Happy Friday! Our community project today: the signature scent challenge. Pick a fragrance, wear it today, then wear it through the weekend and again on Monday (or longer?) ... see if you notice anything new, or if you get sick of it, or ...?
As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you aren't participating in the community project.
I'm feeling a little better today, and luckily, I can smell just fine. I'm going with Robert Piguet Fracas, a fragrance I adore but that I haven't worn in ages. I have it in several forms, but today I pulled out a vintage mini of the Parfum. It is creamier than the Eau de Parfum (I've never tried the Eau de Toilette), and the sillage is quieter.
Reminder: next Friday, 12 September, wear something green.
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.
I am going to go with Shiseido White Rose. It is expensive, but it is very beautiful and by far the best rose perfume I have ever tried. Every time I wear it, which isn’t very often, I think that I could never get tired of it or irritated with it, so this is a good excuse to find out whether or not that is true.
I know nobody here would do it, but we ought to try 3 months…I know there were many times in my life when I only owned 1 perfume for at least that long, so whatever it was, it became the smell of “me” and it was a comfort to put it on every day.
I wore Perfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose quite a lot in high school and then college. A lot of my friends began to associate that smell with me and it was nice. Later on my younger sister would do the same about my Coco. She’d never borrow my scarves b/c she said they always smelled like me.
I wore that too, for a time! And YSL Paris, Coriandre, Halston, Diorissimo, Eau de Givenchy, Cristalle. If I sat down and thought hard, bet I could come up with about 10 or 12 scents that covered about 25 years of my life.
Fragrance history timeline for your personal life. I think that would be fun.
My best friend in high school (and college) wore that as well! To this day I associate her with that scent. It’s lovely.
What a great story. I had a similar thing with my older sister who wore Oscar de la Renta pure perfume when we were teenagers in the 70’s. She gave me a black cashmere turtleneck that was permeated with the smell. I associate it with my sister even now when the last thing she would wear would be Oscar.
I shoul
Sorry, jittery app today. As I was saying, I should have sprayed my shoes with perfume to keep my sister out of them.
There is no way I could last 3 months. I have never been a signature scent wearer. I have gone through phases where I had a favorite perfume, but never one that I wore exclusively. Perhaps it is because my favorites tended to be heavy orientals–Emeraude, Tabu, Poison–and I realized that they weren’t necessarily appropriate for every time of day, occasion, or type of weather. I think the last time I owned only one perfume was when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I had a little Avon rollerball; I don’t know what the name of the perfume was or if it even had a name. Then my great-aunt gave me a bottle of Coty Muguet des Bois for Christmas, and I had 2 perfumes.
I couldn’t last 3 months either, unless I was going on a very long trip to nowhere and luggage space was an issue.
I could do maybe 3 fragrances for 3 months, so I could rotate…
Of course, I always had a signature scent when I was young – I basically only had one perfume at a time. But I only wore it on special occasions, not every day. I really only started wearing perfume every day a few years ago when I started reading perfume blogs and collecting seriously.
I definitely could not wear the same perfume every day for three months. I did it for one week for the Perfume Posse signature scent challenge several years ago. I found the experience illuminating, but I might have stopped wearing perfume at all by the end of the week.
Maybe that’s a reason a lot of people are indifferent to fragrance and have just one bottle that lasts forever. Maybe they are bored without even knowing it. I couldn’t eat the same one thing or watch the same movie or read the same book over and over. (Mabye it’s why I don’t really have any interest in TV – it all is the same to me, so I don’t bother to watch.)
You may be on to something. Back when I wore only one perfume for months or years on end, I was often relieved to get to the end of a bottle, and usually went back to an old favorite with a new appreciation.
Interesting. There is that “thing” for using something up before you buy another. I remember being happy/relieved when the seasons changed so I could switch fragrances. It would rejuvinate my interest.
I probably could go 3 months using the same fragrance. The candidates are: Bvlgari Black, Prada Candy, Atelier Cologne Sous le toit de Paris, Hermes Kelly Caleche, Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue, one of the Hermes Merveilles. I’ve probably overthought this
I sort of doubt that I will wear it all weekend — I’m so fickle and I have lots of new scents to play with — BUT I had no trouble choosing a “signature scent”: I’m wearing Cuir de Lancome and would happily wear it four days in a row if I wasn’t surrounded by other distractions.
I have a bit of vintage Fracas EDT via Alyssa Harad, and it’s surprisingly not sweet and not creamy compared to my idea of Fracas; it reminds me of the old Lagerfeld version of Chloe.
Interesting. The parfum is sweet, but not nearly as sweet as Chloe (I liked that one once upon a time too), and the sandalwood base is much more obvious to me. Although that might also be because it had real sandalwood…
It took me a ridiculously long time to decide. I finally settled on Paestum Rose. I have to work today and Monday and have a hair appointment Saturday, so it had to be something I could comfortably wear in public (otherwise L’Air de Rien would have been a contender), and I wanted something I don’t wear all that often. Last night I narrowed it down to three and ended up spraying each of them on a paper strip trying to decide which I could best live with for four days. (The other two were Shalimar—I have samples of different versions and vintages so I could have played around a little with those—and Iris Silver Mist.) Paestum Rose seemed somehow the “lightest” and easiest of those three.
I bought a bottle about five years ago and wear it only occasionally. Sometimes it seems too sweet, sometimes I get that sourish rose scent from it, and other times it seems to disappear too quickly. So far this morning I’m loving it, though.
Oooh I love Paestum Rose. On the list of FB to purchase as I have gone through two decants. Totally get the sourish thing you notice, but it’s a good sour somehow.
I thought about ISM too! And love Paestum Rose, you smell great.
