This is the final installment of my stream-of-consciousness ramble through recent additions to my perfume collection. Fragrances discussed in Part 4 are:
1. Black Orchid Voile de Fleur by Tom Ford
I've rekindled my interest in Voile de Fleur due to the recent ylang-ylang kick I've been on. VdF has fun-fun with ylang-ylang.
2. L'Agent by Agent Provocateur
This is the one based on a perfume created expressly for an Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress by fragrance designer Azzi Glasser. Leathery apricot tropical teasyness. (That's my description of the scent, not of the actress.)
3. Old Spice by Proctor & Gamble
My late father Augie's signature fume, his olfactory jam. He wore it well.
4. L'Homme Sage by Divine
A very satisfying amber, saffron, and incense affair.
Please click on the perfume names for prices and more info.
For Part 1 of my perfume collection update, click here.
For Part 2, click here.
For Part 3, click here.
Oops! All this time I thought it was "sage," like the spice. I feel so silly now.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that your dad was a lovely person. I didn't realize you grew up with brothers! It explains your somewhat tomboysih personality. And hiding under wooden planks in the yard.
Ha, well, my dad was a pretty spicy individual, 'tis true.
DeleteThere's a big age gap between my brothers and sister, so I actually experienced a large portion of my childhood as an "only child". There seems to be no logical way to justify my personality, unfortunately.
My eyes are glassy with tears as I watch this. It is us humans with this keenly developed sense (of smell) who understand the emotional memories connecting scent to loved ones and how poignant it is. I'm not describing myself well as it is late and I am exhausted. My beloved grandfather, a working man who retired at 80--a spiritual man who practiced meditation, loved church, and education...He did not really wear cologne or any scent although, I would find many bottles of man-frags in his bathroom. I gave him a bottle of Royall Lyme one year. I didn't expect him to wear it, but I thought if he gave it a try he would appreciate it. It seemed to suit him. Well, years later, as he was in the last stages of his life, I found the bottle in his medicine cabinet...There was an inch or two left in the bottle. He had used it. And finding this bottle, just touched me. I know you understand this. I wish I was more articulate right now.
ReplyDeleteHeliotrope, you are beautifully clear on this, and I absolutely understand this. Wearing fragrance is such a personal choice, and if the person you love loves the perfume you've given them, it's a real connection.
DeleteI cried myself to sleep after watching this last night. It's very moving, Katie, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAw, I didn't mean to make you cry. I didn't even mean to make me cry! But that's how it worked out...
DeleteHi Katie,
ReplyDeleteLoved the videos on your personal collection, especially the last two about your Dad. Timely reading for me, as tomorrow, 22 April, it will be 11 years since I lost my Mom. She wore Shocking by Schiaparelli when I was little, and then expanded to Youth Dew by Estee Lauder, which, over time, became her signature fragrance.
Thanks for some very sweet, shared memories.
Chris
Chris, I love hearing that your mom wore Shocking! Such a bold and adventuresome perfume. And Youth Dew perfumed a generation of moms. My mom no longer wears perfume (she lost her sense of smell after an illness), but Youth Dew was her go-to for decades.
DeleteThank you Katie for that poignant glimpse into your scent memory of your Father. I lost my Dad 25 years ago, and he would put on so much cologne that the whole house would smell of what ever was his current favorite. I remember Aramis, Brut, Canoe, and Old Spice. It was so touching and moving to watch the emotion well up in your eyes as you spoke of your Dad. It made me reminisce right along with you.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful detail about your dad. He sounds like he was a proper fumehead. I'm glad the video popped him up in your head and heart!
DeleteIs the unnamed actress that Azzi Glasser worked for none other than Judy Davis?
ReplyDeleteNo...
DeleteOh Katie, I read your book a while ago, and remember how clearly you conveyed your unconditional love for your extraordinary dad. Bless you. Isn't it amazing how we can summon up the ones we love just through the power of scent?
ReplyDeleteNo scent memories for me of my father - but Momma? Good lord, yes. This is the woman, after all, whose mantra is ' Put your lipstick on, darling. You'll feel much better.'
Justineantonia xoxo
Justineantonia, having read my book, you have a solid idea of how challenging a character my dad was. And your mother? Her mantra shows she knows what she's talking about.
DeleteI think we are both rather proud of the fact that that is the only bit of advice I can either remember or consistently follow :) Priorities.
DeleteJustineantonia xoxo
Ah, it brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my lips to watch this. I also loved Old Spice and have many memories of early mornings with Dad getting ready for work and smelling the combination of shaving cream and Old Spice. It is comforting.
