Our ninth annual holiday gift poll. Here are the three questions:
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
My answers:
A tube of Frédéric Malle body butter, in Dries Van Noten or Une Rose or Carnal Flower.
A bottle of Lush Cardamom Coffee, or maybe Dame Perfumery Chocolate Man.
None this year!
Note: image is Hellebore [cropped & background extended] by Elaine with Grey Cats at flickr; some rights reserved.
An unsniffed gift? Hmmm, I think I’d put Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan (sp?) (full bottle, please and thank you) at the very top of the wanted list!
Ah, that is a lovely perfume. Very close is OJ Osmanthus, and they have a 30% discount on this weekend (no affiliation). ????
I’m thinking a Christmas candle would be great to have for a gift. For an unsniffed gift perhaps Arquiste El. I’m thinking of getting someone Chanel Gardenia. Although I’m still not decided between the perfume and the parfum.
Oh, I might go for one of the new Arquistes too.
Hi All- I have’t got a chance to catch up on NST for a bit. I was on vacation and enjoying some warm sun. Stayed off of all blogs and social media. Didn’t talk politics. No email. No news watching
1.I am likely to receive some Rituals products
2. Unsniffed…Shanghai Lilly maybe ( I have been dying to try that)..The new Aftelier scent..I am not really sure
3. I am buying some bath and body works for a holiday gift for someone who requested them from me!
SOTD is Dhongkha early this morning, and Fluer de China after shower
The best way to vacay is to unplug completely! Way to go!! (I have trouble doing that….LOL!)
It sounds great. I just saw a spoof on Goodnight Moon called Goodnight iPad. I was going to buy it for the DH.
Haha! That’s great
I’ve read Goodnight iPad–it’s hysterical!
Welcome back and glad you got some sun! I could use an “unplug” week or day, even. And Shanghai Lily is quite lovely. I wouldn’t refuse a bottle of that.
Its good to be back in the concrete jungle
Unplugging was great!
I will google that spoof !
Good morning – off for my morning run wearing 1000 Flowers Reglisse Noire, but first:
1) Fragrance related gift I’d most like to receive: a GC to Luckyscent.
2) Unsniffed? the upcoming MFK Aqua Celestia
3) Only scented hand lotion from DSH Perfumes. Most of my friends/relatives aren’t fragrance people.
Happy Saturday, all!
I could put one of those gift cards to good use!
The Celestia sounds lovely, good choice.
For my #1, I’d love to get a nice decant of Ambra Aurea. My sample is almost gone and I’ve really fallen in love with this in the cool weather.
I don’t wish for any ancillary products anymore as I realize I just don’t use them.
#2, unsniffed I want Arbole Arbole as I am smitten with all the Hiram Greens so far and this is as safe a blind love as I can imagine.
#3, I’m thinking of getting my bf a perfume of his own this year. Deciding between Dior Homme or Chanel Pour Monsieur.
Good luck to everyone with your fragrant wish lists this year!
Arbole Arbole is beautiful
Ah, I love both DH and Chanel. Hard pick, bit I think the Chanel would win. Chanel, to me, is slightly more old fashioned and a mature scent, and probably more individual than DH.
Thanks! I was leaning this way too. It is such a distinguished anywhere/anytime kind of scent too…and I wouldn’t mind borrowing a spritz from time to time, either.
I read your review which was lovely and seems to have pushed me into obsession-levels with this one
I’ve developed a bit of a craving for (unsniffed) Brio Fazzolari Au Delà Narcisse des Montagnes after reading Erin’s post below and Kevin’s review. Maybe lucky that it’s not available as I’ve several narcissus scents already (Le Temps d’une Fête, Chamade, Ostara). But if Santa were to bring me a bottle…
Re gifts to others, I’ve bought my husband a bottle of AC Gold Leather so far.
Gah, Bruno not Brio. Autocorrect.
They both liked the Au Dela better than I did, but I would take a bottle of Lampblack!
They have a ‘Lampblack Friday’ discount on the website now!
Thank you!
I would love to smell Au Dela Narcisse as well – sorry I missed it, as I do love narcissus. LTdF and Chamade are favorites, and Ostara is lovely too. (Narcissus from the Dame Perfumery soliflore line is pretty awesome, too.)
I second the Dame Perfumery one…and it is so reasonably priced….plus 10% off code until 12/31- CXG3- which you can use on the travel size and get free shipping too!
Hi NST!
1. Can I have a bottle of Hiram Green Arbole Arbole, please?
2. Diptyque Essences Insenses 2016 edition or maybe Zoologist Parfums Nightingale.
3. My mum will be getting a skincare set from Nuxe, dad will get a bottle of Nishane Santalove.
My sotd is Incense Oud from Nicolai. Not the best one out there…
You can’t go wrong with that Diptyque in the beautiful black bottle!
That’s heck of a pretty bottle, isn’t it?
Good morning Y’all…..Back to work and reality…..the extended family has gone home, and the food is nearly gone too! LOL!! After work, I’m going to take the BEST NAP ever!!
SOTD: Atelier Orange Sanguine.
1. I have strongly hinted to Santa that I’d love some Angel Muse under the tree….
2. Unsniffed request might be one of the new MAC perfumes that just came out? Hmmmm….Just surprise me, OK?
3. Santa Jada is giving fragrance this year, no doubt! My oldest is going to be shocked to see a bottle of Black Jade under the tree (she’s been told we can’t afford it!), and my younger daughter has wanted Roses de Chloe for a long time. Also giving some BBW candles to a few; and have some bath gels for emergency teacher gifts, etc…..
Love Atelier Orange Sanguine! What a great scent! It tastes like fresh oranges too (I’ve licked my arm when wearing it a time or two….ugh! LOL)
I’m eager to test out the new MAC fragrances. Hope they are as good as they sound.
And, speaking from an educators viewpoint, we love BBW’s stuff!
