The usual: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last perfume that surprised you, what you're doing to celebrate Labor Day, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is falling water by ericskiff at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hello! Happy Labour Day to those celebrating! I’m not sure if this is the right place for introductions and I feel rather nervous leaving a comment having been lurking silently for 5 years…
I’m from Malaysia by the way, it’s 12:54am at the moment but I’ve been wearing AG Duel throughout the day. 🙂
That might be a world record lurk! Glad you have finally chimed in, and welcome!
Hi and welcome! Hope you’ll stay de-lurked 🙂
Duel is such a great scent.
Thank you! I always fear that may publicly humiliate myself! I feel quite disadvantaged since Malaysia mostly carries mainstream fragrances and just a handful of niche ones. Also, I’ve been wondering if anyone has read this recent interview with Kilian Hennessy. http://www.style.com/beauty/beautycounter/2010/09/kilian-hennessy-talks-love-tears-surrenderand-so-much-more/#more-5129
I had not read it, thanks for the link!
And no need to worry about humiliating yourself…everybody here is pretty darned nice, and everyone has different taste anyway.
….and we all gleefully humiliate ourselves on a regular basis! Heeheheheheheee…. 😀
Exactly!
There are many of us that love mainstream AND drugstore fragrances. I lurked for a long time and just started commenting.
This is a friendly group, no special knowledge required, talk about what perfumes you like and don’t worry – this is supposed to be fun!
So glad you delurked and posted this link! I love several of the Kilians, so I really enjoyed this article. Now I can’t wait to try the next Arabian Nights scent in March!
*sniffles* I feel in love with Kilian’s Rose Oud…. too bad it had to be the one that is the most expensive. 🙁 It is wonderful stuff though.
I’m really looking forward to smell the amber perfume, I absolutely adore amber. The price makes me shriek inside too. To top off my nose falls in love easily. I need to start beating it until it behaves.
That’s why splits, ebay and the Perfumed Court were created! 🙂
Yay for de-lurking! I don’t know a thing, but still comment away. 🙂 My dearest friend is from Malaysia, by the way, and I used to room with his fiancee (also Malaysian) in college.
Thank you for the warm welcome 🙂 Speaking of college, I’m actually heading to the U.K. soon to pursue english literature and drama 🙂
I live in the UK 🙂
where are you heading ?
I’ll be in Canterbury! 🙂
I majored in English lit myself, though didn’t have the privilege of studying it in the UK. Hoping to travel there before too many more years pass, though.
welcome Echungky. 5 years not saying anything, WOW!!! so good you changed your mind 😀
Thanks for de-lurking! The more input the better!
Welcome, echungky!
Selemat datang!! I grew up in Malaysia. I went to ISKL and attended Uni in Shah Alam where my dad was teaching. Drop me a line! I don’t mind shipping to M’sia at all. Maybe I can send you some things you would like? I’m julia941 at yahoo dot com
How nice of Julia – that will make echungky happy to have delurked! 😉 I’d like to extend a welcome also and look forward to hearing from you again.
Thank you all so much for all the kind words! It’s as if I just found long lost friends, honestly!
Thank you for the kind offer Julia. This really is a small world, I’m from East Malaysia but I’ve been quite familiar with ISKL ever since I competed in solo & duet acting in the SEA Forensics tournament. It was quite intense!
Awesome! I’m an ISKL ambassador for my class so I keep up with current events, but it has been a long time since my last visit. I can’t believe how much it has changed. I studied at the Ampang campus because that was the only one we had back then! I still keep in close contact with many of the friends I made there. Was the Forensics tournament an IASAS event?
I’ve only visited Mata Kucing and never got to spend a lot of time in East Malaysia but it was really beautiful (except for the clear cut & burned rain forest part I saw, but that an issue for another time and place). I want a bottle of Chantecaille Kalimantan based solely on the name! I haven’t sniffed it yet and I probably will do so before I buy, but still – it is destined for my collection!
Hi Echungky,
Your among scent minded folks here, we are not scary at all. 🙂
And welcome back dear Julia, glad to see you here again!
I hope all is well<3
Thank you! My SOTD is Fifi Chachnil and all is well.
How great Julia, I wore it yesterday, got whiffs of sweet tobacco all day.
🙂
My SOTD is White Aoud, it was chilly this morning and this just felt right, I’ve missed it!
Favorite leather?
mine is Cuir Ottoman.
scent of the day…A*Men Pure Coffee.
I think I regret not buying A*Men Pure Malt.
I was sorry to have never bought a bit of Pure Coffee. Pure Malt didn’t do anything for me, but the Coffee made me giggle.
That ELd’O Vierges et Toreros is a great leather, but for more casual wear I still have my eye on Kelley Caleche.
I wore EL Vierges et Toreros yesterday to work. It’s one of the few leathers I enjoy!
I’ve been really enjoying leather. I love so many, but near the top would be the ELdO Tama mentioned, SL Cuir Mauresque, and SMN Peau d’Espagne. I haven’t tried Ottoman.
I think leather just might be my favorite note. I haven’t met one I didn’t like, except maybe Daim Blond, and that’s on account of the fruit being too sweet for me.
My fave leather scent is Tabac Blond. And while we’re on the subject, I’m *dying* to try Boxeuses! 🙂
I haven’t tried much in the way of leather, though it’s next on the list. In that vein, I grabbed a sample of Cuir de Russie yesterday… it goes well with the suddenly cooler weather we’re having. High today: 68*.
Do you like CdR, Boo?? I love it, so I’m curious as to your reaction.
What’s a Guerlie girl doing in Chanel? 😀 I do well w/most of the Chanels, so yes… liking CdR very much. It wasn’t very leathery yesterday, but I got more of that today, for at least a short while.
LOL! I do well with the classic Chanels. The L. E.’s are okay, although Coromandel is the only one that I have a decant of .
Ah, that’s better… Coromandel leaves me cold.
Order is restored to the Universe! 😀
I too am celebrating the cooler weather by wearing Cuir de Russie. I never find it all that leathery on me, it’s very subtle, but I love it.
Very predictable but Cuir de Russie and Bandit are my favourites by far. I’ve been going through a bit of a leather phase in recent weeks but I haven’t found anything that I like better than those two.
I did try Estee Lauder Azurée last week and thought that it was excellent and so affordable. For some inexplicable reason, in UK it appears to be only available from EL website and Selfridges (where it’s kept under the counter like some dirty contraband and you have to specifically ask to try it).
I love Azuree as well- it is such a sunny, comfortable leather.
I also love Azuree! Shame I have to wait at least until October before I can wear it in public. Arizona is still too darn hot for it. I might wipe out everyone around me in a 20′ radius. Today I settled for Halston Sheer and it was still too noticeable after being outside.
I like Cuir de Russie also, and Kelly Caleche is a very easy to wear leather which I really enjoy, and I’m revisiting Stephanie de Saint-Aignan’s Voleur de Ciels and liking it a lot.
Kelly Caleche rocks. She makes my summer drobe so much more interesting!
Cuir de Russie (which isn’t very leather on my skin). But your question reminds me that I’ve been meaning to get a sample of Etro Gomma.
I think I’m going to start on a leather phase, too! We should moo eachother on MUA and trade notes or samples.
I rec’d a pre-exclusifs bottle of Chanel Cuir de Russie. It’s addictive. My skin sometimes amplifies a gasoline note with this one, but it’s always fantastic on fabric (and normally perfect on my skin, too).
I’m thinking of trying SSS Tabac Aurea, since it’s both tabacco and leather, which are two of my comfort notes.
I’m not much of a leather fan, except in Cuir de Lancome and Jolie Madame, but I do really like it as an accent.
None of that namby–pamby suede for me — I like the hard-core leathers: Bandit, Black Tourmaline, AG Eau de Fier. I just sniffed Soivohle/Liz Zorn’s Cordovan Rose the other day, and it’s fabulous too…
Lilydale, you mention namby pamby suedes. I am interested! Which would those be? I would like to try (to my mind) some soft genlte suedy (sp?), leathery scents and could use a list from someone who has already been there.
Some suedes to try would be SL Daim Blond, Tom Ford White Suede, and maybe ELd’O Tom of Finland. I think Kelly Caleche is quite suede-y, but it’s probably technically a soft leather.
I didn’t mean to cast aspersions on all you suede lovers! It just doesn’t work on me, whereas the black-leather-motorcycle-jacket scents do.
Thanks Lilydale. I really appreciate it. Although I can’t speak for anyone else, I did not take your words as an aspersion. On the contrary it was your term that inspired me to ask the question. I took it to mean – light, inoffensive, introductory, good for a newbie! EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks again.
Oh, and I hope my words did not make anyone feel bad either. I too would feel absolutely horrible if I thought I hurt someone.
I’d recommend Chanel’s Cuir de Russie (bottles are spendy but you can find decants quite reasonably) as a soft, suede-y leather. I get almost *no* leather from it at all on my skin
Thanks Rappleyea, I’ll put that on my “to test” list as well.
Howdy! My fav suede is the Donna Karan “Signature” that used to be in the weird black rubber swan bottle, but now is part of her special line in plain bottles. It has a wonderful nearly realistic suede accord that sits on a very nice rich oriental base. It is great stuff – my husband loves it.
Also Mythique – when I first smelled it on my skin, I was really surprised by the suede note – it immediately brought Daim Blond to mind. But Mythique is much quieter, closer to the skin.
I agree there. I am so in love with Mythique, I could roll around in it for hours!
krok, I enjoy a lot of the leathers mentioned above – I don’t think I could pick just one fav. I also love L’Artisan Dzing! and find PG Cuir Venenum especially unusual. And, of course, various vintage Lanvins such as Scandal and Pretexte are dear to my leathery old heart 🙂
NozKoz- shout out to lavahs of Dzing!<3
I could spray that all day and not get sick of it, so delicious.
Hi, Tamara! I enjoy Dzing! across seasons, too, unlike many leathers that I can only wear in cooler weather.
Krok-favorite leather is Sikkim by Lancome, a second would be PdE’s Cuir Ottoman or EL’s Azuree.
Smokeytoes -Sikkim is leather? I gotta try it then.
Leather is temperamental on me though-
I love Azuree but holy hell Cuir Ottoman made me wanna run away from myself! ha.
Hi Tamara,
Yep it sure is, I like that the spice, leather and a bit of chypre seem very well-balanced (vs. one overpowering the other). I tried this and it was instant love. You can find 1/2 oz of edp for $15 dollars U.S.
Wearing Lanvin My Sin, came in the morning mail and I am in love! So feminine, luxurious and naughty – and my four yr old told me I smelled “so beautiful mommy, can I have some?”.
This was a blind buy off ebay, but there was no size listed with the bottle (but I had a good feeling) and no one else bid so it was cheap. Turned out to be 4oz for under $25 – can’t beat that!
Good score! Would have fit in with last week’s poll! I have never smelled My Sin.
Very cool! I just love those My Sin ads with the black cat. There’s such an air of mystery around that fragrance for me.
I was just about to write how I haven’t smelled My Sin in over 40 years, but I can still remember it. I always felt it was a lovely, mysterious scent. Then I read Jill’s post, and it fit right in!
WO-ow! Congrats!
You lucky gal! My Sin is gorgeousss!
Thanks! It really made my weekend bearable – still looking for 2yr olds missing glasses!
Oh goodness, well, best of luck! Cute little two-year-old size glasses. 🙂
Smart bidding, Ruth – huge congratulations!
Wearing Joop Berlin, unfortunately not in production anymore :-C
I got a sample of PR one million for woman, am still trying to get it of from my skin, a real scrubber, it smells horrible on my skin.
And Happy Labour Day to those who celebrate!
What is Joop Berlin like??????????
It smells delicious, but that won’t help you any further. It is a floral fruity, I normally don’t like them, but this one is great.
I found a description;
Top notes: plum, green notes, peach, karokorund (whatever that is), bergamot.
Middle notes: carnation, tuberose, orris root, jasmine, heliotrope, ylang-ylang, lily-of-the-valley, rose
Base notes: sandalwood, tonkabean, amber, musk, benzoin, vanilla, caramel and cedar.
It is lightly sweet and elegant, not candy sweet. I love it since it came out in the 90ies, it is hard to get your hands on it now, as with many discontinued scents.
SOTD – MPG Rose Muskissime – it is cooler again today, and it was feeling neglected. I am reaching that point of becoming a bit saturated with bottles, but there are still a couple I want (Coromandel, the new l’Artisan Vetiver) before I take a break – lol.
I adore-love-adore Coromandel and have been living off samples and decants, but am ready for the whole 6.8 oz huge bottle. I think I love it enough for that and will have no problem enjoying that much of it.
I think Coromandel will be one of the ones in the smaller bottles later this month.
I am holding out hope – it *has* to be one of the smaller ones! Coromandel is just fantastic!
A Break? Right! I tried that once. Lasted 6 hours……
hee hee hee – I know. As soon as I reached my thousand dollar total for the quarter and had my heart attack I ordered some of those little scents off etsy Jessica reviewed last week!
😀
Wearing YSL Parisienne today. I ended up liking this quite a lot, which was a real surprise. We’re finally getting some truly cool weather and it feels like fall here today! Can’t wait to break out my fall scents. 🙂
Glad to hear someone is loving Parisienne, I am not seeing many mentions of it. Thought we were going to get fall weather too, but it’s hot here!
I like parisienne, I was going to get my Grandma it.
Heading out of town on Amtrak and wearing just a tiny drop of Le Parfum de Therèse from a recent swap. Niiiice.
Recent surprise: barely sampled a dab of the new L’Artisan Vetiver… the opening is interesting. I can’t wait for a decant to spritz more liberally.
Joe, I can’t wait to try the new Artisan – can you give us more details? I am scared that it might be too sweet for me…
I can’t describe it adequately and need to test further. I felt like the opening was a woody gourmand, but not too sweet at all (at least for me), but I didn’t get much vetiver until it has dried down for awhile. Again, my impression may totally change on future wears, and when spraying vs dabbing.
Thanks – this sounds great!
I found it more spicy than sweet, if that helps – I really liked it and want a bottle.
I was really looking forward to this one after reading about it at NST. I received my bottle last Friday morning, and by Sunday morning I had it sold. Did I hate it? No. Could I smell it? No, but everyone else did. A co worker even had the nerve to open the door to air out the store. That is my experience, but I’m sure others around here will love it.
Airing the place out — ouch! I once wore AG Encens Flamboyant (which admittedly smells moldy on me) to my son’s preschool, and another mom said loudly, “Eeeeuuuwww, something smells AWFUL in here!” Yup, that would be me, lady…
Hello everyone! Wearing Chanel’s Sycomore today. Btw, didn’t I read somewhere that they were planning to release these in smaller bottles this fall? Haven’t seen them so far…
My guy said September, maybe more towards middle of the month. I need to check back.
Tama, thanks for checking! I asked the Chanel staff here in Germany and they didn’t know anything about it. Wouldn’t it be strange if they were just released in the US?
sycomore is my new absolute fav! I think Sept 14th is th date…
A few weeks ago Piguet prices increased by £10 so I was kicking myself for not buying a bottle of Bandit sooner. Well, earlier this week I noticed that for some reason all RPs were being sold at the old prices again on the Liberty website. Plus I had a discount code that needed using. Long story short, I finally ordered my Bandit and SL Bois de Violette. Got a despatch email on Weds so hopefully they’ll finally arrive on Monday.
SOTD is Terre ‘Hermes. I forgot just how very good this stuff smells.
Congratulations on the Bois de Violette. That was one of my splurges last quarter, and I have no regrets about it. I love it! I love violet if it is not too sweet ( I don’t like sickly sweet florals), and I really love cedar, so that one is a real winner for me.
It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I drained my sample in no time which doesn’t happen very often. It just seems to hit the spot most days, I can see it becoming a year round, go-to scent.
I “need” some Bandit too, but should be able to make my sample last awhile. Alas, my laptop died, so I have to funnel all my funds toward a new computer instead of perfume. 🙁
Oh dear! My heart goes out to you on the comuter disaster. Hope mothing was lost.
typo, sorry – meant Nothing, not mothing
No, thankfully it gave a mini-warning crash a week or so beforehand, so I backed everything up. Actually, it’s still usable… with a flashlight. There’s just no light in the screen anymore, but hold up a flashlight and it’s all still there. Just like it’s nighttime in my laptop, LOL. I could have it fixed, but figure it will go before long anyway, so I may as well replace it. Might try to repair it later as a back-up, or for the kids.
Good for you and the backup foresight (there must be a joke in there somewhere – those two words together just seem to be begging for one!) At least you can now take your time with what you want to do with the old one.
Ack, I totally sympathise. I spent the first few months of the year using a laptop which was quite literally falling apart. I finally got a Macbook Pro a while back and it still brings me as much joy as a good frag 😀
I was in a drugstore yesterday and saw a tester of “Maroussia”, which is often on sale here and is already very, very inexpensive even before being discounted. I’ve read very enthusiastic reviews and I’m a big fan of orientals and chypres, so I gave myself a tiny spritz. YOWZA!
That stuff is incredibly strong! I hated the opening and didn’t care much for what followed. Couldn’t wait to get home and scrub it off — rather unsuccessfully. About six hours later, there was a pleasant aroma on my pulse, but still not my kind of scent. Never again! I don’t know why this is so popular in Holland. You could cause a crowd to evacuate a theater if you did a normal spray of this.
I’m wearing “Epic Woman” by Amouage today to help me recover.
I have never heard of it — is it expensive or mass market?
And did you mean to link to your gravatar profile? Right now you’re just linked to your gravatar image instead.
Robin, I’m so a-technical! I don’t know how to do the profile in Gravatar and link to it.
Maroussia is Russian, and the extremely heavy scent I tried is the eau-de toilette! Yipes! It’s from the Russian fashion designer Slava Saitev (he’s dressed most the modern Russian leaders’ wives).
It’s touted as a floriental. Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, orange blossom and peach. Heart: heliotrope, jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, orchid, iris, tuberose, ylang-ylang. Base: amber, benzoin, cedar, civet, musk, sandalwood, tonka bean and vanilla.
Sounds like most ingredients available went into this! People who love it think it is unique and mysterious. Then there are people like me, who can’t run from it fast enough (this is after my one and only test of it.)
He has two other scents, which are also florientals. The bottles are attractive. Maroussia is in a red bottle, Authentic Maroussia (lighter version) is green and Nikita is purple.
I’d be interested in sniffing the other two, which are supposed to be available here in Holland. I thought you might be interested in this info, as a fragrance coming from Russia is quite exotic, imo.
I misspelled his name. It should be: Slava Zaitev.
Oh, thanks for the detailed background! You never know what you’ll run into.
And see if this helps:
https://nstperfume.com/2010/06/07/new-public-profiles-for-gravatars/
I also just tried Maroussia for the first time last month when I was in Hannover, Germany. It was in all the “dept” stores…Galleria and Douglas’. It was really cheap like you said… I think it was just around 10 euro. I had pretty much the same reaction you did though. It was strong and spicy and pretty much an “ugh”. Fortunately, since I was sniffing quite a few different juices… I only had it on a smelling strip.
I tested a bit of that – it was fine on me for about half an hour, and then it slid right into the dreaded Shaving Cream Accord (which I only like on men).
I think it’s a Russian brand, R.
Ah, thanks!
Gosh, I remember advertisments for Marroussia being on TV in new zealand like 20 years ago when I was a little kid. It had a russian woman with long flowing black hair being all glamourous in a windswept locale. I remember it because a sketch comedy show did a parody of it for a perfume called “Priyapiat”, and the woman was bald. It was perhaps too soon for Chernobyl jokes at the time, but the name Marroussia for me will forever be associated with nuclear devastation. From your experience with the smell of it, maybe that’s justified!
Morning! (or afternoon) I am wearing Angelique Noire this day. It is a cool day and it’s working well on my skin. Angeliques sous la pluie has lost most of its “smoke” smell for me finally. Has anyone out there any comparison view on these two fragrances? I still need a little help in the identification department. I can smell many more things now that my sense is coming back, unfortunately I am not quite sure what those things are. I could use a few reference points from any kind souls.
I am not a big angelica fan — so hope someone else will chime in here.
I wish i could help you FO&W, but I only have a decant of Angelique Noire. I haven’t smelled the Sous La Pluie. Angelica is the herbal, slightly sharp note if that’s any help.
Of course, you knew I had to be the reverse… I have ASlP, but haven’t smelled AN. 😀
Lol, thank you both. I think AN “feels” more soft and gentle to me and ASLP feels much more raw and interesting.
😀 Boo and I are Evil Scent Twins with very, very few overlaps. It is actually very helpful as I know that if she loves something, chances are good that I won’t.
Of course it is of help. Any thing I can label that didn’t have one, previously is a good thing. Thanks so much for trying.
Angelique Noire is just super gorgeous! I am lucky to have a large decant of that – I think it is a great non-foody vanilla – sexy, warm, just great. I love wearing it. It is my fav vanilla.
It’s a beautiful, breezy day in the Mid-Atlantic today and what a nice way to start the long Labor Day weekend. My best wishes for a lovely holiday to all here who celebrate. I decided to wear Atelier Grand Neroli, but with not very much left, I also spritzed some JM OB. They’re getting along very nicely. 😉
I do like that Grand Neroli! Did you go through a whole bottle or just a sample?
Only a sample Robin! I’d like a FB, for sure.
Really wish they’d done smaller bottles — I would have bought one. I think the Orange was the one I liked best.
I’m wearing Dans tes Bras today. I recently hit up my local Barney’s (not really so local, though) and came away with a tired nose. I walked away with generous (GENEROUS) samples. Definitely my favorite Malle so far. But I definitely want to make the trek and sample some more; GpM and CF I must try on skin. I was actually disappointed by the other ones I came away with.
Such a great line! Best not to fall in love with them all, though 😉
The friend I dragged along was really stunned by the Malles. Her exact words were, “I didn’t know perfume could smell like this. We talked with some SA’s for at least two hours before packing it in, but after, we went by Macy’s so I could get her to smell Angel, which we had brought up in the conversation. Then an SA made her sniff Flowerbomb. As we walked out, she said, “That Flowerbomb? That’s why I didn’t like perfume.”
Her favorite was DtB too, actually. She liked En Passant but not as a daily scent.
What a great story!
I looove Dans Tes Bras–got a sample from perfumeniche.com and just received samples of GpM and Bois d’Orage from them as well. Today I’m wearing Dior’s Eau Noir (another sample). It’s the first time I’ve tried it and the opening was just delicious–fenugreek and immortelle and a bit of curry. A couple of hours later, it’s settled to a beautiful liquor-wrapped slightly smoky/spicy scent. Definitely want a full bottle of this!
Wearing PdN’s Fig Tea today, which is reminding me of how much I love this line.
I’m retiring next week – Tuesday is my last day – so I’ll be scaling back (waaaaay back) on perfume purchases in the future. But when I look at all the bottles and decants that don’t get enough attention from me now, I think that may be a good thing.
You’ll have a great time rediscovering old friends.
Congratulations Aparatchick! Enjoy!
Congrats! Personally, I’d rather have the time than the perfume if I had to choose!
Ditto, especially since my husband took a job in TX and I have to do everything myself!
Wha?!? Does he commute or are you planning on moving??
That all remains to be seen. For now, he’s there, we’re here. He was home last weekend for the little one’s birthday, and I’d guess he’ll be here for Christmas next.
{{{{{Boo}}}}} Sending hugs! That sounds like a tough situation.
gosh, it must be really hard for you now booo. do you have any help?
My family is all in the area, so yes… I can dump the kids off for a weekend with the grandparents if I’m buried. Logistics are a little tricky with a long commute and limited daycare options for the 1st grader, but otherwise, it’s actually *easier* than having him here. One less person to clean up after, and no schedules to coordinate. I just need to streamline the house, and we’ll be good to go.
Boo, good concept 🙂
have fun Aparatchick. my mom is 20 years younger since she retired 😀
Yay — lucky you!!
Congratulations, Aparatchick! I must say I’m sort of dreading retirement for that reason – although my current collection would probably be quite happy to have me around more 🙂
Sorry to be late with this comment, but still wanted to say congratulations on your retirement. I hope it will be the beginning of a wonderful time in your life.
I was sampling and someone sent me a sample of Kerkoff Djer Kiss…love it and of course, cannot find it anywhere! Finding any info online was difficult! So I’m looking for another amber that might be close to it…
I have not heard of it at all, so I’ll be no help, sorry!
I occasionally see an antique scent called Djer Kiss on ebay. Usually it’s just the empty bottles or boxes, or a “sachet” (powder scent), but you might find it if you search over time.
I wore Hypnotic Poison, my first adult true fume love, for the first time since last winter a few days ago and was shocked to find it too sweet a few hours in! I never thought I’d say it but I’m actually thinking of rotating it out…. I can’t believe my tastes have changed so much.
Soooo…. If I do rotate HP out, I’ve got a nice lil excuse to buy myself another cool weather fume. I’ve been on the fence about Bandit for a while. It’s that arid drydown that I’m not 100% sold on, but the rest of it is so deliciously badass! I’m thinking it’s going to be Amber Ylang-Ylang, though. It was <3 at first sniff this summer, and I've been thinking I want a really nice amber this winter. I just need to make a decision about HP.
Don’t know what the weather is where you are, but if it’s not yet good & cold, maybe wait a few months before you decide? Sometimes sweet does better in winter.
lol…. it took me a full 90 seconds to figure out what <3 was…. I am waaaayyyy to ashamed to say the first few things that popped in my head. I should probably just go to bed, that must be a sign that my brain is checking out..
Hi there – I recently tried Hypnotic Poison after a hiatus of about ten years. I went through two bottles right after it came out in 1998. I had such fond memories, and I love Annick Menardo. But I also found it too sweet and rather flat or linear. I’m looking for scents to get me through my second winter in Hamburg, and it won’t be one of them after all. Maybe Black Cashmere, another former love, instead…
SOTD – 31 Rue Cambon! I smell delicious! I find that I prefer it in cooler weather, 52 this AM, high of 78 expected for the day (Midwest).
Sampled Prada Eau L’Ambree this week, really liking it so far. It does seem fleeting and a bit light, but I think will be perfect for everyday wear. And also Gucci by Gucci EDT, it reminds me a lot of NR for Her.
I’d like to sample more leather frags, might have to refer to list above. I confess, they scare me a bit!
I do love that Prada!
SOTD is Nuit de Noel…we had thick fog this morning, and I simply couldn’t resist.
What are some good online discounters, or are we not supposed to ask?
A very happy 3 day weekend to my American co-workers!
There are two buttons top right for discounters and I also like Rei Rien and Beauty Encounter.
I’ve had very good luck with Parfum1 – they often have % off sales on top of their discounted prices.
