Yay, it's almost-Friday! (But I got the sad news that now Alan Rickman has died just before posting this. What a week.) What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Bvlgari Black. Tea at the moment is Traditional Medicinals Roasted Dandelion, brewed with a little roasted chicory and a little bit of cinnamon stick and cardamom. It is a nice mix if you are craving coffee but can't have any coffee.
Reminder: tomorrow, wear a fragrance from Bvlgari, if you have one.
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: the 18k rose gold bracelet with onyx and mother of pearl is from the Bvlgari Diva collection.
I’d take this bracelet and yesterday’s beautiful earrings over the snake any day
Day off today on this fairly hot day, and I had a thought. An inspiration really. About Malle’s Noir Epices. I’ve only tried it a couple of times, in cool weather, and I found it too cool to the point of disliking it. So today I had a sudden desire to test it again in warm, sultry weather and IT WAS PERFECT! I love it when perfume just finds it’s groove
And so sad about Alan Rickman. His portrayal of Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility is my favourite Austen hero.
He was wonderful as colonel Brandon, but I do prefer Firth as Darcy. But then, P&P is my favourite Austen novel.
I think the reason why, imo, Brandon wins over Darcy is that Darcy was a bit of a jerk to start with, whereas Brandon was always sweet and she just brushed him off but he was still always so gracious. Maybe I felt sorry for him just a bit
I felt sorry for Darcy
Colonel Brandon was such a sweetheart. I love Alan Rickman’s portrayal.
Yes, Perthgirl, Alan Rickman’s Colonel Brandon and Ciarán Hinds as Captain Wentworth in the 1995 BBC Persuasion are my favourite film versions of Austen heroes.
As Col. Brandon, Rickman spoke volumes of longing without a single word. Terrific performance.
Me too, the snake was very crass.
In that cassssse, the ssssssnake will be mine, all mine, crassssssss or not, I’ll take it.
I love it too. Honestly, with a simple black one-shoulder gown or even jeans and a tank, I think I could rock it fairly easily. I also happen to love snakes, spiders, and under appreciated critters in general.
MM, My first thought when I saw the snake bracelet was how great it would look with a simple tank top and blue jeans.
Good!
Hey, that’s good to know about Noir Epices! I’m always looking for something that works in the heat and humidity
Maybe not on the death-by-swamp-humidity days.. But then again, if you can do Kalemat on those days then NE will be fiiine
Going to have to check this one out, as I’ve neglected it, but I bet you smell lovely dear!
Also, I haven’t been keeping up with the comments each day as I’d like, but I saw what you posted about your car troubles – I’m so sorry!! I hope it’s on its way to being better.
It’s a great scent, but I think it often requires some time to make it work. Enjoy!
Yay for having a moment to stop by. Hope that you’re all well!
I made a Bowie pilgrimage this week and went to visit the makeshift memorial for him outside his apartment in Soho. It was very peaceful and reverent, and I’m glad I went.
The new job continues to be very nice, though the fact that I do *not* like Midtown Manhattan was confirmed. Still, I can walk to Barneys and Bergdorfs when I’m in the mood, so that’s a plus.
Oud Ispahan today, from my adorable mini bottle. Trying not to go through it too quickly.
Have a lovely one!
Glad to hear things are going well. Smell anything good at your trip to Bergdorfs?
I have never smelled Oud Ispahan-I love the smell of oud so I should give this a try.
Sexiest oud evah imo if you haven’t tried it ltsg is AdP Colonia Oud. Wearing it now. Soooo good
I think I smelled the AdP Oud a while ago but that’s before I discovered how much I liked oud, so it’s probably time to circle back to it.
If you like rosy ouds, this is the jam.
Nice to hear you went to Bowie’s place. Cool. Good news about your new job, too.
Thanks Solanace! Hope that you’re well too.
Going camping tomorrow with the husband and kids. So exciting!
I’m jealous. We’re in the two months that’s pretty much out here – too cold. Have fun. Where are you going?
Are you happier with your new job overall, Sweetie, despite the location and missing your crew?
(and I’m glad the Bowie memorial had an air of serene respect. There’s a lot of love there)
That’s so sweet that you remembered my comments from the other day.
Yes, I’m happy that I’ve made this move – it was the right step at the right time. I knew the whole time I was at my last job that we had a truly special group of people there, so I never took it for granted, and thankfully I’m taking the friendships with me, despite not seeing them every day. So while maybe I’m not quite as giddily happy as I was every day at my last job quite yet (we got silly and weird multiple times a day, and that was ridiculous fun), I know that this was the right choice for my long-term happiness.
Thanks so much for asking!
It’s so wonderful to fall in with a group like that. I was in a job like that for a few years. Loved everyone on our crazy team and also loved my work. I still have a few connections, although many years have passed, and remember it as one of my happiest times.
You’re lucky to have had that, and now you can make new discoveries and forge new friendships. Hurray!
Exactly – isn’t it the best? Thanks for your words, and so glad you had that experience too!
Important to have a long-term vision. Good for you.
I’m sure you’ll convert some to “silly & weird” before long.
I hope you continue to enjoy the new job! I’ve been fortunate enough to always work within lunch-break distance of shopping. It’s certainly a plus!
Haha – was it all part of a master plan? Well done!
