Persolaise 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…
Fougère Royale Give-Away Reminder
Yesterday, Madame Persolaise and I decorated the entire house (with the help of a few hapless elves), so we’re now officially in Christmas mode and ready to tuck into mince…
Review: Portrait Of A Lady from Editions De Parfums Frederic Malle (2010)
Perfume review: Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady (Dominique Ropion), by award-winning critic Persolaise (2010, rose, scent, fragrance)
When 24 Just Isn’t Enough
Regular readers of this blog will know that, every now and then, I’m drawn to the subject of time… or, more specifically, the lack of time. I’ve been thinking a…
Fougère Royale Giveaway
Things are starting to get busy again at Maison Persolaise, mostly because of getting ready for Christmas (every year, I forget how long it takes to wrap presents) but also…
Tauer Cologne Du Maghreb Winner + Another Giveaway!
Before I announce the winners of the draw, I just want to thank all of you who entered. I did, of course, read and enjoy every single one of your…
Tauer Cologne Du Maghreb Giveaway + Christmas 2010 Recommendations
You wouldn’t necessarily know it from this blog, but I’m quite fond of lists, so I thought I ought to mark the first weekend of December with a round-up of…
Mystery Draw Reminder + Quality Control
Making your own blotter strips can be quite a contemplative experience. Last night, whilst the snow steadily covered the skylights at Maison Persolaise and the temperature plunged below ‘you can’t…
Review: Fougère Royale from Houbigant (2010)
How do you make a fougère that has enough fougère-ness to justify the label but not so much that it smells like a disappointing cliche? That’s precisely the challenge faced…
Breath Of God Sample Winner + Advance Warning: Mystery Perfume Giveaway
As we start the first day of the final month of the year, I’m pleased to be able to announce that an extremely exciting draw is going to take place…
Breath Of God Sample Giveaway Reminder + The Delights Of Christmas Shopping
Madame Persolaise and I went Christmas shopping on Saturday. Big mistake. I can’t say that our present-hunting was entirely fruitless – when we finally returned home, I grudgingly conceded that…