Two quick reminders: our first reverse swap meet will be next Saturday, April 23. The freebiemeet is coming up in June.
Today, our standard lazy weekend open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last perfume you tried and loved because you read about it in the comments here, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Tulip ‘Barcelona’ [background extended] by Sergey Urzhumskov at flickr; some rights reserved.
First!
Wearing a Guerlain Terracotta decant from the swapmeet. I didn’t love this at first but man, it’s really growing on me! It’s not groundbreaking but it sure is pretty.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
VERY pretty.
Keep meaning to try that one. Sometimes pretty is just what you need!
Oops this was supposed to go to lovetosmellgood
Oye. I seem to totally be messing up comments today.
Marjorie Rose – send your address to my email attached to my avatar, and I will send you a sample. I am happy to pay forward the generosity of lovetosmellgood.
Thanks so much! Sending you an email.
I gave my bottle up in the freebie meet..hope you are enjoying it. I love the smell on someone else-just not myself
The sample that Gvillecreative got is from your bottle! You generously gave me the bottle and I’ve since given some away in freebie/splits.
I love the scent but I’ll never get through a full bottle..
Thank you again for your generosity!
Whoa! What a small world!
This makes me very happy that you are paying it forward. Instead of collecting dust in my closet, its out being shared amongst some amazing and generous people! Fantastic!
Wow!! Thanks to your generosity I am enjoying a beautiful sunny day at the park with my 2 children, and I smell great!! Thank you!
I didn’t like Terracotta enough to keep it either. However, I did fall in love with Kerosene Unforsaken, which is what I was hoping Terracotta would be.
I like Terracotta, but agree Unforsaken is better.
I haven’t tried Unforsaken, but discovered MDCI Nuit Andalouse and that turned out to be more what I was hoping for from Terracotta.
Nuit Andalouse is very pretty.
All the Terracotta love sent me off to the perfume shelf to spritz, spritz, spritz. Songes and then Terracotta were the first full bottles I purchased when I fell in love with scent again a few years ago. Adding Unforsaken and Nuit Andalouse to my must-try list. The sampling never ends, does it?
Alahiiiine is a perfume I read about in the comments here, tried a sample, fell in love and now own a bottle and a solid.
In the solid perfume today.
Enabler pins all around (mals gets a big shiny pin)
We are having friends over from the Land Down Under..
NYC is sunny and I am sitting out on our tiny deck attached to our cozy apartment eating a blueberry muffin from the farmers market while the babies nap
I should say in my book cozy=small
Wow, that sounds like a LOVELY moment on the deck! Enjoy your day.
Sounds wonderful. It’s sunny here, too. Have a great weekend with your friends!
Pretty sure mals has moved on from pins, past tiaras and needs enabler crown jewels! (Or maybe a cool enabler sceptor? All sparky and golden. . .
)
*sparkly* that is
I like sparky! Electrifying!
Or like a wizard’s staff!
Yes!
Crown Jewels instead of pin
Love love LOVE Alahiiiine – you smell absolutely gorgeous!
Me too! Do you like anything else from this house?
I have yet to try any others from the house – do you have any recommendations? I gather there’s a sample set … I should check that out.
The set is very cheap and nicely presented too. :^)
I like Oha…if you like chypre
Their oriental Barkhane is well done, borderline masculine on me but sexy
Lovely morning for you!
How has it been going back to work?
I hope that we can meet some day with the other NYC perfume gals, and meet your two little meatballs too!
I will send you an email!
(polishes enabler pin) So glad you’re loving it! Enjoy the deck and the sunshine and the company.
Did you see above Mals, you have a crown of jewels..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XfR9iY5y94s
You have got me singing this now! Enjoy your perfume and don’t forget to offer vegemite sandwiches to your mates.
HA!
YSL Champagne. So good.
Speaking of champagne, I’m really in the mood for a mimosa. May have to get one tomorrow morning at brunch.
This is not a thing in my country as of yet, so I heartly envy you. Enjoy your mimosa!
I have become quite obsessed with this lately.
Since I wore no 19 in edp yesterday, I am continuing no 19 in edt form. No 19 is a great springtime perfume.
Lovely!
Agreed!
MPG Santal Noble!
Gorgeous, like the weather.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone!
Lovely here too, although it could be a *little* warmer. You have a great weekend!
Woo hoo ! All tax returns are done and I just mailed them. I electronically filed everything except the ones that would cost me $24.99 (are you kidding me…that’s good perfume money. I did not think twice about spending $0.49 for postage instead and waiting a little longer for my refund.)
SOTD = Memo Paris Inle
I got a sample from a kind SA at Bergdorf. So far it smells good..soft citrusy slightly soapy tea, similar to an Elizabeth Arden or a L’Occitane tea scent so the chances of me purchasing this is slim.
Tomorrow, my sister and I are going to a private showing of Magnificent Jewels at Sotheby’s, arranged by The Newark Museum. I am looking forward to it and hope to see Shirley Temple’s Blue Diamond ring and other baubles. The only other time I’ve seen celebrity auction items was the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor in December 2011 at Christie’s; it was the venue for New York University’s holiday event for alumni.
What perfume should I wear? My first choice is Chanel 31 Rue Cambon. What do you think?
Oh, your outing tomorrow sounds wonderful! I don’t know Rue Cambon (darned Chanel and their artificial exclusivity!), but whatever you wear, seems like it should be regal! Have a great time!
Excellent choice.
Enjoy! There is so much to see and do in NYC..love this city
I would say 31 RC would be a great choice. So elegant and chic
Fun day you have planned! 31 RC would fit perfectly with gorgeous jewels.
Ooh, sounds like fun and a good choice!
31RC sounds perfect. Enjoy the jewels!
Is there an online catalog or anything for it? Jewelry is my Kryptonite (for my attention, anyway, as I couldn’t afford to buy anything Sotheby’s-worthy).
If you’ve ever wanted a platinum and diamond tiara featuring a ram’s head, now’s your chance! Item #202:
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2015/magnificent-jewels-n09495.html
Thanks for the link! That tiara is pretty epic. Then you’d just have to find occasions to wear it, like.. say.. going to the post office.. or… Tuesday. lol
Seriously, though, I am slightly comforted by the fact that my favorite pieces were among the less astronomically expensive (though still waaaay out of my reach), like this one (#87):
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/magnificent-jewels-n09495/lot.87.html
Wow, there are so many gorgeous pieces there.
Well, who doesn’t need a tiara like that?! And there are a number of items perfect for me in the alternate universe where I’m Phryne Fisher! I also could use a whole load of gold paperclips like item #219 (it’s only $8-10K). ????
I miss Phryne very much. Her joie de vivre, her fearlessness (except for one thing), her intelligence and, of course, those fabulous clothes.
Crikey, that is some diamond….and not necessarily in a good way. 31 RC will add a bit of class ….looks like a wonderful outing.
The Shirley Temple one? I think it’s lovely. Seriously, I really hope that billionaire who keeps buying the giant rare colored diamonds for his 7-year-old(!) daughter does not get it.
Think I’d have to try it on to be sure but am probably still leaning towards Le Regent as a good alternative.
That sounds like fun. So very New York! Agree with the Chanel. Or any Chanel goes with Sotheby’s.
On my way! The event starts at 11 so we have plenty of time. We’re supposed to get food although there were conflicting reports of brunch vs hors d’oeuvres.
Happy Record Store Day! Got up super early and waited with some good friends for longer than I’d admit!
Wore Black Orchid to cover any sweatiness I may have acquired.
And Happy Record Store Day,Coumarin!
