What are your favorite spring scents? Though we may not yet be done with the snow, our cherry trees are in bloom, and I’m already thinking about spring perfumes. Spices, sandalwood, and amber are slowly giving way to everything crisp and gauzy–citrus, orange blossom, violets, and roses. I’m reaching for Christian Dior Eau Sauvage, Ann Gérard Perle de Mousse, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche (it’s the last of my vintage stock, so I ration it carefully), and Chanel No 19 Poudré. L’Occitane Rose 4 Reines was a recent discovery–an inexpensive rose that smells plush and velvety. I will save Hermès 24 Faubourg for those days when I need a warm cashmere wrap.
Speaking of perfume wardrobes, I promised to post a link to my article, The Fragrance Wardrobe, which appeared in the November issue of Red Magazine. It was one of my favorite writing projects last year, and it is a pleasure to share it with you. I hope that you will enjoy it. Please click on the link below to read it, or you can now find it at my Publications page.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
115 Comments
behemot: Hello Victoria! I am a first commenter today, since I am at home in Krakow (1.12 pm), warming up after a hike. The weather here is…
OK, I am not complaining. Anyway, I am wearing Mona di Orio Vanillle today to warm myself up.
I love your article and I find it very appealing to a perfumista as well as to “normal” person. You give a lot of great examples, mainstream and niche that readers can relate to. Hope some people will become interested in more fragrance options. March 20, 2013 at 8:13am
Victoria: Thank you! 🙂
We got a brief spell of snow today, so I decided that something richer like Serge Lutens A La Nuit would be just right. I haven’t tried Mona di Orio’s Vanille. What is it like? March 20, 2013 at 10:42am
behemot: It is like nothing else to me. Smokey, rich and dry. No food associations, no sweetness. New favorite, definitely worth trying. March 20, 2013 at 6:52pm
Victoria: It sounds really nice! I will have to stop by Senteurs d’Ailleurs to smell it. March 20, 2013 at 6:56pm
Elizabeth: What a wonderful article! Thank you for sharing. I especially love the photography. For me, this has been the spring of Seville a l’Aube (even though it is very much still winter here in New York.) I have worn it every day for over a week now. I like to layer it with L’Occitane’s Lavender cream. March 20, 2013 at 8:37am
Victoria: It’s very much winter here too, but I’m already used to it. With no AC in the apartment (they are uncommon in Belgium), the hot weather is much more problematic.
I love the idea of wearing a lavender cream with an orange blossom perfume, especially since Seville already includes a dollop of lavender. That is a great layering suggestion! March 20, 2013 at 10:54am
Hana: My favourite scent these days is ELd’O Fils de Dieu. It starts with fresh citrus but settles into soft milky vanilla which is so comforting for me. It’s a perfect transition scent for the time when my winter perfumes are too much but it’s still too cold for summery colognes. When it gets a bit warmer, I’ll take out my bottle of Nicolai’s Weekend. I love that one from spring to fall. March 20, 2013 at 8:38am
Hana: Also, thank you Victoria for sharing these photos of your perfume wardrobe. The colours on your pictures are beautiful. March 20, 2013 at 8:42am
Victoria: Thank you, Hana! I took this photo on the veranda to take advantage of more light. The problem of photographing in this gloomy weather is that there is never enough light, so I have a couple of places in the apartment and my office where I know that the light is often good. March 20, 2013 at 10:58am
Victoria: Weekend a Deauville and Fils de Dieu are among my favorites too. I will be bring them out later too. I try to keep a small selection at any given time, otherwise the choice of perfume becomes too complicated. 🙂 March 20, 2013 at 10:56am
Barbara: I enjoyed your article very much. It made me think that I need to approach my perfume wardrobe differently. I like your point about keeping it small and well-edited. I also love your photos of your perfumes and cherry blossoms in the snow! March 20, 2013 at 9:09am
Victoria: Thank you, Barbara! Yes, I think that a small wardrobe is more manageable. Perfume doesn’t last forever and our tastes change as we smell more. So, adding little by little to your collection is better than buying many different bottles at once. Samples and decants also help. March 20, 2013 at 11:00am
Barbara: I forgot to add, Atelier Cologne Trefle Pur smells spring like to me. March 20, 2013 at 9:11am
Victoria: Your mention of this Atelier Cologne perfume makes me want to smell it again. March 20, 2013 at 11:00am
Eric: Victoria, when I was browsing through your articles, I came across something you wrote about IFRA for Perfumer & Flavorist. I am curious, do you have any updates on these regulatory issues? March 20, 2013 at 9:24am
Victoria: Not yet, it’s still in the process of being reviewed. I will share any updates I receive. March 20, 2013 at 11:04am
Pitchy: I am going my dissertation, as it is about perfume consumers buying behaviour. would you mind fulfill my survey?
