Posts filed under 'This and That'
How does one return to blogging after an absence of several months? How does one return to perfume blogging without being utterly and totally sucked in (some might laugh at this but it is indeed a thing to fear)? How does one blog about perfume from a different hemisphere, of all things? Such questions have been roaming through my mind lately. I suppose I can say I’m well settled in my home country by now, with a fair amount of culture shock still present. I’m also unemployed and happily so as I have the privilege to reside in a most peaceful spot amongst slender pine trees, constant bird chirping, and village chimney smoke. I do, however, long for a creative outlet of sorts, and while perfume in general doesn’t quite cut it, writing about it comes the closest. You might wonder what I mean by this and rightly so. The five-year obsession as such subsided last summer, right around my trip to New York for a mini-Sniffathon with Miss Colombina. In its stead, a sober, critical observer emerged. This observer feels more or less ready to come out of slumber. In other words, if you’re still out there, dear readers, stay tuned for my random occasional ramblings, if you so desire. I will be posting when I have something to say. Your questions/comments are welcome, as always.
May 13th, 2008
The time has come to tell you, my dear readers, about the biggest news - in February, my husband and I are moving back to my home country, Latvia! Needless to say, we’re both very excited (although the said husband has never lived abroad, let alone a post-Soviet-borderline-European country, but he’s being a good sport). At this point we have no idea what we’ll do for work (ideas are welcome!), and I’m still not sure whether I’ll be able to blog about perfume although I will explore the venue once I’m there. It’ll be an adventure for sure! Lots to do before February but please stay tuned for the Best of 2007 post next Friday, December 28. I miss you all!
December 21st, 2007
I miss blogging. Actually, to be more precise, I miss the times when blogging about perfume was one of the highlights of my day. As you might have noticed (ironically as it might sound considering I’m surrounded by it pretty much daily), perfume has hardly been my top priority. From a proactive, involved enthusiast I’ve turned into a sober, distant observer. I still enjoy perfume and wear it frequently but gone are the days of mad obsessions and insane lemmings. It’s somewhat sad as is often the case with an end of a life stage but it’s also comforting and valid. In other words, to bring this to some sort of a logical conclusion, I’m here to tell you Aromascope is definitely on an indefinite break.
However, today is the day when perfume bloggers unite to share their Top Ten Fall Scents, and I couldn’t miss that, could I? One of the benefits of my waning interest has been an intensified focus on my Holy Grail fragrances, i.e., the ones I can turn to and wear no matter what. Looking back at my fall scents post of last year, I must say this year’s picks are hardly autumnal. Pardon me for not coming up with ten of them but here are the tested and true ones…
Black Orchid Voile de Fleur by Tom Ford - the one and only version of Black Orchid I can wear and adore. Thank goodness for this! Black Orchid is one of those scents that have a very powerful contradictory effect on me - that of absolute simultaneous love and loathing. Voile de Fleur is the perfect relief of such a torment. Basically, all the dirty, aquatic, mushroomy patchouli is gone, and all I get is lush flowers with a hint of leather. What’s not to love?
Iris Poudre by Frederic Malle- not a whole lot to say other than it’s a true classic and perfect for any occasion/mood/weather/you name it.
Mure et Musc Extreme by L’Artisan Parfumeur - a somewhat newly acquired love. A great example of a perfectly blended fragrance, with just enough of everything - citrus, fruitiness, and musk to make it both clean and dirty and so very sultry.
Amaze by People Of The Labyrinths - never ceases to amaze me.
Rose en Noir by Miller Harris - a rare find as it’s only available in London but I was lucky enough to snatch a bottle on eBay. All things rose in one smashing potion - jam, lipstick, petals.
Plus Que Jamais by Guerlain - because I’m still a Guerlain girl at heart (although that part has been a bit dormant lately). I love it more than ever (just had to throw it in there).
To sum it all up: 1) I love rose; 2) I’m more into florals than I’ve ever been before; 3) I’m in a state of utter olfactory contentment.
Please be sure to check the following blogs for their fall favorites:
Bois de Jasmin :: Now Smell This :: Perfume Posse :: Perfume Smellin’ Things :: Scentzilla
October 25th, 2007
My DNA Fragrance.
