Our series of holiday gift posts is nearly done; today, the focus is luxury, by which we mostly mean spendy, and we've listed them in order from cheapest to no-you-can't-afford-it. Our final post, which is coming up soon, is budget items, and not surprisingly it was the hardest of them all to complete.
If you missed them, here are links to part 1 (scented body products), part 2 (travel sizes & coffrets), part 3 (more travel sizes & coffrets), part 4 (home fragrance), part 5 (men's fragrance) and part 6 (solid perfumes).
From Thierry Mugler, the Angel by Thierry Mugler Extrait de Parfum Signature Brooch: "The art of refined perfume meets the delights of feminine indulgences when the Angel Extrait de Parfum comes to life, adorned with a signature couture brooch designed by Thierry Mugler to adorn your décolleté! Made of zamak, the brooch is punctuated by a dramatic spike and embossed with the Thierry Mugler signature. The heavenly and delicious notes of Angel are concentrated into a rare and exclusive formula: the extrait de parfum, dedicated to fulfill extreme desires. Produced in a small quantity by Brosse in France, each Angel Extrait de Parfum bottle is engraved with a unique number, showcased in a luxurious box and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity." A bargain at $198 for 10 ml at Nordstrom.
From Bond no. 9, the Perfumista's Perfect 10: "A wardrobe of ten such flacons—each containing a different best-selling eau de parfum. An exquisite dream-gift that will turn any fashionista into a devout perfumista. The scents: Andy Warhol Union Square, Bleecker Street, Bond No. 9 Signature , Chelsea Flowers, Chinatown, Eau de New York , Hamptons, Nuits de Noho, The Scent of Peace and Wall Street." Ten 5 ml bottles, $250, at Bond no. 9.
From Viktor & Rolf, Flowerbomb Extrait de Parfum: "The new Extrait de Parfum, a bewitching and long-lasting concentrate, is presented in a luxurious jewelry box to reveal the delicately hand-packaged diamond-shaped bottle inside." 20 ml for $350 at Bloomingdales.
From By Kilian, one of the limited edition Joyaux de nuit flacons (there are 3 or 4 designs), available in any of the L'Oeuvre Noire fragrances. $425 at Apothia / Ron Robinson.
From Nina Ricci, the classic Fille d'Eve in a crystal bottle by Lalique. 15 ml Extrait de Parfum, €344 (around 450 smackeroos) at Sephora in France.
From Tom Ford, the Neroli Portofino Spa set: "The NEROLI PORTOFINO collection from TOM FORD is a contemporary reinvention of a classic eau de cologne blended with aromatic Tunisian neroli, Italian bergamot and zesty Sicilian lemon. Each product in the exclusive NEROLI PORTOFINO SPA COLLECTION is infused with the vibrant citrus oils, floral notes and amber undertones of the NEROLI PORTOFINO fragrance." With 50 and 250 ml Eau de Parfum, Body Moisturizer, Body Scrub, Body Oil, Bath Soap, Shower Gel and an atomizer. £580 (around 900 simoleons) at Harrods.
From Acqua di Parma, the Colonias Luxury Leather Box: "Acqua di Parma presents a unique and highly sophisticated luxurious leather set, which has been hand-made using carefully selected superior quality calfskin. Offered in an exquisite and beautifully finished black leather case, each one takes a full day to produce by skilled Italian craftsmen. Fitted with a lock and key serigraphed with the Acqua di Parma logo, the fragrance tray can be removed to create a jewellery box for you to treasure your most precious items. Inside, it contains three Colonia 180ml spray bottles: Colonia, Colonia Intensa and Colonia Assoluta." £1000 (around 1500 clams, give or take a few clams), also at Harrods.
From Chanel, a vat (900 ml) of Gardénia in Parfum: "The lush, gardenia-infused fragrance Coco Chanel created in 1924, presented in its rarest, most collectible form. With a very limited quantity available, the grand flaçon of GARDÉNIA is a treasure for the parfum connoisseur and fragrance collector alike. An ode to Mademoiselle’s beloved camellia flower, its storied heritage and voluptuous bouquet are further elevated by this grand presentation — the classic faceted bottle, secured by means of baudruchage, a masterful sealing technique perfected by CHANEL. A hand-assembled case protects and encloses the precious, floral scent. LES GRANDS EXTRAITS may be dabbed onto the skin using the jewel-cut stopper or displayed among a woman’s most cherished keepsakes." $3800 at Chanel USA, also available in No. 5 ($1800) or Coco Mademoiselle ($1800).
What luck, there is are only one of these which I MUST have; the Kilian bottle (As you all know, I love beautiful glass).
One slight problem, I have yet to convince myself to buy a regular Killian bottle at the regular inflated price, plus that annoying obligation to pay for shelter, food etc
I am luckier — I don’t feel I must have any of them! In fact, was not able this time to find a really expensive present that I wanted for myself, although there are plenty of things in the other gift posts that I’d like to have.
Will add: wouldn’t *mind* having that Fille d’Eve, and wouldn’t mind a few drops of Gardenia in extrait, for that matter. But don’t need either, and 900 ml of Gardenia might be sort of disturbing.
Those huge bottles or sets of one fragrance always struck me as a gift to be bought for someone who is very generous and clueless. In Vegas, I saw a collection of eight bottles of Bond Andy Warhol for sale for over 1,000.00. They were all of the same exact fragrance.
Huh?
Out of them all, I’d probably also go for the Fille d’ Eve. I have no idea what it smells like – I just love the Lalique. Much more beautiful than all the blinged up trash we have been seeing lately!
