Happy World Wetlands Day! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Serge Lutens Chêne. Tania Sanchez gave Chêne 2 stars, and while I'd probably give it 4 (?), I have no quarrel with "a lean smell of sawdust; less a fragrance than a proposal for further discussion."
Reminder: on 2/5 we're doing 1 Star Friday: wear your favorite perfume ranked only one star by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez in Perfumes: the Guide (if you don't own the book, you can find a compiled list at Basenotes) or in Luca Turin's Style Arabia columns. Partial credit for a two-star perfume! And if anyone knows where other lists can be found online, do comment. (suggested by Bastet) Update: you can download the index to the 2008 Hardcover version of Perfumes: the Guide here (thanks kpaint!)
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’m wearing Incense Oud today.
nothing else too interesting to add.
Incense Oud is enough
Sounds good!
I’m wearing L’Occitane Ambre & Santal, which I quite like, but is too similar to Eau des Baux to justify buying.
Tomorrow I’m going to break out something 2-star…
And Eau des Baux, IIRC, is cheaper.
Ooooh, early to the commenting party today! Maybe I’ll have a chance to read all 400 comments by the end of the day.
Wearing Balenciaga Paris, as it is almost springlike here today. It’s a bit harsher on the nose than I remembered, but I still like it.
I thought I loved this one, but since I got a small bottle I only rarely wear it. It’s like if my sample wasn’t as powdery and maybe harsh, like you said.
This is one of my favorites. My intro into the fragrance world, and I still wear it all of the time.
When I was still working for the Ministry of Environment in Estonia, World Wetlands Day was a very important day for us
As I’m wearing pale greys and beiges and blues today, Wood Sage & Sea Salt seemed fitting.
That does seem like an appropriate color/scent combination. Well chosen.
Yet another perfect combination.
Very nice
Sounds understated and elegant, lovely match.
Sounds beautiful!
I technically live in a wetland. It’s very important – I always joke with my hubbie that we make water for people.
SOTD: HiM (Hanae Mori). Happy Groundhog Day!
Apparently the accuracy is about the same as flipping a coin, but I’ve decided to believe in early spring this year!
like Fox Mulder, I also WANT TO BELIEVE!
You watched the first episode of the new X-Files last night, didn’t you?
I did too.
If no real winter means early spring, then I’ll take it! Watch out for the big melt tomorrow.
This week’s theme gave me a good excuse to finally try my sample of Hiris. So far, I get a very creamy iris (orris?).
Love that one! You smell great!
Me three
2 stars for SL Chene? That’s crazy tawk. Chene is a beautiful sweet woody scent.
Today I’m wearing Guerlain Cologne du 68 (and already wishing I wasn’t….guerlainade doesn’t agree with me and I should just stop trying. I want to crawl out of this cloud of baby wipes and doll heads).
Sniffer, I’m with you 10,000% on the guerlainade. Vetiver is pretty much the only scent that works for me.
“my” Guerlains are the one’s without guerlainade – I love Chamade and Vol de Nuit.
Chamade and Vol de Nuit are my favorite Guerlains too. I really liked the Parfum du 68 that came out a few years ago (I think it was limited edition) – though I was only able to try it at duty free shops. Can some one who’s tried both the Perfum 68 and the Cologne tell me about the similarities? If I really liked the parfum, should I seek to try the cologne (which I don’t think I’ve ever run across)?
Well. High 70’s today. I am wearing the vestiges of l’Elephant from yesterday evening but will switch it up to…? No clue yet. Maybe use the last of my sample of JM Incense Cedrat? Easy and inoffensive if a bit boring, but I have a PT appointment today as part of job on boarding so I really don’t want to asphyxiate anyone by adding more of the l’Elephant. Too much of a good thing is just too much
Happy almost Hump Day to all
Did you get a new job already?! Hope things are going well
I did! Thanks so much for your good wishes. It has been a bit of a trying time, but it’s a great escape to come here to chat about perfumes and whatever else may come up. Cheers!
Deva, that’s awesome! Congratulations!
Woo hoo! Hope it’s better than the last gig.
Oh, good for you! Yay!
Congratulations! That was really fast, I’m impressed. Good luck with the new job!
Congratulations!
Yay! Congrats and best of luck!
Congratulations, Deva! I hope it’s a great fit for you.
Congratulations, Deva!, i also hope everything go’s well.
Woo-hoo! Congrats!
Yay, congratulations!
Congratulations!
Good luck to you in your new job! I hope all works out well.
Oh fantastic, congratulations!
Congratulations on the new job! I hope you love it!
Yay for new jobs! Happy hump day to you too, dear.
Congrats on the speedy re-employment!
Congratulations! Hope this is a wonderful job.
Congratulations, Deva!
Congratulations on your new job
Good for you! I am imagining you as charismatic. But boarding? What is that?
So sweet of you to say, but have to admit I bore even myself to death;)
On boarding is just the paperwork/background check/drug testing rigamarole one has to go through these days. I guess companies don’t feel “rigamarole” is a particularly positive term, so in a corporate effort to make is seem exciting and adventurous, some creative soul coined the term “on boarding.”
Sure. Corpospeak.
Congrats Deva and I hope you love your new job!
Congratulations on the new job, that was quick!
I join others in wishing you well in your new job. When do you start?
I’m wearing SHL 777 Rose de Petra and loving sniffing myself today. Contemplating my pick for Friday. My collection is relatively small and going through the 1 star list, I only have 2 to choose from: Miss Boucheron of which I have a mini and don’t really like, and Vivienne Westwood Boudoir which I like but have never worn to work. Decisions, decisions (and hope that’s the most difficult part of my week).
I vote Boudoir! Think what fun it will be to tell someone what you are wearing if they ask…plus, life is too short to wear perfume you don’t like!
I’m leaning that way, and excellent points!
I agree with Boudoir! Hope that’s the most difficult part of your week as well…
Love Rose de Petra – you smell wonderful!
Thank you!
I wouldn’t wear anything I don’t like with the only exception being when I’m sampling something or by accident.
It’s supposed to rain all day so I wore vintage Silences. The tiny bottle doesn’t say the concentration, so it’s extra mysterious. This makes me feel like I am I in a forest filled with ferns and mosses.
I don’t always match my clothes to my scent, but sometimes my music. So rain+Silences= Joy Division
Nice!
Ha! That’s perfectly melancholy (I <3 Joy Division).
????????☔️
Oh, what a great combination!
Six thumbs up. Silences is amazing.
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That sounds wonderful. I must now smell this.
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Sunds like a wonderful pairing, i still haven’t tried silences, very confused over all the reformulations- which one do u have?
Love Joy Devision tho, have u read Ian Curtis biography, Touching from a Distance, by his wife Deborah?- very well written, and moving, illuminating, highly recomended!
That one’s on my list. I saw the movie based in the book and found the movie unsatisfying somehow. I think I’d like the book better.
Ooh! I have to check that out!! I dont know the vintage of either of the bottles I have; I got a boxed spray in the older style box (I believe the newer ones are the glitzier ones) and a mini. There seem to be newer ones that have more iridescence in the packaging. I haven’t smelled the newer ones!
I was craving greens and spring today too – the mid 40s weather certainly helps out. It seems like spring!
I tried this for the first time last weekend and I LIKE!
????
Sampling a couple of perfumes from The Scented Djinn but since they’re no longer on the etsy site, I don’t know the notes. Liking Khodum which is full of spice better than Jameel which is a sharp green on me
Good news! HRR (His Royal Rodent) General Beauregard Lee, the groundhog meteorologist of Atlanta, hath predicted an early Spring! Hallelujah!
SOTD: Selfie, by Olfactive Studios. WOW!! This one is a beauty….rich and warm….just gorgeous. Just perfect for this damp foggy morning!
Spring is coming! Early is cool with me!
Given the weather in Oregon, I feel like it’s already here. Sunny and clear skies, where’s our spring showers?
Your groundhog has a much better name than ours (Punxsautawny Phil). I’d totally listen to a groundhog with the name Beauregard.
If you go to the Yellow River Game Ranch, which is east of Atlanta, you can actually see the good general, when he’s not doing his forecasting. He’s usually quite grumpy, but cute.
I drive by there every morning on my commute…..more traffic than usual today though!
