Happy Tuesday! Hope the day is going well so far. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Memo Kedu. I smell like creamy rice and roasted nuts.
Reminder: this Friday, 1/1, we're celebrating the New Year...wear the perfume that will bring you luck, health and prosperity in 2016.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2016, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is sesame seeds on a mirror [cropped] by theilr at flickr; some rights reserved.
SOTD is Amouage Beloved.
Wonderful!
Gorgeous!
L’Etat Noel au Balcon. SO GOOD. If I didn’t already have a bunch of spicy scents I would absolutely get a full bottle of this.
I like that one too.
Oops. Read that as Noel au Bacon. Suppose that would appeal to some!
I did the same.
Hey, that sounds great! I’m thinking you smell pretty fantastic.
SOTD SL Un Bois Vanille. Holy grail staple scent. Goes anywhere, anytime, with anyone
Happy Amost Hump Day to all!
I love UBV, beautiful on it’s own and layers nicely with musk (Kiehl’s) or patchouli (L’ Artisan Patchouli Patch) scents. Def. a must-have scent in the collection!
I need a staple Vanilla – I thought Spiriteuse Double Vanilla would be it, but there is just too much tobacco in that one.
Thanks for mentioning this one, I will seek out a sample.
For a precious, feminine ethereal (in quality, not lasting power) vanilla, you could try Orchidee Vanille.
It’s good but it’s not fantastic good
What would you say is a fantastic good vanilla without any tobacco in it, Robin?
Does the tobacco in L’Artisan Vanille Absolument bother you? I think of it as pretty light.
Providence Perfume Co Provanilla is worth a shot.
Both Comptoir Sud Pacifique and La Maison de Vanille make a number of plain-ish vanillas. i Profumi di Firenze Ambra del Nepal is vanilla, amber, incense, and they also make a sweeter vanilla called something Madagascar.
By Kilian Sweet Redemption = orange & vanilla
Light vanillas w/o tobacco: Atelier Vanille Insensee, Diptyque Eau Duelle
I really am allergic to all forms of tobacco, including apparently the flowers as well as leaves and processed tobacco products. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
Indult Tihota.
Yum. Tried this recently and really liked it.
Scent twins!
SOTD: Botrytis. I had such high hopes for this sample! I got the burst of beautiful honey and dried fruits for all of about 10 minutes, a floral drydown for about 1 hour….and now nothing! LOL Ah well…..
After reading the “Best of” critiques again, I MUST have a bottle of Moschino Fresh! As much as I find myself cleaning house for my crew…this would be PERFECT on my perfume tray! I WILL score this one someday!!!!! Someday…..
I am looking forward to trying Fresh but admit I do not have high hopes
I don’t have high hopes either but the house of Moschino is just contrarian enough to make a scent called Fresh a dark spicy oriental or a floral chypre or some such, for the sheer perversity of it all.
This is my problem with Botrytis, too. Couldn’t get it to last long enough to be FBW. Lovely while it’s there, though.
It’s been a busy, hot day today but I still managed to find time to binge watch the last few episodes of s2 of The Knick
Today’s many errands were bolstered by Escale a Portofino over Tom Ford Neroli Portofino body oil.
Tonight I’m wearing 2 vintage (80’s?) Fragonard parfums. On one wrist is Emilie- a copy of Paris the way it used to smell, and on the other wrist Murmure- a copy of Opium it seems. I don’t know about the current quality of Fragonard but these are really pleasant and actually ‘waft’ well together.
Love Escale a Portofino! I’ll bet the combination with the body oil was luscious.
It was neroli lusciousness! I love body oils though, after a shower. I suspect it’s partly because I’m lazy though and they’re so much quicker to apply than moisturizer
I’m curious about Fragonard. Don’t see this house mentioned much. I’m also envying your weather-it’s finally cold here and I’m already dreaming of spring.
Visited the shop in Paris this fall and I love their packaging and aesthetic. Not blown away by the fragrances but for the price point not bad.
Emilie was the first perfume I ever bought. Unfortunately, while I still have that bottle, the juice seems to have gone bad. I have such a soft spot for Fragonard, though.
I do as well because I visited the perfumery during a high school trip to France. We took a tour and I bought several copies in aluminum bottles (can’t quite remember which ones), plus candied violets and rose petals. Good memories!
Ditto love on Escale a Portofino – It’s one of the rare bottles that I am “getting low” on. I think I wear it more than I realize in the summer.
Also, some love to Fragonard. Their copy fragrances are pretty good and they have a nice price point. I have a bottle of Grain de Soleil that I don’t wear so much any more. But it is serious rice pudding and cinnamon! A million years ago from a high school trip to France, I bought a small collection of their copies that all came together in a box. Two I know for sure were copies of L’Air du Temps and Bal a Versailles. Later on from a college study abroad I’d bought their copy of Dune, which was also well done. I’ve not smelled any of their newer releases.
