Aftelier Perfumes Patchouli Noir Perfume Review

Press Sample (Unaffiliated Links)

Mandy Aftel is an award-winning, and brilliant, natural perfumer who makes the most sublime fragrances, and their quality is truly beyond comprehension. Her newest fragrance, Patchouli Noir, is available in an Eau de Parfum, Perfume and Solid Perfume. There are also samples for sale, for only $8.00 each, that allow you to test the scent and select your favorite formula.

Aftel describes this fragrance as a, "A sumptuous perfume radiating a dark sensuality, Patchouli Noir is the perfect ménage à trois of boozy, woody and musky facets, draped in smoke" and this is such an apt and elegant description of this otherworldly fragrance. If your perception of patchouli is the pungent, edgy and ultra-assertive fragrance from the 1960s, then it is important to underscore the fact that this graceful fragrance has none of the hallmarks of those unfiltered mid-twentieth century permutations of the patchouli oil that could be found at health food stores. This fragrance, instead, is a captivating dark, smokey, musky and woodsy aroma that sits close to the skin and once it dries down it is the most sublime and balanced articulation of the constituent notes that define this fragrance. Against the backdrop of my personal body chemistry, a woodsy aroma punctuated by the ylang ylang and blood orange commingles with the patchouli, and the result is a warm, smooth, creamy and musky aroma that delights the senses in the most otherworldly way imaginable. 

Character: smoky, boozy, woody, musky, smooth.

Fragrant Notes:

• Top Notes: blood cedarwood, blood orange, pink pepper, damascenone.
• Middle Notes: tomato leaf, ylang ylang concrete, spikenard, nutmeg absolute.
• Base Notes: patchouli absolute, antique patchouli, patchouli EO, patchoulyl acetate, pine tar, ambergris, ambrettolide, cognac, coumarin.

According to Mandy Aftel,

A sumptuous perfume radiating a dark sensuality, Patchouli Noir is the perfect ménage à trois of boozy, woody and musky facets, draped in smoke.

This rich patchouli is created from four patchouli essences: patchouli absolute, patchouli essential oil, the natural isolate patchoulyl acetate, and the one-of-a-kind hundred-year-old antique patchouli. The sweet smoky darkness of pine tar causes the patchouli to smolder in the most fetching way!

Each aspect of this magnificent medley of patchoulis is enriched: the boozy facet by cognac and spikenard; the fruity woodiness, by a blend of blood orange, tomato leaf and blood cedarwood, and the musky by ambergris and ambrettolide. A wisp of floral counterpoint comes from the superb ylang concrete. Each facet is full of rich mystery and darkness, which is magnified many-fold when they are merged.

Overall Assessment: This fragrance must be experienced to be believed. The brilliance of Mandy's visionary approach to perfume-making is profoundly evident in Patchouli Noir. This is an extraordinary fragrance that is unlike any perfume that you have worn.

Press Sample. Available from Aftelier Perfumes (Unaffiliated Links). All views expressed are categorically my own. 

Copyright © 2026 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Aftelier Perfumes Sacré Bleu Perfume Review

Press Sample (Unaffiliated Links)

Mandy Aftel, the creative genius who created Aftelier Perfumes, continually creates unparalleled and peerless perfumes, and her latest creation, Sacré Bleu is a stunning example of her creativity. Available as an eau de parfum and a perfume, this fragrance's character is described as, "watery, luminous, honeyed, transcendent, mesmerizing." 

Notes: antique sandalwood, blue lotus, ambergris, boronia, black tea, mimosa, beta ionone, methyl anthranilate. 

