What is it: a 70 ml bottle of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae, plus a 100 ml bottle of Nomenclature iri_del, plus a small (15 ml?) bottle of A Lab On Fire Mon Musc à Moi. All have been used lightly for testing.
How do I get it: For a chance to win, leave a comment on the website telling me that you live in the US (or that you can provide a US mailing address). Then tell me either a) your absolute favorite niche fragrance, or b) what thing, event or person made you thankful or happy in 2015, or c) something else you've been dying to post in a comment.
Be sure to use the “Post a comment” box; do not reply to another comment! All replies to comments will be deleted!
The contest will be open until noon or so next Tuesday, and I'll announce the winner next Wednesday.
The fine print: Don't enter the contest unless I have permission to use the email address in your reader account to contact you. If the email address in your reader account is incorrect, you might want to fix it. If you are the winner and you fail to send me your mailing details within a couple weeks, I’ll give your prize away to someone else. Sadly, it sometimes usually takes me a month to mail a package. Reasonable care will be taken in the packaging and mailing of your prize, but if the contents are lost or damaged or fail to please you for any reason whatsoever, I’m sorry but I cannot replace them.
I live in the US. My fav niche is currently The Voices of Trees!
I live in the US.
My fave niche is Oud Cashmere Mood by Francis Kurkdjian
Thanks for such a lovely draw ,Robin.
Merry Christmas all xxxxxxxxx
I live in the US.
The thing I’m most thankful for this year is that my dad’s Hodgkin’s lymphoma is in remission!
I live in the US. Thanks for the draw!
My favorite niche fragrance is Tauer’s L’ADDM
Turning 50 this year seems to have made me thankful for life in the broadest sense.
I live in the US. Thank you for the draw.
I have 2 favorites: Tauer PHI Rose and Rania J Ambre Loup.
Happy holidays
I live in the US. My current favorite niche fragrance is Amouage Beloved.
Thanks for the draw!
I’m in the US, couldn’t pick a favorite niche perfume, and my neighbor’s little girl has made me happy all year. She doesn’t have a grandmother and I don’t have any grandchildren, so we have become, in her words, BFFs
I live in US. my favorite niche is L’Artisan Timbuktu if that’s still considered niche!?
On early today. I live in the U.S.A. and my favourite niche at the moment is Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum.
Makes me smile when I smell it.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !
Thanks for the drawing, Robin !
Thanks for the contest, Robin, and I do live in the US. I’m very grateful for the friends and support my children and I have discovered throughout a very difficult and painful change in our family. I just want to box up endless hugs for all of them, both near and far.
I live in the US. Not sure about a favorite niche perfume, but I am terribly fond of Shaal Nur (Etro), Cedre (SL), Beyond Love (BK), Oud Ispahan (Dior), and I just got a bottle of Upper Ten (Lubin).
Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunities, and also for the great articles all year long!
I live in USA. I think I have a tie for favorite niche fragrance: it’s between Tauerville Incense Flash and Suzy Larsen’s First Breath. I’m thankful for great friends and an employer with a decent health insurance plan!
I live in the US. The event that made me most grateful this year was an incident with my father in law –who is always normally in great health–ended up needing emergency open heart surgery and he thankfully is home recovering and doing really well.
I live in the US, and my favorite scent at the moment is Malle’s Musc Ravageur – which has been my SOTD for most of this year. I’m happy that my mother has finally decided to retire from a job that’s caused her a lot of stress the past few years. Here’s to a great holiday for all!
I live in the US. I don’t really have niche, or at least not the expensive niche as mentioned in many of the posts above. I love certain (inexpensive) fragrance houses, which are probably considered niche. Right now my faves are Smell Bent, Demeter, and for perfume oils BPAL and Possets.
I live in the U.S. What made me thankful was my dad surviving heart failure. What made me happy was my baby being healthy albeit being extremely premature & my fave nice scent of the moment is a tie between Sospiro’s Opera & Slumberhouse’s Pear & Olive!
I live in the U.S. I’m happy to spend time with my family after being out of state for several years.
I am in the US. I have too many niche favorites to mention just one and a lot of things and people made me happy in 2016, so it is hard to select just one there as well, so I guess I’ll just say that I am feeling happy and every day I enjoy picking a great scent to put on. It’s kind of like aromatherapy is just such a great thing!
