Forget the Superbowl and award shows. For NYC-based fragonerds the big event of the season is the Elements show. Expectations are always high. Everyone is eager to smell the next big thing and meet the perfumers behind promising new lines. This year the show wasn't entirely focused on perfume. There were fewer perfume brands and a lot more makeup, nail polish, and jewelry.
I was delighted to spend quality time with reps from my favorite independent makeup companies: Kjaer Weis, Ellis Faas, and Rouge Bunny Rouge. If you follow me on Twitter you might have seen the first look at the new eye shadow palette. I'll post the swatches tomorrow, but I can tell you I was smitten.The highlight, though, was meeting Rouge Bunny Rouge founder, Alexandra De Montfort. I was trying hard not to act all fangirl-like, and mostly managed to control the squealing. I also got a sneak sniff of new RBR perfumes, which are getting more and more interesting.
Other perfume highlights included the two new magnolia fragrances from Australian florist Grandiflora. One was composed by the late Sandrine Videault, and the other one by Michel Roudnitska who's already working on another Grandiflora project. Magnolia perfumes are usually not high on my list, but there was no doubt these two perfumes are beautifully composed and blended. I was also taken with SULÉKÓ, a line of four fragrances composed by perfumer Cécile Zarokian. The bottles come in refillable handmade porcelain cases that are little works of art. Out of the four fragrances I was most impresses with the dark forest of Baba Yaga and the spicy hay of Djélem. I'm looking forward to exploring them more.
As you can tell, I had fun. I do hope the next Elements show will have more to offer in terms of perfume, because there's nothing like this show in NYC and we need more perfume. A lot more perfume.
Mmm...I've never heard of Suleko, but "spicy hay" sounds delicious. I'm also curious about the new Kjaer Weis foundations--have you given them a try?
ReplyDeleteYes I tried the foundations. There are only five shades right now but four more are in development. It's a unique full coverage formula that looks like skin. It leans a bit dry, so requires moisturized skin, but the finish is beautiful. I'll have to spend more time with it for a full review, though.
DeleteThanks for sharing your initial thoughts on the foundation. That's right, I'd read somewhere that it's a bit dry and perhaps better for combo skin than for my Saharan visage. Even with well-moisturized skin, I do better with moisturizing/luminous formulations. Thanks for the reminder.
DeleteGreat pictures, Gaia and I love the porcelain perfumes bottles! Can you tell me who makes the little down powder puffs sitting atop the boxes that are labeled "puff puff"?
ReplyDeleteThe puffs are really cute, aren't they? They come in many colors and made by Belmacz, available from BeautyHabit and Woodley & Bunny.
DeleteElements Showcase...again we live vicariously. But if it works, who's to argue, right? I ALMOST feel like I was there. Have you tried any items from Belmacz? I have a few little pots of lip & eye makeup that I haven't used yet. They look really interesting with the gold & silver leaf.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the report, Gaia - it's the next best thing after attending the event.
ReplyDeleteI have a question about SULÉKÓ: do those bottles (the outer shells) look professionally made or rather a hand-made? A while ago I tried searching but couldn't fins any pictures other than a couple of official shots and it's hard to say from those if bottles would look good in RL or cheap.
Hi Gaia. I'm really curious about SULEKO fragrances? Is there anything you can compare them to?
ReplyDeleteI rarely, if ever wear powder. Am repeating that to myself like a mantra because I am beyond smitten with those Belmacz Puff Puffs. *Want* - but how do I justify spending that much on something I don't use? Of course, beautiful things rank very high on my list of reasons for living and they really are almost an art object of sorts...but then there's that pesky budget. I *could* start wearing powder. I love the idea of it as a ritual and what a beautiful part of the ritual one of those Puff Puffs would be. But I also think I might need a bottle of Djelem - sounds gorgeous. Hope the Suleko perfumes are available for sampling soon. And love those gold rings. Thanks so much for posting about the Elements show - really enjoy hearing about all that is new and wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAnna