Our eighth annual holiday gift poll. Here are the three questions:
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
My answers:
At the moment, I'm coveting the Annick Goutal Noël candle.
I'd probably go for one of the new Prada Olfactories.
A few shower gels and hand creams for stocking presents.
Note: image is Cactus Blossom [cropped & tripled] by AllieKF at flickr; some rights reserved.
Would love to get the Neela Vermeire discovery set for Christmas (or might go for Trayee alone).
Unsniffed–Arquiste Nanban.
Scented gifts will probably be similar to Robin-scented hand cream for my M-i-l.
No SOTD yet. Might go for Miss Dior le Parfum again.
Great choices!
neiman Marcus is doing 50 dollars off – even beauty so I just stocked up in mascara and some Shalimar powder.
Would love to receive some shower foams fro Rituals
anything un-sniffed is dangerous
You just earned your Queen Enabler pin right there!
Oh no! Just figured I would mention since most discounts exclude beauty! Also great if you are buying gifts too
Did you end up getting anything?
Not yet. Can’t get the website to work, like 50 Roses said below. Will try later. I might get some nifty cufflinks for my husband so I can order something less expensive for me if I want.
I can’t even get into the Neiman Marcus website. Apparently they have been having trouble since yesterday.
I got in this morning at 9am EST- yesterday I had a hard time – it was actually down for most of the day
Sorry you guys are having trouble.
Let me know how you make out. 🙂
I have been able to get into the site a time or two, but then I get kicked out after a few minutes. Right now it is down again and I can’t get back in.
How did you make out?
“Unsniffed is dangerous!”
Apparently I like to live dangerously 🙂
Go with your bad self! ????
Frederic Malle En Passant, Lys Mediterranee, Serge Lutens La Vierge de fer, Renard Constrictor and Louve are all on my wish list, not sure which one(s) I’ll get.
Hope you’ll get at least one!
I’d most like to get full bottles of Parfumerie General Arabian Horse and Guerlain French Kiss and I’m sure I’ve been good enough to receive Guerlain Metallica (or a winning lottery ticket so I can purchase it)
Unsniffed, I’d consider Rozy extrait
Also, a few of us are going sniffing on Thurs in NY so if anyone wants to join us, my yahoo address is my screen name
I would love to receive TF Fleur de Chine, NV Bombay Bling, or Le Labo Rose 31. (All very expensive choices.)
Unsniffed doesn’t appeal to me, unless it’s the Byredo Discovery Set, which has several options that I haven’t sampled yet.
So far I have bought Spicebomb for my husband, and Olo Victory Wolf for my daughter’s fiancé. Victory Wolf claims to smell like the lingering smoke left on your clothes after a night around the fire. I haven’t smelled it, so we’ll see!
I have never smelled or heard of Olo or Victory Wolf, but that sounds interesting!! I look forward to hearing more about it 🙂 How did you choose that for your daughter’s fiance?
My daughter found an ad for it somewhere and suggested it as a gift. It’s only 9 ml., so it won’t be a hardship if it’s terrible :-).
I hope you receive at least one of them, they are all great.
On a completely different subject: have you ever tried the Chanel Farouche lipstick?
I still haven’t tried it! I did wear Farouche parfum on Friday, though.
I have just bought it and like it a lot (I’m wearing it on this picture, in fact). It’s probably not for everyone, as it’s quite dark, although not truly vampy, in my opinion.
Beautiful!
1. Some Cuir de Russie Extrait would make this naughty girl very very happy indeed.
2. Anything Hiram Green. Love the notes, the ideas, those names AND the bottles.
3. I’ll bake fragrant cookies and these will be my gifts, if this counts.
Surely that counts! Cookies can smell so wonderful.
🙂
I’m too sleepy (I’ve just come home from work) to narrow down what I’m coveting at the moment. No one ever gives me perfumes anyway, oddly.
For an unsniffed gift, I’d take Bogue Maai. It sounds interesting. Although it may not really be me.
I’m giving my younger sister 10 Corso Como and my older sister Theorema.
Ooh, 10 Corso Como would make a lovely gift!!!
Re: #1, to be fair, based on your confessions to Our Lady Donatella, it seems you do a pretty good job on this one yourself! (Which I’m all in favor of, mind you.)
This is true… lol.
Wearing 10 Corso Como today! It was one of my first niche perfume buys, and I still love it. I need a FB.
I hope my sister likes it. She never seems to wear perfume.
Well funny you should ask!!
😉
I just put in my annual L/scent order so will be the ecstatic new owner of Kiki edp, Oriza L. Legrand Jardins d’Armide and SHL777 Khol de Bahrein.
And again, you have impeccable timing… I couldnt resist… I bought the last Hiram Green Voyage unsniffed from Twisted Lily…because limited edition! it does sound nice though so fingers crossed..
Im single this Christmas and only really have immediate family to buy for. This means I get them what’s on their wish list (it’s never been fragrance! I’m such a black sheep! Lol). It also means I have a little extra cash & incentive to buy MY above pressies 🙂
Hope you will love the Voyage!
Khol de Bahrein. Nice! I’m contemplating that one myself.
15% off at Osswald on Cyber Monday, not to enable or anything…
I’ve never known you to enable anyone 😉 They also have it at Beautyspin for about that price. Want to wait for the gift cards I asked for for Christmas.
Oooh I would love for Santa to bring me a forgotten bottle of Black Cashmere from a dusty corner of his workshop. That would be great even tho I’ve been singing “all I want for christmas is a new tattoo” at my friends and family LOL.
Not sure what I would want unsniffed really, I have too much on my wish list that I have smelled and want!
And I just gave a L’artisan discovery set to my best friend as a Hannukah present but I am going to try to make presents for pretty much everyone else.
