Don't shoot the messenger, but it's Monday again. Plus, International Sculpture Day, and the all important National Pig-in-a-Blanket Day. What fragrance are you wearing?
I am not at all sure if I'll do a week of Gucci and/or Givenchy, but I am starting things off with with a dab of Gucci Flora.
Reminder: on 4/28, will it be Gucci or Givenchy? Pick one and make your case, or wear one of each.
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 from the campaign for the Gucci Cruise Collection 2017. You can see the campaign film, shot at Chatsworth and featuring Vanessa Redgrave, here.
Vacation day for me since my father in law is visiting…he picked up the babies this morning …Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
I made Mudammas, a fava bean tomato Egyptian stew for breakfast with hard boiled eggs and ate it in peace.
I am perfume free since I am going to Clyde’s (thanks Elisa P for the tip) to sniff around and then will have a cappuccino at Via Quadronno. NYC life without babies.
Lucky you! Homemade chai now that your FIL is back
I want your breakfast!
where exactly is Clyde’s? anywhere near GCT? Let us know what offerings they have when you return please!
It’s on 74th and Madison-a quick subway ride from GC. Or a decent 30 block walk.
ooh, thank you Elisa!!! is that the place that had the Berdoues on sale?
No, but it’s close by on 77th and Lexington- Drug Loft. Don’t know if they sold out though with those great prices.
Ah, this is true..well, no temptations then
I noticed on the SHOP NY section of NST that there are quite a few placed to visit on Madison…and I do enjoy walking
sounds great
I’m going to google you’re breakfast, it sounds so good!
Enjoy you’re child free day, (u lucky thing!) hope u sniff something wonderful.
Please send FIL & breakfast to my house
He makes a very yummy chai tea with fresh ginger every morning and brings some to me in a thermos
Oh I know. That figured into my plan.
Sounds wonderful! Enjoy your day!
Sounds like fun- enjoy!
Enjoy your babies-free day! Mom needs a break every now & then..
Woo hoo! Enjoy!
Oh, fun! Enjoy your free time! Clyde’s revamped the place. It’s much nicer looking. Hope you get to sniff the SMNs. Do report back. And I would have suggested going to Frederic Malle down the block to try the new Superstitious, too!
I wish I saw this before I left! HA!
I will go and check out FM store while I have free day, maybe this afternoon.
I tried SMN Caprifoglio, it was nice. The ones that were mentioned on the SOTD from Friday they did not have out. But I can always go to the store downtown since I am sans babies today.
I also went to the AG store, I tried Eau de Sud and Rose Ponpon.
Love Clyde’s. Isn’t it about half the size now?
Yes, they lost the corner. They don’t have as many perfume testers out and seems like they cut back in home fragrance.
Sounds like a heavenly day. Enjoy!
I googled the recipe for your breakfast, and it sounds absolutely lovely. I need to make this.
Have a wonderful sniffathon day!
What a sweetheart you have for a father in law
Enjoy today!
That breakfast reminds me a little of shakshuka. Yum! And very fortifying, I bet!
Yum. The breakfast and your day sound amazing.
Obsession for Men. I guess that’s still being made? When it was launched I liked it but found it waaaaaay too strong (the shower gel was perfect): the mini that I have is not new but not vintage, either, probably ten years old, and it’s not nearly as overwhelming as it used to be.
It must be, but cannot remember the last time I saw it mentioned in the sotd!
Worked on the garden all day yesterday. Just lovely. Continuing that connection to green growing things today, I pulled out the dab of vintage Mitsouko parfum I have left from a sample sent by a generous NSTer. A spit of that augmented by a spritz of some more recent formulation Eldo, and I am floating in my garden all day long…
Regarding the project, I will be wearing D&G or Bvlgari Friday.
Eldo =ESO. Stupid spellchecker.
OMG. EDP. EDP. EDP.
I not only have bad luck with spellcheck, but also with the dictation function on the iPhone creating randomness too
Yes! The dictation function is downright funny sometimes.
At least you smell great!
I love working in the garden/flower beds. You smell great.
on this manic Monday I am reeking havoc a la Holly
tops of feet- Narcotic Flowers
wrists- Grapefruit Hesperides (something in the drydown reminds me of my beloved vintage Nocturnes de Caron)
neck- inspired by Filomena layering two Dames- Black Flower Mexican Vanilla and Peach Blossom, Violet & Vanilla (really liking this!)
later I will finish up my sample of Chypre Mousse from my fragrant fairy!
Keep calm and reek on!
peace love light xxoo
I’m curious to hear if you continue to enjoy the Dame Peach Blossom, Violet and vanilla. I really liked my sample, bought a FB (coupon) and now the peach is taking over a little too much for me. I’m hoping it’s a weather thing and I can find the right season for it.
