The usual open thread routine: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last perfume you tested, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Just waking up ... [cropped] by frumbert at flickr; some rights reserved.
I’m wearing the new Hermès scent, Voyage. It’s really lovely and fresh, which is nice for the weather right now. It’s dry down is actually super piney on me (like Vicks Vapo Rub, but well, better), but on my friend (who is also currently obsessed) it’s actually very vanilla-y. Which is deeply bizarre.
I can’t wait to try this!
Same here! And if it’s a little like VapoRub, but better, that would be OK. VapoRub is yummy! 🙂
Works for LHB!
I’m dying to try Voyage!
Vicks has eucalyptus. Now you’ve made me want to go look up the notes for this… I’m intrigued!
Tuberose can smell a little mentholated, and I feel like labdanum has a similar, but more piney, effect sometimes. Of course, I’m too lazy this morning (oops, it’s not morning anymore) to look this up. Let me know what you find out. 🙂
I re-read Kevin’s review and he stated that there weren’t any notes officially listed! He didn’t mention smelling anything mentholated though.
I’m not sure I would describe that note as mentholated, though. I know I said vapo rub, and vapo rub is definitely mentholated, but there’s something piney about it too. I smell pine in Voyage.
I wore that on Friday. It is really pretty and perfect for this time of year.
I recently stumbled into an Hermes boutique and they gave me hordes of samples of this. Lucky, I know! NM carries this at the moment but SA’s weren’t too fond of it. They seemed to be of the loud white flora variety rather than fresh traveled tomboy.
I get citrus and pepper with a hint of pencil shavings with this one and yes, I love it. I am not sure the guys in the shop approve but who cares. 🙂
While at Neiman Marcus (NM) I tried the Atelier Cologne family and I have to say Bois Blond and the Oolong Infini numbers were interesting sniffs with the Orange Sanguine being my favorite. They did have a sampler pack at the time of all five fragrances so you could take them home, layer and play. It was a gift with purchase however and NM only takes cash or the NM card and I was after a by Kilians fragrance.
Hope you are feeling better, Robin!
Someone sent me Soivohle Green Oakmoss in a swap yesterday. I put it on this morning and have been sniffing my wrist all day! It’s a lovely green mossy fragrance.
I also received a sample of Jojo by the same company which is a jasmine (a note I’m not familiar with). Jojo opened rich and animalic-I loved it, but it disappeared quickly. Does anyone have any recommendations for something along this line?
Much better, thanks!
Glad to hear it, R.
Excellent!
Hi Dixie – isn’t that Green Oak Moss great?! It’s one of my favorites by Liz.
I’ve really got to get me some of that Green Oak Moss to sample, and some Bottleneck Blues too… hmmm [feels a Soivohle sample order coming on…].
You can contact Liz through her website. Sometimes she has items no longer listed online.
found a bottle of vintage l’interdit! the color’s definitely darkened, but it’s still in decent condition.
Congrats!
I’m wearing Chanel’s Bois des Iles today. WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS? (you’ve been telling me for years to try it). I got a 2ml sample of it last week and have already run though most of it. Incredible. Divine. Perfection. (Except for the 5 minutes when it goes all coca-cola on me. It’s uncanny.) It’s one of those exceptionally rare perfumes that I feel like I could probably wear every single day of my life. I think I had some vestigial abhorrence of sandalwood from a bad run-in with The Body Shop’s perfume oil back in the 1980s, so I’ve always instinctively passed over any sandalwood-prominent scent. My god, I’ve been missing out.
I’m planning a sandalwood nose re-education adventure now: what should go on my Sniff List?
Isn’t that gorgeous? Hate to tell you, but if you’re smelling the vintage parfum, you’ve already smelled the best sandalwood on earth.
Thank you for all the great recommendations! My nose is twitching happily in anticipation.
I would also suggest Sonoma Scent Studio’s Femme Jolie, it’s spices with a sandalwood drydown. wonderful stuff, it lasts forever and VERY reasonably priced too.
Tam Dao! And I hear 10 Corso Como, though that one is just sour sawdust on me…most people think it’s fantastic.
I second Corso Como 10 and Tam Dao (personally, I prefer CC10!). Corso Como actually has made also a new scent (for men), but I’d stick with 10…
I think Idole (lubin) also has quite a lot of sandalwood, or am I wrong?
Although it starts off with a lot of galbanum, aldehydes, rose, etc… Annick Goutal’s Heure Exquise edt has the most beautiful sandalwood drydown ever – dry, woody, warm. Perfect.
Vintage Samsara, which is still very reasonable on eBay, is a beautiful jasmine over creamy sandalwood. I was extremely impressed with the older version when I didn’t even like the newer one.
I got my five year old bottle of Samsara out of the cupboard the other day, for another run. Nup. Hideous. Back in the cupboard it goes. How old would you say Samsara has to be before you get the good stuff?
Mine is early nineties. I’d say up until ’97 or ’98.
I second that-my Samsara bottle is from 96 and is lovely. I don’t like the new stuff…..
Was it current EdT version? If so this one could actually solve my problem: I want an ultimate classic to be my everyday perfume. I love sandalwood. And I don’t want to wear chanel N5 wich – I found out today – I love insanely for the drydown…
Vintage No 5 does have the most beautiful drydown!
Yep, it does.
There you are Mals – I was wondering where you were since you were conspicuously absent from this conversation! 😉
Ava Luxe’s No. 23 has, I believe, a significant sandalwood component, in fact I think it’s one of the notes I find hard to identify but absolutely exquisite in that perfume.
For sandalwood I really like Damien Bash Lucifer No 3.
Ava Luxe No. 23 is one of my favorite scents – it’s a lovely sandalwood, as is Tam Dao. Pacifica also does a decent sandalwood, as does Caswell-Massey, though that one seems more masculine to me. And we can’t forget SL Santal Blanc!
I love (if you can find a bottle) the old Givenchy Pour Homme, not the one in the Blue bottle but the old Burgundy Bottle with the Silver “Navel” Like Spray part on the bottle… The Sandalwood in that is SO FRESH and Transparent, especially because a LOT of Vetiver is Layered over it, but to this day it’s still one of the most Unique Fragrances i have ever smelled, I think of dear departed sis every time i get a whiff, she got me a bottle of it for Xmas many many moons ago and i can’t bear to spritz the last bit of it out of the bottle… try it you’ll like it, it’s clean enough that even a woman can wear it!
I think if I could only wear one perfume Bois des Iles would be the one. I adore it.
I agree with you. I have so many perfumes, but if I had to only wear one for the rest of my life I think it would be Bois des Iles.
No fragrance yet, I’ve a different source of excitement today – a brand new MacBook Pro which was delivered this morning. My first ever Mac! 🙂
And just to keep it on topic, I’ll probably end up wearing OJ Champaca for a quiet Sat night in.
Lucky you!! I’d like one of those. And an iPad.
Champaca is perfect for any occasion, as far as I’m concerned. Playing with a new computer, watching La Nozze Di Figaro at Covent Garden, rock climbing in the Dolomites, or cleaning baby sick off your last clean shirt. It’s always discreetly telling you, “You’re deeply fabulous. Nevermind about the sick.”
Have fun with your new electronic baby!
😀
He he. No babies here but there are two cats instead so no lack of things to clean up 😀
we switched over to Macs last fall —I love my iMac and J loves her Macbook! As for cats–I was just saying to someone the other day: cat’s are nature’s way of letting you know which floors need to be mopped or which carpets need to be shampooed…. 😉
And has the CEO converted, or is he still plugging along on the wireless-adapted PC?
yes he is –what a stick in the mud! I’ve got his ancient Dell set up in the library—directly across from “my” media room so the airport has a clear path! But all the time he complains about how SLOWWW it is and how loooong it takes to boot up….and I say “would you like to try my Mac? ” and all I get is “no!” and grumbling . oh well. More Mac-time for me! Of course J loves her Macbook —as we draw to the end of freshman year—papers, studying, slide shows (art history classes) it’s been a wonderful thing. And thanks to you and your CEO for helping with the deciding and the info on setting up etc. I couldn’t have done it without the loan of your hubby’s brain. 🙂
Oh, Abyss, that IS exciting! Welcome to the wonderful world of Mac. I would love a new one.
I love my Macbook Pro! Can’t wait for the iPad in a year or two!
It took me forever to decide on a home computer, and I finally picked a MacBook Pro, too, which has worked out quite well. Also love Champaca and keep meaning to get a FB. Congratulations on both, abyss!
Thanks for letting me share my excitement, ladies, I’m really thrilled with it. I was a little apprehensive about the switch from PC but it’s been fairly smooth going so far.
The iPad is not even available in UK yet but it’s an iPhone that I’d love next, anyway.
your Mac will take a little getting used to but in no time at all you will love it ! Your household emergency escape plan will include saving your Mac….the hubby has legs –he can get himself out! 😉
Congrats! I would like to get a Mac when I finally get rid of my old PC. When I was in college studying computer graphics, all we ever worked on were Macs. I loved them.
It’s funny the way all school computers are Macs, and then corporate computers are nearly all PCs. You’d think someone would realize the amount of time it takes to retrain people…but no. I don’t have a strong preference either way, but since I bought the computer so I could work at home, it just makes more sense to use a PC.
Congrats Abyss! I love my mac book pro, use it every day!
I have a question! Diptyque has discontinued its Oeillet candle… how sad. Can anyone recommend another carnation-fragranced candle to me?
If I’m not mistaken, CDG made matching candles to the perfumes in their different series, and they have a carnation fragrance in the red series… I’m sorry it is not of much help! I love the smell of the real flowers!
That was the first one I thought of too. Haven’t tried any CdG candles though. Nor have I tried this, but it’s cheaper:
http://www.candleluxury.com/seda-france-royal-carnation-candle.html
Thank you both! I really should try a Sede candle someday; I always stop to admire the packaging when I see them in shops. And why don’t I own CdG Carnation in any form?! Strange!
I have I question, I was wondering today: what scent is best for jogging in the woods?
Not a jogging person, so I’m not speaking from experience, but the “idea” of running in the wood made me think of A) Etro Shaal nur (vetiver citrusy incense) and B) Comme des Garçons 2 Man (mushroomy incense for me).
not a jogger either….more of a walk -enthusiast here…I’d go for something with violet and damp soil, rainswept, fresh air–breathe deep, and a little lonely (does that make any sense?) Maybe some HdP Blanc Violette…..or something earthy orris rooty—like some Hermes Hiris or even Odori Iris…..oh,oh, oh–maybe Delrae Debut or VC&A Muguet Blanc for that “I’m all alone with trees” feel…..
