Needle In A Haystack: New Feature
March 8th, 2007
Marina from Perfume-Smellin’ Things and myself are starting a new joint venture: we’re literally venturing into our sample stash, completely blindfolded, to procure a random sample for review. We figured if we don’t take measures now, the stash will only grow bigger, and many a sample will get neglected. Please be advised of the uttermost honesty on our part - it is indeed done without looking.
That said, I was rather excited about the project until I actually did put my hand in the sample box - ladies and gentlemen, I know nothing of the scent I pulled out of there. It’s Moment Volé by Fragonard (Stolen Moment). First, let me tell you it’s a discontinued Fragonard and very likely quite old as the scent is done in a very classic chypre-aldehydic tradition. The top notes are slightly reminiscent of Chanel No 5 but a bit juicier, more intense. The heart acquires a somewhat animalic jasmine undertone, something meaty that I can’t quite put my finger on. Once again, this meaty note gives away the scent’s age - it brings to mind such scents as Arpege, Joy, even Shalimar minus the vanilla. Further research yielded that Moment Volé was created in the 1940s, so it is indeed a vintage perfume. As for its availability, I’ve seen a couple of bottles on ebay, and Fragonard online shop shows a set of minis that includes Moment Volé.
As always, please do comment if you have more information about the fragrance. Also, please be sure to check Marina’s catch of the day.
P.S. Funny what you can find in your sample box. I had no idea I even had such a scent! Oh, and I groped about, too.
Image source: basenotes.net
Entry Filed under: Needle In A Haystack, Perfume Reviews
18 Comments Add your own
1. Marina | March 8th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
This is one of the most enjoyable projects we did together so far! I wanted to pull out something obscure from my box too! I’ve never ever heard of this one. Do you remember the source of the sample?
2. Ina | March 8th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Marina, you just wait! I see many surprises in our future.
The source of the sample was someone I swapped with on MUA.
3. tmp00 | March 8th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
I love this! Fascinating!
4. Leopoldo | March 9th, 2007 at 3:47 am
I enjoyed your grope, Ina.
5. Judith | March 9th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Interesting! I don’t know this scent, so it’s great to hear about it. Love its name.:)
6. chayaruchama | March 9th, 2007 at 5:38 am
Fascinating !
The plot thickens…
Great name.
Have a good w/e, folks !
7. Elle | March 9th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Clearly it is the cosmos’ way of telling you that you need to pay more attention to vintage scents.
But this is a vintage scent I’ve never even heard of. Suddenly feel a compulsive need to race off to ebay and try to get a bottle.
8. annE | March 9th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Hi Ina,
That’s a great idea that you and Marina came up with! I’ll have to try it myself momentarily.
I did buy a bottle of this, and several other scents, on a honeymoom trip to Paris (9 years ago, my how time flies). I gave away most of them as gifts, and this was one of them. I liked it in the store, but on second sniff, it did seem quite dated to me. I cannot improve upon your description.
9. newproducts | March 9th, 2007 at 9:39 am
I have actually tried this scent! A very sweet MUAer sent me a sample. I smelled carnation, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and amber in it, and another MUAer who had access to more info than I confirmed that those notes were indeed present, along with iris, musk, and lemon. I really enjoyed the scent, but have not sampled it more than once. I need to bring it out again. Brilliant idea: needle in a haystack! I look forward to future episodes.
10. Ina | March 9th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Tom, thanks! It’ll be a fun project.
11. Ina | March 9th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Leo, thanks! Happy to please.
12. Ina | March 9th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Judith, the name is fascinating indeed.
13. Ina | March 9th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Chaya, the plot doth indeed thickeneth.
14. Ina | March 9th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Elle, but of course you’ll say that.
I’m not sure it’s FBW.
15. Ina | March 9th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
AnnE, it didn’t wow me either but glad to have found it in my sample box.
Thanks for your input!
16. Ina | March 9th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Minsun, thanks for the notes! Good to know.
17. Aromascope » Friday&hellip | March 22nd, 2007 at 11:02 pm
[…] It seems I’m going through the lemming-free stage which quite often feels rather uncomfortable and downright wrong. I don’t mind it as much this time, however. I have an indecent amount of samples sitting on my dresser, and I can’t seem to get around to conducting proper testing sessions. I fear they’ll just end up in the bottomless pit, i.e., my sample box, and their only chance for survival will be the luck of the draw for my Needle In A Haystack project (which, by the way, Marina and I are still planning to continue). Such are my fragrant musings for today. Nothing too profound, I’m afraid, but I won’t leave you famished (ha!). Here’s a potential Lemming Of The Year: […]
18. Aromascope » Needle&hellip | March 29th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
[…] Needle In A Haystack, a joint project by Perfume-Smellin’ Things and Aromascope, is back! A reminder - the project involves digging in our sample box completely blindfolded to procure a sample for review. Thank heavens I’ve had more luck this time around - the sample turned out to be not as obscure as the previous one. […]
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