The usual open thread poll routine: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, your favorite perfume book, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Comb My Hair [cropped] by Hamed Saber at flickr; some rights reserved.
Today I’m sampling Zeta from Andy Tauer. This is a really good linden blossom perfume and to my nose it smells much different comparing with others perfume created by Andy Tauer. It’s lighter, more transparent and happy.
What do you think about the trend of using words like “nuit”, “noir”, “soir” in perfume names? In most cases the name is irrelevant to the juice which has nothing to do with “noir”. I’ve just written a weekend article about it. Please join and share how “nuit” smells to you!
I agree with you on the noir/nuit/soir scents! When I saw that Coco Noir had notes of grapefruit I just about cracked up. Sunshiney grapefruit is the furthest thing from “noir” I can think of. Whether it’s opulent or austere, I expect a bit of mystery and gravitas when I pick up a dark bottle of anything “noir”.
Definitely! Citruses remind us of sunny days not dark nights!
I knew I wouldn’t love Coco Noir, but I was hoping to find it pleasant enough that I could buy it for the bottle. Unfortunately, it’s completely generic: it smells like the perfume section of Sephora after people have been testing all the recent perfumes for a few hours. Such a disappointment and utter waste of the iconic bottle!
I totally agree with you, that bottle is sexy stunning, but the juice isn’t stunning at all, there are so many better and cheaper perfume there.
I finally tried it this weekend; after so many tepid reviews, I certainly wasn’t in a rush. Practically a scrubber on me. Very “fruit forward”, if you will. Ugh. And BORING. What a whopping disappointment, even after low expectations!
Oh, I completely agree with you on that point. I nearly always feel betrayed when the juice doesn’t deliver the “noir” or “soir” it suggests. When the name contains the word “noir”, I want Gothic, epic, NOIR. lol. Having said that, I would buy a scent if I love it enough.
Soir or noir should be dark, dense, epic, just like you said. Latest “noir” releases are opposite of “noir” they should be “soleil”
Other than Coco Noir, which ones are you thinking of? As I go thru my mental list, most noirs/nuits at least seem to be more intense than their original.
Mind Boss Nuit Pour Femme, eventually Guerlain La Petit Robe Noire.
I don’t count La Petite Robe Noire because it’s a “little black dress,” ie it’s chic, not a Noir version of a perfume. And you should wear LPRN with your LBD so you are spontaneous and unpredictable!!!
But I haven’t tried Boss Nuit. LOL, the night boss.
I couldn’t stop thinking of Lolita Lemicka Minuit which is noir and Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights, also noir. Jasmin Noir, perhaps less noir. Noir de Noir, very noir!
But Dahlia Noir, I missed that one! Not noir!
Alright, let’s cound La Petit Robe Noire as my penalty shot. But Dahlia Noir, I even forgot about that one.
>:D The only thing less noir than Dahlia Noir is Dahlia Noir EDT. With a baby pink cap!
I think I’ve seen it but didn’t try it.
For me, noir should mean mysterious, sexy or appropriate for a classy evening out. It could also go towards the gothic/emo direction (although few perfumes give me this feel). At a minimum, add something earthy, animalic or otherwise a little bolder than usual day-wear.
I also associate noir with elegant night outs. And noir can go somewhere gothic/emo, but not too far please
I absolutely love Zeta! I’ve been reaching for it a lot this summer. In fact, it’s been my go-to scent of the season.
It certainly is a nice scent, I discovered it a little late this summer but I imagine that it wears fabulously in spring and summer.
Just love Zeta! Been on the fence about a bottle for a while. Nuit, to me, should be spicier, warmer, and more ambery. Instead it often just seems to mean “redder.”
Ambery is definitely noir. And Zeta really is great!
Lucas, I join you in Zeta love…it is actually my favorite Andy Tauer so far. I still have many other samples to go through and I bet I’ll come up with a few more loves
Thanks! I really like this Zeta, I also like L’Air du Desert Maroccain which is also lovely. I tried few more like Noir Epices, Incense Rose but they didn’t work that good.
I absolutely adore Zeta, it’s my favorite Tauer! When I think about it, I don’t own a single perfume named noir, though I think Bandit would certainly qualify!
A good choice from Tauers line. Bandin would probably fit, can’t tell, I don’t know it.
I have more of a problem with L’Eaus than Noirs, since flankers with L’Eau added usually flank something that was already pretty L’Eau to begin with. Same problem with “Florale.”
LOL — this is SO true!
Yup, L’Eaus are also a plague, glad that Sport stopped popping out daily.
Yes, men have their own set of flanker woes.
Lucas, you are so right: “noir” and “nuit” are usually “l’eau” these days!
That “noir” is only for marketing purposes.
Sorry, but reading this exchange has been very painful for me. LOL!
L’Eau is not a word, it’s two words: L’, which is the definite article La, where the ‘a’ has been replaced by an apostrophe because the word Eau begins with a vowel and you cannot write La Eau. Eau is feminine, btw.
The plural of Eau is Eaux, not Eaus, and there is no such thing as L’Eaus or even L’Eaux, because L’ is the singular form and you cannot have a singular article with the plural form of a noun. The plural form of L’Eau is Les Eaux.
Hope it makes sense.
Bela, sorry! Sadly, my rudimentary high school French classes are more than five decades behind me now, but I do understand your point.
It’s all right. I couldn’t contain myself last night. LOL! One person making a mistake, I can take, but several… it was too much.
with noir i expect dark and heavy etc, so sometimes don’t think its appropriate. With nuit and soir i have less preconceptions – maybe something is suitable for a balmy summer evening
I finally got around to exploring Sonoma Scent Studios, and… I don’t even know what to do with myself now. Usually, if I try a bunch of scents by a particular perfumer, I’ll have a clear favorite or two, if any strike my fancy at all. But *everything* I’ve tried so far from SSS is fabulous! They’re gorgeous and easily lovable from the get go, and then they linger for 8+ hours (!), keeping me enraptured all the while!
