Persolaise Where Did I Leave My TARDIS?
Here’s at least one thing for which I was grateful this weekend: I got to spend an hour on formulating. And as I cleaned my pipettes with alcohol, I was…
Review: The One Gentleman by Dolce & Gabbana (2010)
I confess this one had me fooled for a while. The initial impression it made was undeniably positive; in fact, the sweep of citrus, woods and irones had me making…
Baccarat At Harrods
Please click here to be redirected to my Basenotes article about the final event at Harrods’ Perfume Diaries: a presentation by Baccarat. Have a wonderful weekend, Persolaise.
Reviews: The Smell Of Freedom & Orange Blossom by Gorilla Perfumes (2010)
It’s always helpful to be reminded that snobbery has no place in perfume appreciation. A branch of Lush – with its cheerfully dressed-down aesthetics – may not be the first…
Sartorial Draw Winner + Mini Reviews, including J'Adore L'Or by Christian Dior (2010)
I spent a couple of hours wandering around shops the other day, trying to find some excitement in the glittery Christmas parcels that the major brands are desperate to thrust…
A Failure To Communicate
“Absolutely typical” are two words that have been on my mind since Friday. I was looking forward to a few days off work, I’d set aside some time for perfume…
Review: Kalimantan by Chantecaille (2010)
Do we really need another ambery oriental? The answer’s probably No, but maintaining a negative stance is problematic when you’re faced with as elegant an example of the genre as…
There Is No Fern In Fougère
My fingers stink of linalool and jasmine absolute, so I probably shouldn’t be touching the keyboard, but I’ve decided to take a few moments out from formulating to remind you…
Pyramid Building – 3
The deconstruction of the olfactory pyramid continues. Thanks very much to everyone who sent me emails in response to the previous post on the subject. It’s reassuring to know that…
Sample Giveaway + Review: Sartorial by Penhaligon’s (2010)
Any artist who manages to breathe new life into an old form deserves praise, but if you’re not especially fond of the form itself, you might find it difficult to…
Watch Out For The Comedy Moustache
I can’t quite believe it myself, but I actually managed to find a few minutes yesterday to play around with some ideas and formulations, mainly with the aim of getting…
Tauer Perfumes Scent Gathering
A presentation from Andy Tauer never sounds like a sales pitch. With charm and humility, he invites his listeners to share his enthusiasm for perfume creation, providing enticing insights into…
Perfumers Make The Most Annoying Customers…
Here’s a funny little Sales Assistant moment for you. I was in Harrods the other day and I walked up to the Loewe counter to try 7. Within moments, a…
Tauer Giveaway Winner!
Before I announce the winner of last week’s Tauer draw, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who entered and provided such wonderful ideas for perfume names; I hope…
Tauer Perfume Giveaway Reminder
This is just a brief, pre-weekend reminder that you’ve still got a couple of days left to enter the Tauer Perfumes draw for a bottle of either Une Rose Vermeille…
Review: Memoir Man & Memoir Woman by Amouage (2010)
My experience of living in the Middle East taught me that Gulf Arab men tend to have no qualms about wearing scents that would be considered far too heady and…
Doughnuts
My head’s full of smoke and leather. It’s a shame the same can’t be said for the empty vials on my window sill. I keep telling myself that one day,…
European Perfumery At Harrods Perfume Diaries
Some of you may be aware that Harrods recently hosted an evening of presentations on European perfumery. If you’d like to read my Basenotes article about the event, please click…
Tauer Perfumes Draw + Review: Eau d'Épices by Tauer Perfumes (2010)
Some truths are worth repeating: excellent fragrances feature a delicate harmony of all their disparate components. Few contemporary perfumers are as acutely aware of this as Andy Tauer, creator of…
Advance Warning: Tauer Perfumes Giveaway
Where did September go? It feels like it was only yesterday that I returned from India, filled with determination to get back to my pungent potions without delay. Time slips…