In the past I’ve created holiday shopping suggestions for perfume, perfume related items and just some other fun random things thrown into the mix. And every year, coming up with gift suggestions becomes harder, partly because of living in Mexico and being away from shopping in person. But mostly as I get older I don’t actively seek out the new and exciting because I’m not the target market and because at this stage in my life getting a lot of presents just doesn’t matter. OK, so now I’m sounding like Scrooge. Far from it. I do have wishes and wants, but they are fewer and farther in between. So this year, my suggestions are comprised of a listing of perfumes that I think are amazing and of which I obsess over because they are what my perfumes dreams are made of. Some are in my collection and some I hope to be in my collection in the near future. So here we go…
Click on each title for the full review.
Hera by Papillon PerfumesHera is a perfume that I have completely obsessed about since first sniff. It’s a new fragrance with the soul of a vintage perfume and it’s absolute perfection.
No. 12 by Puredistance Perfumes
Puredistance can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. Their collection of 12 perfumes consists of modern classics that deliver incredible beauty to the wearer. To me, their crowning glory was the introduction of No. 12 which is so absolutely breathtaking that it’s the one perfume that I reach for every time I need something special and spectacular to wear.
Shalini by Shalini ParfumsOnce again, the house of Shalini along with Maurice Roucel has created a collection of perfumes that stand out above the rest. However, the original Shalini to me is the best of the lot. It’s quiet beauty makes my heart sing every time I wear it. To me, it’s absolutely unique and absolutely beautiful.
Chanel BoyWhen I first wore Boy, I really liked it. But as time wore on, I found it to be a wonderfully easy fougere to love. It’s lavender heart isn’t too bold which makes this a perfect perfume to wear on any occasion. Boy has fallen into my “I don’t know what to wear today, so I’ll wear something that is a perfect fit every time” group of perfumes. To me, Chanel makes some of the best clean and fresh scents that are excellent for every day wear.
Enslaved by Roja ParfumsUnfortunately, I found out that Enslaved has been discontinued by Roja Parfums. This modern take on Molinard’s Habinita is big, bold, thick and heady and completely rapturous. I do believe there are still bottles to be found out there and if I was not living in Mexico I would buy myself another since I have just a few drops left in my bottle.
And for those of you who love vintage perfumes (you can find them all on eBay and Etsy and the current formulations can be found via other sources)…
Caron Narcisse BlancI have had this perfume in my collection for years, but for some reason it has once again become an obsession and I wear it constantly. It’s thick, creamy and completely joyous and you can’t help but love it. Narcisse Blanc seems to fall to the wayside of it’s more famous sister Narcisse Noir, but this brighter narcissus fragrance is to me, a much easier wear.
Ysatis by GivenchyThe 1980s are alive and well in this over-the-top beauty. You can’t help not be noticed when you’re wearing it. I don’t really wear it out, but sometimes when I’m sitting around the house it transports me back to a time when big perfume, big hair and big shoulders were the norm. This is one time that bigger is indeed better.
Magie Noire by LancomeRich, creamy, big and unique, Magie Noire is a special perfume in a category all by itself. It’s a haunting perfume that is pure magic.
Happy Holidays to you all. May all your perfume dreams come true!
WHAT I SMELL: Tears opens with pink pepper and warmed orris and a light buzzing neroli and olibanum. It feels like it’s wrapped up in a opaque greenish gauze that seems to wrap around ones self as a whole. As the perfume continues to develop, the lightest of lilac appears within the gauze and it’s encompassed within the faintest of incense. So in other words, the perfume is layered with the flowers in the center, followed by the gauze and then surrounded by the incense. And to me, it’s heavenly. After a bit more, what smells to me like sandalwood (though not listed within the official notes) begins to rest under the layers. As such, it brings perfume to the ground and provides a beautiful aura of earthiness. After quite some time, the lilac and rose break out and the perfume begins to powder and become lightly sweet. This was unexpected as the perfume was really beginning to settle down. But the breakout of the florals is pure joy. After some more time, Tears once again settles quietly, but the florals remain as the centerpiece of this rather ethereal perfume.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Content kitty.
WHAT I SMELL: London Funk opens with a fresh basil and bergamot with an interesting cardamom note that quickly slides right in. It’s fresh and inviting and really full of life. Soon, the perfume begins to warm and it feels like it’s beginning to sugar, like a concentrated sugar reduction as it’s not sweet, but rather vibrant and somewhat thick. And a short while after, a little bit of the “funk” begins to roll in. It’s just a slight undercurrent of something that I can’t distinguish that seems to be simmering under a woody note. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s almost as if you smell a little something off under the outside decking of a local pub. By this time the initial top notes have made their way out of the door a woody vetiver has entered becoming the main attraction. London Funk at this point really projects with hints of leather and herb (cannabis?) which seems to grow as I write. But the perfume never gets too funky and instead rides this high impact and slightly bitter woody mix that seems very familiar without being able to exactly put your finger on it. Overall, London Funk is a very tenacious perfume that keeps on giving for a very long time.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Like the back deck of the Atlanta Eagle bar. A mix of wood, leather, beer, smoke, plastic, sweat, cologne and lots of other bar related smells.
The Scented Hound 