I’m really going to have to try hard to narrow down which samples I need to upgrade first. Does the SSS website every have any sales or promotions?
The travel sprays are pretty reasonably priced. Hope someone else will chime in — I can’t remember sales or coupons, but I don’t have a good memory.
I don’t think SSS has any sales. I really prefer it that way, as the perfumes are already really well-priced for the quality and concentration that you get. I find the frequent sales and promotions from the department stores and larger houses rather disconcerting, as I am forever wondering if I got the best price or if I should have waited for a sale (or if I do wait for a sale, will it be out of stock when I try to order?) The Boutique scents are carried at Indie Scents, and it is possible they may have sales, although I cannot say for sure. If you’re having trouble settling on a FB or two, perhaps you should upgrade to a few travel sprays of your favorites. The packaging is very nice, and the 5 ml size is just about perfect–plenty for you to make up your mind if something is FBW or not. By the time you have finished off a few of them, you should have a better idea which one(s) you really need FBs of.
I might just have to go for some travel sprays! Particularly because I can’t decide whether I adore Lieu de Reves more than To Dream or vice versa, and I can’t justify having two rose-violet-heliotropes in my collection!
Sometimes indiescents will have a sale that includes their SSS collection. They don’t carry many scents, but you might find a deal here and there.
BTW, which scents are you totally gaga over at the moment? I practically bathed myself in Nostalgie this summer. 8)
Lieu de Reves and To Dream definitely swept me off my feet. They are just so pretty. It’s like putting on a pair of rose colored glasses that makes you see the world as though it’s one dreamy impressionistic painting. In the end I’ll have to decide which one I love more, but if I go with the latter, I think I may buy from Indiescents, to take advantage of free shipping if nothing else!
I am also loving… a lot of the others. I would wear Champagne de Bois all the time and be happy! I usually actively dislike fig fragrances, but I can’t stop happily sniffing Fig Tree. Vintage Rose is being tweaked, I know, but if the end result is half as intoxicating and decadent as the one I tried… *swoon*. I need to retest Voile de Violette a bit more liberally, but when I lightly dabbed it the other day I was smitten.
Incense Pure really impressed me but I know I have no need of upgrading my sample, I would hardly ever wear it out. Sienna Musk was very pleasant but didn’t evoke an emotional reaction in me the way the others did.
Now I want to try Nostalgie!
Lately I got samples of SSS Forest Walk and Jour Ensoleile, both are fantastic!
Finally got around to trying my sample of Forest Walk a week or so ago, and sadly, it’s not a winner for me! I had very high hopes, but it is too sweet! I want a little more dirt and sharpness–like squishing young pine needles between my fingers. Instead it feels sort of pale and remarkably un-foresty to my nose.
Guess I’ll have to stick with my OJ Woman!
Well, Forest Work didn’t work for me as it was to dirty (see, how different it behaves on different people!) but I appreciate this fragrance. But Jour Ensoleile is a stunner! Such a great perfume.
Marjorie, did you try Nuit Etoilee from Annick Goutal? Maybe this would be good for you. It has a note of crushed pine needles!
No, I don’t think I’ve heard of that one! I will definitely write down onto my “To Sniff” list. Thanks!
Jour Ensoleille is my favourite SSS fragrance. I was wearing Forest Walk at the local food market on a freezing morning recently and the lady behind the deli counter asked the group of waiting customers, who was wearing that beautiful perfume. I gave her the details so hopefully she has found some for herself.
I felt that way too – I wanted more green.
I really want to try Jour Ensoleille and Forest Walk! They might be at the top of my to-try list from SSS, though I also want to sample Nostalgie, Winter Woods, and Wood Violet.
I don’t think I’ve seen any sale prices at SSS, but those prices are so reasonable, especially compared to other niche scents, that I don’t really care.
I’d just nab a few of those 5ml travel sprays, and then buy a full bottle of whichever one of those you find most compelling. (psst, Tabac Aurea!)
You’ve got a sister here! Have recently gotten four of the mini spray samples, and I’m really struggling to decide which of them will be my full bottle purchase, as I love each one of them.. The one I was most looking forward to trying is CdB, which is as gorgeous as I expected, and I thought that this one might be my favourite of the four I chose, but they each have something that speaks to me, with their own wow factor. Of course, in an ideal world I would have all four, but that’s just not gonna happen, unfortunately.
I kind of felt the same way but for different scents – I fell hard for Tabac Aurea and Fireside Intense, and I also feel like Fig Tree and Incense Pure have a lot of potential for me. SSS is priced well, I’d rather pay full price all the time than have the full prices inflated and then wait for sales so I can buy. THe international shipping costs are also reasonable which is more than can be said for most websites and an easily overlooked factor
I have read here many times that Tea for Two is a favorite and I was able to score a sample online this week. Eagerly awaiting it, to see if I want to snatch a FB before it goes away.
Lucasai, I don’t mind the soir/noir suffix if it is based on something. If it’s purely marketing, the brand/house loses some cred.
To me Noir reads darker, sexy and the usual suspects – patch, oud, leather, etc. Soir, while not as deep, perhaps drier. Cedar, vetiver, woods.
I guess it’s all an attempt at creating a mood. But it should be rooted in ingredients and not juice or bottle color.
Timbuktu for today.
Hi juicejones! Love Timbuktu…on my husband! He’s a non-frag kind of guy, but once in awhile I can talk him into spraying from the decant of Timbuktu I bought for him
Hope you enjoy the Tea for Two! I always find myself encouraging folks to sniff Jacomo #8 alongside it–it is also a tea scent, but to my nose, without the smoke. TfT lasts much longer on me, but sometimes it’s more than I can handle for day wear. Love to hear what you think!
