Happy National Inventor's Day!
Our basic open thread routine: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last perfume you tried in a department store, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Red Buds by Dylan Luder at flickr; some rights reserved.
This week there should be fireworks above my head. I passed my exams, which means I’m done with exams for another 5 months. Unfortunately I don’t have any winter break and have to return to lab on Monday, but, oh well…
To bring my happiness to even higher levels I treated myself with one of my best goodies – luxurious and oh-so-precious – Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense.
Congratulations! And I’m glad you found a fragrant way to treat yourself!
There’s always a fragrant way to treat yourself, isn’t it? Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense is one of the closest to my heart in my small collection. It has a special place for me – it took a lot of time to find it. I keep it only for special or happy days. Passings exams is one of those days.
Any fragrance that one likes is a treat to smell; you are right. Still, there is always that one special one that is treasured a little more than the rest and which must be reserved for the right moments! Just regarding a perfume in this way makes it more valuable : )
To be honest I treat all my perfume as treasures, they’re all very precious to me. I adore Prada, half of my collection is Prada. I’m a Pradaholic 😉 But Amber Pour Homme Intense was the one I had to seek & fight for, because it’s not available in my country.
Congratulations!
Thank you, and how was your week, Alnysie?
Thank you! It was good and busy, and now I’m preparing for a short business trip next week and so googling the perfume shops in town!
Wow, that sounds exciting. Trip related with some perfume must be great! Have a good time there, maybe you’ll find something nice.
Congratulations! And I’ve finally joined your Prada family! I got some Infusion d’Iris during Swapmania. I adore it.
Thanks Suzy! Oh, I’m glad you like Infusion d’Iris! It’s such a wonderful perfume. I’m sure you’ll also love d’Iris absolue which is due to launch in march
I know, I know! I can’t wait. And the only reason I know about it is because of you, btw.
So I’m a reliable source of Prada fragrances news. That’s a great compliment!
I’m glad to hear you got to try Id’I, Suzy – I have some and love it, but I live in Canada so we coudn’t have swapped. Did you ever get some Winter Woods?
LOL. I know exactly how you fell. There was a semester that I was studying 16 curriculum disciplines and my exams started at about 1 month after the beggining of the classes (they were abou 2-3 per week) and only stopped on the final of the period, during wich my routine was college-homme-study-college-homme-study-text-homme-study-college… I hadn’t social life. At the end of this process I was in a state of mental fatigue (I was already habbituated to physical fatigue, LOL).
I also felt phisically and mentally tired. But I have to go on, new semestrer starts for me tomorrow. Only good thing is that 1st week is always a little bit lazy, because some organizing issues are being discussed
Then this is the perfect week for you to rest! 😉
I hope so, I also need to go look for a birthday present. Chanel Allure Edition Blanche unfortunately won’t be on the gift list, but I’m hoping for a messenger bag I told you lately.
Lucas (my grandpa’s byname), take care about the messenger bag: if you walk with heavy books, as this kind of bag put all the weigh on one shoulder only, it can cause you some pain and even a more severe shoulder or backbone problem. Have you ever tried Rochas Man or Eau de Rochas PH? Both have good prices. I’m not a big fan of Chanel’s mainstream line, except for Alure Sport and Ed. Blanchè.
I’m fully aware of that, but my bag usually is not that heavy. Few notebooks and one white overall for lab-work. No, I’ve never tried anything by Rocas. Writing Chanel, I literally meant Ed. Blanche 😉
When I told about Chanel’s line I was reffering to the male’s one, cause I like several from the female’s.
I like No. 19 poudre, I like powdery or iris fragrances. I didn’t find anything better for me for spring than Chanel Blanche, nothing drawed my attention lately, so I’m seriously considering buying Blanche, this would be my birthday self-gift
Congrats on passing!
Thanks! And how was your week?
Not too good really. Lots of bad news and I have a nasty cold so I’m happy to come on here and see some good news. I remember how happy I was when exams were over. I always felt like I forgot to do something though, like turn in a paper or that I had another test to take. I still have wacky high school and college dreams like that.
Hope you’ll get better soon! Keep warm and cheer up! 🙂
Last weekend was my first swapping experience, via Swapmania on Perfume Posse. I somehow missed the first two, but this time I jumped in and had a blast. I was able to send 8 unloved bottles on to good homes, and have been getting some wonderful things in exchange. I got a FB of Coup de Foudre, which has been on my wish list for about a year, Happ & Stahns Rosa Alba, Rosine Poussiere de Rose, some vintage Femme, lots of samples to work my way through, some chocolate, and a couple of bottles still on the way.
Wow, that’s a great swap! 🙂
Happy with the Jicky and Chanel 22. 🙂
50_R – You had an amazing list! I really wanted to swap for some of your bottles but really didn’t have anything for you. Very glad you participated.
I’ve been so busy of late I was sure I would sit this one out, next thing you know I ended up with 5 swaps and one already arrived from an extremely generous swapper. Almost feels like Christmas.
Oh, Operafan, you should have made me an offer anyway. I ended up taking several things that weren’t on my “wish list”, and I’m really happy overall with what I got. Non-perfume items are welcome, too, as I’m really trying to reduce my total perfume collection. I’m always up for samples as well. I have spent quite a lot the last couple years on buying samples, so if I can get them for “free” just for the cost of postage and and unloved bottle, that’s great. I still have some bottles left that need new homes. If you are interested, email me at roses_50 atsign yahoo period com.
That’s awfully nice of you and I’ll make note of your email. I need to take care of all the swaps I’ve committed to before I can make new ones, so maybe I’lll get in touch with you later next week.
Thanks so much! I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
I’ve never participated in one of the Posse swaps. I really should do something about that one of these days. Congrats on your scores Roses!
You should! I had a ball, got rid of some unloved bottles, and got some great new things. I have already received all but one of packages, so this has been a really exciting week. Nearly every day brought some new perfume to my house, and it cost me almost nothing (just postage). If you don’t want more perfume, you can ask for other things. People were swapping for chocolate, jewelry, scarves, hair accessories, you name it.
I haven’t swapped yet. I doubt I have anything anyone would want. I was watching the lists though and saw lots of things I wanted. Maybe next time.
We share the same thought about swapmania – maybe next time
Ugh, Swapmania was so great to me (I swapped four of the five bottles I offered!), but then it just made me want *more*! So five minutes ago I bought OJ Tolu. Yay! 🙂
You seem to be very happy! You got really lucky on Swapmania. I was thinking of participating in it this year, but I don’t have much to offer…
Honestly I was surprised, there’s one bottle in particular that I thought wouldn’t garner any attention and I was wrong. And on the other hand, I thought people would compete for a particular bottle and I got only one email. What people are interested in is very mysterious!
I think I would also expect some kind of fight for a particular bottle. Good there was no fight at all
Well, I tried swapmania for the first time, and got one swap out of the deal. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I am happy with my exchange as I’ll get to try several things I’ve been wanting to for a while. Not sure if I’ll do it again next year, though. I mostly feel like I don’t have much to offer, and I’m a stickler about being fair!
Well Marjorie, you never know till you try, right? BTW – Package will go out on Monday! :i-)
Oops – butter fingers and nearly blind w/o reading glasses! That was supposed to be a smilie….
Yay! Thanks! I am very happy we could make a swap. I hope you enjoy the Mitsouko. 🙂
Indeed, I had a bottle of vintage Diorissimo EdC up for swap. I thought it would go first, and it generated no interest at all. Then the bottle of LouLou that I posted in a last-minute swap list got me three emails! Go figure.
Thanks for the heads up about Swapmania – had not heard of that one! I have lots of albatross bottles looking for a new home…
I think my Caron Homme deserves a better home. I bought it impulsively and I’m not that satisfied as I expected…
I’d love it if we had a swap like that here… **hint hint** 😉
Rapple–are you hinting at a swap in general or are you hinting that you would like the Diorissimo?
50 Roses – sorry, swap in general. Lily of the Valley and I have agreed to disagree! 🙁
I offered some of the same things in this latest swap as I did in the previous swap. The things that no one wanted last time went fast this time. There seems to be no logic to it. Much depends on who’s searching for something or what they feel they have to offer in return.
Your comment makes me think it’s worth trying again some time!
My current love is Neela Vermeire’s trio of fragrances – Mohur, Trayee, and Bombay Bling. I ordered the sample pack before the holidays, the same day I ordered Ormond Jayne’s Discovery Set, and discovered I didn’t care for the OJ nearly as much as Neela’s fragrances. I was even more stunned to find that she worked with Bertrand Duchafour as I was convinced he would never make a perfume I could wear. She also offers a Discovery set of three 10ml bottles in addition to the gorgeous art deco 55ml bottles.
I’m afraid I sound like an ad but I’m really happy with and excited about these fragrances and I’ve found her to be delightful, too. I went to high school and started university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and spent a lot of time, what I consider the most formative part of my life, in India. It holds a special place in my heart and I’m also weirdly defensive about it, shunnning faux-Indian fashions and becoming irrationally angry at things like Gwen Stefani’s bindi phase before she moved on to appropriate Harajuku fashion. And I like Gwen Stefani.