I am actually still enjoying it but bear in mind I combined it with Black Flower Mexican Vanilla so it is very vanilla-y. However, last night I sprayed it on my wrist by itself and I would agree that the peach is very pronounced…reminded me a bit of the Jo Malone Peach Blossom. However, this morning the drydown was still apparent on my robe and it smelled so good that I knew I had to incorporate it into my day today. I think it might work well in the late spring/early summer?
Just sent away for my postcard sample and I can’t wait!
YaY! I hope you wrote more than one sample you wanted to try because chances are you will get at least 3-5 samples…Jeffrey Dame is extremely generous!
And you will also probably get a 10 % off coupon..I used mine to buy decants and then later full bottles as gifts.
You smell great!
thank you…you inspired the blend
I do not have enough Gucci and Givenchy perfumes for the whole week either, but it’s still cold, so it’s a good day to wear Givenchy Amarige Mariage – sweet, warm and cheerful.
You know, that is such a lovely, lovely scent- on me it reads as strong but I love hugging other people who wear this (my older friends).
I have one Gucci and two Givenchy, so I’ll wear them later in the week. Today I am in Florabellio.
I had been meaning to wear my Musc Nomade for weeks, kept forgetting that I wanted to, but finally remembered to do so this morning. Back from a lovely holiday in France and getting used to ‘real’ life again.
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Did you treat yourself to any new perfumes?
No, apart from a dirt cheap bottle of a local lavender cologne. I got plenty of olive oil and honey instead. And it was wonderful.
Yum! Nice haul
Oh, how wonderful!
Musc Nomade is wonderful and I have been wearing it quite often on these monochromatic, soft grey days. Of course, I would never have found it on my own. Thumbs up to the NST panel of experts!
It’s great if you want your musc to be not quite clean and not quite dirty. I like it a lot. Did you try any of the other Orientalistes?
I haven’t tried them yet. But I will.
SOTD is a different “G” – Guerlain Vol de Nuit (again). I only have one Givenchy, and a very small amount of that, so Friday will probably be Gucci EDP. Come to think of it, that might be my only Gucci. I’ll have to watch people’s comments this week and expand my horizons.
Wear the G you need
Hello there, I’m wearing Songes on an overcast, cloudy day.
Hoping to get into the garden to check on the plants that I planted over weekend, some gorgeous purple tulips and alliums ‘purple sensation’. I’m looking after a friends baby who is really missing his mummy today, it’s a long afternoon!
Might wear Gucci by Gucci tomorrow if it’s overcast again, or if it’s sunny, Givenchy 111!
I just visited the AG store earlier today, I should of gave this one a try
I was in the mood for Mitsouko today too but since it will be a rather warm day, I settled for Shangri-la. I think it is very similar to Mitsouko but with less teeth. I think less or no oakmoss, maybe. I didn’t bother to check the notes. Happy Monday!
And I might wear Shangri La tomorrow. Or Arbole Arbole.. Sorry going away to Italy!
I have a few small samples of Givenchy for later in the week, but on this snowy day ( yes, snow – ugh ) it is Chanel 22. Flowers and aldehydes baby .
snow
22
SNOW? Geeze!
That is not exactly the expression I used
ha!
Aw, I should have bought that Les Mythiques L’Interdit for this week. Lovely stuff. I want it before it’s gone-gone.
Absolue pour le Soir again. It’s perfect weather for it.
Didn’t chime in yesterday but wore Grand Soir from MFK from a sample. The first 30 minutes are lovely with a rasp of lavender, but the drydown is straight vanilla extract on me. Reminds me of Turin’s review of Invasion Barbare, how he worried the thing would run out of cash. He was pleasantly surprised then, but wouldn’t be so lucky this time.
APLS…mmmm…saving the decant that was gifted to me by my best friend for bee week
Yum!
I tried again yesterday to wear APLS, still couldn’t do it. I’m going to keep trying though.
The first time I sampled it I wore eight sprays all at once. Now I know that one spray is more than enough. maybe that will help?
It’s a big one. I think crook of the arm speeds through the ostensibly rough opening.
SSS Lieu de Reves today. A nice combination of Violet, rose and orris, and fortunately the cedar doesn’t take over (as it often does on my skin). nice on a not too warm spring day.
That’s a really pretty one.
Gorgeous…and Laurie brought it back in the regular rotation
I have ot tried this one. NowI want to…
After a busy weekend of work, I am off today and tomorrow and it is going to be beautiful! 70 and sunny!????
SOTD is Atelier Bois Blonds. I enjoy many of their colognes but this is my first full bottle purchase.
You smell fabulous! Love that one
I am jealous of your weather!
I’ve enjoyed sampling the Atelier line. If I were to buy one of their bottles (which I have not done yet) I would choose Bois Blonds. You smell fabulous.
SOTD: Santal Blanc; great scent to ease into Monday with.
Odd pic for a “cruise collection”.. I guess Gucci wearers are doing farm-chic holidays?
