It's here again: the annual six-week extravaganza of eating, drinking, and getting gussied up. You've rolled the lint off your black velvet, checked your supply of Spanx, and shined up your rhinestones. Now let's talk about perfume possibilities for the situations we're most likely to encounter between now and New Year's Day.
The Office Holiday Party
Lucky me, my office holiday party will be in a private room at a lively bar with my terrific coworkers. We'll be eating cake indoors while through the plate glass windows drag queens smoke cigarettes between sets at the cabaret next door. But in other jobs I've endured many a lunchtime potluck and white elephant gift exchange in the conference room carefully timed not to exceed the 45-minute lunch hour.
How best to prepare: Watch The Office holiday party specials, especially the British one.
What you want your perfume to say: "I'm feeling the holiday spirit, but in a restrained, professional way that does not include wearing a lampshade on my head." Low to moderate sillage fragrances with a slightly more conservative bent might be the best bet here. Chanel No. 5 and Natori Eau de Parfum would be ladylike choices. The new Diptypque Vetyverio would be nice, too.
Holiday Shopping
If you've already finished your shopping, you can skip ahead. The rest of you can join me in the corner where I'm putting a cold compress on my forehead and starting to panic. Would anyone notice if I gave everyone tube socks? (Once my brother called and said, "Ang, what do you want for Christmas? I have to be able to get it at the grocery store." I ended up with a fluorescent light bulb and a chopping board that year.)
How best to prepare: Vitamins, energy bars, and comprehensive lists. Or, skip the whole thing and send a meaty check to an organization helping people find food and housing. It's been a tough year for many people.
What you want your perfume to say: "I'm fast, focused, and won't burst into sobs when gridlocked in the parking garage." Alternatively: "If I hear freaking Jingle Bells one more time I'm going after Santa with a plastic icicle." For the zen approach, try a fragrance with calming, centering lavender, like Christian Dior Dune and Vero Profumo Kiki. Heck, I'd go Christmas shopping everyday if it meant I could wear the divinely elegant lavender-amber Jean Patou Moment Suprême. A cedar-infused spa scent would be good, too. Andrée Putman Préparation Parfumée and Costes come to mind. For the "move your shopping cart now or pay the consequences" mood, Piguet Bandit might do the trick.
Christmas Day and other Holiday Feasts
Spiritual matters aside, what are the holidays about if not eating and drinking? (And what's January for but vegetables and herbal tea?) I can usually count on a marathon of roast beef, tiny cupcakes, chilled seafood, sparkling wine, and hors d'oeuvres made in tartlet tins.
How best to prepare: Surrender. It's really all you can do. That and lay in some antacids.
What you want your perfume to say: "It's the longest night of the year, and I'm with people I love. And, oh, sure, I'll take another one of those." The first perfume I think of is Caron Nuit de Noel. Not only is its name perfect, but its subtle, nutty fragrance won't compete with dinner. Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles and Parfum d'Empire Wazumba would blend nicely with the Christmas tree, and Serge Lutens Chêne would suit a Solstice dinner with a big fire. The orange in Fendi Theorama, Caron Alpona, or Bois 1920 Sutra Ylang lend a wintery but celebratory feel, too.
New Year's Eve
Another year is coming to an end. Rather than dance all night, I like to have friends over for Champagne and clams casino by the fire, followed by old movies for whomever wants to stick around. I stay up late enough to see if animals really can talk while the clock strikes each of the twelve chimes of midnight. Usually the dog is already asleep.
How best to prepare: Go to the video store the day before so all the good movies won't be taken. Or, if you're going out, take a nap. Put cab money in your purse.
What you want your perfume to say: "As marvelous as this year was, next year will be even better. Life is full of crazy possibilities." Some obvious choices to wear New Year's Eve include Jean Patou Joy and Yves Saint Laurent Yvresse. If you're looking for a little nookie, I can recommend Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower or Amouage Jubilation 25. If you're planning on laughing and dancing all night, go all out with something lush and assertive like Badgley Mischka, Guerlain Nahéma, Bond No. 9 Chinatown, or, heck, Body Fantasies Sexiest Fantasies Va Va Voom!. If you're feeling introspective, maybe an incense-oriented fragrance would suit you best. Tauer Parfums Incense Rose would be beautiful, as would L'Artisan Parfumeur Dzongka, Amouage Jubilation XXV, and Sonoma Scent Studios Incense Pure. I'll be wearing XerJoff Irisss. I traded some copywriting for a bottle of it and get chills simply from smelling the inside of its cap. I can't think of a better way to bring in the new year.
What do you have to look forward to this month? And what perfume are you going to wear?
Note: image is Christmas baubles by alancleaver_2000 at flickr; some rights reserved.
I love Noël au Balcon for Christmas time.
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/detail.asp?itemid=47713
i’ll probably also start wearing CdG and CdG Standard more often as well.
What a fabulous name for a perfume! I’ll definitely check that one out.
The wood in those CdGs would be very holiday-ish to me, too.
Noel au Balcon is very nice! I need to get out my sample again, it’s definitely the right time of year. 🙂
How funny . . . I seriously JUST ordered a bottle of this from Lucky Scent this morning. A sample I had for months finally ran out, and I realized how much I missed having this delicious scent. So it’s also probably what I’ll be wearing for most of the holidays. 🙂
Congratulations on the bottle! Sounds like perfect timing.
I’ll try to fit in my recent loves and my oldies, but yes, Chinatown for New Year’s Eve would be perfect. Last year was Attrape-coeur and the one before was Black cashmere and they were great too.
