As always, answer as many or as few as you like, or just talk about something else altogether.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
2. What's the next fragrance you'd like to test?
3. What do you think will be the next fragrance you buy?
4. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything — a great movie you saw, something delicious you ate, something fun you did recently — really, anything.
Note: image is Más ventanas [cropped] by Vicente Villamón at flickr; some rights reserved.
I’m wearing Tonka Imperiale today. Next on the testing schedule is JM Pomegranate Noir. My next purchase will be LV Matière Noire. I am really enjoying the fall colors as the trees turn red, yellow and orange. 🙂 Not to mention sweaters, boots and heavy-hitter orientals!
You smell wonderful! And yes to sweaters, boots and oriental secnts! My favorite season of the year!
Oh, mine too. Can’t wait! Hello Autumn/ Fall!
Mine too!
I love the fall colors also. Beautiful time of the year.
Thank God for Fall. It’s nice and coolish here and I am looking forward to further temp dips! You smell fabulous!
Autumn FTW!!
1) On this crisp fall day, I pulled out Cuir de Lancome. When the weather is right and this is worn, I seriously wonder why I bother with anything else.
2) Would love to test New Musk by Dame Perfumery.
3) I’ve halted all perfume spending for the rest of the year. Relocating to Paris (from the NY/NJ area) in three weeks and until I get settled there, buying more stuff is a no-no! Fingers crossed that I can stick to it.
RE: No 3…you can do it!!!!
RE: no 2…if you send Jeffrey Dame a postcard you can get a sample of your choice…go to his website and it explains it all….
Your move sounds very exciting! Best of luck on an easy move. It will take stamina to resist spending on perfume. But, you can just spend your time in museums!
How exciting! Good luck!
Living in Paris one day is a dream of mine.
So excited for you! Hope it all goes smoothly!
How exciting! Good luck on the move!
That’s awesome! I hope your move goes really smoothly.
Good luck with the move, so exciting!
Good luck with the move.
ANd I REALLY need to get my Cuir de Lancome out. It’s time.
Wow, how terribly exciting! Good luck for the move and the no-buy!
How wonderful! Have a ball!
Good luck on the move! As a fellow American expat in France, I’d be happy to gripe about the adjustment with you 🙂
Hoping your relocation goes as smoothly as possible. Make sure to reward yourself with a perfume ‘housewarming present’ once you’re there! ????
Hello everyone. Hard to believe that astronomical and calendar Autumn are already here.
1. I’m wearing La Douceur de Siam by Parfums Dusita today.
2. L’Artisan Bucoliques de Provence. I was wondering if maybe someone could help me go get a hold of a sample? I’ll be happy to swap.
3. Something with tobacco or amber maybe.
Happy weekend to everyone.
Lucasi, you can get a sample of L’Artisan Bucoliques de Provence from LuckyScent (and anything else who would like to sample). That’s how I got mine. In my opinion it is a very beautiful fragrance.
Yes, but LuckyScent is in US and I’m in Poland… not willing to pay 4 times a price of a sample for shipping overseas.
Hi, Yes and if you are in the Washington DC area (No.Va)Arielle Shoshanna has it as well, which is where I got mine last week. (ps they are free! and she is adorable!) Her shop is called Scented Luxuries.
It is lovely, I fear kinda sweet for me i think but am going to try it again!! Was hoping for the lavender as the primary top note but the dry down is lovely!
email me if you want details….
Okay, so today is my SOTD is 10CorsoComo, I have been dying to try it…
I am extremely impressed with Aftelier these days and think that if I had nine lives like my cat, at least 3 of them would be to come back as Mandy Aftel. I just wanna be her!!! I will certainly buy my next FB from her. I am sampling Memento Mori next. It is intriguing. Her Ancient Resins Body Oil is truly out of this world! I cannot stop sniffing my arm!!! It’s incredible. For those who don’t know (i’m the newbie here 4sure) she even has the most amazing packaging I have seen.
I want atleast 2 of her silver solid perfume cases.
Not helping at all. I’m on a different continent…
I feel for u Lucasai, I’m in UK, and am longing to try Sonoma scents, Forrest walk, champagne de Bois, and her violets sound wonderful, & some of the Dame perfumes, but shipping alas, is prohibitive.
Mayfly, I have some SSS. I can check next weekend when I’m back home and could send you something.
Thanks Lucasai!- that would be wonderful. I’ve only just seen this reply, so kind of u.
How is the staying power? I have been debating testing it
Lucasai, is it current or discontinued? I can pop into their shop in the Marais in a few weeks and try to blag a sample. But it will be 3 or 4 weeks, not sooner. I would happily swap for a sample of Piotr Czarnowski “Sensei”. :^)
It was launched this year. A limited edition I think. I will try to check on fragrantica swaps if someone has some. Unfortunately I don’t have Sensei.
1. Wearing Demeter Tomato – courtesy of a gal who really knows my taste in perfume
2. Will be testing some new goodies from my perfume fairy
3. Just like sayitisntso, I have halted all perfume spending…in fact halted all spending on non-essentials in order to get my finances under control
4. Something wonderful? I made a lovely new friendship with a person who is so in synch with me….and I am also coming to the realization that it isn’t the “stuff” in my life that makes me happy but the wonderful people that I call friends and family….and I am grateful 🙂
It really is special to find someone who “gets” you. How wonderful for you.
#4 = ????
It’s hot in my city. Again.
1. Wearing Annick Goutal Vetiver, the original discontinued one. I wish I’d bought a bottle. Love.
2. Want to test Chanel Boy. Also CdG Black Pepper.
3. Will buy the travel size bottles of Memo Italian Leather for a Christmas present to myself!
4. A friend bought a new house with a pool. Last night we sat poolside and drank wine. It was a perfect way to unwind from the week!
I love Memo Italian Leather. So elegant!
I know you do! Your review was spot on.
Enjoy your travel bottle! Did you see that you can also buy a special leather case for it? If only I had a little fortune to spend…
Wine by the pool sounds pretty perfect to me!
It is great to have a friend who has a pool. Or a friend who has a boat. Much better than having your own 🙂
Haha Yes! Zero maintenance!
Zero maintenance for “my” dog too 🙂
1. I am wearing Andy Tauer’s Carillon pour un ange and am sorry to say I am almost ready to scrub it off. There’s something about it that just STINKS on me. I know many people love it, but it’s not for me.
2. Since I bought Tauer’s little kit I am next going to test Incense Extreme. So far I’ve tested all the others and absolutely LOVE Une Rose Chypree.
3. I am mulling over buying Amouage Myths. I was lucky enough to visit Harrods earlier this week and the kind Amouage guy Benjamin there gave me a carded sample of it. It’s a very strange and complex perfume. Don’t like it at first but it becomes swooningly beautiful after an hour or more. It’s just that it’s $$$!
4. A good thing? I’ve found a WONDERFUL Italian mystery author, Maurizio de Giovanni, who has two different series both set in Naples–one contemporary and one historical. They’re both great, but the historical ones are just fabulous. Great characters, intricate plots, and lyrical writing. If you like mysteries, try him!!
I love Myths and Rose Chypree is my favourite Tauer!
Oh, wow, sounds like we’re on the same wave-length, then!
Calypso, I love most of Andy Tauer’s perfumes, but there is some ingredient in Carillon pour un ange that irritates my nose and my skin.
I wonder what it is? Too bad, but I’m kind of glad I’m not alone.
Oh my gosh, I am so with you on CPUA. It is likely whatever form of LOTV he used. The whole thing smells like rotting garbage to me.
Exactly.
Thanks so much for the author rec.! Have you tried Donna Leon? Her mysteries are wonderful too – set in Venice (she’s American, but has lived in Venice for quite a while).
Other good Italian series are the Aurelio Zen books by Michael Dibdin, and the Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilliere. There was a short British TV series of some of the former and an Italian series of the latter (with subtitles thankfully).
Thanks!
Seconding the Zen! Beautifully and totally unobtrusively written, full of human foibles, wonderful.
Yes I’ve read all of her books. The latest ones seem to have become a bit thin. I really do love the Aurelio Zen mysteries too. Just try these too and I think you’ll agree!
I’m one who loves Carillon pour un Ange but don’t get on with URC or any of the other Tauer roses save PHI (which I adore.) There’s something for everyone, goes to show 🙂
I am in Alahiiiiiine solid and spray
Today is the wedding of my brother
You smell wonderful, of course, and congratulations to your brother!
Alahiiiiiine, of course!! You smell great.
Congratulations!
What a happy day. Have a great time!
Congrats!
Oh Lucky YOU! I have 2 samples thanks to all the great press it gets here!!
You smell heavenly! Congratulations!
Congratulations! Is your toddler in the wedding party?
You smell lovely.
Congratulations to your brother!
SOTD is Theorema, mmm. I am really looking forward to trying MFK Grand Soir. The next bottle will most likely be a trio of MCG travel sizes – Elephant & Roses, Rrose Selavy and Cinabre, but I’m also tempted by Ann Gerard’s Rose Cut. And I tought I had enough roses, ha!
Something wonderful…I love the explosion of language my younger DD is having, so many new words each day :).
I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend.
You smell fantastic, and I would love a trio of MCG travel bottles myself.
Still waiting for my decant of Grand Soir. The tester strip from a week ago is still fragrancing get my room nicely!
1. Haven’t chosen SOTD yet. Might be Shalimar Soufflé.
2. Just got to test Chanel No. 5 l’Eau. Much lighter than I thought it would be. Couldn’t really smell it after five minutes. Hoping to test the new Neela Vermeire.
3. Trying to abstain from buying anything. Hubby still out of work.
4. Pleasure–trying to get some exercise daily, even for only fifteen minutes and reading “Swans of Fidth Avenue” about Truman Capote and his circle of female friends and how he betrayed them in late fifties/early sixties New York. Also, Angela’s book “The Lanvin Murders.”
My mom just read that book for her book club and kept telling me she thought I’d really enjoy it. I must get it on my Kindle!
I checked out from my local library. Maybe you can check it out from yours as an e-book.
There’s a new Neela Vermeire? Oh-oh…
Been wearing Dzongkha today. I was going to change it up after I’d showered but Dzongkha had other ideas! Happy it’s stuck around though. Orchid Soleil is my next planned big purchase but to be honest, it’ll probably just join the never ending list of planned purchases!
Can’t wait for my bottle of Dzonka to arrive!
1. I’m wearing NV Pichola. Currently, this is my desert island fragrance.
2. Would like to test the Louis Vuitton fragrances.
3. Chanel No.5 L’Eau is on my list. I like the original, but this is easy to wear and spray with abandon.
4. Went out to dinner for the first time since the back surgery last night and had decadent luscious chocolate pots de creme for dessert. I’m contemplating ordering dessert as a first course in some places 😉 .
Have a great weekend!
Back surgery is NO fun. My aunt had it last April and was really laid up for months. Congratulations on being able to go out!
I’m so ignorant, I can’t think what NV is… ??
Neela Vermeire. I’m never sure I’ll spell it correctly, thus the default. But, thanks for the reminder that often the abbreviations are a mystery.
So glad to hear u are recovering and had celebratory evening!
You smell great, and congrats on your recovery!
My father’s favorite saying: life’s uncertain; eat dessert first! And he often did!
