Happy Tuesday! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Hermès L'Ambre des Merveilles. Tea at the moment is an Assam from Harney & Sons.
Reminder: 12/9 will be Best Buy Friday — wear your favorite fragrance purchase of 2016. If you didn't buy anything this year, pick a favorite from a prior year.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2016, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: image shows the Gien Sultana breakfast cup, pattern now discontinued.
That is a beautiful tea set! Wow!
I am getting 2 days “vacation” as some family is going to be visiting and I won’t have to cook (except breakfast) and my kiddos will be spending time with them. I am planning on visiting the dentist and getting my hair cut. And go somewhere quiet for tea.
Purchase for 2016: Rose Delight Body oil which I have a small amount on after my shower early this morning. I am also wearing a few drops of Myrrhe and Delires. Not a FB purchase.
I always wanted that china set — it’s adorable & was pissed when they discontinued it before I bought it, although I was probably never going to buy it
Enjoy your mini vacation!
This is going to sound like I know WAY more about ceramics than I do… but I recently bought a piece from Villeroy and Boch’s Anmut line, which has a similar feel. It will be a gift for my sister-in-law. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/97/11/56/97115697e565b5763a696441c9f2af1e.jpg
That’s so pretty, Oakland Fresca!
And this is going to make me sound even more obsessive than I am, but i know that pattern!
They are so similar that I assume on was “inspired” by the other, but I don’t know the launch years.
If it is the le Gien tea set it was pricey, I always loved their Mimosa pattern.
It’s a bit grey out after a beautiful sunrise and there is a skiff of snow across the yards. I’m wearing Au Coeur du Desert over Amber Flush and keeping cozy warm.
I just got a sample of Au Coeur du Desert. Yes, very warming. I’ve been dabbing it–would love to smell it sprayed.
House cousins
How is the baby?
He is good! It was a series of really tough nights and he lost his appetite. Now he is back to normal, and so is his sleeping
Yay Baby Bhudda!
Very good news!
https://sonomascent.wordpress.com/2016/12/04/lieu-de-reves-and-cameo/
PSA- in case anyone is interested
Twins Robin. I just finished my full bottle today. I am grateful that another one is gone. I will not replace it for sure, since it was too fleeting on me. I was wondering if there is another perfume similar to L’Ambre des Merveilles with that delicious citrusy opening.
Hey twin, and congrats on using up a bottle! I had forgotten & thought it lasted longer than Eau des Merveilles, and no it doesn’t, but it is not really fleeting on me all the same.
Woot! A gold star for you and anyone who empties a bottle.
I love the opening of Eau des Merveilles, though not having tried L’Ambre I can’t say if they have much in common.
I think Dame Black Flower has some similarities. I think it’s more lemony and not as sweet, from my memory.
You are right. I had forgotten about Black Flower. It has a nice grapefruit note. I have to look for my sample and try it again. Thanks.
I, also, found the L’Ambre (and the Eau Claire) very fleeting and I was disappointed in them, but the original Eau des Merveilles lasts all day on me; I can catch whiffs of it every now and then even when I think it’s gone; it remains my favorite. The Elixir is also long-lasting and is my second favorite.
SOTD is Parfum d’Empire Tabac Tabou from my new FB! On me it’s honey, hay and narcissus. There’s immortelle in it but I don’t read it as maple syrup. The narcissus is so skanky–it cuts through the sweet notes. I’ve been wearing this almost every day for a couple of weeks. It’s going to be a fall/winter staple.
Twins! I don’t smell the immortelle much either, which is good because it honestly isn’t my favorite note. To me it’s all about the narcissus with a little hay for warmth. I did a wrist-to-bloom comparison last year and it’s about as realistic as it can be.
Oh! That’s interesting to know how realistic the narcissus note is! I’m just relying on memory.
Well, I’ll check again in a month or so but the little paperwhites that I grow smell just like the predominant notes in Tabac Tabou. My husband agrees that they both “stink up the house” in a similar fashion
Those notes sound wonderful. Must check it out.
Great mini-review! You’ve definitely made me want to try this as PdE is a house that generally works for me.
I love Tabac Tabou and treated myself to a full bottle several months ago. It is cozy, warm and also pretty sexy, I think. I wish I had a few more Parfum Empire’s perfumes.
