It's hump day! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing a drop (I need to conserve) of vintage Guerlain Jicky, in Extrait. Luca Turin: "a towering masterpiece".
Reminder: on 2/12 we're doing 5 Star Friday: wear your favorite perfume ranked 5 stars 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 four-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.
Note: image is La femme aux rayures rouges via René Gruau L'Officiel at Facebook.
Safran Troublant to go with light snow
Beautiful choice! I used up my sample of this years ago and every now and then get such a hankering for it.
Great one. So cozy!
Me too! Although, I’m wearing it to go with 72 degrees and sunny.
So good! I drained my decant in October and have really missed it since then. I’m toying with the idea of doing a split for the Splitmeet or asking someone to host. I’ve never hosted a split before and I’m kinda scared…
Nice! I considered wearing this today as IMHO, it should have gotten 5 stars but ws robbed of 1 star for reasons only known to LT/TS. I have a BUB.
Every time I see the words Safran Troublant I think I should try it, but then I read the reviews and it doesn’t sound like my thing. I keep repeating the same thing over and over! So yep, I’m gonna try it anyway!
We can remedy this easily
5-star week feels so luxurious! Enjoying some Eau Sauvage today.
It does!
“Luxurious” is the right word. It feels as if I’m spoiling myself every day with these excellent scents. And I love reading about what other people are wearing, too.
Eau Sauvage is perfection! It makes me think of summer!
31 Rue Cambon for me today. I really, really enjoy this one and will eventually get a FB. Totally digging 5 star week!
So good. Enjoy!
I just ordered a sample of this, after all the love it’s been getting this week. Unfortunately I had to get it off the Bay after all the decanters stopped carrying Chanel, so it’s shipping extra slow service from the other side of the world.
Hope it arrives soon. Cambon deserves all the love it gets, and then some.
When I went to Sephora the other day, They had removed all of their Chanel, when I asked why, the SA mumbled something about not being good enough for them. I’m not sure if it was just this store or all of them.
Really? Wow
Something appears to be going on with Chanel…it’s as if they want to be “ultra exclusive”…..no more purchasing samples or decants (STC and TPC) and no longer selling in “lower” stores like Sephora….believe it or not years ago Sephora used to sell the Chanel pure perfume! ( I believe you guys refer to it as the “extrait”) Not any more! Wouldn’t it have been lovely to get a 20% off discount on that :)!!
It doesn’t seem like a smart marketing move to me. So exclusive that potential buyers can’t sample? Maybe this is the French attitude, but it might be the snub too big to forgive for others.
They are still on the Sephora website. It could be just this store.
Chanel can drink it – I am not impressed with their snobbery and controlling tactics.
They stopped selling Coco in my country, now only the flankers are available. When I say Perfume Mordor, I mean it. And yes, it seems Chanel wants to be ultra exclusive, which is so cheesy… and pointless! I’ll get them anyway, no matter how far I am from Rue Cambon.
Aw hell no!
FWIW, Chanel fragrances are still available on the US website.
I am debating on getting a FB. I really do love it
Not that I want to be seen as some sort of enabler, which I’m not, but GET IT!
Beautiful!
We’re having rather spring-like weather this week so I’m in Gucci Envy. RIP
love that one! my list of sadly discontinued fragrances is a mile long if I were to write them all down….
JEALOUS. I am ready for spring.
And I’m ready for fall. To darn hot for a perfumista…
RIP. Indeed
Ditto
I loved that in my pre-perfumista days. Wouldn’t mind a bottle now either, but alas…
The true tragedy is that there’s nothing else remotely like it, even. At least not that I’ve ever smelled.
I have thought of trying to get an old bottle, but if I remember correctly, if Envy is off, it is WAY off.
It doesn’t seem like a scent that would remain in perfect condition for 20 years.
Elisa: you might like Jessica McClintock’s first scent. I first smelled it about 20 years ago and it is still my favourite! It is similar to Envy.
A few drops of Knowing parfum. The top notes are vanished but what remains is a thrilling bass-baritone of a floral chypre, so masculine that of course they advertised it with Paulina Porizkova in a tuxedo. It was genuinely one of the all-time great chypres.
You smell fabulous!!!!!
I wish I had some of that!
That ad with Paulina Porizkova was just the bomb. Superlative! I wish I still had some of the little bottle I had from the 90s. ….
Right now, ‘cos sleepless, I’m wearing gorgeous Apres L’Ondee (it’s not the perfume’s fault that its home corporation has horrid habits!) but when the day starts properly (it’s 3.15 a.m. here) I’ll have to shift to something more assertive. We have an all-day, full-school staff meeting–honestly, who thinks these things up? Do you suppose they were Spanish inquisitors in former lives? Or didn’t have pets as children? That they need more chocolate? Or less….I’m rambling, because I’m seriously short of sleep and rather sad about it. I’ll stop now. Be gloriously, delectably scented with five-star fragrance, everyone, and enjoy your days.
I love the idea of insomnia perfume, and Apres L’Ondee is a great choice. If you’re going to be awake, might as well have a little wonder.
They are super boring, that’s for sure! Hang on…
Such a lovely scent.
Seriously, an all-day staff meeting? How could that benefit anyone? Hope there isn’t any “team building” garbage. I’ve never understood how looking like a complete ass in front of one’s peers strengthens any workforce.
No, I don’t think I have put on donkey ears and fall backwards into anyone’s arms. If I do, I won’t, because, though I did fall asleep sometime after 4, I’m too tired to be safe. I suppose it will be the budget….doom, gloom. Research and PBRF…war and rumours of war. The research centres…that one got $5k more than this one, but the other one got nothing and did more….really? Yawn. I anticipate intense tedium.
Or staff workshops! Fastest way to demotivate me. Interestingly I don’t mind conferences though.
I’m usually too distracted to be able to pull it together to do a theme week, but this is turning out to be one. It’s turning into a 5-star Chanel week for me – Tuesday was Bois des Iles, today is 31 Rue Cambon, and I have a feeling that tomorrow will be Cuir de Russie. I’m so glad to have decants of all three.
Also – forgive me Donatella, for I have *sinned.* I have been categorically terrible at keeping track of my fragrance purchases, but after last night, when I caved (oh how I caved), I decided I needed to write things down. I’m anticipating my April 1st confession….*mumble full bottle of Epic on 30% mumble mumble*
At least when you sin, you sin spectacularly. Congrats!
Thank you. I hope we’ll have a very happy life together.
Yay!- this one’s my ‘second newest’, it was my special christmas present. 30% off is great deal!
Merry belated Christmas to you and that bottle!
You deserve a treat so enjoy!
Aw – thanks Petunia! Also – loving the kitty face that’s on display there.
Sounds like a glory to me, not a sin. Epic must be sublime. on the cold winter air up there in TOH. Enjoy it, because everyone around you will be.
Thank you Waterdragon – I will try to make it as glorious as possible for those around me :).
Ha! You might feel bad now, but when you’ve got it in your hands, any guilt melts away.
I don’t feel nearly as guilty as I think I should, but true, having it in my hands will probably wash what remains of it away…
You smell great. Eventually you will be very used to living in your gorgeous smelling rabbit hole.
It’s cozy down here.
Hey, scent twin! We smell like a million dollars!
We DO, don’t we?
Congrats on Epic, a very clever investment if you ask me.
That’s what I’m going to call it when someone asks what I’m wearing – “Clever Investment”.
Donatella I am sure will forgive you.
Thats the down side of Amouage, they grab you, you fall in love, and then out comes your credit card. Epic is lovely.
I am debating on a FB of 31RC
I DON’T like to hoard, so if I purchase it something I don’t love must go.
Very wise. What’s on the chopping block?
I am going to go take a look in my closet! If there is anything good I will let you know!
I will happily buy something off of you or help you find it a happy home!
30% off? That’s basically free.
Exactly.
Congrats! You made it in right before Lent
HA! Yes.
Well I mean.. 30%? I think that takes a few Hail Marys off your penance.
I knew this was a safe space.
trying to forget about the snow/cold weather and keeping my thoughts springlike I am wearing Dame Soliflores Tuberose, Narcissus, Mimosa and Rose de Mai simultaneously…surprisingly this works…..
Sometimes nothing but a big bouquet of flowers can combat winter.
I tried the gardenia last night and got a lot of blue cheese. A big thumping wheel of it. I’ll give it another whirl in a few days… what is your impression of the gardenia?
LOL! maybe it is the “blue cheese” note that I am liking
Honestly, I love it on its own but I have also paired it with Dame’s New Musk and also paired it with Dame’s Black Flower Mexican Vanilla…if you have any of those as samples give it a whirl as it might just tame the cheese note! (and honestly when I received my first sample of it two months ago I said the same as you and gifted the sample away to my girlfriend….but then when I ordered the travel size of the other five soliflores Mr. Dame included the gardenia as a small sample vial in my order…maybe it is the dabbing application versus the spraying but it has really grown on me ….especially when layered with the BFMV)…I would also suggest retrying it in different weather/ season….
Since these have gotten resounding rave reviews, I can only hope that he will do hyacinth, honeysuckle, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, orange blossom, ylang ylang (and what am I forgetting?) soliflores in the near future.
Oh yes!!!!!!
Iris?
I vote for something a bit more tropical, Shell Ginger or maybe Moonflower? I second a wish for orange blossom or honeysuckle though.
I’m wearing Slumberhouse Jeke today, bcause I was drinking some lapsang tea this morning and suddenly wanted to wear something to match that aroma. Lots of tobacco and resins in Jeke, but definitely also a bit of lapsang!
Since you are a Slumberhouse fan, I’m curious if you ever tried Sadanne (sp?) and if so, what did you think of it? I heard it described as strawberries and champagne in a review and wondered if that is accurate because.. strawberries and champagne!
I have tried Sådanne (or indeed Sadanne for those without an å on their keyboard) . It’s not one of my favorites, but I do admire it. I can’t say that I get champagne, there is booze but it’s not in any way a sparkly or fizzy sort of booze. I would rather call it strawberry wine (if there is such a thing). I also get some rose and a bit of skank in the background. Rose isn’t one of my favorite notes but I really like the contrasts between the animalic note and the fruity wine and florals, it is so unexpected and makes Sådanne rather sultry! Definitely a perfect Valentine’s Day scent!
Agree. No champagne for me. Syrupy strawberry/rose/balsamic vinegar was what I got. I wanted the food version to drizzle over panna cotta. Too sweet and unctuous for me to actually wear, but I enjoyed sniffing it.
I had the same thoughts, although I never tested it. The You Tube reviewer described it as strawberries and champagne so I was wondering if I was missing out on something wonderful. It does indeed sound like a good topping for vanilla ice cream.
You are making me crave a perfume that smells like reduced balsamic vinegar!! But then I love any perfume that smells like syrup, or sticky sap, or honey, or a syrupy liqueur!
Thanks LaDomna! Your review is much more in keeping to what I had previously read about Sadanne. I was watching a You Tube review before work this morning and I know you’re a Slumberhouse fan. Thank you for clarifying that for me.
No problem!
If you want strawberries and champagne try Sparkling Diamonds from the brand that’s in the Plaza Hotel in NY. Can’t remember its name but Hajusuuri or Ihadanidea might remember
Krigler?
I like Sadanne, but every time I wear it something new pops out. Cherry pipe tobacco, Rose wine or a strawberry reduction with some brandy. It’s fun to wear if you have the time and energy to enjoy the ride.
Sounds interesting. One of these days I’m going to sample the Slumberhouses.
I might be a bit biased being a huge fan of the Slumberhouse line, but I do think they are a must try! If nothing else they are at least an unforgettable experience!
Grisette today.
How do you like it? I bought a full bottle last spring when the SA at Aedes raved about it. I haven’t worn it a ton, but plan to when the weather turns a bit warmer.
Love that name. Reminds me of Cats, the Musical, which i luuurved as a pre-teen.
Ulrich Lang “Aperture” today. I guess this is another from the ‘modern animalics’ trend? It reminds me a little of Muscs Koublaï Khan, but has lasted better on me before dying away at the 6 hour mark. That said, I don’t really care for how it smells, so I’ll enjoy today’s experiment as a one-time thing. :^)
I did not love that one either.
The Different Company Oriental Lounge today. It’s snowy
The name sounds decadent. How do you like it?
Oriental Lounge is among my all time favorite orientals. As often as this is stated about many newer orientals…it is a descendant of Shalimar because it has a very similar construction. But it doesn’t smell like Shalimar much at all. It doesn’t have strong aldehydes and the citrusy beginning goes away fairly quickly, it’s also not musky. It has a lovely and intriguing herbal note – curry leaf – and I find it original and enjoy every little whiff I get from my myself all day. Highly recommend it.
Wonderful. I put it on my to-sample list. Thanks!
Samsara for me today. I absolutely love this scent.
Me too!
As in, I love it too.
Samsara is one of my favorites. Thinking of applying that over my AN for some sandalwood bliss
AN?
Opps..Angelique Noir..I didn’t even type the whole thing. Sorry..I was rushing
I do, too, and the amazing thing about it is that even frequent reformulations couldn’t wreck it — every version I’ve ever smelled is good. Some maybe better than others, and I never did try the parfum, but they’re all pretty terrific.
I know that I sniffed it back in the day but I was too young to appreciate it back then. I think that I was wearing White Linen and Champagne… dating myself.
I was wearing them too, and they are GREAT scents, so clearly you had good taste, Samsara or no.
So do I. It’swonderful: warm, embracing, soft. I love to wear it outdoors in winter.
It is lovely. I hope your meetings aren’t too bad today. I suggest wearing dark glasses so you can doze with no one the wiser.
Actually, you know, I was lying here thinking very much that thought!
I’m in all day meetings too. On the way plus side, doing them from home, so no dark glasses required
I wish I’d worn this today. You smell great.
I hope you at least have a calm at your office today. Your job sounds like a pressure cooker…
Thanks. It’s normally not stressful at all. This is a super casual office. It’s just the big issues we’ve been having with this building are now getting attention and so the storm that will be dealing with it all and seeing how the PM reacts begins… It’s absolutely nothing inner office related, which is totally fine.
mmmm Sandalwood and Guerlinade.
It’s the good stuff!
Twins! I’m sharing in the love for this one, too.
Hey Twin!
Twins! Samsara edt. Received my bottle a couple weeks ago, been wearing it often. So comforting, lovely, like a hug.
I couldn’t agree more.
Four stars for Dzongkha but I think that’s quibbling. I absolutely love its damp incense scent.
I kind of was ok with the 4 for Dzongkha since Timbuktu got 5. I don’t really like star rating systems, but would agree with rating Timbuktu a bit higher even though I probably wear Dzongkha more.
I can see that. I don’t actually know which I prefer now that I own each.
Hmmm… I think I am like Robin and wind up wearing Dzongkha more than Timbuktu, except that objectively I probably prefer Timbuktu… but I have to think a little harder about whether it is “right’ for the day, while Dzongkha is a better general pleasure….
Yes — Timbuktu is harder to wear. On the wrong day, I’m sorry I put it on.
Me too. It took a few tries to get it, but then I fell in love.
twins. wanted some focusing incense powers, and also wanted to try out this sample again…I probably need a little more of this one to figure it out, like cazuabon says…
A few spritzes of Angelique Noir..its a 2 star but a 5 star in my book
My husband let me sleep in today, when the baby woke up at 5 he took him and I slept until 7! Thats 2 hours! Hallelujah.
Dropping off the little meatball so I can head west to Maison du chocolate and pick up my hubby a v-day gift. Going to post and now run, everyone have a great day. You all smell fantastic.
The best chocolate ever! And I love “little meatball”
Me too. Too cute.
IMHO Angelique Noir is really quite lovely for a big vanilla.
Yay for hubby! and for sleeping in.
Glad you got to sleep in. Enjoy your jaunt to the chocolate store!
Yay! Sleep = better than almost everything else.
Sleep and I bought a piece of chocolate for myself =a good day
Cuir de Russie today. Like ihadanidea, this week has become Les Exclusifs week for me.
They’re so good, and of course I’m now so torn about buying any.
I should have done that. I wonder where I left my brain….I seem to be more than averagely scattered at the moment!
sleep deprivation may have something to do with that.
I’ll probably wear it on Friday. You smell fab.
You smell great! I may have to pull that one out tomorrow.
Scent twins!
I’m testing this one for the second or third time today.
You smell fantastic. Well done.
After wearing Bandit last night, I’m trying out her buddy Fracas today. It’s nice, but not to my taste–guess I’ll be sticking to Bandit!
More Fracas for me
Of course my response was “don’t like it? I’d better put on MORE to make sure I’m not missing anything…”
More isn’t always better
Hi, reluctant twin! I’m a fan of both.
Heh, and for me it’s the opposite.
Well, actually I don’t *love* Fracas. But it’s genius and I like it very much. Bandit tries to murder me every time I try it.
I’m wholeheartedly with you. Fracas smells like a buttery mess on me but Bandit? Yum.
I’m wearing Safari which didn’t make it into the Guide, but which I love.
Safari is 10 Stars in my book! It somehow manages to nearly encompass all genres of fragrance with the kitchen sink to boot, and still smells chic, warm, gorgeous, elegant…..
+1 to everything you said. I’ve been collecting/hoarding bottles of vintage Safari recently. The older I get, the deeper my appreciation for this fragrances grows. It’s one of those scents that always seems appropriate.
I bought a used tester of Safari cologne off of ebay ages ago by mistake. Don’t ask.
At least I *think* it’s Safari as the bottle looks the same as what I’ve seen online. How can you tell if it’s vintage? Mine has a sticker on the bottom that says “packaging design 1989 Ralph Lauren” but I have no idea if that’s typical of all of them. I’m probably going to give it to someone, but I’d prefer that they know what I’m offering in case they don’t want the newer version. I thought I’d love it as the notes sound perfect (and mals loves it and we have similar taste) but it’s not as green as I expected.
That is probably older stuff (they stopped making the cologne version in the 90s), but I do notice that sometimes vintage greenies don’t keep those green topnotes fresh and lively. The only difference I’ve noticed in my vintagey Safari and the more recent stuff is that the newer lasts a shorter time – but how the bottle was stored before you bought it, of course, might have an effect. It’s a crapshoot every time.
It did take me a long time to come around to Safari precisely because it was so unlike the other green scents I already loved. It is not a cool refreshing green like No. 19, that’s for sure!
Thanks mals! I only found the cologne listed as “men’s” and this definitely isn’t. The label has got to be generic because Safari came out in 1990 from what I’ve read. I guess the green top notes have faded, as I’m only getting indistinguishablefloral notes. I keep thinking it reminds me of something… Jontue? or was it Enjoli or Aviance?
Oh well, something from long ago.
OH SAFARI. So lovely.
I tried the parfum first, but it was so sweet and warm that I was taken aback – I’d been expecting *green*! Two years later I decided to try it again, in the edp… love at first sniff. (Now I’ve got three bottles, plus a mini for the purse, and I fully expect to use all of them.)
I will definitely be buying a full bottle of Safari when I start buying again, especially as I’m halfway through my mini. I always forget how much I love this until I think to wear it again, and then it just hits me over the head. Regarding the green – I am getting the green more now in the drydown than I got in the initial phase. Of course everyone’s skin responds differently. In the initial phase it seems almost like an oriental.
PriscillaE, would you like my tester? Do read my comments first! If you want it, just shoot me an email: harukirumi at yah whoo dawt com.
SOTD is Caron pour un Homme
mmm you smell wonderful!
Oooh, I keep meaning to check that one out.
Lovely lavender!
I wanted frilly, if not silly: SOTD is Lolita Lempicka. Wonderful, I love the anise in this.
I was surprised to like LL, after hearing over and over that it was a takeoff on Angel (which I loathe) – but it’s really nice.
Agreed!
Same for me.
Five star Sycomore for me – a good bracer and morale booster for a rather dismal February.
Enjoyed being in Sycamore yesterday.. you smell wonderful!
Sycamore makes me think of the early spring up here in the woods just when the ground begins to give up that spring smell. I love it.
How would you contrast Sycomore and Encre Noir?
I’ve only smelled Encre Noir on card, in a shop when I’d been testing other things. I could barely smell it but whether that’s because I’m anosmic to something or just nose fatigue I’m not sure! I had the same issue with MP&G Santal Noble.
Encre Noir is not very diffusive, whereas Sycomore is smoky. I think they are different in stylle. I like Sycomore when I am in a grand minimalist mood; I go for for Encre Noire when I am pining for something simply dark and solid.
I’ve only tested Encre Noir once, but I find Sycomore to be much plusher and longer lasting. I thought EN was okay, but adore Sycomore.
Yep, plusher it is. More complex. Just very different in style.
lovely fragrance !
Was poking around online looking up LT reviews and I stumbled upon a still working link to the first guide they pushed out for Fall 2008 which has reviews for many additional perfumes not in the spreadsheet link above. Feast your eyes!
http://www.perfumestheguide.com/pdfs/guid_newsletter-4.pdf
They have removed links to all the other quarterly updates from the book website but apparently they didn’t kill this one.
enjoy!
I shall be wearing pre-reformulated 4 star Miss Dior Cherie today which is the perfect carnival really…Carmel popcorn, strawberries and patchouli…but no carnies…
Thanks for the link! You smell lovely.
Ditto!
What a great read to start the morning with! Thanks for the link!
Ooh, thanks for the link!
I miss Miss Dior Cherie. If it wasn’t so much trouble to tell them apart I’d snap up a bottle.
Thanks for the link!
(Wow, LT really hated Eau de Shalimar. I want to test it now to see if it’s as bad as he says.)
I didn’t go read it, but whatever he said I probably agree with
Thank you!
Neat, thanks!
Thanks, I enjoyed that! And having read those positive reviews of various Heeley perfumes, I went on their website and ordered a bunch of samples for a few euros each with free delivery to the UK, yay!
Sous le toit de Paris for me today. Happy hump day, friends!
I love that one. It’s a great summer scent.
It’s quite versatile, I easily wear this in the winter as much as I do in the summer.
How’s the cubemate fragrance situation today?
I love this one! You smell fabulous!
I’ve been too preoccupied to do a five star week. SOTD is Le Galion Aesthete. It’s all smoky burnt goodness here. Mmmm
I didn’t know about that one – sounds great! I blind bought Whip and Eau Noble recently so still getting to know them.
My husband was disappointed by the masculine ones so I stole them! My favorites are this one and Snob.
I’m sorta throwing the theme out the window this week because reasons…. I need all the comfort possible.
Yesterday after I posted here, a huge s*** storm brewed up in the office. We have some serious issues to deal with that will drag in our property management and possible a legal battle (god I hope not), but guess who was witness to a lawyer and maintenance managers acting like a bunch of primordial gorillas yelling inside OUR office and then using said witness as a scapegoat for BOTH sides of their completely nonsensical convo? Yep.
I was left shaking and almost in tears by the end of it and I didn’t even say a word!
Bah! It was so utterly unprofessional of BOTH of them to act that way I really wanted to slap everyone involved and then kick the children out of the building.
I’m on a rose kick and I don’t have many rose scents, so I grabbed whatever else I had and found my sample of Rose Anonyme to wear for today. It’s very fruity and I’m not a huge fan of it, which is probably why I’ve mostly forgotten I had this sample. I much prefer the Rose Absolut I drained yesterday.
So sorry to hear you had to deal with that.
I’m not a fan of Rose Anonyme, either, but I hope the rose is comforting.
The rose part is comforting, but the syrupy patchouli note makes it very fruity in a bad way. Bleh. Oh well. I may go back to Lyric tomorrow for support.
OMG. What a distressing situation! I would be looking for comfort scents too, and probably eating an overload of chocolate to boot. Hope things get resolved quickly.
Hahah, I had really good gelato last night after dinner – and scotch.
Idiots. I’m so sorry. I think you should just wear huge quantities of Lyric.
Ugh, I might tomorrow. I have another meeting with the lawyer and a big boss from the PM office first thing in the morning. *head*desk*
I hope your day gets better. People do act like idiots sometimes.
None of my 5-stars felt right to me this morning (“woe is me”) so I’m in the zesty little Blenheim Bouquet. The top notes remind me of Fruit Loops, but in a good way, and I like the piney-lavender dry down.
Oh, for heaven’s sake – I don’t know how this ended up here. I need more coffee. :/
But that said, sorry about that stressful situation Jenkr!
Hahah, totally fine. I hadn’t heard of your scent before and just looked it up. Pine! I love pine. Is it very pine-y? I’m a fan of that.
It’s not _really_ pine-y but it’s a distinguishable note. If you’re in the US I can send you some.
Also, in your original post, are you talking about the Yves Rocher Rose Absolu? If so, I have one of those mini-bottles of it that’s maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full and I’m happy to send it to you. I’m a huge rose fan and I really like this one, but since it’s discontinued, every time I use it I think “well, too bad it’s discontinued” – so I might as well say goodbye to it now. : )
If you’re interested, email me at abwedding05 *at* yahoo
Hugs. Hope the horrible jittery feeling is past. Behaving like an intelligent adult is really hard for some intelligent adults. You should be proud of your reasonable behavior and I hope things straighten out soon!
Yes. I had a coworker tell me she was impressed I managed to keep my cool the whole time (more like I just sat there, dumbfounded this was happening). She said she would’ve cried. (I actually did a little when my boss pulled me aside later to see if I was ok.)
How distressing and unfair! So sorry and do hope today is a much better day for you.
Thanks. I’m ok now and realize how ridiculous the whole situation was yesterday – plus having some scotch last night helped. I just got word I’m having a meeting with them tomorrow to discuss the issues our building has, so I’ll need to really put on my game face.
Ugh, how awful! I’m sorry that you had to deal with such unprofessional and mean-spirited, childish behavior. Hope it all works out as easily and quickly as possible.
Unprofessional is definitely the word for what went down – on all accounts and for all three involved. We’ve got a meeting tomorrow and I think I’ll be better off now to put on my manager pants and smack down the kids if they get out of hand again.
Good Grief Charlie Brown!
Hope things sort themselves out..thinking of you!
Thank you. I hope this gets resolved fast too.
I’ve had my share of work uglies and can empathize with how disheartening those events can be. Hope things smooth out soon! And I highly recommend a good dousing of Samsara later.
Haha, I really think i will put on Samsara when I get home. Then a solid dousing of Lyric for tomorrow’s meeting.
That’s dreadful. I’ve only once witnessed something like that at work, and I’ll never forget it.
Oy – I am so sorry. Hope it gets better, and hope the rose does its job.
Who raised these people?!
That sounds awful. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. I hope today is less stressful for you!
SOTD is Marni Rose. After saying here repeatedly that my resolution is not to buy deals and focus instead on bottles of my most-loved perfumes, I bought a bottle of Marni Rose – blind! – from TJ Maxx this week. I saw it, googled, found Robin’s review calling it the best flanker of 2013, and headed to the register. I don’t regret it at all. This fragrance is a hugely pleasant surprise: a light patchouli rose with a dash of green. Beautiful and very wearable – in fact, way better than countless niche perfumes I’ve sampled recently.
Besides, no matter how much I love Osmanthe Yunnan, with the home and baby expenses I have coming, I won’t be dropping $260 at Hermes anytime soon.
Totally feel you on the Osmanthe Yunnan $$$$.
Hear hear!
Did someone say something about travel sizes the other day? This is such a gorgeous one, but I’m with all three of you on this – especially considering its lasting power.
At least Hermes has the decency to do those sets of 15-ml travel spray sets, so amenable to splits.
True! I’ll be keeping my eyes open at the next splitmeet – although that is my due date, so who knows?
They also show up on ebay.
I might add, you’ve heard of “push presents,” I hope?
Ha, I have and when I explained the concept to my husband, he thought I was making it up.
Jeez, is it $260 now??? In shock. The Marni Rose is so wearable, you’ll get good use out of it I’m sure.
$255 but regardless, truly brutal. And Osmanthe Yunnan is a rare case where one really might need a full bottle–at least on me it’s SO light and fleeting, I could see going through 15ml pretty quickly…
My 100 ml is nearly drained. I’m afraid it has no chance of being replaced with anything larger than 15 ml, so that will have to do!
Well hey, congrats on a bottle very well-loved indeed! And I suppose the silver lining on the current pricing is that a 15ml spray isn’t so very much marked up from the 100ml–$2.73/ml versus $2.55. Not so bad to get your fix by way of the travel sprays instead.
Wearing a sample of MMM Replica Lipstick On that I picked up at Sephora yesterday when I was coincidentally shopping for lipstick. It’s not bad, but I don’t think it compares to other lipstick/makeup fragrances that are honestly a little more fun of joyful. It starts out with a carrot-y iris and after a few minutes, really did remind me of a a lipstick I’ve smelled before (L’Oreal, maybe…. though whatever it is, it’s not one with a scent I actually like). Later on, the heliotrope takes over and that part’s nice, but no longer reminiscent of lipstick. I won’t be buying any of it, and it doesn’t even last that long, but I do find myself oddly compelled to keep reapplying.
Did not like this one a bit. Tried it at Sephora as well and the gal helping me said it smelt just like whisky to her, some brand I wasn’t familiar with. Whatever. It is unquestionably a lipstick scent but not an agreeable one to my nose.
It’s weird because the lipstick it reminds me of is one that I didn’t buy because I thought it smelled terrible. That part fades so quickly on me, though, that I kind of forget it was ever there or how little I liked it. What I do think is weird, though, is how little sweetness there is, which makes it strangely serious for a lipstick scent, which I normally think of as playful and tongue-in-cheek.
Ha! “Lipstick I didn’t buy because it smelled terrible” is NOT a great fragrance inspiration!!
Yeah, if I’m gonna smell like lipstick, let it be Chanel or Guerlain lipstick, not L’Oreal. :-p
I used to love the smell of MAC lipsticks.
SOTD is a 4 Star extravaganza in the most gorgeous Ormonde Jayne Tolu, million thanks to Hamemalis! I can finally start to indulge b/c I have some more. I will be swooning through my day now!
You smell gorgeous!
You smell gooooood.
Calling all patchouli fiends out there as I try the new Frederic Malle Monsier.
Rum-soaked, damp, woody patchouli minus the camphor and dryyy frankincense. Amber and with a balsamic labdanum dry down.
You smell yummy.
Well that sounds nice.
It does sound nice.
Oh my, that sounds lovely *checking wallet*
Converted to USD is 179.70 for 50 ml? My benchmark for niche perfumes starts at Serge Lutens and go up all the way to Chanel Les Exclusifs… Bottom line: be think-skinned and ask for samples.
I must try this! Thanks for the PSA.
PSA?
Public Service Announcement
oh la la. Mademoiselle will have to try this.
indeed!
That sounds very intriguing. I’ll have to track that one down.
Oooh, I just got the Saks catalog and it seems they now carry FM. I have some gift cards burning a hole in my pocket although if it is FBW, I may end up getting it at Barneys during the Beauty Bag Event. I don’t like Saks.
Another 31 Rue Camboner here today.
I think it was Robin who noted that there were probably quite a few of us who changed fragrances in the evening (and I’m one of them). It got me wondering what SOTN would look like. For myself, I try to keep it light and lovely for work days and pull out the heavy-hitting more raunchy ones for after work. I’d be interested to know if that is something others do, too.
I’m the opposite. I wear my big scents to work, or when I go out ( if grocery shopping counts as going out ) at night, I tend to wear quieter scents, or go through samples.
I wear vintage at night after my shower because they don’t last very long at all. They can’t stand up to a full day of wear.
Switching to evening seems utterly unrelated to what I wear during the day. I don’t work and don’t always go out, so my switch to evening sometimes is a precursor to sleep, therefore sometimes more gentle or gourmand than daytime. There is no logic. I’m sure that with a work life my fragrant world would tend to follow your model.
Today I am wearing Calandre – I don’t believe I have smelled or worn this for 30 years and had a negative feeling about it. Somehow, years ago, I got a free mini and saved it. LT said more about it being viewed as a lesser version of Rive Gauche but by a reformulation default, Calandre survived in much better shape due to its relative simplicity. It is 5 stars.
I am once again surprised at my reaction to an old nemesis. I’m letting it develop and it is enjoyable and less sharply green than I remembered. I’ll let it percolate and decide.
For me it kind of depends. If I’ve been testing something earlier, I’m likely to put on something I own and enjoy later on, when the early stuff wears off (scent-eating skin is good for something!). In other cases, I will apply something comforting shortly before bed.
Same here in terms of alternating testing and wearing something I know I love. Both are fun, but just as it gets boring to wear the same stuff over and over, it does get tiresome to be only testing new things all the time–too much time spent wearing things one doesn’t necessarily like… Nicely to be able to have a mix of the new and the already-well-loved.
I am somewhat similar, but sometimes I’m in the mood for something lighter at bedtime. My sample of Osmanthe Yunnan is a *wonderful* thing to fall asleep with while in bed with a book. It really is a scent of contentment.
But then, I have also been known to wear L’air de Rien to bed, so clearly I’m inconsistent.
I don’t usually put on scent in the evening because my husband’s nose is very sensitive. If I do, it’s something cozy like Shalimar Ode a la Vanille or my Cuir Beluga sample.
I’m lucky enough to have my own office, and a boss that couldn’t care less what I’m wearing perfume wise. I mean, he lets me get away with two huge hot pink streaks in my hair, and my crazy nail polish tastes, so how is perfume going to cause a problem?
All that is to say that I don’t usually switch at night, since I can wear whatever I want to work. Sometimes I put a bedtime perfume on, but not all the time. I like Shalimar, L’Heure Bleu, and Cuir Beluga for that. Or if I’ve had a really bad day, I’ll wear some Chergui to bed to soothe my mind.
I don’t wear any scent to bed because I need a break from scented products to enjoy it more.
Having a day off, and have successfully managed to avoid doing what needs to get done. Wearing Tendre Poison today and loving it! (Thanks again C.H !) This has always been my favorite Poison.
Yay! Happy that bottle found a loving home!
I’m eyeing a Poison sample set over at The Perfumed Court. I’ve only tried Pure and the original, and Pure only from a scent strip. Loved it though.
SOTD is Absolue Pour le Soir, AKA Absolue Pour le Snow, because the white stuff is falling once more.
You smell wonderful!
Mmm, love this one. I should get a decant of this–every time someone mentions it I want to spray it on.
Yum! You smell fab!
Oh Robin, I would love to smell your vintage extrait! I bet it’s glorious.
SOTD for me is Coromandel. I missed the Les Exclusifs memo yesterday, so I’m making up for it today.
Yummy! Coromandel is one that I don’t wear enough, then when I see it as someone’s SOTD, I wish I’d worn it that day.
That’s almost what happened to me yesterday! Except I was wearing Chergui, so I didn’t regret my choice. But the conversation yesterday about Chanels and Coromandel made me think of it, so I reached for it this morning. I have a bunch of samples and decants on the way, so I’m wearing some faves while I can do it without feeling guilty.
It’s pretty darned amazing. I wonder if it smelled this amazing when it was new, or if it’s just aged nicely.
SOTD: Arden Men Sandalwood (Elizabeth Arden).
I’m in Jour d’Hermes today. I want to say I’m in a cloud of it, or a cocoon of it, but neither of those words is quite right. It’s like an aura or something. A pillar, or a column. My vocabulary needs work, apparently.
I’d say your vocabulary is just fine.
A celestial shower of EDP? A temple of scent? I reckon you did much better…And you smell super duper
Nice! Thanks, K!
I like aura. I think that works just fine.
Thanks, Jenkr
Halo perhaps? To me it smells like dawn.
Nice one! It IS a bit like daybreak, isn’t it?
I’m wearing Fracas. Not arguing about the stars.
I’ve just received the most lovely selection of tea samples from a dear perfume friend. I want to brew something, but no idea where to start. Austenfan, any suggestions ;)?
Tea gifts are just as precious as perfume!
Something floral to go with the Fracas!
My memory is showing strains of overuse. I can’t for the life of me remember what I sent. I do remember an Assam, which I prefer in the morning. I’ll do some thinking and get back to you.
I can’t really argue with that rating either. You smell lovely!
I won’t argue with that rating either. I love Fracas, and you smell divine!
SOTD is my near and dear friend Chergui.
Happy Hump Day to all ????
You smell so good! Chergui is like a perfume hug.
Scent twins!!
I thought of our New Zealand friends when I saw this article in the New York Times Style Magazine featuring a small and intriguing NZ business (no affiliation):
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/t-magazine/fashion/lonely-lingerie-brand-aims-for-inclusivity.html?hpw&rref=t-magazine&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well
How interesting! And how fabulous that I found about this company from NST. I’ve never come across their products at all, but I will certainly look now. I have to say, though, that The road trip for photographs looks as though it may have encountered bad weather. Most of those locations seem to be the inside if hotel rooms, but what do I know?
I really like Lonely Hearts clothing and quite a few Indie labels like Stolen Girlfriends, NomD, Zambesi etc. The Lonely bras are very sheer and a similar vibe to Stella McCartney underwear. I was talking ( complaining) to a bra assistant the other day about why so many bras are padded and she said it’s because NZ women don’t like their nipples to be discernible through their clothes and so non-padded bras don’t sell. Her comment reminded me of my granny. She used to keep her house keys and shopping list safety pinned in one cup and the massive square battery/ volume control for her hearing aid in the other ( late 60s -70s). If she snuggled me up on her knee my ear would knock against all these gadgets.
Her keys in her bra! Oh my. (ouch)
She would have made a great Victoria’s Secret model
I’ve been known to keep money and my ID, or in a pinch, concert tickets, in my bra. But your granny was much braver than I am! I couldn’t put up with keys in my bra.
A few years ago, a family friend ran into another friend, who is quite country, and proud of it, at Walmart. He was talking to her, and heard this strange peeping noise. She must have noticed him looking around, because she quickly revealed the source of the noise…by reaching into her bra and pulling out a freshly hatched chick. They didn’t have a heat lamp, and the hen wasn’t the best mother, so she put the chicks in her bra and went to Walmart to get a heat lamp.
Love that chicken story!
My granny had massive, saggy breasts that were probably held up by the belt around her waist and her knicker elastic as much as anything. Glimpsing them once (we shared a room) – when I was about five or six – gave me such a shock that my eyes almost popped out of my head.
This is hysterical, and a great solution!
If in summer I don’t have a bag, or pockets in my trousers I put keys, or my mobile in my bra.
Do you have your phone on vibrate? Or does it ring, loudly? I’m trying to imagine the sequence of events when it rings while you’re out shopping …is it on speaker phone? Do you have to look down and yell at your chest?
We need bras with perfume inserts and phone sleeves..clearly a need has been highlighted.
I’ve always said that I’m already padded so why would I need a padded bra? They are “bullet proof”, I suppose. It is so hard to find an unpadded bra these days. I had a friend who had a pet spider named Morticia that she carried between her cleavage on a plane trip. I’d rather put a cotton ball soaked in my favourite perfume there.
We’ve got blowing snow and school on a 2-hour delay today.
I’m in an absolute cloud of Le Temps d’une Fete, with a smidge of Dame Narcissus soliflore on one wrist. It’s not often I indulge in pre-refo LTdF, but darn it, this is Five Star Luxury Week!
(Not to mention that I doubt the most recent version of LTdF would have rated so high in the Guide. It’s too thin.
I have been meaning to ask you this……so curious as to how LTdF compares to the Narcissus? Or Ostara to the Narcissus? I missed out on the Ostara sale (just as well for I don’t have the money!) and I have always wanted to try LTdF but now that it is reform I won’t even bother….is the Dame similar enough so that I don’t feel I have missed out on anything that I can’t get my hands on due to discontinuation or financial restraints?
Ooh, now you’re making me THINK!
Okay. First, I should say that the 2009 version of LTdF is probably my favorite-favorite-favorite fragrance like evarrr, and if I were FORCED to pick only one, that would be it. However, I don’t have that much of it. I used up a 30ml bottle, bought another, decided I wanted a big bottle, and then found that it had been reformulated into an altogether lighter, more edt-like thing (the older stuff wears like an edp on me). THEN it was taken out of regular production, so I bought another bottle, and not only had the packaging changed, the fragrance was even lighter than before. Mind you, what’s in there *smells* okay, but it’s missing some of the moss and wood and is like an eau fraiche instead.
LTdF has prominent green notes and galbanum, plus that lovely earthy narcissus and some noticeable jasmine. Then it finishes up with patchouli, woods, moss and opoponax.
Ostara is entirely more floral, with very little greenness, and the base is quite sheer on me.
If Ostara is noon sunshine on a densely-planted bed of daffodils and LTdF is late-afternoon sun making dappled shade through the leaves of a tree onto the few daffodils pushing up through the dirt and moss near the tree’s trunk, the Narcissus soliflore is maybe somewhere between them. It’s less sunny-floral than Ostara and less earthy-woody than LTdF, and it strikes me as being sort of moody. Very good stuff.
(PM me, if you don’t mind.)
