Kafkaesque Turns One – Anniversary & Giveaway

A year ago today, on December 6, 2012, I began Kafkaesque and started this little journey. Despite lengthy reviews (that are increasingly becoming even longer) and despite my peculiar obsession with details, many of you have been with me from the start. Others are newer readers who have been a joy to get to know. I appreciate each and every one of you, and your support has gotten me through some rough patches when I was less than enthused about this whole endeavor. (There was a period of time this summer….).

So, coming up after a review of the past year, I’d like to thank you with a giveaway. It’s far smaller than what you deserve, but I’m afraid it’s been a very expensive year for me due to some non-perfume related matters. I wish I could give you all a gift in appreciation, but, alas, that is not possible.

[UPDATE 12/9 Random.Org has spoken and the winner of the drawing is ELLEN. Please contact me with your choice of gift.]

THE YEAR IN REVIEW – THE STATS, THE POSTS
& THE AMUSING ODDITIES:

Some of you love numbers (you know who you are), so I thought I’d share a few with you. This is actually my 310th post in 365 days. I think my numbers would be better if I hadn’t gone away on vacation for more than 2 weeks. 😉 I’ve tried to figure out how many perfumes I’ve reviewed, but it hasn’t been easy. There are 292 posts with the tag “perfume review,” but I’ve had a number of posts that discussed more than one fragrance. I recall at least 10 posts covering 2 perfumes, 5 posts that covered 3 fragrances, and at least 4 early posts that briefly summarized 5 or more. So, at a conservative estimate, I estimate that I must have reviewed, either in-depth or en bref, at least 350 perfumes.

Out of all those reviews, the vast majority have not been raves. Prior to going on holiday and returning with samples of things that I liked or that seemed interesting on the surface, I had a lot more negative reviews all in a row. At a rough guess, I’ve estimated that only 1 out of every 15 reviews prior to my trip was a wholly positive one for a fragrance that I absolutely loved, would wear myself, or would buy. Perhaps 1 out of 18 if we’re going by things that I liked enough to end up getting for myself, or that are on my dream wish-list. The rest of the reviews were either highly qualified, or extremely negative. Since my return with perfumes that I’ve bought or liked enough to ask for samples of, the numbers have improved a little, but I suspect that won’t last for long, once I return to blindly ordering samples of things to test.

In one year, I’ve had 313,540 hits (at last check), and some of those are the result of extremely amusing searches. I’ve kept an ongoing record of the more unusual or obsessive ones that have brought people to the blog, and I think you may get a laugh out of a lot of them. A few may make you blink at the spelling, smile about the things people look for (like ancient dandruff shampoo from the 1980s), or just simply make you scratch your head.

The following are all copied verbatim and without change. The number in parentheses at the end of the line is the number of times that one search led to the blog:

  • recreating the smell of a dirty vigina
  • dark magic death perfume
  • what part of his body would another woman’s perfume be on
  • muscle man sex art (x4)
  • gay bodybuilding masturbution
  • giant gay muscle (x3)
  • morph gay muscles (x9)
  • hairy gay (x10)
  • how long before jacking off after getting a prince albert
  • semen of men uncensored
  • fat peeing lion! (x2)
  • aphrodisiac spray forming mating ceremony erotic family friend sub indo
  • classic sex (x71) — [as opposed to unclassic sex??]
  • classicsex (x13)
  • Calling a man soft as a pussycat
  • hi honey, i remember what i want, frankincense, there is a store called amouage, that sell the best from oman
  • jicky coitus
  • can anyone justify the hefty price tag on tom ford’s perfumes (x4)
  • leathermen gay fetish
  • Tom Ford’s genitals
  • Tom Ford crotch smell (x2)
  • perfume that smells like female genitals (x2)
  • genital scented perfume (x4)
  • genitalia perfume (x12)
  • genital perfumes (x11)
  • medicated dandruff shampoo from 1980’s in orange/brown bottle (x2)
  • hairy gay semen
  • war child ‘charity’ co- founded by member of royal family involved in arms lobby for bosnian muslims (x6)
  • agarwood aroma lengthen penis (x6)
  • french perfumes of human sweat and penis (x4)
  • decomposition smell in female body during sex
  • ladies in mohair sex bondage photos
  • m.pornduh japanese indian
  • a customer has reject his order of roast beef, he want a replacement of chicken fricassee. how would you deal with this difficulty and solve the problem (x11)
  • panty dropping cologne in a square black bottle
  • boy man sex
  • www. fatewoman sex images.com (x7) – [I added a space to remove any link to whatever site that may be in case it’s infected with malware.]
  • germany sex drops for female love sex liquid in bangalore/mysore retail shops names and address list (x3)
  • pictures of adam levine’s feet (x2)
  • lisa raye feet (x13)
  • what time to tobacco leaves on iris open tomorrow but i did
  • dirty sex hair
  • queen elizabeth small penis artificial insemination teaspoon

Now, you may wonder what on earth I’ve written that could possibly lead people to Kafkaesque with some those searches. Well, between the old historical articles in the archives on royalty, history, and gastronomy, and the discussion of Patrick Suskind’s rather gothic classic, Perfume, I’ve covered a wide range of different subjects that could trigger those hits. Still, there are some oddities there, no? I try not to judge people or what they may do in their private lives, but I’ll never understand the desire to know what a dead woman’s decomposing body may smell like during sex. I also don’t understand why Google somehow thinks that one of my articles may help this budding necrophiliac or future serial killer.

For that matter, I don’t think I can help anyone with a foot fetish, or in search of a giant morphing gay muscle. My usefulness seems to be much better suited to those many (many!) people who want to know which perfumes smell like genitalia…. 😉  

Amusing oddities aside, the vast majority of people seem to come to the blog to learn about perfumery, the perfume industry, or Serge Lutens’ Chergui in specific (which says something about Chergui!). Out of the 309 posts prior to today, the top 3 are:

A Beginner’s Guide To Perfume: How to Train Your Nose, Learn Your Perfume Profile, & More 5,527
Perfume News: 2013 Fragrance Sales Figures, Revenue & Fragrance Markets 4,989
Perfume Review- Serge Lutens Chergui: The Desert Wind 4,855
GIVEAWAY:

So, onto the fun stuff! To thank you for your kindness, your friendship, your patience, and your support, I’d like to have a little Anniversary giveaway.