Thank you
Pitcha March 20, 2013 at 9:52am
Victoria: Pitcha, please contact me directly about this. March 20, 2013 at 11:05am
angela: I was the one who emailed you about it. I missed this issue of Red and I was keen to read your article. I’m printing it out right now.
I wear only 3 perfumes on daily basis, so my wardrobe is not seasonal. My favorite spring scent is the smell of earth after rain. March 20, 2013 at 9:58am
Victoria: Angela, oh, I know what you mean about that smell. It’s associated with spring for me as well. March 20, 2013 at 11:08am
Cornelia Blimber: In this time of the year, I like my perfume crisp, like Sous le Vent.
Or rather simple and flowery: I reached for my bottle of Champs Elysées. Bad taste? So be it! March 20, 2013 at 10:11am
sara: why is champs elysees bad taste? it’s a very pretty mimosa. i love it. March 20, 2013 at 10:13am
Cornelia Blimber: I agree, Sara, but Luca Turin does not! March 20, 2013 at 11:00am
sara: i love his reviews, but i don’t have to agree with his opinions. March 20, 2013 at 5:36pm
Cornelia Blimber: Of course not! March 20, 2013 at 6:08pm
Victoria: I still like Champs Elysees and there was a time I wore it almost exclusively. March 20, 2013 at 11:09am
maggiecat: I used to wear Champs Elysee as well. It was never completely “me,” but it’s a perfectly nice scent and far better than many of the fruity-sugary new releases out now! March 20, 2013 at 11:21am
Victoria: I agree completely! It may pale next to Guerlain’s classics like Shalimar and Chamade, but it’s well-made. For instance, I prefer it to Idylle. March 20, 2013 at 11:25am
rosarita: Beautiful photos! Spring scents I enjoy start green: #19, Bas de Soie, Le Temps d’Une Fete. I want to find some pretty florals to love; my collection has no orange blossom and very little jasmine so I’m searching. Thanks for sharing a bit of your collection. March 20, 2013 at 10:17am
Victoria: I keep forgetting if Vetiver Pour Elle by Guerlain was discontinued or not, but it’s a beautiful green perfume with a whisper of jasmine. Have you tried Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli? Barbara’s mention of Trefle Pur as her favorite spring-like scent made me remember Grand Neroli, a bright, green orange blossom. March 20, 2013 at 11:17am
irem: After reading your first post, I went out to fin the November issue of Red (found it in the 3rd Barnes & Noble I’ve checked) and almost purchased it. Do you know why I did not actually purchase it? I loved your photography with the rainy Belgian day and perfume bottles so much better than the one in the magazine. I am in love with your spring perfumes photo collage too. Seriously, I’d consider printing and framing them, and hang them around my vanity. Next time Red commissions an article from you they should ask you to do the photos!
Perfume-wise, I am wearing Bois de Violette today. Your post makes me want to bring out my Rive Gauche and finally purchase a small flacon of 24, Fauborg. It has been on my list for possibly 15 years now. Every time I put it on in a store, I find it too much. Later at home with the perfume thoroughly settled, I regret not having purchased it. March 20, 2013 at 10:19am
irem: Re: 24 Faubourg. Have you seen the American print version of Elena’s Book “The Diary of a Nose”. The cover has the unmistakable outline of the 24 Faubourg bottle. Hermes yes, but not Elena. Possibly the anti-thesis of what Elena wants to achieve with his perfumes. I found it sad that someone fixed that image to his personal diary. March 20, 2013 at 10:28am
Victoria: I’m going to check out that cover. I only have the French edition, which has a very plain, no-nonsense jacket. March 20, 2013 at 11:26am
Victoria: Gosh, thank you, but I still have a long way to go. 🙂 I’m lucky to be surrounded by professional photographers to give me some guidance (and our Suzanna is one of them), but I need to learn more.
