It's 3 Hour Tour Friday! Our community project for today: imagine you're going on a short afternoon cruise — but who knows, you just MIGHT get stranded on a desert island. You can take up to 3 perfumes from one brand OR one perfumer. Choose your 3, wear one of them. (From a suggestion by Nozknoz)
What did you pick?
As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
My brand (quelle surprise!) is Hermès. I'm wearing Eau des Merveilles. The other two I'm bringing on the cruise: Un Jardin Sur Le Nil and Voyage d'Hermès (but admittedly if you asked me again in an hour, I'd probably pick a different set).
Reminder: next Friday will be Best Buy Friday: tell us about your most amazing discount or other rare find. (suggested by Oakland Fresca)
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.
It has to be Giocobetti. So, Dzing!, Tea for Two and today’s SOTD Safran Troublant. Heck that’s a double whammy, all L’Artisan as well!
Nice!
Giocobetti’s mine too: Dzing, En Passant and Honore des Pres Sexy Angelic, I think would be my current choices. One floral, one citrus, one warm leather musk. It pains me to leave off Costes, Idole, Navegar… but I’d either have to give up Dzing or cover a lot less ground, in terms of types of scents. Anyway, the island itself already smells like Navegar 🙂
It’s weird to realize I’ve picked three gourmands tho! Three years ago would not have figured myself for a foody perfume person, but evidently I really am!
Those are three fantastic choices and should cover just about every possible mood
I chose Jo Malone. I am wearing Vintage Gardenia and Orange Blossom. My third pick would be Blackberry and Bay.
Good idea to take layerable fragrances, I should have done that!
Le Labo!
I’m wearing Benjoin 19 and also bringing Vanille 44 & Bergamote 22 with me.
Oh nice, I could live with those for a bit.
Robin, it’s Hermes for me too. Also wearing Eau des Merveilles. l would take 24 Faubourg, and Jour d’Hermes. If I had room in my purse for a mini I would take Sur le Toit too.
Hey twin!! I really don’t want to go at all if I can only take 3 😉
I’m going for Dominique Ropion, Caron Aimez moi, gorgeous violet and anice, & two Ropions for Malle, Portrait of a lady and Carnal flower, or Kenzo Jungle l’elephant..
Nice!
I like Ropion too – esp. RL Safari and TM Alien Essence Absolue…
I don’t know either of those, but Safari is at the top of my list!, iv’e been contemplating a blind buy from ebay..
Lol! Nice choice of pic!
I chose L’Artisan, and my 3 chosen ones are L’eau du Navigateur (which I wore this morning), Cote d’Amour (wearing tonight), and La Chasse aux Papillons (which I would wear more often but I have the solid and it’s so faint it scarcely exists)
Oh, I love Navigateur and have not smelled it in ages. And I should wear La Chasse more too…
I chose beachy/tropical ones that I dont wear often and would suit my stay. But i really only am planning on a very short stay- just a camping trip right? times of day/weather/mood werent taken into consideration…
And glad Navigateur has some fans out there 🙂
Excellent project!
I had already put on L’Artisan’s Seville a l’Aube this morning for a perk me up Friday at work. This is one of my favorites in frequent rotation, which I would certainly take long on such a tour, so I looked up who made this – Bertrand Duchaufour!
So I looked up what else he had done, and discovered that he is the creator of Copal Azur (Aedes de Venustas) and Mohur (Neela Vermeire), two more of my favorite fragrances.
So, these are what I would take a three hour tour – and I guess I am an Uncle Bertie fangirl – who knew? I see there are several other new things that I have been interested in that are composed by him. I will seek them out, I think!
Again, a great project, Robin! Thanks for letting me learn something I didn’t know about the perfume world…
I almost picked three by BD too! Isn’t he amazing? Havana Vanille and Nuit de Tubereuse are two of my all time favorite perfumes.
I have not tried either of these you mention. Maybe I should check them out…
He’s really done some amazing work.
Soivohle–today I’m wearing Carpathian Oud, but I’d also be bringing Rosa Sur Reuse and Amun Re:The Tears of Ra (hard to choose–I could have swung with Centennial or Lilacs and Narcissus)
Soivhole was my runner-up. I could have easily done Violets and Rainwater, Alpha Musc, and Centennial.
…or Carpathian Oud, Green Oakmoss, and Harbinger…and Nightjar…
Whoopsies – I managed to forget today’s challenge and spritz myself at my desk with what struck my mood – Aerin’s Rose de Grasse. I’d walked a mile and a half this morning and wanted something refreshing and rosy.
I think if I had to choose only one line (which would be tortuous for me), I’d go with my boy Serge. To cover every mood – La Fille de Berlin, Nuit de Cellophane, and my me-est fragrance, Feminite du Bois.
Speaking of which, I am seriously considering blind buying the original online somewhere…I’m just dying to try it.
Hope you’re all well!
Me too!, i hardly ever see it on ebay tho, and when i have seen the shiseido one its hundreds of pounds.. Theres a lighter version, which isn’t so extortionately priced, but apparently weak and not as good.
Maybe in U.S its not a rare, so more reasonably priced.
If you get hold of some, please let me know how you think it compare’s!
Are you in STC-shipping range? I got a tiny sample of the original from them. (Ooh, maybe I’ll finally wear them side-by-side for comparison this weekend!) Anyway, seems to me this is a case where it’s really worth it to try before you buy, just in case you actually prefer the one you have! I’ve heard some people say the differences are significant, particularly in the proportion of cedar? I don’t know if that’s true, but if it were, seems worth knowing which you like better.
