You're going on a road trip. You can go anywhere that you can reach in about a day's driving from your house. Tell us...
1. Where are you going?
2. What's the perfect fragrance to wear in the car?
3. What other fragrance(s) will you bring with you, and what will you do when you get there?
4. Is there any perfume shopping at your destination, and if so, what will you buy?
What? No pantone?!
I am lucky enough to live in driving distance from pretty much any kind of environment you’d wanna visit, as long as it isn’t tropical.
SO. . . if we go to the mountains, like my beloved Mt. Rainier, I would suggest wearing OJ Woman to blend in with the wonderful evergreen forests along the way. And I can speak from experience that this one is lovely when worked into a seat belt from heavy application to your décolletage! No perfume shopping up in the park, but go ahead and crush some wild mint between your fingers, or maybe some Doug fir needles, and give them a big sniff. And be sure to smell the earthy-moist air if you’re lucky enough to get rain on a hot day! Spend the days hiking, driving around looking at beautiful things, and depending on the season, either stomping through the snow or gently exploring the brief, brief spring flowers (stay on the trails!!!). Get some hot food at Paradise Lodge when you need a break. Maybe go in search of a marmot, if you need more on your agenda.
But if this doesn’t sound to your liking, feel free to go to the beach, or wander through Vancouver, BC, or go play in the high desert. . .
And I forgot–I went on an AMAZING road trip to the Hanford Reactor B site a few years ago! American citizens can get security clearance to visit the (now out of commission) nuclear reactor where they purified Uranium for the atom bombs used in WW2. It is like a time capsule there–you’re sent straight to 1943 when you walk into the doors. What scent does one wear to a nuclear reactor?! I’m thinking L’Air du Desert Morracain, for the dusty, dry heat of eastern Washington. But it would be nice to wear something with a tinge of metalic notes. . . maybe add a dose of aldhehydes on top?
Ha! My husband has been to 30+ nuclear reactors, and Hanford more than once, I think. Maybe we can return to the area. Finally there is a perfume topic he will be interested in. I’ll let you know
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Love to hear what he thinks!
L’Artisan Explosions d’Emotions. It has some gunpowder note. He really liked the thread and discussing a perfume. Yay!
Super fun! Before you know it, you’ll be dabbing samples on each other’s hands and discussing impressions!
Maybe ELdO “La Fin Du Monde” for the nuclear aesthetic – I don’t think it’ll give you those notes though.
Yeah, it’s not exactly an *uplifting* vacation spot, but very informative. It’s hard for me to get my mind around the thousands of people who worked there in secret towards that single goal.
CdG Stephen Jones.
Good call, with the fizzy metal note!
Love that one and were it in a 100ml bottle or priced less I would own it.
Mmmm, I miss Mount Rainier! I used to go there at least once a month and wander the trails and hope to spot a bear (I never did, but I found some blueberry bear poops one day). I loved going to the Paradise Lodge afterwards and getting a hot chocolate and drinking it in a rocking chair on their big porch, watching the alpenglow creep up the glaciers.
Huckleberry season is the BEST season for bear spotting, for sure!
I used to work at Paradise over my summers. Never got tired of it! So, so beautiful.
Had not been doing Pantone on the weekends, but yes, going to give Pantone a rest for a bit
Plus, I want that car.
It’s a very cute car.
Funny, there’s a Beetle that exact color in my neighborhood. it looks so cute in person.
1. I used to road trip all the time around Texas but now that my car is over 100k miles I let others drive. I haven’t been San Antonio in years though so I’d go there. Apparently it’s having a sort of Renaissance.
2. I’d have to wear something light on the trip so I don’t kill anyone. Maybe Paprika Brasil. The host it is, the better it smells.
3. I have an old friend in San Antonio so I would love for her to show me around. She went to Trinity and apparently it’s gorgeous. Probably wouldn’t bring too many perfumes. Maybe Borneo for the evenings to scare off the bugs. And a vintage chypre, maybe Diorella.
4. If they have niche perfumery there (if so, I’ll expedite my trip!) I’d get something from CdG or EdLO, on the low price point. I’d love some Zagorsk or Like This.
That Sothis be “hotter” not “host.”
Should be. Crikey.
I did a cross country road trip that went through San Antonio, years ago! Only time I’ve been there. Don’t remember anything now except a) HOT and b) lovely dinner on the Riverwalk.
I was in San Antonio in January of ’15. Dinner on the Riverwalk big thumbs up, Alamo museum within walking distance of our hotel thumbs up. It was about 45F and rainy, and all the San Antonians were talking about how COLD it was, while we were walking around in light jackets…
I lived in Trinidad for a few months. One day it went down into the 20’s (Celsius) and my cleaning lady came to the door in an overcoat, wooden hat and gloves.
Actually her hat was wool, but a wooden hat would have been interesting.
Once it hits 60’s here in Houston all the rich ladies pull out their furs. It’s pretty funny actually.
That’s how I felt about those Ugg boots in LA when they were all the rage. If the weather was below 71, the Uggs were on.
It’s hot here in Houston too. I hate it. My face melts, my perfume wilts, clothes stick to you going from car to building. Sometimes I wish I lived in Alaska.
The things I remember when I visited San Antonio was margaritas and the riverwalk
Your dream trip has me humming that old Monkees song: “What am I doin’ hangin’ ’round? / I should be on that train and gone / I should be ridin’ on that train to San Antone / What am I doin’ hangin’ ’round?…”
My first car was a 1971 Super Beetle of the same hue as above, only not a convertible and with one orange door. This followed a strange tradition in my family: my father had a beige Beetle with one red door, and my sister had a bright yellow Beetle with one sky blue door.
I love that!
If I get a day trip, I’m probably going to head to Portland, with a hiking stop at one of the beautiful parks in Washington state.
In the car it is magically summer, instead of whatever this business is outside, so I’m refreshing the environment with Nicolai Eau d’Ete.