I have a funny perfume note story to share. I live in central PA and it’s the time of year where the farmers are fertilizing and tilling their fields under for winter. I’ve got a bit of a stuffy nose from sleeping in my parents musty basement over Thanksgiving and as I was driving home last night I wondered “why am I smelling jasmine all of a sudden?”. Let’s just say I really “get” indoles now!
I can completely appreciate your last comment! I was driving down the freeway a few months back and caught a whiff of something sweet and pleasant and interesting. . . then I passed the truck full of steers and knew what I was smelling! I guess I like me some cow manure and hay notes!
We get sheep trucks driving through the centre of town ( enroute to the works…poor things ) and for minutes afterwards there is a smell of wool,lanolin, and poo. It’s a wonderful scent ….like a beautiful hand knitted, natural fleece jumper. Turns me vegetarian every time.
Yep. Overtaking a cattle truck means no beef for a month. That’s not a nice smell, though: too much fear in it.
Yeeeesss!! A few summers ago I was driving past a neighbor’s field with my windows down and thinking, “Hmm, why do I smell jasmine?” Then it hit me that Dale had been spreading manure.
Uh-huh.
Finally the real reason I don’t like jasmine in fragrances! Thank you mals86!
The AG Noel candle is wonderful; I hope someone gifts you with one, Robin.
My answers to the first and second questions would probably be the same. I have nothing really on my wish list right now, but I am always up for sampling, and really a sample set or discovery set is about the only thing I would want unsniffed. I saw the Penhaligon’s coffrets in Saks the other day, and the tiny bottles are adorable. Then again, the April Aromatics sample kit sounds interesting.
My husband is getting a bottle of Jubilation XXV, which I got for a really good price from FragranceNet.
Oh, and you can borrow his Jubilation — I love that one!
I didn’t get on with the Jub 25 (me+fruity chypres = never good), but the Jub XXV is SO SO wonderful.
Well ever since reading about the Malle coffret, I’ve would love that or the Lutens Encens & Lavande (assuming money is no object of course).
Not sure if I’d get anything unsniffed, maybe some of Diptyques Christmas candles.
I’ll probably get my mom some more J’adore, which she likes and some samples for my boyfriend.
Those Diptyques are very tempting!
Sadly, everyone is always ‘afraid’ to buy me perfume – even though I have a public Wishlist! – so I know I won’t be getting Eric Buterbaugh’s Sultry Rose, or Malbrum’s Tigre de Bengale, or Aedes Copal Azur 🙁
I have learned some painfully expensive lessons about unsniffed buys, but if I were to take a gamble now, I think that Ex Idolo’s Ryder might be up my alley.
I bought my mom a backup bottle of JM Wild Fig & Cassis, as they announced its discontinuation a few months ago, and it’s one of her favorites. I’ll probably also get her a bottle of DSH Jitterbug, and perhaps one from Dawn’s most recent collaboration with the Denver Art Museum, when I make my holiday trip to her studio.
Hi Lisa! When might you be making your holiday trip to Dawn’s studio? I ask in case I could join you – I’d love to meet another local perfumista. You can find my email in my name above if you are interested in trying to join up. No worries if not!
Jealous of your DSH visit! I would so love to meet her.
Can we wish for something that isn’t actually available? What I would really like is for all these fragrance houses that sell these sets of travel sprays (the kind with three or four small spray bottles of the same scent) to offer them with your choice of three or four different scents. I don’t want several small bottles of the same thing; if I want 50 ml or so of something, I will buy a 50 ml bottle and make my own travel-sized decant. And why is it that the discovery sets that are offerered seldom contain all the scents I most want? I would probably buy the Byredo discovery set if it contained Pulp. I just sniffed this one for the first time last week in NM, and it made me smile. I don’t even like fruity florals as a rule, but Pulp just smells happy. I don’t really need a full 50 ml of it, or rhree 12 ml vials, but a single small vial would definitely get some use.
Oh, so with you on this! It would be *wonderful* to be able to choose different 10mL quantities from the same house in a travel set! (I’m looking at YOU Ormande Jayne and Frederic Malle!)
Eric Buterbaugh has such a set–eight 10 ml florals with a handsome black tube to insert one scent for travel.
Oh. I need this now. But he doesn’t ship to Europe, of course.
I don’t know this perfumer/house at all. Any faves I should look up?
THey’re all new, all florals. I tried the hyacinth one and thought it was fabulous, but of course the line is priced at something like $300/100ml bottle YIPES. (I really want to try the rose one.)
I quite agree with you. Wish more perfume houses would do this!
Pulp is so great as a pick-me-up.
Wearing roberto cavalli oud al qasr.
How is that?
What I’d most like to receive? A bottle of vintage Tabac Blond extrait in perfect condition. Heaven. If someone told me I could have any perfume as long as I’d never sniffed it before … hmm, probably Cuir Beluga – Guerlains often don’t work for me, but CB sounds right up my alley. And I have ordered some little fragranced treats for coworkers this year (candles and scented mini lotions and the like). We do a name-drawing type gift exchange for Christmas, and the person I drew isn’t really a candidate for anything scented (too many sinus issues), so no vicarious enjoyment for me there, but I’ve sort of made up for it by ordering a small bottle of Azemour for myself. I doubt I’ll have the self-restraint to wrap it and wait a month before using it … but you never know!
The name draw thingie is among my family, not my coworkers … read over my post and realized it was a bit confused on that point.
Boy would I love some Ys Uzac Immortal Beloved…
And unsniffed? Probably SHL777 Khol de Bahrein or Parfum d’Empire Tabac Tabou.
I’m not giving any fragrant gifts this year, but anyone visiting my house will smell the orange peel and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove!
