It's the first Monday of 2015! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing A Lab on Fire What We Do In Paris Is Secret.
Reminder: this Friday, 1/9, is Foody Friday: wear a gourmand or foody fragrance.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2015, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: image shows the Blackcurrant Violet macaron from Ladurée, via their Facebook page.
SOTD is SL Chêne, one of the advantages of having too many fragrances is that you can find surprises amongst your own collection. Chêne seems very quiet for a Lutens and not sweet.
That is so true! I find things I forgot I had, mostly samples but sometimes even minis, and what a pleasant surprise that always is.
I love that!
Love Chene!
Chene is very comfortable, I think. Good stuff.
Chene is so lovely. The only SL I own.
That is a nice surprise! Every once in a blue moon I’ll dig out all my vials and dump them out and go through them. Sometimes I am surprised as well. I normally get more surprised by large decants that I forget I have.
Anais Anais, I was craving a green floral.
After wearing mostly spicy scents for the last few weeks, I’ve switched to a floral, Anais Anais.
Hey, 2 in a row!! (see above)
I had a wonderful sniffing trip to the mall this weekend and got to smell some Guerlain Exclusives, along with trying some fragrances I’d repeatedly bypassed that ended up being lovely. Today, I’m wearing a sample of Diptyque Volutes I got from one of the SAs. It’s very citrusy and light. Nice, but doesn’t have the impact I’d expect in a tobacco fragrance…sort of like a summer tobacco. I brought some Tabac Aurea for later, when this one fades and I want more depth.
I love Volutes, but summer tobacco is a good description. Did the SA give you the EdT or the EdP?
It was in a black box, so I assume I got the EDP. I don’t think I sampled the EDT, but EDTs are usually too light for me anyway.
I have the Volutes EdT and it lasts longer than most EdP’s I have. It’s serious stuff! Delicious, but seriously long-lasting.
Still haven’t tried Volutes… but love Tabac Aurea.
I’m wearing Nahema today, partially to boost my mood and partially because my jacket still smells of it.
Ooo, foodie Friday? I’m thinking Brin de Reglisse. I can’t wait to try thag Black Vines you listed in your Best of 14 column.
Brin de Reglisse is perfect, maybe I’ll wear that tomorrow!
Nahema is wonderful!
YSL Yvresse, in the champagne-cork bottle. Fun with a capital F, so Grojsman, and one of the last of the old-school oakmossy chypres.
Perfect description.
Must see if I can find some…
I had a wonderful day yesterday getting lots of samples at Nordstroms! I got Shalimar edt and parfum. I wore the perfume last night after a shower and woke up smelling so delicious! It made waking up early not so bad (that and kitty cuddles). Since I already smelled so great, I just topped it off with the Shalimar edt.
Wow, they gave you a sample of the extrait? I’m impressed.
When I was at Nordstroms last, they didn’t even have the EDP within reach (it was behind the counter). I’m extremely envious that you got a sample of the parfum–I’ve never seen them take that out of the case.
Smell Bent Lady Gogo because I wanted something fizzy/summery to counteract the FREEZING COLD.
It is not so bad here today but I understand it will get much worse this week.
I’m wearing SSS Nostalgie.
Will you wear gourmands all week, Robin?
That’s my plan, but I admittedly don’t always stick to the plan.
I love love love Nostalgie! I don’t wear it as often as I should because I feel like I need to dress up a bit for it, or at least wear nice makeup!
I’ve been working from home in loungewear so clearly I don’t feel the same compunction
I never dress up for my perfume.
I have, in fact, been known to wear Amouage when cleaning the house. Because, really… don’t I deserve luxury too?
I like to wear Amouage to the dog park–and I thought I was the only one who thought it went well with jeans and a T-shirt!
Ha! Sounds familiar- the other day I was schlepping around town in yoga pants, a faded long sleeved tee and flip-flops wearing Fate Woman. I may have looked frowzy but I smelled all kinds of beautiful!
