Another Wednesday! What's your fragrance today? And has participating in the daily scent of the day polls changed how you think about what fragrance you'll wear, and if so, how?
I am wearing Parfums de Nicolaï Balkis Light. If I remember correctly Balkis has been discontinued, and the Light version was only available in the Nicolaï boutiques. Anyway, I smell great.
Reminder: this Friday, the 27th, will be Forgotten Friends Day — wear something you haven't worn in ages, or that you tend to forget that you own, or the like.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2014, where I'll try to always have the next six or seven weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is raspberries macro [cropped] by Muffet at flickr; some rights reserved.
I’m thinking of Shalimar or Infusion d’Iris for my scent of the day. I’ve also noticed that I never try anything new while going into work. What if I hate it and don’t have a back up or I like it but it fades after about an hour.
Understandable!
So hot and soupy here in NYC. Didn’t want anything too complicated OR ethereal but didn’t want to leave the house without a scent! That’d be unspeakable! Just a tiniest dabs of Malin + Goetz musk perfume oil.
It’s probably hot & soupy here too…so far have not even stuck my head out the door.
SOTD is The Blanc (Bvlgari). Crisp and light, haven’t worn this in ages! Guess I’m getting started on Friday early this week (Forgotten Friends). However, I have many frags that are languishing, will look for one of them to enjoy Friday. 🙂
Yes, I’m spoiled for choice for Friday! For that matter, could have gone with Balkis Light, hadn’t worn it in eons.
I’m wearing Bulgari Black. I was considering it for my forgotten friend Friday, and since my heart seems to be pulling for another one I broke this out for today.
I’ve definitely been trying out more different things for my daily wear since participating in these polls — I guess I figure if a sample or something doesn’t work out, at least I’ll get some good chat out of it.
You smell great! I don’t wear it often enough either.
Definitely, just reading what others are wearing has prompted me to scrounge through old or untried samples to find some of the things people mention here. I’m also consciously wearing more of the things I own but haven’t worn for a while, rather than reaching for one of the same few bottles day after day. Today’s scent is one I’ve been wearing pretty regularly, though—Violet Fumee.
I think that’s what it’s doing for me too…I hear a fragrance, and think wow, haven’t worn that in ages, so I dig it out the next day.
I felt in need of something rose today, so I’m wearing Ce Soir ou Jamais by Annick Goutal.
I don’t wear rose that often, but really enjoying it today!
I am wearing Carven Le Parfum today. It is from a sample that I got at Neiman Marcus for beauty week. It is okay, but the dry down is nice.
I enjoy the SOTD polls because it helps me to try new fragrances and not wear the same things all the time. I also like to read about what others are wearing and what they think about it.
I liked that one 🙂
Wearing a cheapie today, Ungaro Apparition – like the peppery, tart rhubarb accord during the summer which makes it somewhat fresh. The picture of raspberries reminds me of David Yurman’s Limited, though! One VERY underrated scent.
Gosh, is David Yurman done with perfume already? Surprised we haven’t seen more from that brand.
What did you think of that line overall? I only tried the original, and something about it really rubbed me the wrong way. There’s a line somewhere between not summarily dismissing a whole line because you didn’t like one or two of them, and being a glutton for punishment, and I haven’t quite figured out where it is.
I’m one of the few people who really digs the original David Yurman perfume. I own a small bottle. I can’t think of another perfume that’s like it.
It’s breezy and cooling off a bit this evening in Cairo, but we’ve had some very hot and humid days lately… The kind where you have to take a shower and do laundry after coming home from the sun 😀 I’ve got nothing “appropriate” to wear, just so many patchoulis, ambers, orientals, etc. I can’t do the heavy oud in the afternoon thing as well yet as Egyptians can.