Once in Portland, I’d catch up with some old pals, eat amazing food, and maybe even stop in a thrift store or two.
On this (hopefully eventual!) trip I’m not bringing along much else in terms of scent, because I have heard of several important stops for perfume browsing…
We have a new perfume shop in town–Fumerie Parfumerie–run by the two best SAs from The Perfume House! Must be sure to stop in when you’re in town.
And I haven’t even been to mothership, either. WIll definitely put it on the dream trip list…
Oooh, when I return from vacation, I will email the NST Portlanders as I will be there Aug 4-7 and would love to meet up on Friday, August 5th in the afternoon / evening!
Yes! Let’s make it happen.
Woo hoo!
Yes! I would love to meet you. Am putting it on my calendar now.
Fabulous!
Oh, and today I am wearing generous spritzes of petite rien, because it’s rainy and I’m going on a walking tour. Thought incense-y musty goodness would be appropriately historical.
Ooh! We had this trip planned last year and had to postpone. Hope to visit Portland soon. How many days would work so it’s not rushed?
Good question…I think from here (Vancouver BC), I’d want at least 3 days…
Just visited the Portland Nordstrom – they now have Tom Ford Private Collection!!! They also have Bond No.9 and Jo Malone – so if you are interested in any of those I highly recommend a visit.
Fair warning – the SAs are fairly assertive and not always knowledgeable. For example, today an SA came out of nowhere, sprayed a tester paper with one of the Pure perfumes, and recommended it to me while I was contemplating Hermes 24 Faubourg. However, they are generous with samples and you can always find somebody to assist.
Because I get car sick really easy (I suffer from motion sickness), I probably couldn’t go much further in one day past New Orleans. I live in Houston, so being in the car for about seven hours is probably as much as I can handle in one day. I like to fly! So , New Orleans it is.
– What’s the perfect fragrance to wear in the car?
I would probably wear Bronze Goddess – perfect summer scent
– What other fragrance(s) will you bring with you, and what will you do when you get there?
I would probably bring Pulp and Jasmine White Moss – all season appropriate and statement scents; off to Bourban Street to enjoy good music and great food!
– Is there any perfume shopping at your destination, and if so, what will you buy?
NO has a huge shopping mall located in their downtown area. I’m sure my friends and I would stop by…..as always, I stop by perfume areas, but would not be looking for anything in particular. But, if I see something there that I can’t get in Houston, I would probably get it.
Two of my favorite road trips ever included long stops in New Orleans. Don’t forget Hove & Bourbon French!
I tested my 1st Hove scent yesterday – Hove Vetiver. Very nice grassy take on the note.
I had a busy morning at the farmers market and came home and made some caprese salads- there is nothing like a eating a tomato in season. Right now I am making some Iranian rice cookies from Victoria’s recipe over at BDJ. I used orange blossom water in a batch.
Hmmm.. Road trip…
I would be driving an old 1969 Jaguar, with a very beautiful hat on and wearing Shangri La while driving in Charleston (I have never been) I will stop for some sweet tea, in one of those very fancy historic houses and in my imaginary road trip, they would bring oils and essences to me as a create a southern perfume masterpiece. I would also be wearing fancy lace gloves and a deep cherry lipstick. Wafts of Shangri la are all around me as I drive off to head to the beach.. There I will look for stones and sand dollars and smell the salty air. The end
Sounds perfect, and I’m intrigued by the rice cookies…
They are great, but crumbly but good with tea. If you have a gluten allergy (which I don’t) you can eat these! I ground fresh cardamon in a mortar and pestle so the whole kitchen smells like that
Have not yet had a caprese this year! My husband refuses to eat tomatoes until our own are ripe, so I’ve got a bit of a wait. Enjoy your meal!
Just came home with Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes from the farmers market and can’t wait to turn them into salads!
Your road trip sounds much more classy than the one I’m imagining, but I do like your ideas!
Wow what an image and what a road trip! Sounds pretty spectacular.
For some reason I’m picturing Mia Farrow in The Great Gatsby. Fun fantasy trip!
Wonderful!, this sounds like my kind of road trip too!
Its nice to dream and imagine!
Surely that’s a Pantone gray you’re sneaking in on us, Robin. Maybe you have to have a graphics background to appreciate Pantone colors; I don’t think I would ever tire of them. 1. My road trip is a short one, just to Niagara Falls, which is about an hour away. I don’t think I could ever tire of the Falls either, with their thrilling power, the mist from their spray, and their range of Pantone colors that changes with the sky. 2, 3. I think I’d wear JM Sea Spray and Neroli (is that the name I want?) in a travel spray because I’d need to renew it during my visit. Of course I’d walk near the water on both sides , getting as close as I can to the rushing green tumult and imagining I was a Native American in the early 18th century, alone and awestruck by the mighty waters. In this century I’d avoid the Maid of the Mist, alas, which was exciting until I had my first experience with seasickness. 4. There might be a perfume shop on the Canadian side, but I don’t think so.
Maid of the Mist!! I was 8 years old and terrified!
Ha, well things do have colors — even if they are not labeled by Pantone — and that car happens to be a perfect color
Sounds refreshing – I still get that breathless feeling when I visit Multnomah Falls, so I can only imagine what Niagra Falls will be like. It’s on my list of things to see!
Also, do you mean JM Wood Sage and Sea Salt? Do you layer Neroli over it?
I would love to do the road trip just completed by a NSTer: the California Coast, ideally from LA to where we have family in WA. This means, of course, I would start at the Scent Bar but then seeing the coast, Big Sur, and all the things I don’t know about in between. See friends in SF and Oakland, then some more natural beauty.
This would have to be a nice long trip, which makes perfume packing very hard for me. What to bring? How much variety? How do I know what I am going to be in the mood for a week from now? I am actually stymied at the moment. Eek.
