The usual routine for an open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume wish you'd stocked up on before it disappeared, the latest bad reformulation you discovered, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Under A Blood Red Sky [cropped] by Ian Sane at flickr; some rights reserved.
Good afternoon Now Smell This!
It’s a glorious Autumn day today and trees in the parks are so colorful right now.
For the last few hours I’ve been analysing data from my thesis laboratory experiments I conducted the following week. I need a break now.
The perfume I’m wearing today is luxurious Chanel Bois des Iles. Unfortunately the Les Exclusifs EDT didn’t last really long, had to re-apply after 5 hours.
From the perfume news, I ordered Atelier Cologne Gold Leather for the split I’m organizing plus a decant of limited edition Parfum d’Empire Eau de Gloire Cologne pour l’Hiver.
Have a lovely fragrant weekend everyone!
LOVE Bois des Iles (broke down and bought a bottle for myself this summer), but I agree–not very long lasting. I have actually found it is even better in the summer, where the transience seems like a plus.
From Les Exclusifs de Chanel I prefer 28 La Pausa but it’s also incredibly light and fleeting.
I’ve heard opinions that extraits are much much longer lasting.
Never tried any of those, I only have edt samples sent to me by a kind friends. We don’t have Chanel boutiques in Poland, ya know…
I just got a sample of the parfum, but haven’t tried it yet! I don’t have the EDT or EDP to compare it to, so I wouldn’t be any help to you anyway. It is lovely though, isn’t it?
I’m sure I would love the parfum and would be very happy to compare the two! If I were you, I’d sure be tempted to get a sample of the EdT for comparisons sake.
Ha! No Chanel boutique in my neck of the woods, either!
I know I’ve sniffed through the other exculsifs a few years back, but they are worth a revisit. BdI was the only one at the time that kept my attention, but I appreciate more subtleties these days! 🙂
So, five hours is short longevity on your skin? I am lucky to get anything to last as long as five hours with my perfume-eating skin. Three to four hours is pretty good, and truly light scents are gone in an hour or two. I have actually come to regard this as a good thing, as I can change my scent several times a day.
Most edt’s last on me for around 8 hours, while edp’s last for 10-12 hours, parfum lasts even all day.
A beautiful Saturday morning with, unfortunately, so much work to do!
Not wearing a scent yet today, but it will probably be one of my Lutens as the temperature outside is finally cooling down. (looking at you Arabie, Louve, Cèdre, and Chypre Rouge)
It was my birthday this past Monday and I was very lucky, after dropping many, many, many hints, to receive my very favorite Byredo Oud Immortel.
I was over the Moon! So I sprayed it on…. and had an allergic reaction. One spray on my chest and I got a red, itchy, rash for 3 days. I had tried it on my wrist many times before without any problem.. so I will have to stick to that area from now on.
Belated happy birthday, and congrats on the Byredo bottle. Too bad it gave you the rash.
Congrats on the birthday!
How strange, reacting on one patch of skin and not the other:/
Happy Birthday! Sorry about the allergic reaction. Perhaps spraying it on clothing instead of skin would be a better idea too.
Also, from what I have read about allergies, repeated exposure to something can trigger allergies that did not exist before, so spritzing it on your clothes may be a better idea.
Belated Happy Birthday, and oh no! I’d be scared to use it anywhere now.
Oh no! I wonder if it is worth trying to exchange it, wondering if it is just that batch.
I agree with the suggestions to enjoy it on fabric – also perhaps on paper, or one of those silver filigree necklaces you can put a tiny bit of cotton or fabric inside?
I’ll second that suggestion! I have two perfumes that have caused me to break out in a rash. I can’t wear them unless I spray a piece of fabric or part of a cotton ball and put it in a perfume locket. There are some wonderful perfume lockets on Etsy and I’m sure they can be found on other sites as well.
25º here in Andalucía, but we’re expecting rain. I’d like to share the fact that I fell head-over-heels in love with Ambre Sultan last week and it’s definitely going to be my special winter fragrance. I’ve also taken up a free sample offer for Skin on Skin by L’Artisan.
I’m also working at the weekend, on a tedious linguistics translation, but I have a chocolate rocher ready for my next break.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Always good to have a treat to look forward to! Good luck on the translation.
Happy Saturday morning!
Mr. Spicebomb (microfiche) and I are going to the Portland Japanese Garden this morning for a photography outing. Looking forward to it–it has beautiful maples that should be in full color this time of year! Sadly, they don’t open until 10 am, and I prefer to take pictures earlier, but the light should still be soft enough.
Haven’t decided what to wear, yet, but I’ve been giving a lot of wear to a sample of Habanita sent to me during the swap. Loving the leather and amber and vanilla and dust! Nice to enjoy a scent and then discover I can get it for under $50!
My husband and I went to that garden! We took a guided tour and learned a lot. That sounds like a very nice date.
It’s a beautiful garden, isn’t it? Did you visit the Chinese garden as well? It is more compact, more like distinct rooms, but equally beautiful and serene!