Ok. Thanks. that was great! I am happy then with my travel spray of Narcissus and won’t lament missing out on the other two
I wonder what would happen if I added a drop of galbanum, oakmoss and opoponax to Narcissus? I have those e.o.s at home…but I don’t want to ruin a good thing…
For what it’s worth, i never tried pre reform LTDF, and am quite glad as it may have spoiled the current one for me- which i find beautiful and rich, i’m sure it was even more wonderful before, but to my nose the current version is perfect.
I think it is still very good! It just disappears far too fast for me – I have scent-eating skin and am lucky to get three hours’ wear out of the current version, even if I use the “spray until wet” technique.
Oh, and mine is very strong and long lasting, (and i have scent eating skin) not like an edt at all!- so maybe an old bottle.. bought about a year ago, from Fulham Rd PDN, but they had to order it in from Paris.
Just out of curiosity… what shape is your bottle?
The older stuff was indeed strong and long-lasting… hmmm.
Five star week is a perfect opportunity to treat yourself.
We should all treat ourselves, right?
I just did a little experimenting! I pulled out a tiny empty decant bottle and put one spray from each of my bottles into it. As a kind of essence of my collection! I am now wearing it and OH MY is it intriguing! Almost half of my collection is made up of Slumberhouses so my “essence” certainly has a Slumberhouse sort of character (and color, it is a very dark brown). It opens rather smoky, both incense from Slumberhouse Rume and cade/lapsang/tobacco from Jeke. The syrupy berry liqueur of Slumberhouse Zahd is also fairly strong in the opening. After an hour or so the smoke starts to disappear and I get more florals and sweet vanilla. I definitely get some strong orange blossom with an edge of petitgrain, originating I believe from MdO Jabu. And there is also a bit of tuberose from Tubereuse 3 Animale. And the vanilla is of the Tihota kind, sweet and edible but with depth. Zahd still lingers strongly into the drydown, those berries are really tenacious! And in the background I get hints of conifer wood (Norne) and resins (all over the place in my collection).
All in all a very successful experiment and I think I need to make more of this concoction! It makes a fine fragrance, complex but not at all discordant! And it is the essence of my taste in perfume, so of course I adore it! the only thing I’m missing is a bit of skank. There is a spray each of Xerjoff Mamluk and my Smell Bent skankifier-with-the-too-long-name in there but I can’t really smell them. Maybe I’ll put an extra spray of each next time, and maybe add a drop from my splash bottle of Tropic of Capricorn.
Have any of you ever created an essence of your collection? Was it wearable? Did you like it?
yes I do this all the time but I add essential oils to my perfumes…I have been collecting the Escada Limited Edition summer fragrances bottles since 1994 (the only bottle I don’t have is the first one- 1993s Chiffon Sorbet). Over the years the offerings have become more and more fruity…so I have been adding “basenotes” ….I spray the perfume into a 5ml spray bottle and add the essential oil of my choice…right now I have “Turquoise Summer” -last year’s limited edition- with two drops of pure vetiver essential oil from INLand Fog Company…..I also have this year’s limited edition Acqua del Sol combined with dark aged patchouli from Eden Botanicals and InLand Fogs Hinoki Woods Perfume Oil (two drops of each)….the essential oils temper the sweetness and give the fragrance more OOMPH…..
Interesting! I have never thought to add essential oils to perfumes, but then all the essential oils I have are of rather questinable quality so I wouldn’t want to use them. I am craving some good ylang but haven’t been able to find a perfume that satisfies my craving… so maybe I should try to find a good ylang ylang oil and then add some perfume… Maybe Mamluk would be a good base for a skanky ylang! Or some Tihota together with the Smell Bent skankifier-that-I’m-too-lazy-to-write-the-name-of and then some ylang on top. We’ll see when the spring seasonal ylang cravings set in.
I you are looking for high quality essential oils I would recommend Eden Botanicals and White Lotus Aromatics…in fact WLA sells some beautiful “fruit” isolates that are the exact of what a bought from Mandy Aftel for a literally a quarter of the price ( I did a side by side comparison)….they are also fun to add to already existing perfumes if you want to amp up the “apricot,. “peach”, “raspberry” or “strawberry” note or just add a bit of fruit…… I made a body lotion with Alba Botanicals unscented body lotion(bought it at VitaCost) , pine needle essential oil, “pear” isolate and vetiver essential oil…quite good.
Thanks for the recommendations! WLA doesn’t ship internationally unfortunately. I’ll look into Eden Botanicals but I’ll probably have to order from somewhere closer to home (I’m in Finland). US international shipping is usually super expensive these days.
Oh my! That is so intriguing. My scents are too disparate to try this, but I’m tempted to do it with my Chanel Les Exclusifs collection.
Do it!! I’d love to hear what the end result is like!
If I do, I’ll report back! First I need to get an empty sprayer.
Wow, that sounds amazing!
It totally is! I wasn’t expecting it to be so successful as a fragrance!
Do you remember this?
Ack! Sorry – here’s the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/everything-perfume-lernert-sander-scent-project-2012_n_2782338.html
Hysterical! Thanks for sharing!
LOL! I would actually like to try Everything! It would definitely say something about the perfume industry!
Here’s a better link for those who would like to purchase, although please note that this was a limited release and in the event you can locate some, the price may have shot up
:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/fashion/an-artistic-comment-on-1000-new-perfumes.html?_r=0
What a fascinating experiment! I haven’t tried that, but I did post yesterday about how my bathrobe is a sort of essence of the drydown of my collection (with credit to Doc Sinister for positing the theory of why it all blends together so nicely).
My fleece hat smells very nice by week’s end and then the cycle starts all over again on Mondays!
Test driving my other En Voyage sample this morning, Fiore di Bellagio. It evokes a dewy, fresh cut, multi-colored bouquet of mixed flowers, including a generous bunch of carnations. It basically screams “springtime.” It feels almost perverse wearing it today after yesterday’s snow, and before this weekend’s extreme cold. This perfume is definitely pretty, but it’s not charming the pants off of me the way Zelda does. I’m still thinking about Zelda, days after I first tried it, which doesn’t really bode well for my wallet.
Yawn. I would like to go back to sleep now. Work is kicking my butt and I’m tired of dealing with the fall-out of other people’s mistakes. I need to find another job…
Encouraging (and enabling!) Zelda. I wore it the other night and my nightshirt STILL (3 days later) smells unbelievably wonderful. It acts more like an extrait than an edp, so really you are getting excellent value when you buy this scent. 1/2 spritz lasts hours on me and forever on clothing. Plus, that bottle- so wonderfully retro!
Mmmmm. The extrait like behavior is a welcome surprise from an EDP. It’s only a matter of time for me now… if I hadn’t just bought myself another perfume last month I’d already have Zelda in my shopping cart.
I really want to try Zelda! And the new Frida also sounds really interesting…
Argh. It’s a testament to this week that this is the first time I have ever left the house without perfume (last night I planned to wear Dune). I don’t even have my usual purse spray of Shalimar! Thus I am left with the mini of Jessica Simpson Fancy Love in my desk…somehow it seems too approachable for my mood right now, so I’ll go without today.
SOTD = me!
Ha, too approachable for your mood. Love it.
Oh no! Someone get the perfume SWAT team over their stat! We need DECANTS people!
Heehee
I’m so out of touch with themes and everything – haven’t even chosen SOTD yet. I was trying to decide between Ambre Russe and Barbara Bui but since reading about Les Exclusifs, I’m thinking Coromandel for today. It’s freezing cold and I want something warm and friendly.
Coromandel and Ambre Russe are both wonderful choices for a cold day. I’m not familiar with Barbara Bui.
I think March at Perfume Posse was a big Barbara Bui fan – I’d look there for her review. My vague memory of it is a quiet incensey-musky-benzoin thing (but I might be wrong!).
I am curious if that smells like Botegga Veneta with the patchouli?
I’m wearing YSL Cinema from from one of our lovely NST posters on our recent freebie meet. No idea where it falls on the Luca-Tania star spectrum, but I love it.
IIRC, Cinema was a four-star.
Mals is correct! A 4 star sweet mimosa which I love! On my top ten criminally underrated perfumes list.
Dzing! today. Taking Baby Jack to his Play & Learn class at Gymboree and needed something kid friendly. I figure, what’s more kid friendly than a circus fragrance? It’s warming me up nicely on this cold day.
Ack, I remember those classes, many many moons ago! Have fun.
Well, color me flat out wrong. It turns out that Dzing! blooms and blooms and blooms again when chasing around a toddler. I left a big cloud everywhere I went.
Now that I’m reconsidering it, I don’t think any five star fragrance will do for Gymboree. It seems that to get that many stars from LT or TS a scent has to be very heady, skanky, or bizarre. All qualities that are Lucy friendly, but not kid friendly.
I’m wearing Esprit d’Oscar today. It is one of my favorites, and one I have a backup bottle for.
On a side note, last Saturday I wore Bvlgari Au the Bleu to a Mardi Gras ball, and I received the most compliments ever. I’m talking two hours or so after I had applied it. Not only women, but men complimenting it. I really enjoy wearing it, but I’ve never had that big of a reaction to any scent that I wear.
Esprit d’Oscar was so nice. Felt like the comfort version of L’Heure Bleue to me.
Esprit d’Oscar sells for a song on fragrancenet …a whooping 6.8 ounces for under thirty five dollars….(in case anyone wants it
!!)
Yes, easy to find at easy-on-the-wallet prices. I bought a bottle of Esprit d’O for $18 and change on ebay.
I got one for about that amount, too.
Bois des Iles extrait for me today.
You smell fabulous! I keep putting this one into my shopping cart and then taking it out again.
Doooo iiiiit!
Wish I could smell thru the screen
How does it compare to the EDT?
It’s very close to the skin, with lots of sandalwood and subtle spice. I don’t have any of the EDT for a direct comparison.
That’s all I needed to know to not regret getting a decant of the extrait when one could
Almost a scent twin. I am wearing Bois des Iles, which I love but find really evanescent – or maybe just too close to the skin. Or my nose is broken? Is the extract the bigger? I’ve never been a Chanel person before – Misia was a game changer for me and my first Chanel FB – so I don’t fully get all the variations yet.
I’ve heard the EDT needs a few more sprays for oomph, but the extrait is certainly close to the skin.
Thanks so much, this is very helpful.
8:40 AM and already 200 comments. Yowsah! Helloooooo perfume people! Am in Chanel No. 5 edp, which only gets four stars… but it is the only No. 5 I own (excepting a decant of Eau Primiere) and I felt like wearing it. I am not versed in the different No. 5 concentrations, but my sense is that most people on the blogs agree with The Guide that the edp does not match the parfum or edt in amazingness…Ah well, I am only a little amazing this morning. Such is life.
Nope, nope, you are mostly amazing this morning.
I don’t like the No. 5 edp because there’s something in that composition that raises my hackles. Can’t pinpoint what it is, but it’s definitely there. I much prefer the parfum. Or Eau Premiere.
Meh, same family as the 5 stars is close enough to be considered a 5 – I think. You smell lovely.
I love love love love the EDP. I wore it yesterday and was in heaven.
I love the EDP also. You smell wonderful!
The EDP is so classic. I want to love it so badly. I’m using the EDT as a gateway at the moment. The saleslady at the Chanel counter suggested trying it that way. Maybe one day No 5 and I will achieve a level of friendship.
The EDP is different from the EDT but I actually prefer it. It does not project as much and may be less peachy in the drydown. The most linear of all the concentrations to my nose.
Sampling vintage Caron Violette Precieuse (sp)! Very nice..warmer and heavier (in a good way) than Apres L’Ondee, Violet for cold and stormy nights.
Comparing it to Violette Sacrée from Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger, which is sharper to begin with and more incense than woods in the dry down, but still a nice eough violet fragrance. I’d probably like it more if I wasn’t comparing it directly with a vintage classic…I’ll wear it on it’s own before I decide if it is a keeper or not.
I had a sample of Violette Sacrée and absolutely loved it. It struck me as very elegant. The other Au Pays I tried I wasn’t so crazy about.
I love violet notes. I’ve dithered around trying to procure some Kerbside Violet for weeks now. The UK Lush site will ship to the US, but it’s so expensive. The Aussie Lush site won’t ship internationally, but the exchange rate is so much more favorable. I guess I need to source a lovely Australian mule.
Have you tried all the US-available violets first? I just got a chance to test Kerbside Violet and it did not, I’m sorry to say, change my life. So I feel like it may not be worth spending a ton of money to put at the top of your to-try list. Unless you’ve simply run out of other stuff to try first!
I agree with C.H . It’s not worth more than $30. It’s fine if you can get it easily and cheaply as its wearable and a cute bitter Violet but it won’t rock your world. Send me your email and I can post you my almost unused solid of it…and I will even write Happy Valentines on a card.
I’m off to a slow start this morning. My husband has an interview for a better job that he really wants so I’m disorganized, jumpy, and frazzled. There have been ten fire trucks howling past my house in the past hour, which is very odd since nobody has been dispatched from the EMS shed across the road and no Police cars have gone past. We live on the road that is the secondary and inconvenient entrance to the neighborhood which makes it extra strange. I’m feeling very Mrs. Kravitz, looking out the window and wondering what is going on.
My little cold seems to have moved to my chest (yay?) so I can at least smell today. I got curious and compared Dame’s Narcissus with Ostara’s opening notes, and they do certainly have some similarities. Ostara is thinner and brighter and the Soliflore has a deeper hay note and richer feel overall. One of these days, when I’m actually in the mood to wear Ostara, I will try layering them to see if the soliflore helps to squash that detergent note I get from Ostara alone.
I’m actually wearing the Gardenia Soliflore today. Wow. I have never smelled such a photorealistic gardenia scent. For years, I have had a vague memory of a gardenia bush that Mom had in the backyard when I was small. It couldn’t have been there long because she doesn’t even remember it and claims that she only ever had Star Jasmine in that spot. I was sure she was wrong because I could picture the full blooms yellowing and dropping their petals, but I wasn’t completely certain if I was superimposing a different memory. The second I sprayed, the memory filled out and I was suddenly three feet tall, straining to move the heavy Samsonite chaise lounge across the steaming red-brick patio so that I could reach the beautiful creamy gardenia blossoms on the bush behind it. I could feel the sunlight reflecting off the swimming pool and recall the ambient scents of crushed sugar ants, chlorine, and warming tropical foliage. Now I know the gardenia bush was there, because I can clearly see the Jasmine climbing the arbor behind it and trailing across the porch roof. I can even remember the itchy feel of the purple verbena brushing my left foot and the redwood window frame under my hand. I haven’t had a perfume take my breath away like that in a long time and will have to have a larger bottle and probably the oil too. I can highly recommend sampling this one.
Wow, sorry for the novel. Got carried away.
Wow! Loved the read! Because I having been smitten with the soliflores and wearing them for over a week now! And what a great scent memory you shared!
Also thanks for the side by side with Ostara…I missed out on the 50%off sale which is just as well for I don’t have the money…nice to know that the Narcissus is , based on your description, a better substitute for me. Honestly, I would LOVE full bottles of all six of the soliflores…one can dream!
Loved it – especially your memory of the gardenia bush. Isn’t it wonderful to have your memory jogged like that?
Wonderful and quite eerie. I was glad to have such a vivid and happy memory pop up. Often perfumes remind me of something I can’t quite grasp.
Hmmmmm. Okaaay. I need to give the Dame Gardenia another whirl. Maybe it was because I wore Chanel Pour Monsieur earlier, and they are complete opposites… but my first roll in the hay with the soliflore was like punching my wrist through a wheel of blue cheese… I love blue cheese, but not as a perfume…
And now I’m just thinking of Young Frankenstein: “Rrroll, rrroll, rrrroll in za hay….vuld you like a roll in za hay?”
I just took a drink of water as I read that, and I almost spit water on my computer…lol
I’m counting that as a win
I laughed aloud too. An oft quoted line around here when Amelia kitty rolls in the dirt. I always imagine her as having the feline equivalent of Inga’s IQ and personality.
Gah! I’m so glad I didn’t get blue cheese. Detestable stuff that I can rarely stand to eat, and I abhor the scent. My husband thinks it’s great fun to share it with the cats and watch me recoil in horror at the stinky whiskers thrust in my face.
It’s amazing how dissimilar an odor can seem to different people. I’ve gotten a whiff of blue cheese from Oud before but never from gardenia.
ok now I need to try this gardenia soliflore as well. Someone on another blog was extolling the virtues of the oil, but better start w a sample of the edp.
