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Thanks for that, I really enjoyed reading your post. I think this service would be great for a non-basenoter but is it a way of finding a signature scent? I gave up on the idea of this a long time ago and now rejoice in the diversity of having different scents for different aspects of me and my life.
Don't get me started about Les Senteurs. Suffice it say that they do not get my business anymore.

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Oh I just loved reading this. Wonderful inside into how Roja runs his parfumery.

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Yum! Thanks for the delightful read! Now I must add Shocking to my to test list--I'm such a pushover.

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Quote: Originally Posted by Shycat Yum! Thanks for the delightful read! Now I must add Shocking to my to test list--I'm such a pushover. I'm curious as to whether this was the new or vintage version. I actually like the new one and love the old one which is richer and has a nicer honey note. My daughter adores the new version and wears it as an evening scent.

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It's the new one. I've tried the vintage one as well - I actually prefer the honey note in the new one; it's a bit less in-your-face. It's not a note I'm always comfortable with - I actively dislike Serge Lutens' Miel de Bois. Heresy, I know. The honey in Shocking is very distinct, and very forward, but it's not sickly. The juice itself is rather paler (the vintage is a darker amber colour). Besides a little quieting-down of the honey, I don't detect much difference at all, but I've not tried the vintage version in some time and couldn't do a direct comparison.
I'm pleased that the civet note is still so upfront. It's a note that a lot of reformulations try to tone down, but it works so well in Shocking.

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Quote: Originally Posted by Squeezeweasel It's the new one. I've tried the vintage one as well - I actually prefer the honey note in the new one; it's a bit less in-your-face. It's not a note I'm always comfortable with - I actively dislike Serge Lutens' Miel de Bois. Heresy, I know. The honey in Shocking is very distinct, and very forward, but it's not sickly. The juice itself is rather paler (the vintage is a darker amber colour). Besides a little quieting-down of the honey, I don't detect much difference at all, but I've not tried the vintage version in some time and couldn't do a direct comparison.

I'm pleased that the civet note is still so upfront. It's a note that a lot of reformulations try to tone down, but it works so well in Shocking. I've only briefly sniffed the vintage but have a bottle of the new. From memory and description I think the vintage had a tad more patchouli and moss in the base along with the civet making it much more chypre, richer and earthier than the current formulation. Once in a while I layer it with Ava Luxe Sweet Patchouli and / or TBS Chypre perfume oil (vintage) to play up the missing aspects. Great fun.

It is still a fantastic 'Dark lady' scent, very unique. My kind of scent!

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Oh, what a lovely present to give to a friend, and what a fabulous story! I really want to do this now! :-)
(and I have to confess I haven't heard of the vast majority of those fragrances. I'm a total philistine)
Namaste,
Clemmie

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I love this story, too! it sounds absolutely fantastic and is something I *will* do too one day, when I'm older and have the money. Your prose style was so interesting that I was engrossed with this story You should write customer reviews for them, in the very least - you'd probably net them much more business!

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No excuse needed for the lengthy post. It was lovely and I'm sure any of us would be grateful to have a friend like you. I join you in heresy. I wanted to like Miel de Bois; I have a memory of hawthorne that I would dearly love to match, but I could not get past that overwhelming sweet honey.

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What a lovely gift from you! That's something I'd love to try some time.
Re: Les Senteurs, I've been there twice and was served by James, who is a sweetie. When I went to get Musc Ravageur I said I wanted the smaller size as I have a lot of perfumes (hell, I bought two on my previous visit) and he agreed that was the best thing to do. Gave me a few samples too.
One of the ones I bought on my previous visit was Miel de Bois, actually, and I really love that honeyed sweetness. I guess it's horses for courses.