As always, answer as many or as few as you like! Or just talk about something else altogether.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
2. The last new (or new to you) fragrance that you fell in love with right away? Did you buy it?
3. The last new (or new to you) fragrance that was a huge disappointment?
4. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything: something you discovered, or bought, or read, or saw, or something great that happened to you recently.
Note: top image is snow drop [cropped & rotated] by Magnus Hagdorn at flickr; some rights reserved.
1. Chanel Misia
2. Also Misia. Bought a full bottle an hour after trying it for the first time. That was a year ago. I’m on my second bottle!
3. Those Derek Lam scents at Sephora. Can’t remember which ones I tried (there are too many of them!), but they were downright unpleasant.
4. I went to see the Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun exhibit at the Met last week. Loved it so much! I will definitely be back to see it again a few times before it closes.
Love Misia, also bought!
It’s my most-worn perfume these days.
Oh, I just found out about that exhibition yesterday and it is on my list not to miss. Glad to hear it is worth the trip!
So worth it! This was my favorite painting: http://barber.org.uk/elisabeth-vigee-lebrun/
Vigee Lebrun at the Met? I wish I could get there….
Here’s a small taste: My second favorite painting from the exhibiton: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/437900
On my list of exhibits to see!
And totally agree on the Derek Lam scents.. big disappointment.
Standing in front of this portrait is a truly special experience: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette#/media/File:Marie_Antoinette_Adult.jpg
Agree on the Derek Lam scents. Guess I’m not the target audience.
I truly wonder who is.
I need to put this on my list. I’ll probably go on a Friday when the Met stays open later.
Ooh I’m jealous, that must have been wonderful. I love her portraits very much, There are some of her paintings at The National Gallery in London, which are beautiful.
I’m going to have to try Misia. It seems like its getting a lot of praise lately.
And add another vote for Derek Lam. I found one to be vaguely interesting. One out of ten is pretty bad.
Hello everyone!
1. I’m wearing Lavande 44 from Rania J.
2. That would be Atelier Cologne Mimosa Indigo. I didn’t buy it yet but I will, just waiting until it appears in Poland.
3. Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land… It’s so plain and uninteresting. Pretty but really uninteresting.
4. It was my birthday on Wednesday 24th & I managed to find ans buy a new messenger bag I’ve been looking for.
happy birthday!
Completely agree with you on the Byredo. Have not tried any of the new Atelier Collection Orient but Mimosa Indigo sounds promising.
And happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, Lucas!
Happy birthday! 🙂
Happy Birthday! Hope it was great.
Happy belated birthday, Lucas! All the luck to you.
Happy Belated birthday!
I like Chanel because they remove all my guilt from buying Guerlain.
Sorry, wrong place…
Hilarious comment though, and I agree! Well sort of, Chanel has some seriously beautiful perfumes but I mostly feel they are not me.
Happy belated birthday!
I will never again be the first person to post! On the US west coast and at the airport to go home, after two days of 12-14 hours of meetings. But I put on Mohur this morning to fortify me for the day – a new, to me, love – and the TSA guy said ‘what is that? You smell amazing’! Another first!
Disappointments? I am still figuring out my relationship to Chanel and am mostly disappointed that I can no longer find decants and so can’t continue to explore in that way. I do have stores nearby, but it isn’t the same.
Something lovely? Pikes Peak CO on a clear crisp morning. And a poetry reading by Ed Roberson and Joe Donahue last week. I don’t always love listening to poets read their work – too much ‘poetry voice’ – but these guys are awesome.
Or among the first!
😀
Nice job charming the TSA!
A TSA guy with senses? Impossible! Kidding, of course … but it does sometimes seem like they’re trained not to have any personality whatsoever.
I am a road warrior for work and what’ s true is TSA agents have a really serious job to do of watching people’s behaviors. They are trained to focus and don’t get enough credit for what they do.
I agree. I’ve got an odd last name and so often distract the ones who have to check tickets and IDs; I’m glad to give them a laugh in the midst of work that is unappreciated.
Mohur is my favorite rose (and I love roses). It’s so beautiful, rich, complex and plain delicious to wear. I was never complimented on my perfume, but I can understand Mohur could trigger that, since it’s so unique, even compared with Epic or Rose Nacrée. As for the Chanels, is there something I don’t know going on in the usual decant sites? Heck, I was planning to get quite a few of the Excusifs in 5 ml!
Yes, Chanel shut them dow, sent legal cease & decist letters, so no more Chanel decants.
Well, they relieve my guilt from buying Guerlains…
solanace, Mohur is my favorite rose too! It is very beautiful and also very addictive. I love it.
The perfume equivalent of crack, lol. Considering selling the living room tv for a FB of it.
Haha, yes but there are lots of other perfumes that cost much more than Mohur like the Amouages, the Roja Doves, and many others.
Mohur is actually worth the price in my opinion.
Agree it is totally worth it, you can tell the awesome quality from a mile, but I fell for the extrait, which is costly – fit for Cleopatra herself in that burgundy glass, but still, costly.
Wearing Chanel Misia today. Trying to decide if I would wear it enough to justify a full bottle.
Instant love was TF Noir pour Femme. Did eventually buy it, but not wearing it much since working in a medical office kind of mandates lighter scents.
Trying to remember how Guerlain Mon Precieux Nectar smelled when I tried it in Boston Last spring. I recall really liking it and regretting not getting a sample. Has anyone else tried it?
Looking forward to my brother and his family visiting in a couple of weeks. Hope the weather cooperates!
Misia does have the lightness to wear to work. Just shy of too sweet.
MPN is delish! It smells of sweet almonds and orange blossom to me, probably heliotrope too. I love wearing it in cold weather, sprayed on myself and my scarf. Like a beautiful fragrant cloud.
Points for MPN! Thanks, Cazaubon!
I read one comment on Fragrantica that said it smelled like Hanae Mori (Butterfly, I think), but I don’t recall it being nearly as sweet. What do you think?
No, it doesn’t smell like Hanae Mori to me.
That’s kind of a relief. I have had Hanae Mori for a long time now. Bought it after my son (much younger at the time) said I smelled good in it. But it seems too sweet now.
I loved Nectar!
Good to know. I think we have pretty similar tastes.
Oh I LOVE Tom Ford Noir Femme. That’s the last perfume I fell for at first sniff, too. Currently saving for a bottle.
1. Diorella
2. Fat Electrician – I’d never need a full bottle but am keeping an eye out for decants.
3. Like This (can you tell who bought the ELdO Sephora sampler?)
4. The cookbook Good & Cheap – Google it! – full of delicious, cheap and easy recipes! I make most of my meals from this cookbook and especially recommend the savory summer cobbler. It has lowered my grocery bills and gotten more vegetables into my diet. If you’re broke there’s as free PDF download; if you’re not broke I believe they donate one for every one that is purchased.
That ELdO sampler is so great.
I also like the Good & Cheap cookbook! I also recommend the At Home with Madhur Jaffrey book for inexpensive recipes with fresh vegetables and legumes, prepared in interesting ways.
Ooh, I’ll check it out, thanks!
Madhur Jaffrey is terrific! I have several of her earlier books.
Me too! She’s completely unknown in Sweden where I live, but she’s definitely one of the people who got me obsessed with smelling things from when I was a child! My dad had her book and would make me smell all the separate spices and herbs while he was cooking.
That is a great cookbook and I bought it too!
Working my way through Smitten Kitchen’s cookbook and finding some really great recipes, some of which I’ve repeated numerous times already.
Fat Electrician is available on Scentbird now, for $14.95 (8ml). You don’t have to subscribe to buy one, I think!
I have it in my Scentbird queue….love it!
Ooh, good tip! That will be my taxtime treat. 🙂
Great cookbook tip!
Wearing Roja Dove Unspoken parfum today. It’s been a long time since I had an instant fragrance love that I purchased right away… I did a slow burn on Dries Van Noten and finally ordered it 2 weeks ago. Prior to that I fell in love with MDCI Nuit Andalouse and ordered immediately, but that was a year ago.
My most recent disappointment was MFK Baccarat Rouge 540. Stupidly bought it blind and discovered I was anosmic to it, had to sell it off at a loss. Fortunately it went to a Facebook friend who is thrilled with it.
Got a new Bottega Veneta handbag for my anniversary, loving that new leather smell!
Wonderful anniversary gift! Their stuff is classic so you’ll be able to enjoy that for some time. Definitely need to pair it with the BV perfume 😉
Yes, they are great together. 🙂
Congrats on the handbag!
Wow, lucky you on the Bottega Veneta bag! Years and years ago, I had quite a few of them (before they were super pricey). I sold most of them except for one or two. But now they are beyond my reach.
1-Kalemat by Arabian Oud
2- FM Vetiver Extrodinaire. I bought a full bottle in my dreams ????
3- MDCI Les Indes Galantes
4- Another beautifully cool and breezy day in the hood!
Did you feel like Les Indes Galantes smelled like things that are much less spendy? I thought it was an awful lot like Laurence Dumont Tendre Madeleine or L de Lolita Lempicka, both of which I have already, though I haven’t put my sample of the MDCI directly up against either one yet.
I was seriously shocked when I smelled this. I don’t know what I was expecting but found it disgustingly sweet and “fake.” And this is from someone who really likes sweet gourmand type scents. Reminded me of the vanilla car freshener, the kind that comes in a can.
Who-boy *fans self*! That would definitely be a turn-off. I rather liked it, but my wallet was glad it was too close to other, much cheaper things.
My wallet is quite happy about it as well ????
Oy vey on the MDCI Indes Galante. I have a dabber sample from LuckyScent and smelled the vial – it passed the test (i.e. not an immediate no). Since we like many of the same perfumes, your post is making me pause on a potential split.
Happy to send you my teensy weensy decant!
1. Jo Malone Nasturtium & Clover
2. A tie between Coromandel and Jour D’Hermes. I have splits coming to me soon. Yay!
3. The Jo Malone herb collection. Beautiful bottles but boring juice. I can’t justify the price for the bottles alone.
4. I had a facial yesterday and it was fabulous.
So glad every time I read the JM herb collection is boring. Prevents me having to drag myself to the mall to smell them 😉
31 Rue Cambon
I recently sampled James Heeley Chypre 21, loved it, but I wanted more and more, and it disappeared in a New York minute. At that price point- no thanks!
I really love the Deserts d’Orient collection from Guerlain- I would love all 3. Waiting for my sample of Ambre Eternal after LT review I ordered a sample.
Nothing new – looking forward to the last episode of Downton Abbey!! 🙁
I cheated and read all about the last episode this past weekend. Bad, I know, but I’m tired of waiting for things to happen that I want to happen on that show!
Mouth is sealed, but can’t wait!!
I hope it’s worth the wait! Thanks for not saying anything
Violet Crawley gets booted out and winds up living in a van outside Alan Bennetts house
Violets quotes are the best
Does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?”
My Dame Perfumery order arrived yesterday, and I immediately spritzed on Desert Rose (VERY nice, although I’m not sure the rose ever actually showed up). This morning, though I’m trying out Dark Horse, which I think might be both too vanilla and too masculine on me, although reminds me a bit of Safran Troublant.
I sniffed the Gardenia soliflore sample and did, basically, fall immediately in love with it. Too scared to try it, though. What if it doesn’t like me??? (It will like me.)
I have read nothing but good about the gardenia.
I got a couple minis recently from Dame Perfumery, such a great deal! They included a sample of the Gardenia and I love it, despite not being a white floral fan.
I’m super excited about this. I took a look through Lush NA’s spring catalogue last night. See page 54.
http://www.lush.ca/on/demandware.store/Sites-LushCA-Site/en_CA/LushTimes-Start
That is exciting!
Had to double check to make sure the catalogue was on the US site, too. Yes!!!!!
A couple of weeks ago I was in Lush and the SA told me that Lush would not be selling ANY of its spray perfumes in California–only solids. With a totally straight face she said, “Most people will just be bringing them in across the border from other states.” (Dare I say I heard my spurs click as I strode out of the saloon?)
That’s hilarious. I always laugh when I read a label or owner’s manual and it says “this product is known by the State of California to contain potentially carcinogenic materials” or something to that effect.
But never to be satisfied, I really want to try President’s Hat and Dad’s Garden Chamomile and Honeysuckle now. I really hope those ones are in the pipeline too.
HA — that was my reaction exactly. The ones they’re getting are the ones I already tried! Figures.
Too true. I think a lot of us will be wearing Kerbside violet this spring. I love the solid and I plan to beeline directly to my Lush to pick up the liquid version when they get it in. I hate that the 10 ml Smugglers Soul is in a dropper bottle though. Who actually wants that? What did you think of Smugglers Soul by the way? I don’t remember seeing a review of that one. The solid hasn’t lived up to my expectations but I’ll definitely give the liquid version a go.
You have forced me to withdraw my earlier statement — checked, and I only tried 3: All Good Things, Death & Decay and Kerbside.