I live in the US. My favorite niche scent is Czech & Speake Dark Rose.
I am thankful for good health, family and friends.
I live in the US, I,m grateful life has forced me to make a new career choice!
I live in the U.S.A, I am not familiar enough with niche fragrances to have a favorite. I am every day thankful and happy to be with my children. We have had some struggles the past few years, and they give me the courage to keep getting up and fight every day. I will take this opportunity to say thank you to NST. It is always a pleasure to read. Thanks for the contest.
I am in the US. My favorite niche scent at the moment is Slumberhouse Norne because it smells like Christmas trees to me. I am thankful to Robin and all the NST contributors who brighten my day and broaden my nose.
All the traveling I was able to do this year has made me very happy. Even when I was away for work and not necessarily for vacation, it was still a pleasure. I’m also extremely thankful that I work for such a great, innovative company. And I do live in the US.
I live in the US. This past year I’ve been especially thankful for friends and family, and for my new job.
Hello,
I am in NYC, and my favorite niche these days is Le Labo’s Patchouli 24. It has a tiny bit of fireplace going on, which makes it fun at holiday time…
Happy Holidays!
Deborah
Greetings, I’m in the USA and I’m thankful for this upcoming vacation.
My favorite niche fragrance so far is FM Carnal Flower, followed closely by HG Moon Bloom. I guess I’m a sucker for the big white florals! And, I do live in the US.
I live in the US
My favorite niche frag is Dior Ambre Nuit (tried and true with my own nose and that of others around me…only compliments and nothing else!)
How do you explain the anxiety of waiting impatiently for Christmas eve and yet not wanting December 26 to come?
Do I need a therapist?
I live in the US, and one of my current favorite niche fragrances is NV Mohur.
I love in the US!
I want that Acqua Vitae! I love it but not at that price.I know it’s random and lobbying is unnecessary but if I won is give the other two away ass I’d be satiated.
I’m far too fickle to choose a favorite niche scent, but I am thankful for the lovely NST community who seem willing to put up with my gushing over the flavor of the day. I’m also quite fortunate to have a wonderful family and lots of adorable purry twerps to chase around and keep me on my toes. U.S. resident.
I live in the good ol’ USA!!
My favorite niche sample is a Kurkdjian! Lumiere Noire de Femme is a beauty!
In 2015: So grateful for my hubby’s new career: Teaching. He’s teaching at our local high school, working on his masters and certification at night, and loving what he does. I am BLESSED. After several years of being a stay-at-home dad, he rebooted his career and is thriving!
Too many wonderful niche fragrances to pick a favorite, but I am sure enjoying my Tauerville incense and vanilla flashes lately! I have a US address and I am grateful to NST for this wonderful drawing and forum!
I live in the US. Right now my favorite niche is Pichola. Thanks for the drawing!
U.S. resident who is thankful for this opportunity!
Fave niche scent is a toss-up between Wit, Dzing!, and Vero Profumo Mito.
U.S. mailing address, check! Favourite niche fragrance is from the Montreal brand Monsillage: Aviation Club. Transports me to a wood-paneled gentlemen’s club where people in perfectly pressed trousers drawl witty rejoinders at each other over a game of billards. Lovely.
I’m in the US. My favorite niche changes on a regular basis but today I’ll go with Anima Dulcis. Thanks for the draw! I’m thankful I checked in and didn’t miss the chance.
What a generous giveaway! Right now, I am hankering for Aftelier Cologne perfumes. I am restraining myself to make my birthday gift from me to me early next year extra special.
Drool! My favorite niche is probably Miller & Bertaux A Quiet Morning. Though it’s hard to pick! And this year I have been grateful for a lot, but I will say art in all its forms, including perfume, has been very grounding for me this year. I live in the US, and thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for this giveaway!
I’m in the US and if I have to pick a favorite today, I’ll say NV Ashoka.
I live in NYC. I think right now my favorite niche is OJ Frangipani. Thanks so much! I’m thankful for family this year.
Thank you for the opportunity, Robin!
It’s essentially impossible for me to choose between them, so I will have to name both Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s The Scent of Hope and Eric Buterbaugh’s Regal Tuberose as my favorite niche fragrances.
Hi, I’m in the US, and I’m thankful for meeting a special someone recently after being single for quite a while! ????
