Aroma M Beauty Camellia Perfume Review + Interview + Fabulous Giveaway!

Edit: The draw is now closed. Thanks to all the entrants! (7:05pm, 10/10/14)

As the weather here in Chicago begins to chill its natives to the bone, a beautiful new pure floral perfume has graciously moved in with me to warm my soul and to offer just a whiff of tradition. Maria McElroy, the creator and founder of Aroma M Perfumes and my friend, has launched Camellia Perfume in a concentrated oil and eau de parfum. It joins her Camellia Beauty collection of ridiculously luxe oils for hair and skin, and bears an intensified, refined version of the fragrance so elegantly employed for those very beauty oils.

camellia flower

                          
The fragrance's focus is of course the camellia bloom, or tsubaki in Japanese. The camellia's leaves are made into many varieties of the tea that the world voraciously consumes. In Camellia Perfume's case, it is joined with jasmine, gardenia, neroli, geranium and rose, rounded out with a bit of brightly intoxicating frankincense. Many of you know that I'm not a huge rose lover, but it's precisely the judicious use of it in this perfume that allows me to appreciate it so much for how it can transform the mood of a fragrance blend. It provides a touch of warmth to this largely cool yet seasonless blend, and that's what really does it for me.

I just need a few deep breaths and I'm enveloped by smooth, peaceful waves of warmth.  The natural freshness of this fragrance graces me with true, unfettered happiness, wholeness and wistfulness for something that I haven't yet remembered. Camellia Perfume is the olfactory equivalent of a drop of red sealing wax on pure white paper. The past, present and future all collide here, with a nod to traditional Japanese Geisha culture, modern fashion and thoughts of what kind of legacy we will leave for future generations of girls and women. I'm not ashamed by my frequent cravings for this beautiful poppy in the field-- my life is simply less colorful without it.

I was so happy to do an interview with Maria recently, which you'll find below. After you read her inspiring words, leave a comment answering the question at the end of this post, BECAUSE...

...up for grabs is a complete set of Aroma M Camellia Beauty Oils and a set of Camellia perfume samples. You can get the full Camellia experience with a total of 5 samples to indulge yourself with, compliments of Aroma M! Trust me, this is one contest you need to enter.

Camellia Perfume Oil (7.5 ml $150)

CM: What was your main inspiration to create Camellia Perfume on the heels of your coveted Camellia Beauty trio (bath & body oil, face oil and hair oil)?

MM: Aroma M got its start as an artisanal perfume house, so of course I wanted to add a perfume to the aroma M Beauty collection. The inspirations are the natural heady floral notes that the Camellia Beauty Oils are known for. I was very inspired to create a natural perfume that included Camellia essential oil. I knew when I finally sourced this rare, delicate, and almost fruity fragrance, that it would be the namesake of the perfume.

CM: Historically, how does fragrance play into the daily rituals of geishas? Why is the camellia flower in particular so important?

MM: The Camellia flower is sometimes used as a symbol of the Geishas, but Camellia essential oil is quite rare. I had not seen it until I went on my yearlong search for the essential oil, after creating the aroma M Beauty Oils.

camellia flower

CM: The vibe of Camellia Perfume (both versions) is intense but fresh—a memorable and beautiful contrast. I see it as a modern-day Joy—a classic, but with a more faithful and almost affectionate rendering of the floral notes. Was one of your goals to create the type of fragrance that multiple generations of women could wear?

MM: I love that you see it as a modern-day Joy! I did give a lot of attention to the floral notes which are classic in combination. But as with all the aroma M perfumes I feel that it has a firm footing in the present and is modern, specifically with the subtle Japanese incense note. I created the Camellia Perfume with the intention for it to be worn by a young ingénue or a Grande dame.

CM: Including your last big fragrance launch, Geisha Amber Rouge, I feel that your aesthetic is becoming a bit more refined, lush and extravagant. Did you will the pendulum to swing this way?

MM: I feel that my style with the Camellia perfume is more refined also, and more opulent. In creating the aroma M Beauty Oils I worked with a lot of heady, voluptuous floral notes. They have influenced my aesthetic and inspired me to add even more gorgeous natural florals, like the addition of the Gardenia note. I swooned over it when I first smelled it!

Camellia EDP (30ml, $110)

CM: I love the timing of Camellia Perfume’s launch. I happen to think a rich floral for cooler seasons is super-chic—especially if it contains whispers of incense, as Camellia does. In terms of fashion, what would pair nicely with Camellia? Do you have any new and fabulous things stirring in your closet this Fall?

MM: The whisper of incense as you beautifully put it, gives the Camellia Perfume its aroma M signature I think. I love wearing a rich floral in cooler seasons also, they go wonderfully with flowing scarves and cashmere sweaters. I have been wearing a lot of vintage DVF dresses with chunky sweaters as the temperature cools; the Camellia Perfume pairs glamorously with these pieces.

CM: The experience of wearing this perfume has the same fluidity as music—no individual notes stand out as obvious, but there is a sweetness of character that emerges as soon as it hits skin. Highs and lows exist, but no one point is better than another—just different. I know that among other things, you studied music in Japan. Do you believe that art of all disciplines, including the design and creation of fragrance, springs from the same well?

