With everyone enraptured by minimalism, Cleanfluencers, and Marie Kondo, it seems in bad taste to suggest the need for opulence, especially since what I have in mind is Bollywood’s “more is more” variety. There are two reasons for my insistence—excitement is a good thing, and I love Indian cinema.
Many people outside the Bollywood sphere of influence find the genre puzzling. Everything is over the top—the acting, the plots, the songs, the outfits. But for me, it’s “cinema that exists slightly outside the everyday world,” in the words of writer Rana Dasgupta. This fantasy space is shared by perfumes, intangible messages in a bottle. So, those wishing to take a break from KonMaring their sock drawers and making their apartment look like an IKEA showroom are welcome to follow along with me.
For opulence, cinematic and olfactory, few combinations can rival the pairing of Guerlain Nahéma and Mughal-e-Azam (1960). Mughal-e-Azam tells the doomed love story of Prince Salim and dancing girl Anarkali against the backdrop of the Mughal court. Few do grand as well as the Mughals, the dynasty that ruled India from 1526 to 1857 and left the world the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Shalimar Gardens. Anarkali is played by the unforgettable Madhubala, and Prince Salim by Dilip Kumar, and their real life relationship overlaps with the story and adds an extra dose of drama to the key scenes.
When I smell Nahéma, its rose saturated by ylang ylang and those incandescent ingredients in the perfumer’s palette, damascones, I can almost see Anarkali twirling dervish like in her final dance sequence as she defies the Emperor’s wishes and stays loyal to her prince. Nahéma unfolds in sumptuous layers; Anarkali’s skirts glitter and reflect in the thousands of mirrors. In both cases you are transported to a world far beyond routine and pastels. (Since Nahéma can be difficult to find, Ormonde Jayne Ta’if offers an opulent vision of dark roses and shimmering amber.)
Darker and moodier is Neela Vermeire’s Mohur, a fragrance of rose and oud that avoids the usual tropes of the genre, heft and opacity. Vermeire, who now lives in Paris, is originally from India, and she worked with Bertrand Duchaufour to capture the elements of traditional perfumery in the subcontinent. The extrait version of Mohur would luxuriant enough for Empress Noor Jahan.
At the same time, Mohur is a nuanced interpretation, and it fits the mood of Umrao Jaan, the story of the famous Lucknow courtesan and poet. My favorite film version dates to 1981 and features the gorgeous Rekha in the title role. It’s a tale of love and heartbreak. Melancholy is not part of Mohur’s character, but if you need a perfume for a moonlight picnic in a rose garden, you won’t find a better choice.
Once you’ve cried for Anarkali and brooded over Umrao Jaan’s fate, you’re ready for Serge Lutens Arabie and Devdas (2002). Arabie takes you through a cinnamon-scented spice market, past temple altars bedecked in flower garlands and then deposits you in a sandalwood grove. Devdas includes a brothel too. A romantic drama about star-crossed lovers, it features a trio of India’s best actors, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit, a dazzling soundtrack, and sets of such extravagance that you won’t notice that you’ve spent 185 minutes in front of the television. Arabie will linger even longer.
Extra reading: 10 Bollywood Films and Perfume Pairings
What are your favorite fragrances (or other means) to escape routine?
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
76 Comments
Cornelia Blimber: Inspiring article. Marie Kondo would be unhappy in my home.
Fragrances indeed help a lot against routine. I agree on Nahema; my association wth that perfume is L’Invitation au Voyage, the poem and the song by Duparc.
Other perfumes are Casmir (Chopard), Borneo 1834, Mahora, Poison.
Reading is also a big help, and looking to my beautiful cat.
Grey, rainy weather? I love it! October 4, 2021 at 7:45am
maja: Kondo would suffer immensely if she saw my home, too.
