Our standard open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the fragrance that's working for you in hot summer weather, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is against the wall by sleepyneko at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hey Happy Weekend everybody–so glad the rain has come to East Coast and taken some of the heat away!! Scored a great deal ($29.95–less than half price) at Anthropologie for Briar Rose from Ineke. None of the others in that line were on sale, but this is even better than I hoped, at least on me. Love the jammy rose and the dry down is wonderful and long lasting. I haven’t tested it yet, but it reminds me a bit of Tauer’s Rose Vermeille. And, it even smelled great (lightly sprayed!) at 102 degrees this week!! The true test of beauty…do you still smell good in the intense heat. Have others tried more in this Ineke line? Thoughts?
Oh, I will have to check to see if the one I liked, the Poet’s Jasmine, is on sale — thanks!
Guess I’ll also be swinging by an Anthropologie store. Thanks for the heads up
You got the one I like. 🙂
Why doesn’t my Anthropologie ever have anything good like that? They have an slim fragrance selection.
Good afternoon woderful-smelling friends!
What an energetic weekend I have. Yesterday I spent entire day in Poznan, had a qualifying interview for 2nd degree at university. Then I went for a walk around the city. Visited the shopping gallery & made some discoveries there (one of the chain perfume shops is carrying few Lutens, what a surprise!) and then I had a delicious cinnamon pretzel for lunch.
My SOTD in the morning was Guerlain Coriolan and now after a long, family bike ride and a refreshing shower I’m wearing Bois d’Iris from VC&A. Smelling gorgeous!
How are you all doing (asking ALL of you!) Did you have any new sniffs recently, or maybe some new bottles joined your collections?
Wishing a happy weekend to everyone!
Yay, Coriolan! That’s a new mention from you I think. How is it treating you?
Ding ding ding! Correct! I just got it yesterday from a swap. Exchanged some of my less loved samples for a 10ml decant of it. I must say it’s really great. It was like a quick bergamot shot at the beginning but it quickly subsided and it was all about oakmoss and other notes that added a slightly earthy (luckily not heavy earthy or muddy) effect. And it stayed quite close to the skin.
That’s great, I’m glad you like it!
I totally missed the part of your comment where you said you found some SLs; the first time I found a store around me with Lutens, the testers were all oxidized so I was like, what’s the big deal? Thankfully they’ve gotten new ones. May I ask which two you liked?
I’m glad too! It was a really good swap.
I have an access to Lutens in two niche perfume boutique chains (galilu and quality missala) in Poland but I didn’t expect Lutens to be sold in a regular mainstream perfumery. They had 12 from the range. The SL I like include Gris Clair and Fleurs de Citronnier. Don’t know if I’ll be buying any of them ever, if yes, them it will take some time. My perfume to buy list is quite strict, I’ve listed what I want in certain order. And I’m makind new purchase within a week or two.
I was wondering what is your take on the Coriolan. Have you smelled it side by side with the supposed re-edition, L’Ame d’Un Heros, and how do they compare?
Im gald you found a store that stocks Lutens. I recently bought my first Lutens, Chypre Rouge.
Hi Rictor! Coriolan is great. It started with an intense bergamot which quickly (probably a little bit to quickly for me) faded away and it was all about oakmoss and some earhiness for hours. I thought it would be strong and surprisingly it stayed close to my skin.
Can’t compare with L’Ame d’Un Heros as I still didn’t have a chance to find it.
Thank! Luckily for me and for my wallet I’m not a big Lutens fan, just one or two scents really caught my attention so far.
Hey! Congratulations on your first Lutens bottle! Treasure it!
Hi Rictor. I’ve smelled both, altho not side by side, and my impression is that L’Ame is brighter, crisper than Coriolan with more citrus up top (although the Coriolan bottle I got this summer – was made in the 90s so maybe some of that’s age?) and a less mossy base. Overall L’Ame is less masculine than Coriolan IMO. But obviously since it’s a re-issue they are still part of the same continuum, like a new bottle of Poison is really a re-issue of original Poison. The Parissienes in general seem brightened up and more gentrified, but on a personal level I like this. Doubt the 1980s Derby would work for me.
L’Ame sounds good! If it really has more citrus sparkle and a little less oakmoss (although I’m fine with oakmoss level in Coriolan) I think I would like it too.
I am very close to getting the last cheap Chypre Rouge bottle in a store near me, you just reminded me! How is it treating you?
I havent had too much opportunity to wear it yet zubi, but those times i have sprayed it have been fantastic. It’s just so unique. That first whiff is like the first pour of a new bottle of cherry brandy.
Hi lLucas! That cinnamon pretzel sounds good. I skipped lunch so I’m getting hungry. I’m glad your finding more places to buy perfume. I haven’t tried any SL’s just yet but I will eventually. Too many perfumes, not enough skin, or money for that matter.
It was delicious! I also bought one with nuts but it wasn’t as good as the cinnamon one. It’s not exactly a new place. The perfumery was there for a long time and I visited it regularly, but I never had time to go the female perfume wall, which I did this time and there they were! Suprise!
No new full bottles yet…but there’s still tomorrow.
I did just get a 5mL decant of SL Iris Silver Mist, at a significant (over 100%) markup than if I bought the 75mL bottle from the website. With all the positive reviews of it, I would have bought a full bottle unsniffed but was bummed out that I cannot order it from the U.S.
I have not tried it yet but will be doing so before end of July and if I like it, it will travel with me on my cruise to the Norwegian Fjords…and I will find a way to get a full bottle!
I got a sample of Iris Silver Mist from a friend and it’s one of those irises that my nose dislikes. To me it smells like a rotten carrot in a damp soil kept in a cold and creepy cellar. I know, this sounds like a horror. So many people love it, I don’t (and I don’t regret, my wallet is grateful for that)
Cannot believe I didnt reply to this! 🙁
Glad you’ve found some SLs – I found a mainstream chemist that sells them here too! Quite odd.
Dont talk about yummy things I cant eat! lol 😛
I like those surprises when you find a certain perfume or a line being carried by a shop you’d never expect to sell those things.
When it is hideously hot in AZ (that would be now), my scents seem to burn off quickly. If there is some humidity, I like to go with a humid scent. We will probably have a monsoon this evening, so I will play to that…Le Jardin Apres la Mousson. Tomorrow my friend and I plan to test some new decants, followed by a morning swim. I like the way fragrance seems to sit on the water when you are in the pool. She likes Tauer’s LM. Then off to a Southwest b’fast. Carne asada enchiladas. And, if there is time, a quick double by-pass in the afternoon.
I thought I was the only one that liked what was left, mingling w/ the chlorine!
