It’s right below this one. It was invisible to some people on Friday — The Must-Have. I think Patty’s away — if you CAN’T see what he’s written, leave a comment here and I’ll fiddle with it some more. I might have to delete the image if there’s a problem (insert sadface here.)
I’ll be here tomorrow with a gen-u-wine perfume review!
(I’m reprinting this for Lee (Patty is) since it didn’t show up for many of you on Friday) – And March just got on here and cleared formatting because it still isn’t showing, wah wah
and guess what? It STILL isn’t showing – ain’t that weird? xo >
By Lee
On Wednesday, the Lovely Lady March led us merrily into the world of simulacra – the perfumes you’d list as must-sniffs in terms of their representations of the real. And what great work you folks did in suggestions, recommendations and thoughts.
I had this post planned before I knew what March would be writing. Honest. It’s just synchronicity, innit.
I’m 42 next week. And a bell is ringing on my fragrance array, as loudly as the one saying ‘you’re in middle-age, dude’. These markers in life make me respond in what some might say are extreme ways.
A protestant work ethic minimalist at heart (if not in practice), the perfumes in my collection/hoard have long been bothering me. Not all of them, but the majority. You see, I just don’t wear them. A collection is just not necessarily a set of things you wear I guess – it’s more a personal choice of highlights from the plethora of perfumes in existence or dead, as well as a map of the perfume landcape that you’ve shaped for yourself in some way. But… I’m tired of all that land. I love how the hills and valleys and glades look, but perhaps all I need is a small plot to call my own, that suits me best. A picket fence and a neat little house. One or two hills and a shady vale. Perhaps a dark forbidding wood. But not much more. Under a hundred acres, not a continent. I can always visit that continent if I want, but I don’t have to call it mine.
I’m ruthless with clothes. There are those items I keep because I wear them and they’re vintage and wonderful. And there are those more transient garments that wear out from overwear (tautological? Me?), or are just no longer right. They go – the former to the bin or the garden store (dusters, rags, paint drip collectors); the latter to charidee. And I stop wearing some items altogether – denim jeans for example. I’d love to, but I’m farcical in young and funky, and depressed in old and fogey.
The same with perfume. I have samples for those that I need to sniff, but now, if I don’t wear em, they’re gone. Last year I reduced from 120ish to 60ish. This year, I’m going for thirty or under. So, in the Lee-is-brutal rules of perfume ownership, I’m only keeping those that I know I wear regularly, or I know I might not now, but I will again soon. What follows is my ‘you-are-so-totally-owned’ list. It’s a long way from completist and you might think ‘hey, he needs X or Y to sit alongside those’ . By all means tell me if you think the need is there, and I might respond. I’m just under 30 – I have room for one more. Maybe.
Christian Dior
Dior Homme – only 10mls left. I won’t rebuy it. I overwore it and like skinny trousers, it doesn’t really fit now.
Bois d’Argent – a forever love. If nothing else works, I can rely on a trip to the silvery woods (where money grows on trees) to make me smile.
Eau Sauvage – forever crisp white shirt suitable.
Yves Saint Laurent
M7 Fresh – another one that’s running low, and won’t be replaced. But I have affection for it, simply because it’s my man’s favourite.
Rive Gauche pour Homme – the best fougere for me. Barbershop soap and salt. I’m not sure it actually is salty, but it works that way.
Cartier
Eau de Cartier – high pitched violets and crispness. A summer essential.
Declaration – spicy translucence.
Bulgari
Bulgari pour Homme – another summer no-brainer. Nothing special, for those nothing special happening days. I’m surprised the bottle isn’t nearly empty.
Editions de Parfum
Geranium pour Monsieur – it makes me want to put creases in my shorts, tuck my shirt in neatly, and buy boat shoes. And I hate boat shoes.
Nicolai
Balle de Match
Eau d’Ete
Eau Exotique – all three are Nicolai’s cheap and cheerful summer smells, rather than the Guerlainesque richness she’s more rightly known for. You can happily never OD in spraying the final of the three, but a little of the first two goes a long way. Grapefruit richness and fresh musk can easily be overdone. But I only have 30 ml bottles of both – great for my work bag on hot days.
Hermes
Terre d’Hermes – in parfum, to replace my empty edt bottle. A necessity for me.
Ambre Narguile – when I’m in a scarfed up, brr it’s cold and I need stodge, I’ll probably go for the Nazgul before I go for cake.
Poivre Samarkande – anyone who doesn’t get this, and then get it, is crazy. Perfection in pepper.
Different Company
Sel de Vetiver – my favourite summer fragrance.
Parfumerie Generale
Coze – the best of outdoors in a bottle.
Divine
L’homme de Coeur – spring refinement.
Guerlain
Jicky – in parfum de toilette. I did have it in parfum, and will again. Of all the great classics, it’s this I’m most loyal to.
Vetiver – see Eau Sauvage.
Eau de Guerlain – for when you need the sun to shine.
L’Artisan Parfumeur
Timbuktu – my second favourite incense, plus extra oddity.
Le Labo
Poivre 23 – a phenomenal oriental.
Patchouli 24 – I guess Dr Jekyll is renting lab space in the basement of my neat little house. I’m glad of it.
Serge Lutens
Encens et Lavande – my favourite incense. My most meditative scent.
Santal de Mysore – rich sweet spicy.
Arabie – and again, but different enough to justify both. One is more main course than dessert, but they share plenty of flavours. They are winter favourites.
Muscs Koublai Khan – the only ‘real’ musk I wear.
