Keen to Cross the Pond

Debuting in 1953 this spicy Estée Lauder perfume by Josephine Catapano is sensual, elegant and potentially even sexy. At least it seemingly is on me. Perhaps it’s not a perfume as many people today would want to wear…but I wear it well and it’s likely been popular over decades for a reason.

Actually, it’s been requested that I wear it far more regularly. And…given the amount of it in my collection I think I will…

On my skin it’s a light, spicy, balsamic sillage. Nothing overpowering. It’s just grown-up, tasteful and yet alluring and somewhat secretly rebellious.

According to Fragrantica:

Top notes: Spices, Aldehydes, Narcissus, Lavender, Orange, Peach, and Bergamot. Middle notes: Spicy Notes, Cloves, Cinnamon, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Cassia and Orchid. Base notes: Incense, Tolu Balsam, Peru Balsam, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Amber, Vetiver, Vanilla and Musk. M

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It’s perfect.

At first I (of course mistakenly) thought it was ordinary, but then I wore it next to Lake Superior and my idea of it completely changed.

I had actually already started to love it, but the air up north was good at bringing out the true nature of this rare masterpiece by Dominique Ropion.

It’s also a popular perfume that I can wear well. I don’t get bad reactions from people when I wear it.

I suppose I could describe it as a deep, resinous, patchouli rose. Or a haunting rose? What fascinates me is what, should the world persist, future generations will say about it. Is it a 1910’s Guerlain of the 21st Century? Is it truly a masterpiece? Truly a rare timeless beauty? We’ll see…

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