As we head towards August, our standard open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the fragrance you might have picked only it's too hot to wear it, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is peaches [cropped] by fox-and-fern at flickr; some rights reserved.
Wheeeeeee! Last night at 10:04 pm I put the last touches on a long, hard 27-month slog of a work project! Come kick up your heels with me!!!
Oh huge congrats, that’s lovely!!
Congratulations!
Huzzah!
Thanks, Ede! I’m raising a glass to your new home, too!
Robin and Holly, thank you! I’m definitely happy to be looking at the backside of this project. Now I have to go and apologize to everyone I’ve snarled at over the last 26.8 months…
Congratulations FM!! Have a relaxing remainder of the summer.
Congratulations! Perhaps a celebratory trip to NY is is in order?
Most impressive! A journey of a thousand miles or 27 months as they say… 😉
Wendysue, Hajusuuri, and She-ra: thank you kindly! A trip to NYC is always in order, no?
Brilliant! Congratulations! Now, to celebrate….a separate, different treat for every month of slog? Even small things. will mark the victory. Back at the beginning of time, when I was still at high school, we had to take public examinations called School Certificate. Mum gave me a tiny present for every day of study and exams-a pretty embroidered handkerchief one day, my favourite pudding the next, and so on. I’m thinking of a similar thing: here a nice lunch out with friends, there a bottle of perfume, a few massages to iron out the kinks of tension that have surely developed in your shoulders…twenty-six virtuous rewards for twenty-six hard months.
Congrats! That’s a seriously long project. Enjoy your victory lap!
Wowzey. Congratulations! Maybe you will buy yourself a fragrant self thank you gift?
Yay!!! Giving you a virtual hug!
Thank you all, my dears! I love that this community is so quick to celebrate one another’s happy moments (and just as quick to commiserate in hard times). Waterdragon, your mum’s approach sounds perfect; a small treat here and there to mark the time would be lovely. Yay for friends, hugs, perfumes, victory laps, etc.!
Oh, congrats! That sounds like a HUGE accomplishment and now time for well deserved celebration!
27 months, wow! Big congrats!
Congratulations! So happy for you!
Congratulations! Do you in fact fear mice? In practice? In theory?
Thank you so much — I hope you’ve all joined me in a beverage or two of your choice by now! Kovel, in theory – no; in practice – I might let out a shriek if one were to unexpectedly dart across the floor…
Congratulations on your milestone! You’ve reminded me of my days, long ago, working in information technology. Sometimes our team would have a project that would go for years, and we’d joke that we could have gestated an elephant in less time and then had something cute with big ears to play with at the end of the project. 😀
Do something “cute” for yourself, you deserve it.
Birthing an elephant might have hurt less, too. 😀
That is one heckuva long project. Glad you’re done and hope you’re celebrating appropriately! I’ll go make a drink in your honor, since you insist 😉
Yes, thank you for drinking; cheers! 😀
That’s some tenacity, 27 months. Calls for a milestone marker in my book. Congratulations, FM.
Thanks, Siciliana — glad to know that you’re finally in your new house, and hope you’ve marked that milestone, too! Would love to see you at the meetup at Ari’s next weekend…
Congrats FearsMice! I am wearing Tauer Noontide Petals.
Thank you, Cazaubon! You smell splendid, of course.
Hello all,
SotD is Terrasse a St Germain by JUL ET MAD.
And it seems like the storm is going to break down here any minute. Not going to complain about some rain and temperature going down.
Happy Saturday
Rain does not seem to cool things off in these here parts. The air just becomes steamier! I wish it were fall.
Me too!!!
Ugh. So true!
The leaves are starting to turn yellow! It is a bit cooler this week but I am sure we have not seen the last of the heat and humidity… August is coming.
I’m in DC right now visiting my parents, and discovered just that–that rain doesn’t seem to cool things down at all here! This is really weird to me because that’s always he upside to rain in France–a solid 5 – 15-degree plunge in temperature. It’s interesting to me that this is locationally dependent.
Storms are popping here, too, Lucas. I should try more Jul et Mad fragrances.
I went with l’Orpheline, thanks to a kind fellow NSTer. I know it’s split the perfumistas but I think it’s just wonderful. It’s been sprinkling all week so it hasn’t been too hot, but that’ll end soon. I’m looking for my LA escape soon.
Cinéma. Starts with a citrs note, then turns into a sweeeeeet honey and finishes with a soft vanilla. Or something. It’s one scent I always fancy wearing and then decide it’s too thick.
Twins!! I woke up early trying to get in a comfortable position with the sciatica and put on Cinema. Thankfully I slept and awakened to
a soft gauzy vanilla floral musk. A perfect distraction.
So sorry to hear you’re in pain. Hope you find a solution quickly.
Thank you. The upside is that because I can’t do my usual activities, I’ve had a chance to actually follow threads on NST and be more patient with sample testing.
Love Cinèma, and don’t see it mentioned here very often. It stays light and not too sweet on me, with blond woods coming out for the drydown. Wonderful stuff.
Terracotta Voile d’Ete since wearing Terracotta Le Parfum yesterday reminded me that I haven’t worn this in a while
TGR – LOVE both of those. Find myself wearing Voile d’Ete more in the fall.
You smell fantastic!
Happy Weekend-
1) SOTD is Rive Ambre. Perfect for a hot, hot day BUT does fade quickly. But so lovely and perfect while it is here! I do not think I would recommend a full bottle.
2) Off to the farmer’s market and such. Now that this home buying thing has become more of a reality (ordered the insurance quote and sent it off to the lender) I am just getting a minimum of things, and using up what is in the freezer.
3) Also, a much needed pedicure.
Hope you are having a marvelous Saturday!
Hope the rest of the home buying process goes smoothly!
So funny you said that, Ede. During our home buying process the one thing I craved was a pedicure! Finally got one the day before closing. Enjoy yours.
SOTD is Maremma by Tiziana Terenini.
What is that like please?
Yes! I am curious as well! Tell us more!!
SOTD is Fracas, a judicious mixture of extrait and EDP. I tried Malle’s Monsieur today. It’s really well done. Coveting a bottle.
I bought two Gien teacups. They are as cute as a button.
Which Gien series is it? Although I like them all I think!
