All That Is Precious Returns Pitti Fragranze Firenze 2021
Pitti Fragranze, Stazioni Leopolda, Firenze September 2021 - Danu Seith-Fyr
How time flies when you are having fun, no so in the midst of a pandemic!!! It seemed a very long time waiting to see if we could venture across the border and find ourselves once more in Florence, amidst perfume friends and colleagues once again. These times of limitation accentuate the moments when we can reunite and Pitti Fragranze this year was nothing less than a feast, not only for the senses but for the heart and for our very human need to connect.
For me, not only was it the pure excitement of actually travelling through Mont Blanc to find myself on Italian soil once more, but also to be able to reconnect with all those people dear to me in the perfume world. it began even before the arrival in Florence with reunions in Vallee d’Aosta, Siena, Monteriggioni, Florence outside of Pitti, private and personal meetings, more intimate for the time elapsed.
Pitti Fragranze September 2021 - Danu Seith-Fyr
At every turn, familiar faces at the stands, smiles and embraces as all of us had been meticoulously monitored upon entry with sanitary pass mandatory. I recall vividly the mounting excitement waiting just outside the Stazione Leopolda just before the opening a slight air of ‘Am I dreaming, or am I really back again in my beautiful Florence amid all her histories and able to attend Pitti Fragranze once again, meeting with dear friends close to my heart’. It heightened all our experiences after the lapse of 2 years and bought into focus how precious indeed are all those we know and meet within this world. Smiles behind the masks showing in the eyes and a warmth of human recognition as I am greeted as an old friend. There was an air of childlike anticipation and that sweet intensity that preceded days that had been longed for, an effervescent excitement that rose in my body akin to the refined streams in a glass of champagne.
A small glimpse - Elena Cvjetkovic -The Plum Girl , Daniela Caon - Laboratorio Olfattivo and Kaon, Pissara Umavijani - Dusita Paris, Andrea Bissoli - Rubini, Astrophil and Stella. all Photos Danu Seith-Fyr - Pitti Fragranze.
Givovanna Adelizzi - Luce Di Sorrento, Kristian Hilberg - Malbrum, Simone Andreoli, Olivier Durbano - Olivier Durbano Parfums, Omer Pekji and Busra- Pekji Parfums, Natalia Outeda - Frassai All Photos Danu Seith-Fyr
Event by Label Perfumes Tenerife on layering accompanied by the incredible voice of ArmenianTenor David Hovhannisyan, Francesca Bianchi- Hedonik, Enrico Maraffino - Angela Ciampagna and Label, Palmiro Peaquin- Uermi.
I turn now to all those perfumes and brands that made me stand up and take notice, by no means an exhaustive list and in no particular order. These are the ones that touched me, sometimes in deeply personal and intimate ways, taking my attention, my eyes and my nose on quite the adventure.
Olivier Durbano - Quartz Quantic 17:8, not a Pitti goes by where one of my first stops will be with dear friend Olivier Durbano. This year he released his 17th perfume of his collection and it is a deeply spiritual creation, brightly effervescent and profoundly moving, it aligns me to a vessel of Hope, its stone the rutile quartz, even riven through with threads of gold, leading us to better days. It is the scent of the triumphant tiny fragment in the shrouded corner of Pandoras chest.
Quartz Quantic 17:8 - Olivier Durbano, DsF 21
Nuvolari - Andrea Bissoli Rubini- Nuvolari by Rubini and Cristain Canali with evaluation by Ermano Picco is the 3rd perfume in the collection of Rubini and it took me by complete surprise, yes, it gives you everything it promises based on the personage famous in the home village of Andrea and across the world, Nuvolari, yet there is so much more here written within its pleats of components. Here resides the scent of the sound of the racing cars, the sensations of heightened instincts, full of tension, tension of man and machine, tautness of sinews and metal. This is the scent of performance, adrenalin and courage and the perfume of eyes that can conquer fear.
Nuvolari - Rubini, Dsf 21
Frassai - Natalia Outeda, finally to be able to meet with Natalia was a treat, always so friendly and approachable online this was amplified meeting in person, she is a warm and passionate woman whose perfumes reflect that entirely. I knew already the collection of Frassai having purchased their sample sets prior. Teisenddu and Blondine are still high on the list for purchase before the New Year. We were treated to a preview of her upcoming release, Victoria, based on the personage and life of Victoria Ocampo, at first encounter something to look forward to.
Frassai stand at Pitti Fragranze 2021, DsF 21
Astrophil and Stella was a brand I had heard a lot about and because of the Covid situation as with many others, this was their first chance to exhibit at Pitti. It was a fabulous discovery, their list of Perfumers says it all but there are seriously within their collection several perfumes that caught my attention. In particular it was the creations of Luca Maffei that were outstanding for me, all require further time and writing. Most surprising was ‘The Iris Way’, it is common knowledge among my perfume friends that I find Iris difficult, here not so it’s positively like silk on my skin, so very beautiful. Amberlievable and a Night at the Opera complete the trinity of M. Maffei. Certainly I have more to discover here.
