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Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Silence. Candles flicker, their lanterns resting on a bed of fir branches, pine cones, and rose hips. Among them, a few glass baubles. Three drops of fragrance oil in the diffuser, cedar. Armchair, feet up.
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” - Michael Bublé duets with Shania Twain. And the most important thing: A small, white box from Chanel. I carefully take the bottle out. It is still sealed. A thin paper skin under the cord with the seal. Cutter knife. Will it work?
“...just like the ones I used to know. Where treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow…”
This year, I have set myself the goal of transforming my collection from quantity to quality. It should consist of noble extraits and my favorite classics. I love the feeling of sensual luxury that only a pure perfume can exude. Thus, this autumn, I sold about 10 fragrances. With the proceeds, I wanted to treat myself to a single, wonderful extrait. Almost fateful, I then found exactly what I had long wanted in the souk: The perfume of Bois des Iles. In my first perfume weeks nearly three years ago, Turandot had sent me a select assortment of fragrance samples, including Bois des Iles as an Eau de Toilette. Fascinated by its Chanel-esque shine, I soon had to welcome a remaining bottle of it into my collection.
“Have a holly-jolly Christmas, that’s the best time of the year. I don’t know if there’ll be snow but have a cup of cheer…”
And as a perfume, it is now to become my Christmas gift to myself. I thought long about the right moment. Open it on Christmas Eve, with family? Too much distraction, too little attention for the sandalwood dream. Celebrating with my sweetheart a few days later? Again, too much commotion with cooking and entertaining the cat. No, my Bois des Iles should have a special moment. Intimate, just with me alone. I want to fully immerse myself in the enjoyment.
And today is the right evening for it. Michael has now arrived at “Silent Night,” supported by a children’s choir. On YouTube, I saw that you don’t necessarily have to cut the cord with the seal to pull out the stopper. Carefully score the thin paper skin. Just a little more. Pull on the scrap.
“Sleep in heavenly peace, sle-he-p in heavenly peace…”
It moves. And it’s out. The first hurdle is taken. Now it’s about finding the right balance between strength and finesse while turning. Slowly, the stopper moves. And it can be pulled out. The cord and the seal are intact. Done!
“I’ll be home for Christmas. You can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents by the tree…”
The scent rises from the bottle neck. Golden, light, somewhat serious. And expensive. Dabbing a few drops on my wrist. Familiar. And yet a new impression. More aldehyde than the EdT, festive, green. An adult rose bathes in champagne. A light smoke hangs over the scene.
“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland…”
Creamy sandalwood emerges. It shines silver in all its Chanel-like glory. Powdery, warm-enveloping, and cool-distant at the same time.
Inhale. A hint of vetiver as a contrast to the sandalwood radiance, pure luxury. Christmas can come.
“Feliz navidad, feliz navidad. Prospero año y felicidad…”
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” - Michael Bublé duets with Shania Twain. And the most important thing: A small, white box from Chanel. I carefully take the bottle out. It is still sealed. A thin paper skin under the cord with the seal. Cutter knife. Will it work?
“...just like the ones I used to know. Where treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow…”
This year, I have set myself the goal of transforming my collection from quantity to quality. It should consist of noble extraits and my favorite classics. I love the feeling of sensual luxury that only a pure perfume can exude. Thus, this autumn, I sold about 10 fragrances. With the proceeds, I wanted to treat myself to a single, wonderful extrait. Almost fateful, I then found exactly what I had long wanted in the souk: The perfume of Bois des Iles. In my first perfume weeks nearly three years ago, Turandot had sent me a select assortment of fragrance samples, including Bois des Iles as an Eau de Toilette. Fascinated by its Chanel-esque shine, I soon had to welcome a remaining bottle of it into my collection.
“Have a holly-jolly Christmas, that’s the best time of the year. I don’t know if there’ll be snow but have a cup of cheer…”
And as a perfume, it is now to become my Christmas gift to myself. I thought long about the right moment. Open it on Christmas Eve, with family? Too much distraction, too little attention for the sandalwood dream. Celebrating with my sweetheart a few days later? Again, too much commotion with cooking and entertaining the cat. No, my Bois des Iles should have a special moment. Intimate, just with me alone. I want to fully immerse myself in the enjoyment.
And today is the right evening for it. Michael has now arrived at “Silent Night,” supported by a children’s choir. On YouTube, I saw that you don’t necessarily have to cut the cord with the seal to pull out the stopper. Carefully score the thin paper skin. Just a little more. Pull on the scrap.
“Sleep in heavenly peace, sle-he-p in heavenly peace…”
It moves. And it’s out. The first hurdle is taken. Now it’s about finding the right balance between strength and finesse while turning. Slowly, the stopper moves. And it can be pulled out. The cord and the seal are intact. Done!
“I’ll be home for Christmas. You can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents by the tree…”
The scent rises from the bottle neck. Golden, light, somewhat serious. And expensive. Dabbing a few drops on my wrist. Familiar. And yet a new impression. More aldehyde than the EdT, festive, green. An adult rose bathes in champagne. A light smoke hangs over the scene.
“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland…”
Creamy sandalwood emerges. It shines silver in all its Chanel-like glory. Powdery, warm-enveloping, and cool-distant at the same time.
Inhale. A hint of vetiver as a contrast to the sandalwood radiance, pure luxury. Christmas can come.
“Feliz navidad, feliz navidad. Prospero año y felicidad…”
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21 Comments
My favorite is **FELIZ NAVIDAD** (but only the version by Jose Feliciano), it's just so full of energy.
Oh, and the scent, well, I don't actually know it at all.
Spot-on comment. I agree with you about the vetiver too.
P.S. You write comments too infrequently.
And Bois des Iles definitely deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame of fragrances.