Damp soil you say? I Am a Dandelion by CB I Hate Perfume. But I want a snapshot of the look on your face during first five minutes of this unusual ride! 😉 Carolyn
And then you could always go for the “tree” feel – a chypre (Mitsouko would be my choice) for the moss, or Wazamba for the sap.
What kind of woods, where? In coastal northern California, you should try Parfums Delrae Eau Illuminee. Not for the redwood forests, but for the drier herbal, scrubby, live-oaky woods.
OJ Woman for the hemlock. Of course, that would make you the most elegant runner for miles around, but why not?
I’d suggest OJ Woman. It smells very forest-y to me. Although I don’t know about jogging (really, I don’t know about jogging… absolutely nothing…), I think of this as a “casting a spell in the middle of the woods at midnight” kind of fragrance. Would that be compatible with jogging? Again, I HAVE NO IDEA. The last time I ran was to catch a bus, and even that was maybe a few feet.
my sister!!! 🙂
“casting a spell in the middle of the woods at midnight”
I LOVE it! LOL!
CBIHP for a forest in a bottle…or maybe his Just Breathe.
wow so many good tips, and I don’t even have samples of most of them. I tried OJ woman this morning, that is a GREAT tip (maybe not the most elegant jogger out there but defintely the best smelling one, OJW works well with a slight sweatiness too)! I’ll order the other suggestions and try them out, that’s a real motivation for a more regular training (in my mixed deciduous forest, don’t ask me more, I know my scented flowers, but trees are sort of just trees). The midnight ideas is great, there even is a lake with water lilies in the middle of this forest,that’s a great but spooky background for whatever you people have in mind 🙂
Today I am wearing VCA Bois d’Iris on my neck and TVPB Amber Absolute on my wrists.
I love VC&A Bois d’Iris! What an amazing scent!
Me too! Really!
me too! Love VC&A Bois d’Iris!
Is Monsieur Julian laying in flowers?? Is this his “Spring Portrait”?
It is Julian indeed~!
Another fan of BDI here!! It was my gateway to the note (I didn’t appreciate it much before!).
*TFPB*
I have happy memories of wearing that yesterday. Gorgeous stuff.
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better, Robin. Today, I get to stay home ALL day, which is a treat for me. So I’m going to sample to my heart’s content! Right now I have AG Eau de Sud on my left hand, and I’m just loving the moss and vetiver with the citrus! This is clearly A Goutal I Can Wear. I’m not so happy with my right hand, on which I am sampling Tauer Orange Star. The resiny-ambery base doesn’t work for me with the citrus and florals. It’s like a lovely classic Italian cologne weighed down with clashing base notes. Others may love it, but – darn it! – it’s not for me.
Hey! It’s money saved!
Sorry to hear that about the Orange Star. I haven’t sampled it yet, but can’t wait to.
Carlos, if you don’t have a sample yet, please e-mail me your address. kolea (at) att (dot) net
Cool. TY! 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one not liking Orange star! I was start questioning my nose! I especially didn’t like the way amber and the tauerade base felt diluted… and uninteresting… yet a bit too much present… My favorite AT are still LADDM, URC and IE… 🙂
“Diluted”, “uninteresting”, “yet too much present.” You are good at describing, Zazie! I agree with you.
I tested Orange Star this morning as well—where’s the orange?? I got a lot of a “car mechanic” type note and nothing floral at all. It was not at all what I expected. It was definitely masculine in nature. Well, at least I don’t have to worry about Une Rose Chypree being knocked out of the top spot. 😉
It IS quite masculine. It will be interesting to hear the guys chime in.
Do you mean car mechanic as in, “the kind of guy who works on cars would like this,” or “smells like an automotive shop.” Because I might go for the latter. (Although CdG Garage was too floral for me. There may be no hope for me in this department, short of actually smearing motor oil and gasoline on myself. Which I won’t do.)
more the smells like an auto shop type smell…..sigh….not what I was hoping for.
No, I can imagine not. 🙁 Well, for the record, I may have just inadvertently fulfilled my own wishes. I just bought a bottle of perfume at Goodwill, the name of which was in what I believe is Arabic. It smells like bandaids and gasoline. I have no idea what it is, but the novelty of it was too good to pass up.
Miss Kitty: You should really sample Santa Maria Novella Nostalgia. It’s quite unique.
Ms. Kitty – Breath of God smelled like auto shop to me.
Oh dear…and I just participated in a split to the tune of 10ML. Guess I should have checked with my perfume fairy godmother first. I never learn! 😉
yesterday –I had no clue—today, well, it’s not for me…that’s for sure. But really, for all that I trot around with the back of one wrist pressed to my forehead lemming desperately after this or that….my nose is quite picky (that didn’t come out quite right) about what it wants me to WEAR. Haunani is the first person that I’ve heard say it’s not fabuloso….then Zazie…and me….that’s 3 against the world! So you may get your split and pass out from the sheer joy it inspires in your nostrils.
I hope they do love it! And here’s to picky noses! 😉
Picky Noses Unite! 😉
uh oh I plunged on Orange star too – hmm, but masculine eh…I was wondering about that, I find all the Tauers beautiful but masculine…is that garage smell from iso super I wonder? I got an Escentric Molecules free samp from Luckyscent and (a) I thought I had anosmia, and (b) when I did smell it, for all the world I would have said ‘engine oil’….not ‘woody amber’…
If you change it to Picky United Noses, then the acronym would be P.U.N.
oh boy…..we need more t-shirts…..we’ll have to switch off with our bedazzled hazmat suits and sweatshirts emblazoned with :
Robin’s P.E.E. (Perfume Etiquette Enforcers) and Robin’s P.M.S. (Perfume Malcontent Squashers) …a force to be reckoned with…
LOL!!! I want one of each please! 😀
Thanks, and glad you love Sud…it gets so few mentions.
It really should get more – it’s lovely! FBW for me, I think!
Ooo, I’m also happy you like Eau du Sud! I already regret getting a small bottle, I don’t ever want to be without it… And thank you for sharing your opinion on the Tauer.
Hmm. Thanks for the preview of Tauer OS, Haunani. I’m hoping to get my hands on a bit *very* soon from my local “dealer.”
I’m still excited to try it… sometimes it takes Tauer awhile to grow on me. And that base can be heavy (though “diluted” makes me wary), so I wonder if it might be better for cold weather. Can’t wait to sample.
Here to defend my new beloved, Orange Star!
I love this, it must be sprayed, not dabbed…and could have been called Orange Chypree, and has a long rich drydown.
Oh, glad to hear you love it…and belated happy birthday! (A little bird whispered in my ear.) You share your day with my favorite former roommate.
Thanks!
yes, Happy Birthday! I’m glad you got yourself a nice sniffy present!
🙂
It didn’t seem at all diluted to me! Just a tiny bit was nearly overwhelming….and it was hanging in there pretty darn good for about 2 hours before I hit the showers. I need to try it again without that Bond En Rose muxxing up the works….I swear; that stuff is like a steamroller in a bottle!! Although I should admit that J was fixing breakfast when I put on the Orange Star and she said I really needed to leave the room so she could eat……I suppose it could have been the mix of Orange Star and En Rose that was affecting the quality of the whole grain toast…..
Suggestions for Peony fragrances anyone?
Hmmm, I think Histoires de parfums has a peony fragrance, called verte pivoine (or the other way around). I never tested it though, so K can’t say if it is good! 😉
It was nice but far more pallid than I’d wanted. My favorite peony scent is a cheapie (sadly discontinued): The Healing Garden In Bloom.
A very pretty peony fragrance (with Capital Swirly P) is the Parfums de Nicolai Rose Pivione. It is just lovely and feminine. She uses a light sweet rose that totally compliments the airy fresh sweet peony. It is a lot of fun, and there is that nice 1 oz PdN size too.
I find that very pretty too, it is one of the few scents which still work at high temperatures, it is however somewhat demure, I’d like to find a peony with a twist too
Even though it’s not straight-up peony, Bond No. 9 Westside is a nice rose-peony. My problem is that I have never been able to smell the peony again after the first time I tried it. So maybe this is not the best suggestion, but it might be worth a try. I’m happy to send you a sample if you want.
I’d agree with both the suggestions of Vert Pivoine and the PdN Rose Pivoine!
L’Occitane has a lovely new peony scent – so lovely that I had to buy a small roll on right away. Peonies aren’t my fave, as a rule, but I loved this one, and it’s affordable.
Thank you! That one shouldn’t be too expensive!
Must try that…
Thank you for the offer Miss Kitty V.! I am givemesomescents on MUA if you’d like to contact me there. Hopefully I can send you something too!
I LOVE HdP’s Vert Pivoine. Was my SOTD. In fact, I think it’s time to refresh it!
Hi Dixie
Terra Nova fragrance line has a scent called Peony Bliss, very inexpensive and their scents last a long time. I’d also recommend Ghost Serenity-a very lovely soft peony-based floral, but very hard to find….. A current perfume that is absolutely wonderful is Lanvin’s Eclat d’Arpege. Notes of lemon leaves, green lilac, wisteria blossoms, green tea leaves, peach blossom, red peony, musks and amber
I wanted to share a great perfume related discovery: I have never experienced vintage fragrances (no antique stores here selling perfumes, no attitude for blind buys, all interesting eBay auctions stating “we don’t ship to Germany and Italy”) (what the h*~*?!), so I was very excited when I learnt that the Versailles Osmothèque was bringing a selection of vintage/historic perfume treasures where I live.
The first thing that surprised me was how modern these ~100 year old formulas smelled… and how beautiful! Random thoughts:
– Jicky and Fracas: whoever updated these two loves of mine respected their soul entirely. Fracas especially: it smelled *exactly* like my modern juice.
– emeraude, tabac blond, chypre, gardenia… I would have bought bottles of these on the spot. They all smelled great and utterly modern! Emeraude grabbed my heart, I’ll have to find a way to get my hands on a vintage bottle!!!
-Iris Gris: perfumista of the world, unite!!! This must be brought back to life!!! With a breathtaking % of iris infusion at first it smelled basically of iris, the earthy kind, only slightly metallic and not powdery in the least. I thought it luxurious, but felt disappointed by the fact I couldn’t smell any peach, and felt it could appeal only to iris fiends. But after half an hour, I still couldn’t smell peach, but I could smell its effects: the fruit had lent the velvety, smooth, fresh and warm texture of its skin to the orris… Very simple and simply magic. A perfume as modern and witty as it gets.
Well, I’m too long maybe, but I was so excited about my discoveries, and so frustrated at the thought I couldn’t just buy these marvels right away… 🙁
How did the vintage Tabac Blond compare to today’s formula?
