The usual! Talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, your favorite perfume to wear in the rain, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Leaf on my car [cropped] by exfordy at flickr; some rights reserved.
Well, I am still drinking my morning coffee, so have yet to put any perfume on, but yesterday I tried on a couple of AP samples. Premier Figuier: nice, but think it would work better as a room fragrance; Fleur de Liane: calonic = want to scrub off me. I’d made wild promises that I would never love a vetiver and then Guerlain Vetiver Pour Elle made me eat my words; nevertheless, I will make a new, wild promise: No forever to anything calonic.
Oh, and a purchase: I was at an Asian mall south of Vancouver where I bought a mini of Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Winter Delice, Old stock, that — it must be 10 years old. Can’t decide yet whether it would better off as a Christmas candle scent, but my word, it lasted an entire day, unheard of for an AA…
I cannot make any such promises, as there are a few aquatics I like, even with tons of calone — and I adored New West in its day! But Liane — NO.
New West! My stepsister loved that and I am immediately back at the Bahama Beach Club with her, waiting for the Chippendales show to start, floating in my own cloud of Liz Claiborne Realities. I used to love Realities, not at all sure why!
I have lately acquired a 15 ml bottle of Ninfeo Mio and a 10 ml decant of Spiritueuse Double Vanille. I was really longing for some NM, but wouldn’t go for a whole 100 ml. I had never even heard of the 15 ml size–does anyone know the story on this? Is it a size available in other places than the U.S., some sort of promotion or GWP, or what? I am really enjoying it in our hot (near 100 degrees each day) summer that is showing no signs of ending soon. The SDV is going to have to wait for cooler weather. I have tried it a couple times, and it is just too cloying in this heat.
I don’t know about US but when NM first came out, they were giving a freebie 15ml bottle with every purchase here in Europe. I also have one, it’s the perfect size, isn’t it?
Oh! I’ve heard rumors of a 15ml bottle, and although I’ve looked high and low, I haven’t been able to find one. Can you disclose (shhh…I’ll never tell) where you found it?
Love SDV but it’s definitely a winter perfume for me.
It was on eBay and the seller was in Singapore. That is why I was wondering if it was some sort of non-U.S. release. I normally am a little skittish about ordering from international sellers, just because there are so many more opportunities for something to go wrong, but it was a good price, so even if it never showed up I wouldn’t have been out much. It really is a wonderful size–plenty to give it a good trial, but not so much I can’t use it up. If I do end up running through it, then I won’t feel bad about springing for the larger bottle.
They have a bottle of Ninfeo Mio at Nordstroms, Mall of America. It’s one of those flat style, not sure of the size nor the price.
I’m in Sydney and the 15ml was a freebie with the 100ml purchase. Luckily I managed to score the 15ml, sans purchase – perfect outcome 🙂
Yes, bet it was a freebie or GWP. AG does minis of many of their scents, they’re just not so easy to come by. Congrats!
A.G is not sold in South Africa anymore (I have heard an up-market department store here used to sell it.) But at a show/fair I attended I found a stall that sold three of them in 15ml bottles: petite cherie, Quel Amour and Nuit de Hadrien. I had had a sample of the first and not been impressed but bought the other two to try them. Quel Amour was the worst kind of fruity floral on me and I gave it away, but am still enjoying the N.Hadrien.
Mitsouko parfum for me today, both for the reassurance and familiarity, and because it’s great for rainy days.
Love Mitsouko!
Third on the Mitsouko love. Can’t wait ’til fall to start wearing it again.
go Mitzy go 🙂
Just before I opened this site today, I found a bottle of Mitsouko that I’d mislaid. It feels just right for a cold, foggy Saturday afternoon, now that I’ve finished my chores for the day. A book, a blanket, and Mitsouko. Good.
I probably shouldn’t admit this (Robin may never let me on here again!), but I’m starting to fall *out* of love with Mitsouko after loving her since high school! And that was a loooong time ago!! I’m seriously thinking about listing my old-ish bottle of extrait on the auction site. I almost prefer the crisper edt now without quite so much of the heavy base.
I can’t believe I just typed that. :-/
Oh, but I’ve said before that I respect but don’t really love Mitsouko!
Or another way of putting it: I can see that it’s genius, but I don’t wear it.
And I’m with you both on this one. I’d love to love Mitsouko, but it doesn’t love me.
No, my dear – Of course you didn’t say that! 😉
Heresy, I know….
If you list your Mitsouko extract, I hope I see it — seriously. I’m still in love.
Email me at rappleyea11 at yahoo dot com and I’ll give you a heads up! I just need to take pictures so it will be soon.
BLASPHEMERS!!!!!! THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU! SHAME!!!!! You have been excommunicated from the Church Of Divine Perfume Love for your besmirchment of the Grand Peachy Goddess that is Mitsouko! I CAST THEE OUT! LMAOROFL!!!!! 😀 Just Kidding My Dahlings! Mitsouko to me is one of those untouchables… it’s just utterly sublime… I even wear it every rare now and then, Just so PEACHY and Mysterious….. YUM! Like a warm hug from an old friend… but if it ain’t working for you honey than rid yourself of it… trying to make yourself continue to love it when your skin is saying otherwise will only taint the memory of when you did like it…
ROTFL!! 😀
Peach is great on my skin, for example, the peach in Nahema is wonderful. The problem I’ve had lately (the last couple of years) with Mitsy is lack of peach and an abundance of tonka. It’s just gotten too sweet and heavy. Heheheee…. OR I’ve just gotten more sour in my old age!
The past couple of months have been a sampling frenzy! I’ve sampled (almost) the complete lines of Amouage (w), Parfums de Nicolai and By Kilian along with several other samples from several other lines.
