A couple quick reminders: the splitmeet is still open (I'll close it tomorrow morning). And our next damage poll is coming up on Friday.
Today, a repeat of a poll we did some years ago: what are your favorite fragrances as summer turns to fall? What scent makes you happy as the nights get chilly and the days take on that crisp edge? And tell us what perfume you wish you owned for chilly weather.
If you're in the southern hemisphere, adjust your answers accordingly.
Note: top image is Vol de flamands [cropped] by guy masavi at flickr; some rights reserved.
Safran Troublant and J. Crew/ Arquiste No.57 (my SOTD) are perfect for this weather– sheer enough to work during warmer days but spices warm it up enough to go with cooler weather. Milk of Flowers is perfect year round for me, as is Jardins d’Armide
Safran Troublant and 57 are both perfect for this time of year. I keep fighting with myself over whether I have enough of each or whether I need bottles (especially since J.Crew/Arquiste seems to be on final sale). Oh, to hoard or not to hoard…
I understand completely! I wore J Crew/Arquiste 31 to the theater last night. It felt elegant and lovely. Panicked about how long my roller ball will last.
Regarding the play…went to smaller local theater – forgot how intimate small theater can be, and the acting was absolutely amazing!
P.S. looks like A few of us are doing a live swap and brunch tomorrow in NYC. My screen name is my yahoo address if anyone is interested
I’m sorry I can’t make this! Have a super time with “the perfume gang”.
Thanks, floragal. It was fun! Sorry you couldn’t join us.
SOTD = Ormonde Jayne Vanille d’Iris
This smells like it could be a great transitional fragrance from summer to fall! I got this one really quickly from a split hosted by Janice (Thank You!). It is unmistakeably an Ormonde Jayne with its sharp musky base and is categorized as floriental alongside Ta’if, Tolu and Orris Noir. On me, it has a peppery citrus opening, non-powdery iris and a melange of flowers I could not identify separately. I have not yet detected the vanilla.
Speaking of splits, I still have 2 splits open – Thierry Mugler Oriental Express and Hermes Hermessence Travel Spray Set. Check these and other open splits here:
https://nstperfume.com/2015/09/19/the-splitmeet-episode-4/#comments
I’ll be back later with my favorite transitional fragrances.
I LOVE Fall!
Ooh thanks for this–it’s one I’ve been lemming over but I was hoping there’d be more vanilla. Useful to know that’s not the case.
C.H., of course about 10 minutes after I posted and got into my car, I detected vanilla. It is not a gourmand’s vanilla but vanilla enough that you know it’s there. If you are craving for vanilla, there is no shortage of perfumes with in-your-face vanilla — Il Profumi di Firenze Vaniglia del Madagascar, Indult Tihota (tooth achingly sweet but oh so fantastic), My Inner Island Vaniglia Sopraffina e Rhum etc. etc. etc.
Ooh thank you for these ideas, they’re going on the to-try list. Am craving vanilla a bit, but who’s to say I couldn’t have a new big vanilla AND a new vanillic iris? (Oh hush up, wallet, don’t be such a killjoy!
)
Major vanilla? Guerlain Spirituese Double Vanilla! Nice vanilla on a budget? Dame Perfumery Black Flower Mexican Vanilla! In addition to lovely Hajusuuri’s…
Ooh, you know, I really have to get around to trying the Dame offerings, especially if they are budget-friendly! Does the SDV have the guerlainade? I’ve got an acrimonious personal history with that base, so I don’t wear many Guerlains, but sounds like at least that’s a win for my wallet
Ooohhh I envy your talking wallet… mine just hangs open and money falls out.
HELLLLOOOOooooooooo!
Long time no sniff!
Well, I have been reaching for my meatier fragrances as the weather cools–scents that stick around and have some tooth feel like such a revelation after months of lighter fare. My students are currently enjoying (?) Lyric and Ta’if frequently. I’ve also dipped into the light leathers–Cuir de Lancome and Traversee du Bosphore.
I wore Tea for Two the other day, and it was all cloves and tabacco and tea, without all the smoke, and it made me very happy!
And final thought, last night, a much-pushed-aside bottle of MJ Bang was eyeing me. I wonder if it’s time to try that pepper and colone again and see if it can woo me as it once did?
Welcome Baaaaack! Your students are getting a nice perfume education.
It’s very important to have a well-rounded education.
So nice to hear from you again! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
All’s good. Busy. New school and plenty of my own priorities to keep my attention in my “down time.” (Physical therapy on my shoulder–ouch! Took up running and trying to fit it between weightlifting workouts–ouch! Trying to find balance. Ha!)
Hello! So good to hear your voice again. I’ve been thinking of you on and off, because you told us this academic year was going to be quite a scramble, and I’ve been wondering how it’s been going. Sounds as though you’re surviving in fine scented form, to the delight of all around you.
I’m adjusting. Down to working 9 hour days, which is manageable!
Best-smelling classroom in America!!
Isn’t it such a treat to get out the frags with some body to them after a long absence? Wore Memoir last week and it felt like perfection!
(Actually! That was from the sample you sent–thank you for the perfection!!)
You smell great! I’ve pulled out Memoir once or twice recently, and it really is perfection!
As a fellow educator, I can honestly say that kids love to be around people who smell good. I am a counselor and usually give them a quick hug after a session. They always comment how good I smell!