I love both of these thanks to you. Tea for Two is my cold weather tea and #8 is a good warm weather choice.
Thanks for the rec, Marjorie Rose. I recently acquired a decant of Tea for Two and I really like it in cooler weather, but I find the smoke to be too much in the summer.
Ahhh, Tea for Two…tea scents and I don’t get along. Tommy Girl, all Bvlgaris, and the JM tea line were all scrubbers. A few months ago I found Tea For Two on the 75% off table because it had been discontinued and thought I would try it. I fell head over heels in love. It is sweet, dense, smoky, and comforting, unlike any other tea scent I’ve come across. It reminds me of being at my great grandparent’s house in the Florida panhandle, where 80 years of boiling that saccharin, southern-style tea had permeated the walls. I’m so excited for the weather to get colder so I can wear it more often. To say it blooms in the heat is an understatement. I hope you love it as much as I do. It truly is a gem.
Is Tea for Two actually d/c though? There was a lot of talk about that on the blogs about year ago, but I think maybe they just d/c the 50 ml bottle? The 100 ml bottle is still listed on the L’Artisan website, though is temporarily out of stock.
If there is a trend to d/c 50 ml bottles, I deplore it. I notice that Annick Goutal is mostly selling in 100 ml bottles these days. Grrr.
Oh, I’m not sure about the large bottles. The store I was in only carried the small ones. I also hope that companies don’t stop making those altogether. 100 ml bottles are good for people who have a signature scent, but not for those of us who like to collect, learn, and wear something different everyday (which is most likely everyone on this blog.)
Amen to that!
Lucy, thanks for that wonderful description of your grandparents home, permeated by the fragrance of sweet tea. I’ve never been to FL, had grandparents, and have tasted Southern sweet tea only on occasion, but your words put me there. At this point I would be happy to like any sample or decant. Not had much luck lately. Either that, or I am just an old Goldilocks where fragrance is concerned.
You’re welcome. It’s a nice memory to think about.
I think we all have a bit of Goldilocks in us when it comes to fragrances. Otherwise, we wouldn’t continue to buy despite owning dozens of bottles. Tea for Two isn’t always perfect, but it is unique and has that “it factor” that I look for when adding to my collection. Regardless of whether you like it or not, it’s easy to appreciate and I think you will be happy to have experienced it.
Good luck! I hope you’ll post again in a week or two to let me know if it worked out.
SOTD is Flor y Canto. I’ve been wearing it for the last few days and have fallen in love with it. It’s on my “to buy” list now.
I’ve been in Tokyo for the last 3 weeks or so and finally managed to visit Satori last week. I bought the sample set, which contains 10 fragrances. My favourites so far are Black Peony and Satori. Black Peony is an oriental floral incense and Satori is pure Japanese incense; almost too oriental for me to wear. It is a beautiful, meditative scent. I think it would smell wonderfully exotic on a non-Japanese/oriental person. Black Peony is mysterious, comtemplative and quietly sultry. I’m seriously thinking about buying a full bottle.
Does she ever ship to other countries? I’ve really wanted to try her scents but there’s no trip to Tokyo in my near future :'(
Unfortunately, no. It’s such a shame because I think her fragrances are worth trying.
Tested some Different Company scents today, not too impressed with the rose one and some other one that just smelled like a Tauer mixed with cheap cologne.
Also, wanted to share my newfound relationship and infatuated obsession:
I am now utterly and completely in love with Yosh White Flowers EdP. *happy moan*
That was meant o be posted at the bottom of the conversation, how weird!
I mean, at the bottom of the thread. My head is not screwed on today, must be bedtime! Good night all!
I do that all the time! Anyway, Yosh is a really good line!
Just ordered the Yosh sampler from Lucky Scent, and White Flowers is included! Also included are Sottile, Stargazer, U4EAHH!, Ginger Ciao, and Omniscent. Can’t wait until it arrives.
Hi, Lady M — you make me feel very nostalgic for Japan! I used to live there many years ago. My scent-memory of Japanese incense is still very vivid…
Satori and Black Peony are strongly incense based and Satori in particular is very Japanese.
I love your “avatar”! Adorable.
My trips to Japan were before my crazy “perfume-hood” years. But I do remember loving the soap at my hotel…
Well, looks can be deceiving. lol
I just remembered – I was really into this soap – it was at the Seiyo Ginza Hotel. If anyone knows…the white soap in their rooms was amazing.
You are making me regret the fact that I sent my Satori samples early back to Kenya… Gah now i want to keep testing. I LOVED the plum blossom one.
Happy weekend, all!
So, I survived the first week back at school. My new sixth-graders seem like a pretty good group, but it will take a while to get to know all 130 of them!
Several more hurdles towards buying my first house have been crossed (mounted?–sounds wrong!), and I’m really am starting to believe that I’m gonna be a homeowner! I’ve started packing, and I decided to pack up many of my bottles of less-often-worn scents. I left out Dune, which I’ve been wearing a lot since my new bottle arrived, Shalimar, Nostalgie, Lipstick Rose, and OJ Woman. Felt like a good mix of styles and scents that I don’t tire of easily. I assume I’m not the only one who finds it difficult to limit myself to only a few choices over a month or two?
Oh, and I have a coupon for indiescents, and I’m thinking about buying Cuir et Champignon. Anyone have a comparison between the edp and the perfume oil? I haven’t purchased CeC in the past because it doesn’t last very long on me, but I’m really happy for the hour or so that I get with it! Made me inclined towards the perfume oil–maybe longer longevity. But, on the other hand, I wondered if the edp would have better sillage, so I’d enjoy that short period more. Any thoughts or experiences to help me decide?
Congratulations! Personally, I don’t think I could limit myself as well as you have! I’d probably make a ton of decants for myself. But knowing me, it would be something I didn’t decant that I’d crave!
