Same old same old: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you'd love to find in vintage, the weather, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Blue and purple by Simon at flickr; some rights reserved.
Happy start of summer vacation, all!
Ok, I recognize it isn’t the start for everyone, and actually not really for me either! Yesterday was my last contracted day of the school year, but I am committed to coming in next week at least a couple days. BUT this week I learned that I have to move my room (a BIG project for a science teacher!), they are moving me to a new teaching team, so I have some prep to do so I can relax this summer.
The weather here in Portland has been lovely, but variable–cool and clear in the mornings, warm with spotty clouds in the afternoon. I’m finding myself wanting to envelop myself in scents rather than going sheer and perhaps more summer-appropriate. I wore Ta’if from a sample yesterday, and I think it may be FBW. I didn’t connect with it last few times I’ve sampled it, but I was digging it yesterday!
My mom is a retired science teacher. She would bring the animals (snakes, guinea pigs, etc.) from her classroom home in the summer, and I always enjoyed that. She liked working with junior high school kids — someone has to like hanging out with 13-year olds 🙂 I haven’t chosen a SOTD yet.
I *LOVE* my middle-school kids!
I don’t have any animals–the stupid school district did an across-the-board ban on animals without a “direct educational purpose.” I got away with an illicit fish tank for about a year, but after the last fish passed away, I haven’t been brave enough to repopulate it.
I *do* have a carload of plants to transfer home every summer, though! And then there are all those cool toys you only use for one demo, but you keep them because nothing else is quite as good!
Hi, Marjorie Rose, and happy holidays!
I adore Ta’if, and have got through two bottles, which is rare for me as I usually get fed up with a perfume before I get to the end. I like it best when the weather is cooler. The Ta’if candle is equally gorgeous and in fact is how I was introduced to it in the first place. But I wonder …… is it weird to smell the same as your candle????
Wow–two FBs? I haven’t gone through even one of any one fragrance, yet (although I’m close on a few).
I like that the rose is a deeper note, suits the woody/spicy base that is so common to the OJ scents. It was the prominence of that base that had me unsure before. I already have OJ Woman, and I felt that Ta’if didn’t really add something new, but this time around, that rose is really calling to me. Admittedly, I’ve been in a rose phase this year, though!
Happy summer, Marjorie Rose! My husband is a night custodian at a middle school and enjoys summer hours – they work four 8hr days and take a long weekend. When I worked for schools that first day of vacation felt so wonderful!
Does your husband switch to days during the summer? That’s what our custodial staff does–they seem to appreciate having a team to work together for a few months and a bit of a more normal sleeping schedule.
I think I will really feel that end-of-year happiness once I get my new room in order. . . !
Happy Summer vacation Marjorie! Enjoy the break!
Thanks, Poodle! It will be good to maybe finally catch up on my sleep. 🙂
Results of my last exam of this semester and university year were announced in the middle of the week. I passed with one of the highest scores (got “4”, when the highest grade is “5”)
It was an ultra happy news for me. I can’t believe I finished my 4th year at university. Only one more year before graduation.
Now I can start thinking about my vacation + on Monday I will find out if I got accepted for an internship in a chemical or cosmetics brand laboratory. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Scent of Saturday is Arquiste L’Etrog. Happy weekend.
Congratulations and good luck with getting an internship!
Thank you! I was told that my chances are high so I stick to that.
Hey, Lucas, that’s wonderful! And now you can have a great holiday, with celebrations. I will keep my fingers crossed for the internship.
You smell good too.
Hi Jillie! I’m looking forward to summer this year. And I hope this internship will work out.
Hey, Lucas, that’s wonderful news! And now you can have a great vacation with celebrations. I will keep my fingers crossed for the internship.
You smell good too.
Sorry for the repitition! It told me I had duplicated, but nothing arrived, so I just went ahead and posted – and then both came up.
But it shows that I was determined to say hello!
I appreciate you wanted to talk with me so much!
BTW, could you please shot me an email? I need it, will explain everything later
Congratulations, Lucas, that’s great news 🙂
Thank you! That’s true these are great news. I’m excited about them.
Congratulations, Lucas. Great news and all the best with the internship applications.
Thanks. Keep your fingers crossed for me, plase.
Congrats on your high grade Lucas! I’m happy for you. Now, relax a little if you can.
Thanks! Yes, I will relax for a bit now 🙂
Great news! Congratulations, Lucas.
Thank you Emily
I’ll add my list to the congratulations, and best wishes for getting the summer position that you most want!
I’ll be delighted to get any position for an internship. Will be in heaven if I get the one I care for the most.
