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Lazy weekend poll ~ open thread, late September 2012

Posted by Robin on 29 September 2012 275 Comments

chrysanthemum

Our usual open thread: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you're waiting to find at discount, whatever.

Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…

A couple pieces of business: the damage poll for the third quarter of 2012 is coming up on Tuesday, and we'll have a followup poll for the swapmeet on October 21.

Note: image is chrysanthemum [cropped] by kuchingboy at flickr; some rights reserved.

Filed Under: poll
Tagged With: open thread

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275 Comments

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  1. platinum14 says:
    29 September 2012 at 9:49 am

    Nice, sunny, fresh day here so I’ll probably wear my favorite autumn Lutens- one that doesn’t seem to get much love- Chypre Rouge.

    Yesterday I received a box of vintage frags ordered online (all blind buys). Best surprise: Perry Ellis for men (original from 1985) The dry down is very similar to Daim Blond, so at $28 for a 150 ml, it was a great deal.
    VanCleef & Arpels pout homme was also another great leather discovery. I wore a lot of great, big leathers 25-30 years ago and I seem to be coming back full circle.
    Disappointments of the week:
    -YVES Saint Laurent (capitalized in protest of the dropping of the first name) pour Homme Haute Concentration. In a word: Yuck! Not for me. Too sweaty and moldy.
    -Terre D’Hermes. Way too much vetiver and flint for my taste. Will still give the Parfum version a try…
    -Guerlain L’Homme L’Eau Boisée. Nothing special. Maybe because I’m wearing big leathers these days. Will have to give it another try.
    Fan di Fendi for men will also need to be tried again. So far, I’m getting Escape for Men with a woody finish… but I love the bottle.
    Have a great weekend!

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    • platinum14 says:
      29 September 2012 at 9:56 am

      Oh!… and my goal for the day is to go to L’Occitane to try L’eau des Baux.

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      • Marjorie Rose says:
        29 September 2012 at 10:14 am

        Eau des Beax is the one scent at L’Occitane that I can see myself buying some day! Not complex, but very nice and seems good for fall, for that matter! (Although I keep wanting to write it Eau des Beau! I wonder if the pun is intentional?)

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        • Bela says:
          30 September 2012 at 11:44 am

          The name is Eau des Baux. Les Baux is a village in Provence, so there is no pun, I’m afraid.

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      • Merlin says:
        29 September 2012 at 11:14 am

        Its a really nice simple amber – apparently notes of cypress and incense, though I smell more a kind of honey-wood, and I have been told that it smells powdery on me. I like layering it with Tea Rose when I want a floral dimension as well.

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        • Marjorie Rose says:
          29 September 2012 at 11:48 am

          Oh, I can imagine it being lovely layered with a rose scent! Might have to try that some time. :)

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    • Robin says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:42 am

      As I understand it, the beauty line will keep the YVES. And I don’t care what those fashion people do ;-)

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    • Vincent says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:26 am

      Do give TdH Parfum a try! :)

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  2. ladymurasaki says:
    29 September 2012 at 10:07 am

    It’s a crisp autumn day here in London, but I wanted to remind myself of the holidays in France and Italy, so I’m wearing Magnolia Nobile. It’s such a gorgeous shame and it’s a shame that it languished in my wardrobe for the whole summer!

    Now that it’s cooler, I’m turning my attention more toward comfort scents; Tabac Blond in particular. My vintage bottle only has a few spritz left, so I will either have to buy the current formulation or look for an alternative. I already have Cuir de Russie, Bandit and a sample of Cuir Mauresque, but want to find something a bit different, daring and sophisticated. I wonder if any of you have a suggestion?

    Oh, and it was my birthday this week and my daughter got me a box of goodies from Lush, including LUST. WOW! Death by jasmine is not an understatement!

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      29 September 2012 at 10:08 am

      Grrr. I hate typos!!

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    • Abyss says:
      29 September 2012 at 10:16 am

      I like Magnolia Nobile. It got a lukewarm reception but I enjoy it, perhaps because I’m not exactly familiar with real magnolia smell and so had no real expectations.

      Are you looking for a leather scent? I’m a leather fiend :D For something different and daring, how about (the misnamed) Le Labo Patchouli 24? If that’s a bit too much then Cartier La Treizième Heure is a similar story but definitely more sophisticated and refined. Or have you tried Amouage Memoir? That’s great too.

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      • ladymurasaki says:
        29 September 2012 at 10:44 am

        Thanks, Abyss! I haven’t tried any of those. Someone else also suggested Memoir.

        I can see why Magnolia Nobile got a lukewarm reception. The lemon note is predominant and the polleny, powdery aspect of the magnolia recedes rather too quickly and I have to sniff hard to find it in the dry down.

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    • egabbert says:
      29 September 2012 at 10:47 am

      Lady Murasaki, have you tried Tabac Aurea? It doesn’t have as much leather as Tabac Blond, but it’s my favorite tobacco fragrance by far.

      Liz Zorn makes some great tobacco and leather scents — you might like Journeyman or Meerschaum.

      Also, Chergui and Cuir Mauresque are lovely layered together.

      And finally, I just bought a bottle of Midnight in Paris, which is really gorgeous stuff and a total steal. Also on my bargain/to-buy list is Spicebomb.

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      • ladymurasaki says:
        29 September 2012 at 10:57 am

        Thanks, egabbert. I’ve not tried layering Chergui and Cuir de Mauresque before.

        I love Midnight in Paris – the bottle is gorgeous too.

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      • platinum14 says:
        29 September 2012 at 11:24 am

        Midnight in Paris is good. But between the two I do prefer Spicebomb.

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      • Suzy Q says:
        29 September 2012 at 12:30 pm

        Agree about Tabac Aurea!

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    • Merlin says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:16 am

      Just wanted to say Happy Birthday-week! Hope its been good:)

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      • ladymurasaki says:
        29 September 2012 at 11:31 am

        Thank you, Merlin! I had a wonderful day. Overdone it with champers though! lol

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    • Robin says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:40 am

      Happy birthday!! Lust is really something :-)

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      • ladymurasaki says:
        29 September 2012 at 1:22 pm

        Thank you Robin! Yes it is quite something. One spritz is all one needs to make an impact.

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    • Rappleyea says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:56 am

      Give PdE’s Cuir Ottoman a try. I think it’s gorgeous and sophisticated.

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    • Lys says:
      29 September 2012 at 12:07 pm

      You could try Boxeuses but only if you like Feminite du Bois. Boxeuses is suedey and complex without being heavy-handed.

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      • ladymurasaki says:
        29 September 2012 at 1:26 pm

        Hi Lys. I realised I have a was sample so I tried it. *Wonderful* I think this might be it! I’ll wait for the dry down. Thanks!

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    • Vincent says:
      29 September 2012 at 1:51 pm

      Happy birthday ladymurasaki!!! Best wishes to you! :)

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    • bookgirl says:
      29 September 2012 at 2:03 pm

      Happy Birthday, ladymurasaki! Hope you had a lovely day!

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      29 September 2012 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks for the birthday wishes!

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      • Blimunda says:
        30 September 2012 at 6:06 pm

        A belated Happy Birthday!

        Adding to the leather list……..Cuir Les Nombres D’Or is a very daring, masculine and perfect for cold winters. And I am IN LOVE, in a serious fashion, with Heeley’s Cuir Pleine Fleurs. It is a soft, powdery suede fragrance – mixed with interesting florals and it is soooooo sophisticated and has the feel of a real modern classic.

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    • poodle says:
      29 September 2012 at 6:49 pm

      Happy birthday!

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    • Omega says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:41 pm

      I love Lust..a little spray and the whole room will smell like jasmine! Good one by Lush!

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    • sweetgrass says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:48 am

      Happy birthday, Lady Murasaki!

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  3. Marjorie Rose says:
    29 September 2012 at 10:21 am

    After enabling some Memoir love last weekend, I had to dig mine out of the box and wear it a few days this week. It’s entirely too hot for it, but my school is vaguely air-conditioned-like, so it hopefully didn’t overwhelm! None of the kids complained, in any case! (Although one did say “You smell like perfume.” Without scowling at me!)

    Going out sniffing today, so I’m thinking maybe I won’t wear anything, or only something light.

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    • Robin says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:40 am

      “You smell like perfume” could go either way, right? It’s kind of a funny statement.

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      • Marjorie Rose says:
        29 September 2012 at 12:09 pm

        Yeah, it wasn’t entirely clear to me what she meant! But, as I say, she wasn’t scowling, so I decided that she didn’t mean it as a bad thing. Memoir is a more forceful scent than I usually choose for work, especially when it’s warm out, so I suspect it was mostly just that she noticed I was wearing a scent.

        My other thought, though (and forgive me, if I’m over-analyzing, it’s a risk with me!), was that since Memoir is hardly a typical scent, and certainly not the BWF *PERFUME* that many non-perfumistas complain about, it was interesting that she identified it as “like perfume” at all.

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        • mals86 says:
          1 October 2012 at 11:16 am

          Memoir is weird. In a fascinating way – and I love it.

