NEW Aftelier Perfumes Honeysuckle Face Elixir | Review

Press Sample (Unaffiliated Links)

That Mandy Aftel has raised the bar in the realm of exceptional beauty oils should come as no surprise. Her new creation, Aftelier Honeysuckle Face Elixir, is less a beauty oil, and more a work of art of exceptional rarity. Indeed, this is perhaps the singular beauty oil against which all other beauty oils will be judged in perpetuity. Aftel describes the Honeysuckle Face Elixir as one that, "features rare honeysuckle absolute from Italy, extracted from the creamy white and yellow trumpet flowers. This sweet heavenly aroma is intoxicating, honeyed, and reminiscent of ripe fruit."

There is an immediate sense of the pricelessness of this rare Italian Honeysuckle Absolute that, to my sensibilities, links it to a tradition of cultivating exquisite raw materials from the fertile land in Italy, and that can only be unlocked by the creative genius of a true artist. Mandy releases the true potential of this rare ingredient because of her particular deep understanding of the materials with which she engages, and does so in the same way that Michelangelo was able to free his sculpture from his raw blocks of Carrara marble. He was able to envisage what lay beneath the unhewn block and through his creative genius and deft touch was able to unlock its great potential that in the hands of anyone else would not come to pass.

It is in this way that Mandy was able to coax from this rare Italian Honeysuckle Absolute, and bring to fruition, something so unique and singular, so unfathomably beautiful and elegant, and so extraordinary in vision, and exquisite in its execution. It is, unmistakably, a peerless creation, and as such it cannot be compared to any luxury oils on the market– even those created by the master herself.

This triumphant achievement is immediately obvious the moment that you open the bottle and take the first deep inhalation of this intoxicating golden elixir. The rich and creamy honeysuckle has a depth and complexity that unfurls slowly, and once it commingles with the warmth of the skin it graciously expands and delights. This is by no means an ordinary Honeysuckle, and while one may lay the claim to being an avid lover of honeysuckle generally, one most assuredly has not encountered this one anywhere else. 

Mandy's beauty oils have soul. They are almost like little beings unto themselves, and to try to capture their dynamic complexity is no small feat. While photographing them, one is struck by the delicate play of light that dances through the oil and creates a celestial haloed effect.

Somehow the chiaroscuro effect created by the juxtaposition of the golden light to the deep shadows seems to capture some of the inherent beauty of this sublime masterpiece.

Aftel asserts, "Aftelier elixirs are a luxurious combination of fragrance and richly nourishing ingredients; they leave a veil of fragrance on your skin or in your hair that mixes beautifully with your body chemistry." Indeed, her elixirs are only possible as a result of the imaginings of a renown atelier perfumer who innately and intuitively understands how to reveal the potential of each precious scent, and how to pair it with others to create never before seen or smelled essences.

According to Aftel,

Our antioxidant rich face elixirs comfort your skin and promote cell regeneration. 
 Our lightweight face elixir is immediately absorbed softening and conditioning your skin. Use on your clean face before bed, and drift off to sleep in a light veil of fragrance that promotes relaxation. When you wake up, your skin will feel wonderfully nourished and revitalized. 
 Mandy creates them from the following organic oils:
 - Organic grapeseed and organic sweet almond, rich in vitamins and minerals, helps tone the skin
 - Organic rice bran oil reduces the formation of wrinkles and slows down aging - Organic squalane helps hydrate and protect the skin, encourages regeneration of healthy skin cells, and prevents premature aging of the skin
 - Organic camellia oil, rich in anti-oxidants and vitamin E - Organic rose hip oil improves elasticity and has a rejuvenating effect on the skin.

This fresh floral oil is immediately moisturizing, softening, and conditioning. Furthermore, 
skin is left hydrated, plumped and luminous. It is luscious to use, and the benefits to the skin
are truly remarkable.

Aftel continues,

This fresh and floral organic nourishing treatment for the face is immediately moisturizing, softening, and conditioning. Features rare honeysuckle absolute from Italy, extracted from the creamy white and yellow trumpet flowers. This sweet heavenly aroma is intoxicating, honeyed, and reminiscent of ripe fruit. Drifting off to sleep inhaling this gorgeous aroma makes you feel as if all is right in the world.

All of these oils are healing and promote cell regeneration. This fresh and floral nourishing treatment for the face is immediately moisturizing, softening, and conditioning.

Add some drops of the elixir to your fingertips and gently pat into your clean face before bed. This lightweight non-greasy formula absorbs quickly into your skin. You will drift off to sleep, in a light veil of fragrance that soothes and relaxes. When you wake up, your skin will feel wonderfully nourished and revitalized.

Lonicera Caprifolium (source)

I have been using Aftelier Organic Honeysuckle Face Elixir both day and night since the day that it arrived, and not only because I was going to review it, but largely because it is so extraordinary that I simply cannot control my impulse to use it. If it were a perfume I would wear it, if it were a house I would live in it– it is, simply put, so extraordinary that I crave it. 

Of course it does all of the magical things that only Mandy's Face Elixirs are capable of, but this rare Italian Honeysuckle beckons me like nothing before. It is intoxicatingly beautiful, and neither too sweet, nor too predictably floral. It occupies some liminal space between waking life and dreamscapes: it is tantamount to the discovery of mythological creature, but one that actually exists. 

My effusive description of this luxurious oil is, if anything, understated. This elixir is less to be described, and more to be experienced. As I stated before this review must now be underscored:

I knew it was going to be spectacular, but it’s miraculous! If you love luxury face oils-- then you must try this golden gem!

Attributes of the carefully selected oils:

• Organic grapeseed and organic sweet almond, rich in vitamins and minerals, helps tone the skin

• Organic rice bran oil reduces the formation of wrinkles and slows down aging
• Organic squalane helps hydrate and protect the skin, encourages regeneration of healthy skin cells, and prevents premature aging of the skin

• Organic camellia oil, rich in anti-oxidants and vitamin E
• Organic rose hip oil improves elasticity and has a rejuvenating effect on the skin 

It should be noted that Mandy carefully scrutinizes the quality of each of the ingredients used and will only use those of the highest quality available.

This luxurious Face Elixir is very concentrated– therefore only a few drops are required to massage into the face, neck and décolleté. I apply it to slightly damp freshly cleansed skin, and this non-greasy golden elixir sinks in quickly leaving behind the glorious veil of its sumptuous aroma.

Skin is left glistening and revitalized.

The glorious scent envelopes and enraptures the senses while it quiets the mind. This is an experiential luxury face oil that has no equivalent.

In the oversaturated face oil market, and one rife with dilettante creators of so-called luxury oils, there are but a few that truly stand out. Mandy Aftel categorically makes among the very finest beauty oils that the market has ever seen. It is a combination of her rarefied knowledge, scholarly research, cultivated skill set, creative genius and extraordinary artistry that sets her creations apart from the other beauty oils on the market.

Mandy Aftel, an award-winning all-natural perfumer and author, creates each of her extraordinary fragrances and Elixirs by hand in small batches in her Berkeley, California studio.

Aftelier Perfumes also offers Organic Rose Face Elixir (reviewed here) and Organic Ylang Face Elixir (reviewed here).

Overall Assessment: Aftelier Perfumes Honeysuckle Face Elixir is a breathtaking achievement, and I assure you that you have never tried anything even remotely similar to this sublime rare jewel. This soulful elixir nourishes the skin while it feeds the soul and spirit, and for this reason it is well worth experiencing for yourself.

Organic Honeysuckle Face Elixir is available in a 15 ml dropper bottle ($65), and a sample size ($6) at www.aftelier.com. (Unaffiliated Links)

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.
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