The usual open thread routine: talk about anything you like — the first perfume you'll break out when spring finally arrives, what perfume you wore while shoveling snow, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Snow Mermaid by tammylo at flickr; some rights reserved.
When spring finally arrives, I hope to acquire some En Passant… but that’s a long way off here in MN. SOTD is Nez a Nez Atelier d’Artiste, henceforth to be known as The Reason One Should Never First Test a Frag at the Office. Total scrubber. Blah.
Oh, I’ve done that…sad to say, more than once. Blame having things shipped there so I know I get them pronto. 🙂 After a few go ’rounds, I gave it up. I think. 😉
Oh no! And the same thing happened to me today. I ordered a mini of Guerlain’s Winter Delice and it arrived while i was home at lunch. I put some on and was fairly miserable this afternoon. I’m such a Guerlie girl, but this smelled like old fashion men’s after shave.
Well, that’s ONE saved! I know Guerlain is not my friend, but something had me thinking I’d like that one. We may be evil scent twins and all, but after shave? Think we’d agree on this one. Pass!
Boo – it *might* not be so bad. This a.m. it is much more like a soft gingerbread. Wanna try it?
I assume that’s “this morning, after having it on all day yesterday and showering”? Which translates to my “at bedtime, after having applied it before leaving for work this morning,” which is FAR too long to tolerate aftershave. 🙂
With my luck, it’s always something really naughty that I’ve put on to test, and I just don’t know how naughty it’ll get. Will NEVER forget the day of Quelques Fleurs Royale (jasmine panties), nor the day of Citizen Queen (naughty rose), nor the day of PdN Maharanih (eau de cojones)…
So now I don’t test at work anymore. Things are less interesting, but also less nerve-wracking.
Meant to say…heehee at Snowpocalypse! My friend in DC has been using Snowtorious, and Snoverkill.
Lol, I though that Snowpocalypse was March from Perfume Posse’s creation, but apparently not! Those newscasts are hilarious. Also, En Passant sounds like a great idea for spring!
No — check Google News, it’s everywhere! And lots of other great euphemisms.
those are great new words….I’m sure some avid (read: crazy) skier out there is thinking Snowtastic! I’ll stick with Snowpocalypse!
Spring…where are you? wahhhh!
Snowtastic, haha! Today it is 60 degrees and sunny here with a nice light breeze. I think I will keep you guys updated on our weather every day til April 🙂
Snowapalooza! Yes, I ski.
Right now in NW DC, I’m saying sNoMorePlease!
As for fragrance, I’m thinking of treating myself to a nice biggish decant of Cuir de Russie.
LOL @ sNoMorePlease – I’m right there with you. And – just say YES – treat yourself! You deserve it! 😉
You definitely deserve the decant, but how in the world are they going to get it to you? Isn’t the P. O. closed down? Dog sled to Saks? 😀
Oh! it’d be a heroic adventure, fighting the deep snow and bitter cold, risking death for perfume—-and an annual dogsled race could held to commemorate it—like the Iditarod in Alaska—-we could call this one the Great Chanel Race…..
….or the Rush for Russie.
oooo–that’s a good one!! I’d watch that on the sports channel!
Easy – give it to the legislators from MN. They’ve apparently been showing up to work in spite of the snow. 😀 Bet they’d deliver for you, we’re a friendly bunch in MN!
Good for them!
I would like to ask them how they deal with this sort of thing on a regular basis–I had gone for years without needing to get my snow shovel out of storage!
Yeah, it is really enough snow, also in Europe.
awww, I’ve been wearing En Passant to bring a bit of spring to the snowy drifts here…..love the Snowtorious:) I also want to devour my arm with one of my favorite all around scents: 10 CC. And for a bit of a sexy kick last night I lounged around in Killian’s Cruel Intentions.
I’m glad to see another Cruel Intentions fan. I absolutely love that one.
Big fan of Cruel Intentions too.
SOTD is Tom Ford Champaca Absolute. Quite creamy.
Glad for a poll day! I am wanting to get an SF Bay Area sniff day organized for late spring/early summer! We have Saks, Niemans (Guerlain boutique, anyone?), Barneys, Chanel, Diptyque, Bloomies, Nordies, and Jacqueline. Maybe more.
Anyone interested can contact me as Tama on MUA or email me at matadecoco2001 at hotmail dot com. Joe, get yer butt up here.
Ooh, I’ve been wanting to visit San Francisco since forever, maybe I should use it as an excuse? Though how crazy would it be to leave London to sniff perfumes? Or indeed, how much fun?!
I’m currently trying out Penhaligons Amaranthine with a view to buying a bottle – it’s got a real spring and sap rising thing going on (a whif of under ripe banana that I wouldn’t expect to like) and we’ve had a sprinkle of snow again over the last 2 days – I need that optimism to carry me through February!
I am also *that* close to spring for a bottle of Amaranthine… I didn’t expect to like unripe banana neither!!! But the creaminess of the heart and drydown is really lovely. And the flowers… And the green…
I am forcing myself to finish my sample first. I gave myself this rule: if it takes more than 6 months to end up a vial no FB. Ain’t I stupid?!?
Ahhh, I have the same desire for Amaranthine. But I am thinking I could live with just a decant…
Hmm, I’ve just joined the scent-split group, and I think I’ve seen your name over ther Ms Evil ;-). If I get on with my sample of Amarthine maybe I should jump right in with a bottle split (gulp! big and scary idea! never done this before!)
Yes, I might just have to get both feet wet and host a split. I also just discoved Parfums d’Empire Cuir Ottoman and it was love at first sniff. I made a rule to only buy one perfume a month, but its getting harder to follow.
Zazie – I think it’s a great rule! I might have to adopt that one myself.
oh I see….so my sniff and buy in a glassy-eyed daze method means nothing to you????? hmmm?
LOL! I’m trying to bring myself OUT of the “glassy eyed daze”!
Hahaha! Sounds like fun. I may need a trip to SF in the next couple months in any case, and that would be really nice. Keep me posted well in advance! 😀
Also: LOVE the sample of that TF Champaca. You must smell great!
I do! I like it more than I did at first go-round.
Uh-oh.
