Guerlain Jicky
With my ever growing collection of perfumes, it should be no surprise that indecision sometimes grips me. On these occasions, while I do not particularly dislike going through the list of options, I do at one point surrender with hands up and often I will reach for Jicky. For me, it is the crisp white button down shirt paired with black slacks, a look that always works with its clean lines and casual elegance. Jicky, likewise, has always worked on me and for that reason, it is a much taken for granted scent.
A crisp opening of bergamot sets off this composition, enhancing the clarity of the ensuing notes of beautiful lavender entwined with rosemary, lemon zest, and mandarin. It is wonderfully clean and herbaceous at this stage and makes me think of terribly good northern Italian food, which necessitates the finest simple ingredients of Tuscan bread, zesty cheeses, and fresh herbs. As vanilla, sweet incense, and musk bubble up from the base, they add warmth and just a hint of sweetness, providing a carefully achieved delectable quality. A truly ageless scent, Jicky is subtle and refined without ever being formal or fussy.
It is no wonder that the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, class incarnate, fancied it. I can particularly imagine her wearing it when she rode her horses, as this fragrance is a great choice when you have the wind whipping against your face. Its subtly sweet vapors collide with the refreshing bite of raspy air to resuscitate the crisp accord in an unremitting fashion.
Like all Guerlains, Jicky is available in different concentrations—eau de toilette, parfum de toilette, and extrait de parfum. The parfum is the best, as it is the deepest with a perfect balance of all the notes. The bergamot dissipates in a wink and quickly segues into the heart. Still, the parfum de toilette and eau de toilette are quite nice as well. Indeed, I think that among Guerlains, only with Jicky would the eau de toilette be a decent alternative to the parfum. Often, the parfum must be experienced in order to give a proper judgment as to whether the Guerlain in question is one’s cup of tea.
To be honest, D, I don’t like Jicky as much as I used to. In fact, I’m fairly “down” on the Guerlains as of late.
I’d be happy to give you my bottle of Jicky PdT.
Hugs!
Comment by mreenymo — September 1, 2005 @ 9:30 am
Oooh, lucky D - that’s a sweet offer.
That’s a lovely description… I’ve yet to try Jicky. So much out there, so little time. I do intend on doing so eventually, but as with everything else, I will likely be pokey and slow about it.
I love your choice of pictures. The top one of her in the harbor really sets off your wind-whipped crispness depiction.
Jackie. Jicky. Jackie Jicky. Jicky Jackie. I don’t know why, but saying these two words together fast is weirdly fun. Probably because I am weird ;P
Comment by katiedid — September 1, 2005 @ 1:03 pm
Dear R, you are too good to me.
Of course, I know what you mean about being “down on Guerlain.” Never have we met a more annoying lot than they, but the new ones sound to die for and I love their classics.
Comment by alabasterbrow — September 1, 2005 @ 4:42 pm
Dear K, thank you so much! LOL, I actually repeated to myself, “Jackie likes Jicky” several times while I was writing the post, thus I guess that makes us both weird.
Comment by alabasterbrow — September 1, 2005 @ 4:45 pm
How funny and odd! I’ve just returned to Jicky after a year’s hiatus! I do love it and strangely enough, it smells different to me now that I am different (you know, just the passage of time and things.) The classics are a comfort in sad times.
Comment by Laura — September 1, 2005 @ 5:10 pm
I’ve never tried Jicky as they don’t let me play with testers at Dillards and that’s the only store that sells Guerlain here!
Comment by Atreau — September 1, 2005 @ 9:17 pm
Poor Atreau. Dillards is apparently going for a Perfume Nazi approach to service. “No Guerlain for you!”
Comment by Katie — September 2, 2005 @ 1:03 pm
Oh my. Angel on dear V.’s blog, Jicky on yours. I’m surrounded.
This was just awful to me, but how I wanted to love it for all the reasons you describe so well.
Comment by Campaspe — September 2, 2005 @ 7:16 pm
Hello darling D! What a great description! This was my first “grown up” perfume. I liked it more in the past. Now i seem to keep some but rarely wear it.
Hope you are well.
Comment by parislondres — September 4, 2005 @ 6:46 am
Well, I must admit I never really “got” Jicky, not for lack of trying! I’m not AT ALL sportif, which could be part of my problem, but I have a sample of it right here that I’ll try once more (in the Monclin too) and try to channel you and Jackie K-O and finally “get!” What nice writing about perfume, you really made it come to life for me. When parislondres was wearing Jicky, I was wearing Diorissimo, pretty fundamentally different at the core. Luca T certainly prefers Jicky!
Comment by Qwendy — November 6, 2005 @ 12:24 pm
Dear L, you have found your way here! Giving you a big hug!
I could not agree with you more. Perception changes over time, as we build our olfactory memories and collect experiences of every ilk.
Dear L, I am sorry to hear that September was a sad time for you. I hope you are feeling better now.
Comment by alabasterbrow — November 8, 2005 @ 3:23 pm
Dear S, I hope you get to. It is really a lovely scent, a kind of no-brainer.
Comment by alabasterbrow — November 8, 2005 @ 3:25 pm
Dear F, oh no! I am sorry you and Jicky are foes. I promise to never wear it around you. For you, I will be dressed in Caron Tubereuse, Tubereuse Criminelle, Daim Blond, and the list goes on…
Comment by alabasterbrow — November 8, 2005 @ 3:27 pm
Dear N, thank you! I have so many perfumes that I hardly wear it lately, too, but as you say, it is good to have some around.
Comment by alabasterbrow — November 8, 2005 @ 3:42 pm
Dear W, thank you! Do try it again and let me know what you think of it.
I adore Diorissimo, too. Not only a classic, but the best lily of the valley scent I have tried thus far.
Comment by alabasterbrow — November 8, 2005 @ 3:52 pm
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Dear N, thank you! I have so many perfumes that I hardly wear it lately, too, but as you say, it is good to have some around.
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