24 Faubourg has so many layers and nuances that I often feel that I’m discovering them. And I’ve worn it for the past 5 years more or less regularly. Bois de Violette is always a favorite too. March 20, 2013 at 11:21am
Ilia: Spring will always be En Passant time for me! But that’s May time in my mind, when the lilacs come out. Otherwise I like Nicolai’s Le Temps D’une Fete and Weekend; Lutens’s Bois de Violette and Vero Profumo Mito. My nose goes into hibernation in winter, I can go for almost a week without wearing perfume when it’s cold, but come spring all the big florals come out of the drawer and vanillas and ambers go in until September. Come to think of it, what would be any woody-ambery scents that are good for spring? Maybe I should rethink this classification. March 20, 2013 at 10:26am
Victoria: Woody-ambery scents that are good for spring is an interesting challenge, and off the top of my head, I think that Olfactive Studio Lumiere Blanche (pale sandalwood), Andree Putman Preparation Parfumee (peppery cedarwood), or Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles would work. As long as the woods are dry and not laden with sweet, creamy notes, the effect can be bracing. March 20, 2013 at 11:29am
Elisa: I like SSS Voile de Violette in spring — starts off with juicy violet but has a woody base. March 20, 2013 at 11:42am
Annikky: I loved this article and I actually bought the magazine only because of that. Clever move, Red!
As the winter has been mostly about leather and woods, I am craving some sparkle and petals. And iris, lots of iris. So I’ve got Iris Silver Mist, La Chasse aux Papillons, Vero Profumo Mito and Arquiste Flor y Canto on the list. The last is not specifically a spring scent, but I have just discovered it and it’s simply gorgeous. I also made the mistake of smelling Puredistance Opardu and found it to be a perfect spring floral with that lovely lilac note… March 20, 2013 at 10:29am
Victoria: That’s a nice compliment for a writer, thank you. 🙂
I clearly need to revisit Opardu. I first tried it when it was very cold here, and it just didn’t feel right. And my decant of Flor y Canto has been neglected as well. March 20, 2013 at 1:10pm
Leah: It’s always so warm where I live that I try to stretch out my winter fragrances as long as possible – but now you have made me long for Diorissimo, Diorella and Cristalle 🙂 I also love lavender in Spring and Summer, so a little Jicky, Lavande et Velours (and maybe some Gris Clair in the evenings). So excited to read your latest article! March 20, 2013 at 10:37am
Victoria: Here it’s the opposite, so I start to create the spring mood early.
You know, I often think of lavender as too sharp and medicinal. On the other hand, I love the perfumes you mention and enjoy lavender accents in other scents. Will have to break out my bottle of Gris Clair soon. March 20, 2013 at 1:53pm
Farouche: Lovely article (and photos). For the first day of spring I’m wearing a pink scarf and Yuzu Rouge in spite of the snow on the ground! [Also, since I’m Farouche on all other blogs, I’m switching to that nom from Patt…just so you know it’s still me :)] March 20, 2013 at 11:47am
Victoria: Ah, I thought that I recognized your pretty avatar on other blogs! Your scent outfit sounds great and perfect for a cold day when you want to remind yourself of spring. March 20, 2013 at 1:54pm
j: I am also quite fond of that L’Occitane scent! It is not very complicated but it is a nice pick me up type of scent, and the price is nice for my scent eating skin because it means I can spray liberally. 🙂
I find many Annick Goutal perfumes to be suitable for springtime weather… Neroli and Camille for daytime and Songes for the evenings. March 20, 2013 at 12:15pm
Victoria: I agree with you. Goutal does spring mood really well. I also love Duel and Eau du Ciel for a similar early days of spring feeling.
L’Occitane’s rose was a chance discovery, and I’ve grown to like the EDT and the whole body product range. March 20, 2013 at 1:57pm
AndreaR: At the moment, I keep reaching for FM’s L’Eau d’Hiver. March 20, 2013 at 12:22pm
Victoria: Such a wonderful perfume! Unfortunately, much to my dismay, I discovered the other day that my bottle has turned… March 20, 2013 at 1:58pm
Natalia: I have been reading your blog for quite some time, Victoria, and enjoyed it so much! I haven’t yet commented on your posts though, so here is the first one)
First of all, it’s a wonderful article in Red Magazine, I read it some time ago and it was great to revisit it today. As many pointed out, I, too, LOVE you idea on the “well-edited perfume wardrobe”!
