New Perfume Review: Velvet and Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery Highway (Laurie Stern) +The Highwaymen Draw

The Highwaymen - Johnny Cash (left), Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon jennings

The Highwaymen – Johnny Cash (left), Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings known as The Mount Rushmore of Country Music

El Cerrito, California's Laurie Stern, founder of Velvet and Sweet Pea's Purrfumery, released a limited edition fragrance, Highway– a tribute to wanderlust, new beginnings and the song behind the  2016 PBS film “American Masters- The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End” which celebrates the personal and musical relationship between Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.

The Highwaymen - Highwayman

the highwaymen lp

The song itself,Highwayman, written by Jimmy Webb in 1977, chronicles the journey of a soul through incarnations as highwayman, sailor, construction worker and captain of a starship and was recorded by these country legends in 1985.

Laurie Stern Velvet & Sweetpea purrfeumery

Laurie Stern Velvet and Sweet Pea's Purrfumery via instagran with Lemon verbena distillation

“I’m evoking new beginnings with this perfume,” Laurie says, “That rambling, roaming change and the fluid nature of our lives is at the heart of this perfume.” Something which fans of all kinds of music can relate to, not just those whose hearts beat with a bit of twang.

willie nelson and waylon jennings drinking

Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings drinking

The unisex aroma is rich with Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery aesthetic, from the ornate packaging to the ornate aroma within- the experience is both sweet and somewhat boozy- a winding road of wooden, floral and herbaceous mile markers.

kris kristofferson road

Kris Kristoffersen on the road

The opening is a citrus and neroli swirled vanilla- somehow a nostalgia which beckons to the road. Black currant bud provides a hint of the exotic, jasmine sambac offers the promise of something romantic- all hallmarks of a classic road trip.  Although there are suggested notes of something alcoholic, Highway seems to be only hinting at the country music go-to and Willie's proclivities are surprisingly absent.

Johnny Cash photographed by Jim Marshall

Johnny Cash in the woods Jim Marshall

As Laurie says- this is “a scent that speaks to the roaming heart”, and as Highway dries down, it is also a strong support for these brave nomadic souls- a forest of woods including cedar and black spruce offer a sturdy framework for the adventure. Camping under the canopy is not a far removed thought, and Highway proves to be as comforting as it is thrilling.

the highwaymen

A limited edition from the natural “Purrfumery”  house, Highway is a moment in time, and one which may never pass this way again- not unlike the grouping of country music legends who have traveled roads we dare not and bring back the emotive stories we dare not live. For myself, Highway is the impulse-leave-the-city-I'm-not-reachable-camping which I used to succumb to as often as I could.

Notes: citrus, berries, cedarwood, vanilla and blue spruce, black currant bud, neroli, jasmine sambac, frankincense, green mandarin

–Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor

Art Direction-MC

*disclosure: my sample was provided by Velvet and Sweet Pea Purrfumery for review.

4mLhighway

Thanks to the generosity of Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery we have a draw for a 4mL bottle of Highway for one registered reader in the USA (you must be registered to be eligible.) Please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Einsof's review of Highway, your favorite country music song from one of the Highwaymen and if you have a favorite Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery fragrance. Draw closes 9/10/2016.

 

We announce winners on site and on our Facebook page- so like Cafleurebon  and use our RSS feed option or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

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15 comments

  • Laurie Stern says:

    Wow! Thank you so much, Einsof!

    I love what you say and how you say it! You got it, and me, and more! I love the images Michelyn used too! Purrfect! Willie and Waylon drinking! Yes. Camping, yes! Being unreachable, romanic, nomadic! I loved the sweet and somewhat boozy too! And that you included The Highwaymen and PBS Film links! It’s a great story of deep friendships and love at the heart of it. I encourage everyone to see it! And enjoy Highway! I’ll use cannabis in the one for Willie.

    Thank you again! XOXO~Laurie

  • Julesinrose says:

    Fun review! Now we know you were once a camper. This fragrance sounds great. Now I’m humming “Luckenbach, Texas” to myself – a Waylon Jennings song that Willie Nelson sings on. Haven’t had the pleasure of trying any of this house. Will do! In the US.

  • Miriam Carl says:

    I love this description – “a scent that speaks to the roaming heart.” As for the songs – I’ll have to check them out.

