Our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread is open this week. You can use this space to find perfume recommendations, to share your discoveries and favorite scents, and to ask any questions about scents, aromas and flavors.
How does it work: 1. Please post your requests or questions as comments here. You can also use this space to ask any fragrance related questions. To receive recommendations that are better tailored to your tastes, you can include details on what you like and don’t like, your signature perfumes, and your budget. And please let us know what you end up sampling. 2. Then please check the thread to see if there are other requests you can answer. Your responses are really valuable for navigating the big and sometimes confusing world of perfume, so let’s help each other!
To make this thread easier to read, when you reply to someone, please click on the blue “reply” link under their comment.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
318 Comments
J.: The other day I read on Bois de Jasmin a post about fruity notes where Victoria would state that this kind of perfume can range from jelly scents to the sublime Le Parfum de Thérèse. I don’t usually like most fruity fragrances, but I absolutely love the goof ones such as Mitsouko.
I would like to know your recommendations of the most elegant fruity perfumes, especially those with notes of peach, melon, plum and fig.
Thank yiu,
J. June 22, 2020 at 9:04am
J.: you* June 22, 2020 at 9:05am
Jacqui: For a green fig, I like Bella Freud Ginsburg is God. June 22, 2020 at 11:01am
Pocketvenus: @J, I think you may like Rochas Femme, a chypre which features stone fruit. There’s a vintage version by Roudnitska and a post-80s version by Oliver Cresp that has a hit of cumin. June 22, 2020 at 12:01pm
John: My wife often wears Dipyque’s Philosykos, the EDP version, though I suspect she’d love the EDT too… It is a beautiful milky fig fragrance (did you read the recent article here concerning lactones? It might give you some ideas) that reminds me of the cool, sappy smell of the stems and branches of fig trees as much as the green fruit. I heard an interesting podcast recently in which a perfumer identified a material used to create a fig accord that with just a few tweaks is also used to suggest coconut. Of course I’d never considered the similarity between the scents of fig and coconut but now I think I detect it in Philosykos. June 22, 2020 at 12:57pm
Aurora: Bottega Veneta Eau de Velours is an elegant plum, Un Jardin après la Mousson has a great melon note, usually I don’t care for melon but I like that one. I second By Terry Flagrant Délice for a fig without coconut as well as Acqua di Parma Fico di Amalfi, very herbal, and for fig with coconut seconding Philosykos and adding l’Artisan Parfumeur Premier Figuier. June 22, 2020 at 2:23pm
Nina Z: Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant is a very elegant fruity perfume–smells like spiced plums–and Victoria gave it five stars in her review! https://boisdejasmin.com/2012/10/kenzo-jungle-lelephant-perfume-review.html June 22, 2020 at 3:07pm
Nina Z: An elegant fig perfume is Fig Tea by Parfums de Nicolai. It also has a peachy/apricot aspect due to the osmanthus. June 22, 2020 at 4:18pm
Lari: I’m a fan of Fig Tree by Sonoma Scent Studio-fig, wood, cedar. Lovely. June 22, 2020 at 9:50pm
Rakasa: Hi Nina. Thx for sharing your experience with Nicolai’s Fig Tea. I’m curious about how perceptible or dominant the listed mate and guaiac wood notes actually are. In fragrances, both of those notes have been difficult for me. At the same time, I adore the aspects of osmanthus you mention. Is Fig Tea largely a well blended scent that remains true throughout its duration where the peachy/apricot floats above/along the other notes? Or does it have a more specific progression where listed notes rise then fall? I’m a true fan of Patricia Nicolai’s work, but haven’t sampled Fig Tea yet due to above. June 24, 2020 at 4:12pm
Nina Z: Definitely well blended, and the mate and wood notes are not dominant. I believe that the peachy-apricot quality comes partly from the osmanthus, which is lasting. June 25, 2020 at 12:20pm
Rakasa: Thx, Nina! June 25, 2020 at 7:01pm
Bettina: I am not a fan of fruit notes myself. I recently did a L’Artisan Parfumeur workshop. The surprise discovery was Bana Banana! It is a lovely perfume and nothing like the synthetic banana notes I associate with food flavours etc. Definitely recommend people check it out. June 22, 2020 at 6:10pm
rickyrebarco: I recommend Chanel’s EDT Deauville for you. It’s citrusy and perfect for summer weather. There is a body wash, too, that I use when it’s really humid. June 23, 2020 at 2:12am
Nina Z: Oh, I just remembered Sacrebleu Intense! Such a gorgeous perfume, lush and elegant, an oriental with a touch of fruit, including peach and apricot. June 23, 2020 at 11:21am
Peter: Aloha Nina. We agree again! I tried a sample and it’s on my wishlist. I can’t identify the notes as well as you, but it did remind me of Jaipur Homme. June 24, 2020 at 5:41pm
Deanna: Hello Peter, I’m replying to your Carnation enquiry here as for some reason I couldn’t on the previous month. So excuse me butting in. Anyway I liked the Oeillet Louis XV, but am not smitten, I also got the soap Royal Oeillet which is something else entirely and smells wonderful! You won’t want to use it though as the box and packaging are a decadent work of art! The Artisan Parfumeur Oillet Sauvage has slightly improved in strength since spraying more. ( it was a used bottle) It is lovely and I am tempted to get a sealed bottle. I believe that it is discontinued? You should try it, but it is edt and so is light. I don’t really understand these descriptions though as Jo Malones products are described as Colognes yet are strong…. June 25, 2020 at 3:36am
Peter: Aloha Deanna. I just checked Luckyscent (my main perfume pipeline) and they don’t carry the L’Artisan Oeillet Sauvage. (So it could be discontinued.) I’m waiting for my Oriza L Legrand Royal Oeillet soap. I believe that was Aurora’s favorite carnation perfume. Per Tourmaline’s instructions, after sampling I’ll let the soap dry out and then repackage in the original box. I still have a bit of my Oeillet Loius XV sample left, so I can compare the two scents. June 25, 2020 at 4:43pm
Deanna: Hi Peter, A good tip about the soap, I missed that one! The soap seems a more robust powdery deep carnation than the perfume sample. I would veer towards that, but buying suspended for a while! June 26, 2020 at 3:28am
Jowita: For a chypre as Mitsouko I would recommend my beloved Nightingle by Zoologist. In notes they declare plum bossom but the perfume has plum-fruity vibe beautifully mixed with oakmoss with a hint of safran, olibanum, oh! 🙂 June 24, 2020 at 2:01am
Peter: Hello Jowita. I’m a Mitsouko lover. I did try some Zoologist samples and my most favorite was Civet (which I purchased). I’m going to search out my Nightingale sample which was my next favorite (and your rave!) I also liked Camel and Rhinoceros. I didn’t like Moth. I thought Tyrannosaurus Rex was interesting (very smoky) but unwearable. June 24, 2020 at 5:33pm
Deanna: Hello again Peter, have you tried Rogue Perfumes Chypre Siam? It is supposed to be like Coty’s original Chypre, I’ve got 2 large samples, but then if I go back to Mitsouko I think why bother!? It’s just insatiable curiosity I suppose, and when Coty Chypre was still around I remember turning my nose up at it thinking it was inferior to Mitsouko! June 25, 2020 at 3:44am
Peter: Aloha again Deanna.
I love Rogue Chypre-Siam! It’s an amazing modern version of a classical chypre. Love the oakmoss. I’m glad you were able to get samples in the UK. I also purchased Rogue Derviche, which is an old-school oriental with a hint of tobacco.
Another favorite niche is Liz Moores’ Papillon (from the UK). A little more expensive, but worth every penny. My favorite is her chypre, Dryad (ties with Chypre-Siam). Her leather, Anubis, is right behind. Salome is her take on a retro oriental and is notoriously animalic.
It would be interesting to smell Coty Chypre. Victoria explained it’s importance in perfume history. I’ll have to settle for modern Mitsouko which I still love. June 25, 2020 at 5:28pm
Deanna: Hello again Peter! Actually I have a couple of samples from Papillon Perfumes, but they are rose, I’ll try the ones you suggested and let you know…. Their shop is quite near me, or would be, but for limitations lockdown. June 26, 2020 at 8:21am
Peter: Aloha Deanna,
How tempting to be so near the Papillon shop. A visit would be something to look forward to when things get back to “normal”. Of the Papillon roses, I only sampled the Bengale Rouge. It had a fantastic drydown. Do you have the Tobacco Rose? If so, what do you think?
Definitely sample the Dryad and Anubis. I love those both. Then there’s the skank-bomb Salome! June 26, 2020 at 4:04pm
J.: Thank you so much for all the recommendations, I now have so many things to try!
Stay safe,
J. June 28, 2020 at 4:09pm
Antonina: Hello everyone,
the summer is finally here, so I’m looking for some perfume that would fit right in with humid, sunny weather.
I am thinking about buying a cologne, or some lighter, herbal or citrus fragrance. The problem is, i never used any colognes, so I’m totally new to the topic.
For summer I like scents that are not too sweet, a bit woody, fresh, but not white flowers-fresh.
I have some neroli perfumes that I like, for example Neroli Portofino, Eau de Soleil Blanc by Tom Ford, so this time I’m looking for something with lemon, grapefruit or lime notes in it.
I also like herbal scents, for example Blue Mediterraneo line from Acqua di Parma. I will be glad if someone could reccoment me a scent with rosemary or mint 🙂
It would also be nice, if the fragrance was made with natural ingredients, but that’s not required.
My budget is somewhere around 100 euro.
I would gladly hear your reccomendations! June 22, 2020 at 9:29am
Maggiecat: I’m loving Maison Margiela’s Under the Lemon Tree. Beautiful lemony floral citrus, soft, not screechy, perfect for summer. June 22, 2020 at 10:28am
Antonina: I’ll check it out. I never had anything from Maison Margiela, but heard a lot favourable opinions. Thank you very much for your reccomendation 🙂 June 24, 2020 at 8:40am
Anu: Hello Antonina, these are some of my staples in the hot and humid summers
Grapefruit: Guerlain-Pamplelune, Atelier cologne-Pomelo paradis
Lemon: Guerlain-Eau de Guerlain & Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat, Atelier cologne-Bergamote soleil, Annick Goutal-Eau du Sud
Mint: Guerlain-Herba Fresca, Etat libre d’orage-You or someone like you
I also enjoy Eau de Rochas by Rochas June 22, 2020 at 10:33am
Antonina: Herba Fresca is a beautiful scent, I went to try it in the local perfumery yesterday!
You also reccomended some fragrances from Atelier Cologne – unfortunately I can only buy it online (samples are also inaccessible), but the price is good, so… I’m considering a blind buy.
I would be grateful if you could tell me more about Pomelo Paradis and Bergamote Soleil.
Thank you for reccomendations! June 24, 2020 at 8:46am
Anu: Hi Antonina, I am glad you liked Herba Fresca! Pomelo Paradis is more floral than Pamplelune. I almost find a little bit of rose in it. Bergamote Soleil is bitter(in a good way), fruity, soapy….both are very zesty and invigorating in the heat & humidity. It’s a pity you can’t get samples. I have read that grapefruit accord can be tricky on some people. It can come across as “cat pee”. Happy summer spritzing! June 25, 2020 at 11:38am
Mia: Hi Antonina,
One superb option for rosemary imo is Eau Dynamisante by Clarins. Also really affordable but never smells cheap. Hope this helps. Have a good smelling Summer! June 22, 2020 at 11:08am
Antonina: Thank you for your reccomendation!
Eau Dynamisante is already of my wishlist, so it’s nice to hear a positive review.
I think I will give it a try 🙂 June 24, 2020 at 8:49am
Pocketvenus: @Antonia, I quite like Terre d’Hermes for a more complex citrusy EDT. And I’ll second the grapefruit and mint fragrances by Guerlain.
For something herbaceous, Ealing Green by 4160 Tuesdays is refreshing and pleasant. June 22, 2020 at 11:55am
Antonina: Ealing Green sounds beautiful. How’s the thyme in that fragrance performing?
For mint fragrances I tired Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca mentioned a few comments up, and I fell for it instantly. The whole Aqua Allegoria line was always tempting to me, but I never ended up buying anything, because there are so many of them that it’s hard to choose ;/
Thank you for your reccomendations 🙂 June 24, 2020 at 8:54am
Deanna: Forgotten was O de Lancome, been around a while, but lovely. June 27, 2020 at 3:16am
Pocketvenus: @Antonina, there’s definitely an abstract, green, refreshing thyme that blends nicely with the florals. I should also note, I not smell any cut grass from this scent. June 27, 2020 at 5:33pm
Merylam: You could try pomelo by jo loves, or its budget version pamplemousse vetiver (or vetiver pamplemousse, can’t remember), in the collection jo malone did for zara. I like citrussy fragrances, and like both of those. June 22, 2020 at 12:06pm
Antonina: Jo Loves is unfortunately out of my reach for the moment, but I’ll add it to my wishlist and maybe try it out once I’ll be abroad 🙂
Thank you for your help! June 24, 2020 at 8:56am
Lynley: It’s not the notes you mentioned but in hot humid weather I love Voyage d’Hermes, it’s fresh with a herbal, juniper fragrance. I actually find Hermes do rather well in the fragrances for humid weather department! The Jardin line are perfect for this.
You also didn’t mention vetiver so I don’t know if you like it, but vetiver perfume is also very refreshing in the heat of summer. June 22, 2020 at 12:09pm
Fliss: Nuit Etoile by Annick Goutal is a fantastic pine and mint smell which I love for very hot days. June 22, 2020 at 12:36pm
rickyrebarco: Agreed. I love this one so much and it’s perfect for summer nights. June 23, 2020 at 2:10am
John: Hi Antonia,
Though you didn’t mention orange notes, I wanted to suggest Hermès Concentrée d’Orange Verte, which I don’t think of as an ‘orange’ scent so much as an ‘orange-and-basil’ scent. The opening is wonderfully crisp and cooling (you’d swear there’s a touch of mint lurking in there too) and for a cologne-like freshness it lasts very well. June 22, 2020 at 1:02pm
Anotnina: There are a lot of Hermes mentions in the comments, so I’m gonna visit my local Hermes boutique this week 🙂
I didn’t mention orange, because I have a few orange scents already, but there’s always room for more 🙂
Thank you for your reccomendation! June 24, 2020 at 8:59am
Aurora: I second Clarins Eau Dynamisante and for a longer lasting effect, also, Liz Earle Essence No 1 is a wonderful citrus aromatic, with 98% natural ingredients. June 22, 2020 at 2:35pm
Anotnina: Now I certainly need to buy Eau Dynamisante, since there are two favourable comments already! 🙂
Thanks! June 24, 2020 at 9:01am
Inma: Dear Aurora,
I was reading your and other people comments about Herba Fresca, in this blog. I tried it and bought it. I am loving it! I would not have gone for a mint perfume woudn´t all of you have talked about it. So, thank you! June 25, 2020 at 6:24am
Aurora: Hello Inma,
I am so glad Herba Fresca was a success with you, it is so refreshing in the summer heat, lucky that Guerlain made it part of Aqua Allegoria permanent collection. June 25, 2020 at 11:01am
AndreaR: I would like to add:
Annick Goutal: Eau d’Hadrien and L’Eau du Sud.
Parfums de Nicolai: Eau d’Ete and Cap Neroli.
Atelier: Bergamot Soleil and Orange Sanguine
Parfum D’Empire: Azemour les Orangers
Cartier: Eau De Cartier
Hermes: Osmanthe Yunan and Un Jardin Apres Mousson June 22, 2020 at 3:33pm
AndreaR: …and Jo Malone Basil and Neroli June 22, 2020 at 3:36pm
OnWingsofSaffron: Hi, there‘s a whole thread on super interesting eaux de cologne say six posts back: https://boisdejasmin.com/2020/06/guerlain-eau-de-cologne-du-coq-eau-de-fleurs-de-cedrat-and-eau-de-guerlain.html June 22, 2020 at 4:15pm
Kat: A fresh herbal fragrance with a masterful touch of mint is Spring Harvest by Burren Perfumery of Ireland. It is one of my go to’s for warm weather. It has good longevity for a light fragrance. I know they use a large proportion of natural essences. June 22, 2020 at 5:27pm
Karen A: We went to Burren Perfumery when we were in Ireland a few years ago! What a delightful place! Bought Lost Garden – thanks for mentioning Burren as it reminded me to get it out! June 24, 2020 at 3:49pm
Peter: Hello Antonina. My testament to Pamplelune went to the bottom of the comments. June 22, 2020 at 7:54pm
Old Herbaceous: I live in a hot, humid summer climate and I find that the Jardin series by Hermes (perfumer Jean Claude Ellena) work really well in that weather. My two favorites are Un Jardin Apres la Mousson, and Un Jardin Sur le Nil. They both blossom in hot weather! June 22, 2020 at 10:17pm
Eudora: Hello OH, do you like Un jardin sur la Lagune? June 23, 2020 at 2:34pm
Rakasa: Hi, Antonina. Mint in fragrance isn’t my cup of tea, but a dear friend adores it. Not only does she smell fantastic, she also gets compliments galore whenever opts for Cactus Azul.
Cactus Azul from Fueguia 1833 Patagonia is a truly fresh and vibrant creation that its perfumer, Julian Bedel, intended to evoke a high desert garden facing the sea of Uruguay. Cactus flowers and nanah mint (natural spearmint) ethereally wind around and through each other along with crisp, smooth cedar.
When it comes to grapefruit, the only two I can resoundingly recommend are Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune and Hermes Pamplemousse Rose.
Enjoy! June 23, 2020 at 11:31pm
Klaas: Hello Antonia, some excellent recommendations already! To make choosing even harder, I’d like to mention Sisley Eau de Campagne. Another one from Ellena and from the 70’s! It is incredibly green, bitter and herbaceous with tomato leaf, basil, grassy notes and a bit of citrus. It is light enough to pass for a eau de cologne, but has a bit more staying power. It is one of my summer favorites. I love it because it’s not trying to be pretty. It’s just wonderfully green. Also, it very well fits your budget.
Harmattan Noir is a very interesting mint fragrance by Pierre Guillaume, but it is sometimes hard to get and a bit more pricey.
As for citrus, you could always give good old Eau Sauvage (or its cologne flanker) a sniff. It’s a lemon sherbet in a bottle 😉 June 24, 2020 at 5:16pm
Erry: Heeley’s Note de Yuzu is bright, fresh and juicy. It’s suitable for hot summer days. June 29, 2020 at 5:31am
Alex Meden: For fig I really like by Terry’s Flagrant Délice. Although I haven’t tried many other fig scents, so don’t have a lot to compare it to. June 22, 2020 at 9:37am
Aurora: So glad because I like it very much too, it’s also exceptionally refreshing, I find. June 22, 2020 at 3:40pm
Standard Papadiamanti: Greetings from Greece!
Victoria, will you please recommend us nice perfumes for my boys,
near to 20 years old?
One is 18, tall, blond, loves sports, sea,girls,and wood and tabacco
notes.
The other is 20,dark hair and eyes, student at Agriculture University,
loves food, politic, his girl, the nature, and lemon-citrus notes.
Always after you, you give us joy and food for mind.
THANK YOU. June 22, 2020 at 11:52am
Aurora: Hello: For the first one A*Men Pure Havane might work, for the second Dior Eau Sauvage (not Sauvage). June 22, 2020 at 3:45pm
John: I’d second Eau Sauvage… A wonderful, timeless lemon and vetiver based composition. June 23, 2020 at 7:58pm
OnWingsofSaffron: For your 20 year old: Hermès Néroli Doré: Neroli for the citrus and saffron for the culinary moments!