Yeah. Well, I didn’t exactly seal the box closed! Ha! You know, I might really NEED something!
I *did* leave out many of my samples, hoping that it would give me more options and that feeling of variety. Of course, these aren’t the scents that I adored enough to buy a FB, but there are some nice ones mixed in.
I hear that
Huge congrats, that’s wonderful!
Thanks, Robin! I admit, I vacillate a bit between excitement and fear!
Totally normal!
Yeah, I know it’s part of the deal, but still! And I’m really Type A about money–I’ve worked and reworked my budget trying to reassure myself that I can afford the payments and won’t have to live off of rice and potatoes the rest of my life. And I can, but it *will* be a change! I also know that there’s a lot about owning a home that I don’t know–I hope the learning curve isn’t too steep!
On the reassuring side, this house has a very new furnace, water heater, air filtration system, carpeting, windows, etc., etc. The sellers have done a nice job maintaining it, so hopefully there won’t be any big-ticket surprises in the first few years!
Congrats!
And 130! :O
Yeah, it’s amazing how many kids I come in contact with in a day! If you include kids outside of my team that I may work with for only 9 weeks at a time (for their Health class rotation), I will teach over 250 different students over the course of the year! I’m the science teacher for my team, so that’s the 130 kiddos I will get to know better.
That is a massive number! I teach English – so far one on one. I’m too much of a wimp to stand in front of a class…
Congratulations! Such a big deal!
Congrats on making progress on the house. Mine has become the money pit this weekend. I’m afraid to touch anything for fear something else will go wrong.
Oh no! So sorry to hear that, Poodle! That’s the big fear, of course. It seems like so many things can unexpectedly come up. And it’s where you live, so you kinda have to deal with it! *fingers crossed* that you’re able to repair/fix whatever is up and it costs less than you expect!
130 Sixth graders??? Wow! In our school district 6th grade is still elementary school. My daughter’s class was considered large and they had three classes from kindergarten on up .And still there were only 96 of them.
Have been wearing Caron’s Eau de Reglisse for the past several days. This scent always makes me happy. The bottle is so ginormous I’ve sure I have enough for two lifetimes.
Lucky you! It disappears on me in an hour
and I LOVE licorice 
1000 Flowers Reglisse Noire is the licorice I’ve been meaning to buy and haven’t, yet. I can’t quite convince myself that I’d wear it all that often, but I do love how it smells.
Haven’t tried it! But would love to. I adore licorice scents too.
I won a mini of Reglisse Noir from 1000 Flowers and love it! It’s such a unique, elegant scent. Definitely big-bottle worthy when I finish my mini.
Jill I could send you some RN if you want? Just email me, click on my name/gravatar!
It’s not real long-lasting on me, either, but probably stays a good three hours. Which is okay with me since it’s cheap and I have so much of it!
Eau de Reglisse makes me happy, too. Thanks for the reminder, as I haven’t worn it much this summer!
It’s nice in fall, too!
You smell good! I love EdR, and love love love licorice based scents.
I’m getting tired of 90+ degree weather Every. Single. Day. Been pretty much living in LAP’s Batucada and L’ete en Douce for weeks now – with a little something different when it cools down at night.
We are just easing into fall here…I would trade you
I would gladly trade you, Robin. I want to pull out my favs like Chergui, Orchidee Vanille, Seven Veils, L’Elephant, Jil Sander No 4, Tauer Incense Rose, Norma Kamali, Tuxedo, Cadjmere, Tonka Imperiale, Attrape, BdI, Brulure de Rose & OJ’s Ta’if & Woman
Does anyone know what is up with Bergdorf Goodman and Amouage? When I looked several months ago, BG had a decent selection, but now they have only a small, seemingly random assortment. I finally have enough reward points to get a BG gift card, so can get my bottle of Amouage Dia. The only choice they have in the Dia Woman is the set of 4 10-ml travel sprays, which would probably be enough for me. I guess I am afraid in the time it takes to get my gift card, that may disappear from their site too. Are they not going to be carrying Amouage anymore?
Man, I hope not, because it is the ONLY place I can find Beloved, by Amouage. When I talked to them on the phone, a couple times in the past month, they said they had no plans to discontinue selling Amouage. I asked. But you never know. I might, for my own peace of mind, call them again and see if my SA has any more information on their future plans. If I hear anything, I will let you know. Best of luck to you with the Dia.
Try calling.
Finally found and unpacked my favorite perfumes. I was so relieved to finally smell like myself again after only a week and a half of being deprived. SOTD –vintage White Shoulders (one of my big 3 this summer). Of course, I still went out and sampled–De Profundis, Le myrrhe, boxeuses and bois oriental (of which I may need to retry le myrrhe) at Barney’s and Indochine, Bois Naufrage, Felanilla and Djenne at Osswald Parfumerie (new store in Soho carrying Parfumerie Generale, MDCI, Micallef, MFK, ) Liked Djenne but I think I like Dzhari better. Felanilla is under consideration for a fall purchase…..Want to get something new for my birthday tomorrow but my move cost more than I thought it would so I’m not sure I should splurge on L’Heure Convoitee right now (I probably will though since I’ve been thinking of it as my reward for starting acupuncture school)
Almost blind-bought some Boxeuses I saw online at a good price last spring. What did you think of it?
I know you didn’t ask me, but I thought I’d answer
Boxeuses on me is Parfum d’Empire’s sweet cola/spiced fruit note, with a little leather. I honestly feel like it’s just Aziyade with leather, and I am only keeping my bottle because I love the not-too-much leather combined with the scent of one of my all-time fave fragrances.
I can send you a small sample if you want? Just click on my gravatar/name and email me
Stupid me, I meant PdE’s AZIYADE.
forgot to write the name!
That’s very kind! I like Aziyade, actually. It reminded me a bit of Memoir, with a more fruity opening.
