Vero Perfume kiki and rubj
As you know from last weeks post, lovely and generous Gaia, the Non-Blonde sent me a sampler of Vero Perfumes wares. I've already covered onda, this week the two others in the line. Lavender is an accord in perfumes that is second only to Rose in it's beauty when done well, and utter horrific trashiness when done ill: for every scent like Tauer's Reverie Au Jardin or Lutens Encens et Lavande there's some godawful Love's Lavendery LustBat or worse yet, Renuzit Lavender Glade. Thank goodness not only is the lavender in kiki not only first rate, but it's paired with a creamy sweetness that for all the world reminds me of Macarons, those fantastic French wonders made from egg whites and filled with buttercream. There's a fresh fruitiness to it as well, that makes me think of ripe mango, but never gets even slightly overpowering. At the base of it is that tanned-flesh sort of musk that I am hopelessly in thrall to, not only because the only tan I can ever achieve still falls under the heading "ghostly pale" (those of you who've seen me: that's 20 years in LA, mostly without sunblock). All of this reads as horrific, and if it were put out by 98% of the companies out there that are stocking your local Sephora, it easily could be. As it is kiki is an absolute delight from beginning to end. rubj is clearly after bigger game: white flower lovers take note. Orange blossoms open the scent, seemingly spiked with a bit of the peel. Soft jasmine and sweet tuberose join in and an earthy musk grounds it, but the whole thing never gets to that in-your-face stage that other tuberose scents can go to. There's something blameless to it thats both innocent and shockingly sensual at the same time. Fracas for instance walks right up and grabs you by the.... lapels. rubj (I am using lower-case since the packaging does) seems more content to let you come to it, and come you shall. These are available at the Vero Perfume website Vero herself was kind enough to write me to let me know that indeed there isn't mint in onda, even if that was the way it came out on my skin, and also to tell that her perfumes will soon be released in the US, perhaps in September. Wonderful news indeed! Image source, laduree.fr. |
posted by Marina |
12:03 AM
36 Comments:
I'm so glad these will be in the US soon, it's a lovely line, and hoping she'll add to it soon. Rubj is my favorite so far.
I can't pick a favorite really, but I think I'd be most apt to wear kiki. Having written that onda is becoming a fave too!
Ok....I guess that this is payback for yesterday......I love those Macarons.....especially the passion fruit and chocolate ganache filled variety. My sister brings them to me about once a year from Laduree in Paris and I am addicted. She also brings me candied violets and lavender from Fouchon so now you have left me in a really bad way as she's not going to Paris this summer:) You are such a troublemaker.
I will have to try the Kiki...one of my favorite perfumes is YSL's Paris...it smells pretty good on me and always reminds me of those sensuous treats, but this sounds even better!
And , I am definitely looking for a yummy man for you... my husband doesn't have a twin but my best gay friend does and he is really HOT in all of the right ways!
ooooh, I wish the place that does them here shipped to you...
I am crazy for them and would love to try to make them but I know it's devilishly hard to do well. I mean I can do a meringue or a pavlova...
Tom -
This wonderful-sounding line is in oil form, isn't it? How is the longevity? and silliage? Did Vero happen to mention what lucky establishment might be selling her line?
Thanks,
Marko
You can make a Pavlova? Fabulous! There's a wonderful place in the Ferry Market Building in SF that does them also and ships but alas I cannot remember the name. God, now I am hungry!
Marko-
I don't think they are oils, since the samples I have were sprays. But maybe the actual scents are. I found them to be pretty close to the skin, which I prefer, but I am not liberal in application.
Didn't hear exactly what stores it might be, I figure I can save my pennies and work that out when it happens
beth-
Pavlovas are pretty easy; actually most egg white things are easy in LA since humidity isn't an issue.
Damn, now I'm hungry too!
Recently, I sent one of Vero's samplers to a friend of mine. I urged her to try Onda first, and she immediately called upon receiving it, swooning in delight. Then, I got an email. "I MUST have rubj! I MUST," it read. rubj turned her head completely, and I must concur. Vero has made a stunning trio, and I eagerly look forward to September.
Oh yeah! Whenever they get here to the U.S., I will have kiki! I loved it from my sample set, but not quite as much as onda, which I had to order from...Switzerland, was it? So I can wait a couple more months, but then I believe it too shall be mine :)
I loved Reverie Au Jardin too, but its rubj which is calling my name!!..Can't wait to sample the trio..
And Tom, where in LA do you get such macarons?? TIA
Tia=
Embarrassment of riches: Boule on LaCienega just north of Beverly Blvd in West Hollywood and/or Paulette on Charleville just East of Beverly Drive (S of Wilshire) in Beverly Hills.
Both are great!
Luckyscent will carry Vero's line in the US. In Europe you have to order from her website in Switzerland.