For the younger one: Hermès Eau de citron noir: Guaiac wood and Persian black lime.
Both don‘t cost too much so no drama if the bottle is forgotten at the beach! June 22, 2020 at 4:09pm
Staysail Papadiamanti: Greetings from Greece!
Victoria, will you please recommend us nice perfumes for my boys,
near to 20 years old?
One is 18, tall, blond, loves sports, sea,girls,and wood and tabacco
notes.
The other is 20,dark hair and eyes, student at Agriculture University,
loves food, politic, his girl, the nature, and lemon-citrus notes.
Always after you, you give us joy and food for mind.
THANK YOU. June 22, 2020 at 11:54am
Dohotay: Hi there,
I am also looking for a summer floral fragrance. I tend to like white flowers, not too sweet and not too much citrus. For example I wear Memo Inlé, and am considering Dyptyque DoSon. I prefer niche fragrances. I would love to hear any recommendations for an amazing white floral ( tubereuse) fragrance that does well in humid / hot weather. June 22, 2020 at 12:28pm
carole: Dohotay, I am wearing Annick Goutal’s Matin d’Orage, which I find to be cool and refreshing in an unseasonal heat wave here. It’s gardenias after the rain, and it’s very true to its name 🙂 June 22, 2020 at 2:06pm
Nina Z: Hiram Green’s Moon Bloom is a natural tuberose and jasmine fragrance with a little bit of spice that is on the lighter side. I think this would work very well in the summer.
Also I love By Killian Love and Tears (jasmine fragrance) in the summer. It is more sheer than most jasmine fragrances and has a cooling quality to it. June 22, 2020 at 3:04pm
AndreaR: Second Love and Tears June 22, 2020 at 3:34pm
Pocketvenus: I second Moon Bloom. It’s gorgeous. June 27, 2020 at 5:37pm
Peter: Hello Dohotay. If you have access to Luckyscent you might consider getting samples from Rouge. I was very impressed by their Chypre-Siam and Derviche (a tobacco oriental). Rogue has newer launches: Jasmin Antique and Flos Mortis (tuberose). Then they have a brand new release called Tuberose + Moss. June 22, 2020 at 7:07pm
KatieAnn: Have you already tried L’Artisan Parfumeur’s La Chasse Aux Papillons? It seems to fit your description nicely. June 22, 2020 at 11:59pm
Klaas: Jour d’ Hermes is very, very elegant for summer. And plenty of white florals in there (jasmine, ylang ylang, orange blossom and tubereuse), yet it does not play out the indolic aspect of the flowers. In stead, the fragrance remains light, radiant and airy from its sparkly top notes to the (slightly) sultry dry down. And not too expensive either. It can ne found on discounters sometimes. I prefer the Eau de Parfum to the absolu or the extrait. June 25, 2020 at 3:34pm
Dohotay Teboul: Thank you all for your floral suggestions. I have put them on my sampling list. June 26, 2020 at 2:04am
limegreen: Acqua di Parma Osmanthus may be worth a try.
This might be too close to Memo Inle but I love osmanthus so I don’t care!
The AdP interpretation is lighter than Inle, but not lightweight.
Something to consider is a classic in the same line: Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile but released in the edt — it is more white floral than iris and in the edt it is lighter, not too sweet (as the edp) and wears well in humid hot weather. June 27, 2020 at 5:47pm
Peter: Aloha limegreen. I just received my (7) 3ml Voile de Parfum NON-alcohol samples from DSH. I had to try “your” Tubereuse first. I love it! A beautiful floral with a woody base. Unfortunately the Pink Gardenia isn’t available in non-alcohol. I’ll let you know my thoughts about the other samples. Mahalo nui loa for your recommendation July 4, 2020 at 5:01pm
limegreen: Hi Peter!
Aren’t the 3 ml sprays nice? So pleased you love the Tubereuse!
I find DSH creativity really amazing. Enjoy your haul of new fragrances. July 5, 2020 at 12:34am
Peter: Aloha again limegreen. The 3ml spray bottles are great. I always spill the Luckyscent sample vials. It’s evening now and I can still smell the Tubereuse (I did spray some on my shirt). Really excited to test the others! July 5, 2020 at 3:01am
Erry: I recently tested a couple tuberose fragrances. For easy to wear tuberose, I recommend Parle Moi de Parfum – Gardens of India 79. It’s not a groundbreaking perfume (consist of only 3 notes: tuberose, jasmine and sandalwood) but it is well-made and beautiful.
Another one is Perris Monte Carlo Tuberose Absolue.This one is the younger sister of Carnal Flower. It is a green tuberose that in my opinion smells like a real, freshly picked tuberose. Longevity is great but it’s not a diva scent. June 29, 2020 at 5:44am
Alison: Amber and resin, medicinal and powdery at the same time. I love vintage perfumes and the amber ones work well on me, I’m not keen on gourmands . June 22, 2020 at 1:03pm
Peter: Hello Alison. How about Masque Milano Tango? I can smell amber, resin, some medicinal, but not powder. Luckyscent lists the notes as: amber, jasmine sambac, Turkish rose, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, tonka bean, benzoin, sandalwood, guaiac wood, and melilotus. Fragrantica lists the accords as: warm spicy, balsamic, amber, woody, aromatic and fresh spicy. June 22, 2020 at 7:38pm
Alison: That sounds nice. Those sound like my kind of ingredients . I recently bought L’ambre extreme by L’artisan parfeumer. It really is as if it was made for me. June 22, 2020 at 7:50pm
Aurora: Maybe also Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan, there is a medicinal aspect as it is a little bit herbal. June 23, 2020 at 12:11am
Alison: Love medicinal perfumes. June 23, 2020 at 9:38am
Robin Gibbs: Hi, been on a quest for “my perfume” for years.’ In my past, I have liked Ciara (my very first- our neighbor worked for Revlon?); Clinique’s Aromatics , love the smell, but not how overbearing it is/was; Lauren/Ralph Lauren: I truly loved that oneone; and the last perfume I really loved was Antonia’s Flowers. I still wear it sometimes. June 22, 2020 at 2:19pm
Kim Cravatta: I am a huge fan of the ‘green’ chypre fragrances. Chanel 19, Aromatics, Bandit. I stumbled upon a sample of Roja Dove’s Creation-R, (Risque in in the UK and Europe). Reminds me of Jean Louis Scherrer, the one launched in 1979. I found a decanter in Los Angeles that sells a reasonable 7 ml of Creation-R for $55.
Otherwise, Roja Dove’s full bottles are too expensive. June 22, 2020 at 3:57pm
Robin Gibbs: Thanks, Kim, June 22, 2020 at 4:31pm
Peter: Hello Robin. I just stole your phrase of “perfume quest” for my own inquiry further down. Like Kim, I also like chypres. A new love of mine is the Chanel No 19 Poudre. It’s less hardcore than the original. It could definitely be on my (Top 10) desert island perfume list! June 22, 2020 at 6:49pm
Robin Gibbs: Thanks, Peter. I will go for a sniff.
Robin June 23, 2020 at 7:18am
Amanda M: Robin, if you like Aromatics Elixir but find it too strong, have you ever tried Aramis 900? It’s traditionally marketed towards men but it’s actually a very beautiful fragrance for women to wear too – think of it as a much softer and easier to wear Aromatics! Very close to Aromatics, with the addition of a a lovely rose. And very much affordable too, excellent price point. I love it! June 25, 2020 at 7:53pm
Robin Gibbs: That sounds really great, Amanda. I am going to start my sniffing prowl.
Have a great weekend. June 26, 2020 at 6:32am
Aurora: Everyone, what is your favorite fougère? Many thanks in advance. June 22, 2020 at 2:41pm
John: I’m generally a fan of the whole genre, but my favourites are both by Caron: Pour un Homme (which some interpret as a lavender soliflor) and Le Troisième Homme, which supplements the usual citrus-lavender-coumarin-moss formula with strong accents of clove and cardamom. I love these two because I think that they are beautiful compositions, but also because both still in great shape. Other examples of the genre I enjoy more as guilty pleasures (Paco Rabanne Pour Homme or Azzaro) because they have been cheapened over time and have a certain hint of the drugstore about them. A wonderful modern interpretation of the slightly ‘gloomy’ feeling of some fougères is the original Narciso Rodriguez Pour Homme in the cement-grey bottle… a hint of violet over patchouli and musk makes this the most evocative urban petrichor scent I’ve ever smelled. June 22, 2020 at 5:38pm
Aurora: Thank you John, you gave me some good ideas, oh urban petrichor sounds great, I will check NR Pour Homme. June 23, 2020 at 1:10am
Eudora: Hi John! Just wondering…do you enjoy Pour un homme same in winter or summer?
I need to try Le troissieme homme and Narciso Rodriguez Pour Homme. June 23, 2020 at 10:31am
John: Hi Eudora,
I will wear Caron Pour un Homme in almost any weather, but I like it most in spring, because then is when I most appreciate the intensity of the lavender opening. The base has a lot of musk and vanilla, and probably a little Benzoin as well (some say they detect a hint of civet, but if so it is very subtle) on top of rosewood and cedar. The effect can feel a little dense/sweet/warm in hot or muggy weather. This does not always stop me (I really love this scent and wear it at least two or three times a week year round), but on very hot days I’m much more likely to reach for Guerlain Vetiver, which has a similar low-key-yet-chic personality to me. June 23, 2020 at 8:05pm
Eudora: Thanks John, Same thoughts and you explained it so well. I wonder if you have ever try PUH flankers, sport and eau. I did not. June 27, 2020 at 3:01pm
John: I have a nice 5ml sample of Caron Pour un Homme Sport that I have been very cautious about trying until we get a run of good weather here…cautious because I tend to really fix my first associations of a full wearing with my mental state and the day itself, and work has been very intensive up until this past week (I’m a teacher). Once I have decompressed and a solid summer day of leisure is on offer I will give it a try. A cautious wrist test awhile back was very interesting. There is an intense fruity-gingery-minty overture that really took me by surprise; it is very cooling and also creamy and sweet at the same time. I’m not sure what I think of it exactly, but I admire the purposeful sense of direction of young William Fraysse. This lapses (in a good way) into the candied violet aspects of the original Pour un Homme, and there is this lovely ambergris aspect in the drydown. I am curious to try it more as it is both nontraditional, but also avoiding of the clichés of ‘sport’ fragrances generally… I maybe picture René Lacoste playing tennis in a linen blazer, but if anything, the ‘sport’ associations of this composition feel very affluent-chic-casual (sailor jerseys, horse races and yacht picnics) rather than anything locker-room like. I will say it it seems like a thoroughly unisex composition as well. June 27, 2020 at 8:03pm
Nina Z: Have you tried Boy by Chanel? It’s a very well done take on the fougère that’s more unisex than manly. June 23, 2020 at 9:33pm
Aurora: Hello Nina, thank you so much, great idea, I should sample Boy when it becomes possible. I’m afraid a little bit of the Chanel SAs but will try to be brave. June 25, 2020 at 11:07am
John: Hi Nina,
I have not tried Boy yet… It is on a list of higher-end/harder to find (in my location) fougère-oriented fragrances that I am curious about. It’s funny though…given its long history as the frame of reference for ‘masculine’ fragrance, I sometimes run into interesting residual biases when I think about fougères… So often, i picture them as hyphenates, with a prefix denoting cleanliness, grooming rituals, or naturalness (barber shop – …. wetshaver – …aromatic -) which are paradoxically stoic in championing cleanliness as a rationale for scenting the body and highly artificial given the synthetic premise of the entire fern genre. It’s hard for me to escape the sense that a fougère should have something a bit literally and figuratively down to earth about it, which is probably one reason why I so enjoy Caron Pour un Homme, which embodies these contradictions and others besides… Its massive lavender note is a composition in itself given that there are so many aromatic compounds in natural lavender oil, and the balance of the whole sometimes feels unpredictable, as if it might collapse under the weight of all of those facets and associations. The other ingredients try to compose it, and the vanilla seems to make an effort to civilize it or dandify it, but there is an abiding roughness and medicinal element that end up getting coupled in my mind to other qualities of the label, namely its being venerable, a little obscure and comparatively very inexpensive. It has so defined my sense of what the genre is about that I sometimes have trouble relating to the idea of there being such a thing as a ‘luxury fougère’, despite the whole industry (its history, its knowledge and appreciation) being essentially concerned with luxury. June 25, 2020 at 6:35pm
Lily: About the only fougere I have really fallen for is Fou d’Absinthe from L’Artisan Parfumeur. It is a spicy floral fougere, soft and cool but not totally chilly. I tend to like warm, spicy scents so the category is usually hard for me (on me, anyway!). June 25, 2020 at 10:59am
Aurora: Thank you very much Lily, it’s summer so a good time to sample Fou d’Absinthe with its anise I wouldn’t have thought about it, great idea. June 25, 2020 at 11:12am
Amy: Hello!
I will second the recommendation of Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune for a grapefruit. I also adore the Limon Verde and Nerolia Baianca from the AA range. June 22, 2020 at 4:17pm
Peter: Aloha Everyone,
I would like to share my lifelong perfume quest. I was born in 1950’s Honolulu. Growing up surrounded by tropical flowers and lei. I’m still searching for that “one” elusive perfume memory. My mother didn’t wear much perfume (in later years she preferred the subtle Issey Miyake).
As a pre-teen I read a wacky gothic novel where the female protagonists each had a signature perfume: Joy and Shalimar. (This was important because one of the women was drowned in a well and reincarnated as a cat with the trademark sillage.) I just knew that Shalimar had to be my Holy Grail. Such an exotic name. Unfortunately when finally smelled, Shalimar (while lovely) was not the “one”. Fracas came close.
A few years back I came across Barbara Herman’s book ‘Scent & Subversion: Decoding a Century of Provocative Perfume’. After reading her description of Tuvache Jungle Gardenia, I thought to myself that’s the “one”. She mentions that it’s “heyday” was the 1950s. It’s a sweet potent gardenia scent. Definitely something that would appeal to a young child. Would I still like it as an adult?
Vintage Jungle Gardenia seems to have a complicated history and I’m not up to risk a purchase on Ebay. But, Barbara Herman does recommend Heeley Bubble Gum Chic as a “modern version”. Any thoughts? June 22, 2020 at 5:32pm
Nina Z: Jungle Gardenia was one of those strong, over the top floral perfumes that are no longer commonly worn. Back in the mid-century, that perfume was definitely not considered classy or elegant; it was more va-va-voom. Is that your fantasy? If so, maybe go for a tuberose perfume, such as Carnal Flower or Serge Lutens Tuberose Criminelle (what a name, right?).
If your fantasy is something more elegant, two modern gardenia perfumes to consider are: Tuberose Gardenia by Estee Lauder and Gardenia by Chanel (definitely more restrained). I’m not sure they contain real gardenia, though. And it looks like Bubble Gum Chic is actually a tuberose perfume. The most beautiful gardenia perfume I’ve ever smelled is the all-natural Cuir Gardenia by Mandy Aftel (Aftelier), which contains real vintage gardenia extract. It’s pricey, but you can get a 2 ml bottle.
Where I grew up in West Los Angeles (where I no longer live), gardenias were everywhere, perfuming the summer evenings, so the smell of it is very nostalgic to me. June 22, 2020 at 8:11pm
Peter: Nina, I hope you got my previous “mahalo” note. I adore Carnal Flower, but I may check out a more brassy floral. I also looked up Aftelier and their (3) mini set sounds like a good deal. I’m trying to decide on the other selections besides the Cuir Gardenia. June 22, 2020 at 10:57pm
Nina Z: Believe it or not, I recommend the Cacao. It opens with short-lived chocolate, however, essentially it is a gorgeous natural jasmine perfume. Also I love the Honey Blossom. June 23, 2020 at 12:51pm
Peter: Aloha Nina. I looked up and read the Bois de Jasmin reviews of Cuir Gardenia and Honey Blossom. Then I looked through the Aftelier website. What a wonderful world of scent and taste. I was debating the merits of Cacao vs Vanilla Smoke for a gourmand sample. You helped me make that decision. I have no experience of “linden blossoms”, but Victoria had such a cheery reminiscence from her European childhood. You seconded that recommendation. June 23, 2020 at 4:30pm
Karen Boorsma: Hi Peter! Have a lot look at Kai (Gardenia) and the Malie line (from Hawaii!)
Enjoy xx June 24, 2020 at 1:30pm
Peter: Aloha Karen Boorsma,
I have heard about Kai (California?) and remember seeing magazine ads for the original (late 1960s-70s). I’ll research.
I’ve walked by the Malie store in our large Ala Moana Shopping Center. Now I have an excuse to go in and sample their tropical scents. Our tourism is almost nil, so many stores have not reopened. June 24, 2020 at 4:42pm
Karen Boorsma: Tom Ford Velvet Gardenia is beautiful as is Une Voix by Serge Lutens. Xx June 24, 2020 at 1:33pm
Peter: Hello Again Karen B,
I checked my perfume notebook where I have all the 4+5 star Tom Ford reviews from Victoria. I remember sampling the Cafe Rose which I liked, but I don’t think that I checked out the Velvet Gardenia. I have a slight bias against Tom Ford because of the high price, but if it’s wonderful?
I found a “hidden” floor in our Waikiki Duty Free. It’s between the main (mostly clothing boutiques) floor and the ‘passport-only” floor. This 2nd floor has most of the major perfume and beauty boutiques. The sales associates are all Asian language speakers and they aren’t too pushy. They have the Chanel, Dior and Hermes exclusives, besides the Tom Fords. The Guerlain counter is understocked with mostly the Aqua Allegorias. Once our international travelers (including Australians) are welcomed back, the stores should reopen.
I’m sure International readers have access to Frederic Malle, Serge Lutens, and Guerlain Boutiques. That would be an (expensive) dream! June 24, 2020 at 5:18pm
Deanna: I would second Lauders Tuberose Gardenia. AND wonder of wonders IT IS NOT discontinued – Yet.
I always get compliments when I wear it, and it is long lasting. June 26, 2020 at 8:29am
Peter: Aloha again Deanna. I had the EL Tuberose Gardenia, it was quite lovely. But, I gifted it to my “Hula Girl” friend (she always has a fresh blossom behind her ear!). I’ve repurchased a few of my give-aways, but it’s costly. I should only pass on samples! June 26, 2020 at 4:19pm
Peter: Aloha Nina,
I now know that you didn’t receive my previous emails. I’m still kind of a klutz and emailed Victoria! Here was the first email:
Mahalo Nina for your comment. You always have the most elegant and interesting recommendations. I think that I may have outgrown my fantasy scent. Carnal Flower is one of my favorites and I’m sure it’s much more nuanced than Jungle Gardenia. I did own a bottle of EL Tuberose Gardenia which seemed realistic to me. I ended up passing it on to my Hula Dancer friend.
I have heard good things about Aftelier, but I haven’t done any exploring. I did fall in love with Liz Moore’s Papillon line which features great oakmoss.
