Happy Friday! Our community project for today: wear something from Annick Goutal or perfumer Isabelle Doyen.
As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I picked Annick Goutal Eau de Fier, from what is left of my small sample. I can't remember if you can still buy it in Goutal's Paris boutique, does anyone know? At any rate, it is not easy to find and is possibly discontinued. You can find a review at Bois de Jasmin.
Reminder: on 1 May, we're doing Tea Time Friday — wear a fragrance with a tea note.
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: top image is Peonies and butterfly [detail], Katsushika Hokusai, 1832.
SOTD: Mandragore. Almost went for Duel instead. Happy Friday! 🙂
Both are great scents — and you have a happy Friday too!
I don’t have any Annick Goutals! SOTD is Frederic Malle Eau de Magnolia, perfect for a sunny-but-not-particularly-warm day.
Yes, wish it would warm up again already!
SOTD is Ninfeo Mio. I bought a mini and it’s fantastic. I’m crabby today and think I’m getting sick, but NM smells really fresh and good and it’s keeping my spirits up.
That is a beautiful print. I loves peonies, can’t wait for mine to bloom 😉
So sorry you’re crabby! And hope you’ll fight it off. I have nearly killed off the low-level cold I’ve had since Tuesday.
Ninfeo Mio is my favorite AG. So acidic! I miss the green bottle, though.
I’m in Ninfeo Mio too. It’s cool but springlike here in England, so NF feels perfect.
Fellow peony-lover here… was just checking on my Sarah Bernhardts yesterday. They have buds already.
Yours are ahead of mine, but considering that you are further south and closer to sea level, that’s not surprising.
I love Eau du Fier and I’m also trying to make my small sample last. I’m not sure if they sell it in fancy France. It’s not on the web site. I would love a full bottle. I think I’ll wear this later today!
I would love a bottle too…I know for a time after they stopped distributing it, you could still buy it in Fancy France. Who knows.
I’m wearing Songes — definitely my favorite Goutal. It’s gorgeous stuff.
Songes is beautiful. I wanted to wear it on BWF day, but my decant was empty.
My favourite as well, though today I’m wearing Grand Amour, as it’s a work day. Songes is great for work nights, and even better for non-work nights. I’m down to my last 5ml or so, and have been checking on a replacement. The prices have really shot up since I acquired mine a few years back.
When I researched the notes I was confident that Songes would be so perfect for me…alas, it was not. I tested it on Tuesday, I believe, and there was a strong odor of pencil shavings that was a bit off putting for me. My skin chemistry and/or nose aren’t aligned with Songes…such a shame as I really wanted to love it and sing its praise as the rest of you are!
It’s got kind of a sweaty cedar note — but I like that part!
Didn’t work for me either. So it goes.
Sweaty cedar note? I find myself interested…..I do not have any Goutal or Doyenne in my collection. Today I am craving birch tar. So my dream fragrance would be Lamentable Overabundance of Birch Tar. A girl can dream…..
I’d sniff that just because of the name! LOL!
Have you tried Le Labo’s Patchouli? Don’t be put off by the name. It is a birch tar bomb. Totally addicting.
Goutals’ Ambre Fetiche is a nice amber with birch tar!
Jeke is pretty lamentably great in that way.
Songes is very, very beautiful. Such a fully developed fragrance!
My SOTD is Annick Goutal Mandragore Pourpre. This is one of my favorite scents to wear. It will work perfectly later on tonight also. We are going to a charity event and I will wear a black cocktail dress.
Have a great time!
Oh! I love getting dressed up! Have a good time. Mandragore Pourpre is one of my fav chill out frags.
The Goutals are floating in The Sample Sea (which includes bottles, decants and plastic bags so it could actually be a gyre but that sounds depressing) and a new wave washed up on the shore yesterday containing Penhaligon’s Ostara. Spring in a bottle! If you love the scent of hyacinths and/or narcissus I’d highly recommend you try this.
ARRRRGH. Did not need any new hyacinth/narcissus lemmings but one keeps trying to poke its head up…
I immediately thought of both you and Robin when I took my first sniff. 🙂
Oh dear, nearly all my daffodils are in bloom right now and my small garden is wonderfully fragrant. I need to note that I have to try this.
I liked it as well, good to have confirmation :)! I think it was more about daffodils on me, but enjoyable in any case.
Yay!
I liked it too. My only problem was it reminded me too much of the florist spray. It’s such a nice smell (why else use it at a florist?) and it’s a bit sad that this functional fragrance association is interfering with my appreciation of it.
Oh, I can certainly understand that. Naive me, I didn’t know a “florist spray” existed. Eep! Ostara’s top notes remind me of Smell Bent’s Florist’s Fridge, so your comment makes a lot of sense.