I looove L’air de Rien, but I had the same feeling as you, Janice – I just wasn’t sure it would fly in public. Though my skin does make it fairly mellow and not nearly so skanky as it seems to be for others, I just wasn’t sure I could pull it off.
I don’t know Paestum Rose but I’m sure you smell fabulous!
It was a really hard decision! I am wearing Jacomo Silences. So pretty!!!’
Love Silences.
Yup, it is. I could wear it for weeks on end, provided the weather is very warm.
I think the only season I don’t like Silences is winter. I probably wear it March – October.
I picked L’Artisan Parfumeur Mure et Musc, an easy favorite, both quiet and persistent on my skin. At first I thought it might be too simple to ponder for four days, but I guess the point is to see whether that’s true.
Nobody should feel bad if they don’t make it 4 days! Because yes, that’s the point…see how you feel about it.
I have Mure Et Musc and while I don’t reach for it very often, it is very versatile.
I had no problem deciding on Bvlgari Black. It’s enough of a natural skin scent on me that I figure I can fly under the radar with it around my massage clients if I don’t overspray. They are used to my funky essential oils anyway so I thought this would be perceived as one of those.
btw, that picture of the woman in bed with the human sized fracas bottle is heelarious, Robin.
That’s French actress Isabelle Huppert … for some sort of Fracas thing they did for the 160th anniversary of the French dept store Bon Marché (a couple years ago).
Lucky Fracas bottle!
God, Bvlgari Black is so wonderfully weird, isn’t it? I hope they never stop making it.
Today is FM Lipstick Rose, which is kind of a cheat for this poll as it is already one of my “signature” scents, as I wear it frequently. But I was at my boyfriend’s place this morning where I have only a limited selection of perfume, so lipstick rose it was!
I won’t have any trouble wearing it through the weekend. I am going to a wedding tomorrow and applied with a light touch it will be perfect (it can be cloying if over-applied, especially in the heat, and in Toronto today there’s a heat warning).
Great pick! Bet Jessica would pick that too.
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better.
I’ve decided to go with L’Eau Trois for the challenge. I haven’t worn it in the day time before so I’ll see how that goes.
Such a great scent! I can’t remember now if Diptyque is still making it.
Answered my own question…yes, they are, it’s Virgilio that got axed.
I came close to ordering a small decant of Virgilio but then I questioned the wisdom of seeking out a discontinued fragrance when there are so many others still in production that I haven’t sniffed.
Amen.
Eau Trois *is* a challenge! It’s so rich!
I went with Bvlgari Pour Femme, which I really like but tend to forget about. It’s great for wearing more than one day as it is interesting but not too demanding.
My other options were: Paris YSL and Eau d’Eté (PdN).
Interesting pick! That’s one I always forget about, too, but the original *is* pretty.
I know that I will like this one for more than one day because it is one of the fragrances that frequently travels with me. It’s very comfortable to wear like most of Grojsmans creations.
Maybe people will pay a little more attention to it. Bvlgari has created some great fragrances but they don’t seem to anymore.
I made an account just to comment on Fracas, which is one of my favorites. A few years ago, I stopped to get coffee (surprisingly good!) at the gas station on my way to work. A group of old guys were always hanging out in front, chatting and smoking. If the weather was poor, they’d stand inside and do the same. Anyhow, I excused myself and walked through the group and one of the old men sniffed the air, put his hand out to stop me, and said “Honey, you smell like my prom date”, and he winked.
What a great story!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Love that!
Very cute!
Fracas was a finalist for me too, but I went with Songes. It’s so bright and cheery, works well on warm days and warms me when it’s cool. And it just makes me happy, which I can certainly manage for 4 days
It’s hot and sticky here and will be for the entire weekend, so that has a lot to do with my choice. I’m wearing Chanel No 19 vintage extrait today, and I figure that I can switch over to the edt version if I want to to mix it up for the weekend. It just seemed like the perfect choice for the end of summer and the weather. I love it anyway, so it will be a good fit. Right now I’m in the long-haul oakmoss and vetiver phase, and I counldn’t be happier. I can’t go wrong with a Chanel. I was originally going to do Coco, but the weather is not right. The classic Chanels are so reliable, interesting, and well behaved! Viva la 19!
I do love the Chanel classics and no 19 but can’t stand no 19 in EDT form. It’s too butch for me and I like my leather to be plush. I caan’t decide if no 19 is better in EDT form or parfum form. But Chanel prices have really started to get scarey.
Actually, I’m a heathen who loves the current more irisy-grassy-vetivery edt than the original edt. i think the edt and the extrait have very different personalities. The edt to me really just becomes a very straight up vetiver for the most part and is very linear. Not as plush as you say. Strong leather accords are not really my thing, so thankfully I mostly get a lot of iris and oakmoss out of the extrait with just a dash of leather. It’s funny how all our noses are different. Actually right now I am at the very drydown of the extrait and I love that super smooth buttery oakmoss. It’s actually reminding me a lot of my Mitsouko. And yes, I am also peeved that No 19 edt was only $90 a few years ago, and now it’s marched up to $110! I should just be thankful they still make it and shut up. I really do want to test some of the current edp to see how that is.
Viva #19!
I have some current No.19 extrait. Have you tried that version? I wonder how the two compare.
i do have extrait and I love it. It’s less butch and a crap load of iris. The iris isn’t as hissy or as carroty as Silver Iris Mist. Pity it’s gotten pricey.
I have one of those holiday mini set boxes they sell of the Chanels packed away in my reserves. I’ll have to dig out the No 19 and test it against my vintage one to see what they are like. The mini set I have is about 5 or 6 years old now, so it could even be differen from that.
My No.19 extrait was bought in 2011, so is not brand new either.
