jeanette_culver

CLARIMONDE (La Morte Amoureuse, Theophile Gautier) I do not know whether it was an illusion or a reflection of the lamplight, but it seemed to me that the blood was again commencing to circulate under that lifeless pallor, although she remained all motionless. I laid my hand lightly on her arm; it was cold, but not colder than her hand on the day when it touched mine at the portals of the church. I resumed my position, bending my face above her, and bathing her cheeks with the warm dew of my tears. Ah, what bitter feelings of despair and helplessness, what agonies unutterable did I endure in that long watch! Vainly did I wish that I could have gathered all my life into one mass that I might give it all to her, and breathe into her chill remains the flame which devoured me. The night advanced, and feeling the moment of eternal separation approach, I could not deny myself the last sad sweet pleasure of imprinting a kiss upon the dead lips of her who had been my only love. . . . Oh, miracle! A faint breath mingled itself with my breath, and the mouth of Clarimonde responded to the passionate pressure of mine. Her eyes unclosed, and lighted up with something of their former brilliancy; she uttered a long sigh, and uncrossing her arms, passed them around my neck with a look of ineffable delight. "Ah, it is thou, Romuald!" she murmured in a voice languishingly sweet as the last vibrations of a harp. "What ailed thee, dearest? I waited so long for thee that I am dead; but we are now betrothed; I can see thee and visit thee. Adieu, Romuald, adieu! I love thee. That is all I wished to tell thee, and I give thee back the life which thy kiss for a moment recalled. We shall soon meet again." Her head fell back, but her arms yet encircled me, as though to retain me still. A furious whirlwind suddenly burst in the window, and entered the chamber. The last remaining leaf of the white rose for a moment palpitated at the extremity of the stalk like a butterfly's wing, then it detached itself and flew forth through the open casement, bearing with it the soul of Clarimonde. The lamp was extinguished, and I fell insensible upon the bosom of the beautiful dead. Pallid skin musk, white roses, and a languorous vapor of Oriental perfume. Oh man my first OP ever! And only my second review ever too. Boy am I nervous. The first thing I notice upon placing this on my skin is the white rose. It seems like a more restrained, slightly dry kind with a very slight sharpness and delicate sweetness, to my nose at least. Generally I love roses, though I find sometimes I am put off by the sharpness some varieties have. The barely there edge to this one is really nice, though! It’s an almost youthful, pure rose (after I read the story this was based on that is almost ironic, but it 'fits' the idea of Clarimonde to me). I can smell the “oriental perfume” aspect floating just behind the rose. I am debating what it might be, still. I could be totally off the mark but there may be amber in there. It reminds me of the “idea” of oriental perfume from a bygone era, actually. Is that you amber...? It's perdy. The skin musk note is floating around vaguely in the forefront now it's warmed up, it’s my first experience with “skin musk”. It comes off to me as a light, slightly fragile musk. There is something antique and lady-like about this blend that is pleasing in it’s simplicity. Not much throw for me. A very "pale" scent. Overall; I am afraid that this may translate as the “old lady rose perfume” to some! But if you are into scents that evoke the elegance of bygone eras, this may be one to look into. I certainly am! Now I have the urge to design something… I dunno… maybe Victorian inspired to wear with this. UPDATE Sept 16 2009: I have been wearing Clarimonde to death and will have to break my #1 rule and let myself get backup bottles for the first time EVER I am already 1/3 of the way through the bottle I received last month, and this is coming from someone who makes a single bottle last a several years.

Once I used up the imp of Shadow Witch Orchid and found I was still pining for it, I invested in a bottle. This is a heady-sweet, dusky and mysterious orchid with class! There is something heavy and damp smelling in there along with the sweet orchid flower which gives it a feeling of depth, even though it’s not really a complex scent. Maybe even rooty, without actually smelling literally of roots. Achingly elegant! Perhaps my bias showing, but there is something very Art Deco about this perfume. It’s refined, dark and exotic and maybe even a little otherworldly! I often get compliments on Shadow Witch Orchid which is a nice bonus

This is an absolutely gorgeous scent! It’s sweet and energetic, bright yet seductive. The orange blossom and rose meld beautifully; the sandalwood gives it an edge that keeps it sophisticated and out of candy territory with all that orange blossom and honey. I loved this so much I bought a bottle… in spite of the fact that the dry-down swerves suddenly and violently into baby powder territory. I have never had this happen before; my skin chemistry is very, very forgiving. I put Jezebel into a scent locket… and was disappointed/relieved to find it morphed into a powdery cloud eventually there, too. And on a piece of acid free paper. And in my hair. I guess that's just it's thang, take it or leave it! I love Jezebel wet stage *so* much, I’ll put up with reapplying in order to prevent powder attack, I admit I am nervous about wearing it out and possibly smelling strongly of spicy baby powder, which would be somehow embarrassing. But daaaayum when this is wet :drools:

My first review ever, a little late to say the least. Wet: pine, and a slightly sharp woody scent that doesn’t seem to be related to the pine, and a cold/ snow scent. Beginning to dry… A scent vaguely reminiscent of…cocoa powder? There is slightly vanillic sweetness underneath that makes me think hot cocoa powder. It's a little... unexpected. It’s definitely the dominant scent at this stage. After a couple of minutes a more recognizably “floral” scent is becoming apparent, but it’s not any floral I have ever smelled before. It has a woody, or earthy undertone. No violet yet. Snow scent is still around. Dry: the musk has finally made its appearance. For some reason I want to say it smells “gray”, it’s pretty soft. There are sweet, mostly unfamiliar florals in the forefront now, backed by the musk and that piney/earthy scent, and snow. I don’t smell violet, but maybe it’s creating some of that sweetness in there. A subtle violet, thank goodness. I keep thinking I can catch a whiff of iris in there too- sweet, dusky, with a hint of bitterness. It’s definitely in the background for me. It’s one of the only notes in here I can recognize. About an hour later: the earthyness is completely gone and the “almost cocoa” scent is much, much tamer, I smell only soft musk, pines, sweet and mostly unfamiliar flowers. It is a light, soft, woodsy floral. This is very “alpine” indeed! I have no idea what edelweiss smells like, though I chose this blend mainly because it was a listed note. Still don’t really know, to be honest, but this is a very evocative oil that will definitely be enjoyed. ETA: aha the chocolate/vanilla smell was the Nigritella lithopolitani. I thought my nose was off at first. I looked up the conspicuous notes and found the “Vanilla and chocolate smelling orchid” from Slovenia. Neat! NOV 17 ninja edit: I've been wearing this for a couple weeks off and on and I want to add that my overall impression is that this is a darker, moodier scent, despite the floral sweetness. For me, this is gray winter twilight in an alpine wood, lost in the dead sound of heavy falling snow. It's not sinister or anything, but it is definitely moody. Not particularly feminine on my skin at least, it seems almost unisex, though perhaps closer to feminine than not because of the sweetness of the florals.