          But… you know… at its core it’s indeed a buncha white florals.

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    • poodle says:
      29 September 2012 at 6:51 pm

      There are worse things you could smell like. Lol.

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      • Vincent says:
        29 September 2012 at 11:50 pm

        lol. Agree.

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  4. relleric says:
    29 September 2012 at 10:52 am

    Beautiful Fall day here in SE Missouri, SOTD is Givenchy Gentlemen.

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  5. bluepinegrove says:
    29 September 2012 at 10:58 am

    I’m driving to Portland for a meeting today, but I’m making a beeline for the Perfume House first! I’llbe pondering my strategy during the drive. Comfort scents, probably.

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    • juicejones says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:24 am

      Sounds like a great fall day! I envy you your stop at the “church”.

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  6. Vincent says:
    29 September 2012 at 11:15 am

    Nice weekend to all!
    Does someone know where I can find Comme des Garçons, Amouage and By Killian perfumes in Paris?

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:37 am

      You can find Amouage at Jovoy (4 Rue de Castiglione) and By Kilian at Printemps.

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      • Vincent says:
        29 September 2012 at 1:52 pm

        Thank you! Any clue to where I can find a good price on By Killian in Europe?

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        • ladymurasaki says:
          29 September 2012 at 2:34 pm

          Dunno. Ebay, perhaps?

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          • Vincent says:
            29 September 2012 at 11:52 pm

            They don’t have what I’m looking for. :(

    • Vincent says:
      29 September 2012 at 1:53 pm

      And how about Comme des Graçons? Does someone know any store in Paris?

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  7. Merlin says:
    29 September 2012 at 11:27 am

    Wearing Dzonkha today, I’m liking the dry sharpness and my sample is nearly finished; but I don’t think I like it quite enough to invest in a whole bottle. A friend is going to London soon though and I am dreaming of a bottle of L’ombre dans Leau. The EDP sounds a LOT nicer but I haven’t smelled it and it only comes in 75ml…

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    • bookgirl says:
      29 September 2012 at 2:00 pm

      I was wearing Dzonkha this week and I actually prefer it to Timbuktu. I like the faint, sweet spicyness it has, though I’m not sure if a bottle needs to be mine or not.

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    • Elena says:
      30 September 2012 at 9:26 am

      I have tried Dzonka and Timbuktu recently, along with Mure et Musc. They all seem to share that dry sharpness (exactly how I would describe it, Merlin). What IS that? It seems to be the same thing/accord in all those L’Artisan scents. I’m just starting out here, and while I appreciate those scents, the dry sharpness really isn’t for me and I’d like to be able to identify it so that I can tell by reading notes whether or not I’d like it.

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      • Merlin says:
        30 September 2012 at 6:03 pm

        Hi Elena, I used to dislike all dry notes so when I first tried Dzongkha I hated it. But since then I have started to get a taste for Vetiver, which is both dry and sharp as well as iris which can have a sharp aspect, depending on how it is used. Timbuktu and Dzongkha are by Bertrand Duchaufour and both contain vetiver, papyrus and incense. I suspect it is mainly the vetiver that has this effect. I don’t know Mure et Musc well but it is quite different. It may be the blackberry, the lemon or the oakmoss, all listed in the notes that is unappealing to you. L’Artisan does, however, have fragrances that are not at all sharp or bitter and which may appeal to you. Among the sweeter ones are Vanilia, Vanille extreme, La Transversee du Bosphore and Dzing. They do have quite a wide range of frags many of which are unusual, and some superb. Unfortunately most of them do not have very good lasting power or much sillage!

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    • trigger hippie says:
      30 September 2012 at 8:16 pm

      I too am wearing Dzongkha today, and will wear it to bed. Mostly all I get from it is its Incense, occasionally a waft of Vetiver will rise. I adore it, it is the fragrance that I can say is – ME.

      As for the EDP of L’Ombre Dans L’Eau, well WOW! I only went in to Dyptique to get another bottle of Philosykos and was offered to test the EDP of L’Ombre, (I already wear the EDT) and it has all the zap of the green “not quite” tomato leaf, the juicy partially hidden richness of the rose, the unripe berriness, BUT EVEN DEEPER and RICHER (big 10 foot high letters), but not in an overpowering way. It is the smell of a high summer garden after a downpour. Needless to say, I left with a bottle of it as well as Philosykos.

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      • Merlin says:
        1 October 2012 at 5:47 am

        Trigger Hippie…I was so hoping to hold off!

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        • trigger hippie says:
          1 October 2012 at 7:10 am

          Oh Sorry. :)

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  8. juicejones says:
    29 September 2012 at 11:34 am

    I have been in an Amouage Dia stupor all week, and I don’t want it to end. Good day for a scent recon!

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    • bookgirl says:
      29 September 2012 at 2:01 pm

      Dia is gorgeous! I find it lovely in warmer weather, too.

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  9. 50_Roses says:
    29 September 2012 at 11:49 am

    A very wet, overcast day here on the Gulf Coast. I had thought about venturing into Houston to do some perfume shopping, but I don’t really feel like leaving the house. Right now I am just listening to the rain and enjoying the next to last day of a very low-key week of vacation. Earlier this week, we spent some time in Galveston and enjoyed swimming in the Gulf, which is still plenty warm enough.

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    • Rappleyea says:
      29 September 2012 at 12:00 pm

      I thought of you this morning, L., when I saw the national weather map. It looked like you all are getting epic rain, as in, get out the ark! Personally, I love rainy Fall days as long as I’m curled up with my Kindle and a cup of hot tea!

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      • 50_Roses says:
        29 September 2012 at 12:26 pm

        It isn’t quite that bad! I just checked the rain gauge, and it had two inches in it, which is not unusual for us. Besides, it has been pretty dry here the last couple of months, so we can use it. It does seem that it is dropping the temperatures, though. The high today is supposed to be only 82 ;)

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        • Rappleyea says:
          29 September 2012 at 1:18 pm

          Oh that’s alright then. The weather man (national) was talking about an additional 7 inches in places! “Only” 82… lol! We’re down into the 70’s, and I can’t wait for 40’s and 50’s!

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    • Calypso says:
      29 September 2012 at 9:38 pm

      Yeah, kind of gloomy around here today (I’m also in Houston). I have been on a quest to find new lampshades, and it’s surprisingly hard. My SOTD is from my new bottle of SL Jeux de Peau. Nice and homey on a rainy day. Wow it’s really pouring down tonight. I am not lusting after any perfumes at the moment (unusual state for me) but eagerly awaiting my larger-sized decant of Amouage Interlude Woman. The tiny one just wasn’t enough. It’s a fascinating scent.

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      • Rappleyea says:
        30 September 2012 at 8:31 am

        Calypso – I gave up on my hunt for lampshades in brick and mortar stores and went here:

        http://lampandshadeoutlet.com/buyshades.html

        Very satisfied. (not affiliated) Good luck!

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        • Calypso says:
          30 September 2012 at 10:33 am

          Thanks!

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    • moore says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:56 pm

      The sound of the rain! It only would be better if we also could feel the smell of earth right after starting a a rain longer than it lasts.

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  10. Charlie says:
    29 September 2012 at 11:57 am

    Had some Kokorico sprayed on me two days ago, the lady was rather generous and quite a bit went onto the sleeve of my jacket. It smelled pretty ok, reminded me of Tom Ford Men or Men Extreme, so I didn’t mind all too much. Today I have my jacket on again and it smells unbelievably nice, really like the drydown. Smelling my sleeve all day long now. From what I read online it almost a copy of L’Instant pour Homme, without the famous ‘Guerlinade’. So I’m hoping I get a chance to pass by a department store today. *smells sleeve once more*

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    • Vincent says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:59 pm

      I got the L’Instant only at the top notes. It smells like A*Men in the base notes to me.

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  11. Rappleyea says:
    29 September 2012 at 12:05 pm

    I’m in a smoke mood today, so SOTD (when I finally get dressed and scented) will be Le Labo Patch 24. I still have a few mls. of an older decant, and I was most disappointed to compare it to my new decant to find that – contrary to Le Labo’s claims – the juice IS different. They claimed only the color changed due to a difference in the cade being used, but that “dental drawer” note (myrrh? styrax?) is now missing.

    And if *anyone* here has any of the older Patch 24 for sale or trade – email me (rappleyea11 at yahoo dot com). Thanks!!

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    • Lys says:
      29 September 2012 at 12:09 pm

      Just curious, when did the change happen?

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      • Rappleyea says:
        29 September 2012 at 1:20 pm

        I think they changed either late summer or early fall of 2011.

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    • Lys says:
      29 September 2012 at 12:40 pm

      May I ask a(nother) self-serving question? I looked up reviews of the Xerjoff Casamorati series; I have a coupon to use at a European perfume retailer. I saw you had commented somewhere that you had tried (including some Casamoratis) some Xerjoff samples and found some of them over-Iso-E-Supered. Do you remember, were the Casamorati samples along those lines? Or can you otherwise advise? (Wow, sorry to be so targeted is my question :) !)