Since I’ve been “living and breathing” perfume in my spare time, the names of perfumes are starting to bleed into my real life. I had a laugh driving home the other day when I noticed the Honda “Civit” cut me off! Then I laughed when I realized I was driving a Tom Ford Escape…or is it a Calvin Klein Escape?
Anyone have other vehicle crossed with perfume ideas? Need some laughs today.
I have a Bond no. 9 Park Avenue.
Question! Question! I’ve recently ended a six-month perfume-purchasing moratorium, during which much of the perfume world fell off my radar. (I was still reading the blogs, but focusing on the personal stories rather than the perfume.) I normally don’t care if a perfume is brand new or has been around for forty years, but now I’m treating catchup as a game: What perfumes have come out since February that I simply must try?
Perhaps the new Amouage-haven’t tried yet, but can’t wait to. The Shalimar flanker (Initial?) is lovely and very irisy.
The two SLs (Jeux de Peau and Vitriol d’Oeillet)? I’m not much of a Lutens fan but those are the two that instantly spring to mind. Ironically enough, I AM a huge fan of Amouage but Honour Woman was a huge disappointment for me.
Also impatiently awaiting the release of Tubereuse Criminelle, the new Bottega Veneta and the latest Chanel Les Exclusif.
I agree with you re Honour Woman. It’s a beautiful floral, but on me lacked the depth and excitement of the other Amouage fragrances. However, I’ve only tried it once and am willing to give it another chance (or two….)
Ooh… What is the new Exclusif of which you speak??
It’s called Jersey and will be out some time in Autumn, I believe? I’ve read that it will be a clean lavender/vanilla/musk so it could go either way, really.
The two recent scents that I can think of are Tauer’s Zeta and Roja Dove’s Diaghilev. Zeta got quite a bit of love, but Diaghilev was a limited edition and was truly limited – it’s long gone now.
Cartier’s Baiser Vole is quite nice, but I don’t think it’s much up your alley, CF.
And HI!
I’m usually just trying to catch up on last year (or the last century)! Nonetheless, one from earlier this year that I’m considering for fall is Frapin 1697 – by Bertrand Duchaufour, of course. Also, I don’t remember exactly when his MCDI scent Belle Helene came out, but that’s worth trying, too.
ohhh so much good stuff to try!
Shalimar Parfum Initial
Elie Saab
Baiser Volé
Kilian Incense Oud (not sure when this came out..)
Kilian Sweet Redemption
Amouage Honour
SL Vitriol d’Oeillet
Maison dela Vanille Absolu de Vanille
Chanel No.19 Poudre
and then there’s the two new Tom Fords that I think are at Saks (?) or Bergdorf’s now?
Hey there! I got a package last week which I think was from you, but I can’t find your email address to express my thanks!! So, here I am, saying thanks so much for the lovelies!!
Hi! I did (at long last) send you a sample packet! I knew it was going to be a surprise after so much time had passed…so sorry it took so long…but so glad you are having some fun with it! 🙂
oh….Daisyloo82 AT gmail dot com ( I lose track of emails and addresses….and lists ….and well; I just lose track of lots of things)
Martin Margiela Untitled is another one worth a try… A real wonderland of a fragrance… very Difficult to like, because of it’s schizophrenic composition, but well worth lavishing love on if you stick with it and let it work it’s magic!
Stay safe, everyone who might be affected by the hurricane!
My nearest big city and the place where I do most of my high end/niche perfume sniffing was one of the cities affected by the recent UK riots so I haven’t done much of that but the local department store appears to have received a bunch of new mainstream releases so that’s something. I tried Prada Candy and Elie Saab yesterday and I will be going back tomorrow for a sniff of Shalimar Initial and that new Fendi with a funny name.
How’d you like the Prada Candy?
Ummm, I didn’t. It’s the sort of thing I would perhaps buy as a gift for a 13 year old niece (if I had one) but it did nothing for me. Really fun bottle, though.
Oh! You remind me that I was given a sample of Elie Saab last time at the store, and I haven’t tested it yet! I read good and bad things about it, did you like it?
Had a chance to test this recently and IMHO, it’s stupendous. Beautifully done and a welcome change from the sugary, tooth decay inducing offerings of late. I’ve no idea who their target market is but me thinks this is clearly for Women, not children.
Ooh! I *really* need to try it, then! I admit I was already pleasantly surprised with the notes (that I already forget) when the SA described them to me.
I really like this – it’s a lovely adult perfume and strikes me as something you could wear either to formal events or to the office. I just acored a sample at Nordstrom’s today, so I need to do some longer testing, but so far I think it’s elegant and lovely.
I noticed some similarity to his very own Narciso Rodriguez For Her which he did…what?…10 years ago now? It’s orange blossom with musky base only more sugared on top, less woody/musky in the base and, yes, BRIGHT. I used to wear NR a lot, still have a bottle so I didn’t hate it but it seems a little derivative at this point.
Hm… I never smelled NR. But I can understand being rather disappointed if his second fragrance is close to his first, when there are so many possibilities!
I really want to try the Elie Saab. Hopefully I can get my hands on a sample.
poodle dear, are you in the USA?
I am in the USA. Watching the wind blow and thanking my lucky stars we still have power.
Elie Saab is a bright , uplifting sort of floral –very nicely done , easy to wear: nothing shocking or strange going on…and the bottle is beautiful to look at and nice and hefty in the hand.
Just because I mentioned the job interview in the last open thread: I got the job!!!! I started on Monday, and everything’s going well! I’m waiting a little bit before I ask them whether I can get UPS packages delivered there, so that I can order Jacomo #08 from IndieScents! 🙂
Congrats!!! That’s wonderful.
