Happy Almost-Friday! (And a very happy birthday to Jimmy Page. OOPS. Sorry. It is not Jimmy Page's birthday today.) What fragrance are you wearing?
Snow day here, and I'm staying warm in Guerlain Jicky.
Reminder: on 2/10, wear a fragrance with lavender, if you have one. (And if you need help, see Erin's 5 perfumes for: a Lavender Contrarian, where you'll also find many more recommendations in the comments.)
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.
Note: top image via THE MAKING OF GUERLAIN METEORITES at Escentual.
I am sampling Tauer Reverie au Jardin today. It’s very different from ‘normal’ lavender scents I am used to. Actually, I am not sure I would recognize lavender here if I had not checked the notes beforehand! It smells of sweet herbs and balms, though it is neither a gourmand or oriental fragrance. It is soft, it is delicate and it feels like a sweet green floral powder.
I need to smell that again, it’s been so long. Do you like it?
You know, so far rather no than yes. I have just added a spritz and was able to detect lavender this time, but it is quickly turning into something metallic green, and I do not like this transformation.
Thanks. It was not my favorite either.
Oh NO!! one of my faves from Andy. I know that I am in the minority, but I love this one. Wore it yesterday and will probably wear it tomorrow.
I love it too. Maybe I’ll join you tomorrow. 🙂
I think we all have fragrances only we seem to appreciate and love. 🙂
I’m loving all these lavender coloured images, as I’m loving wearing my lavender perfumes. My SOTD is PdN Maharadjah, which is a spicy lavender, that is very warming in winter.
Glad you are enjoying lavender week!
The photos this week have been great fun. I’m loving lavender week. It’s a favorite color, scent, and flower.
I’ve had a bottle of lavender essential oil out to play with since last weekend, and I’m reminded that sometimes EO is the way to go. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration.
I should buy some. I’d love to have a very light lavender lotion.
Trader Joe’s lavender hand & body lotion is my favorite. 🙂
I love my Florame lavender body lotion. Although I only use it in summer, I need something a bit more hydrating at this time of year.
Thanks both!
SOTD and Lavender #4 is Etat Libre d’Orange “Antihéros”. My first ‘sample’ lavender as #1-#3 were from my own FBs.
Notes are lavender, musk, cedar and ‘woody notes’ (iso-E Super).
Weak lasting power and sillage. If it didn’t exist, nobody would miss it. [And if anybody did, I understand if you tweet La Maison Blanche they have someone there now who has nothing better to do with his time than complain about department stores dropping lines]. ;^D
Oh, and I should have shared that I made my first purchase of 2017, a FB of Profumi di Pantelleria “Maestrale”. I loved the sample and used the last few drops for night time or pre-shower ‘temporary’ scent, which confirmed it’s a keeper. :^)
I do that, too. Evening/pre-shower/before bedtime are often reserved for wearing samples that are growing dear to my heart. Glad something new passed the test for you in 2017. Congratulations on your FB!
Thanks tiffanie! I am more and more reticent to get new FBs as I regret earlier impulsive or even blind buys. But when something proves its worth, how can I resist? :^)
Trying to limit myself to 1 per month in 2017. Well, at least until there’s some money coming in again (looking for the next contract, might take until March).
Lolita Lempicka. Well, the bottle’s lavender-coloured, anyway. I was in a gourmand-licorice mood and Brin de Reglisse wasn’t going to cut it.
Points for the bottle color, why not?
Agree the bottle color counts! and if the smell of LL had a color it would be lavender.
Wearing Lorenzo Villoresi Teint de Neige. Perfect for this snowy, windy and cold day here in NYC.
You smell even better than yesterday! Stay warm! I haven’t even left for work yet.
That is for sure! So no complaints here today! 😀
I arrived at work at 8am and the commute was really tough, mainly because of the wind. Have a safe trip to work and stay warm.
You smell so good. New Yorkers- and everyone in the Northeast Corridor-stay warm and safe!!
Thank you.
Whenever Teint de Neige is mentioned I go sniff my little metal tin of Nivea. Such a gentle comforting scent. 🙂 You smell lovely.
I love those little tins, too. My H might have one around – will have to give it a sniff. I hadn’t associated the scent with TdN, which I find comforting and soothing as well.
I have never made that association. I definitely have to sniff my tin. I am so curious now…
No snow in VA! No SOTD- this former Nordstrom girl plans to spend some money at Nordstrom today, so leaving the wrists clean for testing! Although Frederic Malle still hasn’t made it to our local Nordstrom, boooo.
I hear there’s a (now) well-known line on clearance…
Nobody wants it, can’t imagine why………..
LOLOLOL
😉
LOL You are rough! 😉
Not even for free! 😀 😀
Which one?
Out of respect for NST and its comment policy, I think it is best to avoid specifics, but many news stories pop up right away in a quick Google search for Nordstrom.
One belonging to a US political family I believe…..
Oh, that. I thought there were some fragrances on clearance at Nordies that I missed 🙂
Guys, behave!
You say “our local Nordstrom” so casually… I’m just a wee bit jealous. 🙂
Yeah, we don’t have one either. Just a Rack which is always a huge, dense mess.
Ugh! Pawing through the Rack can be rewarding ( I always seem to score DVF dresses, IN MY SIZE, for like 60% off) but you have to DIG.
I’m so sorry- so insensitive of me, Mals! 🙁 A local Nordstrom should not be taken for granted, even without Frederic Malle. (Is this a bad time to bring up the adjacent Neiman’s and Saks? 😮 )
Smh……
Non-lavender SOTD is Bulgari Black, which is behaving so politely today that even I have to make an effort to remember what I’m wearing (not that’s ever been strong)
You can’t ever go wrong with that one!
l’eau hiver today. I really cannot see a single lavender scent in my collection which is odd as I sew embellished lavender sachet to sell all the time.
I tried a sample of l’eau d’hiver for the first time a few weeks ago. I need to get it out and try again.
I’m in awe of your talent for creating lavender sachets! I love them for under my pillow at night. 🙂
these are quite embellished with beds, silk ribbon, hand made flowers etc. so I leave them out next to my perfume bottles to be seen.
Yay !
Shoveling snow in lieu of the morning workout.
Amber Musc Narciso Rodriguez, non-fecal oudh, warm musk, some orange blossoms in the topnotes, and amber.
Smells amazing wafting from sweaty skin.
Post shower, maybe Jicky extrait, maybe tomorrow instead………..
Triple strength coffee, and lots of it! !!!!!!
😀
Carpe Diem. Peace.
Ummm how can I forget?
Nobody’s Fault but Mine.
😉
These speakers go to eleven, I will shoot for twelve!
😉
Oh, live a little and aim for 13, Bear! That song brings back memories of very late nights, great friends, and wild shenanigans during college/graduate school days.
Shoveling snow IS a workout! When I did my walk a few weeks ago I was all “Oh, so this is why I do squats!”
Yes!
Working out makes mundane tasks easier to do, and frankly, enjoyable.
Cold is not my favorite climate, but I had a good time.
Shoveling snow. 😀
Indeed! I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easily I was able to do the shoveling! It was still hard ( I was moving 10-15 inches of snow and ice) but was something I can do and enjoy!
That NR sounds lovely, but as it seems to be unavailable in the US I’ll pretend I never heard of it. And yes, NOT working out makes mundane tasks really difficult – both at the time and days later due to soreness, thrown out back, etc. I’ve got to get back to the gym. It’s kind of scary to be so weak. Kudos to you!
Oh, and as to those non-existent coffrets, I’m guessing ebay will be flooded with 4ml “samples” soon. (Though I’ve bought 2 Exclusifs and neither came with any kind of GWP – and didn’t even come in a Chanel bag! Harumph.)
Yes, I have purchased Exclusifs from BG and was informed, “Chanel does not do samples.”
But the Tom Ford rep I purchased from was most generous with Private Blend samples, and threw in large samples of outrageously expensive skin care. So…ok. LOL
And thank you, kpaint. Working out is a gift you give to yourself, you deserve it.
