Happy Noir Friday! Our community project for today: forget the fragrances with "Noir" in the name....wear a fragrance that feels / smells Noir to you.
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 Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline, softened a wee bit by a layer of Bliss Vanilla + Bergamot body butter.
Reminder: 1/29 will be Shalimar Friday! Wear Guerlain Shalimar, or a Shalimar flanker, or a perfume that is related to Shalimar in some way (it does not have to be by Guerlain!)
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 bulk black tourmaline shown above is $10.95 a pound at Amazon.
Reglisse Noir! The photo above reminded me of it.
Good pick!
same here!
I wish I had a bottle of RN! You smell gorgeous!
Not quite in keeping with theme, but CBIHP Winter 1972 for the upcoming snow day!
Today would be a good day to cuddle up with a cat, a hot toddy and a movie of some sort. I’m a little jealous. In Texas, we’ve had maybe a week of winter, just tornadoes and hail.
If it makes you feel any better, tejas, I assure you that the snow will not make my cat any more amenable to cuddling!
Oh my word, this made me laugh so hard. I bet you smell lovely!
I so agree!! A good drama or rom-com, warm orange spice tea as needed, and layers of blankets.
I have 2 cats: The oldest guy is NOT a snuggler unless it’s cold! Then he lays at our feet and snoozes.
Youngest kitten is a total cuddler! He’ll be in our laps all day if we let him! 🙂
I have four cats, and the two boys spend hours at a time snuggled in my lap (not at the same time, however). Of the two girls, one will sit half on my leg, and the rest on the arm of the chair (occasionally) and the other loves to spend time on my lap, and always looks so betrayed when one of the others gets there first.
I have two cats, and both can be snugglebugs when the mood strikes them. Sometimes it’s just one, and other times both of them will be snuggly at the same time. I call the latter situation being “colonized” because I end up covered in cat, with one snuggling on my chest/stomach and the other lying on my legs.
In my house we call that “Double Kittens” 😀
No work today. So I am battling grey rainy day blues with a crackling fire, cup of jo (Highwire’s Bauhaus), and NST. After I read your post I went and got Festus our 2 year old tiger to sit with me. He”s having none of it though, and has already wandered off to watch the rain at the kitchen window.
Haven’t tried that CBIHP, but I’d like to. Off to add it to my decanter wishlists.
I’ve given up on winter so I’m in Ostara. I got my bottle yesterday. It’s started off wonderful, but now I’m smelling old water in a flower vase if that makes sense?
I think that does make sense. I was thinking about Ostara today but am going for Avignon instead. I just received my bottle a few days ago and I tried it, but I think I put it over some Daim Blond because I was too excited to wait, so I couldn’t get a super good feel for it.
I love Avignon.
I received my bottle yesterday as well. Haven’t tried it out yet but I did read some comment that may have said pond water if I’m not mistaken… 😉 some people may get a note of something past it’s prime I’m guessing. Hopefully it is fleeting and you continue to enjoy it.
I’m burning my Ostara candle, which I purchased last month when Hautelook had a sale… Definitely not worth the retail price as the scent is very faint. But now that the candle is over half burned, the throw is a little stronger…. a sweet spring thing to help with damp day.
I’ve read at least one comment that mentioned the classic Duchaufour murky water. I didn’t get it in Ostara, but I often notice that in BD fragrances (and *hate* it, so I’m sorry you’re getting it in Ostara).
SOTD is Orto Parisi Stercus. I initially tried this thinking it would be horrible but it’s really dark and beautiful. It is definitely the most “noir” perfume I have ever tried. I don’t really get anything fecal out of it, more warm and woody.
That one was interesting, and I need to try it again.
I had the same experience and quite liked it. You smell good!
The name put me off trying it – glad you’re enjoying!
I’m on a 6 week training for my job so I’ve been incognito for the last week while I got packed and such. I just have random samples that I grabbed to bring with me. This morning I was in a rush and so I had to resort to whatever was in my purse. So no noir. I’m wearing a combo of orris and sandalwood and wood sage and sea salt. not bad for this rainy day.
Hope the training is going well!
That sounds like it would smell great, actually.
It does.
Same sentiment. Very nice layering 😉
Your layering sounds really lovely!
I haven’t tried orris & sandalwood yet, but I’m glad to read that it goes well with Wood sage & Sea Salt.
Oh smart–I liked but wanted more from each of those, maybe together is the solution!
There’s no Black or Noir in the perfume name, but Annick Goutal’s Sables spells “noir” to me. I don’t wear this very often, but I do enjoy it’s dark heart.
Oh, nice pick.
There sort of is, though! Although “sables” means “sand” in French, “sable” means “black” when referring to certain animals (the fur of the marten is what’s known as sable) and also in heraldry.
Of course! I didn’t think that far, but my unconscious knew. ????
I love Sables! Such a good winter perfume.
That’s definitely a noir one!
Sables is so lush and warm. Good choice! There are a few darker spices in there.
I really can’t think of what I want to wear for Noir! I am thinking CdG Avignon today, which kind of feels noir to me…
That works!
Bad head cold today, so my sense of sniff is completely muted! Despite my malfunctioning olfactory system, I sprayed a generous squirt of Miami Glow, in defiance of the wintry mix we are expecting this afternoon!
Take that, winter! I smell like South Beach! So neener neener neener! 🙂
I like your style. I hope it makes the wintry mix a little more bearable. Take that, indeed! :-p
Boo to the cold – feel better soon!
Feel better and enjoy the South Beach fantasy! I liked the add copy for “Breathe” you posted yesterday. Very cute.
Stick it to winter! Good for you.
I think Miami Glow is the best Glo. Terrific for forgetting about winter.
You smell wonderful, Robin! Wish I had some Black Tourmaline left to join you, but instead I’m in Fireside Intense. Looking forward to reading what everyone else picked, since it seems like there are so many directions you can go in to arrive at ‘noir.’ I almost went with the peppery black of CdG Black, before deciding on a smoke bomb.
Oh, but you smell great too! And agree, Noir is in the eye of the beholder.
I’m wearing my beloved Rien, which has no noir in it’s name, but is one of the moodiests scents I own.
I also considered Aromatics Elixir and it’s perfumer’s reserve, but Rien won, hands down. Have a great weekend everyone!
I like that choice. Tres hip, tres noir. I skipped HDP Noir Patchouli, my only bottle with noir on the label. Chose YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme.
Rien is very noir.
I was thinking of Aromatics Elixir too! It is rather dark and chewy for a while for sure.
Oh that’s a perfect answer–I was really stumped on “noir” but Rien does it perfectly.
Great choice.
TGIF!
SOTD: Ambre Sultan by Uncle Serge.
Wanted something comforting as well as noir so this is it!
Perfect 🙂
My contribution to the noir theme is Cuir de Russie. That birch tar note… am I right?
Ooh – good choice! A leather is rather noir-ish, isn’t it?
Leather is always noir, esp. when it smells like you just romped around in the tack room with the groom boy.
Ha!!
So I could have dug out my CdR sample. Well that’s tomorrow’s project then!
HA! I so wish I got this from that one.
Yup, leather usually makes me think noir as well.
perfect choice!
Commando this morning except some coco almond milk shower foam
Lovestosmellgood Jr made his appearance on Monday. My labor was one tenth of the length of my first one and came on naturally and fast. Couldn’t done it with out my midwife and the good wishes from you NST folks!
Hooray!!! Congratulations!
Yay! Congratulations Lovestosmellgood! We’ve all been speculating since you haven’t posted recently.
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Glad all went well and you have a happy little bundle now. 🙂
Yay! Congratulations and welcome, Lovestosmellgood Jr. I’m so glad it went well.
We’ve been on pins and needles. So happy for you and for the express delivery!
YAY! How wonderful for you and your family. Enjoy.
Lovely! Welcome to Lovestosmellgood Jr.
Congratulations!
I was hoping we’d hear from you today! Best wishes to you, Jr., and the whole Lovestosmellgood family. 🙂
Yaaaaaay!!! Congratulations!!!! So so happy for you all!!