Second, well, frankly, it’s comforting to hear that Belgium still suffers from winter, too )) Here in Moscow, Russia it feels like winter just declared that it shall never leave this year. Minus 6 outside and snowing. Hard to believe it’s the end of March.
But no matter. I’ve already assembled all my spring perfume choices and use them with dedication. I guess it’s my way of rebelling against this ridiculous weather.
So here are my revolutionary forces.
Diorissomo (of course!)
Chanel 19 parfum
Rose Ikebana
Chanel Beige
Magnolia Nobile
Amouage Dia
Agent Provocatuer
Caleche Soir de Parfum
Annick Goutal Neroli
Jour d’Hermes
And waiting impatiently for a vintage L’Air du Temps to arrive any moment!
Hope my will and my scents will break the winter spell soon)) March 20, 2013 at 12:50pm
Victoria: Thank you, Natalia, and welcome! I’m now imagining the streets of Moscow bursting into bloom as you waft your sillage of lily of the valley and rose. I like that your selection has some gauzy and delicate scents (Rose Ikebana) as well some serious bombshell material (Agent Provocateur).
The vintage L’Air du Temps will be such a treat! It has such a wistful, romantic aura, and yet it has a strong character. A Turgenev woman in a perfume form. 🙂 March 20, 2013 at 2:16pm
Annikky: Hi, Natalia – I sympathise, it sounds very similar to Tallinn, where it’s also still snowing. I must say Brussels is a bit better (I am here at the moment for a few days), although not as warm as I expected.
And you have made me want to try Nr 19 in parfum. March 20, 2013 at 4:06pm
Natalia: Hello, Annikky 🙂 If I may, I recommend Chanel 19 parfum wholeheartedly. The rose is so much more present in that one compared to the ETD and the EDP versions where the metallic greens seem to overwhelm the flower a bit. To me, it’s spring personified. March 20, 2013 at 4:14pm
Natalia: I know Agent Provocateur might seem a strange choice here but I find that, in the early spring (and autumn), its musky/leathery rose feels so soft, warm and alluring. This fragrance doesn’t quite work for me in the summer (too “dirty”) or in the winter (too flat) but, in a couple of weeks (when hopefully spring comes at last) the time will be just ripe for it.
“A Turgenev woman in a perfume form”. What a perfect “L’Air du Temps” metaphor! 🙂 March 20, 2013 at 2:41pm
Victoria: And one has to mix things up a bit! AP is a perfect perfume to do just that. I try every new fragrance that comes out under the AP label, but the original is still the best one.
I was re-reading Turgenev’s First Love, so it was on my mind.
By the way, Natalia, I’m with on No 19 parfum. I wear all variations, but the parfum is still the most irresistible and elegant version. It feels closer to No 19 as it used to be. March 20, 2013 at 7:04pm
minette: almost wore ambre fetiche today because we just got a nice chilly snap after some humid, warm weather. instead went with lush gorilla perfume – really wanted the indolic jasmine goodness (i blame the california star jasmine soap by pacifica for the jasmine craving). but lately i’ve been wearing etat libre’s rosssy de palma (it really does work as a protection water, in addition to smelling fantastic) along with bottega venetta, coco edt, and malle’s une rose.
will now go read your article, which i am sure i will love.