Ok Austenfan! Here are the impressions from my nose this morning. I put the “current” ish No 19 extrait from my set on the left, and my vintage extrait on the right. You already know what the current No 19 extrait smells like, and it smells IMHO a lot like the current edt too – definitely related. In the the extrait, I get that ethereal, gorgeous iris for about 10 min up front. The iris opening is just so perfectly, swooningly, rich and aromatic that you can’t believe it is possible. After it sadly goes away, I get a very pretty, a little floral-ish, and mostly lively green vetiver. There is some sandalwood in there to warm things up a bit, ditto with the bergamot. It is nicely linear – elegant and restrained – and IMHO, matches, albeit richer, the progression and trajectory of the current edt. (I normally reapply a lot when I wear the current edt to re-experience the wonderful opening, so after multiple repeat applications through the day, I’m pretty much smelling what I get from the current extrait. And it’s a good thing, I like it. Every time I think I need to look for the perfect vetiver fragrance, I should remember I already have it!)
The vintage extrait has the wonderful buttery, glorious iris at the opening, but IMHO it is sharing the stage with more equally matched & balanced partners in the oakmoss and vetiver, and the Chanel rose-jasmine combo they use to prop up their fragrances. (My nose is kind of immune from light, white flowers (like LOTV) when there are stronger accords going on, so I may be missing some of that as well.) The iris fades about the same timeline as with the current. But the big difference I smell between my current and my vintage extrait is that once the beautiful iris leaves the picture, the oakmoss and vetiver and whatever else is in there keep on singing for many, many hours. This should be no surprise. It is more complex, there is more “conversation” and the oakmoss has the final word. It gets softer and plusher as it moves a long. (Dawn got it right with the word plush.) I don’t get plush out of the current No 19, edt or extrait.
The current No 19 extrait becomes a wonderfully rich, smooth and floral “green” vetiver fragrance. The vintage No 19 extrait becomes a golden, radiant interplay of oakmoss *and* vetiver *and* sandalwood. (And there is also more leather in there, but my nose often confuses the “swamp water” aspect of vetiver with leather accords, so I can’t really pick them apart.) The vetiver in the vintage is just a tad darker than that in the current, probably b/c of leather, but the current one is much crisper. But again, the vintage IMHO is really about the oakmoss.
They are both very good. Current = rich green. Vintage = rich gold. I could go on an on. I hope this is helpful! (Now if only I could get my nose on some of that edp!!!)
Thank you so much!! You are a sweetheart for taking the trouble to write this down for me. It is very helpful.
Excellent! I can wear N°19 anywhere, anytime. It never feels wrong—or at least it hasn’t yet.
Love the edt (I have a vat of vintage) and also extrait of any vintage. For me, the iris in the top notes is so prominent and buttery in the extrait.
Yes! Buttery is the perfect word for it. I actually have some very old bearded iris (see my little icon) and when they bloom I can smell a whiff of that buttery-ness (along with some other things). I know it’s mostly from the root, but this one plant is really outstanding. No 19 is really the perfect fragrance.
I love a day off from work and I can wear whatever I want, which makes the choice that much harder. Should I try something new or just wear Dia for Women, Nuda or Theorema?
Theorema! You could wear that every day for quite a while and never get sick of it, I think.
Started yesterday with Milk of Flowers– it’s pretty, tenacious but light and should be appropriate for work, overnight bus ride, mini memorial by the sea, hanging out with friends, dinner and sunset cruise to celebrate my birthday, another overnight bus trip and class. All of that between now and when I actually go home Sun night
Happy Almost Birthday!
Happy Birthday! I hope you get whatever fragrance your heart desires!
Have a great birthday weekend!
Happy birthday and remember what I said when I left to catch my train – wink wink
Happy Birthday, and safe travels.
Happy birthday!
Glad you feel better,Robin!Fracas- in any form- is fantastic!I did actually choose Iris Silver Mist.Was an easy choice:favorite perfume and favorite brand!
I would survive the 3- month challenge,that’s how much I love ISM!If I had to give up all my perfumes,this is the one I would keep.
I chose L’Artisan Parfumeur’s L’Eau du Navigateur, which was the first full bottle of theirs I ever bought. It feels nothing like modern men’s scents — no citrus, no lavender, no synthetic freshness — but with its coffee, wood, tobacco, and spices, it’s pure, comfortable, casual masculinity. I will happily wear this all weekend.
That is an amazing scent! I still can’t believe L’Artisan discontinued it. I’ve always imagined it as the way Jack Sparrow smells. My decant always makes me smile. Lucky folks around you this weekend
I’m wearing Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan. I love this one and freaked out when I nearly dumped ALL my sample on this morning instead of dabbing. I had a rough morning. I don’t know if the rest of my sample will allow me to make it to Monday, but I hope so!
You smell amazing. I got a decant just a few months ago, and I still can’t stop sniffing my wrists whenever I wear it.
Like AnnS, I’m going with No. 19. I’m wearing the EDT today, but have a tiny amount of vintage extrait that I’ll add later for the evening activities. The EDP is my choice for tomorrow. I also have the scented creme, which is delicious after a shower and to sleep in.
No. 19 is my desert island fragrance, and I’m not anticipating getting tired of it anytime soon, but we’ll see!
#19 was a top contender for me, and I love the idea of wearing it in different formulations. Brilliant!
You both (AnnS) smell great!
I also realized I could get more mileage out of 19 for this challenge b/c I have a few different versions, and now I *must* test that mini for you too! I’m thinking I could also sneak in a squirt from my “poudre” decant on Sunday morning… Is that cheeting?
Farouche – you smell great! And, I’ve always wanted to ask: are you “named” after the wonderful, sadly discontinued Nina Ricci Farouche? I have a sample of that and it is totally divine.
Yes, Farouche was my signature scent in the late seventies, and I still love it!
I have been creepin’ on here a long time and I just can’t resist not joining in the fun anymore! I am torn between two potential “Signature” scents. One I could see, in a different world where I didn’t want to wear about 12 different perfumes a day, is Parfums DelRae Mythique. It is such an elegant skin scent, and the jasmine seems to meld into the skin in a subtle, but absolutely breathtaking way. The other weekend signature I am considering is ELdO’s Afternoon of a Faun. Totally different from Mythique, but I would love it if people associated that spicy, woodsy rose with me all of the time. Which do I choose?! It’s a 3 day commitment!
Ooooooo haven’t shelled either but the way you described them I can understand your quandary!
One of my favorite things about these Friday themes is that the rules are very comfortable being stretched this way and that. So maybe gofor a signature day and a night scent, or have one for weekdays – today and Monday – and one for weekend?
Our you can always close your eyes and choose – they both sound perfect
Welcome!
Nebbe, that is an excellent idea! I think I will do Mythique for day and Afternoon of a Faun for evening. That is absolutely brilliant. Mythique may be a little friendlier during this last-minute heat wave in the Midwest.
Yay! Enjoy!
I really ought to get my hands on a sample of Mythique. As to ELDO Afternoon of a Faun, I have to revisit my sample as my initial wearing yielded something sweet (which I love) but something funky (which is a no-no).
Welcome to the blog!
Hajusuuri, Mythique is lovely. It’s so subtle but when I wear it, I can’t stop smelling it. It makes me feel like I was born with the best-smelling skin ever to grace the earth. As for Afternoon of a Faun, I did not care for it at all the first time I tried it. It had been about a year, and I wonder if it was the Immortelle that put me off of it. But the other day I wore it, and to my pleasant surprise, I was absolutely smitten. It’s really like being in a beautiful antique store. I think it’s a bit austere, and I could see the something funky, maybe almost sour, but it really worked for me the second time around. I wish they sold it in the 50 ml size though. Then it would definitely be FBW. When I find a job (fingers crossed!) I plan to get one of those two, or CdG Avignon in a full bottle.
I so forgot about the signature scent today. Luckily, I put on a fragrance today that will make this doable. My SOTD is Jo Malone’s BlackBerry and Bay. I am a sucker for a fruity-floral .
THat one’s really nice. Not sweet at all, IMO.
Oh, I should have done B&B! Well, if Dilmun gets on my nerves tomorrow, I’ll switch.
I’m a party pooper on today’s project, but fun to read what others are calling their signature scent & why!
My signature scent would be Cuir de Lancome (winking at Elisa), but yesterday I received some new samples in the mail, one of which I really liked and wanted to wear the next few days…
PdN’s Amber Oud… which oddly does not smell of amber or oud at all, but of a delicious blend of lavender, vanilla & spice. Creamy & dreamy. It’s a strong scent as well so I just dab it vs. spray and I’m good to go even hours later.
Will I still love it come Monday? Who can say..
Winking back!
Hey – new samples trump the challenge!
You smell great Floragal!
If you wear it for a few days, aren’t you in fact participating in the challenge? And even stepping it up, by wearing a brand new sample? I think maybe you win.
OK, in honor of beloved Joan Rivers, I am wearing her signature scent, Joy. I usually only wear it to bed, but, by God, I am wearing it the full week to keep her humor, and the beauty of Joy, both the perfume and joy of life, in mind always.
Off to go ride a horse.
Love this. Have a great ride!
Lovely gesture.
I was sad to hear of her passing..
I saw her perform about a year ago and although the majority of her material was x-rated and so not politically correct you could not help but laugh (because she is funny!) and admire her for brilliantly reinventing herself countless times, overcoming heartbreaking tragedy and navigating an unloving media. She will be missed.
I didn’t realize she wore Joy! Seems to fit, though. Larger than life.
I was indecisive between Musk by Lorenzo Viloresi and Tuscan Leather. I need to be a badass today, so Tuscan Leather is was.
That is such a wonderfully smooth leather, I think. You smell good.
I chose Covet. It wore through a huge bottle when it first launched and now I rarely ever wear it. I want to see what all my fuss was about!
The easy way to go for me would have been my vintage Eau Sauvage as I’ve been wearing it most days this summer. I can’t believe how much I enjoy it!
Don’t you just die over the commercial? So good.
The commercial KILLS. It is so perfect. I have to go watch it a few times on YouTube.
The commercial AND the print ads! I love the one where she’s in jail in her Lacroix.
Covet is great – highly under-rated.
I bought another bottle years after my first at TJMaxx. I very rarely wear it but if I saw another, I’d have a very weird debate with myself. Would I need another bottle if I don’t wear it?
I have a bottle of Covet that I haven’t touched in 6 years! I do remember liking it a lot. Hmm… maybe for next week.
I see I am in good company here, I own and wear Covet as well.
I think I burned myself out of it. I used to keep a bottle in my car and refresh it. But I do enjoy the scent. It’s a powerhouse, too.
Chanel no 5 Eau Premiere. Given the weather (supposed to be warm) and that I’ll be in the office today, seemed like the best choice. Also, I love it, so there’s that too – ha!
Other contenders were Kelly Caleche, Shalimar, and Infusion d’Iris. Ultimately couldn’t be without vanilla in a form that fits the weather.
Hope everyone has a great day!
Eau premiere is so nice and effervescent.
Great line-up to be choosing from! I nearly went for Eau Premiere myself – it can easily be work for weeks and I don’t grow tired of it. And it goes with everything! But I felt I should give some less-worn perfumes a chance this time.
