Ah, Friday! Our community project for this week: wear one of your "top 10 of spring" fragrances (unless it's fall where you are, in which case wear one of your "top 10 of fall" scents).
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I went with Thierry Mugler Oriental Express, from Erin's Top 10 list. It's perfect for the almost-but-not-quite-spring weather we're having here today.
Reminder: on 5/6, wear a fragrance from Tom Ford, if you have one.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2016, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in wearing Apres l’Ondee. It’s a demanding day at work, but fortunately no meetings, so I’m in my jeans and sneakers and cashmere sweater and this undemanding but genius scent.
Demanding day at work, indeed. I join your ranks there. I’m also sporting a sweater (not cashmere), jeans and sneaks. It’s just one of those days…
BTW, I wanted to let you know I spent a ridiculous amount of time yesterday reading entries on your blog and you get the enabler pin from me because I immediately bought a sample of Sonoma Scent Studio’s Forest Walk when I read about how you thought it was similar to Omonde Woman.
At least it’s Friday, right? Sending hugs.
On Forest Walk – just to warn you that it doesn’t smell super close OJ, but I do think they are similar in spirit. In any case, Forest Walk is a great fragrance worth a sniff. And thanks for reading!
Isn’t her blog wonderful? I love it.
Thank you.
Joining you in the cashmere sweater jeans department, this is pretty much what I wear all the time!
It’s a classic combination for a reason. It’s not that I feel uncomfortable in dresses or suits, but when I’m really tired, I really appreciate how undemanding jeans and sweaters and flats are.
That was my daily uniform until the stupid moths ate all my cashmere. Now I’ve sent all my cashmere back to the US (to CA, where there is no moisture and no cashmere-eating moths), and I wear cotton or synthetic sweaters. It’s not the same
Hey it’s dress down last Friday of the month so I am also in jeans, cashmere sweater but high heeled knee high boots here for a new client meeting – whoops, Thankfully the client was wearing jeans too…
You boots sound nice, but I’m exhausted, so no heels. I’ve got seven pairs of heels under my desk, but that’s where they remain today.
You smell lovely. I am joining everyone wearing jeans today.
But I have on my cowboy boots.
The perfect finishing touch!
Excellent:-)
Welcome to The Perfume & Jeans Club.
You know, I only recently got a sample of this, although I’ve tried it a few times in shops. I also vaguely remember getting a tiny sample of extrait when that could still be had on one of the decanting sites.
I think it’s very lovely, but somehow the least Guerlain of all the Guerlains. And it suits the weather for sure.
This maybe to much information, but inspired by ‘my’ Royal Family I’m wearing a fleece cardigan and a thermal shirt. And Ostara.
It’s possible that I enjoy it so much exactly because it’s not very Guerlain… I like many of them, but love very few.
I’m always in favour of more information.
I’ll report back on Après l’Ondée
I used to live my entire life in jeans – work or otherwise – but now, likely because I’m not the skinny thing I used to be, don’t find them comfortable. It haven’t found the comfortable, looks good combo. It makes me sad, and with luck and fortitude should get me to the gym! Everyone looks and smells fab and casual.
That it should be an or!
There must be a pair for you somewhere! I’m also trying to find my exercise mojo…
I almost always wear Eileen Fisher black crepe pants – instant minus 20 pounds and they work for any occasion.
Just today I bought my first pair of jeans since I was fifteen. Back in the day, jeans were worn very tight, and there was no stretch. I gave them up after realizing I was uncomfortable all the time, and possibly damaging my spleen. I lost some weight recently, and my family is visiting Yellowstone this summer, so I decided I needed some jeans. I went with “relaxed fit.” They are definitely “mom jeans,” despite my spinsterhood, but I don’t care.
Concentré D’Orange Verte (Hermès). TGIF!
Perfect choice!
Spring is the best!! It’s supposed to hit 88 degrees here today!
SOTD: Lancome O’ d’Azur. It’s light, fresh, and makes me think of a Spring day. (Although I’ll probably wear it year round.)
Smelly news: Belk customers can earn 10X the bonus rewards from 6am-10am on Sat, 4/30, on all fragrance purchases!! Might be time to get my mom a new scent for Mother’s Day…..
Stop bragging, Georgia! And you smell great!
Ha, same — it is in the 50s here!
LOL!! I’m one of those people who really should move to the equator….I’m soooooo cold natured. 88 is my comfort temp!
Sitting in my office right now, wearing TWO jackets. At lunch, I’ll wrap up in an additional blanket to block the A/C blowing!
Not sure if I have a top ten for spring because the weather is so temperamental. It varies day by day.
I went to try Muguet Porcelaine and they gave a big vial of sample. It feels so fresh and understated.
I love the Hermessences samples – there’s so much in those long vials!
Oh, only for the Hermessence? I was wondering why it was so long. I think they really understand that sampling a perfume is not just smelling it, but living with it for a week.
I’m calling my Hermes today to see if they at least have a tester. I’m getting antsy waiting for it.
Do try. I think if you are looking for the plant alone, and not all the spring ambience associated with it, it is perfect. It recalls sniffing lily of the valley and trying to find those fragrant whiffs.
I forgot the challenge so I wore a few dabs of Jasmin Angelique. It’s lovely but… Isn’t this Jasmin et Cigarette?! Seriously, if JeC has a sort of purple edge, JA smells like it with a sepia filter (maybe a hand rolled cigarette?) Even my boyfriend commented I smelled like I’ve been smoking. Hopefully this expires soon so I can move onto my trusty l’Eau Chic.
I should add that I don’t hate either jasmine fragrance though ai think JeC is more fun.
I didn’t think of cigarette stubs, but more of the really good bitter tobacco. It is amazing!
I’m glad I’m not crazy! I didn’t immediately go to cigarettes personally but it had enough tobacco to question the “angelique” designation.
I forgot about the weekly project. Today is cloudy, so I enveloped myself in Dior Ambre Nuit – not exactly a spring perfume.
I’m heading to the closing on my new home soon! I’m taking the opportunity to dress professionally since I’ll be surrounded by suited lawyers. No yoga pants today! I even stuffed the contents of my diaper bag into my old leather work satchel. Of course, baby girl promptly spit up on my linen blazer and silk blouse, but I managed to clean it up reasonably well.