I’m originally from western NY, grew up w/Phil. When they introduced the General on TV today I was confused. But his rodent face reminded me today is my late father’s birthday. (Sorry, Dad)
I don’t know if I ahould laugh or cry.
And I always imagine someone with a nasal voice saying it which is a double assault on the ears..
SOTD is SL Fleurs de Citronnier (which The Guide called “failed cologne” and awarded only two stars). I like it a lot – lemon blossom and honey mixed with a surprisingly skanky (in a good way) musk.
Citronnier is such a beautiful, zesty, sweet & skanky scent. I need to make a note to wear it more.
Only two stars?! I can’t believe that. I received a sample from SL and didn’t expect to like this one, but really fell in love with the honey and lemon. I never really even thought of it as a cologne in the first place.
I need to revisit that one. I remember having a small decant and really liking it. I didn’t expect much – something clean and soapy, maybe – but I liked the skin-like bit of skank.
Lucky, lucky you. I loved the lemon blossom part (it did in fact smell like the dwarf lemon tree in the yard), but to my idiosyncratic nose, the musk was very clean, and a little sharp.
Guerlain Pamplelune is my SOTD . I really enjoy wearing this and I am going through my sample quickly. I wish I would’ve bought a full bottle when I had the chance.
I really like Pamplelune.
You smell great!
Placed an order from Surrender to Chance yesterday, and I’m excited to receive my samples: vintage samples of Dana Tabu, Givenchy III, original Bvlgari Omnia, Theorema, and Organza Indecence, and current versions of Barbara Bui, Theo Fennell Scent, Kenzo Jungle L’elephant, Divine L’Inspiratrice, Tocade, Jean-Louis Scherrer Nuits Indiennes, Samsara, and Uncle Serge’s Rose de Nuit.
Trying a sample I was given of Cedre Atlas by Atelier Cologne…a bit more aquatic than I’d like, I think.
Have a good one!
That’s quite a selection. Hope you find something you’ll love in them all.
Here’s hoping! And if not, I will be sure to find them happy homes.
Here’s hoping they work out and yay for happy homes!
Please report back on Tocade. I test-drove my sample of FM Dans te Bras this morning. Liked it a lot, but something was missing. The guide mentions Tocade and Broadway Nite being related (all compositions by Maurice Roucel). I’ll have to get hold of samples.
I’ll report back as soon as it arrives!
Jonette I am happy to send you a sample of Tocade once I am back from holiday. If you leave your email address I will contact you.
How very kind! It’s J and then stabbert (aan elkaar) apestaart stabbert punt com
Let me know if there’s something you’d like. I have a good-sized collection of fbs and a really big collection of samples!
Enjoy Italy! Sigh, I’m so jealous! Due to my health challenges, I haven’t traveled in a decade. My recent trip to the German hospital broke my record.
Hi Jonette, it is not Italy
but Abu Dhabi lovely destination. Sorry to read health issues have stopped yoy travelling. I hope the dietary changes will help. I will mail you when I am back home in about one and a half week.
Nice samples! I’m very curious about Theorema due to all the love it gets on this blog.
I will report back as soon as I can. I’d just heard too much for too long not to cave to temptation.
If you end up liking some of those, I have large decants or full bottles of some of them – I’d be happy to share swap!
Awww – thank you so much hon!
Great sample list! Keep us posted on what you like or don’t like
So many fun treats coming your way! I’m also curious about Theorema and I LOVE Givenchy III. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
P.S. THANK-YOU for that amazing cat video yesterday. It perked me right up and I laughed SO hard (possibly in a sort of crazy-eyed way). It was perfect.
Yay!! So glad it made you feel better. I am a big proponent of cute animals employed for therapeutic purposes.
The Cedre Atlas did not cut it (I could barely smell it anymore anyway), so I tried a bit of my samples of Ex Idolo Ryder and Keiko Mecheri Bois de Santal on either wrist…..except that for whatever reason, these were both sickeningly sweet to me all of a sudden, so I ended up washing everything off and tossing on a bit of Cristalle EDT.
Four perfumes and it’s only 2 pm. This is addiction, my friends.
Rose de Nuit is great, hope you like it!
That is an exciting bunch of samples. I wore Tabu all through the 80s, and Tocade was the very first sample I tried from my very first sample order. It smelled like burning plastic to me, unfortunately, but it clearly didn’t discourage me.
Still home today but I felt better enough to put on a sample of Memo Quartier Latin, because I admire that bottle and would love to have it in my collection. On the third sampling of this, the juice continues to be a scrubber! Ugh…
After I finish this post, I will shower and then do some more sampling. I counted my perfume collection this morning , which must be a sure sign of improvement!
I have 22 FB’s, of which 5 are actually headed for swapmeet land, or rehoming, so I have 17 FB, of which 2 (Dune and Diorissimo) are 1 wearing away from empty, but I have some Diorissimo lined up (thank you for your patience, C!).
I have 17 ( I know, weird, huh?) small (3-5 ml) decants, two for sure destined for FB replacement (Fate and Tam Dao, I am coming for you).
I have 14 travel sprays and rollerballs and small bottles of less than 25 mls, several of which are on the FB replacement plan – Iris Poudre is probably at the top of this list as it is close to empty as well.
And, thanks to the timely freebie meet, my 1ml sample collection is curated down to less than fifty! And stored in alphabetical order in a nice hinged box on my dresser!
That number includes 4 or 5 samples I have already decided to rehome. But I have 8 samples queued up at Lucky scent, and I might just pull the trigger on that order to celebrate feeling better.
Hat tip to you for honing down to your most important perfumes and organizational skills! Kudos
Thanks, Deva. I find if I have too many perfumes it feels sort of overwhelming and unpleasant, so I like to keep control of my collection! (The only area of my life where this is truly possible, it seems)
Yes, that’s how I feel, yet people with much larger collections seem to have everything under control. Maybe, for me, it’s how organized things are. My 200 samples need to be drastically thinned and then organized better than they are. I hope the coming swap meets are some help.
Thanks for this post! The combination of this, and my thoughts yesterday that I should be focusing on scents that are truly great (IMO. heck with Turin etc) has led me to the realization that having too many scents is actively bothersome to me. I had always thought I would trim down the collection at some magical point… now you’re convincing me that’d I’ll be happier with this hobby if that point is sooner rather than later
Fate and Tam Dao are totally worth coming for in full bottle form. Well chosen.
Glad you are feeling better. I find that organizing is a great diversion. After reading about and watching a bit of the You Tube Ami Loves Perfume show, I feel torn between keeping things manageable and limited to what I really love, or having bottles that may be discontinued, back- ups, etc.
The list the Ihadanidea posted is so enticing!
Woah. Your organization is inspiring! I need to start organizing my samples – any pointers?
I have the little samples stuck in a cube of Florist’s foam, cut to fit inside a nice hinged craft box. ($6 at my local craft store. Great deal!) I was able to get 45 samples lined up in one block- 9 columns of 5.
Another craft box with foam holds my little decants, with room for a few more.
A third box, sans foam, is just the right height to hold Travel sprays and the 8-10 ml spray decants sent out by STC and Luckyscent and the minis and little bottles I have.
The fourth box holds stuff headed for a new home – conveniently to hand if I want to reconsider, and they don’t get misplaced and forgotten!
These little wooden boxes keep out the light and serve some insulating duty. I have them stacked two high, on either side of the tray for full bottles. One of these days I will decorate them, but now they are just wood.
My full bottles are currently displayed on the clear plastic rotating tray which is the center of my dresser. They look great, if I do say so myself, but I will put most of them, not in current rotation, back in the drawer for protectionfrom the light.
Getting my little collection organized has been very beneficial for me. I think, “That was fun and now I am happy with this aspect of my life! I could get other areas of my life tidied up as well!
Oh, florist’s foam sounds like a great idea! Thanks!
Oy, you’re gonna have to recount those bottles in a few days. Songes edt is on it’s way!!!!!!!!!
Wearing Bois des Îles today. It’s sunny and mild but quite humid here today and this is what I needed. I really like Chêne!
Waiting.. for my extrait samples of this. I ran out and I can’t wait for more! One day I’ll buy a FB
Lovely, a long time dream of mine to buy a bottle.
