- Victoria's Own -: Best of 2005

As 2005 draws to a close, it is time to reflect on my favorite fragrances of 2005. Not necessarily new scents for 2005, but most worn and loved. Not in any order. Except Anne Pliska, which always is first, naturally.

ANNE PLISKA - Always tops my list. My Holy Grail, my signature scent for 18 years. It's me, or who I aspire to be. The scent I always reach for on a special occasion or when I want to make a good impression. Yes, I have lots of others, but if I had to give them all up but one, I would choose Anne Pliska. Soft, powdery amber, sophisticated and sexy, it has it all. Always elegant, a classic.

GAULTIER2 - Ok powdery amber lovers listen up!! This one is Amber, Vanilla & Musk!! This SEXY, loud, in your face sillage. I have been talking this one up for months. It will officially debut in 2006, not sure what they are waiting for. It's the bomb!

LAURA TONATTO DAMA - Gorgeous top notes of amber and vanilla are amplified by a powdery opoponax base that acts like an aldehyde. This one fills your personal space with scent that lasts all day, yet doesn't seem to trail. Very feminine and sexy. A whisper of an iris note can also be heard, if one listens closely.

LORENZO VILLORESI MUSK - A soft powdery musk with a slight hint of rose. Warm and powdery this is not your typical musky-musk but rather a snuggly comfort scent. Somewhat similar to Teint de Neige but a bit less powdery and with an opening rose note. Musk, Amber, Sandalwood in the base keep it soft and sexy. Understated and elegant.

100% LOVE - By S-Perfume, a small independent perfume company in NYC. A fragrance described as having "the wet velvety skin of rose petals in water", demands to be tried. Ethereal is the perfect one word description of this fragrance. I'm not sure if there are aldehydes here, but to me it smells like a faint mist of rose water with aldehydes. Truly the scent of angels. I am completely taken by surprise and 100% smitten.

MARC JACOBS BLUSH - The jasmine perfume for those who don't like jasmine. Ok, technically it's a jasmine perfume. But there is no jasmine in it. What, you say?? It has Star Jasmine, Jasmine Breeze Accord and Jasmine Nectar. The Fresh Air Accord makes it light and modern and seem to float on your skin. Great lasting power, with wafts rising up throughout the day. I also own the parfum, in a word - lovely.

ORMONDE JAYNE TOLU - Being very drawn to ambers this year, I fell for this one in a big way. The soft Tolu resin and the frankincense and amber in the base leap forward as top notes in this superbly crafted unique fragrance. Warm and sexy with great sillage. Excellent staying power on both EDP and Parfum. And the matching D'Or alcohol free gel has tiny sparkles of gold, a beautiful way to wear this captivating fragrance.

COSTES BY HOTEL COSTES: Costes was a difficult find for me. I fell in love with it from a sample only to find it was nowhere to be found in the USA at the time. Searching high and low, I finally found it at Browne's in the U.K. Where I promptly also bought the matching bath gel and lotion. Warm woods with spice and incense make this a great unisex scent. And what a great bottle.

CSP COOL TROPIC PALM - Comptoir Sud Pacifique's refreshing summer scent took me by surprise this year. There is something about it I find completely captivating. Maybe it is the Iodine note; a scent from my childhood. Or the Ozone combined with a Sea Water note that lends a beachy feel. Also in the mix is a light note of Lemon on a base of Woods and Musk. Fresh and cool, perfect.

MONTALE SWEET ORIENTAL DREAM - Turkish rose with almonds and honey turn this confection into Montale's answer to Rahat Loukoum. If you are familiar with Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum and Serge Lutens Rahat Loukoum, consider a marriage of the two. Powdery and sweet light rose meets cherry pipe tobacco. The best of both in this warm, compelling scent with great staying power.

Happy New Year to you all, may you have a fragrant New Year! Check out more Best of 2005 on these other great Blogs: