Join me on my journey through the worlds of perfumes and books
Like I said many times before, I’m slow, but I get there in the end (can be applied to my running as well). 😉
So, I finally have a page up with Undina’s great informational post on perfume shopping around the world.
I sincerely hope it comes useful to many a perfumista traveling the world and visiting these places.
Happy sniffing!
Even though we managed to visit and sniff our way through many perfume shops (Serge Lutens, Costes/Iunx, Colette, Rosine, Guerlain, JAR, several stands at Printemps) there are two places that stand out in my mind as the highlights of the trip.
I knew Asali was disappointed we didn’t get to visit Jovoy together in December and we decided this time around, it was one of the non-negotiable stops.
And I now understand completely why someone who’s been there would be disappointed if another perfumista in Paris skipped the store and the experience.
I don’t think my words will do justice to the whole experience. I believe we spent over 2 hours there, taking some time to rest on the couch and sofas located in the back for just that purpose.
Even the espresso we all received upon arrival couldn’t keep us on our feet after the sniff-a-thon we had there.
As Asali is already known there, she was the one discussing perfumes with Monsieur Hénin the most while we slowly worked our way through the store, coming together to check who tried what and sniff each other’s arms and then went on our own again to discover new fragrant wonders.
At some point we all converged on the oud range by Xerjoff and had a lively discussion with Monsieur Hénin there over oud while smelling the Oud Stars. And when I say lively, I mean we all had fun and laughed a lot as Monsieur Hénin is this charming, smiling, elegant man with a slightly wicked sense of humor which he wields as part of his charm. And he even burned oud chips for us. 🙂
If I remember correctly, the whole Xerjoff oud series is very good – there is something to be found for every taste (possibly not wallet). 😉
I will let the girls tell you their side of the story – I just know I’d go to Paris just so I could go and have fun at Jovoy again.
The bottles I came out with were Mona di Orio Vetyver (which I knew I would finally buy in Paris) and Brecourt’s Haram – another oriental for my ever growing collection.
(I should also mention a bag full of samples of everything I wanted to get to know better)
The other place that stands out in my mind as a great smelling experience was a stand at Printemps which holds several collections, among others: Nez a Nez, SoOud, Boadicea and Nasomatto.
Asali is also known there, and she recommended the place as there is a great SA working there who, lucky for us, was there when we arrived.
His name is Alexi(s) (we didn’t get to hear it right) and he also remembered Asali (like Suzanne said, men love her).
So he proceeded to familiarize us with the ranges and we smelled our way through many of the perfumes on display there. At the end of the session I fell madly in love with Nez a Nez Bal Musqué and promptly took the bottle home with me.
In the end, an honorable mention goes to the nice man at the JAR boutique who was very generous with his time since we entered the boutique after its closing time (the doors weren’t locked) and we asked if it would be ok to smell the perfumes even though it was after closing time, and he was very nice and said we had enough time for a quick tour (only it didn’t seem quite that quick and he was displaying the perfumes for the four of us rather elegantly, without any hurry).
The one I fell for is the Bolt of Lightning. It is THE perfume I imagined in my post here. It has that metallic smell of lightning in the warm air and the smell of wet asphalt is in the mix. The fact that all this is possible through white flowers never ceases to amaze me. (I knew the price would amaze me too, so I didn’t even ask) 😉
The pic of all of us in front of Jovoy is Mark’s and Suzanne’s.
I must say, I don’t remember ever so vividly smelling and remembering the period when the linden trees were blooming in Zagreb.And I’m only just becoming aware of the fact, that along the chestnuts, those must the most common trees around Zagreb. Because when you’re walking (or being driven on a motorcycle) you pass through these wonderful linden-smelling parts of the city.
Each time that happens, I try and inhale as much of the scent as I can, it is just so full of memories for me.
So, is it just me or does linden smell a bit wistful to you?
