CaFleureBon Honey (and Beeswax) In Perfumery: “The Birds and the Bees” + 11 Queen Bee Fragrances Draw

1honeybee painting

Painting: Honey Bees PrettyLittleLines

Honey is the sweetness of millions of flowers collected by tens of thousands of virgin bees that dance for each other in the summer of the hive.   Since the dawn of humanity, bees have signified many things; community, royalty, harmony, spirituality, procreation and their nectar, honey, is symbolic of paradise, eloquence, new beginnings and immortality

eartha kitt honey

Eartha Kitt "sweet as honey"

The scent and taste of honey can be as varied as the flowers from which it is collected and may be sweetly floral as in the case of orange blossom honey or smell barnyard/ animalic as in the scent of buckwheat flower honey. Honey from the fields of lavender can have a camphorous scent whilst there is a smoky aroma from tobacco flowers where bees are essential to the pollination. Generally sweet and ambery when extracted from honey destined for perfumery, it has a subtle and soft effect with a balsamic drydown that is often used to enhance floral and citrus notes and coversely bring out the floralcy of agarwood/oud and temper animalic notes. Sweet, yet pheromonal, honey is the result of sex between flowers and other species. For hundreds of years' talking about about sex was considered taboo, so parents turned to Mother Nature to teach their children about reproduction, hence the phrase, "The Birds and the Bees".

johnson and johnson baby powder vintage ad

Beeswax is also used in the perfume industry and like honey carries the imprint of flowers visited by its makers and of life in the hive. Beeswax absolute has a stronger odor  than honey is more musky and animalic.  This is due to the unusually large amount of naturally occuring phenylacetic acid which is green, gloral but urinous. For perfumers preferring natural animal musks, beewax provides an excellent fixative. A small amount goes along way and is generally used to offset the beauty of jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang perfumes. The House of Guerlain used beeswax absolue in Nahema (1997, Jean Paul Guerlain) and Champs Elysees  (1904, Jaques Guerlain) to merge the myriad of floral notes. Beeswax also has more humble origins in modern perfumery as it was used in the original Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder formula for its antiseptic properties. Beeswax is the chosen material for candles because it provides a true, clean light to sacred places.

bees and hive

Photo: bees at the hive Courtesy of Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume

Although there are over 20,000 species of bees, the world depends primarily on just one group, the honey bees. Within this group the European honey bee or Apis mellifera is the familiar domesticated species known throughout the world. The name means honey-bearing bee from Apis for bee, melli for honey and ferre for ‘to bear.’ Honey bees likely originated in southeastern Asia and spread to Europe where the modern honey bee came into being. This species is the only one known to take readily to domestication and it traveled with early Europeans throughout the world, coming to North America with European settlers in the early 1600s.

guerlain golden bee bottle created for empress eugenie  1853

 (r) Portrait of Napolean by Francois Gerard  (L) 1853 bee bottle of Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale presented to Napolean and Empress Eugenie

The Emperor Napoleon loved to have his portrait painted in a luxurious robe covered with bees, a symbol of monarchy in France.  In 1853, Pierre-Francois Pascal Guerlain created the now famous bee botttle for Eau De Cologne Imperiale (composed in 1830) for the Empress Eugenie who wore the perfume to her wedding to Napolean III. Because of the Bee Bottle, M. Guerlain was appointed the official perfumer to her Royal Majesty and the legacy of this design lives on in Guerlain's perfumery -from bee designs to honeycomb topped flacons.

egyptians tears of ra beekeepers

Ancient Eygyptians were beekeepers

For thousands of years honey has been valued for its sweet taste, its apothecary use, for sore throats, as an antibiotic, as an anti aging elixir and for use in magical and religious rituals. It is also a symbol of love, hence "honey-moon."   Unspoiled honey was found in King Tut’s tomb and has been commonly used for embalming. It is believed that Ancient Egyptians were the first beekeepers and honey was precious in a sugar free world. There are dozens of references to honey in the Old and New Testament; perhaps most recognized is Exodus, where it is written that  G-d shall free the enslaved Hebrews toiling for their Eygyptian masters and lead them to a land of milk and honey.  Royal Jelly- the food created by the drones for the Queen Bee, has been used in cosmetics for over a century and in addition to giving off a honeyed perfume, it is purported to be a magic elixir for anti-aging, increasing libido and combating depression

aphrodite honey ancient culture

Aphrodite -the Queen Bee worshipped at Mt Eryx

 Honey bees are associates with both gods and goddesses.  Bees and honey showed up in motifs in Ancient Egypt and honey represented the tears of the Sun God, Ra. Honey is the symbol of Aphrodite, revered as the Queen Bee and  Priestesses of Aphrodite, who were called Bees, worshipped Aphrodite in honeycomb caves where they built their shrines epitomizing the long and strong association of the honeybee with the sacred feminine. Ancient Celts brewed mead from honey long before wine came into being and believed that a river of mead ran through paradise.  In Judaism, honey is important to the celebration of the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Each year Jewish families around the world dip challah bread or apples in honey as a symbol of happiness, long life and health for the coming year.

bee honey perfume

The humble honey bee now pollinates food crops and native plants throughout the world, augmenting the work of thousands of native bees, and is critical to the survival of many of the world’s plants. Bees native and domesticated pollinate billions of dollars of agricultural crops each year, as much as 1/3 of all food crops worldwide. In California, growers face a critical shortage of bees for pollination of their 800,000 acres of almond trees. It is estimated that they need 1.6 million colonies (that’s colonies, not bees) for the work. There is now a critical shortage of bees, potentially devastating for this 3.8 billion dollar industry. In this as in other intensive agricultural operations, although native bees could help with pollination they are also disappearing as natural landscapes with flowering plants are converted to residential or agricultural and flowering weeds are controlled. To answer this problem, rather than keeping native vegetation in the landscape, agricultural interests truck over a million honey bee colonies from one flowering crop to another for the sole purpose of fertilization. This subjects the colonies to stress while keeping them on an impoverished diet.

Stress, malnutrition, pesticides, parasites, and climate change are all potential culprits in a mystery disease affecting bees. Called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), it is responsible for losses of about one-third of the honey bees in the United States each year – potentially tens of billions – as they disappear from their hives. Intense agricultural practices are almost certainly contributors as are land-use changes.  Although Europe has banned one type of pesticides (neonicotinoids) implicated in CCD, the United States has yet to take action.

bee prosperity greg  spalenka

Bee prosperity Greg Spalenka

 Natural Perfumer and bee-keeper Roxana Villa says this about bees: “I chose the honey bee as the representative symbol for my company because she seeks out nectar from plants and turns it into liquid gold, a perfect metaphor for botanical fragrance. Beeswax, from my own hives and other local bee guardians, is the key ingredient in my creamy solid perfumes. My workspace extends into a native garden with two bee hives. In this small microcosm, surrounded by native oak, sage and honey bees, I intend to affect the macrocosm by capturing the whispers of nature.”

honey anais nin

"Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon". Songs of Solomon 4:11

Honey is a gift, nectar freely given from flowers to bees and from bees to us. Eloquent and precious in its message, honey adds sweetness, depth, and a little naughtiness to life and to perfume.