Wahoo! Congratulations on getting a good score and here’s to your fifth year AND being ever closer to graduation. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you on the internship, my dear!
Those toes count double!
Great work, Lucas! Keeping fingers AND toes crossed for your internship.
Thanks nozknoz, good to have you around.
Congratulations, Lucas! I’m happy for you!
It’s just after 10:00 a.m. in East Texas and already 83 degrees. SOTD is Demeter Clover. I love the Demeter fragrances. There are so many to choose from, they are reasonably priced, and so far they work well with my skin chemistry. I do want to try CD I Hate Perfume, specifically Mr. Hulot’s Holiday, really just because I love the movie.
It is a great movie, and the scent isn’t my absolute favorite from the line but it’s fun — do try some of the others as well!
Poll idea: movie and perfume pairings! What to wear while watching….
I think we did that once, but might be about time to do it again!
Hi everyone! Today I’m in New Orleans, visiting my grandmother who is very sensitive to fragrance. I only brought a sample of Hermes’s Iris Ukiyoe, so I wouldn’t feel naked. Someone spray on some Shalimar for me! This is my favorite season for it.
I have a question for ya’ll. Erin’s Summer Fragrance post last week brought to my attention Parfums de Nicolai’s Eau de Chic, which sounds an awful lot like Frederic Malle’s Geranium Pour Monsieur. I bought GPM for my boyfriend and we both adore it, but he goes through it faster than I can afford to buy it. Therefore I am VERY interested in something similar. (I see that PdN’s is a third of the price.) My question is, has anyone tried them side by side? I might just buy the 30ml bottle ($45?! That’s practically free!) but I wanted to hear ya’lls impressions.
I haven’t tried them side by side and it’s years since I’ve sampled the Malle, but I have l’Eau Chic. If I recall correctly, the PdN is softer, much less spicy and doesn’t last as long, in fact it’s pretty fleeting but that’s why it’s nice for summer in my opinion. Hope this helps a little.
Stormy here in the Midwest this morning. SOTD is one I keep trying because I am considering a FB – Ineke’s Gilded Lily. Really lovely.
A scent story. My husband is a chemist and doesn’t like any kind of scent on himself. Unscented everything. No allergies or,anything, just a personal preference. Generally, however, he doesn’t mind whatever I want to wear and very rarely says anything. The other day, I got a reaction. I was trying Keiko Mecheri Ume, which I was kind of liking, but he kept sniffing the air and said “whatever you put on, I don’t like that one.” Wonder what his reaction will be when I try my sample of Dzing! 🙂
Happy weekend, y’all.
Nicole
Oh, that’s funny! I dated a pretty open-minded fella last year, and most of the time, he loved that my scents changed every day. However, one day I got a “Huh. I’m not really loving that one.” I was wearing Cuir et Champignon. I never wore it again when we were together!
Cloudy and muggy in the lower Lakes region of the US, rain on the way. There are these trees in my town that don’t grow very large and they have the most fabulous, aromatic large clusters of cream colored flowers. My neighbor has one not far from my house and the scent blows through the open windows, just gorgeous. I have tried to find what these trees are and my neighbor doesn’t know – the scent is like strong honeysuckle, they bloom in June, they’re not linden. Any ideas, anyone? Wearing Montale Amandes Orientales today and the scent blends nicely with the tree 🙂
I wish I knew…if you figure it out, do report back!
They sound like locust trees from your description. They’re blooming now and do smell wonderfully like honeysuckle.
I bet they are black locust trees – are the leaves pretty small?
The other thing blooming now is catalpa – which have huge leaves and a really nice scent, too. The flowers look kind of like popcorn massed together…
Please see mis-placed post below of pictures of each.
Ringthing, also note that locust trees that they have thorns, although most are small thorns and you might not be able to see them if the trees are tall. Honey locusts have huge thorns, around six inches long and branching (thorns upon thorns!). I think the honey locusts already bloomed in the spring, though.
Could be Japanese Tree Lilac…? They are in bloom in my area. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/f810/syringa-reticulata-ivory-silk.aspx
They could be white fringetree. Chionanthus virginicus. They bloom about this time and they smell fabulous. I planted a few in my yard but mine are still pretty small. My aunt used to have some and they were all you could smell this time of year.
OH, my favorite tree in the world. I have a lovely one I planted 12 years ago. Only wish it bloomed longer than it does.
I’m wondering if they could be Sweet Olive trees (Osmanthus Fragrans), which is one of the most wonderful scents ever! I used to visit the Brooklyn botanical gardens as a teenager, and in the hothouse they had one, but I can’t remember what time of year it bloomed. I’m hoping to get hold of one to try here — my gardener says it just might manage to survive the Dutch winters.
