A few quick reminders: please vote in the Prix Eau Faux if you haven't already! And the haiku challenge is coming up next Saturday, and the next freebiemeet will be Saturday, June 4.
Meanwhile, happy Mother's Day to anyone who is celebrating! We're holding our usual lazy weekend open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume your mother wore, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Lilium ‘Bright Diamond’ [background extended] by Sergey Urzhumskov at flickr; some rights reserved.
Happy Mother’s Day, NST! My mom doesn’t wear perfume. I bought her a bottle of L’Eau d’Hiver a few years ago. It sits on her dresser, unused and unloved. Siiiigh.
And you can’t sneak it off the dresser, Ari?
My 95 year old mom sticks with Tabu
I remember her Halston years when I would stick head in her clothes closet and inhale.
SOTD on a roll here with Tuscan Leather 3 days in a row for deliciously unseasonable chilly rain in SoCal.
I cannot get Kevin’s review of Coolife out of my head. One would think I have other things to focus on…but…nooooooooo
Oh, and L’Eau d’Hiver spoils quite easily I believe.
Good to know! I’ll spray mine with abandon from here on out. 🙂
Wearing it today – I love it too. DIdn’t know it was prone to spoiling. I have a FB and half a travel spray so I’d better not forget about it.
I love L’Eau d’Hiver ♥
Happy mother’s day to all the NST mothers. My mother actually has a terrible sense of smell and loves to wear perfume, so she oversprays in a major way.
I occasionally give her samples and small decants. She fell very heavily for Une fleur de Cassie, and loves Chanel Eau Première.
My own SOTD is Musc Intense by PdN, which is the most floral of musks I know. It’s incredibly hot here today, but it’s lovely, all this light sunny weather.
Jealous of everybody’s hot weather. We finally had a very brief look at the sun this afternoon.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!
Hit the local Marshalls yesterday and whoaaaa! The fragrance selection was overwhelming…lots of Jour de Hermes (second time I’ve stumbled upon Hermes in this location), a few pieces of Comme des Garcon Wonderwood…and then Pharrell + CdG’s Girl….full 3.4 ounce bottle for….$15.00 ($130.00 originally).
I took a leap and picked Girl up, knowing that if I hated it, I could bring it back (very generous return policy at this particular store). Second day wearing it and I think I’ll keep it, as I don’t have anything like it. A little floral, a little woody and the bottle is fun to look at.
So what you’re telling me is I have to go to Marshall’s? (I just sprayed the last wisps of my Jour!)
If you have one in your area, it might be worth a look!
Oh my! $15 is an AMAZING price for that groovy Pharrell Girl bottle. Surprised they’re clearing it, it’s such a nice, creamy woody scent.
Wow… I don’t think I’ve ever seen a selection that good at the stores in my area (never seen Hermes, for example), but now I’m feeling like I need to go look. Just to be sure, you know.
Lucky! I get excited to see anything beyond Sunflowers at mine and would probably snatch up JdH if I found it. I don’t love it enough to pay full price but it is so pretty and would gift very well. I’m actually shocked that a CDG made it to Marshall’s.
Back from Berlin and in Montreal for the day so obviously I went to Ogilvy to check out the Serge Lutens counter, which is staffed today by this unutterably fabulous old Parisian dolly who waxed rhapsodic about the Lutens store there and made me up samples of two of the horrifyingly expensive Sections d’Or scents, L’Incendiare and Cracheuses de Flammes or whatever it’s called, even though I told her I could never spend that much on a scent (those two bottles are so insanely pricey that the samples she made me are worth over $30 in a per-mL basis). In gratitude I bought the Vapo Tout Noir version of Fourreau Noir: I hope it hasn’t been reformulated too much since the last time I smelled it, (they didn’t have a tester) but it was so gorgeous that I’m counting on it still being wonderful.
Hi! Glad to hear you are enjoying Montreal (I’m here too). The SL lady is nice. I am waiting for De Profundis to show up in the vapo tout noir, got Fourreau Noir last year and it smells fine to me.
What is the Vapo Tout Noir? A kind of bottle?
Yes, it’s the travel spray.
Happy Mother’s Day, all, and happy *first* Mother’s Day to our batch of new mums! I trace my love of perfume directly back to my mother, who mostly wore 1000 and Tea Rose and a mysterious, inky-colored “amber” that she bought in Morocco — I still have a little bottle of the latter and it’s weird and wonderful and totally unlike what we think of as amber. I have no idea what it might be made of, or why it’s the color of soy sauce.
She introduced me to Shalimar when I was all of about ten years old, and passed on mini bottles of all kinds of delightful ’80s-era perfumes to me throughout my childhood. She kept her own collection of minis and vials of essential oils and rose absolutes in a shallow cabinet in the hallway, which my dad was apparently entirely unaware of. After she passed away, my dad showed me the cabinet, full of tiny bottles and mingled floral whiffs, and asked, “Do you know anything about this?” I should have scooped up every bottle; he got rid of them soon afterwards and now the little cabinet is empty, but I open it and inhale every time I visit. It still smells great.
And now of course I have my own cabinet, or rather, three shelves in the bathroom closet, crowded with bottles and minis and samples. My husband calls it my “addiction closet,” and when I open the door the mingled scents drift out to greet me, and I think of my gorgeous, chic, fabulous mother every time.
Happy Mothers day to you! Thank you for sharing the story about your Mum!
Thanks for that great story.
How lovely. Thank you!
That’s so beautiful!
beautiful scent memories of you mother.
so nice!
How wonderful that the cabinet still smells great, even without your mom’s bottles, and you can sniff it!
What a fantastic story, thanks for sharing!
Oh, your story warms my heart. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story with us. Mothers plus fragrance equals what life is all about! 🙂
Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing!
What a wonderful story – I think you just made my day!