One (1) reader will get a $50 e-gift certificate to your choice of either Surrender to Chance or Beauty Encounter. I chose those sites for two reasons. One, I have a slight phobia about going to the post office. I realise that sounds ridiculous, but you would understand if you lived where I do, knew the highway logistics for the post office closest to me, and had to go through all the hoops I have to go through every time I want to send a package. In short, I love many of you, but I don’t love you enough to brave the United States Post Office — during the insanity of the holiday season, no less!

Second, and equally important, I wanted a site that would be useful to any international reader who may win. Surrender to Chance has almost no limitations on where they will ship, while Beauty Encounter ships to more than 30 countries and has some great discounts on a wide variety of niche lines. Whether you choose samples as a way to explore more lines or newly released fragrances, or whether you decide to put the money towards the purchase of a full bottle of perfume, I hope you find something you like. If the winner has a different site in mind, perhaps one that carries a perfume they already want or that offers a better price on that fragrance, I’d be happy to go with their retail choice so long as it offers e-cards.

WHO CAN ENTER:

My purpose with this giveaway is to say thank you to those who have been on this journey with me through all these long months, so I have the following limitations on who can join. The Giveaway is open only to the following people:

  • Anyone who has either subscribed to the blog via email, or who has “liked” the Kafkaesque Facebook page as of yesterday, December 5th;
  • Anyone who lurks, hasn’t feel comfortable enough to officially post a comment, but quietly emails me at Kafkaesque on the side to talk about perfumery or something I’ve written; and/or
  • Anyone who has left 3 or more comments as of yesterday, December 5th, on the blog or its Facebook page, whether you are officially signed up or not. This way, those who follow by a Blog Reader, but who comment, can also be included.

Your geographic location does not matter.

Since I get almost no traffic from the blog’s Twitter account, I’m not going to include those people who follow on Twitter unless they have personally and directly communicated with me on that site in some way as of yesterday.

WHAT, WHEN & HOW:

If you fall into any of the categories above, all you have to do enter is to leave a comment here on the blog using your regular posting name, your Facebook name, or the email with which you subscribed to follow Kafkaesque. I will check any unfamiliar names or email addresses against the official WordPress or Facebook lists out of general fairness to others.

The entry period starts today, Friday December 6th, and will last until Sunday, December 8th, at 11:59 p.m. CST, my time, in the U.S. I will choose a name via Random.org, and announce the winner in an update to this post on Monday, December 9th. You then have 2 days to contact me by email at AKafkaesqueLife @ gmail . com (all one word, scrunched together) with the email address to which you’d like the e-gift certificate sent.

END OF THE YEAR:

It’s been a fun year, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next one has in store. There are a few things to do first, however. In a few weeks, I’ll come out with some of my personal “Best of” lists soon, from an overall Top Ten or, maybe, if I’m simply unable to choose, a Top 15 or Top 25. Perhaps I’ll do all three with a Top 10 that also includes the next 15. I haven’t decided yet. I’ll also try to do a Top 5 by genre or category, whether chypre, leather, amber, or some other note.

Since I generally believe that all fragrances are unisex and a matter of personal style or taste, I’m not going to separate things out by masculine or feminine. I know men who wear Carnal Flower, Shalimar, or Rubj, just as I know women who wear Black Afgano, Sycomore, or Bois d’Ascece. It’s insulting to the vast majority of readers to pigeon-hole them into narrow categories, or to assume that they don’t have the taste or experience-level to appreciate a wide variety of genres. Gender classifications are outdated, and it’s not my issue if some people have narrow, wholly subjective perceptions about what fragrance is appropriate for men or for women. (Yes, this is a subject that irritates me.)

A small part of me would also like to do a Top 10 “Worst of” List, but that’s not very nice. Plus, I’m not sure I could narrow things down that much. My number one choice would probably be a small fragrance that I haven’t officially reviewed, simply because I refuse to revisit the ordeal. All I’ll say is that its name begins with the last letter of the alphabet. Then again, Ormonde Jayne’s Montabaco left a permanent scar and ongoing trauma regarding ISO E Super, while YSL’s Noble Leather made me want to stab someone. So, let’s just forget about the truly unpleasant ones.

Lists aside, in the more immediate future, I’m going to subject all of you to my personal obsession with patchouli by covering at least 7 (real, non-purple) patchouli scents in the next 10-14 days. I apologise in advance to those of you who don’t care for the note. To ease your pain, I’ll try to intersperse the reviews with coverage of some other types of fragrances, including one vintage favorite.

So, that’s it for the last 365 days. Thank you all for sticking by me, and for all your encouragement. I really couldn’t have done this without you. I mean that quite sincerely. Without all of you — the regulars, the friends (old and new), and those who lurk but who send me emails to let me know that they appreciated something I wrote — I would have stopped long ago.

Happy holidays, and let’s have even more fun in 2014!

154 thoughts on “Kafkaesque Turns One – Anniversary & Giveaway

  1. Wow! You’ve only had Kafkaesque for one year and you have this many posts? I’m envious! As for the worst of list, I agree that they can be mean spirited. They can be fun but often as not than they leave me feeling like I need a bath. I’d love to see a top ten best list from you though, if you’re so inclined. Congratulations and happy anniversary!

