By Thomas
Approaching the Estée Lauder counter is already daunting without the suspicion that you're treading on thin ice as a gender traitor. Go ahead, remind yourself that fragrances aren't really gender-specific, and then choose a tester. Go for the manly-looking tester, the brass-topped yellow glass bottle that looks like it came from a 70’s kitchen. But – spray gingerly.
You might not believe this, but when I bought Azurée I had become so used to blind-buys that I stood at the counter, handed over the lucre, took the bottle in hand, THEN wondered how it smelled. A tester was maybe five feet away.
In this case, the bottle is a clear indicator of the scent inside. Bold, brassy, loud, vulgar 70's. The opening reminds me of an overexposed photograph, or tanned, oily women on the Riviera. Woody-lemony-flowery all at once and blaring. For the first few minutes of wearing this, I tend to skulk around and make myself unobtrusive. Fortunately I have a long commute to work, so we're well into the main theme by the time I reach the office.
The main theme – when the brassy trumpets stop braying. Still a big lemon-yellow flower-herbal character that seems slightly radioactive in its projection (Gamma rays project through concrete, I am suddenly reminded). Eventually leather – in the form on an old glove – turns up and grounds the composition. This sounds a bit like Baladin, but where Baladin keeps his lips pursed together as he smiles (if you could call it a smile), Azurée is a big smile – all white teeth and red lipstick – from a woman whose laughter fills the room as she drinks you under the table.
Have I mentioned that I love this scent, even if I feel like a gender traitor? Even if I wish I could tone it down a bit? Even if I think it wears me at times? Yes, yes I do. Worth a try, but tread carefully with this one, gents.
Year: 1969
Notes: Basil, Jasmine, Citrus, Armoise, Vetiver, Rose, Patchouli, Moss, Amber
Very nice blog... found it randomly from google search. Best,
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Bain de Soleil! Remember Bain de Soleil? That orange grease everybody-but-everybody was using in the 70's? "For that St. Tropez tan" went the slugline...
ReplyDeleteI lived in Southern California and went through a case of it. NO sunscreen. We laid there on the beach sizzling like strips of bacon.
Your review of Azuree made me remember it. Of a time.
I spritz it on and find it refreshing at first but I think it soon 'wears' me too. It is harder to wear than Bandit because the latter doesn't isn't trying to be liked. Being British, I don't know what it's like to try and I am slightly annoyed that my American perfume is insisting to all around that I am sociable and confident and rewarding to know. Actually I'm a sulky cow, but I just like how it smells.
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