Blue Eden InthelandofApt,intheLuberon,lavenderisstillagenerationalaffair, cultivatedfromfathertoson.Theolfactorycomplexityofthesefragrant furrowsinspirestheperfumeroftheDiorhouse,FrançoisDemachy. Thatlavendersachettuckedbetween thecreakingofflowersunderthesun, Nyons,heselectstheflowersthatwill twostacksofsheetsismorethanacon- swooningfromthehummingofswarm- gointothefutureconcoctionsofthe centrateoffragrance.Eachstemcon- ingbees,theenvoysofpollen.It’sthen finestfragrances.Likethosewhoblend tainsaclusterofmemories,emotions thatyou’dunderstandwhy,inthis champagneandcognaccellarmasters, andlives.Ifyoulistenclosely,youcan majesticProvence,lavender—ablue theyglean,combineandmixlavenders nearlyheartheplantsechoingbackthe that’sfallenfromtheskyandlandedin sothattheirrespectivenotesresonate stepsofStéphaneMorard.Foryears, thefieldslikeashowerofbutterflies— harmoniously. thisfarmerwiththecraggyfaceand hasbecomeasymbol.Thisflower,with Thefamilyofthisplantincludesthe bushhathasbeenfollowinginthefoot- itsolfactoryqualities,itsstrengthonce offspring,thecousins,thehybrids, stepsofhisfather,andeveryday,like it’sbeenconcentrated,andcolorsrang- knownas“commonlavender”— him,heclimbsupahilltoreachthesum- ingfromabluish-mauvetodeeppurple, becausecomparedtotruelavender,with mit.Atanaltitudeof1,000 meters,he enchants,appealsandfascinates. 600molecules,lavandincontainsonly sowsthelavenderplantsthathethen 300,eachwithdistinctessentialoilsand babiesalong:16,000 perhectare,aminia-Lavender & lavandin François differentolfactorystrengthsanddegrees tureforest.Perkupyourearsfurther, Demachy,Dior’s“nose,”thehighpriest ofevaporation.Itisthereforeessentialto andfromthissmallcanvasbagyou’ll ofperfumes,returnsoftentothehillside knowhowtohandle,harmonizeand hearchirpingcicadas,thewindscareen- townofLagarde-d’Apt.WithPhilippe blendthemtoobtainwhatisknownin ingthroughthevalleyand,perhaps, Soguel,anexpertdistillerbasedin theperfumeindustryasa“communelle.” 74