Bright and sunny here in Toronto. I decided to go old school today with vintage Capucci pour homme.
Nice 🙂
Some random thoughts on aspirational shopping…or something. My local Nordstrom has vastly reduced the fragrance counters. Used to be when you walked in, there were numerous frag counters, and they carried every Goutal, plus lots of niche. That area has been taken over by designer handbags, and fragrance relegated to a few shelves (and a comprehensive Jo Malone section). Wonder if this means people are more interested in investing in a visible, as opposed to invisible luxury?
The other thing I noticed there is that niche makeup brands have way more real estate now than the stalwarts. Bobbi Brown & MAC are far more comprehensive than Lauder. I stopped by the Lauder counter to sample Bronze Goddess, which they didn’t have, and the whole counter was about 5′ long. Guess niche isn’t so niche anymore.
Yes–I think visible luxuries are more encouraged than invisible ones. I think that scent is more about treating yourself and while a nice purse MAY be that, it is also something that others will readily notice and appreciate. Not only can scent be quite personal and less noticeable, but it also may actually be less socially acceptable, depending on the environment. I’ve never offended anyone with my purse or shoes, but I *have* been asked to not wear perfume when a houseguest with some friends!
Interesting…my Nordstrom has “glitzed up” the fragrance area, but I think it is likewise smaller than it used to be.
My Nordies used to have a good selection of Guerlains, but nearly all of the extraits and a good deal of the less-popular EDPs/EDTs/colognes vanished from the counter about a year ago. I was recently talking with an SA there who seemed pretty knowledgeable and was clearly a fragrance lover, and at one point he opened a drawer and showed me all the “disappeared” Guerlain testers! I was tempted to try to get him to sell me a few of them, but didn’t want to make trouble for him.
The physical size of the fragrance section hasn’t changed, but the selection seems to be showing troubling signs of Sephora-ization.
My Nordstroms suddenly got all the Creeds and they have a stand-alone Tom Ford counter. They had a great selection of Annick Goutal for decades, and now hardly any. I don’t go there very often and never know what I’ll find when I do.
ok, then, the inventory really varies from store to store. This Nordstrom never carried Creed, but my local Neiman Marcus does, and has pretty decent-sized Hermes, Tom Ford and Maison Francis Kurkdjian counters. N-M got rid of L’Artisan entirely, which is puzzling, and reduced the Goutals to Eau d’Hadrian & whatever the other popular one is.
A small fragrance and niche perfume around me has suddenly dropped the Serge Lutens line,some smaller make up companies, and expanded its clinique. About a year ago it picked Channel (not the exclusifs collections). I wonder if the big cosmetic companies are pressuring stores to only carry their lines. Tom Ford, is actually an Estee Lauder line, as is Bobby Brown. (MAC, I believe is either Lauder or Arden). Perphaps they are easing out the niches that are truly independently owned.
Interesting. I’m in Australia and one of my local departments stores is having a re-furb, so it will be interesting to see how they do the fragrance and cosmetics floor. I guess all department stores struggle with the same problem: an explosion of brands in the last 20 years but still only the same basic amount of floor space as they ever had.
Interesting to hear different reports on this. I think the Nordstroms at the Houston Galleria still has about the same space devoted to fragrances as it has had before. They always have big displays right at the entrance to the store of the latest “hot” fragrance by Prada or whomever and it’s very hard to get past there without being sprayed by a SA. They recently developed a really big display of Diptyque with all the items: candles, perfumes, room sprays, lotions and creams, etc. They didn’t have that before. Also, the Saks store at the Galleria has even more counter space staked out now for perfume with big areas of display for Bond #9, Le Labo, Kilian, and Frederic Malle. It may be that Houston is just a big perfume market (Texas women being somewhat traditional, and that mall also markets to numerous wealthy Latin American visitors).
My Nordstrom in NJ went through a huge downsizing about 2 years ago but i have seen it encroach upon the next counter nearer handbags. Sadly, we do not have Diptyque nor Jo Malone…but a La Mer was added about a year ago.
Barneys New York (in mid-town NYC) had been undergoing renovations…it looks like the street level work is almost done and the work had moved down to the beauty/perfume floor in the basement. The Le Labo section is now closed temporarily and all the Le Labos were shunted to the edge of the long perfume counter. I also just noticed Diptyques now being sold there; the line had probably been there all along but somehow my brain did not process that it was there until earlier this week.
Ah, I remember once treking through a vast acreage of fragrances at the Nordstrom’s to find a “signature perfume” (I ended up at the masculine counter chosing the new The Vert” By the time that bottle was used up, it had been shifted to the woman’s counter).
