hortus conclusus

I have been going through a citrus phase lately, wearing Hermes Eau d'Orange Verte and Serge Lutens' Fleurs D'Oranger lots and lots , and even sometimes the light citrusy juices Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat and Euphoria Blossom . I found myself mixing a drink last night that really summed up my feelings on the matter. You can see that it looks a bit like a raw egg, so I'm still trying to come up with the right moniker. The 'yolks' in the center are little kumquats, cut in half and squeezed lightly to release their singular citrus fragrance and flavor. I cut up a lime and put it in a shaker with just the tiniest soupcon of Saint-Germain elderflower liqueur, then poured in the Russian Standard vodka that is my hands-down preference for vodka (an article coming on this soon) and a bit of homemade club soda. The composition overall is very fragrant, delicate, and delicious, and tastes a little bit like drinking some bespoke flower water.

This is an insane opening--the aldehydes hit you like a ton of bricks; this strikes me as a joke in a way, since it seems so out of character with the drydown, which is smooth, smooth, and ever so delicate. This is not the kind of fragrance I personally prefer to wear, but I can certainly appreciate the artistry of what is clearly a perfection within the genre of complex white floral/powder/aldehydes. I sense a cinnamon/jasmine/amber-vanilla accord at the heart of Baghari, and I think it must be the cinnamon that keeps this interesting, adding complexity to what could have been a rather banal (dare I say that?) aldehydic amber.

This is what the trees outside my condo are doing today! I love spring so much! It looks like a magical fairy ring, and certainly brightens up the unfortunate midcentury institutional aesthetic! Now I just need the Lilacs to bloom, and I will be completely happy...

Does anyone else feel the way I do about Whistler's Peacock room? This room, an orientalist fantasy dressed up to the nines, is absolutely gorgeous, and I think if I could have any living space in the world to occupy for the rest of my life, I would choose this one if it were only possible. See the exhibition pictures here . It is like living in a perfume bottle. I love the way the gilding looks on the teal walls, and the built in golden shelving. I also love the fact that Whistler just totally ignored the owner's wishes and went all out decorating the room while he was away. The question is, what perfume ought one to wear in such a room as this? My bet is Bois des Iles , or maybe Mitsouko , but I'd love to hear other opinions! It needs to be decadent, over-the-top, but oh so perfect....