Comme Un Evidence Yves Rocher-Fragrance Review

 For a nice change, the fragrance I'm reviewing isn't challenging to wear. That's a definite oddity in my collection as I tend to gravitate to the strange in perfume as with clothing. Sometimes a person just wants to smell nice. Nice is of course subjective and one person's nice is another's migraine (I'm looking at you, Angel) but it would take some determination to find something offensive in Comme Un Evidence. 

The striking thing about cuE is the lack of sweetness. The tendency for modern florals to be sugared up can make it difficult to find something with rose that doesn't veer into cake. Even fragrances that aren't outright gourmands, still seem to nod in that direction, so it was a genuine surprise to find something launched in 2003 that isn't competing with the various candy floss scents of the era. If anything, cuE reminds me of a stripped-down Laura Ashley No 1 which was itself out of place in the 80s. 

One of the more interesting liqueurs I put up over the years was rhubarb based. It tasted alright, but drinking it alone was a challenge as it evoked a combination of dirty fish tank, and grass clippings. Mixed in a cocktail, the smell dissipated, but alone it was hard to stomach. I feel the same about rhubarb notes in perfumery. Used judiciously, they can enhance green and fresh notes as done in cuE where the lily of the valley and oakmoss temper the mouldy aspects. You get a very soft effect, that could be described as powdery mildew, were that not a real thing that afflicts gardens in humid climates. Anyway, the rhubarb is well behaved and I applaud Annick Menardo resisting the temptation to throw fruit or vanilla at it turning cuE into a pie. I enjoy rhubarb pie, but I wouldn't want to smell like one.  

The note pyramid for cuE is so small it is hard to believe it works as well as it does. As with most things, balance plays a role. Yes, there's white musk and patchouli in there but neither make their presence individually known. I tend to associate white musk with household cleaners and fabric softener because it is used in such quantity in those products. cuE doesn't smell like Snuggle. 

Violet leaf is used to great effect in cuE. It is fresh smelling and green without evoking a barber shop. Maybe that's part of the magic with cuE-it is green without ever being fougere, clean without being ozonic, and floral without being gourmand. Unbelievably, it still manages to have decent projection and it lasts for hours on both my skin and clothing. 

The marketing seems to suggest it is a romantic fragrance to wear with an organza dress walking on a beach at sunset. I don't get that. I get more of a daytime vibe, pretty without being too much. Could just be me, but then I'm landlocked in the middle of the United States so what the hell do I know about romantic sunset walks on the beach? A sunset walk along the Platte River would only get you eaten alive by mosquitoes. 

Notes:Lily of the valley, oakmoss, rose, rhubarb, violet leaf, patchouli, musk. The rose is a very green rose at that. 

My younger self enjoyed the offerings from Yves Rocher, but over the years I've lost interest. No reason really, other than there's so many companies out there and I sort of forgot about them. I don't think this will be the spark that has me tracking down vintage bottles of 8e Jour, but if I see a random Rocher in a thrift shop, I'll probably give it a try based on the quality of this one. A quick look online shows at least a dozen flankers, so this must have been a successful fragrance for them. I can see why. Sometimes, you just want to smell nice. 

Late Summer Looks

 Finally found the right mask😁

If you're looking for a mask, great tee shirts, or the like,  the people at Shifty Thrifting have a teespring shop HERE. You can help support some great people by buying cool stuff. Anyway, I'm in love with my new mask, and anyone that knows me understands just how(fucking) accurate this is! 

Summer continues to trudge along with the heat and humidity showing no signs of easing. Much as I'd like to start wearing some autumn fashion, I know that it will stay warm in Nebraska well into October. We're presently in a heat wave with temperatures in the high 90s for at least the next week.The overnights are staying in the 70s. 

 Look, I attempted a "hairstyle". You can roll your eyes, I'll wait. Seems like forever since I did a proper outfit post so without further ado...

Outfit details:

Dress-Goodwill

Belt-Hand-Me-Ups

Bracelets-Goodwill

Handbag-Antique mall

Fragrance-YSL Paris (I have a giant bottle and am still indifferent to it. My general reaction is, "It smells nice."). 

This dress gets worn regularly every summer but it seems I rarely get good photos of it. This year I made an effort as it is just too good of a print. I've been lucky enough to thrift several pieces of Boden over the years, and they're just such nice clothes. This dress is fully lined in a thin muslin material that keeps it from clinging without making it too warm on a humid day. 

Outfit Particulars:

Boden dress-Goodwill

Handbag-Thrift World

Bangles-all over

Earrings-Hey Viv Retro (Viv is a small businessperson at the finest).

Shoes-K Mart, years ago

Fragrance-Liz Claiborne in the big triangle bottle. Nice on a hot day, but I rarely think to wear it. 

Here's another dress I wear quite a bit that never gets photographed.

Outfit Particulars:

Dress-Hand-Me-Ups

Cardigan-Marshall Fields, retail, 80s

Clarks shoes-Thrift World

Earrings-Mum's

Necklace-Goodwill

Bracelet-Antique mall

Fragrance-Cabotine de Gres (Fresh! Also nice on a hot day)

Silk is always a good choice in summer, particularly a lightweight skirt like this one.

Outfit Particulars:

Skirt-Goodwill

Blouse-K Mart

Belt-Hand Me Ups

Shoes-Goodwill

Bracelet-Can't remember

Fragrance-Amouage Bracken Woman (this perfume owns my soul, and pocketbook but I don't care. It is equal parts wonderful and strange and I hope they never discontinue it).