Nice! What are your students’ favorites?
Welcome back! Glad to hear the job is getting more manageable. My crazy summer of work is winding down, I can even go a WHOLE WEEKEND without work. (bah humbug)
Wow! A whole weekend?! What *will* you do with all your free time?
Glad to see you back and to hear that the school year is finally settling down for you!
Thank you!
Good to hear from you, Marjorie Rose!
Howdy! Good to be around!
I think I wear my spicier scents more in autumn, and my rooty irises. Although today I’m wearing the very summery or at least sunny L’Infante.
I would love to own a bottle of Noir Epices for the colder days that are approaching.
That damage poll is making me nervous!
I love Dzing! and Santal Majuscule even more as the weather gets colder.
It’s going to be a scary one for me, too.
Mmmmm.
Maybe, but you got some good stuff right?
I am extremely nervous as well. I went so overboard with it. One of my friends saw my list and started screaming. She was like, “I can’t believe you spend so much on perfumes! Are you crazy?” At first she made me feel bad. Then I told her that only a true perfumista would understand.
Tell her to go yell at someone with a wine collection instead
Yeah that worked a treat on my husband. I pointed out that a $100 bottle of wine is gone in an evening, while a $100 bottle of perfume will last years and years. I won that argument handily
Excellent point! I’ll use that next go round. Thank you
I knew you guys would understand.
Goodness me! I’m simply astounded that your friend would feel at liberty to comment in such a way! Don’t feel bad, or even apologetic, scentfromabove: C.H. and Pixel have the right of it, in my opinion. Sounds like a day for wearing red boots, or whatever your equivalent is. Put on a fabulous outfit, spray yourself defiantly with something loud and glorious, and enjoy your enjoyment of life.
No matter how little or how much money we have, we all spend our money on things we love.
I will have some confessing to do myself. I’ve been better behaved than in the previous quarter, but when I count up the totals… oops, not as good a girl as I’d thought.
I have been confessing all along to avoid the damage poll anxiety.
Haha! Smart
Today I’m in Santal Maj heaven
Isn’t it so decadent yet not overpowering?
I was really good for a while, and just ordered samples and small decants (which can add up to quite a lot of money with no full bottle to show for it; but I figure it is like eating standing up next to the fridge… the calories don’t count if you are standing up. But if you sit down? It is all over baby!)… and then I went on a small bottle bender. Oh well. I sat down I guess.
Oh Oakland Fresca, I took several seats.
In that case, I took the whole bench! LOL!
Glad I’m not alone on the spending I did.
Y’all are cracking me up! And making me feel better for my own relative fall off the wagon (to mix metaphors). Had planned to spend nothing and just enjoy my existing collection for a while, as I am currently very rich in perfume but very poor in cash… I did make it one quarter buy-free, but then there was an “emergency”: I fell in love with a sample only to find the fragrance was completely gone from retailers. So then I had to order both a decant and a bottle from eBay Germany, in case one or the other fell through. Oops.
I can’t even do it. ????
31 Rue Cambon, Profumo, vintage Diorama, Alahine…could go on. This seems to be a favorite season for a lot of us.
Yesterday I received a lavish fall catalog from Barneys, although I don’t think I’ve purchased anything for a couple of years. There’s a new perfumer featured in it by the name of Vilhelm, whose latest frag is Up in Smoke. Sounds like a fall scent, but is being billed as “evoking hot Harlem nights.”
I sniffed a bunch of Vilhelms when they debuted at Barney’s and was underwhelmed, especially for the price. They smelled mainstreamy synthetic to me. Maybe this one’ll be different…
galbanumgal – I got that mega catalog that must have weighed 10 pounds! The page that captured my attention was the one for Serge Lutens Section d’Or line. Robi announced it back in June but I must have skipped it altogether. I liked L’Incendiaire but even indulgent me would not pay $600 for the bottle (I was tempted for sure). If the range came in a coffret of all the scents, for the same total volume and price, I may trigger a buy.
It’s incredible that they send out such a tome in this internet age! Rag & Bone’s Crosby coat captured my attention, but the thing went promptly in the recycling bin!
Ha! Mine did, too. Although I haven’t received it in a number of years, the one from Neiman Marcus amused me with their over the top holiday gift ideas. If I recall, they once offered a his & hers life-sized Lego sculpture for $50 or $60K and prior to that, miniature cars for your offspring to zip around your mansion ( or maybe outside).
Oh, I 2nd 31 Rue Cambon! I’m so happy to see my decant out and about in my apt. Love it so!
SOTD: PdE Cuir Ottoman sample with a smidge of Papillon Anubis. The Cuir definitely fits the transition bill. Anubis is all dark smoke, incense, and leather deserving of cold weather. I’ve been pulling out my tobaccos, powdery iris, and orientals for transition to Fall.
I like to ease into fall with AG Eau du Sud, Onyx Sage, Mary Greenwell Plum, MH Fleurs de Sel and Lubin Korrigan. Nothing that really says “fall”, but these kind of gradually get me there. (I still wear florals if the weather is warm enough for that because winters are long where I live.)
To me, early autumn is such a good time for wearing perfume – almost everything works well. Some of my favourite scents are especially good this time of year: Feminite du Bois, Lumiere Blanche, Cuir de Russie, Lutens leathers, Blackberry & Bay, Philosykos. Une Nuit a Bali Mr Vetiver and JM Mimosa & Cardamom are new additions to the rotation.