My hubby left bright and early to be there when our nearest place opened and woke me to ask what was he wearing? My nose is always dead in the am so I couldn’t place it but it was Eau de Gaga which he gets a kick outta saying. lol
Yeah my boyfriend did not understand.
Hope yours got everything he wanted.
Glad my hubby wasn’t aware of record store day! We just unpacked and moving over 100 records is a lot of work.
I’m getting to that point. Those suckers get heavy! I’m five records richer today!
Congrats! What did you get? My goal for this year is to actually play the records! We do have a turntable, but with so much music online now, we never pull out the vinyl.
Elisa, this year I was not very impressed with the list but I did get the Regina Spektor Begin to Hope repress, the Deerhoof Offend Maggie repress, the Kruangbin 12″ (if you haven’t heard of them, they’re actually from my hometown of Houston and they are phenomenal. 60’s inspired mostly instrumental rock. I think everyone would enjoy them even if that’s not the best description.) The only thing I couldn’t find is the Dave Douglas High Risk album Dark Territory, which was devastating. But that’s kind of a niche one so I’m hoping I can find it on Discogs.
No scent, yet. Doing brunch with a friend this morning and then maybe finally getting to some gardening. I really need to plant new grass seed! My lilac is in full and glorious bloom. Maybe I need to wear En Passent today.
Mr. Spicebomb and I are pretty much decided on our venue, so soon we will have a wedding date! yay. Next decision: catering. It will feel good to have these pieces in place, as nothing else will have a ticking clock for another year.
Ack. En Passant. m-o-r-e c-o-f-f-e-e
Congrads! I really enjoyed wedding planning..I missed it afterwards for a little bit. I am sure everything will fall into place
Well, lovestosmellgood, if you have a passion for it …. ….
Ha! Great minds!
One of the things we did for our reception was framed a picture of both of us, and we used a frame with a oversized mat that people could write their wishes for us. Then we put it back in the glass and we have it hanging in our place. Its very nice to stop and read what people wrote and to be reminded of that day..
I have so many ideas…I will stop here..
You wanna help me with mine?
Mostly, I am finding it is an exercise in spreadsheets. I think wedding planning and introversion are not immediately and obviously compatible. But I like pretty things, flowers and good food, so I’m focussing on those aspects. 
Congrats!!
So I was telling SheriG (via email) that my niece’s wedding reception will be held at the Chinese Garden in August. There’s no choice as to caterer but she will have a Papa Haydn wedding cake. I’m sure you are 100x more disciplined than my niece – she started with a 90 person guest list and had considered having a series of food trucks cater the event at my brother’s house. She’ s now up to 160 guests, hence the change in venue.
Good luck with the wedding planning!
Papa Hayden has beautiful food! I’ve used Ja Civa’s Bakery for a few occasions, and I’ve been very happy with them. But cake can be decided later, and I haven’t given it much thought so far.
I’m on the other end of the spectrum for guests. Maybe I have 20. I’m trying to think of a few more so it isn’t so terribly off balance with Mr. S, who currently has about 45 folks he wants to invite. In any case, it’s looking like a small event, which is totally ok with me.
Who would have thought when you started talking about Mr. Spicebomb that one day we’d be hearing about wedding plans? That’s so fabulous. I enjoyed planning my wedding. Don’t stress too much about things that you can’t really control. That’s my one piece of advice.
I know, I find it hard to believe, too! I mean, you hear about folks meeting their spouses online, but no reason to think that meant me, too! I feel very fortunate. He’s a great guy.
Alchimie for me today. So perfect for spring
Rochas? You smell great!
My sister left behind a bottle in a move; I think I’m finally going to give in and liberate a few sprays…
SOTM is Dior Gris Montaigne. Should have thought of this for yesterday’s rose theme – it’s very nice. Understated, like wearing a grey Dior pencil skirt with a pink silk blouse. Fits my mood this morning as I’m patiently waiting out some sinus-y-ness and thinking about garden projects. It’s going to be warm and sunny here, and my little irrigation system on the back deck needs a few repairs and I have some hostas that need to be replanted … but the local plant nurseries are also calling my name. Lots to do!
I was sick last week and wore Gris Montaigne almosd everyday. There is something very comforting about it. Hope your sinuses clear quickly!
I can see where it would be a comforting scent! One thing I’m noticing is that it’s hard to find with nose pressed to skin, and far more perceptible from a foot or so back. Unusual, in my experience. Hope you’re feeling better this weekend!
This makes sense. First time I dabbed a bit it was very cold out and I loved what I could smell. I’ll put this larger sample away for the return of winter!
Oops this went to entirely the wrong place. Meant for Mals below! Sorry!
Wearing Encre Noire today and feeling infernal, sad for no reason though the sun is bright in the sky. Planning to head outside and see if I can’t shake it off, shake it off…
Oh, I hope the sunshine does its magic for you! I hate that feeling of being in a bad mood for no reason (although for me, it usually turns out to be hormones). Unsolicited recommendation: don’t go out driving! Stupid drivers always make it worse for me.
Thanks so much, Marjorie Rose. I stayed close to home (I agree fully about driving while dejected) and tried to let nature do its healing business. I’m sure hormones had some part to play in it all…
Olenska,I do hope feel better darling.
I’ve missed you and often wondered how you are.
This is Tamara J. from back in the day,now happily Tamara D.
Take care,you wonderful creature.
Oh my, Tamara*J! Now you shall be Tamara*D, with heaps of congratulations! Very good to be back, and very good to see you here. After long absence I’m slowly, slowly reconnecting. I hope we’ll cross paths here in NST-land often.
<3 Hope you feel better.
I do, today– sleep definitely helps. Thanks for the kind word.
Hope some time outdoors helps!
Thanks, Robin. I just really, really, really need to see flowers. All the roses you’ve been posting during rose week have helped, and of course today’s tulip is divine…. but somehow nothing much is blooming in my neighborhood. Come on, gardens, show us your stuff!
Hey, that’s no good. Come for a walk with me…I am taking you out to a special place. It is a cloud forest up on Mount Cargill so we will walk up through native beech forest and manuka draped in luminous green moss and lichens. We will pass huge basalt columns created by a volcanic eruption that are called The Organ Pipes. After an hour or so we will climb into a sub alpine area covered in matagouri and turpetine bushes and have a view that extends north over the ocean, sandy beaches and volcanic cones…way off into a soft hazy distance. The air is warm and calm and the only sounds are the trill of grey warblers and fantails. A large hawk will hover overhead and we can drink coffee from my thermos and lie back in the sun and watch the sky.
Lovely…
Sounds absolutely perfect! Being outside always cheers me up when I’m down.
My god. I’m THERE. After reading this, the sunshine here in my valley feels like the sunshine on your mountain. You are a weaver of magic and a healer of hearts, I believe. I thank you, Kanuka. <3
There’s always a beanie waiting for you, any time.
Kanuka, you bring tears to my eyes! What a sweet and wonderful response!
Yes, go outside and banish that sadness! Hope you feel better soon!
Many thanks. It’s another day, now, one equally sunny. I’m headed out again for more restorative Vitamin D.
Hope it’s lifted, Olenska. I have those days. Kanuka’s plan sounds uplifting- I might join as well! Going outside for a brisk walk while listening to music I love helps me when I’m having one of those days.
My husband has promised me a walk down by the river estuary when he gets home from his Sunday mail route. Let’s all walk in the sun together wherever we are…
I hope the sunshine and fresh air perk you up. I had a few sad days this week too as did a few other people I was talking to. Must be something in the air.