Colette, I got one large teacup and a mug a few years ago in the Factory outlet in Gien. I like nearly all of them as well. There was a sale going on and I couldn’t resist.
Colette is super cute and great to buy it in the sale! I am hopeless when it comes to this kind of cuteness and especially the kind of tableware that sort of lets me get away with it. Coveting the Safari series as I sometimes miss South Africa so much.
And both Colette and Safari have perfume matches.
I’m wearing Demeter’s Honey. Again. Still needing to baby myself with sweet scents while I get used to my new glasses which are trifocal progressives and are driving me crazy. There. I said it.
Final announcement: The DC area meetup will be next Saturday, August 6th at Arielle Shoshana from 12 to 3. Ari will be hosting Arquiste’s Carlos Huber. If you would like to be kept informed of future events and are not yet on my mailing list, feel free to email me at: harukirumi in the land of yahwhoooo etc.
Good luck with the glasses. If you can see well enough, reorganizing your perfumes might be fun to do while in your “crazy” state- aromatherapy!
Thanks, Wendysue! Good luck with your sciatica! (Stop snickering, all you whippersnappers!)
Commiserating with you both. Hope neither the glasses nor the sciatica will keep you from the meetup next weekend. That’s going to be awesome…
Thanks, FearsMice! I have contacts which I will revert to as needed, and it’s highly likely they will be back in use next Saturday!
Holly, my first progressives were from Hour Eyes many years ago, and I never got used to them. My ophthalmologist recommended Apex Optical, which provided Zeiss lens that used a different formula. (They have great frames and do careful fitting, too.) Those were much better.
They can also make different pairs that have the zones at different heights within the lens. For example, keyed to room distance or computer use versus multipurpose. If you really don’t like them, it’s worth discussing with the provider, or trying another place.
The progressives are quite an adjustment, though, because you basically have to move your head in order to focus, as you know. I still have pairs of monofocal lenses for intensive reading and computer use. Good luck!
Thanks, nozknoz! Today is the first day I’m wearing them for the whole day so I have quite a ways to go to figure out if they’ll work for me or not. I appreciate your recommendation of Apex, and I know who to turn to for more advice. 🙂
Just as I was ready to give up on progressives (about 2 weeks in) my eyes finally adjusted. Good luck to you!
Thanks for the encouraging words, Robin!
I agree with Robin. Tenacity is key!
Yes to the zones thing! I recently had new lenses made for my existing frames, and in the course of measuring and all the things the optician has to do, she pulled out two or three “maps” of where the zones could be placed. Super helpful for me, and so much better than what I had before!
Thank you, SheriG! I’m going to talk with my gang about that – I’ve noticed that the zones *do* seem a little off.
Good luck with the new glasses. I tried progressives once, they made me seasick, and were utterly non-functional for work — the focal region was so narrow I had to turn my head back-and-forth, back-and-forth just to read an email. So I went and got Lasik instead — corrected my far vision; I use reading/computer glasses for near vision.
Hope you find a solution that works for you!
Thanks, pixel. I’m at the nausea-inducing stage eek! I was just in the kitchen wondering why I’d never noticed that the plate I was using was tilted, then it seemed that maybe it’s the counters … ooh wait, the table? and it’s like being in a carnival funhouse! Jeez, maybe I don’t actually look as terrible as I had newly discovered the other day! (Although the house definitely needs to be cleaned more thoroughly – that I’m sure of. ) Plus you’re absolutely right – the head swiveling is crazy-making! I’ve been wearing monofocal contacts for decades, so my brain got used to those and I’m hoping that it will adapt. If not, I’ll definitely consider Lasik.
Hi What gr8 news!! I just sent u an email regarding the meet up!! So happy 2 hear as I missed the 1st one!!
If u don’t see it find me here please!
I’m wearing Daisy, thanks to a generous person and the freebiemeet. It may be too sweet (in both senses) for me. Has anyone tried any of the fragrances from Gallagher Fragrances, a new niche company from Texas. I bought a set of their 5ml samples, but I haven’t tried them yet.
I am taking a long, hard, I mean it look at thinning out the perfume collection. Too many things I would enjoy more if they were more visible, and too many things I just feel tepid about. It’s hard because there are so many things I think I’ll never stop loving, and things I’m afraid to get rid of because they’re just so hard to find. But it’s got to happen.
How many do you have at the moment? I recently peaked at 44 but I’ve sold some since, which feels good.
Just with FBs and decants, there are hundreds. And I’m not willing to devote more house space to them; plus I’ve hit some sort of a wall, knowing I’m never even going to wear most of them most of the time, much less use them up before either I die or they go bad. It’s saturation!
That’s so difficult. Not to lead you astray, but you have such an encyclopedic knowledge of fragrances that I might think of your collection as a library, not just for wearing. What about changing your organization or storage?
If I had a house where I could install better shelving and had central air conditioning, I could treat it more as a library. I definitely need to develop better storage for the decants (I feel like I have the samples fairly well under control even when the fact that they’re tucked in every drawer clearly indicates that I do not. 🙂 ) But I live in an apartment and I just want to be able to get to the things I want to wear. And life is too short to be maintaining perfumes I feel tepidly about! I just have to emotionally deal with the fact that I might let something go and be sorry for it later. C’est la vie.
“I just have to emotionally deal with the fact that I might let something go and be sorry for it later.” This is so true and the reason why I have thinning the herd inertia.
*clings to a kindred soul*
PS years ago it drastically improved my life to only buy fun-reading fiction on Kindle – fewer books stacked everywhere. And this fall I am going to finish pruning the book library of the books I’ve gathered over the years but really no longer want or need. So even the book library has got to get smaller, much less the perfume library!
You can do it! 😀
I agree with you on the benefit of having fewer books. I konmari’d my books last year and feel so much better. I care even more than I realized about the cherished books I kept because now I can SEE them on my shelf. Before the purge those books were part of an overwhelming and almost-useless mass of text and paper. I often couldn’t find the book I wanted quickly enough, so I’d lose interest and my mind would wander on to the next thing. For me, fewer things means fewer distractions and more space in my home and mind for what is important.
So agree — am reading more and re-reading more now that I did some serious book pruning, and have pretty much forced myself to not buy any more books other than kindle.
