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Death of Mona di Orio, epicurean perfume designer with a sensitive, poetical style.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:02:23 +0000

Born in 1969 to parents with Spanish and Italian roots, French perfumer Mona di Orio died on December 9, 2011.

After studying literature and art, she became acquainted with Edmond Roudnitska. The perfumer, whom we have to thank for such major 20th-century fragrances as Eau Sauvage and Femme, by Rochas, agreed to be her mentor. Thus Mona di Orio became the student of the great master, who was then 82.

In 2004, she joined forces with the Dutch designer Jeroen Oude Sogtoen, with whom she founded Mona di Orio Parfums.

A true epicurean, she was fascinated with wine – particularly champagne, whence the inspiration for the bottles for her company’s fragrances. A wide range had been released since the brand was first launched. More recently, she had been focusing her work on the project that was closest to her heart: Les Nombres d’Or (“Golden Numbers”).

A woman of singular, noble beauty, Mona di Orio incarnated personal vision and ‘auteur’ perfumery, to the delight of everyone who appreciates rare fragrances. Mona di Orio divided her time between Nice, Paris and Amsterdam, where she was laid to rest.

Her accidental death, caused by post-operative complications, means that Mona di Orio will join the pantheon of perfumers who died too young, alongside Laurent Bruyère, Béatrice Piquet and others.

Mona di Orio was only 42.

Which Mona di Orio perfume will you remember her by? Which one touched you most deeply?

Death of Evelyn Lauder, a great lady of beauty

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:25:20 +0000

A major figure in the world of perfume and cosmetics, Evelyn Lauder passed away this week at the age of 75. Very active in the fight against breast cancer, she died from complications of ovarian cancer on November 12, in the United States.

Born in Vienna in 1936, she fled the Nazis, emigrating with her family to the USA. She had been married to Leonard Lauder, the son of designer Estée Lauder, since 1959.

Voices from throughout the world of fashion and fragrance were raised in tribute, including designers Donna Karan and Michael Kors, and super models like Elizabeth Hurley. The two women often appeared together at fundraisers for the fight against breast cancer. Evelyn Lauder was one of the originators of the pink ribbon that has become the symbol of breast-cancer awareness month, in October.

The Clinique brand – an excellent, creative intuition… was also her idea; she came up with it in 1968. An avid photographer, she wrote several books, which were illustrated with her own photos.

Death of fashion designer Alexander McQueen

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:49:03 +0000

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was discovered dead on Thursday, February the 11th at his home.
According to the Daily Mail website, Alexander McQueen committed suicide.
Talented designer, McQueen worked in the 90’s at Givenchy, before launching his own brand.
Two fragrances were launched under this brand: Kingdom, a rich spicy fragrance in a red sharp bottle, and more recently, My Queen, a soft floral woody fragrance in a purple faceted bottle. Alexander McQueen was only 40-year-old.

Fashion Designer Yves Saint Laurent Dies

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:48:57 +0000

Fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent died on Sunday, June 1st at the age of 71. Born in Algeria in 1936, Yves Saint Laurent is considered, along with Gabrielle Chanel and Christian Dior, as one of the masters of 20th-century couture, He was a boy wonder whose career started early. Hired as an assistant to Christian Dior at 19, Dior’s death in 1957 propelled Yves Saint Laurent, 21, to become artistic director for the House of Dior. Encouraged by his success there, in the early 60s he went on to found his own couture house in partnership with Pierre Bergé, his mentor and then partner. In addition to revolutionizing fashion (thanks, among other things, to his tuxedo jacket for women) Saint Laurent also launched a great many fragrances. His first perfume, a chypre scent called Y, released in 1964, was followed in 1971 by a fragrance for men, ‘Pour Homme,’ for which the couturier posed nude. The idea was reprised for the fragrance M7, 31 years later. Among his biggest olfactory hits: Opium (1977, spicy oriental) and Paris (1983, a floral-rose bouquet) are both bestsellers in perfumery. Yves Saint Laurent bid his adieux to fashion in 2002. Designer Tom Ford took over as artistic director in 2004; that position is now held by Stefano Pilati. The House of Saint Laurent’s most recent fragrances include: Cinéma, L’Homme and elle.