Perfume Palate: A Matter of Taste [Anne-Marie Guarnieri]

I have been following Allure Magazine's Senior Editor Anne-Marie Guarnieri on Twitter for quite some time now (her handle is @AMG_onthego, and you should follow her). And like a few of the other Allure staffers that I've known, she has a happy-wackiness about her that only comes as a result of abject obsession. The CDC (the Cosmetics Dope Committee) has reported that this particular strain of wackiness only exists within the walls of the Allure offices, as it's been proven that it cannot survive in any other environment. Impervious to treatment, it has been rapidly spreading in a contained setting for years-- but what does that really mean? It means that Anne-Marie loves her job, and it shows. She has an eye (and a nose, as you'll see) for amazingness, and she seems to come from a place of MORE, PLEASE. More knowledge, more products, bigger and better solutions and transformations. More pretty, please. And that is definitely something I can relate to.

First of all, please state your name and occupation:

Anne-Marie Guarnieri, Senior Editor, Allure Magazine.

What is your favorite perfume at the moment?

Agonist's Vanilla Marble. I smelled it for the first time at Elements last month. There's something about this vanilla that's different from others I've come across. It's creamier, smoother, richer, somehow. I love it.

What is your favorite fragrance house or brand of perfume?

Oh man, this is an impossible question.Especially since I discover new brands and perfumers all the time. And my favorite things change seasonally. Too hard!

How often do you wear perfume, and under what circumstances do you wear it?

Every day. I like to layer. I rarely, rarely don't wear it. 

Is it important to you to know who the perfumer or creator is behind the perfumes you wear?

Important, no, but I'm a curious person so I always try to find out. I'll give anything from anyone at any price point equal time.

Do you follow the work of certain perfumers, and if so, who?

Yes! Here's just a sampling of who I check up on regularly: Francis Kurkdjian, Keiko Mecheri, Christopher Sheldrake, Ben Gorham, Calice Becker, Olivier Polge, Isabelle Doyen, Frederick Bouchardy, David Moltz, Gerald Ghislain and Jean-Claude Ellena. 

Think of an iconic perfume bottle design from the past. What is it?

Is Jean-Paul Gaultier's busty bottle old enough yet to be considered iconic? [Ed: I say absolutely]

How many times a day do you estimate that you think about perfume?

It depends: if I'm working on a story or researching a story, I think of it all day long. But sometimes, just in the morning when deciding what to wear, which isn't always a quick process, given how large my collection is.

Think of the last time you complimented someone on the fragrance they were wearing. Did you ask them what it was, and if so, did they tell you?

Yes. It was Nicole Richie, and she was wearing her new signature perfume, Nicole.

In just three words, describe your ideal fragrance:

Resinous, sweet, weird. 
Incidentally, I've challenged David Moltz of DS & Durga to make me a perfume that smells like breakfast foods, specifically: scrambled eggs, buttered toast, pancakes and syrup. He's still trying. I know he'll get it eventually. 

[photo courtesy of AMG, who holds all rights]

Perfume Palate: A Matter of Taste [Meirav Devash]

[no Mom, this isn't me. I swear it]

Ah.... where to begin? To describe the nature of my shared history with Meirav Devash would be very easy, because we don't really know each other. I've seen her name pop up regularly in magazines for her editorial work and on Twitter-- we do have mutual acquaintances. When I asked her to take part in this blog series, some kind of weird crack in the universe occurred very far from here. It made a huge ruckus out there in space and it sounded suspiciously like Taake's Voldtekt. Meirav and I skipped the polite niceties of making a new acquaintance and went right for the (bbq veggie seitan) meat. Quite simply, it appears we were cut from the same cloth. Which is, of course, a vintage black metallic silk brocade.

First of all, please state your name and occupation:

Meirav Devash. Freelance writer and editor, genuine rock vixen and contributing editor for Allure Magazine.

What is your favorite perfume at the moment?

Prada Infusion d'Iris. It's a non-granny floral that's fresh and clean. 

What is your favorite fragrance house or brand of perfume?

Frederic Malle and Demeter both come out with intriguing scents, but in totally different ways. I mean-- Carnal Flower vs Pure Soap, right? But I'm open to any nose with a good idea-- it's easier to say what I don't like, which is anything that smells like something someone would bring to a party in the conference room  (cupcakes, chocolate, candy) and anything that stinks of the 80s (musks, asphyxiating orientals, alcohol-heavy scents that smell like The Fokkens on too many gin and tonics).