Luxury handbags (which in many cases look a lot like what were once standard middle class handbags of well made but not “exotic” calfskin leathers in solid color) have displaced the cosmetic counters on the prized first floor real estate. I guess fragrances are also being squeezed.
I have been variously told that department stores like to put their highest mark up items, or the items most likely to be bought on “spur of the moment” by walk-ins here. I can readily believe a $700-$25000.00 hand bag has the highest markup, but are people really buying these on the spur of the moment?
The super-premium handbags $17000 and way, way up(forget the $700.00 range-those are on the “young adult” floor) , have long held the first floor at Barneys. Its extensive fragrance and niche make up (plus a few more main stream brands) have long been in its “lower level”)
And yes, they have always had Diptique, in the back, near the made-in-NY and organic cosmetics. (By the way, there is a secret and embarrassed sales rack around the corner for Diptique- no you will not find any Diptiques or Frederick Malle’s on sale but a few stragling Apothia’s and lovely obscure bath oils could be found there). I
I hope Barney’s does not re-model this department into amainstream or a streamlined collection.
SOTD L’Ombre Dans L’Eau has been seeing a lot of use recently because of the variable weather – I bought the EDT on sale after having sniffed only the perfume oil version and was surprised at how powdery the rose turns on my skin a few hours in. I was not sure I would like it but it is turning out perfect for the mild, windy (and occasionally rainy) days. Also recently bought the Ann Gerard discovery set and have PdE and Frapin samples to work through.
You smell great and have some great sniffing ahead, SSS. Hope you’ll report back on what you like.
SOTD is Infusion d’Iris in edt, absolue and edp. Definitely prefer the absolue. I find the edt uninspiring on me and the edp a littlemore shadowy/cooler/darker.
Got some nontoxic powder to sprinkle around to kill fleas and I don’t think I’m going to vacuum it up–it makes the whole apt smell beautifully herbal (it has thyme, lemongrass, peppermint and other essential oils in it)
Absolue is my favourite of Prada Infusion d’Iris collection too!
Just stopping in with a quick question – has anyone found the new Shalimar Ode a la Vanille (2013, Route de Mexique) in the US yet? I’m looking for it, a bricks-and-mortar/counter would be better than online and a department store would be better than a Guerlain boutique. Anyone have any news about this release?
I went to the Saks flagship store in NYC several weeks ago with a perfume friend specifically to look for this and the Guerlain SA was kind of cagey about its availability. He initially told my perfume friend (when she went there 2 days before) that it was sold out the day it got to Saks…and then when we were there, he said he had not seen the perfume yet and he wasn’t sure if Saks will get it.
I am curious to try it as well!
If I find it I will report back.
I initially received a phoneback message saying it was long gone, of course they meant the initial and different 2011 release. Other than that, no one knew about it. I kind of wish companies briefed SAs on upcoming projects instead of just current releases, I know some people that sell perfume don’t exactly live and breathe perfume but a big house like Guerlain should keep SAs at counters that stock the exclusives in the know. My $0.02.
“Sold out the day it got to Saks” is funny, I wonder what perfume that was.
SOTD is Narcisco Rodriguez for her EDT. I am really enjoying it, and it marks a first: my husband said, unprompted, that I smelled really good. The musk dry-down is very luminous and sexy, and feels right for warm weather.
Oh lovely! NR for her is magical stuff. I wear it constantly at the moment. How do you find the longevity, by the way?
I find it quite reasonable; I applied at 8 or so in the morning, and felt the need to reapply when I was headed out for the evening at 8 pm. It does definitely wear closer to the skin the longer it’s on, but it doesn’t frustrate me with this scent as much as it does when that happens with others. I guess because it’s relative: even wearing closer to the skin with NR, it still has some sillage.
On the pilot episode of Mistresses, the lead character had a dresser full of perfume bottles in the first few minutes of the show. The only really recognisable one was an Aqua Allegoria. Can anyone identify some of the others?
I didn’t see that show, but identifying perfume bottles that randomly show up on TV has become kind of an obsession. On a reality show that shall remain unnamed, one person liberally misted herself with what looked like Omnia Crystalline — and it was clear from context that this was supposed to be a vampy/va-va-voom moment. Because nothing says man-eater like Omnia Crystalline.
Ha!
Since you asked, the one on the far right looks like Belle en Rykiel – pretty sure with that one – and the one to the left of the Aqua Allegoria might be Secret Obsession. I saw a Jo Malone candle next to some diffusers in the adjacent room.