You have a great list!
ditto on the Orange Sanguine and ditto on BBW…even if I don’t like something there is always a young family member who would love it !
Also eager to try out those MAC perfumes. Muse would be fun, but I don’t think my hubby would care for it.
Oh, good call on the mac – thanks for the inspiration! Couldnt think of anything unsniffed
I’m sitting pretty on this work-filled and chilly Saturday in Tauer Zeta. I was told not to fall in love with it before being given a sample, but unfortunately, it’s wonderful.
1. Most want: A bottle of Mohur! (Though springpansy’s idea of a gift card was quite intelligent
)
Their products are “cheap” by perfumista standards, but nice enough to be reasonable to give and receive as a gift! “The grown-up version of Bath & Body Works,” someone said to me last year.
2. Unsniffed: Rahele! (Are you seeing a pattern?) Or maybe Arbolé Arbolé. It sounds gorgeous.
3. Scented soaps and creams for friends and family, mostly from l’Occitane
Have a wonderful weekend
Ah, I would like a bottle of Pichola, now that you mention it!
That one is another possible response to #2 (buy unsniffed)!
1. Berdoues Grand Cru Scorza di Sicilia for the spring /summer
2. Berdoues Grand Cru Russkaya Kozha
3. Gifting homemade lotions and essential oils blends
Wearing Eden Botanicals Fir Balsam Absolute 10% all over…yum….and an FYI on Cyber Monday Eden will have 15 % off all bottles 1oz or smaller with free shipping on orders over $49…
also enjoying a rather large slice of Marzipan Stohlen and Twinnings Spiced Apple Chia (another cheap thrill for two dollars a box!)
I loooove marzipan!! That stollen sounds delicious.
I know me too…my parents brought lots of European treats and within the last two and a half days I have single handedly devoured four chocolate covered marzipan logs
oh and I forgot because I bought them over the summer and they are hidden in the basement…for two younger family members I have a bottle of Berdoues Grand Cru Vanira Morea and Bersdoues Grand Cru Arz el Raab ( I am already planning to warn them that will be “stealing” the empty bottles
!)
that * I* will be stealing …..
What do you think overeally of Berdoues Grand Cru collection?
I’m dying to try Arz El-Rab from this line but I have not seen it in European online perfumeres last time, maybe I should check again. I really want a sample
I like the collection very much…but part of that is due to the fact that I adore those bottles…I wore Assam of India the entire summer….to my nose it is similar to eau d’Hadrien….a nice summer citrus scent….I will let you know how Arz is when my family member opens it for Christmas….
1. I would love a bottle of SHL777 Rose de Petra. Does anyone know if this is sold in Canada?
3. The DH will be getting a bottle of Acqua di Parma Colonia Leather that I bought at the Sephora VIB sale.
1. An Amouage sampler
if that’s cheating, Neela Vermeirr Mohur.
2. Serge Lutens De Profundis!
3. Scented candles and body products.
SOTD is Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist ????
1) Smoke and Violets made for Catbird ( a hipster jewelry store in Brooklyn) by Goest perfumes. It comes in an adorable and annoying 5ml little bottle for $35! Maybe not… Or, also made for Catbird, Kitten perfume solid: “with visions of dusty records, lipstick, and feather pillows and notes of musk, amber & hand-picked violets”. More reasonable at $18, but lacks potency in the solid. I wish it came in an Edp.
2) Francesca Bianchi Angel’s Dust. A cosmetic powder scent that seems to be getting lots of love around town.
3) Maybe Old Spice for the F-I-L. Otherwise, no scented gifts. Gift cards and gadgets are requested.
And on theme with cosmetic scents, my SOTD is the remainder of my Carner Barcelona Tardes sample. I’d definitely accept it if it were gifted to me.
1. Fragrance-related gift: a FB of Blocki This Grand Affair. Parfum d’Empire Ambre Russe would be a good backup.
2. Unsniffed: MFK Grand Soir or maybe Absolue pour le Soir, but Grand Soir sounds more my speed.
3. Perfume gift–hubby is running low on his Givenchy Pi, which is just about my favorite thing on him (Egoiste being second). He also just managed to drop and break the mini of Pi that he had been refilling from his bottle. So I ordered one of each for him on eBay. Really stoked because I can never figure out what to get him!
3. One of each meaning a 100 ml bottle and mini of the Pi!
1. I would like a bottle of Francis Kurdjian Oud Satin Mood. But it’s too expensive for this wish to be realistic.
2. Unsniffed: maybe Buterbaugh Kingston Osmanthus that Patty raved about this week on Perfume Posse. I do like Osmanthus.
3. I will be giving some Penhaligon soaps to several male friends, including Blenheim Bouquet and Quercus.
SOTD for me is Ombre Mercure by Terry de Gunzburg. How I love this stuff!
Oh, I will have to go read her review, I adore osmanthus.
I ended up purchasing a big sample of Ombre Mercure and will have enough to split off some if anyone is interested
I’ve only tried two of the Buterbaughs, but they were lovely. Am a little afraid of trying more…
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. This year kids are with their in laws. It was disappointing at first, but we did a “renewal ” Thanksgiving, which makes you more thankful and peaceful, especially now.
I would like any Vero Kern fragrance.
Unsniffed fragrance on my list would also be Rahele.
I bought Eau D’Hadrien Body Oil for my daughter-in- law. I also saved Sel Marin bath products for her from a hotel we visited.
Oh, renewal Thanksgiving sounds like a great idea!
I would love to get a huge gift card from Nordstrom or Bergdorf Goodman.
Unsniffed gift would be Khol de Bahrein.
I am giving a bottle of Prada Candy to my niece and Donna Karan Cashmere Mist deodorant to my SIL, who wears the scent but has not tried the deodorant.
Today is a bit chilly in SoCal, wearing the cozy Fève Délicieuse.
Smart choice for #1!