Oh, that sounds fun! I have been wanting to go to a sniff event for a while now. Does anyone know of any events in the LA area?
I’d be willing to go up to LA on a weekend for something (I’m in San Diego). And didn’t we swap a little while ago? I’m jasouza9 on MUA – thanks again!
Oh, that would be fun! We did do a split, and I’m loving your honey frags 🙂
Great idea! I’d love to meet some of you. Will email….
I’ve emailed you re the SF sniff day.
count me in! i’ll email you…
I had a quick scout around the perfume counters earlier today, I was mostly hoping that the new Goutal might be in stores by now. Not yet, was told March. Ditto the new Hermes. The SA was very excited about it.
I did spot VC&A Extrordinaire in a dept store which was a pleasant surprise as I didn’t expect for it to available in the area. Iris and Gardenia were my favourite but none blew me away so that’s cash saved.
The discovery of the week is that Alien Liqueur thing. I know I’m very late to the party but it’s delicious! And the bottle is gorgeous too so I’m quite tempted to pick one up.
I’m still hoping to get a pre-reformulation bottle of Diorissimo in time for spring.
Thanks for reminding me — I want to see if the TM Liqueurs are at the discounters yet. Probably not though.
You never know. I saw them slightly discounted on a UK website but it wasn’t worth it after the postage charges. I was actually thinking that even the full price is fairly reasonable (£37 here. Practically free compared to niche, right?) and they come in that nice 30ml size.
Robin: the TM liquers show up on ebay now and then but I haven’t looked elsewhere. I do like them (Alien more than Angel) and my mom liked samples of Angel Liqueur I gave her for Xmas, but I’m not sure I’d buy a whole bottle. Depends how discounted they get.
How on earth did you get samples? At Nordstrom they didn’t even have TESTERS!! The nerve! How are they supposed to sell the stuff?
My Nordstrom did not have testers, but they did have samples.
Tama: fleabay. You can BUY samples of almost anything. It’s sure not the same as getting them for free. 😀
I’ll say it again: I’m a bit envious of the snow in New Jersey. I enjoyed shoveling and going for a walk in it in December.
I broke out some serious cool weather scents this week since it’s been “California brisk” this week: Zagorsk today, Ouarzazate yesterday, Tobacco Vanille on Monday.
I broke down (perfuminsanity) and bought a bottle of Miel de Bois last week during the discontinuation frenzy and wore it Tuesday. I don’t see what the hate is about…. it is SO COZY! And the *new* news is nothing’s being discontinued, just forever relegated to non-export. And the hububb over Clair de Musc was wrong altogether… nothing happening there.
For Spring: I’m excited at the just-announced Soivohle Lilac & Heliotrope and can’t wait to get a sample. That sounds like heaven to me for Spring.
Ha, I only wear Zagorsk if there’s snow on the ground! And Ouarzzazate is my summer incense fragrance!
Jared: What’s funny is that Zagorsk is one of the few incenses I can easily wear in the summer. Others work now and then, but they’re hard to pull off, but I find Zagorsk cool and cooling.
Glad you agree with me about Miel de Bois. No urine in sight, but it is a bit strong and a bit sweet, which to me spells snuggly comfort!
PS- just sprayed on my sample of Miel du Bois. I don’t smell urine at all. These honey fragrances all smell floral to me. MdB is totally sweet to me, not acrid. I rather like it. This is total springtime/summer to me! If a bottle fell into my lap, I’d be ok.
Joe – snowfalls can be so lovely – the pristine look when it softly blankets the world around you and it sparkles and glistens. BUT. When it falls from the sky like a ton of bricks, and you can’t even walk through it because you sink down into it up to your waist – then it loses some of it’s appeal. Believe me.
News about discontinuations invariably turns out wrong, even if you get it right from the brand. I’ve mostly stopped reporting on it for that reason. Congrats on your MdB though!
Those five Diptyque fragrances that were “discontinued” (Virgilio, Eau d’Elide, etc) a year or two ago are still available at Diptyque boutiques, and if you ask them, they still say they’ve been discontinued and they’re only selling the inventory.
Yes. One thing I don’t think many consumers understand is that these scents are not being constantly produced: they make relatively large production runs, so even a 1 shot limited edition can be hanging around on counters for years, and when something gets discontinued, it can be years before it actually disappears.
Has anyone ever shopped using the Serge Lutens website? Do they ship to the States? I have a friend going to Paris in a few months and was going to ask him to bring me back something, but if I can go through the site, I’ll just skip that process.
I don’t think they do direct shipping to the states, but there are plenty of etailers that are either here or ship here. I don’t think any of them will ship the “exclusives” (like ISM or Sarrasins) to the USA, but I could be wrong.
Well looks like I’ll have to get my mole to infiltrate the compound.
I subscribe to the SL site and they had an offer for a free sample, but that was a month ago and I’ve not received it. I think it’s just as well to get samples here in the states.
They won’t ship bell jars to the US (and many scents are only available in that format).
Popped into the Ormonde Jayne boutique today and sniffed Tiare. It is beautiful, but i really wasn’t very taken with it. Not very interesting. Apparently though, it has sold out, there aren’t even any samples left, and there is a waiting list of people who have paid upfront and are willing to wait for when the new bottles come in! Clearly a winner! The SA said it was due to the scarcity and expense of the tiare oil. I walked out with a sample of Champaca though, which is my all time OJ favourite. Thank God basmati rice and green tea are not scarce commodities…….
Then I popped into Dover Street Market and sprayed myself with Daphne. LOVE IT. And have finally settled on which Incense scent I will purchase – Ouarzazate! I’ve spent a year testing them all over and over again, completely unable to make up my mind. But Ouarzazate revealed itself to be the most complex and unusual on my skin.
Have a lovely day everyone.
Ohhh, I so envy you! I would love to live close to the OJ boutique, but I’m sure I would be too poor to enjoy it 🙂 Congratulations on your Ouarzazate!
Whoops, didn’t see your post in time! I think I’m with you on the Tiare, Blimunda. It’s very nice, a beautiful chypre, but it isn’t me so I don’t see a full bottle in my future. Money saved! And, apparently, a lot of time and aggravation waiting for it!
Ouarzazate was my first incense purchase too.