I LOVE MEMOIR!! Number one on my favourites. so that explains a lot.
emailing you now 
Memoir is great stuff.
Boxeuses is one of the Lutens that can smell vastly different on skin than on paper, for me it was a real letdown b/c it’s so beautiful on fabric but sweaty-icky on my skin, which I’m sure is not the intended outcome. If you can wear and like Feminite du Bois you could blind buy it; if not, try it first!
I *don’t* like Feminite de Bois, but not because it turns on my skin–just too sweet! I think I’ll take Zubi up on her offer of a sample, in any case. I mostly don’t succumb to blind buys, but I can’t help feel their pull from time to time!
I agree with you on the sweetness of F du B. When it first came out, I loved the cedar note in it, but I let it go after a few years. Now I prefer SL Cedre. It’s pretty sweet, even syrupy, but in a way that I find very comforting. There are drier, more authentic cedars out there that I might like even better, but this one gets the job done!
Borneo 1834 was my Lutens blind buy and it was as exciting to wear as it was to order! Honestly Boxeuses was calling my name but a recent “test run” put it into perspective. I’ve become more cautious around the line b/c a few winners – Cuir Mauresque, Gris Clair – are big losers on his skin thanks to incompatible chemistries. Thankfully I have not picked a loser as a blind buy. I do have a feeling de Profundis and I will become fast friends!
Yes, I find the Lutens’ scents to be especially mercurial–they can smell great sometimes and odd on other occasions. The only one I own a FB of is Gris Clair, which I love, but can’t count to smell the way I expect it to every time. What is usually a comforting lavender will devolve into a musty grape juice every 10th wear or so! His scents are so multifaceted, I assume that is the reason why, but even still–it could dissuade me from a blind buy for sure!
Boxeuses is definitely not a warm weather scent (in 80s when I tried it) but I may retry it in cooler weather but I’m beginning to suspect that Lutens is just not my house–nothing inspires buying lust so far
The ones you mentioned are all non-exports. This may be a stupid question but have you tried some of the exports?
Yes–Viriol di Oeillet, Daim Blond, Fleur. Di Citronnier, Feminitie de Bois……. Cuir Mauresque is the best I’ve tried on my skin but even that isn’t a must have
Okay, maybe Lutens isn’t your house.
Felanilla is a fun scent
Rena, your sampling spree sounds like such fun! Congrats on your successful move, your new adventure in acupuncture school, and your birthday tomorrow! Hope you you enjoy a beautifully scented celebration of all three things!
Yay acupuncture! Isn’t it amazing?
SOTD is Ineke Hothouse Flower. It was a complimentary sample included with the purchase of the Ineke Deluxe Sample Collection. It could be the little sister of Carnal Flower. If I was into Big White Florals (but I’m not), this would be on my To Buy list.
(Note: I am not affiiated with Ineke)
Speaking of the Ineke sampler set…it is really a great value for $25. The set of seven 1.5mL spray samples comes really nicely packaged, reminiscent of the Ormonde Jayne Discovery Set. You can also then apply the $25 to a FB purchase! So far, out of the seven, I have tried Field Notes From Paris and it is absolutely FB-worthy.
That sample set has been on my list for such a long time! I will get to it, someday, I swear!
You could make it the first item mailed to your new home
Oh, that’s a great idea! What I like about it, especially, is that it is inexpensive–which will become more of a necessity when I have mortgage payments!
I got the sampler set too and about a week later they sent me a sample of Hothouse Flower. I do like Hothouse Flower. It’s different enough from a lot of other BWF scents to make me consider a purchase. The other one that I think I may buy is Field Notes From Paris. I really like that one. I gave Derring Do to my hubby to try and he seems to like it.
I am not always one for big white florals, but Hothouse Flower sounds pretty! The only Ineke perfumes I’ve tried have been the Anthropologie exclusive “floral curiosities”, because I can spritz them in the store! They were all very likable.
To my untrained nose it’s got the gardenia of the big white florals but it’s more like the name says, it’s a gardenia in a greenhouse, not in a bouquet of other white flowers. It’s a floral but it’s not as heavy and cloying as some of the other ones can be. There’s always a sense of leaves and greenery mixed in. At least that’s my impression of it. It may be different for others.
SOTD is Amouage Opus III, which seemed both discreet and confidence-boosting since I was singing solo at a small concert today. The singing went so-so, but at least it’s done and I’m able to relax properly!
A solo? Congratulations, I bet it went beautifully!
I’m new to perfume and have recently started a collection. I’m in full learning mode so trying different things.
Here is my collection so far:
Chanel Coco
Bulgari Green Tea
Ineke After my own heart
SOTD: Ineke AMOH.
Not sure, I liked in the store but am not sure now. But will give it a few days. My husband likes it.
I’m having so much fun. This is a great blog. You guys are very knowledgeable!
I have found the folks here at NST so helpful and encouraging as I’ve developed my perfume habit *cough*, I mean, HOBBY!
Welcome to the rabbit hole!
Welcome to our world! I’m only a few months in, too
*high-five*
Thanks! It’s so fun!
And I have to say your user name is appropriate. It is indeed a rabbit hole.. lol This is a great place to learn. I’ve only been here a few months myself, and I’ve learned a ton.
One of the local-interest magazines here in Portland does a poll of various “best of” services each year, and one of the categories a few years ago was “Best way to fake being a local.” I feel like NST should win an award for “best way to fake being a perfumista!” I’ve only been here for a little over a year, and I know SO MUCH more than I did before I started!
Collect slowly, that’s my best advice
I get the feeling that is good advice!
It is! So many bottles I’ve bought that I rarely use. I like them, but I like others “better.” You might want to try swapping on MUA or buying decants (that gets very pricey, the per ml charge is high), but it’s a way to have 5-10 ml of something to really see if you need more. I have so many of frags I love but don’t really need more than 10 ml of!
