Case of the Sniffles

[feldman]

I've had an old silver cigarette case for years, and now it holds tiny vials of perfume samples.  Today I wore Knize Ten

*Holy Hell, what is going on in my nose?  I discard a ton of adjectives without pinning down the sensation.  It's not spiky, sharp, medicinal or fuel.  Is it rosemary? The bug-killing juice of geranium stems? A chemical spill in a barbershop?

*It's out there like The Tick is out there.  Waaaaaay out there.

*My grandmother used to brew Earl Grey tea in a coffee percolator, reheating the pot during the day; that's the bergamot here, severe without explanation or apology.

*This is a very dangerous dandy.  This is Sydney Greenstreet as Gutman.  Or possibly Howard Stark.

*Something in this smells like if you removed all the sweet 'root beer' notes from sassafras root.  There's an occasional soapy note, but it's a mug of shaving soap.

*Oh, wow, leather.  New car leather, suede and solvents, with whiffs of savory cold vanilla.

*And the tail end is sandalwood.

Comments

[rydra_wong]

That is an awesome sample-storage idea.

Also, so delighted by people smelling Knize Ten. I love the way something so old can be so extreme and shocking to modern noses.

*This is a very dangerous dandy. This is Sydney Greenstreet as Gutman.

SO MUCH YES.

[feldman]

I've always been intrigued by Joel Cairo's scented handkerchief (gardenia in the movie, chypre in the book), but never thought I'd smell The Fat Man first.

[thatyourefuse]

That is the coolest sample storage idea ever, and a gorgeous description.

[feldman]

Thank you! That means a lot, as I've been really enjoying catching up on your reviews.

[thatyourefuse]

/blushes

(Because of this, I went and put some Knize 10 on my inside right elbow after a disappointing experience with Serge Lutens Boxeuses on my wrists. EXCELLENT life choice.)