Brian Wilson is 73 today.
Our standard weekend open thread: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the fragrance you wish you'd find on sale somewhere, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Wow, that cover of God Only Knows hasn’t become any more tolerable since I first heard it. The original brings me to tears every time though, so I can just about let it slide. Incidentally, the Beach Boys were on TV a few weeks ago here in the UK, without Brian. They’re a shadow of what they once were. Not fit to call themselves the Beach Boys without Carl, Dennis and Brian.
Anyway, happy birthday, Brian! Going back to God Only Knows, I’m wearing the one perfume that I couldn’t be without today: Narciso Eau de Parfum.
LOL…you know, the original is about a million times better. This one has the star power going for it, and I guess if you didn’t love the original song, it might be preferable.
From Slate magazine:
“It might not be the best rendition of the song, but it’s one of the more bizarrely entertaining, and certainly the most lavish. […] God only knows how many people are in this video, who many of them are, and why they are surrounded by butterflies and Bengal tigers. “
I think it suffers from too large a budget!
You know, that’s a good point. Too many people there who don’t seem to have any real connection.
I would probably have enjoyed that BBC clip better if I were able to identify all the guest musicians (guessing my identification rate at about 40%). Sigh. Getting old.
Have not yet chosen a SOTD, but I’m taking a break from my scheduled fiction-writing time to come check in here. I like to burn a small candle on my desk while I’m writing – today that’s L’Occitane’s Sentier de Maquis (I’d love another one, but it’s d/c. Grrrr), which is very much a classic chypre accord. I might choose my DSH Chypre oil roll-on, which is very similar to the candle. They’re both a bit heavier on the cistus than my bottle of vintage (not the 80s rerelease) Coty Chypre, but very enjoyable.
A list, from the Guardian, although it is not in order of appearance so is kind of useless:
Joining Brian Wilson, the song’s writer, are Sir Elton John, One Direction, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams. Jake Bugg, Lorde, Emeli Sandé, Chris Martin, Kylie Minogue, Paloma Faith, Sam Smith, Florence Welch, Chrissie Hynde, Brian May, Dave Grohl, Alison Balsom, Martin James Bartlett, Danielle de Niese, Nicola Benedetti, Eliza Carthy, Baaba Maal, Jamie Cullum, Jaz Dhami, as well as the BBC’s Zane Lowe, Lauren Laverne, Katie Derham, Gareth Malone and Jools Holland. They are joined by the Tees Valley Youth Choir and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Here they are in order, but it’s not an easy to copy list:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/every-single-person-who-appeared-in-that-bbc-music-god-only#.na7dWdJGqM
Quite a few of those I’d never heard of before anyway! I got Sir Elton, Pharrell, Stevie, Lorde, Chris Martin, Sam Smith, Dave Grohl, Chrissie, Brian May (well, technically, I said to myself “that guitar guy from Queen,” but I think that sort of counts), Kylie, and One Direction, so that’s more like under 30%. Gah.
I got 1 Direction and Kylie and Pharrell because of perfume! And knew I “knew” Brian May but couldn’t even think of which band he was from. I knew Chrissie of course, and as Slate points out, even butterflies know who Elton John is. You did way better than me.
Shoot. You did better than me. I only recognized Sir Elton and One Direction (go me! for being a middle school teacher!). Oh, and Brian Wilson, of course.
England, with a brief detour to Scotland. Have a great time in DC, and hope it’s not too sticky.
Wow! Super-fun! Do you have family over there to visit or is it strictly touristing?
And adding, I doubt I was at even 40%.
And wish L’Occitane still made those little solid home fragrance cube things…I used to keep a tin on my desk and just open it once in awhile. They were lovely. They also used to make decent incense cones.
I really miss the incense cones, and the incense in general. They had a LE Christmas one about five years ago that was wonderful, smelled like piñon and frankincense. Still have a ton of the Orange Blossom incense hoarded since that was my favorite.
Oh, both those incenses sound great! They even did a green tea one once that was surprisingly good.
I enjoyed watching that! I saw Love and Mercy last weekend, so I’m very happy that Brian Wilson’s music is being appreciated again.
I still have not seen that — did you like it?
I did like it very much, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I knew the story better beforehand. I found myself squirming around in my seat saying … wait! what’s the timeline here? What decade is this? How’d we end up here? Where’d everybody go? Those big gaps were never addressed in the movie, so I read up when I got home and said oh! now I get it!
Gotcha, thanks.
Going through my samples for my upcoming trip. Will NOT be stuck with one perfume again, as happened on one vacation — quite dreadful!
Oh, and the Langley Schools version of “God Only Knows” is quite sweet.
I never knew about this!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Langley_Schools_Music_Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyv4MMzSjSU
So glad you plan on being prepared this time! I have a list of 5 or so fragrances I plan on bringing with me on vacation next month, and everytime I where something I stop and think, “Would this be good in DC?” and consider my options. 🙂
Where you heading off to?
Nice! Listening to any Beach Boys teleports me back to my L.A. roots. And Brian Wilson is a miracle, kinda like Keith Richards. Really defying the odds so amazing he has reached 73. Want to see Love & Mercy.
Sampling Worth Courtesan this AM. I like the soft, almost salty, make-up-y drydown. Good for this cool, cloudy day.
I think Keith Richards has sort of embalmed himself or something. I’m constantly amazed at the fact that he’s still walking around… performing… writing books… being lively. Agree: miracle.
My father is of their generation and lifestyle, and I feel the same way about him! But knowing that he wasn’t a rock star gives me some hope that he’s GOT to outlive the likes of Keith Richards, etc!
Was at gym early (for me at least) this morning. TJ Maxx is a half block away so stopped in after (yes, a sweaty mess)… They had Youth Dew and Aromatics Elixer on the sale table. I decided to try the latter – in the flowered bottle. If it was not a good choice, you may see it at the next freebiemeet….
I think I may go with Sensuous Nude after my shower – another TJ purchase last fall…
Thanks for the video… I love that song.
Nice find, hope you like it!
Wow, I was at TJ Maxx this morning and they had nothing I was interested in as far as perfume goes. I got a nice bar of bathsoap, lovely creamy honeysuckle scent. I need a honeysuckle perfume that smells like that…
Just recently scored a bottle of Hermes Mandarine Ambree (on the cheap) and have been laviciously applying all week. It has been perfect for the blistering heat here in Southern Cali.
Speaking of Mr. Wilson – I wonder what fragrance he is wearing for his birthday? Or better yet, if he had a Celebrity fragrance, what would it smell like?
Lucky you, I’d like a cheap bottle of MA.
I’m trying to think of something beachy without Calone. How about Honore de Pres Love Coconut?
Enjoyed the clip, but didn’t recognize many of the performers, either, so I’m glad you provided a list of who they were.
I’m in AG Eau de Charlotte today. What perfume do I wish was on sale right now? Let me see… I’ll have to get my long list out of what I want to buy in the near future!
What great music the Beach Boys put out. One of my favorites is In My Room. Beautiful lyrics and tune.
Question…
Rose fragrances are not ones I particularly like to wear but some of my favorite scents have the note as a key player, such as Mohur and PHI by Tauer.
I’ve not tried the original Mohur, just the Extrait. How do they compare?
Any other scents out there that you’d describe as similar to Mohur? Thanks!
Nice video, Robin, thank you!
For the real God Only Knows, http://youtu.be/lpd4jzKA4SA
And with Brian singing the lead because Carl’s away on his solo tour: http://youtu.be/SmMKYYRAVBE
Happy Birthday, Brian! I’m wearing Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom to celebrate the occasion.
Thanks for the links…both of those are better versions of the song. And here’s a fun video of them lip syncing to their own Don’t Worry Baby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y-0nWVdBH4
Wow. Love the crossed arms! Looks like they really don’t know what to do with themselves on that new-fangled medium. :-p
Good Morning! SOTD L’Air du Desert Marocain. Still had some lingering from post-shower last night, so I decided to just top it off with a fresh coat.
I’m feeling past-due for a visit to Our Lady of the Scented Wrists (The Perfume House), and I’m likely to make a pilgrimage and lay a fatted calf at her feet some time soon. Other than a few recent Amouages that I know I’ve missed, anything else newish that folks have tried and think require some consideration?
(Sadly, they stopped carrying Chanel a year or two back, so I haven’t yet tried Misia, and I will have to wait until I’m in Vegas or near another boutique for that one. . . )
Should add that Our Lady carries higher end lines and some niche, so there’s Tauer, Serge Lutens, Amouage, L’Artisan, Piguet, Montale, Etro, Caron, Commes des Garcons, Histoires de Parfums, Guerlain, Xerjoff, etc., etc.
I haven’t sniffed them but if given the chance I would try the latest incensy ones by Serge Lutens.
I keep looking for an incense that suits me. Thank you for the reminder!
Based on what they have online, I think it would be interesting to try CdG Airborne (Hussein Chalayan), MPG Ambre Doré, Cartier Baiser Volé extrait de parfum, Amouage Fate, MPG Grain de Plaisir and the Bois 1920 line. The Xerjoffs that tempt me are Irisss and Damarose.
Happy Saturday Everyone! Well, when the damage poll comes out, I know I have overdone it again. The other day, someone on NST mentioned the perfume Jasmine White Moss from EL. I hadn’t heard that name in a long time and remembered how much I loved it. Well, I went to the EL website and did a “live chat” with one of their consultants. She told me that it had been discontinued. She went on to tell me that I could contact headquarters to see if there was anywhere I could get a bottle. After doing some digging, I found out that both Nordstroms and Neiman Marcus still carries it. So, if anybody got into “panic mode” like myself, there is still hope. Have a good weekend everyone!
Working my way through my samples so I’m trying Pixie Dust which is an all natural perfume from Esscentual Alchemy. I have a bunch of samples from her but I forgot to sample the rest once I fell for For the Love of Bees
What great names! What is For The Love of Bees like?
Sweet, floral and with a noticeable broom (genet) presence that makes it seem fuzzy on me
I keep meaning to sample the Esscentual Alchemy line then blowing my budget elsewhere. I really want to love Time Lord because…Time Lord, I’m almost afraid to sample it and not like it. Also, Bottom’s Dream sounds really lovely. Have you tried either of those?
Nn I don’t have those samples
Wearing Eau Premiere from a twist-n-spray set purchased on ebay. Smells a tiny bit off at first blush, but quickly rights itself, thank goodness. I can tell it’s the older version. Have no idea why I’m so obsessed w this scent lately. I do love the twist & spray.
My cable co is showing free HBO this weekend, which mainly serves to remind me why I don’t bother with premium channels. However, they’re showing Gone Girl tonight, which I’ll either watch or dvr.
I’m ignorant… what is twist-and-spray?
Eau Premiere is so good – I wish I’d bought some when it was new. I did buy my mom a 15ml bottle off ebay, but that’s gone now.
It’s a purse spray. The Eau Premiere one I just got is a 20 ml size packaged with 2 20-ml refills. Black and silver, instead of uncapping, you just turn slightly clockwise to raise spraying mechanism…tres chic!
Coincidentally, I went to the Chanel Boutique yesterday looking for the travel spray of No. 19. The casing is silver. It is on the website but with no option to Add to Cart. Sadly, the SA looked at me like I was talking to her about Hermes.
Shame on her.
I’m sampling FM Lys Mediterranee and it is so pretty. I might need some, but probably not a whole bottle. It might be a candidate for the splitmeet in the 10ml size. DK Gold didn’t really wow me so I’m glad I tried this. Any other great lilies I should try? I love white flowers.
I really like Cartier Baiser Vole. I have the EDT, EDP and Parfum Extrait. You and I are kind of evil scent twins so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not to your liking.
You’re right! I tried Baiser Vole and was distinctly underwhelmed. Too sheer for me.
Have you tried the Tom Fords? I’m wearing Lys Fume right now and if you like your lilies with some presence, this is worth a try. Most people prefer Shanghai Lily and it’s lovely, I know, it just irritates me. I blame the clove.
I forgot I have Shanghai Lily! So different from the Malle.
Aside from the Malle, I also like SLutens Un Lys, L’Artisan Passage d’Enfer and Le Labo Lys.