I’ve tested lots of light, airy florals and citruses that I know would be good in this heat, but nothing has appealed to me and those kinds of frags tend to bore me. So I ended up going to this shop here that sells handmade soaps and essential oils and the like, and I picked up some vanilla/orange body splash that I’m wearing now.
dominika, whenever you mention Cairo, I remember something Luca Turin said when he reviewed Manoumalia, namely, that he would walk to Cairo for a sniff of the recreation of kyphi that Sandrine Videault created. In an interview with Perfume Shrine, she said it was exhibited at the Cairo Museum in 2002. Probably lost in the sands of time by now, but it might be worth sniffing around for, particularly if you’ve gotten to know anyone who would have been associated with the Museum then, or who is part of any of the other archeological organizations.
That looks like Dzing! in your gravatar – one of my favs, too.
My SOTD choices lately have been dominated by the two new FBs that I have acquired in the last month (Cristalle and Sa Majeste La Rose). I am pretty enamored with both at the moment. Also, I think I tend to be more adventurous when the weather is cooler, and not so hot and humid. However, I have greatly expanded my list of fragrances to try and been inspired to try out more of the samples that I own, which I usually do in the evening, or re-try fragrances that didn’t speak to me right away. The Friday themes are great to get me out of a rut, even if I like that rut 😉
After several years not owning a bottle, I recently bought a small decant of Cristalle edt, and of the edp. I LOVE the edt, and thought I’d finally try the edp. Having Cristalle back in my collection has definitely improved it!
I like the EDP too. It is fruitier. I went with the EDT for a full bottle because it is both easy to wear and polished. Perfect for summer. I might have to buy a decant of the EDP though …
Wearing Diptyque Eau de Lavande. If it wasn’t for the daily scent polls, I would probably wear it much more often if not every day.
You know you can anyway! We aren’t judging 🙂
PDN
Jour de Fete.
Because it’s summer.
Ah, did you get the new version?
Wearing one of my favorite scents for an early summer, cool and sunny day: vintage Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass. Just one tiny spritz, otherwise it’s way too strong. I’ve read she created this scent as homage to the state of Kentucky where she had a very successful horse-racing stable. And it does remind me of that beautiful horse-country I’ve visited, very green and gently rolling, with the lovely white fences marking the different horse farms. The scent is very prairie-grassy, a bit powdery, and perhaps because of yesterday’s SOTD question, I can really smell its spicy carnation note, which I had forgotten about yesterday.
I haven’t really changed how I choose my fragrance each day as a result of these polls, but I have greatly enjoyed reading what others choose and why they choose their SOTD, as well as exploring new scents I’ve never heard of before.
My college roommate wore Blue Grass as her signature scent. Whenever I get a whiff of the good, classic juice it sends me straight back to school! (and in a good way)
I haven’t smelled Blue Grass in years, but I used to love it.
Arden’s farm (and her big house) are still here although the University of Ky. now own it and use it for an experimental farm. They also train students there who want to work in the T’bred industry.
Hey Robin and NST community!
I’ve mostly not been participating in the daily polls, but I have noticed that the photos each day can impact my decisions! Those raspberries should look delicious, for example! . . .
Same thought, those raspberries look incredible! So, do tell, what’s your SOTD?
Sadly, no raspberry in my repertoire! Actually, haven’t decided on a SOTD, yet, since I’m feeling especially sleepy this morning (didn’t sleep well last night). Fragrance sounds hard at the moment.
SOTD: Ungaro pour L’Homme III Emanuel Ungaro for men
A mouthful of a name!
I’m wearing Bois d’Iris by VC&A to see how it works in the heat of New York. I’m loving it in my air conditioned office, and I’m guessing I’ll love it anywhere.
Also have a dab of Carnal Flower on my wrist just to try. Tuberose is so not me, but I’m trying to see if it and I can come to an understanding.
Also, these scent of the day polls are what helped me to stop lurking and finally participate. The weekend polls were always a great source of information, but now that they’re happening every day, I’m taking even more mental notes and learning a lot as I go along. It’s wonderful.
Thanks Robin!
How do you like Carnal Flower? I really want to try it because so many people rave about it, but big white flowers usually aren’t my thing.
