TGIF! It's also National Strawberry Ice Cream Day and Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday. Our community project for today: wear a fragrance from Bvlgari, if you have one.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I'm wearing Bvlgari Pour Femme, from a sample that probably qualifies as vintage by now. It is not in absolutely perfect condition but I smell pretty darned good all the same.
Reminder: next Friday, 1/22, will be Noir Friday. Forget the fragrances with "Noir" in the name....wear a fragrance that feels / smells Noir to you.
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 18-carat pink gold bracelet with pavé diamonds and amethyst is from Bvlgari's Mvsa collection (2014), and is £5,600 at Selfridges.
SOTD: Eau Parfumée au Thé Rouge
same here!
My fav of the “Thes”
Au The Verte because Bleu hasn’t arrived yet.
Has anyone tried or even seen The Noir?
Bleu didn’t work for me-I am interested to see how you find it.
The Noir, I haven’t seen that yet. I am about to drink some black tea now for breakfast though 😉 happy friday to you
I really like The Bleu, but then, I realise that I have a sizable family of lavender perfumes so it was kind of a foregone conclusion 😉
Happy Friday to you too! 🙂
Strangely enough I find it an iris scent, and hardly notice the lavender. .
Where is The Noir!?! It must be somewhere in all of NYC and I want to track it down.
It’s quite smokey – think Lapsang souchon
Strawberry Ice Cream day? Yum yum yum
Must seek some out today.
I don’t own any bvlgari perfumes, none of them really worked for me. Money saved I’d say!
Feeling warm in Tonka Imperiale. Since baby isn’t making an appearance I have to go to the hospital for some testing. I had this before with my first baby, and its stresses me out a bit. Tonka Imperiale should keep me cozy.
Of course that’s stressful! Little guy needs to join the world out here!
Good that you’ve been down this road before and that you’re in the hands of probably some of the best doctors in the world here in nyc.
Have an extra scoop of strawberry ice cream and stay cozy with Tonka Imperiale.
I am planning to have some strawberry ice-cream. I will see if my hubby wants to treat me to some L’Arte Del Gelato at Chelsea market today after the appointment. Thanks Robin for bringing up Strawberry Ice-cream.
Hope everything is fine and that you get your gelato.
Totally understandable that you’re stressed out. Be kind to yourself today, and absolutely get that ice cream!
Come on Baby!!! Mommy is quite ready for you to say hello!! 🙂 Hang in there, Mom!
Hope all is well with you and bub. I don’t have any children so I haven’t any experience here, but do the docs usually recommend just waiting or inducing? Either way, hopefully bub isn’t just GROWING in there and all goes smoothly.
Ice cream always helps 🙂
Hang on in there lovetosmellgood!- try and remember that it’s perfectly normal and natural, for the baby to be up to a couple of weeks late, some baby’s need to do a bit more developing/growing time.
In france 42 weeks is considered full term rather than U.S and UK’s accepted 40 weeks, don’t let the doctors pressure you into an induction unless there are real concerns/ thats what you want.
Hope you enjoy you’re strawberry gelato, and either way baby comes soon! How lovely it will be to have a baby at this time of year, ready for spring!
Thank you!
My midwife, who is excellent, will let me go to 42 weeks and then will induce-which gives me this upcoming week try all those old wives tails treatments to induce labor. On Monday I am going to try some acupuncture.
I agree outside midwifery practices in the US, many doctors will push to induce early, I am not sure woman are aware that they don’t have to give in unless there is something that will put the baby at risk.
I’ve heard that some rather intimate activities can help things to move along. Not sure what the success rate is but my be a good way to kill some time 😉
Ha! Yes we are in the same page
I’ts such a shame, as induction often (although of course not alway’s) takes the control away from the labouring mother, by intensifying contractions, which can lead to a domino effect of medical interventions, and often it’s so unnecessary!
Mind u my third labour resulted with an 8 pound baby boy being born in the back of the car!, so (from one extreme to the other!) i probably shouldn’t be giving advice!
Enjoy the ice cream. I hope all the testing goes well. I had two babies in NYC and the care is really great.
Maybe plan a dinner party with lots of expensive food that can’t be frozen? Baby will decide to attend!!
That sounds yummy!
Good luck with the baby tests!
Sending good vibes that all goes well for you today and that you can take some comfort in the fact you’ve been through this before successfully. Wishing you the best and a new Little One soon to love!
We’ve been on baby watch he’s practically part of the NST family!
So true! Every morning I find myself wondering “did Lovestosmellgood have her baby today? Better check NST for any news”
We’re all sending good vibes your way.
Sounds pretty stressful, but I hope you have a lovely day despite the circumstance. Let us know if you get that ice cream. 🙂
Hope your day went fine. I did try the old formula of orange juice and castor oil with my second child – not sure that’s even recommended anymore, but it definitely worked. And quite quickly. We’ll be thinking of you!
Also Au The Verte, mainly because I couldn’t face the vanilla in Black, and I was tired of Omnia Crystalline.
Hope you’re enjoying the green?
I do like it, although it may be more appropriate in warmer weather. It is a nice contrast to the LouLou that I wore yesterday. This winter I’m finding myself alternating heavier scents like Orientals with aromatics or citrus, It has helped me in my quest to learn to like heavier fragrances. It’s like a refresher for the palate.
Nice way to look at at it, as a refresher!
That bracelet is gorgeous.
SOTD: Amarena by Bvlgari.
Absolutely no sillage or lasting power with this one (and given that huge price tag!).
Is it good while it lasts? I still have not tried a single Le Gemme.
Don’t worry Robin, you are definitely not missing out on anything 😛
Amarena is a linear powdery rose fragrance mixed with a little tartness and fruitiness from cherries.
Yea… don’t bother with them I’d say…
I kind of figured. I’ll try them if I ever see them, but I probably never will see them.
My only Bvlgaris (original Omnia and Black) are on their way to a new home. I tried The Bleu this week and liked it, but not enough to buy a bottle. So…I’m wearing Avignon!