Thank you! 🙂
My employer doesn’t allow us to have personal UPS packages delivered to us at work, and I wish they would. I recently placed an order and then found out that it was shipping insured by UPS and required a signature, so someone would have to be home when it was delivered, without knowing in advance exactly when that would be. When I checked on the possibility of having it delivered to a UPS location for pickup instead, the nearest option was 40 miles from my house!
Ugh, UPS deliveries can be so inconvenient! Last time, I stayed home all day on the supposed day of the delivery, refreshing their website every minute, and then at around 5pm the delivery date changed for the next day… Argh!
And even when you don’t need a signature, I live in an apartment on a very busy street, so I don’t feel safe having them leave the package at my door… which would be the easiest solution… So I’m crossing fingers I can have packages delivered at my job. I’m sorry you can’t! That must be *really* annoying. And I don’t really see the harm it could do to the employer either…
Check to see if you can print out a signature form from on-line to sign. I did that when I bought my Mac. It might have come Fed-Ex though; I can’t remember. I know I’ve also left a note with my signature for my postman when it was required for international deliveries (love those Hong Kong and Singapore perfume packages!).
Congratulations on your new job!
Thank you!!
Congratulations on your job, that’s great!
Thanks!!
Congratulations on the job! UPS refuses to leave packages at my home because of problems with theft in the area, so I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t have things sent to my office — well, I’d probably buy a lot less perfume online, and we can’t have THAT, now can we?
Thanks!
*They* refuse? Shouldn’t you be allowed to take the risk if you want to? (But I wouldn’t!) And you’re right, that’s no solution at all! 🙂
Last year when I picked up a package from a UPS store, I was told that my building had been “red-flagged” because of a rash of package thefts, and UPS would only deliver stuff if someone was home to sign for it (never the case in our household). I’ve had a package stolen before, I guess before the “red flag” went into effect, so I wasn’t inclined to take chances.
Yay! Congrats.
Thank you!
So, the BIG question, which lucky frag did you wear to the interview? And Congrats, of course!
🙂 I went safe and didn’t wear any… Now for the first week I was wearing only one spray of fragrance (Eau de Camille, Like This, En Passant, Hiris, Eau du Sud) and didn’t get any comments, and they don’t seem to have a no-fragrance policy. Yay!
Congratulations! A co-worker of mine just got an IT job with UPS in North NJ.
Thank you! I’m glad for your co-worker too! At least they know there should be no problem receiving packages at their new job! 😉
That’s great, congrats!
Thanks!
Congratulations on getting the job!! And good choice on the Jacomo #8 —it’s gorgeous stuff! (I bet you’d like Penhaligon’s Amarantine and Brecourt Haram too!) . I’m crossing my fingers for the new job being fine with you accepting packages at work. Perhaps you can phrase your inquiry to better your chances …like “an occasional small package….” and specify….”because there is no one at home to sign for things…” other from that, do you have any trusted neighbors that could accept packages in your stead?
Thanks Daisy!
I tried Amaranthine once last week and didn’t really like it, I should give it another try. You find similarities with #08? Or is it because of the other fragrances I mentioned wearing above? I never heard of Brecourt Haram, but the notes sound interesting! I’m a little scared of patchouli, honestly, but I’ll order a sample of it next time! Thanks for the suggestions!
Yes, I’ll try to phrase it so that it sounds like a very reasonable request… After all, it IS a reasonable request! 🙂
I’m wearing Le Baiser du Dragon today-it’s the first bottle I saw.
Good a method as any 🙂
Yeah your method is right but the perfume also helped a lot in doing that!
Has anyone had this happen to them? For years, I’ve loved AG’s Hadrien. Even after the reformulation (which the company swears didn’t happen – their official claim is they’ve made it less fleeting with a higher percent of perfume oils). Anywho, I put some on last weekend (edp strength) and had an allergic reaction I couldn’t believe. While it didn’t actually hurt, anywhere I’d spritzed, I developed deep purple ‘bruises’. The marks took about a week to fade away. The whole episode freaked me out so much, I haven’t worn it since. What the heck? *sigh*
Wow. I’m sorry! That hasn’t happened to me (yet). I hope someone has an answer. It wasn’t a new bottle? I don’t know allergies well, can you really develop one suddenly like that? I hope it doesn’t happen again! Especially since you love it!
No, it wasn’t a new bottle. Had used it many times before. I don’t believe it’s gone ‘off’. I’m wondering if I’ve developed an accumulative sort of allergy to all the citrus – if there’s even such a thing. But it’s not like I wear it every day….or even every week. I’d be devastated if I never could wear it again, but the bruises give me serious pause.
My understanding is that allergies are cumulative, so you can develop an allergy to something that has not bothered you before. I wonder if it could have been a combination of the perfume with something else that was on your skin? The best thing if you don’t want to banish it permanently without being sure is probably to test it very sparingly, putting just a little bit on one small area of skin. If there is no reaction, it may have been a fluke. If you do get a purple bruise again, at least it will be small. I once had a bottle of Cinnabar that caused me to get painless, itchless, but ugly red spots every where I had applied it. The bottle got donated to a resale shop.
Did you get out in the sun with it? Citrus is photo-sensitive, which will leave marks and/or a rash on skin – even if you aren’t allergic. I just had that happen last week with Philtre d’Amour – and I *know* not to wear that where the sun will hit it!
Yikes!
Was it a sunny day? I believe some citrus oils can cause/increase skin’s photosensitivity so could it be something like that? Especially if they claim that the fragrance now contains a higher concentration of these materials.
I’ve had some -thankfully- minor reactions in the past but since I mostly apply to fabric anyway, it’s not usually a concern. The scents last much longer and I don’t have to worry about any rashes.
How odd! Hopefully it was a fluke—I had one incident about a year ago when I gave myself the usual dousing with perfume –I think it was Highness Rose?, can’t remember now—several sprays on inner elbows to wrists and one to the cleavage….and got a red bumpy, itchy rash everywhere perfume touched! I was devastated!
Scrubbed , applied cortisone cream for a couple of days until all traces were gone…and have not not had any problem since. It was bizarre, but isolated. Hopefully yours is too.
I have on I <3 Les Carottes from SpaceNK and it is a fantastic scent. Carrots, iris, orange, coriander: weird, yet wonderful!
Also, I received a bottle (Alahine) from one of the discount retailers with the production code scratched out on the glass. I'd like to camouflage this, I seem to recall someone suggesting a dab of clear nail polish will hide the scratches (the bottle is mine, not trying to put something over on a gift recipient.)
Anyone have other tips? TIA
Can’t help with camouflaging the scratches… just wanted to say that I adore Alahine!
VERY happy with my bottle of Carottes 🙂
Does anyone have dreams where they smell perfume? I’ve read that it’s rare to smell things in dreams, but I’ve had a few dreams where I’ve dreamt of perfumes and actually smelled them. Last night was another instance, so I thought I’d see if any other perfume-obsessed dreamers get a whiff!
I have had dreams involving perfume, but usually it’s about a spectacular find (a full bottle of vintage Diorissimo at a garage sale for $2) and don’t think they’ve involved actual smells.
Then I’m lucky! I always have dreams like these! And the perfumes… the perfumes are so day-dreaming. I wish I could make a perfume like those. Today I felt a different sensation: when I was eating a pumpkin cream I felt the smell of an old perfume that I used to wear wich is discontinued since a long time. It was the same feeling while degusting the cream. It seems that it activated my brain area related to that remembrance. It’s a pitty it’s just a remembrance cause it’s still one of the best frags I’ve ever used and I don’t have even a drop of it…
Got back from the sister’s wedding in Hawaii a couple of days ago. A little bit of Fracas helped me discharge my maid-of-honor duties without incident. And as an added bonus, I found a pristine mini of vintage Miss Dior in a Honolulu antiques store.
I also sniffed a bunch of random Hawaiian floral perfumes of wildly varying quality. I ended up getting a 1/8-ounce bottle of something called Maui Rain — despite the name, it’s not at all aquatic, just a lovely, kind of old-school-smelling, tropical-ish floral. I later Googled it and found that it’s been around for 20 years — just wondering if anyone’s heard of it or worn it.
Finally, I bought a small bottle of Sensuous Nude yesterday. I got a sample with an EL purchase, and was surprised that I preferred it to Sensuous. I thought I was going to object to the (alleged) presence of coconut, but if it’s there, it’s very well concealed.
Somebody please slap me if I buy anything else this year.
I’m glad the wedding went well! And that you could test/buy so many fragrances!
I’m pretty sure I drove my fiancée crazy with my incessant “oooh, just a minute, I want to sniff these 10 bottles real quick.” He’s a good sport, though.
I remember sniffing Maui Rain while I was in Hawaii last summer and liked it. I hope your trip was lovely!
It was, thanks. I hadn’t been to Hawaii since I was 2 (i.e., 28 years ago), so this may as well have been my first time.
Hi Emily! I’m from Hawai’i, but only recently heard of Maui Rain. Now I want to try it, thanks to your post.
I’m not sure where in Hawaii you live, but I bought mine at Silver Moon Emporium on the north shore of Oahu (I think it was in the town of Hale’iwa). From what I read about the perfume online, it’s pretty widely available at finer purveyors of Hawaii-themed memorabilia. It’s made by a company called Hawaiian Classic Perfumes.
(If our dear webmistress is okay with including a URL, the site is http://www.mauirain.com — if not, feel free to delete this graf. I’m in no way affiliated.)
Thanks! I don’t live in Hawai’i now, but I’m there a lot. Will look it up!
Waiting for Irene…… I just baked some banana bread. The house smells really good. At least I’ll have something tasty to snack on when the storm hits.
I’m still in my fragrance buying freeze but it’s killing me. I came close to going to T.J. Maxx yesterday to see what they had. I figure if I got a good deal it’s not as bad as a full price purchase. Twisted logic I know. Plus drugstore week got me thinking of cheap fragrances.
No scent of the day yet. I had a sinus headache this morning but that’s better now so I’ll find a nice comfy scent in my stash to wait for the storm.
Well done on the discipline – i could do with some of that stuff…
This storm is lame. At home, by myself, spending the entire day relieving frustration by lifting weights. I know the right thing to do. I know the SMART thing to do. Ive never been very good at following either of those paths.
Ironically, wearing ‘Sunshine’ by Smell Bent.
Well it sounds like you found an interesting way to ‘revolt against reason’. Enjoy your Sunshine!
You deserve extra credit, Rictor! How do you like that Smellbent?
After wearing it this past weekend i dont like it very much actually. My recommendations for the Smell Bent line are Bollywood or Bust, Never Never Land, Violet Tendencies, and The Spray Tan Incident
My sunny-day (central Ky.) SOTD is I Love Les Carottes, what a bargain that was! Thanks NST for the heads up.
Favorite rainy day scents are Vol de Nuit or L’Heure Bleue. Sometimes I’ll wear a chypre like Unspoken.
And finally, I’m going to share this week’s disaster because I know you all will sympathize…. I dropped and broke a bottle (1/2 oz.) of Cuir de Russie parfum! I was able to salvage some of it in the bottom of the bottle, but sheesh! 🙁
Stay safe all of you folks on the coast in Irene’s path.
OMG, so sorry about your Cdr! I would have cried 🙁
That’s the sort of thing that I dread. I keep my perfume in a bathroom so I always worry about either dropping the bottle or spilling because of that wide bottle neck. I think that decanting a small amount for use and keeping the rest of the bottle somewhere safer might be the way to go at least with anything valuable.
