Tauer Perfumes- Noontide Petals (and sample giveaway)

As hard to believe as it is from looking at the piles of snow outside, tomorrow is the first day of spring. There  are daffodil  stems trying to emerge underneath the icy layers and probably also hyacinths, if the squirrels haven't dug them all up. Tonight I'm ignoring the forecast for more snow on Thursday and focus on all that's light and bright. Like Noontide Petals by Tauer Perfumes.

A new Tauer perfume is a major event in our fragrant community. In Noontide Petals perfumer Andy Tauer has created a link between his nostalgic Tableau de Parfums series and the main Tauer Perfumes line. The reference point is the very early part of the 20th century, more particularly the Roaring 20s. Art Deco aesthetics in visual arts, architecture, and of course-- in perfumery. The 1920s brought us some of the most beautiful and famous perfume classics (Chanel No.5, anyone?), many of them owing their unique formulas to the use of aldehydes that make them sparkle and shine. In his press release for Noontide Petals, Andy Tauer speaks of "turning on the light in a dim room". I'll go a step further and say that the uplifting effect goes beyond the room: it's our mood and spirit that are getting elevated as winter malaise is chased away.

 Both Loretta and especially Miriam saw a generous use of aldehydes that infuse the flower absolutes. Noontide Petals takes another step in this direction as it greets us with a big bouquet- first large yellow and red blossoms, then the light filters in brighter and stronger. All of a sudden you find yourself surrounded with lush and heady white flowers that are pure sensuality. They sweep you of your feet.

The dry-down is all luxury and glam.  It's darker and heavier than you would guess from the exuberant opening that rushes at you. There's sweetness that keeps the fantasy aspect of Noontide Petals while precious woods ground it and lend the fragrance an incredible elegance out of a fashionable 1920s salon. You can picture yourself going out on a Paris adventure the kind Owen Wilson's character had in Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris. You're already wearing the right perfume for it.

Notes: bergamot, aldehydes, geranium, rose, ylang-ylang, tuberose, jasmine, patchouli, frankincense, vanilla, sandalwood, iris, styrax, vetiver.

Don't miss Elena's review of Noontide Petals on Perfume Shrine.

Now for the sweepstakes: I have three extra samples to give away. You need to: a) be a US resident, and b) tell us what's your favorite floral perfume. Do leave a name (you don't need to have an account or list an email address, but a way to easily identify you will make my life slightly easier).

This review was based on an advanced sample Andy Tauer was kind enough to send. Noontide Petals will launch in the US in the second half of April, and will be available in some parts of Europe in late May. Price will be around $125 $US or 95 Euro for 50 ml  EDT.

Artwork:
Erte- Printemps
Tamara de Lempicka- High Summer, 1928
Erte- Coquette