The usual open thread: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last fragrance you almost bought but didn't, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is First Frost [cropped] by Radarsmum67 at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hello Robin & NST Friends. Beautiful frosted leaves photo from flickr!
The weather has been really dull and grey lately, we didn’t get any clear sunlight in the last couple of days, so I’m fighting this autumn mood today with few sprays of Aqua Sextius from Jul et Mad.
I’ve been to the cinema earlier today to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, part 1 with my family.
Now I’m off to make some hot tea and have a piece of homemade cake!
Sounds like a fun day thus far (and I like the sound of the cake!) How did you like the movie?
It was really great, too bad we’d have to wait probably another year to see the final part of the movie.
I ordered some Chef’s essences from Aftelier and I’m hoping that shows up today along with the sample of Cuir de Gardenia (which will definitely be my scent of the day). I’m really looking forward to making up some new recipes (I might even try a cake) once I get a chance to taste the essences. Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead of them!
I got some of these, too! I haven’t tried them but was impressed by their service…ordered on Sunday, in my hands on Tuesday morning. Very excited to try them in some recipes.
I really like my chef’s essences (I have basil, ginger and citron) although I am very lazy with how I use them — I really should have come up with some astonishing recipes by now.
Oh gosh that all sounds so nice. Enjoy!
Ooo, which ones did you order? I’ve looked at those and want everything!
I had such a hard time deciding! I ended up going with basil, litsea cubeba (lemon), magnolia, Peru balsam, and then ginger for my mother. The basil and lemon are amazing and I can imagine using them often. Not sure yet what I’ll do with the other two.
I love the Chefs Essences! Last year after the holidays our Williams Sonoma put several of them on close-out and I bought two. I wish I had bought all their left-over stock– that’s how much I ended up liking them. I’ve used the basil the fastest making my spinach pesto taste like basil pesto when I don’t gave any fresh basil on hand. Great stuff!
Pesto is a great idea! Spinach pesto is great on its own, too. I had no idea Williams Sonoma had these, though! That could spell trouble…
SOTD is Wisteria Hysteria, second testing of the sample. Same reaction – this is like a psychoactive mood lifter for me! I smell great and feel really cheerful, in spite of getting home very late last night after a peddle jumper flight home from New Orleans with a change plane in Cinncinnati…
In New Orleans, I went to a little perfume shop that has been there since the ’20’s called Hove Perfumers. I got a dram vial of the first perfume that was created by the original perfumer in 1927, a light unusual floral with some musk in the base, called Carnaval. Smells like all natural materials, and maybe local flowers, maybe jasmine, magnolia, camellia? This last 5-6 hours with a little sillage, then fades into skin over another hour or two. Very nice. They had a couple dozen scents – some soliflores and some heavy orientals, and some classic masculine ones – a vetivier that seemed very smooth. It was enough that my nose got overwhelmed and I ended up with the first one I sniffed. It was fun – I’ll go back the next time I am down there.
Puddle jumper flight! Stupid spell checker….lol.
What fun — did you go to the other perfume house in NO, Bourbon French?
No, I got interrupted before I got that far into the French Quarter, so that is another thing to do next time. Is it a similar sort of place?
Yes. I liked one better than the other and now can’t remember which.
I’ve been there too, about a year ago. I bought Heliotrope body oil and soap and their sampler pack. I got to pick any 6 scents and they made up generous samples in tiny sprayers. If I remember correctly they were about $40 for 6. Seems pricey but they were generous. My favorite of what I picked was Spring Fiesta.
I loved Heliotrop and Spring Fiesta as well. Spring Fiesta is being reformulated and whatever they have left is 50% off. (call them)
grrr, stupid fingers…that should be Heliotrope
Heliotrope seemed sort of “meh” to me, and I don’the remember “Spring Fiesta” at all.
I should have asked here before I went!
This morning I’m using up the last of my sample of Phi Une Rose de Kandahar. I’d been hoarding these last few drops for the last few months but now that I got my order in, I can finally relax and enjoy. I’m glad I went for it. Perfume-wise, I’ve learned that I’ve regretted the ones I wanted and didn’t get (I’m talking to you Amouage Homage) more than the ones I bought and didn’t really love.
I’m still hoping Phi Une Rose will appear in the Explorer sets…
Me too …
Now there’s a pearl of wisdom! I read on Andy Tauer’s blog that PHI is limited edition so when it’s gone, it really is gone. I’m wondering if this new batch will smell like the old one and I decided to keep a little of my old version sample to compare.