Ha! Farm chic is right ????
You smell fab!
The whole collection is very un-cruise-like.
I was thinking the same thing
It is so chilly in the house today (60F, and no snickering from you Brits) that I actually turned the heat back on about half an hour ago. Brr. School is out, as there is a major road in the area washed out by flooding, but the boys are in their rooms — Taz is reading and Gaze is still zonked from staying up until 4:30 Saturday night, which was prom followed by the vigilantly-supervised after-prom party.
I only have one Gucci and one Givenchy on hand, and the Givenchy (Organza Indecence) is not likely to be wearable on Friday, assuming we get our normal spring weather back. SOTD today is warm greenie Safari.
I only have Indecence too. Not sure if I can wear it either.
There are several fragrances that I associate with you and Safari is one of them….(the others are Victoria, Le Temps d’Un Fete, Chamade, Sand and Sable and Plum
)
My unit secretary gave a me a few Givenchy samples- she always looks polished and on point and smells great too. So I am going to be wearing those.
No snickering from me. Anything below 68 and I am distressed and anxious that hell is freezing over!
Thermometer now registering 67.4 F in the house and I am comfortable.
It gets down to 64 and I start getting cranky…
SOTD Hermes Eau Clair des Merveilles. I love this! It has a lesser amount of salt/marine notes compared to the original, and it’s softer and happier. I can see it becoming a no-brainer summer scent. It doesn’t seem to have much longevity though.
I am pretty sure I only have two Guccis: a very old bottle of Envy and a DS of Bamboo that was a GWP at some point. No Givenchy. I will wear those later this week.
Envious of your Envy. I will no doubt repeat this the day you wear it:)
I love that one- and it becomes more a skin scent. If you wear it in the summer, you are going to appreciate that subtle softness.
There is not a single drop of Gucci or Givenchy in my house.
I’ll be paying close attention this week here, to find out what I am missing.
SOTD is Afternoon of a faun, EldO, from a sample.
Every house should have a bottle of Organza Indecence, if nothing else! (but I know not everyone will agree with me)
My local perfumery sells a Les mythiques edition.
In what way does it differ from the ‘normal’/original edition, other than having a more boring bottle (the original bottle, thats so 80s Givenchy! Its kinda tacky, but i dig it).
It differs in still being on the market
No seriously, it has been reformulated but by all accounts is still pretty darned good. Hoping someone who has done a vigilant comparison will chime in.
Well, not sure I’d call my comparison effort vigilant, but I’ve smelled both and the new one smelled more or less the same to me.
Of course. The R-word
I agree, not a considerable difference between the original (I have a 15ml bottle… mini-ish?) and the refo (I bought a decant). Not exactly the same, but the reformulation is good. Maybe a bit more vanilla and less wood.
I am right there with you…while I drained 6 full bottles of Gucci and Givenchy over the many years of perfume wearing I have nothing left in my arsenal…I won’t be able to participate this Friday as I cannot even find a Gucci or Givenchy sample!
In the 90s I had a boyfriend who wore Gucci Envy for Men and it was pretty good. That’s my only Gucci memory/experience.
For a reason unknown I stopped wearing perfume somewhere in the beginning of the millenium/00’s.
It just happened. Was not thrilled by offerings in local perfumeries I guess. And I did not know about ‘niche’ or ‘indie’.
So I missed more than half of the Gucci catalogue hahaha.
Let’s see I drained full bottles of the original Gucci (brown juice in super heavy bottle), Gucci 2 (same bottle but pink juice) and Gucci III (wore that in the early 90s) and Gucci Rush. Givenchy was Fleur d’Interdit (one of my first Paris trips full bottle purchases) and Amarige (wow was that a sillage monster!). I guess the current Gucci/Givenchy offerings have escaped me. I think Eau de Givenchy was my all time favorite but I never had a bottle of that one…had a half evaporated decant sent to me by a fragrant fairy and I drained that one so quickly.
I currently have zero Givenchy. I do have quite a few Gucci, but today is so sunny I had to wear Commodity Mimosa. I smell like summer! You wouldn’t know it though, because I have a skunk living under my porch:(. Does anyone have any tips for getting it to leave? Or how to cover up the smell? It didn’t really bother me at first, but it’s becoming a problem.
Oh dear!
There are lots of skunks in our area, and the smell is so tenacious! It has woken me up in the middle of the night and given me headaches. I’m sure there are some tips to be found online to keep them away, but the best thing is to make your area inhospitable: no open trash, cat food, etc. and block the way for them to get under the porch. Good luck – I know it must be miserable.
It is miserable, but I can’t help but laugh. I try SO HARD to have my house and myself smell good, of course I get the skunk! Lol
Get a cat?
I would suggest that you contact a professional to trap and remove the skunk. Why court trouble going the DIY route?