ReplyDeleteAnd how nice for you to discover that he used and enjoyed your last fume gift, J'Homme Sage. I remember how he quizzed you on it - pronunciation, scents, and all! He was the Ladies Man, but I think he would have been quite startled if he had ever had any "takers"!
Thinking of you, Sis!
Love,
SoS
Love you, Sis. Haha - you're right, flirting-wise, Dad could talk the talk, but would never walk the walk.
DeleteDear Bright Angel Katie:
ReplyDeleteThis review so deeply choked me up. Thank you so much for sharing a piece of your soul. You are a lovely, lovely human being. We love you to pieces, Katie.
Respectfully yours,
Byron.....
Dear Byron, thanks for your tender heart!
DeleteKatie- this goes down in history as the sweetest, most emotionally honest review of yours that brought us all to tears with you:)I recently read (devoured) your book also, and you paint your father as the kind of character anyone would be fortunate to have known...we also get a sneak peak into some the bright facets of your personality that may have come from him ( your jovial playfulness/ and sharp wit!)I like that you sum up this series with the scents that remind you of your father. Sometimes, I am shamed by the amount of time, energy and $ I spend on fragrances and question the frivolousness of my obsession...This review reminds me of the merits of my obsession- that the sense of smell holds the key to some of our deepest memories in a way that nothing else does...Thank you for sharing this so honestly..beautiful!We love you!
ReplyDeleteEveryone - I'm so moved by your group hug. I'm overwhelmed!
DeleteAnd pinkcash, I'm very very touched by your comments about my dad.
(Me, too...)
ReplyDeleteSoS (Jo)
I loved hearing about your dad and his scent 'wardrobe' - I didn't realise you had lost him so relatively recently. ;-(
ReplyDeleteI have FBs of both L'Agent and Voile de Fleur and am minded to put one on now as I completely forgot to apply perfume today!
Give your VdF some attention.
DeleteThis post was so moving. I colud see your eyes becoming glassy, and suddenly I felt something wet on my cheeks...thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, fru.
DeleteThis post made me relate to you a lot. My dad, who passed 20 years ago, was also a great smelling guy. I think one of the reasons that I love notes like vetiver, sandalwood, galbanum, and other green or brisk notes is because his scents influenced my taste in scents. My mom is not a big perfume wearer, but he always wore after shave. I most strongly associate Grey Flannel with him and have two bottles of it that I enjoy wearing from time to time in his honor. Thank you so much for sharing this scent memory with us, Katie. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing yours, Dina.
DeleteHi Katie
ReplyDeleteI thought I had sent this message already but I must not have. I saw this book and thought of you, you may know about it already but just wanted to share in case you hadn't.
Jools :0)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Perfume-Collector-Kathleen-Tessaro/dp/0007419848/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=47A4P8TDZSWX&coliid=I18WDX48O54ES4
Thanks Jools - I'll check it out.
DeleteWhat a rich little portrait! It sounds like you had a really full relationship, and that there were the kind of difficulties that always make such relationships real. Or perhaps I do too much reading between the lines!
ReplyDeleteLovely reviews - now I want to rush out tomorrow and try some of these:)
You're a good reader, Merlin.
DeleteKatie, please review Hedonist by Victoria Minya, I want to buy a bottle, but I want to have your expertious opinion on this pretty creation before :) I love your critics!!!!! <3 Cathy
ReplyDeleteCathy, I haven't come across that one, so you should go ahead and get it if you love it. I don't want to stand between you and your perfume destiny.
DeleteHi Katie,
ReplyDeleteLovely video, as usual.
I am trying to find a new scent and am wondering if you could help me. I am looking a fragrance something ethereal and mysterious--something that would kind of remind you of the moon. Slightly melancholic but still beautiful would be ideal.
Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you!
Lauren
Lauren, try Comme des Garcons 2 or L'Artisan Cote d'Amour or Chanel No. 19.
DeleteHi Katie great review! I actually saw a video review before on your website about the most awful perfume that there is out there (my wife gave me the hint), now I saw this and I just loved your way of presenting the fragrances, you obviously enjoy every second of doing video reviews. Will come back gladly. Alexander
ReplyDeleteHi Alexander - thank you for sharing the glow - glad you stumbled into KP Smells!
DeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteLike so many others, I felt my eyes swell a bit as I watched your review of your father's scents. Thanks for being confident enough to express your love for your dad! Just seeing the bottle took me back...I am sure I bought my dad that aftershave for more than one Christmas.
On a related note, I get happy grandfather memories from things like lavender of Barbasol (even the new sensitive skin version which I swear has some sort of sandalwood derivative) and Lava soap (creamy, gritty, musky?).
Happy memories,
Jess
Jess, just the very names Barbasol and Lava Soup evoke their smells! And I love how emphatic and timeless their packaging is - much like Old Spice's.
Delete