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Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Colonia per il Papa: Avignon by Comme des Garcons

According to Proverbs 27:9, incense brings joy to the heart. I have yet to find an incense perfume that would do that to mine. The feeling I often get is that of desolation, loneliness and gravity. Parfum Sacre is the only exception, but that one is a different story, sensual incense, almost sacrilegious. Avingon, along with Messe de Minuit and, to a lesser degreee, Passage d’Enfer, is the most somber and sorrowful of the incense scents I've tried.

This is undeniably a Catholic church incense, evoking an image of a Papal cathedral no less, a place that is grand, important and unapproachable, all cold marble and disapproving statues of saints. The incense note here is somber and chilly, but if I try really hard I can smell some patchouli here, like a dirty earthly undercurrent hidden under all that holiness.

This is a wonderfully unique, albeit intimidating, fragrance. I could never be able to wear Avignon, but it makes one's idle mind wonder, do Pontiffs wear cologne? I can't imagine an edgy, trendy brand like Comme Des Garcons being popular behind the walls of the Apostolic Palace, but their Avignon really should be. There is no other scent that would be so fit for Papa, although I imagine the late John Paul II might have liked something more cheerful and less formal. I will stop now before I start any blasphemous rumors and get disowned by the Church.

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8 Comments:

Blogger Anna, Fair and True said...

I didn't know you had a blog!! You didn't send out an email to promote it!

3:14 AM EDT  
Blogger Anna, Fair and True said...

I don't think I have heard of any of these perfumes... So I'm looking forward to more perfume enlightenment!

3:18 AM EDT  
Blogger Kerly said...

Hey, you have interesting blog. Keep up the good work :)

7:20 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Anna! Hugs! Love your blog, every bubble-girl should have one.

9:19 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Thank you, Kerly. Ah, Estonia. I visited once when I was a child and it was beautiful. I have a friend in Tallinn as well. Thank you for visiting my blog!

9:21 AM EDT  
Blogger NowSmellThis said...

Long ago I tried the whole CdG incense series on paper test strips at Barneys, and didn't love any, so gave up. I recently got two real samples, one of which is Avignon, now I'm really looking forward to actually putting it on skin -- thanks for the great review!

10:05 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

R., I would love to know what you think about it when you try it on. After all, you said you don't find Passage d'Enfer melancholy at all. I am very curious to know your opinion on Avignon.

10:09 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

(((Vikochka))) I like this one a lot, but in a very theoretical way, like I would sniff it once in a while and admire but wear it...no, can't do :-(

12:13 PM EDT  

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