My idea of opulence is roses, roses and some more roses. Rose Oud ByKilian, Rose Nacree, Rose de Nuit etc. October 4, 2021 at 8:37am
Tourmaline: She would faint if she saw mine… October 4, 2021 at 9:06am
Victoria: I also love grey rainy days, especially since they make warm, rich perfumes even more inviting. October 4, 2021 at 2:43pm
Karen A: Here’s to tangles in the garden and a touch of opulence in our daily lives! There is something deeply rewarding just reading about perfume and film (or book) pairings or perfume as an escape. I’ve been keeping steady with No.5, Coromandel, and Chamade extraits through some challenging times but recently found my bottle of La Fille and was transported back to a damp evening in Milan wandering around looking for a perfume to take home. October 4, 2021 at 8:28am
Victoria: I already love your garden, as you know! 🙂 October 5, 2021 at 4:25am
Bastet: You mentioned some beautiful perfumes. My bottle of Nahema is almost empty, I sure hope I can find another one somewhere! And Mohur is one of my favorites, but i only have the EDP. Do you think the extrait version is much better? Finally, I would also put SL La Fille de Berlin and Tauer’s Rose Chypre in this group of opulent rose perfumes. October 4, 2021 at 8:44am
Deanna: I have Tauer Rose Flash, which I love, as it’s so opulent and strong.
How is Rose Chypre different?
( assuming you know Rose Flash) October 4, 2021 at 11:53am
Bastet: Rose Flash is beautiful too, but I think of it as a sweet and jammy rose. Rose Chypre is much darker and more complex, with citrus, spices and all kinds of base notes (at least amber, oak moss, and vetiver); there’s a great review of it on this site! October 4, 2021 at 1:30pm
Deanna: Tauer Rose Chypre sounds lovely, definitely will get a sample!
Thank you. October 4, 2021 at 1:47pm
Victoria: The extrait version is different, but I wouldn’t say that it’s better. It’s heavier, richer, and plusher. This makes it more dramatic and less versatile (for me, at least.) October 5, 2021 at 4:31am
Tourmaline: Dear Victoria,
Thank you for this entertaining post. You have introduced me to a new term – Cleanfluencers! I think my unit could use a touch of their influence at the moment… It is spring here in Australia, and I really should do a big spring clean.
Like you, I love cinema in general, and that includes Bollywood cinema. It doesn’t matter that it might be viewed on my television set, possibly via my DVD player. Our World Movies free-to-air channel sometimes shows a selection of Bollywood films, and the name “Devdas” rings a bell; I think I have seen that one.
A perfume from my collection that would go well with a Bollywood extravaganza is Phul-Nana (Grossmith 1891). As I’ve written here previously, I was given a tiny bottle of this by a school friend when I was about nine years old, and found the scent rich and beautiful. A little went a long way. I used it up over the next 10 or so years, but about eight or nine years ago I was lucky enough to find a slightly larger bottle of it on eBay. How wonderful it was to smell once again that magical fragrance; it was as sweet and intoxicating as I had remembered it. According to Fragrantica, it contains notes of bergamot, orange, neroli, geranium, tuberose, ylang-ylang, patchouli, benzoin, cedar, sandalwood, opoponax, tonka bean and vanilla.
Two other slightly over-the-top perfumes that I adore are Poison (Christian Dior 1985) and Insolence (Guerlain 2006). I could imagine The Grand High Witch from Roald Dahl’s “The Witches” (both the book and the two film versions) wearing both of these. She could wear Insolence when she is in her human form, and then Poison when she has transformed into an ugly beast and is intent on poisoning all the world’s children!
Another extreme scent that I’ve mentioned before is “Marshmallow”, created by the Australian company MOR during the early 2000s. According to Fragrantica, it contains notes of sugar rose petals, white carnation, jasmine, cotton candy, vanilla and musk. I can imagine Marie Antoinette wearing this overly sweet confection in the film of the same name, as she feasts on all the decadent cakes and other treats that are featured.
By the way, last night I watched an amazing film that I’d seen once before – a 2018 Swedish film called “Border”. Has anyone else seen it, and if so, what are your thoughts on it? It is about a woman with an extraordinary sense of smell who works as a customs officer. I think it is a unique and fascinating film, unlike any other I am likely to experience.