I have Bullet Doux by Fragonard. It is a powdery carnation scent. Very pretty but I am not sure which scent it it a dupe for, possibly L’Air du Temps. However, I must confess that I was totally influenced by the bottle. It’s a great sleep scent for me.
Stupid spell checker… Billet Doux
I think Bullet Doux is a much better name
Bullet Letter…hmmm.:)
Such a pretty one. I almost bought it.
I tried a bunch of Memo samples and never warmed up to any.
SOTD is Chanel coco noir body cream. De-lish!
No baby yet. Still carrying pretty high. Have a good day ahead
Maybe your baby is holding on for 2016 and the new releases?
Hahaha hilarious. Me and baby both! I have to say, I hadn’t even realized I hadn’t much liked the 2015 releases, but after reading the roundups yesterday, I see there wasn’t a single 2015 perfume I liked well enough to buy! (With the caveat that I didn’t get to smell Nanban or Salome, and would like to–but I did smell nearly two dozen others that rated mention on various lists, but alas…)
Are you hoping for a New Year’s baby? Maybe you’ll be on TV right after giving birth. Who wouldn’t love that?? It almost happened to my mom. My brother was born Jan. 1 at 12:45am. The news crew was stalking her on standby, but another mom gave birth first. Needless to say, she was relieved.
So glad that was the sarcasm voice. I cannot imagine being happy to see a news crew ANY time I’m in a hospital bed!
Or any time. One of my life goals is to be on tv as seldom as possible.
I like Kedu, but there isn’t so far a single Memo I would lay out $ for.
I feel the same way.
Yes, they are pricey bottles.
I guess its up to him to make an appearance.
I will be delighted whenever it happens new years or after-I just hope he spares my ribs in the meantime-he is going to be a future soccer player or kung fu fighter
I had my 3rd baby 10 YEARS AGO (how is that possible??) on January 2nd! What a great way to start that year, and every year after!
Hang in there….Baby is just resting up before the big job of birth! You do the same….
Have you tried the Irish or African leather? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I haven’t smelled them–but when I was at scentbar I smelled quite a few of the MEMO scents–I can’t remember which ones, none of them impressed me.
It’s been months so I can’t remember. The only one I remember liking was Latin Quarter and Luxor
I remember liking Grenada and Italian Leather when I once got to try them. That was a couple of years ago though…
Creamy rice and roasted nuts sound very good to me. My SOTD is Nina by Nina Ricci, the original 1987 one. An old stand by and still one of my favourites.
I loved that stuff! I somehow acquired a few manufacturers samples way back when (after 87 though) and wore them during my early uni days when I was waitressing. They seemed to last forever but When I ran out it seemed to have vanished from the shelves and I haven’t tried it since. So from memory, you smell beautiful
SOTD: No. 5 EdT — for when I’m trying to feel poised but really just want to crawl back into bed.
Almost scent twins…I’m wearing No. 5 EDP.
Fraternal scent twins?
Perfect! I’ve been wearing any version of No 5 a lot lately.
It’s Hermes 24, Faubourg for me today. And it’s Hump Day for me, since my office is closed this Thursday and Friday. Woohoo! Have a lovely day, everyone.
Just ordered a decant of 24 Faubourg and I can’t wait to try it. I think I will love it and I’m sure you smell great.
I recently gave this a good testing, I found it so interesting and different. I plan on saving up for a bottle.
Hello all,
Wearing Parfums de Nicolai’s Ambre Cashmere Intense – perfect for a chilly morning. Having the beginnings of a cold and need something warm and comforting.
I love that one. I recently bought a bottle and it’s one of my most comforting scents. Hope you get well soon!
Thank you!
I love it three!!
One of my top 3 of the year.
Woke up to snow on the ground so I’m wearing the perfect winter fragrance — Sacrebleu! I love this stuff so much
I am so tired of grey & rain, I’d be almost happy to see snow. Blue skies & sun would make me REALLY happy.
same here..rain rain go away..
Sacrebleu! is very beautiful.
I am wearing Jungle L’Elephant today from a mini splash. I suspect that dabbing is a great way to apply this power house scent. IMO, perfect for the cold snow/rain/sleet we’re having today. I think winter has finally arrived in New England.
Love the elephant! I have a bottle and must be quite skimpy on the spritzes- usually 1/2 spray down around my belly button. Powerhouse with a capital “P”
It is amazing! I think that the 5 ml mini I bought will probably last me forever…
I love that you’ve identified an exact application site.
I think I would call it a designated safety zone in this case.
I found exactly the same solution to the Elephant’s weapon-of-mass destruction sillage, Deva. If I really want to make a statement, as in “Stand aside, world, I’m coming through!”, I add another spritz behind my knees!
gorgeous scent!!
I have that in my Scentbird queue. I’m curious to smell it.
