Tauer Perfumes- Eau d'Epices

The first thing I did upon reading Andy Tauer's description of Eau d'Epices as "an Indian basket of spices" was comb the note list thoroughly checking for cumin. Twice. Thankfully, no cumin was found, so I could wear the perfume around the husband (a spouse who hates cumin and works from home can make one's testing schedule a bit complicated).

Now that we established that Eau d'Epices is not Tauer's answer to Arabie and its back alleys of the Souk, let's talk about what it is (other than gorgeous). This is a classic Tauer in the sense of offering the familiar Tauerade accord in the dry-down: a balsamic cistus, ambergris and a dry woody thing in the background, but the potent potion is less assertive at first and gives a lot of breathing room both to the spicy opening and to the incredibly sensual floral heart. Eau d"epices is breathtakingly complex and requires a lot of attention the first few times you smell it. The fragrance takes you on an exotic journey and fills your mind with all kinds of Arabian Nights imagery (and not a Disney version, I promise). It's all there- the dancers, the rugs and the genies. From Aladdin's cave to sultry nights in opulent gardens and orchards around the Caliph's palace.

The thing is that once you make friends with this colorful vision, Eau d'Epice becomes warm easy to wear. Yes, one must love incense and spice, not to mention the Tauer accord, but if you do, this masterfully crafted and blended perfume  is a must-try for both men and women.

Eau d'Epices by Tauer Perfumes ($125, 50ml EDP) is available from Luckyscent and tauerperfumes.com. The sample for this review was sent for my consideration by the perfumer.

Art: Arabian Nights by Ione Citrine

Tauer Perfumes- Eau d'Epices

The first thing I did upon reading Andy Tauer's description of Eau d'Epices as "an Indian basket of spices" was comb the note list thoroughly checking for cumin. Twice. Thankfully, no cumin was found, so I could wear the perfume around the husband (a spouse who hates cumin and works from home can make one's testing schedule a bit complicated).

Now that we established that Eau d'Epices is not Tauer's answer to Arabie and its back alleys of the Souk, let's talk about what it is (other than gorgeous). This is a classic Tauer in the sense of offering the familiar Tauerade accord in the dry-down: a balsamic cistus, ambergris and a dry woody thing in the background, but the potent potion is less assertive at first and gives a lot of breathing room both to the spicy opening and to the incredibly sensual floral heart. Eau d"epices is breathtakingly complex and requires a lot of attention the first few times you smell it. The fragrance takes you on an exotic journey and fills your mind with all kinds of Arabian Nights imagery (and not a Disney version, I promise). It's all there- the dancers, the rugs and the genies. From Aladdin's cave to sultry nights in opulent gardens and orchards around the Caliph's palace.

The thing is that once you make friends with this colorful vision, Eau d'Epice becomes warm easy to wear. Yes, one must love incense and spice, not to mention the Tauer accord, but if you do, this masterfully crafted and blended perfume  is a must-try for both men and women.

Eau d'Epices by Tauer Perfumes ($125, 50ml EDP) is available from Luckyscent and tauerperfumes.com. The sample for this review was sent for my consideration by the perfumer.

Art: Arabian Nights by Ione Citrine

Tauer Perfumes- Eau d'Epices

The first thing I did upon reading Andy Tauer's description of Eau d'Epices as "an Indian basket of spices" was comb the note list thoroughly checking for cumin. Twice. Thankfully, no cumin was found, so I could wear the perfume around the husband (a spouse who hates cumin and works from home can make one's testing schedule a bit complicated).

Now that we established that Eau d'Epices is not Tauer's answer to Arabie and its back alleys of the Souk, let's talk about what it is (other than gorgeous). This is a classic Tauer in the sense of offering the familiar Tauerade accord in the dry-down: a balsamic cistus, ambergris and a dry woody thing in the background, but the potent potion is less assertive at first and gives a lot of breathing room both to the spicy opening and to the incredibly sensual floral heart. Eau d"epices is breathtakingly complex and requires a lot of attention the first few times you smell it. The fragrance takes you on an exotic journey and fills your mind with all kinds of Arabian Nights imagery (and not a Disney version, I promise). It's all there- the dancers, the rugs and the genies. From Aladdin's cave to sultry nights in opulent gardens and orchards around the Caliph's palace.

The thing is that once you make friends with this colorful vision, Eau d'Epice becomes warm easy to wear. Yes, one must love incense and spice, not to mention the Tauer accord, but if you do, this masterfully crafted and blended perfume  is a must-try for both men and women.

Eau d'Epices by Tauer Perfumes ($125, 50ml EDP) is available from Luckyscent and tauerperfumes.com. The sample for this review was sent for my consideration by the perfumer.

Art: Arabian Nights by Ione Citrine

Tauer Perfumes- Orange Star

**Reminder: the Mystery Of Musk giveaway of Kewdar by Anya's Garden is still open**

People reading this post belong to one of two groups: those who are familiar with Andy Tauer's work and those who've never sampled any of his perfumes. I almost feel like I need to break this review into two parts according to these groups, because if I'm going to talk about Andy's recognizable Tauerade, his familiar ambergris accord or make comparisons to Incense Rose, some of you are going to get all glazed eyed and hear Charlie Brown's teacher blahblah-ing in your head before clicking away from here. On the other hand, if I go into lengthy description and explanations of the way the orange and mandarin joyfully explode in the opening to reveal a dry terrain, a pathway you take on a hot day on your way to the beach, smelling salty breeze and the dried grass and weeds baking in the sun, the other group might get impatient and want to know the difference between the citrus top notes here and in Incense Rose, is there any incense here and how dry is Orange Star compared, say, to L'Air du Desert Marocain.