Yes! It’s all those things.
I love Gien! My favourite design of their’s is also discontinued. It was called Colette.
My SOTD is Ubar. I’ve no trouble at all wearing my 2016 purchases this week.
Oh, that is a cheerful pattern too! I also love their plainer patterns, Filet Taupe & Pont au Chou. I just like china in general.
I went to their factory outlet in Gien last September. I love most of their patterns. They used to have this great Le Petit Prince line. Unfortunately that is discontinued as well.
Oh I would love to go to their factory! I have a few items. Dessert/salad plates. Oddly enough it might be Le Temps d’une Fete was the name… and a platter. I’ve always wanted more.
I loved the Little Prince set.
SOTD is PG Cuir d’Iris, which is likely to be my choice for the Friday theme as well. Love, love, love.
Perfect then!
Ann Gerard Rose Cut today. I forget about this one. Simple, pretty, fruity rose. It’s hitting the spot today.
I have that one and don’t wear it as much as I should. It is a very pretty fragrance.
SOTD is Dzongkha (L’AP). Cold, dreary, windy here today, this seems to warm things up a bit.
You smell wonderful.
Ditto what Hamamelis said.
I think that will be my friend scent
Friday scent I meant to write..autocorrect
I think it will be my Friday scent too, it’s definitely the purchase this year that I’ve worn the most.
Wonderful scent!
Thought I might do Lyric again today, but Orlov Flame of Gold jumped in my hand instead. Needed something with a bit of amber today for dealing with the coat of frost on my car.
Reports are done (… for now… I might get handed a little more to do) so this morning’s duties were holiday decorating
That tea set is lovely.
I got samples of that line early on but keep getting distracted by other things. Perhaps I liked the eponymous Orlov best but need to test them more systematically. Lovely perfumes and beautiful names!
I have to send you my set minus Flame of Gold (need to find it first as i have been relocating my perfumes but did not systematically do it).
I noticed my little patches of paperwhites beginning to poke their green tips out (bulbs get so confused in Texas), so I grabbed a hefty spray of Tabac Tabou to celebrate. I’m spending the morning at the laundromat with some things that are either too linty or too large for our machines and wanted to smell something that was powerful enough to protect me from the overwhelming odor of dryer sheets and weird scent additives.
Hahaha–Tabac Tabou will definitely reign supreme!
Now that *is* cause for celebration. Paperwhites are fabulous!
It’s nice to have Tabac Tabou for celebration AND back up!
Alahiiiiine. It’s very dreary and it’s supposed to pour all day….
A great read for a day like today is “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles. One could add fragrances to some of the plot lines – there is detailed description of food and wine, and I could imagine some beloved vintage bottles and perfumes drawn in on the margins.
Alahiiiine! fab!
Enjoy your read
I just saw that book at the store the other day. So it’s worth a read?
It’s on the Washington Post 100 recommended books of 2016 list. Missed the NYT list, I think because it is not depressing. The very discerning members of my book group loved it!
Not depressing is something I require from my literature. I keep hearing good things about this one so I suppose I should look for a copy.
Good to hear, it ended up on my reading list somehow. I am struggling right now with Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, which is a comedy but still too depressing for me at this moment. I might have to put it aside for a few months.
Love Alahine.
I just picked up this book from the library last Sunday! I may set aside China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan to start reading A Gentleman in Moscow.
Cold enough day off that I can wear Kalimantan. I love this stuff. Might interfere with my plan to go to the mall later and sniff new things though….
Love this one too! Never see it mentioned on sotd. Think I’ll wear it tomorrow.
Good morning from rainy, damp, chilly Atlanta! (Keep the rain coming; we are in a drought!)
SOTD: Clean Cashmere. Clean and cuddly…..
You can have ours
I bought a few Demeters this year, and my two favorites are Tomato, which I’m wearing today, and Holy Smoke.
Tomato didn’t work on my skin, but it’s nice as a room/linen spray. Holy Smoke didn’t work on my skin either, but I passed it to a friend who I believe is an incense fan.
I like Tomato a lot. I like to layer it with Dirt and Honeysuckle. The three make a really great combo.