Oh, yaaaay!! Been waiting to see this comment 😉
Welcome, baby Lovestosmellgood Jr! Glad he arrived safely and you are doing well too!
Awwwww! Congrats 😀 Glad he made an easy debut. Hugs to you both.
Congratulations! So glad everything went well.
Yay!!! Congratulations!!!! New baby smell on a wintry weekend sounds just the thing! So happy for you and baby and your entire family.
Congratulations! What a wonderful way to begin the New Year!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to you and your newly expanded family 🙂
Congratulations! Wonderful to hear the delivery of Lovestosmellgood Jr went well. Welcome to the world, little one!
Congratulations! So glad to hear it all went well, and I hope you’re feeling good and enjoying your cozy new-baby-bubble time!
Yay! Enjoy that baby.
Congratulations! So glad to hear all went well and welcome lovetosmellgood jr!
Total congratulations for a good birth and good health! Wonderful news. Enjoy your time with your little one.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! So glad Mommy and Baby are doing well! What a BLESSING to have a fast delivery! My 1st baby was 12 hours labor, but 2nd baby was 2 hours (from 1st pain to arrival!) and 3rd baby was 3 hours total. The short quick deliveries meant shorter quicker recoveries for Mom too! 🙂
ENJOY THAT LITTLE MAN!!! 🙂
I’m sure you would have done just fine, but I’m glad our encouragement helped. 🙂
Congratulations!!! It’s pretty awesome of him to share MLK’s birthday. Thank goodness he decided to come out easier than the first, although he made you wait a little bit, and that you and you’re family are doing great. Stay warm and rest well!
Congratulations! Enjoy snuggling with your new little love.
I’m so glad to read that mother and baby are healthy! Congratulations!!
Congratulations! So glad to hear everyone is happy and healthy!
Oh I am so happy to hear all, that’s the best!!
Yay! Congrats to you all!
Congratulations and a big welcome to Jr.!
Yay! Congratulations!
Congratulations! Glad everything went well and quickly!
Congratulations, and welcome back to NST!
Wonderful! Whew!
Congratulations!
Fantastic news! Congratulations to you and your family.
Congratulations! glad that all went well!
Congratulations! Wonderful news!
Yay! Congrats and welcome to Lovestosmellgood Jr.!
Hooray!, wonderful news, so glad the labour was quick and straight forward, aren’t second labours fab?!, my second was 7 hours, and my third 2 and a half which was a bit too fast!
Warmest congratulations to you and you’re family.
I knew it! I’m so happy everything went well and it was quick for you other than the waiting. Congratulations! I’m happy to see you back.
Many congratulations to you and new little one!
Congratulations!!!
That’s the best news I’ve heard in awhile! Congrats to the entire lovestosmellgood family.
Woot woot! Congratulations! Selfishly, when you’re good and ready, we have to plan a get-together to meet up with you!
Congratulations!! Hurray for short labors. I think most things are a little easier with the second one since you know what you’re doing.
I’m at the airport and no fragrance. Will add some when I arrive in Seattle. I probably forgot to bring any noir samples, but what I *would* have worn if I were home is my TF Noir de Noir. The name can’t get much noirer!
I’m wearing Noir de Noir! Feels like it should count triple since it actually does smell noir.
😉
I’m in this one today, too. Not my usual scent style, but it’s nice.
+3 wearing Noir de Noir today.
I think many of us were scratching our heads over this community project. In the end I layered DK Black Cashmere over Smoky Poppy shower gel and lotion…. then added a dab off SSS Amber Noir to each wrist. I am also wearing head to toe black for good measure. TGIF!
Wow, a triple play! Nice.
Partial twins! Sounds like a great combo. I like the Smoky Poppy lotion-wish I’d thought to layer it with Ambre Noir today.
That would have been a nice combo. Next time!
I think you may have conjured the noir fragrance gods with that combo!
None of my colleagues have complained yet. Of course, there are only two of us here today. 🙂
Wearing the dry down of Bal. I don’t have anything noir so I am thinking I will wear either Epic or Kyoto after my shower.
Remember, it only has to feel noir to you! No rules.
All I could think of was “film noir”, and the men in those mostly smell of whisky and cigarettes, but the bad ladies are going to smell of danger and gardenias, so I’m in vintage (1986) Panthere de Cartier parfum, a languid, ink-dark oriental with a white-floral core (gardenia, tuberose, indolic jasmine). You bet it’s what Phyllis Dietrichson would have worn.
Ooh, good choice! It is super noir!
EXCELLENT. You smell like a dangerous dame!
I love this interpretation of the theme.
That’s totally where I was going with this as well, so am wearing JHAG’s Vengeance Extreme. Noir was all about vengeance, amirite? You smell divine, definitely a Noir heroine.
Great choice. I too was thinking femme fatales.
Vengeance Extreme is a GREAT choice.
Absolutely film noir.
Awesome choice.
Love this.
Wonderful interpretation!
That sounds fabulous!
After last night’s: what-fresh-hell-is-this experience I had at a salon and the worst haircut ever, I’m rocking the noir vibe today entirely.
My hair now looks like someone just took an axe to the end of it – all blunt and no texture, but a few more choppy layers. Ugh. Whatever. That salon is banned and my search for a decent place to get my hair done continues…
I pampered myself with my good moisturizer that came in the mail so at least my skin wasn’t itchy and feels SO much better now.
So I’ve got a moody looking “chop” haircut and am wearing a burgundy sweater, my favorite jeans and knee high boots. Black eyeliner is thick-lined today. my scent is Rudis by Nobile 1942. It smells like a smoking lounge at the end of the night with half drunk glasses of merlot and the sticky remains of liqueur drying in tumblers on a pool table. Wafts from a large fireplace with smoking embers surrounded by leather armchairs is at the other end of the room.
Oh nooooooooo. Bad haircuts are the worst.
But at least you smell good and are looking otherwise fab. Black eyeliner is my secret weapon, and I encourage its use.
Yep. Black eyeliner is good armor.
Ack! Can the damage to your hair be undone?
I could go and get it softened up, but that would mean finding another salon. I’ve only been to two since I moved to this area. The first one was decent, but not amazing and then last night was a catastrophe. The only good one I know of is in the city and I’m not going to drive an hour just for a super expensive haircut anymore. I know I can find something good closer, it’s just a matter of finding it.
Ironically, the salon I went to had great reviews. The woman on the phone for the appointment was nice too, but man, I guess I just got the B team when I showed up last night.
I’ve had that experience many times and then try to fix it myself. Usually I’m the only one who notices all the flaws, though. I’m sure you’re rocking it today!
Yeah, the lesson about a salon with great reviews is the person who has the most available time slots is usually not the 5 star stylist.
Ha! So true. I’ve been going to the same stylist for over 15 years.
Finding a good salon is the worst! It’s one of the reasons I think I will likely never move since I have notoriously difficult hair to cut – thick/curly , etc. and I have a lady who manages it well. Some days I fell like an electric hedger would do the trick for me. At least your hair sounds very punk …
I feel for you. Having hair like that must be aggravating. I have thin hair that’s slightly wavy, BUT I have a LOT of it. When I used to wear my hair shorter I had a really good stylist who always thinned out my hair because there’s so much of it. She said it’s very strange how my actual hair strands are very thin and it typically acts in “thin hair” sort of way, but then because I’ve such a full head of it I end up getting frizzy (mostly from fly aways) really easily. I can have it up in a pony tail and my husband will call me “frizz head” when I come in from a run because it’s standing up all over the place.
I guess you could say the ends are a bit punk considering how choppy they look. Thinking that does sorta help, even if I’m way beyond my punk years 😉
I have very similar hair. It’s like a shrub – chia pet! Thin and fine but very thick and nothing prevents the frizz, except static in the winter, lol. It is a miracle when it’s cut well!