Tomorrow is my first Mother’s Day as a mom – I gave birth to a little “Miss Darcy” in April. 🙂 I bought myself Parfum DelRae’s Wit as a push present, so I’ll be wearing that tomorrow. The “spring, love, and happiness” description is dead on, making it perfect for an April baby. Today’s perfume is a sample of Bal d’Afrique that came with it.
Congratulations! And, “push present” – love that. 🙂
Congrads Mrs Darcy! I hope you and Miss D are snuggling and getting to know each other and sleeping when possible. Good for you on the push present! Blessings
Congratulations! Enjoy your perfume and first Mother’s Day!
Oh, happy Mother’s Day! And be sure to cover your Miss Darcy in kisses.
Congrats!!
Congratulations! I hope you and little Miss Darcy are both doing well. April is a wonderful, celebratory time for a birthday, and Wit is lovely.
Congratulations!
Perfect present! Enjoy your first mom’s day.
Congratulations and Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to all of those who celebrate and are caretakers to little ones. Being a Mom is such hard work, but wonderful at the same time, and there is plenty of reasons why a day should be set aside for Mothers.
This is my first Mother’s Day as a Mom of 2 (2 under 2)
I am in L’occitane Feuilles D’Oranger-which is everything but the tree!
2 under 2 may require additional fragrance related gifts on Mother’s Day ????
Thanks Deva!
It hasn’t registered yet with my husband that I am a Mom, he only thinks of his Mom on Mother’s Day..one day the babies will do something when they are older..
Kids do the amazing things in pre-school for Mother’s Day. My son did this major collage at the age of 3 – like 2×2 feet tall.
Yesterday, I made the “mistake” of turning into a street near an elementary school when it was letting out. There were all sorts of little kids protectively clutching little potted plants which I think are gifts for their moms. Body language is everything in this situation and I saw several of them refusing to let go even though they were clearly having a difficult time staying balanced. Happy Mother’s Day, lovestosmellgood!
That’s adorable!
Awwww!
You deserve gifts of Champagne, chocolate and fragrance! Happy Mother’s day! And two under two is WHEW!
Someday those two will bring you tribute of coffee/tea and perfume. Today is not that day. Enjoy!
Enjoy your happy baby days. Two under two is a challenge and a whole lot of fun. When my two were babies (18 months apart), my mother spent time visiting to help us. We had a good laugh when one day we decided to count all the feedings and diaper changes in 24 hours. That quickly put into perspective my worry that I often had to choose 2 out of 3 when considering a nap, a meal, and a shower. Somehow we made it through, and now two teens are rather exciting in their own way.
Thanks for sharing and happy mothers day to you!
I bought my mother Guerlain Muguet this year for her birthday last week, she loves it, and I have my own bottle as well. She’s in France and mother’s day is at the end of the month over there, May 29th. I hope I can send her new Prada Mimosa, I think she’d like that very much.
Oh that’s sweet!
Congrats to all the moms! I am a dog mom only, the kids didn’t get me perfume, they do give me cards though (with some help from dad of course). 😉
Wearing Eau de Magnolia on this lovely spring day.
Dogs are crap about gifting one with perfume. Mine never managed in all of the 14 years that she lived with me 😉
It’s the lack of opposable thumbs.
???? Love your humor!
Mine has often gifted me with crap ????
Mine used to be able to create about a 1000 little stuffed toys out of one large stuffed toy, simply amazing.
LOL!
Hahahaha
Ahaha! Mine likes to gift me with her own special “I-just-rolled-on-a-dead-squirrel, don’t-I-smell-fab?” fragrance.
Crap about gifting, but plenty gifting of crap!
Oh, you smell wonderful!
Ginger treated herself to a good coating of Eau de Caque de Renard earlier on — again — but her mistress still doesn’t get it, inexplicably, so she’s now sporting that post-shower exploded sheep look.
Congratulations and much sun to all human mothers!
My mother has worn some classics in her day – Bal a Versailles, Coco, L’Air du Temps, all back before The Reformulation Horror – but today she can’t seem to find the one that speaks to her. She seems to fall in love with one or another for a month or two (Le Temps d’Une Fete, Coromandel), and then loses interest. I thought about finding one of her old loves in vintage form to give her for Mother’s Day, but I would bet it wouldn’t work fir her anymore. Ah well.
SOTD for me is a smidgen of vintage Le Dix EDT. When I first put it on, I swear I got leather from it. Now it has settled and become warm violets and something that might be aldehydes – I’ve never learned to identify them properly (which is part of the reason I wanted to sample Le Dix). Kind of like the odor of ironing? Sort of linen-y? I’ll keep sampling until I figure it out.
My mom switches these days too. At some point fairly recently she was wearing Bleu de Chanel, so obviously I have little influence 🙂
Clearly! 😀
Sampling La Chasse Aux Papillons which seems like it needs to go with a sunny day which is not what we are currently experiencing. Endless grey days make me go in for retail therapy– I’ve bought samples from Luckyscent and Indiescents and etsy all in the past week. Am resisting buying samples from Indigo since I’ll be there in 2 weeks and I want to be surprised by whatever will become my 100th bottle
Have fun TGR! I can’t even begin to guess what you’ll pick!
I’m going to sniff all the lines that I haven’t smelled because I haven’t seen them in NY or Boston (or haven’t explored) and hopefully there will be a winner (or two).
I’ve enjoyed Chasse Aux Papillons on a grey day, but it will be STUNNING if we ever get any sunshine again.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mommies out there. Mothers are amazing! I am who I am today because of my mom. She is the one that introduced me to fragrance. I still remember going into my mom”s room when I was younger and play around with her fragrances. My SOTD is Ysatis by Givenchy. My mom used to wear it years ago. I used to go and spritz myself with this from her room before I would go to school.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
awww..that is a great story!
Thanks!
Happy Mother’s Day! I have a bottle of Yves Rocher Tendre Jasmin for my mother. It’s exactly the kind of creamy soft jasmine that she loves.