I like your style! IMO perfume should go with anything and everything we have/want to do, we have to wear or not wear
This is a great reminder to wear what I want, when I want, and what I love. Thank you for that!
Bois de Paradis for today. I’m not really a fan of fruity except for citrus, but somehow this one has charmed me.
Bois de Paradise is major! It is so rich and well developed.
Bois de Paradis was one of the perfumes that seemed like “not my thing” the first time I put it on my wrist but then somehow it won me over by the end of that day. I don’t need a bottle of it but I hope they’ll release a travel option one day.
I got mine in the Swapmeet, had never sniffed it before. It worked out well.
Bois de Paradis is on my top five list – I don’t find it to be fruity, as much as jammy. It is really beautiful.
I’m wearing Mugler’s Oriental Express, which I’ve been wanting to try for months since I read the review. It’s really, really nice, but I’d say you definitely need to like powdery scents to like this one.
Interesting. Read many good things about this one. Going to have to try it. Did you get a bottle or a sample?
SOTD Shalimar Ode a la Vanille Sur la Route de Mexique- perfection in a bottle!
I like this one even though the original Shalimar doesn’t work for me at all.
I’m pretty sure I like Shalimar is ALL its many iterations, although I haven’t been lucky enough to get my nose on all of them.
Glad this one works for you- I know it gets mixed reviews out in the blogosphere.
SOTD is Sisley Soir de Lune, a sample from the lovely CH. (Thank you!) Am enjoying it, and making plans to systematically slay… or at the very least, decimate… my ridiculous sample pile. Can’t remember who pointed this out over the weekend, but I’m adopting their simply-genius in-and-out sample inventory scheme: I can’t buy new samples until I have tested more than I plan to buy. Duh.
I mean, DUH. I’ve been at this long enough to have done that already, but I haven’t, and it’s no wonder the piles are ridiculous.
BTW, we were discussing Ravelry the other day. I’ve got some photos up of Bookworm in the Minion hat at http://www.ravelry.com/projects/malsnano86/minion-hat, if anyone wanted to see how it turned out.
When i felt like i had accumulated too many samples, i grabbed some toilet paper, and took 45 minutes to go through all of them. Sorted into Love, Maybe, and Nope by spritz on tp. Some got skin treatment too.
Ratios ended up being approximately
Love 15%
Maybe 15%
Nope 70%
Nope went into a bag to give away. Love and Maybe went into my perfume drawer.
Now when i wear a Maybe sample and figure out it’s a Nope, it goes straight to the Nope bag, since it is on its final try. No languishing about!
It was somehow easier to determine how i felt about each when i compared them all at once. The loves and Nopes stood out. As the maybe samples can only be proved through wear, it works.
So now i keep my samples at a manageable level without much effort. And i have a nice big bag of samples that do not work for me that i can easily share with others. It’s fun to go through that bag and choose samples I think will work for others, based on notes they like.
Sharing not because i think my method is terribly original, or the only way to do it, but in case it inspires anyone to tackle a New Years Resolution
I usually don’t spray on paper – just never feel like I get anything out of that experience.
The other thing about it is finding people to take the samples I don’t like and don’t want to keep for reference. Hmm.
I just give away a box As a reverse perfume fairy offering on Perfume Posse once I hit a couple of dozen no samples
Have you tried using toilet paper? Somehow it gives a better read, especially when you fan it about in the air.
If so, oh well
Often there is a large difference between the way a scent smells on paper and the way it smells on my skin – that is, there would be a much larger “yes/maybe” pile with testing on paper (I’ve tried using unscented facial tissues, which are similar in texture to toilet paper). And then I’d have to try them all on skin again anyway, so that testing policy would probably not help me much.
I did once get my daughter to take some unwanted samples to her dorm and leave them in a basket in the bathroom with a note saying, “Please take and enjoy.”
Your raving about Vacances has caused me to get a mini off ebay. There’s a full size vintage available but for way more than I can swing as a grad student…..
My jaw dropped. You FOUND Vacances on ebay?? Good for you! I do hope you enjoy it – I think it is utterly gorgeous.
Cute hat (and girl!) Thanks for the pic and the link to Ravelry – I was unfamiliar with the site but will have fun exploring.
I’ve been meaning to tell you how very much I enjoyed your pre-Christmas postings re your handmade holiday gifts. I have many treasures in my home – especially at Christmas – made by dear family members and friends who are no longer here but whose spirit remains with me through their thoughtful creations. I used to sew, crochet, embroider – crewel and counted=cross stitch, needlepoint, even hooked rugs (pretty much did everything except knit) but when life got too busy I stopped. Now that life’s not so busy most times I still haven’t picked up any of those delightful hobbies but perhaps Ravelry (and your posts) will inspire me to do so. Thank you!
Thank you!
I treasure the afghans that my one grandmother crocheted me, and the quilts my other grandma made for me. I did manage to cross-stitch something for each of my children before my hands got numb with the needle, so I hope someday they’ll treasure those too.
Laila, once you fall under the spell of the needle and fiber you’ll never come out – you might stay away for a bit, but it will always draw you back in…
It sounds like you’ve made some lovely things.
Last year I had it with all my really unwanted samples – the result of year of creating a “library” and lots of swaps. There were some really good ones too that I just didn’t like. I got rid of two completely stuffed full zip lock bags during swapmania. It was just so liberating to send them away so that someone else could have a chance at “research”.
I was just going through my more modest selection of samples over the weekend (looking for something), and I thought maybe since Feb is such a short month, that I’ll wear one sample per day and just get rid of them already! Personal challenge to use up my samples!
Oooh, one sample a day. You know, I have scent-eating skin. That might work for me since I can do sample mornings rather than all-day samples.
Oh, that’s really cute!
The hat is very cute! Great job! Thanks for sharing. BTW, I just sent you some hook wrapping ideas via Ravelry.
Thank you! I have really been enjoying my ergonomic rubber-handle The Crochet Dude hooks (I have three now – F, J, and N), but I’ll check that out. It may help a lot.
I used to put those rubber pencil grippers on the hook handle, and that used to help, but I was using one of those this past month and my hand got all cramped up. So we’ll see.
The shelf liner cushion is the only thing that works for me, and I use it on all of my hooks, even the tiny steel ones. http://crochetuncut.com/?p=149
The hat is way cute, Mals.
How was it with Soir de Lune? I have a body lotion sample – given grudgingly by an SA at B-G. The scent reminds me a bit of Shocking, and so of my mom – which is nice…
Oh good!! Debated about what I could send that might be up your alley but not yet in your repertoire! Pleased you’re enjoying it
After testing various samples this weekend that weren’t me, today I’m wearing Amun Re:The Tears of Ra which always smells good on me.
After hanging out with Squirrelly this weekend, I’m really looking forward to the NY swap on F 1/16–I love hanging out with perfumistas in real life. There’s five of us so far and we’d love for there to be more. There will be cheese and crackers and wine and laughter and of course perfume. My screen name is also my yahoo address if you’re interested
I would go to the live swap in a heartbeat if I could. For any NSTers who can get into NYC but are maybe a little hesitant to meet strangers – go! Do it! I was in the city this past week and took Rena up on her offer to show me around and it was a delight. Great company, wonderful scents, and she demystified NYC public transportation for me. ; )
I hope to meet others of you in real life (DC meet up, 2015?).
Ditto! Rena and i met up last summer when i was in the city visiting family, and it was super fun.
Thank you again Rena! I would join you for the NYC swap meet in a second if i were closer. Enjoy the laughs, wine and scents! !
Maybe we could all start up a NST perfume Convention. Every year have it in a different city. We could all stay at a fabulous hotel, have seminars about different scents, etc….
I definitely would go to that! Just wishful thinking……
Ladies, wish I could be there with you all in NYC. It sounds like you had a ball.
I’d be down for a DC 2015 meet up!
When Ari opens her store we should do a gathering!
agree! agree!
I’ve been away. Is there a meet up planned?
SOTD is Rose Splendide.