I thought about Eau Premiere – it never seems wrong – but I’m down to about 3-4 ml in my decant, and somebody on here was saying that they’ve refo’ed it recently, so I may not get any more. Saving it for a more significant occasion than a weekend.
Oh of course they’d reformulate it!
I’m happy I bought it in that ridiculously big 125ml bottle now.
Ditto – it’s now a happy mistake b/c when I originally bought it, they didn’t have the 2.5 oz bottle out yet. I am so glad I got the supersize!
Makes sense. I haven’t tried the reformulation – or maybe I have and didn’t know. I also got one of those jumbo bottles, and it’s really nice. They are on ebay pretty often for reasonable sums if you poke around enough. Just saying
Yes, I keep an eye on those.
This is actually easy for me, because I frequently wear the same scent for 3 or 4 days in a row. I picked by Killian Rose Oud, because it is at the top of my FBW list and I’m hoping to get up a travel spray set this December.
SOTD: Handsome pour Homme
by Tova Borgnine Beverly Hills
Good call, Robin! Fracas is really just so perfect and beautiful. I’m wearing Serge Lutens Fleur d’Oranger again, which I love.
But I just went on a trip to Tucson and smelled cedar and dry heat everywhere. Does anybody have a recommendation for a good scent with these notes?
L’Air du Desert Marocain by Tauer Perfumes. And others that aren’t coming to mind at the moment, but will come back if they do.
I think either the Sonoma Scent Studio fragrance called Forest Walk or Incense Pure is supposed to have that type of expansive woody efffect.
After much dithering, I settled on Amouage Fate. If I’m going to make it 4 days running, I wanted something a little ‘sexier’ than #19 (which I love love love). It’s the weekend and I really wanted something a bit warmer and cozier. There’s a few social events this weekend and I want a certain someone to cozy up to!
The problem with a signature scent is that I go ‘nose blind’ all too quickly. I’m already “used” to Fate and after about 15 minutes have problems detecting it. I know it’s there, and I get a mini whiff now and then, but when I hold my wrist to my nose, I get nothing. When I first got the scent, it was all-day-affair.
There’s several other scents in that same category of nose-blindness: my fav OB – Infanta en Fleur with it’s lovely wafting sillage that lasts for hours – now goes silent to my nose almost immediately.
I love Fate Woman and got a small decant- it was in the running for this weekend’s challenge, but I gave it a miss because on me it is a Powerhouse (notice the capital P!) with epic longevity.
One spritz lasts a food 10-12 hours on me. I wonder how your nose would behave if you held off on ANY fragrance for a few days? is there such a thing a olfactory fatigue? Might be interesting to experiment…
SOTD and the next 3 days:
Tauer Une Rose de Kandahar- I am pretty sure what I will discover about this beauty over the 4 day wear time is that I love even more than I thought I did =)
Really looking forward to checking out everyone’s choices and their comments throughout the weekend!
Have a smellifluous day =)
Great choice! Getting ready to pull that one out for the Fall.
Believe it or not, it’s great in the heat as well- it just seems to shimmer like a mirage on the horizon-gorgeous!
I really hope Tauer creates a new batch of that this fall. I will most definitely buy it. I love it and I’m down to mere drops remaining.
Joe, I was really beating myself up for getting this (financially, I mean. I have a LPB (limited perfume budget)) and thought maybe I was just buying into the Limited Edition hype. Nope. No way. I have truly NOT regretted buying a FB and with that area of the world in constant turmoil, who knows if the raw ingredients will be available in the near future?
Every time I wear it, I say a prayer of thanks =)
Still haven’t tried that one. Still would like to – Andy’s roses are so nice.
I know! I am not a floral gal at all and I seriously dislike rose in every and all iterations, or at least I thought I did. The ONLY reason I even purchased a sample of this (as well as URC and IR) was because I was really trying to “push the boundaries” so to speak.
And look what happened? I fell in LOVE!
This sounds like a rose I should try. I missed this debut.
You should absolutely try it! You know who to email for a sample (wink,wink!) if you decide to give it a go =)
Chaos. The first time I saw the bottle I was riding down the escalator at the May Co in West LA. It was so different, but the scent confused me. Not like anything else.
When I tried it again, I fell in love.
When I found out it was going to be DC’D I loaded up. I am down that last five 3.4oz bottles.
I have never regretted my investment.
“Last five big bottles”… you are a woman after my own heart! Stockpilers unite.
When you really love it, there is nothing else you can do!
I saw a lot of my favorites pass by in the comment like Iris Silver Mist and Ambre Sultan, but I went for Encens Flamboyant which works for me in all weather types and occasions.
The comments make me really wanna try no. 19 though.
No. 19 would be great on a guy! I love it.
N°19 most definitely *is* great on a guy, if I do say so myself. One of my top ten for sure.
No 19 is definitely unisex! It truly is kissing cousins to Chanel’s Pour Monsieur, which I originally liked better than No 19 many years ago.
My bottle of Amouage Honor arrived yesterday and I took it as an omen. I’ll be wearing this for the next few days. I smell classy, if I do say so myself.
I am sad to report that my little decant of Lyric Woman is almost drained and won’t see me through the weekend. I have another, larger decant on order but it hasn’t shipped yet. If I didn’t have bills to pay and new tires and shocks to buy (which is really a fun purchase for me) that are more pressing, I would have a full 100ml of it. Yes, I love it that much and it’s one of the only perfumes I seriously overspray. The average person does NOT want to ride the elevator with me early in the day – death by cardamom rose.
Anyway, I will be wearing Dev IV through the weekend. I have mechanical stuff to work on and need a boost of macho. Maybe it will make today’s housework easier as well.
