Since I think it might be valuable to track my evolutionary change, I'm going to add today's angle of reflection on this past year: Things that smelled good in 2008. I thought it might be interesting to look back, not just right now, but on this record in the future, and see how the current crop fares with my future nose.
After all...despite my general distaste, I had one good dance with Kingdom...and there was at least one skank that hit a GOOD nerve, albeit very late in the year (Theo Fenell). Here goes...
1st trimester--remember, I am being honest, which means I am not editing for cool factor:
WORKED: Magie Noir. Frank Los Angeles (#1). Bois Blond. Amarige. Fleur de Narcisse. Poeme. Shalimar. Hermes Hiris. Poeme. SIP Black Rosette.* Bois des Isles. Bulgari Au The Vert. Songes. Lolita Lempicka. L'eau d'Issey. BBW Sandalwood Rose.
DIDN'T WORK, BUT TRIED: Arpege. Fracas. Diorissimo. Rose Poivree. Soir de Lune. SIP Black Rosette.*
*How, you ask, does Black Rosette get both? Because I thought I was smelling something toxic when it opened. Because I thought for sure I was about to have my first scrubber, but I couldn't help continuing to sniff. Because I kept on checking, and then OH, MY it started to morph, and I went for a ride. Because it ended up as something I'd call beautiful. Because I had no idea what to do with it--wear it, throw it away, hide it. Because I tried it again the next day to see what would happen. Because I wanted it, and had a minor coronary when I got my first gander at real perfume prices. Because it was amazing. Because of Black Rosette, and went back and ordered three sample sets of various types.
2nd trimester-- Nearly all of the above happy scents continued to be happy, and I added in: Jose Eisenberg Jose. Manuel Canovas Ballade Verte. En Passant. 28 La Pausa. Yves Rocher Voile de Amber. Poivre Piquant. Cuir Mauresque. Organza Indecence. Gucci by Gucci. Jean Paul Gaultier Fragile. Nemat Narcissus. Cinema. Bandit. Madame Rochas. 24 Fauborg. Cashmere Mist. Reverie au Jardin. Bel Respiro. Diorissimo. Vent Vert. Niki de St. Phalle. Van Cleef & Arpels First. TDC Bois d'Iris.
Not: Rose Ikebana (I smelled...nothing). Fracas. Mandragore. Lolita Lempicka. Parfum Sacre. Soir de Lune. L'Eau de Issey.
3rd trimester-- Writing Lyrical Poetry. Bond No. 9 Little Italy. Bulgari Black. Ormonde Jayne Woman. Parfum de Therese, Une Rose. Angelique Noir. Jean Paul Gaultier Classique. Jolie Madame. Mandragore. L'Ombre Fauve. Chergui. Aqua di Parma Iris Nobile (edt and edp). Prada Iris. Parfum Sacre. Narcisse Noir. TDC des Sens et Bois, Osmanthus. Black Cashmere. L'eau de Issey. Odalisque. L'Heure Bleu.
Not: Fracas. Cashmere Mist. La Chasse Aux Papillons. Soir de Lune.
Coming out/recent-- Theo Fennell. Amouage Jubilation 25, Lyric Woman. Carons for men (3rd Man, Pour Homme, L'Anarchiste.) Diorella. Gucci Envy. Arpege. Feminite du Bois. Rose Ikebana. Soir de Lune. Nu. Coty Chypre. JLS #2 (Chypre). CB Cradle of Light. Liz Zorn Journeyman.
Not: Fracas.** L'Eau de Issey.
**I think I need to try it again...in the beginning, I spritzed, but in subsequent trimesters, I've been relying on a solid version...but still...as much as I might like a good big white floral, this is just...not.quite.right. All in all, I think I'd still rather wear Amarige, if I were to go in this direction. Unless Cradle of Light showed up on my doorstep. Or Drama Nuui. But still, those have green, and we're talking tuberose slam-down here. Any hoo how...
I'm forgetting something, I know; perhaps many things. While I do keep a spreadsheet, it is incomplete right now (of course), and I'd rather finish writing than rifle through all my samples/decants. This list is not exhaustive, and does not limit itself to transportive scents. I did really enjoy all the ones up there, at least during the period mentioned as such. I have no idea what to do with that Issey Miyake bumping around...especially since ultimately I could live without it. But it certainly demonstrates the point about a changing sniffer.
And I still like that Sandalwood Rose.
