Printemps Haussmann in Paris celebrates 150 years with this Christmas fairy tale. Below the jump, Kate Winslet at the opening of the holiday windows, designed by Philippe Decouflé and inspired by the fairy tale.
August in Paris
Next week I’ll have a review of Guerlain Shalimar Souffle de Parfum for you, but I’m not ready to review anything today. Although I’m spending a few weeks in perfume’s heartland, Paris, I’m still getting my feet on the ground.
When I told people I’d be in Paris in August, I got a lot of “no one’s there in August except tourists,” and “isn’t everything shut down then?” Sour grapes, my friends. The truth is that Paris is wonderful in August. Sure, every street corner holds a few people unfolding maps, and a glance down the Champ de Mars shows dozens of tourists lined up for the camera pretending to pick up the Eiffel Tower while the diesel engines of rows of tour buses rumble in the background. But the mood is relaxed. People are here to enjoy themselves…
Perfume in Paris
What would a trip to Paris be without perfume? While I’ve been in Paris, I’ve spent time with Denyse Beaulieu of Grain de Musc, who kindly wrangled me a few perfume-related press invitations. In this post, I’ll give you an overview of a few of these doings, with real reviews to come over the next few weeks.
Jean Patou: To launch Jean Patou Joy Forever, Patou set up one-on-one meetings for journalists with a company vice president and Patou’s new nose. Denyse and I went to Patou’s tiny storefront on the rue de Castiglione and were ushered upstairs to a reception room just big enough to hold a desk and a table with tea and plates of jasmine and rose macarons from Pierre Hermé.
Big changes are happening at Patou. First, Procter & Gamble sold the brand to a family-owned company in 2011. The new company brought in a new perfumer, Thomas Fontaine, who orchestrated the re-releases of Chaldée, Eau de Patou and Patou Pour Homme…
Paying Attention in Paris
The pleasure of a vacation comes in at least three parts: First is the anticipation. You makes lists, peruse websites, and weave fantasies about the place you’re visiting. Then comes the actual vacation. Finally — and perhaps this is the real meat of the pleasure — you fold the whole experience into stories you tell yourself and share with others, letting you live the good bits over and over, and allowing you to absorb the more puzzling parts.
I’ve only spent a meager three and a half days in Paris so far, but if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to get started on stage three — the telling — in bits and pieces:
- First, the smells. I was barely off the metro, baggage in hand, stumbling to the apartment where I’m staying, and boom! there it was: the aroma of caramelized sugar and butter…
Perfume (and More) for Travel
Tuesday — tomorrow by the time this posts — I’m getting on a plane to spend 10 days in Paris. As of Saturday, I haven’t packed a thing. I’ve dragged a suitcase up from the basement, spritzed the inside with Guerlain Eau Impériale, and left it to air. I’ve bought a few euros to get me into town, and I’ve arranged for a house sitter and a ride to the airport. But I haven’t packed a thing.
Packing a suitcase is like assembling a capsule of “you” — or at least the “you” you want to be on your trip. It’s the chance to distill your style and choose the few pieces of jewelry, the lipstick, the perfume that best telegraph who you are. It’s your armor and its your comfort. That’s a lot of pressure.
Packing for Paris is even more intimidating…