| Acadian Homecoming™ Balanced Blend™ Exotic woods and cajun spices, with a promise of sweet sensuality and erotic mysticism, grounded in strength with just a hint of fresh green notes for balance. It is at once stimulating and relaxing; hypnotic and grounding; a delightful and heady experience for both men and women. We've named this scent for a mystical place and, indeed, with a particular person in mind... Alfred “Big Al” Taplet. In honor of that place, and to benefit the people that were swept away, we will donate all profits from the sale of this item to Gulf Region Hurricane Relief[1]. This is an original scent, our very first Balanced Blend™ formulation, with 50% pure Essential oils, and an exclusive of The Scent Works... not to be found elsewhere. None of our contract perfumers know the formula; just us! ;o) Rich fragrances are meticulously blended and carefully balanced with pure Essential oils. Based on notes of Cedar, Tonka Bean, Benzoin, Vetiver and Black Pepper. Middle notes include Vanilla Absolute, Myrrh and Sweetgrass, and topped with Turkish Rose, Italian Bergamot, and a hint of Cardamom and Nutmeg. Packaged in amber glass containers. Characteristics & Performance
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About the artist: “Big Al” Taplet.  Born in 1934 and reared in New Orleans, LA, Alfred “Big Al” Taplet started shining shoes around Jackson Square more years ago than he cares to remember. Once a fixture in New Orleans, he used to hang his fun, silly, brightly colored hand-painted signs advertising his services on the black iron fence and in the trees along St. Ann Street where he'd set up his shoeshine stand. Soon, he found that tourists and folk art collectors were more interested in his artwork than in having their shoes shined. Thus, his unexpected artistic career began.
Al's twin brother, Alvin “Little Al” Taplet, used to tear down buildings for a living and would supply Big Al with the pieces of slate that he'd paint. Big Al's slogan-bearing signs had everything from “I'll make your soul like gold” to “Jesus says, ‘Let Big Al shine your shoes’”. Big Al's Shoe Shine Shop became a popular tourist spot for his artwork, which covered the walls, and you could still get a shoe shine if you liked. Today, however, Big Al's is no more. His shop, along with most of the area has been destroyed, damaged beyond repair, or otherwise rendered uninhabitable by the ravages of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita which have devastated the Gulf Coast Region. Nevertheless, we've learned that both Alfred and Alvin are alive and well in Houston, TX, living with a most generous family there while the apartment they have rented is made ready to receive them. Here's wishing “Big Al” and his brother G_d speed and <with a swift rebuilding> a sweet homecoming. On display at the top of the page is a sample of Big Al Taplet's art work. Entitled “Walkin to New Orleans,” from our personal collection <and inscribed by ‘Big Al’ on the back to our daughter>, it was obtained on one of our too-few trips to that lovely, mysterious, once-vibrant and now-devastated city. Alfred “Big Al” Taplet is listed in the Rosenak reference book "Contemporary American Folk Art, A Collector's Guide"[2] as well as the book "Self Taught, Outsider and Folk Art"[3] by Betty-Carol Sellen. Footnotes: [1] In addition to other donations we have already made, The Scent Works will chose, in our sole discretion and in relation to this particular product, an established and trustworthy organization that provides 100% of all monies donated towards the relief effort in the U.S. Gulf Coast region as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. [2] Rosenak, Chuck, and Jan Rosenak. Contemporary American Folk Art: A Collector's Guide. Abbeville Press, 1996. [3] Sellen, Betty-Carol, with Cynthia Johanson. Self Taught, Outsider, and Folk Art: A Guide to American Artists, Locations and Resources. McFarland & Company, 1999. “Acadian Homecoming” and “Balanced Blend” are trademarks, and “The Scent Works” is a registered trademark, of Kelsey Associates, LLC. © 2005-2011. All rights reserved. U: 01-09-2007. |