I find the beginning of the name quite appropriate (don't know what I think about the orange part). :) Being free of constraints people and society put on you is quite liberating (if you can achieve that state that is). Lately, I would like to feel liberated from pretty much most of the things in my life that are not of my choosing. Yes, I did choose my job but only because I have to earn my living, can't go through it without money unfortunately. And therefore, I'm also obliged to follow so many rules that come with having to go to work every day. By that I mean, not being able to vacation as much as I'd like (and I believe I need). But this has gone in a completely wrong direction than I wanted.
Today I wanted to say that Etat Libre d'Orange made me happy again. I can't help it, I just find their whole concept fun and honestly enjoy sniffing their scents. It is definitely a fun, happy experience when you combine it with their ad copies.
Anyway, I tried today Vierge et Toreros and Divin enfant . Of the two, I prefer Virgin and torero, but can't say the other one is bad.
Vierge et toreros notes: bergamot, poivre, cardamom, muscade, tubereuse, ylang-ylang, cuir, base animalis, costus, patchouli, vetiver.
I believe I'll definitely get a bottle of this. I love the opening, with bergamote, pepper and cardamom (what an interesting combination) and it just gets better. I finally got those animal notes at the end and they are perfect. I think I feel that way because they remind me of how my father sometimes smells after a long day (the tabac is what achieves that, my parents are both smokers and I can't do anything about it).
VetT goes pretty much through all the notes listed (well, I'm not sure about costus, don't know what that smells like, but if it smells gingery , then it's there). For some reason, before the drydown was complete, the animal notes/tubereuse combination did bring blood into my mind, but it wasn't the smell of blood so I'm wondering at the idea a little. Interesting nevertheless.
Divin enfant definitely took me back to my childhood. It smelled at the beginning like the rubbers (erasers) we used to have in school (they always had the same sweet smell) and after going through the notes, it seems that it is the marshmallow accord (that is my guess at the guimauve accord).
Notes: fleur d'oranger, accord guimauve, rose, accord moka, cuir, ambre, musc, note tabac froid.
The ad copy mentioned marshmallow and my guess was it was the note I couldn't find the meaning of. It seems almost all Etat libre perfumes end in some way sweetly, as is true of this one as well. I like the fact that I could detect some tabac and after that cuir and coffee and that it took me back to my childhood. I even enjoy the ambery sweet drydown. I didn't get the rose, though...
There are still some samples left for me to try and I do look forward to them. I know they will at least make me smile. :)
Notes by: http://www.etatlibredorange.com/
Image by: http://www.etatlibredorange.com/
Isn't it great when perfume makes us smile? In my eyes, the way perfume has the power to manipulate or alter our mood is one of the aspects that underscores its function as something more than decoration and frivollity, something that can support the notion that perfume truly is art (not that I ever doubted that, but in some contexts the notion needs defending, it seems).
ReplyDeleteAs for me.. like you I've been going through a very rough patch lately. I will write you about it when I get the strength to actually sit down and sort through mail again. For now suffice to say that what I've been using to pamper myself and to make me smile is really expensive shower gel :P I never used to spend money on expensive ancillary products and only got them as gifts but finally I am starting spend part of my budget on them cause it is so luxurious and pampering to use something so fragrant in the shower. The perfume lasts and lasts. Ah, one more habit the poor old wallet will have to support :P
Dearest Divina, I do hope your rough patch will be over soon (as I hope for myself as well - not that I actually see a way of that happening but I'm always the optimist).
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the need to pamper myself because I noticed that lately I spend much more time doing something for my beauty and well-being. :) It's interesting that when stress piles up, I can find the time and will to pamper myself even though I have no enthusiasm for anything else.
I'm waiting for your email when you find the time and will. :)