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01/20/2022
Rossiniopera
37 Reviews
Rossiniopera
2
Sophisticated maybe
In 1988, before I was twelve, I went to London with my family. While shopping, we discovered a tiny boutique that had the coolest sweaters I had ever seen in my life. I begged my mum to get something, but she could only afford one and naturally bought it for herself. It was knitted black, slightly oversized as was the fashion at the time - and on the front, it had a huge embroidered spider's web. In the middle of the web was, of course, a giant spider - its body in appliqued grey fake fur; its eyes, two shiny red sequins. It was almost too cool for words, and I admired it deeply.
A year and a half later, when I started 7th grade, my mum finally let me have the sweater. I wore it to school as often as I could, and got so many compliments, from both teachers and classmates, and I felt very sophisticated.
Sonia Rykiel Le Parfum somehow reminds me of my beloved spider sweater. The perfume came out in 1991, but stylewise it belongs in the late 80s, when dark, animalic chypres ruled. This is a spicy-mossy blend with dark and dangerous undertones. A cypress-like wood, earthy and damp and full of shadows, but with some warmth from benzoin and patchouli, and a surprising hint of raspberry freshness. It could be grouped with such fragrances as Fendi, Jitrois, perhaps L'Arte di Gucci. Unfortunately, Le Parfum is more difficult for me to wear than any of those. I can agree that it might seem a little overloaded. The oakmoss-wood combination scratches my throat, and the huge sillage is just too much. I guess I love it from a distance, but not for wearing.
About my sweater, I remember someone saying it was so cool, but how did I manage to actually wear it...? Well, I just did. It was a match. It's the same with perfume, sometimes it's a perfect match, and sometimes you admire them on someone else, but not on yourself.
It can still be mysterious, intriguing and fascinating, though.
A year and a half later, when I started 7th grade, my mum finally let me have the sweater. I wore it to school as often as I could, and got so many compliments, from both teachers and classmates, and I felt very sophisticated.
Sonia Rykiel Le Parfum somehow reminds me of my beloved spider sweater. The perfume came out in 1991, but stylewise it belongs in the late 80s, when dark, animalic chypres ruled. This is a spicy-mossy blend with dark and dangerous undertones. A cypress-like wood, earthy and damp and full of shadows, but with some warmth from benzoin and patchouli, and a surprising hint of raspberry freshness. It could be grouped with such fragrances as Fendi, Jitrois, perhaps L'Arte di Gucci. Unfortunately, Le Parfum is more difficult for me to wear than any of those. I can agree that it might seem a little overloaded. The oakmoss-wood combination scratches my throat, and the huge sillage is just too much. I guess I love it from a distance, but not for wearing.
About my sweater, I remember someone saying it was so cool, but how did I manage to actually wear it...? Well, I just did. It was a match. It's the same with perfume, sometimes it's a perfect match, and sometimes you admire them on someone else, but not on yourself.
It can still be mysterious, intriguing and fascinating, though.