After pruning 400 books, I still have more to do!
I went Kindle and never looked back, mainly because I’ve always disliked paper (except when doing serious proofreading, because I like to write notes).
The trick was my husband. He’s a book nut and a clutter bug. He’s moved to Kindle, but we still have about 20-30 book boxes in storage that we need to offload. That will be a project in the fall I think. I just need to find a place that will take the books.
I’m right there with you. Too much clutter, even perfume clutter, leads to stress.
I’ve got to set a goal and just do it…maybe list 10 items on evilBay etc. by 9/1…something of that nature.
A friend who is relocating reflected on sorting through her possessions and the decluttering to destress “movement”. As I nodded my head ( frequent lamenting over junk in basement) she said that one first has to declutter the mind.
Ok, we are in yoga together if that explains it.
I need to declutter my mind – and go to yoga too! 🙂
I’m making a box of things to sell; I have to sort through the main perfume storage and put more things aside to sell. YES. (And if they don’t sell they still have to go! Giveaways and such.) The clutter IS stressful. And I need to de-stress.
I’ve found that some of the minimalist blogs are very helpful when it comes to decluttering. Off the top of my head, Be More With Less and Nourishing Minimalism come to mind, but there are hundreds. Letting go of sentimental items and what if? items and the fear of future regret are very popular topics, and I’ve found a lot of great suggestions for how to approach any issues I have when it comes to stuff.
I also had an aha! moment the other day courtesy of hajusuuri’s writing about rewarding herself after she reached her step goals, and realized that it’s much more enjoyable to go through these processes when there is some sort of tangible reward. I’ve always thought that the reward is in achieving the thing itself, but that’s often not the case. Although having less clutter is certainly rewarding in and of itself, perhaps you could also reward yourself with something meaningful to you when you reach goals that you have set.
We are all too experienced with managing affairs and possessions of loved ones. While I haven’t made a lot of progress yet, I have a plan for keeping what makes me happy, is relatively easy to move, but won’t cause me or my family undo stress.
I have to find a good home for lovely silver plate service pieces that my mom still wants me to use and to which she is attached. I can still remember how nice the celebrations were without having the serving platter. Out of respect, I took them, but neither me nor my kids entertains that way. I suppose there is a silver plate swap community somewhere?
I will do some reading at your suggestion – dealing with the What If? regrets was easy when I was dealing with family things that had to be dealt with, but tougher when looking at things I’ve accumulated in my own life. I still enjoy getting new things, though, and if that’s going to happen some sort of a system for thinning out the old things HAS to happen. This is my determined face.
I really should set more goals, including de-cluttering!
I am at a similar point to you. I have so many perfumes that I bought in the first flush and now I have a collection of lots of likes but not true loves. I’m in the process of downsizing and then starting again to get my absolute favourites. I think I’d rather have a collection of 20 amazing perfumes than goodness knows how many others I have right now. I think it may be easier said than done though!
I’ve not long fell down the ‘rabbit hole’ but my drawer seems to be ever growing. I keep thinking that perhaps I should get rid of a bottle or two, but every now and then I crave a particular scent that I have gotten rid of. So I buy it again, and it’s not the same.
Lesson learned, buy a bigger set of drawers’ ????????????
no 19 EdP on my right and EdT on my left arm. Edt has almost disappeared about 9 hrs after application. And I had a quite productive sort of no nonsense but beautiful no 19 day!
Nothing really compares to Chanel 19. You smell elegant.
Those peaches are beautiful. I bought a box at Trader Joe’s yesterday, and now my kitchen smells like a peach orchard.
I went for a short bike ride/hike this morning and am still too warm, so can’t decide what fragrance to wear post-shower.
As I was rolling along the trail today, I was musing over language and the words we use on NST to describe fragrance ideas. I love “lemming”, “holy grail”, “perfumista salute” (credit to mals, I think), and “perfumath” (thanks to hajusuuri). Oh, and EBP (emergency backup perfume via AnnieA over at Perfume Posse).
Anyone else have a favorite bit of perfume argot, jargon, or lingo?
(NST has a great perfume glossary and a perfumista lexicon under Resources).
8 spray Pausa (hajusuuri) and scrubber.
8 spray La Pausa is a good one. Reminds me of Angela’s great article on perfume longevity back in the spring, too.
I love being an AldeHo. But cannot claim credit for “perfumista salute”!
Oh! AldeHo, that’s hilarious!
I think you should definitely get credit for introducing me to the salute with a comment on NST. 😀
“Skank” is now famous I perfume talk.
“Perfume French” for the little smattering of French that most of us who don’t speak the language do pick up.
Skank speaks for itself! 😀
And perfume French is a perfect idea, plus a new bit of fragrance lingo for me.
Can’t believe nobody has mentioned Box of Eels yet. 😉
You beat me to it!
That one took a while for me to understand what was meant. That and “Dante’s Bra”. Who came up with those for the first time?
Oh, oh, oh – that one hurts. 🙂
Commando!
Yes! Joey Tribbiani would be so proud.
Let’s note Joey was awfully happy to go commando, while members of the fragrance community are more likely disappointed to leave the house without scent.
SOTD Assam of India
TORW (testing on right wrist) Branch & Vine
Really need to order a sample!
Which one? The Berdoues or the Providence Perfume Co? I got all of my Berdoues samples from smallflower.com. They were inexpensive and shipped for free 🙂
The Berdoues- I created a wishlist at Smallflower, but need to take action on the Assam of India ( and be judicious about the other things. 😉 ) I was lucky enough to visit PPC last month.
How are you liking the scents from Providence Co?
Charna Ethier is such a talented perfumer! Every scent I’ve tried is distinct and engaging. I find that many “natural” perfumes have a sameness, but these don’t have that oily/ musky something in the base.
When I visited the shop, she seemed particularly proud of Rose Boheme. I thought, ok, another rose. Well, after giving it time, I may have to get a FB. The Cocoa Tuberose may fill out my cocoa perfume category.
Also I’ve been comparing the Osmanthus Oolong to Miyako. OO has the apricot osmanthus note and tea, and is earthy floral in contrast to the more musty leathery osmanthus in Miyako. Luca Turin might have choice words for my comparing them, but my perfume world is smaller and newer. I think OO might please those who appreciate Miyako but don’t think they can wear it.