I think they do ship to UK, but its too expensive, about £15- which i can’t justify, as i wouldn’t spend more than £15-£20 on the sample order. Such a shame there aren’t more sampling sites in UK, scentsamples.co.uk is great, but the selection is quite limited, does any one know of any others? thanks for advice C.H, i will probably stick with the serge. I’m also looking forward to sniffing original christian Dior Dolce vita at some point, also Pierre Bourdon, and similar i have read, but with a sunnier disposition.
Oh that’s too bad! Interesting to hear of these others though, I don’t know either of them–will have to keep my eye out. Thanks!
They are very different in texture, to my nose, the Serge one feels more synthetic and smooth, while original is more rough and fizzy. I lucked out in finding a half-bottle at a thrift store for 8$. Though I love it, I can’t imagine paying the ebay prices. The modern one is fine enough.
Wow, what an amazing find, that could be you’re fume for next fridays project!
I’m so envious when i read about perfumes found in ‘thrift shops’, our charity shops can be fantastic for clothes and household stuff, books etc, but i’ve never, ever seen any perfume bottles, not even cheap ones, sometimes lotions or soap, but never perfume, and i’m a bit of charity shop bargain queen!.. i shouldn’t complain tho, i do find plenty of nice clothes!
Will definitely be sticking with modern one- thanks jjlook!
You know, I went through a phase where I had all these awesome finds, but really the secret is I had a lot more time to put into the hunt a couple years ago. That plus luck is really the winning combo…
Nice Roses!!
I would pick Chanel: Bois des Iles, Eau De Cologne and No 5 Eau Premiere 🙂 Cologne is perfect for daytime, Bois for evening and Eau Premiere for night time 😀
I couldn’t decide between No 5 extrait and Eau Premiere. I wear EP more often because it’s so darn wearable. But Misia also fills that role, so I settled on the extrait.
Misia is so beautiful..it was such a tire between that and Eau Premiere 🙂 I just love Premiere so much…such a golden beauty 🙂
I was trying to not actually pick which No 5 I would be happiest with since I like them all!
I almost picked Chanel, but then went with Jo Malone.
Chanel for me too!
Bois des Iles parfum, 31 Rue Cambon and Sycomore. Definitely a European cruise for me.
If I could have 6 Chanel’s for this challenge, I’d have added Sycomore and BdI and No 19 as well…
I’m with Robin (and others, I’m sure) in Hermes … even though all I want to wear lately is Azemour. I have yet to try any other Parfum d’Empire scents, and once I do I suspect my Desert Island Trio will change dramatically 🙂 But for now, I’d take L’Ambre des Merveilles, Bel Ami, and my SOTD, 24 Faubourg. I smell feminine and fabulous.
You sure do!
It would be hard to be stranded without Azemour!
Wish i could get a decant of Azemour in the UK!- i sniffed it in Les sentaurs in London, and fell in love, if only PDE still did 50ml bottles, i’d bite the bullet and buy one for sure.
Do you know of any sites in uk i might not have discovered?
thanks!
I don’t know whether Surrender to Chance is able to ship outside the US, but it might be worth investigating. Azemour is absolutely lovely – definitely worth tying oneself in knots for. Actually, the line is based in Italy – I wonder if you could request a sample directly from the perfume house.
Thanks sheriG, will look at their website.
It sure would! I’m already rethinking my Desert Island requirements!
I’d have to take my Guerlain buddies. Wearing Shalimar Ode à la Vanille while baking a chocolate birthday cake for my son, which I’ll decorate with a snowflake made of assorted candies because he is turning 6, and I can’ resist the symmetry. Maybe it’s the Shalimar, but I feel confident about this.
The other perfumes I’ take would be Eau de Cologne Impériale and L’Heure Bleue.
I’d take, sorry.
I love love love the Vanille flanker! More then the original! You smell fabulous
I’m going with Annick Goutal, which was my first niche line and hence a sentimental favorite. After all, one would need some comfort on a desert island. 😉 I’d take Heure Exquise (sensuous and comforting), Vetiver (my favorite of all vetivers), and Mon Parfum Cheri par Camille (weird!).
I thought seriously about L’Artisan Parfumeur, which has the greatest range of any line, to my nose. However, I decided I had to have a vetiver, and I don’t like theirs. Also, Duchaufour, but I realized that although I love his perfumes as part of a rotation, there is usually a chemical edge that I would not want everyday. Others included Edmond Roudnitska, Guy Robert, and Calice Becker, Guerlain, and La Via del Profumo, but, really, my research has just begun. 😀
I’m very much looking forward to reading everyone’s comments!!!
I’m with you: AG Vetiver is also my all time favorite vetiver perfume. Maybe we can be on the same tour. Hey, wouldn’t it be fun if we were ALL on the same boat?!?!
That would be the solution, wouldn’t it – great company plus perfume swaps! 🙂
Annick Goutal is an excellent choice!
Hi Nozknoz, and everyone, chiming in after some weeks of absence. I have been quite ill, and fully recovering will take quite a while. Not life threatening in any way, but impactful as far as energies are concerned. Anyway, enough energies today to contribute! We are almost desert island twins as I would bring Heure Exquise, Mon Parfum Cheri, but Songes instead of Vetiver. Duchaufour is close as Dzongkha is my number one at the moment, and Chanel a very close runner up as well! Have a lovely weekend all!
Hamamelis, I’m glad you’re feeling better.
