The usual open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the fragrance you're going to wear on Halloween, your favorite Halloween candy, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Under A Blood Red Sky by Ian Sane at flickr; some rights reserved.
Nice pic Robin! I am wearing Chanel No. 5 today- and it is a lovely fall day in San Antonio (cool temps!)…I am fond of candy corn myself, but always hand out dum dums, tootsie rolls and smarties to the trick-or-treaters!
It is freezing cold here, and they’re actually calling for wet snow tomorrow. I am pissed!
Yeah, NoVa is getting wet snow, as well. Miserable. I feel like we haven’t even experienced fall this year. It rained all of September & October & now that it’s sunny it’s cold and going to snow.
It’s cold and miserable and I am totally not ready for snow tomorrow. Back to what always feels like 8 months of winter.
Yes – miserable – tomorrow and Sunday we’re supposed to get 6 – 10 inches of snow. Double blah. Thank goodness my toddler is still too young to realize she’s gonna miss Halloween.
Sounds like y’all need to visit me!
You forgot to include your home address 😉
Wearing L’Inspiratrice today. My fave halloween candy is bottle cabs-especially the coke and rootbeer ones!
Oh, forgot about those, fun!
I also forgot about these but I love them! Thanks for the reminder. If there’s any time of the year to indulge in a little candy…
Love bottlecaps. I almost forgot about them too, but when I went to my hairdresser the other day, their salon had tubs of candy out for Halloween and they had all the good stuff. So I grabbed a big handful of bottlecaps and stuffed them in my coat pockets. lol
I went to a Halloween Polka Party last night, dressed in the 1860s hoopskirt dress I wore when I was a historical reenactor. I paired it with Frederic Malle Une Rose, and got rave reviews for both!
Oh that sounds lovely. Sadly, Halloween is the only time I don’t put effort into costumes. It’s like the one time I can run around in something positively ridiculous without worrying about whether or not my seams are perfect.
Oh how cool! And perfect fragrance choice.
I did historical re-inactment at a museum in Connecticut, years ago! Rose is perfect for the mid-late 1800’s. So is violet. We used to mention how young women would gargle with rosewater, brush rosewater in their hair and wait for boats to arrive with “Rose Otto Concrete” in their stores, all in preparation for husband hunting. (By the way, sometimes the Rose Otto would be mixed with ambergris, which was originally just used a fixative, until it was realized it had minerally, salty sweetness that added depth to fragrances, regardless of practicality. Rose and ambergris is a classic combo.)
Sweet! I would love to do that, except I don’t think my figure could squeeze into any of those corsets. I’ve been on a Civil War reading binge for almost a year now and can’t seem to get my mind out of mid-19th Century America.
It’s that time of the year again and Diptyque are doing their limited edition festive candles. There’s an obligatory pine one in a green jar and a delicious-sounding spiced plum one in a red & gold jar which I’m really looking forward to trying since I usually treat myself to a fancy candle every Christmas.
I sniffed the red candle this weekend at. Dyptque boutique. It was lovely.
haha…obligatory pine candle release
Just saw those today…pretty pretty, as always!
We are having our office Halloween party today, so I’m wearing a witch hat and a dab of Sucre d’Ebene, from Pierre Guillaume’s Huitième Art collection. (The notes include brown sugar and witch hazel, so very early this morning that somehow struck me as appropriate.) It reminds me very much of PG’s Praline de Santal. .
Oh, that sounds so delicious — will have to break down & try that line eventually.
Oh, I love the smell of witch hazel! Not sure I’d want to wear it, but it’s a great smell.
SOTD is actually The Pink Room No. 1. It’s like a less tasteful Chanel No. 5. All boudoir-y. I have a sample of it that I recently came across when sifting through my collection of samples and decants and figured I’d give it a try. I’m almost compelled to purchase a FB because it’s like tacky goodness. That kitschy little pink bow tied to that otherwise classic bottle. Also, it’s a nice break from the Avignon I’ve been dousing myself with lately. Between the upcoming holiday & my desire to smell like Death incarnate, I’ve been wearing Avignon almost religiously for the past week.
Favourite Halloween candy, stale candy corn! Seriously, leave the bag open in the desk drawer for a few days. Delicious.
As for what perfume I plan to wear with my Halloween costume, I’m not entirely certain. My friend had a terrible, awful idea for us all dressing as gender swapped Roman historical figures. So my costume for tomorrow night’s party is Lady Caligula. Hide your kids, hide your horse! I feel I need a fragrance that reeks of madness & sexual deviance. Maybe I’ll just wear Dzing! since it kind of smells like a stable.
Just looked it up. The bottle and cap definitely resemble a not-so-subtle No. 5 imitation. Cute!
You could always try Histoires de Parfums 1740 Marquis de Sade or ElDO Sécrétions Magnifique if Dzing! doesn’t hit quite the right note.
My son loves stale candy corn too!
I love stale candy corn, and the pumpkins! 🙂
Yes! And the candy pumpkins, too!
Stale candy corn is great, as are stale Tootsie Rolls – love them when they are rock-hard.
Candy corn! Funny thought. . .I never liked it, until a coworker taught me to mix it with salted peanuts. After Halloween, she’d sit out a bowl of mixed candy corn and peanuts, with a spoon. You’d scoop out some for your hand, pop it in your mouth, and it’d combine to make a taste just like a Payday candy bar. Too fun!
As for a ‘fume for your coustume. . .I wish I could send you the sample of Montale Oud Cuir d’Arabie or the Histoires de Parfums 1740 (Marquis de Sade). Both have that lash of leather with a hint of disturbing sweetness. . .Bal a Versailles would be great, as well. Have fun, and let us know what you chose 🙂
I love Payday candy bars.
Me too! But not candy corn.
Wow! I never would have thought of that combo — now I want it. Badly. 🙂
Totally. I had done well at resisting candy corn so far, too.
Lmao! Klytaemnestra, I like your friend’s thinking. Sounds like you’re going to have a blast.
2nd Histoires de Parfums 1740 Marquis de Sade!
Wearing Bvlgari’s Jasmin Noir L’Essence today – love this! Not sure yet what I’ll wear Monday..something spicy and wonderful for sure!.
