First, a quick PSA: the next freebiemeet will be held on Saturday 3 June. I am working on new rules based on our last feedback poll — it's not too late to chime in there! — and I'll try to get those posted the week before.
Today, happy Josephine Baker Day! Baker was known to wear both Jean Patou Joy and Lanvin Arpège (and do see Dr. Jessica's post Josephine Baker, Arpege, and a Decorating Fantasy). In Baker's honor, four perfume questions. As always, answer as many or as few as you like, or just talk about something else.
1. What's your favorite vintage perfume, if you have one?
2. What perfume, vintage or modern, do you wear to feel glamorous?
3. Match a perfume made between 1950 and 2000 with the picture of Baker above.
4. Now match a perfume made after 2000 with the picture of Baker above.
My answers...
1. Diorissimo, of course!
2. I don't really do glamour, but Patou Joy is probably the closest I can manage. Or maybe Chanel Bois des Iles?
3. I'm still thinking about this one. Maybe Diorling?
Note: the NAACP named May 20th Josephine Baker Day back in 1951. Yale's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library has materials related to the day online. Moving forward in time, you can read Baker's speech at the March on Washington in 1963 here.
Hi, hi all! Yesterday it was 26*C and today only 14*C. Something is really off with this weather. To cheer up I’m wearing Atelier des Ors Iris Fauve.
Here are my answers:
1. I don’t have a favorite
2. Prada Purple Rain, Chanel 28 La Pausa
3. Clinique Aromatics Elixir
4. Aftelier Bergamoss
Have a good and restful weekend all! Hugs & kisses
These may not necessarily be my answers but if these are evocative of Josephine Baker, then I must be channeling her because I have all of these in my collection! Great choices!
These are just my ideas, I didn’t give it a much thought. I just looked at the photo Robin chose and ideas came to my mind.
Same weather here in Montreal. Spring is all over the place!
I wasn’t going to post but serendipitously I am wearing Arpege Lanvin EDP, not vintage, probably 20 years old.
Peach, aldehydes, sandalwood, rose, ylang ylang, and labdanum heavy ambrein.
Lovely!
Like me! !!
LOL.
RIP Josephine Baker.
Triple strength coffee.
Carpe Diem. Peace.
Oh gosh you smell good
What are your parameters for classifying a frag as vintage? Pre-1994? More than 20 years old? Or a period of time from the original release?
I think I’d generally call a bottle from 1997 vintage, but I guess (for me) it would depend on when it debuted. ?
This could be an old definition but not necessarily for perfumes – Etsy used 25 years as the cut-off. For perfumes, I think any pre-reformulated perfume could be considered vintage.
I (YMMV) consider something vintage considering its original issue date.
Arpege came out in. 1927 and was reissued/reformulated in 1993, and my bottle is the 1993.
Old (like me, and not a bad thing. ;)), but not vintage, if that makes sense.
It is a sliding scale, and everyone views it differently.
This is good stuff! !!!
1 Shalimar
2 Jolie Madame
3 Miss Dior
4 Songes d’Un Bois d’ Été
Fun post!
I love Songe d’un Bois d’Eté!
It’s good, huh? I’d have a hard time picking just one from this trio. Thankfully there are decants!
What a fascinating life she led! Love her banana skirt
Glamour scents in my opinion would be the rich florals with lots of aldehydes — not really my kind of fragrance. I’m thinking Chanel No. 5, Arpege, etc.
Modern glamour to me is Carnal Flower, which I’m wearing today but would not say a lunch date in Chinatown for dim sum is particularly glamorous..
Oh, well! I smell lovely anyway.
Happy Saturday!
Good choices, floragal! I dig dim sum, especially in Chinatown!
Working today, so sadly don’t have time to answer questions right now????
SOTD is the surprisingly enjoyable KM Camellia courtesy of the kind and generous Foxbins. Who knew I would like a floral fragrance? Not me!
Cheers and happy WEEKEND!
Oh, forgot to add this link for anyone who wants to revel in the beauty of NZ and nature. Not affiliated in any way but love these vids!
https://youtu.be/9u5rgdGsTWA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRNqhi2ka9k
Good things happen in kayaks! Come to NZ and I’ll take you out .