Try it. You might find its not as big as you think. On me it’s more of a small to medium white flower instead of a big one.
I agree with the esteemed Poodle (who, by the way, has one of my favorite gravatars. Studious doggy for the win).
Tuberose is not my thing, but it could be yours. I respect the fragrance and know that it’s objectively well-made and beautiful. Try it!
Woo hoo! We’re scent twins today!!!!!
Woohoo!
I can’t get enough of this stuff – can you?
You know, I may have sprayed one fewer spray today than yesterday because it was fainter on me today. I also think this doesn’t do quite as well in the humidity. I do love it though and I see a FB in my future. This…and the CdG Red Carnation…and….ok, I need to stop. I heard perfumes are 40% off at Bendel’s. I was going to go today but ugh…I had more work to do and I’ve already put in more than 40 hours and it is only Wednesday!
The daily SOTD has been such a delightful diversion from my work day. It’s fun to share what I’ve chosen to wear and hear what others are wearing. It also has helped me learn more about fragrance, and be able to ask questions.
Today I’m wearing L`Eau Ambree by Prada, an easy to wear entry level amber that was recommended by Mr. Lucas! I’ve since purchased a FB and the shower gel which I highly recommend. It’s a great scent to settle into the evening with. I love the citrus with a touch of rose and the amber that stays with me throughout the day.
I really love L’Eau Ambree – good choice! I heard it’s been discontinued, though.
It has been discontinued, but you still can get it off ebay no problem! I’ve purchased sample vials (for travel purposes), FBs and the shower gel all off ebay.
I’m on the train where the smell is really not so nice, so I’ve slathered myself with Blackberry & Bay cream. Usually I’m nervous about overapplying, but in this case I think I really can only improve on the situation!
Ha, hope it works!
Another PdN wearer here today–L’Eau a la Folie–lime, mango, peach, jasmine, and something bitter that makes it not smell sweetly fruity, as sweet fruits are not my favorite. PdN has so many fragrances that work well in the heat for me, Balle Match is probably my favorite.
I enjoy reading what others are wearing and SOTD has made me look up reviews of fragrances I’m not familiar with. It’s so much fun!
Gosh, what a wonderful scent that L’Eau a la Folie is!
You’re right, that bitter note really makes a difference and my nose seeks it out every time I wear it.
I’m not tried Balle Match yet. How does it last on skin?
I rescued my PdN L’Eau a la Folie from the swap pile but now I may put it back. It smells flat to me.
I find it fun participating nearly daily and I have more time for this at the Moment. I’m not sure the poll has changed my habits though, chosing the day’s scent has always been the first important decision in the morning. Today I’m back to my newest buy, imperial tea, I really enjoy it.
Just to echo the previous comments, I really enjoy reading others scent of the day and also this has encouraged me to start posting.
Today started off with Vanille Absolument, and it was surprisingly enjoyable in the warm weather, it has now faded and been followed by 28 La Pausa which although lovely I was actually hoping for something with more density – however it is in a sample at work and always seems to go hand in hand with mental focus.
The way Vanille Absolument worked this morning has made me ponder trying more of my richer scents in summer – particularly the pleasantly warm rather than extremely hot weather we are having in the UK today.
SophieC, I was also pleasantly surprised to find out last August how well Vanille Absolument worked in hot weather. I think I also wore Seville a l’aube.
Ah – great idea and I will try Seville a l’aube soon.
Since I wore Cuir-something the first two days of the week, I thought about seeing if I could keep up a leather theme for the rest of the week. But I dropped it because I was too excited about the FM Iris Poudree mini I just got from STC. So that’s my SOTD. 😀
Sotd is Goutal’s Ambre Fetiche shower gel and body cream with PdE Ambre 114. The AF body products are simply divine, and I’ve searched this country high and low for a bottle of the perfume to no avail, and nowhere with a reasonable shipping policy seems to have it either. So fingers are crossed that it will be re-introduced in the new packaging..
