Twenty Blotters For… Vero Kern
Persolaise Vero Kern interview by perfume critic Persolaise (2011, Vero Profumo, Twenty Blotters)
Persolaise Goes Mobile + BBC Four Perfume Documentary Broadcast Date
I’ve already mentioned this on Twitter and Basenotes, but just in case some of you aren’t yet aware: episode 1 of Ian Denyer’s perfume documentary will be broadcast on BBC…
Guest Post: Strangers When We Meet – Revisiting L’Heure Bleue by Carrie Meredith
I’m sure you all know the saying “When you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it’s yours”. Does that also apply to perfume? I set…
Review: Aqua Allegoria Jasminora from Guerlain (2011) and Aqua Fahrenheit from Christian Dior (2011)
I’m often asked if price is a good indicator of the quality of a perfume. When I’m told that I must restrict my answer to one word, I always say,…
Reviews: Cologne Du Parfumeur from Guerlain (2010), Un Jardin Sur Le Toit from Hermès (2011) & Aqua Universalis Forte from Maison Francis Kurkdjian (2011)
I may be a fan of Absolue Pour Le Soir, but Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s other releases never tempt me to reach for my credit card, so I was wary of…
Review: Coeur De Vétiver Sacré from L’Artisan Parfumeur (2010) + Guerlain Bottles + Kurkdjian’s Advice
Vetivert oil is such a multi-faceted material that people in some countries wear it as a complete fragrance all by itself. It’s capable of appearing both woody and green, earthy…
Did I Complain About Not Having Enough Time?
You know what they say about waiting for buses? Well, I think the adage could probably be applied to my appointments diary for the week beginning 11th April. After a…
Review: Taj Sunset from Escada (2011)
In my teenage years, I was an absolute sucker for idealistic sci-fi and detective stories. My favourites were always those in which the protagonist – whoever he or she happened…
Review: Dirty from Gorilla Perfumes (2004/2011)
Is mint becoming the new lemon? Perfumers are wary of using excessive quantities of the latter in their formulae because years of cultural conditioning have persuaded Western noses that its…
One More Day…
Tomorrow my little blog enters its difficult adolescent years. Don’t forget to come back for its birthday and check out the special prize draw I’ve organised for you, which will…
Review: Arsène Lupin Le Dandy & Arsène Lupin Le Voyou (2010) & Idylle Duet (2011) from Guerlain
Regardless of one’s views on his family firm’s recent output, it would be churlish to deny the importance of the work of Jean-Paul Guerlain. A CV that includes names like…
Chanel, Dior & Guerlain At Selfridges
A few mini-news items from a recent dash through the London branch of Selfridges. The Chanel ‘perfume boutique’ – a must-see if you haven’t yet been – now stocks the…
Paris 2010: Two’s A Crowd Chez Serge
It was only after I’d actually stepped inside Harrods the other day that my brain suddenly decided to remind me of the words ‘January’ and ‘sale’. I considered walking straight…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Preview: Portrait Of A Lady by Editions De Parfums Frederic Malle (2010) + Sample Giveaway Reminder
Whilst I’m in preview mode, I ought to mention that a recent visit to the ever-enchanting Les Senteurs led to a sniff of Frederic Malle’s new Portrait Of A Lady,…
Review: Opus III from The Library Collection by Amouage (2010)
If there’s one characteristic that Amouage‘s first three Library Collection scents have in common, it is a gauzy sheerness. Opus I conjures an image of florals preserved in a delicate…