Fumies,
In response to a recent Perfume Pen Pals post, "Help Dan Find a Citrus Cologne", you all weighed in with a orange grove's worth of glorious suggestions. Your hesperidic proposals have inadvertently created a marvelous "to sniff" list for any curious cologne seeker, for which I thank you. And -- cue the choir of angels -- they have also led Dan to his cologne nirvana. (Is that mixing religious metaphors?)
It was Steve Gontarski who gave Dan the tip-off to his pith-rimmed future:
"Bois d'Orange by Roger & Gallet. It's so inexpensive and does everything a citrus should do."
Read on...
Katie,
I got a bottle of Roger & Gallet Bois d'Orange and it might be the best cologne per dollar that I've ever smelled. It just smells good. And it makes me wonder why so many other classic woody citruses don't smell good.
I've been wearing this for nearly two straight weeks with the expectation that I'd have something insightful to say about it. But it's not the kind of fragrance that lends itself to insight. It's a good citrus cologne. It's...conventional. It's what I imagine Don Draper sprays on in the morning, one more veneer of normalcy to cover up what's inside, from his co-workers and himself. And I don't mean that as a criticism of Bois d'Orange or of Don Draper: we can't constantly go around pondering and expressing our dark inner selves and expect to get anything done.
Bois d'Orange is exceptionally good when you consider its price, but also quite good when you don't. It's one of those fragrances that smells perfectly balanced going on and maintains itself for its full run, jettisoning its bright citrus opening for a surprisingly rich woody-amber base, uncomplicated but not quite uninteresting. It doesn't last more than a few hours, but by then I imagine the smell of Don Draper's lunchtime cocktails and cigarettes would overwhelm most colognes anyway. (Maintaining normalcy is not without strain and you must allow a man his vices.)
Jung said, "People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls." I believe Bois d'Orange has a role here. I feel good about myself when I'm wearing it, and if further examination suggests that feeling is unjustified, then I say it's time to spray on more cologne. And maybe fix myself a cocktail. Don't tell my therapist.
Dan
Bois d'Orange is available from Perfume.com and Amazon, starting at $25 for 1 oz
Hi Katie and Dan. I tried and failed to think of a good citrus fragrance, so I didn't even bother to add to the post that day. I'm glad to see a successful contender. Plus, the added benefit that it's a normalcy enhancer! Dan, as for your therapist, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Jung also said "Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you". I'm sure that your therapist will soldier bravely on.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what cologne Jung wore?
DeleteEncre noir or Sel de Vetiver....he loved to write, and to sail in his boat
DeletePerfect.
DeleteCB I HATE PERFUME'S ARCHETYPE SERIES are inspired by Jung's Collective Unconcious theories.
DeleteJung really gets around.
DeleteThat's the thing- write effectively enough about the collective unconscious and you kind of become a symbol within it.
DeleteBranding at its finest.
DeleteSometimes, we all just want something that is yummy. Something that does not smell like a construction worker's swamp-crack or vaginal secretions or fermenting yak butter mixed with breast milk and natto and scabs. Or whatever is trendy these days.
ReplyDeleteMyself, I have re-discovered fougeres. The first few times I smelled Azzaro Pour Homme, I thought it was boring. Now, I love it. And Caron's 3rd Man.
I think we've covered the topic of men wearing ladies' fragrances, but not so much the opposite. I don't think it's a big deal, but a friend of mine's husband said he didn't like his wife to smell like a guy.
I think it's technically impossible for a woman to smell like a man, owing to the fact of all that lady flesh underneath a spritz or 2 of woody freshness, or peppery zest, or whatever flavor of bloke-scent she may be wearing. My girlfriend Georgie smells utterly beguiling in Penhaligon's Sartorial, which I experience as kind of a "sexy dad smell". I don't mean any of that in any kind of pervy way, despite how it may read....
DeleteSometimes, I think that a perfume meant for the opposite gender somehow emphasizes that of the person wearing it--a lady seems more feminine while wearing a masculine cologne, men seem more masculine while wearing Shalimar. Or I'm crazy.
DeleteI think Jung would agree with you - not that you're crazy, but that the opposite emphasizes the essential self.
DeleteI'm going to have to sit on my hands to stop myself writing a long essay on Jung and the 'essential' self at this point, and whether he would have viewed it as being able to be classified in terms of gender. LOL
Deletelol
DeleteI've always thought that gardenia and the inextractable nature of its essence was a great metaphor for the soul and its ineffability- though of course many a perfume's marketing claims its juice to have contained it. Having read Dan's post paralleling fragrance buying and therapy, I am of the conclusion that if one embarks upon a search for a definitive sense of self in terms of either, both the sales assistant and the therapist will be rubbing their hands with glee, knowing that their retirements are secure.
ReplyDeleteGavin--
DeleteGardenia is lovely. Which are your faves?
You know Nora, Gardenia is not something I've really explored, apart from having smelt the real flower once or twice (although I love it as metaphor). However, synchronicitously (i'm continuing the Jungian theme here) now that you mention it, I have been looking to get more in to florals. I recently smelt Nuit de Tubereuse, and having been scarred as many have in the eighties by their memories of tuberose in Poison, was a bit surprised when I thought, actually, that's alright (although It must be said that the setting for this by Duchaufour is very atypical for a tuberose scent) So I'm up for a bit of experimentation in this area. I even tried Fracas the other day from the point of actually wearing it, despite the cleavage I know its generically supposed to waft up from not is not meant to be as hairy and Cupid Stuntish as mine. (If you are not British Kenny Everett and Cupid Stunt probably won't mean much too you, but it is very youtubable!) So any pointers in this area would be very much appreciated-either tuberose or gardenia wise!!!
DeleteThis are some of my personal citrus perfumes for men:
ReplyDeleteByredo Gypsy Water
Chanel Allure Homme Édition Blanche
Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin
Lalique White
Parfum d’Empire Azemour Les Orangers
Tom Ford Private Blend Neroli Portofino
Love all of those! And Dan has told me that Chanel Allure Homme Édition Blanche is his "farmer's market fragrance."
DeleteAmen! Dan, I'm so pleased you love it. I discovered it in a hotel in Toulouse - the bath products were from Roger & Gallet. In the shower I thought, ummm nice, so I eventually bought the spray at the Monoprix around the corner. Then realized after a few wears, wait...this is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI heard Dior are bringing out an Eau Sauvage Parfum this May. With undercurrents of Myrrh. I have high hopes.
ReplyDeleteOh, me too!
Delete