Today is Sample Grab Bag! The community project: pick a fragrance at random from among your untried samples. What did you pick?
As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you didn’t participate in the community project.
I picked my sample before I left home earlier this week; I'm wearing Costume National So Nude Eau de Toilette. As soon as I sprayed it on I realized I almost certainly have worn it before, so I've screwed up and will sit in the corner wearing the dunce cap. Anyway, I do like it and should probably get my hands on the Eau de Parfum version.
Note: image is Whalom Lake, Fitchburg, Mass. via Boston Public Library at flickr; some rights reserved.
I pulled Annick Goutal Mandragore, which is wonderful but was gone by the time I left the house. I’ll probably hunt down the eau de parfum of this one, too, and meanwhile dig through the solids and strays in my bag to find something for this afternoon.
Oh, what a shame! It does last a bit longer than that on me, but it’s not a powerhouse.
I love Mandragore! I get a little more out of it, but I also find the joy is in reapplying, as with most eau de colognes…. I also like having a free hand with lots of spritzes. Many of the perfumes I like must be applied carefully so I don’t clear the room.
I’m sure the dabber sample did it no favors, but it was really lovely while it lasted!
No, I can’t imagine you’d get much out of a dabber!!!
My bottle of Mandragore is currently in the fridge to nab for cooling spritzes. It too is gone by the time I leave the house for the day.
I pulled out ELDO Putain des Palaces. I like it, though it’s probably not the best choice for such sweltering weather. It’s supposed to have tuberose, no? I don’t feel any tuberose. I feel woodiness and dust and spices…
I get a candied rose/violet over a very dirty musk and leather base. Definitely risque on a hot day!
Maybe you’re thinking of Vierges et Toreros? That one is tuberose and leather.
Rose/violet, suede and musk, yep. I don’t think that one’s got tuberose.
I’m on the hunt for ‘the’ magnolia fragrance that works best for me so I’ve got a few samples of magnolias to try and today tried Sandrine of the Magnolia Grandiflora’s. It is not, I’m sad to say, a winner for me. I get absolutely no magnolia but lots of woods and those woods are very resinous.
So far, Malle’s Eau de Magnolia is the best magnolia candidate for my fb wishlist.
I’d love to find a perfect magnolia too! Have not yet tried any of the new ones.
Oooh, crossing Sandrine’s off my list. Not much into the resinous woods thing. THanks.
Sandrine smells very much like grandifloras to my nose, a light lemony scent. I’ve had the experience of certain woody notes taking over other perfumes, though.
I wish it did to mine, I had high hopes for this one after reading the reviews but it didn’t like me
You’re in good company with FM Eau de Magnolia, in any case.
Carner Barcelona Cuirs. It was nice and I enjoyed wearing it for the day, but i wasn’t crazy for it in a catnip frenzied way, or even enough to want more of it really. So proud of myself for not adding another to my list
Then congrats!
I recently re-visited Mandragore and liked it. It lasts reasonably well on me (as a lot of the ones that fade quickly on other people often do). Today I have dabbed on some Orla Kiely from a sample that I have and am enjoying it.
I love the OK packaging…wish they’d do more personal fragrances. They seem to be doing mostly body stuff.
I feel like I cheated — I reached into one of my little “grab bags” (actually a shot glass) of samples and pulled out Carnal Flower. I have tried this one before, which doesn’t seem in the spirit of the challenge, but on the other hand I love it and the sample was just sitting there not getting worn, so I dumped it all over me.
You can sit in the corner with me, then. And just as well that you smell great, of course.
Carnal Flower isn’t cheating, it’s a trump card!
You can take solace in how good you smell!
Ha, thanks, you all made me feel better!
Well, you just happened to grab it. I think that counts.
Carnal Flower is great in the heat!
My grab bag sample SOTD is Green Orange & Coriander from the Jo Loves line.
How is that one?
Its too earthy or woodsy for my taste. More on the masculine side. The bitter green citrus is truly apparent here. That’s my favorite part. This is something that would smell amazing on my brother or my dad. Nice fragrance, just not on me.
