It's Swap Love / Blind Love Friday! Our community project for today: wear a fragrance you acquired via a swap, OR, wear a fragrance you bought unsniffed. Double bonus points for wearing one of each, triple bonus points for a Blind Swap Love. If you don't swap or buy unsniffed, just wear a fragrance you love. Thanks to Pixel for the idea!
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I'm wearing my first ever blind purchase, and still all these years later, my most successful — Carthusia Mediterraneo. I used that bottle right up and bought a replacement. It took me a good long while to learn the lesson that I wasn't always going to love what I bought unsniffed, and that in fact, I wasn't very good at buying unsniffed.
Reminder: on 4/7, wear a fragrance with jasmine, if you have one.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2017, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Blind love: Ubar Amouage, read Robin’s review.
I love sandalwood, LOTV not so much, but LOVE Ubar.
Lesson learned, notes are a guide, testing on your skin, the final exam.
David Live, David Bowie.
Fun fact: my 15 year old self was in the audience for one of the week’s worth of shows @ the Tower Theatre Upper Darby PA.
You can hear me clapping, LOL.
Carpe Diem.
Triple strength coffee.
Peace.
YUM, Ubar.
At this point I have seen nearly everyone in concert that I want to see in concert, but I never did see David Bowie, that’s a regret.
I never got to see him either. When I would have most wished to see him live, I wasn’t born yet. At least I have the tattoo to prove my devotion.
Ubar took me a while but now I love it. Not a blind buy though.
How about a “lesson learned” Friday poll
Idea would be to where a fragrance where you learned something new about fragrance and/or yourself. One lesson only!
Love the idea! (not that I have an immediate answer – but I would come up with it)
Adding to list!
that’s *wear*
geez
You know, every single morning I read your post and say to myself, ‘i must find out what LOTV means’. For a few moments I muse over it, my brain going, ‘Laughed Off The …’ Or ”Lots of Terrific Vibes…’ And then I forget and just go on reading posts. BUT today I googled LOTV and got ‘League of Technical Voters’.
Yes- League of Technical Voters, not my kind of aroma.
LOL.
Cheers Kanuka!
You are laughing with me, right?????? LOTV!!! We love it!!!
Yes!
With, not at.
I have to look up acronyms all the time.
I know. It’s ‘with”. Just playin…. If i ever learnt how to do those smiley face capsule things i would have put one in
The first three letters are clear – Lord Of The … not sure though about the “V”
I come unstuck with ‘V’…..Vagrants…Void….Valley…Vest…voyage…
LOL — did anyone ever tell you? Lily of the Valley.
Ahhhh….really?
Happy April Fools Day!!!!!!!!!
Truly, i had no idea
Oh, goodness, thanks! I didn’t know what it stood for, either!
Ubar is wonderful stuff.
Ubar is one of my all-time loves (not a blind one, though)
You are my twin! I just bought Ubar unsniffed and love it. David Live is one of my favorites (hard to pick one favorite Bowie album). I wish I could have been there! <3 I'm wearing Mona d'Orio Tubereuse, which I also bought unsniffed and love. I am on a Tubereuse kick. Apparently, I buy unsniffed most of the time, but have only had a handful of failures.
Blind swap Aqua Allegoria Orange Magnifica
Thought it would be a fresh orange blossom, but it shares a bloodline with Samsara.
I have never smelled what you are wearing Robin..is it one to add to my list
Also The au Tibet is my SipOTD and I made homemade scones..there are none left.
Homemade scones sound delicious this morning. A Friday treat.
It is a very simple lemon verbena + green tea, but lovely — or, it was. No idea what it’s like now and so many simple citrus scents are now much cleaner than they used to be. Anyway, no, would not consider it a must try, even though I do adore it.
Anything sharing a bloodline with Samsara goes immediately on my sample list. Thanks!
I guess most of us must have yielded to the temptation of a blind buy with various degrees of success. Back when it was discontinued but still available, I ordered a bottle of Guerlain Terracotta Voile d’Ete from a discounter because it sounded like the kind of thing I would love (buckets of vanilla-soaked carnations plus ylang for that tropical feel). It’s heaven.
It does sound heavenly. A blind buy at a discounter is a pretty safe way to be a risk taker, relative to other things in life.
Congratulations on a great find.
amen to that
I love that one!
Blind swap love from many years ago, Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile d’Fleur. It’s one of the few gardenia scents I can wear because the basenotes almost overwhelm the gardenia
Big white florals are the Mean Girls in the perfume world on my skin.
“Big white florals are the Mean Girls in the perfume world” –I feel the same way! I love this! This one sounds so interesting–I hadn’t heard of it before. I don’t think I was giving much mind to fragrance when it came out.
It’s pretty much just Black Orchid with gardenia instead of the orchid in the top notes.
Yeah, those big voluptuous florals that smell so gorgeous on other people smell like cheap air fresheners on me. I always think of tuberose leading the pack, trash talking me to gardenias and violets over by the playground fence lol
I have about a 50% success rate when I blind buy….so I probably oughta stop doing it! LOL! I’ve found some real winners by chance though…
Wearing Calvin Klein Truth today. This was a blind buy…I bought it because the notes sounded right for me. This is a winner!
Bring on the weekend and no driving! Those of us in Atlanta are going to be doomed to terrible traffic for a few months, thanks to the bridge collapse downtown last night. But we will push thru!
50% is way better than my record! Mine is probably something like 20%.
So sorry about the traffic, what a nightmare.
Sounds dreadful!
Have a good weekend.
Bridge collapse? Yikes!
Saw the pictures of the fire and bridge collapse last night. Yikes!
OMG, I heard about the bridge–glad you are OK!
I was planning on wearing Prada L’Eau Ambree but forgot it’s Friday. Wearing Organza Indecence instead, which incidentally was also a blind and very much loved purchase.
Wow, great blind buy!
One of my first and most successful blind buys: SJP Covet. Bonus– found it at TJ Maxx in a gift set – super cheap. It really works on me and my husband even likes it (he is somewhat perplexed by this hobby!)
I really like Covet. I used up a 5 ml decant really fast but haven’t bought a full bottle yet. Maybe I should shop at T.J. Maxx.
You really should. It’s a great way to score some discontinued or overstock cosmetics!
Covet is a goodie for sure…..and underappreciated!
I’m wearing my one of my few swaps, and actually the first one I did years ago on the Posse. It’s Invasion Barbare which I got together with Eau Turquoise for a bottle of Habit Rouge. It’s one of my favourite masculines and one of my favourite MDCI’s. Funnily enough I did the swap to obtain Turquoise, which I love as well, but this one has become much more precious.
I chose not to wear any of my blind buys. I’ve done way too many, but fortunately most have been very successful.
You smell fantastic. Invasion Barbare is one my faves, too.
In blind split love Avignon. My first split and my first blind buy. I love it. Happy friday, everyone!
Hope your recovery is going well!
Thank you.
Still black and blue and stiff, but I think it may be a tad better today. Trying to move around some because it seems to help with the stiffness! Was happy to get a copy of the police report stating that the other driver was at fault- I knew she was, of course, but a relief that it’s on the report so there shouldn’t be any doubt as far as the insurance claims go.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better, even if only a tad. And yay! that you’ve received the report, as that should make dealing with the insurance claims a lot easier and quicker.