So let's take another approach. I'll start with the bottom line: Orange Star is a terrific perfume. It can appeal to both men and women and is wearable outdoors on the hottest days while having enough substance to be interesting in arctic airconditioned spaces. It has a reasonable sillage even after the supernova of the opening notes calms down and a 24 hour staying power. With these details out of the way, let's go one level deeper.

I feel like in creating Orange Star, Andy Tauer has achieved a new level of elegance. I'd never use the word minimalistic when describing a Tauer perfume, but there's something deceivingly haiku-ish and streamlined in this fragrance until you start paying careful attention to its nuances. Its uniqueness doesn't hit you on the head right away and it can serve as a getaway to other perfumes in the line because it would allow the wearer to get acquainted with the quality and richness of favorite Tauer themes one by one and maybe with a little less challenge along the way (though take this statement with a grain or two of salt- I've been wearing the entire line for several years now and have the skin chemistry that allows me to spray Lonestar Memories on a steamy August day and enjoy it).

Which brings us to what it smells like and the emotions/story Orange Star evokes.

The big bang of carefree sweet citrus places Orange Star in the uplifting category. It shares the optimistic characteristics of Incense Rose but is a bit less exuberant and romantic about it (the lack of rose, most likely). The sunshine is all there, though, and it feels like opening your bedroom window on the first day of summer vacation as the season stretches ahead of you with no end in sight.

The first thing to do is pack up your stuff and go to the beach. I used to do that a lot in my late teens and early twenties. Pack my bag, get on the bus and within 45 minutes I'd be right by the sand dunes and the path that goes down to the beach. I could smell the dry earth, weeds anid shrubs growing between the rocks and that unmistakable salty sea air (well, on a good day, when there was an actual breeze and the air didn't carry the smell from the town's sewage, but why spoil the fantasy?).

Let's make one thing clear- there's absolutely nothing aquatic, marine or whatever you want to call it. The sea and salt are part of the ambergris accord and are delicate and light as the elusive breeze in the heat of summer. It feels like an open sky with nary a cloud, and this lightness is supported by the clean floral notes. They are listed as violet flower and orange blossom, but don't expect a bouquet or anything either lush or delicate and dainty. It's more like pale wildflowers growing here and there along the path and surviving the sun  and salt.

Orange Star is anchored with a little wood, some resinous shrubs, mineral-like earthiness and a hint of sweet incense that will smell familiar to those who tried LdDM and the two incense perfumes. It has more inhibitions and incense isn't even listed as an official note here, so those with frankincense and myrrh phobias need not worry. It's this base that should have a wonderful appeal even as the weather cools down. The sweaters I wear when the a/c gets the best of me have been holding on to it and smelling utterly delicious.

Orange Star ($120, 50ml) is available from Luckyscent.

Art by Pamela Sukhum

Tauer Perfumes- Orange Star

**Reminder: the Mystery Of Musk giveaway of Kewdar by Anya's Garden is still open**

People reading this post belong to one of two groups: those who are familiar with Andy Tauer's work and those who've never sampled any of his perfumes. I almost feel like I need to break this review into two parts according to these groups, because if I'm going to talk about Andy's recognizable Tauerade, his familiar ambergris accord or make comparisons to Incense Rose, some of you are going to get all glazed eyed and hear Charlie Brown's teacher blahblah-ing in your head before clicking away from here. On the other hand, if I go into lengthy description and explanations of the way the orange and mandarin joyfully explode in the opening to reveal a dry terrain, a pathway you take on a hot day on your way to the beach, smelling salty breeze and the dried grass and weeds baking in the sun, the other group might get impatient and want to know the difference between the citrus top notes here and in Incense Rose, is there any incense here and how dry is Orange Star compared, say, to L'Air du Desert Marocain.

So let's take another approach. I'll start with the bottom line: Orange Star is a terrific perfume. It can appeal to both men and women and is wearable outdoors on the hottest days while having enough substance to be interesting in arctic airconditioned spaces. It has a reasonable sillage even after the supernova of the opening notes calms down and a 24 hour staying power. With these details out of the way, let's go one level deeper.

I feel like in creating Orange Star, Andy Tauer has achieved a new level of elegance. I'd never use the word minimalistic when describing a Tauer perfume, but there's something deceivingly haiku-ish and streamlined in this fragrance until you start paying careful attention to its nuances. Its uniqueness doesn't hit you on the head right away and it can serve as a getaway to other perfumes in the line because it would allow the wearer to get acquainted with the quality and richness of favorite Tauer themes one by one and maybe with a little less challenge along the way (though take this statement with a grain or two of salt- I've been wearing the entire line for several years now and have the skin chemistry that allows me to spray Lonestar Memories on a steamy August day and enjoy it).

Which brings us to what it smells like and the emotions/story Orange Star evokes.

The big bang of carefree sweet citrus places Orange Star in the uplifting category. It shares the optimistic characteristics of Incense Rose but is a bit less exuberant and romantic about it (the lack of rose, most likely). The sunshine is all there, though, and it feels like opening your bedroom window on the first day of summer vacation as the season stretches ahead of you with no end in sight.

