Best of 2007 aka Golden Colombinas II...and a Prize Draw
 It is that time of the year again, time for the mind to boggle at how fast the year has passed, time to draw conclusions and to make Best Of lists. Several perfume bloggers has teamed up again to talk about the best things of 2007. And thus for the second year in a row I invite you to theGolden Colombina Awards  Best New Perfume. Nominees aplenty! Amouage Jubilation 25 Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia Bond No 9 Andy Warhol Silver Factory Parfumerie Generale Bois de Copaiba Chanel No 18 and 31 Rue Cambon Lalique Encre Noire And the award goes to...till about a month or so ago I was sure that Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia will be the winner, and truly it is amazing...but then I smelled Jubilation 25, and it was better than anything new I smelled in 2007, and maybe in the last couple of years. Bravo Amouage! Best New Perfume Line. Unlike last year, when I had tough time choosing among half a dozen amazing new lines, the crop of 2007 was not that spectacular. In fact, whereas I would have no trouble choosing The Worst New Line, nobody will receive the Best award this year. Best Perfumer. I am torn between Aurelien Guichard (Piguet Visa and Bond No 9 Silver Factory) and Lucas Sieuzac for Jubilation 25, both so young and so talented. The complexity, the depth and the beauty of their creations is astounding, and they both get the title. Best Sequel - Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile de Fleur. A follow up that is a perfume in its own right and yet done very much in spirit of the original. Best Ad/Commercial - Dior Midnight Poison. Gothic delight! Biggest Surprise of 2007 was Estee Lauder's Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia. A new scent from Lauder that is not a flanker to Pleasures? And a radiantly beautiful one at that? You could have knocked me with a feather. Biggest Comeback of 2007 - Amouage! After several unremarkable and downright awful releases, the line was back with a bang, with Jubilation 25. Biggest Discovery of 2007- Tango by Aftelier, the fragrance that reminded me that perfume is -still!- not just a business and not just a craft, but Art. In view of that, Honorary Award- Perfumer/Lifetime Achievement goes to Mandy Aftel, the last of the Alchemists. Honorary Award - Perfume Line or House. For me, it was the year of Chanel. They have done some crazy things in 2007. They released six new scents in one go. They re-released four classics. They created a flanker for No 5. They started to sell scents by what seems to be a gallon. And somehow, miraculously, they pulled it off. Les Exclusifs were good and, in a couple of instances, even great, and done very much in keeping with the spirit of the House. The classics smelled no worse than before. Eau Premiere was elegant and youthful and wearable. As for the big bottles...given the fact that my grandchildren would still be using that same 200ml vat of Chanel 22...those bottles are a bargain. So here is to Chanel! This year I also decided to give out some Worst awards, just to keep things in balance. Let's call them Angry Colombinas. Worst New Perfume. A list of things I did not like would be so long, you would get tired of scrolling down. But really, there is no contest. The worst new perfume is Secretions Magnifique by Etat Libre d'Orange. The latter also scoops the Worst New Perfume Line title. Worst Sequel of 2007 - what else but Dior Midnight Poison Worst Ad/Commercial - what else but Tom Ford for Men Biggest Disappointment - I will be generous and give three awards: to Dior for Midnight Poison, to Lutens for Louve and Sarrasins, and to Parfum d'Empire for Osmanthus Interdite, Equistrius & Fougere Bengale. Worst Idea of 2007. Le Labo continuing with the locale-specific concept. Kilian comparing his mediocre line to Balsac's La Comédie Humaine. Comme des Garcons going Luxe. Frederic Malle creating a laundry-smelling fragrance for Barneys. Bottles stuck between breasts and bum-cheeks from Tom Ford. Cartoon penises from Etat Libre d'Orange. Secretions Magnifique. Please share your Bests and Worsts! And if you would like to be entered in the draw for a set of 8 samples of the scents mentioned in the Best Of section, please say so in your comment. The winner, randomly chosen, will receive small vials of Jubilation 25, Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, Tango, Chanel No 18, 31 Rue Cambon, Silver Factory, Bois de Copaiba and Black Orchid Voile de Fleur. And please remember to read the Best of lists at: Aromascope Bois de Jasmin Now Smell This Perfume Posse Scentzilla |
posted by Marina |
12:03 AM
112 Comments:
great list!
i've never actually smelled secretions magnifique (thank god), but i have to say it was worth it for the perfume to be made just so i could read all those hilarious blog comments about it! ^_^ we're lucky you're giving out samples from the good list, not the bad!
please include me in the drawing.