I finally found someone who knows how to both cut and color my curly hair and for this I’m willing to make the 1 hr drive. The search for a good stylist is no fun. The best way to find one is to ask someone whose hair you like for the name of their stylist, assuming you run across such a person…
Oh, I feel for you. I once had my hair dyed in China. Apparently their interpretation of “copper” is much more literal than ours. 🙂 Situations like these separate the women from the girls.
Whoa! That sounds really weird and scary!
My hair is driving me crazy at the moment too, since I couldn’t get an appointment until after the snow. Funny how bad hair days make us feel so frustrated.
But you smell good.
My hair was driving me nuts too! Bad hair days are the worst at making me feel so frustrated. I’d not done much with my hair for two solid weeks and that’s an indicator I’m at breaking point for an appointment. Now I know better and need to do more research for a decent salon.
Speaking as a hair stylist ( though not currently working as one ) may I suggest that when you find a salon go for a wash and blow dry first. If the stylist doesn’t get that to your liking then chances are a cut might not work either. It also gives you a chance to get plenty of suggestions from them to see if you and he/she are on the same page. Communication is critical as is skill.
I’m looking for a stylist who can make me look decent too so I sympathize completely. I can kinda cut my own hair but not quite.
Sounds like a pretty fab outfit and good perfume though. The hair will at least grow out sooner than you think.
Thanks, my outfit and perfume are giving me some confidence today. I know the hair will grow, but it still irks me that I had such a lousy experience that was more expensive than it should have been. If I wanted it to look like this I could’ve gone to a cheap shop in the mall.
Oh no…now I’m anxious about getting a haircut. I found a wonderful stylist, but she moved. 🙁 Now that I’ve gone over six months I am very conscious of the fact that I need at least a trim. If anybody knows a good stylist near Portland, OR let me know!
Same here, had someone great, moved, now am wayyyy overdue for a haircut but don’t have anyone I can count on to do a good job. It totally kills me to pay $$$ for a haircut I don’t even like… I realize it’s insane but I’m thinking of trimming it myself–I mean, I can make it look bad for free 😉
Sounds like you are totally rocking the heck out of your haircut and perfume! Perfect choices 🙂
I could try to get it fixed, but that would most likely be a lot more money than I want to spend. So I am trying to make it work. My husband says it doesn’t look bad – it just looks like I got a cheap cut – only it wasn’t. Grr.
Thanks though, I am trying to sport it for what I can until it grows out a bit and looks better.
Ugh I hate that so much, when you paid a bunch for a haircut and it looks just the opposite. Do hang in there; for sure it will soften over the next couple weeks.
In hopes of making it a little easier to bear in the meantime, I’ll share one of my favorite stories, about running into an ex from college sometime after; he greeted me with a snide comment about how I’d sold out my free-spirited, bohemian ways. This was so wholly mystifying (did not recall having bohemian ways to begin with??) that I demanded an explanation, and he reminded me of the scarves I used to wear in my hair. Oh right: the entire time we dated, I was recovering from a horrible hair disaster which I obsessively concealed with scarves at every waking hour. Because I’m such a free-spirit 😉
That’s hilarious! Sounds like you did a really fantastic job hiding your hair disaster though!
If you just had it done and you’re unhappy they should fix the cut without any cost to you. That’s how it was at every salon I worked at. You’re a walking advertisement and the last thing a salon needs is a bad haircut out there. You should call and ask.
Ugh! There is a reason my hair is long and I cut it myself. My good stylist moved and after paying big money three times for haircuts that I ended up fixing at home, I decided I was through with salons for cuts. I suppose someday I will venture out for a real haircut again, but not yet. Hope you find someone talented soon.
I used to cut my own as well when it was longer, but I really can’t stand my hair being too long. I get too lazy with it and the ends get so damaged that I prefer to keep it shorter – around shoulder length.
Sounds like we have somewhat similar hair. Mine is very fine and wavy on top/spiral curls beneath but I have a ton of it and patches of wiry gray. I also have several places where my hair naturally doesn’t grow very long so it always looks damaged if I don’t style it carefully.
I usually just do a dry ponytail cut and then clean up the odd-looking spots after I let it down, then straighten my hair and double check for strange bits. That way I still have curved ends but don’t risk choppy layers and since I know where my straighter or wavier areas are, I can adjust the cut.
OH NO, you’re emboldening me!! My hair is also very long and I am soooo tempted to trim it myself… I have trimmed bangs etc in the past… So you’re saying this isn’t a completely terrible idea? (I mean at this point my hair is so long that even if I don’t like my own trim, I would have plenty, plenty left to work with if I decided professional remedy was the best route.)
(And I am in exact same position, have thrice paid for expensive cuts that I was super bummed about. Just so loathe to do that again.)
Ah, excellent, I have a sample of Rudis and am really looking forward to trying it based on your description. :^)
The boozy wine/fruit notes in it last all day long on me, which I rather like. The first sniff of it after spraying is very fruity, but then turns into a booze-wine-and-whiskey sort of scent with the incense and leather being subtle undertones. It’s really nice.
This sounds intriguing and tres noir.
Wow! This is one I have to try!
Ugh it sucks getting a haircut you’re not happy with. Sometimes I find that letting it grow for a week or two helps, but my hair is short (actually shorter now than in my gravatar pic), so not sure if it works quite the same for longer hair.
But your perfume sounds great! I’ve never tried that one.
Bad haircuts are a special kind of annoyance. I feel your pain. I have super thick, naturally curly hair, and I’ve had SO many bad cuts over the years. I have a good stylist now, and nobody touches my hair but her. Nobody. And that goes a thousand times more for any chemical changes like coloring or anything. I don’t trust anyone else. I also love her because I can take her a picture of a haircut I want and she’ll look at it and say “No” and then show/tell me exactly why she doesn’t think it will work. If I insisted, she would still do it, but I’ve never gone against her suggestion.
I hope it grows out soon! Your perfume sounds really cool.
I think this is a brilliant idea for a Friday project and am loving seeing everyone’s choice for noir! I went with a little Slumberhouse Vikt, which to me is a huge pile of superdark woods with a tiny dash of menthol to lighten it but not by much. But I still think Shalimar is the best choice for “stealth noir” – something you might not think of as noir but really, really is.
Agree w/ Shalimar, and it’s a shame all the flankers go in the opposite direction.
Can’t blame them for what was probably a wise decision. When Shalimar already does Noir so perfectly, why try to contest that?
True. Plus, when they do Shalimar Oud, you know I am going to be the first to complain 🙂
I totally agree on Shalimar and Vikt sound great, too.
Ooh, I just should have worn Lust, since I too could only think of film noir. As Pyramus said, I always associate a big white floral, very indolic, with the women in film noir. However, I went a completely different direction, with Demeter Thunderstorm. I was thinking of all the rainy, wet scenes in The Big Sleep, which is one of my favorite films of all time.
Love that movie!
I’ve never seen it. Read the book, though, and it’s a classic.
Same here. Adore the book.
I’m wearing MFK’s Absolue Pour Le Soir for noir Friday. It reminds me of old-school film noir. It’s sexy, seductive and assertive with a hint of danger lurking in the depths. Definitely an evening scent, but luckily I’m staying home in anticipation of Snowzilla!
PSA – STC is having a 45% off sale including all of their Chanels which they will no longer carry.
Oooooh my. You’ve earned yourself an enablers pin midear!
Thanks for the heads-up! I may do some damage there…
Yep. Just placed my order!
Saw this as well. Chanel extraits too!
Oops – I should mention that the sale is on selected items, not site-wide! I would imagine that the Chanels will go quickly, and once they’re gone they won’t be available from STC.
Thank you for the PSA! Just stocked up on my favs!
Enabler! I love it. Just placed an order. Hope the Chanels last long enough to get to me. I chose three I’ve never smelled. I dithered over Cuir Russie, but it was just too expensive for something I’ve never smelled.
Which Chanels did you choose?
I chose 31 Rue Cambon, No. 22, and Coromandel. I’ve never smelled any of them, but I hear so much about them that I went with it blind.