cheers,
minette March 20, 2013 at 2:51pm
Victoria: Your perfume choices are diverse enough to cover all situations. I really need to try Lush Gorilla. We have been having a very odd weather. Two weeks ago, it was around 60F. Then there was a snowfall. On Monday it was again a sunny, warm day, and today we again had a brief snow interlude. It rained in between. So, in a nutshell, European weather is mostly wretched, except for the southern regions, of course. March 20, 2013 at 7:09pm
minette: ha, you’re right, it is! it is a reflection of my many moods, passions, and curiosities! it’s funny how different scents will pop into my mind from nowhere, and i will weigh them against my current mood, or my expected schedule, or how i wish to feel, and against other scents, and will find that the “suggested” scent is the right one. guidance comes in all forms, apparently! March 20, 2013 at 7:56pm
minette: and yes, do try lush gorilla. it is really lovely, if you love a blast of indolic jasmine with a sweet but not too sweet finish. it’s like a thick, jammy jasmine. i love it, and it gets lots of compliments. and it lasts longer on me than a lot of jasmine scents (creed’s jasmal, lutens’s a la nuit both fade quickly on me). March 20, 2013 at 8:03pm
fleurdelys: Though it is sunny here in the NY-Metro area for the first day of spring, it is still cold and there is snow on the ground, with promise of more to come tomorrow. I’m not pulling out the spring perfumes yet, but here is what I look forward to wearing as the weather warms up:
24, Faubourg
Cristalle
Aimez-Moi
Diorissimo
Champs-Elysees
Joy March 20, 2013 at 2:51pm
Victoria: Just reading the names of these perfumes makes me envision a heap of pastel colored silk dresses. Perfect warm weather choices! 🙂 March 20, 2013 at 7:10pm
Claudia: What a wonderful article! Very informative. I seem to be slightly addicted to Jour d’Hermes. It’s just so luminous and fresh. Spring in a bottle. Since we had snow again too today, the only way to experience a bit of spring is through perfume. March 20, 2013 at 3:20pm
Victoria: Jour d’Hermes should be on my list too! It definitely smells of spring to me. March 20, 2013 at 7:12pm
Eva S: I’m curious, which one is the EL Private collection bottle, Jasmin White Moss or Tuberose Gardenia? I like JWM and own a bottle but don’t use it much since it’s the signature scent of a close colleague. Very spring-like though. For spring scents I would chose Jour D’Hermes or Iris Ukioke. March 20, 2013 at 3:44pm
Victoria: That’s Tuberose Gardenia. I like Jasmine White Moss too, but it feels too close to Chanel Cristalle, which I already own in all versions. Cristalle is greener and more citrusy though. March 20, 2013 at 7:13pm
Austenfan: Clothes and fragrance wise I am still in full winter mode. Is this cold ever going to go away I wonder?
My favourite spring perfumes are: Hiris, En Passant, Eau du Ciel, Folavril, La Violette, Odalisque,Le Temps d’une Fête, Silences, Cristalle, No.19, Ecume and countless others that I am forgetting about.
I love to layer Rose des 4 Reines with Paris. I have the body cream and lotion, it makes for rather a sumptuous combination! March 20, 2013 at 4:49pm
Victoria: I love your layering combination! Rose des 4 Reines is based on Paris (whether deliberately or not, but it feels very similar), and two of them together probably give you Paris the way it used to smell. The formula has been altered several times already due to the regulations, and with each subsequent reformulation, it becomes thinner and thinner. Plus, Sophia Grojsman’s fragrances are balanced so well that they are hard to reformulate. March 20, 2013 at 7:16pm
Austenfan: I have got about 6 bottles that came in the old style boxes. They smell more or less like I remember Paris when it first came out. They had a wonderful bodycream of Paris at the time as well. I went through one jar of that years ago. March 21, 2013 at 9:17am
Victoria: I love that cream too, and I remember that it was really well-made and true to scent.
Lucky you to have that many older bottles of Paris! March 21, 2013 at 5:05pm
figuier: Lovely article – and a great springtime list. That Perle de Mousse keeps coming up, must try it some time.
My springtime favourites are the bright jasmines – J’Adore L’Absolu and Love and Tears are both favourites. Jour d’Hermes is testing quite nicely at the moment too.
Cristalle – edt and edp – is more of a late spring/summer perfume to me. March 20, 2013 at 8:14pm
Victoria: I smelled J’Adore L’Absolu again the other day, and I liked it. It definitely has so many rich floral notes, and I love how it wears. But the original, pre-reformulation J’Adore is still my favorite (a moot point, of course, since it’s no longer available). March 21, 2013 at 5:06pm
figuier: A lot of people do say that about J’Adore – sadly (or luckily?) I never tried the original formulation, so for me the recent versions are as good as it gets… March 21, 2013 at 6:13pm
Victoria: That’s for the better, I think! It’s very hard to adjust to the change, if you’ve worn and enjoyed something. For instance, many people complain that Estee Lauder Aliage and Private Collection are no longer what they used to be, but I like them. While I admit that the older versions are better, I’ve only really worn (on regular basis) the current ones, and they are rich and complex enough for me. March 22, 2013 at 12:31pm
annemariec: It’s Autumn for me and I will soon put away my summer favourites: Le Temps, Diorella, Houbigant’s Orangers en Fleurs, AG Neroli, Un Jardin sur le Nil, Guerlain’s AA Flora Nymphea … I can hang on to No 5 EP and EL’s Pleasures and Chamade a bit longer I think. And I kept 24 Faubourg going in the summer for the odd day when the weather took a cooler turn.