Thank you for making the Bowie pilgrimage. Wish I could!
Seriously thinking about a tributary tattoo though…
Glad to do it.
So many options here – what were you thinking of specifically?
Thinking the lightning bolt, like on the Aladdin Sane album cover.
That would be the bomb.
Thumbs up!
Glad the job is going well!
Have things improved for you yet??
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Oh my… :”( He was such a talented actor…
SOTD: Fleur de Chine by Tom Ford.
Another sad news (may be old news but new to me): I just realised Mr. Ford had discontinued this beauty. Bad move, mister. Not happy.
Huh, FdC is discontinued? oh my goodness. Thanks for the news. I am so temping to run out and buy a bottle of this but then I would be breaking my NY resolution.
What resolution?
Plus you can always start over. Lunar New Year starts on February 8.
So rude isn’t it :-/ I’ve noticed it’s already becoming harder to find..
It is rude..does he not care!?
Mr. Ford tends to discontinue all his best…..
Agree wholeheartedly.
Really? Discontinued? I’ve never bought a back-up bottle of anything, but I’ll need this. It’s my favourite Ford abd absolutely amazing.
I’m usually not affected when celebrities die (or by anything they do, really), but Alan Rickman and David Bowie in one week is getting me down. In an attempt to toughen myself up I’m wearing a hefty dose of Hard Leather, which might be a mistake since I just checked the weather and it’s to be warm and humid, eep!
Ditto…I pay almost no attention to celebrity news, and I’m a David Bowie fan but not a HUGE David Bowie fan, but the news hit me harder than I would have expected. Not sure why.
Last gasps of an era, maybe?
Could be, although again, I was a fan, but he was not really that central to my music intake. I owned a couple albums when I was younger, and at the moment (sorry fans) I probably have fewer than 10 Bowie songs on my iPod. There are others I listened to far more, and that have since died without making such an impact on me. So I still find my own reaction puzzling. Mind you, it’s sad when anyone dies, so don’t mean to sound cavalier about it, but still not sure why I had such an immediate gut reaction.
I’m not a huge Bowie fan either, but the video for Blue Jean was one of the first videos I ever saw on MTV when I was a young kid, and that really sticks with you when your mind is opened to creativity like that at a young age. It is always very sad when a true artist and cultural icon dies.
Not a huge Bowie fan either, but he was too young to die, and had just released a highly creative new album. Who knows what else he might have done.
I’m in the same boat. Perhaps it’s also due to the fact that his influence was so broad and so deep. So much of what’s valuable and interesting in modern culture exists because of his influence, and the loss is more profound as a result.
Also, I think I may or may not have assumed he was immortal without realizing it. He was an icon beyond icons and didn’t seem human enough to be able to die.
Well said. An icon beyond icons indeed.
Ditto for me on the celebrity losses this week, they were both very formative for me (I’m a huge movie buff and Labyrinth was one of my favorites as a kid).
Yes, it’s so sad to see such bright stars go dark. I honestly feel like crying. Like you, too, I wasn’t a big fan, but he had such a huge influence on the world. Space Oddity is one song I will never tire of listening to.
Another non-fan unexpectedly saddened… Though I never owned any of his music, Bowie’s songs just made time stand still – . Eery, edgy and oddly beautiful. Like a doorway to elsewhere.
Yes, and both to cancer. So sad. -__-
Back in 2002 I saw Alan Rickman in Private Lives on Broadway. It was such a pleasure to see him perform live on stage.
I am sampling Plus Que Jamais today-if I could find a FB somewhere I would buy it in a heart beat. This sample is almost gone.
I am drinking MF tea French Breakfast and wearing Chanel lipstick in Emotion. I don’t have any Bvlgari perfumes so I won’t be participating mañana.
Oh I love Private Lives and Alan- it would have been fabulous to see him on stage!
Oh, I saw this too! He and Lindsay Duncan were a fabulous pairing.
That’s wonderful!
I’ve had that tea at the Smile in the Village – so good!
Still no baby?!
oh my..a place that serves MF tea! I will have to seek this place out.
Still no baby
The Smile is lovely, albeit a bit trendy/popular at times. Definitely worth checking out.
I loved Alan Rickman, such a versatile actor, and that voice!
I’m wearing Maharanih (inspired by Erin). I’m loving it.
Yes, his voice!
Yup
Something really sexy about that voice.
The voice is what always got me. Love, love how he would say “Potter” with drawn out “ooott”.
Yes, the voice! Only Jean Reno is close for being so affecting with a deep voice and accent.
Oy, he’s another crush of mine ????
Oh yes! Love those sexy voices, and so very expressive. Major crush.
My SOTD is Aphrodite’s Slipper from Demeter’s Orchid Collection. Their Web site says “This is a spicy floral, variously described as cinnamon or cloves mixed with honey, or freshly mowed hay.” Their description is accurate and this is a lovely scent.
There you are, kindcrow! I’m glad to see you here!
That does sound like a lovely note combination. And the name is pretty sweet, too. Nice to see you! I’d just been wondering where you’ve been. Missed your bits of info on flora and fauna
Thanks for the kind words, you two! NSTers are the best!
This sounds fabulous. Adding it to my to-try list.
Hope you’re well!