I’ve been working at our zoo’s Halloween special event for the last two weekends – one more weekend to go! I’ve been dressing up as a vet. Mostly because it’s super comfortable (scrubs and a stethoscope with small stuffed animals velcro’d to my shoulders) and it was super cheap (scrubs and stethoscope came to $8 on a certain online auction site, already had velcro and stuffed animals). It has been a lot of fun and I’ve seen some great costumes.
Back to perfume: I’m in fig heaven right now. I finally tracked down a 25 ml bottle of Ninfeo Mio and I bought a sample of Sonoma Scent Studios new release, Fig Tree. Loving both of them. And the perfume I’ll be wearing for Halloween is CJ Scents’ Pumpkin Patch.
Oh, lucky you on both figs! I did not know there were 25 ml bottles of NM.
I had heard that they were available at some point as promotional items. Bless you, gray market!
I love the gray market. So, that means I should probably have an ebay search on AG, which I don’t.
I’m not really big on Halloween, but it’s a fun time for sure.
Wearing my holiest of holies today: FM Noir Épices. Oh, how I love this.
It’s been nice to have a touch of cooler weather and break out the fall scents — though nothing “cool” or cold like some parts of the country. I hear you all in my old Delaware Valley homeland may be getting a little snow already this weekend. Wow! I sure don’t miss *that* at this time of year. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Noir Epices! Something I can look forward to wearing when the local weather cools down a bit more.
It’s ridiculously cold to boot. If it really snows tomorrow, I might run away from home.
It’s Saturday now. My sister, who lives in PA, just called me. Her power’s been out for six hours!
Yes – the weather we’re having up here is perfect for Noir Epices. I’ll have to bust my decant out tomrrow. Love that stuff! I have some TF Tobacco Vanille for you….
Today I’m wearing Police Pure DNA and it quite accompanied my today’s mood.
Halloween candy? I’ve got no idea. We don’t celebrate Halloween in Poland as people do in USA. For few years people are trying to bring this tradition to our coutry and it’s being more fancied every year.
My question now:
Has anyone tried any interesting new perfume (especially male one)
Today I tried Lanvin Avant Garde, C.Herrera 212 Vip Men, Hilfiger Tommy Eau de Prep
From what I’ve tried, it has not been a great year for men — I can’t think of anything to recommend.
Yup, actually there were not many significant male fragrance releases this year (the two most important for me were Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense and Dsquared2 Potion)
Hubby got a sample of Chanel Blue. I kinda liked it on him.
I don’t know why, but I find all Chanel’s too strong, it’s not my style of perfume
They are not my style either! Women’s line is far away better!
I don’t know, I have never tried any of female Chanel’s neither has my mom.
What fragrances do you like?
I prefer subtle, quiet fragrances with a soul. Intriguing, staying close to the skin that have great potential and lasting power. (Oh, I so looked at my Prada Amber pour Homme right now)
My taste is always changing. Sometime ago I couldn’t do with sweet frags, but now I like them. The last few days I’m liking too much subtle frags either, but usually they don’t have great sillage and/or lasting power. But I also like resinous, incense, chypres, citric-aromatics/woody, light florals, gourmands, fruit-florals, dry ones… Amber Pour Homme is a really nice scent. I haven’t bought it cause I’ve already found my favourite (until now) fragrance from this type.
which is??
Burberry Touch. And there some others with some similarities such as Arpège PH.
Ah yes! I know this Burberry’s little one. It also drawed my attention, but I liked Prada better. Maybe when I’ll be tired of Prada I’ll replace it with this Burberry
Prada’s oppening notes are better.
I think I liked it because I could actually smell it. He goes way too light on the application usually and I never smell much on him at all so I think the Chanel worked because it’s strong.
Poodle, well If you could not smell anything else on him except Chanel’s it means Chanel does the trick
For me the whole Prada smells better, but it’s all up to one’s nose, I guess.
Good that we have our favourite perfume of this kind
Have been hearing interesting things about cKOne Shock for Him, but I don’t know if that’s available in Poland now.
(Visited your beautiful country in 1990 and loved it. Lovely place, friendly people.)
I tried CK One Shock few weeks ago in Sephora, it was ok, but not great though
If you happen to visit Poland again (especially Poznan) you can let me know 😉
We could meet and go on a perfume spree together 😉
ps. I was born in 1990 😀
I was 22!
who cares!? Fragrance love knows no bounds
Have you tried Bvlgari Man? The only “want to buy” I tryied until now this year. Mont Blanc Legend is interesting (not a “want to buy” to me), smells like new clothing, and remembered me Bleu a little at base notes.
I tried this one too, but I kinda avoid fragrances that are popular, I don’t like frags that almost any man has in it’s cabinet
Hah! Do you really think every man has a Bvlgari Man?! I don’t think so: few people tells about it and it’s somehow non-commercial frag. It’s easier Prada Intense to be like that. Sometimes the person who’s wering makes the perfume unique.
Maybe you’re right!
You’re right perfume and body chemistry might work miracles with fragrances.
And to be honest: Prada Amber pour Homme is my favourite fragrance, I never had a chance to test it’s Intense version, that one is not available in Poland.
I think I’m buying Dsquared Potion, this little one works great on me, would be perfect for autumn and winter
It’s not new but I love Varvatos Artisan on men.
I sniffed it some time ago at Douglas, but i don’t even remember how it smelled to me…
Aloha! I’ve been lurking for years, and emerge today! I’d like to toss out a question to those of us who love fragrance AND food. I’m interested in Vetiver’s application to the culinary arts. It’s clearly a savory note, but its food application is remarkably absent from the literature. Vetiver is included in canned asparagus, so it may be a preservative. This, however, is no satisfaction at all. A typical fragrance pyramid would–at the very least–include citrus. What do you think?
Hi and welcome!
And sorry, I’ve no idea…hope someone foodier than I will chime in.
another lurker ‘fessing up 🙂
im from south india, and in the north ‘khus’ is used to flavour sherbets, juices, shakes and some traditional desserts. in the south it is mainly used in drinking water and in blinds to cool the house, havent encountered it in desserts…
Welcome! And thank you, I knew it was used on blinds & such, but had no idea about the desserts. Would love to try that.
