Dulcemio:MiaTrost:
But surely loving classics and fabulous modern creations isn't mutually exclusive, is it?
And there's that too, they certainly aren't mutually exclusive.
When I first stumbled upon the online perfume community, my first thought was, "What on earth do people find to discuss about fragrance, it's such a sensual experience, what is there to discuss?"
Obviously I was wrong about that. But the bottom line is that it either smells good to me, or it doesn't. I can now better identify the reasons why that is, but understanding why I dislike something doesn't make me not dislike it.
Although, I suppose I know what he means, that, like a movie or book reviewer, perfume reviewers should be neutral enough to recognize and give credit for quality even if the product doesn't appeal to them personally. In fact, I appreciate and admire when a reviewer is able to set aside their own preferences when describing a perfume. I try to do that, but don't always succeed.
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I don't think it is necessary to set aside your preferences when describing a perfume. I never try to dampen either my enthusiasm and adoration, or my frank revulsion or disgust at a particular scent.
I feel that would make the review much less honest.
I will, as best I can, describe the notes as I detect them on my own skin and the following development of the notes as I perceive them.
Even this portion of my review will be filled with adjectives describing how I perceive that accord on my skin, how it develops, and it is impossible to keep out all preferential adjectives because some of them are by default negatively or positively perceived in context. This is as far as I am concerned, a necessary differential that is experienced by all of us since we all have different skin chemistry.
For example:
A thin, scratchy, poorly blended nose-stinging Lavender with harsh edges that clashes with top-thin rose de mai accord.OR
A rich, freshly sweet and rounded Lavender that melts into the velvety silken Bulgarian Damascena Rose accord.So I've described two accords in radically different manner as accurately as I possibly can. Obviously I like #2. I would be dishonest if I attempted to conceal my personal preference because there would be no other way I could accurately describe the accords.
What is perceived as "Quality" is something that I think is totally subjective.
What am I actually saying about the perfume if I say, "This is a quality perfume but I cannot stand it." ????
What exactly makes it such that I cannot stand this, "quality perfume"?
If I describe only the accords, sillage, and longevity without any hint of like/dislike, is there a point to it? Would we even need a review section of individual paragraph writing?
I suppose we could train bloodhounds to identify certain molecules (since they can) and bark/howl out a loud WOOF when they recognize XYZ accord like they do when tracking humans, and that would be a totally objective and fair descriptive. But is there a point to that? Who cares ONLY about identified accords?
I feel that you can let yourself completely go and PASSIONATELY describe your like, dislike, love, or hatred of XYZ perfume. THAT is where the human element is described regarding the scent really. THAT is where you can describe how it touches you spiritually (if you wish) and what that means to you.
I am interested in reading everyone's HONEST opinion, whether they agree with me or not regarding a particular scent. I wish everyone would feel free to unleash themselves and their true feelings in depth if they choose to write a review.