It's Tuesday, and in my neck of the woods, another snow day. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Lush Silky Underwear. They are not making the fragrance at the moment, but you can still get the dusting powder. I ought to be drinking some jasmine tea to match, but I'm all out of jasmine tea at the moment, so I'm drinking Twinings Lady Grey. It is quite possibly not the best Lady Grey on the planet and I have mixed in a couple other teas to try to improve it but it still needs some adjusting.
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.
I love Lady Grey.
I tried to wear Douce Amere, from a sample, but I think it had gone off – it smelled sharp and then like nothing. So I switched plans to Dead of Winter.
Who makes your favorite Lady Grey?
I have only ever had the one from Twinings, so I must be missing out! What’s your favorite?
So far, Countess Grey from Fortnum & Mason. But I guess the Twinings is what most people think of as a true Lady Grey since they made it up to begin with…from Telegraph:
“Lady Grey tea sounds as if it has a rich heritage. But it is a modern creation, dreamt up by Twinings, the tea company, in the early 1990s in an attempt to find a fragrant tea that would appeal to the Nordic market. The company had realised that Earl Grey, the distinctive tea infused with the oil of the bergamot orange, was too strong for Nordic palates and not selling well. “
I must be in a particularly giggly mood, but every time I think of “Nordic palates” I crack up! WIMPS!
I love F&M teas. Queen Anne, Royal Blend, Darjeeling and Assam Superb are what I have currently.
And it explains why my non-Nordic palate finds this Lady Grey too bland.
Does Dutch qualify as Nordic? I like Lady Grey, but my favourite Grey is an Earl Grey. So some Nordic palates are not wimps!
Austenfan, I have no idea where they were trying, and failing, to sell Earl Grey! My favorite is Extra Bergamot Earl Grey mixed with a bit of Lapsang Souchong, so my palate presumably lacks subtlety
No, it just adores potent flavours.
My favourite Earl Grey is called Earl Grey Odessa Bio. What makes it special is that the tea used is an Assam, most Earl Greys seem to uses Ceylons, Chinese teas or Darjeelings, it adds Fleurs de Carthame, and probably a couple of other things. It tastes a bit spicy.
Austenfan, wow, and they have quite a range of interesting Earl Greys!
Dead of Winter is really lovely! I recently got a sample of it and totally fell in love, just so perfectly cozy for this time of year!
I’m wearing Atelier Cologne’s Sous le toit de Paris as I continue sampling from the discovery set purchased a couple of years ago. For whatever reason I just can’t get excited by these scents.
That’s one of my favorites by the brand, but agree as a whole the brand does not live up to the buzz.
Same here, not excited at all, with the possible exception of Gold Leather. I feel that if they launched less and spent more time on the ones they decide to launch, the results would be better.
Ditto. Though perhaps the brand’s aesthetics just don’t appeal to me. Their scents do seem to have a consistent weight / feel that’s not up my alley. Clearly it’s up plenty of other folks’ alleys though
Quite true, but this goes for so many brands, not only niche ones.
I like the look of the bottles, and I adore the opening of Orange Sanguine, and that’s it. It’s not my line, so I’m no longer trying their stuff. But I know that a lot of people do appreciate them.
Orange Sanguine is what opened to my eyes to how fragrances can develop. This one’s all in the first 30 seconds and it’s like a blaring orchestra (in a good way!) It was my go-to winter scent for a couple of years but has since lost that status, though I do think it captures the true scent of orange better than any other I’ve tried.
I got the sample set this summer and got about half way through. I’ve not tried the rest as I’ve found that the eau de cologne style is not my favorite – I really have to be in the mood for it – and they all seem to be variations on this theme to one extent or another.
Sous le toit is my favorite from this line and I like the Vetiver very much, too. Trefle Pur and Grand Neroli were also fun to wear.
I feel the same way.
I am so glad you said that. I like but don’t adore any of them and wondered what I was missing. Mistral Patchouli is the most interesting so far of those tested, to my nose.
Lovely! That’s the best one in my opinion.
Fwiw I think the new Pomelo is one of the best they’ve ever done so if you happen to pass by a tester of that one, do still give a sniff even if the others don’t move you!
Jumping on the bandwagon too…I bought the sample set but haven’t finished any of them. I like the majority but they don’t get me excited somehow.
I feel that way too, of all the ones i’ve sampled,- with the exception of Silver Iris, which i adore.
I have Gold Leather, Silver Iris and Sous le Toit de Paris. The rest of the line is not very interesting to me, although I have sampled Blanche Immortelle and Santal Carmin which I would wear if they fell in my lap.
I sniffed several at Sephora and finally sprayed Orange Sanguine on me, having read some positive things about it. I don’t know if the tester had turned or if it’s just me…but I’ve never had such a scrubber. It was like rotten (in a bad way) fruit. I spent the entire short drive between the store and the liquid Tide going “Someone wants to smell like this on purpose?!”
I wore Orange Sanguine to work once, and a coworker asked if I was sick. When I asked why, she said I smelled like I was sick and mediciny. I haven’t worn it since. I will add that she has given me compliments on other fragrances.
Hajusuuri got me hooked on wearing Santal Carmin, which is lovely in the cold weather, but thankfully the decants I have are keeping me satisfied for now.
Ha! I do have a tendency to get pople hooked on certain perfumes, not intentionlly, of course
It was gone by lunchtime and I sprayed on Thymes Wild Angelica, which I happened to have in my desk.
I thought Rose Anonyme was one of the better light rose ouds. I would have considered a bottle if I didn’t already have Candice Becker’s BK Rose Oud and the incomparable Amouage Homage Attar.
And I didn’t bother with samples but got a god idea at the boutique and built up my collection, most of them the 30 mLs. My favorite of the line is Sous le toit de Paris!
I’m wearing Guerlain Champs Elysees. A nice mimosa which doesn’t get much love.
Question for perfumistas out there: have you ever tried Champs Elysees in pure parfum? Is it amazing or not significantly better than the edt or edp?
Hmm. Wonder if I’ve got a sample of that somewhere. I have a vague memory of trying it… think I liked it.
I must be vulgar – I liked Jardins de Bagatelle too.
I’ll do you one worse–Bagatelle and Champs Elysee are among the only Guerlains I can wear comfortably… bc they don’t much smell like Guerlains
If that gets me thrown out of the club, it’ll be just in time to avoid wearing anything in the vicinity of Shalimar Friday
Nope. Nope. I like Jardins de Bagatelle AND Nahema. Puts me in a real minority.
But I also love the old classic Guerlains…
I’m there in the minority club with you. I like both those too.
I love Nahema too, but I don’t wear it so much. I have some older formula and I suppose I horde it.
I like Bagatelle and Nahema too! I also love me some Mahora, which I know doesn’t always get a lot of love.
I love Jardins de Bagatelle, but it is associated too strongly in my head with my ex, and when I wear it I cry for no good reason.
That happens to me with Boucheron. It’s the only frag I have that I struggle to get past bad emotions.
Jardins de Bagatelle was my first Guerlain love. I still have the old dusting powder bottle I bought in high school and wore to my prom. I don’t wear it so often anymore even though I still have a bottle of it.
I love vulgar in perfumes, well mostly anyway. Which is probably why I favour Guerlain over Chanel.
I feel an urgent need to try Jardins de Bagatelle.
Home again and regret saying this as I may, I’m starting to miss going into the office.
I’m just about at the end of my little pot of Lush’s Lovely Jubblies (ugh that name), which I’ve been using as a hand cream. I’d definitely buy this scent if Lush made it in a perfume, and I’m sad that it’s discontinued. Because it put me in a jasmine mood, I’m wearing Lust, and Robin, you inspired me to add some Silky Underwear dusting powder, too.
I forgot it was Shalimar week, so I guess I’ll pick up on that tomorrow.
I had never even heard of Lovely Jubblies, and sort of surprised Lush made a firming cream, but the notes sound fantastic!
I like the structure that going to the office imposes on my day. I find I get more done, whereas when I’m at home, I get lost in various distractions. Sometimes that’s fine, but at other times, I just want the satisfaction of getting something done.
My husband has this dilemma any day he’s not actually teaching classes – he doesn’t really want to drive 40 minutes to his office, but if he stays home he says he doesn’t get as much done.
(*I* get more done if he’s at the office, of course.)
I am relieved it’s not just me!
