Eight years ago, very early in my blogging journey, I attempted to make a list of my most most worn perfumes that summer, fragrances that were on a relatively tight rotation. It was a pretty extensive list even back then, but I could still narrow it down somewhat. I still love all of them. I still wear them. Several have been discontinued or badly reformulated. I have more backups than I ever considered wise. I still adore massive florientals and I learned to embrace my love for gourmands. But I don't have a rotation. How can I, with a testing schedule, a rather big collection, a continuing quest for vintage perfumes, and the onslaught of new releases?
But somehow I do have a list of staples that have become a true part of my perfume life. Some of them, such as Tiffany, Panthere de Cartier (the original. Though I've spent far too much time wearing and testing the reboot), and Grand Amour are still an important part of it. Panthere and Tiffany are nostalgic date night perfumes, Grand Amour is an harbinger of spring. But there are also other perfumes that I wear with the same ease as a wrap dress or an old cashmere cardigan. Here's what I've been consistently wearing over the last month or two:
Robert Piguet- Bandit. From "whoa!" to love to "can't live without".
Shalimar, Shalimar Light, Shalimar Ode a la Vanille. If you're even a semi-regular reader you could have predicted it.
More Guerlain: Philtre d'Amour, Nahema, Parure, Derby.
Chanel No. 19. Even more than No. 5 lately.
Miss Dior. Vintage. Recently the EDT, just because I can spray and spray and spray.
Serge Lutens- Miel de Bois, Bas de Soie.
Mona di Orio- Musc. Someone at Whole Foods gave me a look. I think it was Musc and not my taste in yogurt.
Ramon Monegal- Impossible Iris. I just emptied another decant. It might be a sign
Aroma M- Geisha Noire.
Cacharel- Anais Anais. A true blast from the past.
Etat Libre d'Orange- La Fin du Monde, Tom of Finland.
What have you been wearing lately? Has it changed much from eight years ago?
Photo by Olivia Da Cota for Please Magazine, March 2013.
Regarding the look you got while wearing Mona di Orio…I remember I worked with a lady who always smelled like she had on a lot of Obsession (it was the 90’s to be fair), however she would say she couldn’t smell it on herself. I have been in the presence of projectile sillage while grocery shopping and and sometimes find myself in a cloud of perfume left behind in an empty isle. I really don’t think a lot of people can strong or smell dirty scents on themselves, but others sure can.
ReplyDeleteThis spring going soon into summer I’ve been wearing Aerin Gardenia Rattan from her fragrance coffret, L’Occitane The Vert & Bigarade, and Diptyque L'Ombre dans l'Eau Eau de Toilette.
what kind of look did you get? like oh you smell so amazing? or lady have you heard of the shower? lol
ReplyDeleteI have two in alternation at the moment: Tom Ford Velvet Orchid and Jasmine Rouge. I am really enjoying light, fresh but interesting florals this summer. Eight years ago I was wearing Stella by Stella McCartney and Chanel Bel Respiro. I suppose I still love the same kind of summer fragrance! Though my winter fragrances have become a lot deeper and darker these days.
ReplyDeleteSummer is difficult here in the DC area, where one alternates between blazing sun, high heat and humidity outdoors, and freezing AC and energy-saving lighting inside. A perfume needs to have spine and counteract the stickiness of summer. Diptyques L'Ombre dans L'Eau and Olene, Guerlain Vetiver, and Chanel 28 la Pausa are my old standbys. I also have a new fav, Grandiflora Sandrine, to go with the huge saucer magnolias that bloom at this time. nozknoz
ReplyDeleteOrmonde Jayne Woman, because I just bought it, and Thierry Mugler Cologne. It hasn't been too hot here, so I haven't brought out the lavenders and citruses and vetivers full bore, yet. I have been on a green chypre kick, too, wearing Aliage.
ReplyDeleteHere on the West Coast where it's warm and dry I've been wearing L'Artisan's Timbuktu, SL Fleurs d'oranger, I Profumi di Firenze's Melograno Selvatico, Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet, and the greatest perfume I own, Incense Rose by Andy Tauer which is constantly in rotation no matter the month or weather
ReplyDeleteI purchased all these "light" fragrances for summer and yet I'm still wearing Rochas Femme, 24 Faubourg, SL Fleurs d'Oranger, Un Rose Chyprée, and Versace Blonde parfum most of the time.
ReplyDeleteOh, but I have been wearing my vintage Y edt too, that's ~sort~ of light, right? :D
For a long time I thought I should not be reading this blog .. because I am kind of a bath and body works type.. sorry. This blog has opened my eyes to new ideas. Happy to report maybe I was not as horrible as I thought because I wore Anais Anais for years. Phew. ;) - Heather
ReplyDeleteIt's still chilly in the SF/Bay area, I've been wearing (all vintage formulation): Chanel No 22 eau de cologne, Shiseido Feminite du Bois, Guerlain's Shalimar, RL's Safari perfume and Anais Anais.
ReplyDeleteOn warmer days-it's been Diptique's L' Eau Trois, EL's Aliage, Chanel Cristalle or Bandit perfume. I find the galbanum in Bandit blooms beautifully in the heat if applied with a light hand.