Substitute Sniffer
July 10th, 2006
Ina’s nose is completely out of commission, so congested by this nasty bug that she didn’t know how she could write a post tonight. Of her five senses, the one she needs most to run this blog has betrayed her, leaving her in a sad, fragrance-free world, where perfumes have lost their essence, and rich, dark chocolate tastes like mush.
Enter the husband! Who better to chivalrously save his wife’s perfume blog than the guy who thinks every scent smells like watermelon or raspberries? If smell were one of the senses upon which we depended to make our way safely through the world — like sight or hearing — my helping Ina and her impaired olfactory system along would amount to the blind leading the blind. You perfumaniacs seem like nice people, but I haven’t the faintest clue what you — or my wife — are talking about half the time. I’ve taken a stab at reading some of the perfume blogs, before and after Aromascope came on the scene, and it never takes long before I get the same feeling as when I’m caught in the middle of a rapid-fire conversation between Ina and her family. In case you weren’t aware, they’re Russian. I’m just an American kid from the suburbs who doesn’t remember any high school Spanish.
All of that aside, I will do my best to review the fragrance Ina would have tonight, had she not lost her senses (or one of them, anyway): Kolnisch Juchten by Parfums Regence. A common phrase heard when Ina has me smell something is “That reminds me of something,” but I can rarely place what it is. This one clearly puts me in the North Woods of Minnesota, sitting in front of a birch-wood fire as I did on many a cool evening in the summers of my childhood. Others without a similar connection might not get this, but it’s a very comforting smell for me, and fitting since we’re heading up there this weekend. I’ve been told it also has leather notes, which I’m picking up. It seems old to me, and something about it brings to mind my grandfather’s den, full of leather-bound books left dusty and unused for years after his death. As I remember it — and it has been over twenty years — it was a shadowy room with lots of dark wood, what seemed like a giant, monolithic desk, and all the trappings of an intellectual masculinity that is rare in today’s world.
I just read Marina’s post on Kolnisch Juchten and am gratified to see I wasn’t completely off the mark in my perceptions. Interesting that it is a very old fragrance. We may differ on my last observation, though. It could just be the cabin on my mind, but the drydown really does give me the distinct impression of lake water, with just a slight hint of fish!
Image source: www.galen-frysinger.com
Entry Filed under: Guest Blogger, Perfume Reviews
16 Comments Add your own
1. Elle | July 11th, 2006 at 5:58 am
Wow! Standing ovation! Great to see that you are not only wonderfully chivalrous, but, despite your protestations to the contrary, you’ve beautifully described one of my HG scents! My husband would have said that it comes in a silver box and it’s a breakable bottle and…he’d have stumbeled at that point, but might have managed to mutter something about it not being particularly floral before skulking away.
2. Judith | July 11th, 2006 at 6:21 am
I like this trend of husbands writing. Though, as Elle, pointed out, you did a truly remarkable job. My husband *has* described KJ: he said it was “nice.” I love this scent, and I love this review! Best wishes to I. for a speedy recovery–but you should come back as a guest blogger!
3. March | July 11th, 2006 at 7:33 am
What Judith said. I have been trying to get the Big Cheese to give me something to work with as I help him select a cologne (he wanted his own toy to play with.) I’m not even trying to get him to write anything — just to SPEAK. But all he says is, yeah, that’s nice. To all of them. It’s … tedious in the extreme.
I do have to try KJ though.
4. Todd | July 11th, 2006 at 8:12 am
Thank you, ladies! (Can one say “ladies” these days, or is that frowned upon by the Speech Police? I can never keep up with those rules.) It was fun, and I may post again at some point if our host invites me back.
I can definitely relate to your husbands. “Nice” is certainly in my perfume vocabularly. When it’s “not nice,” a cringe works just as well as words. Most of the time I’m a lot like your husband, March. We perfume husbands should start our own website… or support group!
5. Marina | July 11th, 2006 at 9:07 am
Oh wow! What a wonderful suprise and what a great review! You should definitely consider starting that support group. I know a man who would be eager to get some support from his fellow sufferers
6. Patty | July 11th, 2006 at 9:15 am
Yeah, and very nice! My husband loves woody scents, so I need to try this one out on him.
Miss Ina is very lucky to have you. All the males in my house now go running if I come at them with an arm stuck out, just starting to say… “so what do you….” Voom, they do the roadrunner thing.
7. Paul | July 11th, 2006 at 10:23 am
Todd!
Excellent work my fellow other half of a mad-about-perfume wife.
I am all in favor of a support group, maybe with a 12-step program and a secret handshake?
With Ina’s nose out of commission, this is a great opportunity for you to do those things that leave you smelling like axle grease or a microbrewery! (or both!)