Hi, kindcrow, I, too, have missed you much. It was so nice to see your post today.
I want it just for the name! And…uh, the note list
I’m wearing LouLou, which is another oriental from the 1980s. Fragrantica reader say it’s very vanilla forward but I’m not getting that. For me this is a wearable scent because while it’s big and loud it isn’t vanilla-centric. Plus I can wear it in a few weeks when the 5 star Luca Turin project happens. Can’t wait for his new book.
I can’t see LouLou without picturing the ad for it, and that French accent: “LouLou. Is that you?” Aargh! Lol. I love LouLou
I almost went with Lou Lou today, but the weather wouldn’t let me. On me It is very sweet and powdery, but I wouldn’t say vanilla sweet.
LouLou is absolutely gorgeous! I rarely agree with Turin but at least he had the sense to get that one right. It’s amazing. I have a teeny tiny bottle of it in pure parfum which is nice if you are worried about sillage. But the edp is easily worn by applying just 1-2 sprays.
Rickman & Bowie. It’s a rough week. I’m a huge Bowie fan but sort of didn’t realize how huge until I’ve been feeling sad and full of mourning for days. It’s the end of an era. I feel like we’ve lost something we’ll never quite have again.
sotd: Lalique Le Parfum (again) another Ropion masterpiece
So true.
I’m so glad to see LouLou mentioned as my sample should be arriving today! I’m looking forward to trying it.
I’ve avoided reading the Guide but read all of his arabia.style reviews the other night. He is a great writer and wit. I’ve read Chandler Burr’s book about him but neither of those things came through in that reading.
I didn’t finish that book by Burr. I think i’d been hoping for Turin-type style and wit, and Burr’s writing is relatively prosaic.
Agreed, Chandler Burr’s writing is not exciting in the least. Informative, but not much fun.
Mr. Rickman and Mr. Bowie, you will both be missed! 2 talented men who made the world a more joyful place….
SOTD: Si. I love the sweetness and girliness of it!
For our little heatwave – it’s going to be 39! – I am wearing Amouage Sunshine. In a funk and hoping a little sun and Sunshine will help!
Hope your day gets better!
Aww – hope it gets better! Maybe you’ll get *actual* sunshine as well, which I find always helps.
I’m in Au Dela. I didn’t like the snake or the earrings, but am liking this bracelet.
Ah, and I didn’t like the snake and don’t adore this, but want the earrings. Even though I’d never wear them.
Now, that bracelet is right up my alley- very sleek and simple!
Alan Rickman! So sad when I saw that this morning. I’ve had a total crush on him from the first time I saw him in Die Hard.
SOTD is a very small spritz of a very large scent- Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant. Perfect weather for it and even though I don’t usually wear anything this big to work, I think I’m okay since it was a teensy spritz around the belly button area. If not, I guess I’ll hear about it.
Happy Almost Friday Day to all
Huh. I adore Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant but never thought of it as ‘huge.’ Woops. Hope I haven’t been tormenting people in the office!
Well, it may be me. When Botega Veneta, the original, first came out, I tried and liked it but it was just so BIG to me! But many comments here and elsewhere never describe it that way. I may just be oversensitive. My skin also seems to grab hold of almost perfume and really hang onto it. Even perfumes noted to be quite sheer (like Tea for Two) last almost all day for me. This is a pro and also a con ????
It’s not huge on me either, but my skin’s the opposite of Deva’s. I wore it last night (I can still smell it on the camisole I slept in) and it’s very green on me – reedy, leafy, and I pick up the green facets of the cardamom and cumin. It’s almost always described as a big, heady, sweet oriental but that’s not at all how it wears on me. It’s very compelling, though. I just might wear it again today.
You smell great! Just a little spritz is all anyone needs with Jungle but so pretty. I have a 5 ml mini that will probably last me forevah.
I have thought of rehoming my bottle, but I got it dirt cheap! Even though I don’t wear it often, it really seems to fit the bill when I do. I have nothing else so gregarious and all embracing.
I agree. I also got a large bottle dirt cheap and, even though I love spicy fragrances, I can only tolerate a tiny bit of it and only then once in awhile.
I got a decant from STC way back when and I never warmed up to it and gave it away. I don’t think ot was supposed to be skanky but that was what I got.
Alan Rickman is another loss much too early! He was such a wonderful character actor. I was looking forward to the roles he would have into old age.
SOTD is M Micallef Le Parfum Denis Durand. I ordered a sample after draining a randomly sent one from Luckyscent. It makes me want to shop in my closet to wear all the things I can’t find that would bring me joy if I could find them ????. I might consider this one for the FB list, which in currently under a force field .
I found that Micallef quite compelling, too. Fortunately I don’t have a FB list.
Yay for fun with random samples!
Force field? Hmmm.. .I need one of those.
Still in Lyric.
I can hear Snape clips from the HP movies being played in one of the offices.
Lyric is your signature scent
Twins! You’ve been smelling great all week.
I love those phases where you just can’t bring yourself to stop wearing something. Much as I love and need variety most of the time, it can be really satisfying to be scentfully monogamous for a while.
Thanks for this reminder — I’ve caught myself feeling guilty for wanting to wear the same thing two days in a row, but really. *Normal* people do this all the time!