Such a gorgeous trip! Better as a passenger than a driver, I must say — the views are so spectacular and at times the road is too dangerous to look, if you’re driving.
I don’t drive! So all passenger-ing for me.
Passengers often seemed to be terrified, believing we were going over the edge or about to scrape a cliff, but when driving I just kept my eyes on the road and drove with perfect confidence.
So west coast casual for the trip. Sel Marin and Costarela and Corsica Furiosa to reflect the coast. Mohur for a rose hit when I need it. Nanban or Cuirs for cosy hits of wood and spice. Iris Cendre just because I go nowhere without it. Bergamoss and Shangra-La because a couple of naturals seem in order.
One of my favorite places to stop near Big Sur is Pfeiffer beach
I just found out that Miami is a day’s drive from my home, so I would head to Miami. I would only take one fragrance with me – Escentric 02. It always works for me in the heat, my husband loves it (important when you’re in the car together!) and I have a 100 ml bottle that seems bottomless, so I can reapply with abandon. What would we do? Go to the beach, drink mojitos (or gin and tonics) and eat! The food was so good the last time I was there. Oh, and without question I would shop for perfume. I have a feeling that a Tom Ford would be very setting appropriate – I like Neroli Portofino a lot, so maybe that could be one of my souvenirs? I would not be able to skip Hermes. I would really want to go to Barney’s to get a bottle of Iris Silver Mist, but I would have absolutely no desire to wear it in Miami in the summer, so it might not be a priority.
The Hotel Victor in Miami Beach blows Neroli Portofino through the AC system! I was on an tour of the Art Deco hotels and had to ask what fragrance was in the lobby and how it got there. I wonder if there is a similar residential system? ( if cost is no object!)
OMG how amazing.
When I become Queen of the World, this will be installed everywhere!
No way!
That is insanely decadent. And now I know where I will stay if I do take this road trip!
There’s a great small perfume store in Miami that sells niche brands. Babalu I think it’s called. I’d go there too!
I spent a week in Miami one winter with a few other law students and a Jesuit priest/lawyer putting together asylum claims for Haitian refugees. The people we met were amazing, the food was fabulous, and the music so much fun. Speaking of road trips, we drove down from Boston in a bus leant to us by the Jesuits. Not much sleep, but an excellent journey all ways round. I am sorry that I have never made it back.
This day tripper lives in Southern California, so any direction works for me.
I bought a red car with a sunroof for my 60th birthday a few years ago, so with the roof open, I would head to Santa Barbara or maybe Ojai, although the temps are high there right now.
I would stop for fresh sweet cherries and strawberries from the road stands along the way around Oxnard.
My fragrance would be Tauer Incense Flash, it makes me happy.
Probably visit a beautiful mission or two and a walk along the waterfront if there is a Saturday arts and crafts show. Correction, there is always an arts and crafts show, so maybe a glass blown perfume bottle.
Sounds like a perfect trip.
What a funny poll.
1. Positano! 24h should be enough to get there from Poland.
2. Hermes Eau de Neroli Dore or Atelier Cologne Mandarine Glaciale.
3. Definitely more citrus fragrances and something with mint and/or lavender notes.
4. I would probably buy some nicely scented soaps from local producers
SotD is Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial, to celebrate my Mum’s birthday
Happy Birthday to your mom!
I’m actually embarking on a day-long road trip in a couple of days, from Sonoma down to my home town on the Central Coast. The drive will call for something light and refreshing and cheerful to take the edge off the miles of freeway, so I’ll be splashed in Santa Maria Novella Caprifoglia or Eau de Pamplemousse Rose. No perfume shopping once we’re there, but plenty to smell — the sun-warm coyote brush and the sweet, fruity hummingbird sage, the heaven smell of the sycamores along the creeks, the yerba buena hugging the ground in the crunchy oak woods. And my father’s cooking — sautéed garlic and shallots, mesquite smoke from the barbecue, mustardy vinaigrette. Miles of hiking, cross-country, grass seeds poking us in the ankles; dipping my little creampuff’s tiny toes in the ocean and hopefully showing him his first sea anemone; a trip to the Mission to see the Chumash baskets and breathe in the incense and candle soot soaked into the old, old timbers.
I wish I could be your passenger. It sounds like heaven, and I love how you can identify the plants and their scents. When I lived around Glen Ellen many years ago, there was a weed that cattle never touched with a wonderful scent. I thought it was known as tar weed. Do you know what I mean?
Yes, there are a couple of non-native aster thingies around here known as “tar weeds,” mainly in the genus Hemizonia, and they’re very fragrant (though “wonderful” is in the nose of the beholder).
Glen Ellen! What a gorgeous spot. Especially when the mustard is in full color.
Awesome trip.
I could just about make it to lake Geneva and spend some time in Evian. I would bring Eau d’Eté and maybe Bvlgari Pour Femme, and not do any perfume shopping. Would buy a lot of soaps as there used to be a great local soap maker in that area. No perfume shopping, just a lot of visiting of local markets that will smell fresh cheese, fruit and vegetables.
I would love to come on this trip. I lived in the Jura for around 18months and grew to love Geneva and the lake. I would wear Pohadka because it is inspired by the terraces and vineyards on the Swiss side. I would eat Morbier cheese with crusty bread washed down with Evian water. Bliss.
Mmm, morbier!
You know, I’ve never actually visited Geneva although I’ve driven though it countless times on my way to France. Lake Geneva is so beautiful, and Evian is the best place to relax. I think I would have some Beaufortain and Reblochon and probably some red wine to go with these potent cheeses. Whereabouts in the Jura did you stay?
I actually did the road trip from Paris to and around Geneva and then to Annecy with my husband and a couple of amazing friends, the slow way because we were young and had time, which is so much better than money. Everything was full of snow and we were a bunch of clueless Brazilians who had to learn at that very spot how to drive in such conditions, so we took the smallest roads and drove real slow, stopping by every bridge over a rapid, little village or old church. So much beauty, so much fun and such great cheese, indeed!
