Of all the Flowers in the world

No this is not another post on tuberose, although Shakespeare’s character perhaps got it wrong with the rest of that line.  (I do adore rose, though).  Spring has sprung and now I am forced to bite my tongue regarding the chill in the air.  I try not to complain, but alas, bring on the heat. It took Lee, Dusan and a few others to point out to me over the course of a few years that I seem to be drawn to flowers.  The bottles I reach for over and over are all dominated by a single stem.  From the outrageous tuberose to the demure lily of the valley, I want my florals to showcase a leading lady. I do love tuberose to a fault.  I will buy unsniffed anything with tuberose as a dominant player.   And truth be told I am rarely disappointed.  (I did not adore By Kilian’s Beyond Love, but to me there just wasn’t much to love).  There are plenty of gorgeous florals in the bottles that crowd the shelves, so I thought I’d share my current favorites (because next week, they will all change….fickle  is such an ugly word. In early Spring, hyacinths always give me pause.  I hover over gardens of them even in public to inhale the intoxicating, almost sweetly astringent air.  It’s as though I am enjoying a scent I’m not supposed to love….like gasoline (not my cup of tea, but many do love it).  Diptyque’s Jardin Clos is a beautiful garden of hyacinths, but they’re screaming to be heard.  They are fighting over the bees and moths but the symphony begins to fall flat about 45 minutes into the show.  I do love it, but there just isn’t enough to hold my attention for long.  L’artisan’s Jacinthe des Bois is turly gorgeous…discontinued, the idiots, but gorgeous.  I spray this on and the power is intoxicating.  Then, the sweetness of the hyacinths (or blubells, I don’t discriminate) begins to temper the eau.  I do love it and now we’re forced to horde….to make room for what I ask you??If roses make you blush, Dior’s Collection Particuliere is magnificent.  Probably my favorite Rose to come along in years.  The Rose dominates, but in a classically sophisticated way.  The scent is simply stunning.  The pimento (a note I thought I’d hate) adds just the right “heat” for lack of a better word.  Frederic Malle’s Une Rose is dark and gorgeous, but I really have to be in the mood for such a rich rose.  So, what are your favorite flowers for the skin?

  • Cheezwiz says:

    I’d have to say the one flower that always seems to work for my chemistry is Lily of the Valley. Can be a soliflore or mixed with other things, but it just works for me. I know it sends many people screaming for the hills though! Iris tempered with other things seems to agree with me as well. Sadly I often can’t do rose, and have not managed to find a convincing perfume version of one my most favorite floral scents: freesia!

  • loverdoll says:

    Bryan,
    A wise man once told me this and I shall share it with you, in honor of your birthday.
    “Age is mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter!”

  • sylvia says:

    at this very moment? en passant, and therefore lilacs, have my attention. ask me again in 5 minutes.

  • Ben says:

    I’ve discovered that I really like rose fragrances, particularly C&S No. 88. Andy Tauer’s brand new Incense Rosé also deserves a mention on this thread. It’s really wonderful!

    • Bryan says:

      I have only tried a few of Andy’s. I have no doubt that Incense Rose is gorgeous. I must try it.
      Thank you for the heads up.

  • Lee says:

    Well, you know I’m a floral wimp – at least on the skin. I grow loads of scented plants – was just out sniffing the hyacinths just now. I tend to like night-scented plants most from the humble phlox and nicotiana to the full-on toxic blousiness of brugmansias and daturas. Jasmine too, of course.

    The only florals I seem drawn to are – first of all, thanks to you, Carnal Flower, and second Andy Tauer’s Maroc pour elle – love its headshoppy darkness.

    Are you perky, Bryan? And what are the temps out there. We’ve just got through a horrid week of rain and hail and snow, and it’s once again spring-like. I hope it lasts…

    • Bryan says:

      Honestly Lee, I’m a bit torn up…my B-day is tomorrow and I’m depressed and existential and well, generally pouty. I’m truly getting on everyone’s nerves. There is something about a fabulous floral, though, that makes me forget my slow march towards wrinkles.
      Kisses.

      • tmp00 says:

        Bryan Honey-

        I know what you mean; I find myself adding a year unconsciously to cushion the blow. Oy, the big five-oh is not a vicious rumor. Moisturise, keep up your “yes face” and spritz whatever makes you happy. We all think you’re wonderful! 😡

      • Lee says:

        Have a wonderful birthday!