Elise Pearlstine, Monthly Contributor and Perfumer for Tambela (with contributions from Roxana Villa, Kevin Verspoor and Michelyn Camen)

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-In -Chief

Author’s Note: You can help bees by planting native bee-friendly nectar plants, by keeping property pesticide-free, keeping bees, buying local honey, and purchasing pesticide-free foods. There is much information on Colony Collapse Disorder online for further research.  Local universities, nurseries, and extension offices have information on bee-friendly plants for your area.

For Our Honey and Beeswax Perfumes Draw

Le Parfum Couture Denis Durand for M. Micallef

WORLDWIDE  50 ml  M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey Perfumer Jean Claude Astier courtesy of Geoffrey and Martine Micalled

newyorkoudbottle

USA ONLY 50ml Bond No. 9  New York Oud- Honey, Perfumer Laurent LeGuernac Thanks to Laurice Rahme

masion francis kurkdjian absolue soir

USA ONLY 70 ml  Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir with gratitude from Nasreen of Parfumerie Nasreen -honey, Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian

DevOne olympic orchids

WORLDWIDE Dev 1-Foreplay 5ml refillable travel spray thanks to Perfumer Ellen Covey beeswax

bottle velvet and sweet pea purrfumeryhoney sweet pea

 

USA ONLY ALL NATURAL  Honey 6ml Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery thanks to Perfumer Laurie Stern, who also is a beekeeper honey from her hives

mahjoun dshperfumes honey perfumes

USA ONLY 1 ounce of Mahjoun from DSH Perfumes, honey from the lovely Dawn Spencer Hurwitz

fox  sweet anthem  perfume oil

USA ONLY  5 ml FOX Sweet Anthem with beeswax,Perfumer Meredith Smith

 

roxana illuminated perfume to bee organic beeswax

USA ONLY ALL NATURAL ORGANIC 1 gram of Roxana Illuminated To Bee MADE WITH HAND TINCTURED honeycomb from rescued hives

natural perfumers guild logo

from our friends at the Natural Perfumers Guild

ephinany achtung  house of matriarch

WORLDWIDE  3.3 ml sample House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG!  honey from lavender, Perfumer Christi Meshell

15mlPanBottleonwhite2

USA ONLY  15 ml Anya's Garden Pan ALL NATURAL with bee goo from Perfumer Anya MCoy's Garden

boxonwhitesmall(1)

USA Only Drift Perfumes Solid Aspens Perfume- Unfiltered beeswax, Perfumer Jennifer Bove

albrecht durer cupid the honey thief

Albrecht Durer-"Cupid the Honey Thief" 1514

To be eligible for our Best Honey Perfumes draw, please leave a comment with what you learned about Honey and Beeswax in perfumery and list all the fragrances you would like to win (country restrictions) AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR CHOICES MUST BE ALL NATURAL. Please  let us know  the Country you live in. Draw ends February 27, 2014.

The draw is random but we will try to match winners with their choices. If you only wear natural perfumes please note that in your comment.

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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114 comments

  • Who does not love honey? Its funny though I never knew that Beeswax absolute has a stronger odor than honey, that it is more musky and animalic. Then again I have never smelled real beeswax. Bees are important in pollinating billions of dollars of agricultural crops each year, that incredible. Not mentioned here but my favorite honey fragrance is the discontinued Parfumerie General Mio Bjao. I also love honey in my tea 🙂 I would love to be entered for M. Micallef Denis Durand (one of my favorite perfume houses), DSH Mahjoun and HOM Epiphany. Give me some Honey please 🙂 and thank you.

  • As a big fan of Guerlain, I’m happy to hear that they were one of the forerunners in the usage of beeswax in perfumery! I’m truly saddened by the danger facing our friendly bees in the interest of profit; I hope that a solution will soon be devised to allow them to live comfortable lives.
    As for the draw, I am located in the US and would like to receive:

    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey
    Bond No. 9 New York Oud- Honey
    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir
    Honey from Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery
    House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany

  • Wow this is an incredible article
    The wealth Of info from ancient Egyptian beekeeper a to honey from lavender is camphor like the bee population is in serious danger here in California so kudos to Elise and Roxana for that call out
    The picture of eartha kitt was amazing
    I wonder if she drank it because it helped coat her throat
    Absolue pour le soir
    Honey. By Laurie stern natural
    Denis dinard from Micallef
    To bee from Roxana illuminated who is one of my favorite perfumers natural perfumers
    Bond 9 ny oud
    I wouldn’t mind winning any really
    It would be the bees knees !

  • wefadetogray says:

    First of all, thanks for this incredible post. I have been on my way to trying new notes and honey is one of them. What I find perhaps not necessarily interesting but saddening, is the decreased amount of bee population. I would have never expected that to be the case. The impoverished bee diet (stress, toxicity and malnutrition!!) is also truly saddening.
    I’d love to try:
    M Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Coutre
    Absolue Pour Le Soir
    Mahjoun
    New York Oud- Honey
    Epiphany
    I am in the USA
    Thanks so much for the post and the draw.

  • This is my absolute favorite article of this kind that you’ve published, as I am obsessed with bees. When I retire I want to live where I can have bee hives and chicken coops with speckled hens. I loved the descriptions of how the flower affects the honey’s flavor, and it especially made me crave lavender honey. I was not aware that the Egyptians had a god of bees, Ra. There is so much in this draw that I would love to experience, but the ones I am most interested in:

    Velvet & Sweet Peas Honey, because her website is so beautiful to explore and everything I’ve sampled from her line is exquisite;
    Micallef Denis Durand, which I have not sampled, but I’ve heard such positive things, and I love everything Micallef;
    Roxana Illuminated To Bee because she has always been about the bees, in her motifs, and as a beekeeper, her scents are poetic and I’ve tried and love To Bee;
    House of Matriarch Ephiphany, which I haven’t tried but lavender honey mention has me drooling…
    Absolue Por Le Soir, which I sampled and liked;
    And quite honestly any of the others, I just haven’t tried them, but I love honey so I’m sure they are great.
    Thanks to all contributors for a fabulous draw.

  • It’s really cool to learn about this particular ingredient , about its use in perfumery it is really interesting to find out the beeswax is used to provide an alternative to musk. And also is really fascinating to find out how it was used through history, especially to know that it was found in the pharaoh’s tomb. My picks are MFK Absolue pour le Soir and Matriarch Epiphany. I live in the US.

  • Interesting article. Great story. Most I already had known about watching nature shows and reading articles etc. There was even a recent news story about farmers collecting green, blue, red and orange honey. Come to find out the bees had found run off of the sweet dyes from a nearby M&M factory. I do find it fascinating all the different smells of honey from the many various flowers they gather pollen from. Supposedly royal jelly is great for working out in the weight room. Sad about the sever decline in the bees. This past year was the first time I saw numerous bees in my flower garden as I haven’t seen hardly any in the past few years. Thanks again for an informative article.
    I would choose: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir, House of Matriarch Ephinany, Bond No. 9 New York Oud and DSH Perfumes Mahjoun. In the USA.