My fiance and I have sufficiently tuned each other out while we both work from home (we’ve gotten a lot of practice the past four days). However, tuning out the kitty is WAY harder.
As an introvert, I always enjoyed working at home and could be much more productive than in an office, with all its interruptions. I’ve always loved deadlines and kept to them in any environment. Not that I’m rigid or anything …
I feel the same way. I had a job a few years ago where I worked from home pretty much all the time and I hated it. I felt like I never got out of the house. Now I don’t mind working from home once in a while, but when I do my cats are happy that I’m home with them and won’t leave me alone.
The love Twinings Prince of Wales–it is what I grew up drinking. I am in Tauerville Rose Flash trying tyo decide if I am going to keep my roll-on or set it free. I think it might be a touch too sweet for me when coupled with the rose liqueur accord.
I am drinking some breakfast tea from Capital Teas with tiny bit of milk to cut the astringency (I think I overbrewed it a bit).
Prince of Wales is my favourite Twinings tea these days. And I know I sound a bit obsessed with those tins, but I love that dark, dark green colour!
I have to look for this and I have to admit that it’s the tin to which I am attracted as I have never had the tea. I will try the contents if I get the tin
Have not had that one. Wikipedia informs me it is not sold in the UK anymore, only abroad, so now I want to know why.
I’m not usually a lover of rose fragrances on me as they often develop that sour note. Rose Flash actually works on my skin, but it is very powerful! I like to layer it with the Vanilla Flash to tone the brightness down a notch, and I even prefer that combo to PHI.
I find that the Tauerville Flashes all layer really nicely with each other. Vanilla Flash + Incense Flash is my favorite combo.
Thanks for the tip, Isabella!
In MFK Aqua Vitae Forte which smells Shalimaresque in its slightly bitter citrus over vanilla. I really like this one. I think I’m over winter, permanently and we’re contemplating a move (back) to the left coast. We’re just in the musing stages right now but it’s a very appealing fantasy these days.
Oh, if you go take me with you
Hop in
I couldn’t wait to leave LA 24 years ago. Now I’m itching to go back.
I left San Diego in the 90s. And last I went back, I hated how much it had grown / suburbanized. But boy do I miss good weather and living by the beach.
I think aspects of LA have changed for the better but I think my need for less stimulation has changed more. I haven’t been to San Diego since the late 90s!
I was the same about itching to leave my home state after college, but then age and other factors (like freezing cold!) had me itching to return.
Oh wow. Where specifically were you thinking?
It would be the LA area, which is where I grew up.
I guessed as much. You would be missed, but I can absolutely understand needing to go. In the meantime, we should schedule another NY Perfumey hang. It will help us cope with the snow.
I think we’re on the 1-2 year plan, but yes! A sniff-meet is always welcome
On wow, that would be a big move! Even though you’re on the 1-2 year plan, we have to get the sniffings in! I haven’t been to LA since the early 90s and I have cousins and a bunch of former classmates (whom I’ve known since I was a wee one since we went to the same K-12 school) there.
We’re low in the inertia department so we’re not packing up just yet. The other reason I to want to move out there is my father’s now alone and getting up there in age so, even though he can take care of himself now-he’s probably in better shape than I am- I want to be able to spend more time with him (and the sibs).
I was running an errand at the Short Hills mall (New Jersey) yesterday and as I was walking around, discovered a Penhaligon shop. It opened December 4th. That brand works really well for me. I tested out Empressa yesterday and it smelled beautiful from start to finish. It lasted over twelve hours. I received some samples and bought two gift sets (on sale!), one for me and one for my son. Many perfumes smell “turrible” on me. I can clear out a Sephora by trying on Shalimar. I tested out Vanilla Smoke and was devastated when it STUNK on me so I really needed this! Think I’ll go Iris Prima!
Identifying the lines that worked best for me was a real relief, and cut down on random sampling considerably.
Yes, me too. Very helpful for the wallet and that fear of missing out.
Always nice to find a new store to sample from! So far Penhaligon hasn’t worked for me, but what is your favorite thus far?
The only one I really love is Elixir, and their discontinued Violetta body milk which layers wonderfully under Bois de Violette.
I had a wonderful time in their London store many years ago but it was overwhelming. Tested out Juniper Sling a few times here in NY so that’s my favorite. I need to sample things from start to finish because things can go downhill for me at any time. The Iris Prima is lovely even after seven hours. Yay!
I like Juniper Sling, but sadly it doesn’t last more than 30 minutes on me!
I just bought Penhaligon’s coffret (when I bought Ostara) and am looking forward to trying Empressa. I hadn’t tried anything from the line before.
Iris Prima is nice. I find Penhaligon’s to be understated which sometimes I like. I have a sample of Blasted Bloom from one of their new stores that I salvaged out of my giveaway pile and gave it a try. I think I really like that one. It’s a bit wistful and smells like wet stone and soft florals.
Susiebelle! reading the comments, you’re in my and a few other NST’ers neck of the woods. We don’t have a date set yet but if you want to be added to the imterest email distribution, please email me (click on my name to get the address). We get together every few months in NYC, usually when thegoddessrena is in town and we stink up boutiques and have a quick bite afterwards. I love our scent trail walking to the restaurant.
I’m wearing Iris Nazarena and as it doesn’t last very long on me, will switch to Ormonde Jayne Woman for the evening.
I completely agree about the Twinings Lady Grey not being the greatest in the world, but I still sometimes drink it. I keep a mixed box of Twinings tea bags at home at all times, in addition to all my fancy teas. I suspect my fondness for Lady Grey mostly comes from that cornflower blue tin that used to be the most perfect tin ever. They have messed with it now and ruined the nicely simple and old-fashioned design.
Anyway, enough ranting. In other news, our dog is now officially called Lumi!
I have had this tin, almost full, for about the same amount of time that I’ve gone through 2 tins of Fortnum & Mason’s Countess Grey. The Twinings is “prettier” dry because of the blue petals, but it is too mild for me.
Mine is in a blue tin so had to do a google search to see what you meant — yes, the new tin on the UK site is ugly! The US site still shows the blue tin.
And even the blue tin used to look much better – the current version has TWININGS on golden background. The old one didn’t have that and it looked much more refined in every way. Why would they not let it be?
I know, I’m taking things too far. I’m clearly very attached to the design of that tin.
Sounds like a terrible change – perhaps you can get an old tin and re-use it? It’s worth the effort of transferring the tea if it means you don’t have to look at an eyesore.
How brave Anniky to have a four legged in your family! Lumi is a great name, does it mean white? I knew a white shepherd and she was called Lumi, I seem to remember it meant white in sumi (?)? If I can give you some unsolicited advice (if not stop reading!): don’t underestimate the intelligence of a dog. The sooner you really accept they are really, very, very clever, they understand you just find but that doesn’t mean they will always do what you ask them to do (so no need for upping the volume), and the sooner you realise they are creatures of the Nose, the better and more satisfying your relationship will be with them. The best dogtrainer/knower/scientist actually lives in Belgium, as excentric as they come, but he really knows dogs! I will leave a link to his website on LIACC. Wearing Ostara today, as we are so very fortunate it is more spring than winter here, and I commiserate 100% with the snow covered NST perfumista’s.
Happy belated birthday, H.
How kind of you! Thank you so much!
Close enough, Lumi means ‘snow’ in Estonian
And don’t worry, I have the greatest respect for the intelligence of dogs. I grew up with a German shepherd-like dog (a mutt) who was the smartest and most gentle being ever. I used to crawl into his kennel in the garden when I was little and I’m afraid I ate his food on several occasions. Once I found him outside, panting in the harsh sunlight and wondered why he doesn’t go into the kennel, as that was in the shade. And then I discovered one our sheep in the kennel, hiding from the sun. This was possibly the favourite moment of my childhood. Because my experience is what it is, I cannot really imagine raising my voice at a dog. That said, I suspect Lumi’s character is probably going to be pretty different from Hundu’s
Thanks for the link!
What a moving story, and even more moving this is your childhood’s favourite moment. Lumi will be in excellent hand, I need not have worried
, and I am sure (s)he will provide your daughter with many favourite childhood moments (and Hundu is also a great name…hond is Dutch for dog).
Hunt means ‘wolf’ in Estonian, so dogs who look a bit like wolves are sometimes called Hundu (my dog was mostly grey).