Astrophil and Stella - Pitti Fragranze 2021, DsF 21
Malbrum - Kristian Hilberg, perfumer Delphine Theirry. ‘ By the pricking of my thumbs, a thing of sorcery this way comes’…… How else could I describe the collection of Malbrum and the charismatic Kristian. We spoke at length, unspoken and with voice for there is something afoot in his creative prowess, manifest in these perfumes. I shall be writing in depth as I am transfixed and perhaps more than a little enchanted by them all. To choose just one is totally impossible right now, I just know they demand much, much more of my time and whatever other sacrifice maybe required, it is willingly given. Each has a spell that incants within you and there is a profundity in their marriage of components that hints at an unseen element at work. Simply astounding and my breath was taken away. Here is a quiet, formidable Norse genius at work underpinned with a mythological force.
Malbrum - Pitti Fragranze 2021, DsF 21
Milano Fragranze - another string to the bow of Masque Milano, Alessandro Brun and Riccardo Tedeschi with evaluation from my friend and perfume expert, Ermano Picco. I had previously purchased their samples and already I have fallen for several, Brera is a heavenly rose with saffron and patchouli which delights in the seduction of my skin every time. Galleria is an epitome of Italian style and elegance, transporting me always to that beautiul location and initiating the desire for Italian soil and cafe correcto. Basilica is an incense lovers paradise, it captures completely all the minute details of scent that comprise the aroma of ancient places of devotion. At Pitti it was great to meet with Alessandro Brun to discuss briefly this new direction.
Alessandro Brun - Milano Fragranze Pitti Fragranze 2021, DsF21
Dusita Paris - Anamcara by Pissara Umavijani. I was so delighted to see Pissara in person at Pitti and to see the response for Anamcara, the latest release from Dusita. Perhaps I am a little biased as I was one of the three people to choose the name for this creation. It was an honour and to take part in its creation along with all the members of the Facebook group, Eau My Soul administered by Christie Long. this was truly a gift of friendship and Anamcara is bright and lively, a shining light after all that has occured in the last few years. It is a very human perfume, of warmth and comfort, sheltering and with the fortitude of true friendship. I am very happy to have been a part of its creation.
Anamcara- Dusita Paris at Pitti Fragranze 2021, DsF21
Maison Tahite - Cacao Collection, Kaon Lab, I am completely addicted to Chocolate, so much so that its important to ration myself to one square a day of the darkest chocolate I can find. At Pitti it was clear that one of my early visits would be to see Daniela Caon and Roberto Drago simply to catch up with our friendship but also to sample this new collection devoted to Cacao. I had already been swayed by their take on Vanilla and honestly loved them all. So of course, its chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. How terrible to try to decide, at this moment I am enticed by them all but more than tempted by Cacao2 for its intensity and Libertine for its delicious temptation. Further degustation is required along with 99 % chocolate and a single malt!!
Maison Tahite - Cacao Collection at Pitti Fragranze 2021 DsF21
Divine Perversion - Hedonik -Francesca Bianchi, takes us on a new voyage aaccompanied by jewel studded leather adornments and a new creation, Divine Perversion. Here is a leather not for the faint hearted, a vintage style perfume that takes us into hidden corners of the wardrobe where other aspects of our personality wait quietly for the right moment. Once attired, with both perfume and leather jewels, who do we become, what perhaps hidden aspect arrives to steal the show? Divine Perversion is an invitation to explore and revel in a freedom of expression. It frolics then the next moment teeters on the edges of the precipice
…………. of Liberation. Do you dare to fly, divine Perversion is audacious, daring and curiously inviting.
Divine Perversion - Hedonik at Pitti Fragranze 2021 DsF21
Blacklight - Pekji - Omer Pekji, I have long admired Omer’s work and the recently released Reset collection is no exception. It was a pleasure to meet with Omer and his wife Busra to talk about this collection which traverses edges and is confronting and eye opening at the same time. Blacklight calls to me from beyond the obsidian glass, its the reflection of ourselves in the black mirror, no distortions but sharp and images of clarity, showing us in all our immensity. It is a perfume of eyes wide open, startling and alluring.
Omer Ipeckci, Busra - Pekji at Pitti Fragranze 2021 DsF21
Ud Ikat - Uermi - Pierre Gueros, it was a double pleasure to see Aurora Carrara and Palmiro Peaquin again at Pitti Fragranze after spending some personal time together just before Florence in Vallee d’Aosta. They were lauching their insanely beautiful Ud Ikat and also two new scarves with their signature designs by Italian designer Arnaldo Tranti, made in Italy. I wrote extensively on Ud Ikat prior to Pitti, you can access my article below
Beautiful Uermi scarves and Ud Ikat at Pitti Fragranze 2021 DsF21
Other brands of interest and note which require my attention are Luci di Sorrento with Giovanna Adelizzi and Gian Luca, amazing skincare and soon to be released perfumes for personal and home use. Simone Andreoli and its comprehensive collection and new releases from Comporta Perfumes from Portugal.
It was a pleasure to connect or reconnect with you all and I include here, Antonio Alessandria, Sarah Colton, Ermano Picco, Maurizio di Marchi, Angela Ciampagna and Enrico Maraffino, David Hoyhannisyan.
All samples provided by the brands at Pitti Fragranze 2021 unless otherwise stated as purchased. Thank you to all who made Pitti possible and to all the Perfumers and Perfume houses for making beauty to shine through everything.