I’m loving these sotd polls! I’m 12 hours ahead of you so I can only really post in the middle of the night, but it is reigniting my enthusiasm for trying new things and remembering to wear old loves, and being a bit more adventurous. … And it’s nice to chat with you all 🙂
Did you get the Gucci Accenti yet?
Nooo not yet :-/ when I asked the question I had just put in an order- Theorema, Hiris, Givenchy Oblique Rewind, and Issabella Rossellini Manifesto for my mum. I should’ve just ordered Accenti anyway, now I have to wait for more $ and hope it’s still there!
SOTD is Coccobello by Heeley, dabbled from a sample vial about 30 minutes ago . The palm leaf note comes across as a high-class Irish Spring (I haven’t smelled that soap in a while, so I could be wrong). I can smell a tiny bit of cedar now, and I am once again kicking myself for not purchasing a bottle of Ananas Fizz when it made a brief return recently.
I just ordered a bottle of Ananas Fizz from Aedes, so they might still have some!
Thanks!! I just ordered a bottle.
The palm leaf note has faded a bit and I like Coccobello more now. It is not soapy at all, but there is a still a lingering “this is meant to fragrance deodorant soap” note that is too “functional” for me . I am grateful that the white flowers are almost non-existent, but I would like to amp up the coconut and vanilla a tiny bit to balance the sportiness of the palm leaf.
Coconut, soap and palm leaf do not sound very pleasant, though I don’t know what palm leaf smells like and am already prejudiced against coconut…
I’v been quite intrigued by the Heeley line since I smelled Iris de Nuit which is lovely! Have you tried Ophelia?
Well, this palm leaf smells like Irish Spring soap (don’t know if they have that in S. Africa?) — not like “soap,” but like something that would be used to fragrance grocery store soap that is supposed to smell “green.” I have not tried Ophelia; white flower perfumes rarely work for me (too “perfumey” and I don’t like indolic frags) I did enjoy Heeley’s Bubblegum Chic (horrible name, IMHO), so I’m open to trying another white flower-centric frag from them.
I think Cocobello is a dead ringer for Coconut Lime Verbena, the much loved and DC’ed Bath & Body Works scent.
The Friday themed polls have definitely made me think about my collection more, otherwise I would just wear what I would have worn anyway. Today I.’m in Water Calligraphy as I try to expand my wardrobe of the nearly invisible fade fast scents
Peoneve by Penhaligon. My three sprays before work are almost gone – definitely a great spring scent though (yes, I know it’s summer…).
I’ve appreciated the polls as a prompt to branch out more and think more about what I’m wearing. I’m more inclined to look beyond the bottles closest at hand, or to try a sample that I hadn’t gotten to yet, or retry one if someone else raves about it. The comments give me lots of ideas! I also like having a place to write about my thoughts and interact with others about perfumes. Thanks for doing this!
I’m testing a tiny dab of Escada Chiffon Sorbet. This was the first in Escada’s now 22-perfume summer limited edition series. It’s slightly fruity, slightly aquatic, slightly warm (gourmandish?), and, of course, summery. It’s very pleasant, but now seems a bit generic after the thousands of variations on this theme over the past two decades. I find the next one, Summer in Provence, more distinctive because of its strawberry note.
Hello Nozknoz!
Escada Collection is my favourite from that house, though the summer series was always well done. Please see my reply to you in yesterday’s SOTD. (I don’t know if anybody goes back and reads previous day’s posts or if it is only me that does.)
I do, sometimes,….and don’t be snickering about being an enabler 😉
Thanks, Bear – I’ll check back on yesterday. I’ll try to sample Escada Collection, too!
Bear, I went back and saw your question about Missoni Acqua. I don’t think I’ve tried the Acqua one, although I meant to, since LT gave it 4 stars. The Missoni that he gave 5 stars to is the even older one (rectangular rather than oval bottle), and both it and Acqua are by Maurice Roucel. I have the older one but haven’t gotten around to spending much time with it yet. Have you tried Acqua?