I hope you’re feeling lighter and better, too. I think sometimes that sadness can be catching, but so can peace…
What will reverse swap meet look like?
Will we list fragrances we’re looking for instead of listing the ones we want to swap?
My sotd is Le Galion Iris. Because it makes me feel good.
Mmmmm good – I got interested in Le Galion by reading your reviews! While I’m bummed that I missed out on the Discovery Set, A dear perfume mule brought back a bottle of Iris for me from Paris. Have a great weekend!
If you’d like to try any in particular – let me know and I will happily send you sample
I was wondering the same thing about the reverse swap
Robin will definitely let us know how it works
Yes. Short list of things you’re looking for, plus what you’ll give up to get them.
Thanks for making that clear
I think if I hadn’t stumbled on NST, I would have been limited to whatever I could find at Sephora. Not that I would have been unhappy with Gucci Guilty Black and Bulgari-almost-anything. But I would have missed out on Alahine and Lyric and have my heart broken by the just out of price range Mystique.
Speaking of Mystique and perfumes above one’s budget, as a philosophical point, is it better to sample as much as you can, knowing you’ll fall in love with something out of reach, or to only sample what you could afford if you do fall in love?
I think heartbreak is just part of loving perfume. There are the ones that you want to try but can’t find, the ones you love that get refo’d out of all recognition, the discontinuances … I’m of the belief that we should all sample perfumes to our hearts’ content, enjoy them while they last, and be prepared to have to say a sad goodbye to some dearly loved fragrances from time to time.
I say sample as much as you can. Sometimes pricey things show up at discounters or on ebay at a price I want. Or sometimes I’m willing to save for something special. If a bottle is too much, get a decant.
A decant is a really good middle ground (especially via the Facebook split groups which are often very reasonably priced). Even if in practice it means you’ll still only be able to wear the fragrance very occasionally, it’s so much less of a bummer than not having any!
At first I read you comment so fast I mistaken Mystique for Mustique and was going to tell you that its a wonderful island..we visited for our honeymoon..
Ooh, you’ve stumped me–who makes Mystique, I don’t think I know it (and Google’s not immediately turning up a Mystique that’s more dear than Lyric!)
At any rate, to answer your question–it’s so YMMV, I think you should really do whatever seems like it’ll work best for you personally. Most of the time I am able to summon a kind of philosophical stance and just think, in the same way I’m never going to have a Klimt hanging on my wall but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy glimpsing the work in a museum, I can also enjoy testing something just to know what it smells like, even if I don’t get to wear it on a daily basis. So that’s a nice way to get some enjoyment out of a perfume I can’t personally own–but I know, 1, it’s not possible to be so chill all the time (particularly, I find discontinuations and ensuing crazy eBay prices really heartbreaking), and 2, to be really candid, sometimes smelling really high-end stuff can negatively affect your enjoyment of more accessible perfumes. Smelling vintage Diorissimo did this for me, sorry to say. So I really get it if you’d rather just stick to the things you can access!
This is what happens when I try to post before I’ve had my coffee. . . It’s Parfums DelRae’s Mythique, not Mystique. . .
Keep your eyes peeled on ebay, I got my bottle very cheap from having an alert set for that one. (and I don’t have any amouages etc)
Also, swaps and splits have helped me to try lots of things I wouldn’t have had the means to otherwise…
Why not a bit of both? I say this regarding drugstore/mainstream scents as well. There is *a lot* of good (Shalimar, Coco, Knowing, Aromatics Elixir, Lou Lou, Bottega Veneta, No5, La Panthere, Mitsouko, Kiehl’s etc.) sanely priced stuff around; you just need to keep an open mind and test any fragrance when it hits your path. Spraying on scents at Debenhams/Boots is free to boot
Whle hunting for fragrance is fun, at the end of the day you can only wear so many scents at any given time. And given the accumulating cost of ordering samples you might, economically speaking, be better off with falling in love with 1 random fragrance and calling it a day.
I avoid the ones that are inaccessible physically and take advantage of unlimited free spritzing of expensive ones that are available in local shops.
A beautiful sunny Saturday morning here too. I’m working my way through the Teo Cabanels (though work is the wrong word, it is hardly a chore) and today I’m trying Lace Garden. Very lovely. An interesting treatment of tuberose that I almost love but not quite; tuberose is just not quite me. It would be fabulous on my sister, I’ll have to pass this to her for a try.
House cousins..
I love Lace Garden.
Anything else you are liking so far?
I’ve liked everything so far! Really well done fragrances, colour me impressed
Alahine is grand, and I really like Oha (enough to be considering a bottle sized sample). Still several yet to try.
Meloe is my favorite from Teo Cabanel. Nice in the summer. I like Early Roses too.
Love Early Roses. Meloe, not so much, but I think it just wasn’t my cuppa.
I’m doing the same. Alahine right now which I like but – heresy – might not love. It also might be the weather? It seems more winter to me. Sounds like you prefer Oha?
I adore Alahine but it is strictly a winter perfume for me.
Doing the Mom thing today….big time!!
Laundry, dishes, general housework, and PTA bookkeeping for our elementary school. Also bookkeeping for the middle school band! If anyone wants to help clean out our leopard gecko’s cage, meet me at his cage in about an hour…..LOL
SOTD: 212 Sexy. One should smell sexy and fabulous when cleaning!
Enjoy the weekend, everyone!
I did mopping and cleaning this morning too while my hubby took the babies to the farmers market
No! Get back on that deck!
I did! I just cleaned for our guests!
LOL I bet you worked 100 times faster with everyone else out of the house for a while!!!
OK, sexy-fab cleaning is now a thing filed away in my head. ????
Yay for the middle school band!! Music is so good for the brain (and soul). My longest best friendships are with people from band in high school and college, which means 20-23 years at this point.
Enjoy smelling good this w/e!
Heure Exquise after yesterday’s comments about it. I may try and find a good rose body butter for layering purpose and see if I can bring out that rose lurking in there!
Feeling better but not yet there.
Loving all the activities in my garden, a pair of pied flycatchers (=birds) were battling with blue tits for one of the many nest boxes. Flycatchers won much to my joy. I can see them from the living room, they are veritable pilots, darting about and once in a while launching assaults on midges or flies from its favourite perches.
Hope you feel better and find something that will bring out the rose for you..
Thank you!
I love watching the birds in the yard. I was just thinking today that the hummingbirds will be back soon and I can’t wait. They are so much fun to watch.
Happy Record Store Day Coumarin and Forestmama! My husband also was up at the crack of dawn. Got nearly everything on his list.
Missed the community project yesterday so SoTD is Lyric, which arrived late yesterday. Loving the spicy rose.
Relaxing on our couch with a cup of coffee this morning, wait! it’s already afternoon? I feel like doing absolutely nothing today, consequence of much work and travel this week.
I sprayed on some Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison I got the other night from Miss hajusuuru. It’s a sweet scent on me, but I kind of like it.
Now to unpack (sigh).
Nothing better than a relaxed Sat morning with coffee/tea.
Very relaxing!
Trying my sample of SHL Rose de Petra today. Pretty early on I started getting a lot of what reminds me of l’heure bleue. Interesting.
Hmmm. I haven’t made that connection before. I did just try Mohur extrait compliments of the generous perfume fairy, hajusuuri, and I do think those 2 have something in common.
I thought of Mohur when I sampled RdP too.
I remember you mentioned that but I had never tried Mohur (I know. I know.) The rose is similar. The sandalwood drydown in Mohur is gorgeous!
Wow, I didn’t get that at all. However, it’s allergy season so my sense of smell is probably pretty bad right now.
