Random 10 | The Scented Hound

July 5, 2021
by The Scented Hound 7 Comments

The Random 10: Shalini Parfum’s Shalini

Shalini portrait July 2021 You can’t fake passion. Passion is something that comes from deep inside you and surrounds you and those you touch. Shalini Kumar, better known as “Shalini,” is passion personified. From her early days in Bombay, to her childhood spent in exotic locations like Seville, Dubai and Provence, her passion for fragrance developed through the scented memories of these extraordinary settings. But while her passion to create perfume was yet to be imagined, Shalini was working on her passion for fashion; first creating for Valentino Couture and then creating her own haute couture line of clothing and jewelry aptly named Shalini Couture.

It was through happenstance that Shalini’s passion for perfume came to fruition. In 2001, a friend’s introduction to Master Perfumer Maurice Roucel was serendipity. The two had an immediate connection. It was at their first meeting that they had a discussion about Shalini’s favorite flower, tuberose. She said that she wanted a perfume that reminded her of her childhood memories of moonlit nights filled with rapturous tuberose and intoxicating orange blossom. That meeting led to their collaboration in creating the very first Shalini perfume, simply titled “Shalini.”

Shalini Parfum Lalique Flacon

Since Shalini Parfum debuted in 2004, Shalini and Maurice’s collaboration has been a continued passion project. In total, they have created 6 perfumes, the latest being Vanilla Rêve which takes the wearer to the tropical islands of the South Seas. Each of Shalini’s perfumes seems to take the wearer on an olfactory journey to an exotic location that stems from those wonderful memories captured from Shalini’s childhood.

All Shalini perfumes are pure parfum in concentration, as such, they’re an extension of her haute couture fashion collection using only the finest of ingredients and are created using the principals of classical French perfumery. Thankfully for us, Shalini’s passion has graced the world with an exquisite collection of the finest perfumes. I can only wonder where Shalini and Maurice will take us next.

So, let’s find out what else Shalini is passionate about:

I am a hoarder when it comes to… owning multiple bottles of …Bordeaux!
If I could have one superpower, it would be… gardening – my personal olive grove and a vineyard.
In 10 years, I see myself …living by the sea painting and writing, growing olives trees and lavender.
I am most grateful for… all the people whom I love.
The most beautiful sight in the world is… a Provençal scene, any town, any street, any garden…
If I had my way, I wish that perfumers/brands would…use more naturals.
A guilty pleasure of mine is …reading by the Mediterranean with a glass of cold rosé under the heat of the Riviera sun.
My favorite way to relax is… writing in a café in the morning with a steaming cappuccino.
My favorite holiday is …by the sea, any sea.
My taste in music leans towards…classical – Chopin, Debussy, Satie nocturnes…

Thanks to Shalini for sharing her passion with The Scented Hound. You can go to the Shalini Parfum website for more information about these extraordinary perfumes:

shaliniparfum.com

The Scented Hound Shalini Parfum reviews:

November 21, 2016
by The Scented Hound 4 Comments

The Random 10: Arquiste’s Carlos Huber

Since launching Arquiste in 2012, Carlos Huber has made himself a formidable presence in the ever-growing list of niche perfume brands. His perfumes, created in conjunction with perfumers Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Yann Vasnier are interesting and unique while still being easy to wear and universal in nature.

Huber, originally from Mexico City, moved to New York City in 2006 to study historic preservation at Columbia University. While in NY, he met perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux with whom he studied and learned about perfumes and the industry which led to the development and launch of the Arquiste brand. Combining the love for perfume with a love of history has paid off with the brand as Carlos uses historical inspiration for the creation of his fragrances. Some of his perfumes are aged in time, but his latest two releases, ÉL and ELLA are woven around more of a personal history as they were inspired by the stories that his parents told him of the sun and fun of Acapulco in the 1970s. Once again, Mr. Huber manages to capture history in a bottle with a pair of perfumes that take you back in time through a beautiful sensorial journey.