Narciso Rodriguez for Her is all-lily-all-the-time on me. Perhaps for you as well.
the original was way better…I tend to hate star power crap…makes me less interested…
In a bad mood…dealing with a lot of not fun stuff and it’s getting to me…one can only deal with so much.
Commando…..
I hope things go better as the weekend unfolds.
Thanks sweetie
I can sympathize with you. Hope your weekend improves.
I have an affinity with your attitude towards ‘star power’!
SOTM is Bvlgari Eau The Blanc. Later on I expect to switch to Eau de Potting Soil with a smidgen of Essence de Weed et Sweat. h, summer. 🙂
That was “ah, summer”. The old ipad is balky this morning.
Howdy, for all waiting for their freebiemeet package, I am behind in mailing them out. My excuse is inertia.
SOTD = nothing yet but I will likely try one of the Fiele perfumes from my sample pack
I picked Pogostemon for my intro to Fiele. The patchouli may be slightly heady for me and I ended up chasing this with CSP Amour de Cacao. I’ll have to avoid wearing this combination during family gatherings as my brother-in-law claims to be allergic to something I’m wearing today.
Trying Cedrus. Very natural-too natural. Doesn’t last, but it reminds me of the West.
I was almost starting to get worried about my package so good to know it simply hasn’t been shipped yet
SOTD is Volnay Brume d’Hiver again. I would love to find the new version of Le Galion Snob someplace; I sprayed a paper strip in Paris and have been obsessing over it ever since.
The new Le Snob sounds intriguing. Are you looking for a decant or a bottle?
I’m headed to Spain for the summer, and as a person newly infatuated with fragrance, I’d love to know if anyone familiar with the country can tell me about any don’t-miss perfume stores, or other fragrance-related excursions I should make. Of course, I’ve been to the orange groves, and love orange flower/szahar and neroli notes as a result. But beyond this, I’d love to know more about how to pursue my passion while there. Thanks!
Carner Barcelona has my favorite iris, D600, and a couple of others in their line. I like that they take their time between releases and seem to produce quality fragrances.
That sounds yummy; I’m a fan of iris, so I’ll check it out! Is Carner Barcelona available in Corte Ingles, or only in a specialty store?
I asked the same questions a couple of weeks ago before going to Barcelona and many kind people reminded me to visit the perfume museum, which I did (Bois de Jasmin has a review). Also, second Carner Barcelona – if you like gourmands, El Born is a soft and modern take. I don’t like Ramon Monegal as much, but it’s worth checking out. But mostly, just enjoy the food and the art and the scene and the scents will come to you. The whole country smells good.
Thanks! I was definitely planning on getting to Barcelona this time, so the Perfume Museum is on my list. I’ll check out the review on Bois de Jasmin. Yeah, I agree, the whole country smells good. I love all the colognes there, especially Hierbas de Ibiza, but now I want to branch out!
I’m cleaning out my home office, installing a new desk (20 square feet of horizontal space!), hooking the computer and all of the gadgets and peripherals back up – and it’s summer in the desert, so I’m grimy and sweaty. But, the computer is back online, and this is a good time for a break, so I’m going to hit the shower, and then apply some Ann Gerard Perle de Mousse, recently gifted to me by my PFF Tammy!
That’s a significant amount of desk space. I have a huge desk area at work but I find that the bigger ones work space is the more projects that require a lot of space get thrown my way.
I love that cover, but I like that sort of thing in general. I call this genre The Best Have Been Chosen and I’m a great fan of it also when it comes to movies (see Ocean’s 11, RED, The Italian Job, Inception for reference). I think it all started with the A-Team.
It has been a good perfume day for me. I usually buy all my perfume myself, but I went shopping with my boyfriend (we’ve been together for 16 years, no intention to marry, so I have no idea what to call him) and he bought me Tom Ford’s Lys Fume that has been on the list for a long time. He bought TF Tobacco Oud and Byredo Pulp for himself and I’m very proud of him. Also plan to steal both on a regular basis. I’m wearing Lys Fume, of course.