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      • Rappleyea says:
        29 September 2012 at 1:23 pm

        Your memory is much better than mine, Lys! lol! I can’t remember which of the Xerjoffs I tried, only, as you rightly remember, the overdose of iso e. I passed the samples on some time ago. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

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        • Lys says:
          29 September 2012 at 1:40 pm

          LOL not scary-good memory on my part, just read it recently! It’s helpful regardless b/c too much iso e is a deal breaker for my skin type. Probably I will wait to try a sample from the line along the way rather than springing for the set.

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          • Rappleyea says:
            29 September 2012 at 1:48 pm

            You should definitely test then if you have a problem with iso e super (It makes me sick!), because I *do* remember that iso e seemed to be an integral part of their base.

    • Calypso says:
      29 September 2012 at 9:39 pm

      Oh I absolutely love that stuff. Such a strange but compelling scent.

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      • Rappleyea says:
        30 September 2012 at 8:32 am

        Compelling is the perfect word to describe it!

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  12. CM says:
    29 September 2012 at 12:18 pm

    My FB of L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube arrived yesterday and I can now spritz with abandon! I had an earlier decant (5ml) and have been hoarding it. Now that SalA is here, I can (finally) douse myself! I love the opening.

    Also testing Morgan Le Fay Green which I was hoping to be green and refreshing and cool. It’s more ‘cucumber melon’ (without the sugar) floating in water. Not my thing – must scrub!

    What are y’all testing today??

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    • Suzy Q says:
      29 September 2012 at 12:33 pm

      Mine will be delivered Monday! Spritzing with abandon will be bliss!

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      • CM says:
        29 September 2012 at 12:44 pm

        I’m now contemplating Azemour as my next FB (thanks to you and the NST Swap) and am armed with $10 off at Beautyhabit. Danger Zone!

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        • Suzy Q says:
          29 September 2012 at 12:48 pm

          Uh oh. $10 off? Soooooo tempting. I endeavor not to enable you further, LOL.

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        • Suzy Q says:
          29 September 2012 at 12:49 pm

          CM, I forgot to say: you did the same to me with Iris Poudre. Ouch!– that’s a lot more expensive. Decants first…baby steps.

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          • CM says:
            29 September 2012 at 1:19 pm

            Iris Pourde is one of my top favorites! I have a decant and when that’s gone, I’ll be racing to buy a bottle.

        • hajusuuri says:
          29 September 2012 at 4:44 pm

          You all are such enablers. I do have a $20 off beautyhabit coupon that expires tomorrow. That said, I now have to hunt for Iris Poudre. I know SuzyQ has good taste ;-)

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          • Suzy Q says:
            29 September 2012 at 5:29 pm

            LOL! You’d better put that coupon to good use!

            If you like Infusion d’Iris you might like Iris Poudre, although that’s necessarily a prerequisite. It’s a woody iris with a deep warm base.

          • Vincent says:
            30 September 2012 at 12:02 am

            Where are you getting all these coupons? I need some either! lol.

          • lucasai says:
            30 September 2012 at 9:33 am

            Hajusuuri! go for Iris Poudre, it’s gorgeous. I feel envious you’ll have it soon ;)

          • hajusuuri says:
            30 September 2012 at 9:59 am

            @ Vincent – My coupon was from a special offer as in for every $50 spent, you get $10 to use for a future purchase.

            @ Lucas – I will exercise great restraint on Iris Poudre. I did, however, see a travel spray set (3 x 10mL) that looks very tempting. Maybe it will be a Christmas gift to myself…I’ll wait for a good online offer and go from there.

          • Vincent says:
            1 October 2012 at 1:36 am

            Thanks for the tip, Hajusuuri! :)

  13. Lys says:
    29 September 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Hi everyone! It’s a gloomy day but all is well – my collection just reached 50 bottles! The new FB? Drumroll … Hello Kitty Intense. So, uh, not what I wanted my #50 to be. But Sephora was having a clearance and I pounced. On the plus side, she has a black, fabric-covered bulb atomizer with a rhinestone studded cap collar and the bottle itself is transparent black-to-clear ombre. And without concern for the actual juice inside, she will be proudly displayed in broad daylight.

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    • CM says:
      29 September 2012 at 12:43 pm

      I refuse to count my bottles. As long as there’s room on the dresser, I don’t have too many.

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      • Lys says:
        29 September 2012 at 10:20 pm

        LOL, I like that. I had no idea how many I had until I was prompted by a poll question (which I couldn’t answer) to count them. Recounted this week and Kitty made it an even 50.

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    • nozknoz says:
      29 September 2012 at 2:33 pm

      It’s great to have a cute bottle to display without concern for the juice!

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      • Lys says:
        29 September 2012 at 10:20 pm

        :)

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    • Emily says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:03 pm

      Haha, congratulations! I do love that bottle.

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    • Lucy says:
      30 September 2012 at 10:05 pm

      In my world, clearance doesn’t count. :)

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  14. Abyss says:
    29 September 2012 at 12:36 pm

    SOTD is Jicky! I passed by the local Guerlain counter earlier to see if they had Shalimar Ode à la Vanille. They didn’t so, instead, I gave myself a generous spritzing of Jicky. I forgot just how much I like it; I’d argue that it’s got to be the ultimate comfort scent. Absolutely perfect in this weather.

    Oh and I finally picked up an older bottle of Diorella recently so it’s been quite a bad (but good?) quarter but I hope Donatella would approve :D

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    • Dawnkana says:
      29 September 2012 at 1:22 pm

      I adore Diorella! It’s so bohemian chic to my nose. Very good purchase on your part if I do say so myself.

      I did a side by side comparison of both the vintage and the newer bottle and I have to say, there was not much difference. I found the newer version more to liking because it seemed a bit lighter on my skin.

      Either way, it’s a great purchase and a nice scent to add to your collection.

      ~Dawn

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      • Abyss says:
        29 September 2012 at 2:13 pm

        I’m with you, Dawn! I think that Diorella is gorgeous and always manages to hit the spot so I’m happy to finally have a bottle to call my own.

        I must admit that I was happy enough with contemporary Diorella formulations up until the most recent change (circa 2010-ish?). I figured that I didn’t need a 40 year old vintage or anything (although no doubt they must be glorious) but I definitely wanted to skip the current juice.

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    • nozknoz says:
      29 September 2012 at 2:27 pm

      Diorella is the best (together with its cousins Eau Sauvage and FM Le Parfum de Therese)!

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      • Abyss says:
        29 September 2012 at 4:43 pm

        Edmond Roudnitska really knew how to compose a fabulous scent, didn’t he? ( I also own a bottle of Diorissimo)

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    • moore says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:06 am

      I’m sure Donatella will aprove it! She’s generous when talking about perfumes! ;)

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      • Robin says:
        30 September 2012 at 1:02 pm

        Indeed, she never scolds anybody :-)

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  15. Suzy Q says:
    29 September 2012 at 12:45 pm

    I spent the week testing things I got in the Swapmeet. Prada Candy was a big surprise–I wore it four days in a row! Iris Poudre, Lipstick Rose. Wow. But, more on that when we do our big report in a few weeks.

    Today, though, my nose needed a break. SOTD is vintage Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale, something I got in a past swap. The citrus is a joy in this thing and a nice “palate cleanser” after so much testing.

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    • moore says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:07 am

      Yuuuum. I need to try Lipstick Rose!

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      • Suzy Q says:
        30 September 2012 at 12:14 pm

        Moore, Lipstick Rose was a surprise: it’s more violet than rose and it’s more complex than I expected. It’s definitely worth a try for anyone who likes rose or violet notes. And, as with all the Malles, the raw materials are the highest quality. I marvel.

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        • moore says:
          30 September 2012 at 5:33 pm

          I like both notes Suzy. Never tried any Male though. I’m overly curious about the brand, specially about Portatrait of A Lady, Bigarade, Le Parfum de Thérèse, Carnal Flower and Musc Ravageur and Lipstick Rose.

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        • moore says:
          30 September 2012 at 5:45 pm

          My first reply disapeared! Suzy Q I like violet and rose. Actually I never tried any Malle, but the brand is very interesting specially LR, Portrait of A Lady, Le Parfum de Térèse, Musc Ravageur and Bigarade.

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  16. lucasai says:
    29 September 2012 at 1:23 pm

    Good evening folks!

    I just returned from a family trip to Germany. We had such a wonderful time spending one day in Berlin and then one day in Dresden. Our sightseeing was very effective with tons of photos taken.

    It was a short trip, we travelled light so I only had a sample of Hermes Voyage Parfum and Green Orange & Coriander from Jo Loves… with me.

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      29 September 2012 at 1:32 pm

      Welcome home, Lucas! Glad you enjoyed yourself. What do you have lined up on your review agenda next?

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      • lucasai says:
        29 September 2012 at 1:48 pm

        Thanks for the warm welcome :)
        I’m planning to write a post about my trip to Berlin, as I met perfume there too! Didn’t think about what perfume will be reviewed next.
        Sure thing is that on Monday new academic year begins and I will have less time for writing.

