Imaginative Scents: Caudalie Perfume Reviews + Win A Free Facial at The Plaza

Fleur de Vigne, Zeste de Vigne and Thé des Vignes perfumes by Caudalie.

Hello my darlings,

Good morning! I have to tell you about a new, gorgeous trio of perfumes from the beauty brand Caudalie. Fragrance adds music to everyday life. I also am happy to announce an exciting contest (please scroll down to read all the details).

Caudalie Fleur de Vigne

If you are searching for a lovely addition to your perfume collection, look no further. Caudalie Fleur de Vigne ($36) is ideal. The scent of delicate, romantic white rose mingles freely with refreshing grapefruit and hawthorn touch. This dewy floral fragrance seems sentimental, but not excessively so. 

Inspired by the grape blossom on a June day at dawn, perfumer Anne Flipo has created an evocative scent. If you are a perfume fanatic, you may be familiar with other scents Flipo has developed, such as L'Artisan Parfumeur Fleur de Narcisse and Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de l'Homme.


Caudalie Zeste de Vigne

Zeste de Vigne opens with a bold, citrus note. It's really such a treat and reminds me of eating fresh mandarin oranges on Sunday at the farmer's market. When I was younger and lived in San Rafael, a suburban town in Northern California, I often went  to the outdoor market next to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Civic Center and we would eat ripe fruits from the farmers set out on paper plates and trays. This perfume's complementary note of bergamot creates a relaxing atmosphere as well.

Certainly, if you like Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarin-Basilic, you will really enjoy Caudalie's Zeste de Vigne. I adore this cheerful and splashy perfume, and love starting my day off right with just a few dabs.

Caudalie Thé des Vignes

One of my favorite new perfumes is Thé des Vignes. Notes of white musk, neroli and ginger form an intimate trio. Inspired by the fields of Bordeaux, at times, it smells like the skin of wet grapes. This scent is both introspective and reflective. If you enjoy wearing, say, a vintage ivory silk shantung blazer or one of this season's top trends, a long flowing dress, the scent adapts easily to your style and mood.   Also, while I find this perfume to be feminine, perhaps an open-minded man could wear it too? I think it can dress up jeans and a t-shirt without too much fuss.

The Thé des Vignes scent was created by the master perfumer Jacques Cavallier, who is also the man behind Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey perfume. L'Eau d'Issey was a fragrance we kept around my house growing up, and always showcased a unique, modern sensibility. My mother rarely wore perfume, but I remember pulling L'Eau d'Issey out of the cabinet in the vanity area to enjoy on my own.

I like the way Caudalie has described this scent.  Mathilde Thomas, the co-founder of Caudalie, says, "Thé des Vignes is inspired by that secretive moment at dusk, the warm sunlight flares in the horizon while the scent of my family's vineyard deepen into musk and suspend into a caress of ginger and neroli." Thomas makes life in the countryside sound so perfect.


CONTEST: Please share your favorite time of day and how you like to spend it with Eyeshadow Government to participate in a special Caudalie contest. Mathilde Thomas will choose her favorite answer. The grand prize is either a facial at the exquisite Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the Plaza or, for out-of-town town residents, a gift basket valued at $150 filled with Caudalie beauty products. Just e-mail eyeshadowgovernment [at] gmail.com with your favorite time of day for a chance to win! Entries must be submitted by 7/23/2011.


BUY IT: Caudalie perfumes are sold at Sephora.com, Bluemercury and other specialty stores.