Happy Almost-Friday! What is your fragrance today?
I'm still doing leather — today's entry is Robert Piguet Bandit. Tea at the moment is an Assam from Halmari estate via Upton (thanks to Austenfan for the suggestion).
Reminder: on 2/26, crack that whip! We're wearing leather. If you need some ideas, do check out Angie's Leather fragrances 101! (suggested by thegoddessrena)
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: shown is a coin purse from the Animale collection at Loewe. No idea of the price or if it's still for sale, sorry.
I’m jealous, Robin! I could definitely use some Bandit!
I have to go stealth perfume because my boss has a terrible sinus infection. Im thinking Brin de Reglisse.
I am almost out of it myself. Good luck staying under the radar!
I see it at discounters but when push comes to purchase it never stays in my cart.
Brin de Reglisse is so beautiful!
On of my favorites for sure. I’m going to be sad when I run out as I can’t afford to replace it. The sample vials just aren’t the same.
SOTD: Signature Silver Mark (Jack Black). Thought of Bandit today too, but couldn’t do it…
I am doing it for you!
There is snow on the ground again. I was going to wear Lyric but chose Epic. About that 30% coupon, I did end up using it on the Lyric refillable sprays. One, the refillable sprays are a little cheaper, two, I had already purchased a full bottle of Jubilation 25. Beloved is going to have to wait a couple more months.
Amouage-it can get you and your wallet by the throat
Tell me about it. It usually takes a while for me to save for a full bottle of Amouage. Good thing Interlude doesn’t agree with me even though the blue bottle is fabulous.
I have a FB of Journey Woman. I love the deep cranberry color of the bottle. I am such a sucker.
I am not sure if they still sell it but there was a small discovery set of 10 (?) of their perfumes. I still have it and found it lovely to try. I bought it at Aedes (no affiliation) and was money well spent.
FG may not have it, but Aedes does and so does the official Amouage site. And they are a good way to sample the line, but you don’t get all of them. I had bought the sample set for the main collection and also the Library collection, but had to buy samples separately of ones not included. Still, for what you get, it is worth the splurge if anyone isn’t sure about the line as a whole.
I wish I only loved one Amouage. I only own decants of several (Lyric, J25, Beloved, Fate). When I think about a FB, I can never decide which one. Beloved is a nice one to save up for.
I am perpetually saving up for a bottle of Beloved!
Definitely. I’m pacing myself though. One FB per year.
The husband went ahead and got me the full Lyric for our anniversary
We’re going to smell sooo good.
Congrads!
You smell goooood.
Another gray day today..
Blah.
Woke up this morning and felt like dabbing on the last few drops of Encens Mythique. I don’t think its FB worthy but sad my sample is gone. Someone mentioned yesterday that you can find cheap samples on the eBay of the Les Deserts collection. I will take a look!
Yesterday my new tea pot came in the mail, my other glass one broke while being washed in the sink. I went back and forth and decided to order the same one. Eros by MF is my tea of choice.
It is gray but I saw blue sky earlier uptown, not sure where it went!
At least we’re back in the 50s
Crazy! I have the window open. The sun was out for a new york minute.
It’s like winter was never here.
Yeah, what happened to that blue sky that I woke up to? As long as it stays dry today, I’ll take the clouds and 50 degree weather. Felt like a hurricane last night!
Last night’s weather was crazy!
It was a bit crazy!
I braved Chinatown last night for a work-related event. I think I need to reward myself!
I can leave some at Kayser for you in a few weeks
. We’re coming to cheer on my son in a half marathon. Hopefully his ankles will hold up.
Wonderful!!!!
Good luck to him
I am wearing la Perla Classic!
I only have two old bottles left, but to my big surprise I have the new restyling version. I only liked the older edt, and the new edp is o lot like the old edt!
my husband loves it so much, he hardley smels the difference..:)
How nice you like the new!
Hermes Cuir d’Ange. I love how it settles down so quickly into something soft and airy and slightly sweet, but if you get up close to it, you’re rewarded with a whiff of raunchy leather.
It’s an odd scent that way. I thought I needed to add this to my collection but over time it just didn’t work for me.
I only tried it on once but it was very surprising, the path it took. Need to hunt down a sample to try it again.
The kids have a snow day. luckily, i already have today off. Wearing a tiny bit ( for me ) of Cuir Amythyst. I have had a hard time warming up to this scent. I just don’t find it very inviting. Maybe it will work for me today.
Cuir Amythyst smells nearly the same as Bottega Veneta to my nose. I think it’s a bit sweet compared to BV but really quite similar.
I sprayed CA on in a duty free shop before getting on a crowded plane, and regretted it. I kind of liked it, though. Agree it does smell like a concentrated and louder version of BV.
Thanks, this is good to know, as i have been curious as to what BV was like.
Michel Almairac worked on both BV and CA so I think he has an accord he likes to use. He also did Gucci Rush!!!
I did not know that! You know how much I love Rush, Seems like I would get along better with CA. hmmm…now I am going to keep trying. Thanks!
I always associate you with Rush
BV is worth a try, even if just to compare the 3, as there’s a common thread.
Jolie Madame.
We got some sun today, though not all the time.
Twins
Triplets!
I love Jolie Madame, you smell great. Are you wearing the edt?
Yes, EDT, current version. I love it too – green violets and leather.
I’m in a bit of vintage parfum, and it’s much more violet candy than I was expecting (my first time sampling it). Green violets sound nice…*sidles over and takes a sniff*.
I think the parfum is much sweeter than the edt (probably why I didn’t love the edt). There’s usually a distinct white-floral effect to the parfum, too.
(I, um, have six small bottles of vintage JM, all slightly different. Kind of addicted.)
I’m in Tallinn airport, exhausted, on my way back to Brussels. As I didn’t put any perfume on this morning, I had to see what I could do with the (very limited) selection at the tax free. So I’m wearing Dior Homme Parfum – I prefer the original concentration, but I do get quite a bit of sweetish leather from this one.
Also, thank you for your lovely comments yesterday. It was a beautiful event and I enjoyed both the President’s speech and the concert very much.
Congratulations to you and your country! So much to be proud of.
And that Mohur extrait sounds like it was perfect for the occasion.
It certainly feels special enough to wear for such an occasion.
Hope you get some good rest when you get home. I agree, the original Dior Homme version is the best. I think it’s an edt, but am not totally sure.
I also agree. My husband has a bottle, and every now and then I use a few squirts of it for myself.
I used to do the same, but J’s bottle is gone. Maybe time for a present…?
Also not sure what it’s supposed to be exactly, I don’t think it’s mentioned on the bottle. But it’s a great mainstream scent.
Hope you get some rest and feel better.
Thank you! I need to get through Friday at work and then it’s weekend. And I didn’t mean to sound moany, it was/is a good exhaustion, but… still there, you know.
That all sounded rather wonderful.
Some of my colleagues were in Estonia for a conference a few months ago, they spoke very highly of the experience.
I’m very glad they liked it! Estonians are always worried about what others will think of them/their country. While I’d like to say I’m differrent, I must admit it’s not necessarily true…
what a wonderful event to attend!
It is rather special, yes. Although I believe it looks kore glamorous from the screen – waiting with 900 people for the handshake is not that exciting, really
Sampling Shermine on one arm and Metal Hurlant on the other and am liking them both
Never heard of these..should I put them on my must try list?
Shermine is more my style (iris being lush) but Metal Hurlant is well done and really does seem to have a leathery/ rubbery/gasoline vibe
Definitely try the Shermine as I don’t know whar Metal Hurlant smells like. I ended up buying the large “sample” at OsswaldNYC as their tester was shattered the morning of the evening I was there.
Bandit is fantastic–one of the few scents for which I have a backup. I think I’ll go for it tomorrow, today I’m in Bandit’s cousin, Jolie Madame.
Hey cousin!
Are you the older cousin who gives me lipstick in femme-fatal red and a pair of spiked heels for my sweet 16th?
I am older I’m sure, but I have never worn spiked heels or red lipstick in my life so I’m afraid I will not be of any help to you on that score
Séville à l’aube
Haven’t seen this one mentioned in a while! I miss it now that you’re reminding me of it.. great scent!
I love Seville a l’Aube, you smell wonderful.
I love this in the summer when it’s really hot and humid outside!
SaL is so pretty! I have a small vial of it that I treasure.
I won a 100ml bottle for £29 on eBay last night. fell in love after a blind buy 10ml spray for £2.99!
L’Artisan are so reasonably priced on eBay, I really have to restrain myself..
WOW!!!
Thursday…..Friday’s little cousin!
SOTD: Victoria’s Secret Heavenly. Soft and musky….me likey.
I noticed that Petsmart has cologne for DOGS…..For a whopping $1.50 and a joke, I got my brother’s grouchy dog a bottle of Top Paw Artic Rush….guaranteed to bring out the “stud” in Sam’s personality! Reminded me of Axe Spray!
Why am I surprised, of course there’s cologne for dogs. Dogs are semi-human, at least in NYC they are.
I remember about ten or fifteen years ago (?!) when the Oh, my Dog perfume came out and the little pet boutique I was shopping at the time couldn’t keep it in stock. It didn’t smell too awful, IIRC. I think there was a local pastor who launched a crusade because of the name. Wasn’t there one for cats too? Can’t imagine spraying my cats, they are too sensitive to chemicals for me to be comfortable with it. I sometimes even feel bad when my perfume gets on them.
I feel 100% sure that cologne went straight in the garbage…..My brother is not the “perfume on my dog” kinda guy! hee hee
My 100 lb Labrador typically smells OK, but if that double coat of his gets wet from rain, he’s Pepe LaPew! Straight to the shower!
There is one for cats, and it’s by Roucel!
When I was a teenager, our family dog had her own doggie perfume my mother would buy. It was called “Four Paws”. We used to laugh about the name, and the fact that our dog had her own fragrance.
Wearing Une Fleur de Cassie, which smells only very slightly of leather, but is gorgeous nevertheless.
Tea is Doi Mae Salong, which is an oolong, but highly oxidized so almost like a black tea. It’s very nice.
Are you enjoying the Halmari?
Never noticed a leather facet to Cassie! What a nice excuse to wear it immediately
Yes, lovely! Glad you recommended it. Not sure I will buy it again as I’m not sure it’s twice as lovely as my other Assams (and pretty sure it cost twice as much, have to check), but I love to try new teas and this is really a very nice cup. Also got a Satrupa Estate Assam, will try that tomorrow. Then I will go back to my long term search for a Keemun to replace the one I loved and can no longer buy
I understand these quests very well.
I buy my Halmari for €9,50, and it’s excellent quality. Most Halmari’s seem much more expensive.
I’m going to look into the the Satrupa Estate, and I’m very curious which Keemun you are looking for.
I loved an Upton tea called Ji Hong Supreme Organic. Went through several large bags, then Upton sold out. Have tried other “Ji Hong” Keemuns, plus quite a few more expensive Keemuns including a couple Hao Ya grade A, but have not liked any as well. Right now my late afternoon tea is usually a Keemun Mao Feng which is quite good, but not as good.
Looks kind of like an anteater to me, and though I’d never buy it, I also love that we live in a world where anteater coin purses exist.
Cuir de Russie, because obviously.
You smell lovely. I’m saving that for last
Thank you dear – so do you!
I think it’s supposed to be a bear, but I would not swear to that. The bull coin purse is also quite nice, and tomorrow will post the panda.
It’s adorable either way, but just googled the panda and that may win the cuteness prize in the coin-purse category.
I dunno…I think the coin purse iteration looks even more like genitalia than the handbag.
I do see a polar bear.
Huh… I can kinda see it as a bear now that you say it, but my initial thought was aardvark. And I kinda liked it better that way, so in my mind it’s still an aardvark.
Well, ihadanidea, if you really want to check it out, Neiman Marcus has it for a mere 380 USD. 8-0
Unfortunately they have it only in orange.
They appear to think its an elephant like the rest of that Loewe line, but I like your anteater better.
My mistake. Loewe calls this style a “bear.” Still the same price
I do too. Or AnnieA’s aard-purse concept.
I’m calling it an aard-purse, and I am also claiming dibs on it…
Aard-purse!
My leather today is Bottega Veneta.. I’m getting to the end of my manufacturer sample sprays I purchased off of ebay and am keeping an eye out for a 30ml bottle. Great year-round scent and office appropriate for sure!
Hey Twin. You smell great! I have a 30 ml bottle of BV that I found on Amazon. It was a blind buy for me at the time I bought it. I feel like I lucked out with this one.
Oh! Amazon is a good option too. Thanks for reminding me of this.
I love this one and I *know* someone gave me either a mini or a sample of this one, but I can’t seem to find it. The question now is only how long do I search before giving up and ordering more?
It’s been about a year since I bought my bottle but I think it was only like $50 ish… or maybe less for the one ounce. You know in perfume terms that is really free! If you order BV, you’ll probably find your sample the following day.
Exactly. I am tempted, but I spent too much on perfume in this quarter as it is, and I will have much to tell Donatella on April 1st….this will have to wait for now.
Good enabling work though!
I can send you a sample to tide you over. If you are interested, email me llombardi underscore 42 at hawtmail.
I have a 10ml manufacturer’s spray that I’d be happy to pass on to you since I also have a 50ml bottle AND the body lotion(more than enuff). Lemme know… pretsky 35 from hawtmale.
I’d love it! Thank you! I was looking at my calendar last night about sending you some dates to do Indian, but my weekends are a bit hectic right now. We’ll make it happen yet
Any chance you’re heading to the Diptique SS next week? I think I’m going to try for Tue. when it opens, just not sure what time.
I am so jealous! Let me know how it is! I love sample sales..
Happy to be your mule if there’s anything you’d like me to keep an eye out for. Let me know..
I may take you up on that!
I could potentially go Tues afternoon. My days are either unpredictably busy or slow so the “when” may be a spur of the moment thing. I can let u know Tues and maybe we can coordinate.
Sounds good! I’ll likely go after work, 5:30ish.
May I ask where you find Diptyque sample sales?
Hi Koyel, the one coming up is at Century 21 in Manhattan. Are you in the US?
Triplets!
keeping that for tomorrow, I don’t have a big choice: BV or Kelly Calèche, but I find KC more of a spring-time scent, BV is an allrounder, as you have also stated
BV is such a fantastic all around scent. I am saving it for tomorrow. It is a fragrance that I truly enjoy wearing all the time. Good luck finding a bargain! They still have one of those deluxe sets on Nordies from Xmas – it’s “full price” but you’d get lotion and other things too.
I’m wearing it too, along with the body lotion.
Cabochard Cabochard Cabochard. This week is basically making me realize I love leather so much I can’t stand it, and it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite because every time I wear Cabochard, Jolie Madame, Cuir de Russie, or Azuree I think THIS is what I want to smell like every day forever.
Love your passion for it. It’s hard not to enjoy it vicariously through you.
Is your Cabochard a recent bottle or vintage? I keep thinking about buying it, but I was wondering about reformulation.
It’s vintage – I got a sweet little set with EDT and an EDP mini. I have not tried the current version as vintage seems findable for a reasonable price, if you poke around and wait and pounce.
I’m probably going to put some vintage up in the swap meet, if you want an excuse not to buy something
SOTD PdE Cuir Ottoman- probably one of my all time favorites. Wonderfully cool and breezy today, so it’s perfect for this fragrance.
A wonderful NSTer sent me a boatload of vetiver samples (Thank You! You know who you are) and I have fallen into a deep, dark, inescapable well of vetiver love! Have we had vetiver day? Or vetiver week? How about vetiver for the rest of your life? ????
So far, it’s FM Vetiver Extrodinaire leading the pack. Major love and it’s going on my “most likely will never purchase but would really love to have” full bottle list.
Happy Humpday to everyone but me! Today is my Monday *BIG sigh*
Hi Deva, Can’t you buy a travel spray off the FM website? I’ve been eyeing a few of those for myself.
I have been eyeing those travel sprays (for a long time)! You can buy the them individually, but they are cheaper in a 3-pack of the same scent. What I REALLY want is to buy a 3 pack consisting of VE, Dries, and LdH….but then of COURSE, I want the travel atomizer case too….then I get disgusted with myself for WANTING all the time and put the brakes on EVERYTHING! Plus, I have a 15ml Vetiver Tonka headed my way from the split meet and a 10ml Cuir de Russie, so I just need to cool my jets, methinks…it’s so hard being me sometimes
Sometimes you have to spoil yourself but I know what you mean. I give myself the same lecture. Life is hard sometimes.
I “spoiled” myself with a new refrigerator, but I like how you think!
I was thinking of that. Hopefully you’ll save on electricity so you can buy more perfume!
Green enabling – I like it, Petunia!
You smell marvelous!
I went through 2 travel sprays of VE a number of years ago (when I owned 1 scent at a time. Unfathomable) but swapped out the 3rd of the trio. I really loved that one, but stopped reaching for it. Agree with Petunia about getting a travel spray if you love it.
Hi Elisa, Do you know if it’s possible to buy just one travel spray or would I need to purchase three? Not that I’ll be doing this anytime in near future. It’s on my list…
You can buy singles now. I bought it about 7 years ago when you had to buy them as a trio. Of course, this is just purely informational
There are so many fantastic leathers, but it’s hard to beat Cuir Ottoman!
Twins!! I think I’m going to need a bottle of this one.. my decant is starting to run low.
I am wearing Helmut Lang Cuiron from a sample. I find it a little too masculine for my taste. I was thinking of layering it with something flowery, maybe J’adore touche de parfum.
That may be a nice combination. I can see how Cuiron would lean a bit masculine. In general I don’t think it’s got much to it. I mentioned earlier this week it seemed a bit weak to me. Maybe layering it would give it some more depth.
The layering experience has turned out really nice. As you said J’adore gave it some depth and they mixed really well. I don’t smell them individually , they became one scent.
Nice! Glad that worked out.
I am wearing “Cuirs” from Carner Barcelona. Someone mentioned earlier this week that it is more a woody than a leather scent, and I agree. I like it, but it kind of feels like Armani “Bois d’Encens” without the incense. I might get a small decant – or I might not. But not a FB, I don’t think.
