What with all the grays and the sheath dresses and the "cozy knits", demure is very in this season. And so I feel that more attention should be paid to one of my favorite fragrance "categories", Ladylike Perfumes. If the Queen drops by for a cup of tea, what scent would you wear with you gray sheath and your pearls and your gloves? I would probably reach for the appropriately English Florissa.Introduced by Floris in 1978 and described by the creators as "a fragrance for the English Rose, a celebration of femininity, innocence and charm", the is a simple and refined composition, in which lily of the valley and rose seem to me to be the most dominant notes. The beginning is slightly citrusy, fresh and green, evocative of a stroll through an English park on a chilly spring morning. The theme of the pleasantly sharp coolness is continued in the heart by the silvery muguet, with rose adding subtle sweetness and a splash of color to the understated greens and shimmery whites of the blend...That rose is like the pink flush on pale cheeks of a young lady (natch), after her brisk walk in a park (see above). The base has an unexpectedly dry, mossy undertone, which simultaneously contributes to the elegantly "rustic" atmosphere of the fragrance and adds to the scent a feel of very urban sophistication. In other words, like a true lady, the versatile and always appropriate Florissa would feel equally at home in the country and in the city...and, unlike yours truly, would not be flustered by the (in my case, very improbable) idea of making small talk with the Queen.
Florissa is available at florislondon.com, $55.00-$85.00.
Image source, Hulton Archive via operagloves.com.
I cannot think of anything in my wardrobe that would be Queen appropriate. I suppose Hermes Orange Vert?
ReplyDeleteBut in my minds eye I envision her Royal Highness, should she drop by Casa Pansy would spending a few minutes sniffing some of the more outre items in my cabinet after powdering her nose, with a very sly smile.
Lee might ascribe it to the Mirren effect, but I always thought there were hidden depths there...
This has "not me" written all over it. I don't do muguet (and it usually hates me with a vengeance). As for HRH, when she drops by she'll discover that I've gone to play with Prince William while wearing CB Musk...
ReplyDeleteTom, you may be right - even very public figures have secret lives.... ;-)
ReplyDeleteFlorissa sounds exactly like the sort of thing I used to wear when I was very young, right about the time I discovered Anais Anais, and I expect I would like it very much now. One must always have something ladylike on hand for certain occasions. These days I trot out Lady Caron when I need decorum, but Florissa would do just fine.
Apparently, the thing to do when having trouble with small talk is to ask 'have you been/been doing X long?' I can just imagine HRH's reaction if you tried that on her: 'Been queen long?' Though you never know, you might get an interesting answer like "too bloomin' long!"
ReplyDeleteActually, I'd like to ask her lots of things like which place that she's visited in her travels has changed the most over the years. I'd love to talk to her about the nature of fame and public scrutiny - whether she thinks it's easier to be born into it ot better to have a normal youth and then have fame dropped on you. And I'd love to have a good gossip with her - can you imagine what she'd have to say about some of her relatives? Princess Michael of Kent for example?
I think I'd have a lot of fun talking to her. Non-blonde, you can distract Wills while his Gran and I have a really good natter.
Perfume for the meeting? I'd go with L'Heure Blue or maybe L'Eau d'Hiver. I think heliotrope is pretty ladylike and I'm not a muget fan either.
Trying hard to think of a ladylike perfume I own. Does Chanel Cuir de Russie count? If not, I'll have to go with Diorissimo.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteI think Orange Vert would be just fine. Or perhaps Eau d'Hadrien ?
Oh, I love Mirren! :-)
Gaia,
ReplyDeletePlaying with Will while wearing CB Musk! Tsk tsk tsk! :-)
Donna,
ReplyDeleteI am almost certain you'd like Florissa. Let me know if you want to try. :-)
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteHeliotrope is a great choice, definitely ladylike. I'd LOVE to gossip with Her Majesty too. :-)
Judith,
ReplyDeleteI think that both would be just fine. Anything (classic) Chanel or Dior would be very appropriate. :-)
Nonblonde, it has not for Divalano written right next to where it says it's not for you.