Funny that you say that. I too have been thinking that time is becoming more precious than money… With friends and family it is the most valuable thing in my life. (I say this with all due respect to those who first need food and a home, safety, and health–of course those provisions must come first.)
Agree! Thank you for the precision. I was just remembering how broke we all were, no money to go to a simple restaurant, for example, but we were able to change our hearts and stay a week longer getting to know the Jura… Of course, a broken “grown up”, with kids, bills, mortage and responsabilities is something entirely different!!
1) I would take a trip to Cleveland. It’s been gussied up for the Republican National Convention, and spirits are high after LeBron James helped the Cavaliers win the NBA championship. It’s actually a scenic trip through Western Maryland and Pennsylvania.
2) Hiram Green Voyage. Any of his fragrances would do, but Voyage will work best in a car with others.
3) With friends from high school I would revisit the best Dairy Queen ever and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’d love to hear The Cleveland Orchestra at the outdoor Blossom Music Center. After yesterday’s project, I think packing the Atelier citrus fragrance samples would offer fragrance flexibility.
4) Indigo Perfumery is a Cleveland fragrance destination, which really indicates that the city has improved since I left. I mostly hope I can meet Ann if she’s there, but also sniff the Kelly and Jones line that I haven’t noticed anyplace else.
If you ever do come The Land let me know! I need an excuse to check out Indigo. I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t been yet.
So where is this mythical DQ?
Mythical is a good description, because of old memories. The last time I was there they still had not tampered with the custard formula . Some places seem to dilute it. Chagrin Blvd just east of I271. But, there’s probably one somewhere near Indigo
When I first got chatting to US Americans (on the old Punk List back in the mid-’90s) one of the things that amazed me was that people thought nothing of driving for hours, or even a day, to go to a show or whatever. Whereas for me growing up in a very small country, going 3 or 4 hours would take you coast to coast and (culturally) driving 45 minutes was more than people considered worthwhile except for a special occasion.
Anyway, I live in a bigger country now, but even so I wouldn’t drive for a day, too much hassle and flying would be faster and maybe even cheaper. For the sake of the poll though:
1. I’ll drive up to the West of Scotland to see some friends I haven’t seen for ages.
2. I’ll wear Profumum Roma’s “Acqua di Sale” because it won’t choke my partner, in fact we both like it.
3. If a weekday, I’ll bring 2ml samples to fit the Friday community theme for the week. If for the weekend, I’ll bring some decants that I have been neglecting.
4. Is there decent perfume shopping in Glasgow? Not according to Google. DS & Durga so some perfumes that reference that part of the world, but I think they do so from the cosmopolitan comfort of New York.
SOTD today is Vero Profumo “Onda” in EDP, from my recently acquired FB. I smell of honey and other nice things! It might be a bit much on a hot day, but today is grey and cool and autumnal.
You smell amazing.
Here hee, really enjoyed reading about you’re trip- don’t imagine there is much in the way of perfume shopping in Glasgow.
Thanks for sharing your viewpoint as a non-American. It’s pretty amusing to realize things I take for granted are actually unique to my culture. Probably why I enjoy traveling so much – is it weird to get a kick out of culture shock?
I like to think it puts things in perspective, and helps me appreciate the little things, and of course second-guess and maybe improve how I do things.
That said, I actually share your sentiment for road trips. For the most part they are tiring, uncomfortable, and unnecessary. For me, they are also reminders of my grandfather, methods to see the most spectacular sunsets and sunrises, and adventures.
I find the cultural differences amusing as well. For years, I drove between 120 and 180 miles (round trip) daily for work/school, and still think nothing of driving for more than an hour an hour to get to the grocery store.
I am heading to the Jersey shore (Spring Lake) next weekend and staying there for 1 week. In the car I will wear Sel de Vetiver by The Different Company to put myself in the vacation mood with green and salty notes. I will bring with me Bond No.9 Fire Island and Bobby Brown Beach for that beach feeling. Aqua di Sale by Profumum and Aqua Motu by Comptoir Sud Pacifique for the salty notes that I love. And Chanel Eau de Cologne and Bel Respiro to experience closer the beauty of the Victorian houses and green gorgeous lawns. Looking forward impatiently for a relaxing and fun week!
Sounds perfect, have a great time!
Thanks a lot Robin ????.
My typical destination whenever given the choice would normally be NYC. However, I have lately been craving an extended stay somewhere deep in the woods. I’m not a camper, so it would have to entail a fully-appointed cabin complete with hot and cold running water. Perhaps the Hocking Hills here in Ohio or Cook Forest in Pennsylvania? I don’t think I would wear perfume at all on this trip. I want to smell only the natural forest smells.
I will have to look up Cook Forest — despite living in PA almost 20 years now, I do not know the state as well as I should.
Oh how exciting!I love roadtrips!I’m about 9 hours away from the South Coast of Durban in South Africa,I’d love to drive there once more.This time of year it will start with the frosty mornings in Pretoria,through the snow-covered Drakensberg mountains,ending up in the lush,tropical and humid Durban-area.Maybe I’ll visit fellow perfumistas Ida or Sharon who lives there.The variety of climates I’llbe driving through offers an opportunity to wear and pack scents from all seasons!Bronze Goddess definitely for going to the beach at my destination,L’Eau d’Hiver for the snow-watching,Iris Silver Mist for the frosty start.I know there’s a Lush store near Durban so I’ll pop in there for something-something probably.Merlin:Are you coming with??
You’re reminding me of the great time we had in SA. Drove from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga (sp?) for a wedding. And did the safari thing. Also spent a few days in Capetown. Loved it!
Wonderful!!Correct spelling even haha!!And you saw the best most vibrant parts!!I lived in Mpumalanga for a couple of years,near the Numbi gate to Kruger Park.I love this country!
