We're starting the weekend early again! The usual open thread routine: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the latest niche line you're interested in trying, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Black Velvet [cropped] by josef.stuefer at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hello friends! Now that WINTER IS COMING, I’m craving those smoky, almost meaty leather fragrances. So far my top contenders are CB I Hate Perfume Burning Leaves, Le Labo Patchouli 24, and Tauer Perfumes Lonestar Memories. Which of these would you choose? Can y’all recommend any others in this vein?
Ari, from those three I’m only familiar with Lonestar Memories, it’s really nice indeed.
Do you know Cuir Ottoman from Parfum d’Empire? It’s gorgeous orrised leather fragrance with a lot of power in it.
SSS Winter Woods has a great smoky-almost-meaty vibe! Tea for Two is in that zone too.
Let’s add SSS Tabac Aurea to your sampling list.
Ooooo, yes! I just got my first sample of Tabac Aurea and love it so much. Perfect warm, smoky leather and tobacco scent for the cooling temperatures.
I absolutely love Tabac Aurea too, though I think it lacks that distinctly “meaty” bit because it’s so smooth … I also get a meat note from some of Liz Zorn’s leathers!
i just ordered a Tabac Aurea FB yesterday, as well as fireside intense. I don’t get an almost meaty smell from any perfumes I’ve yet tried (thankfully?) but I love fireside intense for its smokiness
Ari, definitely look up Dzing by L’artisan. Leather+smoky..a little bit of spice+woods as well.
I’ve been wearing Drole de Rose, a good one!
I think I’ve tried Lonestar Memories but wasn’t really moved. I love Patch 24, though, it smells of smoky leather/rubber and old books and is really addictive.
TF Tuscan Leather is another smoky leather that’s quite nice, imo. It starts off quite smoky and dry and then softens with something sweet like vanilla or amber in the base.
I like Burning Leaves, but it doesn’t last very long on my skin. I like to layer it with Gathering Apples.
Burning leaves and gathering apples sounds like an autumn weekend in New England.
Maybe Parfums Delrae Mythique? “Meaty” vegetal leather iris.
(First off, I love your blog.) Patchouli 24 and Lonestar Memories are two of my favorite fragrances, both for me and my boyfriend! Cartier’s Treizieme Heure is smoky/tea, though it doesn’t have the meatiness of the Le Labo and Tauer, to my nose. SSS’s Fireside Intense is also nice and smoky. For straight-out meatiness, Kolnisch Jutchen can’t be beat, imo, and it smells like sharp beef jerky. (It’s kinda too much for me…I found a decant on ebay awhile ago, when I first fell in love with Lonestar Memories, and it’s apparently only sold in one store in SF in the US. If you or anyone is interested in checking it out, I could definitely send samples…at this rate my 10ml will last an eternity!)
My vote would be for Lonestar, but I don’t know the others!
I’m not sure if it counts as “meaty” but the new Volutes is a gorgeous cherry/pipe tobacco/leather. Just got a decant of the EDP and I’m really liking it.
I see that weekend started earlier not only for me but for you too, how great!
There was a big chemistry conference at my university today, all students had a day off because all tutors and professors were involved in conference preparations. It was really good to have a lazy Friday and relax.
Today I’m wearing Parfum d’Empire Equistrius, a lovely cocoa, rice powdered iris fragrance. I enjoy all those Parfum d’Empire so much and actually I’m buying my 1st one next week. Can’t wait until Tuesday to pick up my bottle from the boutique.
I’ve been searching a lot through First in Fragrance website because my friends from Polish Perfume Split Board are planning to organize a group shopping so that we can get free shipping to Poland. I think I’ll go with Vero Profumo samples set, I really want to try Kiki.
You all smell great and have a good time this weekend! Smoochies!
Hope the rest of your weekend will be as relaxed
All signs show it’s going to be a calm weekend.
…and here in the northeast U.S., we are preparing for a hurricane
Exactly. Keeping my fingers crossed that most of it will blow out to sea.
I’m sorry Hajusuuri, I didn’t know about that. Stay safe!
Hi, Lucas. Based on your recommendation a few weeks ago, I’m wearing a sample of Equistrius, too! To my surprise (chocolate? peach? me?), I like it. I’m glad we both smell good today.
Yaay! So glad you got a sample and like it. Isn’t Equistrius a great scent?
Today I’m in Idole de Lubin EdT and it’s… snowing!
Oh my, Lucas. I have to wrap my head around SNOW in October!
It’s crazy! Snowing all day long! It’s getting white outside…
Time to think about Christmas shopping *_*
Equistrius sounds nicer than I thought it would be.
Hi Poodle! So you know this one too, right?
Lucas, I tried to purchase the sample set directly from the PdE website about 2 months ago but unfortunately, my username kept getting corrupted and it did not recognize my ship to location as being in the U.S. I will try again though since the line seems interesting.
I remember you mentioning about this problem earlier.
If your next try is a failure you can write me an email and I think I would be able to order this set for you but it would generate some additional expenses because of the second shipping from me to you in the US.
I like my DKs for Fall: Chaos, Black Cashmere, Wenge and Labdanum. Woody, smokey, warm. Cote Bastide Figuer smells like fallen leaves. These are some of my favorites.
Was this an answer to Ari? I like those scents too.
Yes, Robin. She types before she thinks. I jumped in because I loved the topic, forgetting to post as a reply.
It is warm yet blustery here in Phoenix. There is a wonderful bakery in Tempe that makes Laduree worthy macs. I donned my Sophie Digard scarf and a spritz of my newly acquired bee bottle Parure, and was taken out to a perfect birthday lunch.
Am I dropping names? Perhaps. Am I dropping lbs.? Hardly!
Oh, so jealous of your bakery! And a very happy birthday to you
and I’m jealous of your Parure! Hope you had a great birthday
Happy happy happy birthday, juicejones:)
Thank you all for your kind wishes! Today is b’day part deux. My scent of choice is my new Musc Ravageur body milk, purchased in Paris by this wonderful woman oi met on ebay who will shop or price things for you while she is there. She travels there often and knows the bargains. The price was significantly less. I like MR in this form. Stays closer to the skin.
Think I must get some sample sets to catch up w/ you lot. The SSS names crop up often, think I will start there. There is a pizza and a pink cupcake calling my name.
Yikes, dumped out before I added, Happy Weekend!
Happy birthday!
You smell great! Those DK’s are amongst my all time favourites and now I will have to seek out the Cote Bastide Figuer.. .
It is worth seeking out, you will love it! I used to douse myself with it and go for long walks around Pasadena on Saturday mornings. Just perfect! The shower gel comes (came?) in a glass bottle. Keep that outside the tub or shower. Ah, the French!
I have been working my way through samples of two lines. I ordered the Ineke sample set after seeing so many positive comments on this line. So far, none of the Inekes are really working well for me. The only one so far that I actually disliked was Evening Edged in Gold, which is just too much leather for my taste. The rest have been OK, but no more. I was rather hoping I would find one to love so I could take advantage of the $25 rebate on a FB.
I also ordered a number of Aftelier samples. The only one I had tried previously was Secret Garden, which I love and will probably eventually get a FB of. So far, I have not really been taken with any of the others I have tried, at least not enough to spring for a FB. I thought I might love Parfum Prive, since she classes both PP and SG as floral orientals, but I find PP to be dominated by a salty note which I suppose to be the ambergris. I find that salty aspect also in her Amber, which, while pleasant enough, is not, in my mind, worth the price. Tango and Lumiere both have very nice drydowns, but both have an odd sour aspect in the top note which I find off-putting. I am sometimes willing to endure a not-so-great top note to get to a wonderful heart and base, but considering the rather short longevity of natural perfumes, the ratio of bad top note/good drydown is too high. Cepes and Tuberose, on the other hand, has a nice opening (nice to find a tuberose that isn’t totally smothering”, but disappears on my skin rather quickly. Haute Claire is describes as a green, but I find it strangely sweet (too sweet for my taste) for a green fragrance. Sepia, Parfum de Maroc, and Honey Blossom have not gotten a thorough testing yet, so I cannot form an opinion of them yet. Secret Garden seems to be rather an outlier in this line. It lacks both the salty aspect and the sour top note that many of the others have, and I love all of its stages–top, heart and drydown. I also find that the longevity is decent, if not spectacular, and it does seem to last better dabbed or rolled on rather than sprayed. I have tried this with my samples, BTW–taking the spray top off and dabbing from the vial.