Nice to hear from you again. Hope your recovery speeds along. 🙂
Hi Hamamelis!
Glad you are feeling better… and I hope that your recovery is swifter than you expect!!
This crazy perfume world has missed your comments…I am still watching and waiting for my cats to swoon…as in zwijmelen’ and ‘in katzwijm vallen’ 😉
Glad to have you back. Hoping you have a painless and fragrant recovery!
So sorry, and glad you’re getting better!
Hammelis, great to see you! I almost picked Songes, too. Have been thinking of Dzongka, too, in our current damp and overcast fall weather.
Thank you so much everyone for your lovely welcome back messages and well wishes, heartwarming!
I am convinced it helps my immunesystem which is still making overtime. BTW I have sent my well wishes to GoddessArena’s poor cat last weeks, I was just too exhausted to commen in words. So glad that she turned around.
I thought you were on vacation!!! I’m glad you feel well enough to de-lurk for a little bit!
Hajusuuri I was on vacation! But felt totally under the weather during most of it, and worse when we got back. Bloodtests indicated a bad viral infection, the kind that usually those in puberty or adolescents have (sometimes called kissing disease, and I only kiss my husband and my dog and cat, and I am 50+!). But we had a lovely time nevertheless, with a very enjoyable visit to Place Vendome, Belgian perfumista temple. And more delurking today, must be a good sign!
PS And having hysterics about all this rule bending and desert island gatherings, including empty perfume bottle rafts.
I also chose Annick Goutal. My three would be Mandragore Pourpre, Quel Amour and Nuit Etoilee.
Nice picture of the three Gilligan’s Island ladies.
My, but Lovey Howell looks so fashionable in her white lace, gloves and pearls !!
Great choices! I have tended to think of AG as a romantic, feminine brand, partly because of the previous package, but it has quite a range.
I love your choices and they coincide in part with mine. I have a very soft spot for Goutal. So many of my most worn scents are Goutals.
Goutal was my runner up to Chanel for this challenge, and indeed I have more Goutals than any other house. I would have picked Goutal if I was imagining a warm destination for my short cruise. But I was in a fall state of mind….
A three hour tour, a three hour tour. Chanel: Bois des Isles, No 5 extrait and Misia. I could enjoy these until we’re rescued. Weather Misia today.
A classic island trio 🙂
I went with Hermes too – Un Jardin en Mediterranee, Vanille Galante, and Vetiver Tonka. They’re all different from one another and versatile. I’m wearing VG today.
I chose Chanel, simply because I can’t imagine not having access to my wedding perfume (Bois des Iles) anymore, so along with this one I would bring Cristalle and probably Coco. But I would certainly miss having a rose fragrance (among other things)!
Second choice would be Jo Malone, with Blackberry & Bay, Red Roses and Earl Grey & Cucumber… but then I would miss a more comforting, winter-appropriate fragrance! Argh! I. Just.Can’t.
I think Malle’s line probably is the one that would best cover all bases, but I haven’t tried a lot of there fragrances, lest I fall in love with them (like I did with Eau de Magnolia and Musc Ravageur) which could be a very expensive habit to sustain!
This is funny Vanie as I chose Jo Malone, but almost selected Chanel. Then I would have taken Coco, Cristalle and Eau Premiere.
I like a lot of the same scents you do.
It’s fun to find someone with similar tastes!
Forgot to add, my SOTD is BdI in the EDT and I don’t own any of the perfumes mentioned in FB except for BdI extrait and Earl Grey & Cucumber… I plan to remedy this tomorrow by finally using my Optimum points to buy Cristalle EDP and maybe Coco in lotion if they have it.
I have the Coco lotion and really like it.
The Coco body butter/cream in the tub is pretty divine, and very fragrant. Exactly how luxury products should be! 🙂
Oooh! Sounds lush! If they have testers, I’ll make sure to check the cream as well as the lotion. Tough decisions ahead 😉
I love your Chanel choices. Those would be mine as well if I went with Chanel!
I think with these three I could handle any weather.
Yeah! Good choices with the Chanels!! I do wish that Chanel would come out with a rose centric fragrance that I liked. I can’t quite get No 18, and Misia doesn’t work for me…
Me neither. I had high hopes for Misia, but it didn’t smell like I was imagining it to smell at all. I find it quite sour, in fact.
I also chose Hermès, and I’m wearing Osmanthe Yunnan! I am having a hard time choosing only 2 others.. maybe L’Ambre des Merveilles and Vetiver Tonka?
Oh, I could live with those 3 if the weather was cool!
This challenge required thought and planning and, for once, I applied myself. It was tough but I thought about which of my perfumes were my favorites that I really wouldn’t want to be without, then whether there were two more by the same perfumer/house that suited other moods. I ended up with Olympic Orchids and am wearing Tropic Of Capricorn. My other two choices would be Lil and Dev IV.
First if I were in an island I would bring a lovely smelling oil – NUXE-Huile-Prodigieuse-Multi-Purpose-Dry oil which I have on today.
The other would be Amouage Journey woman- would love to smell this is the hot dry air.
Next would be Chanel cologne – I would need a nice spritz of something refreshing after getting off my boat!
Lovely idea!
Of course my choice would be Jo Malone. The 3 fragrances from the collection would be (1) Nectarine Blossom and Honey (2) Wild Fig & Cassis (3) Blackberry & Bay.
My SOTD is Wild Fig & Cassis 🙂
Nice! After Blackberry & Bay, Wild Fig & Cassis is one of my favorites from JM, too.
Absolutely divine! Two of my favorites.
I picked Jo Malone too. No surprise to you I know.
We are always scent twins. Of course its no surprise! LOL!
I’m so predictably wearing Shalimar. The other two I’d bring with me? Vetiver and… Jicky? Habit Rouge? It wouldn’t surprise me if the third one ought to be something from one of the exclusive collections that I haven’t even tried yet. Does Nordstrom ship to my desert island?
Does Nordstrom ship to the desert island? LOL! Your desert island is different than the one I was thinking of, but now that you mention it, I like your desert island a lot! Thanks for the giggle!
😉 LOL! I’m sure they do. Nordies will get a desert island drone for your package deliver…. If I was on a well groomed deserted island, I’d pick Nahema, Chamade and Jardins de Bagatelle!
I love the idea of this project but honestly it made my brain Explode! It’s quiet challenging!!
I’m torn: for perfumer I want to pick Dominique Ropion
For brand: I want to pick Annick Goutal
But I just can’t choose. I have the tendency to love one single perfume from many different lines but I never seem to love many/several/or all from a brand. There isn’t a single brand where I adore more than 1 or 2 (except for Annick Goutal or actually Sonoma Scent Studio has many as well as Frederic Malle).
So I just can’t manage an answer…..
SOTD: Fendi Theorema, and thus I have completed 5 days of beautiful amber orientals! Monday through Friday this week have all been my favorite fall orientals.
I’m having the same problem.
Yes, we usually find it heartbreaking enough to pick our desert island top 10, without a brand or perfumer restriction. I’m not sure, but I think limiting it to three was Robin’s twist.
I was able to pick a brand, but I couldn’t choose one perfumer. Further research is needed!
My top 10 changes about every 6 months!
Same here! I love particular frags in many brands, but don’t absolutely adore more than one or two from any house.
I really know what you mean, especially in terms of brands. Not a lot of house consistency most places. It’s a little odd, especially when you consider how many of the same places do insist on a really consistent aesthetic for their clothing lines, their housewares, etc. etc. I can only imagine it’s to do with the general lack of perfume literacy–I think most consumers must really not have as strong as sense of what any given style smells like, as they do what it should look like… I guess?
Along with my colleagues I’m escorting 800 middle school students to the state fair today! I didn’t allow enough time to search for my sample of Maison Martin Funfair Evening (coffee first!). Wearing Cacharel Noa which is feeling perfect with the light drizzle and bus ride ahead. Wish me luck! ????
Wow, 800 kids bussed to a State Fair! That is a project and a half. Do you have them all roped together so that you are sure you will get them all back on the bus? What State Fair are you going to? I love State Fairs!
Systems, systems, systems! Everyone made it back and no one was injured. I had one too many scones with no regrets. Washington State Fair – so much fun!!!
Holy Moly! State fair? Well, you need something that accentuates the smell of delicious funnel cakes!!!
I went with the premise that I’d be stuck on an island with seasonal changes for a good long time, like the castaways, so I picked 3 that I could wear for a year. From Guerlain, my never-want-to-be-without-it L’Heure Bleu, to be worn in fall and winter. Apres l’Ondee, for spring, and Pamplelune, for those hot summer days. Other contenders were three from Uncle Serge or Frederic Malle, but I couldn’t give up L’HB. It’s what I’m wearing today.
Ah yes, my thinking was similar with Dior–two different old classics and one brighter contemporary fragrance, covers a lot of ground!
L’Heure Bleu is one of my very all-time favorites but today I went with Uncle Serge.
I’m putting in a second bid just in case (in case what, C.H.? JUST IN CASE, OK!) 🙂
Since no restrictions were placed on the plausibility of sourcing these three bottles, I could also be very happy with original formulation of Diorling, Diorissimo, and J’Adore, for a leather, floral and fruity array of Diors. But only in the original. If reformulation, deal’s off 🙂
You drive a hard bargain!
This is serious business 🙂
Great idea, and great choices! Similarly, I was tempted to go with Hermes on the assumption that I would have a bottle of Doblis if I were rich enough for a cruise. 😉
I mean, that money will be useless on the island… might as well spend it before you board!
Ooh, Doblis! And I see you mentioned Djedi elsewhere–thank goodness someone’s bringing that along, I’ve been dying to try it 😉
Seriously, but what we all need to do is go on this cruise together. If we each pick a different three fragrances, then when we are marooned, not only would we have the best time ever (pack some drinks and snacks!), but we’d be able to smell and wear almost everything there is to smell. DUH! 😉
hmm, tough decision between Ropion: Carnal Flower, Une Fleur de Cassie, and work for other lines, or Polge pere: Eau Premiere, Les Exclusifs and Diva. Since Eau Premiere’s a current darling, I’ll go with Jacques Polge!
Nice! I love Diva.
SOTD = Chanel No. 19 EDP
Besides no.19, which is my no nonsense don’t mess with me I have a backbone fragrance, I will also bring:
– No.5 EDT — assertive, but does not last long on me so I can re-spritz or wear something else
– Coromandel — I must have a gourmand!
(Note to Bois des Iles: I will wear you upon my triumphant return to civilization)
Just about scent-voyage twins.! I didn’t see yours until I posted…if we’re on the same boat we can share 19 and Coromandel and bring a few more 🙂
Ha ha … now that I’m thinking about it further, there will be many of us on that deserted island that it really can’t be considered deserted anymore 🙂
🙂
How long do you think it would be before the decanting & selling began?