Hey Robin, thank you for the draw!
I don’t like to play favorites! I love all of my children.
I live in the US. My current favorite niche fragrance is NV Mohur. I am thankful for my family; I met my husband when I was in my mid 30s and didn’t really expect to have children or necessarily get married but now have 2 amazing kids and a really nice life. I am thankful everyday!
I live in the U.S.
I don’t have a favorite niche fragrance (yet) so I’ll go with something I am thankful for. I had a pretty good 2015, but I think getting to see the Northern Lights in Alaska is going to top my list of thankful moments for this year.
I live in NYC in the USA. I’m grateful in 2015 to have completed 14 years clean and sober <3
I am most definitely in the US. I would like to be on an island beach sitting in the shade of a tree staring into space and listening to the waves lapping at the shore. But here I am.
Dying to say thanks to all the wonderful people who make NST the lovely place it is to visit each day. Sometimes reading a few pages of comments on the Scent of the Day is the only thing keeping me away from the hard liquor and chocolate. (Kidding!)
Happy Holidays to all: to contributors, reviewers, faithful and occasional commenters, and to all who share the fragrant love here, especially to Robin CSO – OFL (Chief Scent Officer – Our Fearless Leader), and most certainly to Donatella, Our Lady of the Perfumed Overindulgence. Bless us every one.
I live in the U.S. and I absolutely love MFK Aqua Vitae. I think this could be a signature scent for me. My favorite niche… hmmm – that’s tough as I love quite a few. Aqua Vitae is one. Shalini is another. CJScents Vanilla Incense is a third, but she’s definitely indie – is that included in niche? Thanks for the draw!
I live in the U.S. My favorite niche recently is Serge Lutens Rahat Loukhoum. Just discovered it and am wondering now how to get my hands on some more. I am thankful for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary this summer and that my older son is turning out to be a really lovely young man (still working on the younger one, who is a little spoiled at the moment). Thanks for the drawing!
I live in the USA and my favorite niche fragrance is Amouage Epic! I hope I win and thanks for the contest!
I live in the US. My favorite niche is Unknown Pleasures by Kerosene! Thanks for the contest.
I live in the US, and my favorite niche perfume is SSS Winter Woods. It is almost cold enough to wear it!
Yay for cold weather, when I can wear my favorite perfumes. Thanks for the giveaway.
I live in the US, and what made me most happy this year is our new cat (and thankful to my husband who found her at our local humane society).
Favorite niche this week (cannot say beyond that!) is Amaranthine.
Live in the U.S favorite niche Tam Dao EDP, thankful for so many things but right now especially for my children’s amazing special education teachers. Happy Holidays and lots of love and admiration for my fragrant friends around the world!
I have an US address!
My absolute niche favourite is Enlevement au Serail by Francis Kurkdjian for MDCI, sadly it has been discontinued.
The best thing happened in 2015 is my children are growing up!
I’m in the US, and my favorite niche scents at the moment is NV Mohur Extrait. (I see several other mentions of Mohur here…we may have a winner!) Thanks for the generous draw, Robin, and thank you for all you do to make NST such a wonderful place. I am grateful that my extended family continues to be healthy, employed, and connected to one another after years of various health issues and dramas. I am grateful for all the people of the world who pray and act for peace and turn away from hatred and violence.
I’m in the U.S., and grateful (actually ecstatic) that I was able to move this year to a safer, kinder, more vibrant region of the country than the one I was previously living in. Thanks for the draw!
Thank you so much! I live in the US!
I have to say one of my favourite is Amouage Gold Woman. It is pure statement and I love it!
Thanks for the draw! I live in the US. Favorite niche is Olympic Orchids Ballets Rouge.
I am in the US. Currently I’m lemming Moon Bloom from Hiram Green. I have a sample. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, but I might treat myself after Christmas.
I live in the US, and I’m still loving Dzing in cool weather!! grateful for this opportunity.. Thanks Robin!!
I live in the US. The kids don’t have school today because of snow so i’ll be sitting at home drinking Bailey’s in coffee because it’s 5 PM somewhere else. This will call for a snuggly scent….i’ll be wearing Lalique Gold today. Thanks for the opportunity!
I live in the U.S. and this year I am very thankful to the local cat shelter that provided me with two energetic kittens and a very mellow older tuxedo cat to keep them in line. My new kitties make me laugh out loud every day and bring joy to my heart. Thank you for this draw!
