It's Thursday, and February is almost over. What fragrance are you wearing?
Spice week continues for me...I'm wearing Frapin Caravelle Epicée.
Reminder: this Friday, 2/27, is Spicy Friday. How spicy can you go?
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.
Shown: Frapin Plume, a limited edition cognac from 2013. Five hundred bottles were made, €2500 each.
Continuing my months long leather infatuation SOTD is Vintage Miss Balmain parfum again for me.
What a great infatuation
Thank you! I think so too : )
Wearing Un Jardin Sur le Nil all over and test running a combo potential for tomorrow’s Spicy Friday on the top of my right hand.
Ah, a layered spicefest! Good.
SOTD: M. Micallef Mon Parfum Gold.
Rain has come again. Well, that just means another opportunity to find a comfort, yummy scent to escape reality with
Ugh. Hoping we are done with precipitation for a bit…
Still Chanel Misia for today. Funny, but I don’t have anything really spicy in my perfume wardrobe. Does Mitsouko (EdP) count?
my wardrobe is remarkably spiceless as well. May have to fall back on Shalimar, my one & only that I know qualifies!
There is cinnamon in Mitsouko so I guess it would count.
Nothing with cardamom or pepper in the top notes? Or a rose/carnation with clove?
Mitsouko definitely counts!
I’m wearing Mohur layered with Marni.
Wow, doesn’t the Mohur eat the Marni right up??
IT SURE DOES! Might as well not have wasted the Marni.
I’m thinking of layering Mohur with a vanilla but I haven’t decided which vanilla it will be. This experiment will be from some time and n the future when a rescue my NVC coffret from Mount Sample.
Indulging in some magical thinking with a few spritzes of Terracotta, as I head out to shovel the driveway.
That’s the way to do it! Good luck.
Rose Barbare from a small dabbing sample received from (former frequent commenter) Daisy. She provided several roses to explore, and I’m enjoying this one.
Wearing Tom Ford velvet orchid.
Fabulous cognac bottle. (So is it liquor, or is it art?)
Testing Uzac Satin Doll for the second time this morning. I like it. I don’t know that I would sink a buncha dolares into a bottle of it when there are so many really good floral chypres out there that you can snag for relatively cheap on ebay, but I like it.
When it wears off, I think I’ll put on some Safari… I don’t know why, but I’m just not much in the mood for spice today. At some point I’m going to have to choose a Spicy Thing for tomorrow, though – probably Poivre.
I love Safari!
I had a bottle of Safari when it was first released (those were the days) because I loved it. Is it much changed now? I still have a memory-smell in my brain.
My memory smell of Safari is from 20 years ago…if it has been reformulated I couldn’t say…I had one of those perfume minis and a little went a long way.
I hear that it has been changed. I just went and bought a partially-used “vintage” bottle on ebay for cheap… and when it turned out good I bought another one. (I had tried the parfum in the mini bottle, but didn’t like it – it went very very sweet on me in the drydown. Those are easy to find on ebay, though.)
At that price, it had better be both!
I’m glad you mentioned liking Satin Doll. I like Pohadka very much, so I want to remember to try it.
I’m also realizing that I overlooked Ys Uzac back on niche perfume Friday.
I’ll admit that my first thought when looking at the cognac bottle was the Hitchcock caricature!
http://www.austinchronicle.com/binary/a09d/Hitchsilhouette.jpg
The latest Dior Addict Eau de Toilette (or similar: the latest one in a light flacon).
I am curious about this – how do you like it?
I don’t like it – it reminds me of an older summer flanker I believe Addict Shine. It has a screechy, scratchy note I can’t identify, and lots of apple. If you like Donna Karan Delicious, this is the rich cousin with the house in the country who sleeps with the stable lad.
Today I’m wearing PG Cadjmere. It isn’t especially spicy, but the creamy sandalwood is perfect in the cold weather.
That’s such a lovely comfort scent.
I started on the spices a bit early also and am wearing Epic Woman. Perfect for another snowy day.
SOTD for me is Coromandel. Have to wear this at least once a week!
You smell maahhhvellous (I always think of Diana Vreeland when I smell coromandel for some reason, maybe because of her exotic style. I wonder what perfume she wore. Does anyone know?)
I don’t know, but would love to know too!
found this interesting tidbit on her..
