Tell us about a summer vacation, any summer vacation: one you took, one you plan to take, one you'd like to take. And tell us about the perfume that best matches that vacation.
Note: image is Post Card [text: "Beach Boulevard and Seawall from the Air, showing Hotel Galvez, Galveston, Texas"] by Mark Gstohl at flickr; some rights reserved.
Last year I had a lovely vacation in Bulgaria, it was absolutely amazing. Sea, sun and a lot of fun! Matching scent would be Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien or Ninfeo Mio. There were a lot of figs and citrus fruits in every garden. This year I wanted to visit London for a few days but this will be impossible due to Olympics. Well, maybe I’ll visit next summer, or maybe closer to Christmas. We’ll see.
This summer I probably won’t travel anywhere. My dad changed jobs this year and he probably won’t get time off from work, but he said he’d try to get 5 days in September and maybe we’ll go to Egypt or Greece.
SOTD is Chanel Bel Respiro.
Yesterday I gave a try to newly arrived sample of Amouage Interlude Man. If you’re curious how it behaves I’ll be happy if you visit my blog (my nickname=link) and check out my review of it.
Have a great time at the weekend!
Yes, don’t visit London now! Yuck! Way too crowded (and I already don’t love how crowded the tube stations get). I’m a bit of an introvert though, so that could just be me (I lived there for a while).
I always say, an ideal holiday for me is doing absolutely NOTHING in the sun. So enjoy your next holiday, it sounds like it might be just that (judging from your last holiday)!
I wanted to visit in mid September, but when I wanted to book a place to stay in the end of April there were no rooms left for months. Will try again during a winter break or next summer holiday.
Oh, I hate doing nothing! I’d like to spend my time actively, on the bike, swimming, sightseeing. Lying on the beach for hours is not my style. I hope dad gets few days off so that we could visit Greece or Egypt, that would be lovely.
Haha, I guess I just overwork myself with way too much (I literally feel guilty when I relax for an hour) that my body demands NOTHING AT ALL for holidays. It’s a bit of an extreme to balance myself out, but it works. I cannot wait to not feel guilty while reading a book, lol!
But yes, I do love sightseeing, which I tend to do on my work holidays when I go photograph people as well. I just would like to have some days in a year where I am able to sit back and relax.
Hope you get your holiday soon! (Me too, actually)
Oh I see! The body needs some relax after a tough work. You know I work in the laboratory a lot during university year, but I like spending time there, so it’s less exhausting that way.
And I also like to sit on the couch and relax wih a book.
Hi Lucas! I checked out your blog and wanted to say congrats to you for starting it. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Hope I’ll meet you there sometimes
Every year, I spend July in Provence by the sea, but this year, I am having to spend the summer commuting between London and Tokyo to attend to personal matters. Not my ideal summer, as everyone may know, summer in Tokyo is hellishly hot and humid. My consolation for this holiday deprivation is that I get to own a condo near my mother’s at the end of August. I’ll be in London for the Olympics, to which I have been given free tickets (opening ceremony, etc, etc.) and then it’s off to Tokyo again until September. My plan is to visit Satori in Tokyo to sample her fragrances.
So, no summer holiday for me this year – perhaps I’ll take a mini break in a hot spring resort in Japan.
The perfume that would go with my Provence holiday would be Jicky or DSH Mirabella. For a hot spring resort somewhere in Japan, I’d go with a good yuzu scent, which I am still hunting for.
Ooh, Mirabella! How perfect for Provence!
So sorry you’re missing your Provence holiday, but congrats on the condo!
Olympics!!!! Jealous. I am an Olympics ho. I lie on the sofa for two weeks being an impossible sloth while I burst into tears at everyone’s amazing athletic efforts.
I’m with you, Tama. I’m not normally a crier, but the Olympics can be quite cathartic. I can’t make it through a medal ceremony without tears and I think once I even started during the opening ceremonies.
Me too, Tama! It is my dream to someday go to the Olympics, but sadly, this wasn’t the year. ๐
Congrats on the Olympics tickets, enjoy!
As for Satori, think of me (if you remember) while you sample the Ume plum (blossom) scent. ๐ I loved the teeeny samples I got, and plan to one day buy a FB. Or two. Or more. ๐
I’ve heard the climate in Tokyo is very much like that of Washington, DC – glad you have a very good reason to be there in the summer! The items on the Satori perfume website look very tempting, especially that exquisite tea jar packaging and the adorable sample set.
I JUST WENT TO PARIS and I’m using this as an excuse to share ๐
I went to the Guerlain flagship store, SL, and Parfums de la Rosine, and for me – this was as exciting as Disneyland had been for the bf the days before.
My wallet is no longer happy, however…. I bought 4 bottles! But I have a permanent smile etched on my face now.
SOTD is a mix of Gourmand Coquin from yesterday (who knew that would end up being “my” exclusive Guerlain??), and today’s tests of Jicky, Shalimar, Shalimar Parfum Initial (which smells like vintage Miss Dior Cherie to me), Chamade… Yeah, the visit to Guerlain yesterday has infected me.
As for normal holidays, I wish I was back home in Kenya, where (to me) the best holidays (but no perfumes) are available: safaris, nightlife, beaches (one plane-ride of 40$ away)…. Sigh. I’m going back home when it’s “summer” (aka Christmas for us in Holland), and will be happy to finally be back home for good (though, again, not much perfume availability – most houses will not even send to Kenya!).
Everyone have a great weekend!
Best scent for Kenya? Parfum d’Empire Aziyade, especially for the coast. The cheap cola sweets, the Arab influence, but mostly the light airy feel it gives me, is like the warm wind I feel when I am in the humid coast area 8 hours’ drive away from my home in Nairobi.
Ah! I miss home!
Habari Zubi!
