Happy (or not?) Monday! Plus, happy birthday to Jane Goodall. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm easing into a week of jasmine with Hermès Le Jardin de Monsieur Li.
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.
Note: top image is Moon Gate.jpg (Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland, Oregon) [cropped] by Sheila Sund at flickr; some rights reserved.
Continuing my new routine of morning sampling, I grabbed Parfum d’Empire Eau Suave at random. It’s not at all what I expected from the name but, wow, it is divine, especially on a gray, cool morning.
Ah, that is a pretty one. Gray and cool here too, so far, but looks like the sun might peek out.
Eau Suave is nice.
loving these spring temperatures, I have never liked it when we have gone from winter straight into summer weather.
SOTD is Reine des Coeurs by Fragonard
French Press coffee with a splash of coconut milk
Your coffee is YUM.
It is..
Passes Ede97005 a cup
oldie but goldie – Eau des Merveilles by Hermes. never disappoints and feels oddly appropriate on this almost summery day gracing us with 24 degrees Celsius (spring seems to be almost non-existent, it seems like it’s either winter or summer, no transition seasons)
Yes to Hermes! One of my favorites, you smell great!
Hey cousin!
Hey twin!
To commemorate World Autism Day (yesterday) and Autism Awareness Month I am head to toe (including undergarments, shoes, jewelry, trenchcoat and nail polish) in the color blue and wearing Jo Malone’s Bluebell, a very pretty spring fragrance.
and I just checked…there IS jasmine in the midnotes.
Perfect! I did not even know blue was for autism, now I know.
Yup! it’s “Light It up Blue” for autism awareness….
https://www.autismspeaks.org/liub
Hi, chocolatemarzipan8. Glad to see you back .
I wanted to report that the SEES chocolate covered marzipan is yummy. My local Aldi had a very limited variety of products when I checked for it.
You smell pretty. Thanks for the alert on Autism Awareness Month.
OOOOH! thanks for the heads up Wendysue! I am going to send my parents as they have easy access to an Aldis.
Oops- I meant the SEES we’re good- you have to order from the website.
Aldi had some in certain stores at least around the holidays, but the store I visited didn’t have the array of international food I’ve seen in other locations.
Cool! I am going to go put on some blue!
This is a cause near and dear to my heart.
Oh you smell lovely! I’ll definitely be joining you with blue nail polish this month!
Thank you for supporting Autism awareness month. Both of my children were diagnosed with autism at a very early age. Being involved with the autism community has been a blessing for our family.
Encens et Lavande layered over the Guerlain Les Delices de Bain Perfumed Body Lotion.
I smell like melancholic powder.
Perfect for a rainy April Monday
Hope it is a happy day anyway!
I am going to insist in it
And I smell pretty in CdG Lily! Sunny outside but not my favorite day ahead …
I am so glad you like the Lily
That’s on my list to try. After several wearings of Boy, I realize I am a lavender fan. How would you describe it?
Wispy lavender and soft incense. Beautiful…
O.M.G. That sounds lovely!
I love Monsieur Li, you smell wonderful!
Cousins in Eau des Merveilles Bleue. I was so excited to come home from work Friday to find that my sample had arrived ( I see the full bottles on the Nordstrom website are already backordered). It is definitely “cooler” feeling than the original, which I don’t think of as a particularly warm scent. I think it will be great in hot weather. I detected a note of mint on my skin and I thought I was crazy, but I read thecandyperfumeboy’s review and he mentions mint also. I wish Hermes would offer those 15 ml bottles on initial release.
I’ll look forward to the reviews on this one.
Whoo-hoo for Bleue!
wow..where did get your sample..
eBay, it came in a 5 pack, if you’d like to try it- shoot me an email.????
I think of you and Tiffanie all the time when I think of Eau de Merveilles. I tried it again for the umpteenth time yesterday in Sephora and as much as I want to love it , it reeks havoc on my skin (and not in the good “Holly way”)…..I am wondering if it is the ambergris note because most of the Afteliers (which I also wanted to love) also are really bad with my skin chemistry and I know she uses ambergris in many of her bases. Wonder if I should give Bleue a shot?
Ha! That’s funny, I think of Tiffanie too.
I know what it’s like to have a beloved fragrance not work on one’s skin. I recently tried Seville a l’ aube and got corn tortillas!
If you want to try Bleue, shoot me an email- pkwisdom in the land of yahoooo. I have more than one sample and would be happy to share.????
Oh you are a sweetheart! But I am going to pass because I would feel incredibly guilty if it didn’t work on my skin…I will wait until I meet it in real life and sample it as such. Hold on to your extra sample for someone who is dying to try it. And thank you again for your most generous offer
All of the Merveilles line turns bad on my skin, too.