I’m wearing Diptyque Essences Incensees 2015 for the first time and it seems a very untypical Diptyque for me, much stronger and more lush than I thought based on the description. To my nose, it’s similar to Lush Lust, a bit darker and sweeter and rounder. It also smells more expensive to me (as it should, considering the price). Well worth a try for jasmine lovers, I think.
Oh yes, FdB and CdR should have been on my list too. And the Mimosa and Cardamom is a great add–prior to smelling it, it was hard to imagine why they’d be releasing a mimosa scent in the fall rather than spring, but it turned out very fall-appropriate! And same with the jasmine. Glad you liked it, you make me want to give my sample a second shot! Query, did you find it very indolic? I usually am pretty pro-indoles, but there was a particular dimension to these for me that didn’t quite suit… I really should try it again though.
Yes, I completely agree, I think M&C was a very well judged launch. The concept and imagery also work very well with the current seventies trend.
On the Diptyque – I do find it lush and indolic, but not horsey/animalic. It’s not going to be everybody’s cup of tea, but after a couple of wearings, I think it’s a good jasmine for autumn. It’s quite dense and a bit sticky: if A la Nuit is pure jasmine juice, this is jasmine syrup.
I have to add that this is only my impression, of course. I’m no jasmine (or any other) expert, unfortunately.
Yes, I didn’t find it horsey either–maybe I’ll refrain from saying what it did smell like to me as I don’t want to put anything unpleasant into anyone’s mind if it doesn’t come to them on its own (we need spoiler tags here!), but I’m interested and glad to know others aren’t finding it troubling! And in any case, I agree very much about the jasmine syrup characterization, spot on.
My favorite fragrances to wear as summer turns into fall are:
– Pear & Olive
– Wild Fig &Cassis
– Misia
– Vanilla &Anise
I need to try and get a bottle of Vanilla & Anise since it has been discontinued. I might also need to get another FB of Pear & Olive since that has been discontinued as well.
It is still hot in Texas today. The forecast says it will be mid-90’s today. So, still feels like summer to me. So, that’s why I chose Jasmine White Moss as my SOTD.
Pear and Olive is disconnected? Boo! Maybe I knew that and forgot – between a gazillion new lines and perfumes and stuff disappearing, no one could possibly keep up – I like Pear and Olive, though.
I know. I love it. It seems like every time I find a fragrance that I like and finally give in and buy a bottle, it ends up getting discontinued. It’s such a shame because I know plenty of people (including people from NST) that are Pear & Olive fans as well.
Hey, Theorema fans! I got my hair cut and colored the other day, and thought afterwards, “Hmm, my hair smells familiar. I think I’ll compare it with my sample of Theorema.” And indeed, I could find some similarities. I emailed my stylist, and she said it was “Moroccan Hydrate and Restore Conditioner”. I haven’t found that exact match on a Google search, but I may try to find a salon to sniff some Moroccanoil products. (Otherwise it’ll be 6 weeks before I can report back again.)
Still trying to decide on SOTD; I’m wavering between Cuir de Russie and Black Cashmere. I could just go with Lumiere Blanche, since it’s always appropriate in all weather.
Just wanted to express my enthusiasm about your SOTD choices
I had a hunch you’d approve.
I decided on Cuir de Russie; I’m still finding it intriguing, but it hasn’t reached FB status (yet).
Black Cashmere is one of my absolute favorite cold-weather scents! I can’t wait for the weather to suit it where I am.
One of my favorites, too. I haven’t worn it yet this season.
Ooooh…do let me know if you ever figure out which hair product it was!
Transitional scents is a good question–I’m not quite ready to take on my really big winter scents even though I feel like I haven’t worn them in forever. I’m feeling in fig mood this week, for something that’s still relatively sheerful but has a little more depth to it than straight citrus or light florals–will set out Philosykos, Wild Fig & Cassis, and Fico di Amalfi for consideration. Along similar lines (somehow?) I’m thinking of Pomegranate Noir, will have to see if I’ve still got any of that. But also leathers–I wore Kelly Caleche EDP this past week, and I think Diorling (thanks for the reminder, Three Hour Tour project!) and Jolie Madame will be up this week.
This is great, I’m going to put these all out together to avoid the days where I wear nothing because it was too hard to think what I ought to go looking for!
Haha sheerful. I need more coffee.
I really like “sheerful”. I think I’ll start using it–it makes more sense than most of what I’m marking in the Year 2 assignments at the moment.
Diorling! Think I need to find the remains of my sample now.
I tried the Atelier fig this morning, but like other fig scents I haven’t found it to be a perfume as much as a room fragrance. “Sheerful” reminds me of my favourite sub-title phrase from Chinese films: “Watch out! It’s very scareful!”
Hahaha, scareful, that is a good one!
At some point I start to lose track of the different figs, but I feel like maybe Atelier’s seemed similar to Pacifica’s? Which makes it a little hard to embrace the fine fragrance pricepoint for Atelier! (Not that their home goods are so much more affordable!)
I’m like a broken record – anyone else remember those? – but I can’t recommend Imaginary Authors Yesterday Haze enough for a delicious early fall fig. I think Parfum1 has a 20% off sale right now and the samples on the IA website are enough to last a while, if anyone is interested and needs enabling ????
