Vintage Chanel no 19 EDP Review

Chanel no 19 is one of those staples in my perfume collection is one of those perfumes that doesn't really get a whole lot of wear anymore. For a while, it was my go to perfume for many occasions. But in the past 2 or 3 years, my collection has really expanded and it is not exactly on my radar so much anymore. When I had applied the vintage version of Chanel no 19 EDP for a bed time scent on Sunday, I had to take a look at both the vintage and the current version. Yesterday, I put some of the current EDP to really take a look.

I had noticed with the vintage that the opening is much sharper and much more astringent than the current version. After the bite of the beginning wears off, and it wears off massively, the rose comes into play. The rose isn't as clear, the rose is now powdery and that is something that I haven't found in the current version. A powdery rose is not something I exactly like. The iris in no 19 is not carroty and earthy and it seems like the powder had kind of gotten that too. The vintage version seems to have some serious staying power over the current version.

At the end of the day, I prefer the current version of the EDP but I'm starting to favor the EDT version due to the fact that in green perfumes, I don't like much more than the barest hint of powder. I find it kind of sad in some ways that Chanel is not my most favored house anymore in terms of perfume. I think in some ways, Chanel has kind of lost Coco Chanel's vision and direction. Coco Chanel had revolutionized women's clothing and revolutionized perfume as we know it.

Chanel Stuff and Grad Party Mistake

Did you ever have an event that you had to go to and ended up wearing the wrong perfume? That happened to me yesterday. I had my cousin's high school graduation party that I had to attend yesterday. The party was lovely but found myself regretting the choice I made in perfume. After shuffling through my decants, I found my decant of Xeroff Irisss and wore that. By the time I sprayed it on 10 minutes before I arrived at the party, I regretted it. I had forgotten that it was a spicy iris and I like my iris perfumes to be carroty, earthy and rooty. I had nothing else with me and I gritted my teeth and rode it out. When I had gotten home, I quickly had to wash off the remnants and apply my vintage (I don't know how vintage) Chanel no 19 EDP. I am applying the current EDP for comparison and will probably review it.

I will admit that I do like window shopping. I decided to stop by the Chanel website and see if there was anything new coming out or had no 19 EDP come in more sizes than the 3.4 ounce bottle. And it was yes on both counts. Finally no 19 in the EDP form comes in a 1.7 ounce bottle. Even though I don't need another bottle of anything, but when I am in the market for a new bottle of perfume, I want smaller bottles. I had saw that Chanel is releasing a perfume called Gabrielle on August 19th of this year. From reading the description, it sounds like a BWF that I'm not exactly too interested in. It looks like there is most likely going to be a moderate note of tuberose and tuberose is my mortal enemy in perfume. If somebody gave me a sample, yeah, I'd probably try it in case but it wouldn't be something that I would seek out to try. I think I will be holding off on trying this for quite a while before seeking this one out. My rule still kind of remains that I must start finishing full bottles of perfume before adding more. Finishing decants are little victories too.

Extrait Bottles

I do go through times where I take a really good look at my bottles of perfumes. And there have many times that I have waxed poetical on bottles and perfume bottle porn. I am somewhat attracted to perfume bottles, even though the perfume maybe crap, I'm still attracted. But now I'm intrigued with something in my collection. My various bottles of extrait. Guerlain, Chanel, Deneuve and probably a couple others.

Most of the extract that I have is vintage and more often than not, it's gonna be Chanel or Guerlain. Most current versions of extract is going to be in quarter, half, or full ounce bottles. You are not going to find strange sizes, except when you are looking around. Guerlain in vintage is pretty funky in terms of size. Let's see, I have two vintage bottles of Shalimar that are a third of an ounce and a bottle of L'Heure de Nuit that is either two thirds or three quarters of an ounce. I don't know why it really isn't done so much anymore. I think that it probably wasn't profitable anymore. I wish there were a little more choice in perfume sizes period.

Amouage Lyric Extrait Review

I really haven't worn my bottles of Amouage recently but the craving did strike yesterday. Yesterday was the day my dad had to go for a chemo class and I couldn't exactly go and clear out a room. Amouage has the ability to do that. What I did was used some of my Lyric bath stuff. Did I use the body butter? No, I busted out the hand lotion. The hand lotion is a whole lot less than the body butter in terms of scent. Then I proceeded to dab on the Lyric extrait.

The extrait of Lyric isn't as loud or bombastic as the EDP version. The reason I say loud and bombastic is that when any of the Amouage offerings applied generously, they are bombastic and really loud. The extrait is much softer and much more smooth than the EDP, if such a thing is possible. I noticed that it is far richer and deeper than the EDP. I'm thinking that it's the sandalwood that's the culprit for this. The lasting power is phenomenal for this and lasting power has never been a problem for any of the Amouages that I own.