I have had good luck with Parfum1 as well – the inventory can be a bit spotty, but if you find what you want it’s usually very inexpensive there (and no fakes/spoiled stuff, at least through my four orders).
Today I am trying a comparison of 4 iris-based fragrances–28 La Pausa, 31 Rue Cambon, Donna Karan Iris, and L’Artisan Iris Pallida. Iris is something of a puzzle for me–I am not sure if I like it or not. like 31 RC very much, but Iris Silver Mist was the worst scrubber I have ever tested. It was the only fragrance I can remember that actually gave me a strong visceral reaction. I thought I was going to be ill, and cannot bear even the thought of having to smell it again. Consequently, I am thinking that perhaps I like 31 RC in spite of the iris rather than because of it. Or maybe I just like my iris sweetened a little bit, in much the same was as I love coffee and chocolate, but cannot bear to consume either one without sugar.
So far, the DK Iris is very like the 28 LP, and is showing signs of being equally short-lived on my skin. The Iris Pallida idoes not smell much like iris to me. It comes off as a warm, earthy, woody scent–very nice, but perhaps not worth the price.
You might also like Ormonde Jayne’s Orris Noir if you haven’t tried it already. Very pretty and wearable.
I adore Orris Noir! PG Iris Orientale is worth a try as well!
I bought the OJ Discovery Set, so I have tried all the OJ frags except Tiare. My impression of Orris Noir was that it was nor very orris and the top and heart notes are not very long lasting. Most of the OJ scents seem to have a similar drydown , and Orris Noir seemed to get there sooner than any other. I have OJ Woman, which I love (it makes me think of walking in a forest), and am considering T
My computer is playing games with me again…
to continue–I am considering Ta’if and Tolu for possible future acquisition.
I love Woman, Ta’if and Tiare. You’ve got to try Tiare.
Sounds like we have similar taste, at least in the OJ line. Tolu is definitely worth considering, and Ta’if would be, if I weren’t full up on roses.
We had exactly the opposite experience – Ta’if and Woman didn’t work for me as much as I wanted them to!
Boo – “Full up” on roses??
Can there even BE such a thing? (I kid, I kid…)
Iris is a tough one for me, too , but not as tough as for you, since I can stand ISM, just not often. I have never warmed up to Infusion d’Iris, which most people seem to love. I like the cheap little very wearable Iris Noir by Yves Rocher, and for a more powdery, bloomy one I surprising liked Malle Iris Poudre, which I thought i would hate.
I had a sample of Infusion d’Iris, and all I remember is that is disappeared on me within about 30 minutes.
Iris Silver Mist is difficult in my opinion. It smells like carrots to me and I just don’t like it either, although I’ve tried.
I love iris pallida! Actually purchased unsniffed, an expensive risk I’d never do again. Have you tried Heeley Iris de Nuit? It’s fantastic! I’m ordering a FB tomorrow. It’s slightly sweeter than iris pallid with a woody / cedar base.
Second that Heeley, think it’s my favorite iris.
I have gotten compliments wearing Prada’s Infusion d’Iris. I also LOVE Bois D’Iris by Van Cleef and Arpels. Was not impressed by Hermes’ Hiris, though.
Promise, I too have received many compliments on IdI , I can smell it on me and so can others. I just spray myself WET haha, but it really is a lovely scent, such a happy, green iris!
I had some incense cones in high school and college that I would swear smelled exactly like IdI. As a result, it’s a little hard for me to wear, but obviously I like it. I swapped away a bottle of something else for one of IdI, thinking it would be easier to swap for something I want, but that hasn’t happened. Maybe I’ll use it as a room spray!
Boo, it does smell wonderful sprayed on sheets, try that.
I totally get the incense cone comparison cause I can smell it too but blended with everything else, especially neroli , it ends up heavenly on my skin.
So far my favorite Iris Scents have been both the Prada Infusion d’Iris and FM Iris Poudre. Dying to try the Van Cleef and Arpels now the Yves Rocher one too – totally forgot about that one.
Weekend scents so far went like this:
Friday – very hot and humid and went with FM L’Eau d’Hiver – which for some reason seems to really work well for me the hotter it is outside. In the cold weather, I can barely smell it.
Saturday -not so humid, but still warm and summery – Prada Infusion D’Iris – errands, meeting a friend for lunch and window shopping.
Saturday night – cool and breezy had to go to a 50th annivesary party which was a bit formal and wore Chanel 31 Rue d’Cambon.
Today, Sunday we went to another family event, a wedding. They are not related to the anniversary couple though. I wore FM’s Iris Poudre. And tonite after a refreshing shower I am wearing LaVanilla’s Lavendar Vanilla and looking forward to getting one day from this busy weekend to clean the house and just relax with DH! Happy Labor Day!
50_Roses, have you tried Le Labo’s Iris 39 or Hiris by Hermes? Both are lovely, but different types of iris scents to me. Hiris is more vegetal, and wears closer to the skin. LL’s Iris 39 is just stunning, a dry earthy iris, it took a few trys before I “got” it.
i truly fell in love with Mythique, another iris. maybe it will be my first full bottle after a v e r y long time (Iris Silver Mist -please do not be hurt, i still love you too)
Ami, have to agree with you on both of those, 2 truly beautiful scents.
Oh Ami me too! I also love Guerlain’s Iris Ganache…not to mention the masterpiece Apres L’Ondee…since its now officially spring Downunder (although I subscribe to the Equinox theroy!), I think I’ll now go drench myself!
😀 thanks Wini, both are on my wishlist now 😀
Ah good call Win! I am new to Iris Ganache and had forgotten it although I love it!
Hey Rapple and Win, I love Iris Ganache too, mmmmmmmmm.:D
I can definitely smell the the similarities between it and L’Heure Bleue which I also adore.
Big thumbs up on the L’Heure Bleue!
I just got my 4 5.5 ml sample bottles from La Via del Profumo (profumo.it) -scents by Dubrana Dominique. I tried Mecca Balsam, Bazaar, Samurai and African Nights. I adore the first three.
I first heard of this line when I received Samurai as an extra in a swap. It was instant love. Samurai is vetiver and oakmoss-Joe I think you’ll like this one!
Thanks for the tip, Dixie. I wish his samples were easier to get and not spend a lot for shipping. He also has a straight-up oakmoss and African Nights is another I was curious about; too bad you didn’t like that one.
Joe,
I just got some samples from La Via del Profumo. I tried Mecca Balsam, Oakmoss and Tincture of Ambergris, and adored all three.
Mmmmm! How’s that Ambergris?
Hi Dixie,
I adore the ambergris. At first, it was verrry animalic and fecal (and NOT in a polite way), then the mid-point was a very soft musk and the final dry down was a little sweet, much like MKK in the final drydown stage.
I’m anxiously waiting to see if the mail carrier brings any boxes to my porch before I choose my SOTD. 😉
Hey– how does everyone store their small (5 and 10 ml) decants? I keep knocking all of mine over when I dig around in my perfume cabinet. I suppose the obvious solution would be to STOP BUYING SO MUCH PERFUME, but barring that I need a new mode of storage.
I wish I could have a special storage box made up for my 5 and 10’ers.
No one on here would recommend that you stop buying perfume! LOL! My very inelegant solution is a small (maybe 6″ x 6″ x 6″) cardboard box that came in the mail. I too was desperate for something to hold the decant bottles and I just shoved them in that. They’re still there and it seems to be working fine. It lives on the bottom shelf in my refrigerator by the way.
Rapple, do you really keep them in the fridge?
Whole year or only during summer?
thanks,
Ami
All year – it started with my bottles of Guerlain extrait, and then just expanded to include everything. I live alone so I actually have more room in my refrigerator than almost anywhere else! I keep small decants of what I’m currently using in a drawer in my vanity (outside the actual bathroom area).
ohh, thanks Rapple. i have to get rid of some mayonnaise, ketchup, softdrinks and more, but my family has to understand that financially it is more important to keep my perfumes fresh instead of some food…
😀 Preach on sistah!
I sometimes think I should use sand in a box and dig my decants.
Scenty Beach….
I like that idea! 🙂
Right now, mine are sitting in a plastic box I got in a craft store. But it’s hard to find the decant I want and since the box doesn’t have dividers, they tend to fall over.
That’s pretty much what I have, too.
LOL! Or you could put them in a barrel filled with water and Bob for Perfume.
hehehehe, I like this one a lot 😀
I have started making 5 ml spray decants of all of my scents to carry in my purse for touchups and for traveling, so I have quite a few of them myself. I have some of those acrylic cosmetics organizers that have compartments for lipstick, pencils, compacts, etc. and I have noticed that the lipstick compartments are about the right size for a 5 or 10 ml decant. I need to see if I can find one made specifically for lipstick, without the other sizes of compartments.
Thank you for bringing this up– I had thought about lipstick holders, but can never find them anywhere! I have one that I have my lipsticks in (duh), but I’m about ready to let my decants hijack it. Sadly, I need more than one. A LOT more than one. 🙁 Let me know where you find yours!
