Mar 25, 2010 10:44 AM
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"Perfume is the indispensable complement to the feminine personality; it is the finishing touch of a dress; it is like the rose that Lancret used to sign his paintings"
Why Perfume
Fragrances go a great way in shaping a lady’s identity. You can know her mood from the perfume she uses on any day – romantic, playful, impish, baffling, sensuous, flirty…well the list goes on and on.
I was never a pro in perfume selection. But definitely, I had strong preference when it came to using any fragrance. My preference was always woody & earthy smelling kind of perfumes. The perfumes I had used back in India rarely gave me the subtle yet persistent feel I always craved for. Charlie Blue came close to it, but it was pretty strong. Hence I preferred using deodorant which gave me a wide range in woody smells.
Loitering in Fragrance Land
Taking the suggestions of friends back home, I began on a perfume hunt after coming to San Diego. I was quite apprehensive in the beginning, as my knowledge regarding perfume selection was only rudimentary. Hence, I thought of going with the most primitive method of “smell and decide”. Bvlgari, Prada, Armani, Gucci, Hugo, Chanel, Calvin Klein etc. gawked at me from the classy glass counters of Nordstrom, and it was like a “Swayamvar” kind of experience. Also the pro saleswomen at the respective counters ready with the description of the exquisiteness of their brands added to my confusion. So I took a deep whiff of the coffee beans and got ready to explore the unexplored vista of Fragrance- land.
First impression
Bulgari and Chanel disappointed me terribly.
Gucci was amazing but tad expensive,
Prada – I liked their men’s cologne better.
CK – I loved Euphoria and decided to buy.
But even after that my heart still craved for a perfect smell. Especially since I was getting such a multitude of amazing new fragrances I became covetous spirit was never satisfied and I was looking for something more special!
At last
Finally when I was just dilly dallying with the other less known brands I came across this amazing fragrance which literally bowled me over. I smelled it over my hands again, and again and again, till the lady at the counter thought I was a nut. It was love at first sniff. I groggily asked the lady for its name. The name justified why I fell for it. Romance by Ralph Lauren was definitely me. Like a teen in first love go after the history of her heart throb, I collected a bit for information sharing and here it goes.
Designer History (Collated from various authentic sources)
Ralph Lifschitz was born in The Bronx, New York on October 14. 1939. At age 16, Ralph's brother Jerry changed their last name from Lifshitz to Lauren and today, Ralph Lauren is one of the most iconic names in fashion worldwide. In 1968, he branched out alone and launched a Full Polo menswear line, followed by women's wear in 1971. The fragrances offered by RL are the perfect complement to the brand’s lifestyle element. Polo was the first cologne launched in 1978. Ralph Lauren introduced Romance in 1999.
Today, his portfolio of perfumes for women includes a plethora of popular perfumes.
Love, beauty, life, it all delineates feminine mystique. So as many had quoted- “Romance is the fragrance that evokes the timeless essence of falling in love. It is a celebration of true love, tender moments and togetherness”
A bit more about the product
The fragrance explores the subtle essences of Sungoddess Rose, Marigold, Chamomile Oil, Yellow Freesia, Lotus Flower, Day Lily, Patchouli, Musk, while the aroma of Ginger, White violet, Oak moss and tangerine adds zing to it. The velvety woody smell makes you feel mysterious and sensuous; musk is seductive, while the charming floral fragrance adds to the freshness and makes it sweeter.The perfume quality is being measured in terms of “notes” (just like musical notes) and the choice of components for middle notes, top notes etc. are being done with extensive care and hence choosy customers find it so easy to rely on Romance as they do not have to worry a lot about the technicalities.
Packing The perfume is beautifully packaged in to a clear glass bottle with a silver top encased in a soft baby pink box with Ralph Lauren Romance in black lettering.
Directions / Experience (Based on personal experience & short and crisp lecture by sales woman)
Romance works well only if applied directly on your skin. On clothes it loses its charm. Works best if applied after a shower on dry skin. Apply it on the pulse points - Wrists, base of the throat, behind the ear lobes etc
It’s a subtle essence, so use it generously for the day long impact. Do not dab your wrists together after applying perfume--this breaks down the scent. The perfume doesn’t undergo changes due to body sweat, hence suited for tropical country like ours. Might be the product is targeting the niche of youngster 20-30 years, but those who are young at heart can definitely try. The aroma will stay behind for around 9 to 10 hours in 22-26 Degree Centigrade standard temperature with minimum humidity.
And
Romance is a bit expensive compared to many other more famous brands (3.4 Oz – 65$). But again, it gives ten times return on investment. The fragrance explores every facet of a woman. Fragrance is not a quick fix solution but it has got its own place in every occasion – and this timeless creation from Ralph Lauren is something which reinvented my faith in perfumes. Strongly recommended.