After all that, what are your PPCo. preferences lately?
I like the ones your mentioned, and I enjoy Tabac Citron, have you tried that one?
Yes. I like the drydown of Tabac Citron.Samarinda is also yummy.
Testing my Aftelier samples. Surprised at how light Cepes and Tuberose feels – I was expecting it to be heavier.
Oooh, which ones did you get?
I got Cuir de Gardenia, Pamplifest, Cepes and Tuberoses (I wonder if this is mislabeled – it really smells like nothing) and Sepia. Only tried Cepes and can’t really smell it on self 🙁
And have you tried Vanilla Smoke?
Cepes & Tuberoses was very odd to me as well. I had a hard time smelling it.
Vanilla Smoke and Cacao are the two I would like from this house.
I wore Cepes the other day…such an unusual but addicting scent
Missoni Acqua, which was second on my list for the Limpet Shell/Peach Echo challenge. I feel like I should be toasting Tiki Day at the neighborhood cocktail bar. 🙂
Kinda envious that you have a neighborhood cocktail bar….????
I have yet to stop in, but I do like knowing it’s there, just in case. 😉 And they really do have Tiki Thursdays. 🙂
Testing samples today from my mystery pile… L’Occitane’s Fig Room Spray (nice, you know I’m not going to object to fig, but certainly not worth hunting down); and Tous L’eau, which I think might just be plain l’eau with a slice of lemon. Ha.
Uggggggggggg smoke is rolling in from the fire down south. Looks like another day inside with the A/C cranking. My husband’s fire department pager is going off constantly — smoke check, smoke check, smoke check.
That sounds very unpleasant – stay safe!
Gah, the fire is still going?! Sorry to hear that!!
It’s over 33000 acres, only 15% contained. They hope for containment by the end of August. More than 5000 firefighters are working the fire now. (My husband wishes he were one of them, I am just as glad he is not. Shhh, don’t tell him I said that.)
Haven’t chosen my SOTD yet, just back from a nice bike ride to burn off some energy.
Really anticipating trying Eau de Celeri that I ordered in a sample pack (3 x 5 ml) from Monsillage, but that won’t get here for another week.
Did not know about sample pack. Off to check out . . .
I’m sitting here in the very expensive air conditioning and trying to resist the temptation to turn on the oven and bake something. I’ve been talking about banana bread for a week, my husband wants chocolate cake, and that photo has given me a craving for peach crisp.
I sprayed on some 31RC this morning and it’s making me think of baked goods instead of flowers so I guess I had better indulge this craving before I start hallucinating macaroons and creme puffs.
Mmm, I’ve been wanting chocolate zucchini bread but just haven’t been able to face the oven! Maybe today’s the day.
This sounds really good!
And the point of the zucchini is?
It makes it moist so the chocolate slides down easier.
Ha! Hallucinating cream puffs would make my day.
Your craving for baking reminded me of years ago when my mother baked all our bread. Once during the heat of summer she decided to put some bread in the oven very late in the evening. She fell asleep for the night, and we woke to a house filled with the smell of charcoal. The bread had baked into bricks. We lived near the ocean so luckily the windows were open all night to cool things off, and let the smoke out.
Morning, NST. Sunday, not Funday. Will be working with a PhD student this afternoon and then finishing a lecture for next week, and I was bone idle yesterday and did no housework, so today it’s all on for young and old chez Waterdragon! I’m wearing the spine-stiffening Number 19 in extract: I need all the help I can get as I fly about with a duster, whizz through the vacuuming, dash madly round cleaning the bathroom, all the while reading my student’s final chapter with one eye and watching the soup pot with the other. I thank all benevolent beings in the universe for the dear man: he’s doing a major grocery shop and cooking lunch. And 19 is being all grown up, green and cool and calm, in response to my over-heated flurry. Perfect!
My day tomorrow will be like your day today. I always trick myself into having a little bit of fun doing housework by putting on loud music and singing to the cat as I chase her out of each room I clean. She hates Frank Sinatra but loves George Michael.
My poor Dakkie takes to Richard’s wardrobe when the vacuum cleaner comes out,mbecause they have been known to attack lilac point Siamese, and really, you Cannot Be Too Careful, you know. Isabella lies in state on my computer chair (I now use a cheapie because she has the ergonomic one!) and watches the activity through slitted eyes. I must try music to see if that makes the housework better. I could dance as well as whizz….
I’m so glad to hear that 19 is working for you again. 🙂
My SOTD is Caligna. It’s gorgeous, but is making me feel melancholy. I’m not sure that I really need melancholy right now.
My friend offered me a new (as she put it, worn two days only) large bottle of Chinatown for $50. I like that scent quite a bit but I don’t love it, so I declined in order to put that money towards a bottle that I truly love. 95% of me is sure that I made the right choice, but 5% is regretting that I let such an unbelievable deal go. Will I regret this decision? Or should I just keep my plan to have a modest collection of full bottles, each of which is a true love?
Or buy it, enjoy it as much as you can for a bit, then pass it on at the same price to a true lover?
It must always be OK to let something pass by. If you wanted to save your $ for a bottle you truly loved, it wasn’t worth it.
If I could add up all the money I’ve spent on sample, decants and $50 bottles of Chinatown I’d be able to buy the Bois des Iles perfume, something I really want! So hard to resist cheaper lesser pleasures which also may turn into new loves…
That is my downfall. Passing up on a deal to hold out for something I really love. I’m getting better, but it is hard. I bought something recently and very quickly realized it was impulse rather than something I’ll love for a long time.
Personally, I tend to regret perfumes I did not buy when I could more than ones I bought in haste. I also tend to err on the side of buying perfumes acclaimed by someone I respect, and this is one of Luca Turin’s five favs. I think Chinatown one that you could sell or trade easily. If the decision is nagging at you, and you still have a chance to get the bottle, maybe you should reconsider.
If not, I’d say, definitely don’t dwell on it. No matter how large your collection is, there will always be some that you wish you had bought but didn’t, and no matter how carefully you choose, there will be some you change your mind about. As long as you are getting a lot of pleasure from your collection and it’s not detracting from other life goals then you are on the right track.