A friend of mine gave me a sample of Elephant on a cotton ball that she put in a baggie. I put it in one of my bureau draws. I pulled it out three weeks later and could still smell it through the baggie. Amazing stuff
not in NYC- just rain
Scent and weather twins! I needed to fortify myself for walking in the sleet and wind, so I wore this and my snuggliest cashmere cardigan and scarf.
Not wearing anything yet, except some Josie Maran carmel apple body butter. I smell like pie, but am very moisturized. I have to go somewhere slightly intimidating later, so I think I will put on some Coco in a bit.
Good luck!
Rainy and cold this morning. I’m in YSL Nu(original version) with a smidge of Amouage Fate for comparison. They’re strikingly similar with Nu being less opaque/powdery. I really like both.
Really? I have not experienced YSL NU. What era for original version are we talking?
It’s the original version from 2001 (in the metallic disc bottle). Don’t know when they stopped making it, but it’s been redone as part of the YSL fancy collection. I smelled that version recently and it smells like a shadow of the spicy, incensy original.
Wearing Cartier Must Gold, and against all my expectations, I am enjoying it. Maybe just because it is so cold …
Back at work and thankfully easing back into regular life with a 3-day week. Wearing Shalimar Parfum Initial today. It may not be one of the all-time greats (it’s certainly no Shalimar), but I like the vanilla and it’s got the right amount of whimsy for pretending I’m still on vacation.
I hope PI helps you through your return to the reality.
Perfume can convince you you’re still on vacation? I must be skimping on my spritzes.
I love this one. So bummed they discontinued it
The bottle is gorgeous!
You smell wonderful. Can’t believe Guerlain discontinued this either, especially while doling out round after round of little black dress flankers. Perhaps PI would have encountered a different fate unattached to the expectations that come with a Shalimar label. One of the best-proportioned floral gourmands I’ve come across and such a non-linear beauty that surprises you hour after hour as it transforms on the skin. Every few months I pull it out from my collection, spritz, head to work or town, and think, “Why in the world don’t I wear this more often?” Turns out to be a big complement-getter as well. Your coworkers are lucky coworkers. : )
Can’t believe I haven’t tried this one! Your description has convinced me to order a sample.
In Lyric again today – having just discovered it I am really enjoying it. Seems like cold weather might be coming to the UK over the next few days, which will no doubt influence perfume choices. Happy rest of the week to all!
Beautiful!
Thanks!
Great choice. I almost picked it today too,
Thanks! Can see this becoming a very regular perfume for me.
Lyric is so so so beautiful!
Isn’t it? Can’t believe I have just discovered it.
JHaG Lady Vengeance here. Not sure about it. It reminds me an awful lot of a brassier version of NR For Her. I’ve heard For Her described as smelling like “rich bitch” perfume, which cracks me up. It reminds me of a line in a song from Hamilton (don’t EVEN get me started on how much I love that soundtrack) where Aaron Burr observes “your perfume smells like your daddy’s got money”. That’s kind of what For Her smells like to me. Like money. Even though I know that on the scale of perfume cost, it resides at the bottom end. So if that’s what For Her is, then I think LV is more “nouveau riche bitch”. It’s loud, but so is For Her. LV’s just a little less refined, and a little more in your face.
This was my first Scentbird pick (a mistake, as I didn’t get my queue lined up in time; I wanted 24 Faubourg first). I really like the atomizer that they send it in. I just wish it had a label on it.
Lady Vengeance is sisters to many of those rose patchouli’s that came out about 8+ years ago: Stella (esp. the “rose absolute”), Bond Bryant Park, NR flankers, L’AP Voleur de Roses, etc etc.
Agreed-seems very similar to Voleur de Roses but less earthy and loamy. I rather like it but can certainly see the whole ‘it goes with a particular sort of person’ angle. I like it when I am feeling edgily grumpy and have a lot of work on – if that makes sense – sort of don’t mess with me vibe.
I haven’t worn Stella, but at least in the bottle I like it better than LV. I hear people talk about fragrances “screeching” sometimes, and that’s what I feel like LV was doing to me earlier. It’s settled a little now. Based on SophieC’s description of Voleur de Roses I would probably like it much better than LV also.
I am wearing NR for Her today and I always think it smells like Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker. That perfume you can find for very cheap.
I have heard many people say this, but haven’t tracked down a bottle of Lovely yet. I will definitely smell it before I buy any For Her. I’m still working on a Sephora sample right now.
This has got me thinking – what perfumes would fall into the ‘smells like your daddy has money’ camp? Could be an interesting one.
I haven’t gotten to smell them yet, but based on the prices, I would hope Amouage scents might smell like that.
I think it might be in the eye of the beholder, er, the nose of the sniffer, rather. If you’re familiar with perfume, you would probably be better at sniffing out a truly complex, and likely expensive, fragrance. If you’re new to it, or don’t wear perfume at all, you might think more perfumes smell expensive, because you don’t know what really expensive stuff smells like. Kind of like wine, really.