That is absolutely fascinating – thanks for the info!
I love vetiver perfumes, so I was intrigued by your question and looked up vetiver in Wikipedia. The only foodish reference is the following: “In the hot summer months in India, sometimes a muslin sachet of vetiver roots is tossed into the earthen pot that keeps a household’s drinking water cool. Like a bouquet garni, the bundle lends distinctive flavor and aroma to the water. Khus scented syrups are also sold.”
What are those syrups used for, I wonder? A vetiver and citrus sherbet might be interesting…
Also, the article claims that vetiver is used in 90% of perfumes because it serves as fixative!
Funny. I discovered this week that I also love Vetiver; althought it’s so common in frags, it gives some distinction to them. For what you said, it may be some kind of antioxidant and chemical stabilizer either.
You’re right. In perfumery specifically, fixatives – in addition to whatever scent they may themselves impart – are used to help other elements of a perfume last longer on the skin. They “reduce the evaporation rate and improve stability when added to more volatile components,” according to the indispensable Wikipedia. I’m guessing a lot of typical base note components may do that.
In India it is an ancient ingredient because of its medicinal properties, and primarily because it is extremely cooling for the body. So it is used in water or food only in the summer, or in hotter climates. I think it counteracts the heating effects of other ingredients such as mango, or sugar…
in the case of canned asparagus, maybe it masks the funky smell old asparagus can develop? 🙂 since they are both pith(y), maybe asparagus is closer in nature to vetiver or ginger than say a fruit flavour like a citrus…? (im just very excited to be part of this online discussion and its making me kinda verbose, sorry!)
You’re welcome Jahn! Don’t worry, information is never enough! I liked your comment!
Maybe a Thai type recipe, like something with coconut milk? I’m thinking of lemongrass, here. Or maybe a mint mojito with a reed of vetiver? I don’t know. I didn’t realize it was edible, actually. You might want to check and be sure that all parts of it, is.
Aloha to you, too, MAW808! I like your area code. 🙂
I’m also a vetiver fan. I wonder if it’s ever use to scent cooking fires, for smoking?
(used!)
how I love your picture taste Robin, this oe is amazing too
bit gloomy today so my friend Emeraude comforted me
Thanks 🙂
I love “Emeraude” in Autumn! It’s like a warm, tweed jacket.
I am wearing Miss Dior Cherie – found it under my dresser while fishing for shoes.
My favorite Halloween candy are those fun size candy bars, especially almond joy or butterfinger.
Trying to find a pudding or toffee comfort scent – any suggestions?
As you said toffee Prada Candy came to my mind. This one is sweet (but not overwhelmingly). Vanilla and caramel in this one might suit you.
Praline de Santal for toffee? I’m not sure I’ve ever sniffed a pudding scent, and now that idea sounds really, really intriguing.
Fishing for shoes!! So I’m not the only person that does that.
“Yume” by Theme Perfume is cozy. Their “Amuse” is another gently scrumptious scent.
SOTD is Blessings from Harrods.
I would just like to state that I really, really detest Bette Midler. This woman who has
1. maintained hip credibilty for dressing like a mermaid and covering Andrews Sisters Tunes while raking in millions
2. Won an Oscar and carried out a respectable acting careerr
3. Founded a truly and highly respected charity- A fund to beautify NY, which is widely regarded as having created a way to sustain NYC parks
4. had the good luck to grow u p in Hawaii (how wonderful) and then move to NY in her 20’s, (oh to be young and cool in NY)
But what really gets me is that, as part of her recent announcement of the sale of some of her clothes and costumes (to benefit the above named charity, of course,) she stated that she was selling some of the first clothes she ever purchased when she moved to NY. Before that, she had generally worn clothes she made herself.
YES, IN Addition, to being a greater singer, a great actress, a great organizer of charities, to being generous, SHE KNOWS HOW TO SEW.
Is there is anything she can’t do?
I
I read the title of your post and got all riled up but was laughing by the end – its always nice to meet another fan!
Beaches is in my top five movies to watch when I need to have a good cry.
OMG my sister and I watched Beaches together because it is such a sister movie, and we were all ready with our hankies, and about a half hour from the end, one of her pals showed up all “How ya doin’?” and ruined the moment!
“Bette, Bette, Bette!” to the tune of the infamous “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” Jan scene from “The Brady Bunch”.
Plus, she has the first name of one of the most talented classic actresses, ever. That greedy cat, Bette Midler, just doesn’t stop.
My favorite candy is Nerds, much to the dismay of my teeth.
My SOTD is Bond No 9 Broadway Nite. It reminds me of a very fabulous broadway singer I once knew.
Love Nerds. Covet the blue ones.
I go for the rainbow ones myself… and then of course have to eat one color at a time. :O I do the same thing w/M&Ms.
Me too! Have you ever known anyone who just throws M&Ms in their mouths by the handful? It always shocks me when I see this. lol
Wearing Tabu today and enjoying the surprisingly cool “coke-like” top notes. My favourite Halloween candy has already been hit on by others– candy corn and bottle caps. Now thinking about munching on coke bottle caps while wearing Tabu. Mmmm.
oh, and question: Has anyone tried L’AP’s new Batucuda (huge temptation to write “Bat-crud”) thing?
Not I — although now I have Heart’s “Barracuda” running through my head…
I have, but just once. It was a salty-citrusy thing. Bought a decant and need to give it a few more tries, but it’s been kinda chilly weather (at least in the mornings here in San Diego!) so I haven’t worn it much.
Yeah the release timing seems really baffling. Sort of like jeux de Peau being released in Spring…
Meg – I was just pondering this the other day. Seems like so many scents these days are launched either too late or two early for their best “season.” I did get some wear out of JdP before it got too hot and am looking forward to it this fall/winter, though 🙂
Yeah, there seems to be some odd off-season trend going on. I know ELDO was also planning on a light summer-like scent of lime, rice, etc. etc. for September but it got pushed back… will certainly be weird if it comes out in the winter.