I live in Nairobi – and hope we can make contact when you are here in our summer (December). When last were you in Kenya? I sometimes stumble upon surprises, e.g. a store had Guerlain’s Jardin de Bagatelle! But yes, those surprises are like rare gems, compared to what large parts of the world has to offer – hence any overseas trip for me is the nerves of knowing I have expensive Serges and Amouages in my luggage! I often wonder whether those who moan that the closest Macy’s Sephora or even boutique perfume store is 30 miles / 60 miles away know how lucky they are, how close that is!
Firstly: There is someone else in Kenya with a Serge in their luggage?! Haiya! Tell me where you live, so I move far, far away… I wanted to be the only one ๐
Secondly: Yay! A fragrant friend in Kenya who doesn’t just want fruity florals!
Third: I will be around in December, permanently. I was home in March, and have been home for years, but I only got “into” perfume properly around April ๐ So before that I would have said “Serge WHO?”.
Fourth: So excited to hear from someone in Kenya ๐ ๐
Lastly: Sorry there are so many points: I found that the perfumes in those stores are usually fakes, but those are mainstream ones. But a Guerlain that isn’t the most popular? Interesting… Where was that? I know Westgate has got a perfume place and so has Galleria, but I never bothered going in because I was only interested in fruity florals bought at airports that time ๐
So excited to know another frag person in Kenya! ๐
Hey! Before NST, I would have also said Serge WHO? I found the Jardin de Bagatelle in a tiny store at Junction, – they also had Guerlain’s Parure! (The store looks like it could be the “land” version of a duty free store at JKIA). ๐ ๐ ๐ – ditto on all your points! Yay, we are going to be swapping samples and have a perfume party!
Grr cannot respond to your comment, so I replied below.
Also wanted to add, I googled your name with NST and found we have even commented on the same post! Also, I read something you said about Opus…? I have all of them, so guess who gets to sample in Dec? ๐
We need to find a way to keep in touch – are you on basenotes or fragrantica? I’m on basenotes, just look for Zubi ๐
Yay sample party! Then, if we find a scent we like, we can feel bad together about how we will not be able to buy it until we leave the country ๐
I was in Paris a few weeks ago and I also went to Guerlain’s flagship store, SL, JAR, AG, Jean Patou… had a fabulous time there. I also bought 4 bottles; Gourmand Coquin, SL Sa Majeste La Rose + A La Nuit + Bas Soie.
I felt like a little girl who had just met a princess at Disney (the modern equivalent now is meeting Rihanna, apparently, but let’s not go into that)!
Yay! another Gourmand Coquin lover. What do you love about it/ what was your first reaction? There’s not a lot of online love for it. ๐
I actually bought it for my daughter, who was with me in Paris, and we both fell in love with its boozy chocolate yumminess. I don’t normally go for gourmand, but I love its smooth, luxurious, velvety chocolate note with a hint of rose.
I am in an over-the-top gourmand phase that often has me checking my belly for movement or kicks ๐ So happy to hear someone else loves its yumminess (perfect word for it) as much as I do!
What fun, congrats!
Thank you! ๐
I love and own Gourmand Coquin. It gets no love from reviewers but in addition to being awesome I think itโs one of the smarter exclusives. I have Insolence EDP too so I think we might on a similar Guerlain wavelength.
Yes, if you are on Basenotes/Fragrantica I should stalk* you there to copy your test samples ๐
What do you think of the other Guerlains? I find Jicky the nicest among the 5 I tried simultaneously, but then smelled the part where Gourmand was, and went “Ehh never mind” as it blew it out of the water. Shalimar (blasphemy ahead) just is too sharp, and a little too boring when compared. On its own it is gorgeous, I agree.
*(perhaps “stalk” is not the funniest word to use after my ranting comment below, but oh well)
Not on Basenotes or Fragrantica.
I like the Guerlains, the raw materials seem of good quality, and they source a lot of their own materials. IMO Jicky smells surprisingly modern, I havenโt bought it yet but I like it – would have to spend more time to decide how much I like it. I canโt do Shalimar, too discordant on my skin. LโHeure Bleue is really pretty in an old-skewl way. Definitely lean toward the newer exclusives, even tho some of the Art of Materials ones are kind of sedate. I donโt care for Idylle or Shalimar Initial.
Well then I’ll just catch up with you whenever I see you here! ๐
Yes, Shalimar Initial shocked me as I had expected, well, Shalimar, and got shocked to find vintage Miss Dior Cherie. They are all well-made, exactly, but somehow the house fails to wow me like SL does.
As for the non-exports, a LOT wowed me on paper, but I only got to try to on skin, and Boxeuses was love at first sniff, mainly because it reminds me so much of PdE Aziyade. I have decided that before I leave Europe, I’ll be returning to PAris with savings (I’ll be ordering some samples soon) and buying a few more non-exports. I loved Santal Majuscule (I have a feeling I will love any SL Santal), but I’m waiting for it to go to the export line in September.
BTW did you find a non-export that you loved while at SL?
Oh, I’d love to see your work- a photographer, right? Any link? I love photos! I took some wonderful this Saturday!
not sure if I’m allowed to, but it is imagined-photography dot com ๐
Love the photos – especially the b&w of the kids, and the flowers.
WOW, Zubi! WONDERFUL!!!!!! I loved your work!!!! The eyes on the headshots are mesmerizing!
You know how to take pictures not only by people! Your nature pics are amazingly good!!! You’re extremaly talented! Astonishing photos! Congratularions!!! I added your site to my favorites!!!
Planning to round all Europe on the next vacation. Went paragliding today! Excellent!
How fun! Paragliding probably doesn’t need a fragrance ๐
Lol! It couldn’t be different. I was using Fahrenheit! ๐
Sample a niche scent from each country ๐
Nice idea! Thank you!
