Hiya Posse, It’s the time of year that I start having reflective thoughts. Love, good times, loss, grief, pinnacles and depths all come flooding back. It’s nearly impossible to live on this planet and fail to be swept up in the Christmas story. No matter what your religion, or lack of it. Christmas is a relentless barrage. Expectations, history, shopping, events, family and friends. It can cause even the most prosaic of us to have melt downs. Last year mine was epic and will not soon be forgotten, or forgiven. It did clear the air though. Anyway, it’s inspired me because I’ve been looking at some of my long gone, discontinued perfumes. The important ones have a backup or two, mostly. Some got completely away, as they do.
Most of my long gone lovelies you’ve read about from me before, elsewhere. Let’s take a trip down Memory Lane. Then in the comments I’d love to read about some of yours too please.
Long Gone
Blonde by Versace
BWF alert! Working in nightclubs we were often given boxed samples to give out during a night. Blonde and Dreamer were both given to us one weekend. All of us Drag Queens went crazy for Blonde and most of us bought a Dreamer as well. You know, back then we separated the sexes we dressed in by scent. It must have been a Sydney Drag Signature for five or six years. When it hit the discounters I bought a couple of bottles of the EdT and a few of the extrait. Every now and then I get the spirit and douse myself in both for special gigs. The hoard is running low now. I can’t find my open bottles! GAH! Freakout and nearly two hours of searching, I’ve put them away (obviously in a rush). Pictured is my last BNIC EdT.
Liberté by Cacharel
This is one of my most worn DCd fragrances. Yes, I know it’s really pedestrian, was a huge flop and is eschewed by most of the perfumistahood. Don’t care. This sizzling orange fruitchouli confection brings a smile to my face every spritz. It was really lucky how reviled it was. During its run out I was able to purchase bottles for next to nothing. Pretty sure I’ll NEVER run out, even ifs I live to 200.
Niki de Saint Phalle
Of all the long lost chypres this is the ONE! It’s not just the scent, which is fabulous. It’s the Niki de Saint Phalle story, the packaging and her art. I’m yet to go to the Japanese island park where her statutory is displayed. We do make pilgrimage to the water garden next to the Pompidou Centre every Paris visit. We’ve travelled to Hannover in Germany, where so much of her work is enshrined. There’s something so alluring about her art that captures my imagination. Luckily, we were given a heads up that they were DCing the brand and though Long Gone I have heaps here in all shapes and sizes. Never did get that extrait bottle but some day it will show up.
Vanille Noire by Yves Rocher
Jin and my first visit to Europe together we caught the train to Prague. It was 2013 and I’d been blogging for just over a year. Also, I was making stupid money. They say a fool and his money are soon parted, truth. HA! It was my first Sephora (in the train station but I didn’t get there for a proper look till we were leaving), bought my first Cartier Les Heures at their Town Square store and found an Yves Rocher store on the main drag from station to our hotel. Mid winter, snow piled up on the ground and I was looking for a delectably chewy vanilla. Quell Surprise! Vanille Noire. There is still over half left but when I want a cheeky pick memory scent, nothing fits the same spot.
The whole Tommi Sooni brand
Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Tommi Sooni was one of the most progressive perfume houses of its time. An Australian brand that really pushed some envelopes. They are Long Gone but not forgotten. In the end I bought four but WISH I’d had the foresight to buy three of everything. I’ve got TS1, TS2, Jinx and Tarantella. They closed with zero fanfare and no sellout. One day they were buyable, then they were gone. So bloody sad. Now my bottles are boxed and packed away. Too precious to use.
So there are some of mine. What faves of yours are Long Gone?
Portia xx