Easy as pie: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the fragrance sample you've lost somewhere and can't find, what flowers are coming up in your yard (or the pot on your windowsill?), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is DSC-5699 [cropped] by flemming. d5000 at flickr; some rights reserved.
Iris. I am having such an iris craving right now, and wholly unprecedented, too – up until about a month ago iris was nice, but not very intersting to me. Bas de Soie did it; I don’t know whether to cave and just fall for it, or sample lots of others. None of the easily available high street ones – Prada, Dior Homme, the Yves Rocher iris – quite did it for me.
Cave and buy it….especially since Parfums1 is extending their 15% off sale. But still sample other irises.
Just because you find one perfume to love does not mean that you cannot find others you like as well…..or that finding others will make you suddenly not love the first one.
Have you tried Hermes Iris Ukiyoe? Perhaps Hilde Soliani Iris? they may be good ones to try.
Definitely buy!!
Have you tried Iris 39? It’s next on my list for FB.
Le Labo’s Iris 39 is gorgeous! It is one of my top three true perfume loves. I will never be without it. But it is very different than any other iris perfume that I have ever smelled. There is nothing like it.
I loooove Iris 39, it’s so feminine, but I’ve been wearing it for a while now and I need something new but still similar to Iris 39. Any suggestions?
Do (eventually) try Chanel 28 La Pausa, and of course Iris Silver Mist.
I would get a decant and wear it, as I’m sampling other irises, but this is me.
I love many iris scents, but up until this week, I had never tried Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile. Well, wouldn’t you know, it’s my favorite of all! Definitely a full bottle coming my way!
which Iris Nobile – the edt or edp? Any extra comments about this one are greatly appreciated!
My sample is the EDT. There is said to be a note of iris petals in this one and it does seem more floral than most iris perfumes. The iris root used here seems to me to give a creamy depth to the whole thing. It is not a root-y smelling iris fragrance. I’m not good at describing fragrances, but I would sum it up as beautifully blended with a lot of depth.
I tried this yesterday, having found a shop here that stocks it. My nose was a little worn out at the time, and I only had unperfumed fingers left, but my impression was that it was much too soft for me.but it was very pretty, fresh, and not too sweet. I do need to try the e.d.p. Also, I tend to gravitate towards heavy orientals and gourmands, and have perfume-guzzling skin. Plus my sense of smell is quite blunt. So take that into account when reading my opinion.
Bas de soir does not smell good on my skin, and bois de iris is too soft on me. the only other iris I have tried is Prada’s infusion which I am in love with. I am thinking of getting 100ml of this so I can get the lotion thrown in…
perhaps I should arrange samples of others first but that would take some time and I can’t imagine liking anything more.
Iris is so amazing! Do it! Iris Pallida, Iris Taizo, Le Labo 39 as suggested is so wonderful!!!!!!!
I’m wearing Frederic Malle’s Eau d’Hiver today, despite the fact that NVa is far from L’hiver. It is the only other scent (besides Labdanum 18 of Le Labo) that my husband AND children all agree that it “smells good”. Possibly my next big splurge.
With that said, if anyone wants to pay me some money to take the almost completely full bottle of Black Rosette perfume by Strange Invisible Perfume, let me know. I’m sad to let it go, but it probably deserves a better home than my household.
L’eau d’Hiver is a gorgeous fragrance. I have a very small sample of it that I treasure, meaning I hardly wear it as much as I wish I could. It is on my fantasy bottle list. I can see why your family likes it!
FM Eau d’Hiver is on my buy list too….lovely stuff…a little on the short-lived side…so I guess it’s a good thing they offer it in a BIG bottle. hmmm there’s a body lotion in Eau d’Hiver too, isn’t there? Maybe the key is to layer them.
Hey, we all have such good taste!
You should split a set of travel sprays. 😉 I got in on a split, so am set for awhile. It is a lovely one.
Good idea!
OH I’m totally for getting a travel set and do a 3-way split. Let me know if anyone else want to be in for it!
Also – I checked, they no longer do mix travel set, so it is impossible to get all three of my current favorites without having to split with someone!
Jean-Claude Ellena made Bois Farine for L’Artisan Parfumeur about the same time he made L’Eau d’Hiver (2003), and they have a lot in common. You ought to try it, it think it’s a bit cheaper.
Thanks for the tip – I think I have a sample of bois farine somewhere from a few years ago. I’ll have to go find it.
Frederic Malle is a favorite and I’ve been wearing L’Eau D’Hiver all week. Even though it’s a supposed winter scent, it screams spring to me. As soon as my travel sprays are gone, I’m in for a FB – maybe the mondo size one. (@Daisy – the scent disappears and reappears to me, but maybe I got a little bit on my clothes.)
I think I’m in love with the whole FM line. I got a sample of Une Fleur de Cassie and I love it! It’s a dark powdery floral. The lasting power seems short… good for an hour or so. Anyone know of similar scents with better staying power?
I remember reading that it’s actually meant to be worn in warm weather, because it cools you off. As in, a breath of winter on a hot day.
Scent of the day is By Kilian Prelude To Love. I find this very enjoyable even though it’s nothing hugely original. It’s just very, very pleasant.
Speaking of perfumes that we’ve lost and can’t find – I was pretty certain that I had a sample of Diptyque Eau de Lierre and yet it’s neither in my sample drawer nor do I actually have any records of ever getting it. So it would appear that I’d imagined the whole thing and yet I was absolutely convinced (still kind of am) that I had it. Very strange. Anyone else had this happen? Is this inevitable once you get past a certain number of samples/decants/bottles?
sigh…I suspect it is inevitable….we read about and talk about so many perfumes….but I suspect that vial will turn up somewhere….someday… under the desk…under a sofa cushion….those roll-y little vials tend to find the oddest spots to hide.
Gris Clair! I went to grab it the other day to try it for the first time, and could NOT find it! I know that it’s in my sample box, but I have no desire to dump the whole thing out to find it.
I’m taking the philosophical route: it will come to ms at the right time. 🙂
I’d rather dump the vial pile and sort through it… sort of like a Christmas stocking…
Mals, I thought about it! But the thought of getting everything back in there…oh goodness me. I need to work on a better organizational system. I was quite smug with my inventiveness, until my system overflowed… 🙁
Dee, Next time you’re in the city, bring a vial, and I’ll decant some for you! Gotta spread the GC love!
Yay! I’ll take you up on that! 🙂
So there’s a chance that I might not be losing my marbles just yet? I have such a vivid memory of it – white box, picture of ivy- that it’s hard to believe that I completely made it up. Anyway, it’s not like I’m even that desperate to try it, I’m just intrigued. I’m going to be zen about it, if it’s here then it’ll show up eventually.
I went through this a few months ago, when I was looking for a sample of something I was POSITIVE I had and wanted to revisit – looked everywhere. I have a drawer full of samples as well as a couple of full boxes, so this was no easy feat. Then I remembered that I had already given the sample away – you know, paid it forward Perfumista style. 😉
LOL — I too , have spent so much time sorting and digging to find something only to realize I’ve passed it on!
I need some of Boo’s organizational skills.
I as rummaging like mad to find my Sycomore sample the other day – finally, while rummaging through my decants for something else, I found a decant of Sycomore I forgot I even had, which reminded me that I must have given my sample away.
“I’m in love, I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it!” -Buddy the Elf
I am about to inhale my wrist due to the lovely L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereouse. Next FB for sure. If anybody wants to swap me a brand new SL’s Jeux de peau shoot me an email at terriodea@gmail.com and it will go to a very, very, very happy home.
Quick aside. Elf is my favorite movie, ever.
So glad you could find a perfume that makes you feel so much joy! I’ve yet to find something so…me, though the No. 19 I’m wearing today, my favorite rainy day Spring perfume, definitely makes me smile. 🙂
19 is wonderful! 🙂
No. 19 is so pretty!!
Nuit de Tubereuse is gorgeous! I have a large decant of it, and it is definitely FBW! I love the crazy warm aroma – it smells like floral suede on my skin.
Oh yes, NdT is love love love. So glad you two found each other! I got a FB last summer on sale and I wore the heck out of it. Even my car smelled like NdT. It’s almost time to get it out again. (I like it best in hot weather.)
Where do you look for the possibility of Nuit de Tubereuse on sale? Would love to find it on sale. Every little bit helps.
Last summer you could get 20% off at Beauty Habit with a code from Oprah’s magazine. Wouldn’t it be great to see a repeat of that?
Kairos—go to Beautycafe.com —use discount code MUA to get 10% off and free shipping 🙂
but you never know—with Mother’s day coming up BeautyHabit might come across with a nice coupon code (I’m an optimist)
Daisy & Suzy Q — thank you, thank you, thank you. I am off on the hunt and if all goes well I will soon have a bottle of the glorious Nuit de Tubereuse!!!!
Moo me on MUA for a split if you like, I’m about to get one and don’t need the bottle, really only need half!
AmandaMil7
Nuit de Tubereuse is a new love of mine also. I just finished my little sample and it will be my very next FB purchase. Soon I hope.
Wearing Guerlain Vetiver, and on a massive vetiver mood. Very tempted by Annick Goutal Vetiver, such a nice scent. By the way, i got a funny habit 🙂 : i rub perfume on my hands. I really do. I don’t care much about wrists, but never skip my hands. Anyone else out there doing the same?
Not usually, but that is where I usually test new ones. Mainly bc my job is boring, and so I spend much of the day propping my chin on my hand, so I can sneak little sniffs w/o anyone noticing. 😉
The palms or the backs? Because whatever else I happen to apply it to, I always, always put scent on the backs of my hands, the ideal place for taking an unobtrusive sniff (adjust your glasses, pass the phone receiver from one hand to the other, tap a pen against your teeth), and you’re always moving your hands around doing things, which sends little eddies of fragrance around you. The perfect location.
Me too…backs of the hands, always. If I’m out shopping, I sometimes do individual fingers.
Agree with you and Boojum and Robin – testing on backs of hands is the easiest!
I used to always wear perfume to work on my fingers. When I worked in the public library, some of our patrons were a bit … odoriferous. So when I talked to them up close and personal (and some of them were lovely people- strange but lovely), I could always rest my hand on my chin, and look thoughtful. I was really smelling my SOTD. Much better than eau de gut wagon.
Oderiferous indeed! We use fabreeze…. anyone remember that great scene in the movie Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd when the rich fiancee spritzes the big guy in the police station with a small purse spray?
yep—what Boo and Pyramus said—backs of hands are great for unobtrusive sniffing during the day! Sometimes I have body creams on my hands (collateral damage from applying to other parts of the bod.) ….but then you get scent on things…like furniture, appliances, and cats…..plus I wash my hands frequently — I try to avoid too much soap on the backs but fragrance on the palms won’t last very long.
