Perfumes: The Guide

Browsing through my overseas shipped copy of Perfumes: The Guide - the perfume bible by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez.

I found out about this book because Chandler Burr wrote about Luca Turin in his book Emperor of Scent.

The Guide provides a star rating for each perfume. But it is Turin and Sanchez's short, sharp and often cutting comments that make it so enjoyable. Plus the fact that you can rate your 'nose' with the experts.

Here's some examples to wet your appetite:
Fragrance: CKIN2U Her (Calvin Klein) 1 star
OMG PU. Insanely strong fruit meets insanely strong amber. KTHXBYE.

Fragrance: CKIN2U His (Calvin Klein) 1 star
IM IN UR BOTTLE BORIN UR GF.

Hilarious - I had a laugh out loud moment when I read this!

As well as dissing some, they also give praise generously and with much wit.

Fragrance: Beyond Paradise (Men) Estee Lauder 5 stars
"Wear it and after a few hours you will find your daily life suffused by the same feeling of peace you get when you settle into an armchair after tidying your apartment from end to end."

Sounds like bliss for all us OCD inclined neat freaks. Needless to say, I will be getting some Beyond Paradise for myself.

Also see, Burr's latest review of Lauder's new Sensuous:
"Sensuous is the scent of Estée Lauder holding its breath."

Brillant.

I am so in love with fragrance writers such as Burr, Turin and Sanchez.