BdI is just so beautiful and elegant. I need to get it in rotation very soon.
A two-star? But a week won’t even give me enough time to wear all the one-stars I think are super
But in fact I am wearing Vanille 44 (not in the Guide, I think?) which I am now having a terrible hankering to own. Luckily I have a couple of decants so hopefully that’ll keep me tided over until this mania passes.
(That said, the way prices are going, a 183€ detaxé bottle from Colette is no longer so totally unfathomable. So then I just need a plane ticket to Paris
)
Switched to finally test my mini of Organza Indecence–I’m a philistine, it smells a little old-fashioned to me.
Oops I somehow deleted the line where I duck to dodge the righteous perfume indignation I’ve no doubt brought on myself
Haha! I had said in the flanker post, that I am the rare person that prefers original Organza. I never warmed up to Indecense. I will stand by you!
Whew! Safety in numbers
I didn’t think it was very exciting either. Maybe it’s been reformulated?
Alas I have the old stuff. I am the worst (I did like it better as it dried down.)
C.H. You should check out Monica’s Le Labo thread for a split of the Le Labos.
A million thumbs up to this tip, her decants are soooooo much more affordable than a bottle! It’s one of the ways I got my hands on a bit of juice. And probably the way I should do so in the future! A bottle of one’s own is just so appealing all the same…
Shalimar ode a la vanille today and off to the pediatrician.
Hope that goes well.
Hope the little bruiser is well!
And as important – that he starts sleeping more for your sake AND his!
Everything is ok so far! He had to repeat the newborn screening. At just 2 weeks old he weighs 10lbs 10oz- not sure what’s in these boobs :p
Whoa, he’s a big ‘un! No excuse for not starting to sleep through the night.
Heh, awesome
That’s great you are all so healthy! You’ll get a good night sleep in about three months, lol! Good luck. First 6 months are a real endurance test.
Ha!
Oh boy! My niece was a 10 pounder. Good exercise carrying him around
Pounding through reports here again…. I might finish them today, which would be nice. I always feel a great sense of accomplishment when I get my half of the work done early.
Wearing CdR for some much needed gusto and motivation today.
I’m also starting up my exercise routine again – now that my back is ok again. It’s so ridiculously hard to push through the first few days of a routine again.
You can do it!! And Cuir de Russie can only help.
Also – kudos on the morning workout routine. I’ve slowly made myself more of a morning person in the past year, but I’m not yet at the point of wanting to do anything other than sip tea and read before 8 am. How do you do it? And if I can ask, what do you do?
I don’t actually do a morning routine. It’s a night time one. I started last night since it was the first of the month. I’m not a morning person at all. Even at 40, my night owl tendencies remain.
I have an app called Seven. It’s one of those HIIT/ HICT apps where you do 12 exercises for 30 seconds each with a 10 second rest. It only lasts 7 minutes, but to actually get benefit from it it’s best to do multiple sets so I was doing 3. I only did 2 last night because I wanted to see what sort of shape I was in with my back and not overdo it. I might just stick with 2 sets for the rest of this week and then go back up to 3 sets next week.
I also run. I’ve not been running much at all lately, but I did sorta get into a routine of running 2 miles as a warm up before doing my 7 app sets. When the weather is nice and I can run outside, I usually run 5 miles. Otherwise, I walk and run on the treadmill in my basement.
Ohh, yeah it’s tough to get back into the rhythm with those high-intensity ones–I’ve abandoned it altogether and switched to moderate exercise only in hopes I’ll stick to it better (so far so good) but the high-intensity ones def are very beneficial! Go team go!
C.H. – I definitely noticed a difference doing HIIT, which I’d not done before. I always did running and then some basic push-ups and sit-ups. Doing full body exercises makes a big difference and I realized where I was really lacking in strength. In the 9 consecutive days I was doing 3 sets I noticed a huge difference in strength and muscle. I’m looking forwarding to seeing that change again and hopefully making it through a full month.
Oh! I misread and thought you were saying you’d already worked out this morning – my bad.
Definitely smart to take it easy on your back. So sorry you’ve had to deal with that!
I’m going to look into this app and check it out. I’ve also decided I want to challenge myself to run a 5k this year (I’ve never run before in my life) and your running of 2 miles as a warm up is inspirational. Thanks for that Jenkr!
Oh yeah the total body workout thing makes such an amazing difference–I started yoga just to have something to do indoors when weather doesn’t permit running (also, inner peace etc. etc.), but I LOVE how much stronger it’s made me. It’s time-consuming though, and when you can get the same physical benefits in just a few minutes of HIIT… !!
From its first appearance, Dune was my signature scent and held that position for a number of years. Before even sampling it again (who knows what memories may arise?), I want to know if it has been reformulated.
I think it has (my sister used to wear it when it was new), but the current version is decent IMO.
I also believe it has, though I have no proof. I notice a difference when I first spray it. After The drydown begins it smells like I remember it from the 90s.
I love Dune on other people – but not on me
It makes me a little uncomfortable for some reason, but I can see how it could smell fantastic on someone else. That said, I do get occasional cravings for it so I might have to pick up another decant (or perhaps a mini.)
I noticed it at Macy’s the other day (behind the counter). You could try sampling there.
It has the same smell, but like Dior Addict, I feel some depth is missing. I have no proof, other than my old memory.
I smelled it last month and it has been very much reformulated, and not in a good way, to my nose. I will finish my vintage bottle but won’t be repurchasing. So sad but for me it’s gone.
I wore Dune for a few years when it first came out – certainly nothing else like it. I think almost every fragrance that has been around for 10+ years is reformulated.
I’m sure it has been, what hasn’t. Have you ever tried Biagiotti Roma?
It’s a little like Dune’s sunny younger sister.
Decided to wear my sample of Narciso today… In a word? Meh. It’s pretty boring. At least its inoffensive. That bottle tho’.
Scent twins! Although I find it more than just meh
I bought a 30ml bottle, cutest thing to behold and love it sitting on my dresser. It dries down very creamy and just a great, easy, everyday scent.
It’s worth it for the bottle alone. The scent is pleasant enough, but it doesn’t wow me. I prefer For Her.
I always get them confused from the names. Is this the one in the white bottle?
The names are crazy confusing!
Yes, it is the white bottle. The edt is in the square black bottle, which is also very nice.
I’ve smelled the EDP. Can you compare it to the EDT? I’ve been eyeing a 30 ml bottle of the EDP because of the stellar packaging. I should probably finish off the 2 samples I bought first, though.
I’m also assuming it’ll hit the discounters by next winter and be cheaper and easier to come by.
Actually, this sounds perfect for right now. I think I’ll put some on.
They’re actually quite different. The EDP focuses on gardenia and the EDT on rose. They have the same musk/wood creaminess, but the flowers are different.
My SOTD is Mon Parfum Chéri Par Camille by Goutal, which I think of as quite a gothic fragrance. Not sure I understand the term myself, but there you go.
I love this one!
I’m awaiting a blind bought partial bottle of this, plum, iris and patch are favourite notes, so fingers crossed it will be love!
I have stopped blind-buying. I now buy small, medium, large or ginormous “samples”.
It is very dark. I can see gothic. Definitely complex.
I love this one too. It makes me feel so vamp-y. It’s dark and seductive, and that patchouli and plum knocks my socks off.
I need to try this one. Plum, iris and patch sounds like a good combo. I haven’t loved the AGs that I’ve tried (which, now that I think about it, really isn’t that many), but maybe this will be the one that works for me.
Wait, I forgot Songes.. I did like that one, so maybe this would be the second Goutal to work for me.
They are both by Camille Goutal, with input from Isabelle Doyen of course, but Camille is the nose behind this one.
I’m a huge Goutal fan, although I don’t adore every single thing they have created. But I think it does merit some more extensive sampling.
My SOTD is Pear&Olive by Slumber house. I have already had 3 teachers at my school compliment me on it. One asked if there was coconut in it. I never got coconut from it….
I am going to have to get a replacement bottle of this before I can’t find it anymore. I love this scent because a little goes a long way!
I don’t think I get coconut from it either. Mostly just savory and slightly oily notes. I have a smidge left which I’ll test again. I’m a fan as well. So different from anything I’ve ever smelled.