I’ve worn Susanne Lang’s Untitled No. 6 for the last three days in a row. Can’t think of the last time I showed such fidelity to a scent…
Still smelling good :)!
Today I’m wearing vintage Dune. I found a half empty bottle at an antique store (same one I found the Mitsouko and original Fendi!) for only $4. Sold.
Then I get up to the counter and she sells it to me for $2. Even more sold.
I am so jealous! Dune and Fendi! very fortunate indeed.
“Even more sold”
What a fantastic bargain!
Excellent!
Just picked up my car from the towing lot- the towing fee was probably more than the car itself is worth. Between that and the loss of my imaginary adoptive parent Alan Rickman, it is a Very Bad Day. I think I’ll soak myself in the searing Le Labo Patchouli 24 to warn everyone away.
You wouldn’t warn me away with Patch 24
Sorry to hear of car woes. They seem more trouble than they’re worth sometimes. :-/
Ugh, so sorry.
Bummer. But you smell good!
Hugs! Hope things improve.
I swear apartment complexes and towing companies are in a racket in this area! Sorry that you were a victim —
Sampling AG’s Vanille Exquise today. I’ve been coming around to vanilla a bit over the last couple of months, and this one is okay so far. Not too sweet, a bit smoky but there is a disconcerting doll’s head note and combined with the smoke all I can think of is Barbie in distress. Many scenarios come to mind …
Plus I’m wearing mascara today and I always was fascinated by Barbie’s weird one-piece vinyl mascara enhancement that looks like her eyelashes have melted together. Which is kinda what mine actually feel like AND the meeting I dolled up for to look mature and in control has been cancelled. Come to think of it, maybe mascara wouldn’t have given the appropriate impression?
Anyway, I normally like that new doll scent and would love to sniff CBIHP’s Doll’s Head, but I think that this one is probably going into the pass-it-on pile.
Barbie seems easily distressed. That’s probably my least favorite thing about her.
Lol!!
Yes. I only had one Barbie, and one fake Barbie-type with slightly flatter feet, thicker waist and wild red hair. I preferred her because she just seemed more easy-going and up for it
I had the original Barbie. When I took her hair down out of its signature auburn ponytail, she had a tonsure. I then traded her in for an authentically bald Barbie who had a few wigs. I only kept her because my mom started sewing “suitably tailored” outfits for her in defiance of the frilly outfits on offer.
Well, in her defense I’ll point out that her car was plastic and her house had only three walls. She couldn’t work and to be honest just getting around was difficult as she could topple over at any time. And her shoes always fell off anyway. Don’t even get me started on Ken!
Ha!
Poor Ken, with his weird suggestion of man parts. Even as a child, I always wondered why the Ken designers decided to sort-of-but-mostly-not go there…
I think they were being considerate, really. Barbie was lacking in that department as well.
This is getting rather silly, and very funny!
You have me totally laughing out loud. “distressed Barbie!”
I love AG Vanille Exquise. I sure hope I can get distressed Barbie and her creepy melty single eyelash out of my head the next time I wear it!
I think the weird note in AG Vanille Exquise is angelica — I always find angelica a bit jarring. But I like the way it makes the vanilla less foody in the AG
Barbie in distress, LOL!! Right now my 8 yo daughter is fixated on Barbie, so that is kind of cracking me up a bit today. Otherwise, I think you smell great. That weird smokey off note in VE is one of the things that makes it great and sets it apart. It is one of my fav powdery vanillas that does not get sweet at all.
It’s cold, I’m at the beach for a conference, and have a huge and unrelated work deadline this afternoon. Those facts are probably as conflicting as wearing Terracotta in the winter…compounded by the fact that I wasn’t sure I liked it anymore when I put it on this morning. An hour in, though, I’m enjoying the scent again, which hopefully foreshadows my day getting better once my work is done. Hoping I get to go down to the beach later!
I need to try Terracotta. I have a weakness for beachy scents, and I’ve come close to blind-buying this one half a dozen times.
I have a FB going out the door (hopefully!) with the next swap-meet. Just sayin’… Terracotta and I. Do. Not. Jive!!
I’m wearing Vol de Nuit, I guess EdT or whatever lower concentration is currently available, and seriously considering switching to vintage later, if I can find a drop in the stash. I smell nice, but too much of baby powder for my mood.
There is no baby powder in vintage VdN – edt or otherwise. It has a very cool iris/leather accord with the warm oriental florals. It’s a study in contrasts with cool and warm. I don’t wear mine very much, but it is quite striking. I wore some the other day actually in honor of snow. If you aren’t in any rush, I can hook you up with a decant of c. 2000 edt.
Thank you, AnnS! Definitely no rush, and I would love to work out a nice swap. My gee address is alederberg.
“in honor of snow”
Having a day off today. Wearing Black Opium, and trying to get motivated to take bottles back.
Take bottles back? Like beverage bottles for a deposit or returning perfume bottles that have displeased you?
Oh, I meant take bottles back to recycle and get my deposit back.
Vintage Champagne over Rose Jam shower gel, a nice combo.
Oh My that sounds gorgeous!@
It is. Jam power.
Gosh, that sounds so lovely!- i’ve never smelt champaigne/yvresse, but i adore fruity chypres, so am seriously tempted to blind buy this one.
