I'm not sure if it's human nature, or my personality in particular, but once I hear that a product (namely fragrance) is 'discontinued', I immediately become curious about it (especially if I haven't had the opportunity to sniff it before) and the hunt is on. As soon as I'm told that I can't have it, I want it.
Much can be said about the discontinuation of many perfumes out there (not to mention reformulations, but that will be another long, convoluted post!) and I'm certainly not an expert, but some of my favourites fall into this elusive category.
One recent example that comes to mind is Sarah Jessica Parker's Covet.
Riding on the coattails of her wildly-successful 'Lovely', SJP decided to launch a scent that was largely unconventional (for the mass-market audience, at least!). Everything about this fragrance seems to thumb it's nose to what the general public considers appealing. (From the oddly-shaped bottle (with it's own detachable floral pendant), to the strange-coloured juice, to the unlikely geranium/lavender/musk olfactory combination).
I admittedly hated this scent when I first sniffed it. My Makeupalley review (dated 01/04/2009) summarizes my experience with this fragrance nicely:
The stubborn Taurean that I am, it usually takes alot for me to admit that I'm
wrong (especially when it comes to my obsession with all things beauty-related.)
However, I'll gladly swallow my infinite pride when it comes to this scent and
fully admit my initial error in judgement (thus necessitating that I delete my
previous (very negative: I believe I might have employed the term
'vomit-inducing') review for this product and insert this one
instead.)
When SJP first launched her fragrances, I wasn't a fan. (I
adored her Lovely Liquid Satin, and still do...however her other perfumes just
didn't work for me). As with Lovely, I was encouraged to revisit her scents
since I had recently read (and enjoyed, 'enjoyed' being an understatement, I ate
it up) Chandler Burr's book 'A Perfect Scent', chronicling SJP's foray into
scent creation. There is alot of thought put into every fragrance undertaking
she completes, and this is no exception.
Covet is deceptive; out of the
bottle there seems to be a mingling of notes that quite frankly seem to
counteract one another, the fact that she chose for wet greens, geranium,
chocolate and musk to exist together in this juice seems to defy logic (and test
one's recoiling instincts). Up until I actually decided to spray this on my
person, I never would have reached for it solely based on how it smells out of
the sprayer.
As an admitted musk fan, I delight in SJP's incorporation of
it in Lovely, and this one as well. The chocolate, wet greens and geranium
intermix with my chemistry to produce something incredibly comforting and
sensual. As the hours wear on, it becomes more and more interesting, morphing
into something I've never smelled before. As I did with my revised review of
Lovely, I will again implore all haters (especially those who couldn't dare
spray this one on) to give it a try. As others have written, via reviews and
other perfume blogs, it's a real shame that this fragrance didn't find its
audience of appreciators and has as a result been pulled from the shelves. A
real gem that will be missed.
Covet can still be found via online discounters (and the occasional retail outlet) for insanely reasonable prices (recently spotted: gift set containing 1.7 oz spray and 250 ml lotion for under $20).
As for the many, many other discontinued gems out there, they can require alot more sleuthing (and patience!) to track down (as proven by my recent experience in searching out my mom's HG: Love's Deep Earthy Musk....an experience which will surely be entitled 'Discontinued Gems, Part #2.... ;-)
(Pic taken from gardentherapy.ca:)
Thanks to the best pal a solitary gal like me could possibly have, this admittedly non-outdoorsy perfumista has been quite obsessed with spending as much solo time at the cabin as possible. What does this mean fragrance-wise? Finding the perfect campfire accompaniment. Something that doesn't clash with that woodfire scent, but something that will hold its own and provide a distinct backdrop.
Since I've been enamoured with this perfume as of late, and have the hugely ironic and unfortunate fate of being recently employed in a scent-free environment (yes, the horror!) I decided to pack Kate Walsh's Boyfriend in my weekend tote. (I call myself a perfume snob, but the reality is that if it smells nice, I'll wear it. It can be drugstore, niche, celebrity...if I like it, it's mine....)
The whole concept of Boyfriend is the mingling of masculine and feminine. According to www.yourboyfriend.com (the official site for the fragrance) Boyfriend is inspired by the scent that one's guy leaves behind...the faint aura of his cologne mingled with your perfume. Official copy:
Ever miss the scent of your boyfriend on your skin? That warm, woody scent that makes your eyes roll and wanna put on a red dress? Well, I did so I created Boyfriend, a fragrance inspired by him but made for us. It's a delicious blend of muguet, dark plum, myrrh, night blooming jasmine and just enough amber musk to make you purr like a jungle cat.
Not exactly how I'd put it, but a highly intoxicating scent nonetheless. First spritz of the EDP yields a characteristically masculine vibe. To my nose, a blast of sharp vetiver, a little bit of that aforementioned myrrh. After a few minutes, the plum takes centre stage. The amber is the most irresistible aspect of the fragrance in my humble opinion. And despite the fact that they aren't listed in the fragrance notes, the EDP version dries down on my skin yielding patchouli and vanilla. Hours later, the musk emerges. Heavenly.
I have sampled the pulse oil as well and much prefer the EDP. It strikes me as much more masculine, more rich, and multi-faceted. I haven't tried the other body products, but word on the street is that each version of the scent has that common thread...but manages to be distinctly different.
I've been browsing the official site and have placed every possible incarnation of this scent on my wishlist....awesome concept, amazing scent!
I have many fragrant memories, stemmed from my mom's perfume obsession. I owe my own addiction to her predilection for savouring everything fragrant, from fresh basil to springtime hyacinths.
My very first perfume was Avon's Sweet Honesty when I was about 6 or 7 years old, housed in a glass deer, much like this one:
The scent itself evaporated quickly, imparting a sticky residue on the neck of the glass bottle (coincidentally, also the neck of the doe...:):):)
I don't even remember wearing this particular perfume, it was just displayed proudly on my dresser. When I'd come in and out of my room, I'd take a sniff. To this day, I have this tendency to 'save' my scents rather than spray lavishly. These days, I'm trying to break out of that habit! I have an emerging collection, and it's there for me to enjoy!
Any other perfumistas remember their first love? Please share! :)