I am REALLY REALLY tempted to get the Angel Liqueur de Parfum 2013, the cognac one. I can get it for almost free (thank you, SDM Optimum points), but there’s no tester so I haven’t smelled it, and the reviews are pretty much split between “It’s not that different from regular Angel” and “it’s way better than the original, boozy and less sweet.” (I have the leather Angel from two years ago.)
So someone needs to either talk me out of it or convince me to get it. Either way is good.
If you buy it and don’t like it, I will buy it from you. Does that help?
(although hoping your definition of almost free is not radically different than my own, LOL…)
I love your “$100 is the new free”, but with the points I have, I could get this for $13, which really is almost free.
And I don’t NEED it, and I just bought Rahät Loukoum like three weeks ago, but it’s talking to me. It’s saying “Buy me wear me love me.”
LOL…buy it. You could make a profit selling it to me, I’m willing to go higher than $13. And congrats on your RL, such lovely stuff.
pyramus, I did not buy Angel Cuir de parfum 2 years ago and then regretted it! I did not really need it either, but when it was readily available to me at our local department store, and with a discount, I did not buy it, and then, couple of months later, was crazily searching all outlets and online retailers and discount stores and what nots because all I could think of was that apricot scented suede glove with patchouli lining…
Got a terrible cold, so I’m drinking loads of ginger-lemon infusion and wearing 4711, to feel more alive.
Uh oh…do feel better!
Hang in there, 4711 will take care of anything
Gallery sitting today so put on my best rich museum lady perfume and that would be Coromandel. I am not a rich lady museum docent but nobody knows that but me and you. Also wearing a large piece of antique carved cinnabar that a friend made into a necklace.
I love Coromandel. A friend of mine bought it lately but filed a claim with Chanel saying it has been reformulated and didn’t stay as long as it used to. Please tell me what do you think about this? Do you know the other great chocolate patchouli, Borneo 1834?
Well I am relatively new to perfume and have only smelled Coromandel from a decant I bought this year from stc. So I don’t have anything to compare it to. That said, I absolutely love it and have no problem with its staying power! Two sprays this morning, and a third before leaving the house and I’m sitting here in the gallery enveloped in cozy clouds of Coromandel goodness! For a rich lady scent it is such an easy wear, and I think its subtlety really works well. I probably wouldn’t like it in a stronger form. I haven’t tried Borneo 1834 yet.
A friend might be stopping in at Twisted Lily next month, and asked if there’s anything she could pick up for me. Suggestions for samples? I’d be tempted to blind proxy-buy the intense version of Rien outright, except not for 100 ml and 200 $.
Oh, and has there been an announcement about the Atelier Cologne Ecrin Absolu contest? On pins and needles…
Announced it earlier today…Coumarin won.
Congrats Coumarin! What a treat.
Yes, Robin posted up the winner. It wasn’t me, so I am bummed out about it.
It wasn’t me either, but I’m a little relieved not to own what I chose – I would always be wondering why I didn’t pick that other one. See how useful it is to be neurotic?
Hahahahaha–I am so glad I’m not the only one! (And actually, I couldn’t even choose.)
Hey N! Not sure if it makes it easier or tougher, but I think Mr. Spicebomb and I may be coming up to your neck of the woods in December for a hockey game. I could easily mule something your way from Our Lady or elsewhere nearby (hows the bulb-situation?
), if you like.
Thanks to all for the perfume muling tips this week! Couldn’t quite make the Liberty trip work, but I wound up with a bottle of Costes dry oil, to go with a decant of the EDT I got and am loving from the swap (thank you dear swap partner!)–total win.
Hello Robin and NST perfumistas,
I am addicted to Youth Dew and wear it everyday when it’s cold outside. I keep the Amber Nude version for more formal occasions…
I almost bought a bottle of the “new” Calyx but since I was going back to France, I waited till the duty free shop at the airport and they didn’t carry it.
I highly recommend the french series Engrenages (aka Spiral in English) if you like good police stories.
Along with a nice cup of coffee with a crepe with my mom and a friend.
Wish you a nice week end.
Rebecca in Brittany (Bretagne).
Really surprised they never brought Amber Nude back into production! Seemed like everyone loved it.
Happy weekend everybody!
I’m wearing tom ford black orchid and can’t decide whether I prefer this or velvet orchid. Both are nice though.
Just returned home from a breakfast at Neiman Marcus hosted by the SA’s of Jo Malone. It was so nice to spend my morning with other perfumes lovers who enjoys JM fragrances. They made us feel like celebrities with the VIP treatment we got. They loaded us down with free gifts and we got to shop for all our Xmas fragrances before the store opened. Sweet! My SOTD is Wild Fig & Casas by JM. I finally found a fig fragrance that I love.
Oh, that sounds fun! What were your free gifts (I love hearing about swag) and what did you purchase?
Have you tried layering Wood Sage & Sea Salt over your beloved Nectarine Blossom yet? I think that will be my SOTE, and as I was deciding it, I thought of you, because I know the Nectarine Blossom & Honey is your favorite.
Oh, it was a lot of fun. They said this was the second year they have done this. I didn’t attend last year, but glad I went this year. We were given like 4 or 5 samples of every fragrance JM has. We each got 1 FL OZ of English Pear & Freesia Bath Oil, 2 bottles of .3 FL OZ fragrances ( English Pear & Freesia and Nectarine Blossom and Honey) their lip moisturizer, and a mini holiday candle of Pine and Eucalyptus. Neiman’s was already giving a clutch filled with samples when you spent over $100 in beauty and fragrance, but they gave it to us before we purchased anything. I guess they knew that we would all buy stuff, so it wasn’t lost revenue for them. The samples in the clutch were “Mojave Ghost” by Byredo, Elie Saab Le Parfum, “La Panthere” by Cartier, “Knot” by Bottega Veneta, “Sahara Noir” by Tom Ford, “petit fracas” by Robert Piguet, and “Amethyst Éclat” by Lalique. I ended up getting another clutch filled with samples because I did make a purchase over $100. So, I will keep one of the clutches and give the other one to my mom. I bought a bottle of my fave, Necatarine Blossom and Honey and I bought a gift set of their Cologne Intense Collection for my mom. The collection has 5 fragrances ( Tuberose Angelica, Velvet Rose & Oud, Saffron, Dark Amber &Ginger Lily, and Oud &Bergamot). I also bought Molton Brown’s gift set of their shower gels. There are 12 different ones in there. I haven’t tried the Nectarine with the Wood Sage and Sea Salt together. It probably smells great! Thanks for the suggestion.
Oooppps! Forgot to add, I bought a bottle of the Wild Fig & Casis also. It was actually my first time experiencing it. I love it!
That’s a wonderful shopping day!
Jo Malone is one of my favorite brands and Wild Fig & Casis was one of two bottles I got first from the brand many years ago.
Lovely haul, lovely day! Good for you.
What a smart idea by JM!
Sounds like great fun. I wonder if other brands do such customer loyalty events.
Yes, its good marketing on their part. I’m sure they invited those who customers who are considered loyal and purchase from them all the time. The SA’s know me by name and will call and email me when something is new or an event comes up. I think other brands should follow suit. It’s a good way to bring in customers. Its a win-win for everyone. The customer is happy because they have a nice breakfast, get free products, and then gets first dibs on items before the general public does. The company is happy because they are keeping their customers happy and are still making money.
Wow! I was at the beauty trunk show at my local Nieman’s and it was awesome. Lots of great samples – a nice faux leather tote filled with Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, Black Orchid and Plum Japonaise, a mini bottle of Balenciaga Florabotanika, a Kevin Aucoin eyeliner, sharpener and shadow in a tiny makeup case, a whole set of Estée Lauder travel skin care, lipstick, gloss, mascara, a sample of Aerin Ikat Jasmine, a tiny sample of La Mer cream, a small tube of the super yummy but too expensive Chanel moisturizer, a Bobbie Brown color corrector makeup sample, plus I won a travel bottle of Aerin Iris Meadow and a set of samples of 5 Aerin scents. Quite the haul! Then I talked the SA into making me samples of Creed Vetiver Geranium and Tom Ford Santal Blush! I would have bought perfume but I had my heart set on the Byredo Encens travel bottles but the local store doesn’t stock them.
That sounds amazing. Love TF’S Santal Blush and I am a huge fan of Estee Lauder products and Aerin Lauder also. You will have to report back and tell me what you think of the Iris Meadow fragrance. I love the IKat Jasmine. Congrats on your great deals.
Thanks! I have a feeling that some of these may end up as offerings for the next swap…!
I love these stories – thank you ladies for letting me live vicariously through you. Enjoy the goodies! We have…a J.C. Penny in my area, lol.
Lol! Anytime!
But is it a JC Penney with a Sephora inside??
