Happy Wednesday! What was your fragrance choice today?
I am commando, again, and apologize for being a very boring participant in scent of the day this week.
Reminder: this Friday, the 25th, wear something by Hermès OR something by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena.
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: image is Oyster Houses and Fishing Shacks at Chatham, on Cape Cod, Mass.via Boston Public Library at flickr; some rights reserved.
ELdO Nombril Immense. Starts with bergamot and a TON of pepper, then morphs into this gorgeous, perfect patchouli-ambrette concoction. Puts me in a good mood.
Nice to have a good mood fragrance
It’s very cosy, isn’t it?
It so is! I didn’t quite get it at first (I am not always the biggest fan of patchouli) but now I think it’s one of my very favourite Etat scents.
Ineke + Anthropologie Angel’s Trumpet. No es bueno.
Sorry!
Yeah that one wasn’t for me, either.
Sorry it didn’t work out for you. Not my favorite scent by a long shot but when I want to smell like fruity melon shampoo, which occasionally happens, Angel’s Trumpet is my favorite way to do so. It is not going to ring your bell if you’re looking for sophisticated though.
SOTD is Acqua di Gioia. My Grandmother bought me a massive bottle for Christmas last year, and I haven’t found much use for it. I’m really starting to love it this summer, though.It’s perfect for humid days and has awesome sillage and staying power.
Glad you found a use for your massive gift!
Ha. Smart about wearing it in the heat, it definitely is summerweight and it’s great to use that to its advantage.
SOTD is Floris Jasmine. Still going through my jasmine samples (and randomly picking on out of the bag – it is fun!). It is very pretty, but I get the feeling it won’t be that long lasting on me. Although, I do like that the dry down still smells like jasmine.
I know I’ve tried that one but don’t remember it all that well.
Yeah, it isn’t standing out to me. It is pretty enough that I would wear it if I had it, but it doesn’t make my FB wish list – so far SL a la nuit and sarrassins are my jasmine FB wants
Heeley Coccobello. It’s nice to come across a non-sweet coconut, but it’s so expensive I don’t think a bottle is in my future.
Yes…wish that line were cheaper.
For some tips on inexpensive ways to reproduce the Coccobello vibe, see the string that starts with “MikasMinion says:21 July 2014 at 10:33 am” at https://nstperfume.com/2014/07/21/monday-scent-of-the-day-721/.
Thanks, kindcrow!
SOTD: Light Blue pour Homme Dolce&Gabbana for men
SOTD is Deliria by L’Artisan. I like it a lot but it is not FB worthy. They are so epensive! But, it’s a nice fragrance.
edit: expensive
Staying within a mini galbanum theme, I’m wearing Huere Exquisite today. Seems paler and pinker than yesterday’s Silences, and perhaps has already faded…
What other galbanum scents rank on the top of your lists? #19, Silences, Huere Exquisite, Le Temps Dune Fete… I love them all!
Balmain Vent Vert!
Galbanum is turning out to be my very fave note! Have both Silences, which is no. 1 for me, and Le Temps d’une Fete. Don’t have No. 19 (yet) and haven’t smelled L’Heure Exquise – I have to test it.
Safari!
Also a galbangal today: EL Private Collection, the original. It’s (sort of) winter where I live in Nairobi, so am in the mood for rich large galbanums and florals at the moment.
Hujambo rafiki!
Mito by Vero Profumo…. I’m testing a few Vero scents this week… Mito smells almost identical to No. 19 when sniffed from the bottle. But on the skin, it is totally unique and a lovely galbanum.
Mito reminded me of a Chanel, too – but Cristalle, not No. 19. Nice stuff either way.
Mals!
You are totally right. Cristalle, NOT 19. I meant Cristalle. But only in the earliest stage. For a nano moment Mito and Cristalle are extremely similar. Thanks for catching that!
Habari!
Mito is lovely! I’ll have to dig up my decant and wear it tomorrow. Totally forgot about that one!
Love all the ones listed so far except Vent Vert. (And I’m not sure why I didn’t love it. I had a mini bottle of vintage parfum I bought blind off ebay, SURE that I would adore it. I didn’t – it seemed flat and dull once the galbanum had worn off… wonder if there’s a ton of orange blossom in it? that often goes very boring/soapy on my skin).
Add Chamade and Deneuve to the list. Le Temps and Safari and Chamade I think of as warm greenies, and the others are cool greens.
Love all those listed, except Safari. On the other hand, I last smelled it pre-perfumistahood, so I should give it a revisit. Have not seen Safari anywhere recently, though ….
OOH, forgot Crown Bouquet.
Ida, I think Safari for women is d/c. I didn’t like the parfum when I tried it (it went very sweet in the drydown), but I do well with the edp.
Tks. Don’t know Crown Bouquet – by whom and what’s it like, mals?
