Where are the risk-taking designer houses? Do they exist anymore?

Have you noticed that controversial fragrances usually succeed over the long haul? Compare any one of them to a non-offensive,middle-of-the-road, majority pleasing release and the scent that refuses to take chances will generate a certain amount of $$$ upon public introduction, then fade into obscurity. The one that polarizes...

A while ago I spoke with a perfume consultant who sniffed my skin and told me that I had salty green skin. He said that he also had salty green skin and suggested that I stay away from leather fragrances, completely synthetic fragrances and strong spices. He urged me to speak with perfume lovers who might have the same type of skin. Since my skin is dry, I prefer wearing an Eau de Parfum so my fragrance lasts. Do any of you have salty green skin and if so, do you have any perfume suggestions for...

Diane Ackerman’s A Natural History of the Senses includes a section titled, Prodigies of Smell, “the most famous of whom is probably Helen Keller." In fact, Helen Keller is the only prodigy discussed. She’s also the only prodigy mentioned in the Freeks, Geeks, and Prodigies chapter of Avery Gilbert’s What the Nose Knows.

Ackerman says, “Helen Keller had a miraculous...

Since I am not a scientist or chemist, I do not know what to look for in a list of ingredients. Odalisque and Sacrebleu Intense had a beautiful incense drydown. I was amazed how Patricia Nicolai used incense the way that Guerlain used vanilla. Now these two former beauties should be called Odal & Sacrebleu Lukewarm. What is missing from the new that was in the old?

Today I'm sampling Guerlain Insolence EDP, courtesy of the lovely ubu and an embarassingly slow UK postal service.

This scent makes me smile. It makes me think of Emily Lloyd as the teenage strumpet in Wish You Were Here, with its minxy brazen hussy-ness. It puts me in mind of all those British euphemisms for girls having fun - cheap, easy, the village bike and there are plenty more that escape me this early in the day. It reminds me of the girl in every 6th form who had both the grades...