Persolaise Review: Archives 69 from État Libre D’Orange (2011)
You can’t accuse ÉLdO of cowardice. The instant accessibility of last year’s commendable Like This may have raised fears that one of perfumery’s cockiest houses was starting to play it…
Jasmine Award Shortlist
Last night’s modest party plans were thwarted: Madame Persolaise had eaten all the champagne truffles! I can’t exactly complain, as I had bought them for her as a present, but…
NEWS – Jasmine Award Nomination
What a way to start a weekend! I’ve just been informed that one of the articles I wrote for Basenotes (Bottled By Baccarat) has been shortlisted in the Best Website…
Review: Leather Oud from Christian Dior and Absolue Pour Le Soir from Maison Francis Kurkdjian (2010)
Dior Leather Oud (Francois Demachy) and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir (Francis Kurkdjian) reviews by award-winning perfume critic Persolaise (2010)
Trust Me – I Know What's Good For You
If you like to keep tabs on what’s happening in the perfume blogosphere, you’ll certainly have noticed that the last few weeks have seen the publication of several Best Of…
Smelly Bloggers
This is just a short entry to wish you all a great weekend and remind you that you’ve got until Sunday night (UK time) to enter the draw for a…
Review Showcase: SoOud (2010)
How many perfumes should you include in the launch of a brand new fragrance range? Well, Stéphane Humbert-Lucas and the people at Intertrade Europe seem to think that the answer’s…
Interview For BBC TV Documentary + Opus IV Sample Winner
Shall we start Sunday by picking a winner? Yes, I think we shall. In fact, I think we shall go one better. As the response to last week’s Amouage sample…
Paris 2010: Would Guerlain Notice If I Stole A Few Tiles?
I suspect this blog is going to mention bathrooms quite a lot over the course of the next few weeks. Or, to be more precise, one bathroom. The one and…
Bertrand Eases The Crossing
An empty crib at Maison Persolaise There’s no point trying to deny the fact: normal life is just around the corner. It’s time to resume routines and slip back into…
New Year Wishes + Sample Give-Away: Opus IV from Amouage
Happy New Year everybody! I’d like to wish all of you nothing but happiness, peace and good health for the next twelve months… not to mention lots and lots of…
A Scented Year – 2010
Image: Roxana Villa The year’s almost over, which means it must be time for another list. Today, I’m very pleased to be able to take part in an inter-blog roundup…
Rude, Unhelpful And Snobby. Must Be French…?
This is when I really start to enjoy the Christmas break. The madness of the last two days has faded away, and I can just sit around the house, being…
Returning To A Pine-Scented House
Preparations for Christmas are the most important item on the agenda at the moment, so I’m afraid I haven’t got any time to spare for writing, but I will just…
Off To Look For Number 68
You won’t hear much from me for a few days, because the snow has cleared – thank goodness! – and I’m off to persuade the SAs at Guerlain, Montale and…
A Mirror Up To Nature: Diaghilev At The V&A
We’re all aware that, over the years, perfumery has been influenced by other art forms and, indeed, by wider socio-historical developments. Nevertheless, it’s always fascinating to see concrete evidence of…
Review: Opus IV from Amouage (2010)
The house of Amouage – one of a tiny number of international brands with bona fide Middle Eastern credentials – has often produced dazzling perfumes by taking classical, old-world structures…
Playground Perfume
I think I ought to start charging for perfume shopping consultancy services. The other day, another close relative – a young woman who recently left home to go to Uni…
Fougère Royale Winner + A Pre-Christmas Escapade
Thanks to all of you who entered last week’s draw. I can now reveal that the destination for my pre-yuletide getaway with Madame Persolaise is Quite a predictable…
Tech-Minded Winners
Who feels like winning a sample of perfume? Thanks again to everyone who entered last week’s SoOud draw. I have sought the guidance of Random.org and I can now reveal…