Blink, and it's another Monday. Today also happens to be World Red Cross Day, Iris Day and Harry Truman's birthday. What fragrance are you wearing?
In honor of Iris Day I'm wearing the original Infusion de Iris from Prada.
Reminder: 5/12 will be Lessons Learned Friday...wear a fragrance that taught you something you didn't know about yourself, about fragrance, anything! Suggested by Floragal.
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: the Prada floral sneaker ("Modern floral patterns enhance the peppy personality of a sleek, low-top platform sneaker.") is $595 at Nordstrom.
Oh, I might have copied you had I known it was international Iris day. As it is I’m basking in the glory that is Fracas. Don’t you think that there should be a national day devoted to this treasure?
You smell great, IdI is one of my favourites, and I hope you are feeling better. You must be near the end of you antibiotics now?
Absolutely — Fracas Day! I might have to wear that this week.
No, I’m on a 28 day course. I’ve done something like 11 or 12 days? Ways to go, and just as well because I sure do not feel “cured” yet. Of course, also possible that the abx are making me tired. Anyway, I’m the same as last week — no symptoms except tired, sometimes queasy in the mornings (which is definitely from the abx), so that is an improvement.
Antibiotics are not really appreciated by our gut, are they? And that’s a very long course of antibiotics. But you are almost halfway through, so that is a good thing.
No, they’re not! Hate antibiotics, had been lucky enough to have avoided them for 10+ years.
That’s a lot of antibiotics! Eat lots of yogurt and kim chi to keep your tummy happy.
Those sneakers are so cute, but about $550 too expensive for my pocketbook and lifestyle. Any shoes I own are eventually going to end up walking through the drylot on a wet day, and I choose my footwear accordingly.
I am not a fan of kimchi! But I love pickled red cabbage & pickled ginger carrots & kvass, so getting plenty of ferments.
I just bought my first pair of old-school style sneakers in years — and paid $70 and thought that was silly!
Make sure that what you are buying is unpasteurized and refrigerated…my OB/GYN is Indian and follows ayerveyda and this was her recommendation…she told me that the healing properties of the fermented foods get lost in the pasteurization process…and anything on the shelf has limited probiotics….I just bought turmeric sauerkraut from my health food store and it is delicious. Good to hear that you are on the mend!
Oh and I remember the days when Converse sneakers were ten dollars a pair…when did they become so high end???
No worries, I know my ferments, I know the difference between fermented pickles & vinegar pickles & whatnot
Converse always made me trip on my own toes! I don’t know why.
As a kid, I remember converse being sold at K-Mart and Zayres. That’s about as low brow as it gets. How did they get so expensive?
Deva –
Converse is wholly owned by Nike. that’s how they got so expensive.
still mulling over my box of eels EDP or EDT for birthday choice…
You smell great. Love the concept of Fracas Day.
Thank you!
Voting for a Fracas – Fracas’ children Friday community project.
That is a brilliant idea. I can probably cover 3 generations
I’d love to know what are considered Fracas offspring.
Any buttery tuberose, I suppose. But I was just thinking all tuberose centered fragrances that were brought on the market after Fracas, would be what I would go by.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jMGiFvFaCE
From 1.20 on wards Malle mentions Fracas – Carnal Flower
Madonna’s Truth or Dare is a cheapie.
Should have waited for this post to choose my SOTD as I love iris. But I decided to take advantage of the continuing frigid weather to wear a heavy oriental. Picked 3.April.1968, an animalic incense bomb.
Darned cold here too! An animalic incense bomb sounds perfect.
At home today relaxing with a cup of coffee and enjoying the beautiful, sunny, but chilly day. I will be running some errands later on. For iris day I am wearing Carner Barcelona D600. My decant arrived on Saturday. Thanks you all that recommended it to me last week. It is a very elegant iris and a FB is in my shopping list already. I was very down during the weekend (missing my father greatly), but reading your haikus put smiles and enjoyment in my heart. Loved reading all of them.
So sorry you were feeling down!
I am glad to hear your are feeling much better Robin. Sending positive vibes for a full recovery very soon.
Sending all good wishes to you, and glad to hear that you’re still finding joy where you can
Thank you dear. And I am glad to see you back. You smell fantastic today.
Thank you! I send some wafts your way too for extra support
D600 is gorgeous!
Sending you best wishes and a virtual hug.
Thank you. And you smell terrific in all those beautiful irises! I wish I could be next to you
Enjoy the day- I hope D600 is lifting your spirits too.
D600 is more beautiful than I was expecting. I am enjoying it.
Yea!
Sending you love and peace
Thank you. Hugs to you
Sending you fragrant hugs.
Thank you Elisa
Lyz 41 is really nice and comfy. You smell great!
So glad that u have found a new Iris perfume to enjoy and provide comfort and cheer. I will look out for Varner Barcelona, not sure if they are stocked in the UK.
Sending positive thoughts to u.
Thank you Mayfly. I hope you are able to try Carner Barcelona. That line has very beautiful perfumes. D600 is one of them.
Sending you kind thoughts and a . My mom passed in March, and I think this phase is so hard. Most people around me have moved on in a certain sense. They mean well, they really do, but they’re not ‘in it’, like I am.
I have no idea if this makes any sense to you. I just know first hand that it’s difficult. I try to stay busy and take a walk everyday…at sunset if at all possible. Take Care!
Oh dear. That should read, “Sending you kind thoughts and a hug.”
It makes complete sense to me. Not being able to talk to him or getting his advice is difficult. But as you say, this face it is hard. I try myself to keep myself busy and in high spirits. Sending you warm hugs. We will hopefully overcome this feeling soon.
Perfumelover67 and Nancyleadros – I miss my mom also, she died on 2.28.
I would not have wished her one more day here, it was time for her to go.
But now both my parents are gone and it feels strange, especially heading into Mother’s Day.
I will keep you both in my thoughts.
Thank you Apsara. Sending you too hugs and comforting thoughts, especially on this coming weekend.
Apsara, maybe we can wear a special fragrance this Sunday in remembrance of our moms. I know I’ll be thinking of you and perfumelover67 this week, and hoping we all feel better. ❤
Of course we can!
My mom was 95 and really hadn’t worn any fragrance in about a year. She loved Tabu all her life. 95 is a long time to have gone through many fragrance phases. I remember she kept a mirrored tray on her dressing table with My Sin, Tabu, Shalimar, Midnight in Paris, Halston, White Shoulders and Youth Dew. She also kept her mothers’ bottle of Windsong. My dad totally owned the rest of the space. He loved cologne and was an Aramis guy. I brought him colognes from wherever I traveled.
As I mentioned before here, the only fragrance my mother has worn in her life is Tabu. No matter how many perfumes I have made her try, she only feel enjoyment with Tabu. I will join you and NancyLeandros on Sunday by wearing Tabu in honor of my mom and yours.
Sorry to hear that you had a rough weekend. But I’m happy to hear that you found bits of beauty and joy despite it.
Thank you. Tomorrow will be a better day for sure.
I had a craving for violets, so I satisfied it with Balenciaga Paris.
Prada Infusion de Iris is a great choice. Need to wear it too soon.
Ah, and that’s another one I should wear this week! That could be a project too — wear something someone else wore yesterday.
Interesting idea. But why limit to yesterday? Maybe within one week? Or 2-3days?
Jicky
Finished my decant and thanks to a generous NSTer I habe a back up
have a back up
Mommy brain
Yeah, but you smell great
Better start thinking about Friday’s project now! I can’t not join in on this one
I’m wearing & loving Rose Flash! Such a dead ringer for Rose Jam I can’t help myself and want to bath in this ‘fume. So good.
Next one I want to try is the Vanilla Flash having read enough to believe this will be another winner for me.
How is it Monday already & again! And how is it in the 40s out there in the month of May??
Enjoyed the Haiku poems as well. Such talent!
Morning dear!
Did you try Tauer’s Rose Delight body oil?
Andy seems lovely, so I ordered the oil last summer, but I’m not sure it’s for me.
Hi! Nice to see you on NST! No, haven’t tried the body oil yet. I’m not big into oils for the body so that’s probably the main reason.
Rose Flash and Rose Jam are a happy marriage! I think Rose Flash is my most edible rose fragtance.
It is edible!
Rose Flash is a great scent!