Full disclosure: I didn’t know that ‘florist spray’ existed, but, Cynical Me, I sort of assumed it did. I have noticed that the flower shop smells great, but once you get the flowers home they can be suspiciously unscented. For those with a suspicious mind. Isn’t there an old song about that? You and Smell Bent are making me think it does exist, alas.
Wearing Mon Parfum Chéri par Camille. Very entertaing.
It’s autumn where you are isn’t it? I think MPCPC suits autumn really well. To me it has this nostalgic quality., quite addictive.
I am wearing this as well. It feels like Autumn here because the temperature dropped back to late fall levels here.
There are some fragrances, which I have noticed, seem entirely appropriate, and have a different sense about them in different seasons.
I now have MPCPC in both EDT and EDP. The EDT is utterly gorgeous as well, with the iris in the limelight, more than the patchouli and plum. Love both. Love too many Goutals!
I couldn’t find my Songes sample, which is the only Annick Goutal thing I have, so I went for warmth, as the New York weather has decided it is October – Nirvana Black by Elizabeth and James.
Going to Philly this weekend, and I’m excited because I haven’t been in years. It’ll only be for a day and a half, but if anyone has any recommendations, do let me know.
Have a lovely one!
Ha! I just escaped that city (we moved to the ‘burbs). The only thing I’ll really miss from there are the restaurants. I love asian food and my favorite is Terakawa off 9th St in Chinatown. Lots of delicious ramen. If you are more of a sushi type then Sakura at Race and 10th is good.
Go to the Reading Terminal Market and do all your eating there! There are so many cool little shops, Di Nics for awesome sandwhiches, some crepe place….. Also, there is a great EO aromatherapy shop there!! Have fun!
When I lived in Philly, I loved hanging out at La Colombe in Rittenhouse Square for hours of French cafe-style people-watching (and great coffee). Monk’s Cafe has an awesome Belgian beer selection, and food to match.
Your love of Nirvana Black inspired me to pick up a roller ball at Sephora. It is surprisingly good stuff, and loooong wearing! Just wanted to tell you, you smell great, and are influential 😀 Have fun in Philly (no advice here, never had the chance to go) and be well!
Just now read this, and yay! I’m delighted to have inspired you to try it! Hope you two will be very happy together 🙂
Depending on your idea of a good time, it might be worth checking out the Eastern State Pentitentiary, which is in ruins. Sounds like a joke, but it’s actually a wonderful museum inside a former prison that has been stabilized in its state of decay. http://www.easternstate.org/ (no affiliation) And if you can think of the right perfume for that occasion….
Something by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab?
Has to be!
This morning I started by wearing Turtle Vetiver Back and layered it this afternoon with Goutal’s Vétiver. Quite a forceful combination.
I regret to tell you that Fier is indeed discontinued. For a while it was still sold in at least one of their Paris boutiques but when I visited Paris in 2012 several SA’s informed me that it was no longer being made. One of the reasons being that it didn’t sell that well, and more importantly it would have had to be reformulated and for a non seller I don’t think they were willing to do that. It’s a pity as I think it’s possibly their most original creations.
creation not creations.
Thank you!! Good to know.
An application of Hadrien this morning post shower ,which is very reminiscent of a scent that was ubiquitous in my household of origin-4711. Hadrien, like 4711, is fleeting on my skin which affords me the opportunity to test out three Dyptiques- Do Son, Florabellio and L’Ombre Dans L’eau. Thus far the L’Ombre Dans L’Eau is my favorite of the three. Later I may find some unscented skin to re-apply a bit more of the Hadrien.
The opportunity of fleeting! I love that.
Ditto, a charming turn of phrase!
Oakland and Holly,
merci beaucoup!
Scent twins, chocolatemarzipan! I hadn’t worn Eau d’Hadrien since last summer, and forgot how much I love it. That lemon is divine. It is fleeting though. Unlike you, I am using the opportunity to re-apply the same scent later today before my evening plans.
Hadrien for me too in body lotion. Back in the day when I was bad and suntanned this scent was best after a day on the beach.
Me too. It smells more like lemongrass than true lemon to me, and I get a slight helichrysum note in the woods. Like pancakes with syrup and Lemon Zinger.
Yes! Exactly.
Trying out AG’s Le Chevrefeuille. I like the green opening.
I’m a fan of Le Chevrefeuille (wore it yesterday), but I find myself wanting it to be somehow more than what it is, particularly in the dry-down.
Le Chev is very pretty, very tart too! I only wear it on the hottest days in the summer b/c it really cuts through humidity. It really wears like an edc.
Almost went with the dregs of my sample of Mandragore, but it’s cold and rainy this morning so instead I’m in a layering combination I’ve been experimenting with lately – Cuir Mauresque with Rose Anonyme. I’ve decided to call it Rose Mauresque, because Cuir Anonyme sounds a little creepy. Happy Friday, everyone!
