Perfume Recommendations According to your Zodiac Sign

Astrology is a minefield for any scientist such as myself, steeped as it is in a cloak of half-truths and half-lies about the universe and as old as man himself, but there is no doubt that it is an entertaining past-time, especially if you disagree with it. Purists would of course argue that specifics, such as ascendants, moon signs, Lilith positions, personal chart of houses and other intricacies would account for much variation within the generic 12 types and that much is true.

via astrologicalchartinfo.com

Astrology combined with perfume sounds like too much of a guilty pleasure (don't you just love the perverse pleasure of breaking out the Secretions Magnifiques on a Virgo, who should be most appreciative of its chlorine-like nuances?)
and we're in the pleasuring business, so here it is: a small perfume guide into the zodiac circle (For all practical purposes, and for better or worse, I'm restricting myself to standard Western astrology for the moment).

Sun illustration from the Nujum al-'Ulum (Stars of Sciences), a manuscript from the 16th century AD,  probably commissioned by 'Ali' Adil Shah II of Bijapur, India

The recommendations are lifted off The Perfume Zodiac by John Oakes: I only included the perfume names recommended by him for every sign, but in the book there is a description of each one, some more recommendations meant as "wild cards" (when straying from character…) and some more distinctions on a table that recommends which fragrance to wear at which time (day/night), at which age (young/mature) -commentary with which you might disagree-, on which skin colour (fair/dark) [ditto] and which season(summer/winter). Alas they only include scents marketed to women (is it because it is assumed that women are more eager to follow astrological recommendations?) but as usual on these pages, men will flock and freely adopt what they feel suits them regardless. Since most people into perfume don’t abide by the strick rules set by Oakes I didn’t think it was necessary to elaborate, plus I'm sure the publishers would disagree anyway. But the zodiac recs are fun, not to be taken TOO seriously, so please do get the book if interested in further exploring the subject; it’s quite fun reading and oddly educational about perfume too.


GUIDE TO PERFUMES ACCORDING TO YOUR STAR SIGN
Aries : Le feu d’Issey, Calandre, Ma griffe, Escape, Ferre original, Rive Gauche
Taurus : Femme, Fendi (original), Casmir, Chanel #5, Chanel #19, Roma
Gemini : So pretty Cartier, Bulgari pour femme, Joy, Yvresse, Jean Paul Gaultier classique, Champs Elysees
Cancer: Romeo Gigli, Amarige, Boucheron femme, Diorissimo, Cabochard, White Linen
Leo : Coco, Knowning, Gio, Donna Karan NY, Dolce Vita, Panthere
Virgo : Mitsouko, Arpege, Amazone, Parfum d’Hermes, Sublime, Nahema
Libra : Dolce & Gabanna original (red cap), Cabotine, Paris, Organza, 24 Faubourg, Deci Dela
Scorpio : Shalimar, Poison, Obsession, Must de cartier, Allure, Narcisse Noir
Sagittarius : Jicky, Quelques Fleurs, Madame Rochas, Crabtree&Evelyn Evelyn, Pleasures, Coriandre
Capricorn : First, Bal a Versailles, Youth Dew, Ungaro , J’adore, Private Collection
Aquarius : Eau d’Eden, Anais Anais, L’eau d’Issey, Diorella, Jaipur
Pisces : Samsara, 1000 Patou, Vent Vert, L’heure bleue, Paloma Picasso Mon Parfum, Dune.



You can also find astrological recommendations on these links :
A niche selection of recommendations, courtesy of Luckyscent
International discussion of real people on Fragrantica boards
Sampler packs per sign on The Perfumed Court decanting site

Some (indie) perfumers also manufacture specific "zodiac signs perfumes", such as used to do Ayala Moriel. Sadly those are no more (apart from a couple on Etsy), but I'm sure if you asked nicely and she had the ingredients at hand, she might repeat the recipe for a commissioned work.
It looks as though Roxana of Illuminated Perfume indulges too in some sign-related recommendations amongst her line. Another one is Alexandra Balahoutis of Strange Invisible Perfumes, specimens of her work you can witness on the picture. Estee Lauder only this last holiday season brought out a limited edition collection of solid perfumes and compacts (in her regular products, please note) taking the guise of each of the 12 star signs.

There are various  other  examples of scented products/fragrances (in various permutations) on Amazon, though I have no experience with them. Last but not least, in passing, let it be said that sculptress Niki de Saint Phalle, well-known to perfume aficionados thanks to her pine-forest smelling chypre eponymous fragrance, had issued a line of limited edition bottles bearing her designs of each of the zodiac signs.

