Happy Tuesday everyone! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing a dab of vintage Jean Patou Joy, because Missionista mentioned it yesterday.
Reminder: this Friday, 18 September, will be H2O Friday: wear a fragrance with a marine / aquatic / water note, or wear a fragrance that reminds you of the sea (or some other body of water) in some other way.
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 '1930s Jean Patou Pink Velvet Clutch', currently on hold at 1st Dibs. I think it was $950.
Woo hoo! So glad to have been an enabler, Robin!
Today I’m in Hanbury–finished the sample. A lovely orange blossom, but I don’t feel a need for a full bottle of any orange blossom perfume.
Oh, and I like Hanbury too!
I must try Hanbury. It gets a lot of love on the Interwebs. I don’t like soap or skank in orange blossom, and I don’t see those mentioned in reviews, so I am looking forward to sampling Hanbury.
I think that I have room in my heart for another FB of orange blossom perfume
I have tons of room left for orange blossom!
If “soapy” is not a disqualifier for orange blossom, I highly recommend Nest’s Orange Blossom liquid soap. It is sweeter than I would ever wear as a perfume, but really nice as a hand soap.
Ah, good to know, I will look for it!
Hanbury is sans skank…and not particularly soapy either. It is very pretty though.
All this talk of Hanbury… I am now wearing it
It also has the scent of actual orange juice in there… very light, not the flavor but the scent–nothing like those photo-realistic oranges and not juicy… and perhaps a tiny bit of lime zest.
Thanks for the mini review!
I’m wearing Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom, because I think it smells very nice and because I’ve got a brand new 30ml bottle that needs attention.
I still need to smell it!
Me too. Was supposed to last week. I will shoot for sometime this week.
For several days now, I’m mentally preparing for the possible outcome of you not liking it…
That’s been on my mind as well.
My bottle of Nanban appeared at my door this morning and since I was just out of the shower, it was time to try that bad boy!
The bad news…I don’t love it. There’s a bit too much skank for me. I will wear it till tonight and see if how it moves through out the day.
The good news…Barneys’ is happy to take it back and exchange for something else within 30 days.
Ah, what a shame. But at least you know and if you can send it back, no serious harm done, I guess?
No harm done????
It has softened through the day and right now the leather and coffee are coming through in a lovely way. But, I have that metallic tang in my mouth that I sometimes get.
My quarterly damages have been low ( well, lower than usual) so I just might get that cloche of Boxesus when I go to Barneys.
I am not a massive mimosa fan anyway, so you would have to take any opinion of mine with an even bigger grain of salt that usual.
Same here, in fact – I’ve never considered buying a mimosa fragrance before. I was rather thinking that M&C might not have enough mimosa for a serious fan, but as I don’t have much to compare to, this guess is not really an informed one.
Anyway, I’ll live
We’ll always have Apres l’Ondee.
Scent twins!
Hi, nice-smelling twin!
Scent twins! I love it but it only lasts for 9 minutes….
And another! It lasts relatively well on me, but I still reapply often as the last couple of hours aren’t that exciting.
That sounds interesting. I may need to try that one.
If you like that sort of thing, it’s definitely worth trying.
I am a fan of mimosa and I’ve always liked cardamon. I think that’s a nice combination, but of course I’ll have to go try it. Time to hit up the local Bloomingdale’s.
Tried it at my local Nordie’s this weekend – it smells very anti-Jo Malone, and I mean that in the best of ways. More depth than some of the other frags?
Right!
To me, it smells like a Jo Malone, but a good one
Offering a dissenting opinion here *just in case* anyone needs to be talked down from a blind buy ledge. I smelled it on paper this weekend and found it unpleasantly sharp and soapy. Which is not to say it wouldn’t mellow on skin. But try before you buy!
I have not tried it on paper. On my skin it is neither sharp nor soapy. But, yes, always try before you buy!
I tried it directly on skin, so wouldn’t really know – on me, it’s soft and lovely (and non-revolutionary). But of course, always wise to smell before committing, and I’m sure there are people for whom it doesn’t work.
Wearing Jimmy Choo Stars over original Jimmy Choo body lotion today. I smell like caramel patchouli. In a good way…. really.
I believe you
Mythique Delrae. I visited 2 Châteaux recently and in one of Mythique’s reviews Chenonceau was mentioned.
Just a wonderful fragrance.
Oh. I wish I had that reason for wearing a fragrance…
Which ones, may I ask? Chenonceau is so cute.
This time I visited Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau. The latter is more of a palace than a simple castle.
Out of the Loire castles, and I haven’t visited all of them, Chenonceau is my firm favourite. Beautiful and stunning, and in spite of all the tourists, it still seems such a haven of peace.
I agree, Chenonceau is enchanting. I spent a wonderful day in Fontainebleau a while ago. Great gardens and awesome art collection.
If ever you get the occasion do visit Vaux-le-Vicomte. It was the first big garden design by Le Nôtre. I’ve never visited Versailles but have heard it tends to be incredibly busy. V-l-V was so calm and quiet when I was there and the garden is gorgeous. I want to revisit in May/June when gardens are at their best.
I loved the huge ornate ballroom at Fontainebleau and I very much enjoyed the “parterre” part of the garden.
I’m going to be in rue cambon “modus operandi” this week because I, a) have many tough work commitments and RC is my empowering scent, b) have a big bottle which is still almost full, c) like it in this season best anyway!
Thanks for the reminder on this one! It is the season to pull it out and I love it and also find it very empowering
That sounds like a fantastic plan. I really miss this one and am tempted to buy a bottle.
Sounds like the ideal candidate for the splitmeet coming up. I would do it except that I know I have several generous decants received from swaps.
I’m wearing it too! I bought a 10ml decant back in… oh… must have been 2009, and it’s now down to about 1ml. I’m debating getting another decant, because although I really enjoy it I don’t wear it all that often and I’m pretty sure I don’t need a full bottle.
It is perfect weather for 31 RC here today.
Empowering it is. No nonsense Chanel chic.
Yes to everything.
SOTD is Diorella
You smell fantastic!
You made me want to wear Joy but my bottle is in storage and I didn’t feel like digging it out. So I went for Nostalgie instead.
I had a time finding mine…you were smarter.
I am commando so far today
Loving these cool mornings and evenings. Its been a tough summer to be pregnant. Last year I didn’t feel like it was this bad.
I was either going to do Samsara or Shalimar souffle today. Someone can pick for me.
I vote Samsara
I’ll second Samsara.
Being pregnant in the heat is though, and hard on one´s legs. Wishing everything goes on smoothly from now on.
Thanks a bunch! Since this is my second-I am having one right after the other practically-I got bigger much faster. It was almost as if the day I had a positive pregnancy test I was in my maternity clothes.
LOL. Maternity clothes are great, even for the non pregnant.
kind of like what are called pie-eatin’ pants.
My sister and best friend noticed the same thing! Like your body is saying I know what to do so why waste time I’ll just start now!
My sister and I are pretty close – 15 months apart – and it’s like having a built in best friend
your kids are lucky!
I hope they become best friends-living in a small NYC apartment they will have to get along
My SOTD is Mimosa and Cardamom by Jo Malone. Now that I have a 30 ml bottle, I will keep my sample at work.
Well organized
Didn’t know what I was in the mood for today, so I dug back into my catalogue of neglected scents. I decided on Pharrell Williams’ Girl in all its weird, synthetic glory. Strangely, on my right arm, it turned smooth, creamy and woody, which is something I’ve never experienced with it before. I hope it does that on my left arm, too!
It seems to be neglected in general — I did not think it would be a massive huge seller, but I hardly hear it mentioned at all.
Another day in the office, and I’m wearing Baiser Vole Extrait. Maybe I’ll pull out my Joy for tomorrow – I wish I had some vintage, but will make do with the current version of Joy EDT, which still smells pretty good.
My vintage is a large sample! I keep hoping I’ll find a massive vat of it in Goodwill, a la Angie.
Yesterday I received some samples I ordered so today I’m trying Helmut Lang eau de parfum which I like very much but unfortunately its gone after 2 hrs. Lavender & heliotrope with a bit of citrus make it a wonderful skin scent, and the lavender is quite nice. It’s a pricey scent so probably better off that it doesn’t last on me. Ha!
Another sample I got and did a dab of last night and then was banished from the bedroom to scrub it off by the hubby was Papillon Salome. Oh my, this one is a powerhouse of a scent and just a dab will do ya. I can’t imagine ever spraying this one on and it will be for very special occasions when I’m home alone.. for hours.
Now I’m intrigued–what does Salome smell like?
On paper I got over-ripe white flowers and sweat. Despite my recoiling, I’d still like to try it on skin.
I think its the Africa Stone, which according to Tara at Olfactoria’s Travels is the “petrified excrement of the rodent-like hyrax, which has aged and turned stone-like over hundreds of years. It’s an intoxicating, animalic aroma which is used as an ethical substitute for civet and deer musk.”
For sure it is overwhelming to me but also good practice for me and my immature nose.
Huh…petrified poop. Sometimes I am reminded that this hobby can be a little odd. But based on your and Elisa’s descriptions, I’m curious to try it. Probably would find it a bit too animalic, but never hurts to try, right?
I’m happy to pass along my sample.. I can pop it in the mail. Same address?
I was thinking that, too. And, stranger, the people who happen upon petrified poop and think it might smell good in perfume!
Hyraxes are such cute and interesting creatures!
SOTD is Infusion d’iris
You smell great!
A great scent!
SOTD is Eau Moheli. I like it more and more every time I wear it.
Wearing Christopher Street today, which worked perfectly with the crisp, cool weather this morning. It’s supposed to warm up a bit, but I think this nice margarita scent will be great for it.
The very last sprays of my vintage No 5. We´ve had a blast together, and now I think the time has come for the parfum concentration.
Today is my boy´s birthday. 6 years since I became a mom, a sleep deprived person who looks like some Lovecraftian undead creature but has a heart full of love and joy, and will never be able to seriously worry about adults´ intrigues and lame work stuff again. Totally celebrating, and since they are both at school and I´m still on vacation, I´m having that beef carpaccio with beer lunch in bed again.
You go, Momma!
You may be sleep deprived but you smell fantastic
thank´s.
S2
Sounds like a great relaxation plan!
Yay.
Happy Birthday to the Six Year Old!
Congratulations! My daughter is 6 as well, so I know what you’re speaking of
Andy Tauer’s new Incense Flash which was love at first sniff! ::swoon::
How does it compare to his other incenses?
Honestly, I haven’t tried many of the others, except for an very unloved manufacturer’s sample of his Incense Extreme which turned to maple syrup on my skin. (If anybody is curious about it, email me at kgoodw2 at hotmayl dot com and it’s yours).
I loved his Rose Flash too, and rose-centered frags normally turn all old-Barbie doll head on my skin. Maybe his Tauerville scents are more accessible?
Anyhow, to me, it was all smoke and incense and wonderful. It isn’t necessarily similar to Lonestar Memories, but has that same “lonely cowboy” thing going on. I dig it.
SOTD is Bronze Goddess. Heading for the 80s later, very busy with visiting daughter, so I quickly slathered my arms, and headed out.
Indigo fom Magnetic Scent(now Barruti) which is matching my melancholy mood. My former roommate is coming by tonight and my ex boyfriend has already had a last visit with Mittski….
So sorry, Rena. Sending thoughts of comfort and security to Mittski, and to you.
Oh im sorry Rena, sending peace and love to you and Mittski. A good friend of mine had to put his beloved dog down today and called me in tears- it’s such a heartbreaking time. Then he made a photo montage of all the good times and remembered all the love, which never dies.
So recently my family went through the same with an old kitty friend. I am really sorry.
So sorry, lost my dog this summer, it’s awful having to say goodbye to a pet.
So sorry to hear about your kitty. Wishing you comfort and peace.
Sorry, Rena. Thinking of you and your cat.
I’m awfully sorry, Goddessrena. It’s tough.
Hugs.
Wishing you strength and comfort.
Peace to you both, Dear.
I’m so sorry about your kitty. Like everyone else, I wish you all the peace and comfort there is to find.
I’m so sorry. It is so heartbreaking to say goodbye. Hugs.
Adding my hugs and sympathy.
What a sweet name for a kitty. I’m so sorry about what the two of you are going through. ((hug))
So sorry. I know how you’re feeling.
Hugs…
So sorry about your poor kitty. We had to have our old cat put to rest a few months before we moved from Texas to Arkansas. She had renal failure, too, and just didn’t tolerate the hydration. Our next door neighbor was just crazy about her, so I made sure she had a chance to say goodbye.
I got some really lovely items in the mail yesterday and will be officially testing them out over the next couple days. Today’s scent is the new Musk Oil by Dame Perfumery. It’s beautiful. A little on the floral side and while there’s nothing particularly foody about it, it’s got this deliciousness that the good musks often have for me. I rubbed some on around six this morning and it’s still going five hours later. The customer service was excellent, I got some lovely samples (gave Dark Horse and BFMV to my daughter since I already have those) and it shipped so quickly!
I can say that this will be yet another Dame Perfumery bottle I’ll be adding to my collection for a total of three with plans for Dark Horse as well. No, I don’t work for this house, but I’m just really impressed with everything I’ve tried so far and still have lots to go. Oh, and did I mention their amazing prices?
Sorry if this reads like an ad. I’m just loving this musk today.