Funny, I ordered the same exacts scents. Great choices.
Me, too, but 31RC was gone by 7:30pm PT.
What is STC? And, extraits on a discount!?
Surrender To Chance – a place to buy decants
Thank you, Petunia. Now I have surrended to my purchasing whims!
Always happy to enable. 🙂
And, I just splurged on extraits of Cuir de Russie and No. 22 🙂
Excellent!
And it’s operated by perfume lovers!
Oh la la!
Who on earth is psa-stc?
Public Service Announcement: Surrender to Chance is having a sale. 🙂
PSA=public service announcement
STC=Surrender to Chance
Thanks to both of you!
Enabler’s pin for you! Ordered the extraits for Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie (Coco is already on my list). Very happy Friday 🙂
Bois des Iles extrait for me too!
*whispers* TPC has just now upped the ante with BOGO, including Chanel.
Ha! Holly you win the enablers pin for the week!
I wanted to take advantage of this, but the shipping was $19 to Canada on an 8ml decant of perfume. Yikes, nevermind.
OOH perfect noir idea, APLS. Mmmmmm I don’t have a bottle because I wasn’t sure I’d really use it often enough to justify…but now that it’s cold…
Enabled, just ordered too!
Black Cashmere from a decant. Trying to remember the screen name of the sweet NSTer who swapped some Gris Clair for this and a few other goodies.
It’s really, really nice. Although quite honestly, not terribly noir-ish on my skin. My chemistry seems to make so many things warm and fuzzy, and this is positively teddy bear-ish. Still, the word black is in the title, and incense being an ingredient makes it mysterious, no?
I feel like La Fille de Berlin would have been a good choice if I’d decided to go Film Noir….perhaps I’ll do that tomorrow.
Hey Twin. I had a hard time choosing too.
Triplets!
black cashmere is rather cuddly, but I think La Fille de Berlin is too! You need to reapply some of that Cuir de Russe, right? How was the big event?
I believe I read somewhere that the inspiration for LFdB was the women of Berlin in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and the thought of them in that bleak environment and the moodiness I personally get from LFdB definitely put me in mind of film noir and that late 40s, “what does it all mean” vibe.
My event went well, and we raised a lot of money for a good cause, so all is well and Cuir de Russie did its job! Thanks so much for asking!
Any end to your work drama in sight? Hope so.
Just about….
Love Black Cashmere, but I don’t think it’s very noirish either. It’s very, very cuddly.
Aah – it’s not just me then. I can never be sure!
I want a big fleece blanket to curl up in under my desk when I smell this stuff. Fantastic, but possibly not productivity-enducing.
Andrea Maack Coal for me today. I am drinking long jing tea.
Nice pick! Long Jing is the same as dragonwell, right? My current version by Upton is not my favorite. Right now I am drinking Numi Chai.
Yes, the same. My version is from Wing Hop Fung in Los Angeles. It is pretty good, but a little past its prime.
So glad to hear you say “past its prime.” I find that few people (at least in the U.S.) seem to notice when tea is fresh or stale. Its tough to find really fresh tea.
First time I’ve even HEARD OF the tea you’re drinking. LOL
Love the Numi Chai, no black pepper in the bags I have. I like black pepper in everything BUT my tea. YMMV 😉
Ha, whereas I keep a little jar of peppercorns right with my tea so I can add more 🙂
Love Long Jing. I’m drinking one of my favourite China blacks: Jing Shan Hong Cha.
Couldn’t figure out a scent I’d call noir, so interested in seeing what others picked.
I did go with one with noir in its name, Noir Epices, which is definitely not a soft cuddly scent, but no fangs either. Like, don’t love.
Everyone (north easterners) ready for some snow?
NOT ready for snow! Dreading it, in fact.
I still get a kick out of the mass run of people (even NYC dwellers) to the grocery store to get milk, bread, etc.. the world is ending!
I remember going to the supermarket last year and the bread shelves being empty. It did feel rather sci-fi end-of-the-worldish.
Just demonstrates that most people don’t keep enough food around to last for a week of snowed-in-ness.
Me too floragal, wandered around grocery store for 20 minutes last night just giggling and taking pictures of completely empty shelves. Cracks me up.
I’m not thrilled about 14 inches and 52 mph gusts that they predict, but at least it’ll be the weekend. I’m more worried about my husband who has to drive to work. Last year he stayed overnight at work during that storm 🙁 I like Noir Epices but you’re right about it being neither cuddly nor really edgy. I wish it would veer more into one or the other.
A few hours in and it’s a smidgen cuddly. I think the sandalwood helps. It’s different, that’s for sure.
Our snow predictions have turned to sleet and ice predictions. Ugh. (Raleigh)
I saw your storms on last night’s news and I hope you all got home safely.
Nothing says “noir” to me as much as film noire, so I’m in Caron Tabac Blond and imagining a dark, smoky detective in a dark, seedy office, his name stenciled on the reeded glass in his office door, in his extremely vintage leather swivel chair, feet up on desk, scowl on face, waiting for his mysterious blond client to walk in.
An absolutely perfect choice.
Perfect.
I am loving everyone’s choices, and it’s making me need to amp up my vintage scent game.
Nice! I love film noir, and you nailed it with Tabac Blond!
Wonderful!
I’m wearing Annick Goutal’s Ambre Fetiche today. Amber, incense, and leather…yes, please!
Yes, I am going to try this one out to see if it would be my amber gold standard.
Although it doesn’t feel noir to me, I love Ambre Fétiche.
Yeah, more of a deep brun than a noir!
Sounds gorgeous.
I went with AG as well but chose Mon Parfum Cherie par Camille (I think I got that name right).
How do u find this one- i love the sound of it- very film noirish!- i’m tempted to blind buy, as good prices on ebay..
Do u like the edt or edp?
I absolutely love it, but its very strong and distinctive – maybe not the best candidate for a blind buy. You definitely have to like patchouli, iris and plum. Bois de Jasmin has a great review, if you want a more articulate and detailed opinion.
Unusually for an AG, I’m satisfied with the EDT, although I like the EDP as well and probably would have bought it instead if it had been available for a good discount. I do have one of the old dark red bottles – the current EDT could be less rich (although I’ve heard that its still very good).
Thanks bastet!- this is really helpful, good to know that u are happy with edt.
I have to dig out my decants! If I’m in the market for AG, this would be my FB purchase.
I have Ambre Fétiche and both the edt and edp versions of Mon Parfum Chérie – don’t find a lot of difference between the two forms honestly. I got them at beautyencounter.com I think.
Almost went with vintage Bal a Versailles, which I think is plenty noir, but changed my mind and wore Divine by Providence Perfume Co. The darkest orange blossom I can think of.
I considered Bal, too.
BaV was definitely one of my contenders too!
I’m wearing my signature ((yeah, not really… as if a perfume fanatic like me could ever be faithful enough to one fragrance to actually have a signature…)) Slumberhouse Rume (2015 LE version). It is dark as dark can be! It makes me think of nude skin in the golden light of a fire, nude skin shrouded in ritual incense smoke. Sweet sweet syrupy smoke!
Going on my already-too-long list of things to try. I’d like to at least smell warm and sexy.
DSH Fumee D’Or is the scent of a femme fatale–some sweetness to bring you in then slinky, slithery satin sex appeal catches you
Also going on my list.
I though long and hard about today’s theme, discarded several options and in the end picked something that isn’t very black at all: ELDO Jasmin & Cigarette. I realised that noir as a concept doesn’t mean (to me) the darkest, densest fragrance I can find. It’s more about being subversive, taking something pretty and twisting it a bit. It’s about women with pasts. Affairs, carelessness, whisky, lies. Jasmin & Cigarette makes me think of Marlene Dietrich smoking and wearing a tuxedo on the set of a black-and-white movie that will have a less than happy ending.
Plus cigarettes are always a bit noir, I think.
I like your interpretation and your pick. I think I need a full bottle of that soon.