JdP did not sit well with me; seemed all too reminiscient of a cinnamon bun. But now that we’ve had this conversation I wonder if the problem is that I tried it in July, will have to re-test now that it is fall.
I love Tabu and wear it to bed a lot – very cosy! Those bottle caps are great too but I have a choice Necco Wafers win out:)
Never seen them! Maybe only available in the states? Will have to hunt for them when I am next there.
Still haven’t tried Tabu – really, I need to. I sometimes wear a little Youth Dew (apply lightly!) at bedtime for a bit of nostalgic amusement; my mother wore it often.
It totally horrified me when I was given a bottle 7 years ago but it’s been steadily growing on me. I still only wear it every couple of months, but when it’s right it’s really good.
Necco Wafers! Haven’t thought of them in years. Is it the chocolate ones that are supposed to “sparkle” if you break them in the dark? (okay, call me a geek, lol!)
Really, though, I remember when the old factory was still producing them, and it wasn’t that many years ago. You could always smell them on the street.
I think wintergreen Lifesavers do that, too, IIRC.
Wintergreen lifesavers definitely do that (don’t know about Necco Wafers).
My cousin and I were allowed one candy item a week, so we would each get a roll of Necco Wafers and crush them up and put them in a plastic cup. They would last a long time that way. I still love them. They went all natural or something lately – the colors are paler. Still taste good, though.
I saw on the news the other day they are going back to the old recipe because people weren’t liking the new one.
cozy is spot on, it is certainly one of the more textured perfumes. I think of it as “chewy” for some reason.
Did you see this:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/10/26/141732915/customer-outrage-forces-necco-to-put-artificial-ingredients-back-into-wafers
People are so funny. Who’d a thought Neccos would make the news?
We used to play church with Necco wafers.
My new fav is a sample I got last weekend at Sniffapalooza called, Notes of Chardonnay by Kelly&Jones. It is lovely! I’m curious if anyone has tried this brand.
I got this sample at Sniffa too – put it in my “try sooner” pile, but haven’t got around to it yet. I’m glad to hear your thoughts! Maybe I’ll have to move it closer to the top of the pile!
Wearing “Bois de Paradis” today. The rains have come, after almost a month of sunny, colourful-leaf weather.
A friend and I are going out for supper on Hallowe’en — no dressing up except for my spider-web nylons. My friend has terror tots in her neighbourhood , who have turned trick or treat into trick AND (still demand a) treat, so she is fleeing her house.
Hilarious — “terror tots”. Precociousness is overrated :)!
“Bois de Paradis” is a great stewed fruit, cream and spices, Autumn kind of fragrance. It smells like crunchy leaves, apples and fresh cream.
…and don’t forget the booze — a touch of brandy perhaps…
Wearing Organza Indecence today.It is lovely – sweet and spicy, but not too much. Love it. I also love the fun size bars at Halloween – Twix, Kit Kat, Butterfinger and Baby Ruth are my faves.
Org Ind is great!
Anything fun size is too. (I ALMOST bought my 5’1″ teenage daughter a t-shirt that said, “I’m not short, I’m fun size!” but they didn’t have any smalls!)
LOL! Figures. Much like it’s hard to find small sizes in short lengths, and how they always put the small shoe sizes on the top shelves. Um, hello?! Because 6′ supermodels wear a size 6 shoe? Gah. Put ’em where the people who need ’em can reach ’em. *grumble*
Yum, you smell great!
Does anyone know of a good cherry blossom perfume? I was in the mood for something light and pretty today, so I sprayed on BBW CB that I got as a gift. It smells chemical. 🙁
I like Jo Malone’s Cherry Blossom – but not everyone likes JM like I do.
L’Occitane has a cherry blossom perfume but I don’t know if it smells floral or fruity.
I have quiet a random question, and I’m hoping there’s some old movie buffs out there… Does anyone know what perfume is featured in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn? There is a scene where her character comes home drunk, and she is spraying the perfume to emphasise her point. It’s a kind of generic-looking bottle (not in a bad way, just in a hard-to-identify way, to my eye anyway) and it wasn’t really on the screen long enough for me to get a good look at it anyway. Has anyone read anything? Or does anyone have a keener eye than me and can pick it on sight? 🙂
The perfume Holly is spraying in the apartment hallway during her drunken scenes is Makila by Jean Patou. This according to: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054698/trivia
Anyone know if that’s right?
Running out now to buy some pumpkin peeps! Wearing Prada Candy today. If anyone can recommend a not so candied but caramel fragrance…I’m looking for something a tad sweet but not Pink Sugar sweet. Something with bourbon maybe? Or rum? Or maybe I should just make a hot toddy…haha!
I think TPC has a boozy sample pack – maybe there is something in there. I have Demeter’s Hot Toddy – not quite what I wanted, but it’s pretty nice. Back to Black, Idole, SDV, Frapin 1270 or 1697, TF Tobacco Vanille, Note Vanillee, and Ambre Narguile are often noted as boozy. (I love bourbon and hot toddies myself!)
awesome suggestions, thank you!
I will definitely second Back to Black.
SL Arabie is all stewed fruits and booze – I love it.
maybe DKNY red delicious for men? Although it’s a male frag it can be borrowed by women, I guess.
It’s 68 degrees in Austin today: perfect! I’m wearing SSS Chamoagne de Bois today, inspired by a lovely review on Olfactoria’s Travels yesterday.
My favorite Halloween candy is… All of them! I love candy, every kind there ever was. Especial favorites are candy corn/pumpkins, Peeps, and mini-bags of candy bars 😉
Good thing my cleanse ends on Monday….
CdB – perfect!
Champagne de Bois is wonderful! I had Tableau de Parfums Miriam on earlier, but it wore off, and then I spritzed a bit of CdB before I went to go sell concessions for the band boosters at the football game… weather is 34F and raining buckets – think we sold much? Nope. Just hot chocolate, mostly.
(The football team is now 1 and 8, though. Yay, they finally won a game!)
Oh good! There’s nothing so demoralizing as not winning a single game all season.
Ahhhh. But the band is always great, right?!!!
