Fleurs de Sel (Flowers of Salt, from "fleur de sel", "the best part of the salt") by Miller Harris is the latest creation by Lyn Harris. It is part of the Nouvelle Edition collection of more "unique and exclusive fragrances" from the house. We are told that it was inspired by a village in Brittany called Batz-Sur-Mer where the perfumer owns a vacation home and has spent some of the happiest moments in her life.
The poetic title for the perfume, Fleurs de Sel, invited some daydreaming about wild flowers growing in an unruly fashion by the salt marshes of a little corner in Brittany. In reality, the scent surprises in two senses. First, it seems closer in spirit to two recent creations by Chanel, namely 31, Rue Cambon and No 18, than to a familiar haunt by the sea. And interestingly enough, Miller Harris specifies that “This fragrance was created and finalised in Batz sur Mer, Summer 2006”, in case we had any doubts about the originality of the composition and its use of the painting-in-the-field Impressionistic technique. Second, the scent is closer to a warm oriental than to a marine, airy scent, an effect that is actually advertised by the house itself as it describes it as "deeply sensual and earthy". The interpretation of a northerly remote sea-side village is therefore less than literal. Again, if one expected a realistic rendition of a bucolic spot in wind-battered Brittany, one will not find it. It seems rather that Fleurs de Sel is trendy and strongly derivative and inscribes itself in the neo-chypre movement, the one illustrated recently by Serge Lutens Chypre Rouge, but even more closely and recently by Jacques Polge for Chanel. A common source of supply might explain the similarities with the latter's works......
Continue reading "Fleurs de Sel by Miller Harris {Perfume Review & Musings} {New Perfume}" »
Digg This
Stumble
Facebook
Del.icio.us
