The second color I’ve chosen in my color Pantone Color Experiment is Linen 12-1008. When I first started out I figured it was either ”off-white leaning toward pink” or ”an extremely pale, medium toned pink” but soon I realized that, for me, it was none of those things. What it was, is the near exact match of my skin tone (yes, I’m pale even by Scandinavian standards) and it became impossible to think of it as anything but ”skin colored”. So, I’ll apologize right away, this post is more about skin sensations than Linen 12-1008, in my case, they just happened to coincide. So feel free to substitute your own skin color and we’ll get going!
Among the skin scents I’ve tried, there is one to rule them all, namely Frederic Malle, Musc Ravageur. I still remember the chock I got first time I tried it, my impression was something along the lines of: ”OMG, this is a huge, 300+ pounds man, dressed in a bunny suit, caked with baby powder, who preys on little girls”. Add then, you know how it goes, I stayed away from it for a while. Then: ”Could it really be that bad?” And before I knew it I was head over heels in love, on my way to introduce him to my mom. To me, now, Musc Ravageur smells like I’ve dusted my body with the loveliest spices, the kind that swirl around in the air, beckoning people to come closer. Then, there is a layer of sticky vanilla syrup on warm skin, turning me into a human Venus Fly Trap, all gorgeous and cuddly smelling from a distance but lethal up close. Just as bunnyman intended it, come to think of it…
Musc Ravageur is an exception in the skin scent category, as it’s so dense and HUGE. A more representable scent is Huitième Artes, Poudre de Riz. This one starts out dry powdery, reminding me of when I was an exchange student in Thailand. The climate there is very warm (the daytime average temperature in the region where I stayed is around 35°C or 95°F) and neither my host family nor school had air con, so most of the time I spent soaked in sweat. The only time of the day I felt really fresh was for about an hour in the morning. The air was cool, I had showered, washed my hair, dusted mentholated baby powder all over my body and then donned a clean and freshly ironed school uniform before going out to catch the boat to school (no, they were not as stylish as the dresses in the picture). I won’t say Poudre de Riz smells anything like those mornings, it doesn’t, and it’s far more polished ladylike than I’ll ever be. But it does captures that precious feeling of finally being fresh, clean, groomed and ready to meet a new day.
A skin scent without powder is Sonoma Scent Studio, Egyptian Musk. Whenever I wear this I see myself in a very airy, sunny room, waking up all refreshed after nap, in a bed made with exquisitely made, high quality, cotton bedsheets. The scentroams the borderland between skin and cloth, both very fresh and recently washed. It probably won’t sound that special to anyone else, but as I have small kids and can easily count the whole nights I’ve slept, for the last 6 years, on one hand. It’s utter luxury!
A workable, but flimsier feeling, substitute for Egyptian Musk is Clean Skin. The Cleans have some vile abominations in the lineup but this one actually isn’t bad. It’s VERY subtle, just a hint of clean warm skin and cotton sheets hung up to dry in the wind somewhere far in the distance.
So, what have I learned from Linen 12-1008?
- When talking about skin scents, there is a big difference between skin scents that smell like ones own skin, only somehow enhanced, or skin scents that smell like other peoples skin. I adore Lutens Muscs Koublai Khan and love to wear it, but not in a hundred years will my own skin smell anything remotely like it. It’s anothers persons scent, a mans scent, and in that fact lies a lot of its appeal.
- Skin scents are not a category I’ve previously been very interested in. I used to think, ”I love perfume and isn’t the point or perfume to NOT smell like your own skin?”. I’m still not converted (except for Musc Ravageur), but I’ve been thinking about if I’d been of a different opinion if we lived in a society where clothes aren’t the norm. I have a friend who spent all his childhood summers at naturalist campsites with his parents. They were not into the nudist thing in other ways (that I know of) but their explanation for why they preferred nudist camps were that ”the toilets are always cleaner”. Would we be more attuned to our bodies if we saw them all the time? I bet we’d eat healthier as those growing love handles can’t be hidden under a thick swearter. And would it also affect our choices in scenting it? I have no answers here, but if someone has an opinion on that or anything else, I’d love to hear!
Big thanks to Parfumistan who let me have her last drops of Poudre de Riz fo this review 
Pics: pantone.com, travelfish.org
Hi Sigrun. I always wonder when I compliment people a lot whether they’ll know I’m being sincere — and this week, I’m giving out a lot of compliments all over the place, because I find myself just blown away by the perfume writing I’ve encountered in so many places. (In fact, it’s making it hard for me me to come up with my own writing … my ideas feel like crap at the moment, by comparison.)
Well, so here I am again to tell you that, in a week of great perfume postings from all corners, you certainly kept up your end. I always find your descriptions and insights fresh and enchanting, and I think this post in particular is one of your very best. I got such a kick out of reading your description of Musc Ravageur, which I’ve never tried, but now must, must, must!