So what makes Carlos tick? Maybe the Random 10 will reveal a little more about that…

My most prized possession in the world is…two first editions architecture treaties by Jacques Francois Blondel, from 1737-38. (“De la distribution des maisons de plaisance et de la décoration des édifices en général”)
The way I prefer to apply my fragrance is to…do six spritzes, two for the back of the neck (each side) two in the front, and two for each forearm.
The most influential person in my life is / was…probably my parents.
I always cry when…I listen to Cat Power’s ‘The Greatest’ or Natalia LaFourcade’s ‘No mas llorar’
My thoughts regarding natural vs. synthetics are …quality is the benchmark: bad naturals are as bad as bad synthetics. Good synthetics can be really good too, but nothing is as noble and alive as an exceptional natural.
I start my day off every morning by …going to the gym.
The most joyous event in my life thus far…probably winning the Fashion Group International Rising Star Awards for Beauty Entrepreneur in 2013. But to be honest, I get pretty excited about pretty basic things on a regular basic. When i’m with my group of friends having fun, it’s as if it’s the best day/night ever! I’m also very close to my siblings, so seeing them happy is really special for me.
The fragrance that I most dislike is…Paco Rabanne 1 Million. I just cannot.
When I’m looking for quiet time, I …watch period movies on Netflix at home.
My fragrance preferences over time have…become more diverse, but I still like my old-school classics.

Thanks for Carlos for revealing a little more about himself with The Random 10. If you want to hear what music makes Carlos cry, you can by clicking here: Cat Power “The Greatest” and Natalia LaFourcade “No Mas Llorar”

And check out the latest releases from Arquiste, ÉL and ELLA at Arielle Shoshana and other fine retailers. For more information about the Arquiste line of perfumes, check out the Arquiste website at: arquiste.com

November 10, 2016
by The Scented Hound 10 Comments

The Random 10: Ari Weinberg of Arielle Shoshana

pic: Arlington Magazine

Running your own retail business requires long hours and hard work, not to mention a real dedication to providing the utmost in customer service. Many businesses struggle after opening, but I’m happy to say that the Washington DC’s one and only shop dedicated to niche perfumes is thriving and continuing to grow. In fact, Ari Weinberg and her store just celebrated their first anniversary! Of course, carrying lines like Neela Vermeire, Arquiste, Maison Francis Kurkdjian and many others is good enough reason enough for visiting the store, but it’s the personalized knowledge and service provided by Ari that keeps you coming back. In addition to celebrating this momentous one year celebration, it was revealed that there are some big things planned for the future which are truly exciting. I’ll keep any knowledge close at hand…but trust me, Ari’s “passion” for perfume will be front and center.

So what makes this proprietor such a force to be reckoned with in the perfumer world? Maybe her responses to the Random 10 will reveal a little about that inner spark!

The one skill I wish I could master is …better handwriting. Making chalkboard signs for the shop has made me acutely aware of just how awful my handwriting is.
If I could meet any living or deceased famous person in the world it would be…Mel Brooks. I deeply admire his gift for turning pain into comedy.
The fragrance that I can’t ever imagine living without is…L’Artisan Parfumeur Safran Troublant. And I never have to, because I’m hoarding nine bottles like a crazy person.
In 50 years the world…will have perfected cryogenic freezing. Friendly warning: I fully intend to freeze each and every loved one.
My idea of fun is…playing video games with my brother.
In 10 years, I see myself …frantically begging a cutting-edge researcher to cryogenically freeze my cat.
My best friend would say the following about me…“I had no idea a human being could eat that many Nerds.”
My fragrance preferences over time have…are even more deeply entrenched. A good 75% of my collection fall under the category Michael Edwards calls “soft orientals”.
The first job I ever held was…Subway, at age 17. You went home smelling like meat. The smells of my current job are quite an improvement!
You can never own enough…books.

Ari’s sense of fun is infectious and is another reason that Arielle Shoshana is shining bright. Happy Anniversary to Arielle Shoshana and thanks to Ari for participating in The Scented Hound’s Random 10.

And you don’t have to live within the Washington DC area to purchase some great perfumes from Arielle Shoshana, there’s also a fantastic website to make all your perfumed dreams come true. Check it out!