April Showers by Cheramy is a surprisingly luxurious geranium and lavender fougère (Cheramy 1921). It reminds me of an old Chanel with its thick aldehydes, florals, and clear headed green notes. It’s cheerful and and attractive. The retro notes are slightly herbal (like No. 4711) and a little sultry – it would make a tremendousContinue reading “April Showers (Repost)”
Category Archives: Old Noses
Heliotrope (Repost)
I’ve discussed Hové Parfumeur of New Orleans before, but not Heliotrope in particular. It’s like a soft, sweet southern breeze from the past with a strong but delicious vanilla note intermingled with charming floral notes. In the drydown the vanilla becomes even more of a powerhouse, but it’s so ridicously gracious (and vintage) that I can’tContinue reading “Heliotrope (Repost)”
L’Aimant (Repost)
Coty’s classic scent, L’Aimant (Coty 1927) is a rich, powdery masterpiece. I think because it’s a “drugstore fragrance” it can sometimes be perceived poorly, but every time I smell L’Aimant (the vintage in particular) on my skin I am reminded of its wonders. There’s a sweetness, depth, warmth and almost wholesomeness in L’Aimant that isContinue reading “L’Aimant (Repost)”
Nose Gay (repost)
Nose Gay by Dorothy Gray (Dorothy Gray 1938) is a pelargonium, dirty, musky, mossy rose scent. It’s a bit woody, Earthy and green. And, despite its sweet name (a nose gay is a small bouquet of flowers usually carried about – ie for a formal dance), Nose Gay is actually dark and mysterious with an almostContinue reading “Nose Gay (repost)”
Floral Fantasies (Repost)
Designed as a hot weather cologne, Floral Fantasies (Dorothy Gray 1940) but the rich, warm spiciness seems very suitable for fall as well. Yes Floral Fantasies is indeed a floral fragrance but it’s also very sweet and again, spicy. While I can’t find any list of notes online anywhere, I’m absolutely positive there are notesContinue reading “Floral Fantasies (Repost)”
April Violets (Repost)
April Violets (Yardley 1913) is a bit like Choward’s Violet Mints or Devon Violets in its clear violet note but with a certain green woody tinge it could almost be described as a chypre. There’s an elegant complexity at first to this slightly sweet retro violet. It’s very pretty. But then, with notes of pelargonium,Continue reading “April Violets (Repost)”
Shocking (Repost)
Shocking, launched in 1937 by Schiaparelli is a sweet, spicy olfactory treat with notes of rose, jasmine honey and tarragon. Wearing it is like wrapping a warm vintage sweater around you on a chilly day… Last night I wore Shocking by Schiaparelli to the emergency room… It was perfect actually because it’s such a light,Continue reading “Shocking (Repost)”
No. 4711 (Repost)
As you may have noticed, my husband and I enjoy visiting antique stores. Well, a few years ago, I visited one in Red Wing, Minnesota. We found the bottle of Muguet des Bois that I recently sold and two bottles of No. 4711 Echt Kölnisch Wasser. At first, I was disappointed when I tried No.Continue reading “No. 4711 (Repost)”
Kisses Rain ( Repost)
It starts with an alluring, sugary burst. Impeccable oud and gentle rose mixes with almond. Musk and patchouli are at the base. But it’s a bright gourmand with a dash of subtle coffee flanked by opulent, airy, and utterly sensual cedar and balsam. And while it certainly has the open, expansive beauty found in someContinue reading “Kisses Rain ( Repost)”
Romance (Repost)
(Update from 2020: I felt so hopeless about my marriage when this was posted. It felt like we had nothing there to be salvaged… But I was wrong. I was wonderfully wrong. And I have tons of hope now. Things can get better in life when we think they’re almost impossible. Not always, but life’sContinue reading “Romance (Repost)”
