Chantilly in the rain.

   Rain showers have been hit and miss all day.  With each one I keep hoping it will linger a while. That way the temperatures stay down at least a little bit!  But no, the rain passes through and the sun comes out. Then the steam starts to rise off everything! Its hot and ridiculously muggy.  But then again, its Summer in central Florida.... and this is what happens! hahaha
   This time of year presents me with challenges when it comes to picking a fragrance to wear for the day.  The humidity can make certain perfumes mutate into hideous monsters on my skin!  (And of course, those NEVER wash off easily)  August is the worst month. I usually wind up using AV by Adrienne Vittadini  for the whole month. For whatever reason, it stays "clean" smelling on my skin.
    But today, the last day of June, I've chosen to splash on some vintage Chantilly eau de cologne by Houbigant. Now I'm asking myself why I forget about this one so often. Perhaps because the newer version by Dana seems so coarse. Its a bit difficult to like and impossible for me to love. The older version however, is a whole different story! And the edc is turning out to be a great choice for this weather.
    Chantilly! Now theres a perfume that brings back memories for a lot of people! Created in the early 40's, it has graced dressing tables and school lockers for years. I meet women who still use it as their signature scent. A lot of people refer to it as "old fashioned". Well if that's the case, then we need more old fashion perfumes on the market!  I wish someone would resurrect this in it's original formulation and with quality ingredients. I'd love it if everyone had a chance to experience this nowadays!
    On my skin it starts out with citrus notes. I hear a lot about the lovely fruity notes in the top, but I barely recognize them. Perhaps they're the sweetness that I detect immediately upon applying. Maybe they are more pronounced in the stronger concentrations.   The beginning is very crisp! That soon mellows as the floral notes rise. Spicy flowers. A hint of carnations.... love that note! Powdery flowers, lots of them. Roses especially. Blended beautifully with the rest of the blooms. Soft musk and even softer leather mellow out the composition. Even the benzoin is soft. Not quiet..... soft ....and gentle. The spices give this a delicate "sparkle". The sandalwood and oakmoss give it a luscious depth! And yes, the vanilla will remind you a bit of vintage Shalimar. Its a joy to wear.
   Chantilly is intricate and yet gracefully simplistic in its overall effect. Its fragrant metamorphosis is a joy to experience!  A testament to the beautiful perfumes of the era it was created in. A classic!

Edit on July 2nd: Seems I got so carried away I forgot to mention how comforting Chantilly is. This is one for soothing the nerves and calming yourself down when the world has been treating you harshly. Enjoy!

Chantilly by Houbigant                         Oriental           1941

Notes (gathered from various internet Fragrance sites)
    Top: Fruity notes, Neroli, Bergamot, Lemon
    Heart: Spices, Carnation, Jasmine, Ylang ylang, Rose, Orange blossom
    Base: Leather, Tonka bean, Musk, Benzoin, Oakmoss, Vanilla, Sandalwood