Nice! Do you simmer them just for house-scenting purposes, or are the orange peels and cinnamon sticks part of a greater whole?
Just for house-scenting purposes… another favorite is rosemary and lemon slices for summer and spring! I also love orange peel and a dash of vanilla…
What wonderful ideas … and so much easier than baking cookies to scent the house. Fewer calories too. 🙂
I do that too – my mom always used to have a little pot simmering on the back of the stove in winter.
Well, as I have already done an excellent job of being my own Santa this year (ahem, yet another pin in hajusuuri’s tiara and one for C.H. as well!), last item on my list is a new bottle of Nostalgie, to replace the one I drained.
I just ordered new samples from OJ, but I’d love to sample the two more I couldn’t include (what *is* it about only getting to order 1 set of samples at a time?!): Qi and Black Gold. I would love to know if anyone has even gotten a passing sniff of the elusive and intriguing Black Gold in particular! (I wasn’t willing to shell out the triple digits for a *sample*.)
Not likely. I don’t really shop for presents anymore–everyone gets one of my calendars and/or some canned goods from this year’s summer yummies. Mr. Spicebomb and I have mostly opted for taking a trip together rather than buying stuff, although I noted that he may need a new watch, so I’m considering that.
Trips as mutual gifts! There’s a thought! Yes, we could do that too. Richard loves to travel, and we’re already planning to visit the States in 2016, but for his sake I could commit to another trip to somewhere. I’m a reluctant traveller usually, so a promise to accompany him would really give him something he would like.
Oops– just noticed, I absent-mindedly used Richard’s real name. Have I broken a rule, Robin? Too late to change it now, but sorry if I did.
Not against any policies, I’m sure! Just a matter of personal comfort, at least in my case, to avoid real names. In the case of my Mr. Spicebomb–coincidentally, he has the exact same name as a famous actor, and I wouldn’t want anyone to be confused of my meaning! (And he’s pretty protective of his privacy, in any case.)
Absolutely fine.
Ta. I don’t think he’ll care, but I’m glad you don’t.
It really is nice to share an experience together instead of acquiring more *stuff*. Last year, we drove up to Canada and treated ourselves to good tickets at a big hockey game. The year before was a B&B on the coast. Not sure about this year, yet, but I do hope we continue the tradition!
Yes, I can see all that. We just went to buy him some shirts and chatted about it over a shared gelato, actually. He was quite touched, ‘cos I can be quite like a toheroa to dig out of my home. He said thank you to the Unknown American (that’s you!) who put it into my head,band instantly started talking about Scotland…I suppose that he might as well make a trip count!
Fantastic! Hope you both get out together somewhere–Scotland would be awesome!
I’m wearing my tiara proudly 🙂
Have you ever tried Neela Vermiere Mohur Extrait? Just kidding… I’ll ask you again next year but be warned that it is limited edition…MWAHAHAHAHA
I haven’t tried this one in extrait, so I will proceed once again with fingers in ears. . . La la LAAAAH!
I’ve always thought I’d look good in a tiara!! 🙂
Hi, everyone. Ummmm. Thinking….thinking…thinking…this is HARD, Robin. So. I’d like to give the dear man anything he’d be prepared to wear, but he doesn’t think about himself in a perfumely way, unfortunately. I think he is an Eau Sauvage bloke, or maybe Habit Rouge, but I know he won’t wear them unless I growl, and who wants to growl about perfume? That’s wrong. My sisters and I give one another time rather than gifts: that is, we commit to joining one another in projects that we wouldn’t otherwise have bothered with, but perhaps I’ll scent the projects this year. In fact, I will, for sure. My older sister is dragging me to a family heritage thing up home– it sounds utterly, all-embracingly, mind-numbingly drear, and so I will assert my personality by scenting her as for a garden party. For me? I’ve loved reading about Nanban, so that could be my unsniffed gift, and for my chosen one, I think a new bottle of 31 Rue Cambon, because mine seems to be disappearing scarily fast.
That was hard work for 6.30 on a Sunday morning, without a bracing cup of tea! I will arise snd supply the needful immediately!
So sorry to make you think first thing in the morning!
I’d like Aftelier’s Cuir Gardenia, but if I get it, will be gifting myself, no doubt. My family would do a major eye roll at the thought of spending over $200 on a bottle of frag.
Unsniffed, I’d go for something in a gorgeous bottle, like one from Jovoy Paris or maybe Illumium.
Not giving scented gifts, but if I were, I go for the Goutal cracker that Robin posted the other day–heck, I want it too.
I’d take one of those crackers. I’m sure we’d all take one!
I know I would!
Today wearing Narciso Rodriguez for Her. I have not worn it for a long time and really enjoy it.
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year? No one usually gets me those kinds of things, but I do get Nordstrom gift cards so usually buy something “fragrant” when I receive those. Like Marjorie Rose I have definitely been my own Santa this year.
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be? Probably something by Fredric Malle.
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what? My stepfather loves the Calvin Klein Euphoria after shave balm so maybe that. My mother likes RL Romance, but I think she is stocked up pretty well so she probably doesn’t need any. Unfortunately, my husband has trouble with his “sniffer” so he doesn’t care what he wears or anyone else. He is no fun in the fragrance category, but a wonderful hubby so I won’t complain.
Hmmm, I am sorry your husband has trouble with his nose, but at least that means you can wear whatever you want, right? (That seems nice, esp. since my boyfriend seems to find many of my perfumes with certain notes very sneezy). It also seems like your husband might be a good guinea pig for perfumes as well?
Well, I already have my unsniffed scented treat, from a kind winnower: Diptyque’s Creme Riche. I feel like a kitten waving its (tuna scented? catnip scented?) paws in the air.
