It's another Monday — what fragrance are you wearing today?
I'm commando so far. I have a bunch of perfumes sprayed on blotters all over my desk, and I'll be doing some testing on skin later. I'm on my fourth cup of tea; right now I'm drinking a really lovely green tea from Tea Trekker, 'Gold-Flecked Emerald Tips'.
Reminder: this Friday, August 22, wear something beachy, or anything you think of as "a vacation in a bottle".
Note: top image is the Stump Teapot by Forlife from Amazon. I have 2 of them, they're quite handy when you want to make a small amount.
“Commando”! I like that!
Today is yet another cold, glum, rainy summer day, so I said the heck with it and wore some cheerfully vintage Montana Parfum de Peau, which is the eighties-est thing imaginable: blackcurrant top, big fat rose-oakmoss middle (kind of like vintage Knowing), dirty skanky civetty base. Too amazing.
I’m sorry to say I totally forget who made that up as a euphemism for wearing no perfume, but it wasn’t me!
It was Denyse Beaulieu, on Grain de Musc, at least that’s where I first saw it. I mentioned it here a couple of months ago. Only Denyse could make even going without perfume sound seductive!
PdP is good stuff – I had a mini of it once but found it a new home when I realized I was wearing the less-dirty L’Arte di Gucci far more often. (I think L’arte is a bit… girlier maybe? less unisex, certainly, than the Montana strikes me as being.)
For a man who is terrified of smelling like a flower, the rose-heavy PdP would not work, but yeah, it really does read as masculine, because it’s so forceful. I guess it’s a unisex floral animalic chypre?
PdP sounds so “me” and I’ve never yet got around to testing it. I was just thinking this morning how much I used to like wearing a small bottle of Knowing I had in the 90s. I definitely like that kind of rich woody rose.
Good morning, everyone. Baiser Vole edp today. It was first in line of my three no-brainer scents this morning. That is really a great system!
And you smell great!
Baiser Vole is one of my fav summer fragrances now.
I’m wearing Dia and drinking really bad coffee from the office kitchen.
I’m leaving for a very short vacation later this week and trying to decide what perfumes to take with me. It’s tougher than choosing clothes…
What fun! (the vacation, not the bad coffee)
Scent Twins! I’m in Dia as well. Have fun on your mini vacation 🙂
In a recent online order I made, I requested a sample of Dia, and it arrived with the atomizer cap completely severed (!) off, so it leaked all over my package. The paper smelled good, too….
Dia is gorgeous!
I am wearing Odin 08 Seylon, which is a lovely vetiver. I love the forlife Curve infuser mug. I have a “carrot” colored one at my desk with some Lupicia Queen’s Hope Keemun.
Ah, I’ve been looking at those mugs! I wish they’d make it clear if the infuser is the same size that fits in the teapot, that would be handy — I’m always short of infusers.
The mug infuser is 3 1/16 ” tall with the bottom of the infuser diameter at approx 2 1/8″ if that is any help. The Tea Forte Kati mugs are nice, too if you don’t need to match infusers. They are ceramic double walled.
Many thanks monkeytoe — sounds like the infusers are not the same size, boo. (the stump teapot infuser is smaller)
SOTD is Cristalle – boring because I wear it often, but it’s definitely not a boring scent 😉 I had to get up early for an appointment, and wasn’t in the mood to figure out what to put on. However, yesterday I hosted a fancy tea party and wore Tauer Rose Vermeille. Gourmand (but not overly so) and roses. Perfect scent for wearing a pretty dress and drinking tea.
One of my favorites!
And what fun to have a fancy tea party! Did you do tea sandwiches & everything?
Yes! Tea sandwiches and little cakes, with my flower and butterfly china. Sometimes you just need an excuse to pretend to be fancy. Also, I got to share some of my tea favorites – I am as into tea as I am perfume! I made a pot of rose earl grey (rose petals and flavors but subtle on the bergamont), russian caravan (smokey black tea that smells like a campfire but is really smooth with a hint of smoke), and orange spice (black tea with chunks of dried orange and whole cloves and cardamom).
Oh, all of that sounds lovely! Who makes your earl grey? I am loving the 2 versions of earl grey I got from Fortnums (someone here recommended them & they’re lovely — Countess Grey & Smoky Earl Grey) and also a big fan of the Extra Bergamot version from Upton.
Ooh I must try those – they sound lovely and in the cold and wet weather tea somehow seems very appealing.
All three of those teas are from Premium Steep in Philly (they also sell online). The orange spice one is called orange cookie, and is only available in fall/winter. They are all good. My absolute favorite straight up earl grey is from Rishi, though. I’ll have to try the extra bergamont version from Upton!
Thanks Rose Pepper! Have been to House of Tea but not Premium Steep. In general there seems to be way more tea in Philly than there used to be.
Your tea party sounds wonderful. Cristalle is perfect for it! A great background to florals, cakes and tea. Thanks for the mental image.
Une Rose Vermeille is really nice, for a rose gourmand! All that juicy orange-raspberry up top and then rose-vanilla that smells like meringue cookies with whipped cream.
Forgot to say, I adore a tea party. Hope you had a wonderful time!
It was great! But chatting around a couple pots of tea is really my idea of a good time, anytime.
Meringue cookies and whipped cream … now I want a Rose Vermeille inspired dessert 😉
Raspberry Pavlova, sprinkled with rose petals. 🙂
I’m wearing Mona di Orio Musc, which is desert island quality for me. (Not sure if that makes it beachy….)
I really like MdO Musc – it reads powdery and soft without being boring. Musc is prob. my favorite in the line. The others are well done, but not quite “me” – you smell great on your desert island!
🙂 I like the oud too, but the Musc is the most “me,” such a pretty powdery floral with vanilla.
Love the oud, but not sure I’ve tried the Musc. Will have to check my MdO samples 🙂
SOTD: Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Orangers. I’m surprised it hasn’t been reviewed here yet, actually. This scent is just dripping with gorgeousness. I try not to buy fragrances until I’ve really thought it over but bought this one right away.
I like Jo Malone Orange Blossom and Robert Piguet Fracas and never would have thought that orange blossom and tuberose could coexist so beautifully, but they DO in this one, probably because Serge Lutens is brilliant. It’s buttery and dramatic and uggh. I’ve also been hella depressed lately and this is picking me up out of the funk a little bit, so that’s cool.
Definitely recommend trying it if you get a chance.
Great scent, and I’m surprised we haven’t reviewed it too.
And sorry you’ve been depressed!
Thanks! Have a great day 🙂
I do really like Fleurs d’Oranger – I only sampled, but I had the more recent version which is reportedly damped-down on the cumin that the original had. There’s enough tuberose in it to keep the orange blossoms from going soapy on me, and it is just. so. pretty.
I wasn’t sure if my nose was blanking the cumin or what, since I’ve read a few reviews. But this must be the reformulated version that I have as well. It really is 🙂
Yes, the cumin in the original was hard to ignore…
As mentioned above, I’m in Dia today. Thinking of doing an Amouage week, but can’t really categorize any as “beachy”.
Surely one of them would stretch to “vacation in a bottle” — not every vacation has to be a beach vacation, after all!
Amouage would be a good choice for the upcoming challenge to wear only one fragrance for the long weekend…
Amouage is always a good choice! 🙂
Yes! Lyric is on my list of options- only I’m scared that the 4 days straight may not be pleasant and I’ll taint my love of Lyric..
It’s difficult. I need to choose one interesting enough to want to wear 4 days, but not too intrusive, versatile, and not one I’d taint my love of or get sick of…
Gee how did I used to just wear one!….
I could wear Fate every day and be happy… Until my bottle ran dry.
SOTD is Osmanthe Yunnan. I wasn’t impressed when I first tried it, I thought “yeah, nice tea, ok”, but now I’m becoming addicted. Also testing Santal Massoia for the second time, but it’s not growing on me. Yet?