I have chosen Olympic Orchids Dev 1, not a flower in sight, all labdanum, oud, and cedar. A smokey, woody thing I can definitely live with for 4 days……
There is a chance I’ll cheat and mix and match the entire Dev series throughout the weekend. I’ve never properly compared them on skin and I have the sampler someplace. I just fell in love with 4 when I tried it and snatched a bottle right away. I remember 1 being my second fave.
I find all the Devs surprisingly savory, there is a mid stage of Dev 1 where it smells deliciously of cooked lentils, and there is also something gently turpentine-like weaving in and out. I find all the smells associated with oil paints quite pleasing, including linseed oil.
I love the smell of linseed oil too. That settles it; this weekend will be an all around Dev fest and I won’t discriminate. 4 will be my challenge scent but I reserve the right to revisit the others. What an indiscriminate perfume slut I am. Can’t even handle a weekend of true monogamy.
I am totally sympathizing for you: my dream (disounted) bottle of Amouage Beloved got sacrificed for the new shocks and springs on my sad old Saturn. Life gets in the way of our fragrance dreams! I will just have to wait. ;-(
One can only ignore slamming the bump stops over every pothole for so long before it becomes a priority that even an exquisite perfume can’t top.
That is the truth.
I consciously smelled Lyric at Bergdorf earlier this week and I think it’s lovely.
SOTD is Eau Duelle. Had to go with something subtle, since I started my new practice in Arkansas today and don’t want to offend. The woman whose place I’m taking is kind of perfume-sensitive. She is shadowing me to help me learn the electronic health record, which is completely different from the one I left behind. My head is spinning a little, but she is showing me some shortcuts that should help. My parents sent me a gorgeous bouquet that I can smell from across the room anyway with lots of stock and stargazer lilies. Glad you’re feeling better, Robin!
People like Duelle. Incense + Vanilla, not overwhelming. I once got a hug from a semi-stranger who said he just wanted to smell it more. (?!!?)
I like Eau Duelle very much – it is one of my favorite vanilla fragrances that I enjoy all year round. I love that lime-gin and tonic effect at the opening.
The last bouquet my husband purchased for me included stock and stargazer lilies. Your office smells great!
My FB of Eau Duelle had been sadly neglected. I’ll have to remedy that soon!
Hello Friday and hello Neela Vermeire Trayee. I splashed out on a bottle of this and haven’t actually worn it nearly as much as it deserves. So it’s going to get the full three days now. And I remember why I couldn’t tear myself away from it in the shop! I really love the “milky” note, for want of a better word – iut feels like something close to sweet condensed milk.
I think Trayee is very calming.
You smell amazing!
Going to go for Theo Fennell Scent.
I’ve had various signatures in my year and a half of true perfume nuttery, but this is the one I want to wear lately. There was a sample in a swap trove, and I fell for it. It goes against everything I think about my scent preferences (I don’t think I like feminine, or roses, or…) but just smells amazing and shifts elegantly through the day. Last fall I fell for my thrifted vintage Shiseido FdB, maybe I will come back to that one next? Diorella? Patchouli 24, before they changed it? Cuir?
I love Theo Fennell Scent. I have a decant but wish it were still available.
uh, there were a couple of bottles left on uk amazon when last I looked, just in case…
I could set up an ebay alert if I truly HAD to have a bottle and I know some would come along at some point. Thanks for the tip… though I’m in the USA and the risks of shipping from UK now are enough disincentive not to risk it.
You’ll just have to go on a trip to London.
Today I will be wearing my favorite and signature scent,Chanel no 5. Whenever I wear it,it seems to make my day better!
I’ll probably wear eau premiere.it seems to work well in the heat and humidity.
Do it!
No 5 is one of the few fragrances I would wear for a few days in a row and still be totally in love. !
SOTChallenge is Mary Greenwell Plum. It – along with several others – has a place in my Top 10, and unless some of those, is likely to be wearable in our extremely humid, high-heat-index weekend. (They’re even closing schools 2 hours early today due to the heat index, since there are several in our district that are un-air-conditioned.)
Now we’ll see if Plum makes it through selling pizza for the band boosters at the football game…
Sorry, typo: UNLIKE some of those.
I totally consider Plum to be one of your two signatures, along with LeTemps d’Une Fête.
Still love the Plum.
AND LTdF.
Plum is so versatile – I bet it will see you through!
I hope you make it through the heat and whatever likely severe Tstorms are likely to follow. Plum is awesome and a great choice for the whole weekend!
Yep, we had storms. It POURED down rain for about two hours before the game, but eased up about half an hour before kickoff.
Plum did not make it through the evening. I have scent-eating skin, and usually get about 4 hours’ wear out of it, so it was gone by halftime. Not that I minded; I was too busy. Respritzed just now…
After much consideration, I finally selected Hermès Épice Marine. It’s unusual and intriguing but not intrusive. It came out of an extraordinary collaboration between a chef and a perfumer, both renowned in their fields. I’ve been meaning to give it more skin time in order to understand it better. I have a feeling it will be a shape shifter, especially as we have some major weather changes coming up. This should be interesting!
Love this one! I’m ekeing out the last of a decant (or I would have chosen it for the signature scent challenge). Definitely FBW for me – the cumin in EM is spicy but not sweaty on me, and I love cardamom in any way, shape, or form.
Will be interested to hear how it wears on you with the weather changes this weekend!
stina, thanks for the encouragement! I bought one of the travel sizes on ebay when it first came out – love those 15-ml sprays.
Have you tried the other Hermès that came our around the same time, L’Eau de Narcisse Bleu?
I love EM! I think N B is very (too) close to Gentiane Blanche, and I prefer that.
I did get a free sample of L’Eau de Narcisse Bleu a few months back, but it’s very sharp and synthetic on my skin (which has issues with many florals, alas).