Emphasis on the HUGE gift card…hehe!x
A lot of people said gift cards, which is such a smart choice. I love gift cards, so that would have fit me nicely…… especially one from Nordstrom or Bergdorf Goodman!
Khol de Bahrein is lovely. Certainly wouldn’t turn up my nose at your gift card choices!
Yay for KdB
I love the huge card gift idea
I REALLY want the new Guerlain book about Sylvie Guerlain’s collection.
Unsniffed SJP Stash please,and thank you!Lol!
My Mom used to receive the fragrant gifts,seeing she decided to die this year,I guess no-one!(Sad but true.Done crying,for now.I’m kinda in the Anger-phase right now)
SOTD!Kilian Love,Don’t be shy.It’s getting a lot of love from me these days.
Happy Weekend!!x
So sorry to hear about your mom. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Really sorry about your mom. The first holidays after someone passes are always the toughest.
Adding my condolences, and hope the anger phase will carry you through the holidays.
Thanks for the kind words guys!Really appreciate it!It’s been almost 4 months,so yeah….getting there!x
4 months, that’s still pretty raw… sending you warm supportive hugs as you work your way through the grief.
Sorry about your mom. Holidays can be really hard. Be good to yourself and do things to make you happy but there’s no shame in having a good cry if you need one.
So sorry about your mom. It’s been 3 years since my mom died, and holidays are still hard for me, so I know what you’re going through.
Johanob, thinking of you. Please take care of yourself.
Hang in there johanob.
Holidays after losing a parent are rough… I’ve been there, too.
Sorry for your loss.
Thanks guys and girls at NST for all your support and words of encouragement!This has been a safe haven for me these past couple of months…x
Sending you some more virtual hugs and healing thoughts.
Here’s some virtual strength coming through the ether to you.
Thanks to both of you!X
So sorry about your mom, J! Best wishes for you to get through the holidays as smoothly as you can. Love your answers for questions #1 and #2, hope you get both. I also lost a parent almost exactly four months ago, my Dad — late July sucked apparently! — and I’m still in denial most days, so you’ve gotten farther than me. Hugs to you.
Thanks Erin.And sending multiple hugs to you too!!X
So sorry to hear this Erin. I lost my Dad almost 2 years ago and it is still difficult. When doing a headcount to make restaurant reservations (for the East Coasters), we somehow still include him. And we would all run out of fingers and toes counting the number of times we ask ” What would Dad do?” or say “Dad would have liked / disliked this.”
Sorry to hear about your dad, H. Yes, I know what you mean about the reservations, etc. — we had a birthday dinner for my husband last night and I accidentally poured my dad a glass of wine. He’d be pleased, though, and it got finished.
Erin, so sorry to hear that your dad passed away this summer. Warm thoughts for ease of mind during the holidays for you.
SOTD is vintage Shalimar, which leads directly to my choice for #1: Shalimar blah, blah, blah Madagascar.
Sadly discontinued so if Santa can’t find it, I’ll settle (happily) for PdE Equistrius.
#2, unsniffed, AG Tenue de Soiree
#3, fragrance gifts – not this year
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!
A fragrance-related gift…well, it’s only tangentially a fragrance-related gift, but I wish someone would gift me with a year’s worth of baths for the dog. He is so big I can’t bathe him and he smells very dog-ish most of the time.
Unsniffed, I’d like a bottle of Geisha Rouge. The notes sound like something I’d love.
Scented gifts–I bought Andy Tauer’s Mandarine soap when he was here in Portland, and Fumerie said they are now carrying it permanently. I need two more bars for gifts.
Today if the weather cooperates I’m putting up the outdoor tree and hanging the door wreath. Yesterday I installed the fireplace doors so I’ll have a fire later. I’m wearing Tihota (I also wouldn’t mind a bottle of this, my decant is half-gone.)
Excellent! You should ask friends and family for dog valeting vouchers…
I got samples of both Geisha Rouge and Geisha Noir and they are GORGEOUS! Rouge has more cloves I think. Either would be a very good choice.
Fwiw: Madame G stank to high heaven for a while, turned out to be her food.
She occasionally does a repeat performance after disappearing in the fields to roll in Caca de Renard, her wannabe signature scent. Thank heaven she’s small enough to put in the shower.
My dog smells very doggish most of the time, too.
Happy Saturday, my NST Family. Here are my responses to today’s poll questions:
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
– I would love to receive one of those lovely Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon Home Candle. What a lovely holiday scent to have going throughout the whole house.
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
– It would be the Le Galion “Snob” perfume that I have been saying for years I was going to try. Still have no idea what this fragrance I have heard so much about smells like.
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
– Every year, it has been a tradition that I get my mom, dad, and brother a bottle for Christmas. This year, the only person that I will get a fragrance item for is my boyfriend. I will probably buy him a Tom Ford fragrance (not sure which one yet) – every person I have ever got TF for absolutely loved it.
I’ll bet the BF will love his fragrance, whatever you pick (I’d go for Tuscan Leather, if I were buying a TF for someone I’d be smelling it on).
What would I most like to receive? A lovely lavender-scented massage.
What would I ask for, unsniffed? Neela Vermeire Rahele. WhenWhenWhenWhen is it going to be released??? AAAAAAAAAAAGH the suspense is killing me. Is that an overreaction? I think not.
Giving any scented gifts? nope.
It is not coming out till January pixel, more and more wait
Not an overreaction. I’m on pins and needles too.
Overreaction? What would make you ask that?
I hear you. The suspense and the anticipation of Vero Kern’s tobacco scent is killing me. To turn the knife a bit, Andy Tauer told me he’s smelled it and it’s really great (of course).
Wot? Vero Kern and tobacco? As vero profumo? Oh my goodness. Putting all other wants on hold…
Yes, start saving your pennies now!
Yippee yoo-hoo!