Oooh this is all very tempting information! A+ enabling
When it stops being summer here, then I might be able to think about fall scents… another hot one here today.
PSA: Mitzah is back in stock on Dior.com.
I hear you. I have tried to wear a couple of heavier scents this past week, and have nearly smothered myself. I am hopeful, however, that the weather forecast for our area holds true; it shows us actually staying below 90 F for a while.
I’ve had the same problem. Here near the Bay it is quite cool in the mornings, and I am getting up earlier with my son’s early high school day start… so I get fooled into cool weather scents. But by the afternoon it has shot up into the 80s. I even wore Angel one morning, which made me pretty miserable when it hit 92 degrees.
I know what you mean. Hot, humid, hot, humid, never-ending summer. I just bought a FB of Melograno and am finding it is a nice one for this continuing weather, while still allowing me to fantasize about fall.
Aaah. Somebody please do a Mitzah split? I don’t need a vat, but I’d love a little…
When you say you’d like a little, how much do you mean? I’m a tiny bit tempted, but they only have the 8.5oz (250ml, I think?) bottles, and I’m also only in the market for a little bit… Could be tough to line up 25 people to take 10ml each.
(But just hypothetically, does anyone know if the big bottles are spray only, or could I pipette it?)
In theory I might be into 20mls, and others might, too?
As long as it still smells like it used to?
Ah, that I really can’t answer. I mean I’d guess it does, but even if I can find it locally (my Saks carries the line but didn’t have Mitzah earlier this week), I didn’t spend enough time with the previous version to know the difference. Between that and finding a dozen people to take 20 mls each (I too am only in the market for a bit of it, rather than wanting the better portion of a bottle), I’m probably not a good candidate to host. Alas!
Maybe there’s a bigger Mitzah fan out there who knows the versions, and wants more like 100ml for herself?
It does smell like it used to.
SOTD = L’Air du Desert Morocain…for fall I am breaking out all my Tauer perfumes…
I’ve been leaning towards biting greens like No 19, big florals like 24 Faubourg and booming ambers like Amber Sultan lately with the changing season.
Still sneaking in some vetivers of course. It might be all in my head, but vetiver reads as refreshing and bright in the heat, but dry and hay-like in the cooler weather. Works anytime, I guess!
Oh, and how could I forget the spicy roses like Mohur that have been calling out to me?
I wish I had Box of Eels parfum as we transition into fall & winter. I have the edt but….it’s too light. Maybe I will treat myself this fall!
You should! It’s truly great.
Me three.
Fall is my favorite time of year for just about everything: clothes (yay for scarves!), shoes, colors, food, bird watching, weather, and of course I finally get to wear my sweet and spicy scents.
For transitional scents, I’ll be wearing lots of Safran Troublant, HOCB Tobacco Cognac, Marni Spice, Lush Karma lotion (I admit it, I don’t always have fancy taste), and I think LADDM will be sneaking its way onto that list, too. I tend to think of them as scents for slightly cooler weather, but I’m excited to start wearing Vanilla Flash, Tea for Two, J.Crew 57, and to resume my search for the perfect leather. Not sure if I have a fall/winter wish list yet, but I’m sure vanilla will be involved.
Hi Eleebee, have you tried cuir de lancome, on you’re leather quest yet?- i received my bottle 2 weeks ago, and abolutely love it!
Yes, fall is a great time for birding! I’m in the Central Valley of California and bird diversity drops way off in the summer here.
Greetings from downunder, on the first morning of summer time: back to getting up in the dark again for a while, but the long evenings are worth it. Yesterday the weather was suddenly perfect, warm and still, and the sky was an unambiguously pure blue. My spirits lifted and my thoughts turned green, so I wore Jean Louis Scherrer, and I can just catch the memory of it on my wrists. Today I’m fancying a complicated, self-aware floral, but I haven’t decided which.
I don’t think my move between seasons is very cerebral. I’m not sure I even think in seasons. I suspect, in fact, that I have about the same the attention span as a sandfly, and I focus just on the day: I look out the window –I even consult my pretty but silly weather App sometimes–and I contemplate my diary, and then I surrender to whim.
Isn’t Scherrer wonderful. I haven’t worn it in a long time. I need to find my bottle.
I’m trying to think of a complicated self-aware floral. I love the description but my mind is a complete blank.
So is mine right now: I think I need some tea. Maybe Joy? Or Divine? Or Sublime? Dunno. I definitely need tea…
Complex they maybe but I wouldn’t call either Divine or Joy self aware. Even after a night’s sleep I haven’t come up with an answer. Did your tea help?
I love fall!
Shalimar ode a la Vanille, Journey woman and La fille de Berlin are my favorite fall fragrances.
I perfume I have wished I owned for fall would be …hmm…I seem to be content with everything I have.
“Content with what I have…” what a lovely way to be!
Thank you! ????
SOTM is a spritzing of Cristalle EDT from the refrigerator, because it’s a gorgeous sunny morning. The Cristalle is in the refrigerator because I impatiently switched out my warm-weather bottles for the fall ones a couple of weeks ago (like hajusuuri, I adore fall). It has finally become cooler and crisper the last few days, though, and post-shower will find me dithering between a tiny sample of vintage Diorling and a decant of Azemour. Other fall favorites are Cuir Mauresque, Tabac Blond, Or du Serail, Violet Blonde, De Profundis, Jolie Madame and L’Ambre des Merveilles.
