It's our same old weekend open thread. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the perfume you are waiting to go on discount, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Pear-ish Fall-ish Composition by Kasia at flickr; some rights reserved.
Cuir de Lancome today. Spine straight. Head high.
Don’t forget ‘chin up’
Cuir is so beautiful. I’m wearing Timbuktu, nice and calm.
‘Atta girl.
Hear, hear!
And march forward! I wore it yesterday for the first time. Reminds me of Rue Cambon in that “you *will* take me seriously” kind of way.
And smelling lovely.
Plus you smell great!
Union Celtic Fire today.
Sounds like a football team my husband would follow….
Or one of those manly, stompy dance groups…
LOL – yes!
What’s that one like? I find the marketing appealing… But I may also need to start calling my Scottish spouse Union Celtic Fire as in ‘Yoohooo you Union Celtic Fire. Cuid ye hee haw th’ dishwasher? Noo please!”
LOL!
SOTD is Miller Harris L’Air de Rien for me today.
Begs the question: are there any other notable perfumes inspired by the smell of old books? I’m currently buried in Henry Green’s ‘Party Going’.
CB I Hate Perfume In The Library. Demeter Paperback. Paperback Passion (don’t know if that one is still in production or not). Commodity Book.
The CBIHP In The Library is an amazing scent. I highly recommend trying it
It’s not the inspiration for either, but I get the “roomful of super old books” smell from the drydown of both Traversee du Bosphore and Slow Explosions.
I used to work on a campus and would routinely walk past one building that housed a book repository. In the summer, when the air conditioning was blasting, that’s all you could smell around it coming from the air outlet: that vanillic leathery smell.
Dzing! is meant to but I haven’t been able to spot it yet.
I’m wearing Dzing today, and I’m not there either.
Dzing! to me smells of animals and raisins in a good way.
I believe Dzing! is supposed to smell like a circus, not an old book….
Yeah, I keep smelling cotton candy and caramel corn.
Luca Turin says it smells like old books – officially it is circus.
Dzongkha
Memo Quartier Latin smells like old books to me. Also Smell Bent Bohemian Rhapsody.
Hello NST!
I really enjoyed seeing everyone’s sotd for Iris Friday yesterday. It was so much fun.
Today in a different mood, wearing Au Coeur du Desert from Andy Tauer ????
How is that for you? I really enjoyed you review of the new Jul et Mad offering. You liked that a lot. I would live to hear what you think of this new Tauer…
Oh, because LDDM IS my SOTD. Forgot to mention that…
Just a bit of patience please. New Tauer will also get a review
Love the new Tauer
Worn for last three days
I’m continuing my Iris “week” to exercise my collection. Still scentless but planning to wear Diptyque Volutes (EDT or EDP is TBD).
Instead of tidying up yesterday, I ended up with a cornucopia of perfume purchases. The unplanned ones were:
– Nirvana Bourbon rollerball which I will decant into an atomizer; wish me luck yanking off the ball part
– ELDO sample set
– SJP Stash limited edition set with 1 oz EDP, body cream and a roller ball from Ulta. The picture shows a 4th item but the description was silent as to what it is. It’s perfumath free at $40 and it already qualifies for free shipping…and you get a free gift which would make a nice hostess gift. I will be giving away the body cream and rollerball.
– Aftelier Vanilla Smoke parfum which had been on my To Buy list for quite some time and fall / winter would be perfect to wear it.
– Aftelier Ancient Resins Body Oil and Hair Elixir. I have some from a swap but I figured I should get my own – it has gotten so much love here and I figured there may be a run on it with Leonard Cohen’s passing. Also, Bergamoss EDP is no longer on the website.
Ah, confession is good for the soul….
You’re so good at shopping and hunting the deal my dear
That one just leaped into my cart. I am now obsessed with the eos lipbalms – cute packaging!
I’m happy my recommendation was useful. Did you get any?
I got 3 from Ulta and 3 from Target, plus. 2-pack of the vanilla in a tube. The eos ball shaped lip balms are so cute and so easy to apply!
I told you it’s a cute sphere. Agree it applies so smoothly
If there is a good way to get a rollerball off, I would LOVE to hear it. I have a couple that are malfunctioning (and vastly prefer spraying anyway), so it may be time for surgery.
And great picks!! I love both Nirvana Bourbon and Stash and am so glad the east coast is getting autumn back so I can wear them in greater quantities now. (Ditto for Volutes, although I’ll happily wear the EDT of that in summer, too.)