With kind regards,
Tourmaline October 4, 2021 at 8:53am
Zuzanna: I saw this film a few years ago and I liked it very much. This special atmophere, the colours, the scandinavian folklore. A story about being different, about acceptance for the Other. Her sense of smell was a sign of a deep connection with nature, with her animalistic side, which for the “normal” people could seem primitive, repulsive even, but at the same time was something unique, which gave her sort of advantage over them. October 4, 2021 at 10:10am
Tourmaline: Hi Zuzanna,
I’m glad you liked the film. You have described it beautifully. I agree with your positive assessment of it.
With kind regards,
Tourmaline October 4, 2021 at 10:20am
Cornelia Blimber: Hi Tourmaline! I saw ”The Witches”, They certainly could wear your choices, but I noticed a bottle of Diva! October 4, 2021 at 10:41am
Tourmaline: Hi Cornelia,
Oh yes, I saw that too, on the witch’s dressing table. Another good choice. It certainly suited her character! October 4, 2021 at 10:44am
Victoria: I definitely must watch it. Thank you for explaining more about it. October 5, 2021 at 4:35am
Victoria: I’d love to see this Swedish film. It sounds interesting.
Your whole list of pairing is so enjoyable! October 5, 2021 at 4:33am
Tourmaline: I think you’d find it fascinating.
I’m glad you enjoyed reading it, Victoria! October 5, 2021 at 4:50am
Zazie: It is so good, in this rainy and gray October day, to daydream about traveling to a colorful Bollywood movie from a comfortable sofa.
Today I am (so fittingly!) wearing Mohur. I love this perfume so much! Though it does not read particularly colorful and escapist to me, it certainly smells opulent, with its ambery base and its cascade of spices over rose petals. I especially delight in a very pungent cardamom note that my notes seems to pick out throughout the whole development. It tickles me, it disturbs me, it fascinates me… does it smell green or sweaty, warm or cold…?!?
Is it just cardamom?
In short, it keeps me interested. That is all I ask for from a perfume on a rainy day.
But I’d love it if perfume could keep me dry as well.
🙂 October 4, 2021 at 9:18am
Victoria: Mohur is a beauty, isn’t it! I love how deftly it combines different rich notes with the result nevertheless being radiant. October 5, 2021 at 4:34am
Kimberly: Another timely post. I just ordered Nahema. I have been searching for it for awhile. I recently found it on Harrod’s website. I ordered Nahema, Vol De Nuit and Jicky. I can hardly wait! I’m not sure I have a Bollywood fragrance but Samsara sure brings the warmth and spice. October 4, 2021 at 9:31am
Victoria: Oh, that’s great. I keep hearing of Nahema being discontinued, and I hope that it’s not true. October 5, 2021 at 4:34am
JulienFromDijon: Indeed, we could make a hot topic out of this news! It seems that Nahéma, Samsara, and Chamade (argh) has just been discontinued è_é and so in silence.
I was for a short time in Paris last Wednesday, in the reopened Samaritaine. Gone is Samsara extrait, said the SA. (It was a heavy day, I did not dig for more information. I was asking if La petite robe noire extrait, or Insolence extrait, or even Habit rouge extrait, could be the target of a bee bottle refill. All were nice additions to Guerlain’s legacy.)
I really really hope it’s just a matter of shortages due to the Covid-19. It would be crazy otherwise. Samsara extrait was my go to advice for white sandalwood, on par with Bois des îles. And the last formulation of Chamade extrait was one of the best perfume available at retail these days.
As a solace, I could smell the exclusive reissue of Kadine. It sits very close to the former Après l’ondée extrait.
It’s more intense (so the better), less jasmine and mimosa and anise, a with a twist of chypre * and a hint green almond in the base (à la Thierry Wasser).
* (making it more midway between l’heure bleue and mitsouko).
So it’s a huge natural iris, strong on iris butter, with a tad of herbes de provence, sitting halfway between L’heure bleue (orange blossom maybe) and Mitsouko (without being that mossy, more hay-like maybe, but it felt like nowaday mitsouko extract).
