Sniffapalooza's Holiday Spree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Led by the indomitable Karen Dubin and Karen Adams, the Sniffapaloozas not only had a shopping spree, snapping up some of the world’s finest fragrances at their holiday gathering on December 6 in Manhattan, but they were also treated to a master fragrance class by Michael Edwards, author of Fragrances of the World 2009.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his fragrance reference bible, Mr. Edwards traced the evolution of the floral, oriental, woody and fresh note classifications.

His Sniffapalooza audience sampled various fragrances, sprayed on strips of neutral paper. “I don’t classify a fragrance based on its top note,” Mr. Edwards explained. “I wait for it to dry down. People buy on the top note but return to purchase on the drydown.” He advised keeping the scented strip for 24 hours and then going back to smell it the next day. “You then really understand its character.”

Mr. Edwards disclosed, “If you ask a person what two fragrances they love to wear, ninety-six out of one hundred people will name fragrances of the same family.” When sampling several fragrances, he instructed the audience to keep them in consecutive order and return to sniff and compare. “It’s in the comparison of the fragrances that you pick up the differences.”

The heritage of the great perfumers and fragrance houses was discussed as Mr. Edwards traced the beginnings of famous fragrance icons such as Coty, Chanel and Estée Lauder.

After a luncheon at The Press Box, the group segued to their next stop, the Turtle Bay SPAfumerie on Second Avenue and 48th Street. They were welcomed by Joe Garces, president and CEO of Robert Piguet Parfums, at his new business venture to develop the SPAfumerie brand. Using his years of experience as the head of one of the world’s great niche fragrance collections, including Fracas, he is now combining that expertise in what he describes as “a new and exciting retail experience.”

“Along with featuring beautiful niche fragrances and signature classic fragrances, I want to offer the total beauty retail experience at Turtle Bay SPAfumerie that includes skincare, cosmetics and spa services,” Mr. Garces explained.

Among the launches announced at Turtle Bay SPAfumerie were Love, The Key To Life by The Gerlach Group and Andrea Song by Andrea Marcovicci.

The final stop on the Sniffapaloozas’ itinerary was New London Luxe on Eighth Avenue, where the fragrance Bell’Antonio Hilde Soliani was launched.