Re-homing twin! I also used to have those two but neither worked for me so sent them to better homes. I don’t think Bvlgari works for me.
I have a bottle of Bvlgari BLV Notte pour femme that I bought at TJ Maxx years ago, before I went whole hog on the perfume thing, but I couldn’t find it this morning. I also have a bottle of Thé Vert that I keep in my fridge for the summer, but it didn’t seem right for the cold today.
So thus, I’m in Cuir de Russie, which I’ve decided would go well with Bvlgari jewels…if I had any.
Have a good day everyone!
I have never tried CdR…
I will put that on my list !
Are you a fan of leathers? For me it’s a soft floral leather, and others report a more assertive leather, but I feel like more people like it than not either way.
Sending good wishes to you and the baby!
I am a fan of leather, I will give it a try. Stay cozy on this gray nyc day.
You smell fantastic!
I’m willing to bet you do too midear!
Really, really hope that things get easier for you at work soon! You are strong, you are invincible, you are wonderful-smelling-womaaaaan…
Ah, heck, thanks, but I already know all that. Right back at you! 😉 The problem is *other* people’s incompetence, lack of fabulousness, lack of wonder, lack of incentive, lack of brains, lack of charm, lack of usefulness, lack of just about [fill in the blank] is keeping me hopping.
Been enjoying the beautiful jewelry posted this week by Bvlgari as it’s not a place I regularly shop 🙂
I’m in The Bleu, such a wearable and soothing scent to me. Lasts a good long time too. I’d also like to seek out the shower gel & soap for this one. My favorite is The Rouge, then The Bleu, but I’m excited to try The Noir for the tobacco and rose notes.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
~MLK, Jr.
Lovely quote. Thanks for that.
Bulgari Black, which I usually forget to wear. It doesn’t really smell like rubber to me. More like toasted vanilla. Perhaps later today, after various appointments, I’ll spray on more of it and see if I can observe more of this romantic description:
As its smokey, rubbery and woody notes implie, Black is created for a man living a metropolitan life.
“Black was composed without an olfactive pyramid. It starts with a smoky black tea, in this case lapsang souchong, urban and masculine, simulating rubber, car tires, cars, roads and motor noise while the notes of amber and woody notes remind that even the largest cities hide romantic moments at sunsets. It is created by Annick Menardo in 1998.”
(from Fragrantica)
wow..what a poetic description.
Black as well, to me it always smell very rubbery, and then now and then I get whiffs of vanilla and smoke.
Luca had a great piece about it as well. On his original blog. Unfortunately no longer available.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/12441738/Blog-Text-Web-LUCA-TURIN#scribd
Black for me too. It smells like rubber just at the beginning and then, like you, I get mostly vanilla.
I’ve shied away because I definitely get the rubber off the top. However, the smoky vanilla sounds promising so I finally got a sample and will try it on my skin. I’m also hoping it could go leathery…we’ll see!
Also, I liked how they said “Black was composed without an olfactive pyramid” as a fancy way of saying “linear”. 🙂
Black smells a lot like smokey tea to my nose, with some sweet vanilla cookies on the side.
Black for me, too. It was one of my first perfume-person purchases, blind (for cheap! from a discounter!) and I associate it with a project I did soon after…so I kept wearing it on 2 tours of that play in the 2 years after. It’s a play that happens on a pedicab, so the rubber mechanics suit it perfectly. We haven’t toured the play this year, so I haven’t worn it…It’s specific and persistent but still light and not overwhelming.
Even though it started me on a real birch tar quest, I have a very warm feeling for this one.
Black is astonishingly inexpensive, and yet, excellent. It must set a record for perfume cost-effectiveness.
How cool that it also provides you with the perfect perfume for your innovative play!
I’m wearing it as well, and I forget to wear it, too!
Black. It was a tie between this and Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert which I had worn earlier this year. I love BPF but only wear it in summer.
Oh, and please get well soon!
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
SOTD: Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline. Last week I wore it and thought, “Meh.” Today, on a cold, rainy, miserable day, it’s pretty good! 🙂
It is a great scent!
You smell fab
Nice when it works!
I have no Bvlgari at this time! I love that bracelet, tho! Although the earrings from the other day are still the standout for me.
So resampling Ubar – much nicer this time, and Marrakesh Intense, which pales in comparison to Ubar. Verdict – Ubar, keep the sample for the next round, Marrakesh Intense goes in the rehoming pile….
My SOTD is Black, not a favorite but wearable. I also have Omnia, a gift from a generous NSTer, but what I really want to try are a few of the Thé scents, especially Bleu.
Blanc, Vert, and Bleu are all available at Sephora right now, and they give free samples.
I know that I have a Bvlgari somewhere just don’t know where. I have Pour Femme but it doesn’t work for me. So I am wearing Bal a Versailles in vintage EDT.
Excellent choice.
It’s also National Hat Day and I hope some of you will join me in wearing a hat today! I have had a couple of skin cancers and I am pretty much never outside without a hat anymore. My way of dealing with that is to have a variety of great hats in my wardrobe!
I am wearing Bulgari Black and am happy that I remembered to join the community fragrance today (I always have good intentions but then forget in the morning rush to work). Have a great day, all!
Oops, misspelled Bvlgari.
No, it’s really Bulgari — the V is just a roman U, and we started out using it and still do for consistency’s sake, but it’s kind of silly.
Note, for instance, that Bvlgari (ha) uses the v in print and imagery, but the name of their website is “bulgari.com”. So it’s just kind of a way of being pretentious.
Ah ha! Thanks. I saw that Fragrantica used the v as well, so thought I was wrong. As an Executive Assistant I can be a little anal about this stuff.
I bought a hat I love but it’s supposed to rain today…..I wore hats years ago and have just gotten back to them recently. My husband has skin cancer everywhere – years of building beach houses on the Gulf Coast long ago – and he is never without a good hat. I’ll bet you look great in yours!
I have a hat I just bought, but it may rain today. I will put it on and bring a umbrella.
I love hats, and wear them with all sorts of outfits! A really fun accessory, and sufficiently unusual these days to make a statement. Practical in our fierce sun, too!
