Planning for Paris

Though a lover of categories, sorting systems and guides, I am by no means a list-maker - that is, I never write down "Things to Do". Gearing myself up in anticipation of my trip, however, and worrying I will not get to test a masterpiece, I have been making mental lists of places to go and scents to sniff in France. I have a generous yet still limiting budget of 305 Euros (about $400 US) and one or two full days for sniffage in Paris. (We will be visiting London for two days, but will be jet-lagged. Also, we plan on spending a day in Grasse by the Fragonard and Molinard factories. Our "home base" is Nice.) Below is my plan; please suggest things I'm obviously missing. As well, feel free to tell me I'm a fool and will never get to all these places with the time and skin I have.

Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido: One of a few must-sees on my list, this is the only place I know for certain I'm purchasing something: a bell-jar of Chêne. Besides soaking in the décor and the polite chill of the sales assistants, I also must do some thorough testing of the three exclusive scents I have never sampled before: Muscs Koublaï Khan, Cuir Mauresque and Un Lys. I'm hoping I'm allowed to do a skin test of Bois Oriental as well, since the tiny sample vial I tried previously may have hampered my ability to gauge its impact: all I got was a little dusting of spice with a warm, vanillic skin aspect. (See my Les Eaux Boisées reviews here.)

Parfums de Nicolaï: Less than half a mile away from Serge Lutens is the flagship store of Parfums de Nicolaï. The fact that I'm still mournfully sniffing my completely dry sample vial of Nicolaï Pour Homme suggests to me that I should buy a bottle of this one, and I've heard the prices in France on Nicolaï products are better than the North American ones, but I shall have to wait and see. On the sampling side, I've wanted to try Vie de Château for some time. Generally, I find the Nicolaï perfumes for women too sweet and tonka-based for me, but I am interested in the brand new Maharanih, since the listed notes include lavender, geranium, sandalwood and amber - just like my beloved Nicolaï Pour Homme. Also, I'd like to check out a few of the "Light" versions of the women's classics said to be sold at the Paris outlets only.

Guerlain Boutique on the Champs Elysées: The Guerlain boutique is another definite stop. Though I am somewhat confused by the mention of various addresses and set-ups (organ? fountains?) for the main Guerlain boutique, I assume I am going to be allowed to sniff anything I want from the current collection in any concentration I want. I'm looking into buying what the Guerlain website describes as a "Bees Spray" of Après l'Ondée EdT, and I am probably most anxious to test Mitsouko in parfum form. Also interesting to me are Chamade, Chant d'Arôme, Parure and the current "undelete" or limited edition (is it still Sous le Vent? I've tried that one...)

Caron Boutique, 90 rue Faubourg- St. Honoré: Caron will probably necessitate a stop, since I have never tried Tabac Blond. To my shame. I would also like to try Pois de Senteur (although it does not sound to my taste) and Aimez Moi (which is not showing up on the Caron website anymore for some reason?)

Chanel at 31 Rue Cambon: The stop here, of course, would be to try the new Exclusifs. No matter how madly I fall in love with, say, No. 18 or 31 Rue Cambon, I refuse to buy a vat of it. I will wait patiently until someone (me?) organizes a bottle split. I am going to need a liquid sample or three, however, and will probably have to bribe a sales assistant into them; I may even take along some empty vials, as Ina bravely did.

Frédéric Malle at 21 Rue du Mont Thabor: While I already smelled this whole line two years ago at Barneys in Los Angeles, when I bought my beloved Thérèse, I have felt that I gave several scents short shrift at that time: in particular, I would like to revisit Vétiver Extraordinaire and Cologne Bigarade. I don't remember testing Lys Mediterranée at all, so I should probably re-do that one, too.

Old England: Not too far from our hotel is the Old England store, recommended to me by a Parisian fragrance addict, "carmencanada" as some of you may know her. She suggested the store's men fragrance section is particularly well-stocked and they carry many niche lines that I have sorely neglected. In particular, I'd like to (re)try Creed's Bois du Portugal and Cypres-Musc, Knize's Sec and Forest, Penhaligon's Opus 1870 and Parfums d'Empire Eau de Glorie.

Etat Libre d'Orange: If I get a chance to try these much-discussed scents, I'll focus on Vierges et Toreros, Jasmin et Cigarette, Rien and Putain des Palaces.

I think that's enough to contemplate at the moment. I've sampled most of the Annick Goutals, though not many in EdP - still, I think I won't have too much trouble getting what I need from the line in North America. Jean Patou would tempt me much more if they had the Ma Collection available for sniffage. I've not had luck with the Montales I've tried so far, and the Miller et Bertaux's - the first three of which I enjoyed - I can get online. L'Artisan I'm going to try to avoid because their line is so full and interesting that I will surely be overwhelmed with all the ones I want to purchase. Also, I already have two L'Artisan scents that I seldom wear because I loved them initially, but the transparency and lack of classical development eventually got to me. Oh okay, I will try Timbuktu. And.... well, I would like to try Molinard's Tendre Friandise. And what else?

Update: Of course, I did forget J.A.R. My wonderful spouse got me a sample of Bolt of Lightning for Christmas and it is wonderful and unusual, if highly unwearable for your average day. While I certainly cannot afford to buy any of the scents, I do think that everybody should attempt to experience these, so I'm particularly interested in Jarling, Jardenia (I ain't afraid of no cheese) and Shadow.