Is it sacrilege to dilute a parfum?
Maybe – I do think so, but I had this Michelle, you see – Balenciaga, in vintage parfum, and also the eau de toilette, from the same era (all based on Michelle Stevens, who you see above, who was one of Cristobal’s favourite models of the time:: 1979), and they just weren’t quite right somehow, in and of themselves, and I knew that I had to mix them, (even if it was wrong and I might hugely end up regretting it later)…
and so I did, last night
and came home, tonight,
AND THE RESULTS ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT
The Black Narcissus 
I’m glad it worked out!
Me too. These ventures are risky.
Sometimes he does.
Haven’t done it myself. Yet. But it’s been tempting . . .
Michelle, as we’ve agreed before, is a helluva tuberose.
What was each lacking to make you decide to take the plunge, Neil?
Hard to say. The parfum was too liquorous and lacking in the sparkliness of the edt, which was also a bit ‘off’ (they are, after all, forty years old). Some vivaciousness had gone, which is now back!
I can totally imagine the alchemic magic.
I’ve experienced the same thing with elderly parfum; I’m thinking of a one particular bottle of rather old Femme right now. It it in the doldrums. And I have heaps of vintage edt in good shape. You have got me thinking, N. . .
Do it!
Because you can deepen the edt, and freshen the parfum, creating one’s own unique parfum de toilette!
ONLY if you instinctively feel it is going to work though.
Nuthin’ really to lose and lots to potentially gain. Gonna try it!
Let me know how it works out.
It usually takes a day.
Found the most likely pair-up: an ounce or so of floral-leaning vintage Femme eau de cologne and about 3ml of that very woody, leathery, tired (but beloved) parfum.
Mixed them up. Already it’s amazing. It actually tricks my parietal lobe into thinking it’s 1984, the year I really fell in love with Femme and formed my core scent memory of it. I’m not blowing smoke, this is truly quite miraculous.
Now I’m thinking of a few Miss Diors that could use some tweaking. Wow.
Miss Dior is a perfect candidate; those tired old parfums need crisping and greening up!
And N°19s!
That one I have had less success with.
Yes, I would think that N°19 wouldn’t be so easy.
You are truly one brave soul. I never in a million years would feel competent enough for such alchemy.
So thrilled it turned out wonderfully for you.
Thanks G.
I JUST CAN’T STOP MYSELF
I saw you mentioned Miss Dior. In a recent episode of “Call the Midwife,” Trixie, one of the younger midwives, extols the virtues of Miss Dior to her co-workers. I have an old, old bottle and it really is a masterpiece. But there is nothing “Miss” about it.
I always thought that – it’s a viper in a chinchilla coat!
Perfect.
I need me some chinchilla.