bronzebutterfli – Bronze Butterfly

As promised, I wanted to share some additional photos from my visit to the Embassy of Chad during the 2024 Around The World Passport DC event. Previously, I discussed what you can expect during the first week of the event, and some strategies for maximizing your time at the participating embassies. However, I was moved by the striking artwork at the Embassy of Chad, and I felt the art deserved its own post.

The Embassy of Chad is one of the smaller spaces on Embassy Row, but don’t let that fool you: within the modest space was a gracious staff and a powerful art exhibit. The embassy’s walls featured the art of Doff, a Chadian artist that uses trash and other found materials to tenderly capture the beauty and heartbreak of life in Chad.

Caption under “Flower of Evil”, detailing the artist’s inspiration

Flower of Evil , 2024 (Made of bullet fragments)

The pieces masterfully use materials as their own storytelling devices, a tactic used with gut-wrenching effectiveness. One piece in particular, “Flower of Evil” is composed of used bullet casings, a clear reference to the warfare that has haunted Chad in previous decades.

Artist’s commentary on the importance of women in Africa

The intricate metal work, heartwarming depictions, and intimate understanding of the heart and soul of his people all make Doff an artist to watch. He has a gift that allows viewers to not only enjoy the art for what it is, but also prompts the audience to think behind the aesthetic and technical skill on display in each piece.

Artist’s comments that contrast the violence of male adulthood to the tender playfulness of childhood

I’m so glad that I took the time to visit this embassy, and I look forward to visiting them again.

Perfumes have really been a mood lifter for me recently, and I’m so happy that I’ve had this very long streak of delightful scent purchases. I’m always interested in fragrances that can tell a story, and this lovely one is no different.

I got Rare Vanilla Blossom by Jones New York from Marshall’s last year, and what a buy this was! The bottle is substantial – 3.4 fluid ounces, or 100 mL- and it only cost $12.99 USD, Because this came from a discount store, I cannot guarantee you’ll be able to find it for the same price, but it is available at Walmart.com, so if you’re interested, you can pick it up from there.

I’ll share the notes, how long I could smell it on my skin, and overall first impressions. Here are the notes as listed by Walmart:

Mandarin & lemon blossom
Jungle lily & Vanilla bouquet
Musk & Brown Sugar

I was excited to see that musk and vanilla are some of the notes in here, but my excitement turned to something much . . . milder. While I could pick up on the musk and vanilla, the brown sugar was the most prominent note to my nose. If you don’t like gourmands, avoid this one: there isn’t enough lily or musk to balance against the sweetness of the vanilla and brown sugar. However, if you love gourmands, this may be a scent worth checking out!

I found that I had to reapply this a couple of times. I understand going “nose blind”, but this was not the case, and I wasn’t surprised: I generally don’t get fantastic wear time from any vanilla perfume unless I layer generously with complementary products. So, I tried wearing it alone, and I also tried layering it, and it still didn’t last very long. I was a bit discouraged that I didn’t get significant wear time, but I am realistic about value for dollars, and for the price, I’m not surprised it didn’t last as long as I prefer. Fortunately, this bottle has a lot of product, so you can spray a lot and it will take a while before you exhaust your supply.

I loved that this came is a lovely, heavy glass bottle and it looks elegant on my vanity. It has very luxurious packaging: my weakness! It smelled cozy, like warm baked goods, and does a great dance between timid and syrupy sweet. Because it’s so gourmand forward, I would wear it more during the cooler months than in the summer. However, vanilla and brown sugar are fairly versatile notes, so if you really enjoy this scent profile, it can easily be worn during the warmer months, too. I enjoyed it, though I wouldn’t purchase again (it just didn’t suit my personal scent preferences). I’d also gift this to some of my family or friends that enjoy smelling like caramel candies.

If you want to see my video review on this, here you go:

That’s it for Jones New York’s Rare Vanilla Blossom? Do you have it? What do you think of it? I’d love to hear your comments!

Tag: bronzebutterfli

International Artist: Doff at the Embassy of Chad

Perfume Review – Rare Vanilla Blossom by Jones New York Signature