Emily: I think you are referring to an episode of the Bachelor’s last season. I mentioned it here back then. I had to slow it down to identify the bottle.
Lys: thanks for your identifications. No matter how far I blew it up, I couldn’t see them individually enough.
There’s one in the left batch (yeah, I screengrabbed it too!) that’s pale aqua with a purplish cap, really distinctive. Of course some could be prop guy, thriftstore knockoff finds. The Rykiel I’m 95% sure of.
Hello from Seattle! It’s a little windy but sunny out! Wearing Jo Malone Red Roses and Vanilla cologne intense. Glad it’s only a sample size because I wasn’t impressed with it. Just tried Amouage Gold for women and loved it!
Amouage Gold is lovely 🙂
Congratulations Lucas! and Happy Holiday to Marjorie and happy summer to all!! It has been in the 90’s here in Central Florida for quite a while, although today’s torrential downpour should cool things off a bit. SOTD is Psychedelique by Jovoy Paris, and my hubby’s is Tabacca by Costamor. I have fallen madly in love with them both, so whichever one I am not wearing, I have him wear the other. He is a willing tableau for my whims. Well, perfume-wise, anyway…. I have a question shout out. Is anybody reading this living in Orlando? I am trying to get together a Perfume Club, similar to my book club, where each meeting we explore different notes, or houses, or something fun and interesting. So far I only have a very few interested parties, and they are all newbies. I am looking for someone with the love and passion and maybe a bit of experience in the world of fragrance to join the group. Thanks!
Thank you and welcome! Hope some Floridians speak up and say hiya for you! So much fun to actually *talk* about scent and not just read/write about it!
OMG I am loving both of those right now as well! (They have a family resemblance, no?) Based just on those choices I wish I lived in Orlando! Sadly, I live far far away on an island that nobody visits…
What a wonderful initiative! If only I lived near to you! (I’m across the ocean).
SOTD will most likely end up being vintage Ma Griffe parfum. I bought a mini on eBay and am curious to find out how it wears. I really, really, really need to stop with the eBay — am already leaning toward using the “that’s between me and my credit cards” option in the Q2 damage poll. The Ma Griffe was a relative bargain, though.
Has anybody tried the current version of the EDT? (I think it’s an EDT, anyway.)
I guess I should clarify that by “current version” I mean the very newest one — comes in a solid pale green box, and the bottle is similar to what Carven is using for their new Carven Le Parfum. It’s rumored to be a restoration of the 1946 original . . . *swallows large grain of salt*
Do report back on the Ma Griffe…
Haven’t, but I’d like to. Hope you report back in a future poll–curious about Ma Griffe. I have a few vintage chypres to test also: Givenchy III, Private Collection and something else, maybe Fidji?
I haven’t gotten my saved search emails from eBay for the past couple of days…may contact them, but I might be better off!
Oooh, nice picks. And you’ve reminded me that I have a mini of vintage Private Collection parfum that needs some skin time.
Reporting back on the vintage Ma Griffe extrait: I think the very top notes haven’t aged that well, but it’s a lovely composition once the initial off-notes settle down. A classic, powdery green chypre, with what seemed like an unusually honeyed-animalic white floral note (the gardenia, maybe?) and some warm spices in the base — I’ve seen cinnamon listed as a note, and that seems about right. The extrait modulates through definite phases, and a couple of those have just enough of a twist to make you stop and think about what you’re smelling. Highly recommended for lovers of older green chypres.
SOTD #1: Fougere Royale (Houbigant). Immediately knew it was wrong after applying it. Hours later after cutting the lawn and showering, SOTD #2 is Bn9 West Broadway. Much better choice in the heat and humidity of the Midwest.
I hate it when that happens.
I had the distinct privilege to smell a living frangipani flower this week. It was heavenly. Can anyone recommend a fragrance that best replicates that aroma?
I’ve never been lucky enough to smell live frangipani, but I will say that living among linden trees, and having grown roses profusely in the past, have both ruined me for either linden or rose perfume. So I hope this isn’t your experience!
With that said, I do enjoy the frangipani in Guerlain’s Mahora, now being sold as Mayotte at their boutiques, but available in the old Mahora bottles on ebay.
I wonder if that’s why I don’t enjoy most floral perfumes. I was born in and have lived all my life in Florida, constantly sticking my nose in anything that’s blooming (also things that don’t bloom). I was just at the house I grew up in, and the frangipanis are blooming & smell great – the yellow ones smell like suntan lotion to me.