Most of all, enjoy yourself!
I’ve only tried AMOH once so far and it’s very pretty. I think it would be a great spring scent. I’m saving my sample to try on a slighter cooler less humid day to see if it works better in that weather.
It’s fun down the rabbit hole.
Question for all you insightful NST readers: What perfume would Mrs. Gardiner from Pride and Prejudice wear? ( she is the cool aunt in “Pride and Prejudice”)
That’s the overall vibe I’m looking for. Fun, elegant, intelligent, kind, wise.
What do you think?
Oh nice question.
Nicolai’s Le Temps d’une Fete definitely. Maybe a careful dab of Lauder’s Private Collection. Diorella in the summer and Cuir de Lancome or Bottega Veneta in the winter. Yvresse for evening wear.
She would have a small, carefully selected collection of regular fragrances. Her husband insists on buying Shalimar for her but actually she does not like it much.
Thanks! I will give it a try.
Funny, I’ve just been re-reading Pride and Prejudice yesterday. I never noticed until yesterday that Mrs. Gardiner is much younger than her husband, who himself is younger than Mrs. Bennett. So she and Lizzie and Jane are about the same age. I also did not realize that the Gardiners had children, which makes all the help for the Bennetts, (particularly the great effort /expense to try to find Lydia).
Anyway, the Gardiner’s are described as sensible affluent middle class folk (as opposed to the over-extended Bennet’s and Lucases, and the insufferable aristocratic De Burgh and the superrich Bingleys and Darcys).
I see Mrs. Gardiner as shopping at a better department store, or even more likely, buying what she can at discounts on the web. I therefore do not think she would buy a niche brand, but one of the better offerings available at Harrods.
I’d say, perhaps, one of Aqua’s from Guerlain. Except, in Pride and Prejudice, England is at war with France. (There is a reason there is a huge miliatary presence in Brighton). So maybe she would not buy a French brand.
Perhaps, she would wear Iluminum. I could see her strongly identifying with Duchess Catherine.
Hi all, newbie here! Been following the advice to just start trying things; I’m a couple dozen in, and wanted to get input on something specific. I tried a sample of Lacoste Inspiration, which even to my uncultivated nose smells pretty cheap and cheesy up top–but I love the dry down. Can anyone suggest something similar but a little more tasteful? (I realize that may mean more expensive, which I’m okay with. So far I’ve restrained myself from buying full bottles, with the idea of saving my pennies to buy just a few bottles I really love even if they are pricey.) (We’ll see how long that restraint lasts!)
Thanks all!
PS, want to cosign with Mrs. Rabbit above. This blog has already been amazing! So many thanks.
Hi C.H.
What have you tried or gotten so far?
Hi CH,
Welcome!
Strongly suggest you check out the Monday Mail — you sound like you’d be a perfect candidate!
https://nstperfume.com/the-monday-mail/
I have not smelled that one so I am of no help to you there but I just wanted to say hi and welcome.
Hi Robin, Mrs. Rabbit, Poodle, thanks so much for the welcome! And Robin, thanks for the Monday Mail encouragement; I wondered if I didn’t yet know enough, but if it sounds okay to you, I’ll def do it! Looking forward to it.
Get on the waiting list now, and tell me the things you’ve tried so far & what you thought of them. By the time it’s your turn (right now, it’s a 7-8 week wait), you will have tried a few more probably, which will help. Start keeping notes if you like, it really helps later when you can’t keep it all straight!.
Late to your comment but welcome, I’ll haven’t tried Inspiriation but if I come across it I’ll try in case I have any ideas.
Thanks Lys!
SOTD is Zeta. The comments above nudged me over to it yet again. My other scents are getting jealous, but it’s been the scent of my summer and I’m trying to eke it out as long as possible!
Reposting this in the right section (ie not in someone’s conversation lol. Bed time for me!):
Tested some Different Company scents today, not too impressed with the rose one and some other one that just smelled like a Tauer mixed with cheap cologne.
Also, wanted to share my newfound relationship and infatuated obsession:
I am now utterly and completely in love with Yosh White Flowers EdP. *happy moan*
Dear, I tested two from the newest L’Esprit Cologne of TDC and they’re both MEH!
I want to try that Yosh scent just to see what you’re talking about. I can’t remember the last scent I was that in love with. It’s fabulous when you find a perfume that just blows you away, isn’t it?
SOTD is La Petite Robe Noire Modele No.2, etc. etc. LOL bad perfume name! The little dress is noir, the scent is not. It’s my version of Iris Ganache.
I just finally tried #2 today. Wish I’d had #1 with me to compare, but based on memory I think I liked #2 better.
I love #1 the most but I also got Modele 2 b/c the iris accord is unique and absolutely adorable. It’s not quite me but I like wearing it just to be around it.
SOTD is Niki de Saint Phalle. Haven’t worn it in a while. She’s been a bit neglected lately.
I’m packing and getting ready to move later this month, so I’ve been holding off on any big purchases. Haven’t gotten to the perfumes yet, so I don’t know what I’m going to leave out to use. After the move’s all over, if I have money left over I might just have to get myself a housewarming present… if I don’t get any new additions to my collection for my birthday, which is coming up at the end of this month as well.
Also.. I just got a copy of “Perfumes: The A-Z Guide” at my friendly neighborhood Half-Price Books, so I’m reading that now. I love it. Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez are really fun to read. And they can be absolutely hilarious when they really don’t like something.
I loved Niki de Saint Phalle in it’s snake bottle back when I was in college. I remember it being a wonderful sharp green, a style I’m still fond of. Most recent acquisition is Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau. I quite like how the jagged green opening softens to a leafy rose over its development.
