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Thursday, June 01, 2006

In Fine Parfums - Antwerp

So how did you apply your fragrance this morning? Did you spray it on your back, with the help of a friend? This is how I was advised to do it by the SA at In Fine Parfums in Antwerp, Belguim. A very nice parfumerie located near the heart of the old town square. She said that by spraying it on the front, you smell it too constantly, and soon you can't smell it anymore. So by spraying it on your back the fragrance will waft around and you will catch whiffs of it throughout the day. Hummm. Well I wasn't buying into all that static, even though she sprayed my back with a scent that never came around front. But I did get caught up in the sales ploy nonetheless.

Entering the store it was hard to tell what the end game was. There was a table with many bottles of scents, all numbered. You then went down the line, sniffing each scent, and marking down the ones that hit you in a good way, at least initally. There were coffee beans for cleansing the palatte, so I began. Now I'm a very easy to please person, so many of them smelled quite nice. I was setting aside so many, I had to ask what the usual amount should be. When told it was 4-6, I went back and eliminated a few. That being done, I finally narrowed it down to my six favorites. It was now hitting me that these were not single notes, they all were their own compostions. I was wondering what comes next. Do they hand mix all six of your choices into some rare and select perfume that is created just for you? How exciting!

Next came a talk along with illustrations of the fragrance catagories and what each one translated into in terms of personality. Ok, ok, get on with it. I'm warm and sensitive and compasionate, yada, yada. Next she asked me to close my eyes and they let me smell each of the scents again, eliminated one by one by comparison to the one I liked best. At this point my friend and I were full of questions - "What notes are in here?", "This smells just like ...". But no. The notes are secret. The numbers on the bottles are the only idenitfiers. And it seemed Number 53 was my HG. My destiny, my fate. The unique fragrance that was me and only me. And of course anyone else who choose number 53.

Well at this point, I did admittedly really like the scent above all the others and was so caught up in the moment, I bought the scent in the small size for 54 euros. A nice 50ml bottle. I walked out wondering what just happened. Neat trick. Well I really didn't mind because it was fun sniffing all their scents and it was a nice memory from Antwerp I'll always carry with me.

13 comments:

Madelyn E said...

Dear Victoria,
What a charming Parfumerie story -in Antwerp!Yhanks for the photos ! what sweet memories. I have tried spraying the perfume and then----walking through it , spraying on my neck, my wrists and in a empatic act of adornment - I spray the bottom part of my legs ! So I have the essence permeating everywhere ! Today I'm wearing Beautiful.It is my cool weather scent. Opium is my summer scent -historically on and off since 1979 when it first came out in Bloomingdale's NY ! Did you buy any delicious coffe and tyea on your trip, deear Vic ?
Love,
Madelyn E

Victoria said...

Good morning my dear! I did not buy any coffee ot tea, but my friend did give me the most amazing box of tea from Germany. It's cherry rose, and smells and tastes delicious!!

Marina said...

Ooh, what is it like??

Anonymous said...

Lovely story Vic, and I especially love the pic of you two beauties!

Jenny said...

Nice story, which one of the two girls is you on the photo?

Victoria said...

Colombina, it is powdery with a bit of amber I think. It reminds me of something but I can't quite place it. I'm wondering now if many of the scents weren't actually dupes. But I'm sure they made them themselves. LOL, it would be funny if it's something I already own. :O)

Victoria said...

Jenny, I'm first. The second person is my friend from Holland.
:O)

Heather said...

I've never been to Antwerp but I kinda enjoyed Amsterdam - I found it really cosmopolitan in a relaxed and informal kind of way.

Wouldn't recommend spraying the back myself - the hair is a better bet - but you can't beat putting a slug of perfume down the old cleavage can you?

Heather

Victoria said...

Hi Heather, I totaly agree. Thanks for stopping by!

Caitlin Shortell said...

Dear Victoria,
What a great time you two must have had! Thanks for posting the adventures and lovely photos of two of my favorite perfume bloggers.
p.s. now I'm dying to know what was in your selected perfume, even if the notes are secret.

Anonymous said...

Spray your back even The Duke was surprised he doesn't know any contorionists. So the big question is which oe of us is moving you to Europe or me to the States

Victoria said...

I don't know, but I miss you!!!!!

Myriam Nussbaum (In Fine perfumes Antwerp) said...

Dear Victoria,

I'm sure you deeply enjoyed your perfume Manamah n° 53, as it is a warm and mysterious perfume with amber and powder.
The brand 'In Fine' exists now for exactly 30 years, and we recently opened a shop in Haarlem (nice little town in Holland). Main purpose for In Fine is to distinguish itself from the more commercial brands, and certainly never ever try to resemble any mass product. Apart from the subtle and traditional perfumes within the collection, In Fine has more and more extravagant and outspoken perfumes. And most important of all, it's always a pleasure to be able to choose your perfume in a relaxed and quiet environment, just like it used to be in the ancient days in Paris...