SOTD is Rubj, so I smell like a “ravished ballerina” as per Angela, but I’m dressed like a sailor in black linen pants and a Breton tee. I’m at the end of a 10 ml decant, but already have another 10 ml decant back-up, and after that I’ll feel like I deserve a full bottle.
I just ordered a bottle of the Voile d’Extrait with a birthday coupon… Been wanting it for a long time but $250 for 50mls is steep.
That was the first perfume my hubby told me to buy after I tried a sample. I said that it was over $200 and he said so what, it’s awesome, buy it. He didn’t have to tell me twice. Lol.
I know absolutely nothing else about your husband, and he sounds perfect!! Haha
Hahaha. I should probably add that that doesn’t happen on a regular basis.
Continuing yesterday rose theme, I am wearing Keiko Mecheri Attar de Roses. It is a very pretty gourmand rose scent. I used up my small complimentary sample in one go and already ordered 5 ml to keep testing this perfume.
I am so behind on Keiko Mecheri! How sweet is it?
Moderately sweet. Some Keiko Mecheri perfumes seem rather cloying to me, but this one is done right, I think. Although it makes me think of Turkish delight, it rather evokes the memories of something sweet and tasty without trying to be a realistic smell of candies of cakes (thankfully).
It’s actually not a true gourmand – more like rose soliflore with added light gourmand notes.
Testing DSH’s today. In the last swapmeet, I did a blind swap for a vintage DSH which just had ‘Wood’ written on the label. I contacted DSH to find out what was in it… she expressed an interest in getting back her long-discontinued scent… it was a bit much for me (wood, yes; but also civet and castoreum)… so, I swapped again, this time with DSH. Now I have a bunch of samples to test
Oh gosh! I’m envious I have to say, woods, civet and castoreum sounds amazing
But a bunch of samples sounds very fun too, what else do you get to try?
I have to confess I am a skank wimp, and the DSH ‘Wood’ had real civet and real castoreum. I had to double-bag it and apologize to husband
I let her pick samples for me (honestly the number of choices on her website overwhelms me). Currently testing DSH Caravan Spice, which is nice but not wow. Still to go: Cardamom & Khyphi; Prophecy; Twelfth Night; Keni; Indus.
I like Twelfth Night very much, but really I like her florals much better. (Probably just my taste, but she also does a good job with roses in particular.)
well..wearing Eau Dynamissante, since I don’t like anything at the moment…
Eau du soir is still my nr one but the reformulation is so weak in sillage.About a hundred bottles..oeps.
my most used are Coco, Shalimar, La Perla, Knowing, Beloved amouage, Gold Amouage,Mitsouko,Chanel 5.
but as real 80″s addict I simpley can”t find it anymore because of IFRA..you know. Just bought a bottle of bottega veneta eau legere..i have the original and strangely I only like it in summer!!
well maybe some day…have a nice smelling weekend!!
And any tips for the ONE is welcome( my bankaccount agrees haha)
You could try the Monday Mail — link at bottom of page!
thank you Robin, but I already did this a few years back, embarassing to do it again…but thanks again!!
Several people have done it more than once! But of course up to you.
that’s so sweet, thank you!!
I started out in Bois d’Ascese but the smoke was just too much on a lovely spring day, so I switched to Cinema. I was thinking of getting rid of this and thought I’d give it one more try. Lo and behold, a revelation! I have been thinking about it as a heavy floral oriental and it has disappointed me. This morning, as I sprayed, I realized it’s much more a “shoulder-season” floral. Oriental, yes, but much lighter on the amber than my winter orientals. I put it back in the cabinet and hopefully will wear it more often now.
Cinema is occupying a place in my perfume purgatory too, but like you I will give one more try soon.
Cinéma is a bit of a hit or miss for me. I love the mandarin topnotes but the middle is often waay too cloyingly sweet on me. Put differently, it’s a fragrance you definitely notice you’re wearing.
So funny – I also found it a disappointing oriental for a long time. Then I went through a bit of a yellow florals phase. I got quite hung up on a sample I had of Diptyque’s Ofresia. And then, remembering that Cinema contains mimosa I hauled it out and tried it again. Wonderful! For me its a really pretty spring floral
I tried Cinema again at a discounter at the outlet mall and fell in love. That bottle shot to the top of my list.
I first experienced it as a magazine scent strip in my first W magazine. I loved that ad!
Friday is always a busy day for me, so I didn’t get the chance to comment on the community challenge post. I wore the last few drops of my sample of Goutal’s Rose Splendide (isn’t a bittersweet sensation, to finish a sample? Glad to see my collection getting smaller, but worried I will want to resmell it latter…) which at one point was on my to-buy list, but isn’t anymore.
The perfume buying opportunities are so dire in Dunedin that all of my purchases in the last six to twelve months ( with exception of Lush products) have been blind buys based on comments and reviews on NST:
Pohadka…from Nozkoz mentioning Ys.Uszac which sparked my curiosity due to a love of Swiss landscapes esp. The Jura, watches, literature (Albert Cohen, Pascal Mercier), coloured pencils. Ended up with Pohadka and Lale. Love them.
Ostara…cause everyone seemed to mention it and a great perfumer. Pretty happy but not wowed.
Cristalle…Annikky and co. When I asked for bitter greens
Blackbird…Sun Mi when I asked about blackberry in forests. The bottle is already half empty ( or half full ).
New Musk and Gardenia…so many comments about Dame and how nice Jeffrey is. Not really ‘me’ but love the idea of it.
Monsieur LI…waiting for this one. I am such a JC fan and I work from home so can respray every ten minutes if necessary. Thanks to Robin for this one.
Diesel Rose Tattoo…I actually bought this here but there was no opportunity to sample. Wanted to experience rice notes. It’s okay but not me, really.
Luckily exchange rates, delivery costs and shipping have meant I Am still a perfume virgin regarding Hermessence, Tauer or Chanel Exclusifs, Amouage as I would definitely get the vanilla and/ or rhubarbs, the cowboys, the eels, and the journey.
Happy weekend! And a million thanks!
I love Blackbird.
Me too! And I was sent samples of Seattle Chocolate and Woodcut and liked them, too – but not to buy. White Cattleya not so much…actually, really don’t like it at all – too bathroomy for me (damp wash cloth and cheap floral soap combo).
I looooove Blackbird, but I really struggled with all of the Cattleyas. Another really interesting one is Mardi Gras – it’s a marshmallowy skanky orange blossom thing that I rather like.
Oh, btw, I saw that there’s a ‘parfum’ and like an EDT or something of Blackbird – which did you get?
I like Mardi Gras a lot too. The Red Cattleya was really nice on me. The weather has to be just right for me to wear the Golden one.
It doesn’t say on the bottle and I’m not certain but I suspect it is parfum as that is always my first choice when blind buying. But I don’t recall being offered an option. Will put Mardi Gras on my list, thank you.
So glad Pohadka worked out for you, Kanuka! It’s one of my enduring favorites in late spring/early summer (however, the Ys Uzac rep I corresponded with saw it as a fall scent). I have samples of Lale and will give it another try.
I really like scents that take me somewhere in my imagination, that evoke a sense of space. I think that’s why I tend towards hay, grass, stone, trees, fire and fruit in my choices. Again, it’s that story telling appeal. Some perfumes flummox me as they are musical and less visual…and I find that distracting. And some are just dull.