It was *very* busy with photographers yesterday! Everyone had the same great idea that we did. 🙂
No, we didn’t visit the Chinese gardens, but hopefully we will the next time we are up there. The theme of our trip was Lewis and Clark history, bird/nature watching, and being sure to make it to Powell’s! 🙂
Ah, so if I were to plan that trip, I would have gone up to Kelley Point Park, at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Lewis and Clark passed by there twice, without ever noticing the Willamette–they just thought it was a swamp! Also, a great place to observe river birds–there’s a mating pair of osprey, herons, of course ducks and geese, and if you go down the road to Smith and Bybee lakes, there’s all the wetland species (cranes and such). It’s one of my favorite parks, and sort of out of the way and so usually quiet and mostly get it to myself. 🙂
Thanks so much for the park recommendations — we will try to remember those the next time we are in the area. While we drove, we listened to “Undaunted Courage,” a book about Lewis and Clark. My husband enters at least one bird list into ebird (an on-line checklist program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) every day, so it’s easy to see where we’ve been. We checked his lists for that trip, and we visited the Bonneville Hatchery (salmon and several American Dippers — very cool songbirds that dive into rushing water for food!), Bonneville Dam, Sunset Highway Rest Area (a pretty stop in Clatsop County; it was raining — imagine that — and Hwy 101 was flooded so we couldn’t use that route to Astoria), the Astoria vicinity, the Ilwaco vicinity, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center (Washington), Fort Clatsop National Monument (Oregon), Cascade Locks (Hood River County), Columbia Gorge Discovery Center (Wasco County), and several waterfalls (including Multnomah Falls) in the Columbia River Gorge.
Now repeating myself, accidentally sent this message to no one, but that all sounds fantastic! Have so much fun!
Thanks, Catherine! It was a lovely day!
I have got to try Habanita. I really need to fall in love with some affordable bottles for a change! Though I did just get a couple of decants for under $50 each and I’m sure they’ll last me for a while, so I’m making my expensive tastes work…
Yeah, I have pretty expensive tastes, too! And on top of that, I’m kinda a snob–I tend to assume that if something is inexpensive, it probably won’t be any good. Nice to be wrong once in a while!
The rose test gardens are beautiful, but I love the Japanese garden! It was one of my favorite spots when I was a kid.
We wandered over to the rose garden afterwards–still some intrepid roses in bloom! If I lived on the west side, I think I’d spend a lot more time in Washington Park!
Yesterday was a lazy day. We spent the morning watching the Major League Baseball Network and catching up on Last Tango in Halifax. I didn’t put on any fragrance after my shower, just in case my Olympic Orchid samples arrived that day (I’ve been like an anxious little kid every day when we get the mail). We went birding, had some burritos, and when we got home, my husband pulled a padded envelope from the mailbox and said “Is this your perfume?” Indeed, it was! There was a sweet handwritten note on the receipt from Ellen. Thanks to all of the NSTers who recommended Golden Cattleya. It is so warm and sweet and wonderful … honey-narcissus heaven. Sigh …
Now, I can’t wait for my Lush Rose Jam shower to arrive.
I’m glad to read that someone else holds off on applying perfume, hoping samples will arrive. That made me grin. I did the same thing yesterday. When they arrived, I made a small production of opening the package. First, completed yucky tasks, made cup of tea, then sat down with samples. The big decision was what to try first!
In my case, yesterday’s pick was new Md’O Violet Fumee. Very pretty up top, but it does something odd on my skin–I think the gaiac turns and gives a bug spray vibe. Will retest, on another day. Today I went with Escentric 01, very pleasing 🙂 Enjoy your Golden Cattleya and be well.
🙂
Golden Cartleyea is great, so is Red Cattleyea. I love the orchid scents.
I have never tried any Olympic Orchids perfumes and I think the universe is telling me something because I just commented on someone else’s blog about the exact same thing! Must investigate!
Yes, you must!!
I just finished Last Tango, it was very enjoyable! Now working on Call the Midwife.
Last Tango was over so soon, but I suppose that’s a good thing — the British seem to be able to just end a show when there is nothing left to say and not let it drag on just for the sake of continuing it.
True! The Midwife already has 2 seasons of 6 episodes each, so it will keep me busy for a bit.
Everything about that sounds fantastic 🙂 Enjoy!
Rats, trying to reply to MR! Foiled. Need some more coffee.
🙂
I am wearing La Fille de Berlin today for the first time. This was a blind buy, crazy I know and I don’t usually do this, but I found a tester for a great deal online and went for it. I am so relieved to find that I love it. So rich and spicy and great on this cool rainy day in Virginia.
On to another topic, I have been considering purchasing Cartier Baiser Vole. I have sampled the EDT and EDP and preferred the EDP (the extrait seemed too expensive). However now that there is another version of this perfume (BV “Essence”) I am wondering if I should get that instead. Anyone tried the Essence? What did you think?
I was expecting “original” CBV with vanilla; however, at first sniffs (on paper and ribbon), it smelled watery and sweet. I have samples from Nordstrom and will need to try on skin to know but I do not have high hopes.
I really like CBV edp. It’s very pretty and feminine. Fresh, clean, and good for all times. The essence seems richer and creamier to me. Lovely also. I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice. 🙂
I tried the Essence recently, and as Kelly said, it’s richer and creamier. Also much longer-lasting. I preferred it.
Thank you everyone for your input on CBV.
Wearing Love and Tears by Kilian:D.
Hello, everyone! Looks like a bunch of us are working this weekend. I, too, spent the day doing some school work. SOTD was Mandragore Pourpre which was lovely, but I might change into something with more oomph for the evening. Incense Rosé, perhaps. Or Bottega Veneta.
Also, I sent off my university applications this week, so now I have to wait and see if any of my choices decide to make me an offer. I’m feeling slightly nervous because It’s out of my hands now. Any good vibes that you might care to send my way would be very welcome 😀
Sending good vibes your way!
I’m another person who will be working this weekend — as soon as my husband gets back with the car, I’m going to go to my office and bring home a pile of stuff to work on on Sunday. I don’t do this as often as I used to — meaning work for free — so I’m getting better 🙂
Best wishes, Abyss!