And Lumi is a girl
Happy belated birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No views on tea today (I am currently drinking what must be healthy – it looks and tastes like pond but the juice people assure me it’s great) but wanted to say what a great name for Lumi. Have a lot of fun with your four legged companion.
Lumi! I was hoping that would become his name. It seems very appropriate. I like Hamaelis’ advice too; dogs are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. Terriers can be especially deceptive about their intelligence, because boredom is often expressed as excess energy. But Westies are fantastic dogs.
I can be fairly fastidious about tea, but I enjoy Twinings too. I usually drink it on holidays when I can’t be bothered with my umpteen tins. I used to really enjoy their Lady Grey, but haven’t tried it in a while.
I loved Twinings Scottish Blend when I lived in France but not sure if they still make it.
A sample of Montale Sweet Oriental Dream. Sour mixed with the sweet at first, then bitter with the sweet, then powdery: it’s a second cousin to Douce Amére and surprisingly good.
I enjoyed my sample of that one. You smell gooood ????
In meetings all day and wanted to feel fancy and powerful, so I am in Chanel Coromandel. Plus, when this gets boring, I can try to discreetly huff my wrist!
Just bought a decant of this during the STC sale. I can’t wait to try it. I’m sure you smell great!
Coromandel and Chergui – need to remember to offer them for splitmeet!
I keep hearing about this one. I also ordered it in the STC sale, so I can’t wait to actually smell it.
I remember discreet meeting huffing! You’re lucky because you have glasses – adjusting glasses is an easy way to get your wrist up by your nose. I always had to do some variation on scratching my nose, which you really don’t want to overdo… or pulling out my collar and letting it snap back for a lil waft of air from the cleavage. Should I be embarrassed about all this?
Good lord no. We all do it (I assume). It’s one of the pleasures of scenting yourself, that discreet little inhale to remind yourself just how awesome you smell today.
Uh oh — should I be embarrassed that I just blatantly smell my arm? Probably…
Ha! It’s true! It’s just hard to find a discreet moment to reapply…!
I love the very far drydown of Coromanel. I wish they sold a Coromandel lite for me so that I could just get there already!!! Gorgeous for huffing!
I love this and I love NV Mohur – I find that the far dry down blends very well going from one to the other through the day!
Torturing myself by wearing Fleur de Chine from my sample. I really like it, wasn’t sure about it being FBW, but now that I heard it’s getting discontinued, I want it so bad. It’s quite over my budget though… But it may be my last chance… Argh!
Would anyone (in Canada especially, but US also) be interested in a split? I never hosted a split before, but it seems like a good reason to get on that boat.
I feel you! I hope you’ll find a split-partner or two.
I’m tempted, but I’ve never sniffed it. If you get desperate for splitters let me know.
Thanks!
I feel likewise. It sounds good on paper, but I haven’t sniffed it.
I would be interested! I’ve never sniffed, but this sounds right up my alley and would like a decant before getting a full bottle online. I’m in the U.S.
Good to know! Be sure to check the next split meet, in case I do end up hosting it.
I am not in Canada or the US and understand your sadness, but wanted to mention that if you can get your hands on Sous les Magnolias by Pierre Bourdon (launched last year I think and not sure about distribution generally yet) it evokes a similar feeling as Fleur de Chine.
I never heard of this one. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll look it up!
I am currently not wearing a perfume as I was running late this morning. I woke up to NO WATER as a main broke on the FLETC base–that complicated things. I think when I go back to my room I’ll choose either Mamluk or Les Indes Galantes.
Yucky yuck. Hope the perfume helps.
Those are both great scents – perhaps this calls for what my husband refers to as a “Marine shower” – just a douse of perfume when you don’t have time for a regular shower.
Yikes – hope you get your water back and wear some beautiful perfume!
Decked out on 31 Rue Cambon again today. When was the last time I wore the same scent two days in a row? I can’t remember.
Decked out is the right term. You smell lovely, dahling.
Then again, there aren’t many scents as good as 31 Rue Cambon. I repeat myself, but it’s so good for work.
I wore my sample again this weekend. I know that I’ll have to own a FB one day, but I already bought No 22 this month, so 31 RC will have to wait.
I’ve spritzed Calligraphy Rose on my clothes, and dabbed a little of Tom Ford’s Noir de Noir (courtesy of wonderful new mommy Lovestosmellgood) on my wrists. Everyone compliments the Calligraphy Rose on me, but it’s not necessarily exactly what I was hoping for. Perhaps a bit sweeter than I expected. Still, I’ll take the compliments.
I have a friend I’ve been getting closer to that I’ve been taking on little sniffing adventures around the city, and last night we went to Barney’s (the JAR experience at Bergdorf’s two weeks ago blew her mind). It is still among my favorite sniffing locales, and the sweet new gentleman staffing the Serge boutique was a lovely guy, though he’s still learning quite a bit as he’s only been there a week. A Rose de Nuit bell jar seems like it might be in my future.
It always interesting to watch how the salespeople responded to you. Without fail, at least 75% of salespeople in those contexts reach for something “fresh” for me, or chose a pretty little white floral that isn’t at all my taste. I’ve grown more assertive and more able to convey what I want and what I like in the past couple years, and I’m proud of that change. Two years ago, my interactions with them would have been different, and it’s pretty nice to know more than the occasionally pushy people trying to sell you the product.
Have a lovely one, perfume homies.
Right? I let myself feel intimidated by SA’s at some places and end up unsatisfied with my experience and sometimes with purchases. What’s up with that? I’m a grown up woman and I know a few things about perfume. I went into Aedes and acted like I’d never worn perfume in my life. Dummy.
Tip of the hat to you. I’m working on it.
At little boutiques where they really know their stuff (such as Aedes), I can still struggle not to be intimidated too. You are so not a dummy for that. One of the best things that living in New York has given me is lots of practice in developing confidence and assertiveness. In small town Michigan, where I grew up, you don’t get as many chances to develop that skill. I’m still working on it too.
It’s so hit or miss: when you find someone who knows perfume, it’s so fun to chat with them about it, but usually I try not to risk it, since a huge percentage of the time you get stuck having to negotiate with someone who doesn’t know much. And it can really be hard to break away without being unconscionably rude!
I’ve done that as well and then kicked myself for dutifully sniffing scents I know and don’t much like just to be polite.
My best experience with a perfume SA, hands down, was at Scent Bar over the Thanksgiving holiday. Our conversation all hinged on enthusiasm, not expertise. It was so much fun!
I know what you mean. It’s hard to contradict SAs in that situation. It’s something I’ve learned to do as I get older, just as I’ve also learned that I am not obligated to buy something simply because the SA does a good job selling it. I usually let the SA make a few suggestions, whether it’s makeup, or perfume, and then I assert my tastes, if necessary. I do so love finding someone behind the counter who actually listens to me from the beginning, and displays their product accordingly. The gentleman running the Creed counter at NM did that last time I was there, and I loved each and every scent he sprayed for me. Previously I actually thought I didn’t like Creed, because I had smelled a few of their classics and been underwhelmed (or my nose was just too young/unsophisticated for them at the time).
There is nothing like having an actual conversation with someone in that situation. They treat you like a human being, you do the same, and everyone walks away feeling better about the interaction. I would buy so much more from someone who treated me that way, and I doubt I’m the only one. Kudos to the guy at the Creed counter, and kudos to you for knowing what you like, what you want, and how to assert yourself when necessary. Not always easy to do.
This really makes me want to visit NYC for sniffing adventures. You all have the best places there. Probably not until the fall, though.
I find that I have to assert myself upfront when interacting with sales associates, otherwise I’ll spend the entire time being forced to smell whatever newest, freshest scents they’ve been assigned to push on the masses. Once I do, most are super helpful and happy to have real conversations about the scents they actually enjoy.
If you visit New York, do let people like Hajusuuri and I know – we’d love to go sniffing with you!
I think you’re right on – start out with confidence and then no one wastes their time, you OR them. It of course depends on the sales person; yesterday, a woman who could tell I knew more than she did just kind of backed off after I didn’t take her up on her “fresh” suggestions, and then another approached me and wanted to make suggestions to help me explore.
Will do! I usually visit with a group of girlfriends. Last time I tried to fit perfume sniffing into the schedule, but the others ended up wandering off to a nearby bookstore, after only 10 minutes at MiN.
