June 16, 2011

Getting to GRRR

People, my parents have regaled the masses with this quaint anecdote for, um, alotta decades:  Since Kimmie was a tiny tot, she called perfume "pisspume". Even then, I had a knack for taking all the air out of the hoity toity. These days, I wear Obsession, sometimes Eternity. They seem to agree with me, but I want something new, so I'm all googly for Chanel Allure. And by all googly, I mean, all googly.

A primo fragrance costs as much as a pro rejuvenation these days. And you can get that pricey sex-in-a-bottle home and find out that when other people smell it on you, instead of upping your Jessica Rabbit factor, you're suddenly Pepe Le Pew—an olfactory mess—and you've missed your opp for a sweet chemical peel (heh, I said sweet and chemical and peel in the same breath).

Apparently, these days, the general public needs to engage with a fragrance like a sommelier gargles the taste of wine (okay, it's not exactly gargling, but come on). At least you don't have to do a sip-and-spit, but the "notes" in a fragrance have to react well with your skin. Per Wikipedia, the definitive source of all things brainiac:

"Perfume is described in a musical metaphor as having three sets of notes, making the harmonious scent accord. The notes unfold over time, with the immediate impression of the top note leading to the deeper middle notes, and the base notes gradually appearing as the final stage."

That totally sounded like a menage. No wonder it costs so much. But WTF? I just wanna smell delicious.

My good friend, Anne Marie, once got onto a crowded elevator, and another floor later a guy squeezed in. He looked around at everybody and said, "I don't know who smells so good, but I'd love to have dinner with you tonight." She had a rockin' grrr factor going. That's when you know your fragrance is working for ya. It's not overpowering, but just enough in close quarters to get you dinner—and maybe lucky too.

So far no grrrs on the Allure, which means my googly may be all wasted. If that's the case, I guess it's just another pisspume. What are your fave scents?
|

26 comments:

Elly Lou said...

Does my scented generic deodorant count? I sometimes remember to wear that. Sometimes. *sigh*

Irish Gumbo said...

"Pisspume"...ummm...all I could think was that it sounded like the stuff that hunters use to attract deer...eep.

I can't remember names of perfume, because the good ones, applied in the right way on the right person, usually render me a babbling idiot.

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

This is why I heart you: you DO totally take the air outta the hoity toity.

ellen abbott said...

don't wear 'em. in fact I hate fragrance in and on anything. except my sandlewood soap.

The Mommy Therapy said...

I have been wearing the same scent since the eigth grade. I alternate between being proud and being embarrassed of this. I still love it though, and I really like that all my friends think of me when they smell it.

It also has recently become a drugstore perfume rather than a department store one so I'm either really lucky, or I should be embarrassed again.

It's Design by Paul Sebastian. Thanks Paul, I love it.

mac said...

I don't wear any myself. I go with a natural smell (fresh washed clean, of course).
However, I am quit fond of the way Obsession smells on a woman - SEXY !
And, like you, I think the key is moderation. I shouldn't smell anyone across the room. I'd much rather get really close and bury my face in her neck, among other places ;-).

Did I mention how sexy Obsession was?

Unknown said...

I have a couple of Avon fragrances that I use occasionally. I'm embarrassed to say I don't even know their names. But I hope they're not pisspumes!

anon said...

I believe they've taken the civet piss out of Channel products so the chemical reaction is different then from the old stuff, changing the way it in turn reacts with the individual wearer.
I have no idea where that came from, but I actually believe it to be true. WTF?

drollgirl said...

pisspume??!?! lol!

i don't wear perfume, but maybe i should in case i am stuck in an elevator with a potential prince!

Unknown said...

Lately I've worn fragranced body oils and China Rain is my favorite. I also like Get Sexy body lotion by Victoria's Secrets.

You'll get the GRRRR. Guys are some smelling type guys. Remember the commercial, "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific"? I'm sure she had no idea that she would be ravaged because of the shampoo she used.

Linda Medrano said...

I've only worn "Coco" by Chanel for years. It's not too sweet. Different fragrances smell different on different women. My Mom wore Chanel No. 5 and it was wonderful on her. I couldn't get it to last on me.

watercolordaisy said...

I used to wear Chanel No. 5 but since I turned 40 it quit smelling so awesome on me. :-(
So I have no idea what to wear...

I have some Clinique Happy that I actually like although I wouldn't call it delicious at all.
sigh

injaynesworld said...

My lifelong fave has always been "Joy" be Jean Pateu. My first bottle was given to me at 19 by the guy who popped my cherry. While the relationship eventually soured, Joy still smells as sweet as ever on me.

Fred Miller said...

The Roman gladiators used to scrape off their sweat and boil it down into pills which women would take to make them ovulate. Gross huh?

Jo ~ said...

I haven't smelled Allure yet; I usually wear the cheap stuff...like Donna Karan Cashmere Mist and Ralph Lauren Romance, love both of those. I used to buy a Victoria's Secret lotion and perfume which seemed to attract a lot of attention. I'll check out the Allure. There's another one I want to try...something Gold...can't think of what it is now. shiz. I love a good parfume! or pisspume! LOL...hope you are doing well. Got plans for summer?

Sueann said...

My favs are Fendi and Red Door!!
Get nice compliments when I wear them.
I love my scents and don't leave home without them! Ha!
Hugs
SueAnn

Bretthead said...

Just be careful to not smell like teen spirit.

I wear the smell of success. And sometimes chicken nuggets if I just made the boys lunch.

Alexandra said...

Oh, there are few things as good smelling as a freshly showered man.

Fresh and clean is what I'm drawn to.

Men...I wonder, is it different for them?

(We're such biological creatures)

And I love your friend's story.

That Janie Girl said...

Just to let you know - I've worn Chanel Allure for years - and ThatManILove calls it "Arouse".

Enough said.

Udder Hysteria said...

Well, I currently like to wear the piss outta Princess by Vera Wang these days... Mac is still rockin the Hugo#1... Buoyed by the endless praises he's received from complete strangers for goin on about ten years now.
I think it should be renamed Aphrodisiac!!!

Stephanie said...

LOL I need to re-think my scent!

JoeinVegas said...

Just don't put too much on - a little is fine, but nobody wants to be overwhelmed

secret agent woman said...

I don't wear perfume. But I do use Neutrogena Sesame Oil. You can only smell it up very close, but the men who do get that close seem to like it.

lovelyprism said...

I wear Lovely Prism by Givenchy. I don't wear it everyday because its hard to find and fairly expensive, but when I do wear it I always get complimented! :-)

Cheryl Anderson said...

What happened to the scent of "good ole" Patchouli oil?

I know still stuck in the 70's, or I am just not that damn hot!

Country Girl said...

For years, I've worn Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel and it's still my favorite. I've also bought lots of little samples from luckyscent.com just for fun sometimes. Keiko Mecheri's Ume is my favorite from there.
For body lotions that carry a nice scent, I like Angel by Victoria's Secret and a body oil by Neutrogena, light sesame, which is available at the grocery store.
Came here via someone I visit all the time and saw your blog on her sidebar. I just like scents, is all ~