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March 26, 2010

Comments

Kristy Victoria

SPOOKY? Again, I am slain. Your blog has given me more lemmings this year than the perfumer industry has released new scents, I'm afraid! Or maybe just better ones :)

Perfumaniac

Haha, Kristy. I hope this is a good thing? The image of a small rodent jumping off a cliff doesn't sound promising! :)

Museinwoodenshoes.wordpress.com

(Lemming = the perfumista rush for a scent praised on a 'fume blog. Many's the scent I've developed a lemming for after reading some fine review...)

When I first tried Silences - recommended to me personally by a friend who knew of my love for No. 19 - last fall, I didn't like it at all. At ALL! Unfriendly, sour, waspish... bleah. NO. But this spring, having spent several days wearing No. 19 and its almost-twin AG Heure Exquise in order to compare them, I picked up Silences again.

And it worked. *Beautifully.* I didn't feel led to buy any HE, but I bought a bottle of Silences after spending only an afternoon with a sample of it. The rose is so clear, and the iris so gentle, and the whole thing greened up by galbanum and moss - I love it. Oddly, I love it better in humid weather, but I've noticed that anything vaguely chypre-ish seems to blossom for me in humidity, when it can seem mean to me in sunny weather.

(BTW, this is Mals86 - I'm just using my wordpress acct to sign in these days instead of using the open ID.)

Museinwoodenshoes.wordpress.com

Oops, hit post too soon. Meant to comment that I don't find Silences at all spooky or heartless - I find it gentle and reflective, although not in a spineless way. It is pensive, yes, but feels as though it's pondering how best to make its own way, without pandering to other people's preferences. Which, I suppose, is speaking to me personally these days.

Perfumaniac

Thanks for the explanation of lemming in the context of the perfume world, Mals, and your take on Silences.

Heartless might be taking it too far, I agree, but I just love that quote so much! Perhaps — self-contained and slightly indifferent to the world, inward, or reflective, as you put it, are better ways of describing it. I really like the idea that it's "pondering how best to make its own way..."

Whatever valence one chooses to give this perfume, it is an introverted, inward scent, not looking for attention from others. Thanks for helping me think more about this lovely perfume!

Anne

Wonderful, thanks for the addition to my 'green' education. I shall seek this out. I have a mini of Vent Vert on the way, so I'm having fun. I too thought the Sanchez review of Chanel 19 was a bit unfair, at least as far as the EDT is concerned.

Anne

I meant to ask - can you describe the different concentrations?

Perfumaniac

Hi Anne, I'm pretty sure the one I reviewed was an eau de toilette; I had to reapply it quite a few times during the day. I haven't tried the EDP, but I do know there's one available. Maybe someone else can chime in?

Flora

I just adore this - and believe it or not it's a recent discovery for me! As a huge fan of all things Green, it was instant love.

ScentScelf

In terms of concentrations, Silences is commonly available in a Parfum de Toilette. If you are using a sprayer bottle, that's probably what you have. You can get parfum in a dabber bottle, but that is harder to come by. They are quite similar, and I'd say it's not worth getting your knickers in a twist trying to land the parfum concentration. And it will be more difficult to find the parfum.

Though it is quite lovely dabbed onto your wrists. Just what you'd think...denser at the heart. (Sorry; had to be honest.)

As long as we're talking shop here...the illustration you have is of the reformulated Silences. Pretty much on track with the original. But if anybody for those keeping score at home...the older version is in a matte box, and the word "Silences" appears once. The newer version has the laser print multiple echoes thing going on.

rk

Hmmm. wow... as an absolute lover of Chanel No. 19.....the galbanum, rose, iris, lily in particular.....after reading your review I think I need to get me some Silences - and quick! lol

Perfumaniac

rk: Silences is a lot sharper and louder (ironic, no? considering the name?) than Chanel 19, but in a sense, it fills in all the blanks the restrained Chanel 19 leaves blank. Would love to hear what you think if you do get it!

Perfumaniac

Flora: I think Silences is getting its due these days. It's quite modern and clean — but still interesting. I'm with you. It was instant love for me, too.

Perfumaniac

Thanks, ScentScelf! I switched out the photo, as I don't want to confuse people by showing the box from the reformulated Silences. I have the dabber — a mini. I love it. Nice to have someone who's compared both the reformulation and the older version!

Carole Fallon

Silences is the only other perfume I own that I can substitute for my beloved Vent Vert....if I ever run out! It IS pensive, not melancholy as in L'Heure Bleue, but thoughtful and lovely.

Perfumaniac

Its beautiful, Carole. An interesting green to use as a sub for Vent Vert...

Wendy Ackerman

I am looking for the Golliwogg scent.
Have not been able to find information.
It was produced by Vigny Paris France.
Thank you,
Wendy Ackerman

Perfumaniac

Wendy, You can find the perfume on eBay for...$500! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Le-Golliwog-Perfume-Bottle-Figure-by-Vigny-w-Box-1920s-Black-Americana-/160749959022?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item256d71b76e     And heres some info on the company: http://reviews.ebay.com/Vintage-de-Vigny-Perfumes?ugid=10000000002855501

What a horribly racist bottle though! Im curious what something like that would smell like. Where does your interest in this come from?

Ferris

Interesting perspective on Silences. I never knew it existed save a base notes forums search for alternatives to Chanel No. 19 edt. I haven't smelled Silences yet, but since it supposedly smells similar to No. 19, I will most definitely give this one a test run to see if I like.

Miguel Matos

Hello dear Barbara

I've been reading your blog for some time and I must say that you make me jealous for writing so well. I am a journalist for almost 20 years and rarely do I read texts I wish I had written myself. Congratulations. Your writing is inspiring and very inspired! Thank you!
Miguel

Perfumaniac

Miguel, that is so kind of you. Thank you! 

Carrie

I've only recently discovered this perfume. I ordered a bottle and fell in love so deeply that I ordered two more for backup within the week! To me, all the facets of this perfume are so perfectly in balance, the green, the florals, the oakmoss. I've been sampling green perfumes like mad the last couple of weeks and this is the very best so far. I'm loving that it's a cold green, rather than a warm one. It brings to mind sitting at a window watching a spring rainstorm, raindrops hitting the window, a cold wind in the trees. It seems to be to be a contemplative perfume.

Rachel

I just found your site and, I too, enjoy your writing. Just wondering how Silences compares to vintage Cabochard? I have that, so, if you could compare to that I could get my bearings a little.

I'm actually looking for a hyacinth soliflore, or near to it. That's how I came across Silences, looking for a hyacinth perfume. Would you recommend anything?

Thank you!

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