Thank you, both!
Beautiful – and cool – October day. SOTD PG L’eau Rare Matale which is perfect for this day – and is now on my FB list. Looking forward to visiting Osswald next month and picking up a bottle.
Does anyone know if the new and reissued Yoji Yamamotos are available in the US?
L’eau Rare Matale was my first purchase at the Perfume Shoppe and became my first choice to an autumn perfume. I used the whole bottle, but when I bought the second. I was unhappy when I realized the new version was a pale version of the old: lots more spritzes to last lots less time. Have decided to use up the bottle so it won’t be around next autumn to make me sad…
I have not seen them anywhere online as of yet…
Can anyone give me an opinion on Lollia fragrances or on Love & Toast fragrances? Beauty encounter has some minis that are no longer available from the house website and they sound intriguing.
I like Clementine Crush by Love & Toast — it features notes of mandarin, mango, vanilla sugar, and guava (you rarely see guava in perfume). My rollerball of it is almost empty, and I was just about to order more. I also like Wish by Lollia — it’s vanilla with a little bit of spice and rice. I like sweet fragrances, and these are both sweet.
I’m also a fan of Clementine Crush – I have the body wash and love the scent.
I think I’ve seen the body wash at Tarzhay (Target). Must get some.
I haven’t really tried Lollia much, but Love & Toast is by the same lady who does Tokyo Milk, Margo Elena. So if you’ve tried any thing from Tokyo Milk, especially the sweeter/fruitier scents, you’ll pretty much know what to expect with Love & Toast.
Also, I’ve seen the Love & Toast line at Whole Foods, so if you have a Whole Foods store near you, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.
My favorite of the line is Honey Coconut. On the whole, this line is sweeter & more transparent than, say, the Dark Collection. Very nice.
I noticed that one of the suggestions was Ask a question about a fragrance, so here’s one…I am looking for a new rose perfume, preferably one that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg since I am poor. I used to wear Estee Lauder’s Pleasures but then they reformulated and now the silage is gone and so is the complexity and it dies on my skin after an hour. I’ve been trying samples of various rose perfumes but just haven’t found one I like, here are some of the scents I have tried and haven’t liked because the rose wasn’t strong enough, Le Labo Rose 31, Une Rose Vermellie, Iroaz by LostMarch. I’m looking for a strong, heady rose that smells like it’s been cooking in the sun for days until it knocks you over with its fragrance, that’s what I remember from my Father’s rose garden in the desert where I grew up, so, roses in the desert, warm and strong, suggestions anyone?
Jessica posted about rose perfumes here: https://nstperfume.com/2012/12/21/25-rose-fragrances-every-perfumista-should-try/.
If you are looking for a warm amber-y type rose then this is not the one; but I do think Tea Rose by Perfumer’s Workshop is one of the best rose soliflores available. It is a green rose rather than an oriental, but unlike some of the ones you mention it is rose and distinctively rose. Caution required with application! It is linear and can be shrill and too persistent, if over-applied. That being said I really believe it is still one of the best rose perfumes on the market and can be bought for a pittance from many discounters. (Try before buy, as always;) )
I’ve never tried them, but DSH has a number rose fragrances, and her prices tend to be reasonable. See http://www.dshperfumes.com/shop/product-category/fragrance/rose/
Have you tried Stella? Affordable for sure, and it does have that kind of overripe, lush feeling to it to me.
Yes, Stella is a beautiful, autumn rose. To my nose, it has a dried rose, slightly dusty and rich scent.
This is a useful guide to rose pefumes too, on Bois de Jasmin:
http://boisdejasmin.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-rose-perfume.html#more-12733
Ormond Jayne’s Ta’if may have the quality you are after. I get a strong sense of roses under a hot sun in that. OJ is expensive (though no more than Tauer or Le Labo). Maybe you could purchase a decant from one of the decanting services while you save up. I know what it’s like being a perfume lover on a budget.
I’m not a fan of rose, but it’s hard to beat Guerlain Nahéma, imo. Malle’s Une Rose is also pretty great.
I second Une Rose–pretty terrific. Also good, but sadly discontinued is Yves Rocher Rose Absolue….bet you could find some online someplace.
Demeter has some very inexpensive rose fragrances. I like Pruning Shears the best. Flower Show smells very much like Tea Rose to me. Bulgarian Rose is also available, but I haven’t tried it.
The SSS rose scents are worth trying. They are very high quality and reasonably priced, and the customer service is fantastic.
I *LOVE* Nostalgie! One of my favorite roses, and two sprays last all day!
Pacifica Persian Rose smells really good and is amazingly inexpensive. Whole Foods stores have testers.
Rose fragrances are probably my favorite. Among my most loved are several I bought online for a very good price, including Diva, a rich honeyed rose chypre. I’m sure the vintage is better but I’ve never smelled it, and even the recent version is fabulous. Also I found testers of La Fille de Berlin and Sa Majeste la Rose (both Serge Lutens, both wonderful) for about half price on fragrancenet.
Jo Malone Red Roses and Penhaligon’s Elizabethan Rose.
A swappee sent me a large decant of Tearose, which is a kinda fabulous, inexpensive, straight-up rose scent. It’s a bit “trashy,” but in that kinda-great way! 😀
I was at a department store today and have been experimenting with the (current) Eau Sauvage range.
Yesterday evening I tried the Eau Sauvage Extreme (still sold here – presumably the 2010 version). I found it cold, sour and miserable – and then woke up today to the warmest and most wonderful cola smell – vetiver smoke warmed by cinnamon and a touch of caramel!
