Aedes collaborated with Molinard to resurrect an old classic: Une Histoire de Chypre (pronounced SHEE-pr; not cheap). It’s heady and complex: an exorbitant fusion of bergamot, mandarin, iris, neroli, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, patchouli, oak moss, musk and amber, packaged in a black box with gold lettering and a Lalique bottle with a black spray-bulb.
The owner seemed to object to my description of it as pleasantly “after-shavey.”
— I object too. From Secrets From the Temple of Scent, an article about Aedes de Venustas in the New York Times.
Ooh, I am printing this right now.
I have a large spray sample of the Histoires de Chypre (thank you ever so for the correct pronunciation of chypre, darling!). I can't seem to get up the excitement to try it. What's wrong with me? Is it really that good, R?
And, am I the only one commenting today? Where is everyone??
I always enjoy reading journalists' impressions of Aedes de Venustas— they never quite know what to make of the shop, especially if they are not fragrance enthusiasts (as this NYT writer clearly was not!)
I recently spent three hours at Aedes with Jeninne Lee of Time Magazine, as she was prepping for the article she wrote for Time about niche fragrances & the people who love them. Aedes is so visually stimulating, as well as sensorily overloaded, that Jeninne didn't know where to look first. I decided that our interview would serve her best if I gave her a brief tour of the shop & then chose some scents for her to try— a sort of 'Niche 101'. She was grateful because there is just too much for the first-time visitor to digest. To truly give Aedes a fair review & understand the intricate complexities & attention to detail, I believe one must make a few journeys there.
My visits to the fragrance counter at my boring ol' local department store are ruined forever.
Don't thank me — that was part of the quote!
I really like the HdC, but you know, what is is a very classic chypre. That is either going to float your boat or not, you know?
Don't know where everyone is!
K, hope Jennine did not insult the dog.
It is a great shop. Frankly, a day in NY ruins you for fragrance shopping elsewhere, forever.
Fun article, though the writer was clearly not quite sure what to make of Aedes…and he made the sales associates sound a tad snooty, which couldn't be farther from the truth (they are the friendliest, most down-to-earth people you can imagine.) This is my *favorite* store in the world, bar none..like stepping into heaven when you walk through the door.
LOL
Forewarned is forearmed !
Agree with all of that.
No, no dog-lashing from Time Magazine, LOL!
heh heh, I was thinking “why is Robin telling us how to pronounce Chypre? she knows we mostly know?” but then realised it was part of the quote
lol
🙂