Happy Lunar New Year! We're celebrating the Year of the Rooster with the "visual media" version of our winter reading poll. Tell us...
...any great tv shows you've discovered recently, and/or
...any great movies you've seen lately, and
...of course, tell us the matching perfume(s)!
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
I’m really enjoying The Good Place, which might have just finished its first season. On the reality side, I’ve just seen a couple of episodes of Thrift Hunters, which is new to me.
Ha! The Good Place, that’s a TV series I am tempted to watch again from the beginning. Kristen Bell is delightful to watch.
I really love The Good Place. At my most pedantic, I am quite grateful that they took the time to write good philosophy jokes.
Fully support the show, the philosophy jokes, and the structure…in fact it’s one of the few things I look forward to seeing a second time.
I am in the middle of a documentary that Kevin recommended to me, The True Cost. It is on Netflix. It is making me really think about buying clothing, especially cheap clothing. Maybe don’t watch unless you need more guilt in your life
With the big minimalism craze, I am already feeling plenty guilty… on the good side, I hardly buy any clothing any more (except athletic stuff to work out in) and nothing described as “fast fashion” e.g. Zara, H&M, Forever 21. A blog I read recently recommended not to buy any piece of clothing you won’t wear at least 30 times. Not a bad idea.
The idea of buying a piece of clothing I wouldn’t wear 30 times is already foreign to me — I think that might be a generational thing? But the movie has made me think harder about buying “more” when I already have functionally more than enough — yoga pants, ack!
Oh, which means the perfume which would match the movie is one of the ones you already own!
I have three pinpoint cotton blouses I bought more than 10 years ago, have worn often, and they still look nice. Yesterday I was wearing one while trying to color a bowl of white cake frosting blue with food dye. I splashed dye on my shirt. (Should have worn an apron!) Put the shirt through the wash last night and the dye came right out. Miraculous. Quality lasts.
Hi Robin. I watched this recently and it is a real eye opener. The pollution the fashion industry causes is rather disturbing in addition to what we know already of the appalling labour conditions of the workers in Asia … I like clothes but have been trying to buy items that I know will last a long time. More difficult than it sounds these days.
Glad it is being watched — I had never heard of it until Kevin told me about it.
This is part of the reason I am compelled to buy everything thrift/vintage whatever. It is partially for value, but mostly to opt out of a system I can’t handle buying into…
I too primarily thrift for clothing at this point. It’s a good way to cut down on waste, it saves money (that I then spend on perfume), and you have a lot more options in terms of personal style when you’re going thrift and vintage instead of just buying whatever’s trending at the mall.
Watched this last night after I read your comment. Brilliant. Made me rethink so much about consumption and buying cheap clothes. Also, I checked the brand People tree, a fair trade business, might be an alternative from now on. Just need to find an alternative to buying children’s clothes (I buy a lot from Zara and HM as children only wear clothes for a year).
You can’t do so much about kid’s clothing, IMHO, unless your budget allows — they need new clothing so often. I bought a lot of used children’s clothing when my son was young, but that can be extremely time consuming.
Adult clothing bought for the enjoyment of buying is another matter.
Things I’ve been watching include
)
Anno 1790
Endeavor (Inspector Morse doesn’t do much for me but young Morse in 1966 is much better
Vikings, new season
Trapped (like Fargo but Icelandic)
No matchy-matchy perfumes but am matching my frag to today’s evilly hot and humid weather that is becoming rain and storms (yay!) with Jardin du Poete. So cool and refreshing.
Loved Anno 1790. Have not seen Trapped but it looks interesting, adding to list. Did you see Fortitude?
I watched Fortitude for Stanley Tucci, but still have disturbing dreams from it!
It was VERY disturbing. I kind of enjoyed it but wouldn’t have started off on it if I’d known how bad it would get, and I probably won’t watch series 2.
I hadn’t heard of Trapped before I watched it but really enjoyed it. Haven’t seen Fortitude… do I want to?
Hard to say — it is well done and quirky, which I like, but also violent and just extremely tense. Everyone has a different level of tolerance! Mine is possibly low, and even lower when I’m stressed about other matters.
(And just did some reading about series 2, looks very different, and totally different cast.)
Think Psycho and World War Z, but on a tiny frozen island…
I liked watching (didn’t love but watched) Morse, and I was glad to find Endeavor, and thanks to you I just checked and discovered that Amazon has the season 3, which I hasn’t watched yet. Thank you, perthgirl!
You’re most welcome Undina!
Have you watched Morse recently? He’s kind of a creep. I love Endeavour, though, especially the most recent season. I also think they do a great job with the 60s era sets and props, which makes it a visual feast.
I think that I finished the complete set. He’s not my favorite character but it wasn’t a bad ironing companion (I love ironing but I can’t watch anything serious while doing that).
Did you notice he hits on every woman he comes into contact with? Victim, co-worker, sister/mother/friend of someone who’s just been murdered, shopkeeper, waitress – doesn’t matter, they’re fair game for his advances.
I’m waiting to see if this gets woven into the Endeavour character.
I didn’t find Morse to hold up particularly well. We watched all of the Prime Suspect seasons recently and I felt the same way about it, which I loved when it originally aired. Maybe it’s something about topical crime shows? IDK. Neither were awful by any means, just seemed dated, I guess.
Since we ran out of the nesting comments, I’m answering here.
I noticed that side of Morse but it wasn’t his worst quality so it didn’t bother me much: I saw similar characters in other series/movies. But at least Morse wasn’t as depressive as Prime Suspect was (though I watched it to the end:) ).
The series I liked much more – Midsommer Murders: it is comforting; the main characters are stable and moral people; not much drama.
Ditto this. Watched the first two episodes of season 3 last night. Really enjoy this series.
Endeavour is wonderful!, I’ve never been a Morse fan either.
How different our tastes can be: I’m not keen on Endeavour at all, and I love the original Inspector Morse, perhaps not the man so much but the series as a whole, I adored.
Hello NST, I’m in April Aromatics Calling All Angels today.
Sorry to skip the poll part but I was just anxious for a big part of the day as my mum had a surgery today. She’s phoned us not long ago that everything is over and that it was a success. She’ll be recovering now and hopefully will come back home soon.
Glad your mom is okay. Perhaps you can relax for the rest of the day? Sounds like you need it.
Speedy recovery to your Mother, lucasai.
Yes, glad your Mom is through the surgery. Take care!
Sending well wishes and continued recovery to your mother.
Wishing the best for a quick and smooth recovery for your mom! And sending best wished to you.
Sending well wishes to you and your family.
Glad to hear it went well, hope you can relax and enjoy a calm evening. Wishing your mom a speedy and complete recovery.
Good news, and you smell divine.
Healing thoughts to your mom, and to you. Stress can really affect you, so please take care of yourself as well.
Speedy recovery to your mother, Lucas. Hopefully, now you can relax and enjoy your weekend.
You smell great, Lucas. All the best to your mom and I’m glad the surgery went well.
Wishing your mom a quick recovery!! I hope she is home with the rest of the family very soon.
Calling All Angels sounds perfect for you right now. Wishing you and your mum a restful day.
Lucas, wishing your mom a speedy recovery. You smell gorgeous.
So glad your mom’s surgery went well, and I hope her recovery goes well too!
Glad it went well for your mom. Very difficult to wait for those phone calls.
Glad to hear all went well with your mum. Sending wishes for an easy recovery.
Glad to hear that you’re Mum is doing well after surgery.
Thank you everyone for warm words of support. Mum is feeling well, she’ll probably be back home tomorrow
Hope your mom is recovering well and you’ve had a chance to relax.
Slow start for me today, but the big plan is to shower, douse myself in MFK Cologne pour le Soir, pack up T-Rex and associated toys/food, spend the day with friends, eat a good dinner, and return to my cozy 0 degree sleeping bag for a very chilly night here in the swamp. I refuse to turn on the heat because I’m cheap, and also because I just get sick of canned air with the almost constant running of the A/C.
I don’t own a TV, and don’t really subscribe to any other type of services other than Amazon Prime, so nothing really to contribute. Although I have to say I love watching Doc Martin in continuous loops when the world gets to be too much and I want to zone out for a bit.
Have a flagrantly fragrant weekend all!✌????
Doc Martin is perfect for that, agree!
No matching perfumes. Wearing Bottega Venetia, one of my four travel scents. Because I wanted feminine and pretty.