The first thing to do is pack up your stuff and go to the beach. I used to do that a lot in my late teens and early twenties. Pack my bag, get on the bus and within 45 minutes I'd be right by the sand dunes and the path that goes down to the beach. I could smell the dry earth, weeds anid shrubs growing between the rocks and that unmistakable salty sea air (well, on a good day, when there was an actual breeze and the air didn't carry the smell from the town's sewage, but why spoil the fantasy?).

Let's make one thing clear- there's absolutely nothing aquatic, marine or whatever you want to call it. The sea and salt are part of the ambergris accord and are delicate and light as the elusive breeze in the heat of summer. It feels like an open sky with nary a cloud, and this lightness is supported by the clean floral notes. They are listed as violet flower and orange blossom, but don't expect a bouquet or anything either lush or delicate and dainty. It's more like pale wildflowers growing here and there along the path and surviving the sun  and salt.

Orange Star is anchored with a little wood, some resinous shrubs, mineral-like earthiness and a hint of sweet incense that will smell familiar to those who tried LdDM and the two incense perfumes. It has more inhibitions and incense isn't even listed as an official note here, so those with frankincense and myrrh phobias need not worry. It's this base that should have a wonderful appeal even as the weather cools down. The sweaters I wear when the a/c gets the best of me have been holding on to it and smelling utterly delicious.

Orange Star ($120, 50ml) is available from Luckyscent.

Art by Pamela Sukhum

Tauer Perfumes- Orange Star

**Reminder: the Mystery Of Musk giveaway of Kewdar by Anya's Garden is still open**

People reading this post belong to one of two groups: those who are familiar with Andy Tauer's work and those who've never sampled any of his perfumes. I almost feel like I need to break this review into two parts according to these groups, because if I'm going to talk about Andy's recognizable Tauerade, his familiar ambergris accord or make comparisons to Incense Rose, some of you are going to get all glazed eyed and hear Charlie Brown's teacher blahblah-ing in your head before clicking away from here. On the other hand, if I go into lengthy description and explanations of the way the orange and mandarin joyfully explode in the opening to reveal a dry terrain, a pathway you take on a hot day on your way to the beach, smelling salty breeze and the dried grass and weeds baking in the sun, the other group might get impatient and want to know the difference between the citrus top notes here and in Incense Rose, is there any incense here and how dry is Orange Star compared, say, to L'Air du Desert Marocain.

So let's take another approach. I'll start with the bottom line: Orange Star is a terrific perfume. It can appeal to both men and women and is wearable outdoors on the hottest days while having enough substance to be interesting in arctic airconditioned spaces. It has a reasonable sillage even after the supernova of the opening notes calms down and a 24 hour staying power. With these details out of the way, let's go one level deeper.

I feel like in creating Orange Star, Andy Tauer has achieved a new level of elegance. I'd never use the word minimalistic when describing a Tauer perfume, but there's something deceivingly haiku-ish and streamlined in this fragrance until you start paying careful attention to its nuances. Its uniqueness doesn't hit you on the head right away and it can serve as a getaway to other perfumes in the line because it would allow the wearer to get acquainted with the quality and richness of favorite Tauer themes one by one and maybe with a little less challenge along the way (though take this statement with a grain or two of salt- I've been wearing the entire line for several years now and have the skin chemistry that allows me to spray Lonestar Memories on a steamy August day and enjoy it).

Which brings us to what it smells like and the emotions/story Orange Star evokes.

The big bang of carefree sweet citrus places Orange Star in the uplifting category. It shares the optimistic characteristics of Incense Rose but is a bit less exuberant and romantic about it (the lack of rose, most likely). The sunshine is all there, though, and it feels like opening your bedroom window on the first day of summer vacation as the season stretches ahead of you with no end in sight.

The first thing to do is pack up your stuff and go to the beach. I used to do that a lot in my late teens and early twenties. Pack my bag, get on the bus and within 45 minutes I'd be right by the sand dunes and the path that goes down to the beach. I could smell the dry earth, weeds anid shrubs growing between the rocks and that unmistakable salty sea air (well, on a good day, when there was an actual breeze and the air didn't carry the smell from the town's sewage, but why spoil the fantasy?).

Let's make one thing clear- there's absolutely nothing aquatic, marine or whatever you want to call it. The sea and salt are part of the ambergris accord and are delicate and light as the elusive breeze in the heat of summer. It feels like an open sky with nary a cloud, and this lightness is supported by the clean floral notes. They are listed as violet flower and orange blossom, but don't expect a bouquet or anything either lush or delicate and dainty. It's more like pale wildflowers growing here and there along the path and surviving the sun  and salt.

Orange Star is anchored with a little wood, some resinous shrubs, mineral-like earthiness and a hint of sweet incense that will smell familiar to those who tried LdDM and the two incense perfumes. It has more inhibitions and incense isn't even listed as an official note here, so those with frankincense and myrrh phobias need not worry. It's this base that should have a wonderful appeal even as the weather cools down. The sweaters I wear when the a/c gets the best of me have been holding on to it and smelling utterly delicious.

Orange Star ($120, 50ml) is available from Luckyscent.

Art by Pamela Sukhum

And The Winner Is...

The Winner of the very special Tauer Perfumes giveaway is:

Fernando

Please send me an email and let me know how to contact you.