Hey, scented cats are great!
no kidding!!! I had some FM Carnal Flower body cream on my arms last night –not much, just enough to give me a boost during exercising— but my littlest cat insisted upon being held (now picture me on the elliptical trainer pacing along using only leg-power because I’m holding a cat in my arms!) she snuggled me for about 10 minutes then decided it was okay to be put down….this morning she still smells AMAZING!!!
Incidentally –hugging a 9 lb weight while on the elliptical is a bit of a work out!!! If she doesn’t want to exercise with me today, I’m gonna grab a couple free weights to carry! 😀
Only nine pounds? My cats have always been big boys and girls – the girls around twelve lbs, the guys twelve to seventeen. (No, they’re not fat indoor cats, just big and active indoor/outdoor cats).
She’s my little cat….just small all over (still a little plump from winter laziness but already thinning down for summer) we often call her baby-cat cuz her is so tiny compared to my other two. 🙂
Hair holds scent better (longer) than skin – I ALWAYS spritz the back of my neck/hair!
I second this!
I’ve actually converted a few years ago to putting fragrance on the back of my hands and the back of my wrists since I’m at work all the time typing away. Otherwise, all my fragrances would get rubbed off on my wrist-rest at my keyboard. I like also to tentatively test things I’m not sure I’ll like on the backs of my fingers – easy to wash off.
Yup, back of the hand user here… I’ve also taken to smoothing the fresh sprayed juice with my finger tips, and running those ‘rumor digits through my hair!
ooh – digits in the hair. Good idea! I particularly like getting amber-y fragrances in my hair, and I find that Traversee du Bosphore lasts much longer if I get it in my hair.
‘fumie digits! I’m glad you could decipher my spelling disaster 😉
I agree— I get much better lasting power when i get it in my hair, and I love it when I move my head and get a waft!
1. Love AG Vetiver!!
2. I just discovered the backs-of-the-hands perfume application trick! Its advantages are many, as you all have expressed here.
I wash my hands too frequently to make applying perfume worthwhile. I use perfumed body butters on my hands though, and usually high-end ones.
Funny you should mention vetiver and rubbing perfume on your hands in the same comment…. I rub a drop vetiver essential oil between the palms of my hands when I really want a good vetiver.
Yes, I do too.
I like to spray the backs of my hands with Gris Clair right before bed. I sleep with my hands wrapped around a pillow, so my hands are up near my face. I get a lovely whiff of lavender to help me fall asleep!
No SOTD as of yet because I”m on my way to a beauty event at Nordies. I have been promised perfume smelling and truffles. This could be a great day.
Also, treated myself to a potted hyacinth at the grocery store a few days ago. It has started to bloom. I love this time of year.
ooooh Fun!! I hope you come home with a bag full of samples!!!
jealous of your potted hyacinth….I have a patch of them planted in one flower bed…but so far nothing has emerged yet this year. We are weatherwise, very behind… but I suspect that my bulbs are no more. When the snow finally melted off I found the entire bed to be ravaged by ground moles. sigh….only 3 crocus …and very few daffodils peeking up from the mulch (out of HUNDREDS) 🙁
Dem dang vermins!
That’s a shame about the bulbs. I have the opposite problem–the critters plant things in my yard. Every spring there are dozens of pecan seedlings coming up courtesy of the squirrels. The ones in the lawn just get mowed down, but the ones in the flower beds have to be excavated. Really, a six-inch-high pecan seedling can have a tap root over a foot deep! Still, at least the squirrels don’t seem to care for the taste of hyacinth or daffodil bulbs.
Daisy – you do know about sticking sticks of Juicy Fruit gum down the holes to do away with the little critters, don’t you?
This is an interesting trick that i have not heard of, but given my mole problem (damn you moles!) I’m going to give it a try this year!
I can vouch that it works!
Never heard this – I wonder how that works! Does the smell drive them away, do they chew the gum instead of eating or is it poisonous to them?
From what I understand, they eat the gum and can’t digest it.
this trick never seems to work on my moles….perhaps they have dental work and eschew gum…..
not that I don’t keep trying –been thru alotta gum!!
I bought potted hyacinths a couple of weeks ago too! I like to buy them blooming and then plant them in the yard for next year’s bloom.
I bought one, but am not allowed to plant anything, and it grew enough that it’s tipping over. Think I’ll try to keep it alive through next week (yes, that’s hard for black thumbed me), then take it to my parents. They can plant it.
I do that with Easter lilies. They are about the only thing that grows well under my big pecan tree, and I now have a bed full of them. I am looking forward to seeing them bloom next month, which is their natural bloom time here when they are not forced.
You ladies are lucky. I am allergic to real life hyacinths. But I love the note in perfumes and wear it with no ill effects. same with lilies.
We have a couple clumps of hyacinth blooming in our side yard right now. Mixed bouquets of purple, lavender, fuchsia, and light pink. The scent is wonderful and very strong – too strong, I’ve found to have indoors, but love smelling them outside.
I love this time of year too. Spring is my favorite season. I get so excited to see buds on the trees!
SOTD Madame Balmain-from … oh gosh, my college days?
Saks has a gift with purchase for Killian. Somehow, I always seems to crave those black bottles more than the scents in them.
Wow, your bottle is really that old? Or you’ve just been wearing the scent that long?
(Actually, for all I know you got out of college last week)
we have mostly poppies coming up in our front garden.
I’m wearing Givenchy very irresitible fresh attitude today, I dug it out for spring/summer.
I also have Marc Jacobs Daisy on one arm and Moschino Hippy Fizz on the other. they’re all full size bottles and I don’t want Daisy or Hippy Fizz so I test sprayed them today to remember what they smell like.
I don’t like Daisy, it smells like it should smell nice but has been chemically stripped of “daring” notes and is left with the light, breezy, floral notes that still somehow smell harsh. I want to get rid of Daisy but will probably still keep Hippy Fizz= I do like it, it just lasts for about half an hour then dissapears.
Hey Owen! I was thinking of you the other day. I remembered how much you loved Guerlain Gourmand Coquin but that is sometimes hard to find in the UK —I came across something much less spendy and more readily accessible, that really reminded me of GC —Laura Mercier Marrons Glacés. Anyhow, thought I’d mention it. 🙂
aw thankyou Daisy I’ll try and hunt that down 🙂
I love Guerlain SDV too
Daisy, don’t talk to Owen, he does not like you and wants to get rid of you : ) it’s in his comment : )
hey! you’re right!
but on the other hand…I have some Daisy I’d like to get rid of as well…
😉
I left home in a rush today so I am wearing only Old Spice Pure Sport deodorant that I got at CVS while in Miami last february.
The good thing is that particular deodorant is not available here in Argentina so far, so I am smelling pretty original today! hehehehehe
It is supposedly autumn here but the days vary from mildly hot to rainy or windy (but not too cold) so the wheather here is crazy.
I am looking forward to visit an old pharmacy that has a treasure trove of discontinued fragrances. I was going to do that tomorrow, but It turned out to be one of those rare saturdays where I’ll have to work. So next saturday then… I am anxious! I think I could score some Feu d’Issey light or some other oddity from the nineties!
I hate it when work interferes with perfume hunting!!
I hope you do score some Feu d’Issey! I wore that as my sleep scent last night, and I’m a convert… 🙂
Wish I could join you on your plundering of the old pharmacy!!
Oh, how exciting, kaos.geo! Hope you find some treasures!
SOTD: LeLong Pour Femme, and I think it was a mistake. Sigh. Hate when I choose the wrong frag for the day. I just haven’t worn it and thought today would be a good day to rectify that. Not so much. This might be one I need to remove from the collection.
awww sorry Boo, especially since with your scent glue skin, you’ll be smelling it all day long! No sample vials in your bag or desk to mask it???
Boo – that happened to me the other week. It was kind of like one of those mornings when you can’t decide what to wear and before you know it there are all these clothes all over the place. It was like that but with perfume. Thankfully I am a light applyer – I ended up wearing like 5 perfumes before I left the house. I was not a happy camper.
If any good scrubbing methods worked on me, it’d be ok… but no. Usually when I’m indecisive, I just skip it; would have been preferable today. I did use just one spritz, but still.
Yesterday I was reading about L’Artisan Havana Vanille and wondering why I hadn’t even tried it yet, and thinking I ought to make a point of sampling it when I go to New York, and today I was fishing through a huge box of untried samples looking for the next thing to blog about and by god there was a vial of Havana Vanille. How could that even be? How could I not know I had it?
Tried it. Didn’t care for it (kind of cloying, not as good as Vanilia). Showered it off. Now I’m wearing Demeter Sandalwood.
The trip to New York has been moved up to early June from late September (work issues). Lots to do in NY in early June! Probably gonna get me some Jeux de Peau at Bergdorf Goodman!
How is the Demeter? I have always wanted to try some of their scents, especially some of the very odd ones (like Earthworm, etc.) but am scared that, because of the price, they will come off smelling harsh, etc.
Have you tried any others?
Have I! I own about sixty of them. Maybe more. No kidding. The line is a real mixed bag: some of them just aren’t very good, some are strange for strangeness’ sake, and some of them are unreasonably terrific. The only way to figure out which ones you’re gonna like is to sample a whooooole lot of ’em. It used to be easier when the minis were $3 for an 11-mL bottle: now they’re $6 for a half ounce.
I’d read the reviews on Makeup Alley and then order a dozen or so likely candidates. My own favourites: Vetiver (ridiculously good), Eggnog (rich cinnamon-vanilla), Waffle Cone (sweet vanilla bakery), Blue Hawaiian (orange-pineapple), Russian Leather (floral-leather), Gingerale (it smells carbonated!), Honey (not as jarring as Miel de Bois, which I also love), and Lilac (somewhat synthetic, but it has a brief and intoxicating window during which it smells EXACTLY like the real thing).
Gingerale is so perfect… it really does smell fizzy. I need to try that Egg Nog!
I used to LOVE Tomato (or was it Tomato Leaf) in the 90s, but I don’t think they make it any more. It was such a refresher!
I actually found a “Baby Powder” Demeter in a parking lot last summer. I like it enough – it actually pulls very violet to me. It does smell like baby powder, but mostly like sweet powdery violets. I was surprised.
Thanks all!
I am now properly convinced…all of the ones that sound as if they smell of wet earth seem especially appealing this time of year as I prep the garden.
Also, have always wondered about Gingerale, it being my favorite drink and all.
I also get the sense that with some of the simpler ones, they may layer well (with each other) or with some of the more complex things I already have.
I have definitely taken a liking lately to wearing one complex perfume and then choosing something light to kind of pull the perfume towards a particular facet. I used to think that this idea was downright heretical, but now…it may just be boredom with what I have, but its quite fun sometimes!
I like the Demeters I’ve tried, but they are not terribly long lasting (but for the price you can re-apply!). Gingerale is genius and I also have Hot Toddy and Wet Garden.
Most of them have no lasting power whatever: some of them literally disappear within ten minutes or so (I’m looking at you, Meyer Lemon and Earl Grey Tea). I think we Demeterphiles consider that just part of the deal, maybe even a feature—-it goes away before you can get sick of it, and then you can apply something else, and they’re so inexpensive that it’s hard to feel cheated. Some of the chocolate-based ones such as Brownie and Junior Mint hang around quite a bit longer, and the leathers are not so bad for durability, though nothing like the lasting power of a real, composed scent.
And the Gingerale really is genius: it smells so precisely like the real thing, right down to the sparkle, that people laugh out loud when they smell it, because it doesn’t seem as if it ought to be possible.
Wearing an old favorite today – PG Bois Blond. This one is good all year round for me.
I have a pot of hyacinths blooming on my kitchen counter. 17 y.o. son says they smell vinegar-y. Isn’t that odd? He’s usually quite good at scents – does anyone else find this? I’ve sniffed and sniffed, but don’t get any vinegar/acid/sourness. Funny! (I have to move them outside during the day for him.)
Boise Blonde is the first scent that made ms think I could be a signature scent person (if I had to). It’s truly lovely!
Blech, spelling! Sorry, it’s early, and my fingers are apparently too big for the keypad on an iPhone 😉
Ooo! Love Bois Blond! I have about a spray left in my decant…but mother’s day is just around the corner…hmmmmm
hello, I am taking my 19 year old son shopping for a new cologne tomorrow…but what shall we buy? He has been wearing Diptique’s fig, but wants something new, cool and interesting but not outrageously expensive. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Bulgari Black!!! Can’t go wrong with that classic, and it’s the right price 😉
hmm, nice idea, I’ve actually got some in my perfume wardrobe I might pass onto him, forgotten all about it, thanks! Ax
Hey, you might want to edit your profile…you’ve entered the URL wrong so the link for your username goes nowhere.
Thanks Robin will try now. Ax
I love Philosykos on men! Bulgari Black was a great suggestion. Another oriental that’s great on men is Chergui. And for not-outrageously-expensive there’s always Eau Sauvage.
Perfect thanks, Eau Savage had dropped off my radar but great suggestion.Ax
Chanel Antaeus? It’s dusty leather. LT suggests it’s a little dated, but it didn’t seem that way to me when I sniffed it. I think a confident young man could pull it off.
Oh that’s a very nostalgic idea, I love it but he’s only 19 so we’ll see what he thinks. we did a bit of a search today and tried the new Maison Martin Margiela, which was gorgeous and also Absinthe from Nasomatto which we loved but it’s quite pricey. Still thinking, but will try all your suggestions team, thanks!Ax
not wearing anything yet today as i’m expecting samples (wheee!) in the mail. if they don’t show up soon i’ll go find my terre de hermes.
it’s sunny, but bitterly cold and windy here. ugh. at least the snow is finally gone!
“postal anticipation” !!
Understand it well! Hope your mail arrives early today!
Finally gone here, too, but expecting more overnight. 🙁 The in-between times are just so hard. Tired of winter clothes/frags, not yet ready for spring.
I’m wearing Mariella Burani today, and hoping for spring, although weather-wise it is taking its own darn sweet time in coming. However, there are daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips coming up in my yard, and the forsythia bushes are blooming.
As a matter of fact, I did lose a fragrance sample – vintage Opium, sadly enough.
Anyone going to the Sniffapalooza Spring Fling?
Mariella! Love it.
SOTD Chamade- my daughters keep saying ‘You smell pretty, Mummy!’ I am glad they are enjoying it as I am suffering from a miserable cold and sprayed Chamade more for the mood boost of knowing it was there on a lovely spring day than actually ability to smell it- if that makes sense.
Aw – you do smell pretty, Mommy! Chamade is one of my HG fragrances and definitely one I use to transform my mood. I often wear it when I have big meetings or am not feeling well.
I find that I have to be patient and ready for a long ride when I wear Chamade. I’m not always that patient… 🙂
I love all the parts of Chamade (esp. the opening!), but enjoy it the whole way through. It’s like getting to wear three perfumes in one!
Sorry you can’t smell it but take my word for it: you smell fantastic!
Chamade is a big mood elevator for me too. HG for sure.
Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for the well-wishes! I really hope to feel better soon as it’s school holidays here for another week and my 4.5 yo and 2 yo go from best of friends to worst of enemies several times a day it seems and lately it is turning ‘me into a bit of Attilla the Mum!
I love Attilla the Mum! I’ll remember that one. 🙂
Me too. The narcissus pollen smells like spring.
My daffodils look rather miserable after a spring snow yesterday. Grape hyacinths are just starting to come up.
TGIF Everyone! SOTD is Keiko Mecheri’s Dantura Blanche. Took advantage of the sale on Posh Peasant. It’s a bit different for me, but I like it. Yesterday I mused about how fleeting perfume love can sometimes be for me. Last summer I purchased VCA’s Bois d’Iris, swooned at it’s beauty, wore it almost all the time and was certain that I would always want a bottle on my vanity table. This year I went back to it, and though still very lovely my passion has definitely cooled. I’m okay with not restocking it. Other scents are now the object of my intense focus. It’s interesting how that happens along this journey.
I find that my perfume loves are cyclical –you may find next winter that the love for Bois d’Iris is back. That’s why (at least for me) it’s important to not “unload” an unloved bottle too quickly.
I find my interests are cyclical too – between wearing what I already have, exploring new discoveries, mood, and weather, it seems like I go around in cycles. I think it’s important to hold on to those golden friends because you just never know.
Today I’m wearing Stella on my neck and Le Labo Rose 31 on my wrists. I wanted the comfort of warm rose as my head is about to explode at work – closing on a commercial tax free loan between 2 public agencies, a municipality, and using 4 attorneys? Horrible stuff. Anyhoodles….
I don’t normally lose samples in the traditional way. But about a month ago I “lost” a sample of Xerjoff Elle because when I went to put the stopper back in the top of the vial, it really wasn’t that secure. I tried to hook the vial back on the brand sample card, et voila: Elle all over the floor. I’m glad I only thought Elle is/was a really nice fragrance and not that extraordinary. But my carpet and bedroom sure smelled good for a few days.
Little question: does anyone know if Givenchy has discontinued the Les Mythiques Givenchy III?
No idea about the Ginvenchy (although I do have one of those older minis – about 4ml – that you can have if you’d like).
Funny you should mention a sample spill. Yesterday, I was playing with the original SSS Reve and the new Dream, took the vials to the bathroom at work, the Reve vial slipped out of my hand, bounced into and slid over the surface of the sink, and landed – splat (!) on the tiled floor. It must have landed on the bottom of the vial because that portion shattered and I salvaged the remains in the top half, which is now sitting on its stoppered side next to my monitor. Never ever happened to me before….
Oh wow – I rarely drop them either. What a mess! If you need any more Lieu, let me know – we can swap. I’ve got lots of it. I’m also just getting my bottle of To Dream as well. They are both so lovely! I am going to try a super experiement to layer Lieu with Champagne de Bois and see if I get a super rosey violet powdery incense fragrance!!!
You and me both! Thanks for the offer but I do have a lg bottle of the original Reves. However, if you decide you want the mini (G-III), just give a holler (you’ll find me in hotmail as mollyseb).
Thank you for the offer, but I have a nearly full GIII Les Mythiques bottle. I don’t wear it as often as I should. I just stopped seeing it at regular online shops, and was wondering if it got disc b/c of the oakmoss or something. But I dont’ see the other Les Mythiques around either….
At least the bathroom must smell terrific now!
Sadly, this is the only bathroom in our office equipped with a powerful exhaust fan….
Opera Fan – the same thing happened to me with the first tester of the classic scent – that’s how I know I love it so much: my bathroom smelled like it for two weeks!
I can’t think of a nicer fragrance to “spill” on the bathroom floor – if I HAD to choose one, of course!
Hi AnnS – they still have it on Parfum1 (and I think they are still doing the 15% off). I bought a backup bottle a few months ago, love GIII!
Thanks for the tip Dzingnut. I love it too but hardly wear it. I’m going to try and get it into rotation more this spring. I put some on this evening to enjoy while I read this looong thread. Smells like spring!
Oh man! I once lost a sample of Bois Farine because I went to sample it on my boyfriend, and he accidently moved causing the entire sample to spill all over his shirt. We were running out to dinner right after, and the smell was overwhelming and naseating. To add to it, I had also just unhappily sampled the Unicorn Spell, which was bothering me. I think the experience is what ruined BF for me.
Ugh – I can see why you don’t like it anymore!
SOTD – AG Camille and MH Fleur du Matin. Can’t believe this is the first time I’ve put on the MH since I bought it over a month ago. Has it really been that cold?
Anyway, I’m lusting after OJ’s Champaca. If anyone’s hosting a split and taking advantage of the free shipping, please let me know!
No – it has been that cold. I wore Alahine on April 12 to warm me up and cheer me up.
It has been that cold… can’t imagine FdM in chilly weather, it’d be like air conditioning.
I posted this big “spring scents” entry several weeks ago, when we’d had some nice weather, but the nice weather promptly went away. It’s my fault.
Up here, in NJ (probably in the case of Ann’s PA as well), the air temp hasn’t been too bad – it’s been the nasty cold wind. I think we’ve had one of the windiest March months I can ever recall.
I wouldn’t think of blaming you, Mals.
It’s been perpetually overcast up here in the Poconos. I am dying for some much needed sunny days!
I don’t know of anyone hosting a split, but OJ Champaca is totally lust-worthy… and if you decide to host a split, you can count me in! 🙂
Now you’re putting ideas in my head!
Hooray! I’m working on my enabler’s pis 😉
ROTFL, PIN! Pin, not Pis!
LoL!!!
Let me think it over, Dee – and I’ll contact you. A split may make Champaca affordable for me!
Happy Friday 😉
Today I’m wearing Keiko Mecheri Peau de Peche. It’s my favorite in the Spring. I’m a comfort scent kind of girl.
My lilac bush is budding. It’s the little things…
That’s a great scent, and I forget about it all winter. I should dig mine out.
ohmigosh! KM Peau de Peche has recently become a huge favorite! yummy yummy peach!
I’d go have some right now….except there’s no way I could smell it over the TF Japon Noir I just got all over my hands….lordy, this is strong…hey, my sinuses are clearing! cool.
today: le temps d’une fête, perfect…
This is on my FB list! Enjoy 🙂
the 30ml bottle goes a long way, go for it! (I hope they still have them? bought it a couple of years ago)
And it’s on my “I need a backup bottle” list! Love it.
It’s spring in a bottle; so lovely.
oh I love it too : ) was my first niche perfume
your “gateway drug”?? 🙂
Daisy, exactly. I’m an addict so it is my SOTD 🙂
I have been anosmic for an entire week due to a terrible cold. Depressing not to be able to enjoy fragrance. Achoo.
I feel your pain- hope you feel better soon!
Try something in the Angel family. I can usually smell that through the severest cold.