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        • hajusuuri says:
          30 September 2012 at 10:05 am

          Lucas, good luck on your new academic year. I can’t wait to hear which perfume you decided to wear as well as your Berlin and Dresden trip!

          I’ve tried the Hermes Voyage Parfum and while I liked it, it was too masculine for me. I’ll give it another go when the weather is colder.

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    • Cybele says:
      29 September 2012 at 4:07 pm

      Hi Lucas, I would love to hear your thoughts on Voyage Perfume!

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      • lucasai says:
        29 September 2012 at 4:49 pm

        Hi there! Thanks for letting me know! This might be the one that will appear on my blog soon.

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        • Cybele says:
          29 September 2012 at 8:58 pm

          my experience was similar as with Infusion Iris original and Absolue, I liked the the Parfum version better in Voyage.

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          • ladymurasaki says:
            30 September 2012 at 4:32 am

            I too, like the parfum version of Voyage. It’s richer and smoother.

          • lucasai says:
            30 September 2012 at 5:02 am

            I liked Parfum better than Voyage in edt too but still it doesn’t last long on my skin.

  17. nancyg says:
    29 September 2012 at 2:05 pm

    SOTD is Aromatics Elixir. It’s a bright blue fall day here in Chicagoland. The slanting light makes the colors more intense….
    So far I have made it through Q3 without so much as a sample.

    Does anyone know of good scent locations in Grand Rapids MI?

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    • poodle says:
      29 September 2012 at 6:53 pm

      Not even a sample? That’s willpower.

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    • Suzy Q says:
      29 September 2012 at 7:02 pm

      Wow, my hat’s off to you, NancyG.

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    • Emily says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:05 pm

      I, too, salute your restraint this quarter. (And you’re making me miss Chicago — this was always my favorite time of year when I lived up there.)

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  18. bookgirl says:
    29 September 2012 at 2:10 pm

    I finally found a perfume to wear on my wedding day: Azagury Eau de Parfum. It’s a gorgeous white flower musk with a hint of ginger. I cannot stop myself from sniffing my arm when I wear it, and I’ve had to force myself to stop wearing it until I get married! Steve and Laura at Scent Bar were so helpful. I’m a happy girl!

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    • Dawnkana says:
      29 September 2012 at 2:34 pm

      Congrats on finding your wedding day scent.

      Love the Scent Bar too.

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    • Robin says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:02 pm

      Congrats, that is lovely!

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    • mals86 says:
      1 October 2012 at 11:19 am

      Wonderful!

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  19. nozknoz says:
    29 September 2012 at 2:24 pm

    I’ve been wearing Parfums MDCI Chypre Palatin from a sample that I ordered as soon as this new Duchaufour was available on LuckyScent. I pullled it out this week as a result of Angela’s review here and Dan Rollieri’s at Katie Puckrik Smells. They both admired CP but concluded that it wasn’t them. For me, this is just the sort of review that leads to obsession! I’m hoping it will wear off before my sample is exhausted.

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    • Robin says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:03 pm

      I want to try that one. I don’t see how I can live up to it if Angie can’t, but want to give it a shot!

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  20. farouche says:
    29 September 2012 at 2:53 pm

    I just gave myself a few generous squirts of Iris Nobile and have a feeling that my puny sample spray isn’t going to be enough. It’s just lovely, and I see a large decant or FB in my future!

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    • lucasai says:
      29 September 2012 at 3:45 pm

      It’s lovely, isn’t it? I’ve got my own bottle of edp version.

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      • hajusuuri says:
        29 September 2012 at 4:48 pm

        Oh boy, I have to ttry thiis too. Lucas, does Iris Nobile come in EDT concentration?

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        • lucasai says:
          29 September 2012 at 4:51 pm

          My dearest one! Iris Nobile comes in two concentration. Edt has a white label on the bottle while edp has a golden label.
          And there’s also new Iris Nobile Sublime released this year. I tried it when I was in Berlin two days ago.

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          • farouche says:
            29 September 2012 at 5:53 pm

            Do you have a favorite, Lucasai? My sample is the EDP.

          • lucasai says:
            30 September 2012 at 5:03 am

            I like all 3 of them. EDT version is great for spring, EDP is better for autumn because there’s something “oriental” to it. Sublime is the most feminine one.

          • Dilana says:
            30 September 2012 at 1:02 pm

            I like the EDT, it has more life and smells more like Iris. Unfortunately it did does not last long.
            I have yet to try the sublime.

  21. C.H. says:
    29 September 2012 at 3:09 pm

    Hi all, here’s an idle question I’ve been entertaining. So I’m quite new, but have been galloping through a good number of the usual suspects (who knew how much stopping by perfume counters on the way home from the library could improve the daily life of the grad student! You guys knew, I am guessing!) I’m having a sort of curious experience that a number of things I really like on the test strip wind up smelling rather chocolate-y on my skin? (I realize some would regard this as a virtue, but unfortunately I am not among them.) Specifically, this happened with Elie Saab, Alien, Coco Mademoiselle, and one of the Miss Diors (but I borrowed it from a friend and I actually don’t know if it was original or the artist formerly known as Miss Dior Cherie). I can’t quite tell if this is:

    A: me just misidentifying some other note as chocolate-y (in which case I’d love to hear guesses about which; maybe it would revise my opinion of these fragrances!)

    B: that these have some note in common that reacts this way with my skin (also would love to hear guesses about which that is, for sake of avoiding in the future!)

    C: that these all contain some specific but probably unidentifiable ingredient creating this reaction, so the only solution is, as ever, to try things on skin

    D: something else altogether?

    Speculation most welcome! And this is also a good opportunity for me to thank Robin for sending me out to try a bunch of things– I am having an absurdly good time!! Merci mille fois.

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    • Abyss says:
      29 September 2012 at 3:38 pm

      Interesting. Are you familiar with patchouli? All those have patch in them so I wonder if that’s what you are picking up and, if you are not familiar with the smell, think of as chocolate since that is a smell you do recognise. Other patch-heavy perfumes are the original Prada and, if you have access to more niche scents, Chanel Coromandel and Serge Lutens Borneo 1834 in case you want to get a clearer idea of the note.

      Alternatively, could it be some product that you are using like body lotion, shower gel, etc?

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      • egabbert says:
        29 September 2012 at 3:53 pm

        I was also going to say it’s probably patchouli — patch can smell chocolate-y on its own and it’s only often paired with additional cocoa notes.

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        • Abyss says:
          29 September 2012 at 4:23 pm

          Yup! And vanilla.

          Regarding skin tests – if you prefer how the perfume smells without skin contact then don’t forget that there’s always an option of spraying on fabric. I hardly ever apply on skin (because everything disappears within an hour or two, grr) and they are yet to kick me out of the perfumista club. Do what works best for you.

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          • C.H. says:
            29 September 2012 at 4:42 pm

            Ooooh! Coloring outside the lines! I love it!

    • Rappleyea says:
      29 September 2012 at 3:54 pm

      Great call, Abyss! I second the patchouli notion, and would also suggest perhaps some of the musks in those scents reacting with your own chemistry.

      And yes, I would recommend to always skin test a scent before committing to buy. I have found scents almost always take on different characteristics on skin than they showed on paper – some for better, some for worse.

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    • C.H. says:
      29 September 2012 at 4:04 pm

      Ohhh, good call–yes, something that is sort of rich (and in that respect has something in common with chocolate); also maybe more noticeable when heated up a bit by flesh than on paper? Very intriguing hypothesis! I will keep an eye out and see if this lines up! Thanks all! #No.1PerfumeDetectiveAgency

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    • Dilana says:
      29 September 2012 at 5:58 pm

      Sandlewood and rose together have a rich scent which you may be reading as “Chocololate.” In addition the food additive vanillin (a vanilla substitute), is used in many commercial brands of chocolates. This is derived from Tonka beans. Tonka is also used to create a vanilla base for many perfumes, so may be your nose is associating the two.

      It is also possible that you are eating too many chocolate frosted donuts and are “chocolate moustaches” on your way to the perfume counter.

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      • C.H. says:
        30 September 2012 at 11:39 am

        Hahaha how did you know about my donuts??

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    • Lys says:
      29 September 2012 at 10:17 pm

      Agree with all above, and adding that Elie Saab, Coco Mademoiselle and Miss Dior Cherie all have a particularly “clean” patchouli that’s used in a lot of mainstream perfumes and to my nose smells extra green and even a bit sweet. Alien doesn’t have patchouli but with vanilla and amber-type ingredients you’ll have an equally sweet effect.

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      • Robin says:
        30 September 2012 at 1:04 pm

        Exactly right — a molecular fraction of patchouli.

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    • moore says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:11 am

      These fragrances may stimulate your brain area that associates any specific smell to chocolate.

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  22. Jill says:
    29 September 2012 at 5:44 pm

    Rediscovered my bottle of SJP Covet — and reminded of how much I like it. I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t know why this one didn’t catch on. I love the slightly powdery, vaguely chocolatey drydown.

