The day that I became smitten with a $400 fragrance from JAR:

Last Saturday Tania from http://braintrappedingirlsbody.blogspot.com/ guided me into the dark jewel-like section of Bergdorf Goodman where they sell the infamous JAR Fragrances. I have read about the fragrances on Makeupalley but never anticipated that I would actually sniff any. They are exclusive and pretty steep in price. I never wanted to fall for one because it would be an unfulfilled lemming. Sometimes it is better to never have loved a JAR fragrance at all...than to know the pain that there is a mouthwatering scent that you can never have.

JAR was established by Joel Arthur Rosenthal around 28 years ago. He is a magnificent jeweler who has branched out to creating fragrances . In the last few years he has created 7 unique perfumes that are oddly breathtaking. They are slightly odd but in such an appealing way.
Each fragrance is available in one size(one ounce) and in parfum concentration. The tear drop bottle is a chunky version of my beloved 2000 et une Rose.
The prices range from $350 to a jaw dropping $800.
I sucked in my breath and winced when he told me the price of the one I coveted.
It was over $400.

But damn if they were not worthy of the hefty price tag. These fragrances are some of the most fascinating and unique scents I have ever sniffed. The SA (BTW: a charming male model) was surrounded by 7 glass boxes. Inside the boxes were scent soaked fabric(chamois leather to be precise according to google) that he waved under your nose. This has to be the best way to test a fragrance. You just drink the fragrance all in. It was almost a heady drug-like experience. I joked to Tania that I wanted to do this at home with all my fragrances.

The SA was mysterious when it came to notes and refused to spill any details. I being the classy dame that I am... began blurting out guesses like I was on a game show. Tania also being classy...kept saying "damn".
When tbone likes a fragrance...its all about the passion of the "damn".

The fragrance that managed to break my heart was Diamond Waters. The notes are osmanthus, white rose, aldehydes, orange blossom, apricot, tuberose, honey, cinnamon and pepper. At the time I tested it I had no clues about the notes. All I can say is that it knock me to my knees. It lasted all day on me and the drydown was lovely.

Golconda was the fragrance that got the most passionate damn from Tania. The notes are red carnation absolute, nutmeg, stargazer lilies and clove. It is a very warm and spicy carnation scent. I would love to test it side by side with Lorenzo Villoresi Garofano.

Jarling is a soapy lilac with notes of anise, lily, heliotrope and almond. It did not slay me.
Ferme tes Yeux is a very STRONG jasmine. Think Joy but less pretty and more cat piss.
Jardenia is a gardenia based fragrance. This was a wierd one. It was lovely but something was slightly off.
Shadow was a dark woods scent with cloves. Very mysterious and comforting in a way.

The most interesting fragrance from the entire line is Bolt of Lightning. It actually has no name but only a symbol...like Prince.
The notes are red berries, delphiniums, twigs, and green leaves. It was earthy yet ozone- ish. Liked charged air. The most tension filled fragrance. I regret not testing this one on the skin. I am curious to know what would have happened in the drydown.

If you are in Bergdorfs and you have some time to play...visit the JAR boutique. It is a wonderful fragrance experience and something I plan to do again.

photo by Tim Walker from thomastrehaft.com