Sniff Fest - NadiaZ
7 years ago
Having obtained a small collection of NadiaZ samples today, I dove right into them. First, who is NadiaZ? Located in Switzerland, she's the artisanal perfumer who posted a blog here recently. In fact, I think it's still on the front page. She's also a lady on a passionate mission -- to create perfume as art, sourced from indigenous harvesters of rare plants around the world, thereby preserving both people and plants. NadiaZ. Her marketing approach is equally unique. In order to suggest which of her unusual perfumes might work best for you, she will want to know you--your age, gender, ethnicity, among other things--the latter on the theory that different racial skin types react differently to particular ingredients, a theory I hadn't heard . Not sure it's right, though, since my favorite among the group so far is Japanese Spring Woman and I'm not Japanese.
Because of the rare and precious materials, the NadiaZ line is expensive, a full bottle running well into the thousands. Glass mini roll-ons are available for about $40 and sample card vials for $20.
Is an FB worth it? Maybe.
The first thing to know is that these perfumes must develop on the skin. In exactly the opposite fashion to the new Louis Vuitons that sweep one instantly and thrillingly off one's feet, the NadiaZ top notes can be a challenge. Hubby sniffed Magnolia Night Ode to Gobi |Unisex and was so repulsed by the odd vegetal/musky top note that he said he never wanted to smell it again. Two hours later, the scent is entirely inoffensive, resting on the back of my hand like a fine kid glove. So don't look for hypnotic top notes, though Japanese Spring Woman was a dream from the start. Simple and lovely, it belongs in my gardenia sniff fest. Also, the wonderful Camino de Azahar Woman and the green and resinous Symphone de Cologne Opus|Unisex are both purring on my skin, especially the former, so I'll wear each of the samples I received and report.
At this point I can say that exploring NadiaZ perfumes is a worthwhile challenge, especially since some of her ingredients may never be available again. Just be sure to have your ancestry ready, because she will want to know. I suppose it's possible there's some connection she's figured out because she's smart, having invented perfumery techniques of her own. We discussed IQ. Turns out she's got a big one. Me, too.
Because of the rare and precious materials, the NadiaZ line is expensive, a full bottle running well into the thousands. Glass mini roll-ons are available for about $40 and sample card vials for $20.
Is an FB worth it? Maybe.
The first thing to know is that these perfumes must develop on the skin. In exactly the opposite fashion to the new Louis Vuitons that sweep one instantly and thrillingly off one's feet, the NadiaZ top notes can be a challenge. Hubby sniffed Magnolia Night Ode to Gobi |Unisex and was so repulsed by the odd vegetal/musky top note that he said he never wanted to smell it again. Two hours later, the scent is entirely inoffensive, resting on the back of my hand like a fine kid glove. So don't look for hypnotic top notes, though Japanese Spring Woman was a dream from the start. Simple and lovely, it belongs in my gardenia sniff fest. Also, the wonderful Camino de Azahar Woman and the green and resinous Symphone de Cologne Opus|Unisex are both purring on my skin, especially the former, so I'll wear each of the samples I received and report.
At this point I can say that exploring NadiaZ perfumes is a worthwhile challenge, especially since some of her ingredients may never be available again. Just be sure to have your ancestry ready, because she will want to know. I suppose it's possible there's some connection she's figured out because she's smart, having invented perfumery techniques of her own. We discussed IQ. Turns out she's got a big one. Me, too.