    • Thank you, Doc Blue. 🙂 Insomnia and a sleep disorder help with posting productivity. LOL There will definitely be a “Top Ten Best Of” list, but I know already it’s going to be a devil to draw up as there have been some great scents I tried this year. I certainly don’t think I can rank things even from 1-10, so that part will have to be in no particular order. I may be a little too fickle to choose things in order! 🙂

  2. I have learnt so much by reading your blog and thoroughly enjoy it. Many thanks. Jenny.

  3. It has been a pleasure reading you all this time . I hope you ‘ll continue many years more!!! Congratulations.
    pd:Anyway, I didn’t find you using any of the searchs above 😉

    • HAHAHAHAHAHA, I just choked on my tea at that last comment! Brilliant, utterly brilliant. I’m grinning in such a way, you have no idea!! So, no interest in giant morphing gay muscles, Adam Levine’s feet, or “queen elizabeth small penis artificial insemination teaspoon”? 😉

  4. Happy anniversary! You have had quite a prolific year of great reviews. I have been a follower of your blog since I read your review of Hermès Elixir and I have left quite a few comments on your numerous fragrance reviews and fragrance related topics. You are quite the generous one with your giveaway! My, Oh, My. $50!! My blog’s anniversary is coming up soon, I may have to follow suit! LOL I wish you continued success in your wonderfully fragrant writings. P.S. I’m crossing my fingers to win that e-gift certificate for surrender to chance, I need more vintage samples. LOL

    • Thank you, dear Ferris. I remember that Elixir discussion well, not to mention the ones on civet and Bandit. I know you’ve been there from the start. 🙂 Good luck with the giveaway, I have you on my list.

  5. Wow. I have enjoyed your writing immensely. I save your posts for bedtime reading and I have never fallen asleep while reading but do so after reading. I do feel somewhat like the frog in the water that comes to a slow boil though as your posts get longer and longer. I no longer notice how long they are as barely a word is wasted, the content is of interest and I have become acclimatized to your modus operandi. Furthermore I have also enjoyed you as a person in a ‘miles away’ kind of way.

    Very inclusive too to have a voucher that is internationally valid as a prize.
    I have a name for you but you will need to Google translate it if you care to.

    Many Happy Returns to this date Kafka. I will be here. Write on شهرزاد.

    • Thank you, sweetpea. Your friendship and, equally important, your endless support, loyalty, and kindness have meant a lot to me. Meeting you has definitely been one of the positives of doing the blog. I’m assuming the name you mention pertains to your choice of sites if you were to win? If so, I’d be happy to use it. Good luck with the drawing, Jordan.

  6. Congratulations on a wonderful year — I can say of ALL the blogs and sites I subscribe to, yours is certainly the one I look forward to reading most! Can’t wait to see what the next year brings! A StC gift card would be nice, especially if paired with a coupon. Lord knows I have some stuff I want to try! 😀

    • Thank you, love. You were one of the very first of them all, and, in fact, your support in pushing me to even do this is partially responsible for the blog being set up in the first place. Thank you for your belief in me, then and now.

      BTW, why are you up at this hour, you crazy man?! It’s the middle of the night for you too!

      • Yeaaaaah. Lately I’ve been on this heinous wake up at 3 or 4am kick, for reasons I don’t understand. But once I’m up, I’m up. So now I’m heading to the gym (ug, I know!) which opens at 5:30. LOL.

      • Unrelated, but I was cackling at the “Tom Ford’s crotch smell” search!!! Do people actually think someone would have a report on how Tom Ford’s crotch smelled? The internet is a strange, strange place sometimes!

        • Heh, the Tom Ford crotch thing makes sense because of Black Orchid, and I reviewed the flanker to it. But why someone would think I would know what Tom Ford’s own genitals are like (in a totally different search) is beyond me!

  7. I found you via your Royal Banquet Menus and then it all seemed to turn into a Perfume Banquet. Great to see that the strange goings on physically have now been explained. I have to stop sniffing Oud because I want to wear shorts this summer.

  8. Congratulations on your one year anniversary. I actually imagined you’d been doing this for quite some time due to the sophistication of your nasal capabilities. I think you win the prize for longest posts as well! Very keen to see your patchouli posts as I love it when it’s a strong feature in a perfume.

    Interesting that Chergui was such a strong search. This was the perfume that got me into loving scent this year. I had never heard of Serge Lutens before (although I had always been impressed by his Shiseido work but didn’t know who was behind it) and came across his bottles of perfume in a Sephora in France and this was the first one I tried. I was used to wearing perfume that was office friendly so as not to offend anyone and had never give much thought to what I wore and was quite heavily influenced by marketing rather than appreciating the actual scent. Now I’m reading blogs and educating myself on the history, smelling perfumes wherever I go and when I have spare cash I think of buying perfume.

    Anyway keep up your blogging as I imagine lots of us have learnt a hell of a lot from you and have been quite entertained along the way. I have to say I was a little saddened by your La Vierge post yesterday … I’m still to try it as lily is not really my thing but you were definitely correct on saying that there had been a general silence on this one in the blogsphere which speaks volumes.

    • Heh, I’m definitely sure I win the prize for longest posts! *grin* No doubt about it. LOL. Thank you for sharing a little about your perfume journey, and how you first got into the world of niche fragrances. That’s really interesting to me. And to think Serge Lutens is responsible for it! I love that!

      Re. La Vierge de Fer, you are still going to try it, or still not going to try it? I’m afraid I got a little lost. I share your sadness about having to write such a negative review too, as Serge Lutens may be my favorite house in terms of the sheer numbers. I have more perfumes from him than from any other house. So, yesterday’s review was not fun at all.

      PS– I first started wearing fragrances when I was 6 years old, so I may have done the blog for just a year, but I’ve been a hardcore perfume addict for quite a while now! 🙂
      PPS — I have you down on my list. Good luck!

      • Thanks Kafka. If you grew up in France then I can understand your early perfume love as it seems to start a lot earlier over here. I will definitely try La Vierge (wax sample) soon as your review has perversely made me want to give it a go! I am a massive Serge fan now and I just tend to think that he’s got such a great repertoire of the most beautiful perfumes that I try to get past his not so good ones. So far Nuit de Cellophane has been the worst one I’ve sampled and I’m pretty sure you would hate that one.

        Also those searches were hilarious. I think I may have been one of the people who searched on Tom Ford crotch smell LOL. I was trying to show someone Tom Ford wanted this kind of smell for Black Orchid.

        • Hee, yes, Black Orchid. I understand that search, but the one for “Tom Ford’s genitals” leaves me a little…. amused. 😉 Re. Nuit de Cellophane, I have a sample and from my brief memory of sniffing it in passing in Paris, I didn’t think it was too bad. But it was a day with about 8 other things sprayed on different parts of me as well, so who knows really. I’ll have to do a definite, proper, full test one of these days. I do know that I liked it more than his Vitriol d’Oellet carnation one or the Eau Froide!

