Monday again! Plus, it's International Museum Day — many museums are celebrating with free admission. If you have some free time, do visit a museum, and do tell us what fragrance you're wearing today.
It's another testing day for me. Among other things, I'm trying out Living Lalique.
Reminder: this Friday, 22 May, wear something from Jo Malone or perfumer Christine Nagel.
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: the "Rare Huge Lalique "Stars" Dans la Nuit Post-War Perfume Bottle" is $12,500 at 1stdibs.
A rainy, cold Monday morning here. Wearing Hypnotic Poison for some good comfort.
Have a great week, y’all!
Same weather here! The humidity makes everything so icky to the touch!
Thumbs up for some comfort scent.
rainy , though not cold. HP is good for comfort.
I received my sample packet from Fiele Fragrances on Friday and spent the weekend in Myrrha and Juniperus. Today I am wearing Cedrus.
How are they?
I am truly enjoying them. I am intrigued by the way each fragrance morphs on my skin over time. I wore the Myrrha yesterday while mowing the lawn and it seemed to blossom as my body heat rose.
I must mention that I have been on a quest to find an all natural company that makes eau de parfumes for about ten years now . I have sampled many-some of which were met with aversion ( Strange Invisible Perfumes and Ateliers did not agree with me AT ALL), indifference ( A Wing and a Prayer and Providence Perfume Company) to just “like” (Pacifica Perfume, Aubrey Organics and SSS Naturals). With Fiele I am quite smitten, so much so that were I independently wealthy the entire collection would be gracing my dresser. However, they are made with pure essential oils so they don’t smell like “conventional” perfumes. I would recommend a sampler pack first for those who are curious.
I ordered the sample pack as well. I’ve only tested Myrrha (to me a creamy champa nag with something almost grape-like for a moment–maybe the neroli?); and Pogostemon (to me cocoa and vanilla with a sheer patchouli base, with hints of citrus peel at the opening, and something rooty blended in throughout). I am looking forward to trying the others!
have you tried layering them? After a few hours of my initial Cedrus application I layered Juniperus. it was really nice!
I haven’t layered them. I’m not big on layering but I will try your combo!
Ha! Something tells me Living Lalique won’t be anything to write home about. Finished my sample of Upton River Shannon last week, and liked it very much–could be a contender for Yorkshire Gold (the Upton version may be a little fresher–i.e. not sitting in a warehouse). Between Kusmi Russian Morning and Upton Finest Russian Caravan, slightly prefer the Kusmi (less smokey). Many thanks for your suggestion to try Hao-Ya “A” Keemun–loved it, and may have to keep it on hand as an occasional treat when in season. Last one up is Yin Hao Jasmine, which I’ll save for a cool afternoon–need robust tea in the a.m.
Wearing Moon Bloom today.
I will write something about it anyway
And glad you’re having fun with the teas!
How is Living Lalique? I love Iris, always interested in a new interpretation.
My SOTD is Brin de Reglisse. Not sure how long it will last, but I plan on going with Ninfeo Mio once it fades (my most recent FB purchase).
It’s not an iris-fest, but it’s a decent mainstream scent. Will review it next week, I think.
SOTD is Un Jardin Sur le Nil layered with a little Philosykos
Oh, never tried them together!
Sounds like a great combo…I wish Philosykos had better lasting power on me.
Sampling Iris de Nuit….gosh this is good. Woody, like driftwood almost. Driftwood, soily, a bit soapy…I thought I got something of spice in it, not sure. Iris and I don’t get along sometimes but this is gooood. I don’t get along with several violets either but this combo is really good. Veering on too dirty like Misia but doesn’t quite get there. Why do you have to be so pricey?
A breath of secrets
While nestled in the twilight
You move in like silk
Late Haiku for Iris de Nuit.
Another late haiku for IdN
The ocean and moon
Greet before the final close
Darkness is a friend
Trayee, which is kind of Tauer-y.
Trayee is so good! I’m waiting on a second decant, I will most likely never splurge on that bottle.
I think it’s my favorite of the NV’s.
I love Trayee, but have finally accepted that it gives me a headache. So sad, since it’s really stunning.
I love this one, even more than Mohur.
Sampling Ann Gerard Perle de Mousse, a lovely, soft greenish white floral. Pretty and very well done.
Love the script font on those bottles. Haven’t tried any of their scent though.
I got my sample pack today, a quick sniffing of the vials makes me think they’re all very good.
wearing my birthday present to self: Jour d’Hermes absolute, which I bought unsniffed having really loved my small bottles of the edp to drainage. So glad I purchased this. Simply beautiful, and so easy to wear.
Happy B-day! And your gravatar appears to be very nice.
thanks, Omega, on both counts.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day! And you smell marvelous!