The band is ALWAYS great. (It was raining so hard that it was murder on the woodwinds’ pads, so the band left in the 2nd qtr.)
I love your discussions of marching band. I was in my high school marching band as well and also USC’s drumline in the Trojan Marching Band. Yay musicians 🙂
Spent a cool, beautiful fall day at the zoo today. Couldn’t have enjoyed it more — I wish this time of year lasted longer.
I’m wearing Burberry The Beat today. Kind of rediscovering it — back when it came out, it was one of my go-to scents for a while. I still like it — easy to wear, and it gathers quite a few compliments.
I’m with Dee, I love pretty much all Halloween candy and I think my favorites are candy corn and those little candy pumpkins. They remind me of childhood. I also love the Reese’s peanut butter pumpkins.
thumbs up for Burberry the Beat 😉
SOTD was 31 Rue Cambon, which I put on this morning before going to bed (I’m working a stretch of overnights). Trying to decide on SOTN; it’s cold and rainy, so perhaps AG Myrrhe Ardente. Or FM Noir Epices, like Joe above. But maybe I should consider something less snuggly and more stimulating, since I do need to stay awake and on my A game all night. What scent options exist for such situations?
I know lavender relaxes most people, but it wakes me up — so I’ll say Jicky!
second this one
Great idea! Will wear Jicky tonight.
My fav halloween candy is Smarties. When I was a kid it was a fresh single paper wrap of Reese Peanut Butter cup.
SOTD is Vol de Nuit which is perfect for the early onslaught of winter weather we’re having. Today my dear hubbie and I got an unusual day together and went shopping. I got some nice Mistral soaps – Milk and Balinese Vanilla. I got to test Lorenzo Villoresi Spezia which I’d not heard of, and I really liked it. My hubbie even let me put some on him. And I got to have this amazing Lebanese pastrie with custard in filo dough. It was one of the nicest days I’ve had in a while. Tomorrow we shovel snow!
Smarties!! I can’t remember if any are in any of the bags I got. If not, will remedy.
I am falling hard for Vol de Nuit extrait. We are having an on-again-off-again courtship, but it’s great stuff.
I love Mistral soaps.
Those Mistral soap “flavors” are great, aren’t they?
SOTD: Ineke Gilded Lily, to meet the bankers and take a tour of my building with them and my boss. Wore a suit, sorta. People were all agog.
I have way too much candy at home – I am in a new neighborhood and think I might actually get some kids. I am kind of a candy ho, sorry to say.
On Halloween I may wear Opus Oils Voodoo, or one of their other spooky ones.
We get very few kids, maybe 10 or 12 on a good year. But I hate running out so I buy 3 bags anyway 🙂
Fave halloween candy is Rockets. I love that little powdery blast. Fortunately, my kids don’t seem to be fond of them, so yeah! for the parent tax. I could also easily eat my weight in Kraft caramels, but I try to go easy on those. So addictive…. (I just read on one of the fashion blogs I follow that pancakes with candy corn in them are really good. I may have to cook some on Sunday.)
SOTD is Smell Bent’s One. Mals really like that one, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. It’s a bit sweet on me, but I’ve definitely smelled worse. Tomorrow seems like a SSS Femme Jolie kind of day, it’s getting to be that kind of weather. However, how ironic to hear how many of you are getting snow – I live in Alberta, Canada, and it’s looking to be a mild, snow-free Halloween.
Yep, I still like One! Love the old-book smell of it.
Dionne you must be my candy twin 🙂 my fav are also rockets,my kids never seemed to like em so I always enjoyed digging into their treat bags…ohh I miss that!!
Alberta girl!
I just moved to toronto from lethbridge AB. Enjoy the snowfree halloween, I remember them being rare 🙂
I love Halloween- candy and no perfect dinner pressure like Thanksgiving or perfect gift pressure like Christmas! We are so ready to see the neighborhood kids in their costumes, but I may be forced to stay in the basement with our new dog (who’s a rescue & still growly when people come to the door)… I will likely wear Prada Candy.
SOTD this a.m. was Amouage’s Tribute & this afternoon was JM’s Pomegranate Noir. I’m from the Midwest, so I’m happy for the chillier weather in Northern VA and the chance to wear some deeper scents.
Oh, hope your dog makes it through Halloween without too much stress!
My dog goes crazy barking when people knock on the door so I just sit outside on the stoop for an hour or so during the busy time and hand out candy, then come in and turn off the porch light!
Favorite Halloween candy – Butterfinger, then a close second is Mounds. I try to pick up hints for fragrances that I don’t know here on your site. I noticed “Noir Epices” and tried two of the “go to” on line sites, and neither of them has it. Can someone clue me in to where it’s available. If it’s only big cities, I’m out of the game. sigh.
Hi, Anita! Noir Epices, which is really terrific, is by Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums, and I think you can get this line at Barney’s, so yeah – larger cities. And it’s a pricey brand, too, though very very well-done scents. I might icepick somebody for spare cash to get some Iris Poudre… kidding. KIDDING. I’ll sit in the parking lot at Wal-mart with a cardboard sign WILL WORK FOR PERFUME or something, instead. 😉
I feel your pain… I live in the country too. If you want to buy a sample, you can try The Perfumed Court or The Posh Peasant.
You can order samples from either Luckyscent or the Perfumed court for various perfumes. Frederic Malle you can order online from Barneys in the U.S. or directly from them in France. Their online store is pretty fun and they can give you a personal consultation. I ordered Une Rose from them and their customer service is insane.
Hi Anita,
Aedes de Venustas carries the Frederic Malle line and allows you to purchase samples on line.
Fun to read about everyone’s favorite Halloween candy. I like most, to be truthful, but was extra delighted when someone would have Reese’s peanut butter cups for my basket.
SOTD: Bottega Veneta’s new EdP. Love it. It is a nice substitute for SL’s Boxeuses, which I love. . .and will own someday. It’s not as rich or deep, but will do for now. It’s leather is a bit more suede like. . .and for me sits poised between Daim Blond and Boxeuses. I like both, and had fun playing this week with leather fragrances. My game is to wear a different one each day. Be well!