Annikky, I’m in the same situation as regards boyfriends. I min and match between calling him primary partner, partner, boyfriend, husband, spouse, and “oh yeah, that guy…” 🙂
A nice selection 🙂
Anniky, the only reason that we got married was for the hundreds of legal protections that a civil marriage provides to our loving relationship. We used “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” before we got married, “partner” for a little while after that, and now we use “husband” and “wife.” The most accurate term fir me would be “best friend,” but know one would understand that:-)
I completely understand the best friend thing! But yes, it can probably be confusing in some situations…
Same situation – longish term relationship with no intentions of marriage. ‘Boyfriend’ just sounds adolescent though… People use the term ‘partner’ but I don’t find that completely comfortable either.
Working my way thru my Penhaligon’s samples. Thinking this house is not really for me… eh, that’s fine, it’s good to cross things off the list 🙂
Debating what (clothes, scent) to wear to the San Francisco Symphony tonight. They’re recreating an 1808 Beethoven concert… the original lasted over 5 hours!
http://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2014-2015/Beethoven-Marathon.aspx
I think you can – and should – go all out for Beethoven, he’s pretty OTT. But I would of course advocate going all out for the corner shop, so my advice is only moderately helpful.
I’m definitely wearing a Tracy Reese dress and fancy jewelry. Sadly have to skip my heels, since I comprehensively stubbed a toe a couple of days ago — it’s not broken (I think), but it’s technicolor. Sigh. Flats it is. Probably will wear VCA California Reverie… that seems to be my favorite summer scent — at the moment 🙂
THat’s such a pretty scent.
Was wearing Tokyo Milk Dark Crushed from a sample but it seemed to be attracting crazy people so I’m switching to Rubj for a quiet evening at home.
This kitchen remodel is going to be the death of me. The cabinets were delivered last week and they were the right color and ALMOST the right style. Yes, the designer ordered the wrong thing. If I hadn’t double checked the sink when I went to double check the countertops she would have screwed that up too. So my kitchen looks nothing like what I planned and they have yet to offer to make it better. Hubband likes the cabinets because the poor fool didn’t really know what it was supposed to look like anyway. We’ve had glitches with the installers and I just want these people out of my house. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still going to be beautiful compared to what I had but it’s really a huge disappointment to imagine something for so long and then to have it not come out the way you hoped it would. Oh, and that two weeks time frame is now stretching into week 4.
On the bright side, I love the granite I picked out.
I empathize completely, Poodle. I have yet to find a competent contractor or even one that returns calls in a timely fashion. I have six windows waiting to be installed and no contractor for the next two weeks. In my profession, I would starve if I treated people so poorly. Have a nice glass of wine and take a few deep breaths. Or a Valium. 😉
It’s amazing how awful these people are. Except the granite people. They were fabulous and I wanted to adopt the installers. They were the sweetest guys! So nice and they did a great job. But you are so right, getting a callback requires an act of God. Sometimes it’s not the best one that you end up choosing, it’s whoever actually calls.
Attracts crazy people? Wow, thanks for the heads up, my cup runneth over. Good luck on the remodel…be strong.
I loved that phrase too!
Yesterday I have received a scented package from a befriended perfume boutique and from among the goodies I decided to test Oud Satin Mood from Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Smells pretty amazing 🙂
Happy weekend all! I hope those of you who are stressed feel better soon.
I’m in testing mode, so have had Metarboles on one arm, and Ael-Mat on the other. When worn by itself, I like metarboles slightly more, because of its medicinal/mint opening. But smelling it next to Ael-Mat, which has a fairly sweet opening, Metarboles smelled like over sweetened ricola cough drops, and was not nice at all. They’ve both dried down quite similarly, with approximately the same village and longevity. I might have to give the edge to Ael-Mat. That’s probably good, since I have app 7mL of Ael-Mat, and only about 3 of Metarboles. I’ll finish them both sooner or later.
I love to read a good side-by-side comparison.
Misia for me today, needed a little sweetness after an accident-prone weekend where a glass of water spilled on my laptop (then I did everything you aren’t supposed to do afterwards…now it seems to be fried). Then tried to dislodge something in my shower drain with a drain brush which got stuck on something. I can’t tug it out no matter what I try and am really hoping not to have to call a plumber. Small things, but urghhh!
Those small things just wear you down. Thinking of the half container of gazpacho I splashed all over my kitchen last week. I truly sympathize and hope everything gets straightened out soon.