Nozknoz, no I have never sampled the Acqua flanker, but I get a distinct aquatic/melon aroma from the original that I can only attribute to the combination of peony (always a bit watery to my nose) and fruits. http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Missoni/Missoni-1069.html
Maurice Roucel is one of my favourite perfumers, too.
SOTD is L’Ame Soeir (again) today. Yay! Notes of jasmine, otto of Bulgarian rose, ylang, ambergris. And Aldehydes. Lots of ’em. I smell fabulous and everyone knows it!
These polls certainly make it apparent how much I repeat my scents (Fate, Dia, #19, L’Ame Soeur lately). I was thinking that maybe I choose these same ones because the bottles are handy. Maybe I need to reorganize my scents so that more of them are easily accessible. I also like to spray from my bottles or larger decants (rather than samples or smaller decants). Again, probably because a bottle is easier to see and grab than a small decant which I have to search a box of decants and read their tiny tiny labels).
I am also all for spraying from the bottle or a larger decant. Case in point, when I first tried Chergui from a tiny sample atomizer, I was turned off because it smelled like pure bug spray. I got 17 mLs of Chergui during the SplitMeet (figuring I could always swap it away if I hate it). When I sprayed more generously, it really bloomed nicely. Although I still get a little bit of bug spray, the whole Chergui wearing is absolutely delicious.
The new Amouage Opus VIII adorns my wrist today and after my third wearing of my decant of this gem it definitely goes to the top of my fb wishlist 🙂 Completely unique from all my other scents and very compelling as in can’t stop sniffing it.
SOTD lists are always helpful since it gives one the opportunity to see what other people who obviously know fragrances are choosing. I often go from the list to look up samples of those that seem like they might interest me.
Opus VIII really is gorgeous! It’s now on my FB list as well!
Woke up this morning craving Burberry Brit. Not my go to scent, but am enjoying it on this warm day.
SOTD: Voleur de Roses. I was supposed to be off today but had to go in for a meeting with the accountant. I was hoping to punish him with this strong patchouli scent, but I don’t think he even noticed! We’ve known each other long enough (and he’s a great kidder) that he would have said, “Pew! What stinks?!?” if he hadn’t liked it.
These polls have made me skip perfume less. I was slowly but surely getting out of the daily habit.
P. S. The raspberries have my mouth watering, but only for the real fruit. The note in perfume does not work on my skin.
I’m wearing a tiny smidge of Tobacco Vanille on my wrists (last of a sample) and a spritz of Chergui on my neck.
The polls are reminding me to put on perfume earlier in the day, and are helping me go through samples.
Ubar, because it is like a fortifying dark tea on this gray morning.
I had a meeting I was a little nervous about this morning and so I used lavender body oil and then also a few spritzes of Coco for some warmth and a sense of authority! I was a little surprised at how nice this combo was.
Just wanted to add that I did not ‘smear’ Coco into the oil so they did not completely mix. (love the way it sounds as if I have been baking!)
I was dressed head to toe in shades of muted leafy green today so I figured something full of chlorophyll would work! I tried layering annick goutal’s ninfeo mio with guerlain vetiver for an extra dose of shrubbery in the ninfeo mio swampy garden but unfortunately vetiver took over and it ended up a big dry shrubbery with the occasional fig snuck in. I have to practice this layering thing! I only have eleven perfumes (including a body splash) so there’s not room for that much variety. However the daily sotds have made me think more about what I’m wearing, and check its progress more carefully to be able to report back faithfully!
I sympathize with the layering mishap – sometimes it seems two scents really ought to work with each other – and then they just don’t! Too many blah experiments in a row and I go back to the scents as they are meant to be, and appreciate each in its completeness again. And then, at some point, I end up playing again and the cycle repeats :-/
Yes! I figure there’s a trick to it that I haven’t quite gotten, yet. Maybe if I start out with two scents of the same opacity I’ll avoid at least completely undoing my layering 😛
SOTD was Jean Patou Chaldee, first try-it’s the first tanning-lotion perfume I’ve liked, it’s quite grown up and elegant.