Valentine’s day this year will be spent at the treatment center getting chemo (again) but at least I will get to wear one of my new perfumes. And, while they are very much in the Indian tradition I do not find them overpowering. Mohur is a soft, fresh rose/Oud that I wouldn’t hesitate to wear a drop of around other chemo patients, unlike some of the more powerful compositions in the same vein like an Amouage attar or a Montale rose/Oud.
Julia, I love Ormonde’s Woman and I like both Taif and Tolu, but the rest of the range has no presence on me at all. Either my skin guzzles it up, or my nose is too blunt, or both!
Yes, I would say those two and Orris Noir are my favorites of the line but I also have a hard time finding them on my skin 20 minutes after applying them. The green notes, esp. in Woman, are what stand out the most to me. The set is beautiful and I’m glad I bought it but I’m a little sad that I didn’t find one to love. I really wanted one of those engraved bottles. 😉
I know exactly what you mean about several of the OJ scents not having presence! I love Woman, but I do very liberally spray myself with it when I wear it.
Her scents have a lot of iso E Super in them, and many folks are anosmic to that just like musks. That could be why her scents seem to “disappear”.
See, and I think the Iso E Super must be the common thread through them that, now that I’ve smelled them all, makes them too similar to enjoy at all. Loved OJ Woman before I tried the rest; now, not so much. 🙁
I too was very disappointed with the quick disappearing act that OJs tend to perform, and I like several including Tolu, Woman, and Champaca. I got to smell Iso E last year and liked it, so that doesn’t seem to be my problem. They’re just – light so that generous sprays are necessary if I want to smell them on me….
I’m not sure where this will end up but I want to thank all of you for the good wishes of continued health. Perfumistas really are the best. Also, I haven’t forgotten all of the samples and decants I’ve promised. Almost everything is decanted and separated into baggies awaiting bubble wrap and me dragging myself to the post office. Soon….
Also, that’s an interesting point about Iso E Super. I know I’m anosmic to most musk and maybe that’s why I’m having trouble with the OJ fragrances, too.
I did like Orris Noir too, but was disappointed that the rest seemed so hardly-there. Especially when so many people talk about being able to appreciate even the ones they don’t like…
Another case of being blind/anosmic to something wonderful!
Julia, so sorry to hear what you’re going through. I would like to add my good (and healing) wishes your way.
lots of prayers and strength for the chemo! ugh cancer…it is around too much! glad you found a new love…they sound charming, and i will look it up to see the bottles as well.
I think we are scent twins, as evidenced by our mutual love of vintage Shalimar, Epic and Lyric woman, etc., and I’m really pleased with these. The bottles are beautiful. The lid is pleasantly heavy and they come with an atomizer but I generally don’t use those. I prefer to decant into a smaller atomizer of my own and keep the bottles tightly closed with the original cap. I assume that regular atomizers are better than the bulb type at keeping air out but I like having the choice.
I’ve read so many great things about her fragrances… Looking forward to trying them! I’m sorry you have to go through that on St. Valentine’s Day (or any day for that matter), I wish you the best.
Thank you. It’s become something of a running joke at the center. The last time I had chemo was our anniversary and before that on my birthday. Everybody is very nice there, lots of volunteers, and there is even a harpist who sets up during the holidays.
Julia, I am so sorry to hear about your chemo. Self nurturing through perfumery is such a help. My own cancer experience is what drew me to perfumista-hood. Scents have helped me re-friend my physical existence after feeling betrayed by my body. One lasting effect from chemo, oddly, is a revulsion to lavender, a scent I loved forever. It still reminds me of the cold nauseous sensations after chemo. I wonder if you’ll discover some perfumes that soothe lots of chemo patients?
Thank you, and I’m glad to hear about your recovery. My treatment center has a spa that offers aromatherapy treatments as well as oils and pillows to use at home. It’s funny how chemo changes things. I haven’t developed any scent aversions but I have found that I can not only tolerate but really like aldehydic fragrances now though they used to trigger migraines in the past. I celebrated with a tiny bottle of No.5 parfum. 🙂
I bought Chanel 5 after my treatment too! Same thing with the aldehydes.
Julia, I hope everything goes well for you. It sounds as though you’ve found a great environment (and great perfumes) for your treatment, but I’m sorry that you’re having to go through this.
I’m interested in your comments about your evolving perfume preferences and reactions. I work in a cancer centre. I’m always on the lookout for fragrances that are going to be pleasant and inoffensive (and I’m always very very careful about how much I apply), but are still interesting for me. This winter I’ve been wearing Etro Etra, Vanille 44, Gaiac 10 and Bottega Veneta quite a bit. We don’t have aromatherapy at our centre, but I try to pick things are are peaceful and calming for me in the hope that any sillage has the same affect on others.
Timbit, I can only speak for myself, but when I was undergoing treatment I could not tolerate any scents that resembled food, including vanilla. But perhaps others would find it comforting. I seem to remember liking frankincense and rose fragrances, but mostly nothing was best.
I hesitate to suggest anything as I have no knowledge of the environment you are working in, but I have been sampling Atelier Cologne recently and there is a kind of clarity and simplicity in the style of this line that might appeal. The idea is that Atelier has taken the age-old eau de cologne idea and worked it into a series of sophisticated perfumes that are more long lasting than traditional citrusy colognes. They do tend to be dominated by a single note, I find, so Vanille Insensee is a handsome, dry vanilla, moderated by lime and coriander over a woodsy base, but the main scent I get is vanilla. Likewise Orange Sanguine is dominated by a gorgeous sweet/sharp scent of orange juice. Trefle Pur is all about bitter orange. And so on (although I have not tried them all).
In my view they are beautifully composed but unfussy. They focus the mind on a few lovely scents but filter out stuff that doesn’t matter. Maybe there is a calming, satisfying aspect there that that could work for you and your patients?
bluepinegrove and annemarie, Thanks for your comments and suggestions. bluepinegrove, I hadn’t thought of the possibly repellent effect of vanilla. I really do try to use fragrance very, very lightly – I don’t want to add significantly to the already noxious din of ambient smells in the building. Your comments are a good reminder to me to be even more careful and thoughtful in my choices.
Timbit, thank you for the work you do, and for your thoughtfulness. You are an angel.
u must be one too then 🙂
Timbit, it’s good that your wear things that make you feel calm and peaceful. I’m sure you pass on your peace and calm to those around you.
The nurses at my center don’t wear perfume but I had an out-patient procedure last summer and the nurse smelled wonderful. I asked her about it, my guess was Lolita Lempicka, but she was wearing Angel. I was stunned. It was delicate and nuanced and smelled nothing like the Angel I had smelled before. She said it was the original and she couldn’t smell it on herself anymore so she doused herself with it every morning and everybody seemed to like it. If I was making a list of things not to wear around people coming out of anesthesia Angel would probably be first, but it really worked on her. Go figure. I know some people (Luca Turin) dismiss the idea that skin chemistry has much of an effect on perfume but I also have a friend that makes Pink Sugar smell subtle and sophisticated.
I agree with the Atelier suggestion. I find them subtle and pleasant and the vanilla is not foody at all. I love vanilla fragrances but I can understand how foody fragrances (which my iPad really wants to change to “doody”) could be off-putting to people with nausea. The first time I tried Tilda Swinton Like This I really liked it but after I got sick the pumpkin/immortelle combination wasn’t so great.
I think light citrus fragrances are a good idea and I know that some pregnant women experiencing morning sickness enjoy the smell of fresh roses. I have a perfume called Smiley which purports to trigger happiness based on olfactory molecules theobromine and phenylethylamine. I don’t know about that but I do really like it even when I’m not feeling great. I first received a “sample” in the form of a yellow rubber bracelet that was impregnated with the scent which is nice because it is easily removed if it’s a problem. I also have a silver “scent locket” based on a place in a Neil Gaiman book from BPAL. I don’t know if it is still available but I have seen suitable lockets in jewelry aisle at Michael’s and bead stores that you can place a bit of scented felt inside. It warms with your body heat and gently diffuses the fragrance and it is also easily removed if it bothers one of your patients.
And thank you to all of the angels who volunteer their time and money to bring a little comfort to people in need, be they cancer patients, people living with HIV, families struggling with food insecurity, and so many others in our communities who need a hand.
Angel smells gorgeous on a friend of mine, and like a lot of Angel enthusiasts she wears EVERY day. On my own skin it makes me wish the earth would open and swallow me.
Julia, I thought I was posting a response to you but it appeared at the end of the thread instead.
Thanks to you and annemarie for your suggestion of Atelier – I’m going to look for it.
And best wishes to you not only on Tuesday, but for the future after that too.
Julia, adding to the good wishes…and so glad you like Neela’s line.
Julia – Just adding my best wishes, too. Hope the treatments will help turn things around for you!
Julia, I also ordered the Neela Vermeire exploration set after Kevin’s review but got distracted and haven’t spent time with them yet. Glad to hear they ring true to someone who really loves India. Will be thinking of you!
Hi Julia. I’m happy to see that your chemotherapy seems to be a detail (important, but stills a detail) in your life. That’s the way these kinds of things shall be! Girl, you’re tasteful everywhere in everytime, huh?! I’d love you to tell me more about your interesting stay in Malysia and India. If it’ll be possible, mail-me. I also like Gwen Stefani; she’s so beautiful- Gavin Rossdale is a lucky man.