Borneo 1834 – grey suit., white shirt, leather briefcase. Glasses. Serious face. Adds mystery to the mundane. Quixotic to the quotidian. Dash to the drear. Etc.
And there’s one more I didn’t mention. A 30ml bottle of Mitsouko parfum. It’s preformulation, oakmossy wonderfulness but I NEVER wear it. Therefore, it breaks my rules. Somehow it feels like I have to keep it. But I’d swap it in an instant for some Jicky parfum.
So, if you had to reduce your collection to just 30 (and don’t worry folks, I’m only in charge of crazy old me, and not the rest of the world…), what would definitely be in, based on MY RULES? And if you have under 30 in your collection, what would you like to add in to round up that there number?
errrmmm……..
no.
xo
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Okay, I’m going to cut and repaste and delete the picture.
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 7:53 am
How about now? I reposted it and emailed you Lee’s picture.
That’s some customer service.
Musette Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 8:50 am
I know! Thanks! you are such a doll. Luckily for me I saw the photo and the post on Friday – but still it’s much appreciated. As I said below, something is weird – I am running Firefox and saw the original on Friday – but now there’s nothing but your query. Huh.
xoxo
CRAP.
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
see “Steaming Pile O” below.
Yes – using Google Chrome for my browser. Saw it the other day as well. Lee using magic to make folks nuts?!
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 7:54 am
I have no idea. The joke’s on us, because of course I can see it fine, so how would I know others can’t? I do wonder if it’s the embedded image. Which I deleted.
Musette Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Do you want me to try? What are you running?
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I thinks she’s running on fumes. Hee-hee. I could also see the original on Friday BTW.
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
IT’S SQUIRREL POWER BAYBEE.
I can see it in Chrome & Firefox, and also saw it on Friday.
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 7:54 am
But you have the magical NST spectacles!
I saw the original post on Friday. It’s visable today in both the Opera and Safari browsers as well as those mentioned previously.
Things like this are so strange.:-?
I’m running Firefox – it was visible on Friday but not today.
xo >-)
mocards Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 9:05 am
I *should* have been viewing it in Firefox when I made my comment. I would have been notified by Firefox that I spelled visible incorrectly!! Firefox is my usual browser and that’s what I was using Friday. It was still visible with Firefox this morning. Weird.
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Firefoxy. Dunno….
I couldn’t see it Friday at work on my PC using good ole Internet Explorer, but could see it at home on the Mac. I can see it now (again at work – shh.. don’t tell).
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 10:22 am
and this is why I shouldn’t put those porny pics up here … like M7 man…. although I think I label those NSFW. Our Demon Girls used to not pass the spam-filter test.
I saw it last night — Patty posted it…God, I’m so confused — but now not so much.
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Where’s my Lichtenstein gravatar? First the emoticons, then Lee, now this! Talk about yer ghosts…
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
If we post it 20 or 30 times everyone will see it.
Can see Lee, but had to try numerous times to log on in the first place, and was glad when I finally got onto the site (I use Internet Explorer if that helps)! By the way, how much emphasis is there on the “wine” part of genuine? I am intrigued, not to mention thirsty, and I bet you too could do with a glass of something of the grape variety after the amazing, disappearing post.
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Not so much on the wine, although it’s hard to tell, given the sloppy way I write. I’m feeling a bit o’ the grape coming on as I type this.
Okay, I’m NOT crazy. Patty re-posted it last night (it’s still up on Facebook) and when I clicked through from there I could see it. Your notification showed up today on FB and when I clicked through I arrived here — no Lee’s post and my gravatar is a purple people eater with an extremely prominent bellybutton, although at least I have an hourglass shape.
But WTF?
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Okay, now I’m back to my regular gravatar. WTF?
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
…….. aaaaaaaaaaaaand that completes this portion of I Have No Idea What The Deal Is Tuesday.
What, in sweet Jesus’ name, did I do wrong?
Ah, who cares, it’s my birthday today and I’m like totally whatever.
Musette Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Hippo Birdies Two Ewes!!!!!!!
xoxoxo >-)
mals86 Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Hippo Birdie Deer Ewe…
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
<:-p <:-p <:-p <:-p <:-p
What will you do next year for your 33rd?
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
OH GOD. EMOTICON FAIL.
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
ahahahahahaaaaaa
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Where’s your quing NOW??????
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Hey Lee, I think our gravatars are related (the one March screwed up and stuck me with, I mean) only yours got the good looks.
Oh, Lee! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy Birthday, Lee!!!
Damn, I’ve still got the Steaming Pile O’ Crap gravatar. And for what it’s worth, I have been able to see Lee’s post all along, in Firefox and Internet Explorer.
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Don’t you wish you couldn’t see your gravatar?
Also you made me laugh so hard I choked on my wine.
tammy Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hah, I’m sure everyone wishes they couldn’t see my Gravatar! :-&
carter Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Steaming Pile O’Crap Smoking A Banana
tammy Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Thanks, Carter, I hadn’t noticed that part!
Lee Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
That’s elongated sweetcorn, baby.
I have IE; couldn’t see it on Friday (or ANYTHING ELSE, either), but can see it now.
March Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
We’re here! Give us a
Just thought I’d say I can see the text of both this reposting and the original reposting, but I cannot see the associated image. I am using windows Vista and Opera 10.62. I missed the original posting, so I’m pretty sure I cannot see it.
Saw both the text + picture on Friday via Mac OSX + Firefox; however today, just the text :-?
Saw the picture Friday, but no text. Now I can see the text, but no picture. Oh well, happy birthday Lee!