Sorry that you didn’t fancy LV that much. I actually really like that one for whatever reason that may be. I was introduced to it through my perfume subscription with Olfactif. Sounds like some of the scents they send out are the same as Scentbird…….
LV was one of the few that I have received so far that I actually liked.
Oh no worries! It’s me, not the fragrance. As I mentioned down thread, I’ve had them turn on me before. I don’t bring out the best in LV. I probably would have been more generous in my impressions of it if it didn’t remind me so much of For Her, which I quite like. I’ve already promised my spray of LV to my co-worker if I decide to get rid of it, but if if she doesn’t want it, or can’t wear it, I’d be happy to send it your way, if you want more of it. I’m going to try to give it another wear or two, to make sure I don’t like it.
I’m sure I’d enjoy Kedu but not at the price!
I’m wearing original Fendi today! I went to a very small antique store and the owner gave me a half- bottle for free!. It was just lying around and marked very low anyway (it isn’t full, by the way!)
So I thank him and look around for something to buy so they’re not at a loss and… 70’s Mitsouko parfum, about 10ml in a 30ml bottle. I was speechless. I never find anything but Shalimar! Needless to say I am very happy today.
How awesome for you! I have never found any perfume in the antique stores here. Nothing, not even Avon.
I’ve definitely been to shops like that. I rarely get this lucky!
WOW. That is a score! Fendi is amazing and so hard to find at a good price. I wish I had worn that today but instead I am in Mugler Chyprissime. Enjoy your score!
I am actually not in love with Fendi enough to hold into it (I think my mini of Diva fits the same niche) so I might offer it up at a swap.
(Waving arm crazily) if you do, I will be one who’s interested!
In fact, if you do decide to, email me! Kathymic at sbcglobal not com but dot net!
I never find any perfume at all at antique shops…not even empty bottles, so I’m full of envy. What great finds!
Me neither. Maybe I need to try harder.
It’s hard to find something other than Evening in Paris and Avon, honestly. Thankfully my city had scores of antique shops.
Lucky Duck! That is a score. Wish we had a nice antique store like that in the area I could snoop through.
Very nice find! I rarely come across anything great in antique stores either. Occasionally empty bottles or lots of Jovan and Charlie.
Excellent!
I occasionally have a great fragrance dream that I am in some sort of old antiques of junk shop and find a horde of rare bottles! Sounds like you made off well.
SOTD: Encre Noire (Lalique). Cloudy and much cooler today, needed some smoky vetiver to cozy things up.
EN is fantastic vetiver!
You smell marvellous.
Yum.
I’m in Cartier Baiser Vole today and enjoying it. It’s chilly here in Northern CA and this feels comforting and light. I’m a fan of Cartier frags in general and this is no exception.
I like it too
I haven’t gotten to my shower yet, so no SOTD yet. But I want to wear Sarrasins again today. I’m laughing right now. Yesterday an autistic friend and I exchanged Christmas gifts yesterday. He asked for a written down list of gift cards I would like before Christmas. So I did that for him. What does he give me? Not an Amazon or a Gap gift card but a Bath and Body Works gift card. A place I don’t shop. So I guess I’ll just get more candles.
I have a lovely family member who gave me some perfume that falls well outside of my style and taste, but in some cases, the gesture is kind enough. And hey, how often, as adults, do we really get surprised by gifts?
Plus, I’m not sure if I’m in the minority here, but I really like some of the BBW candles. They carry some other brands, too, with products I remember liking. I’m sure you’ll find something good!
I love BBW candles. I have been using them most of the winter this year.
Oh, now I’m curious to know what perfume your relative picked!
It miiight be a gift set of Victoria’s Secret scents. It’s such a thoughtful gesture, and I really appreciate the idea of giving a range of scents so the recipient can pick a favorite. It’s just not really for me… although I did take two of them with me to the beach, and gave them a shot. I even got a compliment!
Hahaha wow. Yeah, gifts that are like nine tenths of the way to being really great, but that last piece is just way off… I got not one but two copies of a recently-released book that falls under just the same category–“such a thoughtful gesture and I really appreciate the idea [but] it’s just really not for me.” Ah well. Glad you got a compliment out of one of them! Which one, may I ask? (And will you wear it again, do you think?)
C.H. – I don’t remember if it was Eau So Sexy or Heavenly (ugh, those names). Some of the ingredients made my nose and throat tickle, but once I got past that, they were ok. Plus, it’s always nice when other people think you smell good (something I don’t encounter too often
).
I guess I could imagine scenarios in which I’d wear them again (around the house… or someplace like the beach, where a fragrance gets washed off anyway). They seem kind of like costume fragrances, though, since they really aren’t “me.” But then again, neither is drinking a tequila sunrise in a see-through floral sarong… and yet that still seems like good fun.
