The usual open thread routine: talk about anything you like — what perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you're hoping to get for Valentine's Day, the vintage perfume you're hankering after, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today, so six more weeks of winter. If you'd like another opinion, check out this handy chart at Wikipedia, which reveals that quite a few groundhogs, including Woodstock Willie and Buckeye Chuck, did not see their shadows.
Note: image is Red and white [rotated & cropped] by MGShelton at flickr; some rights reserved.
Today’s SOTD is Parfumerie Generale’s Un Crime Exotique. I have no idea what the notes are except that it’s very spicy—interesting.
Clearly this morning I was digging around in the fabled Vile Vial Pile and this one grabbed my attention.
BTW –Ground hogs are just nasty tempered garden-raiders and unreliable weather forecasters at best. All it takes is one quick look out my front window to see that winter is going to last for freaking EVER! Arrrrg!
Cinnamon…and more cinnamon. I pay no attention to the groundhog, because frankly, six more weeks of winter IS an early spring here.
I know you feel my pain.
yeah, I feel the pain….just not my toes…..
Arizona or New Mexico looks awfully inviting right about now….brrrrrr
Arizona is not bad at all, except for the 5 months of 110+ degree days and dust storms…it may not sound glamorous, but I’m moving back asap
I miss 100+ days with no humidity; I’m sick, I know!
Now I get 98+ days in summer with 90% humidity; it’s like living inside hot wet dryer.
Oh, that’s terrible! There’s nothing worse than humidity imo.
I totally congratulate you for wearing something from your vile vial pile. I should make a vial the SOTD more often — did it the other day with Iris Ganache, only because I knew I’m getting more ;). I also don’t know why people think IG is “sickly sweet”… to me it becomes kind of sweetish-wood comfort scent in no time, but I don’t get any treacle from it at all.
yup, woodsy for me too. Very little chocolately note–which is good, because as much as I’ll knock old ladies down to get to yummy dark chocolate….as a perfume note it starts messing with my head very quickly….then migrates to my nausea trigger at the speed of light….
I’d like to say that I’m making some valiant effort to sort/organize or even neaten the vile pile….but the truth is I was looking (read: digging recklessly) for Frapin Caravelle Epicee (which I’ve determined I don’t have after all). Thinking about the next bottle to split…. you know I’m a sucker for punishment. C&S Dark Rose has been mentioned, but this Un Crime Exotique is pretty yummy….but I’m holding out for those Nez a Nez samples….I’d also like to get my mitts on some Bois d’Armenie (even though I know you think it’s sour) it’s not like I have a lemming problem or anything….
Miss Daisy – 2 questions: 1) What did you think of the Angelique Noire? and 2) The next time you send something this way, could I beg a tiny sample of the Iris Ganache? Believe it or not, I’ve never tried it and am longing to. A big thank you.
Hi D–you can have my IG. Many things turn sweet on me but IG is exceptionally syrupy (unfortunately my experience with most recent Guerlain releases). Looking back at Robin’s review of it, I have to say I totally agree. Will be happy to send it along with some other goodies.
Ooh! To me, Un Crime Exotique has one note: Pfeffernusse. (Those little German Christmas cookies?) I fell madly in love a couple of months ago, and am trying to tell myself that with winter ending, I should really wait until next year to buy it.
Pepernoten, small little round cookies. You get them in The Netherlands, and find them in your shoe in the morning of the 5th of December from Sinterklaas (Nikolaus), when you polish your shoe and was brave all over the year :-D. However, I got them in my shoe as I was a kid, but I was not always brave…. I always put some food for the horse of Sinterklaas in my shoe.
The grass is always greener, but I want your winter. Right now it’s raining half-heartedly, and next week it’ll be 80 or something. It’s terrible.
80 or something?? sounds sooooooo much better than my 20 with snow and wind….did I mention wind? I gotz lotz ‘o wind!
Sounds like Florida
Houston, TX. xP
I got the van stuck sort-of-near the driveway coming home from the grocery store yesterday. I got OUT… and down the half-mile gravel road covered with snow… and then the roads in town were clear. And then I got back UP the half-mile gravel road covered with snow, and pfffft. Couldn’t make the turn into the driveway. Good thing the only vehicle that could hit the van would be a tractor carrying hay.
Still want that winter??
28 La Pausa is my SOTD -but I wish that I’d spritzed more liberally because it’s mostly faded by now. I could always use my emergency bottle of Jasmine Noir to freshen up, but I don’t want to lose the La Pausa. Sigh.
I wouldn’t mind six more weeks of winter – we’ve actually had a cold one (for us) this year. At least it would be six extra weeks that it wasn’t 100 degrees out – but I’m not complaining, I like the “cold” weather that we’ve been having, but I’d much rather deal with hot summers than bitterly cold winters.
La Pausa would be much improved by being in EdP or parfum form! Which brings to mind Odori Iris and Iris Taizo….from last weeks blog…have you tried those?
Nope – haven’t hit those yet. I’ve found that I seem to like “juicier” irises or ones that have been tempered with citrus or something – Iris 39, Iris Noir, La Pausa, Iris Ganache. The rootier ones are admired, but not necessarily loved – I’ll keep trying though.
Do try Orris Noir, Bois d’Iris and Iris Pallida! And Iris Taizo (now Iris Oriental) is wonderful!
SOTD today is AG Mandragore. I got a samples from Aedes and requested the EdP based on the review here, but the sample is only labeled Mandragore so who knows. I do like it, but it is mostly pepper on me.
Mandragore does MUCH better sprayed, really!
I have several samples I’d like to spray. Guess I’ll be ordering some small plastic spray bottles!
I find the Mandragore edt to be a tad bit crisper like an edc rather than the edp which has a tad more body, a bit richer tea, and lasts only a wee bit more than the edt. Good luck deciding which you want!!
Wearing Ambre Russe today. Tea, honey, leather, spice, booze, what’s not to love? If I love this one, do you think I’d like Frapin 1270? I’m thinking I need to sample it.
mmmm Frapin 1270 is deliciously gourmand and cozy…. with a touch of the boozy too…..I suspect that you will like it…..hey, aren’t you in my split of Lez Nez Manoumalia? I can send you a sample…..
Bless your heart, yes, I’m in on the Manoumalia. 1270 sounds divine.
I’ve put a note next to your name
The AR is on my must-have list for next year, for sure.
Mmm, Ambre Russe sounds lovely. How much patch is in that, if any?
I’m a major patch-phobe, and if there is any, I didn’t notice it.
I love patch, and I didn’t notice any.
Well, looks like we have THAT covered, then! Neither the patch lover nor the patch hater noticed any patch. Must not be any.
Great, new sample to try. Thanks!
Verified PATCH HO, not a trace in Ambre Russe.
I have a question concerning dating bottles of YSL “Y”. When did YSL stop producing 30ml, 1 f.oz bottles of Y..? (I don’t know the answer..
My STOD: Eau de Gentiane Blanche, Hermes. I just love the dryness.
My Valentine’s Day scent I hope to get: Lolita Lempicka, My Lolita. A too cute bottle, just like the day itself..bordering on kitsch.
I’m sorry but I have no idea!
So now that Les Senteurs finally have Muscs Kublai Khan I ordered my sample, received it a few days ago and….it’s not nearly as beastly as I feared. Dabbed on skin it’s just a warm, musky thing, a touch floral and slightly powdery. It has more bite on fabric where I detect what I assume is castoreum – a sharpener leather, armpit and barnyard/zoo sort of smell. Definitely more animalic but not terrifyingly so.
Some of the reviews are so horrifying that it does seem tame after all the build-up!
Ah, glad it’s not just me! Some of the reviews definitely made it sound like something that requires a hazmat suit when being handled
I thought MKK was very tame after all the hype I heard about it. I bought a FB several months ago and was beginning to think my skin was just not receptive to it. Most perfumes really stay with me more than most of my friends. I had heard so much about MKK being a scrubber for some, etc. and on me it’s just a beautiful scent with a slightly animalistic touch to keep it interesting.
SOTD is Black Tourmaline, and I smell mahvelous. I think BT just might be John Mayer’s mythical “sausages and sleep” scent! All that smoky, snuggly goodness, mmm…
Question for lovers of the old Caleche: Have you ever bought vintage, and if so, what concentration, and how did it turn out? I really miss my circa 1984 bottle of the stuff; it was a splash bottle, so I think it was the EDT — it was lovely and sharp and green, and the new iteration just doesn’t hold a candle to it, so I’ve been eyeing bottles on the ‘bay.
I have a 1 oz vintage bottle of spray perfume refill picked up from fleabay last year. Am guessing it’s from the ’60s or ’70s. Initially did a side by side with the soie de parfum. Both were soapy, warm, and floral. The leather is very subtle. The perfume lasted longer and is rounder, of course. I really didn’t get much “green” from it, though.
Hmm, I’m going to guess that I had the EDT then, because none of the current versions smell much like it. I’m relying on a very old scent memory (haven’t seen my bottle since, oh, 1990), but in my mind it’s something of a cousin to Bandit.
I’ve got some vintage EdT which is lovely. I don’t know any more about it than “at least 10 years old” though.
Hi Natalie, yes I loved Caleche, one of the few I went thru’ more than one bottle of about three decades ago before I was K.O’d by Mitsouko. And when I fired up as a born-again perfumista this year, I got an EDT from the ‘bay ( a sealed-in-box splash bottle that was nearly half gone), and just this week, a little purse spray perfume (in a sort of faux dark tortoiseshell outer) as a gift from a wonderful seller. The ‘fume does seem to be more base-heavy, leathery, and long-lasting. Neither has any off notes, and both are the real Caleche. Were in the beige-y brown packaging. I’ve seen it a lot on the bay but often only to be sold in the USA for some reason (I’m in Australia).