Recently blind bought vintage L’Air du Temps, a carnation winner, though I’ve learned to severely limit blind buying.
Did you all see the exclusive to Chanel.com ginormous 13.5 oz limited-ed bottles of Gardenia, Sycomore, Beige and Coromandel? Not remotely tempted, though they’re a bargain (for Chanel) at $490.
And even though I don’t sun anymore, am tempted by Malle’s Carnal Flower after sun cream (was signing up for their newsletter and homed right in.)
Yes, I received an email alerting about the huge Chanel bottles. I find it interesting they only did 5 of the perfumes and find the ones they selected kind of curious…
Vintage L’Air du Temps is gorgeous and precious as baby unicorn tears. Enjoy!
HOW could anyone go through 13.5 oz of Coromandel? I mean, sure, scent-eating skin, maybe. But still, so much of a powerful fragrance.
I can see Sycamore being emptied, that didn’t stick around on my skin for long.
My most successful blind buy has been Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Mokha. I was lucky enough to snag two at $10 EACH a few years ago from a store that was dropping the line. Sometimes I wish it didn’t have the vanilla note- the coffee effect is outstanding enough on its own.
I will probably never see this in the wild, but my search for the perfect coffee scent continues…
Have you tried Kerosene’s Follow yet? Thinking I may get a sample off of TPC especially since they’re offering 25% off right now.
I have! it smells delightful in the vial, but some aroma chemical comes out and clobbers me
Hmm. I think I read that the opening is to die for, but then it kinda doesn’t work. Sample is heading my way nonetheless!
I am wearing Guerlain Neroli Outrenoir, blind swap that I received recently thanks to a generous NST’er in the swapmeet. I love it a lot, that’s the one I am wearing all week.
You smell great!
I love this one as well!
Blind Swap Love: Amouage Opus VIII. white flowers, woods, spices. So beautiful! Have a happy Friday everyone!
That is on my ‘to try blind buy’ list
Yay for that swap success! ????
I’m wearing Bois de Paradis acquired in last week’s swap. Not blind, but I do love it.
I’ve pretty much stopped doing it, but two of my all-time favorite scents were blind buys: Cuir de Lancome and DK Gold.
All 3 of those were successful blind buys for me as well. Bois de Paradis is wonderful!
You’re last 2, are 2 of my favourites, and blind buys too. Haven’t tried Bois de Paradise, will look it up!
Blind buy love Crown Bouquet and thank you mals! Her review is spot-on, and if you love white florals with a bright green blast, this one is worth checking out. Although it does have my two nemeses, tuberose and gardenia, it’s blended in the way that vintage perfumes are and I’ve found that for some reason, those work fine for me.
http://themuseinwoodenshoes.com/perfume-review-crown-perfumery-crown-bouquet/
Oh, want that one.
Me too!
I almost wore that one today!! I do love it so, and it was a blind buy for me as well. I’m happy it pleased you. It really is a SOFT white floral under the galbanum.
Almost twins! I’m so happy you inspired me to take a chance and buy it as it’s a staple that I cherish. Thanks again!
SotD: Blind buy love Lalique Flora Bella. An early(ish) Duchaufour, it is a milky, almost custard citrus floral over vanilla and almond. It is sweet, but homemade egg custard sweet, not candied. It is slightly marred by the use of laundry musks in the base, but I don’t always notice them.
S(ip)otD: Harney East Frisian Tea Blend.
I never got to try Flora Bella, the review in The Guide intrigued me, plus Duchaufour tends to do good work. And on top of that most Lalique bottles are gorgeous.
I can send you a sample after budget season if you would like. Email me at monkey.toe at google mail
Thanks I will get in touch with you!
SOTD is Herba Fresca. This is a blind buy in the sense that I asked my sister to pick some up the last time she was in Europe, several years ago. I’d never sniffed it, but it was love when she gave it to me.
Loved that one when it came out, then got burned out on it. Great summer scent.
You smell great! I love Herba Fresca.
I almost blind-bought that just the other day as I found a large bottle for under $30! But I resisted mightily.
Are you anosmic to any musks? It lasted maybe 20 minutes on me.
Happy Friday to everyone!
I’m wearing Pichola which I went for blind, but love it! Later I’ll throw on some Dilettante which was also blind but even bigger love. Both of them were pretty safe as I knew and loved everything in each line. Have had too many fails that usually involved ‘great deals’ found at discounters, etc. I don’t think any of them were wins so not doing that anymore.
Both of those are great. I share your enthusiasm for Dilettante.
You smell amazing. Pichola is my desert island fragrance. I remember buying it at Arielle Shoshana somewhat impulsively. It’s one of my happiest fragrance decisions.
Dilettante was a blind buy – hard to go wrong with Hiram Green.
You smell wonderful. I love pichola!
SOTD is Sun Father by Dame Perfumery, which does not technically meet today’s criteria. I’m lovin’ it, and it was a blind “acquisition”, but there was no flesh in the game because it got a sample when I purchased something from them.
Blind loves – Timbuktu, Encre Noire
Blind disappointments – too many!
Ha, another good poll would be to wear a blind disappointment we haven’t unloaded yet…
yep, Elisa – I agree!
Brilliant idea
+1
LOVE Mediterraneo – you smell wonderful, Robin! I went with Le Dix for today’s theme, but could have gone with so many others that kind swappers sent as little surprise bonus samples. Happy Friday everyone!
Still kicking myself for passing on Le Dix at an estate sale. Was gone by the time I went back.
Given that everyone’s budgets are different, is there a price range at an estate sale that might make someone just buy on impulse? I haven’t been to them looking for perfume, so I’m just wondering if it was well priced and how you judge.
yeah, don’t recall what they were asking, but thought it was too much. Knew they were taking price reductions as days passed, so gambled incorrectly that time.
There is a particular estate sale company here that prices fragrances at $5. Vintage, new, drug store cheapies to Chanel, whatever size. Five bucks. It’s hard to resist even if I know I don’t like the fragrance because I can always swap or sell them.
I’ll be on the next flight out
.
Where did you say you are, foxbins?
I would ask, but if I were foxbins I wouldn’t divulge – several of us are in the same metropolitan area and would probably overrun her best-kept secret source.
Still wearing Apres L’Ondee, as I have been all week (so weird for me!). As it happens, I did purchase a decant of it blind. I’m on my second (larger) decant now. Trying to decide if I really need a bottle with the rate I’ve been wearing lately, or if my nose will return to its usual fickle behavior.
I went digging for my decant of this – inspired perhaps by you! – and can’t find it. Grrr.
You smell beautiful today. I love Apres l’Ondee and hope my nose will always agree.
Buy it while they still make it!
I just ordered a sample from TPC (took full advantage of the 25% off sale), and can’t wait to try it!
I hope you love it!
Femme. Blind bought it because of online reviews, and my only regret is not having taken 100 ml of this beautiful expresion of humanity.
Oh, Femme was one of my blind buys as well– and I think my first vintage purchase. You smell beautiful.
Thank’s! Femme is good AND long lasting. So reliable.