I researched a bit when we had raccoons living in our ceiling and making a solution of cayenne pepper and spraying the area is supposed to get them to leave. It doesn’t harm them, just irritates them (which still feels mean ????) and makes them go find another ceiling/porch to live in).
This was meant for lillyjo ⬆️
Nonetheless, this is useful info for us new homeowners! I seem to attract little defenseless critters who want to live with me (when I was in the apartment, someone’s pet hamster was waiting on my doorstep. Yes, WAITING.)
Putting an ammonia soaked rag under the porch gets raccoons to leave, but skunks might not be so sensitive to the smell (!)
Yeah, sorry, this was meant for lilllyjo too…
This is probably more effective since it pervades the air space. In any event, the raccoons in our ceiling had to be professionally removed in the end and the enyry routes seaked.
I think I only have 2 Givenchy options and zero Gucci for Friday, but will see if I’ll be in the mood (Ysatis and Indecence).
SOTD a bit of Carnal Flower which I used to think was too much for me but I love it dabbed in smaller doses.
Oh, I forgot I had a half-full mini of Ysatis (picked up on ebay for like $3).
I also have a cute little mini that was thrown in for free with a purchase.
Funny, I have one of those little bitty minis, too. I think I got it with the dabber bottle and the travel spray. It may not be good anymore, since all of it is late 80’s.
It’s predicted to be 91 degrees on Friday, so I predict I will not be in Ysatis!
I’m in Le Galion Iris today.
The weather is so dreary and the pressure must be changing a lot because I keep on having returning headaches this afternoon.
Oh no about the headache! You smell great!
I have only a couple of Gucci samples, will save one for Friday. In the meantime, my goal is to finish off some half used samples this week. Finished a sample of Bohea Boheme. I really enjoy this one, from beginning to end. May invest in a decant or something one day.
Don’t it feel good to finish samples off
Yes! They seem to multiply rapidly so it is always nice to thin the crowd a little.
Shalimar EDP. I’m taking advantage of the cool day here to wear beautiful Shalimar. Its currently 69 degress
It will be in the 80s by tomorrow.
JEALOUS.
Shalimar is my fav! You smell divine!
I don’t have any scents by Gucci or Givenchy, so I’m celebrating this week by wearing scents created by Olivia Giacobetti. Dzing! for a dreary, rainy morning.
Oh, an even better G!
Recently I found a boxed set of four Gucci Flora minis at Marshall’s for a good price so I bought it, and it’s been fun. The fragrances are nothing much as they’re so light, but the little boxes are so pretty! I just have the whole set in the box sitting out in my powder room for now. Today I have Gardenia on my right hand and Tuberose on my left. (The other two in my set are Mandarin and Magnolia). Tuberose is the winner–it’s a really light and gentle tuberose, nothing to make you swoon but you also won’t stink in it. The Gardenia is mildly pretty but has absolutely nothing in common with the real thing. NOT A THING. I can’t figure out why they wanted to call it gardenia! My next door neighbor has a gardenia bush starting to bloom. Yesterday I counted eight blossoms on it, and these are BIG blooms. I came close to stealing one! They smell so divine, so buttery. No perfume ever comes close in my experience it.
I’ve been off-board for a while due to work pressures, but did participate in Italian Friday by wearing Aqua di Parma Profumo, the reissue. I know people say it can’t compare to the original, but it’s still a pretty perfect chypre if you ask me. The kind of perfume that you put on and think, “I should give up on all other scents and just wear this one every day.”
1) I love Marshall’s- such wonderful surprises in the cosmetics department!
2) You know- there are those scents that you can happily wear all day, every day and not be tired of it.. Aqua di Parma Profumo is definitely one of them!
Happy Monday!
1) Friday was lovely, sunny and 70F, so I took the day off and played outside- bike rides and hanging out with good peeps.
2) I got to try the Spice* of Portland: marijuana. Specifically, a rich cannabis oil with very high THC content that was blended within a fudge base. I did this while in the backyard, on the chair, and that hit like a very heavy, wet woolen blanket. Then I had an incredible sense of peace and euphoria, and did some drawings. Very nice high indeed and I can see now why people do this recreationally.
3) But chilly rains returned, and on Sunday it was just drenching rain. BUT! We have incredible lush green grass and the flowers popping out are =just beautiful. You can’t even fault the weeds- they look so lovely!
4) SOTD: Boucheron (from a sample) Much needed on this very grey and very wet morning- a lovely Oriental, a bit of richness tocut through the chill and the green.
Boucheron is so lovely. I spritzed it a bit the last time I was in Macy’s, and it just stopped me in my tracks. So, anyway, you smell wonderful!
It really is lovely! I think it’s full bottle, signature scent worthy, to be honest. Just wonderful.
*From Dune by Frank Herbert
You smell fabulous and I loved #2….you can never have enough peace and euphoria in your life!
