Going, going, gone… Editing The Fragrance Collection

Editing The Fragrance Collection

There comes a time in any fragrance lover’s life when you have to face a harsh reality. You’ve run out of space for your ever-expanding fragrance collection. Again. So much for the several storage expansions. It’s time to start thinking about editing the fragrance collection.

The undeniable truth: I had to accept the that I had run out of space for my lovelies. I could not continue just colonising other shelves occupied by my father’s beloved books.

“I could not continue just colonising other shelves occupied by my father’s beloved books.”

Editing The Fragrance Collection

GIVE ME SPACE: What should stay? What should go?

.I had to decide what should stay and what should go. Pronto! In that spirit, I was going to call this post “Culling the fragrance collection”, but that sounded cruel and callous, albeit necessary. So I settled for the more rational and measured “editing”.

Fortunately, this realisation occurred in the run-up to Christmas so I decided editing the fragrance collection should have an altruistic spin, too. That is, the perfumes I no longer wanted would now become gifts.

Editing The Fragrance Collection

GOING FOR BROKE: No, smashing my precious perfumes is not part of the editing process. But this particular bottle had to go, as the spray pump was leaking all over the place.

EDITING THE FRAGRANCE COLLECTION: QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS

Editing the fragrance collection wasn’t as easy as it sounds. But I found asking myself these questions below helped me immensely in the decision-making process. I hope they will help you, too, if you’re ever in a similar situation.

Why do I have this particular fragrance?

Does it bring me joy?

Or is it just one of many “nice” fragrances?

Editing The Fragrance Collection

NICE. I LIKE YOU… But do I love you?

Does this fragrance have any special associations or memories for me?

When was the last time I actually wore this fragrance?

Why have I not worn it for ages?

Will this fragrance bring more joy to someone else rather than just gathering dust in my collection?

Editing The Fragrance Collection

NOT GOING ANYWHERE: Apart from being a superb amber scent, L’Artisan Parfumeur L’Eau d’Ambre reminds me of time spent with family last year. So it’s a keeper for sure.

Will I really notice if this fragrance is no longer in my collection? That is, will I lose sleep over it?

While I am in the editing mode, do I have a sufficient mix of fragrances in my collection, in terms of everyday vs special occasion, fragrance families, etc?

Please let me know how you go about reducing the size of your fragrance collection.

L’Envol de Cartier EDT Review

L'Envol de Cartier EDT

It was a year of fragrance surprises (Gucci Guilty Absolute), fragrance hype (Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous) and fragrance so-so’s. But this is not a post about the best and worst of 2017. Instead, my first post of 2018 will be devoted to one of the fragrance gems of last year: L’Envol de Cartier EDT.

L'Envol de Cartier EDT

I have a few favourite fragrance brands and Cartier is one of them. All of the Cartier fragrances I have tried have captured the brand’s ethos of luxurious craftsmanship. Jean-Claude Ellena’s classic creation, the supremely elegant Cartier Déclaration, is one of my all-time favourite fragrances. In recent years, much of this prestige is down to the sterling work of Mathilde Laurent, Cartier’s in-house perfumer.

L'Envol de Cartier EDT

SHOW ME THE HONEY

L’Envol de Cartier was launched as an EDP in 2016 and I was immediately taken by its rich and complex treatment of honey.  So, of course, I expected great things of the EDT version, which was launched very quietly in 2017. Let’s just say Cartier doesn’t do hype.

L'Envol de Cartier EDT

The EDT opens with a burst of clean citrus notes, with honey slowly developing in the background. When the honey takes centre stage, it’s a light and airy take on the note. Good news for those who might have found the honey in the EDP version too much of a good thing. Artemisia adds a note of herbal interest, while the base of musk and guaiac notes balances the initial freshness of the scent. Unlike the EDP, there is no floral element and L’Envol de Cartier EDT is an altogether lighter and brighter affair.

L.'Envol de Cartier EDT

Mathilde Laurent has created a fragrance of simplicity and beauty with L’Envol de Cartier EDT. Although officially a fragrance for men (not quite sure why), L’Envol de Cartier should definitely be explored by discerning men and women alike.

L’Envol de Cartier EDT, R985 for 60ml and R1 310 for 80ml.