Dabney Rose, creator of artisanal flower waters, is the woman behind one of my favorite face treats, which is loving called Pretty Face Spray. Dabney distills organic and wildcrafted flowers- many of which are grown in her own garden- into beautiful hydrosols which retain the plants’ nutrients and subtle scent. Pretty Face is one of my favorites since it contains the hydrosols of camelia, rose, green tea, evening primrose and tuberose.
It’s only been in the past few years that I have become a regular user of hydrosols which are different than toners. While some toners do have hydrosols in their formulas, they are more astringent than hydrosols which act more like “softeners”, preparing the skin for a moisturizer or providing a refreshing mist in the middle of the day. I also spray hydrosols on my foundation brush after dipping it in mineral makeup to give some extra hydration. I find this helps impart a more satiny finish and decreases the chance of the powder becoming chalky.
When I received word that Dabney had collaborated with Shelley Waddington of EnVoyage Perfumes to create a hydrosol from her newest perfume, my interest was more than piqued. I was intrigued that L’eau de Emblem Rouge is a flower water distilled with L’Emblem Rouge the perfume. But if you’re like me, I was having a hard time wrapping my brain around the perfume-hydrosol hybrid, so I wrote Dabney for clarification.
She explained that she began the process of L’eau de Emblem Rouge with Bourbon roses which are known for their lush and fruity scent. Along with the fresh roses, she also used Bourbon rose water that had been previously distilled, which is called double-distillation allowing for a stronger rosy fragrance. Once the water, Bourbon roses and Bourbon rose water were steaming, Dabney added L’Emblem Rouge on top of the distilling rose petals and let the magic unfurl.
The resulting flower water is extraordinary. Its sweet scent is rose happiness with a gentle measure of sandalwood and benzoin. But remember, this is not a perfume so the fragrance of L’eau de Emblem Rouge is meant to be light and ephemeral, which is how I prefer hydrosols. As a “softener” L’eau de Emblem Rouge feels nourishing, comforting and does a terrific job at prepping the skin for a moisturizer whether it be cream or oil.
The notes for L’Emblem Rouge are listed below and a lifetime gift of five percent of all L’Emblem Rouge proceeds are donated to Broadway Cares, a leading nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization.
Top Notes: Cassie, Mace, Cinnamon, Bitter Orange, Juicy Grapefruit, Green Pepper, Iranian galbanum, Violet, and Cistus
Heart Notes: Iranian Rose Otto, Ylang-Ylang, Heliotrope, French Jasmine sambac, Violet, and Honey
Base Notes: Guaiacwood, Sandalwood, Copaiba, Vetiver, Cedarwood Virginia, Tolu Balsam, Benzoin Siam, Tonka, Vanilla and Ambergris.
I have my own collaboration going on today with Carrie Meredith of eyeliner on a cat. Please head over to her blog for a full review of the perfume, L’Emblem Rouge. She and I are hosting giveaways for a mini roll-on of L’Emblem Rouge edp and a mini spray flacon of L’Eau de Emblem Rouge, so leave a comment on both our posts and increase your chances of winning! Drawing is now closed.
L’eau de Emblem Rouge is available at EnVoyageperfumes.com $25 for 0.35oz. L’Emblem Rouge, the EDP is $115 for 0.5oz or $40 for 0.25oz.
Image from The Glory of Roses by Allen Lacy
thefloraesthetic.com 
Oh this sounds DIVINE! I love both Dabney and Shelley’s works, so I am doing my best to imagine how beautiful this is 🙂
That’s is one heck of a list of notes – the heart notes called out to me especially.
I can’t resist “Rose” in any way, shape or form so please count me in for this scrumptious draw.
cheerio, Anna in Edinburgh
I love hydrosols too and have been using them for a few years now ..My favorites have been carrot seed, frankincense (and ofcourse rose)..Dabney’s hydrosols sound wonderful. I must try them sometime (I am actually running out so this might be a good time). The perfume sounds lovely
Would love to be entered in the draw to experience both!
Sounds so pretty!!! Thanks!
With your review I went right to the web site. All the choices look lovely.
Please enter me to win. Sweet!