Happy Birthday amd enjoy your lovely new scent!
Thanks for the good wishes.
Happy birthday and such a nice present to self
I was going to wear Chanel no 19 for the 3rd day in a row but since I forgot to pick up unscented body wash, I had to use my Lyric body wash, so now it’s Lyric.
I need to try Lyric already
I wore Chanel 19 and my husband said (gasp!) I smelled like an old lady!! Clearly, he has been around only the best sort of older women. He has been chastised none the less.
Ha! I love it, Katrina.
Took his life info his own hands with that one!
Surely he knew better? Mine learned very quickly to employ the word “classic”. Actually, he tends to like perfume that smells old fashioned so we never had a problem once I figured out that smelling old was a compliment.
This made me laugh out loud! It’s so hard to communicate what we really mean sometimes!
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.. (from the brilliant Carpenters)
SOTD: Journey Woman. The honeyed osmanthus is my ticket to happiness
It’s rainy here in East Texas too, but warm with it, already in the 70s. I am so glad it rained all day Sunday, ’cause my air conditioning has been out since Wednesday. It got so hot in my house Saturday without air conditioning, but then it rained all day Sunday, and didn’t get above 72, so I was quite comfortable. We are so spoiled in Texas with all of the hot weather, we just can’t live without air conditioning. Anyway, I thought that I would try the first of my Nest Coffret, so I put on Paradise described by Fragrantica as ” blood orange, white ginger, cedar and watery notes.” So far I am enjoying it.
SOTD is Atelier Sud Magnolia. It’s perfect for the already hot and humid day we are having. I don’t get a lot of magnolia, but it’s got a tart citrus opening that lasts for a relatively long time, followed by rose, and then a nice sandalwoody drydown. Leave it to Atelier to make an interesting, sturdy summer fragrance. I don’t like everything of theirs, but I appreciate them all.
Here, here. I appreciate their whole aesthetic, although I only connect with a couple scents.
Inspired by one of the haikus over the weekend, I’m wearing 24 Fauborg today. Mmmmmmm. Yum.
Also over the weekend, my daughter told me my hair smelled bad. She is 5. And as I was telling her that was a rude thing to say, she explained that it was the perfume I’d sprayed in my hair that she didn’t like. Guess that’s a thumbs down for Byredo’s Green.
Remind me not to get on her bad side, if she has one
I have a six year old who has very definite opinions about perfumes. If anything is too “modern” smelling she doesn’t like it. She loves L’heure Bleue, pretty sure she’s an old soul.
She has good taste. A perfumista in the making.
Eau du Sud today, and it has been getting a lot of mileage lately.
You smell lovely!
Testing out Palissandre d’Or. Very interesting scent. It’s quite woody–possibly too much for me–but I like it more as it sweetens later in the progression.
I really want to try this one!
That one has me lemming from the description. How much nutmeg and cinnamon do you detect? How much pear(if any?)?? I will try it at some point, these have been interesting. I’m very curious as to how you smell today
My nose definitely picked up on the cinnamon (not in large amounts), but not the nutmeg (gotta keep trying, though, since I LOVE nutmeg). Didn’t smell anything I’d independently identify as pear–I think that’s just supposed to be a facet of the ambrette. There’s not really much sweetness at all, and definitely nothing fruity. I get mostly the woodiness with lots of pepper up front that tickles my nose a little bit. Based on the notes, it’s not what I was expecting, but I’m still pretty fascinated.
Thanks for the details. I’m still lemming, and will snag a sample, soonest. I think I was afraid it would be wood, wood and (more) wood, which is ok, but there are other things that already hit that niche for me. No discernible pear is also a bonus, as I’m generally anti fruit. Thanks for the review!
Wearing Unum’s Lavs. An incense to lose yourself in. Very uplifting and radiant. Long lasting.
Can you compare it to other incense fragrances for me? I’m hesitating about getting a decant.
I will try! I find it has similarities to Avignon and Bois d’Encens, but it is (to my nose) more luminous, and has a soft floral note. The incense note in many amouages (Epic) I find more thick and in a way fatty, maybe that is the labdanum.
I love Encens Flamboyant, but that is much sweeter than Lavs. I also love Nu, but that is creamier than Lavs.
Does this help?
I suspect you live in the US, if you live in Europe I would be happy to send you a sample.
It smells a lot like Avignon to me. You can get a sample from Twisted Lily in NY.
Oh, I already have an incense that smells churchy, and probably don’t need two. I might get a sample, though. Thanks for the descriptions!
Today I’m wearing La Fille de Berlin.
In perfume-related news, I devoured Alyssa Harad’s _Coming To My Senses_ this weekend. I keep trying to figure out the perfumes she alludes to but doesn’t name.