The Chanel boutique at Saks gives manufacturers samples, even minis. The 57th Street NYC Chanel boutique does as well. Sometimes it helps to mention that I am looking for my next Chanel and oh by the way, I already have … and I start pointing at bottles I have, point at one that I don’t have and say I smelled it before but did not like it but I am willing to give it another go. Why don’t you try it on skin and I would say I’m afraid it will clash with another perfume I’m wearing and besides, my skin could get irritated and I usually have to do a patch test at home where I can scrub it off with the proper cleanser.
Hello, everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve said hello, but I come back here today as the newly minted Dr Koyel! As you all said, everything was fine 🙂 Both the talk and the questions went smoothly, and I stumbled home exhausted, wondering when the elation was supposed to kick in.
The following morning, we left at 04:45 to fly to Athens for a celebratory vacation, courtesy of the sweetest boy ever. We got back to Toulouse last night after a magnificent vacation. If you are at all interested in archaeology, Western history, or Greek mythology, you absolutely MUST visit. We got mostly sunshine and highs in the 60s as we gamboled among the most spectacular ruins.
Still haven’t felt the blow of elation at being done with grad school, but I periodically get bludgeoned over the head with disbelief. That will have to do for now. I didn’t even know it was lavender week! I’m sitting pretty in NVC Mohur, becaaaaaaause I am now the extremely proud owner of a FB of it!!!!!!! I am so excited; what a great thesis present from my lab mates!! I love the feel of the bottle in my hand. It’s one of the few perfumes of which I really, really, REALLY want a bottle rather than a decant or travel spray, price be damned.
In Athens, I also got to try some Korres products, and came away with a face cream and tinted lip butter. As I sniffed some of the men’s perfumes, the SA hastened to inform me that no, the women’s scents were over there, thank you. I managed to stand my ground, though. I also got to try TF Plum Japonais, and the only thing that stopped me from buying a FB (it was on sale, even!!!!!) was the reminder that I am on a no-buy. For, like, all year. But I’m eyeing some decants on eBay.
Well, this has turned into an essay. I look forward to re-immersing myself in NST now that grad school is basically over. I’ve got a few easy thesis corrections to do and a couple papers that want writing/editing, but the hard part is all over! I hope everyone is doing wonderfully, and look forward to reading about your lives again 🙂
Congrats!
Big congrats! On all of it down to the Mohur-that is a thoughtful gift!
Heartiest congratulations, Dr Koyel! Greece is amazing – I hope some year you also get to go back and do the islands. Some day I hope to see Meteora, the mountains, the Peloponnese etc etc :^D
Last November I had proper Greek-style souvlaki street food from a stall in Camden Town, so delicious.
That is the goal!! I would very much love to do the islands someday 🙂 Ohhhh the food. We had so much seafood! And of course souvlaki and roasted feta and moussaka and tzatziki and baklava, etc. etc. Mmmm I could do with some moussaka right now.
Congrats, Dr. Koyel! Well done!
Dr. Koyel!! Good for you, many congratulations.
Huge congratulations! You should be so proud.
Congrats, Dr. Koyel!
Congratulations. Sending you hugs!
Congrats, Dr. Koyel!!
Congratulations! I am so happy for you !!
Congratulations!!
Dr. Koyel! Many Congratulations!
Congratulations! This is a huge accomplishment!
Wow! Congratulations Dr. Koyel!
Wohoo, congratulations! I knew you could do it! Glad to hear you had a nice holiday and received Mohur. Neela is a lovely person, I am sure she would be pleased you chose her scent for your celebration.
Hearty congratulations!
Congrats! I never went to the doctorate level, so I am so proud of people who climbed that mountain! May your days be filled with papers, students and peer review! 🙂
Congrats on all fronts!
Whoohooo!!! Congrats Dr. Koyel!!!
Congrats, Doctor! And what a lovely trip.
Congrats to u Dr Koyel!
Enjoy you’re bottle of Mohur, what a wonderful gift!
The world is your oyster! And you smell fabulous as well. 🙂
Wonderful news! Congratulations! I was wondering if I missed hearing the outcome of your defense. So happy for you, Dr. Koyel.
Wow, what thoughtful labmates. Congrats, doc!
Beat smelling Dr. around !! Congratulations !!!!
Congrats, again! And I can probably help you with some Plum Japonais when you’re back in the Bay Area 🙂
Good for you! Big congrats!
Congratulations, that’s a fantastic achievement!
Congratulations to you, and much admiration for your SO. When my husband got his Phd, I think I gave him a pen.
Was it a fancy pen, or are you making a joke? (Thanks!)
Indeed! I’m quite sure my sister got nothing but a party (that she hosted herself) and her H even less than that.
Well, it was a nice pen but it was still just a pen. We were so poor by the time he graduated (we had 4 kids under the age of 8), that was all I could afford. Come to think of it, I only gave my daughter a pen when she got her PHd too.
You guys remain the best <3 Thank you, everyone! I love your ego boosts 🙂
Joining everyone in saying CONGRATULATIONS!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Thrilled for you!!! 🙂
So happy for you!
Three cheers for Dr. Koyel! Congratulations! Have fun wearing your Mohur around Toulouse — you’ve more than earned it!
Well done, Dr. Koyel!
Congratulations, Dr. Koyel!
Cheers and congrats, and then some! What a wild and wonderful couple of weeks you’ve had!
Congratulations, Doctor! Well done!
This reminds me of a college prof, who liked to proclaim: “I am a doctor! THEY are physicians!” (in a Caribbean accent with MUCH emphasis on the drawn-out “I”) in regard to medical professionals versus “real” doctors.
His PhD must have been in some kind of social science, as he made this statement (more than once) in a class called History of the Jazz Age. Which made it even funnier. I guess it made an impact, though, since I do tend to refer to “those” doctors as physicians! lol
Congrats Doc!! Hope that you now enjoy the additional honor and respect that the title deserves. I tend to be a little irreverent about these things–I went to my defense with a cheese platter and big bottle of wine. I figured if I could please my jurors all would be well!! I wasn’t a ‘fume maven then, so I don’t remember what fragrance I wore, but I do know that the cheese plate I put together was a big hit!!
Yay Dr. koyel! You really should be so proud.
Congratulations, Dr. Koyel!
Koyel, congratulations!!! Well done on the doctorate and what a wonderful graduation gift!
This is really late, but congratulations on your doctorate!
Bottega Veneta Knot today, with lavender in the middle notes.
Oh, I didn’t realize Knot had a lavender note at all! Great choice.
Really? Yay! I do have something to wear tomorrow!
Good morning Y’all…..
No scent today…..the barometric pressure is causing a little headache, so I don’t want to push my luck with scent…..
Looks like some of you really got hit with SNOW!! WOW….only a bit of rain here, thankfully…..Hurry up Spring! 🙂
I’ve got that headache too. The forecast Bad Weather was nothing more than incessant wind and rain all last night, and this morning it got cold enough that we got a dusting of snow. Which wasn’t enough to even cover the driveway, and which has in any case melted away.
I WANT MY WINTER. HMPH.
Second this! We got nada, nothing, zilch! (except the rain) Hope you feel better.
Hope you’re feeling better now.
I hope you feel better as the day goes on.
Hope you’re feeling better! I’m with you in spirit way out here, as I’m on Day 3 of my pressure-induced headaches.
Happy Almost Friday!
SotD: TF Costa Azzurra, which is lovely eau de cologne with lavender and seaweedy elements and an odd salty spice element that I think must be the celery seed or artemisia. If it were half the price, I would would buy a bottle at lunch.
Now that I have hit the drydown, I remember why this isn’t even a lemming. Yawn. Money saved.
I find it quite fascinating how much our noses can change in relatively short periods of time. Glad you saved some cash!
SOTD: Chanel’s Jersey in Parfum.
I do love my lavender. Might just have to wear multiple tomorrow!
