Happy Penguin Awareness Day (not to be confused with World Penguin Day)! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Diesel Loverdose Tattoo. Tea at the moment: Harneys Genmaicha.
Reminder: this 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: top image is Baby-Penguin [cropped] by Angie McCall at flickr; some rights reserved.
A sample of Cara by Farmacia Annunziata. Marshmallows, sugared almonds, caramel and cotton candy. Actually very nice, not nearly as tooth-aching as it sounds, probably because it’s fairly quiet, unlike say the Aquolina sugar scents.
And it does sound like a toothache! Glad it’s nice.
Lollia Relax for me today since I’ll be getting a massage after work
Nice
Bruno Fazzolari’s Au Dela — cozy and naughty!
That one is so well done.
You smell Great!
I love that this is Penguin Awareness Day! Such a lovely photo too. Started off in Sampaquita but it seemed to fade really fast, and have just topped up with Ostara from a rollerball which has just arrived. So beautiful and it reminds me of yellow flowers and a promise of spring and sun – rather prefect given London is completely freezing today.
I keep hearing about Ostara, and I’m on the lookout for a good spring scent. It sounds like I may have to break my “no more samples for a long time” resolution (again).
It’s definitely worth a try – and yes resisting samples is hard…
Hi Sophie C, i am also tempted by Ostara, i have and love PDN’s Le Temp’s d’une Fete- which is very yellow to me, is Ostara like a more delicate version of this, or are they different enough to warrent owning both?- thanks!
I haven’t tried Le Temps D’une Fete which isn’t very helpful I’m afraid – I would say Ostara feels both springlike and has a mellowed honeyness underlying it which gives it a certain robustness if that helps. It really does make me think of richly yellow pollen and warm sun.
Hi mayfly! I own both Le Temps d’Une Fete and Ostara. There are definitely some similarities, but to me Ostara is much brighter, particularly in the top notes. I’m afraid I can’t be more articulate than saying that to me, Ostara is like a spring morning when the sun is shining, the grass sparkles and the air is fresh. I find it very playful! I feel that Le Temps d’Une Fete is warmer and more golden, a mellow spring afternoon.
And hopefully mals will join in as she loves both and is much more coherent than I am!
For what it’s worth, I find Le Temps creamier and richer and leaning a bit more towards a white floral than Ostara does (this is all relative, of course). Similarly to what Holly says, my analogy would early spring (Ostara) versus later spring (Le Temps). Both are beautiful, both worth owning.
Let me also add that Ostara doesn’t last well on me, but I think this is because I’m anosmic to some musks. If you’ve ever have a similar problem, I would think twice before a blind buy.
I love both of them, but Le Temps is far, far greener – it reminds me of sun through the leaves of a tree under which you are sitting, where Ostara is all creamy yellow. Sample, I’d say (particularly because LTdF is very tough to get hold of these days, and because it went through at least two reformulations before it was discontinued).
To me, Ostara shares a lot of DNA with the Neela Vermeire scents but sans the herbs and spices. It is a pretty, sun-filled garden with straight paths. No shadowy nooks, herb planters, or giant ceders whipping around in the wind. (To be fair, someone (is it Mals?) registers this NV mix as “pond water,” so it is definitely NOT for everyone!) Another Penhaligon folks might like who really love Ostara is Vaara.
Thanks for the tip, Fresca. I’m living my first time in Ostara but will wait until spring to wear it again.
Not all the NV scents strike me as “pondwater,” but I definitely said it about Pichola! I liked all three of the first NV releases.
But of course all of them were done by Duchaufour and I admit to struggling with much of his output. A number of BD scents have that weird scummy-pond thing to my nose (Nuit de Tubereuse, Pichola, LL Ylang 49, for a few examples), and I’ve begun to think it’s the vetiver BD likes to use.
I get “pondwater” from Ostara but not from Pichola. YMMV
Thanks for sharing thoughts on Ostara everyone!
My local department store which carries Penhaligons (Tunbridge Wells Fenwick, doesn’t have it, so will ask my Hubby to get me a paper sample in London-
Thanks for advice against blind buying Annicky, i think i am anosmic to certain musks.
Pondwater is just Duchaufour’s signature. You should read some of the older posts about his work on the Posse. They are hilarious.
I believe March called it “Murky Vase Water’
One person’s pond water is another’s biofume? Hydroscent?
SOTD: Concentré D’Orange Verte (Hermès)
YUM.
Don’t think I’ve heard of this. Old? New?
Old!
Bought a new FB of this over the holidays. Thought about others like it that I could buy instead for a change, and decided it was not worth it. Actually, now that I think about it, the last bottle I had was the Eau D’Orange Verte, not the Concentre. To me they are very similar except the Eau has very little staying power. I just looked it up and Jean-Claude Ellena did the Eau reformulation–and most of his scents disappear fairly quickly on me.
Whew. Long way to say you smell great!
SOTD #1: Untold. One of the original scents in my collection, because my brother-in-law worked for Eliz Arden back when it was launched. (So everyone got a bottle!) MEH. I don’t like it, but only because I don’t smell much of anything at all.
#Scrubber
SOTD #2: Voleur de Roses. Now HERE is a scent that has something to say! Much better…..
Wonderful comment, and completely agree about Voleur de Roses, such ain interesting scent.
Orlov Star of the Season. I told myself no more decants unless I finish a sample. So I’m draining this one today.