Here’s a nice kayak (not NZ) murmuration clip
So beautiful!
Love kayaking. DH and I kayaked the ‘mad mile’ at Abel Tasman when we were in NZ. Fortunately it was the ‘mild mile’ that day.
We’re looking forward to doing some arctic kayaking in Svalbard Norway in a few weeks
Lucky thing!
Kanuka-
I would love to come to New Zealand….and then stay there…if I won lotto that would be a considered place to retire.
That would be cool. You could run yoga classes, too.
Wow, once the dogs have gone on to their reward I need to come spend the austral summer down there! Looks like great fun.
Knock, knock, knock!
That’s me at your front door ????
Vintage Coco thanks to a small decant from a generous NSTer
Modern: Tenue de Soirée Vintage: Coco
Shalimar
Iris Poudre
I really have got to try my sample of Tenue de Soiree!
and I had vintage Coco when it first came out…it was a gift from a boyfriend..I liked it but did not love it but wore it for him and drained the bottle…now I wish I would have saved it as I know current formulation is not the same.
Would your hubby mind that you’re wearing perfume you received from an old boyfriend, hypothetically speaking?
Oh that is a very interesting question….he has zero interest in fragrances (the only one in the house who does NOT have a collection) so I doubt he would even know of what came from where….that being said, he WOULD know that certain fragrances would conjure up memories for me as I connect fragrances to various points in my time line of life, and that might be a bit off putting for him.
Sometimes a signature scent starts with a perfume a boyfriend or partner gives to you, and you may wear that one forever regardless of who you are with…and I think that is OK! Lots of older members of my family have been wearing the same perfume for eons and some are on their 2nd marriage from being widowed
1. Caron Narcisse Noir
2. Serge Lutens La myrrhe
3. Lancôme Magie Noire
4. Serge Lutens Une voix noire
Narcisse Noir is perfect for Baker, I think — as are a number of the older Carons.
1. YSL Champagne parfum, altho really-vintage Vent Vert parfum gives it a run for its money
2. Hmm, glamorous… Viktoria Minya Hedonist pops to mind
3. … oh dear, brain just fizzed out. That’s what I get for trying to think pre-caffeine on a Saturday. Sorry Josephine.
Squeeeeeee! I’ll be in London in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations for must-sniff places? I am definitely going to Jo Loves to pick up a bottle of Mango Thai Lime (why is Just That One not sold in the US???) And Harrod’s of course. Where else?
Les Senteurs:
http://www.lessenteurs.com/
and Liberty still seems to keep an interesting selection, although they’ve got lots of competition now from other dept. stores.
1. Blooms Perfumery
bloomperfume co uk
4 Langley Court, London, WC2E 9JY
(This is in Covent Garden, so tourist central which might suit you well)
2. Les Senteurs
lessenteurs com
2 Seymour Pl, Marylebone, London W1H 7NA
(Near Marble Arch)
also:
71 Elizabeth St, Belgravia, London SW1W 9PJ
(Between Victoria Station and Sloane Square)
3. Rouiller White
roullierwhite com
125 Lordship Ln, East Dulwich, London SE22 8HU
(Off the beaten track in South London)
And if you fancy visiting a real, live (and fun) perfumery:
4160 Tuesdays
4160tuesdays com
Cowley Rd, London W3 7UN
(Off the beaten track in West London)
I’ve never shopped for perfume in London but I just remembered that Parfums de Nicolaï has a shop in London.
101 a Fulham Road
SW3 6RH London
And I noticed that Ormonde Jayne has not been mentioned yet.
Old Bond Street
12 The Royal Arcade
28 Old Bond Street
London W1S 4SL
T +44(0)20 7499 1100
F +44(0)20 7499 9911
E sales@ormondejayne.com
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10.00am to 6.00pm
Oh, second PdN!
Perhaps Sultan Pasha will indulge you. I don’t know if he has a storefront but maybe he does private sniffings?
Thanks for all the recommendations! Keep ’em coming
Fortnum & Mason is nice and they have a great gourmet food section too.