Crown Perfumery – the business that Clive Christian bought to get its crown-top bottles. Then he junked the entire line and created his own. (I have yet to try any CC fragrance. I’m ticked off at him, HMPHH. So there.)
Crown Bouquet is a big slap of crunchy green (galbanum plus, I’m guessing, marigold) followed by quiet white flowers. Very pretty. Bought mine at an online discounter.
You get an enablers pin, Mals! I just ordered Crown Bouquet! A pin for Robin as well- they had a mini Vent Vert so I’m giving that a try as well.
Yes, Safari! I forgot about that one. Perfect construction.
CM, Heure Exquise was my “gateway” to galbanum. I remember the day I tested it like it was yesterday. Once I learned that the note I loved in the opening was galbanum, all bets were off. Suddenly, I just began to love any of those super green, galbanum fragrances. Hat’s off to your choice today. (I was actually thinking of wearing HE today as well, b/c it’s been a while, but chose differently at the last minute.)
My fav galbanums, aside from HE, are No 19, Chamade, Givenchy III, Magie Noire, Cristalle, Vol de Nuit….
Love HE, No 19, Magie Noire, Cristalle! I have threatened to buy Magie Noire so many times. Next time there’s a windfall ….
I’ve forgotten about Magie Noir and didn’t even realize it was “green”. My aunt bought me a bottle of that when I was young – one of my “grown up” perfumes alongside OdlR Ruffles. I thought I was so sophisticated when I spritzed… and I wish I had that old bottle still. I, too, need to track down a vinty bottle if only for old time’s sake. The newer version doesn’t compare to my memory. Ruffles, btw, has a touch of green in it as well – the opening. It’s very sweet in the drydown.
You know, I never really thought about it as being green either. The other day I was indulging in my small decant of Amouage Beloved. At the drydown (which lasts for hours on me), I kept thinking that I’ve smelled this before…I’ve smelled this before! What is this? I know I have this already…ARgh! And then, it hit me in the shower: Magie Noire. And there it was. I tested them side by side. There are some major differences (Beloved has a creamy kind of white flower part), but basically Magie Noire and Beloved are kind of fraternal twins. Who would believe it? But there is it: behind all that dirty rose in Magie Noire, which is what I always paid attention to before, is a big green accord helping to prop up the shimmering woods. Go figure. All hail galbanum. I don’t see galbanum listed in the notes for Beloved, but by god, there is something in there that smells a lot like it!
Maybe that’s why I liked Beloved so
much – maybe it reminded me of MN! I really need to track down some vinty Magie Noire now as I’m going a memory of several years since I had that bottle. And I guess I need a bottle of Beloved soon too. I have a few more drops in
my decant. Sigh. So much perfume, so little skin….
EL Aliage and Private Collection, YSL Y, Maison Martin Margiela Untitled and Cabochard are all fave galbanum compositions.
If you’re really serious about galbanum, try the orig Jean Louis Scherrer (got a vintage tester on ebay). Even the current version is good according to Victoria at BdJ, though I’m quite perplexed by Beauty Encounter’s description as oriental. It’s not, it’s a big green chypre.
I’ll give it a whirl!
SOTD is Silences, which I love. After two days of perfume choices that turned out to irritate me, I am really enjoying it, the galbanum above all.
five thumbs up on Silences.
And add 5 more thumbs up!
SOTD is Jovan’s Sex Appeal (the name makes me smile!)
It smells nice, too.
Right now, I am debating between Jicky, Havana Vanille, and Deneuve since I don’t have to be at work today. L’Air du Desert Marocain does sound good too.
All sound great – especially the L’Air!
I’m wearing Paestum Rose. I’ve been hearing about this for YEARS and finally tried it! Feels like the midpoint in evolution between Parfum Sacre and Marni.
Wore that yesterday and actually sprayed some Marni end of day to compare the two.
Do you like?
I do like! I already have a purse spray of Marni, though. Have you tried Bollywood or Bust from Smell Bent? It’s in the same realm too.
Nope – haven’t tried either.
What I really love is Rose Rebelle Respawn by A Lab on Fire but it doesn’t last on me!
Any ideas for others like this one?? It’s a beauty.
I haven’t tried that one but Pat reviewed it for BdJ and compared it to Rose Anonyme.
Paestum Rose is a beauty, one of my favourite Duchaufours.
Infusion d’Iris body lotion at the moment – totally appropriate for the office. Seems like a thinking woman’s perfume….but maybe that’s just me. Iris scents always give me an impression of brainy-ness.
It is nice and sunny where I am today, so I decided to wear 88 Orange Scent Blossom and it feels like the right choice!
Scent of the day is Atelier Cologne Santal Carmin ♥
SOTD is Killian , Good Girl Gone Bad, day off and love it! Staying power is excellent and always get compliments!