Wow, what a lovely story! I even want to try Dame’s Gardenia now, and I don’t like gardenia in perfume at all.
I love gardenias and have not yet ever smelled a perfume that actually smelled the way I think gardenias smell (I wore them to my senior prom….). Now I have to go get a sample of this. Then I will be done. No more samples until I have worn everything I have twice….which would be most of a year, come to think of it…ok no more samples until I have worn everything once, doing a wrist to wrist comparison. That gets me down to 9 or 10 weeks. I could do that!
Go onto Dame’s website and read about the postcard sampling program and you will get it for free.
That was a beautiful story and easy to visualize how you enjoyed the scent.
What beautiful imagery. It’s amazing when a scent is so transportive.
I am laughing at the reference to Mrs. Kravitz – been years since I have seen that show.
What a lovely memory! Thanks for sharing it!
Mrs. Kravitz made me chuckle too. One of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster, is her neighborhood’s Mrs. Kravitz. I love reading about her neighbors antics.
Vintage Dune for me today. It’s goung to be hot here in San Diego so I thought it appropriate.
I wish I was in San Diego!
Project One-Spritz is underway. Yesterday I wore one measly spritz of the mild-mannered Oriental Lounge and met Dude 3 several hours later; his reaction was that I just managed not to wear too much. Nonetheless, I might see him again. (BTW, Dude 2 was a scrubber).
Today I am wearing one measly spritz of No. 19. Golly, I am being so gracious about my restraint! At least none of the Dudes will be fainting under this regime, which is very much a possibility in this town…
Oh my, dudes or perfumes? You many have a decision to make ????
I gave up entirely on dating in New York – scrubbers galore. But who cares when you smell good?
I might have missed something – did you get a complaint about your scent before?
“scrubbers galore” – where’s the cackling emoticon when you need one?
I just type “wha ha HA!” as my cackle approximation as I am notoriously unsophisticated, emojiily-speaking.
Yes, from a male colleague, who’s not one of the Dudes, but sadly part of the anti-perfume gang in this town. I am trying to be considerate at work, but can’t muster much graceabout it. The Dude-meetings are sprinkled amongst the work days, if that makes sense…
Ugh to the anti-perfume gang. Do they also hate rainbows and sunshine?
And it’s always a good idea to spread those things out. And even better, schedule sniffing adventures in between them to help you cope.
Dude vs Perfume… these ARE trying times to be dating… !
Hang in there beautiful!!!
If the dude has a problem with the perfume, the problem is with the dude.
Words of wisdom!
Well said.
Did you ask him what he thought of it/whether it was too much, or did he just volunteer an opinion on how much fragrance you should wear??
Morning, again. I’m wearing Bel Respiro, not at all the assertive scent I thought I wanted. Quite the opposite, in fact: gentle, fresh, cool but not cold, just a perfectly mannered assembly of garden and wild flowers co-existing in perfect harmony. It sort of suits my clothes, too: last night before I discovered I couldn’t sleep, I thought to wear a colourful shift in an all-over pattern. It’s a pretty dress, but by 2 a.m., I knew that bright and busy would wear me, because I really am doing a major droop, so I finally went with an outfit in shades of cool cream and dove grey. BR seems to be elegant in a rather grey way, or at least in a pastel way, so I’m sorted.
I can totally see BR being a grey sort of scent – maybe with a little pastel color here or there as an accent.
I love Bel Respiro – in my head it’s a cool grey-green.
Yes, I can totally see grey-green, that soft green like the underneath of a flax leaf, or lichen. Thank you: you’ve added a new dimension to BR for me.
Hope it helps with the all-day meeting
Another day for Le Temps d’une Fete for me. One of my favourites, and one of the few where I’ve actually bought a back-up bottle.
This is one of my favorites too, and I only recently learned it was discontinued.
Discontinued? Now that right there, that’s pure badness on the part of PdN! It’s not like they asked me first f it would be OK!
This may not be correct, but I believe you can still buy it if you contact PdN directly?
This is correct.
Oh, good to know! I thought I read somewhere (basenotes?) that it was being d/c’d and assumed that was so since it’s off all the sites I usually see PdN on, nor is it listed on the PdN site.
Yay!!
I have also heard that, which is relief, but it was news of discontinuation that led me to grab a back-up while it was still readily available.
Someone on Boisde Jasmin recently made the inquiry directly at PdN and got an affirmative answer, so all is not lost. I think it’s admirable that PdN take this trouble, just for a few fans like us.
Chanel No5 EDC. Each time I wear it I’m amazed how much I like it. Perhaps love, even. (No 5 used to smell like public restrooms to me.)
I seem to be draining my splash bottle too but it’s partly due to evaporation methinks. I bought it 99% full 4-5 months ago and decant a few mls each round into an atomiser. I feel compelled to empty the atomiser as soon as possible as I’m not too keen to perfume the universe with No5 without me taking part in it.
I love the EDC.
The edc is my favorite concentration. I have a big splash bottle that I adore.
SOTD: Black. My skin has sucked this one away so I am going to dig out my sample of Timbuktu next.
Is it Bvlgari Black? I use 5 sprays
and it is OH SO GOOD!
SOTD is Amouage Gold Woman – I say it definitely deserves its 5 stars!
If any fragrance merits 5 stars, this is the one. You smell wonderful.
“I’m a WOMAN! W-o-m-a-n, I’ll say it again”
I keep trying and not quite getting Gold. I’m wondering if it’s because I’m dabbing and not spraying….
SOTD is Chanel No. 19 EDP, a five-star in my book! Love the whole family, except for Poudre.
Amen!
I am continuing on my “wear a 4-star perfume that was robbed of a star”
SOTD = Chanel Coromandel
Before I fell deeper into the rabbit hole, I remembered telling an Estee Lauder SA that I would NEVER wear patchouli because I’m not THAT type of person (THAT = hippiie and/or a “smoker”‘wink wink). Oh how the mighty has fallen!
Coromandel is a cozy refined gourmand patchouli. I want to bathe in it all day everyday except the summer. LT called this a powdery patchouli. I don’t disagree but would have described it more as cuddly patchouli. I also did not see any negative in his review nor do I find any flaw in Coromandel; therefore, I am upgrading it to 5 STARS!
Coromandel had been tempting me…”if there were such a thing as powdered white chocolate”.
It is not universally loved but you won’t know which side you’re on until you try it. I had an initial irrational fear of patchouli. That said, I’m still afraid of Fate Woman
No! Have you tried it?! I’m sure Fate Woman would love you and vice versa…
Nope, still afraid…
I agree, I do not get patchouli with Fate, and I love it – I think you would find it gratifying, hajusuuri!
I’m not a huge fan of patchouli, but I love Fate and didn’t even know it had *any* patchouli.
Is it similar to Bottega Veneta?
Not to me. I don’t smell patchouli in BV.
They are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum IMHO.
Coromandel was an impulse buy for me, and is a favourite from my small collection.
We have many of the same perfumes!
Perfumista achievement unlocked: Scent twins with hajusuuri!
I feel all special now. I think the patchouli note in Coromandel is nigh unto perfect.
Too funny!
I chose Angel for the a.m. from my 5-star lineup. I’ve never worn this before and didn’t think I’d ever smelled it (I missed out on a lot going on in the 90s, including perfumery) but I do recall being trapped in elevators with this one. I don’t dislike it but it’s not my style.
I think Angel for the a.m. means Angel for the p.m. as well. It doesn’t go away.
I have so much trouble with the opening of Angel but later in the day it’s not so bad. Because it will still be there, and later, and later….
Whoa! Scent of the Day has really been exploding lately with comments.
I’m in Montale Wild Pears. I think it’s fun and I love the aroma of pear (one that’s very good, but much more subtle, is DSH D’Anjou).
I’m very envious of the Jicky extrait — it’s on my list to acquire some day.
I am wearing CSP Vanille Cannelle today. The cinnamon is so nice in this one. Love it.
I am a little obsessed with cinnamon, I think I would like that one…
Ooh that sounds really good
Scent today was Cuir de Lancome, I can still smell faint traces, lovely!
It really is lovely!
5 star “buzzing with brains” Bvlgari Black for me today. You all smell marvelous!
Almost didn’t make it here today! One of those frazzled days, but it’s reached its end and it’s time to wind down….
SOTD: Miami Glow. Take that, Old Man Winter!