Alright, I'm not turning 80 anytime soon...but lately, things have been annoying me. The perfume world has been overcome by crap new releases, crap niche brands, crap marketing, and worst of all, crap "bloggers". Fact is, it takes a long time to learn something as complex as the world of fragrance, and now it seems every Sally-come-lately is trying to teach lessons on something they know nothing of. I'd give examples, but I don't want to point fingers (I will say this - iris in perfume isn't "floral"). I'm not saying I'm a professor by any means, and I'm happy to share the Internet, but please do a bit of reading before you teach a lesson...and I'm not talking about The Guide.
All that being said, I've been saving a lot of money lately by not buying everything in sight, and I've been thoroughly enjoying what I already own. Wearing Le Labo's Iris 39 today and very much liking it again. My friend Jane and I (http://dalybeauty.blogspot.com) do this thing where we "loan" each other bottles that we're tired of. You almost always get it back in a few months, and usually with a new appreciation.
The one bottle I have purchased in the past month is the recent export of Tubereuse Criminelle. It's as shocking as ever! Still my favourite tube by a long shot. With this, and a gift of La Myrrhe received a while back, a rekindling for my love of all things Lutens has been ignited. Looking forward to the new L'Eau Froide, and what will no doubt be a slew of ill-informed reviews.
One more thing - I'm thrilled to see that one of the few bloggers who actually knows something about perfume has come back to daily posting! Victoria at Boisdejasmin has a keen knack for saying what she thinks without insulting anyone...which I could take a cue from.
An iris note is not floral? And I suppose the fougère family of perfumes is not made with ferns? hehehe. I tried Tuberose Criminelle last week and I loved it... even the big menthol opener. They're still making beautiful things.
ReplyDeleteImagine my state if they weren't making beautiful things? I'm on the edge as it is...
ReplyDeleteI think most bloggers have a love/hate relationship with perfume. Too many bad perfumes in a row and I think any one of us could crack and walk away. How many bad reviews can one write? That's why I don't review that many perfumes... a lot of my posts are general in nature. I have walked away so many times in the past couple of years I've lost count and then I smell a Tubereuse Criminelle and I get pulled back in! I completely understand Luca Turin moving on. It happens.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that there are two ways one could go with iris - via orris root, or a more literal "floral" interpretation. The first smells somewhat woody/floral, like violets. The second is more powdery, cool, and true to the flower - almost like nothing at all.
ReplyDeleteMight I suggest you cheer up? If everything in the world is smelling like crap, if the newer blogs are reading like crap, and it's all . . . crap, well, then, maybe it's time to teach some lessons to the purveyors of crap, or see the imbalance in an all-crap perspective for what it truly is: crap. Your blog is excellent, one of my favorites, and I'm tired of waiting for new posts!
Sorry. Felt like living dangerously today ;)
The post on perfume snobbery was a good one. Was it by the same author?
ReplyDeleteanonymous - yes, all by Dane
ReplyDeleteBryan - smell iris silver mist (the "truest" iris) and tell me if you smell any violets. ;)
As far as cheering up - yes, I totally agree that I'm only whining and swimming in self pity. But I will come around, and I thank you for your tough love!
Anytime, just trying to throw a grin your way.
ReplyDeleteI will have to try Iris Silver Mist and see what I get. Ironically I've tried Bois de Violette - and didn't really like it. Seemed like a very intense and sweet violet scent. But oddly enough, reading the reviews on basenotes shows many noses finding ISM similar to Apres L'Ondee. Many seem to detect violet in there. But then again I shouldn't put too much stock in basenoters' noses.
Unless AlO has changed drastically, it has nothing to do with ISM...not sure where that comparison came from. ISM is basically cold, rooty turnips and whatnot. Nothing like Bois de Violette either...
ReplyDeleteVery strange. I don't know what to make of it. Well, I'll judge ISM for myself. I have tried and worn Prada's Infusion d'Iris. Very plush and powdery, but I wasn't wild about it.
ReplyDeleteNothing like Prada either. It's harsh in a way...but a good way. "edgy".
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your posts so much because they are so sincere. A blogger myself quite confused about what means blogging about perfumes. Lost in reading semi-professional, semi-metaphorical. Yes, The Guide is still the best lecture because is so decided subjective and puts perfumes in a bigger world (well, I could have lived without the professor's opinions of TS). And yes, I saved a lot of money lately, too. You hit the point.
ReplyDeleteMy unsolicited 2 cents: ISM smells lnothing like AlO. At all. ISM is rooty carrots to me. Then there is the iris that smells like dirty and sweaty skin (in a good way!) like Le Labo Iris 39. But I would never call it floral either...however I am also a grouchy perfume bitch these days ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love our perfume library/trading game! I'm having so much with my "new" ones!!!