Really looking forward to Habanita, Dioressence, Rose 31 and Rochas Femme. Wearing Nicolai’s Number One today; that seems to be a season independent fragrance.
I must look out my Turgenevs. I was thinking the other day that it has been ages. Sadly my L’Air du Temps is not vintage. March 21, 2013 at 1:09am
Victoria: I always forget that the seasons are flipped in Australia. I also completely agree on Number One–it’s perfect anytime.
My favorite Turgenev’s piece is probably Asya, but I also love A Sportsman’s Notebook (or as it’s sometimes called The Hunter’s Sketches). Another Russian writer I enjoy for his beautiful prose is Bunin. I believe that he’s less well-known outside of Russia than some other Russian classics. March 21, 2013 at 5:41pm
annemariec: I’m feeling all Turgenevian now! I shall look up Bunin, thanks. March 21, 2013 at 8:30pm
Ruta: Every spring I cannot live without Nr 19 (both EdT and EdP, as those are so different!) and Balmain Vent Vert. Those are staples. This spring I would add Apres l’Ondee, CdG Lily (what a realistic lilly of the valey!), Bulgari The Vert, Ormond Jane Woman, Gucci 3. And I am contemplating on PdN Le temps d’une fette and Diptyque Ofresia- the feeling is that I will not resist the temptation 🙂 March 21, 2013 at 3:43am
Victoria: I think that you would enjoy wearing them very much. Ofresia and Le Temps d’Une Fete have that delicate charm just like some other of your favorites. March 21, 2013 at 5:42pm
Ruta: Oh, and Jour de Hermes was the first purchase this spring- I am really enjoying it March 21, 2013 at 3:44am
Victoria: It’s a nice choice for spring! I’m enjoying it too. March 21, 2013 at 5:42pm
Anka: Thank you, Victoria, for sharing your article which I read with enthusiasm!
Here in Berlin it is still winter with knee-deep snow all over the place. Lutens “Fille de Berlin” would fit very well with the weather…
But I’m longing for spring and (maybe) a bottle of “Blanc Violette” from HdP. It is a soft, delicate white violet deepened by rice, musk and sandalwood, creamy but not sweet or powdery. Owing to the bergamot it is even fresh and transparent but stays a little bit too close on the skin and doesn’t last long (2 hours on my skin).
Does anyone know a similar fragrance with a stronger silage or a longer lasting power? March 21, 2013 at 6:31am
Victoria: I just spoke with a friend who lives in Germany, and she was complaining about the weather. Our snow has melted as it warmed up again.
As I read what you’re looking for, I thought that you might enjoy Frederic Malle L’Eau d’Hiver. Have you tried it? March 21, 2013 at 5:43pm
Anka: Thanks for the tip, I looked it up at fragrantica.de and it just sounds like a wonderful composition! For me this “water of winter” feels more like a “water AFTER winter” which means early spring…
I’m curious about the “anglica”-note, have to try it soon. March 21, 2013 at 7:08pm
Victoria: There is also a similar fragrance called Paul & Joe Blanc.
And of course, there is the classic–Guerlain Apres L’Ondee, which inspired all three fragrances. March 22, 2013 at 4:40am
Anka: I didn’t know that “Apres L’Ondee” was the shining example – it’s one of my favourite spring-perfumes! March 22, 2013 at 5:54am
Victoria: Ah, see, you know your tastes really well! It always makes it easier to explore.
