It's my birthday today, and my instinctive reaction was to grab vintage Bandit by Robert Piguet. I'm a Leo/Virgo cusp (Chinese sign: Rooster), and this tough lady perfume that can clear a room and cause migraines is just up my alley. Difficult beauty, this one is.
I'll be eatin' cupcakes and drinkin' Scotch at my favorite bar in San Francisco, the old speakeasy-turned-spectacle-shop-turned sanctuary for weirdos — Specs, in North Beach.
What perfume would you grab and spritz on your birthday?
really just Bulgari Black
Posted by: Paramour_plsTY | August 23, 2010 at 08:49 PM
I'm hoping to celebrate my birthday this October in a cloud of Frederic Malle's Bois d'Orage ... which also means I'm hoping that someone buys it for me for my birthday. (Not that I'm hinting or anything.)
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, dear friend, no matter what you decide to wear! (Though Bandit is an excellent choice.)
Posted by: Jonno | August 24, 2010 at 01:12 AM
Happy Birthday to you! I wear vintage Emeraude parfum on my birthday (I am a Taurus, after all). Or any really green, earthy scent--maybe Jovan Oriental Flowers or some rockin' patchouli oil! I love Bandit, too. All the best to you!
Posted by: Elizabeth | August 24, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Happy birthady for yesterday. I would wear Une Rose each and every year.
Posted by: Angela Cox | August 24, 2010 at 02:10 PM
Hi all, interesting choices! And thanks for the birthday wishes. :)
Posted by: Perfumaniac | August 24, 2010 at 02:40 PM
Hope your birthday was fun! Your plans sounded great. My birthday is in January, and I think I'll wear L'Heure Bleue.
I'm a Bandit lover too. Funny, I don't find this a "difficult" fragrance. It may start off sharp, but on me there is a long-lasting tuberose middle note that softens it and makes it a very feminine scent. Like a Persian kitty, she may have claws, but she's very soft and soon settles down to purr!
Posted by: Patty | August 24, 2010 at 03:15 PM
Hi Patty,
L'Heure Bleue is so beautiful and romantic and sounds perfect for a January birthday. Interesting comment about Bandit being like a kitty-cat. I love cats and love the idea that Bandit starts off prickly, with its claws out, and then settles down to purr. That's a great image. Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by: Perfumaniac | August 24, 2010 at 03:34 PM
Happy Birthday! I just had one on the 19th, and Leah on the 20th...
I wore my prize Tauer Elle pour Maroc, it's a good summer fragrance.
Leo!
Posted by: Lucy Raubertas | August 24, 2010 at 05:28 PM
Happy belated birthday, Lucy. I don't know Elle Pour Maroc but it sounds intriguing. Wonder what Leah wore? I bet Leos wear more perfume than most other signs...
Posted by: Perfumaniac | August 24, 2010 at 05:33 PM
Happy birthday! Hope you enjoyed your Bandit (which skeers me, to be honest).
I love to wear either vintage Emeraude or PdN Vanille Tonka on my January birthday. Emeraude is so cashmere-soft, and VT is my no-fail Winter Happy Scent. If you're not familiar with VT, it's not particularly vanilla-y, more lime-spice-carnation-tonka-frankincense, and has a giggly, Dr. Pepper-and-rum sort of fizz. I love it.
Posted by: Mals86 | August 25, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Oh, and I think Lucy was referring to Le Maroc Pour Elle - which is a fantastic orange-rose-incense-amber cocktail.
Posted by: Mals86 | August 25, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Hi Mals, glad you can appreciate that about Bandit. I love it, but it skeeers me too! :) You're the second January birthday to comment! I don't know VT, but vintage Emeraude is amazing. "Cashmere-soft" is a good way to put it...
Posted by: Perfumaniac | August 25, 2010 at 07:26 PM
Happy birthday! How about one launched on your birth year? That might be fun. I'm not THIS old, but I'd select Chanel Cuir de Russie for my winter birthday.
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl | August 27, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Hi Cheryl! Thanks for the birthday wish. A lady isn't supposed to reveal her age — but I'm no lady. ;) So I'd say of the beautiful fragrances I've reviewed that came out in 1969 (go, Generation X!) I'd have to choose Azuree. That one is complex, sexy and unusual.
Posted by: Perfumaniac | August 27, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Happy belated birthday!
Oh, goodie, if we're looking to signs for inspiration, I get three from the sun Zodiac (I am a Gemini/Cancer cusp), an oak from the moon/celtic Zodiac, and a Dragon from the Chinese.
Which might explain why I would be pondering choices ranging from vintage Jolie Madame to Amouage Epic to Chanel No.19. With an iris chasing them all down.
This one is interesting for me, as my anniversary is two days later, and I tend to think of each (very separately, but with an awareness of the other) when picking. Hence, Amouage might get moved to the anniversary, as it is about togetherness, whereas No.19 is a pretty good expression of me the individual.
I'm still not solid on scotch, but there's plenty of Irish whiskey to toast to your health and make me happy. I'd pair mine with a dense cake. We'd get along famously. :)
Posted by: ScentScelf | August 27, 2010 at 07:57 PM
Wow, ScentScelf — you really thought this one through! You're a cusp, too, and a Dragon. (Dragons and Roosters are supposed to get along famously.) I'm with you on Chanel No. 19. That is an individualistic perfume, and it would be perfect for your birthday if that's what you wanted to emphasize. Here's to raising a virtual glass of Scotch to your glass of Irish Whisky! Cheers!
Posted by: Perfumaniac | August 28, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Laughing...also generation X....I think the mid 60's saw some interesting perfume come out!
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl | August 29, 2010 at 01:46 PM
A belated Happy Birthday! I have not been keeping up, but now that I am here, I am learning soooooo much as usual. I hope you had a great day and that all is going well. xx
Posted by: Heather | September 04, 2010 at 01:10 PM
Thanks, Heather! Ill send you an email soon and we can catch up. :)
Posted by: Perfumaniac | September 05, 2010 at 04:04 PM