Wearing Diorling (current stuff) and kicking myself that I didn’t snap up the unopened vintage Diorling when I had the chance but did manage to get Chanel no 22 in extract form only worn once. It’s amazing that how much vintage will go for and how fast it goes.
Ohh, vintage Diorling would totally be a dream find for me. We can just hope it’s being well-loved wherever it ended up!
I am wearing Derwish by Aqua Flor. It’s a tiny shop in Florence that makes their own scents. It is light incense with oud background. The shop was a dream and I could have spent hours there. They have a custom perfume service but were booked the day I was there and their next opening was after we left. The woman said they only do one custom client a day to offer total attention. If you go to their site: http://www.florenceparfum.it you can see the adorable shop and all those lovely bottles of ingredients! I mentioned this place a few days ago and said the only thing that forced me to leave was my husband pacing back and forth out in the narrow street! LOL
That would be my husband too, lol! He tries, he really does. We went to Florence on our honeymoon, & my pre-perfume days.
Such a beautiful city.
SOTD is Mon Parfum Chéri par Camille. It suits this time of year perfectly, and is lovely any time.
I did some sniffing of La Panthère (again) and Baiser Volé (again). Also tried Lancôme Balafre which is a lovely woody green. Highly recommended!
SOTD is Jubilation 25.
Space NK recently sent me an offer to £10 off plus free delivery so finally I treated myself to my annual Christmas Diptyque candle (Epice).
My cats are still trying to decide what perfume they should get me for Christmas – Bois des Îles in extrait and a travel set of Hermessences are top contenders, but the cats are being a little indecisive
I think they should pool their resources and get you both!
Yes, perhaps the cats are feeling extra generous this year!
How do you like the Epice candle? I love how the christmas candles look (the glass is so beautiful!), and despite the price have considered buying them unsniffed.
Wearing Montale Chypre Vanille today. I went through 2 or 3 samples of this several years ago but not so impressed now (premenopausal chemistry vs post). Now that I have money again I think I’ll take the train out to Twisted Lily and maybe get a travel bottle of Samarinda
SOTM is Dior’s Milly-La-Foret, from a sample that called my name recently. I don’t remember what it was in the description that attracted my attention, but it’s quite beautiful, and different from any of my recent favorites. Much lighter and brighter. The notes listed are orange blossom, jasmin, iris, musk and sandalwood. So far I notice all but the sandalwood – maybe it comes later? I feel very pretty and feminine in this scent … might need to dab some more and make it the SOT whole day.
Okay, there’s the sandalwood, at a little over three hours in. And much of the pretty brightness is now gone, but it’s still a nice, uncomplicated girly scent. I like.
I seem to be almost anosmic to this one!
I can understand that. I reapplied after a shower, and it’s almost a totally different scent on clean wrists than it was on a less-clean forearm. Still nice, but more of a clean laundry vibe (the musk, I guess?). I liked it better before
So you need to apply a couple of hours AFTER shower :p
I’ll try making it an after-work refresher and see if that works.
Tried the fb of Ritual T’ia Chi shower gel that came in the Barneys bag in late summer. Everything in that bag was great. Had some difficulty with the sprayer and really slimed myself, but hey, I was in the shower. It is fresh and soft. Think these would make nice gifts.
Has anyone smelled the Byredo candles? I think they are lovely, but quite a financial commitment.
Oooh! I have news–first-hand from Sister Tracy at Our Lady of the Scented Wrists!–PHI: Une Rose de Khandahar has arrived here in Portland! I’m on the wait list, and Tracy left me a message yesterday. As tomorrow is my birthday, I thought I should wait a day (or two) before buying myself any presents, but a back-up bottle may be in order. . . (although I haven’t forgotten about that Malle coffret!)
Hahahaha! Happy birthday, and what a delightful birthday it sounds like it will be!
Yes, one way or another, I suspect it will be fragrant.
Can’t wait to find out which way!
Happy Early Birthday, Marjorie Rose! Hope the day brings you everything that you wished for.
Thank you! Perhaps I should practice being less self-centered and wish for peace in the Middle East?
Oh, surely you can wish for all of the above
I was going to make a glib joke about how more beauty in the world must certainly increase peace, but I just can’t do it! I can’t help but consider that I have a peaceful life, and therefore the luxury of time to enjoy beauty. But it is still worthwhile, yes?
Happy Birthday MR!
Thank you, Merlin!
Yes, enjoy your day my friend!
Thank you! I hope you have a good day, too!
Happy happy birthday!!!
Thank you, Robin!
