Happy Almost-Friday! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Diesel Loverdose Tattoo, by perfumer Anne Flipo (along with Pascal Gaurin).
Reminder: on 1/13, wear a perfume by Anne Flipo, if you have one.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2017, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Profumum Roma Olibanum, on a glorious warm January morning.
I can almost believe spring is just around the corner. Almost.
Carpe Diem.
Almost…
You smell great – love Olibanum!
Thank you cazaubon.
The hair is diffusing Iris Nazarena, the body is wearing L’Occitane’s Pamplemousse Rhubarbe for the very first time (yum- brings to mind Pacifica’s Brazilian Mango Grapefruit) and the left wrist is testing Grace for the first time (which brings to mind something from Victoria’s Secret whose name escapes me at the moment but I would gladly welcome a full bottle if it fell in my lap ‘cause y’all know I have bottle porn and that bottle is so darn cute and the fragrance is indeed quite pleasant)
Tomorrow is Friday-Amen to that.
Happy Thursday, y’all!
So which fragrance wins?
The grapefruit one…partly because a younger family member wore the Pacifica one as her signature scent as a tween many years ago and the l’Occitane reminds me of her
!!! Although I have to say that the Iris Nazarena and Grace are lovely to and I thank my fragrant fairy for allowing me to sample them.
I liked the L’Occitane too. Wish I’d bought the shower gel.
Oh and now I am sampling Eau de Sens on the top of my left hand and Cuir Cannage on the top of my right hand and am thoroughly enjoying both :)….again. many thanks to my fragrant fairy!!!
Because my only Flipo is one of those ethereal early Artisans, I wanted to wear the opposite today, so I’m covered in Myths Woman. I find it utterly fascinating, but as yet cannot make up my mind whether that fascination warrants a bottle.
An expensive decision
Yep, if it would have been as cheap as Ostara, I would have gotten a bottle on the spot.
I’ve got 2 samples and it’s potent stuff, so I’ll get plenty of wear out of those.
Happy Almost Friday Day! Sad to say I have no AF perfumes at all. So, I’m old school with Shalimar edp today. I haven’t worn this in quite a while, not sure why, because it’s just creamy wonderfulness.
Finally found out I got into a class that is required to get into another degree seeking program. I have to admit I went to great lengths my whole adult life trying to avoid it, and here it is, biting me in the behind. Ugh.
Statistical Methods. Good Lord, the name alone makes me want to run to a dark corner and commence rocking and crying. Send prayers my way, I will need them.
Calculus made me cry, but I thought statistics was kinda cool. Is Statistical Methods more to do with the researchy thing than the math?
I have no clue what it consists of. I just know it’s about numbers, and that alone gives me the heebiejeebies. Bad experiences in elementary education seems to have instilled a “number neurosis” is me. I had a terrible time in high school as well. I can see how calculus would make you cry, and so happy you made it through without long term psychological damage! Have you EVER used it in real life?
Does my work count as real life? Then yes, pretty frequently!
As for non-work life, maybe I haven’t used the actual equations of calculus, but I have certainly held onto the principles! Calculus is a way of thinking, not just a bunch of formulae, and as such can inform your sense of reason. (Yes, I’m a nerd.)
I think most of us are nerds in one way or another. I can see using it if you career requires or necessitates it, but I meant for the “average joe” like me who is not involved in scientific research. Never meant to imply that “numbers” are a waste of time, only that advanced knowledge of the subject seems pointless for those of us who do not use it on a daily basis or whose careers are at the opposite end of the spectrum. I have a cousin who is a health psysicist (his first degree was nuclear physicist) and I have serious brain envy. I would love to be like that, but I’m not. I’m very happy some of us are, though. ????
Also, I am doing a bit of reading on photovoltaics for powering my camper van. Was it you who mentioned it recently? It’s super interesting, although I have to admit I have to take notes as I read…
Yup, that was me! I was doing a bunch of PV reading to write a proposal over the past week
It IS really interesting, and challenging for me to understand. Good luck powering your campervan–let us know how it works out!
Ah, a kindred soul.
Deva, I’m pretty sure you and I would have attended elementary school around the same time. I also developed numbers neurosis from grade school experience. Looking back all these years later, I see how dumbed down we were. In my job, I often had to measure space’s. I learned to eyeball it, just to avoid the measuring tape. I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor.
Thank you! It was made clear to me on numerous occasions I “wasn’t very bright” throughout grades 1-12. And I believed it.
Prayers sent…I loved Statistics but I had an incredible teacher….I think that is a class that requires a good teacher as I have heard horror stories when the teacher cannot teach.
what are you looking to get a degree in?
I had a good teacher and a bad teacher. Definitely agree that it makes all the difference. I went to the bad teacher’s office to ask for clarification, “I don’t understand how to know which tool to use.” His answer? “Yes, this can be very hard.” Well, duh! Give me some guidance! (I guess I’m still annoyed 15-20 years later.)
What a jerk! There’s nothing worse than people who are selfish with knowledge- especially if it’s a TEACHER!! I can see how that whole thing would still bother you. It bothers me and I wasn’t even there! ????
Over the years, I have concluded that he was simply incompetent rather than being intentionally abstruse. If you don’t know your material well enough to explain it to others, you aren’t ready to teach it.
No, don’t be sad! It’s fun to discover that you can manipulate numbers to say absolutely anything!
Although my stat classes did involve a lot of probability, and probability is absolutely mind-bending. Like quantum mechanics. I kept doing and redoing calculations and saying, “This is not POSSIBLE.” So there’s that.
Ha! Yes, I learned from my Applied Multivariate Statistics class that all you need to do is ask the right question, and you can create a statistic to back it up!
I get this idea. Completely understand creating numbers and bending them like time and light to prove your position. I’m great at “ideas” but horrendous as “details.” And the Devil is in the details…
Don’t run into a corner, just look at statistics in the face and say Challenge Excepted! Sending you good vibes! You got this
Thank you, I’ll give it the “old college try”…ha ha. Good thing I don’t earn a living doing stand up. ????