Isn’t the heat and humidity in a bathroom bad for the fragrance?
Yup but in my case it’s not the primary bathroom, it’s one that’s rarely used and so is really a cool dark place, pretty much perfect for keeping fragrance. Except for the potential perils floor tiles, that is!
Oh, no, that is a disaster! I have some bottles in the bathroom and I worry about dropping them on the countertop or tile floor.
Aw, I’m so sorry about your CdR bottle!
I deal with that kind of thing by reminding myself that it is ultimately replaceable and time spent on mourning is not.
So glad you are enjoying the carrot!
Oooh Nooo! That’s a disaster worthy of a hurricane…. So sorry to hear that it’s your CdR perfume. Hope it’s not vintage. I can send you my little vial….
What a shame about your broken bottle! 🙁
Oh no, my condolences 🙁
LOL.
I also broke a bottle of Voyage D’Hermès, but thank God, it was only that plastic part inside the metal. I’m trying to fix it for the third time and hoping it’s the last time.
I knew I came to the right place for tea and sympathy. 🙂
And you’re right Merlin – I didn’t waste too much time crying over spilled milk/perfume.
No, Opera Fan, it wasn’t vintage and there is still some left so I’m fine. But thanks as always for your kindness.
Maybe you’ll make enough profit from the sale of the Mitsouko to buy a new bottle of perfume, and then some….
Rapple, did that CdR slip from your hands before or after you decided to sell your Mitsy extrait? Not that Mitsy would give anyone the evil eye or anything… 😉
HA! Right after! I’ll bet Mitsy pushed CdR – it actually slipped off of the shelf. I hadn’t even touched it!
Ha ha ha
OH NO!!!! Not your precious Cuir de Russie!!! Oh, Rapple, I’m so sorry! (I’d definitely have cried….in fact, I feel a little like crying right now ) 🙁 🙁 🙁
Awww, thanks, Daisy. I tried not to get too upset as it was right before bedtime and I knew I’d never get to sleep if I was seething and sobbing.
White Linen today. I was up for aldehydes and it has the most wonderful rose in the heart.
I’m wondering how folks are liking the new Serge Lutens, Vitriol d’Oeillet since I adore carnation but SL is often a surprise on what it actually turns out to smell like.
Also, I’m thinking about Andy Tauer’s Lonestar Memories which I’ve not tried. I read a short comment by someone who said it smells like the desert after a rain. I lived in Tucson for a time and that smell is pure magic for me – please chime in anyone who’s smelled the perfume and can comment on this!
Lonestar smelled of bonfire, bonfire and bonfire to me. I like a smoky fragrance but it was too straight up ‘fire’ to me- my husband cane home and asked what was burning!
I get a strong birch tar note from Lonestar Memories. It eases as the perfume develops but never quite disappears. I like it, but only moderately. I concur with the review of it in Perfimes: the Guide, that it is ‘strange but nice’.
I’m in White Linen today too!
Hmm, I wonder if L’Air du Desert Marocain might do the same thing without smelling like pure smoke. The smell in the desert after the rain is from creosote bushes, true, but they’re wet, not aflame!
Marocain is less sharp, yes. Dry and spicy, but a little more floral (to my nose anyway).
I was quite disappointed in the SL Oeillet, though I know some people who love it. I expected a larger than life, rich oriental carnation. Instead, here’s how I describe it: The other notes (dry peppery iris?) are angry at the carnation, who is cringing in the corner, and after an hour when the other notes finally calm down and apologize to the carnation, saying, “So what was it you were trying to tell us?” The carnation stammers, “Um, I forget.” And that’s my very inexpert opinion. After two wears, I decided to swap away my decant.
Ok, now its worth sampling just to get the olfactory version of that story!
LOL!!
If you love carnation, you should definitely try the new Serge!
It’s a sunny 83F here in SW Virginia… guess we’re far enough inland that we’re not getting any of the precipitation from Irene. Heading off to a minor league ballgame in about an hour, with CEO and kids and MIL and Bookworm’s boyfriend. (ZOMG! My daughter has a boyfriend! First time ever!)
SOTD: DSH La Fete Nouvelle, which I bought a sample of because of its almond note. However, rather than almonds, it smells like just-cut, drying hay and warm breezes and skin – i.e., like my childhood summers on my grandparents’ farm. It is gorgeous. I must have some.
So it worked out with the guy in the orchestra? So glad for her!
I was wondering how you’re doing over there….glad to hear you’re safe and sound…
Lucky you! Although we got rain & wind but nothing so dire as what we expected, & only lost internet for about 6 hours.
hunkered down for the storm here in NJ, wearing a spritz of my old bottle of eternity summer.
I am going to get the hubby some aftershave for his upcoming b-day (the closest thing to a scented product I can get him to wear). One of his favorite scents comes in a splash bottle and he was saying to me he wished it came in a spray bottle instead. Does anyone know where to get empty, clean spray bottles or atomizers that I could pour his aftershave into?
I assume you want a good-size bottle, not a little 5 or 10 ml decant bottle. I have found glass bottles with spray atomizers before at health food stores or other stores that sell essential oils and the like. There is also Specialty Bottle online. I have not tried them before, but I know I have seen them mentioned here before. I just checked, and they have 4 oz. amber bottles with spray atomizers for $0.97 each. Shipping could be more than the actual purchase price if you only want a few of them, but it might be worthwhile if you want a quantity of them. TPC also offers decant bottles in smaller sizes, up to 30 ml.
yes, sorry, I meant big bottles if possible. Thank you, I will check out your suggestions!
Accessories for Fragrance (ebay seller) have 1 oz bottles and reasonable shipping costs. I’ve purchased from them many times.