Happy Birthday, Ms. Marjorie Rose! May the next year bring new adventures mixed in with plenty of old favorites
Thanks so much, nebbe!
I’m wearing Botega Veneta today, the original one, still love it. I just purchased a Ramon Monegal discovery set, 15 ml of Kiss My Name, Impossible Iris and Cuirelle so I’m very excited!
So did anyone get anything good in the STC sale yesterday? I wound up just ordering one decant I want to give a friend, so anyone willing to let me live vicariously through their more exciting orders, please do tell me what treats you have en route!
(This is where I do feel regretful about not keeping a buy list. It works well for keeping spending down, and also making sure I truly love what I do buy–without a list I only buy things I want so much I can’t forget them–but on sale days, it’s sad not to be able to think of what I might be glad to have a bit of!)
Just ordered some of Andy Tauer’s stuff that I keep meaning to order and try but always forgot to add. I swear that every time I turn around, my decants multiply a little more.
Oh, nice–Andy’s stuff is such a good bet for spending sample pennies, because even if you don’t end up wanting a whole bottle of this or that, the artistry is always worth smelling! If only I could say the same of all brands…
I got an 8ml decant of Theorema unsniffed just based on how universally loved it is. I would have bought other things to add to my little 8ml decant farm, but have blown my funds on a bottle of PHI.
I doubt you’ll regret it; Theorema is a beauty, and the STC sale made an 8 ml decant a VERY good buy, based on what a bottle sells for these days on eBay. You will have *zero* problems selling or swapping it if you find it’s not for you!
Good to know!
I’m agreed with LisaInDenver, if by chance that doesn’t work out, you’ll be the most popular girl at the swap party!
And congrats on your Phi bottle! Funds well spent, it seems to me!
I ordered the remaining Chanel Les Exclusifs that I haven’t tried plus a slightly larger sample of Bois des Iles!
Oh very nice. Kinda can’t go wrong there–they’re all so beautiful, and wearable.
Came dangerously close…
but used the ol’ willpower – yep, still got some
Hahaha, thank you, that’s a good way of looking at it, now I’m less sad I didn’t buy myself anything. It was totally my willpower
I bought an 8 ml decant of EL Jasmine White Moss, to help me decide whether I want to take the plunge an buy a bottle off of eBay, now that it’s been d/c. I purchased a smaller sample from an earlier STC sale and really liked it. If I finish this larger decant with a smile, I’ll probably go for it.
I also picked up 2 ml sprays of Copal Azur (I love the first 2 frags in this new Aedes line, and Robin’s review sold me on sampling this one) and the new Mona di Orio Myrrh Casati, (which I’ve been dying to try). I also got a 2 ml spray of By Killian Imperial Tea – my second sample outing of this one – to decide if it goes on a FB wishlist. I threw fiduciary caution to the wind and added a few others that have been on my STC sample Wishlist for a while: Fate Woman, Le Temps d’Une Fate (hmmm, just noticed a theme here), and Scent by Alexis Body Made Luminous (which The Non Blonde raved about recently).
My heart is hoping for all home runs, while my wallet is hoping for lemming killers
Well it all sounds very prudent to me
Finishing a decant before a full bottle is my rule for myself too. It’s often agonizing to wait, but it def would’ve saved me from a number of sizable mistakes I made before realizing I’m pretty bad at predicting which is “love! (…but I’ll never pick it up again)” versus “love, and I reach for it several times a week.”
Yes, sadly my swap and sale lists on various sites are a shameful testament to having learned ‘prudence’ a bit late in this fragrant hobby. After 10 years of jumping in with both feet after a 1 or 2 ml sample, I am now requiring myself to ‘attend middle school’ and move on to a large decant before I am allowed to graduate to a FB. Of course, exceptions apply if I happen to stumble upon the rare too-good-to-pass-up opportunity, but those don’t seem to come around much anymore!
Funny you should mention that. I wanted to take advantage of their 20% off all yesterday, but decided to wait. I have a strange feeling that they will have something big for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I could be wrong, but hope I’m not! Geeesssh! There are SO many fragrances I want to get.
I thought that the newsletter said they were doing this instead of Black Friday, but I’ll cross my fingers that you’re right, maybe I’ll get another shot at getting some things for myself!
I think you are right. I can’t believe that I missed out. Must read more carefully the next time.
8 mls of Carthusia’s Caprissimo, based on Robin’s mention of Carthusia yesterday. She mentioned Mediterraneo but I went for the richer-sounding Caprissimo. Its a blind buy as an extra little Xmas present for myself. Not to be opened until Xmas!