Ha! Yes, that would send me running for cover. I need to get my butt into an advanced degree thingy as well and have been putting it off forever. Kudos to you for just doin’ it!! Prayers sent and you smell fabulous!
Thank you and sending some prayers right back to you! ????
I’m in the rocking and crying camp. Hoping you have a good teacher who makes it bearable and understandable!
Thanks, me too! Luckily, I’ll be attending my old alma mater and they have a great adult education program. I think I would just die if I had to take class with the kids ????
I need to take statistical methods. We have designated biostatisticians at work, but now that I got into more complicated experiments I found out that they don’t know much beyond the surface. They argue and spend days looking for a solution online and in the end give me widely different results
All of the biology is built upon the fact that nobody knows statistics in depth, and nobody challenges it. It is sad.
This is probably why I’ve avoided getting my PhD, even though I have millions of research questions I’m dying to ask.
Yes, I totally get that.
Yes, I see a disturbing trend in that “knowledge” has become very superficial. No one really questions anything. No one wants to rock the boat or challenge the accepted theories/people/facts. No one wants to admit “I don’t know” out loud. When did education and knowledge become about degrees and money making abilities rather than about the joy of deeply questioning and understanding the world and our place in it? Sorry, that’s a whole different issue.
Yes, but a very valid point. I hope your course goes well. I used to be very good at maths but statistics were not my thing.
And, we are entering an era when being knowledgeable is suspect rather than respected. Saying someone is an “elite” is code for educated, and therefore due for suspicion. I wish we could return to a new Renaissance, where being truly skilled and knowledgeable about a wide range of topics was valued and pursued.
Very true, and such a shame.
Well, that is how education is being represented and promoted here in the US now. “Go to college – get better salary”. I do not know, in the USSR, it was always knowledge for the sake of knowledge, and, in fact, more educated people used to make much less money. I had this point of view so ingrained into me that for a very long time I did not care about money at all and would take “prestigious” but very low paying positions. Now I see that the positions I took were never filled with americans…and now I know better than to scoff at money – finally, when I arrived at middle age
I have learned the same lesson in middle age and agree. I hate money and what is does to people, but also realize I have to “sleep with the beast” in order to maintain my health and safety. My parents made good money and I wanted for nothing as a child, but I didn’t want what they thought I SHOULD want and which they insisted on buying me. I just wanted them, but they were too busy working to buy “things” that are long gone now- houses, cars, clothes, jewelry- all disappeared into the void. And for what? It’s just craziness to me.
You smell great. Taxing your brain is good for developing new neuronal pathways and staying very sharp. Go for it!
I keep telling myself I’m warding off Alzheimer’s???? As a rule, I really enjoy learning and experiencing new things, but anything to do with “numbers” is right up there with “dentist.” A cold sweat ensues…
Me too. That’s why I majored in French and linguistics. I love words but numbers give me hives. You have my sympathies.
I too love words, but I don’t hate numbers. I started in languages, switched to medicine, and am now back in languages. If I were young now, I would just go for languages. They are much more my thing, French especially.
I feel your pain. I’m in a program now that has had me scrambling all over the web for help with major algebra. Thank goodness it’s coming back to me, but still.. hate this stuff.
Oh floralgal, when you have finished your class, you MUST congratulate yourself in some special way- like a new bottle of whatever you’ve been hankering for.????
It’s a spectacular idea, not sure I can wait that long, but definitely will warrant some kind of reward.
Top of list right not is PHI
I second that…the PHI that is….
Well, if you need some to tide you over until you get that gorgeous full bottle, let me know. It’s one of my top 5 and I bought a FB when it first launched. I’m taiga101 in the land of yahoo if you’re having PHI withdrawal ????
Ah yes, financial world is full of that stuff. You’ll be fine!
Maybe from a statistical probability standpoint, ask yourself how many things you’ve attempted that you haven’t succeeded at. Not many, I’d bet.
I’m a big believer in cognitive therapy, and the thing is, I don’t have anybody real doubt I can do it, it’s just that I hate having to do it and will not enjoy it. It just seems like an unnecessary hoop and I hate doing stuff for no discernible common sense reason. I’ll be very happy when I’m done, just trying to keep my eyes on the prize…
“I don’t have anybody real doubt I can do it, it’s just that I hate having to do it”- ooh, that is the story of my life
Hear, hear. That’s the #1 reason I haven’t pursued advance degree. I don’t enjoy the subject matter as a course of study, but now advanced degrees are pretty much required even for positions that never needed them. So it’s the unpleasant means to an end…
I wonder if there are some good resources on Youtube or Lynda.com? Things that didn’t exist when I did this stuff years ago. I loved calculus (one of my best subjects was Applied Maths, it seemed both elegant and ‘real’) and detested algebra. Just the phrase “parallel projection preserves equipollence” – theorem 1 for the Inter Cert, and I was lost right from there – reminds me of the ghastliness of ‘pointless maths’. Stats for me fell in the middle, and I remember little of it now.
I will recommend the Khan Academy online and I am pretty sure it is free.
Can I just say I love this thread? Although people seem frightened, you all seem knowledgeable, which is interesting. I’m an old calculus-phobe going way back. I simply shut down.
After all the Statistics comments, I had to go back to the original post to see what you wore! You smell great.
I have beard that Mhan Academy (online / app) is a good supplementary teaching tool.
Good luck with the course!
Ugh, fat fingers. chocolatemarzipan got it right – Khan Academy
I am still on my Chanel kick, using some of perfume from my 90’s coffret , No 22.
I am dressed a bit bohemian for this perfume, but it works, in a black shirt that is from free people with big beige flowers. lots of brown eye shadow.
S(ip)OTD is a black tea from MF
You smell great! I wish the coffret I bought a few years ago had 22.
They are so nice to have. I don’t think they do them anymore to my knowledge
You smell lovely. How about adding a few long strands of pearls to tue the outfit and perfume together?
tie
That is a great idea!
Sounds lovely overall. I keep seeing those old coffrets on eBay for a lot of money. They do look nice!
We’re scent twins today, but I’m drinking Darjeeling.
I like to wear Chanel scents with anything from my wardrobe, really.