Finally!! I have been desperate for Kerbside Violet since it was released in the UK. Please let our store in Montréal get it!!!
Currently fragrance free but feeling iris-y today so either Infusion d’Iris Absolue or Angelique.
Recently fell in love with and brought home Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540.
31 Rue Cambon was a disappointment not because I didn’t like it, I think it’s beautiful, it just doesn’t work with my chemistry.
Currently reading The Essential Rumi. Love.
Rumi was read at my engagement celebration dinner several years ago….
“The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.
They’re in each other all along.”
1. I’m wearing MPG Ambre Precieux this morning.
2. The last thing I was immediately smitten by was Salome; that’s why I hosted a split. Waiting for shipment now!
3. I was disappointed in the Orlov line. I thought they would be wonderful on me, but they were just okay. I don’t have to own any.
4. Only in Portland–a former vegan strip club has been turned into a homeless shelter. This tickles me on so many levels! That someone would think there was sufficient demand to support a vegan strip club in the first place (although not as many as hoped, since it closed down) and that a community group would see the potential in the unused space for helping the homeless.
Re: #4. . . I’d wondered what would happen to that site! Grateful the vegan stripclub thing was too Portland even for Portland.
Oh, and did you get the invite to the new Fumerie Parfumerie (on SE Division) opening?
No! Where on Division? When I ordered the Neela Vermeire Discovery Set for the splitmeet, their return email said they would be carried at Fumerie but when I Googled I didn’t find them (as I wouldn’t if they aren’t open yet).
If I have your email saved somewhere, I’ll forward it!
I had the same reaction to the Orlovs. Good thing for my bank account.
I imagined that the vegan strippers start naked and then slowly bump and grind their way into clothes…finally zipping up their plether boots and putting on their army surplus coats and beanies before heading out for the night. I would go to that club. Portland sounds brilliant.
Yes! You’ve captured Portland’s essence, right there. 🙂
LOL!!!
Oh my god, exactly! I love Portland.
Also tickled by the thought that people go to strip clubs for the food? Or perhaps the poles were made of eco-friendly sustainable wood.
It just makes you want to write a one act play or something, doesn’t it – with all the focus on the buffet
They serve food at strip clubs ?
Good try!
They never show the food in movies. Living and learning.
1. Wearing a melange of Quercus (first try, from a new mini), Escale a Portofino, and Azemour. Going out of town and was topping off my travel sprays. It’s a nice mix!
2. The last new (or new to me) fragrance that I fell in love with – Alahine! Blind bought a nearly full bottle, and it was instant adoration.
3. The last new (or new to me) fragrance that was a huge disappointment – Caron Violette Precieux. It’s the newer formulation, and I still think I would love that in vintage … but this one? No.
4. Share something wonderful – I’m on vacation! Feb is always a brutal month at my job, and I’m cheating a little since Monday is technically still February. But who cares! I’m on vacation!!
Enjoy your time off!
I’m feeling it myself and looking forward to a long weekend mid-March.
I will, thanks! Hope you enjoy your break too. 🙂
I was also disappointed by VP. If you ever find the vintage version let me know!
Will do 🙂
You can get small amounts of vintage VP from one of the decanter sites, I think TPC. I get some a Chile weeks ago and it is lovely. Sorry to hear the reformulation is lacking…but this is often the case…
A few weeks ago… stupid spellchecker.I have no idea where it got Chile…lol!
Thanks meredifay, I’ll give them a try. I just HAVE to know, you know?
Yes, and it is wonderful. Not like any other violet. I am sorry to hear they have botched the reformulation!
Happy vacation!!!
Thank you! I’m very excited about it.
ALAHIIIIIIINE!
So happy for you.
Alahiiiiine! 🙂
SOTD is Coup de Foudre, random sample found while packing, not really a me scent but hey, it’s there
I was instantly smitten with Orlov Cross of Asia but I haven’t bought it yet because it is hard for me to cross the price barrier (over $300! Eep!)
My last scrubber was Jovoy L’Arte de la Guerre
Good news- my sister in law got accepted into an entrepreneurial program that has some live classes in the Boston area so I’ll hopefully see her next month
I loved Cross of Asia… but truth be told, I am not now remembering the scent… a blessing given the hefty price tag!
Oy vey on the MDCI Indes Galante. I have a dabber sample from LuckyScent and smelled the vial – it passed the test (i.e. not an immediate no). Since we like many of the same perfumes, your post is making me pause on a potential split.
Eek! I don’t know how the comment got posted here since it was already posted above. Ignore!
Here’s my real reply! How nice that you’ll get to see your sister!
Trying on Gucci Envy this morning. Perhaps I don’t want to fall in love with it since I think it’s discontinued.
Hey AnnieA, did the gift certificate come through? My order was shipped yesterday afternoon and should arrive on Monday. I can’t wait. Also, how was the meetup? Any new discoveries?
The email came through, thanks! The meetup was quite fun. I am apparently wearying Gucci Rush, not the Envy, and I also met an old perfume friend, namely Femme. Wow, has that changed over the years, and not for the better. Enjoy your PS shipment when it arrives…
1. nothing yet! but probably either black saffron or blackbird (again – i’m probably going to have to order this soon)
2. black saffron. i fell in love immediately and bought a bottle off FB. yay for birthday money!
3. POAL. i guess my nose just isn’t that sophisticated, because to me POAL wasn’t strikingly different or better than some other spicy roses, like marni and oliban. granted i didn’t test them side by side, but didn’t feel the need to.
4. this morning, with the help of some in-laws, we finally got this awesome 60’s/mid-century style chandelier installed in our living room. now we will have light, and it perfectly accents our other mid-century decor. w00t, small victories 🙂
POAL was rose-PATCHOULI-PATCHOULI-rose-PATCHOULI! on me. I’m not sure it will get much use out of my toybox unless I’m heading to the Oregon Country Fair (local hippie gathering) or the like.
Yeah, it’s a lot for me. I totally see why people love it, but on me it’s a prime example of the perfume wearing me rather than the other way around.
Wow, that’s a lot of patch! Fortunately it’s money saved for us, those FMs aren’t exactly cheap…
Money saved for Lipstick Rose, L’eau d’hiver, and my Malle coffret toybox!
There’s a lot of patchouli in PoaL, yeah. Being an avowed patchophobe, I was surprised to not automatically hate it, but then I usually do much better with rose-patch combos. What got me was the Youth Dew stuff under that.
I like Youth Dew in diminutive amounts. 🙂
Love pulling off mid-century! Our house is a mock Tudor, and we sure mock it a lot. My in-laws are all from the UK, so they have plenty to say about what the Tudors were building in northern California in 1926.
Oooh, a 1926 American Tudor-I bet it has some lovely features.
It does, but there is a slight Disney feel to whole place with the exposed beams (very few, I suspect, that are actually weight-bearing) and mullioned windows. Very UN-mid century sleek.
🙂
Ah it’s probably beautiful though. I love love older homes. We recently moved from a 1911 farmhouse into the 1959 rancher, and thus had to make many design changes!
The house I grew up in was built just after the SF earthquake, in 1906. I always loved its old character… until I met my husband who could not understand what I meant by “old.” Our first visit back to the UK I saw his aunt and uncle’s house–a converted pub that is over 400 years old, built from “old” ship beams–old at the building, ancient now!
Oh yeah, I hear you can buy houses from the 1300s in Italy… but yes, for our country that’s pretty old! 🙂
I bought a mid-century, large pendant light that I love. It’s a brushed silvery globe that I call the Death Star.
Ooh that sounds awesome!
You’re makin’ me jealous with your light fixture. Much of our furniture is mid-century but the rental we are living in right now is mid 90s with horribly executed quick flip updates. Thankfully, most of the lighting is recessed so we can use our pole lamps, but one of my least favorite things is the eyesore of a “chandelier” in the dining area. It is colorful wannabe shabby chic that doesn’t quite hit the mark and features very ill looking roosters and green and bronze beaded mini lampshades. It’s also hung off-center.
Oh no, that sounds terrible! At least your furniture is snazzy! We are slowly acquiring new (old) furniture to match the mid century style. Right now most of what we had fits the early American farmhouse style from our old house.
When we moved into our new house in 2002 (a brand-new prefab home that came on four separate tractor trailers and was put together on the foundation), we took the original electric light fixtures out of my husband’s great-aunts’ house and rewired them for ours. I know it’s hard to imagine now, but there was no electric power in this area until 1938. No one lives in that house now; it’s been vacant since Aunt Ailey and Aunt Kate died in 1973.
Wow, that’s quite the undertaking – I’m sure the fixtures are beautiful though!!
1. by Killian Incense Oud
2. by Killian Incense Oud. But since it took me 2 years to buy Rose Oud, I think my wallet is safe.
3. I wanted to love Lumiere Blanche, but I could barely smell it, and what I smelled quickly disappeared. Oh, and Carnal Flower. It smells pretty, but leaves me cold. (Ducks.)
4. I’m late to the party, because it was already made into a movie a long time ago, but I loved recently reading Wild.
Maybe you should re-think your 2-year-wait policy: with the recent By Killian’s acquisition by Estee Lauder who knows what might happen to the juice in two years…
Wearing my dreamiest rosewood and patchouli perfume, Davidoff Zino, a poor man’s Coromandel. Tried Chanel Pour Monsieur and No 19 EDT and purchased both, forgive me Lady Donatella, for I have sinned. The new Bvlgari Au The Bleu very meek and quite disappointing as was the new John Varvatos Dark Rebel which had way too much Iso E and thus read as raspy cedar to my nose. Going to a local microbrew to try a soured blackberry biere de garde that should smell wonderful and taste delish!
Great purchases! I don’t own FBs of either, but would be delighted if I did.
Oh, I love Zino! You are so right about it being a poor man’s Coromandel. Dark Rebel has been on my list of things to try, so I’m glad to see it mentioned, even though it didn’t work for you.
1. Penhaligon’s Ostara.
2. Cacharel Noa. I found a sample in my friend’s cupboard during the weekend and sprayed myself willy-nilly to high heaven with it. Might get a bottle if I come it across el cheapo (not a problem).
3. [Warning Rant ahead] I went to Amsterdam for the weekend with an extra day dedicated to perfume sniffaroo. Guerlain at the Bijenkorf carries Paris boutique exclusives and I fancied testing a few I’d read interesting reviews about plus revisit some of the classics and generally mind my own business whilst doing so.
Unfortunately the SA jumped me straight away. She stood between me and the bottles, then asked me what I liked. Eh? many different things? How do you answer that question? She sprayed a blotter and the grabbed it from my hands because me the way I wanted to grab and sniff the blotter was all wrong ‘no you grab it THIS WAY’. And that I should keep it a foot from my nose to experience the scent.
I told her I liked chypres to settle it somehow and got a blank stare. I told I like perfume with balls. Perfume that’s a bit dirty. (‘Vies ruiken’ in Dutch. Okay. Big mistake. They don’t do dirty perfume at G.) I got a few more blotters I held all wrong while she kept pestering me about what perfume I had at home. Well, No5 among a gazillion others. ‘But that’s not Guerlain perfume.’
Then she asked me whether I my intention was to choose a perfume or whether I was merely sampling. Well, even if I had had in mind to perhaps make a purchase that day HOW FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO I CHOOSE PERFUME WHEN YOU’RE HOLDING THE BLOTTER A FOOT AWAY FROM MY NOSE you annoying woman. She told me G does excellent perfumes and I replied that that, of course, was the reason I was there. And so on.
Then I asked she spray a blotter with HamsterCage and left squarely to go and check the Amouages. Grr. Why oh why do perfume houses insist on such bullying behaviour?
Ugh. So sorry S! I’ve seen similar attitudes from time to time and always resolved to never purchase from such places ever again! (A bit dramatic, I admit, but it seems so tone-deaf for an SA to not know how to help (or leave alone) we collectors/samplers/ample purchasers.
SO frustrating! I despise SAs that behave that way and shops that allow it. And that question drives me nuts too. I know they’re trying to help direct me but I just would like to explore and experience what they’ve got. They don’t get it, sadly.
MR and floragal – I agree it’s fully annoying. But then again Bijenkorf is currently repositioning itself as an even more exclusive warehouse than it is. (It used to be a slightly more upmarket V&D or Myer.) They’ve Gucci/Hermes/Dior etc. instore boutiques there and expanding G is part of that process apparently. It’s pity ‘exclusive’ has to carry that type attitude with it. Anyway, I went to Douglas and the SA there made me a sample of Insolence EDP which was nice. 🙂
Then I went slightly overboard w spraying Ubar, Iris Nobile, Classic Chloe EDP, Montana Perfume de Peau and lord knows what else that day. My jacket smelled very nice indeed.
Sorry about your Bijenkorf experience, but it gave me a good laugh! Thank you! Nice to see another Dutch person here (at least I assume you are by using vies ruiken 😉 ).
I had a good experience at the Perfumelounge, but a friend whom I recommended the shop didn’t.