I liberally applied Barkhane this morning when I saw our temp was 33 degrees at 6:30 AM, before I remembered the iris plan.
Barkhane is my favorite incense perfume, and it has more of that creamy sandalwood base than any newer perfume I have sniffed in quite a while. Definitely FB worthy.
If I was wearing Iris, I would probably be in Athalia today, although I may have used up my sample of that, in which case I would reach for my stand by favorite, VC&A Bois d’Iris.
Dispatch from the Garden: I planted snap peas and snow peas in my garden yesterday, and weeded the garlic patch, where I have several volunteers coming up, left over from last year…and the horseradish is coming up like gangbusters, and the lemon balm has spread enough that I can give big shovel fulls of it to anyone who wants a nice tea herb, and my rhubarb plants have bolted and are flowering, way early. And the mosquitoes were out in force yesterday, a month earlier than usual. Gardening season has officially begun in mid-Michigan.
I was deciding on some rhubarb recipes yesterday https://cooking.nytimes.com/68861692-nyt-cooking/5934819-our-10-most-popular-rhubarb-recipes
We always had rhubarb during the spring when I was growing up. The scent of it cooking or the scene of the freshly washed red stalks on the counter brings back fond memories.
Your garden sounds heavenly.
I love Barkhane, too. I’m on the Teo Cabanel list and they often run a promotion for 40% off fragrances – but Barkhane is never included
I planted lemon balm last year to make infused oil (but never got around to it.) It can also be tossed into salads (which I haven’t tried either!).
A good day for incense! Looking forward to rhubarb pies.
What is that cute little critter over there? It’s so fluffy and warm. Hey, it’s my new lemming!
Yes, yes and yes to all your lessons learned!
Goodness, how’d I do that? Sorry Nancyleandros, I meant
for the adorable lemming image.
LOL, no worries at all ????
No SOTD yet, but wanted to pass along what I think may be a valuable PSA. (Apologies if this has been discussed already. I’ve barely been able to participate on NST lately.)
Nordstrom’s website has Hermes Rhubarb and Neroli shower gels listed at $22. However, the size isn’t mentioned in the description and the 6.7 oz. bottles are also on the site for $43. (Each product is on there twice. The titles are slightly different, but the bottles pictured are identical.) I stopped in a store yesterday and the SA called a location that had them in stock to try and determine the size of the $22 bottles. The answer was 6.1 oz.
Obviously I can’t be positive that the SA in the other store was looking at the correct bottle since they are the same on the website, and there’s a chance that “hair and body shower gel” and “perfumed bath and shower gel” are not the same product even though the labels pictured are exactly alike. But Nordstrom has a good return policy so I took the gamble and ordered a few. I’ll update when I receive them.
This is one hell of a PSA- thank you for sharing with us!!
You are welcome! I hope it’s not too good to be true.
I never ever buy fancy shower gel but I just might treat myself for Mother’s Day – I love rhubarb!
A generous NSTer was able to snag me a sample of the rhubarb when it first came out and I fell in love with it. I can’t afford a full bottle, but the shower gel will hopefully be a nice treat.
I see that deal too. Wow! Either overstocked or error.
I’m guessing the later, but who knows? I’m proceeding with caution for now, but if full size bottles show up at my doorstep…everyone I know is getting one for Christmas.
Wow – didn’t even know it was Iris Day, yet I felt compelled to reach for the Infusion d’Iris lotion that was sitting on my desk. I found this for $10 at a makeup discount store in the city in my early years of living here, and then promptly forgot to ever wear it. When I rediscovered it last year, I brought it in to work for my desk, and now I’m making my way through it. Suits my mood, the workplace, and my inability to tolerate too much sweetness right now, so a win all around.
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
hello!
How was your vacation to eastern europe?
Europe was amazing! I was in Germany, Austria. and the Czech Republic, with a day trip to France, so it wasn’t all Eastern, but I loved it. Lots of pastries, lots of exploration – all around great. I came back refreshed and happy.
How are you??
There is currently a cat napping on my feet, and her moments of tenderness are too few and far between to risk getting up to put on perfume. Whenever she decides to release me, I think it’ll be Serge Lutens Santal Majascule, since it’s still sweater weather-y enough to pull off layers of chocolate and sandalwood.