Thanks!
SOTD: L’eau Au Masculin (Lolita Lempicka). This isn’t from my sample collection, I must confess…
Another cheater!
Thought about Oud Fleur (which is a sample), but it would be too much today especially if I visit the gym, which I definitely need to do…
True…oud should not go to the gym.
I’m more afraid of the Fleur
MDCI Peche Cardinal. I was expecting something very fruity but I think I’m smelling mostly tuberose, very little peach. It’s nice but more tuberose than I would usually want.
I had always assumed the name referred to peaches, too, but I read somewhere that it’s actually the word for “sin” in this case, as in cardinal sin. The difference is in the diacritical marks, péché versus pêche. But shouldn’t Cardinal Sin smell dirtier?
I do get peach but with a lot of tuberose.
Oh, interesting, it makes more sense now! In the drydown it is a little sweeter, but still mostly tuberose.
Lanvin’s Mon Peche in France was My Sin in the US and other English speaking countries. There is no ambiguity in the intent of that fragrance! Not peach in sight.
My grab is 1000 Flowers Reglisse Noire. YUM! It’s from a swap I did about 2 years ago, languishing in my “high end” samples box with other goodies yet to be tried. It came out during my “living under a rock” phase the past few years, and I really didn’t know anything about it. Good thing I like anise. It smells a lot to me like L’Heure Bleue; Bulgari Black; something from Parfums de Nicolai I can’t recall; and I don’t know what. Some nice smooth vanilla. Maybe what I always wanted to get from No 18, but could never. Definitely A+ for me. Thanks for the push.
Not that I’m enabling or something, but I saw on their site that they’re discontinuing the 50 ml size, inn the pretty wooden box, so it’s at a bit of a discount…
Hmm…. I’ll have to check that out!
Love that one! Such a yummy licorice with a great patch/vanilla drydown.
I love it in winter, will have to try it now too!
Byredo Rose Noir is my SOTD. Its very pleasant, but not irrisistible.
I actually received it as a sample when I bought Annick Goutall Mandragore Pourpre last month. I sampled both Mandragore and Mandragore Pourpre. I also found that Mandragore faded too fast, but MP was going strong for a long time. Plus, my skin loves the patchouli in MP
I just got a sampler pack of jasmine fragrances, so I reached in and grabbed one without looking. SOTD is Annick Goutal Songes. It is very delicious, but not as true a jasmine as I wanted – not that I mind wearing it, of course
Last night I tried Serge Lutens a la nuit and it was more of what I was looking for.
Songes is a great fragrance!
Yes, the dry down is lovely.
A La Nuit is a beautiful jasmine. Have you tried By Kilian Love and Tears? It is also a wonderful jasmine perfume imo.
SOTD: Lacoste Live Lacoste for men
What a fun game – let me see…
The winner is Serge Lutens Datura Noir. I can’t believe I haven’t tried this one yet – I’ve had the sample for a couple of years now.
Okay, lots of heliotrope in the beginning, I’m loving it, must buy more!
I like that one.
Untried sample for me today: Back to Black by Kilian. Wow! Honey, honey, honey.. and tobacco. Too much for me, but maybe come winter I’ll try again. Honey is really a strong note and one that I thought I’d love as I use so much honey in my food, but I’ve yet to find one that works for me.
Back to Black is yummy, but definitely too much for warm weather. Try again later!
I really liked B2B, but you’re right: it’s so overwhelming in the heat to the point of being unbearable. Try it again in the winter.
But I’m in A/C all day!
MPG Bois de Turquie, which is from my sample swap bag, and thus a complete surprise (ie, never ordered it, or even looked it up till this moment).
Probably inappropriate for the day/weather/mood. But spicy sweet and smooth, so…
at least I have alliteration down?
I’m testing two samples today, Madonna’s Truth or Dare on one hand and Gucci’s Flora Gracious Tuberose on the other. White florals occupy the lowest rung on my perfume preference ladder, with a particular aversion to tuberose (heresy, I know this prevents me from ever wearing a true perfumista’s crown).
I enjoyed reading Robin’s review (and additional comments) to both fragrances and comparing my response. Gracious Tuberose was definitely “light and sparkling and clean” as Robin described (almost screechily so, to my nose) but the (very light) tuberose note didn’t really come out for me until later, after the generic floral scent faded. Didn’t care for this scent at all. Truth or Dare certainly brings out the rounded, buttery tuberose note much more prominently and is definitely more “full-bodied,” as Robin said. If I were a tuberose fan, I guess I would prefer the Truth or Dare. But as I’m (still not), I’m looking forward to a shower and AG’s Les Nuits d’Hadrien edp. Going to a late afternoon/evening Italian-themed event, and this one seems Italianesque to me, the scent of Mediterranean lands (not the sea).
It was good to challenge myself this morning, so thank you, Robin, for today’s theme!
Meant to say today’s event is outdoors, which led me to my choice of Les Nuits . . .
Seriously don’t think there is any white floral requirement to wear a perfumista crown! You tried them and kept an open mind, nobody can ask any more
Not heresy. White florals can be tricky. I love most but there are some that make me cringe. They are not for everyone and definitely not a requirement for a crown.
I think Madonna’s Truth 0r Dare smells alarmingly like the Body Shop’s Dewberry in the dry down…..many of you may be too young to recognize this fragrance…….
SOTD = Chanel Les Exclusifs Eau de Cologne
I hit the jackpot with obtaining perfume samples yesterday! My first draw yielded Jo Malone Lime Blossom & Mandarin which I’ve tried before so I reached in again and drew Chanel Eau de Cologne. It was great while it lasted – one hour.
I’m at the Boston Public Library right now. What a fabulous place!
When I’m done, I am going back to my hotel, draw another sample and then head out for a lobster roll, then on to the Museum of Fine Arts.
It sounds like you’re having a fabulous time! I’ve only been to Boston once, on an overnight work trip, but what little I saw definitely whetted my appetite.
Enjoy the lobster roll!
I did!
I love Boston! I got to go there for a work conference about 7 years ago and was very impressed by the city I never really thought about. I always tell my husband if we ever hit the power ball we’re going to buy some apartment downtown….. have fun at the museum!!!
It is a fun place to visit. I’ve been here multiple times for business and for pleasure and there is always some new discovery even if they are not really new.
Sounds like a perfect day! Stroll over to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. You must!
I’m going to end up leaving the museums for another visit. Although the MFA is open ’til late tonight, my feet are tired and my right foot / ankle is achy. I hope I didn’t sprain it or anything but I ended up buying a cane. It changes your perspective and others’ perception of you!
How long are you in Boston for?
Lobster rolls are fabulous this time of year.
Hello Poodle. I’ll be in Boston until tomorrow (19th) as I am leaving for a 7- day cruise to Bar Harbor, Nova Scotia , Quebec City and Montreal. I had the lobster roll from one of the food stalls in Quincy Market. Yumm!
Tell them thank you for the fabulous cache of images they keep at flickr
I tried to overachieve and asked to browse the original; however, I should have called ahead to make an appointment. The online images are super!
Ooh, if you have spare time, Gareth in fragrance at Boston Barney’s is so great. Excellent recs and packed me off with a whole bag of samples. Def the next bottle I need and can’t find locally, I’m calling him for.
Ha! Since I have free time now that I’ve reconciled myself to another visit and hit the museums, I might head on over.
Ooh have fun! And tell us how you do!
Whoo, got the lobster roll – yumm and went back to the place that carried My Inner Island Vaniglia because it was haunting me and I must have it now. Farouche gets an enabler’s pin!
Depending on where you are staying, the Barking Crab is fun. Love the BPL, MFA and Gardner. I’m in Boston, would love to connect next time you are in town.
Absolutely!
Wait, there’s more! My afternoon sample grab bag was English Pear & Freesia. I used 5 generous sprays from my sample and it was glorious for about two hours before it became a very quiet skin scent!
That’s a very nice one. At one point one of the SAs told me it was their best-seller in the U.S., to which I say, not bad, U.S.!