I’m planning 4!
You smell great!!
You’ve officially inspired me to try Jersey in parfum. I didn’t care for the edt, but I like the edp. So maybe the parfum will work for me, too.
Gorgeous lavender! Jealous!!
In my continued search for lavender in my collection, I came up with Bond 9 New Haarlem. There is a brief aromatic moment, but now it’s all pancakes and coffee which is fine by me!
I completely forgot that New Haarlem has lavender in the top notes. I might wear it tomorrow. You smell yummy!
Thank you! I’m thinking of doing a repeat.
I love your yummy smell. Will have to go back and check for the lavender also.
Things I thought might have lavender are not showing it in the notes list, though note lists are not always inclusive. I actually don’t really smell it here as a separate entity but it does have moments when I think it smells a bit fougere-ish.
SOTD is Gris Montaigne. When first sprayed this is reminiscent of BV Eau Légère, but 5 minutes in it settles into its less fizzy, more rosy self. I’m pretending that its slightly sharp cedar note is actually lavender.
You know, I thought about this one too – it is lavender-coloured, makes you think of lavender.
It IS sort of pinky-lavender color – I tend to forget that. I just have a decant and the color isn’t as noticeable as it is in the real bottle.
Non-lavender SOTD today – Frederick Malle Carnal Flower. It’ supposed to be warm and sunny here today. I feel for everyone dealing with the snow! I’m saving Jicky for tomorrow, since I think it’s the only lavender scent I have! It’s not that I don’t like lavender, I’m just not that drawn to it as a note I guess.
You smell lovely.
Mmmm. I LOVE Carnal Flower. You smell beautiful.
You smell amazing!
I’ve not heard this one in a while. I know it has many fans, but not much use I guess. Really unique and very beautiful scent!
Up at 6 to shovel 6 inches of heavy wet snow this morning, and then a school-delayed accelerated class schedule. In in Ambre 114 from Histoires de Parfum. Since I’m currently on a bit of an amber kick, this is hitting the spot.
Lovely.
You smell great! I love that one, even in warm weather.
We had 3-4 inches and no school!! Kind of silly but I know my son appreciated the day off.
This morning, I reached for Rodin Bis without even thinking about lavender. So there you go, Beloved is not the only scent I own with lavender. I usually only wear this in the summer, but today it’s really hitting the spot.
You smell great!
Thank you! It warmed up here today, too, so it turned out to be a perfect choice.
Still commando but dropping in to say Robin, it’s also National Pizza Day and (is there anything else?!?) National Bagel Day.
Yummmm… now craving pizza for breakfast! 😉
I’ve already had breakfast, but… hmm. There’s a frozen pizza in the freezer I could make for lunch…
Or pizza bagels! I used to love those.
Yes! Einstein bagels used to make great ones!
CARBS. Yum! 🙂
Breakfast pizza is THE BEST FOOD EVERRRR.
I actually knew that — last year’s post on this day was a picture of bagels! Have to spread the love around, so Jimmy Page got the nod.
HA — except just learned below that it is NOT his birthday. So you were right to chastise me, I should have posted a lavender pizza!
Vol de Nuit Evasion in this cold morning. No snow for us but it sure is chilly!
stay warm today!
Car is in the shop for new front tires. We didn’t get any snow. I’m wearing that new Lolita Lempicka Eau de Minuit for comfort.
Enjoy the LL Eau de Minuit, and your new front tires 🙂
Is it the 2015 gold bottle?
No, dark purple. (I don’t like purple, but the apple shape is so cute.)
Good Morning.
I’m wearing Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li today. Its sunny and 56 degrees here, and this scent just say “sunshine” to me.
Robin, you smell terrific!
Lovely!
You smell great!
A belated thank you, and so jealous of your weather!
I’m an extra grouchy minion this morning so am wearing Coven, which seems to be my go-too prickly armor scent. One day I may need a full bottle since I seem to go through decants at a decent (for me) rate.
Yesterday I was exhausted and just couldn’t get my sh** together so I came home and went to bed early. Like, nine-o-clock early. My plans for rest were thwarted by gunshots shortly after 9, which is highly unusual for this area where some people don’t bother to close their garage doors. There was a shooting just down the street and, though the news reports say they captured the suspect by 10:00, the police helicopters didn’t knock off making my house shake and shining lights in my windows until much later. Things didn’t quiet down until almost 3 and, of course, I couldn’t sleep even then. Did I mention how grumpy I am?
Sorry to hear this MikasMinon! It’ is upsetting when there needs to be a police action anywhere nearby. I Hope this gets resolved quickly for you and your neighbors. Happy smelling and safe blessings to you.
It’s not that I’m ungrateful for the authorities, but I’m annoyed that there wasn’t some way to notify us that there was no longer a threat. Nobody updated the news feeds to reflect the capture until almost 7 this morning so the entire neighborhood was in a state of alarm all night, wondering where the frightened gunman was. All we knew was that there was an armed suspect who had fled on foot into our neighborhood.
I understood you weren’t upset with police. That is frightening and you do want to know what’s happening!
Glad you’re all safe.
I hope your day gets better.
UGH! Worse than a shooting are the searchers (helicopters) that buzz about and rattle everything! They are doing their job, but yet it is very disturbing indeed!
Relax, indulge in a nap if you can and I do hope your day gets better.
That sounds thoroughly unpleasant – I don’t blame you at all for needing some armor. I hope things improve with the day.
Yikes! Very disturbing. Hope you can get some rest today. Coven! I love that one but haven’t worn it in the cold, yet.
I’d be grouchy too. I am glad things worked out, but no one likes feeling frightened. A few times over the past couple of years I have heard police announcements from helicopters when their is police activity. So on top of the whir of the helicopter, a loud speaking is blasting instructions from the sky. I can never quite pick out what is being said, which makes the whole thing even more menacing.
I am pretty sure tonight you will sleep like a baby.
Pretty sure you have sufficient reason to be grouchy today. Hope tonight brings some recuperating shut eye ????
Yikes. Sorry about your lack of sleep but glad your neighborhood is OK!
My goodness. Hope nobody was hurt.
Comfort scent day 9: Mitzah
Off-topic musing about karma: This morning I am doing battle with my inner schadenfreude. A man whom I deeply dislike who used to be–well–an important administrator impacting my younger son’s life, was in December placed on paid administrative leave from his new and even more powerful job that he had had for the last 14 months. I learned last night that he just formally resigned from the position, and there is no public information about why, what happened, or where he is going.
Karma? I don’t know. I am told quite a lot of people liked his message and his take no prisoners approach. I thought he was a thin-skinned “sage on the stage” and a bully in his methods and manner.
He must be going through some kind of hell. I feel weird now, frankly, that I wished he’d be taken down a peg so fervently…
Maybe it’s the universes way of re-routing him to the direction he should be going. It’s never too late to find your way, so hopefully he does.
You smell beautiful.
You are very kind to be so generous and introspective about your feelings toward him. If he was really a bully and his methods were detrimental to any young students, those techniques ultimately were his undoing. I’ve found that this happens eventually in organizations that first think these traits are effective.
I’ve also seen that the individuals bounce back from the temporary adversity. Don’t feel weird…
He is a bright man, who found it easier to bluster and bully when listening and creating problem-solving was what was called for–at least in my interactions. I hope that he was brought down for something related to his management, and not for political reasons that have ossified failure in our local school districts.
And I do smell beautiful!
Don’t feel weird. You didn’t cause his fall from grace, so don’t accept any guilt. Maybe you just feel sad that he isn’t living up to his potential?
Twins! Mitzah is so lovely.
And as for this person, I would be cackling with joy over his comeuppance. But that’s just me.
Nah, not just you! I would toast to the person’s misfortune!
This is the scent my plumber HATED. So I have been a little shy about wearing it. Gosh it is lovely.
I think I would feel better if I knew that he truly deserved such a fall. He is now (or was) in a pretty prominent position in a local school district. Our local school districts have so many problems and do so many wrong things to fix them. Hoping this was done right, for the right reasons…and then maybe I’ll do the happy dance!