U sniffed gift; Like Wendysue, I would love a vera kern perfume, either Mito, or Rubj edp
I’m hoping to receive a bottle of jubilation 25 edp.
I’ve recently given my friend some locally made ylang ylang cream, if she likes it, I may give some more as Christmas gifts.
SOTD; Sacre blue intense.
Mito is beautiful!
I’ll follow the gift card route too. I just can’t bring myself to buy anything unsniffed, and even the thought of an unsniffed gift makes me quite anxious
I’m the only perfume enthusiast in my family, so other than maybe some nice soap, I won’t be buying perfumed gifts (except for presents to myself, of course!)
Scent related gift? Ancient Resins Oil.
Unsniffed: the Coffee Cardamon or Arbole Arbole mentioned above.
For others? Probably not this year, unless it’s nice soaps or something. I either have people uninterested in fragrance or total perfumistas, and really the gifts fall into the middle category.
I need more Ancient Resins soon too.
Yikes. This just reminded me that along with Vanilla Smoke, I also got a bottle of Ancient Resins so if you are running low, I can send some over. I think an NSTer included a decant as part of a swap. It is around somewhere…I’ll send it to your U.S. address when I find it (email me please).
oh thanks! wow, that’s awesome.
SOTD – Italian Angel by O’Driu. Natalya gets enabler pin for O’Driu fragrances, I truly truly liked her recommendation of Pathetique, and I have to explore rest of the line (Peety is a big love for me, non-personalized version :)) Italian Angel is NOT going on the buy list
Fragrance gift: Dres Van Nolten – both EDP and Body butter + Something else. My bday is right around xmas, so I am getting multiple things
Unsniffed – Like pixel who gets a bunch of enabler pins for introducing me to small size Guerlains Rahele has my name (no surprise given my obsession with osmanthus) It is not coming out till January howerver
None of my family members are fragrance obsessed
Just visited the O’Driu website….
Not sure if I should be fascinated or repulsed.Or both.Lol.
and now you have piqued my interest …..
definitely both-LOL!
That website is a surreal experience,I can just imagine the man in person being…worse?/More interesting?Lol.
It took me a while to add 2 and 2 together with personalization for Peety and I could not believe it (or could not stop laughing hysterically). However, Peety is an amazing amber. Pathetique is very different from anything that I have sniffed before – and I have to say the dude is very talented (he is outside of my comfort zone, but I still appreciate his talent). Even Italian Angel, which I find strange, is a very interesting and unusual fragrance. Not my cup of tea, but interesting nevertheless
Enabler pin goes to you.Ordering samples.
1). I would love my very own bottle of Trayee, Beloved, or Cuir de Russie. Oops, was I supposed to only pick one?
2). Unsniffed, Rahele or Violaceum form the new L’artisan line. Has anyone sniff this yet?
3). My daughter will receive a rollerball gift set of Daisy and its flankers. Tempted to buy something smelly for the husband, but I have no confidence that he’d wear it. Planning to buy my SIL some Lord of Misrule bath gel. I used it while on vacation this summer and her husband went crazy over how I smelled.
SOTM is SSS Forest Walk, and what a pleasure it is! I wouldn’t say no to a bottle of this for Christmas, or SSS Voile de Violette … or both, in the smaller size (please Santa?). I have to cheat just a little on the theoretical unsniffed request – I have spectacularly bad luck with heretofore unsniffed fragrances, so I would request vintage Diorling extrait. (Technically I’ve only ever sniffed the EDT version.) And I will be giving scented gifts to several people – incense sticks and a manly scented soap for one, candles for another, and an adorable mini of 24 Faubourg to a friend who is just dipping her toe into fragrance world.
The adorable mini is a great idea–nice scent too. Pretty soon you’ll have her commenting on NST
Oh, minis would be a great choice for new-to-this giftees.
1. Puredistance M or Neela Vermeire Mohur. Tried them and loved them quite a lot!
2. Hermès Bel Ami!
3. None either.
1. I would like to get some of the FM body butters, I would be super happy to get Une Rose or POAL.
2. Unsniffed, vintage L’Interdit pure perfume
3. I am not sure if I will give perfume gifts this Christmas
I think the PoaL is better, tried Une Rose but it didn’t seem to last long on me scent-wise like all the others. Need to try my sample some more to decide though. I love the perfume and really wanted the body butter to be as great.
Thank you for the info, I haven’t tried Une Rose body butter but I love the perfume, the POAL one was great though.
I’d love to get Tauer’s rose and amber oils for Christmas. Unsniffed, I’d like Vanilla Hinoki. Don’t think I’ll give any scented gifts for Christmas, since I’ve already given them as birthday gifts this year. Today I’m wearing Incense Rose, and trying to remain calm. My husband had to have a biopsy yesterday, and we won’t have the result until Tuesday at the earliest.
I’m wishing you calm thoughts, and good results for your husband.
Wishing for the best possible outcome for your husband. And the waiting is not easy, I can imagine.
I quite liked Vanilla Hinoki the second time around trying it. Something about the spices and other notes gave me the impression of ginger. The oil rollerball is on my long list.
I will light a candle for your husband tomorrow, if that’s ok with you.
Wishing for good news for your husband!
Think of you and your husband.
Eeeep, thinkING of you and your husband….
Fingers crossed for a good outcome!
I hope everything turns out well for your DH.
Waiting is hard. Best of luck.
Urgh,I hate waiting for results!Hope all turns out well!x
I hope the report is good.
I too send best wishes for your husband. Do go ahead and try the Vanilla Hinoki. I have it in the rollerball. It is a scent that is very calming so might be good right now. It stays very close to the body and just provides a sort of nice air of meditative peace. I find it very beautiful.
It’s a self-imposed no-shopping weekend at my house, so it’s great fun reading about everyone’s wishes and gifts.
My most wished for scent: L’Air du Temps Le Crépuscule by Calice Becker. A trip across the Atlantic to smell it would be just the thing. There are also L’Aube, Zénith, and Eau Sublime renditions of L’Air du Temps available in Europe for this holiday season.