So, today I tried it elsewhere and enjoyed it far quicker (perhaps the first tester was off and the top notes gone?) The EDT is more palatable and nuanced to me than when I tried it a few years ago and could only smell lemon! Now I can smell some of the herbal notes too:)
I also have the Parfum on and that is ALSO very nice but I’m not sure whether I prefer the Extreme or the Parfum. I know the EDT is the classic, but the other two are more to my taste:)
Anyone have any opinion about these? Keeping in mind I am, actually, a girl!
I think the cola vibe may actually be from the Parfum (not the Extreme) which I also may have tried yesterday…
I’m very fond of the parfum version. The myrrh in it is really rich and true. Lasts all day, and then some! I know its not the classic, but pffft…smells great anyway. 🙂
I think the myrrh may be what is giving me the cola vibe. I do get a sweet soda vibe from several perfumes with a myrrh note!
Personally, I think the classics break the ground and the later adaptions fine tune it;) Anyway, thats my story and I’m sticking to it, ha ha!
I love the parfum version 🙂 I do love the original too, but I have many colognes and Eau Savage is my brothers signature scent so I kinda feel its his already.. I also love the parfum version of Terre d’Hermes, I just like that slightly warmer feel and to me it makes it a bit more versatile.
Good to know it has its fans!
Wearing Mona di Orio’s Vanille today. As for perfume purchases, I have bought Ce Soir Ou Jamais by Annick Goutal, and placed an order for Zahd and a decant of the limited edition Eau de Gloire. Two FB in one week! 😀 Mind you, it wasn’t my intention to by the Annick Goutal. I walked into the Knightsbridge store to get a few samples, but fell in love with Ce Soir. What can a girl do?!
Mona di Orio’s Vanille is on my to-sniff list. I love cloves.
Hello LADYMURASAKI!
How do you find Mona d’O vanille? I know it was the most commented & admired among her line. Pls tell me what you think of it. Im kinda of thinking if I should get some of it.
Also: about a year ago I tried a sample of Eau de Gloire and found wonderful. i wnated to buy it but then – got distracted. I remember my sample was finished in no time. I’m not sure if I can get it here in Canada as the Perfume shoppe does carry the line but doesnt’ have EdG. Txs!
MdO’s Vanille is a little bit spicy, warm and dry. I live in the UK, and I think I ordered mine from Liberty.
Did you know that Parfum D’Empire is going to be releasing the limited edition Eau de Gloire? I think they ship worldwide, though I’m not certain.
Thank you.
I am putting Md’O vanille on my swap list then.
I will definitely visit the Pd’E webstore to see EdG limited edition and how much it costs to get it to Canada.
SOTD: Philosykos
Wish it lasted longer on me 🙁
Question: heading to Chicago tomorrow, besides the big department stores on Magnificant Mile, any good fragrance shops?
Thanks!
Haven’t been yet, but always hear positive comments about Merz Apothecary. Supposed to carry quite a bit more besides the usual dept store fare.
I’ll definitely check this out – thank you!
Do go to Merz apothecary – it’s in the Palmer House Hotel. They have some L’Artisan, Juliette has a Gun, DS&Durga and lots of other good stuff – not really any dept. store stuff. The folks at the Hermes boutique are very nice – it’s also close to Barney’s. The ladies at Neiman Marcus are pretty aggressive but they have things other places don’t: Creeds, Atelier, and more. Our Saks has the fancy Dior stuff now, too.
Can’t wait! Thks!
I have a question. The other day I went to the post office to ship some perfume and the man behind the counter asked “what are you mailing?” I said, “perfume.” He said USPS doesn’t ship perfume. I was like, “say what, I’ve sent like 100 bottles.” He said I had to goto UPS. So I did, $18 to ship a 2.5 oz bottle to Chicago. I could not do that, no way, so I took my package to another post office and mailed it, no questions asked. Today, I took two packages to a totally different post office and the lady behind the counter looked at me and asked if I was mailing perfume. I said “no, it’s not perfume,” and she shipped it for me. But seriously, why would she ask me that? Shipping is such a hassle. My question is, how does one actually ship perfume?
Hello garamascara, from what I’ve heard it’s mostly a security measure. if anyone, God forbid , sends you a bomb or else…… Of course, the Mail doesn’t care about you but themselves.
…with all this post 9/11 craziness still going around it became a huge hassle to fly, as you all, I’m sure, know quite well.
It’s because perfume contains alcohol, which is flammable and therefore classified as dangerous goods.
Are you posting from one location in America to another? I did not know there was any problem with that. Or are you posting from outside the US. I’v posted samples to the US and not had any questions or problems – but I have not posted a whole bottle…
Posting from within America to another country has seemed to be the difficulty.
garamascara, here’s what the USPS website says:
“There are rules and restrictions for what can and can’t be mailed.
This list is not exhaustive, but in most cases, you can’t send….
“Perfume − Perfume containing alcohol is prohibited on air transportation, and can only be shipped domestically via surface transportation. Perfume containing alcohol is prohibited in international shipments.”
Also note that if your parcel weighs 13 oz or less, you can put postage on it and drop it in a mailbox.
BTW, I’ve asked a couple UPS stores in my area and they said they could not ship perfume.
Fudge! So basically, there is no legal way to ship perfume. That can’t be right. Does everyone just lie? Is that what we are left to? I thought there was a correct way that was just eluding me.