Not very. I can see a reality show coming 😀
Siciliana, you and Elisa are cracking me up!
Yeah – I’m thinking the same – see comment above. If we all cruise together…. 😉
Your thinking is much as mine was when I was stranded yesterday, but I was lucky enough to have Black Cashmere with me for the main event, as it were.
Even a quick peek in my perfume cabinet would give me away…dominated by white boxes with black trim. I’d have to go with Chanel. I’ll wear 31 Rue Cambon and be sure to stash No 19 and Coromandel to cover all moods and occasions.
I’m a Chanel Fangirl, too 🙂
I would bring no. 5 EdT, Chance Eau Fraiche, and … and … um, Beige.
🙂
I’d have to go with Guerlain, because I wouldn’t want to live without Shalimar and Mitsouko, but there are so many contenders for third place I’m not sure which I’d choose. Nahema, Vetiver, Pamplelune . . . ?
I’d go with Guerlain if I could have Djedi. 😉
I’m taking Bvlgari Black, DSquared2 Potion, and Lolita Lempicka au Masculin.
Or, I’ll just smuggle Annick Menardo herself.
!!!
Genius–she must have a travel chemistry set she could bring, right?
This is the most creative cheat yet! 😀
If I’m going to be deserted and I can spray with abandon, then I’m going with my heavy-hitters from Amouage: Jubilation 25, Lyric Woman, and Fate Woman (which I’m wearing today). And they’ve all passed the hot and cold weather test.
My runners-up were Malle, Guerlain, & SHL 777. Although in the case of SHL, I’d also like to bring Mr. Lucas along(check out his photo) 😉
Good thinking.
It would be hard not to have an Amouage! I was considering Guy Robert so that I could have Gold and Hermes Doblis, but I couldn’t decide on a third from his oeuvre. Possibly Caleche or Dioressence, which sounds right, but I haven’t tested it.
I like your strategy. Get your favorite spot and clear it out!
I didn’t think I could manage today’s community project but did dip into my sample of pre-barcode Bandit. So, retroactively….
If Germaine Cellier I would also bring Coeur Joie and this one I’ve only read about on Perfume Shrine: “the agrestic Eau d’Herbes (Herbal Water) conceived for Hermès at an unspecified date during the 1950s meant to recreate just cut herbs, which remains an enigma.”
If Piguet I would also bring Baghari (vintage extrait and modern EdP, happily gaming the rules) and… There are so many I don’t know at all, both new and old. Maybe Casbah? Or one of the obscure vintages I can’t even find descriptions of, like Dingo or Hirondelle (from a list at Cleopatra’s Boudoir). What desert island wouldn’t be improved by a companion dog or swallow?
Or a cat? Please? I wouldn’t mind having Isabella with me when I’m stranded.
Perhaps My Sin, with the wonderful feline add imagery. Do I spot that same chat noir in nozknoz’ profile image?
Does she get to bring 3? You sly kitty-mama.
leathermountain, reading about lost perfumes like Eau d’Herbes drives me CRAZY. Her Balenciaga Fleeting Moment is another good one.
Me too. I really love Fleeting Moment and wish I had more of it (how appropriate to its name). But I thought aldehydes should not make up two thirds of my island options.
Well I have completely forgotten but have really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. I really struggle with this and suspect it is between Chanel, Annick Goutal and L’Artisan. Probably either No19, No5 and Beige or Bel Respiro or from L’Artisan Mimosa pour Moi, Havane Vanille and (since we can find anything) Iris Pallida or L’eau de L’artisan. From Annick Goutal Songes, Heure Exquise and maybe Eau du Sud or Nuits D’Hadrien.
Then again not sure I can leave Guerlain out. What about Samsara? Or Frederic Malle…
Clearly I am not being as decisive as required today but have found it really interesting to try to narrow down.
I know – it was hard not to include Eau du Sud.
Nice Goutals. If I was doing a warm weather cruise, I’d do HE, Eau de Sud and Rose Splendide!
I am in Hermes today too. Thought I could do JCE, but he didn’t do Eau de Merveilles! So I am wearing Jardin du Monsier Li. Other 2 would be Eau de Merveilles & Jardin en Mediterannee. think that is a good variety – citrus/floral, fruity/woody, and salty!
I chose Serge Lutens. Today I’m wearing Chergui. It is hard to narrow down the other two (I have about 15 of his) but I will go with La fille de Berlin and Feminite du bois.
I really thought I would see more Lutens fans chiming in!
I’m in Serge Noire, which seems like an unobjectionable (but still interesting and Lutens-y) choice for a boat cruise, and if I’m to be stuck on a desert island I’m going to bring the most tropical of all Lutenses, Bois et Fruits and Mandarine-Mandarin, though honestly neither is very tropical at all. I don’t own either of them: I’ll buy them for the trip.
I thought so, too. It’s not that I think Lutens is the best house, but there are some I would not want to be without and he has incredible range.
I think Datura Noir is the most tropical, but you don’t like it?
A lot of people think Datura Noir is very tropical and I suppose it is, but to me it just reads as big white floral with a dollop of coconut water, definitely not my thing, whereas Bois et Fruits and Mandarine-Mandarin really are and seemed to fit the theme. I could have picked twenty scents from the house: there are so many of them that I love.
I think the Serge girls are just waking up after a fabulous night spent in a hammock gazing up at the stars , lulled by the sound of surf and the calls of night creatures.
That is true, of course. That’s why I posted so late.