Thank you, and I do owe you an email. Gwen is pretty lucky herself! Gavin Rossdale is pretty hot, too.
Lol! You’re impossible, girls!
Sorry to hear your getting chemo on valentines day. Hope everything goes well! Stay positive!
sending healing thoughts your way
big hugs to you Julia and wish you all the best!
I hope TPC will have the Neela line so that I can check. I already have a bottle of Shalimar because of you : ) and I’m so grateful for that 🙂
Thank you! Isn’t it great to discover a “new” classic perfume? I’ve really enjoyed the new Vermeire fragrances, but like so many people here I’ve been experiencing new release fatigue. This year I want to focus on finding and smelling vintage/classic perfumes and less time trying to sniff every new thing that comes down the pike, which is practically impossible anyway given how many there are. There are always some that seem to rise above the din, like Bottega Veneta, and I sort of try to keep up with new fragrances by houses I really like but I’m looking forward to exploring the back catalogues and lesser known fragrances that are already out there.
Since I’ve developed an appreciation for aldehydes I’ve been sniffing more things from Chanel. I love several of the Exclusifs and have tried the parfum versions of No.5, Bois des Iles, and Cuir de Russie (all amazing) and next on my list is No.22. I gave a bottle of the EdT and a decant of the parfum to a friend of mine a few years ago but didn’t dare sniff them myself, but now I think I’m ready.
Coming late to this. I will be trying this new trio of fragrances soon, and I have a good feeling about them. I’m glad to hear your impressions. Best wishes with your continued treatments, Julia.
Moore, my friend! My memory just reminded me that today is the day, the special day. Yay, it’s your Birthday today!
I send you my best wishes, joined with some bear-hugs 😉 I wish you’ll have a wonderful year, scented only with the best perfume – especially with these you’re looking for!
So, Happy Birthday once more and have a great party, my dear perfumista friend!
Oooooh. Thanks for remembering, man! You’re a sort of human in extinction. Sincerely, your friendship, goodwill and enthusiam are inspiring and are great gifts. I didn’t forget yours is in 12 days!!! I felt embraced! Thanks sooo much! 🙂
happy birthday to the two of you
Thanks so much!!!!!!!
Happy to hear that I could make you smile 🙂 I always try to remember such things, especially if it comes to friends with the same interests. Did you get something interesting? Any perfume, messenger bags?
Well, the bag and the perfume I’ll have to buy myself! LOL. But I was gifted with two stuffs I really wanted: a pair of leather boots and a pair of beautiful pants.
I’ll try to gift myself with a bottle of Incense Oud soon. I love self-gifts!
I guess we’re in the same situation. I’ll have to buy perfume myself, I don’t know how about bag, maybe will get this one. But I’m definitely buying Chanel on my own, just waiting for my VIP -20% at Sephora.
Happy birthday! I hope it’s a good one.
Thanks so much! You ( the 3) gave my birthday a special taste. Really, really thanks! 🙂
I was wondering whether anyone had some advice about this: My boyfriend bought me Tauer’s Une Rose Chypree last year. He bought it from First in Fragrance while he was on a business trip in Germany. He bought it in about July but only gave it to me in December as a Christmas/Chanukhah/Divali present. When I first sprayed it the mechanism seemed a bit dubious but I thought with a bit of use it would come right. Unfortunately it only got worse. Now it doesn’t spray at all, the liquid leaks a little from somewhere when you try spritz. An engineering-minded friend of mine looked at it and said the funnel inside isn’t lined up with the tiny hole – but, alas, he could not fix it. Because I’m scared of wasting the precious juice I have hardly used it at all. Decanting is one option but I have none of the equipment and would need to buy it online somehow. I have also thought of finding out whether its worth posting back to Germany but from South Africa I think that would be Very expensive.
Any advice would be appreciated!
I have not advice but I wanted to express my sympathies for your frustration! Such a lovely scent, not to be able to wear it would be disappointing!
Ha! Sorry for the old-school grammar! “I have not. . .” aughta have read “I have no.” 🙂
The fact that its hard to impossible to use has kept it very ‘precious’ though!
I suspect it will be cheaper to order supplies for decanting but I’d email First in Fregrance just to see what they’re return policy is. A lot of places won’t accept returns once somethinghas been used.
I would email Andy Tauer directly! He’s wonderful and I’m sure would be happy to help you out. He may even send you a new bottle.
It is clearly a manufacturing fault which is why I thought of contacting First in Fragrance – but its several months after it was bought to I’m not sure what they would say.
I have thought of contacting Tauer directly. I’m a little concerned that anything posted may disappear in our postal system but its probably worth a try!
That would be my advice too.
Ok, I have e-mailed him! Thanks for the advice everyone: )
Good luck! And certainly, if you don’t have any luck, contact 1st in fragrance. And then, if that doesnt work, get a bottle cutter & remove the whole top.
Wow, Robin, thats if it comes to the absolute worst as it is a lovely bottle! Hopefully this would not be necessary in order to decant? Wouldn’t the nozzle just twist off, or something?
Usually they’re crimped on, which is unfortunate when you want to remove the contents, but does mean they’re airtight.
It isn’t too hard to remove the crimped on top without ruining the bottle. I use jewelry pliers and gently rock the crimped part until it loosens a little bit, just enough to get some tweezers under the rim and lift it off. I’ve done this with empty bottles then use them as tiny flower vases. My bottle of URC is the old style with the screw on top. I really appreciate when they do this or include a separate atomozer.
Merlin, I believe either FiF or Andy Tauer would be happy to send you a new one, but don’t give up on the one you have. It depends on the bottle of course, but I have an older URC, and the sprayer actually twists off, i.e., it’s actually a screw top. That may not be true of the new bottle, but it’s worth doublechecking.
If not, I’ve had good luck opening spray bottles by snipping off the plastic part that rises above the glass with metal shears. You’ll want to have to have another bottle on hand to pour it into. If you don’t have a small funnel, you can make one with aluminum foil.
It’s such a lovely fragrance – what a thoughtful boyfriend!
The aluminum foil is a good idea! Yeah, I would definitely prefer not to break the glass, so I will definitely consider those options. TKS!
Merlin, why don’t you send them an email explaining and “demanding” nicely that first in should really replace the bottle free of charge!
I e mailed Andy Tauer yesterday and received an e mail today with his apologies and a request to photograph some part of the nozzle and e mail it to him. Apparently there is a replacement part easy to fit which he can send me (free of charge).
Really amazing service –
off now to get my camera!
Yay! Yes, Andy is wonderful.
Excellent.
I am glad it is resolved for you.
Other than DSH, Liz Zorn and Sonoma Scent Studios, are there any other indie perfumers that people would reccommend that I sample?
Wait for other people to confirm this, since I haven’t tried them either, but I think people have a good opinion of Aftelier and Andy Tauer?
I second the Tauer recommendation. I don’t like everything I’ve tried, and he definitely has a distinct style, but they all seem well-made.
I would also add the Ormonde Jayne discovery set to your sampling list, if that qualifies enough as indie.
Roxana Illuminated, if you like naturals. You can get solid samples fairly reasonably, and while I usually dislike solids, hers are actually quite a nice texture. GreenWitch is my favorite so far.
Look into Ineke, Lords Jester, Michael Storer, and Neil Morris.
Add Shelley Waddington – En Voyage Perfumes – to your list!
Neil Morris, absolutely, and Ava Luxe, if you ask me.
Adding my second for Neil Morris and EnVoyage Perfumes!
I was thinking of going to Macy’s for some retail therapy today. They have a cosmetic gift set with any $35 Lancome purchase. I wish I had a perfume from them that I’d been hoping for! I have a bottle of Cuir, and I like it but don’t need another.
What I aught to do is shop for a bathing suit, since I don’t own one and I’ve decided to go to Hawaii for spring break. What I kinda want to do is buy one of those cute retro ones at Mod Cloth, but they seem awfully spendy and there are several reviews about low quality, which makes me nervous. If I knew that it would hold up for the long-haul, I wouldn’t mind “investing” in one.
Any recommendations, for Lancome or retro-style swimsuits?
Tresor is one of my guilty pleasures, even though it’s way too blousy for me. I love wearing it to bed. I used to wear Magie Noir–what a great recipe–but find it a terrible fit for my current self. Still, it has its avid fans.
From Lancome, I like O de L’Orangerie and O d’Azur. These are really nice and have reasonable price.
Second the recommendation of these new “O”s!
Lancomes O series is nice, isn’t it Vanessa? Which is your favourite?
The orange one, I think – I am a sucker for the note, and it is so fresh and light.
O d’Azur that is! I prefere it too.
Hi, Vanessa. I’m waiting for the rest of your article. When will it be posted?
By the way, the bottle of your avatar is one of my favourite ones! Wonderful!
Moore, Vanessa has already posted it, check out her Bonkers about Perfume
Haha, I am not so sure about that scent, but I love the bottle. I wrote to SL to find out more about the history of the image and they kindly wrote back and explained about the puppetry angle.
Thanks, Luca; I’ll check it there!
Vanessa, tell us the hystory behind it, please. I love that image!