  • Thanks for a really informative article. I am so happy to see an article stressing the importance of bees too as they are one of the foundation of life really. Without bees and pollinators, we would not have food or the beautiful plants used in the creation of natural perfumes.
    Thank you.
    I would love to try:

    Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery thanks to Perfumer Laurie Stern, who also is a beekeeper honey from her hives

    Roxana’s Bee

    Anya’s Garden, Pan

    Drift Perfumes

    House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG! honey from lavender, Perfumer Christi Meshell

  • I never would have guessed that Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder once had beeswax in it. I always have bee-friendly flowers in my garden, but I fear for the honey bee populations world-wide; we have to do more to protect them. Thanks to all the great bees who made these perfumes possible! I’d choose MFK Absolue pour le Soir, Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Honey, and DSH Mahjoun. I’m in the US; thanks for the draw.

  • Jessica Marie says:

    As I’m in the US, I’d like to be entered for the New York Bond No 9 Honey-Oud, Absolue Pour le Soir, Micallef Le Parfum Denis Durand Couture EdP. NATURAL Honey by V&S, and Mahjoun, Although I have not yet encountered it in my perfume, which surprises me as I’ve never seen any of these. I do however have a recent obsession with honey in my home febreeze fragrance. I bought the spray to try it and I’m absolutely hooked, I even went back to get the plug ins. I have found honey to be smooth, calming, and an interesting choice to round out other ingredients! I would really love a chance to have one of my own! Thank you!

  • leathermountain says:

    I had never even stopped to wonder about Guerlain’s bee bottle, and that is quite a story! Unfortunately I have known for some time about the bee crisis. It was also interesting to learn about beeswax absolute as a kind of musk-type material. I had never thought of it that way. Thank you for a wonderful article!

    I’m in the US, and I would like to try, first of all, fragrances by beekeepers:
    Honey from Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery
    Roxana Illuminated To Bee
    Anya’s Garden Pan

    or also:
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture
    House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG!
    Drift Perfumes Solid Aspens Perfume

    Thanks again!

  • I did not know Nahema has beeswax absolute in it, That’s fascinating.
    I love many different kinds of honey and it’s sad to read about the decline in bee population recently. Not just for the honey but for their pollination ability. Hopefully this trend will reverse soon.

    I’m in Canada. My choices would be Micallef Le Parfum Denis Durand Couture, Dev1-Foreplay, and Matriarch Epiphany. Thanks

  • Honey note in perfumes is always very passionate for me. Never knew that honey is the symbol of Aphrodite.
    My choice is M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey or House of Matriarch Ephinany.
    Thank for the interesting article.

  • helical gnome says:

    I love bees and I find this post to be really moving. The whole history of honey from Egypt to Napoleon’s robe, and Guerlain as the official perfumer of her Majesty is fascinating. As usual, I was absolutely not aware of any of this. Thanks for introducing me to honey 🙂
    My picks are: Absolue pour le Soir, Denis Durand Couture-honey, New york Oud Honey, Mahjourn. My all natural pick would be Epifany from the ACHTUNG!
    I am in the US

  • I never knew that Monsieur Guerlain composed a cologne for Eugenie of France and became the Royal Perfumer and that the bee bottle design originated from the symbol of royalty from Napoleon’s robe. I would love to try MFK Absolue Pour le Soir, DSH Mahjoun, and Anya’s Garden Pan.

  • Oh my, I love the idea of ancient Celt’s mead. I also love what Roxana says about turning nectar into liquid gold. I totally agree and see that as an allegory of all perfume making.
    Thanks so much for this post. I am in the US and my picks are:
    M Micallef’s La Parfum
    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue pour le Soir
    DSH Mahjoun
    My all natural pick would be:
    House of Matriarch Epiphany

  • This is exciting. 3-4 fragrances from people I met or learned about at FRAGments. wow! This post dug into more information I had learned from Laurie Stern and Roxanna Villa. It’s amazing what honey can do to tweak a scent.. and it tends to hold it’s own against other notes
    I am interested in
    House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany
    Bond no. 9 New york Oud Honey,
    Absolue Pour le Soir,
    Micallef Le Parfum Denis Durand Couture EdP.

    Some of these I tried and some I didn’t. I am based in Calif and am fairly familiar with some of these scents.

    or the DSH scent

  • I found it very interesting and impressive that you not only use beeswax, but that you took the time to educate everyone about Colony Collapse Disorder and what can be done to help and do our part. I’m in the US, and would love to try:
    Honey, Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey
    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir
    FOX Sweet Anthem
    Thank you for such an amazing draw and for reminding me why honey is one of my favorite notes.

  • There are dozens of references to honey in the Old and New Testament; perhaps most recognized is Exodus, where it is written that G-d shall free the enslaved Hebrews toiling for their Eygyptian masters and to lead them to a land of milk and honey. Did anyone else notice the book Exodus next to Ertha Kitt as she drank that bottle of honey?
    I was most interested in the different aromas from honey and that beeswax was animalic and musky. Also I did notice that I like scents that combine both honey and oud

    My choices
    Bond No 9 NY oud
    Absolue pour le soir
    Micallef Denis Durand Couture (love that bottle and think it has oud in it)
    Natural would be Velvet and Sweet pea purrfumery Honey and to Be for our perfumer beekeepers
    The fox by sweet Anthem and drift perfumes natural sound cool and I never heard of those companies…they look interesting.

  • I love bees! I did not know that the Egyptians were beekeepers. I live in the US, and I would be happy to win any of these- I don’ t know much about any of them, but I will put my hat in the ring for the House of Matriarch scent, and the Laurie Stern Honey scent.

  • What a beautiful post! I found it interesting that honey bees are associates with gods and goddesses – I didn’t realize that, and I also enjoyed learning that there is a beeswax absolute. Didn’t know that either! My father has been a beekeeper for years and this year I’m starting out with my own first hive, so we are quite a bee-appreciating (and honey-loving) family. I’d be interested in trying:
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey
    Bond No. 9 New York Oud- Honey, Perfumer Laurent LeGuernac
    Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery (natural)

  • Well, I feel quite dense… I’ve heard of royal jelly but did know know that it was the food created by the drones for the queen bee. I always thought it was some sort of skin cream (not just one of the possible ingredients). :/

    I would absolutely love to try Absolue pour le Soir, Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery Honey, Mahjoun, To Bee or Pan.

    I am in the USA. Thank you for the draw and the enlightening article!

  • What a fabulous informative article! I am a lover of HONEY! Many of my friends gift me with some exotic different honeys from their travels. I think my favorite to savor is Orange Blossom Honey delish…I use honey on stubborn to heal wounds all the time. I didn’t know (thank you Elise) that it is said to increase libido . Thanks for covering the importance of keeping our bee population healthy. I would be delighted in
    Le Parfum Denis Durand , and Honey from Laurie Stern, and Absolue Pour Le Soir. I am in the US.