Thank you! And yes, me too.
Annikky expressed my thoughts about my pick, Vero Rubj Edp so perfectly!
After trying “Noirs”, darks, and just sitting in the sandbox of samples, I happened upon it. It’s an ” enough of winter” fragrance too.
Thank you! Love your pick and think Onda would be a good choice, too, although for a different definition of noir.
I think your interpretation is perfect. Well chosen.
That scent could be something that Lana Turner would have worn in The Postman Always Rings Twice, and what is more noir than that?
I’m craving classic movies now, after reading today’s comments.
Indeed. Hitchcock viewing only seems right after all of this.
Agreed, a perfect description of a difficult to define concept.
Thank you!
Wonderful thoughts, somebody should let fragrance marketers know. Then they would never have used “noir” to label the coziness of Tom Ford Noir Extreme or the prettiness of Coco Noir. I agree that I expect “noir” fragrances to have some type of sordid character, or at least appeal to somebody with a sordid past. Perfect choice!
I don’t want to sound too prescriptive, there are of course different kinds of darkness. But yes, I struggle to see how Coco Noir would fit any definition of noir…
Ah! This was the sample I wanted to wear for an eerily similar logic!
What did you pick in the end?
I actually went for my sample of Noir Tropical due to feeling pretty literal. I had never tried it, and it reminded me of Havana Vanille (which I own). It’s not terribly Noir or Tropical, even, but it is nice.
Noir Tropical should have just been called “Vanilla”. I gave my bottle away to someone who will wear it more often than I did.
I was very surprised by how sweet it was. Not what I was expecting.
I like your interpretation of this!
In Sisley Eau du Soir, a very green chypre said to have been created in 1990. It calls up strong associations with female relatives going out for dinner & drinks in the 50s-60s, as though they wore something very similar. But I’ve no idea what. Anybody have ideas?
I had the same thought about chypre scents. Good choice!
Ooh, I almost chose that one! I went with Caleche Soie de Parfum.
Chypres are what you wear when you what to signal glamour, I think. They tend to have certain notes in common, so its no wonder that you think of certain other perfumes your relatives wore back in the day. One of my personal favorites is Aromatics Elixir- a big ole earthy Chypre that I only wear a few times a year. It’s a HELL of a fragrance, for when I am feeling really grand.
AE is really outstanding! I was thinking of wearing it today too….
One of my best friends wears Eau du Soir. So beautiful.
You smell great!
Okay, I may have over thought this. I do that a lot.
I didn’t have a perfume that screamed noir to me (though if I had it, I think I might have chosen Jasmin et Cigarette; that seems noir to me even without smelling it), so I had to think. My first instinct was Chinatown, because of the film of the same name. But I went a little deeper and found that Ingrid Bergman, star of one of my favorite noir films (Notorious) and of course, Casablanca, reportedly wore Mitsouko. So I chose Mitsouko as my noir scent for the day.
I’m happy to report that this grand lady of perfume and I are getting along much better than the first time I wore her. I’m smelling a lot more delicious spice, and a lot less old lady.
And to wrap up my long winded comment, in regards to my feelings on PHI yesterday: As the day wore on, it settled and I liked it a lot more, even the whiffs of hot and dry I was getting. I also got several compliments on it. Once I finish the sample, I will probably pursue a decant.
Mitsouko was one of the options that I considered for today too. You smell great!
Thanks! I honestly wanted to wear Mitsouko again, to give it another chance to woo me, so it worked out perfectly!
You do smell great! Have you tried it in summer? I tried it first in winter and I liked it but was wowed by it in the heat. Mitsouko and Femme are summer evening comfort scents for me.
Thanks! I have not tried it in summer, but I will. There are several scents that I’ve worn in cold weather that I plan on giving a shot in the heat as well.
You did not over think this AT ALL. I had such a time this morning with my samples and bottles! You smell…mysterious!
Thanks! I have tendency to over think, so my default is to assume I have. I’m really loving Mitsouko today, which makes me really happy. She was the last of the Guerlain grand dames that I needed to make friends with, so to speak.
Mitsouko is a perfect choice!
You did exactly the right amount of thinking, and your choice is therefore excellent. Well done.
Good pick.
Mitsouko is definitely noir!
Thanks everyone! I like these interpretive Friday picks. It’s fun to see how everyone’s mind works.
Totally agree 🙂
Dior Eau Noire: immortelle, vanilla, liquorice, vanilla bourbon, cedar. It’s not “noir”. Cozy, warm. Another perfume by the amazing Francis Kurkdjian!
I picked up a mini of this recently — you smell great!
That sounds sooo good.
Wow, that sounds really good. Will have to re-try!
You smell wonderful.
I’m in SSS Ambre Noir which smells dark and has a certain smolder that gives an edge to it and keeps it from being too cozy. I’ve also got a dab of Papillon Anubis on my wrists which smells like the Underworld with its incense, smoke, and leather. I like it but I don’t want to snuggle up with it.
I’m loving all the film noir references and wish I’d read them before I left the house! Now I’m thinking I could’ve worn Fracas for one of my favorites “Sunset Boulevard” where William Holden references Norma Desmond’s tuberose scent, which he doesn’t like.
Anubis is gives off a sinister air.
I need to dig out both of those samples.
In honor of Noir Friday, I’m wearing Coco EDP from a bottle which I estimate is at least 20 years old…pre any reformulations should they have occurred.
I smell *good*.
Happy Friday to all!
WOW- you sure do smell good!
Earlier this week I was considering wearing Coco for today. It’s a good choice for the challenge.
You smell beautiful. Coco is like my little black dress – wear when you want to be chic.
You smell so good! Coco is just perfection. Esp. older formula!
I’m in Coco too, since I find the original much “noir”er than the “Noir” flanker, from what I remember!
Wearing CdG Avignon and loving it. Also, not really sure what to think about the fact that my partner thinks it’s: 1) exactly like a Catholic church; 2) very sexy.
Ha! Some secret fetish?
Definitely not mutually exclusive. 😉
Would be (mutually exclusive) for me! Yuk.
I read a comment once from a reviewer on Demeter’s site that mentioned that Holy Smoke and Riding Crop layered well. 🙂
I like riding crop. It makes a great closet spray.
Riding Crop is really great, surprised it hasn’t gotten more attention.
I was really tempted to go with something smoky, leathery and tobacco-y. But then I thought of my favorite Hitchcock film, Vertigo. What would (false) Madeline wear?
SOTD: Caleche Soie de Parfum. It feels very ladylike, very smooth and polished and sophisticated, a little *too* smooth, a little *too* soft spoken. All I need is a close fitting grey suit and a smooth french twist in the hair.
Oooh. I like the way you thought about that. I’m not familiar with that scent, but the way you describe it is perfect for that idea.
Thanks! Say, Caleche Soie is a very sheer chypre, with soft and elegant notes to it. It’s very wearable BUT it what you would wear with an elegant day suit and your hair done!
Love Vertigo and that grey suit and coiff are so memorable.
Yes! Madeline was so perfectly poised.
Love Vertigo, love your comment.
I watch that movie at least once a year! Here in Portland sometimes there is a 70 MM print that plays at the HollyWood theater. Amazing film, and James Stewart is at TOP of his game there. Kim Novak an incredibly sad performance- that of a perfectly constructed woman.
Love Jimmy Stewart!, and i agree, Kim Novak’s performance very sad.
Love it love it love it.
🙂 Thanks!
Vertigo is awesome!
It is really is an awesome flick!
Love your thought process! Is it weird that my favorite part of Vertigo is James Stewart’s apartment? I love those wooden slat blinds and have always wanted some for my windows.
Not weird at all! The slats have a double purpose- part of the Modern style of furnishings in his flat, but also to illustrate how enclosed Scottie’s mind was.
Encre Noir! Deep, dark roots burried in damp wet earth.
I almost chose that one!
It was in my hot hands poised to spray, but then I passed…. it was really hard to pick today!
aww.
