Estee Lauder - Amber Ylang Ylang (Private Collection)

Marzipan, marchepane, massepain, pastry cream, hundreds-and-thousands, dragees, sugared almonds, princess torte, husks, rusks, vanilla specks, egg glaze, boiling, bakeries, confectioners sugar, icing sugar, frosted flowers, a million wedding cakes at once, patisseries, butter-flaky crusts, cream cream sugared almond cream cream cream cream cream warm fresh milk.

Lancome - Sikkim (vintage)

On first spray, this is the driest and fiercest of chypres - it literally felt like alien metal hooks clawing into my nostrils and dragging down. I kept touching my upper lip gingerly for traces of blood. The drydown is no less brisk and unyielding - bloody tears on a field of luminous white flowers.

Lancome - Magie (vintage)

Lovely aldehydic floral that sheens and shines with the soft furred glow of peacock feathers. More well-heeled sister to Coty's L'Origan. Like pearls next to skin.