If it was Housing Works, which is directly across the street, I can understand a bit why they wandered – it’s a beautiful place, and actually a place I volunteer.
But you deserve and need your sniffing time! And we’ll be happy to support you.
Oh! Your perfume shopping and sniffing expeditions sound amazing! One of these days I’ll venture on down…… Maybe this spring after I get my tax refund!
Ooh, it would be awesome to meet up!!!
Lady Grey tea always makes me think of Lady Jane Grey.
SOTD is vintage Jolie Madame. Very, very green. I’m becoming more convinced that either my nose is anosmic to civet and other animalalic notes, or my skin does something strange with them. I really like the scent of fragrances that have strong animalaic components, and they smell great on me, but I don’t smell anything like that note. I would say it’s just my nose, except my mother (who has a notoriously sensitive nose) can’t smell them on me either.
Congrats – it sounds like your skin transforms animalics! Perhaps you would like Yves Saint Laurent Kouros? It’s a funny one to read reviews about because it is quite polarizing, and the people who rave about it seem puzzled about the “civet” note being too much for others. Leads me to believe you need the right skin for this one, and it sounds like you probably do.
On me the top notes are highly enjoyable, and I would buy a full bottle of just those (mmm spice). However, the civet amps up after about 10 minutes and makes things really interesting. I don’t find civet repulsive, but I do register the scent as “unclean”. The civet in Korous makes me feel uncomfortable enough that I would never wear it in public, but not enough to scrub it. All in all I found the whole experience fascinating and enlightening, and would recommend everybody try Kouros at least once.
I will make a note to try that one! Thanks! I’ve never heard of it and wouldn’t have known to try it. I should look at civet on fragrantica and see what else I might need to try.
Unfortunately, as nice as Jolie Madame smelled, it’s long gone.
SOTD is Habit Rouge
I love the opoponax in HR!
You smell good!
I just bought Dress Code!
The temperature is higher than my age….that’s a good start! LOL
SOTD: Armani’s Si.
News from Belk: Had some Christmas money and took a couple of hours for myself last night to get some clearance items, so OF COURSE I took my sweet time at the fragrance counter! EL rep had not heard of the new Modern Muse Eau le Rouge. Clinique had not heard of Aromatics White and Black. Belk must be slow to get new things. Anyhoo….Sniffed a bunch and now quite a few bottles are on my radar now!
It never ends with me!
News from Kohls: Pitiful fragrance selection! Had a $10 giftcard about to expire, and finally settled on a rollerball of YSL Manifesto. My girls LOVE it! It’s just OK on me….
Have a great Tuesday everyone…..
It’s annoying when sales reps don’t know enough about their own lines. I mean, I know we’re perfume nerds, but it’s their job! :-p
It occurred to me that perhaps we hear perfume news of releases that hit Europe 1st? I don’t know….The EL lady gave me a sample of Le Rouge and insisted it’s the newest, even after I told her I was looking for the 4th in the line. LOL I’m not gonna argue with her. She’ll find out soon enough!
A couple of my favorites from last night (that I’d never sniffed before): Black Opium, Liquid Cashmere Black, and Chance eau Tendre. And Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet is pretty great too. I don’t know why I torture myself this way…my budget is limited! HA HA
THEORY: I think that Very Estee (launched in 2012) didn’t perform well, so they pulled it and tweaked it…and produced Modern Muse. They are so similar to my nose??
DITTO!
Yup, ditto. Then I feel awkward because I’m essentially teaching them how to do their own job.
Belk is pretty much the only place I can go sniff things locally (next best thing is a Macy’s, an hour’s drive away), and yes, they are what I would call “woefully inadequate” on the perfume front.
I have a Macy’s 5 minutes from my office, but it is a smaller store in a dwindling shopping mall, and the perfume inventory is not that great. When I REALLY want to go have some fun, I drive out to the Mall of Georgia and hit all the beauty stores and such! That’s a rare treat though!
There is no decent fragrance shopping anywhere in my near vicinity. There might be something tempting at the TJ Maxx, but they have the bottles all in lockdown so I can’t just sniff. Our Macy’s has about as good a selection as the local Rite Aid, Chanel’s excepted.
The best places for me are Nordstrom, Sephora, and Macy’s (in that order). Thank goodness it’s a relatively short drive to Seattle where they have the good stuff!
Where do you go in Seattle? I’m trying to summon the courage to go to Barneys but I dread department stores in general and hovering salespeople in particular. I discovered the Nordstrom at Bellevue Square has little decant kits scattered throughout the fragrance dept so I assume downtown has the same – and a much bigger selection. I’d much rather DIY it than have to chat with anyone ;/
I also know there’s a high end boutique that carries Amouage et al which I think is near the Alexis Hotel. This sounds awfully intimidating, but maybe it’s not..?
I go to Barneys and Saks (Frederic Malle and Tom Ford). I actually prefer department stores because they are bigger – which means they have more selection overall and there is more space to avoid SAs if you don’t want to talk to them. When I go to boutiques I feel obliged to converse with the SAs because I can’t avoid them and they aren’t usually busy, although the SAs tend to be nicer and certainly more knowledgeable.
I forgot to mention that the best place for me to get higher end brands (Amouage, Serge Lutens, Tauer) is the Perfume House in Portland. For the most part the staff are very friendly, knowledgeable, and don’t pressure you to buy.
Saks? I didn’t even know we had one. I may have to check out the Neimans in Bellevue soon.
Very good morning, everyone. There is no sleep to be had for me this night, so I’m up and about (kind of), drinking Harney & Sons Paris tea, wearing a dab or two of vintage Joy, and staring out the windows at soft rain all lit up by the city lights so that the very air is coloured. If I went outside, I could breathe in great lungfuls of traffic-light green and shop-sign blue. I wonder what the colours would smell like?
I’m loving the Joy–not that I’m going to wear it when the day starts–but it has lost some of its floralcy (can that be a word?) and developed some powerful skanky qualities in the process. The easy beauty of the floral notes remains mostly as a memory, almost completely over-written by a tougher character: it’s Joy, but towards the tag-end of winter, not at the beginning of spring.
Dak-the-cat has appeared beside me with a faceful of Fuzzy Logic, who currently enjoys Preferred Mouse Status among the knitted mice. I might go and play fetch with them. Have a good day, NST.
Scent twins
Mine is from one of those little black bottles & was still sealed when I got it. The first time I tried it on I actually got little shivers of happiness up the back of my neck.
Sorry you’re sleepless, but if you have to be awake then you might as well smell amazing.
Insomnia is a terrible thing. I hope your day is better than your night was! I always love reading your posts and looking for the lovely turns of phrase you use.
I can’t really speak about what colors smell like, but I can taste colors. Which in some cases is somewhat similar to the smell, i.e. a lot of green things both taste and smell green. I get quite annoyed when things taste like one color, but are visually represented by another color. Yellow bell peppers spring to mind. They don’t taste yellow. At all.
How wonderful to taste colour! I’ve never thought of that before, but now that you’ve made me aware of the pis finality, might be able to teach myself. I think I can see how it would work.
How did “possibility” turn into “pis finality”? Auto correct, you mad, bad thing, please explain!
oh gosh, that made me laugh!
HA! I thought you were perhaps pondering physics or something equally high-order
I have similar sense associations, newbiebex, I think from cooking from a very young age. My husband has no idea what I’m talking about when I say that broccoli smells a certain way.
My vintage Joy is the skankiest thing I’ve ever smelled, and I’ve always wondered how much of that is age, and how much is just Joy. It mellows and unfurls quickly once it’s on my skin, though, and then it’s a fairy tale, albeit a rather grand one! You smell fantastic; sorry you aren’t able to sleep.
I was up at 4 as well this morning, tending to a suffering dog (lots of tooth extractions, poor mite). Olivier Durbano Heliotrope is soothing, although I would love to get a whiff of your Joy.
I am in a funk and no scent so far except bitterness. I started what I thought would be the last job I would ever have a couple of months ago, a dream job that was very meaningful, and it ended up being an absolute nightmare. It was so bad I outright quit yesterday without notice (I have NEVER done that!) and now am jobless and looking. Sigh…
So I took T-Rex to the dog park this morning for some play time, much sniffing, and a bit of piddling, the whole time wagging her tail and smiling at everyone and anything. Now she’s passed out, puppy belly to the sky, snoozing and dreaming, probably of all the future fun times at the dog park. She makes me spontaneously smile for no good reason.
