I dreamt one of my favorite perfumes was discontinued...

Yes, I even have all things beauty on the brain when I sleep and dreaming that my beloved Helmut Lang Eau de Parfum was discontinued could technically be considered a nightmare. Although it’s been several years since I last had it in my possession, I keep a running list of all the fragrances I’ve ever worn in case I want to revisit a scent from the past. I didn’t need it in this situation since I was reminded of this fragrance nocturnally—and would you believe that my subconscious may have been right? 

Upon Googling the Eau de Parfum shortly after setting into my office, something was definitely afoot. The fragrance was sold out on Helmut Lang’s own website, and I saw several auction listings for both the old packaging I first had back in the ‘00s and the new packaging at well above the standard $185 MSRP. (I also discovered that one of my favorite NYC perfumeries, Aedes de Venustas, seemed to be one of the only legit retailers ANYWHERE to have it in stock.) I had a strong feeling that my dream was likely right, so when I found a listing on eBay for a new, unopened box for $150 I jumped on it.

With notes of rosemary, lavender, orange blossom, sandalwood, patchouli, artemisia, jasmine, rose, heliotrope, lily-of-the-valley and Virginia cedar, this scent has always reminded me of old-school Coppertone sunscreen—and it wouldn’t be the first time this woody, powdery, musky, spicy scent has gone incognito… After first launching in 2000, it quietly went where other discontinued fragrances go before reappearing (much to my delight) in 2014.  

My thankfully-authentic bottle arrived yesterday and I’m so happy this scent is part of my life again. Now I just have to add an asterisk next to it on my perfume list to indicate that it’s currently in the rotation.