There have been some closet queens in the news recently, especially in the political arena, but none of them are “delicious.” I wonder — CAN a closet queen be delicious? Does Etat Libre d’Orange know what “closet queen” means? A “closet queen” is a gay man who pretends he’s not gay — he hides his homosexuality from everyone; he is repressed. Etat Libre d’Orange tries to make a closet queen seem romantic, mysterious and exciting. While most real-life closet queens are furtive and ashamed, Etat Libre d’Orange’s closet queen thinks “elegance is an armor” and he “excels in the art of concealing” (à la James Bond). Etat Libre d’Orange’s closet queen is “a master of pretence”, “a…seducer who never yields to anyone.” We are encouraged to believe we have something in common with the delicious closet queen: “we all have a secret side…an inner garden we cultivate to protect our most abiding passions.”
Sorry, just as I have a hard time relating to a closet queen in person I have a hard time relating to Delicious Closet Queen on my person. Delicious Closet Queen was created by perfumer Nathalie Feisthauer and contains violet leaf, iris butter, Atlas cedar, Indonesian patchouli, Haitian vetiver, dynamone, rose absolute, framboise irisée, sandalwood, leather, tonka bean, opopanax, benzoin, geranium, and citrus. The overall fragrance of Delicious Closet Queen reminds me of a make-up counter at a department store with its cosmetics-chemical aura. The ad copy for Delicious Closet Queen uses make-up imagery too (mentioning the closet queen’s ‘lip gloss’ and ‘compact powder case’) but that’s just another Etat Libre d’Orange disconnect: would a closet queen draw attention to himself with shiny tinted lips and a made-up face?
Delicious Closet Queen starts off with a medicinal edge; it reminds me of the scent of Band-Aids (perhaps the closet queen has scratched his wrists?) As the well-blended fragrance rapidly settles into its “one-note” (and blurred) personality, I also detect a metallic violet aroma, a “cosmetic” rose scent, powdery, not buttery, iris and the teeniest bit of vetiver. As for the “iridescent raspberry” (framboise irisée) — it’s detectable and not overly “fruity.” I have never had the opportunity to smell dynamone in isolation, so I’m not sure if the sweet aroma that pervades Delicious Closet Queen is dynamone or just an accord produced by the cedar, tonka bean, patchouli and sandalwood. Delicious Closet Queen “crumbles” and turns powdery quickly; it’s very feminine to my nose and it’s a light, close-to-the-body scent — a true closet queen does not want to draw attention to himself!
Always wanting to shock, why didn’t Etat Libre d’Orange scrap the timid (and confused) Delicious Closet Queen concept and create, say, Sometimes I Play Dress-Up — a fragrance based on the secret life of a six-foot, five-inch tall banker whose manhood is hard to hide in the skin-tight gowns he wears when his wife is not at home. Sometimes I Play Dress-Up could still contain metallic cosmetic aromas (hairspray, shave cream, nail polish, face powder, lipstick, talcum) but with an added, and generous, pouring of the wife’s Joy de Patou perfume: a tiny ‘rivulet’ of Joy would take us on a scented journey as it travels from our banker’s neck, down his hairy chest and stomach and into the territory of serious odeurs viriles that no make-up, costume or attitude can fully camouflage. I’d prefer such a brash fragranced bomb to the prim “scented envelopes” of Delicious Closet Queen. Wouldn’t you?
Etat Libre d’Orange Delicious Closet Queen is available in 50 ml Eau de Parfum. For buying information, see the listing for Etat Libre d’Orange under Perfume Houses.
Tomorrow: Tom Ford For Men.
OMG. I want some of that I Play Dress-up, where can I get it?!?!? And I cannot WAIT to see the ad campaign, just the thought of the skin-tight satin gown … okay, inappropriate mental imagery, moving along. And what a wonderful description of Closet Queen, I think I'll pass.
Did you TOUCH the Tom Ford for men bottle? Or is R reviewing it? Ew. I've seen the ad campaign and I know where it's been (and I'm not talking about nestled in between those silicone boobies, either.)
Haven't smelled it and really have no interest either. The name is way too campy to be taken seriously. If I did wear it, I'd be hell bent on saying the name, really. I agree, “Would a true closet queen want to draw attention to himself with a scent that smells of women's makeup?”. I think not.
I don't even think that Senator Craig (I think that's his last name, I've almost forgotten about him now) would wear such a scent. Since he's a true closet queen. “I'm not gay” as he said to the press. Said as a man in true denial if I ever heard one. Okay, I'm sure I'll be told “I shouldn't judge others here if I don't know all the facts with this Senator”. Well, dearies, when there's smoke, there's fire. Denial is denial. Plain and simple.
Okay, this isn't supposed to be a political rant since I hate politics.
Back to the scent, “I will pass”
March: R let me have at the Tom Ford for Men…the review will post this week…I'll call it my “sex week at NST.”
MC: I hate politics too and I'd be a miserable failure at diplomacy but I think you made the right decision re: “I will pass” K
I generally do like this line, even though I think their obvious desire to shock sometimes comes off as trying to be a little too clever for their own good. But this is one that I have no interest in trying at all – I simply don't get it: What about being a “closet queen” could possibly be worth celebrating? I don't think there could ever be anything “delicious” about the concept of hiding and being ashamed of your sexuality. Yeah, celebrating a cross-dresser or someone who was comfortable with themselves would be one thing, kinda fun and kitschy – but the whole idea behind this fragrance just sorta escapes me.