Oh. My. God. I went to medical school in Galveston and have that exact postcard framed in my office. It’s like you knew I was going to ask all you NST pollsters about vacation perfume choices today, Robin. We are going on an Alaskan cruise and I am planning to bring samples and decants with me. I can’t stick to just one vacation scent. Weather will be mid-50s, drizzly. I’ll use some space in my sons’ quart bags if need be. Current candidates include:
Organza Indecence
Angelique Noire
Vanille Insensee
Diptyque Eau Duelle
Prada Candy
No. 5 Eau Premiere
Hanae Mori Magical Moon
VC&A Orchidee Vanille
VC&A Muguet Blanc (for if the sun comes out)
YSL Cinema (if I can find something to decant into)
What do y’all think?
Impressive! You just don’t know how (or refuse) to travel light, do ya?
Well, some of the samples will only be about 1ml, and some of the decants are 2.5-3ml, so it’s not quite as bad as it seems. I just know I want some cozy scents that aren’t too wintery.
You could also do what I’ve decided to do every holiday after this last one: Take the amount of samples equivalent to the amount of days. Make sure you have never tested any, but have read up a bit so you don’t end up with only one type of scent. You get to finish testing, as well as associate those scents with good memories (so you have a very good excuse to buy a full bottle after!). ๐
Enjoy your cruise! I’m ashamed to say that I have only tried Angelique Noire, and that wasn’t my favourite (but I was testing multiples), so can’t be of much help here.
Zubi, that’s a great idea! I will try to remember to do this for my next vacation.
It so helped in Paris! I was forced to wear samples through out the day, instead of impatiently putting on other samples an hour later ๐ Or doing multiples, which I am notorious in my home for (8 at a time? anybody?)
How funny!
I was in Galveston once, briefly, and hardly remember it except that the beach didn’t smell so great — and now I can’t even remember why.
Jealous of your Alaska cruise!
Yeah, the beach in Galveston isn’t the loveliest. But it does make for a really good run on a foggy day. The best part about the city is the old homes and the seafood. Then it helps to know where all the locals eat. Luckily, some places are still there, even though I graduated 20 years ago.
I will be on some tours with people who might not appreciate unusual scents, so I will probably go with the ones that are tried and true. Thanks, everyone!
I was probably there about 25 years ago, right before you ๐
I’ve always wanted to do the Alaska cruise. It just looks like it would be so gorgeous. I guess the cruise giving it a run for its money is the Chilean coast, but that would be way more expensive to get to. Have fun!
Add me to the list of those who want to do an Alaskan cruise! And l’m like you, Sapphire, I tend to take lots of little decants on trips.
Sapphire, inside passage or out of Anchorage? In either case, have a wonderful time!
I had my vacation already – it was quite perfumey! I went to LA and visited Scent Bar, Opus Oils (great to meet Kedra), and Santa Maria Novella. I got to meet the wonderful Brent from Smell Bent, who is sheer delight. I was a bad girl and bought a ton of great stuff.
I also was amazed at the sheer volume of jasmine in bloom. Everywhere I went the air was perfumed. That with the beauty of the Jacaranda trees – lovely! I stayed in a little studio apartment I found on airbnb.com – great deal, so much better than a hotel.
Unfortunately, I came back all nice and rested for work to be told I was being let go, so I get to rest a lot more. I was mad at them for not telling me before – I wouldn’t have spent so much on perfume and shoes!!!
Sorry to hear about your situation. But as they say, when the door closes, another one opens, so hang in there!
Tama, I love jacarandas in bloom. Glad you got to enjoy them!
Tama, that really is terrible, so sorry.
Tama,
I’m so sorry to hear about your job loss. My husband lost his job 3 months ago. I hope you see this as “an opportunity” and that something better will open up for you!
Sorry to hear that Tama! ๐ As others have said, when one door closes another opens, and I have found that every bad time in my life was necessary to create the path for the awesome times that followed! ๐
Sorry about your job. They have done that to people where I work too. I tell my boss that is why I don’t like taking time off and she tells me I’m crazy. It’s happened too many times though. I hope everything works out for you and you find something better.
It can make one afraid to take a vacation, for sure.
What a time to tell you – I’m so sorry to hear that, Tama! Best wishes for finding something even better very soon!!
I’m so sorry to hear that, Tama.
Glad you had fun and got to meet Brent, but sorry to hear about your job. Four people in my family have been laid off in the last few years, and one had her job changed to part time, but all of them have found other jobs now. Good luck!
I just came home this morning from a week at Mallorca. Nice change from the rather disappointing raininfested Swedish summer.
I brought a lot of iris scent samples with the good intention of trying to compare them. But the Spanish summer heat made me stick to my John Varvatos Artisan for most of the evenings.
We did one day trip to Palma and I used my 10% tourist discount at the big department store El Corte Inglese on perfume – who would have guessed ;)? I went for two classics – Nahema EdP (not available in Sweden at all) and Shalimar EdP (in a pretty 30 ml botte not available in Sweden).
I tried Infusion D’Iris Absolue on the airport on my way out and fell completely in love, but unfortunately they didn’t have it at the Palma airport at the way home (or maybe lucky for my wallet, depending on how you see it…).
Sounds like a wonderful trip! Hope you’re having better weather at home now.
I will be going to Sweden on Tuesday! I will be spending a week with an old friend from high school, and I don’t know what to do: bring lots of easy to pack samples to play with, or just stick with one or two scents so that she might associate it with me? Silly things I think about, I should be deciding what CLOTHES to wear! But first things first…
I hope you have a great time here, Elena! And I hope the weather finally shapes up to greet visitors with sunny smiles instead of tears…
Travelling gives you a great opportunity to try out samples, but I always find I need one solid favourite to keep me grounded when I go places I haven’t been before.
That’s a good idea, Petronella… I will be apart from my almost 3 year old for over a week, by far the longest time we will have been apart (I will still have fun of course!), so maybe something familiar and comforting will do the trick better than samples. I have wanted to go to Sweden during the summer for so long, that I am REALLY hoping for at least a decent amount of sun. I imagine that lake cottages and crayfish parties are a lot more fun when it’s not raining. I visited this same friend about ten years ago, but during autumn, and it was really quite gray and depressing at times. I was not used to so few sunlit hours. I’m also looking forward to the duty free shops!