Les Senteurs is right down the street from Jo Loves, on the other side of the street. IMHO, you’re better off in one of the larger stores. IIRC, probably the only line that I was excited to see there was Naomi Goodsir…most of the rest were available at other venues.
Hi all! I haven’t had much time to post (and barely time to read), but I’m popping in today with a question that’s, as it turns out, tangentially related to Josephine Baker. I’ll be in Paris in a couple of weeks with one of my besties from college. She’s excited to go to the Grand Musée du Parfum, and we may do some perfume shopping. Any recommendations for good customer experiences? I speak French, but she doesn’t.
Jovoy! Wonderful place.
Ooh, I haven’t smelled anything from Jovoy! That could be a good one so my friend and I are both coming to it new.
1. Jovoy
jovoyparis com
4 Rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris
(Metro Tuileries. This is around the corner from Rue Cambon [Chanel] and Rue St Honore [several perfume stores])
2. Sens Unique
sensuniqueparis com
13 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004 Paris
(Metro Saint Paul. This is in the Marais, the most fascinating part of Paris. Etat Libre d’Orange, Parfums de Nicolai, L’Artisan and Mariage Freres are in the area)
3. Serge Lutens
sergelutens com
142 Galerie de Valois, 75001 Paris
(Metro Palais Royal – Musee du Louvre. This is in the couryard of the Palais Royal, which also houses cafes, antique shops, galleries and at least one good restaurant around a central garden.)
Ah, our B&B is close to the Marais, so Sens Unique will be convenient. We might hit up Didier Ludot as well, so maybe a visit to Uncle Serge will happen as well.
1. Vintage Nocturnes de Caron
2. I am too old to be glamorous
3. Fracas
4. Dame Perfumery Gardenia Soliflore
I just returned from an incredibly challenging yoga class. I feel a sense of accomplishment in that I have finally mastered a very challenging arm pose (it is in my photo gallery)….I know I will most definitely be sore tomorrow but I love that feeling.
I wore DSH Ashram which wears as a skin scent to me but others have commented that it is a sillage monster…gosh, it is so meditative and beautiful…definitely full bottle worthy…
and while I should REALLY be contemplating world peace and equality to all and an end to poverty, etc , etc I was contemplating this morning why I love certain perfume houses….Dame Perfumery because they are just so darn pretty, accessible and affordable….Sonoma Scent Studio because most of Laurie’s perfumes touch me on a very emotional level…..DSH (from what I have sampled thus far) for its incredibly richness, depth and complexity….gorgeous stuff…..and so grateful to have the opportunity to try it all…..
Oh YES YOU HAVE — standing ovation! I may never get there but I am trying.
Robin, it took me TEN YEARS to get to where I am in my asanas so NEVER SAY NEVER…..and I will tell you that I have the most amazing yoga teacher who has been and continues to be the teacher of our entire family (except Mr. CM8) …she encourages us to listen to our bodies, go at our own pace, offers up many modifications in order to build up to the level of mastery that we aspire to achieve…she has truly taught me the meaning of “fearless” and I am so blessed to have our lives!
that would be ” to have HER in our lives”
I did not say never, I said “may”, LOL — but I am not counting on anything either way and I salute your achievement
Very impressive!
That pose is glamorous!!
You just made my day
I just had to pipe up with a “WOW!” That is a truly impressive pose!
Thank you
Excellent chocolatemarzipan8!!!
Brava! And revel in that sense of accomplishment!
You’ve earned it!
Says the man who still fits into his jeans from 40 years ago
that, in my book, is quite an accomplishment too!!!
Thank you chocolatemarzipan8 !!!!
I workout to stay healthy, attractiveness? !?!?? LOL, is just a bonus!
And I found beautiful expensive dress shoes from when work required it that will never fit.
Apparently feet enlarge with age. LOL Plus they hurt like h3ll !
Older and wiser.
Early morning workout.
Triple strength coffee.
Carpe Diem. Peace.
Clap clap! My wrists hurt looking at the pictures. I tried yoga several times many years back and each session stressed me out (not kidding!), so I stopped.