I have been in a pink rose mood for the last few weeks. I brought along a whole slew of samples and decants on a recent trip to Germany….and all I wanted to wear was Diptyque Eau Rose. Today it’s Rose Ikebana!
I think pink rose mood is sort of my default — I always circle back to it, and have to fight it at times so that the rest of my fragrance collection doesn’t feel neglected. 🙂
Same here. Must be that time of year! 🙂
At the weekend I’ve taken to starting the day before I shower with the last sprays of a used sample, so I get to enjoy something and then wash it off and start again ‘for real’.
Today I started with “Infusion Assam” (Cloon Keen Atelier) and switched to Caron “L’Anarchiste” as I promised it a second chance when the warm weather came. Well the warm weather doesn’t stop it being thin and sour so out it goes. Now in SL “Chergui” but probably smelling more of a tasty burrito that ran all over my hands. :^)
Mmm, burrito… That’s not a bad smell at all. ????
Better than L’Anarchiste, that’s for sure. :^)
Happy Mother’s Day! I took a good sniff of my mom’s bottle of tea rose this morning to remember her. SOTD is Bottega Veneta.
So sweet!
Not a Mother’s Day here today (that will happen on 26th of May) but wishing all the best to mums who celebrate today.
I’m in Aqua Sextius by Jul et Mad today.
Really, the world should synchronize Mother’s Day.
Am still in bed in a veritable cloud of Bal a Versailles. Oops.
Love all your stories about your mothers. My feelings are complicated on the subject. But being a mother? I keep retyping my next sentence because I sound so cliched. I love my sons so fiercely and goodness they make me laugh.
No such thing as a “Bal a Versailles Oops” ????
It is a beaut!
Happy mother/son day. You done good!
Back at ya!
I think it was my father who gave my mother the few bottles of perfume on her dressing table. I remember Evening in Paris, Windsong, and Tigress (?), but I don’t remember her wearing them. We lived in the country, and my parents rarely went out. I rarely go out myself, but there is no outfit that can’t be improved by perfume. SOTD is Alien because I’m cleaning out the fridge and want to be armed.
No outfit indeed. On most days the classiest thing about me is my fragrance.
And does anyone have advice about shipping perfume abroad–or know of a site that is good?
From where to where, may I ask?
Sorry–U.S. to Netherlands
Ah–and do I gather correctly you’re open to ordering something online to be sent there? I’ve heard only good things about First in Fragrance, which ships from Germany. If I wanted to send something in a friend in Europe, that’s what I’d do. For shipping things myself from the US to Europe, I’m afraid I’ve only had really bad luck, sorry to report!
(Depending on what you had in mind, I think lots of individual brands will also send their sample sets to other European countries, like Juliette Has a Gun, Rosine, Maison Francis Kurkdjian–I’m sure others too.)
Thank you, C.H. I want to send a decant to a friend. Will try to read up on this.
Happy Mom’s to mothers all over! Happy weekend to the rest of us! Great Mother’s Day/Scent Stories above.
My own mom wore Eau de chain smoker of Pell Mall Reds with an occasional cover up spritz of YSL Opium. Very charming combo!
OOTD: flare jeans, platform sandals, a bright spring floral and paisley print peasant blouse, peyote stitch bracelet, various bangles and beaded necklaces, hair in a very messy messy bun, and a hefty spritz of Queen. I’m time traveling back to the 70’s today and it’s right on, baby!
I am proudly tobacco free. My mother would be so disappointed in me ????
Ah this is what my mother wore too, except menthol and without the Opium.
Love your 70’s Hippy outfit!
Ha.. one of my grandmas wore Eau de Chain Smoker too.. except I think hers were Marlboros.
Also your outfit sounds great.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers out there. My mother loved Anais Anais. I have a mini and I wear it occasionally to remember her. I am wearing Philosophy Tea Leaf.
Is that a new Philosophy scent? How do you like it?
My nose perked up as well ;-). A Fragrantica search turned up this perfume made in 2013, the same year as … Fresh Cream!
Yes, I googled it too! Surprise surprise! Tea, cream, and a honey scent as well, which I have never seen offered anywhere.
I have the Pure Honey scent too which is quite a nice honey fragrance. I don’t like vanilla so I skipped Sweet Cream.
Good to know, thanks????
Wearing Eau Sauve as I try to move through some samples. It’s very nice (and aptly named) but really not for me. Out it goes!
Hugs to everyone for whom tomorrow’s a weird or hard day.
I’m kind of glad you said this about tomorrow, and I second both the sentiment and the hugs to those who hurt.
<3
Me three.
I second the hugs, and may any hurts be softened by love, past present and future.
It’s so funny. Normally I wouldn’t even know it was morher’s day as my mother’s been gone for a long time and I don’t have children. This year I am super aware because of the perfume deals – of which I’ve been taking full advantage – but it isn’t a day that evokes great memories for me. So solidarity to those who share the ambivalence and true best wishes to the NST mothers and parents and caretakers out there.
Hear, hear, C.H.
Amen, C.H. Hugs to all.
Another beautiful and very warm day in Portland! Having a coffee and a bagel and then to the farmers market in Beaverton- the official summer opening is TODAY!
Happy Mother’s day to all the moms especially the new moms) on the forum! I do not have a good relationship with my mother, but I grew up with a great sense of style and to not say no to adventure!
Mom’s scent was Florida water +Chantilly in the summer and Tabu in the winter, with certain scents for going out, like Youth Dew.
Can’t decide whether I want to revel in this weather or wriggle in discomfort. I miss the gentle Oregon springs/summers of my youth!
Happy mother’s day from Paradise! SOTD is Dame Perfumery Passionfruit, Orange Flower & Vetiver, which goes well with the tropics. Going kayaking later, our only planned activity this vacation. Lazy lazy lazy, just what we need.
Fun — have a great time!
I credit my mother and my grandmother with my love of perfume.
The first scent memory I have is my grandmother’s Coty L’Origan and her Chanel No. 5. I used to go to her dresser perfume tray and try squirts of both of these fabulous fragrances. I own a bottle of both of them now, and use them regularly.
