Sniffing Around: Fenwick of Bond Street

On my last few visits to the perfumery at Fenwick on Bond Street, I noticed that they carried quite a few brands that I hadn’t seen at other Central London boutiques. So I decided to pop in for a proper sniff around…

Highgate Cemetery Photography Expedition

Getting Lost in Lankaran | Lankaran Forest Parfume, Maria Candida Gentile for the Buta Festival

As far as perfume launches go, Lankaran Forest took things to the next level and then some.  The release of the Maria Candida Gentile creation coincided with the closing of the Buta Festival, a five month long programme of Azerbaijani arts and cultural events at venues across London, and the celebration of the Persian New Year, Nowruz.  The March event, held at the Royal Academy, had lots of free flowing champagne, buffet tables decorated with a Dionysian display of spices and sweets, and even the odd celebrity or two.

However, the highlight of the event was the Francisco Rodriguez Weil designed Lankaran Forest sensory installation. This immersive experience allowed guests to wander through a “perfume sculpture” snapshot of tangled trees and fallen leaves, the fragrance of Lankaran Forest diffused throughout the space.

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with Maria Candida Gentile about the perfume she created for the event.

Recent Rhapsodies

I always love to see bobbies on horseback

Beautiful blooms at That Flower Shop in Shoreditch

Ladurés’s rose and raspberry St. Honore confection

Roullier White hosted Sarah McCartney of 4160 Tuesdays where we each made our own special fragrance blends with 4160 Tuesdays Sexiest Scent on the Planet

Liberty of London

Street art in Dalston

Working off that karma debt

Spoilt for choice of perfumes at Roullier White

Street art in Shoreditch

Liberty of London

“The past is not romantic for me; the future is romantic for me,” Raf Simons, Dior and I

Street art in Shoreditch

THE best hot chocolate in London at Said in Soho

Beautiful vegetables at The Albion

Sarah McCartney’s novel, The Scent of Possibility

Street art in Shoreditch

Paisley, the naughty stowaway

Shoreditch street art

French and Grace rhubarb and cassis tartlets baked by moi

It took a tattooed boy from Birkenhead to really really open her eyes….

Burlington Arcade macaron run to Ladurée

Shoreditch street art

Literally on the edge of my seat for next week’s finale of Fortitude

My latest read

Amanda Lepore’s magical Easter egg hunt

Street art in Shoreditch

4160 Tuesdays favorites

Master of puns

The Jinx: The life and death of Robert Durst

The moon over London

Whispers of Spring

Creeping into Manchester Square…

 

Egon Schiele: The Radical Nude at the Courtauld Gallery

Today I visited the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House to check out the Egon Schiele exhibition currently on display there.  Unfortunately, I was only able to snap one memento before getting my wrist slapped, but The Radical Nude exhibition is totally worth a visit.

Detail from Two Girls Embracing (Two Friends), 1915

Two Girls Embracing (Two Friends), 1915

Egon Schiele: The Radical Nude is available to view at the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA until 18th January 2015.  Tickets can be purchased in advance here or at the door upon arrival.

 

 

Waterloo Sunset

The sun was setting today as I crossed Waterloo Bridge…

Eye Sore!

Quite literally!  Strolling home through the Brunswick Centre last night after scoring a couple of burgers, I noticed this sign up in one of the windows of the flats above!  Too funny!  I can’t imagine what the neighbors think.

And to think my neighbor complains to me about my bird feeder…

Where am I?

I usually have no idea where I am when out and about in town, but wandering to the ICA with one of my very good friends Friday evening I came upon this gorgeous pair…

of buildings.  

I’m not entirely sure what they are, but I really loved the style of architecture and the quintessential red telephone booths brought just the right amount of London flavor.

The Story of Scent with Thierry Wasser at Selfridges

Last Thursday, 12th June, I had the pleasure as a member of The Perfume Society to attend a Q&A with Guerlain’s Head Perfumer, Thierry Wasser.  I have transcribed my audio recording of the Q&A for you to read below, but I am afraid it just does not do justice to what a privilege it was to hear Mr Wasser answer Jo Fairley’s questions with not only humor and wit that kept the audience engaged and laughing throughout the duration of the Q&A session, but also with real insight garnered from his experiences attained through his position at Guerlain.  I was really surprised at the lengths he goes to to expertly fulfill his role, and what I really loved was his pragmatic, common sense approach to it.