-- erin
Erin,
heh, I was going to slip in a sample of Secretions Magnifique, incognito :-)
Just joking. I couldn't it to anybody :-)
All I can say is..
She smells you when your sleeping (ok, that's creepy)
She smells you when your awake
She smells if your perfume is bad or good
So it better be good for goodness sake!
Hmmmm, Maybe there shouldn't be be the ghosts of perfumes past to haunt us if they can't live up to their
glory days!
Hmm, best for 2007 = Querelle from the Parfumerie Generale Private Collection.
Worst = (so mnay designer scents to choose from), but I'd have to go for Gucci II pour homme.
Great choices! I'm glad to see TF Voile de Fleur, which I have a big crush on. Please include me in your drawing!
was Querelle 2007? I thought it was 2006- I may have to redo my list!
Arrgh- Secretions Mag- Eau de Sex Crimes/ Coney island! Blotting that one out of memory; I'm surprised that it hasn't managed to get into a Dick Wolf series somewhere...
As usual, you've refreshed my memories, for good and ill...
Well done, M!
I'm with you on giving a ELdO the angry Colombina for the Worst New Line of 2007!
I want to talk about perfumes that really did live up to my hight expectations.
My biggest and most pleasant discovery of 2007 is an independent perfumer Liz Zorn. Her Palomino, Citrine Rose and Chrysalis would be among my nominees for best new perfumes of 2007! She has many other gems in her collection that as a newborn rose lover you ought to try(Sinti and Citrine Rose). Speaking of which, I would like to add A.maze in parfum to that happy bunch of the best new releases.
Andy Tauer gets a tip of the hat for his bautiful Reverie au Jardin.
Caron has done a great job with a reformulated Montaigne EDP, it's gorgeous!
My personal discoveries of 2007 are Patricia de Nicolai, Lorenzo Villoresi and Bruno Acampora lines. More hits than misses there for sure!
(It seems I can't log in with my regular blogger/google ID, but I'm Veronica:)
I definitely enjoy the "worst awards", I appreciate your honesty. Veronica mentioned Bruno Acampora, I think his musc is beautiful. Were you referring to Le Labo's new Vanille 44 as the local specific scent? I was disappointed to read that it will only be available in Paris, is that true? Please include me in the drawing.
Oh, I don't think that I have tried any of the perfumes on Your Worst list :)
My biggest disapointment is FM Lipstick Rose ( I thought it would suit me beautifully, but it turns into a horror movie on my skin).
Oh, please enter my name in the draw :) and happy holidays to all of you!
Klara
OH, I would love to be in the draw for these!
I can't really argue with your Worst lists, especially the Tom Ford stuff. Yeech. That was just so very tacky of him!
I have not smelled too many of your Best just because no stores near me carry them, such as the Chanel Exclusifs, but I am working on trying some of those too. (My local Nordstrom SA told me he could get those for me from one of their SoCal stores but I am not going to buy 250 ml of anything unsniffed!)
For me: BEST: Discovering the Montales. WOW! I know they are not all "new" but they are new to me! And one of my very favorites is a "masculine" too - Greyland. I can't decide whether I want to wear it myself or smell it on a man, but either way I adore the heck out of it.
Also BEST: Sisley Soir de Lune - not everyone's cup of tea, but I love lush, opulent, womanly fragrances and this one fits the bill. It smells like a rich woman who is also a sexpot, and what more could you want?
Tom Ford ads deserve all Worst Ad Awards there are. Blech!
Please include me in the drawing *puppy eyes*
please enter me in the drawing - I can't stand the buzz about 25 - though I've never smelled an Amouage I liked. my surprise love of the year was PG Cadjmere - creamy dreamy sandalwood lushness!
Wonderful choices! My choice for best is w/out doubt, the two Jubilation scents from Amouage.
Love that you have Worst awards! :-) I would like to add my annoyance at multiple releases and pray that perfume houses in 2008 can rein themselves in and just release *one* at a time. Please!!
So cute that many of us agreed on some.
I'd put MDCI in as best new line of the year. I know they were actually in existence before 2007, but 2007 was the first year they migrated over here, I believe, and I just think they deserve the spot.
Happy New Year, my friend!
Ah, your list only lures me to try more and more fragrances. I see that I must try Tango! Please enter me into the draw.
Wonderful awards!! Now, I am feeling slightly guilty, b/c while I do feel, in the abstract (and in the pocketbook) that CdG going Luxe for the Bucks was one of the worst ideas in the abstract (and in the pocketbook), their Patchouli was in fact one of my favorite perfumes: I am addicted to it, and am now wearing obsessively (yes, I split a bottle). Also--another mention for Querelle (BdC's opening is so sweet on me that it sets my teeth on edge).