I’m in Yves Rocher Rose Absolue – I have a mini bottle from an NST swap and I love it. I was “saving it” since it’s discontinued, but I’ve decided to wear it whenever I want, because one never knows what life will bring (not necessarily a reflection of the big name deaths this week, more just a general “use it or lose it” phase I’m going through).
My husband is in Europe right now, while I’m stuck at my desk (boo!). Since we just had Christmas, and an SL bell jar is not in the cards, any fun current Yves Rocher items I should ask him to bring me?
I really like their Monoi Tiare oil and their Lagoon hair and body wash. It’s really pretty and very fragrant. I just ordered more of these products because they were giving them away on their website at 50% off.
Now I’m on the website and see that it will be easier just to treat myself than make ask my husband to mule. Thanks for enabling.
My pleasure!
When you order online, they usually load you up with samples too.
All right, $22 later, 7 mini frags will be arriving to my door in 10 business days. That was fun!
Deal of the century. You can’t beat their prices with a stick.
Going with Eau de protection, a different rose. Looking forward to YR’s launch of their rose oud – later this month?
I adore the Rose Absolue with its haunting trail of cinnamon. Luckily, I picked up an extra bottle, the shower gel, and body lotion when it was still available. With YR, if you like something you’d better snatch it up as things are d/c quickly. But there are so many deals to be had it’s easy to do, and so inexpensive, no guilt pangs afterwards for doing so.
Bulgari is not one of my favorite lines. I have pour Femme but can’t work up any enthusiasm for it, and it’s a warm weather scent, anyway. I have a sample of Jasmin Noir that I did not care for. Finally, I remembered that I do have Black, which I always forget to wear, so this week’s community project will turn out all right, after all.
Good…not worth participating if you have to wear a fragrance you have no enthusiasm for.
Sampling Smellbent Siberian Shewolf today which I’m liking so far
What a great name.
Yes!
SOTD: Eau de Guerlain. Wishing it was summer.
you smell refreshing! Love this one
And that’s a perfect summer scent. Nice choice.
I love Eau de Guerlain.
Happy Thursday All. I am wearing La Danza delle Libellule by Nobile 1942. It’s warmed up to a toasty 31 degrees today so I went for a comfort scent.
Oh, Petunia! My dear enabler. After a high stress day, I wound down on Beautyspin
and ended up going with Amouage Honour Woman shower gel, a wee bottle of Guerlain Insolence edp, and a couple of Beloved samples to replenish my dwindling decant (I’m still FB shy for that one). Thanks again for your PSA and the discount code
Yay! Glad to enable a fellow perfumista!
I think you are smart to hesitate when purchasing a new frag. Personally, I don’t want to buy/own perfume that I have to learn to love. I loved Beloved immediately and was sure right away. I love Lyric too but opted for the travel spray… 30 mls should keep me supplied for a very long time. I just sold a bunch of early impulse buy mistakes on the bay for a substantial loss. Lesson learned… I hope. 
I actually love Beloved. It’s more of an economics issue. I’ve had too many unexpected expenses these last few months so need to exercise some restraint for the next couple of months. But the above were affordable treats for me and go towards mental health expenses
(wish I could submit those perfume receipts as out-of-pocket medical expenses for flexible spending!)
That is a great idea! We should lobby our congressmen. I’ve been extremely indulgent with myself that last few months because the great deals but it has to stop, I hear myself say….
That’s why we need congress*women*.
Mmmmm. You smell good
Thanks MM, I hope today is a better day for you.
Thank you
I’m in Cuir Mauresque layered over a teeeeensy bit of Rose Anonyme. Just perfect.
???? Cuir Mauresque! Come to me, my love! I am stalking the Internet weekly to hunt down a 50ml bottle of this great stuff. I will not be denied! You smell the BEST!
I’m in PHI Une Rose de Kandahar. Yum. I love florals, and can be quite picky about roses, but this one is quite different and delicious. I get a whiff of honey from it too, which reminds me of Rose Jam.
I’m sad about Alan Rickman too. I hope the first half of this month isn’t going to set the tone for the rest of the year.
You smell great! Deva turned me on to PHI. It’s a beauty.
Alan Rickman was a great actor. He was so wonderfully talented.
I did?! Oh, I’m so happy about that! It’s so unique and wonderful- a great reflection of the perfumer who created it I think!
I asked whether I should buy a bottle of LdDM or go for the travel set. You suggested the travel set and answered my questions about PHI.
Love PHI. You smell wonderful.
???? I DON’T love florals or Rose, yet I love PHI to death because, as you say, “it’s different” ???? You smell great!
Thanks! I’m enjoying sniffing myself. I think I might have discovered an affinity for tobacco notes in perfumes. I fell hard and fast for Chergui, and now for PHI. I’ve also gotten a lot of compliments on those two, including one on PHI from my dad, who rarely gets very enthusiastic about fragrance.
I would never expect a perfume with rose in its name to smell like this. A very pleasant surprise.
I love tobacco in perfumery too. If you’re in the US I can send you a couple of samples of others I have you might like- Volutes edt, Kalemat edp, and… I think I have one more but can’t remember off the top of my head. You can email me if interested: taiga101 in the land of yahooooo dawt com
RIP Hans Gruber.