I ended up wearing the EDT – gorgeous!
The little tiny screwdrivers they sell to fix eyeglasses are perfect for prying up the rollerball mechanism.
Looking forward to going to Ulta to try Stash.
Enjoy Walnut Creek and please do report back once you’ve tried Stash. Mine is of the large sample variety and I am awaiting its arrival
I quite liked the beginning of Stash but loathed the drydown. Might be a patchouli issue though.
I took the rollerball off my Stash to put it in an atomizer, it was easy. I just used one of those little flathead screwdrivers (the ones about 4 1/2 inches long), stuck the blade under the bottom of the whole rollerball top, and eased it off. No sweat.
It was easy to take it off one of the perfume oil bottles but of course, every bottle os different. Thnks for the suggestion!
Aftelier Vanilla Smoke is a fabulous Autumn scent.
This is beautiful!
Thanks for enabling, I just got the Stash gift set as well!
No SOTD yet. It’s sunny but chilly so may go with Au Coeur du Desert or something also ambery and woody. We shall see…
Question: has anyone tried any of the perfumes from Francesca Bianchi? I’m particularly curious about Angel’s Dust which seems to be getting a lot of love from cosmetic scent lovers. She does have a discovery set which I might want to try. Wondering if anyone has ordered from her before. She doesn’t really have an online shop- you order by sending her an email with your request.
I got a split portion of the Tauer (thanks clarissa!) and looking forward to wearing it!
I really like it.
Angel Dust! I have an immediate scent association to that name. I would like to sniff the real thing…
Haha! I’ve never smelled that one either.
Yesterday I was thumbing through a glossy local magazine (I’m in Houston) and saw a little article about a guy in Austin who has launched a new fragrance company called Phlur. It sounds interesting. The products are sustainable, cruelty-free, use some recycled glass, etc. etc. You can read more at phlur.com and see their fragrances. Unfortunately all the descriptions mention moods and feelings and no notes at all! You can sample two for $10 and if you buy more you get a $10 credit. I have no affiliation and haven’t tried them but I might do so. I thought people might like to know about them.
I think there has been some discussion of them on the Basenotes forum, you could do a search there.
I got to sample a few at Sniffapalooza this year. Not bad. Hepcat is a woody scent, and Moab was a spicy scent. Nothing terribly exciting or totally unique but I thought they were nice for the price, which is relatively low. Yes, the fact that they don’t have notes listed or at least a descriptor like woody, spice, floral etc. is kind of annoying.
I have tried Hepcat and Hanami
See Eaumg for a review of one of the scents: http://www.eaumg.net/phlur-moab-edp-perfume-review/
She was very enthusiastic, and had good things to say about the line.
Just confirmed travel to Tampa to visit my brother in February; working on a ‘to do’ list for the trip & there’s an independent fragrance shop called Uncommon Finds that stocks 4160 Tuesdays & a few brands I don’t know – yippee! The chap who owns the shop is obviously an enthusiast so I’m looking forward to meeting him. Am envisaging saying to my brother ‘just go & have a cuppa, I may be a while’!
Oh fun!
I started the day testing Hyland’s Pale Grey Mountain, Small Black Lake but found it too bleak (no surprise, given the description). So I scrubbed it and am now happily wearing Rose Flash, which is the furthest thing from bleak that I could think of. Wow, I love this stuff.
Question: what gifts have you received or given that really made you feel cherished or well-thought of? My sister-in-law has had the worst possible year, and I really want to give her a few great presents for Christmas. However, she’s really hard to buy for. Any suggestions?
The year after our mother died, I found an etsy shop that turned handwriting into necklace pendants, and sent them my mom’s handwriting (“Love” from a signed card). I gave the necklace to my sister for Christmas, and she loved it. You could do something similar, maybe with your sister-in-law’s children’s handwriting.
What an amazing and thoughtful gift. Wow. Seriously WOW.
I second all of that. Wow!
I like that.I want to do it as well.
Oof, that’s beautiful. Just reading your description of the present almost made me cry.
On a similar note, there’s also someone on Etsy who does nose and paw prints in silver. Makes a great gift for special friends and loved ones who have beloved pets. I have a pendant with Mika’s nose print that my husband got me when she was diagnosed with cancer and it is lovely to be able to boop her nose and imagine her tortie outrage even though she’s gone.
