I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but upon hearing I’m going alone to Paris, my mother said she’d like to come as well (she was never there).
I am so glad she decided to come, even though the 3 days aren’t even close enough for someone who is there for the first time to see anything. But she had fun.
So, I spent the Saturday morning walking around (and getting a bit lost) with my mother, then headed to meet with Asali at 3, before we went together to meet Denyse for coffee.
We were meeting at a bistro at Palais Royale, the most easiest to find if you remember correctly the instructions from the email (which I didn’t). But we found it (and a nice French guy even googled the location to help us). 🙂
And let me tell you, time spent with Denyse flies by. She wasn’t as I imagined her from her blog writings, she is very gregarious, smiling, vivacious and interesting to talk to (or just listen to). I feel Asali and I were lucky as she brought with herself, two of the creations she tried at the IFF Speed-smelling lunch she talked about on her blog.
I was much more impressed with Citizen K than with Yamazaki Idylle, which I wouldn’t mind drinking but well, the Idylle from the name is one of the Guerlains I’m not in love with. Citizen K on the other hand, I seriously hope will become widely available (if we’re lucky).
After coffee, of course we proceeded to Serge Lutens.
I was there only once 3 years ago and I was the only one there. This time around, there were a lot of people inside and people kept coming and going. It was a bit crowded.
I wasn’t interested in buying a bottle (except the Christmas present for my boyfriend) because as my company is located in Slovenia (the EU), SLs are always available for ordering.
I smelled many, learned I really like El Attarine and was careful not to get too close to Un Bois Vanille so it wouldn’t follow me home. 🙂
Denyse suggested one more stop after Serge Lutens, so she took us to the Iunx shop. She and Asali kept talking about the name and I kept thinking, how come I’ve never heard of this line before?!
Well, that happens when all you ever do with names is read them somewhere and don’t pronounce them. 🙂
Once we were in front of the shop and I saw the name in writing, everything fell into place.
(from now on, I’m pronouncing brand names loudly – except possibly for Xerjoff)
The shop only carries two lines – Iunx and Costes.
The Iunx perfumes are located in these strange tubes which release scent when you put your nose close to them. It’s actually a great way for getting a good smell. Too great as I learned I really enjoy the tubes containing Eau Frappee, Eau Baptiste and Splash Forte.
The very good-looking girl SA told me that my choices range all over (which they do) but each of them is unique and interesting and now I need to get myself samples so I can get to know them better.
In the end I walked out with Costes 1. 🙂 The winner of the day (and quite economical when compared to other perfumes I liked that weekend).
We said our good-byes to denyse and hopefully, there will be another chance in the future to visit perfume shops in Paris with her explaining all the details and background.
Tagged: Paris, Serge Lutens
All I am - a redhead 
Another enjoyable instalment of your Paris report, and how interesting to meet Denyse and smell those scents from the IFF event. I have been to that SL shop and the IUNX one. I was served at IUNX by a man from the South of Ireland who could have talked the hind leg off a donkey, and so it was that I walked out with Eau Frappee! Did your mum go off and do the sights or go shopping while you focused on the perfume side of things? I assumed you split up at certain points in the day. I took my mum to Paris once, but it was "pre-perfume", so we were tourists together the whole time! Would be so strange for me now to visit Paris and just see museums and the Eiffel Tower etc!
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Wow, you really made the most of your trip, taking along your mom and meeting with Denyse. Not to mention sniffing a lot of great 'fumes. I don't blame you for not wanting to bump into Un Bois Vanille at Serge Lutens … it's one of the few SL's I don't care for. (And it definitely would try to follow you home if you got too close.) 🙂
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I'm not familiar with these two brands – either in written or oral form. I should either travel or at least read more :)it sounds like a very nice trip. And you brought back a perfect bounty.
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Vanessa, yes, my mum went off on her own to do some sightseeing while I was off with the girls on my sniffing quest. :)Eau Frappee made my Iunx shortlist – see, there are perfumes where we overlap. 🙂
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Actually Suzanne, I didn't want to come near Un Bois Vanille in order not to succumb and walk out with a bottle (I still have a little decant of it). I actually adore that stuff (but spent enough money on other things so this one wasn't in the picture). :)And I'm glad it sounds like I made the most of the trip because I had even more plans but the time just flew by. Still, I managed to do all the things that were most important to me.
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Thanks Undina! These 2 brands shouldn't be too difficult to either overlook or get to know better – Costes has only 2 perfumes, and Iunx has 6 I believe (possibly 7).P.S. I'm very happy with my bounty. 🙂
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I would love to be in a room with all those bell jars, Ines. Too bad it was so crowded. That's so great you got to meet Denyse. It's interesting to learn that she is so gregarious as I didn't imagine that from reading Grain de Musc either. Not that that is a bad thing, I just imagined her as a bit of a Femme Fatale!Regarding Asali's issues with green perfumes mentioned in Part 1, can I just recommend Trefle Pur by Atelier Cologne? It works for me!
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Thanks for your recommendation Tara, I'll try and look out for Trefle Pur. It's not so much an issue as in not liking, it's more like that the green ones tend to wander of in a (too) floral or sometimes too lively direction for me to be entirely comfortable with them. Or are perfectly nice, but just don't seem to be what I fall for. I am all together happier as soon as they have a little spice, or wood or…And then we get away from green again;-)Thanks for this instalment Ines, I seriously loved L'Ether at Iunx, it's going on my WL:-)
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That's me in the reflection in the Serge Lutens boutique. I took it in April this year. .
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I was not able to comment, but had a lot of fun following your trip to Paris. It sounds like a wonderful time, and I'm glad you got a few treats. Un Crime Exotique is very festive for this time of year!
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Tara, I imagined her as a French femme fatale as well. 🙂 Although, I'm pretty sure she can fill that role quite well too. ;)Being at Serge boutique is fun any time. I was just surprised that it can get crowded -somehow I stilll thought of it as a good secret.
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Asali, you have your Iunx wishlist, I have mine, and luckily they are not the same, which means we can share the spoils. 😉
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Hi Saif, I guess that means you were luckier than we were as you could take the photo in what seems the empty SL boutique.I'd be happy to add a reference to you as the picture owner – should I put it to your blog link? Or, if you prefer, I can take it down as well.
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Dear apb, it was a wonderful time. And it keeps me calm and sane through the stressful time I'm going through now.
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Ines, I just saw your comment. I hope that you are not having too, too much stress. Sending calm thoughts your way!
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Apb, thank you very much! :)It should be over in a month or so (and it's mostly my fault for not doing it while there was more time).
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There is definately a great deal to know about this subject.
I love all of the points you have made.
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