Rats, this is a repost, as I failed to post as a reply! Sorry about that.
50, have you also tried Ineke line at Anthropologie? How would you say these compare? I was also thinking of ordering that sample set, but I didn’t fall in love with the Anthro fragrances (the four I’ve tried–I did not see Briar Rose?), so maybe I should save my pennies.
Love to hear from all who have thoughts on this!
I tried the Floral Curiosities line a couple of days ago. I liked Sweet William and may stop back by and get the small bottle of it. I was a little surprised at how much I picked up cumin in it, but it was offset by the vanilla and peach so that it wasn’t b.o.-ish to me, more creamy and spicy. I had thought I might like Poet’s Jasmine, but I wasn’t really thrilled with it. The others were kind of fruity-ish and didn’t interest me much. I think Briar Rose is discontinued. I remember seeing it in the clearance section several months ago. I tried it when I saw it, because, you know, clearance.. but it just wasn’t for me. I haven’t had a chance to try any of her other scents yet. I’ve been wanting to try Field Notes from Paris.
The Aftelier website recommends dabbing and actually acknowledges lack of longevity.
50, have you also tried Ineke line at Anthropologie? How would you say these compare? I was also thinking of ordering that sample set, but I didn’t fall in love with the Anthro fragrances (the four I’ve tried–I did not see Briar Rose?), so maybe I should save my pennies.
Love to hear from all who have thoughts on this!
I’ve only been in one Anthropologie one time, at a store in Austin back in March. I did see the Inekes, but by that time I had so many things on my skin I couldn’t really test them properly. Unfortunately, the store had no tester strips available at all, nor did several others in that shopping center, so everything I wanted to try had to be tried on skin.
How bizarre about the lack of test strips in an entire shopping mall! Conspiracy…
Anthropologie is notorious for not having testing strips. If you ask for some, they’ll usually hand you one. One. After they find someone who knows what a testing strip is.
My experience too!! And the fragrances are so spread out through the store that it’s hard to find the one you want.
Yes it is kind of disarray on the fragrance front there! Mine had plenty of test strips, but no test bottles–so the salesperson told me just to test from the bottles for sale and then put them back! Ay yi yi.
Ha, that’s funny. Sort of.
Call me paranoid, obsessed or both, I always carry some test strips with me in a little baggie. I grab a few extras at Sephora, B&BW, etc here and there so I have some already on hand when needed.
That’s a good idea. I’ve thought I should bring my own sometimes. Of course, I think of it when I’m not out sniffing stuff, and I don’t think of it when I am.
LOL! I carry empty vials, which is just as bad or worse.
Good idea…those Nordstrom vials will sure come in handy
If I were to carry empty vials and spray in them to get a few drops to sample a fragrance, I think I will be arrested for theft. I live in Japan, where they only give you a sample if you buy a FB. Ridiculous really.
Well, spraying into vials takes some skills so one would not do it without the SA agreeing to allow you to it. That said, yes, there are some places in the U.S. that is pretty stingy with the samples, like L’Occitane.
I can’t speak for all antho scents but the antho scents I’ve smelled are different and more subdued than her A-H line. I was a little disappointed in Sweet William, it had like no carnation imo. If the the antho scents didn’t do it for ya..maybe getting the A-H sample set may be worth looking into. Most of her A-H scents are more concentrated than the antho scents. If you like gardenia..there is Hothouse Flower and a little goes a long way with that one! Really concentrated. After My Own Heart is nice as well.
Cool, good to know they are pretty different; could def be worth trying, in that case. Thanks Omega.
Thanks Omega, I’m like C.H. in that I was also wondering how the two lines related.
Briar Rose has been discontinued – it was on clearance at Anthro in July.
Aha! Thanks Breathes, that solves that.
Still shows up occasionally on eBay, if anyone cares.
I just recently tried these and liked Poet’s Jasmine – I may return for the small bottle – but sampling is tough at Anthropologie!
Maybe some of us should call their customer service line and let them know about the whole testing at Anth dilemma. They would probably like to know that they aren’t serving their customers properly and it would mean better fragrance sales if they actually made it so people could test their stuff.
I love Evening Edged In Gold and didn’t pick up on the leather note! Now I must re-sniff! But I just ran out of my sample, the sample set went oh too fast. Can’t afford a fb atm, may order another sample set before too long. Ineke is like my fave perfumer right now.
Tuberose, ya, that flower is totally smothering! I find gardenia to be a bit like that too, one of the reasons I don’t dig those notes.
I’v only tried two of her scents but I loved E.E.in Gold enough to go for a full bottle! I’m not a pro at separating notes, but leather doesn’t come through on my skin either; I get osmanthus + saffron. A really lush and joyful fragrance!
I need to revisit my sample. Evening Edged in Gold was my least favorite of the bunch but you two are making me think I missed something. I’m fascinated by the way we all react differently to scents.
You may not have missed anything – quite a lot of people don’t love EEiG. And, the only other one I tried was Field Notes from Paris which I had to wash off! Go figure.
Lol. Field Notes is the one I bought a bottle of.
This shout-out goes to hajusuuri,
My email is locked up, I can’t seem to get into the account .*headache*
But I wanted to tell you thank you for yer kindness in sending me a fragrant lil’ package.
It made a dreary day brighter and I loved it!
I now want Prada IdI Absolu, it’s beautiful. <3
Thank you, dear. xoxo
I want Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue too! and guess what. I want it because of the same person, hajusuuri
Yes, she is a doll.
I hope you get an FB or split soon. I think this will be more of a spring scent for you, if I recall.
I’m glad you liked it. What did you think of SSS Champagne de Bois which was how we c9nnected to begin with?
Hi sweety, I did love it! TY. But I am a fangirl of Laurie’s anyway.
It wasn’t “too much” for me , I love perfumes with alot of presence. lol
I do think I want Forest Walk more though.
I have been meaning to stock up on SSS but just never have gotten around to it. I really should.
Has anyone tried or have feedback on the Oscar de la Renta Essential Luxuries Collection yet? Even just where they’re being stocked. I kinda doubt they will be coming to Austin, regardless…
I tried a couple of them at Saks. One was positively viscous smelling. They were both better once I’d washed them off
Saks! Of course, Austin’s small-to-begin-with Saks just announced its closing, so… yeah.
Doesn’t sound you much enjoyed the Essential Luxuries!
@thegoddessrena
“They were both better once I’d washed them off” – I LOVE this comment and will use it one of these days!
…and good luck with your job search.
Thank you for the good wishes and glad you’re amused by the comment
Hi Everyone! I’m so glad this post is early b/c now I miss them on the weekend. SOTD is Piguet Baghari – so gorgeous this time of year!
My question is about Vol de Nuit extrait. I have a small decant of the older formula of VdN extrait that I got from Perfumed Court a few years ago. It’s not “vintage” but it’s not current either. It is just insanely gorgeous and deep and complex and wonderful, and I love to wear it. So, recently I got a large split of the current VdN extrait. And it is just awful! It’s not even just a little different. It is a complete nauseating scrubber on me. It doesn’t have the mellow progression of notes and it has this awful plastic “skank” type note which is similar to that in the Guerlain Shalimar Initial. Does anyone else smell this yucky plastic note in current VdN extrait? Is VdN changed forever??? I love to wear VdN this time of year and I am so sad about this decant!
I think it might have been Bois de Jasmin that reviewed the reformulation a while ago and said it was bad. A lot of people say the Jicky parfum reformulation is also not great anymore.
I have to disagree with those opinions about the Jicky reform. I’ve got some very old parfum and various ages of the edt, the edp along with new parfum. While I can smell differences, they are slight, and overall, the scent is still Jicky.
Good to know
Thanks for the tip – I’ll look it up!
I love it when someone asks a question I can answer!
Almost two years ago now, I ordered a bottle of VdN extrait from BG. I too had a decant from TPC, and couldn’t wait to own a FB. As you know from your own decant, the color is a really dark amber. Imagine my shock when the new bottle arrived and the juice was a pale, pale yellow, almost lime, and as you said, smelled NOTHING like VdN. NOTHING!! At least the Mitsouko reform was well done.
