Well, it sounds like the Mona di Orio Carnation is a bit of a dud, since Colombina reviewed it and it doesn’t smell much like, you know, carnation. That is such a letdown for me. I love that spicy floral smell. So here’s a quick plug for one of my favorite little treats, Carnation soap, from Roger & Gallet.
It is my ideal carnation fragrance — the perfect spicy, clean, slightly sweet smell. I like keeping the little guest soaps around because they’re pretty and they scent my bathrooms for quite some time in a way that never becomes cloying. Unlike some of my fragrant friends, I am not especially fond of scented product (lotions, powders, bath oils and salts, etc.). These soaps are my one exception. I buy them at the local mom-and-pop urban market, although they’re available online from any number of places in bath, travel, and guest soap sizes. They’re long lasting, and one of life’s little luxuries ($18 for a beautiful box of 3 soaps). The soaps themselves leave enough perfume on my hands and body to be pleasing rather than irritating, and they get along famously with my fairly sensitive, dry skin. (How dry? My hand and facial moisturizer is a small bottle of organic olive oil. No, seriously.)
Roger & Gallet soaps come in fern, carrot, lettuce, blue lotus and ginger, in addition to the more staid vetiver, gardenia, tea rose and almond blossom. There are other fragrances and matching products like lotions, shower gels and EDTs, if you fall in love with something. Browsing online they have a cologne that sounds just wonderful, and a delicious-sounding line called Aroma Shiso that I haven’t tried yet.
On www.beautyexclusive.com, how yummy do these sound? (EDTs $33 and Shower Gel $12):
Roger & Gallet Eau pour Soi Collection (NEW!)
A true waterfall of sparkling, bold notes (Tangerine, Grapefruit, Blackberry, and Fig Leaves), pleasantly refreshing and invigorating. Lightly scented with a sumptuous floral harmony of Jasmine, Iris, Rose, and the natural voluptuousness of its discrete woody complement (Cedar, Vanilla, Sandalwood).
Roger & Gallet Pavot d’Argent Collection (NEW!)
With Pavot d’Argent, Roger & Gallet presents a new take one of its greatest creations. This fragrance, inspired by a historic floral perfume of the 1930s, is interpreted in a totally new version which takes you on a unique journey to the mysterious heart of the Poppy Flower, wrapped in a cloak of precious, luminous essences. A sparkling top note of fresh citrus scents (Bergamot and Yuzu), a middle note of dazzling, rare, opulent flowers, the signature of absolute femininity (Poppy Flower, Bulgarian Rose, and Jasmine), and a bewitching base note of warm, woody accords (Vetiver, Patchouli, and Amber).
Roger & Gallet White Reseda Collection (NEW!)
An homage to the Reseda flower. The women’s fragrance by Roger & Gallet unfolds a warm and radiant bouquet of white flowers and precious essences — Sicilian Mandarin Orange, Yellow Freesia, Reseda, Orange Blossom, and Daffodil from the French Provence — over a delicate woody base with a sensual, transparent fragrant trail.
Hmmm. Excuse me, I have to go dig up my credit card…
Cait — look, I am green with envy.:bouncy:
BHV! You are going to have SOOO much fun.
I haven’t disliked any of them. I might have to order a bar of that lettuce soap…
Well, well, I never knew that Vetiver Pour Elle had carnation! Why didn’t y’all tell me (suddenly getting a fake Southern accent)? Must have some, maybe in duty free on the way to Europe?
I think I will test all these Roger and Gallet edts in BHV since it’s easier than mail order. I love my extra vieille but it’s so big and heavy, i wouldn’t want to buy several.
Patty — I used to buy soap when I was young and broke, and they were a little luxury I could afford occasionally. At some point I got out of the habit. I am now getting back into it — we actually use bar soap here at the Manor, and a lot of it! (The kids can’t squeeze it all out of the pump and down the drain, although they CAN flush the bars.)
I have tried a couple of Pre de Provence frags (shoot — did I not ever send you the linden? you would love it) and they seem great. I like smells in soap that I would never wear in perfume. I want to try that R&G Lettuce one.
Victoria — thanks, I will be getting my hands on Pour Elle. I love vetiver in the bottle, but it’s iffy on my skin sometimes.
Ah, soaps, I spend a small fortune on them. I just got in some from Carol’s Daughter, the almondish one, and they are just really nice.
These all sound great. I do want to try some Pre de Provence soaps too, they have a great collection, plus they have that great big bar that I love. Fresh has that too in the Milk ones, mondo bar of soap. Makes me happy.
Quite different! Definitely try it if you get a chance (unless you hate vetiver, of course).
Violetnoir — um, well, I read at NST (I think) that the Monas are now available at Aedes, so I took that as a sign from the Perfume Goddess and ordered samples. Along with some other stuff:devil: Should be here later this week, I hope.
V, thanks for the suggestions! I’ve tried a few of the Floris scents, but not Malmaison. Guerlain Vetiver hates me, but I’ve not tried Pour Elle, wonder if they’re different enough… (the original is very bitter on me).
See, this is yet another reason why I should have taken French. As an Amurric’n, it’s a wonder I can even speak English and schoolgirl Spanish.:smile:
Marina — yes, I know. It’s always worth trying, results vary! That reseda sounds deelish, yes?
I have wondered about Mona di Orio fragrances. Have you actually tried any of them, March?
Hugs!
Have you tried Floris Malmaison? It is supposed to be a good carnation. Another composition that I love with carnation is Guerlain Vetiver pour elle–vetiver, carnation, jasmine.
The choice of name for MdO is unfortunate, because it is not supposed to be represent carnation the flower. In French, carnation means complexion, as in “il s’adapte à la carnation de la peau” (it will adapt to the complexion of the skin).
White Reseda sounds lovely!
You know, maybe on you Mona di Orio’s Carnation will bloom and smell like carnation? You never know!