My recent loves are Piguet Futur, Ormonde Jayne Ta’if (another guess for New Year’s Eve) and Tiaré and the Shalimar bottle I’ll have to ask Santa for. This one might be perfect for Christmas. I’ve loved both the edt and edp, but am tempted by the extrait, of which I couldn’t find a tester at my local Guerlain counter. What do you say Shalimar lovers? I need advice.
And you’re SO right about Vero Profumo Kiki! Calming but lively and sexy! I have something like two spritzes left in my sample and then I’ll have to buy a bottle of the extrait
I’m saving up for my bottle of Rubj EdP…
Shalimar in extrait is ALWAYS a good choice if you already love it. It is just perfectly wonderful. You don’t have to feel too bad either – you can still get the cute cute cute and still very gorgeous 1/4 oz size extrait bottle at Nordstrom and other places online for about $125, which is reasonable for a special gift that will last a long time. I should know: I gave myself the same bottle last year for Xmas!!
Thanks! I’m REALLY tempted! I’ll see what prices I can find here in Italy. And you are right, the extrait bottles are supercute
The other thing you can do is find a vintage used/empty Shalimar bottle on ebay and then fill it with whatever current formula you like and use a lot. Either way, it’s not too expensive, relatively, and still lots of fun.
Great idea! I do love the old bottle.
I second your info. A quarter ounce of a Guerlain classic is such a bargain, I think.
If you like the EdT & EdP, I would recommed trying the extrait. Now my bottle’s vintage & I’ve never sniffed the reformulation, however if you like Shalimar you can never go wrong with the extrait. I layer it with the EdT.
Delfina, Attrape-Coeur would be divine for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day! Of course, I’m eternally a Shalimar fan.
Futur is of course perfect for New Year’s Eve…
Or maybe Ce Soir ou Jamais?
Ooh! CSoJ!! I ususally reserve that for the summer, but maybe I’ll have to wear it over the holidays!
I was just thinking of the name, not the scent, but you know that wine-like note in it could be wonderful over the holidays?
Oh, yes – wine like roses – excellent. I am fortunate that CSoJ in edp wears beautifully on me – just a massive wet rose with a tad bit of that funky something-something they put in there.
If “move it or pay the consequences” is the message Bandit sends, it’s no wonder I love it so much. 🙂 Great article, Angela! For more shopping calm (as I think it was created for that very purpose?), CBIHP Just Breathe is a good choice. I think I may need to cave and finally get a sample of Chene, though I don’t dare to hope too much…Serge has not been kind to me. Fortunately, the holidays for me only involve family gatherings… and I have a laidback, pull up a chair, everyone is welcome sort of family.
Indeed. I wore Bandit to brave the mall this past weekend.
I hope it worked its magic!
“Just Breathe” is the perfect message for holiday shopping!
I’ve been wearing Nuit de Noel almost exclusively since Thanksgiving. I never wear it any other time of the year because to me it is a holiday fragrance and so I associate it solely with December. For New Years Eve I haven’t quite decided, though Yvresse may be in the running. I’ll have to see what ends up under the tree before I committ.
Good point about seeing what Christmas brings before committing to New Year’s!
There’s something so nice about being able to associate a particular fragrance with a place or a season.
I’ve been wearing Antaeus and Tabac Aurea for the past two weeks and they work wonderfully in the frozen tundra . 😉
Thanks for reminding me of Nuit de Noel, I have the extrait and would have completely forgotten to wear it!
I need someone on the internet to remind me of whats in my own closet, I feel old……………….
Tabac Aurea is wonderfully warm. I wear it a lot during the winter.
AnnS, it really is a great tobacco scent.
Angela, I forgot to add, could you expound a bit on XerJoff Irisss?
TIA
Yes, please expand – I’ve been hemming and hawing over whether to test this line….
Pretty please….. your comment gave *me* shivers. Oh! Maybe that is the weather in the teens!
Heehee, don’t want to hear grumbling about the teens… we’re headed to -5 tonight. :O Already!
Minus?!? Yikes!! We’re going down to single digits, but hey, you live in the tundra so that’s normal weather for you! 😀
yes, Boo lives in the Tundra….unfortunately, I think I do too….I hate this! I’m so cold! 🙁
I just looked @ the price on Raffy’s website. Yikes!
Oh yeah, it’s not cheap. The refill bottle is the way to go, and even that is hard on the wallet. Like I said, I traded work for perfume or I probably wouldn’t have more than a 5-ml decant.
Irisss is a big, velvety, almost glamorous Iris scent to me. (I took a brief pause there to spray some on the back of my hand–fabulous!) It sort of is to iris what Nahema is to rose, you know what I mean? Irisss and Richwood (should be coming out shortly) are my favorites of the line. I got a refill bottle, which is really expensive, but not nearly as expensive as the quartz bottle (which probably exceeds the value of my ancient pickup truck.)
Now I wish we hadn’t asked for an expansion. The iris version of Nahema? Oh lordy now I’ll have to try this one for sure!
Tabac Aurea is such a great scent! I need a bottle myself.
I know what you mean about forgetting what my perfume closet holds. I should empty it out and refill it, just to remind myself what’s in there.
Angela – we aren’t doing much this year and I do about 97% of my Xmas shopping online. Yeah! So I can wear whatever I want. However, it’s been a tad stressful at work, so I’ve been wearing AG Mandragore Pourpre A LOT since I picked it up for my b-day in November. It so borders on having an aromatherapy type effect on me that it’s keeping me all chilled out for that crazy mix of work and holiday prep that is happening now. MP still has such elegance and spice that it makes me think of frosty forests and calm serene winter wonderlands. To my sister’s for Xmas with kids I’ll probably wear something simple and warm like the Laura Mercier Ambre Passion Velvet or even Chopard Casmir. And for new years? Last year I wore Badgley Mischka b/c it smells so good with Glenlivet, which my husband and I always use to toast in the New Year’s. This year, I don’t know yet. But its likely to be something warm and sensuous like Coromandel, Coco parfum, or even FM Noir Epices.