My mother wore Van Cleef & Arpels First and Bal a Versailles. I still have memories of her all dressed up in her gowns (my parents used to go to a lot of Mardi Gras balls), and her kissing us good bye. She would then go off with my Dad, dressed in his tuxedo/tails and we’d stay with the baby sitter. I tried wearing both of these perfumes, and they just don’t smell as good on me as they did on her.
I’m wearing L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse today.
What a nice memory!
Happy Mother’s Day to you all!
This morning I’m giving Osmanthe Yunnan one more try and will be officially giving up on it. I know it is meant to be light but I’ve just put it on now and have to inhale deeply nose-to-wrist to smell anything at all. Into the freebie meet pile it goes…
I can’t figure out how I feel about OY or about the Hermessence line in its entirety. I’ve been wanting light things in anticipation of summer, but these are sheer without quite being refreshing to me. Too sweet? Or is it something in the composition that can sometimes make me a little tiny bit queasy? I have the 12 ml of OY and three others, which I sometimes where happily to bed, but I doubt I’d ever get more.
Happy Mothers Day to all of u celebrating in the U.S.
My SOTD is Ostara, I received my partial 100ml bottle from eBay yesterday, and it was a bargain at £30! A big sparkly enabling pin goes to Haememelis, thank u!
The lovely uplifting smell of daffs and incense is really helping to cheer me up today, along with plenty of tea and cake.
It was me and my husbands anniversary yesterday, and his birthday tomorrow- it can be quite a struggle to enjoy these little land mark occasions when a loved one is seriously
ill, but good food and perfume certainly are helping me get through this tough time.
I’m so sorry, Mayfly. I hope you have good friends on hand as well as good food and perfume (Ostara + tea + cake sounds wonderful). Sending warm thoughts your way!
Thank u for you’re kind thoughts Isabella. I am very lucky to have lovely friends around me, as well as my wonderful hubby. I have some very close friends who live in my village too, which is such a boon.
The big days can be so hard in these circumstances. I am so sorry.
Thinking good thoughts for your husband’s recovery.
Sorry for confusion missionista, I wasn’t clear, but my husband is well thank goodness, and a wonderful support to me, it is my step mum who is really ill, and has very little time left.
Oh, happy anniversary and hope you find brighter times.
Went commando this morning to supervise an art reception, then took a spin through the antique store where I unearthed some lovely Aramis (aka Aromatics Elixir in a 3pc suit), the tiniest bit of which is now ruling the world from its spot on my wrist. Love it, love it, love it.
Nice, congrats!
Happy Saturday!
I am wearing Lipstick Rose today and feeling pretty. My David Austin rose I planted a few years ago had its first bloom open today. It is LOVELY. Yay!
My dad is coming over to talk gardening with me this afternoon. He is well-intentioned but can be difficult. Hopefully it will be pleasant enough. This is our first face-to-face since I got engaged, so hopefully wedding talk will go smoothly, too! Sigh. Family can be so complicated.
Sending you tranquility and fortitude! Hoping these–your garden and your wedding–are both topics on which he ultimately does not have control, so you can just nod and disregard any weird comments!
Such wise council! Keeping in mind what is in my control is really key. (Including reminding myself that he is who he is and will continue to be! I’m getting better at accepting that.)
Sigh, indeed. Glad your David Austen rose is thriving! Someday when we own our own home I intend to absolutely *smother* it in David Austen roses.
They are GLORIOUS, aren’t they?! I have a “Jude the Obscure” rose, and the bloom is amazing. And the scent! Spicy and strong. Can’t wait to see what it’s like when it’s covered in flowers. The single bloom is so fragrant.
I also planted a traditional climbing rose in back, which is already sending off 5 foot canes. I will need to figure out trellissing sooner than I expected!
Ooo — just looked that one up on their website. It’s a beauty, and if they actually do smell like “guava and sweet white wine” I’m probably going to need one in my life *before* we buy a house! Mmm, suddenly craving a wee glass of Sauternes…
There is definitely a boozy, overripe fruit note to the scent! And I’m so pleased the color is what I’d hoped it would be–a soft, apricot pink. You never know until it begins to bloom!
I love David Austin Roses, in my garden I have planted ‘Golden Celebration’, very large, deep yellow rose with an incredibly strong Tea fragrance, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, named for the amazing Gardner, this one has quite large, cerise pink roses, with a strong old rose fragrance, and ‘Jaques Cartier’ which is a medium pink old rose with a very strong fragrance.
I love the DA catalogue, and can happily spend an hour absorbing the pictures and descriptions, dreaming of which one to plant where next!
I definitely recommend going on their mailing list.
Jude the obscure is on my list!
Your roses sound wonderful! Clearly, I need to co-opt more yard space for roses. 🙂
Roses don’t do well in my latitude. Vicariously enjoying your stories, and googling all these beautiful varieties.
[waft, waft]
Here, take a sniff of mine!
Oh, isn’t difficult family the BEST?! [sarcasm]
Hang in there!
Thanks, bookgirl! We all survived the afternoon with limited awkwardness, so I’d call that a rousing success! I always find myself wishing for more connection, though.
Good luck with the family business! You have my sympathies. Remember that tomorrow will be Monday again, and you’ll be back to your world.
Looking back from the vantage point of my 60s, one of the great epiphanies of my life was the realization that you don’t have to like your family, you just have to love them. And that in some cases “love” is a verb rather than a noun–what you do rather than what you feel.
Good luck, and be strong!
Beautifully stated, Kismet.
Interesting distinction! I will try to keep it in mind. 🙂
Happy weekend to all! Happy Mother’s Day to the moms here!
SOTD is Pacifica Malibu Lemmon Blossom. My mom’s two longstanding perfumes are Oscar and YSL Opium, and so I associate them with her. Oscar doesn’t get a lot of perfumista love, but it smells lovely on her and works surprisingly well year-round for an oriental floral in the desert.
Happy Mother’s Day to all. If you are lucky enough to have a mother still living, please cherish her–trust me, you will miss her when she is gone. My mom was not the glam makeup and scent type, but I do remember bottles of Anais Anais on the dresser. But, my crazy Aunt Irene went for a heavy dose of Opium–put me off orientals for good!!
Wearing Dries van Noten and it is not for me–powder and some strange metallic something that I can’t identify but don’t like. Wallet happy, cash saved, this sample will get passed on….
The weather here is amazing – very warm and sunny. I’m wearing Desarmant to match the blooming lilacs.
Ah blooming lilacs. How lovely. Spring will arrive here at some point. It has to!
Where are you, Amy? On an unrelated note – I’ve just purchased A Little Life and gathering courage to start reading.
New England, which has been miserable for the past few weeks, rainy and grey and cold. Next week we are supposed to get into the 60s finally, with sun, and I for one am ready for it. Good luck with A Little Life, Annikky. And I should tell you I just bought Tokyo Bloom unsniffed as it was a deal, it sounds like something I’ll really like, and I trust you implicitly! Plus, summer!
Oh, god. Such responsibility! I hope you like it, but if it turns out to be a total waste of money, let me know – my bottle will be empty soon, so I can take it off your hands.
My knowledge of US geography is so poor – I’m trying to use NST to educate myself, to connect places with real life experiences. So I’m not a stalker, I have a noble cause!
Oh and I live in Cambridge Mass, just across the river from and in many ways just another part of Boston.
Ha! Stalker didn’t even occur to me. I am very curious where people here are from. I have, briefly, been in Tallinn and spent some time in Belgium (Antwerp mostly), so feel connected.
I’m afraid of A Little Life – the subject matter more than the book’s density. But I’ve heard great things…
There are good reasons to be afraid. I was a wreck during and for a while after reading and it still haunts me.
No lilacs in my garden, but plenty of sun. Dutch weather will never cease to surprise me: last week I was wearing a thick cardigan to keep warm, and now I’m down to a t-shirt and jeans, and still ‘hot and bothered’ as Pooh would say.
Happy Mother’s Day to all who celebrate. My mother wore Chanel #5, which was lovely on her, and is still on my sister. On me, shards of metal and glass.
I miss her every day. Being a mom is the best thing I’ve ever done, although I suspect I’m not a very good mother – perhaps too difficult and remote. So it goes. You try your best.
SoTD is Azemour, which lasted 30 minutes on this cold gray New England day. A friend brought Muguet Porcelaine from the UK – something to look forward to tomorrow.
In my experience the people with these kinds of self-doubts are better parents than those who think they are doing it all right. Not that there are many who think that way, but those who do display a kind of narcissism that is incredibly hard on kids. My guess is that you are doing just fine, and giving your child or children space to grow and become themselves. Don’t be so hard on yourself!
+1 for not being too hard on one’s self. 🙂
Well said Amy, I also think those who are sensitive and doubt themselves, are often better than those who don’t question what they’re doing.
What mayfly said. 😉
I agree.
Thank you, Amy, Tiffanie, Mayfly and Bookgirl. What a lovely Mother’s Day gift!
I hope you enjoy Muguet porcelain today!
Got some cleaning done today so I’ve only just put on perfume. I decided to break out my Oscar. I really only have it because my mom wore it when I was a kid, and I decided when I came across a small bottle at Marshall’s that I would like to have some, even if only for nostalgia. I don’t know if I love it on me, but the formulation seems similar enough to what she had that it does ring a bell, even though she hasn’t worn it in many years. I haven’t worn it around her, but I think it would be kind of funny to do it and see if she recognizes it.
She quit wearing it because she was scent-jacked by one of my aunts. My aunt started wearing Oscar too, and my mom didn’t like how it smelled on her, so that kind of ruined Oscar for her. After that I remember a period where she wore Chanel No.5, but I don’t think that lasted long.. not sure why, if it was the cost or that it just wasn’t for her or what. I’ve never asked. Nowadays she tends toward white musks. I’m not sure exactly what she wears.. I think it’s just a drug store body spray kind of thing, but it does smell good on her.
Now I have realized how strongly I associate white musks with her. I was in a Walgreen’s some time back and found a small bottle of Jovan Musk on clearance for a whopping $2.50. The box wasn’t sealed so I snuck a spritz in the store to refresh my memory of what it smelled like. And I had this flash like she was standing next to me. It was like I felt a presence like she teleported across town or something. It was weird. So I bought it.
🙂
Scent-jacked!
Good morning and happy Mothers’ Day! I love the way so many of you are recalling your mothers through their perfumes: mine wasn’t very perfume oriented, but did wear Blue Grass or Tweed. I think that maybe both were gifts for Christmas or birthday from my very young self, bought out of my saved-up pocket money. Even before I was a teenager, I thought that a pretty smell was an essential requirement of any day’s undertakings. I think mum was more dutiful than enthusiastic about the wearing, though.
I’m not a mother, and though I anthropomorphise the cats to a quite silly degree, I do draw the line at being “mummy” to them, so I didn’t receive any presents this morning, but Dakkie is using the vast expanse of his tummy to warm my toes, which is a rather charming way to start Sunday. I’m wearing Bel Respiro, and how gorgeous it is! I wish I were wearing something elegantly subtle in fine amethyst-grey Merino to match its mood of quiet introspection, but in fact, I’m in jeans and a trucker’s shirt because if Dakkie ever gets off my feet, I’m going to tidy the hall cupboard. No, really, I am–I’ve been ignoring its growing, maddening chaos for a couple of months. Or I could go out for coffee with the dear man, who is uttering all sorts of temptations…what a dilemma!
Go for coffee! The cupboard will still be there tomorrow, and the next day, and the next…
But the chaos will be there too…on the other hand, A Date! At my age , I gotta take ’em where I find ’em! I’m off out!
