Well, firstly, while you’re reading this in 2024 I am typing it on the Friday before Christmas. Why this sudden spurt of getting things done early? Efficiency? Heck no. I have made an early New Years resolution to go through my place and cull out all the stuff I haven’t used and donate it, and in general de-crap the place before it looks like Grey Gardens minus the cat food cans (I am the kind who keeps buying clothes and shoes on sale even though I usually wear the same few things [laundered of course] over and over) and my closets desperately need reorganising since I also tend to keep the boxes things came in in case I need to move. Which has occurred exactly twice in the last 30 years.
As for New Years, I had stopped drinking completely about 5 years ago (wine gives me acid, hard liquor immediately puts me to sleep, then wakes me up with acid) but I decided sometime back in the mid-80’s that New Years was just not for me. I just didn’t see the point in spending the Earth to get into a bar that I normally wouldn’t be caught dead in only to be guaranteed at midnight to be standing amongst people I have zero urge to kiss. I could stay home and enjoy a nice split of Veuve and nibbles alone, watch a movie and be in bed by the time people were rying to weave home.
I know you’re thinking “Cheap and Snotty, how DOES he stay single?” It’s a mystery..
So this year I am thinking egg nog and “The Poseidon Adventure” With Shelly Winters, natch.
As for the eponymous perfume, I got some sort of notice on FacePlace to sign up to get a free sample. Just give an email address (I have one just for this purpose) and away they will ship. And away they shipped.
I know it may be a little snotty, but I don’t think I have ever been exactly blown away by any Cartier fragrance. As a matter of fact I don’t think I could name five of them. I did work with someone who wore Le Baiser du Dragon and it was pretty, but I thought pretty dull for something that was called Dragon’s Breath. I sort of think of Cartier fragrances as I do of the jewelry: certainly nice, but just sort of a showier and slightly vulgar Tiffany. (he typed in the self assured and snotty way reserved for those whose bank accounts in no way are at the level of his social aspirations.)
So. La Panthère. Notes, according to the interwebs are: (Top) strawberry, rhubarb, dried fruits, anise, bergamot; (Heart) gardenia, ylang ylang, orange blossom, rose, pear; (Base) oakmoss, patchouli, musk, leather. It starts off well on me with the gardenia and the rhubarb but then just goes all fruity. I never get to any oakmoss or patch, never mind leather or musk. It’s as if this Panthère had some sort of epiphany and went vegan.
An epiphany I unfortunately do not share.
La Panthère is available at several retailers, Neiman Marcus has a deluxe discovery set for about $150. My sample was from Cartier, for which I am sure they are heartily sorry.
Photos: mine and Pexels.
Okay- you all got me. I placed an order at STC for 3 of Les Heures: Oud and Musc, Diaphane, and Brilliante. Circle back for more Cartier cattiness. Or maybe I’ll purr??
you savage! You have me HOWLING over here! The jewelry is not usually to my taste but the Heures line of perfumes are gorgeous (Mme Laurent is whom I aspire to be, if ever I grow up – well, her and Ines de la Fressange (mature version). And Gina Torres.
Oh, nebber mind.
I love Baiser Vole Lys Rose – but that should come as NO surprise (a woman who grows 100+ Oriental lilies is unlikely to not enjoy that scent) – but all the other mainline Cartiers leave me ‘meh’
Okay, I am going to get some samples of Les Heures..
BAHAHAHAHA “a showier and slightly vulgar Tiffany” — so perfect! They’re somewhere near Versace on the tackiness (tawdriness?) scale much of the time. As others have noted, Les Heurs can be fantastic though — very different.
Well now I’m really going to have to try them..
The Cartiers I love/have loved are from the Heures collection. Am very curious about old Declaration. Panthere being vegan made me laugh. Thank you. I don’t think this is something I’ll spend energy seeking out.
Arc has the brutes collection. I should try them.
HA! Tom, you are hilarious.
You never sniffed the prive Les Heures de Cartier signed off by Mathilde Laurent? I love them all.
From their regular range I love Baiser Volé, Declaration parfum and L’Envol de Cartier has become a giving favourite.