Fortunately my skin doesn’t kick up a fuss about No. 19, especially the vintage which I would bathe in if I could afford it.
I am on the third day of a four day business conference near Seattle, and took one scent. Thus, I am essentially towards the en of experiment.
More elements. Conference is outside Seattle, so I needed something for cool to warm weather. The industry is more male and conservative and I am here to make contacts, not offend. So the scent must not be too rich, or too much silage.
Chanel 19 edp would have been a good choice, but I didn’t want to risk discussion With TSA about the size of my bottle.
I ended up Atelier Cologne’s policy Vaniile Insensee.
Lovely. But yes I will want a change of scent when I get home.
I’m wearing one of my top 5: Byredo Gypsy Water. (I can’t really choose a signature scent, so I have a top 5 that cover most occasions and that really feel like me.)
I don’t think I’ll have a problem wearing it several days in a row, though I may switch it up and add something for an evening. I’m enjoying these Friday Scent of the Day projects.
Gypsy Water is one of my Top 5 too! And coincidentally, I wore it yesterday… So I think I’ll be joining you in this path.
I didn’t really think this through and forgot about the challenge, but this morning I made a snap decision to wear M. Micallef RED SEA. I really love the scent—especially the ambrette musk—but we’ll see if I’m in the mood for it again tomorrow, let alone Sunday.
Last time I tried this, I wore Penhaligon’s ZIZONIA for almost a week and really grew to love that scent. It’s a wonderful spicy oriental and I find it underrated and not-often-mentioned.
These challenges are a great way to find the difference between like and love (and meh). I need to try Zizonia and Red Sea. For some reason the Micallef brand naming confuses me and I haven’t explored it yet.
I’ve never smelled either Zizonia or Red Sea, so I’ll have to get on that! You always pick very interesting fragrances, so if you like the way they smell, it’s very likely that I will like the way they smell! I have a few Micallef samples I got from swapmania earlier in the summer, and I don’t remember which ones. I’ll have to check and see.
I am also a party pooper and not taking part. No perfume at home since I was placed in the wrong family – husband with migraines and daughter with eczema. So that means no scent on weekends. Wearing Creed Virgin Island Water today. It’s very nice, the coconut is not overdone so it’s not super duper beachy or cloying. Also couldn’t do the challenge as I ended up spilling the entire sample on myself! Good thing it isn’t too strong!
Love reading about everybody’s selections! I chose Infusion d’Iris Absolue. It’s one I chose in the dead of winter, and usually just wear as a winter scent, so I’m curious how it will feel different now, when we are heading into a chilly but very sunny week. Normally I would have been thinking about something brighter or greener, but it feels like it’s been a tough week, and the introverted coziness of Absolue was calling to me.
I keep wanting to test the Absolue. Maybe they’d have it at the mall Sephora.
It was easy for me to pick Eau des Merveilles. I’ve loved it for a while but finally bought a full bottle last week and it’s wonderful for both work and the weekend, and these hot end of summer days (in Texas!)
Glad to hear you’re feeling better!
I would have tried that one if I had a sample or decant. I’ve occasionally tried it in stores, but should really get a sample to try more systematically.
This is one of my favorites too, as well as her sister by another mister, L’Ambre des Merveilles- another gem! Great versatile scents. Although I don’t PAY TOO much attention to packaging, I think these bottles are really unique and elegant.
I hunted down the LE blue Pegasus bottle- it was a used tester and I got that gorgeous bottle and the contents for a SONG!!
Love it when I score like that
That really is a beautiful bottle.
Have finally decided on CdG Avignon for this weekend. I love it so far (just got the FB) and it doesn’t seem to go sour in the drydown like some incense perfumes do.
I’ll know for sure by Monday!
I just finished my decant of Avignon about a week ago or else it would have been a signature scent contender. It’s definitely on my FB list! There’s a definitely a coolness about it that keeps it from getting too sour or cloying. I’ve even worn it on really hot days this summer just out of curiosity and it has been perfect.
I decided to go with Bulgari Black. I haven’t actually worn it in a long time, and I find that I really don’t reach for it much at all. So I guess it’s a rediscovery of sorts. I had been thinking about whether I still wanted to keep it since I wear it so rarely.
Me too! I was planning to give this a rare wear tomorrow for a go karting experience. This theme weekend is a good way to give Black a chance.
Cool! Do pipe back in and say how it wears over days, please. Black was in my final three or four scents for this challenge. It’s amazing.
Fab. I guess I’m part of the Black contingency too. On the second day of wear from a small bottle with a broken off sprayer – had to push in the sprayer with a nail and syphon out the juice with a pipette. I’m liking it so much that I’m eyeing a big bottle on line. How’s it going with you?
I’ve been wearing Osmanthus Interdite all week long, so just wore this today and will do so until Monday. It was either that or Silences.
All those discussions make me think all I really have to buy Chanel no 19 at some point. I had first opted for Silences as a less expensive perfume of the same genre. I guess now I can safely splurge on Chanel.
Silences gets mentioned a lot too. I’ve never actually smelled it! Yikes – another frag to put on the to-smell list.
Frederic Malle Iris Poudre. Went with something easy
Yum! This was on my contender list as well.
Mine too.
Iris Poudre is such a great perfume. I considered that one too, but I just have a mini of it, and given the cost of a bottle, I don’t want to use my mini up too quickly.
I’ve already killed one 10ml split of IP… luckily, I have another. Sooner or later I am going to have to knuckle under and just buy the thing.
This was a tough one for me: La Myrrhe? Pour Monsieur? Sous le Vent? Osmanthe Yunnan? Violet Empire? I settled on Lalique Encre Noir.