I fell in love with People of Earth, which only had 10 episodes for its first season. So silly and out there. Wish it had continued longer. But season two has been confirmed.
Been on a movie binge of late. I can go a long time and then seem to go a lot. Glad I saw La La Land after just seeing Umbrellas of Cherbourg again on the big screen. And I really enjoyed Arrival. I may run out to a matinee of Hidden Figures today.
I know many of us have feline fur babies, so you night find “Kedi” interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing it in Feb. It’s about the street cats of Istanbul. They follow seven or so specific cats and their daily interactions. I’ve seen the trailer and think I already have picked my favorite cat. If anyone’s already seen it, is it good (no spoilers!)
Oh must see Kedi! I had a little streetcat friend when I was in Istanbul and would’ve loved to have adopted him. So cute and cheeky, and he knew what he wanted. Only the MEAT out of the kebab thankyou very much!
Hey LizzieB!! I love BV AND People Of Earth!!!
Great Picks!!
Jeff makes me laugh out loud.
I movie binge, too, and I’ve binged these past couple of months. I saw LaLa Land last night. Fun movie!
I want to see Kedi, too!
I think my husband is doing a big part of keeping The Metrograph open. It’s become his home away from home….
I really liked Arrival too. Gave up yesterday on matching a perfume to it, but definitely one of my fave scifi movies…but also for me the movie is less scifi than magical thinking–as the plot pivots on the main character’s “memories” of the future…anyway, I enjoyed it!
I actually saw it twice. Alone and then with my husband at a half-price show. The bittersweet aspect really hit me, and I got quite weepy at the end.
Saw Hidden Figures today and same thing…I got all choked up throughout. The I went to Ulta and sprayed in Tresor, since I’d never tried it. Like it. Different from anything I hav.
I know. I bawled at the end. It was so embarrassing. I can’t see anything more sentimental than Encino Man in theaters these days–!
Wearing DZING !
In Starbucks drinking a Venti Blackeye.
Seinfeld reruns are all I really watch, wonder how they would handle the cellphone environment.
The last episode touched on social obligations via cell, but a lot of comedy was left unexplored.
Carpe Diem. Peace.
I recently rewatched that episode, and thought the same thing.
Have you watched Curb Your Enthusiasm, featuring Larry David? Lots of Seinfeld-esque humor, obviously
And by featuring i mean produced, starring and whatever else, ha
It was thrilling to discover this. Watched every single episode. Gross, lol.
Wish they would do another season! Doesn’t look likely, though.
Yes, but I prefer fictional Larry David aka Jason Alexander as George Costanza , to Larry David as Larry David. LOL
But thanks !
And do comment on your preferring Chanel No 22 EDP better than EDT. I’m curious.
God I love Dzing! Going to loan it to a friend to try soon.
Me too !!! nozknoz.
Since my recent surgery I’ve been binge watching Mad Men and Game of Thrones. Wildly different types of shows but finally catching up with the rest of the world on these.The Lannister family from GOT is so entertaining!
GOT is great, no wonder the entire world got in the wagon. That soundtrack!
I wanted to rewatch Mad Men this past summer, but couldn’t get around to it. It’s a wonderful show, though!
I really miss Mad Men.
Freebie Alert – I will be posting 8 freebie packs right after I leave this comment.
SOTD = TBD
I have errands to run before catching a ride with some friends to go to a Year of the Rooster celebration! It’s all about family, friends and food but not necessarily in that order. What scent should I wear?
Shows – If you are on Amazon Prime, Mozart in the Jungle is fabulous. I binged-watched Seasons 1 and 2 and I am slowly rationing Season 3. As to scenting the characters – Gloria (Chanel No. 5 Parfum and lots of it), Cynthia (31 Rue Cambon), Hailey (none or whatever she can borrow because she couldn’t afford to buy anything for herself), Rodrigo (any manly vetiver) and Lizzie (Secretions Magnifique).
I am ready!!!
Posted! Go Go Go!
Where r they??)
Where do I find them?
https://nstperfume.com/2017/01/21/the-freebiemeet-episode-7/
Sorry I got so excited that I forgot the freebiemeet was still open.
Found’ya!! Thanks H!
Bulgari Black!
And lots of it! !!!
Enjoy! ;D
Great idea! I’m probably going to go with this!
Shanghai Lily? Pivoine Suzhou?
Ha! What a coincidence…I had a large manufacturer’s decant of Pivoine Suzhou that I was going to include in the freebie but pulled it back because the notes looked good to me. Good call!
If you had, I would have dibsed on it. It does sound great! I’ve enjoyed all the Armani Privés I’ve sniffed, though those have been the more oriental ones.
Happy new year! Maybe Fleur de Chine or something thematic?
I don’t even think I have any Fleur de Chine but that would be thematic for sure!
You do not have Fleur de Chine?!!! If it is actually the case, I should immediately send you some: it is one of my strong favorites, so it means that you re very likely to enjoy it as well.
Have a great celebration with all the components you’ve mentioned in any order you wish 
But until we remedied that, today I’ll wear it for you
I would bet with you, twin :-). I will have fun tonight! Thank you.
Have you got something that smells like a barnyard in honor of the Rooster?! Maybe something with hay……
…but remember, I have to eat
Cuir de Russie = BARNYARD
hay — I could go with PdE Tabac Tabou (2015)
How about some Field Notes from Paris? Nice, smoky tobacco, hay, honey…..
Happy New Year to you!
Thank you floragal! Most people there are part of the same core group of friends while a handful tend to show up once a year.
Loved your scents for Mozart in the Jungle. Perfect!
Wishing you great happiness and prosperity. I hope your day was filled with fun, family, food, and fabulous fragrances. Looking forward to hearing what scent you wore today.
Thank you. It was all of the above. I wore Bvlgari Black as I find it to. E a good counterpoint to the male half of the couple who is a smoker (no smoking in the car.but his clothes all smell smokey).
Spot-on Mozart in the Jungle perfume matches! But what about Season 3’s Allesandra? What is a sufficiently diva Italian perfume? I personally love Bottega Venetta and Acqua di Parma Colonia, but those don’t seem…emotional enough.
Alessandea! Definitely an Italian fragrance that’s diva-esque, sultry, vulnerable — how about Masque Milano L’Atessa? One if the other ones may woek as well but I am most familiar with this one!
Aquarius, the Brazilian film. The story feels very relevant these days, and it’s so finely crafted, beautiful to look at, wonderful music, etc. AG Sables for Queen Sonia Braga as Clara.
Looking forward to eveyone’s picks!
Sounds like a great film. Thanks for the tip
I went to see La La Land this week and had a good time. Neither lead is a trained singer and I thought that added to the charm of the movie. If people really did spontaneously burst into song in the world, I don’t think everyone would sound like Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra. It was a lovely two hours of suspended disbelief. I’m not watching much on TV–the new season of Top Chef and The Big Bang Theory. Waiting for Puppy Bowl on the 5th, or I may watch Kitten Bowl instead since I’m not invested in any of the teams.
On the home front, the countertop installers are here, and naturally my cabinets are problematic. They seem to be figuring it out, though, so I am leaving them to it. Wearing Roberto Cavalli Oro this morning.
My family is going to see that this afternoon! We were supposed to see it at Xmas, but then I was too sick.
I know this is going to sound elitist, but I’ve never understood the charm of imperfect singing. This may be because I AM a singer, and thus my ears are trained to fixate on faults. To me, that’s like saying that being operated on by an untrained surgeon would add to the charm of my operation. (Maybe less dramatic.)
Ha, I was just reading the New Yorker review which talks about the likewise imperfect dancing, which apparently you will either find charming or you won’t.
I’m in the “find it charming” camp, partly because it fits the story’s theme of imperfect people trying to make their dreams come true, without a fairytale ending. I actually think perfect singing and dancing would clash!
I totally agree with you. the movie of Les Miserables drove me batty – the amateur singing butchered the score and ruined the whole thing for me. As a former professional dancer I similarly cannot stand shows like Dancing with the Stars. I’m a snob, I know.
I have not seen La La Land yet… Maybe I will wait until it comes out on DVD/Netflix.
You are the first person who agrees with me on the singing in the Les Mis movie!!! So nice to get some backup on this
Les Mis – unwatchable! Could not finish it. Russell Crowe!
I am 100% with you on Les Mis,, but to me La La Land is different. Les Mis is a big musical with big music that is meant to be sung well, in a big Broadway style. La La Land was very self-consciously not going for that, on my watching, so the complaints about the singing and the dancing seem to misread what the movie is trying to do — which of course doesn’t mean you might not *like* what it is trying to do. But it wasn’t trying to *be* Singing in the Rain or Cherbourg even as it paid homage to them. So I am with Elisa P on La La Land, even though I didn’t love love it.
Not only it’s legal to sing or dance without having a license, but many people find it quite enjoyable – both to engage in and to watch. And it doesn’t have to be perfect for most of us to enjoy. I don’t think your thoughts are elitist – it’s rather an occupational hazard. Still, I imagine you’re in a better position than, let’s say, professional cooks
I don’t think it’s elitist so much as having a trained ear, like you said. I’m guessing most with musical training have the same response. I have a hard time listening to some professional musicians sometimes, myself.
Ok my votes are:
People Of Earth ????
Peaky Blinders
Sneaky Pete
Can I ask for some Advise-
If I wear Chanel L’Eau No. 5 and the aldehydes are too amplified, what can I do to soften the broadcast and enjoy it?
Something to remove the aldehyde icepicks from behind ones eyes? Dunno, but would love to hear the cure for that
Peaky Blinders. Must write that down. Every time I see it mentioned I remember that I wanted to watch it..and then I promptly forget..
Ha!! Yes, exactly that!!!!! Bravo.
You will love Peaky Blinder.
Peakly Blinders is one of our favourites too. Very good, albeit a bit dark.
When the aldehydes in No. 5 (edp) are too much for me I add a spritz of an eau de Cologne to soften things up. I’ve used the Chanel Eau de Cologne, Eau de Guerlain, and 4711 that way and really enjoy it.
Or (with thanks to Robin for this advice when I was overwhelmed by No. 5’s aldehydes years ago) I wear No. 5 parfum which feels softer to me.
I don’t wear No. 5 L’eau because the musk base smells raspy to my nose, boo, but I love the opening, it smells like a delicious floral lemon-lime soda.
Thanks Tiffanie, Good advise!
This might not always work, but spraying seems to amplify aldehydes for me – so maybe dab instead of spritz?
Kpaint, I have some samples that I can try, NEVER thought of that, Thanks!!
Wearing Jasmine et Cigarrette. I only watch cooking shows, jeopardy and the bachelor (I am so low-brow when it comes to TV!), and can’t remember the last time I went to a movie. Books for me, if I have some leisure time.
Member of Bachelor Nation here, too. Love it. Would absolutely try to talk a friend or family member out of it if they tried to audition. That being said, I wouldn’t miss a week.
You smell great!
I’ve seen quite a few movies this month and last and enjoyed most of them (Moonlight, Manchester by the Sea, Things to Come, Toni Erdmann, The Bad Kids, LaLa Land).
For all the teachers out there, The Bad Kids was really the “wow” for me. It’s a doc about a school in the Mojave Desert to help “delinquent” kids graduate from high school and focuses on the journey of several kids. Much respect for these teachers, and teachers in general. Might be limited release but if it shows up on Netflix, I highly recommend.
I also loved Moonlight and Things to Come with Isabelle Huppert. I think she’d wear L’Air de Rien.
So far, I’m wearing Ambra Nera by Farmacia SS Annunziata which is so cozy-smells like antiquing in a quaint town.
You smell lovely today!
Thank you, Stephanie????
I really like Ken Lonergan films and am looking forward to Manchester by the Sea. Your perfume sounds super duper.
His films are tense. Certainly not a feel good movie.
A generous NSTer sent me a sample of this perfume and I didn’t have any expectations for it but turned into a love for me. I’m sitting on my hands since it’s on sale at a certain NYC boutique.
That sounds like a wonderful scent. I’ve heard Manchester by the Sea is excellent.
I want to see Paterson (I think that’s it). My husband said it is very, very good.
I saw the trailer for Paterson last night. I’ll see it since I’m a fan of Jim Jarmusch.
Robin, somehow I was responding to a post in the freebie meet, and the poster’so entire email address showed up after I sent my reply. Idon’the know how that happened. I didn’the type the whole thing in. Can you remove the link? Or remove my whole post. I don’t want the bots to glomerular onto her email address. I feel awful.
Look, it did it for your address too! I have no idea why this is happening! Ugh.
Taken care of, and going to go fix there too right now.
Thanks so much. Now I will be afraid to type anyone’s name in a post!
I generally don’t watch TV so nothing to contribute there, more of a book and blog-reader person. Sampling the rest of the Jo Loves line, pleasant fresh scents but nothing I would reach for or buy. The only one I would wear is the Smoked Plum & Leather, but I wouldn’t buy it. I do really like the new Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka however – that goes on the purchase list after I finish SL La Myrrhe.
La Myrrhe was a revelation to me, and now I need a bell jar.
Myrrh and Tonka is lovely and smooth and the tonka is ‘just right’. Hope you enjoy it. I think it would be nice for our autumn. Just wish it was in 30ml.
I agree, it’s a shame they don’t offer the dark bottle concentrated scents in 30 mls like the rest of the line.
They’ve actually started offering the Cologne Intense line in 50ml bottles as well as 100ml bottles. The smaller bottles are available on the Jo Malone website – I haven’t been to a physical store lately, so I’m not sure if the smaller bottles are in stores yet.
We loved the Crowne, I read Queen Elizabeth (used to?) wear l’Heure Bleue, or Blue Grass apparently also a favourite.
I had hysterics after seeing a short Dutch video gone viral. In respect of the no politics policy on NST I won’t post the link, if you google The Netherlands welcomes (fill in the name of your president) in his own words you will find it. It is subtitled where Dutch is spoken, the rest is American English. The things, places, persons he described are all real and existing in the Netherlands. I am also a little bit proud that his came out of the Netherlands!
I will not put scent to the character implied, but there is a Dutch scent Eau d’Amsterdam which maybe fits. Or anything orange.
And I am wearing Stash, the best celebrity fragrance, it is great, it is fantastic! It’s true
HA! You funny! I am almost starting to feel sorry for the man, he is such an easy target.
Feeling sorry for him is a bit of a stretch for me, but I would be curious if these kinds of video’s give him a laugh.
I LOVED that video. It made me really happy. I was just in AMS for two days for a conference, and was happy to be in the country that put that out and that has been implementing other healing international policies
Not this time, unfortunately
I arrived at 08:30 on Thursday and left at 14:30 on Friday. But I did get to visit the Rijksmuseum the last time I went (also for a conference, also in the dead of winter), and it was great. My plan is to visit again sometime in late spring. Everyone else seems to love Amsterdam, so I expect I’ll like it too if it’s not below freezing 
The Crown is excellent. I’ve only watched about 3 episodes so far, but it’s great. Have you been watching Victoria on Masterpiece Theater? Good so far, but I’m annoyed by the blue contact lenses on Clara (whatever her real name is).
It really is, it is in my top 3 of best series ever (the Wire and Breaking Bad being the other 2, and ofcourse Downton..). But they had a budget!!! I saw one episode of Victoria after watching the Crown which is unfair to Victoria I suppose…
I saw it a couple of days ago and now I have a chuckle every time I hear “It’s true”
You smell great! Fantastic! … (you know…)
I have regular after chuckles too. And Stash is great!
I loved The Crown, and not being an anglophile (okay, being totally ignorant of English history) I found myself very confused about who the characters were and had a hard time keeping them straight. That is to say, I knew their names and knew of historical events, but didn’t quite understand who was who in the family and how they were related.
I finally did some research to set myself straight. Until I did, I had no idea that people renamed themselves when given a title. It’s both bizarre and confusing.
It is so different for ‘us’ Europeans, to us this is all normal, but ofcourse nothing really is… Churchill was so important for Europe because of his role in WW2, my father and late mother who were children during the war remember(ed) his speeches, had lots of stories about him, and about the British Royal family too, they are so familiar and so much part of our recent history. This added immensely to my enjoyment of the Crown. I hear there are a few more series to follow, at some point different actors will take over to keep up with the aging queen and Philip etc.
I’m thrilled there are more seasons to come! A little bummed about the change of actors, as I absolutely love Claire Foy and find her terribly engaging in any role she plays (and also mesmerizingly beautiful.) That said, putting makeup on actors to age them never works very well.