Gah! Robin’s Kerosene review/quick poll just reminded me to retry Field Notes from Paris and Tabac Aurea now that the weather is cooler – my fall list is getting longer and longer. (I know, I know – poor me!)
Transitioning into fall is such a pleasure and especially so today as the temp as dropped a bit and I see the city leaves starting to turn colors. One of the many wonderful reasons to live in the Northeast is experiencing the change in seasons in all their glory.
I’m enjoying Tea for Two, a number of Chanels including my SOTD, Sycomore, as well as PHI, and richer ambers and leather scents.
Spring here and I’ve been wearing lots of classic abstract florals: Joy, No 5 and Fleurs de Rocaille parfum. Would love to have a bottle o TDC Bergamote for Summer. Would probably use it up!
Have a great weekend!
Hermes for early spring….they are my half way house perfumes: great if the weather becomes warm and sunny, but cosy Iftar weather turns wet. Kelly Caleche. jour d’ Hermes Absolue and Un Jardin sur Le Nil…..and then Byredo Pulp and Lush Furze for fun.
I don’t we’re having spring this year. It’s still dreary grey but the rhododendrons and blossom are flowering and the ferns are unfurling so maybe there is hope.
Has anyone tried Philosykos in solid balm form? I’m tempted but would need to buy it untested. I have the perfume and wonder how it compares?
Kelly caleche is a perfume bottle that needs to come out. I keep forgetting about it in my closet
For the past couple of years original fdb has been the scent of non-rainy fall days. Also time to break out patchouli 24, my new/old theorema and globe edt! and still looking for a perfect incense. Wish I could try jalisalmer…
Today I’m wearing my little pebble mini of black cashmere which I didn’t get the first 2 times I tried it, but is less chemical and more appealing today…
The first few times I wore Black Cashmere, the opening smelled strangely of bubblegum, but then I fell totally in love.
What are you looking for in an incense? I went through a huge incense phase and might be able to help out with some samples. Are you in the US? Feel free to send me an email. I’m at gmail, eleebelle1.
I have the CdG Insense Series samples and they are a lot of fun to play with. Not that I want to risk being perceived as some sort of enabler ???? but I think you should get ’em.
Those of you who have investigated incense at length, I’d love to hear about you conclusions, favs and not favs….
I used to think you all were crazy, talking about seasonal perfume choices, but after a few years of perfumistahood, I recognize why. A few days of being choked to death by something too heavy in the heat, as well as hunting in vain for something I sprayed that was too light for colder temps reformed my thinking. For fall, I like to wear my lighter orientals and woods, like Black Cashmere, Champagne de Bois, Une Bois Vanille, D600, and carnations like Bellodgia and De Profundis. I like Kyoto in the fall, too.
SOTD is a sample from a lovely NST’er. AbdesdelSalaam Fiore della Notte. This is all dark incense and patchouli on me, with a tiny edge of rubbery tuberose. It would fit in well with yesterday’s poll on smoky fragrances.
Could still be right about the crazy part tho
I was thinking the same thing.
After a summer of going for Zeste de Soleil much of the time just spent the best part of the work week in Oriental Lounge. Soon will be more of the fall perfumes like Cuir de Lancome and Ambre des Merveilles.
Just went through the exercise of switching out the cold-weather scents for spring scents in the high-traffic area. Back into the drawer until it gets cold again: Chanel Egoiste, Chergui, Eau Sauvage Parfum and Mitsouko, which I utterly love, but like me she turns bitchy in hot weather. Have brought out YSL ‘Y’ as a replacement, because on me it smells like light, summery phantom Mitsouko. Also out of the drawer and into the everyday cabinet are Chanel Pour Monsieur, Chanel No5 Eau Premiere, Eau Sauvage, Eau de Guerlain and Diorella. Chanel No 5, Chanel No 19 and Niki de Saint Phalle are permanently in the everyday use area, but NDSP especially is perfect for spring.
I need to try Niki de Saint Phalle again.
I’m currently working my way thru a set of vintage Estee Lauder parfum mini’s, probably from the 80’s or 90’s. So far I’ve tried Azuree (lemon leather) (no relation AT ALL to the EL/Tom Ford Azuree Oil); Cinnabar (interesting but a bit much for me); Knowing (oops overdosed and about fumigated the whole house with that one); White Linen (aldehydes & florals, nice but not me). Currently testing Tuscany per Donna which I quite like; does anyone have any thoughts on the current formula? or should I look for vintage to match my mini?
I’m not familiar with the current Tuscany per Donna but I’ve always liked it along with many other Estee Lauder perfumes. Sounds like you have some vintage treasures! Knowing is another one I like but it would be really easy to overdose and fumigate the house, lol.
I have a vintage mini parfum of Tuscany and I can’t imagine the current has that much real sandalwood. Also I suspect it isn’t too expensive of a vintage selection…
You’re probably right that the current is a pale sister of the vintage. I have tried current Cinnabar while wearing the vintage from this same set, and they were quite different.