One thing about legalized cannabis here: You can’t drive nor bike, nor can you do it at the dispensary, so everyone is safely at home – or in a park- when they do it. Also, the stuff is STRONG- surprisingly so, and the peace/euphoria hits HARD. Not a bad thing, but if you are a tourist to the area, be prepared!
lol at your #2! Several years ago a co-worker, who lived very near me, dropped by with a pan of freshly baked brownies for me. Unfortunately she didn’t tell me *all* of the ingredients that she’d put in them.
I had two (they were delicious) and ended up sleeping 18 hours and even missed work the next day!
I am suspicious about your #3
SOTD: Gucci Premiere EdP
I am not really sure what to say about it. Just… meh.
Yep.
I’m in Givenchy Cuir Blanc on the left and Gucci Flora on the right, both from samples. At first, the CB was very peppery, but it’s calmed down now. The notes are white pepper, white musk and leather, but I’m sure there’s a floral in there somewhere.
I have two Gucci and one Givenchy (yay, Ysatis!) for Friday, but several more samples of both, so I am spoiled for choice.
I’d like to say Thank You to this NST crew, for all of the help given to me yesterday with my eBay questions. I was bowled over by the insightful and detailed advice, and I so, so appreciate all of you!
Gray skies are gonna clear up
Put on a happy face
Brush off the clouds and cheer up
Put on a happy face
It is put on a happy face Monday, and I am resolute in Jo Loves Pomelo thanks to Hajusuuri.
And in the spirit of Hajusuuri’s petite rants, I have one. When we killed our front lawns (covered them in plastic sheeting for about 12 weeks over the summer a couple of summers ago) in an effort to cut down on water usage–my neighbor, who’s husband is an “arborist” and runs a landscaping company, had gaga amounts of advice and lectures on what to plant, how to do it, when to do it… she brought gardening books over, really pressured me to take cuttings from her backyard (I demurred) and all around was a bit excruciating. We planted a bunch of plants–mostly around (of course!) scent–so lots of lavender, jasmine, ceanothus concha, mock orange thingies, and a small lemon tree, with rosemary and spots of oregano, thyme, and tarragon.
Fast forward two years later, the garden is flourishing–especially now that we are getting so much rain. The little lemon tree gave us a lemon at long last, and much is in bloom.
But this neighbor still insists on “sympathizing” with me about our one lemon wonder, and the areas of the yard that are still more wood chips than flower coverage…. But her yard? Her yard? She pulled out ivy over a year ago, and left dirt, rocks, and weeds. And now there is a mess of purple thistle growing near the sidewalk… I don’t care about her yard, but how is it that she can still advise me and patronize me when she has done nothing to demonstrate her or her husband’s aesthetics or gardening prowess?? When I think of how politely I listened to her endless pearls of wisdom, it makes me laugh and cringe. What is it about people who must convey unsolicited advice ad nauseam? And she does that pity thing! For my pretty but not so product dwarf meyer lemon tree!
Oh gosh. I sound like a character in those Queen Lucia books…
1)Oh, Nosey Parkers! Every neighborhood has one, ready to give advice, whether needed or NOT. They also tend to never take their own advice or show any expertise in what they are talking about!
2) My back yard is absolutely lush with weeds and I ain’t even mad at them. They are so pretty, with the variety of forms and colors of flowers. Yes, yes, soon I will get landscaping in BUT right now I enjoy seeing how they thrive with so much water.
3) Your garden sounds like Paradise.
Oh enjoy it. We are so lucky to have gardens at all… !
Indeed! and some of those weeds are native american food stuffs and medicines- just asserting themselves!
Your yard/garden sounds wonderful! Your neighbor sounds horrid- I have one very similar. He works for a landscaping company, always working in his yard and offering unsolicited advice on what we should do in ours. Fast forward a few years and ours looks better than his (I do love gardening and have a green thumb) and I can actually tell he is jealous because he doesn’t speak to us as much. Of course, I was just trying to have a nice garden/yard, not make him jealous. But he is so petty it’s quite sad.
My father used to say, “be wary of the the shoemaker whose children go barefoot.” !!
Damn, but that is a good phrase.
I want to Like this comment 100 times! ????
Thirded.
I’m sorry that’s happening to you! That sounds so annoying. The devil on my shoulder would be tempted to sick the HOA on them, depending on the unsightliness of their yard.
Actually, she sounds rather passive aggressive. It’s always unfun when we don’t get along with our neighbors!
Hmmm, maybe give her some advice on her thistle situation?
You know, the thistle thing is really funny. They are a lovely purple, and when walking up our street, you can see our flowering garden, and then a burst of riotous purple thistle beyond, which is actually pretty. It is only when you reach her house you realize the thistle is growing at the edge of a pile of rocks and lumps of dirt.