I had the same conundrum earlier this month. A very dear friend who has been having a rough couple of years, and we’ve grown apart. . . I wanted to get her something to cherish but that wouldn’t feel like pity…if you know what I mean. Also complicated by the fact that she really does not want to talk about what she is going through, at least not with me-so something nourishing but something that was not about us, or me. I settled on a very soft, billowing, cashmere scarf. I haven’t sent it to her yet, so we’ll see.
On a relatively selfish note, I’ve been searching for a super-lightweight cashmere scarf that isn’t 1000€ from Hermès, which, I’ll admit, does lightweight cashmere wonderfully. May I ask where you found it? (I’m assuming that if something billows, it must be lightweight.)
Frankly, I saw a lot of $600 scarves that would have been perfect but beyond my budget. Atomic Garden in Oakland had several that were, well, sigh… They felt like a gentle, feathery, warm hugs.
So I prowled Etsy for the gift, and came across Hurleyburleygifts that sells a powder grey cashmere shawl (more garage band grunge in aesthetic than Hermes!) that comes with a tiny sterling silver tag attached to one corner that you can get personalized with initials, etc. The box it comes in is very pretty as well…
No affiliation. And the item is winging its way across the Atlantic as we speak, so I cannot vouch for the quality.
Thank you! Yes, $600 is well beyond my budget, too
If possible, I’d love to know how it feels when it arrives!
I, too, was thinking of a warm and beautiful scarf. Pendleton made some great infinity scarves this year.
I’ve a weakness for lovely ceramics, and some of the Quimper pieces make great gifts–Claude Berry and Merchant of Prato carry them. The coffee mugs are pretty and cheerful, and the Christmas ornaments are unique.
Agree with the cashmere scarf/wrap idea too.
Thanks for the great suggestions! You are the best.
Looking forward to heading to Walnut Creek (for those of you familiar with SF east bay) with a friend. I may remain commando to be able to spritz. I know she’ll want to go to N-M since she has a gift card. My hope is I will keep my wallet firmly locked in my purse, but that I get samples
That’s a good plan. Explain that to your friend before you even get in the door!
Announcement! San Francisco NST’ers will be meeting up TOMORROW Sunday, Nov 13, to go sniffing in SF. Details:
– Meet @11:45 @Tartine to fortify ourselves for the expedition
– Then on to Tigerlily around 12:30pm
– Then on to Union Square around 2pm
Do join us if you’re in the area. My email goes to my phone so you can always ping us on the day. emc dawt 7 1 1 7 in the land of geemayle.
Aw, that sounds delightful! Wish I were not 2000miles away…
Oh, that sounds great!!
I hope that you guys have a wonderful time. I wish that I could join you.
Wish you could join us too
Thanks.
Dzongkha
Weekend Green Market, reading the WSJ, babies and enjoying the crisp weather
Do Le labo every go on sale ????
I have never seen Le Labo on sale anywhere, unless you mean the one month of the year they graciously allow punters access to city exclusives, in other cities.
Oooh, enjoy the market, the WSJ and most especially the babies.
Le Labo and sale…not that I know of; however, there are several ways to get a “discount”:
– Buy it when the store that carries it has a $s off / gift card event. Saks has several such events each year
– If you buy a bottle from Barneys, a refill is 15 or 20% off (but you have to hand over your bottle)
– Participate in a basenotes split – a relative bargain $/mL. You have to commit to increments of 50 mL and may have to wait for the split to fill
There’s a Facebook group where you can often find decants- usually 5ml and greater-for retail price per ml and sometimes less. Feel free to email me if you want deets.
I also have used a good decanter/splitter and have her email. She’s very trustworthy.
Which one are you looking for?
ylang, gaiac and thenoir
Wearing Safran Troublant and trying somewhat unsuccessfully to manage my stress and anxiety during a family visit that I can’t wait to be over. Really looking forward to escaping with the SF sniffa group tomorrow!
Thinking of you and I hope your perfumes give you comfort with a difficult family visit. I have a large extended family so it is easier to “hide” when it comes to family stuff.
Thanks for the kind thoughts. Half a Xanax helped too.
Ha! My father in law’s lady friend once whispered to me at a gathering, “How do you do it?” And I whispered back (truthfully!) “Ativan.”
LOL!! Excellent.
SOTD is L’Art Tobacco Vanille. It’s a beautiful day here in MN and my plan is to start raking leaves. Seemed perfect.