The pillows in her home were infused with perfume via hypodermic needles.
wow! perfume lover indeed!
That’s an interesting idea!
Oh gosh..that just makes me very worried for her cats. It post-dates Ms. Vreeland, but I can imagine she would have liked wearing Dune. I just did a random google search to see if anything came up about what perfume she wore and stumbled on a line of fragrances called Diana Vreeland, created by her grandson. Kinda shameless use of her iconic name, but I guess you use what you can to sell what you got.
I don’t know if she wore perfume herself, but when the new Diana Vreeland perfumes were announced, there were some comments on this topic. chandler_b and Robin noted that she used to pipe in scent for the costume exhibits that she organized at the Metropolitian Museum of Art. The one on Russia was scented with Cuir de Russie.
I am pretty sue she did wear perfume – there is a quote from her where she asks someone if they can smell her perfume, and she tells them not to lean in to smell it, if you have to sniff like a bloodhound it isn’t enough.
Sounds like she wore perfume and a lot of it! Her grandson wrote that she put on perfume in the morning and added drops of sandalwood oil behind her ears. Also there is a quote where she says that Chanel 5 is (these are my words) the ultimate perfume and nothing has surpassed it. I found a picture of her vanity table on pinterest and there are rows of bottles on it. The photo wasn’t clear enough for me to see what perfumes they were.
Well good news. I just got back from the doctor and I don’t have a herniated disk. Just an inflamed SI joint which I can do self help stuff to fix. I am so relieved. Thank you nst-ers for your sympathy the other day!
Here’s some perfume-brain economics for you: Since I’m saving a bundle on MRI and disk surgery, should I use the money to buy a nice perfume?
SOTD: commando till after clients. Then I will do either Indochine or Reverie au Jardin.
Still trying scents on my husband. I tested A Men pure Malt and it was gorgeous but a little too un-subtle for the hubster. Last night he tried Spicebomb which is quite vanilla-y on his skin and not quite as loud as the A Men. We both liked the Spicebomb on him.
Oh good!! We may have totally different issues (we probably do) but this stretch is like MAGIC for me if I do it properly — almost instant relief:
http://bernadettebirney.com/2013/04/stuck-instructions-for-unsticking-a-cranky-s-i-joint-part-2.html
Oh thank you! That looks like a great stretch.
Ya ya ya… Here’s mine. http://wwwnews.live.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17307763
Has anyone tried any of the other A Men scents? I have seen Pure Havana and Pure Leather on the discount sites and wondering if they are a little less out there than Malt. I sniffed Pure Wood at Neiman’s and it was a little bit too oud-y.
I agree.. Just not enuf going on.
It’s all a matter of taste really.
Pure Havane is very much like cherry pipe tobacco on me, a bit much at first, but then it mellows down to the familiar A*Men dry down with tobacco.
Pure Wood was very meh on me the first few times, but it is such a rich, complex wood scent that it grew on me. It really is a subtle , classy, wood scent. it is worth a second/third try. It reminds me of SL Chene
Pure Leather never did it for me. I like my leather to be like a slap across the face (à la Cabochard)and this one was too timid for me.
A*Men Taste of Fragrance (chili pepper) is my favorite of the A*men flankers, and probably, my choice for tomorrow, but I know that it’s not for everyone.
Could I possibly use the word “me” more often?? LOL
Glad to hear you are ok!
You should totally celebrate with a niche perfume buy
A celebration is in order and remember to use the list price of an MRI , etc. and not what the insurance company says it should cost.
Glad you’re better and your husband sounds like every perfumista’s dream come true
No MRI? That is worth a full bottle hands down.
Absolutely! Or Absolu.
Sajini, glad your back is OK. Speaking of spicy men’s scents, I was enjoying Chanel Egoïste yesterday in honor of spicy perfume Friday and thinking how wonderful it would smell on a guy.
I’m so glad to hear that your back problem is not as serious as it could have been. I hope that you feel better soon. Of course you you should use the savings on a nice perfume!
Has your husband tried Eau des Baux, Royall Spyce, Milk of Flowers, bay rum cologne, or lime cologne?
Perhaps I missed this the other day but glad your condition is not as serious as expected. Definitely worth celebrating with a new fragrance and money saved.