Paul
(AKA Mr Colombina)
8. Ina | July 11th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Paul, I have an idea. How about you and Todd do a common post on both of our blogs? That’d be terrific. ;D And totally uncensored!
9. Elle | July 11th, 2006 at 10:35 am
Just wanted to add my voice to Ina’s and say I’d love to see a common post w/ Mr. Columbina and Mr. Aromascope!
And, Mr. Aromascope, I’m delighted to be called a lady! So sadly untrue, but so nice to think some misguided soul might think me that.
10. Marina | July 11th, 2006 at 10:52 am
That would be great! What should they be writing about?
11. Vijay aka Maisonstinky | July 11th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Ina watch out you have competition in your own house :).
Todd you did a great job, you really did.
12. Todd | July 11th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
Man! If I ever get down I’ll have to remember to come back and read these comments again! Come on now, tell the truth… is this why you bloggers do what you do — all the positive feedback?
With all these glowing reviews, I might just have to get an agent.
Marina: I’ll see what I can do. We “perfume widowers” need to help each other. (Hey, just went to your blog… yow! You need a NSFW warning today!)
Paul! Your blog is hilarious! I read both posts from the last year and a half, and I demand more! Having worked for an airline credit union and done a lot of traveling, I could definitely identify with the recent post on the sadistic airline industry, but the one on the goofy Brits was great, too (check ‘em out if you haven’t, kids!).
That reminds me of the time we were in Victoria, BC, and went to the famous Butchart Gardens. After walking through what seemed like endless flower gardens, smelling everything in sight, we came upon a little corner that was on the water. A float plane was just taking off, blowing beautiful petroleum fumes right at us. Sweet relief! Ina could barely tear me away.
I’m all for the common post idea! Dare I suggest that you ladies give us a subject to write about? (Okay, now I’ve done it. Don’t hate me, Paul!)
13. chaya ruchama | July 11th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
What a wonderful job !
The men Chez Meister tend to be purists where their noses are concerned…I will have to locate some of this juice [if not for them, then at least for myself] !
My poor husband has constant olfactory fatigue from my thrusting my cleavage in his face moaning, “smell me, smell me!”.
Funny…no one else seems to complain about it…
Not only are you a keen observer, but a supportive spouse in the bargain. Bravo !
14. Todd | July 11th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
Can’t say I’ve ever had that problem, Chaya. Poor guy… that really sounds terrible.
15. Aromascope » Cuir O&hellip | October 10th, 2006 at 9:32 am
[…] Cuir Ottoman is the new addition to the Parfum d’Empire line (previous ones being Ambre Russe, Eau Suave, and Eau de Gloire). It’s said to have been inspired by the Ottoman empire and is supposed to evoke the charm and eroticism of the Orient (Osmoz.com) I’m a bit doubtful it evokes such things in me as I view Cuir Ottoman as a predominantly leather scent (and that’s all that matters). With the notes of iris, jasmine, styrax, leather, Tolu balsam, benzoin, incense, it rocked my world before application on skin. It starts out as bitter, tar-like leather that I initially associated with burnt rubber or car tire smell. At this stage, it very much reminds me of Kolnisch Juchten, minus the citrusy-smoky note. As it develops, it’s not as much about the leather any more - it’s more about a milky, resinous balsam, with just a touch of what seems like incense and powdery softness of iris. Cuir Ottoman undergoes quite a transformation - from astringent, barbaric leather to yielding, velvety suede. It’s amazingly wearable, and I can see it being favored by those who don’t usually fall for leather scents. For other excellent impressions, please read Victoria’s review and Marina’s review. […]
16. Aromascope » Cuir V&hellip | November 14th, 2006 at 11:54 am
[…] Leather in perfumery, while employed, has certainly not been exploited. Understandably so, as this note doesn’t seem to be for mass appeal. It is, however, my favorite note, and I’ll never let a leather scent go unnoticed (although I certainly haven’t tried them all). It’s fascinating to see how leather has been conveyed in fragrance. Representation can be realistic when a scent smells exactly like leather goods (handbag, gloves, saddle) as seen in such scents as Aoud Cuir d’Arabie by Montale, Peau d’Espagne by Santa Maria Novella, Yatagan by Caron. Or it can be experimented upon creatively with often successful results - be it the sawdust circus leather of L’Artisan’s Dzing!, the balsamic iris leather of Cuir Ottoman, the smoky campfire leather of Kolnisch Juchten, the violet suede of Cuir Amethyste, the medicinal take on leather in Le Labo’s Patchouli 24 or the ultimate femme fatale, robust leather of Robert Piguet’s Bandit. Whichever it is, it’s all good. The most recent leather I’ve tried is Cuir Venenum by Parfumerie Generale (still swooning over the line), and I must say the take on leather here is unprecedented. […]
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed