Happy hump day! What's your fragrance today?
I'm wearing Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic. Tania Sanchez gave it 2 stars. Once again, I have no quarrel with a "delightful, fresh mandarin base" but not a "full fragrance", and objectively (ha!), I'm not sure I would give it any more than 2 1/2 or 3 stars. But in terms of how much I enjoy wearing it, how much I paid for it, and how well it fits into my own collection and / or serves the purpose for which I bought it, it's easily a 4 star fragrance, and I'm glad they did not turn it into anything other than what it is — a quick shot of happy citrus.
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 wearin Epice Marine today. Never officially graded but I have a feeling it would not impress them. Still I absurdly love it. Possibly my favorite Hermessence.
I love this one as well. I love the spices–I really get cardamom when I wear it.
Absurd love = the best kind.
Love this and use it all year round. For some reason, I get a lot of gingerbread.
If you love it, give it 5 stars! 🙂 That’s all that matters….
Also one of my favourite Hermessences, and when my (iconic or moronic) Cool Water FB runs out I think this is what will replace it.
The wonder of perfume: H Epice Marine, AG Sables and PR Acqua di Sale all remind me of the sea – but what different seas they are!
Also a favorite, but to me one for warm weather. Have to see if I can get a travel spray sooner than later.
This was a cumin-bomb on me. More for you and other fans!
Wearing J.Crew/ Arquiste No.57 on this drizzly day
Nice! I hope they are going to do more fragrances in that series.
Is Arquiste still doing fragrances for J.Crew? When the fragrances went on such deep discount last year I just assumed that they were discontinuing them.
You smell great! I also hope Arquiste and J. Crew do more boozy scents.
Nice! Love that one and you smell all kinds of boozy beautiful ????
Wearing Korrigan today. I had to bust open my new bottle.
Just have to congratulate you one more time on that score. Well done!
Nice! What a great bargain, too!
Ooh, I must have missed the story here, mind recounting again? I do love a good bargain–and Korrigan! 🙂
No worries 🙂 –“At a little boutique that sells a few perfumes and stationary I scored Korrigan for 75% off!! I asked why it was marked down and the shopkeeper explained it was to make more room for additional perfumes and Valentine’s Day inventory. FINE. BY. ME. I couldn’t believe it at first–I thought the sign wouldn’t apply to the perfume.”
Ahhhhhh! WOW. VERY nicely done. I once saw and (ugh) did not buy Korrigan for half-off, but with tax it still would have been about $100 and I felt like I would not wear it enough to justify the expense. But $45 plus tax!!
Amazing, thank you for reprising that story, I thoroughly enjoyed it 🙂
Wow! I hadn’t heard the story either, but I think you win the Perfume Hunter Prize.
It’s a tiara, right? Or fancy shirt studs.
Wow, what awesome luck! It gives me hope of finding some affordable Lubin too 🙂 (or maybe someday I’ll make so much money that the Lubins will feel affordable!)
I’m wearing Versense today. I wanted something different, and I wear this one so rarely.
You smell great!
Nice!
That’s a pretty one.
I was feeling warm and womanly today, and so went for Amouage Fate. I continue to be so grateful to the person who gave it to me – such a doll, and you know who you are!
Sending good wishes to all.
You smell great
I bet you do too dear! That J Crew didn’t work on me, but I know how your magical skin works – always lovely.
You smell feminine and divine.
Enjoy this gray NYC day!
You too! Best wishes to you and the tiny ones!
Fate is fabulous-you smell great!
Thank you! *waft waft*
Warm and womanly – sounds fabulous!
Feels good.
How goes home shopping? Are you Pinteresting to your heart’s content? 🙂
It’s going! Put an offer on a home yesterday, anxiously awaiting the seller’s response. In the meantime, lots of Pinterest! 🙂
Very exciting – crossing my fingers for you!
Happy pinning!
Wow, exciting–good luck!!
Gorgeous. I might like it even better than Lyric, which occasionally turns on me.
Two star Angelique Noire.
I am trying not to spend $ on beauty and fragrance this year but I am loving the new slim lipsticks from Chanel. Must not try or buy
I had that rule too- so I ordered the new Chanel lipstick yesterday????
What color did you get?
Congrads on the purchase
love the color in the ad- wish they would advertise which one it is
I ordered #504 Artiste
It was the orange red that Brie Larson had on at the SAG awards.
Not like all I do is watch award shows, buy Hermes scarfs to get fragrance samples and read NST.
Hahahaha 🙂
I almost cannot believe they would give AN only two stars. Crazy times! You smell beautiful.
I know- I don’t agree!
Junior approves mommy buying the Chanel lippie 😉
Wearing another beloved favorite today: Profumi del Forte Roma Imperiale
You smell great. I’ve tested RI and really enjoy it. Trying to talk myself out of a bottle.
I’m trying to talk myself out of getting several back-ups for fear of discontinuation. I’ve become a lunatic about back-ups because SO many fragrances I adore are ultimately discontinued. Or reformulated to oblivion.
This is very stupid; I know I put on a Patou, but I can’t remember whether it’s Vacances, or Sublime. Either way, really nice, but not on my wishlist.
Haha! Sublime is the Patou I should be crazy about, but don’t like. The notes and everything about it should be my style, but I can’t wear it. If you smell like lovely delicate lilacs with a cloud of green….then it’s Vacances 🙂 If it’s an aldeydic ambery oriental, then it’s Sublime.
Then Sublime it is. I kind of enjoy it, but it’s a little dense. I love 1000 and Joy. Looks like I need to try Vacances as well.
I, too, LOVE 1000 and Joy. But not Sublime.
I’ve been on the lookout for some vintage Sublime because it looks like my thing so it’s interesting to read your impressions. I rather dislike modern ambers because they all seem to be labdanum bombs and thus turn sour on me, but vintage ambers are a lot better! Usually so yummy and smooth! And I LOVE ylang!
You should try Sublime. It’s something I should love. I understand completely your feeling toward modern ambers – although I love many and wear lots of them – my favorite is Alahine which is more similar to Sublime than the modern type of labdanum bombs.
Unfortunately even Alahine is just another labdanum bomb on me… 🙁 I don’t know what it is about vintage ambers that make them so much more wearable for me, maybe amber accords in the past used resins other than labdanum… or maybe it’s the aging process…
My favorite Patou so far is Moment Supreme. I really wish I had the cash to splurge on one of those mint condition extrait stopper bottles that sometimes pop up on ebay…
Alahine a labdanum bomb? Wow, first time I ever heard that! There’s no labdanum in the notes and I don’t detect it whatsoever. If anything I’ve come to think of Alahine as an aldehydic-iris-rose-oriental – giving one the impression of amber, but it doesn’t have any of the, say, SL Ambre Sultan type of qualities.
Well, my guess is that most amber accords these days have labdanum hidden in them and it just turns them really nasty on my skin. It took me a relly long while to figure out what note was the culprit because labdanum isn’t usually in the notes lists.
I have – and adore – vintage Sublime (edp). Never was a fragrance more aptly named IMO: it is opulent, rich, voluptuous, sensual; the olfactory equivalent of gold. It is one of the few scents I keep for special occasions; it is my going-to-the-country-club old-money fragrance. I like it best in autumn, when Sublime adds its golden splendor to a magnificent day when trees wear their fall colors and the air is crisp yet warmed by sunshine.
I believe that the original Sublime was d/c but then re-released a few years ago but is not the same (based on what I’ve read, I haven’t tried the newer version. ) There is also an edt version of the original Sublime, which lacks its rich golden essence.
I’ve got to retest Vacances in good weather. I have a mini and I think my expectations were just too high–I found it fine but underwhelming. Sob.
W)#(* (*u!!!!
If you don’t want that mini, for heaven’s sake sell it to me!
(pantpant)
(momentary freakout)
(sorry)
Hahahahahahahaha I know I’m the worst–yes ok it’s official, I will try it one more time this spring and if it still doesn’t do anything for me, I’ll know where to find it a happier home 🙂
(PS actually–is your email working these days? I have some other things for you also!)
Thanks for the laugh, mals. 🙂
I really like the Patou fragrances- they compete with the grand dame Chanels for me! I happen to like Sublime very much- It’s very sexy on me, and I have worn it a few times in the summertime for night events.