  • Great to see this post on bees and honey perfume, I believe it was Einstein who said: “If bees disappeared, man would have only four years to live”, kinda scary that 1/3 of our food depends on them! But I didn’t know that the Egyptians were the first beekeepers or that Ra and Aphrodite were associated with bees & honey. I would love to be entered for the draw for:
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture
    Dev 1-Foreplay
    House of Matriach Epiphany Achtung!
    My favourite item at the farmers market is the different local honeys, I love lavender honey the best 🙂 I live in Canada, thanks!

  • Great article – especially for the extensive coverage of the various aspects of bees, honey, beeswax and fragrance. I was fascinated to learn that beeswax was in the original Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder formula, and that it has antiseptic properties! I am most interested in M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture, Bond No. 9 New York Oud, MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir, ALL NATURAL Honey Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery, DSH Perfumes Mahjoun, House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany/Achtung and Anya’s Garden Pan ALL NATURAL. I live in the USA.

  • I’ve always liked but I finally committed!
    How crazy is it that this thread slides into my inbox as I’m online searching for a clean source of royal jelly! This article was one of the best because it not only educated readers on the different uses of beeswax in perfumery, but it also included the serious issues concerning CCD. Of course, colony collapse is a big worry with beekeepers and rightly so. It will require a major effort on everyone’s part. Very impressive to have attention brought to this article. Other nuggets of note was the fact that beeswax brings out the floral notes of agarwood. I always enjoy reading about the Egyptians’ love and respect of honey and all it’s side products. I was truly blown away to learn that Johnson & Johnson used beeswax in the original baby powder for antiseptic reasons. Had they stuck to the formula, they might have a product that would have retained the natural products purchasing consumer.

    I would deeply appreciate being considered for any of the following perfumes.

    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey  by Perfumer Jean Claude
    Bond No. 9 Oud – by Perfumer Laurent LeGuernac. Honey: Oud AND beeswax? I think I just found love.
    Honey by Perfumer Laurie Stern. A beekeeper after my own heart.
    Roxanna Illuminated
    Drift Perfume Solid Aspens by Perfumer Jennifer Bove

    I live in US and sometimes in Canada 🙂 Thanks for a a great article, truly.

  • I did not know that Beeswax was used in the original Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder formula for its antiseptic properties! Its sad the situation with Bees because of the Pesticides. Did you know that one in every 3 mouthfuls of food are accredited to Bee polllination. We can also help by having hives, surprisingly easy in Urban landscapes. Buy organic to give clear messages to other growers who use pesticides that chemical free is a good and positive possibility. Enough said or never enough said….i’d choose 3.3 ml sample House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG! and 50 ml M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey- Thanks for the draw!- New Zealand

  • It was great to learn about the House of Guerlain and the history and the beautiful bottle .
    I do all I can to help the bees , so far the are well in my area.
    I would love New York Oud Honey
    Honey , Velvet and Sweet Perfumery
    Anya’s Garden Pan

  • Fascinating. I have read up on many pantheons of deities including Egyptian and I have never seen a bee reference to ra. Also confirmed how I’ve noticed less honey bees last summer. And no dandilions to speak of either for that matter.
    Would like to try the unisex ones due to being a guy. Thanks.

    Bond New York oud
    Maison Francis kurkdjian absolue pour le soir
    Anya’s garden pan

    Thanks. Greg

  • I had never thought about WHY Guerlain made the bee bottle! And I didn’t know that beeswax had antiseptic properties…I also didn’t know that “Royal Jelly” refers to the food for Queen bees…This is a great article!
    I live in the US, and I would love to win ANY of these, truly, but my top choices are:
    Bond No. 9 New York Oud
    Le Parfum Couture Denis Durand for M. Micallef
    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir
    Mahjoun from DSH Perfumes
    All-Natural: sample House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany

  • I’d “bee” happy to try any of these but if pressed:
    Velvet & Sweet Peas Honey, because it’s all natural and I LOVE ALL Naturals!
    Micallef Denis Durand, So curious…
    Roxana Illuminated To Bee, again All Natural plus she keeps her own bees as do I.
    House of Matriarch Ephiphany, because I think Christi is the Bomb!

  • Very good informative article, a wonderful topic (who doesn’t like honey ?), and a fantastic, generous draw!
    I would like to live in the USA … I could have Bond 9’s New York Oud, MFK-s Absolue Pour Soir and DSH-s Mahjoun…
    Guerlain is my favorite house and the bee bottle is stunning. I didn’t know the inspiring element were Napoleon’s simbol.
    I die to try the original Nahema.
    The honey note enhances the floral and citrus notes or turns to floral the agarwood/oud. And tempers the animalic notes. Now I understand why is so strong so thick the floral smell of Chams-Elysees – the honey helps it to bloom and to last so long…
    I would like to earn any of the perfumes in the draw – especially the ones dedicated to USA readers… but, respecting the rules, I apply for M Micaleff’s Le Parfum Denis Durand Couture, Dev-1 Foreplay, House of Matriarch’s Epiphany…
    I hope this time I will have good luck.
    Thank you.
    GENTIANA

  • You sweet little bees you. I love bees and learning about them. I enjoyed reading and learning about honey in perfumery. I knew that different flowers make for different honey, but I didn’t know tobacco flower makes it smokey. That sounds so delicious! I wonder what it would taste like if the bees used patchouli flowers or other popular florals in perfumery. I was surprised to learn that ancient honey is still edible. What a treat honey is.

    I am in the US. Please consider me for the following:
    Le Parfum Denis Durand Couture by M. Micallef
    New York Oud by Bond No. 9
    Absolue Pour le Soir by Mainson Francis Kurkdjian
    Honey by Velvet & Sweet Pea
    Mahjoun by DSH Perfumes
    Solid Aspens Perfume by Drift Perfumes
    Pan by Anya’s Garden

  • Thanks for this article and draw. It was new to me, that the bee was seen as a symbol of monarchy and I didn’t know that Guerlain choose it as design on a bottle. Fascinating!
    I live in Germany and would like to win from House of Matriarch Achtung Epiphany or M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture.

  • This is a fascinating article, I love the smell of beeswax.
    I did not know that bees were the symbol of the French monarchy, and Napoleon. And that Guerlain was inspired to create the bee bottle, still in production.
    How devastating that the bee population is under threat.
    I am Australia and would love to try
    Micallef Couture
    Ellen Covey Dev1
    House of Matriarch Epiphany

  • Thanks so much for bringing more awareness to this most magical creature which is endlessly fascinating and give us so much.

    I find it interesting that Johnson & Johnson used beeswax in its original Baby Powder formula, how I would love to experience it! If I win I would absolutely LOVE the bottle of Laurie’s Honey perfume.

  • I have learned that there’s beeswax absolut in Nahema…and the big problem concerning the critical shortage of bees, it’s sad to know they are disappearing…. I hope the solution comes soon!
    I live in Spain and I would like the Micallef Parfum Couture or the natural House of Matriarch.
    Thanks for the draw.

  • maysamassimo says:

    Hi! I really liked to learn that the origins of beeswax in modern perfumery was in the original Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder formula, because of its antiseptic properties. I’m in the US and my choices would be:

    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture
    Mahjoun DSH Perfumes
    Roxana Illuminated To Bee
    FOX Sweet Anthem
    Honey Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery
    Anya’s Garden Pan ALL NATURAL
    Drift Perfumes Solid Aspens Perfume

    Thanks for the draw!