Sniffing hands…oh right, am still here. What was the other question? Right, a couple of friends are getting Yves Rocher shower gel and the like. Since they’re mail order only this neck of the woods it’s a little on the exotic side.
Hee hee. Some gifts are worth winnowing if the giver is gifted this image. 😉
I know there are a lot of tea drinkers in NST land and I’ve just been looking at Ruby Silvious’ 363 Days of Tea (Guardian online ) Beautiful paintings on used and dried tea bags. It’s inspired me to do something similar for Christmas cards…maybe. Polishing my halo this morning after clearing out three shoe boxes worth of perfume bottles…all packed and ready to post to inspiring women! I have recently become interested in vintage and antique silver or glass perfume bottles…I have one so far but something like that would make me happy. Or Elsa Perretti’s Tiffany perfume bottle necklace with a jade top. That, or soap.
Wow…for anyone else that wants to see it:
http://www.rubysilvious.com/363-days-of-tea/1
Amazing!
I would like some more Rose Jam shower gel (yes, I was lemming’d by so many here). This might happen.
Un sniffed, I have had my eye on Hiram Green Voyage. This probably won’t happen 🙁
My sister always asks for soaps and hand wash, so she’ll be getting some. I usually like to throw a few perfume samples as a ‘garnish’ for gifts, too.
The gift I would love to receive would be a nice bottle of any of the varieties of Attrape Coeur, Guet Apens, Evasion…..
If I were going to impulsively buy something unsniffed, probably Encens Mythique or Shalimar Ode de Vanilla.
My sister just asked me about Gevinchy (sp) L’Interdit. If she doesn’t buy some for herself before the big day rooms around, I might get her a botthe of that.
Not to push your button to buy but Ode a la Vanille fab. There are two versions..
I dare say I like it better then the original. Just in case you needed a nudge to treat yourself for the holidays. You can still find a bottle online
Bad enabler! Bad! Bad! LOL! OK I will go and look Just look, mind you..
ok- sorry. I am bad 🙁
I was thinking a back up bottle for myself
Well if you get one then I will get one! There enabling right back at you! 🙂
I would like to add that Ode à la Vanille has great lasting power and a smoky sillage that makes me happy as a cat rollin over catnip. Not that I want to enable, ever…
Rolls around! Stupid spell check! LOL…
I’ve gotten to the point that I guessed what you’d actually typed. What does it say about me that I’ve developed such a capability? And what does it say about the world we live in that it’s a useful interpretive skill? Or maybe I just think too much.
Worst. Invention. Ever.
I’ve got quite a list, if money and availability were no hindrance. More realistically, Ubar has been in my sights for a while.
I think I’m psychologically unable to buy a bottle unsniffed – I guess I’m not one of life’s risk takers 🙂 I spend plenty with Surrender to Chance and The Perfumed Court, I’m quite able to spend a few dollars to check something out, so no impulse buying but lots of pleasurable research and list making.
I’m the only perfume fan in my family, so all my perfume shopping is for me! My mother was born without a sense of smell, so it’s a bit sad I’ve developed an obsession she can’t appreciate at all.
Gaynor, you’ll love Ubar, my next Anouage purchase when a willing mule is going to Oman, which will probably be next year. A colleague wears Ubar, and it’s warm and wise and witty and worldly and womanly. I’m astoundingly lucky to have indulgent colleagues who will shop for me, though of course, if I depend on them, it means I don’t make the effort to go to the actual Amouage shop. My bottle of Fate was bought there for me, and delivered with tantalising stories of beauty. Luxury. Fascinating processes. Delicious, beguiling smells. Hmmm. Just, please, hand over my perfume and stop the travelogue!
I bought my bottle of Ubar at Fragrancenet at a good discount, and they often have deals this time of year. I think a couple days ago, everything was like 25% off.
Just sayin’ . . .
Still is. I just bought a bottle this morning.
Excellent!
I’d love a bottle of Violet Fumee or Lipstick Rose, and I could probably have it, but it’d be my entire Christmas, and I’m not sure I want either that badly! Yes, I am like an 8 year old and want to open more than one gift, so pathetic! 😛
Unsniffed would be 1000 Flowers Reglisse Noir, which I have been aching to try for years, and never have.
Am only giving one scented gift this year; Mama is out of her Jessica McClintock.
Would love to gift my Bestie with something scented, as she has just fallen down the rabbit hole. She bought herself a bottle of Botrytis, and seems to like vanilla-ish woods and/or gourmands, which makes it hard for me to pick something for her, because I don’t like woods/gourmands at all. Anyone have suggestions??
What about a vanilla-ish woods and/or gourmands sample pack? I am sure people could come up with scads of suggestions 🙂
Good idea, thank you!
Serge Lutens Bois de Vanille…it’s wonderful and not too vanilla sweet. Or AG Songes?
Ooooh, nice suggestions, thanks!
Reglisse Noir is insanely gorgeous, and I try and forget that I’ve ever smelled it b/c it’s so $$$$!!
I was so happy when this one became available again in the 15mL size! I didn’t need a big bottle, but I’d been coveting owning some for years!
Oh stop, you’re making me crazy! 😛 😛 😛
Seconding Gi, I would also love some Rose Jam shower gel! So expensive , and so beautiful. I also really really try to avoid buying things unsniffed, but I would love a small bottle of Bvlgari The Bleu because it sounds so beautiful and isn’t TERRIBLY expensive (which makes a blind buy better, right?).
This year I have been buying many friends scented soaps (because who doesn’t like or use soap?) and the occasional candle. So much fun to buy all these things for other people, though sometimes I have to keep myself from making up extra friends so I can keep buying more scented trinkets.