Is that Vintage or current?
Current. And I love it to bits already!
I’m in Cartier Baiser Vole today (I’m still on my recruiting trip) which I’m pretty sure I got as a swap extra, but that hardly counts. If I’d been thinking ahead when I packed, I’d have grabbed Diorissimo — got this one in a blind swap and it would have fit my crowd-pleaser requirement for today perfectly.
I’ll be participating tonight, though– I’ve been missing my animalics and the minute I get home I’m putting on Bal a Versailles, a blind swap that I adore endlessly.
You’ll smell great in Bal a Versailles!
Such a great classic that I always feel needs more love and recognition than it gets.
I hope you have a great Friday night wearing your Bal a Versailles!
I bought BV blind at a discount shop like TJMaxx–can’t recall which one. Love it. That is Baiser Vole. ????
Wearing SL Douce Amere, a blind swap love, thanks to Clarissa. Its sublime floral gourmand “concoction” is cozy and sophisticated simultaneously.
I’m home with 5 contractors who appeared when I was expecting 1 to cut a hole in a ceiling so the roofer could put in a light tunnel. And it turns out some duct work is in the way. In addition, the boss “misunderstood” that the outdoor work I had arranged couldn’t proceed until the roof is finished. So, I moved things so they could start painting prep for a project I had not wanted to start until after the outdoor work. The good thing is that we were forced to confront a lot of “stuff”. Slow deep breathing ( and perfume) was very effective in navigating the mini crisis
.
Douce Amere is so, so good! Hope the contractor chaos settles down quickly; you picked a great comfort scent!
Thanks. I had to measure out the diameter of the hole for them and diagram the ceiling. They were using the number given to them as the radius! Luckily, they checked first.
I haven’t tried that entire series because of the cost. And it seems unimaginable to be able to create something that order of magnitude better than DA.
Good luck on managing that mini crisis! You’ll get through.
SOTD is Creed “Aventus”.
Top: blackcurrant, bergamot, apple and pineapple;
Mid: rose, birch, jasmine and patchouli;
Base: oak moss, musk, ambergris and vanilla.
It’s a frog. Imagine you took a pineapple, cubed it, through it in the dishwasher with a strong detergent, opened the door half-way through the wash cycle and started munching, suds and all. That would taste like this smells.
This week I kissed 5 frogs and found one-and-a-half princes, which is not bad going. (Arte Profumi “Bois Sacre” was the prince and Jovoy “Psychedelique” the half). Off to Ireland this weekend – DUS to DUB and then a drive to the West Coast. (Advantage of a small island country – that’s coast to coast in 2 hours max).
Aventus was Jolly Ranchers and smoky birch tar, on my skin.
Smoky birch tar, yes.
Jolly Ranchers, NO !!!
Cheers Koenigsberg!
I Followed your steps one by one and imagined that and I actually went, Ewwww. In fact, finding an actual frog and kissing it sounds more fun.
Enjoy your weekend
Wow, that’s quite a description!
I once read a (positive) review of Aventus that described it as “eating fresh pineapple around a campfire” and all I could think was, “Why would you bring a pineapple on a camping trip?”
Absolutely! Thanks for the belly laugh! ????
Ooooh, if you get a chance while driving across, stop at Clonmacnoise (which I recall being almost exactly in the middle.) Interesting ruins of a once thriving monastery.
Blind buy SOTD is Cuir de Lancôme, which was mentioned here so often I decided to look on eBay. Very glad I did. It’s ❤️
Perfume twins!
I gotta try that one. I never see anyone splitting it, but it gets so much praise from you guys
I can send some with your swap decant.
Thank you!!
Almost wore that one as well! It might be my most successful blind buy ever. (I do adore Crown Bouquet, but it’s not as versatile and seasonless as Cuir.)
Wearing blind buy love AG Rose Absolue- this actually wasn’t much of a risk since I already own and love nearly all of her roses. This is cheering me up on this cool rainy spring morning.
you smell lovely!
A lovely rose!
So pretty!
My own blind buy success rate is pretty high — over 80%. Though what I’d read made it sound a somewhat daring choice, I went ahead and bought Yatagan that way. So glad I did. If there’s anything else remotely similar, I haven’t smelled or even heard of it. Not to everyone’s liking, true, and I wear it with a bit of caution, but today we’re heading to the re-opening of the biggest dog park around so I figure I can spritz with relative abandon.
I bought all three of Caron’s men’s scents (Yatagan, Pour Homme and 3rd Man) because they’re such classics and I wanted them in my collection. Plus ridiculously cheap at the discounters! I have to admit I don’t wear Y all that much (although my husband and son do use it occasionally) but I absolutely love the other two.
I love Y. Perfect for the dog park, Michael Tilson Thomas, and reworking a paella recipe.
Robin, you smell fabulous, Carthusia Mediterraneo is so nice.
Boy have I made plenty of blind buys ever since falling down this rabbit hole. I don’t do it nearly as often as I used to… my success rate is about the same as Robin’s, about 20%. I’m trying to learn my lesson
Some of my blind buy loves have been Natori; Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose; Guerlain AA Limon Verde…
Swap loves include Norma Kamali Incense; Jovoy La Liturgie des Heures; House of Matriarch Devotion; NV Mohur Extrait; Kenzo Kashaya….
SOTD is my latest blind buy love: La Curie Larrea, which is a take-no-prisoners leather. I bet my co-workers are glad I’m working from home
I love AA Limon Verde, that was also a blind buy for me. Perfect for hot humid days or when I need something to wake me up in the morning
How do you like La Curie creations? I keep forgetting to put samples in my cart when I shop, but this looks like an interesting line.
I’m actually testing the rest of the line today
So far, I really like Larrea; quite like Faunus though it seems a bit familiar (mild cedar, oud, leather); Ossuary was a no though you might like it (orris and charred wood); and Odyssey is seriously, seriously weird: candied vinyl. Need to re-test Incendo later; I tried it a while back and didn’t love it, but now that I have a new sample, need to test it again.
They’re all good quality and interesting. Not a dullard in the bunch.
Candied Vinyl, hmmm. sounds interesting?
Is indiescents the best place to get their samples?
I bough mine direct from La Curie.
Glad to hear someone else is as crappy at it as I am.
Another category: blind buys I hated, gave away or swapped, then realized I wanted back. Caron Violette Precieuse, years ago. Would be very funny if I could actually find some in vintage, and STILL hated it.
I figure sooner or later I’ll get rid of something I later wish I hadn’t, but I’d rather make that mistake than hold onto everything *just in case*.
Oh yes, Natori. Loooove. Great picks
My blind buy success rate is 50/50 or so – like you, my very first blind buy (L’Artisan’s al Oudh) was a success, which probably made me overconfident. I’ve sworn them off for the time being, but I’ll undoubtedly crack at some point.
Too much going on today to try something blind, so I’m in Narcisco Rodriguez For Her, a blind buy that became one of my no-brainers. Happy almost-Weekend to all!
Twins! I blind bought Al Oudh and love it. L’ambre extreme also. Will wear them later
I have a mini of L’Ambre Extreme but I haven’t tried it – I always reach for Ambre Sultan when I’m in an amber mood. I’ll have to give it a shot one of these days.