You were tongue and cheek about the HOA, but here’s a true story. Another neighbor with whom I chat with once in a while was telling me that her next door neighbor called the HOA and she was given a ticket and a fine for not mowing her lawn! She and her family are in fact having financial problems and it sounds like stress and worry (and canceling the gardener) has meant that they’ve let their yard “go” a little. So the grass is a little long, and there are weeds… but there is a war in Syria, and starvation in Yemen, and a human rights crisis in N. Korea… and I guarantee that this lovely neighbor IS not giving advice about landscaping… jeesh… a little patience goes a long way in making good neighbors. Oh dear, I am sounding more and more like an E. F. Benson character!
Well, if you’re sounding like an E.F. Benson character, then (based on your comment), I’d say you have a proper perspective on everyday trials…and compassion for those who are dealing with worrisome circumstances. ????
I googled Mr. Benson, and he was quite a prolific writer!
My guess is in a few years, you’ll be happily enjoying lemons.
Oof, your post is giving me flashbacks to my previous next-door neighbor, who spent three years trying to convince me that we needed a new fence between our backyards – a fence chosen by her that would be located on my property. But she would pay for half! I don’t think it ever occurred to her that she could simply put the fence ON HER PROPERTY at any point she wanted – it needed to be on mine and partly paid for by me. Anyway, my sympathies – I solved my problem by moving away, not sure what I would’ve done otherwise.
Hah! At our old house, we needed a fence desperately as the one between the properties was not only falling down, but nails and torn lumber were falling into our yard. We were simply going to pay for the whole thing, and 85% of the fence was on our side/land, but due to shifting land (this is CA) at the very back, if we kept the fence straight, a triangle of land about 3 ft long X 1 ft deep on their side would cut into their space. We shared our plans and asked for permission to proceed. They said, “NO!” They didn’t want a fence… And they accused us of ripping them off. It was horrible. They finally agreed, and then threw garbage over the fence the entire time it was being built, and afterwards.
We moved too, but I felt I had to disclose the weird behavior of the neighbors in the disclosers when we sold the house!
disclosures!
Sheesh, people are crazy. Now I’m glad my neighbor only hounded me, and never threw things . . .
Wow. Just wow.
Lemon trees take three to five years to bear fruit so your little guy is doing great!
I live in a condo building that has a few old bats (being old myself, I think I can say that) and unfortunately they have nothing better to do than to participate actively in condo meetings and committees in unpleasantly officious and negative ways. The positive and constructive people who continue to volunteer their time in spite of constant criticism and obstruction are saints. I will say these negative Nellies have been useful to me as wake-up calls re how not to age or waste my “golden” years, and for this I am grateful. ????
Let’s just say I’m glad I don’t have to do yard work as that is covered by the HOA. That said, my next door neighbor loves to garden and every year, she gets these 25 lb bags of dirt. She and her boyfriend are in their mid-80s (or, to be snarky, they may actually be in their 70s but look like they are in their 80s). I got home yesterday from a luncheon and saw the boyfriend sitting on their front steps. As soon as I came out of my car, he said “Oh good, you’re just in time to haul dirt!” Ummmm, noooooo, you go ahead and dirty your own hands and break your back!
Well, at least you didn’t counsel him excessively on “lifting from the knees!” Pretty cheeky asking you for help
!
Today may be Monday, but it’s a good one. I’ve got a job lined up, so I’m officially on vacation (and not unemployed); our application for a new apartment has been approved; and my SOTD is the gorgeous Portrait of a Lady. Now if only the sun would come out…!
You’re on a roll! Enjoy!
Glad to hear you are in a groove!
I’m glad things are lining up for you!
Yay!
All good things… yay for you!
Hurray!
No time to read comments til later, but am wearing Guerlain Vetiver, and I can even smell it! Feels great!
Yum. I love Vetiver. You smell great.
It’s already hot as blazes here (but supposed to cool off a bit tomorrow) so I brought out one of my hot weather favorite, L’Artisan al Oudh. I sprayed lightly, but I’m tempted to go back and spray some more . . .
Lovely!
Been wearing New York Intense for a whole day. Gonna take a bath soon and switch to a vintage Arpège that I’ve just got. ????
Do you know how the Intense compares to plain ol’ New York?
Enjoy the Arpège!
I smelled both very shortly in a store half a year ago. I don’t really remember. Just that the non-intense one smelled weaker.
I don’t know that one specifically, but some of the other intense versions seem to have the contrasts amped up. It’s better to test before purchase if you loved the original.
Patou Sira des Indes for me today.
Yay for pigs in blankets, culinary or otherwise. :^)
I have no Gucci nor Givenchy, and I can’t pretend I feel the lack. So, I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else does on Friday and maybe pick up some ideas for future testing.
In the meantime, SOTD is “Close Up” from Olfactive Studio.
Top: coffee, spices and cherry;
Mid: white tobacco, patchouli, cedar and rose;
Base: amber, musk and tonka.