Pear & Olive is just about the only Slumberhouse that I don’t love… I get the olive quite prominently, indeed kind of oily, and then a pear note that smells too much like the Yves Rocher Poire that I had when I was little… I guess my skin just doesn’t agree with it.
I get coconut from it.
I’m in 24, Faubourg today, and resolutely NOT thinking about what Turin and/or Sanchez might think about it.
And on an unrelated note, Happy Groundhog Day! Let’s hope Phil is right about that early spring!
They love that one as it happens.
Well, who’d’a thunk? I would have sworn there was no overlap in taste between those two and me. Learn something every day, I guess!
I broke down and ordered the travel sprays of Dame Perfumery’s Soliflore collection (yes, Anniky and Holly, I was bad!) but I thought I would just try them and then regift them to a family member for Easter. They arrived yesterday and I am smitten! Like, really like or love all six! I have now sampled every single fragrance from this line. What I love about the soliflores is they are modern and yet they pay homage to some of the scents I wore in the 70s and 80s (Baby Soft, Giorgio for Men, Anais Anais, Tatiana, Chloe, Fracas) and even some contemporaries (Baby Grace).
Today I am wearing Narcissus and , much to my surprise, really loving it! Reminding me of Tatiana and Anais Anais……bought and wore them both when they first debuted many years ago, therefore, Narcissus is a very nostalgic scent for me.
Has anyone tried any of these? The price is really good so I might splurge for a full bottle. And even though it is an EDT the sillage and longevity is great on my dry skin.
Oh and someone in my office said “Who is wearing jonquil?”….I was afraid to answer as I was not sure she was liking what she smelled and one has to be very careful about scents these days in tight quarters!
It’s really interesting that she could actually identify it as jonquil!
There are some people in cube space who go about as far in the opposite direction of discretion as possible. In one office where I worked, we had 1. someone who hosed down with Coco Mademoiselle in sufficient quantities to pervade the hallway outside the office she shared with 4 IT guys; 2. someone who used a plug-in air freshener with a patchouli-lavender scent; this was a receptionist, so clients who entered the department were greeted with the smell of a 1970s head shop; and 3. someone who had an electric melting device for scented candle wax with a range of 20 feet, and not exactly Cire Trudon calibre scents, either.
Re#1- she shared an office with four guys? The Coco was just self-defense! LOL!
I know I was actually surprised myself as she never wears perfume and she has the personality that she would complain if someone’s perfume was too strong….
Is she a closet perfume lover? Or maybe a gardener.
She is a gardener so now it makes sense
I know, it’s so strange how we are programmed to automatically apologize for our perfume! I smelled a familiar perfume (Pacifica Fig) but I couldn’t quite place it, so I asked “is somebody wearing perfume?” and the first thing out of my coworker’s mouth was “yeah, sorry” to which I quickly reassured her it was fine and nice. Still, very strange realization.
I haven’t tried them, but I’m glad you mentioned them and will add them to my try list. I have always loved Narcissus scents.
Argh, now I need to sample that Narcissus.
You really should …although I have never smelled Le Temps d’Un Fete it came to mind with the Narcissus I am wearing today b/c I believe that is a prominent note in there, right? And the travel sprays are only $8.50 with free shipping, no minimum purchase. Plus, Mr. Dame is quite generous with his samples…basically with my 10% discount I got five 5ml travel sprays and six 1ml samples for under 40 dollars …31 ml…..not bad considering that Jo Malone charges $65 for their 30 ml bottles….and I really do like to support small shops……
Noticeable narcissus in LTdF, yes! I went ahead and pulled the trigger. Valentine’s Day is coming up, guess what I’ll be getting?
Dame Perfumery is, like Smell Bent, a terrific bargain.
I loved the old Tatiana, though I don’t remember noticing narcissus in there – it’s a BWF with spicy notes to my nose. It was gorgeous stuff.
Barbara Herman lists narcissus and jonquil in the heart notes on Yesterday’s Perfume….that is what I remember in Tatiana…
Let me know what you think of Dame Perfumery’s version….I am going to wear either Tuberose or Mimosa tomorrow….
I have them in my shopping basket and keep having stern conversations with myself about being a responsible adult who needs a new job. I also have a travel size Leather Man in there since I gave my sample away after only a quick sniff. I will probably wait until income is a smidge more reliable, but they are very tempting.
I say go for it….actually you could buy one travel spray per month and it would only put you out $8.50….I love Leather Man…it smells like what Giorgio for Men should have been….the dry down is exquisite and lingers on my scarves for days….
I was planning on using your “gift” strategy (my MIL and SIL both have spring birthdays), but now I’m skeered that I’ll have to keep them all! I’m sure I’ll cave in the next few days.
I really liked my one and only sniff of Leather Man, but so did my cousin who was standing nearby. I love her more than perfume so I let her have my sample, but I’m still thinking about it so I obviously need to replace it.
That was sweet of you….
I had some Tatiana once! I will go check out this Dame offering…I like some of his other things!
At least to my recollection (mind you I have not smelled Tatiana in over thirty years) it reminded me a lot of Tatiana (which I am sure has narcissus as a dominant note).
Glad to hear that you love them! I’ve just realised that Dame Perfumery does ship to Belgium, so…
I lasted the whole month without purchasing perfume, make-up and skincare. On the other hand, I received a tiara as a gift, so it all balances out
I was a BAAADDDD girl! But I kept justifying the purchase by saying it would be a gift…turned out to be a gift to myself
I think you might enjoy this clip; although the part I wish to share is about crowns and not tiara’s. It starts around 3:18
Did you forget the link or am I going mad?
Both!
Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVNuh1gC6L0
Your life is different than mine! I have never had an occasion where a tiara might be appropriate!
Well, I wore mine to a not-very-fancy cocktail and jazz bar, so…
I’m envious
I am always tempted to blind-buy Narcissus just because of its name. Now it will have to go on my sample list! I am always on the hunt for a good Narcissus fragrance.
I was surprised to see that two of my all time favorites scents got 1 star, Chanel Gardenia and Must de Cartier. I am wearing Chanel Gardenia , this is an old bottle I bought while in Paris in 2001 at the Chanel store, it has great memories . I don’t use it much, I don’t want to finish it.
Shalimar today. I waited and waited for last Friday’s project, then got too busy to participate.
I decided I would wear it every day until I could come here to report it. I forgot how gorgeous it is when it dries down. My coat and scarf smell amazing. I have to reach for this more often.
Shalimar and I have recently become reacquainted after a long absence. I too have resolved to wear it more often. You smell fantastic!
Agree! Shalimar is wonderful!
Hey, better late than never! Glad it is gorgeous
I haven’t tried very many of the 1 star scents. Most of them I’ve never encountered – Brooks Brothers New York Ladies, anyone? Also, one can’t count vintage versions of classic perfumes that got low ratings due to flawed reformulation. Nonetheless, I do have a sample of Eau d’Italie Baume de Doge, which Kevin liked, and I’ll give that another sniff sometime this week:
https://nstperfume.com/2008/11/12/eau-ditalie-baume-du-doge-fragrance-review/
Yes, they seem super-cranky about most of the Caron current versions.
My favorite is Tania Sanchez’s review of Narcisse Noir (2 stars):
“Shed a tear for Narcisse Noir. Where is the darkness, the strangeness, the smell of cold, damp ashes after a bonfire, the animal breath–the drama? It was for women in columnar gowns, marcelled hair, and red lipstick waving foot-long cigarette holders and making life memorably difficult for everyone. It was one of Caron’s few truly indispensable fragrances. It is now a pretty, safe little sweet jasmine and orange blossom. How can you ruin a man’s life properly while wearing this?”
Yes, love it.
Wow,now I need to find a sample of this!
Sounds like a great fit for Lady Mary on DA.
A good friend of mine who is old enough to have experienced the original version says that the current Mona di Orio Nuit Noire is the best reincarnation of it she’s smelled.
The Groundhog might not stay out long enough today to see his shadow if he/she smelled SOTD ( morning) YSL Kouros. Although, it may be just what is attractive to them.
.