Santal Massoia smells good but it doesn’t seem likely to inspire great passion, if you know what I mean.
I didn’t like Osmanthe Yunnan but I think I may need to try it sprayed instead of dabbed.
I’d say it’s worth trying again. And quite a few spritzes.
I was planning on getting an Hermessence travel set during the splitmeet for that exact one (as samples and travel sprays are outrageously upcharged), but I’m trying to have my couch redone. We’ll have to see….
I tried OY again this weekend and just don’t get much of anything from it. Maybe I need to spray more…
Last year it was Osmanthe Yunnan almost every day for me. I keep harassing Hermès to make sample/travel sizes of the Épice marine available (I smelled it in the store and fell in love), but so far they’ve been resistant (although they keep apologizing and sending me samples of the rest of the line).
I’ve noticed that Epice Marine hasn’t been made available in anything but the full bottles. It seems like it’s taking longer than usual! I can’t complain, though, as I live spitting distance from my local Hermes.
I have a small size (15 mL) of Epice Marine – I bought it through a blog sale from someone overseas. I don’t know if it is no longer available or just not in the US.
I just received my sample of Santal Massoia. It is interesting, incredibly soft and very much the skin scent, and the down side of that is I don’t feel like I experience enough of it. If I don’t put my nose to my wrist I can’t smell it at all.
I love the dry-down, it really is quiet, though.
Monday… ugh.
Weekend just flew and here I am again back to work.
SOTD is Prada L`Eau Ambree. Not tired of this one yet. Great office scent too.
L’Eau Ambree is my fav of those Pradas – richer than the infusion d’iris (which is also nice). I have a small bottle and some dusting powder. I often think about getting a regular bottle, but haven’t plunged yet. You smell great!
I’m thinking of wearing either Epic Woman or wearing Chanel no 22. It’s tough trying to figure out what to wear when you amass a sizable collection of perfume.
😉
I’m wearing Timbuktu, which is surprisingly quiet for how loud it goes on. I love it though. My boyfriend says it smells more like fall to him but I think our blistering Houston weather brings out the best in it.
I agree with you – I like Timbuktu in heat. It isn’t overwhelming in the heat because it’s dry, and offers a nice change of pace from the typical summer fresh or tropical fragrances (as much as I love them).
I agree. I like Timbuktu in the summer as well. I’ve worn it in the fall too, and it just isn’t quite the same.
Timbuktu is a great fragrance for me in the winter – it smells so warm and sunny. It is very long lasting for me.
My SOTD will be whatever I try on at Scent Bar this afternoon. I know I’m buying Rozy but both versions smelled different and wonderful on me when I went there Friday and I only have the budget for one. Sigh.
Haven’t tried Rozy yet, but I suspect that I’d like it.
Sample both since they are different
Ended up buying Rozy EDP. I also have Rozy voile, Onda voile, Royal Oeillet and and L’essence of Mastenbroek on my arms. Went to Scent Bar after soaking at the Beverly Hot Springs which was only a few bus stops away. Happiness.
Sounds like a successful day! How is it time for your trip already? Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself 🙂
Plus I had a cute guy tell me I smelled good while trying to pick me up at the bus stop
Ormonde Jayne Woman, it’s quite rainy here today so it fits really well. I’m drinking a cup of Grand Szechwan FOP tea, not exactly delicate but very gorgeous.
I’m wearing CdG Vettiveru today. I like vetiver as a note and this one is really nice on me. Lasts a long time, too.
Clarins Eau Dynamisante body lotion and edt today again – makes me feel zingy but composed which is not a bad thing.
I am wearing the last of a 1ml sample of Chanel’s Eau de Cologne followed by a splash of Comme des Garçons Red Rose because I could barely smell the Chanel by the time I was ready to leave the house. For a few minutes, though, I had a really nice rose/raspberry/citrus scent going on!