Now the real question is whether you’re going to read/skim/flip-through your book[s]!
BBW Orange Ginger body cream and the lotion smell great to my nose. I’ve also had good luck with some of their Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in a pump bottle. Those are not too strongly perfumed, and the scents don’t last annoyingly long on my hands. I recently tried the Eucalyptus Spearmint foaming hand soap and it is refreshing.
I love the Orange Ginger lotion too. In fact, I like a number of the body products, particularly the hand soaps. (And just stocked up on a couple more Winter candles – my favorite.)
If you flip the gift card over, it might list some of their “sister stores” that you can use the card at. I can’t remember off of the top of my head what stores they are affiliated with, but that gives you other options. Also, I am sure there are several people that either love BBW themselves or has/knows a teenage girl that you could sell the gift card to. But, like everyone has mentioned, they do have nice candles!
I hate to post an run, but I’ve got a million year end things at work, etc. SOTD is Chanel Coco edp. I really put on too much, but I don’t care – I love the sillage!
And you smell great! Hope year end goes well.
Thanks – things are stressful, but the ship hasn’t sunk yet and most of the fires are out. I’m going out of town for a few days for a big family visit and will spend a lot of time drinking from my dad’s stash of champagne this weekend, so that’s something to look forward to!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like well-deserved bubbly. I hope you have a cheery and relaxing unwind.
I am wearing L’Air du Desert Marocain today. Hints of bright high dry desert – a nice contrast to the damp cloudy temperate rain forest thing we have going on here in Michigan the last couple days. They were calling for freezing rain and widespread power outages, but mainly we got some gusty winds and slush, lots of slush and 37 degrees. Really nice it did not freeze. Boring and slow at work for me – one of my colleagues is involved in an issue that is very hard to fix since key personnel at the Vendor are all on vacation.
You smell great!
Yesterday I layered L’ADDM with Cuir de Lancome, which was getting too powdery and sweet for me. It was a great combo! The cowboy and the lady….
Oh that sounds like a great combo! CdL on its own is usually too sweet for me–and meanwhile some days, I wouldn’t mind L’Addm wearing a bit more gently. Everybody wins!
I pretty much only use L’ADDM for layering and it really helps but bring some of those powdery fragrances out of the clouds.
I’m going to try this before bed! I bought myself a bottle of CdL for Christmas and just happen to be wearing it now.
Haven’t decided on a SOTD yet; this gloomy weather is getting to me!
FYI, an analysis of whether bar soap or body wash is the greener choice:
http://grist.org/living/whats-the-greener-choice-bar-soap-or-body-wash/?utm_source=syndication&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed
Although I have to say I’ve been wondering if bar soaps don’t leave more residue on my tub and presumably in the drain plumbing. Perhaps glycerin soaps would do that less?
Interesting. I recently switched back to liquid soap (detergent, I guess), because I was using something similar to help shave my legs, and I was tired of having so much stuff stacked on the tub. Body wash was my compromise solution–clean and shave in one.
My other thought: I’ve also noticed that while I can take a month or more to go through a bar of soap, my Mr. Spicebomb goes through nearly one a week–which has got to make the math a little less favorable. (No idea why he goes through so much soap–I’ve been afraid to ask.
)
My husband does the same. He takes at least 2 showers a day.
Well, at least our fellas smell good.
My husband takes long, very hot showers, with the soap up high where it gets a good soaking. A softer soap turns to mush very quickly.
Hot showers was one of my guesses to the why as well!
One factor, I think, is that hairy skin rubs off much more soap than smooth skin.
That’s my guess too.
I think it holds onto perfume better, too.
Oh, I bet that’s right! I spray my hair on purpose for that very reason. Didn’t make the connection with body hair, though!
I use the foaming shower gel. Good for washing , good for shaving.
I like both soaps and body washes. I get tired of all the packaging though and bottles everywhere in the bath…
I’ve been in fancy houses with dispensers built into the shower walls, like a hotel. Never could decide how I felt about that solution!
I do the same. It takes me forever to use bar soap but I also have several different shower gels going at the same time.
When I was a kid my mother went through a soapwort phase which worked well…and is probably quite eco friendly if you take into account lack of air miles as well as drain to waterway issues. Sometimes I get a hint of soapwort from green perfumes … It’s nice and bitter.
Have never come across soapwort, but it sounds interesting; nice flowers, too!
http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2010/03/growing-soapwort-saponaria-officinalis.html
I’m trying to grow a feasible patch of soapwort to experiment with. It’s not taken off yet to get me enough to do anything yet. I’m hoping next year. I used to add different EOs to a goat milk base that was a lot of fun and produced a gorgeous lathering soap.
I will add, I think their methodology is undermined by not fully exploring the cost of additional hot water use. My condo association has been campaigning for us to conserve water because our water bill now consumes one-fourth of our condo budget.