What a cool place to live! I think we saw more up-close wildlife in Mpumalanga than we did in Kruger.
I would love to go back and explore more.
We would welcome you back of course!I am glad you had a good experience,Africa can be tough!x
Spent a week in Mpumalanga several years ago. Loved it, and, like Elisa, I’d love to go back.
Great trip! I drove from Johannesburg to Margate & Durban with a stop at the Drakensberg mountains as well many years ago. Didn’t make it to Cape Town unfortunately, but did see the Oribi Gorge and Kruger Park while we were there. Lovely countryside and even lovelier people.
Oh nice!You did almost my exact fantasy trip then!So cool!Hehe!Cape Town would be a two-day drive from me,but yes,the scenery actually makes it worth it to drive rather than a quick 2-hour flight!
1. I would like to go to the Cincinnati Oktoberfest again. It’s the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany. Since I live in the Cleveland area, it’s not that far away. I’ve got to be the only Clevelander that is so sick of hearing about the Republican National Convention.
2. It really depends on the time of year. But in mid September, Jicky is a good choice, so is no 19. Both wouldn’t annoy any car mates.
3. I would probably take with me no 19 and probably vintage Bal. Can’t live without some kind of skank on hand.
4. I don’t know if Cincinnati has any good perfume shopping, so I would give that a pass.
It would take all day and a ferry ride to get there, but I’d love to road trip back to the wild coast and Tofino. This has the most fun and slightly scary drives I’ve done with hairpin turns and overhanging rock walls.
I’d probably wear something that makes me think of non-tropical beachiness like Eau des Merveilles or Sel Marin.
There are no perfume shops there, nor many shops of any kind but that’s ok since the natural smells of ocean and forest are grand on their own.
Since I’m wearing SSS Equestrian, I’d do the south to north drive up the California coast and go visit Laurie Erickson’s studio in Sonoma.
My real trip in August will be an hour drive from Brooklyn to Bayshore Long Island where we’ll board the ferry to Fire Island and spend 4 days in a car-free universe, bike around the island, watch deer, swim in the ocean, read, and eat. I’ll mostly be wearing Deep Woods Off! But I might have to by a little more Equestrian since it’s right up my dried grass and hay alley. This is really a mellowing, cimfort scent.
How are you liking Equestrian? Can’t wait to give it a whirl.
I like it. It’s mostly hay and red apple(but very natural smelling) up top, and an amnesty, mossy, leather in the base. Reminds me a shred of Tabac Aurea.
Ha! That’d be “ambery”
I’m heading two hours south of Dunedin to Curio Bay, in the Catlins. This is the site of a fossilised forest that dates back to the Jurassic period, when NZ was part of Gondwanaland and joined to Australia and Antarctica. This area was once a flood plain and is scattered with fallen trees and stumps that today form part of the coastline. Take a look on google images – it’s super cool. Because the coast faces south, and the next land fall is the Antarctic, it tends to be cold and windy in winter. The trees are stunted and the canopies are windformed, all leaning across the land. I will see New Zealand sea lions, mollymawks, petrels and possibly a very rare native dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin. Big surf, rata edged estauries and stunning rock pools. And the best bit? I am really going there today! Wearing Chanel 5 Eau Premiere dabbed behind my ears ( atoning for yesterday’s excess) and wearing every stitch of clothing. No people, no shops, just a blast of kelp and salt air. Magic.
Please can I come too? I’ll cook, if you lke.
This sounds so incredible. Have an amazing trip!
What an amazing trip, I’m so jealous!
I love the coast in winter… I can stand at the edge of the sea and pretend I am on a huge ship racing across a freezing green ocean. Enjoy!
1. I’d drive to NYC and meet up with the resident sniffy gang there.
2. I’d remain scent free (a blank canvas for later spritzing and experimenting) But may use a little Le Labo Santal 26 room spray to freshen up the fine interior of my self driving Tesla. It’s my fantasy so the SD Tesla is a hundred percent safe. It is also self NYC free parking spot creating.
3. I would bring all the perfume I want to offload to give away to NYC sniffy gang members.
4. Twisted Lily, Aedes, Bergdorf, Osswald, Le Labo etc etc.
Oh and The Goddess Rena is coming with me (hope she likes Santal 26. )
Please can I come too? That would be an amazing day and unlike any I have ever experienced.
Lucky for you, it’s a self-driving Tesla Stretch Limo! And since it’s self driving, we can all have champagne cocktails on the way. Hop on in!
Count me in too!
Oh, fun! So when’s this happening? I’ll pen you in.
Hahaha! It’s a party!
Sniffy gang! That made me smile from ear to ear!
My road trip: I’m heading to Lambertville/New Hope, two towns divided by the Delaware River near Washington’s Crossing, and connected by a little bridge. I’m not wearing any fragrance at all, because I’m going to the Golden Nugget Flea Market on the NJ side, and I expect to find vintage fragrances aplenty. I’ve gotten a lot of treasures there in the past, but there’s never any telling what I’ll find. If I’m lucky, a FB of vintage Shiseido Zen… or a mixed lot of Guerlain parapluies (displayed in a chipped ashtray, of course)… or an original Chypre de Coty that no one wants because it’s not Juicy Couture…
Nice! Loved Lambertville, though I didn’t score any fumes. I didn’t see a whole lot-mostly various concentrations of Arpege. But we did get a fabulous green and bronze 1940’s hurricane lamp with Asian motifs painted on it. Wonderfully kitschy????Hope you find some great stuff!
Oh wow! If we’re talking about the same source, there IS a vendor at the Golden Nugget who always has quantities of Arpege on her table, as you describe. She bought her stash from an ex-Lanvin executive who apparently hoarded the stuff. I bought my Via Lanvin from her. There’s another lady who has shoeboxes of random mini bottles as well as vintage FBs– I’ve gotten some nice minis from her, but the FBs are priced beyond the stratosphere.