I guess I should also note that I didn’t buy Chinatown myself. IIRC, I think I liked it but didn’t feel I’d wear it, and it was expensive, and I don’t like those Bond bottles. Not sure what would have happened if I’d had a shot at a $50 bottle, though! 😉
The L’Ambre Extreme has a drydown that brings to mind my father’s 1970s doctor’s case. It was a solid case, leather and flock interior, with various sized drawers …big ones for blood pressure and stethoscope, smaller ones for bandages, syringes, then pill drawers and finally a shallow drawer for vials . I used to tidy it and was completely smitten with it….it was my doll’s house. I took the case when he died. It’s in my bedroom and i sometimes open the drawers and notice the smell and look at the pill bottles and scraps of paper that have his small, neat writing on them. He wore Eau Sauvage and a beautiful fern scent/ aftershave.
What you wrote was so beautiful. I just wanted to say thanks for sharing.
So happy you have this treasure close by…
Lovely <3
Beautiful!
Lovely, thanks for sharing.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Very touching! Thanks.
Great memories. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful..
What a lovely memento to have.
I love this, thank you.
It’s been so hot here I didn’t want to strain my brain trying to decide on a SOTD so I just opened the drawer and reached in without looking and selected the first bottle that my hand touched. Lucky for me it was En Passant!
It’s nice that your game of perfume roulette came up with a winner.
You and En Passant smell marvelous. 🙂
Aw thanks!
D&G Dolce again today because it’s a perfect, cheery floral for scorching heat. It’s also drawn more compliments the past 2 years than anything else I’ve worn. But, oh I know, it’s not ‘perfumista worthy’. Bah! More for me, then!
There was a heck of a storm here last evening, with gusts at least 50mph that pulled a limb off one of the mesquites in my backyard. Our resident great horned owls were hanging on for dear life. It looked so pathetic!
Have a great Saturday, good NSTers…and hunker down if you’re expecting storms! (I know I will be. ????)
If you love it it is worthy enough! We all have the dept store loves..
and Dolce is quite pretty.
I’m glad you have that precious case to remember him by…
I wish I knew the name of the cologne my dad had. I can’t remember how it smelled, exactly, but my memory says it was a golden-orangey liquid in a tall bottle: kind of a bulb shape for the liquid and a long neck with a wooden cap covering it; I want to say the bottle had lions on it, too? My dad died in 1970 so it would have been purchased sometime in the 60s.
Aw, phooey — this was supposed to be a reply to Kanuka!
I would love to track down the fern scent my father wore…a murky gren bottle and probably not fern but vetiver. I love the lions. Thank you!
Mornay (I think that was it) did a perfume/soap/powder called French Fern, slightly sweet but mostly earthy. Might it be that? Mi remember it as being gorgeous, evocative and romantic to my childish imagination. I loved it and longed for enough pocket money to buy it but alas, my 1/- per week (that’s 10 cents to all you post-decimalisation youngsters) did not stretch to perfume, and I was a notably bad saver.
We did have mornay fern soap – loved it. But his cologne/after shave was in a murky, pale-blackboard-green bottle, very austere, shaped like a Chanel bottle but bigger. Good luck with your student (the 1am phoner?).
Yes…but she’s within mere minutes of submitting, so this effort is worth it!
Just thinking…could it be an Avon perfume? In the 1960s they did all those men’s colognes in cars, pipes, shaving brush, screw driver etc etc bottles.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-FULL-UNUSED-BOTTLE-OF-LARGE-6-OZ-BRAVURA-MENS-COLOGNE-BY-SPIEDEL-/131806656499?hash=item1eb049f7f3:g:moAAAOSwVllXHOc7
Bravura by Spiedel? Wooden cap, amber liquid, wooden cap…maybe?
And lions
Ha! I think that might be IT!!! I’ll send the link to my sisters, who are older than I and maybe remember better, to see if they agree. You are ahmaaaazzing, Kanuka! Thank you so much!
Do you think? I also saw bottles from Avon that had a cut glass steer from the 60s and one with Bacchus from some one else. But you would recognise the smell, eh? Wouldn’t it be cool if it was the right one..let me know, please.
Happy weekend everyone! I’ve had a pleasant couple of days sniffing my way through the Tom Ford perfumes at our new department store. It’s the first time they’ve been available in New Zealand, so quite exciting.
That’s exciting! Did you like any of them?
My favourites so far are two I’d tried before Shanghai Lily and Plum Japonais. They’re not cheap, but I’m thinking of birthday or Christmas presents to myself 🙂
Apparently TF is coming to Smith & Caughey soon. Don’t you wish these stores would stock different things instead of the same? I’d love it if S&C would distinguish itself by getting, oh, I don’t know, Vero Profumo or something, so that there was real purpose in visiting one place or the other. Mind you, I’m on a riff at the moment about the standardising of every mall and high street….everywhere, Hallensteins, Hannahs, Supre, the same food chains, Mitre 10. I want some local variety!
It’s really hard to find anything distinctive. Even the best shopping districts have the same “mall” stores. I suppose the risk in retail with the on line shopping is too high, so all brick and mortar stores have to have hearty internet sales to cover overheard. Then, they don’t want to be left with unsold inventory.
Totally agree with your views on so much being the same! Even in our main shopping street, there is only a handful of places that aren’t chain stores, and don’t get me started on suburban shopping malls…
So exciting! Have a blast!
***Emergency perfume recommendation***
I have just been informed of my first conference paper proposal rejection. And boy, do I need to develop a much thicker skin – think industrial grade!
To avoid the self-pity route, I’ve already indulged in some sensory pleasures: an orchid, pistachio cranberry white chocolate bark, and a playlist of Haydn’s jauntier piano concerti. All that is missing, as you’ve guessed it, is some aromatherapy.
Any recommendations? Preferably a fume that I can get a sample of at Sephora on my way to the gym. Figured, I would let my fat cry (sweat) instead, , as my trainer would say…
Thanks in advance : /
Ouch! I’m sorry to hear about that!
Yes, you’re doing all the right things; maybe a sample of Hermes Eau de Néroli Doré would cheer you up? Sephora should have it.
I do love orange blossom, will put that on my list. Heck, I should make a grab bag of samples….
Love your trainer!