Everyone on the east coast who woke up this morning and thought “ahhhh! It’s so nice out!” need to get outside and enjoy this respite while we can! It feels like an early April morning and by the end of the day you expect to see lots of flowers blooming.
If only….
So yeah, enjoy this while we got it.
I’m in Eau des Merveilles today – liberally sprayed.
I will enjoy this weather but temperature fluctuations usually results in a cold for me
Me too! And hence I don’t much enjoy them. But I’m a weirdo who likes the cold – seasonally!
I don’t mind a teensy respite like this, but yes, in general the flip flopping of weather does tend to cause a rash of colds afterwards. Autumn was very much like that.
Moments of slight respite are good!
Sometimes I think that one should be called “Ohhhhhh” des Merveilles. So nice.
Ha! Yes, definitely.
HA! And all of us on the west coast woke up and said, “GEEZ, I thought I chose to live in a temerate climate!” Still have 10 inches of snow on the ground. . .
TEMPERATE.
drat.
Isn’t it funny how that happens? “Normal” weather in one area that ends up being abnormal seems to happen across the board. It’s like our states have flipped sides this winter.
No question in my mind that our climate is changing to something more like the Midwest. We’ve had an increase in hot, sultry days in the summer (thunderstorms!!!) and now a few weird winters (unusually dry, unusually warm, and now unusually snowy). I wonder how long it will take for the school calendar and municipalities to begin planning ahead for it? At some point, Oregon will need to invest in snow plows. . .
Yes to Hermes! Always a great choice!
No SOTD! Because I’m on the train to New York, where there will be lots and lots to spray
Aedes, here I coooome!
Green with envy!
let us know what you find! Report back
Ooh! Have fun! I haven’t been there in ages and the newer store is really nice.
Lucky you! I’m in NYC and haven’t been there in years myself. Isn’t that always the case with where we live?
Yes, do report. Haven’t been to the new space.
Still going through my Oriza Legrand samples, today it is Relique d’Amour.
I’m not fond of lily, and that is the most prominent note now that I’ve had it on for a few minutes. Didn’t apply much, so hopefully it will go into some other phase or dissipate quickly.
Did you review them as you went? I somehow missed that! I did not try any of Oriza Legrand’s and am curious how you find them!
No reviews, I’m not qualified!
I got samples from the “bay of e” a few weeks ago.
I’m really impressed with this house thus far, and I’m going to have to try really, really hard to not purchase any full bottles…
Ah, who IS qualified? We just want to know what you think!
I’m so going to order that sample set. I’ve tried 6 sofar, that were given to me with a purchase of something else. My favourite of those is Marions-Nous.
Where is the set sold?
I second this question!
Oriza sells a set of all of their fragrances on their own site, and I know that one of their sellers in Holland does so as well. It’s about € 38,- for the whole lot.
SOTD: Lyric, by Amouage. Such beautiful stuff. Might have to start saving my pennies for an Amouage FB someday!
That’s a lot of pennies
I really love several Amouages, but I think I’ll have to live out my days on decants.
Definitely need lots of pennies for this one, but you can usually find it for a lot less on fragrancenet. Wait until the holidays when they really lower the prices.
Smelling great! I ended up getting the Lyric body cream which was less expensive and smells great, so between that and a large decant, I’m covered for now. Notino, formerly Beautyspin, has some steep discounts periodically.
It’s a LOT of pennies….but I have time! I’m on a “No Buy Low Buy with Very Limited Exceptions” in 2017! HA HA
No Amouage anytime soon!
Lovely!
I’ve purchased 2 of my 4 Amouage bottles from online discounters, and one as a “nearly full” bottle on ebay. There are ways to stretch your pennies! I adore Lyric and think it is really worth it!
Yes, some great deals on ‘slightly used’ bottles on eBay.
My Christmas gift from husband was a sprayed a couple times bottle Jub 25. 100ml, £90- not cheap by any stretch, but a bargain for Amouage!
On the subject, does anyone know why my bottle has a non magnetic cap? I was a bit disappointed, the magnetic caps feel so good!
I just played with the caps of my 4 bottles, and only one–the Beloved–has a magnetic cap. Maybe it’s a more recent addition to the packaging?
You have a prize! Everyone wants the non-magnetic pre-reformulation bottles.
Non magnetic cap versions are supposed (on Basenotes) to be the best, pre-reformulation versions of Amouages, so maybe you got lucky!
Heh, didn’t realise the page had been open so long and everyone had beaten me to it…
Take a look at fragrancenet or Beauty Encounter (not affiliated with either) to take a look at who has the better deal. That’s how I got my bottle of Amouage Beloved. But the next best thing to getting a full bottle of perfume are the Amouage body products.
JadainGA inspired me to wear Amouage too, Opus IV. I’m feeling kind of brooding and complicated
That is a good “brooding and complicated” scent. Packs a bit of a punch.
SOTD is Knot.
I really like Knot, it’s so pretty, very springy!
It feels almost springlike here so I’m testing Lilac Love on one hand and Rue des Lilas on the other
How are you liking Lilac Love?
I am liking it a lot better than Rue des Lilas which has too much synthetic green on my skin. Lilac Love has a creamy chocolatey note that makes it different. It hasn’t jumped onto my buy list but I do like it
Interesting. I didn’t get any chocolate when I sniffed it, but I didn’t try it on skin. My impression was that it wasn’t as complicated as I wanted it to be for an Amouage, but it was pretty.
Cartier Baiser Vole
Yum!
I’m trying Cartier L’Envol — Fragrantica says this is for men. Can that possibly be true?!
You smell divine!
Dying to try this one.
How do you like it?
It’s nice — but totally a floral! that’s why I’m confused!
I tried that last week for the first time. Lots of honey. Maybe unisex but agreed not really masculine.
I wish more men wore florals but I’m very surprised it’s marketed that way.
All the more reason why the separation of Men’s and Women’s fragrance departments is so archaic. I would have missed this entirely if I relied on the knowledge of the Nordstrom SA in the Women’s fragrance section who said she’s never heard of it and Nordstrom doesn’t carry it anyway. I found out by walking over to the Men’s department that it’s actually one of the featured fragrances! And because I was cranky, I went back to the first SA and told her she lost a sale for being unfamiliar with the store’s product line.