I devoured it too, hope she writes another book! You can find out many of the scents on her website, she has a couple of posts on the book. But guessing is a lot of fun.
Rainy and grey, but the plants needed the water badly, besides it smells gorgeous outside. Wearing Cuir de Russie ( extrait), pure beauty.
You smell exquisite.
I wanted big flowers today, so I’m wearing EL PC Tuberose Gardenia. The house painter is coming! Finally I will get rid of the disgusting external color–I think it looks like dead algae. Truly awful and I have no idea what the previous owners were thinking.
Not “external,” exterior! Stupid spell-checker.
Doused myself in Chanel Chance Eau Tendre this morning. To me, douse= 5 sprays, so ymmv
Love this scent.
Telling myself I’m not getting sick. Whenever the fiance gets a sore throat I’m sure to get a full blown flu/cold shortly after. I’ve had mostly good luck with that this year, but I think my luck is running out. It didn’t help that we exhausted ourselves over the weekend painting the dining room and study.
Wearing Noir Obscura by Antonio Alessandria today.
Same here, only this time round, I got struck down first. I hate having a cold when its nice outside.
Me too. It’s gorgeous outside but I really should just go home and be still and rest when I’m done with work.
Same over here – my husband told me yesterday he had a sore throat, so my fingers are crossed I don’t get it. We are both run down with twin toddler sleeping issues!
Ugh, oncoming illness and sleep deprivation are not a good combination!
I’m wearing No 19 Poudre. I must admit I used to dismiss this one, as I like No 19 so much and if I want something less stern, I turn to Rue Cambon. But I’m enjoying it, a great office scent.
Wearing Santa Maria Novella Melograno/Pomegranate. Wanted to wear SMN Fieno/Hay because it blooms so well in warm weather, but, sadly, my decant was empty. I’m kind of having a love affair with Chanel No.5 EDP. Not sure why, I’ve never particularly liked it before. Must be from watching Mad Men.
So excited about wearing the Jo Malone for Friday that I think I will do it all week!
My SOTD is Wild Fig & Cassis by Jo Malone. I also spritzed a little Brown Sugar and Fig with it. I like the two together. The weather here is dark and rainy. I thought the fragrance would be good for the occasion. Hope everyone has a spectacular day!
Is that a limited edition JM? I’m wondering why I’ve never tried it – sounds yummy!
It is not a limited edition. It has been around for a while. I am wondering if it might eventually be discontinued as some of the ancillary items (body wash, lotion, candles,etc) are no longer being sold in this scent.
Rescinding that…it was the Vanilla & Anise that lost most of the ancillary items and it was that one that was destined for the chopping block until the company changed its mind and discontinued Vetiver instead.
It is considered one of their “woodsy” fragrances. The SA at Neiman’s says it is still one of the popular scents from the line.
I am getting geared up for Friday too. Today I have on JM Nectarine Blossom and Honey lotion with the JM Sakura Cherry Blossom Cologne. Love it and it is good for work.
Nectarine Blossom is my all time favorite. Been wearing it for years now and never grow tired of it. When kids hug me at work and I am wearing this, they say that I always smell so good. And we all know that kids don’t lie. Lol!
SOTD = Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay
I’m starting with the Friday theme already as Jo Malone takes up about 10% of my collection. It is strangely cool, windy and foggy today, more like Fall than Spring!
That’s a good one! Maybe I will wear that tomorrow. You smell fantastic!
Thank you! This is high praise coming from a Jo Malone aficionado / brand ambassador like you!
I might wear that one tomorrow too. It is pretty chilly here today and sounds like it will be tomorrow as well.
Do it! I like to wear Blackberry & Bay when it is cool / damp out.
Love the candle of this one!
Me too, it’s my favourite candle for early autumn. But I like the scent a lot as well.
I mean that I like it in the perfume form, too.
Lol
Oh too bad I don’t burn candles. I have the Blackberry & Bay shower gel and it is fabulous. I popped imto Macy’s before work when it was open at 6AM around the holidays – no lines!
I could actually have done two weeks worth of Christine Nagel’s Jo Malones, as I had originally planned for this week. Yet then I received my Fiele samples and that idea flew out the window!
You smell delicious, by the way!
Christine Nagel is “the woman”. Wow, she has created some spectacular fragrances.
Probably the same here if I were to include samples.
Another cool foggy day here in the SF Bay area. Feels like fall here too, not spring. My hand hovered over my mini collection, but my heart wanted amber, so… Armani Prive Ambre Soie it is. Mmmm.
Just the across the Bay, I’m fending off the damp with Aromatics Elixir… caved and cranked up the heat in my home office.
