Notes: grapefruit essence, champagne accord, cherry lollipop accord, violet leaves absolute, orris absolute, orris butter, leather accord, vetyver accord, musk, tonka beans absolute. The first time he sees her, it's a party, & he senses something special in the air. He looks for the source of exuberance, & he is rewarded with only a fleeting glimpse of a woman in a minidress & sky-high stilettos, but she leaves in her wake an array of glorious contradictions: soft & cool, delicate & earthy. She is a star & he's dazzled. He sees her again, at another party. It's a benefit this time, an event marked by luxury & compassion. She passes his table with its iris centerpiece, & like the precious iris she evokes elegance & grace. She illuminates the room, & he wants to follow the light. & he does, to a cavernous club, where the uptown girl has become a downtown diva. In leather jacket & ballerinas, in the sweet madness of the moment, she is an urban fairy, waving a bottle of champagne like a magic w&. She can dance on tables & sing on subway platforms & draw everyone into her bewitching aura. For one brief spell-binding moment, their eyes meet, & now he is completely enchanted. He finds her again, at an exhibition in a gallery. Surrounded by art, artists, art connoisseurs, she points to a painting: an iris bouquet, a bowl of cherries, a bottle of champagne, illustrations encompassed in a leather frame, & in her presence a still life Bendelirious becomes real life. She gestures, she speaks, she is at work. But the passion of her voice & the faces of those around her tell him he is also at a party. When he moves closer, he realises that a fragrance too can be art
- & unforgettable. Like the smile she gives him now. & days later, with the memory of that smile & that scent still in his mind, he gets into a taxi & catches his breath. She was there. ' Where to?' the driver asks. ' To her, ' he replies. The driver understands, & takes him to the destination of his last passenger. It's a party, of course, but this time he sees children, a clown, a birthday cake, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey & musical chairs. With the light of recognition in her eyes & a cherry lollipop in her h&, she invites him to join the celebration. Tonight, he will take her to a restaurant, & when the headwaiter asks 'party of two?' he can reply in complete confidence, 'yes.' Because now he knows that wherever she is, wherever she goes, it's a party.