How do you like it? I bought a sample but haven’t really given it a proper go yet.
I love it. I haven’t found a skank or a gourmand that I *need* yet. SotS strikes such a perfect balance between the two that I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a keeper. I have to get a spray sample/decant to know for sure. But so far it’s a big fat yes.
I’d love to hear what you think once you test it.
That’s the push I needed – I’ll go for it tomorrow!
Scent twins! I received samples of several of the Orlov’s yesterday. I do smell a lot of cumin in this but it’s manageable. I tried Flame of Gold last night and really liked it too.
Normally, cumin makes me run the other way, but I can’t get enough of Star of the Season. I received my sample set yesterday, too. I started with this one and pretty much forgot about the rest. Patty at STC said Flame veers masculine. Did you find that to be true?
The cedar and patchouli in Flame are quite noticeable to me but it didn’t strike me as being too masculine. It’s more of a soft, fuzzy scent. But as you say, it would be better to try it from a spray sample.
Brrr! Greetings from chilly Cleveland. Got sent home from work at noon yesterday because the boilers were down. We were told it would be warmer today, but so far… um, no. It’s c-c-cold in here!
Wearing Lyric and a terracotta-colored sweater dress. Send me warm thoughts.
Mmm. You smell wonderful.
You do smell great.
Funny, Cleveland should be colder than the Mid-Atlantic, but they are about the same now. We are supposed to get our first big snow. By this time of year, Cleveland has had snow, I suppose. And, they know how to plow it away there!
Oh yes, plenty of snow. You’re right though, we plow and get on with life. Lots of 4WD vehicles around these parts. I love my Subaru!
Which model do you have? I have been thinking a Forrester might be the vehicle I need…
I have a Forrester and I love it.
Outback. My previous car was a Forester and I liked it, but I prefer the Outback. Smoother ride and nicer finishes.
You smell wonderful and look great. *sends thoughts of a cosy fire, blankets and hot tea*
Thank you!
Oh, do keep warm. I HATE being cold. Good luck getting some heat.
Wearing my giant down coat at work right now. Helps a bit.
Hot cocoa with marshmallows
Bonfire in the summer
Several layers of quilts (the current state of my bed)
I’ll keep thinking warm thoughts at you. Too bad we can’t be as cozy as the penguin baby in the picture of the day!
Ah, lovely warm thoughts. Thank you!
Love the new avatar!
Thanks!
I think you should send yourself home early today, too! Lovely sounding outfit and great perfume to match. Stay warm!
If only…
Sounds like you’re really experiencing the true meaning of Penguin Awareness Day . Raw fish for dinner ? At least you smell great
Ha!
Continuing to work through my samples, I’m wearing Gold Leather from a discovery sample set I bought from Atelier Colognes in 2014. Most of them are untouched, so I will have to work on using them. I’m not getting much leather from this, but mostly woods.
I like that one, but it’s mostly booze on me
Me too. Very boozy.
I’m continuing with the noir theme, sort of. Wearing Le Labo The Noir – it isn’t particularly noir nor very tea-like, but I quite like it. Just received a compliment from my colleague, who said it was “light and playful”. Tea was not mentioned.
Also, important info on penguins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GHPNKUMf70
Light and playful sounds good – and not especially tea like as you say.
Oh my gosh!!! I laughed so hard from that clip, thanks for sharing!
How would you describe The Noir? I’m not surprised your co-worker did not mention “tea”, the tea note in perfume smells like a pleasant aldehyde not like “tea” to me. Too bad since that is one of my favorite scents.
I would say it’s a pretty, transparent wood perfume with some fruity and floral notes. There IS something darker (tea? smoke? tobacco?) underneath the surface, adding interest, but it’s very subtle. If one was looking for an easy-to-wear wood scent, this would be a contender, but I think it’s not interesting enough for most people to spend that amount of money.
Funny!
I quite like The Noir too. Pondering FB. Seems like it will wear well in summer.
Thanks for the link! It’s priceless!
So funny! I’ve haven’t seen a clip of his on a talk show that I didn’t like! Plus I totally get that one word that just always eludes you. Stumbled on one of the next ones which had Carrie Fisher in it and she’s a blast too. Must stop now I get sucked into the youtube vortex…
Wait till you watch the show with the 3 Monument’s Men. I don’t believe I’ve ever laughed as much during a talk show. And Norton is usually good value.
I’m going to copy you since I was given a sample back when we did our sniffing Nordstrom’s exploration. It turned into a super rose on me, and I am curious if it will happen again…
Nirvana Black today for warmth in the New York cold, and fantasizing about my next decant purchases. I’d love to have some Rose de Nuit by Uncle Serge, and am thinking I should have some Samsara on hand too….and maybe Rossy de Palma and Rose Omeyyade and Santal Majuscule and oh dear. I might need to reel it back a bit and use what I have. But perfume, guys – PERFUME.
EXACTLY!
You get me, Katrina. You do.
So many Roses, so little time.. i understand, (heehee!)
Really hard to maintain control with roses!
Do we need to form a support group? We might.
I’m in!
Yes, a supported by roses group!
Sing it, sister! I think I will wear Rose de Nuit today in fact.
Giiiirl, you smell gooooood.
Ha, everyone here can relate
You smell great today.
Thanks midear!
Preach!
????????