I’m sampling it on the suggestion of Sublimi Somnium to determine whether I’m anosmic to animalic notes. Nope! I first thought it smelled like freshly showered man, and then the civet emerged. It was a lot different from the feminine animalic fragrances which I have generally liked so far. Kouros gets pretty rank for a while, then after a few hours, it softened to a more wearable scent . It’s actually fun to wear in the house to sniff the different stages. Will not be buying it for the husband
Thank you for the suggestion!
On the other hand, surely if everyone wore Kouros the earth would get hotter.
Lol!
True! Then we’d better hoard it and manage the supply. The carbon emissions are doing enough.
Glad you tried it, at the very least! It’s fascinating how Kouros pairs the aquatic white musk accord we typically associate with intense cleanliness with no-holds-barred civet. A very interesting fragrance, but I agree that I don’t know anybody who could wear it in public. Thank goodness you did your homework and didn’t need to go out of the house!
One of the most fun things about fragrances is that it is a nice outlet for self-discovery, even if you sample something you don’t like. Glad you learned you’re not anosmic to civet
SOTD Dans de Bras sample.
Yesterday’s SOTD post with the index attached made me ask our tech teacher to teach me how to sort Excel sheets. Not a skill a second grade teacher of my age comes with. Once that was accomplished I read through the 1’s. I do not know what it says about me but I only have one 1 . Several 2’s though. Maybe I just need a bigger budget for sampling
I tried to find that post (index attached) but haven’t been able to. More clues? Thank you!
I tried to find that post (index attached) but haven’t been able to. More clues? Thank you! Ah! kpaint?
Here’s a link w the list!!
http://www.basenotes.net/huddlerarchive/373109
Sorry, this is just the list, not the one you are looking for!!
It was in the article for the day
” Update: you can download the index to the 2008 Hardcover version of Perfumes: the Guide here (thanks paint!)”
different colors did not copy so link may not have
Am starting to revise a novel I finished a couple of years ago, with an eye to publishing it for Kindle… dang, this is SO SCARY. Because I need some grounding today, I’m wearing my wonderful Le Temps d’une Fete.
You smell great!
Did you know The Martian was self published? Andy Weir couldn’t find a publisher and started posting it on line.
Good luck. Writing well is such a gift.
I did not know! Just read it a few weeks ago and thought it was wonderful.
Good luck!
Ooh, that’s very exciting! I hope your edits go well!
I did the same thing last year–it is awfully scary, but the interface for turning your document into a Kindle book is at least fairly user-friendly. Good luck!
Thanks for the encouragement!
Would you mind sharing info on your book? (Robin, I’m assuming it’s okay for me to ask.)
How exciting! Best of luck
Respect. And good luck!
What is your novel about?
The one I’m editing is a romance – divorced mother of two making a new life away from abusive ex-husband meets battle-scarred former Marine.
Good luck with your edits – you smell great!
How exciting, and scary, too, I’m sure! Le Temps D’Une Fete will definitely help you out. It never fails me.
It’s a favorite of mine, too.
Don’t be scared. Just imagine that all the characters in your novel are on your side and that they want to work with you , and do their best for you…and that you want to do your best for them by respecting them (even if they are not very sympathetic characters). Once the characters are fully formed, the plot will come more easily too….and then you can start having more fun. Every novel presents new challenges and can’t be rushed…just think of it as a slow pleasure. I find that ‘ peaceful’ , grounded perfumes that help with deep focus really help. I love being absorbed in writing. Good luck!
Thank you, dear one. I’ve not seriously revised a full novel before (and this one was a behemoth, 300K+ words long and totally unpublishable in its current state!) so it’s a completely new experience. I’m hacking it down a good deal… the last third of it was indulgent tying-loose-ends stuff anyway, so all of that will go, and then there was a major subplot that will be pruned and set aside for a future novel.
And, of course, Kindle publishing = Untrod Wilderness for me. I hear it isn’t terrible, so far as self-pub goes.
I enjoyed Edwin + Matilda.
300 000 words is impressive. The good thing about cutting back is that you can keep the best deleted sections for another time. Bet it seems overwhelming and a like a bit of a mission at the moment, trying to keep track of all the ‘ who, where’s and what’s’ But I’m sure you will handle it in good style. I think it’s like gardening and renovating: you get six months of crazy mess that suddenly and unexpectedly takes shape, and finally becomes beautiful and satisfying. Keep us posted!!! And thanks for E and M.
Wow! Just being able to finish a novel is an amazing feat in itself! I hope you take some time to congratulate yourself and celebrate your accomplishment. You smell wonderful, and good luck!
Wow! I admire anyone who writes. Hope it goes well!
Amazing – 300,000 words! Good luck and maybe No.19 for you tomorrow?
Today, I’m giving my sample of ELDO Like This its first full wearing. Probably not going on my FB list, but I’m certainly enjoying it.
Exciting stuff mals, Good luck with the publishing, i’ve recently discovered u have a blog, will check it out very soon!
Like This is really interesting and unique. I horde my little sample b/c as much as I love it, I don’t want a bottle of it either.
Like This is soooo good!!
(Sung to the tune of “Joy to the World”)
Hello perfumed world
I’m wearing Joy
Or Joy is wearing me
I do not care
I like to scent the air
and sniff my arms all day
and sniff my arms all day
and sni-iff and sni-iff my arms all day!
(Or for any fans of Repo: The Genetic Opera… “Perfume comes in a little glass vial! A little glass vial? A little glass vial!”)
“Everybody, everybody testify!”
:D!!
I’d be interested in buying your album of perfume-inspired holiday tunes.
Scent twins! I drained my Joy decant this morning. Love it so much.
Perfect, Doc Sinister! Perhaps NST could do a weekend poll of songs turned into perfume songs? We do this on a weather blog from time to time, usually during the countdown to a big snowstorm, adapting favorite song lyrics to snow anticipation or other weather themes.
Then I’d *really* have to think.
Perfect. ????
I first tried to use the Three Dog Night song also entitled Joy to the World – it did not work so well. Then I realized you meant the OTHER Joy to the World, and my brain unkinked.
This might as well be spring. The weather is great, no snow to be seen and I’m already craving my “spring” fragrances.
SOTD is vintage Coriolan. I love Coriolan!
Skip to commenting la di dah… because I had so much fun going through kpaint’s list. I actually have the Turin and Sanchez book, but the spreadsheet was super fun to manipulate and reorder… thanks kpaint!
Turns out I have no 1 rating perfumes, but I have several two stars:
Green Tea (EA): Keep it my glove compartment for car refreshing moments
Eau de Grey Flannel (GB): Bought by accident. Meant to get regular GF. HATE this one, but thought it was too awful to give away. I use it for cleaning stuff in my basement.
Poivre Samarcande (H): A recent purchase. Some days it is love, other days it is armpit….
Mure et Musc Extreme (L’AP): Luca is just wrong here. This is an amazing, addictive, musky, berry thingy. The only overt musk I own and wear. Love it despite myself.
Voleur de Rose (L’AP): I have a sample of this. Nothing is springing to mind one way or another. It is a nice rose when I want a rose with a little stem and dirt… but not as earthy as that sounds…
Infusion d’Iris (P): I don’t think I have a single original thought about this one. You either like it or you don’t. I do!
And those are my two stars.
SOTD? No idea!! But I think I am now leaning towards Mure et Musc extreme.
Oh yah. And over the weekend I popped into Sephora and tried Tom Ford’s Noir and Noir Extreme. Preferred the Noir, but don’t have a strong enough scent memory to say why. Just found it cozy. I’d like it in a candle…
I second your sentiments on Eau de Grey Flannel – it is awful. Although I did give it away to a guy friend who can pull off aquatics.
Given how small the “Eau de” is, I assume they are manipulating people into buying the Eau on accident.
I also liked Noir Extreme, but it’s too gourmand for me to comfortably wear. I’ll need to try Noir…
I kinda feel like GF snookered me too. I totally missed the “Eau de” and what I got was totally unlike GF….
Oh, I forgot all about Mur et Musc! I love that one, think I’ll wear it tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder.
Infusion d’Iris is so lovely, and is what I reach for when I need to channel a certain type of inner perfect-hair-day elegance. I have a bottle of the absolue on the way, on Robin’s glowing recommendations…
Me too. Is a to go to perfume for me.
