BARNEYS NEW YORK, MADISON AVENUE/61ST.
OCTOBER 1st, 2009
“THE HARMONY BETWEEN NATURAL AND RARE ELEMENTS CREATES AN ORIGINAL, SENSUAL AND CHARMING FRAGRANCE, FOR AN ESSENTIAL AND TIMELESS MAN.” ENNIO CAPASA,
CREATIVE DIRECTOR –
CoSTUME NATIONAL
Words Judith Ecochard
Images Courtesy of CoSTUME NATIONAL
Autumnal weather---the crispness of the air, the beauty of foliage turning into colorful blazes against the blue skies---- gets us in the mood for more than just an upgraded Fall wardrobe.
We like to try new beauty products too…and at the top of our list is always a new scent.
So we were eager to check out the yet to be launched (in mid October---here in the USA) …of the high end Italian label CoSTUME NATIONAL …who’s Creative Director Ennio Capasa is the embodiment of the “HOMME” Eau De Parfum:
“…. a great synergy between fragrance and desire, a timeless product…that is modern, classical/edgy, not aggressive but enticing, embracing.”
A clean spacious event space on the 8th floor seemed the appropriate setting for a Parfum briefing.
Seated at a big table, we were lucky to have both the Perfumer Dominique Ropion and the USA Distributor, Jim Delalla as MCs, giving us the 411 on the all things we needed to know.
Well right off, after one glorious whiff of Homme ---we could tell why these two were so excited.
The aroma was intoxicating in the way that got us as excited as when we first smelled Narciso Rodriguez’s parfums (men and women)…and that was a while ago. WOW.
HOMME: A slight grapefruit top note greeted us at first, followed by rich spicy hints of cardamom, bergamot, cinnamon, thyme and cloves.
Next, the exotic odeurs of Patchouli (in particular), Sandalwood and Labdanum “gave depth” to the complex elegant scent.
Lightbub moment---don't even bother with cheaper colognes.
We asked the two gentlemen how long and how many formulas it took to conjure up such a wonder olfactory experience.
The answers:
It took approximately a year to give birth to HOMME’s final version…though Capasa’s “idea for the oomph in fragrance-for the parfumier to translate it…is tied to his lifetime experiences and designs in his brain forever.”
And- interesting for us…there were 21 formulations before “the one” evolved.
PLUS: “Lucky 21 is an important number for the designer,” Ropion added. (And the name of another C.N. Parfum).
We were wondering whether this was a cold weather scent…. with Delalla assuring us that he was happily wearing the prototype all during the summer.
Another absolute certainty…the men’s market for fragrances may have reached 20% of the overall scent market…but will score a few percentage points more…as CoSTUME NATIONAL Homme will definitely appeal to women.
ADDED PLUS: The stunning glass bottle, originally imagined out of concrete by Capasa. ( we were told he’s also a sculptor!!!!!)---is topped off by a trademarked cap that is the same shape as the silver actuator.
The slight concave transparent bottle housed in a grey box--- is very sensual in feel, and dual in nature…both masculine and soft.
A “subtle tension”---like La Fragranza itself.
AVAILABLE: Eau de Parfum in 50ml and 100ml worldwide (Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Printemps, etc) and Barneys.
INFO: CoSTUME NATIONAL