If you still would like to track your packages (13 oz or lighter), especially with swaps, you can still avoid the postal window if you have PayPal and use its multi-order shipping tool. If it is a heavier package, you can use the USPS website Click & Ship Priority Mail.
Unless you can ship by ground mail, yeah you have to lie :-/ I guess companies use couriers with their own insurance/ regulations but it’s all still sent the same way so I’ve never really understood how a shop can send/receive a huge amount of stock and we get interrogated over a few ml. It’s ridiculous.
I think the commercial shippers (department stores, online perfume sites, etc.) are *supposed* to get some kind of special permit to be able to ship perfume, which involves certain rules and regulations regarding the packaging materials, labeling, and such. That said, whenever I have gotten a package from Lucky Scent, Fragrance Net, Beauty Encounter, and such, it inevitably comes UPS, USPS, or FedEx, in packaging that looks no different from what I would use and with no particular hazard warnings on it. In fact, the sample packs from Lucky Scent come USPS First Class mail in a simple padded envelope. I have wondered myself how they are able to ship perfume legally when we can’t.
..and as to the lying thing…
I subscribe to “If they don’t ask, I don’t tell.”
Yes, but if you have to sign a legal declaration you are not sending hazardous material? That’s the bit that I find tricky. A lot of people do lie on those forms, of course, ‘cosmetic sample’ being a common one. Sigh.
Annemarie…no legal declaration of any kind and I am too lazy to look through the fine print of Paypal or the USPS website. Eyeball to eyeball with a postal worker is another matter altogether – I can’t and won’t lie when it comes down to that.
When I spoke to a postal worker earlier this year, he said that one of the reasons why perfumes were put into the hazardous category was due to the potential flammability of the alcohol content in perfume and the risk increases with a leakage. I believe there are exclusions to being able to legitimately send perfume via USPS air (First Class or Priority) – if they are completely enclosed within some kind of metal packaging. That said, I have not heard of any reports of any fires of a postal truck traced back to perfumes – you know that will be BIG NEWS if ever.
So, from what I understand, people have different positions on this matter. Many think the ‘law’ here is excessive, restrictive and nonsensical. Because of that they have no issue with saying ‘cosmetic samples’ which allows them to send people things, which these people otherwise would have no access to (in many cases). Other people take a more ‘absolute’ stance on the matter and consider it wrong to do this.
Personally, I don’t think the ethics of this is straightforward.
Or, to put it differently, I value personal freedom and resent legislation which seems to restrict this on arbitrary or questionable grounds. So, I support people’s decision to do this.
The difference between sending “samples” and a full bottle might also be the volume, same as airline restrictions . If we follow that logic the bottles smaller 75 ml can be allowed. I wish the laws are more user friendly so people would not have to “be creative”.
Garamascara, there is a legal way to ship perfume: USPS via ground (i.e., sent by truck). Two things should be noted, however. 1. USPS personnel often don’t seem to know this and will simply tell you they can’t ship perfume at all. 2. Shipping via ground is much more expensive and takes longer to get to its destination. Go figure.
I admit, I find the whole postage/first class weirdness with shipping perfume exceptionally frustrating. I know that alcohol is technically flammable, even explosive, but show me ONE study that demonstrates a reasonable risk from perfume fumes combusting or adding to an airline emergency! I suspect it is like a lot of pseudoscientific myths–it got repeated so many times, no one questions it.
It was silly of me to think using MAN from Calvin Klein would give me the abs of the model endorsing this smell within one day. No such luck! 😉 Plus the scent itself is really really mediocre. Fortunately it passed away quickly so I donned Fan di Fendi pour Homme to go out to a cafe this evening with my girlfriend. On the way back I grabbed a sample of a Benefit scent a friend of mine recommended checking out. The name slipped my mind so I went for the one that smelled most unisex – My place or your Gina. On entering home however I dropped the vial and the whole scent has been absorbed by my right suede shoe 😉 Now the entire place smells of it. It’s not bad but I checked and it wasn’t the one I was supposed to try. The one my friend meant was Under My Spell Noelle.
You need to use MAN for at least THREE days before you can expect to see any results;)
Not sure I’d stand it for that long 😉
Look, you either want abs, or you don’t want abs. You need to make up your mind, focus, and stop fooling around with Fendi and Benefit!
Lol. I’m still waiting for the sexy, hourglass figures that the women’s fragrances seem to promise me.
Poodle, are you sure you are following the instructions properly?
– Run 20 miles to shop to buy said fragrance.
– Stop every 200 meters to do 40 push-ups.
– Repeat exercise every morning, before showering and applying scent.
– After 6 weeks, use scent before consulting Hollywood plastic surgeon to arrange elaborate and long term re-modelling!
I only run when something is chasing me.
Well, I’m a total slob, so unless that someone is carrying a chainsaw I’ll probably keep watching TV!
heehee Merlin…
Will Chanel 5 give me a Marilyn butt?
Perhaps we apply them in wrong places 😉
Oh, so that’s why my wrists have mini six packs..
umm…that may be an allergic reaction, S, I would consult with a specialist:)
Come on, Sajini, everyone knows that no.5 just makes you smell good:)
Not so, Merlin! You should have seen Marilyn before she used 5. Arf arf!
Actually, `i did see those early pictures…(lol!)
Oh, and Ravjan, an even greater trial and tribulation is Calvin Klein’s Downtown. I would have to have Great Expectations in order to wear that. Shudder.
So I’m reading down this list of comments and all I can think is: ‘my place or your gina?’ REALLY? is that as wrong as I think it is?! :-/
Ahh, I see. YOURS, Gina. Whole world of meaning away…
😀 You all crack me up!