Hope all are staying safe in the storm and that the power outages won’t be too bad. I lived through four hurricanes in two years in South Florida, which helps explain why I now live in Dallas!
When are the new Chanel Exclusifs coming out???
All I know is fall, which isn’t very helpful.
We have tornado warnings, but so far, I still have power and internet. Keeping fingers crossed.
Best wishes to you, dear!
SOTD: Guerlain Idylle – exciting, I know, but it was in the car when I hopped in so decided to put it on. Actually very pretty. The patchouli in the drydown is very smooth.
Oh, and we’re awaiting hurricane Irene’s arrival as well near the shore and a major reservoire in NJ. Kids are watching Looney Tunes to while away the time….
I think it’s pretty too.
(and hope Irene passed you by)
SOTD: by Killian ‘A Taste of Heaven’ – holy moly is this stuff gorgeous! I’d never tried any by Killian prior to now ( for which my wallet and husband are grateful) but a decant of this is on the cards for certain. I tried it yesterday and loved it right away , then got busy taking my daughters to the theatre only to wonder what smelled so delicious – answer: me! No doubt the people sitting near me in theatre thought I was nuts as I sat there snuffing my wrists!
Favourite rainy day scents: Chaos, L’Heure Bleu, Avignon,
FragrantWitch, A Taste of Heaven is my top find of the year. Such a glorious fragrance! I gave in and bought the little travel set when one of the online retailers had a sale. Still, it was a splurge!
I love this as well. I think I will spring for the travel refill set and decant it. At that point it is actually a pretty affordable scent, although then there is no bottle.
Extrait, I mean — not extract. My left ring finger has no brain, and it often runs amok.
I didn’t like Zeta when it first came out, but we’re just now getting serious heat (100 degree), so I thought I’d give it another try. Not bad at all. I have Zeta on one shoulder and Mac Honey on the other. They seem very similar…but Zeta has more radiance, which is so surprising because when I tried it when it came out it had a nice bright opening and then just disappeared…
I really like Zeta and think it’s really original. I haven’t sniffed anything similar so far. I love the fresh floral opening with that hint of citrus, but the drydown is fantastic and lasts forever! I spritzed in the morning and it was still going strong by evening.
You must try Mac’s Naked Honey – it’s discontinued, but not too hard to find. It’s almost exactly the same as Zeta! And cheaper, to boot 🙂
Here’s a question for all of you: What fougère fragrances do you love? I know they are mostly marketed to men, but I’m starting to realize that they are a type I’m drawn to. Recently, I fell hard for By Kilian A Taste of Heaven, one that seems to fall into this category. I seem to be drawn to many of the lavender fragrances I’ve tried. This was a surprise, as I started the perfumista journey with a dislike for lavender.
For your reference, here is the definition of fougère, from the NST Perfume Glossary: “Fougère: one of the fragrance families (see Perfumista tip: on fragrance families); this one named after the French word for fern and established by the 1884 Houbigant fragrance Fougère Royale. Fougères center on an herbaceous accord that might include notes like lavender, coumarin, oakmoss, woods, and bergamot.”
Does Jicky count? I love that one!
I’m yet to sniff it but Caron’s Troisième Homme always gets a lot of love and has been on my To Try list for ever.
Probably not fougère but if you like lavender then how about New Haarlem by Bond N9? It’s a mix of lavender and coffee. Very pleasant, sort of raspy and cosy simultaneously. Oh and there’s Czech & Speake Oxford and Cambridge which is lovely too.
I like lavender, it’s such an honest sort of smell 😀
I’ve been sampling like made lately, including many of the non-oud Montale frags. My notes for Fougeres Marines say, “Lavender, patch,
moss, musk, sea water – chypre by the sea.” Not my thing at all but sounds like it might be perfect for you. I’ll gladly send you what remains of my sample – probably about 1 ml. Mail to faylene 505 (no space) at gmail dot com.
Clear as mud. I’ve been sampling like MAD. And by “my notes,” I don’t mean the fragrance notes but “my written notes.” Duh!
I don’t actually wear it, but I do keep Caron’s Troisiemme Homme on hand to sniff from time to time.
That BK Taste of Heaven is wonderful. I think of Nicolai pour Homme is the same genre of lavender and have been meaning to do a comparison test for ages.
SL Gris Clare is one of my all-time-fave scents and a lovely, dusty lavender. And I also like Chanel Egoiste, although I don’t know if it qualifies as a fougere or not, officially. It’s sold as a men’s scent and very herbal, in any case.
Thanks, all. Abyss, I think Jicky counts. I have tried the EdP and liked it a lot! I have tried Troisième Homme and I own and love Gris Clair. I believe I have samples of most of the others you recommend (thank you for the kind offer, though, Faylene!) Will try them!
All that being said, I’m still a little confused about the fougère category. For example, do other licorice/anise fragrances like Douce Amere fall into this category? Or is lavender a must? Is Caron Pour Un Homme (love that one) a fougère, or does there need to be a “green” element? I *have* smelled Penaligon’s English Fern and Trumper’s Wild Fern. They’re both very pleasant, but perhaps better on my husband!
I adore Jicky edt (from the very early 2000’s. Can’t speak for the current version. I also used to love Penhaligon’s English Fern, which was a lovely herbal unisex scent.
Glad to see you haven’t floated away! 🙂 I need to send you some current Jicky edp. I don’t find it so different from the stuff you sent me. Side by side you might notice the difference, but wearing them on separate days you wouldn’t.
I had a sample (from the lovely Carol of WAFT if memory serves) from the ’50’s and what I remember most about that is that it had more base than the current stuff has.