I came across my Andy Tauer Discovery set from a few years ago and I rediscovered Carillon pour Ange. I ‘d forgotten how much I like it! I live in the US. Thanks!
oooh I live in the US! I would love aqua vitae wow
My fav niche has got to be Musc Nomade by Annick Goutal…a perfect scent in my opinion, the whole les orientalistes collection is so great
happy holidays everyone!
I live in the U.S. My favorite niche fragrance is Kerosene’s Unknown Pleasures. The most unique gourmand I own – lemon cookie goodness.
Thanks for the draw! I live in the US. My favorite niche perfume might change day to day, but today I’ll go with SL Chergui.
I live in the US.
My favorite niche is between Heodonist and FM l’eau hiver.
I live in the US. My favorite niche fragrance (at this moment, anyway) is Le Labo Vanille 44. I am thankful for many things, especially for an uneventful 2015 (health-wise).
Thank you for the generous draw, Robin.
Hello Robin and all the NST readers! As always, thank you Robin for this generous opportunity! I live in the U.S. Wholly smokes, there is no way I can choose just one favorite niche fragrance! A few that I love are Slumberhouse’s Pear & Olive; Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s APOM and Amyris Femme; Aedes De Venustas’ Oeillet De Venustas; and many more……
Because I have had some health issues and conditions for this year and previous years, I am most thankful and grateful for my family. They are ALWAYS there to help me, care for me, and love me.
And, as always, I am thankful for NST. This blog has seen me through some dark days and allowed me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I stumbled across NST years ago, and It has changed me in so many ways. I love this community. Happy holidays to everyone!
I live in the U.S.
I am thankful and blessed to have two amazing children who everyday I am so proud and supportive of.
Favorite niche house Kurkdjian
Happy Holidays to All!!!
Thank you, Robin! No matter who wins, your generosity is much appreciated.
My favorite niche fragrance is Keiko Mecheri’s Louhkoum, for which I am always thankful. Beyond that, I am thankful for Brandon, HONY photographer, who inspires so many good works. And I live in the U.S.
I live in the US.
a niche fragrance I recently discovered that I love is Memo Irish Leather
My favorite niche is Roja Dove Vetiver.
I can provide an US address.
That’s quite a bonanza giveaway. I’ve been curious about that iri_del for sure.
Favorite niche fragrance: Today, let’s say it’s Lutens De Profundis.
I live in the USA.
I live in the US. Recently my lovely boyfriend surprised me with a gift of my (current) favorite niche fragrance: Borneo 1834! Mmmm… chocolate and patchouli.
Robin, I live in the USA and want to thank you for doing this draw.
I love so very many niche fragrances, but if I had to pick only one, it would be Vero Perfumo’s Rubj in the Voile D’extract formulation. I am grateful for still being alive after a near-death experience, which enabled me to not only “smell the roses” but to appreciate every thing in this amazing world we live in, amidst the craziness and chaos, and despite all the unfortunate and bad things all of us experience in life. We only have one life to live and we should all make the best of it in every way, shape and form…and keep on smelling the roses, irises, jasmines, violets, patchoulis, incense, etc. etc. Again, thank you Robin and I wish you and each and every one of our bloggers on NST a Happy Holiday Season and a fragrant and healthy New Year ahead.
I’m in the USA and lately I’ve been consumed with Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman. I’m grateful to have found my soul mate.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Thank you for the generous gifting.
Hi Robin!
I live in the USA…. my favorite niche scent (today) is Mona di Orio’s Cuir, with DIptique’s L’ Eau Trois a close second.
I had to add, one thing I’m so grateful for is good health insurance – I don’t know where I’d be without it!
Lovely draw, thanks!
I live in the U.S.
I moved to a new position at my firm in 2015, and I am extremely grateful to now have a position with less stress that allows me to start working on a better work-life balance. Thanks for the giveaway!
I live in the US. Favorite niche fragrance is Killian Straight to heaven
I live in the US.
My favorite niche fragrance is probably Carnal Flower. I swoon whenever I smell it!
I’m in the US. Favorite niche that I own:ELDO Rossy de Palma. Always grateful for my dear husband. He’s really my BFF.
Thank you for the generous giveaway Robin! I live in the US and yes, you can email me at the listed address.
