Comfort and Pinup: Teint de Neige by Lorenzo Villoresi

Teint de Neige perhaps should have been called Fond de Teint, and Lorenzo Villoresi said it all himself describing this perfume: “…the rosy hue of a powdered face. The unmistakable scent of perfumed powders, the fragrance of face powder, the perfume of talc, a soft, gentle, enveloping eau de toilette. An aroma delicately permeated by the richness of the natural extracts of precious flowers, recalling the light, images and atmosphere of the belle-époque".

So why Color of Snow, surely that would imply transparency, wateriness, coldness, pure whiteness...Teint de Neige is none of those things, it is a powdery, warm, creamy-pink scent. It is somewhat similar to Malle's Lipstick Rose, sharing with it that “fragrance of expensive retro cosmetics” concept. However, whereas rose and violet bring some juiciness to Lipstick Rose, Teint de Neige, though also (somewhat) floral, is a drier, more powdery scent, with heliotrope adding a lovely almondy feel to the drydown.

Teint de Neige is rather an intense fragrance. I wouldn’t be able to wear it often or spray it generously. However, when the mood calls for it, when the weather is cold and life is miserable, nothing can comfort quite like Teint de Neige. It would be unfair though to only categorize it as a comfort scent. In my (admittedly random and unprofessional) classification of scents, it is also filed as a Pinup Perfume. Teint de Neige is extremely attractive, perfectly made up (all that powder), sexily attired, it strikes a pose, it smiles suggestively. It is a bombshell. To illustrate my point, here is May by Alberto Vargas, Teint de Neige personified.

Next, two more Pinup Perfumes, both by Frederic Malle.