Yes, outdoor crayfish parties are the best! We’re keeping our fingers crossed!
I had a beach vacation on Lake Michigan! ๐ DH and I went for my family’s reunion, and it went so much better than I had imagined it would. Even the weather cooperated: 90’s and sunny almost every day, so I went swimming a lot. Of all the decants I had brought with me, Eau des Merveilles was my go-to scent, and a perfect fit it was
Sounds lovely! I have never been swimming in any of the great lakes, isn’t that crazy?
Not crazy at all! I doubt if this region pops up in anyone’s mind when thinking “beach vacation” unless one has already experienced them. Plus, swimming in fresh water is a completely different experience. I love it because I grew up with it, but it’s not for everyone. Especially not surfers. ๐
No, it’s not crazy. Your comment made me realize I haven’t been swimming in any of the great lakes either. The big difference is that in my 35 years I’ve lived in either Michigan or Chicago. At all times of my life I could’ve been to one of those lakes in an hour or two…and I just never have. This is going on my list. I have a vacation destination is my backyard.
Sorry, *in* my backyard.
Some of my favorite summer outings have involved Lake Michigan beaches. I used to live in Chicago, and my (non-air-conditioned) apartment was a few blocks from the lake, so on obnxiously hot days I’d go take a dip after work to cool off. My then-BF and I used to take day trips to various lakeside destinations in Michigan and Indiana, and one summer my family came up and we went to Door County up in Wisconsin. I live in California now, but part of me still prefers the Lake Michigan beach scene (shhh!).
In college, my best friend and I went to England and Wales. We spent most of our time in Barmouth, a lovely coastal town in Northern Wales, plotting a hike up Cader Idris. We wanted to spend the night up there and come down either a poet or mad (that’s what local legend says will happen), but we ended up in a pub at the base of the mountain for a few hours drying our sopping clothing in front of the fireplace along with members of a large British hiking club that also decided to call off their climb due to the random torrential downpour. We hitchhiked back to town (don’t tell my parents!) with some cute local boys instead of walking back through all the flooded sheep pastures. It was all great fun and one of my favorite memories.
We had purchased some inexpensive hiking gear for our failed excursion but didn’t want to carry it back to the States with us, so we stealthily left it in a closet at the B&B we were staying at so future guests could use it. Five years later, I brought my fiance back to the same B&B, and the owners recognized me right away and told me they’d been saving our gear all that time for us.
I can’t think of a fragrance that smells like mud, grass, wet wool, lager, tea and the sea, but Apres l’Ondee is rainy and green so I guess I’d have to choose that.
What a lovely memory! Brought back my own younger trips to the UK.
What a fun memory! Thank you for sharing!
What a delightful story, including saving the gear for you! ๐
Thank you for the Galveston pic. My husband and I spent our brief honeymoon in Galveston 22 years ago and it is still one of our favorite places to visit. The Galvez had fallen on hard times back in the 70’s and 80’s, but has since been beautifully restored to as close as possible to its original appearance in 1911. It truly is a beautiful grand hotel. We stayed there for a few days in 2006, and it was probably the most relaxing, laid-back vacation we have ever had. No rushing, no stress, no trying to cram too many activities into too few days. Knowing that we could go back any time we want, since Galveston is an easy drive from where we live, we were able to relax and just enjoy doing whatever we were in the mood for.
Oh, how sweet!
I usually spend 4 days in the Berkshires (in western Massachusetts for those who may not be familiar) and attend opening night at Tanglewood and the afternoon performance on Sunday before heading home; I also see 2-3 other regional theater productions in between. This year, I decided to skip it because I had already been on 3 vacations during the past 7 months AND I have a cruise planned in August (more on that in a bit). For the Berkshires trips, I had been going fragrance au naturel (gasp! the horror of it all!) due to the many close/closed-quarters interactions. Now that I have a better appreciation for the wide-range of perfumes, I will remedy the scent-free situation the next time I go.
In August, I will be taking a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords (starts from Amsterdam and back to Amsterdam). I had been thinking about what to bring and can use any suggestions you may have. The temperature “on shore” is going to be on the cooler side (love!) but could range widely from the low-50s to mid 70s; on the ship, it will depend on the time of day and the venue. My SOTD (PdN L’Eau A La Folie) may actually work for the range and the 30 mL bottle is the perfect size to throw into my toiletries case. The other thing I have to think about is my traveling companions – 2 of the 3 have strong opinions about fragrance (no scent is best for them) so to keep the peace, something soft, unobstrusive, closer to the skin would be best (i.e. I just have to smell good to myself)
Suggestions (for the Norwegian Fjords cruise in August), anyone?
I don’t know your SOTD, but I’d say you could also just go with any Chanel classic, or classic in general. Anything floral that isn’t patch, tuberose, or white florals will probably not offend.
I have a Travel Spray of Chanel No. 5 EDT and will not use it because it is guaranteed to throw my brother-in-law into a scent spasm and I don’t mean that in a good way.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Ouch! Well then I’m stumped. You never know what might set off someone… Why not just wear an EdT with ok lasting power – then if no one comments you can carry on spraying it!
I love the Berkshires. We go almost every year now. That’s where I stayed at the b&b that didn’t allow perfume in the rooms. Nice place other than that rule. Tanglewood was nice except the mosquitoes really liked me a lot that night. I will bring Off next time.
I stayed in Williamstown, a stone’s throw from Williams College. It is lovely without the buzz of the college kids since school’s out. Other than the college and the Williamstown Theater, it just has the one street with an odd collection of stores. When I was there last year, only 1 shop (and outpost of MassMoCA) sold perfume – all Tokyo Milk.
Lol. We saw a play in Williamstown last summer and you are so right about it. It’s one street. A couple shops and that’s it. But it is pretty out there. We have stayed in Lenox a few times and Stockbridge.