Nice! And such goodwill power here too, waiting til Christmas! You’re a stronger woman than I
Oh nothat’s at all, see my comment below. I’m reading Angela’s new book, and it was supposed to go under the Xmas tree.
I had a few things in my cart, and kept thinking “I’ll check out in a bit,” then the next time I remembered it was past midnight.
Oh well!
That’s definitely happened to me before. Maybe you’ll have another shot on Boxing Day–which is, gulp, only five weeks away?? Could that be? Oh dear!
It’s nearly impossible to keep up!
After all the Lush Rose Jam excitement of last year, I bought the huge bottle of the shower gel this year and have realized that I absolutely need to find a perfume that smells like it (why Lush isn’t selling it in perfume form is beyond me, but then I think that about Flying Fox, too.).
So, I need your help! Any ideas?
I like it with Yves Rocher’s Rose Absolute, but that’s discontinued. :/
I think they do offer a Rose Jam perfume now & again. I like Lush, but get annoyed by the constant product rotation.
If you use Lush’s Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner as a moisturizer (the directions say apply it before you shower, I have super dry skin so I use it after as a cream) that will give you a Rose Jam smell for hours)
I love Roy’s body conditioner and use it as a shaving cream for legs.
They will be releasing a rose jam shampoo bar called Jason and the Argan Oil pretty soon. Hopefully the scent really sticks to hair.
Thanks everyone. I’ll give the Ro’s Argan a try.
OMG!!!!! That is great news! I can’t justify buying more shower gel, since I have enough easily to get through the next year. However, I am down to my last shampoo bar, and those are my favorite LUSH products ever. I will definitely be getting a rose jam one.
I just discovered rose jam, too, and can’t get enough of it! So delicious!
It’s not JUST the same and tragically it’s not nearly so economical, but you could try Aerin Evening Rose… (I actually think that’s closer to Rose Jam than the Ro’s Argan is, just to add one dissenting vote. But if you’re near a Lush store, you can assess for yourself!)
Alternately, STC will sell you a decant. It’s pricey but not so much that it might not be worth it, for true love!
And they do go on special from time-to-time–actually I think STC had all the Lush perfumes 30% off recently. Worth signing up for their newsletter to hear about these promos, if STC is geographically-compatible for you!
Thanks! I’ll give it a try.
Last year I sniffed a bottle in store and thought it too sweet for me. Phooey to that, I thought. Then everyone went crazy for it, and I went back for another sniff. All gone! So this year I finally bought a small bottle just today, still wondering if I’d wasted my money. Nope – love it! On skin it is not as sweet as I expected: rosey, but with a sophisticated Turkish Delight note in the base. I may have to commission my son to pick up another bottle for me on his way home tomorrow.
I treated myself to a bottle of So White last week. It’s lovely. Didn’t have a shower pouff to apply it until last night when I dug one out of the closet.
That’s what I had missed! The pouff! Took the shower experience from “nice enough” to “how many backups do I need to get me through to summer?” Ha!
Prompted by Austenfan’s comment above, I put on my sample of Baiser Vole. I get lily and greens and not much else.
I bought a bunch of samples at STC’s sale–Chamade, Impossible Iris, Roja Dove Scandal, TDC Rose Poivree and Jasmin de Nuit, and VC&A California Reverie. I hadn’t bought any samples in a long time and I’d wanted to try these. I keep a running wish list on STC and Lucky Scent so when sales pop up I can remember what I wanted.
Are you trying the EDT or the EDP?
EDP. I put it on 3 hours ago and now it’s pretty much gone. Not impressed for sure.
Foxbins, you should maybe try it again. I find it quite long lasting – though it’s a delicate scent – and few things have lasting power on my skin!
The EdP lasts very long on me. The EdT not so much. It took me a long time to fall for the EdP but I now prefer it to the Eau de Toilette.
Thanks, ladies. I was spraying from a carded mfg sample so not a huge spritz which might make a difference. However, I have Shanghai Lily and Lys Carmin already in my perfume cabinet so I think this one goes into the freebie bowl for January.
Hi perfume people. I wore Heure Exquise today – it’s very pretty and the more Annick Goutal’s I try, the more I love this house. Bon weekend a tous!
Heure Exquise is wonderful! AG was the first niche line I discovered and still one of my favs. Have a fragrant weekend!
Today I’m trying my new bottle of April Aromatics San Francisco Rose for the first time. It was a blind buy, which might be biting me in the arse right now, but at least the cause was worthy.