If I had to choose an all-time favorite niche scent, it would probably be L’air de Rien by Miller Harris. It may be body-odorous to some, but to me it smells like home.
I am grateful for so much, and especially the remarkable collection of friends I’ve been lucky enough to collect over the years, and who made this year such a good one for me.
Thanks again!
Is Osmanthe Yunnan considered niche? It is my all time favorite. I am thankful for so much this year. Happy Holidays!
Hey, what a super giveaway! I live in the US – my Current fave is Huitieme Art’s Liqueur Charnelle – I am head over heels in love with this scent the way I am with Parfums Sacré and Bellodgia ( very vintage as it was my signature fragrance waaaay back in the 70s – I was Just a baby! Ha, ha.)
Something that I would like to mention is the Wheat Belly Diet/Lifestyle has changed my life in so many ways as it has so many others ( I am not in any way affiliated except I am participant/ follower).
Have a lovely day,
Anne
amcmemphis
Hi hi. I live in the US and am most thankful for my Mom every day of my life. She stumbled across the Santa Maria Novella boutique while in NYC with her Portuguese exchange student today and did her best to find a present for me until the prices gave her a heart attack LOL! But it truly is the thought that counts and I’m so lucky to have her.
I’m in the US and my favorite niche fragrance is Mito Voile d’Extrait. I’m most thankful for my wonderful daughters!
I’m in the U.S. One of my favorite niche perfumes (although I am not always sure these days what qualifies as niche) is Vero Profumo’s Rubj.
My absolute happiest occurrence this year is the survival of my cat, Zoink, after a near fatal illness. She is – with standard feline aplomb – obliviously chill now, but every time I look at her I am really grateful that she’s still with me.
I live in the us! My favorite niche perfume is Parfum de Nicolai Weekend a Deauville (the original). Such a brilliant beauty. It smells like a greenhouse garden in warm humid florida.
I discovered buddhism this year which sounds hokey when I type it, but it’s been an eye opening series of lessons. So it this year, I am most thankful for thankfulness.
And thank you for nst! It is a lovely escape when I need one.
I live in the U.S. Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite niche fragrance right now is SL Gris Clair.
I live in the U.S.. My favorite niche fragrance is Keiko Mecheri’s Peau de Peche and I’m grateful to have a job that allows me to buy perfume occasionally! Thanks for the draw.
I live in the US.
Here’s my pick recently…Armani currently has a very limited special edition men’s “Gio 2015” (50ml) for $850!! *Extremely* hard to even find on the internet – not even on the armani site, or the other regular blog/interest places. In Giorgio Armani stores only.
Looks like this:
http://www.perfumemaster.org/Giorgio-Armani/Gio-2015-Mens-Cologne
I highly recommend trying if you live near one of their boutiques. Sorta a musky, bitter, sandalwood. Very good
I live in the US and my favorite niche perfume is The Different Company’s De Bachmakov.
What a great give-away! I live in the US, and while I can’t bring myself to name an “absolute favorite” niche perfume, I sure am happy with the NV Ashoka that I caved for yesterday! Happy holidays to all NST readers!
Hello,
I am in the US. I am grateful for my dad passing this past May even though it was hard he had so many health issues it was a blessing.
Thank you for the opportunity
I live in the US. I’m so grateful that our new grand baby is healthy. She smells amazing, too, so she is my choice for favorite niche fragrance! I also want to thank all the NST posters for their commitment. I have been reading daily for 7 years, and I feel like I have learned so much from everyone.
I live in the US and I’m most thankful for my wife, two kids, and border collie, Skye.
I live in the US! Right now the perfume I’m loving the most is De Profundis, but probably only because I don’t have any!
Thank you for the giveaway!
I live in the US and my favorite niche is L’Artisan’s Traversee du Bosphore.
Thanks for another wonderful giveaway! It’s been a busy holiday season – I can’t believe I almost missed it.
I live in the US. This semester I’ve been thankful for many of my friends at college who have responded with warmth, humor, and encouragement when I’ve confided in them during what has been a dark, painful semester for me. I’m very lucky to have found such wonderful people and to be surrounded by them day in and day out.
I’m in the US, and my favorite niche perfume is Etro Shaal Nur. Or is that designer? Maybe Penhaligon’s Amaranthine.