I too have enjoyed the beautiful baubles featured this week although to be honest, Bvlgari jewelry wouldn’t be my thing if I was into expensive jewelry. Wearing my much beloved Au The Blanc today which I believe was because of something you said on the blog years ago, Robin, although I know March from Perfume Posse likes it too. Since I fell down the rabbit hole, I’ve repurchased it twice, which says a lot. I consider it more of a summer fragrance but I like it as a change of pace in winter too as it has a cool feel to it.
Twins!
I should go smell it again — I think I’ve started to conflate my smell memory of Au The Blanc with Omnia Crystalline.
They are so similar! I think!
Ah, then that might be why.
Triplets. This is the only Bulgari I have. And I don’t have a full bottle. I got a little set that includes some body products. The first time I smelled it was in Cancun on our honeymoon–the resort used the body products and so now it forever reminds me of all of those lovely memories.
Au the Blanc is the only Bvlgari I own, so that’s my SOTD. But Pour Femme sounds right up my alley, so I’ll be investigating that soon!
I am guessing it’s been reformulated umpteen times by now, so I need to investigate too!
I have nothing Bulgari here at the moment, although I really enjoy Black. Wearing vintage l’Air du Temps. Will be missing next week’s project because I’ll be camping at a desert beach, with no wifi available. Would wear vintage Armani, the darkest of roses.
Oh my! Take me with you…
Have a wonderful trip!
Come on! ????
That camping trip sounds heavenly right about now! I’ll be joining you vicariously. Have fun!
Thank’s!
I only have one Bvlgari, The Bleu. But when I got up this morning and it was cold and pouring rain, and the scent just didn’t fit the day, or my oncoming headache. So I’m in Gris Clair. I had to stop myself from wearing Chergui again, but the lavender note in GC seemed to fit my headache better.
Kind of excited. My boss and I are going to a house one of our clients bought to get all of the books out of it. I’m going to help them resell the books, if they’re worth it. I used to work at a used bookstore, so I’m a little better versed in what is, and isn’t, valuable than they are.
The work sounds like a lot of fun! I hope you feel better soon!
Thank you! The work was fun. There are a LOT of books in that house. I also scored 3 bottles of wine that were left in the house, as the man who bought it doesn’t drink. We’ll see if they’re still good. They’re 9, 11, and 20 years old, and not expensive to start with, so they may be vinegar. They’ve never been opened though, so I’m hopeful.
SOTD is Omnia Cristalline. I used to wear this all the time, and loved it. I have found that many of the sentence I wore when I was a heavy smoker don’t longer appeal to me. This is still nice, and I am getting some nice fragrance memories from it.
Scents not sentences!
Interesting, & possibly because your sense of smell is improved? I was still smoking when I got interested in perfume, but don’t think my preferences changed much after.
Running late this morning and couldn’t find my intended SOTD, Bulgari Black, so I grabbed Thé Vert instead. Bought it when it was launched, because it was so new and fresh and vivid, but I’m mostly over it now. Familiarity really does breed contempt!
Pyramus, your comment cracked me up! I was also choosing between Black and The Vert. I also chose The Vert. However, in wearing it, I find myself thinking “gee, what a classic, this was good then and is still good now.” I’m having the exact opposite experience from you now that it is on the skin.
🙂
I can’t be the only one in original Omnia? I love this and always forget how great it is – it’s like my memory can only conjur up the boring parts of it and forgets the little something extra that makes it so just-right. Then when I put it on I’m like oh, right….
I bought the original Omnia unsniffed because it was a great deal and sounded lovely and warm. But I have it away after a while… I get a few tantalizing whiffs of weightless white chocolate chai and then nothing at all. Other people complimented me on it when I doused myself in it, but I was almost totally anosmic to it. 🙁 Sad!
Same thing happened to me. I could spray 30+ sprays and barely smell a thing. Meanwhile my coworkers were getting gassed. I passed my bottle of Omnia to my Mom,she really likes it.
Twins!!
I’m wearing something labelled Bulgari Extreme from my sample stash but when I got it from a freebie meet it was described as Bulgari Femme Extreme. It’s a crisp, clean scent with probably violet leaves and a touch of iris
I’m also wearing The Bleu: I like it, but I should like it more – lavender, cardamom, hay, it all smells great, but there’s something in there that ruins it for me just a little bit. Not entirely sure what it is.
I like Black a lot and will one day buy a FB, the green and red tea ones are both lovely, too. I’ve never tried the much-praised Omnia, however, should remedy that somehow.
On a more general note, so glad it’s Friday. I’m looking forward to reading and cooking and sorting my stuff, including samples.
The sample I smelled of the The Bleu had an almost aquatic quality to it, as I recall, though I can’t remember the specifics. That was enough to make me pass my sample along very quickly.
You know, I still haven’t tried it. Haven’t seen it in the (few) shops that I have visited. On paper it sounds my thing, but it may still turn out quite different.
Hope you have a great weekend!
I always think that you should try it, although as you say, one never knows. And I don’t think it’s quite on the same level with your beloved Carons, for example.
I’m glad it’s Friday, too (well, who isn’t, really?) And sorting samples is on my list for the upcoming rainy weekend… they’ve run amok again, need to be sternly ordered back into line. “You there! What are you doing, hiding in the back of that drawer?”
I noticed a soggy package on my front deck this morning… oh no, my box from Twisted Lily… the box is a mess but thankfully, the contents seem no worse for the wear. Good thing that most perfume boxes come wrapped in cellophane. So now I have my FB of Arquiste! Yay!! (oh, and more samples…..)
Arquiste NANBAN…!
Getting this one made me very happy as well… Now I just need a leather sofa, library and samurai sword collection to match.
Ha!
I chickened out on the challenge today… my mini of Black is gone, and I *really* don’t feel like digging around in the sample box to find the vial of Au The Rouge, much less Pour Femme.
AND I got a StC order in the mail yesterday, so I’m playing with those today: Demeter Ginger Ale (fun, but lasted literally 8 minutes), MCG Exultat (I thought this was incense? getting a lot of shaving cream), and Piguet Gardenia (light and citrusy WF).