There is something incomprehensibly mystical and magical about this aroma. Sacré Bleu opens up with a sweet aromatic sensibility, as though it is a fruity floral incantation. However, as this rare fragrance unfurls against the skin it undergoes a metamorphosis, and the sandalwood and blue lotus deepen the way in which this fragrance articulates its identity. It transforms into a deeper and more mysterious aroma that beckons any gender to luxuriate in its comforting, somehow familiar sensibility. It is rich, warm, alluring, captivating and somehow defies any simple characterization. It is a truly sublime perfume that is sure to hold you captive in the most alluring way imaginable. This is a triumph in perfume making, and Mandy's creative genius is strikingly evident in Sacré Bleu. 

According to Mandy Aftel,

The inspiration for my Sacré Bleu perfume is the marriage of sacred blue lotus absolute with divine hundred-year-old Mysore sandalwood oil. One of our most precious offerings, Sacré Bleu is luminous, honeyed, transcendent, and mesmerizing. The aroma of blue lotus is watery, but extremely complex and blissful with stone fruit and powdery floral facets. Truly legendary blue lotus was the most important scented plant in ancient Egypt. Rumored to have a psychotropic effect: this extraordinary aquatic plant played a prominent role in mythology and religion.

Over the last hundred years, this soft, sweet and woody Mysore sandalwood oil has aged, like a fine wine, into a smooth, sweet creamy woody aroma of profound richness and depth. Boronia plays a supporting role offering up a mouthwatering combination of aromatic raspberries, apricots, and freesia. Sacré Bleu dries down to the warmth of black tea wrapped around rare ambergris.

About Mandy Aftel's Process,

I started making natural perfumes almost 30 years ago. I create each of my perfumes from the comprehensive collection of strikingly beautiful natural essences that I have assembled over the years from hidden corners of the world. Finding these essences is a quest that I enjoy as much as the act of creating with them. Often I smell a dozen versions of the same oil, searching for one that surpasses all the rest. Some of the essences in my palette are antiques that have aged for many decades, like fine wines.

Everything I make is free from synthetics, parabens, glycols, and petrochemicals. I hand-blend and bottle all my products in small batches in my Berkeley, California studio, and personally attend to every detail of the process in creating every product. I love adding a sense of luxury and well-being to people’s lives.

As the founder of Aftelier Perfumes, I have been hailed as one of the fragrance industry’s “most prolific talents” by Vogue and an 'angel of alchemy' by Vanity Fair, and listed as one of the top seven bespoke perfumers in the world by Forbes. I am an advisor at The Institute for Art and Olfaction, which has created the annual Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume in my honor, and in 2022 honored me with the Septimus Piesse Visionary Award for my lifetime achievements.

Notes: antique sandalwood, blue lotus, ambergris, boronia, black tea, mimosa, beta ionone, methyl anthranilate.

Overall Assessment: What an extraordinary perfume that is captivating, sublime and truly breathtaking. A+

$12.00-$315.00 from Aftelier Perfumes (Unaffiliated Links). Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own. 

Copyright © 2024 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Aftelier Perfumes Gift Guide Extraordinaire

All Images Courtesy of Mandy Aftel (Unaffiliated Link)

My dear friend, Mandy Aftel (shown above), has put together a lovely gift guide of her amazing Aftelier Perfumes creations, and I just had to share them with you!

☞ For the person who looks forward to cleansing their face with a gentle balm: Our luxurious and nourishing facial cleanser: Berry Cleansing Balm ($60.00. Reviewed HERE).

☞ For the person who would enjoy applying perfume from a sumptuous Sterling flask: Silver Perfume Flask ($300). 

According to Mandy Aftel, "Everything about perfume should be beautiful, including its vessel, which led me to design this sterling silver flask complete with a silver dauber. The flask holds a little less than a quarter-ounce of perfume and is handmade by a silversmith in Mexico. Carried in a bag or pocket and refilled over the years, it will become part of your daily ritual and part of your history." Refills available starting at $140.

☞ For the person who likes to keep their options open: Mini Trio of perfumes ($155) Select 3 perfumes in the most irresistible tiny bottles, nestled in a purple or orange silk pouch. 