          Did you have fun in London on your sniffathon? I hope you got to try a few good things. And let me know if you end up ever getting those travel sprays of Fourreau Noir. 🙂

          • I did have a great stay in London but it was only for 1 day so I didn’t get to do as much perfume testing as I wanted but I did get to eat quite a bit of yummy spicy food which was great. I have Fourreau Noir at the top of my wish list so I’m hoping to get it for Xmas (wishful / hopeful thinking).

          • Hey, food matters as much as perfume and, dare I say it, actually a hell of a lot more, in my opinion!! 😉 😀 What I would give for some really good Indian curry right now. No, seriously, you can’t imagine what I would give for the sort of curry they have in London. 😀 I’d settle for just some good, hot naan actually. lol

  9. Congratulations and happy anniversary, Kafka! I’ll tell you how I found you: through one of Temptalia’s Sunday posts, where she does the roundup of the week (I’m blanking on the actual name) 🙂 I’m certain it was a review of Chergui that I read, and I was hooked. I’ve looked forward to your posts ever since. Here’s to your continued success!

    • Thank you, my sweet Kellilee. I’m so grateful you found me! And how wonderful that it was a Serge Lutens which started it all! I have you on my list, my dear. Good luck.

  10. Happy Anniversary! At the risk of sounding sappy, let me say that your blog itself is a gift to all your readers, so anything else is just a bonus.

    I wish I could remember what search or link brought me to Kafkaesque, but I can’t. The “Fat peeing lions!” search mentioned above has to have led to your Amouage VII review, though, which was one of the first posts I read. (Not that I searched for “Fat peeing lions!” Just pointing out that it immediately brought that review to mind.)

    Anyway, congratulations, and I hope you’ll keep going for as long as it’s still fun.

    • Haha, yes, it was definitely the Amouage Opus VII, but you have to wonder at someone who is looking for fat peeing lions to begin with! lol. Was that really one of the first posts you read from me? A review for such an off-putting perfume, and you STILL came back??! 😉 Thank you for that, and for not letting the spraying lion pee frighten you away. *grin* Good luck with the drawing, my dear!

  11. Congratulations my dear K. I can’t believe it’s only been a year, but you have hit the road running and you have become one of the best perfume bloggers out there bar none. And if I recall, I was one of your earliest fans and there was a good reason… you are terrific! And of course I always look forward to what you will be reviewing…especially the deliciously scathing reviews! I had no idea that you had already posted over 300 posts… that is incredible. I only wish that I had an iota of your persistence or energy! I look forward to many more posts and anniversaries to come! Thanks for the wonderfully sweet and generous draw! xoxoxoxo Steve

    • My dearest Mr. Hound, from the very first week or so, you were there. You took a total stranger under your wing and were kind to someone so new to everything. You were generous in every way, from offering samples, to your unstinting sweetness, support and endless encouragement. I don’t think you know how much it meant to me, or how much it still means to me. I will never forget it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my dearest friend.

  12. Hi,
    I subscribed to your blog very recently, maybe a week ago? A friend posted a link on her Facebook page and I’ve been enjoying your reviews.
    I also have perfume absorbing skin, and your opinion on longevity and such are very useful to me.
    Congrats on the first anniversary and I hope there will be many more.

    • Hi Cath, welcome to the blog! I’m so glad I could help out in some way. 🙂 We poor people with perfume-eating skin need all the help we can get in deciding on what perfumes to buy! I look forward to getting to know you and your perfume tastes. I have you down on my list. Good luck. 🙂

      • Dear K,
        It’s nice to know you too.
        I am looking forward to your upcoming patch posts, as I find it difficult to find a patch that suits me. I thought I disliked it, until I found a few that I actually love: Coromandel, Borneo, and with less patch Bottega Veneta and Gucci by Gucci. Midnight Poison Elixir was a no-no though.
        I will try to not be a lurker 😉

        • Cath, I think the problem you’re having with patchouli is that you don’t like the new purple, fruited kind. You like the classic, brown version in things like Coromandel and Borneo. But, nowadays, the majority of “patchouli” found in perfumery (especially the commercial kind) is almost purple in hue. (Many versions of Poison from Dior, Chanel’s Coco Noir, Marc Jacob’s Lola, Malle’s Portrait of a Lady, Puredistance Black, Le Labo’s Ylang 49, Guerlain’s Chypre Fatal, etc.) It’s syrupy sweet, fruited, like a berry molasses, and it often goes with florals to create a very fruity-floral scent.

          The original kind of patchouli is sweet, but it’s spicy, smoky, woody, nutty, cognac-like, and a bit leathery. As you can see, a totally different thing. It’s the kind in Coromandel, one of my favorite scents. Same sort (but dirtier, more intense and slightly medicinal in Borneo.) I don’t consider the horrid fruit-chouli or purple patchouli to be the real thing at all, and it’s one of the things I dislike most about modern scents. But the brown, original, TRUE kind is really glorious! 🙂

  13. A year old? Your little blog is growing up so fast! Congrats my dear. I wonder how many words in total you’ve written. It’s one thing to post a few hundred words each time, but a few thousand is truly a labor of love. Keep it up. You are fabulous and I look forward to each and every review. I hope you treat the Hairy German to something special because we all know that he’s your muse. 😉 Also, I love the searches that brought folks to you. Amazing.

    • Thank you, my dear Poodle. I have the Hairy German lying beside me as I write this, so I smiled at your comment. Sweetie, thank you for your kindness throughout and for being there from the start. I really appreciate your friendship and your support.

  14. Dearest Kafkaesque,

    Congratulations on reaching your first anniversary! I’m looking forward to your 10th, even 20th anniversary because you write so well and so honestly, and I really appreciate your contributions to fragrant writing. And it’s amazing how much you’ve actually written in one year, especially when I think of how I struggle to even write one review a week. Personally, I’d like to see a Top 10 Worst List – but maybe we shall discuss that over email instead! Thanks for the draw.