Unsniffed: see above
Gifting: Dzongkha to my almost-adult son, French Lime Blossom for my teen daughter, and Chanel No. 5 bar soap to my mum.
Chanel soaps are awesome, and they work well as gifts since people think of them as too extravagant to buy for themselves.
Agree about the Chanel soaps, they are a wonderful indulgence. My mum rarely wears perfume as she prefers essential oils, but she keeps unwrapped bars of soap in her linen cupboard and on her dressing room shelves for a subtle scent boost. She wore No. 5 long ago, so I hope she will enjoy the having the scent around her again.
Right there with you on the self imposed no buy….even went to Walmart today and bought only the essentials…..
and JM French Lime Blossom is perfect for a teenage daughter
I happen to have the large bottle in the house …I decanted a bit and added a few drops of vetiver and a male family member enjoys wearing it that way from time to time….it is a very versatile fragrance!
At our house we try not to do shopping over Thanksgiving weekend because over the years we have realized we make more thoughtful purchases if we wait a bit.
French Lime Blossom makes me smile every time. It is so versatile. I can see how it would work with vetiver. Nice tip!
Recently bought a vintage L’Air du Temps on ebay, because I got interested in carnation, and knew nothing about the once-ubiquitous scent. It’s lovely and its longevity is astounding (edt). Wouldn’t mind owning the new gorgeous blue bottle as well!
I have an old L’Air du Temps edt, too. It is so pretty, even after all these years.
Your gifts sound lovely.
Thanks, mals! I think it was your mention, a year or more ago, of someone in your family who enjoys No. 5 body cream that prompted me to investigate both that product and the soap. They are divine.
thank you for the questions, they helped me to focus, I am so slow at getting ready for holidays this year… though today I found a new perfume for my husband, hence the answer to the question number 3…
anyways, here goes:
1 – Miyako by Auphorie – the strangest of them all for me… but I cannot stop smelling it
2 – Le Mat by Mendittorosa — heard a lot of good things about it… but so expensive I would prefer not to be the one spending money for it..
3 – I am buying Eau d’Hadrien by Annick Goutal for my husband, who goes through stages of lavender-only, vetiver-only… and now I think it is time for his citrus obsession
1. Bottle of L’Air du Desert Morocain (DH is getting me a decant for cost saving reasons, but a FB wouldn’t be turned down if it suddenly appeared without a dent in rent funds)
2. One of the new mac scents – undecided which flavor but it would be the one that i would like best, sinve that’s how magical thinking works, lol.
3. Probably not, unless incense counts.
Hope everyone has a pleasant, relaxing weekend!
I might have to send a letter to Santa, as there seems to be no other way to get my hands on Penhaligon’s Lily & Spice. I dithered when it was available but have thought about it ever since.
I’d also trust Santa to sniff all of Le Galion’s and Masque Milano’s lines and send along a bottle of the one I’d like best.
Like many others here I give bath products to friends: one loves lavender and another confidently expects YR Hamamelis products and has not yet been let down by me.
1. I have so much perfume, I would just wish for a bunch of tubes of l’Occitane hand cream, assorted fragrances.
2. I don’t do unsniffed in general, but I wouldn’t say no to a sealed, vintage bottle of anything Chanel or Guerlain.
3. Yes, my niece is getting a LUSH gift set and my husband is getting something, I just haven’t decided yet exactly what. I am thinking maybe l’Ombre dans l’Eau.
Im not expecting any gifts from adults. If I was I would ask for Chanel no. 22. Unsniffed would go to Feve Delicious(sp?) It sounds right up my alley. I will be giving VS lotions and body spray to my daughter. She is always welcome to use any of my perfumes, but lately, she really has been liking the body sprays. I think she thinks they are more cool.
Which means you need to buy your own gift, methinks
My 14 yo niece is a fan of those PINK body sprays. I guess it’s what the kids are wearing these days.
The college “kids” too…that and Bath and Body Works…..I sent a family member off to college this year with a huge pencil box full of samples of niche and artisanal lines for her to explore with and share with her friends in order to expand their olfactory horizons
!
oh yes and I am also sending her back today after the Thanksgiving break with several 6ml travel sprays that I have filled with some of my own juice…wrapped in a pretty satin bow and placed in a diaphanous pouch for her to gift to her friends as holiday presents…this is a great way to not spend money ( I already have all the perfume, travel sprays, ribbons and pouches available) while simultaneously whittling away at my collection…..
Wonderful idea!
Our family has decreed that presents will be bought only for the children, so I’m going to buy my own perfume present this year. Therefore:
1. Santa me is going to have to decide between Geisha Rouge, Geisha Noir or Maharanih Intense.
2. I have pretty much decided that I will never again buy anything unsniffed, but if a bottle of Kyoto was found in my stocking I would probably be quite happy.
3. Since most of my gift recipients will be under 6, I don’t think any of the presents will be scent-related.
1. My family also agreed to presents just for the kids. Takes the pressure off, both the nerves and the wallet.
3. I’ve shown my perfume collection to my 3 yr old niece. Instead of inhaling each bottle she would blow out through her nose, so yeah maybe too young for fragrance.
RE no 2- never too young….my obsession began when I was six…got my first bottle of an Avon perfume and then demanded a perfume collection of my own…the rest is history
Unsniffed… well, there are a few vintage perfumes that I am watching on ebay. That’s the risk one has to take in order to find out what long-lost perfumes smell like. Help me out here, Santa!
Here’s hoping that a) you win at least one, and b) it’s in perfect shape!
Thank you, mals! I’m really trying to stay away for budgetary reasons, but there are some major temptations.
Forgot to add the third hope: that you can find a real bargain!
