Rebella

When I was small I had a favorite store I always returned to. This shop was located in the neighbor town but since it wasn´t that far, me and my family visited almost once a month.

Until I smelled Bien loin d'ici I had almost forgot about that shop (not entirely) but this fragrance brings it back entirely. The shop was called Anarkali and was situated in a very small space hidden behind the stairs in a big shopping center. The shop was pretty much a "hippieshop" (this was in the mid 70'ies) and offered incense, perfumed candels, exotic perfume oils, indian fabric, clothes and bags, funny slippers, heavy bijouteries, colorful printings and all other kind of bric a brac. I loved it. I spend a great deal of my small allowence on incense, perfume oils, school bags (that was worn out in no time) and my first Palestinian scarf. :)

I can´t really tell what Bien loin d'Ici smells like, the notes are very seemlessly blended, to me it´s smells just like Anarkali, a childhood hideout and almost sacred place for me. In my teens the little shop closed, a much bigger shop with similar offerings was probably responsible for that. The new shop was a little cheaper, had a little more to chose from, was cleaner, tidier and even my mum liked it. But the small mystic of Anarkali it totally lacked.

Bien loin d'ici is a perfume oil, if you usually don´t like oils, I doubt Bien loin d'ici will change your opinion about oils. But, for me with parts of my childhood hippie heart intact, it works just perfect.

Montale´s Vanille Absolu is very far from understated elegance. Still, I somehow find it to be a very much less is more kind of vanilla. This is straight forward vanilla for vanilla lovers. You need to love the sweet, creamy and full bodied smell of vanilla, you need to love smelling like a vanilla cake fresh from the oven, as vanilla pods in your cupboard, all kinds of vanilla you can imagine actually, because that is what you get in Vanille Absolu. But, what is it not to love with vanilla? Kids will think you smell great, your teenagers will come home from school and -for a while at least- have a smile on their face when they see you and ask what you have baked and if you fancy some attention from your husband, Vanille Absolu will pretty much help you with that part to. Even dogs seems to like the smell of it, at least my dog does. If you don´t fancy that kind of attention from each and everyone, and if you hate vanilla in scents or can´t stand to smell eatible, then -of course- you have to stay away from Vanille Absolu.

I love it. :) And since Vanille Absolu is such a plain, easy going vanilla, it´s also good for layering with scents that occationally needs some sweetening and body. I can tell there is some cinnaomon and clove in it, but those notes plays a very small, but still important part, they underscore the different features of vanilla, from the sweetest thing to sexy smoke lingering in the base.

This IS a vanilla for vanilla lovers, nothing else. :)

Usually I put on a lavender dominated scent when I suspect I will have troubble getting some sleep. And then I turn to basic lavender with not so much else going on. More complex kind of lavender fragrances seem to not work as well as sleeping pills and I have, until I tried A taste of Heaven, not found any other lavender I fancy to wear during daytime. To me lavender usually is something either sleepy/relaxing or something clean, starched and somewhat old fashioned.

By Kilians A taste of Heaven is an outstanding exception. This is a "dirty" (but, not as dirty as poor old Jicky!) sensual and also, almost melancholic lavender to me... There is something dusky, something gloomy, yet very soothing about it.

The lavender is very prominent, but kind of muted, mellowed down and I do belive it can be that absinthe... making it more aromatic, with an almost haylike note and something that to me also smells close to buttery (in best possible way, there isn´t anything oily or fatty about it).

The opening is addictive. Maybe that´s also absinthe related? Even though I really, really like the whole scent, the opening and heart is what makes it so outstanding to me. The drydown is powdery, slightly sweet and well rounded but also add a little more "masculinity" to the fragrance, which I don´t mind, but not like as much as the rest though. But, on the other hand, A taste of Heaven also works just great on my husband.

Prett much a must try if you have the slightest interest for lavender or looking for a little more modern take on this classic perfume ingredience.

Longlasting, utterly well made, smoth, sensual and luxurious.

Carnal Flower is my No 1 tuberose and not only that, but also one of my all time favorite scents. It was love at first sniff and we´re still having a passionate love affair after several years. Usually my go to scents are more in the soft gourmand, refined orientals and woody spectrum, which to me makes them cozy, familiar and kind of friendly. Carnal Flower isn´t at all like this, it´s like an giant flesh eating flower luring me closer and closer and I fall for that same ol' trick all over again, and keep coming back for more.

Yeah, it´s pretty much wears me, but being worn by something as classy, beautiful, frightening, elegant, carnal and splendid is a privilage, especially common days when I´m out with the dog wearing old jeans and a casual sweater...

Also good for weddings! Your own or someone elses. Men can wear it too, if they feel confident enough to pull grand florals off. Not for girls though... IMO.

Carnal Flower has dualistic character, a soft, creamy, lush, exotic smell of the most beautiful flower you can imagine, mixed with a close to cold, greenish, almost minty (eucalyptus) under currant, and that melon (!) keeping it kind of fresh, and the musk make the flower come alive and very, very hungry. Beware! It don´t evolve so much, eventually become a little softer, but never even close to well behaved.

Great lasting power and huge sillage in the early part of it. Must try for all that enjoys some adventure in life.

If I had to chose only one fragrance that should reveal and explain the European perfume history, herritage and style to an alien (from outer space or a person totally blanc of associations towards perfumes in general), I would chose Caron´s Tabac Blond.

From the first time I tried it, it had me. And I was intrigued, repelled, fascinated and very much attracted. Tabac Blond is to me the perfume of the perfumes. It´s so close to what perfume is all about (to me) that I call it an archetype.

Everything you might want from a real high class perfume, you got it in Tabac Blond. Even thoug I have more expensive perfumes in my collection, nothing makes me feel as proud being a perfumista as Tabac Blond. Living without knowing Tabac Blond would be a great loss. Greatness beyond words really...

Oh, but oh... how does it smell? The opening is very sharp, like a lot of old school perfume openings are and I´ve learned to love those harsh, a little repelling openings, if the medicin isn´t bitter, it won´t work as well, right? It´s bursting with almost oily carnation, underscored by equally oily, slightly bitter lime and a raw, rugged leathery note. Love it.

The smokey character from vetiver reveals. Some softer notes from florals. It warms up, it meltens in to my skin, creamy yet still harsh, mysterious and dark. The dry down is all about golden creaminess, woody patchouli, soft vanilla (not the eatible kind), regal amber and animalic musk. Love it even more (if possible).

If you´re usually in to fruity florals, you´ll proably hate Tabac Blond. It´s far from a modern scent, yet I find it timeless and ageless, and I hope Caron will continue to keep it this way, as far as I know they´re still having the original formula (or at least as close as possible). I do not find the eau de parfum so different from the extrait. Not as long lasting, and you need to apply more of course, but the esscential fragrance seem very close to my nose.

If you don´t have any fancy clothes or golden jewelry, not worry, Tabac Blond will be happy to wear you for a while even if you´re dressed in jeans and t-shirt.