I know exactly what you’re talking about with the plastic note. To me, it smelled like an old fashioned after shave with, as you say, that weird plastic note. My bottle went back to BG. I stocked up on bottles of the vintage on eBay (alas not the beautiful airplane propeller bottles, but the smaller purse sprays. I may be putting one of them back up for auction though as I realize that I may have over-reacted.
Rapp – thanks so much for the nose knows confirmation! Yes, the juice is a very different color. The older stuff just sings! I’ve retested the new extrait I have about 10 times just in case my nose was suffering, and every time, I couldn’t even stand it! If you want to off load your extra VdN purse sprays on me, just let me know! I’d be more than happy to swap or $ for it….. What a travesty!
Email me, Ann at rappleyea11 at yahoo dot com and we’ll talk.
Hi everyone!
I started the day with Lipstick Rose, as the day looked dull and grey outside and wanted to lift the mood. On the way back from an appointment, I made a brief stop at Fortnum & Mason and bought a bottle of Tabac Blond extrait. I prefer the original, but this is marvelous as well.
My current niche discovery is Exotic Island Perfumes. I’ve just received the sample set and have tried them all and my favourite is Gardenia Exerberante. It’s a very realistic gardenia; almost a soliflore. I think it’s great for layering. The only thing though is that they don’t ship full bottles internationally.
I forgot to mention that I also bought Ouris by SoOud. It’s the smoothest peach scent ever. I was contemplating on buying MDCI Peche Cardinal, but this won me over as soon as I tried it. I’ve noticed that ever since buying a bottle of Guerlain Gourmand Coquin for my daughter, I’ve been leaning towards more gourmand scents as well. Who knew!?
It is dull & grey here too! Nice set of purchases. I will have to try Ouris, I do like a good peach.
Happy weekend everyone!
I recently sampled, and fell in love with, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. Unfortunately it is way out of my price range (especially since I can imagine going through a vat of it this winter.) I’ve seen old posts where NST readers have said there are many similar fragrances, but they don’t give the names. Can anyone tell me what a good, affordable substitute is? I enjoy the vanilla and sweetness but it is the pipe tobacco note that I am drawn to. It reminds me of my Pa who passed away earlier this year.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
I already swooned over Sonoma Scent Studio’s Tabac Aurea in an earlier comment, but I can’t resist repeating here.
Very nice pipe tobacco note, great lasting power, and a reasonable price tag. Good luck and have lots of fun on your search!
Lucy; I thought, perhaps Habanita, but I honestly can’t remember what Tobacco Vanille smells like… I looked it up on Fragrantica and a fair number of people (33) voted on Eau de Baux by L’Occitane.
Hi Lucy, for a vanilla and tobacco type scent I would add Chergui which is, however, probably softer than the TF. Its pricey but not AS pricey: ) Another is Mugler’s Amen Pure Havana. Its quite sweet and chocolatey and has most of its gorgeous tobacco towards the beginning…I’m not sure whether its easily available still in the US. Here in South Africa the department stores are carrying it at the same time as Amen Pure Shot (the next in the series).
L’Occitane’s Eau de Baux.
Love your Avatar- and the Album- and the Band!
This album and Live at Pompeii DVD made me like Pink Floyd. Love them. This is one of my favorite album covers of all time.
My favorite band since I was 14 years old- many, many moons ago! MEDDLE is one of my alltime favorite albums of any musical genre. and LIVE AT POMPEII-What can I say? A timeless classic! I like UMMAGUMMA as well, but it’s interesting that all of the members of the band are quite dismissive of it. I guess the writing was on the wall way back then,eh? Anyway, Happy sniffing along the Perfumed Road!
Meddle is one of my favorite PF albums, as Obscured by Clouds. Stay and Careful with that axe Eugene 2 of their best songs IMO. The first CD of Ummagumma seems to be a Roger Walters ego trip. I like when Gilmour show all his talent. Gilmour rocks!
Which cover is this? I don’t really like P.F.s earlier stuff inc. Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Saucerful of Secrets etc, but I pretty much knew the lyrics to The Wall as a teenager and liked also Dark side of the Moon, Wish you were Here…and Animals a little less. Actually, I liked Division Bell very much too – I agree Waters was better with PF, he needed the lift that Gilmour could give (though I suspect Gilmour also profited from Water’s more weighty tone).
Merlin, it’s the Ummagumma’s cover. Inside the package there’s a huge poster with the same picture. If you like Saurceful of Secrets I think you’ll like Syd Barret’s albums.
I used to dislike them, but changed my mind after watching to Live at Pompeii at a friend’s house and listening to Pulse.
Funny, some bands really work better together! But listen to Hushabye Mountain, There’s no way out of here and Breathrough (Rick’s song).
Here’s the wonderful Breathrough on Gilmour’s DVD called Gilmour In Concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcTXHZWKRUQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Note: Please Robin, if we can’t post this kind of link, just delete it.
The first one that springs to mind is Dunhill Desire, which is Captain Black pipe tobacco and spiced vanilla. Errs on the sweet side for me but worth exploring. And it’s cheap! Bought it for my dad years ago for the Captain Black reference! http://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/18280367375355590752?q=dunhill%20desire%20red&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari&sa=X&ei=ggCLULCyPMLA0QWYyYHQBA&ved=0CDUQ8wIwAA#hsec:overview
Tabac Aurea is worth a sniff though to my nose the tobacco is fresh cut tobacco rather than more mellowed pipe tobacco. It’s lovely and very tenacious so a bottle lasts awhile!
Versace The Dreamer – that’s a lovely sweet tobacco!
It’s worth trying BK Back to Black. The FBs are not cheap, but there are travel sets, refills, and the single travel refill vials show up on ebay.
Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. I’ve got some sampling to do.
I am wondering if it will ever be possible for me to have a signature scent. But I like so many different fragrances and just can’t wear the same thing over and over. Also, I love to try something new.
What do you think about having a signature scent? Is it easy for you to stick to just one fragrance?
Thank you!
I doubt you will find many signature scent folks here, although there may be a few…if you stick to one scent, you probably don’t hang out on a perfume blog — just the way it goes.
Yet what I find interesting is that some serious reviewers seem to have signature frags for years and years. Was it Luca Turin who used Mitsouko for years? And I’m sure I have heard of others! No matter how much I love, and even identify with, a fragrance – I still can’t wear the same thing for more than 3 days in a row. I’m wondering whether its a phase I will eventually grow out of.
Merlin, I believe he said he wore PdN New York for a decade, and that Mitsouko is his favorite perfume (not clear if he actually wears it, though).
Thanks for the correction Nozknoz!
Lol. So true. Maximum you will find top-ten-lists.
Who says you can’t have both? Why not have a signature scent you wear most of the time, and then some other scents for when you want to mix it up?
I suspect Robin’s right.
While I think that in theory it’s a lovely, romantic notion, I eventually abandoned any idea of a signature scent and embraced my perfume promiscuity. After all, I wouldn’t choose to drink just one wine, eat one dish, read one book, listen to one song….you get the idea. I have a bunch of favourites but I like smelling and wearing different things. It keeps the familiarity anosmia at bay and, if anything, makes those favourites all the more special when come back to them.
I think Robin’s right. It’s a nice idea, having a signature scent, but who wants to be monogamous with scent when you’re allowed to have so many fragrant choices?
Even tho I wear many different scents and change fragrances often, I still only think of a select few as signatures.
To me signature scent is a scent you can return to again and again, one you are comfortable in (very you) but one which also projects a voice to those around you. Best if not too many people wear it so people will associate it with you. Also, a good signature scent wears well with your clothes, love it when a scarf or sweater retains my signature when I put it on days later.
I think you can experiment with a lot of fragrances but still have a signature (or three).
I love how you put that, Lys. It’s like having a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, but only two or three best friends.
My SOTD is a new favorite, Volutes EDP. Just perfect for fall.
I agree, that’s the way to look at it – and I like the idea of multiple signatures!
Nicely put, Lys. One can have dozens of fragrances but still comes back again and again to that special one. Kind of romantic
Great points, Lys! I think I tend to have “signature notes” instead of “signature scents.” It’s nice to think that when someone smells a certain note like amber, tea, or smoke, it’ll bring up a fond (I hope!) memory of me. Although a single signature scent sure would be nicer to my wallet.