I want to thank Andy for his wonderful generosity and everyone else for participating- new and old readers. I'm especially happy to "meet" longtime readers who commented here for the first time, and want to welcome all the perfume lovers who have just discovered this blog.

Don't forget: Andy's Advent Calendar is continuing on his blog. Please keep visiting this page for more links and opportunities to win his prizes.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

Photo by Andy Tauer.

And The Winner Is...

The Winner of the very special Tauer Perfumes giveaway is:

Fernando

Please send me an email and let me know how to contact you.

I want to thank Andy for his wonderful generosity and everyone else for participating- new and old readers. I'm especially happy to "meet" longtime readers who commented here for the first time, and want to welcome all the perfume lovers who have just discovered this blog.

Don't forget: Andy's Advent Calendar is continuing on his blog. Please keep visiting this page for more links and opportunities to win his prizes.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

Photo by Andy Tauer.

And The Winner Is...

The Winner of the very special Tauer Perfumes giveaway is:

Fernando

Please send me an email and let me know how to contact you.

I want to thank Andy for his wonderful generosity and everyone else for participating- new and old readers. I'm especially happy to "meet" longtime readers who commented here for the first time, and want to welcome all the perfume lovers who have just discovered this blog.

Don't forget: Andy's Advent Calendar is continuing on his blog. Please keep visiting this page for more links and opportunities to win his prizes.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

Photo by Andy Tauer.

Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar, A Giveaway And Jelly Donuts

I like the idea of Advent, even if as a Jew it doesn't have the same meaning to me as for those who actually observe the season. But the concept of an expectant waiting for something joyous and wonderful is very nice and goes well with other Midwinter themes.

For me, the most wonderful thing about Hanukkah has always been my mother's jelly donuts, which were the reason I counted the days till the first or second night of the festivities, when my mom would spend the whole afternoon making them. Oil-fried foods are a big part of the holiday's tradition (to commemorate of the oil that sustained the Temple's Menorah for eight nights and eight days and what once was your shapely thighs), and nothing is better than homemade donuts. The classic version calls for jelly, but we've also experimented with dulce de leche and Nutella (the husband's favorite). If you ask me, blackcurrant jelly is best, but those who didn't grow up on a very particular way of making Hanukkah donuts would enjoy it equally filled with any not-too-sweet jelly or jam.

As my gift to you and a contribution to Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar, here is my mother's recipe:

Nina's Jelly Donuts

For the dough:

A little more than 5 cups all purpose flour

1 pack dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1 egg

2 egg yolks

4 tbs melted butter

2tbs cognac

4 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

Frying:

1 bottle vegetable oil

Filling:

blackcurrant jelly/jam/confiture

powdered sugar for sprinkling- preferably vanilla sugar

How to:

1. Dissolve yeast in ¼ cup warm milk (100F degrees)

2. Mix together all dough ingredients, yeast mixture included. Add the flour one cup at a time, making sure how much of the last cup is needed. Knead together JUST until smooth and non-sticky. Don’t overdo it. Let rise for two hours, covered with a towel in a warm spot.

3. Halve the dough without much kneading, .

4. Roll out one half and flatten it until it’s less than ¼ inch thin.

5. Take an empty glass or a round cookie cutter of equal size and GENTLY mark with it circles on the dough leaf.

6. Place 1½ teaspoons of jelly in the middle of each circle.

7. Roll out the other part of the dough. Gently and carefully use it to cover the jelly-filled other half. Don’t let too much air inside.

8. Cut dough circles using the glass/cookie cutter. Make sure that the jelly is in the middle of each donut.

9. Put donuts on a flour-sprinkled baking pan, cover and let rise again for about 45 minutes.

10. Heat oil in a large (but not too deep) pan that has a cover. When it’s very hot put a few donuts in and cover for 5 seconds. Lift cover; check if the sides are already golden. If so, turn donuts and fry uncovered.

11. Fry until golden and nice, remove to a paper towel covered tray and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Tips and Notes:

1. The reason you don’t want to over knead the dough is to not make it too dry and floury, which might result in donuts that won’t seal.

2. The same goes for the amount of flour in the recipe. It’s usually a little more than 5 cups, but add gradually.

3. According to my mom, adding cognac to the dough makes it absorb less oil.

4. Covering the jelly with the second part of the dough is easier than it sounds. Use both hands.

5.  My mom adds peeled chunks of carrot in the oil. They absorb the frying odor.

6. Use the best jelly you can find.

7. These donuts freeze well and are great when defrosted and microwaved for about 35 seconds each. Just be careful, the jelly is hot.

8. Gym membership not included but very much needed after a week of snacking on these donuts.

And now to the real giveaway: a Thuja root box with a full bottle of the winner's choice from Tauer Perfumes, shipped directly from Zurich. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post. The contest is open to all.
I'll announce the winner tomorrow.


Photo of Hanukkah donuts: life.com

Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar, A Giveaway And Jelly Donuts

I like the idea of Advent, even if as a Jew it doesn't have the same meaning to me as for those who actually observe the season. But the concept of an expectant waiting for something joyous and wonderful is very nice and goes well with other Midwinter themes.