It’s not actually my list – I just provided the link. I have adopted it for my own tracking purposes, though – and have added a lot more data, plus fragrances I have that aren’t listed. I had previously been using a excel spreadsheet for this, but it was set up in such a way that I couldn’t use filters. The one in the link has much better functionality.
Can you provide the link again, dear kpaint. Haven’t found it previously.
Hi Karen,
Robin added the link in her blurb of the day above. See it after “Update”?
Got it! Thanks so much.
You know, I waffled for a long time over Infusion d’Iris – did I like it or was it boring? I still don’t find it exciting, but on the other hand sometimes you just want something reliably attractive and calm, you know? I have a decant and I wear it more than I had planned to.
It is pretty. Period.
Most of the time its linearity begins to wear on me before to long. In very hot humid weather, however, I really appreciate a perfume that is so very cool and unexciting.
I am working my way backwards from 5stars to one star Turin/Sanchez ratings. Yesterday I wore some vintage L’Heure Bleue EdP. Today I am wearing Patchouli Patch which manages to smell both fresh and dirty all at once–a perfect call to spring.
I am drinking some Satrupa Tippy Assam from I am not sure where. It is very malty.
You’re right – spring does smell both fresh and dirty at once. Good description. I’m in L’Heure Bleue EdP today, though not vintage.
Yes! The flowers and the mud. DSH Jacinthe de Saphir is my current earth-and-dewy-flowers crush.
I really liked the top and heart of Jacinthe de Saphir – and then it went all Opium/Youth Dew, which I cannot stand, so it went off the buy list. But the first couple of hours were gorgeous.
SOTD = Arquiste/J Crew No. 57
Discovered a fatal flaw in my third iteration of analysis, so now I’m re-designing the whole damn thing a 4th darn time. Stupid busy at work now, may I keep comforted by No. 57!
On the other hand, weather is gorgeous. I’ll need to take a walk during lunch.
Glad you found it now, rather than having it show up at a more inconvenient time!
True. At least we hadn’t gotten it finalized with the client yet, but it is still frustrating to have to keep working on this one project whilst my other project keep accruing.
Ah, well. Work, work.
Today I am wearing Beaufort “Coeur de Noir” which as a sample smelt quite challenging, although less so than East India or 1805. Once on the skin it is certainly wearable, long lasting and keeps popping up with notes of wood or ash and occasional rum. Actually in the drydown it reminds me of Amouage Interlude Man in the dry ashiness, although there is no incense here at all and the whole is a far more industrial/craftsmanly rather than spiritual smellscale. By which I mean it smells of an old workspace rather than a church – it certainly doesn’t come across as artificial or mass produced. I have surprised myself by liking it as well as finding it conceptually interesting.
“Smellscape” not “smellscale”. Really if you’re going to autocorrect my nonsense word with your nonsense word, how has that helped anyone? Stoopid phone!
Ha. And me thinking that “spiritual smellscale” was amazingly lyrical even if I only sensed its meaning.
We could have fabulous debates placing perfumes on a spiritual smellscale from 1 to 10. Is Avignon more spiritual than Kyoto? What on earth do we do with Angel and A*men, are they sacred or profane? And maybe these examples are confusing ‘spiritual’ with ‘conventionally religious’ anyway… :^D
Yes yes…the angel/whore dialectic of fragrance…. ! Perfume as hysteria…. Is it spiritual smellscale or are we secretly desiring our scents to present a dichotomy? Methinks I have been impugning fragrance with a misogynist ideal… sacred AND profane.
I thought you were on to something with ‘ smellscale’ – especially in relation to Beaufort. A forty knot perfume, with gusts up to 60…easing at night.
The perfume sounds fabulous in its dry ashiness. I like the smell of charcoal and have been a bit interested in locating charcoal notes in perfume. I’ve never heard of Beaufort so further investigation is in order. Thanks!
Hah, I like it. I can imagine the NST SOTD done in the style of the shipping forecast.
Beaufort is a fairly young London firm with just 3 perfumes out, all with some kind of nautical theme, but more the true grit of history than the romance of the open waves.
This one is supposedly inspired by old ship blueprints, nautical books and tattoos notes. Fragrantica says: top notes are rum, ginger and ink; middle notes are paper, leather and vanilla; base notes are cedar, tobacco and birch tar.
I got samples from Blooms perfumery. They are also available from the Beaufort website. The scents are available as candles (although I do not think Diptyque will be lying awake at night worrying abut them).
I liked the sound of this scent the best, from the website. And Blooms looks cool…and the perfume society.
On to number two in my all 1-star scents: Mona di Orio Musc. Happy Groundhog day and hoping it really is an early spring! Last year it snowed until April 15th.
Ooooh! This is one of the samples in my upcoming Olfactif February Sampler….I can’t wait to try it! 1-star or not! LOL
SOTD is 31 Rue Cambon. I didn’t like the opening, which seemed like the typical Chanel blast. But within a few minutes, it settled into something refined and very elegant. I’ve had an unanticipated shake up at work today, and I’m feeling very stressed, but 31 RC, much like 19, does make me feel resolved and motivated, which is very helpful right now.
31 RC is good for feelings of resolve at work. I think fortitude is a good word for that scent too. It’s a wonderful one and easy to wear in the office. You smell great.
Thanks! You are correct, fortitude is an excellent word for it. Now I just need to find a perfume that makes me as steely and quick witted as Julia Sugarbaker and I will be all set at work.
Sorry to hear about the work stress. sending you positive thoughts.
Thank you so much lillyjo. I appreciate it.
I don’t have 31 RC, but I agree with No. 19 for resolve! (My work life in the last week has gone past No. 19 and into Bandit territory….)
Oh dear. I’m sorry to hear that. Work stress is the worst kind of stress, in my opinion.
Oh yikes, I wouldn’t mess with you in Bandit! I’m so sorry to hear that work isn’t getting any better. Having a stressful work situation is the worst. We spend so much time doing it, it’s hard to stay positive when nobody is being supportive.
Bummer about work stress. open it all shakes out ok!
Thanks! I think it will. I’m just growing tired of being blamed for the failings of a team, but not getting any credit for the successes. Either we’re a team at all times, or we’re not a team at all.
Good morning, NST. Bad night following a good day–in my next life, please, I think I’d like my main talent to be the ability like to sleep anywhere, anytime, but especially at night. Hey, my new team is gong to be great! I’m excited to be working with them! Hope I can do them justice! Thank you to everyone who wished me well yesterday–I was absurdly strung out about it all. Still grieving quite a bit, I think.
I’ve spent this sleepless night watching kapa haka on my iPad and doing the ironing, which has the merit of being silent, so I don’t disturb the dear man. Dakkie “helped” by sitting on the end of the ironing board. It’s a good gig for him: he plonks himself down on a shirt or something; I pat him and rub his ears (a favourite thing) and put him on the floor, he jumps up again…Now it’s nearly dawn, so I’ve showered and I’m now facing the day in Jean Louis Scherrer, which is all green and gorgeous for another hot day Downunder. I think that the combination of JLS and the icy air-con at work will keep me awake.
Not sleeping in so horrendous! One of the most effective forms of torture ever. There is nothing better than the deep black oblivion of sleep.
Glad to hear you are encouraged by your new team. Hopefully, you will be able to get back to a good sleep schedule.
While sleep is so important, I decided that I would try to use the hours I can’t sleep productively, instead of getting anxious about it.
It’s helped my outlook, although I probably do need to try to increase the hours in the long run.It gives me more time to see how perfumes develop!
My husband is one of those anywhere anytime sleepers, and I have always been envious. Luckily, the kids inherited it!
Insomnia is so frustrating. I have been plagued with it for the last 15 years and would like nothing better than to be able to fall asleep in 5 minutes and sleep all night like my husband.
Still Commando today. I woke up feeling lousy, put the kids on the bus and went back to bed. I have so much to do today, but might just skip it all. The other day I was at the store and smelled a beautiful perfume on a young cashier. I recognized it but couldn’t place it. I finally asked her and she said it was Alien. I wear Alien frequently and didn’t understand how I did not recognize it, and why did it smell so much better on her? I finally decided it was because it smelled like Alien and her own scent of being 18. sigh…
Lol at the Alien story.
I support you skipping it all and relaxing today.
Wearing No. 19 Poudré…
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
If winter never really comes, isn’t spring already here?