SOTD is Parfumerie Générale’s Cuir Venenum. I went thrifting today and scored some lovelies: full bottles of Jean Patou Amour Amour, Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass “Flower Mist”, Chanel No. 5 EdC, plus a mini of Halston by Halston….. all for $20. Antique stores = the best.
What a score! Congrats! Ah, the thrill of the hunt!
Oh yes! The thrill is well-rewarded when there are treasures to be found on hidden shelves!
I’m always jealous of your antique-store finds… the only fragrances I ever find around HERE are old Avons in figural bottles.
I ponder sometimes why NJ antique/thrift stores are so awesomely stocked with perfume– I think it may be that so many perfume industry people work & live here. Then they retire from Firmenich, IFF, etc. and their lifelong bounty is consigned to the thrift stores before they head off to peace and quiet in Boca Raton.
SOTD is EL Azuree. It has just the right amount of heft and dryness. When I wear it I get a sense of walking through heat waves snaking over hot sand, gazing toward a distant horizon. While some frags seem to help me focus, soothe a sore spirit, or add a bit of sparkle, Azuree gives me perspective.
Earlier I was wearing Avignon. Tonight I have not put anything on yet. I will in a bit. I need something comforting to lull me to sleep. It’s been one of those days. We are having siding put on the house and had a few unexpected surprises waiting under the old siding. Ya know the term ” wood pudding” used on here sometimes? Well that’s what they found around the kitchen window. Maybe more like wood sponge than pudding, but you get the the idea. So now I get to have a whole new bay window installed. $$$$. The window seemed a bit flimsy and I knew I wanted to replace it but just not yet. Oh well. Plus a few other things have decided to break so the perfume budget for the time being has gone out the window. Quite literally I guess. Now I will be forced to enjoy what I have and hopefully swap out some stuff that I no longer need or love next week to satisfy my cravings for some new things.
Sorry about the siding, Poodle! “My” house is a simple 1907 bungalow with vinyl siding over the older wood. The siding is not in great condition, so I was considering removing it and repairing the wood. (It would seem so much more period-appropriate!) Is that what you are doing? I’m afraid of what I might find under there, but I know the siding will at least need repairs, if not replacement, within a few years.
I have an older house with wood siding. It really depends on what kind of wood it is. I’ve had some “soft spots” (the wood was soft in areas which attracts lovelies like termites in my area – not to mention rotting) where I just took off some pieces and replaced it. Did it all by myself. If you have good gutters you’re half-way home to keeping your wood in good shape. Keeping the paint up to date is important protection, too.
Get yourself a tool kit from Home Depot for little things around the house (screwdrivers, tape measure, hammer, gloves, etc.) Also get a “house repair book.” For all the basic stuff. It’s really rewarding to not only own your own home but to take care of it!
I do fix what I can. I own the tools in the house. Hubby is kinda useless in that department. As long as one of us has a clue it is okay. I agree with the how-to book suggestion. It has come in handy many times. Watching This Old House has taught me a thing or two as well.
Our siding job was not very good. We replaced the gutters about two years ago. The guys working on the job said the siding wasn’t even nailed up properly. The window was caulked to high heaven on the outside so I knew there must have been an issue with it in the past. Their guess is it was leaking from the top, running down the inside channel between the panes and destroying the wood on bottom. Also when they ripped off the trim they saw that there’s no bottom support for the window. It was never installed right but until you took the trim off you’d never know. That’s why I babysit all contractors at my house and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Sounds like a mess. So sorry to hear about it, Poodle. Bay windows often extend the gutters, rendering them kinda useless in that area.
I agree with you about watching contractors. I once had a plumber tell me I needed a new toilet when all I needed was a new valve. I looked up how toilets work and what the internals look like and determined that toilets will last forever (both mine are original to my house cira 1930). Then, I bought and installed the valve myself and never called that plumber again!!
SOTF is my beloved L’Eau Trois. I am so sad that it is discontinued as it works great in the heat and humidity of SoFL.
SOTD is Seville a l’Aube. That’s the end of my sample, and while I do like it, I don’t think I need a FB. Of course, this means I’ll be frantically hunting one down a couple of years from now when I change my mind.
I made a little extra cash with some freelance work, and put it toward FBs of Knize Ten and CdG 2 (god bless CdG for offering 2 in the 25mL “pocket-size” bottle). CdG 2 really, really grew on me over the course of using up my 2 mL sample, and now it’s one of the few scents that I experience intense cravings for. Luckyscent threw in some great samples, too, so I should be all set for fall and winter scent-exploration.
(Random side note: I’ve been generally down in the dumps lately — it’s not a big deal and things are starting to improve, but I knew there was a problem when I couldn’t be bothered to pick a SOTE after work or snark off on perfume PR copy. It’s good to be back.)
Happy to hear you’re feeling a bit better, Emily! I have found perfume to be a surprisingly satisfying way to bolster my mood–in addition to soaking in a hot bath, long walks, and, of course, brownies! Hope you continue to improve!
Thanks, Marjorie Rose — and congrats on the house! I hope it has a tub that’s conducive to long, relaxing bubble baths.
I know that feeling sweetie. Sorry to hear you were a bit blue. It happens sometimes. I’m glad your feeling a little better. Sometimes there’s a reason you feel that way sometimes there’s not. It’s weird.
Thanks, Poodle. This stuff just happens sometimes, and all you can do is ride it out. I’ve been trying to wear my “happy” ‘fumes lately — my sample of Ambre Russe was a nice, comforting discovery yesterday.
So sorry to hear that, but glad you are feeling a bit better!
Thanks, Robin — and your review of Fame helped cheer me up.
Good!
SOTD is Black Peony by Satori. I fly back to London tomorrow, so I’ll have to wait till next year for a full bottle. Can’t wait to go home to my perfume collection. I’ve been limited to wearing Carnal Flower, De Profundis and a few samples.
Has anyone tried the new SL Une Voix Noire? I emailed them and they’re sending me “the small book” – I’m guessing it’s a sample. The email response was rather cryptic.