☞ For the person who wants to learn how to make natural perfume: Natural Perfume Workbook and Essence Kit ($700).

☞ For the person who loves scent but may not want to wear it on their skin:
Perfume Pomander ($75). Choose from any of our 20 liquid perfumes. 

☞ For the person who can't decide which one of our solid perfumes is their favorite: Let them pick two! Double Solid Perfume in Sterling Case ($550).

☞ For the budding alchemist: Our newly revised edition of Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume ($18. Featured HERE).

☞ For that special person (including you): A one-of-a-kind antique case filled with solid perfume: Antique Cases ($310-500). 

Visit: www.aftelier.com

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum Spray

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

I am pretty picky about the fragrances that I wear, and I tend to test them for quite a while before determining how well each scent works with my body chemistry. That really is the point, isn't it? Each scent commingles with the individual body chemistry differently, and what might smell incredible on one person could instead smell horrendous on someone else. In fact, I remember years ago when a friend, who almost exclusively wore an iconic ultra-luxurious perfume (I wish that I could actually remember which perfume)– and it smelled delightful on her– spritzed it on me en route to an event, and at first it smelled amazing, but soon thereafter it settled into what can only be described as flea powder. I quickly realized the extent to which fragrances wear differently on different people, and the necessity in testing them before debuting them publicly!

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum Spray was an unexpected, and pleasant, surprise for me. I thought that it might be a little too mainstream, and perhaps a bit too sweet for my liking, but instead it was far more complex as it mingled with my body chemistry.

The top notes, of bergamot and mandarine, are tempered by the floral middle notes of sambac jasmine, freesia, and centifolia rose. However, it was the base notes of patchouli, vanilla, praline and amber that concerned me. I tend to avoid patchouli, because it tends to be far too pungent for my liking, but somehow the base notes translate into a warm and creamy aroma that adds a little woodsy spice to the citrus and floral notes. When I first spritz Flowerbomb it smells precisely as it does in the bottle, however it is a few minutes later, once the metamorphosis has taken root, that the magic begins. Because this scent is at first quite assertive, I was concerned about its sillage. I prefer fragrances that are more intimate in their ability to sit close to the skin, rather than announcing themselves before you actually enter the room. On me, Flowerbomb sits close to the skin, and transforms into a dreamy warm floral offset by creamy and warmed up citrus notes with a rich undercurrent. It is feminine, but not too girly– and it continues to transform throughout the day. It is a lovely addition to my collection of fragrances, and I will continue to wear it during the fall and winter months.

According to Viktor & Rolf,

Viktor & Rolf’s acclaimed first feminine fragrance, Flowerbomb is a floral explosion that makes everything more positive.

Flowerbomb is an explosion of the most luxurious and alluring flowers, with the power to transform the negative into positive. Thousands of flowers give rise to an ultrafeminine, sensual and addictive fragrance. A bouquet of cattleya orchids, sambac jasmine, freesia and rose petals is enriched by the addictive patchouli and vanilla. With just one touch, the power is unleashed, whisking you into a secret garden where your dreams become the new reality. This fragrance comes in a pink diamond grenade-shaped bottle.

Notes:
Top: bergamot, mandarin.
Middle: sambac jasmine, freesia, centifolia rose, osmanthus.
Base: patchouli, vanilla, praline, amber, woody.

Attributes:
Mood: intoxicating, sensual, dreamy.
Style: Feminine, fresh, floral.

About: "Viktor & Rolf is an avant-garde luxury fashion house founded in 1993 by artists Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren. Widely recognized and respected, the brand is perennially provocative. It's renowned for an addictive catalog of fragrances, including worldwide bestsellers Flowerbomb and Spicebomb."

Overall Assessment: What a pleasant surprise, and definitely a fragrance worth spritzing to see how it smells on you.