Wearing a single spritz of PHI: Une Rose de Khandahar. Feeling sort of inexplicably low this morning and hoping it will help. Or at least I’ll smell good while I wallow. (Sometimes a girl just needs to wallow, I think.)
I firmly support a person’s need to wallow sometimes. I hope you perk up, though! And in the meantime, you smell totally lovely!
Thank you, Eleebelle! I imagine I’ll be ok later in the day, after a proper wallowing period.
When I lived in San Francisco I would wallow when the fog would get to me. I had the same routine: put on Billy Holiday, make tea, and spritz un bois vanille
Yes, I think the endless cold and rain we’re having in Portland is definitely contributing. Your routine sounds perfect!
I feel you. I’ve had a string of very stressful events over the last few months and have been feeling somewhat down. Yesterday morning was the first sunny morning in a while (didn’t last, though
)and I felt suddenly bright and optimistic. So I think the gray dreariness doesn’t help matters except it is good for wallowing. I’ve been doing my share of that, too. Hopefully spirits will lift.
Oh that sounds like a very good salve.
Hope you feel better. At the risk of being too literal sometimes wallowing in a warm tub really cheers me up – especially if it has nice smelling foam bath or salts or oils added to it. And completely agree the right to wallow is important.
I think especially after the stress of the holidays, a little wallowing is almost an inevitable consequence. Just from the let-down. Phi seems like a very nice balance as something sufficiently complex and contemplative while also smelling just straight up good enough to maybe lift spirits just a little.
I have ignored housecleaning over the holidays as I was having too much fun doing other stuff, but the dustbunnies are now big enough to pick up by hand, so I guess I’m cleaning today. I’m wearing Un Bois Vanille while I do.
Hey, if you can pick them up by hand, problem solved.
Ha!
Or you can just start feeding them….
After a busy year I have so much catching up to do, today I’m testing Narciso, could be FB worthy
You smell great!
I found it totally FBW. It really took me by surprise, how much I like it.
Commando so far, lounging in bed with a cold that’s settling in my chest. Consequence of the lack of sleep/grandson’s day care germs/cigarette smoke that are unavoidable at the holidays. Oh well, it was a great Christmas anyway.
Feel better
Glad it was a good Christmas, and good luck shaking that cold!
My mother has been staying the last 9 days and sleeping in my room. I have to admit to storing (hiding!) most of my perfumes when she stays to avoid a round of ‘ how many perfumes do you need’ conversations. My mother is very frugal and does all her shopping in thrift shops. When I was up at her house (collecting her to bring her down here) I noticed Le Dix, a very old Chanel 22 ( almost like syrup ) and an O de Lancôme in her bathroom. She gave me the Le Dix so I am wearing it today…nice.
Lucky you – I love love love Le Dix – enjoy and you smell great.
I have an old bottle of Le Dix, it’s wonderful.
Have you tried her No 22? The older version is glorious stuff, beautiful white floral over incense.
Good luck hiding! I’m not sure my mom knows or not about my scores of bottles, but she knows it’s a “hobby”. I could never fully disclose the extent of my folly. She once gave me back a 1 ml vial of vintage Diorissimo I gave her (she loves white flowers and LOTV), but it was “too much.” Ditto on 3 mls of Carnal Flower. LOL!!!! Too much volume. Oy.
Kanuka,
Many a time, I got the “How many perfumes do you need” lecture until I started purchasing luxe goodies for my mom such as Guerlain’s Angélique Noire and Creed’s Fleur’s Bulgarie.
The lectures magically stopped.
My mom is the same way. She’s always saying how many bottles of perfume does one body need? She’s to blame. She started my love affair with perfume. So now every time I buy perfume, I try to get a lot of samples and give her some. That keeps her quiet for a while. LOL!
wearing Epic which i received from my lovely hubby this christmas,
i fell in love with this on paper, but hadn’t tested on my skin, i really disliked it at first as i was so dissapointed, seemed much warmer, richer and creamier on paper, but its all smoky green incense on me-
do other people experience it like that? It has taught me never to assume that a perfume will smell the same on my skin as on a tester, and definitely never blind buy expensive perfumes.
I also received Fille en Aiguille, which i adore, and finding they have quite a bit in common.
I think testing on skin is so important. I have a small sample of Epic but prefer Journey, Lyric, Gold and Beloved (all woman versions)
I blind bought Sunshine from Amouage-big big mistake. In the full bottle. Its has gone onto another home to someone who will appreciate it more then I do.
Yes. Back when I first started buying perfume, as a teenager, my mom told me to never buy anything without trying it on my skin first. She knew that from her own experience. I will say, fragrances like me better than her, as a rule. Things smell very different on each of us, but they’re more likely to turn on her.
Fille en Aiguille is one that smells very different on me than on paper. The dry down is different too. After about two hours on my skin, it smells like warm laundry, which is nice, but not what I wanted.
