Hump day! (And I'm going to be spending much of it on the road, so I may or may not be able to post much more today, we'll see how it goes.) What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Parfum d’Empire Azemour Les Orangers, from my own Top 10 of Summer 2012.
Reminder: this Friday, 6/26, is Top 10 of Summer. Wear one of your own "top 10 of summer" fragrances (unless it's winter where you are, in which case wear one of your "top 10 of winter" scents)
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 FREE Refreshing Orange Slice Creative Commons [cropped] by Pink Sherbet Photography at flickr; some rights reserved.
Kenzo Eau de Fleur Magnolia today. Very nice in the heat as it is neither overwhelming nor dull.
I liked that one…
I’m wearing Gucci Accenti from a sample. It’s discontinued which made me wonder: when did they stop using real sandalwood in perfumes? How far back would I have to go (with any scent) to smell the real thing?
Some small artisanal perfumers still use real sandalwood. My favorite is Santal Exotique from Exotic Island Perfumers that I got off etsy
Thanks for the tip, I will search it out
Ooh, I’ve wanted to try that one! Nice to see someone out there has tried and liked it.
Australian sandalwood is not *that* rare in perfume these days. It’s the original Mysore sandalwood that is now hard to find, and many perfumers have argued it’s unethical to use it even if you can find it.
The Mysore was richer and creamier.
Ah, thanks Robin, I didn’t realize there was Australian sandalwood – I thought it was all synthetic at this point.
So it’s the Mysore sandalwood I need to hunt down in something vintage
Sonoma Scent Studio uses mysore in some of their fragrances.
I actually prefer Australian sandalwood. It’s a littler greener than Mysore and even a little bit fruity.
There seems to be a bit more Indian sandalwood (santalum album) on the market recently. I found Now brand essential oil – actually 14% santalum album in grapeseed oil – at Whole Foods for $20 recently. Not strong but definitely the old complexity, and good for layering. This has me wondering how much santalum album has entered the market, as well as it’s grade and price. Maybe things are looking up
Love Gucci Accenti
My perfume that I ordered finally came in yesterday afternoon. So, my SOTD is Estee Lauder’s Private Collection: Jasmine White Moss. Such an amazing fragrance. So sad that this one was discontinued.
Me too! Fortunately, I bought the last, and big, bottle of JWM at Holts, which they’d thought they no longer had in stock…
We will have to treasure our bottles. Glad you were able to find one as well!
Mine arrived today! I’ve been mowing lawn, so it has commingled with gasoline and is suffering. I’ll try it again after I’ve washed up. But aren’t we all lucky?
Yes we are!!
Wearing Rozy edp today. I think one spritz is acceptable for work (not that I should be wearing any perfume…..). Such a pretty scent
SOTD is Yohji Homme.
Nice!
Clinique Aromatics Elixir: I wish it had a date on it because it’s not the really old super-aggressive stuff but it still has a fair bit of oakmoss so it’s not the newest reformulation. Maybe ten years old? Tons of roses and patchouli. So good.
You smell straight-up magnificent!
I tried this at Dillards maybe a year ago. Seemed really heavy on the synthetic cinnamon. But then I’m pretty sensitive to synthetics.
SOTD: Nuit de Boheme Edp by Anna Sui.
Compared to others from Anna Sui, this is more complex and well done IMO and the bottle is really quite pretty!
Wearing Bois d’Iris by Van Cleef and Arpels today.
On the topic of sandalwood, I have the impression that real Indian sandalwood is slowly starting to grow back, because my perfumer friend provided me with the sandalwood paste she made for her lecture the other night, and believe me – it smells AMAZING. It was apparently used for cooling the body in the Deccan era, and oddly, it does have a very cooling sensation when you put it on your skin.
Although I guess it could be Australian – she didn’t specify – but because her lecture was on India, I thought that’s what it was.
Lucky you either way – amazing is amazing is amazing!!
How interesting that it would have a cooling sensation on skin when it sounds so lush.
Exactly what Alexis and I thought. I will admit that the paste itself is not the most visually attractive thing I’ve ever seen, but it does smell and feel lovely.
I read somewhere that the trees yielding Mysore sandalwood are being grown in Indonesia, and India is also replanting.
Sandalwood has well documented healing properties. Used on the temples, it stops headaches. I sometimes sneak it into massage cream for my clients.