$55.00–$165.00 for 0.68oz. to 3.4 oz. from Nordstrom (Affiliate Links).
Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.
Copyright © 2019 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Boxwalla The Perfumer Series Featuring Sigil Scent

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

Boxwalla enthusiasts know that Boxwalla's green beauty boxes are an extraordinary value, and that the products themselves are nothing short of spectacular. Their carefully curated beauty boxes are a tremendous value, with steep discounts, and they feature truly covet-worthy luxury organic beauty products. Therefore, I am so excited to let you know that Boxwalla has launched The Perfumer Series. This is a limited edition, one-time purchase, separate from the Beauty subscription.

According to Boxwalla,

Perfume, Latin for 'through smoke', is such a personal, intimate luxury: both a bridge and an armor and whatever else you want it to be; a beauty product as well as wearable art and a form of expression. We wanted to include both the personal & universal nature of perfume into a scent experience. A scent experience consisting of two boxes that is now available on our website.

This scent experience showcases the uber talented perfumer Patrick Kelly, creator of Sigil Scent. Patrick creates both mystical and modern olfactory vignettes from all natural raw materials: essential oils, absolutes, CO2 extracts, house-made tinctures all blended in certified organic sugarcane alcohol. They are also cruelty free and vegan.

This Scent Experience that we have curated will consist of TWO PHASES:

Phase 1: Customers will receive 4, 2ml spray samples, in a small Boxwalla box. The scents are: Anima Mundi, Prima Materia, Amor Fati and Solutio.

After up to four weeks of testing (which will be accompanied by conversations and posts from Boxwalla and Patrick about the various nuances of the different scents and about perfume in general), customers can email Boxwalla (with the subject: Sigil Scent Choice) with their choice of full bottle. There will also be more information about testing perfume and about each scent on the accompanying insert.

Phase 2: Full Bottle of their choice will be shipped to them from Sigil Scent. The perfume box ($84.95) includes 4 samples & 1 full bottle, shipped as two distinct phases. Retail Value of the four samples and full bottle is $170. Ships Free.

In the first phase, you will receive all 4, 2ml spray samples from Sigil Scent: the effervescent, refreshing Solutio, the heady, woody floral Anima Mundi, the grounding, resinous Amor Fati and the green, mossy Prima Materia. These samples will be housed in a Boxwalla box along with an insert. On social media, Patrick Kelly, the perfumer, and I will be talking at length about each perfume, discussing the nuances, the notes, and you are welcome to 'sniff' with us, take notes as you explore these four gorgeous perfumes. We will also be sending out perfume-related newsletters. Once you decide which one is Full Bottle Worthy to you, you move to Phase 2. You have upto 4 weeks to decide.

Once you decide based on testing the samples, which bottle you would like, you can email Boxwalla at contact@theboxwalla.com with your choice of full bottle. Use the subject: Sigil Scent Choice. And voila, a full bottle will be shipped to you from Sigil Scent.

Sigil Scents Featured: 

The heady, woody floral Anima Mundi
The green, mossy Prima Materia
The effervescent, refreshing Solutio

The grounding, resinous Amor Fati 

Each one of the scents is indescribably complex and nuanced. They have impressive longevity, they are made with healthy ingredients and are 100% cruelty-free. Each of these brilliantly articulated perfumes must be worn and tested since your preferred key notes and your body chemistry will undoubtedly dictate your ultimate full bottle choice. Furthermore, each of the four perfumes has such a distinctive character that there is no way to compare them to one another without doing a tremendous injustice to each of these masterful creations. This is the brilliance and wisdom with this box, you get to live with each of the perfumes for long enough to know them intimately, and to understand the extent to which they transform when commingled with your particular chemistry, and the way in which they transform once they dry down.

Sigil Anima Mundi: "Anima mundi or “world soul” represents the intrinsic spirit that connects all living things on the planet—a spirit that exists beyond our consciousness yet is present within each of us. Embodying the vital force of our universe, Anima Mundi balances masculine animus and feminine anima. Like petals floating through curls of smoke, luscious notes of rose and creamy jasmine mingle with spicy hinoki wood. The scent’s intoxicating essence shifts from moment to moment, revealing fragrant notes of tuberose and the candied smokiness of pure immortelle."