My personal philosophy as well. 🙂
I always knew that you were a woman of sense and discernment! 😉
Hope your recovery is progressing as planned (or better). And dessert first seems like the perfect self care plan. ????
Yay for being out and about after back surgery, WendySue!
Thanks everyone!
I’ll bet the chocolate pots de creme was delicious !
Yay for your recovery !
1. SOT Moment is whatever remains of yesterday’s Lipstick Rose in my hair. (It really sticks around!) I have had a week of heavy roses as the weather has cooled dramatically, and I have enjoyed wearing my BEEG scents again.
4. Mr. Spicebomb and I are fairly certain we want to go to Italy for our honeymoon. It will have to be delayed until December due to my teacher schedule, which means 10-14 days tops. I would love to hear folks’ thoughts on how to make the most of our time!
I’ve been reading a guidebook, and all I’ve gotten from it so far is that there is too much to do! I definitely want to go to Pompeii, as it is on my short bucket list. Mr. S. and I will undoubtedly look at many old things and art things, but how to prioritize? Do we go to a few places and really spend time there or do we travel more to see a bit of more locations, but less deeply, or . . . ?
Ooh, Pompeii! My sense would be to pick a couple of places and get to know them fairly well versus travelling all over the place. You could do some very brief side trips if you two wished. Perhaps Italian rail travel is a complete delight these days – but perhaps not. And Italian road travel is not delightful at all!
Oh, tell me about Italian road travel! We were assuming we’d need to rent a car–would we be setting ourselves up for unnecessary stress?
I drove around Italy for a few weeks, years ago — it’s a cliche that Italians tend to drive faster and more aggressively, but I think it’s true. Also though, they’re really good at it. People drive in ways that would be sure to cause multi car accidents in the US.
If you’re not a confident driver I can see it being stressful, but otherwise I think you’ll be fine.
Good to hear, thank you! I learned to drive in Minnesota, where the drivers are more aggressive than here in Oregon, but I drive a little wind-up toy (Honda Fit) that likes to hope it will be a real car some day, so I don’t get much experience driving fast!
My brother and sister-in-law just got back from Italy, and he described driving there as “blood sport”. LOL But my SIL is a more aggressive driver than he is, and she thought it was great.
I’ve never driven in the US, but have been driven around there and traffic there is totally different from Europe. So I can imagine a place like Italy to be rather daunting from a car driving point of view.
You should definitely see Pompeii – it is a magical place and a good guide will really make it come to life. It has a fascinating history. One of my favorite trips. A don’t miss.
Yes, I’ve seen that we can get English guides at a lot of places–I think it’s really important for such places to get someone knowledgeable to explain and interpret. Where else did you go? Anywhere you found essential or perhaps less-than-essential?
I’ve only been to Venice and Florence. I will look for the business card of the guide whom we had on the transfer to / from Florence.
thanks!
In December I’d be inclined to skip the North – Venice, Verona, Florence and the lakes. How long are you staying? In 2 weeks you should be able to cover 3 centres. Maybe Rome at the start and the end (esp if flying in and out of there), Naples or the Amalfi Coast to include an excursion to Pompeii, and somewhere in the South for the best weather. Lecce is famed for baroque architecture and is the home Maison Gabriella Chieffo (for a perfume angle). Palermo or Taormina in Sicily would be lively or beautiful, respectively, with excursions to Monreale or Syracuse. The Aeolian Islands with the volcano of Stromboli would be interesting although I’m honestly not sure how they’d be in mid-Winter (Greek Islands can be dead out of season, Spanish islands have a second busy season then). Anywhere you go will have regional sweet and savoury specialities to enjoy, including Christmas goodies. It almost doesn’t matter where you choose; it will be good. The one mistake would be to try to see everything everywhere! :^)
Oh, thank you for your reply, Koenigsberg! Food will definitely be an important part of the trip! I love the idea of exploring baroque architecture–I will look further into Lecce! Mr. S. and I both are avid photographers when we travel, and buildings always seem to play a prominant role.
I did wonder about the weather. Coming from Oregon, we will not be shocked to see rain and clouds most days. It is what we get. Neither of us skis, so I agree, likely we will not bother to go to far north, although I’ve heard such wonderful things about Naples. . .
I’m going to disagree with Koenigsberg about the north in winter–Florence museums are jam-packed in the warmer months and in my opinion are not to be missed, so I’d take advantage of fewer tourists and hit those places when they aren’t crowded. Venice, too, because, well, VENICE. Rome and Pompeii/Herculaneum aren’t that far apart, you could easily do a day trip if you wanted to stay in Rome. Rome is wonderful, one of my favorite cities in the world.
Venice is best in winter, I reckon. Sharp air and fog seems to add to the atmosphere, and quietness…it becomes spooky.
Sounds great!
i agree with Kanuka. I’ve been to Venice three times in the winter, and it’s magical. The summer is crowded, and sometimes, really rather smelly.
A friend told me she much prefers Florence over Rome. She said we should spend two days in Rome, tops, and then high-tail it to Florence and spend the extra time there.
I think doing a day-trip to Pompeii might be just about right! I will look into options. . .
I love every place I have ever been in Italy and Sicily. I love Florence, but Rome is tops in my opinion. It is fascinating the way the ancient blends in with the modern. There is so much to see in Rome…it’s not just about churches and the Vatican. I’ve been to Pompeii several times as well and it is a must-see.
Venice in December? You’ve got 5 hours of daylight and you’re going to spend them in the dark sunless streets of a half-deserted town with the cold wind whistling across the grey open water? ;^D
Yeah…and then it gets twinkly and mysterious, and you can linger in cafes, wine bars, take your time over meals …. Night markets, concerts…but not good if you like sunshine and beaches,that’s for sure. The pragmatist meets the dreamer, eh Konigsberg.
I respectfully agree. I live quite a bit further North than Venice, and even on our shorter days we get around 7 hours of daylight. Plus Florence and Rome in Summer are not that great. Way too crowded, and both share a rather humid heat.
If it was me I would forget the big tourist cities that are crowded and focus on the mid-size cities that have fantastic architecture , art etc. so I would skip Rome, Florence etc. and visit places like Matera, Bologna, Vicenza, Genoa etc. I woukd hire a car and just travel on the smaller roads (i.e. Non motorways ) and travel day by day…so you get a mix of the good and the bad ( which will make the trip more memorable than having it all smoothly plotted out) . Sometimes having a theme to your trip can help. I had a great holiday in France and Switzerland once just visiting Le Courbusier’s buildings. Maybe your theme could be volcanos and you could travel to Pompeii and the. the remoter islands by ferry. Or pick an architect, an artist, ot author ( like they did on the movie The Trip with the Byron/ Shelley stuff) .Also, you don’t want to be hassled with early departures as it is your honeymoon. Otherwise rent a house or apartment . Can you hear the envy in my voice??? Happy days are ahead!!!!
Perugia is another good place. Siena. The Dolomites…you can’t go wrong really.
Yes, Sienna. But I don’t think you should miss Florence, and it will be so much better than going in the dead of summer. As fox bins says, Venice is Venice and if you don’t go there you might not feel that you have been to Italy. And Pompei is definitely fascinating. Maybe you want to walk up Mount Vesuvius? It’s very manageable. Train travel is still the most relaxing in my opinion, but I think it depends on how high you are on the “need for control” index.
Yes, I was hoping the up-side to going in the winter would be fewer lines and crowds. How did you find the trains–fast? slow? on time? conveniently located?
Yes to fast, yes to slow, yes to on time and yes to not on time. But almost always yes to conveniently located. The main fast lines are pretty much on time, but there are little slow trains that might not be on time too. I have been to Italy lots of times and never rented a car, though, I’ve always travelled by train so I might be a bit biased toward that means of transportation. I love train travel. I’ve never found that I couldn’t get where I wanted to go by train in Italy.
Ha! Thank you Kanuka! It is very exciting. I am not an especially well-travelled person. I’ve seen lots of stuff near by, and not much else. My one big excursion was a term in Madagascar nearly two decades ago, otherwise, I’ve pretty much only travelled domestically. Mr. Spicebomb spent a few weeks in Spain 5 years ago, but likewise, has otherwise stuck to the US for the most part. I am sure wherever we go, it will be wonderful!
One thing to keep in mind if you hire a car is the sometimes outrageous cost of inner city (overnight, or full-day) parking – if it’s not part of your hotel.
Regional trains are great for short distances or unhurried travel. Fast trains have always been very efficient in my experience (the big train stations not so much – if you have to queue for tickets rather than use a machine). Check out rail passes – there might be good options. If you’re basing yourself in big cities I’d stick to trains (as you can get anywhere) and do day trips but if you’re ‘touring’ get a car. Or bikes. Or donkeys…
We spent a month in Italy a few years back, loved it — September, for us; Venice, Lake Como, Formula 1 race in Monza, Florence, Tuscany, Rome. Mostly took high speed rail from place to place, but did rent a car in Tuscany. If you’re a confident driver, it’s not a problem. Does help if you can drive a stick shift though, automatics are much more rare and more expensive to rent.
I always prefer longer visits in fewer locations — changing location takes up an absurd amount of time. But you could just consider it part of the adventure 🙂 I would recommend visiting at least one of the ‘big tourist destinations’ — there’s a reason these spots are big, they are just amazing. Coming from the New World, it is astounding to see so much human history everywhere. It seems like every corner you turn in Rome shows you a new historical sight — so many, the guidebooks don’t come anywhere close to mentioning them all.
Food: so easy to get good food from neighborhood restaurants, there is no need to hunt down fancy or famous places. Wine: the house wine is always good. Gelato: must. My favorite flavor: bacio (kiss) = chocolate and hazelnut. I am drooling a bit here.
You can buy tickets to most famous museums on-line, ahead of time. As you walk past the literally mile-long line for the Vatican Museum, you will be ever so pleased you can go right to the front.
venere.com is great for hotel/b&b booking.
the italian rail system website only functions during italian business hours (or at least that was true in 2010). go figure.
bring paper copies of every reservation. this is a country that loves bureaucracy, and if you can snow them with paperwork they are in heaven.
be nice and people will help you 🙂 we showed up at a florence museum on the wrong day for our tickets. long line, rainy…. another tourist was busy shouting at the entry guard who was having none of it. we waited politely… showed the guard our printout… instead of making us wait in line, he whisked us thru the door, took us straight to the front of the ticket line, had a quiet chat with the ticket guy, and we were in. 🙂
ping me if you want more info, i coulda been a travel agent in another life 🙂 emc dawt 7 1 1 7 at geeemayle.
Thank you, pixel! You may be hearing from me! I especially appreciate the booking info and suggestions. That’s the sort of on-the-ground detail that can be tough to figure out ahead of time!
Hi, you really HAVE to do BOTH – you cannot miss Rome, and Firenze is only a few hours away, you can rent a car or catch a train….. they even have bus trips (I saw that and was amazed..) there enough history, art and beauty in Italy to last 5 lifetimes, Tuscany deserves a few days on it’s on as well, and I don’t know your time constraints…so If you can’t make it up to Florence, at least make it to Orvieto, (they still offer these day trips) although a tourist trap nowadays it is spectacular. You really can’t pick a bad spot….IF you do Tuscany – you cannot miss Sienna…at least and i could go on and on….. you have some great advice here to help as well as confuse so I apologize in advance….. save another area/region for your 2nd trip, you gotta cluster and conquer girl!! If I can help, lmk!
buon viaggi!