My reaction to Sublime is the opposite of yours – I’m not fond of floral fragrances nor orange blossom, ylang ylang or white floral notes in general, yet I was totally smitten by Sublime the first time I tried it and have loved it ever since! I had the same reaction to AG Songes (edp); I only tried it because I’d heard so much about it but did not expect to like it at all. Instead, I fell hard for it the first time I tried it and adore it, too. The joy of perfume surprises!
I thought I’d love Sublime, too, but for some reason I smelled pickles. Not a loud note, but an insistent one.
I have to admit I laughed, because those two are way dissimilar. (I also admit that I’ve had the same thing happen to me when I’m not very familiar with a house line. “Which one of these similar-looking vials did I use?”)
Is your sample of the 2015 version, or earlier? I really love the old 80’s Ma Collection Vacances – it was rereleased last year and I blind-bought a split, hoping the refo would be close to as good as the old stuff, but it’s not, in my opinion. What I loved about it was the green notes with the lilac and other florals, and the overall tender feeling of it. There was musk in it, but of a kind that did not smell like detergent, and a tiny touch of sandalwood too. The new one skips the green (first strike) and amps up a white musk so soapy the thing practically bubbles (second strike). It’s also missing the mimosa that softened the whole thing, so that was the third strike and I’m terribly disappointed in it.
I never tried the 2015 Vacances because I figured I would be incredibly disappointed. Reading your assessment confirms that I made the right decision.
Drat, that’s very disappointing but very useful to know, thank you for passing along that info!
Well, I ordered these samples and Sublime was one of them, but I kept confusing the name with Vacances (which I’ve never tried). It’s my first try of Sublime, and it’s not a huge success. It’s sort of indigestible to me.
Oh, and my sample is a very recent purchase, so around 2015
Mals, can you please email me at my user name at me dot com? I have one of those Vacances minis lying around I’d be happy to send you. Thanks!
I am wearing another AA, Teazzura (three stars in the Style Arabia column). Too clean, too fresh, too dull. I would give it one and a half stars myself.
I am drinking more organic black tea from Vietnam.
Three starts for that one?? wow!
I am really surprised that one got more stars than MB. But different reviewers, so…
My tea at the moment: Kenilworth Estate Ceylon Pekoe, from Upton.
Two stars too many. I had a sample of Teazzura and thought it was just plain awful. I agree with Robin.
Me too. It started nicely but soon turned horrid on my skin.
I am sure I’d only begrudgingly give it 1.
You are very generous. ????
Didn’t you comment that it reminded you of a Glade candle? An apt description.
Two 1-star-rated fragrances for me today:
Pre-shower, I’m testing Cabotine (and not enjoying it much I must say… When I saw it in the list, I got it confused with Grain de Folie which I found quite fun if I remember correctly)
Post-shower will be Armani Code, which is one of the first bottles I bought myself as a teenager. The SA had told me it was a bit much for someone my age (and she probably was right, since a decade later the bottle is still about 3/4 full), but my emotional response was very strong (plus I loved the design of the bottle!) so I bought it nonetheless.
Hmm, I don’t think Armani code is a bit much. Though I am not sure how old you were
About 16 years old, I think.
I still like the scent, but I have to apply it carefully: not on my neck, otherwise I feel smothered by it quite quickly. I tend to apply a spritz on my lower back.
I should add that I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to sweet and spicy perfumes!
And that I don’t know if the review in TPG is for the Men’s or Women’s version (I have the latter).
Lower back for stronger scents – great idea!
I also love Armani Code, I have a bottle from years ago. I also love the shower gel. I think I love it more then the perfume, it is very strong stays with me for a long time .
Oooh! Sounds nice!
You’ve piqued my interest. I’m going to try Code the next time I’m somewhere that carries it.
Wearing Penhaligon’s Ostara. Weather here is supposed to be in the fifties, and rain buckets. Ostara is perfect.
Enjoy that Ostara! We’ve got rain too.
Wearing “Wulong Cha” from Nishane. It’s a very nice fresh smell out of the bottle and does smell ‘of tea’ although not ‘like tea’. After about 4 hours it has faded down to a close skin scent. It would probably perform better on other skin – as I run through my stash of 2ml samples it’s looking like only fairly robust incense, leather and wood survive on me.
There was an in-house perfume sale yesterday where I was able to get Penhaligon Bayolea less than half price, plus some Annick Goutal shower gels for half nothing. Finished off with a speculative small bottle of Romeo Gigli for men (a sad echo of the 1991 per uomo) and 15ml of AG Musc Nomade for £5. Slightly laughing at myself for buying a musk known for its will-o-the-wisp character when I suspect I’m anosmic to musk anyway… :^)
I’m working my way through the Nishane sampler as well, and haven’t tried that one yet. I too have scent-eating skin, so we’ll see how it fairs.
What are your thoughts on the rest? I like the Musiqa Oud, but I tend to like oud anyway. Someone on Fragrantica commented that it smelled like one of my Guerlain favorites, Songe d’un Bois d’Ete.
I actually got this sample as part of an annual subscription to Blooms perfumery, one of 6 for January. Their selection not mine, so a good way to get exposed to new things. I may spring for the whole sample set later, as based on this one they seem decent quality and a bit out of the ordinary. How are you finding them?
I received the sampler as a very generous Christmas gift, but I’m not sure I would have sprung for this myself. The Ambra Calabria was pretty, though not necessarily my thing, and the Afrika Olifant was a fun, musky thing. And of course the Oud. I liked the Santalove as well, but I’ll have to try it again to give a proper review. As for all the florals, I need to work my way through them. Promise to report back!
Musc Nomade is very strong on me – obviously I am not anosmic to whatever is in there!
I am curious to see how I get on with it. It’s a splash bottle so not doing anything until I get home and decant it into a spray.
I have the same problem with some perfume houses who send out splash samples. I’ve ordered a batch of 2ml plastic spray atomisers. If that works, I’m tempted to buy a batch of 1,000 from Alibaba for about $25 – might be fun to offer batches of 20 at freebiemeet. 🙂
Not a bad idea, we did that years ago on basenotes with 2ml screwtop vials. Extremely useful.
SOTD: Equistrius. Love love love love love this one! This was one of the samples I received this week from Luckyscent.
I noticed they only offer the 100ml bottles at Luckyscent, so I emailed Parfum d’Empire directly, to ask about the availability of a 50ml bottle. Was so tickled to receive a lovely message back, to “Madam”, telling me they would ship me a 50ml bottle “exceptionally” if I wish! 🙂 I am guessing that shipping will make it cost as much as the 100ml, but I appreciate the good customer service and will definitely be buying a bottle one of these days, either directly or from Luckyscent….
Avoir une belle , douce odeur Mercredi ! (Have a lovely, sweet smelling Wednesday!) 🙂
Merci beaucoup! Vous aussi!
You as well Madam!
What?! 50ml bottles can still be had?! Holy cow, would love both Equistrius and Cuir Ottoman in that size. I’m going to my corner to weep now…no buy means NO BUY! I keep chanting that in my head like the crazy woman I am. Life is hard 😉
I was so tempted to blind buy this during the MiN sale a couple of months ago. I’m pretty sure it was a 50 ml bottle, but I may be mis-remembering.
It was a 50 ml bottle. I did buy it but had tested it beforehand. I believe they are sold out now.
Love Equistrius. You smell great!
Wonderful customer service! My sample of Equistrus is in the mail, and I expect to love it!
Well, they emailed me with a price of 74 Euros (includes shipping), which is about $84 USD. Not bad. Will wear the sample for a few days and think it over….
I did vow NOT to buy anything this quarter….but that went out the window a while back! 🙂
Oh nice! Since $100 is the new free, that’s basically a $16 cash back 😉 #perfumemath
I found a used bottle on Ebay….I bid on it. That amount would be just right for me. I usually get outbid though, and I won’t chase it! 🙂
It would be a lot of fun to get a nice package directly from Paris!
Yes, I am totally in favor of partial bottles too. Good luck with the auction!
If I get my sample and love it before you decide, maybe we could make a multiple order?
How nice! It’s such a treat when you feel like you’re getting personalized customer service anymore.
SOTD: Eau de Lalique
Eau de Lalique is such a lovely cologne. I got a bottle years ago, and often wear it to bed.
I wore it last night too. I really should reach for it more often than I do.
