Second installement of Joys of the duty-free
Continuing on my recounting of my duty-free adventures I have to say that the mainstream side of things is in good health and offers an abundance of new releases which seems overwhelming at times. It's hard to keep up! Therefore I will need a couple of posts to report all the things I found, so bear with me.
Among row after row of designer and cosmetic houses' fragrances one finds new releases, variations on existing perfumes and that elusive, tantalising thing called a "limited edition", the downfall of many an otherwise intelligent perfumeholic. I pleady guilty, my Honour.
Regarding the former category, I noticed no less than 4 products under the name Miracle on the Lancôme shelf. Miracle original in EDP ( a spicy floral of suprising pleasantness, much like Pleasures original is a little gem in itself), Miracle so Magic ( a pleasant floral of wild rose and what seems like lilac, but actually isn't, tenacious enough and nice), Miracle Sheer ( a summer version of Miracle that to me seems purposeless, unless one is stranded in the Sahara without water) and Miracle Forever ( this is a new limited edition that will become available from September 1st for 46 euros for 50ml EDP- they did not have a full tester, alas! just the demo card)
There is also the new Rose d'amour variation on the Trésor theme, which I was thinking was beating a dead-horse ( I was oversaturated with Trésor in the 90's to the point I cannot take much more) , however the new EDT and this one are much lighter, not cloying, less peachy surprisingly and more centered on a transparent rose accord. Much better, me thinks.
The exciting news seemed to be the new limited edition of Tropiques which would make an appearence only in duty-free shops. Tropiques is the first in a new collection called "Collection Voyage" (Travel Collection) designed by Lancôme.
Tropiques 2006 in Eau de toilette is based on the original Tropiques created by Armand Petitjean, the founder of the brand, in 1935. The original fragrance was part of a collection of five which were presented at the Brussels Exhibition that year as a lucky charm for the new Lancôme brand. Their respective names were: Tendre Nuit, Bocages, Conquete, Kypre and Tropiques. It's interesting to note that Bocage is the name still attached to the brand's deodorants...
The 2006 version is not a re-edition, according to the sales pitch, but rather a re-interpretation of the classic scent, a fact that is usually to the detriment of many classic perfume lovers. 
Tropiques is a fruity-floral perfume encased in a glass bottle shaped austerely, yet friendly. Transparent heavy glass painted with a swoosh of green and red and deep yellow paintbrushes, it makes one instantly take a fancy and want to test it. It beckons to be handed without ever looking pretentious. The box is equally lovely. Simple, happy, modern.
The juice however, to me at least, is not the most exciting thing to come out in recent launches. The initial impression is of a tart grapefruit and mango scent that recalls to mind Jardin sur le Nil, a Jean Claude Ellena creation which I fell for during this past summer, at last (why didn't I fall sooner?). Pretty soon it flies soaring into different skies, though, opening wings of succulent red fruits and introducing a light and airy floral note that must be the jasmine, only it must be hedione and not the heady enfleurage-rendered variety of other heavier floral perfumes. The drydown phase has a slight caramel tinge, like fruit toffee, vanillic, but not enough to make it stay the course and it being an eau de toilette, rather than an eau de parfum does not help much.
Something tells me that the original creation did not have such staying problems and I am a little irritated when asked to fork out good money over fleeting perfume. But maybe there are concerns that heavier blends really offend at the workplace or something, although I can see this more fitted in an exotic locale with straw hat and sunglasses than in the workplace. Which could be a good thing, if you have a void in that section of your perfume wardrobe, but maybe not otherwise.
Top notes: cranberry, raspberry, and kumquat.
Heart notes: mango, jasmine, blackberry.
Base notes: Tonka bean and vanilla.
It retails for 39euros for 50ml EDT and 74 euros for 100ml EDT.
Vintage pic comes from Parfum de Pub, product pic from Advertising campaign of Lancome.
two commentsThose words “limited edition” have been the downfall of many a collector – of all sorts of things, I fear. Would you not agree?
Snarkattack - 06 10 06
I certainly echo your feelings. That is the reason they do them in the first place, I am afraid.
perfumeshrine - 06 10 06
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