Love the smell from the bottle though!
Do you know why? I keep retrying the original because it gets so much love, even from those I consider to have similar tastes to mine. Do you think it is the ambergris note? I haven’t tried any of the flankers.
Hi cm8! EdM is the one for me. L’Ambre des Merveilles is good, but Eau Claire and Elixir are big no’s. They seem to be all or nothing scents for a lot of noses.
If you want to try Bleue, shoot me an email. Happy to share the love.
I also think Bleue will be great in hot weather!
Did not get the mint. But i only tested it once and sprayed on a small amount. Will try again soon…
So, do you love it? Best EdM flanker yet?
Well, I am really liking it- a lot! As for best flanker? I haven’t tried Eau Claire (but should!) so I can’t say if it’s the best, but I do think I would reach for/ and wear this one more than the Elixir or L’ Ambre. Maybe because it’s new…maybe because it’s better?…hard to say.
I will be anxiously looking forward to your review and Victoria’s over at BdJ. Yours were the first perfume blogs I started following and think of the both of you as my experts in the field!
V is FAR more of a real expert than I am, but thank you for including me in good company!
I reach for the Eau Claire probably the most, but I think probably the original is best and L’Ambre next? I got rid of my bottle of the Elixir but might end up buying a 15 ml some day.
Or maybe my ranking depends on what day you ask me
mint? I love mint
I have to get my hands on it!!! so far, I’ve liked all the flankers of EdM, more or less…
Just a bit in the top notes. I’ll be curious to see if others get it too. I have a few extra samples if you’d like one, email me- pkwisdom in the land of yahoooo and I’d be happy to mail you one (if you’re in the US).
I’m a scent cousin, I guess, in Hermès “Jour d’Hermès”. On me it’s a sort of melony-grapefruity cologn. Unisex rather than feminine, and short-lived.
I love Jour d’Hermes absolu! It’s richer and longer lasting- on me, anyways.
And on me too.
I love that one!
Ditto!
Jour is very fleeting on me. No more than 2 hours. But I love it for the time it lasts.
I didn’t get the chance to list the SOTD notes earlier:
Top: grapefruit, lemon and watery notes;
Mid: gardenia, sweet pea, green notes and white flowers;
Base: musk and woody notes.
My flying visit to the West of Ireland was fun. It was my nephew’s First Communion, so all the family was there. The ceremony was considerably better than tolerable (my expectations for such things are low). We had a great family meal at a seafood restaurant right at the foot of a fishing pier – I had salmon rilletes and hake with chorizo. I did stay off alcohol but decided that staying carb-free was impossible in the face of fresh soda bread, apple tart, chocolates and cake.
Scents of the weekend were:
Sat – Carthusia “Aloe”, which was green-ish but a bit thin and watery
Top: aloe vera, geranium, lavender and jasmine;
Mid: elemi, artemisia and cardamom;
Base: cedar, sandalwood, musk and white amber
Sun – Jul et Mad “Nea”, which from the bottle smelt tooth-achingly sweet, but once applied had a green facet that balanced it somewhat. However I felt the candy and the green were running along in parallel rather than combining to be more than the sum of their parts.
Top: dates, artemisia, pomegranate, palm leaf and black pepper;
Mid: jasmine, rose and dried plum;
Base: patchouli, cashmeran, vanilla, benzoin, caramel, tonka bean, ambroxan and musk.
Too late for jasmine, I dug out my cool hockey puck bottle of YSL Nu today which I haven’t worn in a year or more? Anyway, it smells wonderful
You smell great!. I love Nu.
Oh, Nu is great! And great for spring.
Just echoing the others that you smell great!
Starting jasmine week with a beautiful classic: Jean Patou Joy. The jasmine on Joy has always been pretty strong on me. Two spritzes and I enjoy immensely.
I gave myself a good, healthy spray of Joy in a store recently on my lunch break. Beautuful but I was very self conscious when I got back to work. You do smell lovely!
I usually dab it. Today, I went with 2 spritzes, but it is not as obvious as I was expecting. So far, no complains at work. I usually wear it at home.
I love Joy. It’s utterly beautiful and easier to wear than most people think. I use the eau de Toilette version.
I am also in the EdT. I have some drops left for the perfume, which is a real beauty. The jasmine and rose are very noticeable. Saving it for a special ocassion.
Oh yes- the perfume version is definitely something to share for a special occasion. What a beauty the parfum is.
You smell fantastic!
Thank you! ????
I’m sampling Teo Cabanel Julia. It has jasmine in the mid notes. Pretty, but very much a skin scent.