We also had a gardenia bush growing up. I even made a gardenia lei for a neighbor’s graduation. It must have been a little overwhelming! June 23, 2020 at 12:05am
Peter: The next missing email:
Nina, I’m so happy with your Mandy Aftel recommendation. I consider Berkeley my second home since my grandparents all lived there. Mandy sounds like a true Berkeley spirit. I can support her along with my Peet’s coffee. Besides her website, I also found some Bois de Jasmin Aftelier reviews. I’ll keep you in touch with my explorations…. June 23, 2020 at 12:21am
Nina Z: Thank you so much, Peter, for you compliments on my fragrance recommendations! And, yes, it will be fun to hear which Aftelier fragrances you choose. Mandy actually lives walking distance from me, and I used to see her every year at her open house and sometimes just walking around our neighborhood. She also has an amazing perfume museum at her house, which you can visit by purchasing a ticket online (when things are normal, anyway). June 23, 2020 at 12:54pm
Peter: Aloha Nina. I hope Berkeley hasn’t changed too much with the Internet boom. My father worked for Pan American and we were lucky to fly off “the Rock” and visit the Mainland. My father’s parents lived near the Claremont Tennis Club. I used to tell my Hawaiian friends that they had a 4-story house (I included the basement – unknown here). My mother’s parents lived on Shattuck Avenue across from a park. Their neighbors lived in a Maybeck house which we were lucky enough to stay in. My Tutu (Grandfather) worked across the bay in “the City” and I remember going to his favorite restaurant, Tadich Grill. The last memory that I’ll share is the smell of Eucalyptus trees in the Berkeley Hills.
I did get to see the photos of Mandy’s house and perfume museum. She seems like such a creative, giving person. Always good to support a small niche business. June 23, 2020 at 4:53pm
Peter: Aloha Nina. I’ve been enjoying the Aftelier samples. The “doll-house” bottles arrived in beautiful packaging with a charming handwritten note from Mandy. You are so right. The Cuir Gardenia is amazing! Just the right amount of funk. I also enjoyed the Cacao. I got the chocolate orange, then a “rice” accord with wisps of jasmine. I wrote my response to Honey Blossom on Victoria’s latest “peach” post. I’m hoping my Luckyscent samples come soon. I’m so eager to test “scary” SL Tubereuse Criminelle! Mahalo for the recommendations. June 29, 2020 at 5:35pm
Peter: Aloha Nina. I was so eager to sample the infamous Tubereuse Criminelle. I spilled the whole vial! The wintergreen top note was interesting and the base is quite heady. Unfortunately the Serge Lutens Clan only offer this perfume in the 100ml “skyscraper” bottles. You have to be all in to partake! July 1, 2020 at 4:00pm
Tourmaline: G’day Peter,
Just cutting in here…
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry for you, after you spilled the vial… (but I’m laughing…)
Here’s an idea. When I am using my computer on my lap whilst watching the news or something, I have it on top of what used to be called a “stable table”. I don’t know whether they sell them anymore, but they are a small cushion with a plastic table attached to the top – about 43 x 33cm in size. The table section has a 3cm, empty “moat” all around it, so that any pencils or whatever that would have fallen off, get caught in the moat space instead. Here is a picture of one.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDU2WDUwMA==/z/Y5cAAOxy8HlSbnAq/$(KGrHqV,!jUFE13ZIwYCBSbn!qfShQ~~60_35.JPG
If you used one of these tables whilst working with perfume, then any spills would drip into the moat, so you could salvage a portion of them.
When I visited my father a few months ago, I noticed that there were two spare ones sitting unused in a spare bedroom. They must be about 40 years old, as I remember that when my brothers and I were kids, Mum used to bring us meals on them when we were in bed, sick. I asked my father whether I could have one of them, and he was happy for one to be used rather than wasted.
I find it particularly useful when threading (or re-threading) beads, as the beads are always trying to roll away.
Hope my suggestion helps. Good luck with your future unwrappings and openings of fragrance!
With kind regards,
Tourmaline July 2, 2020 at 1:52am
Tourmaline: I’ll just try that link again.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDU2WDUwMA==/z/Y5cAAOxy8HlSbnAq/$(KGrHqV,!jUFE13ZIwYCBSbn!qfShQ~~60_35.JPG
Fingers crossed… If it doesn’t work, just google “image of stable table”. July 2, 2020 at 1:58am
Tourmaline: P.S.
It’s also useful to keep a pipette on hand for sucking up spills.
About 30 years ago, I bought a fabulous one that has an oval plastic puffer with a long (about 10cm) metal “needle” attached. The needle is only slightly bigger than the needle on a hypodermic syringe. I still have it, and it is one of the most useful utensils that I have ever bought.
I use it for transferring perfume into miniature bottles to carry in my handbag, and I rinse it out with perfumer’s alcohol before switching fragrance.
I can still picture in my mind the container in the perfume section of the David Jones store that had multiple pipettes exactly the same. It cost me only about $1, and how I wish that I had bought about 10 of them at the time. Then I could have had I could have had one for each of the fragrances I use the most often, plus a couple of spares for all the others. I’ve never seen the same, excellent design since; I can’t even find it amongst “images” of pipettes. July 2, 2020 at 5:01am
Peter: Aloha Tourmaline,
The vial I spilled was only the Luckyscent sample. It’s only enough juice for about 2-3 applications. The perfume actually ran down my arm so I had a potent dose of Tubereuse Criminalle. It smelled wonderful for 12 hours plus.
You sound like you have all the perfume accoutrement! I don’t think I would need anything quite that advanced. Making your own refills for your handbag sounds smart. Your computer lap “desk” looks clever. I could also use it when I eat in bed. Too bad Mom can’t cook my meal!
I just finished watching your favorite Australian film. I couldn’t wait to find the deluxe set of “Picnic at Hanging Rock”. I liked the way the mystery is unexplained, but it’s still powerful enough to affect the whole community. The eerie prophetic dream the orphan brother had. I definitely need to rewatch it. I’m sure you’ll give me astute feedback from your numerous viewings! July 2, 2020 at 6:28am
Tourmaline: G’day Peter,
Yes, the stable table is very useful. I confess that I use it for eating in front of the TV very often.
I’m glad that you have now seen Picnic at Hanging Rock. When you eventually see the original version (perhaps having seen your current one a couple more times), the scenes that were cut out will probably stand out for you, especially the beautiful ones.
I adore the climbing piano/organ music that is played as Michael is searching the rock. It sounds better the more times you watch the film – in the same way that you get to like a song more, the first few times you hear it.
When I saw it as a young teenager, I thought that I had never seen such naturally beautiful women before, especially Irma and Miranda. (Of course, they would have been wearing screen makeup to help them look that perfect…)
Tell me, what do you think the film is about? Or at least, a repeated theme in it. Yes, I have opinions on this one!
Of course, the film is based on the novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay, which I read soon after I first saw the film.
Regards,
Tourmaline July 2, 2020 at 6:41am
Peter: Tourmaline. I learned from you. No “snakes”! So see my response @bottom. July 2, 2020 at 4:52pm
Old Herbaceous: You might try “Natalie”, by Natalie Wood’s daughter. It is a gardenia fragrance that was designed to evoke Natalie Wood’s favorite fragrance, Jungle Gardenia, but it is a modern floral. It is widely available online for bargain prices. June 22, 2020 at 10:35pm
Peter: Mahalo Old Herbaceous. I haven’t heard of Natalie, but will check it out. June 22, 2020 at 10:48pm
Peter: Hello again OH. I just went online and tried to order Natalie from the website. Unfortunately they do not ship to Hawaii. I’ve only had luck with high-end (Neiman Marcus) and niche (Luckyscent). Since Bois de Jasmin followers live all over the world, I’ve noticed that we all have different constraints on what we can acquire. June 22, 2020 at 11:42pm
Eudora: Hi! It happens so often thar I read on the comments “available online for bargain prices”, as OH says but as you point there are far more constrains that one would think in our globalised world, right? I miss and will miss Pacificas Lilacs this summer a lot. June 23, 2020 at 10:48am
Peter: Hello Eudora. I just looked up Pacifica (Vegan & Cruelty-Free) based in Oregon. I’m assuming you live outside the US and they don’t mail international (or the postage is prohibitive). Even though Hawaii is the 50th State, a lot of US companies won’t ship here. This is probably because mail has to be flown in vs freight/truck delivery.
Since you like lilac, have you tried Maison Margiela Replica “Lazy Sunday Morning”? It’s a skin scent musk with an undertone of lilac. Victoria has a review. It’s available at Sephora (which I believe are International?) for a moderate price. June 23, 2020 at 10:01pm
Peter: Hello again Eudora. I apologize. I should have reread Victoria’s review (under ‘Martin Margiela’) before recommending Lazy Sunday Morning. This Hawaii-Boy is getting his lilacs and lily-of-the-valley confused! June 23, 2020 at 10:18pm
Eudora: Oh do not apologize Peter, you just call my attention with a scent I will try when I have the chance, lilacs and muguet I love both. Not familiar with MMR. I live in Spain and travel to the US at least once every year but… well, it is complicated this year. When you asked for a gardenia bomb scent I got confused with jasmin and almost sent you a mistakenly recommendation, but here it goes: I enjoy a lot Lust from Lush. It is all jasmin, period, nothing sophisticated enough for Joan Collins, not a very fine perfume…but how I enjoy it in hot weather! do you know it? June 25, 2020 at 10:46am
Peter: Aloha Amiga Eudora,
We were so heartbroken in America when we watched Italy and Spain surge with Corona victims. We didn’t learn our lesson and our Country is now overwhelmed. Please wait before you attempt a US visit.
Everything I know of Spain is through Pedro Almodovar’s eyes. The grand apartments in Madrid, the beautiful countryside and quiet rural towns. The last film had the young Antonio Banderas living in a magical cave.
I’ll try to sample your Lust from Lush. That store sometimes overwhelms me with all the strong soapy smells! But, I’ll forge through because they have reasonably priced perfume. Mahalo for your recommendation. June 25, 2020 at 6:13pm
Eudora: Aloha Peter, I am going to read about Hawai, in my mind THE Paradise. I wish you are doing well.
Lush stores are a challenge, I understand. Actually I find them overwhelming in every aspects: smells, colors, products and even smiles!
By the way, I am looking for a “pretty” fragance to please me and my husband…are you familiar with First? And with Gucci Bloom?
Mahalo! June 27, 2020 at 3:16pm
Peter: Aloha again Eudora. I moved my response to the bottom of the post. the thread is getting “snake-like” (vertical)! June 27, 2020 at 3:55pm
Tourmaline: G’day Peter,
I’m afraid I can’t help you with Jungle Gardenia, except to tell you that, back in the seventies, I bought a book that mentions it. At the time, I bought several books about the “beauty secrets” of celebrities such as Twiggy, Sophia Loren, Linda Evans and Angela Lansbury. One of them was “The Joan Collins Beauty Book”, published in 1971. In it, Ms Collins lists some of her favourite perfumes, and they include Jungle Gardenia. She describes it as “scintillating”, saying, “This is one of my favourites – heavy and musky, with a definite scent of the jungle drums creeping through the scent of gardenias!”
By the way, she also lists Bal à Versailles, describing it as “sophisticated” and adding, “It is very strong, very sexy, very long-lasting, very distinctive, very expensive and my particular favourite.” That is probably one of the first times I heard of Bal à Versailles. June 23, 2020 at 12:15am
Peter: Aloha Tourmaline,
I’m surprised that Jungle Gardenia isn’t in your extensive collection. Joan Collins is the ideal sex-bomb that would wear it! By the way, I just saw her in the most recent “Miss Marple” adaptation (with Julia McKenzie). She was very glamorous and looked truly ageless. June 23, 2020 at 12:40am
Tourmaline: G’day Peter,
I’ve probably done a little research on Jungle Gardenia at some stage, but I think the mention of jungle drums probably made me think that it wasn’t for me. Thinking about it now, though, I would love to smell it, so I must seek it out when I have a few (or a hundred) spare dollars.
It’s good to know that actresses of a certain age are still getting parts. And to some extent, television is the new film, when you consider the number of high-calibre actors that are appearing in high-quality TV series these days.
Yes, Joan Collins could rock a sexy fragrance like nobody else! June 23, 2020 at 1:49am
Aurora: Hello John: Thank you for sharing your quest. I would definitely sample the Heeley to satisfy your curiosity and maybe explore gardenia perfumes. Do you know Arquiste Boutonniere No 7 often referred to as a gardenia for men? June 23, 2020 at 12:36pm
Peter: Howdy Aurora. I have a long list of wants from Luckyscent. Usually I’ll do a (researched) blind buy and then choose my (4) complimentary samples. So I’ll at least sample the Heeley. I don’t think that bombastic gardenia will become a signature, but I’m SO curious. I’m going to look up your suggestion of Arquiste Boutonniere No 7. I’m not always so crazy about the marine and fougere notes in some masculines. Mahalo for sharing. June 23, 2020 at 5:07pm
Peter: Hello again Aurora. I looked up the Boutonniere No 7, but it has a lavender note which is not a favorite of mine. But, I am eager to look through the Arquiste website. Any other favorites from their line? June 23, 2020 at 9:32pm
Aurora: Hello Peter:
I have sampled B7 along with Fleur de Louis (not impressed) and Infanga en flor (adored it, leather/orange blossom), that’s all but Victoria has reviews, her favorite cocoa is Anima Dulcis. June 25, 2020 at 11:26am
Peter: Aloha Aurora. Mahalo for turning me on to Arquiste. I somehow missed Victoria’s reviews, which were so beautifully illustrated. The Anima Dulcis sounds most scrumptious! Nanban also sounds interesting (smoky oriental), but that dark cocoa is beckoning me. I just ordered a sample set from Aftelier (Nina’s recommendation) which also includes a dark chocolate (jasmine). This Arquiste Anima Dulcis may be next on the wishlist. June 25, 2020 at 6:45pm
Peter: Aloha to both Aurora and limegreen. I just tried to order the “floral’ and “woody” discovery sets from Arquiste. I would have been able to sample all your (along with Victoria’s) recommendations. But I’m stymied again. They don’t ship to Hawaii. Drat! June 27, 2020 at 7:55pm
Aurora: Oh that’s too bad, Peter. Hope you can sample Arquiste when you travel maybe, one day. June 30, 2020 at 11:23am
Aurora: *Infanta, sorry for the typo. June 25, 2020 at 12:05pm
limegreen: Hi Peter: Even though you were asking Aurora, I wanted to jump in and suggest Flor y Canto from the Arquiste line. It’s not gardenia but a beautiful plumeria. (Haole name is frangipani!) 🙂
I agree with many many of the suggestions for gardenia in this thread, and will add one more that’s seldom mentioned but very much worth testing for a quest: Elie Saab Essence no. 2 Gardenia. You can still find it on discount sites, as it is discontinued, or not as available in the US, and not as expensive as it once was. This is a hardcore green gardenia, freshly plucked off the bush, maybe with some of the leaves, too. It isn’t the indolic edges turned brown gardenia smell, that’s more Tom Ford Velvet Gardenia — some mushroomness there! This one is hard to find.
I love Van Cleef and Arpels Gardenia Petale that someone recommended — it’s a safe Gardenia, without the indoles. VC&A also has California Reverie that I love — jasmine and orange blossoms. Elise reviewed it for this blog and her swooning won me over! The name is non-descript but worth testing. June 27, 2020 at 5:28pm
Peter: Aloha limegreen,
Great “handle”! There were so many Arquiste fragrances to look up, that I missed Flor y Canto. I think I also sniffed (but didn’t skin test) the VC&A California Reverie. That is supposed to have a plumeria note along with the other tropical florals.
I was intrigued by watching a Luckyscent video of (Russian Adam’s) Areej Le Dore “Koh-I-Noor”. This perfume was sold-out as there is a cult-like following of these small batched creations. But I was able to order Plumeria de Orris, which is a pungent long lasting scent. My first “real” job was a lei greeter (the only “haole”) at The Honolulu International Airport. At the end of the day, we would smell like the main flower in the lei. Plumeria de Orris is this fragrance. On a day when we had tuberose, along with my co-workers chain-smoking (late 1970s), I get the drydown of Atelier Cologne Cafe Tuberosa. Exact scent memory!
I haven’t had much luck with discounters (even Amazon) who won’t ship perfume to Hawaii. So I don’t think your Elie Saab or the Tom Ford are viable. So far only Macy’s has opened up here. I think my beloved Neiman Marcus is going to close down completely. There may be some other high-end Department Stores that will reopen. Then I can sample and skin test the VC&A Gardenia Petale and California Reverie.
Mahalo for taking me back and letting me share my ‘kid-kine” days…. June 27, 2020 at 7:19pm
limegreen: What a great anecdote, Peter, thanks for sharing. A shame about shipping to Hawai’i. I thought maybe Amazon might work, too. Neiman’s did carry the Van Cleef and Arpels line which was a good way to test.
But to state the obvious, you get to smell the real flowers all the time!
As for shipping: Have you ever tested the DSH Perfumes? Dawn Spencer Hurwitz is an amazing perfumer and I was lucky to visit her shop in Boulder a few times and test practically everything. She can ship to Hawai’i I bet, because for most perfumes you can have the option to have it non-alcohol based which she has available for this very reason (shipping to Europe etc). And if it does not show as available, I am pretty sure you can ask for it to made up, you can email or call!
Even better, you can buy a mini size, my favorite is the 3ml size.
I have the Pink Gardenia (creamy) and Tubereuse and recommend them as lovely soliflores. June 28, 2020 at 11:37am
Peter: Aloha limegreen.
I was surrounded by tropical flowers as a keiki. We had a plumeria tree, a gardenia bush and both white and yellow ginger. I now live in a small walk-up apartment, but there is a tiare bush nearby.
I just ordered a sample set from Mandy Aftel (Aftelier) per Nina’s recommendation. But, as I’m eager to explore, I’ll check out Dawn Spencer Horowitz (DSH) and her tropical soliflores. Mail order may become our new normal. June 28, 2020 at 5:06pm
Peter: Aloha limegreen. Mahalo for turning me on to DSH (Dawn Spencer Hurwitz). Their website is brimming with goodies. You explained the overseas shipping well. Her Voile de Parfum is the low alcohol format. It’s available in sample vials and 3ml deluxe spray samples (which I’ll chose). Besides the tropicals, there is an Opium inspiration and some boozy creations. June 28, 2020 at 8:10pm
limegreen: That’s so great, Peter! Thanks to you, I was inspired to order the DSH Gardenia Room Spray and it’s lovely! The Pink Gardenia was part of her series for the Japan market. So glad you have discovered a new line and not just for soliflores. July 5, 2020 at 12:21am
Aurora: Sorry Peter, got your name confused😊 June 23, 2020 at 12:39pm
Ariadne: If you really want to smell like a gardenia flower try Van Cleef & Arpels Gardenia Petal No 10015AA.
I have it (and adore it) among my other cherished and stand alone scents: No 22 and Kenzie Jungle. June 24, 2020 at 2:04pm
Peter: Hello Ariadne.
I haven’t sampled the VC&A Gardenia Petal, but I recently fell in love with their Santal Blanc (tropical fig sandalwood). Our tourism in Hawaii is on hold, so many stores have not reopened. (Neiman Marcus being my favorite). Hopefully we can go back to the process of sniffing, testing on paper and then skin.
