A perfumed post....

If you want to know all the pretentious perfume cobblers (and I do) go to Basenotes - independent online guide to 13000+ fragrances, with ...

And if you want to try on a small scale by buying decants go to Perfume Samples, Perfume Decants and Vintage Perfumes - The ...

First up - L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain 1912

Neroli

Carnation and Iris 

Vanilla

The story: I was browsing in Brown's of Chester in about...oh, 1972??? and tested this. It has been my "signature" (see what I mean about pretentiousness) perfume since then. I don't even know if I much care for it any more but it is so evocative of that time that I must always have it. The memories overwhelm the olfactory element. Astonishing sense - the sense of smell.

Next, please.

Serge Lutens Muscs de Koublai Khan 1998

Animalic musk

The story: I was reading a lot about perfume a coupla years ago and this has quite a reputation. Some people find it utterly repellent and claim it smells of - shall I be forthright? - testicles/buttocks. I had to try it so I ordered a small phial from Perfumed Court and was immediately mesmerised. HAD to HAVE it in my life. Well, it's 125 Euros. The OH got it for me. I love my OH. Sorry about the blurry pic btw. It is pungent. It is compelling. It is wonderful. The OH thinks it smells of toilet-cleaner! If you object to bodily smells you won't enjoy this but if you are less fastidious and maybe even relish a whiff of sweat etc then it's essential. Have I put you off it?

Also (I have plenty more but 3 will do for today) and finally

Paul Smith London 2004

This has neroli

Also heliotrope and vanilla

Why this one: I love the bottle shape. Luckily I love the fragrance too. 

 

Do you have a fragrance or a kitchen or garden smell that instantly transports you to another place and time?

Jenni

Six assorted eyeliners + nails + the history bit

Eyeliner

From l to r (1st 3)

An ancient Guerlain - it still works and I'm not chucking it as it's Guerlain - anyway just look at the swatch!
UD - Metalhead (pretty sparkle but no inherent colour to speak of)
UD - Honey (but it's gold)

UD - Ecstasy

Dr Hauschka - black (see how fine a line this brush creates!)

Eyeko Magic with Models Own Aquavit Ripened Raisin - the magic (if such it be) lies in the use of this to pick up pigment from cake eyeshadow and thus be an eyeliner for all seasons BUT does it work? And why does an eyeshadow need such a ludicrously long name? Cheesh.

TBH I don't really know because I don't actually use any of these products. I bought them and tried them but my eyes are increasingly resistant to embellishment and adornment and therefore rebel by producing tears so these items are largely redundant. Boo hiss. I only bought the Eyeko a couple of weeks ago knowing full well that it would prove of no use to me due to allergies but nonetheless I proceeded. I sometimes have no more sense than next door's cat. And that is pretty stupid as it tends to lie prone before the wheels of moving vehicles!

Rainbow Pink with Canmake glitter topping (polishes still courtesy of Green Fairy/Polished Serenity)



The history bit - about eyeliner of course!! An item (plus explanation) from the British Museum.

"Perhaps from Thebes, Egypt
18th dynasty, about 1500-1440 BC.

Kohl pot, with texts

The owner of this object, Ahmose of Peniati, served as overseer of works to many of the kings of the early Eighteenth Dynasty, from Amenhotep I to Thutmose III. This pot for kohl, a black cosmetic for the eyes, is likely to have come from his tomb. The pot is divided into five compartments, four of which have associated texts on the outside. One says 'fine eye paint for every day', while the other three refer to the beginning and the end of each of the three main Egyptian seasons of four months each. This suggests that different forms of the cosmetic might have been used at different times of the year. A small protrusion on the top formed a swivel for the lid, which has not survived, while on the outside is a knob for tying it shut. Between two of the tubes is a metal loop which would have held the applicator stick."

So it was not just packaged but labelled and they had seasonal collections!!! And don't forget the applicator stick!!

A hot and bothered

Jennifer