Wednesday 30 December 2009

Best of the best for 2009



I was very happy to be asked to participate in a joint blogging project 'the best of the best' by the lovely Helg at Perfume Shrine.

So here are my best things of the year

*Best Perfumery Trends in 2009:

*Best in Niche:
Ormonde Jayne Tiare, Frederic Malle Geranium Pour Monsier, Miller Harris Fleur De Bois, Penhaligon’s reissued Limes (though I know it was available at Harrod’s before)

*Best Mainstream:
I would say YSL Parisienne and Narciso Rodriguez Essence but I think this was a poor year for mainstream fragrance, sadly. Again.

*Best Packaging/Advertising:
Best packaging Grossmith
Best advertising Chanel No 5, YSL Parisienne

*Best in Home-Scenting:
Frederic Malle home if money was no object
I also like the Miller Harris tea range which was expanded this year. I think the idea of a perfumer working on tea is very interesting and would be interested in more doing this (which doesn’t mean I want Calvin Klein tea!)

*Notable Perfumers for their Excellence in 2009:
Always Jean Claude Elena, I really admire the man and the way he works and if I could get a copy of his most recent book it would make me very happy. It seems to be available no where at all. So if anyone knows where I can get one please, please tell me!
Bertrand Duchaufour for Al-Oud and his work at Penhaligon's

*Best Brand Revival:
Grossmith

*Best Inexpensive Finds (beauty & scent-related):
It was a re- find but the L’Occitane Green Tea with Mint scent saw me through some hot summer weather very well
Tesco lavender and chamomile baby wipes for the face are divine- I make special trips to get them. Everything else is a little abrasive on my sensitive skin but for some reason it drinks these up. I don't want it to be so but it is.

*Non- perfume- but still a bit scented!

*Best Reading:
Although it didn’t come out this year I read Never let me go this year and it has stayed with me more than anything else. Likewise I have discovered Cormac McCarthy this year, a bit later than everyone else, and am thoroughly enjoying his different style and poetic painting with words.
I also very much enjoyed the paperback version of Perfumes: The Guide, of course!

*Best Gift I Got:
Primrose bakery cookbook- scented cookery- Earl Grey cupcakes will be made this weekend and a rose butter cream iced Victoria sponge may follow. Most people fast in January but I seem to be going for fattening.

*Best film
Too hard. Bright Star was beautiful. Glorious 39 isn’t perfect but I’ve taken it to my heart.

There are more very interesting participating blogs on these links, please don't forget to visit them:
Mossy Loomings,1000fragrances, Smelly Blog, Bittergrace Notes, Shoes-cake-perfume,
Eiderdown Press Journal, Scent Hive, Olfactarama, Roxana's Illuminated Journal,
The Non Blonde, Notes from the Ledge, I smell therefore I am,
Under the Cupola, All I am a Redhead, Perfume In Progress, Savvy Thinker

Happy New Year everyone.

16 comments:

Mr London Street said...

I could never love Perfumes: The Guide as much as it loves itself. It's had some handy tips but doesn't compete with looking up Basenotes on the iPhone.

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Great selections- Happy New Year Rose!

Scent Hive said...

Rose,

You just reminded me that I need to see Bright Star!

Loved reading you list and Happy New Year :-)

Trish

ScentScelf said...

Rose, you have a fun list to read through--thanks for the tour!

As it turns out, regarding perfumers/Ellena, this could be called the year of Ellena for me personally. If you expand that to mean either of the Ellenas (Jean Claude or Celine), that is. I made the big step of going full bottle, full price for both En Passant and L'Eau d'Hiver. Decided I really wanted to have those in my line up, with the commitment (and opportunity) of full bottle. There might be others I like equally--a high ranking, mind you--but their time had come. I don't regret either at all.

JMay said...

Awesome selections! :-)

Was really fun to read..love the blog. I'm writing a screenplay so of course I'm intrigued and will be back!

xo.

little luxury list said...

Tesco lavender and chamomile baby wipes - totally intrigued!

Happy New Year dear!

Rose said...

Mr London street- I find their conviction in themselves quite fun- I don't they are saying you have to agree just those are their opinions. I know what you mean though- sometimes when I am reviewing perfumes I worry I am getting a bit like that Brian Sewell chap talking about pictures and that I should just write 'smells nice'. Would love to know what scents you rate- I'm always very interested in men's opinions on perfumes

Daily- Happy new year to you as well and I hope Barbados is perfect

Trish- do, it's stunning, well I think so. Happy new year to you too

Scentscelf- lovely to hear from you. As we discussed on your blog those 2 scents are some of the best in perfume. Thinking more about it they are also truly scents you wear for yourself and that enhance your day- and they are also scents that feel like your own. Bliss.

Hi J May, lovely to have you along. I will come over to your blog too- and wow a screenplay is brave but fascinating. I would love to know more.

Chic n cheap- they are really good- they aren't organic and it's slightly against my better judgement but my eyes just love them- and it's a great scent. Happy New Year!

Liberty London Girl said...

I loved Tiare too, Happy New Year! LLGxx

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

Mr London Street said...

Do you mean which men's fragrances I rate, or which women's fragrances? On reading the Perfume A-Z further I think I like Luca Turin's style a lot and Tania Sanchez's leaves me positively irritated. Still, one out of two ain't bad.

Rose said...

Mr LS- I meant men's but women's would be interesting too. I agree about LT versus TS- I like his odd ball comments and almost bonkers level of obsession- she writes stuff anyone with an interest in perfume could write.

Rose said...

Happy New LLG! It's a good one isn't it- on of OJ's best I think.

Anonymouse- thank- you, it's always a work in progress! Appreciate you saying hello and your kind words

Top Bird @ Wee Birdy said...

Happy New Year, great round-up. I loved Tiare too. xx

Qwendy said...

Rose, so happy to have been introduced to you and your blog through Helg! I love your comments, asides, and passion for literature, perfume and baking, and look forward to sharing wonderful things ~ Earl Grey Cupcakes indeed, mmmm with Miller Harris tea, makes me want to be in London but I'm 6000 miles away in Los Angeles. Happy new year!

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