I’m back

I've been thinking, World of Perfume August 20, 2014 Comments: 11

From my vacation and basically all I can say is – it’s been amazing! 🙂

I’ve had the best vacation ever (at least that I can remember at the moment).

Copenhagen was amazing, the Danes are really such nice, warm, smiling people even though their country is very expensive. But I loved every second of it, especially the time I got to spend with wonderfully nice Asali (chatting about life, perfumes and everything we could think of).

The island of Vis is really the place where unexpected happens in the best of ways. I’ll be seeing that island again.

Also, very little sleep happens there. 😉

And last but not least, the place where you go to rest, Smokvica with friends one considers family.

My mind is relaxed, I am happy and life has been good to me.

To be continued with a short travelogue of all these places…

 

I’m not gone just a bit MIA

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume July 20, 2014 Comments: 32

Dear readers, I feel like last couple of years all I do is plan on writing more and it always seems like I write less. 🙂

I don’t really have a good explanation why that happens as I have many perfumes in my queue I would love to write about, it just seems that life has some other plans that unfortunately intervene in the meantime. Life is usually unpredictable like that. 😉nev1

The last few months have been rather tumultuous when it comes to my life, what with the quantity of work I had to do, what with separation from my long-term boyfriend, and then finally with enrolling to get my driver’s licence. And that is just the three largest things that come to mind.

As none of that is finished yet, I am sincerely hoping I organize my time and mind in a manner that allows me to write (and smell) more.

That said, I will be finally getting some well deserved peace of mind and rest when my vacation starts on the 30th (of July). Luckily, that is not far away.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with some general perfume thoughts I’ve been having lately:

  • I’m not really happy with the new L’Artisans even though they are Duchafour’s work
  • I am rather happy though with Cologne du Maghreb and finally understand Andy’s idea of spraying your body with a lot of cologne, works like magic! 🙂
  • The Scented Hound sent some amazing perfumes for me to try (and I did), now all I need is to give them more time and write about them
  • The longer I’m in this perfume world, the more I am starting to lean towards old style perfumery – French classics are taking over my heart
  • Helped by the new Coco Chanel biography I’m reading (well, I just started) – I have a feeling it will be a good one
  • Also, I really, really want to find an old version of Chanel 5 (see previous bullet) 🙂
  • And Paris has been on my mind lately for several reasons, perfumes, Coco Chanel and I’m re-reading Angelique, La Marquise des Anges after I saw the new movie (beats me why it got such bad reviews…)

 

P.S. The picture is of the weather we have once a week here (give or take a few days). It’s also a bit what my life has been like lately. Which is why I loved this Portia’s post where she hid a little gem of a sentence in about loving yourself.

Life is about to get better and more fragrant!

My summer perfume staples

Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume July 7, 2014 Comments: 14

During the last few years, several perfumes have come into my summer rotation and stayed there. 🙂 Of course, I don’t use only these, but these are the ones I use the most.

For the beach

Bronze Goddess – ever since it came out, it’s been in my rotation, along with the body oil that comes with it.

 

For work (when it’s not too hot)

Vamp a NY –  I find it a perfect combination of flirty but nice and very likeable (many people have commented on it smelling great)

For hot days when almost nothing works 

Eau de Cartier – which as probably everyone knows is the perfume equivalent of Gin and tonic (with lots of ice if you ask me)

and Pamplelune – with its zesty refreshing feel

For balmy evenings

Guerlain Mahora – well, I’ve been applying this for those evenings when I’m going out. Seductive and velvety. Perfect!

(I linked to Kafka’s review of it – I really enjoyed it and have no review of my own – shame on me)

So tell me what are your summer staples? I am always open to adding to my list, especially if you have more cooling choices.

By what I smelled lately (or read about), Nuit Andalouse, Cologne du Maghreb and Terracotta le Parfum might be joining the list…

A walk in Zagreb

World of Perfume June 28, 2014 Comments: 10
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Cathedral

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Upper city

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Small street in the old part of town

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Upper city walking route

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Institute of history

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St. George statue in front of Kamenita vrata (The Stone gates, old entrance to the upper city)

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Botanical garden

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Botanical garden

Sylvaine Delacourte and Jan E. Vos in Zagreb

Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume June 21, 2014 Comments: 7

Yes, you read that right! 🙂

There was a great perfumista event today in Zagreb, organized by Juraj of the Bleauog.

I don’t want to sound dismissive of Juraj’s part of the event (but I know him and talked perfume with him before). He talked about perfume history and changes that happened in how perfumes used to smell and how they smell now but for me the highlight of the event was hearing Mr. Vos’ talk about how Puredistance came to life and how synchronicity has played an enormous role there (synchronicity being something many perfumistas believe in) and then Mme Delacourte, as the last guest/speaker.

Before that, we heard an interesting theory by Zoran Kurelić who argued that Luca Turin’sDSC_0348 Guide was a decisive moment in perfume history and changed, in a good way, the perception and ability of people to discuss perfume more easily and using a common ground. Whether you agree with what Luca thinks about a certain perfume or you don’t, The Guide is something all of us have read. (somehow Tanya’s name got forgotten in all that) 😉

Mr. Vos says for himself that he is a doer and someone who loves beauty. It was fun listening to him talk about how Puredistance came to life and how he built it with the idea of long term luxury however long it takes as they don’t advertise but they have certainly built a great relationship with bloggers.