How great that you coordinated your perfume with your husband’s toasting beverage!
I love your possibilities–they all sound so warm and comforting.
I like champage a lot, but he prefers scotch and normally I do too. It’s just easier to spend $ on one great bottle and really enjoy over the long evening. Scoth smells good with chypres too!!!
Oh yes, Scotch and a chypre sound like a match made in heaven! Add a fireplace, and I can’t imagine much better.
You’re so planned and thought out… I tend to quickly scan the top of my dresser and wear whatever grabs my attention. The only almost-definite plan I have at this point is Christmas Eve in Messe de Minuit.
Yes! Darn it, I should have remembered that one.
Messe de Minuit, how perfect.
Perfect, but therefore also obvious. I don’t like to be obvious.. but sometimes, it can’t be helped.
Really, though, it will only be obvious to those of us who know! To everyone else you’ll simply smell mysterious and contemplative and incensey.
It’s the time of year to go all out and be obvious.
Haha, good point! All about tradition this time of year, and what’s more obvious than that? 🙂
No, not really – the big plan this year is to do as little as possible. It’s just one of those years, you know? We got a 3 year old and that’s that. In my mind I’d be doing something more fabulous with one of my sadlyneglected cocktail dresses, but no chance of that this year. The frag picks are pretty much just my hubbies favorites since we’ll be spending the long evening together probably watching some silly movies or playing chess.
I can’t even imagine trying to get a babysitter for New Year’s Eve.
It would be quite easy if you lived near me! My mom instilled in me a huge fear of drunk drivers on NYE, plus I’m just a homebody by nature. I love hosting the kids at my place… a little popcorn, some sparkling fruit juice, some other snacks, and movies and games all night. It’s my idea of fun anyway (though additional adult supervision would be welcome, lol).
I was thinking of YOU trying to find a babysitter, not me! Although it sounds like you have such a great time at home, who needs one? Heck, if I were in the neighborhood I’d ask if you’d babysit ME.
Boo – it sounds lots of fun at your place! We’ll be over with sleeping bags and a suitcase full of samples to test all night! Ha ha.
Oh, and my “you” should have been “a person”. Ann, come on over. I’m well stocked with samples, and video games, and movies, and board games and puzzles… see? Homebody. 🙂 And I always over-do it with the snack food, so everyone is sure to find something.
Believe me, I’d love to come up! It can’t be much colder than the mini arctic windy weather world I live in here. I’m kind of hopeless with video games – no talent in the thumbs- but I’m always willing to try!
Noir Epices– there’s a good idea, and I have a sample of it that I need to revisit. For winter holidays (and just plain winter), Bois de Paradis is another likely choice, with that mulled-spices vibe. Maybe I’ll go nostalgic with my mother’s onetime signature scent, Youth Dew: just a TINY dab for some warm spicy cheer.
Meanwhile, I’m loving the brilliant ideas everyone’s coming up with here. Ta’if! Tolu! Sparkly aldehydes for the New Year! Scents to enhance one’s feelings of comfort and joy.
Don’t people have great ideas?
I also love your suggestion of Chinatown for New Year’s Eve, and Nuit de Noel is just so lovely. This is kind of an odd one, but Bond No. 9 Bryant Park has something pine-y to it that makes me think of Christmas, and yet is a nice contrast to a cold winter day.
And, you can’t go wrong watching the British “Office” holiday special. It makes me cry every time.
Isn’t that the one with the music video in it? I cry with laughter at that part, especially when the dove flies in the background. But yes, it is so, so sweet at the end…
Yes, that music video is hilarious! I just tear up at the Tim/Dawn stuff at the end, though. Sigh.
I’m a sucker for a happy ending, too!
I love reading everyone’s ideas! I find Jasmine very soothing and have just discovered Ilari via Indiescents, which I’m wearing now. It’s exquisite, really too nice to wear to work. It may work for Christmas – definitely for New Year’s! I’ve been wanting to try Nuit de Noel, and will seek out a decant this year. Diptyque’s Eau Duelle would be a lovely holiday scent as well – I was surprised by how cozy and warm it was.
Oh yes, Eau Duelle would be a good one! Thanks for your recommendations. It’s always nice to hear about new lines, too (at least new to me.)
I’m looking forward to a few days in the english countryside, by a roaring fire with lots of red wine and roasted goose!!! Maybe a few wintery walks at dusk, when the light is at it’s most unearthly and magical. Then back to the fire for some more red wine.
My perfume collection has reduced to a few solid reliables, as I had a massive purge early in 2010. Basically, it’s either OJ Woman, Une Rose Chypree or Musc Ravageur. Ta’if gets trotted out for the evenings. But other than that, I’ve basically been living in Musc Rav for the past year! SO……I am planning on purchasing a few L’Artisans in 2011. Passage D’Enfer, Bois Farine and Dzonghka being the top 3! I would also love Bandit extrait. Also OJ’s Champaca would go down a treat. So I have LOTS to look forward to!
OJ Woman is a constant favorite with me, and I can’t believe I forgot to mention Une Rose Chyprée! That would be a perfect holiday scent.
