Monthly Archives: July 2010

Perfume thoughts

Perfume thoughts July 6, 2010 Comments: 8

I am getting ready to get back to my usual posting schedule and go back to my sample to the day posts. I’ve been sampling those samples (for the lack of a diferent word) lately but just don’t yet feel like writing as often as I used to. Or doing much except reading Harry Potter. It somehow feels like with the end of the series, I’ll be back to almost my usual self.

But that’s not what I was going to write about today. My thoughts today are centered around vintage perfumes. Because I realized yesterday, I went completely wrong way when trying to understand their whole appeal. In my case that was the chypre road. Since I don’t appreaciate chypres at all (yet – I’m sure I’ll get there eventually), that was a completely wrong road for me. As evidenced by Carol’s packages containing some of her wonderful finds. She told me in an email to my statement that I finally understand all that love toward vintage stuff because they smell the way perfume in my mind is supposed to that stuff today just pales in comparison. And that is just plain true. Where did that perfume artistry go, I have no idea, but I do wish someone would bring it back. I mean, the market today is so large, I’m sure there would be quite enough buyers of perfumes as they used to be.

And the perfume that initialized this realization was of course one of Carol’s. The Rose Quad (that would be the grassy one). I am still baffled by this new-found rose love I seem to have developed. Have no idea how it came about but now I also know I love vintage perfume. Oh, I’m sure there will be quite a lot of those I won’t like but there are those that will make sniffing of those not terribly great worthwhile.

And a leaving thought. Do you ever experience a scent you wore and thought you knew display a new note or feature? That happened to me today. I put on Etro’s Lemon Sorbet and suddenly I was walking in a cloud of meadow flowers (for a couple of minutes only). I have no idea where it came from but it was thoroughly enjoyable. 🙂

A new fig for me!

World of Perfume July 1, 2010 Comments: 12

As those of you who follow my blog already probably know, I really love figs in my perfumes. So it was with great enthusiasm that I tried today IO by Carthusia (di Capri) – I’m a bit lost with their name(s).  I can never pass a sale so when there was a sale at Carol’s Niche Place, I took advantage of that (and of the fact that you can take some of her vintage finds if you’re fast). 🙂 But I haven’t yet smelled all those.
Notes: fig, mint, tea.

Hm, I thought there would be more notes. I mean, it smelled to me like there were more notes in there. Not a typically figgy scent. I mean, not like those I already have. The mint in the beginning is unmistakeable. Not that I mind. I like mint in my perfume. It gives this a fresh, breezy-cold feel and if you know it’s there, you can catch the fig on that breeze while it’s lightly cooling you. Btw, tea note completely passed me by. I thought there was something flowery in this, but tea didn’t occur to me. Oh, well. I did get the breeze that was blowing by the sea while carrying the fig note. I really enjoyed that part.

Then, a bit unfortunately, the soapy bit happened. It really wasn’t that bad. Actually, it wasn’t bad at all (just soapy a bit) – reminded me of a smell from my childhood and a shampoo my grandmother used to use when washing our hair (there were 4 of us, her grandchildren).  Anyway, I can happily testify to it going away and drydown finally letting the fig come out. The way it comes out in other perfumes at the beginning.

So, I can’t say I was blown off my feet but I did like it very much and will definitely use my bottle. All fig scents I have are things I can wear when I don’t want to think much about what am I going to wear but just want to leave the house smelling nice.
IO will fit nicely into my collection since it is different from the others I have.

Pic by: http://www.punmiris.com/