I have a story that I think you might appreciate. Â*I apologize that this story is a little long and somewhat mundane, but I think some of you might find it amusing. Â*
About a week before Christmas, I was in the local Nordstrom, and I just happened to find myself standing in front of the Chanel counter. Â*Although I was minding my own business, I was also INTENTLY STARING at the glass case of said Chanel counter. Â*I was staring at an open box of ChanelÂs Rue Cambon Collection, one-quarter ounce each of Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie, and Gardenia pure perfume. Â*I knew that the San Francisco Chanel Boutique and both the Chanel.com and Gloss.com websites only sold Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie, and Gardenia in separate bottles. Â*I quickly leaped to the erroneous conclusion (this is called Âwishful thinkingÂ) that the boxed set of the three perfumes was probably a good price that was only offered at special times such as the Christmas shopping season. Â*A Nordstrom Sales Assistant (for the life of me, I cannot remember what she looked like because all of my attention was intently focused on the bottles of the Rue Cambon Collection) came over to me and inquired if she could be of assistance. Â*At this point, I should point out the fact that I am not a financially wealthy man; I labor long and hard to earn a paycheck. Â*However, I do own credit cards. Â*In fact, it just so happened that at that very moment, I had a Nordstrom credit card and some other credit cards sitting in my wallet, also innocently minding their own business. Â*So, of course, when the SA asked me if she could be of assistance, I immediately, without a momentÂs hesitation, told her that yes, she could be of assistance, she could sell me that box of ChanelÂs Rue Cambon Collection, one-quarter ounce each of Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie, and Gardenia pure perfume. Â*From somewhere, another SA suddenly appeared, and the two of them were absolutely beaming at me, and probably thinking something like, ÂOh, what a nice, thoughtful man; heÂs buying a Christmas present for his wifeÂor girlfriend Âor sisterÂor auntÂor motherÂor grandmother; he is such a sensitive, kind man to be buying such a beautiful gift for some lucky womanÂ. Â* Even a bystander woman customer came over, and the three of them were all beaming admiringly at me. Â*When the first SA asked if I would like that gift wrapped (which was free), I immediately decided that it was just going to be a lot easier on me if I pretended that it was a gift for a woman, and so I answered ÂyesÂ. Â*Well, in fact it was a gift, but it was a gift to myself. Â*I paid for it and went home. Â*Immediately, I got onto the internet to check out the Chanel Rue Cambon prices at the Chanel.com and Gloss.com websites, and I then realized that it would have been much more economical to purchase the perfumes from one of these websites or from the San Francisco Chanel Boutique, especially since I was only interested in the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie, and I had no interest in the Gardenia. Â*Fortunately, Nordstom has a very classy returns policy, and I returned the perfume the next day, only about 12 hours after I had purchased it. Â*Of course, I had respectfully kept the perfume in perfect, unopened, and undamaged condition. Â*I then continued to be involved in all the wonderful hoopla of the Christmas Holiday season, and I didnÂt think much more of the Rue Cambon perfumes for a couple weeks.
Then, on Friday, December 30, I Âjust happened to make a phone call to the San Francisco Chanel Boutique, and I inquired as to the hours that the store was open. Â*I made a mental note of the fact that the store was open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM. Â*The next day was Saturday, New YearÂs Eve. Â*All day long, I debated with myself whether I should go to the Chanel Boutique to buy the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes. Â*I kept reminding myself that I could not afford to buy these perfumes, and that these were actually designated by Chanel as womenÂs perfumes, and therefore they would be inappropriate for me to wear. Â*Moreover, although I had tested and liked both the Bois des Iles EDT and the Cuir de Russie EDT, I had never actually had the opportunity to test either of the perfumes. Â*Also, I have had a lot of problems with perfume allergies, and I wasnÂt at all sure that I would even be able to physically wear these perfumes if I did buy them. Â*And besides, I had been to the San Francisco Chanel Boutique in June to purchase a bottle of Chanel fragrance, and at that time the French Sales Assistant treated me with complete and utter disdain and scorn because of my poor pronunciation of French, which I had never studied in school.
On the other hand, I wanted these perfumes. Â*I think Basenoters understand why I wanted these perfumes. Â*Whenever I try to talk about my interest in fragrance with my family, friends, or co-workers, they invariably look at me as if I am totally insane. Â*But I think my fellow Basenoters understand. Â*In the end, even though I am not a financially wealthy man, I am willing to spend my hard earned money on perfume. Â*In the end, I am willing to risk perfume allergies. Â*In the end, I am willing to publicly endure disparaging scorn and contempt because of my poor pronunciation of a language I do not know. Â*In the end, I am willing to accept the fact that my perfume purchases might turn out to be spectacular flops. Â*In the end, I simply wanted the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes. Â*I finally wrestled all of my doubts to the ground and realized this around 3:30 PM on New Years Eve, and I drove into the city of San Francisco, directly to the Chanel Boutique, which I knew would be open until 6:00 PM. Â* I arrived at my destination at 4:30 PM only to discover that the Boutique had closed early that day, at 4:00 PM, because of New Years Eve! Â*I had been foiled a second time!