I had to smile at the idea of being limited to Carnal Flower. That would suit me very well…
Does anyone know how to get Satori samples in the US? I can’t seem to find any store that carries this line…
She doesn’t ship outside of Japan. Though she did say that her signature scent Satori is popular among people in the fashion industry in Europe and the US. I suppose they get theirs at the Tokyo salon.
SOTD for me was a bad mix of Bond #9 samples. Eek! I have accumulated a lot of the little vials and my collection includes some duplicates so I decided to send some off to my mom in a sort of cosmetics grab-bag I’m preparing for her upcoming birthday. You know, just small stuff for fun. I do own about 4 or 5 of the Bonds but find I never wear them, they are mostly too sweet or overpowering. I like two of the Andy Warhols but I went so long without wearing them that now the sprayers won’t work and it’s very annoying because those things are not cheap. Same for my bottle of Chinatown but I have kept it out on display because I love the design.
Anyway, the one real winner I think is Saks Fifth Avenue for Her. It’s a really lovely white floral. I sent my mom one but still have 3 little samples so no need to buy at present. Among the others I tried, I thought Coney Island was a total scrubber, Chelsea Flowers was “meh,” and Fire Island may have possibilities. Since I sent that to my mom too I now want to go sample it in the store to see what I think. I’m waiting for some samples to arrive–soon I hope–I’m onto a violet kick now.
What violets are you trying? I love violet and am always happy to have new suggestions!
Just Verte Violette (L’Artisan) and Bois de Violette (SL). I’ve tried both before but wanted bigger samples to test more and try to decide on a FB. I’m open to other suggestions too!
I am a violet fan too, and have several in my collection. I find they can vary in timber, with some being very “high pitched” and others having a much deeper, throatier tone. In rough order, from high to low:
Guerlain Meteorites (discontinued, but can be found online).
Annick Goutal La Violette
Violettes de Toulouse
SSS Voile de Violette
Caron Aimez Moi ( violet and licorice)
SL Bois de Violette
SSS Wood Violette (similar to BdV, but richer and with a more prominent cedar note)
You posted when I was writing but this is a classy list. I need to try these bad boys too!
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve only tried Meteorites of this list, and found it too powdery. I think I love the L’Artisan one mainly because it reminds me of some inexpensive drug store violet scent I used to be able to buy for my grandmother at Christmas when I was a little kid! It’s so simple and pure somehow! The SL is gorgeous but not very pure. Look forward to sampling others on your list!
I still need to try Bois de Violette altho I don’t do Feminite du Bois well. My violet likes are pretty mainstream and pretty loud, Lolita Lempicka, also the EDT and Au Masculine, Insolence EDP, the first La Petite Robe Noire (as mentioned before).
Less loud: de Profundis (+crysanthemum); Dans tes Bras is *really* interesting but I can’t wear it. I have Figue-Iris which is dusty violet, and weird but people like it on me. Need to try the Carons.
More good suggestions, thanks! I like Insolence but never thought of it as a violet scent–interesting. I don’t think Bois de Violette is much like Femininite du Bois so may be worth your sampling it.
The EDP is much more abt violets than the original Insolence IMO.
Has anyone tried the new Diptyque Volutes? If so, can you compare it to Back to Black? I am in love with BtB and strongly considering buying the travel size, but it would be nice to have a less expensive option when Volutes comes to Nordies.
Was at work yesterday (hospital, ER x-ray tech) and had a patient who needed a professional translator. The woman smelled so amazing!! She told me she was wearing Guerlain Champs-Elysees.
I was going crazy because I have never smelled a Guerlain on anyone, with the exception of Samsara on a former co-worker way back when it came out! It’s all Light Blue around here!
Came home at midnight to Google it and Ari of Scents of Self and Victoria of Eau MG both like it. Luca Turin apparently thinks it’s the second worse Guerlain ever.”
I have only tried a handful of Guerlains and was meh about them. Have to get a sample of this stat! Does anyone have any recommendations for a similar scent in case the Champs does not work on my skin? Thanks !
Maybe Guerlain Chamade or Parfums de Nicolai Mimosa…
Thank you for the suggestions!
Hi, Basia. I recommend L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Mimosa Pour Moi – it a bit more vivid than Champs Elysees, less sweet without the white musk drydown (in my opinion!). It is very definitely mimosa!
Today I am wearing Dark Amber and Ginger Lily, which seems to suit the grey day. Haven’t done much perfume shopping this summer, so am looking forward to visiting the tax-free paradise that is Portland at the end of the month.
I have a small-ish bottle of that and had forgotten I owned it until my recent perfume cabinet clean-up, and since then I’ve worn it several times and really enjoyed it. Have fun in your shopping spree!
I ended up getting Black Cashmere for my birthday and wandered around to a few stores sampling. Love Guerlain Shanghai, still want Histoires de Parfume Petroleum, will probably get Ineke (for. Anthropologie) Sweet William. Like L’artisan Seville and don’t actually need Jacomo Silences since it’s pretty close to Balmain Ivoire (bought this summer but before the most recent reformulation)
SOTD: Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb
SOTD: Pacifica Tibetan Mountain Temple
a day late, but since i am waiting for a ride to an eye doctor’s appointment call this a lazy Monday…. first couple of days where the temp is down enough to be considered autumn weather, dappled sunlight and the acorns are scenting the yard being crushed under foot as I walk back to the shed to check on the 8 week old kittens….so today was a layering kind of day and I chose to go with comfort. I am wearing Givenchy’s Pi (for men) under it all with a light spritz of Revlon’s Fire and Ice on top to make it a bit MORE feminine so the eye doctor does not think I am wearing my husband’s cologne. (I gave the Pi to my husband but took it back when he didn’t wear it often enough.) Now for a nice cup of apple cider….