Way back in February I complained about my storage system for perfume samples. Not being one to act hastily (i.e., I am the world's worst procrastinator) it took me some time to find a suitable substitute for the little plastic drawer units I was using (see picture in link above).
I never really found the perfect solution. I wanted something that didn't take up too much space, that had deep, divided drawers for samples and decants, and preferably something on wheels. The elaborate tool storage systems at Sears (tool people are obviously even more insane than perfume people) were tempting, but too expensive. On a random trip to Office Depot to pick up a new mouse, I found this cart on mark down. It is on wheels, and has 6 drawers. The drawers are not quite as deep as I would have liked (larger decants can't stand up), and they aren't divided, so I'm using smaller tupperware containers inside each drawer so that I can sort my samples by perfume house.
This morning I am just finishing up with the bottom drawer, and while I am sorting I am wearing Jean Patou's latest release, Sira des Indes. The fragrance was created by perfumer Jean-Michel Duriez and has notes of bergamot, banana, pear, pink berries, cardamom, red champaca, ylang-ylang, musk, amber, vanilla and sandalwood. It is a beautiful fragrance, and it does not, like so many of its compatriots on the department store shelves this season, smell like it could reasonably use the slogan "No Flowers Died In The Making Of This Perfume". Perhaps that is why I wanted to like it, but in the end, I don't.
I do love the burst of spices in the top notes, and the mildly animalic base is lovely, but all the same, it is what it is: a sweet fruity floral. If I had to wear a sweet fruity floral, this might be what I'd choose — at least it smells like an elegant spiced dessert, creamy and rich, instead of fruit taffy or a smoothie — but sweet fruity florals are not my thing. If they are yours, I do recommend that you try it. It can be found at Saks or Neiman Marcus.
“tool people are obviously even more insane than perfume people” …LOL
I still haven't tried Sira. Lookign at notes…it sounds like too much of a good thing…Do you think I would like this?
M, I really wouldn't call it too much of a good thing, it isn't at all “overdone” or busy, and it is sweet but it isn't what I would call cloying. It just isn't my sort of thing. And don't know if you'd like it or not — it isn't one of those dark ambery-patch things that I hate & you love.
R, in the final analysis, I did not like SdI either. It started out wonderfully, all spiced fruit and what not, but dried down to a fruity mush.
You must have a heck of a lot of samples and decants, woman! Would you say that you have more samples and decants than you do bottles of fragrance?
Hugs!
I felt the same way: *if* I were going to wear a fruity floral, I would wear Sira des Indes. It's nice. But I'm not going to wear a fruity floral, and nice isn't going to cut it. Still, not bad. Better than ENJoy.
Nice drawers.
Great storage idea! I need to implement something similar myself.
Ah, well perhaps the cart is not a perfect solution, but it's a pretty good one nevertheless. Thanks for the ideas.
“tool people are obviously even more insane than perfume people” Sometimes, heh. But if you have several thousand dollars worth of tools and hand tools, you really do want a locking metal cart to keep them in, frankly. And I think having a really great tool is like having a really great perfume – it starts to become your baby in a way, and you want it housed properly, heh.
Too bad about the Sira, R. I do like certain fruity-florals now and again, but now that summer is coming on I tend to eschew them in favor of things that aren't sweet, or at least not foody sweet.
R, I have WAY more samples & decants than bottles, and since I almost never buy a bottle any more, it will get worse instead of better.
Hey, I have one of those, or something close to it. I also have about three more of its brothers and mumbledy mumbled other storage containers.
If you think tool peoplea re insane, try wine people. We have this mondo wine cabinet that was uberstupid expensive just for my husband's wines. I don't like wine, I'm a beer girl. Plus we have the Sears tool thing downstairs for tools which barely get used. I make do for my perfumes and my gardening tools.
Robin — I got to try the Sira this afternoon. (Cait posted on it a couple days ago, so you really lit the fire.) I tried what I assume is the EDP. Um. Well. Based on everyone's reviews/comments I was expecting high-end fruit salad. What I got (maybe I'm having a Bad Skin Day?) is high-end fruit salad with a base of … something I can only describe (sorry) as fecal. Have I lost my mind? Really, it makes my Jicky parfum seem …. wholesome. I am horrified, but not enough to wash it off!
Wish Patou released new scents more frequently, would be nice to see what they'd do next.
Already wishing it was bigger, V…
The dh has a very elaborate tool chest thingie on wheels, and also elaborate systems to store fishing tackle. So yes, apparently these things matter to others
LOL — sounds like your samples are proliferating even faster than mine!
M, I didn't find it heavily indolic or animalic, but I have heard other people use “fecal” to describe it, so maybe it is me that is missing something.
Hmmm… some of the ingredients in this one do sound nice but the banana & champaca notes scare me! (I used to love J'Adore, but I'm convinced it's the champaca in it that now nauseates me). Anything other than banana bread, muffins, or the real fruit is pretty frightening in my books.
As for animalic & “fecal” I just don't even want to go there.
LOL — doesn't sound like you'll be needing a bottle of SdI.
I tried SdI a couple of weeks ago and loved it for the first 10 minutes. Then, it began to morph…into something that smelled quite like Indian food. The same thing happened with Annick Goutal Songes, and with L'Artisan Safran Troublant, on different days. I am trying to figure out the common thread in all 3 of these…obviously something my skin hates, as they all quickly degraded into a cumin/curry smell that was just atrocious. Any ideas on what it is?
K, the Indian food in SdI is almost certainly the cardamom, but don't know what you're smelling in the Songes & the Safran…either or both could have a touch of cardamom, but neither has nearly as much as the SdI, and neither reminded me of Indian food at all. Sorry I am no help at all!
I completely agree with violetnoir's 'fruity mush.' I could slightly elaborate with 'sweet, fruity mush.' Another spring 2006 disappointment. On the good side, I'm using lots of almost empty bottles from the past two springs' purchases! The muguet note in Miss Rocaille is particularly appealing to me at the moment.
L, Miss Rocaille & Eclipse are both perfect for this time of year ~ and better than anything new I've smelled.
At Sniffapalooza, a wonderful woman told me her secret: she bought an old card catalog (like in libraries) and refinished it – now it holds her decants and samples. You could arrange it alphabetically so each drawer is for a different house – or whatever suits you. When I have more space, this is what I want to do!
I tied Sira yesterday for the first time – it was lovely. Well-balanced like all Patous, but maybe a little too sweet for me. Still, I would enjoy smelling it frequently if not actually wearing it. It is elegant and refined for a “spicy” perfume.
I have heard of that too…perhaps on MUA? Would *love* to have such a thing, but it is not the cheap, space saving solution, LOL…
Agree with all of that…it is lovely, but don't want to wear it.
Well, you're right about the space-saving and affordable part
BUT I have seen some cute end tables that have little drawers like the good old card catalog. Happy hunting for the perfect solution.
Guess I am in the minority here as I do like Sira des Indes and think it is well balanced and wearable.
Hope all is well. Hugs!
N, hope you will note that I called it “beautiful”, LOL — I just don't like fruity florals. Hope you are well too!!