Here is another suggestion, which is a bit different from others, but it may be fun to try just to see how much you want to explore. Caron Aimez-Moi, a darker, richer violet with licorice notes. It’s more of a bombshell perfume than some others we’ve talked about, but if you walk past a perfume store carrying Caron, it’s worth a sniff. And also, Frederic Malle Dans Tes Bras for a powdery rose-violet combo with a darker, richer character. March 22, 2013 at 6:00am
Anka: Well, unfortunately I have bad taste as well. Last summer I loved to wear Escada’s Rockin’ Rio…
I’m looking forward to explore all your suggestions, especially Caron Aimez-Moi sounds exciting! March 22, 2013 at 4:04pm
Victoria: That’s not an indication of bad taste! For a fun fruity fragrance that doesn’t take itself seriously, Rockin’ Rio is a good choice. Plus, one has to mix things up a bit. 🙂 March 22, 2013 at 4:38pm
Alityke: I have a very special spring fragrance to wear this month. I found a full 100ml bottle of 70s or very early 80’s Chant d’Aromes still with its seal and thread intact.
When I opened it I got a tear in my eye. Every single vintage note was perfect. Aldehydes sparkle, peach is velvety yet fresh and the florals whilst abstract are a spring bouquet.
I love it and plan to wear it as often as I wish now opened as these particular notes don’t keep very well. March 21, 2013 at 9:08am
Victoria: Oh, that’s a gem! I’m so happy for you. Finding Chant d’Aromes of that age and in such a nice condition is very special. Enjoy it! March 21, 2013 at 5:44pm
Laura: Oh … spring fragrances … well spring has three phases, we are barely at the first.
Right now I’d start with “Lent fragrances”. These remind us of the sobre time of fasting and humility, of raw moist earth barely warmed by the sun, of lingering traces of frost, of the smell of “fresh”, green, clean, cold. Austere notes: earth, iris, green sap, bamboo, vetiver, incense
My wardrobe:
Prada Infusion D’Iris
Chloe Capucine
TDC Sel de Vetiver
Calvin Klein Truth
YSL Nu
Etro Messe de Minuit
Mid-April things will be different – we move towards sparkling flowers, narcissus, hyacinth, lily of the valley, L’Artisan’s La Chasse Aux Papillons or YSL Opium Vapeurs de Parfum (never thought I’d like that one). But for now … we fast. March 21, 2013 at 9:32am
Victoria: I like how you put it. Since I’m keeping Lent too, I know what you mean. Some necessary austerity is beneficial. Your wardrobe is beautiful. March 21, 2013 at 5:45pm
E. Lime: It is so cold here even though we should be enjoying spring: I am wearing Gucci Envy today, with the pleasant side effect of it taking me back to high school, when I received it (my very first perfume!) as a gift from my parents. I am still savoring that same bottle, and it’s weathered the years surprisingly well. March 21, 2013 at 1:47pm
Victoria: I’m always amazed how well older fragrances keep if you take care of them. On the other hand, many of my modern bottles keep turning with surprising regularity. Envy is one of my favorite green florals, and I also treasure whatever I have left in my bottle. March 21, 2013 at 5:46pm
Nancy A.: Spring or Spring into Summer is rebirth or revisit to the tried and true or the discovery of new. Chanel 19 maybe combined with Christalle is an oldie but surefire bet (on me). A good vetiver too. Portofino (Tom Ford’s) Bath oil is a delight. Soft, elegant,hydrating and upbeat. March 21, 2013 at 2:07pm
Victoria: I wish I had some of that bath oil. I went through a large sample and really loved it. It’s strongly scented and leaves skin silky-soft. March 21, 2013 at 5:48pm
Thai: I adore L’Occitane Rose 4 Reines! More so because it is a gift from a friend. Sometimes simplicity is all that you need. March 21, 2013 at 6:34pm
Victoria: Exactly! It’s also fun and bubbly. March 22, 2013 at 4:39am
Alityke: Have you tried the very lovely L’Occitane Rose Aurore yet? Citrus opening, white rose and lotus flower noes and amber base.