SOTE after shower is Stephane Lucas 777 Oumma. Price is prohibitive, but so far I’m perhaps unfortunately quite taken with it…
Eva, are you trying the new Heritage version of Chaldée? I’m very curious to try it. I have the previous (La Collection) version, which I like very much, but I’m sure they must have modernized it to some extent.
I’m also very curious about the Stephane Lucas 777 brand; some of them got intriguing reviews. Dangerous prices on both these brands, though, I agree.
Yes it’s the new Heritage collection!
Serge Lutens Arabie, my bottle of which is only a couple of years old and therefore surely reformulated since its launch in 2000: it seems like it should be thicker and denser, and doesn’t have nearly the lasting power of other Lutenses. Still, pretty wonderful.
This morning I wore some vintage Cabochard extrait since I knew my office would be frigid and the richness wouldn’t overwhelm. After the gym this afternoon I put on some Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur which is a beautiful, unusual floral leather that works fine in the heat and humidity.
I really like Cuir Pleine Fleur, too!
SOTD is Chanel No. 19 EDT. I LOVE this fragrance. So fresh, light and green.
SOTD is Nicolaï Le Temps d’un Fete again. I usually try to test samples 2-3 days in a row, which seems a bit boring in daily posting terms, but I don’t post every day anyway. I usually post quite late, because I usually do my perfume blog reading when I first get up in the morning, before my shower and perfume application, and/or at night while I’m watching tv. Anyway, today I’m wearing Le Temps w/ Shea Moisture Frankincense & Myrrh lotion, and they have been fighting. I’m thinking of washing my arms and replacing it with L’Artisan Vanille Absolument, which I didn’t think sounded great on a warm day, but a couple of people above have given it the thumbs up. Man, this is a dull post. I’ll blame a nasty headache that caused me to cancel my afternoon plans (I.e. errands and chores).
I am wearing Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise. The scent of the day polls make me think more about what is in my collection and what
I might not have worn for a while. I find that I am not just reaching for something that’s handy and that I wear a lot.
The old Betsey Johnson Hello Girlfriend perfume. The one with all the writing on the square bottle…one of my vintage finds. After a few funky top notes, it turns into this pretty, slightly floral sweet tea. Like actual sweet tea you might drink in the summer, not “tea.”
Trying to decide if I should swap it away in the next swap meet, or hang on. It’s actually quite lovely, but maybe not perfectly me? Can’t tell.
Interesting, I’d never even heard of that one. Tastes change over time, so, personally, I wouldn’t be too quick to swap away something that would be hard to find.
SOTD = VC&A Bois d’Iris
I also wore this yesterday. While it was nice, it did not last quite as long as it did yesterday and I think the reason is that today was just a hot humid mess in NYC. And so my forgotten friends week continues…
Regarding these polls, they made me exercise my collection (ummm and my wallet) more. It increased my To Try list of perfumes that were launched more than 3 years ago.
It is chilly and gloomy in a late-spring kind of way in Prague, not at all like summer. My interest in perfume has not waned but I do have other things (some of them far less pleasant) to keep me occupied and so I check these polls for a quick escape.
I rarely feel in the mood for any fragrance these days but can’t stand being non-perfumed either even when I can’t smell it on myself – if that makes sense. Soooo today am wearing Tuscan Soul by Ferragamo. It is discontinued but can be found really cheap on the internet. It is citrusy and woody and has a nice spa feel – relaxing. A coworker noticed it and – after asking nicely if I didn’t mind – bought one bottle for herself too! They used to have a perfumed candle as well, hopefully it turns up on the internet at some point.
Balkis! That’s a blast from the past. I remember when I had the regular version of it. It was lovely! Now I’m craving a grown up well made raspberry scent!