I’m with those who suggest two or three main places and day trips in the surrounding areas. I can’t imagine not going to Rome! The crowds can be a drag for sure depending on the time of year, but there is so much to see and it is such a great city. I’ve also stayed in Siena, which itself can be ‘seen’ in a couple of days – Sienese painting is awesome – but you can drive or train from there to Florence and all over the Umbria mountain towns. I haven’t been to the east coast or the south yet! Have a great time regardless. And plan in rest days. So much is visually overwhelming that I literally need time outs.
Umbrian.
Yes to rest days! We will also need to schedule in time on our own–we’re both pretty independent people and aren’t accustomed to 24/7 company. I know I will need a few hours here and there to process and relax and be in my head.
I agree Amy…to go to Italy without going to Rome is a mistake. (I know a few people who have done that.) The City has been around for thousands of years and is alive and thriving.
Oh, Marjorie Rose, if Pompeii is on your bucket list, you’ve come to the right place!! I am totally biased: I have visited as a tourist and have excavated there and am forever under its spell! I became quite familiar with the area, so here’s my two-cents’ worth on how you can cross that baby off your list and fill your trip.
If you base yourself somewhere (at a hotel, flat, or whatever) in the Bay of Naples–I would recommend Sorrento–you can easily fill 10-14 days without ever having to rent a car! The Circumvesuviana train runs along the Bay and connects Naples to Sorrento (in about an hour), and there are even stations specifically for Pompeii and Herculaneum. (There are also ferries and hydrofoils that run to Naples and elsewhere in the Bay, but they’re usually more expensive and less interesting.) So, with the train you can make easy trips to Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii, and anywhere along the Bay. If you’re so inclined, you can make the trek up Vesuvius, which is cool. Changing direction and transportation, you can also hop right over to the lovely isle of Capri on a boat to visit the famous Blue Grotto and do some fabulous shopping and eating. The islands of Ischia and Procida are across the Bay as well. And you can also travel in still another direction by getting a guided tour, in a private car, of the Amalfi Coast so that you don’t have to drive.
So, there are Greco-Roman archaeological sites everywhere (Herculaneum, Pompeii, the villa of Oplontis, on Capri, in Pozzuoli, etc.), museums of all sorts/historical periods in Naples and Sorrento, cathedrals and churches everywhere, and gorgeous surroundings. Sorrento itself is lovely. By staying in the area you can hit the sites at your leisure and then come back ‘home’ each day. You also have the ability to make a second trip to Pompeii (or wherever) if you fall in love with it. I can tell you from experience that on the day I spent specifically on photography, I was there from before the site was open to tourists until midday and only covered the area around the old ‘Triangular Forum’ and theater! …All this, and you don’t have to drive!
And perfume? Carthusia perfumes is located on Capri. And a final selling point to consider is that in the Naples area is home to two Italian food and drink specialities: pizza and limoncello! Neapolitan pizza is the Champagne of the pizza world. (Everything else is inferior. Truly.) Limoncello is made in Sorrento, on Capri, and farther around along the Amalfi coast. It’s fabulous, and the stores that sell it give out free samples. ????
I’ve visited all over Italy, but I think the Naples area would really scratch your Pompeii itch and make your trip more effortless. If you want to pick my brain about Italy in general, or just Pompeii, feel free to email me at seshat77 at yahoo dawt com.
PS: I meant to add that you can easily catch a train to Rome from Naples to zip off for several days and then return.
I want that trip!
And I want your Le Corbusier tour!
Wow, all good info, Creosote! I am emailing the link to this LWP to myself for future reference.
????
Thank you for all the great info and insights! You might hear from me as we get closer to setting up our plans. 🙂
We did go to Italy in December a few years ago when our son was studying in Arezzo, a beautiful town south of Florence. It rained a little, but we breezed through all the museums when we went to Florence for a few days. It was as if we had the city to ourselves.
You have been getting lots of great advice and I seem to be unable to not add my 2 cents.
An alternative to Pompei might be to visit Ostia Antica, which I personally preferred over the much bigger site of Pompei. Ostia is only a 15 min tube ride away from Rome and gives a nice impression of Roman Antiquity.
Although I loved Rome and Florence I preferred the smaller cities, as in those city centres cars are mostly not allowed so walking around them is much more relaxing. So I preferred Siena, and San Gimignano and Montepulciano over Florence. The museums and churches in Florence are stunning however.
Another city that is often overlooked and that is truly beautiful is Bologna, which apparently is also the best place in Italy to eat. Umbria is very beautiful, a bit more rugged than Tuscany but with many gems, like Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Spoleto and probably loads of others.
I have never visited either Ravenna or Padua myself, but they are relatively close to Venice and have much to offer in terms of Art. And if you do visit Venice, don’t forget to make a little detour to Verona. I hope you have a wonderful time. Italy is very beautiful and at times feels almost like an open air museum.
Thank you for sharing! And Bologna is getting added to the list . . . mmm, foooood!
We also spent our honeymoon in Italy — it was the first time I’d been, and I was blown away. In three weeks we travelled around the south — I remember above all Pompeii & Herculaneum and the Amalfi coast — before staying for a week in a forest cottage just outside Florence. More travelling would not have seemed like a holiday, and less would definitely have worked too.
Amalfi coast tip: hop on one of the public buses that go up and down the coast roads. The drivers are amazing: not only do they manoeuvre their own buses with breathtaking ease around the hairpin hill bends, they do it while instructing helpless tourist drivers how to get themselves out of tight spots. Mesmerising.
Oh, sounds like I’d much prefer a bus driver doing the driving along the coast! Good tip!
Neroli Outrenoir today. Wow, just a sniff from the vial had me swooning! So beautiful and perfect for spring/summer. I am such a huge fan of the L’Art et la Matiere line.
That’s another one I want to sniff! Neroli and I get along well.
I think you will love it. It is a very elegant neroli!
Thanks for reporting in on this one…can’t wait to try it.
It’s gorgeous. If you are a Guerlain lover, I think you will be impressed!
Laura – who’s got samples of that?? I’m dying to try it.
Guerlain SA at Bergdorf’s sent it to me. It’s a hand made sample. I think she said it was being released in October. Generally I’m not too moved by neroli, but this is beautiful.
Thanks; I’ll give them a try.
Oooh, I need to try this! Guerlain rocks!
You need to split this! 😉 Count me in for a decant!
1. SOTD–The 7% Solution from EnVoyage
2.I have so many samples that who knows what I’ll test next
3.Since I used up my travel mini of Amun Re:The Tears of Ra, a larger bottle will probably be my next purchase unless I’m gobsmacked by something else before then or find something on my list on eBay
4. Something wonderful–the new guy I’m dating. He’s smart, cute, likes to cook for me, and we have fabulous chemistry plus he lives a few blocks from me
New guy sounds absolutely amazing!
What an uplifting post. Yay!!
Nice to find a guy who likes to cook!
Almost as good as moving to Paris! 🙂
Good for you! Envious out here.
I found him on okcupid. How could I not meet someone that I’m theoretically a 97% match with?
I should do that, but I suspect I’m even less appealing on “paper” than I am in person.
Woot on #4!
Life sounds good, and he sounds gorgeous!
#4: Awesome!
1/ Started the day with Scherrer EDT, had a big nap and then sprayed on Timbuktu. No idea why. So far, Timbuktu is tarry and bitter. It tends to morph into something softer later on though.
2/ No idea. Someone sprayed the new take on Jean-Paul Gaultier Classique rather liberally at Boots today. Had an involuntary sniff of that . . . not bad at all.
3/ The next perfume I *think* I will buy will most likely not be the next perfume I *will* buy. I *think* I will buy Pomegranate Noir.
I have a mini I love very much that I’ve been emptying for the past few months. It’s an overripe fruity incense that veers on masculine. Lubberly stuff.
Anyhow, I spotted a vintage bottle of Gucci III at an antiques shop that I might end up buying next instead. The plan of action then is to sit on my hands until someone else offers it a loving home. 🙂
I vote for the Gucci.
Buying old vintage bottles seems more reasonable (and cheaper) since they’re one-off hits whereas Pom Noir will be there.
Now, the most reasonable thing would be to plan to buy nothing given that
1/ the grand plan is to continue to emptying existing bottles and
2/ there will always be another omganothervintagetreasure around the corner.
I mean, you can’t own all existing great perfume in the universe.
It’s hard to reconcile myself to your last statement. Alas it is true.
But you can try!
Yeah, that last statement doesn’t sound quite right.
It took me quite a while to realize I couldn’t read all the great books, either.
Oh, no, that csn’t be right…
I’ve dabbed on some Tokyo Milk Tainted Love that was an extra from a Sephora order. It is ok but not great. Smells a bit of plastic and citrus and vanilla. Next!
I’m looking forward to the new Neela Vermiere, and would like to try Galop as well. And L’Attesa.
I have nothing on my buy list right now but would like to get a decant of Ambra Aurea. I’d also like to hook my guy up with a couple bottles of his own…he’s turning into a perfume lover! I’m not sure what to get him though, he loves to ‘get a spray’ but hasn’t really been able to pinpoint what he likes best.
We went to a pinball expo yesterday where there were 100+ machines to play and it was so fun. I’ve always loved pinball and once dreamed of going on a pro tour, if such a thing existed. Was nice to see so many other people who love it too, especially the younger ones!
That pinball expo sounds like fun! I can’t imagine that a pro tour doesn’t exist somewhere. My hubs wants to get a pinball machine.
I am also looking forward to the new Neela Vermiere. Does anyone know what it will be called and what type of fragrance it will be?
I don’t recall the complete dedcription but it’s called Rahele and IIRC it’s centered around osmanthus.
Thanks Elisa.
Pinball expo, how fun! I have a Black Knight machine in the basement. Birthday gift from husband many years back. In general, he is frozen with fear at the thought of gift-giving, but every now and then, he really gets it right 🙂
If my apartment weren’t the size of a basement, I’d get one for my husband. Great gift!!
OMG pinball expo!!! I would’ve run around like a little kid and tried to play as many as possible.
1.SOTD!Lush Dirty.I smell pretty clean!
2.Oh the Hermès Galop is first on my wishlist to try!
3.Next purchase probably By Kilian Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi…a friendly mule is going to the US in October,I cannot wait to smell it!!(total blindbuy,but I “need” that black clutch…)
4.Spring has arrived.The Petrias and Hibuscus are blooming,and my tomato-plants are reaching for the sky.
Happy Heritage Day South Africa!And Happy weekend to all!X
I’m so jealous of your spring, as I am dreading my approaching winter.
It took a while to arrive,Dear Spring!Glad it finally did!X
I just want to add, I truly wish you a joyous and peaceful spring, Johanob.
You do need that black clutch – gorgeous!
Finally gave in to that one with these shopping inducements!!
1. Guerlain Herba Fresca. Its very uplifting. Gets me moving.
2. This is going to sound silly, especially on here, but I’d love to try Chanel No. 5 Parfum. I recently ordered the No. 5 Body Oil for my mother in law’s birthday present from Saks. I was going to also order a bottle of No. 5 EDP for me (my bottle is almost empty), when I mentioned to her my love of it, but how I wish it lasted longer. She told me to come in and try the parfum because she was sure I’d love it. They had no samples of it to send me, so, one day I’ll make it in to Saks to try it out.
