Before we take the retrospective scalpel again and do some EAU D’ÉPICES heart inspection: here is a note on an upcoming draw in our upcoming newsletter.

Yesterday, after having boxed some 100 flacons of Orange Star, I managed to finish a draft version 1 of the newsletter 1 that I schedule for publication September 15, after Pitti. This newsletter is a bit a pet of mine these days, allowing me to communicate beyond the daily business as I do it on the blog. And maybe I will reach some readers who do not have time to read all my blog posts. I guess those might just have missed this post, though.

Anyhow: I decided that I will make a DRAW among the subscribers of the newsletter, October 1 2010. I will pick two winners from the active subscribers list and they get a perfume,  a full bottle, boxed as we sell them, at their choice from my range. But it is only a draw for those having registered for the newsletter. If you haven’t subscribed and want to join in: Here’s the link to do so (click here). If you are subscribed already: No need to do anything.

And we continue with a short inspection of the floral heart. We have discussed ORANGE BLOSSOM two days ago.  I used orange blossom absolute and jasmine absolute as flowers in the middle; and -by the way- orange blossom absolute IS expensive. Jasmine absolute is cheap in comparison. Anyhow. The challenge with floral hearts is: They do not last and need to be fixed. And you should announce them, building bridges from the initial head notes. Like a little red carpet telling folks that is worth picking up the camera and wait for the beauties appearing on their way to the stage where they would bloom for an hour or so.

I used RED MANDARIN essential oil as a bridge into the floral heart,  also to soften the spices a bit. This essential citrus oil has excellent lasting quality and I broaden it up with Methylpamplemousse, a molecule that smells a little bit an effect like a GREEN SILVER CITRUS. It supports citrus oils, makes them last longer, and brings in a bit of a vibrancy and lightness. Mandarine is the only citrus that I use because I do not want to distract from the core axis: Spices, orange blossom, incense, woods.

But wait, wait: There is another aspect…One thing that I changed two years ago from a previous version: I added a hint of a green leave, and a white flower note. If you want you can call it a green lily of the valley trace, but I would not go that far. Just call it a green spot, that sits there to set an ACCENT and a floral dress to highlight the orange blossom. Made of Undecavertol and Lilial and some Ionones (green leaves, flowers, lily of the valley, powdery floral sweetness) it is a spotlight that lets you see the star on the central stage. And the star shines a bit brigher and longer…

Today’s picture: an orange blossom and a lot of green.

I answered a couple of questions for a newspaper article the other day,  in detail and with having some thinking done, on IFRA, and how IFRA affects perfumers and perfumery.

I remembered this article in press (not published yet, I think), when I read the comments yesterday. And I thought a lot about it while cycling, thus we end up with another hard to digest post, but someone needs to speak out: IFRA should not be blamed.

Please visit IFRA’s site and have a look at who is IFRA. You can do so on their home page and then you will see that it is regular members (companies) and regional bodies (and no, zero, nada, niente third level supporting members such as small producers). You will find out that IFRA does not make laws or anything that anybody is forced by law  to oblige. IFRA recommends and industry follows the recommendations and consumers buy.  This IS important, because you should not blame the group coming up with recommendations, but the guy following them.  And the guy having an interest in the recommendations.  And, if you want to speak to industry, the best way to do so is via money and via speaking to them  directly and about them,  but not IFRA.

Thus, do not blame IFRA. Do not bash IFRA, IFRA is just the bag shown to you, making sure you do not hit the donkey.

And then, if you live in the EU, please visit the EU commission’s website and you will see that this is where IFRA recommendations end up being formed into (proposals) for laws. EU regulations and laws do not fall from heaven. Again: Do not blame IFRA, it is the guys and girls you send to Brussels making the laws. And, if you want to speak to politicians, the best way to do so is by speaking out to them and about them and by explaining them why they destroy part of the cultural heritage of Europe. I wish so much my fellow bloggers would stop talking about the IFRA bag and start talking about the EU law makers and the donkeys.

Thank you for reading this post.

And, to celebrate a 100% EU law conform perfume that I will show officially in September  10, at Pitti Fragranze in Florence:  Here is a little draw. Leave a comment of any kind, and enter the draw for a full flacon of fragrance No. 12 EAU D’ÉPICES, or a little consolation price (a discovery set, containing 5 scents of your choice). I will not comment every comment, but sure read it.
========ADDED: AUGUST 23 2010=======
THIS DRAW IS OVER. The winners are:
Consolation prize

Elena (cm….@yahoo.com)
Full bottle of Eau d’épices:
Elisa (elisa.g….@gmail.com)

Thank you to all of you who commented. If you wish to add your thoughts on the topics of this post: You are very welcome.

DRAW CONDITIONS: The draw is international. Everybody can participate by sending in a comment. If you wish to comment without entering the draw: Please say so in your comment. The winners will be picked using random.org in the coming days. If the draw is over, we will announce it here on this blog post. Winners will be contacted by e-mail, thus leave a correct e-mail. By commenting you accept that we might contact you by e-mail in order to communicate about the result of this draw. We will not store your e-mail, use your e-mail  nor forward your e-mail and other data to any third party. For more details on your privacy: See our privacy information page.

Picture: Medieval staircase going upwards to the light.

I just returned from a fabulous hike up there in the mountains, where it is cooler than the 35 or so we had down here in Zurich.

And first thing back home: I picked the happy winners of the draw from the 5 year perfumery blogging anniversary.
Here they are:
Winners of a perfume, full bottle, of their choice are
Violette 37
Lucy as in indieperfumes…
Jiyin
mjr as in mitali….
sergey as in moonfish….
And the winners of the consolation prize, the discovery set, 5 scents in 1.5 ml spray vials at their choice:
Matt M as in matts mitch
Dinazad
k-scott as kin kscott21…
Eric as in datura….
and Amy K as in beadsdumo….

Congratulations to you and a big thank you to random.org (who again as always came up with strange numbers, but that’s the nature of random it seems. …)
I will send you all an e-mail in the coming hours as soon as I have taken care of this red nose and leg

Picture: A little blue lake seen above Realp on 2000 meters above sea level.

!!THIS DRAW IS CLOSED NOW!! The winners will be informed by e-mail. Thank you to all who participated!

It is 5 years ago since I started blogging.

WOW.

What started with a BLOGGER blog experiment, on July 12 2005, developed into a daily routine on tauerperfumes.com and quite some fun.  At least for me.

TIME TO CELEBRATE!

I would love to share this moment with you, hence make a little draw. See the draw information below and make sure that you leave a comment here and today!

A NEW LOOK AND A NEWSLETTER
And some of you may have noticed: I gave myself a little 5 year blogging anniversary present: An all new blog, info and shop layout. I invite you to explore and register now for our newsletter. We will, every few months, inform you  by e-mail  about upcoming launches, draws and  much more. Thank you for registering.

THE 5 YEAR BLOGGING CELEBRATION DRAW
I will pick 5 winners from the comments on THIS POST July 12 2010. The winners will be picked after July 13 using Random.org generated random numbers and get an e-mail from me.   5 winners can choose one fragrance flacon per winner  from my line of scents that I sell, originally packed and shipped at no costs to them.

5 winners get a consolation prize: My discovery set with 5 spray samples. These 5 consolation prize winners can gain tell me what 5 samples they wish to have in this set. Again: Shipped and delivered at no cost to them.

For your privacy: See our privacy statement in the impressum. I do not use your address or e-mail communicated in this draw for any other purpose than shipping the prizes and informing the winners.