I almost asked for a small bottle unsniffed as well! The 10ml travel spray is very reasonable…
But in the end decided a blind buy wasn’t smart, even if it was a gift. 🙂
Yes, the travel spray is quite reasonable! I have considered blind buy gift requesting it as well…and it isn’t too late to do that 🙂
I think it’d be Guerlain Gourmand Coquin. So yummy.
Unsniffed I already did, sharing the OJ Vanille d’Iris.
Not sure. My husband just stocked up himself.
I really need to step back…too many good sales going on.
covet: extra back-ups of vintage Balmain Jolie Madame, a pristine bottle of original/vintage Dior Poison extrait, Amouage Fate, Mdo Vanille and a bottle of Kenzo UFO which I should have purchased long ago and is now gone.
unsniffed: PdE Tabac Tabou
gifts: I plan to buy my friend a bottle of V&R Spicebomb. I’ve always found the bottle aesthetic disheartening, but it is a cool shape and the scent is fabulous (and he loves it from when I gave him decants to try). I bought my Mom & Aunt a nice Ren package as well as a Pacifica package (shower gels, face wash, lotion and candles)
I wouldn’t mind a bottle of Sarrasins or Trayee. And it would be great to upgrade my Cuir de Russie and Fracas to extraits.
Unsniffed: one, two or seven of the Eric Buterbaugh’s florals.
I always buy scented gifts, but rarely fragrances, unless I know the person very well. This year, I have my eye on the white limited edition Byredo candles, Bella Freud candles and Cire Trudon Gabriel candle. Byredo also does beautiful scented hand creams and there are new Suede and Vetiver hand washes. I’ve also just discovered Jaboneria Marianella soaps that are so pretty. If tea counts, I’m going to have Mariage Freres Wedding Imperial teas as emergency presents on stand-by.
On a different note, I’m hugely grateful to Lisa D who mentioned bo ssam on Thursday. I’ve just finished eating it with all the condiments and it’s a magnificent meal.
Hey, Annikky! I love your new avatar! Initially, it looked like a chiseled marble sculpture until I looked closer.
Thank you, Hajusuuri! I had some pictures taken for the blog by one of my favourite photographers. I usually hate the process, but this was a lovely shoot and I really like the result, even if I have to say it myself. So I thought I better use the photos. And I no longer have long hair, so the previous picture was misleading as well.
Your hair looks so lovely! I’ve been thinking about getting my hair cut much shorter for a while, and seeing pictures like yours always inches me closer to the ledge of cutting it all off (even though I suspect my hair would behave very differently from yours).
My hair only looks like this with EXTENSIVE help from a hairdresser. Cutting one’s hair is a very personal matter, but one thing I’ll say is that styling products have become so much better compared to 6-7 years ago, when I last had shorter hair. When I actually manage to use them, they do help.
I’m also liking your new avatar and your short hair.
Thank you! It appears a bit shorter on the photo than it actually is. But it’s definitely not long.
Chanel PSA: I went to the boutique in Boston to buy Bois des Iles in extrait (which is my gift to myself for starting a new job), and they had to call another store to get it. One of the SAs said it’s not usually very popular, but suddenly a bunch of people have come in asking for it. Moral of the story: call ahead or be prepared to wait a few days.
Based on Jessica’s review, I’ve bought some Enfleurage Sanctuary for my very-LA sister. Unsniffed for both of us! A couple of years ago, I bought _The Guide_ and a sampler of the best women’s scents for her and my SIL from Surrender to Chance. I might make perfumistas out of them yet; my sister liked Azemour on me but not on her. Hmm, maybe a different chypre….
I went into that store about a month ago and asked for the extrait, too. Wound up buying the EDT, but you’d think they might have ordered some of the extrait to have on hand!
I know! Especially since there’s that holiday-appropriate gingerbread quality to it, which may explain the sudden interest.
y’all may think I’m a Nordstrom imbed or mole by now, but if you have a store acct, the Seattle flagship store carries the Exclusifs and is happy to take phone orders (can’t be done online). Monday is 10x points day–if I were in the market for an Exclusif, that would be a fantastic way to rack up points.
D’oh! I already bought it. Hmm, but I only have a mini of No. 22…. Is this only for the flagship?
After Jessica’s review, I tried to order some Enfleurage samples, including Sanctuary, and got a pop-up message that one of the items could not be shipped to my address (in Virginia). I couldn’t tell which one, and that doesn’t really make sense anyway. I need to give them a call.
That is weird. Maybe it was something with a tobacco note, and Virginia didn’t want the competition. 😉
In my dreams I get a bell jar of SL Borneo 1834 AND one of Fumiere Turque. I have a bit left of each when they were available a few years back and am holding on to them for special days. And a new terra cotta pomegrate from SMN.
Oh my was this list for just one ? ?
Nothing un sniffed
No fragrance gifts to give this year.
My wish list is a bottle of Amouage Beloved or Guerlain Bois d’Armenie as a back up b/c I’ve been reaching for BdI a lot the past two weeks and I’m just thinking….
I am at a loss for a choice in the unsniffed category b/c there are many things recently that I’ve not smelled. But something from Goutal would probably do it.
Gifts to others – I love those gorgeous boxes and wonderfully smelly Saponificio Artigianale Fiorentino soaps that are thankfully always in our local TJ Maxx. I give those a lot.
I honestly have purchased all of the fragrances I wanted, so I am not expecting anything gift -wise. My friends and family know that I am picky when it comes to my perfume, so I don’t think that they would even attempt.
There isn’t anything at the moment that I would want to purchase unsniffed.
I have seen some cute crackers that were mentioned yesterday that I am willing to get for family and friends.
My brother really likes the new Tom Ford fragrance for men, so I will probably purchase that for him.