I like it mostly in the spring when it’s rainy – there is something so lush and earthy about that vetiver in EN. The weather is not right for it. I love it so much though!
I’m wearing Masque Milano Russian Tea. I think I still have a little sample of Black Tourmaline somewhere and I might have to search for it this weekend.
I don’t remember to wear it very often but love it when I do 🙂
You smell dark and wonderful.
Bvlgari Black!
Rubber (black, of course) + Smoked black tea = NOIR
This fragrance hits the noir reference right on the nose by recalling the color black, and thus is perfectly named (unlike Tom Ford Noir Extreme).
I tried a sample from Sephora’s last night, to make sure I could wear it to work today 😉 I am in love!!! I need a full bottle of this, it is glorious and beautiful and strange. Obviously I am a fan of the lapsang souchong accord (I just bought a bottle of T42 where it is prominent). Aah…so happy right now. 🙂
OK, you’ve convinced me. I really need to try BB!
You smell great!
That’s nice stuff, Black.
It’s perfumista math free at Fragrancenet!
I’m excited to read about what everybody picked today!
Today’s challenge was tough; I have a lot more scents that I’d categorize as “brun” than “noir.” Noir, in my mind, had to be paired with all-black clothes, boots, and heavy eyeliner, so I went with Nirvana Black because it seemed rough and moody.
There’s still some TF Noir Pour Femme from last night peaking through, too, and I added some Kiehl’s Musk lotion. Somehow this all works.
Sounds pretty fab actually
Yeah that sounds amazing! You smell fab.
After much thought, I went with Fille en Aiguilles; Lonestar Memories was a close runner-up. I love hearing what everyone chose, and why, and I think it would be so fun to do a whole color-themed SOTD series, in which everyone had to choose something that felt “purple” to them, or “gold”…
Lonestar would have been a great pick as well. Great to scent the whole cast of a Tarantino movie.
Ha! It’s more wholesome to me than that, though — all high-desert twilight and no depravity!
That would be a nice serie of themes indeed!
I was thinking the same. Blanc would be really fun; so would silver.
Encens Satin was my choice today. It feels like a midnight scent.
So enjoying reading everyone’s interpretation of noir for today. Having been tempted to go down the film noir route, I decided to mix it with gothic dampness as well. Which means I am wearing Black Orchid body lotion with Voleur de Roses sprayed over it.
Voleur de Roses makes me think of roses and damp dark earth as well as cold gothic stones – which I think counts!
Oh wow, yes, plenty of dirt in those two and I bet they’re playing nicely together.
Voleur de Roses for me as well – although I don’t really get damp earth or cold stones but extra dark chocolate.
Well chocolate sounds better!
Holy moly! Dirt and chocolate. You can’t get more noir than that!
Oooh this sounds lovely!
((Comment so long, beware wall o’ text!!))
On the surface, today’s group project should have been easy. Afterall, I own Avignon, which many people regard to be a very dark fragrance indeed. But (while I admit Avignon has a certain dark pepperiness in the drydown) it has never been a “noir” perfume to me. Rather, Avignon is a very specific memory: it is summer in Central California and I have living at a rural Spanish mission as part of an archaeological field school. It is the driest, most sun-baked place I have ever lived and we work in the full sun while vultures circle above us. We have a mid-day break and on my way back to my room I step into the empty, unlit church. For the moment until my eyes adjust I cannot see, but I can sense the air and space above me, feel the cool air on my skin. Then the moment passes and I can see light slanting through the windows and pick out the stars painted on the ceiling. That moment of air and space is Avignon for me: liturgical, but mid-day refuge rather than midnight mass.
So what then is “noir”? We cannot trust the perfume companies’ interpretation (which seems largely to be as follows: take a well-loved name, inject some syrupy fruit, clean patchouli, and “oud”–then sell in a black bottle.). I’m equally opposed to the school of thought that thinks noir=more. More spice. More vanilla. More cumin or amber or civet. Part of this is a suspicion of the Orientalist impulse in perfumery (add some Exotic Spices! Then it will be Dark and Noir and Spooky!), part of it is the rejection of the idea that noir must equal heavy. What else is there? We have the representational scents, things like Lampblack or Fireside Intense. While these can definitely be dark, to me “noir” hints at layers and hidden intentions–and so a scent that tells you upfront what it is (even if it doesn’t reveal how the hat trick is done) doesn’t meet the bill.
And so I find myself coming back to what perhaps should have seemed obvious: Noir, to me, is the sort of scent that the heroine in an old black and white film noir might wear. Like that heroine it ought to have layers, secrets, and confidence that swings from clinging gowns and lipstick to pantsuits and cigarettes. And so let me present my list of five scents to wear when the Santa Ana’s start to blow….
5. THE ANIMAL: Vintage Guerlain Shalimar parfum: easy to find online, and often cheaper than buying new. My version is (probably) from the late ‘70s. An animal prowls beneath it’s citrus and vanilla, a coyote that presses its feet into the mud in the night and leaves only its track behind the next morning. (Other perfumes that might fit: Youth Dew, vintage Femme, vintage Miss Dior)
4. THE FLOWER: Aftelier’s Cuir de Gardenia: All-natural, this scent is voluptuous and seductive–the flower in a woman’s hair and the leather of the purse where she hides her gun.
3. THE GREEN-EYED WOMAN: Chanel No. 19 parfum: Turin and Sanchez call this one a “wire mother”. I don’t find it as cutting as that. While No. 19 is bitter green up top, it falls in a confident base of soft iris. (Other Options: Vintage Vent Vert, or for a chilly green of a spring where the ice is not yet melted–Jacomo Silences)
2. THE USUAL SUSPECT: Robert Piguet Bandit: Bitter green up top, inky beneath, with isobutyl quinoline there to rebuke the hero’s advances–I don’t think I could ever compile a “noir” list without including Bandit.
And finally….
1. THE DARK SISTER: Bruno Fazzolari’s Seyrig: Aldehyde-haters (or even those in neutral territory) need not apply. Seyrig is a sharp-white, soapy blast that on the surface would seem to be the exact opposite of noir. But try an experiment: apply Chanel No. 5 on one arm and Seyrig on the other. In a moment it becomes obvious that No. 5 has a heart of gold while Seyrig, if she has a heart at all, has one of sharpened steel.
So with all that ado, which of these five am I wearing? Well…none of them. I’m wearing Fazzolari’s Au Dela which I would put with my other animals above (but didn’t mention at the time because I wanted to have all different houses).
I think I love you right now.
Me too!–I’m with mals86. Thanks for a great read!
I second that emotion!
Applause!
Amazing post. Thanks for sharing – I agree with you wholeheartedly. Perfect choices for your list, and excellent explanations. I took the easy way out by going with the color reference, but I’m so happy you chose to think long and hard about this challenge. 🙂 Have a great day!
Great fun! Especially agree with “intentional vs nuanced.”
Amazing…
Love this.
Wonderful. May I ask which mission you did archaeological work at? I love the smell inside the mission churches, that centuries-of-candles buildup.
San Antonio de Padua–they used to have a field school there every summer (though I’m not certain if they still do). I’m glad people liked this–I was a bit worried about posting such a huge comment!
That must have been a great experience! I love the area around Mission San Antonio — lots of happy childhood camping and exploring memories!
It was amazing. I would go back in a heart beat. (In fact, I did go back for just one night during a spring break road trip the next year.) Some of the things that were excavated my summer were in the tiny Mission museum, I wonder if they’re still there 🙂
Thanks for a thought-provoking read. Well done.
This was such a great read, thank you!
Love it. Thanks!
I truly enjoyed your post. Thank you so much!
You all smell marvelous. Not feeling the noir today. I have had a winter perfume rotation of Papillon Anubis, Olympic Orchids Dev 1., YSL Opium, piles of EL Knowing and I feel the need for something a tad more gentle. Providence Perfumes perfume oils Ivy Tower layered with Violet Beauregard. Lovely summer washed green with violet candies. Heaven.
Not noir but sounds very idyllic and romantic.