A few of us are doing a meetup/swap in Manhattan in a couple of weeks ( see above) and it sounds like a few people are running with the idea and brainstorming a DC meetup into being
Wish I were coming to NYC next week instead of in February…
You can still hang out with me if you want. Just email me– my screen name is my yahoo address
SOTD is Bond Street No. 9 Chinatown. Felt like something spicy today!
Love Chinatown
Chinatown is a good one, love it too! I wore a spritz of Success the other day, really should use it more often.
SOTD is Hommage a l’Homme Voyageur (Lalique)
First Monday of the new year, indeed! It’s been a whirlwind of activity so far. I needed something easy, comforting and not too distracting so Cuir de Russie it is for me today.
I have a nice, cozy fire going, and it’s clinging to me. Had to go for something leathery and fun, so I’m wearing my favorite Dzing!
mmmmm…..for a cool weather Monday I’m wearing Aramis with one spritz of Library Amouage Opus VI. This will get me through the day.
VI is the best!
Flowers by Kenzo for me. Something to keep my mind off the plunging temperatures and below zero windchill.
Flowers is so pretty. Definitely a cheerful and summery fragrance to help deal with winter.
With all the dinners and parties over the holidays my most opulent perfumes (like Shalimar parfum, Amouage Jubilation 25 and Gold, and vintage Opium) have been getting a lot of wear. Today I’m almost relieved to be back in the office with the more low-key Balmain Ivoire (the new version) as my companion.
To accompany me during this day of cleaning up the apartment, I decided to wear my sample of Mitsouko EDP for the first time. (Way to glam up the toilet scrubbing task!)
i am wearing Lubin Korrigan today. I like it in cold weather.
Wearing NR For Her EdT from a sample. I think i like this one more than the EdP, which i have a purse spray of. When i use that up I’ll get the EdT, possibly.
The EdT has more presence, or is fuller, or something more than the EdP for me.
Happy Monday!
I prefer the EDT too, it is one of my easy grab favorites
SOTD Adam Levine for Her – a total drug store cheap thrill. Having a difficult time motivating at work after not being here for two weeks. Must Focus!
Yay! I like it too, and it never seems to get mentioned. A good offering in the barren celebuscent category.
I must have first read about this on NST over a year ago and finally came across a bottle. I would not have purchased (yet another) blind buy without reading about it here first. I wonder if it was a previous comment of yours that encouraged me to purchase? If you were my enabler, I thank you!
Hello.
Delurking to say that I am wearing Trussardi Skin.
It’s described as a light and modern chypre.
It is a nice skin scent.
Last night I wore Magie Noire on my wrists to go to bed, and it was lovely.
Hi, Lawgoddess! Trussardi Skin is a favorite of mine – love the bottle, too! It is a very nice skin scent. My bottle is almost empty and it’s hard to find now.
Magie Noire is wonderful stuff – I almost wore that today! It’s one of my winter favs.
We are 24 hours into a winter storm that looks to continue for another 24 hours. 25-35 cm of snow has fallen already, schools are closed, and I had to pull my boys to their preschool by toboggan because I figured there was much less chance of getting stuck than if we drove (and because I thought it would be fun……silly me: lunch kits slung on my back, dog continually tripping on the toboggan rope, boy on the back falling off around every corner….). So happy now to sit at my desk and go to work in a quiet room.
And to celebrate, I’m wearing Infusion d’Iris Absolue, which for me is both wintery and cozy.
What a saga! I’ve been reading about the antarctic sledging trips of Ernest Shackleton over the holidays – amazing. I can’t even imagine. And I can’t imagine sledging kids around either. Stay warm and enjoy your civilized fragrance and quiet room.
Thanks! Down to my last half-hour. It’s been lovely, but too brief.
I was your twin today in Infusion d’Iris Absolue!
No real scent yet for me today. Feeling crappy – combination of being back at work after a while off and our girls keeping us up half the night, so thought putting something on might not be a good idea. I did put on some of my stocking stuffer to myself – Thymes Agave Nectar hand cream. Love this stuff – got the shower gel too as Marshalls had quite a bit of Thymes stuff recently.
