First sniff of friendship

Patty’s post yesterday got me thinking about the correspondence I’ve been running with my closer-than-close friend Jazmin, out in the Bay Area. If you recall (I think I’ve mentioned it before, but then I am the type of person who starts conversations as though my conversees are actually living inside my head), I sent J 40+ frags from a range so she could decide what kinds she liked or even loved the most.

I have to say, as an aside, that one of the first things I learned about J when I met her many years ago was: ‘I think 10% of my pleasure in life comes from the smell of men’s cologne’. Neither of us were particularly refined back then, and since I’d been exploring the realms of niche these past three years, I thought it was time she got to sniff some sensory wonder, even though she was no longer my neighbour.
She’s methodical where I’m slapdash and she certainly isn’t the perfume piggy type like me. I’ve been getting regular updates on likes and dislikes (even posting out a bottle of Un jardin en Mediterranee when I realised it wasn’t ever going to meld with me, and she liked it because it clanged some memory bell in her childhood head). Last week, she finalised her list. This is what she wrote:

Okay, I’ve got my fragrance response at long last. I gave each two rounds, spaced apart by weeks, and here’s a refined sense of moi.

Faves:

Rush (the men’s lumberyard beauty)
Harmattan-Noir
Sequoia
Terre D’hermes
Avignon
And I’m thinking there was one called Cedar, but I forgot to write it down. (And I’ve no idea what she’s on about because, surprise, surprise, no list here)
Zagorsk too.

Second Place, i.e. can definitely see days where I’d want to wear any as an alternative to the above (if there were enough days in the year)
Pomegranate Noir (that’s right March – here’s a fan)
Moroccan Dessert
Encens et Lavande
L’absinthe (no, not the fabled Gaubin Daude, but the l’Artisan)
Orris

Does the above make sense with all the elements and ingredients and categories and higher/deeper knowledge you have about all this stuff? Like does that make me an ENFsomething in the smelling world?

Also, whenever we next see each other (sob*, scheduling bites) can I try the above again to further refine a preference order? Then I’m going to need to buy a few ’cause DAYAM. I ain’t never buying anything at Macy’s ever again. In my whole life. There’s so little time and such great stuff to surround your olefactory bulb with. Why waste even a moment on trash mass marketed shite.

Sniff.

J

See, one of the reasons I love J is she’s fooled into thinking I have higher/deeper knowledge rather than a lot of muddleheaded gobbledegook I can string into reasonable sounding sentences. And she has a precise way with words. Love that Macy’s dig-in-the-ribs. Though J, if you’re reading this, occasionally you’ll stumble on a wonder even when you’re slumming it. Just avoid the slebscents in general. Though March et al might convince us otherwise tomorrow.
Oh, and my reply to J:

You like woody rather than spicy. Transparent rather than thick, unless we’re talking smoky. Sour / savoury rather than sweet. Notes you like are: cedar, incense, vetiver, grapefruit, sap, black tea, mint (if subtle). Personality wise – difficult to say what it means – you’re drawn to modern, clean lines in scents, but I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s true entirely. and to be sure, Avignon has some Gothic flourishes there too. But generally, you’ve picked out warm weather perfume, more suited to California than other stuff (I think incense and pure wood scents like Rush are actually better in heat than cold – refreshing somehow). There’s something very orderly about all of your choices – no muddiness at all. And you’re not overly keen on amber, sandalwood (too creamy?), florals, spices (except where they play around in the background of woods).

You want me to refill your vials, baby?

Did I get it right? Have I missed anything out? I’m better at getting balls rolling than knowing where they stop, so help me out here.

Oh, and I’ve been sniffing all the Miller Harris scents – exclusivo and hoi-polloi. I have a pretty box set of vials to give away to one lucky reader who’d like to be thrown in the draw. They’re good at packaging at Miller Harris. As for me and them – well, there’s pretty, ethereal, delicate at one extreme, and gutsy and full-bodied at the other (the full Pinot Grigio to Noir experience), but I’m not sure any of them are for me. The vials are virtually full, except for Feuilles de Tabac, which I initially had a torrid love affair with before it dissipated. And like wild, irresponsible sex, I thought Piment de Baies was my baby until the main course was over and it turned my stomach.

Perfume Piggy I may be, but I ain’t no slut.
Winner announced in two weeks’ time.

Image courtesy of http://allposters.co.uk