I like it better than the Mugler Cologne, which I find somewhat similar; subtract the “steam” and a bit of the florals, and add that delicious touch of dill.
Pre-shower, I am wearing vintage Bal EDC. This one seems to be my pre-shower perfume but after my shower, I think I will dig out vintage Mitsouko. It may be in the 50’s today but it’s cloudy and rainy today.
In the spirit of the week, I’m wearing Chanel Gardenia. It’s not a 1-star fragrance for me, I find it quite pretty, but it really is boring and doesn’t smell like gardenia. At all.
Try Dame Perfumery’s Gardenia if you really want an authentic gardenia….
I’m very curious about this one. The only truly authentic gardenia I know is TF Velvet Gardenia and that’s continued, of course.
How did you like Tauer’s, I wonder? (I am no gardenia expert so I really have no idea if it’s true-to-life, but I do find it nicely lush.)
The dry down of Iris Nobile is creamy white flower- i’m no expert, but LT describes it as such; “..drying down to a beautiful clean gardenia accord, which is unusual.”
Oh, horror. It should of course say ‘discontinued’.
Thanks for the tip.
Are you wearing the EdT or the extrait?
The EDT, unfortunately. Is the extrait much better?
No. It’s still boring and dorsn’t smell like gardenia.
🙂
Thanks, this is good to know.
That’s very good to know! I wondered whether it was worth buying a sample of the extrait. Merci!
Well, that is what I have been wondering 🙂 It is the case with Beige and Jersey.
It is a very pretty fragrance! I agree though, it doesn’t smell like gardenias.
That’s my feeling too. Wish it had a different name, then it’d just be a pretty if tame floral instead of a disappointing gardenia! (Still wouldn’t account for how much T&S hated it but!)
Someone told me to try Guerlain Cruel Gardenia as a replacement for my beloved discontinued Love, Chloe. I haven’t smelled Guerlain Cruel Gardenia in ages – does anyone think there’s some similarity to Love, Chloe? Is Cruel G a cosmetic-y, slightly powdery light white floral with perhaps a rice note?
Please ignore my above comment. Clearly I wasn’t reading carefully and my mind went straight to Guerlain Cruel Gardenia even though you are wearing Chanel Gardenia.
Well, I didn’t like Love, Chloe (there’s a baby-aspirin/Tang-dust note in there that I usually hate whenever I encounter it), but I did like Cruel Gardenia. Which is not, I agree, very gardenia but is a pretty, cold-creamy, makeup-powdery soft white floral. I don’t remember a rice note.
I will revisit Cruel Gardenia, then. I think I have a decant somewhere.
I can see how you’d smell baby aspirin/tang in Love, Chloe, but I will try not to think of it ever again lest it ruin the wearing of the 6 back-up bottles I have acquired! On me, that tangy quality is nice and what makes it veer far away from the suffocating powder/doll head thing I detest so much.
I like Cruel Gardenia as well and your description is spot on. Not much gardenia but I like it nevertheless.
Another lover of Love, Chloe here. I’ve never tried Cruel Gardenia, but given the $$$ price tag versus the low price of still-available Love on discount sites, I choose to stock up on Love.
Don’t even get me started. I’ll probably order more Love, Chloe back-ups today. I just can’t find anything similar enough to warrant a replacement. It’s my Go-To Office Friendly scent, year-round. I empty about 1 bottle per year (the 75 ml large bottle).
Nice! I’m on my fourth bottle (although the first two were smaller). By far my most-used perfume over the years.
I read that as 11 bottles per yr and choked…
For what it’s worth, I almost cannot smell Cruel Gardenia. I will try again one day, but when I sprayed it at the boutique, it just wasn’t really there. But many people like it.
For those looking for an authentic and great gardenia the review below says it all….she also reviews the five other Dame Perfumery Soliflores….
http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Scented-Snippets-New-Fragrances-Review-Dame-Perfumery-SOLIFLORES-When-Linear-Grows-Lovelier-7388.html
You summed up that scent perfectly. It doesn’t smell like gardenia, but it is definitely pretty.
Dame Perfumery’s Tuberose. As I don’t have much experience with niche or the various niche perfumers’ interpretations of tuberose I cannot reference any niche fragrance. What I can say is that the dry down is gorgeous and very reminiscent of the Fracas I wore in the 1980s (I guess that would be considered vintage as I am sure it has been reformulated).
I have been thinking about my perfume wearing for such a long time (over 4 decades) as well as my current collection and what I want to focus on this year. I realized that 99% of my collection of both full bottles and samples are what I am saving and hardly ever wear due to the vintage status and/or discontinuation I also have several bottles that originally belonged to family members that somehow ended up in my possession. In actuality I only have one bottle that I would feel comfortable wearing without fear of draining and I plan on returning my other bottles to their original owners. I want to go back to how I used to enjoy my fragrances…8-10 bottles at a time and when one is drained I just purchase something else from my list of “wants” to replace it. So I am going to work my way through the soliflores of Dame Perfumery and when I find the perfect one I am going to treat myself to a full bottle for spring. I appreciate that they are so affordable (3.3 oz for$65) and I feel better supporting a one man business (versus a very large corporation or a niche company that has been bought out by a large corporation).
This is why I love buying from Andy Tauer – a one man operation with a lot of heart and integrity.
As for saving things, I don’t do that any more. Wear it, use it up and enjoy it is my motto. When it’s gone, enjoy the memory!
But I used to wear perfume like you, 8-10 bottles at a time and I drained them all. It is a simpler approach that takes up less mental space.
I could say the same for Mr. Dame- heart and integrity. The first week of December I ordered three full bottles as Christmas presents. By December 22 the USPS still had not delivered them. Mr. Dame called me to let me know he would mail out a second set one day rush so that my recipients would have their gifts by Christmas as we both assumed the original packages were lost by the USPS. Wouldn’t you know it the originals arrived on December 23 and the second set on December 24. Mr. Dame insisted all three individuals keep their second bottles gratis (even though two actually offered to pay him!).
I respect that and for that reason I will support his business as I do also like the fragrances!
Cheers to a thoughtful life. Live with intention, but be willing to let go when necessary. 🙂
Great words to live by!
I don’t have a very big collection (15 bottles) so I don’t have too much problem wearing and enjoying what I do have. However, I really like the idea of finding and following a single, small perfume company rather than a corporation. I collect NZ artist jewellery and one of the interesting things is seeing the transition from slightly rough and visionary at the start of a jeweller’s career to becoming highly skilled with certain recurring thematic preoccupations further down the track. I guess the same is probably true with perfumers. I think I like the pre-slick phase best, when things are a bit wobbly skill wise but bursting with talent and vision. The perfume house I now follow is Ys.Uzac … ( Tauer doesn’t ship here)
It’s wonderful following the beginnings of very talented individuals….I like this idea of going back to really thinking about my perfume collection and amassing no more than 10 bottles….curious, which 15 do you own?
I had a friend visit last week so managed to give her some of my stragglers, the perfumes that I don’t wear often. I do love getting rid of things or passing them on to friends. So, as of today, I have: Pohadka (and would like Lale and BOM Incense, though I wouldn’t have to have them), Daim Blond (it’s useful), Rahat Loukoum (might not replace), Un Bois Vanille (like but won’t replace), Skive (cause it’s butch), Kyoto (a keeper), Cristalle ( I love the bitterness), Chanel 5 Eau Premiere (won’t replace), CB At the Beach (won’t replace it but I like the glass stopper), All Good Things, Kerbside Violet (i.e. won’t keep either but 2 cheap and interesting scents), Feu D’Issey Miyake (will keep as long as possible), Ostara (won’t keep it), Guerlain L’Instant (won’t keep it after mid-March). If I could, I would like my old Yohji Yamamoto back (I don’t like tall bottles so gave it away) , plus all the Serge Lutens and Hermes I gave away to a starving artist friend with an expensive taste in perfume – esp.Serge Lutens and Hermes ( I miss Chergui and Filles en Aiguilles, and Chene….but maybe I don’t? And all the Hermes).I would love to try all the Andy Tauer scents, plus the Hermes and Chanel posh ones (exclusifs etc.). Plus, I’d like something orange.
Oh I love your list although I am not familiar with all of them….I fell down the rabbit hole in 1970 so most of my “loves” are what I remember of vintage…when they first came out and when I first bought them directly from department stores with top notes intact ….(why I fear buying from e-bay as I hear top notes are off and the original blast is not as remembered)…have you tried vintage Cristalle? The current version is not like the one I wore in the late 70s…a few years ago I found a store that sold old Chanels and they were in quite good condition…I got Cristalle and blew through it in two months…gosh, I wish I had saved at least a sample vial! And wow! you have Feu D”Issey!!! I don’t know if fragrancenet ships to where you are but they have some amazing prices on the Serge Lutens if you are ever looking to replace the ones that you so generously and graciously gave away.
I had never tried Cristalle until last year ( thanks to the cool NST girl gang ) so can’t compare. I like perfume to be a bit rough around the edges and I don’t really take the idea of collecting as seriously as I should. If you had asked me about my bottles six months ago it would have had a lot of Byredo , L’artisan and AG….and before that SL and Hermes…and 15 years ago Helmut Lang, CDG and Guerlain…so it shifts all the time ( like sands through the old hour glass). I am on my last bottle of Feu d’Issey….the little red rubbery ball bottle.
Kanuka, I can ship you Tauer if you want them. Or Tauer samples. I think Luckyscent has a lot of them.
That’s really kind but I get a kind of perverse thrill from not being able to have or smell some perfumes. The sense of longing and imagining is more powerful than the reality …I want them to remain out of reach.
I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Dame soliliflores and agree with your comments below on his perfumery and customer service – I try to ‘shop locally’ as much as possible and support the little guy/gal and he and SSS are my choices in this category. I worked my way through his edt’s and treated myself to a FB of the Cassis, Rose, and Sandalwood, my favorite. I’m usually not fond of florals (being a woods/spice/moss lover) but do enjoy a nice soliliflore when the mood strikes me. I’m really interested in the rose and osmanthus ones and may treat myself to some samples.
Love SSS too! But her prices have gone up significantly from when I first discovered her (17 ml used to be only $34 years ago) so I usually just buy the 5ml travels when I have an SSS craving…
I like all of the DAmes and love many…I have gifted about 8 full bottles to family and friends based on what I think they would like…I think the Cassis , Rose and Sandalwood is beautiful and that probably will be what I get for my mom for Mother’s day…..tomorrow I will test out the Mimosa …..the rose one to my nose is very pretty…reminds me of Chloe…the osmanthus first whiff is very citrusy but the drydown is tea-like and interesting….it strikes me as “unisex” so I might purchase for my dad for Father’s Day…( yes, I basically “inherited” my perfume addiction!)
Oh, thanks so much! I often tend to favor fragrances that are unisex or border on masculine, so the osmanthus one sounds intriguing . . .
SOTD is ELDO Bijou Romantique. This is such a lovely rich scent. This morning it made me think of “Do I Want To Know,” by Artic Monkeys and I set the Pandora list for Morphine. So: sexy/longing.
Love that Arctic Monkeys song.
Ha, now torn between whether I do or don’t want to go listen to that song! 🙂
Bijou Romantique is very, very good IMO. I’m surprised there’s not more constant singing of its praises. To me it’s really *the* heir to Shalimar.
So I had a full bottle I tried to love for about six months and then wound up reselling it on eBay… to me it was more Lou Lou than Shalimar. On me more amber/vanilla + hints of coconut than lemon chiffon. I am weird about vanillas.
Yes you know it was really interesting to see what everyone named as their preferred Shalimar relative on Friday; it really brought home to me that what people identify as the essential Shalimary quality of Shalimar can vary a lot! For instance, I only recently got the lemon chiffon thing at all (from the EDC), and instead I think my “idea” of Shalimar has a lot to do with the guerlainade. And I do think Bijou is probably the closest one can come to that in a contemporary, non-Guerlain perfume. All that said, I actually don’t wear it either (not being a guerlainade fan) so I certainly know it’s not for everyone!! 🙂 I just think it’s very cool–for the sake of the art form, almost–to see a brand doing that kind of classically-influenced work.
For what it’s worth, I do like Bijou Romantique and people have complimented, or asked me what me what perfume I was wearing.
Thanks Katrina, great song.
Oakland, not weird (at least to me) – sweetness needs contrast. An old review of Robin’s, I believe, refers to a strong Pampers note in Shalimar that I also get. Any citrus is lost to me.
Trying this vintage looking Aramis at the discounter. It is under masculine shelf, but feels like Miss Dior Originale or Cabochard for most parts? Is this what is meant by a chypre?
Yes, those three are all chypres. Aramis and Cabochard are leather chypres and both were created by the same perfumer – Bernard Chant.
SOTD is Chergui. It’s pouring down rain, and after the day I had yesterday I needed some comfort, badly.
Hope the Chergui is giving the much needed comfort and that today is a good day.
Thank you! Chergui is as comforting as ever; the olfactory version of a hug. Today is…well it’s better than yesterday, so I’m grateful for that.
Hang in there.
Thanks!
Feel better!
Thank you!
Hope things improve soon.
Thanks! They’re still rocky, but definitely better than yesterday.
Hope you feel better!
I’m in vintage (I think) Femme. It came in a black lace patterned box and has no detectable cumin (important for me, since I don’t even like cumin in my food). It’s a little gift set with a parfum mini and a “parfum de toilette”. The parfum de toilette has the strangest spray mechanism I’ve ever encountered (that, at least, is definitely vintage). It’s one of those fragrances that’s hard to find on your arm but that leaves a soft plum/leather/iris cloud around me. The parfum is more aggressively plum & leather.
I don’t like cumin either (in food yes, but not in perfume) but Femme is awesome! I can smell the cumin in it if I try but it’s so blended with the rest that it doesn’t bother me at all. Femme is cumin done right!
Maybe I’ll get myself a sample to see the difference!
It might be the older stuff, yes – parfum de toilette was a term that sort of died out around the mid-80s, and I don’t think they reworked Femme to that cuminy version until 1989.
Good to know! I’ve recently starting getting interested in vintage, but know basically nothing about which packaging / bottles / concentrations come from when.
I had a decant from the late 80s and it was a cumin bomb!
Wearing good old 2-star David Yurman.
Haven’t smelled it – would you rate it higher than Turin & Sanchez?
Oh yes, I really like it. It’s a citrusy, almost sour rose — closest thing I can compare it to is Rose Splendide.
Hmm, might need to steer a friend towards it then, as that sounds like her kind of thing. Thanks for your take!
I am united with you in really enjoying this fragrance. I believe it should get lots more love! Even richer and more delicious in the extrait which can be had for less the 25 clams…..
I’m wearing 31 Rue Cambon today which makes it a very good day for me 😉
We’re back to temps in the 50s in NYC, just nuts! Went out in a puffer and didn’t have time to turn back and exchange it for something lighter.. definitely not a puffer day. I expect also to shed the sweater I have layered over a blouse pretty soon.
You smell lovely dear!
She does!
Thank you, both!
We are having equally odd weather in London – and clothing choices are really tough. You smell great and made me wish I had put on 31 RC this morning.
We have the windows open in our bedroom- spring like temperatures
Scent twins!
Had a heavily spiced dinner last night, and happily went with Mohur for today to enhance with what is likely emanating from my skin.
🙂
That sounds like a lovely combination. And now I want Indian food…
Great choice 😉
Scent twins! Wafting hi!
Penhaligon’s Empressa is my SOTD.
I still have a nagging cough left over from a bronchial infection. It may have been a bad decision to put this one on this morning.
Its very pretty, but making me cough.
I’m feeling you on that nagging cough and had a similar experience while sampling Lubin Black Jade. I was coughing all night (not from the Lubin) and feel hungover today 🙁 I hope you feel better soon. Coughs are a drag and the more you cough, the worse it seems to get.
You both smell lovely. Curious if you like Black Jade, despite the fact that it made you cough? Not a good sign.
I think the beginning was a bit fizzy-aldehydes maybe?-hence the cough. I wasn’t wowed. I’d say it’s in the same vein as Marni or Paestum Rose, also sheer, with a bit more spiced sweetness in the drydown. It’s perfectly pleasant but for the price it wasn’t different enough. I love the bottle, though.
That cough is the worst. Hope you’re both done with it soon.
Thank Siciliana! I know you’re all too familiar with respiratory misery…
I almost wore a sample of Empressa today…tomorrow I shall…haven’t tried it yet.