Yup… the word I was looking for was ‘skanky’. Lost in translation. ‘Mevrouw, onze parfums ruiken niet vies.’ 😀
Ime the best perfume shop in Amsterdam in terms of range is Marjo (Parfumerie.nl). Lots of hard-to-find stuff. They’re in Damstraat just around the corner from de Bijenkorf. Unfortunately the wares are behind the counter but the staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
Bwahahaha! Sorry you had a miserable time, but your story gave me a good laugh! I really think that most perfume SA’s are completely unaware of the existence of perfumistas, and when they encounter one, they are baffled, so they endlessly repeat the speeches they’ve been taught to use when selling to the ignorant and fearful. I think we damage their world view 😉
Lol & yep!
I hate pushy-hovering SAs even more than I hate being ignored. There is an art to allowing a customer to shop without intrusion and, in spite of it probably making more sales, it seems to be a dying art. Some of the biggest purchases I have made were because the associate allowed me to browse unmolested, but didn’t immediately write me off and pointedly ignore me when I stated my intention of just looking around.
I had a similar disappointing experience with a Guerlain regional fragrance “expert” who shoved a bottle at me and said I would want it. I was there to learn something and most likely to purchase after a while, but she was so condescending that I wouldn’t consider it. It turns out that months later I found that I loved it (Rose Nacree du Desert). I’m guessing that in the larger retail outlets, their data indicates the quick sales are more important than spending time cultivating lasting relationships. They have sales goals to meet. It’s probably pretty stressful in this economy. But, it shouldn’t be on our end… until the bill arrives!
What a yucky SA! When I met up with some NSTers at the Krigler Boutique at The Plaza in NYC, the SA initially refused to help is, stating that since we’re a group (there were 3 of us), we should have made an appointment. I did a slow turn to the left, then to the right, then behind me and said, is there anyone else waiting to be helped? She repeated the thing about making an appointment. I finally asked for her name and the manager’s name and contact info and she immediately went into robotic sales mode, spraying blotters and rattling off notes.
oh I had to reply…
The knowledge only…brrrrrrrrr… such a luxury in de Bijenkorf but the SA’s…terrible. Just went to Vienna, THERE they know a lot and are really helpfull and you’re treated like a customer!
read the article GEURENGOEROE wrote about the knowledge in perfumestores in the NEW Bijenkorf…He is so right!!
SOTD – Tom Ford Soliel Blanc
Instant, unexpected love- Jo Malone Orris & sandalwood
Disappointment – Tom Ford Soliel Blanc – there’s no there there
Something wonderful – delicious soreness from a good workout yesterday, sleeping 10 hours in my own bed, juicy clementines on my kitchen counter, a day with no appointments except a mani pedi and 3 new fat magazines to read.
I have less than delicious soreness from my push-through-the-being-outta-shapeness workout yesterday. Husband snored all night so not refreshed. AND am grinding my way through the annoyingly alarmist, blindly-privileged, Caucasian-centric, parenting screed–How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims, to which the only possible response is “DUH!!” (It is a criticism of helicopter parenting, but the examples are so preposterous that only the most neurotic, over-protecting, and stupid parents with way too much time on their hands would ever do the silly things Lythcott-Haims is warning about.) –Now where was I?
Sorry for the rant. Have a great day!!!!!!!
I’ve just loked at the NY Times review and that book looks dire. Good luck with that…
I’ve been curious to sniff Soleil Blanc, but maybe I won’t get my hopes up…
Your day sounds wonderful and you have made me a lot less interested in the new TF- thank you!
Oh, bugger. I have been hoping that Soleil Blanc would be my vacation scent this year.
Thanks for the laugh Annikky. ????
1. None yet but likely Blackberry & Bay. Going hiking shortly and while sometimes I view the great outdoors as an opportunity to wear perfume as loud as I like, I’m feeling a little more deferent to nature today.
2. It’s been a little while but I think the last one I fell for instantly was Honore des Pres Sexy Angelic. And um yes I bought it immediately, after a frantic search of the global perfume internet, since it’s disappeared from retailers. So I may have bought some backups also. (They were all wildly discounted! Don’t give me that look! 😉 )
3. Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle. I want to love a honeysuckle fragrance, and I have at least a middling view of the Aerins…until this one. Woof. It smelled horrific on me. I was supposed to be running some errands but had to abandon ship to run home and scrub it off.
4. Random but it’s still on my mind–last summer in the Guggenheim’s Storylines exhibit I saw a video installation by Ellie Ga called “Four Thousand Blocks” that just knocked me out. Gorgeous and so moving. History, science, a taste for aesthetics, and a very human dimension–I feel her work might be especially appealing to perfume people! Here’s the Guggenheim’s page for “Four Thousand Blocks”, but the description really does not capture how absorbing the piece is when you’re sitting in front of it: http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artwork/33709 Hoping I get a chance to see more of her work.
That exhibition looks fantastic. I like the idea of an expedition that picks up on chnace and history…and letterpress! Who can resist letterpresss. Sigh.
Yes, and I am fascinated by everything to do with Alexandria. Thanks for revealing this to me.
Oh then you will LOVE this. If you get a chance to see it, please let me know–I’d love to hear what someone who knows more of the background than I do would make of it!
Letterpress, so dreamy!
Yes!
Discontinued and wildly discounted is my faaaaavorite way to buy perfume.
Don’t judge me. 🙂
Judge you! I’m having team t-shirts made up for us 😉
B&B is my favourite perfume for being outdoors.
They complement each other so nicely! Reminds me of how some perfumes get described as making the wearer smell like themselves but better–I think B&B make nature smell like itself but better 😉
1. Nothing yet… will be doing a bit of sampling (haven’t decided what) while I start on my taxes (oh joy). Going to the symphony this evening, which means I’ll have to make ANOTHER perfume decision later. My life is so difficult.
2. Immediate love… Nishane Musiqa Oud. Did I buy it? Well, yes, and I still have splits of it available on the split meet. ahem 😉
3. Disappointment… Bvlgari Au The Bleu. By the notes, I should have liked this, but there was some white floral note that really bugged me. Ah well, more for y’all.
4. Something wonderful… the guy I hired to repair a small retaining wall finally started working on it 😉
Me too. That is I almost like Bvlgari Au The Bleu, but it is just not quite enough… as though it goes sweet just when I want it to get more interesting.
Same here with Bvlgari. I was sure I would like it – the notes were great, Victoria loved it… And I do almost like it, but there something in there, some note that just annoys me too much.
SOTD Lyric. Going to the opera tonight, and this will transition nicely. Seems I reach for it often on opera days. . . must be the easy luxury of it.
Most recent “WHOA” was Musc Ravageur. Not likely to buy more until/if I drain the 10mL from the toybox.
I don’t sample enough recent releases to get too worked up and thereby disappointed. I’d love to try Misia to see if the Chanel version of my fave rose-violet combo suits me, but I don’t have BIG LOVE for the exclusifs, so expectations are tempered.
I don’t have the energy at present to find much super wonderful. It’s been a very busy couple of weeks, and I’m exhausted from the endless chores-work–travel-chores-work-travel-chores-work cycle. No travel next weekend, so that will be nice! I’m strongly considering taking a sick day before then to recover/recoup.
Thumbs up to for sick days (aka Please World, Give Me a Break Day)!!
I value my mental health days. It can be complicated to take time off as a teacher–sub plans and trying not to waste the kids’ time, etc. But I don’t let that stop me when it’s needed. 😉
I’m with you. Once in a while I’ll need a day off during the week, while the kids are at school and the husband out working, just so I can stay home reading, or take a long, aimless walk in the city. Our students are lucky, at least we remain sane.
Somehow Lyric always seems right for Serious Music Concerts of whatever type.
Agreed!
Another virtue of the toy box (btw: such a perfect word for it!)–10ml is a great amount to start with and really test whether you need a full bottle.
And for that matter, how great that in this version, if you do finish a spray but don’t need a whole bottle, you can buy an individual travel spray to replenish with. It’s wonderful that they did it that way.
I don’t suppose you’ve given in and bought yourself one, yet? As you point out, it really is a sage investment. 😉
I am so kicking myself because of course it came out at the end of the year in which I finally bit the bullet and committed to 30ml of En Passant and 50ml of Musc Ravageur, for a good chunk of what it would’ve cost to get the whole set. Too hard to justify another $600 immediately thereafter to acquire the ones I like less from the line. But it’s sort of killing me–the price is amazing, a huge discount from what the sprays cost individually, a beautiful presentation and this is stupid, but I’m even wishing I had the Bakelite case for my travel sprays!
I’ll just have to count on you to let me live vicariously through yours 🙂
1. Started the day with Bulgari The Rouge
2. Tauer’s Lonesome Rider was instant love and thankfully I got in on a split of this..
3. Recently tried Hermes’ new Equipage Geranium knowing that I love not only geranium notes but sandalwood but it was predominantly masculine on me and so the hunt goes on.
4. I found my perfect chocolate cake and it’s vegan to boot! Super moist and very chocolaty, and there’s many ways to do variations with this recipe and it’s super simple to make. As one who loves to bake and has tried many recipes, and who has a husband that is very particular on his chocolate indulgences, I finally found a winner.
That chocolate cake sounds great! Can you share the recipe?? 🙂
Sure! I hope you like it!
https://food52.com/blog/8614-margaret-fox-s-amazon-chocolate-cake
Thank you! I will have to investigate further 🙂
Ooh that cake sounds great! Thanks for posting the recipe. I’m going to bookmark it on my phone.
Ahhhh Margaret Fox. I remember the old Cafe Beaujolais from the ’80s when it was breakfast and lunch and known for the waffles…so very wonderful and lovely. This must be delicious…
Oooh, I think you would enjoy the Hermes Library at Brookfield Place downtown. ihadanidea, lizzieB and another perfume friend went there after the Demeter event and I loved the aesthetics, coziness and friendliness of the SA (it helped that I spent $$$ purchasing the Hermes splits).
I’mm waiting for Lonesome Rider to arrive!
Still wearing my Kelly Caleche ribbon bracelet.
We must plan an outting to this new store! I keep hearing about it.
1. SOTD is Parfum d’Empire’s Equistrius because I wasn’t quite ready to give up the leather theme.
2. Penhaligon’s Ostara, which I bought blind due to the lovely review by Victoria of BdJ and the low price. Fortunately it was love at first sniff!
3. I recently tried Heeley Chypre 21 and didn’t like it but plan on sampling again. My biggest disappointment was Chanel’s Misia, which I thought I’d love. Waaay too much violet for me. 🙁
4. I am so grateful for the wonderful barn where I keep my horse. Where else could an older woman be on equal footing with teenage girls? Now that my daughters are grown, I enjoy getting to know these young girls (and their horses!).
Equistrius is lovely! You smell great ????
I fell down the Ostara trap as well. Got it at quite a good price, and I’m definitely in love.
I was ready to let go of leather as well. I’m a floral person after all.
And Equistrius is wonderful. It was my first purchase from Parfum d’Empire.
I’m almost jealous of your barn. Animals are great at bridging gaps, aren’t they?
Yes, austenfan, animals are the best at bridging gaps and healing people. My barn doesn’t do therapy riding per se, but the horses provide their own kind of therapy, which I feel every day I spend in their presence. 🙂
Just being around animals calms people down. They don’t care for what time it is, or how you look. Plus horses being big, breathe more slowly. And they smell great!
I miss being around horses, but wouldn’t really want to go back to riding. It’s different when you have your own horse, as you develop much more of a bond, and I’m sure it feels safer as well.
I use to ride and then I moved to NYC.
I tried to keep it up by going to this barn out in queens..but it got too expensive and was a far trip.
I do miss it though..
1 SOTD is Jean Patou 1000, I love Joy, but I like this scent a lot more. Less pretty, but more challenging.
2 Penhaligon’s Ostara. I never thought I would fall for a fragrance from this house, not that I’ve tried that many, but their whole packaging and image gets on my nerves a bit. It took a wonderful interpretation of one of my favourite smells in this world to make me change my mind. Daffodils are my most loved flowers and I adore their fragrance.
3 I can’t remember.
4 Finished watching Les Témoins a week ago. It’s a very atmospheric police series in the style of the famous Scandinavian ones. It’s set in the North of France, on the border between Normandy and Picardie, areas that I happen to know quite well.
I agree about Penhaligon’s packaging. The ‘ye olde barber shop upon sweetbriar’ aesthetic feels a little patronizing at times.
I am only so so about Ostara, but if you are a daffodil fan, and you haven’t tried it yet, you might want to give Dame’s Soliflore Narcissus a whirl. Crazy wild stuff.
Thanks for the tip. I lived in Arizona for half a year in the nineties. I think I might just order the rollerball, it’ll be nice to know what this desert daffodil smells like.
I’m all over the map with Penhaligon’s — most of their fragrances leave me cold, but I love Ostara and Amaranthine, and I think I might love Hammam Bouquet, too (only sampled it once so far).
That house doesn’t seem very ‘you’, does it? On the other hand, it IS very ‘you’ to just like whatever you happen to like. Glad that you’ve found something to love.