I bought a sample pack from Smell Bent yesterday: November, December, Smoked Ambergris, Dry Amber and one I now forget?! I’ve not tried any of their offerings, but this sampler seemed a decent price for 5 choices so WTH. Eager for it to arrive so I can sniff.
I bought the sampler the other day too (can’t remember which scents I settled on). Then I read some reviews of the line that were mediocre at best and I’m feeling a little nervous. Let us know what you think when they come.
Their Gimel a Break and Bolshivixen are perfect for winter, and I wear Florist’s Fridge quite often.
Good to know. I guess I will just have to wait until it gets here and I sniff them.
Another fan of Gimel a Break. And I love Smell Bent’s Never Never Land.
Firstly, thanks for everyone’s good wishes yesterday. I had some network problems so didn’t get to thank everyone at the time.
The main thing today is we got out of the house and had some good Latin American food for lunch, and bought some essentials. Nothing exciting, but just not being stuck inside the 4 walls is important.
SOTD is Nobile 1942 “Rudis”, warm booziness surrounding me (in perfume terms so far, but now we’re back home I might do a mulled wine). :^)
It sounds like you and Mr. K No.II are doing just what you should be doing on a weekend.
Yay for getting out of the house! Glad to hear you’re both doing ok.
Sotm was Myrrhe et Delirés, which should be renamed Myrrh that Disappears.
I shall put on something much louder after I have lunch.
Catchy name!
I love Myrrhe et Délires, it’s sweet, but just avoids being too sweet for me, but it is sadly fleeting.
Helped a neighbor rake and bag the last of the Hurricane Matthew debris. Sounds altruistic, but actually she had kindly allowed us to drag branches to her easement after we filled ours up, so I really wanted to help her out. Was wearing Poison when I started, but I’m pretty sure I’m just in sweat now. ????
Virtuous sweat, though…
Hello, dear NSTites. The world seems all awry today, which is quite an announcement, given that it’s only 7 o’clock and I haven’t had more than an hour to experience what kind of day it will be! Anyway, on this (apparently) skewed Sunday, I thought floral perfume might be grounding, so I’m wearing Muguet Porcelaine and liking it very much. It is many years since I smelt lily of the valley in the flesh, so to speak, but my memory tells me this perfume has an appealing photorealistic quality. At the same time, it is also an interpretation of a shy woodland flower, and it is perhaps less of the earth and greener than real life. It’s opening even seems a touch citrusy –freshly cut lemon, maybe? Whatever the parts may be, I like the whole. Mind you, I’ve got a soft spot for LOTV, because a long, long time ago–goodness, I must have been in my teens still, so fifty-odd years ago!–a dear old lady my mother loved came quavering up to me and said that her lord (so I imagine she was Christian) had shown her a vision of me crowned with lily of the valley flowers. I had no idea what that meant, and still don’t, but I clearly felt some connection ought to be made, and went out of my way to be introduced to the plant. I remember liking it, and when I have a garden again, I think I will try to grow it. And lilac. And daphne. Aha! Flowers are a theme today. I will go and scrub the bathroom with cleaner that smells of (artificial) orange blossom. That too will be grounding….
Sorry I saw your comment very late yesterday that you might be coming down my way next year. I’d love to go sniffing with you again, I’ll email you about my likely movements
Fab! One of the conferences is in June; I’m still waiting yo see if my abstract is accepted for the other.
Ack! And it’s “its” in the 7th line. I really do know the difference! Watch me blame autocorrect rather than my carelessness!
Maybe there isn’t an Yves Rocher aficionado out there, but I live in hope: any thoughts about Clementine & Spices, or Cranberry & Almond? A friend was able to sniff the Pear & Cocoa and thought it was…not very nice.
I’m curious too as I have. $30 credit to spend and my plan is to give gifts of those Christmas balls with minis of the holiday line.
The Vanilla Noir is quite nice, and not oversweet. I have hear universally poor reviews of the Pear scent.
The Rose Oud is not available in Canada, but a lot of my American friends rave about it.
Thanks! Vanilla Noir is a good stand-in for the holiday scents.
A question for you guys – is there a fragrance out there that successfully combines both Iris and Rose notes? I have not been able to find one
SOTD – Rose 31
No.18.I’m surprised it doesn’t get much love.I loooove it.
One of my favourites
Oh!!!and Au Pays de la Fleur’s Rose Iriseè!How could I forget that one!!