I need to go pick a perfume….
Oh my! I’m sorry about the job situation.
Deva, I’m so sorry about the job, but I admire your courage in walking away from an untenable situation. I’m glad that you have T-Rex to comfort you as you process the mixed emotions you must surely be experiencing. I seem to recall you have Fate? How about a healthy spray of its golden goodness? It sometines helps me find my equilibrium again. I wish I weren’t so far away: I made some peanut butter and chocolate chip biscuits –I need to learn to say cookies–yesterday. They’d go really well with a cup of coffee and a chat about life’s small things, and then I could pootle off and leave you to think about the bigger things.
I love everything about this post, Waterdragon.
Agree with Luna Green! What a great friend you are!
❤️❤️
Oh man, Deva, I’m really sorry! Kudos to you for meeting it head-on and doing what was right for yourself. That took a lot of courage. I hope you will be kind to yourself as you deal with the loss and disappointment. I’m glad you’re here as you’ll get a lot of support from our lovely NST community. Sending you a great big hug.
Sorry to hear that the job did not work out. I quit a miserable job like that years ago, which freed me to get another that made me much happier. Here’s to the next great job being right around the corner for you!! In the meantime, enjoy the days with your pooch.
So sorry about your dream-job-turned-nightmare! It sounds like they gave a false impression of their company – how awful.
At least you are taking some time to de-stress and enjoy being with your puppy. Apparently petting also helps relieve stress.
Perhaps you should let T-Rex decide your perfume when she wakes up? For instance, assigning each toy a perfume and seeing which she touches first (assuming she has multiple toys). Or you can put all your perfumes in Fragrantica and have them randomly select one for you.
So sorry Deva! But nice job doing what needed to be done! Maybe it will make life better for everyone still working there?
Enjoy your time with T-Rex and look forward to the next great adventure….just around the corner!
Sorry you had to quit but I am sure you will go on to find something much better and that makes you happy with a sense of purpose. Meanwhile enjoy time with your hound.
Oh Deva, so discouraging, sorry you have to deal with this. But it beats not dealing with it, I guess. Imagine another 5 years of there? Hope things turn around quickly.
T-Rex looks like he would be a comfort, all sweetly mischievous.
I’m so, so sorry that your job turned into a nightmare. A place you spend such a large percentage of your day/life can’t be painful, so it’s good that you were able to get out. I hope the next thing is a good one and that you get time to recenter (with your pup!) in between!
So sorry about your job, but congratulate you for removing yourself from a bad situation. It’s a very hard thing to do. Please look at it as a triumph rather than a defeat!
I’m sorry to hear that! I hope the search goes well for you, when you launch it. You can’t do much better than a dog for comfort, especially at a time like this. I’m glad you have T-Rex to cheer you up.
I’m sorry about this. I hope the next job will be good! Dogs are great any time, but especially in times like this. They just don’t care about all the things that stress us out. Hope things get better for you very soon.
So sorry to hear about the job situation. Sometimes, one door closes to allow another one to open. Just wait and see, you will find a job that you’ll love even more soon.
Ugh — I’m so sorry about the job! To echo what others have already said, I’ve always found that once you clear away the thing that isn’t working, it makes room for the thing that will. Here’s wishing you a speedy and happy resolution — these limbo times are tough!
What courage! Good for you for not putting up another moment with misery. I too have been in that spot and in hindsight I wish I had walked much sooner than I did.
Glad you have a sweet dog to enjoy and add comfort to this day, and some perfume too!
Wow, thank you all so much for your support! This too shall pass, as they say. Meanwhile, I’m busy busy busy looking online for my next “adventure.” T-Rex (and pets in general) is a wonder drug, keeping me perked up and optimistic. I ended up choosing Guerlain Cuir Beluga from a decant sent to me by one of you lovely, inspiring NSTer’s. It’s soft and warm- like a big hug from your bestie. I’m keeping my 50 year old chin up ????
Hi Deva, I’m sorry that this happened to you but you have strong principles, plenty of courage and a great attitude. I know that you’ll be fine and wish you and T-Rex the best. A new chapter begins… Big Hugs
Good for you for taking charge of everything and not wasting an extra day with them.
Cuir Beluga sounds like the perfect antidote to job disappointment and the stress of having to quit. I am sorry this happened to you but admiring your courage and guts. I hope the next job is truly wonderful! I found my work home when I was 29 and stayed there for 20+ years. I wish you the same!
Oh Deva, so sorry your dream job turned sour but kudos to you for standing up for yourself. I think this was the one where you had drama with the fingerprinting process? In any case, at least the job was short enough that it would be barely a blip, if at all, on your resume. Stay strong and good luck on your job search.
How awful. I hate when jobs don’t work out quite right. Best of wishes & lots of good powerful thoughts to you.
So sorry! But good for you for not staying where you’re miserable (I know lots of people who do that). That happened to me a couple of years ago: went in very hopeful, turned into a nightmare, and left after 6 mos with no job lined up. It was very unsettling and took me a year to get my current job, though I worked per diem for a while. I really feel you, especially working in a profession that should be more respected and rewarding than it often turns out to be. I could go on all day about this, but I’m thinking of you and hoping you get the rewarding job you deserve!
I’m so sorry for your awful experience. However, we all know how scary it is to leave a job with nothing else lined up, and therefore we all know how bad it must have been. Cheering you on, admiring your bravery, and hoping for a wonderful opportunity to come your way soon!
So sorry! Bad jobs are just soul-sucking. Even so it’s unsettling to leave a job — even a bad one — but shortly the gloom lifts and you start wondering why you stuck around for such misery anyway. Then the happy starts with the knowing that you’re done with that. Hope your happy comes back soonest!
Sorry you were driven to an extreme but OTOH glad you walked away. I’m curious about mixed signals: You thought it would be a dream but it became a nightmare. Did they mislead you? (Don’t think I’m not taking it seriously, but this sounds like my experiences with men.) I wish you great satisfaction with your next endeavor, Deva.
I know it’s hard to believe, but the worst part of this situation is over. Hold your head high and don’t look back.
I am very sorry this job didn’t work out. I applaud your courage to leave. know better things are to come.
Calling all angels and virtual hugs to wrap yourselves around our Deva! I’m so sorry that your dream job turned into the nightmare job, what a huge disappointment. But I love your attitude.
TRex will see you through this AFGO (Another F—ing Growth Opportunity). Hang on tight and keep us updated!
Fiddling around with some of my samples yesterday, I gave Demeter’s Incense a spin. I could definitely blast this one on frequently, and maybe layer it as well. Or, use it as a nice room spray or candle-warmer type thingie. (It remains to be seen whether or not I will actually do any of the above.) Anyway, I am wearing it today and it’s quite nice.
Demeter has done a decent job with their Incense scents…the original and several of the followups. Haven’t tried the newer Frankincense yet.
Hope everyone is dug out of the snow. We got 1″ of ice, but with sunshine and temps in 40s yesterday, 50s today it’s mostly gone.
Wearing a dab of OJ Man, nice because it’s a tiny amount but I find the line in general pretty heavy. The jasmine in Woman put me off, but I need to give it another try. (I’m not a fan of jasmine)
Have a pleasant, hopefully sunny day all.
I arrived in NC from Chicago just in time to get snowed in! But with temps in the 50s now, I’m not complaining.
Glad to hear you have lots of sun – and OJ Man sounds interesting, must make a note to try it.
Eesh, what odd weather. At least it’s much warmer, but be careful of ice!
SOTD is Love, Chloe. For a couple of years around 2010, before fragrance became a full-blown hobby of mine, this was the only perfume I wore. I drained at least three bottles. I bought the first bottle while visiting Paris, so it’s always seemed extra special to me. Love, Chloe still holds its own against my greatly-expanded collection. Tragic that it’s been discontinued and replaced by Chloe Love Story.
Agree, it was so much better!
Love, Chloe is my signature Office Fragrance. I Adore it. So so so sad it’s been discontinued. That rice note is so comforting. It offends no one and it’s elegant. Nice choice! And I commiserate with your sadness over it’s dc’ed status.
I had no idea this was discontinued! I’ll cherish my little mini for the good memories it brings.
From all the love I’ll be on the lookout for it at the discount stores. I’m pretty sure I’ve already seen it at TJ Maxx, but I’ll buy extra bottles for you NSTers!
