AMERICAN PERFUMER®
Diane St. Clair
Extrait / Parfum
Lisbon - Limited Edition
Lisbon - Limited Edition
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Dave: "Lisbon" is the result of that rare moment in life when a person gets to experience special things with good friends. On the morning after the Art and Olfaction Awards, where we were finalists together for "Call Me," Diane and I took the opportunity to go for a walk to re-examine a scent that had stopped me in my tracks the day prior, that of the flowering Blue Jacaranda tree. The result: A narcotic floral that captures the vibrant essence of its namesake city. Crafted with the precision and artistry that define Diane’s work, this scent is a radiant blend of blooming florals and ancient wood, evoking sun-drenched gardens and coastal breezes. Lisbon stands as a testament to fine craftsmanship, olfactory storytelling, and making memories with friends.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Lisbon by Diane St. Clair (2024)
Diane: "2024 was an exciting year for St Clair Scents. Our first perfume created for American Perfumer, “Call Me” was a finalist for last year’s Art and Olfaction awards in the independent category. We headed off to Lisbon, where the awards were held, for the experimental scent festival as well as the awards ceremony.
We spent many days wandering around the beautiful city of Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital. The pastel colored buildings and the decorative ceramic tiles adorning many of its historic buildings leave a lasting impression. On our last morning, Dave and I walked the neighborhood of Principe Real. It’s an area of small art galleries and shops, with expansive views of the city. What really caught our eyes were the Blue Jacaranda trees that adorned this neighborhood’s streets and could be seen throughout Lisbon.
The Blue Jacaranda is a fast growing, tall tree, with an umbrella like canopy and is a native of South America. Its clusters of trumpet shaped blue-to-purple blossoms come out in the summer months, perfuming the city before falling to the ground, leaving behind carpets of vibrant color.
How do the blossoms smell? Many say that its fragrance is similar to grape soda, with a mild, faintly sweet, creamy aroma. Dave had the fabulous idea of us studying the tree’s aroma so we could make a perfume in remembrance of our time together in Lisbon. After wandering the parks and streets, sniffing and talking about the jacaranda’s scent, we decided that yes, it has a faintly grape, sweet, creamy aroma, but there was much more to it. It was also pleasantly indolic, honey-like, with cedar and vetiver aromas from the bark. We also picked up green, fresh notes and woody, fruity green aromas like juniper berries. I scribbled down our olfactory notes and impressions along the way.
Upon arriving back in Vermont, this perfume honoring Lisbon and its unforgettable Jacaranda tree, quickly took shape. After going back and forth from Vermont to Kentucky, Lisbon was sniffed, discussed and modified a few more times.
Now it is ready for release, and we look forward to sharing our memories and experience in Lisbon with all of you.
