Scentzilla!

A while back, those wacky gals from Perfume Posse wrote a post describing their picks for genius and evil genius perfumes, and invited me to share my own. I thought I’d match up each perfume to a specific genius (evil or otherwise) and the first one I thought of was The Brain from the now-gone Warner Bros. cartoon “Pinky and The Brain.” But then I got the theme song for the cartoon stuck in my head. Now all I can think of is…

They’re Pinky and The Brain,
Yes, Pinky and The Brain
One is a genius
The other’s insane.
They’re laboratory mice
Their genes have been spliced
They’re dinky
They’re Pinky and The Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain!

Before each night is done
Their plan will be unfurled
By the dawning of the sun
They’ll take over the world.

They’re Pinky and The Brain
Yes, Pinky and The Brain
Their twilight campaign
Is easy to explain.
To prove their mousey worth
They’ll overthrow the Earth
They’re dinky
They’re Pinky and The Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain

NARF!

I additionally wanted to write a brief post with some summer fragrance suggestions. So, here are my Brain summer perfumes, which are genius, and my Pinky summer perfumes, which are insane. Obviously, one can’t help but love them both. Okay: so *I* can’t help but love them both.

Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain… Brain!

1.) Compagnia Delle Indie ~ Donna. It is so fresh, so lovely, and a perfume I always keep out to be handy, because I wear it too often to put in the dark of a cabinet. It’s my number one compliment-getter, and as a compliment-whore, I am deeply gratified by that.

2.) i Profumi di Firenze ~ Ambra del Nepal. The simplicity and vibrancy of the scent feels refreshing in summer. It’s a great choice for those who love amber-vanilla fragrances, but have a tendancy to wear those notes as cloying during hot humid days.

3.) Hermes ~ Terre d’Hermes. A single elegant line is the feature of this scent’s development, and while it may seem to be plain, I find it a terribly satisfying fragrance.

4.) Carven ~ Ma Griffe vintage parfum. Normally, I might not suggest a discontinued and vintage version of a fragrance, but the old Ma Griffe is rather easily located (thanks eBay!) Its clean green and spicy character refreshes and awakens me on sleepy sunny days.

5.) Vicky Tiel ~ Sirene. Sirene is perfect for summer evenings, when the wind starts to pick up and the hot cement in the city finally begins to cool. Sirene is the perfume made especially for perfume-lovers. The complexity inside it is one you have to grow to love, and once you do, you are forever hooked on it. Rose and peony, violet, and a smidge of vanilla, all cower under a sharp blade of powder. Sirene plays as if it were punk music: in your face, loud, and without apology. But this punk music is played by skilled musicians with nuanced phrasing. Think The Clash rather than the Sex Pistols.

NARF! The lovably insane Pinky

1.) Versace ~ The Dreamer. In a comment at Perfume Posse, I described it thusly: “On me it’s neither ‘caramel-leather heaven’ nor ‘auto-parts-Tootsie-roll hell.’ It’s weirder and better. I’d say it’s made of Wrigley’s gum, Good n’ Plenty candies, and big old pine trees, and … gah, I dunno, I guess for me, it’s a candy shop that’s been improbably located in the middle of Mt. Hood National Forest.” You’d think with the crazy notes that it would smell like a tangled jangly mess of nerves, but… it doesn’t. It’s one of the most original “men’s” fragrances ever made, and certainly a fantastic fragrance for women.

2.) Alan Cumming ~ Cumming. Oh how do I love thee, Cumming? I could not begin to count the ways. It is my number one favorite scent for summer. There is nothing better for me than to spray on this cooling, earthy concoction to bring back the fragrant sensation of rain-splashed Pacific Northwest winter mornings. It was my favorite release of 2005, and it is one of my favorite perfumes ever. I LURVE it.

3.) Wickle ~ Chestnut & Vetiver. The combination of these two notes is scrumptious. Perhaps a little random or weird sounding, but this fragrance is nothing but fun for me. It worked on me during the cooler months, and it’s been working well for me on hot days, too. It’s not fancy, but it kicks ass.

4.) Serge Lutens ~ Arabie. Arabie is often known as sweet dessert-laden fragrance. It may sound counter-intuitive, but this scent is a summer fave of mine. Why? Because it smells gawd-awwwwful on me during the colder seasons. When I try to wear it in winter, the whole thing smells like some funky industrial cleaner. It’s as if Arabie REQUIRES the heat of June, July, and August to work on me. And boy does it. Somehow it wears as sweet without sugar, and it’s gourmand inflections wear as gently spicy-nutty without reminding me of actual food.

5.) Comme Des Garcons ~ Odeur 53. I can’t place this scent anywhere in particular. Odeur 53 creates nothing but utter abstractions. New car, computer keyboards, formica counter tops. And yet, despite the industrial suggestions, it’s quite a light, rather airy floral fragrance that also suggests the tops of daisies, dandilion bouquets, lilies and jasmine. It is honestly the weirdest of all these “Pinky” summer picks, and almost as random as Pinky’s responses to the question The Brain asks him during every episode… “Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Pinky?”

Here are some properly written “Genius and Evil Genius” essays by other bloggers:

• Perfume Posse
• Perfume Smellin’ Things
• Scenteur7

EDIT: And, like a dolt, I forgot one: Cait’s timely post on Genius Summer Scents.

Video from youtube.com. Top image from duryea.org and second from clampettstudio.com

This entry was posted on Friday, June 9th, 2006 at 2:09 pm and is filed under Perfume Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.