I’ve just discovered Madini and have fallen totally in love with several of them: Olive Flowers, Alma de Alma, and Musk Pierre. I can’t wait to try more of them, they’re so unlike other oils I’ve tried, so rich and complex.
I know I tried some years ago (sent to me by someone from MakeupAlley), but sorry I can’t remember which ones.
Re Frederick Malle website: I swear that I can remember seeing a “fragrance map” there several months ago, showing where their frags fall along two “smell axes” but I can’t find it now. I wrote to them quite a while ago (in English; my French is laughable) but no response. Does anyone else remember this?
Here’s hoping that all of you in Irene’s path are safe and sound!
I remember seeing a fragrance map of the FM fragrances, too. But I’m not sure it was on their website. I want to say it was associated with some articles I was reading about his recent visit to the States.
http://youtu.be/Wu28o405fCA
The fragrance map appears at about 3:50 in this video. I wasn’t able to find it anywhere else.
Yes, Tatiana, that’s it! Thanks so much. I know I’ve never seen that video before. Very mysterious. 😉
This morning I put on Bvlgari Black. I needed a hit of that smoky vanilla rubber and it carried me through a rough day.
Tonight I am wearing Bal a Versailles because I wanted something rich, skanky and delicious to give me happy dreams!
Hello! Have you tried any of that I indicated to you?? I’m so curious about your opinion!
I think Bvlgari Black is just always *right;* it is what I reach for when I can’t think of anything else I want to smell/smell like. 🙂
I recently tried Bvlgari Black and loved it. As soon as I stop feeling guilty about my recent vacation-related perfume indulgences, I’m ordering a bottle. And I’ve recently gotten into Bal a Versailles, too — I now have the EDT, 1/4 oz of the parfum, and a mini of the PDT.
I’ve heard tell of a super-skanky cologne version of BaV, but haven’t been able to locate any. Does anyone know if this concentration is still in production, or if the preponderance of skank was a peculiarity of a certain older batch?
The worst of Hurricane Irene in my area – really just the tropical storm edge of it – is supposed to pass over night. I’m wearing vintage Chanel No. 5 to bed.
I hope you get a good sleep, Noz!
Then you’ll have a good night of sleep!!! It’s so soothe!
Thanks, Haunani and Moore! I woke up to a patch of blue sky and now mostly sunny, so I guess the No. 5 worked! Some streets closed and others without power, due to downed trees, most likely, but the area managed better than expected.
Hello, all! I’m late to the party, but I woke up this morning inspired to drive “down the road” to Bend to wander the shops and look at art for a few hours. It was really just an excuse to drive and zen out (about 3 1/2 hours each way, so easily the majority of my time was on the road).
I wore Ormonde Woman which is my latest complete swoon. It is so lovely and was a perfect fit to the hot, dusty, smoky, juniper of Eastern Oregon. I have nearly used my sample, and am trying to justify buying a bottle even though I really don’t have it in my financial plan for the month. . . sigh.
I just discovered OJ Woman also, I’m working my way through the Disovery set. It’s truly lovely-I need to get my hands on a bottle soon! Have you tried Tolu, it’is my other favorite of the OJ:s right now.
YES! Tolu is the other fragrance that has completely gotten my attention. To be honest, though, I don’t think I’ve ever purchased such a “successful” sample set! Even the scents that are “not for me,” I recognize their appeal and that they are well-made. It really feels like such a revelation!
Thinking of all living in the path of Irene-stay safe!
I’m in perfume heaven and I have this forum to thank! Ever since joining, I’ve received a real education about fragrances, even though I always was a perfumista. Through all of you, I discovered two of my favorite scents: Amouage Epic Woman and Hermes Une Jardin sur le Nil. I’ve been so curious about so many scents mentioned here that I’ve tested a gazillion of them, either at shops, the Perfume Museum or through sample orders.
I never knew about Montale until I read about it here. I then went hunting online looking for other reviews at MUA and BaseNotes.
I ordered three samples of their Aoud scents, and fell in love! (At home, I have two vials of extraordinary, expensive Aouds that were a gift several years ago from a Kuwaiti friend. I could never grow to even like them. Now I know that I should try layering them with some other fragrance love, like maybe one of my roses. Maybe they’ll be great, then. I’m looking forward to trying that.)
I thought I’d have to order a fb of a Montale Aoud from First in Fragrance, but discovered via the Montale site that there is a salon here in Amsterdam that carries them. I called and found they carry both whole lines, and cost considerably less that FiF and I wouldn’t have to pay shipping!
I don’t get out much, due to my illness. Two weeks ago, I had an appointment with my neurologist in Amsterdam, after which a friend took me to the salon so I could buy my Montales. The owner was fabulous! We talked perfume for two whole hours (I’d still be there, but can’t hold up for long). During that time, he taught me a lot about fragrances and I got to sniff so many fragrances, Montale, MDCI, Humiecki & Graef, and Maria Candida Gentile. He made a number of (free) decants for me to try at home and gave me 21 scent strips! I actually tested 5 scents on my skin. It was perfume overload, but it was wonderful! I can’t wait to go back, as he has more that I want to buy and more that I want to sample.
I ended up buying Montale Aoud Roses Petals and Montale Black Aoud. These are soooooooooooooooo lovely. But I have fallen madly, deeply for my little decant of Rose Musk and I keep sniffing the scent strip for Dark Aoud. These are both strong, and may be a bit similar. I’ll have to compare when I’m back at the shop. One of my four cats is CRAZY about the rose musk. When I have it on, he won’t leave me alone! He follows me throughout the house, and every chance he gets, he is trying to lick it off my wrist or rubbing his head against my wrist.
I seem to recall reading something here one time about aoud having some kind of property for inducing calmness or….? Can someone tell me about this. It really seems to help me cope on particularly bad days with my illness.