I shall look out for this next time I swim!
I do too like this mix pf pool water and perfume – makes me think someone should think of adding a chlorine note to perfume – Eau de Swimming Pool – would be so much better than an aquatic!
Apparently astronauts have come out and described the smell of space. The smell clinging to their suits once they come inside the ship or space station. Apparently it is a pleasant sweet metallic smell bringing to mind ” seared steak, hot metal and welding fumes.” I really want a perfume that smells like that now!
http://www.space.com/16688-what-does-space-smell-like.html
That’s fascinating!
I’m imagining Bulgari Black with less tea.
That crossed my mind, too, while reading the astronauts’ description! I’d wear it.
OOO metal + welding smells! I would wear this!
To me, Profumi del Forte’s Vittoria Apuana has a strange propane grill/charred meat smell to it. Haven’t sniffed it in a while, but my notes say “Starts out with a lot of orange that’s a little on the sweet side, then turns into the smell of a propane grill when you first heat the grilling surface. Or a charcoal grill. Weird.” I’m happy to send you a sample if you want to try it.
Oh I remember the panel of QI (a comedy/trivia TV quiz in UK) discussing the re-production of the smell of the moon. Supposedly, it smells of gunpowder (so a metallic, burning kind of smell).
I was slightly disappointed that it didn’t smell of cheese after all 😉
Interesting – thanks, Valyrie – it sounds like a CdG!
Happy weekend, all!
I’ve been drowning myself in Nostalgie this last week or so. I keep waiting to get tired of it, but not yet! I did take a break and wore Lipstick Rose a couple of times. I guess it’s a rose time of year!
I got a sample of Forest Walk at that time and gave it a quick dip, but I’m not ready to give you all my thoughts. I know many of us were wondering how it connects to OJ Woman, so I will have that in mind when I finally give it a worthy try.
Going to spend the afternoon at the Highland Games. What does one wear to a caber toss?
I know someone who always goes to the Highland Games. I’ve never been but I guess it’s a lot of fun. I don’t think my hubby would be into it.
Is he a macho guy at all? There’s lots of very large men in kilts throwing very heavy objects! Seems like there’s something to enjoy for all in that scenario! 😉
No, somehow macho is not a word that comes to mind when I think about my hubby. 🙂
@ Marjorie Rose
I just placed a 5 x 2.5mL set and included Nostalgie based on your feedback!
Oh, I do hope you like it, too! I find it to be a lovely, spicy rose with that tenacity I associate with her warmer scents. I get these fabulous whiffs of scent hours after I apply, which is a very welcome perfume trait, in my book!
Every so often I order a bunch of samples from Luckyscent, moving somewhat at random among various houses and notes, just to see what I will come up with in the end. In my most recent batch of five, the winner hands-down was Enlevement au Serail by Parfums MDCI. Wow. I am not yet ready to pay the full (mega-) price but I’ve already ordered a larger spray sample. This is heady and old-fashioned but SO beautiful. I’m quickly using up my tiny sample vial. Hope the larger one comes soon.
Notes from Luckyscent:
bergamot, mandarin, ylang-ylang, jasmine sambac, tuberose, rose, wallflower, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla and vetiver.
That sounds like fun! I’m usually really intentional about my sampling, but I like the idea of a more adventurous style. 🙂
Oh dear, those notes are so calling my name! Great enabling!! 😉
Random sounds better. I love to receive a new trove of decants, but sometimes wonder why some of them made the cut when I was ordering.
That is one of my favorite perfumes as well. I went through three samples, so asked for (and received) a FB for the holidays. It is beautiful and is perfectly appropriate for almost any venue. I always feel so elegant wearing it. Love MDCI perfumes. Also love La Belle Helene, which has pear and osmanthus. Starts out sweet, but settles down.
I have a decant of Enlevement and really love it, Calypso! You might also want to try HdP 1969 sometime. Less of a chypre but related in other respects, and HdP has a smaller size that’s not as expensive.
Just to add, I have 1969 and still have EdS on my long to buy list.
My bottle of White Shoulders cologne ( a surprise bonus gift that came with my backup bottle of Inoui) is getting a lot of play this summer, along with Inoui and L’Heure Convoitee. I really like Central Park West in high heat and humidity but it’s got a lot of sillage so I save my samples for my days off. Yesterday cooled down enough that I could wear my vintage Emeraude. Yay!
So nice to see a mention of White Shoulders…it seems so forgotten!
I have resampled MG Plum a few times recently–I really crave that fizzy fruity top! Sadly, it only lasts about 30 minutes, and the drydown is pretty boring. Anyone have any replacement recommendations–something with a bit more lasting power?
If you’re looking for a fruity floral that lasts forever, try Bombay Bling.
I don’t know MG Plum, but I’m loving Olympic Orchids Red Cattleya. I cannot get it out of my head 🙁
Been sampling Les Deserts d’Orients – I can see that they lend themselves hot climates.
The Rose Nacree du Desert – so of two minds here. Wonderful Iranian rose with good use of oud and *good* patchouli BUT there is something about the drydown that undermines its beauty. First very snarly-oud, then lovely as the rose emerges and threatens to be an essential rose (!) at least for this collector, and then after a few hours it gets a peppery-woody-stale quality, ikely one of those structural base compounds that is better when it stays behind the scenes. Never encountered this quality before in the base of a Guerlain composition and I wish that I never had.
Not for me. Maybe on the right person’s skin? On paper, the rose lasts longer.
:/
(*likely*! altho I like that word too, “ikely.” Like Eisenhower.)
I name my male cats after presidents (just a random pick of names – no politics), and my last cat was Ike! lol! So I agree, I like “ikely”.
Rappleyea, a fellow cat lover – yay! I have 12 back home in Kenya (yes, I am a young cat lady!) – homes are much bigger for much cheaper there so they enjoy roaming about in the garden and basking in the sun. 🙂 I have only 3 males 😛
Hi Zubi – I have cats too! 🙂
Hi Zubi – I have cats in Kenya too! 🙂
*Rappleyea waves at fellow cat lover across the ocean.* 😀
I only have two currently as I’m in a townhouse – Pierce (Franklin Pierce) and Andrew (Andrew Jackson). They have broken and destroyed more of my possessions than ALL of my previous animals combined! But I love the little beasties.
It’s a cool and rainy weekend here in Maryland. I decided to wear BPAL Rogue today.
I was looking at perfume oils on Etsy.com recently. Who has ordered from a small business on that site before? What are some of the best homemade oils to check out?
For Strange Women and Poison Apple Apothecary would be good places to start.
http://www.forstrangewomen.com/perfumes-and-colognes-3/perfume-oils.html 3 perfume oil samples for $15. Try Winter Kitty or November in the Temperate Deciduous Forest.
A friend loves the Poison Apple Apothecary and she smells good! She wears December Poison (purple fig, amber and myrrh) and Garden of Graves ( fresh turned earth, white roses and Spanish oak)
December Poison sounds YUMMY!! Ordering now.
Try http://www.forstrangewomen.com and seek out Winter Kitty (a cat just in from the inside on a cold clear winter night) and November in the Temperate Deciduous Forest (tea on wood burning stove and decaying leaves)
Also, Poison Apple Apothecary. A friend wears her December Poison (figs, amber and myrrh) and Garden of Graves (fresh turned earth, white roses, Spanish oaks) an smells great!.
Those sound really interesting. I never think of Etsy for fragrances but I think I’m going to have to check those out.
I have ordered from Pixxxie pie & posy and ADORE the following (some others can smell TOO gourmandy for me, or just odd – I do not know much about the lighter florals):
Persia (indian oudh/agarwood, labdanum, myrrh)
Sirius Black (immortelle flowers, teak, musk)
Blackwood cello (burmese wood, ebony, pine rosin, black amber, musk)
Absinthe (ravensara, anise, sage, honeysuckle)
Her oils are potent and last all day (and sometimes night). I plan to get a few full bottles. Right now my samples are taking ages to finish. Plus, her packaging makes you feel like it’s Christmas! If you like reading, you’ll really enjoy reading her descriptions – you can tell she does this with a lot of love.
Here are all her perfumes, listed with notes: http://www.etsy.com/shop/pixxxiepieandposie/policy
Have to add that these really take some time to develop on skin, and some have surprised me. I ordered like 20 samples though, so the above are the only ones I remember as I’ve been repeatedly wearing them.
Opus Oils still sells on etsy as does Sweet Anthem. Both good sources for good original perfumes, I think.
I like Alkemia. I read a Q&A with Salma Hayek and she said she ordered from them on Etsy. I wondered why, given her connections. Well, the scents are wonderful! I ordered some (all) last year during those terrible hurricanes on the East Coast. The seller and I exchanged a few emails at the time as the weather affected her ability to ship. She is brilliant, and funny, and all of that translates into her perfumery. A real artist! I brought them to work and had the ladies test one a day, and discuss. Great fun! Check her out.
Hello! I’ve ordered from Wiggle perfumes a couple of times and most of their product works well on me — only one ended up smelling like Palmolive (Theda). However, I love Djuna for the winter, very alluring peach blossom. Most of the fragrances are characterized as extremely feminine, but there is a Men’s line and I think some could be unisex. On me, Mathilde has a heavy licorice note, and Bee smells just like honey — not like cat pee at all.
Also, I think Ava Luxe is on etsy — I haven’t bought from her in a few years but I enjoy what I have from her, it tends to be very well made.
This week I discovered one of my bottles of perfume has “gone off”.
It’s the first time I’ve had a bottle go bad and, I have to say, it really bummed me out. 🙁
This bottle was only 4 years old, so it caught me by surprise. Now I’m paranoid about my other 50+ bottles turning, especially considering the heat we’ve been having lately. My rational self knows this was bound to happen sooner or later, but it’s still causing me a have a bit of anxiety over my perfume collection. Makes me think maybe I shouldn’t buy any more bottles and just enjoy what I have for now. Or maybe spend less time sampling and more time wearing scents from my collection.
Anyone care to share experiences with or feelings about perfume turning? How do those of you with huge collections deal with this?
What percentage of your bottles have gone bad?
It’s just such a bummer 🙁
Hi Photofemme. What brand was your perfume?
It was Les Nereides Musc Samarkand. It’s one of my favorite bedtime/sleep scents. Sort of a fluffy vanilla musk type of thing. Nothing spectacular, but comforting.
Les Nereides started out selling jewelry, then added a perfume line.
Probably not the highest quality ingredients, I’m guessing, since perfume isn’t their main focus.
I just can’t believe how fast it turned, literally within weeks!
I used it last month and it was fine. When I gave a spritz a few days ago, it had an overpowering smell of rubbing alcohol and what little fragrance remained only vaguely resembled what it once was, and not in a good way.
Other people here know mre abt this than me, but keep them dark and away from hot temps. But I think some fragrances – e.g., some Estee Lauder florals, Missoni, even some Malles – will just turn in a few years regardless. So I think sometimes it doesn’t even matter.
I do store them in the dark and try to keep them as cool as possible, but my house was built in 1924 and doesn’t have air conditioning, so it can get a bit warm at times. I’ve considering getting a wine fridge for them, but am still on the fence about that. Some posters on Basenotes have reported good results with using wine refrigerators to store perfume, but some say it doesn’t help that much. Any “cold storage” practitioners out there that have an opinion?
I’ve also heard Prescriptives Calyx goes bad notoriously fast, as well as some of the Rosines. It’s good to know which brands have a reputation for turning quickly. It’s an incentive to put them in frequent rotation.
I also have 50+ bottles, and so far I have not definitely had one go bad. I have had a couple I was not sure about. I couldn’t be certain whether they had changed, or my tastes had just evolved. Even those, however, were over 20 years old. I may have an advantage living in a really hot, humid climate, as it is so hot so much of the year that we have central air conditioning, so none of my perfumes have ever been exposed to temps over 80 F for any length of time. If you do not have A/C, and your home gets warm in the summer, that might cause problems. If you are really concerned, perhaps you could consider buying a small refrigerator just for your perfume. A compact model only costs around $100-150, so it could pay for itself if it kept one or two bottles from going bad. Being enclosed in the fridge would also protect the perfumes from light, which also can cause damage.
Do you think vintage perfumes seem to hold up better?
I suspect that they do. Vintage perfumes seem to have had a much larger dose of base notes than most modern perfumes, due to a combination of changing tastes (the “clean, fresh” trend), supply/cost issues (sandalwood, for example), and ingredient restrictions (nitro musks, oak moss, and so forth). Base notes tend to be much more stable themselves, and also often act as preservatives for the more volatile and unstable top notes.
I can’t say for sure, but my oldest bottles are about 28 years old and still smell fine.
I frequently hear that the shelf life of perfume is one year (which is obviously not true). With this idea circulating in the general public, I wouldn’t be surprised if modern perfumes are not made to last. If people don’t expect them to last, the won’t be upset when the perfume expires. Short shelf life = more sales. Just my little conspiracy theory 🙂
I keep forgetting the majority of people only have a few bottles of perfume at most. They aren’t as concerned with longevity. I’m always shocked to see bottles in the bathroom or out in bright light at friend’s homes. it just makes me cringe!