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    • FearsMice says:
      29 September 2012 at 6:38 pm

      I’m right there in the minority with you, Jill. Angel was the perfume that scared me away from chocolate; Covet was the one that brought me back.

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      • Omega says:
        29 September 2012 at 11:38 pm

        Try Eau De Charlotte by Annick Goutal, I think you will like that chocolate note in there. If you like Covet..you may like that one.

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        • FearsMice says:
          30 September 2012 at 5:10 am

          Thanks for you recommendation, Omega; I’ll give it a try!

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      • lucasai says:
        30 September 2012 at 5:05 am

        You need to try Parfum d’Empire Equistrius which has a chocolate/cocoa note or Histoires de Parfums 1969 which is a magnificent chocolate & peach combo.

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        • FearsMice says:
          30 September 2012 at 5:16 am

          Oooh — more recommendations — thanks! I’ve had samplers from both these lines in my checkout cart more than once but have never gone through with the purchase. Maybe this is just the push that I need, though!

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          • lucasai says:
            30 September 2012 at 8:25 am

            Then now it’s the time to get them I guess. They’re both lovely.

      • Jill says:
        30 September 2012 at 3:50 pm

        FearsMice, glad to hear you’re also a Covet fan! I agree with Omega’s Eau de Charlotte rec — that’s a favorite of mine too.

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    • CM says:
      29 September 2012 at 7:49 pm

      I liked this one too! When it came out, I scored some shower gel along with it and it was divine!

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      • Jill says:
        30 September 2012 at 3:55 pm

        I’ve never tried it in shower gel form, but I bet that would be nice!

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    • Robin says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:05 pm

      I really think it was the sharp top notes — they didn’t make a good impression on the blotter at the fragrance counter.

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      • Jill says:
        30 September 2012 at 3:58 pm

        I think you’re right, Robin. The top notes create a really different impression than the fragrance as a whole in this case.

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  23. amarie121 says:
    29 September 2012 at 6:17 pm

    Hi “Swap Buddy”! It is raining just a bit here in Austin, but the barometric pressure is just enough to make my knees hurt. I’m in a citrus mood from the grey day, fighting off the dullness of the weather… So, I think today calls for Diptyque L’Eau de Tarocco. Stay dry out there!

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    • amarie121 says:
      29 September 2012 at 6:19 pm

      That was supposed to go under 50_Roses re: comments on Texas weather; sorry if I confused anyone!

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    • moore says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:12 am

      Lol. Here is raininig and cold!

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  24. poodle says:
    29 September 2012 at 7:03 pm

    It’s a gray day today. We were supposed to go to a party tonight but hubby tweaked his back so we are home. I’m okay with that but he’s being a wee bit whiny and I know he’s hurting but he’s a drama queen so its hard to say how bad the pain really is.
    I’ve worn Like This a lot this past week and I really am loving it with the cooler temps. I’m afraid to tally up things for the damage poll.
    I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

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    • moore says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:18 am

      I wish I had your damage poll drama!

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      • poodle says:
        30 September 2012 at 9:01 am

        My damage poll won’t be as bad a s some I’m sure but I feel like I’ve been bad because I said I wouldn’t buy anything and I think I did.

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        • moore says:
          30 September 2012 at 11:56 am

          lol. Perfumemaniacs are incorrigible sinners. We’re with you in the purgatory! There will be a smelly place at least! :)

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          • poodle says:
            30 September 2012 at 12:59 pm

            It’s comforting knowing that I’ll have company.

  25. Calypso says:
    29 September 2012 at 9:44 pm

    I want to go to Anthropologie and try the new Ineke floral scents they have there, in particular Sweet William. Those are my favorite flowers. I used to have fields of them as a kid and someday (after retirement maybe?) I will grow them again. When they are warm from the sun that spicy, clove-y carnation scent is so marvelous. I’m not sure I will love it in a perfume but I want to own it anyway for nostalgia’s sake.

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    • Omega says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:33 pm

      SW…lacks carnation..I didn’t pick it up really. If you are looking for a rich, deep red carnation..you probably won’t find it in SW. It’s more of a pink/white floral..I didn’t get carnation. I will go somewhere else for a carnation..this ‘carnation’ is way too subdued for me. Nice scent, light, white..nice perhaps bridal scent..but found myself really digging to find any carnation.:(.

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      • Calypso says:
        30 September 2012 at 10:34 am

        Oh, what a shame! I guess I won’t bother then!

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    • Omega says:
      29 September 2012 at 11:35 pm

      Try Comme Des Garcons for a truer carnation…too green for my tastes but still..a lot of carnation.

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      • PetronellaCJ says:
        30 September 2012 at 3:56 pm

        Or Etro Dianthus.

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      • Emily says:
        30 September 2012 at 8:00 pm

        Or DSH Oeillets Rouges, which to my nose is the perfect carnation (warm, rich, spicy).

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        • mals86 says:
          1 October 2012 at 11:21 am

          LOOOOOVE Oeillets Rouges. And Etro Dianthus is nice too, although it seemed much quieter, more floral-vanilla than the DSH.

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    • Liza says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:33 pm

      I love the scent of Sweet Williams (the flowers), too, and had been thinking about trying the Ineke Sweet William. Guess I won’t make much of effort to do so, now. Caron Bellodgia is a lovely carnation-centric scent, and, although fearfully expensive, so is JAR Golconda. Although carnation isn’t the focus of Donna Karan Black Cashmere, it’s certainly an element in that lovely spicy perfume.

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  26. thegoddessrena says:
    29 September 2012 at 9:50 pm

    Bought Black Cashmere for my birthday a few weeks ago and won some Lush Potion off ebay a few days ago and just realized that between working 2 massage jobs and going to acupuncture school, that I won’t be able to wear strong scents until my next completelyoff day which is during Thanksgiving week. Eek! Guess I’ll be saving for Guerlain Shanghai which is gorgeous on me and kind of soft (though long-lasting)

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    • Lys says:
      29 September 2012 at 10:18 pm

      I’m really looking forward to trying Shanghai!

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      • thegoddessrena says:
        30 September 2012 at 8:20 am

        Love Shanghai–the iris/mimosa combo makes me texturally think of peach fuzz aand this was compulsively sniffable the two times I’ve tried it and immediately went on the to-buy list

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    • Vincent says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:23 am

      Oh my! How I’d like my GF to be messeuse and acupuncturist.

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      • Vincent says:
        30 September 2012 at 12:23 am

        What scents are the best to work on these jobs in your opnion?

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        • thegoddessrena says:
          30 September 2012 at 8:08 am

          This summer vintage White Shoulders cologne was my go to fragrance and now that the weather is cooler I’ll go back to Lollia Relax. I also find The Different Co’s Osmanthus suitable. Tried a sample of Piguet’s Calypso and that might also work . Equistrius seems appropriate but I need to retest that. Iris Ganache andBy Killian Love are both too big as far as I’m concerned.

          With my schedule, if you wanted to date me, you’d have to be okay with only seeing me for Thurs lunch dates in Hoboken, NJ for the next three years while I go to school. 8)

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          • hajusuuri says:
            30 September 2012 at 11:45 am

            @thegoddessrena – what’s considered vintage Whie Shoulders? Can you tell by looking at the box? I saw one box at TJMaxx late last week and I moved it to the bottom shelfhoping I can delay its discovery by others prior to me finding out more about this.

          • thegoddessrena says:
            30 September 2012 at 6:50 pm

            My truly vintage White Shoulders has a gold metallic label without a cameo, a round art deco sort of cap, and is from Evyan. My newer vintage everyday scent has the cameo logo molded into the glass and is a cologne splash. Ones with sprayers are generally more modern

          • Emily says:
            30 September 2012 at 8:03 pm

            TDC Osmanthus is lovely. I’m on my third sample of Calypso, and I *still* can’t figure out if I need a FB. Sometimes it does nothing for me, and other times it’s utterly addictive. What in particular do you like (or not) about it? (I’d be interested to hear, and it might help me clarify my own thoughts.)

          • thegoddessrena says:
            30 September 2012 at 10:32 pm

            I like Calypso because it is one of the few rose scents that don’t go sour on my skin; it. Isn’t obnoxious and overpowering and the rose/iris/suede combo just smells really lovely on me. Rose Oud and Ta’if are the only other two roses that I’d consider buying if that gives you a. Clearer idea of what I like

          • Vincent says:
            1 October 2012 at 1:46 am

            Never tried any of these, but they seem to be relaxing! I’m really really far from Hoboken right now! But I would love to visit there and have a launch! There’s a song called “Night falls on Hoboken” that I love. It’s so calm and envolvent. :)

          • Merlin says:
            1 October 2012 at 5:53 am

            Now Victor, we all know you are just after a free massage so no stories about lunch here! lol!

