Paris Trip wrap-up

It’s tough to write a post when you’re pretty much exhausted and need to get up at a really early hour tomorrow to get on a plane, but let me try!

First, I got to Colette and tried the new Martin Margiella that was just released on Monday – Untitled. Yum!  It’s got a really nice nutty vibe that will allow me to forgive not naming it.  The notes I could find for it were galbanum, boxwood, mastic, incense, bitter orange, jasmine, cedar and musk.  I’m not sure where the nuttiness came from, I get almost no green, but that was one quick spray, and I hope I didn’t already have something on that hand.  Because if I did, it will be a mind-buster to try and recreate this very nice little scent on my hand.  It is exclusively at Colette in Paris right now, but it says it will go into other locations in March.

One of my favorite stops in Paris is Mariage Freres.  The smells of the tea in that  shop or any tea shop just are my idea of sniffling heaven.  We had lunch there, and I picked the Butterscotch tea.  The aroma from it was just amazing.  A combination of chocolate, caramel and honey – probably some other things – made this probably one of my favorite teas to smell as it brews.  As much as I know green tea and white tea are better for me, I just can’t help loving the smell of all the black teas.

For those of you that asked, the new Guerlain was not anywhere in sight while I was there. I’ve heard the release date is February’ish. Guerlain is pretty firm about releasing everywhere at the same time, so keep an eye out for it then!  Denyse says it is very good, and I trust her on things Guerlain, so I’m optimistic that it will be a nice addition to the line and make up for the vague disappointment that I have with Idylle, which  I finally sniffed while here.

And that Daphne thing from CdG?  Couldn’t even put it on my skin.  I was afraid I would have to stick a lit match up my nose to get even the quick sniff I did of the bottle out.  Toxic, but weirdly compelling. I think I married a guy like that once – or twice.  Well, too many times.

So au revoir, will be back to normal’ish life tomorrow.  You know, if anyone is ever interested in a Perfume Posse Paris trip for less than 10 people (more than this makes it tricky to do), just say so in comments.  Done in the low season, like January, not sharing a room, who knows on airfare, but it’s usually decent’ish in January, like 600-900, for four nights, probably $150 a night, so like 600-800 (there’s always pesky taxes and things), plus shopping/eating cash.  If there were enough interest, I’d be happy to organize one for like next January.

  • Cynthia L. says:

    I didn’t pick that very unpleasant looking little fellow by my name above, by the way. He’s very grim!

  • Cynthia L. says:

    Hi, I would be interested. No one in my life considers shopping for perfume a fun thing to do. I agree with previous poster, I think your list of interested travelers could morph into a plane load!

  • bursztyn says:

    This would be a dream trip! Count me among the interested.

  • nikkou says:

    I’d love to go to Paris with you all! :d

  • Gretchen says:

    Please put me on the Paris list, too. I hope my schedule and bank account will be favorable when the time comes to make firm plans. . .

  • Tara says:

    Please put me on the interested list for Paris next January!!

  • Nina Z. says:

    Next time try the French Earl Grey tea with blue flowers. It looks, smells, and tastes beautiful.

  • DJ says:

    I would like to join the paris trip next January, but I would be coming from England and have accommodation. Is it ok for me too meet up with you there?

    🙂

  • Disteza says:

    Oooh, put me down as well. And don’t feel like you have to cut those tea and pastries descrptions short–those are just as heavenly smelling as most perfumes.

  • fleurdelys says:

    Put me on the “interested” list too!

  • Style Spy says:

    Butterscotch tea?? Oh, my. I’ll be headed directly to Mariage Freres come May.

    I did put some Daphne on my skin last weekend, at Barney’s, and I didn’t find it weird, just kinda boring. Lots of vanilla, jasmine, and something fruity at the top. Really underwhelming.

  • monkeytoe says:

    I love Mariage Freres, too. Wonderful smells, tastes and adorable French waiters.

    Another tea house in Paris that I adore is Maison de The de Mademoiselle Li in the Jardin d’Acclimatation.

  • I would loooove to go to Paris. No clue if I could afford it though!

  • karin says:

    Uh oh. Looks like that Paris trip offer is going fast. Methinks you’ll have many more than 10 sign-ups! I plan to go in September of this year – my gift to myself for rounding another decade (yikes!). But would love to go again in Jan. with some Posse folks!

  • Connie says:

    Pencil me in for janvier prochain aussi. Merci. 🙂

  • Erin T says:

    If our financial situation improves by then – please God(s), let it – I’ll be on that plane. Seriously. You know I book tickets without warning. 🙂 I will have one small problem by January – but the problem should be small and sleepy and interested in rice cereal. Hopefully, this lovable problem will not have much hair to cut, because I’ve learned from painful experience that the Cheese gets creative when I go on vacation.

    • ScentRed says:

      Erin, if this means what I think it means – congratulations!!!That’s wonderful news 🙂

      I’ll be curious to know how your nose changes over the coming months. My scent acuity was off the scale when I was pregnant – even when congested.

      I’m very happy for you 🙂

    • Musette says:

      😮 :o< :-p@};-@};-@};-@};- xox >-)

    • Shelley says:

      Aren’t those the most awesome problems? And you’ll have one of my favorite smells in the world…the top of a little rice porridge eater’s head… 😡 Many congratulations. <:-p

    • Erin T says:

      Thanks very much to all 😡 I am 3.5 months, and am now at the stage where I feel conscious and human again. Looking forward to super-smell powers and eventually having a baby head to sniff…

      • ScentRed says:

        Baby head smell really is the best, isn’t it? I once included it during a fragrance consultation as one of my favorite smells and was told that ambrette seed can give you something similar. Haven’t tested/explored the theory, but thought it was interesting..

      • Francesca says:

        Congratulations! Lovely news.<:-p

  • waftbycarol says:

    I’m also interested in a Paris trip next January !
    I will share a room and I can get by with broken French too ( hi Louise ! )
    My split of Tonka Imperiale is on it’s way…squeee !!

  • Louise says:

    OK, I’m way interested in January, if it’s early enough so that my students won’t notice my absense…also I share rooms, and I speek Franch :d/

    Odd about the Guerlain-I’m on another group, and they report getting several bottles this week, somewhere in Paris…?

    Mariage Freres is lovely, but you’ll find me at Laduree 😡

  • carter says:

    What, no mention of the pretty new baby? I’d say it qualifies as a leather scent and is therefore fair game for discussion here on the Posse.

    And for the record, reseach shows that despite common misconceptions to the contrary, black tea is just as healthy for you as green tea, so drink up and enjoy your lovely butterscotch from Mariage Freres. Sounds heavenly ~o)

    • Gretchen says:

      Glad to hear you speaking up for black tea, Carter. I second your recommendation.

    • Francesca says:

      I’m so glad to hear that. Green tea tastes to me like the old elephant house at the Bronx zoo used to smell. Not a bad smell really, I just don’t want to drink it.

    • Shelley says:

      I can third the recommendation. Toss into the mix that the tannins in black tea are a natural decongestant. :-b

  • Geordan1244 says:

    Sounds like a lovely trip! I would definitely be up for it next January – please put me on the “interested” list.

    TY,

    GRR