28 La Pausa. Also, VCA’s new Moonlight Patchouli has patch, iris, rose, leather, but it’s a bit sweet for me.
Valentino Donna and Kelly Caleche – you need not go any further than Nordstrom to smell it. I am contemplating a Valentino Donna purchase…soon….
I should add that Donna is available at the discounters…
Chanel No 19 EDP.
This. This is THE rose&iris perfume, particularly in the recent-er versions.
Heure Exquise by Goutal
That one came to mind for me too, so beautiful!
Yes, this one’s beautiful!
I started out in Shalimar edp,then my neighbour came to seize whatever tools and “garage-gadgets” I wanted to get rid of before the move.He’s got a carper-cleaning business,so he’ll be washing the carpets of both this and the new place for free.I think it’s a great exchange.After my shower I inspected the fruit trees in the backyard(the Apricots are almost ready,yay!!!)and smelled the orange blossoms,which lead to current SOTE being Lush Orange Blossom.Quite realistic compared to a real fresh blossom.Be safe be good all!xo
*carpeT-cleaning business,obviously!Carper sounds…well…kinda fishy.Lol.
I thought caper. I am currently reading a caper-filled book — The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
Googled.Looks interesting!And LOL!x
That Lush Orange Blossom is so realistic, isn’t it? Smells just like the tree in my yard when it’s in bloom. I’ve always been sorry that they discontinued it (the perfume, the tree is still there).
No perfume yet, I’m going to do a bit of baking, repot a couple of indoor plants, then have a lazy Sunday. I’m rather inspired by Amateur Dilettante’s Myrrhe et Délires.
Sounds like a perfect weekend to me.
It was nice while I could smell it!
Love love love M et D! Recently caved and bought a bottle off the evil bay.
Spent the morning in bed with cat and coffee, but I cannot put it off any more–work. Okay, clearly I can, as I have taken another peek at NST ;-)!
It is a beautiful day today. Sunny and clear skies. I have lots of doors and windows open. A hawk is driving the squirrels and crows nuts, so its a bit noisy, but in a good way, at the moment. And I am doused in Ambre Narguile for the comfort. OOFTD? Yuge grey sweats and a very torn t-shirt.
Maybe before I get started I should apply some lipstick?
You are so funny. I vote for a bright red lipstick!
Yes, red lippy or a very interesting deep but bright pink. And do your eyebrows too. Perfick insouciance!
Lipstick always makes me feel, a little bit more ‘together’- especially on scruffy/lazy days!
LL Vanille, as it’s raining and gloomy, and we ought to use our good decants, etc.
I just split a split of Vanille 44 so I took the opportunity to wear some too!
We smell delightful. And if you ever need someone for a split of this one, email me! My decant is already half done.
I liked seeing the pear in today’s picture. It reminded me that I bought some yesterday and need to have one for an afternoon snack. I am in Biehl al 02. I like that one in the fall, as it has a stewed apple kind of note.
I happen to have a large bowl of pears just like that at the moment. Definitely going to eat pears tonight…
I had my first “things I’d never thought I’d say” moment in regards to perfume yesterday: my reaction to 10 Crosby Blackout was “smells like bus exhaust, but in a good way”. And the SA at Sephora’s knew what I meant.
Trying my sample of No.5 L’Eau, and trying to figure out how it’s different from No.5 Eau Premiere. . .
I purchased the 10 x 5 mL 10 Crosby St. sample set with the 20% off Sephora coupon. I am planning to send 5 random to a perfumista friend to test while I test the other half and then we’ll switch!
Now, I have to go and test Blackout.
Started out the day with a sample of JM Darjeeling Tea, but hours later had to scrub. It was just too “perfumey” for me. Replaced it with the comforting Chergui which is well suited for this rainy day.
Glad you found something better!
I am wearing my painting clothes this morning–bleach-and-paint-stained pants, a huge SF Giants t-shirt I got for free for giving blood, and a wool sweater that I wore the elbows out of. The bedroom is finished! It looks so much better, green, clean and serene, instead of its former cheap motel beige. I’m eating lunch and then I’m taking a shower, putting on some Mazzolari Vetiver (I want No. 19 but I can’t find it) running some errands, and then sitting in the comfy chair with a book.
Good for you, you’ve earned the chair & book!
Life has really been kicking my butt lately. After my shower tonight, I reached for vintage Cabochard. (My auto correct wants it to be Can of Yard,lol). Anyway, I love this perfume so much, it is everything I want to be. Strong, and sophisticated, pretty. This is the best perfume I own. I’m very thankful for it.