          • Vincent says:
            1 October 2012 at 10:00 am

            Merlin, I don’t like to ask people to explain their jokes, but I really didn’t get yours. :)

  27. cath says:
    29 September 2012 at 9:57 pm

    Hi everyone.
    I’m new to this blog (discovered it 3 days ago and have spent every free minute I have reading articles) but am not new to perfume. I love the niche perfumes, and in general cant stand the cheap perfumes because they all smell chemical on me, and make me nauseous.
    I live in Osaka, Japan, and right now a typhoon is headed this way. That means a lazy day at home for me. Yesterday as I read the blog, I went through my scent box, digging for perfumes I had forgotten about, and spritzed away. I rediscovered Cuir de Russie, and found that Bois des Iles isn’t as sandalwoody as I had hoped. It just doesn’t warm and blend with my skin. Hubby is home today, so there will be less spritzing ;) I guess I’ll choose a soft, subtle scent for today, maybe Songe de Tulipes by Il Profumo.

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    • Abyss says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:54 pm

      Hello and welcome *waves*

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    • poodle says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:02 pm

      Welcome! You can lose track of time on here pretty easily.

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    • Robin says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:06 pm

      Hi and welcome, and hope that typhoon doesn’t cause trouble!

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    • cath says:
      1 October 2012 at 2:56 am

      Thank you for the warm welcome, glad to be here.
      Does anyone have a recommendation on what I could layer with Iles des Bois to make it more of a skin scent? It kind of just “sits” on me, without changing much, as if the top notes never end.
      Any suggestions are more than welcome.

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      1 October 2012 at 7:33 am

      Welcome, Cath. Stay safe. I was in Tokyo a few weeks ago and they were already forecasting typhoon. At least it’s not as hot as it was during the summer, right?

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      • cath says:
        1 October 2012 at 11:49 am

        Hi ladymurasaki.
        I live your name btw. Reminds of one of my first great perfume loves: murasaki by shiseido. Why oh why did they have to discontinue it :(

        Typhoons, just like earthquakes, are something we learn to live with. In Osaka we’re actually pretty safe, we rarely get the full blast. But it gets hotter and more humid than in Tokyo for example. I was in Tokyo 3 weeks ago, and I felt the difference, the air is much drier and more comfortable.
        I hope you had a nice time in Tokyo.

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        • cath says:
          1 October 2012 at 11:51 am

          Love, not live.
          Auto-correct function on iPad and iPhone isn’t always clever.

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        • ladymurasaki says:
          2 October 2012 at 5:20 am

          Hi Cath. Murasaki is one that I’ve been wanting to try. My mother used to wear Zen pre-reformulation.

          I know about the earthquakes. It is such a normal occurence for us Japanese, but since I’ve lived outside of Japan most of my life, I feel unsettled every time. I felt 3 tremours whilst I was there in August!

          I suppose Tokyo is drier than Osaka or Kyoto, it is too humid for my liking. Enjoy your life in Osaka; it’s a great place for exploring food, culture and history and you’re in close proximity to my spiritual home – Kyoto!

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          • cath says:
            2 October 2012 at 7:43 am

            Oh, you are Japanese. Cool! I find that many Japanese women can’t appreciate the heavier perfumes. I guess it has to do with skin chemistry. They tend to like citrus scents (I can’t stand them) or light flowery scents.
            I came to Japan exactly 20 years ago, September 1992, and I had my bottle of murasaki with me. Little did I know that only a year or so later they would discontinue it. They reformulated it, and it’s a very watered down, cheap and chemical version of the wonderful original, and it comes in a dull clear bottle with cheap plastic cap on it. Can you believe I still have the original bottle? I can’t part with it.
            Another bottle I still have from that time is Romeo Gigli, there is still some juice in it. What a great vintage that makes now, lol.

          • ladymurasaki says:
            2 October 2012 at 3:46 pm

            No, I think it’s more of a cultural thing and how we perceive scent. I love heavy scents, but I was brought up abroad. My grandfather, for instance, forbid my mother from wearing perfume at the dinner table, saying that he could not enjoy the meal for the scent of perfume. I can understand that. No one wants a vase of lilies at the dinner table. Tastes in food has changed vastly since the Meiji restoration, but I think the Japanese sensibilities have not changed that much. Which is a good thing, I think.

  28. Emily says:
    29 September 2012 at 11:15 pm

    SOTD is SSS Jour Ensoleille. It’s pretty much faded away at this point, so I might go use up the rest of my sample of SSS Incense Pure. (I discovered this week that I actually do like Incense Pure, and I’m thinking about a small bottle — because *of course* I need yet another incense fragrance. Glad I held on to that sample and gave it another shot.)

    Also looking forward to the arrival of my first order from Demeter, which contains the highly psychoanalyzable quartet of Funeral Home, Riding Crop, Whiskey Tobacco, and Beet Root.

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    • poodle says:
      30 September 2012 at 9:05 am

      Well, not all incense is the same so I think that you probably do need another bottle.

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      • Emily says:
        30 September 2012 at 3:26 pm

        Bingo. (And I just remembered that I also ordered Holy Smoke from Demeter, so it’s only right that I assemble a great big incensey welcome wagon to keep it company.)

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  29. Omega says:
    29 September 2012 at 11:29 pm

    Sotd- Au The Rouge- BVL
    Yesterday..Ubar

    I think I realized I don’t like lily or lotv notes..too green maybe? Ubar has a note that’s a bit off-putting, the rest kicks butt. Wonder if it’s the lotv. I’ve only really found jasmine to be my only love if it’s a white flower…well..peony..I think that’s white? Idk. Jasmine and peony..the rest can stay home lol.

    My question to everyone would be-what’s the most wonderful violet centered scent you’ve ever smelled? Craving violets like no other!

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    • Calypso says:
      30 September 2012 at 10:36 am

      Just last weekend I was talking about violets and I got some nice suggestions. I’ll mention a couple I like a lot: Verte Violette by L’Artisan is very true to violet, and Bois de Violette by Serge Lutens is just gorgeous, though more complex. There is also a Yardley violet scent that is very simple and pure and lovely.

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    • audreylicious says:
      30 September 2012 at 11:08 am

      I love violet but I can’t wear it very well. I loved L’Artisan Verte Violette but it didn’t work on my skin. Guerlain Apres L’Ondee is one I CAN wear, and is absolutely gorgeous. Finally, Amouage Library Series III has a gorgeous violet that peeks in and out without it being the star.

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    • Liza says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:34 pm

      You might try Caron Aimez-Moi.

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    • Abyss says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:47 pm

      SL Bois de Violette is my favourite, it was love at first sniff for me. In fact, I might go a spritz some now.

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    • Dilana says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:08 pm

      Balenciaga Paris is a wonderful Rose Violet scent. (I prefer the original, which has more violet than the flanker). It often is packaged with a mini or a body creme for department store beauty “events.”

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    • 50_Roses says:
      30 September 2012 at 2:17 pm

      SSS makes a couple of very nice violets. Wood Violet is a nice plummy, cedary violet, and Voile de Violette is more floral, although it has some woody notes as well. They are very reasonably priced as well. Annick Goutal La Violette is more of a soliflor.

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    • Rappleyea says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:39 pm

      Guerlain’s gloriously gorgeous Attrape Coeur – violets and rose. Also seconding the SSS rec.

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    • PetronellaCJ says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:59 pm

      Balenciaga Le Dix!

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    • Emily says:
      30 September 2012 at 8:08 pm

      Thirding the SSS recs. Violet isn’t one of my favorite notes by any stretch, but the SSS interpretations are gorgeous. (And in reply to your other query, I can’t stand LOTV — there’s something about it that feels like an ice pick up my nose, or at any rate, what I imagine an ice pick up my nose would feel like. Lily proper is a totally different story, though.)

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      • hajusuuri says:
        30 September 2012 at 9:24 pm

        I’m with you on the LOTV hate!

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    • mals86 says:
      1 October 2012 at 11:26 am

      Yeah, Ubar (the modern version, not the original which disappeared several years ago) is pretty LotV-centric if you ask me. I happen to like it.

      For violets, which I also like, my favorite would be Penhaligon’s Violetta. Green + violets, with a little cedar and musk underneath, very simple. I also really liked The Unicorn Spell, which has this amazing flash of raw green beans, then something silvery-metallic with its violets.

      Bois de Violette is nice but just didn’t seize my heart.

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  30. Taffy says:
    30 September 2012 at 12:06 am

    I have seen different-looking bottles of preformulated Guerlain Samsara, edp. For example, one bottle is clear, with the gold cap (with a red strip perhaps along the bottom of the cap?) and the other bottle is red, again with the gold cap and gold lettering. (The red bottle has the letters for SAMSARA close together, not spaced out like the new bottles.)

    Does anyone know what the difference is?

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    • Jillie says:
      30 September 2012 at 4:49 am

      Hi, Taffy. I have worn Samsara since it first came out and am so disappointed with the newer formulations. I believe that the beautiful sandalwood they used once upon a time is now rare, endangered and expensive, so they have substituted it with one that smells much rougher, and which to my nose alters the perfume so much.

      The older, pre-reformulation bottles are the clear ones. Not sure about the time scale of the different red glass bottles, but I do know that they are the current and more recent offerings. So, definitely go for the clear type!