All of this means summer starts next week- ack! Dreading it! I am probably the only person in this entire community and list of hundreds of comments to beg Winter to stay! Please, Winter, don’t leave me!????
You aren’t the only one! I’m with you! I’m in Finland and hoping for at least two more months of freezing temps and snow! Our winters have been a bit up and down these last few years with some years lovely, long, white and freezing 4 ½ month winters and some years rain in January (the definition of misery). Let this one be loooong and freezing please!!
I’m a winter person. I live quite far south and so we have long days in summer ( darkness comes after 10pm) and beautiful long starry or stormy nights in winter. We also get aurora down here.
I also think my love of winter is related to my love of a good beanie.
Enjoy the cold! You are not alone.
Nope. I live in the land of endless summer. The more winter I get, the happier I am (they are very mild winters so not much inconvenience, but I love real winter too).
So many perfume-loving people on Team Winter afterall.
Deva – I like winter, but not 5+ months of it! But, if you’d ever like to do a “cultural” exchange and come on up here to play in the snow, I’d be very happy to stay at your place in Fla!!!
I love winter too but like LaDomna says, they have been up and down lately, with rain in January (this is in Montreal). I long for the pristine white deep-freeze that lasted for a solid 4 months of my youth. Rain, ice and dirty slushy snow is a drag.
LA Story! Loved that movie – it got me through a difficult breakup years ago.
I am in chilly California this week. At least there is no dirty snow on the ground like on the east coast. Going to hit Lucky Scent. Any other recommendations? Thanks friends!
Oh enjoy yourself!
Not too far from Scent Bar (luckyscent’s actual store) is the Beverly Hot Springs if you like soaking. I spent a blissful few hours soaking and then going sniffing when I visited LA a few years ago
I would commit several misdemeanors in order to soak in a hot spring and then sniff my way through the Scent Bar. Sigh…
volunteering as a partner in crime.
Have some chicken and waffles at Roscoe’s for me
(Not scent-related but you’ll need to eat at some point.)
SOTD Epic, still learning to love this baby, when i do, it takes me by surprise, also really love it combined with a simple but rich rose perfume, apparently it has rose in it, but it doesn’t come through on my skin at all..
Ha – “Less a fragrance than a proposal for further discussion.” I like that! Makes me want to try Chene, although sawdust isn’t really my thing.
This morning I spritzed a sample of By Killian Liaisons Dangereuses, Typical Me. Didn’t strike me as anything special. I did not get plum, cinnamon, or sandalwood at all, which makes me wonder if the SA mislabled the envelope. After a couple of hours, I wiped it off and sprayed liberal amounts of L’Heure Bleue EdP.
On the home front, we decided this morning to put an offer on the country home we viewed on Sunday. Eek, I hope it works out!
Woohoo! Established gardens are a wonderful thing! Hope you are sucessfuly with your offer!
Oooh, good luck! The husband and I recently bought some land on which to eventually build a country (and eventually full-time) house. Scary and exciting!
Good luck! It sounds like a beautiful place!
Good luck and let us know!
Good Luck to you!
Fingers crossed!
How exciting! Good luck Dottie!
Oh, I like Chene and I don’t think it smells like sawdust – very woody, of course, like freshly-made wooden boxes or something. Nice. Hated Liaisons Dangereuses. Plum and rose, WHERE? it was all turpentine on me, really really horrible.
Hope the house works out!
I haven’t decided yet for today, but it’s going to be something familiar and beloved and not-too-heavy, like Lys Mediterranee or The Pour Un Ete. Feeling some sample fatigue — too many days in fragrances that aren’t quite right, aren’t quite me. An almost completely sleepless night last night, and tomorrow I start back at work after a 6-month maternity leave, and I’m DREADING it…
It is a really tough transition. One foot in front of the other. I remember one crazy afternoon after returning to work after my first son was born… standing in a stinky bathroom crying and laughing at the same after my boss told me to reach out to an organization in Kuala Lumpur–which meant conference calls at 3 AM… I just wanted to go home and play with my baby. But I got through it and so did he…
Oh god, working at 3 am with a baby on your hands?! I can’t imagine. Fortunately my work will always end promptly at 4:30!
Checked the two-star listings in The Guide and chose for my SOTD Virgin Island Water by Creed. It is a nice, refreshing cologne, totally unisex, but I agree with TS and LT that it is wildly overpriced.
I think that one of Luca’s funniest comments is about Creed’s Love in White. “You’d opt to keep the lice.”
That book is just plain fun to read.
Diptyque’s Philosykos edp today. I tend to forget how lovely this is.
I need to pull this one out and use it again. I do like it, but other stuff became much more love than like.
SOTD is AG Songes edp, b/c it just seemed right with our lovely not winter weather. And I was packing up some Songes for Meredith and it just smells sooo good.
Songes is that good! I remember the lovely SA in Paris spraying my hair with it years ago, one of those wonderful scented memories.
Oh, Ann, I am excited for this little bottle! I really can’t thank you enough!
Songes is my kind of “dirty” jasmine
Ditto that – big tramp in that elegant lady!
So post shower and went with a sample of Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Verte. A springy little scent. At first spray it reminds me somewhat of Gucci Envy. Now, though its a little more Jessica McClintock. It’s pretty. Im still not feeling good, and could be all wrong about what I’m smelling.
Hope you feel better soon!
Feeling much better today. It’s so weird how moods change so quickly. Yesterday I was in a fog, and today I feel like a million bucks. Well, I did, until I went to my physics class and realized that IT IS STILL INSANE. I finally feel like I’m getting the hang of something and then we move on to something else even crazier.
No scent yet, but I’m thinking a staple is in order today. Either Balenciaga Paris or Le Temps D’Une Fete.
This made me laugh! My daughter is in her second semester of physical chemistry (she’s a chem major), and every now and then she tries to explain the lab experiments to me. I never understand them, despite taking physics in high school.
Love LTdF.
Oh bless her heart. I am studying chemical engineering so I feel her pain. I am dreading physical chemistry. Physics AND chemistry? All rolled up into one? Jeez louise. I love chemistry, but physics just doesn’t make any sense to me! Tell her she has a strong sympathizer.
And LTdF gets me through everything.
She says her PChem lab is nuts… 12-page lab reports EVERY WEEK.
I love LTdF so much.
SOTD was Passage d’Enfer, which always makes me happy.
Love that one. I think my bottle is going off though.
SOTD = Blackbird. The black color seems to reflect the depressed mood in the office – we are shutting down our doors in couple of weeks and just found out about it yesterday.
Oh my! So sorry to hear that! Hope everyone can find a good job in short order. I never smelled Blackbird, but I’m quite sure you smell lovely!
Very sorry, Clarissa. World upside down; all hands on the perfume.
Goodness, that is a shock! Hope you find a new (better) job, or enjoy some time off. Or both
So sorry for the unsettling news!
How awful! Hope something even better comes your way soon.
Terrible news….but I hope it leads to a better situation for you! A new adventure just around the corner! (But no fun to find out that way)
Oh dear, how upsetting! Hope you can all move into something new and hopefully better!
So sorry!
Oh no! So sorry for that unexpected news!
Happy wetlands day! I’ve spent a lot of time in and around wetlands this past year ( related to research ) and have really enjoyed the scent transitions you experience as a result of the sudden, unexpected changes of air temperature… The way a cool damp air zone will suddenly hit a wall of warmth and all the scents will suddenly intensify, become richer and swampier. I love the way air currents affect scent. Wetlands have a lovely clacking sound, too, of flax and raupo ( reeds) blowing in the breeze.
Wearing Ys. Uzac Lale. Might buy this one day.
That sounds wonderful. I’m sitting at my desk but imaging myself tromping through the wetlands and hoovering up all the smells the way my dog used to.
Nice one!
Inspired by Robin, I’m wearing Rodin Olio Lusso this morning. I really do love it but it doesn’t last at all, and it’s really expensive. After my decant is gone I won’t replace it.
It’s crazy what it costs.