The only AG I have is Rose Absolu so I put that on today, although I kinda wish I’d just thrown on an amber instead. It’s cold again today!
I used to have Grand Amour but I didn’t like it and gave it away.
Long time no see, all! I think I will go with Songes after the gym (I might kill someone with my sillage if I worked out in it!). I went for a FB of it blind, and it worked out, luckily. My favorite is probably Un Matin d’Orage, though, or maybe L’Ombre dans l’Eau which I only have in solid. The solid does not go through the progression that the EDT does, and though it was inexpensive on eBay, I wish I had just sprung for the real stuff since I rarely wear the solid, and now can’t justify buying the EDT since I already own it in one form. Perfumista problems!
I had to be at work today at 7AM and I’m not a morning person, so I was late and almost out of the door, when I remembered: Annick Goutal day! I ran upstairs for my Un Matin d’Orage decant and am wearing it now. Not very original, but it is my favourite Goutal. Eau du Fier I can smell, but not wear: austenfan kindly sent me a sample some time ago and it’s almost totally gone. But I still take a sniff occasionally, as it’s so unique (and I would never guess it was a Goutal, if I smelled it blind).
In Matin d’Orage too! It’s the only orange blossom perfume I find remotely wearable, as all others are too soapy.
I always think of it as a gardenia fragrance, although not a soliflore by any means. But whatever it is, it smells lovely and it lasts well, too. It’s been on my skin for 14 hours now and I can still smell it.
Will have to read up on Eau de Fier–one I’ve never heard of! Wearing AG Neroli, edt version (need to make a dent in the enormous bottle). Wish the temps matched my scent, but oh well.
I am wearing the Rose Splendide eau parfumee…it is light and so so gorgeous. It makes me wanna bake rose flavored macaroons, paint a wall in pastel pink and drink fizzy pink lemonade 😀
Scent twins today! I’m a big fan of Rose Splendide, though I wasn’t so sure the first time I wore it that it would be “unique” enough of a rose to capture my attention. I suppose it’s unique in its simplicity, which is just perfect.
It doesn’t call to mind macaroons and pink lemonade to me, though. More like a bouquet of long-stem pink roses, freshly purchased from an outdoor market. No matter the image, it’s charming!
Oh yes long-stem pink roses comes to mind as well 🙂 It is just so fresh and charming, that it is one of my to go to, when the air is crisp or really hot outside (then it cools me down a bit) 🙂
I think we all get different images when we wear fragrances 🙂 That is the charm of it 🙂
Oh, I love Rose Splendide! It’s one of my fav girly summer roses. So pretty.
I like Rose Splendide a lot. Finished a decant last year, if I came into more I’d wear it but don’t feel I need a FB
Musc Nomade here! This is one that runs from me if I try to sniff after it too hard, but if I just spray it on and let it be I catch the loveliest warm whiffs of it all day.
I don’t own any Goutals but I have a few samples: I know there’s a sample of Myrrhe Ardente somewhere but all I could find was Duel. I don’t care for the top and the middle, which are jangly and acidic, though the warm woody base is very nice. Too little too late, though.
I put on Mandragore Pourpre in the morning, but it’s completely gone now and I will try to see if Songes is still as sexy as I remember.
Today I wanted something both comforting and spring-like, so chose Eau de Charlotte. Every time I wear it, I think to myself that I need to wear it more often. It’s so soft, sweet and pretty.
Myrrhe Ardente. I haven’t worn it to work in a long time because it’s one of the few that’s gotten a negative reaction from a co-worker. I’m remembering how much I like it now though.
I should have more Goutal samples tomorrow, but in the meantime, I’m in Ce Soir ou Jamais ‘cos it’s all I’ve got. Good thing I was in the mood for roses today!
Scent twins! Ce Soir ou Jamais is uber rosy. I only wish it lasted longer. If you like roses, AG has several lovelies. Rose Absolue and Rose Splendide are charming as well. Do report back on your samples 🙂
I only have two Goutals to choose from, both were gifts and don’t see the light of day very much.
Like another NSTer had commented this week about Nuits d’Hadrian, that one I get a definite lemon-scented cleaner vibe from so that one’s out.
Instead went with Passion. I’m not sure how I feel about this one. It is pretty, indeed, but there is a powdery candy aspect to it that just doesn’t quite work for me.
Ninfeo Mio for me today! I first got a whiff of this when a kind swapper (That would be you, AnnS!) added a sample to my package and it was love at first sniff!
I went on a wild goose chase for a FB, but was wanting only the older packaging in the soft green frosted bottle. I found one for a good price and although it took forever to arrive, (Israel was point of origin!) it is just beautiful.