I would most like to receive for Christmas, or any day, Shaal Nur. Unsniffed would be Rose of No Man’s Land. I am giving my daughter-in-law a pretty Occitane container of three hand creams, for one, and if others in the family were scent-inclined I would love to find them some reasonably priced fragrance treasures, too.
Off topic: feeling the need to confess. I just dropped a small fortune on the Thanksgiving specials at Surrender to Chance. I could not resist. So weak! Will I buy perfume unsniffed? Yes, apparently I will if the price is right.
The damage: 5ml decants of Amouage Lyric, Jubliation 25, and Beloved. If I don’t like them, I suppose the next swap meet will not be too far off, right?
I swear, no more until after Christmas!
Consider yourself absolved.
These few weeks are always my “worst” in terms of perfume budget each year. I often hold off on buying things *forever* and then give in when finally there’s some sort of deal. Damage so far is far more than your 5mL decants, even Amouage.
That is to say, you’re in good company!
Good company indeed! 🙂
and 5ml decants are really just adequate sized samples so you dont have to buy a bottle unsniffed 😉
It really is a frugal–even downright responsible!– choice, given the right perspective!
Surrender to Chance is a family owned business. You are just doing your part for the economy, I say.
Money well spent, I say! I love those 3 from Amouage and I’m considering the Beloved myself. Those 3 are easily swapped if you don’t love them.
Both Fragrance net and Beauty Spin have Beloved for under $200…. Sorry, can’t seem to not enable. ????
I bought beloved for myself this morning. Merry Christmas to me.
Thanks for the PSA but I have a decant and one more might be just enough for my short attention span. Although hopefully someone else will see this and take advantage of the deal. Merry Christmas to you, indeed! Beautiful choice. Enjoy 🙂
So true!
I knew I could count on you all to assuage my guilt. Feeling downright virtuous now. Thanks!
Gift I would most like to receive: Aftelier Vanilla Smoke Parfum. I did a slow burn on this one. It is still a lot lighter than my favorite vanillas but there is something really appealing about its sophisticated powdery vanilla. I wouldn’t mind a tin of gourmand tea from Mariage Freres.
Unsniffed fragrance gift: Hmmm, I would say a Le Galion Discovery Set although I don’t think it is available any longer. That said, a very nice perfume mule got me my long-coveted unsniffed 100 mL “sample” of Le Galion Iris. I will have it in my hot little hands next week.
Fragrant gifts for others: Some friends will get Yves Rocher hand soap as part of their gift bag.
How are the Yves Rocher hand soaps? What scents do you get? I have never gotten anything from there, though I have been tempted to blind-buy more than a couple times because there stuff is so inexpensive…
I just got the box today and have not opened it yet. pyramus enabled a wholelotofus when he mentioned the holiday selections are out and recommended Candied Orange and Cinnamon. Online is the way to go…google for coupon codes because they seem to have them quite often.
I’m a fan of Yves Rocher. Their stuff is inexpensive, but nicely done with vegetal ingredients and good formulations that won’t irritate my fussy skin. Their oat (avoine) lotion has an old school ‘cream smell’ that I truly love. The Secrets de Hamman bath oil is a bit like l’Occitane’s Amande, and leaves the skin very soft. The Voile d’Ambre fragrance I wore last Friday is unbelievably nice, very niche smelling, and Vanille Noire is a nice, though straightforward vanilla.
I’m wishing for a bottle of Sycomore (or Cuir de Russie).
Unsniffed is tough as I react badly to many ingredients….samples would work better. Orientals and chypres would be best bets, thank you Santa.
As for loved ones, most don’t wear fragrance. And the one who does prefers self purchases.
Wearing a department store spritz of Cristalle edp – definitely too much jasmine for me (not a big fan of florals).
Right now I’m wearing a sample of Montale Louban because it somehow escaped getting packed (it was almost the equivalent of finding it in the couch cushions, if I had that kind of a couch). It’s for people who want a dirt/oud? suffused rose. I don’t know if I number amongst those people.
1. I’m coveting a replacement bottle of Aftelier Ancient Resins Oil. Sigh. Good for skin and scent.
2. I wouldn’t say no to Hiram Green Voyage or Vanilla Smoke if someone really wanted to get me something I hadn’t sniffed.
3. I may go back into production of homemade lampe berger oils once I am moved into my new place. I had a sandalwood-myrrh with a drop of ylang concoction that was pretty great.
ooo, I just discovered Aftelier’s Ancient Resins. Oh my , lovely!
Hope you’re doing well with the crutches, and the moving. Santa should bring you something extra special for moving-while-on-crutches.
Thanks, Pixel. I am definitely getting better on the crutches. And if Santa is willing to overlook a lifetime of mutual unacknowledgement, so am I. :-p
Your oil concoction sounds lovely.
Thank you! If you have a lampe berger, I’ll make some for you, my email address is available from clicking my username. (Time delay until I am moved and slightly more ambulatory)
So what gift would I like to receive… well, wouldn’t say no to SL L’Incendiaire. I don’t have much restraint when it comes to being my own Santa, but the price tag on that one is actually beyond my ability to justify.
An unsniffed fragrance I’d get… I rarely buy unsniffed but, well, just did it last week (see comment above about lack of restraint) — Sonoma Scent Studio’s Amber Incense. Been waiting for that one for Quite Some Time Now.
As for scented gift-giving, most of my relatives are un- or anti- scent so that’s a no-go. However, MIL drenches herself in Chanel No 5 — though I don’t know which concentration she prefers. Since funds are tight for her and she will NOT accept money or gift cards, but will accept Things, I am thinking that I will send her the small sizes of No 5 parfum, edp, AND edt from a department store. She can then return whichever type(s) she doesn’t want and get herself something she does want or need but won’t ask for. And all’s well that ends well.