Today I am modelling Tea for Two from L’Artisan Parfumeur. Based on the name alone I had assumed a rather twee little scent, but the NST comments told me otherwise.
It was very nice in the morning and I enjoyed the smokey notes as I walked to work, but it’s now mid-afternoon and what little scent is left is merely sweet and pleasant. Which of course is better than sour and unpleasant, but I think I need more from a perfume before I’d buy it in any quantity. :^)
How interesting. I usually do two sprays, but I get the “smoke” even in the drydown. Definitely not regretting buying a full bottle. Maybe it works better for you in the cold?
That was my experience as well…. also, because I expected it to smell like tea I was a little put off at first… When my small decant was finished I did not feel I needed to replace it.
Wearing Orange and Lychee from a sample from Kiehls. pretty much all disappeared now and about to add some Intoxicated to make life more interesting.
I haven’t tried any interesting teas recently, but for those in the UK who are interested in coffee, the East India Company had some lovely festive coffees, Hazelnut and Chocolate (sort of like a grown up Nutella) and Vanilla and Cinammon (very aromatic) which are presently reduced and worth investigating. The smell from the cafetiere is really lovely in the kitchen every morning and makes getting out on time a little easier.
I’ve been thinking recently about a coffee I used to love to drink – chocolate & raspberry. It would be my PM drink, and often a good stand in should I be craving something sweet. The smell and taste was something wonderful. I need to see if I can find some more of this.
I’m in vintage Joy from one of the little black bottles. I love it so much that I actually bought a backup–which is a first for me (though I do have No. 5 in both EdT and vintage parfum). I’ve been on a vintage kick lately–expanding my vintage collection from one half bottle of Shalimar to…more bottles than I care to mention (mostly minis or micro-minis).
I took my mother to smell perfumes yesterday–a first. She has always been opposed to scented products of any sort (and refers to them collectively as “stinky stuff”). She sprayed a couple of sample cards and decided to take them home. Just as I was getting my hopes up she revealed…that she was taking them home to put them by the cat litter box. (I put one spray of Alliage on my arm to test it and she threatened to make me walk back to my office.)
It seems like many people got their start in perfume through their mother’s scent(s)–anyone else have a mom who HATES perfume?
She doesn’t hate it, but she doesn’t use it (unless it’s a very special occasion). Thank goodness the ones she does use are excellent (vintage Diorissimo and Chanel). I have tried buying her scented bath products, but she doesn’t even use those.
Comparatively, her fiancé enjoys cologne (A LOT), so I’ve been slipping him scented bath products on the sly. He uses them, and she uses the same stuff he does, so it ends up on her that way.
My mom doesn’t hate perfume, but she is extremely picky about it, and sensitive to it. She has good taste in the scents she does wear, and she’s been enjoying my journey through perfume territory, although a few have made her make some pretty funny faces. She rarely puts them on though. She used to wear Casmir, and Glow by J-Lo, and when she was younger, before I came along, she loved Arpege and Aliage.
My mother doesn’t hate perfume per se, but even the perfumes she likes give her headaches, so there’s much complaining about everything from candles to scented strips in magazines, etc. etc. I don’t see her as often now, so she’s gotten a little more open to humoring me and the fact that I’m always scented. She’s even asked me to get her a few samples/decants of scents she wore when she was younger!
My mom is an incredibly sweet, kind, smart, loving woman. She is also a tomboy, and basically clueless and intimidated by female crafts. Loves horses, outdoors, adventures. Hates dresses, makeup, etc.
Scents in her wardrobe before i got into fragrance: some lemon water cologne.
Nowadays: Shalimar edp, Tam Dao, PG Bois Blonde.
You never know!
I need to meet your mom! Although I do love perfume, I dislike pretty much all other ‘female pursuits’.
You two would get along well!
“Female crafts” – love this.
Oh god, too funny about the cat litter box! My mom was the opposite — she wore 1000 and this strange and wonderful perfume she’d picked up in Morocco that she just referred to as “amber,” but that was quite different from all the other ambers I’ve smelled. It looked like soy sauce, and I still get whiffs of it on her necklaces, years later…
Wow, I bet her “amber” was awesome stuff.
That is so funny. I love the idea of someone perusing the perfume counters at a department store in search of frags for her kitty litter box.
“I’m looking for something that isn’t too strong or perfumy and goes well with cat pee?”
Your story is so funny. I put some smelly strips in my litter box closet too! LOL!!! I had a Taylor Swift Wonderful thing that was very much like a car fragrance “tree”, and well, that smelled up my little box closet for months. So funny.
Makes me wonder what the cat(s) thought of it.
Well, they are used to smelling me, so I suppose they probably think it’s very chic!
Me! My mother is intimidated about many ‘female pursuits’ such as makeup, fragrance, fashion… and so declares them all ‘trampy’. Sigh.
Heh, I’ve put some nice pine-y scented candles near my cats’ litter boxes. Doesn’t seem to bother them, and it sure is an improvement for the humans
I had a bottle of Aliage long ago; what did you think of it yesterday? I need to try it again.
I quite liked it, but it seemed too similar to the (to my nose) much richer Private Collection. I’d rather just wear PC.
My mom never wore perfume and still doesn’t (my sister, who is my only sibling, doesn’t wear it either.) Any perfume in my house growing up wound up there because it was gifted – and went unworn except by me. My aunt, however, wore perfume (and makeup – my mom didn’t wear makeup when I was a child, and my sister doesn’t wear it either) so she was my link to the “female arts.”
My childhood (including teendom) memories of scent are mostly of envying others – friends at school who wore perfume; their mothers’ and aunts’ and sisters’ and grandmothers’ collections; drooling over perfume ads in magazines; spending hours in the perfume aisle at the drugstore.
Over the past year I’ve been buying the fragrances I wanted when I was young but never had – and vintage minis are the perfect way to do it. I’ve also found that I love buying used bottles and thinking about the women who owned and wore them before me. Doing the research so that I can recognize which bottles are vintage is also very gratifying. Pursuing vintage perfume can be the rabbit hole of all rabbit holes depending on your approach, but it also be very affordable and a lot of fun.
At least your mom was willing to go shopping with you! Having another person to face the counters with you sounds better than going alone. And perhaps you’ve found a tiny crack in her armor – first the catbox, then the cat, then other rooms in her house… soon she’ll be testing some of that kitty litter frag on a tiny patch of skin when no one’s looking
That will be the day! I’ve had a bit more luck converting my sister and I do have some friends who like BPAL scents (which I where I started, but they no longer appeal and I recently sent all of mine to one of the friends). Maybe if I keep trying I can get them on the hard stuff….
Me, my mom hates / abhors perfume. She also has a nose like a bloodhound. True story — I was on the top / 2nd floor of my townhouse and she was 2 floors down in the basement. I spritz on a teeny tiny bit of By Kilian Sacred Wood and within seconds, she cried bloody murder. SSS Champagne de Bois got the boot because of her reaction. Cuir Cannage got a bad reaction too but the large decant is still with me. I also have other scent phobe family members. As a result, I am always on the lookout for family-safe perfumes. Cuir Beluga, Chanel No. 19 EDP, Chergui, Bvlgari Black, Choco Musk are all in this category so I am not lacking in selection.
SOTD = Kenzo Flower
Aah…It’s been awhile since I’ve worn this one. As always, I’m enjoying its blend of powder, green, and floral. It’s a challenge for me to parse out the notes because it is so well blended, and I have yet to experience another accord like it.
I put on some much neglected Flower on Sunday for doing chores. It seemed to go perfect with the snowy weather. It is very pretty even though I don’t wear it often. It is a very well done powder fragrance for sure.
Ooh, I can imagine it being very good in the snow. Very pretty. You smelled great doing chores
AH! Thank you for mentioning this! I got a bottle of Jean-Charles Brosseau Ombre Rose in the mail yesterday and have been wracking my brain to think of what it reminds me of. It is Kenzo Flower! Ombre Rose is more floral (I get full-on gourmand from Flower) but they are both dominated by powder (Ombre Rose is more cosmetic, closer to baby powder) and wear similarly – soft, wispy, comforting white clouds. Ombre Rose is really beautiful and can be picked up for a song, btw.
Any time
Ombre Rose sounds lovely, but probably not different enough for me to warrant buying a full bottle. I’ll remember it when my current bottle of Flower runs low, thanks!
