Glorious Blooms
During the recent festival of roses, while flicking through the archive, I found one scent was missing…
That grand dame of cost effective aldehydes Coty’s L’Aimant.
Whilst I mentioned it in my “Baker’s Dozen: 13 Roses for Anyone Feeling Unlucky in Love”, The Dandy could find no evidence of a full review of the fragrance, though I knew in my heart of hearts I’d penned one!
Then I recalled… it was over at my dear friend Michael Lanier‘s website Scents Memory that this little tale had been told, in the days before The Dandy has a place to call his own.
The Dandy’s Place, honest.
To see this little antique curiosity click just here or on that lovely flacon above and you will be transported.
Well it just so happens, as this recollection dawned upon your forgetful correspondent, that a certain M. Lanier was posting a review of… guess what?
That’s right… Coty’s L’Aimant! And it’s over on his fabulous new invention: a YouTube channel if you please!
To see our gallant friend in all his finery and very fine form giving his all on this fragrance simply click right here, while admiring that fabulous moving picture poster just below.
And while we’re being all film star about things, you can also read an interview with Lanier here on The Dandy.
It’s another of our most popular and favourite posts don’t you know!?!
Talking of favourite things, our “gal pal” Iscent, mistress of the splendid scented emporium I Scent You A Day is just such an individual.
She is the Scheherazade of olfactory review, on a journey of 1001 nights in the fragrant world.
And also rather a fan of L’Aimant too, even daring to compare it with another iconic perfume in this charming list of “Smellalikees”.
Well there we have it, The Dandy… feels he’s done his bit to set the record straight on a neglected, near forgotten ‘drugstore’ gem… one last tip try wearing this rose in creme perfume form and shimmered in powder for ultimate big screen effect.
Oh, and do take a moment to drop in on those dear friends if you get the chance.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy.
The Perfumed Dandy. 
Dear Mr Dandy
I am beaming from ear to scented ear! My birthday isn’t until tomorrow and here you are name checking me on one of my favourite sites. The phrase I need is “chuffed to beans”. Coty L’Aimant is an absolute classic and cheap as chips, but you don’t need me to tell you that. Thank you so much for your very kind words.
Your happy friend
IScent
Dearest Iscent
‘Tis The Dandy’s most very pleasure.
And the Happiest of Miss Happy Birthdays to you for tomorrow (now very nearly almost today!).
I do hope all that perfumed hinting hasn’t been in vein!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
What a lovely addition to your bouquet, and the happiest of early birthday wishes to IScent!
Dearest V
Why thank you!
Iscent is a treasure…. a more measured reviewer of fine fragrance one could never hope to find!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I am lucky enough to have a bottle of L’Aimant which I believe is from the 1940s as far as I’ve been able to research. It was part of my grandma’s collection which came to me in the 1980s when she passed. It has about a half inch of juice left and so I don’t wear it but sometimes uncap it just to see where it is on its journey. After I put the top of my head back on from the initial aldehyde blast still amazingly present and correct, I can also detect the inner workings of the sweet, warm almost honey-ish-but-fruity/boozy notes. It’s an odd little thing, but a must have for vintage collectors.
Oh – and I love IScent’s blog which I found recently and have also now added Lanier’s to my ever increasing list. Will I *ever* get any work done???
Dearest Sally
What a wonderful inheritance!
And how amazing that this tiny slice of affordable luxury continues undaunted on its journey to this day.
Yes there’s plenty of sweetness and something blunt like booze in there too, but rose a go go in the modern version, I wonder if that is what wears away with age….
So pleased that you already know Iscent and that I’ve introduced you to the lovely M. Lanier too!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I enjoyed Iscent’s list of ‘smell-alikes’!
My tip for the day – Red Rose by Al Rehab, or Ombre Rose by Jean Brosseau – both similar to Drole de Rose but a quarter of the price. I’d say they’re a bit more starchy or bright compared to the gentle tones of Drole de Rose, but still, not dissimilar
Oh, and Buddha’s Fig by Organique is similar to Philosykos but a quarter of the price!
Dearest Rose
Wasn’t Iscent’s list just such fun!?! And very true too…
Ombre Rose (I may owe a scented letter on that one) is quite a find, though more difficult to locate these days, but Buddha’s Fig, that’s one I’ve noted down for another day.
Attars I’m all for and have quite a few that smell every bit as good as rather heavy proced ‘exclusive’ perfumes, but I often wonder in these cases just who’s copying who?
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Mr Dandy, thank you so much for the intro to Mr. Lanier and IScent – both are fabulous.I found your interview with Mr. Lanier very moving. And I am now inspired to revisit L’Aimant which was one of my mothers favourites. She had the creme parfum in the little black bottle. She always told me the name meant The Lover – I was disappointed years later to find it it meant The Magnet but maybe that is indeed better suited to it’s power.
Oh my goodness! this IS lovely.
Thank you dandy!
Lanier