That’s funny that you mentioned Chanel No 22. That was one of Victoria’s “Beauty of the Old-Fashioned” picks. I never liked it at first sniff, so I think I need to do a skin test. June 24, 2020 at 4:20pm
Eudora: Hello again Peter, n22 is stunning. I only had a sample months ago but I really fell in love. I remember thinking at the very beginning that it was just a stronger n5. But I was so surprised by its development… incense in its heart! N5 plus incense! Love. June 25, 2020 at 10:54am
Peter: Aloha again Eudora. So much love for No 22! This I must definitely sample. I remember thinking it was too sweet, but I may need to wait for the incense. June 25, 2020 at 6:52pm
Karen A: Not gardenia, but Songes jumped to my mind when you mentioned your quest. June 24, 2020 at 3:59pm
Peter: Hello Karen A. I LOVE Songes. That was one of my first blind-buy mail orders. The fragrance had so much buzz, along with a great review from Victoria. June 24, 2020 at 4:24pm
rainboweyes: Aloha Peter, I’m quite late to the party but I hope hope you still read my comment…
My favourite skincare line – Leahlani – comes from Hawaii…
Their Pamplemousse tropical enzyme cleansing oil smells like heaven to me…
As far as I know they also make perfume oils… haven’t tested them yet, though… but maybe worth a look for you? June 28, 2020 at 8:25am
Peter: Aloha rainboweyes. A beautiful “handle”. “Anuenue” is the Hawaiian word for rainbow. I haven’t heard about Leahlani, but I’ll definitely check them out. Another reader (Karen Boorsma) recommended Kai and after I looked them up, I realized that quite a few Island boutiques carry that line. Her other suggestion Malie has a stand-alone boutique in our largest shopping mall. I don’t know what’s under my own nose! Mahalo for the recommendation. June 28, 2020 at 5:24pm
Peter: Aloha “Anuenue”. Leahlani is mostly skincare, but they do offer a Perfume Oil Trio. I ordered the set to support my Kauai “Ohana” (family). June 28, 2020 at 8:17pm
Dian: I frequently smell a perfume that I like only to find that the scent changes to something unlovely when applied to my skin. My first favorite was Arpege, that I wore happily, until it was cheapened in the “Promise her everything, give her Arpege” marketing ploy. It took years to find Hermes Caleche which I like almost as well and have worn for many years, I am 81. I am unable to switch perfumes, it takes forever to find one I like and then I stick with it. I tolerated a gift bottle of Joy, threw Poison and White Shoulders (does every old lady but I wear that) out. Found your blog while looking to see if Jeffrey Steingarten had written something new. I am enjoying it and will try some of your recommended authors because I love reading. June 22, 2020 at 6:48pm
Peter: Hello Dian. I also like Caleche. I’m not sure how I’d describe it: soapy, rich, uncomplicated? If you ever feel the need for a backup scent I would recommend Chanel No 19 Poudre. This new version is much softer than the original. It’s easy to find at a Department Store’s Chanel counter. Give it a sniff and try it on skin. June 23, 2020 at 3:22am
Nina Z: It may take forever to find a new one you love, but why not think of that journey of testing and exploring as something fun to pursue? Based on what you like (and don’t), maybe try 31 Rue Cambon from Chanel? And definitely get rid of any perfume that doesn’t make you feel wonderful, even if it’s a famous one. June 23, 2020 at 12:59pm
Peter: Hello Dian. I agree with Nina (again!), 31 Rue Cambon is a fantastic recommendation. That was a signature of mine for awhile. A nice fizzy blast, then that Chanel richness. June 23, 2020 at 5:14pm
Peter: Hello Antonina. I’m going to second (or third) the fantastic, mouthwatering grapefruit fragrance by Guerlain: Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune. June 22, 2020 at 7:51pm
Tourmaline: (I’m having trouble getting this comment to “stay”, as the system keeps thinking it’s a duplicate, so I’ll try to enter it in two parts.
Part One
Hi,
My name is Tourmaline and I’m a Perfumista. It’s been 40 seconds since my last spray of fragrance.
A few weeks ago, I made a perfume purchase that was accompanied by major guilt. It wasn’t one of those expensive, famous-brand fragrances. No, it was one of the ones that perfume lovers tend to look down on – despise, even. But the thing is, I really like it. I suppose it’s like musk sticks as compared with crème brûlée. I confess that I looked around to see whether anyone I knew was in the shop, prior to selecting a box of the fragrance and quickly conveying it to the counter.
What was it? Well, here goes…. It was a 100ml bottle of Marshmallow Eau de Parfum by MOR. There, I’ve said it! I’d first encountered it when walking past the display of MOR products in the gift section of my local newsagent. Yes, folks, it’s a fragrance that is sometimes sold at a newsagency. I doubled back to seek out the wonderful aroma. I was hooked, and I returned to smell it several more times before deciding to throw caution to the wind, ditch my perfumery scruples and add a bottle to my collection.
It was at a pharmacy that I did the deed, though. And it was not at my usual shopping centre, where I’d have been more likely to have been sprung in the act by someone I knew. Instead, I drove a little further away, to a mall that I don’t frequent. To my delight, at this particular pharmacy there was a fabulous gift-with-purchase – a pale, ballet-pink china teacup and saucer, gilt-edged, containing a Marshmallow-scented candle. What a beautiful teacup and saucer, I thought! When I’ve finished the candle, I’ll be able to use the set for cappuccinos; with such a wide flare to the cup, there will be more room than usual for the delicious chocolate powder to be sprinkled. So, I indulged. June 23, 2020 at 12:18am
Peter: Tourmaline, you’re hilarious! We shouldn’t be perfume snobs because there is expensive crud and inexpensive jewels. I just recommended a Febreeze air refresher (“Wood”) on the soap post.
I have no reference to MOR and their marshmallow scent. Your subterfuge was classic. Does anyone recognize anyone else wearing masks? Maybe online shopping would be best for your “closet” purchases! June 23, 2020 at 12:56am
Tourmaline: G’day Peter,
Thanks you. It’s true that I’ve never been a perfume snob, appreciating fragrances spanning Avon across to Guerlain.
You are right; online shopping is best for those guilty purchases!
But I haven’t managed to get Part Two of my story to stick, yet. I’ll keep trying… June 23, 2020 at 1:17am
Tourmaline: G’day Peter,
Part Two has finally appeared further below. Yay! June 23, 2020 at 5:20am
Amanda M: Haha Tourmaline, great story, this made me smile! From one Aussie to another, we’re pretty darn similar, lol…and yes, my name’s Amanda and I will unashamedly admit that I too, am a snobless Perfumaholic. 😊 June 25, 2020 at 9:12pm
Tourmaline: Hi Amanda, I’m sure there are lots of us around. I think it’s wonderful that we appreciate fragrances of all types; after all we can enjoy the simple green scent of a dandelion as easily as the complex scent of a Guerlain classic! June 25, 2020 at 10:47pm
Amanda M: Absolutely and unequivocally, yes!! 🌿🌻 June 25, 2020 at 11:36pm
Tourmaline: 😊 June 26, 2020 at 1:14am
Aurora: 😀Great story Tourmaline, I keep Aquolina Pink Sugar (with glitter) in my perfume cabinet so I understand, hope you will wear your MOR (is it Australian?) with pride. June 23, 2020 at 1:27am
Tourmaline: Hi Aurora,
Thank you. Yes, MOR is an Australian brand, and you are right; I should wear the fragrance with pride, as I do my Avon Honeysuckle and many others.
I must try Pink Sugar sometime.
Part Two of my little story still won’t stick – it’s about getting it home and using it. I shall keep trying…. June 23, 2020 at 1:31am
Tourmaline: Ah, I finally managed it! It has appeared below… June 23, 2020 at 5:19am
Tourmaline: Hi Aurora,
P.S. You might enjoy reading Suzanna’s guest post of February 11, 2013 – “Perfume and Dating : Searching for Love Potion”. June 27, 2020 at 6:16am
Aurora: Thank you so much for your suggestion, Tourmaline, will read Suzanna’s post. June 28, 2020 at 6:59am
Tourmaline: I was so happy to get my contraband home! The earlier metaphor of a musk stick was indeed appropriate; the main impression I have of the scent is of a fuchsia-pink, striated stick of that ultra-sweet candy. In terms of fragrance overload, it gives my other guilty pleasure, Ciara, with its strong raspberry note, a long run for its money.
The perfume is so rich that it seems to suit night-time best. I have put the bottle on my bedside table, and when I spray it on before settling down to sleep, it feels as though I’m wrapping myself in pink fairy-floss clouds. And talk about longevity! Once, after I’d sprayed it on at night and then spent the next day in my PJs, I could still easily smell it on my wrist that evening. Rest assured, though, that I would never wear it out to a restaurant, or to a concert or any other sophisticated gathering. In my opinion, it goes best with pyjamas (especially hot pink ones), pink tutus and princess outfits.
Please don’t think ill of me. After all, most of us like the occasional red jellybean or bag of coloured popcorn. I know I’m not alone in savouring the odd sugar rush.
Actually, I wonder whether there’s another pharmacy with the same gift-with-purchase. I could use a back-up bottle. Besides, my pretty pink teacup set is looking lonely….
Thank you for listening. June 23, 2020 at 5:17am
Peter: Aloha Tourmaline,
Even though I don’t know MORS marshmallow, I certainly remember Ciara. Along with Giorgio, it’s a perfume that I always recognize (and like on others!)
We all have those “closet” perfumes that may not be appreciated by friends or coworkers. Bedtime is a perfect time to overspray and sink into bliss. Unless I’m going out for my weekly shopping, Quarantine is a time to explore those over sweet, raunchy, and challenging perfumes! June 23, 2020 at 5:31pm
Tourmaline: Hi Peter,
I love Ciara, although one has to be careful to be sparing with it, as it is very strong. It’s strange, but when I changed “raspberry ketone” to “raspberry note” in my story, it was accepted as a comment. It was that simple! I must have mentioned raspberry ketone sometime recently.
Yes, bedtime is indeed the best time for all those “unsociable” fragrances! June 24, 2020 at 6:48am
Deanna: Not guilty nor ashamed to admit to buying Elizabeth Taylor ”Gardenia”! June 27, 2020 at 3:27am
Tourmaline: Hi Deanna,
I have a bottle of this as well! In my opinion, when it settles down, it is quite a lifelike gardenia scent. I couldn’t find out which perfumer made it, only that the pretty bottle, with the green glass and the flower stopper, was designed by one Susan Wacker.
A favourite among my less expensive, everyday fragrances is Diamonds and Rubies, a classic woody oriental created in 1993 for the Elizabeth Taylor range. I always thought it was a good quality fragrance, even though a 100ml bottle cost only $20 in Australian dollars. Then I discovered the reason. It was composed by Sophia Grojsman, Victoria’s mentor, and the nose behind such classics as Paris, Eternity, Jaipur, Calyx, White Linen, Beautiful, Vanderbilt, Trésor and Yvresse.
Since I learned the origin of Diamonds and Rubies, about 10 years ago, I have never taken an inexpensive fragrance for granted. June 27, 2020 at 5:06am
Deanna: Hi Tourmaline, never tried Elizabeth Taylor Diamonds and Rubies, but just dug out my sample of White Diamonds, and now need to fumigate the house! I think it’s got every possible ingredient in it, a bit much for me, although it’s by Carlos Benaim In spite of that I might try Diamonds and Rubies…… I read about Gardenia in Neal Chapman’s book, but he doesn’t mention the designer. June 27, 2020 at 1:59pm
Tourmaline: Hi Deanna,
Yes, White Diamonds is an altogether different beast.
I meant to buy the Neal Chapman book as soon as it came out, but have been slack. Must treat myself soon. June 27, 2020 at 9:26pm
Tami: Tourmaline—such a fun story. The things that most delight us often catch us so pleasantly by surprise. Once they get their tenterhooks in, they are loath to let go. 🙂
And besides, who says we can’t have a few 80’s dance floor hits tucked in amongst our Barber arias and Bartok sonatas. 😉 June 23, 2020 at 12:23pm
Tourmaline: Hi Tammy,
That’s so true. I have no doubt that I’d have kept going back to sniff Marshmallow until I bought some!
Oh, you’re so right! For example, I confess to liking several Rick Astley songs and having a CD of his hits. (I think “Cry For Help”, with the gospel choir, is absolutely beautiful.) June 24, 2020 at 6:31am
Tourmaline: Tami,
I’m so sorry that I spelled your name wrongly. I do apologize. I must have been thinking of the elderly lady named Tammy who used to live next door to us in Maryborough, where my family lived until I was 3½ and we moved to Brisbane.
I used to visit Tammy as a three-year-old, and one day she gave me a teacup and saucer with green and aqua four-leaf-clovers on it, and gilding around the edges. I still have the set on display in my bedroom; it’s probably the oldest thing I own. My mother must have taken good care of it for me when I was very young! June 24, 2020 at 9:31am
Tami: It’s quite alright. 🙂 That’s a very sweet memory and both teacups sound delightful.
And I do appreciate a good nod to Rick Astley! June 24, 2020 at 12:06pm
Tourmaline: Thanks, Tami.
I’d now do an instance of “Rick-rolling”, if I knew how! June 24, 2020 at 7:03pm
Amanda M: Ahh, Rick Astley – now he was a gem! Loved his music. That song was glorious! 😍 June 25, 2020 at 9:14pm
Tourmaline: Indeed it was. It’s lovely to encounter someone else who appreciates it. June 25, 2020 at 10:49pm
Eliza: Tourmaline, I’m an unabashed Rick Astley Fan too!
I enjoyed your story and wish Marshmallow was sold here, with the teacup set, too! July 4, 2020 at 11:29am
Tourmaline: Hi Elize,
He had some very good songs. The other day I watched the “Cry For Help” film clip again and was reminded that he was rather good-looking as well.
That’s a shame that you don’t have the Marshmallow range locally. I wonder whether you could order it via their website.
https://www.morboutique.com/
I had a quick look at the “Shipping” section and, unfortunately, they don’t mention overseas shipping at all.
Last week I had another browse at the newsagency MOR display, and I noticed that the teacup candle set is on sale for $60.00 by itself. Wow, that was certainly good value when I received it as a gift-with-purchase! I have been very lucky.
I do hope that you are eventually able to obtain some MOR products in your area.
With kind regards,
Tourmaline July 4, 2020 at 8:46pm
Tourmaline: Sorry for my mis-spelling, Eliza. July 4, 2020 at 8:47pm
Eliza: Hi Tourmaline,
It’s alright about the spelling. Thanks for sending me the website!
Unfortunately they don’t ship overseas, however, I can drool over the pictures of their products and dream about the next time I can go to Australia again… July 5, 2020 at 11:33am
Joyce: @Tourmaline: fantastic story. I am now intrigued about Mors Marshallow! They’re on sale right now so I might give it a try.
Can anyone recommend a perfume that’s a close approximation to Sillage de la Reine (which is itself a reconstruction of the original). I am reading A Scented Palace, and am very intrigued by Marie Antoinette‘s favourite scent. June 23, 2020 at 6:01am
Tourmaline: Hi Joyce,
If you purchse some Marshmallow, I hope you enjoy it. But be warned, if you have any family history of diabetes, you might want to have a syringe of insulin on hand, on account of the sugar rush you will experience!
What a fascinating fragrance search you are on. I’ll be interested to hear the outcome.
Quite some years ago, I read a book that you might enjoy, if you haven’t read it already. It is The Orange Trees of Versailles (Les Orangers de Versailles) by Annie Pietri, translated by Catherine Temerson.
Goodreads provides the following synopsis.
“When Marion Dutilleul enters the service of the Marquise de Montespan, she never imagines that her ability to recognize scents and to blend them into perfumes will win her the favor of Louis XIV’s mistress. But the marquise quickly has the young girl creating new perfumes for her. Eager to please and hopeful that her olfactory gifts will win her recognition, Marion concocts memorable fragrances. Then, to her horror, credit is bestowed on someone else. Marion feels betrayed.
Now Marion opens her eyes and ears (in addition to her nose!) and realizes that beneath the splendor of palace life is a place teeming with deceit. To survive, she must use her keen sense of smell not to create perfumes, but to thwart those who would do her–and one of France’s beloved monarchs–great harm.”
For some reason, it is classed as a book for children, however, it didn’t seem like a children’s book to me. I think anyone could enjoy it, especially those who love perfume!
With kind regards,
Tourmaline June 23, 2020 at 6:31am
Joyce: Tourmaline: I am a hopeless sweet tooth when it comes to perfumes. La petite robe noir, Cartier Delices, Santal Majuscule and Prada Candy Gloss are among my diabetic inducing collection 😉 Marshallow will be in good company.
And thank you so much for the Annie Pietri recommendation! I am building a reading list and that sounds like a must read! June 23, 2020 at 5:09pm
Tourmaline: Oh, I’m a real sweet-tooth, too, when it comes to fragrance (as I’ve already demonstrated)! One of my favourite violet scents is Violette, by Molinard – wonderfully sweet (and musky).
I have no doubt that you will enjoy both Marshmallow and The Orange Trees of Versailles.
I wish you luck with your search for an approximation to Sillage de la Reine. June 24, 2020 at 6:38am
Tourmaline: Hi Joyce,
P.S.
If you do try Marshmallow, I’d be interested to hear your impressions.
As you might already have found, it IS actually listed on Fragrantica, and it seems that a large number of people have tried it. The listed notes are sugar rose petals, white carnation, jasmine, cotton candy, vanilla and musk. June 26, 2020 at 9:46pm
Joyce: Hi Tourmaline,
I dropped by at Myers and managed to have a socially distanced sniff at the Marshmallow candle 😻 instant love – as I said I have LRPN which is spicy cherry, Prada Candy Gloss which is creamy cherry soda and Uncle Lutens Santal Majuscule which I am sure he will have an existential hernia if he heard this, but it’s sugary burnt creme brûlée on my skin.
Marshmallow is a direct, non-nonsense and straight to the dessert type and is even more sugary than Pink Sugar 😸😸😸
Needless to say I am in love and promptly ordered a 50ml edp.
It shall sit in the gourmand section of my wardrobe, while EL Tuberose Gardenia, Marc Jacobs Woman and Samsara on the opposite side will sniff and make pointed comments about “smelling one’s age” etc 😸
Thanks again for the great story and review!1 June 27, 2020 at 1:21am
Tourmaline: Hi Joyce,
I’m so happy that you love the fragrance – and were able to order some while it was on special. That was a great idea to try it at Myer first.
You will just have to tell Tuberose Gardenia and those others to mind their own business. Remind them that more popular fragrances often sell well enough to make it financially viable for more expensive, niche scents to be manufactured in the first place.
I love the MOR packaging – very elegant and attractive. I confess that, since purchasing the EDP, I have returned and bought 500ml pump bottles of the Hand and Body Wash and matching Body Milk. With those two, I gained a gift-with-purchase of a short-sleeved rayon bath robe in white with a violet floral print – a perfect fit and very pretty. Then I returned another time and bought the 500ml Bathing Elixir, which is probably intended as a bath gel or bubble bath. It is very heavy, as it is in a black glass bottle. Here is a photo.
https://expressionsfloral.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/mor-marshmallow-bathing-elixir-expressions-600×720.png
Oh, and I was lucky enough to receive a second bath robe for this purchase! I’m going to put light pink dye through it, to make a pink robe with raspberry coloured flowers on it, to distinguish it from the other one.
I have all three products in my bathroom – great for an evening shower, to be followed later by the perfume at bedtime.
I bet you can’t wait for the bottle to arrive! Later in the year, you can look out for any sales at Myer, in case you decide to try something else from the range.