You smell lovely, Julia was a blind buy for me and I enjoy it.
Keiko Mecheri Clair Obscur, lovely Jasmine but lacks complexity…
I do not remember that one, thanks for reminding me!
Surrender to Chance did a collaboration with Dominique Dubrana (AbdesSalaam/La Via del Profumo) and he created two very different perfumes for them with jasmine, Surrender and Cold Water Canyon. Both great! I’m wearing the former, along with well, … other stuff.
Reeking havoc Day 14
reeking havoc, lol. Go, Holly, go!
reeking havoc, lol. Go, Holly, go!
You smell great. But, mentioning all of the good perfumes I haven’t sampled is not may reek havoc on my credit card
.
delete is not….
BTW, love your havoc, Holly!
You go girl!
Reeking havoc should really be a Friday project.
Or a holliday.
Ha!
+1 for reeking havoc on a Friday (or any day of course).
Added to list.
Reeking havoc made my day.
Reek on!
Safari today, and I can actually smell it! Feeling better.
Glad to hear you are feeling better
Yay for being able to smell again!, and u smell wonderful!
So glad!
Yay for being able to smell something nice!
Glad you are feeling better!
SotMorning = Eau des Merveilles, perfect for Monday.
I’ll keep the Hermes ball rolling along with Monsieur Li this afternoon. Looking forward to a jasmine-y week.
“Yes to Hermes”!
+1 and
Oooh ooooh,mother Bleu was not available in store and the website is on backorder but guess what? There is a darling 30 mL, in addition to 50 and 100mL,
Oh boy, I don’t know what mother Bleu is…I meant the Bleu
The parent of Little Boy Bleu
Oh, I’m happy to hear it comes in a 30, though I’m partial to those cute 15 ml bottles. Have you tried?
hi hajusuuri, thank you for the heads up last Monday about the 30 ml eau des merveilles bleue. so adorable. Nordies is already out of stock!!! which is a good thing, I guess, as I promised myself I wouldn’t buy a bottle until I sniff the sample that is on the way. But that bitty blue bottle takes my breath away . . . hope it will make an appearance again.
I’m in a swap success: L’Artisan La Haie Fleurie… Not quite easing in to jasmine week as it’s pretty strong for about an hour. I’m not brave enough to spray it on a work day so just small dabs. Lovely sweet jasmine with a dry oakmossy drydown that sort of smells like dry hay in a horse stable. Love!
I love La haie fleurie, got the last bottle at Céleste in The Hague, years ago now. I don’t find it that strong to be honest. It’s got a jonquille note which might explain the stable.
You’re lucky to have found a bottle! It has faded down already. I don’t think I know what jonquil smells like exactly. Daffodil? It does have a dry, yellow, hay-like smell.
Jonquille is a kind of narcissus, and it smells of honey and hay and horses.
I was very lucky. I couldn’t even try it, as there wasn’t even a tester or sample available. Thinking that I liked jasmin and I like JCE’s work I would enjoy it, and I did. You may want to try Jardin Blanc by MPG, it’s in a similar vein, but slightly fruitier and longer lasting.
I’d seen a few people selling partial bottles of this on other forums. I’m not a blind buyer so I missed out. I’ll look for that MPG. Thanks for the rec!
I think jonquil is part of the narcissus family, which may explain the hay note. I just recently acquired a partial bottle of La Haie, need to wear it this week!
Lucky to find it! I was expecting more of a pale, greenish jasmine so I’m pleasantly surprised that it’s a bit animalicp. That earthy hay/stable smell is so comforting!
So, so late due to a busy Monday, but I joined you in this today. Glad you’re loving it!
SOTD: D&G’s Velvet Mimosa + Jo Malone’s Peony Blush Suede
I think I will make myself a cup of Genmaicha and along with it 2 butter shortbread fingers.
That combo sounds wonderful! So does your tea!
Yuck! Another Monday! To bring my spirits up, my SOTD is Nectarine Blossom & Honey by Jo Malone. It always puts a smile on my face!
You smell delicious!
SOTD is vintage Fendi from a mini purchased at Good Will. I put on the teeniest dab out of fear it was skunked but I smell divine.
You absolutely smell divine!
I recognized today’s photo instantly – have taken similar photos myself. SOTD is PG Cuir d’Iris.
I’m wearing Carolina Herrera, peachy, powdery jasmine and tuberose.
You smell very elegant! I once smelled that on an actress down in Ashland. It was summer, and she smelled so soft and clean/powdery.
I find it elegant too!
CH is ” almost free” for how lovely it is.
True! I picked up my little bottle at a discounter years ago and it’s very strong so it’s lasting forever.