I love love love the sound of your holiday…
I do love so many on your lists, Angela — most of the ones I’m familiar with. There are such great scents for this time of year. I won’t break down into categories, but a few I think will fit the mood this year (or every year?):
– Mona di Orio Jabu: a rich, orange blossom oriental (wearing this today and remembering how much I love it).
– Noir Epices: becoming a holiday-time tradition for me and also one of my Holy Grails.
– Traversee du Bosphore: loukhoum is my idea of sugarplums dancing.
– Myrrhe Ardente: for channeling one of the Magi.
– Wazamba: really puts me in the Christmas mood.
– Micallef Gaiac: just because it’s so nice to have something so vanillic and woody permeating a soft sweater.
Great choices! I haven’t yet tried Jabu, but now I will make an extra effort to score a sample. It sounds so good.
Thanks to you Noir Epices is one of my favs for the holidays too. I love that TdB as well – it’s now on my must buy sometime in the future list. It is just so darned pretty!!
Aw, dancing sugarplums!
I just can’t muster any interested in TdB, though. (‘Sokay, there’s plenty to sniff. I only gave Noir Epices a cursory wear a coupla months ago, for example.)
I really like TdB but it wears really thin on me – mostly like a less sugary iris rose in drole de rose than anything else. I need to apply a lot of it to get anything from it, although that thin-ness lasts a really long time. I wish it was a little deeper, but my hubby thinks it’s “pretty” so I’m motivated. I’m hoping it will start hitting some discount locations by the time I muster up some funds to buy it. I’d rather get a FB of Nuits de Tubereuse first!
I love your list, Joe. Jabu would be perfect for New Year’s Eve, wouldn’t it?
Angela, you had me literally laughing out loud while I read this, and I was trying to do a quick read after lunch before I dove back into work! Great article!
I’ve been wearing SSS Incense Pure for the little bit of Christmas shopping that I’ve had to do (and on-line at that) – only for a few youngest nieces and nephews. Everybody else IS getting a donation to the local food pantry.
Great gravatar (although I do miss those horses)!
I think I’m going to go the donation route, too, except for a few thrift store finds that seem to match particular people on my list. There are so many people struggling to feed their families, especially now.
I try my best to save Nuit de Noel for December, but seldom manage to do so….it’s one of my favorites, and once the weather turns the slightest bit chilly, on it goes. Last year I bought a small decant of Nol de Nuit, and wore that on Christmas. For the price, I have no trouble at all keeping it for Christmas Day.
Party In Manhattan for New Years Eve….it’s my HG, so I wear it other times as well, but it’s perfect for New Years Eve, even though it’s just the husband and I!
Ugh, that should be Vol de Nuit!
I knew what you meant! That’s one of my favorites.
Lord have mercy, VOEU DE NOEL!!! Needs more caffeine….
I haven’t tried that one (the perfume, not the coffee!).
LOL! It’s an old Caron. I am a total Caronista, and I like the older musty, “Mousey Sex” stuff!
It starts off smelling exactly like gasoline on me, which is crazy but I love it, then gets down to its proper musty, inky Caron-ade.
Sounds marvelous!
Nuit de Noel is such a basic scent in so many ways that it’s a shame to save it just for the holidays. Party in Manhattan! Oh yes, that’s a good one (although maybe best for intimate gatherings, like yours.)
I wish I knew more about notes so I could identify what I love about it…the drydown, especially, makes me want to just lay down and roll in it.
Is it considered an Oriental?
Party in Manhattan? To me it’s a really skanky leather.
I should amend: “skanky” in all the best ways.
I meant the Nuit, actually….you know, I get no skank from PIM! None. Not even any indoles from the jasmine!
I get rich carnation and jasmine. I wonder if they toned down the skank after the initial release?
Maybe you have skank-swallowing skin! Or maybe it has been toned down. Or maybe I’m totally forgetting what it smells like. When I get a few minutes I’ll dig out my sample again.
Thanks Angela for yet another great article.
When doing my last minute Christmas shopping I try not to wear any scent. I don’t want any of my favorites to be associated with such a high stress situation, plus I need available wrist space available in case I decide to buy for myself–always very likely
The only scent I carry is the scent of gin comming from the emergency flask in my coat pocket
For office party I like to wear someting mysterious with incense. It keeps people guessing about your life outside of work…
For New Years Eve, it will probably be a choice between Bang (it’s on my Christmas list), L’Instant Extreme, Amouage Silver, or SL Chypre Rouge (I was finally able to get my hands on a bottle of it this past weekend)
Good point on keeping skin available for testing! I adore I’Instant Extreme and always forget about it.
Doesn’t the gin get warm?
It does…. and gets to the brain faster!
L’Instant Extreme is wonderful in a calm, soothing, warming way.
Always thinking…
“emergency flask”
I LOVE that. I think I might need one for my purse 😉
Something for your list for Santa!
Dang, Angela! Is the XerJoff Irisss that amazing?
Hugs!
I like it a lot. It’s a conservative iris, nothing wacky, but rich, luxurious, and really velvety. Super lush and not particularly rooty or fruit-juicy. If you try it, I’d love to know what you think!
Angela-Another great job!
I am going to have to cast my vote for CdG’s Red Carnation or Suzanne Lang’s Red Ginger during the holidays. I have also love bayberry candles since they remind me of Christmases when I was a kid, but I am unable to find any bayberry scents.
Office party- probably J’adore by Dior( this is a fruity/floral I like)
New Years- Vintage Samsara.
You’re right, spices are so nice over the holidays! Your comment is a good reminder.