Also – what did you think of Immortal Beloved? That is on my short list and I’m hoping to love it…
I haven’t worn it very often as the cognac and sticky (plum) opening put me off a bit. It stays quite close to my skin, however, so it is not an overpowering rum (like that Malin Goetz Dark Rum ). Once the rum fades the pepper and lavender begin to show through which centres it a little, gives it a bit more earthiness … and I guess, at a pinch, could bring up the scent of well-aged love letters, tied in a bundle inside a cedar box …but might equally remain as a half-finished jar of once dark plum jam, after it has begun to crystallise. And then it slowly fades…but not that slowly. Personally, I prefer the other scents…in order of preference Pohadka, Lale (though that’s for sentimental reasons), Metaboles and possibly Satin Doll. BUT if I was looking for a non-peaty, non-food flavouring cognac/whisky/ plum scent it would be a winner. .
sorry…meant once the brandy fades…
hehe thanks for the detailed description! i can’t tell what I’ll think. i’m excited to try it though!
After a while the amber also comes through. I hope you like it.
To continue the rose theme, I’m wearing Dame Perfumery’s Cassis, Rose & Sandalwood. It suits today’s forecasted sun and spring temperature.
It was so windy here yesterday that while I was stopped in traffic, I saw a sparrow get steadily blown backwards right over the hood of my car despite flapping furiously to go forward. Poor thing!
That is some serious wind!
A la Nuit to wake up in the morning. Then Rien after a four-hour afternoon nap. Rien’s nice.
Re fragrance writing and opinions I’m often puzzled when people say a frag is ‘loud’ or ‘big’ or ‘not for the faint-hearted’. Granted I may have a poor sense of smell and hence may like ‘big’ frags but there seems to be a view that anything that doesn’t smell ‘girly’ or ‘shampoo’ or ‘pretty’ is somehow assertive.
I’ve noticed some fragrance reviews seem to reinforce that stereotyping withut realising it. Whenever I read that a frag is ‘bold’ or ‘not for the weak’ or needs ‘character’ to be worn or some such and actually test it, all I get is a frag that smells DIFFERENT from the current mainstream trends.
And diffrent is just that. It doesn’t mean the scent is by default better (or worse). It’s just different, and, at times falls into ‘interdasting/meh’.
By which I mean – as an example – Rien. The reviews I’ve read have stated its boldness and balls and not giving a toss about what’s ‘appropriate’ and so on.
It’s a mainly a leather + amber on me. It’s quite strong, and it’s long-lasting, and it’s definitely not wee or shampooy (as many mainstreams scents seem to be atm).
But I don’t see how it’d be badass or daring or any of that. It’s a smell and it’s not revolting. There’s no dog poo or monkey sweat or manure to be detected. It’s merely a different smell within the context of mainstream perfume trends. Eez nice, too , but nothing more than that as of yet.
Rien is very forceful – strong sillage and lasts forever. It’s also pretty distinctive.
It diverges quite widely from current and past trends – which means (as you say), it is quite different. So, perhaps anything which is assertive and divergent does imply courage and a certain indifference to the opinions of others?
Well – that’s an attempt at an answer, anyway!
I think there are a lot of people who love perfume but would go near Rien with a 10 foot pole. A lot of folks like perfumes that, to me and on my skin, seem to just disappear, whereas Rien and others boldly announce that they are there. I know people who would be very uncomfortable wearing a perfume that had a strong sillage so in that sense you do need to have a certain attitude to wear something like it. I don’t see it as stereotyping but rather a way of either pointing them in the direction of something that might work for them or not. It’s hard to write about a scent and accurately describe it. Often what two people smell is very different. If someone calls something soft I tend to lose interest.
I love Rien. A lot.
Lots of good stuff going on:
Taz (my 15 yo) did a dialogue from The Princess Bride at the “Night at the Movies” show put on by the high school Fine Arts Department last night, and he did great!
Gaze (the 17 yo) picked up his tux yesterday, and it fit. I picked up his prom date’s corsage this morning.
Both boys did well at the track meet this morning, both of them hitting new PRs in the 2mile (10:57 for Gaze, 11:38 for Taz).
New cellphone for me.
But I’m exhausted and still dealing with crap, and I can’t even talk to my mother yet. SO TIRED. SOTM was Dame Desert Rose, which was a Like, not a Love. Think I’ll douse myself in PdR Rose d’Ete again and just quit there.
Wow. Busy weekend! Love The Princess Bride. What’s interesting (to me) about that movie is how many men like it. My company (many years ago) did a middle-management offsite, and everyone had bios and other things listed. One of the questions was favorite movie, and I noticed a number of men listed TPB.
Prom!
That is very interesting.
Personally, I could never get into that movie. Fantasy genre just not my thing.
Interesting, because that is one of my husband’s favorite movies, and we’ve watched it a million times, and he cries every time. I also really like it, too. Fabulous cast.
One of the great things about The Princess Bride was Mandy Patinkin, who is not your typical film hero. Perhaps the men found him relatable?
I love Mandy Patinkin SO MUCH.
Ditto. What a voice!
One of my good friends and I refer to Mandy as Carmine, just to tweak my husband. He insisted one time years ago he played Carmine in Laverne and Shirley.
I really like your sons names! Taz and Gaze, how interesting.
Sounds like you’re enjoying them immensely which is exactly what a parent should do.
Those are their “blog” names, but I do enjoy them very much.
Happy Saturday, everyone! Its warm here today, so my Bronze Goddess perfume and body cream were staring me in the face this morning. I couldn’t resist, so I had to put some on. The body cream outlasts the actual fragrance, so I layered it on. Love this stuff. Just heavenly!????
Have a good weekend everyone!
Yum…I will need to pull out that cream soon.
I took a shower and am now in a sample of I Miss Violet and fear I am falling for it, hard. Noticing how hard everyone works on the weekend, whether family, home, or the day job. I hope everyone gets at least a little down time!
Every Friday I schlep my laptop home and every weekend it never leaves my work tote. I don’t know why I even bother. I guess I am always hopeful I’ll get the urge to do a little work, but thankfully I really do “get” the need to rest & relax on the weekend.
Good for you!
Amy, not sure you are reading my late comment, but I wanted to say that I have just finished The People in the Trees and I think the lady is a genius. Might have to read A Little Life despite being absolutely terrified.
Oh good I am so glad you like it. For some reason I want her to have lots of fans! You mentioned you liked SF. Have you read The Southern Reach trilogy? They’ve been haunting me since I read them.
Have to butt in to say that I LOVE the Southern Reach trilogy! Amazing books, and yes, very haunting.
They are amazing aren’t they? Creepy and scary and beautiful all at once!
I love getting book recommendations here as well as scents! I have a hold on the two books mentioned above for E books at the NYPL. A Little Life has about 100 holds… No holds on the Southern Reach ones, so I may go for those. We will be without TV and wifi for over a week because…disorganized…. Luddites! I’m loading up my Kindle…
I use the NYPL for books as well, we’re probably putting holds on the same books at this point
Lazy morning in London, wandering around Camden Lock and Stables Market to kill time before lunch at an Indian restaurant with a friend from Finland. The food was great but the lighting annoyingly dim. Plus I’m feeling a bit tired (and thankfully no worse than that) after farewell drinks with the team I am leaving after 6 months. So I’m glad now to be zooming north towards home and a good lie-in tomorrow morning.
SOTD was “Brûlure de Rose” from Parfumerie Générale. On me, this had a beautiful natural rose opening before doing the usual PG disappearing trick. (That is the reason why I was exasperated at myself for the 300+ samples – just short of 100 of them are Parfumerie Générale, or Pierre Guillaume branded, or Huitième Art. They’re all by Pierre Guillaume and I’ve not known one yet to survive on my skin so why on Earth did I think it a good idea to buy £100-worth of ’em?). It’s possibly unfair to expect something to survive a crowded Indian restaurant but this one had given up the ghost before we even arrived, despite re-application.