MM: What a lovely way to describe the Camellia Perfume's fluidity like music. I created this perfume so that it would flow evenly over you as you wear it, each note merging into each other much like music, with the Camellia at the heart. I do think that all art, including perfume come from the same place of inspiration.

CM: Camellia might be the ultimate Aroma M perfume because of how tightly it’s connected to the heart of what your brand is. What do you hope that your new fragrance says to the world about the old world Japanese tradition of the geisha?

MM: I feel that the Camellia Perfume is very symbolic of the 20-year history of aroma M; our anniversary will be Feb 14! It is part of the new aroma M Beauty collection that embraces all natural ingredients, and it still has the ever-present influence of Japan and the geisha running firmly through it.

Maria McElroy-- Photo by Axel Oberg

CM: I mentioned the word “classic” before, which for me, speaks to the element of time in perfumery and its fleeting nature. It seems to me that the signature of Aroma M has always given a nod to the past while allowing us to languish in the moment for as long as possible. What does the near future hold for Aroma M?

MM: I especially love the poetic quality of fleeting beauty that perfume has. The images of cherry blossom petals fluttering down like pink snow, and the moon covered with a wisp of clouds. These are the essences that I try to translate in my perfumes. I create aroma M perfumes to help us linger in the moment for a bit longer. As for the future, I have a new aroma M Beauty Camellia Oil product that will launch next year that I am very excited about, and another aroma M Beauty perfume is in the works!

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GIVEAWAY!

Leave a comment on this post to have the chance to win a full Aroma M Beauty Camellia sample set: that's one of each formulation of Camellia Perfume, and one each of Camellia Face, Hair and Bath and Body oil (a total of 5 samples). Just tell us how (if at all) beauty oils have made their way into your daily beauty regimen. Or, if you prefer, which Aroma M perfumes or skin care products appeal to you the most and why?

The winner will be chosen at random via random.org. The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only. The winner will be announced in a separate post on this blog on Friday, October 10th at 7pm Central. At that point, the winner will be responsible for contacting me via email with their mailing information at: eyeliner on a cat at gmail dot com. If the winner does not come forward within 5 days, a new winner will be announced in the same manner.

Good Luck, everyone!

[sample provided by Aroma M for my editorial consideration]

Aroma M Beauty Camellia Hair and Face Oils

I was so excited when Aroma M's Maria McElroy told me that she was going to start creating beauty products based on traditional ingredients and formulae used by the Kyoto Gion Geishas. What ended up in my hands was well worth the breathless wait. Her first two offerings, Camellia Hair Oil and Camellia Face Oil, both made a huge impression on me.

Camellia Hair Oil hits the ultimate sweet spot: a nourishing, shine-enhancing and strength-promoting oil that smells more delicious than any heaven I could conjure in my mind. There are few natural floral essences that never fail to excite me, and tuberose is at the top of the list. I think it's such a perfect fragrance for hair. This one eschews the more raunchy aspects of the flower for a sweeter, more balanced scent thanks to its marriage to rosemary essential oil. They reside happily together in a base of camellia, jojoba and argan oil, so you can bet on gorgeous, shiny hair. My hair is so long now that it's creeping dangerously close to the small of my back, so it goes without saying that my ends need extra attention, and Camellia Hair Oil fixes me right up while feeding my constant need to smell beautiful things. This is the hair oil to end all hair oils, and it's hand crafted and bottled by a talented nose who also, as we find out, has a serious knack for creating beauty products. Keep this in mind if you should find yourself in Barneys, holding a grotesquely expensive bottle of Frederic Malle Carnal Flower Hair Mist in your hand, which is pretty but won't do your hair many favors.

Camellia Face Oil is the sort of oil that immediately just slid right into its waiting slot in my skin care arsenal. Camellia oil is very soothing and wonderful for its immediate skin plumping powers and is quickly becoming ubiquitous in anti-aging preparations. This blend is packed with lots of other organic beauties: carrot seed, evening primrose, apricot kernel, vitamin e, golden jojoba and argan oil with essential oils of jasmine, neroli, geranium and frankincense. This is a great facial treatment for all skin types, including oily and blemish prone, due to its ability to help balance out sebum production. While your delicate skin is being treated with lots of antioxidants, deep hydration and healing, soothing ingredients, the complexion turns to satin. Fine lines are blurred and skin tone appears more even. I love a product that works hard and looks pretty while doing it.

I can't wait until Maria launches more Aroma M Beauty products. Her first two are extremely useful, results-driven oils combined with the aesthetics of an artist and perfumer, and her ability to offer us the unmistakable thrill of feeling like we were just let in on a secret or two.

[There is a set of these two oils available on aromam.com for $145, which saves you $5. Separately, the Camellia Hair Oil is $65 for 40ml and the Camellia Face Oil is $95 for 40ml. For the amount of product you're getting, I consider this a great deal]

Want to read another review of these lovely oils? Beauty Huile is the place to go.

Samples provided by Aroma M for my consideration.

