SNIFF AND SIP! The other night enemies became friends … as with the wonderful perfumer Tracey Smythe and a lovely group of guests, we explored how the same four fragrance ‘notes’ show up in wine and perfume.
‘Enemies??!! Well, so often scent gets in the way of experiencing wine. I’ve turned into a dragon, negotiating with hosts of tasting events about the positioning of scented candles – in their own homes! And don’t get me started on perfume/ aftershave wearers at trade wine tastings!
So this did feel like a rapprochement … and it was wonderful! I had no idea that a pure perfume oil like Cedar has secondary notes including smoke, tobacco. The pure oil Blackcurrant having secondary notes including sage.
And like wine, perfume oils develop and change over time. Revisiting both over the evening, with our nasal passages cleansed with coffee beans – a perfumers’ trick – was fascinating.
I also shared where the different notes in the wines primarily came from, for instance
🍇The grapes – as in a stunning Spanish sparkler showcasing the note Grapefruit. Thank you to Raventos, Blancs de Blancs 24:75.
🌳Ageing in oak – a wonderful Chateau Mouras, from Graves, Bordeaux showcasing the note Cedar, £23.90 My fave question was whether the flavour in the wood is influenced by where the trees are grown. And of course yes!
Such a wonderful evening, with fabulous support from the wonderful Laura Leaver.
And huge thanks from Tracey and me to our fellow Perfume and Wine Peacemakers 🙏🥂