I have to agree with your conspiracy theory. Back in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ day, most women didn’t wear perfume every day. It was regarded as a luxury to be treasured and use only for special occasions, and a bottle of perfume might take years to use up. No doubt there was an expectation that that one precious bottle would keep for the many years it would take to use it. These days, the mindset is “if it breaks or wears out, throw it away and buy another”. The average perfume user probably has only 3 or 4 bottles. With daily use, it is not difficult to use up such a small number of bottles within a year or two. Even if it does go bad, it probably gets tossed out and replaced without much thought.
I know what you mean about wondering if your taste has changed.
Some things I remember really liking, then later I’m sort of “meh” and wonder if the juice has changed a little or if I did. I suspect it’s me 🙂
I have another bottle I thought was going bad. I was about to pitch it, but started reading some posts about perfume turning on Basenotes before I did. One poster said that when they have a bottle that starts to smell off, they spray it multiple times (like 20+) to make sure liquid in the plastic sprayer tube is refreshed. They said they have had the experience of the liquid in the tube oxidizing but the rest of the bottle being fine.
I tried it (I sprayed 30+ times) and lo & behold, it now smells fine. It was a tall 100 ml bottle with a long sprayer tube. Seemed like a lot of sprays, but I was going to throw it out any way, so it was worth a shot. I’m glad I tried it. This latest bottle, however, is just bad through & through.
I’ve had that happen too – whatever’s in the sprayer tube has gotten exposed to air or something, and once that’s out of the way the rest smells fine.
I have lost quite a few bottles. It has definitely made me cut down on my spending!
SOTD is Guerlain Encens Mythique d’Orient, yesterday it was Rose Nacree. I really like both of them, they are FB worthy to me. This week I’ve also tried my travel spray of Dark Passage, so lovely! I’m really glad I took the chance and got it when there was an opportunity.
The weather hasn’t been truly warm in Sweden so far this summer, so I haven’t used my true warm-weather scents like Guerlain Vetivier or Une Jardin apres la Monsoon so far.
Oh, Eva, I loved that Guerlain desert trio! Really perfect silage and they’ve done amazingly well in the heat! Have you tried the Songe? It’s really beautiful also, very unisex imo. It reminds me of a Guerlain version of some of the Chanel exclusives or Dior Mitzah. Speaking of Dior, Oud Ispahan is also worth a try–very beautiful, not overwhelmingly oud. I agree those Guerlains are FB worthy too; thank goodness (for my budget) they’re hard to get in the U.S. Wonder, if they are successful, if Guerlain will reconsider and send some over?
Oh yes, the Songe is very good too, although bit more masculine than the others. I don’t think I would wear it often enough to justify a FB though, unlike the other two. I wouldn’t mind a bigger sample or a decant though! Oud Isphahan is on my to-try list, I like a good rose-oud scent! Have you tried Neela Vermeires Mohur, that one is beatiful.
Tried these in paris while I was there; somehow they did not grab me like Gourmand Coquin did. I plan to revisit the incense one as I love incense in my frags.
I really like Encens Mythique d’Orient, don’t expect very much insence though, it’s more musk and ambergris. Elena has a very good description of it on Perfume Shrine.
I remember loving Myrrhe et Delire on my skin when sampling, so I’ll revisit all the exclusive decants I have before I go to Paris to lose all my money 😉
As for encens, it just didnt speak to me last week. Who knows whether that will change….
Sampling the CdG Play Series Black today and so far all I get is pepper, pepper and more pepper. Hopefully, I’ll get some of the other notes soon! Tried Kenzo Winter Flowers yesterday and it smelled just like my Yes To Carrots moisturising shower gel. Except the shower gel lasts longer. For those that want a cheap layering product for iris, check it out!
Did you also try other colors from CdG Play series? I think Play Red might be funny.
No, because I saw the cherry in Red and thought ‘ugh’ however, having read reviews of it it looks like that is the one I should have sampled! Green held no interest so Black it was. And, I am still getting pepper shaker and nothing else. Disappointing because usually I love CdG.
I had Winter Flowers and went through it in no time. It has zero lasting power. I could literally put 20 spritzes on and within 30 minutes it was barely a skin scent. I used it after my shower as a body spray. I’ll have to give that shower gel a try.
I just bought the Yes To Carrots shower get from Target. I did not know about this line! I also saw, but did not buy, Yes To Tomatoes and Yes To Cucumbers.
Wearing L’Instant PH. Waiting for some good shows tonight and tomorrow.
Funny, my carnivorous plant ate a spider and a tingle at the same time. Smart girl!
That sounds awesome (what your plant did!). Curious: do you talk to your plants? I have been reading a very interesting book about the potential consciousness of things; very interesting.
Sometimes I say some words, but only for this one. lol.
Zubi, I checked out your work! Astonishing! WONDERFUL! You’re so talented and your vision transpires through your photos giving them an unique characteristic, a signature. Congrats! 🙂
Awww thank you so much! That is so kind of you. 🙂
Your work talk by itself!
Sometime ago I saw on TV scientists showing that plants grow faster and better under the sound of rock. I always knew rock is good to health. It avoid even wrinkles (this is my finding after paying attention on many artists and rock fans, lol).
Seconding this!! You are amazing! I’ve bookmarked the link. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you so much! all these kind words might make me pick up my camera again (have not done so in months).
So interesting (about the rock). The book I was reading was talking about an experiment that showed that plants can sense when we mean to harm them, and how they measured a plant’s data, and it would “scream” whenever anyone near it thought of harming the plant. When it was thanked beforehand, however, it was silent even while being harmed. They then brought up that perhaps older more in-tune cultures who say grace before dinner, are not just doing it to be grateful, but to give peace to the food they are about to eat. Very interesting book.
What’s the name of the book?
I think I know how they know the age of a plant. They count the rings of the trunk, right? Or there’s another way?
I have tested three recent releases–Amouage Beloved, Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilee, and Joya Ames Soeurs. Fortunately for my bank account, the only one I have liked is the Joya. Beloved had a promising start, but after a half hour or so it began to get on my nerves. I am not sure why, I just wanted it gone. Oh well, money saved, especially at Amouage prices. Nuit Etoilee also started out well, as I did really like the minty opening, but after that it seemed to just disappear on my skin. It didn’t become unpleasant, I just could barely smell it.