I can’t believe the laziness and disinterest of a fragrance SA who can’t even be bothered to check what scents are sold in their own store!
I’ve never worn La vie est belle edp, but since Anne Flipo is one of the creators I thought I’d give it a try and join the party a bit early (for a change). Definitely not a scent I’d wear on a daily basis as it’s quite sweet and just too much up close, but dabbing makes it OK. I imagine it smelling lovely by end of day. We’ll see!
That’s the only Anne Flipo I own. I like how it smells on other people (from something of a distance), but after a few wearings realized it was too sweet for me. And a thumbs-down from the husband. At some point, it’s going in a donation/garage sale bin.
I just came from a meeting with my boss and it was painfully obvious that I was smelling up the joint and not in a good way.
It’s a strong scent and maybe if I were Parisian it would smell just wonderful.
You just convinced me that I should just fail the project tomorrow. Thank you.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Passage d’Enfer. I know it’s been around forever, in perfume years*, but it’s new to me and I’m entranced!
*1999
Love that one!
Favorite of mine too!
One of my 2016 discoveries as well! My husband gave me a bottle for Christmas.
I forgot to put on perfume this morning
I was going to wear something enveloping, like Lyric or Ambre Narguilé, to fortify me for my hour-long bus ride and two 15-min walks (the Metro is broken, quadrupling my door-to-door home-to-lab commute), but instead, I have to make do with some emergency Tocca Cleopatra. A bit too sweet, but still somewhat cuddly.
For those keeping track of my woes, my boss did send my recommendation before its deadline this weekend! Hooray!!!!!
Stay warm and dry, NSTers!
Well hooray on that good news! Big relief.
Good news! I know that I can let them pile up until near the due date and then send a bunch in one concentrated day or afternoon or hour, depending on how many I have to do.
And give your students panic attacks in the process??? (I say this now, but I may well do the same if I ever get to be a prof.)
Ha! I do let them know that’s the process and that they’ll be there on time!
Yay!! Happy your boss did the right thing by you????
Yay! Happy to hear it.
I’ve also been inspired by all the Amouage comments-I’m wearing Diva from a travel spray I keep in my perfume drawer in my office. So beautiful, a milder more work-friendly version of Gold.
Whoops Dia not Diva (I think I can blame autocorrect but it may have been my mistake).
Ha, I’ve neglected Dia for months and need to rectify that!
Love Dia and have neglected that one for about of year!
Feeling quite spring-like today, so I pulled out my new bottle of Chanel No 5 L’eau.
Perfect for office wear and for the day.
I have heard reports of a quick disappearing act from this, but I get a solid 9-10 hours on skin.
Puppy snuggles last night resulting in the puppy smelling like Shalimar. Nothing bad about that.
I wish it lasted that long on me! I’ll give it another try. You smell great.
I love that one too. You smell lovely!
2 thumbs up for puppy snuggles!
U smell lovely,and you’re very lucky it lasts so long, it lasted an hour tops on my scent eating skin!
Shalimar puppy! I envy you.
Getting my Ann Flipo in early with Sonia Rykiel Woman Not for Men from a mini I have. The “warning” makes me laugh. Reminds me of little girls playing in the playground trying to keep the boys out- girls only!! It’s actually a bit masculine. It’s Barbara Bui with a large dash of black pepper and I quite like it!
Is it? I should try it — is it still in production?
If you like BB it’s worth trying. Pepper and pencil shavings are what make it a little different. Don’t think it’s being made but I’ve seen a fair amount on ebay which is where I got my 7.5ml mini. Perfect size!!
That sounds awesome! My only AF is Barbara Bui which I love but sometimes I wish it had a bit more “edge.”
It does have a little more edge but after an hour the pepper and woods fade on me and I’m basically left with Barbara Bui. Which isn’t a bad thing, of course. I don’t need a larger bottle of this one.
Thank you! It is not the bargain that Barbara Bui is, but I’ll shop around some more.
No SOTD yet. I’ve been getting over a cold. On the downside of it now. Haven’t decided if I will put something on after showering or wait until I am running errands and try to sample something.
Glad you’re getting better!
Embers by Rouge Bunny Rouge. Luca Turin says it smells of burned matches (that’s a big approval from him :)), but I think his matches must be a bit peculiar. Nevertheless, I love love it. But I would not mind finding something that in fact smells like burned matches
“I think his matches must be a bit peculiar”…this had me in stitches
Thanks for the laugh
L’Artisan Ananas Fizz. It’s going to be close to 60 degrees, so an Anne Filipo tropical pineapple scent is working just fine.
I started to declutter bath and body products last night. Then I ended up looking for something I needed in the DH office and decluttered mass quantities of electronic adaptors. I’m trying to figure out how to put a positive spin on that, although I think once he gets over the shock, the manageability will be a relief. Can bath and body products really be hoarded if they are ” consumables”?
Arrghh- Anne Flipo…
I tried that scent last night for the 1st time ever! What a nice, cheerful scent!! I wish it was still available.
SotD = Barbara Bui Le Parfum again. I like it so far. The powdery softness is vastly different from pow-pow-POWdery Kenzo Flower, the last powdery fragrance I tried.
Late yesterday I sampled Epice Marine for the first time. The name fits the spice and ocean vibe, just perfect for a pirate dandy. I will try it again some morning. It went oily-soapy after a few hours, something like a vintage soap-on-a-rope. After scrubbing it the remnants turned cumin-y. Cologne du 68 to the rescue.
Have a great day, NST.
I so wanted to love this innovative chef-perfumer collaboration, but I’ve never been able to wrap my olfactory cortex around that uneasy combination of cumin and other spices with marine notes.
Me neither.
heh, Epice Marine is perplexing. Uneasy is the perfect word for it. I rarely scrub a scent, but even after doing so I want to try it again.
I am so surprised at how many people don’t like this one. It must just love my skin. I’m not a very daring perfume-wearer at all, but this one is just soooo wonderful to my nose.
Was there an actual collaboration with a chef? Who?