I have been craving musk latley. This one sounds very nice. Although, I don’t usually wear oils.
There is an edt version as well, though I haven’t tried my sample so can’t say how it compares. But if it’s similar enough, I am tempted by it as well.
From what I’ve read in his email, the perfume formula for the musk oil is the same as the original New Musk-Man-Cologne; he just left the oil unmarked for either gender.
I second your thoughts wholeheartedly on Dame Perfumery (no affiliation on my part either, just a satisfied customer). I have a bottle of Dark Horse put away for colder weather. I’m not a musk fan at all, so i’ll leave my share for you and others to enjoy.
Laila, it is a great company, isn’t it? And as far as musks go, Dame Perfumery’s doesn’t have that laundry vibe and doesn’t veer too far into animal territory, either. I’d say it’s spicy, a bit floral and creamy without being too foody, if that makes any sense. I have Black Flower Mexican Vanilla and Pear, Waterlily and Amber so far, as well as my trial of the musk oil ($10 for 5ml including shipping) and will definitely be buying an fb of Dark Horse soon. It’s wonderful stuff and I just love the name Still testing out the new gardenia scent and waiting until the weather cools down a bit before I wear it more generously..
I have decided that vintage Dior Fahrenheit is the perfect scent to wear while watching Season 5 of The Walking Dead. The smokey, burning tires opening is quite apocalyptic and just when I think I cannot take anymore, the flowers come…..
Back from my staycation and I’m wearing scent again. On the week I was off I wore Nautica Woman (fresh & clean) to a mammography (third of the year) and Natori shopping out of town. Other than that I’ve been commando. I am ready for the cooler weather scents, since for the most part our high temps are now in the 80s, rather than the 90s or 100s. Today I chose Krazy Krizia, one of my favorites.
Ooh Krazy! I need to wear mine again soon- so yum!
Wearing the lovely Iris Poudre because I had to train a new radiologist on the dictation system we use here, and I wanted something mild but professional for close quarters. My favorite part of my job. Training the radiologists. Wearing IP is not a job!
You smell wonderful!
Narciso today, and now that im home from work Im wearing AdP Rosa Nobile from a rollerball I was given by a lovely S.A. It is pretty but I think Im all rosed-out, especially with all the light pink pretty roses.
Hermes Kelly Caleche today. The weather is cool (mid 60s) and i am heading to work. Getting rose and grapefruit on a soft suede. Crisp, elegant.
On the bus, and i can smell someone’s white floral something. It’s nice, too!
I need to wear mine more often. You smell really nice!
Why thank you!
I am wearing the Orla Kiely fragrance today. Really smells nice!
I’m wearing Pacifica French Lilac today.
Have a great Tuesday !!
I had no time to think about my perfume of the day this morning and just grabbed one of my two when in doubt or have no time to decide bottles. So today I’m wearing Chanel No. 19 Poudre.
SOTD is Wild Fig and Cassis by Jo Malone. Trying to hurry Fall along!
SOTD = SL Chergui
Chergui is honeyed amber perfection. It is great for this transition to fall weather we’re having in New York. I lavished myself with 5 sprays because I learned that being stingy with this makes Chergui smell like bug spray.
I love Chergui, but I only wear it when it’s hot! Mind you it doesn’t get that hot in the Netherlands but still. What is autumn like in New York?
Crisp and cool. We have been having cooler temps in the morning (50-60F) and at night (closer to the low 50s) but so far, mid-day gets warm and we’re in for some warmish temps again over the next few days. I lime Fall best when it’s crisp and cool all day.
Hajusuuri, as a follow-up from yesterday: yes, I’ve tried Black Violet a couple of times, but never in good conditions. I remember liking the opening and then losing interest, but it might have been because I tried several scents at once while shopping. Do you like it? I’m very willing to give it another go, partly because the name is perfectly designed to appeal to me.
Thanka, Annikky! I just got a decant and have not het tried it. I will try it this weekend ?or next). I tend not to wear something I have not tried before during a weekday and skin time is at a premim during the weekend.
When you do, please let me know what you think! I love the idea of a dark violet, maybe I should revisit it.
Due to several recent mentions here, I’m wearing Habanita. Yep, still love it, though I didn’t spray as lavishly as usual because I have to be around strangers today.
SOTD: Ex-Idolo Ryder. Very boozy
I’m looking forward to trying this
SOTD Jasmin de Nuit by TDC from a sample. More like a creamy spice with a jasmine note. At times I catch a whiff and think it smells like bubble gum.