This place was one of those antique stores so packed, that you could barely turn around. The fumes were in a curio. Great shop.
Such stores are heaven on earth!????
We did a sort of family reunion there for my Dad’s birthday about 10 years ago. Very cute area!
I love it. I dream of finding a tiny old decrepit farm house there and making it into a cozy home.
Who wants to come up home with me, folks? I’m heading to Ngahau Bay on the east coast of Te Tai Tokerau, Northland, around where my father’s family comes from. We’re leaving early, because we want all day at the beach, watching the gulls and the tides and waiting for summer to make a promise to us that she really will come back. The road is appalling for the last 30 kilometres, often not two cars wide, one tight, slidey hairpin bend after another, all in loose metal, so don’t wear a rich perfume if you don’t travel well, and if you’re a person of faith, pray that we don’t meet a car coming from the opposite direction. I don’t mind what perfume you wear, but forgive me if I stay upwind if you, because I won’t wear one: this place is itself the perfume of my heart. It smells of clean air and the rich, damp earthy smell of green growing things and the restlessness of the sea.
Today you’ll also catch a whiff of the bacon-and-egg pie I’ve made for the picnic, the mint and rosemary from the cold roast lamb I’ve brought to stuff into fresh rolls, and the warm ginger bread for morning tea. If you sniff deeply, you’ll maybe get the smell of hot rocks and little branches from the little fire we’ve made to boil the billy for tea. And it’s absolutely OK to temper the scent of the wild with the smell of food like this: my mother believed that feeding the people is essential, so picnics are important on my road trips.
Oh dear, I started this so cheerfully: now I feel a little sad, and ridiculously, I’m missing my farther intensely-I’m very silly, because he died nearly thirty years ago. Oh, Dad….I think I’d better spray myself with something very urban –might be a day for 31 Rue Cambon, maybe, or Jubilation 25–and do some work.
What a lovely trip. You can be there in your mind, right?
It’s not silly to miss someone you loved, no matter how long ago you lost that person.
Mals, I am there in my mind, and I really should be right here in Auckland doing STUFF, you know? But it’s home…and for me, Dad was one of the pillars that held up the sky.
If a place is strongly linked to someone you love, it will always make you think of them. Your memories are a wonderful tribute to your dad.
I wanted to come until you described the drive. Wow.
Sistine, come anyway. The dear man says that it’s really only the last ten or so kilometres that are really bad: I’d forgotten that they did some improvements to the road after a bad storm washed bits out a couple of winters back. I promise you, Ngahau is magical when you get there. And my gingerbread is good, especially slathered with butter… I can’t eat it these days, of course, but it’s my mother’s recipe, and a whole batch disappears in about two minutes.
Oh water dragon that sounds so wonderful, I read this out to my husband, and had a lump in my throat reading the last bit.
I’d come with you in a heartbeat…
Count me in!
I’m there already.
Beautifully written by the way. Lovely emotions and bacon-and-egg pie to boot!
I sort of am on a road trip – on a boat, getting back from the Ruhnu island to Riga. The sea is quiet, but it’s supposed to get more windy in a couple of hours. There’s a beautiful moon and you can still see the afterglow of the sunset.
Wearing a tiny bit of L’Ombre dans l’Eau – I find it bracing.
Friendly seas and good arrivals to you, Annikky.
Thank you, waterdragon! All went well, I’m now in Riga, having the biggest Mimosa of my life.
So I’m thinking 8 hours of driving is plenty long for a road trip – say 500 miles? Found this cool website where you can input a location and then draw a circle of whatever size you choose around it : https://www.freemaptools.com/radius-around-point.htm
If I draw a 500-mile radius around my house, I have lots of options. Baltimore, DC, Greensboro, Cincinnati, Louisville KY, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Myrtle Beach (aka the Redneck Riviera
), Atlanta, Chattanooga… I could ALmost get to Nashville. But I think I’ll drive four hours up to NoVA and visit with some college friends, and take a spin by Arielle Shoshana in Fairfax. I shall wear Mary Greenwell Plum in the car and then just go buy that bottle of MFK Lumiere Noire pour femme I’ve been saving for.
That sounds like a plan!
That sounds like a fantastic plan!
So my fragrance was appreciated today in a whole different way. I layered Rose oil with rose flash and vanilla flash. As I was walking on a street, a yellow jacket buzzed by. It proceeded buzzing around me and I could not get rid of it. I am super alwrgic to them – emergency room alergic. So I had to duck into the first building I saw – which was a body shop – and they looked at me as s nut case. Who thought appreciation would come from this source??
I had to work out that a yellowjacket was an insect of sone kind! I thought you were telling us that some nice member of emergency services or the police was so taken by your perfume that he followed you along the road, circling you so to catch different aspects of your scent!
Perhaps I need more tea!
Yellow jackets are vicious.
Ha!! I wish. Yellowjackets are horrid. I was stung by one a couple of years ago and ended up in ER.
Your perfume combo sounds fantastic, must try it myself!
I’m thinking of two road trips:
1. to the Washington DC area and meet up with perfumistas at Arielle Shoshana
2. to Pittsburgh, PA as I haven’t been there in ages. Any NSTers out there? Any must visit perfume shops.
I don’t like to drive long distances so I will supply the car and gas and someone else can drive. My Subaru Forester can fit 5 (including the driver) comfortably. It still has somewhat of a new car smell (even though it is 2 years and 8 months old) so we’ll all be commando, the better to go wild sniffing!
I’ll drive if you remind me to keep on the right side of the road!
You’re on!