I ended up not going but was there on Wednesday when I arrived (it was a yucky day so shopping nearby was the antidote – I did some damage at Soft Surroundings as I thought it was a catalog only shop and was surprised to see a storefront). The Boston Barneys has a modest collection of perfumes as compared with the one in New York, more compact and not as overwhelming.
My grab bag scent is Atelier Cologne Cedrat Enivrant which is a lovely lemony, minty, junipery scent–almost like a splash of artisan gin with a healthy twist of lemon.
Sounds like it smells a lot nicer on you than it did on me.
Indeed. It was a total scrubber on me, which is weird because I generally adore the Atelier line.
Love this one! I didn’t get a lot of juniper out of it, but it’s delightful nonetheless.
Yeah same–liked it, but I’m jealous to hear someone else gets a lot of juniper from it!
I pulled out Chanel 1932. I couldn’t remember if I’d tried it before so I figured that was good enough. Now I know why you guys gave it such a great review. This is BEAUTIFUL. I just want to sit and sniff my wrist all day.
I think it’s gorgeous, too. Not as long-lived as I’d hope, but so pretty I felt it was worth getting a decant.
Yeah, that’s really the only drawback I can find. I wish it would last longer. But I’m happy to reapply after a few hours to feel so luxurious.
SOTD: I have no idea. I picked up my one unlabelled vial and now I smell like gingerbread. It is nice, but fortunately it’s not such love that I will be tortured at not knowing what it is. Probably something from the Perfume Shoppe…
Lol! The same thing happened to me this morning, no name on it. My sample smelled like chocolate. It could have been so many different things. So, since I didn’t know what the fragrance was, I chose something else.
What *do* you do with unmarked samples?! I have a few, and a part of me is fearful to even test them. What if I adore it and I never know what it is? What if I hate it and I don’t know who to blame? So they sit in glass on top of my perfume cupboard, going untested. . .
I have orphan samples and they will get donated. My fear, like yours, is – what if I love it? It will bother me a lot to not be able to get my hands on more!
Maybe the answer is to try them, and mark them with your own description, THEN pass them on to one of the many all-knowing wise perfumistas who might be able to positively identify and report back to you which ones you loved/hated.
This was a little scary to do this morning, which made it fun!
Eau Monumentale by Thirdman. Went on smelling like sweet cleaning solution (the citrus), and the middle notes smelled like…toast. 3 sprays this morning (guess I was feeling brave) and it was gone from my skin by 10:00 am. I anticipated this and brought a “back up,” so I’ll apply some Un Bois Vanille after lunch.
Happy friday, y’all!
While I am wearing a sample I’ve never tried before, I cheated by not picking at random. I didn’t want something inappropriate for work or the weather, so grabed a carded sample of Michael Kors Island Capri. It is a very fresh fruity floral. Not something I’d buy, but don’t feel the need to scrub. I liked the Island Palm Beach one better, and that one has a pretty green bottle I almost bought.
I sort of cheated today–the first sample I grabbed was The Vert, but I wore EL Green Tea yesterday and I didn’t want another green tea today, so put it back and pulled out–AG Eau d’Hadrien! I can’t believe I haven’t tried this before, I love citrus colognes in summer. This is lovely but I can tell it won’t last long. I’ll use the whole sample vial today, re-spritzing as it fades.
The sample I grabbed today was Wisteria Hysteria by Stephen Jones. I love the name and like the perfume, a kind of rosy carnation hologram given its three-dimensionality by a healthy dose of musk and incense.
I liked that one, too! By the way, you get a really shiny enabler’s pin. I couldn’t stand to be without that vanilla and ended up going back to Officina 189 this afternoon, after a belly full of lobster roll. Life is good
Yay! So glad you got that lovely vanilla perfume. (And a lobster roll is one of my favorite local treats!)
Thanks for the sample of wisteria hysteria BTW
I am wearing plumeria oil a friend brought back from Hawaii. I have absolutely no idea who the maker is as she said it was locally made and she got it at an outdoor market. It is lovely and lasts forever. One tiny dab on my wrist and I am in heaven.