Oh, and I need to mention Moss Breches, too; I wore that obsessively in the warmer weather. Quite obviously, everyone else is getting something I'm missing from Silver Factory (the Wow part--I like it OK). Perhaps I should keep trying--or (pocketbook speaking now) perhaps not!
I adore the Angry Colombinas! Tom Ford also gets my vote for worst perfume quote of the year -- the thing about "we're going for fewer customers, but customers with deeper pockets". I just loved that one.
I loved reading the Angry Colombinas!Please include me in the drawing and have a Happy New Year everyone!
Great lists, Colombina. And Happy New Year to you and all your readers.
I particularly chuckled at your Angry Colombinas. On another note, I agree with your Golden choices, especially 31 rue Cambon and EL PCTG. Those two are beautiful, and if I had to choose, I'd pick 31RC in a heartbeat.
Happy and Healthy 2008 to everyone!
good that you included the worst list too. i haven't smelled the secretions magnifique, but considering the name...can imagine what it smells like :) you should've slipped a sample of that with the best ones.
ps. include me in the drawing, i'de be pleased to smell the cream of the crop
knidonovan,
Love the poem! :-)
Zeram,
I agree with you (and many below), Querelle was great. I don't know how I forgot to include it.
Anita,
I have a crush on it too :-)
You are in!
Tom,
With those secretive PG people, who knows? It might have been created 10 years ago and only available for super-extra-special clients till now :-)
Veronica,
I absolutely must try Liz Zorn scent then. Thank you for the recommendation.
Joan,
It all started with Tuberose, then they had Aldehyde for Dallas, and now Vanilla. Next will be an Aquatic 103 available exclusively on Mars.
I am joking. I think. :-)
Klara,
Secretions should be tried just for the experience.
OK, this may have come out wrong :-)
Donna,
I don't know why I did not say so in the post, but this was The Year of Montale for me :-)
B,
You are in the draw!
S,
Cadjmere did not work for me, sadly. It smelled like, erm, Obsession on me :-)
L,
I wanted to grumble about multiple releases. Then I dicided it would smell (pun intented) of favoritism, if I forgive that to Chanel but no others :-)
But hey, not every line can pull off releasing 10 scents at ones.
Patty,
I feel like I've known (and loved) MDCIs for ever :-)
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Therese,
You are in!
J,
I loved Patch too, very much. But I had to grumble anyway :-)
J,
I just saw your comment on PP, and I just can't beliiiive it. :-) You MUST like all of those.
R,
If Tom Ford did not exist, we'd have to dream him up into existence, because he is just...something else :-)
Sara,
Thank you! You are in!
Pam,
Well, that's it. Next year I am just doing the Angry ones :-)
Zara,
It smells just like ti sounds :-)
You are in!
Marina,
If you'd like to try some LZs, I'd be happy to oblige
(not affilaited,etc.). Just email me at nypogodi@yahoo.com and I coud get them to you.
Veronika
I know:( They are going to cut up my perfumista card!
I don't know any fragrance from your list, except of Midnight Poison :(
So... Please include me in the drawing.
secretions magnifique in a penis shaped bottle? *rolls eyes*
I'd love to be entered in the draw for the 8 samples! Thanks :-)
I love the Angry Columbina award. I think the entire mainstream industry should be treated to one. Please enter me in the drawing.
Forgot to say, "please put my name in the jug for the draw." Thanks!
Must say that I thought the commercial for Gwen Stefani's scent was beautifully done and really young and fun. The commercial for Covet was cute as well, but just seemed a little forced.
Funny how the explosion of excitement that started with the Les Exclusifs has waned to a casual respect for the line now. Lagerfeld (and now Sheldrake)--always the trendsetters. Remember when there were interviews in which someone said they were going to resurrect the (really) old Chanels, like Ivoire and Un Idee, Le Rouge, etc.? God, I hope that happens soon, and that they release edp or parfum versions of the les exclusifs...I'm still obsessed with Bel Respiro and can't wait for Spring to start spraying with abandon again.
Please enter me in the drawing!!
SOOOO disappointed with FM's Outrageous! Loved Christian Clive's X for Women (yeah, yeah, way too $$$$ and hype...but it's SOOOO SEXY!) Please enter me in the drawing.
So enjoyed your list, particularly the Angry ones. Didn't get to smell too many new things over here in Bangkok, but I loved 31RC, and No. 18 grew on me after *months* of sniffing. I'm actually wearing it today! As for something that I did not come to appreciate...Fleur du Male, which smells like dirty diaper+powder on me. Ghastly!