I really wanted to wear my sample of Cuir Ottoman today, I’d already decanted it into a spray sample, but it’s not in the box with the others, what a bother!, on my rummages I did find another leather sample vial tho, Atelier Gold Leather, I like this one a lot more than last time I tried it, but I love and bought Silver Iris instead. As there wasn’t much left I sprayed Cuir de Lancôme on my scarf.. In case anyone within a 10 mile radius was in any doubt I’m doing ‘leather week’, they probably won’t be now.. I do smell rather good tho, if I do say so myself!
Was going to retest Mona di Orio’s Cuir, which I remember as the driest, bitterest, wickedest leather. But I woke up with a nasty neck pain and am not in the mood for wicked. MPG Cuir Fetiche instead. I do not dislike it, but it’s another leather perfume I don’t need. Starts too sweet, and although it developes quite interestingly, to my nose it smells more like faux-leather, not a real one. And, as Missionista said yesterday, it’s definitely not Fetiche.
I was going to wear Bel Ami today, but when I went to the perfume shelf the bottle of Alanine LEAPT into my hand. Really. You know, how they do sometimes.
So classy! Even if it did jump into your hands!
Yep. (At least it was some good stuff leaping!)
It “leapt” into your hands because it loves you ????
I’m in Cuir de Lancome again.
Yesterday I left work early due to feeling all sorts of awful. Something has been going around the office and it was slowly nipping at me throughout the week. So I went home after lunch, had a big bowl of soup, took some meds and pretty much stayed in bed until this morning. I occasionally smelled my CdL from yesterday and it was very soothing while I was resting. Still have congestion in my chest, but at least the sore throat nagging me is gone.
That was some crazy storm system that came through yesterday and last night! I was in bed reading and hoping the roof would still be in tact by morning. The thunderstorm late evening was also insane. I went to bed and my room was lit up like it was day for while a while due to all the lightning. There are a lot of big, old trees in my neighborhood and I’m amazed there wasn’t too much damage when I left for work this morning.
Glad to hear that there isn’t too much damage, and that you’re feeling better. Cuir de Lancome is one of my favorite soothing scents too.
I think CdL comes next to Samsara in scents I could wear day/night because of how comforting and soothing they smell.
Samsara and I are have a very new relationship, but I think it’s heading that way for us too.
Absolutely agree, Jenkr, about Samsara. I find it both uplifting and soothing which is why I always carry a small bottle with me. Helps me cope when I’m anxious or when I encounter unpleasant smells or interactions on transit.
I love Samsara..
Now that my perfume from this morning has died down I will spray some Samsara
Love Cuir de Lancome… You smell lovely.
We had a big lightening/thunder storm too. Lots of wind that sounded like a train. I was awake for a few hours too and dragging today as a result. Hope you feel better today!
I am feeling a bit better today, thanks. Just fighting off the last of a cough.
I was amazed we had a storm that severe in February!
CdL is perfect! You smell great!
It seems leather is an overlooked category in my collection, but Fragrantica assures me that Volnay Yapana is actually indeed a “leather” fragrance. It sure is lovely! I would say it is a floral leather. Of the 5 Volnay fragrances, I really like 4. My FB Wish List keeps getting longer and longer…
I looked these up on Fragrantica, and I’m interested in trying them..Where did you buy the samples from?
Ahhhh! That coin purse is so cute! I love anteaters.
SOTD is Dame’s Desert Flower. The opening is a blast of roses, for sure. Like, it could almost bowl you over. Not a bad thing, just intense.
I finally realized last night what the dry down of Black Flower Mexican Vanilla reminded me of – Coromandel. Not identical, but definitely cousins.
Yeah, BFMV has a ton of patchouli in it. It reminds me of L de LL but much fainter.
That’s probably why I didn’t love it.
I thought they smelled similar as well, with the BFMV being less sweet, more salty or sulphuric or something. Actually, BV reminds me even more of EL Sensuous.
I noticed that in the notes. I like that part of it, and of Coromandel.
Thank heavens we only had a dusting of snow in my neck of the woods–they got a foot in Indiana.
Wearing current edt version of Vol de Nuit. Really enjoyed the foresty opening, but it quickly dried down to Guerlinade only. Just makes me want to seek out vintage.
We’ve been dodging the snow bullet all winter! Got loads of big rain yesterday and thunder and lightening! Weird winter for sure. I’ll take it b/c I’ve only had to shovel three times this year. What a blessing. VdN is so gorgeous! I have some older year 2000 edt of VdN if you want to swap….. it still whiffs of narcissus and cold leather and amber…
Missing the tease of blue sky we had this AM.
Today I’m testing EL Azuree that a generous SA at Macy’s OFFERED me without asking!?! Looks like he’s a renegade there, as he used a little screw top plastic vial that they use for skin care samples.
I’m quite liking it so far which is nice as 1) I have a hard time with leather 2) haven’t found an EL fragrance that has worked for me yet.
Shocker! Is this our NYC Macy’s you’re talking about?
I’ve not fallen for any EL fragrances either. The Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia I like OK, but could take it or leave it.
Yes! It was a shocker. He seemed not to care too much about selling anything. TG is nice enough, but I didn’t find it particularly compelling.
OH MY goodness! wow..you didn’t even have to ask huh!?
Cuir Ottoman today. I should have been wearing leathers all week, since I have a bunch that I really enjoy. Not sure what I should wear tomorrow, but really wish I had a nice dirty leather (my interpretation of “casual Friday”)
Like Anniky, I am at airport
I had hoped to get to try and or buy Kerosene but between snow and work I didn’t get there. Sigh.
There is a Tom Ford shop here at Detroit metro Wayne airport where the lovely SA gave me generous samples of the new Soleil Blanc. I sprayed on a touch of Tuscan Leather for the flight and for pre leather day. It’s delicious. The shop has lots of Fleur de chine and ships for free. Just sayin’
Wow you smell good and interesting about the Fleur de Chine – I am going to guess they only ship in the US though. Hope you have a good flight.
In Lys Mediterannee from a small sample – I needed the pep up and sheer springlike joy of it for a meeting this am. Also super excited as a very lovely and generous present has just arrived at work for me – Floris have a LE perfume called ‘A Rose For…’ ad then write your name on the bottle. I might have hinted very strongly this I would love this and it has arrived!