Argh. Quetta and Jakarta. You are on my mind.
In Armani Prive Bois d’ Encens. First time road testing this (thank you Pixel!) Initial blast very peppery and then a distinctly ginger ale vibe. Once those wear off I am getting a lovely spicy incense.
Die Hard was the first movie I ever saw Alan Rickman in. He was so captivating as Hans.
I am wearing Bulgari pour Homme Soir, which could easily fit into the Parfumee au The line with a tea and amber base and some green citrus. Very pleasant, interesting and wouldn’t disturb anyone knot encroaching on your personal space. I am drinking a Taiwanese high mountain oolong which is both milky and floral.
I have a oolong from MF Saphir Himalaya that a friend brought me from France. Its woody to me, with slight florals. Thought I would offer my suggestion. Its de-lish
Sad about Alan Rickman. I need to re-watch Truly, Madly, Deeply.
SOTD is Timbuktu, lashings of it, and it’s great.
The Bulgari bracelet is by far my favorite item featured here this week. I’d be tempted to buy a ring version–I hate wearing bracelets.
Truly, madly, deeply…thanks for reminding me of that film. I loved it and was the image that first came to mind after hearing of the loss of Alan Rickman. I couldn’t remember the title though!
I have to go out in the cold today, so SOTD is Prada Candy to keep me warm.
I am stunned and a little heartbroken after hearing of Alan Rickman’s passing, and I still haven’t gotten over the news of David Bowie earlier this week. There are celebrities and then there are performers who are easy to respect as great artists. Both men fit into the latter category. They both truly made a dent in the world.
Feel better!!
Wearing Le Temps d’une Fête and it’s lovely and I should probably get another bottle somehow.
I come from a family of ardent admirers of Alan Rickman. My sisters once backed gingerbreads with icing that spelled out SNAPE IS HOT, after the first Harry Potter movie was launched. They are grown-ups, btw. In terms of years. Anyway, the gingerbreads were epic.
I’m with your sister on that sentiment!
That story is epic! And you sister was quite right- Snape is Hot
TWO sisters!!
I have two creative sisters too! Perhaps you can convince them to bake some gingersnapes?
Ha! Love what you did there…
Echoing others’ sentiments about Alan Rickman. Sad week of losses.
In Lyric today-love the depth and warmth and it matches my dark brick-red sweater dress today.
But you look and smell lovely.
Thanks, Annikky!
As shared by so many above already, this week has hit me hard.
I’m wearing Parfums de Marly Meliora.
Coromandel for me today. I need something cozy after this week.
I loved Alan Rickman’s villians (so deliciously bad), but it was his role in Truly, Madly, Deeply that I’ll remember.
Used up the very last spritz of my sample of Chergui today. I’ve been doling this out for over two years now and I’m a little sad to say goodbye, even though I don’t love it enough to buy more. Funny how that goes.
You may love it more than you think and it’s absence may affect you acutely. I had to spring for a bottle myself. When my decant was just about out, my eyes started getting leaky. Can’t have that…
Wise words, Deva. I am already keening a little inside and thinking I might have to put off showering until tomorrow, just so we can spend a little more time together.
Where are you Gi? I have a generous sample from Fairygodmother Hajusuuri, but it didn’t sit well with me. If you’re in the U.S. I could send it… andreadeveto at mail service “gmx”.
That is very sweet of you, but I’m up in the hinterlands (Canada)
31 Rue Cambon for me today.
Almost went with this one today as well. Gorgeous.
All this 31RC talk this week reminded me to pull out my sample today. Sooo elegant. This is a slow burn for me.
Love this one. I had to buy a full bottle and I am glad I did.
Day 1 of 2 on the road to North Carolina. Two stressed out cats in the backseat. Good times. I’m wearing Cristalle Eau Verte. Lovely dry down but I wish it had more projection.
I love that one! Sorry its not giving you the projection you want!
Good luck with the move and to your cats!
Good luck! Hope the kitties keep it together and don’t contribute anything to the smells
I’ve had several that didn’t travel well.
Good luck! My guys don’t travel well either.
I feel for you Dottie. My cat cries continuously during the half mile ride to the vet. I can’t imagine doing that for any length of time. I hope they calm down so you can enjoy the ride.
Thanks, all! The cats are doing pretty well, although I feel bad that they’re stressed. We’re at an auto shop now getting a flat tire changed. Ack. Spraying more Cristalle.
I can’t believe that Alan Rickman just died. Right on the heels of David Bowie, too.
Wearing Un Bois Vanille trying to decide if it’s really full bottle worthy for me or not. I find it to be similar to SDV but not as harsh.
Well one good thing about SL fragrances is that they can also be layered.
Today I’m wearing Eau d’Italie Sienne l’Hiver, this year first FB. It has been on my FB-list for some years, and now I got a good deal on it. So happy with that.
Congrats on marking another off the list, and for a good price!
Thanks Robin! Worn it since I got it, really happy!
First a confession…
I blind bought Ostara last night after reading Victoria’s glowing review on Bois de Jasmin. But really how could I not after all the praise here and being so heavily discounted.
Second a review…
Sampling Brin de Reglisse today. Quite a bit of lavender and mostly herbal. Reminds me (somewhat) of Yardley of London Lavender.