The last Divine is also built on iris butter, “l’esprit libre”. It’s very nice for it’s price. But it’s build on an ambroxan base, like Prada’s iris. (And if like my, you love iris, you already own your favorite ones.) October 16, 2021 at 1:13pm
Caro: What an amazing reading! I saw other people in the comments saying it is inspiring and I can’t agree more. I think I feel encouraged to revisit the opulence of Nahéma, Ta’if and Mohur. October 4, 2021 at 9:38am
Victoria: Thank you, Caro! October 5, 2021 at 4:34am
Filomena: I clean my condo every Sunday (which is my only free day to do so). With each chore or room, I put on a different perfume, which gets me through the cleaning process. I had Nahema back in the day but haven’t smelled it for years. I do have Mohur and Ta’if, SL La Fille and Andy Tauer’s Chypre Rose. I also enjoy CDK’s Rose Tabac. October 4, 2021 at 10:03am
Victoria: Such beautiful, inspiring choices! October 5, 2021 at 4:35am
Cyndi: Love your article! I think I’m going to check out some Bollywood movies. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one but they sound like fun. I love Nahema perfume (which I own) and it is one of my favorite rose perfumes along with La fille de Berlin. October 4, 2021 at 10:26am
Victoria: La Fille de Berlin is another fragrance I very much enjoy. October 5, 2021 at 4:36am
pandamommy: I enjoyed the post, but I do find it supremely orientalist. After all, to over 1 billion people, Bollywood is not exotic. The flowers, scents, and ideas are not other, but self. I was wondering if you could speak a bit about this? October 4, 2021 at 11:05am
Victoria: Are you sure you’re clear on the meaning of “orientalism”? Because nowhere in this post did I say that I find Bollywood exotic. I grew up watching more of it than my cousins who live in India. That being said, escapism and exoticism are part and parcel of Bollywood’s appeal to its audiences in India and beyond, which is why major films are shot in foreign “exotic” locations like Switzerland, London, or these days, Poland. October 5, 2021 at 5:02am
Aparna: How I loved it! When I was a little girl in Mumbai, I used to watch old Bollywood movies with my grandmother and sing our favourite songs. I now want to watch Umrao Jaan and wear Nahema. October 4, 2021 at 11:53am
Fazal: Umrao Jaan Ada was the movie I watched with my Urdu class in high school in Lahore as the novel was a required reading in the course. October 4, 2021 at 2:26pm
Victoria: The film with Rekha fits the novel well. I tried watching the newer version with Aishwarya Rai, but it’s too plodding.
And the poetry in that novel is something wonderful. October 5, 2021 at 5:07am
Fazal: Since I went to high school in the late 90s, it was the Rekha’s version we watched! I even have a personal connection with the movie as the bandit is named Fazal Ali, lolz October 5, 2021 at 8:19am
Victoria: What a lovely memory! 🙂
Umrao Jaan is one of my favorite films. It’s so beautifully shot and the story and the songs are splendid. October 5, 2021 at 5:04am
Frances: Not only it is raining here today but there was thunder earlier in the afternoon. After I read this article I was to wear Shalimar but instead opted for Cinéma by YSL which is radiant, warm and sunny. Not dramatic enough to match the light of thunder but still the perfect antithesis to a damp, cold weather.
I’m always glad to hear about Nahéma, I so love this fragrance. Actually, the first review I read on Bois de Jasmin was Nahéma’s review. I first wore it around 2007. The bottle was the gold refillable one. I didn’t know about batch code and such at the time but I bet this bottle was maybe older because it is not the most sought after fragrance from Guerlain. At the time it was so opulent and voluptuous I had the feeling I could literally wrap myself into it. Fast forward to 2019, I bought a new bottle but thought it had thinned a lot in comparison. I let it sit for a few months after opening and it regained strength. Even when lighter and maybe greener, at least to my nose, it is still an opulent sensual fragrance and you feel invited to travel when wearing it. The pairing with Bollywood movies is an evocative one. I read interesting articles about the classics and new classics, especially Devdas, in Les Cahiers du Cinéma a long time ago and got to see a few. If my memory is right, the ones I saw all featured the iconic Aishwarya Rai. What I prefer in Bollywood movies, alongside the stunning costumes and the music, is the dance. I’m never tired of it.