Agave Nectar sounds nice!
It really is! I used the body wash last night and the bathroom was nicely scented after my shower. According to the package the scent is agave plus grapfruit, guava and lemon blossom. It’s a happy citrus. I need to track down the perfume.
You need a go-to scent for such days! The one you won’t spoil for yourself if you feel really bad, but to keep you company. Some time ago I assigned Vanille Noire by Yves Rocher for this role. So far it worked for me.
I’m wearing L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube today. Its one of my samples from my L’Artisan sampler box I treated myself to around Christmastime. Its very sweet. I don’t know if I’d purchase a full bottle of it because of that.
Seems to me that orange blossom either goes sweet or soapy on my skin. Of the two I prefer sweet.
I had such high hopes for that one and it turned way too sweet on me as well…
Hi – I’m trying out L’Orpheline. Can’t say I’m loving it so far it’s very cold and a bit sharp. Smells also like harsh alcohol. Anyway apparently it has a nicer mid section and dry down. I’m waiting ….
Today’s SOTD is the original Fendi layered over Coco body lotion…
That sounds lovely! I’d be happy wearing either of those but the two together must be heavenly.
Hi Lucy,
I was in the mood for something 80’s big and spicy. I’d forgotten my scent-phobe coworker was to return to work today! Oops… O_o
Bitter cold – it’s 1° here now with a -17° windchill – and snow are forecast for the entire week, so my fragrances this week will definitely be in the comfort zone! My choice for Keep It Simple Monday is YR’s Neonatura Cocoon, dark bitter cacao, earthy patchouli, and vanilla. I love this scent so much in the darkest, coldest days of winter, as it speaks to me of the earth and its lifeforce, now lying frozen and fallow, yet patiently awaiting spring’s rebirth: Hope springs eternal!
That sounds really wonderful! I love a cacoa note and with patchouli & vanilla, I think I need to get me some to try!
NYC is getting colder by the minute. This will be a real wintertime weather week for us.
Oh no. I see it’s no longer being made. I’ll have to keep an eye out on ebay, although do I really want to fall in love with a scent they no longer make? Phooey.
This got me excited as well! Maybe we need to make our own?
I’m using my “go big or go home” opportunity today to help push through the first day back to work after about 1.5 weeks at home with my daugher for holiday break. OMG! The desk is covered, in-box is full, emails are exploding. Onward and upward! SOTD is vintage Bal a Versailles – about 5 sprays worth. Cheers!
You smell GOOOOOOD!!
I’ve never smelled Bal but it sounds like your day needs some serious perfume!
You smell great! I have a vintage mini of the EDP, and it’s seriously yummy stuff.
Amouage Opus VIII.What more can I say!Lol!Lovely.Just lovely.Hope everyone has an awesome week!
I sprayed with abandon (my 2015 resolution) my SOTD: Bottega Veneta.. sorry cubemates!
How could they complain? You smell lovely!
You can be my cubemate any day!
My SOTD is “The Body Shop’s” Grapefruit perfume. I guess I should have saved this for Friday, but was in the mood for the scent. Anyway, I’m almost out…..
One of my New Years Resolution was to only buy 1 bottle of perfume per quarter. I don’t think I want to spend it on that. Practicing restraint is HARD!
I picked A Lab on Fire today too, but I went with Paris L.A. I needed an effervescent pick me up for my return to work after a week away!
For the first day at work and the first unpleasant big meeting chose Serge Lutens Boxeuses. I’m prepared ; -)
Boxeuses seems to be your go to “meeting” scent!
It must be very “fortifying” and equivalent to strapping on armor and taking up your sword
It is! I bought a bottle after going through a couple of decants (it was a tough year, meeting-wise
)
I think I’ll wear Boxeuses tomorrow. It will be frigidly cold in these here parts!
I’m wearing Chanel Pour Monsieur, which is both comforting (it reminds me of a close friend’s cologne) and mind-sharpening.