Try here Miss Kitty:
http://www.organize.com/lior.html
What a great idea. Hope you don’t mind if I borrow it.
Rapple, this is SO COOL, exactly what we all need. I need to find something similiar here. thank you so much for the idea.
Glad to help! Like Miss Kitty said, my decants kind of hijacked my lipstick holder and now my lipsticks and glosses are rolling around in my drawer rather than my decants and samples (one space holds exactly four 1 ml. vials).
Excellent, Rapple! Thank you! That’s awesome. I just tried to clean the dust and… whatever (?) out of my lipstick holder, but now that I know how filthy it is, I think I’ll just spring for a bunch of these instead.
I only 25 of them!
I’m going on my 3rd-maybe 4th- cute lidded box that you can get at Michael’s, Ross etc that’s high enough for decants. My plan is to stick labels on the top so I can easily locate what I’m looking for, but that hasn’t happened yet.
I use the plastic craft boxes-I guess for beads or something- to organize my samples. Presently I go alphabetically. For the larger perfume houses like L’Artisan, Serge, and Guerlain, they have their own boxes.
I use the craft containers for my samples, too. (And I’ve also outgrown those… oh dear.) The lids never close, but it works for at least keeping things (sort of) alphabetically organized. It’s not a bad idea to try to find one that’s a little smaller for my decants. I think the scary realization that I’m coming to is that I need a second perfume cabinet. Lord have mercy.
Maybe an ammo box for shotgun shells?
I used to use (and smtmes still do) box tops and bottoms of nice, rigid perfume boxes and other boxes. But lately I’m hooked on these cool bamboo wood drawer organizers/separators in a variety of sizes. They can get pricey but can sometimes be found marked down at Home Goods.
Then you need lots of drawers…….and that’s a whole ‘nother problem….
Oh, I don’t keep them in drawers. They’re just a good size for keeping the atomizers standing upright on shelves and such.
I find I like this size:
http://thestoragestore.com/3x9bamboobox.html
Very nice!
Miss Kitty!!!!! Did it????????? 😉
<3~Tamara
Not yet! I keep poking my head out the door, but nothing so far. 🙁 The mail doesn’t usually get here until 4, so I’m giving it time…
Someone a few months ago suggested cryogenic freezer boxes – Biologix is the source I used. These lidded, white cardboard boxes with dividers come in a range of sizes – I bought one size for my small sample vials and another that works for the 5-mls and taller commercial sample sprays. I organized them alphabetically by brand and now I can actually find what I want!
Ooh– and I like the idea of ordering cryogenic freezer boxes. I’m going to pretend I’m really using them to make little tiny genetic sample popsicles. And then I’ll tell people that that’s what I’m using them for.
🙂 perfumania dons a white lab coat and serious black-rimmed glasses!
Where do you get these cryogenic boxes without ordering a 100 and paying a $100?
Biologix has packs of five – I had to read the items closely to figure that out, I admit.
nozknoz, I’m looking at the packs of 5 right now. Did you get the 81 well, the 36 well, or the 16 well ones?
I got 81 well for the 5 mls, 100 well for the usual small samples.
You could try CLP or VWR as well… my sister recommended them (she’s a lab rat), but I’ve never actually gotten around to ordering anything. A quick look shows less selection than just a year or so ago, too, unfortunately. 🙁
So many great suggestions here – I ‘m glad Ms. Kitty asked the question.
ditto : D
I store them all propped up together in nice deep empty perfume boxes…the Parfumerie Generale are particularly good! And it allows me to have them organised in seasons – my need for season-appropriateness has become really strong since I became a perfumista! No sooner did I stock up on a number of beautiful ambers and incenses, than the weather started to warm up and I just HAVE to spray the florals…SOD = Killian’s glorious Beyond Love.
SOTD is L’Artisan CdVS. Vetiver is one of my all-time favorite notes, and I LOVE this! I got a 5ml spray decant, and will probably go for a full bottle once it’s gone (or at least a good-sized split). I think anyone who likes vetiver will like this (and it’s very much unisex). On me the fruit in fairly minor, there’s a fair amount of tea, and it has that incense/woody thing going on, but I think it’s really well-balanced.
Yay, can’t wait to try it…
No SOTD yet today except for a spritz of body spray. Ran errands this morning and am thinking of heading to a friend’s pool so probably no scent other than sunscreen until this evening. Then it will probably be MPG Bahiana – got some in a split and love it for about 30 minutes, but then it’s gone : ( Read some online reviews and others mentioned it’s lack of lasting power. Otherwise it is the perfect summer scent – tropical, but a little dry so it’s not too sweet.
Egads! Please ignore my it’s/its error. It drives me crazy when other people do it so I’m horrified I did it myself!
Bahiana should be calle Bub-bye-hiana cause it disappears in a minute!
It’s a bummer, since it is very nice for that short time!
So glad to see Bahiana get a mention, I love it!
Hi everyone! I hope this all finds you doing well and enjoying the same kind of magnificent weather like we’re having here in NYC.
I have long been a fan of perfumes ever since my Mom used to wear the original Evening In Paris. I love it! As I grew up, naturally my tastes changed and I found myself disliking sweet scents and heavy florals and gravitated towards earthy, spicy, warm scents. I love how it makes me feel and I especially love when I find a scent I love that is different (and not worn by every other person) and draws positive attention, especially from men! I went through the Opiums and Tresors which were too overpowering for me but found a signature scent in Tova Nights which I wore every day (and night) for years. Then they reformulated it a few years ago (it now smells chemically with a harsh alcohol smell) and I have been searching ever since.
So, I ask you all – any recommendations? I don’t have a fortune to spend but I know a good perfume is worth it. I love woody, spicy, warm, sensual, come-hither scents and many smell good on my skin. I’ve tried a few (Narcisso Rodriguez – Allure Sensualle – Agent Provacatuer for example) and am close to being banned from Sephora because I get their samples but nothing makes me want to buy. So I figure I’ll ask those in the nose.
Thank you!
Timbuktu, Bois d’Ombrie, Bois des Iles?
How about Guerlain Vol de Nuit? It’s not as outrageously priced as some niche scents but it’s woodsy and plush and timeless and beautiful…
Seconding VdN!
Paestum Rose, OJ Orris Noir, Lumiere Noir Pour Femme, Feminite du Bois, Bois de Violette, Black Orchid and FM Musc Ravageur.
I’d recommend two of the Sonoma Scent Studio scents, and they’re very reasonably priced: Tabac Aurea and Incense Pure.
I second Sonoma Scent Studios …you may have to wait on this one though because she is not taking any orders currently. But hopefully soon!
She is doing samples though!
Aha Em….sounds like you are ripe for a takeover by Niche!!! I adore orientals too!
Have you tried Serge Lutens? He puts an oriental twist on just about all of them. Try Ambre Sultan and Fumerie Turque…I love Chene too, even though I am ultra-sensitive to the masculine vibe in a scent, for some reason this does not read that way to me.
You are all amazing!! Thank you sooo much for making the time to respond! I am going to start checking out all of your suggestions right away. Hopefully my search for my scent will be over soon! Thank you!
I looked through my notes on some of the ones I have for key words of woody/spicy/warm and here are some of the ones that popped up..Enlevement au Serail, Jungle Le Elephant, Ormonde Woman, Tilda Swinton Like This, and another vote for Timbuktu……
Hi Emilia – Fifi Chachnil and Chanel Coromandel are two of my fav come hither scents – a little spendy, but good stuff both! Also Teo Cabanil Alahine.
Hi Emilia
If you like warm and woody, have you tried Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely? It’s similar to Narcisco Rodriguez but I think a bit drier. Narcisco Rodriguez also makes a Musc for her but Body Time makes an Egyptian Musk that’s identical but you can get 1 oz for 45 dollars, (I think). I’d also recommend Estee Lauder’s Azuree and Hermes Eau de Merveilles.
SOTD: Tom Ford for Men …Yeah, I know…boring…but it’s pleasant. My latest love, (last week anyway) …Montale Aoud Blossom.
Do I need to try that Montale? I admit I sort of stopped trying their oudhs, decided I only needed so many variations…
After M7 being discontinued, and then finding out the price of the Tom Ford Oudh (which I did get to try,but i am not planning on buying soon hehhehee) I don’t even WANT to try the Montales.. I might get hooked! 🙂
The line is so huge, and the documentation on their website so lousy, that I don’t worry. I do like a few of them though…would not mind having a bottle of Aoud Roses Petals.
Yes I think you should def try it Robin. Sample coming your way. 😉
This is my first time, ever, on a perfume blog, or any, for that matter. I’m from Wyoming and I don’t think there are any other perfume freaks like me around, so this is nice. SOTD: a mix of Jo Malone’s Oud and Bergamot, Orange Blossom creme underneath, and then L’Artisan P. Verte Violette. I know it’s a lot, but I get a ton of compliments, but then, I AM surrounded by feedlots and horse turds…I have just discovered the allure of oudh. Can any of you recommend a good one, aside from the Jo Malone, which frustrates me because its lasting power (sillage?) just isn’t great. I’m desperate for guidance here. I have to say, the Summer Intense Collection of JM is really nice–i have the Iris and Dark Musk and love it. Also, I tried Caron’s Eau de Reglisse, which initially smells like it came out of a 1970’s Cosmopolitan mag, but after an hour or so, the dry down, esp. coupled with the Iris and Musk, is quite nice. Any suggestions are deeply appreciated. Grateful for a form. Have a great holiday. M.