Love the smell of frangipani, hardly ever get to smell it. I’ve not found a perfume that replicates it for me. (I do buy a lovely frangipani soap from a local manufacturer that comes close; I use it to scent bath towels in my linen cupboard.) People are going to chime in and say OJ Frangipani is the best, but I find it pale and unconvincing. Sorry, wish I could help!
Sorry: should add that OJ Frangipani could be perfect for you – many people love it – so do try it! Pay no attention to my negativity … it’s the disappointment talking. 🙂
If you are in the US I can send you a little sample vial of Mahora, I have a bottle of it. I love it. Have smelled frangipani, but not side by side with this so I’m afraid I can’t give you any informed assessment.
Pekefan, whenever I seen and smelled frangipani, I feel like it’s the original Aristotelian archetype of flowers – a simple but perfect shape and fragrance. I’ve never sniffed a perfume quite like it, but I remember sometime back that Haunani (who is from Hawaii) said there was a perfume from Envoyage (a California niche company) that smells like. Another commenter said there are some frangipani perfumes sold in Hawaii – perhaps a trip is in order!
For Australian readers: Natio has released a line of orange blossom scented products. I have the liquid hand soap and I’m loving it. The scent is a very true orange blossom, and during these winter days it delivers a little burst of summer sunshine every time I wash my hands. There’s also a lotion, body butter etc. I’m not affiliated with Natio, but I enjoy their products.
I must buy some body lotion and try it. Anything to help me get through winter!
Yeah, me same. I’m eyeing the body lotion too, and wondering if it might layer well.
It should layer with any perfume containing orange blossom and there are quite a few of those. Had to go to the city and I found a bottle of it in Myer, last bottle they had, so I purchased it. It is very nice! Shower gel next I think.
Ohhhh, I love Natio products ! Will keep eyes out .
SOTD vintage Quartz – after showering. Previous SOTD was Pine Sol…
Ah, Quartz would be great this time of year!
I’ve been wearing my vintage Quartz a lot lately, too. Good choice!
SOTD is SL Nuit de Cellophane. I’m loving the lightness and apricoty-y osmanthus in our terrible suffocating humid heat (93 here in Houston = 34 C). Had to do some walking around today due to having my car at the shop, and even though it’s just a few blocks I was exhausted by it. Still looking for other “light” scents for the heat. Ironically, another one I’ve liked wearing lately is Histoire de Parfums Tuberose 2, the virgin one. I got ity in a small spray bottle as a freebie in a giveaway recently when I bought something else in a FB, and although I don’t really care a lot for most tuberoses, I do love this one. I don’t know if I’m overly influenced by the name but there is something more light and innocent and fun about it (probably because it has fruit aspects), rather than super-sultry and heavy (incidentally, I see in the list of notes it has frangipani). Am also thinking of going tomorrow to buy Keiko Mecheri’s Mogador, which I tried in a shop recently and was really taken with. Again, you might not think a rose fragrance would be good in the heat but it’s so kind of pure, I thought it was really alluring but “calm” somehow.
Totally off topic, but is anyone else watching the TV series “Hannibal” on Thursday nights? I’m completely addicted. Perhaps noteworthy that Hannibal allegedly has an extremely refined sense of smell, so much so that he could smell that (FBI consultant) Will Graham has encephalitis!
Hmmm, I have never heard of it! The one I would like to watch is “Under the Dome” based on Stephen King’s book.
I am watching it and enjoying it too! It helps that my favorite actor is Mads Mikkelsen although I am not liking him as a cannibalistic serial killer!
I was recently reading about Michael Boadi’s (of Boadicia the Victorius and Illuminum) new line, Electimuss. 32 fragrances at launch time. All i thought was, Holy crap, how can it be any good when he develops a new fragrance every few days.
You’re right, that does not sound promising, and that’s just too many. *insert Munch The Scream image*
Right. Decided I can’t bear to announce it. 32!!!
Congratulations, Lucas, and happy summer, Marjorie Rose. Hoping all things you wish for this summer come your way.
SOTD is Opus 1. We’re in Maine, where spring still rules, and it didn’t feel like the time or place for a heavier scent (brought a sample of Ubar, which can clear a room if I’m not careful).
The Providence Perfumes review has me thinking of making a trip there soon. Divine sounds interesting. Anyone tried it?
Thanks, Anngd! I like Ubar, but I agree, it’s not one to wear in hot, humid weather! Not that I haven’t tried, you know, just to see how it might bloom and develop. But it was good that I chose a day that I’d be on my own! 🙂
If you mean the new Providence Perfumes boutique, I’d say it would probably be fun. I smelled almost all their scents at another Providence store two years ago when I was trying to get to know them, and bought (and enjoy) the Cocoa Tuberose. Their Hindu Honeysuckle gets the most press. The scents are not over-the-top wowing but very interesting, lovely and wearable, especially at that price point and for good ingredients.