My skin seems to be swallowing up all of the rose and really amplifying the patchouli or patchouli + oud. (I’m not really sure, but my friend said I smell ‘hippy’ so I’m gonna guess that’s patchouli). I still have a pretty unseasoned nose so I don’t think I’m appreciating the patchouli as much as some others might. On my sweater, however, I am getting a really lovely rose… I wish I could get it on my skin too. I’ll give a few more tries and see if I have any better luck another day.
What other rose fragrances do you have? I am not familiar with many rose scents, but maybe someone else can suggest a good layering combination for you?
Oh yeah that’s a bummer, have def struggled with scents I loved on paper but couldn’t wear on skin. (Actually that kept me out of the perfume game for most of my twenties–had a bottle I had loved on the blotter but smelled like sour milk on my skin, and it totally stymied me for years!)
Kind suggestions other NSTers have made to me on this topic: you could try spraying it on your hair, sometimes that produces a scent closer to what it smells like on clothes or paper than on skin. Or, as long as you’re not worrying about stains (test a corner first!), maybe just spray your clothes instead of your body? You’ll still get to enjoy the scent even if it’s not officially on skin! We promise not to rat you out to the perfume police
Or try a scent locket. They are easily found on Etsy, and I’ve found they work well with scents that are great on paper but don’t work well on skin.
This sounds like something I need to tell Santa about.
I’m wearing CdG’s Wood Coffee on this overcast Saturday. I think it such a mistake for CdG to have discontinued this fragrance. The CdG ‘Sweet’ series was a bit hit-or-miss – Wood Coffee and Sticky Cake were the only 2 I really liked – and the packaging was rather dreadful, which certainly didn’t help sell the Series. Wood Coffee is a wonderful little fragrance: a gingery, cardamomy, coffee that is both lightly sweet, yet dry with whispers of vetiver. This is the coffee lover’s answer to Tea for Two, another of my all-time favorite fragrances.
I had my usual luck of sampling it after it had already been discontinued – gosh, at least 6 years ago – and searched for months without luck for a bottle. A few years later, I finally found a lovely British Basenoter who had purchased a few bottles and was selling decants; she very kindly agreed to allow me to purchase one of her unopened bottles. I paid a pretty price for it, but it was well worth it!
CdG needs to consider ‘doing a L’Artisan’ and bringing back Wood Coffee. I’m certain it would be a big seller.
I really loved Sticky Cake too. It was such a great little iris gourmand.
I missed the blind buy poll yesterday, so I’ll mention today that I’ve been wearing a new favorite, Poetry of Longing by indie perfumer Alexis Karl. I was led into temptation (again!) by Gaia on The Non-Blonde:
http://www.thenonblonde.com/2014/11/perfume-this-that.html#.VHDsq1fF9p8
Poetry of Longing is centered on chocolate, but, to me, it’s a complete perfume with its own shape, rather than a chocolate gourmand. Samples are available, but it is a limited edition so I went ahead and pounced on it and, happily, landed on my feet. It works very well now, but it’s not too heavy, so I’m curious to try wearing it in other seasons, as well.
Noz, Where did you get the info for Poetry of Longing?
I can’t find the website! I also read TNB blog (I have discovered we have very similar tastes and I have done a few blind buys based on her opinion and have almost always had a home run) but when I Googled the perfumer I didn’t get a web site or link or anything…and I just gave up, but it is something I am interested in and your post sparked my memory.
I e-mailed her at the link on the Non-Blonde – this is a few paras down in her November 5, 2014, “Perfume This & That” post. Gaia also gives instructions re sending a poem.
Did you click the links and they don’t work, or try searching?
I have no affiliation, by the way.
Deva, here is the Facebook link:
https://www.facebook.com/scentbyalexis
(See October 7.)
Noz, Thanks much! I will have to email her as I’m sure I’m the last person on the planet NOT on Facebook!
I am:)
This isn’t exactly a compliant, but I’m not sure it’s really a positive thing either. A couple of weeks ago, I put one spritz of SSS champagne des bois on. I must’ve gotten some on the camisole I was wearing that day, because today when I did the laundry, some of the dirty clothes STILL smelled strongly of sandalwood. After washing, I went to hang up the camisole, and I could still faintly smell sandalwood! That is astonishing lasting power. If you’re a sandalwood fan, go out and get yourself some of this immediately. Sadly, I only like sandalwood in very small doses, so I think this might just be all the sandalwood I need for the rest of my life.
