Dearest Festive Fairies and Fellows
The Dandy adores Christmas.
I’m sorry, but I do, and over the next week or two I shall be devoting these pages to my own particular form of celebration… details of which to follow anon.
Apologies to the ‘bah humbugs’ among you, but The Dandy says ‘bah humbug’ to your ‘bah humbug’ and that’s enough humbugs to fill a sweet shop with. 
I have selected twelve perfumes, one for each day of Christmas, that have never made it to the top of our little chart (though they may appear on it currently).
You, my Santa’s elves, have between now and The Big Day to decide which scent will next my skin come 25th December 2013. 
So, all you have to do is pick from the sumptuous list below and cast your…
… wait for it…
… 12 Special Time of Year Votes for your favourite or favourites. 
Here goes, the big list… 
French Can Can by Caron
Yresse (formerly known as Champagne) by Yves Saint Laurent
Phul-Nana by Grossmith
Visa by Robert Piguet
Joy by Jean Patou
Rouge (formerly known as Parfum d’Hermes) by Hermes
Diorling by Dior
Tom Ford Black Orchid by Estee Lauder
Chantilly by Houbigant
Louve by Serge Lutens
Parure by Guerlain
Mandragore by Annick Goutal
Well, twelve festive belles there if I may say so. Now The Dandy’s Noel aroma is in your hands… 
… do spread a little cheer in this direction!
Yours ever festively
The Perfumed Dandy. 
Post Script
Don’t forget that’s 12 votes each, to be dispensed and dispersed as you see fit… use them wisely.
Voting closes at a moment before midnight GMT on Christmas Eve, the winner will be announced when The Dandy’s done opening presents!
The Perfumed Dandy. 
You will wear and be loved: Loulou by Cacharel, fabulous and festive scent. Oui?
Dearest Whitemoon
Welcome to The Dandy’s!
Oh Lolou… what a remarkable scent, and most festive too.
I will certainly add it to the list for The Hit Parade proper’s return in the New Year.
Thank you for dropping by and Season’s Greetings.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I love Christmas, too, Mr. Dandy, as long as I’m not forced into the jollity and the spirit comes upon me as the season progresses naturally. It always does, though I am a bit humbuggish around Halloween when they’re beginning the Christmas advertising mania here. 😉 My votes: six on Louve because it seems Christmassy; and six on Chantilly because I love vintage Chantilly almost more than anything. xo
Dearest Lily
Too true. The last couple of days Christmas has sought of caught up on The Dandy. I bought a tree, then some rather fetching new decorations, then the weather became moody and misty and then the seasonal spirit caught up with me.
I tend to ignore the early sales patter quite effectively and enjoy the lights in the streets for their own sake and am therefore largely unaware of the shopping crush – thank heavens.
Now, the Chantilly I have is quite old. Certainly pre barcode. I estimate early to mid 1970s, so that could well be quite a Christmas treat!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Wow, 12 votes! OK, how about 2 votes for each of the following: Yvresse, Joy, Diorling, Black Orchid, Louve, and Parure.
Dearest Fleur
Now that is kind of you to spread the seasonal goodwill. All good choices and quite diverse.
I’m getting excited already as I’ve no idea how this might turn out!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I would like to place the whole Dandy Dozen on Parure! I loved it so and have missed it so much. I assume you have a ‘vintage’ secret stash? When it first came out I was too poor to afford the actual perfume so I bought the little bottle of bath oil and wore that on my wrists and decolletage until I had saved enough to buy the EdP. It was glorious and well worth the wait – how could they abandon it?
Dearest Bee
You are most certainly not alone! Many Guerlain agents tell me this is their most requested discontinued scent. Yet apparently it didn’t sell well when it first appeared.
I have, however, secured access to some vintage spray, so if this is the winner then it will be on hand come Christmas morning.
Such a shame that so few scents now come in a proper bath oil… they were both economical and potent, especially *The Dandy blushes* when applied to decolletage!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Tom Ford Black Orchid (I’m curious why do you make a distinction calling Tom Ford Black Orchid by Estee Lauder but not Annick Goutal Mandragore by AmorePacific Group? 😉 )
Dearest U
I had a hunch you might pick me up on this nomenclature.
I have quite an old bottle of Black Orchid from its original release. At that time the perfume was called Tom Ford Black Orchid and there was no ‘house’ or perfume brand ‘Tom Ford’. Indeed it was quite openly credited as being an Estee Lauder fragrance. Time has moved on and of course there are a whole plethora of ‘Tom Ford’ scents, but mine is from the era when it was an Estee Lauder.
The other reason is because I believe the perfume is still technically called Tom Ford Black Orchid. So rather like Chanel No. 5 by Chanel I would normally credit the company twice, but in this case it would be wrong as the bottle (base) and packaging both say Estee Lauder.