The Montale Ouds are infamous. I’d start with those.
Ditto on the Montale Ouds. I just got Black Oud (strong with staying power so requires a light hand!) and it came with a sample of Leather Oud (wonderful smoky leather scent…mmmm).
Hello, and welcome! I think Wyoming is gorgeous…horse turds and all!
It is ungodly expensive, but I LOVE By Killian Pure Oud. Its the only oud I care for, although I have yet to try Caron’s.
Seconding BK Pure Oud, and his Rose Oud is perfect if you also like rose.
I would also suggest Tom Ford Private Blend Oud Wood.
I have Tom Ford Oud Wood and love it.
Welcome! Eau de Reglisse really grew on me too. I wasn’t crazy about it at first, but I like it very much now.
I second Dixie; the Montale Ouds are great— Queen Roses, Roses Petals, Red Flowers…. any one of those would be good starters. Or, if you want to go straight to ass-kicking oud, go for Black.
Dee, ahahah ass kickin is right! You made me laugh 🙂
Black is a bruiser but the drydown is beautiful, although I try not to get scents just for that you know? teehee
Ass kicking is good! But I do sometimes fear I don’t know how much to apply, what seasons call for what, so it’s all an experiment for me, but this is such good feedback; thanks so much!! I have much to check out!
Welcome Mough! Agree with the Tom Ford Private Blend, and you can also find a list of recent oudh fragrances in the first paragraph of this review:
https://nstperfume.com/2009/12/18/lartisan-al-oudh-fragrance-review/
I second Kilian Rose Oud, but it is mucho expensive. I have Dark Rose by Czech and Speak, and Midnight Oud by Juliette has a gun. Both of those are really nice Oud scents. Aoud Rose Petals by Montale is also “ok”… a bit sharper than say Rose Oud, and faded on me in less time as well.
welcome Mough : D
my favourite oudh is Amouage Hommage Attar, very pricy, but a tiny amount lasts forever, I bought 0.5 ml from the perfumed court a year ago and i still have some left.
Montale Aoud Queen Roses is really nice too.
Agree that Homage Attar is worth sampling and that a decant is plenty – just a touch of the dauber or two is enough!
So a close friend of mine is searching for the perfect rose fragrance. Her HG rose was Rose d’Argent, but now it’s no longer available (and I’ve never smelled it). Does anyone out there have suggestions for rose fragrances that are similar to that one? I promised her I’d try to find out.
Hmmmmmm…..the anise note is what is keeping me from making any kind of suggestion. Bvlgari Rose Essentielle and Ormonde Jayne Ta’if are spicy, but in a different way.
If she is adventurous, she could try Après L’Ondée and Annick Goutal Rose Absolue together…
What’s Rose d’Argent like? I can’t find any info/notes on it….
Have you tried Ormonde Jayne Woman? It is very warm and rich, but not overpowering. I don’t know about come-hither, but it probably depends on your taste. It is also rather unusual, not quite like anything else I have smelled. It was love at first sniff for me. Also, at ~$100 for 50 ml EdP, it is not excessively expensive.
Sorry, this comment was meant for emilia above.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a good football game watching perfume? The caveats — the game is outdoors in the heart/heat of the south in a crowded stadium. Once the weather cools a bit, picking won’t be such a problem, but today …
I’d go for something lightweight and fresh like JM White Jasmine and Mint, or good ole’ 4711or Mugler Cologne.
Verte Violette.
Oh, and Roll, Tide, Roll!
Ahhh…. the football powerhouse of the SEC. Since I root for Big Blue, I’m awaiting basketball season!
LOVE Verte Violette!
Mough isn’t it so simple, such a lovely plain Jane? 🙂
But on me it lasts and I get it enjoy it for hours.
I forgot to ask this in my post above — has anyone else tried JM English Pear & Freesia? It smells *exactly* like something else I have, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out what it is. This is going to drive me nuts!
Yes! I got a little scented wipe through the post the other day. At first I thought it NR For Her or Lovely (the musky, woodsy thing), then it dawned on me that it was Idylle (freesia + the woodsy, musky thing).
Oh, thanks, Abyss! You solved the mystery for me — it was Lovely I was thinking of, but I couldn’t remember it because my decant is hidden away somewhere. I was literally looking through samples thinking, what could it be?! I haven’t tried Idylle though, so maybe that is even more like it!
Sorry to say I smelled it and promptly forgot it…absolutely did not interest me in the least.
ScentsOTD–Demeter Pumpkin Pie and Holy Smoke with a side of Molinard Les Senteurs Vanille = Pumpkin Pie A La Mode Flambe!
Gosh, that sounds nice…
Yum!
That sounds good!
Well, it’s mid-70s here in SW Va, sunny and breezy… I broke out the SSS Tabac Aurea and spritzed just the inside of my elbow.
Ahhhhhh, Autumn in a bottle.
I’m OUT of Tabac Aurea!
Well, down to three or four sprays left.
I also misplaced my bottle of Incense Pure.
A terrible situation!
OUT of TA? Oh noes!
I keep hoping Laurie’s wrists recover soon so I can nab a small bottle of Champagne de Bois – but she is doing 2.5ml samples, so maybe that would tide you over…
I’m getting a little envious of everyone who lives where it is cool, i.e., less than 85 degrees F. The weather people are still forecasting high 80’s for us for the next 10 days at least, although even that is still cooler than it has been this summer. I am eagerly anticipating the first cold front of the season so I can wear some of my heavier scents (and so I can work out in my garden again). Now, if only someone would invent a perfume that repels fire ants.
Ack, fire ants! Where are you, Florida?
No, the Texas Gulf Coast near Houston. I ventured outside about a week ago to try to catch up on the weeding. The humidity has been low, so even though it is still 90 degrees, the heat is bearable, and the mosquitoes seem to be gone for now. Unfortunately, the fire ants are everywhere. There aren’t even any visible mounds, they just come swarming up out of the ground when the soil is disturbed. I don’t even know how to try to kill them–if I can’t see where they are, how do I know where to put the poison? I finally gave it up, but not before sustaining several dozen bites.
If someone ever does invent a perfume that repels fire ants, please let me know! It would save me from doing the fire ant dance (jump up and down while wildly flailing at your legs).
I vacationed in Scotland one year and had the horrible experience of being attacked by nearly-invisible midges. So I know where you’re coming from. Locals joked that that is how the Highland Fling originated.
LOL!
I was recently surprised by D. & S. Durga’s My Indian Childhood. I think I read about them on Indie Perfumes and also looked up Kevin’s reviews. Also inspired by March’s posts on attars and a scent strip of Tigerflag’s kewdra attar, which is a really beautiful floral note. MIC has that beautiful kewdra note grounded by a touch of what seems like chocolate, but I guess it must be patchouli. Very good and different – I plan to sample more of this range.
They are doing interesting things…there are so few true indie brands these days that they’re worth keeping an eye on.
Their website is cool, too!
Iris Silver Mist can be a difficult fragrance. I think it smells like carrots and, no matter how often I try, I can never learn to like it.
This comment didn’t post where it was meant to be!
I don’t know where this was meant to post, but will just add that I too think it smells like carrots, and I adore it! You never know what you’ll start to love, really 🙂
I got carrots, too, and rather liked it. Not enough to buy, but enough to say to myself, “I faced down The Mother of All Iris Scents and came away happy.”
SOTD= Creed “Love in Black” , and I got a compliment for smelling so “fresh”. It lasts much longer than the other Creed fragrances I have been trying lately. I know that Luca Turin wrote that this scent is rubbish, but I’m loving it.
Nice 🙂
I know I’m weeks late on this, but I saw some news stories a few weeks back on Google News about how some advisory/activist groups were encouraging the FDA to enact new guidelines that would require the listing of ALL ingredients in cosmetics; most of the news stories mentioned the new regulations were intended mainly for the perfume industry but would apply to all cosmetics. Anyone know any more about this? Pessimistic me thinks this is just the first step in officially outlawing certain compunds and ingredients (oakmoss, anyone?), but optimistic me thinks it’s just sound and fury signifying nothing. (And just think of how much more accurate counterfeit and inexpensive dupes could become… )
SotD: The Body Shop White Musk White Hot Summer edt (really wishing I’d bought the perfume oil, the edt has NO lasting power on me — it disappears after 3 to 4 hours — and my skin can make the wimpiest cologne last for upwards of 8 hours!).