I seem to remember that the RP Gardenia was nice, especially the opening. Wonder if I should retry it. Not that I need another white floral…
Oh, yes, just my thought about Gardenia: nice, but I don’t need it.
Anniky, I hope you see this–I’ve been meaning to thank you for recommending ThE Goblin Emperor. I read it a couple of weeks back, and enjoyed it very much. I’ll keep an eye out for more by this writer– she has a nice eye for character and lays down a good sentence too.
So glad you liked it! I think it’s a delightful book. And good to see you back.
Don’t you love getting samples in the mail! Its so much fun, but I tend to want to try everything at once!
Those little packages just make me so happy – particularly because I live in the country and can’t go traipsing off to go sniff things in person. (Probably a good thing for my wallet, though.)
I had two choices today (Black or Omnia) and since it’s quite grey, rainy, and dreary, I went with Omnia. The original. It’s nice and comforting.
So happy it’s Friday, I could break into song! Hope everyone has the loveliest of weekends ????
You too! You smell great
SOTD is Au The Vert. It was my signature scent after it was introduced. It reminds me of wonderful times in NYC. Then I only liked green scents for a very long time. Enjoying it, but I’m glad to be ” evolving”.
Au The Vert
Since I’m not partial to aquatics, this one is about as fresh as I can get. The “green tea” accord smells nothing like actual tea to me, but it still feels very refreshing due to the superbly blended citrus.
Thank goodness it’s Friyay! So many things to do, but so little time during the week. Hope all of you enjoy your various Bvlgaris!
All week I was planning to wear Bvlgari Pour Femme but then didn’t feel like it this morning. What I decided to wear instead is an old favorite (of course discontinued because it’s amazing!) Cartier So Pretty
Not so much as a sample of Bulgari around. Just like Doc Sinister above, used to have Black and Omnia but gave them both away.
So hoping for partial credit with Osmanthe Yunan which for the tea note I figure it relates to the Au The series.
I’ve yet to try any from that series and since The Bleu seems to be getting a lot of love I will seek out for a try.
Sure, partial credit for thinking of a related scent 🙂
My favs of the Bvlgari line are The Vert and The Rouge, but they are so summery to me. I wasn’t in the mood for Black today, so as a nod to great jewelers who put out great fragrances, I’m wearing my much neglected and much loved Mauboussin.
Such a nice amber – you smell lovely dear.
Thank you! I remember so well when I first found Mauboussin. It was a real challenge to my nose b/c I was not yet used to dried fruit and smokey notes. It was one of my first nose learning fragrances, so I really have a big soft spot for it!
SERENITY NOW!
It’s been a Monday of a Friday.
My car’s transmission is messed up and I have to take it in for warranty work. I must have a car for my job but all dealerships are all: we don’t have loaners right now and we don’t pay for rentals so screw you.
Ugh. Hubs and I are trying to work something out so I won’t have to pay for worthless rental – and I’ve not even dropped off my car yet because no place will take my car until Monday. I really REALLY HATE car dealerships.
Years ago when I had my old Toyota and took it in for work, the service guy was so rude and mean to me that I ended up crying. I’m a fairly tough cookie and usually when people bite at me I bite them back so hard they wish they would’ve kept their stupid traps shut – but being thrown such a huge bill and insulted on top of it made me crack. I then screamed at the guy in the dealership and a manager came out and cut my bill in half because the guy was such a jerk to me. He was fired shortly thereafter. The manager called me to let me know – just in case I ever wanted to buy from them or need service again. By then I was DONE. So when I called around today to try and figure out what I could do about my new car I was again only met with a bunch of f******* jerks and am ready to punch walls now. I get it. You work in a tough industry where you have to deal with customers, but why be suck a d***wad about it? Why can’t they be civil at least? Good customer service is more or less a myth anymore.
Will definitely be exercising today to get rid of this stress.
In Lyric again. Thank goodness it’s Friday. Someone, beer me.
I am sorry. I have often said a good mechanic is worth their weight in gold. Have you checked Yelp reviews and such?
Since it’s under warranty I have to go to a dealership. I know I can go to a different dealership than where I bought my car, but I’ve called 5 this morning and all of them were quite horrible. Even the women operators I spoke to were rude.
I’ve not checked Yelp reviews, but I take those with a grain of salt anyway.
Where do you live with all these rude dealers? That’s terrible. Very different story in Rochester. I’m feeling tremendous sympathy. I usually feel screwed by the health insurance grifters but not dealerships/mechanics. Good luck next week. ????
I’m in Montgomery county, PA – around 40 minutes from Philadelphia.
Bah, dealers are the worst. Have a beer on me. Or two. Maybe a shot of something on the side…. 😉
I’m thinking I need to break out the Dalwhinnie 15 year tonight when I get home.
This sounds lovely! I’ve decided recently that I like scotch, but I don’t know much about it yet. Will put it on my list…
Dalwhinnie is on the sweet side for single malt scotches. I like it a lot. I also like Glenmorangie, which is not as sweet, but extremely smooth. I don’t have any of that right now, but thinking I need to get a bottle soon.
You and I are absolutely going to need a scotch and perfume playdate at some point 🙂
Ohhhh, whisky. I do so love whisky. A couple of recommendations:
Talisker 18 year – Don’t touch the 10, only the 18. It’s an island single malt, but it’s a great one. Not too peaty or too smokey.
Bunnahabhain 12 year and up – it’s a slightly different brand. It’s sometimes a little harder to find. An Islay malt, so again, a hint of peat and smoke, but nothing overwhelming. This and Talisker 18 year are great gateway whiskies, if you’re interested in exploring island malts.
There are more, but those are two of my favorites.
That has been know to straighten out a few things in this household.
Ugh – I am so sorry. This is part of why I moved to New York – so I wouldn’t have to deal with cars/car repairs/driving/parking/etc. I’m so sorry you’ve had such a bad time, but glad Lyric’s there to provide some comfort.