Wow, I would never have thought of cocoa and tuberose together – now I’m intrigued!
Hey everyone !
Last night I went out with my partner to our local bar and we had a few beers while enjoying the music and video clips when someone leaned in and inquired to know what fragrance we were wearing !
My ears pricked up and I was ready for the compliments as I told him it was the one and only Azuree ! ( I sprits us both on the way out)
Well…….. Apparently we were stinking out the whole place with our ‘very strong’ old fashioned fragrance, his words !
Good I said – it’s the smell of good taste !
Funny thing is I only applied one spray on each of us ! So that’s two between us and it was down under our shirts . I didn’t realise it has room clearing potential in such doses.
Oh Azuree, how I love u so . I’m so happy every one in the place got to smell you! Cheers to you, you leathered up hottie.
Oh noooooo! Well, I am impressed by your very good sense of humor about the whole thing. And you stood by your frag!
Wonderful!
Here’s to you, your partner and Azuree, Sinnerman!
Catalpa blooms:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CVanQfF-7vM/S_AZgUWZIsI/AAAAAAAACZo/zZLcx-Qgz0E/s1600/TreeCatalpaBloomsCL.jpg
Black locust:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k10jY_YMFmo/Tee4JsSXRCI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/5NRhZMksPno/s1600/black+locust+flowers3.jpg
ACK! Meant to post this above to show Ringthing both tress.
Great photos, Rapple!
SOTD was Puredistance Opardu.
I went perfume sniffing this afternoon at Aedes, MinNY and Osswalds, with sprints through Atelier Cologne, Le Labo and Anthropologie. The new Aedes Iris Nazarena smelled wonderful on paper…now I have to try it on skin (scored a sample!). MinNY and Osswalds were also generous with their samples.
At Le Labo, I tried Lys 41 (thumbs down) and Ylang 49 (OK). Someone (Poodle, maybe) mentioned Oud 27 smelling like mouse droppings. I’m not exactly sure what mouse droppings smell like but I agree that Oud 27 has that fecal smell – YUCK.
And since I will probably opt out of the 2nd quarter damage polls, I will just confess now that my perfume store sniffing activity yielded the following: a 30 mL bottle of Parfumerie Generale Indochine (yes, there are now 30 mL bottles of selected PG perfumes!) and 15 mLs of Sweet William (unsniffed…but it was too cheap to pass up and I’ve heard good things about it) and 2 Atelier Cologne soaps (Orange Sanguine and Trefle Pur).
Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Father’s Day to the U.S. readers.
Atelier cologne soaps !!!!! I didn’t know they did soap . I bet there AMAZING . Are u going to use them or store them for fragrancing ? I have a bar of Co co in my wardrobe and it’s wafts beautifully to all corners , it was worth every penny.
Sinnerman, is that Chanel Coco soap?
Sure is !
I am going to use the soaps as soap! The first one I tried and loved was the Oolang Infini. The soaps are very well made and my one bar lasted 6 weeks with everyday use.
Because of your original recommendation to me, I ordered the soap this weekend, but I’ve grown to love the cologne so much, despite needing to reapply quite often, that I ordered the 200 ml bottle (gasp!) My little sample bottle is almost used up, so this should arrive just in time.
Atelier Cologne had a special offer of a complimentary 30 ml bottle of scent of choice in a travel spray with my name or initials engraved in an aubergine-colored leather case. I ordered the travel spray in Mistral Patchouli.
As for wonderful soaps, I can whole-heartedly recommend the patchouli soap from Santa Maria Novella. It scents a large room beautifully and is lovely for bathing. Pricey, but worth it!
I was a bit unclear in my post. The complimentary 30 ml bottle and leather case was for those ordering the 200 ml. size. My big bottle was the Oolang Infini and the little one is Mistral Patchouli.
200 mLs! I cannot imagine using up 200mLs of anything but if you like/love something, anything is possible!
I have to check out the Santa Maria Novella patchouli soap next time…I have to confess to a soap obsession.
Hi Hajusuuri!
Opardu was a great choice for a meeting with our friend!
You had a blast wandering around so many perfume shops, right? So cool you scored a sample of Iris Nazarena! I will have a sample shortly as well, will definitely review it and we can compare our thoughts then.
Oh, Parfumerie Generale does some 30ml bottles? I wonder if they’ll get with them to Poland or not.