My SOTD is the same as yesterday’s — Plunder by BPAL, which is a dead ringer for Good Earth Original Sweet and Spicy Tea.
I love how that tea smells.
Byredo Flowerhead today. So gorgeous.
It’s the first time I’ve worn it since sweet Hayley-dog died two months ago. I’d put it on before her vet visit; we were expecting x-rays and maybe some pain medication for her sore leg, but drawing fluid from her lymph nodes for testing triggered a mast cell tumor and she died the same day. Still miss her terribly, but I smell beautiful.
Oh, how sudden! I hope that the perfume brings good memories.
So sorry for your loss. We grieve for them like we would any family member, pets are so precious.
That is so sad. I go to the vet with my ageing doggy with some dread. May the scent memory bring back tender smiles, mals.
Oh I am so sorry about your dog!
I love Flowerhead. I have a sample that I’ve been doling out in tiny drips and drabs.
So sorry about your dog, we went through that each of the last three years with our much loved dogs.
Go make some new lovely memories with Flowerhead, it is too gorgeous to give you anything but smiles.
Here is what is making us smile these days
http://img.makeupalley.com/6/8/4/2/2516129.JPG
Awww! We are in the process of looking for another rescue dog. We had Hayley 11 years, and it was too short – but there are other dogs out there that need a forever home. We’ll be meeting one of the possibles tomorrow.
Oh … my … I can barely handle the cuteness!
I’m so, so sorry. I’m sure you gave her a wonderful life
Ohhh I am so sorry. When my childhood pet died, it was the same way–he was a little bit sick, and then within twelve hours he was gone. It was a shock, but at the same time, I am so so so happy he didn’t have to suffer for a long time, I would have absolutely hated that.
Gosh, I tear up thinking about it, and it was more than a decade ago! So sorry mals, that’s so hard.
I’m so sorry for your loss of Hayley. You were blessed to share your lives together. I hope you find another dog to love.
So sorry for your loss, but happy that it looks like you will be getting another rescue dog. Flowerhead is on my list of things to smell, but haven’t gotten around to it quite yet.
Oh Mals, I’m so sorry. I still don’t know if it’s better when it’s sudden or when you know it’s coming. I think either way is awful. I’m sending you a virtual hug.
I am so sorry about Hayley. It is wonderful that you are willing to share your heart with another deserving pet. Good luck with your meet and greet.
I was late responding to your post yesterday so I don’t know if you saw it. The 90’s drugstore scents I came up with were Navy and Icognito. I elaborated a bit more if you want to check the thread.
Jour d’Hermes, though it seems to be almost gone on me (it’s 12:00 here), which is faster than usual.
My SOTD is Esprit d’Oscar. I felt like something girly and lovely. It also lasts for a long time on me.
I really like that one. I don’t know why I haven’t bought any yet.
I wish I’d got the big bottle, but then I’d never use it up in a million years. I am sure you can find a bargain online, or get a decant from someone.
I am wearing SL Encens et Lavande which is herbally green lavender with plenty of smoke and frankincense. I should have tried it with Fourreau Noir and Gris Clair, but just reflecting I think I prefer Encens et Lavande to either of Lutens’ other lavender-centric perfumes.
I love the wax sample I have of E et L, but it’s always difficult to tell from those. Gris Clair has never captured my heart, but FN is lovely. Unfortunately we never received the export edition of it here and though I tried it in Germany i was concerned that it was just a touch too sweet, and never bought it. In retrospect I probably over-sprayed! I think Encens et L may be a nice balance between the cool aromatic aspect of lavender (which becomes sterile in Gris Clair’s ashy notes) and warmer notes (which are perhaps a little too heavy in FN?)
Le Labo’s Rose 31 today. Soap, body lotion (freebies acquired from a hotel) and finally the edp. Took me a while to understand this one – I think it was the cumin note. At first, I thought “dirty, dirty, dirty” but once i got past that, I realized it’s the cumin that lends human interest. Yes, it absolutely can read as a little sweaty but I guess that’s the point. Love it.
I think that really is great stuff, Rose 31.
Have a huge batch of samples to try, and have started out this morning with Pretty Machine (pretty but not out of the ordinary) and Little Miss Panda (turpentine followed by musty attic). Hoping my perfume-eating skin does the job and can go to more samples soon.
Heh, turpentine plus attic. Love that description.
Ha, oh no, I love Little Miss Panda! I wonder if your sample went bad? To me it smells exactly like lime popsicle + tropical flowers.
My Vero Profumo journey this week brings me to Onda edp today. This scent is really odd. Almost scrubbed it when I first applied it, but decided to wait, and am glad I did. For the moment I smell like a dried flower and spice shop. Not peppery spices, but things like dried coriander, bay, and chamomile. A sort of apothecary’s chypre.
Anyone else tried this one? What did you think?
Onda is weird, but I kinda love it! It smells like old flower water but in the very best way….