I think it may also count as a celebration/special occasion perfume!
Glad to hear about your back!
Go out and find yourself, the lightest, happiest, most freeing perfume you can.
Awwww, thanks everyone.
Practicing for tomorrow with Le Labo Poivre 23.
Me too.
It’s just a swapped decant but I love it, it’s helping to quell the bug I must’ve picked up on the long journey back home…
Is there any pepper to compare to this? Feeling unable to shell out…
I;m wearing SSS Jour Ensoleille, which I adore. It is in my can’t live without collection. For spicy tomorrow, that’s harder. Tea for Two, maybe?
Glad you got a good report, Sajini!
you smell great! Jour is in my top ten of all time!
I am leaning strongly toward Tea for Two myself.
I think that’s one of the only SSS I haven’t tried! I’m sure you smell fabulous though, SSS is my favorite.
Today I’m in the current Miss Dior edp. To me it’s just fun and uplifting!
Earlier in the week several readers here were posting about good body moisturizer recommendations. Some of my favorites are, Bigelows Lemon Body Cream, Organix Argan Oil lotion, and the custom scented body cream from Soapology here in New York. (No affiliation)
I really like this one, too. It’s my Bachelorette/baby shower go-to.
I wore the last bit of my old Miss Dior edt today. I knew I had only a little left, but was shocked to see how much had evaporated since the last time I wore it — so I went all in for the final application. I could actually smell it as I shoveled snow this morning. I’m willing to bet I was the best-smelling thing on the street!
One of my cats knocked a basket filled with mini and roller-balls off of my dresser. Only one broke, thank goodness, a 10ml roller-ball of Pacifica’s California Star Jasmine. He did it deliberately, you know. He’s my devil cat and if he can’t get my attention any other way, he knocks things over. I was sleeping! But apparently he was ready for me to wake up. Anyway my bedroom smells very floral right now. I haven’t gotten ready yet because it’s my half-day and I have a doctor’s appointment. I do know I won’t be wearing a floral for awhile.
Try the California Star Jasmine soap…it is a staple in my house in the summer…scents the bathroom so beautifully and is a relatively cheap luxury!
That’s annoying that one of the minis broke, but at least the room smells beautiful.
I keep my samples/ decants/ minis in a drawer specifically for cat-astrophe prevention.
My cats try and hunt earrings and small vials off my dresser too. I have to be good about putting those things away! I’m always worried I’ll step on a small vial and not only spill it, but break the little glass into the carpet. Buggers!
Diabolic kitty. They do do evil things on purpose dont they?! I had the bestest cat in the world, for 19 years, except for the fact that if I didnt wake up to let her outside when she INSISTED I do so, she would jump up on to the bed next to me, and look directly at me as she started weeing on my bed!!! I learnt to wake up very quickly at the sound of let-me-out meow.
I would have preferred it smell like jasmine…
Oops! I keep all my ‘fumes in a closet for that very reason. My big guy managed to break a gorgeous antique German bowl the other morning because I wouldn’t give him any cream (I was getting coffee and he knows the dairy carton sound). You have my sympathies for the intelligent cat problem. We obviously need some retraining
I can certainly relate. I have a 1 year old Bengal with too much energy and a need to climb on everything.
She will open kitchen cabinet an make a nesting place for herself, even if she has to push off a few wine glasses or soup cans. I keep my perfumes in my walk-in closet. She desperately wants to go in. She pushes all her toys under the door in the hope that I will allow her in.
God help me if I dare bring any chicken, coocked or raw in the house: she goes wild!
I enjoyed L’Occitane Vetyver so much yesterday, I am wearing it again today! I’m loving that so many people are doing spice week – I’m learning of many new fragrances to try
Encre Noire for errands this morning, then Songe d’un Bois d’Eté for work tonight. Its too hot for day wear (at the moment. This weather is killing me) but great when the sun goes down.
You have great taste! I love both of these!
love Encre Noire…
Testing a bit of Amouage Fate today. It definitely fits the spice theme! But it is also hugely powdery. Alas, it does not suit me at all.
Tauer’s Gardenia Sotto La Luna today. Nice, but I think I ultimately prefer the similar but more over the top Tableau de Parfums Loretta.