SHe also gave me a tub of organic coconut oil, I love it.
I hit the jackpot with my blind pick today, too. I pulled out Amouage Honour for Woman. It couldn’t be lovelier on a hot summer day. So beautifully made and seamlessly blended. Sadly, I would love wearing this regularly. I say sadly because it exceeds my self-imposed price per scent of $200…and by quite a bit.
However, I’ve been quite lucky in the past on ebay, picking up some pretty incredible stuff at surprising prices. Just this last week I bought a bottle of vintage L’Interdit for $70 and a bottle of Maison Martin Margiela (untitled) for $30, both brand new and unopened in the box. God was smiling on me for sure!
You could get a decant for under $200, right?
Keep an eye out at the discounter sites like FragranceX and such, too. Bought my bottle of Lyric for under $200 last year. . .
Wow! I love Lyric and would snatch it up at that price.
I didn’t pay more than $200 for my Amouages. FragranceNet I think..
Not that I’m enabling or anything
but Fragrancenet currently has 3.4oz for as low as $144… That’s so cheap you could get a matching body product and still come under budget 
Yes. Now that you say it, I think that’s what I meant, too! FragranceNet.
My random sample for the day is Milano Caffe by AbdesSalaam Attar. I really only get coffee in it at the beginning, now it’s very herbal and incensy. It’s nice, but probably a bit more masculine than I usually wear. Maybe in the fall it would be good.
I got some samples in a recent order (Ananas Fizz) that I haven’t really tried. I think I sniffed them all from the vial, but didn’t try on skin…. or tried them on skin all at once. Either way, not really worn…
Anyway, I grabbed Aedes de Venustus Oeillet Bengale and doused my right arm – I’m glad it’s cool today (even in TX it’s in the low 70s still) as this one has a lot of sillage – so much so that I’m kinda tasting it. Blergh. Does not taste good.
But it does smell good! I’m reminded a bit of Safran Troublant (must be the rose and spice) with more pepper added. It’s lovely and I bet is great in cooler weather. I may need to save my sample to retry later. This one is going in my “Get more of that” pile for now.
Tasting perfume – hee, hee. We recently visited my mother and I brought her a bunch of perfumes that don’t work for me (all heavy on the white flowers; she loves white flower perfumes). My husband and I were sitting at her kitchen table. She loved the Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum and she was gleefully and wantonly spritzing herself with it. The ceiling fan was on, so my husband and I got a great deal of perfume drift. My husband winced and said quietly to me “now I’m wearing it, too.” The mist made it into our mouths. Ick! She was very, cute, though
I gave her: Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum (a bottle; blind buy through the mail) Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess (a bottle; purchased after smelling it once in the store), a sample of Kai, and some samples of gardenia-based fragrances from Olivine Atelier. Her favorites were Kai (I knew she’d love Kai) and Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum.
Lubin Korrigan (from Luckyscent’s Best of 2012 sample pack, which shows you how behind I am on my sampling). Despite having a splash of the hated apple in the top note and a wad of Please No More Oud later on, it’s kind of nice, if unsophisticated : caramelly wood and leather, mostly. I wouldn’t buy a full bottle but I’ll finish my sample vial with pleasure.
Oh wow, now I’ll have to revisit this, because I don’t remember apple at all! But agreed about caramel woods and leather. I’ll have to pay closer attention to the top notes.
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid for me! I tried this when it first came out and distinctly remember hating it, but my mom got a sample and thought I’d like it better so I wound up with it anyway. I’m glad I tried it again, because it’s really growing on me! It’s so rich and sweet. Definitely not one I see myself reaching for often, but would be perfect for when I need a glamorous, fancy evening scent.
I’m liking the Velvet Orchid too, but I think this might be a cold weather scent. There’s something in it that feel is familiar, but I can’t place it in the hot weather.
Another one from 4160 Tuesdays, What I Did on My Holidays. I think I have found my new favorite sweet coconut summer scent. It is suntan lotion-y but not sunscreen-y. Does that make sense? Although it is quite sweet there is something a bit green that is keeping it from being too much, I guess that’s the peppermint. There is a good reason I have never tried a fragrance review, I can never articulate what I smell.