I’m actually plotting a day or two on the Eastern Shore later this month. My fantasy would be to have that cute little VeeDub for the trip! I’ve never smelled it (and it’s the wrong coast anyway), but my imagination says that Van Cleef’s California Reve would be a fun perfume for the convertible. I’d take along salty scents like Eau de Merveilles and TDC Sel de Vetiver, and Guerlain’s Anisia Bella, just because the mention of it the other day made me want it. My fantasy says that I’d find some fabulous vintage scents while poking around in old shops. In reality, I plan to eat lots of seafood and go for a bike ride and a sail…
Eat some crabs for me!
Today is a work day, because yesterday was Internet Fiasco Day — I was meant to be working from home, but the internet was out, and it took husband half a day to convince our ‘service provider’ (love the irony there) that (a) yes the internet is out in our whole community, and (b) they might want to actually consider fixing it. The only good news here is that on Monday, we’re ditching these bozos and getting a new provider.
Road trip! Wish I were on one now. But we are planning a long one this fall, around 3 weeks, going national-parking thru California, Nevada, Utah: Sequoia, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Escalante, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Great Basin, Yosemite.
Probably won’t do much perfuming on this trip, just want to smell Nature in all her glory.
Oh gosh – what a great trip. I’ve been to several of those. For some reason, my very favorite was Zion. Have a wonderful time!
We’ve been to Sequoia a couple of times before, and we go to Yosemite at least once a year, but we haven’t been to Arches or Bryce in 20 years, and have never been to the rest. REALLY looking forward to the trip!
Pixel don’t know who you use but we use Comcast. Everything they say about them is true – worst customer service ever. About 4 blocks in my neighborhood were without it for over a week. Their solution – issue refund, rather than fixing it. I think they have not started fixing it till 5 days into it. The alternative for us is only ATT and that requires a landline which I do not want to get
We’re out in the sticks so there is no cable here. We’ve been stuck with DSL from Verizon (now Frontier) for ages. But now there’s a few companies doing wireless and a new tower went up in line of sight from our house so — we’ll be trying wireless. Fingers crossed it’ll better than crappy intermittent DSL….
My Verizon DSL utterly sucks too. We’ve had rain over the past week and I’ve been resetting my router three or four times a day because it keeps cutting out. (And I won’t even discuss the constant static on the PHONE line.) No cable to my house… I called them once to ask, and they laughed at me. “All the way out there? You’d have to pay the $850 connection cost.” No, thank you.
Have been thinking about adding internet to the satellite TV service we already have. It’s more expensive than DSL, and the satellite does lose signal from time to time, particularly in bad weather, but it’s more like once every two months as opposed to 4x/day.
wow! wow!
Sounds like a great trip!
That is my holy grail of vacations…the loop through all those parks. We have just never gotten around to planning it. Have a wonderful time!
1) I’m driving to Telluride, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains. Because I live in Colorado and I’ve never been there and it’s supposed to be amazing and beautiful.
2) I will wear my new bottle of L’Artisan The Pour un Ete for the drive as it’s subtle and refreshing.
3) I will take a warmer spicier scent for the cool nights – like Tea for Two (if I’m sticking with my L’Artisan tea theme) or another favorite like Frapin Caravelle Epicee. I’ll hike and read and find some good places to eat and explore the town.
4) Highly doubtful that there is any perfume shopping there!
I made it sound like I really am going – but I’m just playing along. Actually I’m home working on cleaning and sorting and figuring out what sparks joy as we put our house back together post-remodel.
Hmm, I would drive to NYC and meet up with all the lovely perfumistas there for a glorious day of sniffing and swapping. It’s quite a drive from Montréal, but doable if you spend a night or two.
At the plaza?
I’ll be going on a road trip this August, so this topic is well-timed. Thanks, Robin!
1. Destination is Champaign-Urbana, IL (for graduate school – finally!)
2. No idea what would be the “perfect” scent – but I will be sure to enjoy Shalimar, No. 19 EdC, and Seville a L’Aube. However, I love the idea of wearing Lush – Kerbside Violet, Imogen Rose, and Lust. There’s something so free-spirited about Lush scents that matches the adventurous vibe of a road trip.
3. I’m bringing my entire collection, of course! I’ll be studying like crazy, but I’ll make a trip (or several) to Chicago for sniffing.
4. Probably no perfume shops in the campus town – but definitely in Chicago. I know there’s the standard high end Barney’s/Neiman Marcus department store, Chanel, and Perfumania. What stores would you recommend visiting in Chicago?
A friend of mine is heading to Chicago in August,research suggested Saks for some By Kilian on my wishlist,Also Aaron’s Apothecary looks like an interesting pharmacy with some cool brands.
Have an easy move and a good trip. Enjoy your studies and Chicago.
I’m in Spain at the moment, and it is hot, so no roadtripping here, just short trips to the beach, smelling the figtrees and jasmine. If I were to make a road trip from home it would be Paris, we do have a Tesla but there aren’t enough chargers in France (lots of them in the Netherlands) so we would take my honda. No perfume on the canvas as we may make a stop in Place Vendome Belgium, or if Annikky were home we might have tea in Brussels! In Paris I would visit Parfums Nicolai and chase them about my Temps d’une fete request, and I would visit Guerlain, Hermes, Dyptique, Goutal and L’Artisan and end up with an even more impressive quarter to fess up to Donatella than last one. And I would stroll down the Seine and visit the Louvre, and sit outside on balmy evenings sipping a bit of expensive wine.
I’d go to the beach, Camburi, in São Sebastião. Its preserved tropical vegetation provides good shade, and the swim is great. The fact that there is good food there, too, is a plus. Tony Bourdain loved Manacá restaurant, and it truly is awesome, but so is any fish at the beach, especially with ice cold beer. (This has to be a weekday escapade, though. On weekends, there is just too much people, too much traffic, because millions of people have the same idea.)
Un Zest de Rose. I think it agrees with nature.
Wouldn’t take perfume, just several kinds of insect repellent and a good sunscreen.