I told myself that I was OVER lusting over a bottle of L’Incendiaire but truth be told, if I could get a huge discount, I would jump on it. I’ll keep you posted if I ever get that discount 🙂
I’ll need to be informed as well! I love that stuff.
Great Questions! Hmmmmm
1. I would LOVE to get Lubin’s Black Jade. It’s gorgeous!
2. Unsniffed? Risky…but I’d probably go for Bois de Paradis (niche), and Kate Spade’s Walk on Air (dept store). Hoping hubby doesn’t guess for me, and sticks with Chanel No 5 or Shalimar (easy for him to find and remember!)
3. YES! I have bought some Sephora sampler packs to give to my Mom-in-Law and Sis-in-Law. Bought EL Pleasures Pop for my 14 yr old, and Tocca Sampler for my 11 yr old. (The 11 yr old loves watermelon, and Tocca Simone promises to deliver.)
FUN STUFF!!! 🙂
Very late to the party today but love reading everyone’s comments!
1) I just bought it! Saw a small bottle of Amouage Fate for a ridiculous price (I am a little suspicious as I have never purchased from this particular discounter before, but I did look up reviews first and people seem to be very happy with their purchases). Now, if Frederic Malle dropped a bottle of Dries off at my doorstep, I would happily give it a home. Same goes for Onda VdE and Chanel Box of Eels.
2) Anubis or Maai- I am very curious about both
3) I am now on a self imposed “no buy” because I have a LOT of confessing to do. I would love to buy others some nice fragrances but I am the only one in my small sphere who is into fragrance.
I did gift myself with a puppy from a local shelter today! My last dog passed away in September and I finally felt ready to love another. I am 50 and have NEVER been with out a dog until September. When I popped out of the womb, there was a dog there to welcome me to this crazy beautiful world. She’s a 12 week Australian Cattle Dog mixed with who knows what and she has two red ears and red speckles everywhere. Now I need a name and if anyone has any suggestions I am grateful because I am drawing a big blank at the moment.
Happy weekend to all 🙂
Ohhhh, my husband so wants an Australian Cattle Dog, but I have visions of the dog trying to herd our four cats. Yours sounds lovely. What fun, but I am sorry for your loss in September.
Ha! I can see it now! But honestly, at one point I had a rottweiler, a pit bull mix, a territorial cockatiel, and a black cat. They all got along famously and the bird literally ruled the roost! The bird would walk right up to the dogs, grab a beak full of hair, hoist himself up and over and down the other side, and the dogs just watched him strut away. He was a bit more respectful of the cat.
It can be done but requires a lot of tolerance from all involved 🙂
LizzieB, for what it’s worth, much sister’s cattle dog lives with five cats and doesn’t ever try to herd them. She heels me, if I let her, but never bothers the cats.
Have fun with the pup! A good friend’s SIL and husband were based in Australia for a few yrs. Both their daughters were born there, and have what I understand are Aussie names: Edina and Killara. Admit Edina makes me think of AbFab.
I am keen on Killara, but a bit afraid people will think I am saying “killer!” 😉
Oooh, congrats on the puppy, Deva!
Thanks! She’s a doll and will keep me honest with my Fitbit steps ????????
Awww! Congrats on the puppy – and so glad you adopted from the shelter.
Shelter pets are the best! And so many need homes, it’s sad. I was seriously contemplating adopting two dogs today…
I picked up a bottle of Ostara at the recent Haute Look Penhaligon’s sale, so I guess Santa will be giving me that. Santa, if you’re paying attention I’d still like a bottle of DelRae Wit.
I don’t think I’ll be buying anything unsniffed, given my roughly 50% success with unsniffed 5ml splits. Though I admit that I would love to have the Cire Trudon churchy-incense candle even though I haven’t smelled it.
I did get my dad some lightly-scented hard-milled soaps like he requested; he liked the pine one and I also found a “cotton” scented one that smells like line-dried sheets (yes, a little bit laundry-musk, but with that indescribable sunshine-and-fresh-air smell too). Also bought my mother another jar of that luxe No. 5 body creme, which smells so wonderful on her that I’ve promised to keep her in supplies for ever. Bought some B&BW shower gels to gift as well.
Um. Oops. Didn’t mean to post this here, of course.
I only wish I could send a big bottle of Wit your way 🙂
Have you seen the Australian film Red Dog? Kelpies are awesome dogs ( red heelers / cattle dogs ). So bright and full of personality and the best at jumping ….yay. I knew two kelpies: Tank and Kip. Best dogs ever.
And my friend has a blue heeler called Hazel. Kuri is the name (translation ) given to the Polynesian dogs ,the first dogs in Aotearoa/ NZ
What an awesome Christmas present for both of you!! I hope you enjoy many wonderful years together Deva.
She sounds adorable, Deva. In A-NZ, we affectionately (sort of) call the other side of the ANZAC relationship “Ockers”? Does she look like an Ocker, perchance? Or does she need sonething dignified like Christabel? Dunno if you do this in the States, but redheads here are often called “Bluey”. Or does she sing and warble, like other redheelers I’ve known? You could call her Dame Nellie. Or Kiri.
Or maybe Ochre, or Jasper? It’s red, the colour of outback Australia. Red jasper is everywhere in the Pilbara region of WA, and cattle stations abound in those dry, northern areas.
That’s a much nicer selection than mine!
Ah! Congrats on the rescue puppy!!!!!!!!!!!! You should name her Mitsouko b/c her coat sounds so elaborate. You could always call her Mitsy for short.