For me, the most wonderful thing about Hanukkah has always been my mother's jelly donuts, which were the reason I counted the days till the first or second night of the festivities, when my mom would spend the whole afternoon making them. Oil-fried foods are a big part of the holiday's tradition (to commemorate of the oil that sustained the Temple's Menorah for eight nights and eight days and what once was your shapely thighs), and nothing is better than homemade donuts. The classic version calls for jelly, but we've also experimented with dulce de leche and Nutella (the husband's favorite). If you ask me, blackcurrant jelly is best, but those who didn't grow up on a very particular way of making Hanukkah donuts would enjoy it equally filled with any not-too-sweet jelly or jam.

As my gift to you and a contribution to Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar, here is my mother's recipe:

Nina's Jelly Donuts

For the dough:

A little more than 5 cups all purpose flour

1 pack dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1 egg

2 egg yolks

4 tbs melted butter

2tbs cognac

4 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

Frying:

1 bottle vegetable oil

Filling:

blackcurrant jelly/jam/confiture

powdered sugar for sprinkling- preferably vanilla sugar

How to:

1. Dissolve yeast in ¼ cup warm milk (100F degrees)

2. Mix together all dough ingredients, yeast mixture included. Add the flour one cup at a time, making sure how much of the last cup is needed. Knead together JUST until smooth and non-sticky. Don’t overdo it. Let rise for two hours, covered with a towel in a warm spot.

3. Halve the dough without much kneading, .

4. Roll out one half and flatten it until it’s less than ¼ inch thin.

5. Take an empty glass or a round cookie cutter of equal size and GENTLY mark with it circles on the dough leaf.

6. Place 1½ teaspoons of jelly in the middle of each circle.

7. Roll out the other part of the dough. Gently and carefully use it to cover the jelly-filled other half. Don’t let too much air inside.

8. Cut dough circles using the glass/cookie cutter. Make sure that the jelly is in the middle of each donut.

9. Put donuts on a flour-sprinkled baking pan, cover and let rise again for about 45 minutes.

10. Heat oil in a large (but not too deep) pan that has a cover. When it’s very hot put a few donuts in and cover for 5 seconds. Lift cover; check if the sides are already golden. If so, turn donuts and fry uncovered.

11. Fry until golden and nice, remove to a paper towel covered tray and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Tips and Notes:

1. The reason you don’t want to over knead the dough is to not make it too dry and floury, which might result in donuts that won’t seal.

2. The same goes for the amount of flour in the recipe. It’s usually a little more than 5 cups, but add gradually.

3. According to my mom, adding cognac to the dough makes it absorb less oil.

4. Covering the jelly with the second part of the dough is easier than it sounds. Use both hands.

5.  My mom adds peeled chunks of carrot in the oil. They absorb the frying odor.

6. Use the best jelly you can find.

7. These donuts freeze well and are great when defrosted and microwaved for about 35 seconds each. Just be careful, the jelly is hot.

8. Gym membership not included but very much needed after a week of snacking on these donuts.

And now to the real giveaway: a Thuja root box with a full bottle of the winner's choice from Tauer Perfumes, shipped directly from Zurich. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post. The contest is open to all.
I'll announce the winner tomorrow.


Photo of Hanukkah donuts: life.com

Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar, A Giveaway And Jelly Donuts

I like the idea of Advent, even if as a Jew it doesn't have the same meaning to me as for those who actually observe the season. But the concept of an expectant waiting for something joyous and wonderful is very nice and goes well with other Midwinter themes.

For me, the most wonderful thing about Hanukkah has always been my mother's jelly donuts, which were the reason I counted the days till the first or second night of the festivities, when my mom would spend the whole afternoon making them. Oil-fried foods are a big part of the holiday's tradition (to commemorate of the oil that sustained the Temple's Menorah for eight nights and eight days and what once was your shapely thighs), and nothing is better than homemade donuts. The classic version calls for jelly, but we've also experimented with dulce de leche and Nutella (the husband's favorite). If you ask me, blackcurrant jelly is best, but those who didn't grow up on a very particular way of making Hanukkah donuts would enjoy it equally filled with any not-too-sweet jelly or jam.

As my gift to you and a contribution to Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar, here is my mother's recipe:

Nina's Jelly Donuts

For the dough:

A little more than 5 cups all purpose flour

1 pack dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1 egg

2 egg yolks

4 tbs melted butter

2tbs cognac

4 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

Frying:

1 bottle vegetable oil

Filling:

blackcurrant jelly/jam/confiture

powdered sugar for sprinkling- preferably vanilla sugar

How to:

1. Dissolve yeast in ¼ cup warm milk (100F degrees)

2. Mix together all dough ingredients, yeast mixture included. Add the flour one cup at a time, making sure how much of the last cup is needed. Knead together JUST until smooth and non-sticky. Don’t overdo it. Let rise for two hours, covered with a towel in a warm spot.

3. Halve the dough without much kneading, .

4. Roll out one half and flatten it until it’s less than ¼ inch thin.

5. Take an empty glass or a round cookie cutter of equal size and GENTLY mark with it circles on the dough leaf.

6. Place 1½ teaspoons of jelly in the middle of each circle.

7. Roll out the other part of the dough. Gently and carefully use it to cover the jelly-filled other half. Don’t let too much air inside.

8. Cut dough circles using the glass/cookie cutter. Make sure that the jelly is in the middle of each donut.

9. Put donuts on a flour-sprinkled baking pan, cover and let rise again for about 45 minutes.

10. Heat oil in a large (but not too deep) pan that has a cover. When it’s very hot put a few donuts in and cover for 5 seconds. Lift cover; check if the sides are already golden. If so, turn donuts and fry uncovered.