You are right! I never thought about it before. I have a bottle of OR, that I got mostly on a whim b/c it’s so inexpensive. It does smell good and I realize it’s also the smell of ladies in church from when I was a kid. That being said, I use it a lot for a general room spray, but you so so right – I never put it together that they share similar woody powdery accords. Cool!
My SOTD is Jean Patou 1000. This is what I call proper perfume, I love it.
Ahhh — I just commented about this one above. My mom’s signature scent. I can’t wear it because it’s just too much “hers,” but it’s so great!
Well said. You smell great!
SOTD is Aveda Chakra 3. It says on the bottle that it is “What you feel when the power chakra is balanced.” I dunno about that, but the lavender, fir balsam, and lemon combo does energize me and keep me steady at the same time. It’s one of those hectic days (weeks?) where I fear I may lose my sh*t if not for the occasional moment to stop and breathe in fragrance.
I have No 3 too! It is great as a general room spray too. My fav in that line is the dirt smackin’ Chakra 1 – all that vetiver and patchouli really wakes me up!
I’ve never tried No 1. I had an offer for a freebie last year and chose 3 so it’s the only one I’m familiar with. I plan on hitting the store this weekend so I’ll check it out. Anything that can wake me up is worth trying.
I prefer it sprayed around me rather than on me. The patch is very dirty. I wish I could get into some of the others…..
I have to revisit mine! They’re all about 5 years old, if not more. If they have turned, oh well. I think I used to get a free one every birthday.
Back to work after a long vacation. Wearing Gucci Bamboo (it smells great on me, a lightly spiced marshmallow on a bed of lilies and greens).
Regretting that i am not on vacation still. This whole morning commute thing is bull.
lol! it is bull!
Vanilla 44 today, which quite literally leapt off the dresser at me! (I mean it’s def not that I knocked it off, I’d never be so clutzy!
)
It’s wearing beautifully–occasionally I notice the coconut in it more than I’d like to (one of my least favorite notes/smells/flavors) but today it just smells perfect. Greatly appreciated as I wait for the Verizon repair service to come and almost certainly tell me there’s nothing they can do until the (three feet of) snow melts.
Good luck with Verizon, and you smell great!
Thanks on both counts–so far the one is going much better than the other!
Ugh, what a drag. Hope Verizon shows up (you never know…) and can actually fix the problem for you.
Coconut-scented anything usually makes me recoil, so it scares me a little bit. I found, to my surprise, that I love Bronze Goddess – which sounds like a nightmare on paper – so that’s opened me up to it some.
Many thanks for the good wishes, and for the observation that they may not show up at all. Only 40 mins left in the four-hour window they gave me so I may have to start reconciling myself to this idea…
All the more pleased then that you give me hope for Bronze Goddess! (At least perfume comes through for us, right?
) I’ll have to give it a shot one of these days.
Agreed. As much as I doubted Bronze Goddess, each time I retry it I resolve to get a bottle. That and Cristalle edt will happen this spring.
I hope the repair came through! I have never gotten coconut from Vanille 44! I don’t like coconut notes either but I like it occasionally (e.g. Slumberhouse Pear + Olive).
Sampling a few things today with my favorites of the bunch being Floris Mahon Leather and Abdes Salaam/Via del Profumo Aalacho No.2
I love that Aalacho, can’t get it out of my head for days at a time.
It really is gorgeous. Scents with high proportions of naturals frequently work well on me ( scent glue skin helps)
Wearing Vaara today from a Penhaligon coffret…
It is quite nice…I may like it better than Ostara (gasp)…also by Duchaufour in fact…floral and musk so far and fairly linear…on the fresher side…
How’s the drydown?
Pretty nice, thanks for asking. Ultimately though it didn’t make me crave more.
And I begin to wonder if I don’t care for fresh scents…which I would characterize this as…
I’m also wondering about Mohur…some of the reviews i read compared Vaara as a cheaper substitute for Mohur. I was tempted to try Mohur…but I am less so now…
Sampling some lovely vintage Patou 1000. Real flowers there. I wonder if there is a modern version worth acquiring…
I’m wearing modern Patou 1000 today. I’ve never tried vintage but judging by this review the modern one is still good.
http://boisdejasmin.com/2014/06/jean-patou-1000-mille-fragrance-review.html
Wearing Dark Amber and Ginger Lily today by JM. So appropriate for the season.
Wearing Prada Candy today. I hadn’t worn this one in a while, so it was time!
I think I’m going to have a Guerlain week in honor of Shalimar Friday! Today I’m wearing a wee drop of vintage Vol de Nuit, and feeling like I really need to go put on something more elegant than sweat pants…
Guerlain week sounds wonderful (too bad I don’t have more of them). Stay well!
Over 150 coomments already! Will read them later.
SOTD = Rania J Ambre Loup
I love me some tonka beans! Ambre Loup has amber, tonka bean, labdanum, vanilla, guaiac wood, vetiver. It smells different every time Inwear it. Today, I am smelling tobacco as well. Also, as it dries down, it reminds me of my much neglected bottle of Dior Feve Delicieuse. I will need to rectify this!
You smell great!
In Coco. Just knew it was what I wanted to wear when I got out of the shower this morning.
I’m wearing this too, what looks like contemporary EdP. I’m filling a gap in my perfume knowledge today, trying it for the first time. I saw amber and spices and 1980s and didn’t expecting anything so polite as this is. Polite with presence. I see why it’s popular! I don’t think I pull it off exactly, but the day is youngish.
I wore Coco yesterday b/c it was just one of those days when I needed so smell and feel fantastic. Love Coco.
My bottle gave me the eye this morning and just may be what I put on later…
Love Coco – my bottle came from my brother so I think of him when I wear it too. Oddly enough my store sample seems to be more woodsy. Anybody else experience that too? Perhaps it is from the difference in spray amounts?
Someone more knowledgable may correct me, but I think Coco is reformulated fairly frequently. My Mom wears it, as does one of my favorite cousins, and each time one of them needs a new bottle we go through hell trying to find a formulation that smells something like the previous bottle. I know it matures a bit on the shelf so that’s part of it, but there have been occasions where every concentration available smells completely unrecognizable. My favorite versions of Coco are the EDT from the late 90s to 2006-ish. They smelled like an improved version of the current EDP. For a perfume I almost never wear, I sure am passionate about Coco
I agree the late 90s edt is just gorgeous! I have plenty of older Coco but I wish I had two big 100 ml bottles of that 90s edt! GORGEOUS!!!
Coco has been reformulated lately, but there used to be a rather pronounced difference between the edt and the edp, so it may be that as well.
I’m wearing Knot today. Felt like some orange blossom and this is my current favorite.
Anyone try Knot Eau Florale?
Yes, and I like it a lot!
My first contribution to SOTD. I decided to work my way through all of my samples over the next few months – created a Google sheet on Drive to keep track (of all 100+!) and comment on each throughout the day. Today it’s SSS Cocoa Sandalwood. (I have 5 of Laurie’s scents to try). It doesn’t have much longevity on me, I wonder if it would be better in a spray? Since it’s almost gone, I may try a second one later this afternoon.
Natural fragrances don’t tend to last very long. I get about 15 min on this one. Good luck with your sample project!
I need to create a sheet myself! I need to make notes to help me remember what samples I love and so forth…..My working memory has been replaced by “Mom Brain”!
Good to see you here, MMKinPA! Cocoa Sandalwood fades very quickly on me even when sprayed. I layer it on top of Aftelier’s Chocolate Saffron body oil just for fun. Laurie’s Amber Incense is a powerhouse, though! I haven’t tried the other two of her naturals yet. I find that the rest of the SSS line have good longevity and sillage.
Now I’m afraid to try my sample ummm yes, small sample.
I keep notes as well (in an Excel spreadsheet that I can access on the cloud.) I also list the year released, nose, and published notes from the pyramid. I can’t imagine relying on my memory for much of anything, much less testing perfume. It’s also fun to go back and see my immediate response to a fragrance, which inevitably changes with subsequent wearings. I use the same spreadsheet to list perfumes I want to try, those I’m ready to get rid of, web addresses of vendors, notes from researching vintage bottles, etc. Some people organize their perfume collection for fun; I update my excel spreadsheet
Enjoy your project and do report back! (And I concur that Cocoa Sandalwood is short-lived, even in spray form.)