I really spent a lot of time thinking about this. Most of my noirs are deep orientals or chypres… all with roses, etc., and they just weren’t happening for me today. I was about to spray on some L’Arte di Gucci, and passed. I was about to put on some Encre Noir, and passed, ditto Mitsouko, Bal a Versailles, Coco, etc. I was like: in the face of blizzard-nado coming tomorrow and miserable cold weather (blah), and what in god’s name do I think of noir anyway? I ended up thinking about rich, heady, stick it in your face Go big or Go HOME tuberose. The one essence that can truly knock me on my butt. So I picked one of my great neglected decants: L’AP Nuit de Tubereuse. I smell like massive oriental snake bite tuberose seduction. It almost embarrasses me how sensual I think this fragrance is (a la Amaranthine) so I rarely wear it. Nods to Mr. Duchaufour for being all about that with his fragrances!
Hooray for strong women! (*And* Mr. D.)
Yes, that one smells like pure sex to me… When I first smelled it my eyes rolled back in my head. I ran into my boss’ office and shoved my wrist under his nose and said, “Smell this!” (he is a perfume lover too). He said OMG and we both marveled at the sensuality of it. I ordered a bottle immediately.
Makes me want to leave work and hunt this one down!
I chose Un Fille De Berlin, because it is the darkest rose I own, with very little of the come hither muskiness of my other rose favorites. It’s a little bit, “I am here, and you….you stay over there!” Guarded. Not at all how I feel today, but that is the beauty of these little assignments and projects, a push to move you somewhere you might not go on your own on any given day.
It is fascinating to read everyone else’s thoughts and choices. Stay warm and cosy ahead of the big storm, all of you in it’s path…
I love that one. Such a wine-y, deep red rose.
Sampling Miller Harris L’Air de Rien, *finally*, on one wrist, and the other has a couple of drops of Serge Noire. The Serge really smells dark – clove, clove, clove and incense and smoked wood.
L’Air de Rien smells like the nonfloral parts of Jovan Musk for Women (which my mother has worn for years – decades, even – as her “everyday” scent), so I’m finding it warm and comforting.
FYI: Surrender to Chance has a discount code (SAVE45) for a limited selection of fragrances, but it includes Chanel because they will not be carrying the line any more!
I drew a blank on the challenge. So I went with someting noir-ish that I don’t wear often: Angel A-Men Pure Coffee. Black coffee, get it? Heh.
I’m went with Atelier Mistral Patchouli. Second day in a row for this scent.
My interpretation of noir was black pepper — lots of it!!
Sorry, I don’t know how my comment got put under yours, Pixel. User error on my part!
But, excellent choice for today from you 🙂
I get loads of black pepper from this, too. (Good to know I’m not the only one!)
Hello, all. My SOTD could not be in greater contrast to sell your scented loveliness, nor to what I wore yesterday: I smell of sugar, almond, chocolate and vanilla. I am up early, baking chocolate chip biscuits and friands to take to morning tea at a friend’s house, for today is The Day. I am giving away all my ‘special” dinner sets and crystal and silver cutlery to my friend’s daughter, as part of clearing out STUFF and moving forward towards retirement. I really want to things like my mother’s Waterford crystal to go a place where it will be loved, but yet…there is still a sense of loss, and though I like to join in the community projects, I find I definitely don’t want to wear another noir perfume today and I think that when I shower away the lovely smells of baking, I will wear Fate, because it smells of burnished light and hope. So, you all smell gorgeously dark, brooding and sophisticated and me, I’m going to be pottering about in a cloud of daffodil. There’s probably a meaningful conclusion to be drawn here, but I need to get my next tray of biscuits into the oven.
“Burnished light and hope,” thank you for that.
What a lovely thing to do. I am sure the recipient’s joy and appreciation will dissolve your sense of loss instantly. I think often we hold onto certain items because of the love and memories associated with them. The memories and love are the indelible, even when things are lost and pass out of our keeping.
Thank you! Because you are completely right–It’s not as though we’re shedding the memories along with the things. I think I’m just having a bit of a thing because, coincidentally, it’s the fifth anniversary of mum’s death today. She was the bravest person I’ve ever known. Oh, and also, the damn bloody friands aren ‘t behaving according to instruction!
Waterdragon, I’m so sorry for your loss. I know how melancholy these anniversaries can be, but I think that honoring our mothers’ strength and bravery and all the love we’ve felt is the antidote to the ache. Eventually.
Thank you! Mum would’ve got a great happy buzz out of the NST community, I think. She round have been in awe of the technology but delighted to chat. Though her preferred perfumes were Tweed by Lentheric and Blue Grass (was that Elizabeth Arden?) she loved all sorts of pretty smells on other people.
Baking and Fate – two of my great loves. I recently retired and have been downsizing too. It is a little painful but necessary and I feel better afterwards. Bon courage to you!
FATE = Burnished light and hope! Wonderful…..
And how generous to pass on your nice objects to someone who will love and use them…
Did you ever watch the documentary Amour Fou about Pierre Berge selling off his and YSL’s art collection? I remember the kind of echoey silence of the empty rooms once the art was gone. Now Berge has sold his books as well.
I don’t think so, but that would be very moving. Wish I had.
It’s a little sad to part with things that have personal history but I find that that feeling is minor compared to the pleasure in knowing that the lovelies are going to someone who appreciates them and will enjoy using them. Much better than having them sit in the closet forever, ignored and useless.
That’s exactly what Richard and I decided. We gave no children who might want our things for sentiment; my nieces and nephews will have much similar stuff from my sisters–we’ve all made our own traditions, you know? This is right, but still slightly hard.
And the friands taste delicious (apparently! The dear one nicked off with two and called them breakfast!) but they look rather scrappy because they stuck to the tray. Tiresome things! The white chocolate caramelised too much. I’ll have to adjust the recipe for next time.
Sonoma Scent Studio’s Ambre Noir–the smoky incense base reminds me of black tourmaline, and feels perfect for our snowy Mid-South weather today. Later will probably be SSS Winter Woods, a cold weather staple.
I’m wearing satin lounging pajamas on a chaise longue, holding a cigarette in an amber holder. My eyebrows are plucked into pencil-thin arches and my lips are blood red. I’m wearing vintage Youth Dew, which was misnamed, in my opinion, as there is nothing dewy or youthful to my nose. I would have called it Coeur Noir.
Ah yes, Lauder’s heart of darkness. I never found it youthful or dewy either.
I love it! The fragrance and the interpretation.
Sounds fabulous! And Youth Dew is just about the most horrible perfume name ever.
Wearing a ‘summer noir’ today and a recent purchase, All Good Things. My other summer noir is probably Ys.Usac’s Incense which is fantastic when worn while walking through a pine forest, as I do most mornings…a bit dry, a but resin and bold sillage.
I’m a flower show virgin but have noticed that the lily society is having its annual show so I’m thinking of applying Baiser Vole and going to explore a lily match. I had no idea that Lillies are grown commercially down here ( and peonies) and now I’m really curious to ask the experts about scented Lillies, if they wear perfume or rate any of my lily scents. Looks like a good Saturday is on the cards.
All Good Things was on my short list too!
Wearing lashings of Coco Noir today, love this stuff.
A noir scent, in my personal fragrance dictionary, is one I would only wear on a (very) cold winter’s night. Most often, it’s oriental, spicy, sultry and smoky, deep and mysterious, sexy yet androgynous. My choice for today, with all those characteristics, is YSL Nu edp (the original in the hockey puck case).
Although its cold, grey blue metallic case and deep purple-blue interior bottle remind me of an icy winter’s moon, the scent inside is anything but cold. In Tom Ford’s first release from YSL (Jacques Cavallier, perfumer), the cardamom, pepper, incense, and sandalwood sweetens with a touch of white floral melds into a smooth, dark, sensual delight when warmed by my skin. Mmmmm . . .
Wowee! 260 comments already! I read the comments later.