Small things can really crap up your day. Hope it gets better!
OMG, the laptop… I spilled about an ounce of iced coffee on mine on Thursday. PANIC ENSUED, lemme tell ya – I’m frantically yanking the power cord out, flipping it over to take the battery out, swiping at it with a towel, all the while muttering ohno ohno ohno ohno nonononono… Found a tutorial (on my big desktop) for taking it apart, and managed to clean it up with alcohol and Q-tips. Left the fan blowing on it for several hours, but when I plugged it back it in started up and has seemed just fine.
But I’m waiting for it to spectacularly explode any minute. I’m so sorry about yours.
Hope the Misia is helping!
Une Fille de Berlin! Lovely, lovely, lovely…
My Atelier samples showed up today, and I’ve gone scentless so far in anticipation. In about 10 minutes, I’m pretty sure I’ll be wearing all of them, and I couldn’t be more excited! Perfect way to spend a rainy night at home.
Love your familiar tale.
SOTA is Ann Gerard Ciel d’Opale. I liked it so much yesterday dabbed that I decided to try it sprayed this afternoon. Found an empty sample vial with a sprayer, and voila – I’m wafting wonderfulness all over the place. Truly not what I expected from the name, but not complaining at ALL! It’s a little hard to describe – there’s some woodiness, some lightly bitter greenness, something a bit like lily but not … I have to go read the notes on this.
We braved the rain and the bored tourists to run to the closest city and buy some trees (since the ground is soft enough to plant right now). Everyplace we went was packed but I had a nice Jungle l’Elephant force field so I was ok. Now we’re home and using the rain as an excuse to be lazy bums and play with the kittens. They have discovered “up there” exists and are rapidly learning how to jump and climb. Glad we’re at Mom’s where the sofas have survived generations of cats and not at home wincing at the clawing sounds. Our old spoiled grouch of a cat has figured out that what he thought was some kind of rodent infestation is actually tiny cats and he couldn’t be more jealous and upset so I am feeling a bit guilty.
Hope everyone who is having a crummy day feels better!
“…what he thought was some kind of rodent infestation is actually tiny cats….” Thanks for the laugh–you have described many of my older, settled-in pets’ response to newbies.
Poor Mr. B. hasn’t had to welcome littles in a long time. He’s ok with making friends with adult cats as long as they know he’s boss and all the things are his. I got the “you’ve betrayed me” look today.
I know that look. Hope he adjusts soon!
Ahaha! Hope he adjusts. We brought kittens home after one of our older pair of cats died, thinking the remaining one seemed lonely. NOT. Older kitty never did accept the newbies, we had 5 years of refereeing squabbles before she passed on.
Love “force field.” 🙂
BigChortleOL. Thanks!
It’s warm here, so I’m sniffing Jour d’Hermes on top of Terracotta. I’m not sure if it’s a happy accident or an awful mess that I got when I layered these, but so far I’m enjoying the extra bit of citrus on top of the delicious flowers and vanilla.
Thanks for neo-nostalgia, Robin. I simply love that God Only Knows video. It is what it is, and unabashedly so, which is a good way to live and love. I’m a fan of Baz Luhrman and the visuals in his Moulin Rouge! so no surprise there.
I also love the original song, remembered from childhood, as my parents are about the same age as Brian Wilson, and I arrived the same year as Pet Sounds.
My da was a surfer, so we heard a LOT of the Beach Boys’ music on the AM radio as we drove home from the beach, sandy, salty, slightly burnt, tired, and happy, with our legs stuck to the vinyl seats in the 1972 Fiat station wagon.
I can still smell the inside of that car. 🙂
So glad you liked it! And what a lovely scent/music memory…
What wonderful memories!
Today was the Solstice party in downtown Anchorage, and I wore Chanel Cristalle for my “walking around” scent. Had coffee, bought a new fish scarf, and pigged out on oysters and champagne at the Bubbly Mermaid. I thought about picking something that screamed, “winter is coming”, but decided to revel in the almost all day sun while I still can.
Walking around scent, I like that!
Oh what fun! Now I think I need to plan a visit to Anchorage some summer! I love community celebrations. 🙂 (And how have I gone so long without a single fish scarf?!)