How do you find it please? Hope you feel better.
Mona di Orio Ambre today. I am pretty sure this was reformulated as the first sample I had was very powdery, but this bottle is less powdery and more resiny. I like it a lot better than that first batch.
Then it’s the rare thing that has been improved with reformulation!
Wearing both SL Sa Majeste la Rose and Aerin Lauder Lilac Path today. Trying to smell like a whole garden, I guess. It’s an experiment. 🙂
Still waiting to hear back about the offer we put in on the country house yesterday. Stress!
Good luck on the offer – was this the one with the beautiful grounds? I am really tempted by quite a few of the Aerins.
Yup, three acres with a mix of green lawn, lush gardens, and woods. I’m trying not to get too attached until it’s a done deal.
Oh, sounds divine, good luck!
Good luck
Thank you! We’re offering a little under asking, so they may turn it down, but it’s been on the market for 5 months with no price drop.
Crossing fingers for your house! Meanwhile you smell great, “all the flowers” sounds like a great approach to me 🙂
🙂
They’re working very nicely together!
How do you like Lilac Path?
Lilac Path is a new FB for me and I like (not love) it. Sometimes I need an easy, “like” perfume. It’s a very pretty, straightforward lilac with good longevity. By the end of the day, it can feel a bit monotonous, which is why I thought to layer with Sa Majeste La Rose today (another pretty scent that can also feel monotonous to me). They work very nicely together.
I am so EXCITED for you! *crosses fingers*
Thank you! 🙂
Wearing La Fummee Classique again today, it feels warming and thoughtful against intermittent cold rain.
I’m wearing Roma 1963 by 4160 Tuesdays. I’m wearing florals combined with leather and wanted a perfume to match. Well, Roma has tobacco rather than leather together with the florals, but almost is good enough!
Can’t say that I smell the tobacco very much though. It is mostly creamy florals with some chocolate and a bit of lime. Really gorgeous!
Hmmm… that sounds terrific!
It topped off at 81 degrees in my house yesterday. I refused to turn on the AC because I am refusing to participate in summer weather in winter. Rant over!
Wore Eau de Missions to spin class and now about to jump in the shower and perusing my collection (such as it is) to see what I want post ablutions. I think SSS Forest Walk will work- it’s supposed to be another unseasonably warm day and FW is quite cool and collected.
On a sort of scent topic, I came home yesterday to see my neighbors roof carpeted with Turkey Buzzards- they were slipping and sliding and making all kinds of clickity-clack noises as they scrambled for purchase on the asphalt shingled roof. T-Rex and I watched them for quite a while as more joined the party and landed in the towering slash pine in my side yard. They have an astonishing sense of smell and know when a carcass is “just right”- they lose interest when things begin to putrify, so says wiki. Amazingly graceful in flight but a bull in a china shop on the ground hopping around.
It was quite atmospheric and I was waiting for Flannery O’Connor to pop out from behind a tree or bush.
Loving this comment… turkey buzzards AND Flannery O’Connor.
Ditto. Thank you for this.
How exciting to see that! The most we get are city pigeons pooping on our fire escape.
Ha! We have plenty of those too ????
We have loads of turkey buzzards… if I sit outside reading, they swoop in to check if I’m alive or potentially buzzard lunch 😉
I know! When I first got T-Rex, we were out in the back yard and suddenly she sits, nose pointed straight up to the sky, not moving a muscle. I followed her gaze, as you do when you see someone looking up at the sky, to see a huge Turkey Buzzard circling, circling, circling lower… I think they were sizing each other up!
But apparently, lucky for T-Rex, they never prompt the kill, they’re just the clean up crew. I think you’re safe. Maybe your perfume was wafting up on the thermals and they found it irresistible ????
Brilliant! Wish I could have seen that. Lucky you. And a Flannery O Connor perfume! Peacocks or Wise Blood? Would be amazing.
Indeed- and Misfit would be a great name for a scent that skews masculine!
Yes. But then then someone in marketing would insist on flankers with horrid names like Ms Fit and Miss Fitbit and before you know it a Southern quirky ‘intellectual’Marilyn Monroe lookalike would be the face of the scent and the peacocks would be pink…
When I’m running short of humor I can always count on perfume friends. 🙂
????
So true!
It’s grey and samp and mild here today. DelRae Wit is making hopeful for an early spring.
I got a Luckyscent order yesterday and tested out Salome. I’m kind of in awe of it and think it lives up to the skank hype. It’s oddly alluring but not sure I’d wear it out, though.
LOVE Wit.
I’m enjoying it. It reminds me of a cross between Songes and Ostara where it’s sweet and round but with a slight hay-like quality.
I haven’t tried Salome, but that’s generally how I feel about any amount of skank. interesting, but I cannot wear it myself.
I can do some skank, like Femme, but this really smells like Salome’s knickers after bathing in flowers and a hot night of dancing 😉
Ha.
I’ve not tried Salome, but have sampled AG Mon Parfum Cherie par Camille. I get the impression they may be similar. Anyone tried them both?
I haven’t tried the AG but from what I’ve tried that I can compare it too: Jubilation 25 or Femme with the indoles and sweaty cumin/cedar dialed way up.
The AG MPCPC is much heavier on the patch, but Salome has more tenacity. The AG is a bit drier too, as I recall.
Thanks, guys. Not crazy about indoles, so guess I lean toward AG. One thing less to sample. 🙂
Did a dab of Salome via a sample and then passed it on quickly!
It’s definitely a polarizing one.
I’m also in Wit – inspired after passing an enormous Daphne bush just about to bloom on my walk yesterday. I almost always enjoy whichever fragrance I choose each day, however Wit is the only one that utterly astounds me with its beauty each time I wear it.
I don’t think I’ve ever smelled Daphne, but if this is what it smells like, we sure do smell great!
Winter Daphne has pink fragrant flowers that bloom just when I’m starting to crave springtime. Check one out next time you pass a plant nursery. I have two in my front yard and will plant more this spring.
SOTD is Parfums del Rae Debut. The weather here is bitter cold and dreary. I needed some springtime.
Um, DelRae. Don’t know how I messed that up.
Perfume house twins!
We are starting an impromptu project today that I suspect will end up being huge. After cleaning out the “scrap wood” pile in the tractor shed yesterday, we decided to use it to reinforce the potting shed. The potting shed is a Frankenstein of an old shed that was original to the property, and was probably a very nice little workshop in 1955. These days it’s home to mice, mud daubers, broken pots, rusty tools, and lots of rotting wood and metal scraps that have been used to patch it over the years.
I’ve decided that I need something strong enough to last the day, but not so opulent as to distract me. Azemour (again) it is!
That sounds like a huge project! But you smell fantastic, and good luck.
50 degrees and raining here! SOTD = Apres l’Ondee. I found my tiny sample of vintage parfum, dabbed a bit, and sprayed my current EDP liberally on my dusty pink cashmere sweater and hair. Ahhhh! Very few things smell better than this!
You smell lovely.
Sounds lovely for a rainy day. You smell great!
Copied meredifay in Apres l’Ondee. It’s a drizzly day here so I went with it. I couldn’t smell AlO by itself due to a stuffy head so I just added a small spritz of L’Heure Bleue.
Gorgeous! Dusty pink is my favorite color and of course I adore Apres l’Ondee.
Ooh, you smell fantastic!
I must try that one some time. I’ve heard such good things about it. And your sweater sounds lovely!
I wanted a makeup/rose scent this morning, and picked Lipstick Rose, but I think I actually wanted Guet-Apens. Still, I smell pretty, pretty good!
You do smell pretty darn good
I really enjoy LR. After I shower, I may wear It today and copy you.
Eleebelle, what would you say is the difference between the two?
I’ll report back when I get home tonight and have a chance to compare the two side-by-side
LR has a plasticky smell I don’t care for; Attrape-Coeur/Guet-Apens is much more powdery.
I tried both side-by-side and it actually made me appreciate Lipstick Rose even more. LR starts out a little harsh and fizzy but quiets down after a little while to be kind of waxy and synthetic (which is just right, considering it’s referencing lipstick). Guet-Apens is sweeter and more floral, and is more powdery (versus waxy). GA also has an occasional whiff of something a little dirty, which is pretty fabulous.
Anyone try the new Lipstick On by Maison Martin Margiela?