SOTD = Dark Passage Tableau de Parfums by Andy Tauer
This was the superlimited edition perfume created by Andy in collaboration with film-maker Brian Pera as an incentive for contributing to a kickstarter campaign in 2012. It came packaged in a 7.5 mL white enamel travel spray.
The name is Noir and the perfume smells noir,. The patchouli is raw but not headshoopy, tempered with birch tar, cocoa and a touch of sweetness. The notes list and several reviews mention iris and vetiver but I never smelled these in previous and current wearing.
Dark Passage is super well-done but, alas, limited edition and no longer available. If it were to become available again, barring any horrendous refo, I would buy the biggest bottle available. In the meantime, I will treasure what I have left of this perfume.
I took would buy a big bottle of this if it were available. Probably my favorite patchouli ever and I had to steal my purse spray back from my husband because he was wearing it too much. I loved smelling it on him but don’t want it to be gone forever.
*too
Wow, Dark Passage sounds wonderful!
Wasn’t really sure what I would consider Noir nor do I have anything Noir. So Noir Epices it is.
I think this qualifies on several accounts.
I started the day with Germaine de Capuccini Noir – yes, I was lazy and just went for noir = “n-o-i-r”. The alleged notes are:
Top – citrus, cantaloupe, “Maine” (whatever that is? lobster?) and lemon oil.
Middle – gardenia, orange blossom, cashmere wood and sage
Base – white musk, sandalwood and oakmoss.
It actually smells pretty generic/ chemical, reminded me more than anything of some of the Hugo Boss stuff. So as far as I’m concerned Germaine de Capuccini should stick to their (excellent) moisturiser because I don’t need their Noir and I can’t imagine anyone else does either.
Citrus, cantaloupe, lobster, and lemon oil sounds like a great summer picnic! 😉
Oh yes Isabella, with some crusty bread and a chilled bottle of Muscadet! You see, there are so many inspired things one could do with those notes, so there’s really no excuse for a black bottle of gak. :^)
The name reminds me of monkey and no, I do not want to smell like monkey 🙂
Wonderful to read everyone’s different interpretations of noir – I feel inspired to wear about 20 different things. I thought I’d go the easy route and wear something with noir in the name, so it will be Orris Noir for the morning rushing about. I will smell great as I tidy the house and pick up some shoe repairs 🙂
Nice! Have you ever visited the perfumer up in Kelburn: Fragrifert? I saw that he has created some perfume oils from NZ natives in a start to making The Grand Maori Perfume…but I didn’t find his website too inspiring. He runs perfume courses too.
http://www.buyperfumeonline.co.nz/
Yes, I discovered Fragrifert a couple of years ago, and was stunned by the coincidence that I knew the owner. Francesco used to work in IT, and worked in the same government department as me about 20 years ago. I did his one day course last year and enjoyed it.
I saw your comment yesterday about researching perfume history in NZ, and didn’t quite get the chance to reply to mention the Fragrifert oils. None of them appealed to me, but I was really impressed that Francesco was investigating native plants.
I’ve also enjoyed reading your comments on the scents of Central Otago. We went up Central for holidays when I was a little child and it’s a very special part of the country for me.
Thanks. I have just discovered that someone in Auckland supplies beautiful copper stills and runs workshops in how to make essential oils. Wondering if I should bite the bullet and try making the Grand Maori perfume myself using an 1880 recipe. I’m so curious but so fickle it’s hard to know what to do…I could write about it though .
That would be fascinating and I’d love to read about that!
I’m in what I consider to be the equivalent of a lit Sobranie Black Russian cigarette:Jasmin et Cigarette by ELdO.If Jasmin blooms were blooming in black,it would smell like this
Twins!
Yay!!I don’t think I’ve ever had a twin here!Haha!
I used to smoke those when I was young and reckless.
That was then, this is now.
I still crave them every now and again,although they are extremely hard to find these days!
Hello Johan!
Yes, I went looking for them a few years ago and couldn’t obtain a box. All for the better I suppose. 😉
You’re still reckless, aren’t you? ROFLMAO!
😀
Just had to have several hundred dollars worth of brake work done on the Toyota! Ugh. There goes the perfume budget for a while.
Oh, well, I will be safe driving down the highway. 🙂
Just got some freebie samples in the mail! Instant love is Hanbury!
Have to live with the oudie ones for a while…
Ha, ha, Hi Meredith. I thought that might be your reaction. Enjoy!
I wish it was possible to find the tiny little MCG bottles here, the 7 ml ones.
I thought Twisted Lily carried a few of the 7mLs.
I considered various interpretations of Noir: the dark, somber, brooding of L’Ombre dans L’Eau; the richly woven baroque tapestry of Coromandel; the subversive scent of the political underground evoked by La Fille en Berlin; the black-clad chain-smoking lady spy conjured by K de Krizia; the nocturnal seductress that is Opium. In the end I settled on the hypnotic venom of the femme fatale, Poison.
I thought we’d see more Poison today!
I went with Rossy de Palma today. She’s kind of a gothy chick, what with the metallic top note that to me sometimes hints of blood. She could probably rock a coffin purse and not look silly.
Also.. on the film noir note, I can imagine a female character wearing something like this.. but like a criminal or spy kind of character who’s maybe a bit menacing.
Oh yes!Love love!!My guess would be that Rossy might be the signature scent of California Mountain Snake aka Elle Driver…Kill Bill.My favorite movie EVER.
You smell great! One of my favorites. I guess it has a goth quality to it but I usually think of it as weirdly beautiful. Like atonal music or a Tim Burton heroine. I wonder if I’ve passed the age of being able to wear a coffin purse, not on Halloween 🙂
I like this one a lot, especially the first hour or so. If that metallic part lasted longer I’d have bought a bottle by now.
I’m gonna be George Costanza today because I’m wearing Insolence EDP Guerlain. Violets, iris, and pink bubblegum – but really not as juvenile as that sounds.
Perfume drag can be noir, non ? Or at least deviant and naughty, I’m always up for that. 😉
Everyone be safe this weekend, there will be a lot of digging out and patience required.
Happy Weekend Everyone !!!
Perfume drag:I like that.
😀
Oooh! Deviant and naughty…Maybe I’ll douse myself Insolence and watch Cabaret tomorrow while I’m snowed in. That movie is deliciously noir.Thanks for the inspiration!
Hello Elisa P!!
Sounds good !! Enjoy !! And you’re welcome! 🙂
SOTD Amouage Memoir Woman. This has always felt noir to me in an abstract (not femme fatal) kind of way. Supposedly it’s inspired by Baudelair’s Fleurs du Mal…
Memoir Woman is gorgeous! Very sultry….
I need to try that.
At first, I considered Dark Rose, but decided upon Amouage Opus V. I’ve only ever worn it as a sleep perfume a few times a year for the past several years, since it was launched. It is my emergency sleep aid and dream-inducer and has the same effect on me as the poppy field in the Wizard of Oz. Because it’s dark at night, I have loosely interpreted the noir theme.
I applied the teeniest bit to both wrists at 7 AM. Despite having washed my hands and wrists numerous times since, it is now a half hour past midnight and the scent is still going strong! If I had to give this fragrance a worthy name, it would be Morpheus! And now, to sleep, and perchance, to dream…
Still working on the sample-winnowing, so today it was PdN Musc Extreme. It wasn’t remotely extreme, but rather flowery.
Such a fab! read the comments today, got lots of noir-inspiration 🙂
I think I probably would have gone for Cuir de Russie, noir elegance. Or maybe some Mona di Orio Cuir, that one feels like pitch black thick leather. Lastly Dior Leather Oud, naughty noir. Seems like leather is the noir I crave.
Kinda in a blue mood here, so L’Heure Bleue it was today. I had a teeny last drop of some vintage extrait left that just had to be enjoyed.
Agent Provocateur L’Agent, as noir as it gets–flowers and smoke, with a warmish base. I’m wondering if I need a backup bottle.
And yikes, more than 450 comments. Another downside to not being a morning person.