The bright briskness is perfect for the Florida heat and humidity and I must be one of the lucky ones because it lasts all day on me. Happy Friday!!
I really need to try this!
You do! 🙂
😉 Ninfeo Mio is a great scent. Did you ever see the special round “butterfly” splash bottle they used to have for this? It had gold line drawings of a garden. I was dying for it. But the green frosted bottle is still wonderful. It’s color is exactly how it smells.
Yes, I have seen that bottle! While I’m not a fan of “splashing,” I wouldn’t mind having an empty bottle just for the pure gorgeousness of it!
Ditto that!
And apropos to nothing, I was out and about today and decided to try Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere because I remembered you (and others) mentioning it.
I can’t tell you how many times I have breezed by a Chanel counter thinking, “I don’t like Chanel perfumes!” I was exhibiting some serious anti-snob snobbery. For shame! I put a spritz of Eau Premiere on today and Yowza! this stuff is really nice! I feel another lemming coming on…
Oh Yeah! Eau Premiere is really a gateway to No 5 if you’ve ever had troubles with it, and definitely a great frag in it’s own right. I wish they had kept the original formula, but I’m sure that the new will be still good for many. I need to retest the current Eau Premiere. If you ever want testers of vintage No 5 extrait, just hollar!
I don’t have anything Goutal at the moment, so I’m continuing my week of neglected perfumes with Reem Acra. Why I couldn’t have thought of this theme idea last week I don’t know.
Neglected ideas week?
Turns out that the only AG in my travelling sample box right now is Mon Parfum Cherie Par Camille. It’s actually a bit much for this steamy hot weather we’re having and the gnats seem to love it. I really wish we had inside work to do right now or that I had thought to bring Duel.
On a different note, does anyone have a recommendation for a not too heavy, realistic honeysuckle perfume, preferably that doesn’t cost a fortune? We have a ton of invasive honeysuckle on the riverbank that we constantly fight so, in the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” spirit, I brought a blooming branch inside last night and now really want a good soliflore.
Actually, yes! And it’s an AG. I’d recommend Le Chevrefeuille for someone looking for honeysuckle. It’s a really lovely scent.
Oh, that’s one I have missed. Thanks!
Not a soliflore, I doubt even that honeysuckle is listed in its notes… but I grew up with those heavy blankets of honeysuckle covering fences around my house… and there is definitely something reminiscent of honeysuckle in the Aqua Allegoria Flora Nymphea–like that sweet taste when you pluck the flower from the stem.
I was thinking the other day when reading a mini review of Teazzurra, I’m not even sure I have tried any of the AAs with the exceptions of Pamplelune and Herba Fresca. I should probably sample some of the newer ones that are still hanging around at the discounters.
Caswell & Massey used to have a very nice honeysuckle soliflore that was cheap, got a big “white flowers” in the dry down. What I liked about it was I could get really super spritzy with it, and it was great in very hot weather. I don’t know if they still make it or have another. I wish I still had a bottle!
Cheap & realistic is Demeter’s Honeysuckle, although it is quite fleeting.
Cheap thrill Honeysuckle – B&BW Wild Honeysuckle
I’m wearing AG’s Petite Cherie. When I bought a FB of the EDP at Nordstrom, they gave me a 15 ml bottle of the EDT for free. Nice! The only difference seems to be the concentrations.
I keep both bottles in the fridge, because I’ve heard that this stuff turns quickly.
I can vouch for that. I bought a bottle years and years ago at Nordstrom, wore it for an entire summer, tucked it into the back of my closet, and then found it again. It definitely was not the same as I remembered. Sort of a rancid Kool-Aid like smell. :/
I keep my 15ml mini in the fridge, too – four years and it’s still good. 🙂
Wearing Let Me Play the Lion since I’m now home from San Diego (where I went to the zoo and did, in fact, see a lion) and am now waiting to pick up my cat after boarding her at the vet all week
I’m glad that someone is wearing a LesNez creation. Let me play the Lion is unusual isn’t it? I like your reasoning for choosing it, seeing you had such a cat themed week!
I hope your cat is well, by the way.
She is better
Excellent, I find it very nerve wrecking whenever my dog is feeling under the weather.
All the love for Ninfeo Mio makes me want a sample. It has fig leaves though doesn’t it? I really dislike the figgy scents I’ve tried so far. How figgy is it? Anyway, I am in Eau du Sud, of which I actually own a full bottle. It is great in summer, not so much this rainy (but warm) spring day.
You can smell the fig, but it is not fig dominant, which I think is one of the reasons I like it. It’s predominantly green and bright over a background of creamy milky softness that doesn’t get too sweet.
My email is taiga101 at the land of yahoo if you are interested in a swap. I haven’t sniffed Eau du Sud as I don’t have access to any AG scents where I live, but I am interested in trying it. Cheers 🙂
Eau de Sud was my last AG love. I went crazy trying to find an old bottle. It is now my fav of all her “eaus” for being great mood lifter in the summer.