SOTD was vintage Shiseido Zen, worn on my sweater. I still can’t wear anything on my skin while I’m getting treatment.
I got a little bottle of Halloween from Possets, and I’ll put some on my infuser and wear a bunch this weekend. Concocted to smell of pumpkins, spices, smoke, leaves.
Mini Snickers!
Hi, bluepinegrove! Great to see you here, which also reminds me to stop by your amazing blog. Vintage Zen can really hit the spot.
Thanks for visiting my blog, nozknoz! Question: What fragrance would you reach for after coming out of a hyperbaric chamber?
I’ve also read your blog, BPG and would like to revisit but I’ve misplaced the address. Can you plz send it to me at faylene505-at-gmail.com? Thanks. I hope you’re having good results with the hyperbaric treatment.
I was a deprived child. I am, technically, allergic to chocolate (ohhh yes I am. they did the scratch allergen test on my back when I was 7), so I would have to come home from trick-or-treating and hand my plastic pumpkin over to my dad so he could pick all the chocolate out of it.
Booooo. What was usually left was Mary Janes (those peanut butter taffy things? Bleargh, hate them), Zagnut bars, which I liked, Smarties, and hard candies.
Now? I love Butterfingers. Still love Zagnuts, but never see those anymore!
This is probably the last year I’ll have a kid trick-or-treating, too. Bookworm’s 16, Gaze is 13. Taz wants to go in his Viking costume from last year…
Oh, and perfume! Have been wearing the fabulous Tableau de Parfums Miriam lately (the sandalwood in it is just To. Die. For), and I think I might possibly… maybe… be brave enough to try Poison again on Halloween.
I have some en route and I am so excited to sniff! Lots of good reviews…
POISON! What a great Halloween frag!
True chocolate allergy, oh no! Mals, I’m sorry. That is truly a scary Halloween thought. I’d happily donate all my Butterfingers to you 😀 (weird thought–don’t those have a chocolate coating?)
Poison on Halloween sounds hilarious. Veeery scary. Nah, I think it’s pretty in small, nay teensy, doses. I might have to bust out my tiny sample of Hypnotic Poison in solidarity–Annick Menardo fangirl, here.
I could really rebel, and wear Hypnotic Poison to work, too. We’re having a costume contest, and I could borrow my brother’s horned Viking helmet, wear a breastplate, stage makeup and big hair, and be an opera singer. . .I actually have my first voice lesson scheduled for 10/31. Hmmm. Perhaps not an auspicious beginning to my vocal training. Be well 😀
Oh, I’m still allergic to chocolate. These days, I just eat it anyway and take a Sudafed.
This is my first Halloween back in the States after several years overseas. I have a soft spot for candy corn and twix. I actually had my sister ship them to me in China.
The weather has finally turned a little nippy here, I can finally wear a scarf. I have recently fallen in love with 31 Rue Cambon. I originally went in to buy Beige ( I prefer floral scents), but once I tried 31 Rue Cambon on the skin, I couldn’t leave it behind.
My one question is that I am looking for a creamy, milky, sandalwood perfume. Any suggestions?
Please give PG’s Cadjmere a try. I adore this one. Eager to hear what others have to offer as suggestions…
After reading everyone’s posts I’m now itching to go to the drugstore to grab a mass of candy…
Omg yes!!! You must try cadjmere,it’s my HG!! Love love love.
Chaco10 – I would try “Ava Luxe, No. 23” for a good sandalwood. She does some other beautiful sandals, as well, like “Tao”. You might like “Palisander”, too.
Seconding the No. 23 rec. It’s a lovely sandalwood – one of my favorites.
SOTD Philosophy Grace because I am currently going through a soapy phase. It is OK but not quite right. On Hallowe’en I plan to wear Possets Snow on Bare Skin or I might finally take the plastic wrap off a full bottle of Sauvignonne which I bought from the Perfume Shoppe in Vancouver a few years ago. I was overcome with choice (I live in a small city where the perfume selection consists of the Bay, Sears and a couple of drug store chains) and have looked at the box with fear ever since.
Favourite Halloween candy is any form of Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups. For Halloween, my husband will carve a pumpkin, which is always imaginative and we will be visited by about 40 trick and treaters.
We have family in Mexico (married our niece to a Mayan man) and because of that connection, we usually celebrate Day of the Dead. We place pictures of deceased friends and family on the mantle including servings of their favourite foods and drink. It gives us an opportunity to appreciate and honour them and is very comforting.
Your Day of the Dead celebration sounds lovely.
I have some unopened bottles too – best to face our fears?
And Reese’s. Above all else, Reese’s.
Love celebrating Day of the Dead! It’s been a few years since I created an alter with offrendas, but it was a very important part of my mourning process after my step-mother passed away over a decade ago. I can completely appreciate the sense of comfort that it can create. (I learned about Dia de los Muertos in college from Hispanic friends.)
We celebrate Day of the Dead at my house. We got the ofrenda set up this evening for tomorrow night’s party. For my husband it’s a roots thing. For me, it’s a wonderful way to commune with departed friends, family, and ancestors–mine and those of my guests. The stories and food!
Hi Rigana… it sounds like you’re in Kelowna? I just moved from there!
Candy…anything with chocolate. 🙂 I also really like the other-flavored tootsie rolls, and the white Smarties. Perfume is taking a big backseat this week; I came down with a hideous cold last Thursday, spent 4 days in bed, went to work 4 days, and crashed again today. No time for this! I can’t really smell anything, either. 🙁 Sorry for those getting snow; we were supposed to, but it stayed just a bit too warm. I’m sure we’ll get more than our fair share, though.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Has someone heard anything about Dior Homme and Dior Homme Intense reformulations?
Am I the only one noticing “carrot seed extract” and “carrot extract” creeping into blends and body products, all over the place? I had a whirlwind romance with a fragrance last month that had “carrot seed extract” as a note and something crunchy, sweet and citrusy astringent stood out (I liked it) and I’m thinking that was it. Anyone else notice this?
Carrots are great for the skin because of all that carotene. And of course anytime something gets hailed as a ‘wonderfood’, it gets stuffed in everything – juices, lotions, toothpaste, you name it.