Hmm, my scent to shovel snow in is Champagne de bois (also my scent for working in a 50-degree office over my garage).
Tried Ormonde Jayne’s Tiare last week. Absolutely lovely, the epitome of an elegant yet pretty chypre.
Can’t wait to start wearing things like Mimosa pour moi. A kind nst-er shared a sample of AP Tilleuls au vent with me recently; does anyone know if that is still in production?
I have a bottle of it, but actually I don’t know. It’s a room spray, and was supposed to be the “matching” room scent to La Chasse, IIRC.
It’s a room spray?! (Hides head in shame)
Yep, but I wear it!
I was quite taken with Tiare. Need to sample a time or two more before I decide to buy it or Ta’if. Or both, eventually!
My SOTD is MFK Cologne Pour le Matin. It’s really great, it starts out with a gin and tonic vibe then melts into a beautiful creamy vanilla/orange blossom/citrus. I used to shun citrus scents, but I’m loving them lately because they put me in a great mood! I really must get a fb of this…too bad they only come in vats!
Question: Has anyone tried the new Atelier Cologne line? They all sounded interesting, but I would like to know if they are any good before making the treck to Neiman’s to check them out.
I haven’t, sorry!
I made my first unsniffed full bottle purchase today, and it turned out really well! I had arranged to meet a friend in the fragrance section of the department store in town that has the really good stuff, and found a stack of fragrances on sale in a corner – among them some Carons, among them Parfum Sacré, which is a long-time lemming that I have somehow failed to notice was available here in Stockholm, and has notes that are right up my alley. It was 50% off. There was no tester. I had some bonus points sitting around on my club card that were just waiting to be used up on something frivolous.This anecdote tells itself, doesn’t it?
I really, really like it. I may love it, but I’m not sure yet. It was totally worth it, anyway, it’s a lovely, beautifully old-fashioned rose on me.
I absolutely adore Parfum Sacre. It had to grow on me over several wearings to get to that starry-eyed love reaction, though.
Congrats on your coup!
Was it on NK by any chance :)?
We are getting massive quantities of wet, heavy snow here in Dallas. SOTD is Guerlain’s Tokyo, which is a great any time scent. When Spring finally comes – Le Labo Jasmin 17 will be appearing frequently in my rotation.
Hooray for Jasmin 17, I just bought a bottle! Do you have problems with its lasting power?
Say, has anyone tried their hand at perfume blending? I’ve been looking to familiarize myself with notes and different aroma chemicals, and start to put some things together. (It can’t be much harder than making coffee, can it? 😉 ) I’ve been eying the intro kits at the Perfumer’s apprentice and was wondering if anyone had experience with them, or in assembling a perfumers organ.
I haven’t! I think there’s a DIY forum at Basenotes.
I have been trying to mix my own bath oils. It’s fun but definitely has a learning curve. I mean, the oil part is easy but blending the essential oils and getting the balance and strength I want is a work in progress. I haven’t created anything that compares to some of the best of the purchased products. (Has anyone tried 10CC in bath oil? Lovely.)
I squirted myself in the eye with perfume the other day, doing the walk-through-a-cloud thing. A great heavy drop of Chanel No 19 EDP. Gives new meaning to No 19 as the heartless perfume. She certainly caused me a lot of pain. I sopped it out with lots of water but even late in the day the eye still felt tender. Ouch – not to be recommended!
But your eyeball smelled great! Maybe when you batted your eyelashes at someone they got a nice breeze of No. 19.
Lol to the scented eyelashes!!! But n.19 in the eye…ouch!!
Scented mascara … wonder if that would catch on.
I have a tube of cheapo Maybelline mascara that surprised me by smelling strongly of hyacinth.
Last time I tried that YSL False lash effect mascara it was strongly scented and caused rash all over my eyelids. I thought that was one of the most stupid uses for fragrance I ever encountered.
I was just on the Guerlain sit today and wondering about their scented mascara and was slightly frightened by the concept…I think it may diminish my eyesight over time.
Yeah, there are limits aren’t there?
I did that before. The fan in my room was on oscillate, and i sprayed it at my neck right when the breeze hit and blew it right into both my eyes.
Today I’m wearing Pilar & Lucy’s “Tiptoeing thru Chambers of the Moon” – I LOVE IT! I plan to break out my Narcisco Rodriguez for Her I’ve been coveting and that mom got me for my b-day (thanks, Mom) when it warms up a bit. Then, for warmer weather, I’m going to order some Sage Pearl, Auric Blends Egyptian Goddess and maybe some Passage d’Enfer for Spring if my wallet allows. I’ve only got a few more weeks to use my coveted Geisha Noire and my Tauer Incense – those are definitely not Springtime fragrances, eh?
Happy (belated) Birthday!
I would wear the Tauer in early spring myself, but it’s nice to break out the spring florals when the weather heats up 🙂
My SoTD: Soivohle Massive Patchouli. Liz’s description @ her site is: ” A modern version of the hippie style patchouli. Opening with a sharp metallic and edgy patchouli wrapped in bergamot, vetiver and cedar, incense and dry amber. Hippies never had it so good.” It really is quite good. I’ve actually been on a Soivohle kick – I wore Purple Love Smoke during Snowmageddon – parts 1 & 2. Hope everyone in the mid-Atlantic through the Northeast is hanging in there! I don’t remember blizzards like these since the 70’s – and i was in New York then. Maryland has never seen snow like this. It’s been an experience. At least I was well stocked with perfume, wine & cookies. 😉
whew! the necessities! 😉
I actually miss those snowstorms…that was standard winter fare growing up in western WI. Now we get enough snow, all the time, to continually mess up my commutes, but not enough to have any fun with. If it’s going to snow, I want it to snow BIG! (And preferably on the weekend.)
I’ve wanted to try this patchouli and had read that review; now I’m definitely going to snag a sample! LOL when I saw the words, perfume, wine and cookies-just came back from the store, cookies in hand, got my Cruel Intentions to adore and of course, a lovely bottle of Pino Grigio. It’s been a rather snowmalicious month for all of us in the path of snowzilla. I was in NY in the 70’s, too!