I am wearing Phi Une Rose de Kandahar, one of my best purchases of 2016 for sure.
Yay! My favourite Tauer. You smell great.
You smell great!!
Trayee, a collective birthday present in the beginning of this year. It is gorgeous, and stands up bravely to my massive elephantine cold!
PS Robin you smell gorgeous!
Thank you, and so do you, and hope you feel better soon!
I’m wearing Vero Profumo Rubj EDP, incredibly lush and beautiful. Definitely one of my best purchases of 2016.
I bought that this spring as well, fabulous stuff. You smell great.
Rubj is one of my top three fragrances…and I finally have it in all three forms.
Chiming in from work today. Sotd is Allure. This is one of my better buys of the year. Sophisticated, a little sexy, and lasts all day.
Although Allure doesn’t work for me,I love it on my one friend whose signature frag is Allure.You smell fabulous.
SOTD is Vanille Insensée layered over Eau D`Hermes. The latter was an unsuccessful blind buy of my mother’s. She absolutely hated the scent at first sniff (she typically goes for bright citrusy perfumes, of which the Hermes is so NOT). I think she read “citrus” somewhere in the marketing copy and blindly pulled the trigger. Anyway, her loss is my gain!
Oh, wonder if she thought she was getting Orange Verte?
Bello Rabelo by Liquides Imaginaires today. This fragrance miraculously penetrates through my nose even though it is completely stuffed
Feel better!
SotD = Guerlain Cologne du 68. It was nice yesterday eveningc and I can still smell it this morning, so I’m topping up for Tuesday.
Your Tuesday Top-Up smells great!
MFK Grand Soir for a cloudy cool day.
You smell great too
Epic woman, it was bitterly cold today, on a pre school visit to the Reindeer Centre, this one stands up beautifully to the cold.
I’m really enjoying reading best purchases, making a long list of samples now, hoping Father Christmas will bring me some!
Wow, what and where is the Reindeer Centre? That sounds pretty fun!
I got some samples from Luckyscent yesterday and am most impressed by far with April Aromatics Calling All Angels. Wow! It’s a very dark and resinous incense. Might have to spring for the FB of this.
It is gorgeous isn’t it. It is one of three (or five…) top favourites this year for me. I bought a FB after much deliberation. Very happy I did.
You smell gorgeous!! The very generous Nozknoz sent me a sample of it, along with other April Aromatic scents, and I agree it is FB worthy!
I’m still looking through my purchase confirmation e-mails and samples, but I think I’m likely to conclude by Friday that the April Aromatics sample set was my best purchase this year. I like several of them. I wish they did a mix an match of small sizes, like the Hermes nomad sets.
If you buy directly from the April Aromatics website, you get a 9-piece discovery set for free. Buy 2 EDP and get a 3rd free.
Today I’m wearing Le Labo The Noir 29. I was lucky enough to receive a Le Labo discovery set for my (belated) birthday. My first time trying The Noir – and I’m really enjoying it. I keep getting whiffs of cedar, so I feel like I smell like the most sophisticated Christmas tree.
The Noir 29 is very nice.
Dzing! again today, but also some other things – I think maybe the last time I wore this scarf I had on Florabotanica or something with an herbal note, so that’s swirling around a bit too. And I just applied some rose scented hand cream, since yesterday my own fingernails started slicing open the skin on my hands, which is always a sure sign of winter’s approach. Certainly not the kind of sign I prefer. Time to be vigilant with moisturizing. Anyway, I smell a bit confused, but pleasantly so.
You smell great! I surreptitiously gave myself a generous dose of Dzing! in a store on Sunday. Love that stuff!
Another offsite storage?
Yep!
I’m wearing Cocoa Tuberose by Providence Perfume and enjoying it tremendously.
That’s a nice one.
Thanks Robin!
I got a sample from Wendysue and she also helpfully provided a layering tip with JM Orange Bitters (and included a sample as well) and I wore it to to church this past Sunday. It was a lovely combination! I have a FB of Orange Bitters and will think of other layering combos.
I never heard of orange bitters, is it discontinued? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the Cocoa Tuberose,
(Oh gosh. What DID I buy this year??)
Rainy and chilly here as well; it’s a good day for Shalimar Light.