  • Tigs / Erin says:

    Bryan, have you read that Sniffa mag article on perfumes of the zodiac? I think a comment from Elle pointed me there a week ago or so. Anyways, I am a Taurus who bull-headishly does not believe in horoscopes at all, but finds this sort of thing fun. The article recommended *roses*, which are not my thing at all, as well as all chypres (okay, *that* I get.) Just not a rose soliflore girl, I have a lot of trouble with rose going sour and overpowering on me. I love Une Rose, but largely because, with the wine dregs, it seems like it’s designed to be sour and overpowering – and like you, I need to be in the mood. So anyways, I was in the Guerlain boutique here while my friend was getting a make-over and was just randomly spraying the L’art et La Matière line while an SA glared at me. And I was just bowled over by Rose Barbare! How did I miss this before?! Incredible stuff, and a rose chypre, of course. Frances Kurkdjian, sir, you are brilliant. Have not tried the Dior, so now I go on the hunt…

    • Dusan says:

      E, can you post the link for that perfume & horoscope article, please? Seems like fun stuff… 🙂

      • Erin says:

        Erm, Dusan, I can only recommend going to http://www.sniffapaloozamagazine.com/ and scrolling down to the Zodiac article, under the Tarantella announcement. Can’t figure out how to link to the individual article, sorry!

        • Dusan says:

          Got it! Thanks for the main link, E, I think I’ll manage from there on… 😡

          • Dusan says:

            Funny, and all true for my sign, Leo. You know, you might also want to read what they say about your rising sign/ascendent for extra info.
            Not that I own a crystal ball and turban or anything… 😀

    • bryan says:

      Erin,
      I have to check out what it says about Aries….it being my b-day tomorrow. I bet it says forceful scents or something…we’re fiery and red and Mars….I don’t do horoscopes, but come on, they’re fun.
      XO

      • Erin says:

        Hey, Happy Birthday! My sister-in-law’s baby is being born tomorrow by c-section (babe is in breech), so you’ll have the same birthday. We don’t know what the little one is, a boy or girl. (I think “boy” and I have a 50% chance of being right!;) If it’s a boy, it’s supposed to be Liam, but maybe I can convince them on Bryan! According to the article, you guys are supposed to get my fave firey spices and “rule the leather family” – lucky you!

  • Eileen says:

    Jacinthe des Bois discontinued!?! Oooh, nooo! I’ve been enjoying my decant slowly, but I must find room in my budget to buy bottle _now_! What, if anything, could take its place?

    L’Artisan’s Fleur de Narcisse has been another favorite, but at least I want into the relationship knowing it was a limited edition.

    • bryan says:

      I agree. JdesB has been gone for a while…I’m sorry to say. I keep a look out on ebay all the time. Fleur de Narcisse just doesn’t last on me. Unfortunately, the same goes with too many soft florals. I just have to respray I guess.

  • alba says:

    I’m not too keen on florals. I can’t get to love them, even though I’ve tried. I’ve failed with la haie fleurie, fracas, l’ombre dans l’eau, malmaison and others. The Rosines and the Penhaligons don’t mean much to me. I can only appreciate them “if they keep a low profile”. Violette Precieuse, Etro’s Dianthus, TDC Osmanthus, En Passant, and occasionally Rose Ikebana. Can you recommend any other fragrances that maybe I’d like? I’m getting tired of orientals, you see (that’s not exactly true, but a little bit of change is always needed)

    • bryan says:

      I would have to say give some guerlains a try. Caron’s acasiosa is a gorgeous jasmine, but the depth of the perfume goes much much further. Bellogia is stunning and then there’s Apres L’ondee. Classics get it right…truly.

  • minette says:

    rose, jasmine, tuberose, lily, iris, gardenia and many others. the only time i don’t like a flower in perfume is when it is screechy – which often happens with freesia and frangipani for some reason. although diptyque gets freesia right with ofresia.

    florals i love include la haie fleurie, jardin blanc, carolina herrera, un lys, black march (lilies), fantasia de fleurs, fleurs de bulgarie, irisia, no. 31 rue cambon, no. 22, no. 5, songes, fracas, narcisse noir, and dozens of others.

    but few things are better than getting to stick your nose into a living blossom.

    • bryan says:

      I could not agree more. I love every single one of the scents you listed. No one likes a screechy floral, which I find lean towards LotV. I can not live without my Carnal Flower.