Ah yes, when you have perfume, wine & cookies, you can get through anything life throws at you! 😉 I was in Brooklyn, then Manhattan and finally upstate NY in the mid 60’s into the 70’s – where in NY were you?
Believe it or not-Hell’s Kitchen was my old haunt. It was awesome! Visited last March and didn’t want to leave. The energy is what I miss, not to mention pizza. I was also a Jersey girl-Mahwah, North Bergen, Paramus, moved around a lot in my day. Still have friends from Brooklyn/Jersey. Are you still in upstate?
The energy & the pizza – the best – you betcha [as well as the shopping, the culture, etc]! After several more moves – I’ve been in Maryland for about 17 years now. Wow – I just realized it’s been 17 years – time for another move! Somewhere WARM.
Mmmm, RD… I need to pull out my Purple Love Smoke sample this winter. It’s such an unusual scent and if it wasn’t so expensive for a bottle (parfum strength), I’d buy some in a minute. I’m glad you made it through Snowmageddon okay, and I know what a drag it can be when you live there (as opposed to being a visitor, like myself).
I don’t know why I picked it, but before going out to shovel snow, I spritzed on Byredo Pulp. In just a week, we (in the Baltimore area) have had two small snow storms (3-4 inches each) and two blizzards (one about 26-28 inches and yesterday another 20 inches). We’ve been calling the storms “Snowmagedeon.
Filomena! You’re in Baltimore??? We at Johns Hopkins have had no classes for five days, much to everyone’s delight (and the death of my work ethic). We call it “Snowpocalypse”. Pulp is a fruity delight. I have been trying the new Cristalle Verte. It ain’t Cristalle, that’s for sure.
Ari,
I’m in Baltimore County–Timonium to be exact.
SOTD = Guerlain SDV…..was making a few samples and ended up with well scented fingers! Decided that was perfect for a cold gray day so I added a couple “intentional” spritzes.
Meanwhile, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Balsamo della Mecca from Italy —Kevin’s reviews are oh so dangerous! I think he had the entire NST community frothing at the mouth last week after that review!
Ahh, spring…..I’ve got a bottle of Chanel Cristalle eau Verte that I won on ebay late last fall….it’s been waiting for sunshine and warm so it can claim a prized position at the front of the cabinet. Not everyone can sit in the front row. Oh, and that bottle of IdPF Lilla has been waiting patiently too. then I look out the window and ACK! still all white and cold…..brrrr
I think Eau Verte can actually be kind of fun on a sparkling, sunny, bright, snowy morning. I got that same kind of effect last weekend on a particularly chilly, windy, crisp morning from EL Jasmine White Moss.
I think there are a BUNCH of people eagerly awaiting the arrival of Balsamo della Mecca! Decanting that much is going to be a full time job for you Empress! And I have a new found appreciation for the decanting process. 😉
LOL —awww Rapple, how is your spritzy finger today? Not all bottles put up such a fight! And he did tell me that he put the last two in bottles with screw-on lids…..really such a darling fellow, called me from Italy (!!) to ask and then traded some emails…just charming.
I doubt he gets *that* many people ordering his scents in BULK! LOL! But of course he also recognized the endearing qualities that we all love in you. 😉
oh , you must be referring to that glassy-eyed buying thing….
hahahaha ….you know, people involved in perfume are just nicer than people who sell, say, automotive transmissions and furnaces. It must be all the aroma-therapy. 😉
I agree!
Oops, I think they spelled it “Snowarmagedeon”.
I’ve been sampling quite a few, but haven’t decided what fragrance I want for Spring.
No snow shoveling here in San Diego, but it has been pretty chilly. Today’s SOTD is Lubin Idole from a sample. Like the booziness, but it’s not love.
Also, to update you all on the fragrance preferences of the big cats at the San Diego Zoo, this month’s Zoonooz notes that one tiger loves lavender and another loves Clinique Happy! (For those who haven’t seen previous comments on this topic, they use scents as enrichment for the lions and tigers at zoos).
That’s funny, because when I went to Marine World/Africa USA once, the tiger guy told us that none of the employees could use so much as scented shampoo, because if the animals smelled something unusual about you, you could get your head bit off.
Wearing the scents a tiger or lion likes could be very dangerous! And they all seem to like different ones, so I guess they outlaw fragrance on keepers to be safe.
Here’s a good description from the MN zoo webiste on how they use scents at zoos for those who are interested:
“Providing new smells in an animal’s exhibit can encourage exploration and sometimes triggers territorial behaviors like rubbing and scent marking. A wide variety of scents are used for enrichment including spices, cooking extracts, perfumes and animal urine. The tigers love “Obsession” and “Charlie” perfumes. The tapirs, tree kangaroos, binturongs and gibbons go for banana extract!”
My brother works for the SD zoo and I have donated some perfume for them to use for this kind of stuff.
This is fascinating to me, especially since I’m from MN originally. I’m guessing I can’t be the only one who wasn’t aware of this practice. Makes scents to me:)
** waving from the homeland **
Utterly fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
That is interesting, and how cool to donate perfume for the animals!
CK could do a fabulous ad with the Obsession-loving tigers – I hope they read this!
Ha! Finally some love for Charlie!
glad everyone enjoyed the info! i had remembered reading about some lions or tigers loving obsession, and thought it was interesting the tigers here preferred much lighter stuff like lavender and Happy!
Sampling Juliet by Juliet Stewart today–like but not need, at least so far. I decanted a few vials for swapping this morning, so it’s mingling with other things.
Does anyone happen to know the price of Apres l’Ondee in the US? I am thinking of buying it next time I’m in NYC.
The bee bottles were about $225/35 the last time I checked. But they vary by scent. Great choice!
Thank you! That’s more than I thought…oh well, so far it’s the only Guerlain I’m in love with and I’ve almost finished my decant.
Those are the 125 ml. bottles though so they’d be great for a split. That might be a good way to go for you.
Mine was a little over a $100.
Thanks! I think I can afford that. =)
My boyfriend got us tickets to the Art of Fragrance lecture with Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez last Friday in D.C. Postponed, thanks snowpocalypse. We’ve been unable to leave the house in 7 days, and we’ll be lucky if we can get out by Saturday. Good thing my boss told me to take my work laptop home with me! *snort*
A sample vial of Chanel No.5 Eau Premiere is keeping me in sunny disposition, but it’s running dangerously low. I hope the counter at Lord & Taylor that “was out” of samples when I tried to stock up before the storm feels terrible when I go all crazy Jack Nicholson.