11. Fry until golden and nice, remove to a paper towel covered tray and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Tips and Notes:

1. The reason you don’t want to over knead the dough is to not make it too dry and floury, which might result in donuts that won’t seal.

2. The same goes for the amount of flour in the recipe. It’s usually a little more than 5 cups, but add gradually.

3. According to my mom, adding cognac to the dough makes it absorb less oil.

4. Covering the jelly with the second part of the dough is easier than it sounds. Use both hands.

5.  My mom adds peeled chunks of carrot in the oil. They absorb the frying odor.

6. Use the best jelly you can find.

7. These donuts freeze well and are great when defrosted and microwaved for about 35 seconds each. Just be careful, the jelly is hot.

8. Gym membership not included but very much needed after a week of snacking on these donuts.

And now to the real giveaway: a Thuja root box with a full bottle of the winner's choice from Tauer Perfumes, shipped directly from Zurich. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post. The contest is open to all.
I'll announce the winner tomorrow.


Photo of Hanukkah donuts: life.com

Winners of Tauer Un Rose Chypree Samples

Kamo and Edwardian are the lucky winners of Andy Tauer's Un Rose Chypree samples. Please email me your address.

Also, if by any chance the person who left comment no. 52 (the anonymous one on June 20, 2009 9:25 PM eastern time) is reading this, please also send me an email (the address is here on the right).

Thanks to everyone who participated!


image: Tauer Perfumes

Winners of Tauer Un Rose Chypree Samples

Kamo and Edwardian are the lucky winners of Andy Tauer's Un Rose Chypree samples. Please email me your address.

Also, if by any chance the person who left comment no. 52 (the anonymous one on June 20, 2009 9:25 PM eastern time) is reading this, please also send me an email (the address is here on the right).

Thanks to everyone who participated!


image: Tauer Perfumes

Winners of Tauer Un Rose Chypree Samples

Kamo and Edwardian are the lucky winners of Andy Tauer's Un Rose Chypree samples. Please email me your address.

Also, if by any chance the person who left comment no. 52 (the anonymous one on June 20, 2009 9:25 PM eastern time) is reading this, please also send me an email (the address is here on the right).

Thanks to everyone who participated!


image: Tauer Perfumes

Top 10 Memorable Masculine Fragrances

In honor of Father's Day, Elena of Perfume Shrine and I wanted to honor men and the scents they wear.

Fathers, spouses, old boyfriends, scent twins- they all have one thing in common: they (and us) create memories. Nothing is more emotionally triggering than scent. Think of your father's old cologne from the 70s (did he wear Old Spice? Did he later graduated to the original Polo?) or the Drakkar Noir of your first boyfriend. Did you ever date a man who wore Creed Green Irish Tweed and made you think of Cary Grant (the story is that GIT was created for him)? Did your little brother drench himself in Axe before his first date? Maybe you had a great teacher or work mentor who used to wear Grey Flannel, or had your heart broken by a Chanel Égoïste fan (I did). The point is that it's not just our Shalimar that creates special moments.

Things have changed since the days of the ubiquitous bottle of Polo, and the choices are many. Here's my list of (very) memorable masculine scents for the unforgettable men in our lives. In no particular order:

1. Tauer Perfumes-Lonestar Memories
Smoky, strong and outdoorsy at times, warm leather, herbal with a hint of Lapsang Souchong. More interesting and sophisticated than the cowboy image.

2. Tom Ford Private Blend-Tuscan Leather
Soft, smooth and as leathery as they come. Warm and inviting, evokes both a leather jacket and an old study full with leather-bound books.

3. Mazzolari-Lui
An animalic patchouli like no other. Sweet and dangerous (especially if over-applied).

4. Serge Lutens-Gris Clair
Burnt lavender. A bit brooding, yet clean and crisp.

5. Guerlain-Vetiver
A great classic. Citrus top over green vetiver. Perfectly tasteful.

6. Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier-Iris Bleu Gris
Dry to the bone, earthy without being dirty.

7. JAR-Shadow
Damp and mysterious. A visit to dark cellars and forgotten attics.

8. Frederic Malle-Vetiver Extraordinaire
Dry and bitter vetiver, yet still green. A scent to take over the boardroom before going out to take Manhattan.

9. Hermes-Terre d'Hermes
Perhaps the most popular in this bunch, yet somewhat controversial. Orange peel and minerals, crisp and strong.

10. Comme des Garcons-Monocle Scent One: Hinoki
Incense, evergreens, a forest floor.

Please visit Perfume Shrine for more unforgettable masculine fragrances.

Top 10 Memorable Masculine Fragrances

In honor of Father's Day, Elena of Perfume Shrine and I wanted to honor men and the scents they wear.

Fathers, spouses, old boyfriends, scent twins- they all have one thing in common: they (and us) create memories. Nothing is more emotionally triggering than scent. Think of your father's old cologne from the 70s (did he wear Old Spice? Did he later graduated to the original Polo?) or the Drakkar Noir of your first boyfriend. Did you ever date a man who wore Creed Green Irish Tweed and made you think of Cary Grant (the story is that GIT was created for him)? Did your little brother drench himself in Axe before his first date? Maybe you had a great teacher or work mentor who used to wear Grey Flannel, or had your heart broken by a Chanel Égoïste fan (I did). The point is that it's not just our Shalimar that creates special moments.