Yes, chalk me up for the Fille d’Eve as the best option, too. I have been wanting to try that perfume anyway.
Here is Angie’s review of the Fille d’Eve:
https://freebox.it.com/2011/01/10/nina-ricci-fille-deve-fragrance-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Robin, you must try Mona di Orio, the Vanilla, or the Oud, which is $530. I chose the Vanilla at $190. I’ve been hearing great things. Can you get a sample of each and describe them for us?
I’m afraid it is not a line that suits me, but Angie reviewed 3 of them:
https://freebox.it.com/2011/07/11/mona-di-orio-les-nombres-dor-tubereuse-vetyver-and-vanille-fragrance-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I think I’ll stick with my cuff links! 😉
I want that Tom Ford set, and I haven’t even smelled it (and I probably wouldn’t like it since I’m not a big fan of Neroli)! Actually, I really want the bathroom that it would look amazing in, with tiny tiles in shades of blue and a huge white tub. We can dream!
Oh, I’ll take that bathroom too!
Actually, that would not have to be such a hugely expensive remodelling, especially if you can do your own tiling.
A nice alternative would be to keep your bathroom (which I hope has a white tub) and buy towels and shower curtains in different hues of blue.
I do love Neroli Portofino…but holy macaroni, that’s three car payments!
I’m so uncool…I just had to google simoleons.
Apparently the term is now used in the Sims games, but it’s much older than that. Some TV show used to use it when I was young, can’t remember what but something like the Flintstones 🙂
That’s okay. I had to look up baudruchage and also 900ml. That’s 3.8 cups of perfume – over 30oz. Just shy of a quart. However, the price per ml isn’t bad.
Those little Bond bottles are adorable but the only fragrance I like is Chinatown.
LOL! I love that you did the math per mL. That’s ALLL sorts of justification! “Look, hon, it was a *really* good deal!” 🙂
Yes, No.5 extrait is $2/ml in the giant bottle, over $11/ml in the 15ml size. Quite a savings! 🙂
That Fille d’Eve bottle is so lovely! And I’d like to have a little bit o’ Gardenia in parfum… but 900ml? Nope.
It’s extrait….5 or 6 ml would probably cover my needs for the foreseeable future, LOL!
The Flower Bomb presentation is beautiful…the bottle looks a little fancier than usual, too; I’d spring for that if I had stupid money.
A very generous perfumista here, who shall remain nameless lest she be overwhelmed with requests, was kind enough to send me some Fille d’Eve…it is magnificent.
I wore my last drop yesterday, and I will find a way to own my own bottle one day, God willin’ and the creek don’t rise. 😉
It’s lovely. But I have only smelled vintage — was yours new?
Agree about the Flowerbomb, that’s a darned fine bottle.
I believe it was, Robin, but it was gorgeous, either way. Had that richness that vintage seems to have…I am never sure what it is that triggers that impression for me, but I find it in the older fragrances. Deeper, somehow.
Good, thanks!
The Ricci/Lalique bottle is really lovely. Too bad the only one I’ve gotten along with so far has been Farouche.
Money saved. Unless you go chasing after Farouche.
Let’s see, that’s 450(that I didn’t have in the first place) saved, so therefore if I spend a mere 100 I’m not only being thrifty and a total non-piggy but I’m also saving another 350 just by not spending it all. Yay for justification math!
Farouche was of a certain time and place in my life and it’s ok if it stays there. That’s how I feel so far anyway, lol. NSN.
The math is beautifully done 🙂
The By Killian bottle is beautiful. If I had the money, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
If I were a fan of Angel or Flowerbomb, I’d buy the parfum verisons.
Same for the Chanel, even though it’s 2k or 4k, I would still get it if I were a fan of the fragrance as it’s 900 ml parfum.
Luckily for me, I’ve never smelled any of these and I’m nowhere near a store that sells By Killian, so my money’s safe and I could, ya know, eat.
Eating is good.
Yes.
I just ordered my first bottle of MONA DI ORIO, I cannot wait. I think I’ll ask for money to cover the purchase and diamonds. This has been the worst year of my life. But I have discovered a love for perfume especially niche. Thanks Robin for keeping me informed through your blog.
Sorry it’s been a bad year for you — hope 2012 will be better.
If the Chanel were available in Cuir de Russie or 31 Rue Cambon, I might be sorely tempted.
Robin, did you see the Baiser Vole Extrait? You probably already posted it somewhere. Now I need to find it to for a great price! Although 200 isn’t nearly as scary as most of the luxurys on this list! Ha! : )
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374306418171&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446468007&R=3432240028044&P_name=Cartier&N=306418171&bmUID=jg_qH1x
I did see it, but had already started this list. Would love to smell it — it’s one of those fragrances that might not be improved by increased concentration. Beautiful bottle, too!
So, I rarely put on my Flowerbomb extrait. I’ve put a tiny bit on probably 5 times tops. But yesterday I took a nasty fall and messed up my left ankle, right knee, and 2 hands, so yeah, pretty bad day. Haha! I was pretty out of it with meds yesterday, but today I got to put my beauty on! I guess you can call this a special/rare occasion, right? Haha! I just needed a pick me up and my extrait definitely did the trick! I’m stuck in my bed for today, oh how horrible right? Lol! So I’ll be studying for my exams and taking delicious whiffs of my Flowerbomb extrait. Today WILL be a good day! Well, a better day. Haha! : )
Oh, I’m so so sorry, that sounds awful! Hope you will be better soon.
Thanks! I should be good in a couple of wks, what with the help of Flowerbomb. Hahaha! ; )