So after yesterday’s thread about the Bill Blass, I checked out Parfum1 and there’s an amazing array of Lutens there! With the coupon code discount they’d be around $80. Happy Valentine’s Day! Haven’t decided which one I might NEED yet…
I didn’t have quite the same problem, but I had a willing friend traveling to Paris and I couldn’t think of a bell jar I NEEDED. Felt like a failure letting that opportunity pass but I’ve still got my money. That’s not too bad. ;3
decide fast! I know a few are selling out already. I picked up a back up bottle of my beloved Clair de Musc—-what are they thinking to discontinue this? That coupon is wonderful but, still, at $86 for 50ml, I hope one will be enough (it’s going to have to be!)
Oh no, tell me they are not thinking of discontinuing Clair De Musc. It is one of my favorite Serge Lutens scents.
That’s what they’re saying. I’ve picked up a back up—-you might want to consider that as well. I always thought CdM was one of their good sellers, so I have no clue as to why it’s being discontinued.
SOTD is Amazone, by Hermes in vintage extrait. It is pre-reformulation with lots of lovely deep oakmoss…. there is a rainstorm on the horizon in SF, so I thought I’d celebrate with one of my fave fruity chypres.
My question: does anyone else wear Azuree by EL, and does it turn sweet on them? I don’t know if it’s my chemistry or not but it’s decidedly brown-sugarish, just a touch, on me. I don’t mind b/c I like woodsy gourmands but just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?
I have the original Azuree and it’s a killer. Just one spritz is plenty for the day. It lasts and lasts. Not my favourite but a friend brought it back from the States because we can’t get it here in Canada. I much prefer Alliage. Robin, do you know if EL’s are now being labelled as EDP, etc. in the U.S.? There was a time when they said “Perfume Spray” which is why one only ever needed one spritz!
I think Aliage is still labeled a *sport fragrance spray*, and Azuree Pure Fragrance Spray. EL recenty changed the packaging on Aliage from 2 oz to the smaller 1.7 oz size. The bottle now looks like the old Private Collection (the original) bottle. I noticed it about a month ago.
Hi Smokey Toes! Brown sugar is a great way to describe the EL Azuree sweetness! It smells like coca cola or very vanilla syrupy on me. I am a big EL fan but Azuree, Bronze Godess and Beyond Paradise and Beautiful do not appeal to me at all.
Hey Fuddy Duddy! How are things?
I never rememberd the cola/brown sugar note being prominent. Azuree was always leather patch & oakmoss notes. I don’t know if it’s my chemistry or not b/c it was 10 or so years ago.
I do love the sweet note though, and one spritz is really all I need. I love the PCTG but it is by far the strongest gardenia I have. I really need to watch how I spray with that one. The PCTG soap is amazing stuff. It scented my entire bedroom and bathroom.
Smokey Toes- I Love Azuree, in fact I’m wearing it today, its cold and rainy here in Austin TX.
Azuree is very mysterious, sometimes I get like you discribed, leather and patch. and oakmoss, and in warmer temp. I get sweet, coca cola, and vanilla……very pleasant.
Amazone is a fruity chype? Good to know. I’ve been exploring fruity chypres lately. Parfum de Therese, Femme, Colony…
I have to try Amazone.
SUN365-I’ve got both new and vintage in edt, let me know if you want me to send samples to compare, I’d be happy to do so.
The description on Osmoz says it’s a floral/fruity, but I smell oakmoss in the vintage version, not so much in the revised. It also has a wonderful vetiver note, which I adore.
Oh, I’d love to!
Are you a MUA member? I’m riso on MUA.
Thank you!
Yep, I’m SFLizbeth on MUA.
Hi Smokey – There is a woman I work with who wears Azuree exclusively – and a rather magnificent sillage follows her around everywhere. I love it on her. I would say it never smells sweetish – just that dry leather-woody thing.
Hey, for once I caught the poll!
Well, two full bottles bought in 2 weeks: China White and Covet. But Covet was dirt cheap! It would’ve been a crime NOT to pick it up.
Also, I went to an estate sale on Saturday and picked up a few little things. I got vintage samples of L’air du Temps, Opium parfum, and Raffinee parfum from Houbigant (which was the prettiest concentrated red, so how could I not resist?) In addition, there were a ton of vintage minis: I got Cristalle (which must have deteriorated because it smells of banana peppers in vinegar over moss–which isn’t terrible), VC&A First (a bit disappointing) and Fendi by Fendi, which is the cutest mini.
Today I’m wearing my Burberry Brit Red lotion. I’m knitting and it always makes whatever I’m knitting slightly perfume. It’s great.
Well! Someone had a busy perfume-finding week! Knitting sounds like a good thing to do on this cold , gray, snowy day…..must go dig around in the upstairs closet and see which batch of yarn speaks to me….got some nice fuzzy ones….
Pretty bustling for me: I usually only Luckyscent every six months. Which is sad, I realize.
Knitting is the perfect excuse to watch TV: “I’m not REALLY watching TV! I just need something to do while I knit.” ;3
Oh, I loved Raffinee back in the 80s. I’m too terrified to sniff the current Dana incarnation of it.
Raffinee! My mom used to wear that in the 80s! That’s a nice one.
SOTD: 31 Rue Cambon. No perfume for VDay..I’m getting a new townhouse and we’re moving that weekend! Am all stressed out by moving my frag stash…have already been planning & packing it myself. No movers allowed!!
Suzanne—you smell GREAT!!!!
And congrats on the new townhouse. Although packing makes me shudder! Bubble wrap. Lots. and. lots. of bubble wrap. Are you using a mover? I would take my boxes with the perfume collection in my own car with me—movers are brutes! Save out a couple decants –maybe put those in your purse—so you aren’t caught without fragrance for a couple days –which would make me crazy!(-er)
Good luck!
ha ha!! Thanks, Daisy! You got me started on the whole Chanel money extraction device. Had to laugh because..I had already thought to move my frags in my car and am bubble-wrapping and padding special boxes NO ONE is touch on pain of death. So I’m already doing that…how sad is that?
sounds perfectly reasonable to me!
….and to me to!
Another congratulations on your new home.
Oh, how much I envy your vintage Opium parfum! The new Opium is really different. The beauty is gone!!!
It’s only a sample but if you’d like, I’d be happy to send it to you. I only picked it up for curiosity’s sake; I don’t really need it.
If you do want me to send it to you, I have the same username over at makeup alley.
Oh, that is very nice of you: but I live in Italy and for some strange reason receiving perfume from ouside EU is really troublesome, both for the sender and receiver. And most of the times the goods are not delivered at all.
In any case many thanks, that was really very nice of you.
I’m wearing coco mademoiselle like I have been since the weather got cold (: I want a bottle of jicky and also hypnotic poison in EDP form!
I want both of those too, esp. the Jicky!
SOTD is No.5 Eau Premier. My FB arrived yesterday so this is the first day I’ve been able to spray very liberally!! rather than dabbing my wrist from a little glass vial. Thanks Robin for your review and to the rest of you for often mentioning this scent. It went from being off my radar to being on my Top 5 list.
Oops, spelled “Premiere” wrong above.
Ooh.. I love Eau Premiere, too! I had to give it a rest this week because my other fragrances were being neglected – but seeing that big bottle sitting there brings me joy. Plus, I scored a major bargain on evilBay, so that makes me like it even more.
This is my SOTD too! I’m almost finished with a generous sample from the Chanel counter, and I have a good feeling Cupid is sending a bottle my way.
I don’t remember to wear it often but Eau Premeire is amazing. I remember not liking it much when it first came out. Then I went to the Chanel boutique and they gave me a sample. I couldn’t wait for them to rerelease it! I bought my bottle weeks after it did come out.
Congrats on the EP – I love it too! I wear it more in the dreary winter than any other time of the year just because it smells so sunny and lovely. It layers really well with the No 5 body cream for a bit more of the classic dry No 5. It is a great scent!
Yes I get that sunny disposition, too, Ann. Because I “discovered” it in the winter, I’m curious to see how it wears in the summer.
SOTD: Parfum Sacre – from a sample vial.
I’m trying to decide if I need to add an oriental to my collection and which it should be. I have (among many others) – L’heure bleu, Shalimar Light, Bal a Vers, Coco – seem to be the most prominent.
Parfum Sacre is in the running and so is Montale’s Chypre Vanille. I fluctuate on the latter – when it’s good, I feel it can occupy the same shelf space as the Guerlains, but the vanilla does funny things sometimes and I just don’t know. Parfum Sacre (not that they’re alike) sometimes call to mind Bal a Vers and Alahine – think I like it better and price wise, much cheaper than Montale….
Forgot – I’ve got Jicky also (granted edt but I adore it).
I’ve never tried the Montale, so that probably negates my opinion, but… I adore Parfum Sacre and think that it’s a good fit with the other orientals that you like.
Parfum Sacre and Alahine would probably make my Top Ten Winter list.
Alahine is so fantastic. For all your Portlanders out there (and I’m talking Oregonians)…. IMHO Alahine smells *exactly* like the hippy side of the Saturday Market with all the crazy soaps, incense, etc, etc. So now I love to dab it on for a great trip down memory lane. I’ll put AT Le Maroc pour Elle on one arm, and Alahine on the other for the perfect elegant hippy experience.
That sounds wonderfully retro!
I should try that one of these days when I’m in a Bohemian mood…
Am wearing Chypre Vanille today to combat the snowey NE – it’s a “good day” today.