Was sniffing some of my untried samples when Boyfriend decided it wanted to be my SOTD by having half a vial escape onto my hands so I used it all. I smell really good and will probably get a full bottle of this. Think I’ve figured out why I can’t seem to make a dent in my 300+ untried samples — I tried one or two this week but acquired 15 between Sephora, Hermes, Osswald, MIN (all free) plus a sample order from Soivohle….
I’ve had that happen… LET ME JUST POUR MYSELF ALL OVER YOUR HANDS, HA HA…
I’ve really only recently discovered Boyfriend and I really do like it. The oil’s very nice, if you haven’t tried that yet! And it can be had for so cheap on Ebay.
I’ll have to try Boyfriend, too. It sounds great, but something’s stopped me from trying it at Sephora. I think the more perfumes I try, the less snobby I get.
Notes by Robert Piguet. Orange Blossom and Sage Clary. Quite nice, skews masculine
Oh that sounds nice. I’ll check it out.
I really like Notes. Been deciding whether to FB or not for a while
DSH’s Scent of Hope arrived in the mail yesterday, so that’s what I’m trying. It’s really pretty & orris-y, brings to mind a cross between ISM and Balenciaga Paris. One of the interesting aspects is that this one does NOT have the typical natural fragrance vibe.
I’m wearing that today too. Very irisy. Lots of violet leaf in it, and the peach barely perceptible. I’d hoped for an iris that wasn’t *quite* so aloof, so I’m a bit disappointed. I mean, it’s very nice, but much cooler and less blushing than I had expected given the reviews or the original stuff.
I’ve started to think of violet leaf as her signature note.
yep, was surprised to see peach in the notes– really don’t detect it. It’s definitely on the cool end of the spectrum.
Thank you. Off my wish list.
As time went on, I began to catch a tiny bit more peach in the drydown, a very lovely soft woody thing. Enjoyed the drydown VERY much, and it stuck around for hours (unusual since I have scent-eating skin). All the same, it does suit its name in contrast to my imagination of what it would smell like, a warm friendly iris.
You know not all DSH scents are natural, right? Actually I think only a very small percentage of her stuff is natural.
I reached into the samples and grabbed Bvlgari au The Blanc. I called it The Blank because there was no trace of it having ever been on my skin in about 15 minutes. So I reached in and grabbed again and came up with Dior’s Grand Bal. That was better but not what I expected and it reminded me of something else which I can’t put my finger on. I don’t recall noticing it after the initial spritz so I guess it wasn’t love. I’ll try another blind sample grab in a little while and see it the third time is a charm.
Grand Bal reminded me a bit of Guerlain Aqua Allegorica Jasminora, which on me was a very pretty jasmine/lotv that was gone in less than an hour, much like Grand Bal. Apparently the Jasminora has a white musk in the base that I couldn’t smell at all, but I don’t know if that’s true of GB.
I’ve tried all my samples, haha, so I had to close my eyes and blind pick. I got SUPER lucky with Ineke’s Field Notes From Paris, which I adore, but haven’t tried in a long time. It also reminds me of my favorite season, fall, and that is coming up soon!….
….ah, serendipity
You are so good–no untried samples! I keep meaning to try all the ones I have before acquiring more, but…
I’m trying Heeley Verveine d’Eugene. It’s very nice but I feel like the original Verveine that I tried several years ago was better.
By the way, Robin, I found old post cards and other DC images on flikr at Streets of Washington (streetsofdc). There are some good ones!
Oh, thanks so much! Off to peek.
And for anyone else who wants to see:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/streetsofdc/
My sample was a bit more random than expected, I pulled out a carded sample which said Jean Patou 1000, but when I looked on the actual sample vial it said Joy! Anyway I tried it, so far classic and old-fashioned in style (of course), quite beautiful, I get a lot of white flowers. I usually don’t like classic aldehydic florals but this one I’ll make sure to come back to.