It’s not for everyone but it works for me
1. I have a decant of vintage Nahema, but no FBs or anything very old. I have in the past. My greatest find was an old bottle of Le Dix, long gone now.
2. Ubar, Mitsouko, Chamade
3. Chamade
4. That picture? Kelly Caleche.
Happy Saturday everyone. ????
Oh Le Dix….sigh….gorgeous stuff…..
same can be said for Chamade which I recently got to try for the very first time….
I have a small bottle (that I’m hoarding) of vintage Le Dix extrait that is TDF. What glorious stuff. I also have a HUGE bottle of not-as-old but vintage edt but it doesn’t send me in quite the same way.
Sigh. I think my bottle was from the late 1970s or early 1980s. It was probably an edt but I cannot recall. I’ve been singularly unlucky with my vintage purchases, probably because I am too cheap. But that bottle was a winner.
I’m a major bargain hunter and I’ve been able to find some great vintage bottles at low prices. My recollection is that I paid about $15 for the Le Dix extrait (maybe 7 mls in a small spray bottle?) If you’d like me to replenish your Le Dix supply, I’d be happy to send some of the edt to you. I haven’t tried to date it, but I’d peg it as being from the 70s-80s. Click on my sn to contact.
PS My violet jag continues and today I am in Violette Sacree Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger, which Clarissa sent me. Not a particularly powdery or sweet scent, complex, with something almost juicy but not the fruit stew you find in DSH’s Quinacridone. Really pretty.
I think I get way more sugar than you in Violet Sucre. Anyway one of my favorite violets – I am really impressed with the brand
1) I’m going to restrict myself to vintage that I love and own and I think my favourite would be Diorella extrait de parfum. Vintage perfumes that I have tried and enjoyed include: Joy, Jolie Madame, Chypre, Poivre, Coup de Fouet, Tabac Blond and Pour un Homme (Caron).
One vintage perfume I would love to try is Rochas Femme and Madame Rochas.
2) Amouage Gold, although I must admit I also wear to do the garden.
I have absolutely no answer to number 3 and 4, but I do want ot add that my dog was called Joséphine, although she wasn’t named after Josephine Baker but shared her name with Joséphine de Beauharnais. She didn’t really care for perfume.
I acquired Amouage Gold as a special occasion perfume, but it’s morphed into my “I can’t cope today, but at least I will smell good” scent, so I feel like I’m always wearing it while unshowered and badly dressed. It deserves better from me!
Gold can cope with pretty much anything. It’s so stunningly beautiful! The only Amouage actually that I paid full price for.
No perfume due to a sinus headache – hoping my head will cut me some slack soon
1. Diorissimo
2. FM’s Iris Poudre
3. Amouage Gold Woman
4. Hmm. I answered the first three questions in five seconds flat, but I had to think on this one. Final answer: Misia
One of the few things I can wear when I have a headache is Eau parfumée au thé vert. I find it very soothing.
I’ve never tried that but it’s on my (endless) to-try list. I usually like a little Dzing or 4711 when I’m under the weather, but I caught several whiffs of last night’s perfume (L’Ombre dans L’Eau) when I got up this morning and it put me off perfume, for the morning at least . . .
4711 is one of my go-to scents when I have a headache though I usually skip fragrance then. Sometimes 4711 seems to lessen the pain, at least it is a nice distraction.
Hope you’re feeling better quickly.
Ugh, hope the headache is better today!
These questions are above my pay grade!
SOTD was Guerlain “Heritage”, finishing off a decant.
Top: aldehydes, juniper, lavender, green notes, violet, clary sage, petitgrain, bergamot and lemon;
Mid: cyclamen, coriander, carnation, patchouli, black pepper, balsam fir, orris root, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose, geranium and pink pepper;
Base: sandalwood, amber, musk, oakmoss and cedar.
Nice stuff, but not unmissable so I won’t replace the decant right away.
Ha! Thanks for admitting that! My brain doesn’t really work in the way required to answer the questions posed, so I’m at a loss.
