Letters from the Front

Not only is this going to be short, it's going to be typed on an international-style keyboard, so it's going to be riddled with mistakes. Did my Paris perfume dash today and only missed Caron (which the Breadwinner says we can visit tomorrow). I bought my promised bell-jar of Chêne - which seems smaller and cuter than I pictured it - as well as a Nicolai Pour Homme in 30 ml (God bless that sensible company) and an 11 Euro Crazylibelulle and the Poppies Ginger and Coconut at the drugstore. I think I'll go back to buy a Bigarade Concentree at Frederic Malle tomorrow so all you JCE fans can laugh at me now. Chanel was a highlight: I love 31 Rue Cambon, especially, and Coromandel, once the top notes settle. The No. 18 is truly intriguing and going to take a while for me sort out - I kind of catch a whiff of a beautiful rose/iris blend but mostly I get, well, pickle. And if you want pickle, I'd recommend JAR Shadow, which the devastatingly suave Joseph allowed me to try. (My other surprise favourite was Ferme Tes Yeux.)

At Serge Lutens, I enjoyed and tested Cuir Mauresque, but the one that crept up on me was MKK, which didn't smell like much on the old, dried-out tester strip the SA insisted on giving me, but smelled WONDERFUL when I snuck some onto a new strip: sweeter than I thought, comforting, indeed somewhat like Chene and not at all like sweaty feet. No chance to try it on the skin, but I got wax samples. As for the exports I had not tried, I must be contrary, because I liked both the buttery Rousse and the woody Chypre Rouge. (The latter I had tested in Sephora, and the Breadwinner pronounced it the best of the seven thousand tester strips I was carrying.)

I don't think I'm going to get anything from Guerlain, but the store is wonderful and they win the award for best SA: thanks Julia! Really what I want is the limited edition Chant D'Arome extrait, and I don't think I'll be taking it home for 245 Euro an once.