I’ve tried it on skin a couple of times and it is very beautiful and springlike. On paper the drydown suffers March 22, 2013 at 5:53am
Victoria: Not yet! It sounds wonderful though, and I will be sure to check it out. Thank you for recommending it! March 22, 2013 at 6:01am
jasmin et violette: good morning 🙂 i think that you could wear any fragrance in springtime because the weather is just perfect: not too cold neither sickly hot. yesterday it was quite shiny and love, chloé was a perfect fit! today there is a nice slightly cold breeze and narciso rodriguez for her is really glowing on me 🙂 i think that oriental and opulent fragrances has an interesting vibe in more hot climat and i experienced it with shalimar: the vanilla gets really creamy and the base is very round, feels like i would eat myself <3 March 22, 2013 at 7:04am
Victoria: Me too! I experienced the same thing with Shalimar. It definitely smells creamier and warmer on a hot day, with those cool citrusy note vanishing within minutes. In the winter, they linger and linger. March 22, 2013 at 12:04pm
Rowanhill: It seems that across the northern hemisphere the winter has been just about long enough. Only the other day a friend from Germany shared a newspaper headline: Will this winter never end? And I read similar complaints from my native Finland, and all of you here. Let’s hope the winter’s back will soon be broken. I certainly am looking forward to the wood anemones and wild hyacinths at the Halle forest and the fragrance of it all, and the beginning of the asparagus season. The first fat white ones were already in the local shop. I opted for the greens and a spring coloured asparagus risotto will be on the menu, sprinkled with a bit of cardamom and nutmeg to chase the winter chill away. My ultimate early spring fragrance is the Kelly Caleche. Yesterday was the first day to wear it but I believe it was a bit of an early start and by the evening I was glad to resort back to Plus Que Jamais. The dwindling contents of the bee bottle are directly correlating to increasing grief for the approaching last drop. What on earth were they thinking at Guerlain discontinuing the fragrance? Was it because it was a J-P creation? March 22, 2013 at 8:27am
Victoria: Today was a bit better, wasn’t it? At least, it was sunny.
I picked up some white asparagus today at the market, and it’s going to be the first taste of the season for me. I already anticipate enjoying it plainly cooked with just a dash of olive oil and parsley. Your risotto sounds mouthwatering, and I’m now starving. March 22, 2013 at 12:27pm
Rowanhill: The sun is a wonderful thing isn’t it. Sunshine makes mornings a happy event. Should you like to try out the risotto, leave the asparagus buds the last going in so that they are still al dente when served. Also asparagus and the minced rosamary/thyme flavoured lamb burgers available in practically every Belgian shop are a flavour match made in heaven. I prefer the green ones and what can be prettier than a bit of egg mimosa sprinkled on top of them. March 22, 2013 at 2:53pm
Victoria: I haven’t seen those burgers, but I will definitely have to look for them. The combination sounds fantastic. I’ve become a big fan of asparagus here, both green and white. I will make risotto next week, and today I just made steamed asparagus. March 22, 2013 at 4:48pm
Rowanhill: This is what you will be looking for 😀
http://www.delhaizedirect.be/fr/F-29557-viande-fraiche/P-30863-cotes-d%27agneau-hache
Of course the lamb file is another category altogether. March 23, 2013 at 7:09am
Victoria: Ah, for some reason, I thought that the lamb was minced together with asparagus! 🙂 Figuring out meat cuts in English was struggle enough, and now I’m having to do it all anew in French and in Flemish. I won’t even start on how I bought horsemeat by accident. 🙂 March 23, 2013 at 10:10am
Rowanhill: LOL! It must have been my faulty syntax. At least life remains mysterious in many levels if at times frustrating with frequent enough moves to another country. March 24, 2013 at 7:28am
Victoria: I went to the Scandinavian shop in Waterloo the other day, and that was some adventure. But I really enjoy that kind of shopping like a sleuth experience. 🙂 March 24, 2013 at 8:41am
Victoria: P.S. I suspect they discontinued it because of the regulations and the cost, but this is only my guess. I do feel sad though, because it was one of my favorite Guerlain releases in the recent years. March 22, 2013 at 12:29pm
Rowanhill: One of my absolute perfume favourites of all time, love at first sniff. March 22, 2013 at 2:56pm
Rowanhill: I wish the perfume houses would give a heads up on the plans to discontinue a fragrance. I certainly would have been glad to stock up. March 22, 2013 at 2:59pm
Victoria: Sigh… It would be helpful, at least. March 22, 2013 at 4:50pm
Rowanhill: I can only imagine that marketing and brand management would laugh themselves silly with this suggestion. March 23, 2013 at 7:00am
Natalie: Wonderful article, and gorgeous spring-y pictures. Thanks for linking! March 23, 2013 at 11:58pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Natalie! Today we have a couple of inches of snow. Talk about spring like weather! 🙂 March 24, 2013 at 8:42am