I so enjoy your posts. I did giggle. I had no idea Dune has lavender, but I’ve been wearing it a bit lately, and it does feel calming and also holiday-like and cozy. Your list of New Years perfumes is perfect, but maybe Angel should be mentioned too, although I don’t know if I will ever wear it again. I’ll be in Alsace with in-laws and my two-year-old, visiting Christmas markets and eating foie gras, and I’ll wear Arabie or Kenzo Jungle, a less-refined Arabie, both of which shout Christmas no matter how un-sophisticated your nose.
Great, spicy scents! Arabie is so holiday-ish. Angel probably would be especially great on New Year’s Eve.
What a terrific sounding time you’ll be having!
I just got my DSH Cardamom & Khyphi today (almost killed myself getting to the UPS truck on the oddly icy driveway) but I got it! Khyphi on its own is a luscious, rich incense but add the cardamom and there’s a very uplifting almost piney note —seriously, I need to go decorate something, this is making me feel very festive! (which is a change because I was suffering an appalling lack of enthusiasm) This will be my new Holiday go-to scent!
That sounds perfect!
Last year I suffered from a real lack of holiday spirit. For the first time ever I’d decided not to get a Christmas tree. Then, three days before Christmas I was walking the dog when on a parking strip a few blocks from my house someone had set out Christmas trees with a “free” sign tacked to them. Fate intervened, and my holiday spirit was restored!
I love that! the right kind of miracle just when you need it.
Exactly!
aww, that is perfect—and you gave a lonely tree a home!
Daisy,
congrats on Cardamom and Khyphi!
(it’s on my wish list and time will tell whether I’ll find it under the tree)
But how interesting, to me it is a truly introverted fragrance, just-for-me one. I would never think of it as a to-go scent! Thanks for expanding my horizons!
Im gonna stick with the woods and spice category.
Parfum D’Empire -Wazamba
Satellite -Padparadscha
Comme Des Garcons -Jaisalmer
Sonoma Scent Studio -Fireside Intense
Every single one of those is perfect for the holidays!
Fireside Intense is a good one!
We are having some seriously cold weather here in the North of England at the moment so I dug out my sample OJ Tolu. I tried it ages ago when I first got my OJ sample set, found it too, too much and never re-visited it until now. Turns out, it’s one of those frags that required sub zero temps to work well, it’s super-plush and is a perfect fit with snow and frost.
For holidays I prefer to staying in and being generally low key and like comforting, slightly gourmand scents like my old favourite Ambre Narguile. Last year I also enjoyed Attrape Coeur and this year I’ll probably add Back To Black to that.
For New Year’s eve I like the really fuzzy aldehydes like Baghari and Bois des Îles to go with the equally fuzzy champagne/sparkling wine 😀
Gosh, I could happily wear any and all of your fragrances for the holidays!
Ambre Narguile and Tolu are so beautiful when it’s cold out. Tolu works especially well in a snowy setting.
I can imagine Tolu in the snow! Sounds so wintry and nice.
This time of year is really hot where I live so my choices may be a bit different – or maybe not! Someone commented on another discussion that coco has similar properties to vapo-rub in that it seems to open up the nasal passages. I discovered this was true, and already liking the scent I bought some that week! It doesn’t really make me gasp at the beauty, instead, strangely, it just feels very me. And on days I feel hayfevery (which is often) its my immediate choice and really helps. So that will be my shopping scent, and for when I work in the shop and need to feel competent.
I have some writing work which will continue into December and which will require concentration and stamina. I am thinking of buying CdG 2 for this. I have found a small, moderately priced bottle and the inky scent makes me feel industrious!
For when I want to feel luxurious and expansive I’m going to go for ambre russe, perhaps Christmas day. And I’m not yet sure what will combat the depressing new year anti-climax…
It’s so important to have a good fragrance for focus–I hope you do buy that CdG2. Ambre Russe is a great, warm, celebratory choice!
I made that comment about Coco, “God’s own Vicks Vaporub”, here just about a year ago. . . but I’d bet that I’m not the first or last to think it.
I do have some sniffles right now. I never thought of Coco and Vicks in the same way, but this could be the moment to test that theory.
GG, I only bought it about 2 months ago so someone may have repeated the comment, saying that he/ she thought it was the resins that did it. Angela, vicks may be more cost effective…LOL!
I do have Vicks, too. It’s potent stuff! I wonder what the IFRA would say about it.
I was thinking of AR for NYE. It’s actually my SOTD, and my 6 yr old leaned against me this morning and said “mmm, yummy smell!” What can I say, she has good taste. 😉
Good work! You’ve trained her well.
There is no training that hard-headed child in any way. She’s just a natural.
Poivre, how could I forget my beloved Poivre! Love it this time of year, too.
Another gorgeous one! You truly are a Caron lover.
Yes to Poivre! I think I wore it last year for Christmas. Perfect!
If *I* hear Jingle Bells, or Let it Snow, or Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree one more time before about Dec. 20, I’m icepicking everybody around me. Things are stressful enough right now, and needless to say, my blood pressure’s already up.
I could take the carols, but they don’t play those at my mall. Or on my radio, either. SOBs. What is WRONG with those people? I used to like Karen Carpenter, but now I HATE HER FREAKIN’ GUTS.
For calm (and clearly I need something, like five minutes ago)? Lyric. Mariella Burani. Old-style Lauren. That new lovely Mary Greenwell Plum.
For joy? Alahine. No. 5 parfum. Vanille Tonka. Iris Poudre. (Already planning on Alahine for Christmas Day, and my sample of Nuit de Noel for the night before.)
Little Drummer Boy is another one that makes me insane. Calm and joy–I’ll take some of that, too.
