December Draw! "Gorgeous Gourmands" Fragrances from Perfumeniche

What do you get when your sense of taste dances with your sense of smell? Gourmand fragrances!

Gwen of Perfumeniche has generously offered to host a draw for five 1ml decants of exceptional gourmand fragrances. And the icing on the cake: Perfumeniche’s sleek new site, where it's now easier to find scents to indulge yourself or give as gifts—and soon, Gwen will offer new formats (full bottles, splits) and special offers. Pop over and sign up for the newsletter to get the jump on those!

She has chosen five delish delights that introduce notes of ginger, cocoa, vanilla, currant—even whiskey— in fragrances subtle to seductive. If you are new to gourmands, don't worry that you might waft more sweetness than a plate of Nillas; the notes in these are subtle rather than cloying, and all from houses known for quality:

Vanilla Shot (Perfumer, Bernard Duchoufour; Olfactive Studio)

A rich oriental extrait de parfum with an orangey opening, which develops through dried fruits, spices and flowers toward a heart of vanilla and caramel. Potent and long-lasting because it is one step from pure perfume, so a drop delivers. Known to its fans as "Christmas in a bottle", it is not at all as vanilla-centric as its name suggests.

Les Voyages Olfactif Paris-New York (Perfumer: Thierry Wasser; Guerlain)

New York from a Parisien perspective: an eau de toilette with sweet and tart notes of cinnamon and roasted chestnut peek forth from an opening of bergamot and berries, narcissus, rose, and plum blossom—a nod to both the flowers of Central Park and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

Five O'Clock au Gingèmbre (Perfumer: Christopher Sheldrake; Serge Lutens)

Gwen says, "Five O'Clock au Gingèmbre does not smell like a ginger cookie or cake but the ingredients—tea, candied ginger, patchouli, and pepper—are exotic, luxurious and rich and combined in a blend that is absolutely irresistible any time of day." An eau de parfum.

J. Crew Number 57 (Perfumers: Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Yann Vasnier for Arquiste) 

Inspired by Peggy Guggenheim's art gallery on the top floor of 30 West 57th Street in New York, this eau de toilette opens with a whiskey note (Ms Guggenhim's preferred tipple), then moves into notes of honey, hay, oak barrels, gentle vanilla, and as you would expect in an older building, leather and wood.

Réglisse Noire (Perfumer: Jessica September Buchanan; 1000 Flowers)

The black liquorice of All Sorts candies, but done without much sugar, while including dashes of white pepper, mint, shisho leaf, star anise, ginger, cocoa, vanilla, vetivier, musk—and more. An airy, easy-to-wear eau de toilette unlike anything else.  

 

The winner will receive five 1ml decants, enough to indulge yourself, or to share.  And, if you want these goodies for certain, contact Gwen to order a "Gorgeous Gourmands" pack. What merry stocking stuffers!

How to enter:
Qualifying entries will be chosen by a draw. 

1. Send an email to gwen@perfumeniche.com with the header "Gourmand Draw" by midnight EST,  December 8, 2023

2. In the body of the e-mail, answer the skill-testing question, "What is one of the brands Perfumeniche lists that begins with a "P"?  (A brand list is on the Perfumeniche menu bar.)

3. Sign the email with your name, e.g., Joanne G. or username., e.g., "jorose"

Qualifying entries will be selected by a draw; Duchesse will announce the winner in the Passage's December 12, 2023 post. The winner may then contact Gwen with a postal address.  

The value of the prize will not require a winner outside Canada to pay import tax or duty.

Offer void where prohibited by law.