Immortal Mine by Maria McElroy and Alexis Karl

I am rather late in reviewing Maria McElroy and Alexis Karl's Immortal Mine, but as usual, the Perfume Goddesses had a plan for me. The last perfume I reviewed was the incredible Sepia from Mandy Aftel, and the theme was decay and the unique beauty it engenders. Immortal Mine fits right in there. It was created for the Clarimonde Project helmed by Lucy Raubertas of the blog Indieperfumes; a group of perfume writers and perfumers got together to create together in the spirit of the story Clarimonde, a 19th century vampire novel. I have not read the story, but I love where Immortal Mine is taking me as I gingerly sniff my wrists.

Everybody knows that I love me all kindsa vampires, and before anyone out there can utter the words "Ugh, I'm so burnt out on vampires", let me just say that there's more to this shadowy mythic world than Twilight or The Vampire Diaries. Folk tales exist on virtually every continent that have spawned some of the most incredible literature (and later, films) of any time period.

Now, on to the perfume! It is oil based, and while I generally prefer alcohol based fragrances, sometimes oil better suits the formulation. This is always clear to me with other Maria McElroy creations, especially the ones filled to bursting with resinous ambers. Immortal Mine is not the kind of fragrance I like to pick apart and try to figure out what magic is behind it, it's one I just want to wear and revel in its unique atmosphere. That's how I feel about my favorite Hammer Horror vampire films-- the genius lies in the rich atmospheric qualities of the films, not technical largesse.

The Byzantine excess of the Immortal Mine bottle

My sample of Immortal Mine arrived in a velvet pouch, dripping with blood red wax all around the top of the vial, with a crow feather and wax-sealed introduction note. There's only one word for that, and it is BADASS.

The fragrance itself makes me think of sweet, dry earth, a mineral wash over everything. I smell stone, old books covered with dust, something lactonic playing against subtle tartness. What lies beneath it all is blissfully incensey and woody, and more than a little unsettling. It's a moving fragrance that holds my interest for hours, and based on that alone, I would definitely buy a bottle (or a gallon).

Anyone who appreciates (or shamelessly hoards) resinous, ambery and woody fragrances with a healthy dose of mystery beneath the surface will be interested in Immortal Mine. Its unique beauty certainly stands apart from the rest of my fragrance collection.

[Immortal Mine is available at Indiescents.com in a 1/3 oz bottle for $200 or sample vials for $10. Sample was provided by one of the perfumers for my consideration]

Coming Soon: The Perfumer Interview Series continues!

I'm very pleased to announce that my Perfumer Interview series I began this past summer with Mandy Aftel and Kedra Hart will continue shortly with the lovely Maria McElroy of Aroma M Perfumes, and then Liz Zorn of Soivohle. I'm really looking forward to the continuation of this series, and I hope my readers are too.

Maria McElroy [photo from AromaM.com]

Aroma M Geisha Amber Rouge [a new release, a new love]

Maria McElroy of Aroma M Perfumes has released her first new scent in five years, Geisha Amber Rouge. It arrives like the other Geisha perfumes, wrapped in the wildly appealing Yuzen paper from Kyoto.

[image: aromam.com]

I instinctively knew when I uncapped the bottle that I didn't need to cautiously sniff it first before applying to my skin, I just went for it. When my first response to a fragrance is my heart racing and my lips curling into a smile, I know I've hit paydirt. Geisha Amber Rouge is a new version of Maria's classic Geisha Rouge, but it's deeper, more animalic and profoundly honeyed. The spices are more intense and the amber is rich and powdery-smoky, like the finest incense you can imagine.

[image: incenseandaromatherapy.com]

From the Aroma M website: Geisha Amber Rouge gives a nod to Oriental perfumery in its use of rare vintage ingredients from the desert. Moroccan amber joins forces with deep wood resins, cinnamon, clove and hints of star anis. Characteristically spicy notes of the original Geisha Rouge blend with that of Japanese incense.

To me, Geisha Amber Rouge is the lovechild of Geisha Noire and Geisha Rouge. It's almost as if Maria went rummaging through my secret desires and crafted her new perfume out of them. Geisha Noire is my other favorite in Aroma M's line- I like to say that it out-Shalimars Shalimar (at least for my tastes). Geisha Amber Rouge is set apart by several things, but mostly by its definite tinge of rusty, iron-laced blood, and while I can't figure out exactly how it got there, I enjoy it to no end. There is a sensuality present in this perfume that is very physical, almost visceral. 

Geisha Amber Rouge showed up at my doorstep at exactly the right time and has already become one of my favorite scents of the season. It has none of the cool detachment of many of the fragrances I've been frequently wearing (and no florals, either), but throws searing heat instead and is one of those rare treats that truly stokes the imagination. Amber Rouge is clearly one of the most beautifully composed Aroma M perfumes, and if you love Orientals as I do, do not hesitate to add it to your collection. Your entire being will thank you. 

Aroma M Geisha Amber Rouge is available now on aromam.com, an 8ml roll-on bottle of perfume oil is $55.  Samples are also available for sale. 

[press sample provided by the perfumer for my consideration]