Since I’ve been on the waiting list for that event, I’m kind of hoping someone won’t be able to make it to the rescheduled lecture, if they do reschedule it. *Fingers Crossed*
Ha ha ha…I hear you. I just got the big 5 oz. bottle last week to replace the nearly empty vial and I find my mental health has improved considerably. I hope you can replenish before the Jack Nicholson syndrome kicks in!
SOTD: Cuir Mauresque. I’m worried about the smell I’m going to have in the house when I start my new stove. It was delivered today and the the instructions warn that it’s ‘normal’ for it to smell bad the first time you use it, and that I should open a door or window, turn the venting on full blast, and preheat for 30 minutes to burn off the binding agents that hold the fiberglass insulation in place. Yuck!
OH, that is yuck! Hope it’s better than it sounds.
it shouldn’t be that bad–my stove smelled a little paintish at first but it was over pretty quickly.
Winter, snow, keep it coming! I’ve got 34 ml of Tabac Aurea! 😀
LOVE Tabac Aurea. Haven’t worn it in the snow, though…
and no school yet? Do you think they’ll call this “mid winter break” or add days at the end of the year? You guys have to have exceeded your weather related days for sure. Everything is back to normal here today. Just the birds on my feeders are in a frenzy!
We had a call w/some clients in MI on Tuesday, who were expecting a snow day yesterday, and then another call w/them today. Apparently not all of MI got a snow day. They were disappointed.
Tabac Aurea is one of my fav winter scents, also the gorgeous and very warm Rose Musc from SSS – it has the most wonderful rich labdanum that lasts for hours and hours.
SOTD is Daphne. I do definitely think I am going to buy a bottle (how’s that for certainty!). I ran out of propane yesterday but I live in Seattle so am not experiencing snow crisis (I wish!). Looking forward to wearing Chanel Eau de Cologne, but the way I apply this stuff I might as well say looking forward to bathing in… (a la Charles Bronson)
let us know if you hear any horses whinnying…..or find yourself on a boat ! 😉
Stay away from the pistol though, Sarahbeth! 😉
but do keep an eye out for those “tickets to the thing you love”…..
This is the eleventh day in a row my kids have been out of school…
I’m still doing the tuberose testing (SOTMorning was PdN Number One) and wearing nice gingerbready things when I can – like Organza Indecence, Havana Vanille, Mauboussin, & Alahine.
Fortuitous layering accident: Beyond Love with the very-boozy-vanilla drydown of Havana Vanilla. Turns out straight-up tuberose is fabulous with vanilla, who knew?
I’m not yet looking forward to wearing springy scents – except that I am lemming a decant of Carnal Flower like you would NOT believe…
Mals86, I tried your fortuitous accident w my teensy sample of HV and Carnal Flower; it’s actually not bad, but I’m one of the few who just cannot like, let alone, love CF. I have a full sample from TPC I will gladly send you!
Well, bummer. I should have noted the caveat, “If you love tuberose…” It actually worked great with the tuberose essential oil + Shalimar Light combo, too. But then I do love tuberose.
CF sample you DON’T WANT? Of course I’d love to swap – email me at malsnano86 at gmail dot com.
Consider it done.
oops, should have kept reading—no school. so are the kids tied up in the basement by now?
oh , I meant to ask if you’ve ever tried Les Nez Manoumalia? (I”m behind in reading at your blog) it’s a big ole tropical tuberose — I have a package of goodies to send and I’ll put a sample of that in there too.
Tied up? Don’t tempt me… I’m going nuts trying to come up with things for them to do. They’ve been writing “research papers,” reading, playing board games, playing Wii, playing computer games, helping with dinner, vacuuming the house… luckily, no bloodshed so far. But I’m exhausted.
Have NOT tried Manoumalia so far. Catching up on some fabbo vintage sniffies…
I just tried Manoumalia. I liked its “natural” smell. Could be too rich for some.
I just tried it, too! Agree with your assessment Haunani. Definitely a heavy, heady floral. Smells wonderful, but I didn’t care for it on me. Wondering if it would do better in hot, humid weather to match its tropical vibe.
That could be!
PdN Number One is gorgeous! I normally stack all the white florals against AG’s Gardenia Passion. This one got past so I had to buy a bottle.
a:)
Here are my considerations for spring:
Bond No 9 – Fire Island
Dior – Higher (it was my first real cologne)
Jack Black – Silver Mark
Acqua di Parma – Colonia Assoluta
Ineke – Field notes from Paris
Bvlgari – Aqva
Jo Malone – Amber & Lavender
Hermes – Eau de Pamplemousse Rose
Love the Pamplemousse Rose!
I’m starting to wish the bloggers I read would stop reviewing recently discontinued perfumes. I’m wearing the (truly lovely) discontinued Bill Blass NUDE and staring at a charged order for a bottle of Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel (which I have wanted for over a year and which is now apparently on its way out). Something about a discontinued perfume just drives me INSANE and I must have it no matter what. This is a very bad thing.
Yeah i know exactly what your saying. I was recently given a sample (it’s so *small*) of Le Feu D’issey, and it’s killing me that it’s discontinued.
Oh.. and speaking of discontinued, i’ve heard all about Kevin’s long gone tea fragrance, but that doesn’t help me at all. Does anyone know a substitute?
Don’t even get me started on tea! The money I’ve spent trying to find an equivalent for Ava Luxe’s discontinued Moroccan Mint Tea. It’s a nightmare! I can’t worry about Kevin’s tea problems, I’ve got my own! I’m subsisting on Creative Universe’s Element of Surprise which has a lovely tea note. And still haunting eBay hoping the other will turn up!
Speaking as a fellow MMT fan – have you tried L’Occitane Thé Vert à la Menthe yet? I find it surprisingly close.
somewhere just the other day I saw some of that somewhere….give me a few minutes to search around….
oh rats—it shows the bottle but the item for sale is a carded sample..