Just checking the discounters – is it Carolina Herrera CH or Carolina Herrera Classic (or any of the other multitude?)
I hope it’s ok for me to respond, It’s the Carolina Herrera Classic. It really is stunning. Every time Elisa mentions it I want to get it.
I initially read this as ” any of the other mutilations”
Comme Une Evidence for me. Perfect chypre for a chilly, early spring day. I hadn’t realized that it had jasmine, but per the Yves Rocher site, it does. My bottle is an old pre-IFRA one, so I’d be curious to see what it smells like now.
I’m not quite sticking with this week’s theme, although I have plenty of jasmine heavy/centered fragrances. I’m wearing a dark and thorny rose: Rossy de Palma.
Now that it’s warmed up a little, I need to pull out my Rossy. You smell great!
Sotd: Sycomore edt
So good!!!
Forgot about jasmine week/friday, but I can totally do this.
I may need to save a few for the evening, I dont want to overwhelm my colleagues.
I really think that is a lovely scent year round.
Yes it is.
I bought it last autumn, but in today’s sunny spring weather its also great. I can see it doing well in hot summer as well
Its such a beautifull allrounder, but never boring!
You smell fantastic!
Thank you!
I am contemplating a back up bottle, thats how much I love this one.
Especially since the edt gets phased out. But there are only huge vats left for sale on the Chanel site, and they are so expensive…
Jasmine week will be easy. California Reverie today, a like but not a love.
I could do a month, I think. A fortnight for sure.
Le Labo Jasmin 17. This is one I have not explored and I’m glad I dug it out for jasmine week . I smell neroli beside the jasmine, and a subtle vanilla in the base. It is a welcome contrast to another day of contractors making more holes in the ceiling!!
I also want report on the DC area ” meet up” at Arielle Shoshana fragrance shop last Saturday. I loved talking to the featured guest, Maria McElroy of Aroma M , and hearing about the inspiration for her fragrances and teas. We are incredibly fortunate to have Ari
helping to pioneer discovery of “niche” and indie perfume in this area and appreciate her graciousness ( with Linda) in providing a meeting hub for the local community.
Oh! We have a new Le Labo outpost here in Portland- so I will be sure to give that one a try!
Fun! I also met Maria McElroy at an event here. She’s an interesting and talented woman, and a great dresser! I bought 2 of her oils after that. Something about meeting the maker that gives me more of an appreciation of their work.
She has a chic/ natural style. I agree that meeting the perfumer makes wearing their work a completely different experience.
I find it fascinating how Ms. McElroy’s time and studies in Japan have manifested in the Aroma M line. I’ve ordered samples online in order to think about this further.
I really enjoyed our discussions at Ari’s and at lunch after. Already looking forward to the Aedes de Venustas even on April 13!
Also, I’d invited some friends who aren’t perfumistas (yet
) but wanted to find unique and wonderful signature scents. Even with the crowd for Aroma M, Ari and her team deftly assisted them. Extra thanks for that!
Seems to me they could turn anyone into a perfume enthusiast!
Happy Monday!
1) Went on a bit of a shopping spree for the house- got paint samples from Farrow +Ball and Benjamin Moore, got swatches for a sofa I am ordering and bought a console table for my hallway. Also bought some very beautiful Japanese dishes and bowls (Uwajimaya + Marshall’s!) new spring tea towels for the kitchen, and got bulbs for summer blooms. Will be getting lavender next. PHEW!
2) Did yoga and weights, so felt absolutely justified in my big old brunch dish at my favorite place, Seasons & Regions. This is a hidden gem in Portland, OR and I wish to share this with you. If you are in the area:
http://www.seasonsandregions.com/
3) SOTD: Monoi oil (skin and hair) followed with a couple of spritzes of Eau de Soir. I really like monoi oil on it’s own, but it softens and rounds Eau de Soir delightfully. Also, monoi oil is great if you have dry straight, curly or kinky hair. You have the hair slighlty damp, add a few drops and style as you wish. Soft hair that smells of jasmine. Perfect.
4) Yogurt topped with chopped avocado and a side of plain oatmeal. And coffee!
5) My love to people in St. Petersburg. Y’all don’t deserve this. None of us deserve this.
You’ve raised the bar for the day considerably and in a good way, Ede! Is the avocado-topped yoghurt sweet or savory?
Hi there! The avocado topped yogurt was sweet this time- I had some honey +a sprinkle of salt on top. But you can definitely have it without the honey and just salt + pepper. It’s really nice to have in the a.m. and keeps you going all morning. Easy to digest, too.
Oooo hair oils!!! At the moment I am using argan oil. Its expensive and scentless.