SOTD: DKNY Gold. The combination of lilies and amber makes me feel like a Mucha poster for Sarah Bernhardt (http://www.art.com/products/p10032640-sa-i847703/alphonse-mucha-gismonda.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=16866&dimvals=16866&ui=f30cd197f2de4da9adfc19709322541d). They’re discontinuing this and bringing out candy-apple flankers to Be Delicious?
Curse them. I hate all the Delicious (don’t they really mean, UN delicious?) stuff, bar none, and Gold really is beautiful.
I loved Gold too. It came out when I was around 15, and I’m sure it wouldn’t have been quite right on a young girl (although when I was 15 I wore Prada and New Haarlem, which might have been even more incongruous). Unfortunately the Donna Karan line does not seem to share the massive success of DKNY.
I agree…where is the comparison. How can they get rid of a beautiful scent like Gold for the candy apple stuff…who wants to smell like candy apples after the age of 7?
It’s Dumb Question Time! I haven’t flown in years (verging on “decades”), and don’t understand the airline restrictions on liquids. It says that you can take anything under 100 ml in your checked in baggage, but I swear I thought people had said they had to use decants and samples when flying. Maybe this was just for carry-on baggage? I’m not going anywhere until April, but am anxious about traveling without my perfume! Plus, if I buy perfume I want to be able to bring it back with me. (Obviously.) I’m assuming this isn’t a problem, since I know people here have talked about buying in Paris and such. Anyway, help ease a crazy lady’s anxiety! Help me out!
Domestic flights: If the individual bottle is under 3 oz and fits in a 1-quart ziplock bag, you can carry it on. I flew home on New Year’s Day with L’Heure Bleue and Jolie Madame in carry-on. 100 ml has to go in checked baggage, but it’s OK. Use a lot of bubble wrap around the box and pray.
International: you’re on your own.
One ziplock bag per person. And you have to take it out of the carryon for separate inspection.
I usually decant into smaller size (5ml) bottles for travelling, that way if the security folks take issue, I haven’t lost much.
In re: to scents purchased while in Paris. Could you have them shipped so they are waiting when you get there? That would avoid airport issues.
Hi Miss Kitty V.,
To be on the safe side, I decant any perfume I want to carry with me on the plane into 15 ml. glass bottles. I then put them into a clear ziploc bag with the rest of my carry on liquids in my purse and that way I am able to take them out when I go through security. I just did this a few months ago on my trip to Las Vegas and had no problems and the decant size was perfect and didn’t take up hardly any space.
When we flew to Paris a few years ago, I bought about 10 bottles of perfume and just packed them away in my suitcase and everything was fine. Nothing amiss when I picked up my suitcase from the baggage claim area.
We are traveling to Buenos Aires in a couple of weeks and I will only take 2 decants with me.
That way, the original bottles are safe at home and I don’t have to worry.
Bon Journee!
Dawn
No limit for liquids in checked items; the limit is 3.4 oz for carry-on. Here’s the source: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm (page down to the very bottom).
All good info here, MIss Kitty. I carry little decants when I fly and don’t forget to pull that liquids bag out for “inspection.” They don’t care that it’s perfume, they’re focussed on the amount.
Are you going to (pant, pant)…Paris?! I’m SOOOO jealous! Fun!
No, not Paris. Only in my dreams.
Just using that as an example.
Yeah, I’m dreaming too. Just got back from glamorous Houston & looks like Indinapolis is next. Whoo boy!
Well, happy travels to you!
Wow, I didn’t realize you had to separate liquids, and I fly once or twice a month for business! I guess TSA in California is slacking!
The last few times I’ve flown, both domestic & internationally, I’ve transported several bottles of perfume in my checked luggage. Bringing perfume back isn’t a problem either as I usually take advantage of the duty free boutiques down in the Virgin Islands.
I simply refrain from ever carrying any liquids in my carry-on, and often try not to take a carry-on at all.
I bought far too much perfume on a trip about a year ago – several bottles, each individually under the limit.
I took the bottles in their boxes to the airport in my carry-on. Before going through security I took each bottle out of its box and wrapped it in its own Ziploc to cushion it but still leave it very visible. Then I put the several Ziploced bottles in my quart Ziploc, took everything through security, and then sat right down again once I was through security to take the bottles _out_ of the Ziploc structure and put them back in their boxes. So they only had to travel unboxed for a few hundred yards.
I worry about my perfume.
I think that this would still work – the 3 ounce limit is per container, not per passenger, right?
But that’s only if I bought perfume while travelling. I figure that there’s always a risk that something might get confiscated, so if I’m just taking perfume to use on the trip, I do make decants, or I declare the trip to be an opportunity to make some progress testing my sample hoard.
Little do the airlines know that perfumistas spend so much more time planning out their liquid transportation than a terrorist ever would.
Miz Kitty—just to be safe, you should buy lots of bottles, pack them all up and ship them to ME! yeah, I’ll …umm, ‘keep an eye’ on them until you get back….. ***innocent grin***
Yeah….right.
…those bottles were only half full when they got here…..really….terrible evaporation problem in shipping, it’s all that reallllly dry air…..
Don’t fall for that one Miss Kitty! Sounds like a Perfumista terror attack to me. LOL!
no no no you’ve got it all wrong….I’m being “helpful”
Miss Kitty – you’ve already got the scoop from others here. When I flew recently, I brought several little spray samples of scents I knew I liked in the little ziplock baggie.
I traveled with a small set of 1 ml vials and one 5 ml vial of my fav fragrances when last I travelled. I was anxious though as I had some older 3.4 ml Vol de Nuit in my suitcase and I was so worried it would break! How I long for the days when you could carry bottles of wine, ALL your makeup/body products/perfume, and god only knows what else on the plane. I brought a large sak of orchids back from florida once….
I won’t even tell you guys how many decants I brought along to New Jersey for the December holiday two-week trip. Heh. I smelled great.
Not dumb at all, Miss K (to have to discard a much loved bottle of ‘fume in the bin would be a v bad start to your hols) The maximum size of any one bottle is 100mls. But all liquids and pastes in your hand luggage have to fit into the small clear plastic baggie thingy. But if you want to fill your checked baggage with perfume, then just go right ahead! Be careful not to buy things en-route, if it won’t fit into your plastic bag, as you’re only allowed one.
SOTD: Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel. Although it’s good in any season, I especially love it in winter when it smells somehow wilder to me.
Isn’t that a wonderful scent, it’s so comforting…. Have you tried the vetiver bourbon?
Love that one as well! In fact, it’s probably my favorite vetiver. Also really like their Geranium Bourbon. Guess I like anything with bourbon in the title!
You’re preachin’ to the choir for sure ;P
I loved Sel Marin… until I put it on. I recently got it in a sample order. I could smell it before I got the package open: I couldn’t rip it open fast enough. When I put it on –whoa!– too strong. I tried just a dab the next time. No go. I want to wear it. Maybe I need to dilute it by spraying it or…. just apply to fabric? or….any suggestions?
Oh, what a shame! You could always try the old spray-before-you-and-walk-into-it trick. That might work.
Floral perfumes with galbanum as a note? Any recs? I know that it’s a main note in Un Coeur en Mai and Weekend A Deauville (both of which I love).
Or a really nice orange blossom frag? I have been wearing Escale a Portofino and Apom pour Femme a lot lately, even though it’s been cold. I looove this category. I don’t want a soliflore– preferably, something more complex but not dirty.
I really like Lorenzo Villoresi Dilmun for an orange blossom.
Dilmun is my fav OB.. and then I like the Laura Mercier Neroli which is a bit more floral with a dash of limoncello – very pretty and light.
If you don’t mind a good dose of wood with your galbanum floral… MH Fleurs de Bois.
Galbanum florals: Chanel No. 19, PdN Le Temps d’une Fete, AG Heure Exquise, EL Private Collection, A Scent… Miyake, Chamade, RL Safari, MH Fleur de Matin…
The Safari’s discontinued, but can still be found on ebay. My picky teen daughter likes Fleur de Matin very much.
HE, really? I never would have guessed that. It’s such a soft scent, nothing bitter/green about it to me. I don’t trust my nose anymore anyway, though…the acid reflux really does a number on it at times.
HE doesn’t have as much galbanum as No. 19, that’s for sure, but it is there in the beginning. (I was actually going to retest it today, but because of my crappy day just reached for something comforting instead. Maybe when I get home and settle in with some hot tea I’ll put some HE on, because my Bois des Iles sure left about two hours ago. I’m still ticked about that. I don’t mind light scents like Apres l’Ondee having no staying power, but when they’re woody fragrances, they should stick around a while. The heck with this, maybe I just ought to put on some Parfum Sacre, that’d make me happy.)
Hm, and see, I get a solid 8 hours out of BdI. Then again, that’s “short-lived” on me.
Well, that’s something we have in common Boo. I usually have to sandblast scent off of my skin *after* my shower the next am.!
HE is one of my holy grail fragrances…. it is just gorgeous. BEWARE to all who see the edp of Heure Exquise – it is MUCH more rosy than the edt which is lighter, dryer and has a more pronounced galbanum. The edp of HE is very much just aldehydes, rose and sandalwood. VERY different…..
OMG B – I can’t believe you don’t smell the Galbanum in HE!! It was the fragrance that opened the door for me to love galbanum above all other “greens” and then came No 19, Chamade, Safari,…..