I am not that familiar with the current TB (I tried it only a couple of times) and the vintage I was not allowed to test on skin. However, one thing was very clear even for my untrained nose and brief acquaintance with both the two TB: the modern version has always given me the impression of being harsh and angular, while the vintage felt smooth and “rounded”, yet very leathery and dark, as if it was denser and more complex… and better blended, if this makes sense. But hey, the different concentrations may also have played a role. I didn’t get the “tabac” part in neither formulations…
I hope this helps ;)!
Oh, this sounds so exciting! What a lucky experience. I’d love to smell all of these. And vintage Emeraude is one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever had the pleasure to wear. I think it’s pretty easy to grab on ebay. You need to get an American buyer to grab you one and send it! It’s so worth it.
And I think the modern Fracas has done very well, though the vintage just seems a bit rounder to me. It’s basically unnoticeable.
Yes, I’ll have to learn how to date Emeraude bottles, understand the nuances of the different concentrations… Better start studying!
On Fracas, you are probably right! We tested so many fragrances in a limited amount of time that at the end I think I just made, like, a fastforward travel over 70 years of perfumery… on a carpet of mouillettes, all mouillettes getting a bit mixed up!
Mals can give you advice on the Emeraude. She helped me out. I’ve had some great bottles, and some gone-bad bottles, from ebay, but it’s so cheap to buy that it doesn’t matter. Yeah, find someone to buy off ebay for you. 🙂
What an amazing opportunity to smell all those vintage fragrances! I would love to smell vintage Jicky.
Vintage Jicky smelled very much like the current extrait, but to my surprise I’m pretty sure it had more emphasis on the aromatic opening (I always assumed that major changes between vintage/modern were occurring in the base, rather than on top!). It was very bright and rich. But as I said above, I was not allowed to put a single drop on skin :(( !
Versailles Osmothèque…..swoon! What a great experience, and thank you for sharing your insights.
I would love to have smelled the Iris Gris!
what an adventure! Thanks for sharing….I’d sure like to have the opportunity to wrap my nostrils around some Iris Gris! Lucky girl!
Today I am wearing J’adore CD EdP. I tried Biotherm Eau de Paradis and Lancome Aroma Blue. I was very surprised by the Lancome scent, it would be nice on a hot day. It is not too sweet and to my nose a little aquatic, it remembers me a litte of Cool Water Women from Davidoff. The Biotherm Eau de Paradis is nothing for me, neither are the other Biotherm scents. Must have the wrong skin chemistry. All I could smell were the (red) fruits.
Robin, I hope you are feeling better. Wish you the best for your health.
Much better today, thanks!
Does anyone know of a fragrance that resembles Laura Ashley no. 1? It’s been gone for a while, but I miss it terribly…:(
So sorry, I don’t! Hope someone else will chime in.
Hey Lisa! Read your post, then just happened upon this link. Scroll down and you’ll see a vintage LA No 1 for sale!
http://www.tias.com/12100/InventoryPage/1825757/3.html
I wore L’Artisan Parfumeur L’Eau de L’Artisan – one of my absolute faves. I know that it’s simple – but there’s something about the citrus-green-salty-seaweed that always gets me. It really reminds me of Brittany. Now, I’m burning Diptyque Figuier – I don’t know, I’m disappointed by Diptyque candles – I really love the ones by L’Artisan – they’re brilliant – with a very clean burn. The discontinuation of Intreccio No. 1 will haunt me forever.
And guess what? The last perfume I tested/tried is…yet again…L’Artisan. Haha! Can you believe that my store just got Cote D’Amour? I always read about it – thought I’d fall in love with it…it’s nice, but I wouldn’t splurge on a bottle (Esp. after the store increased prices by about 38% in one go…so sad).
Thank goodness I didn’t risk an unsniffed purchase. L’Ete en Douce thought me that what sounds good on paper doesn’t necessarily translate “good” for one’s preference.
RGM, you’re making me crave that L’Artisan. Gotta dig out my sample. I haven’t quite decided about Cote d’Amour. Hey, perhaps I’ll put them on side by side!
Try it! You’d think it was just some ordinary cologne from a niche house – but the salty-seaweed accord makes it different from all other citrus colognes. Staying power is fleeting, but what citrus isn’t? I’m actually not decided with the Cote D’Amour – another trip to the store perhaps? Haha!
L’Eau de l’Artisan is really a great scent — entirely unique to me — and I haven’t worn it since last summer. I know I liked Cote d’Amour quite a bit, but only have a sample and I can’t really remember it accurately.
Is it still cold from where you are? Where I am – It’s so oppressively hot – usually 95 degrees in humid weather – It’s really suffocating. It’s been like this since Feb and it hasn’t rained, not even once. With this heat, what better time to wear L’Eau de L’Artisan?
Wowza! 95 degrees is definitely L’Eau de L’Artisan weather. I live in coastal California, where it’s both cold and warm and neither cold nor hot all in the same day. Lately about 70 during the day and 45-50 at night, though it has seemed really chilly in the mornings. We only get over 85 degrees a few days per year, so the weather is never sweltering. You have my sympathy…
Wearing Chanel Pour Monsieur today along with a crisp cotton short, smart dark jeans and a good pair of traditional English leather shoes! Somehow the combination seems perfect. Especially as the weather is so warm and sunny in London today. The refreshing neroli and bergamot of Pour Monsieur’s top notes are great for Spring. And now deep into the drydown the slighty spicy warmth and the oakmoss are very comforting with a nice glass of Argentinian red. If only all weekends were like this!
I am in the same place with you today MJCR — after it warmed up this afternoon, I broke out my new bottle of Cristalle edp – it just smells like wonderful sunny spring green! I finally understand it (I like the edp better than the edt), and am completely enjoying that wonderful vetiver and oakmoss in the way only Chanel does it!
Am wearing today: Ormonde Jayne’s Frangipani. A new purchase! I absolutely love it, but it doesn’t last long or have much sillage on my skin. WHich I am so sad about. However, it means I get to keep drenching myself in it, which feels very indulgent and gorgeous!
Have ordered a sample of: Tubereuse Criminelle. Which I am SO excited to try! I ordered a sample a year ago, but TPC had run out of the juice, and it was cancelled. Luckily it is back in stock, and I get to wear it finally……..when it arrives!
Ohhh, I love frangipani too! (I wore it at my own weeding 😉 )
But I wish it had more presence in the heart and dry down, which I find lovely. I would love to know if the pure perfume solves my issue: my sample is almost empty and I will soon have to take a decision (PP or EDP?)…
I think you will be wowed by Tubereuse Criminelle. It’s hard to “love at first sniff”, but the camphor quality of it is so amazing and shockingly brilliant somehow… at least in my opinion.
I fully agree!
The drydown of PdE’s Wazamba layered with PDN’s Vanille Tonka? So gorgeous. Like a chewy, spicy sweet and smoke. Mmmm. Always pleased when a perfume spraying accident doesn’t go too bad.
QUESTIONS: What is this Lauder base everyone speaks of? Like, what are the notes?
And
Has anyone tried any DSH essense oils? Which ones do you prefer?
I have not tried DSH essential oils, but since you bring DSH up (I just got this email PR from DSH) :
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s time to say thanks and give some extra love to all of our moms with some MOTHER’S DAY Selections at http://www.dshperfumes.com ! In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re offering 15% off of our Parfums des Beaux Arts Collection boxes and selected Essense Studio / Garden Bathe Gift Sets. Check out the Specials pages to see other sale items and Fond Farewells. (https://www.dshperfumes.com/sale_page.asp)
Happy Springtime and a lovely Mother’s Day ~
Dawn, Mary, Amber and Edwin
Woah, thanks Anns! I didn’t know that. I was planning a big splurge over there soon, and now I have a good excuse.
Dawn seems really excellent. I emailed her a question the other day, and she got right back to me, was very thoughtful and candid. And then I saw that photo of her sitting on the shoulders of that basenoter during Sniffapalooza and have been a little girl-crushy since then.
I figured it would help someone! I only have two of their fragrances (Rose Fleurette which is going by by, and Giardini Segreti which is just gorgeous.) She is really nice, and has a lovely quality line. There are more of her line i want to test, but have not got to it.
I have a small roll-on of Apricot Vanilla essence oil that I got on sale; it’s exactly what it sounds like and very nice. Of her regular fragrances, I’d love some Cimabue. They all sound so good.
I’ve tried quite a few, but even so, only a small percentage of what’s available. Most of the ones I’ve tried have been florals, with the occasional foray into other scents like Festive (like a Christmas pine forest) and The Silk Road (tea, tobacco, rose, spices), both of which I liked very much. I don’t know how your tastes run, so I’d hesitate to recommend anything in particular, but I haven’t been disappointed in any I’ve tried.
The code POSSE will get you 10% off anytime, since Dawn very kindly offered that discount to readers of Perfume Posse.
Oh, and if I KNEW what comprised that blasted Lauder base, you can be darn sure I’d avoid the stuff. It makes me nauseous.
Do the Lauders bother you, or not? If you’re not smelling something similar when you test several of them, you’re not bothered. I hear that PdN has a common base, too, but I’ve not perceived that myself.
I’m not bothered by a common Lauder base, though I do find certain Lauders uninteresting because they’re so deliberately well-groomed/ well-mannered, just like the Wasp-y images in their advertising.
OTOH– I’ve definitely come to notice a common base or at least a house style in Ormonde Jayne scents, to the point where they all smell too much alike to me. Does this bother anyone else? Disappointing, because at first I so liked their distinct difference from other houses’ scents.
Robin – I’m glad you are feeling better. We had the big terrible head cold in our house two weeks ago, and it was not fun. I hope you are in excellent health very soon. And thanks for opening a poll over the weekend!
First, I want to give props to Tama who swapped with me and gave me a sample of MPG Secrete Datura which is the most lovely and beautiful white flowers fragrance I’ve ever smelled. Everyone should go out and test this, and all brides should consider it for their bridal fragrance.
Second, SOTAM – Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia. SOTPM – Cristalle edp. Wow. I am glad I finally found this amazing citrus-vetiver-oakmoss.
Third, my question…. I bought EL PC Amber Ylang-Ylang edp right when it came out – so about 1.5 years ago. I haven’t worn it in a while and I noticed the other day when I was rearranging my fragrance drapurple-brown. Anyone else have this problem? It smells wer (I keep all my frags in the dark) that the juice has started to turn a shade of purple-brown. It still smells the same, but the color changed. Big gaffe for EL IMHO. It makes me wonder if store stock is changing color too? Has this happened to anyone else?
Wow, secrete datura sounds right up my alley! Will definetly check it out, thanks!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I am!