Napping kitty always wins. Too cute.
I am currently being held hostage by two kitties so feel your pain.????
Ah yes, you are catted. Such a delicious treat.
Will join you as a scent twin. Santal Majescule sounds just the thing for wearing while nursing my cold on a grey day.
I also had a napping kitty that I didn’t want to disturb earlier today.
Monday again….and so soon!
Those Prada shoes are wicked cool, but nothing beats a pair of Converse! They work with jeans and dresses!
SOTD: Jo Malone English Pair and Freesia.
Agree on the Converse. And unlike these Pradas, they look good when they are worn out.
I love Converse but they make my feet look huge!
Me too! By the time I get them wide enough to be comfortable, I have clown feet.
I can’t do converse (and my podiatrist would probably smack me, she claims they are the worst shoes for your feet) My husband loves them
Ah but the John Varvatos Converse are great, with great support. If even more expensive than the old kicks. But a lot less than Prada!
I can’t either – no arch support and they are so long and narrow they look like clown shoes on me.
Ecactly! They make me look clownish.
Oh, I can’t do Converse either and it drives me crazy. I love how they look and have bought several pairs, but always end up giving them away – they are way too narrow for my wide feet. and no arch support for my bad back
Ooh! Iris day? I can do that AND reek havoc to boot!
Surfing The Sample Sea day 49, y’all:
Prada Infusion d’Iris L’Eau d’Iris
Hiris
Iris Pallida
Hedonist Iris
Fantastic! I can smell you across the river!
Reekin’, reekin’, reekin’ cross the ri-i-vah!
“beware you perfume meek,
it’s day 49 of reek,
reekin’ reekin’ reekin’ cross the rivah!”
sorry, I could not resist
that song was in my head the entire car ride home!
Lol! That’s the earworm for the week!
The aliens are surely puzzled over your irisy emmissions right now. Way to go!
Perhaps I might have some influence on the um, local aliens in my neck of the woods, DC?
Let’s hope so!
You are smelling good
Thank you!
Wow- now that’s a grand sillage!
I’m feeling rather grand!
Sampling Authorize Regal Secret today which started out with pineapple and lavender and is now getting a bit mossier/forest floor sort of scent.
Note to autocorrect — I mean what I type and I meant Auphorie
Definitely an unauthorized replacement ???? I must be anosmic to the musk in that one because after the fruity opening, I couldn’t smell a thing. I gave the sample to a waitress in a restaurant who complimented me on it so clearly it smelled.
I had another successful antique store rifling and ended up with two Aromatics Elixir minis, a mostly full 30ml of Dior Dolce Vita, and a sample of vintage Poison. Also some fun records, but that’s a topic for another time.
So I picked Dolce Vita today. Stewed peaches, spices, and a woody base. I’m going to have to try this next to my decant of El Attarine because that was all I could think about last night as I tried it before bed.
Wow! Awesome finds! I used to wear Dolce Vita years ago, loved it.
Wearing Shalimar Cologne to go with my Rosa Luxemburgo T shirt, black leggings and black leather jacket. The sky is blue, the air is cool and no long, boring, testosterone-laden meeting can ruin the beauty of such a day. Not with Shalli by my side.
You sound particularly well-prepared!
I can merrily report back it worked.
Good! I “wreaked havoc” in my class last night. I used to be such a well behaved student when I was still in medical school in my early twenties, and these days I’m just so disruptive. I keep reminding myself that not everyone loves a clown in class, but somehow things take over.
I wore the edp yesterday and it was perfect!
It’s so good!
I’ve worn Shalimar every evening for about a week, either edc or edt. Even better is when my H wears Habit Rouge alongside – reeking Shalimar havoc together
Love this idea. Will have to get my husband some HR!
You smell wonderful!
Thank’s!
I’m making an effort to wear some neglected bottles this week. Today is JC Viva La Juicy Noir. I’m still trying to declutter, and tried tackling a room in the basement. This room has boxes of OLD paperwork, cards and letters. The paperwork I can shred. What do you all do with cards and letters? It’s quite daunting going through it all.
Congratulations. I think you just have to part with things that other family members or historians won’t want, unless you really plan to look at them occasionally. We’ve been doing the same thing. Yesterday we finally started decluttering the attic of baby (!) toys and endless used Lego sets. There are some we will keep for now, but other families with young kids may find treasures among them.