Random observation and question: For a few years I was on a particular antiderpessant. Last year, I was switched to a similar drug in the same family (it’s essentially a more refined version of the compound contained in the first drug), and I noticed two days after beginning the new medication, I was perceiving the scents in my perfume collection differently (there was no diminution of smell or anosmia); a lot of scents I enjoyed suddenly were no longer as enjoyable or were just awful, and some actually repulsed me or gave me migraines.. to a T, everything just smelled *different*. On top of this, late last year, I started a new contraceptive, and the way scents smell on me actually changed. It wasn’t my perception of the scent that changed, and I didn’t fall victim to reformulation; my body chemistry changed just enough that the fumes smell differently on me now. (I’ve even had family comment on how my usual scents don’t smell the same on me anymore.) All of this is in addition to my knowledge and tastes in perfume expanding and changing. So, has anyone else had similar changes happen? and the larger question: How do I know that what I enjoy/detest today isn’t because of my altered perceptions or altered body chemistry? I’m actually somewhat hesitant to purchase any scents simply because I’m worried that if I change medications in future, my perceptions or body chemistry will again change and what I love now I will not stand two days later simply because of biochemistry or medication. (And yes, I have spoken about this with my doctor, everything is ok, I guess I just need someone else to say “There, there, it’s ok.” 😉 ) And for those who are philosophically minded, what does this say about the nature of smell and scent?
You can always buy decants rather than full bottles… that way, if something “turns” on you, you haven’t lost so much. My chemistry seems to have changed over the last few years, on its own. Lots of scents I used to really like are now far too sweet to tolerate. Pity. As for antidepressants affecting your sense of smell… yes, I’ve experienced that before. I took one many years ago that made everything taste vile: lemonade tasted as I’d imagine Lysol would, and chocolate ice cream tasted like dirt.
I know my hormonal changes make perfume smell different on me, so I think it’s pretty natural for things like that to happen. I would agree with the decant suggestion.
Dear NinaraPoll – smell is a complicated sense, maybe because it is hardwired to the brain and is such a primal instinct. It’s not surprising that medication for depression can alter one’s perceptions, since depression itself can interfere with the way you smell aromas. A friend became totally anosmic after a bereavement, and there was no physical cause. I am glad to say she is now back to normal, but I think this shows just how much our emotions and olfactory ability are intertwined. Medication, hormones, mood and illness can all affect our chemistry, so it is hardly surprising that those of us who are in tune (obsessed) with perfumes and odours will be affected hugely when something is unbalanced.
My advice is to buy small bottles and enjoy what you enjoy now! If at a later stage you don’t like them, sell them and start again. Live for the moment. And as we could probably all tell you, we fragrance fiends have fickle noses any way, and what we loved a few years ago we may now despise, and we are always searching for something different. I suppose it could be our bodies’ chemistry evolving over the years – let’s blame it on that, because then it means that we have no control over our “need” for perfume – it’s in our nature!
Keep well.
I experienced medication changing your smell many years ago, and it IS a daunting experience, so my heart goes to you.
On the other hand, my cynical self would give you this advice:
1) Make 10ml decants of all the frags you dont like anymore, for safekeeping.
2) Give away the bottles, so someone else might enjoy them ( I believe in “paying it forward”)
3) Get really happy! every persons chemistry is different, so now a whole myriad of perfumes that you may have hated in the past’or that smelled great but then turned to rancid cheese on your skin(It happens with RL Safari for men on me) may now smell GREAT on you. Go out and experiment.
4) and at last: loosen up, after all this comes AGE which will change your sense of smell and hormones time and time again, and AFTER that you may find more wonderful scents only to find them discontinued because Patrizio Bertelli just hates Jil Sander and she hates him back(Background, Feeling Man, have you no heart, Miuccia???), or some other whim of life.
My best and I hope you have a great time discovering new scents! 🙂
Well said Kaos!
Everything you mentioned I wholeheartedly agree with.
Especially the”paying it forward” I had that happen to me earlier this week by a beloved perfume pen pal that made a shitty day better, I actually cried, it touched me that she thought to give me something that she knew I loved. Very thoughtful and sweet.
Thank you Adela<3
And then I did it on Thursday to someone here and they got it yesterday and was also given that same happiness and good feelings.
It really does matter doesn't it?
To everyone here that I've ever interacted with here, thank you.
I've never 'met' any of you but I do so treasure the connection we share through loving fragrance.
It means alot to me.
thank you Tamara that was very sweet!
Smooches, Dahlink!
Hi Tamara,
So sweet of you, If I could I would give you a big hug.
I would too! 🙂
Your kindness meant so very much<3<3<3
Love- your PPP,
Tamara
Such good advice given here. Rather than repeat it, I just lend my support and wish you the best!
This is my problem as well! All the fragrances I felt “comfy” with just are not the same anymore! Hormones & contraceptives& the changes in my life. I adore fragrances, I want to explore more yet I just cannot. I have horrible headaches and I just want to literally disappear.
I could not even have coffee at times (thank God I am over it now) so I hope I will be over with this as well!
I keep looking for the signature fragrance, but I just cannot proceed. I will go crazy!!! For a long time I though I was weird but I started to accept that it is OK but I want it over NOW!
Too bad that I do not have a close friend – or even a friend 🙁 – here that I could give away the fragrances I don’t use, so I give some of them to charity. I have just moved to London and am trying to find my way here. Everyday I come up with a new fragrance that I think I can use (usually one of the old ones that I previously used) but then I say “no”.
I am starting to think that it will get better when I am emotionally more stable….. Hopefully!
Dearest Ines,
I hope you feel better soon.
I felt your unhappiness through your comment.
Without your health everything is indeed a struggle.
I know what it feels like to be lonely,I think everyone here does at times and even more so in a new place without anyone like -minded (obsessed!) in our fragrance passion and woes.
Please take heart.
Let us know when you feel more like yourself as I’m sure you will – have faith! And what scent you end up being able to fall in love with and wear once again.
Be well<3
Truly, Tamara
Hi Ines_N, I also hope you feel better soon. I think you will because you seem to want to so very badly. I bet your determination will certainly see you through this. But perhaps you are being a little hard on yourself, by trying to put on perfume everyday and then not being able to. You are torturing yourself too much. For me, it would be like baking a great big tray of chocolate praline candies or brownies everday and then having to throw them out. On day 3, I think I would have stopped baking them for awhile, perhaps a week or two or three..and then try again? Take the pressure off yourself. I know you want it to be over now so it must be enormously frustrating. And just to let you know, I am envious of you right now also. Moving to London and starting all over again – clean slate, no baggage, no friends has been a secret fantasy of mine…who knows perhaps I will retire there someday…But you always will have people here that you obviously have much in common with! Best wishes for a speedy recovery and I hope the world opens up to you very soon!
Dear Ines,
I think it makes sense that you would look for the comfort of old friends (fragrances) in a new place (London). Moving to a new place is a well-known human stressor (rated high on the stress index used by psychologists). This is a time to practice good self-care. Exercise will help. Making friends will help (I know it can be hard in a new city). Sometimes just accepting your feelings in the moment helps most of all. And your feelings make perfect sense, by the way. I will hold good thoughts for you as you navigate your health and your new place.
Dear all,
Thank you very much, I feel much much better having read your supportive comments. I do not yet know about when I am going to get over it, yet I feel better. You know, life tests us all sometimes, we always pass these tests, sometimes in the first try sometimes it takes time. I guess I am being given a harder one but I should not complain.
London is nice, “we” are getting used to each other. I had a very active job that involved lots of travel and interaction with people, so when such interaction & activity disappear from one’s life, things become a bit challenging. Thanks God that there are many things, like fragrances and their exciting world, that I get carried into a different world!
Wishing you all a nice week!
Endless and heartfelt thank yous, eveyone, for the advice and reassurance. *hugs all around* I don’t know why all these changes have been bothering me so much lately, but they have been, and I just had to vent to someone. I do feel much better now, having read the replies to my post, and am planning on soon going through my collection and seeing what I’ll keep and what I’ll pass on to my mom, cousins, and daughter of a good friend (she’s 11, and both my mom and I are trying to teach her how to be a proper lady).
Ninarapoll, thank you for this thought-provoking discussion.
Philosophically, I remember a conversation on CSI about genetics vis a vis experience, in which Gil Grissom observes, “What we are never changes. Who we are never stops changing.” Or maybe each changes the other. I hope you are keeping a scent diary!
SOTD is Profumum Olibanum, and all day long I’ve been catching myself wondering what smells so darned good… oh, it’s me!
The Olibanum was but one of the goodies that arrived on my humble doorstep this week; also appearing was my very first bell jar (I feel like I should send out new baby announcements), of Iris Silver Mist, no less! I’m not the hugest iris lover, but this one is so fantastic.
Another goody — this one unanticipated — was a little pack from Bergdorf Goodman containing the two latest By Kilian scents (Rose Oud and Love & Tears). Now, I stopped by the BG Kilian counter about a YEAR ago, cadged a few samples, but bought nothing, so I am seriously impressed. If anyone’s thinking of buying anything from this line, go to Bergdorfs! Then maybe I won’t feel so guilty for not buying anything (although I do have a spit of the lovely Pure Oud)…
Congratulations on your Bell Jar! and ISM to boot!! You’re a proud new momma. (I felt the same way about my bee bottle of Attrape Coeur, lol)
Jealous! (of your ism)
Congrats on your bell jar! That’s so exciting!