I want some of that, too…
SOTD is FM Une fleur de Cassie while I’m dithering about a FB.
).
Today it’s proper winter at last -18 C, and my neighbour had to teach me how to unstuck a frozen car door (FYI, fill a plastic bag with hot tap water and sort of rub the bag along the door-edges
Wow. And I was complaining that it was a muggy 79 degrees F here yesterday…
This was a Chanel Egoiste day. Got a chance to try Terry de Gunzburg Rose Infernale and L’AP Ananas Fizz, it was 30 % off the latter, but it didn’t really grab me. Rose Infernale was very interesting but on me rather linear and it got paler instead of deeper in the drydown.
Egoiste is so great. Happened to try it while perfume match-making for a friend who had a really specific idea of what she wanted–now both of us love Egoiste!
Who is selling Ananas Fizz?
The NK department store in Stockholm, Sweden. I really felt I ought to love it since it is so rare these days, but alas…
No SOTD but I am really wanting those Macarons!
My SotD: Lolita Lempicka EDP…. guess, I was a few days too early for “Foody Friday”
well its 7:13 and somehow I haven’t managed to put anything on yet. A little bit of Atelier’s Gold Leather survived my shower though, and its quite lovely!
SOTD is DIY today. I’m hungry and that macaron pic isn’t helping.
Sat scentless waiting for the mail to come – just got the Olactif box with Amouage Epic Woman and was dying to try it. At first I wasn’t convinced; there was something medicine-y but now it’s really beautiful. It makes me think of Mohur, too. Lovely!
Nice! My box hasn’t arrived yet.
I started out with Kate Walsh Boyfriend perfume oil but am about to go get my rose jam/argan body conditioner on. It will be wonderful and, due to delayed flights, our house guests *finally* left today! My introverted self couldn’t take much more so a long, hot and deliciously scented bath is definitely in order.
Hope everyone’s having a good 2015 so far.
Nice, love both those picks!
Recently got some samples from Hermes, so I was trying out Ambre des Merveilles today. Based on all the love it gets around here, I was hoping to love it too. But ugh! Too much amber (shocker, huh?) Then it turns into a fruity amber, oh the horror! And then, blissfully, it disappears (although if I liked it I’d be annoyed at how short a time it lasts). Yuck.
You know, I have to agree with you. For whatever reason I can’t get into Eau des Merveilles or L’Amber des Merveilles. I feel like some freak of nature since everyone seems to love them!
It’s not for me either. I get why people dig it, but, just doesn’t click for me.
…luckily there are plenty more to choose from
I never have gotten into any of the Merveilles either.
SOTD for first day back at work in (gulp) 2 weeks: PG 06: eau Rare Matal. Perfect for our cold weather and waiting for a train this morning.
SOTD = MPG Ambre Preciuex
Looking forward to Foody Friday!
On a sidenote (if it’s not too late for people to be reading this post) – what are people’s impressions of Dior Addict EDP (2012 version). Just picked up a bottle at Ross and on the fence if I should open it and try it or just return it…
I loved Addict when I had it. I had an older bottle and used it up. If I ever saw it at a discount I’d grab one. It’s probably been reformulated but I can’t imagine it would be so different that I’d not like it. Was it a blind buy for you or have you smelled it before?
It’s a blind buy – I haven’t smelled the original Addict, this version (2012) or the new 2014 reformulation, hehe. But since it’s not something I regularly see at the discounters (Ross/TJ Maxx/Marshalls), I figured its safer to buy today since I can always return it!
I have a pre-2012 version and every now and then it is perfect but often it is too much! I smelled it again last year some time and preferred the newer version which is a little less complex and a little quieter, but somehow more pleasant. Mine is a 20ml and its pretty nice to have this orange-bourbon-vanille
Went with Dior Eau Noire today, since I just heard that it’s being discontinued. Sad; it’s probably the only lavender-centric scent I love.
I thought it was discontinued a while ago. I like several lavender scents but Eau Noire is in a league all of its own!