What about Infusion dโIris by Prada? It’s sheer and light, and if anyone “accuses” you of wearing perfume you can say it’s just the smell of your luxurious soap ๐
Hope you will enjoy the fjords of Norway. Even though I live here I was on my first proper fjord cruise only this year, and it was a stunning experience.
Thanks for the suggestion, Bjorn. I have a bottle of that somewhere or at worst I can bring the samples I am 100% sure I have.
Well, my first suggestion would be to take me with you. ๐
How about Omnia? A lot of people seem to be asnomic to major parts of it, so that may include your bil! Stella’s another one thats stays pretty close on me( I have scent-sucking skin, though), and I think that any natural perfumes that aren’t too bombastic would work as well.
๐
I have Omnia Coral but I’ll check out “plain” Omnia. I will also go sniff Stella at Sephora. I know which ones I won’t bring…my Tauers samples (maybe except for Dark Passage because that one is not overpowering at all) and my SSS samples!
Thanks for your suggestions.
Just tried my sample of Ninfeo Mio for the first time this morning and it was love at first sniff. It will definitely be coming with me to Cape Cod next month along with Carthusia Mediterraneo, BBW Coconut Lime Verbena, Bronze Goddess, Virgin Island Water, and TDC’s Bergamote.
As we will be driving there, I’m not restricted in the amount of perfume I can bring ๐
Farouche, I will be going to Hyannis Port in mid- September and will bring my…Farouche. I have a feeling it will just perfect. I can only do one scent per trip, and I never duplicate. I guess I want attach every memory of my vacation to one scent. Either that, or I am just a limited soul with no imagination. Could go either way.
Hi Juicejones, And what a lovely scent to bring. I may indulge in wearing some of my Farouche pure perfume to bed tonight, as my husband, who objects to sleeping with a highly perfumed wife, is out of town tonight!
Go for it, I say!
Oooh, the parfum! You’re gorgeous! ๐
I know this is off-topic, but I need hugs and kind words from the fragrant community right now. I have a delusional paranoid person who stalks me online so I cannot say what it is, but it’s to do with a person who is letting their delusions ruin their life as well as affect mine negatively, and I cannot do anything about it because they are celever enough to hid the “not-so-normal” side when professionals are around. ๐ It’s such an impossible situation and I’m in tears. You guys are so amazing and I know you’ll find a way to cheer me up. ๐
sorry for the typos.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Courage and protection to you.
Thank you. I just had a moment of weakness. I feel stronger now after mass testing (and burning my nose) some perfumes! ๐
It’s tough, but it’s not something that is possible to solve except by just accepting the person and giving them love and patience.
From a distance. A very large, safe distance.
hahaha! ๐ You are right, but in an emotional way. I realised a while ago I need to set boundaries, but I think those need to be set emotionally too.
Zubi, this is terrible! If the person stalks you online, do you have written records (emails, IMs) of their behavior towards you? I encourage you to build up a record of their attempts to contact you and then take it to the police. In the meantime, we are all here to help and support you in any way we can.
It’s a very tough situation. Someone very close to me who (mistakenly) thinks someone else close to me is out to murder them and make their life hell, and that I am living a drugged life full of (illegal) sexual adventure (and spreads this to the police as often as they can – in Kenya our police force listens mostly to the older party; it’s a cultural thing). I cannot explain much, but I’ll just say that I am not able to call the police on this person, due to multiple reasons. I’ve dealt with it since I was 16, and the worst part is, this person goes on and on about how *I* do not know how terrible their life is, when they do not realise that *they* are the ones who do not realise how terrible they are making my life by giving in to these delusions. It is frustrating being treated like a child when I am 23, and being told that the only reason I do not know they are in danger is because I have been brainwashed with money (insinuating the sexual adventures again). So frustrating. I am usually just able to deal with the person with love and patience, but today I was tryng to share my happiness and got nothing but putdowns, constant complaints of “I cannot live my life because other people are not letting me move on (when this person is the only one not moving on)”, and insinuations about how I am unaware of how much danger I am in due to a person who has been nothing but kind to me. You just have to sit and watch this person spiral, as there is no way of getting them to seek help voluntarily. Frustrating.
Thank you for being there. ๐ Sorry for the novel! lol
My grammar went down a notch there. That “who” in the first sentence should not be there.
Hugs to you, Zubi. I hope you find a way to resolve this. It’s a good reminder for all of us to be vigilant about online safety.
Thank you, hugs back ๐ It’s unfortunately not just online, but it is someone close to me and I cannot deal with in any other way than simply understand and love. sometimes – like today – it just gets to be a bit too much for me.
Stay away from this person. Period! You can’t help them. Don’t read what they write and don’t talk to them. That level of negativity is unfortunately powerful to bring whoever is around it down.
I was in a similar situation years ago. These people can flip from dark to light. They are toxic and just a roller coaster to be around.
All the Best!
Unfortunately I cannot as it is a family member and I live in a community where personal reputation matters, especially with my job. I live in a culture that is slightly different; it is unfortunate but I am usually strong enough to face it. Thank you so much for the support though, it means a lot.
These severe charges are libel and slander and deppending on the place you are, they are crimes. Now I understood better. Have a serious talk to the person. If you notice no effect, give it an advertisment showing it the dameges it’s causing you and the consequences it can have for it. Stay as far as possible from this person. It has nothing to increase to you. ๐
Unfortunately, staying away gets me phone calls from cops, asking why I’m disrespecting this person and not including them in my life. Confronting the person leads to denial, and “you are brainwashed with lies” – even if I saw the person do what I am accusing of. They are far, far gone psychologically, so far gone in fact, that if they were to read this, they wouldn’t even realise I’m referring to them.
That’s hard! Then make yourself be patient and try to be more tolerant. If you can live in another place far from the person it would be a good begining. A superficial relationship would also help I guess. Be sure that the time will show others you’re not what’s being said. No one can mantain lies for a long time.
All the best to you. I’ll enter your link and let you know. Thanks.
So sorry. Hope things resolve for you.