Ah, so I have definitely had this happen, but I’ve also had great advice from other NSTers about how to rescue a perfume from this fate: if you don’t like how it smells on your skin, don’t spray it on your skin! Wear it on a scarf or other clothes instead! Or try it in your hair and see if it doesn’t turn so much that way! This actually works so well that sometimes even with things I like on skin, I’ll spray it both on my skin and also on a scarf, to create a more symphonic experience of the perfume–it’s almost a way to layer, so you’re smelling the perfume as it evolves on your skin, and at the same time the perfume in the way it stays (usually, getting a lot more of the top notes) on paper/cloth/your hair. It’s a fun trick!
I’ve only ever tested Epic on skin and have retried it many times, hoping to perceive it differently. But the only thing I can think of when I wear it is pickling spice.
It smells like wet wood ashes on me: total fail.
Good morning, NST. First day of commenting for me for quite a few days: talk about a torrid time! My poor dear man gets periods of extreme vertigo triggered, we think, by exhaustion. It’s just horrible to see him go through an attack. And who would have thought that a waterdragon’s alter ego would be a mother hen? I worry and fret and fetch and carry, and generally bustle about busily, but ultimately, quite uselessly because he goes into uber-bloke mode when he’s afflicted. He deals with his situation on his own terms and regains his equilibrium in his own way. So, back to perfume: it’s quite hot now, and though I ran a longing eye over my woods and gourmands this morning, even I draw the line at hanging out with the elephant or Rahat Loukoum when the temperature is going to hit the mid-high twenties. So, L’Ombre dans L’Eau for me today, and god bless all who sail in her! It’s green and fresh and interesting, and wafts cool everywhere around me. Wish I were in the cold of TOH: you all smell gorgeous up there!
Oh gosh, vertigo is terrible!! I hope he’s back on his feet soon. And that you enjoy that L’Ombre dans l’eau in the meantime! Which version are you wearing?
It’s the EdeP, but it’s not vintage or anything. I bought it in Sydney in September, then discovered it, to my chagrin, in a shop in Auckland. Grrrr. I have this rule, you see, not to buy perfume overseas that I can buy in A-NZ. No matter: it’s a joy, and perfect for a perfect, gold-and-blue day.
Oh awesome–I love the EdP! I don’t think it exists in a vintage form–if I’m not mistaken it was new in just the last year or two, but in any case I think it’s great. Deeper/rosier, which is def my preference. Happy it’s come to NZ even if not quite in time–at least you’re saying knowing you can restock if you finish it off! Meanwhile: what’s on your to-buy (or to-try?) list for the next time you’re abroad?
C.H. — everything! I’m greedily making notes on all the perfumes I read about on NST. I have three main divisions in my my list: Classics, which is things like Caron Parfum Sacre — Richard has promised me a stay in Portland, for the Perfume House; second is Sounds Gorgeous– the new releases like Iris Cendre that probably won’t make it to A-NZ; third is, Wow, This is a Serendipity– things like Organza Indecence, which was gone from shelves here in the wink of an eye, never to be seen again. Considering that the purpose of the trip is maybe to see a wolf or a bear (dare I say squirrels after I exposed my ignorance about them a few weeks ago?) I won’t accomplish even a quarter of my perfume list, but that’s OK. The big thing is to see if the dear one can manage 12 hours in a plane. After that,me erythema is a bonus.
And that should be “anything”…where did autocorrect get its schooling?
I love Erythema for anything. I think autocorrect went to Medical School.
I have a friend who developed chronic vertigo. After some years, she started putting essential oil of peppermint on her nose at night, to help with a different thing, congestion. After about 7 weeks, her vertigo quit, for the first time in years and years.
I put peppermint EO under my nose on nights when my allergies really have me stuffed up, and it opens up my sinuses amazingly well, so I can attest to how it stimulates the blood flow in the area.
Would he be willing to try something like that?
Meridifay, I’d love him to, and he might, if I promised not to look, or to breathe a syllable about it to anyone and never by so much as a breath or twitch indicated that I knew what he was up to. Kiwi bloke-ishness is a wonderful thing when you want a path laid or a fence erected or a garage run up before lunch, but it is testing to be around when the Bloke Knows Best about stuff like this. His great fear is that he won’t be able to fly between countries so he might try it if I suggest it as a way to accomplish his desire to travel. He is very keen to make a trip to the Pacific North-West this September, but he couldn’t possibly undertake it right now. You have given me an ace to put up my sleeve! Thank you!
I hope he finds some benefit by it…
Oh, September can be a beautiful time in the PNW. I’m there around early to mid September almost every year, and it’s usually glorious. I hope you and your husband get to go!
Belatedly catching up on NST today. Nice to hear from you, I had been hoping things were OK with Mr Waterdragon.