Continuing with my EL testing… tried Private Collection (very nice, but I’m not sure I am or ever will be grown-up enough for this one); Pleasures (some floral note bugged me, maybe the lily?); Spellbound (spicy floriental, but not for me); currently trying Estee Super Parfum which is quite nice (light aldehydes, oakmoss, florals… summery).
Still to go: Aliage, Beautiful, Youth Dew. Phew!
Hi boys and girls! I’m in puppy training hell over here. She has been keeping me busy. I think she’s basically housebroken which is good considering she’s not even four months old. I’m pleased with how quickly she got the idea. Those teeth though… Good lord they’re going to get her into trouble. I look forward to them falling out soon. Plus she finds ways to get into trouble that none of my other dogs ever did. I have to keep telling myself this too shall pass and someday she might actually be a well behaved dog. Hahaha!
Scent of the day was Coco which was perfect for the chilly morning. Now I smell like dirt from working in the yard.
I need a new cell phone and am dreading the whole process. What to get? What carrier? How much do I need to spend? Will the stupid thing work in a year? Mine is almost non-functioning so I really can’t put it off much longer. Ugh.
I love my traditional fall and winter perfumes. Smoke, incense, woods, spice, and all that good stuff makes me smile. It might be a good night for Tea for Two.
Hi Poodle!
Earlier this year my family made me get a smart phone, kicking and screaming… Everyone swore I would be addicted to it within weeks. That has not happened. But two things I really like about it are that I can easily download audio books onto it, and I’ve been working my way through some Dickens when gardening and on long drives. Secondly, when I miss the News Hour, I can listen to the podcasts of the show later in the day. This morning I listened to Shields and Brooks’ commentary on John Boehner’s impending resignation that was taped yesterday. AND, when I am waiting for my kids in the car (I am too embarrassed to stare at my phone in public) I read NST
It’s a brave new world!
I only got a smart phone a year or so ago, and I barely use it, but I have to admit it’s handy for traveling / navigation / that sort of thing. Texting? please. It’s not exactly convenient to be digging out my reading glasses so I can worship my phone.
One app I like: Kindle. Amazon is clever enough to note where you left off reading, so I can be reading my book at home on my Kindle, then pick it up elsewhere on my phone, and the book is in the right spot on my phone. Quite handy when waiting around for appointments, mechanics, etc.
Assuming I remembered to charge it that day.
I’ve had a smart phone for a while and this one for about a year only this one has been the worst phone ever. It was fine for about two months then gradually things just stopped working like they should. I had to delete the kindle app, etc. It won’t play videos anymore…I could go on and on.
Take it back to where you got it! It sounds like it must not be getting software updates correctly. They can fix the software problem, or give you a new Sim card. Do not pay whichever corporation has you on a network plan take you money every month for nothing! (Says the woman whose hauband has been on the phone with Verizon tech support for hours this weekend…)
Hello, Poodle. Your puppy sounds adorable! A propos the phone: I don’t have one. That is to say, I own a phone-like object, but I mostly don’t know where it is. If I do know, it most likely isn’t charged. I hate texting, and I dislike being constantly available, so I don’t and I’m not, and you know what? The sky hasn’t fallen on my head. Not yet, at least, but if it does, I’ll report back. What I’m saying is, don’t get one if you don’t want to or have to. If you’re anywhere close to my age, you survived for quite a few years without a phone. Don’t spend a single molecule of energy (I think I’m in the wrong branch of science here) worrying about it. On the other hand, Oakland uses her phone for good purposes. Maybe you’d enjoy them too.
She has moments where she’s adorable and then there’s the rest of the time. Lol.
Poodle, I sympathize with the puppy woes. Mine tried to eat the wooden siding off the house, and after I was advised to get a log (really? a log??) to distract him, he ignored it. But you know this phase won’t last long and she will turn out wonderfully. As for cell phones, I’m with Waterdragon about 80%. I carry one because I live alone, hike alone, and do things like clean off the roof alone and I might need to dial 911 some day. That said, I bought an unlocked phone and signed up with a no-contract carrier where I buy 60 minutes of airtime that lasts 90 days. I’ve never used all my minutes and it costs less than $7 a month (not counting the cost of the unlocked phone).
Yes, this was thoughtless of me: sorry. Of course a mobile would be essential in your circumstances. I didn’t think beyond my current mostly urban life.
No, no, I was agreeing with you because most of the time I don’t know where the phone is and if I do find it, it needs to be charged. If I had a spouse or a roommate I wouldn’t have one either. I dislike being surrounded by people in public all staring at their phones, I think it’s kind of creepy.
It’s the 21st Century version of scrying
Now “creepy” isn’t a word I’d ever thought to use in this context, but you’re exactly right. There really is an element of creepiness in there.
I hate being surrounded by people yelling into their phones. Oy.
She hasn’t eaten the siding yet but has tried to taste test the base molding inside. She spends a good deal of time chewing on her “brothers” who are being very good dogs and tolerating and dare I say enjoying the new playmate.
I’m due a new mobile phone in a little while. If I can still buy a normal one, that will be my choice. I have no ambition to be constantly available nor do I need to check my mails all the time. I spend far too much time behind a screen as it is.
Good luck with your new dog ! I know how tiring puppies can be. I would love to have another dog, but I’m away from home too much.