Well 5 star reviews are few and far between, and I adore the smell of daffies. I was pretty much sold after first inhale. The drydown issue is much less if you spray liberally from a larger nozzle. It does go quiet after a while, but it’s a lovely quietness.
I was sorry when that ended. I have been thrilled with the few French police shows I’ve seen, especially “The Spiral,” many episodes also on Netflix. French titles was Les Engrenages, I think.
Engrenages is sort of great, isn’t it? We watched the first season and you reminded me to go back for the rest.
I’m currently recording another French police series. Can’t remember the name at the moment.
Funny thing is, that although I had heard Thierry Lhermitte mentioned on a large number of occasions on tv shows, radio shows and the like, I had actually never seen his work, so it was kind of fun putting a face to a familiar name.
I loved that show!
If you haven’t already seen it, check out the offerings at MhZ Choice, my new favorite channel. They have tons of great euro mystery / drama shows. The app is rudimentary and not nearly as good as Netflix, but I’ve been so happy to finally be able to stream all these shows I was looking for.
Something wonderful? Life! That’s the short answer. Long answer – solving a problem. As some of you know I’m beginning to work on a book that approaches landscape and walking through smell rather than visual clues. It begins with a scent map of my neighbourhood and then extends (via curiosity and ignorance) into a search for the ingredients/ recreation of the nineteenth century Grand Maori Perfume- which I don’t think will happen ( in reality). In order for the book to work I have to be able to communicate what I smell – rather than describe a view., say. For more than two years I’ve been trying to find the right words to describe one 100 metre section of my hillside walk that take me through bracken, kanuka, manuka, fern, broom, gorse and grass and pine. The scent changes according to heat, air currents, moisture, seasonal changes in what is flowering, etc. but I think I have finally identified the notes from most dominant to background: cow hide, suede, the skins of roasted salted peanuts, a handful of dried pine needles, sunbaked dirt that rises as dust from a lawn beneath a clothes line, cut hay – baled left in a paddock, rain fed pond water., dirty but not stagnant It’s slightly more complicated than that depending on the season but basically that’s it. I think it’s my starting point for my book…I can see it working.
Liked but didn’t buy Narciso
Didn’t love but wanted to: Nanban
Still love: Pohadka
Want to buy:Lale
Here is probably a dumb idea, but as I read your description I became curious about how a blind person would experience your 100 meters. It sounds like a beautiful landscape, smellscape!
It would be interesting,eh. There is an instant coffee factory near the bottom of the hill so when the wind blows from the south on a Friday ( must be roasting day) the hill is blasted with a bitter chicory smell. I sometimes pass runners and dog walkers and mention the great smell or the bird song or a flowering plant and most look blank…it strikes me that many people really zone in on looking ahead, the next step, without taking in their surroundings ( I stop a lot and make little maps in my notebook) ..so I think it would be interesting.
I am so grateful my dad loved scent and used it to explore his surroundings when we’d wander about together years ago. He’d grab a leaf and crush it between his fingers and give it a sniff and then pass it along to me. . . Not all of us were so trained to pay attention!
I hope we’ll get to follow the progress of your book here, it’s sounds quite fascinating. I’ve really enjoyed your smell descriptions of Central Otago, it’s a very special place.
Wow, what a cool project!
1. DiBorghese EdP from the ’70s. Green leather with iris & galbanum.
2. SL De Profundis. Sadly, no bottle for me; my personal embargo on Any More Perfume holds firm. I love it, but I don’t NEED it.
3. CBIHP Cumming. A case of the PR copy being more alluring to my eyes than the fragrance was to my nose.
4. Having wintered down South, the cardinal birds are back in town. Their pointy lil’ heads fill me with fizzy glee.
(@*57, now i need to go hunt up some Di Borghese.
Me too.
I used DiBorghese as an example of the “Green” fragrance genre in a library workshop I did, and gave every participant a sample, leaving just a few ml behind. Now I rather regret it, because I will be seriously bereft once my sprayer is empty…
I LOVED the PR materials for Cumming! Made me laugh so hard! Never got around to buying a sample, though.
I expected a more risk-taking fragrance, but it was pretty mainstream and too sweet…
1 SOTD is Journey. When I spritz just the right amount it is totally swoonworthy. It is so soft and feathery, but has substance nevertheless. I can’t remember if it was made to resemble silk, I think it was, and it is spot on.
2. I bought Ostara blind, like others here, and it was love at first sniff. Journey was love on second sniff and right dosage.
3. Iris cendre was not a huge disappointment, but I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.
4. We watched Sheriff Longmire with great pleasure (“call 911!” Longmire responds “I am 911”). It is not deep, but for lack of a better word, honest. Lovely Wyoming scenes for a Dutch person who misses Like no place on Earth. I am always curious if with a series like this you like it better if you are non American.
Have only seen it sporadically, but I quite enjoy Longmire. The next time they run “The Matrix,”–not sure if it’s shown in Europe all the time, the way it is here–keep your eye out for the actor who portrays Longmire: he’s one of the heavies in The Matrix (practically unrecognizable). I’ve a fascination with the American west, too, though mostly through the lens of historical fiction.
Thank you for suggesting it! I will give it a try but always need some persuasion when there are no trees (or dogs ????) in a series or movie. Really like Robert Taylor though.
Hi Meriday, it must be a gift to be surrounded by Wyoming natural beauty! I think what I like about Longmire is that it is unpretentious but still fairly well made. It is just good entertainment and like Undina writes that is mostly what I need from television (no Netflix here yet). I like the appearance of a heyoka and Longmire’s stoic disposition. And once in a while there is a tiny amount of wisdom. In terms of high quality 5 star entertainment the Wire is unsurpassed I find, followed closely by Breaking Bad and Mad Men. I travelled in the West a long time ago and I long for its beauty once in a while. Nice to know you live there!
Hi, Hamamelis, I am actually from the area of Wyoming where Longmire is supposed to be taking place. The photography is evocative, and whoever is making this clearly has some affection for the west. I find the characters rather one dimensional and culturally oversimplified. I like some of the actors, and I think they do an ok job with what is less than stellar writing. At least once every episode, I find myself laughing and thinking, “So this is how somebody from Hollywood thinks people in northwestern Wyoming would act!” But, over all, I like it more than I dislike it. I’ve seen most of the first two years, I think. What do you like about it the most?
Sorry misplaced my reply, it is above!
And sorry I spelled your name wrong Meredifay!
Ditto this! The books are very 3D and are, of course, so much better than the TV show. I discovered the books first, then found out about the tv show and was so disappointed. Could have been a wonderful series, very intense, like say, True Detectives. But nope, they went the “please the unthinking, short attention span masses!” route. Blerg ????
I did not know there are books! I’ll have to go look for them…
Yes, Craig Johnson is the author. Supposedly, he had some input regarding the TV series. Not sure how much. I don’t dislike the show, per se, but I find it painful to watch due to atrocious dialogue, poor acting, and the huge deviation from the books regarding plot and characters. Just my opinion, though. If you do find time, I recommend reading over watching ????
So glad you mentioned the books — I have read several and did not know they’d made it into a series.
I like Longmire and waiting now for the next season to appear on Netflix.
I do not care how realistic it is: I don’t try to learn anything about the region or people who live there through these series – it’s just an entertainment for me. I like the characters enough to watch but I do not need them to be too complex: I have enough drama in real life, I’m fine with one-dimensional characters for my TV shows.
Me too. I love it though when entertainment is really very well made like the Wire. But must admit I couldn’t always watch it, too grim.
Okay gang, I want to talk Nahema this morning.
Many many years ago I had a mini of Nahema–no idea of what concentration. That an EL’s Knowing were my scents the summer of 1993, I have been looking for that Nahema scent now for several years, and I just cannot nail it. The closest contender is an “older bottle”–no idea what vintage, of the edt. I have bought other “vintage” Nahema minis before, and they were not even close. Victoria at Bois de Jasmin wrote recently that Nahema was to be discontinued throwing me into a tizzy about whether I should buy, unsniffed, a bottle of the parfum. Settled instead for a pricey 3 ml of “vintage parfum” from The Perfume Court. It arrived a day ago… nope, that is not it either. I haven’t tried the eau de parfum yet, maybe that is the ticket? Beauty Encounter has a bottle for $62, but I am worried I am just throwing good money after bad…
Any Nahema folks out there?
I hate unresolved niggles like that. I don’t hold out much hope, to be honest. My mum had Nahema around 1980 and it always seemed vaguely pineapple to me, at the time. Give yourself a ‘bottom line’ Nahema budget maybe ($200) and leave the rest to fate. Unless you won’t rest easy until you know.
I like Nahema but for me its not FB worthy.
There are plenty of roses out there that will fit the bill and not break the bank. Just my opinion
I adore Nahema – I have a couple of Parfum de Toilette bottles, they’re wonderful and, interestingly, slightly different from one another.
I think it’s only the extrait that’s being discontinued, though I could be wrong. I hope it sticks around.
1. Philosykos. It feels a bit too early in the year for this one — need to wait for the fig tree to leaf out and the days to warm a bit more…
2. I’ve had a few love-at-first-sniffs lately, including Habit Rouge and Ambre Sultan. Bought a decant of AS, and Habit Rouge is on my wish list.
3. Huge disappointment: Infusion d’Iris Absolue. I sort-of-blind bought this one, since I love the original and figured I couldn’t go wrong with a richer version of it, plus it’s gotten a lot of love amongst the community here. But, sadly, on me it’s a shrill orange blossom with a big plastic/vinyl note at the heart, and bears little resemblance to the original. Maybe someone will take it off my hands at the swap meet…
4. On a work-related hike yesterday, I saw more wild scarlet larkspurs blooming in one place than I’ve ever seen before in my life, and then watched a rainstorm advance in silvery curtains across the mountains to the west. A gorgeous, dynamic early spring day.
I like the original Id’I myself, but the Absolue was all soap (i.e., orange blossom) to my nose. Bleargh.
1. Wearing Azemour today. Beautiful stuff.
2. Dame Soliflore Gardenia. I will be buying a FB of each formulation when my samples run out. Probably will buy the Rose de Mai too.
3. No idea. My expectations haven’t been that high, apparently 😉
4. Muscat grapes have made an appearance at the grocery store and don’t cost $9/lb like last year. They also weren’t squished. Yes, that’s the best I can come up with today. It’s the little things.
Muscat grapes are worth getting excited about. I do a fruit CSA, and last year they sent about 4 or 5 different kinds of grapes that were so outstanding I literally ate most of them in the car on the way home.
Pink muskrats, yum. I’ve been keeping an eye out for those grapes the last few trips to the grocery store. They have a sort of lychee flavor that is just delicious.
See what the speller did there? I read this and imagined muskrats dyed pink like Easter chicks and was intrigued!
Why WOULD ANYONE DO THAT???
LOL! Now I wonder what kind of life you lead that muskrat are a first choice selection in your dictionary… 🙂
Good fruits, good vegetables, good food in general is always worth mentioning. I happen to be very glad that I finally have some ripe persimmons (they took ages to get there!).
Just had to add ripe persimmons are always such a treat for me- and I have discovered unripe ones are pretty good if you slice them and put them in the microwave for a minute or two. Much as that probably doesn’t sound very appealing it seems to work.
I have to confess I’ve never so much as tasted a persimmon, a state of affairs which I evidently must amend. My latest food obsessions are mangos and Liège Waffles.
If you like mangos I suspect you will love ripe persimmons!
Yep, I think so too. Mangos are some of my favourite things in the world.
Me neither…don’t think I’ve had a pomegranate either.
Kanuka, you must have a pomegranate. Now.
Just a thought…mangoes and poison ivy are related so if one is allergic to poison ivy, one should be careful when handling mangoes. I don’t know if you noticed any sticky sappy substance on the outside of the mango skin? THAT is the thing to avoid.
That is some fascinating trivia. Isn’t is weird how closely related plants can be when they appear to have nothing in common? After 40 years of being allergic to bananas, my mom recently saw a new doctor who said, “So you must be allergic to ragweed too?” She looked at him like he had psychic powers, but it turns out bananas and ragweed are related. And none of the dozen plus doctors she’d seen in her adult life had known that.
I’m not a huge fan of straight persimmon, but they make amazing quick bread. Actually, I’m wondering if I should try mixing persimmon and banana since I think my persimmon bread recipe evolved from my banana bread recipe in the first place. If anybody gives me persimmons this year, I’ll experiment.
I also like it smushed (pretty sure this is not a word) on toast, sometimes with fresh goat cheese. And I do my own mezze dish with hummus, fried spiced lamb mince and persimmon.
Those both sound fantastic! *adding persimmons to my grocery list.*
1. It’s a glorious sunny warm day here and my thoughts are of spring, gardens, and flowers while I enjoy the freedom of wearing a soft, cotton, Native American-inspired shirt with just a light jacket sans any additional layers, hats, gloves or scarves. Not surprisingly, my hand reached for Dame Perfumery Scottsdale Desert Rose, which perfectly suits everything about today.
2. I can’t think of any one fragrance that I’ve ‘fallen immediately in love’ with recently, but I will say how much I’ve enjoyed working my way through the Dame Perfumery samples I’ve received and admiring and appreciating each one. Lovely scents, and I admire everything about the way he runs his business, his wonderful fragrances, and inclusion of his family members’ talents.
3. My greatest disappointment was the often-revered Tauer PHI Une Rose de Kandehar. As a rose-lover, I was swayed by numerous ecstatic reviews and ordered a sample. I can only say that this is horrible on me. I’ve tried it numerous times; there is no rose, only tobacco, and I’ve sometimes wondered if people are talking about the same fragrance that I’m smelling, that’s how different it is. to my nose. I should’ve read the notes first, as I (strongly) dislike tobacco as a fragrance note. So, lesson learned.
4. A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman. It’s rare that my book group is unanimous in its praise of what we’ve read and this book is one of those exceptions. Truly uplifting, it will make you laugh out loud and then reach for that box of tissues to wipe away the tears. Ostensibly a tale of a curmudgeon whose neighbors constantly interfere with his plans, it’s a story of love and community and a special feline whom Ove dubs a ‘Cat Annoyance’ but who plays a pivotal role in the story. Recommended highly!
Dame Perfumery is wonderful. I ordered my first minis recently and I’m in love with New Musk, I find myself layering it with everything. So many samples too, think my next minis will be Gardenia and Dark Horse.
I’m generally not fond of musks, but I think his New Musk is quite nice. I haven’t tried layering it yet, I’ve just worn it a few times when I’ve wanted a soft non-demanding scent and enjoyed it. I love Dark Horse and bought a FB.
I’m with you on the PHI. I love rose and don’t dislike tobacco, but PHI just didn’t work for me and I’m thinking of swapping my FB next month.
It’s reassuring to know that it didn’t work for someone else, too. So many seem to love it, but I just can’t seem to find the rose . . .
I did the same thing with PHI! Got the sample based on Tauer Rose-what’s not to like? Got it, sniffed it, discovered the tobacco is not to like!
As a Swede I feel a little national pride reading this. The film is out now and is so well reviewed too!
Happy Saturday to everyone. I’m wearing Jasmin Noir by Bvlgari today. Just received it last night from STC. It was one of their fragrances that was included in their 60% off sale. Its very pretty, but extremely light.
A fragrance that was new to me that I love dearly is Pear&Olive by Slumber house. Its still relatively easy to find, but I heard it’s being discontinued.????
Another fragrance that was new to me, but a disappointment was Misia by Chanel. I had high hopes for this one, but to no avail. I ended up giving it away to my mom for Christmas.
I miss corresponding and reading all the posts here. My job has been killing me lately and we’ve been so busy. I hope to catch up on reading and responding to posts this weekend. Hope everyone is well. Enjoy your weekend.
I hope work gets better soon. I’ve been in the same situation many times and very much sympathise.
Thanks.????
1. Still in leather today–Bandit. It’s a recent unsniffed buy that was a great success.
2. At the same time I bought a small decant of Beloved based on raves alone. I knew I would love it and I do. Spectacular! I would love to have a bottle, and if I had the $$ I would have ordered it already. (Forgive overuse of “love”)
3. I’ve definitely made purchases that were big fails–something with Blue in the name, for example.
4. I can’t beat Isabella’s wild scarlet larkspurs, but I’m expecting a lot of pleasure from “A Little Life” when I start reading it tonight.
A great but emotionally devastating book.
Uh-oh.
Yes, it took me a couple of weeks to recover after I read it. But I also think it’s a really *important* book and it’s utterly engrossing.
wow. i’ve never heard of this book, but now i’m intrigued but scared to learn more.
Wisteria Hysteria. This doesn’t get a lot of love, but it totally suits my skin chemistry, and I enjoy it each time I wear it. My sample is almost gone…I am going to have to upgrade.
Tam Dao was love at first sniff! A generous NSTER sent me a little decant of this recently as a surprise inclusion, and I just love it.
Biggest disappointmentry is Aftelier’s Luminiere, which is a wonderful natural honeysuckle, but it triggered my allergies. 🙁
Umberto Eco died just recently, so I am rereading The Name Of The Rose, and it is just as fascinating as I remembered it.
I wanted to try Wisteria Hysteria… just haven’t gotten a sample yet.
Loved The Name of the Rose, haven’t read it in years.
I’ve been thinking about rereading Eco as well. I love his esseys and The Name of the Rose used to be in my all time Top 10, when I still compiled things like that. And despite its flaws, I hugely enjoyed Foucault’s Pendulum.
I tried Foucault’s Pendulum but didn’t finish it for some reason. I will get that one after I finish Rose. Thanks for the reminder!
I think TNotR has much wider appeal, as it’s more disciplined. Pendulum is a bit rambling and harder to like if you don’t share Eco’s obsessions. I do (at least the ones on display in this book), so I loved it. But I can absolutely see how people would loose interest.
I don’t think I’ve read The Name of the Rose, but I really liked Foucault’s Pendulum. I also have The Prague Cemetery but haven’t read it yet.
That reminds me that I need to give Wisteria Hysteria another chance. I tried it once it left me mostly confused, but I’m just aching to like it
If someone tries Wisteria Hysteria and likes it, we could do a split…
I would be interested in a split!
1. Lonesome Rider. (Though I’m so congested I can’t really smell it.)
2. Dolce&Gabbana Dolce. I found the scent so uplifting I bought a FB on first or second sniff, when it was newly released.
3. Dolce. I don’t mind that it’s fairly linear, but it has really poor longevity on me.
4. I recently devoured ‘Between the World and Me’, by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I can’t think of anything else I’ve read that packs as much wallop per page.
I should read it as well, but am somewhat scared.
Go for it! It’s quite short. It’s very intimate, being written as a letter to his son, and it feels to me like a gift to be given such a firsthand account of life as a black man in America. And I found I really love his language.
I’ll find some balls and read it 🙂
🙂
Addendum to #4: I just spent a few minutes watching a bobcat sit in the shade on the edge of a neighbor’s backyard.
That is amazing! And a shout out for Ta-Nahisi Coates too.
Bobcats rule! And now I need to read more of Coates’ work…
Lucky and wonderful
I definitely do feel lucky to live in a place where I can see such cool wildlife!
Once I’ve slogged through “How to Raise an Adult” the two choices on my bed stand are “Between the World” and Dionne’s “Why the Right Went Wrong.” I am really looking forward to both of them!
The Dionne book looks good, but it dawns on me it may not be a great idea for me: I’ve already reached the point where I thought, “I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the rest of this election cycle!!!” 🙂
1. Wearing Putain des Palaces on the coldest day we’ve had this winter. Sometimes it gives me headaches but it’s working fine today.
2. I’m still thinking about a FB of Oriza’s Rêve d’ Ossian, but I also love their Relique d’Amour and Muguet Fleuri.
3. Still with Oriza, I wanted to love Cuir de l’Aigle Russe, as I love leather frags in general, but I didn’t like it at all. It was very herbal and bracing on me, not at all what I expected.
4. Something wonderful for me this week is that I finally did a handstand in my yoga class, and held it with no wobbling. This sounds like nothing special, but I’ve had detached retinas in both eyes and have only recently got permission from my ophthalmologist to do this type of position.
Congrats on your perfect handstand!! It’s always wonderful to accomplish a new yoga pose.
My retinas are fine, but a handstand still seems very impressve to me.
I think your yoga achievement is impressive. I have never been able to manage anything that wasn’t a danger to everyone within reach.
I’ve been working on crow for 2 years now. I’m lucky I still have my front teeth. Please don’t anybody post and say how easy it is!
I can hold the crow for about 3 seconds, but I keep trying. I just think I’m not getting the hands quite right but one day I’m sure I’ll get it and fly!
Good for you! I had the same type of detachment in my right eye and have been dealing with the “good as it’s gonna get” vision in that eye. The right eye is like a fun house mirror. I was thrilled when I got the clearance to go back to spin class. Pretty sure I couldn’t do a handstand to save my life, so kudos to you!
Thanks! Yes, the straight line has disappeared from my vision in one eye, but the other was simpler to fix and my vision is normal. I did have cataracts which are apparently a normal consequence of detachments, but have had them removed and now don’t need glasses or contacts.
Not wearing anything yet, just finishing breakfast and about to have a shower. I think I’ll continue my sample pile reduction.
Instant love – Atelier des Ors Rose Omeyyade, but at the price, it won’t result in a purchase.
Disappointment – there have been a few things of late that I’ve expected to love after reading all the reviews, but have found to be only OK to me. Nanban, Iris Cendré, Calligraphy Rose come to mind. Of course, I will keep trying them, I’ve got plenty of loves that started off as likes 🙂
Something wonderful – the February weather here in Wellington. It’s shaping up to be the warmest February on record and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. If Wellington could get a month of settled weather every summer, it would be a perfect city.
I was disappointed in Calligraphy Rose as well. Will give Rose Omeyyade a shot.
1. SOTD is Caron’s “Yatagan”, which I got as a FB a while back because it was cheap and recommedended in the’50 scents’ piece. Appreciating it more now after leather week – I can relate it to stuff like Carner Barcelona’s “Cuirs” for example.
2. Last thing I tried and loved was Papillon’s “Anubis”. I arrived home for the weekend to find my Papillon samples waiting for me – Anubis, Salome, Angélique and Tobacco Rose.
3. I was disappointed by Olfactive Studio’s “Still Life” and Phaedon’s “Poivre Colonial”, both tried mid-month and both just didn’t last any time on my skin before vanishing absolutely. I’m always disappointed with perfumes that dwindle down to the point where I have to stick my wrist to my nose to smell anything, so these scents that I couldn’t eve smell *with* my wrist to my nose were pretty pointless.
4. I ordered a bunch of 2ml perfume spritzers which have finally turned up from China. Now I can try some great vial samples I’ve had waiting since late last year, but which I would not use without being able to spray. Things like the L’Artisan sample set, Tauer samples, all 5 Kenzo incenses – many treats in store!
Another big fan of Yatagan here! A wearable pine–with spices and incense for me.
I also love Anubis and the whole Papillon line, although I can’t quite carry off Salome!
I can’t quite do Salome either, though I wanted to love it from the list of notes!
1. Surrender by Surrender to Chance. A great dirty jasmine, reminds me of Sarrasins but with a different, non-white-musk drydown.
2. I can’t wait to read the comments to hear what everyone has to say for this one!! I haven’t fallen in love with anything I’ve tried lately. Good for my wallet, I guess!
4. Tomorrow is the due date for baby #2… went on a long walk this morning so hopefully tomorrow really will be the day, and that will be my good news for the weekend!
Good luck and I hope things move along safely, quickly, and well!
Thanks!!
Adding more good wishes!!
Good luck and hope everything goes smoothly to plan and on time.
Best wishes for a quick and safe delivery!
Good luck!
Wishing you health and happiness!
Oh wow! We’ve had a baby explosion in these here parts in the past month!
Speaking of…did Dottie announce a birth last week? My participation here has been sporadic lately.
Fingers crossed all goes well for you and baby#2!
Exciting stuff!,hope you’re labour goes smoothly for you and you’re baby.
Thank you for all the warm wishes!!! No baby yet, but the day is still young!
Adding my good wishes for as easy a delivery as possible
Hoping for an easy delivery for you!
The best of luck to you!
Good luck!
Yea! Another baby watch! Best wishes for a 30 minute labor and pain free delivery. 🙂
1. Dame Parfumerie Dark Horse. Testing it to see if it is a fb worthy.
2. Love from first sniff – many. Ambre loup, Salome, Cyphre Palatin, Black Saffron
3. dislikes – Sapphire Oud by Atelier. Maybe because I true it while I was on antibiotics recovering from pneumonia or what it was – but it made me nauseated. And Oud Palao – I know it is getting great reviews but to me it smells medicinal.
4. I finally tried making Tartines bread pudding including homemade caramel sauce. It turned out amazingly well, so now I have to use all the will power in the world not to it for breakfast, lunch and dinner
I think Oud Palao does smell medicinal, although in a way that if I am in the right mood I really like. Not sure why.
Oud Palao is blech.
Oud Palao and Oud Saphir are both a big no for me too.
1. Lumiere Blanche.
2. Iris Cendre (to balance out Hamamelis’ comment :).
3. Not that I was expecting much, but Poison Girl.
4. Two things – the Independence Day celebration last week (I had my outfit photographed and for once, I was very happy with the result) and friends visiting today. I haven’t had time to host anything for a long time, but we had a lovely (very) late brunch. I made oven-baked eggs with mushrooms, a pearl barley dish with bacon, onions, garlic, carrots, smoked salt and whisky, apple-beetroot salad and blueberry muffins.
