It’s National Fragrance Day, and I though I rarely post about perfume, I thought I’d share five of my favorites in honor of the event.
Balmain Jolie Madame edt
Jolie Madame is a bit of an oldie, and has recently been discontinued by Balmain. They do seem to be in the process of revamping their fragrance lineup, so one can only hope that they will restore Jolie Madame to their library. I only own the newer version of Jolie Madame, and not the 1953 vintage that was created by Germaine Cellier. (Within the last ten years or so, many fragrances have required reformulation thanks to the EU’s stringent IRFA regulations.) Still, I think it smells wonderful, kind of like the inside of a chic lady’s leather handbag. It contains many notes, but I mostly get leather, violet, tobacco, and vetiver. I try to use it a lot more sparingly now, since it’s been discontinued. I’m thinking of just spritzing it into some of my handbags and enjoying it that way!
Bvlgari Au Thé Rouge edt
This was one of three unisex tea scents released by jewellers Bvlgari in 2006. I believe the other two, Blanc and Vert, are still around, but Rouge has been unfairly discontinued. Luckily, I do own a backup bottle, which I purchased from an airport duty-free shop. (The middle-aged SA poo-pooed my choice with “That one is not very popular”, prompting me to sigh, “I’ll just take it, thanks.”) The notes include red teas rooibos and yunnan, pink pepper, orange, bergamot, fig, walnut and musk. It also lasts surprisingly well on me for an eau de cologne concentration. I adore it, but I guess it’s really not for everyone (I believe it’s still pretty easy to get a hold of at online discounters, unlike Jolie Madame above).
Givenchy Eaudemoiselle edt
Givenchy released this lovely, floral fragrance in 2010. It’s packaged in a beautiful, vintage-inspired bottle and contains notes of “tangerine, Italian winter lemon, shiso (Japanese basil), rose, ylang ylang, musk, ambrette seed and tonka” (Fragrantica). Fragrance creator François Demachy described it as “an imaginary rose in dewy morning”. I probably get more compliments wearing this perfume than any other, though I also wear it a lot more since it’s such an easy scent to wear. It works day or night, and is both unassuming and romantic. It’s only available in eau de toilette, but I find it lasts as long as some eau de parfums on me. Perhaps it’s a little boring and linear, but it remains one of my absolute favorites! Givenchy has since released a few flankers to this perfume, but I can never find testers anywhere.
Guerlain Mitsouko
Created by Jacques Guerlain in 1919, Mitsouko is the very first Guerlain fragrance I ever tried—and it was quite late, perhaps in my late 20s. I don’t know why I never bothered to check out Guerlain before then, but when I inhaled, I had a sort of epiphany: “So that’s what perfume is supposed to smell like!” No exaggeration. Notes of “bergamot, peach, jasmine, may rose, spices (cinnamon), oak moss, vetiver and wood” (Fragrantica). I find it warm, comforting, and thankfully never sweet; one day, I’ll have to pick up the eau de parfum version. Sadly, I’ve never smelled the pre-IRFA regulation versions of Mitsouko, but I suppose it helps me to appreciate the reformulated version better! Those in the know do seem to agree that Guerlain’s reformulations have been quite good, unlike, say, Dior’s (oh, how I miss the original Diorissimo!)
Guerlain Shalimar Parfum Initial L’Eau edt
Finally, this fragrance was a 2012 flanker to Guerlain’s 2011 release, Shalimar Parfum Initial, a sort of younger, more modern version of their classic Shalimar from 1921. I found the original Parfum Initial a touch too sweet, but Parfum Initial L’Eau seemed less so, with notes of neroli, citrus, iris, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, and vanilla. I also love the stunning bottle that was originally designed by Jade Jagger for Shalimar’s packaging revamp in 2010.
I’m giving Givenchy Eaudemoiselle a spin today, as usual. What are you wearing today for National Fragrance Day?
Great selection of scents. Perfume is such a tricky thing to blog about, it really is time they invent smells over the internet 🙂
xo Anne – Doves & Roses
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That would be the coolest thing ever, if they could do that! 😀
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I didn’t know that it was “National Fragrance Day”. You have some nice favorites !!!
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Thanks for reading! 🙂
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You have landed all those perfumes at the right time. Gorgeous! Look at those marvellous patterns running all throughout, amazing!
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The bottles are definitely the highlight of a fragrance purchase 🙂
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Yes, the main best selling factor.
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Have you ever tried the latest nail lacquers from Guerlain which has the same bottle design as perfume and they look stunning. Great collections Chris!