  • I’m like Winnie-the-Poo when it comes to honey. I use it all to frequently. Aside from that, great article. I had no idea about different flowers create different smells and tastes. Egyptians as bee keepers how wild. I had known of the disease these helpless creatures are enduring. Sad! Hopefully people will wise up and step it up to correct. If I get drawn would love… Absolue Pour Le Soir, New York Oud, Epiphany, Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Honey, Mahjoun and Roxana Illuminated To Bee. In the US and thank you.

  • I learned the bee industry is a 3.8 billion dollar industry. Ka-ching!
    I would like to win either the Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir or the Pan. Thank you. US

  • Bees are fascinating creatures and we owe our ability to raise most crops to bee pollination. Learning that there was viable liquid honey in King Tut’s tomb was a delight. I would like to try Pan by Anya McCoy or Mahjoun by DSH or Absolue pour le soir by MFK. I live in the U.S. Thanks for the draw. I will wear synthetic or all-natural, it doesn’t matter to me.

  • I don’t know where to start, there was so much great information here. I never knew that honey and beeswax could have such diverse aromas. I was one of the kids whose mom used the birds and the bees as a metaphor for sex I rolled my eyes then lol. I would like to win Bond no 9 Ny oud Parfums Micallef Denis Durand Absolue pour le soir Laurie stern honey natural Roxana villa to bee natural Dsh perfume mahjoun. Thanks. USA

  • Thank you for the very informative article! Just yesterday, I was at my friend’s house watching hundreds of honey bees around almond trees and thinking about getting a beehive 😀 I’m sure that not only the agricultural chemicals & pollution, but also the rise of GM crops, decline of natural habitats, etc, all play a part in the dramatic decline of bee population… I love honey bees, I love honey… I do like the idea of honey being the result of sex between flowers & bees. How romantic!
    I’m in the EU so my choicea would be;
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture,
    Dev 1-Foreplay,
    House of Matriarch Ephinany ACHTUNG!

  • What a delightful and bee-utiful post! My name means Bee, and so of course I’m obsessed with the magnificent creatures. I had no idea honey was considered to be the tears of Ra, but I simply love the idea.

    And what a wonderful gathering of delights for the draw. I’d love to add my name to the hat for these delicious-sounding perfumes:

    Roxana Illuminated – To Bee
    Drift – Aspens Solid
    Anya’s Garden – Pan
    Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery – Honey

  • What a great post! I love honey!! I’d just made myself a cup of tea w/ buckwheat honey when I opened up my laptop to read this, so I put my nose close to the big 2 lb. jar and asked myself if it smelled more like “barnyard.” Hmm. Just smells like really intense honey to me, but I’m no nose. I did not know much about beeswax – thanks! And thank you much for passing on the info about the plight of bees. More people need to know this (and help)!
    I’m in the US and would LOVE to win the Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture. Then, in order of preference after that, DSH Mahjoun, House of Matriarch Epiphany, Dev-1 Foreplay, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir.
    Thanks for a fantastic draw!!!

  • Every time I read an article about bees, it makes me sad and anxious. I’ve always loved watching bees work and I’ve never been afraid of being stung. Wasps are another story! Anyway, I live in Medina, Ohio which was settled by a beekeeper and he started the A.I. Root Candle Co. There are so many bee references around town and I just pray that we can figure out for sure what is causing the colony collapse problem. Thanks for bringing this problem to light and for a very informative article.
    I would be thrilled to win Kurkdjain’s Absolute Pour Le Soir, Laurie Stern’s Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery, Sweet Anthem’s Fox, or Anya’s Garden Pan.
    Thank you!

  • Bees and honey and beeswax are dear to my heart so I loved writing this one. Many thanks to my helper bees who helped keep it real and pertinent! As always, thanks for reading!

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    i didn’t know there is a variety of honey which is animalic because i have only tasted extra sweet versions whole life..it was also a new they honey bees were worshiped in ancient mythologies. my choices will be

    M. Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture
    Bond No. 9 New York Oud
    Mahjoun from DSH Perfumes

    I am in the USA

  • Learned so much about these sweet bees! Actually I saw a movie about the plight of honeybees recently. Kinda scary, an as an individual I had no idea what to do other than support wild/ eco-conscious honey (which also tastes great!) but learning about native bee-friendly plants is a start!

    I learned that the Ancient Egyptians were the world’s first beekeepers and that beeswax was in baby powder straight and in some Guerlains as an absolute. Quite versatile!
    Would love to try some smoky tobacco honey.

    Top choices:
    Pan
    Achtung Epiphany

    Would be happy with any! such as: New York Oud Honey
    Absolue Pour le Soir
    DEV #1: Foreplay
    To Bee Liquid Natural Perfume
    Mahjoun
    Le Parfum Denis Durand Couture
    Honey
    FOX Sweet Anthem
    Drift

  • I’ve been worried about the bees…the news stories have been scary. Would love to win

    Absolue Pour Le Soir
    DEV #1 Foreplay
    Velvet and Sweet Pea Honey
    House of Matriarch Epiphany

    In US

  • First of all I just love those Guerlain bee bottles. I didn’t know there are 20.000 different species of bees.

    I have been following the news closely about the disease which is killing a lot of bees and the numbers are very worrisome. It seems that bees, just as frogs, are very prone to enviromental issues. Certain is that we need bees for our own survival.

    I love honey and bees wax in perfume and I would love to win the Micallef or House of Matriarch. I live in the Netherlands.

  • I grew up with bees on a farm, and now I am involved with an organization that keeps an apiary in the city. I love the smell of beeswax!

    I didn’t know the origin of the phrase “honeymoon!”

    I live in the US, and I would love to win one of these honey perfumes. I prefer to wear natural perfumes, but I often find they don’t last as long on my skin. I hope that if I win one of these that it will have some staying power.

    I would love to win the Fox Sweet Anthem, as I love peach smells, and I think that peach + beeswax would be amazing.

    The other that I feel very excited about is the Epiphany/Achtung. I’ve been trying to get into lavendar, but it’s just not something I’ve ever loved, so I think that anchoring it with oud might work really well for me.

    Really though, I’d love to try any of them.

  • I absolutely love bees! I have studied them and I believe they are little magicians! Honey is the first and best super food I consume it on a daily basis and haven’t been sick in years! The bee bottles are objects of desire and would love to own them all! If I won I would choose M.Michalef’s or Matriarch’s perfumes! Thank you for the draw!

  • It’s a shame that due to pestacides etc that there is such a genocide on the bees that they have to truck them around to farms. Like the new migrant workers. Interesting that honey and beeswax are both used for different scents. I would be interested in:
    Micallef La Parfum
    Bond New York Oud
    Maison Francis Kurkdijan Absolue Pour La Soir
    Anya’s Garden Pan

  • “Honey represents the tears of the sun god, Ra.” What is cooler than that?! I’m in the US, and would be interested in Denis Durand and Mahjoun.