Love your reviews. I like the “fun” that Etat Libre d'Orange seems to be having with its product line — at least in theory. This sounds like a powdery mess. Also, can you imagine anyone announcing “Closet Queen” or “Putain des Palaces” as his/her signature scent? [On second thought, I can imagine people like that… just don't want to know them.]
I'm not sure I'd personally go for “Sometimes I Play Dress-Up” either, but I sincerely think you've just written some house's next brief, and we're bound to see your riff on 'odeurs viriles' in ad copy in about a year or so.
Can't wait to hear your take on Tom Ford for Men here during “Sex Week at NST.”
Kiki: Yeah, this closet queen “idea” didn't attract me either…and the scent is not the type I wear or like — at all. I am wondering if it has its fans though….K
Joe: every time I mentioned this perfume's name to someone their first reaction/guess was: “POWDER!” And they were right. I bet we'd all be safe saying “Putain des Palaces” — probably 98 percent of people would NOT know what we were talking about, K
Ha, you're right… some might think that actually sounds so “French” and refined.
I was just looking at the ELdO site and after reading the copy for “Don't Get Me Wrong Baby”, all I can say is, “OH, BROTHER!” There's a fine line between whimsy and downright … how should I say? … ridiculous!
Joe: I know…good for a chuckle!
I like your Sometimes I Play Dress-Up far more than the “real” thing- they ought to come to you for some new names!
Tom: I'm open for business…and I accept Euros! K
For a second there I read “whose manhood is hard” in isolation and wondered if I was on the right blog 🙂 Ha! But I see you do plan on making it a sex week on NST, so I wasn't that off the mark. The whole ELdO thing – whatev. Didn't interest me at all. OTOH I'm looking fwwd to tomorrow's (review) of Tom Ford. Should I keep my fingers crossed that beyond that silly ad campaign it's really a nice scent? Oh and I loved your perfume insults post, which gave me quite a few chuckles! And of course, being a proud owner of a narky Peke, how can I not love Diego! Give him a scratch behind the ears from me 🙂
Will there be a women's version of “Sometimes I Play Dress Up”? I have two ideas- one possibility woudl be an homage to all the women of the world who may as well be drag queens, basically anyone names Joan. Do rhinestones and bugle beads have a scent? The other possibility would be to capture the emotional fallout of the deluded wife as she finds a ripped seam and her husbands chest hair in her favorite Nolan Miller gown. That would really have to smell like Scotch and soda, Virginia Slims and tears.
Dusan: a PEKE…you have now been elevated even more in my estimation by that prestigious association! HA! I never even noticed the “whose manhood is hard” reading…!! R said she's forbidding her son access to the blog this week: thanks to me! I shall remain quiet on the Tom Ford till it posts, K
Sareybelle: “Scotch and soda, Virginia Slims and tears” — I LOVE IT! K
“…an homage to all the women of the world who may as well be drag queens…”
I thought that already existed: Giorgio Red.
Hey Mando, I'm originally from Idaho and there's been clouds of smoke coming from that particular fire for decades…
Joe: I heard a SCREAM here at work…a friend had just read your comment…she wears Giorgio Red…and has for years! She just said: “I wish I could send in my photo!” Let's just say she HATES “all things subtle.” K
Brilliant! Prior to this, I thought the ELdO line was campy fun, and I like the style (though not so much the content) of their graphics, but this Delicious Closet Queen nonsense is just so over the top and takes itself waaaay too seriously. Your review, on the other hand, was hilarious and fun. Love it!
K: I am ready, hat in hand, to offer a sincere apology to your co-worker, who I'm sure is a true Lady in every sense of the word (photographic corroboration not necessary). I'm sure I admire the woman (not always a Texan) who can successfully wear Red, which in any case is far preferable, I'm sure, to DCQ.
Joe: MY LORD! I'm finding myself agreeing: I prefer Red to DCQ!:
Thanks Keeter…I think DCQ was a 'dud' in the ELdO line-up, K
Your idea of Sometimes I Play Dress Up is far more entertaining… especially the rivulet trailing down into the nether regions. I've sniffed only two of this house's scents and neither one appealed – the Putain tried too hard and came out flat and the L'Air de Rien was such a foul chemical cocktail of urban modernity (and the complete opposite of “nothing”) it gave me a headache. Not sure I want to sample anything else. Though their graphics are at times amusing.
I seriously think you should take your concept to a perfumer and make your own.
Hi Minette: I need to try more of the ELdO scents as well — so far I've only smelled three and they weren't to my taste. I have a hard time imagining my target audience for Sometimes I Play Dress-Up! HA! K
The carnival/”Labyrinth”/”Phantom of the Opera” graphics…the obviously cosmetic smell (as described), something like “Moschino” or “Exclamation”…this poor dear went in the closet in 1987 and hasn't been out since. With violet leaf, tonka bean and citrus, I can just imagine some sobbing executive downing a box of truffles while wearing lipstick a' la Paloma Picasso. Leave cheap smelling stuff to the unenlightened blocks that would oppress, throw on a little rouge, some “Aqua Di Parma” or “Daim Blond” and hold court.
nlb: Bravo!/Brava!
I wear this fragrance – it's really very nice, but not for everyone. I believe you have to be pretty confident of yourself to carry it well and enjoy the sweet sexiness of this powerful fragrance.
Go on, give it a try; if you dare!
I tried this on today, and was thrilled to findout it is almost the same fragrance as one of my all time favorite discontinued fragrances….”Feeling Man” by Jilsander. Not quite as loud, but basically the same thing. Thanks ELd'O for offering a suitable relacement.
Ah…lucky you Joe S.D.: I'm waiting for the same thing to happen for several discontinued scents….