Key notes: Immortelle, hinoki, rose, jasmine

Ingredients: organic cane alcohol, fragrance (organic and wildcrafted essential oils, absolutes, co2 extracts, and tinctures)

Sigil Prima Materia: "In ancient times, prima materia referred to the formless root of all matter—a blend of stars and soil from which all things emerge, and an essential component in the alchemy of turning base materials into gold. Uniting the earthly and the heavenly, Prima Materia is a scent rooted in soot yet elevated by sparkling notes of fresh citrus. The creamy sweetness of neroli and the cleansing power of white sage embody celestial matter, while oakmoss and woody vetiver signify the spirit of the soil. As it melts into the skin, the alchemy of the scent begins—revealing a golden, resinous heart of pure amber."

Key notes: Vetiver, Oakmoss, Neroli, White Sage

Ingredients: organic cane alcohol, fragrance (organic and wildcrafted essential oils, absolutes, co2 extracts, and tinctures)

Sigil Solutio: "Solutio is the alchemical practice of purification and dissolution—a process of coming apart that leaves behind only the true essence of what began. Distilling precious and resinous plant materials into their essential components, Solutio is a green and buoyant blend of aromatic cypriol, bracing lime, and a handmade tincture of wild chaparral that releases the mind from the trappings of the ego. Like a hot coal hitting cool water, Solutio’s effervescent spirit wraps the body and the mind in a cleansing vapor of scent."

Key notes: Cypriol, labdanum, chaparral tincture, cypress

Ingredients: organic cane alcohol, fragrance (organic and wildcrafted essential oils, absolutes, co2 extracts, and tinctures)

Sigil Amore Fati: "A philosophy beloved by ancient cultures across the globe, amor fati represents the belief that all experiences from birth until death—all the moments of bliss, suffering, and striving—are essential to the cyclical beauty of our existence. Symbolizing both the ashes of death and the new growth of birth, Amor Fati combines smoky essences of oud and opoponax with the fresh and lively scents of bergamot and green pine needles. Resinous galbanum and palo santo ground the scent with hints of sacred incense—a reminder that the spirit remains, even as the cycle of life begins and ends."

Key notes: Oud, galbanum, palo santo, opoponax

Ingredients: organic cane alcohol, fragrance (organic and wildcrafted essential oils, absolutes, co2 extracts, and tinctures)

You are welcome to ask Boxwalla or Patrick any questions about the process or the perfumes (or both) along the way. And if there are any specific topics related to perfume that you would like to explore or learn more about, just let them know!

Please Note: This experience is a limited edition one-time purchase, separate from the subscription boxes. This particular box ships only within the U.S. since it contains alcohol-based perfume. Available while supplies last.

Overall Assessment: This collaboration between Boxwalla and Sigil Scent is utterly extraordinary, and the extent to which this is a brilliant way to discover ultra-luxe handcrafted fragrances cannot be sufficiently underscored. During my scent journey through this exquisite first installment of Boxwalla's The Perfumer Series, I fell madly in love with Sigil Scent Anima Mundi and Solutio– the former is a magical amalgam of immortelle, hinoki, rose and jasmine– and it is neither too floral, nor too woodsy. Indeed, it strikes the perfect balance between these two magical realms. The latter, Solutio, is an alchemical masterpiece that coaxes the most extraordinary characteristics from the blend of cypriol, labdanum, chaparral tincture and cypress, and what emerges on my skin is a spicy citrus that is refined and altogether bewitching. This box earns an unmitigated A+

To order your Boxwalla The Perfumer Series Featuring Sigil Scent visit: www.theboxwalla.com  

