New And Not So New Discoveries
July 4th, 2007
Today is my only day off this week, and I’m quietly contemplating on my recent perfume discoveries or, rather, rediscoveries. Fickleness when it comes to perfume is an absolutely normal state of mind (and nose) - I fall in and out of love all the time. So it’s always quite thrilling to develop new obsessions over scents you’ve known all along, especially if you used to dislike them (ooh, that really spices things up!) My current rediscoveries are fragrances I quite liked from the beginning but more in a detached kind of way. Two of them deserve a paragraph each at least, and the rest - honorable mention for the time being, with plans for future reviews:
Fleur de Narcisse by L’Artisan Parfumeur - been wearing this daily at work and wondering how on earth did I allow this beauty to be so far from my skin for this long! Never again. I love, love, love daffodil, and I can safely say there’s no other perfume under the sun that conveys its scent as beautifully as Fleur de Narcisse does. What makes it even more appealing to me is the added leather and hay notes which tend to smell a bit off when first applied on skin but subside as the scent develops, giving way to the stunning narcissus. I see a bottle in my future.
Clive Christian X For Women - a complete opposite to the airiness of Fleur de Narcisse, this scent is all about opulence and presence. It’s the kind of fragrance that will speak louder than your demeanor or attire, hence I’d only wear it to accompany a very simple, classic look (like a black dress). A rich, almost brooding blend of pulpy peach, green ivy, tangy mandarin, and piquant patchouli that gets better the longer it stays on your skin (and it does stay!) The fact it’s one of the most expensive perfumes in the world and all the claims regarding luxury, exclusiveness, and the like hardly matter to me. I love it for its scent alone.
Honorable mention goes to:
Pretty much the entire Montale oud line. Yes, I know, the perfume blogosphere has been on a Montale kick lately, and I do plan to make my contribution to the excitement at some point soon (most likely, when it subsides a little - to make some waves again). I adore Black Oud and Oud Roses Petals. Both have no rivals.
Lady Vengeance by Juliette Has A Gun which has already been reviewed here. I’ve now tried its counterpart, Miss Charming, a much more innocent, blushing kind of rose. If I think of enough to say, there will be a review soon. For me to have to say enough, a rose based perfume has to have a lot more going on than simply depicting the flower.
I think that’s about it. Have you had any discoveries or rediscoveries lately? Please share.
Image source: barneys.com, nordstrom.com
Entry Filed under: Perfume Reviews, This and That
12 Comments Add your own
1. Elle | July 5th, 2007 at 6:31 am
I’m w/ you on rediscovering the Montale ouds. I’ve also rediscovered CC X for Men. I can’t afford to rediscover CC X for Women. Although, thanks to this post, I just casually applied some of my CC No. 1 for Women sample, which I remember dismissing only a few weeks ago as being nice, but not inspiring. Hmm. Hmmm. Suddenly, I’m wondering which kidney I could get more money for in order to be able to purchase this.
2. Judith | July 5th, 2007 at 7:04 am
I’m with you on Narcisse. For reasons I can’t explain, I didn’t really “get” this at first; maybe I expected something different. But now I love it, and wouldn’t be without it. I have swapped for numerous decants, so I am well-supplied, but perhaps I should cave for a bottle before they disappear.
On CC–I like all the scents, but for some reason, I can’t keep them straight! Not a good sign, esp. at that price.
I adore Montale Ouds, esp. Rose Petals and, for a change of pace, or on DH–his favorite–Cuir d’Arabie.
I also really like Lady Vengeance, and see a bottle in my future. It sounds as if Miss Charming i(which I haven’t tried yet) isn’t quite my thing.
3. Marina | July 5th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I find it hard to talk about perfume this morning. Too much of, err, fireworks yesterday. But I will. You already know about my newly-found love for Montale. I also rediscovered Iris Poudre. There is something else, but the headache (from all the fireworks) wouldn’t let me think.
4. Tigs | July 5th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I have always liked MPG Fleurs de Comores, but am finding new found love for it lately. In this heat, I’m also getting Dzing! to stay and enjoying it - just as they discontinue the small bottle! Wah!!! Also, I’m warming up to the sweeter, tonka-based PdNs. Although I’m obsessed with Maharanih right now. Know it’s not your fave, but I am totally floored by it.
5. Divina | July 6th, 2007 at 2:13 am
I also really liked Lady Vengeance, but was very dissappointed with Miss Charming. I found it to be generic and not to my taste at all…
6. Martika | July 6th, 2007 at 10:54 am
My newest discoveries are the 2 latest Lutens (Sarrasins and Louve)! I was lucky to get a bottle of each before their official release. Each very unique in its own way. Louve is an almond scent. It reminds me of the almond in Rahat Loukoum in its softer, not so loud, version. Very much like a skin almondy scent. Staying power is pretty poor despite being a concentrated version. That’s certainly a big minus. Sarrasins is another story. It is a loud jasmin, almost animalic, very much in the Lutens spirit. No re-discoveries lately, I stick to my seasonal favorites.
7. Ina | July 8th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Elle, CC X For Men is all that, agree. Kidneys are highly overrated.
Judith, I felt the same on Narcisse! Now I adore it. Luckily, I can wear it almost daily, at work.
Marina, fireworks can really make one hung over, I know. Iris Poudre is magnificent, agree.
Tigs, I’ve been craving to revisit PdN Sacrebleu lately. I think it’s amazing in heat.
Divina, yes, Miss Charming is a bit on the generic side. Kinda like Stella.
Martika, you slay me. Must. Try. Soon.
8. Martika | July 8th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Ina, you will
*Very soon*
9. shifts | July 9th, 2007 at 6:28 am
My latest bottle purchase is kind of a rediscovery. I was given a sample of Ormonde Man last year and used it off and on during last summer. The sample disappeared and just a month ago it turned up by accident pretty much. I knew I thought the creation wasn’t totally balanced, but I was still totally smitten and couldn’t quite forget about it during this time. NowI know why. Decided to make a purchase almost right away. Got the bottle before the weekend and have been using it every day since. Not common…
Such a brilliant scent, with many facettes to show.
10. Ina | July 9th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Shifts, ah, love that one, too! Must find my sample. It is a brilliant scent, completely agree!
11. Aromascope » 5 Rand&hellip | July 12th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
[…] Fleur de Narcisse by L’Artisan Parfumeur - a glamorous, romantic liquid jewel. […]
12. Aromascope » Perfum&hellip | August 21st, 2007 at 11:13 pm
[…] harvest collection for the year 2007 (the previous editions were Fleur d’Oranger in 2005, and Fleur de Narcisse in 2006). You might have noticed there’re quite a few iris fragrances released this year […]
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