I did the toys last month. I took them to a donation center since we don’t have any young kids in the family now.
I’ve gone through mine and only kept ones that have real sentimental value. Like one shoebox worth. I now throw out cards like a week after I get them.
I no longer keep cards. Some of the ones I have are up to 30 years old!, and some of them are not even mine, I “inherited” a lot from family members.
With old cards I have made decoupage and collages for decoration. I love paper work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decoupage
I have a really hard time letting go of the cards and letters too. My new rule (that I’m still working on implementing because cards are all over the house) is that I can keep any cards with very lovely messages written in them, as well as the most recent card I received from each well-wisher. (With exceptions for cards from my parents, husband, and son. Those all can stay.)
I’ve lost enough family members to know not to throw all the cards out. Having that one card that says “Happy Birthday! Love, Granny” is priceless as far as I’m concerned, just because it’s in her writing.
Oops. Just saw your reply to Elisa P. I guess this suggestion won’t work. I think you may have to just give those old cards the respect of reading them one last time (after all, whoever you inherited them from kept them for a reason) and then pitch ’em.
I hung onto mine for a long time but finally had to admit it was better to let them go. I kept a few with very special handwritten notes inside then dumped the rest. Now I throw away cards after a week.
I keep cards and letters, because they take me back to decades past and it gives me a good feeling to read them every ten or 20 years.
I guess it depends on how you feel about them. Some people do collages with the cards.
I just grabbed a decant of La Pausa EDP a while ago. It must be a good omen, that I sprayed it before realizing it was Iris Day.
A training course in live posting and tweeting would be very helpful. I’m checking my notes from Sniffapalooza, which was a 8 days ago…
Euphorium Brooklyn’s Stephen Dirkes introduced Butterfly. It was inspired by Monarch butterflies migrating through Brooklyn . It’s a floral mint aquatic- he wanted to try this construction because he normally ” hates” them. Stephen was very enthusiastic about his floral, which to me smells like crawling in the garden on the soil under the blooms.
Chris Gordon from The Perfumer’s Studio in LA introduced some of the products and classes offered there. https://theperfumersstudio.com
La Pausa gets so much love. Sigh.
Thank you for the Butterly update, such a thrill to get that perspective from Stephen. The Sniffapalooza report posted yesterday at CaFleureBon was fun to see.
Does La Pausa not work for you? I ran across a decant of it this weekend that I’d completely forgotten I had, and I cannot remember who gave it to me (someone sent it to me in the last few months, which have been so crazy I have no memory.) Was it you?
Wasn’t me, I’ve only sniffed La Pausa from afar, lol.
I hadn’t gotten around to reading that. Hernando, who covers the event, is a such a kind person. He covers so much so concisely and impartially.
I am wearing vintage Chamade edt that I found this weekend at an antique shop, smells amazing. I have posted a pic on Instagram if you want to see it
https://www.instagram.com/herasukyas/
Your Chamade looks so pretty! I love bottles like that, the classical shape is perfect.
It makes me happy that you are wearing the fragrance. Think how many hands worked to create it and then deliver it safely to you. Chamade deserves to be smelled and enjoyed.
Thanks, I love the classical shapes too and I love the history that comes with the old bottles. This one was thrown away, very dirty, you couldn’t even see the juice, but once I cleaned it up with alcohol, it became perfect and to my surprise, the perfume wasn’t turned.
Oh, congratulations. That is so lovely!
Thanks for the link! Are those your vintage perfume ads? Lanvin and Dior did my favorites. I’d love to have some but the actual vintage ones but they (and sometimes even reproductions) can be crazy expensive.
I love vintage ads too, I have one or two original ones but the rest I download from the Internet and then print them, they come out really nice.
Ahhh… any recommendations for sites with good reproductions for printing?
I loved your chessboard minis, btw. I am a big fan of minis
I can e-mail you some if you like, since I don’t remember exactly where I found them. Please give me your e-mail.
You smell wonderful. What a lucky find!