And thus ends my week of roses, where the perfumes I liked didn’t persist and those that persisted I didn’t like. Surprise star of the show was MCG’s “Elephant & Roses” which I will try to get a decant or small bottle of (but not right away) and surprise fail was Ex Idolo’s “Thirty Three” whose quality ingredients and resinous richness couldn’t overcome the fact that (it turns out) I just don’t like rose-oud perfumes.
As I don’t have enough experience with perfumes to do next Friday’s community project, I think instead I’m going to pick a week’s worth of samples, all new to me, whose names are so strange or so pretentious that I think the perfumes will have some trouble living up to them. (I suspect there’ll be at least one ELdO among them). I’ll report back, and any fanboys or girls of beloved perfumes I end up mocking or dismissing can have fun shooting me down in flames.
Similarly for the following week the idea I might be discerning enough to have a favourite Spring perfume is sadly misguided, so I’ll pick a week of stuff that sounds like it should be suitable and share the joys and sorrows here. Or at any rate that is the idea; I’m trying to take as much as possible of those two weeks as holiday and if I end up out of wifi range you may never know what my weird skin gets up to in that time. :^)
Have you tried wearing unscented lotion before applying perfume? I don’t have scent-eating skin but I”ve read (here!) that doing that may extend the life of perfume on skin.
Thanks Hajusuuri, yes I use moisturiser anyway because England (and most countries on this planet) has drier air than I grew up with in the West of Ireland. Also I would be bankrupt if everything I tried made me swoon with delight, so any disappointment I feel with a short-lived scent is itself a short-lived phenomenon. There is always something new around the corner!
Very few of the PG’s stick with me either, and I always apply lotion or oil to my skin before applying perfume.
I love your projects. I may have to copy one (or both) though I might not have quite as many samples lurking about.
I think I find Rose Brulure pretty long-lasting. You might, just as an experiment, try applying less rather than more, so that you only catch occasional whiffs. Some fragrances can overload the nose. Not sure that will work, just an idea.
Blanche Immortelle for me (thanks to Hajusuuri) as I deal with moving odds and ends. We have realized my husband has, quite possibly, twice as many clothes as I)…
I’m mostly getting the (slightly burnt) maple syrup and am enjoying it.
We do plan to take a break to watch the GS Warriors.
I know for a fact my husband has more tee shirts than me!
Personally I could use another closet. I’m a good editor of what I have, and don’t buy a lot, but over time one does accumulate much.
Finishing rose week in Une Rose. So, so gorgeous. And amazing longevity on one spritz! Impressive ????
Work is getting in my way…again!????
SOTD the original Omnia. Happy weekend – you all smell fabulous????????
I love Omnia. Somehow managed to acquire 2 FB’s so I’m set for a long time with that one. Anyone who is interested in sampling, email me (click on gravatar) – I have plenty.
Starting in on my JHAG sampler with Gentlewoman. I can’t smell much (spring cold) but it seems nice enough so far.
Wearing Eau du Sud today, one of my favorite warm weather fragrances.
That’s such a great one!
Happy weekend, everyone! Actual glorious, warm, spring weather actually showed up for our weekend, and we just got back from a nice outing to the local botanical garden for a stroll amidst the exotic trees and to pick up a few lovelies for our garden from their annual plant sale. I’m wearing Santa Maria Novella’s Caprifoglia cologne today, one of my favorite cheerful spring scents. When the weather gets warm in earnest, I like to keep it in the fridge and splash and splash…
Sounds like a nice way to spend the day!
Hope you are resting too!
Gorgeous day here in San Diego, spent the morning working in the yard with the lavender patch and wisteria trees. Wish I had some lilac.
Wearing Guerlain Chypre Fatale.
Reminder!! SoCal meetup tomorrow Sunday at South Coast Plaza! We will start at noon at the Nordstrom’s cafe for lunch and swapping of samples, then make the rounds of the shops.
I have had no luck with growing lilacs. I wanted a Walt Whitman garden but ended up with Wilt Whitman.
Ha!
I wanted to wear Tokyo Milk Dark Arsenic but the sprayer broke on me. It had been acting up and I knew it was a matter of time before that would happen. So out came the tool box and I tried to remove as much of the top as I could without breaking the bottle. I managed to get a hole big enough to drip the perfume out into a cup and from there decant it into a couple of smaller atomizers. Yes, I was rather determined to wear that scent today I guess.
Then it was off to the vet with Stan for blood work. I’m happy to say he got a gold star today and his electrolyte and sodium values were in the normal range. Yay! He gets his next injection in two weeks or so and probably more blood tests but he’s doing a heck of a lot better than he was. Almost like his old self.
I’m still smiling over Inky the octopus escaping from the aquarium. So far that’s the best news story I’ve seen this year and I have a strange new love for octopus now.
Poodle, you might find this CBC radio segment with an octopus very interesting:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/popup/audio/listen.html?autoPlay=true&clipIds=&mediaIds=2686954785&contentarea=radio&subsection1=radio1&subsection2=currentaffairs&subsection3=the_current&contenttype=audio&title=2016/04/15/1.3537151-inky-the-octopuss-tenacious-escape-reveals-intelligent-soulful-creature&contentid=1.3537151
Um, that was supposed to be *with an octopus expert*. As far as I know octopi don’t give radio interviews.
And Robin, sorry for the hideously long link.
The mental image of an octopus giving a radio interview was good for a giggle, at least.
They do say they’re smart. They might do interviews.
I will check out that link shortly. Thanks!
I’m impressed with your determination to get at that juice!
Glad to hear Stan’s improved. Must be a relief.
There was a great article in the LA times science section about octopi over the summer. Apparently they are extremely intelligent, social, and have what looks like emotions! Also gave me a new found love for the creatures. Good thing I never loved calamari
My husband started to ask what I was doing and then thought better of it and just walked away.
I like calamari but I think I might not be able to eat it again. I stopped eating duck after we had one nest in our yard and have 9 little ducklings once.
Ducklings would do me in. I do enjoy a good duck breast, though.
One octopus at our local university aquarium hated the lights over its tank. One day it squirted the light and the bulb blew and it learnt from that that it could always make the overhead light go out by squirting it . In the end the scientists had to remove the bulbs as they were having to replace them so frequently. They say that they are as clever as toddlers or v.smart dogs. They mate not long before they die – and often try to escape from tanks etc. when they feel their time is running out. Amazing, eh?
It really is!
Good for the pup! And I too loved the octopus story. Things with suckers freak me out, but so smart.
Great news about Stan! My kidney compromised dog just got a great lab result today so I know what a great feeling that is. Impressive work on that bottle! My husband is the handy one around here so I would have called him in to do the job – but he’s a bit of a bull in the china shop and probably would have broken the bottle.
I’m happy to hear your pups test results were good too! I hope they continue that way for both of us.
Glad to read Stan seems better! There is a delightful and sobering new book out by Frans de Waal, the Dutch/American biologist, it is called “Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?”. I am not sure if it is translated in English yet, but highly recommend if you like Inky’s story (and Stoffel the honey badger).
I think the answer would be that no, we are not smart enough to know how smart they are. I’ll have to look for it or if it’s not in English, something like it.
Frans de Waal published it in English, and the Dutch translation came later. I was rather surprised to read this, but on reflection it makes sense.