YES — would have been way better to start off with a failure.
You smell great! NR For Her is one of my all-time favorites. Unfortunately, it was fiddled with in recent years, and looking around to replace it is what sent me down the rabbit hole. I’ll have to try it again to see if it’s improved at all…
Nooooo say it ain’t so
1) Happy Friday! Doing end of month reports and end of quarter stuff. Ugh! But at least I know how to set things up to make it more efficient.
2) SOTD: Cuir de Lancome, my first online, unsniffed purchase. I got it because at the time it was CHEEP! It has a stupid bizzarre bottle that it is a failure of manufacture, but otherwise, the scent is LOVELY. Expensive now- and I am not sure I would get it again since being introduced to other leather/iris scents.
3) Coffee and a half(!) of a cinnamon roll. Am finding that half a pastry is very satisfying indeed. Of course, american pastries can be the size of a child’s head so there is that.
#3 = truth
#2: I got CdL at a crazy price too and have kicked myself ever since for not buying more in that same order. Live and learn, eh?
SOTD is blind buy box of eels.
I have about a 90% win rate with blind buys. Which is excellent except for my wallet????
I bought box of eels because of reviews here @ nst. Since my mom died last mom, I find myself only going to a select few fragrances that feel right and this is one of them. The bottle level has dropped considerably in 4 weeks.
Of course there are GIANT bottles right now on the Chanel site. Must…not…look….
Apsara, see reply below
.
Isn’t it lovely? Hajusuuri gave me a lovely sample and I have stretched it out so. I would really love to buy it, but the reformulation makes me a bit nervous as to staying power?
I blind bought Box of Eels too and have no regrets.
I believe the new mega huge splash bottles for Chanel are limited to only Gardenia, Sycomore, Beige, Coromandel and Eau de Cologne…
Thank you for this update!
Guerlain Meteorites – Blind Swap Love. Love. Love!
Triple Bonus Points! Wooo Hoooo!!
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten points, much less triple bonus.
Also meant to say that when I first saw the graphic above, I thought it was for a Disney movie.
It looks a bit like a bizarro world Frozen sequel.
That’s EXACTLY what I thought it was until I noticed the lotus blossoms. Oops! That’s water!
Meteorites is gorgeous! Sure wish I had some….
I hope your perfumes are giving you some comfort along with good memories of your mom.
You smell lovely. What other blind buys have worked well for you?
Thanks for the kind words, Wendysue. Mom was 95, but still it feels odd not to call her daily to check in on her.
I am also reaching for Aedes de Venustas – the original one and Tauer Incense Flash,
then back to box of eels. All three of them together smell quite wonderful on my sheets.
SotD = Jardins de Bagatelle, a blind-swap-love for me. It reminds me of an old bottle of perfume I have that was blended at Mademoiselle Antoinette’s Parfumerie (the perfume shop at Disneyland).
Many years ago the shop had a collection of perfume bases and extras in beautiful urns. They could blend a custom fragrance for you based on a short sniffing session using paper blotters. It was fun. The beautiful little shop is still there and sells Guerlain, Dior, Acqua di Parma, and so on.
Wishing everyone a fabulous and fragrant Friday.
Keep calm and waft on.
Disneyland has a perfume shop? How did I not know this?
I also acquired Jardins de Bagatelle blindly, and it was love at first sniff. It’s so pretty!
D-land’s perfume shop is hidden away in the maze of stores in New Orleans Square. It is sometimes closed when the park is open. If the doors are locked it is easy to walk right by.
JdB is so pretty, one of my most favorite floral fragrances.
Is it Bourbon French which has a store on Royal Street in New Orleans?
Oh never mind,myounmentioned the store in your post. I did not have triple strength coffee today…in fact my morning sip is usually 1/3 decaf, 2/3 bold blend..
Plus, more in Epcot, in “France”.
You smell great!
Blind buy but not love: Dzonkha, it turn sour on my skin, unfortunately.
I’m so glad you said that! Dzonkha usually smells nice for me, but sometimes it goes in a direction I don’t enjoy as much.
SotD is Carner Barcelona Sweet William, from their new White Collection
Oh what’s it like?
It’s a gently floral carnation. A bit sweetish and spicy.
That sounds nice, especially if it isn’t too sweet.????
Lemming alert, dearest one
I think the closest I get to a blind buy is when I’ve only tested something in a store! I am a crazed sample/small decant buyer – and yet I still have mistakes. Mostly from those overly quick in store purchases. I did get a small Arbole Arbole and am hoping I’ll learn to love it? Not so much yet. I’m two for five with HG.
What is AA like on your skin? I haven’t smelled that one yet.
I have to try again to remind myself. It is both less funky and less green then I thought it would be. Rubbery?
Agree about rubbery. Smells like an eraser to me, which I totally did not expect.
Yes… not very green for me either. Rubbery is a good description.
I get a distinct Play-Doh note.
It smelled like Diletantte without the orange blossom on me.
I am so boring. I have never swapped or bought anything that I haven’t smelled at least once before. I was planning on wearing Mohur EDP since it was the closest thing I have to a blind swap–I bought a sample from Luckyscent initially more than a year ago but didn’t think much of it and didn’t quite remember what it was like. This most recent swap I got two small decants and honestly, I think it is pretty but I don’t quite get the hype. Maybe the extrait would be more my jam? This can also be said for Alahine. I got a sample and small decant in the swap because of the praises on here, and honestly, I was very underwhelmed. On my skin it smells like a cheaply-made oriental. In any event, I forgot to put some Mohur on before I left, so I’m wearing Bois Torride today from my office stash.
Like you, I am boring. I do love Mohur EDP, but share your feelings about Alahine. People say try it multiple times but I have and it’s still no.
Agreed. I wore Alahine for a week, and nothing. I will happily use all the Mohur I have, I just don’t know that it’s one of those that I will miss it if I don’t have it. I have several other roses I prefer. But if I bottle fell into my lap…
and I really do want to try the extrait.
I am so boring. I have never swapped or bought anything that I haven’t smelled at least once before. I was planning on wearing Mohur EDP since it was the closest thing I have to a blind swap–I bought a sample from Luckyscent initially more than a year ago but didn’t think much of it and didn’t quite remember what it was like. This most recent swap I got two small decants and honestly, I think it is pretty but I don’t quite get the hype. Maybe the extrait would be more my jam? This can also be said for Alahine. I got a sample and small decant in the swap because of the praises on here, and honestly, I was very underwhelmed. On my skin it smells like a cheaply-made oriental. In any event, I forgot to put some Mohur on before I left, so I’m wearing Bois Torride today from my office stash.
Mohur didn’t do it for me either, never tried the extrait.
Not boring–disciplined. Admirable. I don’t much care for gambling, but I can’t resist the occasional blind buy/swap.
And I don’t care for Mohur or Alahine either. The rose in Mohur goes sour on me, and Alahine smells like a nice bath oil.
Mohair extract is not dramatically different than the edp in my estimation. It is richer and rounder, but I doubt it would change your opinion much.
Stupid autocorrect. Mohur!