Thank you Robin. I still hope they will, but I’m learning to be at peace with the situation. Sometimes, like last night, it just overwhelms me a bit too much.
So sorry you are having to put up with this person, Zubi. Probably best to stay as detached as you can. Cool civility and taking the high road are the only approaches I can think of (never let him see you sweat!), other than seeking legal counsel if you are able. Hugs!
*hugs back* thank you so much for the moral support. Unofrtunately I’m slightly stuck, as I mentioned in my novel above, but I’m feeling much stronger today.
I think you should separate your life of the person’s life. If his/her problems are affecting you, your relashionship is not healthy. I do like to help people online. I have a great friend that I only know by pictures, and it’s amazying to have a virtual but real friend.
But I don’t confound my life with any other person’s life. I try to respect some limits I imposed myself and with good sense I try to notice the other’s limits. Sometimes it’s difficult to know the others’ limits and at these times a sincere talk has its utility.
Helping people is a pleasure, but for doing this we need to be in peace with ourselves. Feel better soon. ๐
That’s terrible. Sorry to hear it. All I can say is don’t give too much attention to it and think of nicer things. Hope things brighten up for you.
Thank you very much! I really needed some moral support last night, so thank you ๐
My family, boyfriend and I will be going to freaking ICELAND this August!!! I have no idea what perfumes to bring. I know it will be relatively cold (around 60 degrees F). Any ideas, y’all??
Serge Lutens L’Eau Friode? >:D
(or L’Eau Froide?)
Didn’t particularly care for L’Eau Friode, preferred the base notes in L’Eau Froide. ๐
Half joking with the suggestion but half serious. Was thinking what would be appropriately cold and biting, and the Serge is bracing. Something that smells like snow would be even better!
Have fun on your trip Ari!
De Bachmakov? L’Eau D’Hiver?
Okay, so the latter smells nothing like winter (imo) but it’s pretty so why not.
lol, I was just making a funny about the typo ๐
I agree though, it has a biting quality.
LOL I totally missed that!
I’m going on a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords in August so the suggestions for you may work for me!
Maybe something warm and sunshiney, like Mona di Orio Jabu?
Oh oh oh if you want warm and sunshiney, try Olympic Orchids Golden Cattleya, for a buttery honeyed yellow-flowered summer feeling. Or red Cattleya which is a fruity floral that doesn’t scream I AM TEN! Apparently, orchid connoiseurs comment that these scents smell EXACTLY like the orchids they are named after.
I like those, too, Zubi. I really love one of hers called Luzonica, a strange and beautiful tropical smell.
Hmm perhaps that isn’t on the site (or in my samples!), as I’ve never heard of it. What’s it like?
I just was there about two weeks ago. It was fantastic! I live in a hot humid climate, so for me it was a treat getting away. You must go to the Blue Lagoon and swim in the geothermal mineral baths there. They have many products for sale in their beautiful shop including hand, face, foot lotions, mud masks, etc. Nice smells. There are some perfumes made in Iceland, which I saw at the airport shop, but did not really care for too much. I had along with me some small samples and enjoyed things like Ormand Jayne Tolu and Atelier Vanille Insensee–things with a bit of sweetness seemed nice there. You will love it. The scenery is strange and majestic. I also saw puffins which was a real thrill!!
Got to go to Iceland when I was 16, and my greatest regret was not swimming in the Blue Lagoon.
How fun is that, lucky you!
Ooooh, exciting!
Theorema! What a fabulous trip, take loads of pics and have a wonderful time!!
I’m leaving for northeast Germany on Monday, and I’m hard at work at the most important part of packing……choosing decants, of course! It will be cool and rainy on most days and warm on some others. So far I have decided on Ormonde Jayne Tolu, The pour un Ete, Apres l’Ondee, Poivre Piquant, and L’Eau d’Hiver, with a bit of Shalimar parfum for the opera. I need enough variety to last five weeks :).
I like tour idea of the most important part of packing!
It’s true though, isn’t it? I spent my packing time lamenting “What will I WEAR?!” and my bf knew I was not talking about clothes. ๐
Your choices sound lovely. Aren’t decants the best for traveling? Has anyone had problems with the airlines when putting decants in carry-on luggage?
I’m not going anywhere far this summer. Two weeks ago, I spent a wonderful weekend doing the San Francisco Sniff and Fragrance Salon. Had a great time and got my wallet out too many times!
At the end of the month, I’m going to Ashland, Oregon for a reunion of college friends. We have a full agenda, including a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Now I’m wondering what fragrance is good for a warm weather theater excursion! HELP!
I’d say those grangrances that aren’t creamy but “liquidy” if that makes sense. I do Aziyade, Reflection, Miss Dior Cherie (vintage), and the random fruity florals from my fruity floral buying days.
I just sampled Shalimar Parfum Initial, and to me it smells exactly like MDC! So that might even work…
I say Red Cattleya again ๐ Or a Marc Jacobs/Vera Wang?
Finally, maybe Elie Saab Le PArfum ? This can be too sharp with aldehydes though. Or you could be like me and go on a converting crusade by wearing your most yummy niche fragrance, and hope at least one person goes YUM WHAT IS THAT?! I do this with Amouage Memoir. ๐
I am not sure what grangrances are. I meant fragrances. ๐
That sounds delightful! Chanel 28 la Pausa is lovely and light – sort of ideal for warm weather, public spaces and a special occasion.
28 La Pausa is ax excellend suggestion! It’s so sophisticated!
Ooh, have a great time at the Shakespeare Festival! I’ve always wanted to go to that.
My hubby lost his job 3 months ago, so no vacation for us right now. However, we moved back to south Florida and are about 20-25 minutes from the beach so we are there at least once a week.
I like Bronze Goddess Oil for the beach or Embruns d’Ambre for the beach.
Sorry to hear that Dixie! ๐
Dixie,
I love Embruns d’Ambre! I cannot believe they discontinued it.
Sorry to hear about your husband’s job loss. That sucks.