Congratulations! Hope the closing goes well.
Congratulations on the closing! And think of that spit up as a badge of honour.
Ditto!
Congratulations! Hope all goes perfectly.
So glad to hear you found a house – and I think baby spitup is a sign of good luck!
Best wishes that your closing goes well.
Congratulations!
Huzzah! Congrats! And kiss the baby- she just had nerves, just like you!
Ugggggh! Closing delayed at least a month (or never) because seller couldn’t convey clean title. They have to apply to the county for a zoning variance. Unbelievable.
So sorry! So frustrating and disappointing.
Oh dear, I’m so sorry!
That is so frustrating. So sorry!
UGh- this is my nightmare. Because of my itty bitty budget i am being steered to basically former crackhouses, and title conveyance is a very real issue!
Noooooo! Oh honey, I am so sorry.
Bitterly disappointing. I’m so sorry.
Very Sorry to hear about the setback.
Trefle Pur today. It is great for spring, and often lifts me up. Good for an emotionally trying day like today.
nice one….
Hope the day is less trying than you expect. Sending good wishes to you!
Hope as the day progresses, it also improves. Gird your emotional loins and meet the challenge head on- you smell great!
Really glad it’s Friday. After some major mess ups from the corporate center of a major client of ours, I FINALLY have the access I need to start my reports… a week late. I’ve accepted that I’ll be running late this month and most people are fine with that. Plus, I’ve gotten word that I’ll have extra help next week when everyone else starts up their reports, so hopefully it won’t be too bad.
So, before I start in on my second cup of coffee and bury myself in work, here’s SOTD: Lyric Woman. I remembered the challenge, but…. it’s so not spring outside. It’s grey and cold again, so I’m matching the mood/ atmosphere and needing something to give me oomph. I’m in a black sweater fabulously covered in cat hair because I’ve given up on lint brushing while the little buggers are in shedding mode. Also in favorite jeans and TOMS sneaks. It’s just that kind of day….
Hope everyone has a great weekend and I hope to see you fab KOP/Philly fumies tomorrow!
Oh, you smell fabulous! Here’s hoping Lyric lifts you above the fray!
I like Lyric all year, but I prefer it in the heat. You’re smelling terrific!
I carry a lint brush in my work bag now because I’ve left the house only to look down and see that I’m embarrassingly covered in cat hair- he’s got white fur. I don’t care at home, but at work…
I like Lyric in the heat too! I put away most of heavier winter scents but not Lyric.
I hope you get everything done faster than you think. You smell beautiful.
I cleaned my phone screen before installing a screen protector in my cat-free office and still got a white hair under it. It fell off my (cotton) sweater. Mitsouko-neko, her mark.
She wants you to remember her wherever you are.
Started with sampling Quel Amour, an instant mood lifter that almost gave me the giggles and it would fit spring if we had one. Now I am in Journey my most worn scent this spring, feels like coming home.
Quel Amour is lovely and fun!
I think if AG hadn’t developed Rose Splendide I would have ended up with a bottle of Quel Amour! It is an unusual and very pretty treatment on roses for sure!
SOTD is Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis (the last oily, separated drops from a decant…darn those decants!). I’ve asked for the MFK Woman Discovery Set for Mother’s Day, but it’s pricey, so who knows.
I’m with Robin: manufacturer sample sizes (if available) are definitely best.
I just want to reiterate my position, LOL — I don’t always mind decants! But they don’t always store well, and if you want to know something is as close as possible to “as it was made”, a relatively new carded sample is best
I keep finding more evaporated decants in my collection. Such a bummer. I’ve begun transferring my most important decants into small boston brown screw top bottles to stem the losses.
I gaze longingly at the MFK discovery set every time I see it on line. Sigh. I hope you get it!!!
It’s been on my wish list for the longest time!
Hope you get it. I bought it last May as a reward for a crazy yearly project I do at work.
The set is lovely and I’ve enjoyed the scents…all well crafted.
Friday, I kiss your feet. What a week! Intestinal bug; mastitis; baby inventing something I’m patenting as “night colic” in which he cries hysterically between 11 pm and 3 am and nothing I do can help him; the uncomfortable realization that a couple of my colleagues are most decidedly not on my side since my recent promotion… Last night was a nadir for me, but the weather has climbed from winter to spring in the past two days and promises to keep on going into a little preview of summer for the weekend, so that should be wonderful. The Pour Un Ete today — the springiest of my many springtime scents.
You smell great and eugh hope the weekend is better than the week sounds. I suspect your colleagues will calm down in a bit…
Ugh to all of that – so sorry to hear about everything (except for the promotion!). People turn to jealousy and resentment so quickly, don’t they? I’m sure that you’ll handle it beautifully though, and I hope the little guy gives you a break and lets you both sleep soon. Addressing work stress on no sleep must make it that much worse.
UGH. Crap month, thank goodness for it’s end. Massage the bosom well, let the poor baby cry, and you smell great.
Yuck — hope it is a great (and relaxing) weekend!
PdN le Temps d’une Fête which smells like spring in a bottle to me.
I am drinking some Assam Oolong.
Twins! And you got the accent right – I still haven’t figured out how to do those.
I can only do the diacriticals if I copy and paste from elsewhere, and frankly I can’t be bothered.
Triplets.
It depends on your computer. On apples you have to use the alt key followed by different keys for the different signs. But I think not all devices allow this.
I copy and paste from the web.
On Windows, you can set the US International keyboard, then type combinations of characters: `e for è, ^e for ê, and so on. If you feel like memorizing numbers, you can also use ALT+ the HTML code on the numeric keypad. I actually did this until I got a small keyboard and had to learn about the US International keyboard, which is actually easier.
On my MacBook Pro, if I hold the key down (the “e” key, in this case), a box pops up with all the possible accented/diacritical-marked versions. I click on the one I want and it appears in the word.
Here I am (again); what is the Assam Oolong like?
And I love your choice of scent.
It is reminiscent of a Bai Hao/Dongfang Meiren oolong, with the woodsy, fruity taste with some light malt backbone. I don’t get as many steeps as I do a good Bai Hao/Dongfang Meiren, but it is interesting (in a good way) and I nice change of pace. I would recommend sampling it to someone who likes amber or darker oolongs and enjoys the woodsiness they can offer.
Thanks for such a detailed answer!