P.S. Maybe this is the solution to my slump?
September 7th, 2007
So I’ve taken a relaxing vacation, and my August ennui should technically be over but I’m still in a state of olfactory slump. I’m not talking about writer’s block. I’m referring to the worst possible fear of any perfume fanatic - loss of interest. I’m not quite there, don’t worry. I still smell perfumes with (relative) enthusiasm and get (relatively) excited only to have positively nothing to say, most of the time. Please tell me this is temporary. Please assure me in scientific terms it’s some sort of a biological matter (chemical imbalance? smell disorder? dehydration?) that can be easily remedied. Then tell me how exactly it can be done. Has it happened to you? Is it just seasonal? (I’m sure working in a perfume shop doesn’t help as it often leaves me in a state of sensory fatigue). Whatever it is, I want it to go away. Soon.
August 28th, 2007
The time has finally come for me to go on my much needed and anticipated vacation to the northern woods of Minnesota! I plan to do a whole lot of nothing and occasional lake activities. There will be no internet access (bliss in some ways!), so I won’t be able to check in but please stay tuned for Donna’s review that will be posted later today. Have a lovely week, y’all!
August 13th, 2007
I don’t know if you have days like this but for the past week or so I’ve hated all my perfumes. As in, “get away from me I don’t want to see you right now”. I know it’ll pass, it always does. On top of everything the two fragrances I’ve been super curious to try (Kelly Caleche by Hermes and Strip by Agent Provocateur) slightly infuriated me for their lack of performance (more about that in my next post). So to perk things up a bit, Marina and I are doing another joint project of tagging each other: “If this was a perfume, what perfume would it be?”
1. Paintings
Mit Und Gegen by Wassily Kandinsky - Harissa by Comme des Garcons. Hot, fiery spices.
Boy on Mt. Fuji by Hokusai Katsushika - Bois Farine by L’Artisan Parfumeur. Warm, milky woods.
La Primavera by Sandro Botticelli - Femme by Rochas. Lush and deeply carnal.
2. Movies
Bridget Jones’s Diary (the first one) - Pink Sugar. Nuff said.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - hmm, I’ll go with Dzing! by L’Artisan Parfumeur.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - one of my absolute favorite movies. I’m thinking Muscs Koublai Khan by Serge Lutens - complex, twisted, and heart-warmingly down-to-earth.
3. Celebrities
Pamela Anderson - Rumba by Balenciaga. Obnoxious, with a dirty side, and a twisted appeal.
Clark Gable - Antaeus by Chanel. Classic and a tad rebellious.
Alanis Morissette - Noir Epices by Frederic Malle. Beauty with an edge.
4. Outfits
Valentino Fall 2007 Haute Couture - Clive Christian X For Women.
Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2007 Haute Couture - Eau des Merveilles by Hermes.
Oscar de la Renta Fall 2007 Ready-To-Wear - Jaipur Saphir by Boucheron.
Please visit Perfume-Smellin’ Things to check Marina’s matches.
Image source: allposters.com, style.com
August 5th, 2007
In case you’ve noticed my partial absence lately, I’m here to tell you that I’m doing fine and smelling nice. I will, however, be rather absent now and then during this month. I want to pretend I’m in France and close shop for the entire month of August and go on some beach vacation but, alas, such is not my reality. There is a short vacation in my near future but it will be spent in the dark and mysterious woods of northern Minnesota (that also includes a beautiful lake!). So to give you the heads up, I’ll be in and out and hope to get back on my regular posting schedule come September (with all the exciting new releases this fall, it shouldn’t be a problem). Have a wonderful rest of summer!
P.S. To make it easier, there’s an option to subscribe to Aromascope to be notified of new posts by e-mail. To do so, please visit this page. Thank you!
Image source: allposters.com
August 2nd, 2007
Miss Aromascope is taking a break for a few days. Life has just gotten a bit too busy (and a bit too much at times), so a little recuperation is in order. I’ll be back next week!
July 25th, 2007
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
July 22nd, 2007
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