Sandra‘s Closet

I have to admit that I am a total fragrance addict. Scent is such an important part of your identity. It communicates more than your clothes because one can smell you without having eye contact or talking to you.

We all know the big perfume blockbuster brands, but there are plenty of niche fragrance houses which deserve attention as they use very luxurious ingredients. And after all, who likes to smell the same as everybody else? Today, I would like to show you my eight favorite perfumes that you could call my personal signature scents, like my wardrobe of fragrances.

KILIAN, Love, Don’t be Shy, Eau de Parfum, 50ml
Oriental – gourmand and seductive

Top notes: Bergamot
Middle notes: Honeysuckle, Iris
Base notes: Civet Oil

TOM FORD Noir Pour Femme, Eau de Parfum, 50ml
Oriental Floral – sensual and extravagant

Top notes: Citrus, Spice and Bergamot
Middle notes: Rose Absolute, Mandarin and Jasmine
Base notes: Sandalwood and Vanilla

PARFUMERIE GENERALE N°19 Louanges Profanes, Eau de Toilette, 50ml
Floral Oriental – fresh and powdery

Top notes: Neroli and Hawthorn
Middle notes: White Lily and Incense
Base notes: Benzoe and Guaiac Wood

MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN À La Rose, Eau de Parfum, 70ml
Floral – another interpretation of a rose

Top notes: Damascena Rose from Bulgaria and Centifolia Rose from Grasse, Pear and Lychee
Middle notes: Violet and Magnolia Blossom
Base notes: Cedarwood

ARQUISTE PARFUMEUR Flor Y Canto, Eau de Parfum, 55ml
Floral – intense and intoxicating

Top notes: Mexican Tuberose
Middle notes: Plumeria and Magnolia
Base notes: Marigold

BYREDO Blanche, Eau de Parfum, 100ml
Floral Aldehyde – the perception of the color white

Top notes: White Roses, Pink Pepper and Aldehydes
Middle notes: Violet, Neroli and Peony
Base notes: Blond Wood, Sandalwood and Musk

LORENZO VILLORESI Teint de Neige, Eau de Toilette, 100ml
Floral – powdery and delicate like the color of snow

Top notes: Jasmine, Rose and Ylang Ylang
Middle notes: Tonka Bean, Jasmine, Rose, Floral Notes and Powder Notes
Base notes: Jasmine, Rose, Heliotrope and Musk

PROFVMVM ROMA Soavissima, Eau de Parfum, 100ml
White Floral – feminine and rich

Top notes: White Flowers
Middle notes: Amber
Base notes: Iris

If you are living in Switzerland, I truly recommend you the Osswald Night of Fragrances that will take place on October, 15 2015 between 6 and 10 pm at Schloss Sihlberg, Sihlberg 10, 8002 Zurich.

Six exclusive perfume brands will present their world in different rooms of the castle, among them two of my favorites Pierre Guillaume (Parfumerie Générale) and the Durante Family (Profvmvm Roma).

Tickets are available for CHF 25.00 at Perfumery Osswald, Bahnhofstr. 17, 8001 Zurich or online.

See you there!

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

Family owned and operated for over ninety years in Zurich, Osswald will officially open its doors in the heart of SoHo, New York City in August 2012. Highly regarded in Europe for their carefully curated array of niche perfumes, luxury skincare and exceptional customer service, Osswald is pleased to bring their time-honoured values and standards to the US for the first time.

Since 1921, generations of the Dreiding family have been continuously progressing the Osswald Parfumerie in Zurich. It began with founder Boris Dreiding, who was then succeeded by his son Jago Dreiding, Jago was followed by his wife Tamara who took the helm in the late eighties.

Tanja Dreiding Wallace and Werner Abt (Photo: Bolero)

With Tamara’s direction and the help of store manager Werner Abt, Osswald entered the niche perfume and luxury skincare market. In 2005 she asked her daughter Tanja Dreiding Wallace, who had been living in New York City for over 8 years at the time, to return to Zurich and manage the company’s future growth. Tanja found herself becoming fiercely passionate about the brand’s international plans. She took pride in staffing the Zürich flagship with the most knowledgeable professionals in the beauty care business. Within a few years, Osswald became one of Europe’s leading niche parfumerie and skincare boutiques known for its superior customer service.

“Once Osswald was established as one of the leaders in the European niche perfume, skincare and cosmetic market, I realized that growing the family business was my true calling,” says Tanja Dreiding Wallace, CEO of Osswald. “In 2010, during a visit to New York, I detected a void in the beauty retail industry for premium service and quality products. At that point, I was committed to launching Osswald in the US and sharing my family’s vision of premium Swiss hospitality with New Yorkers, individuals who would appreciate our approach to an extraordinary shopping experience.”

My dear NY-based readers, here is my shopping list of exclusive must-have products that you will only find at Osswald NYC in the US:

For the American debut, Osswald will exclusively launch and sell coveted Swiss skincare brands Bellefontaine, Cell Premium, and La Colline as well as established brands Cellcosmet and Valmont. Each brand is on the cutting edge of skincare, using advanced technologies including the use of stem cells.

My skincare shopping suggestion:

This is an amazing magical product that will be launched in September 2012: Time Master Intensive Program by Valmont. The Swiss brand with over 25 years of experience calls itself the magician of time and is renowned for its spa treatments. Now, a professional unique intensive program will be available to be used at home. A combination of technology, efficiency and precision, this nano-emulsion is so delicate that it penetrates the skin in a split second and treats all the causes for aging. Within 28 days, Time Master Instensive Program regulates the cellular mechanisms of the skin and turns back the clock.
The 4-week treatment will be available for CHF 1235.-/ € 950.-.

Sought after perfumes including Pierre Guillaume’s Parfumerie Générale and Profumum Roma will only be available at the Osswald New York location, as well as Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Clive Christian, MDCI, Kilian, Micallef, Amouage, Pierre Guillaume’s Huitième Art and Six Scents amongst others.

My fragrance shopping suggestion:

If you get a chance, please explore the fragrance world of Pierre Guillaume: Parfumerie Générale and Huitième Art, a niche collection of 8 fragrances launched for the brand’s 8th anniversary in 2010 – synonymous with perfume being the 8th art. His creations are a must for anyone who loves perfume. 
I met the perfumer once at an event held at Osswald in Zurich and was truly impressed by his passion. He is young, brilliant, intellectual and very handsome. My favourite – among many of his scents I like – is PG19 Louanges Profanes, an oriental floral, that is fresh and soft in one.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian offers bespoke scents. Ask the Osswald team for more information. So sophisticated!

Other offerings will include By Terry makeup, scented candles, exquisite bathroom accessories and mirrors, manicure etuis, shaving kits, toiletry bags and other beautiful items in the luxury lifestyle sector.

Osswald NYC will open August 2012
311 W. Broadway New York, NY 10013 www.osswaldnyc.com

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of the Brands