So I sort of forgot today and then went and sampled tons of rose fragrances in Liberty as I was dashing between meetings and then also the new Opus X in Selfridges.
I started however in Drama Nuii which is a beautifully pretty jasmine. Like many of you in jeans and sweater today and cannot wait for the long weekend here, even though I will have to work part of it!
Kelly Calèche, it has been for years now one of my spring staples, but my bottle is now nearly empty. My dilemma: buy a new FB or branch out (e.g. finally buying l’Amandière), or both?
You know, I have the Caleche and Caleche Soie, and I think they are wonderful spring scents, so I can only image how lovely Kelly Caleche would be.
My solution is always a Hermes 4 pack of 15 ml bottles
SOTD is PdN Le Temps d’Une Fete – gorgeous!
It really is. I’m so bummed it’s gone.
Very exciting! Best of luck!
Oops! That was for DottieNC.
I’m hoarding my decant of LTdF since it’s impossible to find! Not even on EBay! Why she discontinued this one is beyond me.
Yes, it’s a mystery, isn’t it? I’ve wondered whether is was another case of IFRA Strikes Again!
I guessed that the combo of moss restrictions and it not being a big seller like New York got it axed instead of reformulated.
It’s Chamade (of course?!)
Some of my tops for spring are Chamade, Jolie Madame, Un Matin d’Orage, Vacances, Un Coer en Mair and Ostara.
Chamade! Like marching into springtime with a banner of green and gold. I’ll have to switch to Chamade this afternoon, once I’m home from work.
That was my SOTD yesterday. It really is perfect in spring weather.
Me too – I really wanted something that was uplifting and beautiful and would last all day. Chamade is one of my HG fragrances for a very good reason!
Definitely Chamade for sunny spring days.
Hey everyone! Hope you’re all well.
I’ve been busy at work, as well as having had a bit of upheaval at home, which resulted in my roommate and I agreeing that he should move out. He’s a good kid and I think it will be good for him in the long run, but the atmosphere at home has been rather tense for weeks. When I woke up with some stomach issues today, I decided to take a day at home and relax a bit. A lot of change going on, and I’m trying to settle into it.
Because of all of that, I wanted some coziness, so I reached for Fate. I *love* this stuff. Is there a better blended scent out there? Probably not.
Also, why isn’t there body lotion and such for this scent? Amouage has it for seemingly everything else – why not Fate?
Glad to see you here today and that the roommate issue is finally resolved.
Thanks Wendysue! It’s going to take a bit for him to find a place, and so in the meantime, the tension may remain, but I’m relieved that there will be a resolution soon-ish.
And then, though paying for this apartment by myself will diminish the amount I can spend on perfume, I’m so excited to have a place of my own! Perfume storage will have to be reconsidered, and I’m ready to make everything truly my own, for the first time in my adult life.
You know, I shared accommodation for YEARS, and it was eye opening the day that I decided to have an apartment on my own. I missed the company and shared meals at first, but really grew to love my privacy and having a nest of my own.
Remember there are always samples!
That sounds really exciting. It will
probably make you an even more discriminating perfume collector.
Treasure the peace you will have living on your own. Making a home YOUR home. It will be AMAZING!
Good to see you back here. Sorry about the roomie upheaval. Seems rather uncomfortable-but your own place!!! I never had my own place, and always had at least 2 other roommates. There was always some sort of drama which turned our friendships a bit sour.
I hope things settle down for you and you enjoy and embrace your new adventure living on your own. Nothing is like your first place all to yourself. Any down adjustments in spending will be worth it when you can have some peace of mind!
This was a done deal: Ostara. Like so many of us I bought this fragrance inspired by Victoria’s review on BdJ. Absolutely no regrets. I find it utterly enchanting, and fortunately it makes up for the fact that daffodils have been sadly lacking in my garden, because of the weather and some cheeky snails.
I wish I’d gotten that one when Penhaligon’s had it on sale… it sounds so nice. Especially since they discontinued my love Amaranthine.
It’s very much worth a bit of a search. Lots of people blind bought it, and not everyone can have fallen in love, so maybe try ebay?
I though Amaranthine was interesting, but I never fell for it entirely.
I was in a pharmacy in Manhattan yesterday that sells Penhaligon’s and they had both Amaranthine and Ostara! Not discounted, though. The 2 smell similar to me. I haven’t fallen for either, but I have a keen interest in Lothair…
This was a done deal for me today too. Ostara it is. I am one of those who blind bought it and have no regrets. I wish I would have gotten two bottles now. Love it!
That was my SOTD on Monday. At first I didn’t care for it. Why? Ha ha, I don’t remember because now I love it. To me it’s a much more wearable version of Seville a l’aube. They aren’t the same, of course, but share notes in common. I prefer the narcissus to the orange blossom note.
As much as I wanted to like Seville, it just didn’t work for me. Ostara is a much better fit.
Style-wise, spring is my least favorite season, so picking a scent for today was challenging. I ended up in Narciso. Not sure if it’s a spring scent, but it’s got florals and it’s pretty, so I think that meets my undemanding criteria? Anyway, I smell great, and am worried that my decant is just about empty.
Time for a FB, perchance? ????
It’s sitting in one of my shopping carts as we speak. I’m not sure if I’m currently trying to talk myself into it, or out of it…
Twins! I honestly have been wearing Narciso more than anything else so far this year.
Wearing Pretty Machine today. Runners up were Desarmant and Rozy edp
You smell fantastic…I might spray some right over my Oriental Express later.
Great choices!
It’s still chilly outside, so En Passant, Courtesan are pretty much out. Right now, I am wearing the dry down of Andy Tauer’s Ingrid and loving it. I then no this one has been discontinued. After my shower I am switching over to Lyric.
Yeah much as I love En Passant, it doesn’t really stand up to cold weather.
I know I’ve been MIA most of the week – brain strain from work – so I was a little out of it for the challenge. I really wanted to wear something “lovely” today. I don’t normally think of it as spring-y, but I got that yesterday with Chamade edt. SOTD is Cartier So Pretty which will keep me going all day.
I adore So Pretty and am guarding my half-full bottle which remains…
I am very lucky to have a back up b/c I am down to half a bottle too. Thankfully So Pretty is pretty long lasting on my skin so I don’t use it up too quickly.
