Hey there A Bottled Rose, It’s a Mood Scent 4 week. WOO HOO! This month the crew are looking at Jewels in the Crown. The five fragrances in my collection I hope to never be without. OOOH! Sam came up with this doozy of a monthly puzzler and I’ve been flummoxed, trying to whittle the number down. Especially because I’d like to keep it interesting for you all and not just the same favourite stuff all the time.
Can’t wait to read about your favourite Jewels in the Crown in the comments too.
So excited to be blogging with these three superstars again: Esperanza L’Esperessence, Megan Megan In Sainte Maxime and Samantha I Scent You A Day. Check theirs out too.
Mood Scent 4: Jewels in the Crown
Instead of going for my all time favourites this month I thought we could look at some fragrances that I adore but don’t wear all that often. They are beautiful or interesting enough that I want to have them around for themselves, rather than for my everyday wearing pleasure. Having them gives me a thrill and sometimes I’ll just grab them and sniff the cap, bliss. Other times I’ll douse myself in them and go off to bed and let their magic take me on a ride into sleep.
Caravelle Epicee by Frapin
Spice trader vessel. From the romantic daydreams of travelling the world and discovering new lands, spices, people and beliefs. The wanderlust I have always felt. It seems Caravelle Epicee has captured it all in one magical elixir. A spicy melange backed by tobacco, woods and amber. Only the very fleeting top notes have any sea or water references. It’s more a nod than a thing.
Infini vintage PdT by Caron
How is Infini not one of the most sought after and talked about fragrances? It astounds me that bottles of vintage PdT are still available on ebay and through sale docs on FB for practically nothing. An aldehydic floral with narcissus front and centre and backed by a terrific, long lasting, chypre style dry down. Possibly the pinnacle of 1960/70s style yet wears amazingly even now. It smells halfway between Mitsouko and Silences.
Rubj EdP by Vero Profumo
I have a confession. Rubj EdP is too precious for me to wear. Even when I first bought it but 100% more now that Vero has gone on to the next grand adventure. I’d be lucky to have worn this as fully fragrant, leave the house smelling killer less than 10 times. What happens is, I open the box, take the lid off and smell the nozzle. A few times then spritz one shot to my chest and go have a nap. Falling asleep with this outrageously OTT big white floral is like going on a tropical destination wedding. I’m filled with stories, visions, inspiration and amazing dreams.
Champs-Élysées by Guerlain
Every year this fragile beauty is still in production I’m amazed. Its cool, non aquatic yet aqueous beauty is delicate yet fully fragrant. Violets and lilac backed by a floral chorus underpinned by soft focus vanilla woods. It’s impossible to over apply and wearing enormous amounts is utterly joyful and encapsulating. I have all three strengths; EdT, EdP and extrait, but the one I reach for most often is the EdP. No real reason other than it’s the one that smells most pure and bright to me.
Un Bois Vanille by Serge Lutens
OK, I have an admission to make here. I’m hoarding every precious drop of this old version of Un Bois Vanille. I know I could get a new bottle for next to nothing and I did grab a back up 50ml export bottle when the change over occurred BUT this smells utterly perfect to me. Exactly the right blend of sweetly tropical and dark richness. Nothing comes close to its luscious, slightly over ripe harmony. I think the coconut and beeswax play such a lovely game against the liquorice vanilla and other bit players.
Don’t forget to go across and read the other three members of the Mood Scent 4 crew:
Esperanza L’Esperessence
Megan Megan In Sainte Maxime
Samantha I Scent You A Day.
Please share a few of your Jewels in the Crown?
Portia xx
A Bottled Rose 
Only two jewels in my head. Dior Homme ’05 and Roja Enigma. Can live without the rest, regardless of how much I enjoy some others.
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Lovely jewels sam,
Two is enough to keep you scented beautifully.
Portia x
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Hey Portia
I think Mum Peggy might like Infini. She loves 70s style aldehydes.
Bet Rubj edp is wonderful on you. Naja is definitely one of my jewels.
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OOOOH Tara,
Shall I send her a sample to get the feel for it?
So bummed I never bought a bottle of Naja. I have a sample vial that gets sniffed every now and then to remind me of Vero.
Portia xx
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Ah that’s kind Portia but save it for when we all meet up in hopefully the not too distant future.
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OK, fingers crossed for SOON!
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Please don’t hate me: https://shop.campomarzio70.it/en/products/naja-vero-profumo
(they have ridiculous shipping costs, and I didn’t see that they subtract VAT when shipping internationally, but I haven’t asked yet).
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Yeah, I saw them. The very last. Using up the black bottles.
I’m not earning real money right now, and haven’t in nearly a year. It’s just not possible.