Oh man! This post will make me stop complaining about the subway when its not running efficiently. Owning a car is a whole lotta work.
When I was young, I owned a old toyota corolla. My Dad was one of those handy men type of gentlemen (and worked in construction) and he was basically able to fix any problems with a trip to the auto body store. Now that most cares are computerized thats not the case anymore. He has since passed, but one of my fondness memories I have is when he had me change the battery when it died and I was in college -he gave me all the instructions over the phone. Those were the days. Sorry for the long post!
It is a good thing to know how your car runs and fix things on it yourself! My husband is a huge car buff and whenever something can be fixed at home he’s always more than willing to do that than pay someone. He’ll order parts online and then spend a day in the garage and the car is fixed. Unfortunately, with the toyota it was a water line that only a dealership could fix. The labor for it is really intensive, so we couldn’t fix that ourselves. But when I had that car, I replaced the front struts, back brake discs, rotors and pads and flushed the brake line myself. I also do oil changes.
Unfortunately with this newer car having a transmission problem I need to take it in, but geez – even under warranty and I’m getting crap from people. It’s extremely annoying.
I salute you for being car smart. I put in around 5,000 miles, if that, each year. I have never opened the hood of my current car!
I am so sorry! I can relate to your frustration. I hate dealing with dealerships and have never had a good experience doing so. It’s one of the rare places I go expecting a fight 🙁 I suppose the guys who can’t hack it in the real world end up at dealership service centers. I really hate being talked down to anyway, but when I obviously have more technical knowledge, I just can not keep my temper.
Ditto! I’ve never had a good experience at a dealership and pretty much have to go in to one with my game face on, ready to pounce if they give me crap.
I am sorry to hear about your car troubles there is nothing worse than feeling you are up against that rock wall, bashing your head, etc. Good luck.
It is like hitting a rock wall. Just talking to these people on the phone was driving me insane. I don’t understand how they can treat people so horribly. It really boggles the mind.
So sorry you have to go through that! Is there any way you can make arrangements with Uber for preferred pricing?
I live out in the ‘burbs now so Uber would be much more expensive and if this lasts for more than a couple days it wouldn’t be financially beneficial.
It’s been a Monday of a Friday… Priceless. I hope it all works out.
It’s a great line. Not worth all the trouble, but a great line.
OH YUCK.
My daughter is driving back to college today – it’s a ten hour trip and it always makes me a little nervous until I know she’s back in her dorm. Anyway, we had her 11-year-old car looked at by our local mechanic this week, and they fixed the head gaskets and some other stuff ($1100!! ouch) so we thought it would be fine for a while. However, on her drive, she started hearing some noise in the engine. She called me, I called the local garage, garage called her, directed her to another garage that could look at the car, and now she’s waiting for them to replace the alternator belt. ($270! yike).
I just hope they’re not taking advantage of her. She’s 20, very tough & smart, can do a lot of car maintenance on her own… but she’s 5′ tall and looks about 16.
I’m so sorry. Car troubles are miserable things to deal with.
Girl, I feel ya! Although with me, it’s not the car, it’s the job. See time stamp on this post. I JUST finished working oh, and by the way, I’m supposed to get off at 10!! I am too tired to punch walls, but in my head I am really doing massive damage ????
Bvlgari Black for me and when it fades, which it will, I will add some The Rouge. I think the Black layers nicely with the Tea fragrances……
That does sound like a good layering combo!
My only Bvlgari is a mini of Thé Vert, which wasn’t going to cut it for me today.
So, I’m in Arpege(current) which I couldn’t smell until I left the apt because my hubby is making pulled pork and our whole place reeked of vinegar this morning. Can’t wait for dinner, though 🙂
What a great hubby..
He’s pretty wonderful all around <3 The cooking hobby started when we moved from Bklyn where we used to eat out almost daily, to Queens where there aren't as many restaurants. He really loves cooking and I love benefitting 🙂
You smell great and your diner sounds great too. I’m going sauerkraut and apple bratwurst with potatoes this weekend for my DH.
Thanks! That sounds yum!
Nice!
This sounds perfect. I’ll have to prod my H to make his choucroute soon – like this weekend soon. We’ve got all the makings for it in the freezer – smoked pork shanks and chops, kielbasa and polish sausage – that we bought this summer in a tiny little town a few hours from where we live that has the most amazing butcher shop. All that’s missing is the sauerkraut. Do you serve yours with mustards? That’s my favorite part – slathering the pork & potatoes with fancy mustards for a different flavor in each bite. My stomach has started growling at me whilst writing this! 😛
‘chocolate. iris. ginger. Lush, seductive, mysterious.’ So says an old ad I found for Bvlgari Blv Notte, my SOTD and a favorite cold winter’s night fragrance of mine. A bit sweet, a little powdery, with that luscious dark chocolate background note, sexy yet warm and comforting. I usually only wear it at night, but it’s so gloomy and dark outside today it may as well be night!
Favorite Bvlgari fragrance: the original Omnia, I love it in the fall especially.
Least liked Bvlgari fragrance: Black. I know I’m in the minority here, yet I’m always surprised at its popularity. I can’t get beyond the rubber note, it’s a real turnoff for me.
I’m joining you in the minority. I quite like it, but I definitely don’t enjoy Black the way most perfumistas do. The lapsang at the beginning requires a particular moods and I don’t often seem to match it.
My favorite is Original Omnia too. Least Favorite is crystalline. I don’t mind Black, but it’s not for me.
Love Blv Notte!
Twins! It doesn’t work for me, though. I feel like I can’t smell half of it.
I like to sniff Black, but not wear it. The rubber is a bit much for me, too.
I used to have Bvlgari Black, but gave it away. Figured I could get the same effect by rubbing my wrists on my car tires – lol
So then theoretically I’m wearing Au The Vert or Au The Blanc, since I have mini’s or FBs of those. But it’s too chilly.
Going the opposite direction of the Au The’s instead: CBIHP 2nd Cumming: “a scent that is all about Sex, Scotch, Cigars and Scotland” or so says their website…
I’m curious about 2nd Cumming since I’m a fan of its namesake. Do report back!
