When I wrote my first Posse blog post in mid-February, I mentioned an upcoming house move and refurb. Well, I’ve now moved into the rental (see pic; just made it under the wire – moved last Thursday; per the UK government, no more moves from Friday, 27 March) which is a nice little house, but the heating ain’t the greatest (so, using the fireplace every day).
The refurb is on hold clearly. Think the point is for the largest number of people possible to stay safe. Which means staying home. The dog comes out best in this as he gets two walks a day (UK lockdown parameters allow one visit outdoors a day for exercise – with two of us in the house that means someone does the AM walk and the other person the PM).
Anyway. We’re now unpacked (not much to do – most stuff went into storage), set up, and settling in. So, I am back to writing once a week…
…and paying more attention to the news. It’s an upside down world.
The house does have a small garden so it’s going to get well tended. And I already worked from home, so nothing changes there.
So, the … and more.
About a month ago I ordered some perfume samples. Hadn’t done that in a while. One was for a blog post to come, so won’t mention that. The other two were of fragrances I’ve sampled in the past but caught my eye again this time.
Thus, some thoughts on Knize Ten.
I’ve never worn this. I know people who do and wear it well. I like that it’s sort of obscure and that it’s been around for ages and that it’s structure seems to me quite classical and old school.
I also like that it’s unashamedly hardcore when much of what’s out there is wan. Further, there’s the idea of flowers and leather together which somehow seems a very imaginative combination. Something a dandy would wear (whether male or female – if you’ve never watched Kevin Rowland, formerly of Dexys Midnight Runners, and friends in his video of Both Sides Now have a look).
Notes include jasmine, rose, carnation, leather, castoreum, patchouli and civet. Sounds heady and it is. On me, the top is heavily carnation – powder and pepper which morphs interestingly into leather that is pongy but also interestingly peppery. The drydown is leather and jasmine … not fighting it out so much as looking slyly at each other – ie, the drydown is very animalic but complex, not knock you for six.
I’ve tried this numerous times over the years. I think it’s beautiful and it works well on my chemistry, but I know I’d never wear it so I’ve never bought a bottle. I’m not totally sure why I wouldn’t wear it – the only real reason I can come up with is that it feels a bit it like it wears me rather than the other way round. I’m happy with ‘big’ perfumes — just not this one. Still, I’m really pleased to have a sample to hand now so I can play around with it.
So, what about you? Is there something you sample over and over but know you’ll never add to your collection? If yes, what and why?
LOL I do this all the time! Particularly if something is really strong, and/or interesting — Knize Ten falls into that category. I’ll bust out a sample and eventually use it up like that, but I never think, oooh, I need this in my life every day!
Maybe because I don’t have a big collection of fragrances I’m behind the curve on doing this. But, the little spray bottle of Knize is now going to go live in the perfume box.
Hi, Cinnamon! Congrats on getting the move done. It must be a good feeling to be in your new digs. I really liked Knize Ten as well, but my sample or two was always enough. Now I’m going to go dig it/them up. Seems the price tags on most things have long kept me from indulging in full bottles, so I’m a mainline sample/decant freak from way back!
Tx, Anne, I’d forgotten how stressful a move can be — and how much I dislike packing. Indeed, when did full bottles get so expensive? Daunting.
I’ve heard of this one, and remember reading a review of it in “Perfumes The Guide.” Luca Turin gave it 5 stars and raved about how it was one of a kind. Sadly, I’ve never sniffed it. However, your comment about leather + flowers reminded me of Balmain Jolie Madame, which I do own and enjoy wearing. That’s got that leather and violets thing going on.
I’ve actually never sampled Jolie Madame. Knize is leather and carnations & jasmine. The carnation cuts what would otherwise be ridiculously pongy fragrance.
I have a full set of Tauer samples from about 4 years ago – love those little metal boxes, it’s a shame Andy can’t ship them to to the US. I continue to use the samples – I’m a light sprayer so they last forever – and love several of them enough that I could have a bottle – but I just have too much perfume so I may never upgrade. (But who knows – when the samples run out I might miss them so much ….)
I actually only buy samples at this point when I’m really taken with a description. I can (in normal times) smell a fair number of things at our local department store so really have feel the oomph to buy.
Hey Cinnamon,
Love the front window on your new place. Do you have lace curtains for neighbourly twitching?
Knize Ten is so good. I have a couple of bottles, one the golden anniversary edition, squirrelled away that rarely see the light of day because when I think leather it’s mostly Cuir d’Ange, Cuir Ottoman, Cuir Beluga or Cuir Amethyste that get the spritz. I think the CUIR might be the trigger. Thanks for the reminder to look it out. I will do and wear it dialled up to 9.
I do have a mildly amusing story. Lancome Midnight Rose. Being a bit of a perfume snob I couldn’t bring myself to buy a bottle so I kept buying decants and using them up. Finally after years of torturing myself I bought a bottle. LOVE IT! Wear it all the time.
Portia xx
It’s a bay but I guess a boxy rather than rounded one. It’s a nice house, but with a weird layout. I’d love to feel Knize didn’t wear me, but alas it does. It has made me think I need to retry a few things that have that big vibe, like Lutyens Tubereuse Criminelle.
Oooh – oooh, Portia! My ears pricked up at your mention of the Cuirs. Gotta go grab my Cuir Beluga and Amethyste samples and indulge!
Most of the time when I order samples, some are of perfumes that I know that I will love, but could never afford (sometimes even the sample prices are atrocious) and thus I would never be buying a bottle.
i know what you mean about atrocious prices !!!
Yep that’s me, too.
I haven’t yet found a place like Surrender to Chance here. Can only order samples from retailers which limits what is available. I have a yen for Serge Lutens Tubeureuse Criminelle which isn’t available (and a bottle costs 290 euros) so I’ll just have to go without.