Fleurs du Monde Fabergé 1972 Parfum de Toilette

This perfume is one of those utterly underrated masterpieces. I wore it then, and I wear it now, in that secret glow of smug satisfaction that comes with knowing of such things others don't seem to. I care not because this is one of the most stunning creations Faberge made. I have enough back up bottles, so you can fight over the rest left out there.

Deep, spicy, sensuous, and although flowery, it is not in a sweet girly way, more like a grand display. Understated and elegant. If you are the sort who loves the likes of Coco, vintage No.5, Sikkim or 24 Faubourg, then I would hazard a guess that this might be your cup of tea. It isn't old fashioned really although they don't make them like this anymore.

It's a huge, elegant, beautiful, unabashed, big girls floral garden. Not sweet, nor babyish, nor in your face like a Fracas. It has enough fruity roundness, leaves, woods and spices to keep it off the floral and into the interesting, supported by slightly bitter, dry herbal notes, with enough longevity to last the day. Made when ingredients were the real thing and it shows. If you trip over a bottle, then snap it up. The one in the picture above with a creamy white box.