I hope you have time to relax this weekend Ann.
I hope you will be able to wind down this weekend!
Hope you will find yourself again this weekend!
Thanks everyone – I am looking forward to a nice weekend with my folks visiting and cooking for us! Maybe a little gardening if it gets warmer than they say. Our leaves are not even out yet! Boo!!!
I got my decant of vintage Diorella eau de parfum instead. Loving it and can’t stop spraying.
Originally I wanted to go for En Passant, but both of my travel sprays have seized up and I can’t get a spritz out of them! Gotta think about how to get at the juice there, one is unused, so still 10ml of the stuff left and the other one is about half full.
Spring isn’t coming very quickly to London this year, just got snowed on – and it’s the end of April.
Somebody needs to invent a glass cutter for tiny glass bottle necks. I have a damaged bottle of VC&A Bois d’Iris that I can’t use because the damage is right where the sprayer crimps onto the glass. I’m saving it in case someday I figure out a way to get that juice out.
I had a vintage bottle of Magie Noir that the spring was broken so it woudn’t spray no matter what I tried. I eventually made the sacrifice and cracked and then gently pried the crimp part off with some pliers and a knife. The bottle was wrecked so I put the juice in some decant bottles. I was so paranoid I’d tip it while I was prying away, or cut my hands. It is frustrating when a nozzle is totally broken. I wish you luck!!!
Chamade today. Kind of wishing I’d worn Golden Cattleya, but forgot that i had it. That one is as pollen heavy as you can imagine.
Chamade is lovely isn’t it? I love Chamade and have to start wearing it more.
Golden Cattleya sounds lovely too… I usually love pollen heavy scents.
I still have a smidge of GC left somewhere. It is a delectable and intoxicating honey scent. I wish it were a tad less sweet, however. And Chamade is beautiful.
I’m wearing Philosykos, which is in my top spring as well as my top everything.
Hey, me too — top everything
Spring means flowers, which means I would generally give today’s community project wide berth.
Living dangerously, today I am in Arum d’Angkhor from Sultan Pasha. Over at Kafkaesque, it seems to be true love:
“…I cannot see how anything could surpass this in terms of baroque opulence, multi-dimensional complexity, technical mastery, or captivating beauty. It’s a spell-binding juggernaut of a fragrance with enormous evocative power, and utterly jaw-dropping, staggering richness. For me, it is, quite simply, a masterpiece.”
Yeah, that.
I don’t like rose. But this is unlike anything I’ve ever tried. It’s really gorgeous. For anyone interested, here’s the link. No affiliation, just a “stunned by perfume beauty” customer.
http://www.kafkaesqueblog.com/2016/03/11/sultan-pasha-attars-aurum-dangkhor-breathtaking-splendour/
Happy Friday to all????
These sound like they might even break through Robin’s fiscal discipline
You’ve got me swooning just reading that!
Swooning here too. I’m sure it’s worth it, but it’s very expensive!
After you posted yesterday, I went to his EBay store and he has the 16 sample set, but the list of choices totally overwhelmed me! So, good you’re posting some recs(keep ’em comim’
) This one sounds like something I’d like.
I looked it up once too but had the same experience.
Kafkaesque has reviewed many on her blog, so a few of my choices were based on that. Others I just kind of blind tried. Many of them were florals I would usually steer clear of, but so far I have really enjoyed them all. I think the samples are pretty affordable considering you’re getting an attar and you need to apply a minuscule amount. I used a Bobby pin, dunked it in the bullet, and swiped on my chest area. I think the poor man has been tearing his hair out to try to keep up with demand. He’s a one man show, from what I understand.
I’m wearing Dune, which feels like a spring scent to me. I love Oriental Express and I’m glad to see it’s on Erin’s list!
Ah, Dune would have been perfect for today. You smell great!
I love Oriental Express, too. It’s like Shalimar for the 21st century. Of course, we still need original Shalimar, too
I am wearing my absolute favorite spring scent which is vintage Jolie Madame. I dabbed on some extrait followed up by a few squirts of EDT. I am floating on a lovely cloud. I am enjoying reading everyone’s choices. Happy Friday!
I love vintage Jolie Madame, it is one of my favorites. You smell great.
Gorgeous choice, and a great solution for the realities of spring weather which can be so variable (cold and rainy here today!)–Jolie Madame wears great whether it’s warm or still a bit cool.
SOTD is “Naïviris” from Huitième Art (a Pierre Guillaume brand). A simple scent of red iris which is a tree rather than the familiar flower rhizome, paired with an African wood, and that’s it. It’s pleasant but not distinctive enough to my nose, and doesn’t last well. Fragrantica reviewers sometimes report a lipstick or powder note, which I know some NST folk like.
Just arriving at Bordeaux so I’ll reply to my own post later with the perfumes I tried in Toulouse, what I bought and what new samples I was given. :^)
Thanks to Koyel I was able to visit several good niche perfume shops in Toulouse. In “Autre Parfum” I bought Keiko Mecheri “Ume” which I liked better than Artisan “Passage d’Enfer” I also tried on skin. Just to make Kanuka laugh I accepted Madame’s kind offer to spray me with her Arso as I left. Got some Penhaligons samples and was surprised to find I love “Halfeti” so looking forward to trying the whole sample.
The next morning at Elysée I got Lubin “Idole” and SL “Arabie”. Complimentary samples there were most of the new Lalique noir premier line and a bunch of Goutals.
Finally at Santa Rosa bought a small bottle of Nicolaï Patchouli Intense and was gifted with Acqua di Parma “Oud” and MH “feuilles de tabac”.
In the evening we went for dinner with Koyel and had some wine afterwards. (There were several local wines on offer so I couldn’t resist “La Clape”) :^
Arso and La Clape…great pairing.
And I really did think of you on both occasions – I’m sure I don’t know why… ;^)
I tried on some of your sample of Cuir d’Iris today, and definitely still did not get stinky cheese! It smells leathery and like a Man. Oh so Manly.
I’m so excited about all of your purchases!!! Especially the two you got at Elysées Parfums. You make Donatella proud. I hope you’re enjoying Bordeaux!
I think there’s some lavender in there – a note I often have some trouble with. And I think that back when we had the community project on leather scents, I found I didn’t love any of them, and only Cuir Beluga made it onto the future decant list.