I would love to own a bottle of this but I can't exactly afford over $300 for this one. Yes, that's the right price but it is a 1.7 ounce spray bottle. The funny thing is that I don't often see extrait of anything over one ounce let alone a spray bottle. Guess it goes on the long burn list of the bottle worthy list.

Comme des Garcons Avignon EDT Review

It was time to break out of my rut to try something new. For some reason, I was really craving Kyoto but decided that I had to try out Avignon instead. I do keep hearing about Avignon and Kyoto on Now Smell This on what people are wearing for the day. But after hanging out at with the perfume crowd online, it seems like Comme des Garcons Series 3 seems to be the best loved out of all the CdG offerings. Yes, next up on my list is Avignon. I am slowly working my through the line.

I have full bottles of Kyoto and Zagorsk and love them both, even though I really don't wear them often. Zagorsk and Kyoto are dry and Avignon is no different. Avignon is definitely not a happy perfume nor is it sad. I find it somber and not very uplifting. The incense note is even more massive and domineering than Kyoto and Zagorsk. I do smell some vanilla and cistus labdanum to keep Avignon from being too sad and dry.

At this point, I find after 4 hours, this one peters out and leaves me wanting more. Do I love it? Yes! Do I want it? Yes but can't afford a new bottle of perfume right now. CdG isn't one to impress anybody with this line's choice of bottle. Yes, there is no bottle swag to grab anyone really. But Series 3 is worth seeking out.

Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale Toner

Back when I had ordered my bottle of L'Heure de Nuit, I wasn't expecting a sampler of Guerlain's facial care stuff. Most of the stuff I knew wouldn't be a great fit for my skin and gave it to my mother but the toner looked like it would be a great fit for me. My skin care regimen is pretty basic and I don't use a lot of products. I normally use SkynIceland's glacial face wash and the cloud cream and that's it. I do use an astringent once in a while. What I mean by once in a while is when I have to be at work at 5 in the morning and I am not lazy enough not to brush my teeth but too lazy to wash my face or when it's really hot out. Since I have been out of the Burt's Bees rose toner, I decided to give the Guerlain toner a go.

Most toners/astringents tend to dry out my already dry skin (except my nose, which is oily and prone to pimples) but the Orchidee Imperiale toner didn't. Looking at the bottle, is was a moisturizing toner. Many have claimed that theirs is moisturizing but are not. This one is but I noticed that what ever moisturizer they use kind of doesn't absorb all that well into my skin. But my face didn't feel greasy for the rest of the day. What I noticed is that it does get a lot of dirt, grime and oil off of my face. Yes toners and astringents are kind of like a mini face wash for when you don't have quite the time to wash your face. The good news is that my face didn't break out nor did it develop any kind of irritation to this one.

In spite of it's flaws, I was looking at buying a bottle of this. When I looked online for this one, I got some sticker shock. For a 4 ounce bottle of this stuff, it was $140 dollars. I know that I have spent that and much more on a bottle of perfume but perfume lasts longer. I think at this point, I am going to stick to the Burt's Bees rose toner.

Jewelry and Cleaning

I'm typing this post and posting this from my Kindle, so forgive formatting issues and questionable spelling. Since I have been on a no buy of anything with perfume, I have been going through some of my stuff. You know, throwing things out, consigning things. I'm making some headway with my closet but cleaned out and thrown out a ratty T.V. stand and sold a nightstand that I didn't need. The last perfume I was able to buy was a bottle of L'Heure de Nuit in either February or March. I'm leaning more to the middle of February. It boils down to making sure that food is on the table and there is a roof over my head. It was fun while it lasted, when I had more means to spend on perfume. But I still have my collection to enjoy and quite a bit to test and review. But that's not exactly why I am posting.

I started to work my way through my jewelry box. I was looking at so much that I don't wear so much anymore. For the past 4 years, I have seem to have gotten into the habit of wearing the same 5 or 6 pieces of jewelry without thinking about it. Working food service, you don't have many options on what you can wear. Would they rather have you not wear any? Yep but companies know that it can't be totally stopped. No bracelets, no rings with stones, very small hooped earrings is about it. After gazing at the stuff I don't wear, most of my jewelry is not from the big box stores but from artisans that work from themselves. So my collection is not really what you are going to find on the market. Some of them are one of a kind. I would rather support those jewelry makers that don't work for the big box stores. Prices may be a little more expensive but I am getting something unusual and catches people's eye.