To answer the Q you asked yesterday, the sample pack of classic masculines included the aforementioned Chanel Pour Monsieur, as well as Egoiste; Dior Homme, Eau Sauvage (which he immediately renamed “Oh Sausage”), and Fahrenheit; Eau de Guerlain; Azzaro Pour Homme; YSL Kouros; and the original Aramis. I also threw in Amouage Lyric Man as he likes rose scents.
I wore a lot of masculines as a teen but don’t feel comfortable in them now (for the most part) so this is as much an exercise in fun for me as it is for him
I’ve not smelled any of those listed above(except the 2 Chanels he’s tried.)
What do you think is missing from the list? I’m up for suggestions of any kind. He generally wears Aramis Calligraphy Rose during the day (he’s gotten compliments on it from co-workers on the construction site he’s working at, which I love to hear
Other faves are Atelier Rose Anonyme, Rosine Twill Rose, A*Men Pure Malt. His date-night perfume is Chanel Cuir de Russie, primarily at my suggestion as it smells soo good on him. He hasn’t been a big fan of the other leathers he’s tried.
My husband and son love the classic masculine Caron’s – even the current versions are great and incredibly affordable.
Well, I have the 2 Chanels you mention, plus the Carons as Bastet says. Guerlain “Habit Rouge”, “Heritage” and “Vetiver”; Robert Piquet “Knightsbridge”; Dior “Eau Noir” if you can get it, Galimard “Offrez-lui”; Knize “Ten”.
Those are some I either have, or have tried and can vouch for. There are others from Chanel and Hermes that would fit the brief.
Have taken notes! Thanks to both of you.
If you are ever in that wonderful part of France, the Dordogne, do go to see Josephine Baker’s house there. Well worth a visit! I was lucky enough to be taken to one of her shows in Paris in about…1959 I think. My cousin and I, aged about 18, though it was all tres risqué (especially for a Sunday afternoon show) but our Parisian hosts took it all as a matter of course.
It’s amazing that you saw her perform live!
2nd that!
3rd! How lucky!
Afternoon tres risqué show in Paris, 1959, Josephine Baker. And you were 18. What was that like? Was it a large hall? Lots of cigarette smoke? What you wearing? What were the people like? The smells? Ms. Baker?
Oh – if only I could remember more about it! We were taken there by my cousin’s mother’s elderly French governess and some of her much younger rellies. I’m sure ciggie smoke was in the air, I do remember taking a navy linen dress to Paris on that trip so perhaps I was wearing it. My main memory is of the nonchalant way the younger ones greeted the show!
Just have to chime in that Sous Le Vent was created by Jacques Guerlain in 1934 for Josephine Baker.
Good point! I had forgotten about that.
And we have 2 modern scents: Eldo Josephine Baker and Byredo Bal d’Afrique.
Sous le Vent is gorgeous
Thanks for posting that speech, Robin.
‘Old’ Opium for questions 1-3 (stretching ‘vintage’ a bit) , and anything but ‘new’ Opium for question 4!
Spent yesterday watching big flakes of snow swirl past the window but unfortunately it hasn’t settled, though the hills are nice and white.
Happy weekend!
Isn’t that a great speech? I had never read it until now!
1. Probably Chanel No. 19 or Diorissimo
2. I’m not sure I have much glamour….maybe Cuir de Lancôme or Mitsouko.
3. The original Femininite du Bois (Shiesedo) I think
4. Not sure at all….
In Elie Saab L’eau Couture today. It’s one of the bottles out on the dresser tray display now. Was at a pottery place this morning in Queens. Am thinking I could take a lesson to create a plate/platter to hold the bottles instead. I’m not at all crafty, but maybe I should try….
Where in Queens?
Long Island City. Place is The BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center. Incredibly nice folks. We just happened to be nearby this morning, but it was also part of the Open Studios thing going on in LIC.
Ah yes! Back when I lived in Queens Long Island City was not a place to venture into..in fact I once went to a bridal shower there and my date’s car was broken into with the driver’s window smashed and completely broken…however, I am aware that there had been a huge gentrification and now it is not only safer but very expensive in terms of housing and it is also very “chic”….which stands to reason as the view of the Manhattan skyline is amazing!