Oh yes, and other than those for spring? I’m planning to spring for a By Kilian sample set, waiting for a small bottle of Parisienne I also fell for, and deeply considering some Creed Acqua di Fiorentina (I think I have the name right.) Not sure why Creed is supposed to be so declassé but I have a weakness for it.
Lemonprint: You’ve heard that Fleurs de Sel is on its way out? I know it’s been hard to find here in the US (actually, all MHs are a little hard to find now, or are having distributor issues or something). But what have you heard?? I hate this feeling.
Hi Lemonprint,
Miller Harris scents and candles are on sale at Bloomingdales. I just checked…. saw the terre de bois perfume for 1/2 off.
Smokey
SOTD – Dzing! Love it.
And silly me always thinks of things to ask/post on these open thread thingies, but I always think of them early in the week, and never think to write them down…so when an open thread finally does come around, I TOTALLY FORGET WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT! Arggghhh! Ha ha. Oh well.
As for me, I’m not ready to break out those spring scents yet! Seems as if I’ve only just begun to enjoy the winter ones. Guess that’s a good thing, cause winter will be around for a bit longer in the far north where I am.
I’ve just really settled into the winter fragrances too! I’m with you.
Good choice on the Dzing!. It’s wonderfully yummy and quirky. I love wearing it.
Had an interview today for a government job so I went with the beautiful Kama by Farmacia Annunziata. Mmmmmmm. Anyone else a fan?
Spring scents? Not yet at all, but come March, I’ll be in the Greens for St Patrick’s Day, equipped with Chanel no19, CdG Calamus and CdG Lily 🙂
thanks for pushing me over the edge, I’ve been pondering Kama. Luckyscent cart is growing….thank you very much!
I’m sure you’ll be very pleased 🙂
My fave Farmacia is Aurora! yummmmmmm
which one is Aurora again?
Aurora is all spices with no sweet stuff – notes are:
Ginger, coriander, cinnamon, pepper, patchouli, nutmeg
I like Calamus and Lily! Hmmm… you’ve got me thinking. I think I’ll wear my new Eau de Campagne to the St. Pat’s Day party!
As I said above, I’m unfortunately wearing Guerlain Winter Delice. I thought it was supposed to be Christmas trees?? All I get is men’s after shave.
Luckily I live in a condo and don’t have to do my own shoveling, but if I *were* shoveling, I would have had on either SSS Encens Tranquille or Guerlain 180 Ans.
Love the mermaid, Robin!
I HATE the shaving cream accord…
Ain’t it the truth! And it’s kind of hard to pick out from just the notes. DSH’s Parfum de Grasse does that on me too. 🙁
Ooh, that’s a shame. I kind of liked Winter Delice and did find it sort of Christmas Tree-ish.
It’s starting to remind me of my ex-husband….
ACK!
Oh, that’s baaaaad.
Great picture, Robin! SOTD No. 5 Eau Premiere. Wearing it a lot since I got the FB last week. I am packed and ready to drive to New Orleans for Mardi Gras but Winter Storm Warnings are posted for a large area from south of Jackson, MS to south Louisiana. I thought I left this stuff behind when I moved from the upper midwest to the south!
Oh, I hope you make it there ok! And that you have a blast, of course. And that you eat something wonderful for me…
Straight from the Who’d-a-Thunk-It department….here I am high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, it’s the middle of February (winter in these parts), and it’s sunny, snowless and 45 degrees! Have I gone through the looking glass? It seems that all the usually low-snow or snow-free places in the USA are being buried in the white stuff, while here in the mountains where snow gets its mail and pays its taxes, it’s verging on springlike! SOTD is Le Prince Jardinier’s Labyrinthe Libertin because I was feeling like a little green (which reminds me, I need to give Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” a listen).
How shockking to hear of the death of Alexander McQueen. Wealthy, lauded, self-actualized in his chosen profession and still he saw no reason to keep on living. How incredibly sad is that?
I had to reply when I saw the words Joni Mitchell’s Blue—this is my all time favorite CD— she’s a genius. I Could Drink a Case of You is the best song ever….and I do love little green. Enjoy the NoShowSnow!!!
Could be worse-would you like snowmalicious to pay a visit? I miss the Rockies, had a time share there for 11 years.
Wearing Kingdom today as a tribute. I am very fond of it, have it in the funny red plastic 25ml egg.
My fav recent sampling is FIELD NOTES FROM PARIS. My biggest recent letdowns Maison FK line.
Ditto to both!
Wow, you didn’t care for any of them? At this stage, I’ve only smelled Pour le Matin and LN pour femme – and the LN was just stunning. “Hold on to the headboard and moan” stunning, I mean.
Well, I’ve got a sample of MFK Cologne pour le soir headed your way……and now I’m pretty excited about the sample of the LN pour femme that is on it’s way to me from our friends at Luckyscent!
I agree Mals, I purchased a bottle of APOM pour homme and am really enjoying it. The amazing Daisy also sent me a decant of Cologne Pour Le Soir and while having some misgivings at first is fast becoming a favourite. I find them all strangely intruiging and very ‘textured’ if that makes sense – kind of ‘fuzzy’ and tactile and multilayered. I can’t describe these things very well, there’s a reason I don’t have a blog!
Oh Mals! “….hold onto the headboard and moan, stunning.” – that’s a CLASSIC! It might just replace, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
no kidding….make mine a double!
It is definitely that kind of thing. IMHO. 😉
Well I didn’t HATE them, just had higher expectations I suppose. I think I remember liking the APOM Homme.
Lumiere Noire pF is really very nice. But I don’t have a headboard. 😉
Cologne pour le Soir, sad to say, is sour urine. ACK.
I know what I’m getting for my birthday! MKK! …but I have to wait till the 21st to have it. I can’t smell any donkeys in that one and I made other people smell it too just to see if I was missing something LOL
things I’ve tried this past week and what they smell like to me:
Havana Vanille: vanilla syrup on a brand new first aid kit(band-aids and plastic) I had to wash that off after 20 minutes.
ELdO Vraie Blonde: a bellini on a table covered with a white cloth strewn with rose petals, I think I like this one very much, it’s a pretty sundress kind of scent.
Amaranthine: Banana Runts: the perfume, then skank, then big wet white flowers, back to the runts with something that smelled like matches(?lol), then vanilla sandalwood cream. I have to try that again! I do think I like it though.