The Chanel Boutique was closed on Sunday, New Years Day. Â*I had a day off work on Monday, January 2, so it was a perfect opportunity to go to the San Francisco Chanel Boutique, to once again suffer public humiliation by the SA, and to purchase the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes. Â*However, Northern California was being lashed by severe wind and rainstorms and flooding, and a police officer had even been killed as a result of the inclement weather. Â*I decided I wasnÂt going to be foiled again, this time by the storms and flooding. Â*Instead, I went to the Gloss.com website, and 90 seconds later, the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes were mine! Â*Now, I only have to sit back and patiently, deliciously wait for their delivery! Â*When they do arrive, and I get to test them and wear them, I will let you know my impressions. Â*
As I mentioned previously, I have experienced some degree of difficulty with perfume allergies. Â*I have even had long periods of time when I was unable to wear any fragrance on my body. Â*Recently, however, I have been able to wear, and greatly appreciate, Chanel Antaeus EDT and Chanel Egoiste EDT, decants of which I purchased from Scentemental, our fellow Basenoter and my good friend. Â*Purchasing decants from fellow Basenoters is such a pleasure! Â*It is also so economical!
When I was a boy, I used to earn money in our neighborhood by mowing lawns in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter. Â*One of the things I did with my hard earned cash was to buy Chanel No. 5 (I think it must have been the EDT version) for my Mother, on more than one occasion. Â*It was several years later that she told me that the Chanel she really liked was No. 19, but she didnÂt want to hurt my feelings by not accepting the No. 5. Â*For some reason, probably not unrelated to a boyÂs childhood love for his Mother and his desire to give her a special gift, I have ever since always had feelings of good will toward Chanel. Â*This makes it even sweeter that I am now experiencing such pleasure wearing the wonderful fragrances from this venerable perfume house. Â*
I have heard some people say that Antaeus is too masculine for them to wear. Â*Fortunately, I donÂt feel that way about Antaeus. Â*And, of course, other people might say that Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie are too feminine for a man to wear, but I donÂt share those feelings either. Â*I feel perfectly comfortable wearing either the Âmasculine Antaeus or the Âfeminine Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie. Â*But my favorite is Egoiste. Â*Truthfully, because of my past history with perfume allergies, I am thrilled that I am able to wear any fragrance at all, but what a bonus that the fragrances I get to wear are these fantastic Chanels!
Well, like I said at the beginning, this story was a little long and somewhat mundane, but I hope that some of you might have found it amusing. Â*
My very best wishes for each of you to have a very happy and prosperous New Year!
About a week before Christmas, I was in the local Nordstrom, and I just happened to find myself standing in front of the Chanel counter. Â*Although I was minding my own business, I was also INTENTLY STARING at the glass case of said Chanel counter. Â*I was staring at an open box of ChanelÂs Rue Cambon Collection, one-quarter ounce each of Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie, and Gardenia pure perfume. Â*I knew that the San Francisco Chanel Boutique and both the Chanel.com and Gloss.com websites only sold Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie, and Gardenia in separate bottles. Â*I quickly leaped to the erroneous conclusion (this is called Âwishful thinkingÂ) that the boxed set of the three perfumes was probably a good price that was only offered at special times such as the Christmas shopping season. Â*A Nordstrom Sales Assistant (for the life of me, I cannot remember what she looked like because all of my attention was intently focused on the bottles of the Rue Cambon Collection) came over to me and inquired if she could be of assistance. Â*At this point, I should point out the fact that I am not a financially wealthy man; I labor long and hard to earn a paycheck. Â*However, I do own credit cards. Â*In fact, it just so happened that at that very moment, I had a Nordstrom credit card and some other credit cards sitting in my wallet, also innocently minding their own business. Â*So, of course, when the SA asked me if she could be of assistance, I immediately, without a momentÂs hesitation, told her that yes, she could be of assistance, she could sell me that box of ChanelÂs Rue Cambon Collection, one-quarter ounce each of Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie, and Gardenia pure perfume. Â*From somewhere, another SA suddenly appeared, and the two of them were absolutely beaming at me, and probably thinking something like, ÂOh, what a nice, thoughtful man; heÂs buying a Christmas present for his wifeÂor girlfriend Âor sisterÂor auntÂor motherÂor grandmother; he is such a sensitive, kind man to be buying such a beautiful gift for some lucky womanÂ. Â* Even a bystander woman customer came over, and the three of them were all beaming admiringly at me. Â*When the first SA asked if I would like that gift wrapped (which was free), I immediately decided that it was just going to be a lot easier on me if I pretended that it was a gift for a woman, and so I answered ÂyesÂ. Â*Well, in fact it was a gift, but it was a gift to myself. Â*I paid for it and went home. Â*Immediately, I got onto the internet to check out the Chanel Rue Cambon prices at the Chanel.com and Gloss.com websites, and I then realized that it would have been much more economical to purchase the perfumes from one of these websites or from the San Francisco Chanel Boutique, especially since I was only interested in the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie, and I had no interest in the Gardenia. Â*Fortunately, Nordstom has a very classy returns policy, and I returned the perfume the next day, only about 12 hours after I had purchased it. Â*Of course, I had respectfully kept the perfume in perfect, unopened, and undamaged condition. Â*I then continued to be involved in all the wonderful hoopla of the Christmas Holiday season, and I didnÂt think much more of the Rue Cambon perfumes for a couple weeks.