Ooooh I dream of Cuir Beluga. One day….
Yes, lavender usually hits me between the nose as a masculine scent
Between…the eyes. Where my nose resides.
Koyel, have you tried Caron pour Un Homme? That’s the perfume that made me turn the corner on lavender. One of my great-grandfathers wore lavender, and until CpuH, I thought it was much too masculine a note for me to wear myself.
Annick Goutal La Violette. I only wear this in the spring, it doesn’t feel right any other time of year.
Fun in a bottle! You smell beautiful.
Truly fun, and j love that I can spray it everywhere without worrying that I’m too loud.
So nice!
I was very indecisive this morning so my hands are covered with several contenders: Cristalle EDP, Organza-which feels more wintry-, EI 2015 Jasmin-too pretty to hide under clothing layers. I ended up in Infusion d’Iris Absolue which has a nice balance of warm and cool for this chilly, gray day.
All your choices are so beautiful! I like Organza too – but I enjoy it in the summer. I’ve been dipping into my EI Jasmin solid more and more. I’ve always liked jasmine, but that EI has really tipped me into full blown LOVE of this jasmine in particular. If I didn’t already have so many jasmines I think I would splash out on the bottle. IdI Absolue is my favorite version of the IdI – love that warmer drydown.
I’ve never worn Organza in the heat, but maybe I’ll give it a try and see how it changes. I have a hard time with amber or ambery bases in the heat. I tried Alahine in the summer and it really turned my stomach and almost put me off completely. I know you you can wear that one year round.
And yes! It’s THIS jasmine. Lush Lust comes close but it goes a little overboard for me. This one is really perfect. I shoulda got that solid…
Meanwhile, after many hanwashings today, Cristalle and Organza are still there.
Happy Friday!
Am wearing Infusion d’Iris, which is really an excellent ‘bridge’ scent between winter and spring, or summer and fall, even. I know that Turin doesn’t not like on women but so what? I can see why people love this scent.
OOTD: Jeans, cotton tunic, blue suede sneakers, silk scarf. Comfort for doing month end!
What a great observation: Infusion d’Iris as a bridge scent. I’ve been wearing the edp off and on all month and you are right. (When you think about his ratings, don’t forget that Turin gave Secretions Magnifique 5 stars!)
Yes- Infusion is refreshing and light enough for going into spring, and has that warming not for going into fall. Like a nice cardigan.
And yeah, with Mr. Turin, there is that!
Well, I had planned to be in either Ostara or Boutonniere, but last night I put on Chambre Noire not long before I went to sleep. This morning I am surprised to still have vanilla, musk, and a tiny bit of leather on my arms. I never caught on to how much CN smells like Cuir Beluga once only the base notes are left. All that to say that I had to switch it up to a more compatible floral. So…
SOTD=Songes (usually more of a summer favorite, but I don’t think there is a bad time to wear it)
Songes is an excellent choice
Thanks! It really was the right choice for today.
I’m always glad to see Boutonniere mentioned.
Songes is perfectly gorgeous! I was thinking about it just the other day. It’s one of my most sultry fragrances.
Woke up yesterday morning with a fever. Pretty sure one of my students has given me the flu! I’m no better this morning, but I’m trying to convince myself to wrestle up the energy to drive to school and post grades. Midterm grade reports get sent out next week. I could do some preemptive sub plans for Monday, too, in case they’re needed. Blech.
I was feeling nearly human for an hour there or so last night and so I made myself pancakes and took a shower. Sprayed myself with vintage No. 19. I can still smell it on my pajamas this morning, and it kept me company as I tossed and turned last night.
Oh dear…good luck. I hope it’s just a passing thing and not truly the flu. No. 19 is great company.
Spring flu – ugh! Feel better soon.
Hope you feel better! In my experience, pancakes fix most everything in life ????
Oh you poor thing, I hope you feel better ASAP! Teachers–I will never stop feeling impressed by the fortitude!!
Hope you get better soon, sister!
I’m sorry it’s been bad weather for many NSTers. I live in the southern US, so it really is spring here, which means I’ve been wearing spring scents for a couple of weeks. All the ambers and patchoulis have been set aside for 6+ months.
I’ve found that I don’t have just one spring favorite so I’m wearing my most recent acquisition for spring, FM En Passant, from a travel size atomizer. Sigh…this is so beautiful.
You smell great! I have a travel size of EP, too, and it is my favorite lilac scent. I want to try Desarmant, though. Have you?
Desarment
My nose must be broken. En Passant smells only vaguely of lilac to me, and mostly of some bread-like or yeast-like substance
There is a bread/wheat note in there, you must be sensitive to it. I can hardly smell it.
Yes, the weather has been dreary. We cut back all the overgrown bushes in our yard so the moisture is actually welcome.
SOTD is Wit. It’s defiantly singing out spring through the cold rain.
That is a nice scent. I sampled it the other day.
I wanted something bright and fresh for the workday, so Nasturtium & Clover it is. The bottle is very springy. Then I will switch to something more once I get home. I took a bath in Chanel No. 5 foaming bath last night. oh, my. I think I have found my vehicle for No. 5. I do appreciate it in perfume form, but most of the time it just don’t work for me. But in the bath…
Sounds luxurious! Now I’m sad our new apt has no bathtub
I came to Fracas by way of the shower cream.
I didn’t know there was a foaming bath. I’m racking up my drug store points, and have my eye on the No. 5 bath powder.
Sometimes I think that No 5 works best in the less is more category, which certainly works when you use the foaming bath. Just enough clings to the skin to make that veil, but not so much that it overwhelms. I very much enjoy a mini dab of the velvet body cream after a shower b/c it’s just a tiny bit of No 5…. But the dusting powder is very good too, and I use that mostly in the summer before bed.
I have the foaming bath too and I agree it is just the right amount of No.5. I tried the dry oil the other day but my husband didn’t like it. I have the body cream and sometimes just put on a dab of it.
I’m wearing Desarment, from my own list. Sadly the weather in Denver is utter crap right now….it’s snowing! Sigh.
Ugh. I’m going to Denver in 2 weeks, so please see to it that all that snow nonsense is done with by then for me, please
I hope so for both our sakes!
It was snowing here recently as well. Depressing. (Had to go and look up what you said about Desarmant!)