Bunny – you have me ROTFL at those descriptions! Classic.
Me too. Excellent.
*takes a bow* 😉
After that (very funny) description of Amaranthigh, I thought you were going to say you hated it! This seems to be another one of those scents that people perceive differently.
I do love banana Runts, but hate real banana anything! I’m strange! It’s a really interesting scent, I think.
The name Amaranthine lends itself so well for bastardizing, doesn’t it? I think I shall henceforth refer to it as Amaranthingamajig. 😀
I love “I can’t smell any donkeys in that one.” 🙂 Not a herd of donkeys, not ANY donkeys. Totally cracks me up
It was Gris Clair for me today. Seems to be the lavender for me. I’ve been craving florals lately. We get hints of spring in February here in my part of Northern CA. My daphne is blooming! The fragrance is marvelous.
Here’s a question: What do you all think of Calandre? I tried it for the first time last night and was quite taken with it. I’d feared that it would be too aldehydic/perfumey for me, but it wasn’t. Maybe I’m finally growing up, LOL.
I’ve loved it since the late 1970s. I owned it in every form back then: parfum, edt, lotion, bath oil, powders. It still smells terrific but it fades much too fast, my only complaint, but that just means more frequent applications! Congratulations on discovering it.
You know, that’s an aldehydic I haven’t tried. (I know, you’re shocked I haven’t gotten around to that one yet…) It occurred to me recently that aldehydes say “Real Perfume Here!” to me – probably because when I was young, my mother wore No. 5.
Suzy Q & Mals: I wonder why it doesn’t get more press? There’s a lot of perfume nostalgia going on right now! It really is lovely. The aldehydes aren’t too much for me (so far, I haven’t been able to get near the likes of Nos. 5 & 22 and White Linen). It seems to read as a slightly “perfumey” green floral chypre on my skin. I’m so excited about discovering it! I just have a mini, but bottles look really reasonable online.
I don’t know the answer to that H. It may be that it gets forgotten because it wasn’t part of a large house.
I love Calandre, and have been wearing it since 1977.
And, they haven’t messed with the formula – it’s been the same all that time, I think.
I miss the parfum but I’ll take the edt! I couldn’t find this anywhere for years. Thank heavens for the Internet. It does still smell as great as it did in 1977 but it wasn’t maybe as concentrated. After I wrote the above comment I sprayed some into a vial and the splashed it on. Oh baby, now we’re talking!
Thanks again for the comments. I’m excited to have found Calandre. Did you know that the name refers to a bird? The Calandra Lark is a large songbird with a beautiful song, according to a Wikipedia article.
I’m always last on these things. I’m fighting the freezing weather with tropical scents: I’ve been wearing the lovely frangipani Armani Onde Vertige a lot lately, to hold me over until I get my Manoumalia decant from Daisy. I was wanting to get a couple more bottles of Theorema, but have only found them at a shop I’ve never purchased from before. Not likely anyone will answer, but has anyone purchased from perfumeblvd.com before? and with happy success? Thanks.
Sorry, I have not! Did you try a board search at MakeupAlley? That’s how I check stores I don’t know.
I know it’s late but I wanted to kind of de-lurk and just say hi to everyone and express my thanks for this wonderful blog! I love keeping up with all of the info and reading all the helpful reviews & comments. Even though my sense of smell has always been very important to me, this blog & the online perfume-loving community are really helping me to grow as a budding perfumista 😀 So thank you all!!
And just for good measure: right now I’m wearing Dzing! (just ’cause, even though I’ve been home all day 🙂 ), and I’ve packed Smell Bent’s Monaco Dependent for the weekend (I travel out of state for school several weekends per semester – it’s an odd program! 🙂 ) – it’s such a bright, happy fragrance, I know it’ll perk me right up in the middle of my long days of class!
Hi and welcome, and you smell great!
With that suddenly-brighter mid-February sun amped up by the total snow cover today, I realized I’d better pay attention to my winter samples before it was too late, which led to Amouage Homage Attar on one wrist and Chanel Sycomore on the other. They got along rather well, fortunately, and were just fine for a winter walk. Neither was quite wonderful enough, though, to divert dollars from my current obsession with vintage.
For spring, I’m looking forward to digging Iris Pallida out of the fridge, and already wondering if it’s not too soon for Hiris.
Robin, forgot to say how much I like the lovely photo, but how differently it strikes me now than it would have a week ago: i.e., it doesn’t look like real snow, which is well above the seats of park benches here!
I’m glad I am not the only one unimpressed by Homage.
I mean I wouldn’t say no if it fell into my lap, but I would have thought it a nice mall scent, which went slightly off in the top. I really get lots of white musks, which nobody mentions (anosmia, who knows?), and not much incense and oud… The rose in the heart is very nice, indeed, but the lemon note in the top…jarring.
Maybe each batch is different, who knows…
I SO wanted to love it after LT’s review – it sounded like the perfect Arabian nights HG. I guess I should be grateful to save the $$$$$ for other things!
It was Etro Ambra for me today since it was chilly in South Florida today. Of course my winter is most of yall’s spring.
Where in South Florida are you?
Pembroke Pines
I was wearing Tauer’s Une Rose Chypre, such a nice scent. I did wish I was wearing something warmer though.
For spring, I have Prescriptive’s Calyx reserved. =)
I do love Calyx!
Here in the ski mountains of Idaho, we would kill for ALL the snow hitting the east! Still, spring is a lonnng way off.
SOTD is Clive Christian No. 1. I got a sample sent to me when I bought X…I’ve been putting off trying it as I ADORE X and was somewhat afraid I would like No. 1 as well-and at the price, X was a stretch as it was. Sadly, I LOVE No. 1 as well. I can’t even think of when I’ll be able to afford it. Luckily, I have a large sample!
I’ve refused to try either one of them for the same reason! A looong time ago, some blogger wrote that it was similar to Je Reviens, which I’ve always loved. Congrats on your CC, though.
Sorry… it = CC #1.
SOTD is Guerlain Tonka Impériale. This is lovely and will be a rare full bottle purchase when available.