You’re a sociable lot. My island seems to be mostly bush and a random sea lion or two. Could I swim over? I can cook you fish (yyyykkk!) for breakfast; someone can have my share.
That sounds very nice!
I thought there would be more Serge too, and more Frederic Malle.
They are more for cooler weather than what I usually think of as a cruise. Now, if it was a European cruise of some sort, I’d have given them more thought, but then I didn’t see how we’d end up on a desert island. 😉
There were several options I was considering, but in the end, I’d have to go with Annick Goutal and I’d take Eau de Charlotte, Mandragore and Neroli (which is the one I’m wearing today – I’d have to have some neroli or orange blossom).
This gives me the willies even as a gedankenexperiment — eek, only three? Have soothed myself with a little Oriental Lounge, which is definitely growing on me.
Only three is so hard! I’d start building a raft immediately.
See… we all need to go together and then there’d be hundreds to share………….
We won’t even need wood to build the raft – we can make a glass raft with all the empty perfume bottles.
From Tom Ford: Santal Blush, Neroli Portofino, and Italian Cypress. Missing a resin-heavy hitter. But maybe we’ll be back by winter.
Oh, skipped fume for a medical appt, but will go for Santal Blush on returning home.
I forgot about this challenge, probably because I spent a little time thinking about it earlier in the week and got tangled up in trains of though.
Guerlain is *not* my favorite house, but the list of offerings is long enough that even I can find three Guerlains that would fit the bill. Chanel might work. I could live very easily on PdNs.
Alternately, I could go with the work of Calice Becker or Francis Kurkdjian.
But, since I forgot – I’m in Soivohle Centennial today for warmth, as it’s rainy and chilly.
Er, that would be “trains of THOUGHT.”
You can hang out with me and share some other Soivohle scents
Since I’m assuming this is an early fall cruise off the coast of Maine where I’d be happily stranded someplace restful sans internet,… I’m picking Chanels: Coco edt, No 5 edt & Cristalle edt (for an edt hat-trick). Today I’m wearing No 5 edt. Cheers!
I love your cruise idea!
Since I know I would be rescued, I am throwing caution to the wind and going with three Bertrand Duchaufour’s creations:
L’Artisan Dzongkha
Neela Vermeire Créations Mohur
L’Artisan Timbuktu
CdG 3, Incense, Kyoto
That’s three, right?
PS I am wearing something called “L’eau Chic Eau Fraiche” by Parfums De Nicolai… a sample that came with something else.
Meh! Light, minty cologne is the best spin I can put on it.
Oh, too bad! In the light cologne genre, I think it’s more interesting than most. But, admittedly, not so much more interesting that I’ve bought it to replace the less interesting ones I already own–it’s true, there’s only so much one is going to get out of this kind of fragrance…
(Apparently opinions are split on this one! Gaia is with you: http://www.thenonblonde.com/2013/08/parfums-de-nicolai-leau-chic.html#.VgWPqM58uX4 , while Denyse and I had the same reaction http://graindemusc.blogspot.com/2011/09/leau-chic-by-patricia-de-nicolai-limpid.html )
That was so sweet of you. Very satisfying to read those reviews! I am glad I read Gaia’s first, however. Denyse’s review makes me think my sniffer needs serious tune-up. I totally missed all those peaks and valleys she found in the cologne!
Hah!! Now that is some solid perfume math 🙂
I can only get to two– I think you have room for another ????
Perhaps perfumistas, like prairie dogs, can only count up to three? 😉
Can they get as far as three? That’s really quite clever!
Still travelling and with a limited choice, wearing Saffron Troublant. But inspired by a commenter above, I also say Giacobetti and add my Passage d’Enfer and En passant.
I thought I’d go with Chanel, but the lack of a proper big white floral put an end to that idea. So it’ll be Serge Lutens: Feminite du Bois, Fleurs d’Oranger and Iris Silver Mist. I’m wearing the latter, as I haven’t worn it a while.
(PS And then I’ll lie, cheat and bribe, so that I can take Cuir de Russie with me as well.)
Love these picks.
Lying, cheating and bribing in order to include Cuir de Russie absolutely doesn’t count. There’s a different classification system for behaviour when it comes to including Chanel…
It might take being stranded on a desert island to fully contemplate and understand Feminite du Bois.
Lovely picks!
I choose Guerlain:
Shalimar – pure love which I would never want to live without
Insolence – because it’s a cruise and I still want to have fun
Mitsouko – I like a challenge, and I assume I’ll have enough time for this one
Well, if not, you could always send a message in the bottle. Please help: send more fragrances. Not Mitsouko.
Annick Menardo. Patchouli 24 would be with me, as well as Bois d’Armenie and…another of her le labos? Bulgari Black? (that one doesn’t seem right for a desert island).
What’s my third?
Apparently, it’s Fendi Palazzo, (of course Menardo) and it’s now fall enough for this powdery decant.
Great choices, and choosing a perfumer should earn bonus points.
Bois d’Armenie is a very good choice. How about just three bottles of that?
Currently in Virginia and really away from my collection. Right now, I am commando and might wear something.
I’m taking three by Serge Lutens on today’s excursion: Iris Silver Mist for the cool morning start, Un Bois Vanille for my 3pm energy lag, and Louve for after dark.
I was a bit surprised by my choice as I haven’t bought any Serge Lutens scents for a while and had semi- forgotten about my initial Serge splurge. Happy weekend everyone.
Mmm…Un Bois Vanille is perfect for the bush…I should have thought of that.