I also only get rubber and not much else with Black.
I do quite like 2nd Cumming, it’s been on my pondering-a-FB list for a while. I get mainly whiskey, leather, and CBIHP’s dirt accord. Low projection though. Sortof a “sitting by the fire, reading a good book, sipping a whiskey” sort of thing.
Thanks. Sounds like it’s not as raunchy as the name.(I was picturing something that would match his Cabaret character). One of these days I’ll trek over to the CBIHP shop and give it a sniff.
Same here!
Oh no, not raunchy (and I have a super low tolerance for skank). To me it’s a cozy winter scent.
Think of ‘Alan Cumming introducing Masterpiece Theatre on PBS’ if you want to imagine a character to match the scent.
More from CBIHP’s website:
Bergamot, Black Pepper, Scotch Pine, Malt Whiskey, Cigar, Heather, Douglas Fir, Rubber, Worn Leather, Highland Mud, Burnt Rubber, Peat Fire and White Truffle.
The fragrance is warm and changeable reflecting many moods and feelings. And I designed it so the more you sweat, the better it smells…
I just finished listening to the audio book of his memoir. Some of the subject matter was brutal, because his childhood was brutal, but I still greatly enjoyed it. He read the audio book, and hearing it all in his soft, charming tones made it even more enjoyable.
that sounds interesting !!
I’m wearing au The Bleu today. I see I’m not the only one.
It’s sunny and cool today with a gorgeous blue sky, and my choices were Bleu, Rouge or Omnia Coral. Bleu just seemed right for today’s weather.
If I had planned ahead, I would be wearing The Rouge, but Mom only has an ancient mini of one of the green bottles and whichever of them it is, I’m not in the mood. Plus, I’m pretty sure it’s been sitting on her hot, sunny bathroom counter for over ten years.
I’m enjoying a beautiful warm day wearing Arabian Oud Fairouz and watching the suddenly back to almost-normal Newburg try to take a rat away from his mum. They have brought it up onto the back porch and are chasing it around a stack of buckets. I am so relieved that he looks to be recovering, but I think the rodent population is not so pleased. Looks like I’ll have to intervene before the blasted thing gets between the screen and the door.
Also, lest y’all think we live in some kind of horrible filth with all the rats around here, they are cotton rats that live in the fields and are actually kind of cute.
Go Newburg! So glad he’s coming around and stopping those pesky rodents from moving in. 🙂
No Bvlgari for me. I’m wearing a light spray from my new bottle of Ostara. It’s only been on for 30 minutes, but so far I like it. Definitely springy, so I will probably wear it more in a few months. Whether the juice turns out to be a winner or not, the packaging is worth the price of admission. So pretty! And the mini bottles in the coffret? Teeny tiny adorableness!
Ostara seems to be very popular these days!
I’m enjoying Ostara, and it seems to work well in the summer warmth. It really does suggest daffodils and new growth, so pretty much does what it says on the tin. I like it better than Wit, but that’s probably because it’s easy and untroublesome and I’m lazy. There’s an element in Wit that strikes me as unruly and requiring some effort to appreciate.
Does Ostara have any similarity to Le Temps d’Une Fete by PDN?
This is what i would like to know? Does owning Temp, cancel out need for owning Ostara?
Mals would know….
I haven’t experienced Temps, but I am finding some similarities with Nuit de Tuberose during the drydown.
Wow, that’s surprising. I haven’the sniffed Nuit de Tuberose either but it sounds a bit sweeter than I expected. I guess that I assumed it would be green. Tx Luna!
Lots of green at the start, but it does fade.
I blind bought Ostara a couple days ago and the little women’s coffret which I believe you are referring to you as well.
Can’t wait to try them out. 🙂
Le Temps d’Une Fete is from Parfums de Nicolai or whatever their new name is.
I hope you enjoy your new bottle of Ostara. Have you tried it yet?
Just ordered it actually a couple days ago of their website…but I shall wear and post my 2 cents as soon as I receive it. 🙂
I just tried Ostara a couple days ago. It’s pretty.. and it’s so cheap on Penhaligon’s website right now it’s hard not to be tempted.
I love Penhaligon’s packaging, too – that old apothecary look has a certain romanticism to me. I’m tempted every year by the coffrets but have yet to purchase. They must be so adorable IRL!
I checked out the sale on their website only to discover Violetta’s been discontinued, so I’ll be after a bottle of that rather than Ostara, though it’s tempting…
I am certain that I have some Jasmin Noir but I can’t find it, and I only had a sample of Black that I used up and never replaced. I don’t care for tea scents so I have no Bleue, Vert, Rouge, or Noir, and the other Bulgari scents never wowed me. I’m wearing Creed Jasmine Imperatrice Eugenie this morning.
Aside from the “Thes”, and Black, I’ve always had trouble with the base musk that Bvlgari uses in their classic fragrances. I don’t really care for much of their line. I like the openings OK for their femme, and rose, etc, but then that musk takes over and just gets too big.
In Bvlgari Pour Femme from a round “jewel” bottle I keep because the scent reminds me of my mother-in-law (and when peace reigned with the in-laws) who passed away in 2009. Not one I ever choose really, but glad I have it around all the same as she wore cheerful clouds of it “back in the day.”
I had FB’s of the original Omnia and Rose Essentielle but the first I resold on eBay and the second, which had been given to me as a gift, I didn’t think was worth repurchasing when I finished it.
Ihadanidea sent me a sample of the new Bleu… still trying to make up my mind about it. I get that heavy sweet Bulgari thing from it–so far the heavy heady sweetness seems to outweigh any herbal goodness of lavender on me…but in warmer weather I may change my mind…
Wearing Bvlgari Jasmin Noir today…
I have had a small bottle of this for a while but haven’t worn it in a long time. Kind of like I am smelling it for the first time. 😉 Pretty straightforward…lots of jasmine and plenty of “noir” too.
This came out several years ago before noir became cliche and overused.
I am enjoying it and it serves as a good reminder that if you’ve been into perfume for a while or forever…it’s always good to poke around your backyard from time to time and rediscover what you already have.