(On my phone, that’s the little preach emoji, but it doesn’t show on my regular computer. Either way – PREACH INDEED)
Hey Ihadabrilliantidea–have you tried SSS’s Champagne de Bois? If so, stop reading
. If not, I have to say that as sacrilegious as it sounds, I prefer Champagne de Bois over Samsara. When I finished my FB of Samsara, I never missed it–love love loving my CdB. Also, Laurie’s 5 ml sprays are really reasonably priced!
I haven’t smelled it and it absolutely is on that list. It’s more a question of what I should prioritize first – an SSS order or an STC order. Think I can guess your vote.
Yes. I’ve been trying to talk myself into some Serge Lutens this week. Regardless of what you buy, hope you enjoy it!
See, my problem is needing to be talked *out* of it.
If there was ever a first world problem, it’s this.
Don’t buy any more perfume! EVER!
Did that talk you out of it?
I mean it! Save your money for that new mop you’ve been eyeing up! Think of your bank balance! Keep away from perfume!
Those are all great and essential. Go for it!
Going for your enabler pin?
LOL! I will share a decant of Samsara. Our own meredifay sent me her bottle a year ago
You are too sweet. I am bound and determined to find something I can share with YOU at some point, Haju.
A worthy challenge!
It can be done. It took me at least a year-and-a-half, but I did it.
All those sound fab!
Woke up to snow, which looks very pretty at the moment. SOTD is Mugler Chyprissime, which I warm and cozy for a snowy day!
We woke up to freezing. No snow, yet, but this weekend apparently it will arrive.
Here as well! Love the cold, hate the snow! And the worst part is that it will be later in the weekend when it will hit big. I hope the commute on Monday won’t be horrendous because it is THE day for one of my projects and I don’t want to run the risk of working from home and potentially getting stuck with no power!
Ack, please, please don’t say no power. I am knocking on wood for both of us.
As a child, I would have found your preference baffling. Remember wishing for snow? Living in California, I have to remind myself of banks of gray slush and wet, freezing feet.
I’m trying to get in the Noir mood, so I’m wearing Noir Epices today. My favourite Vin Chaud fragrance, although it is much more than that.
I love noir epices although it feels more spicy than noir to me – vin chaud is a good analogy.
I would love to wear this on Friday, but my 5ml is in Tallinn… It’s not among my top favourites, but as opposed to most “noir” perfumes, this one actually does capture something slightly sinister.
I think you need to buy two sets of the FM coffret and keep one in each home!
I agree
Hah! I do have one, but this is perfect reasoning for buying that newer, bigger, shinier coffret
And drinking Thé le Tien by Betjeman and Barton.
Oh dear, another one for my must-sample list! I love the idea of a vin chaud fragrance.
Bois de Paradis explores a similar idea, but is less austere. Same perfumer.
BTW: I saw Kusmi teas at Homegoods the other day. None had price tags for some reason but a heads up that you may be able to find some there!
Ooooh! I’m getting a new HomeGoods on 2/4…..Can’t wait! I peeked in the window last night and it looks fun!
Apparently there is a Homegoods near me. Never even heard of it!
HomeGoods is the bomb. Same parent company TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Really lovely things for the home and kitchen, gourmet coffee, spices, jams, teas and oils, even furniture and one of a kind things. The other day i saw a two person infrared sauna being sold there!
Ah, very helpful — thanks!
Oh, and DUH — I have been in that store! It is essentially connected to the Marshalls near me and I never even noticed it had its own name.
Housewares offshoot of TJ Maxx. They vary quite a bit regionally, I think. The higher the income demographic, the more upscale the inventory from what I’ve seen.
Thank you!
I can walk to a Home Goods from my house
Perhaps it is just a faulty perception – aren’t the items there overstock from elsewhere and with that being the case, could food products suffer deterioration for having been shuffled around in less than ideal conditions?
Yes! Kusmi does put expiration dates on the bottom of the tin, although that still tells you nothing about storage conditions.
Epic woman is keeping me warm today, it’s taken awhile, but i’m loving it now, last night on my evening course it seemed absolutely perfect, very calming and comforting.
I think it’s the spices in Epic that make people feel warmer when wearing it. It’s a gorgeous scent. This might be my next Amouage FB purchase.
Which one’s do u have?
I have Journey and Lyric in FB.
I’d bought full sample sets of their collection and the Library collection a year ago and still have some samples from those too.
I am decidedly un-noir in Jour d’Hermes today, and will be sure to be aware of any and all penguins I encounter.
Given the weather I’d say our chances are better than usual.
I’m wearing a little sample that says Chanel No 22 vintage EdT. I love the contemporary 22, and I think it is one of those very plausible remakes.
Had forgotten about Noir Epices and went out yesterday and bought a bottle of Coco Noir to wear Friday (which I got for 40 cents at Nordstroms after applying my Nordstrom credit).
I will wear Rose de Nuit today, then my two Noir scents on Thursday and Friday.
I think we had the same math teacher
Ha! I freely admit to creative accounting, but the credit was actually Nordstrom’s Notes and thus technically Free Money.
Several people mentioning Nanban yesterday meant my hand naturally gravitated for it this morning.
On my second cup of Harney & Son’s Supreme Earl Grey and about to make a third.
After all the comments yesterday about skin creams I broke down and bought two versions of my favorite moisturizer last night (body lotion and cream). Yay for sephora 2 day flash shipping. I should have it by Friday at the latest. The husband had adopted the bottle of other moisturizer that didn’t work for me – he just ran out of his old one as well.