Nothing to buy there. If there were, I’d choose another beach, lol. I don’t like shopping when I’m vacationing, feels like a huge waste of time. I can always shop while procrastinating!
Sometimes its nice to be perfume free to smell the air and the salty beach smells…like seaweed and the ocean breeze mixed together
Yep, when one lives in a foul smelling big city like Sao Paolo (or even Paris), it’s nice to get to smell nature once in a while.
I can see that, I live in a fairly small town myself and on the outskirts of that, so I get to smell nice things where I live. The smell of the sea is something else though.
I’d go with you in a heartbeat!
Come on!
But wait for the coup to be over, lol.
I’m in Nantucket! Hallelujah! My youngest wrapped up his performance at theater camp at 6 pm on Friday, we drove straight to the airport an caught a 9 pm flight to NY, then a smaller plane to the island arriving at about 8 am on Sat, then a taxi to the house of an acquaintance to leave our luggage as we couldn’t check in to our rental house until 4 pm, then a walk into town for breakfast, renting bicycles, collecting maps, biking, lunch, looking for our house, getting lost (on bikes), locking up the bikes, a taxi to the supermarket to shop for heavy essentials, a swing by our acquaintance to pick up our luggage and arriving at our place at 4 pm…. Sublime Balkiss was only a faint memory but boy was I happy to stop moving.
It is now Sunday morning and all is well. We are in a quiet part of the island with loads of bunnies, and a pond full of big frogs out back that plop plop plop into the water when you approach. The house is surrounded by rose bushes and Honeysuckle and unidentified green hedges filled with birds that are singing their hearts out. My blind sample grab this morning was Dame’s Mandarin etc., which seems just fine for this promising day.
Sounds lovely. Enjoy your vacation.
Another Sunday, another flight to Paris. It gets old. Actually the flight is fine, it’s the late journey in from the airport and the early alarm the next morning that drains me. SOTD is Tom Ford “Tobacco Vanille” from a small decant I got after a community week of TF stuff.
Oh dear, Portugal just beat France in the final of Euro 2016. My French clients will be as grumpy as ever tomorrow and there will be more strikes and disruption over the labour law reforms. We could have done with a few days of feelgood factor. :^(
Like so many others, my road trip would be to the coast – in my case, the Oregon coast – and my fragrance choice for the ride out would be Carthusia Meditteraneo because it’s beautiful and fresh and won’t overwhelm in a closed vehicle. I struggled with other scents to bring for the rest of the trip, but again like so many others I ultimately decided the scents of the coast itself would be perfect without accompaniment. I love just walking the beaches here – there are many that go on uninterrupted for mile after gorgeous mile – and watching the surf and the sea birds, and feeling the breeze and the fresh, salty, misty air. Heaven.
Morning, all. I have an early start to a busy day coming up, and it will be nothing like as entrancing as all the trips I’ve been reading about. My yoghurt didn’t yog last night–I hope that’s not an omen for the day. To fend off any random emanations of further bad luck, I’ve anointed myself with Bois des Iles. It’s a talisman against all evil, really it is, and it’s all warm and golden and promising on this cold morning. Earlier,the dear man listened to me speaking freely, frankly and fluently to the unset yoghurt, and said in a resigned tone that he supposed it was going to be day for the red boots. I immediately decided that was an EXCELLENT idea, so that’s me on this cold Monday: BdI, and red boots.
“These boots are made for walking…” – no messing with you today!
From where I am in Nor Cal, probably head over to coast and north, then cut in to the highway to go north for awhile then take the road through redwoods, Petrolia and around to Ferndale. Think Jour Ensoleille by SSS. Stop somewhere for picnic foods and a fresh pie.
From NYC, so many places I haven’t gone in the day radius… But I do love the drive up the Hudson to then cut over to The Berkshires. Pick up some more apple cider syrup. Maybe some Tolu…
I am a CA girl at heart. Not much relaxes me more or makes me happier than driving windy back roads.
Oh, and on the CA drive, not too much to buy for scents other than the massive choice of goat milk soaps and lavender….
Mine will be a short day trip to the little town on the north shore of Lake Erie where I grew up (approximately 700 people, most of whom are my at least distant relatives). I will spray myself with L’atelier’s new Citron d’Erable because we will pass more than a few sugar bushes on the way. I packed some good home made bread, so we should stop at the artisan cheesemaker that is about halfway there. Then we’ll pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables at one of the Mennonite family farms on the way, and hope we’ve got change because no one will be at the stand, we just put the money in the coffee can. Maybe Koenigsberg should ride shotgun because that TF Tobacco Vanille would go well through the Southwestern Ontario Tobacco Belt. When we get to the village we’ll pick up some lake perch that was swimming a few hours ago and drop off the fruits and vegetables at my 90 year old mom’s house. Time to reload my scent and Orlov Paris’ Sea of Light will do nicely for a sail out on the lake. By the time we make it back to my mom’s house, she will have baked a fruit pie (I kid you not, she bakes at least one every week from scratch) and fried the fish, sliced the tomatoes and boiled the corn on the cob, so we can eat ourselves full before we had back home.
I’m definitely up for that journey! :^)
Kudos to your mom for keeping the home baking torch aflame. My grandmother baked breads, cakes, and pies from scratch when she was well into her 90s. She taught me to make pie crust and created delicious memories that I am grateful I can pass on.
When I visited my grandparents for summer vacations, grandma would take me to the “roller mill” near her home to buy flour and baking supplies. The silos were so tall and the smell of grain was dusty and sweet at the same time.
It’s been fun to read about each roadtrip. NST is a an amazing world-wide community. I wish I could drive around the globe to meet each one of you!
The logistics would be horrible (well, perhaps) but we could have aN NST meet up. I’d fly to TOH to meet you all!
Oh good lord, the best fragrance to wear in a car is NO fragrance. Perfumes in cars with closed windows are an absolute, surefire way to get a terrible headache!