My name is Normand Cardella and I live in Montréal, Canada. I am relatively new to the world of perfume… having discovered it a little over 10 years ago. My educational background consists of an Art History degree and a Masters in Library Sciences, which is why perfume classification absolutely fascinates me and my bible is Michael Edwards’ Fragrances of the World.
I have a collection of about 150 bottles and some 50-odd samples. At work, my colleagues recognize the fact that I am a certified perfume obsessive and they either humour me or they are truly interested. I consider it my greatest breakthrough that my psychotherapist, after only 4 months of treatment (on me that is), can differentiate between a green chypre and a rose chypre. It brings tears to my eyes… (hehe).
Like most blogs, this is an adventure and I encourage you to comment on anything I write.
Ciao,
Normand
The Perfume Chronicles 
kjanicki
/ September 29, 2010Hello Normand, I just discovered your blog. We may have been separated at birth. I live in Toronto, but have an Art history degree from McGill and a Library Science masters from UofT. I became obsessed with perfume about 2 years ago too, and have about 50 bottles (but hundreds of samples.)
Anyway, I look forward to reading your posts. Drop by my blog anytime.
Krista
Normand
/ September 29, 2010Hi Krista!
That is TOO weird! I just read your last post and I’m almost happy I wasn’t aware of your blog earlier because I probably wouldn’t have started my own. Very nice. There are ALOT of very smart people out there… it’s why I delayed starting the blog in the first place.
Thanks so much for your comment and I know who I’ll be reading tonight after supper! This is going to be fun… and now I’ve got one more reason to travel to Toronto!
Normand
Len
/ November 15, 2010Just discovered your blog. Like it very much. Keep it up.
I have an MLS from U of T.
Normand
/ November 15, 2010Isn’t that wonderful… another librarian interested in perfumes. We should apply for Special Interest Group status with the Canadian Library Association! I hope to present Chanel No. 5 as a monograph in MARC21 format in a future post. This should be fun…
Thanks for the comment.
Normand
Meg
/ November 30, 2010Can I join the league as a Gal Friday? I am an artist, senior library assistant, and public library art gallery manager. I type 90 wpm and make fairly decent coffee. 😉
Normand
/ November 30, 2010You’re in! Gee… what is it with libraries and perfumes? It’s the last place I’d expect to run into kindred spirits!
Normand
Pilar Gonzalez Nugent
/ December 22, 2011Hello, Normand, I’m glad you are highly interested, I love the chemistry of a perfume and the human body. I’ll be reading your blogs and will keep in touch. Merry Christmas!!
Normand Cardella
/ December 22, 2011Hi! Thanks for writing and Merry Christmas to you too.
Normand
Marie D. Martel
/ February 8, 2012Bonjour Normand, je viens de découvrir ton blogue. Je me suis abonnée et j’ai bien hâte de te lire !
Marie
Normand Cardella
/ February 8, 2012Bonjour Marie!
On s’est rencontré cet été à la bibliothèque Occupons Montréal. Bienvenue à mon blogue!
Normand
Patrick
/ July 12, 2012Hello, Normand! Greetings from Toronto. A dear friend (and world-renowned Montreal drag artist) from my McGill MLS days led me to your blog, for which I am grateful. I rejected perfume after the overapplied horrors of the Polo Years and turned to incense instead. Only very recently have I started dabbing and spritzing again, to the amusement of my colleagues here at the library.
PS. This former cataloguer loved your little MARC bib record! If you port it to Dublin Core, you’ll be able to hear me laughing with glee all the way from Toronto. 🙂
Normand Cardella
/ July 12, 2012Wow… another perfume-friendly librarian! Who would have thought? Oh yes… those BIG perfumes of the 70s and 80s… Polo, Drakkar Noir, Fahrenheit. Not exactly subtle. And the women’s fragrances… Poison, Opium, Giorgio, Paris… also very BIG!
As for cataloguing Chanel No. 5 as a Dublin Core record… I had enough trouble with Marc21! But… if you want to try it, I’ll be happy to publish it and give you the credit, of course!
Thanks for writing!
Normand
Marilyn Craig Campbell
/ October 31, 2012Normand
A friend and I (librarians both!) visited the exhibition at the Dorval Museum and learned of your lecture, which we also subsequently attended. Congratulations on the displays and your talk!