I didn’t see it last time I was at Sephora, but I’m very curious
Again today, with the unseasonably warm weather, I’m wearing something that I normally reserve for spring. Montana Parfum d’Homme
Someone yesterday mentioned Cologne du 68, and I thought, “I have an FB of that. Why don’t I wear it more?” So I sprayed some on today. It’s quite nice (citrussy-spicy-sweet), and rather light, so it would be a good choice for places where one must be discreet about wearing scent.
I forget to wear it too.
Another reason why the SOTD post is so good! It prompts me to remember scents I’ve got that I’ve not worn in a while.
I really like that one, but I can see how some would forget it. I think it works as a great summer scent.
I’m sort of in a two star that I forgot about–Cashmere Mist deodorant. Luca characterizes the perfume as “dull floral.” The deodorant is definitely a dull floral. I suspect the perfume is much nicer. And in a two star of my rating, Eau de Bangalore by Cinq Mondes… a fairly simple orange vanilla cardamom (actually, that sounds more interesting than the scent) that would be nice as a hair mist–fragrance claims to be a body and hair mist. It lasts about 90 seconds on skin and 91 seconds on hair. Speed scenting.
I really hate Cashmere Mist. I might be the only person on earth who actually dislikes it, but there it is…
I am the second person on earth. I don’t know what is in it, but something there annoys me like crazy.
Well the deodorant is really really unremarkable!
That’s why I love it – it works well and doesn’t clash with my perfume. 🙂
Third hater here 🙂
Make that four! Cashmere Mist was one of the things I jettisoned in the first freebie meet.
Five
Six. It’s like wearing an itchy sweater.
I find Cashmere Mist to be really nondescript, but my adorable hubby loves it – he finds it to be a soft and sexy scent on me, so I wear it a lot at home for him. 🙂 Although, perhaps just from all the associations with happy loving events, I have a more positive response to it now, than I used to, when it just seemed meh.
happy loving events = four stars!
And that’s fine!
My husband has an inordinate fondness for MJ Daisy.
Gotta love a woman who can laugh at her own objectivity. Go, Robin. 🙂
It appears I own three 2-star scents. I wore (by chance) AA Angelique Lilas on Saturday. Yesterday was Nasomatto Absinth, and today it’s JM 154 Cologne. None gets frequent wear, but then where’s the fun in that? On to the (two) 1-stars tomorrow.
So last week I had a lunch date and wore Lou Lou, and everything went very well. Today I have a lunch date with same person. At first I was going to wear Lou Lou again, then I thought, Oh No! I could possibly be locking myself into wearing the same thing all the time. I simply cannot have that! clearly, my priorities are askew. So I am wearing Coco. A little sexy, and interesting. Also perfect for a very wet, and windy day.
My husband fell in love with me when all I wore was Coco….!
Have fun!
Ohh, keep us posted! I love real life romance. Personally, I don’t have much experience with it, but I’m quite adept at living vicariously through others 🙂
I think it went well. I had a nice time, and he said I smelled really good. which, of course is the truth:)
Sending good wishes your way.
I just tried Chanel No 22 yesterday and I am truly in love. CRAZY love. Like, I spent part of the day yesterday wondering why I have hundred of other perfumes and want to get rid of them.
That passed, but the love remains. STC had that Chanel sell-out of their inventory and I got 2- 15ml decants. I guess I knew that I would like it, but that dry down is amazing.
Before that, I was going crazy trying to figure out what the Cartier Fougueuse IV smelled like and kept thinking it was a Chanel I wore in the 70s. Like 19 or Cristalle which seems ridiculous in their present formulations. But the Cartier is beautiful and I thought I was in love with that.
I was just waiting for No 22 the next day.
Friday I’ll be on to either: Emeraude, Farnesiana, Flowerbomb, Chanel Gardenia, Light Blue, Mayotte/Mahora, Omnia Green Jade, PRIVATE COLLECTION YLANG YLANG, Vent Vert or Voile de Jasmin (which was one of my faves before falling down the rabbit hole).
New perfume love is the BEST!
So exciting.
I had a similar response to No 22.
I just bought a sample of No. 22 Extrait, which is nice. Can anyone comment about which formulation is better?
I can only comment on vintage of both…I always preferred the EDT….
Victoria says extrait. I may never know:
http://boisdejasmin.com/2007/01/chanel-no-22-fragrance-review.html
Rats, I was wondering if I should have also ordered the edt. Thanks to both of you for responding. My local departments stores just carry The usual suspects.
I did own the extrait ( it was called “perfume” in my day) in the late 90s and did like it too…not sure what rendition/ re-formulation that would have been, though?
“I spent part of the day yesterday wondering why I have hundred of other perfumes and want to get rid of them.”
Ha! I’ve experienced this phenomenon… Yes, good to wait it out 😉
Who am I kidding – I love most of my scent children. I feel so lucky.
I love finding a new love. Enjoy!
I still haven’t tried 22, nor most of the other exclusifs. I’m actually a bit ashamed at how few Chanels I’ve tried. By the time I found out that my STC order hadn’t gone through TPC was sold out of everything, so I may never try them. I was hoping to try some of the Parfum versions too. Oh well, a penny saved…
TPC also sold all their Chanel at a discount? I didn’t know that. Are the two (TPC and STC) related? I wonder why that decision was made, if Chanel was fighting decants.
Yes, by the time I read my email, most were gone but luckily not 22 in edt, although all were gone in extrait.
Wanted to try La Pausa, but as you say, a penny saved…
Or, what you don’t know won’t cost you…Or maybe a split meet devoted to Chanel only!
I was wondering if Chanel is making it difficult for decanting services to sell their products. If so, shame on them!
I don’t know what’s behind the decision to no longer carry Chanel, but I thought I’d share a wee bit of history of the two services under discussion. The two people who run StC used to be partners with one other person in TPC (which came about when ebay banned the sale of decanted fragrances… I see decants there all the time now, but either ebay has changed its rules or current sellers are flying under the radar!). I think the business split was relatively friendly.
RE: the Chanel sale, I was wondering what was behind that as well..
Ditto on the curiosity.
Perhaps someone with some inside knowledge will chime in on the reason…
Whoa. I just looked at both sites and neither has any Chanels anymore. I didn’t realize that’s what was going on. What do we do now if we need Chanel decants???
Like I said: CHANEL ONLY SPLIT MEETS!!
Like I said: CHANEL ONLY SPLIT MEETS!!
(Put it in the wrong place before.)
I just found out:
5 February 2016 at 3:29 pm
The answer is that Chanel sent “cease and desist” letters out to the decant websites. Where does Chanel think one can sample their lines which are NOT carried in most stores? I could understand if they limited decants to, say, 15ml or less, so that one can decide on a purchase. They barely supply samples of Les Exclusifs even in venues that carry them. They never have testers in places that don’t. We should try to write a substantial letter to them and have all of us sign and send it from all the big blog sites. Get the word out!!
Chanel sent “cease and desist” letters out to the decant websites. Where does Chanel think one can sample their lines which are NOT carried in most stores? I could understand if they limited decants to, say, 15ml or less, so that one can decide on a purchase. They barely supply samples of Les Exclusifs even in venues that carry them. They never have testers in places that don’t. We should try to write a substantial letter to them and have all of us sign and send it from all the big blog sites. Get the word out!!
I’m wearing Cuir de Lancome today, like I actually should have yesterday.
Yay!
YAAAAAS.
I have donned Allure Sensuelle today which I think is 3 stars from Mr. Turin.
It’s the parfum/extrait so I’d like to think it bumps it up to 4 stars. 😉
I’m not sure if this is in production still…never seemed to get much attention or love.
So both this and original Allure are on Chanel’s website…it’s interesting…I don’t ever see print ads or any kind of advertisements for these two…
Yes, it’s curious. Perhaps the name itself continues to attract?
In Saks New Orleans at Christmas they had an SA on the floor pushing Allure and Chance. Got the impression sales are flagging for those. FWIW.
I have appointments so I won’t pick SOTD until later, but I’ve been wearing Chanel Coco recently, prompted by recent comments. That perfume is genius and I love it.
I don’t really care for Coco Mademoiselle (although I have encountered people who smelled great in it). There is no need to gussy up Coco. You wouldn’t add architectural gewgaws to the Eiffel tower, would you?
