New Fragrances

Kiehl's Aromatic Blends: Re-plunging Into The Perfumed Pool

07/02/12 14:28:04

By: Elena Vosnaki

The American pharmacy, founded in 1851 in New York and bought by cosmetics giant L'Oreal 12 years ago, will re-animate its scented section (led in the past by the aromatic oils and the legendary Kiehl's Original Musk, brought out in eau de toilette in 1963) with its new series Aromatic Blends. Four fragrances retailing at 62 euros, also available as a shower gel and a body lotion (for 24 and 26 euros respectively) will enrich the archives this September 2012 in France (and then globally).

The novel thing is the brief for the composition of the scents didn't go to one company, but instead there were three big aroma-producing companies working on different fragrances, inspired by international travel and the scents of the areas which were the basis for reference.

The concept, according to David Suffit, vice-president perfume development at Kiehl's, was to create perfumes of great quality with a simple formula so that customers could find the original scent of the ingredients within. For 2013 Suffit reveals Kiehl's will launch a fifth fragrance to add to the Aromatic Blends line. Suffit has also worked for bigger perfume brands, such as Belle d'Opium and Armani Code for women.

Which fragrance notes will the Kiehl's Aromatic Blends focus on?

	Nashi Blossom & Pink Grapefruit Japan is the first influence for a fragrance focused on the nashi flower and grapefruit, created by Mane USA.
	Orange Flower & Lychee Orange blossom and litchi take us to Maroc, for the second fragrance, created by Givaudan.
	Vanilla & Cedarwood Uganda is the third destination, with notes of vanilla and cedar in a composition by Firmenich.
	Fig Leaf & Sage And last but not least, fig and sage take us to the South France, in Provence, in a fragrance composed by Firmenich.

Available in Kiehl's boutiques (including Bon Marche, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette in France) as well as on the online site from September 2012.

Images of bottles by kiehls

Author: Elena Vosnaki is a historian & perfume writer from Greece and a Writer to Fragrantica. She is the founder and editor of Perfume Shrine, one of the most respected independent online publications on perfume containing fragrance reviews, industry interviews, essays on raw materials and perfume history, a winner in Fragrantica Blog Awards and a finalist in numerous blog awards contests. Her writing was recognised at the Fifi Awards for Editorial Excellence in 2009 and she has been contributing to publications around the world.

cake n' cuddles

bring back the forest rain!

Jul
03
2012

miarose

I've tested three of these in store (they won't sell them, but they let me try them out). They call these as stronger than body sprays, but not as strong as EDT, so probably a cologne strength.

Fig Leaf & Sage is a very, very green, herbal fig leaf. It reminds me of the Molinard fig, but even more green. For me, it's a little too green.

Orange Flower & Lychee smell nothing like either orange flower or lychee. The opening is very sharp and pungent (kind of like the effect one gets from Guerlain AA Pamplelune), but settles into a somewhat fruity floral concoction.

I could barely smell the Vanilla & Cedarwood, but my nose by that time had been sniffing too many scents. I will have to try this one again.

Jul
02
2012

Alive