I THOUGHT THAT TOO! Like, hmm, this is reminding me of Loretta… there’s less of that hallucinatory patchouli in the GSLL, and less of the berry-plum stuff, but they’re built along the same lines. Loretta is way louder. (Every now and then I get the 7ml bottle out and scare myself with it. I should probably find it a new home.)
Spicing it up today in preparation for tomorrow, so I’ve got on Opus i by Amouage. Lots of cardamon!
I wanted iris today so I’m wearing VC&A Bois d’Iris. It doesn’t last long so I’ll put on something with more “oomph” at lunchtime, but I don’t know what yet.
Preparing for spicy Friday by starting with Micallef Denis Durand Couture – lots of cinnamon in this one!
I think I still have a sample of that. It’s nice.
Miss Dior for me today – I picked up a bottle at duty free last week.
SOTD is Bottega Veneta edp. It is so cushy and cozy! I’m not sure yet what I’m going to wear tomorrow, but initially I’m still thinking Noir Epices. I have to do some homework on any other goodies I may have.
I have lots of spicy scents BUT my vintage bottle of Bal à Versailles showed up yesterday and I believe it’s a mandate to wear new acquisitions asap. So, Bal à Versailles today!
I initially planned to wear Tea for Two, but I’ve opted for Dzing! instead. It’s not been a good day so far, so Dzing is great comfort.
I’m wearing Si Lolita today. Peppery goodness.
I like this Lolita too but she does not have much longevity on my skin.
That’s true.. this one doesn’t last as long as the others. I still get decent longevity out of it, though I tend to be toward the scent-glue side of the spectrum.
I’ve got scent-eating skin but got at least three-four hours out of Si Lolita – about average.
Wearing Couer d’Ete but wanting spring doesn’t prevent it from snowing
SOTD was Rozy. Love the rose note, but too much peach for me
Now in Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
Still stuffy today, so no perfume. I did put on some Philosophy Snow Angel hand lotion – a nice light sweet scent and a decent hand cream. Tomorrow, I think I’ll go with Lavanila Vanilla Spice or CSP Vanille Cannelle.
Vanilla Spice would be perfect for tomorrow! I missed out on that one, but I do love the Lavanilla line.
For the second day in a row, it’s Chanel no 19 in edp form. Don’t care if it goes with the weather or not but love the rose iris combination.
I do too.
SOTD is Signature Silver Mark (Jack Black). If I remember spice day tomorrow, it will be Bois du Portugal.
Today I’m wearing Alien. No florals for me today.
On my skin the jasmine in this really blows up! It is a great perfume and I am glad you enjoy it and wear it!
You know I didn’t even realize that Alien has jasmine until I read the notes. On my skin I smell the woods and the amber, but very little jasmine. What I do smell isn’t sweet, but a little spicy, probably the amber. I was trying to stay away from floral today after my cat-astrophe with my broken jasmine roller-ball. (See above)
It’s pretty floral on me as well, so I admit to being surprised at your saying you were staying away from florals in Alien.
Oh kitties! They can be so very minxy! My Mom’s tiny wild field cat, Hobbs, would take great delight in seeking out tomatoes in a grocery bag or on the counter and tenderly puncturing each one with her teeth. Hope your room recovers from the excess of jasmine soon!
I have been on a roll with Chanel Misia and have worn it for the past 6 days. I am trying to think of some spicy fragrances I have for tomorrow (although I will only be dabbing a few drops before work. (I am trying not to get called down at work for wearing fragrances.)
I am trying to think of what perfumes I have that are “spicy” for tomorrow. Besides the above-mentioned Spice Bomb and Tea for Two, I am thinking of Andy Tauer’s L’ Eau d’Epices or Tom Ford’s Patchouli.
I am planning to wear Eau d’Épices as well!
Bvlgari Black today, definitely a comfort scent. Mmmmmm.
I’ve finally (sort of) recovered from a grueling 14 hour cross country adventure with the hubby and the baby, and am relaxing at my childhood home in Washington. It’s lovely to be in warm weather (well, mid 40’s feels warm coming from MD), and it’s great to spend time with my parents and not cook for a bit
I brought a ton of samples with me to try during my trip and today (pre-shower) I am trying Ava Luxe Mousse de Chine. It’s been less than 2 hours and it’s almost gone though, so I will definitely be trying something else post-shower!