I need to try it in the winter. In my mind, this is a warm day scent.
I did not buy much so my choices are limited this week!
Soft cool winds but hot sun here: summer is definitely organising itself for a grand opening any minute now! I should be wanting to wear my crisp green perfumes, but I was born contrary, and I’m still enjoying gourmands and deep woods and incense. The heat seems to make them bloom in a different way, as though new notes are released that hold back in the cold. Maybe that’s possible? Anyway, I chose Maharanih today, or more accurately, as I know now that I’ve bothered to read the box properly, Maharanih Intense. I love this for its warm goldenness and gentle spices. Just gorgeous! Hope I like it as much on a summmery day as I did in winter.
Be well and fragrant everywhere you are, NST.
Heat is what makes makes perfume really project, so if the weather is providing more heat than your skin does in the winter, it could boost the projection of some notes. At least, that’s how I understand it.
SOTD = Aftelier Vanilla Smoke Parfum
I consider this one of my best buys of 2016 because I LOVE it. After deliberating for a year, I finally caved last month. I was originally going to use my vacation reward (for achieving a Steps goal and also not gaining more than 2 pounds) but I. blew that on my visit to Fumerie in Portland with AnnE and ede. Anyway, if you haven’t tried it, you owe it to yourself to do so. Mandy has samples for sale at reasonable prices.
Sapphire, you asked how smokey this was and my answer is it is smokey but not tarry-thick. The smoke
Is from tea and it gives the vanilla depth. This is non-gourmand vanilla.
For those who may missed my comment yesterday, Undina has an In Search of the Perfect. Vanilla post and there is a chance to enter into a giveaway!
Chicken! Gosh I laughed.
I assume this comment was supposed to be in response to my comment that a petite turkey aka half the size of a full turkey means you’re really asking for a chicken
Yes, I’ve been chuckling about it all day!
Ok, I’m taking back my offer to return you the remaining sample
SOTD Fracas in all its glorious tuberose-heaven.I have a rollerball for extra fortification with me at work.Busy week!Hope everyone has an awesome week!X
Glorious, indeed!
????
That should take away the pain of standing on your feet all day, Fab-u-lous. Hey, I’m enjoying the Smell Bents I got after reading your posts. I think Smoked Ambergris is my favourite as it does smell like a BBQ version of the ambergris I smelled at the museum.
Hi!That’s awesome!I’m glad you are enjoying them too!Despite being kinda mad at smellbent about a misleading “free shipping” they had(only in the US but they did not specify that until checkout),I have ordered some more smellies…Lol.I just love the brand.Smoked Ambergris was a big surprise to my nose,but it’s a good one!How’s your summer so far?*scorcher here.X
I’m wearing Chergui today…for the first time! (gasp) Somehow I never got around this one.
Sweet amber and tobacco. Very nice and comforting…I can see what all the brouhaha is about.
Yesterday I wore Vanilla Flash and had strong remnants of vintage Coco on a sweater. Sometime in the late afternoon I had one of those great moments where you smell something wonderful and look around to see where it is coming from/see who is around and then you realize it is yourself. The wonderful smell I’m smelling is me!
I don’t typically layer fragrances but these two smelled amazing together…maybe I should be layering more often.
Chergui is lovely and you smell wonderful!
Mmm, Vanilla Flash and Coco sounds wonderful!
Vanilla Flash and Chergui may work as well!
Sounds great, must try that combo!
This inspired me to drink my morning coffee out of my Gien dragonfly cup rather than grab a mug as usual.
Oh good, and what a pretty cup — I did not know that pattern.
I’m wearing Mimosa and Cardamom today, and have been all week – I realized when it got colder that I actually don’t have many perfumes that I would consider “cold weather perfumes”, and that Gris Clair and Mimosa and Cardamom are the two that best fit the bill. (However, since I live in South Carolina, this is not a huge problem for me.) I would love something warm and rich but I’m on a no-buy, so I will have to make some creative choices and really explore my samples.
Like commentators above, I was craving fruity roses this morning. Apparently, due to my winter perfume rotation, my full bottles of most rose scents have been put somewhere inconvenient. I did find Nahema, but that wasn’t really what I was aiming for. Settled on Bulgari pour femme–an old but faithful.