Another cheater here, although I did go outside my usual rotation–looking for things to suggest to a friend so revisited Diptyque Eau Rose. Previously I’ve found it a little too simple, but in the summer weather it was a delight! Now I might need some for myself (…gets expensive, helping someone else shop!
)
I first put on Iris Ukiyoè, but couldn’t detect it after about an hour and then put on some Chanel Jersey. Which made me realise what a brilliant scent Caron Pour un Homme is. It’s very hot and humid here today so I should have put on some Ambre Sultan or Chergui.
Ubar, and pleasantly surprised, nothing humongous, but a creamy-woody floral with a vintage flair. I guess I’ll have to check out all the other Amouage samples again! (and I do believe they are of the post-relaunch edition)
Today I am sampling Figuier Eden from Armani Prive.
I was not expecting the complete shock of bright greenness and pepper.
Not really my kind of fragrance but I feel bad for scrubbing it off so I am feeling a little self-conscious today
I’ve arrived late today and am away from home with only a handful of samples. Have just pulled out Prelude to Love by Kilian (or should I say by By Kilian). It’s a lovely citrus-and-flowers summer scent. If it weren’t so expensive I’d think about a full bottle.
Prelude to Love is so beautiful and one of my favorite summer scents. I wouldn’t pay full bottle price, either, but I went in on a split and have gotten TONS of wear out of it.
Put me in the naughty corner too! I was too scared to sample for work (I tend to get heavy hitters to test). Instead I started with Eau des Merveilles and switched later to another naughty…a completely verboten blind buy…Bvlgari Omnia. I’ve always wanted to try it but it was already discontinued by the time I knew about it so when I saw it at the discount shop today I couldn’t stop myself.
Underwhelmed. Nice enough but doesn’t get any fireworks going off in my head.
Query: How many of you are contemplating a purchase of what you are wearing today?
For myself, Notes is very nice, and I would certainly purchase at a discount, but perhaps not at full price. Of course, the reason I have a sample of this one is that I recently purchased Bois Blue which came with a bottle of Fracas as part of a very generous GWP promotion.
/ raises hand! / I actually went so far as to hunt around online, but the sizes available of what I’ve got on (Eau Rose from Diptyque) don’t quite suit me–I’d rather not have a rollerball but I don’t need 100ml either. Maybe I should go for the 100ml anyway, with the intention of swapping decants? The appeal feels very seasonal for me, so I should prob take the plunge sooner than later!
Regarding Eau Rose, see my comment at bottom of page.
Me, too. Of course, my SOTD is 4711, so it’s not a decision to agonize over, even for me.
Hello, all. I’ve been AWOL, due to our dreadful heatwave here in Holland. My living room couch is doing a good imitation of being a fainting couch, and I lie on it most the day with the AC on (only room with AC).
Yesterday, I wore my wonderful Designer Shaik Chic 30. A friend took me out in her air-conditioned car to the shoe orthopedist, where they also had AC (thank goodness! It’s becoming more popular in Holland). I received four separate compliments on my perfume!
This morning, I grabbed a small vial from one of my most recent boxes of samples (all untried). It was Vivienne Westwood’s Boudoir (original). It was very disappointing — not at all sexy on my. It was a tame, light carnation and Juicy Fruit gum scent.
In the afternoon, I tried Viktoria Minaya’s Hedonist. It reminded me slightly of my Chic 30. I looked up the notes, but there aren’t that many in common. Hedonist is not for me. It’s a bit too sweet, and anyway, once having gotten to know Chic 30, Hedonist is like meeting her pale, distant cousin. There’s a vague family resemblance, but there’s really no question of which is superior.
While I’m here, before I take a cool bath (12:30 AM!) and then try to sleep on the couch downstairs by the AC, I want to let you all know I looked at the ingredients listed on the box of one of the bath products I mentioned some time ago. These are Therme Zen White Lotus. They contain tuberose! So maybe it’s the combination of lotus with tuberose that makes it so nice. I have the full range of products in this scent, and the only one I’m not as crazy about is the energizing body mist, which lacks some perfume element in the bath and shower items.
It looks like slugs ate my tuberose bulbs in the garden!