I work with a woman who only wears Mademoiselle. She REFUSED to believe me when I tried to tell her that there was a perfume called Coco, and she should try it. It was a Ridiculous argument. in the end I just walked away.
She kept saying ” This one ( Mademoiselle) is the ORIGINAL. ugh…it was just stupid.
Ugh! So frustrating!
Some people have a construction of themselves in which their taste contributes to a sense of being right. By pointing there was another perfume that may have been original, you inadvertently damaged her sense of self. I have worked with people like this, and it’s best to NOT engage them in anything that may attack their sense of taste or self.
Amen.
Double Amen!
Word. 😉
Ugh, I delete people like that from memory so I don’t interact with them again. There’s no point in talking to people like that – ever.
I love coco, and I like Coco Mademoiselle in the perfume version only.
I’ll keep an eye out for the perfume version.
You smell great. I love Coco and I’m not a fan of Mademoiselle either.
Day 2 of my Tauer samples- Noontide Petals. I am really enjoying these fragrances … Not all to my taste but so interesting. The presentation of the samples in a little tin is fabulous, too!
Another one of my Tauer Favorites! You smell great!
Me too, love Noontide Petals, it’s so cheerful! And that tin is fab, I am going to use mine for traveling too.
I got a sampler in the mail yesterday, as it happens. I LOVE that little tin! It will be so handy for traveling. It made me feel like $30 was a real bargain, in the sense that he’s clearly not offering the sets to make a profit. I almost went and bought a 2nd one immediately. A hand written note is always a nice touch, as well.
I’ll get through the 5 I have before buying more, but I’m also feeling a need to stockpile PHI. It’s really divine.
PHI is a beauty.
PHI is amazing.
I definitely want to try the rest of his scents. A second sampler is probably in my future as well!
PHI ????
I went wild on that one last fall and stocked up – love love love that scent.
OH, I agree – that little samples tin is so cute – and honestly, Andy’s samples are generous.
Does anyone know if he’s discontinued Eau d’Epices? Newer, shinier things keep distracting me from getting a sample set, but I just checked and don’t see the EdE.
The Friday list above is obviously a choice of ONE stars.
SOTD: Chanel Eau Premiere. OOTD: Navy blue blouse, chambray blue slim pants, short brown high heeled boots, white silk scarf.
I have a bunch of samples, so in the spirit of the week I started off with Jasmin 17. Friends, it’s a weird mishmash, but not unpleasant at all. It’s actually rather pretty! I think Turin can be a bit literal minded with Le Labo.
Vintage Gucci No. 3 for me.
Oh, I do like that one. I bought a bottle when my kids were little, and the babysitter nicked it. 🙁
I hope she found it before the knife rack!
My downstairs neighbor was once a fragrance exec and shared some of her hoard withe, including No.3. She also gave me the idea of using my empty minis to make Yuletide tree ornaments!
*with me*
Silly bandaged thumb…
Oh, that’s brilliant! I’ll have to try that with my little artificial tree next year!
I love this idea.
Oh, great idea!
I want to try filling them with colored sand in different hues…
Being extra girly today with Lolita Lempicka, which has the added benefit of matching my purple and black outfit. Too bad this only lasts about 6 hours on my skin. Are any of the flankers more powerful/intense?
Are you wearing the edt or edp? I could barely smell the edt, but the edp was stronger. Still didn’t last all day, though.
Very good morning, everyone. It seems your scented days are going well–everyone smells wonderful. I’ve been looking for inspiration from your comments for my own choice, but for once, I’m drawing a blank. It’s going to be a long day of small achievements, preparing my curriculum changes for the Board of Studies, and stuff like that. I don’t know how I want to smell for that task. Usually I reach for 19 at times like this, but I’m resting her for a moment to give us both a chance to recover from her astoundingly bad behaviour a couple of weeks ago. The truth is, I have so many beauties to choose from that I’m jaded by their gorgeousness. I found myself looking at my collection, thinking, “Oh, lovely–but no!” I want something new! Something different! Something new AND different. This is appalling–greedy and, well, just greedy, as though finding and owning is more important than wearing and enjoying. Perhaps I should spray concentrate of swamp water (LT could certainly recommend one) as an antidote, so as to come back to my right mind and a proper sense of appreciation!
I know what you mean about wanting something new and different in spite of having a large (and lovely) collection. Recently I’ve begun storing away most of my bottles and leaving out only a moderate number based on whim and seasonal appropriateness. Now each time I rotate bottles (every month or 2) my new selection seems almost new!
(Sorry for my overuse of the word “new” but I’m sure you know what I mean. No more posting before editing!)
I think you and lillyjo have a good idea here. I could put several away — out-of-sight, hard-to-get-at away, not just on a lower shelf, and then “discover” them at some unspecified time in the future. It will be such fun to choose which to “retire”, too. A project for the coming long weekend, perhaps. But too, I think I’ve been so disappointed by the charmless new releases lately that I’m in a “what’s it-all-about” frame of mind. BTW, I need up wearing Bill Blass, and its pineapple and flowers are kind of ambushing me at the moment. It’s definitely a perfume for a less introspective mood than mine, but I’m still enjoying it. And now, to work!
“need”???? I “ended up”! that wasn’t even autocorrect, just my bad typing!
I do that with makeup. It’s like shopping all over again when you rotate
Rotation works for me!
I’m wearing TF Shanghai Lily this morning. Re: The Guide, what I appreciate in the reviews is LT’s analysis of structure and the links he can make from a new scent to an older one. I might not agree with his star ratings, but I appreciate his knowledge.
Great scent
Agreed, coupled with a priceless sense of humor. 🙂
SOTD is the 2-star Mur et Musc Extreme – nice for this unseasonably warm weather (I live near Richmond, VA, and its supposed to reach 67 F today).
The countdown to 1-Star continues. Today is 3-Star Day.
SOTD = Guerlain Cuir Beluga
Really? 3-Stars? Shapeless powdery amber? I looked at some of its 3-Star “peers” and saw some Victoria’s Secrets something frou frou. Enough said!
House twins. Angelique Noire is only 2 stars, that is what I am in today. I happen to love Cuir Beluga. It was very soft and cozy on me.
Angelique Noire is in the running to join her 4 siblings in the L’Arte et la Matiere (sp?) series in my collection. You smell great!
Oh heck no. Cuir Beluga deserves better than 3 stars. It’s such a cozy, embracing scent.
It is. I want to douse TS with this so that she can come to her senses!
I don’t know if she deserves all that Cuir Beluga. Maybe we should enjoy it instead, and just let her be left out.
Sidenote: I also very much enjoy that decant of Le Couvent des Minimes that you sent. It is a wonderful bedtime fragrance. I even spray it on my pillow sometimes.
Oh yeah and it is really inexpensive. It is similar to Spiritueuse Double Vanille but definitely not a dup. I am considering wearing SDV but do not want to smell like I boozed up in the morning (or anytime)!
I am planning a trip to Paris this year and want to get Cuir Beluga in one of those gorgeous colored bee bottles!! Love AN as well, it is delicious.
How exciting! I have to google that bee bottle Cuir Beluga!
Chamade, for the second day in a row. Wonderful, beautiful perfume. Also, today I managed to try two of the new Prada infusions, Oillet and Amande, and liked them both – the almond one is specially comfy and nice!
So agree about the Pradas! Both very good. I have an unfortunate aversion to heliotrope and trying the Amande made me wish once again that this weren’t the case–it’s great perfume and I love the almond, but alas the heliotrope sets my teeth on edge. Sigh. I hope you buy it and enjoy it double for me 😉
Thank you! I still have to try it more times, but it seems like my perfect bedtime perfume!
Lovely Chamade!
Absurdly perfect!
I’d like to try the Oeillet but can’t find it in the USA. I wonder if they’ll be coming here or not?
They have just arrived here in Perfume Mordor, so you should be able to find them soon.
Perfume Mordor! LOL!
floragal, the Prada boutique on 57th has it. I went on a scouting trip 2 weeks ago 🙂
Where did you sniff them? I cannot find them Pradas anywhere
Also wondering.
Brazilian Sephora, of all places!
Hmmm….not expecting to be in Brazil anytime soon.
The NYC Prada boutique on 57th St. carries it.