Ann is Eau du Sud similar to Cristalle (which I adore)? I can buy an old bottle, but unsniffed hence my question.
Yes. I also like and wear Cristalle (both edt and edp) a lot in the summer. Eau de Sud, like many AGs, is very “aromatic” more so than Cristalle which is more polished, and it also has a lovely basil note at the opening, which makes it different. Earthier. But definitely in the same family. Cristalle is the lady sitting next to the garden, Eau de Sud has dirt on her fingers.
Chuckle. I like dirt and the lady! Thank you, you couldn’t have described it better. Will buy.
It is very, very similar to Cristalle, so I’m sure you will like it.
Fig hater here… I don’t hate Ninfeo Mio as much as I hate, say, Premier Figuier or Philosykos, but I do hate it.
But that’s no guarantee of any of your reactions. 🙂
Um, do test before buying Ninfeo Mio. There is a boxwood note in it that my nose reads as cat urine, and it’s loud. I don’t even remember fig. Most folks never notice it, but the few who do don’t like this one. So many people adore this fragrance, that it should be interesting at least to try. YMMV.
Even though I like Ninfeo Mio, every once in a while the boxwood skews to cat pee for me too. Thankfully, it’s fleeting.
Very figgy to me too.
I gave my bottle of AG away and I don’t own anything by her..
The boutique on Bleeker ST is very nice though
Im also in Myrrhe Ardente, as it’s the only cool weather cozy AG I have.
That should be WAS in MA. I wore that today and now, post-work, freshened up with a spritz of Timbuktu.
Finally coordinated in Heure Exquise from a delightful NST swapper. 🙂
I don’t have anything for today’s theme (though I really want to try Songes one day!), so I’m wearing something I haven’t worn before: Grès Cabaret. I love its sheer dryness and how incredibly wearable it is. I’d never heard of this before getting a decant, and may not have picked it based on the notes, but I’m a convert. This is quite possibly everything I’ve been looking for in an “everyday” scent.
That’s a terrific one. I really love it on my husband, but he won’t wear it anymore.
Cabaret is very wearable. I have a bottle of it – normally you can find at at TJ Maxx.
Was hoping to wear the re-jigged/re-launched Eau de Ciel which I had planned to pick up at Harvey Nicks during a recent Edinburgh trip, but HN in Edinburgh no longer stock AG! Some people on here may be aware of my huge disappointment at Eau de Camille being discontinued – my all-time favourite – I have mentioned it more than once…
Carolyn do you have a back up bottle for Eau de Camille? If not there is a nice perfumery in the Netherlands that sells it (on line), I would expect them to ship it to the UK. It is on sale at the moment, 50 euro for 100 ml.
Thank you for the info, Hamamelis – no back up, but I have discovered a couple of other now-favourites since Camille’s demise!
I am happy for you!
Carolyn,
I sampled the reissued eau de Ciel and to the best of my olfactory memory it bears a striking resemblance to the original (but is more fleeting). Eau de Camille is by far my favorite of the line. I finished my bottle a while ago but was wise enough to save a few drops in a vial for olfactory reference. I sampled the newest creation which is similar to Camille so I am wondering if this is perhaps why Camille has been discontinued? I prefer Camille over I’le du The.
Fascinating. I haven’t tried Ile du The, but I have been noticing a connection between today’s Heure Exquise and Nuit Etoilee EdP, which I know much better. (NE and Camille are my favorites from Goutal so far). Swap NE’s mint for HE’s galbanum, a bit more woods and a bit less flowers, keep the same iris/crumbly amber type drydown, and they are remarkably similar. Now I shall have to try Ile du The with Camille in mind.
Ok, so you’ve just blown my mind. I’m going to have to retest Nuit Etoilee tomorrow….. I finally got to test it about a month ago, and I just couldn’t make any sense of it. But what you are saying is very interesting.
I’m tickled by this and can’t wait to hear your further thoughts. Even if you just think I’m smelling to the beat of my own perfumer.
chocolatemarzipan, thanks for the info – no AG stockist where I live (Aberdeen, north east Scotland) so may have to wait for my annual London jaunt in Dec unless I end up going to either Glasgow or Edinburgh before then. Haven’t tried L’Ile au The but it’s on my list. Best thing may be to wait for Dec & hit the AG boutique & try everything that’s been launched since my last visit!
I am in Heure Exquise, it was a close call with Songes.
I’m wearing Mandragore from a cute little black 25 ml. bottle that I bought off ebay quite awhile ago. I just realized that if I held the bottle up to the light I could tell how much perfume was left. To my delight, it still is 7/8 full!