Hove Elan d’Orange is my SOTD. Its one of my favorites for summertime. Very crisp!
Unum’s gorgeous Opus 1144 is sending wafts all about me and I’m loving it.
Timbuktu, which I’m almost having trouble smelling in my over-air-conditioned office. I’ll have to take a break and wander outside later.
I’m wearing citrus today, and trying Orange Sanguine for the second time. The first time I tried it was from a sample, and I wasn’t impressed. It seemed to have no sillage and didn’t last. This was from a mini. They are both splash as opposed to spray, but I can apply more with the mini. For that reason, I’m liking the scent more. It does truly smell like an orange. However, my favorite blood orange scent is still 4711 Acqua Colonia Blood Orange & Basil.
I was pretty indifferent to Orange Sanguine the first time I wore it, too, but throughout the day, it grew on me, and I must have reapplied three or four times.
I love the juicyness of the orange in the opening, but I get disappointed as it settles down, which is why I tend to reapply it often!
Vanie, I’m with you- loved the opening but the dry down was ho hum.
Priscilla, if you can, try decanting into a spray bottle. That may help with sillage and lasting power. It took a while for O.S. to grow on me, and I agree, the drydown is not the scent’s strong point. But now that it has grown on me, the opening is just great.
Missionista,
You took the words right out of my mouth. A spray bottle will give you the true essence of a scent. I do reapply as well because I like to smell my fragrance as much as possible.
Odalisque today. It’s been at near freezing temps at night here, but with clear days I’ve been craving crisper scents than my usual cozy winter ones. This one has always been a winter one for me for some reason, and it felt perfect
On of my winter favorites, too. You smell great!
SOTD is Ciel d’Opale again, in part out of convenience – we’re on the edge of a serious heat wave here in Oregon and I moved most of my perfume collection to a small refrigerator downstairs. But don’t get me wrong – Ciel truly is a very nice spring/summer scent. It’s hard to choose a single favorite summer scent, but I’m thinking I’ll go with Jour d’Hermes on Friday.
I’m wearing Fleur de Chine, again. But it’s a wonderful fragrance – I’m still somewhat surprised that Tom Ford came up with something so subtle.
I think that’s the only one I’ve not tried of his. I need to get on that.
Oh, do! Do you like any of the others?
Shanghai lily is gorgeous. I drained that decant a while back. Still debating on whether or not to get a bigger decant or bottle.
I prefer Lys Fume myself, but it doesn’t mean that Shanghai Lily isn’t lovely.
Annikky,
Have you tried Santal Blush? It is my favorite from the line.
I have, but I must admit I don’t remember it that well. Must retry. My absolute favourite is Velvet Gardenia, sadly discontinued. I also love Lys Fume and Cafe Rose and there are quite a few others I like.
I almost wore this today. You smell great!
Thank you! The more I wear it, the more I like it.
I am a big Tom Ford fan as well. I haven’t tried this yet, but will do so.
Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat (Guerlain). One of their notorious eaux that’s nothing but an absolute whisper after 10 minutes of wear but I have no issues reapplying!
Hot & humid here today and I am wearing Orla Kiely for something refreshing.
Seville a l’Aube for me today!
You smell great!
She sure does!
Thanks! It wore beautifully all day. Such a great scent! I like the greenness alongside the juicy floralcy.
I’m doing a bit of testing this week. Yesterday was a dud, but today isn’t so bad. Wearing Replica Jazz Club. It’s nice, but not bottle worthy.
I liked that one too! But the bottles are very big…:(
That was the only one of the series that I liked, but not enough for a bottle either!
Yes! It’s very nice and if it came in a 30ml bottle, I’d be tempted.
I got a sudden craving for vanilla last night, so after wearing Vanilla Flash to bed, I put on Tihota this morning. This scent is pure joy.
Two great vanillas in one day!
Started out commando for a last minute trip to the vet. We caught the feral female last night (finally!) and took her in to be spayed. Turns out I stowed my decant of Amaranthine in my purse and it’s working well for me today.
Amaranthine + kitteh would be nice.
Moschino Funny! for me today – loving the grapefruit/tea/rose zing. I’m not that much of a citrus fragrance lover, but exceptions for me seem to be grapefruit and lime. I really like this one.
In Ferre for Keep It Simple Thursday (holiday edition).
I am wearing the great sour lemon fragrance Acqua Viva from Profumum. It lasts a long time on me for a citrus and just smells so summery.
