A recent Friday Community Project made me think about one of my favorite fragrance sub-genres, which I’ll call “vintage vanity” — perfumes that evoke the scent of lipsticks and the spilled residue of dusting powder, and sometimes even the wood of an old dressing table. I have a few favorites in this category: Frédéric Malle Lipstick Rose and L’Artisan Parfumeur Drôle de Rose are probably my top choices, but I’ve also tried and enjoyed Gabriella Chieffo Camaheu, Chanel Misia, Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On — you get the idea.
For this fragrance, indie perfumer Francesca Bianchi wears her influences proudly on her scented sleeve: she mentions Lipstick Rose’s “‘make-up memories” as well as État Libre d’Orange Putain des Palaces’ “feminine seduction and decadent dirty sensuality” as two favorites that inspired the creation of Angel’s Dust…