I feel I am rocking leather via clothing – a dark green fitted knee length dress with a similar coloured velvet jacket with leather elbow latches and knee high heeled black boots. Totally professional, obviously, and not remotely saying I am feeling a little rebellious!
Lys Mediterranee is one of my favorites! You smell heavenly (and sounds like you look great, too!)
Thank you – it’s making me really look forward to and yearn for warmer days.
I’m really cherishing my sample I got with Iris Poudre- haven’t used it yet tho, but tried it a few weeks ago in Liberty, so lovely.
You’re outfit sounds very really nice!
It’s definitely coming up to the right time of year to try it, it seems full of the promise of warm summer days and the sea. The outfit is a bit of a relief after very proper office wear for the past few weeks!
I decided to finally try my sample of Mohur today and I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t quite “get it” thus far. Pretty? certainly. Covetable? Not yet. However, I do believe that my experience is colored by the fact that I’m working with a tiny sample from a dabber. If I had a spray, it might be a different story. The question is, do I like it enough to shell out for a bigger decant?
I feel the same about Mohur – it’s pretty, it’s intelligent, I like it, and I don’t feel the slightest urge to possess more.
I have a spray sample and feel more or less the same way you do about it.
Is it the extrait version? I think they’re both gorgeous but the extrait is super gorgeous! Not sure I’d ever spray this one, however.. a dab will do ya
Nothing from NVC made me swoon. I also tried Ashoka and felt the same way. Money saved I’d say..
I’m so relieved to read these comments. Often I just don’t love the things that everyone raves about and it makes me feel like there’s something wrong with me and I just can’t appreciate what I should!
Oh, this is good to hear. From all the love for it I’ve read, I thought I was some kind of freak! I can certainly appreciate it, but it doesn’t move me the as much as some others I could mention (are you listening, Amouage? I’m talking about you.).
I am a freak too!
Amouage is very moving..
I think Mohur is beautiful and the extrait even better (though similar enough I wouldn’t need both), but I feel little urge to wear them. They are amazing on other people and in the vial, but smell a bit weird on my skin. If someone gave me a bottle, I would probably decant a bit just in case, because sometimes I am in the mood to wear things I don’t love, and then pass it on to my mother.
Went to bed wearing Dame’s Narcissus Soliflore, in an oil base apparently–it was from a small sample included with purchase. It is a warm, white flower, slightly spicy scent. I kept thinking I smelled asiatic lilies. It is a rich scent–I probably over applied. My husband liked it a lot.
This morning, to finally play ‘note ‘o the week,’ I’m in Feve Delcieuse, which on me is a weirdly vaguely gourmand leather. I get an echo of some Guerlains with it–perhaps it is the style of vanilla?
Examined my pear shape last weekend and decided I had morphed into a giant pineapple, with my clothes sizes now well into the middle teens. Why am I sharing my age of Western Expansion with you? Hoping it will help keep me to my exercise resolution! Wish me luck (tightens Fitbit tighter around wrist)…
I love pineapples! I know that is of little consolation. Keep exercising! You can do it!
Blushing, waving my pineapple top.
Good luck with your exercise resolution! You can do this! (I’m theoretically trying to get in shape for my wedding but yesterday’s cinnamon buns–well, and the fact that I’ve only been to the gym 3 times this year–couldn’t have helped.)
I had a pretty good routine going but I’ve been down for the count for the past couple of weeks with a sinus infection (same thing that derailed my workout plan last June – except that one lasted all summer. *fingers crossed*) Then I realized yesterday that my gym is closing on Tuesday for remodeling. I can walk outside, weather permitting, but I live in an area surrounded by steep hills so it’s a lot more intimidating than hopping on a treadmill.
In the meantime, I’ve been doing My Fitness Pal. It’s the only way I’ve lost weight before. Without it I have no concept of how many calories I’m taking in and burning. It provides a good incentive and now that I’ve dropped a few pounds I have a lot more motivation.
I like the MyFitnessPal website. I need to get back on it along with exercising.
Routine. Routine. Must look up that word… maybe tomorrow….
Yeah. I always get it confused with florentine.
As soon as my midwife clears me to exercise I will be in the loop.
I think you finally nailed that nagging thought I’ve had about Feve. I’m contemplating a FB, but not quite sure…
I think it is a really pretty perfume, but I am not pining for a full bottle…yet, at least. I’ll road test it some more. But it definitely registers as a leather scent on me.
There’s some good science that suggests exercise has very little bearing on weight loss. It’s all about diet. Exercise is critical for other aspects of health and is certainly important, but the balance of fat/protein/carbs in you diet is what makes the difference as far as weight.
In other words, don’t beat yourself up for missing time at the gym!
exercising makes me hungry! I lose more weight when I can resist eating desserts and practicing portion control.
I think that is true, from personal experience as well… but the exercise makes me feel better, and then it is easier (sometimes!) to eat better when I am all around feeling less slothful….pineapple-slothful.
This! I’m a bit more pineapple shaped than pear at the moment too
Caught a photo of myself when I checked the game camera last week and wondered who the chubby lady was and why she was wearing tights.
Well, its the fruit of friendship!
Wearing Iris Poudre – figured two spritzes wouldn’t overwhelm the office.
It is great in that way I think – and I wish it was a scent I could feel was ‘me’ but I love smelling it on others. You smell lovely.
Obviously I am a leather fan as I had no trouble rounding up 6 more bottles to choose from this morning. I think I will go with Cuir de Lancome today, Cuir Ottoman was great yesterday.
I couldn’t find my Cuir Ottoman sample, but today would have been good for it. Wound up with TF Tuscan Leather.
I think it’s wonderful and nearly delicious, but way spendy, so once this 5ml decant is gone, I won’t replace it.
Wearing Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Lotion and Elizabeth Taylor Black Pearls. I’m fruity suede, I am!
That sounds lovely!
I totally forgot I have a partial vintage bottle of Black Pearls.. Maybe I’ll do a bonus leather day this weekend.
I’m wearing Neroli from Yves Rocher, which I am enjoying quite a bit. I think that Yves Rocher is rather dismissed as drug store fragrances, but some of them are very good. I think that this one is at least as good as the Annick Goutal Neroli I wore last Sunday. Today is a continuation of the lovely early spring weather. I noticed that the redbuds are blooming, which is a sure sign of spring in East Texas. We were so lucky this year and rarely even got below freezing. Of course that could be the predictor for a hella-summer with highs over 100 most days.
I agree about Yves Rocher. You have not lived until you have tried their modestly priced shower gels and fragrances. The coconut soliflore is one of the best. They were a very progressive company long before it was hip to be so, eliminating animal testing and parabans and sulfites early on. They also grow many of their own ingredients. Every product in the Monoi line is superlative including the shower gel which is so gentle I wash my hair with it and then feel wreathed with tiare blossoms. I enjoy redbuds but they are not open yet here in the banana belt of Virginia!
I second that stinker kit. I use YR Lagoon shower gel under their Monoi oil. It is wonderful and so cheap! It’s great for bedtime.
I love their Neroli.
We’ve got Texas Mountain Laurel blooming here, as well as the redbuds! Spring
I have yet to receive a bad product from YR. I may not like some as well as others, but the quality is apparent in everything I’ve tried.
Another YR fan here, quality + price = great value. I’m not a big fan of the Neroli (just personal preference) but the Rose Absolute and Voile d’Ambre from that same Secrets d’Essence line are favorites of mine. As is the d/c Neonatura Cocoon (patchouli, vanilla, dry cocoa) and the d/c Nature Millenaire, my most favorite, which reminds me a lot of Tauer’s popular L’Air Desert fragrance (but at a fraction of the price.)
Oh, and I envy you the blooming redbuds. Ours won’t bloom for another 6 weeks or so.
Today is Mon Cuir by Ramon Monegal. While a fairly soft leather on its own, compared to the Cuir Fetiche, this is downright animalic. Clearly these two needed to trade names.
Wearing Byredo 1996….again. It’s been my most worn perfume this winter.
A worthy choice for most worn!
Knize Ten cologne from a sample vial that was among the first I ever bought about 3 years ago…
You know that thing, where you open a vial too vigorously and a bunch spills down your arm? That one.
But now I get it. I think any other time I tried it, I dabbed too delicately.
That’s a bright pink bear! I would be even more specific and say a polar bear, as they like to sit down in something that resembles this position. Anyway it’s adorable! Away from home and forgot any leather so am wearing Mohur today.
That’s what I thought too- pink polar bear????
Twins in Mohur. There is a tiny bit of leather somewhere in all that rose, oud and sandalwood!
I am out sick for day two – the last to get it from my hubbie and daughter who had it first. Yuck. I hate being sick. No leather for me today. Rather my fav and lovely vintage No 5 extrait.
Do suedes count for “leather” b/c I realize I also have some of the original Donna Karan “Signature” and that has a pretty good deep suede accord…. ?
Yes! Suedes count, thank goodness or I’d be out of luck with this genre of perfume.
Aww – feel better Ann dear!
As for suedes, I guess I always considered that a subcategory of leather, but I am by no means an expert on this score. I say go for it, if you’re feeling up to it.
please get well soon!
Feel better!
Feel better Ann!
Sending healing vibes your way ????
Hope you feel better soon!
yes! I think DK Signature is almost an osmanthus fragrance.
Vintage no 5 extrait, yummm, love it! Get well soon!
You smell beautiful and gorgeous.
I hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for everyone’s well-wishes!
Daim Blond for me today. I like it, but a sample is probably enough to see me through a long while.
I do not go through any huge amount of it either.
So weird. I had a dream about Daim Blond the other day. Maybe it was Kanuka who mentioned it had been reformulated? I have never sniffed it, and I like and love several SLs… but in this dream it had an oily gasoline-ish smell over hay and chemically leather, NOT in a good way. How odd is that? Dreaming about wearing a fragrance I have never experienced, and finding it unpleasant. Totally irrational!
Actually that’s about what it smells like to me. I have 10mls of it and that is a lifetime supply.
I have it but know nothing about reformulation…that’s far too technical for me. It smells like a kids leather school bag at the end of the year, when you discover that it contains two uneaten rotting fruits, a pair of damp swimming togs and/or socks, a decomposed ham sandwich, a half sucked boiled sweet, and an unexplained damp stain. In other words it’s a curious, kind of repellant thing that nevertheless makes you smile because it reminds you of your own old school bag. The other possibility is Waterdragon’s lederhosen clad work colleague:Professor Leatherballs.
Hahahaha! I woke up too early and needed a good laugh so thanks . It actually sounds like a LT/TS review.
SOTD is Agent Provocateur – I’m not sure I can smell the leather this scent theoretically contains, but it smells great nonetheless.
Wore that last night. Love it.
Such a great thread! And perfectly timed: I have had a bottle of Chanel Cuir de Russie in the fridge since 2008 (!) and never really warmed to it… and for some reason, yesterday I tried it on and WOW…like being hugged by a giant furry bear carrying a bouquet of iris and jasmine. So warm, comforting, all over beautiful! Never want to let go
And just as the days are getting longer, sky is blue and the ice is beginning to melt, and I was going to bring out Cristalle to celebrate spring… 
Furry bear, LOL!
Having so much fun today, registering for NST and getting a gravatar… Love yours, what flowers are they?
It’s an old image of some bearded iris from my mom’s garden.
That furry bear was in hibernation for quite a few years, and now look! You discover a new love❤️
Wearing Cuir Beluga from a decant from a lovely NSTer. Loving it, and a full bottle is in my future.
Good call! Love Cuir Beluga.
I keep wondering if I should buy a back-up. I may just do it when there’s a deal I can’t refuse.
I am contemplating that as well.
I’m wearing Shalimar today. Second day in a row.
Second day of smelling fabulous!
Tabac Tabou, which I like pretty well, but I’m pretty sure I confused it with another scent that I’d meant to apply. Although maybe not, maybe I just remembered the base and not the top and middle? Hmm.
I like Tabac Tabou, too. Smells like early summer to me, with the grass just having turned gold and the sun warm and, somehow, a horse with its mane full of narcissus and jimson weed flowers.