We are currently involved in a Session at MCLL entitled “Scents & Sensuality” – all about perfume. I have learned so much about a world of which I had been barely aware. Fascinating! I shall continue to follow your blog.
Marilyn Craig
Normand Cardella
/ October 31, 2012Well.. thank you very much for writing. And thank you for introducing yourselves after the lecture! I had a great time on Sunday. I would have LOVED to have the time to attend that perfume session! It must have been a lot of fun! And so rare!
Normand
Karen Young
/ November 1, 2012Normand,
I am also part of the McGill MCLL group learning about perfume but was unable to attend on Oct.28. I believe you are giving another lecture on Dec. 5 at the Westmount Library. Could you give us more details about that upcoming lecture? Hoping to meet you there.
Karen
Normand Cardella
/ November 1, 2012Hi Karen,
It’s December 5th at 7 p.m. I understand that it is a free event open to everyone however I think it requires a “ticket” to get in. I think if you call the Westmount Library (514-989-5299), they can fill you in on the details. It’s a 90-minute presentation where I distribute scent strips for approximately 22-23 perfumes. I’ll cover history, some great perfumers and a little bit on classification.
I hope you can make it!
Normand
Jordan River
/ April 6, 2013Reading you in New Zealand.
Normand Cardella
/ April 6, 2013Wowww… thanks for checking in. You’re on my blog roll.
Normand
Maren
/ April 10, 2013Happened to find your blog here by reading reviews of 24 Faubourg and also am a studio Art /Art History undergrad, MLIS Public Librarian. I recently started exploring the artistry of fragrance. so nice to know that I’m in good company here!
Normand Cardella
/ April 10, 2013Welcome to my blog! Did you read my post on Chanel No. 5 as a MARC21 record?
Only a librarian would understand… 😉
Anonymous
/ April 10, 2013Hah, I must share with our technical services librarian, though I’m not sure she falls under the subject heading of Perfumista!
Normand Cardella
/ April 10, 2013Perfumista as a Subject Heading? Does the Library of Congress know about this? 😉
Sanz
/ June 1, 2015Hello there. For years, I have been holding on to a very large and heavy Eau D’ Hermes 16 fl. Oz perfume. It has never been opened and the bottle has an inscription with a number in the 0400’s. I have it in my bathroom for decor purposes but am willing to sell it to a collector. If anyone is interested, please let me know and I will send you pictures. I am planning on auctioning it. Hope to hear from you soon.
Normand Cardella
/ June 1, 2015My website wouldn’t be the best place to place this kind of ad… you’d be better with ebay. But I will post your comment for a couple of months. I hope you get a buyer.
Normand
Ankita & Karan (https://beautyandthebeing.wordpress.com)
/ November 18, 2015Hi Normand…just wanted to give you a Big shout out…Lovely blog!
The layout has a very fresh and clean feel to it.
We share a love…the LOVE of Perfumes! ❤
Followed your blog… great work ☺
Love from India
Ankita
https://beautyandthebeing.wordpress.com
Normand Cardella
/ November 18, 2015Hi Ankita!
Thanks for writing! I just checked out your blog. VERY professional! Yep, we both love perfumes although the perfume industry can drive me crazy from time to time.
A big shout out back… from Canada!
Normand
Ankita & Karan (https://beautyandthebeing.wordpress.com)
/ November 18, 2015Thanks a ton! You made my day with your comment ❤
Normand Cardella
/ November 18, 2015And you made my day by writing to me today! Keep up the blog… I’ll add you to my blog roll later today.
Ankita & Karan (https://beautyandthebeing.wordpress.com)
/ November 18, 2015Thanks Normand! My pleasure ☺
Margaret Light
/ October 19, 2019Hi! Is this McConnell Hall Norm? It’s Margaret from room 305. I’m curious as to knowing if you are my friend from the 1978-1981 era. Hope so!!
Normand Cardella
/ October 19, 2019Yes!!! Absolutely! Can you send me an email at normandtpc @ hotmail.com
Danielle Rousseau
/ November 25, 2019Normand,
My name is Danielle Rousseau and I think we went to high school together. Your name came up in a conversation a little while ago and I wondered how you were.
D.
Normand Cardella
/ November 25, 2019Hi Dani!
We definitely went to high school together. Feel free to contact me on my blog email… normandtpc@hotmail.com.
Normand
Danielle Rousseau
/ November 26, 2019Great will do. Are you on Facebook too?
D