So really for the sake of accuracy (for my flacon at least) I went with Tom Ford Back Orchid by Estee Lauder. Of course there’s another debate to be had as to whether we should make perfumes ‘by’ the individual parfumeur and ‘for’ the house… but let’s save that for another time!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I believe that is the name of the fragrance – like Tom Ford London etc. A little ego trip on the part of Mr. Ford – or just consistent, clever branding whichever way you choose to see it.
Dearest Bee
Quite so. You’ve summed it up more succinctly than my attempt above. Plus my bottle says Estee Lauder on it too!4
The ego trip vs marketing debate rages on I suppose.
Also I wonder whether we should credit all celebrity scents to the company behind them too?
Thanks for the wise words.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Dear Mr Dandy,
I’d love to hear your take on Louve or Joy. I agree with you about Christmas. I can’t get enough and I dodge curmudgeons at this time of year! Bring it on!
Your friend
IScent
Dearest Iscent
Will that be a half dozen votes for each?
Oh and a sprig of mistletoe to take home?
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Dear Mr Dandy
I would like to vote for more and I am hoping that some Christmas clemency from you will allow meto also vote for Visa and Champagne/Yvresse. Despite my not liking peaches in scent, a dear friend wore it and smelled lovely in it.
Your tinselly friend,
IScent
Dearest Iscent
But of course! Who could refuse at this time of year… that’s three votes for all!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I’m going to split my votes between two vintage favorites–please give 6 votes to Parure and 6 votes to Diorling
Dearest Batkitty
Very shrewd choices. Both these assertive scents would see me the day.
Why ever did they discontinue Parure?!?
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Oh gosh, those crimson Christmas balls make me happy! That’s not a euphemism by the way – I too love Christmas and all its accoutrements!
My votes go to Yvresse and Black Orchid by Tom Ford/Lauder
Dearest Rose
How very ‘Are You Being Served’ you’ve become!!
Six votes each for those exuberant perfumed, I’m sure either would match my mood on the day!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Hi Dandy,
Priority wise voting for these two. I have bought Yvresse EDT Legere which is very similar fragrance to the Original Yvresse. After your comments, I’ll wear it.
1. Yvresse.
2. Parure.
Happy Christmas in Advance
Dearest Hikmat
I’m sure that the legere is just as wearable as the original and highly appropriate too.
Parure is an antique wonder, and would be a great treat to wear on this special day.
Thank you for the warm wishes.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Deciding on what scents to use isn’t easy, especially with this exquisite list you’ve drawn up, Sir Dandy. But I hereby cast 3 votes for each of the following:
Yvresse – because Christmas is the best time to drink champagne (aside from New Year’s Day)
Phul-Nana – because I’m fascinated with vintage ads
Joy – because Christmas is the season of joy, after all
Chantilly – because it makes me nostalgic
Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas (or Maligayang Pasko, as we say it here)! 😀
Dearest Elfin One
It is a rather scrumptious list, isn’t it, even though The Dandy does say it himself.
Excellent choices and I’m enjoying all the reasons why, too.
So glad to see Phul-Nana get a little support, it was the Chanel No. 5 of its day you know…
I too have a soft spot for Chantilly. Who can;t help but go gooey at the thought of it.
And how splendid ‘Happy Christmas’ seems in Tagalog!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
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6 votes for Visa, 6 votes for Black Orchid please
Dearest Autonomic
Most excellent choices for two very festive fragrances indeed!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
You know what Mr. Dandy? I was thinking how to split my votes efficiently over the last two days…
….scratch that!
All 12 votes for French CanCan – let there be some friskiness under the Christmas tree 😀
Dearest Miss Misty
Some frolicks beneath the fur!!
Now that sounds exceedingly festive….
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
My entire 12 votes go to JOY! Joy to the world in joy, enjoy! JOY!
Dearest L
Lanier… bringer of JOY!
Has a certain ring to it, don;t you think!?!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
4 votes each for VIsa, Parure and Tom Ford Black Orchid, I almost put all 12 down for Parure, but am so sad that it was discontinued that I am not sure I want to be reminded of how good it was… so, a compromise was called for.
The London parks have been truly beautiful recently with the low winter light and long shadows, I trust you have had time to enjoy them!
Dearest Alice
So many of us mourn for Parure that I feel sure it may yet return one day…. look at Sous Le Vent, out of circulation for an eternity, then it reappeared for a merest flash in Paris and practically nowhere else, now gone again apparently.
Visa and Black Orchid would both be suitably sumptuous though so thank you for all three!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Dear Mr Dandy,
What a fabulous list of lustrous fragrances to choose from for this Christmas day. It is really hard for me to pick just one but will therefore give four votes each to JOY by Jean Patou, YRESSE by Yves Saint Laurent and ROUGE by Hermes.
Happy Holiday!
Marco
Dearest Mr Chau
What an absolute pleasure to hear from you!
Season’s greetings.
And thank you for you ever thoughtful votes… any of these three (or, truth be told, the twelve) would be a JOY (haha) to wear Christmas morning.
I trust your keeping well,
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy