Hi there Posse. Way back I tried Hemingway by Masque Milano, it’s actually (homage to) Hemingway but I’ve always called it by the writer’s name only. SOZ Masque crew. Back then I wrote this: OK, if you LOVE vetiver or don’t have a vetiver in your collection then you should give Hemingway a sniff. A very accomplished vetiver with a few bells & whistles for extra zing. Personally, as a softcore vetiver liker, I found it not clever or unusual enough to warrant a purchase. Then went on to list the vetivers in my collection at that time. Well, things have changed around here and my love for vetiver seems to have grown exponentially. I think it might have been Turtle Back or how important the grass itself can be but my mind has definitely gone from soft to hardcore lover of fragrance with this note as the leader.
As an aside, I love the look of the Masque bottles and that they are only 35ml but in Australia they cost nearly $7/ml. it seems excessive. Fortunately I grabbed an old Tester for a very good price in an LKNU run out.
Also, I have an admission. Up to this point I’ve never read a book by Hemingway. I thought I had in my serious reading days but after looking through his bibliography I couldn’t recognise even a short story. So it would be nice if you could give me your favourite Hemingway novels or shorts please? A good biography might be nice too. It now feels like a glaring hole in my self education.
(homage to) Hemingway by Masque Milano
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Ginger, Rhubarb
Heart: Vetiver
Base: Haitian Vetiver, Java vetiver oil, Leather, Cedar
Hemingway opens with a ginger rush but also an astringent, boozy vodka that makes me smile. The vetiver is multifaceted. Broken grass stems, leaves and also twig, oily, smoky and faintly petroleum reminiscent. Darkness in scent but light in heft, like there is air between the notes. Fully fragrant though, while the fragrance has buoyancy it also is a lovely projection hound. Not a punch in the face but a determined waft.
I’m not enough of a vetiver connoisseur to know the difference between the three vetivers named in the note list sadly. There is a marked lightening of the darkness as we head into the heart. Hemingway becomes more friendly and comfortable. It could perfectly fit a boardroom but also a casual al fresco meal on the weekend with friends. Now the vetiver is still green but joined by a light woodsiness and the whole fragrance becomes much more mainstream.
Good projection and longevity. Heading towards a traditional masculine but any woman who loves vetiver could easily wear Hemingway.
Cinnamon wrote about Madeleine and Patty about Lost Alice by Masque Milano.
Surrender To Chance has samples.
So, Hemingway. Tell me of some fave novels/shorts and if you think the fragrance might be for you?
Portia xx
I love the note of vetiver, and I’m a big fan of this house, so I will give this a try.
As for Hemingway, I have dismissed him for the longest time, until I came across the short story “A clean, well-lighted place” which I find superb. Will need to look into that Marsha Gellhorn book though 🙂
Going off on a tangent slightly to suggest “By-line Earnest Hemingway” a selection of his newspaper writing. Whenever I read his nonfiction I would think it would have made a good magazine article.
I do love th MM house, but will only sniff if I am right in front of a tester these days. Do not want to fall in love.
Oh! Thanks AnnieA,
I’ll have a look.
Yes, that is a most sensible way to keep restraint. I probably won’t follow suit because I’m not very clever and often ignore very good advice.
Portia xx
Seconding the Ken Burns documentary for a good idea of this complex not always (or even often) likeable man. I’ve read quite a bit of Hemingway, though he’s certainly not one of my favorite writers, and I’ve been to his Key West house twice (The descendents of his six-toed cats loved me and followed me about like some sort of parade which was…weird.). The Sun Also Rises is one of his best novels, I think.
COOL!
So I think The Sun Also Rises is the book a friend told me to read many years ago Maggiecat. I had a reading period where i wanted to read the classics that I’d missed because I wan’t in school. Clearly it wasn’t one I got to but I did fall in love with the Brontes, Jane Austin, George Orwell and Dickens (only Great Expectations but nevertheless). This same friend also told me about Terry Pratchett! A now lifelong love.
Portia xx
I prefer early Hemingway to later and would recommend his two-part (long) short story “Big Two-Hearted River” as a good place to find out if you want to explore his work further.
Love vetiver, but I have more vetivers than I could wear in three lifetimes, though a sample of the Masque Milano couldn’t hurt.
Thank you Monkeytoe,
I can probably do a long short story.
HA! A sample COULD hurt your wallet though if you love it.
Portia xx
I’m definitely in the “loves vetiver” camp. A quick search shows that it’s in 36 of my bottles! As for Hemingway, I had to read ” The Old Man and the Sea” like many other thousands of American teenagers in school. It’s a classic.
YAY for VETIVER fans DinaC,
2nd for The Old Man and the Sea.
Cool. Will read
Portia xx
Not only do I not like vetiver, I’m not a fan of Hemingway. I’m an English teacher, and he’s one of a handful (probably 2-3) of authors whose writing I dislike. “The Old Man and the Sea” and his other short stories are fine, but really just meh to me. Sacrilegious I know. I love the Masque Milano line, and the most recent scent I purchased, Tango, is great! Russian Tea is also a favorite. I’m a more amber, incense, roses, patchouli lover.
Thanks Shiva-woman. SNAP on the other bottles too.
The Old Man and the Sea is a short story!!
Heaven
Portia xx
Big NOPE on Hemingway, I read enough in high school and even then I was underwhelmed. BUT his (third?) wife Martha Gellhorn’s nightmare travelogue while married to him is pretty hilarious. Travels With Myself and Another, I think it’s called. I’m not the vetiver queen but I love getting obsessed with a particular perfume note and then exploring it, as I have done in the past!
OMG, YES! You took the Martha right out of my mouth, babysnakes! I remember when first ex-DH was castigating me for my ME-ness, he said ‘living with you is like living with Picasso’ – and I was stunned he didn’t say Hemingway.
Squoo him – but he probably ain’t wrong.
And… also not a fan of teh Hem’s writings.
xoxoxo
WOW! Picasso is a pretty big call.
So far I only have ONE Hemingway book to read. this is doable.
Portia xx
OOOOH! March! That sounds fabulous.
Thank you.
Portia xx
Never tried the perfume, but I can recommend Hemingway’s book A Moveable Feast. My latest Vetiver crush is Hiram Green’s.
Thank You TaraC,
I’ll find it on Kindle ands give it a red hot go.
I’m lemming Hiram’s Vetiver HARD!
Portia x
I am not a fan of Hemmingway, the writer, either. I don’t think Hemmingway, the perfume, would appeal to me. The Masque Milano that I liked and was thinking of buying was Tango. I need to try it again and see how I feel about it now.
I love Tango. I can’t stand Hemingway or vetiver, but MM Tango I waited on a year and finally purchased a while back. It’s great.
Yeah, Tango is lovely. I also have a bottle of Russian Tea that I love but rarely wear.
Portia xx
I’m with Tom — not particularly partial to Hemingway’s writing. It’s good though that MM offers smaller sized bottles.
He seems to be well out of favour.
Yeah, those bottles are very cool.
Portia xx
Hi Cinnamon,
The Arpege perfume post I just commented on.?
Hey Portia- there’s a six hour Ken Burns doco on Binge here in Oz which will tell you all you need to know about the great man.. I recommend it, even though I’m not a great fan.The frag sounds interesting tho
AH! Thanks Lee.
I don’t have binge but know someone with it.
Portia xx
Hi Portia,
Could you send me the email for perfume posse? I can’t seem to get an email so I can send my message regarding the Arpege bottles.
Trying!
Thx.
Sure Annie,
Try
evilauntieanita (@) gmail (dot) com
I remember trying this and thinking that it was like Heminways writing for me. Just didn’t see what the fuss was about. I do remember Harry’s Bar in Century City had a “Bad Hemingway” contest for years. I found those more fun than the real deal.
Yep — his prose is so spoofable, and those entries were way more fun!
TOM! I love this.
You know, I kinda want to read something of his now so I can laugh at it with you.
Portia xx
Hi Tom,
I just responded to the Arpege post! Might make you smile.