As a Guerlain’s worshiper I am maybe biased but if I have to pick a scent to escape routine it has to be one from this house. Nahéma, Shalimar, Insolence, Après L’Ondée and above all else L’Heure Bleue, all lift the veil of monotony and carry you to other places and other times. They truly and poetically conjure
a special atmosphere. However, beside Guerlain, I would also say Coco by Chanel. October 4, 2021 at 1:45pm
Victoria: All of Guerlain fragrances have the corresponding opulence, so yes, I agree with you. Even the newer launches have that lovely plush finish.
Coco Chanel is another wonderful choice! October 5, 2021 at 5:05am
Fazal: Nice pairing between Indian films and perfumes. As someone whose introduction to films was really through bollywood, I struggle to enjoy bollywood. However, Andaz Apna Apna remains one of my most favorite films, and I don’t think Bollywood can ever make a better comedy movie than Andaz Apna Apna. October 4, 2021 at 2:23pm
Victoria: Andaz Apna Apna is one of my favorites too! The dialogue and the delivery are matchless. October 5, 2021 at 5:06am
Fazal: On-spot regarding its dialogues! I never thought it was possible for a bollywood movie to provide non-stop comedy from beginning to end until I watched Andaz Apna Apna. October 5, 2021 at 8:22am
Victoria: Have you seen Barsaat ki Raat? It’s not a comedy, but it’s a beautiful film about a family of Urdu-language poets in Hyderabad. Another gem. October 5, 2021 at 9:50am
Fazal: Victoria, I have not. But I am so glad you have recommended it. The story looks very interesting. Will def. watch it!
I can get behind bollywood movies like this one. I just got tired of the usual hero-heroine theme on endless repeat. By ignoring bollywood in general, I seem to have missed some potential gems like this one, too.
The fact is that this is the first time I have heard the name of this movie. October 6, 2021 at 2:35pm
pklagrange: What a lovely post. My perfume preference is rarely “clean.” I prefer the older Amouages, Neela Vermiere, SL Arabic and Oriental Vetiver. I want my perfume opulent, layered and dense. Perfect for my life of wearing jeans and chasing after escaping dogs. My life is far less glamorous but I smell fantastic! October 4, 2021 at 9:00pm
Victoria: That’s why those velvety, warm, plush perfumes are so welcome! 🙂 October 5, 2021 at 5:08am
Debi: Oddly enough I have not seen any of the films mentioned by you, despite being from India. I have read Devdas in the original though. Its not as dramatic but even more romantic and hear-breaking.
I have to try something from Guerlin soon. But I dont know when. As I depend on my brother to bring perfumes from USA – prices are too high here.
Lovely post Victoria. As usual I could visualise the story and the perfumes to go. October 5, 2021 at 12:33am
Victoria: I have a bias towards older Bollywood films, so that’s why. My husband hadn’t seen any of them until he met me, although my MIL had.
As for getting familiar with Guerlain, I’d select a classic like Shalimar, mid-classic like Insolence, or newer launch like Idylle. But getting samples first is best, since Guerlain can be a polarizing house. October 5, 2021 at 5:14am
Ewan: Minimalism – the state of not being a part of our own history. Sweeping away, tabula rasa, yesterday barely happened, overlit, a purposeful lack of evolution, homes like hospitals, modernist arrogance, glass and steel buildings, expense without richness, a church without a steeple, a tear with no emotion, fraudulent and lacking any soul.
Perfumes – Chicken broth simmering in the kitchen, frankincense in the living room, chamomile flowers in a hot bath and fresh air in the bedroom, a cup of spring darjeeling, listening to soft, light rain washing the summer dust from the garden. October 5, 2021 at 12:35am
Victoria: Now that’s a passionate stance against minimalism. In theory, I like the idea of things paired down, but in practice, I rarely operate that way. 🙂 October 5, 2021 at 5:15am
Ewan: HI Victoria. I should have been clear, I meant the Industrial approach to Minimalism [ with a capital M ] rather than the personal approach.
Plenty like more space and less clutter. The Japanese have minimal furniture while the opulence is expressed in the Kimono.
I am, for good or for bad, still reading J.S. Curl’s ‘Making Dystopia’ about the removal of beauty, sense and real functionality from Architecture.