Welcome, MMKinPA! I don’t test samples regularly and I am also too lazy to keep track. Good luck with the project and I would love to read your impressions!
Box of Eels parfum this morning. I wear it about once a month. If I go any longer without it, oddly enough it feels like an empty space in my nose that needs to be filled.
I can relate. That variety of scents is akin to craving foods to get a variety of nutrients.
SOTD is vintage Bal a Versailles edt. It smells so divine on a cold day!
You smell fabulous.
Thank you!
I just love vintage Bal no matter what time of year or the weather. It’s that fabulous.
The vintage has just the most amazing progression to the drydown. It is one of the most sensual fragrances ever! I’ve not tried it in the summer, but I’ll have to this year. I normally only wear it when it is really cold b/c I get thefeeling of being near a very warm fire!
You’re making me really crave BaV right now! The parfum I have is more balsamic than animalic and smells better in the summer, but I should have a small sample of vintage edc somewhere… Just need to wash of all the leather first!
BAV will probably layer well with your leather fragrance. Good luck!
Have been away from my perfumed friends, nice to read all the postings.
I admit, when I am good I am very, very good and when I am bad, I am horrid!
I went to South Coast Plaza last week to take my watch for cleaning and stepped into Hermes. When will I learn? Sigh. One new scarf later…sigh…the sales associate provided me enough samples of vetiver tonka to not need to purchase a bottle!
Was I smart? Stupid? Or just carried away?
In any event am sitting on a plane waiting for take off wearing vetiver tonka!
That’s an accessory you’ll be able to wear forever and you’ve got samples of a really great scent to boot! Enjoy both!
Ditto! Seems smart to me.
Inspired by Waterdragon’s recent experience, I am wearing Chanel 19 EdP from an OLD sampler of sketchy provenance. There were some odd bits at the beginning, but it settled down nicely. Clearly, I have to use this one up before it goes off completely.
This past year I’ve really started liking certain Chanel scents, which I never used to. Hooray for an evolving nose.
Old Chanel No 19 is the bomb!
I feel so proud of making progress on a New Year’s Resolution I didn’t know I was going to make! It’s using up okay samples, and today I am in Fils de Dieu. It’s a pleasant smell, but I can’t really think of it as an actual perfume for some reason.
I liked FdD, but it gave me a tremendous headache.
I have a stash of perfume samples that I like but don’t need full bottles of. I really should start using them up but I’ve been mostly enjoying my own collection lately.
I’m in LdDM today. I usually love this scent but it’s feeling a bit scratchy today. The temperature has warmed up to a toasty 45 degrees so maybe It isn’t cold enough? I just dunno.
I really like LAdDM but sometimes it’s too dry and maybe it is a weather thing. On those days, I’ve layered it with a sweeter Amber-used to be L’Erbolario Meharees which I’m out of-and that seemed to temper the dryness well.
Thanks for the tip Elisa. I will try that next time.
I like to layer LADDM with rose fragrances. It always works. Like a good date LOL!
Working from home, so sampling today. Apotheker Tepe Holy Mountain on my left hand, L’Artisan Rose Privee on my right hand. Both are pleasant but both have insufficient longitivity. On to the next round of samples!
We’re gearing up for the Superbowl here in the SF Bay Area. My office (which is 2 miles from the stadium) just sent out email asking everyone to work from home on the Friday before the game. Absolutely!
How lucky
Enjoy the sampling from home!
I have been very interested in Holy Mountain. If it is brief perhaps I will just content myself with Tam Dao, which is very satsfying.
Just finished wearing Shalimar Ode a la Vanille. No, it didn’t empty the bottle but the extreme dry down has passed. I am about to move on to vintage Bal because I need that strong skunk note.
Vintage BaV is amazing stuff! Which concentration do you have? My vintage parfum, while otherwise lovely, doesn’t quite have that wonderful skank so I’m currently in the market for whatever is the skunkiest!
I have tried every vintage concentration but I own a butt load of the vintage edc and the pdt. You can find the vintage edc for cheap on e-bay but the pdt can be a little pricey. The pdt is my preferred version.
Thank you! I have a sample of vintage edc and I really like that one! Never tried the pdt. Is it the one that usually comes in the tall stopper bottle?
Yes, it does. It looks like there are a couple decent deals on E-Bay for a partial bottle.
I have a monster 4 oz bottle of the very old BaV edc, and it smells very good – almost the same as my 90s era edt. The old stuff will smell very good so go with the bargain!
All my energy has gone into snow walks over the last few days, so I resorted to Amouage Beloved again last night. I may work up the energy for something new today, or maybe not.
Looking forward to Shalimar Friday! Hoping I can cycle through a progression of concentrations and vintage. Which reminds me, one other perfume I did wear this week was 1990s Guerlain Habit Rouge, arguably a Shalimar flanker, as elucidated by Victoria on Bois de Jasmin:
http://boisdejasmin.com/2014/10/guerlain-habit-rouge-and-its-family-perfume-review.html
In case you need more choices, both Bvlgari Black and Fils de Dieu are “Shalimar inspired”. And probably countless others as well.
http://graindemusc.blogspot.nl/search?q=bulgari&updated-max=2009-01-12T14:30:00%2B01:00&max-results=20&start=3&by-date=false
http://boisdejasmin.com/2012/03/etat-libre-dorange-fils-de-dieu-perfume-review.html
And you smell gorgeous! Beloved is very comforting, snow walks must be tiring.
Thanks for posting the links! Here’s another:
http://boisdejasmin.com/2011/02/fragrances-that-influenced-perfume-history-100-great-fragrances-series-110.html
Beloved is the ONLY fragrance that I want right now. I am very happy with my large decant, but sometime later this year, I will finally spring for it. It is just so gorgeous!
And, fyi, if you can’t quite get into the Shalimar mood, there are a few fragrances that are very similar: obvoiusly vintage Emeraude, and the gorgeous Fifi Chachnil, and IMHO Etro Shaal Nur, which is the hippie version of all that leatherypowder. Good luck!
Thanks for that tip AnnS!
Thanks for the references and ideas, everyone! Ann, had never thought of Shaal Nur as a descendant of Shalimar, but I see your point!
I started off in Olivier Durbano Heliotrope but am now in Montale Black Oud. It is projecting to the sky – such potent stuff!
So judging from these two you must be in Montreal today …
I’m re-sampling some old favorite leathers today. Some that I really used to love but haven’t worn in forever. I though it would be interesting to see how my nose and my tastes have changed over the years. I’m wearing Enchanticals Perfume Dungeon, Blood Concept O, Lonestar Memories, ELd’O Rien, Cuir Ottoman and Olfactive Chambre Noire. Turns out I don’t really love any of them anymore. And my nose is a lot more picky about what it perceives as leather these days. Birch tar just doesn’t cut it… The ones I still enjoy now are Lonestar Memories (I got really strong vintage Shalimar vibes), Cuir Ottoman (too feminine for me though) and Dungeon (indie oil, still the most photorealistic leather I’ve tried).
I wrote about the whole experience on my blog if anyone wants to read more about it…
Your blog looks interesting. I like the mix of fragrances and outfits!
Thank you!
I started the day testing little dabs of this and that, one of them being Love, Chloe, which I haven’t worn in years but am wearing now. I acquired it about 5 years ago because it came in a set with Chloe, which is what I was after. Once I tried Love, Chloe the other was tossed aside. I remember really liking this but not understanding what I was smelling or being able to put it into words. It might go something like this:
“Love, Chloe” is what she scrawled in lipstick on the mirror, closing the door behind her with a crack of the whip, her evening paramour still handcuffed to the bed.
RAWR! No tack room tussle, this one! I tested all manner of cuirs this fall (and I do love the style) but don’t get much leather from most of them. THIS is leather, to my nose.
I’m curious to compare it to Bandit.
Love your description!
Tonka Imperiale because I recently got a sample from a confused SA. It’s sweeter and prettier than me, but OK for the moment. Would that everyone who was loudly proclaiming “sweet and pretty” was doing it with this one.
Went with Marni Rose today. And my Penhaligon’s order should be arriving today. Yay!
Wearing L’Artisan Mandarine today. Yes, it lasts max three hours but this is such an excellent scent; just like mandarins freshly picked from the tree … And to my nose this is perfect in winter since that is the time that I associate with this fruit.