A generous NSTer is sending me a sample of Matin d’Orage… so soon to have some AG.
Wearing the last drops of my Jardins de Bagatele from a mini. I flip flop on this one. I’ll probably pick up another mini, rather than commit to an FB (commit does not actually mean buy :-))
BUT I wanted to chime in that yesterday afternoon and evening I road-tested Misia … Nope. Not at all. Not for me. I down-right disliked the initial phase, which to me smelled like a cross between Chowards Violet mints and Desitin. The middle phase was okay… but I prefer other powdering scents if I am looking for powder (nodding at my No. 19 Poudre), and the dry down was totally unremarkable. So, that is a huge relief that there is at least one Chanel I am not coveting!
OF, I’m with you on the Misia.
Ugh, Desitin.
I was also kind of relieved not to want to have to spend $ on Misia. I will wait and hope for the next LE offering!
Ahhh, I am not the only one! I got Gold Bond Foot Powder but Destin works too! LOL, I am soooo not a fan of this one. So disappointing! Oh well, more for others. Yep, really liked Poudre myself, much prefer that one over Me see ya. Me see ya later! LOL
I’m with you as well, although I don’t dislike it. It smells like very refined violet candy to me and I think it smells good, but it’s just not comparable to Rue Cambon or Cuir de Russie. As you say, not for me. There are about 5 other Exclusifs I desperately need, however.
I have no Goutals or Doyen fragrances, I was interested in getting a sample of their new frag supposedly inspired by the gorgeous South Korean Island Jeju, loving Kdramas many filmed there, I felt this might be a must try. But sadly the reviews aren’t good.
Enjoying Russian Tea as my sotd on a brisk but bright April morning.
I believe you might be referring to I’le Du The? I tried it on Monday and as I commented it reminded me of a mix of Hadrien and eau de Camille…quite green and citrusy. Very fleeting, however, as I am finding all the Goutals to be on my skin.
Masque Milano Russian Tea or something else? I tried the Masque one recently and really liked it.
Joining in the guessing game — CB I Hate Perfume Russian Tea Caravan?
I want to try this one!
Well worth a try.
Yes, I’m referring to I’le Du The, and like you find the Goutals too ‘sheer’ for my taste.
It is Masque Milano’s lovely Russian Tea that has scented my day. I love it the more I wear it.
I was going to wear Mandragore today, but I wear it quite often, so I decided on AG Neroli instead.
I had to pick the incomparable Heure Exquise edp for today. It puts me in a very elegant state of mind. I’m in the wonderful bone dry sandalwood phase…..
Me too : -) Gorgeous.
I saw above! Yeah! When I wear HE, it even makes me want to stand up straighter and be more gracious. I expect to turn around and see a crystal flute of champagne sitting on my desk….
I have with HE what Chocolatemarzipan has with French Lime Blossom. As you put it so well, temporarily smitten.
Hope you comment on my Eau de Sud question higher up (so happy with the more experienced contributors here and thankful for your generous sharing).
Yes, I did. If you get it and hate it, I’m sure I could swap it away from you. It’s really stunning. You can see my comments above.
AnnS,
I have yet to try Heure Exquise but I am sure I will one day after another trip to Saks.
I wanted to thank you for encouraging me to purchase French Lime Blossom which is exactly what I did this morning. Not only the large bottle but the body creme as well. I had several promotional codes which provided me with free shipping, ten percent off and a luxury gift of two travel size sprays in a leather carrying case. In five days I will be celebrating a milestone birthday so I thought to myself “Why not?” Now I am afraid that when the bottle arrives FLB may be the only fragrance I will want to wear and I still have so many other perfumes left to sample.
I am so happy for you. And Happy future birthday too! I have tons of bottles, but there is nothing wrong with being temporarily smitten with one specific fragrance. (That happened to me most of last summer when I only wanted to wear Baiser Vole.) FLB may end up one of your go-to frags that you’ll wear a lot, even if you end up wearing some of your others. Nothing wrong with that. You will always have time to explore those other frags that have linden accords in them, and wear your other frags. But you should focus on what you love first! Cheers!
Choco – Happy Milestone. Had one of those last year, and where when younger I would have poo-poo’d intense celebration, by now I am all in. Wring every ounce of enjoyment you can from it!
No AG in my collection yet – guess I better remedy that! SOTD = Desert Rose from Dame Perfumery. This is maybe the nicest light rose I have encountered in a long time. No harsh, too bright sneezy bits, which I often get from rose scents. This seems like real wild pink roses, light but sort of persistent at first. Now 6 hours later, the dry down is powdery on me, still rosy, very nice. Will wear this more, I think. I seem to be collecting favorite flowers, now I have a nice Orange Blossom, a nice Iris, and a nice Rose, a nice Violet, and an ok Linden….
Curious, what is your “ok linden”?