:} October 5, 2021 at 6:13am
Victoria: Yes, it makes sense to me. I find that “minimalism for the sake of minimalism” approach so joyless and sterile. October 5, 2021 at 9:47am
Ewan: By happy coincidence it started raining yesterday evening and has continued through the night, slightly heavier now. It’s a new moon today so it has probably changed the weather. Darjeeling has finished so instead Jiu Qu Hong Mei [ Red Plum ]. Perhaps with the change of weather I could try some paring down :] October 6, 2021 at 1:07am
Courant: Nahema is here in the deep dark drawer. Sa Majeste hasn’t been out for a long while, Clinique’s Beyond Rose has had a whirl and I layered Quel Amour and Heure Exquise yesterday by mistake, but it pleased me October 5, 2021 at 5:56am
Victoria: That sounds like a fun combination, and they both have rose, so it should work well. October 5, 2021 at 9:45am
Klaas: What great post! Can you believe I never saw a Bollywood movie? Ever?? I’ll keep those titles in mind for a long winter evening……what a great way to escape to a world full of color, drama, song and dance!
As for perfumes, my tastes in fragrance have become quite minimal in the past few years. Jean Claude Ellena is my hero, and I like the idea of my perfumes not invading the personal space of those around me. Living together with a partner that passionately hates fragrances doesn’t help either! When I do want something a bit more ‘out there’, I wear CdG Black or Andy Tauer Oudh. Not the most opulent fragrances maybe, but baroque and dramatic for sure!
Marie Kondo would quite like my apartment. I am not a minimalist per se, but as I live in a rather small space I am very critical to what things get to stay; I only keep things that I love and that make me happy. Quality and wellness over quantity. I highly recommend! It saves money, space and the environment……and less cleaning! October 5, 2021 at 1:58pm
Tourmaline: Hi there Klaas,
Oh my gosh, it must be challenging at times, living with a partner who so hates perfume! Are there times when he’s not around and you can break out the big guns? I’m with you on being careful not to invade the personal space of others with fragrance, though, especially in places like galleries and the cinema.
I’m fortunate to live on my own by choice, so I can wear what I want, when I want. I’m sure that I occasionally leave a strong scent trail on the way up and down the two flights of stairs to my apartment, but odds are that other residents would like it at least half of the time! My unit could use a more critical eye as to what should go…
You have a treat in store with the world of Bollywood awaiting you!
With kind regards,
Tourmaline October 6, 2021 at 8:14am
Klaas: Hahaha, we are both away sometimes, so yes, I can wear something stronger from time to time……though it almost feels like cheating on him, I feel terribly naughty and even promiscuous when I wear my Oud! October 6, 2021 at 11:23am
Tourmaline: That’s so funny! At least you able to wear your strong scents occasionally. October 7, 2021 at 3:59am
Victoria: I would like your apartment too! It sounds like you figured out the right balance.
Which fragrances do you wear when your partner is around, or do you simply skip perfume? October 7, 2021 at 7:18am
Klaas: Yes, I used to hoard quite a bit of stuff when I lived in a bigger space, but now I really enjoy decluttering. It’s just with books that I find it extremely difficult……
To spare my partners sensitive nose, I put my perfume on at work. By the time I get back home it should be alomst all gone and not offensive anymore, even to him. I have been wearing Eau d’Hermes again this summer and Sisley Eau de Campagne and sometimes Dusita’s Erawan. All very light…..With the approach of the fall I feel like switching to La Route du Vetiver, but applied with a light hand…..and maybe a Neroli by De Nicolai.
However, we both had covid at the beginning of the pandemic and I think my partner hasn’t fully recovered his sense of smell…..he smells my fragrances much less than before, which is a very, very good thing in my case! He’s quite unaware of this, so hush hush 😉 October 7, 2021 at 12:28pm
Sara: Victoria, this article brought me so much joy and inspiration!