Interesting question and answers.
Oddly enough, being French, I would choose Estée Lauder.
Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, Youth dew Amber nude, White Linen.
Very interesting, and there is something about EL that is right for cruise, resort, or desert island.
As to houses it was always going to be a toss between Goutal and Nicolaï. Not because I think they are necessarily the best but because I can wear their creations day in day out, without feeling overwhelmed or out of place.
I finally chose Goutal and am wearing Heure Exquise today. My other Goutal picks would have been Songes and Eau de Monsieur (the original).
I’d rather not have to make these choices so that Rien, Fracas, Vamp, Dzing, Sarrasins, Thérèse, Une Fleur de Cassie and Amouage Beloved and Gold could be there too.
You’d soon be the most popular person on the island, austenfan!
I want to be on your island if you are going to have a bottle of Eau de Monsieur!
I’ll gladly bring all my bottles of EdM for you!
I’m picking Guerlain, and my three scents are vintage Nahema, vintage L’Heure Bleue, and Apres l’Ondee. I’ll wear Apres l’Ondee today as it is a warm California fall day, and I find this scent very cooling (and not at all wistful–just interesting).
Really, if I was going to be stuck on an island, I would probably take three bottles of vintage Bellodgia, because I feel like that’s a scent I could live with for quite a while.
I can’t help but overthink polls like this one for some reason. It’s like my nervous system doesn’t know the difference between real and hypothetical.
Ha! We’re not scent twins, but spiritual twins… Didn’t love the cologne I road tested this morning, so I pulled out my Apres l’Ondee and put it on my dresser for this afternoon. It seemed perfect for today. 🙂 I meant to apply some, and then got distracted by NST…and the compliments to math skills.
I remember reading somewhere that the reason why people love TV shows like friends so much is that the brain does not distinguish between real friends and TV friends. That explains a lot, I think.
Hello, creative cruisers: I love your choices! In fact , I love them so much that even though I’ve already been rescued from yesterday’s stranding, I’m putting together an emergency purse pack in case it ever happens again. So, I have Traversee du Bosphore, as long-lasting as it is gorgeous; 31 Rue Cambon, because it might be an inhabited island and I might be invited to dinner –a dab or two of 31 and a winning smile, and I would be acceptable at anyone’s dinner table, do you think?– and JCE’s Narcisse Bleu, because I could do with something fresh and bracing in case I have to do a lot of foraging.
🙂
Traverse du Bosphore was in my In Case Of Emergency stash! Been thinking of you…hope life is being kinder.
Thank you. Not kinder, exactly, but the day-to-day stuff is settling into a pattern. The next few weeks are going to be tough, but I’ll get through, by hook or by crook and ways and means, because I have to. I don’t want to wish my life away, but honestly, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for me.
Arghhh… been there too when it is one foot in front of the other.
Best wishes.
Our mothers should have told us, “Always wear clean underwear and carry perfume samples.” 🙂
Mine certainly dispensed the advice about underwear, and although she never got much further Lentheric Tweed or Blue Grass with her own perfume choices, she had a nice eye for style, so I think she would have easily have embraced the principle of a perfume wardrobe. Maybe that could be a Friday project? “Perfume advice to the next generation”.
I have and love both of these, worn by 2 aunts. I had to come around to Bluegrass, though.
I have an emergency purse pack too! And an emergency desk pack! If it wouldn’t go bad in the heat/cold, I’d probably store some in my car too. Hey, you just never know!
Another example of how women keep the world functioning smoothly.
This was so hard! I went with Chanel – Cristalle edt for hot days, Cuir de Russie for cooler days, and Bois des Iles for anything in between. But I would also really want to bring Sycomore because vetiver. I’m wearing Bois de Iles today.
I like how almost everyone who chose Chanel went with Bois des Iles 🙂
I’m also surprised not many went with Frederic Malle – I’d have a hard time living without Iris Poudre and Carnal Flower.
Cuir de Russie, Cristalle and Sycomore would have been my Chanel trio, although leaving out Rue Cambon was an extremely difficult decision. And in the end I went with Serge anyway…
Sycomore is very compelling!
A while ago I played a game in which the card I pulled said that everyone else had to say which of the Gilligan’s Island girls I was. I was pulling for Ginger but of course, I’m Mary Ann. Phooey.
Earlier in the week, I scanned my collection to see what I had three’s of:
I thought about Chanel: Box of Eels, Cuir de Russie, Sycomore.
Then I thought about Tom Ford: Oud Wood, London, Amber Absolute.
Then Serge Lutens: Cedre, Feminite du Bois, De Profundis.
Or: Madhat Scents: Embers, Rhus, Royk.
None of these seemed desert-island-appropriate to me.
And this morning I forgot all about the challenge ANYWAY, so today’s SOTD is Fragrance Republic 01/06, because it’s hot and this scent is summery but cooling, to me. So I’m wearing the right scent, even if i did forget to pack more scents in my luggage. 🙂
Pixel, I’m looking at your list and thinking: have you tried Nanban?
Not yet, but from the description, it sounds like I should.
That sounds like a fun “girl’s night” game! Especially after a glass or two of wine 😉
All the guys *I* know say Mary Ann was the sexy one anyway.
Loved reading about everybody’s choices.
I’d be on the island with no perfume at all because I couldn’t decide. There is a school of thought that too much choice is a problem, and I think that must be true, because this exercise has left me quite anxious over my breakfast!!
