Just been to an interesting Man Ray exhibition at the beautiful Hayama Museum Of Modern Art just down the coast from Kamakura.
If it weren’t for the fearful, almost hostile women patrolling the gallery
I would have taken and put up a picture of the beautiful Sleeping by Schiaparelli- a parfum bottle of which was standing next to some exquisite Lucien Lelong and Guerlain Lius and Shalimars for aesthetic and historical context ( he also photographed Chanel )
I felt such a fierce longing to smell the liquid in that housed off, security alarmed bottle ; three quarters full, I wonder what it is like ? What a great antidote / riposte to Shocking : ‘Sleeping’: fitting so well with the portraits of Dali, Cocteau, Juliette Greco – a lovely photograph of Catherine Deneuve, many of Kiki de Montparnasse
Immersed in the artist’s Dadaist/ surrealist creative fertility, leaving the space for the sea air I feel stimulated, energized : awake
The Black Narcissus 
It is a dreary Sunday morning and I have a painful foot. Now, however, I have Sleeping and Hayama to explore on world wide web. Those pesky museum ladies will not be able to thwart me…thank you!
Glad to hear it.
They are just doing their job but Jesus
https://www.vogue.com/article/schiaparelli-perfumes-shocking-fragrance/amp
I imagine the actual scent would never live up to the dream hype but it is all rather exciting nevertheless
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/156098
Hadn’t realized the explicit Man Ray connection until reading this : must definitely go back!
Waking up with Sleeping by the Black Narcissus. In my old high shipbunk bed …
And a wonderful trip down MeMory Lane.
So strange to grow old (what’s in an expression?!) and to discover that everything living grows old along with me!
I still don’t know what it smells like; have to look it up.
But how exciting to have a mystery scent never to be revealed.
There is an ACHE !
Love the illustrations for Sleeping!
Yes the whole aesthetic / story is fascinating : my heart stopped when I saw all the perfume bottles
From Fragrantica: Sleeping was launched in 1938. Top notes are Bergamot and Galbanum; middle notes are Rose, Jasmine, Magnolia, Orange Blossom, Carnation & Ylang-Ylang; base notes are Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla, Musk & Oakmoss.
The notes sound exquisite.
No reviews but someone did remark that it reminded them of my fave hidden gem, Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue.
Thank you for sharing your visit to the Hayama museum, always wanted to go (even with the meanie art matrons).
WHEN you come to Japan next we will go.
Gorgeous location ; I love it
Oh such gorgeous images! I have been on the hunt for a bottle of Sleeping for ages, they always sell for so much whenever one rarely comes up on eBay. I love how you have the photo of D as well, perfectly in sync with the other ManRay images.
Thank you for mentioning the D syncdom : someone finally noticed!
How could I not notice that handsome bloke. He fit in so perfectly, you really captured the essence of ManRay.
I am captivated by all this, Neil. This all feels like the best possible perfume dream. Oh, to grab that bottle and splash the perfume on skin and have the scent in a cloud around me, even to feel the glass. I would salivate in its presence even from a distance. What sweet agony. Photos add to the dreamlike scenario. Thank you!
Your eyes would have popping out of your skull like mine. It looked GLORIOUS