Don’t do battle with with schadenfreude- INDULGE IN IT!
No doubt there is a German word for feeling schadenfreude and feeling guilty about it at the same time!
Vorübergehendeschadenfreudeschuldgefühlsymptome.
Or possibly Ersatzvorübergehendeschadenfreudeschuldgefühlsymptome, if you don’t really mean it. ;^P
Like I always say, “Son, now are you just exhibiting Ersatzvorübergehendeschadenfreudeschuldgefühlsymptome?”
I think everyone feels that way at imes, especially in situations involving children.
Here’s a story (with extreme schadenfreude!) plus good advice from Ask Prudie that I am reminded of:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/dear_prudence/2016/11/dear_prudence_i_m_happy_my_cheating_ex_got_in_a_car_accident.html
A similar thing happened to me once (briefly: a person who screwed me over in a real estate situation got completely burned in a different real estate situation only a few months later) and I felt the same way. I mean, I don’t actually believe that my negative thoughts caused her woes, but I still felt strange about it. I ultimately decided that: 1. even though I believe the universe is random and chaotic, I can still behave as if karma is real and try to be kind, and 2: I don’t have to feel guilty over nasty thoughts (just nasty actions).
You do smell lovely.Karma goes in weirdly wonderful cycles,I found.Lol.x
Your reflexivity is commendable and speaks well of your character. ???? But whatever karma this man may earn will be entirely due to his own actions, so don’t waste another second by feeling any responsibility!!
I am a big believer in karma–I have seen it happen again and again in my own life. Your honest feelings regarding this situation do you credit, but don’t stress, you did not bring this about. We are, each of us, responsible for our own karma. What we put out will come back. So, try to stay positive and send out healing vibes–it will benefit the universe and you!
If any of you up there have lost your winter I’m pretty sure it’s hiding down here! Feb is usually unbearable-very long dry heatwaves. Today? Cold. Wet. Windy. I had to go and find some winter clothes!! Crazy!
So, I didn’t feel like a light lavender for work instead I went with Memoir. Now that I’m home in fluffy robe I’m participating in Guerlain AA Lavande Velours. Fuzzy lavender and violets.
Mmmm, Memoir.
Fuzzy lavender and violets sounds cosy!
Someone mentioned it yesterday so I just had to wear it..
That actually sounds quite nice (although not remotely anything for me) :^)
By Kilan A Taste of Heaven. It opened with a barbershop lavender, but the drydown has a more floral vanilla softness. After reading about it this week, I decided to try my sample from a long forgotten sample pack. I can’t keep the BK Heavens, Loves, Devils, etc. straight!
I love A Taste of Heaven!! I’ll probably wear it tomorrow if the weather warms up.
A little bummed out that we didn’t get any snow this morning, but I suppose it’s for the best since I have a full day at work. I pulled out a sample of Bottega Veneta this morning. I’m not usually a leather scent fan but I do like this one.
I feel you. We haven’t had any serious snow in my neck of the woods and I miss it. Enjoy the leather!
BV is my kind of leather. I wore it yesterday. You smell great!
SOTD is Chanel no 5 L’eau. No lavender, but pretty nonetheless.
Jimmy Page! Robin, I hate to be rude, and to correct the hostess, but his birthday is actually January 9. The only reason I know this off the top of my head is that it is two days before mine. Knowing he is a fellow Capricorn just made me love him all the more.
For any Led Zeppelin fans out there, if you haven’t seen ‘It Might Get Loud,’ check it out. He is the epitome of cool????
Scent twins! I’m enjoying No. 5 L’Eau as well.
Hey twin! We smell great!
Today is January 9, no? 🙂
Oh gosh I hope not! January is sooo long, I need spring to be right around the corner!
I have obviously lost all sense of time because I was actually thinking this was January 9th LOL!!!
You smell fab!
I keep meaning to watch ‘It Might Get Loud’–it’s the one with Jack White and the Edge also, right?
Thanks!
Yes- Jack White! He’s awesome, I’ve seen him in concert twice. The Edge is in it too, you must watch it!
Major OOPS — and busy day so just now finding your comment! I will fix the above, and huge apologies to everyone — and to make it even stupider, in fact I marked his birthday on the January 9 post. Argh.
But really, do you expect me to know what month it is before 10 am in the morning?? LOL!
No harm, no foul, and certainly no need to apologize! I’ll gladly celebrate Jimmy’s birthday two months in a row- any excuse to spin some Led Zeppelin!
( I am not a morning person either????)
Hi Everyone! It is seriously snowing here–I’d go so far as to call it a blizzard. I’ve been at work since 8AM. I am a bit cranky. Wearing Vetyverio, which is lovely.
I worked from home because of the snow. It surprised me that the NYC schools closed!
Continuing my way through the Zoologist samples with Nightingale. I am enjoying the tart powdery start more than I anticipated, there’s something playful about it that I really appreciate. We’ll see how things develop.
I found out I have a follow-up interview with the school that I interviewed with a few weeks ago. No fly-outs yet, but still good news! The interview isn’t for a little bit, and there are some important deadlines in between, so I’m trying to keep my nose to the grindstone (and to these Zoologist samples . . . !).
Zoologist is my new love…I have Civet and Hummingbird and just ordered Nightingale.
I haven’t fallen in love with anything yet, but I am only halfway through. The experience has been a good one, so far – they’re an interesting group of scents to explore.
Nightingale is not quite what I expected!
Which ones have you tried so far? I liked about half of the line, and Nightingale was one of my favorites.
Bat (really evocative and intellectually interesting, will definitely revisit the sample), Beaver (not for me), Macaque (didn’t get a fair shake), and Nightingale (which has stayed in the tart powder phase all day, I’m wondering where the rest of it is!). What were the others you liked?
My SOTD nod to lavender is SJP Lovely. I usually save this one for spring however it’s sitting nicely and close to my skin today. I don’t wear Lovely often but always enjoy when I do.
So looking forward to trying Stash!
Stash is really good!
SJP Lovely has a wonderful lavender note. You smell lovely. 😉
Well, I had every intention to wear Jo Malone’s Geranium & Verbena and participate in the community project. Somebody I sniffed in the wild yesterday reminded me of it. However, Coromandel jumped into my hand and who am I to say no?
Coromandel is so gorgeous, how could u say no?, I’m going to buy a bottle next Autumn, when I’ve saved up some more pennies (I want to get No 22 edt for spring).
Yves Rocher Lavender shower gel, followed by my own homemade lavender EO body lotion and Caron Pour Un Homme for the final flourish!
Happy Friday Eve!
1) In the spirit of yesterday’s rant, I am in Aromatic’s Elixir MIXED with Boucheron. This was in a weird sample bottle I made from a department store while waiting for something else- I was in a weird mood! Y’all, It smells FANTASTIC. Only spritzed on pulse points.
2) Weirdly warm, windy and rainy today- feels almost spring-ish. Am looking forward to the clearing of weather we should be getting tomorrow!
Wow, that sounds like an interesting mix!
It’s incredible, to be honest. 1/3 of the vial was filled with Boucheron, and then 2/3 Aromatics Elixir. A co worker came over and said I and my cubicle smelled AMAZING. Even hours later, things have quieted down to this sort of sensuous floral/earthy powder.
I’m so intrigued. I have a family member from whom I can, erm, appropriate some Boucheron, so I could attempt this for myself if I just get my hands on a sample of AE.
Nonscented at present. Smelling my double strength Starbucks and coconut. Taking the birthday grand daughter out for her birthday outing later today….Each baby picks whatever they want to do for the day and we figure out together what we CAN do. So far some have wanted to go ‘smell perfumes’- and get samples, touch textiles ( fabric and yarns) or look at the children’s or art museum as part of their adventure. We’ve also done some ice skating, bowling, rock and tree climbing – and eaten a lot of fast food and ice cream. 🙂 looking forward to seeing what she comes up with. Every day is a good day NSTrs! Blessings. ????