Ann: I also think Secrete Datura is just lovely, and I’ve been considering a bottle split ever since Tama sent me a sample back in December or so.
Regarding the ELAYY: I have a few spray samples that would be about the same age and I haven’t noticed any discoloration. Strange. How dark is it? Good thing it still smells fine to you.
Well, you know how it is that golden amber color? It is now purple brown, like tea and blueberry juice. Weird.
And Tama is really trying to convert the world with that SD – I was also seriously considering it as a split…. 😉
Sounds like I need to pick up a sample before I miss a split…
lol – sounds like it’s working.
I will never have as many gems in my enabler pin as Daisy, but the ones I get will be very sparkly.
Thanks Ann, I’m better today!
Wearing Costes 2 again today — I’ve just about drained my sample. If only it lasted longer I would seriously consider buying a bottle, but I’m going to control myself for now! Hope everyone’s having a great weekend.
It was really fleeting 🙁
Gosh everyone – sorry for the unintelligble blabber above – I’m having a keyboard problem with my laptop. Yes, I meant to say – The PC Amber YY Is turning purple brown – is this happening to anyone else?
My laptop keyboard hiccups all the dang time.
I know there are lots of roses in the perfume lexicon, but I’m looking for a really deep, dark rose that stars in the composition (I’m not crazy about green roses a la Estee Lauder, for example) – I’m wearing Montale’s Roses Musk today, which I adore – are there any others in this genre that are recommended by rose lovers?
I have Nahema, which is also a variation on what I love…
The Juliet Has a Gun line is great for rose, but I’m guessing you have already tried it. Parfums de Rosine also has a lot of different roses, although I will confess I’ve never tried any of them. (Did you hear that, Aedes? If you’d send me my samples, this wouldn’t have happened.)
Haven’t tried the Montale yet, so I’m not sure of the comparison, but I really love Andy Tauer’s Une Rose Chypree and Incense Rose. They are well worth trying if you haven’t already. I just tested Czech & Speake Dark Rose this weekend but wasn’t that impressed. I love By Killian Oudh Rose (I hope they do travel sizes of the oudhs!), but that’s because it is sort of dry and light compared to other variation on that theme. Please let us know if you find the perfect dark rose!
I actually think the C&S regular Rose is darker than the Dark Rose. Weird.
I love the deep, full-bodied rose in Aqaba (the original scent). It’s very dark and winy, supported by rich oakmoss and spices.
I also love Nahema.
I’m thinking that the kind of deep, dark rose you’re looking for would probably not be woody a la Montale Ouds… but if you’re not opposed to them, i think Black Aoud is fantastic, and also Czech & Speake Dark Rose.
For something more floral and feminine, a must to sample is Frederic Malle Une Rose. It’s rich beyond belief.
Me luvs roses! Deep dark roses….like soliflores ? or just Rose as a featured note? For “hey, this here is a ROSE” I’d go for Montale Highness Rose, Frederic Malle Une Rose, DSH Arabian Rose (the oil is amazing!) , DSH Tea Rose,— then we move into rose as a feature note but not the only note— JHaG Citizen Queen, Czech & Speake Dark Rose, Lyric man, Rosine Rose d’Homme, JHaG Midnight Oud is quite rosy, Lyric woman, and even Jean Patou Joy Edt is a lot of rose on me. And of course I’m leaving a zillion roses out…these are just some of my favorites 🙂
OMG ! how could I forget by Kilian Rose Oud –amazing rose leather yumminess!
and Une Rose Chypree ! Also fabulous!
Wow, rose lovers unite!
Thanks for all the suggestions, there are a LOT of good ones there that I’ve not tried – sample time!
I like the Sonoma Scent Studio Vintage Rose for a bit of a deeper scent (some here prefer the Velvet Rose, which I find too… rose-y).
Also recommend the Tauers.
One of my favorite roses is LeLabo Rose 31, which is kind of peppery, like some real roses can be.
Just wore Malle’s Une Rose last night–I hasn’t been in the roation for a while, and boy is it fantasic. Very sexy, deep and lush….I love the Tauer’s, but this one is just flat out gorgeous.
Isn’t it amazing? And it lasts and lasts, for weeks on clothing, I think!
Tama – I totally agree with you about LL Rose 31 😉 . SSS Rose Musc is a gorgeous rich full rose with a to die for labdanum base. It is my fav “dark” rose – well, it shares good company with L’Arte di Gucci, Rose Barbare and Lyric Woman. And it is a good price too! The Vintage Rose is also very beautiful.
I second the LL Rose 31-lovely peppery rose, finishing up a large decant and thinking of a f.b. purchase.. It lasts a very long time on skin too!
In the spirit of spring cleaning, I’ve decided to part with some of my fragrance possessions- things that are overstocked in my cupboard, or that I don’t like as much as I once did- not a big inventory, but maybe someone’s favorite is among them. Anyone who’s interested can send me a pm on MUA (same username as here).
Robin, if this notice violates any rules of your site re selling or advertising, please let me know and delete it.
I’m cleaning out my stash, too. Trying to decide what to dump, sell, or give away. My bottle of Poussière de Rose is getting dumped. I think it was a bad old bottle to begin with. 🙁
H- I am in the process of inventory and cleaning out as well. It is good to do it and get to some essentials! I am trying to thinkn of the best way to offload the good rejects…..
And can I say, thank goodness that I was patient enough to test Poussiere – from all the reviews I read and the notes list (esp. that opoponax that I love), I thought PdR would be a great choice. When I smelled it, I thought it was like smarties, talcum powder and weird violets. Very disappointing. Maybe the source had turned?
Ann, I’m not sure. I did sample it first and just loved it, but I bought it from a discount house (don’t remember which one). I was disappointed from the first day. The bottle just wasn’t right! I should have returned it, but waited too long, second-guessing myself. I still have my bottle of Ecume de Rose and it’s in great shape!
Yes, doesn’t the spring fragrance cleaning feel good?!
For now, no linking to your own ebay sales, otherwise, it’s fine.
I’m wearing CdG Ouzarzate. It’s too much like Etro Messe de Minuit (which I already own) for me to think of buying it, but it’s softer than the Etro and easier to wear, to be honest.
It’s so interesting how noses and skins differ. I find Ouarzazate rather sour (shame, I wanted to love it just for the name), but love MdM.
Of course, scents often smell different the second or third time around, too – I probably shouldn’t be so categorical! 🙂
I love MdM in the winter but find it very definite and persistent, with almost an edge to it.
Boojum, does Paestum Rose work on you? I liked it the first couple of times I sampled it, but more recently it seemed a bit sour, or maybe acidic would be more precise.
Agree it’s quite persistent, and not one I could wear often, but I do love it. Haven’t tried the Paestum Rose, for some reason, though I love Bd’O and Sl’H from that line.
SOTD is Shaal Nur body lotion which I’m thrilled to find is very faithful to the fragrance. What’s even better, despite being called body milk, it is a substantial, non-drippy cream that goes on great. Whew!
Here’s my question: What percentage of the time would you say you love a scent start-to-finish? Spritz to completely worn off? I’m amazed how many scents that are my favorites require a bit of patience getting through the top notes. Just curious to see how often others experience this.
I experience something similar: the fragrances with which I have a visceral relationship (I mean those that make me crave for them, read all available reviews, and make me dream and feel gorgeous) ALL have difficult bits. Usually in the opening.I’m talking Beyond love and Carnal flower, for example.
Then there are the “I like from the beginning to the end” perfumes: like 31RC, PMDCI EAS, fracas, Tiaré by OJ, etc… But these all pretty ones do not hold me in their power like the former do. I consider them polite beauties, as opposed to the wild wondrous witches. I secretly judge them a bit boring…
If Frederic Malle’s candle Un Gardénia la Nuit ever becomes a perfume, I’m sure the two bits above would reconcile in a pure pleasure-pure marvel thingie.. 😉
Based on the size of my own collection, I’d say between 5 – 10 % of the time. There are so few fragrances that are just fantastic from top to bottom – Chamade, Mitsouko, Shalimar, No 5 & No 5 eau premier, Coco, Timbuktu, Magie Noir, … I am sure there are some more, but those come immediately to mind.
Good question, and Zazie has made the point beautifully.
Also, I like vetiver and often get a pickle note at the opening of some of my favorite scents. Thankfully, that usually goes away pretty quickly. On the other hand, I love PG Coze but would love it even more madly if it smelled like the top notes all the way through.
This IS an interesting question. My beloved Goutal Vetiver smells like bandaids to me at first, and that has to die down some before I really enjoy it. I can’t think of any other examples right now.
SOTD is, so far, Demter Sugar Cane, which I bought to layer with Havana Vanille–which is a very nice combination. The Sugar Cane is over-the-top sweet, but that aspect lasts about two minutes. Then I’m left with a mildly green-edged sweet skin scent. Not that HV needs any help, but the layering adds some Spring-y charm.
Your layering works conceptually, too — the sugar cane makes it extra-Cuban!
Testing L’Arte di Gucci – wow! What a gorgeous rose fragrance and I’m not especially a rose lover. Highly recommend.
I need to open my recently acquired sample of that. I’m wondering if we’ve been supplied by the same “enabler” … mmm hmm. LOL
Hey, I will not divulge *my* source, but always happy to carry on the chain of enabling. And thank god for her, b/c I am set up for life with the gorgeous rose! 😉
(I do find that the Guerlain Rose Barbare is a close beauty to L’arte though for all those who are thinking of dropping a mint on what you can find on ebay….)
Haha, I bet I know your source…she sent me a sample some time ago, and I haven’t given it proper attention. Won’t be able to for awhile, as the monster head cold has now hit my house (or me, I should say, as I hope the rest of the household escapes it).
For probably the first and only time, you all would be wrong as to my “dealer” on this one! LOL! It was Laurie at SSS.
Thanks Ann for the Rose Barbare rec., although I’m not sure I need this – as beautiful as it is, I just don’t wear rose scents when it’s the primary note.
Boo – I’m making up a package for you and was thinking you’d like this, but since you already have it, I won’t include it. But do try it!
Thankfully, I was only guessing Ann’s. 😀
Yes, my initial source was the gracious Laurie Erickson too. Just a dab, but it put me over the edge! My big fabulous source for a lifetime supply swap is Mals. What a gal – best use ever for an unwanted bottle I had that she loves. I am eternally grateful to the both of them!!!
So I was only half right even then…Mals was my guess, as she sourced my sample too. 😀
But I had it in an email from the Empress of Enabling that she first sent it to Mals! So in the end, I think everyone is right!
