Serge Lutens Bas de Soie: Purple Floral Pas de Deux
Bas de Soie is the latest release from Serge Lutens and based on the early information it seemed as this was going to be a continuation of the recent “anti-perfume” theme. It was described as a fragrance focused on two notes that of iris and hyacinth. That pair has also had occasion to leave me cold in the past as both of those floral notes have had a distinct metallic character on my skin. I was expecting an olfactory sword fight when I tried Bas de Soie. Much to my surprise I did find that both of these central notes would do battle but of a lyrical kind akin to a balletic pas de deux. Each has time when they are the only player on stage and then they interact differently and find a lyrical poetic harmony that changes over time on my skin.
Parfumerie Generale Querelle: Un Parfum Vert Contraire
Querelle.
This masterwork- and I really perceive it as such- is an approach/ avoidance fragrance for many.
It seethes with complexity; if it were a color, it would be the darkest green imaginable, tinged with black.
A Perfume Organic: Grace Undyed
Amanda Walker’s company A Perfume Organic …well, they are for real. The minimally packaged perfumes are presented in charming glass roller bottles inside flower seed embedded paper boxes printed with soy inks. The little sample pouch is similar with its simple undyed fabric, unbleached paper sample cards, simple glass perfume vials. All good. I am reminded of the I Ching’s 22nd hexagram “Grace”. The highest form of “grace” also means “undyed”. The explanation is that true grace is achieved when the outside and the inside match, in a simple, graceful, undyed manner. Perhaps this is the definition of Natural Grace.
Winner Of The JoAnne Bassett Camille Purse Spray Is….
The winner of the purse spray of JoAnne Bassett’s Camille so generously donated by Ms. Bassett is:
Chanel Bleu de Chanel: Expendable?
I realized I was having trouble trying to find a way to review the new masculine release from Chanel, Bleu de Chanel. After having worn it a number of times I know it is not a fragrance I will reach for often. On the other hand I do see it as a fragrance that will be well received by the much bigger majority that do not own multiple bottles of perfume. Because I think Bleu de Chanel is meant to be more “commercial” than “classic” do I judge it as populist piece of perfumery or as something that had the potential to take its place next to the other classics in the Chanel line?