Recent swap that I am so happy with is Dior Feve Delicieuse. Don’t expect to every buy 4.25 oz, so a decant is perfect.
Woke up with a headache, culmination of a week of stress. Planning to go to a movie tonight to get out of my head!
Happy Friday, friends!
you smell delicious!
Yum!
Love FD, you smell great! Hope a relaxing evening soothes your headache.
Aww.. thank you!
Stay dry and hope your headache is gone!
So the 2nd interview/presentation was yesterday where I wore a bit of vintage N. 19 EDT per Hajusuuri’s suggestion
…
-6 people in the room
-18 slides in my Powerpoint…albeit some of slides were Princess Bride memes/jokes…gotta have a pop culture theme interspersed for some levity w/ dry material I find
-lasted almost 2 hours
and I do believe it went very well!
Gotta figure out how to counter an offer/do salary negotiation now…everyone says to haggle a bit/make them come up some if they make an offer…hopefully they do…if anyone has pointers here it would be helpful.
I am wearing Iris Fauve by Atelier des Ors compliments of a decant from the wonderfully enabling Clarissa.
It is lovely. Iris, woods, and musk…oh my!
The best negotiation advice I ever got was from a real estate lawyer friend: ‘whoever says a number first loses.’ Not sure if that is relevant here, but it has proven true in my limited experience!
Just say, ‘Double it’ no matter what they offer. And ask for a perfume allowance. Works like a charm every time, never fails.
I’d love to see a perfume allowance written into an offer letter…the stuff of dreams!
I want a perfume allowance! I have a colleague whose work I am always helping with and I have often thought: Buy me some perfume! Never said it fortunately.
My job is 90% perfume allowance.
Hahahaha!
Not sure which field you are in, but this dude published really interesting blog on how he got multiple offers and salary increases. I will send you a link
Thanks very much…some people have a knack for such things but sadly I believe I am probably not one of them.
Email sent.
Pls send to me too. Need to bolster my spouse ????
I too do not have a knack for such things, so my suggestions is to line up an interview at another company, even if you have no intention of working there. If you lie to the first company to get more money, they’ll sense it. (Because you’re not experienced in negotiation.) But if you genuinely have something on the table, you can use it as leverage without needing a poker face. This situation can also do wonders for your self esteem.
Good luck!
I have done it 3 times. They offer a number, I come back and say, I was looking for something in the $xx range, given my experience & qualifications. So far I have been successful every time.
+1 to this.
I’m glad it went well! You will need to consider the full benefits package and your other alternatives, if any.
SOTD: Parfums de Nicolai Eau d’Ete, a blind bottle swap back in my Makeupalley days. This is actually the bottle I’m closest to finishing too.
I like that one a lot. I should dig it out for tomorrow.
Blind split love love LOVE today in Azemour. I smell like I parachuted through a cloud and landed crash bang in an orange tree.
One of my favourites, and ‘almost’ blind for me- I’d smelt it on paper, and fell head over heels in love!, u smell wonderful!
Blind buy SOTD is Ostara. I liked this so much I bought a back up bottle. I do not normally have the best luck with blind buys, but this one is wonderful.
Also a blind buy for me! And….put it this way, if you lived in New Zealand I would happily send my bottle to you. It’s a great perfume but I don’t wear it.
I just got some of this in the swap and wore it yesterday – so lovely for spring time.
My blind buy success rate is 10-15%, but when they’re a hit, they’re really a hit. Lots of blind buy loves from my first days as a perfumista–Box of Eels extrait, Homage and Tribute attars, Infusion d’Iris, and loads more. Today I’m in the triple points winner Blind Swap Love Crabtree & Evelyn Sandalwood from the fabulous Pixel. I don’t even remember what I swapped for it!
Oh that one’s great!!
SOTD Yves Rocher Rose Oud which was a blind swap last year. I really enjoy this one. No oud, but a juicy, jammy, dark rose. Success!
Went to the Gallivant release event last night at Twisted Lily. It was fun-I got to meet NST’s lovely Jessica finally! And Ralf Schweiger was there although he didn’t make any of the scents.
The scents were perfectly wearable but a little wan IMO.
London: watery green/aromatic/a little wood.
Brooklyn: creamsicle/orange tic tac
Istanbul: spiced vanilla
Tel Aviv: bright fruity floral-reminded me a little of Fazzolari’s Jimmy.
Thanks for the report, Elisa! That’s interesting, because Jimmy is the Fazzolari that I regret never having tried, because someone on Fragrantica said it was the most feminine of the lot.
Huh. I actually think Monserrat is the most feminine. Anyway, Jimmy is gone now ????
The fragrance itself did not evoke Tel Aviv for me, though.
I was so sad I didn’t get Jimmy before it disappeared!
Me too! Jimmy is the one from his line that I think I would wear the most. I do have a bottle of Au Dela Narcisse, the limited edition one before he changed bottles, though actually I think I prefer regular Au Dela. And I really like Feu Secret.
I was wondering if he would do a custom order of Jimmy if I was so inclined to go for a bottle…
It’s probably worth e-mailing him. Maybe he has some bottles still available? I thought about getting Jimmy last summer. It was a tie between Jimmy and Monserrat. I couldn’t decide so got neither, lol.
But I’d say try Gallivant Tel Aviv as it might fill the Jimmy void.
I just for samples and Tel Aviv does remind me of Jimmy!
Got. Oops.
You mean you tested it already?!
All of them reminded me of other things I’ve smelled before, but this one was the only one where something specific jumped out at me. I guess that’s good for people who missed out on Jimmy. Love that name ????
There is a 2 ml. sample set on Luckyscent for 20-some dollars.
That’s a nice deal and spray samples seem ideal for them. I think dabbing wouldn’t be sufficient. I’m guessing they will attract people who want, light, easy to wear perfumes. I wish they would have given out samples so I could re-try them individually away from all the other competing smells.
Fun! I was way too busy.
I am wearing Prada Infusion d’Iris today. It wasn’t a blind buy. I absentmindedly sprayed this right after I got dressed this morning.
I always enjoy this scent though.
Infusion d’iris is always lovely in the spring!
** BLIND SWAP LOVE **
28 La Pausa, swapped via the PerfumePosse swapmania in 2011. Shout out to Tamara J for this great swap. I absolutely love both the CdR and La Pausa that I received from her. My 30ml decant of this is almost gone, and I’m sad that I didn’t buy a bottle before the edt was dc’d.
You smell fantastic!
I hadn’t noticed a major change in the EDP. Have you found it to be a lot different? There were hopes it would have better longevity than the EDT, but it’s marginal on my skin.
Wearing Deneuve today because I forgot about the challenge today. Did anyone else get a Chanel email about some of the exclusive line offerings being 13 ounces. Who needs 13 ounces of anything?
La Pausa 12 sprays hajusuuri?
Sadly that’s not one of the scents offered in the extra huge size.
LOL! It’s 8 sprays but yeah, 13 oz is a lot and probably really hard to lift and spray one-handed.
It ‘s Saturday! LOTV!!!! Lots OF Terrific Vibes!!!
Amouage JOURNEY. Hurray.
I love blind buys.