Epice Marine is an odd duck, but I hope I will like it when I give it another go. I love the smell of the ocean, so I should get along with this EM.
From Robin’s most excellent review:
‘The fragrance is about spices and the ocean: it was developed in a collaborative process between Hermès house perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena and Breton “pirate chef” Olivier Roellinger, and was inspired by their mutual love of spices and the smell of the sea.’
I still smelled like CdG Kyoto from last night, so I was trying to think of what to wear. Finally opted for MFK APOM Pour Femme. The combination is interesting. I don’t think I would spray both at once, but it’s not bad.
Thursday already! I need to get cracking on wearing my L’Artisan harvest soliflores by Anna Flipo. Really appreciating how the weekly challenges help get me out of a rut and encourage me enjoy neglected members of my collection.
Oh, and those should not be wasted!
Cold and sunny here in Portland today. I’m beginning to think I will never return to school. We’ve missed 6 days due to weather so far this winter, and I honestly cannot imagine us returning tomorrow, either. Truly unprecedented. And, of course, it’s not like the kids buckle down and focus harder when they’ve missed so much class! Whenever we return, it will take a week or so to get back into the groove again.
On the plus side, I walked a couple miles down the hill yesterday and trespassed onto a golf course blanketed in a foot of snow. It was gorgeous–snowly hills, established cedars and Doug. firs, and a huge duck pond, filled with Canada geese, mallards, coots, mergansers, etc, etc. I took about 300 pictures, and some of them are really pretty!
No SOTM, yet, but I’m imagining OJ Ta’if or something similarly optimistic.
Ooh, the scene with all of those water birds really does sound beautiful. I’d love to see that too (or your photos).
It really was beautiful, and so unusual for this part of the world. I’m glad I was able to have an adventure and capture it “on film.”
We lived near a golf course when I was a kid. I found it fascinating to visit at night, completely different set of wildlife.
Ha ha, didn’t mean to imply “vs humans”
. Rather, my childhood introduction to bats.
Ha! Didn’t take it that way, but funny.
If I’m feeling restless some evening, maybe I’ll make my way down there again.
That’s a great reason to trespass! Besides, who in the world is golfing in winter? No one, that’s who! Glad you got some great photos????
That’s what I figured. No one was going to be using it for golf. Besides, there were cross-country ski tracks most of the way around the pond, so I know I wasn’t alone.
There is nothing like a blanket of snow, even though it can be a total pain. Ta’if is perfect for snow. But I also really love vintage Guerlain Vol de Nuit for snow too – the cool leather is a perfect compliment to fresh snow.
I’m not sure I have any Vol de Nuit. . . maybe a sample somewhere? I will poke around. There’s quite a few vintage Guerlains that I’ve loved!
We used to live near one of the golf course holes and have tons of golf balls and a broken window to prove it. It’s the perfect place to make snow angels
In Sorrel & Lemon Thyme today, too hot for anything else. By the way, does anyone have a recommendation for a good mainstream summer perfume? No niche here far and wide.
You could give some of the Cartier perfumes a go: Baiser Vole (lily) or Zeste de Soleil. Or Calvin Klein Reveal, Chanel Cristalle, Lush Kerbside Violet. For something less green you could try Pure Poison …it has a note of hotel sheets, like starch. Guerlain L’Instant for sweet vanilla but light. Or Prada Candy for fun. All are very wearable in summer, i think.
I’ll give some thumbs up for Baiser Vole which I do really love a lot as well, AND Cristalle. The edp acts more like a crisp white flowers fragrance than the edt, which is more crisp chypre. I also like the Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir L’Eau Exquise (the light green one), which has hardly a “noir” note in it. Very crisp, lightly sweet, slightly green, bit of tea… a tad of detergent… but still nice for summer and at most department stores.
If you have access to the Ateliers (they sell in most Sephoras) I would suggest those for summer. My favorite is Orange Sanguine.
I love Burberry Brit Sheer and Balmain Ivoire (newer release, not vintage) in hot weather. They feel clean & cooling in high temperatures.
I found both on ebay, but have seen Brit Sheer in Nordstrom & Sephora.
I suggest any of the Escada limited edition’s. They all smell like summer.
The Aqua Allegorias (Aquas Allegoria?).
Thank you all so much! Making a list and then off to the department stores I go.
Thanks for all the well wishes yesterday.
Maria: The Reverend Mother always says, ‘when the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window’.
Captain: What else does the Reverend Mother say?
Maria: That you have to look for your life.
I am sampling Puredistance White today…haven’t tried anything from this house before. It is nice and, at first, smells white but is deepening now…shall see how it progresses.
“Yes. Well, you can’t marry someone when you’re in love with someone else — can you?”
Hope this is a good day for you!
Puredistance White is gorgeously addictive.
She-ra, I missed yesterday, so looked back to understand your reference. I found myself in this same boat last week. In my heart of hearts, I believe we are both headed for something better. Take care.
I”m dabbing from my sample bottle of By Kilian Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi. I have liked it on previous tries but today it just seems way too sweet. Maybe it will calm down in awhile. We went from a brief VERY cold snap with hard freezes back into warm and humid weather, breaking records in Houston yesterday with 80-degree temperatures. Everyone is tired from this roller-coaster going from cashmere sweaters to thin T-shirts and from heat in the house to a/c. I’m dreading my electric bill this month.
Before Christmas I was all about the spicy and amber-y perfumes, and now I seem to be craving sweets. Today I topped Fresh Cream Body Souffle with Hanae Mori. Almost as good as a vanilla milkshake.
I didn’t know they made a Fresh Cream body soufflé—a lemming is born!
The body soufflé is divine. Much better than the lotion.
I was calling it lotion until I noticed the label said Souffle. I know I should add the accent but I’m lazy.
I’m defying the 10-inch accumulation of snow and the anticipated sub-arctic temperatures here with a very liberal application of Le Temps dune Fete – since I’m working from home again today there isn’t anyone but my hubby around to object. It WILL be spring, it WILL be spring …
“d’Une” – stupid autocorrect.
Your mantra makes me think I should be outside with my bulbs teaching them to visualize. . .