I also enjoyed reading about your friend and his family who spent time at naturalist campsites, and your question, ”Would we be more attuned to our bodies if we saw them all the time?” I think we would … I get the sense that people in Mediterranean coastal areas have beautiful bodies because they enjoy sunbathing. and that spending time on the beach is a big part of their days, sort of like sitting outdoors at a cafe. But maybe I’m mistaken about that since my impressions are mostly formed by what I’ve read and seen in magazines, movies, books. And, of course, nowadays people want to protect their skin from the damaging effects of the sun (with good reason), so my perception might really be off-base.
Suzanne, you are so kind
And don’t think for a second that your ideas are crap, your posts are some of the most imaginative and interesting ones out there! I think you might just be thinking to much in advance. The best remedy for that is to just sit down and write straight from the heart whatever comes out, not thinking about what anyone might think of it, because the heart is where the quality stuff comes from 
I can really recommend Musc Ravageur. Apart from the vanilla and spices it has a very special aura of warm, flushed skin that I haven’t found anywhere else. It’s one of those OMGOMGOMG-scents
Yes, I really wonder about the naturalist thing. It makes sense that people would take care of themselves better. But it might also lead to people becoming better at accepting themselves the way they are (as nobody is REALLY perfect once you start looking). Both of these points are good so the conclusion here is that we’d probably have a better world being clothes free (wearing a lot of sun screen, that is)
I love the sense of humour in your posts. The line — ”OMG, this is a huge, 300+ pounds man, dressed in a bunny suit, caked with baby powder, who preys on little girls” — made me actually choke on my coffee. Hilarious. I also enjoyed the line: ”their explanation for why they preferred nudist camps were that ”the toilets are always cleaner”.
I adore blogs with a sense of humour and those which are creative. Yours is both. And I think your Pantone challenge is definitely original. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of your perfume journey.
Thank you so much! I’ve recently discovered your blog as well, and I’ve added it to my Google Reader subscriptions now so I won’t miss any posts. I love the setup of the “The People v. Amarige” – Prosecution & Defense post, a very original, and good, way to discuss a perfume! Looking forward to see more posts from you as well
I’d like to think that nudity would inspire people to be more healthy and work harder at keeping their bodies fit, but most of the people I’ve known over the years that frequent nudist camps are not that way at all! As with most ”human” things, there will probably every type imaginable. Whenever we get comfortable with any behavior we ”let it all hang out”! : )
Ok, back to linen/skin scents – I know vanilla beans and vanilla extract are dark brown, but to me vanilla smells light brown and the more delicate the scent, the lighter the color, so the ultimate linen/skin perfume pick from my collection would be Lann-Ael by Lostmarc’h. Without looking up the notes I have no idea what’s in it, but whenever I wear it I ”see” my (pale white) skin color. Lann-Ael is a lovely, cold weather ‘stay-at-home-in-your-jammies’ perfume…yum!
Your comment about nudity makes a lot of sense. It’s a very human trait to get used to things and then just get on with your life
The color of vanilla is interesting. I see it as white, but that’s probably because I think of vanilla ice cream or vanilla sugar. In itself it, of course, isn’t white at all. I haven’t tried Lann-Ael but I looked it up on Fragrantica and found vanilla and milk being the main notes and I can well imagine it feeling lightly skin colored
I don’t have kids, and don’t suffer from sleep deprivation, but your description caused me to put Egyptian Musk straight onto my sniff list. I have been craving minimalist, simple scents lately, for one reason or another. I’d like to see what Laurie would do with a skin scent.
As always, great descriptions! I tag along to what Suzanne said.
I do think Egyptian Musk is the most minimalist scent I’ve tried from SSS. It’s very well worth trying and I’d love to hear what you think of it
I’m very pale like you, Sigrun. After years of bad teenage acne and lots of ruddiness, when I finally got it under control with Accutane, that pale skin was a revelation. Because of it, I’ve been a big advocate of not-tanning ever since, and now that I’m in my 40′s I’m reaping the benefits.
That being said, I’m one of those people that does very badly when the sun goes away in the winter – especially at this latitude – so I love to be out in it. We’re leaving for Mexico in a week, and more than anything I’m looking forward to a major infusion of sunlight. No nudity though, that’s not my thing.
Unfortuately, Musc Ravageur went super-sweet vanilla on my skin, but as I tend to sweeten things, so not a big surprise. Looking at that color and thinking about skin scents, my first thought was Bottega Veneta. It’s just a subtle, little extra-something on me.
I’m glad to hear that you’re skin has improved! And Mexico sounds lovely! I’m not planning to go on any vacations anytime soon but some sun sure had been nice
I find it so interesting how different peoples skin will play up different notes. I seem to have an affinity for warm spices, which nods Musc Ravageur in the right direction. I can easily imagine it becoming very obnoxious if the sweetness is amped upeven more…
I really have to revisit Bottega Veneta, I have a sample and I did like it, but then I’ve just forgotten about it. Thime to bring it out of it’s drawer for a new test drive