Very enjoyable stuff, which on my skin is not particularly sweet or gourmand, and lasts reasonably well.
I’ve really wanted to try this one but it’s still not available in the U.S. It sounds fun.
Managed to find a decant of this on Scent Split. It is reminiscent of Angel to me, not so much the smell but the weight and feel. Unfortunately it doesn’t last well on me. It’s odd that it still isn’t being sold in North America, so long after its release.
It is so spring here–bright green on the trees, robins, tulips, bunnies in the yard and I am wearing L’Heure Convoitee
That sounds perfect!
I feel like I have a thousand mosquito bites from adventuring this weekend (hooray for Earth Day!) and randomly selected something from the comfort section of my samples.
Oh Miss Dior, it has been far too long since I last wore you. So warm and feminine, and the absolute opposite of angry red bug bites. It provides the best distraction from itching.
No Gucci scents here but I will channel the country vibe and wear my fake leopard fur coat when I empty the compost later. CDG Chalayan Airborne. Lemon to start, then something like pine resin and juniper. The resin doesn’t dominate though and the overall impression is a bitter lemon, wild brush landscape ( based on Cyprus). Cuts the gloom on these dull mornings. Happy week everyone!
I may have to buy a fake leopard coat. And wear it to work. And pretend that nothing is wrong!
Good luck on emptying the compost
We have a big rat in the garden bin so I always give the sides a kick before i open the lid as I hate it when the rat is there and it surprises me .
I was thinking about you in the wee hours of the morning as Mr. CM8 and I were moving brush/small tree limbs to the back of our property at 530am….the smell in the air was so amazing! I remembered all that you said about sniffing your surroundings from your radio interview…if only I could have bottled that smell
How cool! I went out before dawn and our house was in the cloud and thick mist and it had that smell of earth and rain. Yay. I am interested in the Demeter Petrichor scent Robin posted about.
It’s cold and rainy here and I have been sick for a week and didn’t feel like wearing perfume. I am all better now but I think it’s the longest I’ve gone without for a few years. I’m wearing Safran Troublant today, the symphony is tonight, there is a “no scent” policy, and ST will be gone by then. Despite the policy, I’ve smelled Carolina Herrera and Pink Sugar there the past two concerts so it may not be enforced.
I checked the cabinet and I have 2 Givenchy fragrances but I gave my Gucci Guilty away a couple of years ago. I don’t miss it, I have a bunch of other stuff that scratches that itch.
Glad you are better! And you do smell great.
My sympathies. It is cold and rainy here and I am sick with a cold. Safran Troublant is so soft and delicate I am sure it wouldn’t offend. I am wearing a small spritz of JM Orris & Sandalwood while I wait to feel better.
Hope you feel better!
Glad you’re feeling better!
Hello, and very good morning. I’ve woken late with a rotten headache and a pile of assignments to mark, and to make it worse, this is ANZAC Day. I should be out and about, not grouching at home about bad grammar and non sequiturs and work that is all about high hopes and low inspiration. Ah well.
It’s Less Loved day in my perfume collection, and I’ve chosen Myrrhe Ardente. Now, why is this pretty smell not a Best Beloved? The truth is, I just don’t know. It’s sweet, which is not a problem to me, but resinously sweet, like the balls of sap we used to pick off old fruit trees as kids. It’s got a hint of something darker, too, a slight fustiness like old books, which makes it interesting, and a touch of a medicinal herb which whispers a harsh little word now and again. In fact, all up, it’s a sweeter, brighter little cousin of Black Cashmere.
Maybe MA’s status as LL is mostly a matter of my not thinking of it often enough, rather than not really liking it much? Now it’s on, I’m really enjoying it, but the box is modest and self-effacing and easy to overlook in the mornings.
Lesson to self here about the imperfections of memory. Be well, all.
I too don’t think of MA often enough and when I do, I love it and wonder why I forget about it!
It sounds pretty nice … though i haven’t sniffed it. Hope you are feeling better and have pushed the assigments to one side. I think your new dark lipstick needs an outing.
Back to testing goodies from the sample stash. SOTD = a vintage sample of Diorella EdT. I would have liked to smell this when it was newer, since I think the top notes are off. Or was Diorella always a bit funky?
In my experience most top notes are off with vintage. What my nose remembers is not the same as what I smell from certain fragrances that were worn long ago when they first debuted. That being said, I do remember Diorella was a bit off the beaten path as well, even in pristine condition. But someone more familiar can chime in.
The melon notes can sometimes suggest over-ripe fruit. If it’s only the top notes that smell off, though, then it’s probably just age.
Thanks, CM8 and nozknoz. I’m not getting any over-ripe fruit with my sample… more like a bit of musty basement or “old attic” smell when I first apply. Luckily, that doesn’t last.