A fun video isn’t it? I’d seen Lubach on Zomergasten and wasn’t impressed, but this is good.
He really is! But not as fantastic as Lee Towers
Freebie alert! I still have a couple of things available – Demeter Freesia, and another mystery grab bag o’ samples. Hop on over there, y’all! Help me clear out!
TV… been watching Luther, mostly. Typically we binge-watch our way thru a whole series at once, we’re about halfway thru Luther now. Let’s see, what would John Luther wear? Something masculine, complex, and yet understated. I’ll let him wear my favorite incense, Armani Prive Bois d’Encens.
No scent yet, will be working thru some SP Parfums samples later.
Luther is fascinating to watch. That actor is one of those people, the camera loves him. It doesn’t matter what he is doing, I will watch it.
Idris Elba is yummy.
I somehow didn’t realize he was British until very, very recently (like, within the last month). I don’t mean to be colonial, but…his accent definitely upped his yumminess factor.
Ha! I contrarily find him sexiest as Stringer Bell, all Baltimore and cool — and evil.
Ah, he does a convincing American accent, then? That explains why I didn’t realize he was not American!
Love Luther.Intense.
Have you watched The Wire? I’d recommend it to any human being, really, but particularly Idris Elba fans.
One of the best series ever made, maybe the best IMHO.
In full agreement.
Agreed. I can dissect and criticize this and that and the other thing — precisely because it is such a great show. Nothing comes close to it IMHO. Mad Men at its best is the very different closest thing.
Yes, Elba fans (and everyone else) should watch the Wire.
And Idris Elba isn’t even the best part of The Wire! That’s how good the show is!
Oh, and Crazy Alice would definitely wear perfume, and plenty of it. Something classy, vintage-y, a bit animalic, and most definitely at a volume to provoke reaction. I’d scent her in Jicky.
Pixel i left you a post on your remaining items. Does your gravatar link to your email address?
No, my email address is at the top of my freebielist posting. emc dawt 7 1 1 7 at geeee-mail
Ok I just sent you an email, thanks. If you don’t receive it please shoot me an email to amboyer@icloud dot com.
Checking out Luther and the Wire next!
SmelWell!!
In terms of TV, I binged watched Westworld and enjoyed it. I’m also watching current seasons of Homeland and The Affair. Homeland is a great show but this season is off to a slow start. I like and dislike The Affair at times (it is schmaltzy…that may not be a real word) but I am invested in the show now so I continue to watch.
I played sample roulette today and am wearing Lalique Rеve d’Infini. Non descript floral musk…a waste…maybe I will even scrub off. Makes you wonder why it was produced. Life is too short for bad perfume.
Sample Roulette could be a great Friday perfume project!
I just put on some L’Air du Desert Marocain right over weak floral musk nonsense…BAM…take that, perfume mediocrity!
Hehe.
Funny, I like the slow start of this season of Homeland. The past couple of years have almost lost me; only Peter Quinn really kept me watching, or Rupert Freund as Peter Quinn. This season is really giving us a sense of what a great actor he is.
It lost me too, last year or the year before – I’ve lost track. But it’s better this year, you say (or at least has potential)?
Life is too short for bad perfume.
I didn’t participate in this week’s Friday scent poll, but I had a busy week and spent most if it in roses–I wore Lyric Woman, Portrait of a Lady, La Fille de Berlin, and plain old rosewater from Casswell Massey. From my early scent mania I was always a white flower girl, bring on the jasmine in full force, but now in my old age I am heading down the rose garden path!.
Well you had the best-smelling week EVER!!Rosewater is such a good product to have around.It is an instant mood-booster and awesome to spritz liberally during our current weirdly-wet Summer.
Ditto for orange blossom water. And in cold weather I’m a convert to Cafe Blanc—but not as a replacement for proper coffee of course!!
I had to look up what a cafe blanc even was, and now I am insanely excited to try it, so thank you!
I add just a titch of agave sweetener. Totally inauthentic, but works for me. Victoria and BdJ did a story on Cafe Blanc that inspired me to try it.
Lazing about in last night’s Chanel n. 22 EdP (which i like better than the EdT), when i get up it’ll be something different.
I love TV, the good and the bad. And I love British period shows from Masterpiece Theatre. Haven’t yet finished the least couple seasons of Downton Abbey.
But! My latest, most favorite find is Grantchester. A good looking & soulful vicar who solves crimes in and around his local village while carrying a torch for his childhood friend who is now engaged to a London politician? Oh my, my, my.
I watch via Amazon Prime, and I am parsing out the episodes slowly.
Just love.
I will check out Grantchester!
Get ready to swoon!
Oh, I will have to check out Grantchester! Handsome vicars and murderous mysteries in the countryside are some of my favorite things.
Also, it’s Australian,but you might like Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries! It’s set in Melbourne in the 1920s and follows a fabulous and well-dressed lady detective as she solves various crimes and meddles in people’s love lives. It’s on Netflix and there are three seasons.
I’d second Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
I have only seen the first two episodes, but I loved them. The books are very entertaining too!
The recommendation for Grantchester made me think of Miss Fisher, too!!! I third the recommendation. I LOVE it. (Only two seasons available on French Netflix, sadly, but that just means I have something to watch when I go back to the US!) I should go look for the books.
So glad there are other Fisher fans here! I just loved that show so much. Her wardrobe alone makes it worth a watch, but the writing itself is excellent too!
They do the period very nicely!
I agree on both counts!!! I LOVE those outfits. And the dialogue is so clever. It is SUCH a great show.
Yes, Miss Fisher is wonderful!! Great recommendation!
I’d love some more Aussie rex!
Grantchester sounds right up my alley. It sounds like a bit of a riff on Martha Grimes’ Richard Jury series, most of which I loved.
Ooh, I’ll check that out too.
Love Grantchester and Miss Fisher, and also Doctor Blake which is along the same lines.
Yes, Doctor Blake! Waiting on more episodes…i hope they happen
I liked Grantchaster as well – I’m waiting for the next season.
My mom has the biggest crush on the vicar in Grantchester. I guess she’s not the only one!
I have not crushed this hard on an actor since Chris O’Donnell in Circle of Friends.
The actor who plays the main character in Grantchester puts his impeccable bone structure to villainous use in Happy Valley (Netflix!), which I like a lot, although it is not particularly comforting. The human spirit generally triumphs, but only after going through a lot.
I’ve been soaking up the tips here as my French town is dead in winter and I watch far too much Netflix at night. I will try Grantchester and Trapped now. Currently I’m watching The Affair which is rather addictive and I really like the lead actors and haven’t seen Dominic West in anything since The Wire. Recently I’ve enjoyed The Crown, Marcella, The Keith Richards doco and Ray Donovan. I also agree with what was said earlier about Idris Elba. Luther and The Wire are both excellent. Peaky Blinders is good although very violent but I love the music they use – lots of Nick Cave. I also watch a lot of Marvel movies with the kids and Dr Strange is the best one of that genre I’ve seen in a while.
Your blog is so cute! I’ve never seen one set up that way before.
Haven’t read much yet, but I enjoyed your best of 2016 list.
Thank you nozknoz for taking a look.
Have you seen the recent western for which Nick Cave did the soundtrack? The name isn’t coming to me, but it starred Jeff Bridges and one of the Chris’s — Pine I think. The soundtrack and cinematography were the real stars of the show.
No but I will look this up right now. Thanks for the tip.
My work and even reading has been pretty grim lately so I have been trying to escape through rewatching various Jane Austen movies and tv shows that I can stream. I watched 3 Emmas in one day a couple of weekends back! My “counting sheep” bedtime musing is casting and plotting out a remake of Persuasion. I think after P+P, Persuasion is my favorite Austen–although less comedic than many of her others. I reread Persuasion as well since I couldn’t find any additional versions to stream…. Like I said, I’m on a bit of a jag!
Perfume? Oh yes…not in anything yet. I won a bottle of L’huere Bleue edp in the MSF drawing on Bois de Jasmin. That just might suit today.
Nice win! I won Norma Kamali Incense, I am so so so so so so so so thrilled.
Love Jane Austen, too. I’m feeling the need for some Jane, perhaps after I finish my current book, Neil Gaiman’s American Gods.
Though I did just buy Orwell’s 1984, it’s been a long time since I read that. Did you see that it’s the #1 book on Amazon this week?
