Chandler Burr, the New York Times perfume critic and author of The Perfect Scent, takes 3 women shopping for perfume at Sephora.
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Oh! To go on such an adventure with Chandler Burr!
This was really interesting; how fun it would be to go perfume shopping with Chandler Burr!
I can't remember 212, but do you really think it's sweeter than Juicy Couture? I can't imagine that, really.
And on an entirely different note: I finally dragged myself over to Hermes (I didn't want to go alone, but my friends didn't want to be stared at like they didn't deserve to be there; I can't wait to tell them that my SA was incredibly nice and surprisingly helpful) to check out the Hermessences. I left with no less than seven samples (four of the actual Hermessences; I was offered as many as I wanted, but I thought that it would be pushing to ask for samples of all of them). So, yes, I'm gonna end up poking old threads. I really hope you don't mind me trying to play catch-up. xD
Lucky girls indeed, though I was surprised at the sweeter choices for somebody's mother. Juicy Couture took my head off the first time I tried it – I thought it was quite Barbie-esque but I am going to give it another go right away, and 212, which I also don't recall caring for.
212 just smelled really soapy to me when I first put it on; I thought it was vile. A couple of hours later and I liked it a lot better, but it was kinda bland.
Eric, so glad you did so well at Hermes! My local Hermes is sometimes nice, sometimes not so nice, but the NY Hermes has always been nice. Chanel in NY: NOT nice.
Most of the choices were sweeter than I'd like, but sounds like they suited the women in question and that's what counts.
It is not a favorite of mine.
I quite agree about the girls themselves – it is the absent mother I was a bit worried about. We weren't told what she currently wore in the clip, so maybe on the basis of that information they opted for what they did.
How fun is that? I met Chandler in February, and he is very nice.
Hope you received my email about KofP mall.
Hugs!
My SA was incredibly sweet (and really impressed that I did my Hermessence research, which I think just makes me a geek xD). The other customers (only two, thank God) kept looking at me like I was trash, but that's not really Hermes' fault.
Ah, Chanel. I've been to the local one once, years ago. I don't remember it at all, but I can just imagine that they look at you funny. I never really needed to go to Chanel, though… the Les Exclusifs…. They haven't struck me as more interesting that the Hermessences, though. I'll get around to them, though, I'm sure.
This is going to sound like a total frag-snob comment…but I suppose they did the best they could within the limitations of Sephora :). Isn't that awful? Perhaps I'm just dissapointed in much of the modern releases and re-formulations I've tried on recent testing marathons. And while I certainly wouldn't turn up my nose at the suggestions of Chandler Burr, I'm curious as to how historical fragrance investigators like Elisabeth de Feydeau would maneuver the modern options of Sephora.
Let me rephrase; I'm not sniffing at Chandler Burr's work and investigations at all, I'm just interested to know if some modern releases could compare with historical fragrances as imagined by de Fedayeau. And I totally wouldn't turn down a fragrance I liked simply because it was cheap and accessible–in fact, I'd be grateful to the nose gods if all my choices could be found in such a category. It's just easy to feel like the perfect fragrance will never be found when a place like Sephora, what most of the shopping population considers to be a fragrance Mecca, begins to let you down.
I have not been in a Chanel boutique since before they launched the Exclusifs, and can only assume they trained the SAs well. When I was last in the NYC Chanel, they knew just about nothing about the fragrances.
I did, sorry for the slow reply!
Would have been more fun if he'd taken them shopping at Aedes, I agree. But this was Vogue TV and assume they wanted something “general” (?)
Yes! It might've been interesting if he compared fragrances from both and found connections between choices, so that fragrance lovers can grow and evolve (even if that journey sometimes takes one from more expensive and “exclusive” to affordable, yet intriguing, fragrances). The reality: Most of what's found at “Sephora” is less expensive than the bulk inventory of “Aedes DV”. I suppose I should've thrown a kudos to “Vogue”, for finding ways to make fragrance devotion affordable for the many unwilling to forgo buying bread and tomatoes, in order to indulge in an often overpriced–but beloved– potion.
It just shows how everything is relative depending on where you live…you see, I recently discovered Sephora in France and compared to the range carried in my local Boots, it is a temple to perfume, so I was going to say that given the extent of Sephora's range (and that branch in NY looked impressive), I am still a bit crestfallen that he fell back on something so “commercial” as 212. Yes, it might have been suitable for the lady's mum, but given what is in Chandler's head and even in the store, it seemed like a dull choice to me. I wore it all last night and it struck me as inoffensive but nondescript, and forgettable, with that “modern” edge I am moving away from, but where I started with my Hugo Boss Femme etc. So he could have picked out something “appropriate” but more interesting is what I feel. 212 is surely something a person's own regular, ie non-perfumista, friends might recommend ie you don't need the mighty Chandler to come up with it! So that is all – I was a bit disappointed. Juicy Couture, meanwhile, I have somewhat revised my opinion of, perhaps through modest application this time! It was overly sweet to start, but in the drydown it had that intriguing, powdery, slightly gourmand quality of Chinatown, and I thought it was definitely a more interesting choice.
What a treat to shop w/ Mr. Burr! If he took them into NYC Chanel, they wouldn't dare be snarky!
I think I will wear some All-American Juicy today for the holiday! I have read the comments about its Barbie-ness but I think it is a lovely scent- a floral gourmand beautifully done. My hub bought me the BIG bottle for Christmas '06 (after I told him I would like a small one) and I have gone through 2/3 of it.
Everyone have a great safe holiday weekend!
Following my complete 180 on the Juicy jus! – I very likely sprayed too much the first time – I had a chance to try Delices de Cartier today, including various flankers, and they were all pretty sweet. Even the SA was recoiling visibly. So I am now even more puzzled by Chandler's picks.
He does write about quite a mix of high & low end fragrances on the NYT blog though.
Sephora in France seems to carry a much better range of niche than any of the Sephoras in the US, including NY.
Helenviolette, you have a great 4th too!
Then call me sheepish :). I should investigate more before blowing the foghorn :).
Oh no, didn't mean to chastise you, or even necessarily to stick up for what CB selected. And I do think his taste runs more to the mainstream than most perfumistas…just a different sensibility.
You should've chastised my wanna-be, poseur nose ;)! I did appreciate this link; it's always good to hear fragrance getting proper attention in fashion mags/columns. I think, even if people aren't investing as much in fashion when the national (US) purse is pinched, many might still be willing to put aside money for fragrance. Sort of like the idea of “Joy”; fragrance is very personal, emotional and can lift spirits even when times are tough.
So agree — I'm happy to spend less on clothing, it's the perfume that keeps my spirits up.