You smell great, I love Cabochard too.
Question/Poll.
Name your 3 favorite classic perfume noses and your favorite 3 current modern noses…
Classic.
1. Edmond Roudnitska.
2. Ernest Beaux.
3. Henri Robert.
Modern.
1. Francis Kurkdjian.
2. Rodrigo Flores-Roux.
3. Jacques Polge.
Whom are yours…!?!?
Oh I love this poll!Let’s see…
Classic:
1.)Edmond Roudnitska for Diorrissimo
2.)Germaine Celliers for Fracas and Bandit
3.)Not sure which of the Guerlain clan it was,but for L’Heure Bleue(Jean-Paul Guerlain?)
Modern:
1.)Dominique Ropion for Portrait of a Lady
2.)Jerome Epinette for everything I love about Byredo
3.)Olivier Polge for dusting off the old Chanels and giving me Misia and Boy.
I felt the need to add perfumes in this poll.Lol.Fun!!x
P.S,I saw on the Phlur website that Chandler Burr is playing creative director/critic/evaluator for them.I dunno why,but they get extra credit for that from me,and peaked my curiosity and opened my wallet for a 2-sample set.Lol.
I am sooo late.
SOTD was/is Dior Home, from offsite storage. Spent a few hours at the mall today while the family car had a service appointment. I was clearly not the only one there to use the VIB discount, because Sephora was crazy crowded.
Dior Homme is such a great scent, and so easy to wear.
It really is. I made a beeline back to the shelf to top myself up before leaving the store. ????
It’s available at the discounters and is at a fabulous price with the 30% off coupon. There’s even a parfum which I didn’t even know existed!
I hit two Sephoras and neither had a single thing I had planned to buy. This was just as well since I had accidentally deleted my VIB email and never got anything in the mail and they’re not offering the discount unless you can provide one or the other. Wish I had known before spending forever in line with a handful of impulse purchases. I was exceedingly irritated by this policy, but I was irritated anyway because they obviously didn’t stock enough of those NARS lip gloss sets and I neeeeeed one
No. 675 is the color I’ve been looking for and it isn’t sold separately.
Ulta was stripped of most anything interesting as well. One would think they’d anticipate crowds on discount/bonus point weekends just before the holidays. I was going to pick up another bottle of Stash and a Fresh Cream gift set and they were out of both. Someone had also broken off the pumps from every bottle of my favorite lotion (is there some kind of underground black-market for those or is it just fun vandalism?) so I will have to make a longer trek today or else just suck it up and order online.
Online. I hit the store, got a few things and had a run-in with a cashier. Ok maybe I need to calm down…after standing in line for almost 10 minutes, I paid for my stuff and I set off the alarm as I was exiting so I went back to the cashier, apologized to the customer she was helping and asked her to help me…she said can I wait and I said nope, I need her to work on it NOW because I was already late for lunch.
You sound reasonable to me. I’m sure they’re tired but customer service is still what they’re being paid for.
People were extra weird and tense yesterday, though. Holiday shopping stress plus weird political tension is making for some really atrocious behavior.
So true! Yesterday , just a couple blocks off the University of Michigan campus, some drunk accosted a student who was wearing a hijab. He told her to take it off or he would set her on fire, and he waved a lit cigarette lighter around. The intersection of racism, religious bigotry and misogyny (sp? Come on spellchecker, help me out here…) is not where I expected the 2016 election to leave us.
What a pain! I don’t know what’s in stock online, but the code is 20VIB. Just in case. Because there’s always something at Sephora we ‘need’ even if we don’t need it.????
I went to Sephora on Friday to do some returns/exchanges. First day of sale + holiday = a store packed wall-to-wall, mostly with teenagers, and so loud I couldn’t even hear myself think. I lasted about 10 seconds in there. My returns can wait.
Vintage Guerlain Vol de Nuit EDT, that I retrieved from the mailbox minutes ago. It is blissful after a trying day that included a giant fight and the dog getting into paint and ruining my two favorite fall boots.. all in the shadow of what happened 4 days ago. Sigh.
Oh nooo! Hope the rest of the weekend is better. Enjoy the VdN!
Oh, the injustice! Searching for my cozy-in-for-the-night sent and was happy to come across Eau de Protection, but then dropped the decant in the process. Only a tiny drop left, boo hoo.