SOTD is Sous le toit de Paris and I’ve missed it! Probably my favorite Atelier scent to date.
That is my favorite from the line as well. You smell amazing
You smell amazing indeed!
SOTD is my latest purchase, Origins Ginger Essence. I just noticed some citronella (which I am not a fan of ) and there it is listed in the ingredients. Whoops. Not too noticeable, but I get whiffs of it every once in a while. Needed some serious perking up after a busy weekend and twin almost 2 year olds who are going through some sleeping issues at the moment! I know it will pass, but it is tiring getting through it!
It will pass… but cold comfort when you can barely keep your eyes open…
Warm and rainy weekend weather persuaded my lilacs to open their blossoms and yield their heavenly fragrance. Today, warm and sunny and windows wide open, their soft/spicy scent wafts through every room.
For Keep-It-Simple Monday, I’m celebrating their essence with YR Pur Desir de Lilas. It’s ‘just’ lilac, and it’s ‘just’ perfect!
I so enjoyed the haiku and other poetry!
Quelques Fleur today, and loving its aldehydes and florals. Very ladylike. I gave a sample of it to a friend who normally wears EL Beautiful, and she fell hard for this. Now when I wear it, I think of her.
Weird, so I have almost this exact same perfume bottle for Je Revien.
It’s the same round shape with the same stars embossed, the same disk type cap only mine says “Worth”. Mine is clear, not blue. Worth must have copied the Lalique bottle for themselves.
Yes, I have the same Je Reviens bottle as you, Worth used various Lalique bottle shapes. Dans la Nuit is a Worth perfume.
I decided to break out my Bas de Soie decant today. It worked well for the gray and rainy morning I had.
Hey sweetgrass – I love Bas plus I think it smells great the whole year round.
I wore a few dabs of Shalimar Souffle today. I’m having terrible hay fever and finding I can hardly smell anything plus I’ve got really itchy skin that’s driving me nuts so I didn’t want to wear anything too strong. I know this one gets a bad rap but I don’t actually mind it – I mean it’s not love but it’s actually pretty and light and OK for this time of year.
I sprayed some of the Souffle on paper, and I thought it was pretty ok. Those scent cards tend to end up on my night stand, and many of them have haunted me as they age, but Souffle actually grew on me. (Maybe it’s just that I wanted to eat it.)
Baghari, transporting Baghari.
Splendid Baghari!
Head cold since Thursday night, I am wearing just a bit of Mandorlo di Sicilia today. Can’t wait for this to be over!
It’s Victoria day here but I don’t own anything by Creed. I read that Fleurs de Bulgarie is one of the her favorites so I pulled out an old school rose: Joy. A bit heavy, especiall given I am off to a BBQ. Meh, just having one of those laissez-faire days.
This art historian forgot to add that if I could be at any museum this very minute, I’d be sitting on the steps in the garden of the Musée des Beaux Arts Petit Palais.
Sonoma Scent Studio Rose Musc (courtesy of Leathermountain!) on one hand and Neela Vermiere Mohur Extrait (gourtesy of Hasujuuri on the other) so I have been very happy all day long. The SSS is louder than Mohur extrait, but they complement each other I think. I would wear Rose Musc if some landed in my lap, but I am saving my pennies and nickles and dimes for the Mohur…
I adore Rose Musc; it’s so wearable. Haven’t managed to get my hands on Mohur extrait yet (and maybe it’s best that way, because it’s way outside of my budget), but the EDP is gorgeous.
It’s Queen Vicky day and I went to the beach with Rossy de Palma. Nice enough, but a beach scent she is not.
I’m testing Ys Uzac Monodie because it is on sale at Luckyscent (or at least it was when I read the e-mail a couple of days ago). Pleasant but very light. I tried YU Satin Doll over the weekend for the same reason. The name seems appropriate. Nice but very soft.
YU Immortal Beloved was more interesting. It reminded me of BK Pure Oud. If you liked the BK but want something more affordable, try Immortal Beloved.
My favorite from the line is Pohadka, which did not appear to be on sale. I usually like to wear it in late May/early June when there is cool green grass around, but it’s hot and muggy today. In fact, DC was the hottest place in the U.S. at noon today.
My sympathies. I grew up in MD and was just talking with someone who is moving from here (San Diego) to MD and going over some of the things I miss (fireflies! green and trees! diversity! Ethiopian food!) and some that I don’t (the DC area is a swamp and disgustingly humid for many months of the year! traffic!)
It’s a terrible place for pollen, too. I never had allergies before I moved here. But there are many pluses, too, such as interesting free things to do. I hope your friend makes the most of it!
No Ethiopian food in San Diego? Surprising – it’s definitely available in the SF Bay Area; there are Ethiopian communities and churches, too.