I used to like the idea of having a signature fragrance, even if i could not live the reality, especially when i read people having lovely scent memories of their mums. I would want such positive associations for my son. But he’s now showing an interest in perfumes, and we are goinf to blend some together, and i realize exploring variety together is a memory too!
Which is probably just a way of justifying being a perfume ho, hee hee.
Just received a bunch of SSS samples today 1 wow, does that Laurie know how to do woods! I fell in love with Champagne de Bois and just ordered a bottle!
Don’t know what that 1 is – perils of typing one fingered on an iPad!
I’m a huge fan of Laurie’s, TSP, and Champagne de Bois is one of my favorites. I also love Fig Tree, Incense Pure and my newest swoon is Forest Walk. Keep us informed as you sniff your way through the samples.
Can you remind me what TSP is? I haven’t yet tried Forest Walk, but one of my favourites is still Lieu de Rieves.
Lol! That was a comma after my comment and then TSP – short for her screen name, TheSnailsPajamas.
And you really had me racking my mind there! LOL.
She is a big favorite around here.
I got a sample of Champagne de Bois with my order and I wish I knew how wonderful it was because I would have gotten a bottle of it. Next time. SSS is fabulous.
Have people tried the Ann Gerard trio? I’m very tempted and would love to hear people’s thoughts.
Also, amber and aldehydics trip me up – to be concise, I like the bright aldehydes of Vetiver Pour Elle but shun the 24 Faubourg variety.
Will I like the new Ann Gerards?
I’ve been interested in Ann Gerard trio either, especially in Cuir de Nacre.
Whoever tries it first will have to report back to the other.
Funny I was just about to post that my SOTE is cuir de nacre! I got all 3 samples in the mail this week (as well as a bunch of others). Cuir is the first one I’m trying so far. First impression is that it is glamorous but approachable; it is not super heavy on the leather or iris, and not quite musky, all the notes just blend really nicely into a warm and comfy scent. Obviously I need to spend more time with it, but that’s my first impression. I will try to do so, as well as give my opinions on the other two in the next poll.
You make the Cuir sound really good. I’ll have to look for your impressions of the others next wkend.
The trio had been in my LuckyScent cart for a week…this may end up being a blind buy…
LOL blind buys. Resistance is futile.
Buying stuff cheap lately:
Michel Germain Sexual Pour Homme
Balenciaga Pour Homme
Angel Ice Men
B*Men
Azzaro Pour Homme Elixir
Azzaro Now Pour Homme (don’t like this one, too aquatic)
Forgot to list SOTD: Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente. The weather turned chilly and damp, and I needed a good dose of Myrrhe!
Love that one!
My partner hates it, and he happens to be out of town, so I’ll be wearing that and Kilian A Taste of Heaven, which he also detests.
You reminded me that I’ve been meaning to test that Kilian for ages now and I keep forgetting! In fact today I’m testing – for the 3rd time – Guerlain’s Myhrre et Delires trying to decide if I need a decant. All in all, I think it’s way too close to Myrrhe Ardente to justify the expense.
Sounds like I need to try Myrrhe Ardente, I tried Myrrhe et Delires recently and liked it a fair bit but wasn’t completely blown away. So far, my favourite is C&S Frankincense & Myrrh which is very cozy, warm and not remotely church-y.
Abyss – after wearing MeD yesterday, I definitely like Myrrhe Ardente better! Money saved!! Email me at rappleyea11 at yahoo dot com and I can send you some MA.
Oh, Rapple, that’s very kind. I’m in UK, though, so it might be too much hassle for you. I was near AG counter today and completely forgot to try it. I depend so much on lists that anything that’s not written down is guaranteed to slip my mind!
I was wondering how you think Prada’s Intense for men compares as a myrrh scent?
I’v done the same recently buying two bottles of DK Gold (when will I ever find such a beautiful frag for that price?) And a bottle of Halston Cologne which i think might be my gateway into chypres…
Then I went and bought Jovan’s Musk for Women, partly because I’v never seen it before, and it was so affordable (and I want so many perfumes which are not!) It smelled pretty good; but when I got home and compared it to my little decant of Claire de Musc I kind of balked! Put it back in the box and plan to gift it at Christmas as I know several people who will enjoy it.
Although – it layered very nicely with Cinema – making it a bit stronger and more persistent, so maybe I will weaken…
What did you think about B*Men?
I like it a lot, didn’t try it until recently. Sometimes I really love chocolate (as in A*Men), but if I don’t feel particularly ‘foody’ I can reach for B*Men.
Sounds nice to me! Thanks!
Using Spicebomb and interested in Frederich Malle line. I didn’t try any of them but their description…
Moore, I own partial bottles (both from ebay) of L’Eau d’Hiver and Lipstick Rose–LOVE them both! I suspect that a person could enjoy spending a lot of money on Malle!
I haven’t sniffed too many others, but I suspect they’re all at least well-made, which really earns big points from me! Now if only he had a sample coffret . . .
Love L’eau d’ Hiver!
Yeah! Malles are tempting to a blindbuy. Well-made frags score many points to me either, specially when the balance of notes is good.
Oh, I would need that sample coffret either, as for the Hermessences, Amouages, Tom Fords, Annick Goutals…
I think he does have a coffret, but I also think it’s pricey.
The prices are what kill us! Sometimes we pay for the boxes these samples come.
The Malle coffret used to come packaged like the art book that accompanies an exhibit so there were samples and there was literature. Just checked on the new one, which is just bottles – prices are indeed around $300, for the women’s and the 2012 line; around $200 for the men’s which has 2/3 as many bottles. I’m sticking to my carded samples! :/ :/ :/
WTH!!!!! For these prices I preffer a full bottle! I think we’re more interested in what’s inside the sample than in that book!
There are three FM coffrets (one with 8, one with 15, and one with 18 5 ml sprays).
Thank you so much. I’ll check the prices.
*fingers in ears*
Lalalalalalala!
Rofl! There’s no scape: the temptation is inside our heads!
SOTD is Winter Woods. It turned cold here today and I was out in a nature reserve walking with my daughters so it seemed th obvious choice! And boy does it sing when you are out in the cold air. My daughters, who just started their half-term break, kept wanting to hug me and sniff my neck!
They also love to huff a vintage Shalimar parfum I have ( thanks Portia!)- literally just lifting up with reverence and sniffing the bottle. Verdict- smells like Mummy! So today I let them have a little rummage in my sample sprays and choose something of their own to spritz and my 6 year-old chose L’air du Temps because it smells like ‘a flowery princess in a yellow gown’ and the 3 year old chose Eau Duelle because it smells like ‘ a pretty Mummy whose been making cookies’. Future fumies I think!
Wow! Your girls have great taste at a young age! Congrats, Mom! As big of a fan of Laurie that I am, I just now got samples of both Winter Wood and Fireside Intense. If we get the predicted cold weather tomorrow, WW will be my SOTD.
I think you’ll love Winter Woods, Rapple. It definitely needs cold weather though! I am a big SSS fan but have yet to try Champagne de Bois..funny how things work!
Winter Woods! Love it and can’t wait for some cool weather here to go to town with this particular scent- I live in Florida so Winter Woods when its in the 80’s is not the best environment to showcase it’s spectacular-ness! So I switch over to Tabac Aurea or a nice cooling spritz of Forest Walk (I am guilty of huffing the nozzle of this one at least daily-it’s like a refreshing cool drink of water on the hottest of days here)- Both are gorgeous year round down here. I am envying your nature walk in the brisk weather with the family- send some this way please!
The cool weather I mean, you can keep the kids! =P
Today I bought a FULL BOTTLE- which I hardly ever do unless I am head over heels- and that doesnt happen too terribly often. I am usually satisfied with samples and have very few FB’s.
So, not only did I buy a FB, it was a FLANKER (gasp!) and I need it like I need a hole in the head since I already have the original and another flanker. But there is something about this scent that just makes my heart open wide- it pushes all my buttons, flips all my switches, and rings my bell- all at the same time!
Yes I bought a FB of L’AMBRE DES MERVAILLES!