    • Please, my dear Vagabond, call me Kafka! And you’re incredibly sweet. Thank you for the high praise. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know you better on Twitter, and I hope that I get to do so even more. You’re on my list for the drawing, so good luck! 🙂

  15. Congratulations on your 1st hope you have lots more great years on perfume writing reviewing and enjoy all the perfumes. The scented journey continues for a lifetime.

    • Thank you so much, Larraine. I know from your email address that you’ve been there from the very start! Thank you for hanging in there with me. I have you on my list. Good luck. 🙂

  16. I almost burst out laughing when I read this (had to keep a tight lid here in my workplace) because those search terms remind me of Engrish.com (like this lovely example from a badly-translated Chinese menu – “Palace of explosive kidney”). Anyways, congratulations on turning one!! Looking forward to more years of great writing and insightful reviews from you, Kafka! 🙂

    • “Palace of explosive kidney” — Hahaha, not an ideal name for a menu item! (But exploding kidney might be better than other exploding body parts??)

      You’ve been there from very, very early on, Haefennasiel, and I really appreciate it. Thank you for hanging in there with me. I have you on my list. Good luck, hun.

  17. Happy Anniversary Kafka! And congratulations on so many thorough, detailed, eloquent, learned, readable, honest, and in my mind, accurate reviews. I love the way you write. I don’t always have time to read them all when they appear, but I save them for when I can, and enjoy them immensely. I admire your fortitude and prolific nature. Keep on keepin on!!! No need to enter me.

  18. Kafka;
    First to congratulate the Anniversay, second to thank you for your time analyzing different fragrances. I learn a lot of perfumes and “quirky” names. I can today and thanks to your recommendations enjoy Serge Lutens, Histoires de Parfums, Parfum d´empire, Teo Cabanel and I’m waiting for the Kalemat and LM samples. Your positive energy is contagious and wonderful. THANK YOU.

    • Awww, I’m so glad I could introduce you to some fragrances that you love. (Yay for Fille en Aiguilles!) Thank you, Walter, for your very kind words, and for making me feel as though all the work meant something. You’re always such a gentleman, and I look forward to another year of getting to know you better. I have you on my list. Good luck.

    • Awww, that’s so sweet. Thank you. I’m glad it’s proven both informative and enjoyable. The latter is the best compliment of all. 🙂 I have you on my list.

  19. Gefeliciteerd! Bon anniversaire! Happy anniversary! I’m impressed by all you’ve achieved in just one year, especially such a fantastic list of search terms. Those far exceed the weed and prostitution search variations I get. 😉 May you have many more years of posts and I look forward to the patchouli posts, as I really like the scent.

    • Haha, weed and prostitution…. I would LOVE to see the searches you get some time. You must get some doozies given where you are and what you write about! Thank you for the lovely well wishes and kind words, sweetie. And thank you for having been there from the start — I’m not talking about the blog even at this point. 😉 And yay for another patchouli lover. xoxox I have you down on my list at #21.

  20. I usually read, but not comment…but have enjoyed the time I have followed. The search list cracked me up. Too funny/weird. Hope 2014 is great for you.

    • Hi Judy, nice to see you. I know you’ve followed for a while. Isn’t that search list hysterical? The poor woman who was checking to see where her BF or husband’s lover may have left her scent on his body…. uh oh. What a scenario. Poor woman. Anyway, thank you for having stuck with me for so long! 🙂 I have you on my list. Good luck.

  21. Congratulation on your blog’s 1st b-day, Kafka! I wish you even much more posts and exciting thing ahead! I recall starting following you on Vilentine’s day (the posting about SL La Fille de Berlin), but I found you recently before that date (don’t remember the woord combination but certainly was not about hairy gays or muscles). I am amused by the amount of information you can arrange in a publication but I am also a fan of your Reviews En Bref – especially liked the one about the oud flankers of Francis Kurkjian. You were the one to introduce me to fragrance houses I haven’t heard of – like Teo CabanelI and, recently, Oriza Legrand. I could not understand whether I am eligible for the giveway, but nevermind – I just wanted to say “Happy Kafkesque day!”

      • Haha! Funny. 😀 I’m not going to do a “Worst Of” list because it seems a bit mean. 🙂 Plus, I’m not sure I want to relive the memories of some of those…. 😉 lol

    • You qualify, Lyubov. 🙂 You follow the FB page and did so before today. Plus, you’ve commented in the past, and you’ve clearly been reading for a while, so thank you! I’m really glad you finally decided to post and come out of lurker-dom!! I hope I get the chance to know you and your perfume tastes better as time goes on. I have you down on my list. Good luck!

  22. I found your blog via the search for Jicky Coitus…not really, I can’t abide Jicky. Thanks for all the pleasure along the way. Congrats on your first year. I think I speak for many of your readers when I say that we will happily read about “French perfumes of sweat and penis” or “fat peeing lions” or whatever you care to write about. Just keep writing. Especially if you should ever care to fill us in on “sex liquid from Bangalore/Mysore retail shops.”

    • ROFL! Wasn’t that “Sex liquid from Bangalore/Mysore retail shops” hilarious? So was the German one about their sex liquid! I don’t even think I’ve written the words “Bangalore retail shop” in a post, let alone “sex liquid.” rofl.

      I’m still fixated on the budding necrophiliac’s search, while also consistently laughing at the pleading, “can anyone justify the high price of Tom Ford’s perfumes?”

      Anyway, it’s been a joy to get to know you, my dear, and I’m looking forward to doing so even more in 2014. Thank you so much for all your support and many kindnesses! You’re entered and on my list.

  23. hello, long time lurker here. I am subscribed through Feedly, so I’m not actually sure if that counts. regardless, I wanted to wish you a happy blogiversary! I was drawn here by your wonderfully whimsical review of Le Labo’s lys (a favorite of mine) and you have been enhancing my enjoyment of fragrance ever since. so thankyou! here’s to as many more blogging years as you’d like!