Close Rapple—Mals found it first…then I tried it….bought some but decided maybe it wasn’t me….so Mals bought my bottle….then later I decided it really was good (always keep a sample!) so then I went out and bought a replacement bottle….and then began enabling others. So apparently we just pass our lemmings back and forth around here 🙂
it’s kind of like a really big, convoluted family tree….
I – too need to thank Mals for the introduction to L’Arte. Truly a beautiful perfume.
🙂 PM me, I gotsa stash.
I’m wearing Chanel N5 parfum today for the first time in my life. It’s absolutely breathtaking and universally beautiful. Georgeous. It really is an ultimate classic accesory becoming to every season, time of day, mood, occasion, clothes, color of hair – you name it! My heart is broken beacause I think I will never be able to wear something that popular and cliche. What if someone asks: – What is that perfume you are wearing.
And I’ll die of embarassement when saying:
– It’s number five…
Oh no, no, no.
Maybe I will be able to love Vol de Nuit that much to make it my ultimate classic accesory. They arn’t similar but the drydown has the same spicy warm vanilla-sandalwood feeling I love so much.
Isn’t it a shame? I never even tried No5 until a couple of years ago, because it sounded like such a cliche. When, with the goal of investigating “the classics”, I did at last try it, my reaction was WOW. Yes, it really is wonderful– that’s why it’s a classic.
I also always avoided it and looked with pity at hundreds of women who asked their loved ones to buy them a bottle of N5 in a duty-free 🙂 And here I am….wanting to buy every single existing bottle of N5 perfume.
Ernest Beaux had a hell of a taste. He was to perfumery like maybe Dostoevsky to literature. His creations are too good to be true.
I did’nt avoid no.5, I just could’nt get myself to wear it…I wanted to love it,,but the aldehydes were not me. Until a day ago, I wore no.5 and I could not get over what..I was missing..all along, it really is a masterpiece. I’m wearing it again today, the soap, the body oil and small tiny dabs of the pure parfum, and I can undersand it…finally.
Now, someone else will probably come and hit me, but if you don’t want to say “n 5” but still smell pretty much like n. 5, I woul try out Chanel Bois des Iles. Or Cuir de Russie. And n.22 should also have the same feeling, but this I hadn’t tried yet. To me BDI especially is a very close sibling of n.5… And what about the nice eau première?
Also, Myrrh perfumes can have a similar vibe: I can vouch for the Prada exclusive extrait, and reportedly SL la Myrrhe is quite fivesque..;)
In any case, I personally root for Vol de Nuit, the pure perfume is stunning. And is hosted in a bottle to match!!
Thank you for you suggestions!
Is current edt version of BdI true to its vintage self? 🙂 I tried it once but back then I thought it was a little too sweet to be perfection.
sorry, I don’t know! But I’ve read that the current edt is much lighter than the vintage perfume… I tried the current edt, which to me featured the big aldehydes of n.5 with a woudier base…
Ooops: woodier
I used to feel the same way about No 5 – it is so iconic that I alwasy felt embarassed like it was wearing me. I have long since got over that, esp. when I feel proud to be wearing some vintage (bargains galore on ebay!), which is just so beautiful and classy. Initially I though, what if someone asks? I thought I’d just say “Chanel” which seemed like enough. Now I would be proud to say No 5, or *vintage* No 5, etc. But then again, since I’ve comed to grips with this phobia, no one has ever asked. And I don’t know anyone in my greater circles who wears No 5 so there is no competition, etc. No 5 kind of makes you want to hold you head high!
Thank you for your kind words. Now I’m finally thinking crearly. I have a perfect conspiracy plan:
I’ll layer No 5 parfum with edt of BdI or No 22.
If asked I’ll tell the name of the edt thus avoiding complicated lies and embarrassement and not revealing my ultimate secret weapon 🙂
I personally love Vol de Nuit waaaay more than #5 – no contest. And the older the better. The vintage extrait of VdN is glorious.
ahhh, second on the vintage Vol de Nuit…..that is some heartbreakingly beautiful stuff….now I’m upset because I’ve been ignoring VdN while throwing myself shamelessly on my vintage Chamade and Parure…..
So did you learn to love Parure? I need to get out my uber expensive decant and give it another try then!
funny thing about Parure—I finally figured out to not smoosh my nose right onto my skin for sniffage….this one needs a little room and then it’s lovely. The best is when you’ve spritzed yourself down on day#1 and then slip on a sweater….day#2 is a little chilly as well so you grab that sweater and ….ahhhhh it smells so good! I have a fuzzy blue robe that is often flopped over the back of my computer chair (this is the coldest room in the house! I keep my perfumes here too) That robe has got to be the best smelling piece of fuzzy cloth in the entire WORLD!
Thanks, Daisy! I’ll try that method.
Love Parure-wish Guerlain still made it….. sigh.
I got into No 5 early in my perfume life, thinking that if this is The Classic, I wanted to try it, and own it, early on. I bought it in several forms although not, I admit, the extrait. I am especially fond of the body creme. This is outstanding, and true to the fragrance (the edp version I think). Much better than other high end scented body creams I have bought. But then I think Chanel, not surprisingly, puts more money into its bath and body products than other companies. Coco body creme is also wonderful.
I eventually splurged on the body cream to. It is lovely to wear and very intense as you note. I also find that it smells very similar to the Eau Premier and layers well with that one too to give EP some gravity. I am kind of lemming the dry body oil now.
Ooh yes, body oil would be great. Reminds me of one of Luca Turin’s comments, that the forms and concentrations of No 5 put him in mind of those wonderful object syou buy in ship chandlers – the same object but in a fascinating range of sizes. Not literally true for No 5, bit still a fun thought.
I see no reason to even think of being embarrassed about admitting to wearing Nº 5.
Yes, it is classic and consequently perhaps a bit of a cliche, but if someone is smitten enough with your fragrance to ask what you are wearing, you should be proud to tell them what it is.
The parfum concentration is really stunning and deserves every bit of awe and love; I really enjoy smelling a drop from time to time.
ITA, Joe! There is absolutely NO SHAME in wearing No. 5. There’s a reason it’s a classic and it’s not because everyone and their sister, daughter, & mother wear it. I think that’s a cliché. IME, lots of women are afraid to wear No. 5 because it’s not en vogue to wear something with so much history. Better to wear the latest greatest flirty thing to come around the bend.
But while we are on the topic of No. 5 – I’ve been curious about the various concentrations and vintages. Can anyone explain the difference between formulations and their dates? For example, when did they make the EDC vs. EDP? And the EDT, how long has that been around? Sometimes I see “vintage EDC” being sold, but I have absolutely no frame of reference for that version. If anyone really knows their No. 5 vintages, would you mind chiming in? Any of the Experts out there? THANKS! 🙂
Hi M – interesting questions about No 5 that I have often though about myself. There is some very useful info about bottles online that is helpful with estimating date, but it is very hard to find specific info about the formula changes as they did try hard to keep the smell the same from batch to batch. You can find if you look about information about basic industry wide ingredient changes like nitro musks, jasmine, sandalwood, etc, Wikipedia has a rather extensive entry on No 5 that may be interesting to you.
All I can say is that I’ve picked up 4 different vintage parfums from ebay – plus I have some from the mid 2000s. They each essentially smell the same, but they also have very interesting differences. One of the vintage I have has to be from the 40s or 50s – and it still has what I can only assume to be real sandalwood *and* gorgeous nitro musks which make it smell amazing! It is tremendous – warm, rich, sensual, completely amazing. I treasure that one. The other bottles I have are probably from the 70s and 80s. What I notice about them is that they have a profoundly well blended floral accords and beautiful sandalwood drydown – very smooth, very even in development. The late 90s or early 00s bottle I have has an amazing rose that is not present in the other ones – this fresh wonderful sunny rose just jumps right out. It is very beautiful. It is my personal favorite of all of them, and I wish I had more from that particular batch. The current no 5 parfum has a more prominent jasmine and ylang ylang accord – which makes sense, and then the dry down is still good, but not as sumptuous as the older versions that still have natural sandalwood. You can smell the more synthetic ingredients compared to the older versions, but it is still very good stuff. The older versions mellow better on the skin and last forever! I have not spent any time exploring the vintage edc or edt but they are widely available on ebay for good prices. I’ve been tempted by a good deal on the edc once or twice, but have not gone there yet.
I too have three different “vintage” parfum bottles, and they’re all different. My favorite is the 50’s one, which has prominent florals and the most gorgeous sandalwood-musk drydown.
Wow – thanks for your extensive input, Ann!! This was very helpful. I will definitely check out the wikipedia article too. You are sooooo lucky to have all those wonderful versions of the great No. 5 (totally jealous over here…) 😉
My mother wore No. 5, and I avoided it for years for that reason. But then I picked up a vintage bottle of parfum, and it is just stunningly gorgeous.
And you’re right, perfect in all kinds of situations and weathers. That’s genius.
SOTD is By Kilian Rose Oud, which arrived today. (Thank you, Daisy!! That was almost like instant gratification–it’s been a long time since I paid for something and got it on the same day.) 🙂 Sooooooooo beautiful! I was a little iffy about it because I have bad luck with rose, but this is as close to perfect as I could get with a rose scent.
Also, in other perfume news: found a bottle of Clinique Aromatics Elixir at Goodwill, along with the aforementioned (up above somewhere) mystery perfume. There was a guy working there who sniffed the Clinique while I was in line, and turned up his nose. I expected better from a man wearing a leopard print belt with a pink superman (supergirl?) belt buckle, but I guess it’s not for everyone.
Lucky you on the AE. It is true that some people absolutely HATE it. One of the rudest reviews I have ever read is on MUA for Aromatics Elixir, and it’s from a man. A adore it.
He might have been more of a Poison kind of guy… 😉
Cograts, on the Clinique Aromatics Elixir…My dad wore a spray of this once in a while he thought it was for a man.
Fun! I have a small bottle of AE. Every now and then I pull it out to remember what it’s like. I can see where some people wouldn’t like it, but so be it. What is that Rose Oud like? I already have Montale’s Black Aoud, which seems to me like it would be similar?
Miss Kitty: I’d love to get a bottle of Aromatics Elixir, and if I found it at a thrift store, so much the better. I first smelled it in December — the young Clinique SA at Macy’s (back in NJ) warned me “it’s stinky… but guys like it.” She and her colleague giggled a little bit. I did very much like it, however. I should walk through a Macy’s soon and try it again.
Veddy nice Mz. Kitty!
I love AE! Pink belt buckle? Hmmm….