It’s funny, the change in weather or perhaps the drop in my personal stress level but everything smells so good I can even choose! This week I have been all over the place; wore vintage Chanel 19, Mohur, Silences, ELDO Putain des Palaces, La Fin du Monde, Like This, TF Noir pour Femme, Creed Royal Oud followed by TF Tobacco Vanilla (amazing combo that I have to repeat), Le Galion Snob, the very last drop of my sample of Boudicca Wode and every one of them was so amazing I could not stop huffing! So, what to do? Where to start? The weather going from hot to chilly is blowing up my usual spring choices. I am going to pick something I forgot about, ELDO Noel Au Balcon (or as my brain wants to translate it, Christmas Bacon!) Happy Friday!
I love when that happens – when everything smells especially good and read that as “bacon” too…
Glad to hear your stress has dropped! Now if it would just warm up
Originally I planned to wear Voyage d’Hermès, but it’s so chilly and damp outside that Voyage would have felt like a bucket of ice water. Hence, a goodly dab o’ Joy.
Perfect.
It’s a dismal rainy day here, so I am not participating. Instead, wearing Guerlain Spirituese Double Vanille from a sample. Unfortunately, a very strong fruity odor is drifting from the hallway, making it hard to smell what I am wearing. It is, likely, some kind of cleaning product, but every once in a while it smells disconcertingly close to Byredo Pulp (which I like)
I always feel kind of conspicuous in true florals, though they do bring spring to mind. Instead, I went with something green: Jacomo Silences. It took me a few wearings to get my mind around it, but now I love how it develops from the slap of galbanum into something that is floral but still green.
Happy Friday, all!
Love Silences.
A friend a mine was just talking about Silences. She bought it blind and was surprised about how much she loved it.
Great choice!
That was for Petrichor… I’m telling you: Friday.
Thanks!
I am wearing one of my favorites, Jour d’Hermes, which I love for almost any season, but which is absolutely appropriate for spring.
One of my favorites, too. Lovely!
I just realized that it’s been a week since I posted and I haven’t worn perfume much either. I blame agricultural smoke from Mexico and my week-long dull nagging migraine that kept me stupid, grumpy, and off-balance.
I was planning on Tabac Tabou today but wore it last night for a get-together and wanted something different, so I am indulging in a dab of Sultan Pasha’s Claire de Lune, which I would probably splurge on if it was still available, since it seems to be a jasmine that doesn’t get on my nerves. As it is, I will savor the tiny amount I have in the giant steam bath that is Central Texas today. 79 degrees already and windy but so humid that it’s blowing fog and low clouds around in quite an eerie way. At least it’s making my perfume bloom spectacularly.
I wore Apres l’ondee most of this rainy and dreary week but today I am wearing The Different Company’s Jasmine Nuit.
Almost twins! I should also retry that jasmine.
Spring says “lilac” to me, not that I get to smell them here in Florida. I miss that lovely lilac fragrance, even though I get to smell jasmine and gardenia in every part of the neighborhood this time of year. So my SOTD is Pacifica’s French Lilac, a very realistic lilac.
My new house has a ‘surprise’ lilac bush (surprise in that when we bought the house the bush had no foliage, so I didn’t realize it was a lilac until it started to bud this spring)- such a wonderful discovery! My neighbors might think I’m a little odd, since my routine at the end of the day is park my car, check the mail, then go smell the lilacs for a few minutes.
Such a lovely surprise!
You smell good. I wore FL earlier this week. It’s a good one.
Wearing Cartier Les Heures IV Fougueuse that greenish, hay, horse mane scent of beauty unlike any other that I know. Last night was basted in Van Cleef Gardenia Petale which is so lovely at every point into dry down. I’ve been loving Reglisse Noire lately too. Soooo many delightful fragrances to make Spring that much sweeter. Every year I am awestruck by the amazing greenness and how the world around me changes in what seems like days.
And my allergies are abating!!!
Reglisse Noire is so beautiful. I have a small decant of this that I dab every once in a while.
Wearing Kenzo Flower Oriental on a grey day. It’s my Summer Oriental Perfume, as the others are way too heavy.
I’m traveling and found an unlabeled decant in my bag. Happily, it’s I Miss Violet, which I love. Robin was right in her review that it is too expensive, but I couldn’t help it and treated myself after a very intense work schedule last month. Other violet recommendations? I didn’t know I liked it – and don’t always – but this is sophisticated happiness in a bottle to me.
Oh dreamy. Sometimes expensive things are really wonderful–happy you are enjoying it
I have not smelled IMV myself but for violets and leather, if you haven’t already explored the various formulations of Jolie Madame, that gets my enthusiastic endorsement! Especially the vintages if you don’t mind tracking them down. Or, much more accessible is Balenciaga Paris, if you haven’t tried it yet–also such a sophisticated violet (and looks to be pretty inexpensive from discounters! FragranceNet has it fully half off). Oh also Kerbside Violet is now available stateside from Lush and VERY reasonably priced–very much worth giving a sniff to.
I just got Kerbside Violet and it’s great! Thanks for the other recommendations.
How would you layer a violet scent? If you wanted to subdue the violet a notch. Would rose be a possible pairing, or honey?
Ooh very fun question! I do think, per both I Miss Violet and Jolie Madame, any leather scent would always make a good pairing, but I am very partial to floral leathers in general, I confess
Beyond that, yeah I think maybe rose or other white florals? Violet leaf can be a little bitter and I wonder if the contrast with honey would be too jarring, but strengthening the floral element seems like a very good notion to me! (And of course, come to think of it, rose-violet is a classic perfume pairing! 
)
I was thinking of sugared violet petals and cupcakes and wondered if the combination would work scent wise. I might try Kerbside Violet withDaim Blond following your observations. I find Daim Blond is a good toner for quite a few of my scents so will give it a go. Another thought is my New Musk.
I’m a big fan of the Sonoma scent studio Violet’s as well. Worth a sniff.
I’m a fan of green violet smells, so I’m fond of CBIHP’s A Room with a View and L’AP’s Verte Violette. The former is drier and the latter is more classically pretty.
And then there’s Apres l’Ondee. A definite violet fave.