Would love to be entered in your drawing!
Great writeup! You clearly share my passionate loathing for several hot items, including Tom Ford and Secretions....
I really, really need to smell the Luxe Patch that everyone keeps yammering on about. And I keep toying with buying Eau Premiere... what I really want, though, and can't have any more is the old small bottle of No. 22! :-(
this is a terrific list! i haven't had the opportunity to smell many of these, as i've been on a no-buy for most of the year and ended up getting rid of half my perfumes. that said, i was also less than overwhelmed by Kilian's line, so at least we have that one in common ;)
one of my worsts is the Bond Saks perfumes, which i thought were so ordinary and so unlike the rest of the Bonds that i couldn't believe it had actually been approved. so far my favorite new experience this year, even though it isn't a new release, is PG's Cuir Venenum.
i would also like to be netered in the drawing. what fun, and happy, happy new year to you, M!
Hi M. I would love to be included in the drawing. If we're talking best of 2007 releases...I am going to go with PC Tuberose Gardenia. I know it's mainstream, but it's so beautifully done.
Worst? Calypso St. Barth Lily. My teeth are still aching from that one!
Great fun, Marina! Happy New Year!
I agree about the Jubiliation... wow wow wow! It's everything I love about Dinner by Bobo, complicated beautifully. Thank you so much for the samples.
Oh Greeneyes yes! I hated Lily SO much. Horrific on my skin, and while Lea fades away to nothing, Lily couldn't even be scrubbed off. Ugh.
Favorites releases this year:
Givenchy Harvest Amarige;
EL Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia;
L'Artisan Iris Pallida;
Serge Lutens Sarrasins;
Biggest disappointment: Chanel #18
Please enter me in the drawing. Happy New Year!
Thanks for sharing your list, I would love to be included in the drawing! The MDCI's were undoubtedly my favorite discovery of 2007. I'd love to try some on your list and see if anything else can grab me the same way!
Great list! And please enter me in the drawing..
I love these lists, they are one of my favorite things about the end of the year.
This being my first year of true perfume obsession I have many new favorites. Tuberose Gardenia is one of them. But so is Parfum d'Empire's Osmanthus Interdite from the disappointments list.
Please include me in the drawing and thanks for all you do!
Great list, Marina! I loved so many on your list. All in all, it was a good year for fragrance.
Amouage was a surprise. After Reflections, I had so few expectations.
Vika/Boisdejasmin
Best-Prada Infusion d'Iris. Very very chic.
Please enter me in the draw. And I think you should slip in a little Secretions.
-theresa
We were so close in our "Best" new fragrance Marina. Mine is EL PC Tuberose Gardenia, although I haven't smelled the new Amouage and I'm delighted to hear they have released a great one! Please enter me in the drawing. :-)
Tamara
Love your picks, except I'm not that inspired by the new Amouages, although I do agree they're quite spectacular. Actually like the men's one better. Tuberose Gardenia seems to be a true queen. :) I can still remember you and me at BG smelling it for the first time.
And I nominate Colombina as The Best Fragrance Image Artist! ;D What would we do without your fun creations?
I am sorry.
I forgot in my post to please include me in the drawing.
kait
I, too, am enjoying the Angry Columbinas. Also, waiting in excitement for a sample of Jubilation 25 to arrive! Please enter me in the drawing.
Great categories and picks, but my vote goes to the Colombina Awards design! :-D
A Happy New Year to you and yours, M, and all of your commenters!
Veronika,
Thank you! I write to you :-)
Agata,
You are in!
Janet,
You are in the draw!
Puff,
:-)
You are in the draw!
Pam,
Of course, you are in!
Billy,
I am still waiting with baited breath for that re-release :-)
And yes, I love that commercial too. Not the scent though.
You are ion the draw!
Vids,
Unfortunately, sometimes super-expensive scents do smel great :-)
You are in!
Noy,
You are in the draw!
March,
What about ebay? Never there either? :-(
Risa,
They disappointed me too, and that is why perhaps Silver Factory seemed so impressive to me.
You are in the draw!
P,
You are in the draw!
Linda,
You are so very welcome!
Iris,
So much love for ELPCTG today, that's great!
You are in!
Heather,
The MDCIs are amazing!
You are in the draw!
dark-phoenix54 ,
you are in!
Janet in California,
Thank you! I am glad you enjoy the lists! :-)
You are in the draw!