The only thing I do is text a lot. It’s the easiest way to keep in touch with the twenty-something niece. I don’t keep it with me at all times either. No one needs to reach me that desperately that I need to have the thing glued to my hand. My boss texts me a lot but I’ve decided that I won’t reply to work related stuff on my time anymore. I’ve been too good to them for too long and it’s gotten me nowhere.
Forgot to ask, what kind of puppy have you got?
Another standard poodle.
Of course! It’s a breed that I’m not that familiar with at first hand. They are apparently very trainable and very long lived.
(Maybe I should change my alias to Dachshund, or just wirehaired huntingdog.)
Wearing vintage Bal right now and still in Virginia. I think Theorems will either be tonight’s bedtime scent or wear it tomorrow. I’m getting really sick and tired on having such a limited perfume collection. I’m hoping that I will get lucky on Monday and will manage to get my hands on some Diorling. Naturally, I get a craving for it when I have an empty decant.
Wearing the definition of a lovely smelling perfume: Mariella Burani, the original EDT.
Soft, yet present, it is ‘feminine’ but I-Like-It-Too! (referencing the Irish Spring commercial). I don’t type perfume with gender labels, but sometimes even I have to acknowledge societal mores.
As an aside, the painted name on the bottle is aging, turning grey (much like its owner), and crumbling off the bottle. LOL I have a few other bottles where this has occurred. No big deal, but has this happened to anyone else here?
Yes, Bear, quite a few of my older perfumes have that graying of the black painted lettering, and I often see it in ebay photos. I always take it as a good sign.
Thanks for the response nozknoz! It is a good sign ! LOL
I love that even as you might acknowledge a few social mores you just ditch them. Way to go. Have a great Sunday!
Thanks solanace ! Not much fun to just be another drop in the ocean. Enjoy your week!
Oh, love Mariella Burani! Such a beautiful, comfortable scent.
It’s hard to think of it as a transition when the temperatures go from 90 to 83 (the local grocery store imports leaves from “up north” so we can have a little autumn leaf color). But soldiering on, I like Mary Greenwell Plum, Ralph Lauren Safari, Parfum Sacre, and SSS Champagne de Bois this time of year.
I need to try Plum! Thanks for reminding me.
This is my favorite time of year and I am working on slowing down enough to enjoy it and really notice all the seasonal changes. The temperature has been above normal for a couple of weeks but the nights are cool and it’s hard to find fault with dry sunny days! A lot of my favorite transitional perfumes have been mentioned like Black Cashmere and Cuir de Lancombe; Bottega Veneta gets lots of wear and anything spicy. I have a tendency to get bottles and decants down to just a few mls then hoarding them cause I don’t want to run out, so I am trying to suck it up and just use things up already to make some room. Therefore I was sad to finish a long time spicy fall favorite this week, Satellite Padparadscha. Next one to go will be Nicolai New York, also spicy and great for fall. A lovely perfumeista is sending me a decant of Padparadscha, it’s impossible to find. Perfume people are the best!
You smell wonderful. I’m still kicking myself for not grabbing a bottle of Padparadscha when I could, but the weather here is rarely appropriate for it so I would probably have an almost full bottle looking at me with puppy dog eyes. I do wish it was still easy to find, I remember the price being reasonable too.
Autumn transitional perfumes – MH Fleurs de Sel is perfect for damp, cool early fall. I also like to wear L’AP Timbuktu, AG Vetiver, MPG Racine, SSS Tabac Aurea, La Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam, BK Liaisons Dangereuses, and Cartier La Treizieme Heure, all the leathers, and many more. It’s a great time for perfume – cool enough to wear something with body, not so dry as winter’s centrally heated air.
I just looked at the photo of Ari’s new shop on NST twitter feed – beautiful!!! Can’t wait to try the CBIHPs!
Here’s a quick link to the photo:
https://instagram.com/p/8DtPjWGx-w/
Oh, it does look lovely!!
I love SSS Tabac Aurea, Champagne de Bois, and Cocoa Sandalwood this time of year. Also Costamor Tabacca. I wish I owned a bottle of Ys Uzac Immortal Beloved, which is it the same vein as Portrait of a Lady, but without the patchouli (I almost did a split, but didn’t figure I’d get enough interest to fill the 100ml bottle). Lovely stuff!!
Too bad the sizes and prices have gone up!
It’s been a while since I posted. Hello NST! Welcome back, Marjorie Rose – always enjoy your posts.
Fall is my favorite season. Yesterday had to do a day trip to Maine and wore a tiny dab of Del Rae Amoureuse, which previously seemed like a powerhouse but faded quickly. SoTD will probably be PoTL, my favorite incense and first buy influenced by comments here. Also tried SL Daim Blond earlier this week – just a teeny bit – and it didn’t sit well. Not sure what’s up – on new meds, which may be changing my chemistry. A bit afraid to try SL Tubereuse Criminelle now. My fall back is Amouage Fate, which seems lovely regardless of the temperature.
Seriously temped to trek to Barney’s for La Fille de Berlin. I need a rose with some complexity. Any suggestions?
What part of Maine? How was the foliage? We don’t have much color yet here in MA.
Poodle, we have property on Georgetown Island, near Bath. The tops of the trees were beginning to turn. Out at the house it was probably 65 degrees, possibly lower. Beautiful. And this year, no unapproved hunting blind! Last year we found a blind behind the larger house – two bow hunters. We rent to people with children and dogs, so that’s not ok.