Then, on Friday, December 30, I Âjust happened to make a phone call to the San Francisco Chanel Boutique, and I inquired as to the hours that the store was open. Â*I made a mental note of the fact that the store was open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM. Â*The next day was Saturday, New YearÂs Eve. Â*All day long, I debated with myself whether I should go to the Chanel Boutique to buy the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes. Â*I kept reminding myself that I could not afford to buy these perfumes, and that these were actually designated by Chanel as womenÂs perfumes, and therefore they would be inappropriate for me to wear. Â*Moreover, although I had tested and liked both the Bois des Iles EDT and the Cuir de Russie EDT, I had never actually had the opportunity to test either of the perfumes. Â*Also, I have had a lot of problems with perfume allergies, and I wasnÂt at all sure that I would even be able to physically wear these perfumes if I did buy them. Â*And besides, I had been to the San Francisco Chanel Boutique in June to purchase a bottle of Chanel fragrance, and at that time the French Sales Assistant treated me with complete and utter disdain and scorn because of my poor pronunciation of French, which I had never studied in school.
On the other hand, I wanted these perfumes. Â*I think Basenoters understand why I wanted these perfumes. Â*Whenever I try to talk about my interest in fragrance with my family, friends, or co-workers, they invariably look at me as if I am totally insane. Â*But I think my fellow Basenoters understand. Â*In the end, even though I am not a financially wealthy man, I am willing to spend my hard earned money on perfume. Â*In the end, I am willing to risk perfume allergies. Â*In the end, I am willing to publicly endure disparaging scorn and contempt because of my poor pronunciation of a language I do not know. Â*In the end, I am willing to accept the fact that my perfume purchases might turn out to be spectacular flops. Â*In the end, I simply wanted the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes. Â*I finally wrestled all of my doubts to the ground and realized this around 3:30 PM on New Years Eve, and I drove into the city of San Francisco, directly to the Chanel Boutique, which I knew would be open until 6:00 PM. Â* I arrived at my destination at 4:30 PM only to discover that the Boutique had closed early that day, at 4:00 PM, because of New Years Eve! Â*I had been foiled a second time!
The Chanel Boutique was closed on Sunday, New Years Day. Â*I had a day off work on Monday, January 2, so it was a perfect opportunity to go to the San Francisco Chanel Boutique, to once again suffer public humiliation by the SA, and to purchase the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes. Â*However, Northern California was being lashed by severe wind and rainstorms and flooding, and a police officer had even been killed as a result of the inclement weather. Â*I decided I wasnÂt going to be foiled again, this time by the storms and flooding. Â*Instead, I went to the Gloss.com website, and 90 seconds later, the Bois des Iles and the Cuir de Russie perfumes were mine! Â*Now, I only have to sit back and patiently, deliciously wait for their delivery! Â*When they do arrive, and I get to test them and wear them, I will let you know my impressions. Â*
As I mentioned previously, I have experienced some degree of difficulty with perfume allergies. Â*I have even had long periods of time when I was unable to wear any fragrance on my body. Â*Recently, however, I have been able to wear, and greatly appreciate, Chanel Antaeus EDT and Chanel Egoiste EDT, decants of which I purchased from Scentemental, our fellow Basenoter and my good friend. Â*Purchasing decants from fellow Basenoters is such a pleasure! Â*It is also so economical!
When I was a boy, I used to earn money in our neighborhood by mowing lawns in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter. Â*One of the things I did with my hard earned cash was to buy Chanel No. 5 (I think it must have been the EDT version) for my Mother, on more than one occasion. Â*It was several years later that she told me that the Chanel she really liked was No. 19, but she didnÂt want to hurt my feelings by not accepting the No. 5. Â*For some reason, probably not unrelated to a boyÂs childhood love for his Mother and his desire to give her a special gift, I have ever since always had feelings of good will toward Chanel. Â*This makes it even sweeter that I am now experiencing such pleasure wearing the wonderful fragrances from this venerable perfume house. Â*
I have heard some people say that Antaeus is too masculine for them to wear. Â*Fortunately, I donÂt feel that way about Antaeus. Â*And, of course, other people might say that Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie are too feminine for a man to wear, but I donÂt share those feelings either. Â*I feel perfectly comfortable wearing either the Âmasculine Antaeus or the Âfeminine Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie. Â*But my favorite is Egoiste. Â*Truthfully, because of my past history with perfume allergies, I am thrilled that I am able to wear any fragrance at all, but what a bonus that the fragrances I get to wear are these fantastic Chanels!
Well, like I said at the beginning, this story was a little long and somewhat mundane, but I hope that some of you might have found it amusing. Â*
My very best wishes for each of you to have a very happy and prosperous New Year!