Marko, these aren't oils, they're in parfum concentration. A drop will give you excellent longevity and sillage, I speak from experience (I have full bottles of Kiki and Onda, Rubj's just a matter of time).
Tom, I'm astounded at your pastry prowesses. And your good taste in scents, of course.
Another great review !
I admire these all- they are each so different, dramatic, and beautiful.
Onda was my first love, then Kiki.
Rubj is gorgeous, but she doesn't love me; she wants to shriek like a Bulgarian soprano on crack, on my skin.
[I must be the only one who experiences this- it makes me sad, because I love smelling it- but not on me. And Vero is a treasure-
So I feel DOUBLY guilty !]
Tom, great review! I own a full bottle of Kiki and very soon I hope to own the others. All three of Vero's scents are so distinctive and unique; when I wear them, I feel like I'm wearing exclusive works of art.
Chaya,
"Shrieking like a Bulgarian soprano on crack", that really got me in the gut.....I have now stopped choking:) My Great Aunt Frances Rose was an pretty famous soprano with the Met at the turn of the century. We finally were able to to find a CD of a recording of her (Don't ask me how they did it!) last christmas and gave it to my mother. I know that techniquely she was exquisite, but the description that you used was very apropo except she was Austrian. Yeow.....
She was another one of the wicked crazy women from my family tree, there are several...I guess she had a marvelous bosom and loved to entertain her dinner guests (large parties of them) by playing her piano and singing for them topless. And you all wonder about me:)
I can't wait to try these! But even more than that, I really want to somehow bribe Tom into making me a Pavlova!
carmen-
I thought it might be luckyscetn (ao aedes, or both) but since Vero didn't specify I didn't.
I live making pastry, but I can't see doing it just for me, since by the time I've made it I'm full!
Chaya-
I agree they are all different, and quite wonderful.
(answering out of order because I hadn't had coffee yet)
Anon-
Yes, they are all three wonderful and different. I hope they end up someplace that's convenient to you!
gail-
Apparently it shall! With the promise of back-up bottles!
I hope if it is Luckyscent they will have Vero stop in for the debut!
suzanne-
They really are very personal works of art. There's clearly no committee here. I can't wait to see the bottles as well- they look gorgeous. Something that samples, no matter how nicely packages cannot replicate.
Beth-
I am sure you'll figure out something
;-)
Oh, now you've done it... I really must try. And me trying to economise right now (sigh)... :)
I have hated lavender all my life, and now that I am tinkering with essential oils, I discover that what I hate isn't really lavender, it's the lavenderesque horror-shows like those you mention (Love's Lavender Lustbat indeed! Snort!) Tempting, tempting.
ducks-
I won't tempt you further other to write that I was a confirmed lavender hater as well...
That I will ;)
BETH !
Your great aunt wrote an infamous volume entitled, "Men, Women, and Tenors"...!!!!!
WHAT a piece of work...she sounds like my kind of gal, no question.
I always love to make you laugh...
She was a friend of the late Boris Goldovsky [ with whom I sang- the voice of the Texaco Opera Hour- Live From the Met ! ].
It's indeed a small world, girl.
Tomski- thanks for puttin' up with all this opera yip-yap !
I adore all three of these perfumes, with Kiki and Onda being the best on me. Macaroons is the perfect description!
I want it in an EDP so I can spritz with abandon. :)
beth-
Ooooh!
chaya-
such fascinating relatives you guys have!
patty-
From your mouth to Vero's ear! I would love an EDP of these!
Tom, you stone cold seducer!
Reverie Au Jardin and Kiki have been added to my must try list, as lavender and macaroons (french, not Passover) are two of my favorite things.
On July 4th some punk kids in San Francisco were baking chocolate chip cookies to celebrate America, and my friend Edie snuck lavender into the batter. The smell was utterly incredible. The cookies, fireworks and old issues of ClothesDick made for a memorable evening.
You must have tons of places in NYC that do fabulous macarons!
mmmm.. lavender and chocolate...
Yay! I'm so glad Vero will be at Luckyscent. I think of her as one of the Great Hopes for the future of perfumery, and just have so much respect for both her talent and the choices she's made about how to employ it. If she really does come to LA for the opening I may have to make a little fan trip to your neighborhood, Tom. Show me those pastry shops...?
alyssa-
you got it! anytime!
Tom, This is funny..I was searching and searching for your reply to me and couldnt find it and finally I realised that it was because you'd addressed me as TIA .I meant Thank you in advance when I said TIA (Makeupalley speak..lol)
thank you for the info about the pastry shops, though..:)- will definitely check them out on my next trip to LA..
lavanya-
I realized as soon as I typed it and hit "publish" that wasn't your name. I should never respond on a blog after I have taken the melatonin. or the second glass of chardonnay...
I can give many more pastry recs, anytime!
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