Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Evidence vol. 1: Jil Sander No. 4


 Behold my 20-year old bottle of Jil Sander No. 4. Yes, it is marked "Demonstration" and has no lid, just a cardboard protector tube. No, I did not steal it. Yes, I purchased it from an overstock catalog. No, it is not a knock off.

I just want you people to understand who you're dealing with.

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this some sort of USA code like asking for a ride.

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't it degrade or whatever the fragrance world term would be. Does it still smell like it did 20 years ago?

RJ

Anonymous said...

Evaporate, I think is the process.

Anonymous said...

I can imagine the oils hanging around but it seems like they might seperate or something?

RJ

Erin O'Brien said...

Back in the day, I thought this was the most beautiful, elegant scent imaginable. Naturally, it's gone a bit stale, but you can still get a sense of its original complexity.

It is truly a magnificent perfume. How funny that I still have this? I can't bear to toss it.

Anonymous said...

Suuuuuuuuuuuuure you didn't steal it Erin.

What's the statute of limitations on swiping a sample off the counter at the May Co. while your friend stages a distraction by pretending her pony-tail is stuck in the escalator?

Yes, the correct term is 'evaporate.' If it didn't evaporate nobody would smell it and you would have spent a car payment at the mall buying the stuff for naught.

Most perfumes are over 70% alcohol, but if properly sealed they should last a long time. I remember reading about how much the West had changed since los blancos locos showed up and as an illustration the writer mentioned that if it was corked properly a bottle of Wild Bill Hickok's whiskey would have lost no more than a shot in a hundred years.


MR

PS-There are apparently companies whose specialty is re-creating discontinued colognes and perfumes. Whoodathunkit?

This is one of the reasons I like it here. I learn new stuff almost by accident...

DogsDontPurr said...

As perfumes age, the scent changes...much like when wine ages. Depending on the composition of the scents involved and how the perfume was stored, it can become a more intense version of it's former self, or more mellow, or it can turn and simply lose itself all together.

I recently rediscovered a bottle of Fracas I have that must be at least 30 years old. It is intoxicating. I could inhale it straight from the bottle night and day like some kind of junkie and never tire of it.

Since there is very little left of it, I decided I should splurge and buy a new bottle, as well as the body lotion, bath gel, and solid perfume compact. (Like a junkie!)

Well. I'm sure you know what's coming next: it was HORRIBLE!!!

The fresh stuff is so harsh and cloying that I can't bare even the tiniest whiff of it. There is only the slightest echo of a resemblance to my 30 year old bottle.

Aw well...so it goes. Some things really do get better with age, and some thing are not necessarily better if they are new.

~d said...

I have a Jessica McClintock in similar condition

Erin O'Brien said...

Is that the Tilde I think it is?

!!!

If so, welcome back stranger. If not, welcome stranger. Either way, I'm sure glad you dropped in the ol' Owner's Manual.