Ames Soeurs, on the other hand, is lovely. It has a wonderfully old-fashioned feel to it (and when I call something old-fashioned, it is meant as a compliment) and I want to use old-fashioned adjectives to describe it, such as “charming” and “delightful”. It also seems to wear politely close to the skin, so that I can smell it without worrying about whether it will overwhelm anyone around me. I find it to be one of the most soothing and calming fragrances I have ever smelled, ideal for wearing to bed, and so it has joined my short list of “Perfumes to Help Me Fall Asleep”. It is not, however as soporific as Tauer Zeta, which is also on the same list. Zeta practically puts me to sleep, whereas Ames Soeurs simply makes it easier to fall asleep, by relaxing and calming me. Ordering one of the roller balls was practically a no-brainer decision, and it arrived just yesterday.
I’m wearing Amouage Interlude today (sample from Surrender to Chance). It’s reminiscent of Epic and Memoir, but less intense than both – lots of sandalwood. While I don’t love it as much as the more distinctive Amouage fragrances (Jubilation 25, Epic and Memoir), I think it’s more wearable like Lyric. So while Beloved may not be your cup of tea, look out for Interlude. It may be the one that you can’t live without!
My “discovery” for this hot, hot summer—relief the last two days, happy to say—is Oscar de la Renta Volupté. It took me a while to appreciate the depth of this Sophia Grojsman creation, the opening melon note was that off-putting. This is a green floral with something black peppery, as well as violet and orris, alluringly “wet powdery”, if that makes any sense. It is multidimensional and easy to wear without being bland. The sleek modernistic bottle, with it’s emerald green domed cap, is stylish, too. I would have taken the look for Mad Men 60s, but this came out in about 1991.
Huh, I never got past the melon note in that one. Sounds like I should give it another shot though!
SOTD is Tauer L’Air du Desert Marocain. It’s just meh on me, though not a scrubber. I’ve tried a number of Tauer perfumes and I group them as follows:
Favorites: Dark Passage, Zeta
Good: Incense Rose, Vetiver Dance, Incense Extreme
Meh (and will try again): Une Rose Chypree, Lonestar Memories
No Way: Carillon Pour Un Ange
In my perfume journey, I’ve begun to discover some patterns in my likes and dislikes. I tend to gravitate towards Iris, Citrus (primarily lemon, grapefruit), Vanilla, Cacao and I am beginning to like Incense and in very small doses Leather & Patchouli. The one note that turns me off is Lily of the Valley.
What are your favorite notes?
Interesting list. I have 5 Tauers and hated all of them in my beginning perfumista phase. I must revisit!
My favourite notes are licorice, gourmandy vanillas, raspberry (I love every fruity floral that has this lol), violet, INCENSE, cedar, sandalwood, chocolate, civet(!), and since I’m such a Rosine fan-girl, I guess rose. 😉
perhaps I mean cacao, as I like it bitter.
do not like tuberose, AT ALL, and iris just doesnt work with me. Dont like too much lemon, and cannot do white florals right now.
@ Zubi ! I love you blog and photography!
Yes, you should try the Tauers again! As some have posted in this thread and previous ones, you have to try something several times and/or over time. You may be surprised!
Re: tuberose – I don’t seek it out, but neither do I object to or detest it
eeep….I meant I love YOUR blog….but hey, maybe love is going around, too !
Awww thank you so much 🙂 I love you too 😉
😛
As for the Tauers… I shall retry – not today though, it is my grandma’s birthday party. The entire family has come from all around the world. I’m going for Jicky as it is so soft on me. I don’t want rude comments from my aunts, lol.
The Tauer line seems to have the perfect niche glamour, but they have a strong nail polish smell to me. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this an intentional note?
I never noticed the nail polish smell but they all start out strong enough to almost singe nose hair.
I’ve got a sample of Une Rose Vermeille which I quite liked but found it absolutely feminine and Eau d’Epices which I found blah.
@ lucasai – I enjoy your blog, too!
I have Une Rose Vermeille in my sample box…I’ll have to try that next!
among my favorites are sandelwood, vetiver, osmanthus, gardenia, galbanum. Dislike violet (except Bois de Violette) and milk chocolate.
@ cybele
Violets! I don’t seek it out but I happened to try Tom Ford Violet Blonde and promptly bought a FB.
Follow up to my previous post. I am changing my meh L’Air du Desert Marocain to Good. When first sprayed on, it had a musty smell; however, after an hour of wearing it, it dried down to something powdery pleasant. There is hope yet!
For my favorite notes, I have to add fig, violet and amber!
yes! fig, plum, and amber added to my list too! 😛
I love galbanum, labdanum, fig, sandalwood, jasmine. I like amber as long as it’s not *too* sweet.
I don’t know if I have any notes (that I’ve encountered thus far) that I can’t take at all, in any form. I’m not a fan of violet, iris or patchouli, though I can take them in small doses or in the right combination. I just don’t like any of them in a dominant role.
I probably like perfumes with galbanum and labdanum without knowing that’s what I’m smelling 🙂 I’ll be looking these up for future reference.
You probably have. I don’t know if you’ve seen Osmoz.com, but it seems to have a pretty good reference of raw materials. Each material’s entry has a description of its characteristics and a list of perfumes that contain it.
I learned what labdanum smelled like by sampling Aftelier Amber. It’s a pretty simple scent – just mandarin, lavender and labdanum – so it’s pretty easy to pick out what’s what. Galbanum I actually learned to recognize from a synthetic fragrance oil I got from a site called Save on Scents. It was pretty true to the real thing.
If you want samples of the pure stuff for reference, Eden Botanicals and Perfumer’s Apprentice are good sites to look at.
Well yesterday morning at 5am my precious pups found a smelly black and white “kitty” in the yard. My poor whippet got skunked right in the face. I was stunned. The darn skunk actually dug under the fence to get in. It was one of the few spots I don’t have critter proofed with chicken wire underneath. My big poodle got some overspray and thankfully my little poodle was barely involved. I thought they were barking at a bunny. Imagine my surprise and horror when I saw the black and white fluffy tail. It was awful. All three got thrown in the tub. My house stunk. I stunk. Oddly enough when you’re in the thick of it you can’t smell it anymore. After cleaning them as best I could I still went to work. Eau de skunk was not a hit in the office. Thankfully there’s a lot of dog owners who have been through it and could sympathize with me. My cleaning seems to have worked because today the only place I smell it is out in the yard where the altercation took place. Thats not a fragrance I care to sample again anytime soon. Happily my scent eating skin worked on that too because my hands did not smell for very long and I thought they really would.
Glad you overcame this stunky problem.
Thanks for your suggestions by the way. I am very appreciative of your ideas.