The Hermes is nice, also Diptyque’s Eau des Sens or Atelier’s Grand Neroli and Orange Sanguine, or Cedrat Enivrant could buck you up. 🙂
Sending a big hug.
A recommendation for an INSTANTLY FEEL GOOD effect : )
Hey, don’t feel bad. These gate-keeping blighters (a) most likely didn’t read your abstract properly–they have to get through hundreds and in their scramble probably missed the point or (b) won’t have rejected it because it isn’t good, but rather, because they’ve decided it doesn’t fit with their idiosyncratic interpretation of their strand of the conference theme. Stick to your guns and submit it to a journal instead.
And for perfume? I’d go with whatever you find sexiest today and choose something cerebral for tomorrow.
I find that something loud and defiant with lots of attitude helps if i get a bad review. The niggling shame , which taints the rejection, needs to be sent packing…also a bit of scent humour helps to put things in perspective.
Exactly! That’s how I’d go about it, too!
Safran Troublant for your troubles? Or my current iris favourite Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile? Or if you get along with rose, Quel Amour! because it is such a happy scent?
Agree that something bold, sexy, and brash, especially if it’s not what you usually choose, will give you a jolt of confidence and a big grin.
Also remember how the work of many geniuses was not appreciated at first.
Sorry to read this 🙁 I’d suggest AG Petite Cherie, which always feels like a hug to me.
So sorry! Hope you found something perfect at Sephora.
Hard work without the reward is tough. Of course there’s the personal reward of it being yours.. I tend to go for comfort scents when feeling beaten up. At Sephora that would be something like L’Ambre des Merveilles.
Good to reward yourself with comfort and fun!
It’s a gorgeous summer day here in Portland and I put on California Reverie this morning, but after housecleaning and a trip to the dog park it’s gone, so I’m wearing A La Nuit for the afternoon.
How’s your new friend settling in?
Thanks for asking! We had to start over from square one–being boarded and then back with my other dog was not good. It’s been better the past five days or so but we have a long road ahead. Clicker training is helping.
Happy to hear things are starting to turn around. You have an abundance of patience because most people would have just returned the dog when they discovered acclimating it requires time, work, and fortitude. Your new friend is lucky to have you ????
Wonderful and exciting news here in the swamp! I am headed to Ireland in September to see family I haven’t laid eyes on since I was 13!
Flying into Shannon an trekking around, about, and finally down to the family farm near Glengarrif for about a week, and then ferrying over to England and catching up with aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, etc, before flying out from London.
Beyond the obvious joy of family and travel, I’m already getting wound up about duty free perfume purchases!!
Does it get any better?!
So excited I forgot to wear perfume today. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and an occasion to get all het up about. Anticipation is the BEST!
That’s so exciting! I hope you will have a great time and will enjoy looking forward to it 🙂
Thank you!
In Shannon you will be 60 miles from Galway and if you get half a chance, head north to see it. It’ll be European capital of culture next year (? – or the year after or whenever, I’m not sure how far in advance they announce these things). Anyway, in Summer it’s very quaint and lively. Pop into Cloon Keen Atelier in the Mediaeval centre and see if there’s a perfume or candle that catches your fancy. September is Oyster season, see if you can catch the Oyster Festivals in Galway or in nearby Clarenbridge.
Or, even closer to Shannon, maybe 3o miles north, there’s the lunar landscape of The Burren with The Burren Perfumery tucked away into a wooded dell in the heart of it. The Cliffs of Moher, Ailwee Caves, Poulnabrona Dolmen and Dunguaire Castle are all nearby. (Not all of these are impressive by American standards you understand, e.g. the caves are pretty puny. But there’s a lot packed into a small area; you’ll see it all in a day).
In Glengarrif (beautiful place) you will be near the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry. I think you’ll be 30 miles from Union Hall where Waters + Wild, the only organically certified perfumery in the British Isles, produce their 3 lovely scents. I like Cedar & Cognac best but there’s only 3 so sniff them all.
In London look up Blooms Perfumery as well as the obvious places (Harrods, Liberty’s). I wonder does 4160 Tuesdays have a shop? Eat in Yauatcha in Soho, the dim sum are amazing as are the teas and desserts.
Finally, ignore everything I’ve written and just have spontaneous fun. :^D
Thanks for those recommendations. My aunt and uncle are kind enough to haul me all over creation to meet up with everyone. I had an eye injury in 2013 and my vision in my right eye is limited and I don’t feel confident with the reverse driving situation. I will happily go where they take me, and hesitate to ask them to drive me perfume shopping ????
They have a home in Tipperary, but we will be traveling hither and thither, gradually making our way down to the farm, which is being worked by cousin, who was in diapers when I last saw him. Then ferrying to London, where they have a second home. Depending on its location, I may be able to head out and explore via bus or cab. I will keep the mentioned shoppes in mind, thanks!
No wonder you’re excited, Deva — this sounds like a grand reunion/vacation/adventure!
It’s huge for me because I have no family this side of the pond. I have such cherished memories from childhood and can hardly wait to make new ones.
Hope you have a wonderful trip. Ireland is so beautiful, especially the west ( full disclosure: my Irish relatives live in County Mayo and County Sligo so I may have a bit of a bias).
Thank you! Mayo and Sligo are stunning! Every area/county has its own unique charm ????
How fun! If you couldn’t get your fill of perfume shopping before leaving, make sure you get to Heathrow early so you can shop several terminals.
Duty free at Heathrow will be the icing on the cake! I’m already deliberating which bottle(s) I might pick up. Decisions, decisions….????
How wonderful! So much to look forward to.
Indeed! Quite sure at some point I will bust out in tears (mostly out of happiness, but also missing people who have stepped off the planet to journey to who knows where).
That’s really exciting, Deva! I can’t wait to read all about your adventures!
I am excited! Also, already thinking about which perfume(s) to take with me, keeping in mind we will be in a car quite a bit and the rest of the time I am a guest in someone’s home. I’m going to have to keep it light and low key ????
Ohhh, have a wonderful time! I’d love to go back to Ireland. I got engaged in Dublin and stayed near Kenmare during much of my visit…incredible food.
My eyesight is fine, and I’d be terrified to drive in many of the roads there. Having to pass farm equipment and drive through flocks of sheep was harrowing.