But sometimes i want my hair to smell pretty. Do you recommend a certain brand for that monoi oil?
For today, I just used the Monoi Tiki Tahiti brand. It is affordable for most people on this site and accessible to people who live in North America, France and East Asian Pacific, I cannot say however if it is accessible anywhere else! Please let me (and us) know!
Also: there are other makers of monoi.
Thank you! Will report back.
https://www.vitacost.com/monoi-tiare-tahiti-monoi-tiiki-tahiti-original
and it is 12 percent off today with code 12SPRING
(in fact anything you order from vitacost is 12%off with this code)
#2-That menu looks amazing…I’ll take the shrimp tacos, please.
Thank you for that link chocolatemarzipan!
I already found it on another (i think european) site that ships to the netherlands as well. Now i need to calculate shipping costs and find out which one is least expensive ????
But I may need to wait for next salary payment, the trip to Paris has almost depleted my bankaccount ????
(6 euros for a cappuccino or a 25 ml beer, boy oh boy…)
You smell great Robin! It’s my favorite Hermes fragrance.
I’m in D.S&Durga White Peacock Lily today.
Why thank you
After a long week/busy weekend I’m enjoying some time to myself this morning. I sprayed a little test of my new Mon Guerlain decant blind buy (hey, it was cheap). It’s ookaaayy. Probably won’t crave it much. Also hooked myself up with a decant of No. 5 L’eau so I might wear that post shower. Or maybe Ostara as we are approaching full-on daffodil time around these parts.
I wore Mon Guerlain over the weekend and its growing on me. I layer it with lavender lotion. You smell great!
Any recommendations for a lavender lotion? which one are you using?
I haven’t tried it yet but Korres have a new lavender range and their moisturisers are lovely
Emptied most of a sample vial of Timbuktu all over my hands. I had been wondering why it had never really spoken to me and now I know: I love the opening and the middle but the base is boring. It sounds perfect for me based on the list of notes but they don’t add up to anything I’d want to own and wear.
I’m also wearing Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li today
Hey twin!
Still pursing April showers here in mid-Michigan with SOTD Apres l’Ondee. One of my favorites…
Lovely!
Taklamakan today.
I tried Iris Celadon yesterday and was very impressed. I wish it had more of the projection, but it is gorgeous.
Also on the liked list: Byredo Oliver People. Quite captivating.
Not liked: Nordstroms now carries some of Prada Infusions (Iris Centre, Amande, etc). Amande was nice for about 5 minutes before disappearing, and I could barely smell Iris
I am excited about SHL new launches – they are coming out this year + LM is releasing something this year around Osmanthus. Take that Donatella!!!
Hellllppp!
I know, right? The second I read about the 3 upcoming SHL 777 fragrances (at least one of them is only available in Harrods only), I started plotting.
Oliver Peoples is one of my desert island scents. Forgot to put it on the list when someone asked what I would save if the gods demanded I could only save one scent. (I liked Kanuka’s declaration that she would fight whatever gods were that stupid.)
Ooh! I need to look up those SHLs!
Grey morning, wearing the exuberant Micallef Rose Extreme to bring some sunshine.
Hope it works!
Spring day! Gorgeous weather and hope it stays for awhile!
SOTD: Fève Délicieuse
You’re on a roll! Enjoy the day (I am)! I think there are supposed to be thunderstorms this week. Boooo.
Boooo. Did not hear that!
Yes, this scent is just so comforting!
OOOOH!! I have been waiting for jasmine week!!! Robin, I decided to honor you today and join you in Monsieur Li. I have so many jasmines to choose from–my favorite fragrance note, although not always done well. Can’t wait to break out my favorites all week long…..yeah!
Oh, thanks twin! And yes, it will be a good week.
Hey wonderful idea. It’s beautiful and sunny today. Perfect for breaking out the jasmine bomb: pure jasmine oil plus L’air de Rien
Nice mix!
Good morning on a gray rainy Monday! I’m on Spring Break, so it’s not bothering me all that badly today….good day to stay in with a good book, warm blanket, and a fluffy pillow, in case a nap takes hold….
SOTD: “Chypre 01, Batch 001” by Sarah McCartney, for Scent Trunk. Want to know more? Check out my Scent Trunk review here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlz67kkVjHg&t=2s
Really enjoying your reviews. And I’ve been hunting down and spraying your selections. I got complimented on Daisy Dream when I tried it.
YAY!! Daisy Dream really does work in any situation!
Fantastic. I am sure you will get lots of enabler pins for that review.
Regarding Scent Trunk, love their story and applaud their cause.
AMEN! I work in a psych hospital, so mental health is a cause that is very dear to my heart. There are not enough resources (at least in Georgia) to help those who need it!
I want to borrow Shadow, please.
Seriously, that’s a useful review video, thanks!
He’s soooooo sweet!! He doesn’t want to miss a thing. Our other cat, Gandalf, is completely uninterested in perfume and YouTube! LOL
I love it when your cat makes an appearance
He’s my comic relief!
Meant to add….notice that he finally got grabbed up and relocated! LOL!
I love jasmine in perfume so I could probably do a jasmine month. I figured I would go alphabetically down the perfume cabinet this week and wear jasmines in the order I find them. This morning is Bogue Maai.
I have to retry Maai. I like animalic scents but it was just rank smelling on me. Do you wear it out of the house?
Yes, I wear all my perfumes out of the house. I’m not in an office anymore so I wear what I like. If people don’t like how I smell, they can move away (although I’ve never noticed anyone doing so).
Have been wearing Indigo Vanilla for the past few days. Had to reorder it since it is in the box that should theoretically be in my basement but which appears to have wandered off to another dimension with a third of my collection. It’s an old friend and I’m glad to be able to have it at hand
As a lover of all things vanilla, I implore you to share more about this fragrance
Belated congratulations on your engagement!
Late to the party but had early morning running around to do. So I am sitting in Nahema EDP. It’s frightening that there are so many transition perfumes for summer/fall than there are winter/spring.
Well jasmine is not my favorite note, but I give it a try from time to time. (Re)testing Parfumerie General Drama Nuui this morning. It’s not bad (most jasmines are Bad on me) but I surely don’t need to buy this one.
Oakland Fresca and I are going to Tigerlily’s Skunk Works thang on Saturday. Anyone in the SF Bay area want to join us?
Andy Tauer will be there with his you-can-buy-them-in-person-only scents, Hyacinth & the Mechanic, plus the two new story scents, described here: https://www.fragrantica.com/news/Tauerville-Stories-Two-New-Scents-Capturing-a-Moment-in-Time-9285.html
So, if anyone is desperately dying to get these, I’m willing to mule them for you. Caveats: I don’t know what they cost; I don’t know if he’ll run out; I don’t know if there will be a limit on how many one person can buy. But if you’re interested, ping me at emc dawt 7 1 1 7 in the land of geeeeemail.
I think cazaubon might be able to provide some info on $….
Thanks for the link!
I’ve been trying PG line and haven’t even heard of Drama Nuui.
Dang it Pixel! Hopping into the “mule line” now. Emailing you…????
Trying our FM’s Geranium pour Monsieur and LOVING it. It opens with the best mint note I’ve found. Mmmmm.
I’m in Bergamask today- it’s a lovely husky citrus that I find compulsively sniffible.
Bergamask! This was comically terrible on me – the one time I tested it my husband walked in the room and asked “What smells like burning rubber?” I gave it a friend who reported it was much nicer on her.
Morning , NST. I’m wearing 31 Rue Cambon after a bad night with Dakkie. We lost little Isabella a week ago to a sudden illness, and Dakkie’s world has been turned on its head. He cries for her, and wanders, and cries some more. I get up and cuddle him, then I fall asleep, and then…well, you get the idea. I hope he settles soon: it’s breaking my heart. The 31 is gorgeous this morning: it’s elegant but in a slightly edgy, don’t-mess-with-me sort of way. In fact, it reminds me very much of Isabella herself. She and Mademoiselle, come to think of it, had many characteristics in common.
Dakkie caught the edge of a spritz because he insisted on sitting on my dressing table. I hope it won’t harm him, but anyway, now there’s the two of us, smelling amazing, and grieving for his mother in our disparate ways. Be safe and well, NST-tites everywhere.
Oh no! How sad about losing a darling little kitty friend and Dakkie’s broken heart. Those mournful cries are the worst when you can’t fix things for them. 31RC is a beautiful choice for such tender moments.
I’m so sorry about Isabella and your collective grieving. You both smell great, despite your sorrows.
Oh, I feel so sorry for Dakkie, and for you! Grieving is hard work. Pats to you both!
There’s a terrible sense of helplessness in not being able to explain things to our pets. I guess all we can do is comfort them and let time heal.
This is so heart breaking. I am so sorry about Isabella. I hope that Dakkie overcomes the sadness soon and that 31 Rue Cambon helped today in some way. You both smell gorgeous.
I’m so sorry to hear about Isabella, and about Dakkie.