Is this the Yu Be stuff you were referring to yesterday? I may need to get some…
Yes it is Yu-Be.
Apparently it was made by a Japanese pharmacist 60 some odd years ago and it’s still considered a famous “medicinal” cream in Japan. I think it’s called Yuskina there and Yu-Be is the western marketed name. It’s only got 4 ingredients: glycerin, camphor, vit E and vit B12. The glycerin is what moisturizes the skin and creates a barrier as well. It’s apparently super concentrated and some people claim the cream has cured their psoriasis and eczema.
It may feel a little greasy when you first put it on but it quickly soaks into the skin and doesn’t leave a film. However, due to the camphor in it, some people may be allergic, but most people just hate the way it smells, which is like menthol-ish eucalyptus. The smell fades as soon as it soaks in the skin though and it’s never interfered with perfumes. I wore it all the time last year, which did take care of several patch areas of eczema I had.
I ordered a big container of Vanicream moisturizing skin cream, after it was recommended by some friends with skin sensitivities on an online forum. It is completely neutral and works well. I haven’t used it long enough to say whether it helps with eczema or psoriasis (which I have in very light forms). It has certainly helped many of my friends. I’m just happy to find something that really moisturizes without causing me to itch or break out in a rash or hate the smell of camphor!
I love Yu-Be! Literally makes my skin look and feel like I’m ten years old!
I’m wearing a whole lotta Black Cashmere. #noir
Despite thinking I should wear something Friday that isn’t actually named black/noir (but could be), I’m so tempted to wear Black Cashmere. Such a wonderful scent!
SO GOOD.
Though I have to say that it doesn’t smell particularly “noir” to me, it’s too cozy.
It’s noir cozy! (I’m actually having a hard time thinking of ANYTHING that TRULY smells noir….besides Drakkar Noir hahaha)
How about Dark Passage? That’s what I’m planning to wear.
Oooh. I love me some Dark Passage.
Me too except my sample of Papillon Anubis. That smells pretty noir as it should with that name.
Oh, good suggestion. I think I have a little left.
Thanks for the idea! I just put some of this on too and it was EXACTLY what I was in the mood for.
Lovely winter day here, soft snow falling with no wind, so the sporadic sunshine makes everything sparkle…..goodness, that sounds romantic. It’s freezing cold and my little old house isn’t very well insulated, so there’s the flip side
Wearing Amouage Opus IV today for the first time in a long time, it has citrus and smoky incense and feels warm and friendly.
That’s a great Amouage for a cold day. I like the spices in it.
You remind me of how much I love winter. Rain washed blue sky and warm here…smell of cut grass coming through the window.
Good Morning to all the NST readers. Did you know that today was “National Cheese Day” also? It was on the news this morning and was also part of our morning announcements at my school today.
I am wearing Tom Ford’s Santal Blush this morning. For some reason, these fragrance makes me feel regal. It’s one of my favorites.
Have a fantastic “hump day” everyone!
I did know this! But penguins are cuter than cheese. I will, however, eat cheese today, and I probably won’t be seeing any penguins.
Nor eating any.
I promise.
I’m glad we sorted that one!
LOL!
Haha! Penguins are much cuter!
Yay, cheese!
Might wear Fromage Noir today. Can’t get enough of those cheese scents.
Oh my goodness, an adorable penguin is the best way to start the day!
After wearing Shalimar yesterday, I’m wearing Parfum Initial today. Couldn’t think of another oriental that I’d wear with a bright pink cat-print shirt.
You smell divine, and luv the shirt ????
Iris Cendre- excited to try after all the raves, and finally received the sample. So I had to spray my decanted Iris Silver Mist (a favorite) to compare. It’s a bit difficult for me, anyway, to because of the different application methods. Iris Cendre feels more ” floral” and green initially and I’m enjoying that distinction. I may have to get a spray sample to test further after draining this one ;-).
I thought they smelled really similar but want to do an up close side by side test.
I’m wearing vintage Miss Dior for a day that requires my mental business suit and a retro listen here, pal kind of vibe.
Sounds serious, good luck!
Thanks, SicilianaNM!
Go get ’em. Wield that Miss Dior shiv!
Thanks, mals!
Watch out world! Hope all goes well!
Thanks, hajusuuri!
You are scented to be heard!
I am! Thanks, leathermountain!
Mohur Extrait today…aaaah! Work is not nearly as annoying today. Every one is on their best behavior for a change…
You smell wonderful!
Beautiful.
Thank you! I think I will do roses for the rest of the week- a rose to be named later tomorrow (Rose Chypree? Rose Musc?) And Friday Un Fille de Berlin, which is the only thing approaching noir rose I have…
Mohur Extrait makes everything much better.
In Hiram Green’s Voyage, my favorite vanilla to date.
Thank you Gi for generously sharing some of your stash with me
and to Hajusuuri for initially exposing me to this most beautiful scent.
Grateful for this very generous (cough, enabling) community!
I’m grateful too..the most sharing-est bunch I’ve ever seen.
You smell terrific, and I can’t wait til after work to put on some Voyage as well!
I’m in No. 19 Poudre, which feels suitably bracing on this freezing morning. To combat the fleetingness of this scent, I did 6 sprays.
Happy Wednesday! We made it!
1) In Chanel Eau Premiere today, layered on top of Rose Jam shower gel. It’s pretty damn perfect.
2) Did you know there was a Chanel 5 hair spray? I just found this out cruising E-bay. Amazing! Has any one smelled or used this?
