Category Archives: Journal

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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