Project Random
March from Perfume Posse recently did a project for Marina at Perfume-Smellin’ Things where she blended different fragrances to create three separate “viles”, as she called them. So I got inspired to do some spontaneous layering myself. I picked out several of my favorite perfumes and embarked on Project Random. Here’s what I came up with (completely random, mind you):
Hermes Parfum des Merveilles and Ambre Narguile - wow, this is good! The caramel-rum-cinnamon really softens the rough edges of Parfum des Merveilles. The overall effect is like a sweet cognac.
Parfumerie Generale Brulure de Rose and Delrae Bois des Paradis - um, weird at first. This becomes very gourmand in character, almost edible right off my skin. Like cinnamon bread pudding.
Guerlain Attrape Coeur and Chanel Bois des Iles - smells like sour peaches. But wait… it gets better. A sultry floral with a liquor-like quality. This would make a knockout evening scent. P.S. I just found it on Marina’s blog that apparently Luca Turin said that Attrape Coeur “has the mulled-wine effect of Chanel’s Bois des Iles, but in the Guerlain manner, i.e., based around an amber accord”. Wow! This was a totally random pick! Man, I’m good.
Fifi Chachnil and L’Artisan Safran Troublant - OK, I confess. I stole this one from Sara, my friend on Makeupalley. She’s our Layering Queen, and lately I’ve seen her experimenting a lot with Safran Troublant, and now I know why. This is killer spicy goodness! Saffron, coriander, vanilla, amber, tobacco. Heaven!
Kolnisch Juchten and Montale Jasmin Full - this can rival Bandit! Stinky and gutsy. Come closer if you dare. I’ll eat you alive, baby. Come and smell the jasmine in my dirty leather boots.
Parfums de Nicolai Balkis and Armani Bois D’Encens - raspberry incense? Yep. Surprisingly decent. Velvety, peppery raspberry - dark and mysterious. This actually has major potential. I think this is my favorite so far!
Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur and Hermes Rose Ikebana - I know, I know. What can one possibly add to Musc Ravageur? It’s perfect in its entirety (redundancy intended). But, hey, what the heck. The grapefruit really softens that wild animalic note and accentuates the floral-citrusy aspect of Musc Ravageur (bergamot and tangerine). The end result is sweet, powdery grapefruit. Not bad!
Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque and Dior Eau Noire - at fist this smells like something out of my grandma’s medicine cabinet (good timing for I’m about to pass out from this olfactory overload). It sort of has too much going on but, strangely enough, it’s appealing. Pass me some of that lavender tobacco, will ya? I picture myself in the Turkish smokehouse. Folks, I think we have something really good here. Wow, this is a winner. (Don’t forget, Fumerie Turque will be part of the export range this fall).
I have no room left on my arms, so this will be it for now. It’s been total fun! I highly recommend you do this type of random layering yourself. If you have already, please share some of your favorite combos!
Image source: www.allposters.com
19 comments July 19th, 2006
In today’s post I’d like to share with you some of my most recent perfume discoveries. When I say most recent, I mean the last week or so, and when I say discoveries, I mean the ones that made you go, “Wow! I’m selling my kidney to buy this!” So, here are some of mine: