Last week was busy. I’m not used to being that busy anymore. So, positive and negative.
Anyway, I was in town on Friday and had originally planned to find something perfume to write about from our one remaining department store’s stock. But, our own alityke stepped in (sending a lovely sample parcel) that included a decant of Madge’s own offering. I’ve been mooning about Neela Vermeire’s new one that is tuberose but I really am not buying right now. So, this was a serious treat.
I love Malle Carnal Flower and Lutens Tubereuse Criminelle. I’ve even managed to make a sort of peace with Fracas. Clearly, tuberose is something I’ll pay attention to. I’ve even tried to grow it (got one stalk with a small set of flowers but only once).
I was aware of T or D (launched in 2012). Years ago, when it was still easily findable I visited our local The Perfume Shop to test something and there were loads of T or D testers out. I didn’t try it then … because I don’t appear to do things in a simple or logical way sometimes. I have to turn myself into a pretzel (eg, Shalimar) or someone steps in (alityke, in this instance) and sticks the item in front of my nose.
So, Madge and her perfume. Portia wrote about it here and Tom here. Both posts back a ways.
I read their thoughts before testing this and I have to say the pic on Portia’s post: it’s worth revisiting the writing just for that pic.
I have mixed reactions to Madge. I adore some of her music. Think it’s ground-breaking in its own way. I love that she does what she wants even if I think some of it is misguided and other things ever so slightly cringy. I’d far rather she did it though. She’s a middle finger to people who think women should behave ‘properly’ or be a certain way only.
Anyway, perfume. This was surprisingly gentle. So, hmmmm…
I get a menthol opening, with some Big.White.Flowers. This smooths out and we’re in gentle B.W.F. territory. Definitely peppery lily. Drydown is soft floral. Whereas the three tuberoses I mentioned above have serious presence and are challenging, this is a tuberose for someone who wants to wear tuberose but maybe isn’t quite sure about it – or wants to wear tuberose in the workplace and doesn’t want to clear the office out.
It’s really nice. Don’t get me wrong. I just don’t love it and don’t really feel I missed much by not trying it when it was easily available. It’s got very good longevity — like eight hours — though for having a meant-to-be challenging name, it’s really quite quiet in the end.
NB: alityke also sent a bit of Truth or Dare Naked as well. It’s the second thing she released apparently and Fragrantica calls it a floral woody musk. Also launched in 2012, it’s got gentler white flowers than T or D. It has a much more interesting opening vs T or D. Sappy rather than menthol. Maybe some mint. Or maybe that’s gentler menthol. This is a bit milkier than T or D on me but also I get the woody aspect. Some cedar, which is not a favourite note. Sweeter than T or D — a lot — which I might ascribe to the milkiness. And the sweet plus lily doesn’t sit terribly well.
Finally, and just to round things out, here are my favourite Madge songs: Don’t Tell Me, Frozen, Bad Girl, Express Yourself, Ghosttown and Candy Perfume Girl (of course).
Pics: WikiParfums and Pexels
I love that image! I never tried T or D, but I’ve always admired Madonna’s persona and musical output. I think she gets a disproportionate amount of grief because she’s female and still daring to be out there and wild and sexual instead of heading off to the nunnery when she hit 50 or thereabouts.
Get thee to a nunnery! Why wouldn’t thou be a breeder of sinners indeed. I’m surprised by how few of us actually know this perfume.
I have the ToD shower gel which isn’t much of a muchness – I prefer Fracas
( which I use in prep for CF body crème).
Perfuming is complicated!!! 😉
Oh! And… “Take a Bow” is my favorite. I loved it before the video… but that video clinched it for me!
‘Perfuming is complicated’. Uh, ok. Forgot about Take a Bow.
I do remember trying this and sort of liking it even though I had convinced myself that I didn’t like tuberose. Now I wish I had picked up a bottle when it was cheap. I could at least use it to perfume the sheets.
Oh, my petunia! You are singing the song of our people!
I expect it’s still out there somewhere—and probably at a reasonable price.
Never tried Truth or Dare. Never was a huge fan of celebrity perfumes due to many of them smell cheap. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of perfumes out there that are inexpensive that smell fabulous. At the time, I had just smelled Fracas and I was convinced that I hated anything tuberose dominant. Now I have started to enjoy tuberose dominant perfume.
Fracas has taken me a long long time and I love tuberose fragrances.
I never got around to trying Truth or Dare and won’t now that’s it’s gone anyway. I only sample discontinued perfumes that have sterling reviews or a fascinating history or that I’m simply curious about. I am a lover of vintage fragrances. T or D just doesn’t interest me.
I enjoyed sampling it but it’s not something that speaks to me.
I had the T or D bath gel once and really liked it. I’m on board for a soft tuberose — that’s my speed! I think “Cherish” is my favorite Madonna song, followed by “Vogue” and “Live to Tell.”
I love Vogue, especially the video. I find Live to Tell gives me the heeby-jeebies. Can’t explain why.
Truth or Dare was named for her documentary capturing the Blonde Ambition tour or 1991. The documentary was released in 1991.
I love both TorD & TorD Naked. I find Carnal Flower too bitter, Tuby Crim too in my face & Fracas far too femme. I have enough embonpoint without adding a Jessica Rabbit perfume. TorD Bath goo is fabulous but doesn’t out stay its welcome.
TorD Naked is my winter favourite. I don’t get the white flowers in fact I get no flowers at all. To me it’s cosy vanilla, woods, cacao & a touch of humanity from oud.
I love when we perfume peeps smell the same scent but reach different conclusions.
Btw yes I wore TorD to work & so many of my teams went gaga over it
I really appreciate being able to spend time with these. I wish I remembered when they were released and how they smelled on others.
I only found out about the release of OG TorD on a rainy day in 2012 when we paid an unplanned visit to Birmingham. TorD was being promoted in Selfridges. I fell for the opening, just Fracas enough so bought a coffret. I would never have known it was launching otherwise. Naked was an eBay buy as it wasn’t launched in the UK.
I suspect the launch was a damp squib here hence Naked not making it here
Better than them “having their own zip code”!
I do adore you! Trying to imagine using ‘embonpoint’ here in Hoots… I’d be run out of town on a rail!