Pairings: Odd Greenery

Today's pairing does not involve alcohol.  Not in the beverage, at least; barhounds should return for the next installment.  (All should refrain from quaffing their perfume.)

Conjure this:  vegetal, earthy liquid that is part tonic (as in the medicinal concept, not the quinine mixer), hint of bitters, salty-ish something that kicks the green toward seaweed.  All connected by something which smooths it out, makes the herbal potion not only palatable, but pleasurable, in an umami sort of way.

What is "this"?  In a cup, an iced green tea latte.  On my wrist, Niki Saint Phalle parfum.  Wonderful co-conspirators.  Potions, each of them.  Neither of them an easy down kind of thing.  But compelling.  And the more huffed or sipped, the more pleasure they offer.  Your tongue adjusts.  Your nose starts to tell you there's something sweet in there.

This is a simpatico pairing.  Very similar, these two, and definitely complimentary.

image of a 16" factice from "Silke's Giant Factice World"

(available for purchase)

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I used parfum strength Niki Saint Phalle, from a beautiful cobalt bottle with the intertwined snakes on top, which I scored from online auction last year.  (Was the artist-perfumer conjuring a cadaceus there?  What form of witchcraft this? Hmmm...)  Just last week, I got some Niki in the edt.  It behaves differently, in many of the ways you might expect.  If you're doing this pairing, go with the parfum.  The extra viscosity provides a suitable equivalent for the milkfat in the latte.  Straight up green iced tea would probably be a nice accompaniment to the edt, though.

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Sadly (yup, here it comes), Niki Saint Phalle is discontinued, but is at this point fairly readily available online.

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My green tea latte was lightly sweetened and came from Starbucks.

One viscous, one vibrant

Hoo, doggie.

Nikki Saint Phalle is a viscous beast.  Thick, tarry green, no limit to its depths.  Kind of like a broccoli rabe reduction with a hint of arugula at the edge.  I'm going to have to dip my toes in this pool a few times to see how I end up feeling about it...

...but I think there's a strong chance I'll enjoy the accumulated visits.  (Could the adjective here be anything but "strong"???)  

Meanwhile, wafting up and haunting me from another skin patch, a sample of Crepe du Chine.  Holy cow.  This one manages to be green and floral and bubbly all at once.  Curse you, discontinued scent.  Someday, I'm going to follow a heartbreak avoiding rule:  unless the formula is in production RIGHT NOW, just don't go there.  No sniffy.  Forget the waft.  Turn away.  Do not uncork.

Unfortunately, I did not spare my heart today.  There is this fabulous aroma rising from my elbow crook.  A not too flowery floral, ever so slightly effervescent...not at all what I find when I put my nose to skin.  Then it's green, a hint of bubble, just a little powder at the edges.  

And all in varying degrees in the space in between.  And therein lies the magic.  Once upon a time, a history professor introduced me to the idea of the icon in the Orthodox church--it wasn't the object itself, but the space between the icon and the worshipper that was revered.

Nose down, or nose up, I am in a bit of a reverie.  Perhaps I should root for disappointment on the return visit...and yet...today has been such fun.