My cats would never deign to recognize me as their mother. I am their person, with all the ambiguity that epithet entails! I too vote for coffee. And you smell great.
The dear man says that Dakkie, for all he’s not a clever cat, has now trained me completely to respond to his cues for supply of food and cuddles, so yes, I too am a cat’s “person” . And the dear one belongs to Isabella, so we’re a matched pair.
Wearing chypre mousse on this cold, not at all spring-like day, one I sought out at the advice of a NST-er. Hajusuuri? I fell for it and now have a full bottle. I don’t always like the retro-apothecary look, but I really like this bottle so it’s sitting front and center now.
I’m not much for green scents and Chypre Mousse captured me, too, after I sampled in the Oriza Legrand sample set. Something about that green mineral mossiness is just enchanting.
It smells like it came from somewhere deep in the earth, doesn’t it? Almost brown in its greenness to me.
I love Chypre Mousse! Just the right amount of eartby green mossiness.
Can’t decide how I feel about Chypre Mousse, although I love earthy, herbal things (I’m a gardener…..). I initially hated it and had consigned my sample to the giveaway box. But after trying Dreams and Visions from Wing and a Prayer a couple of days ago I retrieved it to try it again. Think I’m going to like D&V and it also has that initial strong, medicinal blast that settles into a lovely drydown–it’s like a softer, more muted version of CP. There’s a commonality between them–don’t know what it is–moss? Mushroom? But where CP comes out of it’s shell with a hell of a yell, D&V is more reserved and wearable.
My mother was not much for scent. I suspect anything on her dresser was either a gift from us kids or a GWP from a department store. She had Revlon Intimate and Moon Drops, Evening in Paris, and Chanel No. 5, but I don’t associate a perfume smell with her, just powder and lipstick.
I’m wearing Bombay Bling today from the reverse swap and have applied it twice. At this rate my little bottle will be gone in a trice, but I love the fruity fun even if it doesn’t last long at all on me.
You smell great Foxbins!
You smell sunny and fun!
I don’t know if they ship worldwide, but check out the new bottles:
http://neelavermeire.com/phone/neela-vermeire-creations–eboutique.html
Happy almost Mother’s Day to all!
Just in time for the holiday, my almost three year old is threatening to bite us. It is quite strange. She hasn’t seen anyone bite anyone and we generally don’t have discussions about biting 😉 but, all of a sudden, she laughingly yet at times angrily, bares her teeth to show her intentions. Child development is so fascinating…a timetable somewhat independent of your best intentions.
Sampling Putain des Palaces today and am enjoying it while I avoid teeth.
“Adventures in Developmental Stages: The Smile Full of Teeth” ????
Your handle is AMAZING.
That is all. 🙂
This morning sampled Orange Sanguine, and got the numb lips chemical sensitivity reaction. UGH. Into the Pass it on Box it goes. Showered and then tried Memo Granada, which started off pretty sweet, but soon settled down to shifting array of orange blossom, bits of resin, some green things pleasant but unknown to me and then back to orange blossom again over the course of several hours, various retail stores and a garden center. I’m impressed and am keeping this in the Sample again Bowl….
I should try Granada again.
I looked up the notes, and it is supposed to have jasmine in it. Not what I think of as jasmine, but good in its own right. I want to wear it again soon, which is a little unusual for me. I would be interested to hear your take on it.
Scent of the Day: L’air du Temps EdT from an older bottle, the one with a gold screw-cap and tall neck over a flattened, wide-shouldered bottle.
I usually save L’air du Temps for evening, but had to wear it today when our family met my parents for brunch. When my mom and I hugged we both said “You smell wonderful!” at the same time. Today she wore jasmine essential oil. It’s fabulous.
Memory of the day: Mom wore perfume for dress-up occasions. I vividly remember the trail of her L’air du Temps or Chanel No. 5 Eau de Cologne from the 1970s, plus hairspray, powder, and lipstick. After she went out for the evening, I often went into her dressing room and sat at her vanity to breathe in the scented cloud left behind.
Thoughts for the Day:
Abraham Lincoln: “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”
Child: “Mom, do you think you’re doing a good job?”
Mother: “You’re still alive, aren’t you?”
Garrison Keillor: “Selective ignorance, a cornerstone of child rearing. You don’t put kids under surveillance: it might frighten you. Parents should sit tall in the saddle and look upon their troops with a noble and benevolent and extremely nearsighted gaze.”
To everyone who takes on the role of parent, I wish you joy and strength. You can do it!
I remind my son regularly that he is still alive 🙂
I wore Trefle Pur this morning for a bonding activity with my daughter–we went to clean up a polluted cove near our house. The kid is 6 and LOVES cleaning up trash. I may be the best mom ever for letting her play and work at saving the earth. I may be the worst mom ever for letting her hang out in what was almost certainly toxic waste…
Going to a town-wide rummage sale in the wilds of New Jersey tomorrow with my mom and child. Will be on the lookout for perfume!
You were just helping to build up her immune system and build character 😉 At least, that was always my parents’ excuse for letting me play in the canal or roam the old abandoned foundry. The good that your expedition did for her soul certainly balances any slight chemical exposure.
I am crying at all these comments and feeling so lucky to still have my mom…
As for someone who said she wasn’t a good mother, don’t be so hard on yourself, motherhood is one of the most difficult things in the world! Sometimes I feel so crazy and a bad mother. Let’s enjoy it and do our best.
My love for perfume came from my grandmother who would wear perfume on a cotton and put it in her bra.
When she died, my cousin, who is also addicted to perfume, sprayed some perfume on her body..
Tomorrow I will give my mom a jasmin perfume from Provence.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Since I have to be at work tomorrow, I am making my mother brunch. Since she has perfume and doesn’t really wear it, I didn’t get her perfume. Since she was complaining about not having any good underwear bras, I got her a VS bra and the matching undies since she “borrowed” a bra of mine, got her the exact same one but in a different color. Today was no 19 and tomorrow is Mitsouko.