  • Very interesting that honey represented the tears of the Sun God Ra in ancient Egypt. Thanks for a very insightful article.

    I’m interested in:
    Dev 1-Foreplay
    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir
    Bond No. 9 New York Oud
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture

    Merci bien!

  • What I have learned is that the sweet and ambery notes extracted from honey are destined for perfumery,since they have a smooth and soft effect which enhances floral and citrus note while in agarwood/oud bring out the floralcy and tend to “tame” animalic notes. Sweet honey is the outcome of sex between flowers and other species
    Beeswax is also used in the creation of perfume and like honey carries the mark of flowers visited by bees and of life in the hive. Beeswax absolute has a stronger odor than honey is more animalic and for perfumers who want natural animal musks, it provides the perfect fixative.
    Once again thank you for this lovely review which has been very educative especially when it comes to the CCD Disorder issue and to the awakening of the whole world for the saving of bees. We must preserve at every cost whatever comes from Mother Nature for future generations to have and cherish.
    If I win I would love to experience the following perfumes:
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey or
    the sample from House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG or
    Dev 1-Foreplay 5ml refillable travel spray
    I live in EU (my country is Greece).

  • I got it! Bee-friend our bees. I remember my mom using Royal Jelly about 35 years ago–I can’t remember the brand. Am I correct in saying there is both a beeswax absolute as well as a honey absolute? I love using my beeswax absolute but I’d love to seek out the other.

    My naturopath is a big proponent of using local honey to reduce seasonal allergies. What amazing properties this material has. Thanks for the draw. I’d love to win Dev-1 Foreplay by Ellen Covey or Achtung! by House of Matriarch. Canadian resident.

  • I actually never knew that honey had different scents and taste but thinking about it know it makes sense. I won’t lie, I don’t know much about bees, but Roxana Villa’s perfumes “page 47” and “Q” are the only perfumes I’ve ever had that don’t make my sinuses hurt. I would really love to have some of her “To Bee”. I live in the U.S.

  • Wow, I did not know there were 20,000 species of bees. Honey can either be animalic or slightly sweet in fragrance. Each type beautiful in their own special way! Beeswax abs is one of my all time favorite oils to work with. It blends beautifully with precious woods.

    I take bee pollen for season allergies. I make creams and candles for my family and friends with beeswax. We have to stop all this awful use of pesticides!!

    I’m in the US.
    I’d love to win:
    1 gram of Roxana Illuminated To Bee MADE WITH HAND TINCTURED honeycomb from rescued hives

    15 ml Anya’s Garden Pan ALL NATURAL with bee honey and wax from Perfumer Anya MCoy’s Garden

    Drift Perfumes Solid Aspens Perfume- Unfiltered beeswax, Perfumer Jennifer Bove

    3.3 ml sample House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG! honey from lavender, Perfumer Christi Meshell

  • I love the “river of mead” idea! Love the Celts. What a great article. i really like honey and beeswax scents.

    I’m in the US and I would be happy with any of the choices except the Bond No. 9. They have a certain chemical in them that doesn’t agree with me. Thank you for the draw!

  • Interesting to read about the connection of bees with different figure of ancient cultures.

    I would like to win: M. Micallef and Epiphany.

    Thanks!

  • I didn’t know that Aphrodite’s priestesses were called bees (or if I did I had forgotten). The rest I was fairly well up on as I am a bee lover as well as a perfume lover. I live in the US and my top choices are To Bee or Epiphany but would also love to try Mahjoun or Fox, . Thank you.

  • I never would think honey is really used in perfume
    This article is a real eye opener for many reasons especially that without bees we would have no flowers and we would be a world of concrete
    loved reading about Ra and aphrodisiac
    beautiful illustrated and educationaatonal
    I donates 5 dollars to http://www.nrdec.com after reading this
    I would be happy to win
    man absolu pour le soir
    NEW YORK OÙDX
    honey
    to bee
    Ephinany
    Mahon
    dénis Durand

  • Wow I had no idea there were over 20,000 species of bees. It’s unbelievable! Just goes to show how independent and important bees are to the survival of our race and planet.

    I live in the United States and would love love love to win Bond No 9’s New York Oud!! I am absolutely obsessed with their line and am dying to try this one!!

  • Thank you for the great ‘note’-write-up, once again so enlightening. There were a few things I didn’t know, but that honey was the symbol of Afrodite, I had no idea. And that whole imagery of combs and bees around her, I find that lovely.
    I also love honey, and have always done so- Miel du Bois sings on my skin, and nothing better to comfort a cold than tea with honey.
    I would dearly like to win the gorgeous M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture, or from the naturals House of Matriarch Ephinany.
    Thank you so much for the opportunity <3

  • That was a fantastic read! The whole backstory with Egyptian history was very interesting. Tears of Ra, never knew! I am not too familiar with honey and frangrances. Always loved the smell as a kid. Would love to win Bond no. 9 New York Oud or Fox Sweet Anthem. And the bottle for M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the draw!

  • I never knew beeswax was used as a fixative… I love how sensuous, soft and evocative the Song of Songs is. Of course honey would play a leading role in the imagery:)

    I live in South Africa and would love to win the beautiful Micallef, Couture Honey, and my next choice would be “dev 1 Foreplay (apparently the happiest of that series!)

  • Love this article for its conscious and history
    I was afraid of bees when I was younger but haven’t seen them around which now makes me sad
    I never connected Guerlain before to napoleon and beeswax to Johnson and Johnson baby powder
    how wonderful that two perfumers are bee keepers and inspiring that natural honey and beeswax is used in their perfumes
    I loved the song of Solomon quote so beautiful
    I would like to win
    dénis Durand for m micallef
    New York oud bond 9
    absolue pour le soir
    honey by Laurie
    to bee by roxana villa

  • I never knew that the bee was a symbol of the French monarchy, but now those Guerlain bottles make a lot more sense! I live in the US, and my choices would be New York Oud, Absolue Pour Le Soir, and Pan. Thank you.

  • I never knew that was the reason Guerlain had the “bee” bottle. It always seemed a little weird out of context!

    I live in the US and I would appreciate any of these fine prizes. Thank you very much.

  • I had no idea there were so many species of bees! I am in the US, and I would love to try any of the perfumes. Thank you.

