current favorite Olympic Orchids scent is “Javanica”. I’m also a fan of “Golden Cattleya”, “Ballets Rouge” and the Devil Scent Series.

  • So many favorite Bob Dylan’s songs. Boots of Spanish Leather is only one of them. I’d like to try Gujarat or Olympic Amber. I have not tried any Olympic Orchids’ fragrance yet.