Haha! Yes, the roads there are legendary. When I asked my aunt
“What’s the most convenient airport for you: Dublin or Shannon?”
She replied:
“Whatever is easiest for you. We have MOTORWAYS now in Ireland!”
The emphasis is hers and I laughed out load when I read that in her email.
What great memories you must have! Getteing engaged in a such a magical place is amazing. Do you think about a return visit for future anniversaries?
I started the day in Penhaligon’s “Bayolea”, a £12 blind buy FB from a bargain sale a while ago. I’m not usually impressed by citrus colognes (nor, indeed, by Penhaligon’s) but this has a bit more to it and I enjoyed it. It lasts half a day, which is fine for a weekend at home.
I have since changed into 4160 Tuesdays “A Kiss by the Fireside”. Ordered midnight Thu after reading Jessica’s great “Sunshine and Pancakes” review, and delivered this morning. I love it, it reminds me of a peated whiskey and will be beautiful in Winter (heck, it’s beautiful now on a July evening).
My French client is on holidays for the 1st 2 weeks of August so to save on expenses our UK-based team has been directed to work from home. I have decided that for the next 2 weeks home will be an apartment in the centre of Málaga, so the alarm is set for 03:45 tomorrow morning and when I next report a perfume here it’ll be from the sunshine of Andalucía. (And then on Monday I have to fly to London for 3 days, but that’s an evil for another day). I have had a lot of fun packing samples from my slowly-dwindling collection, a mix of seaside scents for the day and heavier stuff for the evenings. I hope to have some fun sharing with you guys. :^)
It seems appropriate actually to say “thank you!” to all you NST folk for this, as a year ago I wouldn’t have known about the world of perfumes and would be missing all this enjoyment. ;^D
Have a lovely time working from ” home”. I really enjoy reading about your travels ( fragrance observations as well ), since I haven’t been out of the US very much.
Thank you Wendysue! The US is so huge and so varied, I think people can understand why so many folk never really have to leave it. You can’t get reliable sunshine or snow in Ireland or the UK, so we get used to going overseas for Summer or Winter holidays, and for some of us (like me!) the habit sticks. :^)
I love your sense of adventure. Malaga was one of the cruise stops – lovely. Any plans to visit Alhambra? If not, you must!
One of my best work from home venues was at my brother’s house in Lake Oswego, Oregon – there’s a nice view of the Willamette River from his living room where I camped out when I had to unexpectedly work during my vacation.
Granada is great; we stayed there in 2010. I’m working (remotely) Mon-Fri so not sure I’ll want to go that far afield at the weekend. Might go visit the mountains above Malaga, the flamingo lake and El Torcal national park, or the dolmens at Antequera.
I was surprised at how mountainous it is! Enjoy your work at home stint!
I so need to try that Sunshine & Pancakes, if just for the name as both make me happy.
Hello from the US!!! I’m at my parents’ house outside DC now, so of course I dug into my mother’s perfume collection. I’m wearing some Dioressence that’s just a couple weeks younger than I am! It smelled fabulous at first, but now, an hour later, I have a headache that’s keeping me from seeing straight. I really cannot handle vintage perfumes, I think.
If you are here next weekend, come to the meet up at Ari’s shop during this event
https://www.arielleshoshana.com/pages/events
Oh what fun!!! Unfortunately, I’m leaving that afternoon 🙁 I’ve always wanted to check out the shop, but I don’t know how I’d convince my parents to drive me out there (…yup, I’m not what you might call a driver).
yay..in the USA! Good for you!
Just got off work and I was wearing Deneuve today. Now that has faded, I am running through what I should wear for the rest of the day.
SOTD = Yves Rocher Cuir Vetiver
This was my bargain-priced vacation purchase in Barcelona – 50 mLs for 15 Euros! The bottle is tacky with a faux wood cap. The perfume is a very nice Vetiver, leaning masculine. With 2 spritzes, Vetiver is all I smelled. Next time, I’ll up the amount to see if I can smell the Cuir.
I have to catch up on required online training so that will occupy a chunk of my weekend!
Thanks for the tip! Went and got a bottle for my husband, such a bargain and he loved it!
Wonderful! I heard the neroli is quite good as well.
Wore some Bronze Goddess today, just spritzed Sycomore before bed. Nice to read of so many folks’ good summer times. Enjoy the weekend, guys.
It’s so hot here that mostly I’m spraying Evian water on my face. One of my favourite summer scents is Terre d’Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche, so that’s what is going on today. It’s a little sour and you need to spray a lot quite frequently but oh well, it smells great.
Well, here we are in Malaga; temperature in the low 30s C and cloudy but dry. SOTD today is Amouage Ciel Man. It is pretty yukky without becoming actively unpleasant. More than anything it resembles one of those annoying Penhaligon’s scents that seem to mimic household detergents. Wondering if it’s the LOTV as that seems a common factor in several things I’ve disliked recently? Anyway, for me, it’s just another fail from the House of Amouage. :^)
Rainy weekend here in nyc, kind of like the change of pace from the blazing sunshine we’ve had every weekend this summer.
Went to a Mostly Mozart concert at Lincoln Center last night which was a much needed cultural time-out from the daily work/study grind.
Today’s a Dune day for me.. woke up with Dune on my mind and just a few dabs to get me in touch with this beauty.
You smell fabulous in Dune! I went to a Mostly Mozart eons ago – you got cultured. A new feature on Holland America’s entertainment offerings is “Lincoln Center Stage” where a quartet plays classical music for an hour each evening. It is very well attended but then again, HAL’s passengers on the European cruises tend to be older and appreciate classical music.
Interesting regarding the music on the cruise. I like that idea a lot.
In the playbill they advertised a cruse with broadway music/performers. It’s looked really fun. There are workshops you can take, and all things broadway theater related.
I’ve seen more themed cruises lately probably to attract different clientele. One of them is doing a MasterChef special this November.