By the way, it sounds as though that Santal Majascule smells wonderful on your skin! June 27, 2020 at 3:48am
Joyce: To be enveloped in a sweet, comforting cloud of marshmallow! You’re all set for this winter! June 27, 2020 at 6:43pm
Tourmaline: I am indeed! I hope you enjoy your bottle when it arrives. June 27, 2020 at 9:29pm
Eudora: Hello to all! Another mention about how bad/not good/ awfulness of reformulation Arpege is. It has been in my list forever… Is it really that bad now or just when compared with the original? I would appreciate your comments! June 23, 2020 at 8:18am
Kerstin Hermelink: Dear Victoria,
What do you think of the newly released Aqua Allegoria Orange Soleia? I enjoy it, and wearing it I feel like moving in my own zone of sunlight and cheerfulness, even on a dark day. I also love Aqua Allegoria Nerolia Bianca. Sadly, I think it has already been discontinued. Are these too “good perfumes”, and is there anything similar, perhaps a classic, that is going to stay? June 23, 2020 at 8:55am
Peter: Hello Kerstin. The only Aqua Allegoria that I own is the Pamplelune. It’s a grapefruit scent. It first bursts with mouthwatering freshness and eventually mellows into a sweet musky drydown. I believe it was one of the first Guerlain Aqua Allegorias and would be considered a classic. June 27, 2020 at 4:32pm
Kerstin Hermelink: Thanks, Peter! June 28, 2020 at 11:04am
Karen Boorsma: Hello from a hot and steamy London all!
I have very recently smelt the original Herve Ledger fragrance and really do like it! Any suggestions for something as similar as possible please?
Many thanks xx June 24, 2020 at 2:23pm
Aurora: Wave back from London, yes, beautiful hot day yesterday, same today. On Fragrantica it is compared to Valentino V Absolu, long discontinued so I’m afraid not very helpful to you, Perris Monte Carlo Absolue d’Osmanthe shares notes, so maybe try it? Is Herve Leger still available? June 25, 2020 at 11:47am
Jane: Can anybody recommend me a good, inexpensive body spray? I’m looking for something light for summer that I can reapply throughout the day without it getting overpowering. I’m honestly not picky, so any light floral, citrus, herb, etc. is welcome. I am a waitress and I usually end up smelling like fry oil, so I don’t want to use an expensive fragrance, but I also want to wear something to work and reapply throughout my shift. June 24, 2020 at 11:16pm
Klaas: Hello Jane, I have never tried them, but Roger & Gallet makes all kinds of body sprays that make my mouth water….check their website!
Also, Eau Dynamisante by Clarins is very, very nice, a real pick-me-up, though not exactly inexpensive…. June 26, 2020 at 3:06am
Karina: Second Eau Dynamisante. June 26, 2020 at 9:12am
Karen A: If you are in the US, Target has some terrific body sprays at really reasonable (cheap) prices. Olivia Care and Good Chemistry and two brands that I’ve gotten in the past, Sweet Clementine and Apricot Bloom were the scents I chose – but honestly they all seemed nice. I got them last year and assume they still carry these lines, if not I’m sure they’ve got some other good ones. June 27, 2020 at 9:44am
Eudora: Hello Jane, I am not familiar with Yves Rocher but they have a very attractive body and hair! sprays and the prices are unbeatable. On the other hand not expensive but not cheap there is a French beauty brand called Nuxe that has a body spray that smells, at least in a friend of mine, amazing. I like Nuxe a lot, their Rose Petals products smells heavenly. Another option can be to get a baby cologne bottle, gentle enough to reapply without boder people around. Good luck! June 27, 2020 at 3:48pm
Joyce: Jane, Sarah Jessica Parker’s first perfume, Lovely, is a very pretty and elegant fragrance which also comes in body spray (AUD13 which is about USD9 or GBP7). The edp itself is inexpensive, and both can be found in major pharmacies. June 25, 2020 at 1:57am
Jane: Thank you! I’ll have to check that out. June 25, 2020 at 2:45pm
Karen Boorsma: Hi Jane, the original 4711 cologne is inexpensive and wonderfully refreshing. And Other Stories (the clothing shop) also does great body sprays! Good luck xx June 25, 2020 at 5:13am
Jane: Thanks for your recommendations! June 25, 2020 at 2:45pm
Tiffany Gallaher: From a perfume lover who is just starting to learn the basics.
I’ve been thinking of scents I would love to wear in the warm months and remembered how much I enjoyed l’Occitane’s almond line, especially their hand cream. What fragrances could you recommend where that creamy almond is the dominant note? June 25, 2020 at 12:46pm
Aurora: Ah, l’Occitane is notorious for discontinuations.
Etro Heliotrope has a very dominant scent of almonds all throughout the wearing, Reminiscence Dragée is less prominent with citrus at the top, but very pretty and delicious too. Roger & Gallet had a great budget scent Almond Persane but they discontinued it, Acqua di Parma has Mandorlo di Sicilia, very elegant almond with a touch of anise if you don’t mind it.
Hope this helps you a little bit. June 25, 2020 at 3:23pm
Tiffany Gallaher: Thank you so much for the recommendations. As it happens, I have an Acqua di Parma perfume sampler on its way to me in the post so am really looking forward to trying Mandorlo di Sicilia. June 25, 2020 at 8:07pm
Klaas: I just saw the Amande Persane on the Roger & Gallet website….maybe they brought it back? June 26, 2020 at 3:08am
Klaas: Hey Aurora, I just saw Amande Persane on the Roger & Gallet website. It looks like it is back! I thought I’d mention it 😉 June 26, 2020 at 3:09am
Eudora: Hello Klaas, just to say hello and to tell you that I won’t forget your mother. We share love for Vetiver Tonka and Coco. Encre Noir I have been tempted but I cannot be challenging my husband all time…😉 June 27, 2020 at 3:54pm
Klaas: Hey Eudora, let me congratulate you on your excellent taste!
And no, husband needs to stay happy too. When in a couple, wearing perfume is a shared experience. I have to abstain from my Insence Oud from De Nicolai. I absolutely love it, but my partner thinks it stinks 😉 June 28, 2020 at 4:58am
Aurora: 😀 Thank you very much for the good news, Klaas. June 28, 2020 at 7:04am
Peter: Hi Tiffany. I remember that Christian Dior Hypnotic Poison had an almond vibe. Hopefully you can take a sniff at Sephora or a Department Store. June 25, 2020 at 7:02pm
Tiffany Gallaher: Thanks! I wouldn’t have known that one was an almond scent from the name so very helpful. June 25, 2020 at 8:09pm
Karina: Lush has a wide choice of inexpensive body sprays. June 26, 2020 at 9:16am
piteault: love T Mugler’s Cologne,Gucci’s Mémoire D’une Odeur;also swoon over Caudalie’s shower gel Fleur de Vigne,never bought the cologne:the flowers are in blossom for only a few days,but their delicate smell is heaven.I only use this in the spring,otherwise it’s Weleda Calendula soap with a hint of iris,goes well with the Gucci
Keep safe & well June 26, 2020 at 9:57am
Dian: Thanks Peter and Nina. Will try both fragrances. Perfume is personal for me. I would smell something wonderful that floated from a friend, but when applied to my skin, horrible. My body chemistry makes choosing a perfume a challenge. The women in my family were perfume wearers. My d-i-ls not. I had a pleasant experience with Jo Malone a few years ago. I called the store, told the person who answered that I had 3 granddaughters who took a hit and miss approach to perfume and I needed recommendations for 11, 16, and 18 year olds. They sent me 4 or 5 little vials of a variety of scents, each girl chose her fav and got a bottle each. They used them for quite awhile and then moved on. I’m happy to say that none of their choices is Georgio, the most unpleasant scent ever and worn by women who applied it by the bucket. You could smell them from a block away. I would have banned anyone wearing it from entering a restaurant. There I’ve waited a long time to get that off my chest. June 26, 2020 at 4:46pm
Peter: Hello Dian,
Yes, you’re totally right, one persons potion can be another persons poison. We should always test a sample on our skin. I wish I always followed this rule!
I was also gifted a Jo Malone trial set. I kept the Lime Basil & Mandarin and the Wood Sage & Sea Salt. The rest I passed on.
Giorgio was a very notorious 1980s fragrance. I don’t hate it as much as you do, but I might not want to be seated next to a heavy sprayed Giorgio matron. A co-worker (different department) wears it and I do enjoy a BRIEF foray back in time.
Both of the fragrances that Nina and I recommended (Chanel 31 Rue Cambon and No 19 Poudre) are rich and classy. Enjoy your “quest”. June 27, 2020 at 5:00pm
Ana: Has anyone had a chance to try Aqua Allegoria Granad Salvia?
One of my favorite fragrances is Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune, and I like the collection in general.
I’m looking for a fragrance with notes of pomegranate that is not too sweet, and this one showed up, however, it is not available near me, so I would like to hear some opinions. June 27, 2020 at 9:31am
Celia: Hi all,
Novice fragrance chaser here. I love fig, but have not been able to find one that works on me. They’re often paired with citrus, which to my nose, ends up smelling the fig with a very plasticky note (I can’t wear citrus notes to begin with as they turn into cat urine with my skin chemistry). I love the fig in Philosykos (especially the green-ness) but unfortunately I hate coconut.
Does anyone have suggestions? June 27, 2020 at 2:36pm
Eudora: Hello Celia, have you tried both Philosykos, edt and edp? I liked time ago the edt but recently had an edp sample of the new edp and was…too sweet? Boring?
Not a fragance but Korres has a gorgeous Fig line of body lotion and shower. Again, I used them long time ago and I don’t remember if it had coconut smell…good luck!
Btw Victoria has a specific post for Figgy favs, have you read it? June 27, 2020 at 4:16pm
Celia: I’ve sampled common fig suggestions like L’artisan and the Armani one but they either have coconut or citrus in them. The figgy one from Atelier Cologne sounds most promising, but I haven’t been able to find it. Even Sephora, which carries a lot of that line doesn’t carry that particular fragrance.
I’ve tried the edt of Philosykos several times, but not the edp. Good suggestion for trying a different concentration! Thanks. June 28, 2020 at 12:19am
Aurora: Hello Celia, maybe Terry de Gunzburg Flagrant Delice which is almond (not coconut). Hope this helps you a little bit in your search for a fig without coconut. June 28, 2020 at 7:14am
Celia: Thanks for the recommendation, I will check it out! June 28, 2020 at 7:24pm
Klaas: Hey Celia, not a fig lover myself, but I’d trust Patricia de Nicolai Fig Tea to be excellent. Fig paired with osmanthus, orange, tea and a little jasmine…..
Less expensive, Roger & Gallet has Fleur de Figuier, which is fig with patchouli.
Fig my Love from The Zoo seems interesting as well, but might be not as easy to wear as De Nicolai or R&G. June 28, 2020 at 11:54am
Celia: The Patricia de Nicolai one sounds promising, thanks for the suggestion! I will hunt that one down. June 28, 2020 at 7:29pm
Peter: Aloha again, Eudora.
I hope you found me down at the bottom. I just researched the LUSH/Gorilla scents on Fragrantica. I have Lust and a few others on my to-try list. I’m now “armored” and will not be overwhelmed!
Van Cleef & Arpels First was one of my earliest perfume loves. It smells very expensive with a slight animalic drydown. I’m not great on identifying the specific notes. It’s a 5 star review from Victoria. I’m not familiar with Gucci Bloom. Have fun on your Perfume Exploration! June 27, 2020 at 4:11pm
Eudora: That was a very clever move Peter!
Thanks, Gracias, Mahalo! June 27, 2020 at 4:21pm
Mollie: Could anyone recommend me a perfume that gives the impression of ice? I’m hoping for something that is distinctly chill and austere, and maybe even a little melancholy, but that also possesses clarity and radiance (like a beam of light is caught in the ice) without skewing warm. I already have a wonderfully warm and sweet fragrance in Benevolence by House of Sillage (it’s like the olfactory equivalent of a hug), and I am looking to experiment with something different. June 29, 2020 at 12:23am
Neva: Hi Mollie, there are two perfumes reminding me of ice because they feel metallic and cool. The first one is Eau Radieuse from Humiecki & Graef. The other one is Serge Lutens L’Eau. I hope you’ll find what you’re looking for. June 29, 2020 at 3:46am
Mollie: Thank you! I’ll have to be on the lookout for samples of these. June 29, 2020 at 1:15pm
Chris in Oakland: Hi Mollie, I’m very late here, but in case you see this, I also recommend Voyage d’Hermes and its more expensive cousin, Frederic Malle Angeliques sous la Plouie. Both are herbal and cool, almost like a bottle of gin languishing in the freezer. And a third Ellena creation is Hermes Eau de Gentiane Blanche, which has stemmy green gentian (used as a sleep aid in herbal medicine, I believe), iris, and clean musk. July 7, 2020 at 12:03pm
Klaas: Hello Mollie, that is a good question! I would have needed an icey fragrance last weekend, we’ve had a bit of a hot spell over here in Amsterdam.
To me, Eau Sauvage has that crisp, cold, chilling thing going on, though it is heavy on citrus. I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for.
Serge Lutens’ Iris Silver Mist is also quite chilly. It reminds me of a frozen eau-de-vie (double distilled fruit brandy) upon application, but it does warm up quite a bit after. It has the most beautiful irridescent sheen to it I find. Unfortunately, as it dries down it turns sugary on my skin…..it also has a hefty price tag…… June 29, 2020 at 5:04am
Ley: I really like Mitsouko (though more because of moss and wood than peach), though during the hot and humid summers here I find that it turns rather overpowering.
I’m looking for a summer fragrance that’s not too feminine, and hopefully more budget friendly (being a student); I might be willing to splurge on something really good though! June 29, 2020 at 9:09am
Aurora: Hi Ley: 2 ideas, the budget friendly Eau de Gaga (which smells like Bvlgari au thé vert) Victoria likes it too, it’s light but lasts well,and it’s unisex, and Liz Earle Essence No 9, a fruity chypre like Mitsouko, but lighter and less feminine, it is quite affordable. June 30, 2020 at 11:35am
Peter: Hello Ley. Mitsouko is a favorite. I just recommended Rogue Chypre-Siam to Devon. It’s available through Luckyscent (if you live in the US). For a niche brand the prices are reasonable. Chypre-Siam has lots of oakmoss (yeah!) with a lime top note. Fragrantica lists the accords as: woody, animalic, warm spicy, white floral, and earthy. Happy Hunting. June 30, 2020 at 8:34pm
Peter: Hello again Ley. Another thought. I just saw Paloma Picasso EdT at my local CVS drugstore. The cost should be very reasonable. This is a classic chypre from back in the day (1980s). Victoria has the review for the perfume. June 30, 2020 at 9:30pm
Devon: Hi everyone.
I’m fairly new to perfume, but am looking for something new for myself, something I can maybe wear as a “signature” for a few years. I’m a 25 year old guy, and I’m looking for something that you feel is sophisticated and well-made, but not particularly strong and also not very popular. I guess the vibe would be “modern gentleman”? Whatever you make of that.
I have sampled a few and gathered some likes and dislikes below, hopefully these help:
Dislikes – Chanel Bleu, Acqua di Gio, YSL Kouros, L’Occitane Eau de Baux, Diptyque Tam Dao
Likes – Clinique Aromatics Elixir (but a bit too strong for my taste), Clarins Eau Dynamisante (but a bit too faint for my taste), Bvlgari Black (but it’s missing something I can’t describe, feels a bit “flat”), Dior Homme (the “old” one, not the new version they came out with), Thierry Mugler Angel (but too “loud”), Dior Poison (but too cloying to imagine wearing for any length of time, much less a few years on and off; also very strong – but very interesting)
Any help is much appreciated! June 29, 2020 at 10:11am
Aurora: Hello Devon: Have you tried the masculine version of Aromatics Elixir? It’s Aramis 900, it might suit you as to my nose, it’s less strong. Also, I would direct you to two classics for men but reallyunisex, I wear them, Guerlain Habit Rouge, try the different concentrations, Caron Pour un Homme. Hope you will get more answers. June 30, 2020 at 11:45am
Peter: Hello Devon.
Kouros is one of the only fragrances that I can’t handle! I do like Aromatics Elixir, but it can be overwhelming. If you have access to Luckyscent, I’m recommending Rogue Chypre-Siam. Rogue is a US niche brand with reasonable prices. Chypre-Siam smells fantastic with a lime top note and rich oakmoss.
Another new favorite of mine is Chanel No 19 Poudre. A sweeter, more powdery iris than Dior Homme. Best of Luck. June 30, 2020 at 8:23pm
Klaas: Sophisticated and well made, but not too strong. And a little bit exclusive…..hmmmmm.
Here’s just a few thoughts…..
Eau de Gloire by Parfum d’Empire: lavender, herbs and citrus on soft leather.
Eau de Guerlain: a classic citrus fragrance, but with a whiff of that gorgeous Guerlinade.
Black Pepper by Comme des Garcons: just black pepper. But cozy and fluffy. Very modern gentleman!
Any of the classic vetiver scents (Guerlain Vetiver, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver) or the boozy, musky vetiver of Fat Electrician (Etat Libre d’Orange).
A personal favorite is Brin de Reglisse by Hermes (lavender and licorice), but it is expensive.
A sample set from Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier. Their mens fragrances are all incredibly well made, very classy and have that beautiful transparent sillage. I like them all!
I could go on and on and on….
I hope you find something you like! Don’t forget that the sampling and the searching are just as much fun as wearing a signature scent 😉 July 1, 2020 at 5:29pm
Peter: Hello Devon. I thought of another unique fragrance that you might like. It all depends if you like whiskey? Nasomatto ‘Baraonda’. I saw a video on Luckyscent and I was hooked. It’s pricey, but vey long lasting. Fragrantica accords: musky, whiskey, amber, woody, rose. July 4, 2020 at 5:40pm
Mollie: I appreciate your recommendations. It seems like Serge Lutens might be promising, so I’ll have to try some samples from him. It doesn’t seem like his website offers samples so I’ll have to look for a store in the real world. June 29, 2020 at 1:17pm
Alyssa: Can anyone recommend me a fragrance that is gourmand yet refreshing? I’m thinking of an olfactory interpretation of a lemon mint sorbet… sweet but herbal… June 29, 2020 at 5:42pm
Aurora: Hi Allyssa: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca has the citrus and mint, maybe also, Laura Mercier Tea menthe citron and try some of the other Laura Mercier scents, they are lots of light gourmands, also Paul Emilien Une Belle Journee has mint with some gourmand note like immortelle. Shalimar Souffle de parfum (not the intense) and Shalimar Eau de Cologne have both citruses which cut the vanilla but no mint. Hope you will get more answers. June 30, 2020 at 12:00pm
Sebastian: Hi Alyssa, my original reply went below, this is a follow-uo since I’ve had another idea. Do you layer? I usually don’t, but I’ve learned that it can be successful when you want to create a very specific effect. Perris Monte Carlo Cedro di Diamante is a sweet lemony perfume. And a very natural and convincing citron it is, too. Most people wouldn’t classify it as gourmand, but to my taste, it very much has a cotton-candy appeal. When you layer that above a fresh minty scent like Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca, perhaps it will give you what you want. If you ever try the experiment, I’d be curious to hear of the outcome. July 1, 2020 at 3:41pm
Klaas: Le Galion Whip! It is the perfect rendition of a lemon sorbet with a green, herbal edge. It actually makes my mouth water 😉
Though not minty….. July 1, 2020 at 5:05pm
Sebastian: I’m late to the party, having totally missed this months thread.