Yes, there is something in it that is suggestive of sunshine and pollen drifting through the air – I suppose that’s the hay. I’ll have to prioritize it once Oklahoma’s terrible summer starts to show up.
I really like it too. It does smell like summer, but is a great strength for cooler weather.
Fan di Fendi Leather Essence. I can’t recall how I acquired this, but it started like leather boots, then softened to the inside of a handcrafted woman’s bag with spilled fragrance samples and lip balms at the bottom.
That sounds pretty appealing!
Vintage Jolie Madame today, because I’m feeling risky. I just went and had 8″ of hair cut off. I knew it might not be feasible to tell the stylist, “Make me look like Patti Smith circa 1975!” so I brought a photo of what I wanted. (Now that I think of it, I should have brought the album cover of HORSES… on vinyl, natch.
)
That sounds awesome!
It felt so good!
Very brave! And I wouldn’t mind looking like Patti Smith from that era. I met her briefly, about 7ish years ago. I’d gone to see her film Dream of Life in its last week. The theater was fairly empty, but she was there, watching her own film! She was happy to chat a bit afterwards which was cool.
What an awesome amazing story! You are so lucky you got to talk to her. Have you read her most recent book? (I’m waiting in line for it.)
It was definitely a New York moment. Does she have a new book?! I’m still not over Just Kids. Loved that book so much.
I loved “Just Kids” too, and I’m greatly anticipating the new one. It’s called “M Train” and is a sort of personal travelogue of places that are significant to her…
I couldn’t decide what I wanted to smell like today, and then on my walk through town this morning I discovered that people’s daphne bushes are blooming. I walked through several clouds of pure heaven — the smell so beautiful that it was like walking into a little alternate reality bubble, where everything was right with the world, the thousand tediums of adulthood a thing of the past, the future full of nothing but shining promise. So, naturally, now that I’m home, nothing will do but several generous spritzes of Demeter Daphne — like all the good Demeters, a ringer for the thing it’s meant to smell like.
That sounds lovely! I don’t think I’ve ever smelled a Daphne but I like Wit. I’ll have to find that Demeter.
Voyage this morning.
I didn’t sense the suede in it before but now that I’m looking for it, it is definitely there (though subtly, to my nose)
Interesting. Need to smell for this too!
Wearing L’Artisan Piment Brulant for the third day in a row and enjoying it.
Hope everyone is having a good day!
The sun finally came out where I am, so I put on some AG Petite Cherie for a for a gentle floral blast.
Wearing Cuir Noir, the strongest leather fragrance I own. This week’s comments have grown my “must smell” leather list!
SOTD is L’Artisan’s Dzing. What a great scent! I have no idea why I don’t reach for it more often.
My thoughts exactly every time I wear it!
Morning, all. I’m yawning and sleepy and grumpy because some idiot played Bollywood most of the night. It’s so hot we all have our windows wide open, so we have to be considerate of how much noise we make or fish we fry, but this ill-mannered twit clearly missed the memo about how to be a good neighbour. So, I need a perfume that will sparkle when I begin to I slump and scintillate when I can only grunt and give an impression of cool togetherness when I’m struggling to focus on the point of my meetings. It has to be the bitter lemon of Cristalle, I think. This makes the second week that I’ve missed the Friday project — sorry. I can’t face leather at the moment, though I own a few: BV, Bandit, Signature. Even Cuir de Russie makes feel a bit glum. Have a wonderful day, everyone.
Bollywood is great, but not under those circumstances. Hope the Cristalle is a good friend to you today.
This isn’t the same, but I used to live in a house without air-conditioning, across the street from a fire station. Every so often, they did some sort of exercise that involved sirens, lights, and being on the loudspeakers ALL NIGHT. I’m thankful for all they do, but goodness, those were rough nights.
Sorry you have rude neighbors. Hope you find some pep, though!
I’ve been ignoring our lovely spring-like weather all week and plowing ahead with leathers, but today I found I just couldn’t — so SOTD is De Profundis, a silvery alien violet. I plan to skip out of work early and go rollerblading along the shores of SF Bay; fingers crossed that no work emergency rears its ugly head and forces me to be a proper grownup instead of going out to play….
I hope you get to go play. I have to pull out my sample of De Profundis soon for Spring. Spring in February is not normal in my part of the world.
Not normal here, either. It should be cool and rainy. Folks are getting nervous about another drought year… we have had less than 20% of our normal February rainfall.
I’m nervous.
Oh dear.
We must be getting all your rain here in Virginia… the ground is so soaked that I can’t walk across the yard to the shop lot (to feed the lamb!) without water rising up over the tops of my feet. It’s like stepping on soaked sponges.
(It’s not unheard of to have this kind of weather in February, but I don’t like it.)
Rollerblading around the bay sounds so wonderful! I used to be an avid rollerblader. Wish I had kept my pair.
Le Galion’s La Rose for me today
I’d been planning on doing some research on which of my perfumes contained leather, but didn’t quite find the time. SOTE for Friday here will be Memoir, which I know has a leather note. Lovely, but a bit much for work.
I’ve got to get my head around the new Galions. I think they’re at World. You clearly love your La Rose, which encourages me to think that they must be good quality. I’ll potter over the road and try them, serious-like, as a reward for finishing the last lecture for Tuesday. At least it’s roughed out on paper and blocked in in my head, so maybe by Saturday afternoon, I will be able to go a-sniffin’. Hey, and you know what? I’m a machine! This week, I have put together two new papers, written two lectures, three assignments and a highly-decorated case study. If I weren’t so tired, I’d be bouncing like a red rubber ball!
That’s pretty good going. All I’ve done is write two stories in my head, thought about a workshop I have to take, almost started reading someone’s manuscript, and made plans with a curator to sniff greasy whale material at the museum….sperm whale oil etc. I wish I had your discipline and Gaynor’s perfume. Happy weekend you two!
I’m wearing Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur now, but I’ll take a shower soon and get in another leather or two today.
Trying to decide which leather to wear to a casual gathering at a cafe. I want to smell great without scaring the horses.
PG Cuir Ottoman and Hermes Cuir d’Ange are top contenders.
Or I may skip leather and wear the lovable Amouage Beloved instead.
Thoughts?