Love the name of the new fragrance and description, but it seems not to be our kind, right? 🙂
Normally I don’t mind the smell of skunk but I’ve never smelled like one so it was a bit odd. They could call that one Secretions Magnifique. It’s potent.
Hah, funny!
Poor babies!! (and poor you!) Only thing worse would have been getting quilled by a porcupine. What did you use to get the smell off the dogs? The folk remedies (like tomato juice) don’t seem too effective.
This was one instance where working for a veterinarian at one point came in handy. You hear all about what people try and what does and doesn’t work. Since skunk spray is oily, you need something that’s acts as a degreaser of sorts. I also figured oils mix with oils so I used a combination of Dr. Bronner’s peppermint castille soap, followed by dish soap and baking soda. Getting them in the tub quickly helps too. After they dried I wiped a bit of diluted mouthwash on the spot they got sprayed. I am so happy that today they smell fine. I’m sure if they get wet there will be a lingering odor but I stuck my nose right up to his face and he does not smell like skunk. For the bathroom I used Lucas’ suggestion of washing powder (laundry kind) and hot water. That worked great on the floor and the tub. I had some air cleaners running in the house and opened up a lot of windows. Sprayed a bit of Febreeze and right now we just came home from errands and when we walked in neither one of us could smell anything. I am so happy. I thought I was in for days of misery.
Poor things! When my pups get into sticky situations I dont know whether to smile at the pure child-like innocence they display, or feel super sad for how confused they must feel.
Mel did look pretty pathetic after it happened. I felt so bad for him. He won’t go near that area in the yard yet.
Aww, poor thing! They are so much like children!
I am looking for IDA, the South African who also lives in Kenya. I am super excited that I have found a fragrant friend to share this passion with, and I’m not going to let the fact that NST does not have a way to follow comments, make me lose my new friend! lol.
So Ida, if you see this… contact me! 😀
As for fragrant news – I have started sampling my 33 bottles that I bought blind when I was a teen and had a less mature taste 😉 I’m blogging about it (finally pushed myself to start writing again), so I’m excited.
Did a lot of work today… all to hide the pain I feel at saying goodbye to my love for 6 months (or more) this morning 🙁 He has left behind such a void, and is my best friend. Not even perfume cheered me up, so I’ve drowned myself in work, but every so often I have to stop – and then I get this pain in my stomach and my eyes well up. I feel like I’m mourning, even though it is just a long distance rship. I think my uncertainty with my current living situation is causing this, plus the fact that he has been my rock for so long. Sigh.
Hope all of you are having a much more awesome weekend.
Then you’re dealing with the situation the best way. I also go deep in work and studies when I’m not feeling good. I’m sure you’ll overcome it soon. There are situations that only time and abstraction are able to solve to us.
Fun, I also keep my bottles of the time my taste was less mature. Actually, I still love some of them! You’re generous! I’m sure who’ll receive the samples will feel very pleased and have fun. Sometime ago I received a pack of samples as gift. As I knew the person liked to know the impressions about the perfumes, I wrote her a little review of each sample. It was cool! That was my way to thank her.
Take care and feel better soon!
I just spoke to him, and that has given me strength 🙂 Time alone is also good, I just love his company so much.
I still adore the old Miss dior Cherie… the rest? I’m not sure.
By “sampling” I meant I’m trying them again. I – shame on me – do not know how to decant yet. I am giving some bottles away on Basenotes though, and selling others. I do enjoy sending people samples though, I think it is my desire to share everything I love with people.
and thank you!!
You can use little funnels or syringes.
Here I am! I commented higher up before I saw this post – re kitties, I can’t wait for you to meet my two cats Katmandu and Kinky, and my doggy Tuscany – inbetween the perfume talks and sniffs – in Nairobi!
Quick update for anyone interested – I have just arrived in Washington DC – which means I have gone through several time zones and duty free shops. Lucasai, I tried Madonna’s Truth or Dare, which is really a less daring Fracas, and blind bought three 10 ml scents from a brand called RITUALS – just love supporting small sizes!
Zubi – I know just how you feel – sometimes the one you’re parting from is the only one who understands how sad it is for you to be parting from him! NST-istas deal with this sadness by indulging in the sense – please do and be kind to yourself!
Hi Ida, just wanted to say I’m so glad you bought some Rituals, I love their scents and wish they sold them in the U.S.!
Tks Unseen – it was one of those airport sets: 3 mini’s and it was described as 1 Woody, 1 Oriental and 1 Floral – beautiful packaging, and the simple, uncomplicated sense of classification appealed to me
Hi unseen, if you’d like anything extremely desperately, I wouldn’t mind arranging a way of sending them to you!
Rituals? Have never tried them for a reason; my friend (when I was 12) bought me terrible powdery deo from them (they are a Dutch brand). I have strayed far away since then, lol. If you want me to bring anything back home for you, let me know. Go look up their website; they’re all about products that smell interesting. Their main stores are here, after all.
I should go and try them again.
Oooh where is your final destination? When I did my amateur internet stalking (I found about 3 posts of yours on NST lol) I saw you mentioned London.
I want to go back home sooner than October. Now that the bf is back home, I’m sort of wondering what on earth I’m doing here. Need to sort out some paperwork first, but I’ll try to do have this done ASAP.
Are you on Basenotes? You can find me as Zubi on there, or you can click my name here and find me on other social networks (I dont have a personal Facebook page anymore though, too much noise and too little music if you know what I mean). Yay! Excited to finally be in touch! I have sooo many questions, like what your fave Lutens/Amouages are, and how you feed your sampling desire in Kenya!
x
Be strong. Being apart is tough. Hopefully you’ll have plenty to distract yourself with and the time apart won’t seem so long.
Well the sun is out today, and so that is def helping. Bad weather can make you feel so lonely!
Thanks for the kindness. 🙂 I am working hard to try to go back home earlier, so that is distracting me.
Guerlain’s Gourmand Coquin… I just sprayed a little to comfort me, and now I’m planning on drowning myself in it before sleeping…
Please share your thoughts on this gorgeous, underappreciated scent.
Hi Zubi, you mention a book on consciousness (and plants) higher up and I was curious about what book it was. I’m posting here in case you dont check your earlier comments!
The Source Field Investigations by David wilcock. Read with an open mind, and you’ll find your mind opened drastically. The possibilities and potential theories in that book are astounding, and it takes only a slight mind shift to realise how foolish we can be as humans, by thinking only things proven by scientific method are true.