Niki de Saint Phalle "Sagitttarius" via luraastor.blogspot.com

Perfume Quote: Guerlain Jicky- "witty without being coarse"

Our hero is in Paris with various characters of repute or disrepute, whereupon he visits the author Colette. Impressed by her perfume, he describes it as "kinky".

via slate.fr

 

"The room smelled of her perfume (at some point I asked her what it was, and Colette said: " Jicky. The Empress Eugenie always wore it. I like it because it's an old-fashioned scent with an elegant history, and because it's witty without being coarse--like the better conversationalists. Proust wore it. Or so Cocteau tells me. But then he is not too reliable.)"
~ From Truman Capote's "Answered Prayers"*

via quoteauthors.com

*appearing in Susan Irvine's guide & echoed by ewojdula/mua

The winner of the draw...

...for the Burberry Brit perfume bottle is ccdouglass. Congratulations! I will need your shipping data so I can have the prize in the mail for you, so please email me using Contact. Thanks everyone for the enthusiastic participation and till the next one!

Changes at Guerlain & Goutal: Repackaging & New Boutique Image

Two well-known French brands belonging to bigger business groups are doing a twist on their presentation and in some cases possibly a rethinking of their products. Guerlain and Goutal need no introductions, as any perfume lover is familiar with their well-loved iconography. Yet, this seems about to change in some ways.

 To take first things first, Guerlain is changing the pattern of making and selling one of its lower sellers, Jardins de Bagatelle (reviewed on these pages). "As of 2013, the original Jardins de Bagatelle bottle is taken out of production. It is being replaced by the bee atomizer, with a green label. It will only come as Eau de Parfum, while the Eau de Toilette is being discontinued." [source]

Jardins de Bagatelle eau de toilette is therefore no more and the revamping into an Eau de Parfum in the bee bottle can only mean one thing: a single size and a spiked price. [Lady Jicky, if you're reading, please stock up on Jardins de Bagatelle in Eau de toilette]. Well, at least they didn't move it into the Les Parisiennes line which is boutique-exclusive and much more expensive. Cessation of the production of a difficult and unique bottle for the fragrance in favor of a more generic and easily recognizable one is probably adequately reasoned by the cost vs. profit equation.

On the conceptual front, Peter Marino is in the midst of renovating the legendary 68 Champs-Elysées headquarters in Paris; works are in full swing as the reveal is set to be revealed July 2014. The last renovation of the flagship Guerlain was completed in 2005 by Andrée Putman, right when the sponsoring from LVMH practically signaled a new era for Guerlain (even though the take-over was in mid-1990s, it took some years for the new direction to start showing). Perhaps with Putman recently deceased, the renovation is indeed a new leaf.

Annick Goutal, on the other hand, is enjoying a renewed expansion thanks to solving its distribution problems a while ago under new patronage. The first step of renovation comes with Les Colognes Goutal. Not entirely new, since the Colognes reprise the beloved scents of Eau d'Hadrien, Neroli and Vetiver, all classics in their own right, yet the repackaging of Les Colognes Annick Goutal proposes a more distinctive and more generous presentation: the bottles become larger, at 200 ml of liquid, more elongated, with a simpler, solid matte gold cap and a white label with the Annick Goutal insignia in gold and a curvaceous gold edge.The colognes will retail at 135 euros.

The whole line will be color-coded anew for a more distinctive look and the boutiques will follow the new look, come April 2013. According to Christina Möller-Theulle, international marketing director for parfums Goutal, the new concept will be for the shops to become an experience in their own right through a facelift of the displays and the color-coding of the collections. The Saint-Sulpice shop marries the ironwork staircase with the butterfly wings which have become an emblem for Goutal, while the rue de Castillogne boutique juxtaposes the concrete floors inlaid with gold ivy with a carved, semi-fluted gigantic display. The company is very much interested in the Asian market, seeing as Goutal is the leader in niche fragrances in Japan with their Petite Chérie, and are accordingly planning on opening "selling booths" in both China and Thailand.

With thanks to Mr.Guerlain and AlbertCAN.

Fragrance Layering: Tips for Scent Combining part 2, Suggestions by Francis Kurkdjian & Serge Lutens

If you're new to scent combining or "layering" (or don't know what this is) please refer to our Layman's Guide to Fragrance Layering on this link. Today I'm updating with part 2 with perfume combining suggestions by famous "noses".