I’ve only tried the extrait and that was odd. I liked it but very odd.
The lovely Elle d`Elissa is my choice today. Classed as a Chypre Floral, it is an extremely feminine scent that is more fruit and floral than chypre to my nose. It’s notes include tangerine, peach and apple, with a heart of Egyptian jasmine absolute, Bulgarian rose and orange blossom. A base of amber, patchouli, sandalwood and musk.
That’s so close to my name I feel like I should try it!
It is evidently named after a singer that is well known in Jordan.
Sounds amazing!
It really is a beauty, every time I wear it I’m reminded why I bought it blind just from the descriptions I’d read of it. I don’t usually blind buy but I am very glad I did for this one.
La Promesse ( again). I include a link about a famous Australian Lady going Commando.
Have a fun holiday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iBav8zr9n4
Today I’m wearing Atelier Sous le toit de Paris.
When I first tried this I was surprised by the combination of violet & leather, but it has grown on me and I really enjoy it. I’ve gone through a number of samples and may have to visit their shop for a 30 ml (can’t seem to find it anywhere, not even online)
It has excellent lasting power for a cologne and softens to a lovely sweet-tinged violet with a suede/patch base.
It is one of my two favorite violets, the other being Violette Fumee
Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar. It’s mostly gone now so I think I will reapply. I didn’t notice this when I first bought it, but it seems to have the salty play-doh vibe going on, at least when I first put it on.
It is hotter than Hades, here in Holland (unintentional alliteration), but I’ve had to make the rounds of specialists this week. I’ve chosen to wear my powerhouse Middle Eastern scents. Some of you might think these are best worn in the winter, but I find they really come into their own in hot weather. My friend in Kuwait says they last better than “regular” fragrances.
Monday and yesterday, I wore Montale Aoud Roses Petals. Today, I wore Amouage Epic Woman. My friend, who drove me to my appointments, is very perfume-sensitive and told me I smelled lovely and that it wasn’t too strong.
Is that the same lady who found Carnal Flower too strong?
I think strong middle Eastern scents are perfect for having to endure cold medical stuff!
Kerosene Whips and Roses – lots of rose stem, a little rose. Love the vignette on Perfume Posse about this one.
I love that one. Enjoy it. Rumor has it it’s been discontinued. I’m so not happy about that.
Not happy to hear that – I have an 8ml decant, trying to decide if I want an FB.
AA Gentiana.
SOTD is Reem Acra EDP. Another one I’d been wanting to wear but kept getting distracted by other things.
SOTD = My Inner Island Vaniglia Rhum
I’m at Prince Edward Island, Canada today – home of Anne of Green Gables and site of the first meeting of the Confederation (that formed Canada) 150 years ago. I wore this scent for Kindcrow, fellow vanilla lover (perhaps vanilla-obsessed). Love love love this one – slightly citrusy opening and then it’s all rich full-bodied vanilla, not sickeningly sweet but the type that you can tell is highly concentrated vanilla. There is also a rum, with a very slight coconut vibe. The notes mention incense, sugar cane, saffron, sandalwood and something called palmarosa in Italian which I’ve looked up and it is some kind of tropical indiangrass in the citronella and lemongrass family. When I get home, I’ll pop a vial in the mail for you (I think I still have your address).
Definitely vanilla-obessed
Thanks so much for the mini-review (sounds lovely) and the offer of a sample! I will email my address to you, in case you don’t have it.
I’ve been enjoying the posts about your vacation. We recently returned from an 18-day road trip from California to New Brunswick and back, with numerous stops along the way. We didn’t have time to make it to Nova Scotia. Next time!
Going through samples from awesome perfume people…Nuit Etoilee EDP today, which had a minty-oriental beginning and has muted down considerably since then.
Picked this one as I spied a bottle at our Vancouver Winner’s for 49$. Probably not going to go for it, but someone should, as it is surprisingly refreshing and would likely suit *someone*.
I did and I LOVE it! Unfortunately, in typical Goutal fashion it doesn’t last very long.
Not feeling that great today so am wearing Equistrius, a good choice as the sandalwood in it is comforting and not demanding. I’m so glad I bought the 50 ml version while it was still available.
Sorry you’re not feeling well!
I hope you get better soon, and Equistrius is a great comfort scent!
I wanted something classy and unique. I choose my too often neglected Capucci pour homme.
Vintage is the new niche!
Headache so commando. I did try a tiny dab of Early Roses on my hand and it was very pretty and fleeting. I love having new samples to play with.
I find fleeting fragrances to be best for headaches! I hope you feel better soon.
Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay today. It’s about gone now, so I think I’ll give Ineke Chemical Bonding another go. (Hi, Floragal!) It’s a lovely grassy green, the closest thing I’ve found so far to my late, lamented Trigère. Not at all what I would have expected from the name.