Things have changed since the days of the ubiquitous bottle of Polo, and the choices are many. Here's my list of (very) memorable masculine scents for the unforgettable men in our lives. In no particular order:

1. Tauer Perfumes-Lonestar Memories
Smoky, strong and outdoorsy at times, warm leather, herbal with a hint of Lapsang Souchong. More interesting and sophisticated than the cowboy image.

2. Tom Ford Private Blend-Tuscan Leather
Soft, smooth and as leathery as they come. Warm and inviting, evokes both a leather jacket and an old study full with leather-bound books.

3. Mazzolari-Lui
An animalic patchouli like no other. Sweet and dangerous (especially if over-applied).

4. Serge Lutens-Gris Clair
Burnt lavender. A bit brooding, yet clean and crisp.

5. Guerlain-Vetiver
A great classic. Citrus top over green vetiver. Perfectly tasteful.

6. Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier-Iris Bleu Gris
Dry to the bone, earthy without being dirty.

7. JAR-Shadow
Damp and mysterious. A visit to dark cellars and forgotten attics.

8. Frederic Malle-Vetiver Extraordinaire
Dry and bitter vetiver, yet still green. A scent to take over the boardroom before going out to take Manhattan.

9. Hermes-Terre d'Hermes
Perhaps the most popular in this bunch, yet somewhat controversial. Orange peel and minerals, crisp and strong.

10. Comme des Garcons-Monocle Scent One: Hinoki
Incense, evergreens, a forest floor.

Please visit Perfume Shrine for more unforgettable masculine fragrances.

Top 10 Memorable Masculine Fragrances

In honor of Father's Day, Elena of Perfume Shrine and I wanted to honor men and the scents they wear.

Fathers, spouses, old boyfriends, scent twins- they all have one thing in common: they (and us) create memories. Nothing is more emotionally triggering than scent. Think of your father's old cologne from the 70s (did he wear Old Spice? Did he later graduated to the original Polo?) or the Drakkar Noir of your first boyfriend. Did you ever date a man who wore Creed Green Irish Tweed and made you think of Cary Grant (the story is that GIT was created for him)? Did your little brother drench himself in Axe before his first date? Maybe you had a great teacher or work mentor who used to wear Grey Flannel, or had your heart broken by a Chanel Égoïste fan (I did). The point is that it's not just our Shalimar that creates special moments.

Things have changed since the days of the ubiquitous bottle of Polo, and the choices are many. Here's my list of (very) memorable masculine scents for the unforgettable men in our lives. In no particular order:

1. Tauer Perfumes-Lonestar Memories
Smoky, strong and outdoorsy at times, warm leather, herbal with a hint of Lapsang Souchong. More interesting and sophisticated than the cowboy image.

2. Tom Ford Private Blend-Tuscan Leather
Soft, smooth and as leathery as they come. Warm and inviting, evokes both a leather jacket and an old study full with leather-bound books.

3. Mazzolari-Lui
An animalic patchouli like no other. Sweet and dangerous (especially if over-applied).

4. Serge Lutens-Gris Clair
Burnt lavender. A bit brooding, yet clean and crisp.

5. Guerlain-Vetiver
A great classic. Citrus top over green vetiver. Perfectly tasteful.

6. Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier-Iris Bleu Gris
Dry to the bone, earthy without being dirty.

7. JAR-Shadow
Damp and mysterious. A visit to dark cellars and forgotten attics.

8. Frederic Malle-Vetiver Extraordinaire
Dry and bitter vetiver, yet still green. A scent to take over the boardroom before going out to take Manhattan.

9. Hermes-Terre d'Hermes
Perhaps the most popular in this bunch, yet somewhat controversial. Orange peel and minerals, crisp and strong.

10. Comme des Garcons-Monocle Scent One: Hinoki
Incense, evergreens, a forest floor.

Please visit Perfume Shrine for more unforgettable masculine fragrances.

Tauer Perfumes- Un Rose Chypree (and a giveaway)

Today's article about the woes of the perfume industry from the NY Times, The Hunt for That Genie in a Bottle, was very aptly timed, as far as I'm concerned. The big companies and industry leaders are busy soul-searching and naval-gazing, trying to understand where they went wrong (most of us actually have an answer or two, including what they can do with some of their bottled dreck). While they ponder how to win back our hearts, the independent perfumers have been doing things right for a while now.

Quoted in the article, Veronique Gabai-Pinsky, president of Aramis and the Designer Fragrance division of Estée Lauder, said: “We have to make sure what we bring to market is meaningful and relevant”. Ms. Gabai-Pinsky is right, of course, and I highly recommend that she gets herself a sample (or two or three) of Andy Tauer's work, especially his new perfume, Un Rose Chyprée, because this is exactly the kind of emotional, meaningful and luxurious fragrance so sorely missed on the shelves of mainstream stores.

Part of a new series, Mémorables, and a new concept: smaller bottles of the highest quality juice, Un Rose Chyprée is uncompromising in its intention to capture your heart and take you someplace wonderful. It's a real perfume and doesn't try to pretend otherwise. It will make you smell like you know what you're doing, the way perfumes of yore used to be.