    • Well, hello, long time lurker! 😉 🙂 Nice to meet you. I’m glad you enjoyed the Le Labo Lys review, as that was one of my personal favorites too. You don’t technically qualify for the giveaway as you haven’t commented before, but you’ve clearly been around to support from afar, so you fit the spirit of the rules. I have you entered on my list at #26. 🙂 Good luck. And I hope you’ll feel comfortable to pop in once in a while.

  24. Kafka, congratulations on your first birthday! I have thoroughly enjoyed your witty, yet intuitive posts over the last few years. I’ve only just now liked your FB page, but have been following you via blogger for several months now. I wish you many more years of writing success. Please keep it up – your thoughts on the world of scent are a pleasure to read!

    • Hi, Shy Lotus, so nice to meet you. 🙂 You’ve been subscribed by email for a while, I know. Thank you for your kind words. I have you entered on my list. BTW, I love your posting name!

  25. ♥ ♫•*¨*•.¸♥ ♫ Happy Birthday! ♥ ♫•*¨*•.¸♥ ♫

    I always enjoy reading your reviews, what a learning experience! I’m looking forward to your patchouli reviews….after all, that is what makes us twinners.

    🙂
    Peace in perfume love,
    Jean

    • Awww, sweetie, thank you. That’s lovely! And we’re definitely twinners, so I’m not surprised that you’re a patchouli fan. 😀 A big hug, my dear. And you’re on my list!

  26. Dear Kafka,

    Congratulations on your first year in the blogosphere, you’ve made quite an impression! May you continue to be as successful next year as you have been so far.

    Thank you for all your help, advice and guidance during the beginning stages of my own blog. Although I have gone in very different direction stylistically I continue to enjoy your in-depth, forthright and sometimes brutal reviews. (Although you know I prefer it when you love something 😉 ) I hope that occasionally you still get the chance to visit Epiphany too.

    So what’s next for the mighty Kafka? I guess I’ll watch the horizon for a galloping uniroach 🙂

    • I never miss one of your posts at Epiphany! I may be a little swamped to comment, but I would never miss reading your lovely, emotional and moving writing. It can be almost lyrical at times, my dear! And I’m very proud of you.

      Thank you for all the well wishes. I have you on my list. 🙂

      PS– You have the best Kafka/cockroach witticisms!

  27. Its a tribute to you that I thought this blog was years ago and I just luckily stumbled across it, “luckily” being the operative word. Congratulations on your first year. Keep on doing what you’re doing. Its been refreshingly honest and erudite. I look forward to reading your reviews. Thank you also for being quick to answer questions and to give your opinions and recommendations. I’ll be interested to read about patchouli.
    Thank you also for the possibility of Beauty Encounter or Surrender to Chance. How very kind of you.

    • Thank you, Ellen, for your kind words. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better in 2014! 🙂 Good luck with the drawing. I have you on my list.

  28. I think we, your readers, should be getting YOU gifts in thanks for all your wonderful writing and the incredible number of lemmings you bring into the world! Thank you, dear Kafka!

    I’m extra excited about those upcoming Patchouli posts, yay!

    • My darling Elvish Princess, you, I cannot thank enough — for more than just blog stuff. Getting to know you has been one of the best things about starting Kafkaesque. Your friendship means the world to me. I won’t get all mushy here, but thank you. *hugs*

      (And yay for more patchouli love!)

  29. A year already? I remember when the blog was just an idea. I love the top ten list and don’t feel a minus ten list is mean spirited. How about a 10 most over-hyped list? There are so many $$$$ fragrances that are simply not worth the money. As a perfume obsessive I would be grateful to know what I can stop pining for. 🙂

    • You were there from the beginning, Grace. The pre-beginning, and I want to thank you for your friendship in all that time, as well as the encouragement and support!

      A Most Over-Hyped List is definitely a good idea! I may have to get a flak jacket for listing some of them, though…. 😛 *grin*

  30. I remember that I found your blog after doing a search for something I can’t remember, but Nasomatto’s Black Afghano came up in it, and *it* sounded really good and your review made me really interested! Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the patchouli posts 🙂 I’m a twitter follower too, we chatted a bit, but about scenting tv characters and about Ripper Street starting up.
    Congratulations on the anniversary and thanks for the generous giveaway!

    • I know you’ve been subscribed for a while by email, Jill, but it’s nice to see you. And I’m always thrilled to find another patchouli lover out there!

      BTW, I remember well our Ripper chat, but I’m *still* behind and haven’t gotten around to it. I’m hoping the December lull will give me time to clear out my DVR a little, and then to watch it. I’ll let you know on Twitter if I ever get my act together. LOL! 🙂 I have you on my list at #34. Good luck.

  31. I love your blog and I have purchased so many new perfumes because of your reviews! My latest obsession has become Andy Tauer fragrances! Congratulations on your anniversary and best wishes for a wonderful 2014!

    • I’m so glad I could help out and tempt you with some fragrances, Magmat. It’s nice to see you; I know you’ve been following by email for a while now. Which Tauers have you fallen in love with, and what have been some general favorites as a whole (regardless of line or brand)? I hope you will feel free to pop in once in a while, so I can get to know your tastes a little better.

      I have you down on my list at #35. Good luck. 🙂

  32. Happy 1 Year Anniversary! I truly admire your dedication to the blog and I’m so glad I got the chance to meet you in person! Here’s to many more years of scented escapades!

    • Thank you, my dear. And thank you for your endless support, the wonderful opportunity to try things I couldn’t easily get here, for your generosity, and all your many kindnesses. I appreciate it so much, as well as the friendship behind it. 🙂 I have you on my list. Good luck.

  33. Happy Anniversary Kafkaesque. May there be many more to come.
    So glad that I found this blog. Even though you were swimming against the tide, I still think that your review of Puredistance’s Black was the most spot on out there.

    • Your comment about Puredistance Black means the world to me, C. Thank you. I’m very touched. I’m so glad you found the blog too, and I look forward to more chats in 2014! 🙂

  34. not participating in the draw, but CONGRATULATIONS! it’s insane how prolific you are. even writing comments on blogs can be exhausting for me, lol. and that list is hysterical. i think ‘fat peeing lion’ trumps all…

    • HAHAHA, that’s two or three votes now for “Fat Peeing Lion!” (And I think it even came with an exclamation mark in the search, you know. So funny.)