3. The next perfume I’m thinking of buying is Hermes Galop. I tried it out in France, and almost bought it. The big price tag has me wanting to ask for it for Christmas. I did receive two nice samples to hold me over until then.
4. I was up last night watching old reruns of “I Love Lucy” and the episode had Lucy trying to fit souvenirs from her European trip into her luggage. She bought a bottle of My Sin for her neighbor, Mrs. Trumble (sp?) as a souvenir. I love when I hear or read about fragrances in movies, television shows or books 🙂
No 5 parfum is wonderful even in its current formula! I prefer it to the edp and the edt.
I recently discovered the No.5 body lotion,and a gel version:Elixer Sensuel.That gel is ridiculously good,and amps up the Parfum beautifully!
I am wearing Alkemia’s Ishq today. It is so dark and dirty and funky – I just love it. Oud, tobacco, musk, etc.
I particularly like it layered over the newish Lush body scrub, The Rough and the Smooth. Black pepper and patchouli.
Ishq is ltd., so I followed my sample with a bottle to get me through fall. No more purchases for awhile.
I am ashamed to share how much I love Pumpkin Spice Cherrios. I bought them as a joke. The joke was on me.
I highly recommend the new album by St Paul and the Broken Bones. Love it!
I will start Teddy Wayne’s Loner today. I hear it’s disturbing, but good.
Have a good one, all!
Wow, I have never heard of Pumpkin Spice Cheerios. This is the time of year when I yearn for the arrival of pumpkin bagels, which have an all-too-brief season.
Ok I’m usually not a pumpkin flavored person, but Cheerios sound good.
Today really feels like Autumn here and I’m wearing Parfum d’Empire’s Cuir Ottoman.
I would love to try some Creed scents but I’m reluctant to even sample because they are so expensive and above the amount I can spend.
The next perfume I am thinking of buying is Tiziana Terenzi’s Lillipur.
I am happy I am reading novels again. I started with “The Girl on the Train” a week ago and am almost finished. Next up: “The Kept Woman”.
You smell wonderful, Cuir Ottoman is a gem.
The trailer for the new movie of “Girl on the Train” looks very good.
If you’re in the US, MyPerfumeSamples.com has small decants of a dozen or so Creeds at reasonable prices. (No affiliation.) If my budget wasn’t so small, I’d get 5ml of Virgin Island Water, but it doesn’t quite make the cut.
People on the Facebook page “Fragrance Swap” are aleays selling Creed decants. Probably cheaper since they’re usually not trying to make a profit. Might be worth joining…
I have yet to break down and join Facebook. (I know, I know.)
Hi friends!
Today, I am wearing Neil and Basil by Jo Malone.
I still didn’t get a chance to try Jo Malone’ s tea fragrance collection. So, still very curious about those fragrances.
I really don’t know what fragrance will be on my list to purchase next. As usual, I’ve gone overboard with my spending. So, it will probably be a while before I purchase anything else.
I have a new guy friend that I have been talking to since mid July. He just might be the one. I’m so excited to see where this relationship is going. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Edit: Neroli
Heh, Neil and Basil would be a perfect name for a British perfume. 🙂
Hope new guy friend turns out to be good.
I rather like Neil and Basil…both the name and the fragrance 🙂
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Fingers are crossed! Good luck!
Sounds excitingly, fingers crossed!
1) Finished off a sample vial of Parfums Quartana Mandrake this am but will switch to Taklamakan this evening since it’s much cooler today.
2)I’d like to try more from the PQ line, specifically Wolfsbane and Bloodflower are calling to me.
3) Not thinking quite yet about my next buy since I’m still digesting recent acquisitions, mainly PQ Hemlock, which I’m really loving, and a split of Taklamakan.
4) We went to a Mets game last night, which turned out to be a very exciting game with the Mets taking the win. My game food was a grilled cheese: short rib, fontina, and tomato jam on sourdough bread. Citifield has really upped their food game!
Yes, that’s the only reason I will go to a Mets game is to experience the food! I have a friend who use to make tomato jam and it was exquisite! I would by jars and jars of it and hide it away. Sadly she makes it no more.
Glad it was an exciting game!
You have been raving about Quartana. I think I am convinced I need to try it 🙂
I haven’t tried enough of them to rave about the line as a whole, but they’re fun and quirky. I think they’re worth a sniff if you like things that are slightly “off”.
I love the Mets! I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich yesterday which, I now realize, was decidedly inferior to yours. ????
1. I’m wearing Box of Eels edt and parfum today. The shirt I put on smelled funny from being in the winter clothes closet since April, so I sprayed it with the edt. It smells better now. The edt doesn’t last on my skin so I’m looking for a way to use it up and spraying on fabric might be it.
2. I have a few I want to smell–MFK Grand Soir, that Eris Bete thing, and Mohur extrait.
3. There’s nothing on my buy list at the moment, but I have gone to Ulta twice to spritz myself with Stash, and I’ve never done that before. I just wish it lasted longer, I get about 3 hours and it’s gone, and I don’t care for rollerballs, I wonder how difficult it would be to pry the ball off and put the fragrance in an atomizer?
4. Portland’s music scene is wonderful! Tomorrow night Art Garfunkel is playing here. I heard he was having some vocal chord problems so I’m hoping his beautiful soaring tenor has been restored to normal. The symphony season starts in October.
OMG, what an awful run-on sentence in #3. Not enough coffee yet!
…and vocal cord, not chord!
1. Cuir Beluga. I could almost wear it every day.
2. Eveil by Anna Rivka. I know next to nothing about it except that a parfumo.de friend with similar taste rates it highly.
3. Tobacco Rose. Can hardly wait!
4. There was a playful competition at the end of the dog activity holiday I’ve just come back from. We came a happy 11th, but Little Dog really shone in the shoe fetching. I sat on the chair, took off a shoe — which happened to be a hiking boot half the size of my dog — threw it the regulation distance into the circle with lots of other (lighter, more easily grabbable) shoes in it, and said “Fetch” with entirely feigned optimism.
Little Dog ran to the circle, sniffed around, grabbed my boot and heroically wagged all the way back to me with it, despite tripping over it twice and having to pick it up again.
Proud moment:))
Aargh posted this in the wrong place, sorry!
I genuinely liked your run-on sentence, by the way:)
It is usually not hard to get the rollerball off — if you don’t want to use your nails, those little eyeglass screwdrivers usually work. But of course I swear to nothing, I have not inspected their rollerball.
I was planning to pry the top from my rollerball of Stash and decant into a sprayer, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Looks like it would be as easy as pie to just pop off with a pair of pliers.
If I use pliers, I may end up popping off a fingernail. Ouch!
SOTD – TF Venetian Bergamot. The Santa Ana devil winds are upon us in SoCal.
Next to try – Hermes Galop
Next to buy – Hermes Galop!
Just happy to be home after a long weeks travel for work.
Finished listening to People of the Book in my car. It swept me away, the saga of a 400 year old Haggadah and the journey of the book.
This quarter damages will top all my others. My sister and I are having a hard time with my mother – she will be 94 in a few weeks and every day is a little more down the path. So I have comforted myself in fragrance.
I have a small decant of Galop on the way as I am very curious – and to lazy to go to the not so distant from me Hermes store.
I’m very interested in Galop too! I tried it at the Hermes store, and of course they didn’t have a sample yet to give, but what I tried I really liked.
Oh, and excellent book! I love all of Brooks’ stories, just fascinating reads.
I’m sorry to hear about your mother. I hope you and your sister are able to comfort each other. Take care of yourself.
We are thinking of you and your sister, apsara. I’m glad you have each other, and comforting perfumes.
I’m sorry I missed that last part of your post about your mom. Glad you are finding comfort in fragrance.. and what a gift to have your sister to help you with your mom. Very hard to see our loved ones fail. Mother’s especially are dear.. Be well.
Having an ailing/aging parent is rough. I was grateful for my siblings when my mother was ill last year. Wishing you strength and comfort.
I know how you feel re your mom. It is difficult when you get to the point you realize every conversation could be the last, but it also can be sweet to think that way. Sisters help!
Thank you all for kind words
People of the Book was great. I’m angling to try Galop too. And very sorry about your Mom, take care of yourselves in every way possible to get through this period.
So glad you have your sister to share in your mother’s care.
I got my (free!) sample in the mail last week. I had asked at the Hermes counter when it would be in and the SA said she would send me some when it arrived. I like it very much. There is that quince note that takes a bit of getting used to, but once I did, it was great.
Your mom is lucky to have you and your sister. The perfumes definitely provide some comfort.
So sorry to hear about the hard times u are going through with your mum, my Dad is now on his own, and lonely and more vulnerable, it really is so difficult as our parents get older and frail,
Such a worry.
Those Santa Ana winds and high temperatures are wild today. I just went outside barefoot and had to hop from the sidewalk onto the grass to save my soles.
I hope Galop! brings you fragrant happiness. I think from now on Galop! should always have an exclamation mark. Makes it seem more upbeat. I hope when I sample it someday it will make me say “Galop!”
All the best to you, your sister, and mom, aspara.
Something good: we went from humid swamp to lovely cool fall day last night. I love summer, but it’s time. We will see if it lasts. As a result of the weather shift, I wore Oud Palao last night – and still love it – and Isparta this morning. Next to try Larmes des Ors, a sample of which just arrived. Next to buy, probably a small bottle of Bogue Maai, which I’ve just realized I love. But who knows?!
Oops. Larmes de desert? Whatever it’s called its very nice.
Oh, I really love Oud Palao! I don’t see it mentioned much, but I think it’s fantastic. I’m not usually an oud fan but this one has so much patchouli in it that it’s really great.
I think its somewhat divisive, at least here. Kevin and Lucasai like it, if I recall correctly. Others smell vomit. I don’t get that at all, needless to say!
I also don’t get some reviewers claims that it is chemical smelling. Aside from everything being chemicals.
LOL. I’m on the vomit camp but maybe I’ll torture myself one more time the next time I’m in the vicinity of a Diptyque counter.
I don’t get vomit, but it does smell bad to me.
Calypso
I love Oud Palao too!
Wearing Band a Part today from Jolie Laide. Working my way through the samples. Last night was La Peau Douce. Band a Part is described as bold and daring… Not sure I agree with the description but I’m enjoying this sample set so far. So, next tester will be one of those…
Next bottle likely one of the Lorenzo Villaresi ones I sniffed. Unless I find something else for my gift certificate.
Nothing new or exciting. I admit to looking forward to the new Star Wars standalone movie. Hoping it gets good reviews to make the price of a movie worth it. Have I mentioned how much I love the new recliner seats in certain theaters? I so wish I could just wear slippers and pjs…it would make it truly a complete experience.
Those recliner seats ruined me for the movies. Really, I only want to go to that theater and spend $25 for a movie now. It’s a brilliant idea, and I also love that you choose where you want to sit beforehand. This is a big deal in NYC where seating can be near impossible (I’ve sat on the stairs numerous times vs. the remaining front row seats) for hot flicks. I’m with you on the slippers & pjs 😉
Do they also serve food? There’s a theater near me where you choose your seat ahead of time and the seats are wide and recline to a certain degree…AND serve food. I wish the airlines would move in this direction, especially widening the seats!
Yes! I’m so stoked about Rogue One!!
