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Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses: Meet with Nicolas de Barry at Le Château de Frileuse
Nose Nicolas de Barry, whose perfume, George Sand, I reviewed yesterday, is also the owner of a castle, the Château de Frileuse and a developer of perfume tourism, a rather popular business trend in France. If you feel like spending some time in "douce France", learning the art of perfumery while resting and enjoying yourself in the Loire Valley, one of the historical regions of France, then head for the Château de Frileuse...
Neighboring castles include magnificent, famous Renaissance Châteaux like Chambord and Chenonceau whose histories are linked to Catherine of Medicis, an illustrious perfumista. The queen's personal perfumer, René le Florentin, is reported to have visited the château de Frileuse and to have described its wine cellar that resembles the den of an alchemist and in which the perfume studio is now located.
Two people can be hosted for two nights, including perfume workshops, meals, wines, a visit, and a bottle of eau de cologne for 380 Euros each. 1-day specialized training courses for professionals are also available upon request. You could also decide to splurge on a "personal" scent for 5000 Euros. (all details are available on their website, in English)
Nicolas de Barry is a man of many talents and, apart from being a perfumer, is also a Ph.D. in sociology and a writer. De Barry is well known, in particular, in his capacity as General Secretary of the prestigious François Coty Prize, a lifetime achievement award for perfumers. Francis Kurkdjian, for example, notwithstanding his relative youth, received that much sought after prize.
A number of perfumes can be ordered from the château. Their catalogue proposes George Sand, of course, for 65 Euros (a steal compared with the $145 US retail price). Other products include perfumes from the "Nicolas de Barry, Parfumeur" line. It includes ten eaux de parfums that appear to be based on a single dominant theme, such as jasmine, vetiver or immortelle (55 Euros). Last, but not least, there is an intriguing annual eau de cologne called La Surprise du Nez (The Surprise of the Nose). It is a cologne based on fresh, new annual harvests and imports of raw materials that differ each year (40 Euros).
Here's the program for the Frileuse perfume workshop. If you so wish to do, you can also ride on a hot air balloon by paying a supplement so that the fun be more complete!
Workshop program:
| Friday evening: | Arrival. Free dinner. | |
| Saturday: | 9h. Breakfast with the trainees and Nicolas de Barry 10-12h. Workshop: Introduction to fragrances; how is a perfume composed? 12h30. Lunch at the chateau 15-16h. Visit and olfactive wine tasting in a winery, or a visit to the "Festival International des Jardins" at Château de Chaumont. 17-18h. Workshop: Creation of bath salts, with essential oils. 20h. Dinner with scented dishes in the Château de Frileuse | |
| Sunday: | option: Champagne Balloon flight: Take off from your château at dawn, with a bilingual pilot, for about an hour's flight, over the surrounding countryside. Traditional "toast des aéronautes" & flight certificate at the landing. or: morning olfactive walk at your leisure, in the forest & grounds of the Château. 11h.Brunch 14-17h. Creativity workshop : each trainee creates his own Eau de Cologne with help of Nicolas de Barry to take home as a souvenir. 18h. departure. |
Previous Posts in Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses:
Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses: "Scent is Life" Exhibition
Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses: Salon Parfums & Arômes, May 18-21, 2006, Paris
Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses: The Ultra Peau Exhibition, Roger Hiorns, Barfumista
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Comments
Mimi,
Thank you for this wonderful article. It makes me want to go straight to the airport. Is the catalogue you describe available online or by mail?
Posted by: Cait | June 9, 2006
I'm glad you enjoyed the post!
Isn't it a dream-like destination for a perfumista?
Yes, you can find the products online. Click on the link at the end of the post, go to Perfumer Atelier,then down in the middle of that last page you will find a link that reads, The Products of the Perfume Atelier. You need to print out the order form and send it by snail mail with a check to Nicolas de Barry. Ah, the charm of old France!
Posted by: Mimi | June 9, 2006
Mimi, thank you so much for this information. I've spread the news among the natural perfumery perfumistas, and I envision a scented hot air balloon ride in the future ;-)
Posted by: Anya | June 19, 2006
You're welcome:)
I envision something similar myself:)
Posted by: Mimi | June 19, 2006