This sounds like a wonderful day. Enjoy yourselves!
What a lovely and fun birthday!
Sounds lovely! Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy your day!
For now in Mugler Chyprissime but have been sampling from the Goodwill lot that arrived yesterday. The Fendi is in pretty good shape; a little screechier but eventually settles down and is lovely. Three (3?!) bottles of Ralph Lauren Romance that will likely go straight back to the donation pile (let me know if you want one). Lancôme Poeme, which was surprisingly nice on paper. I am working up the courage to try the Opium, because if that one has gone off, it will be quite a mess! Sample of Oscar Flor, which is nicer than expected. I forgot to wear a lavender to start the day but will get one in here at some point!
I’d like a bottle of the Romance. My MIL wears it. I’m not a fan, but it would make her happy lol.
Email me! The Mrs hunter but with no spaces. It is at g mail.
SOTD Chanel Boy.
Perfect!
Burberry Brit Rhythm for me today. An unfortunate blind buy but at least it was a cheap mistake. Gets its day in the sun, thanks to lavender week.
Looking forward to meeting up with perfume pals tonight!
Twin! I actually like this a lot but tend to forget I have it. So, I was happy to pull it out. It’s dusky, which I like. And kinda sexy.
I haven’t really been playing along this week, since I’m not really a lavender fan, but I did put on some Eau Parfumée Au Thé Bleu last night before bed. Robin, I think you described this one as a meditation on things that smell blue, and that seems just right to me. Lavender feels like a bit of a “free radical” to me — like it’s an unstable part of something larger, careening through the air with a jagged edge in search of a place to dock. The violet in Thé Bleu does a good job of rounding out the lavender and making it something more enjoyable to my nose. Kicking myself for not ordering a travel spray of it when it was available at Sephora.
Today I’m decidedly UN lavendery in Traversée du Bosphore. I smell like apple loukoum and pulverized jordan almonds on hot stones.
Yum!, I’ve recently tried Traversee du Bosphore, and it’s next on my FB list.
I also regret not buying a bottle when they were discounted during L’Artisan’s recent packaging design change. Lots of non-buyer’s remorse around here! 🙂
I’d like to have a small bottle of it myself 🙂
They still have the travel spray on their website!
Wearing Gentlewoman, but today, it’s not really holding my attention and feels kinda flat. I guess I’m not much of a lavender fan anyway, but even if I don’t smell interesting, at least I smell nice.
I forgot that I like Gentlewoman. I’m going to put some on now:)
It’s pouring rain here but warmer than it’s been in weeks. I felt like spring might actually be in the offing in a few weeks, so I’m wearing Une Fleur de Cassie. This one always seems to smell of spring.
One of my favourites too, it’s perfect for a spring day, it’s one of my most looked forward to spring scents. I have one of those FM 2ml samples, and I will get a couple of wears of it in the spring, and start thinking about a full bottle.
U smell amazing of course!
Greetings from Bruxelles, I am here for a short city trip.
Visited Senteurs d’ailleurs (fantastic store) and I picked my SOTD right there, a small spray of Chergui on the back of my hand.
I did not want to use too much, I am also here for smells and tastes of good chocolate, food, beers… 😉
How lovely, Chergui is one of my favourites. Enjoy you’re trip. I imagine Chergui will be a good accompaniment to all of those things too!
SOTD is L’Ambre des Merveilles, a no brainer in cold weather, and go’s well with chai tea and toast and marmalade!
Yay for L’Ambre des Merveilles! You smell wonderful.
The recent Chanel coffret kerfuffle reminds me of a recent, fascinating article about Vinegar Valentines, a Victorian phenomenon. They were anti-valentines and often quite mean, usually with back-off-I’m-not-interested messages. They wouldn’t be just for would-be suitors, though. Here is a verse dedicated to a mean saleslady:
As you wait upon the women
With disgust upon your face
The way you snap and bark at them
One would think you owned the place.
Or, to quote Luca Turin, “Not all Chanel SAs are pompous and misinformed, but at least ONE is”…
Ha! When an SA is mean, I tend to make his or her life miserable.
The mornings are so dark now. Not a breath of wind and the only sound is the continual crowing of a rooster. I don’t know why but I have such a soft spot for roosters. I don’t know, but it seems like they have a ‘ never give up’ sparkiness …that endless crowing. Are they optimists or delusional . Anyway, love that sound before dawn. Wearing Kereru Lavender Cream and will add Guerlain L’Instant for Hommes later when I go to the library. Reading 1914-16 letters of Dorothy Theomin, another wealthy young woman who spent 4 months a year mountaineering and having fun. The joy of freedom comes through so strongly in her letters. The thrill of escaping stuffy society and spending days slogging through bush and snow, sleeping in rough huts and tents. All paid for by dad.
I just had a class of 6 year olds in the library and one came to my desk and asked for a book with a rooster in it, commenting that he would “even take one with a chicken in it, because they are close but not as interesting”.
Tee hee! My first job was as a page in the children’s dept of our local library, but I was the only one there at night so often fielded similar questions. It was really fun. Probably the only job I’ve ever had that I really liked TBH.
I honestly think I have the best job in the world. I get to read out loud to kids and get paid for it. Go figure. Anyway, I was quite pleased to find that we do in fact have quite a few books with roosters in them, as well as the “not as interesting” chickens.
The only job I ever really loved was working as a page in the public library.
I love that
I don’t have any lavender scents, so instead I decided to try a new sample from my ever-growing pile each day for the rest of February, thus clearing the way for spring stuff next month. Up today: Love Relentlessly by Tory Burch. Eh. Very fruity opening, then rosy with a bitter edge, which I guess is the iris. Pass.
Also, I’m pretty sure that “relentlessly” is in reference to this frag’s sillage, because damn.
LOL!
Walking back the snark a little bit – the drydown of this is a fairly nice, grown-up rose.
I am wearing Chanel Boy today, I didn’t care much about it when I first tried it but it grew on me, loving it a lot lately.
It smells soapy and clean on me, very appealing for summer.
Finally playing along with the lavender theme, though I have been using my cheap thrill lavender shower gel all week (from Whole Foods). SOTD is Creed Bois du Portugal, which has a chunk of lavender in it. I hadn’t tried my sample in years so I dug it out this morning. My notes say I liked it a couple of years ago, but today, ummm, not so much. Probably headed for a scrub soon.
Who makes the shower gel? Or did you mean it’s WF brand?
365 Organics
Thanks!
SOTD- Caron Parfum Sacre.
I loooove lavender on my DH, but can’t wear it myself- the note just doesn’t agree with me.
I planted lavender 2 years ago in my supertiny garden, and as much as I loved the appearance I couldn’t take the smell- instant sneezing and watery eyes ( guess I am allergic to it).
So, for Friday project I have Beloved ( I had no idea there is a lavender note in it) and a sample of Jersey edp. Probably will go with Amouage. Yum!
You smell lovely.
Got talked into going in to work today. Someone called off sick and I was looking forward to wearing vintage Bal today. Bal is not one of my work safe perfumes. So now I am wearing Shalimar. It has enough skank for me to notice but won’t scare people away.
I LOVE Shalimar so much. I wear it to work as well. I love the “skank” as well. You smell great!!!
You smell wonderful!
PSA
I cannot recall right now who talked to me about the Sultan Pasha attars
(sorry for not lookinh it up, but I am on international mobile roaming with limited data right now)
BUT
Some sample sets are available right now on his eBay page (scents rarity)
(By the way I am not affiliated or acquainted with Sultan Pasha, just a bit of a fan)
Kafkaesque?
Ah, it was Wendysue,in the thursday sotd-post.
(on wifi now, so I looked it up)!
But yes, Kafkaesque was the one who introduced me to these attars in those amazing blogs!
Sorry, it was the wednesday post!
Unexpected work from home day and I am not complaining except for the need to clear out the snow.