@Moore, just a small correct – my proper name is Lucas 😉
Oh, sorry. I thought “-Sai” was a kind of surname. There are “Lucas” and “Luca” (this last one specially in Itally) and I thought your name was the last one.
No problem Moore. If you want you can call me Luca, that sounds like a nice nickname
Do you sew or do you know anyone who sews professionally? I wonder if you could find someone to make one for you.
Um…swimsuit, that is. Sorry!
I do some hand-sewing, but I don’t own a machine. It’s an interesting idea. . .there’s a local artists’ sewing room/co-op in my neighborhood, but I have no idea if there would be folks who’d want to take a commission! (and at what price. . .)
For swimwear, check out laraines.com. I ordered from them because they carry the Roxanne bra-sized swimsuits. They do have some retro-looking sheath and sarong style suits. Overall, their offerings tend toward more modest suits with some coverage, that you can actually swim in, not skimpy little bikini things. I had my order within about 3 or 4 days, and I am very pleased with my purchase. Many of their swimsuits are under $100; I think I paid around $75 for mine.
Thanks for the recommendation! I just took a look, and there are several cute suits there. Of course, the one I like best is over $100! (but red with white polka dots! so cute!)
This may sound way too obvious, but I bought a set of full-length tankini top and swim mini skirt from Landsend last year and just love it. You can mix and match and mine was a navyblue polkadot top with a solid navy skirted bottom. I found that I have to go up a size with their swimsuits but they are so comfortable and I actually liked the way I look in them.
Jealous of your Hawaii spring break!
Thanks for the suggestion! I took a look, and there are some nice suits there, for sure. I do prefer a modest style, without looking frumpy, of course!
The best part was it felt like I’m wearing regular clothes, which makes going to the bathroom much simpler!
Land’s End are the best suits! I have several one pieces, and many of the mix and match tankinis. Several on the tankini tops are”retro”-ish – They are halter style and I have 2 or 3 that are polka dotted. they are well made, quality materials and fit well. I always get mine at Sears when they are on sale as they are a bit pricey, but you should be able to find them online from Land’s End and I believe they have an “outlet” section on the website, since it’s not prime bathing suit buying time at the moment!
Yes, I was hoping to be able to take advantage of the off-season pricing. Of course, I do wonder if I might be competing with the spring cruise crowd!
They have sales constantly (seriously, I think I get 2-3 emails a week), often 40% off and free shipping. I haven’t bought their suits for myself, but have absolutely loved them for my very active 7 yr old.
Pinup Girl swimsuits are a little less expensive. Too bad Popina is not cheap either — maybe there’s a sale section?
OOOooh! Thank you for suggesting Popina. I looked it up and there’s a shop in town! I would feel MUCH more comfortable buying an expensive suit if I could try it on ahead of time. Yay! (And of course, a sale section would be even better!)
O de L’Orangerie for sure. Love this. Almost qualifies as a cheap thrill. Don’t really go for any other Lancome frags although seriously miss Aromatonic Makeup wise -Teint Idole ultra (foundation) and Galateis Douceur (cleanser) are without compare.
OK, just looked at the NST announcement for this scent to learn more about it, and this crowd is just too funny! I didn’t learn much about the scent, but there’s a hilarious conversation about running around in an orange grove in your panties!
If you wear make up, then replinish some basics, if you don’t like their scents. A make up remover which doesn’t leave your skin dry would probably be enough to earn you that gifty. On the other hand, did you say your are going to Hawaii? Treat yourself to some suncare.
As for the swimsuit, if you are a small size, you’ll good in a lot of brands. If you are more curvy, the more expensive brands do provide support where needed.
Target, and sometimes Kohls, have suits that are acceptable if not super high fashion. Their prices will leave you enough money for those tropical drinks.
Very practical suggestions! Although, I think maybe I’ve decided to resist the urge of “free” gifts for the weekend. If I change my mind, though, I like the idea of a special skin-care item for vacation.
For the suit, I am definitely of the curvy persuasion. I’m overweight, but most people say I wear it well. I have an hourglass figure, so the old-school swimsuits are a good compromise of support and attractiveness. I used to wear bikinis, since my waist is narrow and relatively flat (and I like the rebellious notion of a plus-sized bikini!), but I want more coverage than that these days. It’s a good distraction to think about!
Marjorie, Always For Me is an excellent website for plus-sized swimwear that I’ve used before. The only reason I even took the risk to order a swimsuit online is because they have a huge number of reviews for each suit, with many women giving their own measurements to give an idea of how something fits. I ordered the Illusion swimsuit, and I’ve never owned anything more flattering.
Thank you for the recommendation! I do see some really cute suits there! If I don’t find what I want over at Popino, that will be my back-up!
There was a thread on Basenotes recently that was locked before I could respond (the best convos over there ALWAYS end up locked… :(, ) and I really wanted to. The topic was basically signature scent vs. wearing a number of scents and being “known” for your variety. The gist (I think) of the debate was that those who choose one scent (or a small handful) and inhabit it, or them, are not connoisseurs, and ergo casual consumers of fragrance. Wouldn’t you sort of consider it connoisseurship, to be so completely familiar with one fragrance that you know the ins and outs of it, its history, how it behaves, what exactly it’s going to do at any given phase? A connoisseur of one. Maybe the proper term for those of us outside a certain scope of knowledge and experience is afficionado. Or, maybe there are different levels of connoisseurship.
I just think it is a very personal preference. Certainly, anyone who wears or has tried a large number of fragrances is not a casual consumer, but just because you stick to one or a few scents doesn’t mean you aren’t serious about it. I think it is rather like going to a restaurant. Some people will find one or a few dishes on the menu that they like and always order one of those, while others will work they way through the entire menu, trying everything. The whole point of wearing perfume is to get pleasure from it. Do whatever makes you happy.
Yes, indeed – do what makes you happy. This kind of question comes up frequently on a travel forum I frequent. There are some who believe there is only one “correct” way to travel. Nonsense! There are many ways to travel and many ways to enjoy perfume (or food as in your example). And there are different ways of being a connoisseur – a connoisseur of depth or a connoisseur of breadth, either way works.
Cool, depth or breadth. How can you put personal knowledge or experience in a box, let alone judge someone else’s to be worthy or not? I’m not a connoisseur of anything, even my small handful of faves. I can say I’m a fume afficionado, because I’m certainly enthusiastic but definitely no expert (and have no inclinations to be an expert.)
I totally agree! There was a lot of insinuation (and I could very well have been reading between the lines incorrectly) that non-connoisseurs had less right to an opinion on such a thread, and maybe that bothered me a little (and maybe that’s why I don’t hang out there much anymore.) Yeah, it is a very personal preference, from what you wear to how you wear it and what exactly it means to you.
I did this survey for a nail polish company with whom I have a subscription last night, and I was asked to measure my happiness with the subscription on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being very unhappy and 10 being very happy. I felt like, my husband is a 10 on that scale of happiness, how can I measure my subscription by those terms? It would probably be a 2, but by the measures I was given 2 meant I was not happy at all, and that’s not true. It’s hard to quantify on those terms.
Anyway, my point is that I think I’m overthinking things this morning. lol.
I think a lot of it is that many people that wear a signature scent just pick something they like, but maybe haven’t tried many other things and may not be aware of all the different notes and types of scents, so therefore they may not know as much in general about perfume. If they have tried many things and have found their one true love, then that is fine!
i seem to do that a lot …overthinking
I seem to remember either Roja Dove, or else Luca Turin saying that he wore Mitsouko, exclusively, for decades until the formula changed too much! So it seems that at least some of the elites, while being familiar with many perfumes, only use a small number for personal use. I’m very eclectic, personally, and I cant use the same perfume two days in a row. So I own quite a lot of perfume but I couldn’t cite the way any of them develop off-hand…
And, obviously I don’t have anywhere near the breadth that any experienced collector or fume-head has.
I don’t, either! I don’t have much of a nose for individual notes, but I know what I like 🙂
I think that’s a good way to look at it, you can have a signature scent and use your experience of other fragrances to deepen your understanding of that signature one, to put it into context and to understand deeply what you like about it. I think that putting things into context through experiencing what’s out there can be a way to understand connoisseurship. Likewise, someone could be a vintage connoisseur, a niche connoisseur, etc.
I don’t think you can be a connoisseur of a single item, but I think you could be a connoisseur who abides by one single signature scent.
Liesl, I answered that thread and it was realy interesting. Moderators on BN are so unprepared: they close interesting threads unnecessarily and many times I’ve seen then being rough to users (including me). Read the explanation by the moderator for the locking up of this thread. It was just a case of deleting idiot and offensive posts and advertising who posted those. Education and sincerity are essential when talking to me and those things I didn’t notice on them (moderators). Actually, when they have to take an vigorous action they don’t: I’ve already reported so many offensive, humiliative and intimidating posts from older to newer members and nothing was done. Their attention is catched by a distorted kind of code of conduct and behavior. Their rules aren’t clear enough and they are resistant and don’t welcome constructive critiques. They always think we’re questioning a hierarchy. Despite that, Grant seems to be a great administrator and a good person rounded by questionable assistants, whom preach a way to act but act themselves in a contrary way over situations where that sort of conduct isn’t necessary.