I LOVE Aromatics Elixir. I do wait 30 minutes from the time I need to be somewhere to my application. However, it is the ONLY time I’ve been complimented on my “scent” by a complete random person who didn’t know about my love of perfume. 😀
Just got in from Saturday running around stuff and an early date night dinner [more like date afternoon]. I’m so happy there’s an open thread cause I get to tell you all that I’m finally sampling SL Santal Blanc and what a beauty! I don’t get the pencil thing that has been mentioned, I just get the sweetness, spices and my true love, sandalwood. 😉
Yay, another of my favorites! (and I love the pencil thing)
Robin, I was hoping to ‘get’ the pencil note – that seemed so cool. But even though I don’t detect that particular aspect, I’m in love with this fragrance. SO glad you’re feeling better!
Thanks!
Hey, I like pencils myself.
Ooooh! Thought you’d like this one, V…happy you love it!
I am wearing OJ Tiare today and whilst I love it, I find I am re-applying it quite often which is unusual for me. Anyone else find this a bit evanescent?!
Hi FS! Tiare seemed to last well on me. I didn’t like it, however.
SOTD is Cartier XIIIeme Heure — I’m feeling flush (for once!) and trying to decide if it’s worth a huge splurge.
Here’s a tangentially fragrance-related question: Can anyone recommend something to put in the bath that’s not hugely foamy (e.g. mineral salts, bath oil, etc.), not enormously expensive (preferably under $25, unless it lasts forever), and smells good? I used to love Kneipp bath elixirs, but I can’t find them anywhere anymore.
Lush bath bombs?
That’s what I was gonna say, too.
Good idea — I just have to remember NOT to buy the ones with sparkles, petals, and all the other crap that gunks up the bathtub!
Borghese Bagno di Via body soak. This has been a favorite of mine for years – getting harder to find, but it pops up if you Google. It’s a mineral blend, very aromatheraputic and comes with a cute little scoop. I like everything in this line – if you get in the mood for some foam, there’s also a bath & shower gel and a lotion too.
My grandma gave me a makeup kit once, and it came with a sample of their lotion and that pine green Fango mud. LOVED that stuff.
Boo – Borghese used to put out the best make-up kits – I used to get one every year around the holidays. Oh yes – and their Fango mud!! I always have one of those huge jars on hand.
I used to use fango too! IMHO the Borghese fango and the Mario Badescu Cucumber Tonic mask are the best masks ever!!
Fango mud cleared my pores like nothing else I’ve ever tried, and nothing cools the skin more. I haven’t used it in a long time, but maybe it’s time I give it another try. I haven’t had as much issues with clogged pores since I had my son 3 yrs ago – it’s as if my skin finally “calmed down” after the great hormone shift.
I keep wanting to buy some, then talking myself out of it in favor of other things. Maybe I should just grab some next time I see it. It really did feel fantastic.
Borgese still has a website, and they still have the Fango mud (I used it too, wonderful mud). The large mud is 71.00 u.s.
I used to love Borghese! Remember that mud. Should take a look on the web and see what’s still around…thanks for the reminder, V!
That sounds great — thank you! I rarely see Borghese products these days; I wonder if the line was discontinued or just severely downsized.
Lily, I think they were just downsized, which is a bummer. They used to have a perfume that smelled very much like Norell. I miss their makeup kits!! Please try the Bagno di Vita stuff and report back. 😉
Well, whaddaya know – http://www.borghese.com
Lilydale – did the Xiii last on you?? I really, really liked it…. for the entire hour that it lasted!
Oh, what a shame! Although not so bad if it saves you the 285 smackeroos. I get a few hours out of it, and I can still smell *something* for a while after that. It’s one of those scents that seems different every time I try it, though; sometimes I barely get the lovely lapsang souchong at all, and that’s my favorite part.
I had no idea that it was so spendy! Now I’m not so sorry that it didn’t last on me!
The ebubbles Web site carries Kneipp products and tons of other bath options. I also saw Kneipp in an Ulta store once. That’s been a while ago, but it might be worth checking if you have one near you.
Its ANZAC Day here in Australia, when we commemorate those served and died in all the various wars.
My father was a soldier in the Second World War, injured. In the First WW my grandfather was gassed in the trenches in France and only just survived, my Godmother’s youngest brother died on the beach at Gallipoli and another brother died only six weeks before Armistice in France.
I cannot hear the Last Post without totally going the blub. It is gratifying that ANZAC Day parades and dawn services, instead of dwindling as the old Diggers die and fade away, get bigger each year.
Yesterday I discovered Djedi. An overwhelmingly beautiful perfume for eternity, that I can well believe was created by a genius in remembrance of the fallen, as I think I read somewhere. I’ll be wearing that and a sprig of rosemary.
I’m ‘penciling’ for the judges at a dressage competition that’s on today. Since you sit in a car with the judge while she calls out the marks for each movement of rider and horse, she’d better like perfume!!! And Djedi…
Since trying this amazing ‘fume I am now on an obsessive quest to get a bottle. Yeah, good luck you say!
It is- have you been watching The Pacific series? I didnt expect to enjoy it but find its quite good.
Thanks for this fascinating post, Winifrieda, and good luck with your quest!
I’m so glad the MPG line has returned, as I just immediately purchased a bottle of Route du Vetiver. This was the very first vetiver fragrance I tried back in my perfume infancy- what a place to start! I was kind of turned off to what I felt was a bug-spray smell, but in hindsight, how foolish I was! Now that I’m a hardcore vetiver guy, I simply adore this stuff. I’m so glad to have a bottle in my collection. Next to get is Vetiver Extraodrinaire and my collection will be complete!
Oh, lucky you! That’s a great scent. Admit I wear the FM more though.
Anyone tried the new Etat Libre/Tilda Swinton perfume?
I’m wearing it right now – it’s interesting, I like it quite a bit, and I think that I might need an FB of it, but it seems odd for a Spring launch. The pumpkin and ginger definitely give it a gourmand edge and it smells more appropriate for autumn to me. It was reviewed on Perfume Posse the other day, too.
OOOO—jealous jealous jealous!!! I can hardly wait for that split to come to fruition! Not only is Tilda Swinton excessively cool but PUMPKIN and GINGER??? this is so meant for me! don’t rush out and buy an FB until I get to try it…..
unless you’re already planning to split with me of course **wink**
Would I *ever* buy something and not split it with you?
whew….addicts leading addicts….it’s a beautiful thing! 🙂
Thanks CynthiaW & Daisy– your enthusiasm has helped me make up my mind! The description of “Like This” intrigued me, but the seasonality of it was holding me back from seeking it out right away. But seasons be damned, I’m all for it. (Thanks 4 enabling! :D)
Oh goodness, don’t encourage them! 😀
awww, you never want us to have any fun! (whining) 😉
It’s crazy that it’s not supposed to be available here until June. I mean, there’s plenty to sniff until then, but it’s just a tease to keep reading about something that’s so unavailable. Did you get the sample from TPC, Cynthia? I’ve been intending to still host that split, but shipping direct from ELdO is outrageous; they need to adopt a shipping rate that’s more in line with Colette.
Just found out there’s a reasonable UK source, so the split’s back on. w00t!!! 😀
Way into autumn here but still we are having warm weather-i am not complaining-i hate winter. I received a bottle of Armani Prive Eclat De Jasmin last Thursday- so cheap on net- and have worn it daily since. Im sure the novelty will wear off soon but im making the most of it now.
I hate winter too! We’re having a cold rainy spring day here, unfortunately.
I’m not wearing anything today, but yesterday I took my MAC Naked Honey out,. It seemed appropriate for spring. I just love it and I’m trying not to use it all, because once it’s gone, it’s gone. Sniff. 🙁 Stupid LE.
I am waiting on my tax refund and one(or two, lol) thing that I want to buy with it is a new fragrance. I’ve been wanting Black March forever, but I’m not sure about the whole water based fragrance thing. I don’t really want something that is going to fade quickly.
Actually what I want is the bottle of Clinique Happy to Be, that’s been in the fragrance case of my local Kroger’s for like ever, it calls out to me everytime I pass the case, but I never buy it. And now I’m not sure if I should because it’s been sitting in there for so long, I’m not sure it would be good anymore, although it’s been in the box the whole time. Happy to Be was everyday fragrance until it was dq’d two years ago. So I don’t know what to do.
Love the water based CB I Hate Perfume formulations. You get the scent as intended immediately (no waiting for alcohol to burn off) and I honestly don’t notice much difference in longevity.
Ooh… I love Naked Honey for the spring. I know what you mean about wanting to horde it though – it’s such a small bottle and every time you spritz some, you’re that much closer to not having any more forever.
I say go for it on the Happy to Be – if it has turned, you can always take it back.
Thanks, Cynthia, I think I will definitely do that. That was not something that had occured to me. When it discontinued I called the Gone but not Forgotten Line, but by the time they called me back to tell me they had found some bottles I was at the point where I couldn’t afford to spend the extra money. Then I noticed that they had a bottle in the perfume case at Kroger’s but it’s like every time I go shopping, I talk myself out of it because I really can’t afford to set down an extra $50 and you know I don’t need it so I never get it. But I am definitely going to pick it up. I think it’s just waiting for me, because who the heck else is going to buy it? I think I was the only soul in the world who just loved that stuff, even though I really hate Happy.
And yes my heartaches everytime I spray my Naked Honey, because it’s just one more spray closer to extinction. Oh I suppose I could go try to track down a bottle online, but eventually it will be gone forever. I’m not sure I can bear it.
did you check ebay? There’s loads of Happy to be for sale there… and fragrancenet has it too—don’t forget to use BASENOTES in the coupon box for 15% off.
Just got home from work, SOTD: Green Tea (official summer scent =p) Can still smell traces of it albeit already overpowered by Tide (laundry day egad!)
Robin – glad to hear that you are now feeling better!
Btw, how long does it normally take for orders from luckyscent to arrive? I think I ordered the samples 2weeks ago. =(
That seems slow for Luckyscent, I’d send an email to check.
Today I’m wearing a vintage Chanel No. 19 decant and I smell fantastic! I really gave myself a generous spritzing partially in celebration of the fact that I won an auction for a full bottle of this today AND partially in mourning for my fancy cellphone which died (forcing to buy new one today…very expensive…grrr) after I was caught in a rainstorm earlier this week. The phone was beyond repair, even after it dried out.
While picking up my new phone at the mall today I tried a few new fragrances that I thought I should report on.
L’Occitance Peony: Beautiful, almost realistic peony blast right at the beginning that quickly subsides into a vaguely citrusy, non-descript fruity-floral. It’s great in the first few seconds and then totally boring afterwards. Sort of reminds me of an old Gap fragrance called So-Pink.