I also have a scent strip labled “Diamond Brown”. I don’t know who makes this. It is an intriguing sandalwood, perhaps too masculine for me, but I can’t stop sniffing it.
I also found “Barry Lyndon” interesting. I haven’t made up my mind about it yet.
Anyway, thank you all, and especially Robin, for this wonderful forum!
Jonette, I’m so happy you are having such fun! I blame NST completely for tipping me over the edge from ignorant sniffer to full-blown perfumista! It is such a source of joy, and I consider it real self-care!
Your shopping trip sounds wonderful and thank you for sharing it with us. Keep us informed as to your opinions of all of your sampling. It’s always fun to hear others’ opinions on scents.
So glad to hear about your shopping trip and new discoveries, Jonette! I wonder what note your kitty loves; it’s also interesting that just one of them is attracted.
Hi Jonette, I’m glad you have found this hobby. Its something that can be indulged in when one is not really ‘up’ to much else – and can give one just a little pleasure at the worst of times. I’m not really sure about the therapeutic value of different essences, but I tend to find rose helpful.
Another fellow joining us! But take care, friend, it’s totally viatiating>
😉
Don’t know this site, but:
http://www.aromatherapies.net/blog/tag/agarwood-oil-properties
and you can try : agarwood aromatherapy properties as an Internet search, or perhaps your local library has books on aromatherapy.
I too really like NST, for its information and the community. My real-time friends are bemused at my interest in perfume, but here everyone understands. Perfume is beauty in a bottle, and there needs to be more beauty in the world.
P.S. I think you have a perfumista kitty in your home, Jonette!
Thanks for the information!!! I liked it too much!
Thanks so much for the link and the search suggestions. Yes, he is a perfumista kitty!
North Americans, are you ok? I really hope so! I’m worried cause the blog is a little stopped and that’s not a good signal.
Moore, it sounds like most areas fared better than feared in this huge storm – basically as wide as a hurricane can get, if not very fast. Some parts of Virginia got a foot of rain, though – that’s really hard to imagine, isn’t it?
It’s not so hard to imagine the situation. I read some news about. But at least there’s a minimal number of serious victims. There’s a proverb that says: “Having health we manage the rest”. 🙂
That’s so true!
Hah, we call that Spring in Arkansas! 😉
I would never like to be present at your springs though… 😉
Most of my local area is just fine. I lost internet for about 6 hours, but miraculously never lost power for more than 5 minutes despite heavy wind. All in all, much better than expected!
Good news! Internet we can do without, but power is so hard to do without. There are places that stay without it for ages when things like that happens. Lucky girl!
So true!
After Ike, we were without electricity for 13 days. We were very fortunate not to have serious damage–no flooding, the roof still on the house and so on–and to be healthy and sound, but still, it did get old.
There are consequences to the power outages that many people do not think about until it happens. The wife of one of my coworkers got bitten by a snake (a copperhead, I think) a couple of days after Ike while cleaning up their yard, and couldn’t get treated promptly because the local hospitals were closed due to lack of electricity. She eventually recovered, but it was much worse than it might have been ordinarily. One of the things they warn about if you are in an area with widespread outages is that if anything happens to you–snakebite, heart attack, broken bone, whatever–is that you are pretty much on your own.
In times like these it’s safe to be a doctor’s neighbour and to have a good self-control.
My good thoughts go out to all in the path of the hurricane. Stay safe, everybody!
Robin, I absolutely love the picture you used this time.
Thank you!
Big sniffing day for me so far.
This morning put on a tiny dab of Bond No. 9 Harrods (the one sold in the Bond store in NY – I don’t know much about this scent but it’s very intriguing. Something grassy about it – I would love to hear other opinions)
Then stopped in at Holt Renfrew on my way to the office to try the new Tom Fords.
I had expected to love Jasmin Rouge, but it might be too JASMINE for me – in that it screams Jasmine and only Jasmine. However, I didn’t spray it on me so it deserves another sniff.
I smelled and think I quite like the TF Santal Blush. The SA gave me a sample which I’m excited to try. Something very woodsy yet not too heavy about it.
Finally, sniffed the TF Violet Blonde. Holts doesn’t have samples yet of this unfortunately. My initial impression is that it’s not “me” meaning that it might be too light. It reminds me vaguely of Balenciaga Paris but less creamy, somehow brighter.
I also gave the By Killian Rose Oud another try, as my first sniff left me underwhelmed. I have some on my arm and keep smelling it – it’s a very pretty scent, which is turning spicy now. I’m not sure where the oud went though – seems to be fading quickly on my skin at least.
Anyone else smell the TFs yet?
Thanks for the reviews…hope to try all the new TFs this week.
My BF went overseas some time ago and bought me a mystery bottle of perfume for my birthday in September. He also bought me some samples and is rationing them out to me one a week, the tease! Today I got Songes and am surprised to love it. I had begun to think that white florals were just a no no. There is something about Manoumalia that is just plain offensive to my nose; Anthropology’s Bouquet Blanc is just meh and A La Nuit turned me off Jasmine for life.
People describe white florals as lush and intoxicating, both adjectives that appeal to me. And ‘carnal’ does as well. But my question is – doesn’t any wonderful scent have an ‘intoxicating’ effect on the smeller who adores it? And, so long as it isn’t a minimalist or veil-style frag, doesn’t any gorgeous floral appear as ‘lush’? And last, but not least, isn’t any alluring scent sensual, and even erotic on the right person?
That’s so sweet of your boyfriend!
Although… One sample a *week*? Then it’s sweet *and* cruel! 😛
Haha! Lucky he is not my only source:o
Did someone have a chance to try the latest Angel Men Chili from the new “Taste of Fragrance” collection?
Is it different enough from the original to be worth buying?