Omnia Ambra. I smell fabulous.
it was such a hot day and i was in such a fickle mood. couldn’t decide which of 3 scents i wanted more of, and then didn’t want any scent at all. somehow they just seemed either too much or not enough of on their own. in the end i layered all three – a good base of anisia bella, 2 gentle spritzes of terracotta le parfum from a distance, and finally a tiny dose of flagrant délice, just to add that touch of sweetness.
Been really enjoying a sampler of the Blu Mediterraneo fragrances in this hot weather. Today it’s Arancia di Capri. I think my favorite is the Bergamotto though.
Just for my own information: Robin, do you have a date on the next splitmeet yet?
Splitmeet is tentatively scheduled for 20 September, but won’t swear to it yet…but will announce the date on 6 September either way.
Next swapmeet will be in October.
Wearing smell bent St. Tropez Dispenser. Forgot about Friday and this would be a good one for tha since I smell like the beach. Not sure if it was a good idea for today since now I want to go to the beach and I’m stuck in a cubicle.
Sounds completely beachy (that’s one SB I haven’t tried yet)!
Very beachy. Similar to Bronze goddess, but maybe a little more floral? I’m happy to send you a sample (and some other stuff) if you are interested. Pretty sure I have your address around here somewhere.
Julie
It’s supposed to be pretty humid and hot all week so I wanted something summery and will probably stick with that theme while we’re enjoying such fleeting warm weather at last. Today I picked La Perla Eclix. It is pretty short-lived on my perfume devouring skin so I’m refreshing already, but it is such a cheerful little lime confection that just blooms in the heat. I really wish this one hadn’t been discontinued and am still on the hunt for a suitable replacement.
Happy Monday, everyone.
SOTD = Le Labo Vanille 44
It was conveniently on hand, fits any mood, any weather and smells pretty darn good!
I would like to test this one of these days. I need to learn more about the LL frags. I have some Rose 31 which I really like.
Pourrrrrring down the rain again today. (And we have a dead cow in the woods field that The CEO is going to have to go and move with the tractor… but not in the rain. Poor guy. Poor cow, too. I suspect she was one of the ones we were planning to send to the cull cow sale next week; according to the number on her ear tag she was almost old enough to drive.)
SOTD is Ralph Lauren Safari for Women, beautiful floral chypre with a green top and a sweet-hay finish. I think I’ve gotten addicted to it this summer.
OH! and the kids found a cave in one of the pasture fields this weekend! it’s got a small opening, but two largeish “rooms” in it. I knew this area was honeycombed with caves, since we have several sinkholes and it’s highly karstic (limestone), but didn’t know we had a cave on the place. Exciting. It even has stalagmites.
A cave is awesome and so is Safari.
Wearing Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist today. I wish it lasted longer on my skin. It always fades far too quickly no matter how much I put on in the morning.
A hat tip to commenter Janice above. I’m also taking a little mini-vacay later this week. My son is coming in from Texas and we’re going to drive up to the mountains and do some hiking. Not sure if there is a perfect perfume for hiking…lol…maybe one of those mall girl things that smells like bug spray.
I’m wearing Lucienne today by Countess Lucienne Van Doz. I love the story behind this. Lucienne found an unlabeled bottle of scent in an old vehicle. She liked it so much she commissioned it recreated for her under her name. It smells vintage and expensive and ‘perfumey’ (and I mean that in the best of ways).
I love a perfumey perfume!
Okay, so I just went and Googled this thing and now I am very interested. Can you compare it to anything else? Or just describe what you smell in it? I’m already halfway to blind-buying it from “vintage and expensive and perfumey”…
I’m not sure it reminds of anything specific. But I’d describe it as an old school grand floral. It opens with jasmine and ginger, a combo I’ve never encountered elsewhere, then progresses to rose and lily of the valley. There is an immediate ‘green’ impression with a little ‘bite’ to it (the ginger, I expect) when you first apply. The heart is spicy rose which somehow lightens into LOTV (that transformation just fascinates me). The drydown is woody (I think I smell some cedar along with the sandalwood, maybe?) with vanilla/amber at the base.