I have some early-bird daffodils that poke their heads up as early as late January some years — I’m thinking about spritzing the area with Le Temps to see if that encourages them.
Must get back in the saddle today for another round of writing, but I am having trouble applying myself. It is still raining cats and dogs. Our basement is dry enough, but folks around here in lower lying areas are struggling.
Drained my sample of Fazzolari’s Monserrat. My mum gave me a pack of his samples for Xmas. Not sure where she came across him, but it sounds like she had a conversation with the perfumer himself (he is local). It is my second round of these. Still love Seyrig until I hate it (the cumin makes a bold entrance), still like Lampblack, Five, Jimmy, and Au Dela–but other items in my perfume collection are along the same lines…. But Monserrat is really working for me this AM. Maybe it is the dark grey skies outside that are making this waxy, bookish fruity floral hum. Maybe it is just one of those days.
Weirdly, in my email inbox this morning there was a email alert about a phone msg I got a day or so ago, and several emails from a friend who has recently become a real estate agent. Some automated process must have gone haywire. I got Fathers’ Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Mothers’ Day, and Valentine’s Day well wishing emails from her and real estate company Alain Pinel Realtors! I panicked a moment with the first one that I had somehow forgotten it was Fathers’ Day…. I feel well wished for sure.
It good to know people are thinking of you????
I know. Like Friends on Facebook, right?
I can’t believe the rain you’re getting. News this am said Lake Tahoe is up a foot! Stay dry.
You know, I got a 6-sample set from Fazzolari and must say that I loved Au Dela. Lampblack and couple of others are waaay too much citrus for me, I must be hypersensitive, but Au Dela is great, though on the surface, it would not be something Id be even interested in. It says natural oakmoss and labdanum are used in the formula, though I am realizing I have no idea what oakmoss smells like
Au Dela does a wonderful job creating a vintage feel that manages to be just the right muskiness without skank (I have some tolerance for skank as well, but this one is nice without). You’ve inspired me to wear it once this Monserrat winds down completely–any moment.
Happy Thursday, all! I’ve been struggling with a migraine since yesterday afternoon, so I went with just one tiny spritz of Cuir de Russie on my wrists. Probably foolhardy — I can feel the headache pain gathering for the pounce…
The worst. Hope you have a good prescription for something that works.
Oh, so sorry. If it comes I hope it is minor and short.
In the gorgeous Ambre Precieux today.
Love that one.
I just bought myself a bottle! (Or ordered it to be shipped, more correctly.)
Such a wonderful scent!
SOTD is Smell Bent’s Never Never Land. All sorts of dry, ambery, resiny goodness.
That sounds great. I’ve never tried any from Smell Bent, I should rectify that!
Smell Bent is the 1st indie house I ever explored.
They have fun, don’t take themselves too seriously and put some nice scents.
I am a big fan of Florist’s Fridge ( smells like the air when you open a cooler door at a florists), Gimel a Break (Musky Honey) and Bolshivixen/Winter Vixen ( Hazelnuts and cocoa)
Those last two sound right up my alley. Although, not sure how I can reconcile new samples/purchases with the “downsizing” kick I am on. Maybe a need “cloud” storage for my perfumes…!
Never Never Land is one of my favs in the Smell Bent line. I think it has an interesting juxtaposition of wet and dry notes. Nice vetiver too.
Wore Kimonanthe last night and it’s still with me on a slow starting day. I really like it a lot. The combination of sweet osmonthas and dry incense is really beguiling. Need to try my tiny sample of Rahele now to see how it compares!
Wow, that’s long lasting for a Diptyque! I still need to try it.
Perhaps someone already posted above — according to our cafeteria, it’s National Donut Day. There were mini donuts being given away all morning.
SOTD = Chanel No. 19 EDP
It’s CRAZY CRAZY at work and I really need spine-strengthening!
There’s construction going on in the street and they are making a lot of noise — it sounded like they were dumping a ton of gravel to fill a big hole or snaking a huge fat chain down into the NYC bedrock and letting the chain scrape against a metal plate. Needless to say, it’s just a little after noon and we heard this about 8 times already!
Wow, sorry it’s a raucous rowdy day at work. It should be “donut day” everyday, IMO!! I’m pretty sure you smell better than anyone for miles and miles????
Construction in NYC is the worst! The noise factor just does me in.
Downtown I deal with live music outside my window, and I’m not talking music that you want to work to – this stuff is loud and obnoxious and starts as soon as it begins getting warm out.
I’m on a really high floor but the sound goes right up to us as if we’re on the first floor.
Arrggghh.
My sympathies. Montreal is infamous for constant construction works, so I am very familiar with how aggravating it is. The office I was working in 3 years ago had a pile-driver running daily for months. Hope Chanel No. 19 helps you maintain sanity!
Hey, was so surprised that I’d managed to miss National Donut Day, so checked and Wikipedia says it is in June. Krispy Kreme agrees. Maybe your cafeteria just needed to unload some donuts??
Possibly ;-). We’re a global company and have more employees than many countries…it could be National Donut Day somewhere in the world.
Feeling all rosy today so went with a dose of Rose Jam in the shower and now trying Rose Privee, but not really loving it. Will switch to Mohur methinks.
I used Rose Jam shower gel yesterday on hair and and I am having a bad hair day today — not sure if there is any conmection. I’ e had no such issues previously.
You’ve had success with washing your hair with Rose Jam?
I would have never thought of using that product in my hair, although I love the idea of having that smell with me all day and in my hair. Hmm. I may have to give it a try this weekend.
Lush has a solid shampoo with the Rose Jam scent. I think it’s called Jason and the Argonaut.
I’ve tried the solid shampoo and I’m not a fan. Didn’t work for me.
I’m definitely going to try the shower gel.
I’ve used all the nodywashes from there in my hair! I think it’s ultimately all about the conditioner anyway.
True. I’m actually thinking it was the combination of Rose Jam and the conditioner that made my hair all yucky looking.
Hi everyone! Happy Thursday
I’m off to LA tomorrow for work so it’s my last day in the office.
I have a question for you scenty folks…if I wanted to smell Shalimar Parfum/extrait, where would I go in LA?