Nice daughter!
My mother died just before Mother’s Day in 2002, so Mother’s Day is always a tough day for me. She loved perfume; when I was a kid I used to sneak spritzes of No. 5 or Shalimar or Mitsouko (or Halston or Rive Gauche or any of the 20 or so bottles she always had around). Pretty sure I inherited my love of fragrance from her.
That’s really hard — hope the day passes quickly then.
My husband’s mum passed away on Mothers’ Day in 2009, much too young, and it is very much on our minds this time of year as well. She wore several perfumes, including many of the bombastic ones of the 80s. But the one I associate with her most is Bulgari Pour Femme.
What a lovely association and Pour Femme is such a lovely perfume.
Happy Mothers Day to all who celebrate. My mother was allergic to scent. For a long time I didn’t really understand, and would try and sneak and wear perfume around her. She always knew. She told me though, that my father had given her a bottle of ” Ondine” probably in the late sixties, and that she did occasionally wear it. I don’t know this perfume. Does anyone here? I lost my mother four and a half years ago. Like many people, we had a complex relationship, but I miss her every day.
Lalique made a fragrance called Ondines, but it launched in the ’90s so that couldn’t have been it. Looks like the one your mother had might have been this:
Ondine was first introduced in 1954 by Suzanne Thierry of Paris. Named for the heroine of the Broadway play of the same year, Ondine, which starred a young ingenue actress, Audrey Hepburn, as Ondine.
It was classified as a floral fragrance for women.
Top notes: aldehydes, spices
Middle notes: rose, jasmine, ylang ylang
Base notes: patchouli, oakmoss
Forgot to mention that this info is per the Cleopatra’s Boudoir blog.
My God, thank you! That you went to the trouble to find this information for me, literally has me in tears right now. I just miss her so much.
I agree. That really was so sweet of her!
Awww, my pleasure! It’s lovely that you have such fond memories of her.
Can’t pass up the challenge. TPC has samples of the parfum… it sounds like it was a really special perfume.
http://theperfumedcourt.com/Products/Suzanne-Thierry-Ondine-Vintage-Parfum__Suzannethierryondineparfum.aspx
Thank you everyone! I am going to try and get a sample.
It sounds beautiful, doesn’t it?
It does! Kind of makes me want to try to track some down. I wonder if any still exists to find.
My mother wore Chanel No.5 over Jean Nate mingled with the scents of lipstick, Oil of Olay and cigarettes. We had not spoken for several years when she passed away two years ago. Reminders of her, including her scent, still strike a blow of love and pain. I am thankful to her for many things, including my love of perfume. But a stray whiff of Chanel No.5 when I’m not expecting it still makes me startle and look around for her.
Today I am actually wearing No.5 in tribute, because I miss her & wish things had been different.
I wish that for you too.
And I for you. We love our moms no matter how complex it is, yes? And actually, it was your post above that gave me the guts to write something about my mother instead of avoiding it. Thank you.
I’m so sorry. I too had an incredibly difficult relationship with my mother and while I know she gave me a lot — life itself and, in her case, much more — I’ve got a hard time with the ways many of our cultures insist we see motherhood. Parenting, caretaking, absolutely. But most of that I fear I got from my father and older brothers and sisters. There are no days celebrating the latter, alas.
And I am so glad, Olenska, that you have the emotional generosity to feel her loss.
I don’t remember my mother wearing perfume while I was growing up, but she does have a fair number of fragrances in her repertoire now (some of them I’ve turned her on to, like Marni and FM Cologne Bigarade).
I’m still loving and wearing Rose of No Man’s Land by Byredo. It’s by far my favorite of the line (Bal d’Afrique is another winner, and Pulp is pretty fun). Everything else I can take or leave.
It’s a good one and you smell lovely. I like Rose Noir and Mojave Ghost pretty well too, although there is something that makes them only sometime wears for me.
Commando at the moment. Just stopped in to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all the NST moms out there!
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers – in the traditional relationship and also committed nurturers.
I feel lucky to have my mom and be a mom, but continue to hope I am doing things differently. It’s a hard job. You may not get the real review for years and then it may not even be what you expected. Looking back and forward, providing safety and security on many levels, is so critical to motherhood. When mothers and children respect each other’s individuality and ” personhood” it’s just easier to grow loving bonds. Following in lockstep with parental aspirations and decisions kept a lot of order in past generations, but isn’t appropriate for our ever changing complex world.
My mom has some vintage Shalimar, Joy, Diorissimo, etc. I remember reviewing them siting on her vanity, and watching her get ready to go out with Dad. The makeup and perfume smells lingered in the house all evening. Those were the last good fragrances created, according to Mom. Gotta love it 🙂
My late & still much missed mum had classy & classic taste in pretty much everything – she wore Joy & Chanel No. 5 for most of her life, but I also remember finding a tiny bottle of something blue & creamy in her dressing table drawer – Soir de Paris comes to mind, but I wouldn’t swear that’s the correct name.
Maybe Je Reviens? My Mom had a tiny flat-round bottle of the Parfum and it was a blue color.
Happy Mother’s day everyone!
I had a question about Parfum Sacre. By trial and error I’m finding out that there are a couple of different formulations of the near-recent EDP. Actually there are two. Both are in the tall oval shaped bottle. One comes in a white box and has a white label on the bottle and the other comes in a purple box and has a purple label on the bottle. The white label seems to have much more top note emphasis and the dry down is less dimensional and more powdery. A generous NSTer sent me a decant from her bottle (the purple label) and it is much deeper/woodier and spicier than the white label PS. Both are EDP. I would like to get a fb of the richer PS but I’m worried that I’m wrong and will just get more of powdery one if I order a purple label bottle. Can anyone shine a light on my dilemma? Should I just suck it up and get vintage or extrait?
I’m sorry but I don’t know.