Oh no, get better soon!
SOTD is my sample of Knize Ten, and I am loving this, though I don’t get the iciness Kevin got. I was a bit worried because it opened with a blast that reminded me of pickle juice, but that quickly cleared away to leave a lovely floral leather. And at $70, it’s practically free! The only thing that’s holding me back is my lust for Tauer’s Zeta, which I haven’t even smelled yet.
Hey, since $100 is the new free, it’s actually cheaper than free.
Robin – it’s such a relief now I have proof on your good authority. My husband didn’t believe me when I told him the last three bottles I received in the mail didn’t cost anything. People just gave them to me because I’m soo nice!! 🙂
Ha, you tell him you SAVED money by buying those bottles. For free. For less than $100 each.
I’ll go one better than that – I’ll prove to him how well it works by buying more bottles for free. The evidence will be overwhelming.
: DDDDD
I like this concept!
It works well with another concept I was developing earlier in the day….that the presence of Lemmings in our brains suppresses our natural ability to resist new perfumes. They are Resistance Receptor Inhibitors….. *it sounds legit, so just go with it*
See? so it’s not our “fault” that we pursue so many fragrances, it’s a medical condition….plus it’s okay since many of those bottles are apparently, Free. 😉
SOTD: Chanel no22, for a bright spring day.
I’m looking over my perfume cupboard to set up a virtual yard sale: some vintage, some fun drugstore finds, some chic stuff. Anyone who’s interested can send me a message on MUA (ggperfume there too) and I’ll send you a list.
I am wearing a sample of Chloe’s Love Chloe today. I usually really like feminine powdery fragrances, FM Iris Poudre is one of my absolute faves! I am not sure why this one is not totally agreeable with me. There is one note that keeps making my nose crinkle when I smell my wrist, otherwise it’s very nice. I didn’t like the opening at all which really suprised me because I love orange citrus normally but something was “off” on those notes too. So far it has a good sillage, not big, but not a skin scent either. And I have been wearing it for almost 4 hours and its still going strong and my skin tends to eat scents like this. I really wish I could identify the note that keeps bothering me.
FD, that’s interesting—I wonder what the note is? Usually feminine powdery things don’t work for me, but for whatever reason, this one did. It must be that mystery note!!
Thanks Dee, maybe its a kind of synthetic musk scent? It is a very tin-like “chemically” smell to it. I got the same thing from Cashmere Mist and one of Annick Goutal’s but I can’t remember which one…it’s light …I don’t get it every whiff but it’s there.
Barney’s in San Francisco: What are the five fragrances I should check out?
I would definitely be checking out the L’Artisan counter.
I’d check out the i Profumi di Firenze if they have them there. Those are hard to find in the US and would be fun sniffing.
While I’ve never been to Barney’s, I looked on their website to see the lines they carry. I would check out all the stuff you can’t find at your local stores. I am drooling at all the choices! Serge, CdG, TDC, Byredo, Diptyque and Le Labo would be on my list.
Doesn’t Barneys carry Malle? I’d check out the Malles…
Yes, they do!
If you have never smelled anything by Malle, I’d use all 5 on that line.
Let the Frederic Malle person help you explore that line (Barney’s is the only place in SF that carries it). What notes do you particularly like? At the very least I think you should try Carnal Flower and Fleur de Cassie.
Wow, what a great place to start. Thanks for all the suggestions.
At my first trip, I sniffed Malle’s Vetiver Extrodinare… it is indeed extraordinaire, but it’s also done in five minutes. I also liked Musc Ravageur, but for me it’s a little too oriental/fancy. Perfect for the man who wears a skilk tie… or a kimono. 🙂
Byredo’s Accord Oud also stood out. I’m definitely going to give that one a second sniff.
S(s)OTD Vetiver Extraordinaire on one wrist, Daim Blond on the other and Field Notes From Paris further up my arm….. I am starting to work my way through the list of perfumes from my Monday Mail 🙂 What fun!! I am finalizing a sample order and thought I might try an attar from Amouage just because it’s the sort of thing I would imagine myself wearing and I think these sorts of assumptions should be challenged plus I’m curious!! But I can’t decide which one…
Oops *as it’s NOT the sort of thing I imagine myself wearing*
How do you like the ones on your arm right now?
Daim Blond isn’t working for me at all – too sweet/powdery (which is surprising because I don’t usually mind powdery) and I’m not getting any apricot (or spice) at all and it’s doing this weird thing where it’s just sitting on my skin in a lump.
Field Notes is nice… It reminds me of something but I can’t put my finger on what…
Vetiver Extraordinaire is, well, extraordinary. Luckily I’m at home because I keep having to sniff my wrist!!! I had a look to see what the notes were because I can’t distinguish them at all…. It’s just this glorious interesting smell.
Sounds like you need some VE!
Daim Blond really only works for me sometimes. And better in colder weather, I think.
And I didn’t even know that I like Vetiver!! This opens up a whole new line of smell enquiry…. Vetiver Tonka sounds intriguing….
Wearing remnants of the cuire mauresque sample i put on this morning… Im currently sampling all the serges that will soon be unavailable here and cuire is one of them. Its a lovely smooth leather with a touch of sweetness, but not fb worthy for me.
I have been having a hard time making my mind up about borneo – another serge that will soon be unavailable here. Just put a bit on this evening and it’s so gorgeous. But i dont know if i need an fb, especially now when i was planning on getting something green and light for spring… Though i get a feeling ill really regret it if the last two borneos sell while i wallow in indecision :p
That’s a tough situation Dominika—I’ve felt that pressure before: do you buy it because you may not be able to later? I say, buy what you love, and that’s all. If later you decide that you love it, you’ll find a way to acquire a bottle! 🙂
Surely there must be something on your wish list that you do love, but have been putting off buying for one reason or another?
I agree with Dee, don’t buy them if you’re not 100% positive….they’ll just be harder to get, not impossible.
Heeehheee…. I’ll play devil’s advocate then – you could always buy a bottle and then split off whatever amount you don’t want. 😉
Rapple– you are so very helpful! No wonder you have such a ginormous enabler’s pin!
I learned from a Master! 😀
wearing DKNY Woman; it sings in the same key as Gucci Envy, though envy is a green floral and DKNY Woman is a icy citrus floral. love ’em both for spring into summer.
Wearing Dior Fahrenheit under a layer of Agua de Florida for a male-female, dry-sweet, cedar-citrus split-brain effect.
hmm, is that working out as you thought it would?
If the compliments I received tonight are a good indication, this novel combination worked quite well! 🙂 Agua de Florida’s orange-blossom paired beautifully with Fahrenheit’s dry cedarwood, resulting in an inobtrusive but well-balanced composite fragrance. Score!
SOTD is Chanel #5 EDP, which I have been wearing alot – I love it. I’ve never bought a bottle of actual extrait of anything, but I think I may splurge and buy a little one of #5. Do not feel like doing any work. That photo (which looks like Meadowrue), makes me want to go home and start raking out the flowerbeds to see what’s coming up (finally). Every year I intend to draw up a plan and label what is where – and every year I forget.
You can sometimes find small bottles of No. 5 parfum on ebay for not-too-expensive… wink wink. (Patience is the key. And No. 5 parfum extrait is gorgeous.)
I agree. . . no5 is gorgeous in extrait.
Dzingnut – No 5 parfum is wonderful stuff. I like both the current and vintage. Mals is right – you can normally find No 5 parfum on ebay for really good prices, esp. if you get a used/vintage bottle.
Right now I’ve got five different things on. Yep, my Lucky Scent sample order just arrived. On my left arm are Coup de Foudre, Untitled #6 and Untitled #7. On my right are L’Inspiratrice and Zeta. The Tauers have been frustrating for me. I really want to like one of them, but so far none have worked. Zeta seems really nice, though, a sweet-but-not-too-sweet floral that seems really fitting for the late spring weather we are having. L’Inspiratrice I am undecided about. The rose seems to fade in and out, and I like it much better when the rose is there. Untitled #7 smells very gourmand, almost edible, and that is not really my type. #6, however, is a surprise. I was expecting a wallop of patchouli, and a very heavy fragrance overall, based on the notes, but it is much sheerer than I expected. The patch is there, so if you hate patch, skip this one, but if you are undecided about it, you might give this one a try. I really is not overpowering. As for Coup de Foudre, I fear I may fall hard for this one. I had been on a quest for a really good rose scent recently, and chose Oha, which I love, love, love, but suspect may not work so well in really hot weather. CdF is
(computer gremlins!) …much lighter and I may *need* to get this for my summer rose fix.
Happy that Coup de Foudre is getting some love! It’s so pretty!
CdF *is* really pretty. Unfortunately, I was soooo annoyed at the poor lasting power on me that I swapped away my decant. (Seriously, two hours? Is that all?)
I’ll have to make of note of the lasting power. I have scent-eating skin, so on me, two hours is not terribly bad. If your two hours turns into one hour or less on me, then that is not so good. Three or four hours is about the most I get, except for perfume oils, which seem to last forever, or until the next shower.
50, it’s a shame we can’t blend. I have scent glue skin instead, so “short-lived” on me generally means “only” 6-8 hours. Annoying when you make a bad ‘fume choice.
Boo–I don’t envy you. I used to lament my perfume-eating skin until I starting reading about the challenges of scent glue skin like yours. I definitely feel that I have the better problem. It is easier to reapply something that has faded than to scrub off something that has overstayed its welcome. I do draw the line, though, at about two hours, unless it is either something very cheap (like a Demeter) or something like an eau de Cologne, where you really don’t expect longevity. Many natural perfumes are no-go for me, as they combine high prices with fleetingness.
I really like the CdF. Received a sample in a recent order and was pleasantly surprized at how pretty it is yet still interesting. I need to order a spray sample before purchasing… a little dab just won’t do! Plus, I’ll prob wait a month or so and try when it’s hot hot hot outside. Not ready for summer in TX yet… I want to enjoy my spring perfumes more!
I’m thinking I may save most of the vial until June and try it in the heat. If it works, I may “need” to buy it. Its hard to find things that work in a TX summer that aren’t just citrus or “fresh”.
Have you tried Aliage? If you like galbanum, it’s great for hot, dry weather. I don’t live in a humid summer climate, so don’t know how it would work for the swampy South. Are you in a dry part of Texas or a humid part?
I’m in the Houston area, so it is VERY humid here for most of the year. The only dry weather we get is in the winter sometimes. I have not tried Aliage, but I am interested since reading the review on Yesterday’s Perfume (I would want vintage, though).
‘Roses, both vintage and current Aliage please my nose (I have both in my stash). By all means, try the current if you can’t find vintage.
‘Roses, both vintage and current Aliage please my nose (I have both in my stash). By all means, try the current if you can’t find vintage.
Roses, I think that you and I have similar taste (I have a bottle of CdF in my cabinet right now!), and for Tauer’s, the only one I’ve fallen for is outside my typical genre—Reverie au Jardin. I wanted to love URV, because like you I LOVE roses, but it just didn’t sing for me.
