Don't you find it is weird sometimes how you can test a fragrance for some time and be so not in love, then come back to it a few weeks later, or in a different season, and find your perception of it has totally changed? This has happened to me recently with two perfumes, Papyrus de Ciane by Parfumerie Generale and Fat Electrician by ELDO. When I first tried these in the summer I sort of liked them, but definitely wasn't blown away. Having tried them again this autumn, they are so much nicer. So what's up? Is it a change in my skin chemistry? To me this is part of the magic of perfume. I like to be surprised and I'm even happier when I move from lukewarm to hot. I can sort of understand Fat Electrician. I tend to appreciate vetiver scents more in the autumn, although I'm not entirely sure why. Papyrus de Ciane surprises me more - I would have thought this would fit far more into late spring/summer wearing, with its green, slightly mossy feel. Instead it comes alive for me late in the season, where a slightly more woody facet reveals itself.
Are there any perfumes that have surprised you like this?
Carnal Flower and Miller Harris' L'Air de Rien were two samples that I tried last winter and REALLY didn't like when I wore them. Almost threw them away! I often read comments on these scents later and pulled them out of the baggie to try again-this time during the heat of summer. I absolutely loved them both-go figure :) I ordered a larger decant of Carnal Flower and NEED a FB!
ReplyDeleteMichael, perfumes change in both directions for me. I love them first, then change my mind, or they start out so-so, then I fall in love later.
ReplyDeletePerhaps our olfactory senses change with the seasons. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm glad it happens to you, too!
Hey Michael - I had to go look in my blog for my review of PdC "This is a most intriguing scent - it's green yet it's musky. It's two!two! two scents in one (not quite but it does stretch from spring to early fall all in one little vial). I like it - a lot - and will put it on my 'must have' list." I can see why you would like it more in the fall!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments guys. Cymbaline, I struggle a little with Miller Harris if I'm being honest. Unfortunately L'Air is hard to find now in the UK for some reason and my local dept stores don't stock it anymore. Josephine, I much prefer if a perfume goes from indifference to love, rather than the other way round. Sadly that is not always the case! Frida, I'm glad you like PdC. I've said it before, but Parfumerie Generale seldom puts out a fragrance that doesn't challenge on at least some level.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on Miller Harris being a struggle. Most of their scents I've not been crazy about and they are difficult to find here in the US also. While at the Paris Bon Marche in August I went through the MH line thoroughly and actually ended up with Fleurs de Sel rather than L'Air-it was quite nice and I felt I would wear it more often.
ReplyDeleteSounds good Cymbaline. Is Fleurs de Sel similar to Sel de Vetiver?
ReplyDeleteGood question about SdV and FdS! I've been meaning to do a two wrist comparison and you got me motivated. They are similar in the 'salt' feel that is there all the way through. FdS is sweet and camphorous at the same time-maybe the rosemary/sage listed as notes while the SdV smells like vetiver/anice to me. More sillage and longevity with the FdS. I prefer the FdS in warmer weather and the SdV in cool weather. I think both are fine for men and women. It sure is difficult to put smell impressions into words-I certainly admire your fragrance review blogabilities!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cymbaline - you've described them very well!
ReplyDeleteTwo scents I'd picked up at Winners (Canadian version of Target; not sure of UK equivalent--discount retailer) and had an initial "meh" reaction: Jolie Madame by Balmain and Ombre Rose L'Original. Then, this week, as autumn really arrived, I tried out each again and was completely smitten--especially with Ombre Rose (100 ml EDT for $39.99 Cdn). What a lovely crisp rose (that sounds contradictory, but it is crisp!). Note to self: always a good idea to doublecheck those snap judgments!
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