And those Atelier Cologne soaps! I want Ambre Nue and Rose Anonyme 😀
Oh yes…I don’t think I have visited as many brick and mortar perfume stores in on afternoon as I did yesterday. The weather was unbelievably GORGEOUS and the company was FABULOUS 🙂
Oooh…and Nordstrom now has the new Hermes Eau de Narcisse Bleu and Eau de Mandarine Ambrée. I prefer the Mandarine, for now…specially in warm weather…and it may very well be my vacation fragrance (it was going to be L’AP Caligna but I ended up hating it). Also, would you believe that Norstrom had them in the MEN’s fragrance department???? It is so highly unisex they should have had the testers in the Women’s fragrances as well!
That sounds like a successful sniffing trip, Hajusuuri! I’m very curious about Iris Nazarena. I remember liking Indochine. I would definitely go for a 30-ml bottle, but not seeing that size on LuckyScent. Where did you find it?
nozknoz, the 30 ml are on the Osswald NYC website, but they are actually not that much of a deal. For example, 30 ml of Felanilla is $85, while 50 ml is $100.
Ari – I agree that 30 mLs is not a great deal as compared with the 100 mLs; however, according to my own perfume math rationalization, two different 30 mL bottles @ $85 each is much better than being “forced” to buy one 100mL @ $179. I like variety 🙂
Oops. I misspelled…it should be “Parfumerie” with an “e” at the end…I can’t blame it on spell check this time!
Nozknoz…what Ari said. The osswaldnyc website search could use some modification. If you search for “Parfumeri Generale”, the search results yield the ones that only come in 100 mLs. If you search for “Parfumeri”, you get the entire line and the description that does NOT begin with “(100 mL / 3.4 oz)” means the 30 mL size is available.
Indochine is one of my FAVORITES!
Hello everyone, I’m on board a bit late here, but 2 things:
Am currently sampling Ramon Monegal Mon Patchouly. Initially really nice, but it has morphed into something resembling Secretions Magnifiques!! Horrifying!! Has no one else noticed this?!
Aaand, I passed through Dubai airport last week and discovered 3 exclusive YSL frags. One a leather one, one rose, and one called Surprise Bouquet that smelt to me much like Bond No9 Chinatown. They were all divine and quality, and the leather one started as a gorgeous cuir de russie type soft leather morphing into a soft cinnamon spice. Love. Love. Love. But. On the pricey side $250 :-/, ultra exclusive (5 locations worldwide?). I had already planned on buying Guerlain Songe d’un Bois d’ete, but am kinda wishing I’d gotten the YSL leather instead.. Anyone else smelt these rare mythical creatures?? Anyone in Dubai can post me some? 😀
I have Mon Patchouly and put some on this morning so I could see if I noticed what you are describing. I think it has a more sweet sort of vanilla/booze aspect at the start and then it becomes more animalic after a while. You may be smelling some indolic aspect of the jasmine in it but it also has some tobacco and metallic elements. I don’t find this combination at all unpleasant, but can imagine that someone might.
Calypso, I tend to love indolic jasmine or anything, and animalic notes, but I think you’ve got it in the metallic note. SM smells to me like metallic salty wet dog (but worse, coz that doesn’t sound too bad! Lol) and it’s that that I get as MP dries down. Shame, because I really liked the opening.
I am wearing my new Signature Frag, Opus 4, I adore it. The seller said it smelled to her like Al Oudh by L’Artisan but not to my nose. The LABDANUM in the dry down is soooo heavenly. Maybe not sig. scent, ill run out but, heavy rotation.
Oops, make that Supreme Bouquet. Dumb names anyway 😉 and Noble Leather (hehe) and Majestic Rose. Yah, must be hard finding new names for the same ol smells.. But they are really well done!! Apparently at Harrods too (thanks Robin). Still wish for the leather to be sent here… 🙂
Has anyone else noticed a resemblance between Daphne and Sacrebleu? Am sampling Daphne today and it took me a couple of hours to realize what it reminded me of. Technically, I shouldn’t be wearing Daphne at all to work and I definitely wouldn’t do that side by side except on my day off
Hello perfume friends,
I’ve been out of the loop a little, but just a short post at the end of the weekend to add in a little share. I just had my 50th birthday celebration and received a lovely bottle of Santal by Fragonard. Such a creamy, lemony light sandalwood. The sandalwood is Australian and very beautiful. Honestly I can’t tell the difference between this sandalwood and pure Mysore sandalwood oil. Perfect for summer. Another gift was a set of Roger & Gallet hand soaps in Blue Lotus. Kind of a strong fragrance, might take some getting used to.
Happy Birthday, Sajini! That Santal sounds like a wonderful gift.
Thank you!