Have you tried Pretty Machine for a nice linden?
No, actually. I have just discovered that I do indeed like linden as a dominant note and have been curious about other fragrances with linden. I will add Pretty Machine to my list although I just purchased a 100ml of Jo Malone’s French Lime Blossom which may hold my linden cravings at bay for a while. Thank you, however, for the suggestion!
I just read the review on Now Smell This for Pretty Machine…goodness, I feel as though I have opened pandora’s box….as I also read the other linden links below the review….I now have quite a few linden dominant perfumes to seek out when the time is right.
Regarding linden fragrances (and Annick Goutal too, for that matter!), have you tried the recently reissued AG Eau de Ciel? I wore it back in the 90s and thought it was lovely but haven’t tested the new version yet.
Tokyo Milk Waltz 17 is ok. I do want to try Pretty Machine…
I decided to wear Un Matin d’Orage to fit with my tumultuous morning. I’m getting married this summer (which I am very happy about, obviously) and some people I invited have just cancelled events to be at our wedding – which is also good news, but somehow manages to give me anxiety! I’m afraid of disappointing, I can’t invite everyone (some people who were supposed to participate at those events won’t get invited)…. Argh! Please tell me I’m not the only one to get stressed over stuff that should be fun?! Oh how I sometimes wish I was always zen! Lol
At least I smell nice and pretty (and comforting!)
Congrats!
Thanks, Mals!
I’m sure most people understand how expensive weddings can become, and that you can’t just invite everyone like it’s a come-one-come-all party. Surely that unless they’re your nearest and dearest, they’ll understand not being invited. The ceremony is the official part, and unless you’re planning a combined ceremony/reception, maybe they could still see you being married if they’d like to feel a part of your special day.
Try not to stress Vanie! It’s your wedding, and you can do it however you and your partner want 🙂
Thanks for your kind words!
I rationally know that everyone will understand and everything, but it does prevent me from feeling anxious. I guess we all have our weaknesses and (one of) mine is this! At least I almost never feel angry (that would be my fiancé’s weakness)! lol
Ah, don’t get me started. I got married nine years ago and still get the shivers thinking about the invitation stress. Trust me, it’s just not worth it. Ruining the happiness of the special day, trying to please crowds which somehow,somewhere will always be un-pleased:)… I say draw a line and be polite, and then forget about it. You can no way please everyone. There will always, always be a thirteenth witch:). That is the way it goes.
That said, have a wonderful wedding and a BLAST at the party! Congrats!
Thanks for the advice and the wishes! The worst it, I’m sure everyone will enjoy the day and will understand any choices we make, but I still can’t help feeling stress! (At least, I’m also very excited about the wedding at the same time!)
Yeah, I guess that’s what we girls do, right? 😀 We just… stress!
Joking:), I totally understand. Not being able to reach absolute perfection about everything in the world… frustrating.:)
I have never once, in all of my decades of wedding attending, been disappointed in seeing two people in love celebrating with friends and family.
That is so well said! It’s important not to let the whole industry of it make us forget what it is really about: love and the celebration of it!
As your Scent Twin I can tell you that it’s absolutely normal to stress about things like that. I can also tell you, however, that it’s not necessary and all will be well.
Hey Twin! Thanks for the encouragements!
You are so normal to feel stressed, but take a deep breath and focus on the important stuff. You’ve invited people to share in the moment you and your partner take that wonderful commitment step, and to celebrate your joy in union. I hope you have a (less stressed) joy filled celebration. You will certainly smell fantastic!
Thanks!
I’m having fun trying fragrances to find the perfect one for my wedding! I find olfactive memories carry so much emotions, I like the idea of associated a pefume with this moment in my life.
Congratulations! Oh my, of course you’re nervous and anxious and stressed out. I think that’s part of the package, and trying to make everything perfect is a daunting task. I think it’s wonderful that you’re also excited and you can rest assured you’ll have many calm, peaceful, loving days to follow.
Thank you! This is the reason we chose to make a very simple, casual reception (BBQ in the garden!), because I felt that if I tried too hard to coordinate everything and make every single little details perfect I was more likely to be disappointed by something going wrong (and the cost…). Now, our only goal is to have good food and that people have fun meeting the other family! Let’s hope the weather is great!
Good luck with your wedding and don’t stress about that. Anyone may have to be or not be there for any reason, and that’s all out of your control. The key is to make sure the people who do come are having a nice time and enjoying themselves.
We sure are trying to plan it to be fun and to feel comfortable for everyone. Thanks for the wishes!
Wearing the wonderful Nuit Etoilée.
Yes it is wonderful!
La Violette, from a sample, I don’t own any Goutals. I am not a huge fan of violet but this one is legit.
It is really nice indeed.