To quote Dorothy: “if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with…”
Happy Friday!
Hi She-ra! So what does noir mean to you in perfumeland? Is it an actual scent accent or emphasis, or it is something else?
Good question. 🙂
In terms of my cliche/overused comment I meant the actual word noir as it has been used quite a bit in actual perfume names….some of those more detested than others by the perfume-loving community when they aren’t so “noir”…looking at you Coco Noir. 😉
But in terms of actual smell, noir means to me kind of dark like incense, oriental, woodsy, amber maybe…the opposite of light which I tend to think of as citrus, some flowers, some fruits…generally I guess lighter notes than darker/heavier notes. It is interesting to ponder when you really stop and think about how your mind categorizes smells as light and dark or at least how my mind seems to.
What does it mean to you, please?
Rather darker/heavier notes than lighter…I mixed it up in my comment above.
You know. I thought I knew that, until I tried to come up with a scent that is obviously noir… that’s why I asked. Um. Hmmm… I guess scents that evoke darkness–like Encre Noir or Le Labo Patchouli 24 aren’t really noir because they are what they are (name aside for Encre Noir–I do see how nonsensical I sound!) I think of a noir scent is possibly something like Lyric–a rose and angelica frame covered in noirish musks, woods, and incense… you know, the more I think about it, the appellation “noir” is a little silly! I guess like white or blanc…. are we talking musk and grapefruit when we say blanc? Then just say musk, grapefruit, ozone…whatever…
I think I’m starting to feel a little noir… or grumpy!
Good…save that feeling for next Friday’s Noir themed community project to assist your selection. 😉
I think I shall wear some old Coco EDP for that. I do consider the original Coco noir and it kind of fits your description of rose over something dark in fact. Perhaps we have started to define noir afterall!
Finally! My scent of the Am twin ! I have a mini of Jasmin Noir that I wore all morning and some of the afternoon. Then I felt like going off the dark, deep end and lotioned up in DCed Hiroko Koshino lotion and five or six? sprays of Liz Claiborne Spark .
No Bvlgari, so I’m wearing Coeur deVetiver Sacre. Nice for a damp Chicago Friday…
Hello, everyone, happy Friday to all in the other hemisphere and good weekend to all of us down here. I’m rejoining the world after three fairly horrible days–please don’t utter the word “mig*****” in my presence in case it, you know, reminds the thing to return! I couldn’t read properly, so I had to skip all your comments, but I did enjoy the pictures of the jewellery.
I’m not doing the Bulgari project, though I have the original Omnia, Black and something else I’d have to track down. I quite like these, but I don’t adore them, and I’m feeling so fragile that I want to be tempted, like a picky child at the dinner table. So, I’m easing my way back into perfume with favourites, playing with beautiful, beautiful Ambre Narguile. I must get a bottle of this little gem some day–I quite like smelling of apple crumble and cinnamon, but I’m pleased that the custard isn’t included.
I wonder if my deep affair with gourmands will ever enter a ‘”bad breakup” stage? No sign of it so far!
Sorry to hear about that-which-shall-not-be-named. Glad you’re feeling better!
Thank you. I want to be bouncing about, ‘cos I’m taking my great-niece shopping, but I think all I’ll manage is a slightly wobbly shuffle. But, excitement abounds: I’m going to see about eating some breakfast soon– super!
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. I’d been missing my NST geographical neighbour 🙂
It’s nice to be back in the light and life!
There you are waterdragon. Glad that you’re on the mend.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better!
Unfortunately I don’t have any Bulgari perfumes. I think I much prefer their jewellery then the perfumes. I am wearing vintage Christian Dior poison esprit de parfum which is to die for, i have a mini and I use it very carefully, I don’t want to finish it.
Ahh! Just read what you’re wearing and I am jealous! I got a mini from an amazingly generous perfumista buddy a couple of years ago and treasured it until the very last drop. Enjoy your precious! You smell amazing!
I bought a mini vintage esprit this summer, then got panicky that it wasn’t enough so I bought another. Then a large bottle of the vintage EDT. It’s a fragrance I could wear every day without getting bored. It has so many facets that up and change throughout the wear. I find it quite captivating and definitely not something to wear when I need to be focused on other things as it easily lulls me into a daydreamy stupor. Enjoy your bottle!
I think I need to get another mini , because I am getting panicky too, this is soooo good and one drop is enough.
Easy choice! Pour Femme because it is the only one I have (but working on it, Bleu& Aqva Divina are on their way).
Long-time favourite and wardrobe staple, on my fourth bottle now. I haven’t worn this for a while as I am working on my decant/sample stash before they go bad and I seriously did not remember how darn good this is! This has been forgotten for too long and the top notes are a bit off but after the first ten minutes I could not stop sniffing myself.
Don’t you love when you rediscover fragrances
Omnia for me on this rainy, warm day.
Happy Friday everyone! I do not own any Bvlgari scents either so I chose am wearing Beloved.
This weekend I need to dig out my Amouge samples.. He mention of Lyric and Beloved in this blog makes it worth it
I’ve been hankering for a bottle of Opus Iii but can’t justify it since I own Beloved and they are so similar. Plus expensive. I would also really like to test Memoir. Have you tried that one?
Yes, I love it. The only Amouage I really had a hard time with is Reflection. The rest I can wear and appreciate
I’m not sure they still offer this, but they used to sell a sample pack of 10 of their fragrances. That’s what I have, and I really enjoy it
Thanks Lovestosmellgood!
Scent of the day will be Au The Rouge when I find my bottle. I really do need to try the Bleu.
I don’t own anything by Bvlgari, but I managed to scrape up a sample of Omnia Crystaline. It is marked as L’Eau de Parfum – I don’t know if this is the one that has a review here on NST or a later version. Notes on the card are Lotus Flower, Orris, and Sandalwood. I don’t smell any of those things. It’s pretty, kind of fancy,…but it’s not me. Luckily it is light and will fade soon so I can put something else on. I wish I owned Black. For some reason that’s the only Bvlgari that has ever wowed me.