I DID see that. I quoted from 1984 on my Facebook page a few days ago, and I post on Facebook about once every 6 months… Guess we are hardly alone.
Do tell – who did you cast in Persuasion?? I just re-watched Mansfield Park last night. Not P & P, but I really enjoyed it.
Actually my favorite thing to do is to update the story. My favorite version right now is of a young woman in college (she is from a wealthy Iranian family who has a beautiful home in Silicon Valley–came here in 1979, etc, etc) who brings her boyfriend home with her one holiday. He is a recent immigrant from Guatemala who is very bright and has huge dreams, but a thick accent and at the moment is in night school and washing dishes at a fancy restaurant in New Haven to send money home. You know what happens… Her family is HORRIFIED. She winds up dumping him…over the next 10 years she finishes college, goes to medical school, even does a stint with the Peace Corps in Guatemala… meanwhile our hero puts himself through law school and starts to build himself a political career in the Bay Area… So the story begins (ahem!) with our heroine coming home from a terrible date, and googling the name of our hero, and finding out that he is going to speak at a fundraiser in Silicon Valley for immigrants rights in a couple of weeks. She tells herself she needs to visit her family because her dad is lonely, but. . .
Okay. I better stop there! As for actors in the actual Austen version? Hugh Grant for the vain, self-absorbed, but slightly endearing father… Orlando Bloom for Captain Wentworth, and Anne Elliot? That actress from Larkrise to Candleford.
I would watch your update! Have you read Eligible?
I love the new version! You should write it up and post it on Fanfiction.net.
Hmm…now I’ll have to re-watch it with your new characters in mind. It makes me realize how old I am that Hugh Grant is now being cast as a father!
My escapism is via old movies, preferably the Technicolor variety. I’m not one to want to own movies (actually all my life I’ve been adamantly against it) but I asked my husband for 2 DVD collections for christmas. One is a compilation of Doris Day movies, including all 3 with Rock Hudson and Tony Randall; the other are Hitchcock from the 50s & 60s.
I could watch Pillow Talk, The Thrill of it All, That Touch of Mink, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest, and Rear Window over and over and over again and never get tired of them. Now I can! They’re particularly soothing if I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep.
On the Jane Austen topic, have you seen Death Comes to Pemberley? I’d be curious to hear what you think of it.
I have a similar Hitchcock set and it was worth every penny!
Love those Hitchcock movies as well. If you can find the Rock Hudson movie “Seconds,” a sci-fish movie about a man who trades his old life in for a new one, I bet you’d find it intriguing. Have that one plus Gambit in my TCM Shop cart–just sorta hate buying dvds nowadays.
Another Doris Day fan here. Pillow Talk is underrated. It’s very funny and modern. Has aged very well. I wish I had her figure and clothes.
I have seen Death Comes… but right now cannot even remember anything about it. So that perhaps is my opinion?
I have seen Death comes to Pemberley and wasn’t impressed. I’d suggest rewatching the original
I wasn’t impressed either. Didn’t like the book so not even sure why I watched the show.
If you want to watch something interesting and well made about Jane Austen maybe try Miss Austen regrets. It’s even got Hugh Bonneville in it.
Hope the grim goes away soon.
Have you seen Lost in Austen. It’s a mini series, where a young modern British woman who’s lives Jane Austen swaps place with Elizabeth
I love the movie of Persuasion with Ciaren Hinds. What’s to change?
I decided last year in August to switch off the tv/cancel the sattelite subscription.Have not even thought twice about switching it on again.Ever.Current affairs locally and worldwide just makes me sad/mad/frustrated.
I DO have a guilty pleasure,I have been binge-watching the Ellen Show Youtube snippets.Fun!Also subscribed to Love to Smell(Nick Gilbert and Pia’s vlog-FUNNY!!),and Tom Daley’s channel-well because Tom Daley.Lol.
SOTD smellbent The Dead of Winter.My first thoughts were:Penicillin Syrup!!(I had to drink tons of the stuff as a kid).It settles into a marzipan-y-cherry-Liquer-marshmallowy pillow of a fragrance.Of course I love it.Happy Weekend!!x
Lucky you! I would ditch the TV in a hot minute but my spouse and his son are TV addicts. It is truly the bane of my existence.
Comedy Central videos on Youtube are also a great way to deal with the current situation.
(like you I have no cable, satellite, etc.)
Has anyone watched the OA on Netflix? Good stuff if you enjoy ambiguity. Plus, modern dance!
Brit Marling? i liked her performance in Another Earth. Will look for OA.
My boyfriend is in his thirties and hasn’t seen much Seinfeld at all, so we’re going through that right now. Can’t think of a perfect scent though, maybe something beach-y for the time Kramer made his own perfume?
Also watching the anime Death Note, which would suit something dark from BPAL.
What about a perfume for the time he swam in the Hudson? Heh.
Yes! Eau De Dirty Harbor Water is perfect.
“It’s Ocean by Calvin Klein”. LOLOLOL.
I am such a Seinfeld nerd, that is fictional perfume Jerry’s model
girlfriend is in the ads for.
And Elaine’s nipple is visible in her Christmas card. LOL
I love that show !
The Pick episode.
The Pick episode was great. Also loved the “not that there’s anything wrong with that!” episode and the “Master of my Domain/Queen of the Castle” episode. That moment when Kramer comes bursting in, slaps his 20 on the counter and announces “I’m out!” – hilarious.
It’s freezing this morning by Florida standards (Deva, no heat! You’re a braver person than I), and SOTD is the warm Tauer Incense Rose.
I’ve been rewatching Parks and Rec lately because I love the characters and it never fails to make me laugh.
I started Stranger Things, but it just got too creepy for me. I have a very low threshold for being creeped out, so even though there was a lot about it that I liked, I had to stop.
The opposite of creepy is A Place to Call Home, the soapiest soap that ever soaped, but oh, so enjoyable. Set in 1950s Australia, I’m watching for the gorgeous costumes, amazing sets (Ash Park!), and the wonderful actors.
I am on the hold list at my library for Season 4 of Place to Call Home. Very enjoyable.
Parks and Rec is one of my default fun-to-watch shows. So clever and funny without crossing over into being mean-spirited like many shows do lately.
I liked Stranger Things very much. Will it help if I say that it has a good ending? It’s not a horror movie with the traditional “and then everyone was dead but the one survivor who spent years in therapy only to meet the same monster in the sequel.”
Just watched all 7 seasons of Mad Men and Season 2 of Outlander. Reading second book of the latter’s series. Waiting to get Season 5 of Game of Thrones from the library. Still prefer Vikings.
Using up my bottle of LL Sweet so that I can begin a bottle of L’Eau de Minuit 2013.
Mad Men is great fun. It’s another one I loved because of the sets and costuming.
I read the Outlander series years ago and saw season one. I didn’t hear much about a season two so I am glad you mentioned it. I’ll have to watch for it.
Petunia: Because the second season takes place in Paris, the clothes are fabulous. The show has a different timeline than the book but it all works very nicely. This show has made me actually read the giant books!
kpaint: The clothes and sets in Mad Men are a mid-century dream. Even the fabrics were so authentic! Because I inherited my parents’ home, I am surrounded by Danish Modern teak furniture and the show inspired me to resurrect some narrow vertical pictures of 3D birds which I had made as a child. They are now proudly displayed on the hallway walls. Upon moving in, my husband and I set about painting over as much of the brown, yellow, and orange as we could. We neutralized most of it. The woven curtains and pointy plastic light fixtures had to go!
Thanks for the info Celestia!
The books for the Outlander series are huge but they still held my interest. Luckily, I read pretty fast.
I really enjoyed season one of the series so I am glad that season two is also good.
My grandparents bought a 1955ish rambler a few years after it was built, furnished it, and never did much of an upgrade after that. Their children took all of the newer furnishings and left all of the MCM stuff behind, which I’ve had in my apartment since.
I tend to pay more attention to props, costuming, art (Mad Men had GREAT art), makeup, architecture, etc. when I’m watching TV or movies and thus miss a lot of dialogue and plot points
If you haven’t watched the Endeavor series yet, you will love it just for the visuals. Like Mad Men, they’re really consistent (some period pieces aren’t, which is always jarring) so you can get totally lost in the era.
Thanks, kpaint, I’ll give Endeavor a try. Mad Men did have great modern art (and others) on the walls!
