I started work at 16 years old in a department store imagine  "Are you being served "and you have the idea. It was a wonderful  place three floors full of characters and of course a perfume department. I unfortunately was not assigned to work there much to my disappointment. I instead worked with lingerie. Bras and corsets sound very glamorous, but at the time it did not seem so. Working within reach of the perfume counter meant  I could experiment with the fragrances, the staff discount allowed me to purchase one very occasionally. I soon found two favourites, to me they smelt like pure sophistication. The first was Prince Matchabelli Catchet, launched in 1970 the notes when I am reminded of them are the same notes I still love and are present in many of the fragrances I own today. The second is Geminesse by Max Factor how I wish  I could smell this one again. I felt  this was it., 17 years old and it seem to be I had found the "one", but of course I hadnt .....not yet anyway !