Maybe my memory is faulty? No memory of galbanum, at any rate. I have to say, though, that despite how long frags linger on my skin, the top notes are gone in a flash…so if it’s mainly noticeable in the opening, that would explain why. If I weren’t so redolent of Idole still at this hour, I’d go spritz some on to check. Maybe I’ll borrow Daisy’s knee trick, closer to bedtime…
Reporting back as I should…
Yep, there it was, clear as day, BUT…completely gone w/o a trace within 2 minutes. And since I usually avoid sniffing anything for at least that long because I find it too strong upon application (I’m a super-light applier)… no big surprise at all that I would miss that window. I miss so much with my topnote eating skin! Very rarely do I find a scent that develops the way I think it should. And oddly, the BdI that everyone else finds so short-lived is one of those rare scents.
Givenchy III is another one which might work.
Do you get floral out of G III?
Yup, I’d say there’s something floral in there softening the whole thing nicely. On skin in particular. Having said that, I only have a sample which is labelled as vintage so I don’t know how it compares to the current version.
Vent Vert.
Seconding or thirding the Chamade. My summer favorite.
Isn’t APOM Femme wonderful? I really want a bottle of it, but my bank account is already busted for the month. I see that you already have a bunch of good orange blossom rec’s, so hopefully someone didn’t already mention Le Labo Jasmin 17. It smells just like the orange blossom orchards in Phoenix in the spring – pure heaven!
Looks like six more weeks of winter, indeed. I’m currently ‘enjoying’ about 6 inches of snow with another 2 to 6 coming this afternoon and then another weekend-long winter storm starting late Friday. Luckily the snow did not ruin my planned trip to the ballet last Saturday. I did, however, regret allowing my fiance’ to choose my perfume for the event, since while Midnight Poison might be the ironically appropriate choice for viewing Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet, I ended up spending the duration of the performance smelling cloying vanilla & patchouli radiating off my skin. I feel that I have a love-hate relationship with the perfume. Some days I crave it while others I find it almost nauseating. Sadly, Saturday I was experiencing the latter.
SOTD is Narcisse Noir. It’s the first time I’ve worn this fragrance throughout the day despite having it for nearly two months & I’m not certain whether or not it’s something I would have purchased had I sniffed it prior to doing so. I appreciate it for what it is, but perhaps it’s just a tad too floral for my taste. In its defense, this is the toilette & I’m aware of the fact that it’s been subject to a reformulation. I kept reading these lovely reviews about the lingering sandalwood but I can barely smell it. It wasn’t until about three hours later that I found any traces of it. Perhaps I need to try to perfume in order to fully experience what Gloria Swanson did, but on me this is just too floral, almost sweet. C’est la vie.
I may try layering it with Avignon — which I have fallen completely in love with — but I half afraid I’d end up smelling like a funeral.
According to The Guide, Narcisse Noir is one of the Carons that have been reformulated beyond all recognition so it might be worth looking for an earlier version, perhaps?
I myself would love to try vintage Tabac Blond because the sample of the current stuff left me completely cold.
Yeah, I should see if I can get ahold of a vintage bottle since the reformulation just isn’t doing it for me. I hate to say it, but it almost strikes me as being cheap & drugstore-y. I kept telling myself that just because I adore most classic art deco scents I’m going to occasionally find one that I do not care for, but it’s not even that. It just smells off to me. Like it’s supposed to be this dark sexy femme fatale fragrance, but it just has become one dimensional in its reformulation. I don’t smell anything but narcissus.
I wanted to spray it on & suddenly pretend that I was a silent film star. Instead I spray it and suddenly think of discount body spray. Tragic.
I fear that all great scents will eventually fall victim to these abhorrent reformulations.
I tried the recent version too and, though I could imagine it’s former greatness, the current Narcisse Noir just isn’t worth the money. Shame.
I’m so glad I’m not alone here. I thought there was something truly wrong with how I was smelling this because it’s nothing like what I was expecting I had read so many gorgeous reviews & when I read that it was cut by this lingering incense-y sandalwood I absolutely had to try it. I knew it had been reformulated but I didn’t realize that it might as well not even be the same perfume any longer.
Such a disappointment.
I was so disappointed in the new version of NN – I love narcissus, but all I smelled in NN was lemony green tea. Booooooo-ring. I mean, nice for summer, but sort of brainless.
We must be in the same neck of the woods K – ugh. Punxsutawney Phil has a helluva nerve.
I’m in the NoVa/DC area. February seems to always be the month for snow in the District.
I’m in Maryland – we’ve had mild winters for the past several years – I suppose we were overdue for a brutal Winter. Plus – we keep getting our big snows on the WEEKENDS! Not fair.
Yeah, I dunno what’s up with us getting all the snow on the weekends. It really ruins plans. Luckily I was still able to make it to the Kennedy Centre last Saturday since they kept announcing that they weren’t canceling the scheduled performances despite the weather. I really didn’t want to waste the tickets, so we braved the conditions on 66. Of course, stiletto heels & Cavalli don’t really work well in snow, ah well.
I’m already making plans to hole up this weekend with some friends in Laurel, MD since I’d rather be w/ good company than snowed in bored out of my mind.
Stay warm & safe!
We’re all DC area folks here! I’m up in Baltimore, bracing myself for some snowy ugliness. I don’t remember a winter like this since 2002! And I was planning a Sephora run tomorrow…
Hang in there! This too shall pass, I guess.
I will SO trade you. I’d much rather have the snow on the weekends than have to deal with it during rush hour traffic. Didn’t get home until 8 last night, and there wasn’t even all that much snow! It just fell all day so the plows couldn’t keep up. Blah. Weekends are better, for sure.
K, I have had mixed results with vintage Narcisse Noir. I bought a beautiful old bottle of the perfume that is very strange (interesting by not very wearable), and one of those tiny little rectangular bottles of the extrait that I find glorious. Either way, it is such an eccentric scent that it would be worth trying smaller vintage decants from TPC before embarking on the quest for vintage bottles.
SOTD = ELdO Eloge du Traitre (pine, artemisia, bay, clove, geranium, jasmine, patchouli, leather, musk). Very woody MAN scent, a la Yatagan. Nice, but my tastes have really veered away from this kind of dry herbaceous masculine. Nice and bracing though!
Also… I just bought a bottle of SL Miel de Bois yesterday in a fit of discontinuation insanity (insanity!!!). Seriously, let me know if any of you want decants (joe805 on MUA).
I know what you mean! Insanity! I’ve been driven to distraction recently by the news that Attrape-Coeur is being discontinued…
Isn’t Attrape fabulous? I marched over the my local Saks and ordered a bottle (I know I already toldt this story) and when the total came nearly fainted. But I’ve my Attrape! I’m on MUA…PM me if you can’t find any.
Attrape-Couer is being discontinued?? Noooooooo!! I can afford a bottle of it, tax return or no tax return. @#$%!!!!!
Kitty: ditto on the contact thru MUA if you can’t fine any. Same username.
Yep, that and Chypre Rouge and Douce Amere.
I got the mass email today from Jason at BG and it said Attrape Coeur, Philtre d’Amour and something else which slips my old mind, are all being discontinued.
L’Ame d’un Heros is the other one.
Well I guess L’Ame d’Un Heros shouldn’t be a surprise — that was the old Coriolan, a 90s scent (good one IMO) dc’d sometime around 04-05 then relaunched as L’Ame in a bee bottle. I guess at Maison Guerlain, rebranding (as in Attrape, and probably never a good idea) is a prelude to discontinuation.
Hey Joe, Insanity is right, I’m about to do the same with SL’s Douce Amere.
My Q1 budget is officially blown to smitherines. I’m interested in a split, I’ll contact you via MUA.
I did it too with Chypre Rouge. Willing to share.
Now about to apply my “after lunch” scent… ELdO Rossy de Palma. Rose for dessert.
I need some help (wringing hands). I purchased a bottle of Mitsouko EDT. It’s been more delightful than I could have imagined. I bought it at an on-line retailer — the box is that gold with orange box label. I thought it was an older version; pre-reformulation? Anyway, the scent does not last well. I get 15 minutes of heaven, followed by the veriest whiff of a drydown. Do I need to get the EDP in gold/orange box? Parfum? Earlier vintage? Is this actually post-reformulation? Now that I’ve had a sniff, I really need this. Thanks!
On another note (HA!), Neiman Marcus is offering a 180 Year Collection for Guerlain: http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod84520015&parentId=cat21290731&masterId=cat000308&index=16&cmCat=cat000000cat000285cat4830738cat000294cat000308cat21290731. No Vol de Nuit, no Chamade, interesting choices. Enjoy!
oh my god!!
It might be you need a stronger formulation, I get 5 or so hours from the edt version too. BTW, I instantly broke into a sweat upon seeing that box set. And I’m headed out to Union Square over the weekend.
I. will. not. buy. (I hope)
Thank you for your kind advice about Mitsy. That boxed set is sooooo dreamy! You have to let me know if you cave.
GG – that box should be pre-reformulation (or at least the most recent one). That one lasts really well on me too so I’m not sure what’s going on with it for you. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
It’s $4000. I won’t let you.
GG: Just FYI, I have the EDP and it lasts pretty well on me. The thing about extrait (if you’re even thinking about that) is that it’s stronger, but it also wears much closer to the skin and often doesn’t project a lot of sillage. I find I like Guerlains in EDP concentration best, though some of the extraits are certainly heavenly.
Joe is absolutely right – I have some pre-reformulation Mitsouko parfum, and it is much more compact, but somehow softer with a dusty carnation note – the florals are more “there” than in the edp. It does indeed have less sillage than the edp too. It is a softer more refined composition. Here come the tomatoes, but I actually like the edp better for performance issues….