First mad purchase of the year: a popsicle pink fake fur bomber jacket bought online. It looked great on the size 6 , five foor ten, eighteen year old model so, of course, my brain goes, It will look even better on the size 12, five foot three, 53 year old.
Package arrived yesterday! Just need the invitation to the theme party with the instruction, Dress up like a great big bunch of Candy Floss!!! ( Cotton candy)
Don’t eat me!!! Aarrghhhh. Nelly the elephant packed her bags and said goodbye to the circus….
Happy weekend ! Roll on winter.
I had a Turquoise blue suede bomber jacket in my 20s.
Donated it to Goodwill in my 30s, wish I had kept it.
You look fabulous, darling!
Rock on !
I am sure there must be some ‘syndrome’ out there that we fit into!!!!
Oh, also…this week I ordered a perfume from Olympic Orchids. It’s such a blind buy I can’t even remember its name but something like Bay Rum.
We had a party at work the other day and people were supposed to dress up in the roaring 20’s style – it was one of those immersion experiences. One of coworkers was wearing a silk jacket and white pants – and he is not a type you would ever imagine to have that in his closet. Apparently he has a xmas suit that has the same pattern as xmas wrapping paper, a sweater with pugs, another one with kittens. Makes my closet feel dull compared to his
Here hee, I bet u look, (as well as smelling)fab!
Journey is amazing, it’s one of my Top 5. I’m hoping to get a bottle for my anniversary present in May, I’m rationing the last drops of my sample till then!
Smell fab. My son asked if I was a furry…and I had to look that up, too.
LOL!! I almost had a spit take reading this.
Had to look that up, too — I live under a rock, evidently — NST has been hugely educational in so many ways!
That bomber jacket sounds like such fun…!
You smell lovely. Your jacket reminds me of a pair of stiletto pink leopard print calf hair booties I once bought. :-).
Oh, brilliant…You can be Patsy and I’ll be Edie
If it makes you Eddie, it really must be quite a jacket!????
I bet it’s the most fun bomber jacket in the world.
I have fairly decent success rate with blind purchases or swaps – partially I blame Kafka – her reviews are so detailed, I feel like I smell a fragrance when I read a review. I think partially it is because some of my splitting partners have similar taste as me, so I trust them
No Scent yet. My 5 year old woke up at 2 am crying that she had ear pain. Neither Motrin nor Tylenol worked. She was miserable for the next 6 hours until we went to the doctor. It looks like she has ear infection because of her allergies (man the amount of pollen in CA is ridiculous right now) – Zortec, Claritin and others are failing people (at least according to my doc) She is better now – finally the painkiller works and she is on antibiotics – and I even managed to get her to eat some pirate booties (so she has something in her stomach). But I am wiped out, trying to keep awake drinking gallons of coffee and failing in my attempts to work while she is sitting next to me watching cartoons. Really have no energy or stamina right now to even think about a fragrance.
Hang in there…kids and their ears can be tough.
With all the rain in CA, it is like a brave new world…lots of birds, bugs, bushes, flowers, pollen, etc. all kinds of overgrown nature in my backyard alone. Spring is exciting but not necessarily for allergy sufferers…hope she feels better…and let those cartoons work their magic…
I used to love smell of flowers in the wild. Ever since she developed allergies two years ago, a flower means sniffing, runny nose, itchy skin!! She loves perfumes thou
I hope both of you feel better quickly. Are there desensitization treatments as are in the works for peanut allergy?
I remember feeling almost worse about the kids’ suffering than they did while in the midst of it, and now I have such clear memories of each illness. They, on the other hand, have happily completely moved on.
I think there are but you have to be at least 6 years old.
I had “allergy shots” aka immunotherapy as a kid, but I do remember being in elementary school at the time, too.
Poor little thing! Glad she is feeling better, and hope u both sleep much better tonight, role on the weekend!
I’m so sorry you’re having such a rough day. You didn’t ask for advice, but I’m giving it anyway because I was in the emergency room four or five times a year with ear infections as a child:
1. Hot chocolate. When she swallows it the stuff inside the ear will unclog a little and she’ll get some relief. And she’ll be really happy because it tastes awesome. (The emergency room where I grew up keeps a hot chocolate machine by the nurses’ station for this very purpose. Every kid gets sent home with a cup.)
2. Have her sleep on her side with her ear toward a heating pad on her pillow. (On low and wrapped in a towel or something similar.) It will serve the same purpose, but heat from the other side. You can take it away when she falls asleep so you don’t have to worry about her getting tangled up in the cord.
Neither of these things will fix the problem, but I promise they’ll make her less miserable. Good luck.
I will have to try both. I have heard about the warm compresses – and being Russian my catch all cure – put a hot hard boiled egg with skin on (and wrapped in paper or a cloth) to whatever bothers you – stuffy nose, eye infection and keep it there for as long as you can. Works like a charm
The other catch all is vodka, but I am not 100% sure that is good for 5 year old.
No, not for a five year old, but for you it just might do the trick.
And I’m totally trying the egg thing next time I’m ailing. It sounds so ridiculous that it probably works.
The pollen is TERRIBLE! Taking my youngest to the doc in about 20 mins. He woke up at about 5 am coughing violently to catch his breath. I kept him in the shower for quarter of an hour until he could breathe normally. Our other, not sick, cat is sneezing and wheezing a bit too. Bleckh!!????????
Try a neti pot where you basically rinse your nasal passage with warm saline. I have never used it myself but my mom, sister, nephew and brother-in-law uses it with great success.
I’m also in my first ever blind buy – Chanel No.19 Poudre. I love the original No. 19 so much that when this flanker had been released in Europe, I just didn’t want to wait until it comes to the U.S. a couple of months later – so I asked one of my friends to buy it for me in the U.K. during the business trip.
I do not love it but I like it enough to wear from time to time. On the positive side, it gave me a topic for my blog post back then and it taught me not to go for blind buys. Since then I did it only once – but there were some extenuating circumstances and I got lucky and liked that one as well.
I bought a gently used bottle on eBay for a song. I have been close to passing it along several times, and then I have a good day with it…
I’m in the impeccably gorgeous 31 Rue Cambon, this was a very generous decant from the lovely Mrsdalloway, and I hadn’t smelt it before but had heard many wonderful things about it. I absolutely love it, definitely in my top 10.
A beautiful discovery, isn’t it? You smell lovely.
so very impeccably gorgeous!
Gorgeous, indeed!
SOTD is L’ambre des Merveilles, a swap love decant from AnnieA. Such a cozy scent!
This is a good day for it!
Another favourite, yes, so cosy, and I get compliments on this one, which is so nice!
My most successful blind buys have been at thrift stores, so I’m wearing the original Feminite du Bois, which was purchased at a Sally Ann some years ago… It’s one I usually wear in the fall, so it’s kind of neat to try it today. I also have a surprise job interview, so I hope the amounts are discreet enough…
My discounter blind buy success rate is considerably less, but I rarely do that anymore.
!!! I love the original FdB and am hoarding the remainder of my bottle. ????
Yeah this one was probably only 60-70% full when I found it, and is less than half now. Prohibitively expensive to replace it.
Good luck for your job interview!
Thank you!
