Saturday…

Awhile back I wrote about Lubin Gin Fizz, which I found via March who made me attend a Zoom Happy Hour hosted by Arielle Shoshana (in the midst of the Happy Hour March texted me, saying ‘you really need to check out the Gin Fizz – it’s you, from the fragrance right down to the bottle’ – she was right, of course…  so I bought a bottle from Arielle.

but this isn’t about Gin Fizz – it’s about Arielle.  And how she runs her eponymous perfumery.  And how she effin’ NAILED it with Saturday.

photo: Amy Shamblen

but in order to tell you about that, I have to tell you what Saturday (the day) means to me – I know for a lot of people (including Nancy Kwan, Jack Soo and Mel Torme) it’s Sunday – but for me, Saturday is the most relaxed day of the week.  And because if you’re a farmer every day is Monday, it’s a supremely ‘urban’ day –  it’s a farmer’s market, meeting friends for lunch and a quick shop…maybe an errand or two… but it’s relaxing because there’s still Sunday to come!  Of course, I work a basic M-F week, so Saturday morning is what I look forward to on a Friday night.  My beloved Ahmad Jamal wrote a beautiful tune called ‘Saturday Morning‘ which is the essence of going down the steps of your brownstone, coffee in hand and dog on leash (unless you have my dog, then the dog stays home), to get to the market before all the fresh croissants are gone .

So.  How do I know about Arielle’s Saturday?  Because… guess what?  When you buy from Arielle, she actually thinks about your purchase and attempts to give you samples that reflect that interest!  And the woman knows her perfumes!  She also sent a Vilhelm (Basilico & Fellini) that is amazing!!   Perfect for me!   So… March?  She got Sunday because spices and warmth.  I got the bubbly, relaxed Saturday, crafted by perfumer Cecile Hua, with it’s stunning passionfruit note that just says Saturday in July ….. Saturday has a tropical/urban vibe  – you are taking a sliver of passionfruit from a market vendor and look up to see…Keanu Reeves??

and why not?  😉

Hey, it could happen! Put that passionfruit and those peaches in the back of the Jeep, roll the top down, roll on out of town, up the coast to someplace with good coffee and great conversation… a hint of things to come?  It’s a lot to ask of a perfume but Saturday comes through, from start to drydown.  Notes (listed, per Fragrantica) are:  Passion Fruit, Grapefruit, Rhubarb, Mandarin, Peach, Saffron, Pink Pepper, Cardamom, Magnolia, Sandalwood, Ambroxan, Vanilla, Vetiver Bourbon, Iris, Musk.  Which is pretty much me on a Saturday – in a bottle! (N.B. the reviews on Fragrantica are spot-on, imo, though I’m surprised no one makes a Calyx comparison.  Then I remembered:  Calyx was launched in the late 80s which makes it nearly vintage – much like me.  Maybe the reviewers are too young to remember it?  Anyhoo, it has many of the same notes (though, apparently Calyx’s passionfruit note is synthetic and not a CO2 extraction) but I like the zingier, less-syrupy  vibe of Saturday a bit better.

I wore this last Saturday morning, in 70F weather, while driving to Peoria (nearest ‘urban’) and listening to Master Ahmad’s Saturday Morning – it’s a wonder I didn’t drive off into a field, I was that delirious! Part of it is, I think, that I am not as evolved as other humans – I’m totally diurnal; come nightfall (especially in the cold) you will find me, not in front of a fireplace, but in bed, out cold! Which is why I was confused by Arielle’s reference to Saturday NIGHT – but she is a) more evolved and b) she works retail! – so Saturday morning is WORK!  I forgive her (even though she’s wa-ronnng! 😉  To be honest, I don’t think it matters if you wear this on a Tuesday afternoon, in -20F temps!  It’s so… carefree!  that it will immediately transport you to that  farmers market in July.

btw – for a more coherent review, check out Portia’s take on it (and Arielle) here. (hint:  She. Wuz. RIGHT! 😉

Arielle, who is the embodiment of graciousness, has graciously agreed to send a sample of Saturday to a lucky commenter.  Two things:  leave me and The Girl a comment, telling me your favorite day of the week (would love to know why… because Nosy) and also, you must agree to me sharing your intel with Arielle, since she’s sending out the sample.