*er…scent, not sent. I’m all discombobulated!
I hate when that happens!The ELdO seems to be clumsy on their own(too tall for a sample vial??),as my precious Bijou Romantique sample tumbled out of the cupboard not so long ago.
Gi – I have a FB of Eau de Protection and would be happy to send you some.
Email me at t f k 3 1 in the land of yawhoooooo dawt caum ( remove spaces and improve spelling for correct addy)
Question for the bloggers commenting here,as this is something I am curious about:
Do you rate the success of your blog by the number of comments people leave?Or is there like a hit counter or something to keep it sustainable?I’m just curious,because I do browse about 6 perfume blogs on a weekly basis,but only a couple seem “successful”,if you measure by comments and apparent interest in what the blogger says.NST in other words seems supersuccessful and interesting,so does Bois de Jasmin,EauMG,Life in a Cold Climate,among others.Then there are blogs that win awards and are excellent reading material,but somehow seem pointless/meh/”talking to myself online”,because nobody responds?Just curious…Lol.
Also,do you guys prefer short and sweet reviews,or lengthy intellectual discussions?(I prefer the middle-ground,because if you’re doing a 7000-word essay on A perfume,I tend to lose interest by paragraph 3,especially if the blogger seems to claim authority and superpower-knowledge on each and every perfume he/she reviews-just a personal irk,and don’t want to offend anyone!!)
For me it depends on the style and what the writer says.
There is one blogger (apologies for forgetting who!) who writes an awful lot but it’s all very elaborate details on notes perceived and staying power & projection after certain time intervals — a quirky-nerdy approach — and I absolutely love their writing. Plus, the reviews come interspersed with images reflecting the blogger’s perception, and I find synaesthesia fascinating too.
Otherwise I’m with you: I don’t generally appreciate verbiage. Very happy with the length range of reviews here at NST and on Bois de Jasmin:)
P.S. The lengthy-but-fascinating blog is Kafkaesque:)
Thanks!
It’s an interesting subject and I don’t have an answer.
Octavian used to have a great blog with long reviews, but he clearly, at least to me, seemed to know what he was talking about.
I don’t know if he got a lot of comments or not.
I read 3-4 blogs on a regular basis, this one, BdJ, Persolaise and GraindeMusc, whenever there is a new post. And will check out au.parfum at least once a month.
Oh yeah,I also liked Octavian’s blog!
This weekend I promised myself to wear some favourites that somehow don’t fit the Friday themes. So yesterday I wore Beloved and today’s perfume is Une Rose Nacrée du Désert. I dislike November with a vengeance so a lot of beauty is very welcome, and these 2 provide plenty.
I hate November.
But also, if the Friday projects are forcing you to save favorites til the weekend, skip the Friday projects for awhile!
SOTD is Olibère “Escapade à Byzance”, because I like it.
Top: cinnamon, black pepper, saffron, thyme, ginger and citruses;
Mid: cloves, cypress and incense;
Base: benzoin, heliotrope, musk, vanilla, patchouli, amber, cedar and vetiver
Travelling back to Paris earlier than usual today, so at least I won’t have to go to work tomorrow after just 6 hours sleep. :^)
And have just read about an earthquake in New Zealand South Island with tsunami forecast to follow, so hope the NZ folk (Gaynor, Kanuka, Waterdragon and anyone else) are okay.
Kaikoura is far south of Auckland and Wellington, and a couple of hundred miles north of Dunedin, where Kanuka lives, so we are OK. The tsunami warning has been downgraded, but the aftershocks are very severe. Oh dear, these beautiful, beautiful, shaky little islands!
I want to wear a solid, grounded perfume today. I want warmth. I think I might choose Ambre Narguile or Traversee or Loukhoum. They all tick the boxes for warmth, although AN is maybe a bit gauzy for my needs today.
Thanks for the update, waterdragon! I am so enjoying seeing the interactions of you New Zealanders, and I was felt concerned.
Hello there! The earthquake was centred in an area that is rural and farming with small communities. But it was severe and felt down here. Gaynor in Wellington will have got the biggest shock …damage to buildings etc. Awful for the people living in North Canterbury and Kaikoura.
Oh my word, I heard that the epicentre was Kaikoura but I got so busy with poor Izzy (sick, frail little purr) that I hadn’t caught up with the fact that Wellington was affected. I must have gone with an early, early version of the report, but I really should have been able to extrapolate. Gaynor, are you there? Are you OK?