I’m sampling Robert Piguet Visa (the reissued version). Nice, inoffensive, and a bit boring. I’d love to try the original version.
Del Rae Debut, now past its intro Greens and Linden, into sturdy LOTV, which is lovely.
My sample of this is on it’s way! Can’t wait to try it.
SOTD = Chanel No. 19 EDP
Gorgeous morning here in New York City. I’ll go out this afternoon for a quck walk. No. 19 is so versatile I probably could have worn this in yesterday’s heat and humidity as well!
I am crushing on No. 19 at the moment, though I haven’t had enough experience yet to know EDP from EDT. Still, I feel like some of this is in my future. You smell fabulous. Enjoy your day!
19 is good in heat. Yep.
I doused myself with Yves Rocher Neroli this morning. So refreshing in the humid weather. It’s also my bedtime go to when even a top sheet is too warm.
The dry down is lovely too. And so inexpensive, I use it as a body mist and do at least 10 sprays at a time.
You smell great !
I love the cold so much that I had the A/C blasting last night and I slept snuggled under 3 layers of blankets
Today is my second (and final) sampling of Chanel No 18.
One never hears about that one (never sampled either). Thumbs down, I take it?
Yep, thumbs down. There’s a very persistent gritty orange Pez/Trix/aspirin note that won’t quit on me. I guess that’s the “fruity” aspect. Then a bit of iris here and there, which I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t read up.
That’s a weird one. I liked it in the store and first use of my sample but tried it again more recently and found it more sour and metallic than I remember and too much so for my taste. But it’s definitely different!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! Although perhaps the reason it’s rarely mentioned is because other people have had the same response?
Yeah, I can see why it may not be all that popular. Aspirin is a good description.
SOTD is Givenchy Le De (current formulation). It’s a Classy Lady summer floral scent… reserved and calm. Very nice indeed.
In Hermes Eau d’Orange Vert today, and it has already vanished. Good thing I brought the sample with me so I can reapply.
Mucho caliente! I am dreaming of Perthgirl’s cool temps
I was doing a 30 min kettle bell work out yesterday (barely made it!) and this morning my back muscles are a little twinge-y so I had to go with Amour de Cacao. Again. Still.
But happy to be in such a comforting rut!
I felt the same way when I was in my Natori phase – slightly guilty for not mixing it up in true fumie style, but also loving the comfort it gave me every day.
Also, kudos on the work out. Maybe I’ll exercise again someday…:)
That one is on my to try list for sure! Isn’t it wonderful when you find a particular scent that seems to fit you like a puzzle piece? It’s beyond just enjoying and liking a scent, it’s more like feeling completely at HOME in one
I’m wearing AA Mandarine Basilic. It’s a little too cold for it today, but it’s still beautiful.
One of my summer top 5! Love it!
A generous spraying of Chanel Beige EDT for me today.
That’s a nice one. Very subtle and appropriate for the season.
The parfum is gorgeous too.
Sampling Parfums de Rosine Rose Kashmire from a generous NSTer – the opening is such a lovely juicy rose followed by powder and a bit of spice. Very ‘perfume’-y if that makes any sense! I am enjoying it quite a bit!
EL Private Collection. Had sort of forgotten about this one, despite its many positive reviews (Tania Sanchez, Bois de Jasmin, and Angela on NST). I liked it better last night after the storm and red sky; it’s a bit dressy for a summer day. I’ve added a little Azemour to juice it up, and the combination seems to work, oddly.
Scent twins! I love Azemour, too, so I’ll have to try that combo.
Aren’t there a few EL Private Collection perfumes? Or is there only one “current” one at a time?
There is one that is actually named “Private Collection”.
Aerin Lauder also has a “Private Collection” line as well. There used to be 3 fragrances under this line. Right now, the only one left is called “Tuberose Gardenia”. The other two have been discontinued. I just recently found one that was discontinued at Nordstrom; “Jasmine White Moss”. Neiman Marcus carries it to. I guess they will continue to sell it until they run out.
Sorry, I forgot to mention the last one. The other that was discontinued was “Amber Ylang Ylang”.
Thanks for the helpful explanation, scentfromabove
There is something quite stormy about Private Collection – it makes me think of huge wide open spaces and always gives me this feeling that something spectacular is about to happen! Perhaps that is why I don’t wear it as much as I thought it would?