So does the one in Fashion Valley San Diego, I just smelled them tonight. So far I like the Amande and Fleur d’Oranger best but I did not test them all n skin and they had no paper test strips (?!?)
Oooooh, I may have to steel myself for a trip to the South Coast Plaza store. A “mall shop” is a bit less intimidating than a stand-alone boutique. 🙂 The Prada Infusions have made me curious, very curious indeed.
Was testing Jo Malone Black Cedarwood and Juniper on one wrist, and not enjoying it at all: dull and chemical. It gave me a headache.
So. Washed it off, and am now testing Histoires de Parfums 1876 Mata Hari (in a slightly different place, lest any residual BC&J influence it). Can’t speak to the Mata Hari as of yet, though it’s opening verrrry fruity. Not artificial froot, though, it’s got that going for it.
Mata Hari, ehhhh. Reminds me of Piguet Calypso, but not as good.
SOTD – Ambre Loup by Rania J. I think this is becoming one of my all time favorites, although it is hard to imagine how I can wear it during the summer. But this is such an amazing amber/tobacco/booze fragrance!!
I believe that’s the one that hajusuuri said was like Chergui, only better. I love the way you’re describing it. I need to get my hands on a sample, post haste.
That’s the one!
I thought it was! I just ordered the samples from her website. Such a reasonable price! 6 samples for 10 euros (currently $11.36 USD) and it includes shipping! Remarkable. I love being able to order directly from the perfumer.
Thanks for the tip, I really want to try these!
Welcome! I was surprised. Twisted Lily wants $4 each for samples of her perfumes. Which is really an average price for a site like that. But you can’t beat that price right from the source. They’re supposed to be 1ml samples too, so a small, but reasonable size.
Nice but probably needs a break in the heat! Thanks for the swap / split. I am still working through my decant and have a BUB.
I am definitely starting too late in the day to catch up 258 comments ! Yikes ! SOTD is Chanel No 5.
You smell elegant.
Thanks – I need it today. I need to feel all together and elegant – got a yucky meeting tonight. Bleh. I hate meetings!
I felt the same way as you. I am further down the list of commenters.
You smell great too!
Scent twins. I was commando all day and just finished the dinner dishes and putting the parrots to bed and my little bottle of Chanel No. 5 just kinda of beckoned me with her siren song of comfort and sweetness and I did not resist……..
No. 5 is definitely comfort and sweetness in a bottle. LOVE it lately.
Wearing the two-starred Rose 31 today and loving it. I could see questioning the amount of rose used in it, but carrot juice? Really?
this one was the first one I tried from Le Labo – and my most favorite from this house (I have not tried many of their city exclusives thou, so when I finally get my hands on Vanille, it might change)
This is one of my favorites from Le Labo too! I am so surprised at some of these ratings.
I wouldn’t mind a bottle of this if it were given to me 😉
SOTD is Cartier Zeste de Soleil, for some bucking up about, among other things, a dumb tetanus booster that left my arm so sore it woke me up every time I turned over in my sleep (which is often, apparently.) Very, very silly to complain about life-saving medical care but pain + sleep deprivation does not produce my most reasonable attitude!
I have an unreasonable attitude for NO reason today, so don’t feel too bad. And no sleep=bad attitude for me all of the time! I haven’t smelled the Cartier but it sounds lovely and cheerful just from the name!
Those tetanus shots are a zinger for sure. Ouch!
I hope your arm feels better soon! (My last tetanus shot left my arm so incredibly sore for almost a week… I just chose to pretend it was from working out really hard.)
Ugh, cold and grumpy and don’t know what to wear. 🙁 Maybe something cozy like Candy.
Hope you found something to lift your mood.
This is a good excuse to cull gifted/swapped samples that have been hanging around for a while. Today I’m trying the 2 starred Miller Harris Coeur de Fleur (“wall flower”) which is unexciting, but I’ve certainly smelled duller florals. It’ll certainly be gone by the time I go to see a play tonight. I’ll hope to think of something quietly delightful by then…
Robin,
That Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic seems like it would be right up my alley. I love a good citrusy fragrance. And, that bottle is beautiful! I can’t for the life of me find my book (The Perfume Guide) from Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez. I’m sure I own something on their list.
My SOTD is Santal Blush by the beautiful Tom Ford.
It is obviously not genius but it’s a great summer citrus. Can’t remember if they’re still making it!
They are – I saw it at Nordstrom today.
I’m in Chanel Jersey, which I don’t mind, but don’t love it either. If it made the Guide, I’m guessing 1-2 stars, but I’m too lazy to go look it up because I’m lying on the floor with feet up decompressing my back. Not a pretty picture, I know. 🙁
Oh geez! Sorry about the back! The world becomes a very small insufferable place when the back acts up. Hope you feel better soon.
Hope you’re back feels better after a good nights sleep (hopefully!)
Ouch! Back problems are the worst. Hope you feel better!
I really appreciate all the good wishes, but my condition is severe and ongoing. Good thing I have perfume to cheer me up ! 😀
wearing Fille en Aiguilles today, and also testing my blind partial bottle of Mon Parfum Cherie par Camille, which arrived today. Really enjoying it’s musty, dark patchouli, and little wafts of lipsticky iris and dry plum. It’s quite weird. Needless to say, husband not impressed.
Both my husband and I liked this, in a limited dose. We agreed it’s pretty formal, suitable to evening events.
End of the day, but Wrappings hangs on valiantly. I drove out into the country today and was astonished at all the rain we got overnight. I saw a muddy plowed field with more than 100 gulls feasting on whatever was suddenly available. And it was warm–nearly 60! A great day revisiting the farming area I grew up in.
Sounds a great end to the day. We have gulls that cruise past the house every evening on their way to their roosting spot. They are such beautiful strong birds.
Oh I loved Wrappings!!!! Do they still make it? ( I am assuming you are referring to Clinique Wrappings?…wonder if it has been re-formulated?)
Yes, Clinique still makes Wrappings, although it seems to be available in stores only around Christmas. I know it wad reformulatef in the ’90s (?), but maybe not since. It’s still close enough to the original for me to love it.
Had an odd experience with Arquiste Nanban today (it’s the first time I’ve worn it.) It went on like smooth leather then about 30 minutes in turned horribly sour. Now, 6+ hours later, one wrist smells smooth, sweet, and woody. The other wrist still smells sour. When I tuck my nose into my sweater it smells like leather.
There is a note which I’ve heretofore been unable to identify that turns sour on my skin. It appears to be saffron.
In other news, I tested the Atelier Bergamote while I was out shopping. It starts with a BLAST of lemon, then some spices ala Atelier, and a hay note that reminded me a bit of The Pour un Ete, then a touch of something coconutty. In the final drydown it just smells sunny – like a yummy beach scent. I will be picking up one of the $25 sprays of this at the Sephora spring sale.
On the other hand (literally) I tested Chanel 19 Poudre. Dreamy. Seems perfect for this time of year (not quite winter; not yet spring) and I need some now.
Don’t automatically rule out everything with saffron, though–most rose and a lot of leather goes sour on me, but I’ve found a few things I love with those notes.
It doesn’t always amplify and go sour – I can wear Cuir de Lancome, Safran Troublant, Traversee du Bosphore, Ta’if, Rose Kashmirie, all of which list saffron in their notes – with no problem (I actually love all of these.) But some roses that don’t list saffron do the same thing on my skin. I’m wondering if it’s a specific molecule that’s common to some synthetic saffron and rose accords. (?)
SOTD is Lalique Le Parfum, given one star by Luca Turin with the description “rock bottom.” Rock bottom is how I’m feeling right this moment (I exaggerate–I’m under the weather and a little bit heartbroken) but I still like Le Parfum. It is a little heavy and synthetic and obvious, but the bay leaf (laurel!) in the opening smells fresh and interesting, and the rest (pink pepper in reasonable amounts, and vanilla) is not a million miles away from the early hours of Guerlain Spiriteuse Double Vanille, which he gives two stars. It was one of the first things I bought after discovering perfume blogs, and I got The Guide not long afterward, and immediately looked up my purchase. Ouch.
Having finally looked through the list of one star scents, I discovered that in addition to Le Parfum, I have another FB and a decant, so the fun continues.
Hey Laurels,
You chose a perfume to suit yourself- not LT and TS, so to each his own, I say! Take care, and get well.
Thank you!