I eat carrots a lot; haven’t noticed any difference yet, but maybe i will when I’m older! 😉
For nostalgic reasons, I ordered an “Anne Shirley: Avonlea” apple blossom fragrance. It’s probably really light and Spring-like but oddly, that’s what I was looking for. I wonder why I’m not itching for a heavy fall scent, right now? Usually, I start craving Chanel “Bois des Isles” or “Coco” around this time. Maybe I need to re-set my internal Farmer’s Almanac :).
Loved loved loved the Anne series. Little jealous you found a fragrance honoring that character.
I am going to NYC in two weeks and I want to ask the board which are the best perfume shops to go to. And is Bond Street actually a street there or is it just a name that the perfumers came up with, because i want to check out that shop too.
THX!
I like the little shops: Aedes de Venustas (9 Christopher St), MiN (117 Crosby St) and Lafco (285 Lafayette St). Bond No. 9 IS at #9 Bond Street. Also, I think you should consider going to the basement of Bergdorf Goodman’s uptown. Enjoy!
I also love MiN and the Bergdorf Goodman basement. The Plaza Hotel right across from Bergdorf also has a beauty level in the basement, with a much-overlooked collection of interesting fragrances.
For a different type of scent experience, Enfleurage NYC is reopening in their new location on Nov. 1. They have the most wonderful essential oils and natural ingredients. I love their glycerin soaps.
And the staff at Enfleurage is really nice. They let me sniff several different types of oud that last time I was there, so that I could understand how different one variety can be from another.
NST has a great Perfume Shopping in New York page, with links to reports on several places:
https://nstperfume.com/perfume-shopping-in-new-york-city/
In addition to the places people have already mentioned, I’d suggest that, if you’re in midtown, you might stop by Bendel’s and Saks as well as Bergdorf’s–and definitely the Caron boutique. If you make it to Brooklyn, you might like to check out CB I Hate Perfume.
Howdy! 🙂
My hubby and I are going as zombies this year… BUT with a twist… im thinking of going as an Amy Winehouse Zombie and I want my man to be Patrick Swayze :))) I really dont want to offend anyone and I must say for defence.. that I adored Amy Winehouse for her music, such as Patrick Swayze.. i love Dirty Dancing, and think he was a wonderful actor and man! So this is more or less a little “tribute” we were thinking of, instead of making fun of such wonderfuly talented people. Rest in Peace, Swayze and Winehouse! Makeup and Costumes shouldnt be problematic because im a make up artist 🙂 but now with the perfume im still wondering what to go with. what do you think would be zombiesque enough? (i would love to try the Blood (f.e. AB) series or Secretions Magnifique) and it is nearly impossible to get to any interesting niche perfumes here in austria 🙁 what would go with a zombie? or what would go with amy winehouse? how bout patrick swayze? any ideas? :))
Are you 27 y.o.? If the aswer is yes, don’t go as Amy!! 🙂
Forgot to mention: there’s a By Killian perfume that is named Back to Black. Everytime I hear this name I remember her. 🙁
I’m going as a pirate for Halloween to a friend’s party and I have just decided what perfume to wear
my Havana Vanille sample. that would go perfectly !
also have a sample of Serge Lutens Arabie, but that’s a bit intense
I love malted milk balls. 🙂
I’m looking for a good indolic jasmine. I like Diptyque’s Olene, but it’s a little linear on me – I think I’d get bored. I LOVE Jean Patou’s Joy extrait, but it’s really spendy (I have a little teeny tiny sample from TPC) and I’m not sure if I’d wear it a lot — something heavy about it. (I’m NOT doing to say old-lady!) Any ideas? Thanks!
I’ve been looking for an indolic jasmine for ages now, and I really don’t think there is one out there. Once the perfume companies switched from real jasmine to hedione, we lost the indoles of natural jasmine.
I also love good malted milk balls. 🙂
So sad Rappleyea!! My sadness, I guess, my eventually be assuaged by Joy extrait…. 😉
I put this reply in the wrong place, sorry everyone:
Carthusia has a brilliant indolic jasmine. I was in the same boat, looking for the perfect indolic jasmine last spring. This one really hits the spot and I tried everything Scent Bar had to offer.
I’m wearing one of the new Christian Dior scents – Mitzah, I was lucky enough to be given a 5ml sample bottle by the sales assistant. It’s in the same vein as Brecourts Ambre Noir.
I was trying not to eat sweet stuff today but have succumbed to a mini Lindt square that came with a battery purchase (last time they included a mini square of Kendal mint cake), and two Yummy Earth lollipops, so much for being good! Guess I should stock up for trick or treaters on Monday now I think about it!!
The two non-niche fragrances that beg to be worn on Halloween are Tom Ford’s Black Orchid and Dior’s Midnight Poison. I will be alternating them this weekend.
(Comme des Garcons comes to mind in the niche category)
I have a weakness for caramel creams… 🙂
I have a question about a blind buy I made. I bought Balenciaga Paris and should get it next week. Can anyone tell me what it might compare to? I think I will like it, but am a little nervous about it. I am a floral/fruity person usually. Thanks.
Kris, I assume you mean the original B. Paris, right? (I think there’s a new one coming out some time now or soon. . .) If so, I don’t have another scent like it, but it seems like a classic violet scent to me. No fruit that I can detect, but a slightly green/herbal violet. I have read that others find it sheer, but I find that it has pretty noticeable sillage on me. It is complex but well-blended, other than the violet note which stands out to me. Hope others can help with comparisons!
Hi, Kris. The first Balenciaga Paris, which came out a couple of years ago, is light but tenacious, with a greeeny, almost aquatic feel, and an unsweet violet theme. The latest, called L’Essence, (out this year) is quite similar but is deeper, greener (vertivert?), still violet (but more like the leaf) and even longer lasting.. They both remind me a little of Christian Dior’s Fahrenheit (the original), particularly L’Essence – probably the violet – and L’Essence particularly would work equally as well on guys and girls I think.
I somehow missed this post, yesterday. . .bummer!