I’m halfway through the Hermessence frangrances and my two favorites are Osmanthe Yunnan and Paprika Basil thus far. I wore Paprika Basil yesterday and it morphed into about 3 different perfumes in my mind as the day wore on…even iris made an appearance…
I was tempted too but managed to restrain myself. It is a great deal though.
I’d like to get the roller ball of Ostara for the size alone. 50mls of any perfume is too much.
I think Brin de Reglisse is my favorite Hermessence. Love that anise note. Too bad its so fleeting!
I hope you like the Ostara – I’m enjoying mine.
I did the same thing. I just could not resist the price. First purchase for the new year.
Me too! I couldn’t resist.
It was actually my second purchase this year, though.
Another day of physio and writing in an office, so vetiver tonka was the sample to check out today. I love this one, but I won’t be surprised when it disappears.
Hope your recovery is coming along and you’ll be back on two legs soon!
Thank you, yes, it finally seems to be progressing!
SOTD is vintage Coty Emeraude. That, bright sunshine, temps warming to the upper 30’s, and two new kittens make this the best day of the week!
Vintage Emeraude is very beautiful!
How lovely!
Agreed! And kittens. Delightful.
Congrats on the kittens. How sweet.
Yay for kittens!!
Love that bracelet! Simple and pretty.
What about the other tea scent by Bulgari, Eau Parfumee au The Noir?
I’ve not seen it anywhere and been wanting to try it.
Anyone try it yet?
SOTD for me is Bottega Veneta, the original.
Mmmmm, BV. I used the body lotion after a shower last night.
I tried the shower gel but wasn’t for me. It was odd to wash with a patchouli scented soap. I can see liking the body lotion, however.
It smells exactly like the perfume. I bought BV as a gift set since that’s all they had at a discounter.
That’s odd, I bought the gift set too but thought the lotion was fruitier than the juice.
You know, I thought I’d been imagining Au The Noir! Where is it?? It was introduced as new fragrance then I’ve heard nothing. But tea with rose and oud.. Mmm.. I am looking forward to trying it when/if it finally appears
Rose Boheme from Providence Perfume Company. (Oud, rose, tea, patch).
Just sticking in my two cents. RB is very much a cold weather scent. I forgot that it’s currently summer there now. ????
SOTD is Tom Ford’s Plum Japonaise.
mmm thats one of my favourite winter perfumes, my decant’s nearly finished, and am hoarding my last few drops. You smell gorgeous!
It seems like I’m in a week inspired by others, so my SOTD is Guerlain Bois d’Armenie. A big huge cloud of it. I am feeling the urge to overapply recently.
I am very sad about Alan Rickman too. What a great actor – from Hans Gruber to head swooning love interest in S&S and cruel husband in Love Actually. I love a good deep voice, and there is just so much emotion he gets out! There is a great article about his acting career on The Guardian today.
You smell divine!
Azemour this morning, i’m longing for a FB of this one, it’s softer than i would have liked, and doesn’t last more than 4 hrs on my scent devouring skin, but since PDE only do 100ml bottles, i’d be able to spray as often as i like, right?!
Exactly!
Olfactif had it for a good price. Not to enable or anything
For anyone who showed restraint last year and desires enabling…
Ormonde Jayne has the Discovery Set for $40 with free worldwide shipping which the E- Mail said is through Sunday. I recall that over the holidays, one had to spend $$$ to get free shipping. I don’t think they added Vanille D’Iris. Maybe there will be a new edition.
Oh nice! Unfortunately I showed NO restraint last year
I think their sample sets always ship free. I bought the 4 x 2 ml set a few weeks ago. And the full set today… (I got the email just as I pulled the 4 samples out to test them, oddly enough.)
Oh- well then I think the 12 piece set was more a year ago even with the Black Friday promotion.
Oh and Iris nobile edp when Azemour wore off.
I’m wearing Aroma M Geisha Noire this morning, an amber with a growl to it.
So sorry to hear about Alan Rickman. He was a wonderful actor, I will miss seeing him.
La Rose by Le Galion today – my Christmas present from my mother.
Also very sorry to hear about Alan Rickman, he had a wonderful voice.
Didn’t he just?
Absolutely. That voice made me weak in the knees.
Sampling SSS Rose Volupte and L’Artisan Rose Privee. Rose Volupte is ok, but I like Rose Musc so much more, I don’t need this, and it is going in the re homing pile.
Rose Privee is also ok, although I really wanted to love it for the bottle, so I might keep it for one more round of sampling – it is light enough, it might be better in the summer (and probably is suffering in comparison to the RV, which is anything but light!)
Alan Rickman, that voice will echo in my ears, and I loved the way he upstaged Bruce Willis in Die Hard, just by being there. And he made Snapes adequately ambiguous, thereby improving greatly the quality of the Harry Potter films. He will be missed. Maybe I will make adorable long suffering hubbie watch “Truly, Madly, Deeply” this weekend.
And that Robin Hood movie with Kevin Costner! Alan Rickman was brilliant, totally upstaged the entire rest of the cast. Sigh.
True! I hadn’t thought of that one. We might have a copy of that one, also. I think I have just about every Robin Hood movie ever made….
