Guerlain, Caron and Angela Flanders.. extraordinary Perfumers!

Perfumes.. SHE lurves them and has HER favourites. In last post I told YOU that SHE worked for Revlon International, when SHE worked for them Charles Revson had jurst died but company was massive and a great employer. SHE worked very happily for them for nearly five years.

Only reason SHE left was SHE was 'poached' by one of best Perfume 'houses' in world.. yes, Guerlain. SHE loved Revlon skin care but wanted to work with perfumes as well, so joined Guerlain, in those days HER English boss was Michel Vincent, a VERY charming Frenchman.. I know YOU know SHE has sooofffttt spot for Frenchmen..

HER favourite perfume by Guerlain was and still is 'JICKY' which dates from early 1800's, a deliciously unusual fragrance. SHE was with them for several years, then something happened and SHE wanted to change HER life. This involved changing jobs as well..

SHE found a delicious perfume by Caron, it was called 'Bain de Champagne'... oh, I lurved this smell, sadly it is no more.. discontinued, at least in England.

But do not feel too sorry for HER because SHE has had secret up HER sleeve.. 'CASPIAN' is HER secret.. one Sunday back in 1985 SHE was in East End Flower Market called Columbia Road. (it is off Hackney Road and is on Sunday mornings ONLY from 9.00 am until 2.00 pm). And SHE saw an enchanting window display, upon entering this small shop, SHE found delightful woman with gloriously goodly things.. woman's name was Angela Flanders as was name of shop.

They became friends and over years, Angela taught herself Art and Science of Perfumery and developed a mighty fine 'nose' as WE call it in Perfume Industry.. Fast forward to July 7th, 1993.. HER birthday and Angela came to party at home bearing large bag of delicious fragrant treasures..

Angela had made whole range of 'CASPIAN' for HER as a present, people always ask HER.. "what perfume are YOU wearing?".. it is sold in Angela's shop in Columbia Road.. along with large range of other delicious perfumes... too many to mention by name but NOTHING like YOU will find elsewhere.. Google Angela for I believe she is now on Web.

Better still.. Go to Columbia Road and find this exquisite shop, tell Angela that GeeGee's maman sent YOU, go and sniff and find yourself a treasure.. she makes men's colognes as well..

Then stroll through Columbia Road Market and smile.. yes, because it is real.. Pilot said he thought it was a film set! But no, it happens every Sunday unless Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. Flowers, Herbs, Plants, Bulbs.. market has street shops selling good stuff, there are excellent places to eat.

But best shop in street is Angela's.. purveyor of HER favourite perfume.. And if YOU did go and have a lovely jaunt at Columbia Road and knew what SHE looked like YOU would surely see and recognise HER.. for today, Sunday, is Flower Market day!

And today.. is also MY birthday!

GeeGee Parrot.
July 28th, 2012.