I’ve hated that one since I was a kid. A melody for those who hate music.
I’m adding Andy Williams to the Most Annoying Christmas Song list: iT’S The MOST. WONDERFUL TIME. OF THE YEAR…
Eeek! The earworm!
I second you on the pain of over-exposure to crappy music (an insult to the season, I say).
On a happier note, Iris Poudre! My SOTD, as it happens, on a lovely washed-clean day between rainstorms.
That’s such an elegant fragrance. Kate should wear it on her wedding day.
Angela your such a stunner! I always really love and enjoy your writing.
Well I’m pretty boring life-wise, I don’t seem to get out or do too much socially so I get my kicks from my perfumes and don’t wait for occasions to wear them, I just inhale them daily.
The usual suspects this winter are of course URC , I swear I am using this alot girl- pretty much my go-to when I’m not trying out different scents. OJ Tolu and Woman are getting attention and so is Alahine and Memoir. All big fragrances , all decadent in my mind.
I know they deserve a lavish dinner date or grand holiday party in Seattle in those condos where the whole place is celebrating and you walk around in your sophisticated cloud and cast your spell on passers-by in the windy rainy city streets.
I wish I had that life sometimes.
But they are loved by me alone (along with you guys!) and my family is getting whiffs of these beauties this season and it’s enough when my girls hug me and say I smell good.
I bet you have an amazing holiday time and do plenty of spell-casting as you are!
I adore URC, too, and plan to wear plenty this season.
Thanks Angela! I would love to think so. 😉
Reading this over I realized I need to try Natori soon, I love aldehydic florals too. How they sparkle in the chilly temps, like how snow glitters in the light.
You describe it perfectly!
Those people at that grand holiday party in Seattle are (or would be if they knew you all) jealous of your beautiful girls and hubby. You have the best life!
Rapple~ HUGS and smootches to you sweet thang!
You made me smile so big- thank you for that-really. 😀
On another random note-are you on FB babe?
Come find me if you are..<3<3<3
What is URC? And Alahine and Memoir?
Tauer Parfum Une Rose Chyprée, Teo Cabanel Alahine, Amouage Memoir.
Just ordered a decant of Nuit de Noel and Kiki. You guys are bad for my budget!
I hope you enjoy them!
Wonderful post again, Angela!
I plan to wear vintage Magie Noire for a Solstice celebration, Alahine is on deck for Christmas day with either Messe de Minuit or OJ Woman for Christmas eve. As we have a 4 year old and a 20 month old, New Year’s Eve will likely be films and snacks with my daughters then munchies and nice bourbon with my husband later
So thinking either Lubin Idole or Tabac Aurea or even SL Chergui….Choices, choices!
Happy holidays all!
Mmmm, my Idole gets a lot of wear this time of year!
Nice!
Great selections! And your celebrations sound perfect to me. While I love the idea of going out and celebrating, what I really love is cooking at home and seeing friends.
For Christmas Eve: vintage Replique. For Christmas Day: L’Occitane Eau des Vanilliers. For New Year’s Eve: hmm…something with a lot of dark patchouli–not sure what.
I don’t hear much about Replique these days, but it’s a good one!
Ooh, how about a review of Replique? Comparison of vintage and other iterations?
Great idea! I only have the new version, but if I run into any vintage I’ll definitely review them.
something by Dior or Dolce & Gabbana is always nice around the holidays and treated as classics.
Very true. A little Diorama would be terrific for New Year’s Eve.
My favorites for the Christmas time are:
Messe de Minuit (I know, I’m such a cliche)
Clair de Musc
Mary Greenwell Plum (Hi mals!!)
OJ Ta’if
CdG Avignon on husband
You’re not a cliche, you just have great taste!
This article is SNL on NST!!! :-0 Thank you!! I tend to get a crave-ing for white florals – Gardenia, Tuberose, etc – or Bal a Versailles!
White florals can be so beautiful when it’s extra chilly out. And of course Bal is gorgeous any old time!
Bal is one of my fav cold weather fragrances.
Oooh, I adore Carnal Flower when it’s really frosty. I find the cold really brings out that hyper-realistic green stem note which I adore. I decided I’m going to wear it tomorrow!
Gosh, maybe I will, too! You make it sound so good (and I know it is.)
I would love to have Carnal Flower in my collection, it is so beautiful, but I think the Malles are really too expensive.
Travel vials are a good way to go, I think, if you can find two other people to buy one from the set of 3.
I find Carnal Flower quite tricky at times but it’s pretty spectacular when it does work. And there’s something particularly luscious about it mixed with crisp, frosty air.
I only wear it very occasionally and apply sparingly so a 2ml sample is more than enough for now. I can’t see myself ever getting through an entire bottle of this stuff 😀
I’ve just discovered how much I like it! Big sigh.
Hmm… mostly shop online, so I just wear what I usually wear doing that. Other than that – it’s super-dependent on the weather. When it’s cold, like today, I pull out my beloved Burberry Brit Red that just screams Christmas to me. When it’s 80 degrees out, like Saturday, I have to go another route.
For New Year’s – we stay in, so I wear something just for the CEO, probably Citizen Queen this year. We used to go out, but fear of drunk drivers and the fireworks driving our dog nuts put a kibosh on that. If we were going out, I’d have to pick something “sparkly” like Aldehydes 44.
80 degrees! That’s so un-December.
My dog hates fireworks, too, poor guy. My neighborhood is horrible over the 4th of July–usually for at least two weeks. New Year’s Eve it isn’t so bad (I’m crossing my fingers as I write this.)