  • Dusan says:

    Spring has finally showed up at our rather dismal party, hasn’t it? Listening to Goldfrapp’s latest Seventh Tree album (do have a listen to the opener “Clowns” if you can), I’m yearning for at least a three-day escape to the country for a quick battery recharge. It’s been ages since I lay in a comfy tree shade just taking in the world around me… (and *you* claim to be a romantic, ha! 🙂 )
    A few days ago Robin of NST did a post on dream perfumes where commenters were invited to describe the perfume they’d like to have created for them. Lo and behold, mine was an orange blossom based floral (not a straightforward one, but still)!
    Rose is another flower that sits well with/on me. I prefer it when it’s dark, lush and almost edible (Rose de Nuit), but I like it also in its ethereal incarnation (Ecume de Rose) or as plush backdrop for soft woods (Egoiste). Give me irises, jasmines, violets and bluebells any day… I adore mimosas as well but don’t know of any good perfumes with a prominent mimosa note. Any recs?
    Glad to see you sundaying with us anew, B. Hugs!

    • MattS says:

      The new Goldfrapp album is sublime. Not at all what I was expecting but completely enchanting. A&E, Cologne Cerrone Houdini, I love it all.

      • Dusan says:

        Yay, so glad you like the album! Yes, definitely a downstep for the band but in a welcome direction, at least for me. To tell you the truth, I was getting a bit tired of their glam pervtronica vibe. Black Cherry was a fav of mine, with Felt Mountain as close second, but Seventh Tree has captivated me so… And agree on Cologne Cerrone Houdini, it’s a slice! 🙂

    • Bryan says:

      D,
      I do look forward to your comments. I am a true tragic romantic. I love me some dark roses. And I do love orange blossom…the fleur d’oranger more so than neroli.
      Hugs right back at you, D.

  • Musette says:

    Waaah! I don’t know to whom I’m writing! I get sooo confused…

    …well, I’m not confused about flowers. I love LotV, which has a weird, wasabi-like note when I first put it on but softens down to the flower itself. For straight-up soliflore, with the flowers and leaves and all, I go with Coty’s Muguet des Bois..for a more complex version it’s Diorissimo. I am very hidebound with this flower and wear it only in the spring and early summer.

    I love bitter orange blossom, which makes JCE/Malle’s Bigarade (which is more about the orange itself, I know…but it boosts the Orange Blossom Body Cream by Jo Malone – without that zing! the OB smells too waxy.

    Penhaligon’s Violet when I’m feeling particularly tragic#-o

    Carnation: Caron (and I LOVE me some ‘nation, when shows up fresh and zingy, without a lot of powder! Just cheers a gal up!

    Love roses but only in the garden or in a vase..on me rose soliflores smell like rancid cooking oil

    xoxoxo

    • Musette says:

      well, that was a disjointed sentence on the Bigarade. I meant to say it’s my ‘go-to Boost’ for Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom:d/

    • Bryan says:

      You are writing to everyone, I suppose. I agree about the LotV. It does need a moment to soften.
      I haven’t smelled Penhaligon’s Violetta in a while, must retry.

      • Musette says:

        Bryan –

        Hello! Actually I meant ‘who posted this?”. Delighted to meet you! It’s still a bit difficult for me, as a newbie, to always know who’s who…there seems to be some rotation ? but I haven’t figured it out yet! Everyone else seems to know by osmosis!

        Violets are tempermental, in my opinion. I’m in agreement with Diane Ackerman about their auickly-suffocating qualities, though they are exquisite. I find I can only wear violet on a rainy day (or, on occasion, in a blizzard) and then it must be with serious restraint and elegant clothing (coat is a must) – they just seem to require a full couture approach, much like Fracas.

        Happy Birthday tomorrow!! <:-p I have no idea how slow your wrinkle-march is but once you actually get (t)here it's a quite interesting and worthwhile experience. there's an elegance about being a bit older that one simply can't pull off at an earlier age. You can wear better fragrances, too! @};-@};-@};- (flowers for your birthday -

        • Lee says:

          Musette, my sweet – here’s the rundown
          March – Monday and Thursday
          Patty – Tuesday and Friday
          Lee – Wednesday
          Bryan – Sunday.

          Hope this helps.

          xxxx

  • chayaruchama says:

    I love so many-
    Roses, lilies of the valley,carnations,hyacinths, daffodils, daisies, jasmines,irises.
    Violets !!!

    Kissing you, from the Irish Riviera, boyo…

    • Bryan says:

      Chaya,
      I need your contact info, sweetie. I have some things to send you!!
      I must hear about the riviera. I have family in Cork and Claire.:d
      [email protected]
      xoxo

    • tmp00 says:

      Ooooh, I want to hear about the Riviera as well! I’m dying to get over there and get my grandparents birth certificates so I can get Irish citizenship. Don’t know why I want it but I do!

      Bryan- you know that I’m bot huge on white flowers, but I am doing loving Miller Harris Geranium Bourbon these days, and I really with that Andy Tauer would move forward with his hyacinth fragrance…