It’s gorgeous and I am in love! Again! Plus I got it 20% off at Sephora because of Friends and Family (this is how I justified a FB purchase to myself). Now it sits next to my original EAU in the PEGASUS bottle and the ELIXER. They make a lovely trio!
NOTHING can possibly smell better than me right now!
Congrats, and nice buy — I’d like a bottle myself.
Deva, did you find it similar at all to Sensuous Nude at all. I didn’t try them side by side but it reminded me of S.N.
Merlin,
No I dont really find it similar to SN but I am probably the least knowledgable person following this blog. And I dont really care about ingredients, noses, history, or specifics of a perfume overmuch, but do find these things interesting in a minor way.
For me, it’s all about the emotions a scent evokes.
L’AMBRE still retains the warm saltiness of the original, but it is, in my uneducated opinion, sexier, cozier, more feminine, and it has an intersting duality that the original and all the flankers from this line have- it is simultaneously soothing and calming while also being energizing and optimistic. Sorry, this probably doesnt help you much, but I look at fragrance from a decidedly odd perspective. Get yourself a sample and give it a whirl!
Energizing and soothing too is a great description!
I don’t think the way you think of perfume is odd at all. Analyzing it in terms of notes, history and noses is definitely a minority pre-occupation! Most people simply enjoy art, of all kinds, and only some people seem driven to analyse it more technically. And, I think trying to analyze can ruin the enjoyment for some people: its like the spirit leaves the temple!
Watching the news and trying to figure out where this damn storm is going to hit. These things make me nervous. My landline phone is dead today too for some reason so I get to wait all day tomorrow for Verizon to come out. My fear is that there’s something wrong underground and they will need to did up my yard to repair it. So basically I’m just sitting back and waiting for a series of disasters to occur.
Wearing Field Notes from Paris and hoping the lavender note will calm my nerves.
So sorry
SOTD: Kenzo Jungle L’Èlèphant. Bois de Jasmin recently reviewed it and from the first paragraph, I knew I needed a sample. The sample arrived yesterday and now I’m huffing it like teen with a paper bag and spray paint. Luckily, I’m going to Anchorage on Monday so this one is going straight to the top of my shopping list.
Hope you’ll find a bottle!
SOTD–Honeysuckle Bird from Soivohle. This is so lush and wonderful and I’m glad she now has it in a demi-absolute so I could get a travel spray. Glad I got it before I lost my job yesterday. My intuition is just telling me to rest for a couple of weeks before job hunting again (I still have a little part-time job). At least I’ll have a few days where I can wear Black Cashmere and Honeysuckle Bird and Amber Oud.
Also went to MIN today and sampled R’oud Elements, Cuir Fetiche, Maroc pour Elle, and ambre from Mona di Orio. Think I’ll need to rtry. Cuir Fetiche solo.
Sorry to hear about your job situation. I am a big believer in intuition so spray some Black Cashmere with abandon and wait until you know it’s time to look again. Best of luck!
I love the name Honeysuckle Bird. Enjoy some time off and then best of luck with the search!
Sorry about your job. Hope everything turns out okay for you.
SOTD – Loretta by Andy Tauer. I kind of love it! Very strong for the first 45 minutes on my skin but then something magical happens and I can’t quit sniffing the crook of my elbow.
From Fragrantica: The fragrance is a composition of sensual white flowers, dominated by tuberose and accompanied by jasmine and orange blossom. Dark ripe fruit like plum give the composition additional sweetness with velvety rose also on top. The dark side of the character is captured by notes of patchouli, ambergris, leather, sweetened orris root and woody – resinous tones.
I love this. I think people either love it or hate it. The dry down is the best part.
Hi LadyMurasaki,
Agreed! The dry down is the best part.
I just cannot quit sniffing my elbow.
~Dawn
I find it quite wonderful. After an hour it stays very close to my skin – my nose is glued to my wrist
It’s a remarkable perfume!
SOTE: Une Rose Chypree, from my new FB, natch!
I seem to remember saying not so long ago that, despite my name, I am not much of a rose scent lover. And yet, my favorite scents this summer and fall are nearly all rose scents! Nostalgie, Lipstick Rose, and Une Rose Chypree are getting A LOT of wear! How about that?! (All three of them have been left out from my packing boxes.)
I love rose scents!
You know, my complaint about them when I first got into fragrance, was that they seemed to smell thin–lacking the warmth and complexity of a true rose. These scents that I’ve learned to love, though, don’t fall into that trap. I’d love to find a rose soloflore that really felt like a bit nose-full of rose bloom in June, but I’ve yet to sniff one.
Try Higness Rose.
Oh shoot. You have to recommend a Montale?! I’ve been avoiding those . . .
I had the same experience with rose scents for quite a while. Most of them seemed thin and sharp and turned sour on my skin. I have found several that avoid that pitfall, but most of them are not cheap. You might try SSS Velvet Rose, if you have not yet. The SSS scents are reasonably priced, and you can get a purse spray for less than $20, and Velvet Rose is very nice, if not my absolute favorite. AG Rose Absolue is beautiful, one of the best I have tried. It can be hard to find. Yosh Sottile is a good one too. I find it smells “wet” like a rose with raindrops or dew drops on it, but not thin or sour, it stays true without going sour, and the perfume oil (the form that I have) lasts forever. I get 12+ hours out of it, and virtually nothing lasts that long for me. My absolute favorite rose, though, is Shiseido White Rose. It is absurdly expensive, very difficult to buy in the U.S., but absolutely beautiful.
Velvet Rose is nice. It doesn’t go sour on me either.
Thanks, 50! I knew I could count on you to have some recommendations! Of course, “expensive” and “hard to find” are not descriptors that thrill me! It always seems to be those scents that end up making me swoon! I will put them on my “to sniff” list anyway!
When i’m really wanting rose I tend to reach for the ‘bright’ roses rather than the so-called dark ones which are usually more of a mix of notes. I liked Sa Majeste la Rose for a long time but somehow never bought the bottle…sometimes I love it, sometimes its slightly soapy. The inexpensive Paul Smith Rose is lovely, brightened as it is with a green tea note. Every now and then I even like a bit of Tea Rose, though its easy to overdose on that, and I tend to prefer it layered with an oriental. But, I’m also wanting that smell of an actual dark red rose – its an exquisite and very particular aroma I just haven’t yet found in a perfume.
I recently re-tried my Rose Chypree sample, and I like it much better now that it’s fall. May need a FB! I have been wearing Sa Majeste la Rose when I get home from work, and I love its rich optimistic comfort.
Don’t do that to me! I’m just starting to get over my Sa Majeste lemming – although I’m starting to get a Chergui lemming in its place???
I almost hate to say this, but I have both! I highly recomnend owning each one
Merlin, SL lemmings are among the most relentless!
S.L. is a ‘niche’ brand that IS available here and I STILL don’t own a single one! I have small decants of Ambre Sultan and Clair de Musc; and his Jasmine one nearly put me off jasmine for life! Lately though I am starting to appreciate the hum of most of his scents. Usually the sillage is not great on me but I’m starting also to appreciate the quality of the ingredients used.
My Chergui lemming was flaring up last night even though I have both Pure Havana (seemed too chocolatey and sweet). I doused myself in Eau de Beaux as so many people recommend it above as a tobacco scent (which I hadn’t thought of it as) and it did actually hit the spot.
Bluepinegrove: Can I ask which other Lutens you have invested in? (I think we may have quite similar taste!)
SOTN is Guerlain Derby. I’m curious about some Guerlains, many Serge Lutens and Le Labos.
You smell great!
So sweet of you! Thanks!
Hi!! I’m newbie and trying to understand your magical world. This week I’ve received Ormonde Jayne’s discovery set, and , being me a “green floral girl ” (and I used to ignore others scents),I loved Tolu… Could someone help me finding another amber scent that I may like it too?
Welcome! Aliem by Thierry Mugler.
I’ve never tried this… Thank you!
You might try Alahine.
It sounds really nice… !! But maybe I will have a trouble to get a sample, I’m from Brazil… Thank you!
And so am I! Nice to meet you!
And I’m not, but I’m not in America either, so nice to meet you both!
The pleasure is ours!
Hi, Moore!! Hi, Merlin!! Nice to meet you too!