Thanks to the arrival of a treasure trove of samples that arrived late last week (sent by a very kind and generous NSTer), in the past few days I’ve tried YSL Champagne, Fendi Theorema, TDC Oriental Lounge, Tauer Incense Rose, and Acqua di Parma Magnolia Nobile … sometimes by themselves, and sometimes side-by-side. So far I’ve determined that I need to (a) save Champagne and Theorema for fall, (b) spray Oriental Lounge more liberally, and (c) go buy a bottle of Magnolia Nobile stat! Sadly, Incense Rose didn’t work on me at all (many of the Tauers don’t). Still have a few to try, but this morning I needed Escale a Portofino with my Sunday morning latte.
One funny note – my spellchecker now offers “Ivoire” as an autocomplete for “iv”. I should see what else I can teach it. 😀
I’m testing Love Magic by House of Matriarch. So far, it seems to have incense and leather, with some passing hints of winter forest (which I like) and sweetness (which I don’t). We’ll see if it settles into something that I really like or not.
I tried Black No. 1, Luca Turin’s fav, earlier this week. That was good but for a hint of a buttery note that I don’t like. I know a lot of people might like that, so I’d recommend giving it a try.
I’m going to Seattle for a workshop and sightseeing and will drop by the HoM boutique to check out the rest of their line. I have to admit that I like their PR, which speaks to my love of perfume:
“We believe in magic.
“We believe in the power of fragrance to connect us to the past, harness our being to the present and help us write the future.
“Nature is the ultimate luxury.”
(No affiliation; I purchased the samples.)
Have fun in my city, dear!
This is Tamara J.* btw from back in the day. lol
I hope you have a wonderful time. xo
Tamara, you are part of all my early memories of NST – thanks very much for your greetings and kind words. Hugs!
Aww! That is very sweet of you to say and believe me, I know exactly what you mean. Please take care and I *still* want ( and will someday have! lol ) By Kilian’s LD because you urged me to try it and I fell for those delicious jammy roses. Just thinking about it makes me crave it! xoxo
Have a great trip. We keep having to put off going there for one reason or another. Keep a travelogue I can use refer to 🙂
Oops- use or refer to or to which I can refer!
Thanks, have also wanted to go there for a long time.
Ooh, I would love to know more! I had already booked my 7-day Alaska cruise for July 2017 and already thinking about pre- or post-cruise visits. The cruise is RT Vancouver but I had been there 4x whereas I’ve only been to Seattle once and my niece lives there!
Enjoy your workshop!
Satsuma body oil after shower. It is such a delicious scent. I may need to get the floral mist to go with it. Or it would be nice in a room spray…
Lazy day so far. Made pancakes and bacon while the PGA is on TV.
I need to stop in The Body Shop some day soon. They have great offerings at the right price point.
Yesterday I made peach buckwheat pancakes – yum!
Oh you. Buckwheat are my favorite, but my husband will only do plain buttermilk. Mine were Kodiak cakes with blueberries… Will have to try with peaches. That sounds really good.
Very good morning, NST. It’s August! Uggghhh! Nobody asked me if it would be all right if the year passed as quickly as this! I certainly wouldn’t have agreed if they had! So. I have a quiet work day in my office today. Eggzellent! I’m wearing Jubilation 25 to help the processes of cerebration, and I have some home-made soup for my lunch, also eggzellent. Yesterday I finished my review of my student’s thesis –yay for her; yay for me too!–so things are looking up. In fact,things have already improved: Dakkie has arrived with Complicated Pattern, a knitted mouse he has previously spurned. She is a Fairisle mouse (truly, who would go to the trouble?) and her colouring is rather loud. It’s nice to see that he has overcome his initial prejudices and is being even-pawed in his relationship with the mice.
Funny, they didn’t ask me, either! Still contemplating the mental image of a loudly colored Fairisle mouse…
If I were a mice, I would want to be a loudly coloured Fairisle one, though.
Good grief. *if i were a mouse.*
Flew from the east coast to the west of the U.S. Friday and am temporally still on EST. Yesterday wore Onda VdE from a generous sample and was told I was wearing ‘hippie perfume’ by my person. Not a compliment from him, but man, do I disagree. Today lots of family so something lighter and more neutral, I guess, out of the stash of decants I brought on the trip. Or maybe the odd but lovely D600.
Onda VdE ????????????????
Man, I disagree with your person too. Quite sure you smelled divine while wearing it.
You’ll adjust to PST in no time at all. I’ll be in your shoes come Thursday as I’m off to Portland OR for my niece’s wedding reception. OTOH, my FitBit still thinks it’s in Europe and I suspect the only cure is to let the battery run down…I’ve synced to both iPhone and laptop but it is one stubborn little bugger.
Did you try syncing and then removing the battery, waiting a minute or two, then reinserting? Sometimes that reboots it.
Unfortunately, it’s the type where the battery is built into the … thing … so there is no way to remove it. I did just see a little pinhole where I think I can insert a pin to reset. I’ll do it when I’m feeling brave 🙂
Since I couldn’t find the definitions on this site, could someone please enlighten me? What are a box of eels, Dante’s bra, and the perfumista salute?
Thank you!
HI, Celestia. “Box of Eels” is the result of a gorgeous mis-hearing by Pixel’s husband (I think it was Pixel). She told him she was wearing Bois des Iles, and he replied, “Box of Eels?” It’s stuck. I don’t know Dante’s Bra (it sounds as though it might be Dans tes Bras, but I might be quite wrong), but the Perfumista Salute is the constant raising of the wrist to the nose to learn or appreciate one’s perfume. All part of the fun of being a NS-Tite!
Yes, I’m sure it was Dans tes Bras, it just took me a while to figure out.
Thanks to waterdragon and ScentSpirit who answered my questions! XX
Dante’s Bra was the clever name used by a commenter on NST. Yes, it was likely a reference to Dan tes bras.
Wearing Chanel Eau Cologne today…
Reminds me of an orange popsicle in the dry down.
Craving SL Mandarine Mandarin this morning but alas my bottle is not here in Montreal, so I put on some YR Monoi oil and dabbed a bit of Cuir Mauresque over top. Quite nice actually, even if it didn’t quite scratch the itch.
Cuir Mauresque is to die for good, but almost impossible to wear in hot and humid climates. I was sent a small decant by a lovely pefumista here on NST and like to wear it to bed when I have freshly washed jammies. It perfumes the pajamas and sticks until the next washing. LOVE that stuff❤️
I’ve never smelled MM but the idea of the two layered together sounds wonderful.