$84.95 from Boxwalla (Affiliate Links).
Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.
Copyright © 2019 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Silent Street | Review

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Silent Street is the type of fragrance that wraps itself around your senses in the most subtle way. It sits close to the skin, invites frequent deep breaths to take it in, and it is light and elegant enough to actually wear to work. While it is decidedly in the floral family, it has an undercurrent of White Musk that makes it the perfect clean floral for those among you who don't often reach for florals. While this is a remarkably feminine and fetching scent, it isn't a girly floral. The White Musk effectively tempers the light floral sensibility, and it has a very calm and peaceful demeanor. It is a light scent, which might lead you to believe that its sillage would be entirely elusive, and while it is not among the airborne fragrances that sit aloft in the air for a long period of time, after you leave the room, this scent remains intimate in its desire to remain close to the skin without imposing itself on everyone else in the neighboring zip codes. It is, in a word, lovely.

Fragrance Family: Floral

Scent Type: Powdery Floral

Key Notes: White Musk

According to Derek Lam,

Crosby Street at First Snow. A moment of total peace and purity in the middle of the chaos of New York City. The essence of pure white musks.

"There are so many great moments when I see a girl walking down the street and she’s super stylish and very inspiring. Crosby Street is so unique—it’s one of my favorites in New York City."—Derek Lam

Overall Assessment: This fragrance really resonates with me, and as luck would have it– it really gets along with my body chemistry. It is a truly beautiful light, white musky floral that is such a pleasure to wear.

$85.00 for 1.7 oz. from Macy's and Amazon (Affiliate Links).

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Copyright © 2019 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

SPACE NK UP TO 75% OFF SALE | BEST SALE OF THE SUMMER

Press Release (Affiliate Links)

The Space NK ONLINE SALE has made there sale even better by reducing prices to UP TO 75% OFF, and there are so many amazing deals from which to choose. Become an N.dulge member HERE to receive all of the benefits of membership.

Space NK is hosting this sale exclusively on spacenk.com (US website only), and it features select items from best-selling beauty & grooming brands such as: Eve Lom, By Terry, Lipstick Queen, Kevyn Aucoin, Zelens, Evologie, Dr. Russo, Sedu, Space NK, Gloss Moderne, Lord & Berry, Bakel, NUDESTIX,  Color Wow and Bumble & Bumble, while supplies last.

Check out all of the SALE ITEMS HERE!

Just a few of the items that will go on sale at spacenk.com include:

• Bumble & bumble Surf Foam Spray Blow Dry
• By Terry Eye Designer Palette in #2 Gem Experience
• By Terry Line Designer Liquid Liner in #5 Ocean Vibes Turquoise
• Eve Lom Light Illusion Concealer
• Evologie Stay Clear Cleanser
• Evologie Stay Clear Cream
• Kevyn Aucoin The Brow Gel Pencil
• Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Lip Satin in Messaline
• Lipstick Queen Big Bang Illusion Gloss in Space
• Sedu Revolution 1.5” Flat Iron
• Space NK Eyelash Curler

About: Space NK started as a single store in Covent Garden nearly 25 years ago. A groundbreaking boutique, the first shop boasted one of London’s original juice bars, beautifully crafted designer clothing and accessories alongside beauty and wellness products. Space NK now has more than 90 locations across the UK, Ireland, Canada and the US. In addition to freestanding boutiques and spacenk.com, Space NK also operates shop-in-shop stores with Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. In the US, Space NK is proud to stock a curated assortment featuring more than 80 prestige brands across skincare, cosmetics, haircare, bath & body, fine fragrance and home scents. (Affiliate Links)

By Terry Eye Designer Palette in #2 Gem Experience

 By Terry Line Designer Liquid Liner in #5 Ocean Vibes Turquoise 

Kevyn Aucoin The Brow Gel Pencil

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Lip Satin in Messaline

Lipstick Queen Big Bang Illusion Gloss

SHOP THE SALE