I’m wearing Divine L’Eternel Féminin today, I could literally bathe in this stuff.
I’d love to try Hermès Galop and Cartier Envol. And I still haven’t tried all the Ann Gerard’s. Rose Cut sounds wonderful and I wouldn’t mind trying Cuir de Nacre either.
I’m trying to make up my mind: Songe d’un bois d’été, Beyond Love, Patchouli 24 and one of the Baiser Volé iterations are high on my wish list.
I watched the Ab Fab movie last night. True, it isn’t as good as the series was, as is usually the case with comedies, but it’s lovely, frothy fun, and I adore Joanna Lumley.
The Ann Gerard discovery set was a really nice deal. I bought it because of Rose Cut, but Perle de Mousse ended up as my favorite and most worn, though might have been the timing since I got it late Spring, and Perle is very Springy. Rose Cut is a nice cool weather rose, a bit fruity, subtle.
I got a decant of Songes… at the STC Guerlain close out. I really love it! My only wish would have been that the sweetness from the saffron was more prominent. Still pretty stunning. My husband said “it smells like a Christmas tree. A good Christmas tree.” ????
I’ve already tried, and got bottles of Perle and Ciel, so the discovery set isn’t going to be on my list. I’m just going to get samples from Ausliebezumduft, instead. But thanks for the info. Must admit to being keener about the Rose than the Leather.
Joanna Lumley is an international treasure. Jennifer Saunders, too.
Eddy: ‘Sweetie what are you drinking?’
Patsy: ‘Oh this? Chanel No. 5.’
One of my favourite bits of dialogue in the movie.
Patsy Stone is my hero!
SOTD: L`Eau à la Folie
I’ve not worn this enough this summer, sadly. Last summer I lived in this, so perfect for the warm days.
I’d like to spend some time with Galop and the new Bottega Veneta scent. From there I’ll decide if I’d like to purchase one or both!
Last night I went to Ollie’s, a well loved Chinese restaurant in NYC, and I tried a new dish that was out of this world: dry braised fish, Szechuan style. It was a simple white fish, tilapia?, but drowning in all the yummy Chinese spices and a bit of pork too. I’ve been going to this restaurant for 20+ yrs and yet never tried this! No more; I’m committed to trying dishes I’ve not yet tried at restaurants I regularly go to.
I didn’t wear that PdN enough this summer, either. I think I’m hoarding what I have left but it’ll probably be gone by the end of next summer, though
Gosh, haven’t been to Ollie’s in years! I used to go when I lived on the UWS. It’s such an institution up there.
Does PdN still make a la Folie? I went through a small bottle a couple of summers ago.
Haven’t been to Ollie’s in a couple of years. We used to go all the time too. That fish sounds fabulous. We had a Vietnamese place downtown that did delicious whole fish. Unfortunately, they closed when rent went sky high.
A la Folie was discontinued unfortunately. It was a great summer scent.
Warm-ish, cloudy and windy today. SOTD was Keiko Mecheri “Ume”, the plum note very appropriate I thought as the fruit shops are stocking plums, greengages and mirabelles.
I didn’t post yesterday as too busy. Finished juniper week with Frapin “L’Humaniste”, which wasn’t all that. Conclusion: juniper as a note does nothing for me. The only perfume to make my longlist was the sparkling and refreshing but short-lived Art de Parfum “Gin and Tonic Cologne”.
Off to cook sausages and sauerkraut, and thinking of a SOTE for afterwards, maybe Lubin Idole or .vero.profumo Onda.
Have you tried The Architects Club? Any good?
I haven’t tried that one Kanuka – Arquiste, isn’t it? There are Arquiste discovery packs from Blooms but I am avoiding such things for the rest of the year, as I have enough to be getting on with. :^)
Arquiste, yes. I think it sounds interesting as it has juniper but also tobacco and leather…but I haven’t checked.
and vanilla…
I tried TAC. It was OK, but not especially memorable. I didn’t feel my life was incomplete without it, as I did the moment I smelt Ambre Narguile and Black Cashmere.
And I realise I didn’t answer the questions!
1. Wearing .vero.profumo “Onda” in EdP.
2. Next week’s samples are the Blooms subscription pack from August (I’m catching up!), featuring ‘manly florals’. We shall see!
3. Hard to say but D. S. and Durga “Spirit of the Glen” was very nice.
4. As you may know, I am not having a great time on my current contract. But at the end of most days I walk back to my apartment via the Mairie (Town Hall) of Levallois-Perret and its fountains, trees and flowers. I am always uplifted by this little spot of beauty. :^)
You’ve reminded me I have a sample of Onda I need to try for the first time. I will wager you and Onda smell fabulous together.
Ume is a scent I can imagine buying for the simple beauty of the name.
I am a sucker for evocative names, and bought Ume after the shortest of trials on my skin. Longevity is middling on my scent eating skin, but I do like it.
Onda EDP I find to be a kind of skanky honey that doesn’t veer too much towards the feminine. Not a hot weather fragrance for sure! :^)
Morning, good morning. Sunday here is wet and rather cold, with a mean wind that aims straight for the bones. But though the weather is quite completely and utterly boringly miserable, my dear man, at least, seems to be feeling a bit better. Thank goodness! He’s one of the pillars holding up the sky, and I hate this dizzy illness he gets.
What I’m wearing is a little cheapie: Ted Lapidus Silk Way. I quite like it. It’s maybe a little bombastic and full of itself, and it’s not fascinating or full of expensive ingredients or anything, but from beginning to end, it tells a coherent story on my skin. I’m wearing it with some Roger et Gallet Persian Almond body oil, and it’s honestly not at all an awful combination.
In spite of my new Puritanism in connection with increasing my collection, I am still curious, so I would like to test Angel Muse, which is coming to A-NZ eventually. I know it’s already in Australia, so I can try it there next month. And what might I buy? Not a thing. Nothing. No thing. Not ever. Never. Not for ages. Months, anyway. Probably. Maybe.
Something wonderful? On Monday — goodness, tomorrow!– a student of mine will be printing and submitting her doctoral thesis. That’s not an uncommon occurrence, but this submission is special. The reason it’s WONDERFUL is that this time last year, she descended into a place so black no one could find her. She walked away from her students, her job and her research, full of hate and blame for me, and she disappeared. I cannot tell you how I grieved for her situation and for my own blindness to her darkening reality. Anyway, to my startlement (probably not a word; should be) and joy, three months ago, she re-appeared, re-enrolled and has been working with energy, focus and clarity. Her research is exceptionally good, she seems more mature and very settled in herself. I will remember this completion forever as one of the joys of my professional life. She no longer wishes to work in academia, but that doesn’t matter at all. Our relationship is nothing like it was –a bit awkward, not so full of laughter– but that doesn’t matter either. She’s well again, and she’s finished what she started. Wonderful, yes?
Congratulations, waterdragon! She did not give up and neither DID you!
Wonderful indeed! Congratulations, too.
I have been waiting for Angel Muse and was hoping Alex would find me a bottle in Stockholm or Copenhagen airport ( he’s away with work ) . I am also waiting for the Cartier Envol.
That is a great and heartening story.
Congratulations! It’s wonderful to hear a success story. Good for her!
Very heartwarming! Thanks for sharing that.
Great story.
People often comment that you can’t change other people…which is true. But people can and do change on their own and some undergo a metamorphosis just when they need it most. 🙂
I love a happy ending. 🙂
Thank you for the happy ending.
I like Silk Way, too. The apple is a little loud and a little shampoo-like, but once it calms down, it’s very nice, especially on a warm day. Maybe I’ll wear it tomorrow.
She’s finishing her studies- that is what needed to happen. Wonderful story!
This is so fantastic, to witness such a turn around, well done!
Congratulations to you both on getting through that situation and achieving a success on the other end! I’ve run into some, er, difficulties on my own theses/dissertations before, so the thought of it getting *that* bad is a horror I don’t want to contemplate. What a relief and what an accomplishment!
I’ve decided to do a musk week ( rather than a Cartier week ) and am starting with my Dame New Musk. I don’t think of myself as a musk person but I am going through a phrase of wearing big sillage scents (Coco, Blackbird, Mitsouko, Hypnotic Poison ) and musk and orientals are capturing my attention.
My husband has been away all week and I love the peace and space in the house. My son is a nontalker, like me, and we have just lived like human dogs for a week, in compatible silence, eating scraps ( rather than “meals”) and checking in on each other. Having said that, it will be good to see my husband when he gets home tomorrow night and cranks out the telecaster.
Any musk scents I should try?
Hmmm. It’s a bit marshmallow-y for your taste, I think, but Narciso (white cube bottle) is a play on musk and gardenia (I think it’s gardenia). You might try it, if only to eliminate from your enquiries. It’s pretty, but–well, you’ll make up your own mind. I find it a bit kitten-ish, but I wear it weekends in winter sometimes, to rugby games, etc.
Good recommendation! and yes, the white cub bottle is the edp and it’s gardenia. I love this one, but really, Narciso is the kind of musk, all his scents are done well around the musk note.
I bet it smells fabulous on you and thanks for the suggestion re. Narciso scents as I haven’t tried them. Thanks.
Yeah, it’s okay isn’t it, but it made me feel a bit ‘contained’ … As if it was too tasteful ( respectable) for me. I have a feeling I veer towards the masculine, maybe because they are less powdery. But maybe musk and powder go together? Will explore, anyway. I have always dismissed musk but I think that’s because I’ve been stuck with mainstreams. I need more like Lumiere Blanche.
Don’t know how accessible this is, but Miller Harris L’Air de Rien is one of my favorites. It has the comfort of a dusty attic and old books. Some people get less pleasant associations, like boys gym locker but it doesn’t register with me that way.
I also rather like my cheapy health food store Egyptian Musk(Kuumba Made brand), which is more honeyed and earthy than white, clean musk.
I am very curious about L’air de Rien as it sounds perfect to me. And thanks for the tip about Egyptian Musk. You are such a wealth of knowledge!
My favourite musky perfume too, and one of my top 5.
I am going to second the Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk and also add Inland Fog Egyptian Musk as well as their China Musk (which is softer and powdery)….if you can get your hands on SSS Egyptian Musk or Sienna Musk (both are discontinued but they may pop up somewhere) those are great too!
Scents of Abricots wrote a past post on musk…I will see if I can find it and if so link it in 🙂
http://scentofabricots.blogspot.com/2016/03/musk-quest-best-white-musk-you-havent.html
Here is one…
http://scentofabricots.blogspot.com/2016/01/musk-quest-musk-tahara-al-faransi-by.html
another….
http://scentofabricots.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-list-of-musks-that-hate-not-worked.html
sorry I could not figure out how to put it all in one comment 🙁
http://scentofabricots.blogspot.com/2016/01/musk-quest-musc-by-reminiscence.html
one more coming!
http://scentofabricots.blogspot.com/2016/03/musk-quest-smooth-operator-dark-horse.html
I should have thought of this one because a family member wears it and it smells amazing on her!
and the blog writer really likes musk so I figured it would be a good blog to explore for your own musk quest 🙂
You are such a champion!
Oh, here’s my second reply …or my first reply to your fifth…I love Dark Horse and Black Flower . I have the oil versions. I haven’t heard of, or tried most of Abricot’s suggestions so the posts were really helpful and interesting. I saw that Lolita Lempicka Sweet and Coco Noir were both listed under musk on Bois de Jasmin. And I’m confused about the musk status of Philosophy Fresh Cream as I think of it as musk but Frangrantica doesn’t. I need to pay closer attention!