Thank you so much, everyone, for your kind thoughts. We can’t replace Izzy, and wouldn’t try, but Dakkie’s so overturned that we have started to wonder whether we should get him a friend, a small, smart female to organise his life…the dear man says I’m being sexist here, and maybe I am. The truth is that Dakkie, loveable and charming as he is, and intensely beautiful despite his noble tummy, is not a clever purr. He is sweet and he is gentle, and he is indeed pretty to behold, but he has about as many brains as a banana. If we run with the latter quality, a kitten of either sex is bound to be cleverer than he is and therefore prone to organising him. All of that said, however, I somehow see him becoming besotted by a quick little female seal point, all alert and clued up, who would arrive, sum up the situation, appropriate at least one of the knitted mice, take over his den and the temptations, and generally give his life structure again. Izzy was the alpha cat until she left the house for the last time, and it’s the alpha personality I think we might need.
Much to think about here. Introducing new kittens into an established cat household can create huge problems. I dunno. We’ll wait and see if he settles, I guess.
My heart aches for you and for your Dakkie’s broken heart. I think you are wise to wait and see how things settle. And Dakkie is none the worse for wear for smelling of 31RC. I had a little calico cat years ago that often smelled of my Oscar perfume, naughty girl that she was.
So sorry! How heartbreaking for everyone. Wishing you much comfort.
So sad to hear about your Isabella kitty. Hugs.
I’m sorry about Isabella. Hugs to you all, human and feline.
This is so sad, I’m very sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss, waterdragon.
I’m so sorry for your loss and for poor Dakkie. Heartbreaking when pets mourn..they seem so lost. Hope he settles soon.
Jasmine week starting off with Rodin. And 5 weeks of leave starting too- squee!! I was getting so cranky and now I can do Whatever I Want for 5 weeks
so now it’s 1:45am and I’ve just been doing some writing and now I’m going to read a bit before sleep because I can sleep in if I want to 
Wow, nice! And you smell great, I might have to wear that this week.
Lucky lady! I hope you enjoy your freedom. Rodin is in my line-up this week. So nice!
Jasmine week starting off with Rodin. And 5 weeks of leave starting too- squee!! I was getting so cranky and now I can do Whatever I Want for 5 weeks
so now it’s 1:45am and I’ve just been doing some writing and now I’m going to read a bit before sleep because I can sleep in if I want to 
A 5 week-leave?! That sounds amazing. Enjoy!!!
It’s awesome
and my long service is due too so for 3 years in a row I’ll get 11 weeks off. Time to start planning some holidays! India later this year, Spain next year, and hopefully the Silk Route after that. I just need to stop spending money :-/
Oh wow!!! Those are some fabulous plans.
I hope it is the kind of holiday where you can forget you even have a job!
What job?!
I pretty much skipped out the door on Friday night and won’t think a minute about it until the day before I’m due back. Thankfully it’s not the kind of job where work piles up in my absence so I can easily forget about it.
Are you planning to sleep during those five weeks? Nah, it’s holidays!!
5 weeks – wow!
Wow! That’s a great break, the sort everyone needs to take stock and get a new perspective on life, the universe and every little thing. I always find that a short holiday leaves me slightly tired and dissatisfied, as though I was so busy being on holiday, I didn’t take enough time to sit and think. Five weeks will refresh you at every level. Enjoy every minute.
Five thirty, pitch black morning, rooster crowing and a happy camper in Monsieur Li.
My Olympic Orchids perfumes arrived yesterday: Bay Rum, Woodcut with unexpected samples of Dev Four, Kingston Ferry and Rainforest. The Bay Rum was a blind buy and it’s not quite what I anticipated so I have to get my head around it. I imagined a sweet rum with spices cut through with bay leaf …the kind I add to lentils when I cook. In fact, it’s more barbers shop than that, more pungent than boozy. It feels pretty heavy, with no contrasting lightness to give it space …heavy like a failed cake. But, early days. Think it will work better on the sleeve of my jumper than my skin and I will try and work it out. Must get a back up of Skive soon.
I am looking forward to your mini reviews of Olympic Orchids as you explore them.
Or they wear me!
I’m intrigued by the idea of adding rum to lentils, myself.
My friend used to add brandy to lentils. I haven’t added rum , only bay leaves…didn’t make that very clear
Sweet Rum with Spices, Like Captain Morgan’s, or something more upscale that that?
Bay Rum scents have always surprised me with their barbershop-ness when I’ve also expected sweet and spiced.
Ack, you’re up and it’s 3:24 and I’m still up…. I feel naughty! Lol
I think we are quadruplets?
Where you lead, I follow!
Me too! or me five?
I am visiting with Monsieur Li this evening.
Rappleyea once explained to me that the bay in bay rum is a completely different family of plants from the culinary bay leaf.