Continuing my Month of Roses —
SOTD = Tauer Rose Delight Body Oil
One tiny spritz on hair. It got a lot of NST perfumista love and I agree!
I just got the Saks Spring 2017 catalogue and it included the V&R Magic Collection. I will stop by and take a sniff soon.
https://nstperfume.com/2016/10/21/viktor-rolf-magic-collection-new-fragrances/
Now back to work!
Do report on the Magic collection,I am still intrigued!
I will…i usually try to avoid the V&R section as I cannot stand the look and smell of Bonbon.
LOVE the Tauer body oil. Next on my to buy list is the Amber Flush.
The Amber Flush is nice except for the off-putting name!
As Shakespeare says….”what’s in a name…..”
Hajusuuri, I think you had asked about a rose scent with lavender yesterday. If you have any of Rosine’s Rose d’Homme, you’d be in luck. My testing notes for the sample call it a quiet, dark rose with a bit of lavender and a hint of suede.
Snow day for me today and nice to not have to commute (or shovel!). I peeked my head out the window earlier, but pretty much focused on doing my work. Read some of the surrounding towns are experiencing thunder + snow, or what’s called thundersnow and is supposedly pretty rare.
Couple of sprays of Sublime Vanilla to cheer me up — such a sunny, and happy scent to me.
I’ll be ready for lavender tomorrow 😉
Thundersnow: Gandalf’s *other* horse!
????
I’ve been in a thunder-snow storm and it was crazy. Snow falling with cracking lightning all over the place. (It made me really happy I wasn’t flying through it on a plane…)
We had a a smell thunderstorm about an hour ago. I had never seen it before. Amazing!
Small… ????
We have a smell thunderstorm here on this site every day! 😀
lol
🙂
I was thinking that scentfromabove made a smell thunderstorm in her meeting yesterday.
Oops, not scentfromabove, it was perfume lover, wasn’t it?
Glad you’re being spared the thundersnow!
Lucky you with no shoveling! I will see how things are tomorrow morning. It may be too icy.
Zadig and Voltaire This is Him! is my SOTD.The girls at work love love loooove it.Lol.
I always feel bad when someone leaves me a comment on an old thread and I did not get time to respond!So a little catchup:
Bear!Thanks!I’ll drink some bubbly on your behalf as well!
Perfumelover!I am glad the situation was kinda saved,clever thinking!BOO to the Boss’s reprimands and stuck-up colleagues!
Hajusuuri:One day I would love to go shopping with you!I think I will walk away with more freebies than spending actual money-or at least score some awesome deals with you as my leader!!Haha!
Merlin:Where the hell are you?Lol!xox
NOW for a serious question:I have had so many super ideas for my perfumed room,and I know what the core elements will be,but I have difficulty deciding on a style for the cabinetry…HELP!!Any cool suggestions?I’m loving an old-apothecary style look,but then I love modern and sleek as well.Then I saw some pictures of Annick Goutal’s boutique…Loved that!But now confused and torn.Any ideas or suggestions would be AWESOME!
I vote modern and sleek, but I don’t know the first thing about interior design. Just what I like! 😉
Have a great time at Chanel, johanob ! Cheers!
Haha.Thanks Bear!
If I were to design my own, it would involve lots of drawers. In drawers, perfumes are easier to see and don’t fall over when you reach in to pull one out. BUT – I’d want them in various sizes. One for very tall bottles that are hard to fit elsewhere, and several shallow ones for minis. Oh – and another few with tiny dividers for storing samples, with room for labels. Then you’d need a some staging areas for the current rotation. And ideally, little natural light and some way to make the temperature consistent.
…I’ve never given any thought to designing a perfume room but apparently I have quite a few opinions. I’m envious that you’re in a position to create one!
Oh, wait – I guess you’re just debating cabinetry styles. Hmmm. Functionality would be primary, and I suppose you’d want it to be in-tune with the rest of the house. Or go with the style of your favorite bottles. I personally love the spare, clean design of Chanel bottles so I might think about trying to implement that aesthetic.
Thanks for your input!I definitely love the thousand-drawers idea myself!And there are lots to be displayed,so that will definitely be a feature as well.
On cabinetry, just don’t go with expensive antique furniture with delicate finishes, because perfume can be caustic. We have polished concrete countertops in our bathroom and you would think concrete would be pretty much impervious, but I have managed to mar the finish on one of them with a leaky bottle of perfume. Practicality is my middle name. 🙂
Good to know,thanks!
*If* you can control the light and heat levels in the room (so you don’t need solid-doored cabinetry), then you may find you can get old display cabinets for half nothing. You know, the glass-doored shelved things on cabriole legs where Great-Aunt Dorothea kept the best china or the silver. Contrast that with a modern sofabed, textiles and lamps and you can go either way with modern pictures or vintage perfume posters for an eclectic look. :^)
Love it.Thanks!I plan to have some vintage Guerlain posters framed!And my Chanel No.5 print-covered daybed/sofa will definitely feature!
OMG, I want a meet-up shopping trip with you and Hajusuuri! That’d be rad!
I was briefly an architecture major, and I totally share your affinity for those multiple styles, so here’s my two-cents’ worth on your design question. Whatever you eventually choose should at least complement the rest of the house if you want a harmonious whole. That is, it doesn’t have to match, but it shouldn’t fight/clash with it. Based on the pictures I’ve seen, I think you’re starting on the right path with the Annick Goutal boutique idea. You could bridge the apothecary and modern vibes by sticking with fairly simple woodwork with straight lines and painting it a glossy white. White goes with everything and would let the perfume bottles’ designs stand out (especially if, say, you wanted to display empties in the open), and glossy paint has a sleek/modern feel (and would be good near liquids).
Shopping together would be lots of fun!
That would be tons of fun I suspect.
I also love the glossy white idea,ala Annick Goutal!
You could match the age of your perfume with the period of your display furniture, so you would end up with a funky eclectic mix of styles Victorian, 1960s groovy, 1980s memphis, 2000s sleek. Or tip that on its head and have all the old scents in sleek new display furniture for maximum contrast to show off the elaborate bottles, and the minimalist bottles in ornate settings.
Thats also a very radical concept.I like mixing up old vs new,but somehow I want some uniformity in the perfumed room regarding displays!Thanks for the suggestion though!You never know!Lol!x
I think you should have one of those smelling booths a la Frederic Malle boutiques.
I would absolutely love to go shopping with you. Watch out world!
Haha!Thats pretty cool too.
Thank you to everyone for the super-awesome ideas!I like quite a few of them!Koenigsberg read my mind the best though,Lol!The room is definitely temperature controlled,and added paranoia for some of my vintage perfumes:there will feature additonal wine-coolers for storing them.I’m just not sure if I should hide the coolers behind cabinets-like I see a lot of people doing with kitchen appliances these days.Definitely also what kpaint said,lots of drawers,different sizes for tall bottles/other sizes/samples.I wish We can start the actual process already!So excited.Thanks again guys!You all ROCK my world.xx
I had every intention of wearing Gris Clair today, but it’s a beautiful sunny morning, such a rare thing this summer, so I’m in the mood for something more floral. I’m thinking Chant d’Aromes.
I’ll wear the Gris Clair for you; you wear whatever you want!!
My SOTD is Tom Ford’s Noir de Noir. No lavender that I know of but my love bought it for me when we were in Vegas for my 40th last week. He loves it, as do I.
So a quick note, I’m a new perfumista….I’d say about 6 months and going strong LOL. I’ve always liked perfume but it’s been a bit of an obsession for a while- smelling everything I can get my hand on at Sephora and the dept. stores and reading here and Bois de Jasmin constantly. Overall I still feel so uneducated because I haven’t even heard of half of the scents you all wear as your SOTD. I guess it’s a process. :/
I am excited that I ordered a bunch of samples from LuckyScent two days ago. 10 Corso Como, Tam Dao, SL’s Iris Silver Mist, Atelier Cologne’s Silver Iris, Byredo Gypsy Water, and A Lab on Fire What We Do In Paris Is A Secret. I wanted to compare a couple of sandlewood scents and a couple of iris. And the others just because I wanted to smell them lol. Anyway, I have no one else to talk to about this hobby/obsession so I needed to share how excited I was about this. Thanks for listening!