Dixie, I do hope things are improving for you and your husband. Lucky you to be so close to a beach!
Dixie, I’ve been noting with envy that South Florida is cooler than Washington, DC, in the summer.
Hi Dixie! Hope you’re enjoying being back in south Florida. The sun and the beach make up for a lot, don’t they?
Bonnaroo 2006, Manchester, TN. Three days of broiling heat, merciless sun without shade, dehydration, sleeplessness, 2nd degree sunburn, art-glass bongs, and Radiohead. L’Air de Rien launched that year: how unbelievably perfect.
That’s just classic!
Second this!
Brilliant.
I’ll be going on my honeymoon in late August to London. I will be visiting the Roja Dove Boutique, Floris, and we’re working on a day trip to Versailles so I can see the Osmotheque.
Congratulations! ๐
Best wishes and have a lovely time in my hometown. The Roja Dove salon in Harrods is my idea of heaven. Are you planning to visit Ormonde Jayne? The Chanel Pop-up store in Convent Garden will also be open. Be sure to also visit the niche fragrance store Les Senteurs. They are the loveliest bunch of people you’ll ever meet. I went to Versaille years ago in August and it can get very hot. Having said that, the weather in Europe hasn’t been normal, so you never know what to expect.
Soooo envious! Have a wonderful trip!
Sounds lovely!
While cruising through the Greek Isles late last summer, Hermes 24 Faubourg was the perfect scent to wear. Funnily enough, I did not bring this perfume with me on the trip. I bought the first night we were on the cruise when their duty free shop opened. It was the perfect scent for that trip. I wore it almost every day and every night for that week.
By the way, GREAT TOPIC!
I am considering an Eastern Med cruise next summer (hot!) and will definitely need to remember this. I happen to have a FB of the 24 Faubourg – I originally bought it as gift for a friend’s mom’s milestone birthday but a little bird told me she would rather have a gift card from Macy’s.
Love that you bought a fragrance as soon as the opportunity arose ๐
I am in Santa Fe right now combining a conference with some vacation and shopping/eating pleasures. It is a joy just to smell the hot dry air here. So many places have home-made soaps and teas. I am going to indulge in an aromatic oils massage this evening, too!! I brought my usual grab-bag of small samples to fit in my plastic bag for the airplane and have found the sandalwood scents seem to fit the best here. There are trees full of apricots and ripe fruit fallen and smushed on the ground so maybe I should have brought along something with osimanthus, too!
Calypso; that sounds a perfect work/holiday. I love the Southwest and I don’t mind the heat when it’s dry. When I lived in Arizona, I used to love sitting outside in the garden at night, taking in the wonderful scent of the desert air, lemon and orange blossoms. Being a Georgia O’Keeffe fan, I plan on visiting Santa Fe and Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu one day soon.
Yum. That whole area of NM smells so wonderful — I miss it.
Funny you should mention osmanthus in this context โย I’ve made a few business trips to Phoenix this spring/summer (with another coming up at the end of this month) and my go-to fragrance has been The Different Company Osmanthus. Not sure why, but it smells particularly wonderful in the desert heat.
Off this LWP topic but certainly related to perfumes…
I usually skip past TV commercials when I am watching recorded shows…I was busy multi-tasking and could not spare a finger to fast forward while watching last week’s episode of Cupcake Wars in FoodNetwork.
Well, for the perfumista foodies / foodie wannabees out there — the July 15th episode of Cupcake Wars is all about creating cupcakes and a display for the launch of Billionaire Boyfriend. Kate Walsh is one of the judges. I don’t know why it took so long to air this episode since Billionaire Boyfriend launched in January 2012. It would be interesting to see how professional bakers interpret perfumes in food form!
Fun, thanks!
Love postcards like that and used to collect them for the naive scenes and optimistic colors. For example, I have one that just shows a loop in a highway in a forest in West Virginia. Someone’s mother sent it – did she just pick the closest card at hand, or was it a big deal in those parts in the years after WW II? There’s always something a bit mysterious about antique post cards.
No summer holiday plans but I did run up to NYC a couple weeks ago to see some special Egypt-related exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was perfect weather; the museum has a rooftop sculpture garden cafe overlooking Central Park and there was a plane sky writing. I didn’t wear perfume as I was traveling with a friend who has asthma but the trip it was worth a day of olfactory deprivation. ๐
The Egyptian exhibition sounds like fun. I’ve never been to such a thing in museum and when I had history in high school the ancient times were my favourite to listen about.
Lucas, you mentioned that you might visit Egypt with your father – I hope you do! Cairo has the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, where King Tut and other tomb finds reside. There are all sorts of amazing things! Luxor and Aswan are also astounding if you have more time.
Cairo also has more medieval mosques and other Islamic monuments than any other city in the world. Probably half of what I saw in the exhibit on Byzantium and Islam was from or originally produced in Cairo. It really is, as the Egyptians say, Um id-Dunya – the mother of the world!
Oh, Egypt! One of the most fascinanting past societies!!! I love their culture!
I probably won’t have much of a vacation. I work for a very small company (it’s basically just me and the owner and a couple of contractors), so although I have vacation time, it’s hard to use it. It’s easier to use it around Christmas time. But I might try to take a little trip to Galveston or to Austin on a weekend. I lived in Austin for about a year and a half, and I would like to make a visit. My perfume nerdery hadn’t really gotten started while I was there, so it would be interesting to see what’s available there.
My summer vacations growing up in Oklahoma almost always involved going to Rocky Mountain National Park. Even when the trip wasn’t explicitly to Colorado (like when we went to the Grand Canyon), we always ended up in Colorado for at least part of it. I think if I had to scent those vacations, since they pretty much always involved mountains and forests, the first thing I think of is CdG Zagorsk.
Hajusuuri, I was going to mention Cupcake Wars too, but you beat me to it. ๐ I had the same thought when I saw the commercial, that it seemed odd that it was for a release party of a scent that’s already been out for a while. I’ve set it on my DVR just in case I forget or I’m not home when it comes on. It would be really cool if the bakers had to incorporate perfume ingredients that also happen to be edible into their cupcakes, like if they had to use rose, jasmine, or violets, or maybe edible essential oils or something like that.
