Blackbird by Ellen Covey for Olympic Orchids 2013

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Post by Azar

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“BLACKBIRD” AT BLACKBIRD

Hello Perfume Junkies and Indie Lovers,

Today I have news about a wonderful new fragrance debut here in the Pacific Northwest.  On Saturday, July 13th, at the Blackbird Apothecary (in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle) Ellen Covey celebrated the third anniversary of Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes and introduced her latest fragrance “Blackbird”.

Outside of the Blackbird Apothecary the Ballard Seafood Fest was in full swing.  Inside, happy perfumistas enjoyed a cool and fragrant haven.  Ellen’s line of fragrances were tastefully displayed along the walls.  Blooming orchids decorated the tables set with cheeses, wines and champagne.

As soon as I walked through the doors I headed straight for the new “Blackbird” fragrance.  Ellen sprayed the perfume glass and I generously doused my upper arm with the cabernet colored 25% concentrated elixir.

Blackbird MorgueFilePhoto Stolen MorgueFile

The following notes are listed on Olympic Orchids website,
Himalayan blackberry fruit, dry grass and leaves, elemi, cedar wood and resin, amber, fir balsam absolute, musk.

The first notes on my skin were a combination of very ripe blackberries and sweet, dry grass.  Ellen used real Himalayan blackberries to create “Blackbird”.  These same Himalayan blackberries (Rubus armeniacus) are everywhere in the PNW and, despite their delicious fruit, are considered noxious weeds, perhaps because they have overtaken the even tastier native Pacific blackberries (Rubus ursinus). The blackberry and grass top notes combined with amber to create an almost gourmand and seasonal scent of place, summertime in Seattle.

BlackBerries MorgueFilePhoto Stolen MorgueFile

The blackberry, grass and a little amber stayed relatively close to my skin and were later joined by a refreshing combination of cedar and balsam fir.  “Blackbird” worked for me like a breeze through an orchard or vineyard.  The sillage, as I mentioned before, was quite intimate.  Regarding longevity:  I was enjoying “Blackbird” well into the evening.

Congratulations to Ellen Covey on her third anniversary and on this beautiful addition to her line. Olympic Orchids’ new “Blackbird” is at once dry and sweet, sensual and refreshing, an incense-jam of a fragrance, gorgeous, relaxing and intimate.

Blackbird bottle Olympic OrchidsPhoto Stolen Olympic Orchids

“Blackbird” is available for purchase on the Olympic Orchids website. A 30ml Parfum will only cost you $68. That is an amazing price.

Here are a couple of questions.  Do you have a favorite Olympic Orchids scent? And/or were you in Ballard for the Blackbird event?

Azar

22 thoughts on “Blackbird by Ellen Covey for Olympic Orchids 2013”

    • Thank you so much, Jordan!
      The perfume is a VERY dark purply-red, almost black. Ellen has an interesting post describing the color and creation of Blackbird on her blog perfumenw.blogspot.com.
      Azarxx

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      • Wearing this now. Unusual opening but then it is transportive; not sure where to yet. A Fragrantica commentator ‘lovingthealien’ describes it thus: “scenes of midnight above the timberline”. I am almost there.

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    • Hi Portia,
      Yes! Ellen Covey is a fascinating person, a talented and original perfumer and supportive friend. I love her and her fragrances too! It’s so much fun to try out her new creations.
      Azarxx

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  3. Oh, I love reading Seattle-based reviews! I also attended this event and had a great time, as always. Chatting with Ellen, and many of the other perfume-loving attendees was a joy (maybe I even shared some words with you), and I really fell in love with – and purchased – two perfumes: Ballets Rouges and Devilscent #4 Reprise.

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    • Hello Cymbaline!
      Seattle and the PNW are great places to be if you want to try new perfumes and new ideas of all kinds. We have such a creative spirit here and are willing to try just about anything, at least once. I love Ballets Rouge and Devilscent #4 too! One of the best things about Olympic Orchids fragrances is that they are at once unique and wearable. In fragrance land those two attributes are often mutually exclusive. Let’s make a point a meeting and talking more at the next Seattle event!
      Azarxxx

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  4. Sounds deliciouse! I used to pick these for a snack as a kid. i ‘m wondering if this fragrance would bring back some old memories? Yes blackberries are very wearable-ask my mom. I must somehow get my purple stained fingers on a sample of this berry-interesting new fragrance.Wonderful article!

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  5. Hi Azar and Cymbaline – I was at the event as well, but I don’t think I met either of you unless it was under another name. I did get a bottle of Blackbird; my husband loves it even more than I do.

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    • Hi Kathleen,
      I do have an AKA so maybe we did meet! And yes, Blackbird seems to work for everyone I know. Even though the Blackbird Apothecary has closed, I’m still looking forward to more fragrance related events in Seattle. How do you keep track of what’s happening on the local perfume scene?
      Azar

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  6. Hi there Patricia! Blackbird IS delicious, full of berries and also has some really refreshing notes of cedar and fir. In Dione’s last post I commented on the effects of strawberry fragrance on bears. I hope I don’t need to watch out for the bears with this one too! As you probably know, bears love blackberries!

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  8. Hey Azar – nice review. I have a girlfriend visiting her daughter in Seattle next weekend, maybe she can purchase a few samples of Ellen’s stuff , I have never tried anything. Hmmmmm. Hugs. CQ XX

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    • Thank you, CQ! It looks like your girlfriend may have perfect weather for her Seattle visit. Today is sunny, about 22 with a slight, cool breeze and a deep blue sky! This is about as good as it gets here. The surrounding mountains are easy to see and the lakes and the Puget Sound are perfect for sailing. I hope the weather holds through the weekend. Check out Olympic Orchids website for Ellen’s contact information. AzarXX

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  10. Many, many thanks for the great review, and to everyone who has commented. The Blackbird bottle pictured is a transitional one between the old design and the new design. It was an experiment in screen-printing the bottles, but turned out too dark. Preproduction Mod 1 of the new design should be on display at Blackbird’s stand at Elements later this month, and will make its debut in the fall.

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    • HI Ellen,
      Thank you for the great anniversary/debut party! I have so much fun talking about the perfumes I love! Regarding the new bottle: Are you referring to the Elements Showcase trade show in NY? Will Blackbird have pictures of the booth and the bottle? Just wondering.
      Azar

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