The snow pictures are amazing. I can’t even imagine how you get out of the house. In Santa Cruz today it was a chilly 60 degrees and we were complaining!
Oh, I am so curious about TI!!
lucky you!
SOTD: Tabac Aurea with a shot of Sensuelle Russie.
I need to try that Sensuelle Russie again, been meaning to. I liked it but can’t remember it so well.
The effort I’ve gone to with trying to find an optimistic way to look at all this snow is getting a bit strenuous. The water table here will definitely be higher and I’ll really, really appreciate the crocuses when they poke their pretty little heads up in a couple weeks…
SOTD is Ligniappe Oaks Victorian Lace. It’s a really delicate and pretty spring floral, which is only reminding me more of all the snow. I’ve thought of leaving a pair of snow shoes dangling from my mailbox for the poor UPS, FEDEX and mail people who have to schlep up to our front or back porch to deliver my perfumes. It’s all in their job, I know, but I really wish I could make it more rewarding by offering them a cup of hot tea or something during this serious stretch of winter.
when we have someone out to do lawn stuff in the summer, I give them a cold soda or some lemonade since it’s the least I can do given how torturous August and September are here in MI.
My current perfume goal is a bottle of OJ’s Seraphim. I’ve recently discovered just how stunning it is and almost want to slap myself for actually considering a bottle. But my want for the perfume still outweighs the griping I’ve done over the price, and I’ve convinced myself if I just save up for it, it will feel more rewarding and well-earned, which will take the edge off. I know. Keep the justifications coming. 🙂
Ha. I have nothing optimistic to say about the snow. At all.
I haven’t showered yet so I actually have a SOYD (scent of yesterdays..): Hermessence Vetiver Tonka.
🙂
I’m enjoying a tiny dab of Fracas, today.
I’m loving it…
I am always surprised when people express very polarised feelings on Fracas: I don’t find it a sillage monster… I find it quite smooth and seamless.
But then again, I am the queen of underapplying: The words two and sprays are rarely in the same sentence for me!! 🙂
I wear fragrance very lightly too. I do think anyone applying several sprays of Fracas is perhaps leaving more sillage than necessary.
I usually apply quite lightly too – one spray on one wrist, rubbed gently onto the other, and then a light one at the base of the neck. Unless, of course, I’m wearing something really fleeting (Bois des Iles comes to mind, or some of the lighter Goutals), and then it’s four sprays. Fracas gets DABBED.
You know, I have no idea how Fracas wears when sprayed: I have two sample vials and I am forced to dab. But it seems much softer than other dabbing samples I have, like l’amoureuese, Bois de Paradis, Corso Como, 31 rue cambon….
I see a FB in my future. 😉
BTW, I’m waiting for your review on Fracas: can’t wait to hear what you think of it!!!
Fracas in extrait is pure heaven. I don’t notice a huge amount of sillage from it, either, but underapply just in case. It was one of my first perfumista loves and I can’t imagine not having any. It truly makes me feel like a woman’s woman when I wear it and makes any outing fabulous, even if it’s just a trip to the grocery store. 🙂
Then I really must splurge!!!
SOTD: Amaranthine. Finally! I am so happy!
I got it as a present (!!) form my friend. She went to London to a shopping trip with her husband and visited the Penhaligon’s boutique. She was very pleased with the shop AND the scents, she said now she learned to appreciate such perfumes she will never be able again to buy something generic like she did before.
So do not bleme ME for the financial crisis! 😉
Oh, what a sweet friend, congrats!!
Are you enjoying your Amaranthine?
Well, we have more than enough snow and ice overhere. When spring comes, I would really like to try Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca and Anisia Bella. I went curious as I read the Aqua Allegoria reviews. The ones I could found and tested were not so very good to me. I tested Cherry Blossom (too bland to me), Tiare Mimosa (soapy), Kiwi ( can only say smells like Kiwi) and one of the oranges (turned bitter).
Hope you can find the Anisia Bella! I do think Herba Fresca is still in production.
I’ve recently tried AA Pamplelune and thought it was really nicely done. I layer it with a little of Body Time’s Grapefruit oil underneath to tame the top notes a bit and it works great. Definitely an eye-opener for those mornings where the siren song of a warm bed is really hard to overcome.
I’m in the (large) group that just can’t wear it.
Hi everyone. My Fragrance today is Clean Lather. I love powdery scents. My Spring Fragrance is usually Cool Water. My husband bought me Pink Sugar (which I hate) at the suggestion of his 16 year old nephew who loves it. I wear it when I am with him but the whole time I am cringing. I would like a new fragrance and i am stuck. Do I go with my tried and true powdery/watery scents or try something different. I have purchased and liked Deseo, Glow, Stella, Safari -Ralph Lauren. Any suggestions? Oh and I LOVE Lavender. I live in Canada so I would like to avoid purchasing online.
Love your name Iamacraftymama! Have you tried Sarah Jessica Parkers Lovely? That has lavender although I must confess I have never sniffed it myself.
Thanks for your reply. I will check out Lovely. I have never tried any of SJP’s fragrances.
I agree with laken that it would be worth trying Lovely, and also admire your name! And, yes, do try new notes – try everything! It is very hard to predict what one will love, and testing is the only way to find out. You are questioning whether to stick with the tried and true for a reason!
Please don’t overlook Estee Lauder scents, which are truly well-crafted scents at reasonable prices. Guerlain Jicky is the iconic lavender scent, worth experiencing – give it a chance to develop. The lavender that I really like is Patricia de Nicolai’s Homme, which is beautiful and natural rather than masculine. There must be some source for this within Canada. It would be worth asking about Canadian sources again sometime at an earlier point in a Thursday poll. I hope you enjoy the quest for the scents that you and your husband love.
Thanks for your comments. I have worn Estee Lauder fragrances while in high school. Jicky sounds interesting. As for the name I love to craft be it crochet, card making or beading. I know I sound like a granny but iamacraftymama LOL *wink*
A beautiful, unusual lavender from Andy Tauer is Reverie au Jardin. I’m not sure if it sold in stores in Canada – I would imagine that it is. But you can contact Andy online via his website and ask. He’s extremely delightful and helpful. I’ve purchased online from him, and it is ultra reliable and postage is very reasonably priced.