Love Bulgari pour Femme. You smell lovely…
Have you tried Bvlgari au The Rouge? I love it and have really been debating a fb.
I haven’t. I like the scent of Roiboos tea (although I don’t love the flavor) so I should watch out for it.
Tobacco Vanille today. I’m wearing a new brown and black striped dress, and TV feels just right for those colours. I think of this dress as my earthquake dress – I made it during the two days I had off work after the big earthquake a few weeks ago.
You smell good!
I love that you have an earthquake dress.
The weather has gotten a bit chilly here, so I am in Bois d’Ascese, and it is soooooo good. A generous NSTer sent a sample ages ago (thank you!) and I am clearly going to have to get a bottle.
The Schwan’s guy came to my office today, and I opened the catalog to see if I wanted anything. I got a huge whiff of Unknown Pleasures, which I must have been wearing when I got the catalog. Maybe we should have done a least favorite fragrance of 2016. That one would have definitely qualified.
Haha! That would have been pure torture. ????
Yes — don’t think it would be a popular project!
Yves Rocher Secrer d’Essences Accord Chic
Unlike the earlier ones in this series this isn’t a single note fragrance. It’s weird in that it starts full and sweet and seems to gain transparency and dryness as it dries down. The only note I can detect from those listed on the box an’t is Iris. Last time I got vague flashes of L’Eau d’Hiver. And a bit of a lime blossom feel, even though its not listed as a note.
Interesting, thanks for the description!
SOTD is Alien, from one of those cool magazine spray samples. It’s so much more fun to spritz than use a usual magazine sample. Seriously, is Mugler the only company to use them for their fragrances? And, come to think of it, do they use them for Angel too or only for Alien?
Love Alien, haven’t seen these spray magazine samples. Must buy some magazines!
This is the second one I’ve had. They were both in Allure, quite a few months apart.
I know what you’re talking about. I didn’t think anyone would like them so I (gasp gasp gasp) threwthemout. I’ve seen a similar format used by L’Artisan Parfumeur for their Skin scents line.
I was thinking of giving the first one to someone who might like it more. But I appear to have misplaced it (for now, at least). And I’ve never (my turn to gasp) actually tested Angel, so I figured I’d try this one. …Were the LAP ones in magazines or somewhere else?
I’m not sure you can keep your perfumista card… You have to either hate, or love Angel – you just can’t “never … actually tested” it!
I’m wearing Bal d’Afric by Bydredo, from a sample. Wore it yesterday, too.
DH commented that I smelled good, and when I told him the name he heard “Balls of a Freak”
Yeah, DH, that’s what it is. Dudes
Whoops, Bal d’Afrique!
That’s right up there with Box of Eels.
I was hoping so!
Love BdA and your hubby’s comment! ????
???? Great stuff!!
????
I’m hard pressed to identify a favorite perfume purchase this year. Largely because of Luca Turin’s blog, I bought a large number of samples but haven’t quite gotten around to FBs of any of them. This has been interesting but not particularly satisfying. Also, I’ve been trying to stay away from spending money on ebay and haven’t made any significant vintage purchases, and those are usually my favorites.
So I’m sulking in Nikki de St. Phalle, from a tester purchased on ebay years ago.
It’s too bad about the unsatisfactory purchasing/sampling experience that you’ve had in 2016, but if one has to sulk, doing it in Nikki is absolutely the way to go!!
Happy Tuesday, all! Winter’s come early to our little slice of California, and this morning it was in the 20s and the frost was looking almost hoar-frostish. I’ve missed checking in here lately — I’m being smothered by a deadline at work (and am wrung out thanks to the advent of molars in teething-land and a consequent drop to about three hours of sleep per night), but I’ve still been finding time to smell good. Today I dug out my old favorite Black Cashmere and am wondering why on earth it’s been so long since I’ve worn it! What a beauty.
You do smell gorgeous. Hope the deadlines and the teething let up soon…
I’m wearing Diptyque Volutes EDT today. Haven’t worn this one in a while.
Yum.
Lumière noire for me today, one of my cold weather-ish scents, and I agree, it’s a pity that that Gien pattern is discontinued
I’m noticing that it can be found on ebay. There’s a cute mug, too.