Andy Tauer has taken one of the classic structures, the chypre (an accord built on a base of oakmoss and labdanum and topped with bergamot), and gave it a new life. Chypre lovers will be thrilled to find their old, elegant acquaintance here. But it's also a modern perfume that feels very much alive, young without being juvenile, and hopelessly romantic.

If you've smelled Tauer's Incense Rose, you're already familiar with the uplifting, radiant clementine note. Here it's the perfect accompaniment to the roses, making them appealing even to someone who rarely wears rose well (that would be me, though I've never met a Tauer rose I didn't like). Technically speaking, Un Rose Chypree is an elaborate study of rose: The absolute and the steam distilled essential oil. A 15 ml Rose chyprée bottle contains one pound of fresh rose petals. Emotionally speaking, this roses are full of beauty and longing.

An interesting aspect of Un Rose Chypree is how while the perfume opens up and develops on skin, both the juicy citrus and the opulent rose are constantly present. From the spicy heart to the distinct Tauerade base, the metaphoric brushstrokes in a rich but slightly sheer orange color, are always there.

Another wonderful trait of the perfume is its strength and tenacity. One spray scents me for the day (or evening. It's a wonderful date night fragrance). When I wear it, it's big and feminine. A tiny half a spray on my husband's skin is just as beautiful, only quiet and withdrawn, with a more pronounced oakmoss note. In both cases, it has that feeling of a real luxury item, handmade by an artist who knows and loves his craft and respects his customers. It simply doesn't get any better than this.

And now for the giveaway:
Thanks to Andy's generosity, I have two samples to give away. If you're interested, please say so in the comments. The one and only condition is that you haven't won a sample of this very perfume through any of the other blogs that offered it. The winners will be announced by the end of next week.

Un Rose Chypree($75 for 15 ml) will be available July 1st from Luckyscent.com (Scent Bar in L.A.). They currently accept pre-orders for bottles and samples. If you live in Europe you might want to order directly from tauerperfumes.com or check the site for distribution in your country. The samples and bottle I received were a gift from Andy.

Art: Rose Closeup by Declan McCullagh

Tauer Perfumes- Un Rose Chypree (and a giveaway)

Today's article about the woes of the perfume industry from the NY Times, The Hunt for That Genie in a Bottle, was very aptly timed, as far as I'm concerned. The big companies and industry leaders are busy soul-searching and naval-gazing, trying to understand where they went wrong (most of us actually have an answer or two, including what they can do with some of their bottled dreck). While they ponder how to win back our hearts, the independent perfumers have been doing things right for a while now.

Quoted in the article, Veronique Gabai-Pinsky, president of Aramis and the Designer Fragrance division of Estée Lauder, said: “We have to make sure what we bring to market is meaningful and relevant”. Ms. Gabai-Pinsky is right, of course, and I highly recommend that she gets herself a sample (or two or three) of Andy Tauer's work, especially his new perfume, Un Rose Chyprée, because this is exactly the kind of emotional, meaningful and luxurious fragrance so sorely missed on the shelves of mainstream stores.

Part of a new series, Mémorables, and a new concept: smaller bottles of the highest quality juice, Un Rose Chyprée is uncompromising in its intention to capture your heart and take you someplace wonderful. It's a real perfume and doesn't try to pretend otherwise. It will make you smell like you know what you're doing, the way perfumes of yore used to be.

Andy Tauer has taken one of the classic structures, the chypre (an accord built on a base of oakmoss and labdanum and topped with bergamot), and gave it a new life. Chypre lovers will be thrilled to find their old, elegant acquaintance here. But it's also a modern perfume that feels very much alive, young without being juvenile, and hopelessly romantic.

If you've smelled Tauer's Incense Rose, you're already familiar with the uplifting, radiant clementine note. Here it's the perfect accompaniment to the roses, making them appealing even to someone who rarely wears rose well (that would be me, though I've never met a Tauer rose I didn't like). Technically speaking, Un Rose Chypree is an elaborate study of rose: The absolute and the steam distilled essential oil. A 15 ml Rose chyprée bottle contains one pound of fresh rose petals. Emotionally speaking, this roses are full of beauty and longing.

An interesting aspect of Un Rose Chypree is how while the perfume opens up and develops on skin, both the juicy citrus and the opulent rose are constantly present. From the spicy heart to the distinct Tauerade base, the metaphoric brushstrokes in a rich but slightly sheer orange color, are always there.

Another wonderful trait of the perfume is its strength and tenacity. One spray scents me for the day (or evening. It's a wonderful date night fragrance). When I wear it, it's big and feminine. A tiny half a spray on my husband's skin is just as beautiful, only quiet and withdrawn, with a more pronounced oakmoss note. In both cases, it has that feeling of a real luxury item, handmade by an artist who knows and loves his craft and respects his customers. It simply doesn't get any better than this.

And now for the giveaway:
Thanks to Andy's generosity, I have two samples to give away. If you're interested, please say so in the comments. The one and only condition is that you haven't won a sample of this very perfume through any of the other blogs that offered it. The winners will be announced by the end of next week.

Un Rose Chypree($75 for 15 ml) will be available July 1st from Luckyscent.com (Scent Bar in L.A.). They currently accept pre-orders for bottles and samples. If you live in Europe you might want to order directly from tauerperfumes.com or check the site for distribution in your country. The samples and bottle I received were a gift from Andy.

Art: Rose Closeup by Declan McCullagh