Welcome kellycraig125!
Sample, sample,sample and trust your own nose.
You are your own perfume expert.
I try to get friends and family addicted like I am, but no go!
LOL. 😉
I have tried to get EVERYONE into it, but nope! The only one who is even close is my boyfriend. He has impeccable tastes in most things and I have managed to pull him into it a bit. He picked the Tuscan Leather at the Tom Ford counter in Vegas when I got the Noir de Noir and I love it on him. At least he is open to the concept that it’s all a matter of what one likes, not how it is marketed (male/female etc).
Welcome to the club (both the 40 yo one, and the perfume-obsessed one) and congrats on your gift.
I’ll echo Bear’s sage advice. And add to that to make the most of what’s available around you. It’s easy to spend a small fortune on samples, but I can relate to the burning desire. I’m in a phase where I’m trying to talk myself out of buying when I know what I want to smell is readily available locally.
That’s the thing, I live in Alabama, so honestly, there isn’t a lot locally other than a Sephora/Ulta and the department stores at the mall (Belk, Dillards). So it’s mainly department store brands, some of which I do enjoy, however, I’d like to sample more niche but there just isn’t that much available. So I’m trying to pace myself lol. I did spend an afternoon Saturday just browsing and smelling which was really nice.
Do you want some samples that don’t do anything for me but might speak to you? I mean the tiny little vials.
I would LOVE that! Thank you so much! At this point I’m pretty much trying everything I can get my hands on. Let me know what I need to do to get them from you.
My email is Luanne dot teall (there is no capital on that first name but my computer insists that there is) at the gee mail (dot com). I hope you can understand that – just trying to outfox the bots. Email me with your address. I’ve only been at this about a year, but I think just smelling everything you can is a good way to start.
Sent. Thank you so very much.
Welcome KellyC! Anything you see me mention Mon-Fri is usually my first time of trying. If I ever sound knowledgable, it’s a mixture of sampling a lot (like Bear says) and “fake it till you make it”. :^)
There are some little niche places that do good value sample programmes, like Teo Cabanel (of Alahiiiine fame) or Andre Lebreton. For a bit more money, Parfumerie Generale does a huge ‘origami’ box of samples for about the price of a full bottle.
There’s also a Monday Mail feature if you want to say what kind of thing you’re interested in and get NST folk to suggest suitable perfumes.
Belated birthday wishes.
I’m relatively new to full-blown perfumista-hood, and like you, I live in a place with pretty much no niche (or luxury) offerings, so buying samples is a necessary part of finding new (or new-to-me) scents. At the same time, though, I’ve realized that I don’t have to smell every single perfume mentioned here to belong. Have I smelled Secretions Magnifiques? No. Am I going to? NO! There are entire lines that get a lot of love here that I personally have no interest in smelling for myself–and that’s OK. …So, I say that when it comes to having to pay for samples, don’t feel compelled to sample everything, especially if/once you have a sense of what types of scents *you* like. But when it comes to sniffing for free, go crazy with it! ????
Oh I definitely don’t feel the need to sample everything under the sun. But there are certain ones that I think may interest me and unfortunately I have no access to other than to buy samples online to try. Like I said, mainly niche and also some of the Guerlain. I actually ordered a sample of Shalimar about six months ago and fell in love completely lol. It’s now my comfort scent. BUT believe me, I enjoy mostly free sampling. 🙂
Yep, I try to stick to ordering samples of things that will likely suit my tastes and some ‘reference’ scents. But it can sometimes feel like there’s a perfume party going on that you haven’t been invited to, if you haven’t sniffed a particular scent. ???? …In addition to the examples Koenigsberg mentioned, two more sources of quality (yet affordable) niche samples are Dame Perfumery and Sonoma Scent Studio. Shalimar is to die for! Are you a Guerlainophile-in-the-making?
Thanks for the info! So far, I’ve only samples L’Heure Bleue and Shalimar. The L’Heure Bleue I did not care for at first, but then I found myself thinking about it. But I have to be in a certain mood to dab it on lightly, as it is to chilly and cool for me, if that makes sense. Now the Shalimar I could totally live in! I am looking forward to trying some of their other classics.
Luckyscent is a great place to get samples and browse a vast selection of niche, I’ve ordered a ton from them as well.
Some other good sandlewoods to try are Samsara and Chanel Bois des Iles.
10 Corso Como is great! Please report back after you try it!
Thanks! I intend to try both the 10 Corso Como and the Tam Dao tomorrow (on each arm). That way I can sniff back and forth privately and not look ridiculous at work! 😉 I tried Samsara at the Guerlain store in Vegas. I loved the opening, but felt it dried so dense and heavy on me. Interested to see how the TD and 10CC compare!
As other folks have mentioned above, trust your own nose. Smell ALL the things you can, even if they aren’t perfume. Everyday scents in your locale can sharpen your senses and help you pick notes out in perfumes.
Thank you, I definitely do that and have been trying even more so lately. I love to cook so I’m also constantly smelling spices and such as well. I love smelling food and wine..even the other day when I arrived at an aunt’s house, I was so comforted by the scent of the wet dirt and leaves (it had just rained here) and trees. I know that sounds ridiculous, but on the way in and out, I kept just taking deep breaths savoring the scent in that moment. It was strangely comforting.
Welcome! You ordered a nice selection of samples. Enjoy sniffing! Perfume is an endless journey.
I wore Chanel Cuir de Russe this morning, but it faded so quickly I had to top up with Memo Italian Leather, which I looove.
You smell great, Robin!
I went all budget-y for today’s lavender scent: BBW Moonlight Path.
And now I will honor Mr. Page’s birth by blasting some Led Zeppelin!…
Hmm, OK, even if it was actually Jimmy’s birthday last month, I’m still blasting some Zep!
Any day is a good day to blast some Zep!
Amen!
I apologize for the error, but not for making anybody listen to the music 😉
No need to apologize. Besides, maybe it’s a sign Jimmy should have two birthdays, like the Queen!
Exactly!
I love Moonlight Path shower gel–very calming. And the librarian at my son’s junior high wears it as kind of her signature and it smells really lovely on her.
I love the shower gel too! I like MP because it’s a nice traditional/classic scent–and isn’t overpowering like some other BBW scents can be.
This is a gorgeous share of lavender. I love this color, but it sadly does not suit my complexion 🙁
SOTD – Epine Mortale by LM Parfums. I am continuing on the rose month with hajusuury and others.
I tried my sample of Corso Como Extreme but it did nothing for me this morning. Right before I left the the house I oversprayed Tam Dao, a lot, even for me. Now, hours later, my wrist smells wonderful. 🙂
Yum!
I have never even heard of this! Is it meant to be a more sandalwoody version of 10 Corso Como, or is it unrelated?
Troisiemme homme, splashed on liberally from an EDT mini… As delightful as ever in the rain, and plenty of lavender in the mix.
See Vancouver people at 4 at the perfume Shoppe.
I’m trying out YSL Manifesto today, so far I like it well enough. I got a rollerball of it through the most recent freebiemeet here. Reading the reviews on Fragrantica I noticed a lot of comparisons to Si and Fantasy by Britney Spears and I definitely can smell that. It’s a nice slightly spicy vanilla, and I can get behind that. I tried Diptyque’s Eau Duelle last week and that one was a much more straightforward vanilla-vanilla, and so less to my tastes.
Drinking some nice loose leaf Earl grey and trying to dredge up the energy to go do some laundry.
Cuir d’Ange for me today. Soft and comfy.