Thanks for sharing this…I am going to pass on the name of the place to my girlfriend who still lives in Woodside. I think she would enjoy not only visiting but possible taking a class.
The Brickhouse! I’m thinking about taking classes there, myself. I took ceramics classes in Williamsburg for like 4 uears and never got very good at the wheel so did mostly handbuilding. It’s really fun, though.
This part of LIC is still pretty warehousy …close to Court Street stop and not on the water. Really convenient for me, since it is just over the river.
Wheel seems very difficult. But the whole thing does seem fun.
Thanks to good comments above I feel confident in suggesting Sous le Vent and Une Voix Noire for Ms. Baker.
As for myself, I decided to dig into my archives last night and pulled out Etro Magot and L’Artisan Parfumeur Riviera Palace. Wearing Magot right now ( in the old packaging so I guess “vintage) and it is lovely.
I was going to put Sous le Vent as well!
1. What’s your favorite vintage perfume, if you have one?
I have so many vintage favorites, Diorissimo, Chanel No.5 extrait, Jolie Madame, Chamade and so many others.
2. What perfume, vintage or modern, do you wear to feel glamorous?
I guess Nuit de Noel
3. Match a perfume made between 1950 and 2000 with the picture of Baker above.
FM Lipstick Rose
4. Now match a perfume made after 2000 with the picture of Baker above.
Chanel Misia
I have a sample of the current Nuit de Noël, but have not tried the vintage. How do you think they compare?
I have never tried the current version, I only tried vintage, how do you like the recent one.
Favorite vintage perfume – Caron Bellodgia Extrait (but I can’t remember the last time I wore it – must rectify!)
31 Rue Cambon, 28 La Pausa and No.22 make me feel glamorous. Oy, I just realized these are all Chanels! Perhaps I’ll add Le Galion Sortilege into the mix but that might be cheating a little bit because it reminds me of No.22.
I’m no good at scenting people in general so I will sit back and read what everyone has to say.
SOTD = Aftelier Vanilla Smoke Parfum
I will try to wear skin scents this week. I did not realize until yesterday that one of my suggestions got into the Friday community project! It’s dedicated to nebbe. I wonder if Koyel can get away with it too in her new job?
ha! I just scrolled up to see you and I are Bellodgia-minded today. Must be floating about in the perfumed aether.
I’m looking forward to the Under the Radar project next week. I adore stealthy fragrances that make people wonder who/what smells nice.
I didn’t wear perfume when I was younger – i.e. vintage – and neither did my mother or sisters. Now I am avoiding getting immersed into another world of desire, so haven’t sought them out. But I do imagine Ms. Baker in something sultry and rich like Maia or Bergamoss, as someone else suggested. I also think of Voyage for some reason.
Amy, what brand is Maia?
Oops spelled wrong! Bogue Maai was what I had in mind.
Happy weekend, NST, I hope you are feeling fabulous and smelling sensational.
Perfect questions for today! because —
1. My new! favorite! vintage fragrance! is the Shalimar edc that came my way very recently. Thanks, kpaint!.
The first spritz was plastic dollhead. I almost scrubbed. But I held on. After an hour the clouds parted, the heavens opened, the angels sang. I wore it the past three evenings and loved every minute. Such beauty.
2. I don’t do glamorous often so was going to skip this question. But No. 5 makes me feel “all done up” even when I’m wearing a bathrobe, so I’ll go with the current No. 5 edp.
3. Vintage Caron Bellodgia flashed into my mind when I read this question then looked back at the photo. I’m imagining Bellodgia must have smelled marvelous in the 1950s.
4. For something currently available I’d go with Hiris, 8 sprays.
What a thrill that you are loving the Shalimar! Just as exciting, perhaps, is how inexpensive vintage edc bottles are (or at least were a couple of years ago when I bought mine.)
The bottle I decanted yours from looks like this:
http://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/ZLAAAOSwhvFZBE1f/s-l225.jpg
(Hope the link works – I’m posting from my phone which I’m still learning to use.)
The link works! Very pretty bottle, it reminds me of a beloved Coty Chantilly bottle I had long ago.
And thank you — you read my mind. I was just about to ask you for info about your Shalimar edc as I ponder making a search for the precious . . .
