Comments on: Curating a Perfume Collection http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/ a blog about perfume Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:25:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Blimunda http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-234462 Blimunda Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:55:59 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-234462 Hmmm mm........I'm coming late to the archive of General Perfume Articles and enjoying them immensely! I am a true believer in the collection needing to suit The Theme (ie: the wearer) I started out thinking I should have the Jicky,the Tabac Blond, covering every fragrance family etc etc. Utterly ridiculous! I was so excited by the history behind the perfumes and the creators. I have matured into a more wise, experienced and discerning Curator (!) and know what I love and what suits me. I seem to be building small groups from specific noses, quite unintentionally! Mainly Giacobetti and Duchafour, with the odd Ellena and Tauer thrown in! Hmmm mm……..I’m coming late to the archive of General Perfume Articles and enjoying them immensely! I am a true believer in the collection needing to suit The Theme (ie: the wearer) I started out thinking I should have the Jicky,the Tabac Blond, covering every fragrance family etc etc. Utterly ridiculous! I was so excited by the history behind the perfumes and the creators. I have matured into a more wise, experienced and discerning Curator (!) and know what I love and what suits me. I seem to be building small groups from specific noses, quite unintentionally! Mainly Giacobetti and Duchafour, with the odd Ellena and Tauer thrown in!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21476 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:36:07 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21476 Oh that's funny, my impression is exactly the opposite -- that NOT taking pleasure in looking at your perfume collection (note small c) and displaying it for only discerning eyes would be taking it too seriously. The difference to me between perfume and fine art is that perfume is a popular art form, and as with any popular art forms there are unmatched high points, and also the lowest common denominator (fine art too of course, but they are produced in such small numbers), and the highest forms approach high art, but we still get to consume them, and that's the pure pleasure part. I think that is exactly what Julia Child intended, as she has a wonderful sense of humour and fantastic appreciation of the culture that she became an honorary part of -- she is SO famous here, but probably barely known in France, but she was the first person to export French cooking to the US! Oh that's funny, my impression is exactly the opposite — that NOT taking pleasure in looking at your perfume collection (note small c) and displaying it for only discerning eyes would be taking it too seriously. The difference to me between perfume and fine art is that perfume is a popular art form, and as with any popular art forms there are unmatched high points, and also the lowest common denominator (fine art too of course, but they are produced in such small numbers), and the highest forms approach high art, but we still get to consume them, and that's the pure pleasure part.

I think that is exactly what Julia Child intended, as she has a wonderful sense of humour and fantastic appreciation of the culture that she became an honorary part of — she is SO famous here, but probably barely known in France, but she was the first person to export French cooking to the US!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21475 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:09:09 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21475 Well, rarity is a big part of it, surely. If Picasso had done hundreds of copies of all his paintings they wouldn't be so valuable, would they? I understand the pleasure of looking at one's collection (I don't collect perfumes but I have other things I cherish) but it's taking it all a tiny bit too seriously, imo (and that's only my opinion). The word 'gourmette', as the feminine form of 'gourmet', does not exist in French. As you say, it's an American thing. It sounds very funny to a French ear. Funny and cute. :-) Well, rarity is a big part of it, surely. If Picasso had done hundreds of copies of all his paintings they wouldn't be so valuable, would they? I understand the pleasure of looking at one's collection (I don't collect perfumes but I have other things I cherish) but it's taking it all a tiny bit too seriously, imo (and that's only my opinion).

The word 'gourmette', as the feminine form of 'gourmet', does not exist in French. As you say, it's an American thing. It sounds very funny to a French ear. Funny and cute. :-)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21474 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:43:21 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21474 But is rarity the point? Isn't one's perfume collection, no matter how mundane, one's personal delight, and looking at your Stuff is so often a part of the pleasure -- it's not for others, it's for us. Funny about Gourmette! Probably in 1953 that usage didn't exist, and she was doing that cute American Gal play on the fact that Gourmand has a feminine form but Gourmet doesn't. Not to be a stickler, but I loved reading Julia's book about her time in France while I was IN France! But is rarity the point? Isn't one's perfume collection, no matter how mundane, one's personal delight, and looking at your Stuff is so often a part of the pleasure — it's not for others, it's for us.

Funny about Gourmette! Probably in 1953 that usage didn't exist, and she was doing that cute American Gal play on the fact that Gourmand has a feminine form but Gourmet doesn't. Not to be a stickler, but I loved reading Julia's book about her time in France while I was IN France!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21473 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:23:07 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21473 I think for me curating pefume isn't so much about display--unless wearing perfume is the same as displaying it--but about the scents and how they work together artistically. All my perfume is stored away in a little closet, except for the occasional bottle I put on my vanity and gaze at lovingly. I think for me curating pefume isn't so much about display–unless wearing perfume is the same as displaying it–but about the scents and how they work together artistically. All my perfume is stored away in a little closet, except for the occasional bottle I put on my vanity and gaze at lovingly.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21466 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:20:29 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21466 I guess there is a balance between loving something and responding emotionally (i.e. gourmand) and getting intellectual about it. Maybe for something so of the senses as perfume it's better to lean more toward the sensual than the intellectual, if it goes one way or another. Besides, anything like Julia I'm all for. I guess there is a balance between loving something and responding emotionally (i.e. gourmand) and getting intellectual about it. Maybe for something so of the senses as perfume it's better to lean more toward the sensual than the intellectual, if it goes one way or another. Besides, anything like Julia I'm all for.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21465 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:08:49 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21465 Gourmette? LOL! It means 'identity bracelet' in French. Gourmette? LOL! It means 'identity bracelet' in French.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21472 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:57:11 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21472 Forgot to say that I found the post fascinating: I knew nothing about how art collections are curated. It's so interesting. Thanks, A. :-) (Don't know how that rogue colon got there, btw.) Forgot to say that I found the post fascinating: I knew nothing about how art collections are curated. It's so interesting. Thanks, A. :-)

(Don't know how that rogue colon got there, btw.)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21464 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:56:56 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21464 I'm a Gourmande, rather than a Junkie or a Collector -- too much of a dilettante to curate my collection properly, so somewhere between the two. Just the way I'm a Gourmande and not a true Foodie or Gourmette (as Julia Child called her ilk). This is a very provocative post to urge one to consider one's approach to whatever really matters to us, thanks! I'm a Gourmande, rather than a Junkie or a Collector — too much of a dilettante to curate my collection properly, so somewhere between the two. Just the way I'm a Gourmande and not a true Foodie or Gourmette (as Julia Child called her ilk).

This is a very provocative post to urge one to consider one's approach to whatever really matters to us, thanks!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21471 Anonymous Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:54:01 +0000 http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/03/05/curating-a-perfume-collection/#comment-21471 I'm probably going to be stoned for this but I would understand taking a perfume collection seriously in this way and displaying it, etc. as if the bottles were works of art only if those bottles were indeed works of art (limited decorated editions, for instance) or very rare vintage ones. I don't see the point of displaying bottles that are widely on sale and will (or won't) become rare in 30 years' time. Mitsouko the juice may have been created in 1919 but until it is discontinued the bottle of it that was bought yesterday isn't rare. is it:? I'm probably going to be stoned for this but I would understand taking a perfume collection seriously in this way and displaying it, etc. as if the bottles were works of art only if those bottles were indeed works of art (limited decorated editions, for instance) or very rare vintage ones. I don't see the point of displaying bottles that are widely on sale and will (or won't) become rare in 30 years' time. Mitsouko the juice may have been created in 1919 but until it is discontinued the bottle of it that was bought yesterday isn't rare. is it:?

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