Ann has nailed this one perfectly —my solution: a bit of Mitsy extrait in the cleavage, wrists….and then a couple spritzes of EdP and I’m good for all day! Best of both worlds.
Aaaaah, Mitsouko, the Empress. Having lost count of the bottles of every type I’ve been through in the last three decades, I would advise from the sageness of age, that you Must, MUST, go on the ‘bay and get some vintage that has oakmoss, plenty of oakmoss, and also maybe nothing from the last decade or so since Guerlain was corporatised. I noticed my bottle of EDT from maybe five years ago, ‘had a lolly’ in it. The very newest EDP is lovely, but I think it has a vetiver-ness in the base to substitute for the oakmoss. (If it was in a belljar it would still be getting fall-about love tho’!!)
And the hard part, even as a Mits woman all my life, once I started stalking it on the ‘bay, I still had to do a refresher course in packaging. You’re safe for Mitsouko on the ancient black and white op-art boxes (not L’Heure Bleue tho’ it seems to go off). Then maybe the gold boxes with a BLACK motif at the top. Also, the “Eau De Colognes” from the olden days are Fabulous!
There is a terrific seller in Japan who has fabulous old Mitsouko regularly.
Seconding the seller in Japan. She is fabulous to deal with!
Oh yes! I know that seller too! She’s got the goods!
Are there any brands at all that still use oak moss? I heard something about Montale….
Oakmoss is still in lots of fragrances — it isn’t banned, just restricted. And I’m sure there are companies using a higher concentration than that allowed by IFRA, but I don’t know which.
The glorious edp of Mitsouko lasts for many many hours for me – at least 8! The older pre-refornulation box has a square/chevron pattern across it. The newer box is just plain gold with a line type design, vertically, down the middle. You can also check the codes on the box. I think that Guerlains have a kind of standard date code, like 03XX and then the 03 means 2003, etc. ….
I’m gonna evangelize about this little tool again:
http://datecalculator.googlepages.com/englishhomepage
Not perfect, probably, but I sure as heck LOVE it!
thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate your help. This date calculator link will be good. I’m glad to know what’s going on, because my EDT does have great oak moss. I’ll go for the EDP too!
SOTD: Lubin Idole, to go with the 27 hours of snow. Finally, it has stopped and the sun is peeking out through the haze…hopefully that’s the end of it. Looking forward to slightly warmer weather the rest of the week!
Oh, and forgot to say that I LOVE that image at the top!
That is a really amazing photo. I have a thing for images of red berries.
Just keep them out of your frags, right?
To be honest, if they’re done the right way, or lightly, I don’t have that Daisy-berry-problem. I like Mûre et Musc & the somewhat jammy PdN Balkis.
ACK! no berries….particularly stinky poo-poo raspberries !
well, that explains the red berries photo
You don’t think I’d do something crazy like send a nonsequitur email, do you?
well, you did just recently cop to an insanity plea….
I have a craving for a scent that would mix amber (think Ambre Sultan) and black peppercorn. Any suggestions??
What about Piper Nigrum?
SOTD 31 rC, good choice, it’s a tough cookie type of day… I’ll try out T. Cabanel samples again this evening, wasn’t that enthusiastic about them the first time ’round what do you people think about them?
I have two, Oha and Meloe. The Oha didn’t tempt me enough to even try on skin yet. The Meloe was nice and wearable enough, but nothing I need to own.
Julia and Meloe were both too “young” in feel for me, but very pretty. I thought Oha was beautiful – but completely eclipsed by L’Arte di Gucci.
But Alahine was amazing. I love it.
so, I’m trying out Oha… is it possible that it has something of Diva? (have to check that one out again, haven’t sniffed it for ages) and Méloé, this one seems pretty enough, maybe too citrus-y / fresh for my taste (in the direction of the escales – between Portifino / Pondichéry?).
Yes, I’d say Oha and Diva might be cousins or something.
Alahine is a scent that will have your wrist to your nose throughout the day…..Oha is nice but not a big standout…..Julia & Meloe, hmmm I remember that neither one was good on me, in fact one turned a bit vomitous….can’t remember which…
must be Julia, something like bad toothpaste, that was why I wasn’t so keen on these the first time
seems I have to try Alahine again, tomorrow’s homework
My scent of the day is Chanel Premiere. I love it. It smells so much better on me than Chanel 5. On a side note, while every one else in America (and not Mexico) is celebrating Cinco de Mayo, I’m celebrating the birthday of Chanel 5. Instead of stuffing my face, I’m tickling my nose.
I’ll take the tacos
Oh, yes! What a great idea for No 5 for Cinco de Mayo! But I’ll take the chile rellenos and Dos Equis to wash them down.
Has anyone ever heard of a scent called Delirium? It was put out by a companyy/person called Enrico sometime in the late 1980s. I am starting to believe I dreamt it. Heaven knows if I would like it now but…
It wouldn’t by any chance by this would it?
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/Delirivm-Delirium-Perfume-EDP-3-3-oz-Spray-NIB_W0QQitemZ110457953063
I don’t even remember what the thing looked like…. But I do very much appreciate your pointing it out, maybe it will jog the goo I call my memory. Miglie grazie!
Welcome. There’s also this. It’s listed as being a discontinued scent:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DELIRIUM-PURE-PARFUM-PERFUME-MINI-1-8oz-5mlDISCONTINUED_W0QQitemZ370268124765QQ
You know what? This looks very familiar! Something about the rounded corners of the bottle… Crazy! Many, many thanks again!
Well, I wasn’t wearing a SOTD (apart from a touch of woodsmoke taken on when putting more wood in the stove), but took a notion for No 5 Eau Premiere to follow the example of other ladies in this thread and I love it. But I probably should have gone for L’Air du Desert Marocain or Winter Woods as the EP and the woodsmoke aren’t sitting together too happily at the moment….
The Eau Premiere is popular here today!
SOTD Barbara Bui Le Parfum. Broke my promise not to buy anything and snatched two partial bottles off ebay: Houbugant – Demi Jour and JPG – Fragile. The Houbigant was an unsniffed purchase
You smell great! I need a bottle of Barbara Bui.
SOTD
SOTD: Guerlain Plus que Jamais. Guess I’ll need to stock up!
Not a cheap one to stock up on!
SOTD is Philosykos, which I think reflects my deep desire for it to be spring already.
I’m really loving the smell of cardamom and I have been cooking a lot with it lately. Any good scent recommendations that highlight this spice?
Dzonghka has cardamon, and it smells fantastic. I’d love to hear of any other fragrances that include it too.
I do love Dzonghka. I think Comme de Garcons Avignon has cardamom in it, but I haven’t tried it.
love CdG Avignon…..try some Mark Buxton Black Angel.
CdG’s Jaisalmer has a lot of cardamon in it. I also get a lot of cardamon in Terre d’Hermes, and in a complete opposite direction, Delrae’s Amoureouse.
Oh yes that was the CdG I was thinking of. I haven’t tried that either
I thought that Tauer’s L’Air du desert Marocain had cardamon, but I just checked, and it’s coriander.
Running off my (notoriously poor) memory, I think Escale a Pondichery had a cardamom note.
I posted the exact same request a year ago when i was going through a cardamom phase! I like putting the powder in my coffee. One scent recommended to me was Cardamom by Nelli Rodi, but it was too faint and literally smelled like cardamom, which is less interesting that having it as a featured note. Anyway, I think Jasmine de Nuit by the different company is quite cardamom based too.
I like the eponymous Nelly Rodi Scent Factory Cardamome – though I don’t know if that whole line is at all available still. Parfums d’Empire Aziyadé has a stewed-fruit-and-spices with a prominent cardamom going on, too. And then there’s that Korres Amber/Saffron/Something/Cardamom, which I’ve never tried but which sounds yum. Anyone who can shed light on that one?
Haven’t tried the Korres, but agree on the NellyRodi, great scent.
I am not wearing perfume today. (gasp!) the temperature here in BA is 94F so I rather not wear perfume.
Today I bought two 20ml plastic atomizers, wishing I can finally start decanting two monster sized fragrances I’ve got.
(One is Prada Amber for men, in 100ml size…. I bought it 3 years ago and it is not even a third down… I am gonna give it as a gift to a friend after decant)
I see that you guys can get a lot of options for decanting in the US, here in Argentina it is only 5ml glass vials with screw caps or huge atomizers ( in this case the 100ml bottle justifies a 20ml decant…but sometimes it might be too big even at that)
Any common sense advice on decanting?
Thanks
Oh, and I must say that I have already read Robin’s article on decanting and the ones she pointed to on it.
We do have great variety in bottles/atomizers here. No other advice except that 20 ml is a lot to spray at once…do it in stages!
Testing KM Bois de santal and Fendi Asja. The Bois is lovely, but I don’t know how much sandalwood there is. I also liked the Asja spices, it doesn’t bulldoze you like Opium, but I’d like it better without the fruity edge. Both were nice for the weather, more *&$% snow.
“More *^#( snow,” exactly what we’re getting here too. Phlblblb.
SOTD: Bois des Iles. It was a totally frustrating morning (don’t ask, but it involved calves in the road), and now I’m taking a brief break from stuffing envelopes at Work work (the job that actually pays me). FOUR spritzes of the stuff, and three hours later, it’s gone. Sucks. When my decant’s gone, I’m buying some Champagne de Bois.
Maybe I should point out to you twelve-spritz habitues that I typically spray about one and a half times, so four is more than double my usual application…
Now you know why some of us are 12-spritz habitués!
After you spritz your wrists and neck, try a spritz on your clothes and one in your hair – that’s what I do for scents that don’t seem to last as long.
