What fragrance are you wearing? And if you're in the middle of a good book and you have an extra minute, tell us about that too.
I'm wearing Marni Rose layered with Marni.
Reminder: tomorrow, 12 September, wear something green. The following Friday, 19 September, wear something discontinued.
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.
Shown is the Marni Polka Dot bag, marked down to $501 (do they really need that extra dollar?) at Madison Los Angeles.
Oops....also meant to say that I've added an emoticon chart here, for anyone who needs it.
Ava Luxe’s Nude Musk. Love this stuff and it lasts forever.
Nice!
Ambre Narguile for me today. I went through my samples last night and realized I hadn’t tried it. It’s chilly, chilly here today and this is perfect. Warm amber, and maybe honey, and apple. So cozy with my morning coffee!
That sounds yummy. Haven’t tried it, will have to order a decant.
I would highly recommend it! It’s warm and food-y without actually smelling like food, which is nice.
Have not worn in ages…perfect for a chilly day.
Gray day here in NYC- fitting for 9/11
In the mood for something spicy- Coromandel is My pick for the day
Sliding into my last trimester- reading bringing up bébé – I laugh a lot while reading this
Ah, I read something somewhere about that book, glad it is good!
SOTD Cacharel Noa, insipired by Melissa’s recent post! It’s comforting and interesting – a good combo. I’m looking forward to wearing this as the weather gets cooler.
Just last night I finished the dregs of my sample of Marni. I forgot I had it on but my husband noticed it was a new scent and liked it. Still keeping my eyes open for Marni Rose – haven’t found it yet.
Half way through Three Junes by Julia Glass. It’s an older book that I’ve had on my shelf for years (have not succumbed to a Kindle yet!). The story spans family, generations, and continents – I’m enjoying it.
Hope you all have a fabulous day!
You smell great!
Hmm… Three Junes. Will check it out.
Three Junes is a good read. I don’t remember much about it other than that I liked it!
I am testing out a new sample of Diptyque l’ombre dans l’eau – for me this was love at first sniff and its definitely going on my FB list. As for books, I’ve been enjoying the most recent in the Outlander series.
You could wear that for the green challenge too!
Good point! I love that green blast of the opening. However, I have quite a few “greens” and don’t generally like to wear a perfume for more than one day at a time (didn’t even attempt the recent “signature” challenge), so I’ll probably switch to something else.
I probably shouldn’t have attempted it either…
SOTD is CdG Zagorsk. Trying to notice the iris, but it’s subtle compared to the pine, cedar, and incense.
I’m reading Quiet – The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. It’s pretty good so far, although I’m a little biased because I’m fairly introverted and get annoyed that people at work always seem to want peppy and excited.
I read Quiet a while back and liked it a lot. I’m an introvert too and it was nice that someone recognized the value in behaviors such as reserve and observation.
I’m putting Quiet on my to-read list (thank you!). It is hard to get noticed as a quiet person, isn’t it … although I suppose I’m a bit of an enabler, having as a sort of motto something I heard attributed to Abe Lincoln: better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
I like that saying too. I always thought Mark Twain had said it, but now that I look it up, it is Abe Lincoln.
It fits Twain’s usual MO for sure!
Yeah, that is definitely my tactic at work. And for facebook …
Just read a great article (and funny too!) at The Atlantic that came out over ten years ago called Caring for your Introvert. Well worth checking it out.
I’ve not read Quiet, but it is on my book stack at home
I’ll have to look for that, it sounds interesting
I’m reading that one, too. Or at least it’s one of several that I currently have going on my Kindle.
Power to the Introverts!
This is on my list as well and I need to move it to the top of pile.
A good one along the same lines is “Bright Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America” by Barbara Ehrenreich.
I’m all for happy thoughts, actions, and outcomes but think sincerity, truth, and objectivity are more valuable and important if we are to address and improve the human condition specifically, and the world in general.
I really like the woody incense of Zagorsk – and that’s not a favorite genre for me, so it’s special.
I need to read this to learn how to deal with introverts as an extrovert!
SOTD is Sideris from Maria Candida Gentile. Interesting incense.
I’ve been reading a novel called Three Dollars by Elliot Perlman, which is sort of about the myth that if you go to college you’ll then naturally get a good job and prosper.
I like Sideris. I still need to try her other incense, now I can’t remember what it’s called.
Is it Exultat? I’ve got a sample of that one too!
Ah, probably. Which one is better?
I’ll try Exultat soon and report back!
Sideris is fabulous. You smell great!
I am putting that book on my list! I could have used that a few years back. :-p
It’s good! Very readable.
I’m wearing Silver Factory and feeling a bit like I’m in a rut because I’ve worn it often recently, but I’m still enjoying it. It might be time to experiment with a few new incense fragrances.
I’m about halfway through David Mitchell’s The Bone Clocks.
Cloud Atlas was utterly brilliant, but I admit i’m hesitant to read this one. I don’t have the time or attention to focus on it at the moment so think I will put it off until I am slightly more well rested – I have 1 year old twins, so maybe in about 4 years ; )
Was going to say something similar to Odonata…loved The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, but can’t bring myself to start Cloud Atlas OR Bone Clocks.
SOTM is a melange of green scents that I was messing with last night in trying to decide what to wear tomorrow – No. 19 edt in my right elbow crook, Bel Respiro in my left elbow crook, a dab of PdN Vetiver on left forearm, and L’Occitane Green Tea and Bigarade pretty much everywhere else. Have to be in the right mood for Bel Respiro, and No. 19 feels a bit too easy as a theme selection (although it’s so beautiful I may just give in to the pull). Thinking about Cristalle edp (it’s green, right?) or Le Temps d’Une Fete. Or Jour d’Hermes! SOTD later will probably be BV Eau Legere, in honor of the last cool-ish day expected here for the next week or so.
Just finished re-reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – what an adorable little book.
Guernsey is an all time favorite – such a gem of a book! And…a vote here for No. 19!
Loved that book! Sad the author passed away before she officially finished the book.
Seems like most of us are wearing incense today. I’m in Serge Noire, which I didn’t like much when it was launched but I’m pretty sure it was reformulated because last year I liked it enough to buy a full bottle. Kind of like a leather jacket steeped in incense smoke; so good.
I’m very slowly making my way through the revised edition of Why We Buy by Paco Underhill, an in-depth look at the psychology of shopping and how retailers manipulate us to squeeze every dollar from our pockets.
I read Paco Underhill when I started to think about improving our marketing strategies at work. I thought the information was very translatable to almost any marketing project. By the way, I work at a public library, which is about as far from for profit as you can get. However, our customers are essentially shopping when they come to us, so it makes sense to apply some of the information gained by reading Why We Buy. Our goal is a postive user experience.
I love my library! Believe it or not I requested they purchase two books they didn’t have and one week later I get an email stating their availability via Kindle. They actually went out and purchase two books for me. Amazing!
I’m always happy in a library…
Joining in the library love. You’re doing great work!
I rather liked the first version of Serge Noire. Not enough to buy, however.
Wearing Coach Poppy Freesia Blossom that I purchased at Sears (no affiliation) for a cheap price and it smells good. There is some raspberry in there adding a little bit of a jam smell. I’m almost thinking it would be too much for me in hot weather, but it is about 60 degrees here today and it is working. I just started reading Minnesota’s Oldest Murder Mystery by Gary Brueggemann. I purchased it at a an outdoor festival this summer. There are a lot of locations mentioned that I am familiar with, so it is interesting to me.
A side note, but nobody here needs to say “no affiliation” unless it’s their first or second comment
I’m wearing Diptyque eau Lente today from a previously untried sample. I’d never heard anything about this scent before for some reason, and I can certainly understand it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup o’tea, but I’m kinda in love with it. It smells like I had a seizure inside a spice cupboard full of cinnamon and clove and nutmeg, then rolled in a puddle of vanilla. Doesn’t that sound entrancing? lol In all seriousness, though, if you don’t mind a spice bomb for the first few minutes after application, this is warm and lovely and cozy and great for a cooling, cloudy day like today with temps dipping all day until…gasp….we get a dusting of snow tonight.
Oops – forgot my book and it’s a good one, too.
I’m reading A Deadly Wandering by Matt Richtel. It’s a non-fiction book nominally about a pair of scientists killed by a distracted teen driver, but goes much further, examining the effects – good or bad – of technology on society. It’s brilliantly written. You’d expect it to be dry or preachy, but it’s anything but. Highly recommended.
There is a powerful documentary on texting and driving directed by Werner Herzog available on Netflix streaming. I think the guy who wrote the book you are talking about might be in it.
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I have Netflix and will definitely look out for it.
Diptyque Eau Lent sounds yummy!
SOTD is a Smell Bent Frankensmellie, Jasmine Tobacco. I like it. I have started re-reading the Thea Harrison Elder Races series. Love this paranormal romance writer. Not the best, which I think is Nalini Singh, but she’s right up there. As you might be able to tell, I love paranormal romance.
That is an excellent series! So imaginative, full of humor and fascinating protagonists. I particularly like that the last book was about romance, marriage and childbirth…..
Wearing Amouage Dia. I had a phone job interview and – since they invited me for a face to face one – I guess it did the job of making me feel confident. Wish me luck for tomorrow! Although I guess I’ll have to re-think my green choice now (Bandit).
I’m just finishing Mendel’s Demon by Mark Ridley about the evolution of complex life. Another bionerdy non-fiction choice which is good, but probably not something that’s universally appealing. I did finally find a copy of Wolf Hall at the charity shop where I volunteer so I can start reading that soon.
Best of luck! Smile, lots of smiles…
Good luck! Bandit might be a little crazy for an interview…but certainly not a post-interview celebration!
Good luck!
Good luck! Dia is awesome!
Congrats & good luck!
Congratulations on making it to a face-to-face, and best of luck tomorrow!
As an antidote to tomorrow’s green I’m wearing one of my pinkest fragrances: Drôle de Rose. It’s fun and lighthearted and suits this late summer weather.
DdR is so beautiful. I really neglected my roses this summer. I’ll have to fix that for the fall and winter!
SOTD is A*men pure wood
I’m in Divine L’ame Soeur today. I almost grabbed Fate (my Signature Scent challenge) so I’m still on good terms with it. Trying to decide on tomorrow’s Green scent – one of my favorite categories!
Looking forward to reading book suggestions as I’m looking for something good to read!
I loved L’Ame Soeur when I tried it, but sadly do not own any. If my memory serves me right it’s quite a soft aldehydic powdery floral, isn’t it? It now comes in the pure parfum as well.
It is quite an aldehydic powdery floral. I love it!
The amber drydown is so pretty. I had a sample years ago and now I want more.
The drydown is what I remember liking the most.
Shameless copycatism rules the day here. Robin chose Marni and I thought that sounds nice, I layered mine with Perfumers Workshop Tea Rose. I also decanted Marni into a travel sprayer since I had been dabbing from a small bottle. Boy, did spraying accentuate the small mammal cedar bedding note, I remain undaunted since I like small mammals and cedar shavings….
I think that is why I love Un Jardin en Mediterranee so much. I used to work in a pet store long long ago and the cedar in that is a pleasant reminder of those days.
I’m also wearing Tea Rose today, scent twins!
Wearing L’Artisan Mandarine today. I read some reviews and they all mention a burst of mandarin, then fades quickly to woods and disappears. I don’t even get the burst, so think either my sample is off or this one needs to be sprayed.
I haven’t read anything other than baby books for the past year and a half – I had twin girls a little over a year ago. So I just haven’t had the time or attention to focus on any reading for pleasure. Hoping that will be changing soon! They are getting to be better sleepers, though it seems as soon as things improve, one gets another tooth or a cold and we’re up again. I did start Bringing Up Bebe months ago and need to finish that.
Trying Juliette Has A Gun’s Lady Vengeance, which came in my Olfactif sampler this month. I like it a lot, just like I like Rose Cut and Lumiere Noire pour femme…. another nicely crafted rose with patchouli… but chances are you already have something in your collection that is very much like it, at least in spirit–in my humble opinion.
I am reading absolute pulp (but on my Kindle, which has been great because I’ve been able to google so many words I didn’t know relating to the occult)–If you want a fun, totally modern gothic, and not a little silly horror-mystery–Try Layton Green’s The Diabolist.
Cuir de Lancôme, as it’s just about time to break out the autumn perfumes.
Love that stuff.
Wearing Rose Anonyme today.
Today I’m wearing Harajuku Lovers Love. (Original, not one of the many flankers.)
I’m about 250 pages into Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little. It’s about a socialite who’s convicted of murdering her rich mother, and when she gets out of jail, she goes in search of the real killer. It’s pretty good, though the protagonist is not always a particularly nice person!
It’s PG Indochine for me today. If it’s still available in a 50ml size, I may have to get a bottle.
I recently finished reading Sally Beauman’s The Visitors, very enjoyable historical fiction set in 1920s Egypt and Britain.
I love Sally Beauman, but I admit she can get a little dark for me sometimes. Might have to look in to The Visitors – I think the last one I read was The Sisters Mortland.
I’m not wearing fragrance right now but my L’Artisan 3 piece coffret just arrived so I’ll probably try out Fou d’Absinthe or Merchant Loup later on.
I’m wearing one of my favorite no-brainers, Equistrius, which makes me calm and happy every time I put it on.
Oh! This is a real beauty and I was planning on getting a 50ml bottle of when my decant is done.
As they say, “The best laid plans…”
I am so totally annoyed that PdE no longer produces the 50 ml size. Although I did buy the Equistrius in time, I wanted to buy Eau Suave once my decant ran out. Boo
Truly. Boo for discontinuing the 50ml bottles.
I’m in full spray (3X!) of Oeillet Bengale. It is lasting a little longer than dabbing, but more fleeting than I like.
I’ve just started The Bloodletter’s Daughter and it is quite engaging. Takes place in the 1600s and is based on a true story.
So far I would recommend it
Currently reading a book called The Konkans, and it’s pretty good.
I’m wearing Lolita Lempicka today. I found an EDP/lotion set of Si Lolita at Marshall’s yesterday and thought about wearing that today, but I opted for the original instead. Got more cherry in the beginning this morning than I normally do, which was interesting.
I just finished the first 2 books of Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy (Oryx & Crake and The Year of the Flood). I really enjoyed both of them and am excited to start the third book. I like a good dystopia, and I like the dark humor in the series.
I am dying to read those! I have heard nothing but good things about them.
I’m so jealous of the cherry! I never wear Lolita Lempicka because I can only smell the cherry when I have a cold and my cold blocks out the licorice.
SOTD is Alien Essence Absolue. And I’m actually comparing it directly to a spritz of Bulgari Black, b/c when I first smelled AEA, I thought it had a lot in common with the smokey plasticky vanilla in BB. Wow – what an experiment in opposites! When I wear them side by side, all the common notes get “knocked out”, and I can smell how “wet” AEA is, with that massive juicy jasmine, and I smell how bone dry BB is and get all those deep and rich violet and musk notes. So, it’s been interesting.
I’m re-reading Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth, b/c I just really needed to read something oustanding and engrossing. I read it about 15 years ago, so I’m hoping to see if I have a different take on the whole story even though I loved it before. Wharton is just so amazingly precise so it’s a joy to read. Every page has at least one killer sentence. Vocabulary is a dream. What I miss a lot in modern fiction is just precision and control. I also can’t help but envision Gillian Anderson while I’m reading b/c I saw that movie version she did a million years ago, and she was just so perfect as Lily.
I love side by side comparisons. It’s funny how two perfumes that seem so similar when smelled separately become so obviously different when smelled together.
The first times I realized this was possible and fun was years ago when I was comparing rose fragrances. You do side by sides of roses like Stella, or Bryant Park, or Citizen Queen, etc, and suddenly the rose notes and other similar parts just “disappear” and you can smell the other supporting and base notes more clearly. You can really begin to smell how they are different. It’s so much fun. I haven’t done it for a while. Tomorrow I’m going to do a side by side for Encre Noire and Sycomore to see what’s what – they are nearly identical so it will be fun for green day.
That is a really interesting comparison, and now I want to try it! I have never picked up on violet in BB.
That just gave me an idea: try layering BB with a violet scent and see what happens.
I was surprised how much violet I got out of BB too when the burnt vanilla was neutralized. I love layering experiements!
Ann, Gillian Anderson as Lily Bart was one of those very rare instances where the actor was exactly what I had pictured when I read the book. And it’s such a great book.
Gillian Anderson is awesome. Did you see that movie – I need to find a copy of it? When she breaks down at the end is just amazing.
I’ve read Age of Innocence too, but now I’m thinking I should try and read some more Wharton this year as a challenge.
Tiny bit of Cuiron. Oh, of course this is the leather I fall for. The unavailable one.
So you’re all set for 9/19 when the theme is Wear Something Discontinued
Started off with Voyage d’Hermes. Passed a perfume department in the afternoon and added some Mona di Orio Vetyver on one wrist and Fueguia 1833 Biblioteca de Babel on the other. Both very nice although maybe a little too well behaved…
And just finished Amy Waldman’s The Submission. Sadly I didn’t like it at all, the concept sounded so interesting but there wasn’t one character in the book I could connect to. Will be interesting to hear what the rest of my friends in our book club make of it :).