Hope everyone in NZ is OK!Gaynor check in if you can!x
I think Wellington buildings were rattled – windows broken, bits falling off, damage to interiors… etc. but as far as I can tell no injuries. The epicentre of the quake (7.5) was much further south, in the South Island. I think there have been two fatalities and a few main highways closed due to cracks, landslides etc. Most people in Wellington were encouraged to stay out of the central city while buildings are checked over. I’ve been listening on the radio and it sounds pretty calm.
I’m testing PdE Equistrius against PG Cuir d’Iris this morning. Equistrius seems much sweeter by comparison … or maybe it’s just my nose today. Cuir d’Iris is still strongly reminding me of something – maybe a way-toned-down Broken Theories? Anyway, still loving it.
SOTD: Slumberhouse Pear and Olive. Perfect scent for a cozy day indoors, cooking and watching Netflix
I have been doing too much for others, so today is for me
Enjoy your time with yourself!
The father of a dear friend died this week, and I went to the funeral yesterday wearing L’Eau d’Hiver. It was present without being at all overpowering, and it lasted all day. I highly recommend it as a restrained comfort scent.
I can see why that would work, and my condolences to yourself and your friend.
Thank you!
Oh, perfect choice — and so sorry to hear your friend lost their father.
I am cleaning out my mudroom in preparation for having my husband’s family (mother, 2 sister’s with S. O.s, 3 nephews, 2 of whom have S.O.s, and 5 children ranging in age from 7 months or so, to 13 or 14.) If they all show up, that’s 15 people not counting adorable hubby and myself. SOTD courtesy of a lovely decant is No 22. If signature scents were still a thing, I could happily wear this all the time…
I don’t know why, but that struck me as kind of funny – as if they are a particularly muddy Family from the Black Lagoon. My mind, my mind…aargh!
I am wearing Frederic Malle Noir Epices. It smells differently to me every time I try it. It’s lovely, I just wish it had a bit more sillage. (Every time I type that, autocorrect changes it to village.)
Great choice!
Well, I failed to keep my wallet locked on my outing with my friend in Walnut Creek. Couple of items on sale where I succumbed. And we had a very nice, very early dinner sitting outside. A nice day just wandering. She scored a pair of golden yellow suede oxfords.
Got carded samples at Nordies that they almost threw at me, and I was happy to catch: Bottega Veneta, Baiser Vole, Angel Muse, Gucci Guilty. I made my own of Chanel No. 19 – both EdT and Poudre and then of Volutes.
What to try? What to try?
Still need to go to Ulta. It’s in a different location.
So sorry to hear about the earthquake. I hate earthquakes. Beyond the damage, they mess with your mind.
Yes, it seems an absolute betrayal of everything comprehensible and sensible when the ground won’t perform its basic function of supporting what’s on it!
Exactly. And no warning so the aftermath remains stressful. I would stiffen every time a trunk went by after Loma Prieta. I resorted to immediately looking at my cat. If she didn’t react, no earthquake. They’re great little warning systems….
Went to the symphony last night in Misia & heard Rimsky-Korsakov, Saint-Saëns and Mussorgsky. It was just the kind of relaxing, soothing, escapism I needed.
Commando now, but I think I’ll re-test Chanel 5 L’eau. I’ve already tried a few spritzes from my sample, but had a cold at the time and didn’t get the full effect.
This week has been so emotionally and physically draining. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m absolutely exhausted. I feel like I could sleep for days but my body only lets me get about 7 hours at a time, unfortunately.
See my post below ????
Song of the moment: Shake Your Groove Thing……????
On the elliptical, reading comments and shaking my groove thing to Pandora’s disco station. Lol. Highlight of my scent weekend was a rendezvous with vintage Halston courtesy of KPaint. Wow, major flashback to the 70’s. I flew through multiple bottles of this fabulous scent back in the day. Still have love for this babe of a fragrance. ❤️
I should look for a vintage bottle myself — have the most intense memory of what it smells like (it was strong, after all) but who knows if my memory is accurate!
Well, I just ate a big Philly cheesesteak. That was grounding!
Good for you!
Wandered into an outlet sale, spied the perfume in the corner, blind bought 2 eau d’Italie for $19 each, figuring I could split/swap with folks here, breaking most of my rules…also handled a leaky SMN Patchouli bottle, so that’s what I’ll be smelling like for a while.
Wow, very nice buy!