I just read about the book in the paper today, and apparently there were some errors in the Dutch text. So Poodle you should be able to find it really easily.
Glad about the good news – and yeah – Inky the octo. made my week too
I put on Theo Fennel Scent EDT last night at about 5, and it’s still a little bit with me, which is amazing, and a good capper to rose week (albeit with a dose of saffron and something else cozying up).
I think I might put on l’air du rien later, after some of the chat going on above.
I’d been commando up to now because I’ve been dying my hair today. I think I’ve just conquered Mt. Blonde.
My hair has been many colors over the years, but that was always the one that I could never figure out for myself. It always ends up too orange, even when I use a toner, but I discovered what works: a mix of light blue and lavender semi-permanent pastel dyes. That was finally enough to tame the angry tangerine on my head.
So now I’m wearing Alfred Sung Sung, which is described in The Guide as “jasmine diaper”. I think it must be a testament to how much my skin tamps down animalic notes that it’s only a little dirty to me, and for $8 it’s a ridiculously good jasmine.
Also, silly thing: I’m playing this game on my phone called Township. The type will be familiar to anyone who played Farmville, but in addition to the farm, you have a whole town where you build factories and build shops and houses and stuff. Anyway, I was looking ahead at what things I can get later on, and I have concluded that I have to stay with it at least to level 61 (I’m at 30 now). What can you get at level 61, you ask? A perfume factory! Who wouldn’t want their own perfume factory, I ask you!
Congratulations, sweetgrass! Please report back on whether blondes really have more fun.
I wonder if you’ll feel like wearing different perfumes.
I’ll keep you posted
Ha! Mount Blonde
Congrats! It is a feat. I used to change my hair color on a regular and blonde always ended in some sort of off-color disaster. A friend at work called me a “cyber canary” once. I finally figured it out but learned not to go from black to blonde. Now it’s brown, but I miss the array of reds. My favorite was Manic Panic Vampire red.
“Cyber canary” sound like fun!
I thought I would go crazy with colored hair when I retired, but when I had time to read up on it, I saw how many steps there are and how difficult it is to maintain the beautiful shades like that red.
Lol @ “cyber canary”. Ah Manic Panic. I haven’t used that stuff in a long time. I don’t remember if I ever used Vampire Red. I remember using a dark purple from MP many years ago, and my bathtub was stained purple for some time afterward. My favorite brands for crazy colors these days are Ion (which is pretty easy to find if you have a Sally Beauty Supply around) or Splat, which is kind of like Manic Panic except the color comes in a kit with the bleach, and you can get it at Walgreen’s and CVS. The colors are super tenacious too. They fade to a certain point but never seem to do so completely. It also seems like they’re formulated so that only their bleach will remove them completely.
I’d experiment more with color if I didn’t have to maintain some semblance of a professional appearance. I miss those days, but not the stained bathroom.
A very long and very busy day, that ended by my visiting a friend who recently had a litter of puppies, of which she kept one. It was good, I miss having a dog, and it was nice to spend some time with a canine mother and daughter. SOTD Amouage Gold.
Puppy breath! And Amouage Gold! Doesn’t get any better than that.
I so understand. Canine mothers always move me, more than their pups.
Puppies!!!
Today I’m wearing African Orchid by Olympic Orchids and had a wonderfully fragrant walk over to brunch and a couple small shops. I got to sniff a selection of MCMC and Aroma M Geisha roll ons at one of the shops and am quite intrigued by a few. My neighborhood smells and looks of spring right now. I encountered many lilacs, tulips, and a few solitary iris blooms. Actually, those notes together might make for a nice perfume.
How do you like African Orchid?
I had a sample that I quite enjoyed, though it is nothing like my usual cup of tea. I got tropical fruit (mostly banana) and a gentle white floral from it, and it reminded me of a less watery Vanille Galante.
How accurate do you find the “similar to” recommendations on Fragrantica?
I ask because a lot of people said that the Yves Rocher Monon is a near dupe for Guerlain Terracotta…
Monoi. Not Monon.
I haven’t had much luck personally with claims that x smells exactly like y when x costs exponentially more. That said, I do like YR Monoi, but I don’t have access to my bottles to test them side by side right now.
I have worn both YR Monoi and Terracotta, and I don’t think of them as similar in the way they smell. Both have a tropical flowers vibe, but while I love wearing Terracotta, I gave up on Monoi. On the other hand, my daughter uses the YR Monoi shower gel, and it smells great on her.
So . . . who knows? Perhaps approach the “similar to” recommendations with both caution and optimism?
Hello, hello, hello! Home! You know what? The landscape coming home from Whanganui, the exact same countryside I saw when we heard south, was about 39 times more beautiful and interesting today’s than it was on Friday! Miracle! I’ve showered in my own shower, and I’m all fragrant with Ambre Narguile. Dakkie has brought me three of his favourite knitted mice, Izzy’s glaring at me and trying to convince me that the neighbours didn’t stop by to feed her. I think she’s going to report me to the UF, (United Felines), the cat union. I’m HOME! We’re making a proper cup of tea, with loose leaves not bags, very hot, not much milk…delicious! And soon we shall sleep the sleep of the just, or in my case, the not-quite-and probably-never-will-be-just, and I shall dream of apple crumble, because Ambre Narguile, though frightfully refeened, is nevertheless wonderfully and soulfully puddingly.
And that would be “headed south”, not “heard south”
My favourite part of returning home is sleeping in my own bed. Goldilocks-like, this is not too hard and not too soft; neither too big nor too small.
Presumably you’re also pleased to be able to leave Old Mother Bat to her own devices for another while?
Hahaha
Yes, quite a while thank you! The dear one sweetly said he would fly down alone for the next Visitation, so it can be a few months before I need to go back. I offer it as my considered, and only slightly biased, opinion that the dear one is worth his weight in platinum! And I slept so well last night in my Goldilocks bed that I feel about 20 again–the world should be very worried!
Serious decisions now: SOTD….and it will be Bois des Iles, because….well, just because. Heavens, I smell gorgeous!
If your visits to the Wicked Witch of the West bring both of you such little pleasure, why would you ever go back though? Personally I would not consent to giving someone the opportunity of a repeat performance, and to return is to consent to the consequences. (This is a little heavy for a perfume blog, so delete and replace with “Yay Box of Eels!” if preferred)
I have no patience for unpleasant people and would find every excuse not to visit ever again, but I’m stubborn and anti-social like that. I understand that many/most people are more virtuous than me.
There is nothing better than showering in your own bathroom and sleeping in your own bed after going away.
My own shower…yes! Everything where I put it and can find it. My own everything, actually! Proper tea! My perfumes! Izzy’s expressive little face. And Dakkie, with his vast soft tummy. I seem to be seeing extraordinary joy in everyday things…
You survived intact (mentally!)!! You should celebrate. Cheers! ????
Celebrate? A party, do you think? Yay for fun! I think I’ll find some mad friends and share a noisy and hilarious lunch, and after work, I’ll go down town and sniff (but not speed buy) Rose Velour and La Rose. And I’m going to make braised steak for dinner. MiL wouldn’t eat the food I prepared in Whanganui–it rather hurt to see roast lamb ostentatiously put out for the magpies (although the magpies looked pleased) so I shall find some solace in making an old fashioned casserole the way my mother used to. Sometimes small pleasures are the greatest!
Putting your roast lamb out for the magpies – that truly is appallingly spiteful!!! Nonetheless, magpies must surely be a spirit animal for perfume collectors, so good luck for you, I hope.
Indeed: https://theperfumemagpie.com/
What a beautiful blog – I’ve never visited it before, either. Thanks, Lindaloo!