Listening to Sylvaine Delacourte was definitely a treat. 🙂 It is obvious she loves what she does and does it with passion. She certainly made me wish I had a job at Guerlain. Somewhere where I could work close to her. 😉

Her favorite perfume is L’Heure Bleu and she’s been loyal to it all her life (well ever since she discovered it). Closely followed by Cuir Beluga which is a perfume she made with her preferences in mind.DSC_0349

My knowledge of the perfume world seems to be limited as I wasn’t aware of the fact that L’Art et Matiere line was her brainchild. And if I ever win the lottery, I’ll go see her for a bespoke perfume (which I’ll then have 2l of and my own private formula).

I loved how everyone today, while answering questions, said that they don’t believe in masculine or feminine definition of perfumes as they are meant to evoke emotion. So whatever works for you, is meant to be enjoyed.

Unfortunately, all my hopes were dashed in the end when I asked Mme Delacourte if there is a chance of Guerlinade ever getting re-released. You can guess the answer to that. 😉

Theory and practice – Fragrance Republ!c

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume June 19, 2014 Comments: 8

Or, in theory, I like the idea of Fragrance republ!c, in practice though, I’m not really thrilled with the way they smell.

I received three of them (not as a paying member but as a blogger) and I admit to being rather underwhelmed. The three I received (01/02, 01/03 and 01/04)  all overpowered my nose with the smell of the now standardly used, shrill, clean musks and the lovely opening all of them had was forever lost to my nose.

That said, everyone else who tried them, loved them.

Including my father who is now the proud owner of two of them. 🙂

If you’d like to know more about the general concept, Undina summed it up quite nicely.

 

 

Comfort zone – tuberose and vanilla

Perfume review, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume June 17, 2014 Comments: 11

Or, to give it a name Watch by M. Micallef. Or, Time for Love.

Although it seems tuberose might be a figment of my imagination as it’s not listed in the notes but I see people on Fragrantica thought they smell it too. Ylang-ylang as well,  but I’d say what I think of as tuberose could also be jasmine + ylang-ylang (sometimes I mix the two). But ylang-ylang isn’t listed either. 🙂

I had more fun smelling this while not looking at the listed notes. 😀watch

I cannot say it’s a breathtakingly novel perfume. Or that it will be loved by the masses (although you never really know but as it came out in 2002. and costs and arm and a leg, that’s a safe bet). 😉

What I can say is that it offers me comfort all day long as when you have tuberose and vanilla in a perfume, you can be pretty sure the longevity will work in its favor. 🙂 I’m guessing amber and musk help too and luckily the musk used here is one I am fine with (I don’t think they used too much).

Unfortunately, I can’t say much about the fruit and the peony except the fruit obviously works well with the sweet notes, and peony works well with the white notes. I also can’t help but wonder if there is some opoponax in there as well, as it has that special smell I always associate with my childhood play-doh equivalent.

No wonder I find it a comforting perfume…

Top notes: jasmine, vanilla and mandarin.                                                                      Heart: fruit and Chinese peony                                                                                        Base: amber and musk.

 

P.S. I knew I’d forget something. 🙂 This lovely perfume came to my through Asali who knows my perfume tastes better than I do at times.

Repeating myself – linden in the city

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume June 13, 2014 Comments: 4

I noticed I had the same post up last year around this time, when the linden trees were in full bloom, we were experiencing a heat wave and the air was humid and hot and full of the smell of linden blossoms.linden

The same thing happened this week and all I can say, I breathed it in as deeply as I could and let the smell bring a smile to my face.

I honestly forgot from last year how unbelievably great that smell is. 🙂 So not to repeat much of what I said last year, I will just add, I want to find a perfume that can reproduce it.

I’m wearing Zeta now and although I enjoy that perfume, it is not the smell of humid linden city air…

Bella Belissima: Vetiver Spice (and all things nice)

Perfume review, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume May 30, 2014 Comments: 9

Or, spicing up your life with vetiver. 😉

That should be their motto. Because I am more than willing to spice up my life with this one.bella b

I can thank Tara for bringing this perfume to my attention. The most amazing people of this world are perfumistas, and Tara was so lovely and aware of my love of vetivers, sent a package with several vetiver perfumes I’ve never tried before. Vetiver Spice was a clear favorite.. So, not only are perfumistas amazingly generous and nice people, they are also the worst kind of enablers. 😉

Notes:aged Java vetiver, bittersweet absinthe and cypress, citrus notes and violet,  green cardamom and clove bud, guaiacwood, leather, cashmere musk and Haiti vanilla.

It opens with a blast of citrusy-gaiac vetiver with vetiver being in the background to these two. I must say, violets have passed me by completely. It’s rather spicy and green and smells energetic. Then the energy part slowly starts to dissipate and the more mellow notes appear.

The strange thing is, I smell many things but most of them don’t relate to what the notes list says.

The green, vetiver notes are so well combined with the spices (cardamom and clove) that you can’t really smell them out. I keep imagining I can smell traces of violet and leather in there if I really try. 🙂

The best thing happens once the drydown begins.  I’m guessing the cashmere musk does something magical with violet, vetiver and cardamom as it gets a botanically humid note that just smells perfect.

So, yes, I found another vetiver perfume to love. 🙂

The problem is, it’s probably going to be unrequited love as it’s not available here and I’m on a non-shopping spree (so even though  £82 for 100ml sounds relatively ok, still no go).

But if you get the chance, try it. 🙂

Quotes

I've been thinking, World of Perfume May 29, 2014 Comments: 8

On pain and suffering.

Because I’m just in the mood for some. 🙂

 

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
― Rumi

 

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
― Khalil Gibran

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

“We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love.”

Sigmund Freud

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.”

Khalil Gibran

“Adversity introduces a man to himself.” –Unknown

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
Helen Keller

“There is an ancient tribal proverb I once heard in India. It says that before we can see properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.”
― Libba Bray

“We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full.”
― Marcel Proust

“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?”
Kahlil Gibran