How about Ambre Noir from Sonoma Scent Studio? The SSS scents are reasonably priced, and available in 1 ml dab or 2.5 ml spray samples, as well as purse sprays and FBs.
Reading SSS’s page, I’ve found more fragrances that sound very interesting too, maybe it’s worth to pay the shipping cost. Thank you!
Tolu is a herby, balsamic scent so, for a herby amber that’s not too sweet I’m thinking Lutens Ambre Sultan.
Thank you! Do you know if there is samples available?
Yup, Lutens do samples so, if you have a counter nearby, then it’s always worth asking a friendly-looking SA. Not sure where in the world you are, but there are also websites like lessenteurs.com (UK) and theperfumedcourt.com & surrendertochance.com (US) which sell samples. And it’s always worth checking ebay.
Oh and I forgot to mention that you have a great taste, Tolu is wonderful even though I can only wear it in the coldest of weathers.
Thank you!! I’m from Brazil, that is why is so difficult to get samples, and , call me stupid , but I’ m afraid to use eBay… I know, everybody does but I still can’t trust… LOL!
Welcome! Surrender to Chance (surrendertochance.com), a perfume sample/decant site, just had an article about amber in their last email newsletter. Lots of suggestions here:
http://surrendertochance.com/amber-perfume/
Not affiliated, although I wish I were!
Thank you! This is a good way to discover new scents!
So I don’t know Tolu, but I’m newly enamored with Jo Malone Dark Amber and Ginger Lily, presently available in the Cologne Intense line. (As an aside: I wonder whether anyone knows if this is the same formulation as the Kohdo Wood limited edition by the same name a few years ago? Just curious.) In my area, Blue Mercury and Saks don’t have it (yet?) but Nordstrom does.
It’s supposed to be a re-release of the same thing. Whether they tweaked it or not is a different matter, of course, but it smells the same to me. I like Dark Amber & Gingerlily a lot but it’s nothing like Tolu.
That’s my understanding too. It’s much lighter than Tolu in any case.
I’m not an amber fan myself — I like it more in the background — but Chanel’s Coromandel and Parfum d’Empire’s Ambre Russe are nice.
Hi!! I used to dislike amber too, but lately I’ve discovered that they need a second chance…! Thank you for your advice!
Today I’m wearing Pentachord White…. There is mint on it? Why is seems like Tictac candies for me?
SOTD is Diptyque Volutes EDT. I am trying to decide which one I like better — the EDT or the EDP and I am afraid I love them both equally.
Hajusuuri, I’m also trying to decide, and the EdT is my SOTD! To me, they are too different to ignore the difference, and too similar to think about getting both. I’m leaning toward the EdP because it reminds me of my mother’s cigarettes and Coty face powder.
LOL @ “they are too different to ignore the difference, and too similar to think about getting both” – good way of putting it.
So after trying both EDP and EDT several times, the EDT won out. My Nordstrom SA will be ordering it for me for the upcoming fragrance event on November 2nd. It is also double points day on account of the Women and Children Anniversary Sale. Knowing me though, at some point, I may also acquire the EDP but for now, the EDT will satisfy me.
Would love to know which one ends up selling more.
Another question … anyone try Womanity Fragrance of Leather/Parfum de Cuir? It seems like it’s the only one of the Mugler Cuirs that’s not going to come to any stores near me, and it is the one that I’m most interested in. Last year I got Angel Taste of Fragrance – I dislike original Angel. So I don’t want to go just by my feelings for regular Womanity …
Anyone who’s tried it please let me know your thoughts.
Also, I like the new Alien Parfum de Cuir.
I would like to have the entire Alien flankers samples!
I don’t normally like Alien for me but the Cuir was nice. I also had a favorable impression of the Essence, but didn’t try it on skin yet.
Essence is the one I more curious about!
The best part of Alien is the base IMO.
I think the Allien Essence Absolue is remarkably well done, probably better than Alien Cuir, but in the end, it’s too sweet for my taste. Cuir was much more to my liking and actually cuts some of the sweetness of original Alien, I think.
If it was in my budget, I think I’d get Alien Parfum de Cuir… it’s glorious. Hoping I’ll see it next year at the discounters…
That’s a good idea.
I’ve seen some of the “Taste of Fragrance” scents at the discounters this year. Here’s hoping…
The Frankenstorm is coming! Please recommend perfumes for a) a dreary weekend of storm preparation checklists, poring over weather blogs and worrying whether one’s area will take a direct or indirect hit b) a claustrophobic day or so of heavy rain and wind, and c) possible power outages and no heat (or internet!).
I would suggest something comforting or calming. Whatever would be a comfort scent for you. Our power was out for two weeks with Hurricane Ike, and it just takes a lot of patience. I got so tired of the darkness, no AC, no TV, no stove, no washer or dryer, etc., but there was nothing we could do except wait for it to be restored. At least we never lost our water or our sewer, and we have a gas water heater so we could take warm showers. I hope you have a charcoal or propane grill so you can at least prepare a hot meal.
Two weeks is a LONG time! I’m in an apartment building, so no grill, and I guess lack of heat is my biggest concern. Getting out the sleeping bag! I wore SSS Tabac Aurea yesterday, and I’m definitely keeping it where I can find it by flashlight.
The worst part for me was the actual storm. We were in an evacuation zone, so we were supposed to leave, but didn’t. In part it was because we had four cats, one of whom had just had surgery, and I was afraid it would be too stressful on them. Listening to sustained 100 MPH winds for hours on end is a nerve-wracking experience. When it was all over, I was so relieved that our house was not significantly damaged that everything else seemed trivial by comparison.
How cold is it where you are? I hope you are able to keep warm. Our outage was during warm weather, so it was the AC we were missing. It really is a good idea to locate things you will want now while you still have power and lights to see what you are doing. You don’t realize how much harder it is to find things by flashlight until you have to do it. I would suggest getting a headlamp (a flashlight mounted on a headband) if you don’t have one. It is so much easier to manage when you have both hands free, rather than having one hand occupied carrying around a flashlight. A battery powered lantern is helpful also. It is much better than a flashlight for illuminating a large area.
There was a sort of silver lining to it all for us. My husband and I are in a single family house with a yard and patio, so we can have a grill. When I would get home from work, I would start right away getting everything going. Working by flashlight, it takes a long time to collect everything, carry it outside, cook the meal, carry it back inside, and clean up. It was OK, though, because we didn’t really have anything else to do, with no power. The upside is that we spent the evenings together just talking and enjoying each others’ company, with no distractions from TV, housework, and so forth. It was really very peaceful. Make no mistake, I like electricity and have no wish for it to go out again like that, but we were able to make some lemonade from the lemons.
So glad you had no damage, and a reasonably peaceful time.
We have done nearly no prep work (we’re inland enough that our main concern is power loss), but we do have batteries for the flashlights & camp lantern.
What an experience, 50 Roses – the things we do for our beloved pets! I know what you mean – it can be so peaceful without electricity and just focusing on survival.
Here in the DC area, winds won’t be nearly that strong, but trees will come down and widespread power loss can be expected. Great advice – I really need to pull out all those useful things – I know that head flashlight is here somewhere! Lows of 30-40 degrees are projected, so it could get very uncomfortable. There is greater concern for coastal and low-lying areas, though.
50Roses, I know what you mean about the sound. It’s just unreal, isn’t it? If I never hear that again (I wish!) I’ll be a happy camper.
I have to say the aftermath is the worst for me, because I really like my comforts – Florida in August with no A/C is pretty awful. And I really, really missed being able to use my washing machine while our power was out. Ever since then, we’ve added “do laundry” to our hurricane preparation list.
Gotta say, doing without all the things we’re used to fills me with admiration for our grandparents and great-grandparents, etc. for whom that was normal life.
nozknoz, find a nice, contemplative scent and focus on its beauty. That’s always worked for me.
Ah, Noz — no recommendations but lots of sympathy for everyone on the East Coast who’s facing the onslaught of Sandy the Storm! I myself am going out this am to try to stock up on a few things. Hope the other hoarders didn’t beat me to it last night!
My walk-out basement is undoubtedly going to flood, so I’m worrying over that without actually being able to do anything to prevent it. Hope all of you fare better!