Gourmand is not an area with which I am very familiar, but lemon mint sorbet does sound intriguing. Perhaps Tea Escape by Maison Margiela would serve. One reviewer on Fragrantica says it’s like chocolate mint tea with milk, which is a far cry from lemon mint sorbet, but still close.
Herba Fresca is minty but not the least gourmand and not sweet. Une Belle Journee is gourmand only in the sense of soup seasoning. Laura Mercier is a good idea, but Tea Menthe Citron in particular is not part of their gourmand series. So I also hope someone else can be more helpful. June 30, 2020 at 5:34pm
Peter: Following up on my Jungle Gardenia quest. I just received my sample of Heeley Bubblegum Chic. My visual image of the perfume is the iconic photograph of Jayne Mansfield thrusting her decolletage at Gina Lollobrigida. The “bubblegum” opening reminds me a Japanese toothpaste (Sunstar Banana) that we used as kids. Then a luscious potent white floral. No Carnal Flower green notes, all Fantasy. June 30, 2020 at 8:03pm
Alessandra: Hello, everyone!
Does anyone have an excellent violet perfume to suggest, other than the wonderful Bois de Violette and Violaceum (I adore them but save them for special occasions, as they are not, to me, for uncomplicated everyday use haha)?
Both Penhaligon’s Violetta and AP’s Verte Violette have been long discontinued and they were among my faves.. so I was looking for a valid replacement to them…
Thanks in advance for your time
And help! 🙂 July 1, 2020 at 3:34am
Kat: I just discovered Byredo’s Mojave Ghost which has violet in its heart. On me the violet blooms and dominates without being cloying. It’s light and yet persistent, and lovely. July 13, 2020 at 2:43pm
Klaas: Hey Alessandra, I don’t know a lot of violet perfumes (it is not a note that I look for), but the other day I samples Dusita’s Splendiris and it is absolutely gorgeous (iris and violet beautifully juxtaposed). It is also transparent and light like a summer breeze, so perfect for everyday wear. July 1, 2020 at 5:10pm
Alessandra: Thank you so much!! I will check that out :)) July 2, 2020 at 5:11am
Peter: Aloha Tourmaline,
“Picnic on Hanging Rock” is beautifully photographed. It starts out so innocently with the lovely schoolgirls waking up and getting dressed. The horrible corset tightening will become important later. I had the same thought as you when I first saw Miranda waking up. How could someone be so naturally gorgeous. I then thought about her screen makeup (which was fairly subtle). Whenever I watch period films I’m always conscious about overplucked eyebrows. I associate the 19th Century with a natural “Queen Victoria” look, while the early 20th Century brought a stylized Marlene Dietrich arch. There were a couple of offences in the film (but not the girls).
I think the film is a study of the Yin and the Yang. The Yin is the exotic Aboriginal land with it’s hidden, mysterious folklore. The Yang are the Colonists imposing their rational rule. The rocks and caves beckon to the sexually blossoming schoolgirls and they lose their shoes and stockings. Eventually we learn that the repressive Victorian corset has disappeared. We surmise that the logical Science Mistress tried to save the lost girls from the mythic Unknowable.
The love-sick, orphaned, Gothic beauty, Sarah, was my favorite character. Did she have to stay back from the excursion because of her poor schoolwork? That horrible Matron was such a bully! Such a tragic ending.
Look forward to hearing from you…
Pekolo (my Hawaiian name) July 2, 2020 at 4:48pm
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
I was very interested to read your impressions and interpretation of the film. I think you are absolutely right, and I’m sure all of that was intended as the major sub-text of the film.
I see another layer as well: the theme of loss. The school kids lose Miranda and Marion and the maths teacher, Sarah loses the girl she looks up to and adores – Miranda, Michael loses Miranda, Irma loses Michael (on whom she has a crush), in her own mind that is (this isn’t shown as much in the cut version), and Irma also loses the affection of many of her classmates, who blame her for surviving when their favourite – Miranda – as well as the others, have disappeared. Sarah loses her life, Bertie loses his sister, and the schoolgirls lose a part of their innocence and their childhoods. Mrs Appleyard loses her school, then she loses her mind, and finally she loses her life. Parents lose children, and the community loses the school, which would have been a source of income, because the school would have patronised local suppliers of various kinds. School staff lose jobs. Also, I suppose the community also loses a sense of safety or something to that effect. More broadly, I would say the film shows the effects of profound loss on people and on a community.
It’s also a reminder that, in the end, nature always wins (which relates back to your interpretation). As a consequence of you mentioning that you’d just watched the film, I realized that I hadn’t seen it for several years, so I watched it again myself last night. I noted all of the scenes of wildlife, including birds, horses, a koala, spiders, lizards, swans, geese, dogs, and all those ants attacking the Valentine cake.
There was at least one touch of the supernatural – as you noted, when Bertie has the dream visitation from his sister at the time of her death. Also, I liked the symmetry of three lots of people all feeling sleepy on that same section of rock – the four schoolgirls, then Michael, and later the searchers.
I really like the character of Sarah, as well. I think the actress, Margaret Nelson, did a perfect performance. It’s interesting, and rather frustrating, that her great acting talent was never fully utilized. After a couple more roles, Margaret disappeared into the ether; she never acted again and nothing more is known about her.
The actress who played Miranda went on to a great acting career, but unfortunately, the lady who played Marion died of breast cancer at the age of 36. Rachel Roberts, who played the headmistress, suffered problems with depression and alcohol, and died about five years after making the film. You can read about that unfortunate ending in Wiki.
Karen Robson, who play Irma – the girl who was found, went on to become an entertainment lawyer, and is still based in Los Angeles.
I have seen the film at least 25 times over the years, including four or five times at the cinema. Once, many years after it first came out, I attended a screening (wearing a white cotton skirt and matching top printed with large pink roses, as I recall) where I was the only person in the cinema. That was a treat that I’ll always remember. Not surprisingly, that cinema disappeared long ago.
Great sharing impressions with you.
With kind regards,
Tourmaline July 2, 2020 at 9:27pm
Tourmaline: P.S.
I watched the version you have – The Director’s Cut. July 2, 2020 at 10:21pm
Peter: Aloha Tourmaline,
Yes, Mother Nature always wins. You folks just had the recent fire disaster. Weir showcased the spectacular moss covered rocks, along with all the fauna that you mentioned. It was a good contrast with the china tea cups and fancy cake.
Your loss thesis is spot on. It starts with the picnicking group, then spreads to the rest of the school and the immediate community. We see from a newspaper article that all Australians are concerned. This profound loss and mystery will then haunt the Country for over a century.
The Supernatural is just hinted at. Doesn’t someone mention a red cloud? Your observation about the “drowsy” rock. The way Weir silhouettes the girls from inside the caves. Then we hear about the brother’s prophetic dream. We hope it’s not true, but then we see Sarah’s crumbled body among the hothouse flowers.
A great flick! Very enjoyable to analyze it with you. Plus all the post film facts that you’ve collected.
Until our next “talk-story” (local slang)
Pekolo July 3, 2020 at 12:09am
Tourmaline: Hi Pekolo,
Yes, we had the terrible fires. And now, nature is responding to the overpopulation of the earth, and has produced COVID-19. Yes, you are right about the great contrasts between rocks and the strength of nature, and the high-class finery of the school and all who spent time there.
Yes, Edith mentions having seen a red cloud at the time she was running back from the rock (while the maths teacher was running towards it). I also liked the scene where the gardener showed the other character the plant that folded up its leaves when touched – perhaps a demonstration of the unpredictability of nature.
I haven’t mentioned previously that there was a final chapter of the book that was only released many years after the book’s publication. As Wiki says, “An excised final chapter of the novel was published posthumously as a standalone book in 1987, titled The Secret of Hanging Rock, and also included critical commentary and interpretive theories on the novel.” You would never guess the way the story actually ends for the missing women. I shall leave you to discover that for yourself, if you so choose. I’ll simply say that I didn’t like it at all and thought it was ludicrous.
I liked your previous description of Sarah’s character as Gothic. I’d never though of her that way before, but you are so right. The poor orphan, separated from a sibling, picked on by school staff, pining for Miranda and her brother, her long dark hair and pale skin – a perfect Gothic maiden. Somehow, the fact that Margaret Nelson’s subsequent life story is unknown, adds to the feeling of poor Sarah as an enigma. The actress herself is an enigma.
I want to add that I also thought the performances of the main police officer and his wife were excellent – really spot-on. The only unfortunate bit of casting, from Australia’s point of view, was Garry McDonald as one of the police officers. Garry McDonald is an Oz actor who, at the time of the film’s release, was well known here for his comic portrayal of a dim-witted interviewer named Norman Gunston in comic skits. Seeing him in serious scenes of the search and at the police station added an unwelcome distraction, and I recall there being some laughter in the cinema when he appeared.
As you can see, I have a lot to say about this film!
Now, you’ll just have to see Morgiana sometime. Another film in my top five is Vertigo, which you might already have seen. And, speaking of Gothic, I adored Crimson Peak, directed by Guillermo Del Toro. It divided critics, but it is just my style, and it wins my vote for best film house.
Until we talk again…
My name is Judith (as I accidentally wrote at the end of another comment to you), but there is another reader who uses that name.
Regards,
Tourmaline July 3, 2020 at 12:46am
Peter: Hello back Judith T,
Back in the 1970s, I supposedly attended college in New Orleans. There was a strip club on Bourbon Street called “Judith P’s Living Room”. There was a dancer who would swing (yes, a real swing) out over the street to entice customers. No reflection on you, of course!
A couple of points where I need clarification. I now remember Edith describing the red cloud to police. I don’t remember anything about the Maths teacher running up the hill. Was that also in her testimony? When the wagon returned to the school, I just remember the driver and the French mistress as the only adults left.
The scene with the Gardener and the “sleepy” grass. We had some in our yard and loved the magic. Good point about the “unpredictability of nature”. That scene reminded me of another film “Angels and Insects”. I’m not sure if you’ve seen it (natural science and illicit sex in Victorian England).
The lead Policeman with the knitting wife brought some normality to the story. I guess we’re supposed to contrast them with the stiff formality of the (“helmet-head”) Matron.
I don’t think I’d want to know what really happened by reading the final chapter. I like the touch of mystery. The unknowable Yin.
I’m a huge Hitchcock fan and have most of the films on DVD. I also treasure my book where Truffaut interviews him. Vertigo could also be my favorite. I like the dreamy pace of the film. I also like North by Northwest, one of the “innocent man vs all” genre.
I haven’t seen del Toro’s Crimson Peak, but I liked Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone. Still waiting to watch The Shape of Water.
One of my recent discoveries is the Korean film “The Handmaiden” by Park Chan-Wook (“Old Boy”). It completely blew me away. A decadent period piece, a twisty plot, and forbidden sex. It’s a new favorite, but watch the preview on YouTube first. You’ve been warned!
With warm Aloha,
Pekolo July 3, 2020 at 2:26am
Tourmaline: Hi Pekolo,
I’m avoiding a snake again!
Judith July 3, 2020 at 4:37am
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
So, what did you supposedly study at college? Let me guess – sleeping in, carousing, playing tennis, swimming, perfume browsing, film?
What a great idea to advertise that strip joint! I bet she had some fun on the swing – easier than the other side of things. I’ve always thought that New Orleans sounded like a fascinating place. I enjoy hearing about Voodoo and Hoodoo. Are they as apparent there as it seems from TV travel specials?
Yes, Edith tells the police officer that she saw the red cloud as she was running back from the rock. She says that she saw the maths teacher running towards the rock, without a skirt, only in her pantaloons. Perhaps we are to suppose that the teacher went to look for the girls who hadn’t returned, and, being very practical, removed her skirt to facilitate her negotiating the scrub. Yes, the maths teacher never returned, either.
Yes, poor old helmet-head! No wonder she kept grog in her desk… Wearing such clothes and hairstyle for a lifetime must have been very uncomfortable, not to say time-consuming and tedious as regards dressing. It’s a bit that way with me and makeup. I love wearing it, but the novelty of putting it on wore off decades ago, except perhaps applying that final touch of lipstick. I still enjoy applying nail polish, though. (My motto: A bare nail is a wasted opportunity. My father’s motto: All nail polish is silly; some colours are just sillier than others.)
Yes, I saw Angels and Insects when it first came out, and bought the DVD some years later. It is a great film. I love all the clothes and the butterflies and the intrigue.
I saw Pan’s Labyrinth at the cinema and then on TV a couple of times, but that sadistic officer turns me off the film, and I can’t bring myself to watch the scene with that poor, tortured man again. I still haven’t seen either The Devil’s Backbone or The Shape of Water.
Hmmm…. That trailer for The Handmaiden is intriguing. I checked Wiki and noticed that it is based on a book by a Welsh woman, and that the book is set in Victorian era Britain. I also see that it was made into a serial for BBC One in 2005. I think I can probably handle it, but – yes, I have been warned.
Last night, I taped the earlier film version of The Handmaid’s Tale with the sound down, whilst watching Picnic on my laptop. The latest series of The Handmaid’s Tale finished screening on that channel in that timeslot last Thursday evening.
So many movies, so little money and time!
Great talking to you as always.
Regards,
Judith July 3, 2020 at 4:36am
Peter: Hello again Judith T.
You got me down, New Orleans was too tempting for studying. I only enjoyed art classes and “History of Jazz”. The “gumbo” mix is what makes New Orleans so special: Spanish, French, African, Creole, and Cajun. Hawaii also has a unique blend of ethnicities and cultures. Voodoo also interests me (from afar), but I never checked out any of the tourist sites. My favorite ‘Black Orpheus’ has a “macumba” scene. Another great classic is ‘I Walked with a Zombie’ (1943).
I’d forgotten the detail about the prissy Maths teacher sans her skirt. That only adds to the mystery of her disappearance. Helmet-Head could also be led to “grog” by her claustrophobic, overstuffed Victorian office.
Skincare is more important than makeup. But nothing is more important than perfume! Earlier today I sampled Etat Libre d’Orange Jasmin et Cigarette. It was interesting, but yesterday’s SL Tubereuse Criminalle was amazing. You know how you can’t stop thinking about something-it’s bewitched me! But, “so little money”…
I kind of have a crush on Sergi Lopez (the sadist in Pan’s Labyrinth) from his other films. You have to separate an actor from his roles.
I think I might have seen the BBC Fingersmith, but nothing can compare to the exotic beauty of The Handmaiden.
I also read The Handmaid’s Tale years ago. But I’m not so crazy about sci-fi, so I didn’t start on the video series. I know it got great reviews, but “so many movies, so little time”…
Good talking-story,
Pekolo July 3, 2020 at 6:09am
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
I think New Orleans would be a fascinating place to visit.
Yes, Helmet-Head’s office was rather overstuffed, but I really can’t talk, because I am guilty of a rather over-decorated style of décor in a couple of rooms. Of course, I just think of it as Rococo!’’
I must try those two fragrances the next time I go into the city. We have a Sephora store that might have them; I’m pretty sure Tubereuse Criminelle was there when I bought La Fille de Berlin a couple of years ago.
I know what you mean about separating the actor from the role. I find Peter Stormare quite attractive, despite his type-casting as the quirky, often shady character. Then of course, there is the obvious beauty (yep, that’s the word for it) of a man like Vincent Perez, whom I first saw in Indochine and later in La Reine Margot and many others.
I watched the whole series of The Handmaid’s Tale and enjoyed it, and I’ve just finished reading the book, but I don’t think I can be bothered with the sequel.
Yes, too many books, too little time; have to be choosy!
With kind regards,
Judith July 3, 2020 at 7:20am
Peter: Aloha Judith T,
I’m just up. In Hawaii, we just accept the fact that we’re the last people in the world time zone. We could even be a little proud to be a step behind the times.
It must be wonderful to be able to test the legendary Serge Lutens perfumes. Our Sephora is pretty mainstream. SL is not consumer friendly. They now mostly offer the 100ml skyscraper bottles or the 75ml bell jars. Tres cher! La Fille de Berlin got great reviews. I wonder how it compares with my favorite rose, Portrait of a Lady? Have you smelled La Myrrhe? Victoria gave it a compelling review along with 5stars. It’s only available from the Serge Lutens website.
I have to confess that I splurged (first time in at least three months) and I just received a Luckyscent package. I couldn’t resist SL Bois de Violette. I did an initial sniff and it’s lovely. I get the cedar, violets, and the hint of potpourri. I’ll do a heavier dose later and really immerse myself. I have mostly been concentrating on the samples. I got a few from Rogue which is one of my favorite niche brands (also reasonably priced). My scent of the day is Ishtar. It started out quite light, but it’s now blooming into a compelling incense scent. Luckyscent notes: frankincense, benzoin, juniper, myrrh, lily, sandalwood, and musk.
Now on to our actor “man-crushes”! I do think of Peter Stormare as a brutish thug, but I may not have seen too many of his films. Vincent Perez was a smoldering beauty in La Reine Margot. I loved that film. A full-bodied period piece with intrigue and poison. Adjani and La Deneuve are two of France’s grand timeless beauties. I also love Monica Bellucci (originally Italian). Did you happen to see “Irreversible”? It was very controversial. It starts with a dark revenge act and goes backwards to the blissful, innocent beginning. Heartbreaking. She stars with her real-life husband, Vincent Cassel. He’s a fantastic actor and what they call “jolie-laide” (handsome-ugly). A term that was also applied to my favorite, Jean-Claude Belmondo.
Do you ever read mysteries? They are my vice! I just finished a (rare) non-mystery: ‘Past Imperfect’ by Julian Fellowes (author of Downton Abbey). His observations of the upper-middle/upper class are now focused on the late 1960s debutante season in London. It was excellent.
Ciao for now,
Pekolo July 3, 2020 at 6:18pm
Tourmaline: Hi Pekolo,
I tend to keep very odd hours. I’m a night owl by nature, so I’m often up until the early hours of the morning. I slept in until after midday today, and when I began writing this, I had just finished breakfast of a cappuccino and some cheesy bread.
Speaking of crushes… I have had an infatuation with the cappuccino for at least 20 years. Usually, an infatuation eventually fades, but this one never has – perhaps because I don’t have them often enough. Alas, I don’t have a coffee machine, but I buy the box of 10 sachets when it is half price and therefore each sachet costs only 35 cents. I allow myself one, occasionally two per day. I swear I could live on them, with the occasional mango, chocolate bar and almond meringue thrown in!
No, I’m afraid I have never smelled any of the other scents you have mentioned, although I’ve read many great things about them over the years. I really must try them all. Yes, I’m fortunate to have access to a Sephora, although it is fairly small and has only been there for a few years. Partly on account of COVID-19, I haven’t been into the city for about six months, and I miss it.
When I was in about Grade 8 and at a party for one of my school friends, one of them was wearing a gorgeous, exotic-smelling fragrance, and, when I asked about it, she told me that it was frankincense. Of course, it probably smelled little like the real thing, but, regardless, that began my love affair for incense notes in perfumes. I particularly look forward to trying La Myrrhe.
Like you, I think I’ve only seen a limited number of Peter Stormare films. The two that come to mind are Minority Report and Armageddon, where he had that great cameo as the isolation-addled Russian cosmonaut. My younger brother is gay, and I recall that, about 10 years ago, we both rather liked Vikram Seth, who was particularly ravishing in his youth. Although my brother is not interested in fragrance for himself, he has put up with me discussing it for many years. Moreover, he clearly has excellent taste, because he chose a 15ml bottle of Diorissimo parfum for me for my 30th birthday (nearly 30 years ago, now!) and he chose a bottle of Annick Goutal’s Le Chevrefeuille for another birthday, because he knew I liked honeysuckle fragrances.