I DID have a spritz in my hair!!
Right on! I think CdB smells in a Chanel style – to my nose it resembles No 22 with those aldhydes, but either way, it’s fantastic and lasts forever!!!
Glad I caught the poll – gives me a chance to stop lurking and say hello. SOTD is Costume National Scent. I tried this on a scent strip recently and while my initial though was “Eau de Hamster Cage” it turned into something lovely during the drydown so I picked up a sample.
Hi and welcome! Glad you’re liking the CN better on skin.
Has anyone tried any of the Mark Buxton fragrances? Im talking about the ones he released under his own label. If so, whats your opinion of them?
I have a decant of Black Angel. Here’s the notes from luckyscent: citrus, bergamot, mandarin, orange, rosemary, ginger, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, jasmine, lily of the valley, orris, styrax, guaiac, patchouli— there’s citrus in the opening for sure but that cardamom, coriander combination is the headliner for me. It has a bit of tartness that quite appeals to me. I don’t know if it’s marketed for men or “unisex” –but I think it’s fine for women too. I found that (on me) it doesn’t have fabulous lasting power—a couple hours at best.
I got the sample set from Luckyscent a while back. I got a little bored with them because so many of them are heavy on the bergamot. I still have to try them all again – there might be one I like in there.
I like bergamot….but it seemed to burn off pretty quickly and left the softer spices ….I sniffed my wrist all the way thru the grocery store.
*sigh* I am in perfume limbo: I’m not crazy about anything I have and I haven’t been willing to buy anything new/ haven’t found anything I love. Plus I’ve reached that part of winter when I want something spring-like to remind me of warmer days.
Would you breathe on me please so that I can catch the “unwilling to buy anything new” bug?!?
She can breathe on you…directly into your eyes. And while your eyes are closed, I’ll empty your wallet, and VOILA! both our problems solved.
I’ve gone through stages like that! It will probably pass
Picked up a 1oz bottle of Organza at Filene’s Basement last Saturday, on sale for $20. Had never seen it at this low of a price, so had to pick it up – unsniffed! Wearing it today. Nice!
A few more things:
Other latest bottle purchase – Kelly Caleche EDP
Latest sample purchases – LesNez fragrances, Amaranthine, Eau d’Italie Paestum Rose and Sienne l’Hiver, CDG 2, Sequoia, Avignon, and Kyoto – haven’t tried any of them yet!
Know I won’t get any fragrance gifts for Valentine’s Day. My husband doesn’t bother to buy me perfume cause I buy enough for myself!
Would love to find a bottle of vintage Rive Gauche…
Oh – you liked the Kelly Caleche enough to get a FB! Cool!
Crazy, huh?
Ooh great find! Any Organza Indecent there?
Nope! I would have swiped that up, too, if so.
I’ve always done well in Organza!
What should one wear to the Olympics? I’m attending the Ice Dance Final and the weather here in Vancouver is the usual rainy and mild, up to 9 C. The pink blossoms have been out for a week or so, as well as the tips of daffodils and tulips. Quite the contrast to last year’s highly irregular, long, snowy, cold icy winter!
Olympic fragrances? Too bad most Sport scents are vile, although the Adidas Victory League does have a suitable name….
Ice Dancing final??! Something sassy like Habanita or Balenciaga Rumba! Or L’Eau d’Hiver!
I was trying to remember that Monday Mail…perfume for a tango, was it? but couldn’t remember well enough to look back. Same idea, anyway.
How ’bout Donna Karan Gold?
Cheesy pun, I know, but it’s a lovely early spring scent too.
Have fun at the Games.
Ha, ha. You all made me smile. Thanks so much for the suggestions on what to wear to the Games!
I am on a woodsy oriental kick today. I am at home today so I am currently wearing 3 samples. I have Prada EDP on left wrist, Prada Intense on right wrist. And Prada L’Eau Ambree on left elbow crease. So far not overly impressed with the L’Eau Ambree – I can barely smell it. The Intense is playing with me – one minute it’s too sweet and fruity and the next the fruit disappears….however I am starting to really favor the original EDP version. So now I want to think about layering possibilities – any suggestions?
Tomorrow I plan on comparing and conrasting Prada Infusion d’Iris and FM’s Iris Poudre for myself.
For Valentine’s Day I am hoping I get Guerlain’s Spiritueuse Double Vanille! ! ~ Vey big sigh!
Fuddy Duddy- how bizarre, I just reviewed L’Eau Ambree today! I too was not blown away by it. It reminded me an awful lot of Infusion d’Iris. LOVE the bottle, though. The original Prada is one of my very favorites, so I thought that I would adore the Intense version. Glad to hear it’s not all that, that’s $140 saved! I am excited to hear the results of your Iris Poudre- Infusion d’Iris comparison. The MUA reviews of Iris Poudre have always intrigued me.
Nice to meet you, Ari. I had to go to the office today so the side by side Iris test is going to have to wait
I love FM Iris Poudre it is simply gorgeous, just really makes me feel utterly feminine and is one of the most stunningly beautiful scents I have tried so far! But I can agree that it is a very “formal” scent or to what others call Ice Queen like. So, I want to try the Prada Iris to see what the difference is! FM’s Carnal Flower is also in my utterly gorgeous category along with Chanel’s Rue 31 Cambon.
To continue on my oriental sample kick I am waiting for a delivery of Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. I am very eager to try that also. All my perfume expenditure’s this quarter are going to be on samples! I think
Fuddy Duddy, it is a pleasure to meet you! I must compliment your excellent taste. I love the Malles, they’re always interesting and of the highest quality. Lipstick Rose is my current favorite (it just smells so damn pretty) but I am dying to try Carnal Flower.
I’m surprised you’ve never tried Black Orchid before!! That’s a fun one, for sure. I admire it but also fear it, lol. I think that I am too much of a blonde for Black Orchid- it seems better suited to some vampy brunette sex goddess. But I do really like the Black Orchid finishing oil, it is much softer and very sensual. Reasonably priced too, although not much in the way of lasting power. Orientals are my favorite category, I hope you enjoy your testing!
I’m craving something with honeysuckle and magnolia that doesn’t smell like air freshener…
Tommy Girl 10, maybe?
I’d go for Goutal Chevrefeuille for honeysuckle.
2nd.
SOTD: Moschino Funny! It is a gray, cloudy, wintery sky day here, and the Funny! is cheerful.
Ooooh!!! I’ve wanted to try this ever since I read about it in PTG! Where did you get it, Jan?
Amazon.com
I don’t know where you are…but here, it’s carried by Macy’s and Ulta, at least.
Hello there NSTers -hope you’re all having a swell day. My SoTD: Soivohle Blood Orange Vetiver, which was inspired by a blurb from Liz Zorn on her FB page. It’s pretty yummy stuff. So, listen to this – I had asked my husband for LM Minuit Enchante for V-Day, but now that’s up in the air I’m afraid. Ethan Allen put a piece of furniture on sale that I’ve been coveting for the longest time and hubby said – “OK, sure, get it, I know you’ve wanted it for a long time, but that will be your V-Day present”. So, I’m actually agonizing over the decison, which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m bonkers.
Could the piece of furniture be used to store/display perfume?
Ha. It could, actually since it’s a little cabinet. However, it would go in the family room and I must have my perfume in the bedroom, bathroom and closet so it’s nearby when I’m getting dressed.
I’d go with the cabinet…but then again, I found the ME to be very underwhelming. Nice and ambery, but I didn’t get near the spicy complexity others did.
I finished off my sample the other day – and I’m one of the folks that gets tons of spice. And woods. And it’s long lasting. Really nice. At least it doesn’t break the bank – I’ll just have to buy it for myself.
Furniture you’ve been wanting beats perfume. LE is great… get a decant!
I meant ME, obviously. By LM.
Joe – you convinced me. I suppose it would be silly [crazy, goofy, nuts] not to get the furniture. I truly did think twice though.
Here’s hoping the lesser-known groundhogs are right (the Early Spring bunch outnumbers the 6 More Week bunch 9-5). We’ve had a couple of ‘teaser’ days over the last 2 weeks where the sun shines, the breezes are mild, and your whole body longs for spring. But alas, here in the mountains, our most wintry month of all is March.
SOTD is Heure Exquise. I had a 2010 business plan meeting this morning and HE always makes me feel sophisticated, feminine and yet restrained somehow. Perfect for a planning meeting with a tight budget.
Lately I’ve been yearning for the original Opium. I bought some when it first came out – I was 18 or 19 at the time, I think. I vowed never to repurchase because it had a poorly-engineered sprayer that tended to break a fingernail every time I used it.
A year or so ago I wanted a bottle again and what I bought wasn’t close to what I remembered. I wish I hadn’t been quite so shallow, so young, and so dismissive at the time of my first purchase.
Man, HE is allllll over the ‘fume blog world today. Is it a sign for me to get out my samples again and give it another whirl?
I love HE!! It is indeed very pretty and elegant. I wear it a lot too when I have a meeting. Just a dab makes me feel all together and it doesn’t seem to offend…
I have been wanting to get some Serge Lutens badly. Particularly, I am really intrigued by the notes of Chypre Rouge. Does anyone have any recommendations for my first Serge scent?
Well, you could just jump straight in the deep-end and try Muscs Koublai Khan, which has just been released into the Export Range!! Other than that, Cedre is gorgeous and Ambre Sultan is one of the best amber fragrances out there in my opinion. They are probably more palatable than Koublai, but it depends what your tastes are! I like difficult, skanky fragrances – but Koublai quickly dries down to a lovely honey warmth which is very comforting. If you fancy checking out the exclusive range, I highly recommend Bois de Violette and Tubereuse Criminelle. Also, Rahat Loukoum is one of the best, most wearable gourmands I’ve ever sampled.