Look closely and you can see Ludwig peering out the window. Not really. Made you look though, didn't I?

I'm still mad about how cheaply made the skirt was (I bought it from an online retailer) but I've found a way to make it sort-of work. 

Outfit Particulars-Skirt (crappy company selling online)

Vintage shell-Goodwill

Belt-came with a dress

Shoes, handbag-Hand-Me-Ups

Bracelets-Goodwill

Earrings-Target

Fragrance-Maurer and Wirtz  Original Tabac (I HAD to! I did think about 4711, but it was more of a Tabac mood that day😆. 

I'm unsure how to describe this piece. It isn't a dress as the bottom is open and it is sleeveless and buttons at the top. The high/low hem is something I'd ordinarily hate, but this one is so well done, I can forgive the strangeness of it. I'm wearing leggings that have metal studs for design, and a twenty year old nylon tunic beneath. I was trying to style it like those cutaway dresses of the 50s worn over cigarette trousers. There's no label in the piece, so I have no idea if it is new or old. It is a silky material, most likely synthetic. 

It would be a great outfit if I actually had anywhere to wear it, but damn, I looked good taking out the trash. 

Outfit Particulars:

Tunic-Dots, 90s

Leggings-K Mart

Cutaway dress-Goodwill

Matching bracelets-Claire's, years ago

Vintage necklace-Can't remember

Earrings-K Mart(I think?)

Vintage Candies shoes-Goodwill (I think)

Rings-all over. The faux cinnabar is a Sara Coventry

Fragrance-Jean Patou 1000 (This is another one that I've had sitting around for years but forget to wear. It would probably be a bit much in the heat but indoors with air conditioning it was fine).

Another Shifty Thrifting creation! I wore the shirt to the pharmacy where it provided some welcome laughs. The skirt is a nice, heavy, Indian cotton that ties with a drawstring. I made the earrings because...well why not?

Outfit Particulars:

Skirt-Goodwill

Shirt-Shifty Thrifting

Earrings-made them

Denim clogs-Goodwill

Fragrance-I would have worn Alien if I owned it, but since it is a jasmine bomb, I can't smell it!  So I wore Paco Rabanne Metal which doesn't so much evoke a flying saucer as it does antiseptic skin toner from the 70s but eh, it works. Alien Autopsy Table, perhaps?

This printed linen skirt has never fit me properly, but the tulips are so good, I don't care. It does work better with a jacket. The bag was the last thing I bought before lockdown way back in late February at an antique mall. I believe the  hand-painted wooden plaque was added later as it mentions the local golf club. I'd like to think some fun woman was toting cocktails in it to the country club. 

Outfit Particulars:

Coldwater Creek linen skirt-Hand-Me-Ups

Shirt-Goodwill

Bangles-all over

Vintage shoes-Hand-Me-Ups

Handbag-Antique Mall

Earrings-Target

Fragrance-Worth Pour Homme because it smells like a freshly mowed golf course. 

Something in Lurex, perhaps?

Another dress that gets worn more than the photos would attest. I'm not sure what era it is from, but it does a good job of dressing up/down depending on my mood. In the winter I wear it with a jacket. The vintage shoes have a Made in Yugoslavia label, and they really do look like something I'd have worn in the 80s. I don't wear many flats (even my trainers have a wedge) but these are so fun. The earrings were something I purchased in the 80s. I haven't weighed them but take my word for it-they're seriously heavy from all that metal and glass. The bracelet is another I have in a matching pair, thrifted a few years apart. The ring is some sort of Modernist piece, clearly trying to copy Scandinavian style. I like the way it feels on my finger-well weighted and substantial, without catching on things. 

Outfit Particulars:

Dress-Goodwill

Earrings-The Mexican Shop, Evanston Illinois-80s

Bracelets-both Goodwill

Shoes-Thrift World

Ring-Can't remember

Fragrance-YSL Rive Gauche (I mean, what else would you wear with a lurex dress?! Never going to be my favourite, but sometimes I wear it for nostalgia. We know how I feel about in-your-face-aldehydes.)

That's about it for clothes. I'll leave you with some quick looks at the goings on in the kitchen and garden.

Peanut loaf is made with ground peanuts rather than peanut butter and has a light texture.

3 day potato-starter rye bread

Tofu and veg stir-fry

The sweet potatoes are flowering.

The bread's mood says it all.

Savoury corn pudding made dairy free with margarine and oat milk. It was excellent.

Mimosa salad

Barbecued chicken breast (in the oven) with fresh strawberries. 

 

I mentioned on Instagram that I signed up to be a poll worker on election day in our county. Because of all the created chaos around the election, and because so many of our regular poll workers are older, retired people there's a serious shortage of help. I'll be isolating for 2 weeks after the election (which I may want to do anyway) so I don't need to fear spreading anything to Danny or Mr. ETB, and I'll follow safety precautions, but I must do this. If you're in a position to work the polls, call your local county election commission and see if they can use you. In Nebraska they do pay us for the training and the 13 hour shift on election day, but it isn't much. Basically, it is volunteer work. Other than that, I'm limiting my outside contact to grocery shopping, the dentist, and the pharmacy. We got our flu jabs last week, so that's one less thing to worry about. At 6 months in, this is starting to feel never ending, but it will end, eventually. I hope everyone is staying safe, well, and as happy as possible under the circumstances.