I pressed repeat for the third day in a row with Saffron Troublant. It’s getting me through “stuff” very nicely, but I’m afraid I will always associate it with that same “stuff.”
I might switch it up for tomorrow’s project. I am thinking of FM Musc Ravageur, which is much more spicey than musky, at least on me.
So sorry for the stuff. Hope the wind changes direction very soon!
OOOOH yes, Musc Ravageur. I could steal the decant back from my 16 year old son…
I’m planning on L’AP Tea for Two today. Last night I wore DK Black Cashmere, which is sort of spicy. Also, I just want to applaud Robin’s choice of Frapin Caravelle Epicée. It’s a lovely and versatile perfume.
Testing Cartier’s La Panthere edp… Weirdly, I get a strong whiff of ripe banana that dries down to very unripe, green, banana. I’m not entirely put off…. But for me this one will be a curiosity frag only.
I want to love this perfume. I do love it on paper but not on my skin, there is just something not quite right.
Perris Monte Carlo’s gorgeous Rose deTaif is my choice today.
I haven’t tried that one, but I’m also in a Taif today… OJ. If you’ve tried both, how do they compare?
L de Lolita Lempicka today. I am working from home, so can wear something a little more rich. Haven’t worn this in awhile and am really enjoying it. Feeling kind of under the weather and my chest is congested, but luckily my nose is fine. Probably will go with Omnia tomorrow since I will be at work.
So I think for tomorrow I will wear the original Commes des garçons perfume layered with some Pacifica Spanish Amber since the CDG is all spicy top notes and I find the base gets completely overwhelmed, so voila, we will make one. It’s nice layered with tea rose too. Today I will enjoy the ghosts of Cinnebar and Youth Dew that linger deliciously in the collar of my sweater.
I have never thought of layering CDG with tea rose, I am going to try this. I love to layer CDG with musk.
Wearing Farouche today and thinking about spicy Friday. My nose has a hard time separating scents unless they’re overwhelmingly floral or woody. Spice? I might pull out a bottle of straight patchouli and give my 3-year-old grandson an idea of who Grandma used to be.
SOTD is Hove’s Vetivert – so I can remember my week in NOLA last March. Woke up to at least 5 inches of snow…
SOTD is Chanel Sycomore. Have you ever tried a new scent and immediately thought: oh yes, this is right. Sycomore did that for me… it’s not an ‘ooooooo I’m in love’ feeling, it’s a ‘this fits like a well worn glove’ feeling.
That kind of thing is NOT Sycomore for me – but yes. THere are some scents that you put on and think, “Ahh, I’ve worn this all my life.”
Wearing Bendelirious and it seems to be lasting longer than usual (usual being ca. 30 min.)…
Wearing Sage Onyx for some soft vanilla. I will go through my collection later to find just the right spice for tomorrow.
Wearing Méchant Loup today!
Today my roses are sugared petals mixed with candied violets in L’Occitane en Provence Delices des Fleurs, and I’m spending a lovely afternoon in Paris at Ladurée with coffee and macarons. So many lovelies to choose from, which one shall it be?
That sounds amazing! Enjoy!
Pamplelune for me today, a perfect reminder of summer.
I just purchased this recently at Nordstrom and it is lovely!
SOTD = Guerlain Cuir Beluga
I had an early meeting today in the equivalent of the inner sanctum and since I did not know exactly who will show up in person vs. joining via conference call, I opted for one of my favorite safe perfumes.
Wore Ramon Monegal Mon Cuir today. It was OK, but not quite leathery somehow. Still at a loss for spice Friday. Oh, Dune would be hysterical, but I don’t have any. Probably will go for Eau Parfumee au The Vert.
Ha! Took me a minute to get that one. I was like, why would that be funny?
SOTD Started the day with CdG Ouarzazate. I have been sampling the CdG Incense Seties this week and while I am loving them, find they fade really fast. Later, I added Dior Ambre Nuit and post shower, I am back in Ouarzazate. I think I need this with a sprayer!
I am going to wear Rudis by Nobile 1942. I am loving my sample, and think this may be my first real perfume purchase. Does anyone want to split a bottle? They only come in 75 ml, so I have learned from you guys that is too much to go through. Please reach out at tgraham2777@gmail.com for any interest.
thanks!!!