Yes, I have it and I love it. I’m not a fan of No 5, but the hair mist just smells like Chanel to me, less like No 5. It’s also softer and quite discreet. I spray it on my skin and clothes as well, not just on my hair.
Oh wow! Okay, then honestly that sounds be called an all over Chanel spray! I bet that would really work for summer.
Oh wow, Eau Premiere and Rose Jam… I bet that’s awesome.
It really, really is! It’s very perky, yet posh way to start a rainy winter morning. I am really happy I used this combo, and for real the rest of winter will probably be this way!
I have to say that you have me intrigued with this hair mist.
I like that combo!
Woke with an ache in my chest, so I’ve been huffing essential oils this morning. Perfume will have to wait, probably till evening, after yoga. I especially appreciate reading everyone else’s choices when I can’t indulge. Keep warm, all.
Hope it’s nothing serious. Take good care today!
I hope you are feeling better.
No, its bronchial. It’s just that I just got over the last one. Feeling better tonight.
SOTD is Dove soap. I ended up at Urgent Care last night and was up until the wee hours of the morning. (Seriously, I fell asleep when Mr. Lucy got up for his first work shift at 3:30.) Getting a shower in today is a win, and I’ll be heading back to bed after my breakfast. But there’s a silver lining: I finally figured out what it takes for a stay-at-home-mom to get a day off! Mr. Lucy has taken baby Jack to the library so I can get some rest. I love, love, love that man.
So lucky! Feel better!
Hope you’re ok. Perhaps it will take something less spectacular to score a day off next time?
Oh no! I hope you feel much better after a rest. Take it easy and take care of yourself!
Hope everything checked out ok with you!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Oh gosh! Feel better!
Oh dear — get lots of rest!
Hope you make a quick and full recovery.
Take care! Sending you penguin hugs.
Soooo much better than muskrat love!
LOL!
If you could arrange it so I could actually hug a penguin, I think that would cure all my problems. I absolutely adore them.
I hope you feel better soon!
Rest up, and pamper yourself!
Hope it is better very soon, whatever is ailing you!
You all are so nice. Thank you for your well wishes! My medication has now kicked in and I will be just fine. Groggy, but fine.
I’m very aware of penguins, those adorable little creatures are too much fun to ignore!
SOTD is Cuir Beluga. I actually intended to give Mitsouko another try, but my hand found this first. Mitsouko can wait for another day.
I LOVE Cuir Beluga. You smell fabulous!
I’m wearing Salome today because I wore it last night and it decided to stick around with great enthusiasm. I’m perfectly happy to be drenched in heady skank but kinda hoping it doesn’t project too much at the gym
I found a box of Thé Des Amants in the back of the tea cupboard so I’m doing a little internal happy dance and enjoying one of my favorite cozy flavored teas (which I will have again later for dessert, sweetened with a drop of maple syrup and a dab of milk). We are supposed to have wind gusts of over 40mph tomorrow so I’ll have to get outside and rake leaves later today. It has taken this long for the silly pear trees to finally drop their leaves since we’ve only had two nights of very light frost so far. I’m dragging my feet because I expect raking today + strong wind tomorrow with expected record juniper pollen to equal a headache.
Gosh, but can’t you just wait and let the leaves blow away then?
That is a very logical plan Robin.
It’s certainly what I would do. I would even consider opening the windows and seeing if the wind might do some interior dusting
Ha! I’ll have to try that.
I sincerely wish they would, but expect that they would just blow up on the patio and I would have to pick them out of my potted plants. Anyway, it’s chilly and gray today so I’m cheating and mulching as many as I can with the mower.
You are the better person
I read your review of Loverdose Tattoo, which sounds like something I might want to hunt down. Provided inspiration for Kenzo Amour which I chose for today (over some Smoky Poppy body lotion).
Ooh, if you can find Loverdose Tattoo to try in a brick-and-mortar store, will you let me know where? I’ve been pestering Diesel SAs for literally years now but none of them have even heard of it. No department stores either, just the discounters. It’s like it was a straight-to-video release, but for perfume
I think Diesel has almost no US distribution.
At one point, Diesel was at Sephora. I couldn’t say if it still is, though.
Next time I’m near a Diesel, I’ll try to remember to stop in. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a Diesel.
The picture of the day was so cute I couldn’t help changing my gravatar!
SOTD is Tea for Two – currently my favorite gourmand. Most people seem to get a smoky note from this, perhaps that is the well-blended bitterness I am getting. Maybe it’s my skin, or perhaps the concentration. I do 2 sprays to the chest – how many sprays would you recommend?
One more than enough
Around 10
Your gravitar is adorable!
I always liked T42 (and wear lots of sprays at once), but definitely didn’t register the scent as “smoky” right away. It really wasn’t until I started drinking loose lapsang souchong (instead of packaged) that it really started to make sense to me.
I usually go for 2 sprays. Hair and wrist.
About 6 should do it. Love the smoky gingerbread smell!
I got my car back today! Hallelujah! It has been at the auto-body shop since Dec 15!!!! Gazillion dollars to fix it (thank you insurance gods and the very polite dudes at Geico), but it is all better now. No more cigarette smoke infused rental…. ahhhhhhhhhh….
I am testing Venenum Kiss by Ex Nihilo–leather, amber, and neroli… pretty sexy stuff. This one is definitely noir.
