A return to old favourites

Yeah, I know what you're probably thinking. You've read this before. Every now and then I post about how I've gone back to trying perfumes I actually own, rather than just get a quick fix from the latest craze. But you know what? It's a valid point and the reason why I do this. The message is - its good to wear perfume one actually owns. After all, why did I buy full bottles of these in the first place?

Now I know that some of you (perhaps many of you) own a lot of full bottles, but my budget does not allow that and in some ways I know that if I owned a lot, I would never ever work my way through my 'stock'. Nevertheless, I do own about fifteen bottles of perfume and over the last few days I wore Guerlain's L'Instant, Gucci Pour Homme (discontinued), Alexander McQueen Kingdom (discontinued) and Bulgari Black (I think discontinued, but not 100% certain). Interesting that about 75% of what I own is no longer in production. The most criminal of these in my opinion is Gucci. How could they discontinue Pour Homme and leave so much dreck on the shelves? Crazy bastards!

Wearing each of these, I came to the realisation all over again that they are brilliant perfumes and deserve to be worn by me more often.

Favourites revisited

This past week was ever so slightly unusual for me in that I did not try anything new. Instead I wore some of my older favourites, which, thinking about it, is no bad thing.

What amazes me about these perfumes (why does it amaze me, it makes obvious sense really) is that each time I wear them, the memories and associations they evoke come flooding back and I always get that sense of "mmm, now I know why I love this so much".

Starting with Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan, I realise that to me it is still my amber gold standard. What I like so much about Ambre Sultan is that it is complex and smells of more than amber, although amber is the star note. It never turns powdery on me, remaining fairly dry and herbal, and I love that. Like almost all Lutens I can think of, Ambre Sultan lasts and lasts - apply it at 8 in the morning and you will still smell it clearly at bedtime, and faintly the morning after.

On to L'air du Desert Marocain and I can't help but marvel how Andy Tauer manages to create perfumes so powerful and long lasting. A word of warning - if you encounter a Tauer you don't  like, watch out, because you will still be smelling it the morning after. His perfumes have stellar lasting power. Even so, this is a wonderful perfume, full of complexities. 

Finally, Guerlain's L'Instant for Men. I own a bottle of this and every time I wear it, I know I can justify this purchase. If you want to know what a quality, mainstream men's fragrance smells like, try this. L'Instant seems to get overlooked - I hardly ever read about it. I think it is wonderful.

Freaky Friday

I haven't had much of a chance to immerse myself in perfume land this week, much as I would have liked to. I've been very busy at work and also took off three days as leave, spending some much-needed springtime time with my children. The weather has been glorious here and it feels as if spring has finally arrived and is here to stay.

Today we took the kids to a soft-play centre just outside of Tunbridge Wells. It is located in a warehouse and has lots of slides, obstacles and padded climbing frames. A dream for a kid and, I would have thought, for a dad who enjoys mucking about. Unfortunately my mucking about ended up as daddy-does-his-back-in and I am now almost immobile with an excruciatingly painful lower back injury. Ah, the follies of youth! Not... Having spoken to a doctor it seems like there is not much I can or should do for a few days other than take some strong painkillers and try to take it easy, yet ironically not stay still - the doctor said I stand a better chance of a quicker recovery if I move around, albeit carefully.

So, in and around all of this, I was intending on writing up and posting my thoughts on Puredistance M, but sadly haven't managed to fit this in. I guess it will have to wait until next week, as our closest friends, Darren and Carmen, are coming to stay for the weekend.

I've worn a bit of this and a bit of that this week, but to be honest I can hardly remember what. Today I wore Guerlain's L'Instant, which I own. I still think it is a lovely perfume. I wore Diptyque's Tam Dao yesterday, which felt perfect for a nice spring day. Not that it is necessarily a springlike fragrance, but its contemplative sandalwood and ambergris felt just right.

Next week I hope to be back with a bang. Until then, happy blogging everyone and have a good weekend.