Your outfit was spectacularly gorgeous. I loved the sleeves on the otherwise simple dress…I had another sleepless night last night, trying to sort out my lecture in my head, so I read your blog and two books. You looked elegant and distinguished. And, I have to say, the pearl barley dish sounds divine. Hope your poor sore back is better.
Thank you, this is lovely of you to say. And after my two sleepless nights with the back, I’m also acutely aware how horrible it is not to be able to sleep. Fortunately, my back is miraculously much better after two days of painkillers.
I sincerely recommend the barley dish, even if I invented it myself and it’s probably more suited to colder weather. If you aren’t too generous with the bacon, it’s both healthy and hearty and there’s lots of flavour. I cook the barley and carrot cubes in advance (I like my carrots very tender), fry the bacon, garlic and onion, deglaze with whisky, add boiled barley, carrots and a little salish smoked salt, fry some more, and done. You could also add celery or peas or even potatoes – this is very indirectly inspired by an Estonian classic, mulgipuder, a barley and potato porridge. I serve with sour cream, but I believe you don’t like dairy?
I like dairy, just not fatty dairy…it sticks to the inside of my mouth in ways that harass me for ages. I’m saving this up on my iPad for winter. My birthday is at the end of May, notarially winter, but usually cool enough for gorgeous things like this. I’m in like Flynn!
I love Iris Cendre to an almost irrational degree. It took me a couple of wears, but then I didn’t want to smell anything else for a while and it’s still a once a week choice.
I find it beautiful, too. Liked it right away, although my initial impression was somewhat different from how I perceive it now. Any other irises you like?
How did your impressions change? At first I was a little scared by the smoke, but now I love it – and I have a clearer sense of the iris now too. I also love Iris Silver Mist and Iris de Nuit. On the right day VC&A Bois d’Iris is lovely. Iris Poudre for when I want to feel very grown up. I’m trying out Angelique now and really like it. I just got a bunch of iris samples and so the exploration continues. (Like Robin I think I really dislike Le Labo’s Iris and TDC Bois d’Iris does nothing for me. At all.) Ok that’s a lot of answer!
Strangely, I didn’t get much smoke the first time I tried it. It seemed very similar to Iris Nazarena to me then, not so much now. If you havent tried IN, I recommend it, as we seem to share several iris loves and I couldn’t stand Le Labo. Also, I know there are difficulties now with sampling the exclusifs, but you might like Rue Cambon and La Pausa (apologies, if you have tried and hated both!).
And I’m intrigued by Apoteker Tepe now.
And all well known to you! Another I am figuring out is The Peradam by Apoteke Tepe. I love Anabasis and own a bottle. (It’s shiso and summer!) Still mulling over the others.
I’m a big fan of Iris Cendre, too! In fact, you’ve inspired me to wear it today. The only part I’m not a huge fan of is the musk used in the base… though by that point I can always layer something over it. 🙂
I’m interested to hear that you like Anabasis, since we seem to have the same taste in irises! I haven’t tried that one, but really love my sample of The Peradam… the lily and jasmine together are so beautifully done, though I can’t say I usually like lily. And the bottles are gorgeous.
Another iris I like is Brecourt Eau Trouble, which is very similar to Iris Poudre but doesn’t turn sour on my skin in the middle/end.
That dress does look cool. Just realised i have never ever worn a floor length dress.
You missed the seventies and the maxi? Lucky you!
I did have a Nana Mouskouri skirt but that was 1990s ironic grunge. My mother had a closet full of long dresses:1970s chiffon dinner parties, followed by calico hippy patchwork.
I could still rock calico, I think. I went through the muslin-smock-roman-sandals era (late sixties), then moved on to long-and-flowing. I remember my father saying to me once not to go near any machinery with moving parts “wearing that”. I think “that” was an ensemble I’d made by sewing together little swatches of velvet and other pretties from remnant bins. In my defence, I was a student, and very hard up!
If I’d had a child, I wonder whether I would have supported her through the prevailing taste of her teenage years, or had litters of multi-coloured kittens every time I looked at her “going out” clothes?
By most people’s standards I have way too many, but I really like long dresses. In many ways, they are easier to wear than shorter ones – more room to move, less need to accessorise, no need to shave, etc. And many of them work well with flats. (And thank you!)
And you can rock them Annikky!
Ooh I love long dresses, will have to have a look, I’m sure u looked beautiful.
Gorgeous dress! You looked stunning.
Thank you! I had a lot of help to look like this.
just agreeing with everyone else your outfit looked great- I had a very long work meeting yesterday and flew back late in the evening so spent some time in the airport whizzing through blogs including yours. Glad your back is better.
Thank you! Do you travel often for work? I do it much less these days and in many, many ways it’s great, but a part of me misses it, too.
I travel a reasonable amount but a lot less than many – a mix of client meetings and just general going to overseas offices and making sure I keep up with people I regularly work with. I enjoy some but it is really draining I find and the work back at base carries on piling up! It’s a great way to see new places though and one of my favourite trips (which I make fairly regularly) is to Paris as it’s quick on Eurostar and I try to make sure I spend a few days extra there as well – always a treat and a great way to have what feels like a very special weekend!
Yes, gorgeous dress! I love purple. Need to go figure out what to wear to the symphony tonight…. I swear half the reason I like the symphony is the excuse to dress up.
And that is perfectly sensible reason!
Perfectly sensible.
Adding another note of admiration for your outfit–you looked fabulous!
Thank you! I’m glad you think so.
Weren’t you proud of your country? And of being able to represent it this way?
You looked very elegant in your gown! What fragrance did you wear? You may have mentioned it, but it has slipped my mind.
I wore my brand new Mohur extrait. It didn’t really fit the colour of the dress, but it was good for the occasion, I think.
And yeas, I do get patriotic in moments like this (I’ve been to the reception twice before), but as we currently have nationalism raising its ugly head in Estonia, it’s unfortunately a mroe complicatedd feeling than I’d like it to be.
I would travel across the world to be a guest at one of your meals. Everything you talk about making sounds divine. You have very lucky guests!
Best of days to all! I’m wearing some Knowing from last night: whadda mistake! I don’t recall this being horrible on me ever before, but I simply cannot bear it. I’d rather roll in a cow pat than wear it again. Ook. Fortunately, my favourite SA at my favourite clothes store smells fabulous in it, and will be receiving my bottle of perfume and body lotion later today! And my SOTD will be anything else, anything at all.
My last instant love was probably Loukhoum, which I bought after dithering gently for a day, but I also fell for SL Rahat Loukoum….yes, Donatella, I bought that too. You got a problem with that?
I’ve been disappointed in every new release that’s come my way…all the Bulgari Tea series, their Aqua Divina and a whole heap of mainstream others so derivative that I can’t even remember their names or directions. I did go to World, even though I didn’t get that damn bloody lecture finished, and I quite liked Nanban, but it reminds me of other things so much that I thought I wouldn’t buy it, not that I can tell you what it did bring to mind. Maybe I just like Black Cashmere better. I’m going to go back to World when said DBL is finished and play with the Le Galion collection.
Something wonderful? Isabella sprawled on her back on the spare room bed, back legs straight out, furry tummy fully exposed to the sun…Dakkie with his latest knitted mouse, blue marl with a green tail, very smart, but he’s deeply suspicious of it, and You Cannot Be Too Careful, you know…the dear man, both specifically (I won’t trouble you with comments there) and in general….my new red coat, too gorgeous for me, really, but I bought it anyway….taking five inches in on one of my favourite dresses and finding that it still hangs nicely. Roast lamb yesterday….stone fruit….mangoes, so impossible to eat neatly, what fun!….my new scarlet nail polish….As Kanuka says, life’s wonderful. And it will be better than wonderful if I can just knock that lecture off this morning! Am walking resolutely to the computer right now!
I can’t stand Knowing either. It’s everlasting and just seems to clog up my entire respiratory apparatus.
Everlasting is right! Is it a law of the universe that something ooky will stick around until the end of time, while gorgeous scents flit lightly away after a few hours?
Absolutely. It’s a law…we should give it a name. Turin’s law perhaps? A scent’s longevity is inversely proportional to the love you feel for it. La Vie est Belle is another one that I only tested once (that was enough) and I couldn’t get rid of it.
I just went down the road and presented lovely Sue with my bottle of Knowing & the body lotion. I certainly won’t miss either. She was thrilled, and I bought a little cropped top on the strength of her pleasure…<.
Cat tummies are always good for a smile 🙂
Just curious if you tried Nanban on skin? The opening is pretty generic-masculine but it evolves fairly quickly on me into something different enough to be worthwhile. YMMV, of course.
Isabella’s tummy is mushroom-coloured, sort of pinky-beigey-grey, and she has a very marked “seam” running up the middle. If she were a garment, the overlocking would be on the outside, as a little design featurette. Adorable!
I did try Nanban on my skin, MikasMinion, and liked it, but yesterday I didn’t like it to the tune of nearly $300. However, I think I will try it again when I have finished the damn bloody lecture, (maybe another hour) and also, I want to see about those Le Galions. They’ll have to be very special to make me lay down my card, though, ‘cos I’m sort of a mind to save my pennies to spend in Melbourne.
Newburg has the same type of very pronounced fur seam, but his white lining peeks through 🙂 his white tummy fur is extra long and silky. My husband calls it a racing stripe. I personally think it’s a very effective lure for the unwary, similar to that employed by the anglerfish.
Oh, he does sound handsome and madly dashing! I love the idea of a racing stripe.
I’m trying out L’Instant de Guerlain this morning and am liking the honey note quite a bit. Timely, since I also tried a honey hand cream last night that I really loved and made me think I need to try some honeyed fragrances. (BTW, thanks Vancouver fumies!!)
My latest purchase, and the last for a while, was a travel size of OJ’s Vanille d’Iris. I’d bought a sample set and it was instant love for this. I used up the whole sample in just a few weeks and needed more, stat!
I was surprised that I didn’t really go for Ta’if which I was sure was going to be a winner but it just ended up being an annoying hum in the background. I’d like to try smelling it on someone else, though, I’m suspecting a chemistry issue but who knows?
This reminds me that I need to try Vanille d’Iris…
Me too, maybe an iris we can see eye to eye on ????. I will give Iris Cendre a few more wears though.
I absolutely love Ta’if (so if you live in or travel to Northern California we can arrange your smelling it on me 🙂 ).
I liked Vanille d’Iris when I tried it so I think that eventually I’ll get at least one of those travel sprays.
I would love them to do mixed travel sets. I own the Woman one, but would immediately buy another if I could pick four different scents.
On a couple of occasions we organized “do it yourself” mixed set with perfumista friends. You should try looking for others located in those parts of Europe where perfumes can be sent.
Hi everyone! Late to the party as usual.
Wearing Chanel No. 5. It was described as vintage and does smell like a bottle I had in the early 80s; regardless, I love it.
Last perfume love at first sniff is Dame Perfumery New Musk, it layers with everything.
Can’t remember last fragrance disappointment. Tauer Rose Flash?
Something wonderful? Definitely our kitty that we adopted a month ago. He’s extremely playful and hilarious, and has brought my husband and I both a lot of joy already. We haven’t had a pet for several years since our last cat had to be put down and we had talked ourselves out of getting another, then my husband surprised me with this one. Both kitty and husband are awesome guys 🙂
Your kitten sounds delightful it is amazing how much delight they can create! Also so glad you felt able to adopt another cat.
Kittens are good medicine!
Congrats on your new kitten! We’ve had our two girls for about a month, too, they are now 6 months old. I lost the last of my 3 cats several years ago and then temporarily fostered a pair for some friends for 10 months last year and was devastated when they rejoined their family. These two were a serendipitous but welcome surprise. One is sitting in my lap and purring as I type this and it’s wonderful to have that kitty love again.
Awww.
That’s awesome that you have some new loves in your life and brava for fostering!
Yay for new kittehs!
Wearing Safari today. (Again. Not sorry.)
Last Love At First Sniff was DelRae Wit, and I don’t yet have a bottle. But I will. Oh, I will…
I was greatly disappointed in the rereleased Patou Vacances. It’s perfectly *nice*, mind, but nothing like the ethereal Ma Collection version.
On top of our good news about the improvement in my son’s vision, several years after it should have stopped improving at all, we just heard that he’s been accepted to the summer sessions at both the Air Force Academy and West Point. (Still waiting back to hear from the Naval Academy’s summer program.)
Congratulations to your son! And you smell great…Safari is amazing.
I love Safari.
congrads to your son!
Your son will be busy! Did Snowflake graduate from the laundry room to the pasture yet?
Yeah, his summer is going to be crazy.
OH! and we sold Snowflake to some people who were looking for a 4H show lamb. They’ll continue to bottle-feed him until he starts eating grain.
And he will get lots of attention! 🙂
Congrats!
Congrats to your son, how wonderful!
Interesting about your son! My son did the Naval Academy’s summer program last year… eventually decided not to attend, but he’ll never forget that week!
Where did he wind up attending? Any ROTC?