      I’m so glad you stumbled across the blog, Julia. And I look forward to getting to know you better in 2014! Hang in there with the dissertation work, okay?

  35. Dear Kafka,
    I’ve been a subscriber and lurker for a while, and your review of Chypre Mousse made every bell and whistle I possess go off. My skin drinks in scent too, and this extraordinary perfume lasts 8 hours…eight hours of constant wrist sniffing and total joy. It has become the perfume love of my life.
    Thank you for that, and congratulations on what I hope is the first of many anniversaries.
    Love,
    Cheryl

    • It made me so incredibly happy to read this, Cheryl. For Chypre Mousse to become the “perfume love of [your] life” is a huge thing, and I’m almost giddy over it. I’m thrilled I could find something that works so well on you, especially given your skin being so voracious. Really, thank you for letting me know, Cheryl, as it’s made me really happy. I do hope you will stop lurking a little, and come out to play once in a while. 😉 We poor souls with perfume-eating skin must really stick together. lol.

      I have you on my list at #38. Good luck.

    • How nice to see you, Gabriel. You’ve been around with me for ages! I really appreciate that, and I hope I get the chance to know you better in the new year. I have you down on my list. Good luck with the giveaway. 🙂

  36. Congratulations, dearest Kafka! That list of search terms that lead to your blog left me laughing so hard that I almost fat lion peed myself 🙂 Gosh, to have such searches! Mine are all really pedestrian . . . except for one that appears almost daily, “how do I get my toast to taste as good as restaurant toast?” The question appeared a few years ago in a comment and either the same person is still searching for an answer, or there is something magical about restaurant toast that I have ignored for years!

    Or it’s code for drugs.

    In any case, I hope that you treat yourself to something lovely as well! Thank you so much for the lovely draw, dearest, dearest Kafka! Here’s to many more anniversaries to come!

    • Dearest Daisy, perhaps you need to do a post with the title “Sorry, no answer to “how do I get my toast to taste as good as restaurant toast?” and then talk about something else 🙂

    • “Or it’s code for drugs” — HAHAHAHAHA. Every time I’ve read your comment, that one line makes me laugh. Out loud. I have now become quite curious as to whether “restaurant toast” means something special. My guess, BTW, is that hotels and restaurants may put a lot of butter on said toast, at least for the breakfast rounds.

      Thank you for the good wishes, my dear. I hope I get to see more of you in 2014 once your schedule calms down. I have you on my list. Good luck!

      • I just can’t figure it out. The next time you’re in a hotel, please do pay careful attention to the toast and report back. Maybe I’m missing something . . .

        Or maybe the NSA just flagged us both for some strange street name for heroin 😉

        In any case, looking forward to having more time in 2014 too!

  37. Btw don’t understand why anyone would google what decomposing females smell like during sex. Everyone knows that; they smell like puppies 😉

    (did I win most random comment of the day? 😉 )

    • No, your “code for drugs” won best comment. 😉 Or maybe whomever was searching for a fat peeing lion in the first place. (Does a thin peeing lion not hold an interest, I wonder?)

  38. Congratulations on ONE Year! Wishing you many more! I certainly read a lot about perfume almost everyday, and your posts are always in my my top two that I read. I have learned so much from all that you share. We share some great loves, vintage Opium, Profumums, and Laurent Mazzone just to mention a few. Looking forward to all that you will bring in 2014!
    Debbie

    • Awww, thank you, Debbie. We’ve been together for almost the whole year, you and I! I look forward to 2014 as well, and hopefully, we can share or find some new perfume loves in that time. BTW, what are some of your favorite Laurent Mazzone’s? And if you love chypres, I hope you will get to try Chypre Mousse from Oriza sometime soon. 🙂 I have you on my list. Good luck, my dear.

  39. Just to say congratulations on your first anniversary. I am sure there are many more ahead of you.

    • Thank you so much, sweetie. It’s always lovely to see your smiling face here, but I want to thank you for your support and friendship everywhere and in general. *hugs*

  40. Has it really only been a year? What a feat, producing the reviews (and history pieces…could we be treated to more of those, too, please?), and congrats for both your output and putting up with some real garbage. I still share your court case reviews with people when they need a good laugh. No one I know (friends, colleagues, family) understands my perfume obsession, but it is so good to be among friends here. Above and beyond this lovely giveaway, thanks mostly for creating this community!

    • Do you really share the perfume Court Review cases with people? That somehow makes me laugh but also means a LOT to me. 😀 I love doing those. I just wish I could do more of them. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), there aren’t that many perfumes which are so totally infamous or polarizing to write about.

      I really love having you here, Gretchen, and I hope that I can get to know you even better in the new year. Here’s to a great 2014 for all of us, I hope! 🙂 I have you on my list.

  41. Kafla! Congratulations on your 1st Anniversary. I don’t even recall how I found you and it’s been a wonderful ride ever since. Yes, there was a time when I thought…OK, I won’t have time to read the post but I’ve learned early on that each word is worth its weight in gold. I find myself coming back to review what you’ve said about certain perfumes, specially after I have sampled them myself. You also get a very shiny very big enabler’s pin for causing me to buy a 100 mL SAMPLE of Kalemat 🙂

    Thanks for the draw…I’ll take my chances just to see how far down random.org picks me 🙂

    • I’m so hugely touched by all that, Hajusuuri, especially the part about thinking you won’t be able to read (because of my terrible verboseness, I know!) but doing so anyway and finding each word has been carefully weighed. It has, you know. I really try to put in what I think will be helpful or will matter, even if it makes things long, so the fact that you can see that means SOOOOO much to me! (I always feel awkward, self-conscious and embarrassed about the length of my stuff, because I know it is asking a lot of readers.) Thank you for a really touching comment. It meant a lot to me.

      As for the draw, you’re in, but I won’t put up a photo this time, so you won’t be able to see the placement, I’m afraid. All the work for a screenshot on Windows 8, then using Paint to trim, etc. etc., it seems like a bit of a hassle for just one name, especially as I’m going to be adding to an already long post. I think it would be shorter and easier to just add in an Update with the one name. But good luck, sweetie. You’re in at #45. Much better odds this time than for the Oriza giveaway.

  42. Congratulations on the first anniversary! Thanks to you I have a new favorite in Ambra Aurea! Here’s to another year (and many more)!

    • I’m so glad, Hunter. I’m sure you smell utterly sensual in your golden sheen of Ambra Aurea. It’s been nice getting to know you briefly, and I hope I can do so more in 2014. I have you on my list. Good luck, and happy holidays.

  43. Congratulations ! I also seem to only enjoy about 1 in 15 perfumes. You are a beacon in the industry and your honesty is not only refreshing but also saves us all spending money on “junk”. There seems to be an endless stream of detritus out there that some dare to call perfume. Keep up the great work. I thoroughly enjoy each rave. Cheers, Howard Jarvis, Bud Parfums.

    • Thank you, Howard. I’m very touched by your high praise and kind words. And I look forward to trying your own perfumes which I have safely tucked away in a special pile, 🙂 but which I know I won’t probably get to until 2014 given the schedule that I’ve set and my backlog since my return from my holiday. I know I warned you of the delay, but I do hope you will accept my apologies nonetheless. Happy holidays! 🙂

      PS- I have you on my list for the giveaway, just in case you’d like to try fragrances from a house other than your own. lol

  44. Dear Kafka,

    Happy blogoversary! I can’t believe you’ve done 310 posts: what were you doing for the other 55 days?!! Ok, there was some very short vacation in France (it was very short, right? 😉 ) but the remaining, let’s say 50?

    Of course, I’m joking: I’m amazed by your ability to review perfumes the way you do. And I wish you for the next year to have more lucky streaks of great perfumes.
    I think I came to you blog from Mr. Hound’s post where you commented but I’m not 100% sure… Were you commenting on any other blogs at the time?

    I hope you won’t get offended if I do not participate in the draw.

    • Thank you, Undina. I will try to work on my numbers for 2014 to ensure a much less lazy schedule. 😉 LOL. No, I’m not offended if you don’t participate in the drawing. I’m sure you have your reasons.

  45. Aha, I follow via blogloving? xD Although the Kalemat was the one who got me to post comment (IT’S ON ITS WAY 🙂 congratulations is still in order to you. Only perfume blog I’m following and I look forward to your reviews. I might not be so trigger happy but at least it will be something to look forward too.

    • Thank you, Vi. I really hope the Kalemat works for you. I hope I can find something in 2014 that may tempt you as well. 🙂 And I look forward to getting to know you better.

  46. Happy anniversary, Kafka, and thank you for all the passion and dedication. Wish you many more years and many more discoveries.
    The perfume community can only be grateful; I believe many of us use your reviews daily as a main point of reference when looking up a scent.
    So, don’t stop writing, and don’t stop being critical and detailed in your posts.
    Please. 🙂

    • I’m very touched — as always — by your high praise and kindness, Bruno. I’m not sure I deserve quite so much, but I value your support and encouragement more than you know. Thank you for always being there.

  47. Happy 1st birthday, its absolutely unimaginable to me how on earth you can review 300+ fumes in one year retaining must read consistency! Bravo I say … Bravo!!!

    • LOL! Being an insomniac with a sleep disorder and an extremely fast typist certainly helps with both the number of perfumes I can test, and the frequency of the reviews. 🙂 But thank you for the compliment and the praise. I’m very touched. And I hope I get the chance to know you better in the year to come, Vlad. Don’t be such a stranger! You’re on my list at #49. Good luck.

  48. HOORAY!! Kafka this is a wonderful milestone. I am so pleased for you and hope you are enjoying the experience. What an amazing year you’ve had, I predict a FIFI nomination next year, at least.
    Congratulations!!
    Don’t enter me in the draw, I wanted to BRAVO you.
    Portia xx

    • Dear Portia, your kind words and high praise mean more to me than you know. I am really, truly touched. Thank you for your generosity of spirit, and your sweetness. I hope I get to know you better in 2014, and I hope it’s a great year for both of us. xoxo

  49. No need to include me in the draw, Kafka. I just wanted to offer up my sincere congratulations on your first anniversary of blogging, and to say that your work ethic is astonishing, your writing fabulous, your honesty something to salute, and your friendship much treasured. In a word, you’re a dynamo! I don’t know how you do it, but here is to your continued success. oxxo

    • Thank you, my dearest Suzanne. Your friendship is treasured too, as is your endless encouragement, your thoughtfulness, and your kindness. I’m so grateful that you pushed me to continue this summer when I was struggling. Thank you for that, and for everything, sweetie.

  50. Many congratulations to you, your blog, and the community you have been able to gather here and who reads your posts, happily and eagerly, as studies in perfumery. To many more years and articles to come.
    Much luck and smelly good fortune.

    • Thank you, WeFadetoGray. I’m so glad you’re here, and I look forward to getting to know you better in the upcoming year! Here’s to some fun perfume adventures! 😀

      I have you on my list at #50! 🙂

    • Thank you, dear Lavanya. It helps to have a sleeping disorder and to be an incredibly fast typist. LOL! 🙂 I look forward to getting to know you better in the new year. I have you on my list. Good luck. And happy holidays!

  51. I’m late with the congratulations (it’s been a busy weekend) so here I am now.
    Happy blog birthday!! 🙂 And many, many more to come!

    I really admire the work you did in the last year, it feels like you’ve been around for much longer than a yer.

    • Awww, thank you, my dear Ines. That is incredibly sweet of you, and means a lot. I look forward to getting to know you better in the upcoming year. *hugs*

  52. Oops, got here a little too late it seems, for your lovely & most generous giveaway – Oh well … 🙁

    My ‘SO’, I believe, has already wished u a private ‘Happy Blogversary’ on our behalf. But I thought I’d quickly chip in with my very own wishes too. 🙂 – So thanx for a great year of fab reviews Kaf ! – (Keep ’em coming & I’m pretty sure we’ll keep on readin ’em !)

Comments are closed.