Comments on: White Flower Failure

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:41:00 +0000

Lucky for me, it's pretty easy to stay away from what my mother wore, although she did have a bottle of My Sin, which I like. It's nice, though, to have something around that isn't completely you for those times when you want to shake things up.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 05:44:00 +0000

I'm late for the party, but I share the sentiment. White flowers are my mother, and at 36 I have yet to grow into her (not going to happen). I know the dissonance- I spend most of my time downtown (NYC, that is) or at my slightly suburban Jersey home, and feel that my fragrances need to reflect that. Only, sometimes I'm attracted to a softer, more elusive scents that are not completely me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 03:25:00 +0000

Priscilla, I know just what you mean about a fragrance feeling too big, like it's obliterating some part of your (more subtle) personality. Sometimes I feel like the big white florals do that to me. Ormonde Woman is a big scent, but it's big in a way that goes with me, so it's o.k. Songes is big, too, and almost doesn't go with me, but sometimes does, so I keep a bottle around. Too bad about the headaches it gives you! Man, I'd wear anything that made me feel like Maggie the Cat, lucky you.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 02:07:00 +0000

I am so far behind…but I'll post anyway. I tend to have this experience with fragrances I feel are “too much” for me, like a piece of clothing that's simply too large. Ormonde Woman is like this for me (and I know how you love it!), and so is Tolu. I love them both, but I feel so dinky in them. White florals make me feel steamy, like Maggie the Cat, when I'm about the least steamy person in any given room, but somehow I feel better able to pull them off. Sadly, though, I can't wear Songes. I think its stunningly pretty, but it gives me a terrible headache (why this one and not so many other white florals?). The only thing that bothers me more (because I really don't like it, maybe) is Chinatown.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:18:00 +0000

Or a documentary…hee.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:37:00 +0000

Thank you so much for the compliment!

It sounds like you're really balanced in your fragrance choices. I do some balance, too–for instance, I find I reach for modern fragrances when I'm wearing vintage and vice versa. (Similarly, if I'm wearing a coat from the 1950s, I make sure my purse is new.) I love the idea of wildly girly underwear under a sober suit. And I think you should launch your own perfume called “chichifoofoo”.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:28:00 +0000

The previous poster who complimented you on your thought-provoking and insightful articles is absolutely right. I've found myself looking for (and looking forward to) your articles, Angela.

I'm yet another personality type, I guess. The type who takes a yin-yang approach to fragrance. I often choose a fragrance that's the opposite of my 'look'. I tend to dress at the extreme ends of the fashion spectrum — very button-down for my oh-so-serious job and as trendy as all get out for my leisure time. I'm very tall, very blonde, and couldn't get lost in a crowd if I tried, so I figured I may as well adopt 'in-your-face' dressing. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, so to speak.

Ergo, during my work day in one of my many navy blue, black or charcoal grey power suits, white flower fragances (along with chichifoofoo lingerie which only I know is there) provide the feminine balance to my masculine-inspired job and outer attire.

Outside of work, in my trendy, flamboyant and ephemeral fashions, I ground myself with more serious, darker, deeper fragrances.

But I do understand and appreciate your point regarding scent dissonance and the essential betrayal of one's espirt. And I, too, cherish Chanel No. 5 for the lovely creation it is, but it is simply not me and I doubt that it ever would be.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:26:00 +0000

I really enjoyed the Emperor of Scent, and I'd read another book by Burr on perfume in a heartbeat. (If you do read Emperor and become enthralled with Luca Turin, there's a whole other body of info on the internet to explore: his fragrance guide, in French; and his defunct blog, Perfume Notes.)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:14:00 +0000

Thanks so much for this reference. Am printing it now. Apparently he's going to expand the piece into a book. I'm quite temped to buy his Emperor of Scent anyway. But also some other great articles on his site, and enjoyed the interview with him here.

Thanks Angela, for that and for a really thought-provoking piece yourself. (Am sitting here loving the L'Ombre on the back of my hand, amazing how long it lasts too – always a good thing, methinks)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:08:00 +0000

I bet you look fabulous (and I can tell from your comment that you smell pretty darn good)! If you wear the whites and love them, then they're working for you. You probably have the personality for all kinds of perfume. Some day I will join your ranks.

I'm inspired to get out my sample of Tolu now. It's snowing outside, and Tolu would be perfect!