It is quite possible that is just my state of mind…
Some of you might know, and for those who don’t, this Sunday I returned from a 4-day trip to Paris where I got to spend time with perfumista friends, one of which I only knew virtually, one I already met in Paris a few months ago, and a new one. 🙂
Suzanne, Asali, Mark (Suzanne’s husband) and I met on Thursday afternoon and from that point on, we went together on a perfume journey through the streets of Paris – and on a culinary one as well, through the numerous possible choices of bistros, cafes and restaurants (and many other names the French like to call similar establishments).
You already know I met Asali in December, and now I met a pair of perfumistas from across the Atlantic Ocean, I cannot but think that the perfumistas of the world are the most wonderful bunch of people one could ever meet.
In case you were wondering about Suzanne, she is this wonderfully nice, petite and delicate (bossy if you ask Mark) lady.
I still feel ashamed that my first words to her were that I thought she would be taller. It’s just that through her blog and some of the photos there, her strength and character came through so obviously so I somehow added height to that.
And once you meet her, the quiet strength she has is obvious (well, she also doesn’t lack physical strength what with her regular running routine).
Also, her love of the sun, perfumes, reading and writing and her gently inquisitive nature makes talking with her (or just hearing her explain something) a great experience.
Btw, I believe the fact that in my mind I added height to Suzanne has more to do with the fact I wish I didn’t feel big when compared to other women (so I like to refer to my build as Amazonian, that sounds much better). 😉
Mark on the other hand is rather tall, with an inquiring mind, capable hands and teasing personality (it seems he always tries to learn how to do things himself – and he succeeds as well).
We didn’t get to talk much about Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings (we got a little in during one dinner) but he’s obviously as much of a fan of HP as I am since while walking around the city he also noticed an interesting street (this photo is for him). 🙂
So when I say Paris is a place to meet perfumistas, I am including Mark in that as well. He fits the picture perfectly (for the three of us girls you already know we fit the definition).
We had lots of fun sniffing perfumes and each other (for perfumes each of us decided to try) and keeping track of who was wafting what and how come it smelled like this or that. Then we would find a bistro and have a break for something to eat and drink.
Asali called it “nerding” about perfume and I admit, I kept waiting for someone to say, OK, enough of the perfume talk already, but that never happened. 🙂
Some people might not think it, but I found it extremely refreshing not having to curb my perfume enthusiasm and being able to indulge in talking about perfumes to my heart’s content.
Where we went, who we met, and the perfumes we bought, to come in following installments.
With the arrival of The Perfume Lover, there came a little round black bottle containing some of the most potent stuff I ever smelled in my personal fragrant history. The juice in that bottle could be called radio-active due to its strentgh, vibrancy and longevity.
Now my little black bottle is empty (and I’ve read the book), I believe I got to know it well enough to end up seduced by it. 🙂
The book also helped me identify more of the notes and smell the warmth of the drydown which I had problems with in the beginning getting pounced upon by orange blossom and petitgrain. It took me several tries to delve deeper than these notes.
I also think it has something to do with my skin as when I smell the bottle, I have no problem finding incense in there and the warm, full, sweet and rich, slightly ambery, base.
Just reading a review of what this perfume smells like will not prepare you in the slightest for what is to come. Plus, what is coming will last and last and you will have quite a ride before you reach the end.
For me it was a slow seduction, first I got to know the ebullient flowers, then I slowly delved through their depth to find incense coming through with occasional glimpses of metallic saltyness (which I’m guessing was the part meant to evoke blood), only to end up warmly enveloped in the still flowery cocoon of sunrise (possibly a bit drunk when I consider the lingering wafts of my little bottle).
Ok, I just took a look back onto my words and it seems I got more influenced by the book than I thought. 😉
The perfume is coming out soon so you can get ready for being seduced by it.
Notes: petitgrain, petitgrain citronnier, orange blossom absolute, beeswax absolute, incense resinoid, Luisieri lavender absolute and Siam benzoin resinoid.
So, I might be slow, but I get there in the end. 🙂
And here I am, finally having read The Perfume Lover and ready to talk about it. Or, at least try and talk about it.