ReplyDeleteThe queen ... er, at a loss. Chanel 18, I guess. I'd say Tea For Two seeing as she's coming for tea but think perhaps that's a touch too cozy. What we'd talk about ... hmm. Eddie Izzard?
"So your Queenness, Eddie says you'll live forever, you think that's right?"
I'm a huge fan of the "ladylike" category. Pretty much my whole wardrobe is "ladylike," what can I say?
ReplyDeleteIf I were to meet her, I'd probably go with one of my Rosines, perhaps Rosa Flamenca or La Rose. I'm searching for a bottle of Le Muguet de Rosine.
I loved the review!
Lovely review of something I'll sniff next time the opp presents itself but it's very not me. I wonder what the Queen herself would wear? Something english would be appropriate but (the Mirren effect here) I'd like to think she'd wear something slightly risky for herself - a really skanky jasmine maybe. Me, I'd wear Hermes Caleche.
ReplyDeleteTo take tea with the Queen... Diorissimo for me, but for the , um well Mrs. Robinson style romp with Will's, my choice would definitely be Penhaligons "Bluebell" which is described as the "very essence of spring and echoing the beguiling coolness of an English wood". I can vouch for that, Bluebell is wonderfully fragrant, green and delightfully bawdy in all of the right places! None too coincidentally it was supposedly one of Princess Diana's favorites!
ReplyDeleteNice to see a Floris get some attention.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably wear Putain des Palaces and expect HRH to laugh. I'd offer her a spritz. If you'd prefer, I could wear Cuir Ottoman, Soir D'Orient, or Lonestar Memories - something to remind her of the outdoors she loves.
As for small talk, any exchange of anecdotes involving horses, wellies, walking, gardening, shooting, sitting in a swamp, or fresh air goes over well with them.
If the Queen drops by I am in big trouble -- no gray sheath, no pearls, no gloves. And no Florissa, for that matter, and I'd never even heard of it! Hope Drole de Rose will substitute in a pinch.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Ladylike is a big gap in my perfume wardrobe. I have Penhaligons Malabah, but that's a little strident. Can I wear Floris Malmaison? Not when it's hot .... fine, I've got the rest of the outfit, however, including the pearls and gloves.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I wrote a comment earlier in the day... something daft about my whirlwind life of high society soirees... And I was all set to introduce you to Camillla...
ReplyDeleteDivalano,
ReplyDeleteEddie Izzard :-) Inteersting topic.
Chanel 18 should do just fine.
Dust Glitter and Vapor,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to know there is another fan of the ladylike scents out there :-)
I've been searching for a bottle of Le Muguet de Rosine for a while. I have a feeling it is gone for good. :-(
Nicola,
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question, Undoubtedly, she is alleged to wear one or two of the Creeds (what celebrity isn't, right?). I want her to wear Chanel. Cuir de Russie, perhaps, or No 19.
Beth,
ReplyDeleteThey say Margaret Thatcher wears Bluebell. Just sayin' :-)
PlaysbyScent,
ReplyDeleteCuir Ottoman sounds perfect. I want to believe that she'd appreciate it. :-)
R,
ReplyDeleteI have pearls and Florissa, so I am half-ready. I am working on getting a sheath and gloves asap. You never know when the Queen will decide to drop by :-)
March,
ReplyDeleteI want a photo of your gray sheath! I am on a hunt for one myself :-) I think Malmaison would be fine.
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI envy you your whirlwind life of high society soirees. Tell Camilla I'd love to meet her but she has to promise to wear that strange little hat she wore on her wedding day. I want to see it in real life. :-)
oh, you mean the fascinating fascinator? I'll let the ole girl know.
ReplyDeleteLee,
ReplyDeleteis that what it's called? :) It's this one ->
http://tinyurl.com/2w4tn4
Maybe it's that "secret life" phenomenom:)It's actually a far sexier scent than I would have expected Maggie Thatcher to be wearing. However, maybe she rediscovered her feminine side during her affair with Ronald Reagan:)
ReplyDeletebeth,
ReplyDeleteGet the image of those two together out of mind , please! :-)
I know .....ick:-)
ReplyDeleteThe fragrance that Princess Diana wore and was specially created for her is being sold on ebay right now. Called Wedding Bouquet by Floris
ReplyDelete