Get SAMPLES! They’re all so different and potentially “difficult” for different people’s tastes. Are you anywhere even remotely near a boutique in a big city that stocks them? There are also carded samples available on ebay, but people often charge crazy prices for them.
My vote would go for Chergui, only because I know several people (including myself) for whom the SL line generally doesn’t work at all, but they all can wear Chergui. But definitely sample first… I expected to love the line, but just get sweet sticky messes from most I’ve tried.
Agree! Serge Lutens can be a very difficult line–sampling first is imperative! ….for me the majority turn to sticky sweet messes like Boo says. One notable exception is Clair de Musc which is very clean soft musk with sweet clovery hay notes in it. So of course, it’s been discontinued ….wahhhhhhhh!
Stop dissing my Serges! El Attarine and Chêne are like mini trips to heaven every time! None of this namby Exclusifs Bois des Îles stuff that wimps out in less than two hours.
Now now… I haven’t tried either of those. But after trying so many and mainly getting gooey messes, I’ve quit chasing them. If a sample fell in my lap, of course I’d try it…but I’m not paying for any more of them.
not dissin, just sayin
I agree, it really depends so much on where your tastes lie so try some samples! In terms of Chypre Rouge, I really liked it when dabbed on from a sample — but when I sprayed it on, it smelled different altogether (and everyone told me I smelled like curry!). I ended up selling my bottle. Few Lutens seem to work for me, but I like Douce Amere and Vetiver Oriental.
Relatively “easy” Serges would be Chergui, Douce Amère, Datura Noir, Ambre Sultan or Un Bois Vanille. Personally, I *hate* Chypre Rouge, but then this is a line that conjures up strong feelings either way. Not a bad thing, in my book.
Hi Brooklynn,
I love SL scents, but they can be difficult to wear. If you can sample first before buying, that’d be the way to go. Some easy scents would be Rahat Loukoum, a sweet gourmand, Douce Amere, spicy woods notes, Daim Blond lovely spicy suede with apricot.
I love MKK personally, it is a big musk with a sweet drydown.
I like his Fleurs d’Oranger pretty well. Chene is nice, too. I’m not a big expert on Lutens – haven’t tried that many.
The Lutens style is difficult for some of us. The two that I really enjoyed are Gris Clair (recently fell for this one!) and Chergui.
my first serge was daim blonde….followed bu maaany
i think after all and many loves, if i had to choose one again it would be daim blonde again
It’s summer where I live but the weather might be on the turn because this morning was deliciously cool and damp. Not quite a Coco sort of day, because it will warm up later, but I wore Coco anyway. Some body creme behind my knees (it’s so strong I can’t tolerate it anywhere else) and a few dabs of edp on the pulse points. Gorgeous!
I envy your weather! It is just exactly Coco weather here.
Oh, and meant to say that because so many people weren’t able to comment on my Blogspot blog, I ported it over to WordPress to see if that helps any. New Address:
http://museinwoodenshoes.wordpress.com/
Of course, you can still go to the old site and click the link. But please stop by and comment if you can, so I know whether it’s working. Thanks a ton!
Will do Mals.
New blog looks great! Welcome to wordpress, I love it.
Yes Mals – looks so nice. The comment from Victoria is me – forgot to change my name. I bookmarked your blog.
Thanks! (Now the training curve begins…)
I got a sample of Iris Poudre a few weeks ago – it’s similar to Infusion d’Iris, but with more aldehydes and a more powdery feel. Both are very nice. If Iris Poudre appeals to you, try the old Ferre (still available at fragrancenet) – they smell very similar (same nose), and the Ferre costs about 80% less.
Thanks!
SOTD: Malle’s Une Fleur de Cassie. Holy cow. Just ordered a sample of this, and this is only my second spray ever, but wow. My first thought was that it was a really amped up version of Apres l’Ondee because it has that “wet”, post-rain kind of smell, but there’s just so much going on. It’s pretty stunning, and I think a bottle of this is necessary. Anyone else love it?
I’d reply to your PM, but I’ll just say it here: I love Cassie and bought a 10ml travel size from someone before Christmas. They’re the way to go. It’s a very complex, deep scent.
Yeah, isn’t it? I can’t wait to wear it in the spring time when the scent matches the world around me. I wonder it you can mix and match those travel sizes…that would be perfect…
You can’t mix and match, but you could always sell a couple on ebay at cost, or look on ebay for one, or try the scentsplit wiki.
Or, find 2 other people who like the same 3 you do, each buy one set, and swap ’em round.
It’s been languishing on my “to-sniff” list for ages, but other things keep bumping it down. I don’t know why, either; with only one exception, everything I’ve tried from FM has landed on my “to-buy” list.
Yeah, isn’t that the way it goes with that line? They’re all worth having. I suspect, though, that those geared towards women are probably the better scents. The “masculine” scents of the line, while good, haven’t moved me as much, save Vetiver Extraordinaire, but then, I am a sucker for all things vetiver!
Boo – do you need a sample? I have one and it definitely doesn’t work for me so that bodes weil for you. Let me know and I can put it in your package. And I apologize for the delay….
No delay, I wasn’t expecting anything! But yes, I’d love a sample!
Hi everyone
SOTD Costes 2 from a vial sample.
how is the dry down? vanilla-y? powdery? I was very interested in sampling it too—then I was told that it turned kind of generic in dry-down….how are you liking it?
To me, the drydown smells similar to the drydown of Passage d’Enfer! It’s maybe a little powdery, but I don’t get vanilla, more citrus (maybe that’s the orange blossom?). I really like the opening, but that fades quickly. Was just thinking of revisiting my sample …
I really liked it. Very sheer, of course with Giacobetti as the nose behind it. . .but lovely. I love the gaiac note, and if I’d smelled this before falling in lust with Le Labo’s Gaiac 10, I’d own Costes 2 instead! It’s acutally got more going on than Gaiac 10, a touch more spice, a hint of rose perhaps?
It *is* soft, like Gaiac 10–if you want a big fragrance, skip Costes 2. If you want an appropriate for work and small spaces fragrance, a now you see me now you don’t perfume, this one is one to try. Hope you liked it!
Thanks to Robin and all who helped me find new fragrances. Right now I’m wearing and absolutely loving Chergui, though I’m sad it doesn’t last longer on my skin. I want to take a bath in it!
I also fell for the mysterious Black Cashmere, PG’s Felanilla, and Dzongkha!. I rediscovered Shalimar. I love how long it stays on my skin while changing from soft vanilla to a smokey powder and back again. Lastly, am very much loving my sample of Tabac Blond. Terribly terribly chic! And great sillage.
I tried to love Bvlgari Black, but it smelled so much like burning rubber to me I could almost hear tires squealing. Maybe I’ll try it again someday!
What a great list! Do put the Black aside for a few months then try it again — it grows on you.
Still bummed I don’t get the rubber. Just tea, on me.
I have to come back and read later but my SOTD is CdG2 – I finally braved it after a bad over-sweaty-day overdose. I like it again.
Much sampling these days! Waiting for my big LS sample bag to come. Working through the Kurkdjians, which have not made me swoon thus far. Still a couple to go.
They haven’t made me swoon either.
Also wearing Vero Kern’s Onda since she’s coming out with EdP concentrations of her fragrances. It’s in my “maybe” bag, since I leather gives me a hard time, and the lily of the valley that shows up later wasn’t to my liking, but hey, let’s give it another go! Off the bat I’m wondering why I didn’t like this, since it is definitely a perfume with something to say, and I like that!
I look forward to trying the EdPs! They’re great scents, but I didn’t fall totally in love with any of them.
Yeah, the whole passion fruit aspect has me curious!
My SOTD this morning was Diptyque Eau Lente as I needed to chill the F out – doing taxes today. Gak. And then later after lunch to perk myself up I put on Timbuktu. Ah, what a tremendous fragrance. It is my new fav (and thanks Joe for keeping me stocked)!! But all that horrible tax work paid off. I have a very small list of something wonderful to buy with some of my refund money…. there is a bottle of Zest de Rose with my name on it floating around somewhere. I just want summer already!!
You’re welcome! And hey, Une Zeste has been on my “must try” list for a long time, so I’ll have to nab a large-ish sample if you find some at some point!
Noooo problemo, as I’ve been eyeing the 3.3 oz bottle, but will never probably dent it. Actually, I discovered another one you need to try, if you haven’t already. But I believe that the Queen Enabler may have some Zest, which I think is where I got my sample from. Help me here Daisy?!? But here’s another one for you I am just trying: Compliments of a swap with Smokeytoes, I have some TF Champaca Absolute. Total yummy & sultry – it smells *very* much like sisters to Amaranthine – a little less edgy, but still v v gorgeous. It seems like something you would like. Maybe a less Xrated fragrance to wear to work?
yuppers—Joe, I’ll send you a sample of Zeste with the next packet of goodies that goes out to you.
Has anyone smelled the perfume Juliet by the makeup artist Juliet Stewart? It’s beautiful!!!!
Never even heard of it!
Yes, I bought a sample of it. It’s very lovely.
Today I wore Fat Electrician by ELDO, and it felt euphoric. According to the ad promo or whatever, I guess thats what they were trying to achieve–a retro nostalgia. Although I don’t think its very retro, the candied-vetiver that is Fat Electrician is great!
I like that one too — would like to get a decant.