We saw Brian Wilson perform recently. It was wonderful, and a bit sad. He had lots of support on stage, and appeared to be very comfortable with his music. Our Prayer/Gee is my fav – love the Smile and Smiley-Smile albums.
Was on a work-ation this past week in Maine, clearing out my father-in-law’s house. It was cool outside, but the work was exhausting both physically and mentally. Brought Amouage Fate & Sunshine; Anne Pliska; PdN New York; and Del Rae Amoureuse, which came up in a thread last week. Loved it – one tiny dab was more than enough. Saved that one for evening. Still can’t figure out Sunshine, but it wasn’t overwhelming even when I was hauling boxes and furniture about. Seriously rethinking my OCD collecting of books, textiles and stuff. I really don’t want to put my kids through a similar experience.
I had the same experience after my mother died. Still working on it, but my life is better having moved on the stymied projects of my mother (and my grandmother) out of my life…but I still miss her… just not her stuff.
It’s so hard. I still have one of my mother’s sweaters. When we emptied my parents’ house 20 years ago, my siblings and I had swap-athons – we’d get pizza and beer and draw straws. The rest went into a dumpster. Still gives me the horrors.
This is my great fear about my mother’s things. I find the notion of dealing with her collections overwhelming.
I’m going to start giving things away. Told the kids to take anything they like, now. All their college stuff is here – that will go to the dump this summer. We need a dumpster.
My packrat grandmother (who lived with my parents for nearly forty years) died six years ago and Mom is still in the process of getting rid of her stuff. I would have reached the point of “Okay, all the family’s had a chance to pick through, and her good friends… everything else goes to Goodwill or the dump,” about three years ago myself, but my mother can’t seem to cope with the idea, much less its execution. I’m not sure why.
God help me and my siblings when my parents go.
Mals, we made many trips to Goodwill and the dump. The barn is still full of bags that need to go. Sets of Exeter china, multiple college sweaters, about 50 bow ties, loads of cufflinks. More stuffed animals than I care to contemplate, and CLOWN dolls. Ugh. Also, it looked like his partner spent thousands at the Christmas Tree Shop.
It took me years to truly consider some of Mother’s things I wasn’t ready to part with. Some were stuffed animals and dolls that were her constant companions in her last (too many!) years with Alz. BTW, things she had little regard for in her previous incarnation.
I took photos- portraits, actually- of them as my tribute to their service. It turned out to be a swell idea and an easier way to say goodbye.
I had ignored my own collecting (hoarding) tendencies believing my fabulous taste (?) gave me a pass. Lately I have been diligent with my evolving minimalist lifestyle. It sure feels good and some ebayers have benefited from my zeal. Adios to a lot of classic scents that weren’t being enjoyed the way they were intended to be.
I culled my “A” team, and with them, Mom’s signature, Indescreet. Some things have to remain.
I like the idea of photos, juicejones. Much easier to manage.
My mother is a like-you-see-on-TV hoarder. All rooms stacked at least 5 feet deep with… stuff. I dread the eventual clean-out.
Husband’s solution: “front-end loader”
Right there with him (and you).
I just got to my dad’s house, and one of my sisters said, “What’s that perfume you’re wearing? I like it.” PdE Azemour. I may be responsible for the creation of another perfumista.
Wearing my sample of Amouage Gold Cristal Woman. Each time I wear it I think it’s too much for me, but about 2 hours in it gets beautiful. I think I’m ready to send the sample on, but would like to know – what’s the difference between the Cristal and the plain ol’ Gold?
Has anyone else tried the new Smell Bent Frankensmellie, Pepper Ylang? I’m wearing it for the second time and really enjoying it. It isn’t super complex, but it’s very pretty.
Trying Mugler Womanity today. I actually like it! After the twin assault of Angel and Alien I had sworn never to allow a Mugler to touch my skin again. Then while searching for a good coffee scent, I tried A-Men Pure Coffee… and quite liked it. Now here I am liking Womanity. Hmm.
My scent yesterday, Guerlain Mon Precieux Nectar, attracted gnats, so I went with something decidedly unfloral today, CdG Artek Standard.