A little something weird for today: my spouse & I had company coming and needed a quick-and-handy room deodorizer for our apartment. At the supermarket, we couldn’t decide between Febreze Lavendar Vanilla & Comfort and Febreze Mediterranean Lavender, so we got one of each. The Lav/Vanilla smells like what you’d expect — a room spray, clean and generic. But the Mediterranean Lav– wow! It smells like a perfume that I’d want to wear. It’s even a tiny bit dirty/smoky– I’d swear that there’s incense, labdanum, and perhaps even a non-laundry musk in here. A very pleasant surprise– functional perfumery for the win!
I haven’t tried any of their sprays, but I love their commercials – the ones where blindfolded people are in a room with old socks, fish, and other assorted stinky stuff, rhapsodizing over how great the room smells (sprayed with Febreeze, of course!).
I love these too– and the strange thing is, the stuff seems to work. It doesn’t just mingle with or cover over existing smells. Instead it seems to actually REPLACE them with itself. It’s almost spooky!
I’ve got the Med Lavender and really disliked it – too powdery and dirty smelling. That was the first time I used it, though. The second time and since I have absolutely loved it. Guess it grew on me, but it is a really great functional scent!
Wow, I love it– just like a wearable perfume that slowly wins you over! And I can see how it might take some convincing– it’s not what one expects of a room deodorizer, which is usually so clean smelling. The dirt makes the difference.
I’m really sad that Febreze discontinued their “Moroccan Bazaar” line before I could try it. Ginger and nutmeg? Yes please! They’ve got a “Gingerbread Vanilla” candle, but it’s seasonal– probably a fall/winter item.
So, in the category of unexpected reactions to a perfume! :
I was with a fella, and I was wearing Traversee du Bosphore. When he leaned in for a hug, he got very enthusiastic! He described it as a “sexy, cotton-candy at the fair” sort of scent! I like TdB, but I don’t think of it as sexy, just sort of friendly and a bit unusual. Just goes to show how perceptions can vary! (And I’ll be sure to include it more often in the rotation when he’s around!)
I love cotton candy. Who knew it was sexy?
He did laugh and said he hoped that it didn’t make him sound like a disturbed person! 😀
MR, there are all those studies showing that what really turns men on are what one usually thinks of as sexy perfume but rather food scents. I think maybe apple pie was one of them. Makes sense, then, that the apple loukhoum scent of TdB would have that effect. Enjoy your discovery, and thanks for sharing the secret!
Then there needs to be a bacon perfume stat!
I am amazed that no one has figured out a way to make a hops scent for guys.
Oh, that’s brilliant! Why haven’t they come up with that, yet?!
I wore TdB last night for “date night” with my hubby. I definitely think it’s sexy and he loves it.
Today I’m wearing the untitled series E02. I’m sort of new to being a perfume addict (it’s been less than a year) and I realized in the summer that I hadn’t bought any summer perfumes. I guess I just like my perfumes loud…I’m in 110 degrees weather and I decided to give E02 and the untitled series a shot. I didn’t own any green perfumes before E02 and surprisingly the more I wear it I like the watery plant scent. I just wished it lasted a lot longer….
holidaying in Thailand and only wearing Tabu Talcum Powder! All my fragrances are in the safe at home ! Eagerly awating Bankok air port where i will perchase 2 FB on return! my partner has ok,ed this! bless him. Thinking Grey Vetivert , or Vertivert By Geurlian? and ………..Hmmmm? a chanel! Have been missing my up to minute NST and have had to catch up in bulk!!! very excited about the new Tom Ford!!! Civet,……………ohhhhhh
I was sampling Nasomattos today.. favorite is China White, but I liked Duro, Nuda, and Narcotic Venus too. I like Black Afghano, but it starts out pretty raspy to me. Layers well with China White, though, as does Duro. Hindu Grass grew on me as it progressed. Didn’t care for Absinthe, and Silver Musk was just meh. Still wearing the Black Afghano/China White combo.. the lasting power is great. I think I sprayed it on like 10 hours ago.
Kevin noted in a recent review of a new Nasomatto that China White was his fav from that brand, and you’ve reminded me to pull out my sample. It’s very pleasing and oddly compelling!
For the record, the Black Afghano lasts *for*.*ever*! It’s been well over 24 hours, and I’ve showered, and I can still smell it a little bit.
Am testing out Le Labo’s Ambrette on my left wrist, Aldehyde on my right. Neither of them are doing anything for me at all. I havn’t showered yet, so will wash them off and go for something else…….which Le Labo’s should I try next? I have a full set of samples!
The patchouli one is nice and smoky…
Ah, yes – I have a decant of the original before the reformulation, so I should try them on each wrist and compare. Apparently the reform is the better one, according to the SA at Liberty. Even more smoky…….it seems that anything with styrax in it is right up my street anyway, so either version would be wonderful, I’m sure.
I have a question for all of you across the pond. I have a coworker who will be going to the Olympics. She said she would get me a souvenir from her trip. I’d love her to bring Alan Rickman home for me but that’s probably not a possibility. So I was thinking I’d like her to try and get me some perfume that’s easily available in England but not available in the States. I know there are some but I’m drawing a blank on them. Any suggestions?
I don’t know your tastes, Poodle, but unquestionably, if it were I, I would be at Roja Dove’s Perfumerie (top of Harrods) in a heartbeat. I love his fragrances, and the last time I checked, they did NOT ship to the U. S.
True. They have many brands unavailable elsewhere such as MDCI (although I think this is not at Fortnums) and Arquiste.
Also Angela Flanders in East London is a complete one-off.
There’s a Parfums Nicolai in South Kensington too.
sorry – I meant – I think it is NOW at Fortnums……!!
I went there on my once in a lifetime, offered a couch to sleep on, trip to London last year. A couple of points 1> Harrod’s downstairs perfume department is pretty much the same as Macy’s, with the same offering as Macy;s at home. The trick is to find the upstairs Haute Perfumurie, in the Spa. (I think this blog has a direction) Since just before I came, I blew my fragrance souvenir money at Ormonde Jayne, I had to resist some of the more luxurious offerings. I did however buy “Blessings” a nice woody fragrance exclusive to the shop. Unless your friend loves sampling fragrances and , I suggest that you give him a specific bottle to buy, by checking out his name under perfume houses or perhaps a tip here. That way, he will only have to spend a few minutes of his trip.
Whatever you chose will be lovely.
Oooohh! I’d do a split with you on AR!
If only! 🙂
Really depends on your tastes and budget. I guess the obvious candidates would be things like Ormonde Jayne, Jo Loves, Miller Harris (they do one called Rose en Noir that’s exclusive to Liberty, for example), Le Labo’s London exclusive Poivre 23, etc.
I think the much-loved MH Fleurs de Sel is exclusive to the UK, too.
