Like many people who grew up in my part of the world, I come from Scottish stock (although my maternal grandmother was Native/Aboriginal Canadian, just to keep things interesting.) Besides a love of single malts, turnips and dishes based on organ meats, I have inherited that particular brand of stubborn crustiness made famous by the Scots. This is the time of year when I indulge in one of my family's favorite movies: Scrooge, the 1951 version of “A Christmas Carol”, starring the incomparable (and Scottish) Alastair Sim. There are bitter days when I prefer Ebenezer before his conversion. As someone currently in Robin's fifth stage of perfume involvement, I find myself reading fragrance news and reviews — and even, I'm ashamed to admit, the enthusiastic recommendations of experienced sniffers — and thinking HUMBUG! When I'm in one of these black moods, it takes a special (and especially cheap) fragrance to thaw my Glaswegian heart. Here are five that brought the heat.
Thierry Mugler Cologne: This stuff is on sale in enormous bottles everywhere, and over the years many intelligent people have sent me samples. Yet I still refused to try it and for two reasons: 1) I feared it would be a whine of soapy orange blossom; and 2) universal enthusiasm makes me particularly grumpy. But there comes a day when each of us must join Facebook, read a Salmon Rushdie novel or sniff Mugler Cologne. After sampling the scent, it took me about a week to break down and buy a bottle of this most improbable of classics.
Yves Rocher Secrets D'Essences line: Voile D'Ambre and Rose Absolue are lovely fragrances that the Yves Rocher people will practically pay you to take off their hands. What are you waiting for?
CB I Hate Perfume Revelation: I believe I started my perfume obsession in a fairly common way by looking for scents that contained odors I found appetizing. My initial frenzied searches were for fig, almond pastry and coffee perfumes. I gave up on the figs first, deciding that they tasted better than they smelled. I was wrong. An aptly named perfume, Revelation is a photorealistic fig, a fig that takes you to the very core of figginess. Really.
Crazylibellule and the Poppies Encens Mystic: I was extremely disappointed when I smelled this at a drugstore in Paris and it smelled like waxy nothing. This was some kind of Dada, anti-perfume experiment, but clearly crazy people continued to rave about it. Then a wise person suggested that the tester I tried might have dried out, rather like the glue-stick it resembles. I am so taken with my new, potent stick of Encens Mystic that I refuse to be embarrassed about my past grousing.
Tauer Perfumes L'Air du désert marocain: I hope the people responsible for the onslaught of “luxury” releases this year shiver in fear when they hear the name “Andy Tauer”. This second reasonably priced, deeply romantic release from Tauer Perfumes is a must-try. With its airy cedar, dry roasted spices and kiss of boozy sweetness, it is one of the most beautiful and comforting perfumes I own.
Prices and shopping information: A 123 ml splash tester of Thierry Mugler Cologne is $24.99 at Scentiments. Retail prices for Voile D'Ambre and Rose Absolue are $46 and $47 respectively for 50 ml, but Yves Rocher never fails to give you at least 40% off the retail price. Currently it's $25 (and you get a free necklace). CB I Hate Perfume Revelation is $85 for 100 ml of water perfume; see the listing for CB I Hate Perfume under Perfume Houses. Crazylibellule and the Poppies Encens Mystic is $16-18; see the listing for Crazylibellule and the Poppies under Perfume Houses. Tauer Perfumes L'air du desert marocain is $65 for 50 ml; see the listing for Tauer Perfumes under Perfume Houses.
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Ah, a girl after my own pessimistic heart.
Signed, your fellow perfumed curmudgeon, erroneously named Joy
Thank you, Erin, for such an entertaining article. I found myself laughing along with you several times. I've only a drop or two of Scottish blood (my paternal great-grandmother was a Scot), but I've got a thrifty gene I'm sure I got from her. It does battle with my spendthrift gene (which usually wins lol), but I never fail to think long and hard before I throw my money around
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And I, too, carry a bias against something that 'everybody' raves about. I consider myself as deliciously different and if the bourgeousie endorses it, surely it isn't for me. Yet usually, when I eventually descend from my high horse and try whatever it is 'they' are raving about, I usually wind up liking it, too.
My most recent on-the-cheap love is the Green Tea bath and body line by Victor/Perlier, most particularly the massage and body cream, which has the most fantastic slippage, and their body shampoo which can be used as both a shampoo and a body wash. I paid $6.99 and $3.99 respectively for these at TJ Maxx and they are excellent travel supplies, being multipurpose and in durable plastic containers which can survive a banging around. The scent is light enough it doesn't interfere with most perfume choices, too.
You made me laugh, and thank you. That could have been me you are talking about with Mugler … what am I saying? That IS me. I've never smelled it. Will rectify that now.
I am with you on Revelation (there's an aptly named fragrance) and Encens Mystic. I had no idea one could get that much scent from a glue stik.
PS My verify is “2deep” — what do you think it's trying to tell me? My intellect? Or my bs quotient?