Next time I’m in LA we must go sniff the range, yes you are welcome to sniff at them as well.
Portia xx
StC (which keeps autocorrecting) has the heiress ones. I guess I should try them.
Come to LA before the elections!
I actually enjoy Cartier fragrances. The original (vintage) Panthere from the late 80s is one of my favorite perfumes and I still wear it. I also enjoy the current La Panthere, a friend gifted me the extrait and it is different from the original Panthere but beautiful. I’ve been a fan of Delices and Must de Cartier, and I like Pasha for men. I also prefer a quiet New Year’s Eve at home, I was asleep by 9 pm. We shared some Prosecco bubbles and a nice dinner.
I’m hearing a lot of love for the vintage Panthere. I wonder if StC has it?
Amazing, we actually DID watch “The Poseidon Adventure” on NYE.
The only Cartier fragrance I can recall liking is Declaration. (The slightly skanky original) Might have to track down a decant to refresh my memory…
Hey, it’s a fun movie. Unlike the remakes..
I’m an old woman, over 70. I was in bed on NYE by 10 a.m. and sound asleep by 11. No booze, just a few gummies. Back to work today and emailing with one of our vendors. He asked how my NYE was and I said quiet and early and asked about his. The response cracked me up. He said he’s one of the ‘old degenerates’ who is never seen out on NYE, Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, July 4th etc. I am quite glad to be in this class of O.D.s at this stage of my life.
Cartier always disappoints. I’ve bought and rehomed several. “The Dragon” was a sad let down. I’ve given up on trying to like “Declaration” after years of wearing it once and then hiding it way back in the cupboard at day’s end.
Wishing all here the best for 2024.
Hey, I’m happily aged into being an OD. I don’t like crowds and people who have over-imbibed. A nice dinner out and safely home before the kooks and nuts start hitting the checkpoints for me, thanks.
Cartier kind of does disappoint.
Hahahaha, you make me laugh. Loved your review of Panthere. I haven’t tried it. There was a Cartier that I liked a while back — it was their Rose one. Y memory fails me! I’d much rather stay home and watch movies, mix my own cocktails or sip Champagne, any night of the year including NYE. So add me to your snotty club! We watched Maestro and The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant. Both were great, though totally different. The night before, I watched the 1978 Death on the Nile which has a star-studded cast. Angela Lansbury is HILARIOUS in that one, and plays her part to the hilt. Happy New Year Posse friends! 🙂
Oh I love that “Death on the Nile”! Everybody in it is great. I also love “Evil Under the Sun” which has Maggie Smith and Diana Rigg as best frenemies and Sylvia Miles swallowing scenery, script, and co-stars without bothering to chew. And a Cole Porter score!
I am not a fan of Cartier perfumes either. I do have a partial bottle of Baiser Vole. It’s a pleasant lily for summer, the price was great, and I like the bottle. Would I buy it again when it’s gone? No.
As for NYE and alcohol – I am very lucky concerning alcohol since I can take it or leave it. I usually leave it. I do not like feeling stale the next morning. I did have a glass of my favorite, Bailey’s Irish Cream, to toast the new year though.
IDK what it is. They just never did it.
NYE is one of those made-up things like Valentine’s Day. You’re made to feel like you’re a loser if you aren’t partying down.
The only really fun one I had was in Milwaukee where it was a totally unseasonable 65F at midnight. It was crazy wonderful to be wandering around without even a coat.
I much prefer vintage Panthère. As for new year’s eve, I don’t drink and I go to bed by 10. We have one glass of bubbly at home for the 12pm EST ball drop and then go to bed. My husband insists on the champagne, I think it’s a waste of money.
I am kind of with you on the Champagne. I like it, but I son’t see a difference in taste to make it worth the price difference. I’ve never had Cristalle so I can’t judge but DP is very good. Just not $100 a bottle good (for me)
La Pawntere smells sour on me, like stale water that lilies had died in.
Now vintage Panthere is a bunch of those big ol blousy lilies threaded through with gardenias with real sandalwood in the base. Creamy & powerful
I guess vintage wins out (again! What a shock!)
Those blousy lillies are the ones I wanted to smell, not this shy kitty.