Nice. My brother-in-law has a house in Wells not too far from the beach. It’s lovely up there.
Poodle, it is. We don’t get up as often as we’d like. But Spring and Fall are best anyway.
La Fille is a gorgeous jammy rose with some complexity. Have you tried Rose Barbare from Guerlain? I think it is complex yet so elegant.
Hi jk123, I love Guerlains in general – will try. Thanks!
Hello again, I’ve been remiss with this forum recently, but am now back and trying to do better. Very sad that I missed the splitmeet
especially as my summer perfume shopping didn’t go according to plan due to a little accident. If autumn ever comes here – we’re still in the 30s Celsius at the moment – I will get out Bois des Îles and Coromandel. I’ve been wearing L’Air du Désert Marocain on summer evenings and it worked perfectly and the other day I got out Ambre Sultan, despite the heat, and received several compliments.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I hope everything is okay. Nice to have you back.
Hello! This is my first time posting, but definitley not my first time on the site.
For this time of year I like Voleur de Roses (the wet earth and patchouli is perfect in this temperature), Chergui, La Fille de Berlin (although I like it even better when it becomes cooler), Portrait of a Lady, Cuir de Russie, Bois Farine, Jeaux de peau, Bottega Veneta and Chanel no 5.
I wore Velet Rose & Oud out the other night and for some reason the Praline note was really pronounced which was so warm and cozy.
Welcome (to posting, that is)!
Thank you!
I need to try Voleur de Roses again. It was not good on me at all but I keep thinking it may have been a season thing.
Good morning, fragrant ones. Monday morning here, and I really don’t want to go and do what I have to do, so my SOTD is the golden and encouraging Fate (woman). Not only do I not want to face the duties of my day, because they are awful at the moment, but also, over the last three or four weeks, MY HAIR HAS BEGUN TO CURL, which is perfectly mad, but not as mad as it is infuriating! I look like someone, who, for reasons of her own, is wearing a baby lamb on her head. Or, as my darling (!!!) man just helpfully suggested, the inside of an Ugg boot (I do love him…no, really!) Fate will be working overtime for me today if I’m to find my equilibrium at all!
Hang in there, waterdragon! Smelling great is the best revenge.
Smelling great is the best revenge! LOL! Words to live by…
Yes– take THAT, hair — I’m fighting back! Scented revenge rules the day!
This is amazing. My hair has been curly since my mid teens, although my curls are not of the Ugg kind.
I hope the situation sorts itself out before you lose your equilibrium forever
Are you getting more gray hairs? It’s not uncommon that gray hair has a totally different texture than your natural color hair.
Oh, Poodle, you darling — I’m not in the process of becoming grey — my hair has been completely grey for years. No, it’s just randomly going curly. I wouldn’t mind, except that it’s new, different and unexpected, and so thick that it’s hard to comb now.
You may need a whole new hair education. I did, when my hair turned curly in my teens. Once I learned its new ways, I loved it. Maybe you will too. Now I cut it so short it hardly matters. There’s always that option.
In the Fall, I switch to my incense, spicy/oriental and big floral perfumes. I’ve been doing domestic chores and have not put on any perfume today.
SOTD yesterday, LADDM, today Rose Musc. My kittie loves the Rose Musc… I was sitting on my front step admiring the day, and the kittie came for snuggles, but then he just stuck his nose on my arm and starting purring and slobbering, mmmmm, mmmm…so funny. I’ve never really thought about how my creatures might perceive the perfumes I wear..
I actually worry that my perfume might bother the kitties, their noses are so much more sensitive. Fairly often, one of them will really need to give my wrist a good long sniff and perhaps a taste which always makes me smile. I suspect my penchant for animalic musk makes it more enjoyable for them than if I wore lots of strong florals. A couple of the stronger and/or more synthetic scents have gotten me a scrunched up nose and reproachful look.
I think Rose Musc got positive purrs from my crew last time I wore it too.
yes, it’s time to take out the autumn staples, rue cambon and musc nomade have had their first outings, now I really should take a look at my neglected bottles of: Dries van Noten (Malle), Amaranthine, Bottega Veneta (the original), Jasmin & Cigarettes (or whatever it’s called nowadays, it reminds me of slowly drying leaves..) and probably some others, they are all in the pole position for the next SOTDs
My transitional fragrance list changes but these are the current contenders and I’m probably missing a few. It is not yet time for the heavy hitters.
JM Blackberry & Bay, JM Wood Sage & Sea Salt, Bvlgari Black, SL Chergui, L’AP Seville a l’Aube, Chanel 28 La Pausa, Atelier Cologne Silver Iris, Atelier Cologne Vanille Incensee, Hermes Kelly Caleche EDP, Diptyque Eau Duelle, Diptyque Volutes EDT, Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue, Prada Oeillet No. 3, Bond No. 9 Silver Factory, Tauer PHI Une Rose de Kandahar
New to me but will likely work: Tom Ford Noir Poir Femme and JM Mimosa & Cardamom
Hello hajusuuri,
There are many on you’re list i would love to try, i own and love volutes edt, wonderful this time of year, and love infusion d’iris, so can’t wait to try the Absolu version. I am very excited about my forth coming purchase of Silver iris next week!
How do you find Prada oillet no. 3?- i love spicy carnation’s, and haven’t found a perfume as yet. Thanks!