The weather turning cold here AGAIN has thrown my spring perfume plans into disarray, so I decided to punt and just wear something I’d been meaning to decant–moving some Honore des Pres Sexy Angelic into a rollerball as I prefer it dabbed rather than sprayed. Inevitably wound up with some of it on me, but it smells great as always, and wearing something a little bit sweet always feels nice in chilly weather. Also just feeling pretty out of sorts, so leaning toward lighter scents–trying to avoid overwhelm.
With the exception of an occasional soliliflore, my springtime – which I define as March/Aptil/May – fragrances are mainly patchouli-centered, chypres, and greens. The favorites vary each month, mostly patchouli-heavy in March as the earth below my feet slowly awakens, chypres in April as the air is heavy with new life, and greens in May when everything has finally come alive.
One of my favorite April scents is the 80’s powerhouse chypre, vintage Ted Lapidus Creation. This I discovered, along with my beloved Balenciaga Le Dix, in the box of mini parfums I had received many yeas ago as a gift and tucked on a closet shelf to be forgotten for literally decades and stumbled upon when (finally!) cleaning off the neglected top shelf.
I can’t think of a fragrance more aptly named for April in my neighborhood than Creation. A veritable kitchen sink of notes – fruity, floral, green, woody – it represents every aspect of nature’s rebirth this month. The fruit salad top notes are neglible and, fortunately, the tuberose stays hidden (a note I dislike and which usually comes to the fore on my skin despite even a minor presence). On my skin, a squirt of the vintage edt I purchased a few years ago along with several dabs of my vintage parfum releases a glorious melange of galbanum, oakmoss, and vetiver, while the other notes combine mysteriously in the background to give it a distinction that’s easily recognizable. The weather is still cloudy and quite chilly here today, so Creation suits both the day – and nature’s rebirth outside my window – quite nicely.
I too have been craving chypre and green. Sounds like you smell amazing!
I’ve never sniffed Creation – it sounds like a great find!
I have deep unending love for so many 80’s chypres! But I’ve never tried Creation. It is going on my “must track down and sample” list!
PdN Odalisque on a drizzly grey spring day. Many are year-rounders for me, this I seem to wear only in spring.
My choice for yesterday!
I’ve worn a lot of my favorite spring scents already this month, so I looked behind some of the taller bottles for something as yet unworn. I happened upon Atelier Sud Magnolia, a serviceable light floral with a nice pop of tart grapefruit in the top notes.
I really like this one, debating on getting the travel spray.
It still isn’t spring here. Forty two and rainy. I am wearing Narciso edp. I LOVE this perfume. I used the body products that came in the gift set. Love them too. If I had any, I would be wearing Envy from Erins spring list. Another lost love…..sigh…
Decants just arrived for me today, so I’ve dabbed on some vintage Diorissimo. I tried the modern formulation a few weeks ago, and (heresy!) I liked it a lot so I wanted to try the vintage. This keeps disappearing on me, which is very odd with my scent-retaining skin. Where are you going, Diorissimo? Osmanthe Yunnan lasts for at least 8 hours on me.
I tried the current formulation and liked it, too. I just got a sample of “pre-reformulation” EDT and I’m not sure I can tell the difference. Both are pretty fleeting on me, although I’m sure spraying might change that.
I’m sampling Houbigant Iris Des Champs. If I owned a FB of this, it could be a contender for a top 10 Spring.
Wearing Le Jardin de Monsieur Li today…
Smells like spring…however briefly.
Happy Friday!
My Top 10 of Spring scent for today is Stella. A rose perfume I can wear pretty much all year? Winner winner chicken dinner!
It is 58 degrees and overcast and misty here on the coastal plain of Virginia. Not feeling very Spring like. Got a beautiful load of samples from my perfume fairy godmother! Thank you! I instantly sprayed on Classic Patchouli, Von Euserdorff and found it very lovely. An interesting exploration of the greener aspects of the leaf. I have Queen Latifah Queen on the other arm and this is definitely not a spring fragrance. I squirted some stuff on my hands at Nordstrom Rack, a Michael Kors, completely unobjectionable gardenia and something containing so much Iso E Super, I shall not mention it by name. Soooo, the Classic Patchouli wins! I like patchouli in all seasons……
Yes, good day for patchouli. Soon we’ll be socked in with high heat and humidity, so let’s make the most of these last cold days!
The autumn has been so golden yellow down here that Ostara or Monsieur Li could be on my list but I am going to surprise myself by nominating Chanel 5 Eau Premiere as my top autumn scent. I think this has the perfect combination of luminosity, complexity, tranquility, depth and hint of transformation that matches my autumn. We have fantastic sunrises. The sky is often a vivid japonica glow and I view it from my bed as it lights up the sky, a huge silver birch filling the foreground…so you get that real fauvist pink sky/ green tree thing going on.
Actually, on second thoughts…Pohadka. I have such a crush on this perfume…hay and tobacco. It is my one swoony scent.
Sigh. Eau Premiere and Pohadka going on my list.
Ah, Spring. Ah, rainy season. Ah, layers.
Wearing Chanel no 5 EdT. It’s on my top 10 Spring (as well as fall).
The other 9 this year:
Thierry Mugler Alien Eau Extraordinairre (jasmine & tea!)
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (so pretty on me)
Hermes Le Jardin Sur Le Toit (I love apple)
Hermes Kelly Caleche
Prada Indusion d’Iris EdP
Byredo Gypsy Water (I love sandalwood)
Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black (I love sandalwood)
Ormonde Jayne Champaca
Narcisco Rodriguez For Her EdP (for the rose/berries/patchouli/musk)
Whew!
I wore No 5 Eau Premiere twice this week and it was wonderful. You can’t go wrong with No 5!!
Chance Eau Tendre is really pretty! (No. 5 is still too sophisticated for me, but I’m sure you smell gorgeous.)
The weather is finally cooler and I’m saluting the arrival of Fall with the spicy goodness of the original KL. Wonderful stuff.
Gosh, KL takes me back. Hope it warms your day.
Thank you! It sure did, like mulled wine.
You must be glad of cooler weather, you are very welcome to some hail and chilly northwestern Dutch wind. I don’t know if I ever tried KL, but I’m sure you smell great.
It’s a nice one, I wish uncle Karl would relaunch it, since it feels so niche and contemporary.
This place is already too warm, it cannot afford to get any warmer. The dog days we just had! But I’ll pass on your cold and moist Dutch wind, thank you very much but I know it and it makes my old joints hurt, lol.