If you can get a sample of RaJ, I’d highly recommend it! 🙂
It’s my favorite too, though URC is also nice. And I was lucky enough to win a bottle of his Cologne du Maghreb, which I love.
Ohhh, that’s right! I’m so glad you won a bottle—although I’ll admit I am jealous! I get the feeling that that one and I would have made beautiful music together… *sigh*
I will add RaJ to my next sample order then. URV was one that didn’t work for me, it was just too fruity and meh. L’eau d’Epices didn’t seem to have much spice in it, unfortunately. Lonestar Memories was interesting, but seemed more of an olfactory experience than a wearable perfume. Ditto for L’Air du Desert Marocain. I liked it for about 15 or 20 minutes, but then I just got tired of it. I think I would like it better scenting the air than my skin. Have you tried Carillon Pour un Ange? It seems to be very polarizing, but I like LOV, so I need to try this sometime.
I liked URV, but I also thought that it was too fruity—I think my skin amped the raspberry jam effect, and that’s really all I got! I haven’t tried Epices yet, but it’s on my list!
RaJ came as such a surprise to me, and I just wore it a couple days ago, and was surprised all over again—it’s potent, and tenacious, but subtle at the same time. If you do try it, I’d love to hear what you think! 🙂
Is untitled #7 the civety one?
No, that’s #8 (#6 is aged patchouli and #7 is citrus/vanilla/sandalwood.) I also got a sample of #8 but haven’t actually put in on skin yet. I just took the stopper out of the vial and sniffed. The first thought that came to my mind was “portable toilet”. I don’t know if it will improve any o skin. I think when I test it, it will need to be sometime when I am able to take a shower shortly afterward if necessary.
Wow! Lol.
I read a blog article recently on layering scents and thought it would be interesting to know if anyone had any favorite combos.
I often wear Dzing! and Mimosa Poir Moi together. I realized I’ve been layering these so often that a spritz of MPM doesn’t smell “right” to me without the depth added with Dzing.
Anyone else like to mix scents?
Wow- this sounds really interesting. I’m enjoying MPM on its own but will try your combination when I get a sample of Dzing!
CM – I like to layer scents and I now often wear more than one fragrance at the same time to keep my nose fresh (one on the neck one on wrists). My fav layering combos are the following Joy edp and Apres L’Ondee (courtesy of OperaFan (I think) who suggested this combo last year). Joy gives AL’O some gravity. Another fav is Goutal’s Vanille Exquise and Ce Soir ou Jamais. They become the perfect woody rose – something about the gaiac in VE really grounds CSOJ.
These sound great, esp the Apres L’Ondee + Joy. Joy is more floral than I typically wear (but beautiful indeed), and I like the idea of layering with an all time favorite Apres L’Ondee. Plus, you get to wear 2 of the most beautiful fragrances ever made… at the same time! Double-y beautiful! I think I will try this right now!
Happy Friday everyone!
I have a tiny droplet of Vero Profumo’s Rubj (extrait) on my arm and love it. It’s everything I want in a floral perfume… aside from the price, that is. I really wish the EDP smelled closer to the extrait because I HATE cumin.
Does anyone know something that may smell similar to Rubj? I’m hopelessly smitten but can’t afford a bottle right now… 🙁
Oh yes, its a real masterpiece…and hence I can’t think of anything much that it resembles, except, it sort of ‘fits’ the same spot as Poison
to me. It doesn’t smell the same, but there is something.
The other thing is its very ‘hippie’ to this old art student…maybe the headshop oils, mukhallets, Spiritual Skys???
samples arrived. (now i have to exercise ALL my will power not to try them all at once.)
for today it’s earthworm and black march. earthworm…..hmmmm. very much as advertised. i’m not scrubbing, but i’m not loving.
but, whoa — “black march” is fab.
sample days are the best!
Those ARE the best days! Hope you enjoy them all! 🙂
samples make me happy! but i do like to (um…..try to) ration them out instead of having a sample-thon the day they arrive.
but now i’m heading for some bois des iles for the rest of the day.
Spring is trying to come to Maine, and it’s sunny, but COLD. So, SOTD is Patchouli 24. Sometimes you just need to smell warm and smoky. Or I do!
Another Meg!?! *gasp* Should we joust?!
SOTD is Kelly Caleche. I don’t detect any leather in this, but enjoy it as a nice springy fragrance.
As for flowers, our star jasmine is about it right now. It’s so lovely as it’s right in front of our door, so I smell it every time I enter or leave the house. Our loquat tree is starting to fruit now, so now I get to figure out what to do with all these loquats! I do hate seeing fruit go to waste, especially when it’s free.
What do they taste like? I have never eaten a loquat. If I had fruit I didn’t need, I could take it to work and leave it in the lunchroom. The rule is that anything left on the table in there is free for the taking. People will bring in oranges, grapefruit, lemons, tomatoes, corn, squash, you name it. I hate waste too. There is a house I pass by sometimes that has two orange trees in the front yard, and every year the people there let the oranges fall on the ground and rot. It just kills me. They could at least put them in a box at the curb with a sign saying “free oranges” and let people take them. Or they could donate them to one of the food pantries around here.
They are pretty mild, kinda like an apricot or plum. Hard to describe, but delicious! They bruise very easily, so I imagine that is why they aren’t sold in stores or markets. I tried leaving them in the lunchroom at work last year – I even put a sign up with “LOQUATS – they’re delicious” – but people were hesitant to taken them since they didn’t know what they were. I’ll try again!
And people around the corner have a loquat tree as well, and all of the fruit just rots. Makes me sad, but I’m sure the birds and possums are happy (we used to have one that visited our tree often). Being here in Southern California, there are fruit trees all over the place and a lot of the fruit goes to waste – such a shame!
I’d eat them if I were there! I love loquats.
I think of them as being like a cross between rock melon and an apricot in texture and almost the same rich colour flesh. The taste is kind of like that too but more tangy and they can get very sweet. Apparently there are other varieties that taste different.
The trees when flowering give off a delicate perfume (it’s autumn here and the flowers are about to open) and attract a lot of bees, which I like to see probably because I’ve not had a bad reaction to stings. As others have mentioned, the fruit feeds a lot of animals too. Our rabbit loved them, especially a bit rotten (the booze lover!), but we notice in particular lots of different birds feasting on them.
If you can get hold of the fruit, the seeds grow very easily. They pop up in our back yard all over the place.
It’s well worth trying to grow one.
Do you can?
We had a canning party with a friend who didn’t know how, and the university extension offices will teach you, I believe. People often hate canning when it’s hot though and I can understand.
Yes, Warum, that was going to be my suggestion, too! Loquats are popular for canning, I believe. I find that as long as I keep myself to only a batch or two at a time, I can do my canning in the morning before it gets too hot to handle the steam from the water bath.
I did freezer jam last year and will probably do some again this year, but you have to peel and seed them first, so that part takes forever!
After wearing Robert Piguet’s Futur yesterday for testing purposes, I grabbed my tried-and-true, elegant-but-homey Stetson Original. I needed to believe in beautiful perfume again.
I love Stetson! It’s such a beautiful oriental; whenever I pass it in the drugstore, I think about buying it—I think I need a mini (gods know a drop goes FAR with this one 😉 )
Oh no! You didn’t like Futur? It’s one of my top ten – love the galbanum and soft jasmine, it just sings of Spring to me.
Happy weekend everybody! I have a little problem – perhaps someone can advise me…I droppped my lovely bottle of Balenciaga Paris – luckily did not smash but now it will not spray – it;s more of a full on powerful squirt! Any ideas how it might be fixed will be appreciated.
Bejoux, I’m so sorry about your incident! Have you tried popping off the top of the spray mechanism (if it pops off) and re-affixing it? Possibly it’s just jammed. Good luck with that!
Bejoux – sorry to hear about your bottle. Perhaps you can reposition the nozzle part as suggested above. But if it’s a real problem, you may have to decant it into another bottle. There isn’t much you can do with the commercial sprayers as they are crimped on. But if you did switch bottles, you could always put your empty BP bottle out for display. Good luck.
I’ve been road-testing my delivery of samples from SSS – at the moment Lieu de Reves could be FB worthy, but I’m also pretty fond of Winter Woods.
I wore MDCI Un Coeur en Mai to work today – lovely! Thankfully for my purse, not FB lovely.
In the garden, my LOTV’s are now past their best, but I’ve planted more for next year. My Osmanthus has just opened it’s first bloom, and the Magnolia tree is just about to unfurl.
Since we’re now in spring season, I think you’ll get more mileage if you get the LdR first. 😉
Oh no, that’s enabling talk !
x
Here’s some double enabling: I have a bottle of LdR and To Dream because they are both so lovely. And you need Voile de Violette for spring too!! Ha, ha – good luck deciding. At least you have the choice of those lovely 2.5 ml samples to tide you over if you can’t make up your mind.
Go for Lieu de Reves. It’s beautiful.
I can see a little 17ml in my future! I wish there was a body silk and cream to match…that would be heaven.
Do the trick of spritzing some LdR into a glob of unscented lotion in your hand. Voila! An LdR scented lotion!
Similar to Rapple’s suggestion – What I’ve done with SSS scents, because they’re so rich, is to spritz the perfume into a small jar of naturally unscented* cream or lotion from the healthfood store and let it sit for a few days. It turns the blend into a nicely scented moisturizer.
*I indicated “naturally unscented” because the commercial brands can actually use an additive to literally remove existing scents and that may also neutralize some of your perfume.
Excellent point about “naturally unscented”! Since I do all of my shopping at a Food Co-Op, I didn’t think of that.
Osmanthus – how exciting to smell the real thing, kizzers!
SOTD is vintage Coty Imprevu – lovely, have been huffing my wrist since the mail came with my ebay goodies.
I am waiting on a Lucky Scent order of samples, including several Amouage perfumes (Lyric, both Jubilation’s, Epic) since I hadn’t tried any of their fragrances because they are SO expensive – but I can afford samples!
Also got samples of Daphne Guinness, Citizen Queen, Amoureuse and a few others I’ve been curious about – so if it doesn’t come in the mail tomorrow my weekend will feel pretty flat.
Oooo…. enjoy those Amouage samples! I just adore Lyric…
Amouage and CQ? What good taste you have! 😉
All really nice choices! I like Amoureuse – it is really neat stuff.
I had to sample the Amoureuse after all the love its gotten on NST! Actually all the samples I ordered people had commented on at one time or another.
That’s what makes this group so much fun!
I think all the fun is what keeps us interested! It’s like the greatest no-calorie food bar in the world. All the happy sniffing you can imagine. Amoureuse is one of my favorite uses of lily of all fragrances. I was trying to get my hands on a bottle last year, and may revive that goal this summer…. I need to get through my decant first.