Yikes! I’ve only visited BN for a few specific reviews and threads. Are trolls and bullies a real problem over there?
Yes, unfortunetely they are! Specially with new members. When someone try to troll or offend me I try to answer in an intelligent way, most of the time being ironic. Moderators only do something when THEY think you’re being offensed not when YOU think you are. There are lots of offenses for free and there are people who attend this site that troll there. In niche threads it’s even more common. There are also lots of niche snobs there and they like to debunk users of mainstream or mass-maket products.
I like too much their reviews. They’re better than on fragrantica (I love the community on this last one).
I like the BN reviews better than Fragrantica too. It’s just funny because I was assuming that as a whole people that are into perfume aren’t as prone to be bullies (although I can understand the niche-snob more) – guess it takes all types. Seems like such a teenager way to be to people.
I guess in theory one can be a connoisseur and still have only one signature scent (or a small handful). After all, there are many fragrances one can be knowledgeable about and even enjoy, without ever wanting to own or wear them! I think a connoisseur doesn’t necessarily have to be a collector.
In general though I can’t imagine anyone only wearing one signature scent anymore. I think it equals depriving oneself of so many intriguing olfactory experiences! Again, it’s like only listening to one favourite composer. Besides, one fragrance cannot match all styles and fit all moods, and both styles and moods are ever changing.
Apropos moods and this open thread’s topic – I’m in the mood for a little Encre Noire this evening. 🙂
I feel like scent is different from the other senses, at least in my world…. I like to try different foods and wear different clothes, occasionally different styles, and my taste in music is pretty varied, but I just love and connect with this one particular perfume. I love how I feel when I apply it, I love how it smells on me and develops throughout the day, and I love the comfort of the complete familiarity of it. So I wear it a lot. I do get in the mood for other things, though, which is why I haven’t been hasty in getting rid of my other bottles.
I used to be all over the board in my fragrance choices, when the bug first hit. The handful I wear regularly is diverse enough; I have my best jasmine, amber, an aldehyde-heavy, a tropical floral, a spicy gourmand, a couple really tasty leathers and an animalic.
I’ve never tried a really big vetiver, though, and I’ve always wanted to try Encre Noir. My favorite review of it describes it (amongst other things) as smelling like “the event horizon of a black hole.” How intriguing is that? 🙂
Very. 🙂 it is definitely dark, and smokey and mysterious, but it has a weirdly sharp and “honest” edge to it, too. it’s so hard to describe it. i think it’s a very adult fragrance, not sexy but seductive in a different way. wearing it is like getting to know someone who excites you and makes you “attached” to them on a very deep personal and intellectual level, so that it draws you in and overwhelms you at times. yes, i think it reminds me of being taken with someone’s mind and personality, and trying to “unveil” them. 🙂 in other words, it’s a perfume you do develop a relationship with.
It sounds like you have a really representative collection, which is, in itself, quite impressive. By the way (if you don’t mind telling) which perfume is it that you are so attached to?
Sorry, I’v got my conversation lines a little mixed – that question was for Lies!
I think Encre Noir may be for a hard-core vetiver lover; I am only starting to like vetiver and I like it quite rounded out and softened and not at all honest! lol!
actually it was my first and only vetiver, probably hence the strong impression. 🙂 i literally lost sleep over it after the first sniff. but i tend to associate “special” fragrances with life experiences, so i guess it just “clicked” with something i was contemplating back then.
Thanks, Merlin 🙂 My favorite is Tabac Blond. It was one of the first perfumes I tried once I realized there was more out there than department store fare, and no leather I’ve tried has come close, except Kelly Caleche (another one of my handful, but not really comparable to TB.)
I hear you on the vetiver, because that’s how I am about amber. I’ve always been intrigued, but it needs to be quite tempered, more rresinous (I think… lol) and less herbal. Definitely a little sweet. No honest ambers for me 😉 (This means YOU, Ambre Sultan….)
I think I reacted similarly to Bandit as to Encre Noir – WOA! Keep it away! But Encre Noir I kind of like and try it again every now and then, whereas Bandit scared me away for good.
I haven’t tried Tabac Blonde but tend to find leathers as difficult as vetivers. None of these smell good on me: Daim Blonde, Bandit, Kelly Caleche or even the current edition of Chanel’s Cuir de Russe. I do, however, like Cuir de Ottoman and Bottega Veneta (though I only have a dab sample of the latter and it seems much too light on me – not sure if it is too light or if the dabbing is just not good.)
Ambers are easier given my sweet tooth. Still, at first I couldn’t stand Ambre Sultan (too cloying!) and much preferred Cuir de Russe (Parfum de Empire). Now, however, I have a small decant of A.S. and can detect that slightly bitter herbal edge that tempers the sweetness!
I used to have only one or two perfumes when I wore them only on special occasions, but that was a long time ago. Now it would be like only listening to one symphony!
Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if you guys could help with a question a friend of mine asked. She is taking her daughter to Paris in April and wants to take her to a perfume workshop. She had heard about workshops at L’Artisan and asked if I knew anything about L’artisan or any other perfume workshop. I know nothing about Paris perfume workshops. Do any of you? Do you have information or recommendations?
Thanks for you help.
Tara
I’d recommend looking into visiting the Osmotheque in Versailles. I had a chance to attend an event sponsored by the Smithsonian and the French Embassy here in DC with Patricia de Nicolai. She gave us scent strips with the Osmotheque’s recreations of historic perfumes – an amazing experience!
Can’t help on the workshop idea per se, but as part of the tour of the Fragonard Museum in central Paris there is an interactive game where they get you to sniff 12 materials and correctly place the pots containing a scented wax on the picture illustrating that note. Fun for any age and free, though the rest of the tour might be more suited to an adult audience.
I second the Osmotheque! Sign up beforehand on their website (they have a list of classes). Be forewarned, though – the classes are in French!
ur friend is a nice mama…i would love to take my daughter on such a trip:-)
Today I’m wearing Lush Gorilla Perfume Cocktail, which I got in a Lush sample set having been inspired by some recent reviews on the blogosphere. I liked Jessica’s review of Cocktail, so I tried it first… It doesn’t seem to have very good staying power on me (seems nearly gone already, although while it was there it was lovely), and neither does the limited edition 25:43 that I tried on skin the other day in the store. Maybe it’s just something with my skin and Lush. hrmph. I’ll give it a few more chances and see.
What did you think of Cocktail and 25:43? Can you describe them ? They are on my “must try” list!
25:43 had pretty good lasting power on me, but haven’t tried Cocktail.
SOTD 25:43
Started with a bright BURST of lime / lemon….and was gone within a few minutes. For about a minute, I thought I smelled something sweet (kind of bubblegum-like… and vanilla) and then now, after being on me for over 8 hours, I can still smell light vanilla, cinnamon and something nutty…overall a cozy/comfortable scent..almost like a warm bakery smell but not overpowering where you would be accused of smelling like food. It is NOT a scent that evokes elegance (i.e. I would not wear it to a wedding) but rather a casual evening with friends. I have the 9 mL purse spray and will use it to the last drop; however, I am unlikely to purchase it again as there are just too many other tempting juices out there….and I never really stick to one scent for long anyway (some exceptions of course but this is also why I should never buy FBs, …)
Just now, I layered it with L’Occitane The Vert and for the first time, I am getting the tea scent over the citrus. Interesting!
Finally, one day of winter weather. This is great! Wearing Comme des Garcons Incense Jaisalmer.
It was winter here too today — I liked it less than you did 🙂
Rictor, it’s true, it’s been so unseasonably warm that I’ve hardly spent any time with my winter favs in 2012, but they do work today!
Likewise here in MN, and I’ve been all out of sorts w/perfume. Very cold yesterday and today, though. Hello, Ambre Russe!
I’ve found that I love love Chanel 19 and AG Heure Exquise and anything similar! Jacomo Silences is nice. Any others that are in the same general scent category as 19? Got Mona Di Orio UNSNIFFED Amyitis (big risk!) but because it had been compared to 19, it was perfect for me! Any others I need to try?
I’m not usually a massive fan of green florals (I like ’em well enough but rarely love them) but I adore Nicolai’s Odalisque, I think it’s gorgeous, especially the drydown.
Le Temps D’Une Fete is another Nicolai that might be worth trying as well as Givenchy III and Guerlain Chamade.
Seconding the Chamade- such a gorgeous spring scent!
Definitely agree on Chamade and Odalisque. For Temps d’une fete, you’ll have to like animalics, i.e., smell of furry animals….
I’ve loved HE for a long time, and recently fell for No. 19. I’d also recommend Chanel 28 La Pausa. And back-up bottles!
RL Safari (I prefer the old edc, but the edp is softer and closer to Heure Exquise). A little further away, but w/a familial relationship to my nose, at least, would be Niki de St. Phalle.
uncle serges bas de soie
Estee Lauder Private Collection. A bargain, too.
Huitieme Art Aube Pashmine is lovely and worth a try, but I may need a full bottle of no. 19 myself! Springtime weather here sends me to green florals. I’m already casting a jaundiced eye toward the winter comfort scents so recently acquired!
Just a quick stop by to say hello to everyone. SOTD is SL Tubéreuse Criminelle, which I like very much. It’s a fragrance that gets you thinking. Recommended.
