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Ingrid Superstar's avatar

I loved reading this -- your prose is stunning!

And further, I love Putains des Palaces. I'm very impressed whenever I encounter a fragrance that somehow captures the warmth of flesh with perfume on top of it...and all of that on top of one's own skin. I very much liked how you articulated that. Perfumers must always be thinking in layers, so to speak, but to capture the accord flesh/sweat with the unknown factor of the wearer's skin is an amazing feat. The raspberry and rose effects of PdP came across to me as Haribo gummies soaked in rosewater, which sounded funnily luxurious to me. Please keep up the good work! I look forward to your pieces.

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Miccaeli's avatar

Thank you for your kind words! And I agree entirely - often I feel like the perfumer factors the wearer's skin as a textural component that lives outside the formula, which is why I think PDP is so remarkable as there is a skin note in the perfume itself, making it a complete thing.

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Amber Nelson's avatar

Replica made a perfume called Lipstick On that had the powdery iris lipstick thing. I deeply regret not buying it as it’s discontinued and I fell in love with how it dried down on my skin. I’ll have to seek out Putain des Palaces.

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Miccaeli's avatar

I loved Lipstick On and was sad when MM took it out of the repertoire! JHAG brought out Lipstick Fever soon after but it's awful - Histoires des Parfums 1889 Moulin Rouge is probably the closest scent to that lovely, vintage lipstick-y smell.

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Amber Nelson's avatar

Amazing, I will seek it out! Thank you!

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RG she/her's avatar

You are an amazing writer. I enjoy perfume and know very little about it. Reading your work really brings it alive in such an accessible and evocative way. Many thanks!

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Ary's avatar

Loved this post. Encre Noire is great. This has really made me want to try Putain des Palaces! I also liked Matt Morris' description of it in his article 'Who Is the Creamiest, the Waxiest, the Most Lipsticky of Them All?' for Fragrantica

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Miccaeli's avatar

Matt Morris is far and away my favourite feature writer on Fragrantica - he's one of the only fragrance writers who can write about gourmands with the level of analysis that they really deserve.

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Morgan's avatar

Have you tried Bal Des Versailles? The vintage formula?

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Miccaeli's avatar

The earliest BaV I've smelled is from the 80's and it is a gloriously, unctuously feral thing.

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LeavesOfGrasse's avatar

Very spot-on. Putain des Palaces is spectacular. Another movie that always comes to mind when wearing this is Dangerous Liaisons.

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Miccaeli's avatar

Oh yes, an excellent call, I adore Dangerous Liaisons (and of course Cruel Intentions)!

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Greyhound/10's avatar

This is an exceptionally well written piece. So descriptive, so evocative, and a ton of fun syntax. Really excellent, thanks for this read!

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Greyhound/10's avatar

I should note too, I just dug up this scent from my discovery set to explore it anew!

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Katya Corrales's avatar

Madame du Barry as portrayed by Asia Argento in Marie Antoinette Is exactly who I think about when I think of Putain des Palaces ❤️ Loved the reference to the movie

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Pierre Vouard's avatar

Great article! Would be the perfect inspiration for a brand like Parfums de Marly!

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Alison Jenkins's avatar

I was once chased going upstairs in a hospital by a physio who wanted to know what scent I was wearing. It was Putain de Palaces.

Have you tried PG Poudre de Riz? I have a vintish decant that is stupendous.

I found Guerlain Meteorites disappointing. Way too much violet!

Poudrextase I own but to me it’s a powdered, quivering inner thigh rather than a face powder.

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