I grew up in Wyoming, and our family vacations also made abundant use of Colorado and the Rockies. Zagorsk is a great choice!
Like Sweetgrass above, I work in a very small company (just the owner and one other person) so it is hard to get away for any length of time. I *am* taking Monday off… it’s *that* day and a major one at that. ๐
Dream vacation would be several months living in Tuscany. Not touring (unless I felt like it), just lots of R & R absorbing the culture and environment.
Your dream vacation sounds dreamy ๐
I work for a ginormous company with more employees than some (or perhaps many) countries. While it’s easier to take multiple days vacation, one’s vacation could easily turn into a workation just because back-ups don’t necessarily have the appropriate skillsets and/or an unexpected event triggers something so highly confidential that requires specific people to handle. That said, companies can and have dropped people like hot potatoes when it’ss perceived that they are no longer needed.
I also want to add that the only one who will make you a priority is yourself – not your company, not your manager(s), not those who work for you.
True that! I work for “the devil who wears Prada”, so you’re so right about making yourself feel special. I think that would be difficult in a huge corporate environment like you work in, but it sounds like you’ve already figured out that it all comes from within anyway.
If we’re to infer that your birthday is Monday, happy birthday!
๐ Yep, ‘fraid so. Thanks, Emily.
Happy Birthday, Rappleyea!
First time I went to Paris – around 1993 – I brought a spray sample of Angel with me. Angel will always remind me of Paris, and of that trip.
The first time I went to Paris was in 1993, way before I fell into the perfume rabbit hole. Even the 2nd time…in 2003, I didn’t think about bringing any perfumes with me. Now I really want to go and have a few shopping destinations to plot out…Hmmmm, just looking at the years tells me that maybe I SHOULD go in 2013 — once every 10 years!
I don’t think I’ve ever in my life had a summer vacation. This is completely foreign to me ๐
This poll is very well timed, as I’m heading to Utah (Moab, near Arches National Park) on Friday. It’s just a short vacation โย five days โย and the day after I return, I have to fly to Phoenix for a quick business trip. Naturally, I started planning my perfume wardrobe as soon as I booked airfare โย taking decants or travel sprays of Dzongkha, Eau de Rochas, TDC Osmanthus, possibly Avignon, and Fracas. And maybe my small bottle of SSS Jour Ensoleille, which I discovered at the Artisan Fragrance Salon and LOVE.
Off topic, but I promised a report on Slumberhouse Pear and Olive. My sample arrived on Friday (along with three others that the Slumberhouse folks threw in for free, which was very nice). Pear and Olive wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but it was enjoyable and well made nonetheless. I wanted more of the peppery-pungent side of olives and olive oil, and instead the perfume seemed to focus on the fruity aspects. I didn’t mind the pear at all, though it’s usually not one of my favorite notes โย it was hard to tell where the pear ended and the olive began, if that makes sense. There was an interesting creamy, almost coconutty facet that came out in the drydown, and at that point it started to remind me of some of the fruitier fig perfumes I’ve tried. I think anyone who likes fig (esp. creamy/fruity fig) might well enjoy this one.
I’m conflicted as to whether I need a bottle โย mostly because I have so many perfumes that’d fill a similar role in my fragrance wardrobe โย but to borrow Robin’s classic scenario, I’d happily use a bottle if one were to fall from the sky. (My perfume budget has also taken some substantial hits recently, what with all my birthday-gifts-to-self.)
Also: I’m taking Alyssa’s book on vacation with me! I read the first chapter right after I got home from the fragrance salon last week, and can’t wait to have uninterrupted time to continue reading.
Hey Emily, I got to try it too! Everything you said, yet again! I really loved the opening, juicy, yummy, fresh sliced pear. I got an oily olive note. The coconutty creaminess I was really excited about but the creaminess turned into something lingering on me on the dry down, which I didn’t like at all. The dry down felt too much like Burberry Brit EDT or something for me. So, I loved the pear, the tropical coconuttiness, the boozy, drunken pear aspect..but the drydown..no, too lingering creamy. Thanks for your thoughts! They slipped in a couple more samples for me too! That was nice! P& O is worth trying for something different I think!
Glad you got to try it too, Omega. I didn’t mind the drydown that much, which was fortunate because it had pretty good tenacity (I got about 8 hours out of it, and applied about half the vial). Wish I’d gotten more of the oily olive, but at least I now know there’s a pear note out there that I can enjoy.
What were your other samples? I got Sana, Iska, and Eki, none of which I know anything about (can’t even find them on the Slumberhouse website).
I only got two others, Iska and Eki. I did like Eki a bit:D.
Well, the vacation I’m planning is the first real vacation I’ve had in several years, and it’s my honeymoon! We’re going to New Orleans for two nights, where I’m so so so so excited to go to the independent perfumeries there, and then to Gulf Shores, Alabama for four nights, where my betrothed’s family has a beach house. Not a super-glamorous honeymoon, but I’m so excited just to go to the beach. Thrilled beyond belief.
I want to take my brand new bottle of Diane by Diane von Furstenburg with me to New Orleans… seems like it would fit for some reason. And then Bronze Goddess for the beach. ๐
Best wishes for your upcoming wedding and honeymoon! I envy you your wedding trip: New Orleans can be quite romantic, and Gulf coast beaches are the best! Hope you have a wonderful, deliciously scented time!
Just out of curiosity: have you decided on your wedding scent?…
Yes, I have – Andy Tauer’s Carillon Pour un Ange! ๐
Ah, divine!
Forever late to the party… I always work weekends so I can never go through the poll until the week starts again.
I recently got back from a birthright trip to Israel It was incredible. The only fragrances that would do in the heat were Eau de Merveilles and Philosykos. Such great memories are now tied to those two scents!