He’s pretty good, thank you. A bit flat, but that’s hardly surprising, the poor love. Hope your Christmas break is gong well– what weather, huh? I want go up north and swim all day long!
Have recently been reading up on layering scents, pros and cons, practiced blasphemy vs. creative creationism, etc. So with intrepidation, I went for it this morning and layered Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black with Mugler’s Angel, in minuscule amounts mind you, for the sake of all. In the back of my mind for some time I’ve thought about a noir version of Mugler’s juggernaut. Noir not meaning louder (that would be slightly terrifying), but noir meaning less musk, more spice, and a subtly dialed back patchouli. Somehow, Nirvana Black as a base did exactly that to Angel on my skin. And somehow, it was non-nuclear. My teenage kids, who never shy away from brutal honesty when I’ve over applied, had to hover over my wrist before they could detect it and, lo and behold, delivered complements. Made my day. ????
Nice! This reminds me that I’ve been meaning to mention I happened on the (new?) solid form of Nirvana Black, and it smells just wonderful–I am pretty tempted to buy it…
I’ve been eyeing the solid as well & the dry shampoo & the body oil. When it first came out, I went through 2 of the 2.7 oz. bottles in 6 months, lived in it. Unheard of. I’m usually so unfaithful to fragrances. Now, down to a rollerball and seriously wanting it in every variation that exists.
I have a mini around here somewhere and I should really put it on to confirm this, but I have the impression the solid was maybe a shade sweeter/more vanillic? Which worked very nicely, for my tastes. Have you tried the dry shampoo? I am so curious about it but alas, not being stocked anywhere near me.
Only spritzed a tester of the dry shampoo on the back of my hand at Sephora. Was very true to the scent but not overpowering. What I really liked about it was the light brown shade. No chalky white tell-tale residue like many dry shampoos. The reviews on Sephora.com were overall positive, except for those who picked it up for the brand name and were totally unfamiliar with the scent. Those reviews made me LOL, hard. Nirvana Black was obviously not their fragrance type.
Awesome! Good for you. I love layering experiments.
Happy Tuesday everyone! I am wearing one of my new favorite fragrances today; Dark Amber & Ginger Lily. I find myself becoming obsessed with it.
Misia for my SOTD, another fave of 2015. My nose is seriously congested today though, so I’m just hoping I smell good.
After a heck of a day, I finally have time to look at NST. I’m wearing Scherrer 2. When I bought this off of Ebay, I thought I was getting Jean-Louis Scherrer. However, I’m enjoying this scent quite a bit.
It’s finally cold an yucky enough to break out some late fall/winter scents. I’m wearing a big ol’ box of eels today. Close to draining my sample.
I’ve made a resolution to use up 3 samples per month in 2016. I think it can be done. I’ve spent a bunch of December bringing down the volume of various samples so it will be easy to use them up in January and February.
I love using up samples almost as much as I enjoy collecting them. I like your idea of using up 3 per month.
I’m on my way to meet a dear friend for dinner, wearing Dior Ambre Nuit. Such a beauty!
This morning I sampled OJ Osmanthus from my newly acquired discovery set (thanks, Pixel!), which led to me comparing Hermes Osmanthus Yunnan on the other arm. I continue to adore OY above all others in the category and have decided that I must buy a bottle now that I’m at the end of my sample. The only question is full bottle, travel set, or one travel bottle from eBay…
Agree on the Dior AN. Gorgeous scent. Need to find my decant!
It’s Shalimar for me this evening, a vintage PdT mini I’m loving to bits.
Jealous!
Enjoying a sample from the Surprise Box this evening – Love from Gorilla Perfumes, which I would describe as a pleasantly bitter-lemon-y cousin to Breath of God. Dry and bracing and very nice!
Wearing Elizabeth and James nirvana black today. (I have the dry shampoo which I adore–so I figured I might as well wear the perfume to match) and then my husband and I went perfume smelling and I quite enjoyed a few of the Dior collection priveé–my first time being able to smell them.
annemarie’s comment yesterday about Hiris reminded me to get out my sample and wear it today. Initially it was not good at all to my nose, but I developed an appreciation and then a love for it during 2015. Yay, Hermes!
I love Hiris! I went through a couple decants, and then talked my husband into buying me a bottle for Christmas. FragranceNet had it for 30% off.
The heat is back! There was nothing for it but loads of Bliss lemon and sage lotion and then generous spritzing of Cartier Declaration Cologne. Lemon is so cooling and refreshing.
Oh, do those go well together? I have the lotion and like it, but it is not in my usual range if scents. I’ve bed wondering what I could get to wear with it..
So late to this very lovely party
On vacation… and playing the lazy bum. Been enjoying Narciso edp, the white square bottle. It dries down to the most gorgeous creamy, musky white floral scent. Maybe my first FB for 2016.
Can someone please do something about this weather? I have not seen a blue sky in NYC for, oh my goodness, a week?