I think they’re were many reactions like that, the reviews of re released vacancies said it’s less complex, more of a soliflore, and not very green.. You’re opinion has put the last nail in my lemming, thank u!- one less on the list!
Yeah. It’s *nice,* but it’s dull. And very white-musky.
1. SOTD Tom Ford Fleur de Chine
2. Fleur de Chine again, and yes I bought a FB. Thinking about a back-up…
3. I wanted to love Byredo Rose of No Mans Land but at least the first sniff was a disappoitment.
You smell glorious- I love Fleur de chine and am so sorry it’s discontinued.
Yes, yes and yes. (Although I’m not wearing FdC today.)
I tried this for the first time yesterday, absolute love for me too, why oh why is this beauty being given the chop?!
1. Royal Muska by Micallef.
2. I adore Lyric but need to try spraying it before I decide if a bottle is going to happen.
3. Can’t remember.
4. I made it through aheavy week at work and despite a freezing cold day today have had a great relaxing time involving a long lunch and tea- and yay nothing arranged for tomorrow so hopefully a long walk and some more relaxing. Also the days are getting longer and spring must be around the corner
I suspect you’ll going to love Lyric however you apply it…
I suspect that’s all too true…
1. I’m delightfully raunchy in Papillon Salome today. With the cumin, it kind of occupies the same niche for me as Rochas Femme, of which I already have a big bottle, so I probably won’t need to actually buy this one. But I’d like to try more of the line. I’m especially curious about Anubis.
2. Probably Ostara. I was spurred to try it by reading about the sale at BdJ, so I only sniffed it once before buying my bottle. I’ve really enjoyed it. Thankfully I don’t get the laundry thing in the drydown that some people have mentioned.
3. I need to revisit my sample, but I was a bit disappointed with Misia on first sniff. But who knows, I might try my sample again and have to eat my words.
4. I just did my taxes, and I’m getting a good refund! *happy dance* It’s going right into the down payment fund so I can start house hunting this spring.
Additional #2: I almost forgot.. Atelier Jasmin Angelique. If they’d had it in a travel spray at Sephora I’d probably have bought it on the spot.
#3: Atelier Santal Carmin – I’m beginning to realize that I may be anosmic to some synthetic sandalwood molecules, and apparently this one uses some because I could barely smell anything. But I can smell natural sandalwood just fine, and I know I can smell at least some synthetics because I don’t have any trouble smelling the sandalwood notes in SL Mysore or Santal Majuscule.
1. SOTD: Chloe. Perfect for a Spring-like day like today!
2. Last new fragrance I LOVE: 212 VIP. Found it in the clearance bin at Marshall’s for $20, and bought it on the spot. LOVE IT! 🙂
3. Huge disappointment: Insolence. WOW! I wanted so badly to love it, but I can’t stand the top notes. The drydown is nice, but I doubt I’ll keep this one. Bummer! It’s on a 6 month probation: If I don’t wear it in 6 months, it’s G-O-N-E. I only want to keep what I love! Other bummer: Adidas Natural Vitality. Spent $4.89 on it in lieu of shipping charges on FragranceNet (to hit the right dollar amount), and I HATE it. No big loss on this one: It goes straight to my office and will be offered up to coworkers who might show it some love.
4. Random fun/exciting thing: Just signed up my 6 year old Chocolate Lab, Chewy, for adult training classes. Chewy is wonderful, but he’s inattentive, stubborn, and 100 lbs of willful puppy! LOL The trainer promises she can whip him, and us, into shape! We shall see! Chewy FAILED puppy classes 6 years ago because he wouldn’t leave his classmates alone…..HA HA HA Perhaps he has matured some? 🙂
Chewy. Love that name.
LOL! Actually, his full name is Chewbacca Douglas Edwards! 🙂 Chewbacca, because he had wavy “wookie” hair as a puppy. Douglas came from our then 3 year old, who called him “Chewy Douglas”. We don’t know why, but it stuck!
Love it.
What if your co-worker loves the Adidas and decides to wear it to the office everyday?
Ha, you are so funny H. Your comments make me laugh.
That could be an issue!!! HA HA 🙂
ROTFL! Brilliant.
Good luck with Chewy, he sounds absolutely delightful (even if he is incorrigible!).
SOTD is No. 19 but will put on something rose post evening bath, probably Sballo.
New fragrance instant love was Beloved. I absolutely had to have it. Another wonderful, new to me fragrance is vintage Samsara. I also really liking Dame’s gardenia soliflore in the oil format. I bought the rollerball. It lasts over 10 hours on my skin and nothing lasts that long on my skin.
Recent disappointments where the Orlov scents. Cross of Asia was pretty but did not excite me enough to pursue it and Flame of Gold was a total scrubber on me. I found it very screechy.
Dame perfumery gifted me with an unexpected sample pack of all of his new soliflore scents. He really is a generous and kind person.
If you buy a FB (e.g,your rollerball), then you are on the list to receive samples of his new scents. I received them, too, and agree with your comments about him.
Oh, I know. I didn’t know that he was sending them out now so I was still surprised. An unexpected treat. I’ll have fun experimenting with them and they will also be great for layering with other scents.
Spent earlier in the day wearing vintage Jicky. Now I am thinking about what I am going to wear next since Jicky wore off. I haven’t found any new loves in a long time.
I’m wearing Michael Kors Ultimate Body Lotion that I ran out an bought after I tested it in a taxi. We could definitely use more taxis featuring perfume and scented body products! 😉
The perfume I’m very much in love with but haven’t bought (as FB) is Roja Dove Diaghilev. $1,150 is just too much.
A perfume that I tried, loved and bought (split) is Thierry Mugler Oriental Express. As opposed to Canoe Goods Skive and FL Parfums Don d’Amour, which I blind-bought and fortunately love.
Okay, I am intrigued – where do they have taxis that offer samples of perfume and body products? Or did you have this in your bag?
I liked your taxi driver story and hope to find this cream for myself. Bet you smell worthy of a limousine now.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today? Wanted something fun do wearing Viva la Juicy
2. The last new (or new to you) fragrance that you fell in love with right away? Did you buy it? 31 RC and I bought it. It is like I have died and gone to heaven. Absolutely love it!
3. The last new (or new to you) fragrance that was a huge disappointment? Box of Eels. Perfume usually stays with me forever, but this one went poof. I think it smells pretty, but it doesn’t last on me. I saw it mentioned somewhere to mix with Tam Dao. I might have to do that.
4. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything: something you discovered, or bought, or read, or saw, or something great that happened to you recently. Recently, someone mentioned on here that they loved the Chubby Sticks by Clinique. I am so glad I read that as I bought a few of them and they are great.
I don’t get any longevity out of the Les Exclusifs version of BdI either. I had first sampled it from an older EdT and was huuuuugely disappointed at the staying power of the current version.
SOTD is an essential oil blend, bay laurel & clove, for swollen glands. Smells good, though.
Recent love/purchase? Bottega Veneta
Disappointment? Can’t remember anything specific
Have a great weekend, guys. 🙂
You too!
Ugh, I get swollen glands all the time, usually due to allergies. The only thing that’s saving me this year is my neti pot. I hope you feel better.
Bay laurel and clove for swollen glands, no kidding! Do you dab it on the swelling?
Still miffed that Dior left NZ off their world map…thanks guys!
Don’t feel bad, Canada is not on their map either. Not one location in the second largest country in the world, contiguous to the USA, to buy the Dior Privée scents. Feh.
Yes! Fist pump! Cartwheel! Gin’n’ tonic! I finally nailed the bastard. I have interrogated the appropriate body of knowledge; I have built a coherent “story” that the Y2 students should be able to follow; it’s finished! Suddenly exhausted, though. Too tired to go sniffing.
Oh man…I’d better get some hustle going for next week, or this is going to be a looooong semester!
Congratulations! Now relax.
Mmmm…sleepy now. Haven’t slept much for about three or four days in a row.
SOTD = Aftelier Cuir de Gardenia
Love at first sniff and purchased – Emphorium Brooklyn Suedois
Recent active dislike – Imam looking at you Oud Palao
Something wonderful – so many good things and blessings but pick one I shall. Many are raving about Dame Perfumery and I agree based on my limited experience a year ago. Today, I would like to give a shout out to Twisted Lily.
Two weeks ago, Twisted Lily hosted a very nice event re-launching Emphorium Brooklyn. In the pandemonium at checkout (yep, my wallet is never happy whenever I visit), the SA left out one of the samples I requested (April Aromatics Erdenstern). The following day, as an aside in a correspondence about another matter, I mentioned my disappointment about the missing sample and said I would wait for my next visit to request it again. My correspondent said, oh, let me send it to you anyway and lo and behold, a few days later, I got a package in the mail with TWO sample vials and now I have enough to empty them into an atomizer and try it MY way. Thank you, Twisted Lily!
I came close to dabbing Cuir de Gardenia this morning but went for Vanilla Smoke instead. My husband is allergic to basically all my perfumes—except Aftelier’s. I just ordered three minis (Honey Blossom, Cuir de Gardenia, and Vanilla Smoke; I already own a mini of Cepes & Tuberose), because I’m so grateful and happy to have found SOMETHING I can wear that doesn’t kill him!
Poor hubby but at least you found some go-to perfumes. Vanilla Smoke parfum is on my Buy list! Have you read Kafka’s blog? She is currently doing a series on Sultan Pasha whose perfume attars are all natural (except a few and he discloses which ones contain synthetics).
Yes poor hubby! Honey Blossom is very very nice, I think. If you have to be limited, being limited to the Aftelier line is not such a bad thing. I also Love the Ancient Resins oil…
Not surprised about Twisted Lily – Eric’s customer service is excellent.
Love that store. I’d like to move in.
This made me LOL!
I totally agree! Have had excellent service from Stamatis at both Parfum1 and Twisted Lily.
1. My younger son really, really wanted to pick out what I would wear today so after spending a lot of time in the Angel section, he happened upon the colorful Gress Cabaret bottle and chose it, even wanting me to spray some on him because he loved the smell so much. He announced,”Now I smell like a girl!” and I promptly corrected him and said lots of guys pulled that one off, too. So he was really pleased with his selection.
2. The last perfume I bought that I still love bordering on obsession would be Aroma M’s Geisha Noir edp. I wore it for days and finally had to force myself to choose something else so I didn’t wear it out, though it’s calling to me from that pretty silky pouch after my bath tonight.
3. There are so many perfumes that underwhelm me these days. While I really liked Dirty Flower Factory when I first sprayed it on (it isn’t new exactly but was new to me) and almost felt like I may need to add it to my collection, the second time I tried it my reaction was far more meh. This generic almost department store floral note popped out at my nose and no matter how hard I tried not to notice it, it hung around the entire rest of the time I wore it. But I still want to give it another chance since I was coming down with a cold and maybe it was just my nose that day… 🙁
4. Spring is around the corner! Winter was difficult this year and I kept telling myself to just hang in there and warm days will be here before I knew it. While we aren’t totally out of the woods just yet, it’s definitely in the air and I can just feel it in my blood. It will be good to get out and do more with the kids and help us move on and make new family memories. 🙂
Your son sounds absolutely adorable. I love this anecdote.
I love your son! And what a good mom.
I’m really intrigued by the Geisha Noire… mentions of it keep coming up. I’m gonna have to order a sample sooner than later.
Love this story.
At the fragrance blending class I attended yesterday, several people had brought their children (one about 9 or 10 and the other maybe 14) and it was especially lovely to see and hear the little boy give his take on the various scents. I did notice he leaned towards sweeter notes and wondered if that would change with age.
Congratulations on being such a sweet mom, who lets your kid free. The world says thank you.
So cute! Please give him two big hugs from me!
Your son has excellent taste!
Hello!
1) Not so new : estee lauder private collection amber ylang ylang, ive been hunting down whatever (little to none) availability of bottles i can find since its been discontinued. One of my all time fave scents for our ongoing european winter weather.
2) my second bottle of the classic burberry burberry. I find it a quiet charming scent thats perfect for the office.
3) serge lutens: jeux de peau — i bought it on a whim after a brief test on my arm and oh my what a bad whim that was! Really Tried to like it but it simply did not resonate with me at all. Ended up giving it away.
4) looking forward to a surprise family ski getaway for my fathers birthday in few weeks time!
1. Boxeuses, finally.
2. Chamade. It’s not sold here in Perfume Mordor, but I’ll buy it on my next trip. (Or Mohur? Or 31 Cambon? Let’s just say it’s right there in the top).
3. Burberry Brit Rythm. I was expecting something interesting, based on trusted reviewers, but it was one of those reminders that we must sniff for our own selves. Chemical and generic, to my untrained nose. And more sweet than I was expecting. Fire and Cream is more my kind of lavender.
4. Something wonderful? Taking the kids to the Charlie Brown movie. It was perfect for them, they laughed so hard, all along, and I enjoyed it as well, even with the 3d graphics. Great plot, great values.
I didn’t like Rythm either. It smelled like laundry detergent to me.