I watched Lily Tomlin in the movie Grandma recently and loved it. A simple plot ( Tomlin and her grand daughter need to find $600 for the teenager’s abortion ), terrific characters … All ‘imperfectly’ human. Tomlin’s character is broke so she would have to wear a scent she bought some time ago, something a bit feisty, subversive but aesthetically pleasing …. Maybe something like Rive Gauche, Calandre or Bandit.
John Hurt’s death reminds me of the great TV series I Claudius and his portrayal of Caligua . What would he wear? Hate to think.
Feeling gloomy as the 7 week summer school holiday comes to an end on Tuesday . Wearing Beloved in honour of my son.
Caligula would wear Secretions Magnifique!
I was thinking the same. I remember my mom watching it when it originally aired and it seemed SO scary! (It probably still is!)
I haven’t tried it but it sounds perfect and a good John Hurt link to yesterday’s Alien mentionand match.
Oh my, I didn’t know he played Caligula in I, Claudius. He was so, so, so perfectly creepy and disturbing in that role! My favorite character is Livia, though – so wonderfully unscrupulous.
We’ve been watching The Affair and The Americans lately while waiting for GOT to start up again, and am dipping my toe in Westworld a bit. I’m not a huge fan of either of the “The’s” but they’re watchable, and Westworld is intriguing. Also rewatched the first couple of episodes of Breaking Bad the other night – what a great series that was. No movies have grabbed me lately. Scenting characters … hmmm. Jesse in BB would wear Axe body spray, of course; Helen in The Affair would wear something ridiculously expensive (JAR, maybe?), or else something cheap and bohemian to irritate her mother; and neither of the Jenningses (the faux Americans) would wear scent at all (too bourgeois and might interfere with clandestine activities anyway), but Nina would definitely wear scent – something incredibly warm and sexily feminine. I’ll have to give that some thought. My SOTM is vintage Vol de Nuit, found on etsy recently.
Breaking Bad..wow, what a ride that was! One of the best series I’ve seen. I never watched it when it first came out but started binge watching it so we could see the finale when it aired. Brian Cranston is so great in it.
Same here! Mr. G had become addicted watching it as it came out, and then backtracked to watch from the beginning with me – we caught up just before the finale. An amazing show.
Cannot wait for The Americans (and Fargo too for that matter.) Elizabeth can’t be bothered with perfume, but I bet Paige would wear Enjoli or something of that ilk, and the Jennings men would favor Old Spice or Brut.
I haven’t watched anything lately, but if you have some time I’d recommend The Knick (Clive Owen is amazing!) and second suggestion for Peaky Blinders.
SOTD- TF Sahara Noir.
Have a Happy Weekend!
Love The Knick! Waiting impatiently for season 3…
Very little free time these days to watch anything, but I’m eager to get a hold of some of the earlier Mary Tyler Moore series.
I do miss Downton Abbey. I really looked forward to that show and appreciated that it was a short season. And a couple of movies are on my list to see before the Oscars.
Last night I enjoyed an off-Broadway Hamlet production that a good friend was in. Very well done, but so dang long!
Scent-wise I started off today with Bottega Veneta but my husband was not happy about that so I washed it off and put on Rose Jam via the Pearl massage bar. Smelling very jammy!
Downton Abbey was a favorite for me, too. Although when things got Quite Awful for Anna I stopped watching in protest, just could not bear to watch her be tortured. I guess it was too real for me. After a year or so I had to go back and finish the series. I’m so glad I did. Someday I may find time to watch it from the beginning again.
DA was such a good show!
I guess they wanted to end it while it was still popular.
Happy weekend, NST. Thank you for sharing what’s great to watch now. It’s wonderful to be reminded that there is so much out there. The arts (whether high or low-brow) are important, food for the mind and heart.
Last evening I wore a cloud of No. 5 edp. This morning I woke up craving Bois Blonds, the perfect complement/antidote. My little sample is almost empty. I guess I’ll add a bottle to the wishful-thinking list. I love woody and aromatic scents more and more as time goes on.
I craving comfort TV that won’t keep me awake at night so I’m watching the Amazon Prime Japan series with Jonathan Sherr. Very relaxing and interesting imagery plus listening to spoken Japanese makes me calm. The last episode I watched is about cats in Japan. Meow!
LOVING the Japan series on Amazon . You’re right it’s very relaxing, loving the tea episode at the moment
The tea episode is beautiful. I must watch the ryokan episode again while wearing Geisha Vanilla Hinoki.
If you like cats + Japan, you should check out the Neko Atsume trailer!
Oh! Thank you for the tip, that trailer is adorable. I have Neko Atsume and MitchiriNeko apps on my phone. Such fun.
I am an unapologetic TV watcher and am always looking for recommendations, so I’m excited about this weekend’s topic. I watch everything – trashy stuff (Housewives et al) political news-y stuff and high brow-y Masterpiece-y stuff.
Some things I’ve enjoyed in the last few years that haven’t been mentioned yet:
The new Upstairs Downstairs (Now on amazon. Ed Stoppard is dreamy, particularly here.)
House of Cards (the new Netflix version, which seemed way OTT and unrealistic until… about a week ago)
The Newsroom (also on amazon – almost as OTT as House of Cards but fun nonetheless)
Mr. Selfridge (if you were put off by the akwardly bad acting of the first few episodes, keep going – it gets really good)
The Paradise (similar story as above, but slightly earlier time period – also goes from a bit dull to really juicy. Netflix)
The Honorable Woman (very affecting, well-done and engaging mini-series. Also, Maggie Gyllenhall’s wardrobe is gorgeous. Netflix)
Poldark (A Harlequin romance bodice-ripper set in the 1800s? Sure, why not. The new/remake is available on amazon.)
Brain Dead (A kind of oddball political satire, but also kind of fun. Amazon.)
Good Girls Revolt (Not as good as it could be [writing and acting fall a bit short IMO] but worth watching. Also made me wish women were still having “consciousness-raising” meetings so I could join one. We need to bring them back! Amazon mini-series)
Poirot (Netflix has all 13 seasons.)
The West Wing (Bush-era escapism seems especially needed today. Plus, Rob Lowe. Netflix has all seasons.)
The Bletchley Circle (Totally unrealistic and rather creepy at times, but still – Bletchley girls! Netflix)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Watchable comedy, worth it just for the Pinot Noir song. Netflix)
30 Rock (I missed it the first time around but watched the whole thing last summer. Question: was Alec Baldwin doing Trump as Jack Donaghy or is Donald Trump playing Jack Donaghy right before our eyes? Because long before he played him on SNL, Alec Baldwin was doing Trump on 30 Rock. It’s uncanny, really.)
Indian Summers (Amazon has both seasons. I found season 1 quite difficult to watch, but it’s a multi-sensory experience with great acting and writing.)
Wolf Hall (My husband had to talk me into this one, but I’m glad he did. Mini-series originally done for PBS, now available on amazon.)
Finally – what’s the deal with Home Fires? There’s got to be another season, right? Has anyone heard when it’s airing?
Am enjoying the drydown of Sulékó Djelem.
30 Rock is straight up comfort TV for me, and it makes for excellent repeat viewings. The episodes are stuffed to the gills with jokes, so you could never remember all of them. Plus, I love the way Liz’s happy ending plays out.
Oooh I didn’t know they made Wolf Hall into a miniseries! That sounds wonderful
I loved the books!
Poldaaaark!
I love Poldark 
Not sure what made me think of it, maybe Indian Summers, but have you (or anyone here) watched The Durrells? I haven’t read Ny Family and Other Animals so I have no comparison but I really enjoyed it. Because Greek islands and period drama- what’s not to like?
Wow! That was great! You could be a T. V. blogger/reviewer.
Thanks, you’ve given me some good ideas and reminded me of others on my to-watch list!
The West Wing was, and still is, very much worth watching — brilliant writing. Thanks for the reminder on this one and the others listed!
I’ve been enjoying Superstore a lot. It’s a workplace comedy that alternates between really charming jokes and really weird ones. I think if you liked Parks and Recreation, you’d enjoy this show. I’m sure they mostly sell celebrity scents and reformulated drugstore classics, so pick your favorite! And I recently saw “Two Cars, One Night” – something with booze, gas, and leather, maybe? Or something special to NZ? Maybe NZers will enlighten me!
Haven’t been able to focus enough to pick a perfume today. Every time I stand up, I think of something else I want to do (and half the time, fail to do it). That’s okay, though, it’s Saturday.