I’m thinking of buying the By Kilian Back to Black set of four little refills without the refillable bottle.
As I don’t like to dab my perfumes , I would like to buy a little atomizer. The Flo one seems a good choice because it can be used with bottles without spray cap. What do you think?
Thank you in advance 🙂
They look nice but at $15-$20 apiece that’s a bit pricey. Or are they less than that? I’d recommend going to the Perfumed Court and ordering some of their 5 or 8 ml atomizers at $1.50 apiece and some pipettes for transferring the juice. Or place an order with Accessories for Fragrance (AFF) via ebay where there’s no minimum order…
The Flo is almost 15$ and free shipping.
Thanks for the other suggestions, I’ll have a look 🙂
My Nordstrom has nice little travel sprayers for $5.
I live in Spain and there is no Nordstrom here, but thank you 🙂
I’ve ordered quantities of the 5 ml spray vials from The Perfumed Court to make decants of all my perfumes (for my purse and for travel) and have been very pleased. They have metal sprayers (not plastic) and caps, and the spray mechanism screws on, so it can be refilled many times. As Gilty mentions, they come to about $1.50 each (in lots of 5), so they won’t break your bank. They are also a nice slim shape that fits nicely into a purse. (BTW, the smaller sizes (2.5 and 1.5 ml) are all plastic, with no caps, and snap-on rather than screw-on sprayers, so I recommend the 5 ml and larger sizes.)
I’ll see how much is the shipping to Spain in The Perfume Court.
Thanks for the ideas!
today i’m wearing one million by paco rabanne. i like it alot, despite the tacky bottle!
I still have not tried that, or Lady Million — my local Sephora doesn’t have them yet.
Today is AG Encens Flamboyant day. Gorgeous scent, rapidly becoming one of my favourite Goutals.
On another note; I had a bottle of Un Jardin en Mediterranée that had turned within 2 years of purchase. I got in touch with Hermès France. They asked me to send my old bottle to them. Just over a week ago they sent me a new one. I call that excellent customer service. I was very pleasantly surprised. The new one most definitely smells better.
Indeed, excellent customer service 🙂
I think that things like that are worth the higher price.
Oh, that’s amazing — good for them! (and you)
Today I’m wearing Aqaba, which I really love. Everyone comments on how lovely I smell! 🙂
I posted this question once before but didn’t receive any replies. When I was growing up in the US, I loved the smell of Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder. At Christmastime, they sometimes released a gift set with a cologne. I have no idea if I’d like it now, but would like to try it. Is there is any fragrance that is similar to the original Cashmere Bouquet?
Is that the original Aqaba? I haven’t tried that one, but the Sands of Aqaba is on my short-list of things to buy this season.
Yes, this is the original. I sampled them all, but this one is my favorite. I also very much like Aqaba Men, too, which I also have. Sands of Aqaba runs a close third, for me.
Miriam Mirani is very thoughtful and sends cards and personal notes to her customers.
I haven’t smelled Cashmere Bouquet in years – it seems to have disappeared from stores around here. I remember it as a soft floral.
I am having a love affair with Bouche Baie by Nez a Nez. It’s very sweet and yet it has some other aspect to it that makes it darned near addictive. It also lasts FOREVER–I can still smell it on my wrist from spraying yesterday. Fortunately, I don’t think it’s a sillage monster–it’s just a pleasant little feeling I am enveloped by.
Good morning (or afternoon) all!
I live in Canada, but I am going to New York in a few weeks and am wondering if there is anywhere that offers perfume cheap.
I like the expensive niche lines, of course — Parfume Generalie, SL, Etat Libre D’O, etc. Alternatively, it would be nice to pick up a bottle of Monyette or 10 Corso Como somewhere besides the distributor or ebay.
Today? Nothing yet, but I am loving the SSS line, so I have a feeling it will be Tabac Aurea. Dying for her White Blossoms to hurry out!
AgentBetty, I don’t know of any shops in Manhattan that combine “niche” and “cheap,” alas. Aedes is of course Mecca for niche perfume shopping but unless you stumble across one or two lines on sale there, it’s all full price. MiN on Crosby Street is also great.
Some of the discounters carry a few niche lines (Parfum1 and Fragrancenet have SL for instance) so you could order and have your package shipped to the address in NYC where you’ll be staying…
Oh — genius, thanks Gilty, didn’t think of shipping. Will get on that.
I LOVE Tabac Aurea (it isn’t at all my usual type of thing, but it’s just so stunning, and so wearable)… can’t wait for the Bouquet Blanc or whatever it’s going to wind up named!
I love it more! It’s a contest and I win! 😉 Seriously though Mals, I can’t thank you enough for telling me I had to get this. It’s just gorgeous, and I get compliments on it every single time I wear it.
Hi AgentBetty,
How do you feel about oils?
According to the August 2010 issue of InStyle magazine, Gossip Girl Leighton Meester gets a custom-blended scent (white tea, fig and sandalwood oils) from the Fragrance Shop New York. Reported price is $9 for an 1/8 ounce. Can’t beat that with a bat, right?
Their Web site says “We invite you to create your own personal blend! You can come with a scent in mind, or sniff around and we can help guide you. We store your recipe on file so that you have the opportunity to recreate it, tweak it, or head in a totally different direction. We advise that you come with some time and patience, as we have over 200 scents available!”
Fragrance Shop New York
21 East 7th Street (between 2nd & 3rd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 254-8950
Late to checking if I got any replies… but yes, hurry up Bouquet Blanc! So excited!
Thanks for the Fragrance Shop New York info, I’ve made a note to definitely check that place out. I do love oils, their longevity and richness of depth.
Thank you! 🙂
Rather late to comment my smelly friends;-)
SOTD Vera Wang Bouquet which my husband got for me that I actually like and doesn’t smell sugary. Anyone in the Toronto area see Violet Eyes by Liz Taylo?. I am curious to give it a sniff.
Hope someone from Toronto will see your question, I can’t help!
After enjoying the Old Spice ads and discussions so much, I picked up a circa 1970 bottle of the cologne on ebay (there is a complete index of the bottles here: http://www.cr8on.com). Other NST commenters have noted that Old Spice was originally developed for women, and it really does remind me of some other 1930s scents that I have sampled. If only it came in perfume concentration – I’d wear this soft, spicy oriental often in cooler weather. 😉
Isn’t that a great scent? I have a nice decant and do wear it every so often.
Wow – everyone had such interesting things to say, and now with fall coming on the great orientals and woods are starting to come up in the threads. Anyhoo – I am wearing vintage Emeraude ptd to try and chill out after a looong trip with an unhappy toddler! Hope everyone has a great day off tomorrow!
Hope that toddler is chilled out by now 🙂
Hey! I hope you have all had a great week-end! I didn’t what to wear, so I decided to wear Elixir des Merveilles. Happy Labor Day everyone!
Nice choice! I wish I could wear that one, but I’m allergic (it has balsaam of peru). I’m sure you smelled fantastic!
Hi everyone,
Hope everyone is enjoying a great holiday weekend. SOTD is Cote Bastide Amber, mixed with a touch of Egyptian musk.
Sounds like a nice mix!
Between the musk and Amber, it lasted from 6pm Sunday until mid-day Monday!
I’d forgotten how affordable Cote Bastide scents can be. The Amber comes in an 8oz bottle, I think it goes for around $ 60 U.S.
Hi everyone, and happy belated labor day!
I think I’m probably too late for this thread, but would love some suggestions about what I should wear for my upcoming birthday party (it’s a big one, sadly, that ends in a zero).
Contenders include parfum de therese, fracas, EL tuberose gardenia, beige, un rose… or the perennial fallback – Leau D’Hiver.
Your wise advice most appreciated!
DJ x
My vote goes to Parfum de Thérèse 🙂
Wear whatever makes you feel good. And remember what the wise old philosopher said: “Birthdays are good for you. The people who have the most birthdays live the longest!” Or how about “A true friend is someone who remembers your birthday but forgets which one it is.”
🙂 That first quote would make a great birthday card!
I have to confess–I got that quote from a birthday card.
🙂
Happy birthday, whatever you wear!
Maybe I’m too late to the game. Maybe I’ll re-post this next week! I just tried Elle by YSL and it really reminds me of Le Feu d’Issey. I just can’t bring myself to pay what ebay sellers ask for Le Feu, although I loved every minute wearing my sample. (I wore my sample of Le Feu last fall, and now the fall-like weather is making me think of it.) With Elle, at least on the blotter, I really zero in on the sweet vitamin-like scent that made Le Feu so original. Maybe I’m hooked on Le Feu just because its discontinued. Any fans of Le Feu or Elle with comments?
Love Le Feu, and can’t bring myself to pay the going rate either. Wish they’d bring it back, even if just as a limited edition. Elle didn’t really call it to mind, but maybe I missed something!
Thanks for replying. I’ve decided to just grow up and get over Le Feu d’Issey (until the day they reintroduce it – are you listening, Miyake?).