  • Eartha Kitt looks sooo good in that picture. Thank you for this great draw! I’m a huge fan of honey, and if i could take a bath in a tub of honey, I would. Alas that might get too expensive… and messy. I’m well aware and very convinced of the anti-aging beauty benefits of honey, and it’s no surprise that honey was the symbol of the goddess Aphrodite. I really loved reading about its medicinal uses throughout history, and its many associations to deities of various cultures. It was also fun to read about Guerlain’s “bee bottle” for Empress Eugenie during her marriage to Napolean III. I am in the US and I’m extremelyyy excited to enter this draw! My choices are:

    1.Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir
    2. 50 ml M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey
    3. Bond No. 9 New York Oud- Honey
    4. Honey 6ml ($185) Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery
    5. 15 ml Anya’s Garden Pan ALL NATURAL with bee honey and wax from Perfumer Anya MCoy’s Garden
    6. 3.3 ml sample House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG! honey from lavender, Perfumer Christi Meshell

  • What a fascinating read! i didn’t know honey was used an an antibiotic and beauty elixir during Egyptian times. Now I see why honey is used nowadays in many skincare products. 20,000 species of honey bees? wow that is alot! i really hope the honey bee population increases substantially very soon. 1.6 million bee colonies is quite a number to be defecient. I’m in the US and would love to win either of the following perfumes

    1) Absolue Pour Le Soir by MFK
    2) Honey by Velvet &Sweet Purrfumery
    3) Mahjoun by DSH
    4) Pan by Anya’s Garden
    5) Too Bee by Roxana

  • I like honey being a sign of royalty, and of course the Guerlain bee bottle is a thing of beauty. I didn’t know that there were so many bee species and our reliance on just the one species.
    I’d like to win M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture. Ephinany from the ACHTUNG, or dev 1 Foreplay

  • A great article! I’d like to add a small correction to the ingredient in my Pan perfume. It’s not bee honey or beeswax. It’s bee goo, a product first discovered by some members of the Yahoo Natural Perfumery group. It’s the only product a non-beekeeper can make without much work, such as solvent extraction, as is used to make beeswax absolute. The bee goo is simply the soft endcaps and bits and pieces of beehive detritus from the bottom of the hive. Scooped up, it is soft and ‘gooey’, and all the perfumer has to do is put it into alcohol to tincture, and later strain.

    It’s not the beeswax per se, that is the secretions from the abdomen of the male bee, it’s a tiny bit of that and pollen and other droppings in the hive.

  • I didn’t know there are so much bees species in the world! The pity is the danger they are in….. but I hope we arrive soon to a solution…. Since Agyptian times we know the properties of honey, this little animals have been always with us !
    I live in Spain and I would like the parfum of the House of Matriarch or from Micallef. Thanks.

  • It was good to be educated about CCD. I knew that bees were in danger, but I did not know the specifics.
    I would love to win Honey (Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery), Pan (Anya’s Garden),

  • I love the idea of using honey! I had no idea it was such a symbol of royalty, though. Makes sense. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by orange groves and so have some of the most incredibly fragrant orange grove honey. I recommend it!

    I live in the U.S. — any of these sound amazing. I don’t know enough about any of them to choose! The bottles are incredible, too. Many thanks!

  • I had no idea there were so many species of bees! My paternal grandparents kept bees, and I have always loved them. My grandma swore that eating local honey kept allergies at bay.

    I am such a HUGE Laurie Stern fangirl…I’d love to win a bottle of her Honey perfume! (And I highly recommend her other gorgeous perfumes)

    I’d also be thrilled to win Roxanna’s To Bee, Foreplay Dev1 by Ms Covey and the Aspens Solid perfume from Drift. (Isn’t that box awesome? What a fantastic idea!)

    I’m in the US, and thanks for another wonderful, informative article and generous draw!

  • Blimey, I knew honey was medicinal but had no idea it was used in embalming!

    I love honey as a scent and find it deeply sexy.

    I would love to win (in order of preference):

    1. MFK Absolue Pour le Soir
    2. Honey and Velvet
    3. DSH Mahjoun
    4. Dev Foreplay
    5. Roxana Too Bee

  • When I was a child neighbors kept bees and I have always been fascinated by them! This was an interesting and informative article. Love the Eartha Kitt picture!

    My first job as a teenager was in a drugstore, and I remember an older gentlemen asking the pharmacist for Royal Jelly, and the pharmacist explaining to me why he wanted it!

    I am in the US and would like the opportunity to try Maison Francis Kurdjian Absolue Pour le Soir,
    ellen Covey’s Dev-1 Foreplay, Laurie Stern’s Honey and Velvet, Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s Mahjoun, Fox Sweet Anthem, Roxana Illuminated Too Bee, or the Drift Perfumes Aspen solid.

  • 20,000 species of bees? I had NO idea. Another great, diverting piece! Thanks again! (I’m really worried about the bees, though….) In order, I’d love to win: Absolute Pour le Soir, M. Micallef la Parfum Denis Durand Couture – Honey, DSH Mahjoun, Velvet & Sweet Honey, Anya’s Garden Pan, Roxana Illuminated To Bee, and I live in the US!

  • I loved reading about honey in perfumery, as it is a beloved note that I tend to seek out. I also enjoy raw honey in my food and tea, as I love the taste and am interested in the health benefits. It is devastating to think that there is a loss of one third of the country’s honey bees each year! I didn’t realize the numbers were so high. I will certainly look into planting bee-friendly nectar plants, and always try to buy local honey. I would love to win Micallef Le Parfum Denis Durand, MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir, DSH Mahjoun, or Anya’s Garden Pan. I’m in the U.S. Thanks!

  • I probably thought there were 5 or 6 species of bees, finding out that was a little off is new news. 🙂 isa

    For the draw:
    1) Absolue Pour Le Soir by MFK
    2) Epiphany
    3) Bond no. 9 New York Oud
    4) Pan by Anya’s Garden

  • Chapeau Clack says:

    Thank you for the informative article and the generous draw.
    I am fascinated by bees, these creatures are amazing, and it pains me that they are in danger. I had no idea there were so many species of bees though or that they originated from Asia. My grandfather used to take me to an apiary every summer when the first honey of the year was put on sale, so the aromas of honey and beeswax have a nostalgic quality for me.

    I’m in Russia and would love to win M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture or Dev 1 Foreplay, thanks.

  • I have always loved the taste of honey and buy many varieties
    My favorite is clover but think orange blossom sounds amazing
    I liked learning honey moon was based on honey and that queen bees are fed royal jelly
    I think my mom wore that on her face
    I would love to win
    Bond new york oud
    Micellef denis durand
    Honey by velvet and sweet pea perfumery
    Absolue pour la soir
    Ephiphany
    Snowy US

  • Love this article especially all the detail about deities and Guerlain
    Its interesting that mead was made with fermented honey
    Colony collapse is very sad and our world will be a sad place
    Thank you for bringing to my attention and to all the readers of this plight
    Absolue pour le soir is beautiful i would love that
    Also Honey by laurie stern and roxana villa to bee
    I also would enjoy winning mahjoun and Bond No 9 new york oud
    I love the pictures too

  • I never knew the connection to Napoleon and bees – fascinating! I’d be happy to win any of these scents, but I currently cherish a tiny sample of Absolue Pour le Soir and I’d loooooove a bottle. Sigh. It’s a heavenly and difficult scent.

  • What a great article. I didn’t know that Aphrodite and bees were associated.

    The colony collapse and dying off of bees is a terrifying and sobering prospect. I just read today, though I think it’s old news, that feeding bees high fructose corn syrup may be responsible for their inability to fight off toxins. Or perhaps it’s yet another element responsible. Whatever the cause(s), I hope we get to the bottom of it and fix the situation soon!

