Scents That Hail Spring
Spring is still at least two months away in my part of the world but I cannot help but long for it. Every year, about this time, I grow weary of all my heavy woody-spicy-ambery scents and start reaching for lighter, floral compositions. When winter gets fierce, I create spring in my surroundings, to the best of my ability. Today Marina from Perfume-Smellin’ Things and myself are defying winter by dwelling on scents that hail spring. The list below are my ultimate “spring is in the air” fragrances. Each scent is a rendition of a flower (being a lover of iris, it’s listed twice).
Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens – chilly, dewy iris.
Diorissimo by Christian Dior – radiant, graceful lily of the valley.
Oeillet Sauvage by L’Artisan Parfumeur – creamy, honeyed carnation.
Apres L’Ondee by Guerlain – sentimental, misty violet.
Rose Ikebana by Hermes – silky, effervescent rose.
En Passant by Frederic Malle – breezy, chalky lilac.
Bois d’Iris by The Different Company – crisp, peppery iris.
Please feel free to share yours!
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18 comments February 2nd, 2007
In the February issue of the Town & Country magazine, there’s an excellent article – “T & C’s Guide To The 85 Best Scents” (pages 154-159). It’s a comprehensive, well-written list, comprising five categories: Classic (1919 – 1979), Contemporary (1980 – 2004), Current (2005 to today), and Rare (the hard to find scents). This is the best magazine piece on fragrance I’ve seen in a long time. But today I’m not planning to recap it (do buy the magazine!) In each category, the scents are also grouped according to their staying power – “potent”, “medium strength”, and “barely there”. While I agree on most selections, some are definite eyebrow raisers. For instance, classifying L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci as medium strength, L’Eau d’Hadrien by Annick Goutal as potent, and Allure by Chanel as barely there. However, my intent is not to question the author. I’m more intrigued by how much perfume staying power depends on our individual perception and/or skin chemistry. No doubt, it is also determined by quantity (how much perfume you put on). Do you have any peculiar experiences in this area? Some universally potent scents not lasting on you? What are your ultimate potent and barely there scents?