Do you know what type of rose is pictured above? I don’t know if I’ve ever been so spellbound by a blossom. October 6, 2021 at 11:19am
Victoria: I loved that rose too, but I don’t know the variety. I took a photo at the garden of Edmond Roudnitska in Provence. I need to ask my Facebook readers if they know what it might be. October 7, 2021 at 7:17am
Anastasia: I can’t be certain, but this rose is very similar to the roses I buy from my florist. It looks exactly the same. Colour magenta-fouchsia and the biggest buds I’ve ever seen. And the most important and the reason I keep buying them: the wonderful smell, very intense, opulent and fresh in the same time! My florist imports these roses from Ecuador! October 26, 2021 at 1:19pm
Elaine: I love Nahema! But here in always-sunny, always-extroverted, soulless Colorado, it always feels like too much. I wear it for myself, though. October 6, 2021 at 8:58pm
Marianne: Oh Tourmaline I loved your Marie Kondo comment! It brought a spark of mirth … October 9, 2021 at 2:51am
Marianne: Hello, I’ve had a very busy week so haven’t commented, apart from to Tourmaline for the smile her post brought to me. However I’ve read and deeply enjoyed all the contributions in this thread. I’ve learned a great deal. Bollywood had been a favourite genre of mine for a long time, I love the exuberance, colour, charm and sheer talent within it. I’ve also got various Bollywood tracks on my iPod, the little collection starting from a cd I bought: ‘Bollywood On Ice’. I’ve also worked with people from India and indeed many cultures and they’ve generously shared links to beautiful music. October 9, 2021 at 2:59am
Rhinda: Dear Victoria and All,
What a post! I have run an experiment on myself in the past two months after moving from a big house down to a two bedroom apartment. Only my dearest things came with me but I wouldn’t dream of subscribing to a minimalist environment. It’s paired down but all my treasures offer my imagination a place to thrive.
I’ve taken time to chose my colors and in keeping with your post about India, I have lots of hot pink which I love but have never decorated with before. It’s a very happy color to my way of thinking.
Now I’m on to find a nice scent for my home with the help of your advice.
The scents and the movies were intriguing! I lost my sense of smell this last year and finally it’s come back but it’s different.
The best to you all! October 9, 2021 at 7:58am
Marianne: Hello Rhinda, I love scenting my home with a candle and possibly you may also enjoy my current favourite, Madeleine by Cire Trudon. This brand never overwhelms, yet Madeleine has now delicately and assuredly permeated my home with flowers and leather scents. October 16, 2021 at 9:28pm
Rhinda: Thank You! I appreciate your tip. There are many candles on the market now and where to begin without a leg up. I appreciate it. October 18, 2021 at 7:37am
Michiko: I am so surprised that nobody has mentioned YSL Opium! October 9, 2021 at 7:42pm
Victoria: I think that many don’t like the new reformulation, but either old or new, it’s a great choice if one wants opulence. October 10, 2021 at 4:12am
JulienFromDijon: Despite being surrounded by too much perfume bottles, these days my go to perfume for escapism are miniatures. It’s weird, but there is a logic.
6 months ago, I’ve bought a bulk of miniatures of 7ème sens extrait from Rykiel (françoise caron) and Missoni extrait (maurice roucel). One cannot make more maximalist choices.
Also, I’ve been very surprised, very happy, with testing the exclusive “V L’heure osée” and “Oud & pink” from Cartier. I bought back unsniffed a 15ml miniature bottle of each, and I think I will want more.
So far the “Oud” line from Cartier had been underwhelming. But “Oud & pink” is every bit what I wish Knowing extrait to be but wasn’t. I think I’ll hunt a second-hand bottle of it for the future, because I want to secure some stock of it. October 16, 2021 at 1:24pm
Marianne: Hi, I’ve received a sample of Lubin Idole and find it warm and sumptuous yet not at all heavy. I detect a green note that to me counterpoints the spices and woods. It may become my next great perfume … Does anyone have a point of view? I’d love to know!
Marianne October 16, 2021 at 9:20pm
Marianne: Ps Victoria, I’ve read your beautiful review of Idole 💐 October 16, 2021 at 9:21pm
Anastasia: I loved this article so much Victoria! Magical! I am transported in a fairy tale! The opulence of Bollywood films in combination with Nahema! Perfect match. And Arabie! I’m searching for the old Bollywood films I didn’t know about. And Mohur! October 26, 2021 at 1:49pm