In perfumery, as in life, it is important to distinguish between inner and outer beauty. We may encounter many human beings who astonish us with glamorous hairdos, freshly varnished nails, exquisite bone structure, but do looks tell us a thing about a person’s spirit? Occasionally, yes, but rarely. You probably know by now where this is going and, yes, sometimes a fragrance’s bottle is a precursor of the quality of the juice inside, but more often than not a beautifully elaborate vial holds the perfumery equivalent of manure, and the simplest plastic box spritzes out a fantastically structured juice (think Gucci Rush).
On this day, the 22nd of July, 2010, I begin my journey into the darkest reaches of the fragrance jungle. I will no doubt come across the giants of the perfume world, the landmarks that one would see from space (think Chanel No.5). These obscenely popular (and, in many cases, expensive) products are what most of us associate with the face of perfumery. But what else might I stumble upon? The beautiful flower with the hideous, deadly thorns? The grotesque creature that secretes fabulous, hallucinogenic oils? That one single blade of grass that is inexplicable mesmerising, no matter how many other practically identical fellows it stands amongst.
So wish me luck and read on, because with every new scent I encounter I’ll be laying down my breadcrumb trail so that other can follow in my footsteps. Hopefully, when I emerge from this maze of perfumery, smelling like a hooker’s handbag and with a nose that simply cannot take any more sniffing, it will be a simpler and much more organised place for all who journey after me.
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