SOTD is vintage-ish Diorissimo, and it is gloriously nothing at all like sandalwood. Bring on the LOTV!
I have difficulty smelling some of the new sandalwood substitutes; for example, Miller Harris La Fumee smells great at first but soon “disappears,” to my nose. Now I’m wondering if my clothes smell strongly of sandalwood to some people.
I have a sample of Champagne des Bois – I should retest and see how it works on paper vs skin.
Hahaha! Sorry–don’t mean to laugh at your pain, but YES! Champagne de Bois lasts FOREVER! I *do* like sandalwood, but I find I wear CdB very rarely due to the fact that I have to be ready to *enjoy* it for several days!
New Yorkers, I stopped by a great pharmacy on the UES should you be around 75th & Madison called Clydes. They have a nice selection of fragrance and cosmetics/beauty products. I tried a number of scents from the Caron line, including Tabac Blond, which was on my “to try” list. Money saved on that one!
I also tried again, and do think it’s almost time to purchase, the Nuxe perfume. I find the Orange blossom/vanilla/coconut to be just delicious on skin. They have a number of L’Artisan, and other niche lines,
SOTD: Vetiver Tonka
…and I thought the only attraction around there is The Whitney Museum!
Hello everyone – total weekend randomness:
Just curious if I am the only one… I recently started using Dawn dish soap in the Eucalyptus Orchid scent because it just works better with more of my perfumes (lately mostly Chanel 19 and Coromandel). Does anyone else use this stuff?
Also found some Crabtree & Evelyn English Honey and Peach Blossom shower gel and hand cream at TJ Maxx – quickly becoming obsessed. I may have to go to L’Occitane because I hear they have a good honey scent?
My favorite honey scent is sadly discontinued, I believe. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz had an oil called “Lush Honey,” that I have a rollerball of–lovely, long-lasting, true honey scent. I have not smelled anything else quite as pure as that.
And funny about the Dawn–I will have to give it a sniff! I always just get the blue stuff.
L’Occitane (in the U.S., at least) doesn’t have any honey perfumes right now. They do have Bonne Mere honey shower gel. It smells quite nice, but its scent is weak in comparison to the stuff that they used to sell in a tall cylindrical bottle. That stuff would scent the entire bathroom.
The latest honey (beeswax, actually) perfume that I purchased was Fox by Sweet Anthem. Rats! I just checked, and it’s no longer on their web site
The Body Shop’s Honeymania EDT is a pleasant enough floral, but the honey note is faint. It’s stronger in the shower gel. Several NST commenters like the body butter. I like to mix the Honeymania and Sweet Lemon shower gels.
Honey is featured Golden Cattleya by Olympic Orchids.
I’ve received my copy if Angela’s new book Dior or Die. It was supposed to be a Xmas present to myself, but I could not resist. I’m reading it. I’m so weak willed.
It is always ok to read books early, didn’t you know? Reading is a highly prized activity in our society, and also considered virtuous, so you may even deserve another Christmas present as a reward!
And maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll do a Joanna Christmas story…
I just started The Lanvin Murders after getter her short story “In Search of the Gray Iris” – they’re such fun reads!
Same here – was going to save Dior or Die for vacation reading, but … no will power. And I like the way Merlin thinks!
Well, we survived the first big move weekend. A good 2/3 of the big stuff is moved and the only casualty, besides my back and right hamstring, is a tiny hole in the upholstery of the new sofa
That’s what I get for hurrying to beat the rain though. The delicate curved front curio cabinet survived intact! It poured like crazy and I fretted needlessly about my husband driving the Uhaul in the storm, he actually beat me there.
I’m enjoying Orange Sanguine today to give me a burst of energy on this gorgeous 82 degree day. The schizophrenic weather is sure making it difficult to live out of a suitcase.
Congrats on making it through the big move!
Yes, congrats on the move. And, you smell delicious!
Good day, all! I am wearing last year’s birthday scent, PHI, now that I am post-workout and post-shower. It is really perfect for this little-bit-chilly, rain showery weather. I will be picking Mr. Spicebomb up at the airport in a few hours, but otherwise don’t have any plans for my birthday today.
My workout felt good, though! I’ve been pushing myself pretty hard, but I am definitely getting stronger. I wore a single spritz of Cuir de Lancome to the gym, just to tide me over. I work out at the community center, and I like knowing that I smell better than most of the people in there.
(Sadly, often not much of a high bar!)
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!! You smell great
Thank you, both!