To start you off, here are some recommendations by acclaimed perfumer Francis Kurdjian as they first appeared in French Marie-Claire, Dec 2005. Kukdjian recommends a starter perfume of proven popularity/classic status (below, in capitals) and then offers suggestions on what to layer it with, according to occasion/time of day. It's interesting to note that he regularly offers suggestions involving his own compositions...which would negate the often quipped argument that layering is only meant for "mending" a fragrance lacking in some way.

SHALIMAR
Day : Cologne de Mugler or Eau d’Hadrien or Eau de Cologne Bien-Etre verte
Night : Musc Ravageur (Malle) or B*Men de Mugler

L’AIR DU TEMPS
Day : Eau parfumée au thé vert Bulgari
Night : Eternity (C.Klein)

via aufeminin.com

L'HEURE BLEUE
Day : Un jardin en méditerranée d’Hermès
Night : Voile d’Ambre (Y.Rocher) or Nu d’YSL

CHANEL NO.5
Day : Colonia d’Acqua di Parma
Night : Musc Ravageur (Malle) or Féminité du bois (Lutens)

JOY
Day : Blush de Marc Jacobs or Rose barbare de Guerlain
Night : Original Musk de Kiehl’s

CHANEL NO.19
Day : Mure et Musc or Hiris (Hermès ) or Déclaration pour homme de Cartier or Eau de Cartier
Night : Lolita Lempicka or L’Eau Ivre No.03 de Iunx

YSL OPIUM original
Day : Un Jardin sur le Nil d'Hermès
Night : Poivre Samarcande Hermessence d’Hermès or Féminité du bois

YSL PARIS
Day : Rose Ikabena Hermessence d’Hermès or Sa Majesté la Rose (Lutens)
Night : Cuir Améthyste d’Armani Privé

GIORGIO BERVERLY HILLS
Day : Rem de Reminiscence
Night : L’Instant de Guerlain

via hqprints.com

DIORISSIMO
Day : Cologne de Thierry Mugler
Night : Mandarena de Sicilia d’Aqua di Parma or Le Parfum de Castelbajac

FÉMINITÉ DU BOIS
Day : Eau d’Orange Verte d’Hermès
Night : Angel or Rush de Gucci

EAU D’ISSEY
Day : Anais Anais
Night : Rem de Reminiscence

NARCISCO RODRIGUEZ
Day : Fleur d’Oranger de L’Artisan Parfumeur
Night : Aromatics Elixir


AMBRE SULTAN
Day : Eau d’Hadrien
Night : Gaultier2

MURE et MUSC
Day : Dior Diorella or Pleasures (Lauder)
Night : Rahat Loukoum (Lutens)

LOLITA LEMPICKA
Day: Violette de Maison Berdoues
Night: Angel

TRÉSOR
Day : Promesse de Cacharel or Lovely de SJP
Night : Vanille Passion de Comptoir Sud Pacifique

The info comes from French Marie-Claire, Dec 2005 print edition (I believe I was notified of this snippet ages ago by Bela/MUA, if I recall correctly)

Other perfumers also recommend layering.
Here are some of the recommendations of Serge Lutens of Palais Royal de Shiseido. Serge even goes as far as suggesting you combine three scents of his famous powerhouses (!) or just combine two mantioned in the same line:

via lenoma.ru

Ambre Sultan, Daim Blond, Arabie
Ambre Sultan, Un Bois Vanille, Douce Amère
Ambre Sultan, Fleurs d'Oranger, Datura Noir
Ambre Sultan, Daim Blond, Clair de Musc
Fleurs de Citronnier, A la Nuit, Sa Majesté la Rose
Fleurs de Citronnier, Clair de Musc, Santal Blanc
Fleurs de Citronnier, Fleurs d'Oranger, Datura Noir

In "The Emperor of Smell" by Chandler Burr there is this info on "primaries" of smell, as used by perfumer Jean Claude Ellena :
Banana +Lemon = Jasmine
Mint + Rum = Black currant
Also there is this professional shortcut used by Jean Claude Ellena in his fragrances (more difficult to replicate at home):
isobutyl phenylacetate + vanillin = chocolate

You can also experiment freely with the Jo Malone collection, which was initially specifically designed to be layered. This is most agreeable with the older scents in the line, but they all offer their possibilities.  The same can be said about the single note Diptyque candles or room sprays, for some fragrance layering for the home (or on yourself, most room sprays by Diptyque are safe for use on skin, though you need to do a patch test first just to be sure).

As with everything, have fun and if your experiment ends up not satisfactory, take refuge in the idea that it's only perfume; you can always wash it off and start anew the following day!