And here I thought all I needed to do is spray sexy perfume for 20 minutes, 3x a week to see measurable results. . .
I listened to Robin’s recommendation from a couple of days ago, and bought a small bottle of Kenzo Air. I had to follow this with a big bottle, immediately.
Air is wonderful.
Yay! Isn’t that great stuff? And I never hear it mentioned.
Just when I thought I wasn’t into it anymore, perfume started calling my name again. A few highlights:
1) got a bottle of vintage Chant d’aromes edt for a song (no pun intended hyuk hyuk) on ebay. The minute I sprayed it on I was in love. Such a beautiful, rich, delicate perfume. It reminded me quite a bit of vintage 19. I’m so impressed with old Guerlain in general an this one is such a beauty! Next stop, Chamade!
2) Put on my cowboy shirt yesterday and caught such a beautiful scent. It was the dry down (three days later) of Cuir Ottoman. Such a gorgeous scent for this time of year. I’m thinking of trying to get some vintage Femme, but have some questions about which formulation is good (or if they are al good) and how to identify it by bottle. I noticed on some bottles that they were “compounded” in the USA. What does that mean? And is it better to get pure parfum, PDT or EDT? Surrender to Chance has a vintage sample that I may spring for. Also are there any much loved leather frags out there that I should try?
3.) Finally did a bad thing sprung for a small fb of Songes, unsniffed, just because so many people like it. I thought I would like it much more than I do. Not really a tropical “Monyette” kind of person. I will keep trying it. But it may end up on the swap pile.
Like so many of us on this thread. I just got home from work, and haven’t put anything on yet. I’m thinking of rooting through the sample box to see if there’s something in there to try again. Also STChance is having a 15% off special on all their sample sets, so I am seriously tempted…
One more thing. I briefly sniffed Chanel Coco EDP at a store recently and really liked it. Is the vintage Coco anything like the stuff that Sephora carries now? Is the EDT different than the EDP? I think Coco is something I would like, so hankering for some samples from Surrender or Sephora.
I do have, and like, the current EDP, though it feels a little formal for me to wear often. Very nice warm and spicy scent – with an air of briskness about it too! Can’t help though with the other versions – I have never tried them:)
Cuir Ottoman is wonderful! There are a lot of great leathers, such as Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur (perfect classic), Chanel Cuir Russie (the uber leather, with real iris), L’AP Dzing! (circus-inspired), SL Daim Blond (apricot suede), and L’AP Traversee du Bosphore (apple loukhoum leather).
I am making note of all of these that I haven’t tried yet, because I love the ones I do know on your list!
Thanks for your suggestions. I will have to try some of those! I have a bottle of Traversee du Bosphore and wasn’t too thrilled with the sweetness of it, but will give it another try. I think that one might be a “grower” for me.
My nose doesn’t pick up the leather in Traversee either – and it also registers it as too sweet. This is quite strange because most of the perfumes I adore other people think are too sweet, and many fans of Traversee seem to be partial to what I think of as dry scents!
I find it sort of sweet, too, and usually don’t like sweet scents. But somehow it works for me. 🙂
I was also going to say, the first time I put it on, I experienced a series of separate notes and decided it was a weird leather, even as it began to sweeten and soften. Now I just smell the overall accord. The leather is sort of subliminal. This reminds me of LT’s review of Nahema, which he describes as an explosion in reverse. It’s worth seeing if it grows on you.
Exactly, that’s the odd thing! People who don’t usually like sweet like this one – although its sweet. I, who like sweet – just find it too sweet! I’ll look out next time for any subliminal notes:)
Hi Sajini, SL Cuir Mauresque is one of my favorite leathers. It has a touch of amber and orange blossom and I love it this time of year especially.
Cuir Mauresque sounds wonderful. I will have to try that one.
Hello! I’m wondering if anyone can help me: I’m hankering for a dry, woodsy, earthy scent for autumn, and don’t really know where to start. I usually go for florals , with Diorissimo, Diptyque’s L’Ombre dans L’Eau, Ormonde Jayne’s Frangipani and Teo Cabanel’s Julia being much-loved favourites. But recently I’ve been craving something more butch, and I’m a bit out of my depth in that particular scent area.
I’d like something sort of austerely comforting in the same way that Hermes Vetiver Tonka is (it has a wool/hazelnut character that I really like) but that isn’t quite as rich as that. I like cedar and pine notes, so long as they don’t veer too drunkenly towards pencil shavings and taxi air fresheners. Smoke is nice. So’s a little bit of incense. Sap or resin very welcome. Pronounced sweetness or assertive vanilla less so, although a shy hint of it is absolutely fine.
What do you think? Am I a lost cause? Any tips and sage advice very much appreciated!
Have you tried Terre d’Hermes? I also Miller Harris La Fumée and Armani Privé Bois D’Encens come to mind.
Commes de Garçon Kyoto
Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles
Sonoma Scent Studios Winter Woods
L’Artisan Fou d’Absinthe
Ooh yes, I love the cuddly Vetiver Tonka – it’s one of my favorite winter comfort scents! I wasn’t quite ready to jump into full-fledged winter comfort mode just yet today so put on another of JCE’s scents, Poivre Samarcande. It hit the spot perfectly! Do give it a test if you haven’t already, I think I may wear it all week…
Chanel’s Sycomore is smoky vetiver.
AG Encens Flamboyant has pine and smoke notes.
A few that might work for you:
Sonoma Scent Studio Champagne des Bois (OMG woods, esp. Sandalwood, a little goes a VERY long way. I oversprayed by accident, and could smell it still 12 hours and a shower later.)