The name of the book is certainly apt – it is about perfumes and lovers, sometimes combined, at other times trying to get to each other.
As you probably know (it’s rather obvious by the sub-title, A Personal History of Scent) the book is about Denyse’s memory being turned into a perfume, and the path that perfume in making takes. But it’s not only that, it is a highly autobiographical and very personal narrative we dive into from the go.
And it makes you part of it. Which is something I admire in a writer. And the fact that it reads like a novel is just one more thing to like about it.
Now, I’ve entered the perfume world several years ago and since that time, I’ve been learning and sniffing and basically just acquiring more perfume knowledge each day.
That is why it came as a pleasant surprise how many more interesting information I found in this book – not only on perfume, but on many different things.
And then there were the parts I found myself nodding to – yes, I completely understand what duende is supposed to mean; yes, I am also finding it more and more difficult to be moved by a perfume (but that might be just stress in my case); I do see signs, or at least, hints as to what might be a good path to take in life (btw, is it a sign I was a witch in a previous life if burning incense makes me nauseous?); yes, other senses can evoke memories as well as the nose; the IFRA, and so on.
The book also made me long for days of the past I would never be able to live in, made me realize perfumers are everyday people with their jobs, it just so happens that the product of their jobs influences many lives, and that being French (or living as the French) means you will probably find lovers without any problems. 🙂
But, the most clear things that The Perfume Lover showed me were:
1) I could never be a perfumer even if I wanted to
2) My nose is nowhere near as good as I thought it might be
3) I want to live in Paris (ok, I knew that one before) 😉
4) Perfume library is a grand idea
5) I always appreciated the work of Mr. Duchafour, but now I really like him as a person
6) A perfume coming out with a book instead of a blurb makes you really get to know a perfume (and smell it better)
P.S. The cover of that book is just amazing and I was lucky to be provided with the book by Harper and Colilns (along with the sample, with review of that coming up tomorrow – hopefully).
So we’ve come to the end of another adventure with Jean and Locke and how this one ended, I’m wondering how will they both make it into the next book.
But I’m optimistic about Mr. Lynch finding a way around it, even if it’s the easiest one, it was all a ruse.
Ok, onto the questions provided this week by Lynn of the Lynn’s Book blog.
1. Oh my god, such a lot going on I thought the showdown between the Poison Orchid and the Sovereign was brilliantly written and they were holding their own until Utgar and his nasty device turned up. Well a lot of you had kind of predicted it, and I suppose we’d been let off too easy so far in terms of deaths of well-liked characters – but come on, did you expect something like that? And how on earth will Jean ever recover?
I didn’t predict it but I thought those who did were on to something. And it proved correct. And it was even worse because it showed how much she truly loved Jean. My heart just broke.
I don’t want to think about the aftermath. I suffer thinking about Jean just now. I also believe on the outside it will look like he recovered but he will keep suffering for years to come.
Here is where I must say it was some great writing that managed to convey in their short affair the love they felt for each other.
2. The deceit, the betrayal, first Rodanov and then Colvard. Even now I’m not entirely sure I understand Colvard – Rodanov was never keen on the oath but Colvard seemed okay with it all and yet in this final deceit she was more devious than Rodanov – what do you think was her motive?
I know I don’t understand Colvard but I really haven’t thought about her betrayal. I didn’t get a feeling if there was nobody against the plan, she would do something.
She strikes me more as a cunning politician, always getting the best out of a situation without dirtying her hands.
3. Merrain – such a puzzle, no real answer, the mysterious tattoo, the determination to kill everyone to keep her identity and that of her master a secret. Does anybody have any ideas where she’s from and what she’s up to exactly and who the hell is she working for??
I’m afraid here is where I go back to my standard Lynch answer – no idea. 🙂
Hopefully she will turn up again in a future book where we get some more info on her.