Ugh, car problems. (Double ugh, PAYING to fix car problems.) GLad you’re out of the ashtray rental!
Ugh x 2 indeed!
Ohh that sounds lovely. Do report.
Oakland Fresca, I had car troubles too, and I also have an overabundance of water situation as do you, although mine is an apparent underground flood situation. I have a dear friend who’s an astrologer, and I have avoided discussing Mercury retrograde with her because I just don’t wanna know any more than I already do!
I have no idea what Mercury retrograde means, but given my week I think it is good advice!
I was debating the Ex Nihilo Discovery Set at luckyscent just yesterday…do let us know how Venenum Kiss progresses today…
So, after a couple of hours this scent is definitely drifting towards Prada edp in the dry down. But I do get nutmeg, which I don’t think is any part of the Prada scent. I am a big fan of the Prada ( but it gets little love among perfumistas) so the dry down is just fine with me…but for the cost of the scent, I am not sure I would even replace my decant when I can wear Prada…the opening, just to be clear, does not smell close to the Prada. I am definitely interested in trying more perfumes by this house!
In the final final? Faint booze and leather–so we have left Prada…
This sounds like a nice one! Glad you have your car back, and I hope your roof leak gets fixed before the next rainstorm…
SOTD is Pierre de Velay Extrait No. 11, a lovely classic floral chypre. It’s somewhat similar to the EdP version of Roja Dove Diaghilev (the original LE), but that’s not surprising as the PdV scents are produced by RD.
It’s cold here and getting colder; just got a robocall from the school district that they’re releasing students two hours early for impending snow.
Trying out Epice Marine today…masculine but nice. Salty and spicy.. Tomorrow I end the fun w/ the Hermessences and will sample Cuir d`Ange.
Has anyone heard of/sampled Aeon 00 yet please? I saw it on luckyscent and only 333 bottles will be made and the nose won’t be revealed until they all sell…I am curious about it but perhaps I am just feeding into the marketing ploy…
My sample arrived yesterday. Will report back once I test it…
I don’t even understand and I want to know how it is!
SOTD is Armani Bois d’Encens (another 2ml sample). I tried a spray of this in a shop where it registered as a weak-ish incense, but a bigger sample (and maybe colder weather) has brought out the wood and given it some oomph. Might go for a decant of this, but I have several weeks’ worth of samples to run through before I decide what gets another go.
Weather today less cold than yesterday’s -10C with some flurries of snow. The snowfall has shown up where the river is completely frozen over and where there is still open water.
Very good morning, NST. I’m dancing around in Bel Respiro this morning. It’s gentle where I feel feisty; delicate, where I feel as though I could kick a wrestler; soft, where I feel tough. My gritty mood is because a doctoral student submitted utter rubbish to me yesterday– I was so cross with his specious argument and disorganised writing that at one point, I actually made a hole in the paper with my pen! I’m really enjoying the contrast between my “bring it on” state of mind and the studied graceful elegance of Bel Respiro. I’ve always chosen my SOTD to match my mood, but this deliberate contrast is interesting and somehow restorative. Maybe, if his work doesn’t improve, I should try all my soft whispy scents as therapy– for me, that is, not him!
I’m glad you can give in to your exasperation. I should have been a professor, not an editor. Or better yet, I should get me some Bel Respiro.
Oh, KarenB, I’m not a professor! The professoriate occupies a rank in academia at least two above mine — they don’t teach (in most cases, we should all be very glad about that!) and the air they breathe is thin and rarified, they are so far up the mountain of abstraction and research. Me, I’m just a thing that used to be called a “principal lecturer”, but I think HR has changed that name, and now I dunno what I am. But you should go and get some Bel Respiro for sure– it’s gorgeous, and on me at least, the staying power is slightly better than medium. .
Bel Respiro is lovely and especially good for late spring/early summer, I think. Admittedly, there aren’t many exclusifs that I don’t like…
I too love almost all the exclusifs. I can never remember whether it’s Beige or Jersey that has an unfortunate top note of drying paint to me, and I though I admire Misia, I don’t want to wear it, but all the others are pretty much must haves, from the dryness of Sycomore to the assertive friendliness of Coromandel, and the elegance of 31 Rue Cambon to the sophistication of Cuir de Russie. I own a shameful number of FBs and am almost certain to own more before I die….
I know! Those exclusifs are so pretty. I would love to have them all lined up on my dresser
Wouldn’t that be a sight?
Maybe he should transfer to a PhD in doily studies. Hope your perfume gets you through the day.
I think he might be doing doily studies, actually. It’s quite hard to tell from the effusion I’m reading, but certainly something with holes in it!
BR is helping. I love it!
Is all well with you? I haven’t been commenting much, but I have been following the development of your scent map, and even got out an atlas so that I could mentally place where you might be geographically. It sounds like the richest and most creative of projects–certainly more rewarding than writing the kinds of margin comments that currently occupy my mind.
Ran out of the house this morning so put on some J. Crew 57 from my Emergency Backup Perfume stash at work…
Happy Penguin Awareness Day! Now we are aware of penguins!
I’m wearing Hermes Elixir des Merveilles today. I don’t wear this one enough.
PSA: some interesting info from Monsieur Guerlain regarding Mitsouko and L’Heure Bleue to clarify rumors you may have heard…
http://www.monsieurguerlain.com/2016/01/lheure-bleue-and-mitsouko-suspended.html
Thank you for sharing this!