I initially decided on three Guerlains – Chamade, Mitsouko and Myrrhe et Délires. But then I started over-thinking, and realised I didn’t have a rose, and would like something incensey, and orange blossom would be nice…
I’m more indecisive than I realised 🙂
I just broke the rules (I often do) and ignored the “one house or perfumer” stipulation. You might find it easier to choose if you re-draw the boundaries. Robin always seems quite easy about idiosyncratic interpretations of these projects. It’s a beautiful day here: hope weather in the capital is treating you as well.
I know, when you think of all the categories that you are leaving out when you only have three perfumes, the choices become a bit agonizing.
Hey Nozknoz! Thanks for unearthing all of our perfume angst 😉 Actually, it was a fun challenge and interesting to see people’s choices. Great idea 🙂
We create rules, and then we create rules to break those rules we just created.
I learned this in anthropology 101. Take 12 cruises and you have more choices!
Genius.
It would be Hermes. My picks: Cuir d’Ange, Un jardin de monsieur Li, L’Ambre des Merveilles.
Lovely choices!
As much as I love Andy Tauer, PdN, Sonoma Scents Studios, and Jean Claude Ellena, I’ll go with Parfums d’Empire. Ambre Russe, Osmanthus Interdite, and Wazamba will fill my amber, floral, and incense needs nicely.
I wish I knew that line better. I do love Cuir Ottoman!
Great choices! PdE is a wonderful line.
I’m bringing The Different Company Osmanthus, Bvlgari Eau Parfumee au The Vert Extreme, Hermès Hermessence Iris Ukiyoé… Jean-Claude Ellena of course! 🙂 And I’m wearing Osmanthus today. What a fun poll!
TDC Osmanthus is such weird and wonderful scent.
I pick Diptyque! Today I am wearing Philosykos and with it I will also bring L’Ombre dans L’Eau and Benjoin Bohème. Happy Friday!
I love Diptyque, too. Must try Benjoin Boheme since it has risen to a desert island pick.
I fell for it because it smelled like a more assertive Benjoin 19 (Le Labo) and at half the price! It hasn’t been written much about in the blogs but I love it. Its sillage is respectful but not shy and its longevity is impressive.
After a fierce battle, Malle has emerged victorious over Guerlain. I just couldn’t narrow Guerlain down to just three. So POAL, Eau de Magnolia, and Bigarade Concentree would be joining me on the island. They all make me truly happy when I put them on. And if I’m stuck on an island, I’ll need happiness wherever I can find it 🙂
I think perhaps I remember Luca Turin describing Frederic Malle as a Guerlain for our age. Or was it L’Artisan? (WHY isn’t the Kindle version of The Guide searchable???)
It’s NOT? Curse you, Amazon! I love that searchable function when I’m looking for something in a 700-page book…
I think he did, but not in The Guide but on his blog. I’m fairly sure he meant Malle, though.
I had my picks all set out in my mind: Diorella, A Quiet Morning, Bois des Iles. Then I logged on and finally noticed the same house/perfumer rule! So I’m going with Malle: Fleur de Cassie, Une Rose, and Parfum de Therese (at least I will have a Diorella cousin!)
Possibly because it’s Friday evening and I am feeling too lazy and tired to do any research, for my island vacation I would choose Chanel Bois des Isles Extrait, Coromandel, and the last is the hardest… but I guess I would choose Beige in the end because Beige goes with everything. Seriously though, I really love many Chanels. Like many people have mentioned here, I think it is very difficult to choose only one line or perfumer. I wish I could color outside the lines like Waterdragon but I am a conformist. 🙂
I just entertained myself the other evening by making all kinds of lists of “threes” for fragrances. It’s like a random association game!
I think my pick will be Serge Lutens. I’m wearing Chergui today, which I haven’t worn in a while, come to think of it. My other two picks might be Fleurs d’Oranger, and maybe a lighter one like Nuit de Cellophane or Fleurs de Citronnier.
My super-ego will follow instructions and bring Dior, Eau Noire; Vetiver and Mitzah.
My id disregards instructions and brings Tubereuse Criminelle, Tobacco Toscano and Oud for Love (the last she will purchase before the trip)
My super-ego will ignore both and bring Guerlain’s Vetiver, Prada’s Infusion de Iris and Luten’s Chergui. Because she is responsible and considers what I actually wear the most 🙂
Sorry – meant ‘my ego’ for the third one – responsible – but happy to relax the rules!
Id, ego and superego would be a wonderful idea for a future poll! All three of yours smell great, of course.
Best ways of cheating might also be a good poll 😀 Thank you!
…or Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow…..
Scent your ghost of the past, of the present and of the future!
So late to the party–I didn’t go with the challenge today at all. I wore Lush’s Smell of Weather Turning, which turned out to be the perfect scent to wear when going to the beach in late September.
But if I had remembered to do today’s theme, I’d probably go with Hermes: Caleche, 24 Faubourg, and either Jardin Sur Le Nil or Vetiver Tonka.
Sorry I missed all the action,as this poll is perfect for what I’m currently busy with:Purging.Yes,I’m getting rid of about 95% of my substantial collection that has gone into the thousands.Sold/gave away some too.Some in progress of being sold.SO!Desert Island scents,huh!OK:Lutens Iris Silver Mist,My vintage Diorissimo,and Malle Iris Poudre.What no Portrait of a Lady or Bendelirious on Johano’s list??Heresy!!!Lol.I’ve seen the light.
Sorry I just read the rules.I cannot do only one brand or one perfumer!That’s just way too much stress lol.