Sajini, there is somewhere on line an extended discussion of the purple vs white labeled bottles, with the observation that the quality varies. I actually got the white label bottle on the basis of that discussion, but it is a pale version of the original, in my opinion. If the original vintage is still available somewhere, I would get that to Msbe sure you get the effect of the original. I don’t know about current extrait version.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the NST moms.
We had our celebrations yesterday, which consisted of dragging my Mom to my in-laws place and going through piles of old jewelry that belonged to my MILs mom and two aunts. Most of it was broken pieces of junk stuff, but some of it was kitschy and interesting and a bit was nice. I ended up with a bizarre acrylic fishbowl pendant that I can use for self defense if needed, some huge purple wooden claw earrings that my husband inexplicably insisted on, and an equally strange but obviously custom made large gold pendant in the shape of a heart and complete with a cherub holding gemstones and filigree lace edges. I fear that my sense of humor has once again trumped my sense of style and I will be proudly sporting the awful Valentine fairly often (it really does look like something advertised in the back of a magazine circa 1987 or perhaps a plastic carnival prize).
My SOTD is Zoologist Hummingbird, which somehow matches the necklace in its (to me) borderline-retro floral exuberance. For some reason, it makes me think of Avon scents from my childhood. I suspect there’s a hidden scent memory there someplace, but I love it in any case and will be through my sample too soon.
Starting a week of Chypres (or at least what Fragrantica says are chypres, including floral and fruity sub-genres). Today’s is Chanel “Pour Monsieur” as I already have a FB, which I’ve been neglecting.
Deep love of chypres. Can’t wait for your daily updates! Is your version of PM old or new?
It is new and, perhaps on that account, lasts a few hours at best. A nice floral citrus on me while it lasted, lovely in today’s warm sun but I enjoyed it as much back in the January cold. I re-applied during the day and in the evening sprayed Amouage Sunshine Man over it, which worked well. :^)
Ha! I’m also starting my week of chypres from Fragrantica (Chypre, Floral Chypre and Fruity Chypre)) and Angela’s post on old school chypres and the comments. Today’s SOTD = Chanel No.19 EDT. I finally opened my bottle – kinda strange that the top corner was dented on a brand new bottle! Anyway, so far so good. I used a light hand (2 spritzes) right before leaving for church and I know I need to double the dose or use at least as much as the EDP (5 spritzes) for it to last all day.
Reading these posts has been a bit heartbreaking. I believe there is nothing more difficult than the ups and downs in family relationships. My prayer is for hearts that need healing today. Much love to all of you perfume lovers!
Trying Terre Eau Tres Fraiche today–again, not for me but I’m collecting samples for a budding perfumista friend who appears to be my evil scent twin, so all’s well that ends well!
I like this one by itself or layered with Mandarine Basilic (a happy accident at an airport).
Even if not something I’d wear much (have too many light colognes already), I def think TETF is very nice–maybe indeed I would like it better with some Mandarine in there!
I just realized I misposted — the happy accident was I accidentally spritzed on the regular TdH when I wanted the Eau Fraiche. To correct that mistake, I added Mandarine Basilic and all was right with the world. Eau Fraiche by itself is great.
Ohh–isn’t that interesting, I totally see how the original plus a little more herbal-citrus = Eau Tres Fraiche! Yes in any case, all involved are very nice and rather compatible. I’ll make sure to pass along these ideas if my friend likes the one I’ve got on hand for her!
Monday! Erk. I’m doing a “wear a dress” challenge this week, just because, so I’m starting off in a little black drop-waisted affair that should suggest the 1920s but somehow completely manages not to. It’s quite nice, though. I’ve teamed it with Bois des Iles, and now I’m waiting to start feeling lady-like….isn’t happening. Oh well.
I’ve loved your posts this weekend. You all smell delicious, and your comments about mothers, mothering and being mothered have been gentle and wise. And now I must bound off to work, there to attend to a myriad of small matters that, increasingly, fail to grip my interest or convince me of their importance. I really am moving ever closer to the door.
Happy Sunday Funday/Mother’s Day/Whatever Day Applies to You!
All quiet on the tropic front, a low key day buzzing around the swamp wearing CSP Coco Figue, which is, as the name implies, quite tropical and beachy. It’s frothy, simple, and laid back, which is just what I needed today.
I’ll be celebrating the day by taking my 4 legged child for a walk when it cools down and the sun sets. We’ll be wandering amongst the banyan trees, thinking not so deep thoughts, and doing a whole lotta sniffing, piddling, and other (not so fun) doggy stuff, like practicing our obedience commands amidst a lot of distractions, all while people watching and greeting anyone and everyone like he/she is my new bestest friend. It’s a tough life for little red cow dogs!
Hoping everyone had a fab weekend????
Lil’ Red will learn fast tho!
Muguet Porcelaine just hit the Vancouver Hermes, and I had a sniff today. It’s pretty, a bit cucumbery, and as always lasted maybe 45 minutes. P.S. Mayfly, I am still gutted that I will be missing the London sniff-fest by a few hours! You will have to report back about how it goes…
Back again on Sunday in my Mothers’ Day Chanel No. 5 body oil ( the post-its and emails paid off).
Last night I dropped off my 15 year old at his first “Ball,” excited and nervous. He had to walk through a gaggle of long-legged, short-skirted, mile high heeled girls who all looked like they were in their 20s, giggling at the curb. He took a deep breath, said good bye and got out of the car. His last-year’s tie and jacket looked a little tight, but maybe I am the only one who noticed. I held my breath, but he was fine. Relaxed, smiling and chatting with the lovelies. As I drove away I thought of his patient acceptance of a spritz of Chergui from his worrywart mama before we left home. I think the hardest thing about parenting is that our children don’t always need the gifts we give them, but we do.
Oh, I love that you gave him a spritz before he went out! He might not appreciate it, but the lovely girls will!
Any thoughts about Atelier Figuier Ardent?
It sort of hurts my nose, an experience I’ve been having even with Atelier’s I previously liked. I’d love to know why.