Thank you Greeneyes for such an inspirering piece of writing. My intro into the wide universe of perfume was brought about over two years ago, by accidently stumbling onto the Basenote fragrance site. At that time I had a small wardrobe of mostly fragrance for men, however I found Bandit and Bal A Versailles, so compelling that it didn't matter they were concidered perfume for women.
I knew nothing about niche perfumes, then I started to regularly read the comments on the male forum and a broader world of perfume opened up for me. It lead to blind buys of niche fragrance,samples and perfumes marketed for women. I found perfume blogs. My wardrobe has grown to over a hundred scents.
Now I've become much more selective. I don't need every new scent I read about, no matter how glowing the reviews are. No more blind buys, I sample before I buy. I've wriiten only eight mini reviews on Basenote. As my confidence grows I am sure I will write more reviews and comment more on the blogs.
Thank you for the great idea of keeping a perfume journal.This will help me develope the language I need to share my impressions on perfume.
Thank you again for a fine piece. Best Regards,
Nattygold
Nattygold, it sounds like our stories are quite similar. And I think this bears out exactly what I was trying to say: that experience closes the gaps in understanding where language can no longer suffice. But it is important to bring language to experience as well, to shape our understanding so that we can explain it, share it, because the amazing thing is this community of people connected through scent.
Have a lovely day!
I blame Now Smell This too 
M, LOL! Of course, I can also blame YOU. 
I found your blog and Scentzilla not long after NST.
How much things have changed for you in a year, no ?
Sage advice.
[Even though I'm guilty of it , too-
I sometimes feel that we lovers of fragrance must sound like pompous asses to everyone else...except wine connoisseurs !]
Chaya, I don't think a soul could accuse you of sounding like a pompous ass, ever. You are unbelievably generous in spirit and always willing to share your knowledge and expertise, and I feel lucky to know you.
It's almost been two years, though, if you can believe that! I remember your first visit! Hugs and kisses to you.
You got me good, Sweet Diva! LOL.. I live in California. A friend mine went down deep into Dixieland a few years ago for the first time and always laughs at the curiosity that ALL fizzy softdrinks are commonly referred to as Coke there. I should have known better! But I'm glad I gave you the opening to make your point...
I totally agree, of course, that a perfume is purely an experiential matter when all is said and done... just as is travel or music or life itself.
Here's to taking a deep whiff of L'air du Temps!
Oh, by the way: My six fragrances ARE available as samples. You don't have to read anything at all...
...Michael
Hi Michael. The thing is, I do understand the problem your putting forth. I was about ready to pull out a quote from Plato's Phaedrus and all my classical rhetoric texts and start a big discussion on the fallibility of language and aporias and kairos and all things Greek and blah blah blah, but then I put it away. This isn't a blog about rhetoric and the nature of language, but about perfume, about one viewpoint. I never meant to step on your arguments toes.
I think you face a tough time having to actually market your creations because it's all about persuasion using a technique that has almost nothing to do with the thing itself.
And if I do say so (oh wait--I HAVE said so), your perfumes are wonderful to behold.
Wow, I stop reading for a few days and all the stops come out! I am just loving your meditations on language and perfume, parts I and II. I went to grad school in English at a schools with an extremely strong rhetoric program (UT-Austin) so I'm actually down with the whole Kairos and Aporia thang. There is quite definitely a recognizable Rhetoric of Perfume, and the degree to which we strain against it when we talk about scent it comes alive again. We have to keep straining or it will collapse into a heap of dead metaphors...or ad copy.
I can't help but remember your temporary writer's block, which had so much to do with feeling the deadness and predictability of the review language. (I believe I recommended dancing as metaphor -- tapdancing bergamot to be exact.) As always, the way out of this as a writer is to cultivate the individual voice. Sure, it would help for everyone to have a common vocabulary, but when I read you, and Marina and Robin, I know, more or less, what "amber" means to each of you, not just what each of you mean by amber. The former is far more useful if I'm trying to decide whether or not to order samples!
Hi A! You are so right. I was all ready to start talking about perfume tropes, but then I realized it would just lead to another tangent, and then another...but there is a bit of danger in everyone trying to "write perfume." Standardization could make it dreadfully generic.
Yes, my writer's block tends to hit hard when I feel a bit sick of myself after publishing a post where I sound less like me than some sort of screwy perfume medium trying to channel Luca Turin. LOL...I remember the tapdancing bergamot! I can't wait for the day when I find a perfume with jazz hands! You also suggested music, and I'm still playing around with that one offline.
It's great to see you! Have a lovely day!
Jazz hands! That's so funny--I actually saw a commentor on Perfume Posse say that she loved the cardamom opening of Kenzo Elephant "jazz hands and all."
(I wanted those jazz hands, but all my elephant gave me was SWEET. Ugh. It was a bumpy ride.)
I think we're at the beginning of the genre of perfume criticism, such an interesting time, but an unstable one, too. At any rate, you know I love your style...
Thanks A! I think we should make it a mission for 2008 to find our own personal jazz hands scents. You must report in immediately when you find yours.
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