I will watch any film at all that has Adjani, Bellucci or Deneuve. Once, in an interview, one of our leading journalists – Jana Wendt (who is hetero and married), was asked who she would turn gay for. She thought about it for a moment and then replied, “Monica Bellucci,” and I would probably answer the same!
No, I haven’t seen Irreversible – yet. I very much admire Vincent Cassel in films. I adore the lavish 2014 French version of Beauty and the Beast that he is in. I first saw it on our World Movie channel, and then I bought the CD as soon as I could. I also thought he was brilliant and terrifying in Black Swan, which I saw at the cinema, and the same in The Emperor of Paris, which I saw on TV. That is a new term to me – jolie-laide. Perhaps that might apply to Steve Buscemi, who is always worth watching in anything, and on whom I have always had a bit of a crush. He also seems to guard his private life very well, because I have rarely seen him in an interview.
As for Belmondo, I’ve seen him in Breathless, which I saw along with many other French films in about 2005, when there was a French New Wave film season at our Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. I am so fortunate that my local bus stop provides a bus that takes me right outside the art gallery, the museum and the Performing Arts Centre, where they have theatre and ballet. My favourite modern French actress would have to be Isabelle Huppert; I will watch anything wither her in it.
Yes, I sometime read mysteries (and I loved the TV series of Downton Abbey). I read all kinds of genres and types, including biography, books on science, astronomy, rocks and minerals, perfumery and so on. I have to confess to enjoying novels about witches. I have recently finished writing the first of a trilogy of young adult novels about a family of witches. It is mainly for my own enjoyment; I doubt whether it would ever be published.
Well it is now 2:30pm here, so I’d better go and get some lunch.
Good “talking” with you, as always.
With kind regards,
Judith July 4, 2020 at 12:38am
Peter: Aloha Judith T,
It’s about 10 hours since I put “Ishtar” on and it’s still smelling good! I’m trying to decide what to watch on DVD tonight.
I’m a (black) coffee lover, so I’m not tempted by cappuccino or sweet creamers. I save my sugar calories for chocolate or cookies!
You mentioned beading, so you must be crafty. I’ve been trying to find projects to do so I don’t get too bored. I bought a printer so I could have access to images. I’ve made some collages of my favorite film stars, perfumes, Asian art objects, etc. I just found images of my 200+ favorite foods, but haven’t printed them out yet.
Our apartment here is very small. I share a 2 bedroom/1 bath with a longtime roommate. I have a large tansu chest with drawers, another waist-high set of drawers and a few bookcases in our shared living room. A few years back I started a project to organize and minimize my collection of DVDs and CDs. I got clear, “soft” plastic, 2-sided, disc/DVD sleeves (@ 5×5″). I took the discs out of the hard plastic cases and put them in the back side of the new sleeve. I used a label maker (like Suzanne with her perfume collection) to print out the titles (for the top of the sleeve). I also cut out the music track or DVD info (if it fit). The CDs are now in drawers, in alphabetical order by composer (for Classical), or by music genre. The opera librettos are filed besides the CD disc (if it’s too thick to fit in the sleeve). The English speaking DVDs are also in alpha order, but by title. I keep the Criterion info brochures in 2 boxes. My foreign language DVDs are separated into folders by country or area. You wouldn’t believe how much this reduced the size of my collection. I can also find anything in seconds.
The next step was to find my favorite image of each film and then resize it (@4.5 x 4.5″) and print. I then cut out each “cover” for the front side of the DVD sleeve. I’m almost at the end of the films. It was a little costly (plastic disc sleeves, label maker “tape”, and the printer ink) but it was so worth it. And, yes, I’m a little obsessive!
Was Vikram Seth in the Merchant-Ivory films? Naveen Andrews was one of my first Anglo-Indian crushes (before I got into Bollywood). He was so beautiful playing a Sikh in “The English Patient” (another one of my favorites). I’m surprised you haven’t converted your brother to fragrance. Although some gay men prefer the natural male odor. At least he has good taste in perfume gifts. Diorissimo isn’t a favorite, but it has a fierce fan base. I’ve had Goutal’s Le Chevrefeille on my want list. Victoria gave it 4 stars. Maybe I’ll chance a blind-buy. You can describe it to me.
Irreversible is another film with a warning. I forgot Cassel was in Swan Lake. Natalie Portman so dominated that film. I haven’t heard of the 2014 Beauty and the Beast (I also need to watch the original). Who was Cassel’s “Beauty”? On a tangent, Catherine Deneuve filmed a fairy-tale called Donkey Skin (1970).
I’ve seen some of Belmondo’s New Wave, and some of his gangster Noir, but my favorite is “That Man From Rio”. It’s an action adventure where Belmondo gets involved with a wacky beauty (Catherine Deneuve’s real-life sister, who passed at a young age) following her from France to Brazil. It was an inspiration for “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
I have seen Isabelle Huppert in a few films. She chooses risky roles and she reminds me of Julianne Moore (not just because of her red hair). We have The Doris Duke Theater as part of our Honolulu Museum of Art. The heiress had an estate on Diamond Head called Shangri-La. It’s an Islamic fantasy mini-palace. You can take a tour organized through the Museum. I wish I got to view more films at the theater. I’m not crazy about our bus here, so I usually walk. Since I’ve gotten older, I’m more reluctant to walk at night. I do have some friends who enjoy those artsy films (plus they drive). Hopefully, the Museum and the Theater can open again.
You and Victoria are so well read. I don’t have a reference to any of her literate choices. I can’t think of any “witch” books that I’ve read. Anne Rice had a series, but I only read the vampire ones. I finally saw the Harry Potter films. I’ve been watching the Grimm TV series, which is somewhat ‘witch-like”. Congratulations on starting your Y/A trilogy. Keep your creative juices flowing.
Well I’ve jabbered on a bit, At least we’re on the bottom of the perfume blog!
Until next time,
Pekolo July 4, 2020 at 4:23am
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
Great reply. I’ll respond properly tomorrow.
In the meantime, I just wanted to say that I should have made it clear, in all our talk about actors, that Vikram Seth is an Indian writer. He can take the blame for that big door-stop, “A Suitable Boy”. He is bisexual, and by all accounts, quite brilliant. I’ve read a couple of his books of poetry, including his novel in verse, “Golden Gate”. One of his uncles is the actor Roshan Seth.
Here is a photo:
https://publishingperspectives.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/seth-photo.jpg
Also, I wanted to say, “Happy Independence Day”!
With kind regards,
Judith July 4, 2020 at 5:04am
Tourmaline: Dear Victoria,
Just a formal apology for engaging in so much film talk with Peter in your perfume blog!
With kind regards,
Tourmaline July 3, 2020 at 4:38am
Victoria: Gosh, not at all! I really enjoyed reading it. July 3, 2020 at 5:55am
Tourmaline: Thank goodness! July 3, 2020 at 6:35am
Peter: Hey Judith T,
That’s funny about Vikram Seth. The name sounded familiar, but I thought he was an actor. I read “The Golden Gate” years ago. It was brilliant! I still have my hardcover. I also bought the ‘door-stop’, but never cracked it.
You probably figured out that I’m a hoarder. After my Mother passed away in California, I helped my family clear out her possessions. I limited my keepsakes to 4 mailed boxes. I also rolled up one of her favorite paintings, sent it to Honolulu, and then re-framed it. After this process, I had a bit of a breakdown, overwhelmed by my own possessions. My ‘bed’ was a futon on top of 14 boxes of books! The good news is that I was finally able to pass on over 1000 books to friends and the library sale. That’s how I said ‘aloha’ to “A Suitable Boy”.
Mahalo for wishing me a Happy Independence Day….Pekolo July 4, 2020 at 6:57am
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
Glad you recovered, and that the books went to good homes. I’ve had one serious bout of depression, so I know what that’s like, and I’ll probably always remain on medication to keep it at bay.
Like you and many others, apparently, I own but have never yet read the door-stop.
I, too, cleared out my mother’s possessions after she died in 2011. My older brother suggesting hiring a skip and throwing everything into it, because Mum was a hoarder too (a common phenomenon). I wasn’t having that! The most poignant thing I found was a roll of gold paper with cutout stars missing – the stars she’d cut to put onto a hot pink dress she’d made for me to attend a fancy dress ball as a fairy, when I was a child. She also made me a fairy wand with a gold star on the end and a diadem with a star on the top for my head.
By the way, again I was unclear – the photo is of the writer, Vikram, not the actor.
Have a good night.
Regards,
Judith July 4, 2020 at 7:08am
Peter: Aloha Judith T,
I hope you have a photo of yourself wearing your fairy dress. We love our Mums!
I have artwork from my Mother, my Tutus (Grandparents), my twin brothers, my sister and my Step Mother. It’s not so lonely surrounded by their art.
A hui ho (until we meet again),
Pekolo July 4, 2020 at 5:16pm
Peter: A hui hou! July 4, 2020 at 5:17pm
Tourmaline: Avoiding a “snake” again…. July 4, 2020 at 10:44pm
Tourmaline: No photo, unfortunately. There were a few years when my father was without a camera, and for some reason my mother never used a camera during her married years. Proabably way too busy with all the home duties. I wouldn’t be a housewife during that era for quids, as we say here! July 4, 2020 at 10:54pm
Tourmaline: By the way, Victoria, have you ever seen “Picnic at Hanging Rock”? I could imagine your eyes glazing over during so much talk about the one film. But on the other hand, if you haven’t seen it, then it might have made you curious to see it some time!
Oh, and what about my favourite non-Australian film, “Morigiana”? July 5, 2020 at 2:40am
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
Apologies for my late reply. It’s currently 11:30am here and I’ve just finished a cappuccino, although I’ve not yet had any breakfast. When I do, it will be chocolate cake – because it’s Sunday and because I can, although of course it’s appalling nutritionally! The chocolate or cookies you mentioned would have been an alternative, except that I don’t have any of either at the moment.
I wish I didn’t have such a sweet tooth (which carries over into my fragrance loves), but, alas, I do. I could probably wean myself off it, but until I sugar myself into diabetes, if that ever happens, I will not.
I just had a look at the notes in Ishtar on Basenotes, and I think I would like it. Benzoin, frankincense, myrrh, musky undertone, sandalwood – what’s not to like? And no wonder you could still smell it all those hours later!
Yes, I am a little crafty! I enjoy making necklaces and matching earrings with beads of crystal as well as real stones (e.g. amethyst, lapis lazuli, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, malachite, carnelian and so on), most of which I purchase from a fabulous bead shop named “Beads and Beads” in the city. I also do embroidery, crochet, knitting and a little dressmaking, all of which my mother taught me when I was a child.
The collages you mentioned sound wonderful. I confess to collecting many magazine pictures of anything and everything that takes my fancy, and I have folders with categories including clothing, makeup looks, jewellery, houses, interior décor, food pictures (like you) and recipes, pretty makeup and perfume ads, good photos of actors or singers, and so on.
I don’t think you are obsessive at all, just organized and tidy. I have exactly the problem you mention; my already very large collections of CDs and DVDs (and a few Blu-rays) is only going to increase, and not only does it take up too much space in my lounge room, but it is an eyesore. (It’s just as well I live on my own, so I can get away with it!) I have stored some in boxes, but I really need to downsize.
My younger brother did this with his even bigger collection years ago, and has long been advising me to do the same. He has used a system very similar to yours. I am loath to throw away the paper portions inside the DVD cases, with the front cover pictures and all the details on the back, including length of the film and whether it is PAL or NTSC etc. My brother suggested storing all of these in an A – Z accordion file, which is a good idea. I have to say that I like your idea of printing out your favourite image from the film to help with identification; I could really have fun with that one!
I’m afraid that I would not do a very good job of trying to describe Le Chèvrefeuille, to you, as I am not very good at identifying individual notes. Fragrantica is much better at that! (I recently made a list of notes I could usually identify, and was surprised when I reached about 25, but of course, that is miniscule in the world of scents.) I will just say that it is not a sweet fragrance, but I very much like it.
As to my brother’s lack of interest in perfumery, when I bought my first French fragrance, Y, by Yves Saint Laurent, when I was about 19, I later bought the corresponding YSL fragrance for men for him for Christmas. He used it, and I think that at some later stage he bought himself a “men’s fragrance” from Lanvin, but as far as I am aware, he has never bought himself any perfume since.
I, too, enjoyed “The English Patient”, and yes, Naveen Andrews is very good-looking. I find Indian men in particular very attractive (lucky Victoria!), and I adore the Indian accent. It comes second only to Russian in my list of favourite accents. (I wouldn’t know a Hawaiian accent if I heard one.)
Léa Seydoux plays Beauty in that version of Beauty and the Beast, which I’m sure you would enjoy. It is really a gorgeous production. (Of course, the 1946 version by Jean Cocteau is also a favourite that I have long had on DVD). I do in fact have the DVD of Donkey Skin. It has been too many years since I have watched it; perhaps I’ll watch it today. I didn’t know about Deneuve’s sister; that is very sad.
Yes, Isabelle Huppert certainly chooses many “out there” roles, including “The Piano Teacher”, which I saw at the cinema, and which I also have on DVD, and “Elle”, which I recently saw on our World Movie channel. Years ago, I saw “The Lacemaker” – one of her earlier films – at the cinema, and I very much enjoyed it, but it is proving very difficult to obtain on DVD. Last week I bought “Greta” – a more recent film, because it was on special at a local DVD store (amusingly named “Sanity”), but I’ve yet to watch it.
It would be fun to do that tour of “Shangri La”. I would be way too scared to walk alone at night. Indeed, I rarely go out at night. If there is a musical or some theatre production that I want to see, I almost always choose a matinee if there is one available. It makes the travel so much more convenient, and I can schedule other activities, including visiting the adjacent art gallery or museum, for the same day. (That makes the most of the money spent on bus fares. I must say that the bus services in Brisbane are fairly good, so I’m fortunate in that regard.)
I’m probably not as well read as you might think. I often chide myself for watching too many films and consequently reading too few books. Being a fan of witchy stories, I enjoyed the Harry Potter film series, although I haven’t read the books. Too many classics still unread, to begin on those! Yes, “Grimm” looks as though it would be just to my taste, just as “Once Upon a Time” does. I must buy box sets of both when they are on special.
Well, now I’ve jabbered on. It’s now 12:30pm, so it must be time for that chocolate cake!
Until we next “talk-story”… (Is that the correct term? Probably not!)
With kind regards,
Judith July 4, 2020 at 10:51pm
Peter: Aloha Judith T,
I had almost finished my response when somehow I deleted everything. I’ve only had a laptop for a couple of years. For a long time I resisted joining the new world.
We are very similar in our love for images, I have boxes full of magazine clippings. Almost the same types of subjects as you. I love high fashion editorial photographs. I’m not quite as organized as you. I have boxes labeled “Home, Travel + Art”. Everything else is thrown together ‘hamajang’ (messed up). I had to stop purchasing magazines once I realized my addiction. I’m now trying to edit down my large collection.
Of your other hobbies, only beading might interest me. I could see how the other hand crafts might be good company in front of a fireplace (Jane Eyre) or TV.
Your brother’s idea of the folder for your DVD paper covers sounds good. I figured I could always look the film up on the web. I can see how you might need the technical information. The image search for the perfect film cover is addicting! You could choose the movie poster (I don’t like too much wording), a still from the film, a studio photo (eg Garbo), or an artist’s rendering. I chose an image of Miranda’s face surrounded by rocks for my “Picnic…” cover.
I’m also not the greatest at identifying perfume notes. I have a perfume notebook where I log Victoria’s notes and moods. I might also check Fragrantica for accords/notes. Luckyscent has notes for their niche scents. I’ve also used ‘your’ Michael Edwards Find My Favorite (works best for mainstream). I’ll also log my impressions of samples. Ishtar was quite compelling. Le Chevrefeille is on my wishlist, but I wonder if I want a honeysuckle to be more sweet.
I don’t think there is a Hawaiian accent. We use a broken-English slang called pidgin. We also mix in Hawaiian and Japanese (maybe Chinese or Filipino) words. My favorite accent is Brazilian Portuguese. It’s a little nasal and very sensual. I could be biased because I love Bossa-Nova music!
Don’t forget to look up Francoise Dorleac. The two sisters starred together in “The Young Girls of Rochefort”. Catherine stayed blonde and Francoise darkened her hair, probably so the audience could tell them apart! I’ll have to checkout Lea Seydoux and the newer “Beauty and The Beast”.
I have also watched a couple “Once Upon a Time”. It’s more fairy-tale like, while “Grimm” veers more towards horror.
Until our next talk-story (You were correct).
A hui hou,
Pekolo July 5, 2020 at 2:49am
Tourmaline: Cher Pierre,
(“See what I did there?” she asks, proudly. As you probably know, Pierre is Peter in French.)
I only just found your reply. I was checking in my email, but as you didn’t hit the “reply” button, it didn’t appear there. No worries, as we say in Oz; I eventually checked the blog.
I bought myself a laptop computer in my early forties, because I wanted it for typing things. But, like you, I resisted getting the Internet for years – until I was 50 – because I knew that it would change my life both for better and for worse. (An example of the “for worse” is that, when sending letters via post, a reply is not usually expected for at least a week, so one can deliberate about things. With email, a reply is often expected within 24 hours.)
Over the years, I have bought many a glossy magazine on the strength of one fantastic photographic image, or a particular photo shoot, even a special fragrance ad! I don’t do that as much these days, though, as times are leaner.
I will really have to stop procrastinating and do something about the DVD and CD storage problem. When you think about it, it must be a universal issue by now, so there might be specially-designed “storage solutions”, as interior decorators are fond of calling them, for storing these items. I must also update my list of the DVDs I own, which I began several years ago. I have actually bought second copies of some films by mistake. (This is more likely to happen with DVDs that I haven’t yet watched. For example, it happened with “Sweet Home Alabama”, which I first saw at the cinema, although I’ve viewed my DVD several times now.)
You might not like Le Chèvrefeuille. Indeed, I’m sad to say that, although that was significantly more expensive (for my brother, who bought it for me), I prefer the sweeter and much less expensive version by Avon, of which I bought numerous bottles on eBay some years ago. I was first given some as a child, so it is a sentimental favourite.
I have googled Françoise Dorléac, and she is very beautiful. That’s interesting that she darkened her hair at a time when so many other women were lightening theirs. But, with a sister who was developing a reputation as an “icy blonde” (rather like Kim Novak), I can understand the impulse. So sad about the car accident that took her life.
Actually, I’m pretty sure that I have “The Young Girls of Rochefort”, that I bought it years ago and that it is still in its plastic wrapper. I must look for it. The DVDs that I don’t view as often are currently stored in plastic shopping bags with other DVDs whose titles begin with the same letter. I have a large number of DVDs that I’ve purchased when they were on special but never yet watched. Lots to look forward to!
I have thought of a few words that are used in America but for which we have different terms here in Oz. Here they are:
Cookie – biscuit
Candy – lollies or chocolate
Prom – Senior Formal
Go to the hospital – go into hospital
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich – What? What kind of jelly – raspberry? Lime? That combination sounds disgusting!
Neat – great
School / College – university
Mom & Pop – Mum and Dad
Do some errands – do a few things
Hey – Hi Or Hello
I also googled Hawaii to try to find out some basic facts, but I’m afraid my eyes glazed over as it told me about political history etc. One look at the flag told me a lot, though; another country affected by colonialism. I would like Wiki to do a different article on each country, or perhaps two: Basic Facts and Fun Facts.