Varvatos Artisan Black: It was just ok. Definitely think Artisan original is 100 times better.
Prada Infusion Vetiver: Well I tried this on skin, against all the recommendations, and it was an immediate scrubber. Absolutely BLECH! Sort of smelled like a rank refrigerator drawer of rotting citrus and vegetables.
Let’s see, what else. I tried the new Lemon products from the Body Shop and I think they are OK but I don’t have any desire to use them at all. And finally, major ICK to all the summer Slatkin candles at B&BW. Wow, could they get any more sticky sweet?!
Love Vintage Chanel 19!
Oh, me too!
Great (and funny) mini-reviews, MJR. Your mall sounds about like ours as far as perfume selection – no niche. 🙁
Niche? In my mall? Heck NO! The Nordies does not even carry half the stuff *normal* stores do!
My Nordies seems to have shifted a bit downscale since the last time I went, although I hope they’ve just *expanded* their offerings. Previously, a lot of frags would be both in the frag section and at the particular brand’s makeup counter, so maybe they decided one spot was enough, and opened up room in the frag department for more (worse) stuff. They did add the Jo Malone line recently too, though.
I love No19 too. Hope we don’t compete with each other on future auction buys (I wasn’t bidding recently).
Doused in Paestum Rose today. Finally.
Mmmmmmmm!
SOTD- Caron Narcisse Noir parfum- mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm…
Oh yes! 🙂
Narcisse Noir is on my to buy list – I just sampled it in the spring and I found it to be so wonderful – dark, warm, feminine, sensual. Great stuff.
Just DO IT! Fragrance X has a very good price that I found irresistible when coupled with the coupon code- FX1234…
For my SotE, I broke out my little sample of that famous pineapple chypre, Jean Patou Colony. I’m having fun with it. After the slightly fruit (yes, I smelled the pineapple!), it’s essentially a leather chypre. It’s lovely.
I meant, “the slightly fruity beginning….”
I need to try this pineapple chypre…
I LOVE Colony! Amazing pineapple chypre…..
I’ve never even heard of Colony! A pineapple note?! That’s something you don’t come across every day. I’ll have to see if TPC has it and add it to the list.
This thread is frustrating. It’s making me try a bunch of samples I have…but I can’t smell anything through this hideous cold. Will have to revisit it next weekend (hopefully)!
Making me *want to* try, that should have been…seriously addled by this cold.
Rustic—don’t buy a sample! I have a bottle and will send you some…it is good stuff…see? it’s good to have an open bubble mailer sitting here near my desk where I can easily pop another goody in! 😉
Daisy, I just saw your email & responded. You’re one cool, generous chick!! 😉
I’m an enabler…it’s what I’m all about **snicker**
Saint Daisy, patron saint of all suffering perfumistas. Loaves and fishes are swaps and splits!
Ooo Daisy would you send me a sample of Colony as well? I’ve been wanting to try it for a while. I love tropical florals with a passion. Please email me at: and_on_her_dulcimer_she_played@yahoo.com
I have emailed you. 🙂
Isn’t that a great one?!? I love Colony, and ITA – while I can smell the pineapple, it’s not at all the “sweet canned pineapple” that I feared it would be. It’s a very dry chypre, great for summer!
It sounds awesome and thanks to our Daisy, I’ll get to try it soon!!
Let us know what you think!
Will do Rapple.
So Rapple, I tried the Colony thanks to our dear friend and you know what?? You were right! I like AF better! Good thing I hopped on the bottle that mysteriously appeared on Evil Bay the day after I was waxing poetic about it. So yes, we definitely have some EST! The only thing is that I have a small, sneaking feeling that it may be that my nose is not yet educated enough for Colony. So I’m going to give several more tries before giving up on it. For now, I admire it, i’m just not sure I could actually wear it comfortably.
In non-EST news, I think Bd’A is very very nice. A bit heavy for this time of year, but next Fall and Winter, I’ll be looking to get a decant or split. Thanks for the recommendations! : )
While it could be your nose, I personally put a lot of stock in the idea of “you like what you like”. My skin seems to sweeten fragrance and even oak moss is fairly sweet-ish in an earthy, natural way on me so I really like chypres. That ingredient just may not work as well with your skin chemistry.
Glad you liked the B d’A! Decants aren’t hard to find and come Fall, I’m sure someone in the Scent Splits group will be doing another split.
M: You know, I like Ananas Fizz better too (though the drydown of that one is a little dodgy for me too). Colony is just too much of a dry dry DRY leather chypre… yet I love me some chypres and some leathers. You just never know.
I enjoyed sampling Colony, but I’m not putting it on my FB wish list. It IS a rather sophisticated one; not a great fit for my personality. Going to set aside the sample and try it again in the fall.
I also had a bunch of strange dreams last night and I wonder if it was my SotE. Does that ever happen to any of you?
SOTD is SSS Vintage Rose- I am new to rose perfumes but this one is lovely. Happy to hear any recommendations for other rose fragrances. Have also indulged recently in PdE Ambre Russe- love it, with winter approaching here I am looking forward to wearing it a lot…
I know it’s unoriginal, but I like Stella. But that’s the only rose fragrance I’ve ever owned LOL.
Its funny to say now I have only about 100 bottles, but Stella was one of the first i bought as the first stirrings of born-again perfumehead began about three years ago for me. I spent hours in the perfume section of a Sydney Dept store, whiffing strip after strip of fruity-pink stuff that had put me off for decades (and I stuck firmly with Mitsouko), Its non pinky thing appealed. On that trip I also bought – gasp – Michael Kors, not realising at the time ‘that intoxicating maddening smell’ was tuberose; what a monster THAT let out of the box! And Alien – now I know its the white whallop of jasmine that got me there!
Vintage Rose is great! And so are the other SSS roses – Rose Musc, Velvet Rose and Cameo. I also have a bottle of Stella and the Stella Rose Absolute. Daisy lists a number of excellent rose rec’s waay above here……
My extra rec’s since you like Stella are ones in the same style: Bond Bryant Park, L’Artisan Perfumes Voleur de Roses, Juliette has a Gun Miss Charming and Lady Vengeance… Other personal favs of mine are Cartier So Pretty, Guerlain Nahema and Rose Barbare, Rosine Une ZEste de Rose, Lancome Mille et Une Roses, Tocade, Annick Goutal Ce Soir ou Jamais, Heure Exquise and Rose Absolue… I could go on. There are many Montales with aouds, and Creed Fleur de The Rose Bulgaire… even Perfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose… lots and lots of roses to try!!
Also see thread about rose fragrances. There really are so many, and so many different facets to explore depending on whether you think you like dark, bright, woody, chypre, citrusy, boozy, etc. It’s also possible that The Perfumed Court has “rose sampler” options. Check these out: http://theperfumedcourt.com/search.aspx?keyword=rose+sampler
*sobbing here in the corner because I can’t smell anything*
awwww… pat pat… there there…
Poor Boo – but think how happy your nose will be when it’s over!
I hope you feel better soon!
But Boo, now’s the perfect time to test those heavy Guerlain classics! LOL! 😉
Just kidding and I really do hope you get over your cold very quickly.
No, it would be disastrous…this cold is putting my stomach off as it is. Guerlain would push me straight over the edge (of the toilet bowl). 😀 Thanks for all the well wishes, everyone.
awww Boo, I’m so sorry you’re sick….hope it passes quickly. I’m sending you something to sniff as soon as the nostrils are back in working order! (like an “incentive program” )
Don’t you mean “inSCENTive”? 😉
I hope you feel better soon, Boo. Losing one’s sense of smell during illnesses totally messes with everything – I absolutely go crazy not being able to smell my FOOD, let alone my perfume. Take care of yourself, and if you don’t have one, get a Neti Pot! It should speed things along a bit after the worst of the cold is over but the congestion still remains. 🙂
LOL! yes….an inSCENTive…..I like that. 🙂
Heehee! Yep, I do, although I find the squeeze bottle variety easier to manage. Disgusting, but effective.
I hope you feel better soon Boo – my husband and toddler had it really bad – it took my husband about two weeks to get over it! I wish I could send you a pot of my super head cold thai spices soup! Get well soon!
It seems I’ll be in your husband’s camp, but at least that means I’m about halfway through. Ugh.
Aw! Get better soon.
Thanks. Glad you’re feeling better, at least!
SOTD is the Secrete Datura mentioned above. I love it so. MPG is an interesting and somewhat difficult line, but I am glad it is back. It was nice when everyone panicked and put everything on sale so I could get my SD and Rose Muskissime for a song, but still glad it’s back. I need to try many more from the line.
Thanks to Ann I finally tried the Amaranthigh – I need a couple more tries but I definitely enjoyed my sampling. It is quite sexy, I must say, but I’m not quite sure why.
Got to turn someone on to l’Air DDM – a new convert!
Have you compared this datura scent to any other ones? Such as Datura Noir or the Keiko Mecheri datura? I wonder what you or anyone else thinks of their different compositions.
I think I may have sniffed Datura Noir at some point but not the Keiko. I wasn’t really seeking out Datura when I found this one – I bought my first bottle (a purse flacon) at Nordstrom way before I got this far into perfume – I have always enjoyed perfumes, but not to the point of seeking out certain notes in things.
I’m glad you like the Amaranthine! I go around about whether or not I need a full bottle – when I want to wear it, I sure do wear it. It is sexy to me too, but not in a skanky way – more of a milk pudding food sexy way. It wears great on me though. I wish I had known about SD when the MPG were on sale!! Have you seen the current bottle for it – very pretty!!!
Hey I have a full bottle of L’Air DDM — let me know if you want some!!! I have more than I’ll ever need. Maybe we can do another swap – he hee heeee!!!
That is the bottle I have – it is very pretty, and I am almost sorry it lives in the drawer.
My Amaranthine decant is long gone from using and sharing, and I find myself craving it often. I really need to get a bottle! I agree with you, Ann, that it’s sexy but not skanky. It has an unusual feel and texture that I have trouble describing. Milk pudding sexy – I like that! I do associate it with a creamy green color, sort of like a rich celadon.
The Amaranthine is surprisingly (confoundingly?) sexy- I am thinking about it a lot meself…
I just received 5 samples in the mail and I’m very excited. I ordered samples of the Incense line from CdG and I’m currently spending the day with Kyoto.
Oddly enough, it reminds me very much of Burberry London, minus the vanilla and a bit smokier. I’m also reminded of Asian medicine shops my family used to visit when I was younger, which seems very appropriate. It would not seem out of place at a temple, so I definitely get the Kyoto feel. I’m not sure if I like it yet.