L’Artisan Coeur du Vetiver Sacre (a very woody, incense-y one)
Union Celtic Fire (very smoky, peaty, generally fantastic)
Atelier Cologne Bois Blonds (very cold, light wood. It makes me think of Scandinavian Modern furniture when I wear it.)
I second Poodle’s recommendation of Fille en Aiguilles. It’s gorgeous.
I’d also recommend trying Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilee or Sonoma Scent Studio Forest Walk.
Seconding Forest Walk. Incense Pure might work too.
Thanks to Jessica’s review the other day, I *had* to make the trek today to a Lush shop to check out the Rose Jam shower gel. I am glad I went when I did, as they had only one medium and one large bottle left in stock. After my visit, they had only the medium bottle left, as the large bottle was in my shopping bag–along with some Ro’s Argan body conditioner, two solid shampoos, two liquid shampoos, some hand cream, two solid perfumes (Breath of God and Imogen Rose), a bath bomb, and some shower jelly. Fortunately, I only have to own up to the two solid perfumes on the Damage Poll, as body products don’t count, right?
Also, I got to try Rihanna Rogue, which I would probably have passed right by if not for Robin’s very positive review. It really is quite nice once the obligatory frooty top notes die down. It has been a while since I smelled Botega Veneta, but I think I like Rogue better. I remember thinking BV was a little too dry and leathery for my taste. Perhaps if you liked or wanted to like BV but wished it were a little sweeter, it would be worth trying Rogue.
Our great minds think alike Roses! I’m out the door in a few minutes to try Rose Jam. My Lush store is right next to where I’m getting my hair cut today. And I sniffed Rogue just yesterday and thought it pretty darn good, and agree that it would work really well if you want a sweeter version of BV. In the end it was just too sweet for me, but I was mighty tempted. I may pick up a sample at some stage.
OH NO, please let my Lush store still have it when I get there…
And so glad you both liked Rogue!
You and your bathroom are going to smell fantastic, 50 roses! And I’m not at all sure that one should count perfume solids that leap into one’s cart while shopping for shower gel. 😉
It’s funny how many things just throw themselves into the shopping basket when I’m not looking! Maybe it’s some sort of separation anxiety–the perfume sees one of its good friends, a shampoo or shower gel with whom it has formed a close attachment, getting ready to go away and spontaneously jumps into the basket, unable to bear being separated from its friend.
It would have been WRONG to separate them!
I went to Lush today wanting to get the Rose Jam shower gel too, but the store I went to was out! They had their grand re-opening party earlier today (they moved from inside Macy’s to a stand-alone store), and they sold out. I was too late! I did at least get to smell what was left in the tester bottle, which was pretty nice. I need to go check the other store tomorrow and see if they have any. If the other store doesn’t have it, I’d been meaning to order a bottle of Sikkim Girls anyway, so I’ll get some online.
Thats quite a Lush haul!
I wanted to try Rogue as well, but it seems it has not arrived in South Africa yet. I tried Rebel and Nude, but there was no tester for Rebel Fleur. I disliked Nude but quite liked the cocoa note in Rebel; though, if I were to go for something like that I think I might prefer Comptoir Sud’s Amour de Cacao – about the same price as the Rihanna where I live.
Good afternoon everyone!
SOTD is Oolong Infini–reapplied a whole lot as the fragrance on me disappears very quickly (at least I hope so as I have been spraying it liberally every hour or so 🙂 ).
My younger son, who has had major health issues over the last few years–in full remission however, has been dxed with a few complications this month and I am exhausted. None of it brain cancer, but its been taking the stuffing out of me… so it goes. . .
So, I have a question. Has anyone tried Ginestet’s Botrytis edt? I’ve put it on my “order a sample some day” list. I have come dangerously close to ordering a bottle unsniffed (which oddly and unfortunately for me takes less brain effort, but brings about much greater financial pain). Also (okay, two questions), how do you pronounce Ginestet?
Oh, and I too ordered Rose Jam today. Very persuasive review!
So sorry to hear that…I do hope it all gets better, for both of you.
Have not tried Botrytis in so long. I remember thinking it was too sweet for me but I should give it another shot.
Hmmm… the truth of the matter is that if I am totally honest with myself, I indeed have a perfume sweet tooth. Cotton candy noooo… but over-ripe fruit? Give me dried fruit or fruit falling off the pit in my frags and I am very happy. Errr…yah!
I will be disciplined and order a sample. I will be disciplined and order a sample. I will be disciplined and order a sample.
Ha, good luck with that…
I got a sample of Botrytis recently. It’s nice, but not what I expected it to smell like at all really. It’s sweet, but it’s not as cuddly to me as I expected. I had been tempted to blind buy a bottle too, but I’m glad I get to spend time with a decant first. I’ve only tried it twice, so it needs more time yet..
That seals the deal. I will NOT blind buy. I WILL order a sample…
I’m a fan of Botrytis myself. It is sweet, but I feel like it’s just sheer enough and has enough other stuff going on with the touches of spice and tobacco that the sweetness isn’t too much. I like honey notes and find that I like some sweeter scents in the fall, so your mileage may vary, of course. The closest thing I would compare it to is Hermes Ambre Narguile, so if you’ve tried that and liked it, Botrytis might work for you too.
I have never even heard of Hermes Ambre Narguile, but I just googled it, and see why you suggested it. Thank you!
Botrytis to me is a dark, dense honey along with tobacco and vanilla. It’s sweet, but not sugary sweet. You have to be very okay with honey in order to like it.
