Quotes On Classics
While reading my Perfume Legends book, I came across a few quotes that I consider gems or little odes to some of the classic perfumes. Today I’d like to share a few with you.
Jean-Paul Guerlain on perception of fragrance in relation to Chamade: “Perfume is made mainly so that one remembers the woman who wears it. I like to call it the elevator effect. This is the man who goes to meet his lover - whether it be his fiancee, his wife, or his mistress - who has entered a building before him. She is wearing perfume, and he smells it. Suddenly his heart beats faster and the blood rushes to his head.” (Page 147)
Ernest Beaux, on creation of Chanel No 5: “When did I create No 5? In 1920, precisely. On my return from the war, I came back as manager of the laboratories. Mlle Chanel, who had a couture house which was very much in vogue, asked me to make her some perfumes, I presented my creations to her in two series: 1 to 5 and 20 to 24. She chose one of them numbered 5, and to the question, “What name will you give it?”, Mlle Chanel replied, “I show my collection on the 5th of May, the fifth month of the year, so let’s leave the number it bears, and this number 5 will bring it good luck.” (Page 42).
Roja Dove on the appeal of Shalimar: “Many women who wear Shalimar say, “I love a very fresh and light perfume. I hate anything which is heavy”. For them, the bergamot head notes dominate the perfume. On the other hand, you’ll find women who have worn Shalimar for years, and love the smouldering sensuality of its perfume. If you talk about the light and fresh facets of the perfume, they think you’re mad. Yet, if you point out that burst of freshness, suddenly they experience Shalimar in quite a different way. Shalimar is remarkable. Its overdose on citric freshness perfectly balances the suaveness of the balsams, and the warmth of opopanax”. (Page 56).
Image source: parfumdepub.net
10 comments July 22nd, 2007