I’m wearing Chanel Boy today. Didn’t plan it but it was calling it’s name to me as I was rushing out the door for work.
Rainy, dreary day here in my neck of the woods, so I spritzed on EL Bronze Goddess to warm things up.
That’s the spirit!
Have spent the day at home waiting for the pest service to show up. I’m afraid there’s a squirrel trying to make a home for himself in my attic, and cute or not, he has to go!
No SOTD; will do a small spritz of Fresh Cream (yes, Hajuusuri, you are to blame for this!) before I go off to a Christmas music rehearsal tonight.
Apart from a few small indiscretions (see comment above), I haven’t bought much perfume this year. Not that I haven’t wanted to; it’s just that I feel I should really try to use what I already have. NV Ashoka was my only ‘major’ FB.
LOL. Fresh Cream is very good on its own and also makes a good layering agent
I don’t know if you ever heard the This American Life about squirrels in the attic, but now I laugh whenever I hear about squirrels in the attic.
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/115/first-day
(But hope you took care of yours!)
(I will add that the squirrel does not come out well. It is funny for other reasons but if you will be upset about the squirrel don’t listen.)
I’m curious: how do you know it’s “he”, and would you felt different had it been “she” squirrel?
Undina, that’s a good question! I actually paused to consider whether I should refer to the squirrel as a “he” or a “she” when writing my post. But really, I wouldn’t be more sympathetic to a “she” than a “he” when it comes to taking up residence in my attic. Squirrels can gnaw through wood, wires, insulation, drywall, you name it…
SOTD is vintage Coty Emeraude. It was a favorite of my mom’s, especially during the Christmas holidays, and I enjoy it, and all the remembrances it brings, at this time of year.
What a wonderful way to honor your mom!
Wore Coeur du Desert yesterday, and developed an awful cold, so today I am staying home and breathing through my mouth…
I mention this because the last time I wore Coeur Du Desert, the same thing happened. I wonder if I am allergic to something in this, or if it just an unfortunate coincidence.
I took advantage of the STC Black Friday sale and ordered decants of Opardu, Iris Silver Mist, and very vintage Bellodogia. These came yesterday, but I can’t smell anything.
I also bought a nifty new computer, (HP laptop, light weight, gold colored to match my phone and my car…) so I have spent my personal spending allowance for the next 18 months in one fell swoop. I view this as a chance to use up all the samples of things I dithered about, and all the decants, and the bottles I have that are almost empty, and determine which scents I really must have in my collection.
I am looking forward to comparing the Bellodogia decant to the Malmaison decant I am hoarding. Has someone been creative enough to make a really good modern carnation perfume to match this classics? I haven’t found it.
Ah, time for more cold medicine and a nap, I think.
Wish you better, having an awful cold too.
SOTD is “Tobacco Flower” from Boddhidharma. On first application this morning I thought it repulsive – it truly reminded me of sweaty socks, I mean when they go past sticky and get to crusty. Oh, yuk. After a few minutes there’s a lovely sweet resin smell. And as I’ve reapplied through the day, I won’t say the top notes have grown on me but they are not sweaty, more earthy or reminiscent of a kind of garden weed we have here that smells kind of rank. Anyway, it’s been fun trying this but the opening is just too off-putting. :^)
Took a midday shower to clear my poor, cold-addled head and for focus for tomorrow’s impending grant deadline.
Put on healthy dabs of Ombre Fauve from a dwindling sample as an extra layer of warmth. I think my cat likes it, too.
After a massage and a trip to Costco I’m wearing Un Crime Exotique.
Excellent and satisfactory day!
Coromandel applied 11+ hrs ago and still going strong ????????
Wearing Miss Dior (vintage parfum): what a beautiful perfume! Dior, how could you?!!
Yeah, exactly!
Dior has been very quiet,I wonder if something exciting is brewing?
I’m very late, but today I wore one of my best purchases of 2016, Ostara. It’s so beautiful and cheerful, exactly what I needed to combat the cold temp in the 30s.
I also bought Ostara this year, but for it it’s a spring perfume, I can’t bring myself to wearing it now.
The tea cup pattern is ‘Sultana’ by Gien. Sadly discontinued. I collect their products. http://www.gien.com