Perfume Pilgrim

I popped over to Paris to attend the Perfume Cosmetics and Design Congress on Tuesday at the Cite des Sciences et de L’Industrie. I have always been interested in the packaging and promotion of perfume. My first collection of advertisements started when I was 15. I would tear out perfume ads and stick them on my wall. I recall the Paris perfume ads were a favourite. I also begged for and got an Estee Lauder display book, which I gutted and turned into a display case for a school project. Whatever perfume ads were selling, I was in the market for buying, though I couldn’t afford the perfume I was sold on the images.  So, it was pleasure that I perused the glossy box manufacturer stands, the latest in bakelite jars, sample suppliers, gold plated atomizers, engraved lids and lush containers.  So much of the pleasure of perfume lies in the packaging and not only in the scent and of course this is reflected in the cost. If only I could afford the manufacturing minimums of 5000 units each of several components, I might be tempted to launch a perfume to sail on the sea with thousands of others, bringing scents and spices on a Cleopatra barge to the beloveds.

The alternative mini pleasure of bringing a perfume home is like unravelling a pass the parcel package and discovering a treasure within a treasure. First there is the bag, usually thick card with ribbon handles, then perhaps some coloured or printed tissue paper, a couple of samples on the side and then the crispy cellophane encasing the precious casket, a sticker or two need to be pried to reveal the cover. Often an embellishment of gold embossing to run the fingertips over the ripples, before opening the box. Coddled and padded inside lies the bottle, glistening and smooth, heavy with the weight of the glass and liquid. The crown on top, often gold, lavish and sculptured can be difficult to pry open but the effort is well rewarded by depressing the atomizer or peering into the hole. Then the moment of truth, an inhalation, followed by a succession of shorter breaths to enjoy a scent followed by excessive dousing of the new dream that has become your own. To be cleaned and disposed of,  a trail of paper and evidence of the disrobing on the floor, and the new joy carefully enshrined with the other bottles on the dresser.

I had hoped to find a catalogue of the old Odorama exhibition that had once been held at the Cite des Sciences, but had to content myself with a pocket science book  on taste and smell, “Le Gout et L’odorat, des experiences faciles et amusantes,” a cute children’s book on smell science and experiments. There was also a wonderful scratch and sniff book with eight different odors.

The next stop was the Institute du Monde de L’Arabe. Their gift shop used to sell a wonderful incense from Egypt, little oud chips covered in sugar and oils, but they sadly don’t anymore. Their bookshop had some wonderful perfume books including the Plants of 1001 nights, a morrocan scent journey and the gorgeous “Des Epices au Parfum” both published by Aubanel. I bought a pretty illustrated children’s fairy tale set in the orient called “Le Royaume des Parfums” by Albin Michel.

On to  the Fragonard museum and the new Divine shop nearby, which I will write about separately. A pit stop at Fauchons included eating a truffle scented madeleine and buying some gifts, then on to Laduree to see their new body creams, journals and gift bags. I stopped on the way at a couple of pharmacies to buy some Papier d’ Armenie in both original and limited edition scents. All I had time for after that was a visit to Printemps, the department store to explore their perfume and children’s section. I discovered three new perfume lines I had not smelt before, as well as the new Bach perfumes to make you peaceful and happy, the reviews are to follow. A friend had placed an order for a violet perfume and I happily obliged by buying  Berdoues Violette de Toulouses Eau de Parfums. (I regretted not buying one for myself though). I went upstairs to the children’s section to buy Scentosphere perfume organ making kit, but it had sold out. They did have the perfume lotto though, which has 30 different round scent boxes, including fir, apple, vanilla, coconut, hazelnut, roses, pineapple and violets. www.sentosphere.fr/accueil-parfum.html

Finally, at the Gard du Nord, I had a couple of minutes to explore the discount perfume shop and focused my search on children’ s perfume. In addition to Oiliy perfumes, I quite liked the Kaloo and Clayeux’s Maelle Fleur, but will have to wait for the next visit as the store closed while I was choosing. By this time my shopping bags were getting heavier and heavier.  Finally, on the journey home I read the book on Perfume Advertisements I had bought, and fingered over my purchases and re-smelt the scent strips for the short Eurostar journey back to London. I am planning a girls day out in Paris in the near future, let me know if you wish to come.