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      • Taffy says:
        30 September 2012 at 6:05 pm

        Thanks so much for the info, Jillie! I agree that the new formulation is not quite the same (or at least not as I remembered Samsara). The newer fragrance smells a little “thin” to me.

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        • Jillie says:
          1 October 2012 at 3:43 am

          Thin. Absolutely!

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  31. sweetgrass says:
    30 September 2012 at 3:53 am

    This past Wednesday was my birthday, and I’m a happy camper. My parents got me a bottle of Mitsouko (yay! I finally have a real bottle, not just that tiny little thing I’ve been hoarding) and a copy of Mandy Aftel’s “Essence and Alchemy”. And my sister-in-law-to-be took me to Bath Junkie for my birthday so I could play with the fragrance oils (that place is like crack), so I scented a lotion, hand cream and body spray.

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      30 September 2012 at 4:38 am

      Happy birthday, Sweetgrass! I had mine on Tuesday! Yay, fellow libra! Have fun with your new acquisitions.

      Log in to Reply
    • poodle says:
      30 September 2012 at 9:07 am

      Happy birthday! Sounds like you had a good day.

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    • Merlin says:
      30 September 2012 at 6:12 pm

      Happy Birthday – enjoy your new Mitsouko!

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    • Vincent says:
      1 October 2012 at 1:48 am

      Happy birthday! Mitsuoko is always a good gift!

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  32. annemarie says:
    30 September 2012 at 4:18 am

    I bought the solid of LUSH’s Breath of God this afternoon. Amazing. But what are other people’s experiences of the sillage and longevity of this one?

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      30 September 2012 at 4:40 am

      I’ve not tried that one yet. My daugther just got me LUST and though the scent is great, it only lasts a couple of hours on me.

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      • annemarie says:
        30 September 2012 at 5:30 am

        Hmmm … I’ve had about four hours out of BoG. Not too bad, but it sits very close to the skin. I must try some Lust next! :)

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        • ladymurasaki says:
          30 September 2012 at 8:00 am

          Beware; LUST has monster sillage.

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        • Merlin says:
          30 September 2012 at 6:20 pm

          I’m not sure I want much sillage out of BoG – it is a very weird, though strangely appealing frag. I have the solid, and I get about the same time as you. (though most frags are short-lived on my skin). I think the guide described it as smelling like smoked fruit!

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          • annemarie says:
            30 September 2012 at 8:02 pm

            Smoked fruit: yes. Or gasolene, some people say. After those weird notes, the drydown on me is creamy, dense and slightly sweet. Nothing scary at all!

  33. dominika says:
    30 September 2012 at 9:41 am

    I got laid off recently… It’s ok – my company had been cutting costs for awhile, and I expected something like this would happen eventually. Still, it’s not pleasant.

    I’ve been applying for some positions in foreign countries that require an HIV test before you’re eligible for a work permit. So I’ll have to get that done soon… I don’t think I have it. I haven’t had many partners, and I’ve always been careful. But it’s not something that only drug users get anymore. And for some reason I’ve blown this test out of proportion and I’m really afraid and panicked about it. More than I probably should be… But how do people deal with finding out that they’ve got it? What incredible strength it must take to deal with something like that.

    I don’t mean to bring people down or get too personal on what is supposed to be a fun blog. But people here are some of the friendliest I know online, so I thought I’d share :)

    A job change, and possible move out of the country, is exciting when you’re in your mid-twenties. But when you’re a decade older, security and home become a lot more important.

    Through all this, I think the modest perfume collection that I’ve collected is one of the better things I’ve done with the good salary I made in the past few years. I’m wearing a sample of Tabac Aurea today, and it’s amazing how a beautiful perfume can lift your spirits and change your outlook.

    Whatever is in my future, I can at least count on a few minutes of happiness each morning when I spritz myself and look ahead to a new day.

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    • FearsMice says:
      30 September 2012 at 11:08 am

      Sorry to hear about your lay-off, but it sounds like you are facing the future very bravely, in spite of any fear you may be feeling. Kudos! Wishing you the best —

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    • Robin says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:08 pm

      Sorry you’re in this period of uncertainty. Keeping my fingers crossed…hope you find some wonderful new opportunities. And of course, hope your test is negative.

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    • poodle says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:12 pm

      It would be hard to pack up and move I think. I don’t envy people who are put in that position. Sorry about the layoff. Hopefully something good will turn up for you.
      Medical tests of any kind are stressful. I agree with you that while you want to know if something is wrong, you just don’t want to know either. It’s scary. I admire people who can take bad news and face it with strength and a positive attitude. I’d like to think I could but really I’m not so sure I would. I’m crossing fingers for you. I’ve had to have testing done for jobs too. You’re probably fine but you’re like me and always wonder ” what if”.

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    • Joanne says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:18 pm

      Periods of flux are the most difficult, certainly, but man, oh, man, the view from beyond is fabulous! Now, go spray something strong and assertive and watch out, World!

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    • hajusuuri says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:21 pm

      Sorry to hear about your news. Perhaps this will open other doors for you. Here in the good old USA, except perhaps for jobs in the healthcare industry, passing an HIV test as a condition of employment is discriminatory and therefore, illegal.

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:21 pm

      DOMINIKA; you’re doing very well, considering. There’s bound to be better things in store for you. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

      Log in to Reply
    • Rappleyea says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:36 pm

      Sending you lots of positive thoughts. Best of luck to you.

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    • Merlin says:
      30 September 2012 at 6:29 pm

      Hi Dominika, its funny because I was far too neurotic and anxious in my 20s to think of traveling at all, but I’m much more open to it now in my 30s! Of course HAVING to move to a new country would still be stressful though…
      I’m sure you will discover strengths you never even knew you had!
      Like everyone else, wishing you all the best for the test.

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    • Emily says:
      30 September 2012 at 8:15 pm

      Adding my best wishes, Dominika. I’m pretty sure anybody would be freaked out by a medical test of that gravity, no matter how unlikely the worst-case scenario might be. Hang in there.

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    • moore says:
      1 October 2012 at 2:00 am

      Don’t be worried before it’s time for. I also hope your test is negative. If it’s positive, remember that seropositive people can have a quality life if they care on their healthy and follow doctor’s orders. There are so many researches on HIV and cancer that to me a positive test on HIV is not a sentence anymore. Keep in your mind there are people who cares about you and will never let you down. Count on us. In the middle of coldness we can always find a warm place to get in. :)

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      • moore says:
        1 October 2012 at 2:05 am

        And congrats on the new job. Yeah, that means some more fragrances, right?

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  34. happy888cat says:
    30 September 2012 at 10:48 am

    It’s something that has been bugging me for a long time.
    My skin chemistry tends to amplify certain notes and “kill” the rest when such notes are present. This annoys me so much because a lot of the times I would want to test a perfume but I read that the “danger” notes are involved and I would stay away and miss out on something maybe attractive and very lovable (because honestly, I can just go ahead and spray but perfumes do NOT come off that easily and they follow you around for the rest of the day…
    E.g. Flowers: Lily & Tuberose (Cartier’s Baiser vole, Gurlain’s Lys Soleia), Spices: Pepper (Pink, black, white…), Anise (Guerlain’s Bouquet de Mai, Jo Malone’s Vanilla & Anise)
    In the above examples, I would end up smelling nothing but the certain flowers or spices and they become so prominent that they sting my nose and overwhelm me to no end.

    Does anyone have any suggestions of perfumes I can challenge or even a solution to the problem? Pink pepper is sooo “in” these days they are practically in every single fragrance! They even found their way into gourmands which is basically what I live on.

    Dear Gourmand Coquin (Guerlain), why do you have to have PEPPER!?!?!?

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    • Lys says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:53 pm

      Hi Happy888Cat – spraying things on fabric or walking thru a fragrance sprayed in the air after getting dressed would be one way around your skin-type issues.

      My skin type amplifies spices, musks, (large dose) Iso-E, and above all else amber. While I’ve accepted that some great perfumes like Shalimar, my beloved Gris Clair and Feminite du Bois are NOT for me, I’ve also learned that a lot of fragrances that are just okay on other people are stellar on me. It was frustrating at first but now I really like having that close connection to the scents I choose.

      Also, sometimes it’s not so much the notes but how the notes are constructed chemically so don’t give up on some of the ones you listed. Some white florals esp the ones with a clean-musk or lactonic base collapse on my skin, but the mint note which I amp up in Fracas gives that one a transparent-radiant effect.

      Don’t know if this is helpful but it’s how I view it since skin-type is a significant factor in my perfume preferences.

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    • Rappleyea says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:33 pm

      Hi Happy888cat (your name wouldn’t have anything to do with the Ky. Wildcats winning their 8th championship, would it?)

      My problems are musk and iso e super. Laurie Erickson of Sonoma Scent Studio explained it to me that it is not so much a case of skin amping certain notes, but that these types of notes are long-lasting synthetic ones that tend to outlast the naturals in blends, and therefore they get stronger and stronger as the naturals fade.

      No help really, just an explanation.

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      • Lys says:
        30 September 2012 at 3:53 pm

        Yes, that’s a good way of putting it.