Superstore is so funny!
It is! Somehow Mark McKinney’s funny voice works, too.
Another Super Store fan here. There’s something real about it, even as it is TV-land.
We recently watched Love & Friendship, and if I hadn’t known beforehand that it was based on a Jane Austen novella, I would have sworn it was written by Oscar Wilde. SO much fun, and so very amoral!
It’s Sample Saturday, and I have to confess that I’m not making a dent in my sample backlog since a fresh batch of goodies just arrived from TPC. The surprise standout of the bunch: Ella. I was looking forward to smelling it, since it’s gotten so many glowing reviews, but I wasn’t expecting them to so perfectly nail a glamorous, 1970s-era fragrance, and I also wasn’t expecting it to fill me with joy, but here I am. It smells like something my mother would have worn, and it’s making me so, so happy!
L&F was SO entertaining. I think you’re right about the Wilde reference. I haven’t read Lady Susan in some time, so my memory might be wrong on this, but I think I thought it was entertaining and wicked – but not exactly funny. The movie plays up the absurdity.
Glad you had such a great time with Ella!
Watched this last night too and found it very . . . droll. I love Whit Stillman.
BTW, I’m purging some stuff from my collection (bottles, minis, samples) and will be packing them up in the next week or so to give away. If you’re interested, and willing to pay for shipping, send me an email and I’ll let you know what I’ve got. Return emails should go out within the next week or so.
Thanks so much to Hamamelis for the Trump link! That really cheered me up. And lovely to hear Dutch again. I learned it for my PhD but I’ve hardly spoken/ heard it since, so it whisks me back to feeling young(er hem hem).
I only really watch tennis but my sons (and husband) just got really into Adventure Time. I quail at scenting that – something by ELDO? Tennis: Roger Federer = Roja Vetiver Extrait or its parfum replacement? What about the Williamses?
A scent for adventure time? That’s hard. Something gothy and incense heavy for Marcelina, certainly. Lolita Lempicka for Princess Bubblegum. Something really outre with huge silage for Lumpy Space Princess. Lemongrab smells like lemon Pledge. Not sure what the Ice King or Finn would wear, but I feel like Jake would surprise me and wear something very elegant and classy…
Scenting animated characters is hard!
Graag gedaan mevrouw Dalloway! It may be the one redeeming factor, a lot of good laughs the coming years (I hope!!!).
I watch whatever TV shows The Other Mr Koenigsberg (henceforward TOMK) chooses. Left to myself I would probably watch Travel and History shows non-stop, if I could be bothered to put down the laptop and find where the TV is. That said, I loved The Shield back in the day and I recommend Justified although I’m a couple of series behind.
In Malaga we jointly binge-watched Modern Family and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. I tolerated Grimm and Crossing Borders and did not tolerate Zoo (ostentatiously wretched drivel – TOMK is addicted to trash TV). Now we are back in the UK so the selection will be different.
This week for my Christmas present (very late because a thousand things got in the way and also the great SAC Perfumes in Malaga was closed for holidays in early Jan) I got a FB of Jesus del Pozo “Arabian Nights”, a rose-and-oud that I like after repeated tests. I got samples of Amouage “Bracken Man” and “Myths Man” – sniffed Bracken Man at the shop and I really liked it, so if it has lasting power that could be my birthday present in Summer.
SOTD today is Baruti “Voyance” which, like all Barutis, is nicely done. I won’t be getting it for myself though. Notes are Tuberose, Guaiac wood, Vetiver, Sandalwood and Musk. All my perfumes this week have been from the Blooms sample pack for December, featuring benzoin. Disliked Merchant of Venice “Venetian Blue” and was indifferent about Olfactive Studio “Autoportrait” and Carner Barcelona “El Born”. As scents, I liked both Phaedon “Tabac Rouge” and Merchant of Venice “Sultan Leather”, but neither had acceptable lasting power on my skin.
On Friday, our last day in Malaga when we should have been winding down and packing, we instead picked up our new bank cards, took the train and then a taxi to Marbella to appoint a lawyer and sign stuff with a notary, and then rushed back to Malaga to see another apartment. Next week I’ll find out what sort of a mortgage I can take out on our UK house to buy somewhere in Spain. We saw one house we really loved but someone else was already interested and paid the deposit today, which I would not do as I haven’t yet arranged a line of credit. We’re not upset about it though because we only started looking 10 days ago so it’s a bit early to decide there’s only 1 house in the whole city that would suit us. :^)
Also the prospect of it being something we really, truly could do has been sobering for TOMK. Athough he loves the city even more than I do, he has no friends there. (Nor do I, but I have no friends here either! My very small group of friends is scattered across Europe and are more likely to come see me in Malaga than in the industrial Midlands).
Finally, I have no contract lined up, although plenty of nibbles. I have to spend this week in the UK and Ireland. If I then still don’t have anything lined up I’ll be tempted to go back to Malaga and look at more houses and apartment. It’s all making for an exciting start to 2017. :^D
K, is this going to be a vacation home for you, and will Brexit have any effect on your ability to get medical treatment there?
It could be an additional home for the Winter months and holidays (TOMK has MS and the access to sunlight and warmth in Winter is very good for his health, which otherwise declines markedly). Or we could sell up in the UK and just move. The 2nd course of action is more affordable but *might* put me the wrong side of a post-Brexit visa regime. UK-Ireland arrangements pre-date the EU by decades so that would need a big change. But for the moment at least I have no confidence in the UK public’s ability to make sound decisions.
Oh, and TOMK is applying for an Irish passport so Brexit won’t affect us in Spain.
Hang in there, these things often fall through for the other buyers….
Best of Luck, I envy you your adventure!!
Was Bracken ferny-green or like earthy-bracken, or both? Very traditional masculine fern? I would love to smell it.
To me it was deliciously green and fresh, whilst TOMK noticed earthy notes. It reminded me of some men’s fragrance I smelt years ago, so traditional masculine yes, but nicely re-interpreted maybe? I will report back on how the sample works in practice. I have not had good luck with Amouage on the longevity front, as surprising as that may be.
Oh, I loved the Shield. It was the first series I watched that really made me reappraise what tv was and could do. Such a great and under appreciated show!
A nicely ambiguous series if ever there was one – I found myself rooting for the ‘wrong’ characters AND pleased when they were found out. It annoys me now to see CCH Pounder reduced to playing a folksy coroner in NCIS New Orleans. (But that whole branch of the NCIS franchise just annoys me anyway).
I hate NCIS as well, but at the same time I’m pleased for CCH–those series are cash cows and if any actress deserves a big payday, it’s her.
I rooted for the “wrong” guys and was pleased when they were caught, too. The ending of that series was something try special. I think about Vic Mackey in that cubicle a lot.
Looks like we have a Walton Goggins fan here. I adore him — he looks alarmingly like one of my brothers — and loved Justified.
He is a great character in Justified! And Timothy Oliphant is just so cool as Raylon Givens.
Have you checked out Walton in Vice Principals? It’s an excellent show and his comedic timing is impeccable! He’s definitely one of my favorite actors.
Interesting, I have the Dec Bloom benzoin pack but a different selection of scents! Mine had Sucre d’Ebene, Terre de Sarment, L’Oiseau de Nuit (rather good) and a couple more I haven’t tried yet. My Jan pack has been lost in the post but they’re looking into it.
I guess you got the women’s pack? I enjoyed L’Oiseau de Nuit earlier in the year, although it was too low key for me. Terre de Sarment similarly didn’t hang about long enough. Sucre d’Ebene was like a kind of Japanese grape-flavoured chew we get in the Chinese supermarket – nice as a sweet, not so great as a perfume for me. :^)
January men’s selection is tolu balsam, peru balsam and elemi.
Ah, I’d forgotten there are different ones – mine is unisex. Yes, I wasn’t keen on Sucre d’Ebene either!
Every time I see TOMM, my. brain associates kt with someone wearing a tomahawk hair style.
With all the Brexit madness, maybe tha would be the subject of the next contract.
Indeed, TOMK is a punk aficionado although not currently sporting a mohawk. :^)
From a contract POV, Brexit is the gift that keeps on giving. Companies will certainly have to make changes, but they are freezing investments until they know what those changes will be. The 2-year negotiation period starts in March, so it could be a while before any clarity emerges.