Oh, dear! Would sand bags help? I’ve read that the DC government has sand bags available; it could be worth checking your local government website. I’m worried about the Metro being affected by flooding and getting stuck somewhere!
I agree with 50 Roses’s suggestion re: comforting scents, but your “claustrophobic” comment had me also considering that uplifting citrus scents or ones with a good citrus/bergamot/petitgrain opening might also work. Lavender is very calming as well. Sending you lots of positive waves – NOT storm surge waves!
Great idea – now I’m thinking of Shalimar for the lemony opening and warm sandalwood…
Well, you know my love for Guerlains… I’d always want one with me in an emergency!
I plan to shelter in place with my entire collection!
Ugh. I am already irritable just thinking about days w/ no power, which is REALLY a stupid way to waste my time — why get irritable before it starts?
Robin, I caught myself thinking, anxiously, “MUST charge my Kindle!” Then I remembered: I still have tons of actual paper books and magazines!
LOL…but I am the same! MUST.HAVE.DEVICES.
SOTD is Bulgari Black, and BOTE (beer of the evening) is Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout. It actually feels kind of like fall today (by Houston standards, anyway). It was a cool, gray day, and I’m celebrating the fact that it’s (finally) not 90 degrees outside. It’s supposed to be back up in the 80s mid-week so I’m enjoying it while I can.
Isn’t it nice? I’ve thought it has been pretty nice lately anyway with the lower humidity (and fewer mosquitoes), but the lower temp today was so refreshing. I am looking forward to bringing out all my heavier scents that have been in exile since April.
My friend and I made a covert trip to Saks the other day to nab samples, and I randomly spritzed Chantecaille Kalimantan on a card and immediately fell in love. I’m usually not one for sweet scents, but this has some awesome skankiness in the middle that really makes it jump out at you. I’m surprised there aren’t more reviews about it!
LYDDI,
I fell in love with Kalimantan as well! I sampled the 5 or so scents from this line one day and for the next week, I kept thinking “KALIMANTAN! KALIMANTAN!” It was like a mantra in my head, complete with beating drums, lol. Looked on-line and rarely found any mention of it anywhere.
So about a month later, I went back to ask for a sample (which was like asking for the moon apparently!) and I took it home and played with it and decided I actively DISLIKED it! It was the strangest thing! I think I liked the MEMORY of it better than I liked the actual scent and I was quite disappointed with myself but in the end, it turned out just fine since it is crazy expensive (at least in my world). I would recommend getting a sample and really wearing the heck out of it before thinking about a FB.
Hi all. Sotd- serge lutens jeux de peau. Getting cold in england and i am craving sweet.
On that note, wondering if anyone can recommend a good sweet fruity perfume that can flirt with frooty ( to use mals’ term), but doesn’t have that plasticky edge, if that makes sense? Sorta like the fruity version of angel le gout? Fruity-sweet gets a lot of flak for being dreck, and i tend to agree that most of them set me on edge, but i do really like the original miss dior cherie, and estee lauder bali dream, both difficult to get now!
I think Guerlain’s Petite Robe Noire is a great edition to the genre! Also many perfumistas liked Penhaligon’s Amarinthine (though it didn’t do it for me).
Thanks, i will give that guerlain a try. Amarinthine sounded great but was meh for me.
Oh, and another: Traversee du Bosphore. Very highly acclaimed, as well, but a little too sweet for me (and I like sweet!) Another one I liked but not highly regarded was Cartier Delices. The flanker though, Delices Fruitee was too much even for me:)
If i recall correctly ( dicey business depending on MY memory, ha ha) that was a bit too much leather for me. Funny huh. Everyone says it’s sweet but on me it was quite horrifyingly leather-y. Not even lovely chanel 19 leather. Heh.
Cartier delices sounds nice, and the bottle is lovely! Thanks merlin.
So strange: I wish I could smell the leather in it! I tried my sample again today and only icing-apple!
Well, my skin does weird things with leather. Daim blonde went dead cows, rather than suede and apricot. No apricot at all!
I like this as well. I get a strong black tea running through it that gives it a great edge.
Mmm, black tea. Wish there was a good lapsang souchoung scent out there.
How about original Be Delicious? That’s exuberantly fruity without being either cloying or shrill. Womanity Eau Pour Elles adds a strawberry note to the original’s fig, haven’t tried it but might also be worth following up on since you mention Angel PdG.
I liked be delicious but when i returned to it recently, there was something that gave me a headache. I keep it around to sniff occasionally though.
Thanks for the womanity suggestion!
How about Badgley Mischka (the original one)? That’s plenty frooty and quite fun.
I’m a big fan of fruity perfumes that are intelligent and don’t smell completely fake.
I would recommend Neela Vermeire Creations Bombay Bling, the two Perfume Pharmer Strawberry Passion Perfumes, Nez a Nez Ambre a Sade, Tauer’s Une Rose Vermeille, Sweet Anthem Corrin… I actually rather like the original Juicy Couture and Viva La Juicy as well, though I know they have a lot of haters.
That’s off the top of my head – I feel like I’m forgetting some of my faves.
Seconding the Bombay Bling. I am really not a fruity floral person, but when I sniffed BB, I thought that if I ever did want a fruity perfume, that would be the one. If definitely is an intelligent smelling perfume, not an airheaded one, and the fruity notes smell very natural.
How about Jimmy Choo EDT? From the Nordstrom website (although instead of pear, I actually smell apple):
“Inspired by today’s most dynamic women, Jimmy Choo Eau de Toilette is versatile, fresh and original. A luminous scent that puts an original twist on the Jimmy Choo Parfum with a new alchemy of notes: crystalline rose with sexy orchid accents, sparkling fresh ginger and pear on a vibrant woody base. To reinforce the fresh essence, the fragrance seductively sparkles in beautifully crafted, subtly iridescent bottle. “
Oh Hajusuuri, I didn’t know that! Stay safe!
I saw your note above, Lucas. Thanks. The hurricane path and strength keeps changing and I hope it blows out into the Atlantic – I would rather have the cold weather, although not snow.
I will pray for the hurricane not to hit you :*
Today I’m wearing Naïviris by Huitième Art, a lovely powdery dark iris that I’m completely obsesset with at the moment. I bought it at Les Senteurs in London last week-end after sniffing my way through most of the iris scents in the store. Amazing shop, wonderful staff – so inspiring! And I got samples too (Amouage Ubar!!!).
I got to try that Naiviris thing
I think you would like it, it has a lot in common with VC&A Bois d’Iris. If I smell them side by side I find Naïviris a bit more rooty and dry. Bois d’Iris is a little sweet on my skin, I get a whiff of honey from Bd’I when I compare the two. Both are powdery but Naïviris stays closer to the skin.
Thanks for sharing this comparison. I own a bottle of VC&A Bois d’Iris and I really like it’s woody, sweet-salty nature.
I think I would like Naiviris too. Would give it a try one day.
SOTD Highness Rose. Listening to “Sugar” and “Man on a wire” by Garbage.
I’ve got a question today!
Is anyone familiar with Esteban Parfums, Parfums d’Orsay or Carner Barcelona?
New niche perfumery has just been opened in Warsaw. Unfortunately I live far from Warsaw and this new perfumery won’t offer sample purchases in their online offer.
I did some research and found that Carner Barcelona offers samples on their main website, so is Esteban Parfums (10 samples set) since I don’t know them I’m not sure to blind buy.
Are those lines good?
I sniffed some Estebans recently at Avery Perfumery in New Orleans. I like them and for the price I think they’re very well done. I ended up purchasing one for my husband – Folie de Figue. He had been looking for a masculine fig fragrance for himself. It’s probably his favorite perfume in his current rotation!
That’s helpful. Thank you.
Hello, Lucas! This is probably of no use to you, but I know Esteban through their home fragrances, which are lovely. I have always thought of this house as being similar to L’Artisan Parfumeur, although perhaps their fragrances may be slightly less complex than L’Artisan’s.
x
You really helped sweetie. After trying more and more L’Artisan I clearly get the point that this house is actually not for me, with exception of discontinued Iris Pallida and Safran Troublant.
