Michelangela
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Michelangela
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Crown Perfumery's "Ode to the Stephanotis"
The Stephanotis (Stephanotis floribunda) is a flowering vine plant that exudes a sweet and enchanting fragrance. Those who might have it as a houseplant by the window know what I’m talking about.
With a fragrance that bears its name, we naturally expect it to spread on our skin and give us a sillage reminiscent of a captivating sea of vanilla blossoms.
Crown Stephanotis carries the name of this fragrant climbing plant, but it is initially somewhat of an acquired taste.
~
The opening is indeed a bit startling, as the top note presents itself as green, but with an almost rotten undertone. For a moment, it reminds me of stale water from cut flowers. Not really decayed, but also not quite fresh. A floral veil hides behind it, but is pushed aside by the green intensity. Fortunately, this note only lasts a few minutes, as the flowers of the Stephanotis fight their way to the forefront and flirt with the help of gardenias and jasmine (my personal perception / as there is no pyramid for confirmation) in a competition. Now the Stephanotis finally gets its grand appearance. A honey-sweet floral intoxication unfolds on the skin.
However, the bouquet does not tend to bright radiance, as is often the case with floral fragrances, but drifts into creaminess and develops into a delicate, powdery veil that envelops the wearer with a hint of blossoms and vanilla. The dry down proceeds without a notable change in the fragrance trajectory and remains wonderfully smooth until the end.
~
Conclusion:
Crown Stephanotis is a fragrance whose beauty lies in simplicity and which convinces through quality. For a fragrance created in 1921, it smells very modern....
Sexy and opulent, however, Stephanotis is not.
Why should it be?
Is it therefore dull?
I perceive it as an adult, flattering floral scent that lies on the skin like a wonderfully soft veil after an initially acquired top note.
~
Informative:
The Crown fragrances are no longer produced, which is why this fragrance is no longer available for sale. This has nothing to do with its quality, but simply due to the acquisition of Crown Perfumery and the subsequent restructuring. Here are some collected background information:
Crown Perfumery was founded in 1872 in London by William Sparks (Funken) Thompson, an American industrialist from Connecticut. Previously, Thompson manufactured the first machine-made corsets. He achieved great success on both sides of the Atlantic. Queen Victoria of England was one of his customers.
Due to the constant constriction of corsets, women often fainted even with the slightest exertion.
William Thompson, a chemist, therefore developed a lavender-based smelling salt to assist in their revival. The smelling salt was the milestone for the founding of Crown Perfumery. He also launched a collection of floral fragrances called Flower Fairies. Queen Victoria allowed William Sparks to use the image of her crown as a closure for the bottles. By the end of the century, Crown Perfumery exported about 50 different perfumes worldwide.
Mrs. Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, was the inspiration for his creation "Crown Bouquet," and many other crowned heads had their very own fragrance made at "Crown Perfumery." After Thompson's death, the company was sold and ultimately closed in 1939.
In 1993, Crown Perfumery was reopened to reproduce and sell its most successful fragrances. This included Crown Stephanotis. Clive Christian became the new head of the boutique in 2000 and initially took over eight of the popular fragrances. When Clive Christian created his own fragrance collection in 2001, which was launched in 2002, all Crown fragrances were finally removed from the assortment, and production ceased.
~
Addendum:
Upon closer examination, I must state that Clive Christian completely adopted the design of the original Crown bottle and its cap, only the colors were changed. Wrapper sophisticated and content refurbished? Hmmm, I quietly wonder: ".... and what have we taken from the formulas before you kicked the Crowns and replaced them with your overpriced collection, dear Clive????" :-)
Addendum: From a reliable source, I have now learned that "Anglia Perfumery" is reproducing Crown fragrances. My thanks for this info go to TooSmell27!
With a fragrance that bears its name, we naturally expect it to spread on our skin and give us a sillage reminiscent of a captivating sea of vanilla blossoms.
Crown Stephanotis carries the name of this fragrant climbing plant, but it is initially somewhat of an acquired taste.
~
The opening is indeed a bit startling, as the top note presents itself as green, but with an almost rotten undertone. For a moment, it reminds me of stale water from cut flowers. Not really decayed, but also not quite fresh. A floral veil hides behind it, but is pushed aside by the green intensity. Fortunately, this note only lasts a few minutes, as the flowers of the Stephanotis fight their way to the forefront and flirt with the help of gardenias and jasmine (my personal perception / as there is no pyramid for confirmation) in a competition. Now the Stephanotis finally gets its grand appearance. A honey-sweet floral intoxication unfolds on the skin.
However, the bouquet does not tend to bright radiance, as is often the case with floral fragrances, but drifts into creaminess and develops into a delicate, powdery veil that envelops the wearer with a hint of blossoms and vanilla. The dry down proceeds without a notable change in the fragrance trajectory and remains wonderfully smooth until the end.
~
Conclusion:
Crown Stephanotis is a fragrance whose beauty lies in simplicity and which convinces through quality. For a fragrance created in 1921, it smells very modern....
Sexy and opulent, however, Stephanotis is not.
Why should it be?
Is it therefore dull?
I perceive it as an adult, flattering floral scent that lies on the skin like a wonderfully soft veil after an initially acquired top note.
~
Informative:
The Crown fragrances are no longer produced, which is why this fragrance is no longer available for sale. This has nothing to do with its quality, but simply due to the acquisition of Crown Perfumery and the subsequent restructuring. Here are some collected background information:
Crown Perfumery was founded in 1872 in London by William Sparks (Funken) Thompson, an American industrialist from Connecticut. Previously, Thompson manufactured the first machine-made corsets. He achieved great success on both sides of the Atlantic. Queen Victoria of England was one of his customers.
Due to the constant constriction of corsets, women often fainted even with the slightest exertion.
William Thompson, a chemist, therefore developed a lavender-based smelling salt to assist in their revival. The smelling salt was the milestone for the founding of Crown Perfumery. He also launched a collection of floral fragrances called Flower Fairies. Queen Victoria allowed William Sparks to use the image of her crown as a closure for the bottles. By the end of the century, Crown Perfumery exported about 50 different perfumes worldwide.
Mrs. Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, was the inspiration for his creation "Crown Bouquet," and many other crowned heads had their very own fragrance made at "Crown Perfumery." After Thompson's death, the company was sold and ultimately closed in 1939.
In 1993, Crown Perfumery was reopened to reproduce and sell its most successful fragrances. This included Crown Stephanotis. Clive Christian became the new head of the boutique in 2000 and initially took over eight of the popular fragrances. When Clive Christian created his own fragrance collection in 2001, which was launched in 2002, all Crown fragrances were finally removed from the assortment, and production ceased.
~
Addendum:
Upon closer examination, I must state that Clive Christian completely adopted the design of the original Crown bottle and its cap, only the colors were changed. Wrapper sophisticated and content refurbished? Hmmm, I quietly wonder: ".... and what have we taken from the formulas before you kicked the Crowns and replaced them with your overpriced collection, dear Clive????" :-)
Addendum: From a reliable source, I have now learned that "Anglia Perfumery" is reproducing Crown fragrances. My thanks for this info go to TooSmell27!
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