It would make a nice laundry detergent, compared to the Ariel I use.
Perfume Mordor! Poor Solanace. You’re in Sao Paolo, correct?
Right. Thank you for your simpathy! No Lauders, no classic Guerlains, no Coco, just the flankers, no L’Artisain… Lutens? Good joke… Light Blue rules them all.
I really enjoyed that one with my kids too. It was obviously made with much love and respect. Really enjoyable and brought back memories.
That’s it, respect. Such respect is rare these days.
1. SOTD: Aftelier Vanilla Smoke.
2. Blew me out of the water: Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist. Like nothing else I’ve ever smelled, obsession at first sniff. No way I can afford a bell jar, sadly, but I’m trying to figure out how much decant I can afford.
3. Disappointing: Neela Vermeire Mohur. I wanted so much to love this; I even came close to a blind buy. Then I received my sample and discovered that it was very nearly a scrubber on me! Soursweet powdery and not at all pleasant, even with just a drop.
4. Tai chi. I’ve done yoga for years, but this is a different animal—not under the skin, maybe, but at least on outward view. Although I’ve developed a lot of body awareness over the years, this is a different kind of attention; I’m trying to learn to feel the actual flow of energy in my body, which is something new and exciting. I’m not good at it yet, but I feel like a happy baby, trying it! Highly recommended to anyone who wants to slow their mind to the speed of their body.
Tai chi sounds fantastic and I think I need to try it.
Congrats on your new Iris Silver Mist love connection!
Iris Silver Mist love – I had fallen under its spell! I suggest looking into a split, not a decant. For as much as I am appreciative of the decant sites (I only use STC now based on great customer service), the mark up is exorbitant.
Yes, this. Splits are far more affordable.
1. Vintage Ivoire. First proper wearing, and I’m loving its “perfuminess”. So satisfying.
2. The last perfume I fell in love with was Amouage Epic and though I normally would not have bought it, I decided it was my “Yay you got a new job” present when it was on super sale. No regrets.
3. I haven’t really been disappointed by that much recently.
4. I spent a good part of yesterday with Hajusuuri, LizzieB, and some other New York perfume homies at a Sniffapalooza sponsored Demeter fragrance blending session, which was lots of fun, and afterwards we spent a lot of time at an Hermes boutique, sniffing everything they had on hand. Developed a strong liking for Rocabar. Anyone else love this one?
Sounds like a fantastic day.
It was! I’m grateful for being able to have kinds of opportunities. I won’t live in New York forever but I’m enjoying it while I can.
It is a great place. And even if you live in a sardine can, there are so many opportunities to pursue any kind of interest that you might be too busy to care until you run out of perfume bottle space!
I’ve only smelled the current version of Ivoire on a friend. I thought was very pretty and she smelled great. I wonder how it compares to vintage?
Haven’t smelled the more recent one, but if I do, I will report back.
I recently bought a bottle of the new after falling in love with a mini of the vintage – I had read reviews saying they were very similar, but alas I did not find the current formulation to be at all as magical as the vintage. The new is very pretty, and they are similar in character, but there’s just a little extra something to the vintage that completely transforms it, in my opinion. I suspect it’s an oakmoss thing but don’t trust my nose enough to swear it.
I had a great time yesterday! For as often as I’ve been to an Hermes boutique, I have never smelled Rocabar! Must rectify!
It’s a cozy, woody thing, supposedly a masculine but it doesn’t smell overly so on me. If you like woods, give it a try.
1. Lubin Idole- I missed a lot of last week. It’s gorgeous, spicy with leather in the drydown.
2. Lubin Idole- I’m really happy about the juice and the bottle, which usually doesn’t make that much difference to me, but it is like a piece of modern sculpture.
3. With all the Amouage love here, I’m disappointed with how some I am sampling smell on my skin. Lyric has been the best. I will revisiting. Well, it saves $$.
4. Finally started carving out time to pursue meditating. It has been something I have needed to try, but never stopped long enough to do. Yesterday, I felt like it made a difference in how I managed the day. I’m wondering if dabbing a favorite fragrance beforehand would be a sensory distraction, or enhance the stillness. Any thoughts?
Have a great weekend!
Those Lubin bottles are lovely. Must try Idole on skin.
None of the Amouages were instant love for me either, except for Lyric. Later, when I was trying to remember what they smelled like and re-tested them I found love in a couple that had been just okay at first and a grudging appreciation of a couple I had disliked. I wish something cheaper had knocked my socks off.
Thanks for the warning. I may cut up the credit cards before re-testing 😉 .
Overall Amouage has left me cold or at least tepid, and it’s been rather a relief to my credit card. I’d wear Dia if I were given some, which was precisely the case, but I’d buy it at only 1/3- 1/2 the price it is.
OT. Can anyone tell me weather the modern versions of Samsara are good? Both EDT and EDP and how they compare to each other? If they are worth perusing? No Guerlain counters in my area. Tx! ????
Ugh persuing
I just got a sample from STC that I think is recent, and personally , I love it. That being said, I have not smelled the original, so I can’t guarantee that that won’t diminish the new for you. Having only discovered sandalwood scents in recent years, I may be used to the artificial vs. the real stuff.
I have the vintage and recently bought the recent edp. I have tried both edt and edp in the store, I was disappointed in edt but the edp is great. HTH
Tax Hera!
And Yay for “perfumy” perfume!
Oops, this was meant for ihadanidea..
Yay indeed!
1. today i’m trying Olympic Orchids White Cattleya. I’m not sure if it’s just WC, or if it’s being affected by what I wore yesterday, but it’s definitely not working and I’m fortunate that I haven’t showered yet today. It’s doing this funky soapy lemonade thing that’s kind of blech. Post shower, I’ll probably go Blackbird. Obsession!
4. Well, yesterday I found a full bottle of Jicky EDT that dates to 1976 at a thrift store. The juice smells like perfume, so I don’t think it’s a factice, but I’m not familiar with Jicky so I can’t tell if it smells the way it’s supposed to, or really anything about it. It’s a beautiful bottle, but if the juice is real I doubt I’ll be able to appreciate it as much as others. So I’m not really sure what to do with it!
Sell it or swap it
I have been thinking about it but I have some reservations because I’m not sure if the juice is real or in relatively good shape (since I’m not familiar with jicky at all) and I have no idea what it would be worth in a swap or sale. I mean, it smells okay I guess, but I haven’t tried it on skin.
Well, if you found someone who was a Jicky fiend and was interested you could send a sample out for “testing.” Alternately, you might find someone to send you a dab of an older EDT.
Not every one loves Jicky. It may just not suit you. Having it in your collection for historical interest and a lovely bottle is enough reason to keep it if you want to….
1) I’m wearing MFK APOM Pour Femme Elixir from our wonderful splitmeet.
2) The MFK APOM Pour Femme Elixir – I’ve been wearing it every day since my lovely splitter sent it to me. This was a blind “buy” for me – I’d never even sniffed the original APOM Pour Femme. This may be the first blind buy that truly worked out (although I don’t do them often!) – absolutely love this. And I think it will be perfect year-round.
3) Oh, gosh, so many things are disappointing. I rarely find big loves any more. I just generally don’t like patch (only if it’s very subtle) and oud. And lots of things have a bit of those.
4) Wonderful – our house remodel starts Monday. Both wonderful and awful, but can’t wait to have it finished.
1) I’m wearing Jo Malone’s Mimosa & Cardomom from a sample I received with purchase yesterday. I really like the spicy yellow opening, which lasts for about half an hour on my skin. The next 3 hour’s it’s sweet and soft, but nothing special.
2)Yesterday I sampled Fleur de chine for the first time, I absolutely adore it, and it also has good lasting power on my skin, a deal breaker for me, in making a decision about buying an expensive bottle of perfume. I will be looking out for a good deal on this one!
I had a joke with the lovely SA at Fenwick’s who was also disappointed about it being discontinued, and promised I would bring my ‘Save This Perfume’banner next time I visited!
3) see no.1- Mimosa Cardomom, does anyone know if the candle has decent throw?
4) we were planning to see my Dad yesterday, to celebrate his 70th birthday, he wasn’t well tho, as he’s recovering from very long illness. We’d done him a photo book from the children, but were warned that it wouldn’t arrive till Monday, so I was really disappointed that we hadn’t even sent a card. However I got a call from my Dad so happy that he’d received it, it made my week. Chuffed to bits.
Second nice thing; I treated myself to a Jo Malone candle of Blackberry & Bay. & enjoying some Bluebird tea, earl Gey Creme, the vanilla is really nice in it.
Sweet story about your dad, and hope he is better soon!
Thanks Robin, sorry such late reply!, The photo book really lifted his spirits, and sometimes that’s the best u can do for those u love.
Thank you dear.
Kia ora, hello, good morning! The students return today. The lifts will be full, the cafes crowded, the air conditioning stretched, the anxiety palpable. But–this is the good part–the energy will be high, staff will stop squabbling because they have plenty of places to be and things to do, and fun –FUN! –will ensue.
In an effort not to look like nana (anathema!) I’m prancing off to work in a deep blue shift, not quite knee-length, with a bold geometric pattern in black. And my scent? The always-glorious 31 Rue Cambon. That’s much more for me than for anyone else, I have to say, but no matter the motivation, the whole world benefits, doesn’t it? Let’s hear it for Chanel!
Hey, wish me luck! Today I meet the Y3 students who’re studying my major–they’ll spend the whole year with us. Let’s hope they’re disposed to get on with one another and with the teaching team. And that they can write sensibly. That they know where the library is. That they can analyse and draw conclusions, or at least, that they can be taught to do so. Truly, I’m as excited as I used to be for parties when I was a kid.
Your outfit sounds lovely and you smell fab! I just did a split of 31 Rue Cambon and it smells great, happy to finally have it.
Good luck! Here’s to a happy year. My husband is sorting out his outfit for his first lecture ( which he was writing yesterday ) as I sit in bed. Unfortunately he doesn’t wear 31 Rue Cambon. I wish he did.
Best of luck!
Chaps worry about their clothes? That’s so heartening! I always feel deeply shallow when I think about these things, but my excuse is that whereas men of my age never seem to be equated with the undergrads’ grandfathers, women nearly always are.
My husband spends as much time picking outfits as I do – although he saves time by not wearing makeup and always wearing the same scent!
Good luck! They are so lucky to have a Waterdragon.
Awww– you’re so kind! We’ll see in a few weeks what they really think, when they do their evaluations of our teaching. I’ve had some unhelpful comments over the years: the silliest was that I was considered quite a good teacher, but had a squeaky voice. !!!!
Happy Sunday all. It’s sunny, which is a gift.
1. SoTD is La Fille de Berlin. It’s making me a bit sad, because per question three, it’s a disappointment. I tested it via Luckyscent before going FB. The FB seems very different – the rose is fleeting, then a dull chemical hum emerges that lasts for hours.
2. Fate – it’s become my go-to – love it. Unlike most Amouage scents it fades after four to six hours, but that’s ok.
3. See #1. I may swap this.
4. Going to St. John’s soon. Very excited, haven’t been on an ‘away’ vacation in a decade. We’ve had a mild winter but the prospect of 80 degree weather, sun, and that beautiful sea are making me very happy.
oh no, that’s so sad. do you think it’s a spray/dab thing??
Sun Mi, yes. It seems less appealing dabbed, which is really weird – not the usual experience.
SOTD: Guerlain’s Shanghai
My brain has been so full of moving that I almost forgot my actual good news which is better than my sister-in-law’s potential visit. Today is 7 yrs cancer free!
Yay! So very happy for you.
That’s truly wonderful.
Super news!
That is wonderful news indeed!
Great news!! (And I love Shanghai) 🙂
Late to the party, but had to say what fantastic news that is!
Started the day with “Vanille Ambre” from Comptoir Sud Pacifique. From the notes on the sample card I didn’t expect much, and the scent was indeed gratifyingly useless. I was just using it to test out getting stuff from the manufacturer vial into the sprayers I got from China (They work fine). I got quite a pile of CSP samples to try out and having very briefly sniffed them all I don’t think many of them will be much use. Maybe better in Summer weather?
Then switched to Baldessarini “Ambré” after showering. This was a blind buy based on positive comments on Fragrancenet (and, let’s face it, a very low price). A mistake – it’s very weak indeed – but at least not an expensive one.
Topped up with a few sprays from a decant of Armani “Bois d’Encens” and at last I can actually smell myself. That’s better!
I have no Estée Lauder or Aramis for the next community Friday project, let alone enough for a full week. Next week I’ll be working through a taster set of ‘warming perfumes’ from Blooms instead. It would be expensive to love everything I try, but I hope there is one of this lot that sets my heart racing a little bit. :^)
SOTD is Parfum Empire’s Musc Tonkin.
Love At First Sniff: Mohur and I bought a full bottle.
Biggest disappointment: Provanilla–did not work on me at all.
Nothing new or exciting has happened to me in a very long time.
Everything has been “status quo”, which can be a good thing in some areas and disappointing in others.