4. Finally we get to the point of the GB’s latest scheme, all that elaborate planning for two years, fancy chairs, gambling, dust covered cards, abseiling lessons – all for one gigantic bluff. I loved the diversionary tactic here but having finally reached the end of the story and, more to the point, the end result – do you think the GB’s are as clever as they think they are?
First off, the diversionary tactics were great and the plan to do it also great. BUT (saying this with a huge grin), it once again proves our heroes are young, and no matter how smart they are, they still seem to lack enough experience to make them as clever as they think they are.
I do think they will eventually get there which is where the series will probably end.
5. I must admit that I liked Requin and Selendri – particularly at the end – I don’t think Requin will go after Locke and Jean, he was even sort of cool and composed about it all, in fact he came across as a bit pleased with himself because he had the last laugh. Plenty of good characters this time which did you enjoy reading most about this time?
I don’t think Requin will go after them either. And the end made him really a character I can respect. I had such a laugh when he explained to Selendri why they needed to go to the vault. 😀
Completely unexpected but so funny how he got the last laugh. He is the one who seems to me really to be at the top of his game.
6. Finally, a triple barrel question, I know I shouldn’t ask this BUT, on reflection do you have a favourite between LoLL or RSURS?? And why? Are you going to pick up Republic of Thieves? And, where do you think Lynch will take us to next??
Yes, I consider RSURS a favourite of the two. Not so many shocking deaths of family characters and friends. Female pirates, Locke taking that kitten with them (I knew it!!), a love story (even though a tragic one), games within games, and the bad guys getting their asses kicked in a really satisfying manner…
Definitely my favourite.
But then again, after reading the Republic of Thieves, I will probably change my opinion to reflect my adoration of that book.
Which of course means I am looking forward to reading it. 🙂
As soon as possible.
As a cosmetics addict, it is usual for me to try new things and check how well they work (for me).
Even though some might claim incredible results, using most of them does not have reverse effect than the one stated.
That is, until we come to deodorants.
I used up the Vichy anti-perspirant and rather optimistically, bought some other roll-ons in order to try something else. Plus, the lady who sold me the Vichy told me it’s not supposed to be used all the time (?) as it’s an anti-perspirant, so for some people that obviously means not completely healthy.
The problem I now face is that nothing seems to be working.
For the time being I am pretty sure it’s only me who is bothered by this (careful inquiry with some of my good friends revealed that) but it’s still making me feel uncomfortable and well, smelly.
I know that the most obvious solution is to get another Vichy roll-on (and it’s on its way, Escentuals has them for a great price) but I would still prefer a choice and a change.
So, this is where you come in. 🙂
What is your preferred choice of deodorants (spray, roll-on, stick…) and what is THE deodorant that you cannot live without, one that works incredibly?
P.S. Just to give you a run down of stuff I tried that didn’t work in roll-on variety: Rexona, Dove, Adidas, Nivea, Avon, Biotherm, Balea, Garnier, Neutro Roberts, Rituals, Bourjois, Lancome…
Sprays generally don’t last long enough on me, and I just recently heard some women prefer sticks as those work best for them. I’ll be trying my luck with those next.
Where to start?
A possible YA story of what happened on Roanoke many centuries ago and the curse of it being handed down through generations still living on the island?
Sounds good to me. 🙂
If at times a bit scary which is not something I usually encounter in YA novels, even when they deal with zombies.
Miranda is very mature and serious for her age but then again, her mother died when she was young and her father became an alcoholic so yes, it makes sense she is the way she is.
Of course, she is the main character through whose bloodline the curse is being kept alive. The other part of the puzzle comes packed in a “bad” boy – Phillips.
Well, you can guess where that leads to.
But, in the meantime, we are treated to some funny dialogues, some melodramatic phrases (I really don’t turn my eyes often at dialogues, I mean, I do read romance as a rule, but some parts were really eye-roll worthy here, which I found funny) and some interesting ideas as to what might have happened on Roanoke.
Ok, the interesting ideas are only possible in the paranormal world but they are still interesting.
