Gateway Drug: Padparadscha by Satellite

First off, let me say that I hope the East Coast peeps are doing okay this winter has been a total b&*ch for anyone who lives east of practically Phoenix. I remember winters from my 28 years of living back East, and when I decided to move to SoCal, I practically raised my fist in the air and exclaimed in my best Scarlett O’Hara “As G-d is my witness, I’ll never shovel snow again!” Boston must be a nightmare..

So, as you all know I was into perfume practically at birth, if not at conception. So way back in 2003 when I heard that Luckyscent was opening a brick and mortar store near the Beverly Center (and me) I had to stop by. It was an incredibly tiny space: I doubt it was more than 10 feet wide and maybe 30 feet deep. They were very friendly, but it was the selection that floored me. There were things I’d heard of but never thought I’d smell. There were things I’d never heard of. I was like a kid in a candy store.

Then I smelled Padparadscha.

Named after a famously rare sapphire in a bright red-orange hue. I was immediately in love.

Notes (from Luckyscent): amber, musk, cedar, sandalwood, juniper, pepper.

See why I was in thrall?

Fast forward to this week. Cold gone, I decided to look through the cupboard to find something to wear. In the back was my bottle of Padpardscha, which I realized I hadn’t worn in several years. So I gave myself a generous spritz. Would it hold up? Would it still be love? Or would it be “time for eBay, you..”

Oh no, it’s still love. I still love it’s wonderful combo of amber, musk and spices, as well the way it kind f flits from sweet to hot and back in never ending layers. I even like that it has pretty decent lasting power.

What I don’t like is that it’s out of stock at Luckyscent, and the fact that it’s listed at $80 makes me thing that it’s not coming back soon. So sad.

Image: Luckyscent

  • Julie L says:

    I’m not sure if this got posted elsewhere by mistake, so I’ll try again because I want to say how incredibly generous, and thoughtful, are the people at this site!! I sometimes am simply overwhelmed by the kindness shown….and “you know who you are” if reading this message today!! XO XO!!

  • elvie says:

    Dear Tom,

    How funny life is. This irreplaceable gem was my very first full bottle niche purchase in the brand new Neroli perfumery in Budapest, way back in the december of 2007. I havent looked back since:)… I love the juniper,the pepper and the cedar in it. When I got pregnant with my first baby, and terribly smell averse, I sold it, and years later when I remembered its gorgeousness, and wantedto have it again, whoosh! It was gone. I went on the craziest hunt last year, emailing luckyscent (its really gone); harassing remote northern Italian pharmacies (they did have few, but postage was insane) to the point when I managed to buy 20something mls from a most wonderful frag forum member (G, if you are reading this, God bless your gentle soul for it till the end of times) and Im hoarding it as the tears of Nymphs. I managed to find some kinda-substitutes (Fille en Aguilles almost does the juniper trick, and one may find its distant shadow in Dita von T’s Erotique), but nothing truly compares.
    Thank You for reminding me t wear it tonight. Its my Lumbermill in Paradise.

    Hugs to those in the cold and storms!

  • Julie L says:

    Would anyone who has a bottle or enough to spare be willing to trade me a decant of it for something that I have? If it I totally understand!

  • Lisa D says:

    I got a sample set of Satellite scents a few years ago, and I remember Paparadscha was my hands down favorite!

  • Sheri says:

    Gateway drug, indeed! Padparadscha is the first bottle I ever bought from Scent Bar, after discovering the store a few years ago. So of course that was the beginning of many subsequent discoveries/purchases at Scent Bar. “…it kind of flits from sweet to hot and back in never ending layers,” is what I love so much about Padparascha. Thanks, Tom. I’m going to wear it today. Excited!

  • mikasminion says:

    I like it too and ordered my sample a couple of years ago. Since then, it has been out of stock every time I’ve checked Luckyscent, which may just be bad timing on my part. I know I read somewhere that it had been discontinued but I can’t pinpoint the source of that rumor nor when it may have happened. The fact that it is still listed on Luckyscent’s site gives me a tiny hope but I don’t see it listed anyplace else on the Internet and I know it used to be sold through the Satellite website.

  • rosarita says:

    This was one of my first niche loves and I still get out a decant every fall; it’s like October in a bottle.

  • Julie L says:

    I have looked for that perfume FOREVER!!! I have a teeny tiny sample that I’ve been sitting on , not wanting to use it up!! Wow someone actually has a bottle!??! Love!!