Enjoyed reading everyone’s comments! SOTD Hanae Mori. Gift from a friend for my birthday and it feels girly and comforting. Question: What do people think of the Clive Christian (ridiculously expensive) fragrances X (Woman) and Gold (it may have a name but all I remember at the moment is that it was the one in the gold bottle). I am kicking myself because YEARS ago I bought the trio of small spray bottles of these and I GAVE TWO AWAY (to aforementioned friend). I kept the 1842, which at the time was the one that I liked but now I don’t really like it. SHOULD I be kicking myself, or should I just ‘let them go’ (now knowing that they are worth twice as much doesn’t help)? I could be really tacky and ask her for them back…. kidding!
I like them but have never thought them worth the money — and actually don’t adore any of them enough that I feel like I’m missing out. I think X was the one I liked best?
I enjoy X, although it is very powerful (on me) for the first hour. It’s longevity on my skin is nearly 7 hours. The gold is No. 1. I was able to get a sample when I bought X, yet to try it. I’m not a fan of the 1862 or whatever year it is.
Curses! I’m late to an open thread AGAIN. Don’t you hate it when work interferes with important perfume work?
If anyone’s still out there here’s my question: What is the best, most awesome, stealth office scent?
I’ve heard rumblings that my workplace might be cracking down on the scent-free policy. However I know in my area, all the co-workers are scent friendly and the vast majority wear scent, at least for now. (I had a colleague who was scensitive and did stop wearing perfume for the time she worked with us – but I try to forget those dark days…)
Some contenders from my current collection include: Fem du Bois. Bois des Iles, Theorema, Chevrefeuille. But I sometimes don’t know if I’m out to lunch on judging what would be a good office scent. Is OJ Woman, too much?
SOTD: Feminite du Bois
SOTEvening: Natori
It would be nice if they would outlaw stinky shampoos and fabric softeners too… Lut a lot has to do with how it’s applied. When little is required, I just put a small dab in my cleavage or right behind my ears. Someone would have to be really close to smell that! OK, my fav light office scents are Givenchy L’Interdit (the new one), No 5 eau Premier, Mandragore, YSL Cinema, and Kenzo Flower or Flower Essentielle. Good luck!
My take is that if you’re worried, any dark oriental might be a bad idea. That would rule out FdB or OJ. Theorema I think is fine. Another option, of course, is just to wear such a tiny amount that nobody but you can smell it, as Ann said.
Or, wear something like NR for Her and hope the picky people are the ones who are anosmic to the musk.
LOL! That cracked me up. I can’t smell NR, as it happens.
I remembered…that was what gave me the idea.
Of course, with her luck, they’d be the ones who can smell it 10 miles away, instead.
My solution is to try to get minis and roll-ons of my favourites, so that I don’t inadvertently spray too much. In small amounts, I assume the danger of skin contamination is not too great. I wish my bottle of Miss Dior had a less aggressive sprayer. I’m thinking of decanting it, just because of that. Good luck!
That’s a great idea. Roll-ons do allow for more private scenting. Thank you!
Without any scent I feel naked, so sometimes I use a scented body lotion( Hermes Jardin en Mediterranee ao) for a more subtle effect.
Thanks everyone!
Thanks, SmokeyToes. I really appreciate the information!
Okay, its 1872… does anyone out there think Clive Christian is worth it? I recently tried these other two and they seemed really amazing (albeit not worth the price).
Wow..missed the whole thread..anyway, today it’s Heritage. Great in this weather.
Great choice!
I had to shower after getting my roots dyed and put on Daphne. Lord, it is pretty. I am definitely enjoying sitting with it. I see why Angela ordered it immediately upon sampling. Might have to go there with her.
I hear you, I hear you. I sniffed this form the nib first of all, and thought ‘boring white floral’, dismissed! I couldn’t have been more olfactorily fooling myself. I tried it again on a tester strip and kept going back to it. Havn’t tried it on skin yet. Am slightly apprehensive, incase I too fall in love.
lol, c’mon, make the leap! I can’t go to Hell all by myself.
you two should get a bottle and split it.
SOTD: Bulgari Black.
Considering buying for myself for Valentine’s Day: Paloma Picasso ($25 at TJ Maxx; how financially insecure must I feel if I didn’t get it right then and there?)
HA…TJ Maxx is funny, I actually get sort of offended if they want more than $19.99 for something, even if it’s something I love.
Huh. I just got an e-mail from my employer saying that I won a gift card for…$25. So I guess that means that the heavens are trying to tell me something. Of course, if the agency would let me know that they’ve got work for me, that would be even better.
I ran across an old journal where my 14 yo self (in teenage angst) complained about my mother telling me to begin searching for ‘My’ scent-as it could take decades. We’ll 30 years later, I re read this entry and with my mother now gone, I began a journey…and find myself enthralled by perfume(s). I now have small collection. So far, my favorites are Guerlain Mayotte, Clive Christian X, Creed Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie, & Channel Bois Des Iles. I am looking for recommendations of some smaller niches perfumeries…anybody…
https://nstperfume.com/the-monday-mail/
Perfect thing if you’re beginner-ish. =3
Hmmm.. I don’t know if they would qualify as ‘smaller’ niche, but I love several of the Andy Tauer and Le Labo lines.
sweet story of your mom & the journal entry
oooooo boy oh boy—you are in for some fun!!! Theperfumedcourt.com has sample packs based on notes which is a nice place to start if you know you at least like vanilla or rose etc.
But if you want to explore by house (which to me, seems more fun) then you need to make a serious, well funded trip to Luckyscent.com
My scent of the day is L’Artisan Dsongka. Every time I wear this, I wonder why I don’t wear it more often. I absolutely adore it and also with each wearing get more and more of the iris in it. It is such a great scent.
I LOVE Dzongkha. I broke my bottle only a few months after I bought it though and I haven’t replaced it. One of these days….
Oh I hope you are able to replace it in the near future. It is such a gorgeous scent…one of my favorite L’Artisan’s and also reminds me of some of the CdE scents except with a shot of iris.
I just spent a goodly amount on perfume, so I’ll probably have to wait until summer. Oh well. I like it better in the summer anyway.
I’m *finally* getting some myself, having jumped in on a split. Yippee! I thought it was FBW at first, but then out came the dreaded celery note… and while I (oddly) rather enjoy it, it does make it less of a frequent-flier.
I was trying AT Le Maroc Pour Elle yesterday. One spritz lasted all day (18 hours) and my coworker could smell it at a distance. Is this fragrance known to last like this?
I don’t know if it is a general experience of this scent, but certainly it lasts all day on me. It is very, very tenacious and potent! I find it very unusual and makes me feel uber feminine. And so far I’ve received on complaints, only compliments. I hope your work colleagues enjoy it!
I pretty much treat the Tauers like perfume – his concentrations are pretty high. They all last all day, too. I wore Maroc the other day and was happy to be able to smell myself all day.
I find Le Maroc very strong and long lasting and better worn dabbed than sprayed. It is a complete no no for me in summer and while it is lovely on a cold winter’s day I am thinking of selling my bottle as a tester would last me for years.
so many beautiful smelling nsters….and so many cold people
well, middle of winter attire is a mid length skirt with no legging/tights and a vry light weight marino wool sweater….normally at this time it should be our coldest time of year (lke 12C)…i am definately not complaining
my SOTD……vintage shalimar extrait….perfection!!! 6 hours and still going strong!!!
yesterday i walked passed the chanel counter and had a liberal spray of beige….i kind of on the way to liking it…
i don’t think i will be getting andy perfume for valentines day…as far as i go, everyday/ anyday is valentines day when it comes to my perfume
Have a beautiful day everyone
Jealous of your weather AND your vintage Shalimar extrait!
A day late to the Sotd bonanza, but I just *had* to tell the only crowd who could be persuaded to remotely care about my fortuitous layering of Hiris and Kiehl’s Musk, inspired by a new insight on the slightly dirty edge iris/orris sometimes has. Surprisingly good! Next up: MKK.
Oh, sounds wonderful — I’ll have to try that!
Today i’m wearing my sample of Beaudelaire from Byredo. It’s not bad but the interesting thing is: I now wish I wore Coze from Parfumerie Generale. I often have this with the more boring type of scents: the make me want to smell their bolder versions again:like smelling a trail of incense in some scents always makes want to smell Avignon. Or a hint of labdanum makes want to reach for Ambre Sultan.
Interesting. I really have not been wowed by the Byredo line so far with the single exception of Pulp.
My first and only Serge is Sa Majeste La Rose which is a beautiful fresh green rose, but which is probably atypical of the line. I got it off the evil bay. Have sampled Feminite du Bois, which is all rotting fruit on me unfortunately.
It is atypical, but so gorgeous!
Hey
I am pretty happy, I just read my horoscope at astrologyzone and it sounds incredible for me this month. I need it!
One of my friends is in London these days and might get me my Amaranthine.
And I applied for an Ph.D in informatics and look forward to get my own office maybe. First thing: I will lit a scented candle. So they know what they have to handle (it is going to be in the IT dept.)
Happy week to you all!
Oh, good luck — hope you get in!
SOTD – a strange choice for me. Une Fleur de Cassie. I have had the sample for almost a year, and didn’t like it on the first few tries. I’m glad I kept it though, as I randomly decided to wear it today and have really enjoyed it. I find it absolutely exquisite. I could smell it literally blooming and developing on my skin as time passed. It’s a little too elegant for me at the moment – I like the more rough and tumble kind of scents for now. But I can see myself purchasing it one day in the future, when something in me feels ready. If you know what I mean!
It stayed too elegant for me, I’m afraid! Just as well…I need to have a few FMs I *don’t* need!