You smell great!
I don’t really have any long reflections or theories, just wanted to say: I got me 50 ml of Vanille Absolument (aka Havana Vanille) on sale, and man it’s so good.
*does happy dance*
I would happy dance too… All I can ‘hear’ in my minds ear is the Peanuts theme and ‘see’ is Snoopy dancing!
That’s probably a much nicer image than the sight of me dancing :p
Hi Dominika!
So that’s what you’ve got during the perfume sale at Galilu, am I right?
You’re right 😀 I was going to get Chergui, but they were sold out. So I got the Vanille instead. I already have a small decant of it, but it’s so delicious that I know I’ll use it up fast and I’ll need a back-up 😉
I also got some mandarin face cream from Aesop at the same sale – it’s a really nice niche line that’s a bit overpriced, but I love the raw ingredients and scents of a lot of their products. They also have two perfumes – Marrakech is simply beautiful.
Wish I could send you samples of some stuff I’ve got, but I don’t have any sample vials and I don’t know where I can get them in Poland… if you ever find any, you can mail them (empty) to me, and I’ll make you samples of stuff I got around the house 😀 I don’t have a huge collection, but there are some things you raelly should try.
Just tell me how many vials would I need? First I’ll try to find and buy some, then I can think of sending them to you.
Lucky you!
I have fallen madly in love with Mecca Balsam this week, thanks to a sample I was sent by a lovely perfumista. I have ordered some and wait eagerly for its arrival. I’ll have to watch it on the public huffing though! 😉
I was disappointed to discover that the rereleased Nu ( part of the YSL Heritage collection) was the EDT and not the EDP. I practically fell on the tester and sprayed a healthy blast and only then did I realise! I wanted a warm incense-y shroud and got watery metallic flowers. Bah. I mean, I have my Black Cashmere for dark incense but I would dearly love some old (edp) Nu!
Mecca Balsam is well up in my all-time top ten – Durbrana is a poet of natural perfume! Also want Sharif and some others….
Thirding this! I got rid of my initial decant of Mecca Balsam, then a year later Opera Fan sent me a sample and it was love! Go figure… Now, of course, I’m seriously lemming a bottle.
I was just “filling in” for Daisy….
😉
You are to be commended! Excellent job! 😀 The new stone for your enabler’s pin is on the way.
Gah, that’s so disappointing about Nu. I was going to wait and see what the rerelease was like before trying to hunt down a bottle of the old stuff … I guess that just made my to-do list for tomorrow.
Today I went to my local thrift store and there was a perfume sale with some *amazing* things! For $55 total, I picked up:
– *Sealed* 1oz Lanvin My Sin extrait
– CD diorella EDT, 2oz
– CD Miss Dior, 0.25 oz of what I assume is pure parfum. Does anyone recognize this container?
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj115/turtlec8/IMG_0041-3.jpg
– Madame Rochas cologne (vintage lookin’)
– Minis of L’Interdit & EL Private Collection, and a sample of Guerlain Chamade
If anyone is in Madison, WI, do go check the Vinny’s! There’s still some nice things left!
What a bargain!
Gasp….My Sin? Sealed? Extrait?
Yowza, there is some good karma coming back at you!
Enjoy!
ZOMG – that looks like an old-style Dior. I think Perfume Shrine has an article on dating Diorissimo bottles, which might be helpful. It’s also useful to look at old perfume ads on ebay. If it weren’t winter, I might be on my way to Madison!
I think it’s a lil version of the Baccarat urn/amphore!
You scored! Wow!
Zowie. Congrats!
Do you mean Willy Street? I’m like a mile from there — hmmmm, I wonder time do they open on Sundays? 😉
Yes, Willy Street! ::waves to fellow Madisonian:: They are open on Sundays, not sure the hours. When I left there was still an Arpege extrait, Bond Chelsea Flowers and Little Italy, some Joy, lots of minis (mostly department store), Floris Edwardian Bouquet, and a few other things.
Waves back!!! Thanks for the tip! Never got over there today — life got in the way — but will try to swing by this week. (So nice to know there are at least two fragrance enthusiasts in Madison.) 🙂
Wearing Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci today. First smelled this in the Montreal airport on my way home from Paris and was in this totally good mood where everything smelled wonderful to me. When I tried it at home, I thought it was awful (despite the terribly cute bottle). It’s much better in the winter months, though, and I’m liking it quite a lot now. Nice rhubarb note contrasting with warmer base. Mainly it’s a scent memory of being in Montreal with France in my head, though. 🙂
Glad your purchase did not turn out to be wasted!
Today I was looking for something else and found an old bottle of Jolie Madame in the back of a drawer – a used bottle that I bought on ebay a couple of years ago, square with a black glass stopper. I don’t remember any previous impressions, but today it smells fabulous: fruity, camphoraceous, deep – the wood of an antique trunk and the fleshy ivory leather of gardenia petals. The fruity aspect reminds me of Le Parfum de Therese. Wonderful!
I wouldn’t wear this every day, but I can understand why it’s beloved by many and often listed in polls as ideal perfume armor for a tough day.
Have other commenters tried it, and what did you think?
I have some vintage samples — it’s not really me but it’s great stuff.
One would have to take great care to stay on good terms with the woman who “is” Jolie Madame! 🙂
LOL — true!
I have three little bottles of the vintage parfum and love them. I save them for special days because they’re so gorgeous, deep and floral but so green. I was surprised to find white floral along with the violet in there. I had a bottle of older edt which was great but a little sharpish – so traded it away.
Mals, you know, I was just wondering to myself what Jolie Madame would wear for summer – now I know it’s Mary Greenwell Plum! 🙂
Not having a good week. Lots of bad news and stuff. The high point of my week was receiving some samples from a very nice person on here (MarjorieRose). I’ve been dying to try one of the scents for quite a while and no sooner do I get them in the mail I get a nasty cold and can’t smell a thing. So frustrating.
Sorry to hear you’re not over your cold, yet! Those samples will be waiting for you when you’re ready, but I know how hard it can be to be patient! 🙂 Glad I could make your week a little better!
So sorry — hope next week is better 🙂
Hi, today my bottle of “Attrape Coeur” arrived and I’m in love. It’s just delightful, not overpowering and not too much like other Guerlain scents. Thanks for the tip.
It’s so nice to have other people to share the love of perfume. My brother has been my “scent buddy” since we were teenagers, and I still share with him everything I learn.
Sweet regards, A.
Congratulations on that bottle! AC is one of my favorites. Enjoy!
me too raps :-))))
**Waves** to HK Mom! 😀
***waves back***
What a wonderful score!
congratulations on Attrape, what a nice scent!
How amazing it must be to have a brother who shares your love of scent!
I’m in LOVE with Attrape Coeur! Where did you find a bottle???
I too, am curious. It’s been discontinued for over a year….
I got some samples in the mail today — the ones I wasn’t even sure I’ll ever get to try! (Like Mimosaique which is discontinued) or Amarige Mimosa, a limited edition. I have a fever, but I can smell, and await some discoveries. But sometimes you think you’ll just love something, and then you don’t… there’s always that…
Warum, sorry to hear you’re not feeling well! Take care of yourself, and I’m glad to hear you have some new scents to keep you company. Better than chicken soup, I’m sure!
Sorry to hear you are unwell – we are both looking forward to packages from Ari, I gather! Hand packed by Zelda herself… : – )
Hope you feel better soon. I feel your pain because I can’t smell either right now.
Get better soon! There’s so much crud going around right now.
Hi all, I was on a mission today to stop by bluemercury in the city before the hubby and I had an early valentines day dinner. I really wanted to sniff some lutens and l’artisans in person and I fell in love with gris clair! And my hubby was unexpectedly generous and let me get the bottle. A new full bottle and an awesome tapas dinner…I am in heaven!
That sounds lovely! Lucky you. My local Lutens supplier seems to have stopped carrying Gris Clair.
i fell in love with gris clair too…mmm its been a while, need to rekindle..i seem to recall enjoying it in summer
Yes, I prefer it in warm, but not steamy, weather. GC is the only SL bottle I own, and I really enjoy it, at least some of the time–like several Serge scents, I think it’s complicated enough to not suit me all the time. Glad it’s getting some love with others!
Agreed…my favs are fumerie, daim blonde, gris clair and fleur d’oranger…l also really enjoy the occasional dose of chypre rouge and amber sultan
Reading NST and other fragrance blogs for some time, I’ve often heard scents described as ‘high-pitched’ or ‘screechy’ and until last week, I’ve never known exactly what those terms translated to.
Leaving the local mall the other day, I passed a woman enshrouded in a cloud of what could possibly be the worst fragrance I’ve ever encountered. When the scent hit me , I literally felt a very sharp pain in my sinuses….it was like someone had jabbed an icepick up my nostrils, and the icepick was trying to poke a hole in my brain. The feeling was so visceral, I got nauseous and had to sit down.
High-pitched and screechy are actually too kind. More like chemical warfare. Why someone would want to smell like that on purpose will remain a mystery.
Anyone ever had a reaction like that to a perfume?
Adding: If it hadn’t made me sick to my stomach, I actually would have found the courage to ask her what the heck she was wearing – without wrinkling my nose. After all, I wouldn’t want to be insulting because she obviously loved it to pieces.