How often do you wear perfume, and under what circumstances do you wear it?

Every morning and before going out for the evening, unless I forget-- and then once I remember, I feel sad knowing I smell like Dove deodorant. 

Is it important to you to know who the perfumer or creator is behind the perfumes you wear?

I like to let a fragrance speak for itself, but I'll admit I'm a sucker for cute packaging. 

Do you follow the work of certain perfumers, and if so, who?

Frederic Malle, Edwin Creed, Christopher Brosius, Christine Nagel, Fabrice Penot, Kilian Henessy, Gwen Stefani. I told you, my weakness is for those adorable little Harajuku girl bottles. I have one in my bathroom staring down at my toothbrushes. I've never worn it, she just lives there.

Think of an iconic perfume bottle design from the past. What is it?

It's not iconic per se, but the hand grenade bottle for Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb makes me so, so happy.

How many times a day do you estimate that you think about perfume?

Just when I'm applying it, unless I smell someone delicious. 

Think of the last time you complimented someone on the fragrance they were wearing. Did you ask them what it was, and if so, did they tell you?

Yes, and I promptly forgot. 

In just three words, describe your ideal fragrance:

Surprising, seductive, subversive

This is a question about black metal: Do you know what the term "invisible oranges" means? If so, please describe.

Oh, I would love to. Invisible Oranges is a stance a black metal singer takes when he's just SO OVERCOME WITH TOTAL F**KING DARKNESS that he has to form his hands into semi-circular claws that look like he is juicing invisible oranges. Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir is a repeat offender.

(ed.- see photos below for modern day Shagrath in the throes of darkness)

[ed: Highly staged poses such as this one are particularly exemplary. How long the person is able to hold the pose while keeping up a menacing facial expression, enhanced by corpse paint, determines how tr00 his darkness is]

[ed: In this variation, his fat wallet is anchoring his body so that the arms and hands can work without the burden of gravity in order to make orange juice more efficiently. All the newer model black metal frontmen have this feature, which just goes further to prove that pimpin' ain't easy]

Methinks we should mix blood orange extract, holy water and crematorium ash and call it The Sinister Citrus Awakening. Actually, that's not a bad first collaboration for my fictional perfume line, Black Metal Base Notes. Shaggy, Christopher, Fabrice, Frederic: Who's in? Call me. 

[ed: Shagrath circa 1995. This is how I'll choose to remember him. 

They're so sweet when they're babies]

Photo at top courtesy of Meirav Devash, who retains all rights. Photos of Shagrath from Ye Olde Norsk Svart Metall Internet In Helvete, a place that can only be reached if you know the unholy URL.

Major Thrill: I'm featured in an article for Allure Magazine's October issue!

A couple of months ago, I was lucky enough to have been interviewed for the October 2011 issue of Allure Magazine by Contributing Executive Beauty Editor Alyssa Hertzig for her perfume article, "Bottled Seduction". I'm there along with several others including  fellow bloggers (and gals I adore) Victoria from  EauMG and Annie from Blogdorf Goodman, as well as my good friend, perfumer Mandy Aftel.

I am thrilled and honored to be included in Alyssa's article and to be a part of Allure Magazine's October issue, even if in a small way. I've been an Allure reader for a very long time and I don't think I've missed a single issue. So if you love perfume and/or me, or if you just like me and love perfume, whichever, please pick up the October issue of Allure Magazine and read "Bottled Seduction".

The perfect cover model for my first print interview [brows are everything]

Allure.com Daily Beauty Reporter gives a shout-out to #fumechat and friends

I was so surprised today when it was brought to my attention by beauty director for Allure Magazine, Amy Keller Laird, that our fair #fumechat (hosted occasionally on Twitter, Fridays at 9pm Eastern) got a mention. Also mentioned was myself, Annie of Blogdorf Goodman and my pal Victoria from EauMG as good choices to follow on Twitter for fragrance tweets.

You can read the article HERE.

Big thanks to Amy Keller Laird and Heather Muir, this means a lot to us!

[image from www.the-perfumes.com]