I have several vintage Shalimar edc’s and I think the one in that bottle is the best.
The dry down of that vintage Shalimar edc is so beautiful, it almost brings a tear to my eye.
thanks for sharing yesterday your Dame goodies! I will be excited to hear what you have to say…especially Earth Mother as that (along with Sky Father) are the only two I have not tried yet
I had ro leave the house after I left the comment and just saw your Bellodgia comment. I think my reason for picking it is not only the jiice itself.but alao the bottle – the Baccarat crystal is glamorous.
I also LOL’d at your Hiris 8 sprays comment.
Caron + Baccarat = gorgeous
8 sprays 4 ever!
glad you lol’d.
1. Chanel no 19
2. Cuir de Lancôme
3. Calèche (fur and silk) or Jolie Madame
4. Difficult. Can I have Cuir de Lancôme again?
Chanel 19 is very glamorous.
I recently tried Heure Exquise by AG, it shares a bloodline with 19. Have you ever tried that one?
Yes, it’s lovely, isn’t it? I have a bottle and a backup of the EDP (because I found one discounted and read the AG line was being shaken up).
You can have as many Cuir de Lancomes as you like
These are challenging questions, Robin – they require discernment and tough choices.
Favorite vintage perfume is the hardest for me, because I love vintage perfume and they are all different and precious, but… Djedi – when Guerlain did leather, he may really have fallen under the spell an ancient Egyptian wizard. And perhaps there is a reason:
http://www.thesoundsofscent.com/anubis-the-embalmer-guerlain-vintage-djedi-1936/
Specifying Josephine Baker as shown in the photo above is a trick question! That’s the ladylike, French-elegant Josephine who wore Arpege and looking a bit pensive, not the 1000-watt stage-glam Josephine we’re used to seeing, so I’m experiencing cognitive dissonance even trying to think about it.
Pre-2000 for Josephine – Chanel Coco
Post-2000 for Josephine – Hermes Cuir d’Ange
FYI, the turquoise in the photo on Jessica’s decor post reminds me that I once saw an unusual Arpege bottle on ebay. Rather than glass, it was made of turquoise-glazed Limoges porcelain.
Very thoughtful response!
They are challenging (and this isn’t the most popular weekend poll ever, ha) but you came up with perfect answers!
noz, you should probably teach a seminar on vintage perfume in your spare time :- ) .
I have to admit that I haven’t knowingly smelled a vintage perfume yet (I know, it’s terrible!). I’m sure some wonderfully scented person has passed by wearing a vintage fragrance, but I really have no idea what’s what in the vintage world yet.
However! Currently Amyris pour Femme is my go-to glamour scent. I found it deep in the recesses of my grandmother’s closet, she didn’t like it so now I get to smell glamorous in my distinctly practical clothing.
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
Me neither, as it happens. Sometimes I test a new scent and it reminds me of *something* I smelt in a shop or on someone else in the past, but I doubt I ever knew the perfume names back then and I certainly don’t now. :^)
Just so! The vintage Shalimar edc I smelled for the first time this week held a deep familiarity. It took a few days for me to remember that an Avon scent I was given as a young teen had a very similar base. I wish I could remember which one. Of course that Avon fragrance was surely a variation on Shalimar.
Samsara for the first three and 31 Rue Cambon for number 4.
I simply love vintage Samsara and curiously it was an accident. I was obsessed with Chamade and bought a box with a mini Samsara. It just makes me feel glamorous, feminine…
Nice pick! And I thought about Chamade for #3 too.
Cool and sunny today. Wearing Memo Quartier Latin as I was craving sandalwood.
Sounds perfect!
1.Nahema
2. Bvlgari Femme, Amouage Epic, La Pausa…
3. Jicky reformulation from that period;) This is tricky.
4. Torn between Zoologist Civet and Beaver. If I can choose only one it would probably be Civet.
It is tricky!
SOTD- DSH Chinchilla….interesting…wears like a skin scent and faded pretty fast…I guess I am ready for next week’s theme.