And, some parts of the story were rather well hidden so you couldn’t guess them. Which is always a plus. A huge plus actually.
As usual, I’m skipping telling you everything what this book is about, there’s much in the story to keep it flowing and interesting.
I really think I should give books I read a scale of how good I find them by either having to read something more interesting in the meantime or reading them straight. This one I read straight through. 🙂
As this is Ms. Bond’s (great surname btw) first book, I am looking forward to those that might come next.
Because her version of paranormal YA verges perfectly on the boundary to really scary and that is something to admire.
My copy of the book was received through Netgalley.
Only one more week left and we’re done. I’m already scared to contemplate what might befall our heroes in this last part (if I’m to go by the previous book) and we ended on a cliff-hanger this wekk.
Whose bloody idea was to it end there?! 😉 (that’s me getting into the pirate character)
This week’s questions were provided by nrlymrtl at Dark Cargo and here are my answers:
1) I was much relieved when Jean and Locke made up, which started with Locke’s gesture of a cup full of honesty with Cpt. Drakasha. Do you think that was hard for Locke? Or was he using this bit of honesty like any other weapon in his arsenal to get what he wants in the end?
Very good question. I really can’t say. But I believe he weighed the pros and cons and decided it might work in their favour if he told Drakasha the truth.
I was very happy to see them make up, too. 🙂
2) The Parlor Passage: We still don’t know Locke’s true name, but whatever was in that mist does. What do you think it is?
Beats me. I wonder if we’ll even get to know (what with Mr. Lynch being rather slow on divulging those type of information).
Possibly something to do with the Elders?
3) There was an interesting section of the book that started about where Locke assisted Drakasha in selling the Red Messenger; he put on the persona of Leocanto Kosta and used the alias Tavras Callas and then Drakasha was still thinking of him as Ravelle….. Did using all those various aliases in such a short amount of time have your mind spinning a little? Do you think Lynch did this on purpose to give the reader a sense of Locke’s mind?
In retrospect, I find it sounds a bit confusing but at the time I had no probelms following the story and I probably ignored the exchange of names as I knew who was saying what and just went with that.
4) That was a sweet little kiss between Cpt. Zamira and Cpt. Jaffrim at the end of the Captains’ Council. Do you think they have some history, or is it just innocent flirting that’s been going on for some time?
I think it’s just some flirting between friends but anything is possible. Even that they were more than friends at one point. They certainly seem only friends now.
5) Jean and Ezri. Cue dove-cooing and little winged hearts with sparkles. Do you think Jean will stay with the Poison Orchid or that Ezri will leave her ship to pal around with Jean and Locke?
I think neither will happen as it seems like a possibility now and everything that seems a possibility to the reader is NOT what is going to happen (at least that was my experience so far).
And unfortunately, after reading many posts last week saying they don’t think Ezri will make it, I’m now scared for her.
6) What is Utgar up to? What are his motivations?
I honestly have no idea. I’m wondering if I’m reading it wrong but it doesn’t seem like what he’s doing is all for evil purposes.
We’ll see.
7) So last week we hashed over that Merrain killed some of Stragos’s guards on Windward Rock. But when Jean and Locke visit him, he doesn’t mention it. What is up with that?
I was wondering about that. And it would be stupid for Jean and Locke to appear without even giving an excuse for the killings if it were them who made them.
I wonder if Stragos suspects Merrain?
8) This week’s section left us where the book began – Jean pointing a crossbow at Locke’s throat. Do you think Jean knows who sent these crossbowers? Is he on their side? Is it a clever ploy to get him and Locke out of this predicament? Did you find it excruciatingly hard to stop here?
Excruciating doesn’t even begin to describe it. 🙂
So far, I had two theories of why Jean would behave like that, and the one where he is upset with Locke over Ezri and the pirates went down the drain during this week’s part, and somehow I no longer believe it’s the Bondsmagi. Although that is still a possibility.
Basically, I have no idea what is happening.
All I am - a redhead 