Sending good thoughts your way, Oakland Fresca.
Oolong Infini disappears on me in less than 30 minutes. Sigh…..
Thanks. Day by day.
I have a few decants of Atelier colognes and I love them, but they are more like a perfume lover’s equivalent of an amuse-bouche than a real dish. Too bad! I’d get them as an entree if I could.
I have some Vanille Incensee on (from a decant), and am enjoying it very much – though I probably don’t need a bottle!
A sample of Ginestet was included in a sample exchange I did earlier in the year and I liked it very much. Unfortunately it only seem available on American perfume sites.
To me it smelled like sweet white grapes taste – if that makes any sense! I don’t like Ambre Narguile which I find too heavy-sweet – or Back to Black; but I do like other sweet scents – like Chergui. Botrytis has a lighter – fresh fruit – sort of quality. Hard to explain, but its not the Lutens’ stewed fruit vibe. Kind of like the honey facet of white grape sweetness – which makes sense given that its meant to be inspired by desert wine:)
I like the dessert wines in theory…but unless they are very very cold I have trouble with them. But smelling like one? That might work. Thanks. I put the order a sample on my to-do list today.
The line I most regret not having explored before it disappeared was Gobin Daudé Parfums, and her Sève Exquise especially. They still existed when I first started sampling voraciously, but I somehow overlooked them – and then they were gone! This kind of thing engenders perfume paranoia – I am always wondering what I haven’t tried and will later deeply regret having missed.
Totally agree! For as many years as I’ve been wearing and collecting perfumes, I had not excuse! Lots of lost greats to mourn.
SOTD is Le Labo Patchouli 24. Man, that stuff is strong. My 1ml sample is going to last me 2 years! I think I need to save it for winter temps though.
I was really disappointed by Modern Muse which came with a Nordstrom order I just received. I really like quite a few EL perfumes, and figured I’d at least enjoy wearing the contents of the sample, but I don’t think I’ll even revisit it. Anybody else tried it?
And does anybody have any Chantecaille scents they like? I can’t remember anybody mentioning them, and I noticed a display last time I was at the mall.
I thought Kalimantan was delicious when I tried it once instore, but the price deterred me from buying any.. I would like to try it again though.
Kalimantan was the one that most grabbed me. Incense-y, if I’m not mistaken.
I tried Modern Muse once, and I remember thinking it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t really anything special either.
I haven’t spent much time the the Chantecailles, but Kalimantan was one that stood out to me too. But they are pricey so I haven’t come back to it.
Yeah I begged a sample at the counter not long ago . Modern Muse has a very pretty top note(s) sort of Jasmine/Honeysuckle but the woody musk drydown is sort of sour and kinda reminds me of rotting wood or something maybe mildew?
Yeah, while I am definitely a “perfumista”, I also like my share of lowbrow scents, and I really strongly disliked MM which surprised me, because usually I’m just bored, but this really smelled kind of bad!
I dislike most ELauder scents so I was surprised to like MM. It has this warm skin-like quality to the musk – not full on clean, but not full on dirty either, with some floral background. I wasn’t blown away, but I liked it:)
Reading Denise Beaulieu’s The Perfume Lover. Wonderful read! It’s a super-smart book full of literary and art history references. Plus, I’m learning more about perfumer superstars and masterpieces new to me. I am spritzing Seville a l’Aube like mad.
This book and perfume are two of my favs. I love her blog, too.
Tried out a sample of L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse today and was pretty disappointed with it. It might be just about the least tuberosy tuberose I’ve ever tried. I will give it this, though: the lasting power is pretty great, even if the scent isn’t that interesting.
Marjorie Rose’s post above reminded me that I have a sample of vintage Habanita that I haven’t tried yet.. need to get get that out
I found this to be a very sweet tuberose and dislike it as well.
I was given a sample of Kiss My Name by Ramon Monegal yesterday and quite like it. Not too sweet or overpowering, just a lovely, warm tuberose scent.
I have such mixed feelings about vintage frags when I’ve found myself enjoying the current incarnation! I kinda want to know what you’ve got to say about Habanita, but I don’t want to not enjoy what I have easy access to, either!
You’re right, NdT is a weird tuberose. I wasn’t sure Iiked it at first but it grew on me, although I wish the top notes persisted throughout.
So as not to feel left out, I picked up the mid-sized bottle of Rose Jam.
The large size was sold out. Will try it out tonight. Nice way to retire a Sunday.
I had an epiphany today: I’m drawn to juice that’s green. What is that about? It shouldn’t matter what color it is. Yet I reach for the Envy, the Chanel No. 19 Poudre, and some Australian perfume I can’t remember the name of and I don’t even like that much. So I might as well find out: what else is green? Suggestions?
The only (literally) green juice in my collection – for now – is Mugler Cologne. And I think I know what you mean: there’s something irresistible about that invigorating color, I can’t help but want to spritz it whenever I lay eyes on it. (It helps that Mugler Cologne smells like a summer afternoon in a bottle – cut grass, orange blossom, hot tub steam, fresh-faced musk.) I’m also drawn to the likes of Chanel 19 and CK Eternity; the scents don’t always work for me, but I love the IDEA of them and the optimism conveyed by that particular color of juice.
I agree. And when a green-smelling fragrance is not green to look at – Bel Respiro fro example – I’m oddly disappointed.
Thanks, subhuman (?!). I’ll hunt for that cologne. Maybe Saks has it.
Slumberhouse Norne is a gorgeous deep green and the scent matches by being a meditative forest scent