Happy Almost Friday Day to all! Going semi low-key with Tauer’s Amber Flush Body Oil. I don’t like “Flush” for some reason, don’t even like to type it, weird bathroom connotations I guess…
Just got back from studying with a classmate while lunching and yapping. We both 100% agree that statistics will contribute 0% to our day to day life function and fulfillment. 99.9% of college educated adults enter into the class knowing that statistics lie, cheat and steal, thus should be completely ignored unless the aforementioned statistics are compiled by objective and scientific methods, which they hardly are, ever. Statistically, ignorance is bliss ????
Oh, and 100% of my whole being is wishing a huge Happy Birthday to dear Jimmy Page!
Except update, you’re a month late!
Story of my life- a day (month) late and a dollar short. ????
Apparently, the story of mine too!
Really? When I took statistics a few years ago I felt like it had so many applications in so many facets of daily life that I wished I’d understood it more thoroughly. In reality, I barely understood it at all and the class made me feel 1) really old with a really slow brain, and 2) as if the prof was speaking a foreign language. (Although I think I ended up with close to a 4.0)
Had I been younger and at the dawn of my career rather than the midpoint, I think I’d have pursued it further and considered being a statistician (or economist.) But that would have been a very different younger me than the one that was.
I can see many people being attracted to this field for innumerable reasons. “Stats” are a necessary part of modern culture, just like toilet paper. I’m not a “details” person, but for those who are, statistics could be their jam. I’m more intersted in the “idea” behind the numbers, and HOW the results were obtained and calculated. I’m a natural skeptic, therefore, when someone tries to convince me of something, I’m not automatically opposed, but I want know WHY you are trying to convince me. If I have been traveling from point A to point B the same way for a year, and you tell me I could arrive at point B by some other “better” route, I want logical, conclusive proof. If I’m convinced, I’ll be happy to start traveling a more efficient route. But, like many bipedals, numbers can lie. “100% of the people polled are pro-Trump.” What they don’t divulge is that they “polled” ten people employed by The Donald. And the fact that maybe you tried to convince me to travel an alternate route because you own a gas station along that route ????
Have you ever checked out Hans Rosling (who sadly died this week)? I understand he had a real gift for bringing stats to life – you can see his TED talk(s) on Youtube.
Love TED talks, will check it out, thanks!
I liked statistics. Every day I was taking it, I was grateful I could substitute it in my course requirements for calculus — which has always appeared to me to require an extra step somewhere in the middle where some inexplicable miracle occurs.
I LOVED calculus and I feel like statistics are playing a trick on me. Isn’t it funny how different people are?
Having been doing stats for the last 15 years of my life, I love statistical inference and analytics. However, one can always manipulate the data to fit whatever story they are trying to tell.
Exactly! Thank you for saying it much more succinctly than I did ????
Statistics lie. My brother never claimed to have the best bedside manner. A patient once asked him what his chances were of a cure after undergoing a certain procedure because he read that this procedure was successful 75% of the time. My brother explained that the 75% success rate was for thousands of people but the outcome for the patient is either 0 or 100%.
If I had to choose between outstanding bedside manner and equally outstanding diagnostic skills, I’m going with diagnostic skills every single time. ????????
Your brother sounds like a man after my own heart.
Your brother sounds WONDERFUL.
Currently in Caron Royal Bain de Champagne, gifted by a very thoughtful and generous NSTer.
The snowstorm we had earlier in the week took down 5 trees in front of our apartment and the walkway leading to it. Crews were out in the days following taking them down to the stump and chipping away. I wish they’d fallen years ago! They blocked most of the light (natural and artificial) from our apartment and yard, and brought the temperature down by a good 5 degrees. They were scrubby, ugly alders that abound on this property and drop at the slightest provocation. Just for reasons of safety, they should take more of them down.
Missed yesterday’s very active discussion but read it today, experiencing wistfulness (Waldorf-Astoria) annoyance (no, coffret is not a perfume!) hilarity (sorry perfumelover67, but you had me nearly in tears) and furious (down with fake science! up with vaccines!) in turns.
Happy Thursday!
Oh, and meant to say that I’m fascinated by the Meteorites photo and can’t imagine how good that vat of balls smells.
????????????
Congratulations on the removal of the alders. I curse the trees in front of my place daily. Yes, we need them for oxygen, shade, shelter, bird nests, and beauty BUT I wish people would plant deciduous trees that do not reach 200 feet high and keep them pruned yearly as they grow.
Oh must catchup with yesterdays posts then!
Wearing a dab of Chinatown by Bond No 9 and watching the snow swirl.
Commando so far today. I’m giving my nose a break.
Anyone ever have a magazine start arriving in your mailbox even though you never subscribed?
Yes! At home (“People”) AND at work. The one that has started magically appearing at work is Architectural Digest, which is one of my favorite magazines to peruse as I’m sitting under the ionizer hood at my hair salon. I don’t work in anything even close to architecture and have no idea why I’m receiving it all of a sudden … but I don’t mind at all. Unlike the “People” magazines – those go straight into the recycle bin.
Thanks! I wish Architectural Digest would show up in my mailbox. I’m getting free copies of Cosmopolitan. This completely boggles me. 😉
In Style has been showing up in my mailbox, and I KNOW I didn’t request it. It’s not at all my type of magazine. If it was a gift, why didn’t I get a notice???
Yep, that’s what bugs me too. I don’t know why I’m getting the magazines.
Fragrancenet used to do this.
I have received Details, Good Housekeeping, Golf Digest, and Money.
Dropped them off at the local senior citizens meetinghouse, never asked how appreciated Details was. 😉 LOL
Yes, I bet Fragrancenet is the reason I’m getting the magazines.
Yes, I’m sure it’s Fragrancenet. I wish I was getting Vanity Fair, all I’m getting is the crappy celebrity rag Us.
Lots of etailers do this. Very annoying.
Yep, I’m getting People, and a family member’s getting In Style. Grr.
I agree. Grrr to surprise magazine subscriptions.
Yes. I’m getting something titled “Asphalt Contractor”. I haven’t the foggiest notion why.
OH MY! Asphalt Contractor magazine can’t possibly make any sense, can it?
Ha! I just started getting Vanity Fair. I’m guessing someone I know bought a subscription and it was a bogo offer… who knows? Cute guy on the cover.
I wouldn’t mind free issues of Vanity Fair one bit. 🙂
Late to the party…as usual.
SOTD–Gris Clair, again. I realize that I have not worn this in a while, so lavender week seems a good time to pick it back up. Also using a wonderful lavender balm to soften my heels and elbows given to me by a good friend at Christmas. It’s from a local lavender farm and it smells amazing as well as working great!!
I’m sure you smell great. Gris Clair is on my to-sample list, so someday I’ll be able to *know* so. ????
Scent twin with Robin! I think that might be a first for me. Wearing some of my sample of Jicky EdT. I need to thank Bear for reminding me that I had it. 🙂
You smell wonderful! I’ll be wafting Jicky tomorrow.
Thanks, Creosote!
Hey twin!!
Very late posting. Tried Diptyque Eau de Lavande this morning from a sample from a generous NST’er. I am usually not a lavender person (my husband hates it, so just as well), but this was a nice, fresh, peppery frag. This afternoon, putzed around in BBW and tried their aromatherapy body creams in Sandalwood Rose and Tangelo Woods, both very nice. Sandalwood Rose dries into a nice sandalwood, reminds me of Nirvana Black (I think). Tangelo Woods reminded me of Orange Sanguine. I may have to go back and get some. My luck is usually that if I really like something, it winds up getting discontinued.
I like Sandalwood Rose a lot. I thought it was discontinued since I looked for it for a long time and didn’t see it in the stores anymore. I will check again. I also like the Lavender Vanilla. I think their aromatherapy line is very nice.
I think it might be a limited edition. Online, they have the lotion and body wash. My BBW store also had a body cream. Scent from that lasted very nicely.
Bought myself a set of Hermes minis at the Dutyfree today. Missed my bottles too much and since they’re minis technically they don’t count, right? Spent the evening getting reaquainted with Jour d’Hermes.
Minis never count,
and Yes to Hermes!