    My favorite Velvet and Sweet Pea perfume is Honey and I live in the US.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Rae Lynn says:

    A few of my favorite singers! Willie, Kris and Johnny Cash. What a fun idea to base a perfume on! Help me Make it Through the Night, Me and Bobby McGee, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, and Ring of Fire. Although there are suggested notes of something alcoholic, “Highway seems to be only hinting at the country music go-to and Willie’s proclivities are surprisingly absent.” I got quite a chuckle from that last part. USA

  • fazalcheema says:

    It is interesting composition with beautiful notes like jasmine, citrus, vanilla, and black currant. I have not listened to any song by any of the highwaymen. My exposure to country songs actually occurred quite early in my life through Richard Marx in 1990s with his album Paid Vacation but besides him, Shania Twain and Bryan Adams are the only ones I have listened to. Similarly, I have not tried anything yet from Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery.
    Thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • Tami H. says:

    Great review! I enjoyed this part.

    As Laurie says- this is “a scent that speaks to the roaming heart”, and as Highway dries down, it is also a strong support for these brave nomadic souls- a forest of woods including cedar and black spruce offer a sturdy framework for the adventure. Camping under the canopy is not a far removed thought, and Highway proves to be as comforting as it Is thrilling.
    A song I love by Johnny Cash is ” A Boy Named Sue ”
    My favorite scent by Laurie is Fleur de Caramel.
    Thanks for the giveaway, I live in the U.S.

  • Steve A says:

    A very different set of notes. I clicked on the video and enjoyed watching it while trying to get a reading on the inspiration for this perfume. I do like Johnny’s Folsom Prison song from the live album. I have never smelled a Velvet & Sweet Pea creation. USA

  • Cynthia says:

    I like the description of sweet and boozy. I think Laurie’s website is so interesting and I would love to visit her and her cats in their garden one day! I have sampled a few and my favorite is Fleur de Caramel. I also enjoyed some of the bath salts, i believe Fir. I like Willie Nelson’s You Were Always On My Mind. USA. Thank you for the draw.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Thanks for the review, photos and a nice video from 1980’s.
    The blend of flowers, fruits and wood is the highway to HIGHWAY. The dry down of HIGHWAY inspired me. Never get hands on any of the Velvet & Sweet Pea creation. Not heard or watched any of the Highwaymen songs before, but I am impressed of above video song.
    Thanks to the generosity of Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery and Cafleurebon for the draw.
    Participating by giving me relative address in NY, USA.

  • doveskylark says:

    I loved thinking about which notes inspire wanderlust and new beginnings in me. I think it would be the cedar and black spruce notes. Maybe jasmine as well.
    I have never tried any fragrances from Velvetband Sweet Pea.
    My favorite Johnny Cash song is one of his last: Hurt. The accompanying video with June Carter Cash brings me to tears each time because they both knew that the end was near.
    I live in the USA.

  • Elaine Richard says:

    I really enjoyed the review. Especially since I was able to listen to the Highwaymen song while reading. I look forward to the ‘winding road of wooden, floral and herbaceaous mile markers’. The neroli-swirled vanilla sounds luscious.
    I am in California and I’ve enjoyed samples of Velvet and Sweet Pea’s previously.

  • hofken says:

    I enjoyed Einsof’s review of Highway and would enjoy this “impulse-leave-the-city-I’m-not-reachable-camping” fragrance with its cedarwood and blue spruce. My favorite country music song from Willie Nelson is City of New Orleans. I haven’t yet had the pleasure of wearing a Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery fragrance.

  • doreeniyogini says:

    Fantastic review for what I’m sure is an amazing scent. As a person who has recently gone nomadic and seeks to be in the wilds – of heart and setting (woods) this review and scent calls to me. I love the images and symbology evoked in this review. Scent notes translate to states of being and transformation.

    My favorite scent of Laurie’s is Honey.

    My favorite country artist is Loretta Lynn. I am not sure of the name of the song – but the refrain is “When you’re looking at me, you’re looking at country.”

  • Ruth says:

    I really enjoyed the direction Laurie is taking especially the blue spruce
    Loved the review
    My favorite song is Willie Nelson you were always on my mind
    And Waylon Jennings mama don’t let your babies grow up to be Cowboys