Monday, September 12, 2011

Stealing Beauty

Aftelier Fig
Recently I made a sweeping comment that I don’t really like gourmands, and then I met Mandy Aftel via two gorgeous tins of assorted samples I bought from her website. There are many gems in these tins, however I have decided to review fig first because it was the search for a fig home fragrance that started me on this scent journey, and is how I find myself here.

Aftelier Fig develops from sapling to the full glorious ripeness of age; her swansong is a sensuous dance, lush, rich and memorable.
Fig demands your attention, you must be patient and watch her grow. The emergent child developing the buds that will ripen slowly in the spring. I shall call her Beauty.


Like many Aftelier fragrances Fig has me under her spell. Soft pink peppery youth ripening with the warmth of Jasmine, fir adding an earthy depth grounding her impatient development, her foliage wilting slightly under the summer sun. The marriage of these notes sings true together.
In her youth Beauty sits plump, lush and spicy on a bed of ripe brie and crusty wood oven bread.  I laze under a gazebo covered in cooling vines savouring her delicacy.
Beauty has her swansong in my grandmother’s kitchen. The last remains of her jammy rich caramel from the jam pan, that sticky heavenly toffee. I have stolen Beauty and devoured her.

Featured Notes
Top: grand fir, pink grapefruit.
Heart: pink pepper absolute, jasmine sambac.
Base: Africa stone, fir absolute
Available from http://www.aftelier.com/
¼ oz $150
Sample $6
Sample was purchased by me.
Other reviews of Aftelier Fig
For more information about Mandy and her creative process
Nathan Branch - The Artisan Series Mandy Aftel (Part 3)

Images:.com
Girl with Figs - lingeriebreifs.com
Liv Tyler still from "Stealing Beauty" -lisahebden.com
Bottle of 'Fig' http://www.aftelier.com/

11 comments:

  1. Thank you Sharryn! I love your luscious words and pictures, evoking the sensory delights of food & home that I put into Fig. I’m excited to see what other perfumes you like. Mandy Aftel.

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  2. Sharryn, what an amazing review. I am wearing Fig today because of it; my initial impression is that it smells like a fig tree on a breezy, sunny day: green, fresh, ripe, and surrounded by other lovely flowers. Just wonderful.

    Mandy is a magician!

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  3. Sharryn StormonthTue Sep 13, 09:41:00 AM

    Thank you Mandy, I have some ways to go, but I try to do your perfume justice. I am so pleased you like it. I love so many of them and have been experimenting with the layering suggestions than abound on Twitter :) Cacao and Cepes and Tuberose being the latest.

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  4. Sharryn StormonthTue Sep 13, 09:45:00 AM

    Joey, thank you so much. That is the nicest compliment. That is it in a nutshell. I love the way it evolves from the fruit and foliage on the tree to that gorgeous rich jam. Tarleisio's comments got me excited about it, so we are paying it forward :)

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  5. Fig is gorgeous, it definitely can't be simply categorized as a gourmand, it's got so much body to it, heart and soul, too. Very lovely review!

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  6. Beautiful post - your words and the photos!

    Fig and I, we haven't had a successful encounter yet, but there is hope for the future! I tried a fragrance with fig leaf tonight - perhapsit will lead to a surprise love affair with the fleshy fruit.

    I have a feeling Aftelier Fig might change my mind!

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  7. Sharryn StormonthTue Sep 13, 12:23:00 PM

    Carrie thank you so much, it means a lot to me to get nice words of encouragement from you. So true that it goes way beyond gourmand and that is possibly why I like it so much. Heart and soul perfect.. Thank you

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  8. Sharryn StormonthTue Sep 13, 12:28:00 PM

    Hello Ms JoanE, thank you for your kind words. I have been reluctant to post as I feel inadequate surrounded by such wonderful writers. Thanks for the gee up. This fig is not fig as you would imagine it, it really does need to be experienced, hope you try it, I will be curious to see what you think..

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  9. Just clocked you and your blog on Twitter! Thanks for the heads up on a new fig scent (to me). It is good to have an Antipodean perspective in the fumisphere- my mum was from Oz.

    Vanessa aka Flittersniffer/Bonkers

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  10. 1/4 oz for $150???!!!!! 7.5ml for $150?! That can't be right....can it? I will try and forget how win over I was by your beautiful review! LOL

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    1. Sorry, for he long delay. I have been setting up my bread and butter business and have neglected my blog for a long time. Yes, 1.4 oz of parfum is $150. Mandy creates 100% natural perfumes and sources some of the most expensive and rarest materials. The Eau de Parfum is $150 per 30ml. You can purchase samples.

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