There Is a Rose In Zurich Switzerland: Andy Tauer’s Une Chypree Rose

After reviewing Andy Tauer's perfume Incense Rose in 2007, I had my first "personal interaction" with him: a dozen beautiful long-stem roses arrived at my door.

His latest "rose," Une Rose Chypree, is the first in his new line - christened by one of his followers as ‘Les Memorables’ - and was created very much in the classic manner of fine perfumery. “I planted the Rose chyprée many months ago in my perfume garden," explains Tauer about why this is a rose like no other. "I worked on its appearance for a year. I caressed its first buds showing up in spring, nourished it all summer and protected it from winter’s icy grip. I gave this rose all my love and did not count my hours when being with her. This rose has never seen a chart board with marketing figures in a meeting room. It is pure and honest. My rose does not shout out 'I am art,' because it knows that modesty is a shiny dress”.

Andy’s own modesty aside, this is a future classic… and belongs in everyone’s rose garden.

Trying to understand the beauty of Une Rose Chypree by its notes is like reading a recipe without tasting the result. However, for those of you who are obsessive ‘note-takers’: Rosa damascena absolute and essential oil, bay, cinnamon, bergamot, lemon, Clementine, Bourbon geranium, labdanum, oak moss, patchouli, vetiver, and vanilla. Due to new prohibitive regulations limiting raw materials imposed by those who regulate such things (called IFRA) and based on the high quality ingredients Tauer uses in all his fragrances, Une Rose Chypree is sold in 15ml flacons, so everyone can afford a ‘work of art’.

Born in Zurich, and thrust into the spotlight by a five star review by Luca Turin for his L’Air du desert marocain - which Mr. Turin wore to his wedding to Tania Sanchez - Andy is not only incredibly humble and a talented self-taught perfumer, but an open and giving individual who invites ‘just regular people’ to help him name his fragrances and give opinions on his product. When a snarky blogger recently wrote a scathing review about the "poor quality" of Tauer's packaging - misinformed, pompous and with no idea that Andy had two jobs, limited funds and did it all, from the artwork to packing the boxes, his fingers sticky with glue - with his usual humility, Andy invited the nasty blogger to continue to critique his packaging. Voila, another new friend and advocate.

His every day is chronicled on his blog, TauerPerfumes.com/blog and he invites one and all to post feedback. So be sure to post a comment on his blog; I promise you, he answers every single post.

Un Rose Chypree is available for $65 (15ml) at Luckyscent.com & First-in-Fragrance.com.

- Michelyn Camen

Fashiontribes Editor-at-Large Michelyn Camen is a New York City based writer and consultant who is a former Brandweek Marketer of the Year and Ad Age 100 recipient. She slipped off her power suit to pursue her passion for beauty and fragrance. Camen is a fragrance specialist and the owner of FifthSense N.Y.C., where she consults for niche luxury, fashion, beauty and fragrance companies. She is an Editor for Fragrantica.com, the Fragrance Editor for UptownSocial.net, the former Senior Contributing Writer for Sniffapalooza Magazine, the former New in Niche Columnist for Basenotes and was the Editorial Director for Beauty News NYC & LA. Email her at fifthsensenyc@aol.com or Michelyn AT Fashiontribes DOT com.