LOL on the human dog comment :-). I may join you in musk week!
Is Fresh Cream musk. I think of it as white musky.
The original Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDT (the black rectangular bottle)–a floral woody musk!!! …Also, although it’s civet and not ‘musk’ per se, Jicky!
There seems to be two takes on musk? Animal musk…old school. Then clean, laundry musk. Is that right? I may need two musk weeks…dirty laundry followed by clean and pressed
1. SOTD – Blanche Immortelle
2. I will be testing the new Slumberhouse (the one with goat hair) later today =p
3. Next purchase – new NV – it is Neela and it has Osmanthus – so cannot go wrong. Also considering Angel Muse.
4. I have recently discovered a new blush which I love – it is by RMS and it is amazing. Great colors, great staying power – very nice.
RMS is a fantastic brand. I love her “Un” Cover up.
I have to try that one. I just tried Lip2Cheek and I am swooning 🙂
I tried the goat hair Slumberhouse on Tuesday. It was pretty unique. Have fun!
Oh report back on New Sibet. I really like it, but it’s definitely a little weird.
I tried it, too. Agree that it’s weird, and not very Slumberhouse IMO. I could see it growing on me.
I ended up getting a decant as I was not sure. While I am a huge fan of Slumberhouse, some of their creations, while amazing and high quality and unique, are way way way too much for me, so I can only see myself using 5 ml tops. But Kisti, Pear and Olive and Sadanne and Ore are incredible!!!!!
Angel Muse! Macys is having all sortz of promotion on perfumes starting September 28.
And I HAVE to see that red Angel bottle in person.
Enabler!!
Who me??? 🙂
LOL!
1) My SOTD is Osmanthe Yunnan.
2) I would love to sample white rose and lemon leaves by Jo Loves, but won’t until it’s either available in the US or she starts selling discovery sets that don’t involve the commitment of a full bottle. I think my actual next sampling will be of Black Amber by Agonist.
3) The next bottle I buy will either be L’eau d’hiver, intoxicated from By Killian, or Marfa by Memo. I am running a marathon in November and have put $10 into a reward fund every week that my training has gone well. I should have enough for one really nice bottle of perfume. After I buy that bottle, I’m going to try to go one year without buying any more perfume and take the time to properly appreciate the lovelies that I own. (And reduce the number of samples that I have! Yikes!
4) The pumpkin pop tarts at Trader Joes are ridiculously tasty.
I really wish Jo Loves would find a US distributor.
How pronounced is Osmanthus? I am on Osmanthus kick and am trying to learn which other fragrances I should try.
If you are on an Osmanthus kick am going to recommend that you try the real deal…osmanthus essential oil…get a small sample from Eden Botanicals for under five dollars and dilute in a carrier oil and put it on as pure perfume…it is incredibly rich and complex that you can wear it on its own…..
Also, Dame Perfumery has an Osmanthus Soliflore and they sell in travel sizes for under nine dollars free shipping.
Journey woman (Amouage) is osmanthus, tea, tobacco and honey, it’s absolutely gorgeous for autumn!, if u like those other notes of course.
I am still a bit bitter that the explosion of pop tart flavors occurred after I had to stop eating wheat, among other things.
Hooray for reward funds! And I need to go find more pumpkin stuff. One of my indulgences is pumpkin spice creamer – I wonder why it’s not available all year long?
If you can try pumpkin pasta sauce…surprisingly it is delicious!
I’m off to Wegmans and will look for the pumpkin-y things. Yummmmmmmo!
Oh and see if you can find Pepperidge Farm Milano Pumpkin cookies…just bought them on sale for a family member who loves milanos and I had to steal one 🙂
SOTD = Hermes Galop d’Hermes
PSA – I have a “Gathering Interest” post to split Galop. Make it happen!
https://nstperfume.com/2016/09/24/the-splitmeet-episode-6/#comments
The next perfume I would like to test is everything I have not smelled at Twisted Lily. I’m not sure when I am going next.
My next fragrance purchase is likely to be Aftelier Vanilla Smoke. I just have to decide on the size / packaging.
Something good — Ummm, I had too much wine last night right before visiting Arabian Oud over at Times Square. This probably prevented me from buying. Also, going to a gathering of friends tonight and we will have a FUN time!
Wine prevented you from buying? I would have thought that would loosen up the purse strings even more, it would for me!
Enjoy your time with friends!!
Fun was had by all 🙂
Wine loosens my tongue and when that happens, I focus on the talking instead of reaching for my wallet.
It is usually opposite for me. Wine facilitates my purchases and removes and doubts I might have had.
:-). I see my problem now — I don’t drink enough wine, hence the spending.
I think I have come full circle on Galop.
Something didn’t agree w/ me the 1st round but now I think I may need more.
I see a place in my decant collection for Galop. It is easy to wear and will be a no brainer like Kelly Caleche is for me.
Hope you had a wonderful night!
I did! I ate too much which I suppose is better than drinking too much!
Wine is good. Too much wine is even better. ????
Today I wore Jimmy Choose Stars. Patchouli and toffee. I do prefer the original. I recently smelled Trish McAvoy Black Rose Oud and fell in love. I would like it to be my next purchase, but its really out of reach for me. What’s wonderful is my son went to his first school dance last night! He didn’t tell me about it until the last minute, so he was a little underdressed. I was really nervous, but he went, and he had fun, I’m so proud of him.
Are you kind of a newbie? (Sorry if not. I tend to mix people up. New Gravatar thingies mean a whole new level of confusion for me.) I ask because Black Rose Oud was the first Oud I smelled, and I was also smitten. It was so different! (And how could everyone else be so jaded about oud?) I also had (and still have) a small budget. If this is your situation, I recommend going here: http://www.europerfumes.com/samples/ and ordering the Montale Aoud sampler. (No affiliation. I am both poor and cheap, so have spent a lot of time hunting for cheap samples.) They will not send the same samples that are listed, but fortunately any random assortment will do. The sample set will give you a better sense of how unique (or not) the Black Rose Oud is, and also give you enough perfume to be going on with for a while. It may be that BRO is true love, and oud perfumes in general tend to be pricy, but you might find that it was just infatuation, and a little Oud tends to go a long way. If you have smelled every Oud under the sun and I have just wasted your time, I apologize for blathering on like this. (And I’m glad your son had fun.)
Thank you for the info, I don’t consider myself a newbie, but I have been trying to get out of my scent comfort zone. For instance, I’ve recently realized how much I like some leather fragrances. I’m looking at a lot of new things, so this information is very helpful.
I fell down the rabbit hole about three years ago, and I feel as though I’m just past the newbie stage. Like a sophomore, roughly.
So sweet about your son. Proud Mama moment????
If you like rose/oud, Dior Oud Ispahan is really nice and elegant and Wedysue has a split going???? It’s probably more unisex leaning than the Trish McAvoy, which may be a + or -.
1. Memo Italian Leather.
2. Alahiiine. I have no idea what the notes are or whether I would like it, I just wanted to be able to type it, even one time.
3. Saving up and trying to decide between Bois des Isles or Coco. I want something that says cool weather and spice.
4. So many things! I am blessed. Playing with 2 of my grandsons in the park last Sunday. Going to a yarn shop and choosing a beautiful yarn for a knitting project this afternoon. Going to the farmers market this morning and spending the whole day with my husband tomorrow.
Love no 4 🙂
Love love love Italian Leather! You smell great! I’m gifting the travel size to myself for Christmas. I keep reordering sample vials from Luckyscent.
I vote for Bois des Isles 😉
My husband bought me a set with 3 (or was it 4?) travel sizes, and they gave me a travel size of Irish leather as part of a special promotion. It is the one and scent I’ve worn that he has ever said “Mmm, that’s really nice”, totally unprompted.
one and only
If you go Coco, go vintage. You can buy sealed vintage Coco on eBay for slightly more than current and the vintage is so so so good.
I went into Ulta today to seek out Stash…it was ok…too many people around and an off-putting security guard made me want to leave but, while there, I sniffed the current Coco EDT and it doesn’t compare to the old stuff.
I will second that….Coco vintage is the way to go. The current doesn’t smell the same.
How do I know if I’m getting “the real thing” on Ebay, or what vintage I should try to get? I need some guidance from Those Who Know, because I’m pretty new at this.
You do have to do some due diligence when looking for vintage perfumes on eBay. I look for sellers who have been selling at least a year or two and who have very high feedback. I look through the feedback and do a find for the words I’m looking for like chanel or coco etc. to scroll through the feedback and verify what comments buyers have left.
I am not affiliated with this seller or with eBay but this seller has a lot of vintage perfumes, has been selling a few years and has 100% feedback. I will probably buy some vintage coco from this seller based on this. If you click on View Items for Sale you can see everything they have listed.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=vladl&ftab=AllFeedback
You can read up on batch codes and other packaging indicators here
http://raidersofthelostscent.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-recognize-chanel-perfumes.html
Old boxes don’t have bar codes for example. But you can still find vintage stuff w/ bar codes you just have to go through the steps. Symbols and ingredients on boxes have changed over the years and you can judge age based on this.
If you go for bottles which are already open, always look a the bottom of the bottle and/or ask for a photo of the bottom of the bottom. Chanel etched in the glass on the bottom should mean it is real and vintage…like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-mid-1990s-Chanel-COCO-1-7-oz-50-ml-Eau-de-Toilette-Spray-OLD-FORMULA-/142126343408?hash=item211763e4f0:g:-e4AAOSwzvlW9wDQ
You can also ask sellers to check the batch code on the box or bottle but Chanel reuses codes so you should read the link above on batch codes to make sure in conjunction w/ box and/or bottle clues you are getting the time period you want. Some sellers are very confused when you ask for batch codes and it is a painful request 😉 but some are able to wrap their heads around it and report back.
That is the most complete, succinct and helpful teaching lecture I think I have ever had! I can’t thank you enough for all this information, and no doubt I will think of you every time I smell some wonderful vintage scent I buy on eBay, She-ra.
You are very welcome for the info…I have spent an inordinate amount of time researching vintage fragrances. 😉
If you are in the US I would be happy to send you a decant of Bois des Isles and a bit of vintage Coco EDP to help you decide. The Coco I have is from the late 80s or early 90s. You can email me at gmail where I am sherainsocal if you’d like some. 🙂
Alas, I’m in Canada, not the US, but I appreciate the offer. If you and chocolatemarzipan say vintage is the way to go with Coco, I’m convinced. I already have a sample of Bois des Iles, and who am I kidding, eventually I will buy both anyway.
Okay, change that…..just sampled 10CC AND FIRST- My NEXT Full bottle purchase is 10CC, I’ve gone “Cuckoo-4-Cocoa puffs” over this stuff…… I’m in LOVE with it, and it was instantaneous….(bought it for a friend to sample as well) just had to confess…..
and THEN I will purchase that seductive ancient oil by AFTELIER……it’s divine truly –
and THEN I am CUT off until the New Year……
atleast!
10CC is great stuff!