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      • annemarie says:
        30 September 2012 at 5:50 pm

        Did she mean though that some people continue to perceive these notes for longer than other people? I mean, if they are that long-lasting, we would all have the same problem. So is it that some people’s ‘scent-brains’ are more attuned to those notes than those of other people? I think I have read Laurie discuss this topic once before.

        I’m always interested in how much our skin is responsible for the differences in how we perceive scent, vs how much of it is happening in our brains.

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        • Lys says:
          30 September 2012 at 9:02 pm

          In terms of describing scent variability on different skin types, I like this letter that’s linked to on the NST FAQ page:

          http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/nov2001/1006805763.Gb.r.html

          I also remember Michael Edwards describing skin temp as a very strong determinant along with everything from pH, oiliness, diet, even stress and medication affecting a perfume’s odor profile on skin.

          Re: hyperosmia/hyposmia, personally I know I’m not hyperosmic in most of these cases b/c scents that smell unbalanced on my skin smell different (and correct) to me on fabric or paper. That’s how I calibrate. I am probably however more aware of these constituents b/c of my experience with them as “problem” notes, which is like what you are pointing out.

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          • annemarie says:
            1 October 2012 at 7:03 am

            Thanks Lys! That’s a great link.

    • happy888cat says:
      30 September 2012 at 8:05 pm

      Thank you guys for the incredible help and advice! :)
      I would really hate to give up on something that I love the smell of so the “indirect” scenting technique is fantastic!
      Oh and my name has nothing to do with the winning. Pure coincidence :P

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  35. audreylicious says:
    30 September 2012 at 11:18 am

    I want to know why it is that every time I pare down my collection I end up buying more to replace them, and it happens every single autumn. Uuuuuggggh! Well, I fell in love with Xerjoff Fars this weekend. I couldn’t fall asleep the other night and finally broke into my Oud Stars box, which I bought in May but never opened because Oud is not summer-friendly, to me. I started with Fars because it’s not oud, (and it’s still 80 degress here) and completely fell in love.
    All the fragrances that I want to buy right now are never, ever on discount, but I bought a bunch of decants over the weekend: 3 of the CdG incense series, 4 Profumi de Forte decants (2 versilias and the by nights), Amouage Epic (which I’ve been lusting for forever and am missing my sample, so I got 5 ml), SL Fourreau Noir, Amouage Beloved, Phaedon Grisens, PG Praline de Santal and a few others. I’ll be smelling very confused in a couple of weeks.
    Oh, autumn. You are the death of my bank account.

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    • Vincent says:
      1 October 2012 at 2:07 am

      Oh, where did you find CdG and Amouage decants???? What is your favorite of incense series??

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      • audreylicious says:
        1 October 2012 at 7:55 am

        I got them on Surrender to Chance. I haven’t tried the CdGs yet…..I’ve been putting it off for years but with fall and winter coming I really want some incense-y scents for my collection…..I live in a high-desert area; it gets really cold here in the winter and wood/spicy scents make being bundled up really pleasant.

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        • Vincent says:
          1 October 2012 at 10:04 am

          Thank you! I’ll check it out! I’m searching for some Amouage decants. Not easy to find them though.

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  36. EasilyEnabled says:
    30 September 2012 at 11:24 am

    Hi all. I thought it best to come out of lurker mode and post today since there is a damage poll coming up. I have lived up to my nic this quarter.

    I also have been wearing MDCI Chypre Palatin and have held off on the fb, but did succumb to the travel size.

    I sure am glad I found this place!

    Log in to Reply
    • Suzy Q says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:16 pm

      Welcome, Easily! I love how the damage poll is a confessional and yet…in the reportage of our purchase we just enable each other further!

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    • Abyss says:
      30 September 2012 at 12:57 pm

      Welcome! Very brave to de-lurk just before a damage poll :D

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    • poodle says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:17 pm

      Welcome! EasilyEnabled is a great name. That describes a lot of us I think. The damage poll is always an eye opener.

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    • ladymurasaki says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:23 pm

      Joining the welcome party! Good to have you here.

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    • hajusuuri says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:41 pm

      Welcome, EasilyEnabled. Your name describes me exactly. And the damage poll is cathartic.

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    • Merlin says:
      30 September 2012 at 6:34 pm

      Welcome! I so fell off the fragrant wagon this quarter that I am considering NOT participating. *blush*

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  37. bluepinegrove says:
    30 September 2012 at 12:12 pm

    I *so* enjoyed meeting NST perfumistas yesterday at the Perfume House, and this morning am enjoying my new Rance Laetitia, which was created for Napoleon’s mother. Incense, rose, patch, amber, vanilla. Yum. Napoleon’s mommie must have been a force of nature.

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    • Joanne says:
      30 September 2012 at 3:04 pm

      Smiling at “Napoleon’s mommie as a force of nature.” How lucky you were to get to the Perfume House! If I ever cross the continent, I will surely make that a goal.

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    • AnnieA says:
      1 October 2012 at 12:48 pm

      Nice to have met you, BPG! Oh dear, I guess the GdC Carnation purchase counts for this quarter. Only Marjory Rose had the fortitude to resist the lure of Perfume House — this time, at least…

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  38. Lys says:
    30 September 2012 at 1:23 pm

    SOTD is Jasmin Rouge. Would like for someone to make a Jasmin Rogue.

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    • bluepinegrove says:
      30 September 2012 at 1:33 pm

      Lys, I believe the rogue part will always depend upon the wearer!

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      • Lys says:
        30 September 2012 at 3:54 pm

        LOL so true!

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  39. lera says:
    30 September 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Went to Target and on the bottom of their clearance shelf saw a purse spray of Calyx for $10. Decided to try it out. Wow! It’s still warm enough to wear it. This is an unbelievable fragrance!

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    • poodle says:
      30 September 2012 at 7:29 pm

      I bought 2 of those there today too! My niece will be getting one for Christmas. I love a good clearance sale.

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  40. Ariel says:
    30 September 2012 at 5:49 pm

    SOTD – Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille. I get boozy vanilla and tart high-bush cranberries out of this, so it’s perfect for an afternoon hike on a sunny but cold Alaskan fall day.

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  41. EasilyEnabled says:
    30 September 2012 at 6:25 pm

    Thanks for the warm welcome. I have learned so much from so many of you. SOTD is CB I Hate Perfume Patchouli Empire.

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  42. annemarie says:
    30 September 2012 at 8:15 pm

    I’m celebrating a perfect spring day here with Diorissimo. Perfect!

    I’ve just come back to Diorissimo. I bought mine in September 2007. I loved it at first but after a while it morphed into an evil car air freshener. Now all that the beauty is back and the car air freshener has disappeared. Weird! Maybe I was wearing it out of season or something.

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    • Lys says:
      30 September 2012 at 9:04 pm

      “morphed into an evil car air freshener” – love that!

      I should spring for a good decant of Diorissimo.

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      • annemarie says:
        30 September 2012 at 9:43 pm

        ‘spring for a decant’ – pun intended?! :)

        Yes, definitely start with a decant. These days Dior only sells Diorissimo (and its other classics) in whopping great 100 ml bottles. I got my Diorissimo in 30 mls, thankfully.

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        • Lys says:
          30 September 2012 at 11:35 pm

          I wish the pun were intended, I’m usually a sucker for puns.

          When it’s done right, I’m also a sucker for LOTV.

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  43. trigger hippie says:
    30 September 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Made a cheap buy of Jacomo Arts Collection #8 & #9 about 10 days ago.

    #9 is perfect for layering, a pulpy orange smell to open with, the an inoffensive fruity, caramelly something or other.

    But #8 is wonderful with tea, milk, spices, something heady and floral. It is a great wear, but it was clearly reminiscent of something else, something I had worn before. But could I think of what it was….no. Then about 4 days after I first wore it, it came to be.

    It doesn’t have the heft, or the deep luscious dry-down or that peppery spike, but the main body of the fragrance is Chanel’s Egoiste (the original), and one of my great fragrance memories.

    It is so great to get those memories back, without the Chanel over-pricing (and I won’t forgive them for Bleue (Bleauchhhh!) either).

    Although original Antaeus does make my knees wobble,

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    • trigger hippie says:
      30 September 2012 at 8:34 pm

      of course I meant “couldn’t think what it was”.

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    • Lys says:
      30 September 2012 at 9:07 pm

      Congratulations on the Jacomo – I haven’t been able to find those easily around me but I’m putting them back on my decant/sample list right now!

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    • annemarie says:
      30 September 2012 at 9:44 pm

      Love Jacomo #8. Lovely milky chai.

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  44. trigger hippie says:
    30 September 2012 at 8:37 pm

    Oh poop, no I didn’t. I was correct the first time.

    It’s late here, really late – so forgive the incoherence.

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  45. mals86 says:
    1 October 2012 at 11:28 am

    Oh GAH. Damage poll coming up, and I have not at all kept up with my purchases this quarter.

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Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

4 January ~ damage poll
4 February ~ winter reading poll

TBA April ~ swap meet

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