Sometimes it’s good to get your psychic chain yanked. This weekend was full of insane perceptions and humbling realities. I spent a lot of time prepping my house for a visit from a long-lost relative, sure she would be judging me on the state of my floors, only to realize that hey! guess what? Neither of us gave a damn! We were SO happy to reconnect, I doubt either of us could tell you if my sweet velociraptors were waxing those floors while we were yakking. Hoist on my own House Petard but you know what? It’s one of those psychic yanks that reminded me of what is really important. Gratitude for what I DO have is what I’m feeling today. Here’s a short list (and yes, there is perfume involved. Hang in there)
I love my (relative) health. I know people who are struggling with some massive issues and..again…guess what? They are doing so with grace and fortitude. I am worried about my toenails looking ‘old’ while another friend is trying to keep her guts from leaking out. She’s way more gracious about it than my whiny self with the toenails. So I think I’ll shut up and appreciate my blessings.
I love my business. But you already know that.
I also love my job.
Yes. This ‘job’. I love connecting with you guys (I adore your comments!) – but sometimes, reviewing perfume can be a chore. But then I stop and think about it….I get to review PERFUME! And BEAUTY PRODUCTS! Scented body creme. Really? Let’s just catch our breath and think about that for a hot minute. And then…SQUEEEEE!!! I have met so many incredible people. Surrender to Chance is my Holy Grail! I have Barneys and Beautyhabit on speed dial. Are you kidding me?
And my good fortune is never more apparent than when I get a new scent to LOVE – and review. Surrender to Chance just went to Yurrup and brought back some stuff I wouldn’t otherwise be able to sniff, since the closest I’m getting to Paris these days is (almost) Minneapolis, aka the Paris of the Midwest. So I grabbed a vial of one of the newest Guerlains: Guerlain Cour des Senteurs Versailles was created to celebrate the opening of its boutique in the “Cour des Senteurs” in Versailles. This is the only place in the world that you can purchase this fragrance!! Guerlain interprets the sumptuous world of the legendary kings and queens who marked the history of France. As a tribute to the majesty of the balls thrown at the Château de Versailles, Guerlain created the exclusive Cour des Senteurs – Versailles edition. It is an elegant and sensual fragrance with a royal aura, in which jasmine, Marie-Antoinette’s favorite flower, leads the dance. It features top notes of bergamot and galbanum; middle notes of cyclamen and jasmine; and base notes of freesia, lily-of-the-valley, white musk and amber. It is an eau de toilette, edt.
Pretty, pretty stuff. I would’ve said Malmaison instead of Versailles but they did not ask my opinion. And it’s also unlike any Guerlain I’ve ever smelled. You know how Carons smell ‘Caron’ and Guerlains all smell ‘Guerlain’, no matter how light or sharp or sweet or funky? Well….this is one of those red-headed stepchildren – gorgeous as can be but if you were blindfolded and someone spritzed you with this…well, I defy anyone to identify it as Guerlain. I get a bit of a vintage Coty feel…or maybe a tad of Modern Caron – the galbanum is reminiscent of Caron’s Montaigne, which I quite like….the jasmine is clean and bright, not the dirty, indolic hothotHOT! I would expect from Guerlain. But you know what? Enough about how I feel about it. Let’s see how YOU feel about it. Or one of you, at least. I’m channeling my Inner Wayne Brady here. Who wants to Make a Deal? LOL! Okay no. You don’t have to dress up as a potato. All you have to do is ….I dunno….just put Jasmine in a coherent comment to be eligible. Or Royal. There ya go. Two options!
Speaking of draws, the winner of last week’s Soihvole Amun Re, Tears of Ra draw is…Vannie! go over to gmail (evilauntieanita) and give me your details. I’ll get it out to you. I know I still owe the previous 3 winners stuff – be patient with my poor ol’ self – it’s been a Very Weird Week and we just had a storm blow through town and it looks like velociraptors have been mating in my garden.
But you know what….? I am so grateful to be able to share so many of these perfume beauties with you! I’m off to Motion Industries to match up some ginormous gears! And I’m grateful as H.E. double hockey sticks for my wonderful suppliers!!!
I’m just a happy gal! Love you all!
We Indonesians love jasmine. We have jasmines in our tea, spread jasmines on graveyards and lavishly exploit them in wedding celebration ... jasmine bandeau ornate the bride's crown, chains of jasmine buds an extension of the bride's hair, jasmine necklace for the groom, a keris (traditional dagger) with jasmine tassel on it's hilt, and even a jasmine vest/bolero for pre-wedding ceremony, not to mention jasmines blossoms and buds on the wedding bed.