I think I’ll order the set some other time because I have other perfume expenses at the moment (bought 10ml decant of L’Heure Bleue, buying my first bottle of Parfum d’Empire next week and there will be a split of Dior Privee in the evening and I want a sample of that one)
Glad I helped! Is your L’Heure Bleue decant in extrait? This is spooky as I have just “won” a bottle of it on eBay, but it’s eau de toilette. I would love the pure parfum …… we have good taste, don’t we!?
My L’Heure Bleue decant would be an EdP. I have a sample of vintage EdT of L’Heure Bleue and it was a main reason I springed for a decant. I’m hoping it would smell similar to this vintage which I adore.
Didn’t try extrait form of L’Heure Bleue but I believe this stuff is gorgeous. Gotta try it one day.
SOTD is Saffron Troublant, so perfect for the day. Fall has me in the mood for pudding-y smells, and I’m considering Costume National 21, which has been described as “wood pudding.” would anyone care to comment on that one?
I can’t comment on the fragrance but on puddings, oh, I love all kinds!
Favorites? Do tell!
I like many many types. Maybe the best: condensed milk pudding, condensed milk with peanut pudding, chocolate pudding, milk pudding, cassava pudding, bread pudding with candied fruit and guava, quindim, caçarola…
Haven’t tried that one, but Frapin 1697 is the most amazing spicy cognac creme brulee – do try it if you get a chance!
I had to go to the nearest big city today and, since the serious matters only took up about half an hour of my time, I had plenty of time to catch up on some new-ish releases. Tried 5 of the most recent By Kilians, the leather Muglers, new Tom Ford. Nothing really stood out for me so I didn’t even bother asking for samples. I thought Philosykos EDP was really nice, but I expected to like it anyway.
Also, has anyone tried Piguet Mademoiselle? Am I crazy or is it actually a really nice orange blossom. Sadly, I only sniffed briefly so I’m not sure if I imagined it.
Anyway, instead of perfume, I splurged on Michel Cluizel milk chocolate bar with salted caramel butter and Mariage Frères Marco Polo tea. And helped myself to a generous spritz of Bois des Îles at Chanel counter so that’s my SOTD.
Ironically I want to try all these you’ve tried!
For what it’s worth, the only one I actively disliked was the Kilian aquatic flower whatsitname. I hope you do better with them than I did nonetheless.
I read one of the Kilians smells like L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme. Blergh! But the Tom Fords sounds good, as Cafe Rose.
It’s probably that one, I got a strong Eau d’Issey harsh 90’s aquatic vibe from it.
The Tom Ford that I tried was Noir from the mainstream line, not the private blends. It was my second least favourite – a soapy lavender masculine which basically just smelled like some shaving product.
Soapy fragrances are “my beach”. Like them too much.
I’d like to try Piguet Mademoiselle… Although the latest set of Piguets don’t seem to be getting a lot of love, do they?
I hadn’t heard much about them yet, good or bad. I’d love to try Mademoiselle and the others and am wondering if they’ll find their way to stores anytime soon (other than Bergdorf).
It’s true and I wonder if it’s because people don’t like them, haven’t tried them yet because they are not easily available or they are just put off by the en masse release. I think I’ve tried them all now but I’m still working on trying to remember which one is which. So far, Mademoiselle, is the one that’s gotten me curious and I definitely want to test it properly.
That said, Piguets don’t get that many mentions, anyway, especially anything other than Fracas and Bandit.
Yeah, the en masse release is problematic, but maybe since you say people don’t really think about Piguet beyond Fracas and Bandit, doing 5 at once is a way to create attention? Or maybe there’s plans to distribute them different places? IDK.
I only recently found Piguet testers at my Neiman Marcus, HIDING on the back of the Gucci Flora flanker display. I would put them out front by the Kurkjian line >:D I think they do a good job at Piguet of maintaining high standards so I want to try these new ones but I generally don’t order decants unless it’s something very unavailable.
I was in peach heaven today with my SOTD, Ouris. Moving into the night, it’ll be Tabac Blond. Thoroughly enjoying my latest purchases!
I’m impatiently waiting for my cold to clear up — haven’t been able to properly smell or taste anything since Wednesday. This situation wouldn’t be *quite* so bad if I didn’t have a fresh batch of samples to try, and if that fresh batch of samples didn’t include Vero Profumo Mito and Tableau de Parfums Loretta.
I notched my first Q4 purchase last week: 50 mL of 10 Corso Como. After using up two samples (the first of which I nearly tossed because of a “meh” inital reaction), I decided it was love. And I had a bit of spare freelancing cash, so it was clearly the only reasonable thing to do.
Get better soon!
Thanks, Robin.
A perfumista with a cold is a tragedy. It’s so depressing when the sniffer isn’t working right. Hope you feel better soon.
I love 10 Corso Como. I’m on my second sample too. I just wish it were a bit stronger. It’s hard to tell from dabbing from a vial but do you find it has more presence when sprayed?
Yes, 10CC is definitely stronger when sprayed (in my experience). It also seems a bit sharper in the opening minutes, an effect I don’t really care for — but that phase passes pretty quickly.
Today I’m bidding farewell to the last of Hurricane Sandy. She can’t leave too soon, since the last few days have been windy (30-40 mph & gusting much higher) and generally yucky. We’re supposed to be getting a cold front (70s – freeeeezing for us) next week, so I’ve been rummaging through the collection digging out my favorite cold weather fumes: I love this time of year! Next week looks like a line-up of Tabac Aurea, Femme, Jungle l’elephant, Champagne des Bois, and Maharanih. Yay! for cold weather.
So glad it’s over for you!
Here’s hoping you’ve stocked up on batteries, Robin. I hope Sandy will not be as bad as predicted.
I think we’ve got enough, thanks! And we just did a major reorganization of our two refrigerators so we can use 1 of them like a big cooler if the power goes out — I just HATE not being able to open the refrigerator!
Enjoy the silver lining, Aparatchick!
Robin and fellow chocolate lovers – I just heard on the news that Sunday is National Chocolate Day!
Mwaa ha ha ha!!!
(, she laughed sinisterly)
Oh good! Because that’s how I was planning to spend the day anyway if the storm is as bad as they say
Perfect. I baked chocolate cupcakes.
Thanks, Rapple!
Indication of my mindset: when I went to the supermarket yesterday to stock up on non-perishables in preparation for the Frankenstorm, I was amazed to see that the chocolate section had NOT been decimated!
Obviously these people don’t have their priorities straight! Man (or woman) cannot live by water and batteries alone!
Ha, Rapp, I stocked up on chocolate bars myself!!
Wearing SL Bas de Soie, pretending that it’s May despite the cold, dark, rainy day.
Has anyone seen Karin (or Karen)? Are you out there?
I finally got a chance to try Chinatown by Bond No.9. I like it, but I didn’t like the price tag: $265 for a 50ml bottle (in Japan). I’m pretty sure there are other vanilla scents out there that are really similar to it. At one point it reminded me of SL Un Bois Vanille, but SL has better sillage and longevity. So, can anyone suggest twin scents to Chinatown? Thank you. (I checked Fragranatica, but the “reminds me of” scents mentioned there are not available in Japan).
Try Lolita Lempicka Coral Flower (Fleur du Corail). It’s not as creamy as Chinatown, but has some similarities IMO.
Good suggestion! I agree, the scents kind of work similarly. I love both.
Thank you both. I will put it on my for test list.
Le Maroc Pour Elle
Has anyone tried Poudre de Riz by Huitieme Art? I’ve been wondering about that. I see it is backordered at Luckyscent.
Joining Jill’s question!
Hello good smelling people
I havent been able to use or enjoy perfume for nearly 4 months now, which is very unusual for a perfume addict like me. All of my beloved bottles are stored away for now, they only make me sick. And my husband are not allowed to wear his scents either.
Little baby expected in april <3
That makes it worth it! Congrats.
Thank you, Robin. It really does.
I’m really late for this tread, but still… Does anybody know the fragrance Amor-Amor by Cacharel? I liked it, but I have a feeling that it’s a dupe (or at least an interpretation of some other older fragrance… Can’t remember which, and I would really like to wear an original classic – the thing that started the whole family of those sweet powdery fragrances.
I actually found a topic on basenotes about the similarities of Alien by Mugler and Amor Amor. They share perfumers and notes. I think this might be it. Although Alien is not exactly a classic – I would rather have the Alien bottle on my drawer.