I’m a little sheepish about this, but on my wish list is one of those massive splash bottles of Caron Pour un Homme (500 ml or 750 ml size)… It is my go-to work scent, and I love the idea of the splash bottle to decant into a smaller flask for long days at work, as I have these (anywhere from 10-14 hours) several times a week.
As for giving, I plan to give my wife a new instalment of her signature, Balenciaga B. (she’s just about out), but have ordered a sample of the new intense version for her to try as well. I’m not sure I’d go for anything untested I’m pretty sensitive to some aromachemicals, especially synthetics), but if pressed, I might settle on Lutens’ Chergui, Tauer’s L’air du desert Marocain, or Creed’s Bois Du Portugal. Those, or (does this count?) a vintage bottle of Caron, from the ‘Plus Belles Lavandes’ heyday. All of these are firmly in the price range of things I’m probably unwilling to ask for outside of a season-of-miracles context…
A season of miracles sounds so wonderful. We all could use one, I’m sure.
I say go for the splash bottle….especially if you use it every day….much more cost effective.
https://www.amazon.com/CARON-PARIS-Caron-Toilette-SPLASH/dp/B000C1UBWE/ref=pd_sim_510_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000C1UBWE&pd_rd_r=CGG10AFN85408P0HCNQY&pd_rd_w=eUpyX&pd_rd_wg=4tCgu&psc=1&refRID=CGG10AFN85408P0HCNQY
just in case you change your mind !
Thanks! There is a very reasonable 16oz bottle at a Montreal supplier we use (we are in Canada, so it’s tricky getting things shipped across the border), so I may well give it a try… I seem to have become what Luca Turin called a ‘fougere monotheist.’ The gift spritzer idea is great, especially since I am a bit of an advocate for Pour un Homme (I don’t want them to stop making it!)
https://www.amazon.com/Elife-Portable-Refillable-Aftershave-Atomizer/dp/B0118MVV2E/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1480247228&sr=1-7&keywords=travel+perfume+atomizer
And you can also use some of the juice to make lovely holiday gifts with these relatively inexpensive perfume atomizers…..
Those are pretty cool!Love the colors!Perfect size as well for a travel decant!
Yeah and they make really nice gifts…before my no buy took effect I had bought two sets and am filling them with stuff from my collection to give as gifts
Sigh. I need to be purging the collection, not adding to it. The temptation to acquire is great, though.
But I can answer #3! My nieces are getting scented handcreams; Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom for one, and Tokyo Milk Dark Tainted Love for the other. Why yes, they do have two very different personalities!
You can’t go wrong with Pacifica anything!
I finally wore a cheap thrill this weekend – Le Couvent des Minimes Eau de Missions (SDV smell alike at 1/12 the price)
My M. Micalef Advent Calendar arrived today! I am looking forward to revealing one perfume a day starting December 1st!
As to the poll:
1. Fragrance-related gift I would most like to receive this year – if it exists, a Roja Dove perfume that smells like Roja Dove Christmas Candle.
2. Unsniffed fragrance – A Jo Loves Discovery Set (I don’t think it exists but maybe there’s hope that eventually, the line will be available in the U.S.)
3. I bought a 4 pack of Jo Malone soaps and I am giving one each to my sisters and nieces. I am debating about contents of gift bags for my friends; I usually include liquid hand soap either from Bath & Body Works or Yves Rocher.
I hear Jo Loves is opening an online boutique here in the spring!
I can’t wait! I have not smelled any from this line.
Here in the US?? I hope so! There are at least a few I’d love to try.
oh goodness, h…..you are killing me! the last time Deva commented EdM I was so close to buying it on amazon….I think the 8.4 oz. was something like 25 dollars? Nope…..being strong! must make a dent in my collection first
and that advent calendar sounds divine! is their really a different fragrance for each day? what are they …1ml samples?
I also forgot that I have those same Jo Malone soaps hiding in the basement that I bought over the summer before my self imposed no buy….thanks for reminding me! they will be birthday/holiday gifts as well!
The Micallef Advent calendar includes 23 5 mL splash minis and 1 30 mL atomizer bottle of Ananda. I will TRY to not do a johanob
Wow! and boy you will have willpower if you don’t do a johanob!!!!
Try your best!!Haha!Enjoy either way!!x
That M.Micalef calendar sounds devine.Enjoy!I personally can’t go day-to-day with an advent calendar,I ripped the whole Diptyque one open in one sitting.Lol.
LOL! which is EXACTLY what I always did with my chocolate advent calendar!
Well…chocolate advent calendars is a whole other ballgame,gow can you NOT rip the whole thing open immediately??Hehe
It’s mighty tempting to just rip the whole box open!
SDV smell alike at 1/12 the price? You’re killing me here. Right after I said I need to purge the collection, I’m now hunting this one down.
Enabler pin to hajusuuri.
It’s even cheaper if you get the bigger bottle! Do note that it is not exactly the same but it is close. I found that a decant I made left to aerate got more concentrated and smelled boozier than when sprayed from the bottle.
I’ll have to make time for a trip to Tysons to sniff the Roja Dove Christmas candle!
I’ve always wondered why the luxe candle companies don’t make votive or even birthday candle sized samples. It doesn’t make sense to buy something that expensive with being able to try it out. Same for room sprays – why don’t they make samples like the carded perfume samples???
Is the French perfume shop still in Tysons? I used to buy my Je Reviens extrait from them many moons ago!
I think so. I’ve been meaning to go there, too!
Agree with you on your sentiments regarding samples of room sprays and candles. I actually smelled the Roja Dove Christmas Candle at OsswaldNY last year and ended up buying it from Bergdorfs as part of a gift card event purchase. It had been scenting (unlit)!my walk-in closet for almost a year and it is still going strong. The candle is actually a chic black.
The Jo Loves US website is up and running NOW. But they are sold out of those lovely discovery sets. Must be patient…
What – so it exists! OMG OMG OMG!
It is??