By the way, as well as having a great house and story and sexual intrigue, Crimson Peak is also the scariest ghost movie I’ve ever seen – “chicken skin” – if I’m using the term correctly.
Well, I think that tonight I am going to watch my DVD of Centre Stage – a ballet film favourite of mine. Every now and then I watch it for two reasons: because I enjoy it and because it encourages me to exercise more! I haven’t watched it for several years now, and as it is now winter, I am once again becoming a couch pumpkin. I could lose a few pounds, too.
Until our next talk-story…
With kind regards,
Judith July 5, 2020 at 5:36am
Peter: Aloha Wahine (woman),
I proved my point about my computer ineptness. The Internet was forced upon me. When my Mum was dying the family gave me my brother’s partner’s cell phone (He had sadly suddenly passed away). I was on leave and staying by myself in her retirement community. The cell phone helped me communicate with my working family. It also helped with the bus schedule. She lived in Carmel Valley which was somewhat isolated. I had about a 10 minute walk to the highway where I caught a small 12-seater van. It eventually twisted and turned through the very quaint fairy-tale village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, then on to Monterey. I then had to transfer to a regular size bus to get to Seaside (sounds pretty, but not so) where Mum was in a care-home. I hadn’t visited the Mainland in about 10 years, so it was nice to spend time with her alone. Of course she slept a lot, but it was nice to have a family member there when she woke up.
I ended up using the cell phone and Internet for 6 weeks. When I left, the other twin gave me a little tablet. The cell phone was good during the crisis, but I don’t need one for my daily life. I then had to get a laptop and printer so I could print images.
It sounds like you have a ‘system’ for your DVDs + CDs. I started using the folders which hold @60 discs. The problem is when you get a new film and have to rearrange the order. The advantage of a drawer file is you just slip the DVD sleeve in alphabetically. I also made colorful dividers for each letter (like your shopping bags).
I was recommended to sample DSH (Dawn Spencer Hurwitz) by limegreen. She has non-alcohol perfumes that can be sent overseas. Yesterday I sampled the Tubereuse which was quite lovely. Today I’m trying Foxy, a scent based on the film “The Fantastic Mr Fox” (I resisted the film at first because it was animated, but it’s wonderful). The fragrance is a vintage animalic, but not too ‘cheeky’!
I think Francoise only darkened her hair for that specific film. Yes, we can’t forget the blonde and brunette Kim Novak’s in “Vertigo”. Do you have a 2nd favorite Hitchcock?
I watched the previews for “Crimson Peak”. It’s a must have! I love gothics and the house looks amazing. Same with the castle in the color “Beauty and the Beast”. I just got the B/W version out to watch. I also put “Center Stage” (my cover is the ensemble with a red background) in queue.
I know some of your OZ expressions from my UK mystery viewings. “Dr Blake” and “Brokenwood” (NZ) are the only ones I’ve seen from your side of the world. We aren’t very sophisticated about our jellies. Peanut Butter & Jelly is usually strawberry jam. Yes, the name is incorrect. Don’t forget Elvis’ fried peanut butter and banana sandwich!
OK, talk-story Wahine….
A hui hou,
Pekolo July 5, 2020 at 7:00pm
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
I’m sure that your Mom found it comforting, having you there towards the end.
Have you ever been to the Monterey Jazz Festival? My younger brother is a jazz fan, and he has bought CDs of the festival.
Years ago, my father gave me money so that I could choose a mobile phone. He wanted me to have one for safety reasons. I bought one and kept it until the system changed and the phone no longer worked. I rarely used it, although it was comforting to know that it was in my handbag, in case my car broke down or whatever. I had a “plan” whereby I would load $20 into it each year, and at the end of the year, I would have about $18.50 left, because I used it so infrequently. (As long as I renewed prior to the annual end date, my previous funds would “roll over”, so I ended up with over $130 in funds. I then bought another, inexpensive ($30) one on the new system, but I recently found that it had expired because I didn’t use it or renew the plan by the due date.
I plan to buy another one soon – once again, for safety reasons. Also, I have found that many companies assume that everyone has one, e.g. sometimes, in a business transaction, they want to check your identity by calling your mobile number. They don’t allow for people who only have a landline. It’s all very boring and tedious. WAKE UP, PEKOLO!
I’m glad you enjoyed the Tubereuse perfume. That’s very convenient that she makes alcohol-free scents that can “fly”. I have found that any Roald Dahl film is worth watching. My absolute favourite is “The Witches”, with Anjelica Huston in fabulous couture and jewels, doing a brilliant performance as The Grand High Witch. My second favourite would be “Matilda”, with the bullying headmistress contrasted with the warm Miss Honey.
I remember when “Vertigo” was first “cleaned up” and re-released at cinemas in Australia in a shiny new print. I had never seen it, knew nothing about it, and I thought it was going to be some rather conservative, boring, black and white film. Was I wrong! I found it gorgeous to behold and magical as regards the story-line, an adult down-the-rabbit-hole saga. I enjoyed it so much that I went to see it a second time, and then later I bought the VHS tape, and eventually the DVD. I’ve even been known to travel to the GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art) by bus, at NIGHT, for the joy of seeing it again on the big screen!
My second favourite Hitchcock film would have to be “Rebecca”, with the creepy Mrs Danvers. Then it would be hard to choose between “Dial M for Murder” with the stunning Grace Kelly, “Rear Window”, also with Ms Kelly, and “To Catch a Thief” – oh, also with Grace Kelly! Guess I must be a Grace Kelly fan! Mr Hitchcock must have felt like strangling her when she married the prince and retired from actressing!
I also have a DVD of “The Man Who Knew Too Much”. I haven’t watched it yet, but it will be interesting seeing Doris Day, so well known for her perky image and lovely singing, in a dramatic film. Talk about contrast!
Oh, so it is strawberry jam in the sandwich…. Still an awful combination; I don’t mind peanut paste (as we call it here) with honey, though. Yes, poor Elvis, of the divine voice, had some interesting food preferences.
Out of interest, I had a look at the official trailer for Crimson Peak. I thought it was a little over-done, but then it did convey the lush nature of the film, and the creepiness. I forgot to mention that I think the male star, Tom Hiddleston, is gorgeous. I watched late night episodes of The Night Manager for him, and then, of course, became drawn into the story.
Now I’m going to prepare some lunch and watch a feel-good, Christmas in July style of midday movie. They have Christmas-themed movies all of this week at midday on one channel.
By the way – a bit of trivia: your last comment was number 301 on this post!
Have a great day, as yankees say!
With kind regards,
Judith July 5, 2020 at 9:54pm
Peter: Aloha Lukika (your Hawaiian name!),
I wanted to watch the movies before I got back to you. First I finished up “Shoplifters”, a 2018 Japanese film that won the Palme d’Or. It’s a touching look at a ‘nuclear’ family on the verge of poverty. Then I watched the original “Beauty and the Beast”. The surreal touches in the Beast’s castle steal the show. Finally “Center Stage”, which was enjoyable. I really like Donna Murphy (the woman’s ballet instructor), who gave the strongest performance. I’m assuming most of the actors are also real ballet dancers.
Monterey is a great town. There is the famous Aquarium and Cannery Row (which John Steinbeck made popular). I never visited during the Jazz Festival. Your brother would love New Orleans. There is an excellent US series called ‘TREME” that I’d recommend to him. It follows a group of residents restarting their lives after Hurricane Katrina. At least half of the cast are musicians, so there’s fantastic music in each episode.
I’m not a huge fan of Christmas movies. I do like the classic “A Christmas Story” (1983). My only other favorite is “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945). It’s a ‘screwball’ romantic-comedy starring Barbara Stanwyck.
I also love “Rebecca”. The book and the film. Mrs Danvers is a juicy role. Diana Rigg wasn’t bad in the newer version, but you can’t top the classic. “Rear Window” really creeped me out, “Dial M for Murder” was a little stagey, so I’ll choose “To Catch A Thief” as my Grace Kelly pick. She was irreplaceable!
“The Man Who Knew Too Much” is another of the ‘innocents vs spies’ genre. Doris Day sings ‘Que Sera Sera’. You’ll like it.
I haven’t seen “The Witches”, but I love Anjelica Huston. I have some of her high fashion images from her younger modeling days. She was a fierce blonde in “The Grifters”. I haven’t seen “Mathilda”. Wasn’t Bette Midler a witch with buck teeth?
I’m talked-storied out!
A hui hou,
Pekolo July 6, 2020 at 8:29am
Tourmaline: G’day Pekolo,
Wow, what a great name I have in Hawaiian! I actually didn’t realize that it would be different.
I will reply properly to your “letter” tomorrow; for now I’ll just add a kind of P. S. that I wrote a bit earlier (further below).
Is it actually about 2:30am there? I googled the time difference, and it said that you are four hours later than Brisbane, and it is currently about 10:30pm here.
P. S.
Dear Pekolo,
Please tell me about “the very quaint fairy-tale village of Carmel-by-the-Sea”.
Also, having looked through Wiki’s list of Hitchcock films, I realize how few of them I’ve actually seen. Apart from those I’ve already mentioned, I’ve also seen “North by Northwest” (at the GoMA cinema), “Psycho”, “The Birds” and “Strangers on a Train”. As far as I can recall, that’s it. Pitiful!
By contrast, when I googled Léa Seydoux, I was surprised to find the number of other films in which I’d seen her: “The Last Mistress” (with the interesting Asia Argento, daughter of the even more interesting Daria Argento (e.g. I love the original “Suspiria”, as well as “Phenomena”, with a young Jennifer Connelly), “Going South”, “Midnight in Paris”, “Farewell My Queen” (which I saw on the world movie channel just a few days ago), “Blue is the Warmest Colour”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “Saint Laurent”, and “Spectre” (the James Bond film). That’s eight other films!
Also, I wanted to say that your image of Jody from “Centre Stage” in her dress was a great choice for the front of the DVD storage pocket.
With kind regards,
Judith July 6, 2020 at 8:44am
Tourmaline: P. P. S. I mean in her RED ballet dress! July 6, 2020 at 8:48am
Tourmaline: P. P. P. S.
Cher Pierre,
I have asked Victoria whether she would kindly send you my email address.
First, she requires your permission to email you.
I’m off to bed now, and I suspect you are probably asleep already.
Talk tomorrow.
With kind regards,
Judith July 6, 2020 at 9:46am
Peter: Snakes again. One last post, then we can email directly! July 6, 2020 at 7:35pm
Tourmaline: Aloha ‘auinalā Pekolo,
I checked the meaning of Lukika, just in case you were surreptitiously calling me Potato or Onion or something (although I did call myself a pumpkin of sorts, recently….) There were only two things I found – a warcraft character (so not me!) and a piece of music – Lukika created by Franco and OK Jazz.
Shoplifters was on our World Movies channel recently, but I didn’t watch it because it sounded too sad. It’s strange, but at the moment I have become more than usually upset at the thought of people struggling to survive – perhaps because of COVID-19 and its effect in other countries. I can’t tolerate watching anything about The Holocaust at the moment, for example.
The original Beauty and the Beast is so beautiful, lyrical even. Although it is in B&W, I imagine the hands and candelabras that emerge from the wall as being gold, and the roses as red; the film is that evocative.
Yes, Donna Murphy was very good in Centre Stage, with a very nuanced performance. I also thought Debra Monk, who played the mother of the tall dancer, Maureen, also did a great performance as a woman who, to some extent, was trying to live vicariously through her daughter.
I really would have liked to know whether Jody got into the company in the end, but then, if she hadn’t, then perhaps I might have wished I didn’t know. I found Sascha Radetsky, who played Charlie, most attractive, and then the African American student. I recall reading that the man who played the lead male dancer, Ethan Stiefel, was the finest male dancer in the world at the time the film was made. Wouldn’t surprise me.
I must say, I thought that Amanda Schull, who played Jody, gave a lovely performance. She went on to act in the feature film, Mao’s Last Dancer, as well as a couple of TV movies that I’ve watched as midday movies. I have also seen the actress who plays Maureen in a couple of other films. It is interesting to google the different actors and see where they danced and what else they did.
My DVD version is actually the dual pack that also has Centre Stage II: Turn It Up, which also has Stiefel. I just discovered that there was also a third film in the series. Wiki says, “Another sequel Center Stage: On Pointe premiered on Lifetime on June 25, 2016. The film stars Nicole Muñoz and former Dance Moms star Chloe Lukasiak and features alumni from the first two films mentoring a younger generation of dancers.”
Art imitates life, in so far as Stiefel is an avid motorcycle fan, and, as Wiki states, “Center Stage features a subplot in which Stiefel’s character garners the financial support of a flirtatious female philanthropist…An article in The New York Times entitled “How Much Is That Dancer in the Program?” revealed that Stiefel has a similar real-life sponsorship relationship with wealthy philanthropist Anka Palitz.”
Yes, I think my brother would enjoy “Treme”. I tend to enjoy a nice Hallmark movie, and ones of that ilk, as a form of escapism. Many of the ones that I enjoy seem to come from a company named Marvista. I’ve always enjoyed pretty things, and that extends to films! This was particularly important when I was working in the front lines of the Child Safety Department for 24 years. My interest in film, music, reading, perfumery, jewellery and so on provided much-needed contrast to the ugliness that I saw at work – child abuse and neglect, poverty, drug addiction, family conflict, domestic violence and so on. It also provided respite from the verbal abuse we received from clients on a daily basis, as well as the odd death threat or instance of physical aggression.
I didn’t know there was a new version of “Rebecca” with Diana Rigg; I look forward to seeing that! I’ve always loved her in things, from her days as Emma Peel onwards. She was once in a TV mini series called “Mother Love” that I’ve never been able to find on DVD. I think it can be watched on You Tube, though, so I must view that sometime. (In the past, doing so would have eaten up most of the broadband allowance I had, but I seem to have enough to be able to watch film clips and so on these days. I’ve never yet had my internet slow down as a result of running out.
You will ADORE “The Witches”! Huston is just sensational in it, with her German accent. I particularly like her clothing and jewellery choices. Here is one of my favourite images.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q7dSFFh603U/TixSgThnNoI/AAAAAAAAADc/LjCXRbdWeoM/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/thewitches21.jpg
You will like Matilda, too – one theme is an ode to the power of reading. No, you’re thinking of Bette Midler in “Hocus Pocus”. You have a lot to look forward to! Both films are based on Roald Dahl novels. Take a look at the official trailer for each, to whet your appetite.
Bye for now.
With kind regards,
Judith July 7, 2020 at 1:43am
Tourmaline: Dear Victoria,
If you would be so kind, could you please email Peter my email address?
He might find it more convenient to use, and I don’t mind.
I’ve long regretted that I didn’t ask you to send my email address to Annette, with whom I wrote a mini Sci-Fi drama several years ago, as you might recall. Alas, she seems to have disappeared into the ether.
Thank you.
With kind regards,
Tourmaline July 6, 2020 at 8:55am
Victoria: Peter, can I use your email address? July 6, 2020 at 8:58am
Peter: Aloha Victoria,
Please forward my email to Judith/Tourmaline. We have developed into pen-pals! This way we won’t take up all the space on your PERFUME blog!
Mahalo nui loa,
Peter/Pekolo July 6, 2020 at 7:33pm
Tourmaline: Thank you, dear Telephone Operator, for connecting us!
With kind regards,
Judith July 7, 2020 at 2:51am
Peter: Aloha Lukika,
This Lolo (crazy) wrote his whole response to Victoria instead of to the blog (Again!) So here goes Take #2:
The Hawaiian alphabet is very limited when it comes to consonants. So with your name as an example, the J, D, and T would need to be replaced. There are also lots of vowel combinations that can be tricky to pronounce. As Hawaiian empowerment has grown, so has the use of more Hawaiian words in everyday language. The native language is also used in Charter Schools so the keiki (children) can pass it on to the next generation.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a famous artists’ colony, known for it’s scenic beauty. I read letters from my Tutus (grandparents) where they wrote about weekend visits. There is a grand Spanish Mission (we found the name of one of our ancestors there). The keiki attended a Mass after Mum’s passing. There is a central square in the village with chic designer boutiques and trendy restaurants. The spectacular beach is a few blocks away. There is the iconic Cypress Tree. I have a needlepoint pillow Mum made depicting said tree. Maybe that’s why I love Chypre perfumes. It’s in my genes. There are no street numbers, so the fairy-tale cottages have names. Just like my Cotswold mystery shows. As you move away from the central village, the streets twist and turn through the forest. I just checked Wikipedia to refresh my memory and they mention a law forbidding high-heels (due to the uneven sidewalks). I had a laugh because Mum once tripped outside of the Tiffany store (not that her fall was funny and I’m sure she wore senior flats). The keiki had a final drive along the oceanside cliffs ogling the multi-million dollar beach ‘cottages’. I believe there must be strict building codes as the dwellings blend into nature.
I’m an Argento ‘Gialo’ fan and my favorite is also “Suspiria”. I haven’t seen “Phenomena”, but my 2nd favorite is “Deep Red”. David Hemmings stars and there is a spooky haunted house (which you would like). I guess I’ve seen Lea Seydoux without really ‘knowing’ her. I like “Midnight in Paris”. Woody is one of my favorite directors. Hopefully the pedophilia rumors are untrue. We might have to separate a great artist from his mortal defects. I really love Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel”. Adrien Brody is another ‘jolie-laide’! Along with your Steve Buscemi.
You’ve seen a few of the best Hitchcock films. I love he-men with hairy chests, so you won’t be surprised that I’m smitten with your Aussie hunk, Rod Taylor. “The Birds” REALLY scared me as a keiki! As an aside, I used to work with a very glamorous beauty, Mai-Tai Sing, a famous dancer from San Francisco. She once confided that she dated Rod Taylor while they were filming the TV drama “Hong Kong”. I haven’t seen that show (1960s) released on DVD, but it would be fun to watch.
My scent of the day is another tuberose, a sample from Rogue called Flos Mortis. Fragrantica: white floral, tuberose, animalic, fruity, floral. It starts out with a strong opening (similar to SL Tubereuse Criminalle) and then mellows to a lovely floral similar to the Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Tubereuse. I’m also catching hints of Opium and Noir Epices from the blotters I made after reading Victoria’s latest post on carnation and cloves.
By the way, I’m also a nighthawk. My DVD cover for “Center Stage” is not the solo Jody in her red ballet finale dress. It’s the young ensemble kids with a plain red background.
Laters (more pidgin),
Pekolo July 6, 2020 at 8:46pm
Tourmaline: See my email reply… July 7, 2020 at 8:24am
Alex: Hello everyone, I appreciate that I might be late to June’s edition but I’ll give it a go.
I’m looking for my next forever perfume 🙂 I used to love Chanel Chance in my teens and early 20s. Then, I wanted something more mature and switched to Love, Chloe which is now unfortunately discontinued. Would you be able to recommend a scent that would be similar to Love, Chloe?
Thanks,
Alex July 19, 2020 at 6:00pm
Inge: Mijn lievelingsgeur is La Perla La Perla en dan de oude versie. Geweldige mooie geur maar bijna nergens meer te krijgen (wel op Ebay voor prijzen van 300 a 400 euro). Kan iemand mij helpen om een geur te vinden die erop lijkt?
Ik heb al Paloma Picasso maar haalt het niet bij La Perla. August 30, 2020 at 1:43pm