I’m definitely going to try the suggested combo
Wow, Merlin! That description is intriguing! I have yet to have any success with Lauder’s fragrances but you’ve piqued my interest in Private Collection.
SOTD is Imaginary Authors Falling into the Sea. I was really not crazy about this scent when I first tried it, but I think the weather was wrong. On a bright warm morning like today, it’s perfect. I smell like the salted glass of a lime margarita! So glad I decided to try it again.
I thought that was a charming storyteller scent.
This sounds great! I’ve waited all day to have a frosty Margarita after reading this. Ahh …
Wearing AA Herba Fresca. It is definitely in my summer top 10, probably even the top 2 (along with AA Mandarine Basilic). Hope everyone has a lovely Wednesday!
You and Ajda smell great! I just bought a full bottle of AA Manderine Basilic. Love it and Herba Fresca too! I plan on wearing it a lot this summer. I think it would be nice all year when you need a little sunshine. Beautiful bottles too.
I love those bottles, too. So pretty!
Le Jardin de M. Li. I smell of tart kumquat, just what i needed. Will go for something with more body later on after work.
Happy Hump Day, All!
Scent twins! This is my first wearing, and I’m finding it perfect for a sunny, warm day.
SOTD is Weekend (a Deauville), it is gorgeous, long lasting, summery but not boring. Perfect.
Yum. Who makes that?
Parfums de Nicolaï.
Available in 30 ml, and affordable ( at least in Europe, 36 euros)!
Working through the Fiele sampler – Cedrus and Myhrra today, opposite wrists. This line just wasn’t my thing; I favor the name/named ingredients (juniper, cedar, myrrh) over “modern interpretations” I guess. Quality seems good, with 3-4 hours wear, and reasonably priced.
Ditto. Wanted to love them.
Greetings, all. Number 19 for me. I don’t tend to think of this as a winter perfume, but I’m hoping it will help me stay cheerful and focused, because I’m facing a tidy-the-desk day, cleaning up beastly little bits of business that I didn’t want to deal with when they arrived and am even less attracted to now. Sigh. I’m feeling bone idle, that’s what, but if any perfume can help me conquer my inner procrastinator, it will be 19. So, cheers for its spare green elegance, and may it rise above the low temperatures outside!
Oh, I hope you find the completion of some tasks satisfying! I love a clean desk.
Well, I must admit that I boosted the psychological power of 19 by adding bright red boots at the other end of my outfit, and thus prepared, I strode up to one little lot of trouble and bopped it on the nose. I felt rather good, but now I’ve found out that it has had puppies, and they’ve gone EVERYWHERE! Aiee, there’s a lesson there for me.
Thank you — today threatens to be tiresome, but good wishes and 19 will give me the brace I need! Holly, good luck with your own desk clean. Let me know if 19 works for you.
Go get ’em girl! Nothing like bright red boots and No. 19 to kick some buttowski
Yup. Loving that image!
Oh dear. Now I have no excuse not to attend to my own cluttered desk. I’ll just bet that my No. 19 is shrieking with delight.
Scent Twins! I think No. 19 is appropriate for all seasons.
hajusuuri, I think you’re right about 19 being a scent for all seasons. It’s now almost midday here, but the day hasn’t warmed much, despite the bright sun outside. In fact, it’s cold to the point that even indoors,I’m shivering, and I did wonder if 19 would resign in despair at what I was asking of it. However, even in my cold office, she is shining through, though perhaps with a little more serenity in the cold than in warmer weather.
I think I’ll make myself a really, really hot cup of tea and go back to squishing issues and stuff. I’ve learned the expression “hump day” from reading NST, so happy HD to all.
In MFK’s Lumiere Noire. Resolutely cheerful. A good thing as I have been listening to the audio version of “The Girl on the Train,” on the endlessly long haul to my son’s camp and back…creepy and dark, but delicious as well (the book, not the fragrance!)
Love Lumiere Noire.
I’m wearing Ambre de Marveilles. I’m visiting my sister – she’s pregnant and doesn’t like perfume anyway but a dab or two of Ambre de Marveilles is inoffensive
Inoffensive but very gorgeous!
*Finally* got around to putting on a scent today and chose Infusion d’Iris edp, which I purchased a couple of weeks ago. This should not be a scent I like–it isn’t big and lusty, like my usual style–but with the early hot weather, it feels light and refreshing. And it stays interesting, even if it’s close to the skin. So yay, I guess that means I’m maturing.