Did you see that her son has just completed a documentary about her
1. I am wearing vintage Mitsouko extrait
2. I would like to test Andy Tauer Rose de Kandahar
3. I have already ordered MFK Discovery set and looking forward to receive that.
4. It has been so long that me and my husband didn’t feel the need to go to night clubs, bars but this summer we have rediscovered the night life again and it is so much fun, we are also convincing our friends to come along, we may be the only ones over 50 there but we really don’t care at this point.
Rose de Kandahar is definitely worth sampling! I think you can get spray samples on Andy’s website. I got mine in the NST Swapmeet.
Thank you. I will order some samples there then.
Would you say the vintage extrait is worth seeking out for Mitsouko vs. the current extrait pls? I think the current extrait got praise for the most recent re-working. I am not sure if I have ever sniffed Mitsouko…or if I did it was years and years ago.
I am debating to go w/ current or vintage extrait b/c I don’t think I have any memory of it saved in my brain. 😉 Most fragrances that I’ve sniffed, even years and years ago, I can pulled a memory of…like Beautiful from the 90s. But when I search for Mitsouko it is just not there.
I haven’t tried the new extrait , I know it has been reformulated recently so I am not sure , I love the vintage though. I bought mine at Etsy.
Hi Hera,
I happen to have a sample of Rose de Kandahar (ordered from A. Tauer’s website) and I will gladly send it to you if you’d like. You can email me at arzeznik in the land of comcast dawt net if you are interested.
They may have it at Etiket, they sell the Tauer line.
RE: no 4- Love your attitude 🙂 !!
Wearing Beige today. Also had a sniff of 7 Virtues Jasmine of India. It won’t perhaps change the mind of non-jasmine lovers, but a pleasant offering from a pleasant line.
I don’t seem have anything on my perfume shopping at the moment list except the odd back-up bottle.
Enjoying the new show “The Good Place”. Last fun purchase was a Tojiro knife at the fancy new Japanese-knife store in a nearby neighbourhood.
I’m in Une Rose Chyprée again today, because I couldn’t stop sniffing myself and (inwardly) drooling yesterday! I’ve been reining in the purchases lately, except for the bottle of Eau Sauvage that showed up today, and, um, the bottle of No. 19 EDP that arrived last weekish — but I hadn’t bought anything in rather a long while before that, I swear! But I’m pretty sure there needs to be a bottle of Sa Majeste La Rose in my life, and a bottle of Corsica Furiosa, and if someone GAVE me a bottle of Vert des Bois I wouldn’t give it back. 😉
Last weekend we watched Love & Friendship, over the course of two nights as we always do our movie watching these baby-filled, early-to-bed days. I think we had the sound turned down too low the first night; we both came away feeling a bit “meh” about it. And then I fell in love with it during the second half. Someone on the bonus, behind-the-scenes clip made a comment that was spot on, to the effect that the story seems a bit perplexing if you’re thinking of it as a Jane Austen story, but just right if you think of it as an Oscar Wilde story. I can highly recommend it, if you’re in the mood for something extremely droll and rather amoral. 🙂
I’m so excited to be wearing fall scents again, finally. Une Rose is beautiful and you smell lovely.
Hey, everybody, how’s your Saturday going?
1) Wearing Habit Rouge.
2) Would like to test one of the goodies I received from the Perfume Fairy. Think I’ll choose by closing my eyes and picking one!
3) Will next purchase something very cheap, most likely a BUB of something vital to survival–but not for a while, since I was a bit naughty recently and need to go on a buying moratorium.
4) Two wonderful things. First, I ran into a college (band!) friend at the airport this morning while dropping off a family member. Next, subsequent to Marjorie Rose mentioning (above) a trip to Pompeii, a wonderful memory: having the entire archaeological site to myself (and the custodi) for several hours one morning. Sublime.
# 3 El cheapo and essential to survival = Bvlgari Black
Also discontinued, so you have a strong justification for buying Black NOW. 😉
I know! I’ve gotta do it as soon as I can manage…
Yep, that’s one of the 2 in particular I was thinking of. ????
1. I’m wearing Mayotte.
2. I would like to sample Neroli Outrenoir and the Rose Essences Insensees.
3. I may get either vintage Coco EDT/EDP or Coco Noir Extrait…perhaps both if I cannot muster self-control.
4. My daughter who started preschool last week told me 3 times on the way home from school yesterday (it is a 5 minute drive), “I had so much fun at school today”. Happy and ready to take on the world. Sniff. Without me. Sniff. At age 3. Sniff. Fake sniffles aside, I am relieved…though I do realize the honeymoon will end I am enjoying it while it lasts.
Spoiler alert: there plenty of years of dissatisfaction and sullenness coming your way.
????
Happy & ready to take on the world — you’ve done your job, mom!
Keep up the good work!
I began the day testing Bapteme du Feu. The gingerbread note was there but it mostly seemed like a hot mess. Thankfully, it faded after two hours so I put on a spritz of Vanille 44. Post shower I’m wearing Ancient Resins. Georgeous stuff. I can’t stop huffing my skin. I wish she made a matching perfume because it would be mine.
Either Lune Feline or Taklamakan will be the next scent I test depending on which arrives first.
I have no plans to buy anything at the moment as I just purchased De Profundis and several decants from the splitmeet.
It has finally feels like fall as the temps have fallen and the humidity has decreased. I am enjoying a day at home puttering around, doing housework at a relaxed pace and participating in the splitmeet. We’ll be taking my FiL out to celebrate his 90th birthday tomorrow. All good things for me.
I haven’t yet smelled the SL. Barneys did not have it two weeks ago and the SL SAs looked really perplexed when I mentioned the new Serge Lutens. Even if I butchered the name, they should have been more knowledgeable about the product line – it’s not like I asked them about Estée Lauder skin care products!
I’d be happy to send you my sample if you are interested?
Thanks for offering, Petunia; however, I am pretty sure I’ll get to try it in-store in the very near future.
Something ate my comment! Thanks for offering; however, there is no need to because I will be able to sniff this in person soon!
I ended up wearing Balenciaga Paris today, and have really enjoyed it. Looking forward to testing a sample of Dior Bois d’Argent ordered from STC yesterday – it’s been on my wish list forever. There’s really no predicting what fragrance will next make it to the front of the to-buy list, but if I had to make a guess, I’d say Tom Ford Fleur de Chine has a really good chance. Definitely NOT a FB, but a large-ish decant? Yes, please! Wonderful thing? Fall has officially begun – yay! Perfume shelf has been reconfigured accordingly. Woohooo!
Balenciaga Paris was my most recent purchase! Such a lovely scent. Today, because there was a hint of fall in the air, I tried a vintage mini of Karl Lagerfeld KL I’ve been saving. For me, 80s scents can either be swoon-worthy or revolting. Usually love or hate, but this one is neither. I just like it. I’ll enjoy this little bottle, but probably won’t crave it when it’s gone.
Lovely purchase, that one is just right this time of year, enjoy you’re FB!
I got a very cheap FB of Fleur de chine on eBay last year!
Really!?! I guess I’ll have to hone my lurking/hunting skills then. 🙂
1. I haven’t worn perfume for several days due to one of those niggling migraines that will swell to epic proportions at the wrong move. I think it’s finally gone.
2. I just got a bag of goodies from the lovely Hajusuuri and am planning to sample 28 La Pausa tomorrow.
3. Taklamakan or Cuir de Lancôme. I really should buy the Lancôme before it’s no longer about at a good price. I know I would use it.
4. The problem with number 3 is that I blew most of my perfume budget this month on the Drive Kickstarter. Did I mention how much I love Dave Kellet and how excited I am that Drive is being published in book form?! I’m always excited to support the web comics I read when there’s a campaign to publish, but this one is extra exciting because it’s one of my top three favorites.
RE: no 3- hajusuuri is the best! Happy sniffing with your new goodies…
I’m feeling the pull to nab one of those Cuir de Lancome bottles too. I’ve gone through a number of decants at this point, so definitely one I can see getting lots of use of.
1. SotD = Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale, a luxe and refreshing spritz on a hot day while quickly browsing at Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie. I was happy to see this shop had a substantial inventory of Dior, Guerlain, and Acqua di Parma fragrances. There may have been other lovelies to sniff, but it was busy, and we had other things to do.
2. Would next like to test L’eau d’Hiver (winter is coming!) and Iris Poudre (one can never love too many irises). I’m feeling that my fragrance education is Malle-deficient.
3. Next fragrance I’ll buy — ssssomething preciousssss from the ssssplitmeet. Yay, splitmeet!
4. Ate a surprisingly*** delicious lunch of pan-seared salmon with caramelized onion and goat cheese mashed potatoes, arugula, crispy onions, sautéed spinach, and blood orange beurre blanc. Also a lovely green salad to start, and a slice of six-layer chocolate cake (shared three ways) for dessert.
I don’t often eat like that. Today we celebrated my mum’s birthday at the Blue Bayou, a restaurant she had wanted to try for over 40 years. Today was the day for Mum to have her wish granted. I’m feeling very grateful for my family right now.
***The excellent food was a surprise because we were eating lunch in the middle of that big theme park in southern California. The last time I was there with only my mother and sister I was six years old. It was a special treat to have these important and beloved ladies all to myself today.
Have a great weekend, NST! Hope you can give someone you love a long and fragrant hug, and whisper an “I love you” too.
What a lovely day! I recently went to Universal Studios with my mother, who’d been dying to go since their Harry Potter world opened earlier this year. It’s not quite the looking-forward-to-it-all-year thrill that visiting a theme park was at six, but still a lot of fun.
Theme parks can be grown-up fun. 🙂 My teen-age daughter is a Potte fan and hopes a Universal Studios visit is in her future. I’m surprised to think I haven’t been there since I was eight years old.
I hadn’t been since I was about seven, so (yikes!) 40 years. They had just added Jaws to the tram tour, which back then was pretty much all there was. The Potter area was really well done, downright Disneyesque. The Forbidden Journey ride is pretty spectacular. We went on it twice, and let people pass us in line the second time, because the line was moving too fast for us to see everything. The souvenirs are spendy. My mother really wanted a Gryffindor robe (a number of our fellow guests were wandering around in them) but balked at the price tag.
Potter, silly auto-correct.
1. Wearing Parfums Lalun Jalousie, because I was hunting for something else and noticed the sample was evaporating. It started out quite green, and then I smelled a lot of tuberose, and I thought, not for me. It then warmed up into a slightly animalic floriental, with what I think is ylang-ylang, because I quite like it. I didn’t put it on until this afternoon, and while it’s long gone on my left arm (it’s all-natural), it’s still hanging on on the right.
2. I still haven’t gotten hold of a sample of Nahema. I’ll have to console myself with the Amouage samples I have coming.
3. I think L’Heure Bleue edp is the next thing on my list, if I don’t get distracted by by something shiny before then.
4. I would like to thank the wonderful NSTers who went in on foxbins’ Dilettante split, for saving me from myself, since I already spent money I shouldn’t have.
RE: no 4- Hysterical!!!
I helped out by sleeping in, but they did the important work.
Are you in the US? I can send a sample of Nahema if you like.
I am! That would be great. I’m iphintaur in the ancient land of aol.
