Is anyone else a little star-struck by Carrie of Eyeliner on a Cat? She’s been featured in Allure Magazine, serves as a committee member on the FiFi Indie Committee, and has a hardcore Dracula tattoo. Ultimately, however, her passion for Guerlain L’Heure Bleue parfum makes her all-too-relatable. Today she shares a picture of the gorgeous Troutie and tells us which perfumer she’s dreaming of a Christmas card from.
Why do you write about perfume?
I write about perfume because I’m a fangirl. Perfumery is an art just like any other, and the medium of fragrance speaks very loudly to me. I just want to share my love, enthusiasm and sense of wonder.
In “Bottled Seduction” your absolute triumph of an article for Allure Magazine, you suggest that perfume newbies need to “visit the nearest Guerlain counter and explore”. What’s the next step for those of us who know our way around the Guerlain counter?
Sample everything. We’re lucky enough to have places like Luckyscent and The Perfumed Court to order samples from, and there are always swaps with friends via mail. I don’t believe one should write something off before the juice meets skin, you never know what will move you.
What are your favorite perfume houses?
Aftelier, Le Labo, Guerlain, Odin, Ormonde Jayne, Liz Zorn…the list could potentially go on for days. I enjoy a healthy mix of naturals and synthetics, mixed media, niche and artisanal perfumers as well as the bigger, classic houses.
What is your favorite place to shop for perfume?
I love me some Bergdorfs, they have a nice selection of harder to find Guerlain fragrances, even online. Of course there’s Luckyscent, who I’m not sure I could survive without. They’re wonderful. Also, many times I will buy directly from smaller perfume houses.
Do you really have a tattoo of Christopher Lee as Dracula?
It’s true, I do. I’m a huge Hammer Horror film buff, and Christopher Lee is the great love of my life. My husband accepts this.
What are some of your other interests outside of perfume?
Music, film, cats, nail polish, books, television. And Mark Harmon.
What perfumes are you hoping to find under the Christmas tree/Menorah branches this year?
I’ve already gotten myself a bottle of Guerlain Tonka Imperiale, and have received Aftelier Oud Luban solid in a beautiful silver case as a gift, so anything beyond that is pure gluttony. But since you asked (and since gluttony is my personal forte) I’ll wish for the rest of the Guerlain L’Art et la Matiere line, a bottle of L’Heure Bleue parfum from Bergdorfs, and a Christmas card from Thierry Wasser.
SCENTS OF SELF 
Hey, Ari! Thank you so much for interviewing me, it was so much fun! xoxo
It is my pleasure, Carrie! Thank you so much for participating!
Ari, you asked if anyone else is a little star-struck by Carrie. Oh, yes… both by her Goth beauty and her incandescent writing! (She’s the perfect combination of dark and light. Looking at Troutie’s photo, I’d have to say, so is her cat!) 🙂
Both Carrie and Troutie are just gorgeous! 🙂
Another great interview, Ari! What I love about Carrie Meredith – and her answer to the favourite perfume houses question shows this – is that she has such a broad taste in/knowledge of perfume, from the Big Boys to the little indie houses. I can always rely on Eyeliner on a Cat to tell me about a brand I’ve never heard of before and give me a chance to get to know it a little better.
It’s also so unbelievably cool that as well as being one of us fangirls she’s on the FiFi Indie Committee, gets published in the mainstream media and has such a great relationship with a number of perfumers. Masses of respect to Carrie Meredith!
I am thrilled to be able to give Carrie some of the mad props she deserves by posting her interview on this site! I think it’s wonderful how Carrie advocates for smaller indie brands that can really live or die by blogger publicity.
If that cat is wearing eyeliner, I don’t think it hasn’t gone for a contrasting shade…. ; – )
Now I can’t relate to your interest in horror (not with my fear of blood – even black and white blood!), but I can definitely understand the appeal of a Christmas card from a favourite perfumer!
Yes, I absolutely cannot relate on the horror front either, but I thought that the Dracula tattoo was just so cool! It’s really very detailed.
