Alexandra Balahoutis; Sweet Southern Magnolia by Boyd Green

Way back when I was a newbie in perfumista-land, I heard about a company called Strange Invisible Perfumes. How intriguing does that sound? I was especially hearing about a perfume called Magazine Street, and, being someone attracted to New Orleans, I procured a sample. I wore it one time, was instantly smitten, and forever haunted. I never even wore it again, although I had a little left in my sample vial. It was like I didn’t want to use it up, to not have any. Isn’t that funny, what our brains can do? I could have gotten more, but for some reason I treated those drops of perfume like precious jewels. It wasn’t until some time later that I understood anything about natural perfumery, and began exploring. I started to appreciate natural perfumery as an art form, and found several perfumers to admire. I tried a few other scents in the Strange Invisble line, and realized that perfumer Alexandra Balahoutis was in the upper echelons of mastery. In the back of my mind there was always Magazine Street, lurking, waiting for me. I went to Los Angeles, but never quite made it to the Strange Invisible Perfume store. Fortunately, thanks to some very kind people, I have a bottle in my hand at last.

The Black Parade by Kathleen Hardy

Wearing Magazine Street is a lesson in allowing your mind to drift. I have never been to New Orleans, but in my mind it is a place of moist air, lush foliage, a rich gumbo of cultures, and gothic architecture. Of course I reveled in the New Orleans of Anne Rice and her vampires, although I knew that was not how it really is. The perfume, though, transports me to a warm, wet New Orleans evening, wandering under magnolia trees with fragrant, waxy blooms.  Fireflies twinkle, and there is a sound of revelers laughing and a jazz band in the distance. As I wander, I tread upon richly fragrant, moist earth, and the sweet smell of sugared beignets meets my nose as I pass a crowded café. Someone takes my arm, and after a thrill of supernatural fear I realize it is my lover, with his softly musky smell, come to accompany me home for candlelit delights.

Southern Magnolia 2 by Marcia Baldwin

How did Ms. Balahoutis capture so much in this bottle? One spray, and I am gone. The sillage of this fragrance is incredible; so rich, yet brimming with magnolia. How can this be a natural perfume? It lasts for hours on my skin, fading down to a cozy, vanilla-tinged, slightly sweet musk.  This is an example of natural perfumery at its finest; the quality of the ingredients shines, it wears well, and it’s completely unique. This is a bottle of perfume I will treasure.

Notes: Magnolia, vanilla, vetiver & botanical musk

So that you can experience the wonders of Magazine Street and other fine fragrances in the Strange Invisble Perfumes line, Ms. Balahoutis has generously  offered a prize of a Mini Bar sampler to give to anyone in the world. Let us know your favorite Strange Invisible Perfumes scent, or anything you liked about this review. Draw ends on  August 31, 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

–Tama Blough, Senior Editor

A reminder: as an exclusive offer for CaFleureBon readers only, Strange Invisible Perfumes is offering an online discount of 50% off all full size fragrances in their current packaging (excluding limited editions).  Go to www.siperfumes.com  and  add any EDP to your cart. Enter code: CFBSIP. This offer is good from now through September 6th, 2013. This is a perfect opportunity to stock up on your favorite Strange Invisible Perfumes before the relaunch of their new collection. Please note that quantities are limited.

 

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland

Note: I was slightly taken aback when one of my friends who lives in New Orleans informed me that Magazine Street is a higher-end shopping destination. I had never pictured it as a luxury shopping street, but it does have that fantastically elaborate architecture, and is located in the beautiful Garden District. Also, I think a lot of my New Orleans impressions come from many trips to Disneyland’s New Orleans Square.