I’m wearing Parfumerie Generale Felanilla and I have a few more samples I brought to work today to test. I usually like to wear one all day to really enjoy it, but I’m in a sampling mood lately!
The sillage on this one isn’t big, but it’s sweet and nice. I have a dauber – as always, I wish I had it in spray! This one might be worth getting a small decant. Some comparisons to Shalimar have me wanting to hunt it down, especially in the parfum version! I’ve only sniffed it in EDP at Ulta. Any other versions I should try? Does anyone else find comparisons between Felanilla & Shalimar?
It’s finally sunny here today, a nice break from the rain. If anyone needs some sun, I’ll send it your way!
I like Felanilla, unfortunately Shalimar’s petrol note crushes all the vanilla on me. Usually the Guerlain extrait testers are at actual Guerlain boutiques, but Neiman Marcus might have them too.
There are a few high end dept stores on Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills. Where will you be staying? There’s also the Beverly Hills Perfumery on Beverly Drive. It’s a small shop and he carries some niche, but also has a classics and varying amounts of vintage stuff. He’s also a really nice guy and very knowledgeable about perfume.
I have a decant of felanilla as well and love it in the cool weather. It skews a bit masculine on me, but I like it. Shalimar wears very feminine on me, so I don’t find the two comparable except that they are both warm and inviting. I’ve never smelled them on others though, so cant really compare them objectively.
Go to the Guerlain counter at Sak’s in Beverly Hills. Ask if Alejandro is working–he’s great and knows TONS about perfume, not just Guerlain. He’ll take out the extrait for you–they normally don’t have it out on the counter but you can ask the sales assistant working for any of the parfums you’d like to smell.
I was going to recommend the Guerlain counter at Saks too!
I second Saks^^! They’ve been very helpful finding things for me. NM has a great selection-the Chanel exclusives, Agonist, Nasomatto, Perris and other small lines. Barney’s has Malle, and many many others. Give yourself lots of time at the Scent Bar. Have fun!
For days I’ve been craving Cristalle, but nixed it because of the cold weather. Today was warmer, I put it on, and now I’m wishing for something warmer. Argghh. Well, afternoon is another opportunity. Have a good one, all.
Call me crazy but many MANY years ago I used to love wearing Cristalle in the winter…but then again it was the original formulation in the 1970s and I am pretty sure that it packed some oakmoss and vetiver…not sure what is in the current formulation which is probably lighter and more citrus-y.
It had WAY more oakmoss.
Off work today and I haven’t taken a shower yet. So I am sitting in the dry down of vintage Bal. With all of this talk of Amouage and my skin being so dry, I think that I will use the Amouage body stuff. Now the question is, do I use the Lyric body stuff or do I break out and use the Memior stuff? Such descisions.
Memoir.
SOTD is “L’Eau Scandaleuse”, and Robin knows why I’m giggling (discreetly this time).
It’s the last of the 4 Anatole Lebretons, and here are three reasons why some folk in NST will really truly love it:
– it’s a recreation of an old-school chypre vibe
– it has a strong leather note
– it has an even stronger tuberose facet.
I don’t care for leather and I don’t care for white flowers, so I’m going to leave this one (which is undoubtedly well made and original) to a more deserving audience.
Official notes are bergamot, peach, davana, tuberose, ylang-ylang, leather, castoreum, nagarmotha and oakmoss.
And I should say in passing that the morning after I wore Incarnata, the extreme dry-down smelt very beautiful on my wrists, and although for me the lovely destination doesn’t justify the journey, in my book it’s another sign of well-considered perfume making.
But thank you for not telling us
Hello, good morning, best of days…I slept until 6.25 (please note, that’s AFTER six o’clock!!!!!) and feel wonderful and lazy in equal parts. And late. Am going to work at home, so have sprayed up large with Epic, andI smell wonderful but noticeable. I hope no one comes to the door for a couple of hours, because a visitor would certainly be knocked back a couple of metres by my exuberant fumes. Even the gorgeous but gormless Dakkie-cat is avoiding me. I think his eyes are watering.
Anyone who stops by your place is lucky because you smell wonderful! I ended the day yesterday with a huge dose of Epic since I was sorting boxes at the storage unit and nobody is ever there to offend. It was glorious!
Day 2 of being marooned at home. With all the big storms lately, all the roads off our mountain are closed. Yesterday Caltrans said the main road would be reopened at 6am today… but today they are saying 7am tomorrow. Ah well. The power is on, the internet is working again, thankfully (that was out on Monday and Tuesday) and the skies are clearing. Could be worse.
SOTD will soon be a big cacophony of samples.
Hey, that sounds fun! Nothing like being stranded and unable to go to work, but still having power, food, and hot water. Not to mention a day to delve into samples????
Well, I’m still working, just from home. Silicon Valley never sleeps. Never.
Oh. Yep, that stinks.
I don’t have any scents by Anne Flipo (I used to have a mini of La Chasse, but I gave it to a friend – linden hates me) so I used up the last few drops of my sample of SL’s Bois Oriental. This seems to be the least loved of the Bois scents, but I’ve really enjoyed it and see a decant (at least) in my future.
Linden seems to hate me too. It always, always smells like powdered toiled cleanser on me.
Any scent with even a hint of linden turns into a linden bomb on me – it’s crazy. Also, my grandmother’s house always smelled of linden; she was a no-frills kind of person so I’m fairly sure it wasn’t candles, etc, but probably something like toilet cleanser.
Actually Bois Oriental is my favourite of the bois series. But I agree it doesn’t seem to get mentioned a lot.
After many weeks of an overwhelming work and holiday season…. I am back! Although late to this party today. SOTD is the ever glorious L’Arte di Gucci. Cheers to all!
You smell so good!
I was wondering where you had disappeared to
Happy to see you and even more happy things have calmed down a bit. Why do the holidays have to be crazy and stressful? It’s exhausting for so many.