Man, their customer service is lame then. I specifically emailed them over the summer and asked them to notify me when their US distribution opened up. They dropped the ball on that one. (except, you know, that’s probably an American expression, so maybe that explains it. ;))
Anyway, good for them, and I might try to locate tehm.
Gift I’d most like to receive would be a backup bottle of Iris Ganache
Unsniffed would be Scent of Hope
I don’t buy gifts for others but I did just gift myself a year’s supply of Rose Jam shower gel…
My pre and post-showers scents of my day all had to complement carafes of coffee : writing deadline. I started off with a sample of Cafe Intense and now Chabaud’s Lait de Biscuit.
1.I’ve been lusting after a bottle of Ambre Narguile for at least a year and cheaper incarnations just won’t do it, so I am officially putting it on my gift wish list.
2. En passant. A fan of lilacs and evocative names.
3. Will be passing by a duty- free store on a trip to Detroit for the Art Institute’s exhibition on CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE!!!!!! So I will likely pick up an inexpensive coffret of minis as a stocking stuffer for my sister who is very much into fruit pastel scents- e.a.s.y.
Check out the link to the exhibit:
http://www.dia.org/calendar/exhibition.aspx?id=5809
Gasp! Rose Jam is out?!
Rose Jam shower gel is back in stock at my local Lush shop!
Good questions. Let’s see…
A fragrance -related gift I’d like to receive is a subscription to Scentbird.
If I were going to ask for one unsniffed item it might be Hermes Galop.
I’m not going to be giving scented gifts–al the gifts this year are either for a kid or (by family agreement) charitable donations in family members’ names.
Hi missionista! I was wondering where you’ve been. I like that idea of charitable donations.
Hi! I’ve been working on a big project at work, and have been nose-to-the-grindstone, ignoring all else for at least 6 months. The thing is now up and running, and I’m rediscovering the rest of life.
Waving at you missionista!
*waves back* Hope all is well!
I buy myself too much perfume as it is, but I’d love a bottle of Violet Fumee, sniffed, and the new Neela Vermeire or one of the new Dusita perfumes, no presniffing required.
I’m gifting my person Frank #3 and a Cire Trudon candle or two. I’ve also been doing candles lately for my SIL and may for MIL and SMIL too. SIL likes Diptyque, some of which are also in very pretty holders. I’m obsessed with D S and Durga’s fireside candle, but we got one already for this winter!
SOTE was (and still is) Lyric Woman, for dinner at an Afghan restaurant.
Ooh, this is a good poll! Questions 1 and 2 could have a few different answers, but right this minute I’ll say:
1) I’d like to receive the bottle of La Fille de Berlin that I ordered from one of the discounters yesterday but am suddenly now told is out of stock and not backorder-able. Jerks.
2) I’m quite certain that I’d enjoy a bottle of FM Une Rose. (Hear that, O great Universe? I’m putting it out there for you, should you ever see fit to throw me a bone good-fortune-wise.)
3) I’ll be giving several family members some specially-chosen samples and/or decants of scents to try.
#1 would tick me off too. It is for this reason (lack of inventory control) that makes me leery of ordering from Yves Rocher. It is especially difficult to get a refund if one pays via PayPal although I probably could have explored the claims process.
It would be lovely to have a full bottle of Oriental Express from Mugler’s Exceptions line. My second decant is down to about 2ml, and I’m reluctant to use it at all because I don’t like the thought of not having any.
Unsniffed: that would be Fumerie Turque. After last year’s fantastic deal at the Serge Lutens online shop, I was eagerly awaiting the nudge this year to take the plunge (there is always the German parfumo network to sell the bottle on, if it isn’t my thing) — and this year’s deal turns out to be free engraving. Right. Oh well. Not buying anything is the best way to save …
Fragrance gift: a small bottle of Nicolai’s Odalisque, and as many jasmine and muguet samples as I can muster, for my cousin. After decades of wearing Diorissimo, she’s now turning her back on what it has become. The last couple of years I’ve found vintage versions on ebay, but that’s not really sustainable.
1. Chanel 5 EdT. Mine is over and I miss it. Not a chance, alas.
2. Amouage Fate. I can imagine no scenario in which an Amouage with those notes won’t be gorgeous. And that iridescent bottle!
3. Spicy roasted mixed nuts and dried fruit in a cute Japanese bowl. Kind of scent related.
Ooooh… there is a slightly newer tea out at the store “named after a dude” called Nutty and Spice. Does not come in a Japanese bowl but does have an oolong base.
Oh, I have that bottle of Fate and really love it, and the juice in it too of course. It is a unique perfume and I have to be in a strong, take-charge mood to wear it. Not one I would just put on everyday.
If a bottle dropped out of the sky, I would probably wish for Oriental Express or Tihota.
Like many others, I’d love to try Rahele. I would also love to try FM body butters and shower gels.
I’m giving a. bottle of Safran Troublant to a friend for Christmas. I found a fantastic deal and couldn’t pass it up and it’s just so pretty.
I am wearing Cocoa Tuberose by Providence Perfume Company today. It’s a velvety and earthy chocolate, tuberose, patch scent. Yum…
I have a spotty record with tuberose but this one sounds fantastic. Is the tuberose drowned out by other notes?
It’s just blended in enough so that it’s not simply a cocoa gourmand. It’s really well done and one of my favorites in the line.
Rose Boheme is my personal favorite but Cocoa Tuberose is really well done and a close second. Most likely, it will be my next purchase. Both of the people who went with me bought It. I went for Love In A Mist which is a lovely peppery carnation, wild flower/lilac scent. I plan to wear it next spring.
Unfortunately, her newest scent, Heart of Darkness (I think that is the name?) wasn’t ready yet so I didn’t get to sniff it. Charna, the perfumer, told me that it does lean masculine but thought that women may like it.
Next time I go back to PP, I’ll get a sample of Cocoa Tuberose for you hajusuuri. It may be a while before I get back there though.