I know! And when it stays like that, Christmas has a tendency to sneak up on me – my Midwestern roots keep insisting that Christmas = cold! But it was 32 this morning and is supposed to be even colder tomorrow – of course, I think that it’s also going to be back up to 78 – 80 this weekend. Craziness.
My poor dog has to suffer through several days of fireworks at the Fourth of July and New Year’s – and sometimes other random holidays if the kids have them left over. It really annoys me because they are illegal in our city, but the police department stopped enforcing the law a few years back when we got a new mayor. Boo!
50 degree plus swings in temperature! What the heck is going on in your town? Maybe it’s punishment for all those rude folk who blow up fireworks when they shouldn’t. I can understand having one big fireworks night on July 4th. That way we could give our dogs tranquilizers to calm them down. But when it’s random and prolonged, there’s not much you can do. I just with people were more considerate of animals. Animals don’t understand that we’re not under siege, and it’s so stressful for them.
It’s craziness down here lately! The 80 degrees is fairly unusual for us at this time, but it’s supposed to be a La Niña year or something – which means that it should be warm. Except for when the Blue Northers blow in from Canada and then it’s freezing. And we all get sick from the weather changes.
But I shouldn’t complain because I know that some people are looking at below zero temps and I don’t mind the cold so much – I would just like to know what clothes to get out and what perfumes to put into heavy rotation.
It sounds to me like you’re in Texas?.. I’m in Austin TX, We had 79-85 all last week and on Saturday and Sunday it was 35-45. I’m really looking forward to some cold wheather soon so I could wear Magie Noire, URC, Aromatics, and Youth Dew, they work wonderfully in cold wheather.
Yep … in the Houston area and our weather has been weirder than usual this year. 🙂
I wore OJ Woman to Thanksgiving with the family, and it was *perfect*. For Christmas, I can’t decide!
On the one hand, the comforting warmpth of Ambre Fetiche, or Tabac Aurea, or even Havana Vanille (Vanielle Absolu…ment?) would keep me cosy no matter how stressful the day is.
On the other hand, something cheery and rosy like Coup de Foudre might help me enjoy the madness.
I can envision myself sneaking off to the bathroom to spritz extra layers of holiday spirit on 😉
I wore OJ Woman on Thanksgiving, too! Love that stuff.
You’re so lucky to have some Coup de Foudre. I wonder if you could do a little of that on one arm and something vanilla on the other? It could work well–or it could be a disaster.
CdF is lovely! You know Angela, I’ve been layering *a lot* since the weather got cooler, and with only one notable exception, have had good luck. I might try some test runs with your suggestion! In fact, Coup de Foudre might make Vanille Galante wearable for me…
Let me know how it comes out.
Angela, the story of your brother doing his Christmas shopping at the grocery store reminds me of the time I went to my father’s house for Christmas but forgot all the stocking stuffers at home… I realized my mistake at about 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and dashed out to the AM/PM Mini Market — and voila: Tampax, beef jerky, and tire gauges for all!
On a more elegant note, I went to a swanky charity party last weekend and wore Andy Tauer’s Une Rose Chypree — a pitch-perfect party scent, and potent enough not to get lost in the crowd.
Now I’m imagining Santa’s elves slaving at the North Pole to manufacture enough Tampax for stockings! So funny.
Une Rose Chypree sounds perfect for a holiday party. Maybe I’ll wear it for my office’s Christmas party.
This month I have my trip to Berlin to look forward to 😀 but I probably won’t be wearing any perfume 2bh so I guess there wasn’t a point in bringing it up. I just like to tell everyone about it because I’m looking forward to it that much.
For Christmas I will probably wear something like Ambre Russe.
ooh maybe I could wear Guerlain Tonka Imperiale (is that the almond-y one?) on Christmas.
Have fun in Berlin! I’m jealous. Ambre Russe sounds perfect.
Oh, that would be a good one, too.
Have a nice time in Berlin. Don’t know whether it is too sweet for you, but do try Joop Le Bain.
I was too quick. I meant: do try Joop Le Bain, when you are in Berlin.
This trip is a history trip, I’ll be in Berlin for 5 nights and it’s all guided, then I go to Gdansk for 1 night, Warsaw or 3 nights, Krakow for 2 nights, and Budapest for 5 nights. I do have 1 free day in Berlin (besides the day I arrive) but I don’t think I’ll do shopping that day.
But next year I’m studying abroad in Germany, in either Berlin or Dresden.
Maybe I will try it then. Does Wunderkind have a perfume? I really like the clothes. I want to check those out when I’m in Berlin, although they’re probably out of my price range XD
I have been googling, but I couldn’t find any information of Wunderkind perfume. Sorry. We have a lot of snow here at the moment, take good wintershoes with you. Have a lot of fun.
I just visited Berlin and had a fantastic two days. I was there more than 11 years ago and the city has changed immensely! I wore Bulgari Black, it kept me warm in the cold, I love the vanilla and leather.
Tam Dao is as about Christmas-y as I will get. But then again, I am jewish.
Oh yes, Tam Dao. Perfect for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, too. Jewish or not, I bet you get dragged to plenty of holiday parties. I swear, everywhere I turn there’s another Hickory Farms cheese ball.
Great essay, Angela! I’m testing Filles en Aiguilles today. It worked well for arranging holiday wrapping and cards. What an interesting fragrance!
Yet another opportunity for a holiday-themed fragrance! I’m jealous you’re so far ahead that you’re actually wrapping already. How did you like the Filles?