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I have not tried any Guerlain polishes! Looking forward to checking out the new ones 😀 Oh man, if they come in mini perfume bottles, I’ll DIE. LOL!
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I have already checked one from my followers from the Instagram account and the nail polish packaging resembles exactly same as the perfume bottle and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed after seeing it.
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It sounds beautiful! 😀
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Oh I remember smelling Bvlgari Vert and really liking it – now you remind me of that… I want it now. 😛
I’ve honestly not heard of any of these perfumes except for Guerlain Shalimar. I’m so out of the loop.
I’m once again, wearing BBW Waikiki Beach Coconut – trying to channel the warmer weather, c’mon Spring.
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And oh yes, Happy National Fragrance Day! How is this not a holiday, I’ll never know! 😛
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LOL it’d be a real stinky day 😀 Fumes everywhere.
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Oh well you gotta try Mitsouko, just because it’s a classic! And L’Heure Bleue, Jicky, Nahéma, and the Aqua Allegoria line, while you’re at the Guerlain counter, anyway.
I can’t get into the real summery perfumes just yet (Yves Rocher’s Monoï, usually). Can you believe the SNOW we have today?!
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I know. what the actual HECK, Mother Nature! I had to walk the dog that we’re dog sitting early this morning and even SHE was none too pleased at the weather! 😛
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OK, just by looking at the packaging.. I want them all..HAHA I love the Bvlgari Omnia a lot and this Bvlgari Au Thé Rouge eau de cologne is also a must have..
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I am such a sucker for packaging, too! Luckily I can usually prevent myself from buying just for the bottle 😀 I love the Balenciaga Florabotanica and Marc Jacobs Decadence bottles soooo much, but the fragrances do nothing for me. 😦
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Oh yes! Marc Jacobs have good bottles especially the Daisy one? I actually went to Chanel counter over the weekend and when I tested one scent (forgot which one) it smells really good.. So I ended up spraying some to myself (im not sure who else does it..lol) but after a few minutes I started getting headaches as the scent just bothered me so much! I guess Chanel is not meant for me?? 😕
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I think I know what you mean about Chanel! Coco Mademoiselle gives me the worst headache! They’re all different, though. I don’t like most of the Chanel frags I’ve tried, but I have loved a couple (No 5 Eau Premiere, Coco Noir, Beige). So hit and miss 🙂
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Agree!! 👍🏻
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That Bvlgari Au The Rouge scent sounds really nice, I don’t see rooibos as a fragrance note all that often but in real life it smells amazing so I’m intrigued!
The bottle for Mitsouko is gorgeous. From the notes it sounds beautiful, particularly if it doesn’t come across as a sweet smell. I’ll have to check this scent out next time I’m at a Guerlain counter.
If recently stopped wearing perfume during the day because I think it gives my boss a headache. But the lack of perfume hurts my heart, I love perfume!
This is a great round up, I’m excited to hunt some of these scents down to give them a sniff test!
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I am such a sucker for the rarer notes! 😀 The Mitsouko bottle is indeed gorgeous – Guerlain also use that same bottle shape for L’Heure Bleu (possibly my all-time fave) and for the newer La Petite Robe Noire (in black).
I also never wore perfume to work! I was very conscious of offending, as for a time I sat in a square of cubicles with three other women who all wore Angel-strength perfumes! XD Oh God. But I guess that was still better than later when I sat in an area with a bunch of guys and all I could smell was chicken and too much cheap deodorant.
Hope you get to try out some new perfumes 😀
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I think that my olfactory senses aren’t really sophisticated enough to truly appreciate any notes that don’t bash me over the head, BUT…I love the idea of some of the more rare notes!
I really need to get to a Guerlain counter and check out some of their scents. I feel like Shalimar is one of the most iconic fragrances out there and I couldn’t pick it out of a line up.
Oh man, I love Angel, but in an office? When you aren’t voluntarily smelling it? That stuff is SO STRONG. I worked with a woman for a while whose perfume would leave a trail behind her that lingered for hours. It was so overwhelming. I think I was perfume bombing my boss unintentionally for a while so now I need to make up for it.
LOL! Chicken and cheap deodorant! Boys are weird yo 🙂
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People in offices really need to realize that they should not wear strong perfume! Even a perfume lover like myself can’t handle doses 😀 Though I’ll probably take Angel over chicken. Hahaha!
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So true! Although I’m alone in my office this week so I’ve basically been bathing in Angel. It’s awesome. 🙂
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