I never quite saw the point of solid perfumes.
I enjoy the sensation of spraying perfume, even dabbing doesn’t really do it for me. I like to drench myself in a fragrant mist of perfume since it feels so luxurious and decadent to me.
That sensations falls by the wayside when using a solid of course, what’s more I was never wild for that waxy or sticky feel of most solids I have previously encountered, and I was afraid of leaving greasy stains at the wrists and neck of my clothes. Not a beautiful idea.
But I learned many lessons already in the world of perfume and that Mandy Aftels products are in a league of their own is undoubtedly one of them. I had the good fortune to test three of her solid scents, Wildflowers, Orchid and Boronia.
Only judging from the name at first, I was attracted most to Wildflowers, so that is the one I started with.
As a solid perfume virgin I was unsure of how much to apply, it turns out a little goes a long way with Aftelier Solids. And after that first application I was immediately converted to solids – at least to these solids.
The texture is soft, incredibly smooth and feels like a caress on skin. There is no stickiness or waxy feel whatsoever, I get the feeling of caring for my skin while scenting it. What a pleasant sensation!
Aftelier Solids are made of organic beeswax and jojoba oil. As someone who has very dry and sensitive skin that often reacts with redness and itching to the onslaught of alcohol from perfumes, Aftelier’s solids seem like a much-needed respite.
Sillage is minimal of course, but that can be a good thing in many situations when you want to keep your fragrance to yourself. I watched my wrist go to my nose many, many times when wearing Wildflowers, it is quite addictive.
So what about the scent, what does it smell like?
Wildflowers is a calming, true to nature rendition of a summer’s day spent lying in a meadow, watching the clouds go by. Hay, dry grass, the eponymous wildflowers, this fragrance is uncomplicated and simple in the best sense of the word. It delivers the lightness of being on a carefree summer day, unencumbered by life’s harsher facets, I am free to enjoy the view over rolling hills and softly sloping meadows losing themselves in the hazy blue sky in the distance.
Aftelier solid perfumes are available in beautiful silver tins that the perfumer obtains in Mexico, to be kept in a silk pouch. There is also the option of having your solid perfume of choice filled (and re-filled) into a one-of-a-kind antique silver tin, an old watch case, for example, or a powder compact. I would love to own Wildflowers in such a unique vessel.
Perfect for traveling, solid perfumes are a wonderful fragrant option that I am happy to use from now on (saving up already for a full size) whenever my skin needs a respite from alcohol-based perfume or when I crave to escape to my lovely summer meadow courtesy of Mandy Aftel.
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Ah! This one! It’s liquid summer!
Or rather solid summer 😉
Sounds very interesting! I love the feel of solid perfumes. I once had the most wonderful solid perfume of Joy.
This is the smoothest I have yet seen, you should give it a try, I am sure you would love the feel of it.
I get rashes from perfume sometimes and either use attars or Roxanna’s solids which I love.
It never occured to me until now that there is a way to avoid alcohol when necessary without having to forgo my “perfume fix”. Thank God (and Mandy) for Solids! 😉
I’m sure you’re right B, I don’t doubt that Mandy’s solid perfumes are in a league of their own. Using solids when travelling is a really good idea, especially when flying. Wildflowers sounds lovely but I’m really interested in Boronia. I could never afford the essential oil and was always very curious about it. Looking forward to your thoughts on this and Orchid.
Solids are the ideal flying solution – you are so right, Tara, I never thought of that! I will fly to London in April, smugly carrying my solid perfume! 😉
I am wearing Boronia right now, hmmm…:)
Well if it turns out you have any free time in London to meet up do let me know 🙂
That would be lovely! We could meet at one of the local perfumista’s grazing grounds, like Harrod’s or Liberty’s, or at Les Senteurs! I’ll get in touch closer to the date. 🙂
Great!
Wildflowers is to Mandy Aftel as Champagne de Bois is to Laurie Erickson…. as in, it was CdB that brought me to SSS, and Wildflowers is the one I’m after from Aftelier! I still have not ordered any samples yet (February is almost over, and I’m doing SO good!) but Wildflowers is at the tippity-top of my list 🙂
You make it sound so divine B., thank you for *another* lovely review!
xoxo
Thank you, Dee! I am absolutely sure you will love Wildflowers, it reminds me of L’Heure Fougueuse. A good hay note always gets me! 😉
Say no more… it’s been added to my “cart” and I will check out when I get home this evening! Also in my cart: Cepes & Tuberose (I hate tuberose, but won’t give up!), Fig, Maroc, and Tango. I’ll tell you all about it when they arrive!
🙂
Cepes&Tuberose – ah, I am tempted too. Could it be a slight masochistic streak in both of us? 😉
Thank you so much Birgit for your beautiful writing about my Wildflowers.
I am so pleased that I have turned you on to the joys of solid perfume. I like the fact that there is almost no sillage, and the experience is so intimate. It is a different kind of sensuality.
Thank you, Mandy for creating Wildflowers and so many other great perfumes. I am so glad to wear your creations, their depth and level of complexity are testament that they are truly the work of a modern alchemist. 🙂
I experienced solid perfumes only once : when getting a testbook of Serge Lutens – where all his well known liquids are in solid form.
However, I found they give a different experience (and scent), than the same perfume as liquid.
Judging from Mandy’s liquid ones I think she’s the one to turn me to the solids : I long for that gentle feeling of beeswax and jojoba oil…
The SL wax samples are not great, but they are only meant as teasers I think. 😉 No comparison to Aftelier’s in any case. I am smitten…
The hay note in this is very intriguing to me, I find hay so irresistible in perfumes! I believe that Mandy has really set the bar with natural perfumery and has given it an approachable sophistication that I’d previously not experienced. Tango is still near the top of my list of favorite perfumes EVER. I mean to try some of the solids, I’ve been reading so much positive feedback about them being superior to other solids.
I couldn’t agree more with what you say about Mandy.
I still have Tango in my sample stash, waiting for the right moment. I look forward to it, especially after your intriguing review. 🙂
This sounds beautiful. How badly I wish it would get warm enough to lounge around outside!
Aftelier solids are superb. I have never used any other solid with such a wonderful feel. I would compare it more to an oil. It’s like you can “dab” them they are so smooth. No waxiness! Since this is your first solid perfume experience, you are going to be spoiled!
This winter is so cold, I wish I had a bathtub full of Wildflowers perfume to immerse myself and only come back out when it is spring! 😉
Completely agree with you about Wildflowers. I love portability in perfumes anyway, and this one is truly a transporting slice of growth and freshness and regeneration in portable form.
You say it perfectly, Lucy, summer in a pretty silver tin! 🙂
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