I love that – “the greatest no-calorie food bar in the world.” 🙂
SOTD is Crazylibellule Chere Louise. Haven’t worn this in a while and it’s so lovely.
That was the one of the Les Garconnes series that grabbed my attention, but I never bought one…
Wearing SMN Fieno…love it! Any other SMN that I should try?
My Jeux de Peau should be at home when I get there!!!!
That is a nice one. I also love Eva & the one called Queens Cologne / Acqua di Colonia.
I remember liking Toscana, which I remember being sort of dense (in a good way) like the Fiero.
SNM Melograno is very distinctive and Nostalgia has fans, too.
I love Fieno, too! Ginestra is another fave in that line.
No SOTD today because I’m going to Bloomingdales @ lunch. I absolutely love violet scents. I have Daisy & Balenciaga Paris (swoon). Any suggestions for others to try out today! I’m in So Cal so I’d like to find one I can wear when it gets really go, too. Thanks!
That is when it get really hot. 😉 That’s what happens when I try to be stealthy at my desk.
I highly recommend SSS Voile de Violette – a beautiful leafy green violet scent.
2nd VdV – it’s my fav violet. It is so natural and fresh, and never gets that weird plasticky or overly sweet thing that other violets get.
Rose/Violet combos: JHAG Citizen Queen, and Etat Libre d’Orange Putain des Palaces! Both beautiful fragrances, and if you like Balenciaga Paris, I think that you’d like both of those 🙂
Maybe I’ll finally find a way to successfully wear a rose scent. Thanks
You might try AG La Violette. It is a very fresh, slightly green violet. You might also try Guerlain Meteorites (discontinued, but you can find it online) or, depending on how you feel about anise, Caron Aimez-Moi.
Thanks so much. These sound lovely. I’m a big fan of anise- will have to try Aimez-Moi.
L’Artisan Verte Violette is my favorite violet…I’m in SoCal, too, and it’s one of my hot weather favorites. It even works under Santa Ana wind conditions!
Is Hermes discontinuing Osmanthe Yunnan? It is no longer on the Hermes US site.
SOTD is AG Eau du Fier, sadly discontinued.
Hermes always removes things when they’re out of stock and then puts them back when they’ve got more available. It makes me crazy.
I hope you are right and it is only oos. I don’t have a backup bottle.
I wouldn’t worry. I’d be surprised if it wasn’t one of the better smelling Hermessences. And Fier, BTW, is also still sold, I think — just only in Paris.
Heehee… what a fun Freudian slip!
LOL!!! Yes, showing my prejudices.
I am in love!! How beautiful life is when you fall in love! Coney Island blew my mind away! I finally have a sample of it, why did it take me so long to finally try it? I don’t know. Well, I love lemons and limes but I prefer them on my plate – citrus perfume just never seems to hit the spot. I thought there would be two options with Coney Island – I either love it as much as I love to consume lemon and lime wedges, or Iabsolutely hate it like most of the too high-pitched generic smelling citrus fragrances.
As me about my favorite orange/mandarin perfume and I have an answer for you. Little Italy of course! It smells so juicy, mouth-watering and it never becomes dull after top notes fade away. It just sparkles and sparkles on my skin. Well, Coney Island does the same thing but with lemons and limes. It is the smell of my childhood, hot summers, lemon posicles and caramel candy shared with my pals at the playground. it’s bottled happiness! Oh, how worried I was I could possibly get so dissapointed… and then I would never trust me perfume-intuition like that again.
What many of you say… what does margarita mix have to do with rollercoaster rides? Well, a lot. Both are fun. Seriously, the first thing that came to my mind when I dabbed my sample of Coney Island was… how could Bond no.9 be so accurate when recreating “fun” in liquid form? How can you actually bottle happines and smiles? I really don’t know how, but Bond no.9 has done exactly that. After enjoying some orange fragrances, and finding my favorite ones, I thought I’d never find the right lemone-y citrus for me.
First it’s lemon popsicles consumed in large quantities on the hottest of the hottest summers. Then it’s as bubbly and sparkling as my favorite soft drink – club soda with lime. Then it’s an amazing twist of cinnamon – I adore that combo – citrus & spice. Then it’s a lemon sorbet and caramel candy. Wow, I love it, love it, LOVE it! It’s really the smell of my happy smile:)
Oh, how awesome, good for you! Is that your next buy?
You bet, Robin! That’s my next buy from Bond no.9’s website. We also have a boutique downtown that carries some of the Bond no.9 fragrances, and of course they don’t ever have Coney Island on their counter (that’s why the website is the only way) that I am going to go shopping to with my fiance (they’ve got some nice, high-end clothes, shoes, sunglasses, jewelry etc.) he will be getting a purse for his mom and he promised to buy me a perfume from there when we go shopping. He will also be getting himself a bottle of Bleecker Street and a bottle for me. The lady will give us a good deal for 2 bottles – better deal than directly from their website! There are two that I’m very interested in: Fire Island and Eau de Noho. I’ve known and really liked Fire Island for a while now, but never got a bottle yet. It was also the first time today when I tried Eau de Noho – and adored it so much! OMG which one should I get: Fire Island or Eau de Noho? P.S. My fiance prefered Fire Island.
Oh, nice that they will give you a deal for 2 bottles! Don’t know which you should get, though…but Fire Island might be more fun for summer?
Hallo!
My perfume today is Apres L’Ondee… It has been sunny in London, so, I gave it a try! I get such pleasant wafts of roses, violets, and carnations… Actually this perfume made me develop a new love for carnations, and I have got a question: which would you recommend Comme de Garcons or Caron Bellodgia?
Thank you!
Funny, I don’t get the carnation in Al’O, and I have it in both EdT and extrait. I have not tried the CdG, but I do have Bellodgia in both EdP and extrait, and I much prefer the extrait. It seems rounder and more complex. The EdP is just too much clove. I bought it unsniffed, as the tester in Nordstrom was of the EdT, which seemed too light and watery, so I was hoping for more impact. It does have more impact, but also more clove.
Thank you!
Sadly, I only have the EDT Apres L’Ondee, which is still fab, but short lived, therefore, I spray it on my hair too!
I will buy the carnation perfume unsniffed too, that’s why I posed the question!
I have just ordered some Garofano samples !
The Commes des Garcons is, to my nose, rather harsh and one-dimensional. Bellodgia is gorgeous in vintage form, but maybe the new version is not so great. Also, it’s more of a carnation floral than straight up carnation. I would not order either of these unsniffed, and there are a lot of other options to try. Read some of Robin’s reviews on carnation fragrances on this site, and maybe order a sampler set. Make it a research project!
thank you!
I have read two of Robin’s reviews, on Bellodgia and Garofano by Lorenzo Villoresi; then lots of makeupalley and fragrantica opinions, and I thought that Bellodgia would be a more feminine approach, and therefore closer to me… but you are right, I shouldn’t buy a whole bottle unsniffed- although I am so tempted (I am an Aries so utterly impatient and bold)
You’re an Aries – do you like pepper? I love carnations, and my favorite is Poivre by Caron. Carnations+pepper. I much prefer it to Bellodgia.
I also recommend Etro Dianthus, a very pretty spring carnation bouquet; and Guerlain Terracotta Voile d’Ete, a warm, sunbaked carnation skin scent.
Hi Lexy,
I can only comment on the Bellodgia, and I found it terribly bitter and nothing like the carnations I loved from my childhood garden. The one thing I found that’s ‘like’ carnation is Creed Tubereuse Indiana. Deep, sweet, delicious.
Oh, thank you!
This is another reason I should really take it easy, and buy some sample vials first! I will try Creed in my favourite Liberty London for sure!
If you’re in the UK, be on the lookout for some (discontinued) Malmaison by Floris. This is a carnation that has a lot of fans in the perfumista world.
I know! I have been searching for this, but no luck so far 🙁 why did they discontinue Oscar Wilde’s favourite perfume? Crime !
Thank you!!
I went on a carnation binge last year and was lucky enough to scoop up a split of Malmaison. It’s my favorite of all the carnations I sampled. So, of course, it’s d/c’d. 🙁
You know, because of restrictions on clove oil, many carnations have been reformulated, and some (Floris Malmaison, for instance) have been discontinued altogether. So I can’t even speak to what those 2 smell like now…would think they are different from when I smelled them.
Comme des Garcons… another really nice carnation is the Laura Mercier L’Heure Magique. It is very soft carnations with a nice light spicy accent. Really super pretty.
The older I get, the less Bellodgia smells like carnation to me. I get paperwhites from it after awhile, so I reckon there must be some narcissus in it.
LOVE the CdG, but there is as much pepper as carnation in it.
Billet Doux from Fragonard is a nice carnation, and DSH has a nice (though spendy) one…Ouilles Rouge. I must say that one is rather gourmand to my nose.
Yes, Billet Doux – I’ve tested this one. It’s a classic carnation. Fragonard are not too expensive either. There’s always our standby Old Spice too….
I’m always surprised at how little I like Bellodgia, either modern or vintage. I look at the list of notes and say, Ooh, this looks like me… and then, it’s Not. It goes unpleasantly soapy and bitter.
Wonder if the myrrh in Oeillets Rouges veers toward root-beer for you?
Mals, it’s more that it starts smelling like cinnamon rolls or some other baked good after awhile. Still smells great, but I am just not one that wants her perfume to smell like food. ( Which helps my wallet quite a bit, since vanilla is a no-go for me and it seems like everything has vanilla in it anymore)
Hm. Well, I do like a clovey carnation (they share the eugenol aspect), and there is a lot of clove in OR as well as carnation absolute. The base is very soft on me, not sweet.
But I can see how “baked goods” would not appeal. I’m not a big gourmand fan, though I don’t mind vanilla if it’s not the focus.
Oh, yes indeed, I love clove, too…in fact, the one food I’d probably not mind smelling like is a baked ham! 😉
It’s something in the drydown that smells dessert-ish to me; and when that starts happening, I just slap some more on.
Beginner here. Started this year reading perfume blogs, ordering samples and buying FBs.
My question: My sister is going to France for 2 weeks in June and I want her to bring me back a bottle of something wonderful. Any suggestions?
Hi Lalicias, and welcome!!!!
Can you tell us some of the fragrance notes that interest you, or some perfumes that you’ve liked or disliked?
You’ve got a very willing group of enablers here, we just need a little fuel for the fire, LOL. 😉
Thanks! My current love is Tauer’s Inscence rose. I also like OJs woman. I like rose and jasmine and gravitate toward muskier/inscence/ dirtier perfume.
I would get some samples of the non-export Lutens and see if one of those blows you away (La Myrrh, Iris Silver Mist, El Attarine).
Oh la-de yes!!! The Palais Royal, the most extraordinary collection in the world now in my opinion (and I’ve had to do it all in samples and splits).
Do go, and report back to the hopelessly smitten and too far away of us in the Land Downunder!
Thanks!! I will definately update on any goodies my sis brings back.