Good luck with your interview! I’m sure you’ll impress.
Thanks, I have part 2 tomorrow, eep!
Excellent thrift store find! Alas, I never find any perfume at thrift stores or estate sales. Keep hoping, as I adore vintage.
In a perfect world where perfumes never saw discontinuation/reformulation/limited edition status, and had never ending availability, I would be wearing LAP Fleur d’Oranger. But I am hoarding the last bit of my decant. A huge thank you to AnnE who shared this beautiful creation with me! So instead, I am wearing Fleur de Chine. A blind buy that I have adored since first sniff!
I have never done a swap, but I have bought several perfumes “unsniffed”. Today I am wearing one of them:
Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 – 2022 Generation Woman.
I have two other perfumes by him (Rose de Petra and Kohl de Bahrain) and just knew I would like this one as well–which I do.
On another subject, has anyone on this site bought anything from Notino? I have purchased two things from them–one of them was the same price as any other perfume store would charge but the other one was a lot cheaper than other sites. I Googled them and found that a few people thought they sold fakes but for the most part the comments and reviews were very positive. I don’t think my bottles are fakes because they were both in their legitimately made boxes but after reading a few remarks I thought I would ask you.
I have ordered from Notino many times and always received authentic merchandise.
Ditto
I’ve never had any problems. Really good deals sometimes.
Ditto.
I have also bought from them. No fakes.
Same here.
Notino is legit. It is the new name for an older site: Beauty Spin maybe?
They are totally legit. I buy from them all the time. Their % off is a bit misleading – they have some of the Diors for more than Dior.com itself
How do you like Generation Woman? I am a huge fan of SHL, and have been debating that one for a while.
I’ve bought from Notino (Beaityspin) and never had a problem with quality/authenticity.
And you smelled great today! I went through a small decant of that and thoroughly enjoyed it! Delicious while still being sophisticatrd.
It’s real. The Dzing! I split came from there at a bargain basement price.
Another vote for Cuir de Lancome, at Winners many a year ago for $40. It was pretty scary to buy, but all was well.
My success rate is a sad 1%, which means I am a fussy little bunny, especially since I am including samples I paid for. Lists of notes are not the slightest help – I need a perfume twin! Sometimes one person’s rave here is another person’s (mine) yuck reaction.
$40 for Cuir de Lancome!???
It’s reasonably priced on ebay but I’ve never seen it that low.
Smelling good!
Yeah, it was at the discounters for that price when it was newly discontinued. I think I bought my first CdL for, like, $35. (And then promptly went back and snapped up another when the first was such a success.)
That is the trick — get them when they’re newly discontinued. Good for you! Jealous!
Yes, and that’s also exactly the problem: you see something newly discontinued and it’s very cheap so then you want to buy it because a) it’s cheap and b) you know it won’t stay cheap for long. But then you might not like it, so…..
Happy Friday! I have had some very good luck with swaps and am debating buying a bottle of Robert Piquet Rose Perfection based on an extra I received in a swap once.
My boyfriend asked me how I feel about spending the rest of our lives together. No ring or anything but we created a small ceremony for ourselves to mark the decision, so the scent of my engagement (?!!!! Oh wow!) is Chantecaille Le Wild
How romantic!, many congratulations!
Oh, congratulations!
Nice one!
Congratulations! That’s wonderful.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations!
Yay for you both!!
Wow! That’s lovely.
Yes, oh wow! Congratulations!
So happy for you, thegoddessrena! What a wonderful thing to be asked. Great scent pick too!
Here’s to years and years of happiness!
How sweet, congrats!
Congratulations! That’s wonderful news!
WOW Congrats!!
Sweet ❤Congratulations!
WOW!!!!! Congratulations, R! That’s great!
Oh how cool! Congratulations on your engagement!
Congratulations GoddessRena! Your guy totally scored
Wishing you both much happiness in your shared future.
How wonderful! Congratulations to you both!❤️
Congratulations, thegoddessrena! More Chocolate buffets are in your future
So sweet! Congratulations!
Congratulations! That is lovely news!
Congratulations! Is this the guy from OK Cupid? If things don’t work out with the guy who FINALLY asked me out, I will definitely try it.
Yes it is. Surprised you remembered but we’re both ridiculously happy
So happy for you, Rena! Here’s to a lovely future for the two of you!
My very best wishes to you both.
We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you, Laurels!
Thank you! I need all the luck I can get.
Just watched yesterday’s Dinand clip…fantastic. FRiday project: favourite bottle design in your collection
Ooh, I like that idea!
That’s a good one!
I’m starting my Saturday in a cloud of Black Cashmere, thanks to a generous decant from Waterdragon. She had spoken of it so glowingly that, when she asked if I’d like to try anything she’d mentioned, this was the one. It’s lovely.
My blind love for today’s project: Guerlain Habit Rouge (EDT). Another option was Elie Saab Le Parfum, so maybe I’ll wear it tomorrow…
Have a fab Friday / super Saturday, NST!
Habit Rouge is so beautiful! That was also a blind love swap for me.
Wearing Versace Yellow Diamond. It’s my latest blind luv.
Have tried Dark Crystal & Bright Crystal and neither really worked. So when i blind bought a mini of Bvlgari Pour Femme from eBay and the seller sent me a manufacturer’s sample of Yellow Diamond i thought “oh, great.”
But, turns out the Pour Femme is not for me, and Yellow Diamond is something that I can wear to work (lightly!) and really enjoy. Looking forward to experiencing it in summer weather, too. I love a shampoo fragrance (brings me back to my love of 90’s Herbal Essences).
So i bought a mini of YD off ebay, and the PF mini joined my display- only mini collection.
Y’all smell great!
I buy all the Tauerville scents blind – today I’m wearing Fruitchouli Flash. I love them all.
Guilty! And I’ve blind bought the body oils, too. #sorrynotsorry
Oh I did that too. I forgot. The rose and I didn’t like it!
I think there’s a certain price point and trust in the creator of the scent where I just go for it as well. As long as that price point doesn’t edge up too much, that’s the key!
That’s exactly it. I love almost all of Andy’s scents and the price point is not something that would cause deep regret if it didn’t turn out to be love.
Had a follow-up appointment with the financial advisors today (things are going well) and since my sniffer is still not back to normal, I went with a typical dose of Le Temps d’une Fete.
My blind buys were very good early on, and although I’ve reined back from blind buys of bottles to blind buys of splits, my choices are much less good over the past several years.
I think the first few dozen things you sniff they are new and different and you love the newness and differentness. After years of experience, it is really hard to come by, that lovely shock of new and different and beautiful….More and more things seem derivative, just because you know more.
Totally. This is also represented by my husband’s tolerance for any music created after 2005-ish. He was born in ’67, and I am a child of the 80’s, so his derivative threshold is much, much lower than mine.
I can’t argue with his logic, though!
PSA: It’s World Backup Day! In this case, it’s not about backup bottles but about backing up your data. The New York Times published this quick guide:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/technology/personaltech/data-backup-guide.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur
SOTD: April Aromatics Nectar of Love as an antidote to cold rain, clouds, and some soreness from overtraining.
