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05/01/2018
loewenherz
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loewenherz
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Blast from the past
A few days ago I told you here in my blog 'Antiquing USA' that I like to rummage around in so-called 'antique malls' in the United States - and that between old rocking chairs and hand-sewn trousseau underwear you can also come across more or less well-filled perfume bottles that are often available for little money. And that - despite my noticeable curiosity and out of concern for my suitcase and its future smell - I did not take any of the many pretty bottles with me in the end.
The one I held in my hand for the longest time (out of subjective pleasure and out of interest in perfume history - not so much because I really wanted to wear it) was this one: Câline by Jean Patou, still uncommented to my astonishment. And because its contents - despite its age - were almost perfect, because it cost almost nothing, and because its bottle was one of the few that closed reliably, I almost regret not having 'imported' it - if only for the reasons of perfume history. Because Câline is something special
Among the fragrances of his cohort, it was probably nothing special at the time - rather, today it seems like the archetype of a women's fragrance of his generation. What is special, however, is that fragrances of this kind are hardly available today - those that are still being produced have often had to be reformulated, sometimes considerably, due to changing olfactory regulatory requirements - and the few original ones that can still be found in places like this have mostly been knocked over, which is hardly to blame after a good fifty years.
Câline is reminiscent of a mature, amber-coloured dessert wine: the firn of history and an emerging sherry tone cannot be ignored, but it is still perfectly recognisable in its essence. The characteristic dialogue of aldehydes and dignified, serious flowers marks a women's fragrance from the third quarter of the last century - powerful and melancholy, and, yes: ingratiating and loving. And as formal and wonderfully anachronistic as a starched cloth napkin. And simply more class than paper.
Conclusion: while writing, I was once again sorry for the small bottle of Câline left behind in the American Antique Mall. Because if it is not taken away by anyone in the near future - and this is to be expected - it will finally be too late for its contents. He does not deserve that.
The one I held in my hand for the longest time (out of subjective pleasure and out of interest in perfume history - not so much because I really wanted to wear it) was this one: Câline by Jean Patou, still uncommented to my astonishment. And because its contents - despite its age - were almost perfect, because it cost almost nothing, and because its bottle was one of the few that closed reliably, I almost regret not having 'imported' it - if only for the reasons of perfume history. Because Câline is something special
Among the fragrances of his cohort, it was probably nothing special at the time - rather, today it seems like the archetype of a women's fragrance of his generation. What is special, however, is that fragrances of this kind are hardly available today - those that are still being produced have often had to be reformulated, sometimes considerably, due to changing olfactory regulatory requirements - and the few original ones that can still be found in places like this have mostly been knocked over, which is hardly to blame after a good fifty years.
Câline is reminiscent of a mature, amber-coloured dessert wine: the firn of history and an emerging sherry tone cannot be ignored, but it is still perfectly recognisable in its essence. The characteristic dialogue of aldehydes and dignified, serious flowers marks a women's fragrance from the third quarter of the last century - powerful and melancholy, and, yes: ingratiating and loving. And as formal and wonderfully anachronistic as a starched cloth napkin. And simply more class than paper.
Conclusion: while writing, I was once again sorry for the small bottle of Câline left behind in the American Antique Mall. Because if it is not taken away by anyone in the near future - and this is to be expected - it will finally be too late for its contents. He does not deserve that.
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