Great gift to yourself. I didn’t know about losing your dog in Sept. Always hard to lose a beloved pet. When we lost our cat of 19 years it took us about a year to bring in our new guys. I can’t imagine being without these crazy kooks now. I’m a Peanuts fan (our male kitty is Linus) so I’m voting for Peppermint Patty for the red hair and freckles.
Awww! What about “Ruby”?
What about Alice – for Alice Springs?
Yay! Enjoy your new baby!
I’m eying some vintage perfumes on ebay now that are just a little or a heck of a lot more than I can justify spending. Definitely could use a perfume Santa!
Ys-Uzac is a Swiss niche firm that has done several perfumes inspired by music. In 2014, they launched Sacre du Printemps to celebrate the centennial of this composition by Igor Stravinsky in Lavaux, Switzerland. Notes include galbanum, black currant, vetiver, angelica and guaiac wood, and the bottle is black with what appears to be gold leaf. I love Pohadka, so I’m intrigued.
I may give a friend one of those pretty holiday gift sets from L’Occitane.
I think the perfume sounds brilliant…brilliant and challenging and beautifully resolved, hopefully. You could compare it ( price wise ) to one or two concert tickets? What a wonderful theme for a perfume. I’d be hooked.
Oh I so want that Pohadka. I spent 18 months living in the Jura with frequent visits to Geneva….this is the first time I’ve ever felt a sense of ‘longing’ for a scent. I also remember a wonderful day at the Vitra museum just outside Basel…it times like this that NZ is so far away. Sacred Du Printemps … I had a friend who was the set designer at the Geneva Opera and I went to a concert. I was in typical NZ travel clothes ( jeans, walking shoes…it was all I had ) and everyone else wore jewels … It was a wonderful night. Then we went home around 1 am…on a 500 cc motorbike through Geneva and back to the Jura. It was the happiest night. I wore Boucheron…that was what I wore then.
Sounds like a perfect night Kanuka, one of those wonderful experiences that become treasured memories.
What a beautiful experience in a beautiful place!
A fabulous story – those are the best experiences in life, magical and exhilarating!
Oh those perfume notes sound divine! I havent explored Ys-Uzac at all but I can see I need to remedy this.
I’d happily accept a Cire Trudon candle(Spiritus Sancti) or a FB of SHL Khol de Bahrein or a bigger bottle of vintage Samsara in EDP or parfum.
I’m not a big blind buyer as I don’t have the space to shelter the unloved (even if they’re inexpensive).
The only person to whom I might gift perfume is my 22 yo niece who expressed an interest in having a perfume. She said she likes the smell of lilacs so considering a travel sized FM En Passant.
Also, I go to a winter solstice party/ritual that my (pagan)friend hosts every year. Incense and soaps are always good Kris Kringle gifts for that event.
That’s the one! Spiritus Sancti.
They have a lot of great ones, but that one just really does it for me.
Best of the day to all! Monday, and I’m bounding off to work to….Exam Board! I’m wearing anti-soporific clothes — a straight skirt in the most startling colours, such fun, but toned down (at the request of the dear man) with a black top instead of the bright fire-orange Tee I originally put on, and now I want a keep-awake perfume. Normally I wear something like Femme to EBs, but today I just want some sizzle. However, as I look at my collection, there sizxle isn’t! More fizzle than sizzle, maybe! I have some pretty, I have some warm, I have some just plain gorgeous, I have some less gorgeous but really quite interesting, but I have nothing that is pure fun. Oh my, what am I to do? I think, and this deeply strange given my mood, that I might wear Baiser Vole, which I have in the extract. It’s not exactly outrageous fun, but then, neither will Exam Board be. The dear one has just told me that I will irritate the meeting intensely if I continue so happy, so the BV is a good choice, in his opinion. He thinks it might, ummm, settle me. So, there’s a SOTD, sold to the lady with the crazy grin and the straw fedora!
Baiser Vole – Yes!!!
POsted the Perfume Pick’n’Mix this morning – keep in mind post from Dunedin takes weeks!!! Trying to think if there is anything ‘fun’ in it…
I would mind vintage Mitsouko Extrait.
I am very curious about Khol de Bahrein and Shalimar Ole a la Vanille. An incongruous pair. I wouldn’t blind buy them but I do want to smell them because I see them mentioned here so frequently!
I have have a wonderful friend who litterally pushed me down the rabbit’s hole over a few years ago. I bought her a few travel size fragrances for Christmas but won’t name them now just in case she Is lurking. ????
That is wouldn’t mind…
My blind buy would be Iris Cendre, and the bottle I want but won’t get until my birthday is Dries van Noten. I am buying my dh Fumerie Turque and Muscs Koublai Khan for his birthday which is on Dec. 26th. Wish I could get Encens et Lavande for me but I shouldn’t…
I am so, so late to this party (computer troubles – ugh!).
Anyway, since I have far more perfume than I will ever use in my lifetime, and I just bought myself a biggest size of Rose Jam shower gel, the only thing I’d like at the moment is a gardenia plant for right outside my bedroom window. I envy my neighbor’s plant every spring when it blooms. Heavenly.
Unsniffed? Well, I wouldn’t say no to PdE’s newest, Tabac Tabou.
The nieces will probably get some Pacifica scented products – they seem to really like them.
Just testing to see if the gravatar thingy works. Ignore this!
Phht! Didn’t work. Beastly botheration! Now I have to think about why.
I can’t alter mine either. Don’t know why, and have given up trying.
Morning,
Lots of scented gifts this year. The wife has bought me Diptyque vetiveryio, She has in return, her beloved Flowerbomb, Moschino Funny, (so happy and fresh) and Dior Addict eau fraiche.
Mum has a gift set of Jo Malone, the set is so lovely and makes your money go further and seems a much more special gift.
Merry Christmas all!