I would send her to Luten’s shop, assuming she’s going to Paris. As Monkeytoe suggested, get samples of the non-export line. These are scents that are unavailable in the U.S. (even by internet or phone – they refuse to ship here) and many are stunning. It’s also a great suggestion because the shop is not far from the Louvre, which I assume your sister will want to visit, so it will be easy for her to squeeze it into her itinerary. And the Palais Royale is a beautiful place to visit anyway. When I was lucky enough to go to Paris, I went for the non-export line and came back with bell jars of Chergui and Cuir Mauresque. Funny enough, these are now available in the U.S., at least temporarily.
Yes, you have to get samples of things you can’t get in the US. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips! She is going to Paris so I will make sure to have her bring me back samples.
Since you like muskier/dirty scents, you have to try Lutens’ Musc Koublai Khan (not sure of spelling – it’s usually just referred to as MKK around here). It’s considered very animalic, though I would caution you that when I tried it, I found it more cuddly. Sarrasins would be another non-export Lutens worth trying, since you love animalic jasmines.
Wonderful! Thanks so much!!
I am wearing Chanel 5 on one wrist and Balenciaga Paris on the other that I sampled at the mall while waiting for me bus, both contendors for a near-future full bottle. For my birthday yesterday, my boyfriend gave me a travel-bottle thing (it’s SO cool!! engraved black magnetic heavy ornament) of By Killian’s Back to Black. I couldn’t be more excited, but I didn’t want to wear it today as I have a rough, annoying day ahead at work and I don’t want its delicious aroma implicated in that in any way.
My question: I am searching for an old(ish) Gucci frag that seems discountinued. My friend gave it to me about 6 years ago, and her mom gave it to her a couple years before that, so I suspect it may have been released ~’95, or earlier. The last remnants of this treasured frag leaked while I was traveling, and I want to find it again. It came in a small blue, retangle, frosted bottle and only said “Gucci” on it. I wish I had the vocabulary and knowledge to describe it better, but I can only describe it as fresh, sheer, and slightly aquatic. Those things sound generic, but it has an extra kick of something and I’ve been craving it since I lost it. Does this ring any bells for anyone? I can’t seem to find evidence of its existence anywhere online.
I have no idea! Here is the list of Gucci scents at Basenotes, whatever you had doesn’t seem to be there:
http://www.basenotes.net/fragrancedirectory/?house=100359&s=an
Meg, try searching for “vintage gucci perfume” on ebay – there are nearly always photos. Worth repeating over time if you don’t find it at first.
and Happy Birthday 🙂
SOTD is Delrae Panache. I finally got around to trying my sample and wish I hadn’t because it has given me a huge MIGRAINE, which is a shame because I would like it otherwise. Too weird. I don’t normally get migraines from perfume.
I tried Profumum Ninfea yesterday and wondered if it smelled inexpensive, which it certainly isn’t. Then, after reading Robin’s wonderful review of the Jennifer Anniston fragrance, I decided to try that one on my other arm. JA made me appreciate how lovely Ninfea really is. It may be a cheap thrill, but it also smells discount IMO – another shame.
That seems quite weird too because it’s such a light scent!
(and I was talking about the Panache & the migraine, in case that wasn’t clear)
Nahéma has reached the discounters! I just ordered it from Amazon.
Oh! Great news!! Thanks, Aimiliona. I have a bottle of extrait, but for reasons that even I can’t quite fathom, I want a bottle of edp.
Oh, I just got some vintage Nahema EdP recently and am in love! I’m contemplating back-up bottles and other concentrations. Thanks for this news, Aimiliona!
Happy Friday, everybody!
SOTD is Enlevement au Serail that I got in a split. It passes through several stages, each one swoon-worthy. It’s hard to believe it was launched in 2006 because it truly smells like it’s from another era (in a good way).
Happy Saturday to you!
In London right now and am undecided on which FB on my list to get. The contenders: FM L’eau d’hiver or Lipstick Rose (dithering), Ormonde Jayne Ta’if (Love, love….but weather’s warming up) or Champaca (which I only like in spring, so I do not know if I should go for a split instead), Hermes Ambre Narguille (like Ta’if, this does not work so well with warmer weather).
Am going shopping tmr, so any votes? I am looking for a scent for the upcoming months (have a LOT of winter only perfumes, since I like heavy orientals. Ha ha.). 🙂
Apres l’Ondee, or Hermes Osmanth Yunnan. So jealous you’re shopping in London – enjoy!
Ohhhh, I think I would pick Lipstick Rose or L’Eau d’Hiver. I’ve actually been meaning to do a side-by-side comparison of these two, since they strike me as oddly similar–maybe more in feel than in notes. Anyway, totally envious situation that you’re in!
Did my side-by-side after my bath yesterday. I was surprised to note that while the top notes are noticably different, they were clearly related! Each has a soft, sweetness with a complex base. In the dry downs, they really seem like the same scent. LR is warmer and L’EdH is greener, but they are like sisters that you can tell came from the same family. Now I can’t decide if I could choose just one, which one I’d choose!
That is interesting! I know and like Lipstick Rose, but I haven’t tried the other one and I thought of it as a mimosa fragrance. Got even more itchy to try it now!
Please, please get Lipstick Rose! Nothing can go wrong with the legendary-violet combo. Yes, the violet does make it a bit sweet, but it’s more of a “cool sweetness” and the rose is really, really nice in Lipstick Rose. Love it!
Hello everyone, I need your help.
I am wearing SL A la nuit ( to accalerate the spring in my area – the WA state), or sth what it is supposed to be this frag. I bought my bottle on an internet auction and when I smelled it, it was so LIGHT. Totelly unexpected, since the sample I had was a really strong, beautiful EDP.
On the bottom part of my new bottle it says A la nuit, FOND de Parfum. The bottle is the same size as EDP, but FROSTED.
What is it ? I did not realize Serge made these. ( I am still a newbie).
Is it supposed to smell so light??? OR maybe it turned…
PLEASE HELP.
This is supposedly EdP without alcohol. You should be able to find some discussions about these if you do a Google search for fond de parfum.
Thank you so much for your response. Is FDP supposed to be this faint? I checked the google, but there is just one info from basenotes.
I’ve no experience with SL but I used to have an alcohol free version of J’Adore (I think) and it was a summer edition meant to be light and suitable for warmer weather.
Thanks a lot. for your suggestions. My A la Nuit FDP still smells nice, so I will probably use it in the summer, if it ever comes to the WA state.
Good grief, I had never heard of fond de parfum – I’m do glad you asked, behemot!
Wel, A la Nuit FDP is different from what I have expected. I worried it would be too strong, but what I have is such a light floral. Not a typical Serge thing!
I wonder what the base is, if it isn’t alcohol? If it’s a silicone base, I’ve had bad luck with the shelf-life of silicone-based fragrances — the scent seems to fade after a year or so.
Unfortunately, this could be the case here. The texture reminds of the watered down silicone . There is some kind of “silkiness” to it, similar to the feel of various silicone- containing make up bases..
Robin, your comment explains to me, why the “juice” ( or, in this case, the jello) smells so faint… It certainly is not very fresh. Thanks for your response.
I just drained the very last drops of OJ Frangipani sample.
Robin, did I tell you before it was plum “solifruit”? I am gonna eat my words 🙂
I think I need a bottle of this. Or maybe a Discovery Set first, and then a bottle of this :)))
Ooh. I really want one of those discovery sets, too!
HA, Frangipani wins!
(and it’s cost you, LOL…)
Yes, Ma’m! — on all counts.
*it won me on the second full wear. Here’s another one “always try twice”. At this point I had 4 full wears and an empty sample.
OJ has free shipping for Easter!
My most recent attack of obsessive compulsion saw me finally totally arrange my collection into twelve sections based on the time of year.
I have six months to go then, before the iris and green of early Spring roll around again Downunder.
Even when I had a ‘signature scent’, I would be driven to unfaithfulness by needing other things at the height of summer, or in the morning…now I have a collection to play with!
SOTD is vintage Poison, which prompted me to reply to hessed about the drop-dead Rubj.
I missed owning Poison back in the day but loved it on others. It arrived yesterday…it was wonderful to wake up a still be able to smell it; the far drydown is lovely. I am struck by how ‘unsweet’ it is compared to today’s fruity florals, and also by the sheer genius of it …the name (which I seem to remember coming out when the concern about aromachems was starting to escalate), the sinister wonderful bottle and package, and the OTT smell itself.
La, if only every new release was like that!
You know, I used to hate Poison back in the day, but I think that was partly because everybody used to wear about six spritzes too many. It doesn’t horrify me now.
Huh. Maybe I should give it a sniff, then……
You do still have to like tuberose, IMO…
SOTD – I was testing two Rosines, thanks to a very generous perfume friend who sent me several samples – Rose de Rosine -very pretty, and Roseberry – very soapy! If I squint just right I can see where some folks *might* call the soapy aspect wine. But not me – I had to wash it off.
Funny you should ask about lost samples… this is worse – a lost decant! I was just sure that I had sent a decant of Parure to someone with whom I was doing some swapping. I had written it down that I had sent it to her, but she emailed and asked about swapping for it. I had transferred it from the little pharmacy bottle that it was in to a spray bottle. I still have the *empty* pharmacy bottle, but I have no idea where the Parure is. That was the only package that I made up and mailed at that time too.
That Parure situation is a real quandry. Maybe it will turn up someday?
It sure has me stumped, Ann! 🙁
** SIGH ** Hate these kinds of mysterious disapearances. Then they show up years later…. Hope it doesn’t take years.
🙂
Me too, because I really want to ship it to my “swap buddy”! 😉
Saturday’s SOTD – Champagne de Bois. This may have moved into my all time #1 scent!
And I’m trying not to get my hands near my nose as yesterday’s Rosines keep wafting back from the dead despite numerous washings!
I’m wearing Frederic Malle’s En Passant and I LOVE it! I recently ordered a sample of Une Rose and I’m looking forward to trying it.
En Passant is lovely.
It sure is! And Une Rose is amazing, too.
So happy to hear this.
Have and love both, though they’re certainly worlds apart!
I imagine so. Do you love any other Malle perfumes?
I am noticing a trend of “wishful sniffing!” I, too, am wearing a seasonally inappropriate scent in order to help combat endless sogginess! I am wearing Bronze Goddess today, and it has helped me through a very squirrelly Friday with the kiddos! We had 2 substitute teachers in my team of 4, so my students were even more distractable than usual! AND a rather critical parent decided to “observe” my last class of the day! No pressure! Thank goodness for coconut and flowers! 🙂
Hooray for Bronze Goddess! You smelled divine 😉
Thank goodness you were so generous with the sample! If I hadn’t felt free to spritz, it might not have survived until 8th period. I also sprayed some in my hair, and it was truly lovely wafting past my nose when I turned my head! 🙂 Thanks!
Some perfumes just need to be applied generously.
