The last few weeks in Oregon, before moving to Texas, lay somewhere between Purgatory and Lake of Fire on my Dante-meter; while in one sense I’d like to move on and never think back on them again, I’d be leaving out the small bits of joy that found their way into the inferno: care packages from two of my favorite fragrant fairy-godmothers.
From Fragrant-Fairy-Godmother Birgit:
Amouage Honour Man: Mr. Howe insists that it smells like chocolate. I insist that it smells woody.
Serge Lutens Douce Amére: reminded me of Amaranthine + black licorice + a slight buttery facet. Neat!
Yves Rocher Coconut: For scientific purposes, it has been confirmed (once again) that men love coconut. This is a really lovely, “spray with abandon, all ye who enter here” kind of scent 😉
Guerlain Gourmand Coquin: chocolately-ganache, SWEET, and delicious. Naff lasting power, and just a little too much. Kind of like eating that second truffle: it looked so good, but you feel a little nauseous afterward (you knew better!).
Illuminum White Gardenia Petals: had a dabber vial before, but gave it a full spray wearing before jumping on the treadmill. Running requires a different kind of scent, and WGP held up surprisingly well—the hot, sweaty skin gave it lift-off that it lacked while I was just bumbling around the house, and creating an imaginary, idllyic setting.
and,
Piguet Bandit: Leather!
From Fragrant-Fairy-Godmother Tara:
Dior Eau Noir: Masala curry cologne, where have you been all my life? Sweet and spicy, then dry and spicy, I would not be opposed to one of those giant bottles sitting on my desk. The Dior collection continues to surprise and delight, and I’d be happy to own a full bottle of each of the ones I’ve tried (even New Look, which shouldn’t be my thing at all!).
PG Psychotrope: which came with the following note, “as you deal with scary scents better than me!” If that doesn’t pique ones interest, what could?? Cannabis smells vaguely of hippies, as it happens.
Dior Granville: windswept greenery and sex. Wonderful.
Ormonde Jane Ta’if: which I will finally be able to wear with abandon— when I was still unsure how I felt about Amouage Lyric Woman, Ta’if swept me away. It’s a terrifically sophisticated rose, and belongs in the collection of every rose-ho.
These fragrant treasures lifted my mood, but even more than their ephemeral beauty, the friendship that inspired their arrival warms my heart most. Thank you lovely ladies!
beauty on the outside 
What fun! I need to put eau noire on my try-list..and Taif is lovely, isn’t she?..:)
Hope you had a lovely Christmas, dee..
Eau Noire is gorgeous! I know that Anne-Marie found too much curry in it, but I think it has just the right amount! You should definitely give it s try, I think 🙂
Ta’if… So gorgeous! I’m so blessed to have such generous perfumistas in my life– and that includes you, Lavanya!!
“Rose-Ho” LOL!
T’aif is beautiful. Too beautiful. For that reason, I cannot wear it. I know that sounds silly, but I just don’t feel comfortable wearing it. I feel like I’m cramping it’s style!
Granville sounds interesting. Windswept greenery AND sex? Wowsers! I’m off to check that out.
Rose-ho’s unite! 😉
I understand what you mean about Ta’if. I remember when Tara was deciding on whether or not to purchase a bottle, she was worried that she wouldn’t wear it often, because it felt like a dress-up scent (I’m paraphrasing, I hope Tara will pop in and correct me!). But my approach is to wear the fabulous perfume! It’s like wearing fancy panties under scruffy jeans: really, only you know how fancy they are 😉
Oh, and Granville is positively scandalous! If you’ve even read “The Swan Theives” by Elizabeth Kostova, it reminds me of that—the love affair between the old man and the niece (by marriage), and the passionate paintings born as a result.
My best friend says “Mini-reviews are tops!” and I agree 100%. 😀
Glad you found some scents to like in your care packages, and special thanks to Matt for his selfless work in substantiating my scientific claims about men and coconuts!
Ta’if is so great (it might be even better than Lyric, but pssst!)
Haha! I really do love mini-reviews! Though where I fail is that I often mean to go back and do full reviews later… And usually don’t! I think I know what my perfume related New Year’s resolution will be! 😉
Ta’if is so wonderful… Today I am actually trying to decide between it and By Kilian Rose Oud for a day-hike! Neither one is particularly appropriate, but I’m in a rosy kind of mood 🙂
Granville? Sex? Crikey, that would be a bit … er … gritty surely? 🙂 Maybe it’s the saltiness, though, that seems sexy? I agree with that.
Yes, Eau Noire is too much curry for me, but I learned from it what my limit is, and that is valuable.
Lol, yes, salty sexy is it! There is definitely a darker edge the speaks to me of illicit romance in the shrubbery 😉
I like mini-reviews format a lot, probably even more than a full-format ones: it gives me a sneak-peek into those perfumes I haven’t tried yet but plan to.
Ta’if is one of my HG perfumes. I love it and wear for very special occasions.