Lentheric Shanghai

Shanghai is a little like starring at the pattern on my suit too long...

...well if you're gonna stare, might as well check out the rear view.



I recently purchased a set of Lentheric perfumes still sealed in their packages. The inner cardboard of the Shanghai cap had sealed so tightly I required a pin to pry it off. It was not unlike breaking into a factory sealed nip. Shanghai dates from 1936, though I believe my bottle to be from the early 50's.

I love perfume. Even fragrances I wouldn't want to wear on my person interest me as cultural/historical artefacts. I would never dismiss something as vile without giving it my best effort to if not enjoy it, at least understand it. I've come to a place like that with Jicky. I wouldn't enjoy wearing it, but I could if I had to (you know, like if I wanted to attract a cat or something). Shanghai, I'm sorry to say is a fragrance I will not be bothering to understand better. It started with allergies, and ended with a headache-something that very rarely happens to me. Yes, it is a perfectly preserved bottle-but I hate it. Hate it. The silage is about halfway across the Atlantic. You'll want to use it sparingly, and put it on in a room alone. You should stay in that room for a while until the aldehydes die down-five or six hours, at least. If you like a long lasting perfume, Shaghai delivers! If you make the mistake of putting some on a hankie be prepared to wash it several times before it is gone.

Top note- (there's really only one detectable) Aldehydes. Like a biology lab. A biology lab filled with open bottles of aspirin that have started to get old, and smell like vinegar and gym socks. I'm being generous-Shanghai wishes it smelled of vinegar and gym socks.

Middle notes-a citronella candle that isn't doing shit to ward off mosquitoes, so you light several more hoping for the best before giving up and going inside. Whilst outside you had a g&t, so it smells of tonic water as well. Once inside, you grab a bottle of Chartreuse, and have a good slug of it before bed. That's Shanghai's middle.

Base notes- God only knows. Something like ambergris mixed with sandalwood, or maybe frankincense. And soap, but not a nice soap but something really medicinal like Physohex. I think I smell Sea Breeze astringent too.

So to summarise-300 level biology class meets right after gym and you haven't had a chance to shower. You had a quick gin and tonic on the way to the science building, and then washed your hands with antiseptic in a room where someone had just come from mass and smells of incense. That's Lentheric's "Masterpiece" Shanghai. I can't believe that the company responsible for such beautiful, original fragrances like Lentheric 12, and Tweed could bring something like this to market. It is not even remotely, nice.

Interestingly, Mr. ETB (who doesn't have much sense of smell) could smell it strongly in the car, and thought it was heavily herbal. Once in the house, he took a better sniff and declared it, "Soapy" but not something like Cashmere Bouquet, or Pears but perhaps something that aspires to be like Cashmere Bouquet or Pears. If there are florals in this perfume, I'll be damned if any of us could detect them. Typically, I like herbal perfumes( I can even take Aliage in small doses) but they still need something to counteract all that pungent green-Shanghai does not readily present anything floral to my nose, and if it is there (which it surely must be) I can't find it.

I still have, Dark Brilliance, Confetti, and Miracle to get through.

Outfit Particulars:

1960's  (70's?) suit by, Scakowitz
1950's velvet hat-Hand-Me-Ups
Shoes-K mart
Blouse-Jennifer Lopez for Kohls
Tights-Donna Karan
1940's velvet handbag-Thrift World
Faux fur-thrifted
Lucite and silver Lisner brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Milk glass 60's earrings-Thrift World
1960's Marvella stranded necklace-Goodwill (I think)
Gloves-Can't remember
Milk glass 50's wrap bracelet-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Lentheric Shanghai