That old saying about too much of a good thing was definitely NOT written by a perfumista, because when we love — really love — a scent, there’s rarely such a thing as too much of it (thanks to our hoarding tendencies, ha!). However, having said that, in terms of sheer numbers of scents and perfume houses, not only in current release now but also vintage, it can get a bit overwhelming. So many times we’re trying the latest and greatest, while last year’s L&G (or even last month’s) get relegated to the back of the pack or the drawer, closet, etc. So it’s way too easy to wind up with more than a few forgotten favorites. And they might stay that way, save for some scented reminders along the way.
For me lately, it’s been Clinique’s Calyx (and Wrappings), which I wrote about last week, and the Cartier L’Heure line. Musette’s recent post mentioning Brillante made me smack my head and say, “Whoa, Nelly! I need to be wearing some — now where IS that decant?” and also the lovely Folle and Fougueuse, all of which are so nice for summer. So into the stash I dove and finally came up for air with the L’Heure container in my teeth. Yay!
So a little bit of the crisp, sparkling Brillante on one wrist, and Folle on the other, with its juicy berry-ivy tang, and I was good to go. Later on, per Musette’s suggestion, I paired Brillante over Fougueuse: kind of a sultry, horse’s mane tea with an icy-cool ribbon of lemon and gin woven throughout to shake things up a bit –- brilliant!
But all that got me to thinking what other forgotten favorites I was overlooking and how to get a better handle on things. I try to have my scents collected by house, but some days I wonder if it might be better to have them divided into cool and warm weather categories. So when spring hits, I can just pull that batch to the fore, poke through it and find all kinds of goodies that are perfectly suited to the current temps.
Not quite sure how I would go about doing this, unless I organized them by house as well, i.e., Cartier warm weather, Chanel warm weather, Guerlain cool weather, etc. But the thought of doing all that is daunting, especially in the heat of summer, so there you go.
Anyhoo, what say you? What forgotten favorites have you stumbled across and were glad you did?
My fragrances are stored by house, not by seasons, so it’s always a bit of a hunt and peck to find something appropriate… but then, a lot of times I ignore seasonal appropriateness. My latest discovery that had been languishing for a couple of years was a decant of the discontinued Annick Goutal Mon Parfum Chéri par Camille. I ordered a bottle quickly before it disappears from the discounters as well as the department stores.
Tara, so glad to know that I’m not the only one who stores by house. BTW, the light bulb just went off over my head regarding that AG — so beautiful. And now that it’s back on my radar and I want to wear it, where is it? Waahhh! 😉
I found it at http://www.beautyencounter.com. They had both the edp and the edt when I placed my order 2 weeks ago.
Wonderful — thanks so much, Tara!!
Hiya, Mals! I really like your idea of one centrally located seasonal collection and then you rotate in other things as the weather changes. But first I’ve got to get a better handle on everything in general. Mmmm … isn’t that Inoui lovely? So glad you found it. But sorry to hear about the partially lost decant 🙁
I always keep the “current seasonal rotation” in a hatbox on my dresser, with the rest of the collection taking residence in the cabinet beside the bed. A change in weather prompts me to go through and rearrange a couple of times a year, so I rarely forget about or lose full bottles.
Decants are another story. And I don’t organize them as well, so I should probably stop buying them!! Recently rediscovered a tiny decant of Shiseido Inoui that is just THE most gorgeous thing… and this past winter, I found that my Enchanted Forest decant’s top was loose, and a good half of it had just wafted off into the ether without my noticing. GAH.
Hiya, Mals! I really like your idea of one centrally located seasonal collection and then you rotate in other things as the weather changes. But first I’ve got to get a better handle on everything in general. Mmmm … isn’t that Inoui lovely? So glad you found it. But sorry to hear about the partially lost decant 🙁
My collection of FBs is modest, so I don’t lose track of them, but I’m at the point where my samples are spilling over everywhere. Those are what I lose track of. I’ll be shuffling them around and see Marni and think, “oh, that’s such a good one. I need to wear that soon,” then I’ll see Elie Saab Le Parfum edt, and I’ll think the same thing again, etc.etc.! Up until recently there were few enough so that I just had them organized by Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Now I’m wondering if I need a more complex system without going to the extent of doing a spread sheet!
Hi, Dina! I’m in the same boat as you are; my spillage is mostly samples and decants, not FBs. I tend to get distracted as well: looking for X, and then I spy Y and Z and then I’ve forgotten I was in there to find X, ha! I don’t know that I’d want to try to manage a spreadsheet either, but like you, would love a better system for finding things.
Oh Ann,
I hear you!
Every time I go out with frag buddies they remind me of things I own and quite often I will come home and do a mad search. Things are pretty much out of hand here so the looking can take days. On my journey I come across all manner of forgotten treasures, it’s fun.
Portia xx
Howdy, Portia! Oh, yes, it’s definitely an adventure. But it’s such a treat to come across some special scents and whoo-hoo — you feel like you’ve won the lottery!
I just got done with my bi-yearly dusting of FB’s and found so many unloved! 234 Bottles and do you know for the last several months I’ve been using just a few decants (Roja Dove Lilac, Micallef Mon Parfum Cristal, and Aldehyde 44)?? I have got to cull down quite a bit! My decants are a big mess right now. I ran out of space in the drawers I was filing them in, and have been keeping them in lipstick trays, in no order, which now need dusting as well…horrendous job! Sometimes I just want to throw them all out, but then I’ll see one I adore!
Aldehyde 44 was the last forgotten favorite I stumbled across. I bought the decant sometime during the winter and forgot about it. I thought I was an aldehyde hater, but I loooove this one (discontinued, of course)!
Hey, Sherri! Wowza — 234, eh? Whew, that’s a whole lotta dusting (plus decants). You need a perfume maid 🙂 And I’m with you 🙁 on the Aldehyde 44. I kept thinking that as popular as it was, they might bring it out into the regular line but …
I sort mine ( roughly) by major note/genres . So fougeres (autocorrect tried to make this forgerys? Weird.), roses,honeysuckle ,teas, gourmands,aquatics,aldyhydics ,spicey orientals,tuberoses,leathers,citruses,and lilys,and lily of the valleys. That way I can usually find what I’m looking for to satisfy a smell craving -even if it’s a seasonally inappropriate one.
Wearing EnJoy a somewhat fruity rose similar to some of Goutal’s line as my Sote. Sotd was Estée Lauder’sazuree Soliel .
Oh, no, forgeries on the Posse! 🙂 Too funny. Seriously though, I like your way of organizing your scents; maybe I should try something like that. Thanks!
I always keep forgetting about Shalimar. It’s either too hot or too cold outside for her and it’s not even funny that I have two vintage bottles and one current version of Shalimar sitting around. My second is Chanel’s Sycomore and I don’t know why I keep forgetting that huge bottle in my collection.
Isn’t that always the way? But now that you’ve mentioned them, maybe they’ll stay on your radar for a while. 🙂
You’d think given its name I’d always remember to pull it out for summer every year (I don’t) but I love Jil Sander Sun. It’s perfect on a summer day so I’m always happy to spray away. Notes include bergamot, jasmine, OB, patchouli, sandalwood and vanilla. It’s in a squared off white bottle with a white cap so it’s easy to find. I need to look for my decant of Mr. Hulot’s Holiday because I haven’t worn that in forever.
Mmmm … Tiara, that Jil Sander sounds nice. It also sounds vaguely familiar; do you recall when it came out? And so many folks love Mr. Hulot’s Holiday but I’ve never tried it. Must sample these soon — thanks!
Just brought a sample of Jungle Gardenia and it brings back wonderful memories of my mother’s vanity table. I love it now just as I loved then. Seems perfect in the warm heat of a Miami evening.
How nice, Shirley! An old favorite revisited can be a double blessing; not only wonderful in and of itself, but also in the lovely memories it unearths. Enjoy!