Monday never sounded so good!
Good morning NST! It is a sunny (but cold) morning in the Midlands of England, and I’m abut to go into Birmingham city centre to get stuff before going on holiday Monday night or Tuesday. Plenty of housework and admin paperwork to get through first though, so a moderately busy day ahead.
I can’t do the Friday community project this week as I don’t know enough perfumes to have found one where I can say “this scent doesn’t match its name!”. What I’m doing instead, expanded to a week, is picking 7 scents that I think will have some trouble living up to their names – but maybe they will, maybe they won’t. I’ll also score them for pretentiousness using a completely objective scientific methodology with which everyone will undoubtedly agree.
Starting the week today with “Hermann à mes côtés me paraissait une ombre” from Etat Libre d’Orange. At first I got what smelt like pine or similar; now if I sniff closely I can get the wet earth/ mineral tones that are claimed for it. It’s fading away quickly, which I think my real alter ego would not do.
Pretentious name score 5/5 (ELdO was always going to clean up on that one)
Incongruous scent score 1/5 (in fairness, what *should* an alter ego perfume smell like? Mine would be like fried black pudding this morning, before I showered, as it happens)
Perfume score 2/5 (I only give 1/5 if actively unpleasant, 2/5 means either ‘meh’ or ‘scent? what scent?’)
If this is anything to go by, I’m looking forward to your comments this week!
The northern Virginia perfumista meetup at Arielle Shoshana yesterday was outstanding! Thank you so much, harukirumi/Holly, for organizing this event, and to Ari for hosting us so graciously in her beautiful shop, and to Sun Mi for the brilliant idea of bringing samples to share. We spent an hour or two spritzing scent strips with the samples (Ari has a comfortable seating area and coffee table in the front of the shop for gatherings), discussing an incredibly vast range of perfume samples, and divvying up the riches, and another hour or two exploring the excellent range at Arielle Shoshana.
We then refueled and rested our noses at a tasty, healthy restaurant, True Food Kitchen, and then headed off to worship at the temples of luxury in Tysons Galleria. Neiman Marcus has fabulous luxury perfumes – all the Roja Doves, Byredos, Armani Privés, Clive Christians, and more. Then we took over the Exclusifs counter at the Chanel boutique. I faded away after that, but others carried on.
Perfume people are the best! I could go on, but will just note that The Scented Hound is every bit as charming and insightful as his blog. Oh, and look at this book Ari had this book on her coffee table with the perfume books:
http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Lady-Chic-Diane-Lovejoy/dp/1419714023/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1460896951&sr=8-12&keywords=cat+woman+chic
Thanks for the report, nozknoz. It sounded like you all had great fun! I will be meeting the Scented Hound at Sniffapalooza at the end of the month and then some more of you at some point in the future!
I hope to attend a Sniffa someday!
See you in Portland!
Woot! Please pencil in August 5th!
I have to agree with everything noz has said – this sniffathon was incredibly fun! I was actually really nervous before showing up, but everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I’ve never met other perfume lovers in real life, so this was an especially fun treat. I hope we can do it again in the future! Thank you Ari for hosting us in your beautiful shop, and thank you Holly for organizing!
It was a wonderful day. Perfume people really are the best people. So much good sniffing. Such charming and kind company. Really, I do not have enough superlatives. Let’s do it again soon! Thank you Arielle! Thank you Holly!
Wow, sounds like a fantastic day!
It was great fun, Laura! I should also thank Robin for suggesting this in one or two of the weekend polls, which encouraged us and also perfumistas in other areas to organize regional meetups.
No, thank Regina, it was her idea!
We will do another meetup poll in the fall. Meantime of course people are welcome to arrange meetups in the regular weekend polls.
It was a lovely day. It had the ease of a reunion of long time school buddies. Thanks to Arielle and Holly!
Well said!
Thanks for the book recommendation! Good to hear what a great time you had.
Ahhhh, thank you so much for the kind words. Saturday’s get together was so much fun. The hours flew by and it was all just so easy! Thanks so much to Ari for hosting at her beautiful store and for Holly for making it all happen. Really looking forward to our next time together!
Busy weekend unpacking, which is mostly done. So satisfying! Off to run errands and it will be a beautiful Spring day today. I think it calls for Le Temps d’une Fete.
I ended up with Rossy de Palma.
Gorgeous day! My sister and I took the M4 up to Madison and 72nd then walked over to York. After gawking at the fabulous jewelry and other print/artwork, downing several mimosas, croissants and small sandwiches, we decided to walk back to Penn Station – we did not want to waste the beautiful day in subterranean Manhattan or a smelly. cab or bus!
Sounds like a perfect NYC day. Are the flowering trees blooming in CP?
Eep, we did what every respectable New York commuter would do: when going cross-town down 40 streets, we were guided by the traffic lights and kept going down and west and managed to skip Central Park altogether! Judging by my sister’s sneezing, everything was in full bloom!
Sounds like a great day. That’s quite a trek but, yes, it is too nice out to be underground.
We made a few stops — Clarks (3rd and high 50s), Dylans, my office, Urban Space near Grand Central, Duane Reade near Penn…
Sampling Beach Walk today. I like it more than I thought I would. For some reason that I can’t quite put my finger on, I feel I’m a bit too old for this one. The name suits it however. It does remind me of being near the water.
Gaze had a lovely time at prom, and we got some good pics before he and his date headed off to dinner (pizza at a local “gourmet pizzeria”, her choice). I hear everything went well.
Mary Greenwell Plum today.
Can I be your scent twin?
Glad the prom was a success. You were a champion organising all that.
What a relief! Thanks to you, Plum is one of my favs for late spring, early summer, though I can actually wear it any time except cold weather.
Demeter Black Ginger today until I shower before evening church. I like this scent. Not really ginger, I don’t think but it is very pleasant to me.
Cleaning former bathroom. Always fun. Thank goodness for those Mr Clean cleaning sponges… Getting a head start on the young lady I found on Task Rabbit, who is coming on Tuesday. She can do kitchen…
Is this like tidying up before the cleaning lady comes
But I HAVE to tidy up and at least semi-clean before the cleaning lady comes…because, you know, even if I can cheerfully face my shortcomings as a housekeeper, I don’t necessarily want anyone else to experience them. I can’t seem to stop myself, even though she gets quite Shakespearian about it…I wonder what a soliloquy about housekeeping would sound like in iambic pentameter? Perhaps I’ll try it at lunch and see what happens next.
We always clean and tidy before the housekeeping people come. Deeply engrained from somewhere!
I think I need a cleaning person. I’ve never used task rabbit, but that sounds like a good idea. I’m definitely not cleaning our old apt, though. Still shuttling back and forth bringing more small things. There seems to be no end to The Stuff!
Wearing my sample of Tabac Tabou today…liking it a lot.
Whoops, so busy last week that I forgot to give an update on the 2nd Portland NST meet up!
We chatted and sniffed for several hours at the Imaginary Authors studio with perfumer Josh Meyers. He’s incredibly gracious, and if you are ever in Portland, OR you NEED to visit him.
We ended up sampling the entire line, including the discontinued L’Orchidee Terrible and his soon-to-be released Slow Explosions (saffron!!!). It was a great way to get a peek behind the curtains and see how the industry operates for a niche perfumer. So much fun learning!
Thanks again for starting the meet up thread, Robin. Every meeting has been amazing.
Wish I could have been there! I didn’t know Orchidée Terrible was discontinued, that is one of my favorites. Glad I have a bottle. Looking forward to Slow Explosions!