No, that concentration came out later, and I’ve never tried it.
I don’t think you’d dislike it, but I don’t see you needing a bottle either. You have too many other options for this to be a blip of your radar.
oops, *on* your radar
Also in Black. Just spritzed it on, so there is a bit of rubber for at least the next few minutes. A friend also has a bottle of Black and she is terribly peeved *not* to have any rubber notes when she wears it, just going straight to the vanilla bits.
Bulgari rather suffers from flankeritis, doesn’t it? Sadly, after a week of ravishing jewellery pictures, I have come to the conclusion that the perfume line in comparison seems a little cheap.
Any opinions on which luxury lines have appropriately luxe perfumes and which don’t? Hermes and Chanel perfumes certainly don’t have a downmarket air to them, for instance.
I would say Van Cleef and Arpels has appropriately luxe perfumes. The Dior Prive line has approachable luxe.
They really didn’t do luxe until the Le Gemme series, which I’ve never tried but haven’t heard many raves about.
I don’t have anything by Bvlgari, although I went through a FB of Omni a year’s ago, before I developed a serious perfume habit. I must have bought it when it first came out and the advertising was everywhere. I can’t recall it clearly now, but certainly liked it a lot.
I’ll continue with my project to pick a favourite among lots of incense perfumes I have samples of. I’ve told myself in can have a FB of only one of the many I like, so am making myself quite anxious over the choice – I think I need to reduce my stress by telling myself that this isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime decision! It really wouldn’t matter if I had two similar perfumes 🙂
Omnia – the auto complete had such conniptions over Bvlgari that I didn’t notice it couldn’t handle Omnia either.
Mmmm–incense. Yep, that’s next on my list of lovelies to re-discover after the m-imposed perfume embargo.
I’m going thorough all my incense samples too and haven’t made up my mind yet as to which ones I like best (aside from Passage d’Enfer which I already own).
Happy choosing! Maybe you could think of it as just deciding what to buy first.
I really like and wear Bvlgari’s au the vert, blanc and bleu as well as Black and Omnia Crystalline. Going with the bleu today as I’m into lavender lately. Looking forward to the noir when it arrives!
All my Bulgari bottles are in another location, so I randomly spritzed on What We Do in Paris is Secret. Will switch to Tea for Two soon as it’s not really doing anything for me.
I went with Omnia (the original one) today. It was my first FB purchase after falling down the rabbit hole.
Meant to wear Bvlgari Black, but overslept and ended up in Gucci Bamboo, which I enjoy and makes me feel fresh even though I am decidedly rumpled and unwashed (somehow, it’s been a couple days. ..). Embarrassingly, I bet I am not fooling anyone.
Bvlgari Black, later tonight, post shower.
So at work today 2 guys happened to turn the corner as I was about to enter the pantry to throw something out. The garbage bin was near the entrance and I never really had to go into the pantry. Anyway, after they whooshed by, I smelled something akin to dirty socks and I just mentally did a eeewww. I told a co-worker about it and she said the worst are guys in the gym who wear the same gym clothes over and over again without washing and the funk is just disgusting. Fast forward to end of workday and again I went by the pantry as someone already inside wanted to ask me something. That was when I saw a big open container of vinaigrette left by the sink. All these to say that you can always blame food for any stink in case someone had an olfactory opinion!
Lol! Thanks, Hajusuuri!
SOTD = Bvlgari Black
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this fragrance to the tune of 5 sprays from the bottle. Did I asphyxiate myself? Yes! Was it worth it? Yes! I don’t get any leather whatsoever, pleather and smoky vanilla Yes and Yes! Had I won the Powerball jackpot, every household in the world will have a bottle of Black!
Five sprays sounds perfect to me.
And the good news is each spray is a fraction of a cent! This is one pf my ultimate cheap thrills.
You are hilarious. And you do love your Bvlgari Black.
You know me well 😉
I put on 5 sprays of Black this morning, too! I need to wear it more often.
Spray twins!!!
That is possibly the best plan I’ve ever heard for theoretical lottery winnings. Perfume for everyone!
Ha! This was Deva’s plan, too!
SOTD Bvlgari Jasmine Noir. It’s the only Bvlgari I own (in the small cute jewel flacon). I haven’t worn it for a long time, it’s a bit too persistent especially in the drydown.
Omnia Crystalline is my only choice, and since I woke up still bathed in the Coromandel I put on last night, seemed discordant. I instead went with the tea theme and transitioned into L’Artisan Tea for Two. This one reminds me so much of Fendi, which I’ve always thought of as a tea fragrance – specifically, an orange spice tea that was ubiquitous in my neck of the woods in the 80s & 90s.
Late in the day PSA: Rose Jam has been restocked on the Lush BOGO sale.
Thank you! Got mine, but I’m sure people are still looking.
All gone again! I was looking for Lord of Misrule shower cream. I think they should take the item down if it is out of stock. Thanks for the PSA,nthough, because ya just never know when you’ll get lucky!
Thought I didn’t have any Bulgari and discovered a forgotten bottle of Blu II in my drawer that I had been gifted. Not a favorite, but challenge fulfilled!
It’s funny how we feel very satisfied if we can comply with these projects! It’s not as though there’s ever any external pressure from anyone, but the strong feeling of not wanting to let the side down done tines makes me dig deeper into my collection than I normally would, just do I can report in that I got the job done!
No pressure whatsoever! I find myself wearing more variety because of these challenges. I tend to keep wearing the same thing I love to the detriment of shopping my collection.
For me its a good way to learn and try out new things. And I’ll admit to a thrill when I can complete something 🙂
Bvlgari Blu Notte for her, which was my only choice. I get more vodka than chocolate, and there is something in the base of the feminine Bvlgari’s that smells artificial to me. I do like Thé Rouge, but haven’t yet acquired a bottle.
Between yours and Laila’s description, I am now really curious about Blu Notte!
I can send you some if you like. I’m at iphintaur on aol.
Ooooh, I will take you up on your offer. I will email you. Thank you!