The one used in bay rum is Pimenta racemosa, a Myrtaceae
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimenta_racemosa
Bay leaf is Laurus nobilis, a Lauraceae. Wouldn’t Laurus Nobilis be a fantastic perfume name?
I should have added Wikipedia’s bay leaf section – there are so many different types of bay leaf:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_leaf
Yea, you see, that’s the problem. My head went bay AND rum. It should have gone bay rum. It’s now 11am and I sprayed some of the perfume on my hanky. It’s the first time I’ve ever recoiled from a perfume. It’s really odd. I take a big sniff and ppull back. But then, when I try again I get a lot of cloves, a mixture of all spice and five spice. But the bay is very bitter, medicinal almost like absinthe or chartreuse…and then a soapy celery salt. The scent no longer strikes me as flat at all. But, I’m not sure I can wear it. I have very uneven tastes in perfume so people should judge for themselves.
Wearing Narciso Poudre, smelling all soft and cuddly.
And jasmine-y.
Today I’m testing my new decant of New Look 1947. Its very aldehydic, feminine, sweet and powdery. All in a good way.
I really like that one. Thanks for the reminder to wear before my decant evaporates.
Update-8 hours later NL 1947 is still going strong, and the sweetness of the tuberose is getting to me.
Hi all,
MY SOTD is Narciso Rodriguez Musc for Her Oil with a touch of the hair mist.
Happy Monday !
Oh, you smell great!
Eau de Merveilles, from a bottle that essentially fell into my lap. I don’t love this the way other people do, but I do enjoy it.
That’s a great bottle to have fall into your lap.???? You smell great!
Yay for Eau des Merveilles! You smell marvelous.
Today I’m testing SSS Rose Musc. I’m getting the rose and amber so far but no musk. Hmm.
Enjoy the rest of your Monday (or Tuesday), all!
When the musk shows up in that one, it swamps everything else for me. But the everything else is nice while it lasts!
That’s sort of the level of musk I was expecting, based on the description and on the votes for note prevalence on Fragrantica. But I have the opposite experience: the amber and/or labdanum in some of the SSS scents and other brands really get magnified on my skin. Still smell good, though!
Joining Waterdragon in 31 Rue Cambon. I’m starting a three day residential leadership course, and am wanting to project competence and focus, while not overwhelming my colleagues – and I’ve got a cold, so won’t be able to smell myself.
You smell fabulous. You picked the right fragrance for the mission. I hope you get over the cold soon!
Sampling Mandarine Glaciale layered with an unidentifiable sample in a Nordstrom vial. It’s a nice combo. Sadly, I have quite a few of these unlabeled samples from Nordy’s. I need to come up with a better system. And not my current, toss in the purse system.
????
Pulled a bottle from the back of the cabinet – I somehow thought I had a Jasmine scent from Henri Bendel. Orange Blossom and Jasmine. A fresh spring-like scent and exactly as its name says.
BTW, Robin, I complimented a friend on her perfume recently, and it turned out to be Le Jardin de Monsieur Li. The odd thing is that I thought it smelled mainly like a particular narcissus or daffodil that I’ve smelled in the spring. Of course, I smell the jasmine, too, but more of something else.
Oh how interesting! (And really, I don’t hardly think of it as a jasmine.)
Commando today. I woke up with a monster of a headache, which required a couple of Advil and a nap. Still not feeling right, so scent is probably not a good idea. Feh, Monday.
Ugh. Hope you’re feeling better!
Eeeek! Get better soon!
Thanks, Creosote and Hajusuuri!
The Advil did what it was supposed to this morning, but I felt “off” all day today. I’m thinking that a good night’s sleep ought to reset things back to what they should be.
Etro Sandalo (quietly from a roller decant) on top of a little Ancient Resins oil, and probably there’s still some Stash in my hair from yesterday. Though I think it’s all harmonious? Hope so…
Rained all day today, and expecting snow mid week! Wanted to feel pretty though, and wore LouLou.
Started the day in Eau Duelle from a sample, as I was in need of soft and plushy.
Just dabbed on No. 5 elixir, to work on the jasmine project a bit.
I hope everyone has a good evening. ????
Late to the party!
SOTD = 28 La Pausa EDT
Not one, not two, not eight, ten, yes, 10 sprays! Why? Because I can :-). I was inspired by waterdragon who had retired in principle.
I had a hellacious commute home due to another train derailment in the morning. Thank goodness I had planned to work from home tomorrow so I do not have to deal with a commute.
Oh, yuck on the train derailment!
10 sprays! You’re a perfume hero(ine).
Fantastic!! I’m inspired to spray La Pausa like that for tonight because ” I can”. Love it!
So glad you can avoid the stressful commute tomorrow.