The sillage is quiet but I’m surprised it didn’t last for you. Last time I wore it there was still a distinct trace 36 hours later, post-shower :0 I can’t think of the last perfume I tried that had that kind of staying power.
My poll answers:
1. Vol de Nuit extrait
2. Either Chanel 19 EDT or Chanel Cristalle EDP
3. Baghari
4. Something from JAR – possibly Ferme tes Yeux
SOTM is Escale a Portofino. It’s a gorgeous morning here and I plan to get outside soon and start pulling weeds. There is a particular weed that shows up with regularity in the gravel paths in my back yard, but this year it’s especially pestilential so I really have my work cut out for me. I’ve considered spraying roundup, but that might not even do it – might have to resort to using a flamethrower or something.
Oh, Jar is a good pick! Almost any of them.
1) L’Heure Bleue
2) No 5 EDP, No 22, Jubilation 25
3) L’Artisan La Haie Fleurie
4) FM Superstitious
Vintage L’Heure Bleue belongs in the precious-as-the-tears-of-a-unicorn category.
SOTD is Eris “Night Flower”.
Top: Bergamot, birch and cardamom;
Mid: Suede, tuberose and cinnamon;
Base: patchouli, tonka and musk.
On a day like today, this perfume is a lot nicer and more balanced than its cranky disorganised wearer. :^)
I’m racing around finding receipts as it’s coming up to month end (with its usual expenses and invoicing tasks) but also VAT quarter end when I need to file a return, and personal Annual taxation return time. Yay.
You smell great!
1. Have not experienced many vintage perfumes lately. My favorite from my youth scent memory is Diorissimo.
. But, No. 5 would be the one to travel with to the next royal wedding.
2. Chanel No. 5 -yup. There are so many to wear when I attempt to fit into my nice clothes
3. Lanvin My Sin
4. Eris Night Flower
Last night on my way out of the house for dinner with friends I grabbed a sample vial that was in a bag with a labeled card… Still loving violets I went for Dan Tes Bras. Applied liberally and settled in for the scent show. DTB is a perfume I sniffed several years ago, but wound up buying the more vavavoom-ular Carnal Flower. But I am loving violet…so so so ummmm.. weird. No violet. A little green. And maybe plum? Huh? I asked my husband what he was wearing, but he said no perfume… Okay maybe I smelled a fruity violet accord?
This morning tidying up my dresser I double checked the card label. Not DAN Tes Bras, but L’Ombre DANS L’eau.
At least there is some variation to the name. Unlike, madame, which do you prefer:
Miss Dior?
Miss Dior?
Miss Dior?
That is an excellent question! Miss Dior of course.
In my case, my poor (well, really almost non-existent) French was to blame. I was wearing the “Dan” perfume!
ha! but those are two of the prettiest perfume names, in the, oh, wait a moment, I’ve got this . . . dans le monde entier!
Now I can say those college French classes weren’t a waste of time and money after all.
Definitely worth it. I’m thinking of studying some French just so the beauty of the perfume names is preserved- well, then maybe Italian as well!
Like Koenigsberg, I fear these questions are out of my pay grade! The oldest fragrance I have is a dabber of Ysatis that my mother in law at the time talked me into buying. This was in ~1986 or so. Smart lady!
I also have a bottle of No.5 Elixir Sensuel, which is the closest I can get to successfully wearing No.5, and even then, it doesn’t always work for me.
I have a TPC sample of vintage Shalimar, and of the three I listed, I love it the best. ❤
I’m not a glamour person, although taking the time to dab a fragrance on instead of spraying is a very nice ritual. It MAKES you slow down.
I was in Lonesome Rider yesterday, thanks to the very generous Sistine. This is so perfect as it unfolds over the course of the day! I’m thinking it will go on the FB list.
Y’all have a great rest of the weekend!
Yes! to the dab ritual.
I happen to have a dabber of Ysatis from back then too(!), a gift from my mother-in-law. I rarely have the nerve to wear it, but it is such a fabulous scent.
And +1 for vintage Shalimar!
hey, NST, it’s stupidly hot here for a day in May.
SotD = Cologne du 68 to the rescue!
It is stupidly not warm enough here for May, so I’ll trade you!