Top 10 of Fall 2009

Written by the Whole Gang

Once again we turn our attention to the fall fragrances we’re most excited about — whether it’s something new, or something old that’s captured our attention.  For some of us in the States it seems like we barely had fall — parts of the country have already been clocked by their first snowstorms.  But there’s always time to celebrate fall fragrances, even if fall itself exists only as a state of mind.

(Nava reports from the Northern Territories: And wasn’t it just yesterday we were schvitzing like crazy? The weather patterns are unbelievable. Seemingly overnight, every leaf on every tree has turned yellow or red. I refuse to even speak of snow!)

Anita – It’s autumn.  Bored with summer’s citrus and lacy folderol, I am loving the opportunity to don my heavy hitters,  the Empress Mitsouko and her Western counterpart, Jolie Madame.  But I’ve yarked on about those two ’til even I am sick of talking about them.  Soooo…..how ’bout a little leather?  I love leather in this weather.  Cool, sexy, a little fierce.  But not quite Kinky Boots.  A little more understated, with the sex coming from the buttery perfection of the leather……okay, you can add  those fabulous little leather strappy ties that look so incredible (for about 2 days, until you forget how to tie them and they get all wrinkly).

Lee – Here in the silly old UK, we are definitely having a gentle journey into autumn. No frost yet, but a nip in the air at night, and first thing. Great planting weather.

Unlike Patty, I’ve sniffed nothing new. But right now, I’m ODing on Dior’s Eau Noire on those ‘ gimme all I can take’ days (these sort of days roll into each other – good job EN hangs around…), and Dia pour Homme for those that are more restrained.

March – Louise called me something like a secret amber whore recently, which I vehemently denied, but … maybe she’s onto something.  Don’t tell her I said so.  I’ve always thought of amber as liquid death.  Speaking of which, I’ve been having a huge Serge Lutens bender recently.  Our weather has been all over the place, but that hasn’t stopped me from bustin’ out some Serge, including a new one for me which I’ll be touching on in my Sunday/Monday post.  Serge Lutens I have esteemed and admired more than worn, but man, that seems to be changing.  If I start raving on here about Tubereuse Criminy or that damn Borneo, call the FBI, I’ve been abducted.  Right now I am wafting Fleurs d’Oranger in all its cuminy blossomy magnificence and laughing, what is wrong with me that I won’t just buy it?  I’m on like my third sample, I should buy a bottle already.    Also been loving Serge’s Santal Blanc layered with Clair de Musc.  And speaking of musk, when I’m not killing people around me with Serge I’m wearing relatively simple, clean wallpaper musks like the Clair de Musc, Narciso Rodriguez Intense (yes, I bought a bottle) and the oddly vegetal Kiehls Original.

Nava – Once again, my fall-winter-spring standby is Donna Karan Chaos. I’ve been thinking a lot about her fragrances lately. I’m betting she thinks they’re all very spiritual scents; Ms. Karan being the raw foodie, yogi, zen 60+ ageless wonder that she is. I’ve even broken out some of her Essence Wenge and Labdanum to mix with my beloved Chaos. Adding those scents to the mix just makes the whole concoction that much more beautiful. My other choice is the new Si Lolita by Lolita Lempicka. How can you go wrong with flowers and spice? Ever?

Patty – Two for me on my hottest wearing list – Kilian Pure Oud and Francis Kurdjian’s Pour Le Soir. Cuddly warm loveliness.  But others that are in constant rotation is the Gardenia, Muguet and Bois d’Iris from the Van Cleef & Arpels CE line.  They don’t seem as fall-like as the other two, but I can’t seem to tell my nose to keep them on hold until spring.

For more Top Ten fall lists, please visit Bois de Jasmin, Grain de Musc, Now Smell This and Perfume-Smellin’ Things.

image: www.fs.fed.us