I was going to do this with the LLP version of Crepe de Chine, but apparently hit my decant a bit harder than previously thought so didn’t think I had enough to last until Monday. So, I picked something modern, easy to wear and that would work for most situations. I went with Prada Candy. Each time I wear it, I forget how much I love it and since I’m already on my second large bottle, it could definitely make the cut as signature scent. The Natori in the purple bottle was a contender but I didn’t want to pick anything discontinued even if I’ve stockpiled that one.
Scent of the day (next three also?) is Miss Vanille.
A fantastic balsamic vanilla, no cupcakes in sight (not that I have anything against a gourmand vanilla scent).
Does anyone else have any information on this? Here is a link to the bottle: http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Flacon-deau-de-parfum-2-MISS-VANILLE-/111331249097 (no affiliation).
I have the box somewhere, but can’t find it now. I recall that there were 5 scents: Vanille, Vanille-Chocolate, Vanille-Flowers and 2 I don’t remember the names of. Bought it at Nordstrom, late ’90s and can’t find any information ANYWHERE on the net.
Anyhow, I wore it a lot and then sometime it got pushed to the back of my perfumes and I found it yesterday. It is great!
TIA for any info provided.
Sorry, I don’t know anything about it, but that is an adorable bottle.
No cupcakes sounds good to me. I’ve never even heard of this! That’s why I love these big challenges. It brings out a lot of interesting frags.
Rebellion! Looks like I am going to have an All-Sample Weekend instead: I tried Belle en Rykiel and Theo Fennell Scent this morning, and have just spritzed on By Killian Imperial Tea and Feu d’Issey. Just got a big sample packet and might try to get through them all before Monday.
Scent Rebel!! Enjoy.
Fun! I’ve heard good things about Feu d’Issey but I have yet to try it. I need to see if I can track down a sample.
My choice was Infusion d’Iris. Somewhat by default….it was parents evening at my son’s Lycee and I had to have steel in the spine + something chilly to see me through the 3 hours trapped in a stifling hot hall with hundreds of other parents.. If not I probably would have gone with Vetiver Tonka or Donna Karan Gold. Infusion will be a no brainer for me, I wore it to death when I first bought it. It does what it says on the tin.
You made the right choice – Gold is gorgeous, but you might have cleared out some nearby seats, lol!
So late to post. I went with Opus 1. Love the green peppery chypre. It’s hot here (relatively) and humid, so POTL Luctor and SL Daim Blond, two of my faves, were ruled out. Wish I could find a reasonably-priced vintage Cabochard or Diorella, both signature scents in the past but horribly disfigured.
SOTD = Guerlain Cuir Beluga
After wearing it twice this week already before today, I decided that I might as well keep going. It is light and fluffy and has a great drydown and is perfect for this hot weather we’re having.
I went with Lorenzo Villoresi Dilmun, although I don’t know where or when I’d acquire a full bottle. It’s pretty and soft, suitable for visiting a friend in a convalescent hospital, OK in the 90 degree heat, and a nice reminder of spring and summer now that the days are getting noticeably shorter. I considered Ferre by Ferre and Traversée du Bosphore, but they seemed wrong for a hot weekend, SL Fleurs du Oranger seemed like too much four days in a row, and I didn’t know if my decant of Sage Onyx would last another four days. Somehow I didn’t think of Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay, which would have been great.
Dilmun is a great fragrance! It is one of my favorite OBs, and I think you made the right choice since you are going to a hospital. Ferre and TdB are also very beautiful!
SOTD (and weekend, I guess) SIP’s Musc Botanique. I love its quiet spicy ambrette seed hum.
I wanted to pick something bigger, darker, but got metaphorically smacked at work yesterday. I try to be very positive here in the blogosphere, but yesterday was weeping at my desk after work bad. After that, nodding night flowers sounded better to me than more challenging fragrances. Musc Botanique doesn’t get enough skin time. This is a great reason to bring it out. Perfume as balm and medicine
I’m curled up, watching The Princess Bride. That and checking in here are great escapes. Be well.
Bless your heart. Sorry about your bad day at work. I think we’ve all been there at some point.
Perfume and The Princess Bride: a perfect breathe and reboot combo.
Better now! Rebooted. Sleep and distance help. Thanks for understanding
Sending hugs and good vibes out to you
Thanks, Birthday girl–hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Hugs right back atcha
Be well.
So sorry about work. I hope that you have the weekend off.
I am off (sort of. . .on call, but hopefully do not have to go in. . .) It will give me time to regroup, reevaluate. Make a more positive plan. Friday was sort of a just live through this kind of day, I was numb after Thursday’s yuck. Better today. Bless you
Those days can really knock it out of you. Do what you can to distance your mind from that event. Perhaps a movie on the big screen or a trip to the art museum. How about a swim?
Great suggestion. Physical activity to blow out my funk! Thanks
Princess Bride is a great antidote for almost anything.
Anybody want a peanut?
Thanks (you guys) I really mean it
Mals, you and all these people are another reason to adore this community! People can come, happy or sad, and be comforted. And find laughs. Thanks!
I’m sorry you had a bad day at work. I hope you shake it off soon. Cheers!
I will. To quote a really silly movie, I have brains in my head and feet in my shoes, and can move about wherever I choose. I know my brain and life are still neuroplastic enough to make a big change if I determine things at this job can’t be fixed. We all need to find joy, and not waste our time being miserable, yes? Thanks for your well wishes!
You have the right idea. One of the greatest skills in life is to know, when you can, how to cut your losses and move on.
High School- Navy by Cover Girl?
Late 20s’ – Jean Paul Gaultier Classique EDT
Early 30’s – Serge Lutens Dahlia Noir
Mid 30’s – Chanel #5