Eric Buterbaugh’s Guide to Picking the Perfect Perfume
A new perfume collection from Eric Buterbaugh. (Photo: Jon Paterson)
You may not know Eric Buterbaugh, but you’ve almost certainly seen his larger-than-life flower arrangements. The in-demand floral designer (that is what you call a florist who is so much more than just that) has a client roster that ranges from Dior to Demi Moore and is responsible for the opulent displays at pretty much every major Hollywood and fashion event on the LA social calendar.
Now, he’s taken his passion for all things floral one step further with an ultra-luxury line of perfumes (described by him as “fragrances for every dirty pretty thing”) called Eric Buterbaugh Florals . The line, which he launched this summer with his business partner Fabrice Croisé (a former Lancôme exec), includes seven scents (and several others on the way) inspired by the pure aromas of Buterbaugh’s favorite flowers. The fragrances are sold in 250 ml and 100 ml bottles that retail for $500 and $300 respectively. Nobody ever said that luxury would come cheap, though the bottles are basically works of art in and of themselves, if that provides your wallet any consolation.
Since picking a scent can be stressful, we asked Buterbaugh to offer a little guidance and, luckily, he obliged. Though, if you’re really indecisive, his sample kit is a good place to start (or a great gift — hint, hint). Read on for Buterbaugh’s (witty and slightly irreverent) guide to picking your personal scent, complete with a breakdown of which fragrance each of his celebrity BFFs opt for. Because who isn’t looking for a way to channel Naomi Campbell or Gwen Stefani in their life?
Apollo Hyacinth
“A crisp, clean fragrance with a tiny bite of cedar wood in the back. A wonderful green floral by the glorious Alberto Morillas who is divine and shares my naughty sense of humor. For me this fragrance is equally wonderful for a man or a woman. As we were finishing our selections I wore this every day. Now, Gwen Stefani is a fan (and the perfect person for this one as she is a girl on the go). Also as she has a son named Apollo so it’s kind of perfect!”
Virgin Lily of the Valley
“This one is very important to me because it brings up beautiful childhood memories. It is very pure, almost fragile. This has been one of our best sellers and I think that is because of how transparent and true-to-nature it is. But, I like to wear it on a Saturday night cause you get lots of attention.”
Celestial Jasmine
“A very very sexy fragrance by the great perfumer Ilias Ermenidis. Made with a jasmine from Provence and a jasmine from India, plus loads of Ambrox, which Ilias calls ‘the sexiest molecule on the planet’. This is very much a date night fragrance (hubba hubba). An immediate favorite of Demi Moore.”
Regal Tuberose
“Our tuberose was created by the amazing Master Perfumer Honorine Blanc. She chose a completely new structure for a tuberose fragrance: lighter, more sparkly, a bit more peppery. Men and women are equally drawn to it. It’s definitely a very sophisticated fragrance for the “have it all” crowd who are spritzing it on when getting on the tender to go ashore from their yachts for a bite of lunch or dinner.”
Sultry Rose
“Ok, definitely not granny’s rosewater. It’s a Bulgarian rose and a rose de Provence topped with a spicy Red Pepper. This is a favorite for men and for the girls that are in touch with their sensual side. This one always gets a response. I have never had so many people come up to me and say ‘OH MY you smell so amazing.’”
Velvet Lavender
“This is a favorite of mine because it’s so subtle, yet has a very sexy side. The perfect blend of lavender, musk and vanilla by master perfumer Harry Fremont. Marie Chantal of Greece, who has the most amazing taste, is a big fan — as is Brian Atwood.”
Fragile Violet
“This is the most complex of our scents and a favorite of the crowd that has access to everything. It’s very sophisticated and has many layers. It really evolves when you wear it. I kind of see it as a scent for the couture crowd. Naomi Campbell immediately claimed it as her own.”
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