Every night I spend an hour reading Perfumes: The Guide. This was a book written by my friends Tbone(Tania Sanchez) and Mr T(Luca Turin). Tbone and I became fast friends on the makeupalley fragrance boards. As with all great friendships I am not really sure how it all began. The first time we met in NYC she appeared out of thin air like a magician. She was this pocket sized dynamo with a great taste in all things and knowledge of kung fu.
I loved her instantly.
Many of my great fragrance loves have been experienced in her presence. I was with Tbone when I first fell for the charms of Frederic Malle's Une Fleur De Cassie. She is the one who insisted that Chanel's #18 worked on my skin. Tbone also gifted me with a decant of vintage Chamade that rocked my world.
Tbone is part romantic and part scientist. She can talk about perfume in a technical, humorous and gorgeous way. That is what I always loved about her reviews and writing.
Here is some of my favorites from the book:
Jolie Madame: "One of the great all time leather chypres, Balmain's Jolie Madame was composed by the legendary Germaine Cellier in 1953, in those glorious postwar years when everyone still wore hats. Leathers veered between the plush and the butch: Chanel's Cuir de Russie, plush; Knize Ten, butch. Cabochard, plush; Cellier's own Bandit, butch. Jolie Madame was unusual in avoiding plush and butch via a big fruity violet that made what could have been a harsh, bitter leather in the style of Bandit instead the easiest to wear of the classic leathers, simultaneously girlish and tough, like a patent-leather Mary Jane. It was pretty but with plenty of spine: just about perfect."
Ormonde: It has the outdoor witchiness of tall pines leaning into the night-a bitter oakmoss inkiness, a dry cedar crackle and a low, delicious pleading amber like the call of a faraway candy house. Lulling and unsettling in equal measure, and truly great.
Samsara: As with Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, the case of Samsara is fascinating because it so bad, second because it is so big and third because it is happening to a beloved franchise.
Tbone nicknamed me Queen Anniedala and humors my Star Wars love.
The book is on sale now.
http://www.amazon.com/Perfumes-Guide-Luca-Turin/dp/product-description/0670018651
posted by Annieytown @ 7:00 AM
8 Inspired Comments
8 Inspired Comments:
I love that you love Star Wars.
Great photo. I esp. love the hair of the woman on the left, and of course the dynamic among the three of you.
I confess that I don't have a particularly good or refined sense of smell (I wear either Fracas or Pleasures), and the book still sounds wonderful!
I don't have a refined sense of smell either, but I want to try Ormonde based on that description!
Saturday was Bond #9 day at Saks San Francisco. I met Laurice and caved on a bottle of Saks 5th Ave for her, which she signed. She is so sweet, I told her that I learned of Bond #9 , from your Blog, and she said that you are friends and to tell you hello from her. She suggested a few other scents that I would like , Chinatown (which I already love) and Westside, which I am trying. It was fun and Laurice is so nice.
The scents that I usually wear are - Night blooming lily from Jill Stewart and Datara Noir from Serge Lutens. My old time favorite , which I wore for years and years, but doesn't seem to smell right on me anymore was Fracas.( I wonder if they changed it in the last 10 years or so?)
Anyway I love your blog and have been reading it daily.
Thank you so much for all the good advice.
I bought the book at Costco over weekend, mostly on the premise that they gave 5 stars to my favorite perfume ever, L'Feu de Issey. Now discontinued, I horde it. It's a great book.
Anna
I heard her on PRI Studio 360 the other day! She and her partner were thoroughly charming. I am definitely getting that book.
i read it every night too. in fact, my mother and i meet every thursday at nordstrom and try to smell all the perfumes i've read about in the book. it will take some time!
I keep meaning to buy this book and now you have convinced me to do so. I remember reading Tania's comments on MUA (don't know if you remember me there too- I'm "Emma") and on Turin's blog and being amazed too (and even happier to read about their romance). I love the description of Ormonde as the fairytale Hansel and Gretel. Brilliant!
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