My plans for Halloween include a cemetery tour with a friend. A local pioneer cemetery does Halloween tours as a fundraiser to help maintain the grounds. They call it the “Tour of Untimely Departures,” with actors dressed up and playing the deceased, telling the stories of their lives and deaths. I went a few years ago, and it’s a very good time!
Many people choose to dress up, but I don’t think that I will. I’m not sure what scent I’ll wear, but I have to work during the day. Maybe Bill Blass Nude, for the apple/pear note?
I am a bit of a food-purist, so I don’t buy or eat commercial Halloween candies. For the past few years, I have handed out homemade caramel popcorn balls, which have been very popular with neighborhood kiddos. When I started, I was afraid that families wouldn’t trust something homemade, but I’m happy to say that they seem to trust me!
Howdy… the cemetery tour sounds pretty entertaining. I wish there was something like that in my town.
Yes, I think that the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery is another one of those “proof that Portland is still weird” sort of groups! Another event a few years ago was a concert on the grounds with a CD release of local singer-songwriters performing songs inspired by the residents. . .
Hi Marjorie Rose — I sent you an email but it might have ended up in your spam filter. Drop me a line at a123amos at inbox dot com if you were still thinking of a Portland sniffing day…
I’m once again angry at Canada Post’s regulations! No shipping of perfume allowed? Why are we the only country that considers it dangerous? 🙁
Not to play with Halloween, but I think my SOTD will be Prada Candy. I really didn’t know what to think of it on my first test a few days ago. But I had the same first reaction to Lann-Ael which I now love. In the same Perfume Posse draw I won (yay! thanks!), there was the old version of Caron Violette Précieuse — SO beautiful! Really, really beautiful.
Alnysie,
Seems like I’ve purchased fragrances from ebay folk in Canada and from a shop in BC. Do they let them ship OUT but not INTO Canada? Are they afraid of the alcohol content? (Maybe you could get around it with oils and cb i hate perfume’s water perfumes. . . 😉 )
In any case, I can only imagine how frustrating that must be!
Oh, I should have been more precise: I haven’t been refused shipping yet, it just makes it much harder, for example I’m unsure as to how to proceed with swapping/buying bottles from individuals. And so many discounters (and houses… I’m looking at you, Jacomo!) don’t ship to Canada at all…
Argh, that comment was intended for Meg! 🙂
Yes, I bought from The Perfume Shoppe too (I guess that the store you refer to?), but weren’t they shipping via messenger? I don’t remember, and I’m really confused. I don’t understand how a fragrance store could get away with shipping via Canada Post. And then, of course, there’s what’s allowed and there’s what people do… I guess I need mentors to teach me how it works. 🙂
And yes, the “problem” is the alcohol. 🙁
For shipping perfume bottles to other people… you have to erm, fudge the truth. Because you’re not shipping mere liquid, right? You’re shipping HAPPINESS. From what I understand, it isn’t “allowed” in the States either, but perfumistas do it anyway. There are some good articles floating around (I forget where… here.. on Perfume Posse? I will go look them up in a minute) on how to get away with this, including surrounding the bottles with packing peanuts or something to mask the sounds of liquid. Anyway, every time I have shipped a bottle to someone else, and replied “no” to “liquid?”–when I swear I wasn’t even convincing myself–it got to them okay and their’s to me
Thanks Meg. I know I’m making too much of a deal out of it… I just feel I’m not good at blurring the truth. 🙂
https://nstperfume.com/2008/02/13/perfumista-tip-how-to-swap-for-perfume/
go to item number 4: “How to mail your swap,” or
http://perfumeposse.com/2010/11/23/swapmania/
item numer 2, “Newbies.”
Thank you!!!
“Because you’re not shipping mere liquid, right? You’re shipping HAPPINESS.”
LOVE this. You made my night. 🙂
Such a bummer! What place didn’t ship? TPC or the Perfume Shoppe??
Meg, look above for what should have been my reply to you! 🙂
Going to a costume party tonight. Ill be Maverick from Topgun. Wearing Guerlain L’Instant.
Nice choice!
SOTD is Prada Candy, will most likely be my SOTD on Monday too. I’m not typically so typical, but if it works it works.
My fav halloween candy are those sticky chewy bite sized laffy taffy thingees that come in grape, strawberry and banana flavors. Love them!
Side note, I live in Central Florida and dont get the autumn colors experience anymore. But I was recently in Asheville, NC on a business trip and the colors on the trees were absoultely stunning! Simply beautiful, made me slightly nostalgic for my hometown of Chicago….until December hits that is 🙂
Black Widow for Halloween, I think.
And bc sugar will make me sicker than I want to be, probably homemade low glycemic chocolate cherry cookies. Though I would love to go nuts on a bag of fun size Reese’s cups. 🙂
I manage a boutique perfumery in Melbourne and for today and tomorrow I’m forcing my poor obliging girls to wear witchy hats and don their favourite dark and eerie scents.
I’m wearing Dzing!, Mairi has chosen Nasomatto Absinthe and Laura spritzed a little of the Cire Trudon Spiritus Sancti room spray on her wrists.
*update* I have now switched to Juliette Has a Gun Midnight Oud, which is actually perfect over the top of what’s left of Dzing!.
OH and we’ve been eating raspberry licorice bullets. YUM.
I wish I worked somewhere where I was *forced* to wear dark eerie scents
Carthusia has a brilliant indolic jasmine. I was in the same boat, looking for the perfect indolic jasmine last spring. This one really hits the spot and I tried everything Scent Bar had to offer.
Just had to shovel out nearly a food of snow. It’s just too damn early for this. Also have to get out there with the saw and get a big tree branch off my fence. We had a minor catastrophe out front too. Half of our maple tree came down from the snow so now we need to get the tree guy out to cut that up and take down what’s left of the tree. At least nothing hit the house. Not an expense I want right before the holidays though. Oh well, that’s mother nature.
I need a relaxing, cozy scent for today. I’ll have to go dig through my bottles and see what I can find.
Damn. Hope you fish out your coziest!
Yeah this little storm is madness. I waited until noonish to shovel my car out; bad idea, the sun melted it enough that it weighed 200 pounds; my back, and many others, are not happy about that.
Cozy perfume, to me, = something powdery,