Beloved has a leather note, so you can wear it in without cheating.
That’s a great point, bastet!
Sunny and warm for February here again. I am loving it, though temps in the 60s are cutting ski season short. I’m wearing VC&A Lys Carmin today, the spicy lily that elbowed Shanghai Lily out of my primary affections. I also made a couple of small perfume purchases yesterday, so enabler pins to SicilianaNC, Deva, and Kanuka! Tomorrow I’ll be wearing a floral leather.
Glad you’re back in the band!
Hallloooo everyone!February is the shortest but BUSIEST month at the Eye Hospital.We’ve done record numbers of cataract surgeries this month,it’s been cray-crazy!SOTD Le Beau Male,slightly off-beat but fresher version of the original Le Male.This is an interesting one for me,as I don’t like it in Winter but LOVE it during summer(I don’t wear perfumes seasonally,this is the exception).Footnote:a VERY generous gal from Seattle sent me some Dame Perfumery Desert Rose.OMG…that is pure love and in my view THE PERFECT ROSE perfume!!I cannot get enough!
My SOTD for this snowy day is L’Artisan Vanille Absolument. I liked the original name better – Havana Vanille. The opening of this is boozy for me, and doesn’t really settle into vanilla until the dry down.
Agreed, it’s very boozy-tobacco up front and then it has this long, long, lovely “clear” (as in, not powdery or flat) vanilla drydown. I kind of wish I could just have that drydown alone; it’s the only vanilla experience I wanted to go on and on.
Also, the vanilla part is just gorgeous layered with a tuberose soli.
Inspired by Kanuka’s walk and post yesterday, I dug up my sample of Blackbird and am wearing it today. I can’t remember what I really thought about it the first time I wore it, other than it was strangely interesting, but now that I’m trying it again it’s absolutely beautiful. The blackberry is deep and sweet and perfectly balanced by the resinous woods. It feels glorious in this cold, nasty MD weather. It was 50 degrees earlier, but it appears to be flurrying snow now!
That one hasn’t appealed to my personal taste, but it sounds both interesting and lovely for those so inclined. I’m so glad somebody’s making a fragrance that isn’t your average offering.
You know, reading the notes I don’t know that this would appeal to me either. Personally the idea of pine in my perfume sounds just wrong, haha, but I’m glad I have a sample and gave it a chance. I’m growing! I’m finding that a lot of the Olympic Orchid scents are growing on me too. Granted, it might help that I grew up in Washington state and miss it terribly. A lot of Ellen’s scents are inspired by the smells of the Pacific Northwest, which I guess makes me more inclined to try them (whereas I may not otherwise).
I’m really looking forward to trying it. I went to British Columbia when I was a kid to visit relatives and loved the forests. I couldn’t believe that huckleberries were a real thing and not just part of a boy’s name..and salmon berries, too.
I had a wet grass walk today and Pohadka was perfect.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Oh how I miss the huckleberries and salmon berries! We had them (and blackberries of course) growing along the greenbelt of our yard. It turned me into a forager for life!
SOTD = Puredistance M
Smooth as silk spicy leather. The opening was a big spice-fest, including, gasp, cumin (not listed but I smell it). I forgive M for the cumin because everything else about it is top-notch quality materials. It is a very warming scent and lasts forever. I can’t imagine wearing this in the heat although the bergamot top could probably cut theough it.
Decisions decisions for cracking tbat whip tomorrow!
SOTD is Dame Perfumery Osmanthus soliliflore edt from a travel spray. Creamy and apricotty with a soft suede finish, it’s luscious! Both the rose and osmanthus soliliflore edt’s have excellent sillage and lasting power.
Today we’re ‘celebrating’ National Spay Day 2 days late by having the two kittens spayed this afternoon. Well, I’m sure they won’t be actually celebrating, they didn’t appreciate missing their breakfast this morning and now this! At least they have each other to go through this together as sisters. Waiting a bit anxiously for a call from the vet that all is well and I can pick them up . . .
Dang it, I still have a few of those Dame soliflores I need to try!
Kittens will be fine, I’m sure. Cuddle them up good when they get home, and maybe a bit of tuna wouldn’t go amiss either.
Thank you for your reassuring comment. Kittens sre home, somewhat dopey, but otherwise o.k., not too interested in food or cuddles, mostly they just want to sleep. They had rabies shots also today. The one who is the kitten/monkey/squirrel lost a bit of her mojo. She tried twice to jump onto her bed and flopped on the floor, poor thing. So I set a stool midway for her until she gets her jumping ability back.
I always had previously spayed kitties until my current guys. I didn’t realize how stressful it would be. The anesthesia made them bonkers! I feel your anxiety. Wishing them a speedy recovery!
Thank you for your good wishes. I’ve had mostly male cats and the last female I had spayed was 20 years ago, so I remember nothing. The post-op instructions say they’re not supposed to jump for 14 days. Ha! Tell that to a kitten!
Glad they’re home safe! It’s really nerve racking even when it’s a routine procedure.
I was hopping back on to warn you about the no jumping thing. We were told not to let the girls jump for ten days, whaa??! I honestly laughed right in the tech’s face when she told me that. She suggested I crate them. Really? Crate four kittens for ten days?
One of mine did tear a stitch a tiny bit but they were fine. Just watch them for the first few days if you have pain meds ’cause they get carried away, and look out while they’re rough housing. Bunny-kicking each other in the tummies is probably not too smart right now.
Thanks, MikasMinion. We gave them their pain meds this morning and right now they’re each curled up in their separate beds sleeping. They must be hurting, poor things, because as littermates they’re always on top of each other in the same bed. So, at least for now, no rough-housing to worry about.
Cats are rather tricky to put under general anesthesia. I don’t know why, as I’m not a vet, but I know they react very differently from say dogs or humans to certain anesthetics.
Yes, the tech pointed out some post-op differences, too, yesterday. She cautioned us about only giving them a tiny bit of water at a time last night and to not let them drink as much as they might want from a full bowl. She said dogs will usually drink a whole bowl post-op if given a chance but cats might not. So I followed her instructions and the kittens were really not interested in more than a sip or two. And they’re not too interested in food yet. Hopefully, the pain meds will help them feel better.