Trish! Thank you for the very lovely write-up!! Very flattering and I LOVE the leading picture. 😀
I love that photo, seems to go well with the idea of flower water 🙂
This pictures is wonderfully gentle and your explanation is soooo appealing… Thanks for the draw.
This definitely sounds like it would be right up my alley. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I love roses so I won’t refuse trying anything good with roses in it – please enter me into the draw.
Also I wanted to mention that the picture (oe is it a painting?) you chose for the post is absolutely amazing.
This sounds marvelous. Please count me in!
I’m fascinated by jasmine sambac, as it’s the variety used to scent green teas. It’s so restorative as a tea, I’ve wondered how it fares as a perfume. Any experience with it?
jasmine sambac is amazing in perfume! It’s really interesting in Afterlier’s Fig which pairs it with fir absolute. I reviewed it here:
http://www.scenthive.com/2009/12/28/aftelier-perfumes-fig-edp/
Jasminas by Intelligent Nutrients is a great way to experience sambac as a soliflore.
http://www.scenthive.com/2010/10/29/intelligent-nutrients-finishing-gloss-jasminas/
Un Fleur de Jasmine by Victoria Jess is also another beauty that comes to mind.
http://www.scenthive.com/2010/05/29/victoria-jess-natural-perfumes/
Thank you so much for the reply! I only saw it now. Is there a way to “subscribe” to a thread — to get an email notice of reply?
The perfumes listed look fascinating. So happy I came upon this blog; it’s teaching me a lot about a fairly new world for me. will share in FB.
This sounds so nice. Please enter me in your contest!
I would love to be entered in the draw, I have had Shelley’s Carmel-by-the-sea collection on my wish list for quite a while. I haven’t tried any of her work. Thank you for the opportunity.
I wonder if hydrosols would help my dry, acne-prone skin! I should give them a try.
You and Carrie need to pair up more often for these joint reviews! I really enjoyed reading them.
Please enter me into your draw! xoxo
Hi,
I’ve been meaning to check out your blog for awhile, as I see it linked on LondonMUGirl’s blog. I don’t think I’ve heard of hydrosols as such before, but I was wondering why some toners seemed to just refresh while others were astringent. Maybe they were just called toners because they thought they would sell better under that name. Anyway, the list of notes in that perfume is so diverse, I’m not sure what I expect it to smell like, other than good. Please enter me in your drawing!
Thanks!
Tara
I’m intrigued by the concept of ‘flower water’. I’ve never heard of it before reading this post and a giveaway is a great way to give someone the opportunity to try it.
Thanks
Love Dabney’s hydrosols. Have been using hydros for many years. This “blend” sounds very interesting! Please put me into your drawing, thanks 🙂
Not sure if the drawing is still open, but I’d love to sample this scent. I’ve been really wanting to try some EnVoyage scents…there are just so many newer lines out recently that it is hard to make time and money to scout them all out! I’ve been wondering if I should also try out a hydrosol, as I am a regular toner user. Might have to shoot over to Dabney Rose for the Pretty Face Spray or the new collaboration.
Yes, the drawing is still open! So good luck and thank
you for commenting.
XO
This sounds so pretty and that image is gorgeous, almost a Monet. Pleae enter me in the draw. Thank you.
Commented on Eyeliner On A Cat site. I love trying new scents-this perfume sounds lovely!
I love rose perfumes. Prima Ballerina by SIP and Rosa by Roxana Villa are my favorites. Would love to give one of EnVoyage perfumes a try along with a lovely hydrosol. I have yet to try any of Dabney Roses hydrosols, I hear they are devine. I believe that she will be next on my ever growing list of things to smell.
Please include me the drawing. L’eau de Emblem sounds amazing!
Yum. You keep leadin’ the band.
Would love a chance at this if the giveaway is still open. xo
Please enter me in the draw.I love the smell of rose and this offer to good to resist.
Thank-You
I hope I’m not too late to be entered in the draw. The perfume sounds gorgeous!
And thank you for the reminder on the Pretty Face Spray. i made a note of it a while back and somehow missed going back to it. It’s something I really want to try!