I have discovered many new (to me) scents in 2010, both through the generosity of others B&B and elsewhere (including lots of trades where I was barely keeping up if keeping up at all), and through my own, probably pathological and even disturbing, addictive pursuit of something "new. amazing, and exciting."
Some of these scents have been around for a very long time, and some are relatively new on the market. Some of them have been a revelation of a scent or of scent notes that had not existed in my conscious or imagination previously. In effect, they "opened doors of perception"! Or a scent that reopened doors of perception, that brought me back to a different time and place. Maybe a place I had only been in my mind. (A favorite quote of mine is "I am home sick for a place I have never been.")
Some I like to wear. Some I would wear less frequently, if at all. But that does not mean I do not admire and desire them. They grabbed my interest and held it!
I'll share my thoughts as to some of the scents that did these things for me in 2010 later in this thread. But first I'd like to hear what revelatory scents others experienced for the first time this year.
Post the name of the frag, and what made it so special to you? Describe your relationship with it. Signature scent, wear it every day? Love it, but can;t wear it, or only wear it to black tie events, which I am still waiting for someone to invite me to? Love it but my wife hates it. Opened doors of perception to smells I hope I never come across again? I quit my job and not stalk Oliver Creed full time? How do it make you feel? What does it stir in your imagination? Especially, what does it remind you of? (We are talking Proust's madeleines, here!)
And please do not limit this to expensive scents, or, as I think about it, even to colognes and edts. Maybe it a shaving soap, or a bath soap, or a talc, that had a scent that spoke to you in 2010. Again, it can be a revisit to something old. Maybe Aramis or Clubman swept you back to childhood 30 years ago. Maybe Florida Water set off sparks in your brain stem that you cannot explain!
Actually, I lied. I will start off with one, maybe two.
First, Mazzolari Lui. Dark, dangerous. Jungle-like but at the same time old school mafioso. One of those scents that should really be a called a stench, but grows and grows on one. One some level, why would anyone want to smell like this. But something deep in the brain stem, something primal draws me to it against and again. A patchouli like I had never smelled. Nothing about it reminds me of freak days in the late 60s early 70s. Like a said, a darkness, perhaps a furtiveness, even those it announces it self quite loudly. But patchouli and I have little idea what else. Also a scent that evolves, but seems to double back on itself. First one set of notes dominates, then another, then others almost in rotation. A powerhouse of a scent, but not in the sense of 80s power scents. This one has nuances that I have only begun to plumb. A bold tour de force in scent making. This scent exemplifies why I seem to be so addicted to scents.
Second, Ach Brito Lavanda. A smaller revelation perhaps and easier to comprehend. Very much a less expensive scent. Labeled an eau de cologne, but very like. Toward an AS. Splash it on liberally. Very old product. Apparently a choice of the ruling class in Portugal for decades. Seems to smell of natural ingredients to me. Lavender dominates with some citrus and other things in the mix. But a slightly different play on lavender than I have smelled previously. Close to Italy, but distinct. Has all of the spirit uplifting qualities typical of lavender, but somehow how takes me to some beach in Portugal rather than to some sunny field in France or Italy. Something very old school and comforting about it, but still fits with modern scents. So luxurious to be able to splash on a big handful of this in the morning!
So what say you all! I have seen your posts over the course of 2010, so I know there are probably such scents for each of you reading this posting!
Some of these scents have been around for a very long time, and some are relatively new on the market. Some of them have been a revelation of a scent or of scent notes that had not existed in my conscious or imagination previously. In effect, they "opened doors of perception"! Or a scent that reopened doors of perception, that brought me back to a different time and place. Maybe a place I had only been in my mind. (A favorite quote of mine is "I am home sick for a place I have never been.")
Some I like to wear. Some I would wear less frequently, if at all. But that does not mean I do not admire and desire them. They grabbed my interest and held it!
I'll share my thoughts as to some of the scents that did these things for me in 2010 later in this thread. But first I'd like to hear what revelatory scents others experienced for the first time this year.
Post the name of the frag, and what made it so special to you? Describe your relationship with it. Signature scent, wear it every day? Love it, but can;t wear it, or only wear it to black tie events, which I am still waiting for someone to invite me to? Love it but my wife hates it. Opened doors of perception to smells I hope I never come across again? I quit my job and not stalk Oliver Creed full time? How do it make you feel? What does it stir in your imagination? Especially, what does it remind you of? (We are talking Proust's madeleines, here!)
And please do not limit this to expensive scents, or, as I think about it, even to colognes and edts. Maybe it a shaving soap, or a bath soap, or a talc, that had a scent that spoke to you in 2010. Again, it can be a revisit to something old. Maybe Aramis or Clubman swept you back to childhood 30 years ago. Maybe Florida Water set off sparks in your brain stem that you cannot explain!
Actually, I lied. I will start off with one, maybe two.
First, Mazzolari Lui. Dark, dangerous. Jungle-like but at the same time old school mafioso. One of those scents that should really be a called a stench, but grows and grows on one. One some level, why would anyone want to smell like this. But something deep in the brain stem, something primal draws me to it against and again. A patchouli like I had never smelled. Nothing about it reminds me of freak days in the late 60s early 70s. Like a said, a darkness, perhaps a furtiveness, even those it announces it self quite loudly. But patchouli and I have little idea what else. Also a scent that evolves, but seems to double back on itself. First one set of notes dominates, then another, then others almost in rotation. A powerhouse of a scent, but not in the sense of 80s power scents. This one has nuances that I have only begun to plumb. A bold tour de force in scent making. This scent exemplifies why I seem to be so addicted to scents.
Second, Ach Brito Lavanda. A smaller revelation perhaps and easier to comprehend. Very much a less expensive scent. Labeled an eau de cologne, but very like. Toward an AS. Splash it on liberally. Very old product. Apparently a choice of the ruling class in Portugal for decades. Seems to smell of natural ingredients to me. Lavender dominates with some citrus and other things in the mix. But a slightly different play on lavender than I have smelled previously. Close to Italy, but distinct. Has all of the spirit uplifting qualities typical of lavender, but somehow how takes me to some beach in Portugal rather than to some sunny field in France or Italy. Something very old school and comforting about it, but still fits with modern scents. So luxurious to be able to splash on a big handful of this in the morning!
So what say you all! I have seen your posts over the course of 2010, so I know there are probably such scents for each of you reading this posting!
Though I suspect she liked more than the scent. 
cuz I'm just getting started.