Wearing DSH’s wonderful new Fou d’Opium. I haven’t smelled vintage Opium in years, and I haven’t bothered with any recent versions, so I’m not able to reliably compare this to the real thing, but Fou d’Opium is a rich and wonderful fragrance for this cold and very snowy day. If I understand correctly, Dawn created this as an update of her previous Euphorisme d’Opium, which was based on the EDT of Opium; Fou is inspired by the vintage parfum. I’m getting a good hit of carnation, definite tolu, benzoin, and spice, hits of plum and peach, and a polite but very definite castoreum. It’s seductive, but mannered. Really gorgeous!
I may need to seek out a few drops of vintage Opium parfum (or even EDP) for comparison, but even if I can’t locate any, I’m more than happy to have Fou d’Opium in my collection. If you like classic Orientals, it’s well worth a sample!
Oh dear my list of things to get from Dawn is growing!
We’re such a prolific group of commenters! 250 comments and counting!
Day 2 of my count-down to a 1-star fragrance which means I get to choose from the 4-stars group. I have a ton of FBs in this category, but the one I picked for today was Chanel No.19 EDP. In hajusuuri’s guide, this is rated 6-stars.
I read TS’s entry that No.19 is heartless and can be compared to a “wire mother”. First of all, I so don’t agree with heartless but considering the “wire mother” analogy which I’ve never heard of except for the role that wire hangers played in Mommie Dearest, she may have written that piece for someone more sophisticated.
Signed Tiger Mom (not)
I’m assuming “wire mother” refers to an old experiment that placed baby monkeys with a wire or cloth “mother” for feeding. I think I recall the outcome being that they preferred snuggling with cloth “mothers” despite the fact that the wire “mother” provided nourishment.
*Actually* let me revise that slightly. I think the whole point of the study was that the wire mother provided food/warmth, but the cloth mother was soft (but didn’t provide food).
Thanks for the googleducation
I had no idea what a wire mother was so I just googled it (my guess was close). It apparently refers to “inanimate surrogate mothers for rhesus [monkey] infants made from wire and wood.” Implying Chanel is tricking us with something we may find enjoyable but it’s an imitation of the real deal. Well, I love it (I even love the Poudre flanker), so harrumph.
Interesting. My slightly different interpretation was, not that it was a trick, but that it provided fundamentals without any warmth/emotion. So the scent is the wire mother when we’d actually prefer a cloth mother. Not to say I’m agreeing with that assessment.
I think we’re interpreting it similarly, but you’re more eloquent.
The nerve – Iris Poudre is rated 3 stars, but I won’t be wearing that tomorrow. There’s another 3 star that I will wear and express my dissatisfaction with how it was rated.
Yeah, I think that whole “wire mother” comment is inappropriately applied to No. 19.
Yup, No19 was never meant to be nurturing nor cuddly nor warm so the analogy did not make sense.
Wow, that’s harsh! If No. 19 is a ” wire mother” I may as well start all over with my collection. Unlikely….Looking forward to reading the “Hajusuuri Guide”. Thank you for the reference.
Ha! It’s more like a mini guide. I am jotting down my “reviews”
love no 19!
Yes I really feel like PTG is a prime example of a certain vein of criticism (of whatever medium!) that entertains with its originality… but the same inventiveness can result in some pretty strange assessments. Richard Brody is fun for readers, but I feel for filmmakers who draw him in the NYer reviewing pool. Can really affect a release when he gives a screwball review of something, even if it’s well-received most other places.
You know, I’m looking for patterns in the star system just based on a quick visual perusal and I can be really scathing but eh, don’t have time right now. In any case, I just want to mention that with a large following, LT amd TS could be damaging to a smaller brand and really, once read, it’s hard to unsee, almost like “forgive and forget” — does one really forget.
I have been known to forget before I was ready to forgive.
Finally having some proper summer weather here. Le Temps d’une Fete yesterday (didn’t get time to comment) and Chant d’Arome today.
Le Temps d’une Fete is really lovely! You smelled good yesterday!
I’m re-testing Rhinoceros today, for no particular reason except that I wasn’t in the mood for anything else. So much for my planned one star week! I guess this almost counts since I think I rated it an almost scrubber the first time I tried it. I remember thinking that this was just new-car chemical scent. Today it’s better, still new-car leather but with an odd sweet-tea note that I’m finding interesting. It doesn’t smell natural and probably won’t make my full bottle list, but I don’t hate it like I do Panda. That scratchy bamboo in Panda really bothered me and lasted forever.
Bless your fortitude since you didn’t enjoy it much the first time. I read your earlier post about leather man. I can’t comment on LM because I honestly can’t remember if I tried it, but I really liked Mr. Dame’s Herb Man.
I am wearing a tiny spray of PG Coze as I am home sick today and nothing appeals.
Hope you feel better!
????. Me too.
I’ve been wearing Slumberhouse Grev today (2015 version). I was wearing a rather menswear inspired outfit so I wanted something stereotypically masculine to match. I really love this version of Grev! It’s such an intriguingly complex and elegant perfume, evocative of a cold and crisp foggy morning!
Clothing coordinated perfume!
Of course! Isn’t that a given?
I was looking in my closet this morning and decided to go with Lolita Lempicka Eau de Minuit, pretty much entirely because I hadn’t worn it in a long time and I decided to give it some attention. But it’s not really working for me today. I kind of wish I had just listened to my gut and worn Cuir de Lancome instead.
I am always unhappy when I don’t trust my ” gut perfume choice” but I still haven’t learned.
It’s a lesson I sometimes ignore and am never happy when I do.
SOTD is Perles de Lalique.
Perles de Lalique was one of my first purchases when I fell down the rabbit hole. A perfumista I met at the perfume counter, picked up the bottle and inhaled with eyes closed, like she was in heaven. Well I was sold! Bought through an online discounter though. ????
I just received a sampler set from Tauer yesterday. This morning’s SOTD was Une Rose Chypree. Then I had a massage which cancelled it out so now I’m sampling Incense Rose.
I love Incense Rosé. Really one of the most accessible incense perfumes going, IMO (well aside from incense perfumes that have nearly no incense at all
Looking at you Marni!)
I love both of those, they make me feel deeply happy to inhale their rosiness.
Rose Chypree is one of my favorites from that line…
RC is a beauty
I couldn’t remember what I thought of no 19 Poudre so I pulled it out of my decant bag and sprayed. It was a big old shell no. I should have stuck to wearing the original no 19. Poudre was a laundry musk mess on me.
“Shell no” – ha! I’m also worried now, because I’m anosmic to musk and love Poudre, so I bet I’m smelling it wrong. Hope I’m not musking out the office on the days I wear it. : /
I don’t like No. 19 Poudre for the same reason, the laundry musk. Mind you, I don’t hate it the way a lot of fragheads do, but it bores me.
I check in too late here on days with meetings etc!
I think I have only 1 1-star sample, which I might have to save for Friday, depending.
Trying out the 2-star Vanille Exquise, which I would prefer to be smokier (and without the woody amber that sneaks up to disagree with me in so many current perfumes) but is overall a pleasant experience for those around me, I am guessing.
Oh, is Vanille Exquise only 2 stars!? That’s a suprise for me. I really really like it! On me it is mostly woodsmoke with a bit of vanilla winding through. I was really suprised by how smoky it was. Wonders of skin chemistry I guess…
And yeah, generic woody amber is a bit of a drag… Glad I’m not gettingf any!
Never too late in perfume land!
SOTD is Chanel Coromandel. I thought I might have accidentally put on a 5 star perfume that on me is only one star, but P:TG rates it 4 stars. On me, it starts with a little burst of something vaguely citrusy, and then a sort of aggressive blandness rises up and snuffs it. After a couple of hours, there’s nothing left but a faint whiff of camphor, presumably the patchouli trying to fight its way out from underneath whatever it is that my nose can’t process. No chocolate, white or dark, no vanilla or sandalwood, nothing.
I bought 5mls from StC during the sale, and 3mls of No. 22. I have the feeling I’m going to regret not doing the opposite. Well, at least I now have something for the Swapmeet.
Sometimes Coromandel is perfect, on others, not so much. You may want to test it during different weather. For me, I only choose it on the coldest of days and then it works great for me. Not sure what weather you’re dealing with today but it has been a warm week on the east coast.
About as cold today as it gets here in So. Cal.
Oh, I see. ????
I didn’t particularly like it initially, but it has really grown on me. Now I love it.