Same old open thread: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last vacation you took (and what fragrances you brought with you), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Shells by walknboston at flickr; some rights reserved.
Bond no. 9’s flagship boutique, at the company’s namesake address, is located on a cobble-stoned street with historic cast-iron architecture. Walking into the boutique, you may be impressed by its sheer size; in this city where real estate is an obsession, charted inch by costly inch, Bond occupies the entire first floor of the building.
Everywhere you turn in this shop, there is something colorful or glittering to see. Amphora-like dramming units are displayed on mannequin-shaped stands; refillable atomizers are arranged in the slots of a votive-candle stand salvaged from some unknown church. In addition to the more than thirty New York-inspired fragrances (most of which are Eau de Parfum), you can cast your eye (and nose) over scented body creams, candles, soaps, and limited edition bottles encrusted with Swarovski crystals…
...there were small amber-tinted glass bottles, scores of them, and as we spoke he would take one up, open the top, hand it to me and invite me to smell the contents. This went on for hours. It was why I’d come: to meet Dominique Dubrana, a 54-year-old Frenchman living in Italy, a Sufi convert, a grand eccentric and a genius of sorts.
— From Smellbound at the New York Times, an article about Dominique Dubrana of La Via del Profumo. If you missed it, see Kevin's review of Mecca Balsam.
For my last review during Drugstore Week, I wanted to track down an old drugstore classic, like Coty Sand & Sable, Jovan Jungle Gardenia, or the fragrance I eventually landed, Dana Classic Fragrances Love’s Baby Soft. You’d think this would be easy, but no. Drugstores have really classed up their fragrance offerings.
At Walmart, my first stop, a half ounce bottle of Coty Exclamation was $14. Forget it! Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of a cheap thrill? Nine-tenths of the fragrance display was celebrity fragrances and perfume you can find in a department store. I moved on to Walgreen’s. A friendly SA with virulently blue contact lenses attended the locked display case. “Among the older ladies, the Elizabeth is popular,” she said, nodding toward Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds. “The younger ladies like Jessica, and I absolutely love Dare Me,” she said, referring to Fancy Jessica Simpson and a Baby Phat fragrance. “Have you smelled the Hilary? It’s quite nice.”
For a moment I wondered if Hillary Clinton had fronted a perfume, then recalled Hilary Duff…
New at liberty (UK): L'Artisan Coeur de Vétiver Sacré.
Deal at luckyscent: get free shipping on orders of $75 or more with coupon code New10, good through 8/31. New items include Nasomatto Nuda, By Kilian Love and Tears.
New at sephora: Michael Kors Very Hollywood Sparkling Eau de Toilette.