Back home in the real world. My holiday ended with a foxieXcollie version of the movies 127 Hours and Gerry…i.e. 2 Hours searching through rock canyons and wild thyme gulches in 35 degrees (95) for what i would call a lost dog (but it would call a lost human). The thyme was so thick on the ground that the volatiles made our eyes sting and water. Located the dog ( a mixed blessing ) and then had an amazing walk back to the car over sun bleached, crunchy thyme hillsides in a kind of purple haze of scent. More rabbit chasing (dogs) etc etc etc. then a final km past an apricot orchard with huge ripe apricots, loud buzzing bees and a single mulberry tree with plump berries. Great day. Wearing Epice Marine…no cumin but spice, wood and salt, really nice. Will switch to Sweet later for the Friday project.
Sounds very fragrant! Sounds like the NZ version of Corsica, with its thick brush of mastic, lentisque and immortelle.
I love to read your posts ????
Your holiday sounds wonderful!
The next time I wear Epice Marine I will make sure I spend the day outdoors, preferably near the ocean. Your walk sounds fantastic.
Happy Thursday Everyone! My SOTD is Samsura Cherry Blossom by Jo Malone. This is a fragrance that I rarely wear and kind of fell out of love with it. But, it will be one of my “stay at home and wear” fragrance. I’m that type of person that has to have some sort of fragrance on everyday. So, I save my faves for days when I am out and about. Hope everyone is enjoying their day!
I decided to go with Mitsouko today because I don’t wear it often and decided she needed some attention.
Hey everybody, happy almost Friday! I am proud of myself for getting to the gym this morning with just a spritz of rosewater and half a cup of coffee. After shower, maybe something spring like to mirror the temperature today!! Is this January?
Recently got back from a fantastic cruise on the Queen Mary 2. The bath products in all the cabins are Quercus from Penhaligon. It smelled great–citrus and spicy, but after a few days the entire ship smelled like it. I was nose fatigued by the end of the cruise, but I could sure use some today!!
I love holidays where there is a particular bath product associated – I always bring a few home so I can relive the vacation feelings when I smell them.
Oooh, we have to meet up again! I want to hear all about your cruise!
Bois d’Armenie from a sample today. Can’t tell you much about it, since my nose still isn’t working properly. Trying to speed things up with nasal rinses….
I don’t like spring weather in winter. At least not in NYC. It’s confusing. Amusing though that we discussed whether or not we needed to turn the valve back on to our heating unit in our apartment. We turned it off in November. Nope. We will leave it off and have opened the windows.
Scentless this morning due to a visit to Whole Foods, and then the day started heating up and it’s now 68 degrees here in the DMV woo-hoo! But then I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what to pick for my sotd, and reached into the samples and have now applied Zoologist’s Hummingbird. Oh dear … on me it smells like cherry tobacco and urinal cakes. I will bravely muster on!
Oh, good to know! I was thinking about ordering a couple Zoologist samples since I want to try Civet and haven’t tried anything from the line yet. I have mixed feelings about urinal cakes, gas station bathroom, pink industrial hand soap etc. as components of personal fragrance. I have an Arabian Oud oil called 1,000 flowers which can smell like heady jasmine/ylang or urinal cake. Loulou, same. Sometimes it’s compelling and sometimes repulsive…
Well, it really could just be my quirky nose. I’m getting more floral notes now, but what I’m smelling isn’t what other reviewers have! Ymmv! Worth a shot, as the whole line is truly unique and oh how adorable those animal dandies featured on the bottles are…
Hummingbird always makes me think of dryer sheets and something vaguely late 80s Avon. In this lone case, the dryer sheets comparison is NOT meant to be an insult. It’s like the neighborhood laundry exhaust from my childhood on a warm summer evening and I love it even though I kind of want to hate it.
Hummingbird was all kinda florals on me, a bit cloying and a bit soapy; didn’t work for me. But I do like Bat, Beaver, and Macaque.
Just getting over a persistent cold (four weeks – really!) when I couldn’t enjoy any scents, but today is Chanel no22. Perfect for celebrating a pause between rainstorms (not to mention the departure of the sniffles). Actually, I find the incense in no22 makes it suitable for cold weather, unlike other white flower compositions.
Off to yoga class shortly, wearing Costes dry body oil with some Aedes Palissandre d’Or layered over top. Smells great.
I wore a layering combination of Hippie Rose & Marni for first day at my new job, both seem to have soft projection on my skin and I like amplifying the rose in Marni.
It’s snowing here!- I let the kids play in the back garden for 20 minutes with the dog before bed, it’s so beautiful and magical!
Put on some mon parfum cherie par camile, a lovely one for cold snowy evenings by the fire.
Hope your first day on the job was as great as you smell????
Thanks Deva!- it was really good!
Sotd, Alien fragrance of leather. Love this version.
Wearing Encens Mythique so I can pretend to be Rich Lady today — until I go to pay my holiday credit card bill, whereupon I will probably feel like quite a Poor Lady.
I have no Anne Flipo for tomorrow so I don’t know what I’ll be wearing. I’m buried in snow so today is more sample testing. NV Rahele for now–It’s very pretty but it’s not WOWing me. Both Bombay Bling and Ashoka seemed unique approaches to fragrance, whereas Rahele, though beautiful, does not. Plus, it went soapy in the middle, so money saved.
Yeah it’s not wowing me either. I love and own Pichola, BB, and Mohur, so was excited for this. But it’s sort of monotone on me. I don’t get any of the leathers others describe, or much movement at all.
I just received a sample of Rahele today. I can barely smell it. I can only detect a barely there sweet musk. I guess money saved for me as well.
Wound up going to a Lane Bryant store to sample the Isabel Toledo fragrances. 3 of them were forgettable. The Isabel one in the all-gold bottle smells to me like a cross between Stash and Nirvana Black. Unfortunately, not much a fan of either of those. Naturally, I can’t seem to scrub it so I can smell like something else.
Ah, but you’ve made me want to go try the Isabel! Good luck getting it scrubbed off.
Another late day for me. Today was like a spring day so I wore Black Jade. I sort of wish that it would just stay cold but at least the snow from last weekend’s storm melted. On the other hand, so many people are sick from the constant fluctuations in temperature. This weather is for the birds.
Day 2 of Tauer Rose Flash and Incense Flash together!