I hope that helps. I’m sorry I’m so inept at descriptions.
SOTD is Dior J’Adore, one of my favorites!
Wearing Anton by Sweet Anthem today. I got a discovery set from the website, and so far this is one of my favorites. This is one of the few perfumes with an apple note that doesn’t go all to shampoo on me. The apple note here is more spiced/cider-y. It’s also the first time I’ve ever encountered horseradish as a perfume note. Sounds weird, but I’m digging it. It’s subtle, but it adds a little pungency.
I’m also taking a mini-vacation later this week. Taking Thursday and Friday off. Not really going anywhere in particular, just not to work!
I tried Anton solely because I was intrigued by the horseradish note. I’m not sure if it’s too unisex for my personal use, but I really like it!
Enjoy your mini-vacation!
Diorissimo but it has faded to nothing. My husband says he likes Lou Lou. Any thoughts on a modern equivalent?
No but nevertheless do I love Lou Lou! My mom wore it when I was little. I used to play with those pretty blue glass bottles.
I love the current version of Loulou! Hypnotic Poison is somewhat similar, but less complex and less floral.
I started the day with Diptyque Olène but then it got pretty cold and I switched to Saffron Amber Cardamom by Korres. But it’s gone already…wish it lasted longer.
SOTD is Tocade, which I’m beginning to try
SOTD is BlackBerry and Bay from Jo Malone. Honestly, I just grabbed the first perfume bottle that was closest to me.
I’m wearing CDG Hussein Chalayan Airborne. I’m trying to use up some samples. I actually like this one, kind of citrusy incense.
We’ve been promised (fingers crossed) a full week of ‘summery’ weather – celebrating with Eau des Merveilles before it (and summer) gets put away until next year.
Today I’m wearing “Yesterday Haze” from Imaginary Authors. I have worn it every day since I received it last week. I love it and have gotten many compliments on it. They have a “beachy” one also called “Falling Into The Sea”. Not sure if I will wear that on Friday or Heeley’s Cocobello, Il Profvmo’s Aria di Mare or PdN’s Musc Monoi.
Today it was still cool and yet sunny. I think summer is over so I’m moving on to my early fall scents. I wore vintage Guerlain Nahema edp. Swoon!
What I want to wear is CBIHP 7 Billion Hearts, but I’d have to dig deep to find that decant. I really need to get them sorted out. Maybe I can find my Tocade mini instead for that vanilla fix.
Wearing Pamplelune / I often wear it on Mondays – lunedi…
Today I wore SMN Nostalgia layered with CBIHP Black March as an experiment. Nostalgia smells almost exactly like our tractor shed (rotting tires, dust, and old oil) and Black March reminds me of the countryside after a hard rain.
I had a crummy Monday with broken computers and frustrating phone calls but I smelled like a man wearing a leather jacket in an old garage after a rain instead of a frazzled girl in scrubs with a bad attitude. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but it helped take me out of myself so I will be trying the combination again.
Why is it that bad attitudes are so much more fun to have yourself than to experience in others?
I mean, I do know why, but sometimes a bad attitude is all I want to have! 😀
Today was a Burberry Body day. A tiny dose goes a loooing way, for sure. Initially I got more of the freshness from apple and rose, but a couple wears in and I get mostly vanilla musk.
Also, a woman in my exercise class the other weekend wore a generous application and it was a bit much, so I am careful to err on the side of caution with this one 🙂
Had such a headache all day that I just couldn’t find a scent that worked. First was Theorema- just meh today. When that wore off I had some Violet Blonde in my bag so I dabbed some of that on and it was nice but too much. In the evening some Ambre Sultan, but even that didn’t make me feel better. Oh well- maybe tomorrow 🙂
Started off with a decant of Olfactive Studio Ombre Indigo that I was sampling, but it didn’t last long and I was not very impressed with it, so I switched to Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline… much better.