I’m in Sacrebleu again, which I wore during the signature challenge and just can’t give up. Yesterday I wore Eau Premier in an attempt to break the routine, but this morning I jumped out of bed completely delighted to have a whole new day to wear Sacrebleu on! It’s love
Sacrebleu is beautiful for fall.
Wearing Tom Ford Shanghai Lily today. I bought it in the spring after using up a sample, but not really sure that was smart (it was a bit of an impulse because NM was having its fragrance event). My husband mostly didn’t care for it when I wore it on a too-warm day in July (though he did say some whiffs were OK). I decided to try it again today since it is cool and cloudy, and that is a definite improvement, but not sure it’s love. I am going to try it a few more times while we have this weather, but if I remain ambivalent, it might be a swapping candidate.
On the book front, am really enjoying Wolf Hall, though it’s a little hard to follow at times. I will be looking for Bring Up the Bodies for sure. Also starting Cuckoo’s Calling (JK Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith) after thoroughly enjoying The Silkworm, which is her 2nd murder mystery.
I thought Shanghai Lily was nice, too.
Should investigate JKR’s adult novels.
I tried Nobile’s Ambra today and it is gorgeous! Perhaps it is not the best scent though for now, as its getting uncomfortably hot here. I do however have my eye on Orchidee Vanille (van Cleef&Arpels). Lovely, clean, sweet, soft and refined!
Another scent I have quite a crush on is Cuir Cannage. Sigh…. lol!
VC&A Orchidee Vanille is AWESOME. I got a decant at the last swapmeet and it was absolute love at first sniff and I now have a FB
Lucky you! It really is gorgeous!
Cuir Cannage is really pretty. I’d have worn it lately except that I had that decant with me on vacation and I’m not sure where I put it when I got home…
On one of the review boards someone describes it as the smell of steampunk, lol!
Reading Eleanor and Park, same author Rainbow Rowell wrote fangirl, both excellent and YA. Wearing sweet redemption, which lasts for two days on me.
SOTD = Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue
Just because ….
Current books are easy ones – After Dead by Charlaine Harris where she reveals what happened to all the characters ever after. A funny read and nice illustrations – I wish they were in color! Also reading the 21st book in the Stephanie Plum series.
Today’s SOTD is Amouage Memior for women. put it on at 9 this morning and it’s still going strong. I had forgotten how good it smells. Right now I am reading Bitter is the New Black and enjoying it.
Love Memoir.
SOTD: 19 Rue Cambon on recommendation from here for work. Thank you! Starts off smelling like generic department store (aldehydes?) but turns into something quite lovely, dry and slightly musky, and finishes with pure hazelnut that reminds me of gelato!
Here’s a win for the perfume nazis:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/the-overpowering-scent-of-the-public-service-20140912-10fmbu.html#poll
Yikes! Many years ago I knew a woman who was so allergic to chems and fragrances that she couldn’t even touch a magazine that had frag strips in it, and therefore never could read mags, and could only use Simply Green to clean her house (strong smell though, right?). I think this is extremely rare though. That’s too bad about the woman. But the new construction and everything, well, there’s not much to do about that. Most commercial construction code are all low VOC now for all carpets, solvents and paints, and “green” energy construction now, ironically, often means totally contained and controlled HVAC, even with geothermal systems, etc. And there are percentage rules in the codes for how much fresh air those HVAC must draw in to a totally sealed building, blah blah blah. And even newly constructed buildings can have mold, and settled mold spores can be disturbed when you move into a new office space, and they travel with you, etc etc.
We are honestly more likely to get sick from the toner dust from laser printers than anything else in our offices – look it up. I had to do some research on this b/c a woman who works for me at the library has asthma. You may think it’s your neighbor’s Axe that’s killing you (and it may be, lol), but if you are sitting near the laser printer, you may want to get another desk. Toner is nearly scentless, but a high dispersal rate of teeny tiny particulants…..
I don’t think banning fragrances in the workplace would solve anything b/c our overall world from dawn to dusk is full of allergins, particulants, solvents and chems. Even us frag lovers have scents we can’t stand, but that doesn’t mean that banning the use of fragrance would solve the problem of rare allergies. We have a man who comes to the library every day to read the paper who smells of BO and kerosene fumes to high heaven, and I can’t throw him out. The residual kerosene fumes are enough to make you choke and you wonder how this man is even still alive. When he leaves, the staff get out the fabreeze (yuck) and that is that. Which is worse: too much fabreeze, or kerosene fumes? I don’t know. It’s the world we live in. But give me my No 5 and leave me alone!