Safran Troublant sounds like a great gift for/from a friend!
I really hope she likes it!
So far I have not met anyone who doesn’t like Safran Troublant!
Fingers crossed!
this morning i am enjoying my last log of dark chocolate covered marzipan along with three European spice cookies and my poor man’s tea of Bigelow Salted Caramel…
going along with that theme am wearing all over my poor man’s version of Ancient Resins…a body oil I made with Somalian Mhyrrh , Somalian Frankincense and Amber Pure and Simple all from Eden Botanicals….later I will top it off with Berdoues Oud al Sahraa….
All of that sounds wonderful. How close do you feel you got with your homemade Ancient Resins dupe?
Agreed, it all sounds really great! (I love marzipan especially.)
Me too on the marzipan
Not sure as I tried Ancient Resins a while ago…but I don’t care how close it is cause it smells very incensy to me and it cost me nothing to make (I am working my way through my vast collection of essential oil bottles!!!!)
chocolatemarzipan8, I may have missed the backstory on your name. But, you must eat enough of it to be named accordingly
.
I don’t see it much – is it only available in Europe? I’m booking my flight!!
https://www.aldi.us/en/tips-explore/holiday/holiday-essentials/products-detail/ps/p/winternacht-marzipan-log/
Not sure if you are still reading but here is the link….I believe these stores are in several locations….my parents go to a relatively large one in NYC…they have all of my favorite European candies, cakes and sweets….and, yeah, my avatar name is quite befitting of my sweet tooth
A lovely rainy day here cuddled up with the furries. Been having cravings for the oddball Byredo M/M Ink scent so I bought a bottle off ebay for a good price and will give it a wearing today.
I’m still trying to knock down the collection (and doing not very well with that!) so not requesting any fragrance this Christmas. I already know that I’ve got a couple of scented candles coming my way – because I bought them for the kids to give me.
And my laptop conked totally out on vacation the other day, so I will either need to replace it, or maybe just get it fixed. It appears to be a motherboard issue, which would be massively expensive, but since Bookworm’s laptop of the same model died last year of a busted hard drive and the motherboard is intact in that one, a repair miiiight just be feasible.
I think I might enjoy a small bottle of Jo Loves No. 42 The Flower Shoppe, though, if one should magically appear under the tree.
I’m giving Taz, my 16-yo son, the 75ml splash bottle of Chanel Egoiste I found for $55 in the Belize Duty Free the other day. (Shh, don’t tell him! He hardly ever likes anything, but he liked that one. He doesn’t know the bottle is for him.) Also sending my sister and SIL Annick Goutal Noel candles.
So hoping you would comment because thanks to all these enablers I was perusing beauty counter on Friday and stumbled upon this and immediately thought of you
–
http://www.beautyencounter.com/safari-by-ralph-lauren-for-women-145638
that would be “beauty encounter” …you could literally douse yourself in it from head to toe!
you know it is funny but there are certain scents that when I see them mentioned I immediately think of certain individuals…
Safari, Plum, Le Temps d’un Fete and the original Victoria always make me think of you…
and Chamade! how could I forget that one?
And Tabac Aurea. That’s another mals special.
How observant of you! I wonder if we would recognize each other by smell?
It’s fun to get to know people here,even if you have no clue what they even look like!But we all smell awesome.Always!x
Late to the party naturally. I am doing a little online Christmas shopping today. Out of all of my family, my mother is the hardest to shop for. I am asking Santa for quite a few bottles of perfume. I am currently in vintage Bal.
I’m wearing Dior Jules from a vintage mini this morning. It’s basically the perfect masculine.
Kevin also bought Jules unsniffed and described it as “a more masculine, raw-edged and forceful Vol de Nuit” with a slightly floral galbanum-pepper opening and a heart of Russian leather, sandalwood and cedar that has “a slight sweetness but also some bite — there’s a great balance between smoothness and roughness in the blend.”
https://nstperfume.com/2007/08/09/bittersweet-the-bought-unsniffed-report/
Love Jules. Need to get some, someday….
Parfums de Nicolai Incense Oud. I think I might pass this sample off to someone who enjoys oud more.
Trying to get some writing done this afternoon. I forgot I had a meeting with my advisor this week – would be good if I had something to say for myself. But I just want to nap!
As for the poll: what good, tempting questions! The only thing I’d like a bottle of, unsniffed, is vintage Tabac Blond – I think that’s right. As for fragrant gifts, I will probably find some nice local candles to hand out as hostess/Christmas gifts this season. Although a friend of mine likes Jazz Club – so maybe the travel spray?
SOTD = Aftelier Vanilla Smoke Parfum Extrait
This is worth saving for. Don’t buy unsniffed though; the site offers samples at reasonable prizes and it gets cheaper if you pool your samples order with other perfumistas to spread out the cost of shipping. The EDP version smelled too much like Band-Aid to me. The parfum extrait is all kinds of PERFECT.
Hmm. Now that would be worth trying. I wasn’t so excited about the EDP. Wasn’t sure why. How smoky is the extrait?
SOTD is courtesy of offsite storage: MFK Baccarat Rouge 540 on my wrists and Hermes Galop on my hand. I also managed to score samples of Louis Vuitton Turbulences and Mille Feux. Woot!
Nice!
Revising my #1 perfumed gift a bit. I would love some of the Chanel No 5 dry body oil. Testing Norell Elixir that I got with a GWP. Much richer than the EDP from a couple of years ago, but not my thing.
SOTD has been Etat Libre d’Orange “Putain des Palaces”. A nice little thing, but on me smelt more like the assistant librarian than the King’s Trollop. (As if I would know! But you know what I mean). It reminded me of Paul Emilien’s “Une Belle Journee”, the PE being better done.
Small PSA for UK folk: Scent Samples offering 15% off all decants until the 28th, and they have several Hermessences in at the moment.