- Oct 19, 2021
What shall we do? Top five ? Top ten? Please argue with me! I am really not sure on some of these
1. Sycomore EDT - I really really wanted to believe that the hype for this was overrated, and that the edp was just as good. alas. Nothing reflects the joyous combination of crisp, clear and cold like this late aughties masterpiece.
2. Dzing - if sycomore points forward, towards winter, dzing point backwards channeling what remains of summer. It’s the best of what’s already on the ground.
3. Invasion Barbare - this one was a surprise to me, but fall brings out the sadness lingering in the base. It almost smells like candy at the top as we know, cinnamon and mint-esque. But there is something old and worn and close to death just on the other side.
4. Certo, clandestine laboratories. A marvelous, confident throwback that responds to the seasons changing by coming into its own, like it has been waiting all year to finally hit its stride.
5. Wood Haven, kerosene. The only kerosene release that, uh, actually smells like kerosene. Highly recommend trying this one if you can’t get your hands on the OG sycomore. Not at all comparable in the end but It’s the sort of slick niche thing that smells like some kind of chemical around the house that you just want to keep smelling even though it feels unclean and naughty to do so.
6. Lampblack, Bruno F. Sort of a combination of wood haven and sycomore. Petroleum and vetiver. The kind of thing that will convert perfume skeptics more or less right away. Would be higher on the list but is too damn expensive.
7. Egoiste - I have a vintage version by have heard tell they aren’t so different. But the warm apple sauce vibe is obviously almost too on the nose, but the cold let’s the sandalwood behind it come out to shine. Really feels like getting out your favorite autumn long sleeves for the first time. Because cold looks good on people, while we are all just animals in the sun.
8. Number 3, Caron. The vintage version really shines when the cool takes the sickness out of the sweet & slows the jasmine enough to let the spices come over top. Still borderline overpowering at first but manageable. If ever there was a non binary perfume, as opposed to simply unisex, this is it. (Update : wore this today and it’s still too much, but it was humid out.)
9. Jil Sander - Man. The old stacked black boxes version that is spicy and leathery and a bit pinched and angry. This one goes on a little unpleasant but it wears beautifully, because it counts on the human body making it’s own contribution. Can be a little thin in winter but in fall it surprises people in a good way.
10. Gianfranco Ferre pour homme - the vintage version. So hard to choose from among chypres, and this could have gone in a number of directions. Not totally convinced this isn’t better in winter but there is just barely enough brightness swirling above the moss that you want to still have the memory of summer close at hand.
Probably either of the first two Gucci pour hommes would have worked also. And the first Versace l’homme maybe too.
What did I forget?? Where did I go wrong?
1. Sycomore EDT - I really really wanted to believe that the hype for this was overrated, and that the edp was just as good. alas. Nothing reflects the joyous combination of crisp, clear and cold like this late aughties masterpiece.
2. Dzing - if sycomore points forward, towards winter, dzing point backwards channeling what remains of summer. It’s the best of what’s already on the ground.
3. Invasion Barbare - this one was a surprise to me, but fall brings out the sadness lingering in the base. It almost smells like candy at the top as we know, cinnamon and mint-esque. But there is something old and worn and close to death just on the other side.
4. Certo, clandestine laboratories. A marvelous, confident throwback that responds to the seasons changing by coming into its own, like it has been waiting all year to finally hit its stride.
5. Wood Haven, kerosene. The only kerosene release that, uh, actually smells like kerosene. Highly recommend trying this one if you can’t get your hands on the OG sycomore. Not at all comparable in the end but It’s the sort of slick niche thing that smells like some kind of chemical around the house that you just want to keep smelling even though it feels unclean and naughty to do so.
6. Lampblack, Bruno F. Sort of a combination of wood haven and sycomore. Petroleum and vetiver. The kind of thing that will convert perfume skeptics more or less right away. Would be higher on the list but is too damn expensive.
7. Egoiste - I have a vintage version by have heard tell they aren’t so different. But the warm apple sauce vibe is obviously almost too on the nose, but the cold let’s the sandalwood behind it come out to shine. Really feels like getting out your favorite autumn long sleeves for the first time. Because cold looks good on people, while we are all just animals in the sun.
8. Number 3, Caron. The vintage version really shines when the cool takes the sickness out of the sweet & slows the jasmine enough to let the spices come over top. Still borderline overpowering at first but manageable. If ever there was a non binary perfume, as opposed to simply unisex, this is it. (Update : wore this today and it’s still too much, but it was humid out.)
9. Jil Sander - Man. The old stacked black boxes version that is spicy and leathery and a bit pinched and angry. This one goes on a little unpleasant but it wears beautifully, because it counts on the human body making it’s own contribution. Can be a little thin in winter but in fall it surprises people in a good way.
10. Gianfranco Ferre pour homme - the vintage version. So hard to choose from among chypres, and this could have gone in a number of directions. Not totally convinced this isn’t better in winter but there is just barely enough brightness swirling above the moss that you want to still have the memory of summer close at hand.
Probably either of the first two Gucci pour hommes would have worked also. And the first Versace l’homme maybe too.
What did I forget?? Where did I go wrong?
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