The elizabethW line of perfumes is the brainchild of former architect-turned-perfumer Albert Nichols. He named the perfumery after his great-grandmother, who founded a ranch in the Sierra Nevadas that Mr. Nichols visited as a youth. The aromas of the countryside created a love of fragrance; a passion Mr. Nichols was able to bring to life with elizabethW. The perfumes in the line reflect those kinds of aromas, as they are largely simply constructed scents based around a single note. The perfumery is based in San Francisco, and care is taken to have an environmentally conscious enterprise. All of the products are handcrafted on-site, as well as the pretty letterpress packaging. I received a wonderful collection of samples, plus a bottle of their best-selling scent, Vetiver.

A new full bottle of perfume is like a magnet, so I started my elizabethW journey there. I really like the way I smell when I wear this Vetiver. I own some vetiver-centric perfumes and this is unlike any of them. Vetiver is a very potent note, and Mr. Nichols has managed to tame it into something that is still exotic but more velvety. It’s warm and comforting, but in the vein of most of the line, clean and simple. This is a nicely-blended perfume. (vetiver, citrus tones, bergamot from the peels of nearly ripe fruit.)

The next scent I tried was Citrus Verbena. It is a tart, bitter citrus that is exceptionally refreshing, much like a cold tonic water on a hot day. I could see getting a lot of use out of this fragrance in the spring and summer, and anytime one needed a lift. A travel spray of this would be great to have in your bag or glove box. (grapefruits, mandarins, lemon scented Verbena leaves)

A nice, fresh, simple rose scent is not always easy to find, but if you are looking for one, you have to try Tea Rose. It is a classic, cheerful, warm, sunny rose with a touch of greenery. I could smell it wafting from my wrists, and it lifted my mood and put a smile on my face. I could easily add this to my roses. (moist green notes, wild roses, fresh forest berries, hawthorn.)

Magnolia was one of my favorites. It is a lovely warm floral that is not too powdery, and has that great magnolia tang. Magnolia is becoming a note I enjoy, and this perfume is a well-crafted entry in the field. It wears well, has pleasant waft, and may go into my collection. (white magnolia petals, saffron, sandalwood, Riviera mimosa and gardenia.)

I love to drink sweet tea in the summer (not quite as sweet as I hear it is served in the South) so was curious to try this interpretation on skin. Sweet Tea has a great black tea note, with a slightly soapy, clean edge. It is not too sweet, which is nice, and is refreshing to wear. Admirers of tea scents will want to try this one. (oriental black teas, Amalfi lemons, almond honey.)

Leaves is not quite as green as I would have liked, and became soapy on my skin. It is a very clean scent and I could see it having a lot of appeal for people looking for that type of fragrance. It is head and shoulders above many more synthetic-smelling clean fragrances, and is well-done.  (green, leafy top notes  over Atlas cedar, sandalwood, amber)

I love to rub lavender blossoms in my palms and then inhale the aroma. I know lavender can be a polarizing scent, very love-it-or-hate-it. I love the plant, but some perfumes made with commercial lavender can be too harsh for me. Lavender is a very true depiction of the lavender plant. In fact, it was hard to not go and take a nap for the first 15 minutes or so. The scent settles down into a really lovely, slightly herbal scent that would be very easy to wear, and I like this perfume very much. (lavender, herbaceous and woody tones)

I enjoyed being able to explore this line at leisure. I knew about the company, but had only taken cursory whiffs during busy scent-trip days so had never given them the time they deserve. The line has a broad appeal, and I think both average occasional perfume wearers as well as perfumistas would find something to enjoy.

Their line is available on their website, in their San Francisco store, and in fine boutiques.  My samples were provided by the kind folks at elizabethW, and they have graciously offered a sample set to one reader. Leave a comment on which one appeals to you the most? Draw ends September 8, 2012.

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.

Note: I chose imagery by William Morris for this piece; it seemed to go nicely with the elizabethW aesthetic.

–Tama Blough, Senior Editor