It’s sort of amazing how, after you’re a perfumista for a time, tastes can evolve substantially!
What a pleasure to know we can still be taken by surprise, huh?
MR, I think I know what you mean. When I first tried IdI I could hardly smell it at all. I retried it periodically because of the hype and at some point just found myself craving it. It is now one of my most used summer scents. While its light and refreshing is is also quite sophisticated and makes me feel ultra-competent. I also find it less aloof than most Chanel’s in that genre…
Yes, this has been my experience exactly! I kept going back to it since it seemed like everyone but me enjoyed it, even though it seems so faint as to not be worth mentioning. Don’t know if it’s my nose or the weather or some combination of both, but while I’m finding it a light scent, I also find it surprisingly noticeable (and enjoyable).
I can absolutely see why you find it to be a confidence booster. Funny how some scents seem to add to one’s armor (like No. 19 mentioned above)!
Id’I (which my daughter, who enjoys it, likes to call “Infectional Virus” just for fun) has grown on me, too.
I wore Prada Infusion D’Iris EDP to work. It is my Spring/Summer perfume, and the only ” light, fresh” scent I own. Putting on Narciso by Narciso Rodriguez soon, because I am going to a semi-formal evening wedding.
I’m in a mystery scent today. I can tell it went to the same school as Joy, Arpege and White Shoulders. The mini says:
“1
W.G.P.”
all inside a vaguely heart-shaped decorative element.
It’s an auction-site extra of unknown provenance.
Any ideas what this might be?
Anyhow, I went back to school with all of the above (an adult student), so I’m happy.
This is going to bother me for days!! Google search suggests Illuminum White Gardenia Petals, but that is way cleaner than Joy & Arpege.
Thanks and also sorry, Robin!
No way this is Kate’s wedding scent. It looks and smells vintage, a growling floral aldehyde that is just not in vogue, not since any time I can personally recall.
I’ve found pics with the same design but the number 10 or 15 instead of 1. I’ve deduced it was part of a series or collection of at least 15 different scents. You like my sleuthing so far?
I also found something called WG Products in Totowa NJ that does “Fragrance Product Fulfillment.” They say they were founded in 1986, which feels a bit late for this scent. Style-wise I’d place the release in the 60s (really 50s but maybe it was outdated when released) or earlier, although the specimen could easily be much more recent. And sometimes companies keep their initials but reinvent their creation stories, so that could still be a lead, I guess.
Does this make it better or worse?
Fragrance product fulfillment? Could they have been trying to replicate something old for a client, and attempted 15 versions? How long has gas chromatography (is that the right term?) been around?
Google says liquid-gas chromatography was developed in 1950. Don’t know if this helps…
Better, because it makes me give up, LOL…
Hiris! Where have you been all my life???
Tried a dab of Hiris from a year old sample and it was just what I needed. It’s subtly comforting with a fair bit of sparkle and backbone on a hot, tiring day.
When I tried Hiris a year ago it was not really working for me. I sampled it with Knot the same day. Maybe the two together were doing a number on my nose.
Or maybe Hiris ages well?
You do, darling.
Sampled Penhaligon’s Iris Prima today. I liked it; just wish it lasted longer.
Did you get a Cheri Par Camille vibe from it? I can’t tell if it’s my mind linking up the surfaces of dance floors and lacquer boxes, or if there’s any olfactory sense to the connection.
It’s been quite a while since I tried the AG, but my notes say that it was pretty patchouli-heavy, and the Penhaligon’s is not, at all. I’m intrigued by your association with dance floors and lacquer boxes, though!
It’s been quite a while since I tried the AG, but my notes say that it was pretty patchouli-heavy, and the Penhaligon’s is not, at all. I’m intrigued by your association with dance floors and lacquer boxes, though!
Favorite Summer scents—One of my all time favorite summer scents seems to be discontinued. (However, I still have a couple of bottles stashed away— Eau Fraiche by Elizabeth Arden–hope they stay fraiche) The original bottle was beautiful as well.
Other lovely summer scents- White Linen, Diorella, O de Lancome, Chanel 19 and 19 Poudre, Eau de Rochas (great bottle too). (Also sadly HTF- Cayman Winds.)
I went with Sikkim Girls today. Hadn’t worn it in a while, and it is a favorite for summer. It blooms in humidity pretty nicely.