Angela, actually I was just putting out the wrapping paper & stuff. 🙂 I hate to wrap presents, but I’ll get to it. I just might wear Aiguilles for the actual wrapping, too, because I liked it a lot! For me, I think, it’s more of an atmospheric novelty than something I’d wear any old day. Love its piney-ness.
Oh! Well, even getting that organized is pretty darn good. It sounds like you deserve a big spray of Aiguilles for all your hard work.
I have finished my shopping Saturday, and I’m not planning to go to any parties. Last year I came down with a nasty case of influenza two days after my company’s Christmas party , and I spent the entire week of Christmas feeling absolutely abysmal. I should have known that 500 people packed together for an evening is a bad idea. We do have two Christmas Eve services at our church (
Computer gremlins!. I meant to add–(7 P.M. and 11 P.M.), for which I provide the music during communion. I have worn Nuit de Noel in the past, as it seemed appropriate. This year, I am thinking about Avignon. We are Protestant, not Catholic, and do not use incense in our services, but incense just seems right for Christmas Eve.
I’m looking forward to my office holiday party, but I have to say that for the most part these parties feel more like an obligation than like fun.
How great that you’re a musician! I bet the service is beautiful.
What a lovely assortment of suggestions. My holidays are going to be different than they ever have been, so things are all up in the air. I am not going to be traveling, not going to be with the same people I have been with since I moved out of the house. I rarely celebrate NYE in any eventful way. I think I will just wear whatever feels right for whatever is coming that day. I have so many new loves and old ones, and I know they will help me get through (not that I am anticipating a bad time, far from it).
There can be so much pressure to have some kind of world-class party on New Year’s. I really like staying home. I’d so much rather have a few friends over, then cap off the evening with a hot bath and bed. Plus, I wake up fresh as a daisy while so many other people feel awful.
Thank you, Angela, for making me laugh! Today is the day I have finally “got” Nuit de Noel, thanks to the positive comments about it here. I’ve had a bottle for three years and each December I have a single spray and think “yuk” and put it away again. Today I felt I had to give it another go, and “hooray”! it smells wonderful! Maybe I or the juice have mellowed, but I can appreciate it at last and will be wearing a lot in the next few weeks.
Regarding Ce Soir ou Jamais which you mention at the top (I know, I’m really late like the White Rabbit) – I just love its opening, but find that a few hours later I can smell stale pot-pourri – do you get that? Is there any way I can stop it????
I’m glad you had the fortitude to stick it out for Nuit de Noel!
If Ce Soir ou Jamais turns sour on you, it must be best just to swap it away. But there are lots of great rose fragrances out there.
Oh, Angela, I love your wise and witty holiday preparation advise as much as your perfume selections!
‘Tis the season for incense and spice – in addition to the perfect Nuit de Noel and Messe de Minuit, I enjoy Chanel Egoïste, Tauer’s L’Air du Désert Marocain and SL La Myrrhe. Now I just need the perfect pine scent in my stocking…
And by the way, there was a photo of Marilyn Monroe in a recent Vanity Fair with a classic Nuit de Noel in the background!
Oh, you added some good ones! Great suggestions.
I’m going to see if I can find that photo of Marilyn. It sounds good.
It was the November 2010 Vanity Fair, the cover article on MM’s secret diaries. The photo on page 166-167 shows her reading, with the NdN on a shelf behind her. Although the article “Marilyn and Her Monsters” is on the VF website, that picture is not.
Drat! I subscribe to Vanity Fair, but for some reason that issue never arrived.
“Low to moderate sillage fragrances with a slightly more conservative bent ” for the office/staff parties? That ain’t how I roll, baby! I’m going to two, and for one I’ll wear Poison, and for the other Ungaro’s Diva. Then there’s a friend’s party, and that’s a toss-up: maybe 1740 Marquis de Sade or Tabac Blond. For Christmas Day itself, I’m planning on Wrappings. New Year’s Eve is pretty low-key for me and my husband, so probably nothing that night.
All right! I’m glad you know how to do it up right for your office parties! Every party needs someone to put on the Poison.
I still haven’t tried Wrappings. This is the time of year for it.
I forgot the cheap thrill that seems suited to the solstice (though I couldn’t say why)… Pacifica’s Avalon Juniper.
Pacifica has so many great cheap thrills. That one would be a great candle, too, I bet.
I have quite a few favorites for holidays…. Let me just say that in this cold weather I am rocking my signature perfume: Sweet Oriental Dream. I just love, love, LOVE and will always love it. People say it’s too sweet, and too strong, well it actually feels like my second skin:) I will be rocking that almondy-nutty-sweet-jammy sweetness as always. For Christmas dinner I might as well indulge myself in Ambre Narguille because it’s soo gourmand and smells like an apple pie with lots of cinnamon. In the month of December I also love to wear candied, dusty orange perfumes such as Mandarine-Mandrin or Fresh’s Mandrin Amber. I also just bought a bottle of an old favorite from Ebay, Victoria’s Secret Breathless. Omg! It’s such a perfect neroli, orange blossom fragrance! I love orange Blossom and I also adore it from Serge Lutens, Fleur d’Oranger. For some reason, during the month of December, we always ate a lot of oranges, candied mandarines and juicy tangerines. My house always smelled of it during the inter months and all orange fragrances remind me of it. Yum!
You seem to love gourmand scents over the holidays! I do, too. You have lots of favorites to choose from!
Also dturing this Holiday season my parents want to visit our local Polish Roman Catholic Church, guess what I will be wearing for the mass? CdG incense, Avignon! Or maybe even Zagorsk… can’t choose better than that for a church mass!!
Great choices!
Wearing Dune again. There is the lavender! Clearly I wasn’t paying attention!