I bought new bottles of both L’Heure Bleue and Mitsouke EDP from Nordstrom last year. Both smell good to me, but I wonder if I could or should trade them in when the new formulations are available, like a recall?
Thank you! It seems like evidence that EdT formulae are not simply diluted EdP or parfum formulae.
Thanks for the info! I’ve been considering buying both, so now I know to get the EDT or wait for the reformulated EDP. Too bad those batches were wasted, though.
Beloved for me today. Have a great day everyone!
Beautiful!
Thanks DottieNC. How is NC, BTW? Have you settled in?
Oops, didn’t see the update below. Sounds like you’re making progress!
Some progress, yes.
Beloved was my runner up today. I don’t imagine getting tired of it ever. You smell divine!
Aww, thanks Elisa!
Penguins!
I’m wearing Chanel No 22 again. I’m happy that I decided to buy a full bottle. The past several days have been non-stop hectic, but finally the movers delivered our furniture, I got my license, bought a pre-owned Volvo, and visited my new ob. Whew! Still a lot on the to-do list, but now I can relax a bit.
Glad everything is working out for you. It does sound hectic, but in a good sort of way – you’re getting the hard stuff done and out of the way
Yes, I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I can cross something off my list.
Glad you are starting to feel settled!
Thank you! Having all my furniture and stuff certainly helps a lot.
You definitely deserve a big ‘ol nap after all that!
and an extra squirt of No. 22…
I’ll do both – thanks!
Thanks for posting, despite being busy. Glad to know you’re doing well and get to rest.
This is my happy place.
Whew, what a whirlwind! I hope you find a little time to do something lazy soon. Whenever I move, I always love getting to a point where I can pause in the undertaking and striving and just enjoy *being* there, even for a short while…
Thank you, I do hope to walk around downtown, visit shops, eat good food, and simply enjoy the town…one of these days.
And the Enabler Pin goes to … Wendysue! Last week she mentioned the free shipping on the Ormonde Jayne Discovery set, and today I am happily sampling Osmanthus and Orris Noir, while lying on the couch with my cat at my feet.
Do let me know how the new Vanille d’Iris is. I’ve been trying to decide if it is worth getting the set again.
There are 12 samples, but I don’t see Vanille d’Iris.
Ooooh! Vanilla Iris??? Cool! Trotting off to the OJ site to see what I see….
I think this one is too new to be in the discovery set. Mine didn’t have it, either.
Thanks guys!
Sounds lovely! I enjoyed my discovery set. Please update us on which are your favorite after you have time to sample them all.
Yes, thanks, Wendysue, I got the set too.
*Repeats to self* I will NOT stress buy perfume, I will NOT stress buy perfume…
Oh man you and me both. Um… well this time last year I stress-bought two bottles, one I knew I loved and one I thought it would be relaxing (lavender). It’s not, I only wear the one I love. So I say only buy if you have something on your list you were already sure about. Or maybe buy an accompanying body product/other form for something you know you love? I’ve got some Blackberry & Bay hand wash that seems inordinately expensive but the fact is I really, really enjoy it, and it costs less than perfume!
It wouldn’t be so bad…except I’ve ALREADY stress bought this month (vintage No. 5 parfum, which I at least adore!). I work with a friend who is really into nail polish and when we’re both stressed by work I like to tease her that at least her stress shopping is relatively cheap!
Hmmm…so, drop the stress, and instead, buy perfume for pure joy! See how you adore your vintage No 5? Joy, right there in the bottle–no stress with that.
Advice I can get behind
I happened to have a sample of Original Penguin in my work grab bag. It is serviceable in “fresh” vanilla with a hint of spices followed by laundry musks way. It smells like a dryer sheet left to close to a drugstore Vanilla Dreams candle. It could be worse.
I am drinking an organic black tea from Vietnam which tastes like a non-Keemun Chinese black tea.
I’m wearing Smell Bent Gardenia Oud from a sample. I’m thinking it needs more humidity than nordic winter can provide… It is absolutely glorious, all creamy gardenia with a woody edge, when I breath on it a bit (do you do that to check how a perfume reacts to humidity, or is it just me?) but otherwise almost a bit nasty and chemical. I’ll need to try it again come spring/summer.
I’m looking forward to Noir on friday! I don’t think I own a single perfume with noir in the name but my whole wardrobe is full of the dark stuff… so there is plenty to choose from! Maybe I’ll go with Slumberhouse Rume, even the juice is dark!
I’ll have to try that – wouldn’t have thought of it.
SOTD = Coromandel
Love! I was in a meeting in a tiny room with the door closed. I kept smelling something super wonderful. At the end of the meeting, I asked the other person if she was wearing perfume and she said no. I did a whoop and said it must be me who smells sooo good.
On another note, thanks to Jonah’s PSA, I am the proud owner of two humongo bottles of Lush Lord of Misrule Shower Cream which I should receive sometime next week. Thanks Jonah and a double whoop-whoop!
Yes, you do smell gorgeous! What does PSA mean?
Ok I got it. When all else fails try Google!
Isn’t it wonderful? I’m in Coromandel for the third day in a row! I deliberately sprayed some on the cowl I knitted and it smells great when I’ve got it wrapped around my neck!
Yup, definitely need to offer Coromandel for the splitmeet.
Need to try that Lush scent! I can’t seem to get beyond Rose Jam, however…
I’ll sharebthe next time we get together!