Kiki extrait, Rubj and Mito EdPs will have to last me. No complaints really. They are the ones I really love.
Portia xx
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I never knew Champs Elysées had violet in it so am trying it today and think I do now spot it. There is so much else going on – a basket of fruit and bouquet of flowers! – that I guess it could be missed. Definitely a cheery scent. 😉
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Vanessa,
I can just see you swamping around and wafting great gouts of Champs-Elysees. YUMMY!
Portia x
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April Aromatics Calling All Angels, Irisistible, Lotus Rising, Vanilicious and Rose Wopd. Hiram Green’s Dilettante, Lustre, Vivacious and Slowdive. Vero’s Rozy (all of them) and Naja. No 19 vintage. Heure Exquise. Vol de Nuit. Mona di Orio Eau Absolue. Vintage no 5. La via del Profumo Tasneem. And more 😉
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OOOHHHH! What a list Hamamelis,
Just the ones you’ve mentioned are a sparkling representation. We have many faves in common.
Portia xx
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Hey Portia. Loe your choices and I know what you mean with the Rubj as that’s what I do with my Rozy too. It’s quite full on and obviously beautiful but sometimes it can be perfect for just hanging out at home with. Love Un Bois Vanille too. xxx
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Oh yes Megan, Rozy is another of Vero’s magical el;ixirs. I wasn’t smart enough to buy it when it was available. My loss,
Portia xx
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Did you know that you can buy Vero’s EFPs at Camparmazio again … they are in a black bottle. I just had a look on the website ✨
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Yes, there’re a very limited run and when they are gone. Gone forever apparently.
Sadly the shipping to Australia is almost as much as the bottles.
Until I’m earning real money again I’ve had to tap out.
Portia xx
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Oh thanks for the extra news on that – I might need to splurge then but not sure which Vero to get! Maybe Kiki as I think I’d wear that one a lot but maybe Rubj …. ah decisions xx
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I have Rubj and Mito EdP and Kiki extrait Megan. It’s the Kiki that gets by far the most wear. A little dab goes a LONG way.
Portia xx
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Oh that’s good to know 😘
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Hi Portia, loved your picks! And to choose some other fragrances than the ones you wrote about before. I have the same with Vero’s fragrances they are too precious to wear. Must really hunt for Infini, sounds like a must try an aldehydic floral with Narcissus. Haven’t seen it here much online. Caravelle Epicee sounds marvelous too. Especially for winter! You are right, Champs Elysees could be dc. Are both the edt and edp still sold? XxxEsperanza
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Thanks esperanza,
I reckon you’d love Infini.
I’m pretty sure all three strengths are available for Champs-Elysees but you’d have to check with your Guerlain counter, or that great Place Vendome Parfumerie.
Portia xx
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Hi Portia, you have just made want Caron Infini. It’s everything I look for. You are right about Rubj. I only have a sample but it was a glorious bouquet- truly extravagant and worth treasuring. Champs Elysees didn’t impress way back when I first tried it, but as so often happens, it has seince seduced after a rubbish first date! As for an Un Bois Vanille? Well I just swoooon. xxx
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Heya Sam,
WOO HOO! I’ll take that enabler pin for Infini!
I think when we first fall for p[erfume we want deep and intricate. It takes a while to remember beauty can come in many variants.
Portia xx
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Champs Elysees! I love that you include this gem in your selection of Jewels in the Crown. I can’t live without it as well, it has been a long-time favorite and although I don’t wear it often I am pleasantly surprised how much I continue to love it when I do wear it.
Also, I don’t want to be without all of my favorite Chanels: No 5, No 22, Coco, Coromandel, Bois des Iles, 31 Rue Cambon, Misia, 1957, 1932.
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YAY Kathleen,
It makes me really happy when I read that other people love Champs-Elysees. For a long while everyone poo poohed it.
CHANEL has a bunch of my faves too. Le Lion is quickly becoming one of them.
Portia xx
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From your list, Champs Elysées is the one I enjoy a lot but don’t wear often enough. I’m not familiar with the first two. Rubj EdP was vile on my skin (but extrait was gorgeous!), and the version of L’Artisan’s perfume that I got to try was just OK – so it might have been a newer one.
Let me name just one perfume: it is wonderful and precious, but I don’t think it’ll fit into, let’s say, top 5 all-time favorites: Armani Prive La Femme Bleue. It is so beautiful! And it was so ridiculously expensive! I don’t think I would have bought it today (with all the rest of perfumes in my collection), but I like it very much.
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Hey Undina,
I remember the frenzy for that Armani but it was through the roof expensive for the time. I’d probably buy it at that price now without regret but then it seemed like a LOT!
Portia xx
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