    My choices for the draw would be M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-Honey or Maison Francis Kurkdjion Absolue Pour le Soir – if I may have my druthers. 🙂

  • I learned a lot with this article. I had no idea that beeswax was used in the Johnson & Johnson baby powder formula. Would love to sample the original formula with the current one. I heard on the new yesterday that the USDA was spending over 3 billion this year in trying to solve some of the biggest issues around CCD. My choices for the draw are:
    MFK Absolue Le Soir
    Anya’s Garden Pan
    Bond New York Oud-Honey
    Thank you!

  • Didn’t know that there were 20,000 species of bees in the world. I also find it interesting that bees are represented in french monarchy, guess that is why the early french court was renowned for “love.” This is a really great article about honey and beeswax!
    My choices for the draw are:
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey
    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir
    Anya’s Garden Pan ALL NATURAL
    Mahjoun from DSH Perfume

  • I didn’t know that the phenylacetic acid was the reson for the specific urinous smell of beeswax. That explains the sweaty bitterness of Dior’s Leather Oud (the only with beeswax I can think of from the perfumes I tried). I actualy know much many frags with honey, than with beeswax, pittily…
    Thank you for the marvellous and informative posting, Ms. Pearlstine! And thanks to the draw!
    I am in EU, Bulgaria.
    My wish list is:

    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture -honey

    Dev 1-Foreplay 5ml refillable travel spray thanks to Perfumer Ellen Covey – beeswax

    3.3 ml sample House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Epiphany from the ACHTUNG! honey from lavender

  • I love honeyyy! I am wondered that it was used in embalming too!
    I would like to win:
    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture -honey
    or
    House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Epiphany from the ACHTUNG! honey from lavender

    Greetings from Germany!

  • I’ve learned and am alarmed by the need for 1.6 million bee colonies that are lacking. Not only honey perfume but our entire ecosystem is in serious danger! I am interested in the M.Micallef, the H.O.M. Epiphany amd Anya’s PAN. Thank you for this opportunity, I live in the United States.

  • I too didn’t know honeycomb was used as a fixative.

    I would like to enter for the DSH Mahjoun, Velvet & Sweetpea’s Purrfumery Honey, and Anya’s Garden Pan please.

  • “you make the bees of my knees weak…” -Alanis Morissette

    WONDERFUL article!! i had NO idea baby powder originally contained beeswax… i wonder if it smelled any better? (wanna make me cringe? smell like baby powder….)

    i live in the USA and only wear natural perfumes, and thusly i would love to experience ACHTUNG! from House of Matirarch, PAN from Anya’s Garden or HONEY fromVelvet & Sweet Purrfumery.

    thank you!

  • Valentine girl says:

    Wow.. what a fabulous article! I have always grown Lemon Queen sunflowers in my little Garden of Eatin’ to attract the pollinators, and the bees and finches go absolutely crazy over them. This year I am planning on becoming involved in a sunflower project to help scientists count the honey bee population, so I really enjoyed finding out more info about the Colony Collapse Disorder.

    I also have a set of Laguiole knives and corkscrew and there is a bee design on each of them. There is a legend that the bee design was a result of Napoleon allowing his emblem to be used on the knife in gratitude for the men of the town’s courage in battle. So I was quite intrigued to read about the bee emblem connection between Napoleon, Guerlain perfume bottles, and Laguiole knives!

    All of the “honey” perfumes sound wonderful, and I would be happy to win any of them. However, my top choices are:

    Epiphany from Matriarch, Honey from Sweet Purrfumery, Pan from Anya’s Garden (bee goo and goat hair?1?), Mahjoun from DSH Perfumes & To Bee from Roxanna Illuminated.

    I live in the USA and I be a BEE too, since my first name is also Deborah. Thanks to all for their generous contributions.

  • I learned I want to taste different types of local honey. I feel foolish thinking honey would only taste one way. Also I wonder how long it will take the US to ban neonicotinoids. I adore this article. I live in the US.

    My choices would be:

    M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey

    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir

    Honey 6ml Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery

    House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG!

    Thank you!

  • Of all the fascinating tidbits in the article, I was most struck by this seemingly banal detail: beeswax was used in the original formula for Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder. I don’t know if the beeswax-infused formula was still in use in the late 1970’s, but if it was then perhaps my little 3-year-old self can be forgiven for taking a dry bath in the stuff (I climbed up and pulled it off the shelf where my parents kept all the intriguing little items they used to clean my baby sister). There is a picture of this infamous event, which was ever after known as “The Baby Powder Incident” in my family. I would like to think that at least I smelled pretty, even if I looked like a ghost!

    I am in the US and would love to get my hands on M. Micallef Denis Durand, Honey by Velvet & Sweet Purrfumery, Roxana Illuminated To Bee, Anya’s Garden Pan, or Dev 1-Foreplay.

  • I loved everything about this article, specially the part: honey is the result of sex between flowers and other species. Wooo! I’m international, I would looove to win M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey, the samples of House of Matriarch and Dev 1-Foreplay =D

  • I learned that lavender honey has a camphorous quality, and that tobacco honey both exists and smells smoky. Great article! I’d love to win M. Micallef Le Parfum Denis Durand Couture, DSH Perfumes Mahjoun, Sweet Anthem Fox, Roxana Illuminated To Bee, or House of Matriarch ACHTUNG! Epiphany.

  • I love honey as it is natures best gift to us. I drink it almost everyday in my herbal teas. I love to try different honey from different countries and various flowers. In perfumery honey really shines but many times it has that dirty musky animallic facet which I can appreciate but can not wear. It’s sad that there is a critical shortage of honey bees. My fav. Honey perfumes are rose barbare, chergui and fumeire turque.
    Would love to have M.Micallef le parfum couture OR house of Matriarch Epiphany.
    I live in US
    Thanks

  • susie frankel says:

    I already did an extensive research on the great bee and the contribution to so much that feeds us in oh so many ways. What I learned is that there is an organization specifically for what is killing the bees, etc…the CCD. USA and my choices would be Bond No. 9 NY Oud-Honey and House of Matriarch Epiphany….

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    Wow! What an interesting and comprehensive article! I found interesting that beewax is used as a fixative to merge floral notes. Beeswax also has antiseptic properties. I would love to try Bond No. 9 NY Oud-Honey, Drift Aspens Perfume, or Roxana Illuminated To Bee Liquid Natural Perfume. I live in the US.

  • what I learned was Beeswax also has more humble origins in modern perfumery as it was used in the original Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder formula for its antiseptic properties. Did not think of it being used in baby powder. I would love to win To Bee or Honey both are favorites of mine. I live in the US. Thank you!

  • I didn’t know honey bees were associated with gods and goddesses. That was quite interesting! My choices would be

    50 ml M.Micallef La Parfum Denis Durand Couture-honey

    Dev 1-Foreplay 5ml refillable travel spray

    3.3 ml sample House of Matriarch ALL NATURAL Ephinany from the ACHTUNG! honey from lavender

    I’m in Canada. Thanks!

  • Wow 20,000 different species of bees! I didn’t know that at all. Great read. I’m a Canadian reader. My choices are

    House of Matriarch Ephinany
    Dev 1 Foreplay
    M.Micallef La Parfum