Ormaie Paris

November 20, 2018November 18, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Ormaie Paris is a family run fragrance maison with roots deep in art and nature. Creativity is at the heart of the brand – Ormaie’s founders have brought together artists and artisans to write each chapter of the Ormaie story. All of the Ormaie fragrances (there are seven) are composed solely of natural ingredients with the ultimate goal of elegance and quality. The ultra-chic, geometrical flacons attract the eyes; the titles and descriptions of each of the perfumes excite the mind. Let’s see. Yvonne is modern homage to the classical feminine perfume, blending rose and the chypre notes with the scent of red fruits. Toï Toï Toï, a German expression ballet dancers say to wish good luck before going on to perform, labels a fragrance that evokes polished wooden boards of the stage and the dancer’s waxed ballet shoes. Meanwhile L’Ivrée Bleue is a narcotic scent that depicts the eroticism of Gauguin and the jungle themes of Rosseau. It smells dark vanilla, of rum and of the scents of the island. Oh my. Want more? Read here. Want to buy right away, impulsively, just like me? Well, at the moment Ormaie sells only at Barneys New York. New Yorkers, lucky you. The rest got to dream for a while.

Mondo Mondo

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Mondo Mondo is a jewelry and fragrance label based in Los Angeles. The brand provides a visual and sensual world inspired by archaic wonders and baroque ornamentation – there’s nothing simple about it, that’s for sure. Mondo Mondo, a name chosen for its cinematic undertones, utilizes the ancient art of storytelling to guide the designs. Intrinsically archetypal, Natasha Ghosn’s pieces become both personal and universal. Whether it’s a heart pendant, ‘Soleil’ earrings with rhinestone chains or (my favourite) ‘Friend’ ring in sterling, there’s something magical about those made to order goodies. The fragrance line by Ghosn is equally elusive, yet appealing. The descriptions of the six perfumes make you dream. I Like You In Velvet is summed in the following way: “in an iridescent cloud of iris and carrots I found my expression. Silk gloves, lipstick wax, silver like the movies. Ballet, jazz, and modern dance, too.” Then, we’ve got the greenish Cowboy. “Here the spirit of the Cowboy is represented as The Fool in this unisex fragrance. He is free, naive, and fearless. You can find him sleeping peacefully under the stars.” Tobacco, leather and grass combined with honeysuckle and coffee must be some sort of nasal ecstasy. Would love to try each of them, but the brand sadly doesn’t ship alcohol-based products to Europe. Still, whether you’re in USA or not, check out Mondo Mondo’s site for more!

Le Labo in Berlin

October 12, 2017 | Design & Culture by Ed

The leathery scent of Santal 33 is like a drug. Bitter sweetness of Bergamote 22 is a sensual refreshment. Neroli 36 feels like liquid memoir of an Italian summer. I’m speaking of Le Labo, a brand that’s not just about (already) desirable branding, but powerful fragrances. Heralded as one of the best niche fragrances brands in the world, Le Labo boasts a core selection of unique fragrances and exclusive scents available in nine cities. Their newly opened store in Berlin‘s Mitte district is as delightful as the products available there. Those old tiles on the walls, heavy wooden counters, vintage sofas… honestly, wouldn’t mind staying here for much longer.

Alte Schönhauser Str. 26 / Berlin

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Buly 1803

March 24, 2017April 15, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Starting in the late 18th century, the famed “Bully”, established in 1803 on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, made a name for himself (which he then wore with a double consonant). At the turn of the 19th century, perfumers were still the heirs of the craftsmen from the Ancien Régime, and the keepers of their trade secrets. The vogue of perfumes followed in the wake of a fresh openness to the world and to its novel, sometimes exotic flowers – as with Joséphine de Beauharnais, who imported to France and acclimatized new olfactory species and audacities. Bully welcomed the advances of science and cosmetics to formulate his own inventions in form of perfumes and scented oils. Among these, his remarkable skin care products achieved lasting fame. Throughout the Golden Century of beauty, which witnessed the invention of the first formulations of modern cosmetics and perfumery, the ‘officine’ gradually established itself as a trend-setter.

Today, Buly 1803 is reborn in Paris, on rue Bonaparte 6 in the sixth arrondissement, with a different spelling and a refreshed concept. Visiting their boutique was like entering a cabinet de curiosités, falling hard for the opulent marble furniture, antique illustrations on the walls, and Japanese porcelain flacons costing 3000 euros and up. Buly 1803 is a true gem and it’s quite unbelievable to find brands like this in our world of fast, mass-consumption.

Discover Buly 1803 finest products: Buly 1803 Pommade Concrète balm, Buly 1803 Campagne D’italie candle & Buly 1803 tortoiseshell comb.

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

All photos by Edward Kanarecki

Mood Scent Bar

April 20, 2016April 20, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

Warsaw is underrated by many and I don’t get why. New places to visit appear constantly, without a moment of pause; people here are so open for new ideas and opportunities. After my last, very short trip to Poland’s capital, I’m obsessed with Mood Scent Bar. But don’t get it wrong – the name of this spot might deceive you to think it’s a place to eat. However, it’s Warsaw’s coolest multibrand of niche perfumes from around the world. In fact, they have two boutiques – one is a step from Vitkac, this huge luxury department store, and the second on Tamka street. But my heart belongs to the first one, which is much smaller and much chicer, with dove-grey walls, vintage lamps and pretty, floral arrangements.

The selection here is mind-blowing, even though you might have never heard of any of the labels they sell here. As the lady mused on the topic of Unum’s Opus_1144, a fragrance, which has its brutalist, concrete “bottle” made in collaboration with Rick Owens, I tried out the literally addictive scent of Blamage by Nasomatto. Although I’m not a fan of heavy, smokey perfumes, Boccanera (in Italian translated as “dark lips”) by Alessandro Gualtieri’s Orto Parisi made me fall in love with its slightly dramatic, oriental twist. Classic-reconstructing Humiecki & Graff, electrifying Room 1015 and eccentric A Lab on Fire, to mention a few, are available here. And for those who don’t feel like experimenting with their noses (and minds!), Mood Scent Bar has a wide variety of well-known Comme Des Garçons fragrances. Indeed, this place is a synonym of nutritious feast for the senses!

Ul. Bracka 3 / Warsaw