Darn FAT fingers
You smell fabulous! And I just got my shipment notice from Lush as well for an identical shipment. Thanks Jonah!
Working from home, so it’s a sampling day — must make a dent in Mt Sample. I was doing so well in the fall, then they started breeding again…
Started out with Charenton Macerations Asphalt Rainbow — minimalist airy rose/florals over asphalt, with unfortunate white musk as the base. Pass. Then Imaginary Authors An Air of Despair — light woody musk, hint of saffron, pleasant and definitely office safe. Nice but don’t need it.
Then Beaufort 1805. Oh no no no no! Blood accord. Like fresh hamburger. GetitoffmeNOW!!!!
Yuck!
Oh god, that sounds terrible!
The Beaufort stuff looks very interesting and I do intend to try 1805 when I allow myself to order more samples. But I take it that in your case the romance of the prose does not translate to romance of the nose. ;^)
(And of course I am going to get a small sample first; this doesn’t read like a great unsniffed FB choice)
I am feeling very smug, since I was *already* aware of penguins, even before the PSA.
SOTD is Box of Eels, and it’s quite lovely in the cold.
Do penguins eat eels? MWAHAHAHAHA
Hajusuuri your comments make me laugh out loud. ????
Half day of work today since the kids have half days all this week. Why?, I don’t know. Wearing probably to much Fendi. It’s not original, and doesn’t last like it should, so I keep reapplying.
Today is one of those days where I need to feel strong and have courage, so am going to layer Angel body cream under Chanel Coromandel after I get out of the shower. Here’s hoping they help do the trick.
I’m rooting for you!
Sounds like a great combo – bon courage!
It’s too late to wish you extra strength, but I hope the day went well.
I forgot to put on fragrance today. Gasp! But I do really like the scent of my new shower wash : Dial Miracle Oil Marula Oil Infused Restoring Body Wash.
I really just came on to post that the three things on my list to sniff at the moment are mainstream which hasn’t happened for years!: Clinique Aromatics in Black, CK2, and Narciso (I am a little behind).
I’m started to beef up my collection of mainstream scents as well. I find them to be more effortless, require less thinking, and easier on the wallet
I also like purchasing actual bottles but don’t want more than 30mls which seems more possible with mainstream ‘fumes.
I’ve been in a mainstream jag as well, mostly older stuff still available at discounters. It started out as wanting to try stuff I missed before I got really into perfume. I’ve tried some great stuff so far-some mentioned hear and some from reviews. And a relief on the wallet is always welcome.
Heh, maybe we’ll start to smell like the 80s or the Mall the next time we get together!
That would be great! I’ll prepare for that meet-up by getting a perm. Remember THAT smell?
I was rockin Champagne and White Linen along with my perm during the eighties. It wasn’t all bad. ????
The body wash sounds great. I’m going to look for it next time I’m out.
I’m wearing Cuir Mauresque this morning to celebrate a day of no rain (or at least no more until tonight) and weak sunshine. I might go out to check the white sales later today. My towels are looking rather thin and worn.
As I was looking for things to rehome, I found at least 3 decants of Cuir Mauresque, equivalent to 15 mLs +. One would think that I would have at least consolidated their location, but nope. I have to go looking again. I want to try the CM + Rose Anonyme combo that SheriG mentioned a number of times!
I hope it works as well for you as it does for me!
You smell mahhhvelous!
Continuing with the warm and cozy winter fragrances. SOTD Ambra Nera from a sample. It’s does what it’s supposed too, but it’s doesn’t stand out to me.
Inspired by comments on the forum, I have ordered the following titles to add to my perfume book collection:
Perfume: Joy, Scandal, Sin
Folio Columns 2003-2014
Perfume: A Century of Scents
and stumbled upon this while looking, and ordered it as well:
The Secret of Scent: Adventures in Perfume and the Science of Smell
I have a lot of perfume reading to look forward to!
I’m enjoying The Secret of Scent. I find his writing style to be very engaging.
I’m really enjoying A Century of Scents.
Decided I needed some Vanille 44 today, so that is what I have on.
Today I’m wearing Czech & Speake Dark Rose. I guess I’m a few days early for “noir” Friday.
I can’t seem to warm up today. I’m about to make a hot cup of tea to help.
I’m on my second bottle of this. I might wear it Friday, or maybe Amouage Opus V, which I consider “noir”.
I’m nearly finished a FB of this and it can’t end soon enough. Isn’t human skin marvellous!
Trying out Ann Gerard Perle de Mousse today. Hasn’t knocked my socks off yet, but I have a feeling this is one that might grow on me after a second or third wear. It’s going quite salty in the dry-down, which I always like.
I had a sample of PdM once. Love the name, love the bottle, but the juice just didn’t do it for me.
Post and dash again today. Grrrrr! I needed a fragrance to keep me mellow: Diptyque Eau Lente. Cheers!
Never tried it, it’s one of the first Diptyques I think.
I saw a mention of Eau Lente on You Tube recently. The blogger said it was spicy like Opium. She was a fairly young girl so probably not her thang.
Tokyomilk/Dark Tainted Love. It’s a nice, not-too-foody bitter chocolate. Noirish, but not too heavy. Much less sweet than Bittersweet, which someone (I want to say Hajusuuri, but I’m usually wrong) nicknamed Cake Batter. I think. My memory really is not what it used to be. Although, I have read a LOT of perfume-related material in the past few years.
Cake batter! That was me