Eeek on my typos…I was multi-tasking. Anyway, we’ve got senior leaders who had been pulled out of their day-to-day roles since last year to plan for Brexit even without clarity.
Wearing one little spritz of bois d’armenie, as I’m in workshop today…
Not so much into movies right now, I’ve been digging the escapism and transportation of series…
The Code is great, though Canadian Netflix just has the 1st series.
Canadian Amazon is awful, I got the free 1 month trial because I want to see Fleabag, but apparently it’s just for our American pals.
Can’t wait for the next Fargo.
Money saved!
Canadian Netflix, on the other hand, is really good. You get a lot of stuff we don’t get here. Though that works both ways.
Today was a beautiful, sunny cold day so perfect for Chanel N 5, EDP. The flowering apricots were blooming at the Norfolk Botanical Garden so Spring is just around the corner!
Binge watching Supernatural because, well, I love Sam and Dean!
Dean is very easy on the eye. I sometimes enjoy that series. At other times I am left swearing at the TV as the evil scriptwriters ‘make’ one or other of the brothers do something transparently daft which they can then spend the next 5 episodes undoing.
I love Sam and Dean too (especially Dean). I wish the show was more consistent, as I have been trudging through the later seasons. I love the first 5 though.
Currently, my favorite show is Superstore. Being in retail, this show cracks me up every episode. It’s funny because it’s true! Last season i really enjoyed a show called Better Things on FX, a darker comedy about a single mother. I believe it’s produced by Louis C K. Most of all I am looking forward to Baseball season starting (not soon enough). Today I wore Atelier Camilla Intrepide, and received a nice compliment. This might be my tax refund present (although, still contemplating)
I enjoy Superstore too. Clever and funny.
Yesterday I looked at my little stash of Atelier Cologne samples and realized they have released quite a few I haven’t tried yet. Time to investigate.
I’ve been rewatching a lot of the Studio Ghibli movies lately. Love Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving castle! I was out looking at antique stores today and looking at some perfumes they had for sale. There was nothing really old or special, a few empty bottles and a half used modern Shalimar. However, woman nearby remarked that she had some vintage perfumes she was looking to sell and hoped she could get better prices than what they were asking. I gave her my contact info so we’ll see if she has anything good!
Totoro! I love that movie. So many of the Ghibli are really special.
Wow, that sounds promising. I hope that the lady from the antiques store contacts you. The last time that I was in an antique antique store, they didn’t have much either. I found a vintage Arpege. The top notes are a little off but it smells pretty. I also found a perfume called Ninja that smells pretty good but doesn’t last very long on my skin. I hope she has something great!
What a funny perfume name! I am not sure what I would expect a perfume called “Ninja” to smell like. Very, very sneaky, yet deadly?
???? It is a powdery scent yet deep. Definitely of it’s time.
Westworld is worth the hype. Something skanky would suit the Madam Maeve like Salome. The Good Place is smart and funny, a sitcom about the afterlife that serves as a philosophy 101 course and has the adorable Kristian Bell. Also watching Lost Girl on Netflix. A dark urban fantasy about a bi succubus. She’s not evil though. She’s presented as a fairy not a demon. Something sexy, but modern for Bo, I would say the Serge Luten Rose and leather fragrance- rose de nuit? Any Rose/ leather would do
My DH doesn’t like watching most series so I can’t make any worthwhile recommendations. Although I recently watched a Sherlock Holmes series on Masterpiece Theater with Benedict Cumberbatch (too lazy to check the spelling) which was excellent. The hubs generally prefers documentaries, history or politics which means that I often fall asleep.
I wore Cocoa Tuberose during the daytime. My sample of Bois de Iris came in today so I sprayed some on for evening. I’ll have to test it further but I don’t think I’ll need to buy this one.
Waiting for Call the Midwife to start up again. Right now I am wearing vintage Miss Dior today. It socks that there isn’t a whole lot on TV that is catching my fancy.
I love Miss Dior, and should wear it next week – it is so refined and elegant!
I love the vintage version. I can’t remember trying out the current version of it and wonder if it’s any good.
I also have several vintage bottles (parfume and EdC), but the latest that I tried – EdT right before the “originale” naming abomination (I know nothing about the juice), was still quite good. Now I’m thinking if I have enough, or should I buy some of the older bottles as a back-up?..
In the vestiges of last nights Felanilla and smellin’ fine. Suits the cold grey rainy weather we are having to a “T.”
It’s a good day for indoor craft projects so I’m off to Michaels. Cheers all!
I watch a lot of tv and movies, but the movies are mainly horror across a certain spectrum (b-movies, 80s, giallos, lots of John Carpenter, sci-fi horror). However, I can easily recommend to all Moonlight. It was so beautiful. Some tv shows I’ve recently watched and enjoyed are the new Tom Hardy one, Taboo (it’s quite strange), The Magicians for silly fun (read the book series too), Luke Cage, Penny Dreadful, The Affair (while I loved the first two seasons, the third is just ok), Westworld, Black Mirror, Mr. Robot, and I eagerly await The Handmaid’s Tale.
Scentwise this weekend, I decided yesterday that Ella is not for me. It was my first time wearing it out for the day, and it just didn’t do anything for me. I think I’ll list it in the next swap meet. BUT I had success at my neighborhood Goodwill when I found a vintage mini set in a nice wooden box. The scents included are Hermes Caleche, Gres Cabochard (the only empty one), Rochas Byzance, Eau de Givenchy, and Van Cleef & Arpels First. They all seem to be intact, and I was really enjoying Byzance last night.
I also need to make special mention of last weekend’s Goodwill find (this place is a gold mine, I tell ya). It was Serge Lutens Un Lys in the export bottle, 60% full for $19.99!!! It smells so good and is that wonderful orangey pink color from the vanilla. Past finds at the same store include vintage Hermes Amazone and Chanel No. 19 EDT, Shalimar EDC, and The Different Company Kashan Rose. Sigh…this is why I feel compelled to go in the store at least once a week. They also had a bottle of Diptyque Do Son that I passed on. It was about half full for $29.99.
Wow you have a really amazing Goodwill store! Where is this store located, if you don’t mind sharing?
It’s in a popular neighborhood in Seattle. ????
Thanks for the tip! I’ve seen them list perfumes on ebay. Now I’ll have to go to the B&M store.
Impressive! Lovely finds!
Oh my goodness, you have a magical Goodwill! Those are some fantastic finds.
Also, it would seem our taste in horror movies is similar! Love Carpenter and have been diving into giallos lately.
Nice! Let me know if you want to trade favorites or recommendations.
I am having a failure streak. This morning my son sprayed a whole bottle of my new Miyako! on my laptop! Probably, because of it being oil- based, the damage seems limited to unsightly spots in the screen, but perhaps it will manifest itself in the future. In other news, we have adopted a 1 year old cat, but instead of keeping my son company, he quickly became as harassed as me. He tolerates my son’s antics meekly, but only looks for a chance to run away and hide. He only comes out when my son leaves for school or sleeps, and climbs on my lap to get his dose of petting and purring.
I hope your laptop ends up being safe!
I am in Beige, my new sample I got at the Chanel counter. Its the EDP, and I love it. Perfect for a sunny but cold day
I am a little late to the party but better late then never.
Spent yesterday celebrating the Lunar New Year with my little monkey..we went to some festivities.
Shows I enjoy, The Crown, Sherlock Holmes, I find myself watching re-runs of episodes from Grace & Frankie (hope they do another season)
Want to check out Victoria on PBS as well.
I’m not much into TV shows but I plan to watch the Amazon series Z: The Beginning of it All, a series about Zelda Fitzgerald.
I saw the French film “Elle” last weekend and wore my new favorite Rose en Noir by Miller Harris. A very dark film. Still not completely sure how I feel about it.
Today I am wearing an old favorite Creed’s Vanilla Sublime.
Oh, yay! I didn’t realize the full series was available. Thanks for the reminder!
SOTD is my new Jesus del Pozo “Arabian Nights”.
Top: thyme and rose;
Mid: vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli, guaiac wood, cedar and saffron;
Base: musk, labdanum, amber and oud.
It hasn’t really been enough to counteract the grumpiness at being back in a dreary industrial city in the murky grey drizzle we’ve had all day.
Just started watching Mad Men on Netflix. It’s starting off a little slow, but I am intrigued enough to keep viewing. Jon Hamm is not bad to view, either, lol!
Stick with it! It picks up after the first season.
You betcha!