Stay cool!
Waving to Poodle and Merlynn! Poodle, I’ll write soon.
Hey girlfriend! I was wondering where you’ve been hiding. Sorry to hear the heat has you trapped in one room. We’ve had a few hot, humid days but I won’t complain too much because last winter was so bad. Stay cool.
I couldn’t resist the Basenotes synch today – a scent inspired by your favorite literary/cinematic character.
I went with vintage L’Interdit EDT & EDP (hi Teri! Vintage L’Interdit is so sexy and comfy and underrated) for the character Sally Jay Gorce in Elaine Dundy’s fantastic 1957 novel The Dud Avocado. I lemminged for L’Interdit after reading Angela’s review here and it did not disappoint.
For my evening scent, I picked Jicky for Kate Chopin’s 1899 novel The Awakening. I was so scared to try Jicky for SO LONG and it has become one of my holy grails (yes, I reserve the right to have more than one!). If anyone else out there is scared of Jicky, don’t be – it’s *sigh* so androgynously sexy.
I love Jicky, too, after being afraid to try it. Shalimar and Mitsouko sounded more to my taste, but didn’t work for me at all. Jicky is fantastic, though!
I’m in the corner too. Forgot and went with Azemour. It lasts forever but tempted to try a sample tonight. Maybe I’ll get lucky and pull Dia!
My sample grab turned out to be L’Artisan Mure et Musk edt. It’s okay but veers a bit masculine in ways I don’t especially like after a while. I can’t put my finger on why precisely, but will stick with Trish McEvoy’s take on musk and blackberries, I think. Not only does that one work from start to finish but it lasts a lot longer than MeM, which is fading fast after only about 3 hours.
Happy weekend, everyone!
L’Occitane Mure & Magnolia is worth trying, too–a bit sweeter, and more floral.
Mistral Wild Blackberry is an awesome blackberry musk fragrance. Victoria of EauMG likes it, too.
I am not sure how old my sample was, but when I tried Mure et Musk recently, I swear I couldn’t smell a thing after about ten minutes. No berries, nothing masculine, no musk…just nothing!
I grabbed Alien Essence Absolue, which is lovely but a bit sweeter and more vanillic than I was looking for today. It has very good lasting power, I must say! I put it on more than 12 hours ago and I am still getting whiffs. I will have to give it another go in warmer weather.
You smell gorgeous!
SOTD is Maurer & Wirtz 4711. I didn’t cheat, exactly, but since my nephews and my cousin’s kids were over, I let the three older boys choose from my untried sample box, and then designated one for each day this weekend. I thought 4711 would be good for a day spent mostly in the kitchen, and that it would probably need to be reapplied several times. (Yes and yes.) It is very nice, though–I can see why it’s been around for so long. It’s mild, but balanced, and refreshing.
Tomorrow, for a day spent broiling at my cousin’s house in the Inland Empire, I get to try Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan. (Whoo!) Sunday is Comme des Garçons Eau de Parfum. So a mixed bag, or in this case box.
I recently placed an order of samples from STC, so I picked in the package (after cheating a tiny bit and removing the ones I knew wouldn’t fit the weather… I don’t mind testing a scent too light when it’s cold, but a heavy scent in the heat might just ruin my day!). I ended up with Hermessence Santal Massoïa. It’s not as creamy as I imagined it, but so far I like it nonetheless. But I need to try it a few more times to really make an opinion.
Did you check out Hautelook? They have 100 ml bottles of Eau Rose at half price right now.
As for me, I am wearing Tam Dao which is perfect for the chilly, wet weather we’ve had here today. I smell like an old cedar cabin in the woods.
Whoops. That was meant to be in reply to C.H. above.
Wow thanks so much!!
Only had six minutes, so I took the plunge immediately! Enabling pin for you
I tried English Laundry’s No. 7 (the women’s formulation, FWIW). It was very sweet. Somewhat fruity. Really quite sweet. My teeth needed extra brushing, that perfume was so sweet. Not only will I NOT be buying a full bottle, I think the rest of the sample is relegated to the bathroom as air freshener