It looks as though I will be one of the few wearing Le Chevrefeuille. Too me, it is a very happy fragrance, but I agree–it does not last long.
But, that opening of bright broken green stems just makes me smile!!
I’m wearing Songes today, one of my favorite BWFs. I had the 25ml size but due to swaps and frequent wear I bought a 100ml backup just last week. I wish I had a butterfly or moon bottle but those seem to be long gone from the discounters.
SOTD = AG Vanille Exquise
I sniffed this over a year ago at Saks and loved it but was not willing to pay full price for 100 mLs. I snapped one up on either 30 or 40 % off when Bendel’s was closing down its perfume section.
It starts out as buttery vanilla with a harsh note that gives it extra character. It had since settled into a cozy vanilla, perfect for today’s cold weather.
It’s one of my fav vanillas. I like that bitter part – so different from the normal sweet treatment of most vanillas. No cake in VE!
Agree this is not sweet. Other non-sweet vanillas in my collection include Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee and Le Labo Vanille 44. I think Maria Candida Gentile Noir Tropical may fit in this category as well.
Not sure if I am writing to the correct commenter but I believe in my perusing of old Now Smell This posts that it was you, Hajusuuri, who was enraptured with Cuir Beluga? i just read a review on another site that compared it to Dark Flower Mexican Vanilla by Jeffrey Dame. I am currently awaiting my free sample of this fragrance. If you send a postcard from your residence Jeffrey Dame will mail you a free sample of your choice (the details are on the website). If, indeed, it does smell like Cuir Beluga it would be a very affordable substitute.
chocolatemarzipan – your name sounds delicious enough to eat! You’ve pegged the right commenter with Cuir Beluga-love. We can add allgirlmafia to the smitten group. My generous sample of Dark (Black?) Flower Mexican Vanilla is in Mount Sample. I will haul it out this weekend and try it. A cheaper alternative of a perfume that one loves is always welcome news. Thank you!
I do not find them at all similar, but look forward to reading your comments when you have tried them both.
I am wearing Quel Amour! This is a new discovery for me, and for this spring, i am set. I am craving roses lately, and Quel vs. A pure rose oil alternated are performing a lot lately. Quel has everythibg I love about spring. Brainless indulgence, yet well crafted, who knew that such a thing existed?
We’re stricken with a sore throat though, me and the cubs, so I need any comfort I can find, which is why tomorrow will be Songes.
Happy weekend dear fragrants!!!
Get well!
Thank You, we’re trying. Antibiotics I am not a fan of, but they’re at least doing they job here. 🙂
I don’t have anything by Annick Goutal and am finally off my Terracotta stretch. Wearing Wit which never disappoints.
Encens Flamboyant for me today. A lovely scent for the office as it is both interesting and unobjectionable and close to the skin after the initial hour.
I have a large decant of fhis but it was not easily accessible at the moment. You smell wonderful!
I am wearing Encens Flamboyant as well, it is one of my boss’ favorites.
I missed today’s topic, but I’m in Onda edp today.
Had I been on the AG train, I probably would have gone with Myrrhe Ardente or Mandragore.
Respect.
ONDA!
My Ce Soir ou Jamais’ rosy bloom has faded, in about four hours. Gone. Granted, it was poured from a sample vial, nearly half the 1 mL, though, and so short a half life. Silver lining? I can stick on something else from Mt. Sample, maybe one of the Vero Profumo Rozys. I’m in the mood for big roses now. Be well.
I haven’t met an AG that I really liked or needed in my life, so today I’m going with L’Artisan Vanilia.
I did own AG Songes for a hot minute (received in a swap), and it definitely intrigued me. But I ended up swapping it away because I just couldn’t give it the love it deserved.
I never wear AG (there is an old bottle of Petite Cherie somewhere in the back of the closet that have probably turned long ago) but found a stash of untried samples. Now wearing Grand Amour on one wrist and Un Matin d’Orage on the other.
So far UMd’O is winning.
Eva S inspired me to try multiple AG fragrances this afternoon. I’m home for the rest of day so it’s Grand Amour, Eau d’Hadrian, Le Chevrefeuille, and Songes (left wrist, left elbow, right elbow, right wrist) all at once. Whew!
🙂
You sound like you’re doing the perfume macarena! Did I just date myself? 🙂
😉
I find many AGs to strike a similar note to many Jo Malones in terms of being inoffensive pretty light florals. Strange that one is seen as the epiphany of English perfume, and the other a prime example of French…
There are however, perfumes from both houses that break the mould. Today I am in the intricately woven Heure Exquise!
Suddenly occurred to me that HE would have suited Emily Dickinson just fine 🙂
I do have a lot of stuff from Annick Goutal that i tried to sell on ebay and nobody wanted them…is there a section here where to put links or offers (not spam!) ?
No, sorry!