I have totally had that reaction to a scent. Some of them do sting the nostrils a bit. I did ask someone what she was wearing once just to avoid it in the future and it was something she made up herself. All she would say is there was some patchouli in it. I like patchouli. This did not smell like patchouli. It was vile.
There is a particular musk, Karanal, I think, that Denyse at Grain de Musc describes as a “spikey wood.” It’s sort of the perfume equivalent of horseradish, which can sometimes work in small doses. It’s being used in a lot of new perfumes, such as Annick Goutal Matin d’Orage.
It’s also possible that she was anosmic to a note in her perfume, or that you were hyperosmic. There are several perfumes that smell totally different to many wearers than they do to me, such as Timbuktu. I get a very prominent celery-cumin note, but it smells fresh to many others. I asked Luca Turn about this once, and he said that musks and woods are the notes that most often smell different to different people. Composing perfume is complex – so is wearing it! 🙂
I tend to think of screechy perfume as too metallic, or too sweet and without depth. Kind of like the light bouncing off metal and into your eyes instead of being absorbed into the material, transformed and then offered up to the eyes. Woody, spicy, resinous or balsamic notes seem to remedy this.
Its a pity things smell different to different people as the scents I love on myself are not always adored by others. They often like things on me that I don’t like on myself. So I wear perfume mainly to please myself but wish I could be attractive to others at the same time 🙁
I’m sure you’re right, Merlin – LT often seems to use screechy in the context of synthetic florals.
I opened my lucky scent package today. The Le Petit Chocolatier box looks like a box of chocolates! The bottles are slightly bigger than what I expected (but I am not complaining!), look really cute and nicely decorated with a tactile feel due to the felt used on the blue parts of the bottles. Also included inside the box is a spiral-bound book that describes each scent, suggestions for scent combinations and “lessons” on “How is a scent extracted?”, “Olfactive Families”, “How is a perfume created?”, “Chocolate Historical Notes” and a scene from Cosi fan tutte. I haven’t tried any yet but will report on them when I do!
The 3 samples I received were all Mona d’ Orio Les Nombres d’Or – Vanille, Tubereuse and Vetyver…can’t wait to try these, too!
Now…I’m setting my sights on A Lab on Fire What We Do In Paris is Secret, but must resist, must resist …..
Resistance is futile…. MWUHAHAHAHA! 😀
Also very curious about WWDIPIS. I think this line is related to S-Perfume, and I really like their 100% Love. Rapple is right: it’s only a matter of time!
mmm its been atough end of jan beginning of feb and i have been surrounding myself in the beauty and comfort of teint de neige. LOVE. it is so feminine, warm and even though so powdery, the floral notes are well defined, strong and clear.
Last nite for the first time the drydown of attrape touched the depth of my artistic soul with its beauty…i got floral in the drydown. I have also been trying to rein in my adhd brain to get my swaps from the swapamania organized…and I am so happy to have finally partaken in it. I still have loads of unloveds and there is something really satisfying in those unloveds going to good homes…and bonus, u get something in return, and only pay postage…its a winwinwin situation and feels great! i haven’t received any packages yet, but have so enjoyed the email dialogues between some lovely women.
Teint de Neige is excellent! It’s on my wishlist! That baby powder is realy comforting.
ohh thanks guys for reminding of teint de neige : )
sooo yummy. hope u get some soon
I’ve taken three Frederic Malles on test drives this weekend, with mixed success. Une Fleur de Cassie is something I’d like to revisit later (I have 1.5 ml samples from TPC, so that will most definitely be possible). After wearing it today, I felt that it’s a scent that I admire more than I like — I found it interesting and well-crafted, but I’m not sure that it really suits me.
Bois d’Orage I’m donating to my husband. I think it’ll smell fantastic on him, so I count that as a win of sorts. (He’s snoring on the couch right now; perhaps a stealth spritz is in order.)
Le Parfum de Therese was, sadly, an unmitigated disaster. I wanted so very badly to love it, and was looking forward to the promised vetiver-leather base — however, all I got was a piercing tart-melony-meaty aroma that never developed into anything else, but just gradually faded in intensity over several hours. I ended up taking a shower to hasten its departure.
I was hoping to expand my horizons a little by trying things outside of my comfort zone (Therese and Cassie), but the experiments of the past two days have largely confirmed my belief that I’m a Portrait of a Lady kind of gal.
I too wanted to love Le Parfum de Therese but I could never get past the melon note, which to me is very prominent. I’ve never tried Portrait of a Lady. It got some iffy reviews wen it came out, I remember.
I also dislike Le Parfum de Thérèse because of that melon note, which makes it smell like a shower gel. But I absolutely adore Portrait of a Lady. You might too. 🙂
I was mentally prepared to tolerate the melon note, even though it’s not something I’m usually into — I was looking forward to the promised jasmine, leather, and vetiver, and I was trying to be open-minded. But the melon part went on for HOURS. At one point about three hours in, I caught a whiff of jasmine and thought that the perfume was FINALLY starting to develop, but no, the jasmine went away and the melon from hell returned.
And there was something about the melon itself that I found disagreeable — it wasn’t exactly rotten, but it had prominent tangy and meaty aspects. It would’ve been okay as a transient top note, but it got very tiresome very quickly.
I own and love both Une Fleur de Cassie and Portrait of a Lady — I wear Portrait a lot. (My husband loves it!) After reading so much about it, I have been looking forward to trying Le Parfum de Therese. Now wondering if I will have the same reaction.
It would be interesting to find out. What was really, really strange was that I liked Therese when I smelled it on paper (liked it enough to ask for a sample, in fact). The melon was tamer and I could smell the other notes over time. On skin? If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought it was a completely different perfume.
I have to be in Chicago in a little over a week. Hopefully I’ll have time to swing into Barney’s to do a little recon. I’ll update with the verdict.
I too have been attempting to ‘test drive’ Malles over the weekend — Dans Tes Bras, L’eau D’Hiver, Angeliques Sous La Pluie, and Carnal Flower. Loving Carnal Flower, but for the others….well, looks like there will be more testing in the future.
Oops. That was supposed to be “Barneys”.
Smiling at the idea of a stealth spritz on your sleeping hubby!
It unfortunately didn’t work out — he had contrived to almost completely cover himself in blankets and pillows and the cat.
I once spent about an afternoon trying to chose a FDM. I ended up with Gerarnium Pour Monsieur despite the fact that its description seemed totally alien to me.
This year (for Barney’s Goody bag purchase),I got En Passant, which is one of the few scents I longed for after not purchasing. I can’t wait for it to arrive.
The Barneys goody bag was exactly why I was doing the Malle experiments. In the end I decided I wasn’t ready to commit $200-plus to any of the candidates, goody bag or not. I’ll probably spring for PoaL next time they have such a promotion, though.
I find the Malles a bit uncompromising. They are all interesting, but not so easy to wear. I’ve bought some single travel sprays and discounted bottles on ebay. I don’t wear them often but do enjoy putting one on my wrist to contemplate every now and then.
Just a thought: I realised my perfume and sample collection is a big mess – I don’t even know what I have anymore. FBs are not a problem, but samples, that’s another thing. I think it needs some documenting and a cleanup and getting rid of stuff I don’t really use or really love. Sigh.
I know the feeling!
It makes me happy to know that someone in the office share my passion for perfumes. He’s in his mid 20s, quiet type kind of guy. Until I commented on his perfume which is vanilla-ish and is actually good (I love Shalimar by the way). Instead of just letting me know what it is, he opened his drawer and lo and behold, he has a *lot* of Bath and Body Works bottles! And the thing he was wearing? Vanilla Noir. Acting as a “mentor” to someone newer to perfumes than me (i am already 40), I bought a small vial and shared with him one of my favorites which I think might suit his taste: Ambre Narguile. He sprayed some on his wrist, smelled the perfume and, without saying a word, gave me a thumbs up. His gesture made me happy! 🙂
You just made his day!
… and I’m glad I did. 😉
Never one for celebrity fragrance me, but if Whitney Houston had her own scent, I’d like to try it today.
Some Eau de I Will Always Love You …
Sad, sad news. Such a waste. She was only 48. I was really hoping that twitter was wrong as it sometimes is. First Etta, now Whitney…
I was a little shocked with that notice! R.I.P. Whitney.
When Amy died I knew here; till now I’m not resigned!!
Nile, I’m interested about your reviews. If it would be possible, I’d like to read them; my mail: carolbhz2010@gmail.com.
Wow, she was always the wasted star I most hoped would get her act together. Not sure about Eau de I Will Always Love You (maybe Amouage Lyric?), but the Eau de The Greatest Love is Gucci Rush!
Thanks to Robin’s vetiver article tweet yesterday, I tried an experiment – I wore Guerlain’s Vetiver, and loved it in the biting single digit weather! I have a very old edc that I kept trying to wear in the summer, and it never worked. The tonka always got too heavy for me in the heat.
My next experiment will be to decant 10 or 15 mls. and then add some jasmine essential oil to it – JPG isn’t the only one who can make a floral vetiver! 🙂
Rappleyea, create a great floral vetiver, my friend!
LOL! I’ll settle for a “good” floral vetiver, Luca. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Please do, I’m looking forward to that. Greetings, Lucas.