SotA = Bois Blonds, inspired by madtowngirl’s sotd.
I went scentless this morning. Today the sun shines and a cool breeze blows while I work in the yard and garage today. Tidying and organizing, beginning the week as I mean to go on, very satisfying.
Yay- twins! We do smell fabulous!
Been gone all day so late chiming in. But I still smell wonderful in Roja Dove Unspoken extrait. Like Calypso said above, “I should give up on all other scents and just wear this one every day.”
I have absolutely no Gucci or Givenchy, but I sure do wish I had some of the Givenchy III that I wore back in the 70s and 80s!
Some of those Doves are actually worth the crazy prices. If I weren’t retired, I would have a bottle of Diaghilev by now, although I would actually prefer a smaller bottle than they make.
I got my bottle from someone on the old Wiki-split site several years ago because – are you ready for it? – she got a new bottle every year and got rid of the old one! So I got it for waaay less than the RDs are going for now. Probably my best perfume score ever.
Today I’m sampling Papillon Salome from a manufacturer’s sample kindly hand delivered to me by a wonderful friend. Good grief, it is glorious!
I hope everyone’s week is off to a decent start and ends up as fantastic as this perfume!
Yikes, when Wendysue sprayed this on her arm the first time we met a year ago, I recoiled.
Well, I only sprayed on a little. I haven’t had anosmia to musks in other scents, so I don’t think that’s happening here, but I didn’t really get the indecent-leaning skank that other people do. I got all the leathery, smoky, woody goodness with the floral elements. My mom actually sniffed it, she didn’t seem to get the skank either. Huh. Gosh, I hope it’s not my nose–I’ll have to have someone else sniff me to make sure I’m not walking around smelling naughty and not knowing it! ????
I think it’s me who can’t appreciate / tolerate cumin unkess it is drowned out by vetiver or something of that ilk.
Cumin = unwashed foul-smelling armpits
I think this will be the only day I don’t wear Gucci or Givenchy because I own a decant or bottle of 4 scents between the brands. I also recall I may have a sample of Gucci Flora as an extra freebie from a freebiemeet package, but I’ll probably just try one spray of it one evening this week.
So today I’m finally trying Vol de Nuit EDT, as I’m still making my way through all the spoils of a swapmeet package. You know, it’s really nice, but I think I’m a bit underwhelmed because I overhyped it in my mind. But I’ll keep trying it out along with a sample of the parfum. Maybe it will be a delayed wow.
Wearing ELdO Rossy de Palma Eau de Protection today from the old bottle with the dragon and loving it. Sorry, Frederic Malle, I like this take on the rose-patchouli theme a lot better than yours. Actually, not sorry. ????
Nothing like a bit of tough love to set the record straight.
I am constantly surprised by how much I like some of the offerings from ELdO. My second look came about after falling in love with Eris Night Flower and seeking out more of Antoine Lie’s fragrances.
Rossy is a great scent. You smell wonderful!
I broke out samples from Clive Christian today: Cosmo Flower and Rock Rose.
Cosmo Flower smells like a generic fruitchouli to me…in the grape soda genre to be specific. Someone on Fragrantica said it smells like the original Jimmy Choo and, having sniffed a sample of it back in the day, seems quite accurate. Nothing to see here…move along please.
Rock Rose smells pretty masculine and, come to find out, it is marketed for men.
It is the more interesting of the two with minty, strong sage I think. Too much spicy sage for me alas but, as stated, the more interesting of the two.
I have been unimpressed with the CC stuff I have sniffed. With so much good mid to high-end perfume out there and give CC’s prices, I’m wondering if I’m missing something.
P.S. I don’t really think I’m missing something…this is the part where others chime in agree that it is an over-hyped and priced house or dissenters name their favorite in the line but agree prices are steep.
When you google “most expensive perfume in the world,” guess what shows up?
Isn’t had two CC samples and neither did anything for me. And honestly, I didn’t even realize how expensive it was until after I tried the second one.
SOTD Jicky today – sampling the EDT on one arm and Parfum on the other.
It’s a public holiday today in Australia and I’m curled up on the bed wearing Jicky while reading NST and consuming my coffee and toast.
Feeling very sybaritic and a bit Phryne Fisher today
LOVE Pyryne
I am saved! I have Givency Pi, my first serious perfume purchase when I started my journey. Gucci Rush is always pleasing to me. I have read some of Gucci’s early offerings were superb. Is there not some fantastic Gucci masculine loaded with ginger and now lamentably discontinued?
SOTD = SSS Pacific Forest
I have a travel spray and methinks I need to upgrade. I used 3 healthy sprays (I know, OTT for SSS) and, after 12 hours, I still smell resinously wonderful!
Now, onto reading what you all wore today!
UPGRADE! UPGRADE!
LOL. I forgot about my 2nd travel spray! I’m good for the next 6 months.
Indeed you are