24 November 2015

Scent

Scent, described as "a distinctive odour, especially when agreeable" was originally a hunting term from the Latin sentire - to feel, perceive, sense. I like the word scent, It's not used much nowadays, I suppose that's because it's old fashioned, having been replaced by perfume. I adore perfume, it's important to me, I couldn't be without it, I wear it most days. I also use body spray from M&S and Next. I like trying new perfumes but my all-time favourite is and always will be Chanel Allure. 


The reason I have this little cluster on my chest of drawers is twofold, I like the decorative bottles, and it reminds me of perfumes I have used and liked, should I want to buy them again!


Perfume is evocative, like music it captures moments from the past, nice memories of people and places.   


My mother had one of these spray bottles (didn't everyone then?)
Evening in Paris was an easy one to remember my mum using, it was such a significant blue bottle. 
Then came Coty L'Aimant and later she loved Estee Lauder White Linen.

I think the first perfume I used was 4711, there have been many since then - Tweed, Rive Gauche, Anais Anais, Chanel No's 19 and 5,  Tresor, Youth Dew, Eternity, Lulu which I loved but my boyfriend at the time thought it was too strong! It didn't stop me using it though! 

More recent ones are Coco Chanel, Coco Mademoiselle, and my current favourite Modern Muse. I'm also using Gucci which smelt great when I tried a tester but I can't smell it at all when I use it! I'm sure the testers are extra strength.

I read recently that a perfume called "Suddenly Madame Glamour" from Lidl is a very good likeness to Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. Both have notes of bergamot, rose and jasmine, both come in glass bottles of pink liquid topped with white lids and both are packaged in white boxes with gold trim.


 Independent tests carried out by the respected Perfumers Guild found that 90 per cent of women who took part actually preferred the ‘fresh citrus and floral notes’ of Lidl’s Suddenly Madame Glamour over Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, with guild founder John Bailey saying the former’s ‘alluring, exotic Oriental accord’ made it a ‘timeless, affordable and classic fragrance’. 

Read more at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2849602/Yes-4-bottle-perfume-smell-good-Chanel.html#ixzz3rB6UIlNa

So I took myself off to the store to try it out. It is a very good likeness and I'm not sure I would be able to tell which was which. There are a couple of significant differences in usage though - I use more than just a couple of sprays so it won't last long, and with good perfume you get that lovely lingering scent the next day on scarves, collars, gloves etc., that doesn't happen with this one, however it does last all day, and at £3.99 a pop compared to £54 (and rising) for the real thing I can cope with no lingering aroma!
I've bought two bottles.

“A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” – Coco Chanel

A tad dramatic maybe, but coming from someone so iconic and stylish it ably emphasised how
indispensable perfume is.
Chanel No. 5 is one of the most popular fragrances of all time, a bottle of it is sold every 30 seconds.

"Where should one use perfume?" asked a young woman
"Wherever one wants to be kissed" replied Coco Chanel.

But that doesn't mean poured on, there is nothing worse than being in close proximity to someone who smells overwhelmingly of a cloying fragrance. Perfume should be delightful and intoxicating, and as far as the opposite sex is concerned, only smelt by someone a little bit closer than is polite!

When asked what she wore in bed Marilyn Monroe replied "Why Chanel No. 5 of course"

What is your favourite perfume, how do you feel about perfume, how important is it to you, would you use a cheap one if it was a very good copy of an expensive one?



12 comments:

  1. Hello, the perfume bottles are pretty, you have a nice collection. I can not wear perfume due to my allergies. Thanks for visiting my post. I wish you a happy day and weekend ahead!

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    1. Hello Eileen, thank you for visiting. Hope you have a good weekend too.

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  2. Hi Polly. How nice to hear from you. With regard to perfume, I am sad to say that the farmer does not like it, so I no longer wear it. In the days when I did wear it my signature perfume was always Je Reviens (Givenchy maybe?)

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    1. Oh that’s a shame, maybe a mild body spray. Yes I have heard of that one, it is Givenchy. Thank you for visiting.

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  3. Fascinating - I love scents and am a firm believer in fragrant women! I even recognise some of the names you mention (but don't tell Mrs Britain, will you?). This was a really fun post, even for a bloke - perhaps you should do one on aftershaves...the great smell of...etc!

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    1. Not a word :-) glad you enjoyed it. Unfortunately I’m not very familiar with aftershaves nowadays, the only one I remember was Eau Savage - it was beautiful. The washing machine delivery man smelt nice the other day but I didn’t think it would be polite to ask what it was!!

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  4. PS I had a summer job in an Estee Lauder factory once...

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    1. oooh did you get any free samples. My ideal job would be a perfume tester, closely followed by a chocolate tester!

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  5. I alway hold my breath and walk quickly through the fragrance department.

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  6. I absolutely love Estee Lauders Pure White Linen but unfortunately I can't justify buying it for myself so yes, if there were a very good cheap copy available then I would wear it. I also quite like Estee Lauders Green Tea, it's light and delicate and perfect for day to day wear. My Mum used to wear Jolie Madame by Balmain, I haven't thought about or smelt that for years!

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    1. Hi Sarah, I don't know about Estee Lauders Green Tea, after writing this post I thought I would try White Linen as I quite liked it too, but haven't got round to it yet, so I might try the Green Tea as well. I hope you get this reply, usual laptop isn't working so I have resorted to this old one that is sort of working!! oh technology, great when it works but when it doesn't...........argh.......

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