Yes! I recently tried Bronze Goddess for the first time. What a great fragrance!
Today I put on Parfums Delrae Debut at around 9 a.m. and it still smells quite fresh and beautiful at 9 p.m. I’m impressed! It was a great choice for a late spring Houston day that was, thankfully, not too humid or hot (82 degree high). I recommend it as a wonderful light floral springy “happy” scent.
Great scent, I second your recommendation 🙂
One of the nicer things about the Washington DC area is the plethora of flowering shrubs and trees in the spring. Walking home after dark I’ve been just following my nose to the blooming magnolias, viburnums and now lilacs. Very exciting and satisfying on some deep forgotten level for to explore the world through the nose!
Also stopped to sniff a little clump of narcissus this morning. Whew! It really does have a “barnyard” scent!
Viburnum smell amazing! I’m from MD and went to college in Southern MD – our campus had viburnums and lilacs all over the place. So lovely and fragrant in the spring!
That must have been heavenly, Odonata!
I’d never really noticed viburnums before – they are attractive, to be sure, but there are so many more spectacular blooms this time of year. But this particular one – a Judd viburnum, I think – smelled so wonderful that I googled through fragrant shrubs until I found it.
It was a gorgeous campus (St. Mary’s College). I remember the first time sniffing them and trying to figure out what they were – this was before the internet, so it wasn’t so easy to track down!
Yeah, so my big dilemma is whether I should have my fiance buy me a bottle of Fire Island or Eau de Noho… As I’ve mentioned to Robin before, he will be getting himself a bottle of Bleecker Street from our downtown boutique, he wants to get a new Bond bottle for me as well. The SA lady will give us a great deal on 2 bottles. So which one: Fire Island or Eau de Noho? Whoever tried these scents, please do comment and help me choose!
The sales lady was also so excited to show me the bottle of The Scent of Peace. I kept telling here I’ve smelled that one already and I don’t like it, well I don’t dislike it, but I just don’t like it either:) She just kept saying that she is getting that one for herself and how wonderful it smells… honestly? People even have the guts to call my beloved Coney Island boring, generic smelling and bland? I am shocked the number 2 bestseller of all Bonds is The Scent of Peace! (1st best selling one is of course Chinatown) As much as I love MOST Bond no.9 fragrances, I cannot understand what’s so special about The Scent of Peace? It is the scent of mass-pleasing fruity floral perfume that really should belong to the Harajuku Lovers collection, rather than staning next to other Bond no.9s. Such a boring, dull, typical fruity-floral. I don’t know what the official notes are, and I don’t want to know. I can just say I smell a very well-behaved grapefruit (not as uplifting and sparkling as Jo Malone cologne or even the one from Guerlain’s Acqua Allegoria that I forgot the name of) with some unindetified fruit, and light, teenage-appealing florals. A lot of people complained this way about Brooklyn – but that one has got a peppery twist to it. Now I am a HUGE Bond no.9 lover – and after trying their 30+ fragrances – I loved or at least ALL of them. Thank you so much, The Scent of Peace for ruining that harmony. Now I’ve found the only Bond no.9 I actually don’t even like.
And by the way, people might complain why for this price tag I want to smell like suntan oil for that price tag with the Fire Island? Well Fire Island at least doesn’t smell like Harajuku Lovers or any teenager-appealing fragrance. At least it’s powdery (which I like), almondy and brings out the summer memories. What memories does The Scent of Peace conjure? The bath and body works counter? No offense but if there was at least one note in it, that made it stand out the tiniest, little bit – I’d have more respect. When I smelled Brooklyn I thought that was going to be the one I like the least. Yes it does smell a lot like a fruity-floral too, but after smelling The Scent of Peace, at least I have so much as a respect for Brooklyn and that slightly spicy note in it. And I actually do like Brooklyn – maybe I don’t love it, but I like it compared to The Scent of Peace. But there are so many other Bond no.9s that have made my heart melt – I don’t think I’ll ever buy a bottle of Brooklyn. Sorry for long comments but I am just so frustrated. Still, I do forgive Bond no.9 – they still made some of my most favorite, beautiful perfumes ever. So I guess it’s ok with one but BIG mistake.
The last thing I had to say is that I also finally have a sample of New Haarlem (thanks to a very special person on nowsmellthis:) I adore coffee in my perfumes. It is the most elegant, well-behaved coffee I ever smelled. Is it a full bottle-worthy? Definitely. As well-behaved as it is, it’s a very interesting fragrance. It’s coffee with some caramel liqueur. Jo Malone’s Black Vetyver Cafe is darker and more raw. This is sweeter and milder, but very long lasting and beautiful. Thank god it turned out so good as oppose to The Scent of Peace,
Lavandula, is it true that New Haarlem smells like Rochas Man?
They were both made by Maurice Roucel about the same time, and they smell very similar. New Haarlem is stronger, however. I myself prefer Rochas Man because I’m not that crazy about the “coffee” accord, and New Haarlem is a bit too much for me. Rochas Man is a lot cheaper, by the way.
I got a sample of VT and love it but it disappears in less than an hour on my skin! Any recommendation on “smells-almost-exactly-like-Vetiver Tonka- but-lasts-longer-on-skin?”
I have FM Vetiver Extraordinare and Guerlain Vetiver. Both are ok. But I love VT and hope it stays longer on me.
What a shame! It lasts longer on me. Can’t think of anything else with that nutty sweetness.
The Lipstick Rose is really nice, I thought. I didn’t like it at first but it grew on me. Looks like FM is a winner! 🙂
It is really lovely! It is also the only rose I’ve found so far that I want to wear! There are others that smell interesting but don’t translate as wearable on me. Enjoy it!
The CEO is out of town for the weekend, so I’d been planning on testing a bunch of old-fashioned-style green things (galbanum and chypres, not his favorites) since I just got a sample packet from DSH). Has anyone tried both Coty Chypre and Dawn’s smell-alike version?
However, middle kid is sick with a tummy bug, so I suppose I’ll forego heavy-duty testing until he’s feeling better.
I’d love to hear your comments on this experiement. I’ve not tested the DSH copy, but I’m lucky to have a few dribbles of Coty Chypre. It is so beautifully simple and easy to wear. It wasn’t as mind blowing as I expected given it’s mythological reputation (thinking particularly on Mistouko, et al), but its very soingee. If I had a bottle, it would certainly serve those moments when I need self-possessed confidence.
See, I’ve never tested the Coty! And I do not like Mitsouko (rather, she does not like me) – but the DSH Chypre is attention-grabbing for certain. A real backbone to it, and steely determination. At the same time, it’s got a softness to it as well.
It’s pulling up some memories I didn’t know I had, of ladies at church when I was a kid. Not sure it’s very “me” but very compelling. I wonder if this is a continuation of my tendency to prefer the classic Cotys (Chypre, Emeraude, L’Origan) to their more-detailed Guerlain counterparts (Mitsouko, Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue)?
Mals – I don’t really think the Coty Chypre resembles Mitsouko at all. To my nose, Mitsouko has some rather pronounced phases of development, and has that great wet ripe peach, and the drying fall leaves. I can really get all these things, and for the parfum, I get a particularly lovely dry carnation that lasts for a long time. Coty Chypre on the other hand (to my nose) was a single unique aroma. The notes are perfectly blended to become one very subtle thing. I don’t particularly get the bergamot, oakmoss, etc. They are all one. Hence the elegance that is very subdued. I can’t really think of a comparison at this moment. It’s just all together – no seams. I think you would like it.
One more observation – I’m getting a strong relationship between Une Rose Chypree and this DSH Chypre, even more so than what I remember between Mitsy and Chypre. Huh. Should get Mitsy out again to check…
Oh, hope middle kid is better soon!
I’ve been out of the perfume loop this past week as my Dad passed away. I had to make all the arrangements (never realized how much it involved) and now that it’s over, I still have lots to do and am still in a bit of a fog. During most of the process, for some reason I wore Andy Tauer’s perfumes–un Rose Chypre and Le Maroc pour Elle.
Filomena – I’m sorry to hear about your father. Best wishes on getting through this time. Perhaps you like URC and LMPE because they are both strong and cozy ~Ann
I’m so sorry to hear about your father, Filomena. I went through this several years ago, and found the fog lasted a month or two, then the grief hit.
Sending you comforting vibes and cyber hugs.
So sorry for your loss. Sending you hugs.
Filomena, I’m so very sorry…hope you are ok.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Please take care of yourself as you navigate through that fog, because it’s so easy to become accident-prone when you have so much to deal with and are feeling overwhelmed.
oh, so sad. I hope you are ok Filomena, big hugs
So very sorry for your loss. Take good care of yourself.
Hugs,
Donna
So sorry for your loss, Filomena.
My condolences, Filomena.
~ Heidi
Thank you everyone. I have been sad, but still haven’t gotten into the grieving as yet. I know it will come soon. I really appreciate the condolences and kind words.
Anyone know where you can get Casmir Chopard in Toronto? Is it discontinued?
I don’t know anything about Toronto, but it seems to me that I’ve seen Casmir at several online discounters recently.
It’s supposed to be 92 degrees today – I can take the heat if it’s only one day, and it will be…so…I took out my Amoureuse which I just adore in the heat and haven’t worn for a long time. Delight in a bottle 🙂
I love Amoureuse but have been afraid to put it on in hot weather. However, maybe now I’ll just give it a try!
Hello everyone!
I am not a big floral kinda gal but was leading torward Chanel Beige,I can tolerate soft florals such as No 5-Infusion D’iris and Apres L’ondee…would that be something that I’d enjoy? 🙂
The Parfums de Nicolai offers soft florals that are worth trying – Le Temps d’une Fete, Kiss Me Tender and Violette in Love – beautifully done yet not expensive.
I’d add Odalisque…
Chanel Beige reminded me of shampoo, which just might equate to the perfect level of floral for you.
Does anyone know what’s going on with Black Afghano? Is Nasomatto not making it anymore?
I was at Scent Bar the other day and they told me it wouldn’t be available for several months. They might have a couple left on their web site, but are not expecting another batch for some time.
Thanks KRL! It’s not even listed on Nasomatto’s website, which is why I’m nervous.
As I’ve said I’ve been so out of the loop, but I know an SA at Barney’s and she once told me that Black Afghano is one of their most popular scents. Last year when I ordered a bottle from her, I had to wait a month because they were waiting for a new batch. I sure hope it’s still in their line–I love that scent.
Hi everyone! Today, I’ve returned to an old favorite, Eau de Cartier. I love everything about this fragrance, from the bright yuzu and violet leaf opening to the heart of violet flowers (my favorite part) to the woody-musky base. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Sounds wonderful! I’ve been meaning to try it this spring, so thanks for the reminder!
Hi, Im planning to launch my own brnd and was wondering if any one could suggest a perfume house that provides private label service so that it can handle every thing for me from scent creation to manufacturing/packaging..
Thanks