Thank you
Oh! those pix are fabulous!!! My eyes went right away to the tea, food and cupcakes!!! I miss my middle Eastern restaurant that closed
Your pictures made me think of it!
that would be “my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant that closed”….she made the very best food and deserts from scratch! and the teas and coffee were amazing!
We have so many great middle eastern restaurants here in Montreal, we went to that one for my birthday and the food was really amazing.
Hera, what wonderful photos! As you might have guessed, my avatar is from one of those vintage Lanvin ads.
The stone carvings are fascinating, too.
Thank you, I really love this vintage Lanvin ad, it is one of my favorites.
A couple of weeks ago I posted about making my own scented oil with a perfume sample + sweet almond oil + argan oil, then last week Elisa P said she tried it with Diorissimo, and this week, I have copied her! I have the old stuff, thrifted ages ago, and don’t wear it too often as it doesn’t super-last. This week I am in workshop, and can’t wear anything too strong, and I have a feeling it’s going to work a treat.
Spring, but subtly.
???? Yes, it’s very subtle, but nice. Mine is a combo of older and newer since there was only small amounts left of several samples. I need to get a lighter oil, though. I used grapeseed since it’s all I had. A bit too viscous.
The 4 parts sweet almond to 1-2 parts argan is light enough but very moisturizing. It’s not the speediest way to go through perfume, but my skin sure is happy.
It isn’t and I could easily get overrun with vials of oil! I like running a little through the ends of my hair or adding some to shampoo or conditioner. I used up some small amounts of perfume oils that way.
Be sure to apply to still damp skin from your shower. The oil will sink in and won’t be as heavy.
Speaking of which, I sprayed a (full) perfume sample into a 1 oz jar of coconut oil I use post-shower. I’m primarily trying to cut the coconut scent, but I used it last week and smelled of Hermès Rhubarbe Écarlate. It’s a perfume I like in small doses but don’t really enjoy wearing, so it was perfect. What a great way to use up samples! Thanks for the inspiration! Next I’ll use up Néroli Doré which I loovvee but lasts all of 15 seconds on my skin.
There was ice on my windshield this morning…sheesh!
Started in Kiss Me Tender as I knew I would be in very tight quarters at a very tough meeting and did not want to offend anyone.
Meeting over so I have doused myself in Amber Intense on one arm and Vanille Intense on the other. I am alone in my office reeking and loving it…I needed some aromatherapy after that two hour meeting!
and I am enjoying sampling the Nicolai offerings for the very first time thanks to my fragrant friend/fairy
I think tomorrow I will go with Le Temps D’Une Fete!
Forgot to mention for those who are interested-
Netflix has added The Sniffer- a Ukranian detective series that has the main character utilizing his extraordinary sense of smell to solve crimes. Only watched the first five minutes but it looks decent.
Ha! Wow, thanks for the heads up. I’ll check it out.
Don’t shoot me if it’s not any good -LOL!!!
Thanks for the rec! I’ve put it in my queue.
Let us hope it is good…like I said I only watched five minutes of it…but I put it in my queue too
Does anyone have longevity issues with Nicolai perfumes? because I am smelling nothing now and I drained three samples. I am now in one spritz of Patchouli Intense which , I can smell just fine. The other three faded really fast
Good Morning to all!
I had no idea today is an Iris Day (one of my favourite notes!). Sprayed Aromatics Elixir at 6 a.m. and rushed out of the house. Since it is still very cold in MI, I continue to use my big winter fumes.
You smell glorious!
I’m doing a drain the decant week, using up the last of tiny amounts left in decants and samples. Today it’s Dzing! This is not a full bottle choice for me, but I like it well enough that I will get another 5ml decant if I find it on sale.
Ooh, drain-the-decant week. I should do a project like that.
I should do like 50 of those…..
I had no idea it was Iris Day, or I too would have worn Infusion d’Iris! As it is, I’m wearing The Lilac Wood by BPAL in honor of the fact that the lilacs are in full bloom around Seattle.
Don’t you love the smell of blooming lilacs? It’s wonderful!
I LOVE lilacs. If I ever own a house with a yard, I would love to plant lilacs!
I just sniffed some lilacs this morning wandering through the yard with my coffee. It inspired me to wear En Passant later. I got a 3.5 ml mfr sample at the Nordstrom in Bell Square this past winter that I haven’t worn yet (I also picked up some others – not sure if they’re as generous at the downtown store, but it’s worth checking out.) Have either of you tried getting Le Labo samples at the downtown store?