Sorry about the double negative there – proofing is a bit and miss on this new phone.
So I will take this opportunity to add that Carrie is one of only a few people in the world to totally work a short fringe. Yes, I am also in awe of her hair!
Suzanne- thank you so much for the compliments! I’ve been accused my whole life of seeing the world too much in black and white, without proper understanding of the gray areas, so what you said is fitting!
Tara- Gosh, I am blushing, thank you for your sweet words!
Vanessa- You’re right about Troutie not having the best eyeliner. My previous cat, Maggie, had fabulous eyeliner, but most of Troutie’s face is dark (with the exception of a strange asymmetrical white splotch on his lower face). And thank you for your comment about my bangs, I’ve had them for about 10 years, and it’s hard for me to imagine myself without them. I’ve tried to grow them out, but just got frustrated and reached for the scissors once more.
Another great interview! Thank you Ari and Carrie. I can’t wait to see the results of the Indie committee this year. I have a question for Carrie about this, too. Did serving on the committee change your perspective on Indie perfumes at all? I feel like your blog has always been a hub for reviews and info of an Indie sort, but I’m just curious.
Hi Natalie! Regarding your question: I would say that through my work on the committee, I’ve come face to face with some realities that I never expected, but I feel really good about being an advocate for the small, independent perfumers and companies. That is always the first thing on my mind, and really, the only thing that drives me.
Fun interview…and Carrie- you look lovely (as does Troutie) and I adore your expression..:)
Thank you, dearest Lavanya! xox
I know, that face is priceless!
I love these interviews! What a wonderful way to get to know more about your favorite bloggers. I adore Carrie on and offline. She’s the real deal!
PS Gorgeous photos!
All I have to say to you, Joanne, is: Je t’aime!
The thing about Ms. Carrie is her earnest words & allegorical depictions of scent, sensory experiences, and sharply curated styles offer gratuitously intellectual & complex insights into the world of fragrance. And, Mark Harmon? What’s not to respect?
You are the sweetest, most squeeze-worthy girl I know, Nav. Thank you! (and Mark thanks you too)
Christopher Lee, I love him! Saruman coming soon !!! 😀
weird girl lol, my best weird wishes 4 u
ps: the very handsome Mark Harmon!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember his role in hospital St. Eligius (“St. Elsewhere”) … Best medical tv drama ever!
I love how pretty much everyone on the planet knows who Christopher Lee is from one thing or another, he’s really gotten around in his lifetime. 🙂
Good stuff, both here and at EOAC! Kudos to both of you.
And Troutie is adorable.
Thank you so much, Mals!
Starstruck is right! 🙂
Love you, Dee!
Ariii! For the God’s Sake! I’m thinking of starting a blog (not seriously at all… just testing the thing out, to see how it works and so on…) and this is the appearance style I’ve chosen! hahahah! 😉
START THE BLOG!!! I’m not sure if I’m going to keep this new theme- I can’t decide if it is “cool minimalist” or just plain!
It’s just plain cool Hahahahaaaaaa… but forget my blog!! let’s get serious: I’m not starting anything at all, really, I’m just playing…! I’m afraid there’ll be no time to write and administrate and work hard as much as you are, perfume bloggers, and I would have to translate… etc, it’s real pretty harder task to me… 😦 so, well.. Let’s find time… someday, over the course of the next 20 years… somewhat! Lol
It was so funny to see this appearance just few hours later than my very first attempt ‘trial’, I felt like I was in The Twilight Zone 😉
(I like it!: it’s well centered and has more clear Reply button and your response is highlighted.) Is any Theme out there that allows people to edit their comments? I would need very often haha! (instead of adding new things I’d prefer to compilate in One)
You will look at this pendulum and you will only hear my voice……
Y o u r e y e y l i d s s t a r t g e t t i n g h e a v y. . . .
S t a r t t h e b l o g ! ! !
Very convincing, haha!!! 😉
but I’m afraid while waiting for it you’d become stone like the trolls when exposed to the sunlight!