Hmmm, I absolutely adore Kyoto. It’s my favorite of the CDG incense series, though I really like all of them. Kyoto has a bold and coolheaded drama about it, which makes it perfect for those days when you want to assert that kind of energy. I often find myself wearing it when I have to do something that requires all my mettle.
I still need to try the rest; I’ve only tried Zagorsk (which I love) and Ouarzazate (which goes sour).
Fish and you shall receive! I can easily send you dabs of Zagorsk (my fave) and Avignon next time I mail you something… if I remember (…making notes…).
Er… make that Kyoto & Avignon. Though I think I’m running a little low on Kyoto, so we’ll see.
Boo – I can send you a sample of Kyoto… I should be sending you something (AF) soon, yes? I’ll just put it in with that.
Joe: save your Kyoto, I got Boo covered!
Actually, you can both save it… I looked at my notes and discovered I have a sample of Kyoto as well. I think Avignon would be too straight-up frankincense for me as well, so that just leaves…that last one.
Ack, and in that, please read the implied “but thanks so much for the offer”! This cold is really doing my brain in altogether.
I agree with you, MJR17, about Kyoto. It is my favorite of the series too. I wear it when I really need to focus!
It’s strange. I tried Jaisalmer and Avignon on two separate days and now that I’m studying for finals I’ve come back to Kyoto. On my skin the cypress oil really comes out, creating a soothing almost minty vibe. It’s very relaxing. Hopefully my last exam goes well.
I ordered a large amount of samples from the perfumed court. Its been 10days since they’ve received payment and I still haven’t received my set. 🙁 I keep running and also asking my husband to run and get the mail..only to find out that it still isnt there. I went through the 100 fragrances every perfumista should try. Found some really good ones and I’m still waiting. This is my first time ordering from them. So, not really impressed with how long it has taken. We’ll see what happens..I’ll let everyone know
hmmm…that’s an unusually long time. I’ve ordered an embarrassing number of times and it is usually about 5 business days—and generally you’ll get a few packages depending upon which lady they come from. You might want to get in contact and see what’s up.
Sometimes if they have a sale going they can get backed up…that could be what happened. If you log into your account, you can see if anything has shipped yet, and you’ll see tracking numbers. I’d start there.
I agree 10 days is highly unusual. TPC is usually on the ball in terms of getting to work making those decants. If you contact them via their website and put your order number in the note, they will normally get back to you within 24 hrs. Good luck – I can’t say enough good things about their customer service.
I was in No 5 earlier today, inspired by discussions above, and am now in Kenzo’s Eau de Fleur de Magnolia. This was an impulse purchase to cheer myself up after a long week but happily, I got it at half price. I’ve been thinking for ages that I would like a simple floral to spray on after a shower. I hesitated – for there is so much out there. But I plunged into the lucky dip and am glad I came up with the Kenzo. I love the way it rings out so clear and true. And the bottle is truly gorgeous – so well designed and made that it is a joy to own.
Thanks for the tip – I’ve never tried any of those floral Kenzos. I’ll put Magnolia on my list.
Today I’m wearing Jo Malone’s Dark Amber and Ginger Lily. It’s a beautiful fragrance, maybe not the best choice though for a perfect clear sunny spring day. It’s one of the only Malones I really love, though I do sometimes wear her Grapefruit.
That JM DA&GL is a great scent. I also really like Lime, Basil & Mandarin and her Orange Blossom, though very simple and not very complex is so pretty IMO and I love to wearing it when the weather is sunny and mild. I’m pretty sure there was one other JM that I like too, but can’t remember which one right now?
My fav JM is the French Lime Blossom – smells all lime-linden and so fresh.
so far this morning I’ve got JHaG Midnight Oud on one wrist….vintage Chanel no19 on the other and now, due to over-vigorous decanting: Bel Respiro all over my shirt! I have sillage…..my own atmosphere actually…
Sounds fabulous!!
I finally tried AG Nineo Mio, and I loved the herbal top notes so much I even contemplated plunking down my cash on the spot. Good thing I didn’t, however, since then it turned into cat pee — I’m talking the ultra-concentrated stuff from a big ol’ horny stray tomcat. Yikes, does anyone else get this?
I must be the only person on earth who has no idea what cat pee smells like (and I’m sorry, but I’m not rushing off to find out, either :D). I get something odd from NM, certainly, and I’m not sure I like it all that much. However, my husband claims to be quite familiar with cat pee and assures me that NM doesn’t smell like it, at least on me.
Natalie & Boo – cat pee = boxwood shrub. I was really apprehensive about NM because I detest boxwood *and* cat pee, lol! But for some reason the NM works for me and I think it is the cat’s meow. A lot of people would get cat pee from it, which makes me feel cautious about where I’d wear it in public, least anyone think I got sprayed by a cat on the way to work, ha ha . One lesson why it is always good to test when you can. And Boo – I am sure you have some to know someone with a cat and a litter box that can oblige your olfactory development, lol. Think ammonia and the worst diaper you ever smelled.
No, really…I’m fine remaining in the dark. 😉
Or mildew – mildew smells remarkably like cat pee. I once thought that my cats had sprayed the living room and spent the whole day cleaning, deodorizing, etc., only to find out that my husband had put his stinky mildewed yard shoes in the shoe rack in the front closet.
But in the case of Ninfeo Mio – I get the sharp boxwood without it turning into cat pee, which is unusual for me as I’m usually very sensitive to any kind of urine or civet note.
I’m being unfaithful to Serge with Balenciaga Paris (managed to get a sample from the House of Fraser SA in Westfield – in exchange for a lovely canvas bag I’d got as a freebie earlier at the London Book Fair, LOL!).
I’m surprised by how much I like it considering violet is one of my least favourite notes.
I really love Balenciaga Paris as well. I think it is a very beautiful fragrance.
I haven’t enjoyed any new fragrance so much for a very long time.
I really like it too — they did a great job. Would like to have one of the small bottles.
I’m seriously thinking about acquiring some more of that stuff. I wonder what else I can give that SA…. LOL!
The truffle cap looks much nicer in person than I thought it would have. Unfortunately, that was day 1 of the impaired nose, so I couldn’t smell it well at all.
so in person it’s more Truffle and less soccer ball?
LOL yep, at least to my eye. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a contender for best bottle, but it didn’t look tacky/cheap to me, either.
Oh good. That inspires me to try it again. I tried it once and it didn’t do much for me, although I had high hopes for it. Love the bottle and the marketing. Violet was my mother’s favourite scent, but I could not wear her perfume because it was hers.
I was planning on visiting the perfume exhibit at Longwood Gardens today (there is a seminar at 2 pm), but the weather is so wet and cool, that I think I will wait for a more pleasant day to make the journey. Sorry to miss the lecture, but really just want to walk the gardens and sniff !!! Robin, I will let you know when I am planning to go….maybe we could sniff together. If anyone else has been out there, please report back.
SOTD–Marche aux Fleurs by Fragonard. Wonderful fresh flower opening, but then gone too soon. I like those smells that stick around!!
Do let me know! Am still going to try to make the Roman Kaiser talk in May.
I was at Longwood Gardens today. The lecture was free for members and $25 for non-members; registration in advance through their continuing ed booklet. This lecture was sold out, with a waiting list. I didn’t make it in. The conservatory had a lovely series of “scent seeker stations” with little tubes with levers so you could sniff things like ambergris, Diorissimo, Bel Respiro, rose, vanilla, etc. There was a fabulously shiny display of perfume bottles as well. There is also a “Scent Seekers” kids booklet, which you need to ask for at ticketing, which is the way to find all the “scent seeker stations” with the sniffing opportunities. You can also make a 3-note fragrant which produces a small scratch-n-sniff card. Throughout the entire grounds, fragrant plants had “I am fragrant” signs. It was overcast & drizzly, so a lovely day to tramp in newly greening things (even though I was grumpy about the communications on the lecture.)
Oh, so sorry you couldn’t get in the lecture! Reminds me I’d better reserve a seat for the one in May.
SOTD: Embruns d’Ambre by Stephanie de Saint-Aignan. This is supposed to be an oceanic amber, which seems paradoxical to me, even though ambergris comes from the ocean. 🙂 Notes are listed as oceanic, sand, lemon, wood and amber. At first it reminded me oddly of my fav Etro Shaal Nur, but transposed to ocean blue/sand instead of sunny gold. It also reminds me of some lost scent that I’m wracking my nose to remember, in vain. Definitely unusual and worth further testings to see if it might be FB-worthy.
Nozknoz, I’m so excited to read your post! Embruns d’Ambre and Shaal Nur are two of my top favorite fragrances! We will need to do some trading one of these days.
Embruns is a simple fragrance, in a way, but that juxtaposition of warm and cool elements, amber and ocean water, makes it interesting. And beautiful!
🙂 Haunani, Shaal Nur is such a pleasing and well-balanced scent, and you’ve mentioned other scents that I enjoy, so I always appreciate your perspective on unfamiliar scents. In fact, it is very likely that I took note of Ed’A because you mentioned it. I will drop you a line so that you have my contact info for future reference.
Oh, that’s great! Perhaps I’ve earned my first enabler star!
Wearing Chanel No. 5, which I bought yesterday. While I used to wear No. 5 almost exclusively for years this is the first bottle I’ve owned in about a two years and it’s lovely to revisit the scent and compare it to my beloved No. 22. There’s something very comforting about No. 5 for me. I suppose it’s that old familiarity associated with it.
Received a bottle of SMN Acqua di Colonia on Friday and while the fragrance is all I had hoped for, being a very old cologne the lasting power is as expected very weak. Dunno why I hadn’t tried this offering yet especially considering it was the original SMN. I just wish I could find a way to make it last longer.
For those girls who were interested in Agua de Sevilla line, I got an email from the house and they told me that currently there are no international retailers. Their perfumes are sold only in Spain and online in their website.
So sorry, girls 🙁
Lately I’ve been on a lily of the valley kick, very strange for me as I’m a chypre and oriental kind of gal. I found a f.b. of Jessica McClintock for a song-and am getting lots of love for it. It actually is quite nice-and lasts a long time on skin. I don’t get the lovely greens that I do from Diorissimo but it is a nice simple fruity floral.
Smokey: Jessica McClintock is still my favourite. I discovered it 15 years ago. Though I’ve worked for two major French fragrance houses and greatly appreciate their fabulous creations, this is still my winner. I wore it to my wedding. I would not, however, ever call it fruity!
Hi Celestia
I get a little fruit for some reason, my mother in law gets lily of the valley and lush dewey greens (she wears florals very well).
Did you know Parfum1 has a 20% off discount right now? A regular bottle goes for 19 us before the discount. Pretty good deal….. I may order a backup bottle.