M, I'm butting in to say that you shouldn't ever have to enter that dratted verification string (although that one was worth it!) — log in on the right column first and you won't see it, and you won't have to enter your name & password again. I hate verification strings
Thanks! You are talking to the woman who answered comments on PP blog for *months* before I figured out I could login and not have to type my name and email in for each reply … that's the sort of really embarrassing thing I should keep to myself, isn't it?
Marina's verifys kill me. Usually takes me 2 or 3 tries…
Ack, yes, I almost never manage a Blogger verification string on the first try!
Great article! I love reading a good grump! And I, too, have to try the Mugler cologne.
BTW — I think it's Angela's fifth stage, not Robin's…
Hello people! I saw your post about Scrooge. I just wanted to tell you about MerryPages.com which is a Christmas blog that also features a database of Christmas movies and music with lyrics. Feel free to check it out!
Merry Christmas!
Love reading this-
My holiday humbug movie is “Bad Santa”
My anti-humbug is one of those giguntic bottles of Eau Sauvage that cost like $40..
Yes, that's quite a name to live up to! (Although a beautiful one.) I like the name Prudence, or more accurately the shortform Pru, but I have always thought it's a bit of a burdensome name to saddle your child with. My best friend has a book called “The Portable Curmudgeon” that I always enjoy dipping in to when I'm over at her place.
Thanks. Boy, I sure wish we had TJ Maxx up here in Canada – that Green Tea line sounds fabulous! Living in a very dry area, I suffer from itchy, parched skin in the winter, and I have a hard time finding non-greasy creams that don't interfere with my scents. And I understand about the battling genes – I can never pass up a “bargin”. I always argue with my husband: “But really, I was *saving* money by buying it!”
Thanks to you, March: I think you're the one who suggested the tester had dried out. That Mugler Cologne is the weirdest thing: extremely clean, but sexy/smoky/earthy too, syntehtic-smelling and yet perfectly comfortable. I got a verify at PST a little while ago that was something like achkoffu (which sounds almost like my grandfather's brogue!)
Living in Texas, I can definitely identify with the diy skin issue! Moisturizers I've found that either do not interfere with or even complement scents include the inexpensive Johnson and Johnson 23 hour moisturizing lotion ( mild scent and it really works!) and anything from L-Occitane's shea butter/milk line (more expensive, delightful scent that complements most cold weather perfumes nicely. Hope this helps!
Thanks! There is something strangely enjoyable about reading complaints – got anything you need to get off your chest?
I think Robin added the cynical fifth stage, although I'm sure Angela agrees!
You know, Eau Savage is another one of those classics that I haven't tried recently enough (I'm sure I did try it at some point, but I just don't remember what it smells like.) I'll have to try it as my chaotic holiday looms. And I'll have to rent Bad Santa (even the un-rated version?!)
Thanks very much for the suggestions. I'll have to try that J & J (inexpensive is the magic word!). I recently got the Ultra Rich L'Occitane moisturizer with Shea butter: I find it almost sticky, so I don't put it on my upper arms etc., but it's the only thing that works on my knees, shins and elbows !
Me neither!
Now here's a grump after my own heart. Great article, Erin. I have to admit the only one from your list I know is dear Andy's L'air. And that one I love, love, love.
*grumble grumble grumble*
My great-grandmother hailed from Glasgow. Explains a lot, doesn't it.
And don't get me started on Lutens-mania.
*grumble snarl whine*
Thanks! Well, that's a great one to know, L'air. I was so pleased to see it on the MUA Top 25 this year. If you like amber and woods, the Yves Rocher Voile D'Ambre is really worth checking out (though very different in spirit than L'air).
Scrooge with Alastair Sim is our favorite in this house, lol. No other version even comes close. Thanks for the entertaining article. ^^
Yeah, I'm not sure my usage up there was what was intended by the songwriter of that famous ditty “My Heart Belongs to Glasgow”. But grumbling is certainly a Scottish trait. My own bete noire recently is the Pafumerie Generale scents *harrumph*.
You're welcome, and I'd glad to see another fan. Alastair Sim is just perfect – I keep meaning to see the original St. Trinian's films, which I understand are very good (and are apparently about to be re-made).
Have you heard of the term, “Glasgow Kiss”?
Answer: it's a headbutt lol
Hehe, hadn't heard it (I'm surprised, I get to hear a *lot* about Glasgow), that's a good one!
Love the idea! tee hee.
Thanks! I'll be back after the holidays with a much more cheerful post !
I'm in a humbug mood today so this fitted perfectly, thanks Erin! The original St Trinians films are so worth checking out – I LOVE them and they provided all sorts of ideas for mischief when I was a little girl. The re make stars Rupert Everett as the headmistress so I don't think I will be able to resist..
Thank YOU – I was hoping somebody would come along with some knowledge of the St. Trinian's movies! I'm having trouble finding them, but this confirms I'll have to root them out. The cast for the re-make looks a bit uneven, but, yes, Rupert Everett should be worth seeing!
Ah, you are right about Angela/Robin, I'd forgotten!
No, no good grumps, today. Later, I'm sure!
Lol, well you let me know when you're in the mood!