Lucas, if you’re looking for a good floral-vetiver, try Chantecaille’s Vetyver. Also on my wishlist! LOL.
I’m not looking for a floral-vetiver. Just cheering up for Rappleyea 😉
Haha! That sounds terrific. I’d also love to know how it turns out.
BTW, I keep meaning to send you an update on all those samples you sent me, now that I’ve tried all of them. In short — I have a FB of Ninfeo Mio on the way, and La Fumeé is on my to-buy list. Still on the fence about Encens Flamboyante. I’m glad to have tried Myrrh Ardente and Io Capri, but they didn’t do much for me (though the former did have an intriguing cream-soda-like drydown). Thanks again for the bounty!
An FB and one on the wish list! Wow! My work is done here!! 😉 Seriously, that’s a pretty good average; I’m lucky if I find two out of a hundred samples. Although, i’ve about decided that my V-day present to myself will be a bottle of Terracotta Voile d’Ete – so thank you!
I’m happy to have helped (enabled). Let me know if you need anything else.
Oh, do get yourself some Terracotta! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
If you like the result, you’ll have to share the sniff!
You know I will…. 😉
Very interesting! I hadn’t seen Robin’s tweet, and I also have some older Guerlain Vetiver that I hadn’t found the right time for, so I’m glad you mentioned this.
Also interested in your floral vetiver experiment. I had high hopes for Vetiver pour Elle, but the musk is too much for me. I do love 28 La Pausa for iris vetiver, but I’m still hoping for another floral version. Please do report back!
I too had high hopes for VpE, but no go! For me, it was the sharpness of the lily of the valley. I kept getting ghosts of the old Arden Sunflowers – BLECH!
And thanks for reminding me of La Pausa! I have a sample – untried! – that I need to dig out.
Way to go rapps…good idea floral vetiver
just watching CBS Sunday morning and they interviewed Kate Walsh talking about boyfriend and billionaire boyfriend. It seems she’s really passionate about her fragrances, and invested a lot of her own money to develop them, contrary to other celeb scents. Apparently she has at least 3 other ideas for boyfriend spin-offs.
I saw that too and it made me want to smell Boyfriend – first time ever for a celebuscent!
Forgive me, Boyfriend only interests me because it opens up with that mythological “blue cheese” note that’s present in gardenia but is sometimes hard to imagine. I keep a BF sample to reference it.
BTW, I do like Kate Walsh and I adore her handling of her celeb scent line!
I have a purse spray of Boyfriend on the way – bought blind with the kind help of a fumehead in the USA. Haven’t bought unsniffed in a long while, but this one just hasn’t shown up over here yet and I thought it would have done by now if it was going to…
Scent of the day is L’Artisan Dzing. I have tried it before and had no particular reaction. It didn’t stand out from the other ones in the collection in the store, many of which I own and love. I got this as part of a sample pack from Perfumed Court of scents around the notes of tolu and Peru balsam. Since recently falling in love with Ormond Jayne’s Tolu, I wanted to pursue this note more to see if it was the note itself I liked or her particular version of it. So far I have not been wowed by anything else in the set. It included Soivohle Oud Lacqueur which was just pure vomit to my nose. Yuck! My favorite of the bunch, apart from OJ Tolu, was DSH Cafe Noir which goes in another direction. I am still undecided about Dzing. I know many people either love it or hate it but I’m just not especially moved one way or the other. Glad to give it a more extended try at least.
Dzing! is one of those fragrances that I didn’t like at first…but then I just couldn’t stay away. It intrigued me. After the third try, I had to have a bottle, and now it’s one of my HGs!
Hello, I’m new here, but I’ve been archive-binging on the site since July & occasionally Facebook-stalking its status updates, so I decided to join the party down in the comments. I brought donut holes & coffee if anyone wants some 😉
Let’s see, currently I’m wearing l’Heure Bleue edp. I’m doing a second play-through of the video game Heavy Rain (it has multiple endings, & wouldn’t that be a great name for a perfume?). One scent I’m looking forward to a lot is j.Lo’s Glowing, because I’m a big fan of the original Glow. That & Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker are the only celebrity fragrances I can countenance. My last cheap thrill was White Musk Libertine (the review here swayed me to try it). I like to play with layering fragrances; one of the most interesting, albeit accidentally done, was l’Heure Bleue over day-old Mitsouko.
A big welcome from another Guerlie-girl! Glad you de-lurked. I must try your L’HB over Mitsouko. Almost the same thing happened to me accidently when I put Guerlain’s Philtre d’Amour over day old Mitsy. Wow! It was wonderful. I think many of the Guerlains would play well together.
It was funny, I had spritzed lHBleue on right before leaving for work & when I sniffed my wrist later on, I went, “Huh? Peppered peaches? I don’t remember those notes!”, then I realized I had sprayed the Mitsouko on the day before for an after-work pickmeup. Mitsouko definitely says, “Get the job done” to me, while lHBleue just feels comforting, especially the dry down. Both very strong characters.
Welcome from another Guerlie-girl! You have got me thinking with the Mitsy LHB combo..maybe that is how I can wear Mitsy!
Another accidental combo for you Shalimar and Mecca Balsam- I smell so good it is incredible!
Welcome, Midna!
Welcome to our big NST family
welcome Midna : ) I’m also one with a Guerlain kick, like so many of us here 🙂
Thank you all for your kind words of welcome!
I wore L’Heure Bleue to church today and during the peace (the choir is like a family so we mostly hug eachother instead of just shaking hands), one of our Basses complimented me.
🙂
Dude has excellent taste 🙂
“Archive-binging” is a great term!
Popping in briefly with a few questions:
Has anyone tried JoLoves Green Orange & Coriander or Orange Tulle? Please let me know what you think of them.
Has anyone read The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose and/or smelled the special perfume for the book, Âmes Soeurs by Joya Studios? Will there be a review here on NST?
I’ve been having a major declutter of my home and came across two bottles of Albert Nipon, which I must have bought back in the 80’s, I think! The tiny perfume bottle was dried up, but the larger bottle is still quite full. I vaguely recall the scent, but the juice hasn’t weathered the years well (no surprise). I used to really like this. Does anyone remember it?
I can’t answer your first two questions, but I definitely remember Albert Nipon! I wore it in the 70’s (I think), about the same time I was wearing Givenchy III among other things.
We don’t have a book reviewer at the moment, so if we do manage to review the book, it won’t be soon — sorry!
PS: the larger bottle of Albert Nipon is an edt. Even though it’s not that good any more (not wearable), it’s not that bad. I think I’ll use as a bathroom spray, LOL.
Clue in this Sunday’s NY Time Cross Word Puzzle. Classic Scent called “Mon Peche” in Paris.
My Sin
Julia and annemarie, That’s two votes for Atelier! I haven’t had a chance to try this line since it’s not very available to me – I’m not in the US. I’m going to make a special point of trying their fragrances on my next trip abroad – thanks for the rec.
And Julia, once again, I wish you all the best this Tuesday, and beyond.
Hi All –
Received a sample of Annette Neuffer Madagascar Parfum in a perfume swap, and, when I put it on, the angels sang. Now, of course, I can’t find it. Annette Neuffer does have a website, but it’s the darnedest thing–no retail sources, no prices, no nothing. And no Madagascar listed–I think it’s from, maybe 5-6 years ago? I emailed their customer service under “contact us” on the website (http://www.naturparfum.net/), which mentions emailing to order, but have heard nothing.
Have you ever heard of this elusive scent ? It may also have been called “Journey to Madagascar” at one time. Have looked on eBay, MUA, and Basenotes for used, but no luck. Neuffer is from Germany, so I wonder if it is available there? Thanks for your help!
Intriguing! If no one answers today, I’d try again earlier on in the next poll – there are definitely some commenters from Germany and fans of natural perfumes. And I wonder if it would be worth checking on some of the blogs that are focused on natural perfumes, like Scent Hive. Good luck, Kismet!
Thanks, Nozknoz! I know I’m late to the party–will try again if no joy this time.
Didn’t know there were blogs devoted to natural perfumes, but will also look there. Appreciate your reply!
I’m in my mid winter slump needing a tropical getaway! I like beachy but not fruity scents- Creed Virgin Island Water is a favorite, but my bottle is so empty. : ( I ordered a few scents from Smell Bent, one called St. Tropez (something) which has coconut in it….so I am hoping for something warm and beachy but not screechy. Ha! Anyone have a love/hate relationship with Smell Bent?
Le parfum de Therese didn’t work on me, either. The melon was so off-putting. I have much love, though, for Une Fleur de Cassie and Portrait of a Lady. Lipstick Rose and Une Rose are also swoon-worthy. I’ve been a rosey, floral state of mind this week. I blame Valentine’s Day!
My winter fragrances up until now have been colognes and bright, fresh citrus based scents – its been odd, yo-yo weather in the UK over the christmas period. The past weeks have been freezing and ‘properly’ wintery! And I have intuitively reached for Patchouli 24 and Musc Ravageur, enveloping scents that stand up to the cold. If I owned Coromandel and Tolu, I’d be wearing those too! Today I am enjoying Dzongkha, which is similarly enveloping in a duskier, subtler way.