I had a recent experience with MH – I fell in love with Terre d’Iris! Because of this, I found out that this line is available only in limited quantity. It was exclusive to MinNewYork, but now they are selling down their inventory and will no longer carry it. I scored the last bottle of Terre d’Iris 2 weeks ago! Fleur de Sel is already gone. I don’t see it anywhere else.
Kind of easy, but how about Ormonde Jayne discovery set?
Thanks for the ideas. I’m going to do a little research and make out a list for her. I don’t know what she’ll be near so I’ll just give her some options and cross my fingers.
He might still be in NYC – saw him live in theatre, ended up crying at the end because of how amazing it was. So, what are you waiting for..? 😉
As much as I love perfume ….. hold out for Alan Rickman. 😉
THe man absolutedly destroyed the Robin Hood movie. Who could possibly root for the stolid and dull hero as played by Kevin Costner, when Rickman was so much sexier and charasmatic.
Even in Sense and Sensibility, I thought Elinor deserved dashing Rickman (whose character’s name I have suddenly blanked out) instead of diffident Edward Ferrars
That would have been Col. Christopher Brandon. He absolutely nails whatever character he plays, doesn’t he? Even at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Olivier of our generation.
During Ohio’s unnaturally hot and soupy summer, I’ve really been enjoying CdG’s Calamus. However, it only last about 30 mins — does anyone know of anything that is similar and lasts longer?
I’m not very good with notes, but it’s a very soft green, almost milky bamboo scent.
Don’t know this scent, but your descriptions reminds me of SSS Fig Tree–a lovely, soft green with that figgy milkiness.
Hhhm. Right now I am wearing White, a CDG Eau de Toillette, which I have always found to be very lasting. However, it is a s ort of incensey, peppery Lily of the Valley and might not be similar enough for your tastes. You might want to think of wearing Calmus on top of some unscented lotion or sunscreen to boost its staying power.
Killian’s Bamboo Harmony might be a good choice for matching the notes. Liberally sprayed, it does indeed last a long time. On the other hand, it is expensive.
You could try spraying it on fabric – that usually helps.
I’d recommend testing it a piece of first, though. One of the Hermes colognes left behind a jalapeno note that even lasted through a laundering – not what I had in mind!
Sometimes it just needs to refresh….Took a lukewarm shower today (too hot and muggy for anything else) with a bar of Yardley Oatmeal Soap a natural sponge and Garnier Fructis new caffeine shampoo and conditioner that smells like grapefruit. Air dried and then used good ole Jergen’s Shea Lotion (it has shea, cocoa and mango butter but has no mango scent that I can detect–smells like a light version of cocoa-butter to me.) Sitting here in a terry-robe reading email and waiting to dress for dinner at a friends house tonight. Not sure what I might wear yet. I am thinking maybe EA Green Tea and jeans.
Oh, just noticed that L’AP Seville a l’Aube is up for pre-order on LuckyScent, arriving in September! Now all I have to do is survive the last week of July and AUGUST – hoping the weather can’t possibly be as dramatic as July has been.
I just received Aroma by Mandy Aftel and a chef – it was reviewed on NST on July 17, 2012, by Aleta and featured in an earlier post by Alyssa on September 1, 2011. It’s out of print but was easy to find on Amazon. It is WONDERFUL – full of useful information and tantalizing recipes for both perfumes and food. Most recipes require scented oils or essences that one would have to order, but some use easier to find rose or orange flower water, jasmine tea pearls, camomille tea or herb-infused oils that one can make.
I love the way it’s organized, too. For example, for each scent, there both simple suggestions for using that flavor, and recipes for it, so it’s easy to order just one oil at a time and have several ways to use it, rather than having to have numerous special ingredients on hand. (Of course, the perfumes would require multiples.) I can see pleasurably working my way through this book over a few years.
There are some ingenious recipes for scented bookmarks made of chamois – wouldn’t that be super for holiday presents or a book club?
I was so tempted by the review here last week, and now your additional mini-review has pushed me over the edge! Since I already have an extensive collection of essential oils, this book should be a no-brainer for me to buy! Thanks for your insights.
Oh, I can’t wait to hear which recipes you try, Rapple!
This book sounds awesome. I haven’t bought it yet, but it’s on my Amazon wish list.
I’m going to check and see at my Anthropologie if they have the Ineke’s. I’m having a problem and it’s as follows:
Cheap scents last longer on my skin than the niche ones!
Sad Sarah Beth
But, I have found Liz Zorn’s and Laurie Erickson to be forever lasting. Anyone have any great indie scents I should try?
I wore my Amouage Gold just for sheer gauginess to yesterday’s rainy Ulta sale. I sprits 8-10 times: arms, hair, front clothing, and behind each ear.
Got home…nothing, no smell at all. I was waiting on the Ulta rep to say, ” YOU SMELL DIVINE!”
I even told her I was wearing Amouage and held out my wrist { gaudy} and she to my faint surprise said that she just smelled powder. I got these or get these from Luckyscent, Amouage, Barney’s, beauty habit. +. We are moving across country. Some workers will come in one day pack up our house and move everything. I’m thinking about leaving the box, just barely fits in a large moving box, and coming back out for it.
What say my frag peeps?
I have a small sample of Amouage Gold that I’d been waiting for some time to try out. After reading so much about it, I felt like I needed to save it for a special occasion. This past Saturday I wore it to the wedding of two dear college friends. Both the wedding and the fragrance were lovely. (As for longevity, I was dabbing from the sample vial rather than spraying, but it still seemed to last quite a long time on me.)
Fun thing: I was on the Givaudan site yesterday, and I found this neat little flavor quiz. Basically it gives you a list of notes, and you guess what the flavor is from the notes. I got all three correct, so, uh, go me. lol 😀
It’s been hotter than H-E-double-hockeysticks in the New York area, and my go-to fragrance has been Annick Goutal’s Neroli. When everything else seems like it will be too heavy, Neroli is just perfect. I smell fresh and clean, even standing in a steamy subway station, and I know I won’t drive away anyone standing close to me!
That’s quite an endorsement, FleurdeLys – I need to see if I have a sample somewhere!
I have one more day left of my vacation in southeastern Utah, and I am going to miss the smell of the pine and sage in the desert. Perhaps it’s time to order a Tauer discovery set with L’Air du Desert Marocain?
Before I left, I went to Wal-Mart and bought a small bottle of Love’s Fresh Lemon body mist. I’ve been keeping it in the fridge in our vacation condo, and it’s the perfect thing to spritz lavishly after a hot, dusty day outdoors. After its 10-minute lifespan is up, I’ve been following up with a shower and Eau de Rochas or AG Ninfeo Mio.