1. Am Wearing Christian Lacroix Noir.
2. Aläia Edition Blanche.
3. Probably Dior Sauvage or Dsquared2 Potion.
Wearing: just Hove Spanish Moss body powder
To try: Hermes Galop, boutique was closed when we tried Labor Day weekend
To buy: hopefully CBIHP Russian Caravan Tea and Berdoues Arz el-Rab
Great: dinner tonight to celebrate my husband’s birthday, crabmeat stuffed trout with country potato cakes (mashed potatoes embedded with bacon, scallions and cheddar, then fried). The restaurant is a former movie theater. We were seated on a balcony, and a Doris Day/Brian Keith movie – Yours, Mine and Ours? – was playing silently on a screen over the open kitchen below us.
I vote for the Arz el- Rab…bought that over the summer as a Christmas present for a family member and I have every intention of decanting-LOL! I think it will make a great cold weather scent.
Fun birthday night! I’d love to do something like that.
1. I wore EL Sensuous Noir.
2. Hmmm… So many things.. I want to try Aftelier Vanilla Smoke, and I still haven’t tried any Hiram Greens. Probably some other stuff too, but too many to think about.
3. I responded to a post about a 15ml Hermessence split so with any luck a 15ml of Cuir d’Ange will be mine! Happy birthday to me! 😀
4. Went out with the fam for my birthday, which is actually Monday, and am going out with friends tonight.
Enjoy your birthday celebrations! The Cuir d’Ange didn’t work for me, but many love it.. and an Hermes gift for b-day — not bad!
That’s a nice from me to me gift. Happy birthday in advance!
Happy Birthday tomorrow, all weekend! Spreading out the celebrating is the way to go!
Happy Birthday!, have fun!
Wearing Andy Tauer’s Ingrid right now. Kind of wondering why it was discontinued. I love it but have only 1 bottle, so I do have to watch it. It’s the last full day of vacation so I am probably going to go to the Holden Arboratum a little later wearing a different perfume.
I’m back from five days in Seattle, two for a seminar and three for sightseeing.
I ended up at Parfumerie Nasreen almost by magic. I’d originally planned a day for shopping, but my schedule changed, and I didn’t think I’d make it. However, at the last minute, the drop-off point for my all-day trip to the Olympic Peninsula turned out to be the Alexis Hotel, where Nasreen is located. She invited me into her jewel box shop even though she’d been closing up, encouraged me to take my time sniffing, and gave me apt suggestions for perfumes from each line to try. I purchased the unusual but highly wearable Il Profumo Ginger Osmo. Nasreen also invited me to delve into the hidden sample drawers, and I left with a dozen carded samples of the Il Profumo and Maison Francis Kurkdjian lines to test at leisure. Complementing the perfume, the beautiful lighting and European feel of the shop made a relaxing end to a long day. Many thanks to Nasreen!
I would also like to recommend Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese steamed bun chain that has spread throughout Asia and on to Australia, Dubai, California, and Seattle. They make dozens of types of steamed buns (xiaolongbao) on premises (you can watch, too), and the menu offers complementary dishes such as traditional Chinese salads, soups, stir-fried vegetables, delicious fried rice, barbecued ribs, and other meat. We crowned the meal with dessert buns filled with melted dark chocolate. Yummmm!
Finally, I’d recommend the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, where large-scale works by glass artist Dale Chihuly glitter and glow indoors and out. It’s next door to the Space Needle and other great museums, a quick Monorail ride from downtown. It’s like being in a dream!
What fun!!
I really enjoyed Seattle and barely scratched the surface. Hope to get back there again next year!
That sounds like a great experience¬
Thanks for all these tips! I’m going to Seattle in November and am making notes.
it was 38 degrees this morning – EEK! after the 80+ degree weather we have been having! So I went for Cuir de Russie…first discovered I liked this when a perfume fairy sent me a small decant…and then another perfume fairy recently sent me a larger decant….I am so lucky and grateful! I am going to enjoy this one in the fall/winter.
Hello. Best of days to you all. So. It’s today. I wanted to wear something happy and spriNg-ful to celebrate The Thesis, all 91,000 words of it, but the weather has gone nasty again, so I’m in layers of this and that to fend off wind and rain. I’ve countered the weather with Misia. The pretty, pretty florals are cutting through the gloom and cold, and I’m glad to be able to spray it. I’m still not sure I’m glad I bought it,must I’m glad to wear it. And on that complicated note, I must go and face my day. Be well, NS-Tites everywhere.
Congratulations on your thesis!
No, sorry: I’ve misled you! It’s not my thesis — it’s the thesis of a student who has climbed mountains of difficulty, gave up in the worst of circumstances, then came back to her research a short while ago and has now finished it in a blaze of glory. I’ve been very anxious about it and her, but her day of triumph has arrived: she prints and submits today. I am so happy for her and it I’ve been doing little jigs around the office — there’s no one else here yet, so my lunacy is private. That might not last, though! I see no reason to jig alone. Maybe I’ll start a conga line!
Sorry water dragon, I read about you’re students turn around earlier, and epic struggle,
Frazzled end of weekend with two small children running -around -exhausting – me syndrome.. Cotton wool for brains at the moment!
Well done!, u must feel such relief to have it finished!
I think Misia is a lovely happy scent to celebrate Thesis Day. Enjoy!
A pretty lazy day today, just packing for the usual commute out to Paris. I have enjoyed spraying (and re-spraying) Lubin “Idole” which is delicious but not as long-lived as I would like.
I think I might try an experiment this week, getting up and out to the office earlier and then (crucially) leaving earlier as well so I actually have a chance to see some of Paris some evenings. I have fallen into a rhythm of metro-boulot-dodo that isn’t very inspiring.
I stopped at Cartier in the airport to sniff the new Envol and the older Roadster. Couldn’t smell Roadster at all so I will try both again another time when my nose isn’t on strike. :^)
My musk week has turned into a 5:2 diet musk week as I was not in the mood for musk today. It’s raining and I have a slight “headache” following a late night catching up with an old friend who happened to be in town. Black coffee, a dog walk in the lashing rain ( ugh), with Monsieur Li for company. A day of funding applications ahead ( double ugh ) but a great evening planned as Alex gets home from Sweden. Have a happy week everyone.
Hope u have a lovely evening together kanuka.
Today im feeling very autumnal, we’re having first fire this evening, enjoying a pot of Russian caravan tea and blackberry and apple crumble while listening to an Autumn playlist on 6 music, my favourite radio station! (Autumn Almanac, the Kinks, Autumn Leaves, California Dreaming etc, oh and Nick Drakes ‘Time of no Reply,
Wearing Heure Equise, a perfect ‘weather turning’ scent, so cosy.
I recently fell for Angel muse, so I may be tempted by that at Duty free next week. We’re going to Italy for 3 days (child free!) so am looking forward to trying some Italian brands, any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
I’m looking forward to reading everybody’s comments when the kids have gone to bed.
Ooh perfect autumn song – Neil Young’s Harvest Moon!
Nick Drake was amazing.
I have enjoyed several from Profumum Roma (Rome). More mixed luck with Eau d’Italie (Sorrento?) I have one each I love from Nobile 1942 (Genoa), Maison Gabriella Chieffo (Lecce) and Calé Fragranze d’Autore (Milan). I haven’t had much joy with Carthusia (Capri) or Acqua di Parma (Parma I guess!), probably because of my scent eating skin. I’ve also liked but not loved one from Profumi di Pantelleria (Pantelleria island). If you get through all those in 3 days, you have the constitution of an ox! :^)
The crumble sounds delish! Profumum and Mazzolari are two favorite Italian brands.
Hope school goes better this week. And Italy next week for adults
1. I’m in Tauer L’Air du Désert Marocain, a longtime love.
2. Well, Jessica’s review of Armani Sì Intense was pretty compelling… I’m also intrigued by Heeley Eau Sacrée’s promise of purifying incense.
3.Tauer Au Coeur du Désert, of course!
4. Today it’s 70F with nary a cloud in the sky. My husband and I took our customary walk and discovered that a town-wide yard sale was underway. We ended up getting double the sunlight, exercise, fresh air, etc. plus some first-hand secondhand fun. 🙂
Thumbs up on the Tauer, I am also eagerly looking forward to this one.
Wearing Le Plus Beau Jour de ma Vie today…
The first time I wore this I liked it but thought it was a bit sweet…today it seems less so.
I really have to clean up my perfumes. There are ones I want to sell or swap and I’ve got samples and decants in what might be called a big heap on my dresser. And stuff has begun being stacked vertically b/c when space is finite the only way to go is up. 😉
I’ve got to get organized and make progress this 4th quarter in preparation for the new year.
Yay fall!
1. Wearing Armani Si.
2. I’d like to test anything Serge Lutens. I don’t live anywhere near a niche store so I will have to order online and blind, which will be an adventure!
3. Next I will buy Miss Dior EDP. My man loves it.
4. This last week I took my daughter to feed ducks at a local pond. It’s the little things in life that make it fabulous!
RE: no 4- So true!!!!
1
I’m wearing Paprika Brasil by Hermes from the Hermessence collection.
2.
I’m testing Vanille Galante by Hermes next because I’m reevaluating the Hermessence Collection.
3.
Been wanting a full bottle of Bergamotto Di Calabria by Acqua Di Parma because I work at Disney and Italy in epcot carry the Acqua Di Parma line and I get cast member discounts.
4.
I’m obscenely obsessed with Hermes that even with the cold and uninviting first impressions some of the Hermessence gave me I’m willing to reevaluate them.
I’m wearing Martin Margiela’s Replica/Flower Market today for the first time, courtesy of the lovely Suzanne at Fraser’s in Glasgow last week who popped a few samples in along with my purchase. Currently in Hampshire visiting friends & it’s very warm, even as I type this at 10:30pm, so the floral, slightly green fragrance smells lovely & fresh. Must stop online activity soon & go to sleep as I was up at 6am to catch a flight from Aberdeen to London – & getting from the flight actually landing (on time, as EasyJet made such a point of telling us) to Gatwick station complete with ticket purchase took nearly as long as the flight from Aberdeen itself – oh joy!
Hoping to try some new (to me, anyway) smells at various London stores on Wed & Thu – but as I’ve got carry-on luggage only, I’ll have to rely on samples generously given, as we still have the rules about liquids in carry-on.
Relaxing at home in some PdE Wazamba. Loving the cool fall evenings.
1. SOTD- Estee Lauder Private Collection Amber Ylang Ylang- my decant is almost finished 🙁
2. Would love to sample Serge Lutens Bas de Soie, I am curious about hyacinth note in it.
3. Chanel 19 EDT. I fell in love with it this spring, a MUST have for me.
4. My hubby and I had a date on a couch last Friday night after our kids went to their beds. We watched Underground by Emir Kusturica and had coffee ice cream. The movie is the BOMB!!! I highly recomment it!
I really love ELPCAY-Y. (Maybe that mouthful of a name is part of the reason it doesn’t get more love.) It has a sort of thickness to it that I can see not being to everyone’s taste, but it’s like a cashmere sweater on a cool day.
1. SOTD- Estee Lauder Private Collection Amber Ylang Ylang- my decant is almost finished 🙁
2. Would love to sample Serge Lutens Bas de Soie, I am curious about hyacinth note in it.
3. Chanel 19 EDT. I fell in love with it this spring, a MUST have for me.
4. My hubby and I had a date on a couch last Friday night after our kids went to their beds. We watched Underground by Emir Kusturica and had coffee ice cream. The movie is the BOMB!!! I highly recommend it! Ice cream was delicious.
Oooops! Sorry for double post- my laptop is acting funny.