Adding, I rarely swap because I’m such a procrastinator, but I have a lot of blind buys in my collection. That’s partly because I love vintage perfumes and there’s no other way to try many of them.
The strange thing is that my success rate with blind buys is similar to my success rate with perfumes I HAVE tested first. Maybe I’m too impulsive when I try a sample and like it; maybe it’s the gap between daubers and sprays; maybe newer fragrances these days have ingredients that are more likely to bore me or become overbearing over time; or maybe my collection is large enough that I don’t really need a whole bottle of anything!
I had a wealth of choices today. I blind bought so much in the first few years of perfumehood. There have been a few clunkers, but I’ve been very happy with most.
SOTD is Tauerville Rose Flash over Amber body oil. Definitely very happy blind buys!
Yum! Must try that combo.
I love your picture
Rose Flash is so good!
SOTD is Traversée du Bosphore, bought blind solely based on Robin’s review here. (It didn’t hurt that I found a small bottle on Amazon for a very reasonable price.) I have zero regrets, it’s one of my favorites. It reminds me of all the cherry scented Avon products my mom used to buy me when I was little.
You smell wonderful! I love TdB.
In Sublime Balkiss in a decant from Clarissa I think. She sent me a sample and later a super generous decant. Today it is my most favorite scent. Just one of those days when you hit the nail on the head with the most perfect perfume. Why don’t I wear this every day?
Oakland, on another topic, I did not answer your Jordan question yesterday until this morning, but I did answer
I just read your comment. Your sister has really carved her own path. Right now I believe I am the one “planning his career overseas”
! My son loves travel, but has yet to find a place or a cause he is more passionate about than others. Thank you for your very kind offer, and I enjoyed looking up the Wadi Mousa jewelry project.
Well I wish the both of you luck
It was really late when I saw your response to my question last night. What an awesome opportunity for your son–especially getting to spend that much time with people in the area! (Is there an Arabic class as part of the studies?) Yep, it’s always nice to come bearing gifts. Cologne/perfume is a great idea: I know I’ve always smelled generously-scented people (particularly men) all over Egypt. You know, in case he’s still doubtful about the idea, you can tell him I said that.????
I have never blind-bought a bottle, though I’m sorely tempted when I see something that is discontinued and heavily discounted (like the Herba Fresca I saw for under $30 the other day). However, I’ve done some awesome blind swaps. Absolute top was 10 mls of Metallica! Of course that unleashed a crazed passion that can never be satisfied by a full bottle unless a miracle happens. Second best was Amouage Jubilation 25, a gorgeous fruity chypre.
I wonder if most people doing blind buys as those who live without easy access to perfume shops where they can easily try things first?
I’m one of those who does not have good access to in-person sampling. I either buy samples from the decant services, or I take a flier on a split. The closest place I could try anything niche (or even upscale mainstream) is five hours’ drive away.
GAH. “one of those who DO not”
You were definitely one of the people I was thinking of. It makes sense to do blind buying if it’s your only way of trying something and you’re just dying of curiosity. I certainly buy decants of things I can try locally (and I can try most things locally) because I just have to see what they’re like. Somehow I don’t see that as being a blind buy, though
Haha, I meant “can’t try locally.” We are having trouble with our nots!
Had a great run of blind buys! Wearing SSS Champagne de Bois – bought blind necessarily due to UK address. Have reined in perfume buying as I now have more perfume than I could ever use. Other blind buys – OJ Osmanthus – love, Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine – love – L’Artisan Mimosa Pour Moi – love – L’Artisan Tea for Two – love. The only perfume I ever regretted buying was TF Black Orchid Voile de Fleur – and this was after sampling. It did find a happy home in the end.
Blind buy love SOTD = Samsara EdT. I had been curious about it for several months, but could never find a bottle where I shopped. So I took the plunge and blind bought. Samsara was the first Guerlain that I “clicked” with, so I have a bit of a sentimental attachment to it. Hmmm, maybe that should be “scentimental”? I also have the EdP. One day I will try the parfum, to complete the set.
I went with a swap today and choose SL Cedre. It wasn’t a blind swap. I got it when I sent my unloved Kyoto to live with Coumarin.
The bottle of Nomenclature lumen_esce that Robin posted for giveaway yesterday reminded me to find and try the decant of Berdoues Violette Divine I ordered a while back. (Don’t think blind buys of decants could possibly count, tho :)) I’m surprised to find that I can still smell it (faintly) so many hours after spraying this morning.
Hope it’s not too late to post–I wore vintage Diorissimo. Bought a mostly used bottle unified, and it has been pure love ever since.
I’ve only smelled the current version, but I looove LOTV. I can only imagine how sublime you smell!
So late today! My most recent successful blind buy was a NST split. My SOTD is Guerlain’s Mon Precieux Nectar. Major props to Hajusuuri for hosting!
I second the props to Hajusuuri!????
Thank you.
Blind buy Basenotes Split ADORE!
SOTD = NVC Mohur Extrait
Rose, spices, cardamom, etc. etc.
What a day!
Of all the days, I left my umbrella home. I ducked into Wholefoods Market and the cheapest umbrella they had was $28! I’m glad I bought it because it rained buckets on my walk to NYPenn, the kind where you see umbrella skeletons strewn everywhere.
I had a YUGE deadline to meet and had been hard at it for the last 7 weeks. Wahoo – nailed it. Of course everything else fell off the wayside so I need to make up for it this weekend. It was a good feeling though to complete it.
Hey, when you genuinely need an umbrella… Have you smelled the EDP Mohur too? Some day down the road I will order a sample/decant, and I’m wondering if there’s a compelling reason to go for the extrait over the EDP.
Well………..
Mohur EDP smelled like oily pencil shavings to me. I should hunt down my travel spray and wear them side by side to really see the difference.
Congratulations on meeting your deadline! Very satisfying feeling.
Thank you! It was satisfying. There’s a lot more work to do but it was a critical hurdle to pass.
Catching up late (or early, as it may be…)
If that 28 buck umbrella didn’t turn inside out on you, then it may well have been worth it.
YUGE congrats on nailing that critical deadline! Is there a new bottle or two in store for you as you make up for things this weekend?
Congratulations on your deadline victory! What a great feeling.
Wearing blind split love Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka on wrists and Narciso EdT on the crooks of my elbows.
The M&T is courtesy of the lovely hajusuuri, and it’s still there, as a gentle skin scent, twelve hours later. ????
You smell nice!
Hey, I get triple bonus points! Blind Swap Love: L’Artisan Vanille Absolument, a bottle acquired in my very first swap. I think it was the last Swapmeet over at Perfume Posse, and my swap partner (swappee?) was Lisa D. I got three decants in the same swap: Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger and Arabie, and Histoires de Parfums 1804 (George Sand), swap like, dislike, and love, respectively. My luck with swaps is, I think, better than with blind buys.
Hi there, Laurels!
Glad to hear you’re still liking the Vanille Absolument. I still reach into the cabinet for the Musc Botanique, for the periodic small dab of that intriguing perfume.
Good to “see” you! Thank you for taking a chance on a newbie. I’m really glad we both ended up happy. It’s like with Robin’s first blind buy–it went so well I was encouraged to keep doing it, but fortunately with better results.