Ah yes, “Bring a friend.”
“… we’ll be lying on a beach making twenty percent.” Y’all can keep your yippie-ki-yays, the 20% thing gets my vote for best quote from Die Hard.
I absolutely love that bracelet. I don’t have any Bvlgari fragrances. SOTD is Wild Fig and Cassis from JM.
Hmmm, I know I shouldn’t but I always wanted the OJ sampler set.
Tempting isn’t it. I thought the same thing.
Do it Do it Do it
Lol!
I like the bracelet at the top, but (fortunately for my bank account), it’s probably made for someone with tiny little stick wrists and would never fit me anyway.
I’m wearing Bulgari Jasmin Noir today. Will probably wear Omnia tomorrow, but I have The Rouge as well, so we’ll see what I’m in the mood for. I think I need to get a decant of Black. I never wore it enough to really justify having a whole bottle, but it’s the only one I’ve swapped away that I occasionally miss.
Sweetgrass, I have plenty and will send you a decant
THE’ ROUGE!!! I have a sample of that somewhere, and I like it loads better than the Pour Femme sample I was going to have to haul out.
SOTD is Chanel Eau Premiere. It took me a long time to appreciate the Chanels, but I am starting to come around. This one I especially enjoy.
lovely scent!
Beyond sad about Alan Rickman. I too had a crush on him and thought Snape was hot. Too much talent taken too soon this week. I was a fan for years and always looked forward to his next role. It’s a bit shocking about him and Bowie. No warning for either, just out of the blue you hear they’re gone. Shocking and sad.
Yes, shocking! But I think so many “celebrities” live every moment of their life “out loud” so to speak, that people who retain, respect, and live their private life privately are becoming more and more rare. I have so much admiration and respect for public figures who retain their privacy. Both Rickman and Bowie were just straight up class acts.
In No. 19 today. Noticing the aldehydes more today, not my fave part. Still beautiful though.
very beautiful!
Alan Rickman, David Bowie, and earlier this month, Natalie Cole. Been a rough month so far for some of my favorite entertainers. Like several of you, David Bowie’s death has made me quite sad, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps because he seemed like a very real person — ironic thought, given his musical personae — but there you are, that’s the only explanation that occurs to me.
SOTD is Tauerville Incense Flash which is sitting quite nicely. More rain in our forecast for later today, and tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that, and…. we need it, but I don’t know how you Portland folks handle it all the time! This winter has been quite gray and damp for us. I might need a Hawaii vacation SOON!
And Bowie crossed so many boundaries between genres and has inspired so many others that his influence pervaded most of the industry and was able to reach the majority of people. He will be missed.
SOTD – Tea for Two
Another rough morning, with news about Alan Rickman. At least I am comforted by the coziness of Tea for Two, and that Rickman will be forever immortalized as Professor Snape by Harry Potter fans. I wasn’t very excited by the movies, but Alan Rickman was one of the few reasons I watched them.
IMO, books > movies, almost always.
ALMOST. Exceptions: The Wizard of Oz and Forrest Gump. (TWoO is a good book, but it never gripped me emotionally. As for FG, I have very little taste for satire.)
You smell wonderful!
Estee Lauder Private Collection is my SOTD. This is one scent that I will always love and have in my scent wardrobe.
De-lurking to say: SOTD is Amouage Lyric Man. I’ve tried it in warm and now in cold weather, and in both cases it completely disappears in minutes. So far most of the Amouage scents do that for me. Just as well I got the set of 2ml samples really. :^)
Welcome! Have you tried using a moisturizer before applying scent? That usually will help with longevity to some degree.
Thanks Petunia. I use moisturiser anyway, so I guess that hasn’t helped, or hasn’t helped enough at any rate.
So far only Interlude and Sunshine have survived the skin of doom. :^)
I second Petunia’s suggestion — those are not light scents! Or is it possible you’ve got some level of musk anosmia?
And yes, welcome!
I haven’t tried a real musky scent yet (but have a sample of MKK lined up for tomorrow, so that should tell me something).
Many thanks for the welcome Robin. I stumbled across this blog late last year after googling for some information on a Hermessence scent I thought was being discontinued. And I fell down the rabbit hole and have hugely enjoyed reading the reviews and comments here. I now have about 40 or 50 samples of interesting stuff to try out, several FBs (mostly at the cheaper end, Caron & Chanel classics from Kevin’s ’50 scents’ piece), a couple of decants. You have a lot to answer for! :^D
So glad, and we are always happy to take blame
I probably do have some musk anosmia, but I also have one of the older Amouage sample sets and I have to sniff my actual wrist to smell them after a little while. I’v asked others and they don’t smell them on me either. I haven’t tried Beloved, Sumshine or the others, but I have tried Ubar and that one is MEGA (even on me).
Interesting. Glad at least Ubar stands out — that one is mega on me too.
I had the same thing as Merlin. That is, it’s not just me who can’t smell them. So far I have struck out on Epic, Fate, Lyric, Honour, Memoir, Dia, Beloved and Reflection. Jubilation XXV is polite and restrained on my skin. Haven’t tried Gold, Silver or Journey yet but I have no great hopes. Interlude works beautifully for me and I really like Sunshine (I have read several iffy reviews of both).