Indeed, KL…Wonderful.
I had a partial bottle of KL a long time ago – my then mother-in-law worked in the cosmetics area of a department store, and passed a few things on to me. That must be over 20 years ago, but I remember KL as a warm and spicy scent.
It was so rich and spicy. Almost like mulled wine.
Just mentioned mulled wine in a reply above!
Oh, I love KL, too. It’s my favorite to wear, just a spritz, on Thanksgiving. It works so well with the flavors and smells of the holiday.
Saturday, and thank the gods of good things for that! Autumn roared yesterday: I was fuh-fuh-fuhreezing all day, so today, before I even know what the weather will be, I’m warming the world by wearing Rahat Loukoum. The dear man says I smell like a bakery, and so far this morning he’s asked if I will make croissants (no, we’ll buy those if he really wants them), chocolate cake (no, he doesn’t really like it, he just thinks he does, but it ends up mostly uneaten), bread (yes, I love making bread), and banana cake (I loathe bananas with the fiery passion of 30 supernovas, but yes, I will make banana cake). For me, Uncle Serge’s scent must suffice as a sweet treat, and it’s doing fine. The rich almondy smell is comforting as I step into a slightly more austere eating regime for a month or so, to lose the two-and-a-bit kilos I’ve gained. Erk! But I can do this: wellness rules.
A wonderful snuggle down with a good book scent. And a great substitute for eating delicious cakes. Do you like Spicebomb?
I don’t know it, but I will find out today. I need to go out and buy a hearth brush and some face clothes, so that can be the fun part of my mission. Honestly, domesticity is time-consuming!
It’s a sticky cinnamon swirl in a bottle.
Spicebomb sounds like a necessary companion for the next 8 or so weeks! I have a daydream: I need to lose these six bothersome ponds, and it’s intensely tiresome. I’ve decided I want to lose weight on the credit card system: shed now, pay with good diet and exercise later.
I think someone should invent a little booth thing that you can step into, punch up the desired exit weight, pay, and then…voila! (or “viola!” as a sweet but slightly dim student wrote recently), tightening your belt, you pootle off into the world with your clothes fitting a little more comfortably, and live healthy. And here’s the thing: this is about a healthier population, so if you reneg on the good eating/exercise pact, the weight can be restored without warning At Any Time….bathing suit and beach? Sequinned dress at Awards Night? Or, umm, private times with a Best Beloved? From this, you will gather that I am an impatient person…
You need a perfume food substitute and menu to distract you and prevent hunger pains. Personally, I would trade a custard square for Bois de Vanille. You might like floriental, if younhaven’t tried it, as it is plum jammy .
SOTD = DSH Oeillets Rouges
Carnations all day. If I had to pick a flower other than iris to wear everyday, carnation would be it. It has the right amount of spiciness and sweetness.
Sniffapalooza starts tonight at Twisted Lily. Woo hoo!
Oh, good one. You smell great! I love carnation scents too.
I may do a carnation week before we get on to yucky full summer!
I went through two bottles of CDG Red Series Carnation. That was a real knock out.
I need to find this. I love carnations, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Red Series Carnation. It’s probably available somewhere in Ak, but I’m more likely to spend time locating it as one of my Melbourne Missions.
I missed when you were going to Melbourne bit whenever it is, have a fabulous time!
I have this one as well with my only issue being that it doesn’t last long on me – 4 sprays barely 2 hours.
Carnation, and Rose, had the staying power of Opium on me. Almost needed a chemical peel to remove them. Curious, eh?
When I mentioned the fleeting nature of Red to a SA at a boutique, she said it was actually one of the longest lasting perfumes on her!
Eagerly awaiting a full report!!
Certainly, a report when I have full use of all fingers instead of my fat thumbs!
I love OR! it is one of the fragrances that remains on my “to buy” list, and I often dream of visiting the DSH shop in Boulder in person so I can sniff away all her beauties!
Visiting DSH would be icing on a cake for a perfumista!
OR is one of my favorite carnations. I bought it the day I sniffed it.
I will replenish the next time there’s a discount!
Happy Friday! Wearing Dom Rosa from Liquides Imaginaires. It opens with a realistic champagne then a mildly sweaty pomelo with a pretty yet not completely innocent pink rose. Love this!
Oh must go dig up my sample of this!
I remember liking that one when I tested a few at Barney’s a while ago. That and the one that smelled like warm,sappy, golden leaves. Can’t remember the name. I really like the aesthetic of the line: bottles, names, juice colors.
SOTD = L’eau de Chloe EdT. This would usually be perfect for typical April weather. Today is too chilly for it.
It wasn’t super springy this morning and my last little bit of l’air de rien. I still have a partial of petit rien, but this one is so delightful.
Then the sun came out, perhaps its incense and leather could be springy?
Miller Harris Geranium Bourbon, perfect for a cold, rainy spring day.
Geranium Bourbon is a very “happy” smelling fragrance. I sometimes make my husband wear it.
At least he’s willing
Bas de Soie, to go with the snow on the grape hyacinths.
Sounds lovely
Just got back from the Montreal sniffa meet-up! We had a lovely time at Ogilvy and Holt Renfrew. I got to try the new Jo Malone tea collection and the LE Narciso Rodriguez Rose Musc and Amber Musc. Very nice, but I am waiting and holding out for the Hermès Muguet Porcelaine. I wore Rochas Byzance this morning.
Someone above got a sample of the Muguet today. Shouldn’t be long!
Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet is definitely a springtime fragrance for me! I love how delicate and refreshing it can be.
Skipping down here to post my SOTD: L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons. I was cold and crabby this morning, and in the mood for something warmer and sweeter, but once I sprayed LCaP, I was happy. It’s just delightful. Can anyone recommend a linden perfume they like better? (Other than Tauer’s discontinued Zeta?) I know DSH Ma Plus Belle has some (along with wisteria), and the scent still haunts me two years after I first got a sniff.
I’ve had a very busy day yesterday, with work starting early in the morning, restaurant in the evening to celebrate a friend’s birthday, and various chores inbetween. Also, it was warm and sunny, which is good in principle, but rather annoying when one has to run around the city. Anyway, I wore Apres l’Ondee yesterday. Because perfection.