Vika,
It seemed like such a dull year scent-wise, and yet, looking back, one sees true gems there. I guess that is how it will always be.
Theresa,
I don't have any, or else I would :-)
You are in the draw!
Tamara,
Thank you! You are in the draw and Happy new Year!
Ina,
I think ELPCTG and Prada Iris rule today, no?
Yeah, and you know what images I miss creating? The Monroe-Russell ones. just sayin'.
Kait,
You are in the draw
Denise L
I am glad you liked! :-)
You are in the draw!
Dusan,
It is so lovely to "see" you here!
Happy New Year, I hope it is a wonderful one for you!
Ha! You got me. ;) Well, you never know, you never know...
Wonderful list, and I'm piping in with another thumbs up for The Angry Columbinas, which I also think should be a girl punk band, perhaps hailing from the "New" Russia?
And pretty please put me in the draw if it isn't too late!
A,
The rock band, hahaha!! I love that.
You are in the draw!
I'd love to be in the drawing for samples :)
Thanks so much for all the interesting writing that you do. I truly enjoy it. I would love to be in the drawing. thanks again...
sunlit
Jewel Academy,
You are in!
Sunlit,
Thank you! You are in the draw.
I will publish the name of the winner on January 2.
I think my favorite fragrance newcomer of the year was Bois Blond, with a runner-up prize to Infusion d'Iris. Couldn't agree more about those stupid Tom Ford ads.
Please include me in the prize draw. Happy new year!
Amy,
You are in the draw!
This year will be forever remembered for genitalia in perfume: between Tom Ford (heavens help me for actually liking just about any of the perfumes, including his... uhemmm... privates ;) and those penis adorned Secretions.
Let's hope next year's recap would be full of better scents (said she who keep her bottle of Louve on her nightstand to spray her pillow and blankets, which she alternates with Bandit. Don't ask).
Happy New Year!
Gaia,
I won't ask. Even though I want to. :-)
Happy New Year!
I loved Chanel's Coromandel and 31 Rue Cambon. Best perfumerfor me is Chris Sheldrake - he had a hand in the new Chanel's and is the creator of my favourites, so far, of the Lutens. Totally agree with Chanel as the best house but as a long time No 5 fan, that will always be my vote! Couldn't handle exploring the Tom Ford's after I saw his new ads - I'd rather that my perfume be part of an overall elegance and those ads definitely lacked that character!! Love your blog and look forward to it every day. Please add me to the draw
Kim
Kim,
Sheldrake rules!
You are in the draw!
Thank you so much for a wonderful post for year's end! Personally, I am loving Voile de Fleur; it's gorgeous. Please enter me in the drawing.
Stephanie
I just came back from France - with a stomach virus, feeling absolutely miserable. And even mentioning ELdO's SM makes me more sick...
BUT ! 2007 is a significant year because I found MY perfume - here, with your help, Marina : finally I went to the Caron house in Paris and let them fill a bottle with Farnesiana "extract" from that lovely fontane ! On my skin it turnes almond with mimosa and cuire... Thank you, dear !
Isn't it funny that everybody likes your Angry Colombinas ? The conclusion for me is however, that right when I'm fit again I have to run and sniff EL's Gardenia and the Amuage.
All the best to you for the next year, happy & healthy 2008 to you & family !
(and pls include me in the drawing)
Oh, I forgot ! One of the best things in 2007 was the "Perfumed court" (decant bussiness) and thanks to Tom, who first mentioned it to me...
M, please enter me in your drawing. I'm terribly remiss at keeping up with what's out there on the market, and I trust your taste, so I would love to experience your "best picks".
Stephanie,
You are in the draw!
Anya,
Happy New year!
You are in the draw!
Dear Melinda,
I hope you get well son! Wishing you a happy and healthy 2008!
You are in the draw.
Love to enter your draw, as the Amouage is on my list to try. Enjoyed both your positive and negative comments!
I have praised Kilian's packaging and 2 of his perfumes, but the ad copy was quite silly, as you said. Way to diss Tom Ford's ads, which went beyond silly to offensive; in fact, I skipped his section in Saks 5th Ave NYC recently, as my own response to the poor taste of the ads.
Rousse by Serge Lutens didn't make your list. One of my faves, as I'm a spice lover.
The saddest thing is how difficult it is to buy many of the lovely perfumes out there. Kudos to The Perfumed Court as the most helpful new launch of 2007 !
Gail (GGS)
Gail,
Rousse was 2007...it is so hard to remember, with so many releases, from the same houses ;-) It was a lovely scent, definitely.
You are in the draw!
The prize draw is now closed
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