Elixir de Merveilles for me. I just got a whole bunch of new samples in the mail, but wasn’t brave enough to try something new on a day when I’m slated to lead a workshop.
It’s rainy and warm today which put me in mind of Iris Ukiyoé. Lovely.
The humidity or my skin is doing something odd because I keep thinking I smell faint, fresh lilacs.
Thanks again to Hajusuuri for enabling me via a splitmeet trip to Hermès.
Good morning, all. I was going to wear Caleche today, inspired by Gaynor yesterday, but the season is irresolute and has turned its face back to winter. Mid September (she says indiggernantly) and the high will be 14 degrees! Hopeless! Also, if I can get my hands on the idiot who has been waterblasting all night, I will perform creative acts of violence and then I will be SCATHING about his personality, character, manners, family and above all, his beastly damn bloody noisy machine thingy. I am now subsiding into infuriated muttering….
I’ve chosen Coromandel for its soothing qualities. Not working so far, but I should practise hope.
I’m also always fantasizing about “creative acts of violence” for my noisy upstairs neighbors who move heavy furniture around at all hours of the day/night. These kinds of things sure remind you just how imaginative you can be , though. And also make me feel like a repressed psychopath
I’m not sure how repressed my psychopathic inclinations are….not very, this morning!
If it’s furniture scraping on a bare floor, you might try giving them some of those stick-on felt pads. I bought some to give to a neighbor but haven’t worked up the right frame of mind or approach yet, so I’m not sure this will work, but at least it’s legals.
I fantasized very heavily about creative acts of violence today when I was addressed very rudely by an incompetent and frankly horrible lab tech. I was livid, and pointing out her rude behaviour simply doesn’t work. She is too disturbed to accept criticism. I think some real resourceful violence is called for
Let me know if you want some help. I’ve been thinking of what I could do with a little determined effort and the hose of the water blaster….
Wouldn’t it be great if we could arrange that? We would wear coordinated fragrance suited for acts of creative violence and simply blast her away with our presence.
On a totally different note: I know you live in New Zealand and I think you teach English? The only NZ writer I’m familiar with is Janet Frame. Do you like her work?
Hi. No, I don’t teach English: I teach in the broad area of the creative industries. I do admire some of JF’s work, but I have to be in the right mood, and these days, I seldom am. She had things to say that are worth hearing, but (hope I don’t offend anybody’s sensibilities here) I think her wordsmithing is sometimes rather clunky, and that makes reading her books a bit bothersome.
By the way, I think that if perfumistas organised, we could rule the world, let alone deal with tiresome neighbours!
That is an interesting remark about JF. As I’m not a native speaker I’m much less aware of those things.
I read her because of her fascinating life story.
I think we as perfumistas should at least have some say in the UN.
It’s warm here today, so I opted for Ellen Tracy Bronze as my SOTD. A successful inexpensive blind buy based on so many positive reviews. On me it’s mostly lemon, heliotrope, and cedar with a bit of violet, suits the day very nicely but yet is quite seasonless. A nice one to pull out on an indecisive day.
Went without to the vet this morning, but upon returning decided that I needed to try something bold, so went with the Sarassins sample that I’ve been holding onto for a while. Beautiful(ly) Loud White Floral is something I don’t own a bottle of yet, and Manoumalia would probably be the one I splurged/swapped/split for…
But man, this stuff is supersonic. And perhaps will stave off some of the fall chill that’s started…
(Sorry people at the wine event I will attend, it was just a couple of dabs)
I’m wearing DelRae Bois de Paradis today, from a sample. Probably don’t feel a deep need to own a bottle, but I like it. Started out kind of fruity, and in the middle of the day I was picking up a coconutty note I don’t remember noticing before.
I got some BdP in a swap and thought I wouldn’t like it, but it’s grown on me tremendously. I wear it much more than I thought I would.
I got a used bottle of BdP on ebay. I really enjoy it but I don’t wear it often as it has quite a hefty presence.
Our temperatures have been up and down going into fall this year. It was hot again today so I went with Le Temps d’une Fete from a sample. I’m so ready for fall scents but it has been too warm for them. Gotta love New England. It’s a box of chocolates every year.
I want something ambery so I think I’m going to test Oriental Express again, from the Thierry Mugler Les Exceptions collection.
Hi nozknoz, on the strength of your comments, I blind-ordered this from Nordstrom and will put it up for the Splitmeet
I am so obsessed with Fougere Furiouse and Chyprisieme that I might have to jump in on that split blind!
hajusuuri, I’m in!
I sampled Kiki EdP today. Wow that’s a lot of dessert.
Mmmm….pudding!