I have not, but I should put it on my to-do list. I live farther north and usually visit the Alderwood Mall Nordstrom rather than the flagship, which is bad for my perfume sampling because it’s a much smaller store and doesn’t have nearly the selection. I really want to try En Passant, but I’m scared of falling in love with something so expensive! (I admit it, I’m cheap… not a virtue when it comes to a fragrance hobby!)
Back to going through neglected samples, I’m in a small spritz of LL Lys 41 which is quite lovely on this cool, but sunny day.
ooh, nice one
I ran across a sample of this the other day and pulled it out to try this week.
I’ve wanted to wear Lolita Lempicka for the past few days but somehow ended up in other things, so today is LL.
Hmmm, sugary!
I’ve thought about it, too. Should follow suit. I did wear L’Eau en Blanc last week, which is always a treat. Mmmm.
I’m curious how you think it compares to Gardenia Petale. I didn’t do a side-by-side but from memory, they seem similar-with Lys being a little sweeter, maybe.
Well, this comment makes absolutely no sense here! Should be under Lys 41.
Happy Sunny Monday all!
1) This weekend, got a couple more pink paint samples, and i have decided definitely on Farrow and Ball Pink Ground, with Modern Emulsion finish. The ground floor wall has a lot of graffiti on it!
2) Visited the most marvelous store in Portland called Cargo. Youse guys, if you are in PDX, you must go to this store- it’s like another universe there. Absolutely perfect things for the home. Any other discount store now holds no appeal.
3) In honor of Mr Macron’s much needed victory and the very beautiful way he walked out to the cheering crowds at the Louvre palace, I am wearing Joy.
3a) We are approximately the same age. I am damned impressed.
4) Outfit of the day: Blue slacks, silk white blouse and sheer silk red scarf: tricolore!
Joy is perfect for today!
Love the nod, fashion-wise
And I’m with the cheering crowds in sprit. What a relief to know that some people are smarter than we are.
Despite his initial awkwardness (Dude was broadcast rehearsing his speech, then realized he was actually being broadcast, and had a priceless “oh crap” face!) watching him walk out to Ode to Joy along with cheering crowds was really touching and inspiring.
Guys, you’re all skating very close to the edge of politics here! Leaving it because I am late anyway, but please, let’s not cheer any particular politicians.
Wrist slap RECEIVED!
Joy is still glorious, though!
Joy is most glorious
I consciously smelled Joy for the first time at Sniffa just because I was curious about a comment from someone at Twisted Lily who said the Le Galion Sortilege smells like Joy to her whereas I thought it smelled like No.22. We were both right, IMHO.
Oh yes, Joy and #22 are VERY similiar, but I there is a green freshness and lightness to 22. Whereas Joy is very rich, very grand in it’s jasmine/rosiness.
Ah, Monday again.
Oatmeal + vanilla almond milk for breakfast.
“The kitchen table exists because I scrub it.”
Hiris to the rescue.
Infusion d’Iris on deck for later.
World Red Cross Day reminds me that today is also La Fête de la Victoire, Victory Day. Best wishes today to anyone who is remembering.
Hiris is gorgeous! You smell fab. My kitchen table goes MIA on a regular basis.
Isn’t it? Unfortunately I have to spray a good 2 mls on myself to be able to smell it. Otherwise, I’d own a bottle.
Can anyone recommend something similar? I bought Yardley Iris as it was recommended as an Hiris knock-off at Perfume Shrine, but the Yardley doesn’t do anything for me.
That’s amazing, just one or two spritzes of Hiris and I’m good for the day.
Prada Infusion d’Iris Cedre might be in the same neighborhood as Hiris, but Hiris is colder.
Thanks, Deva! I think of Hiris as “weird and wonderful.” It’s a few degrees shy of bizarre, and that’s why I love it.
Really?! Like you, a spritz or two lasts a long while but to me it seems very refined and ladylike! Noses are so interesting!
yes, noses are very interesting! I think my nose is hyper-aware of the iris which pushes Hiris in the weird direction that I completely enjoy. And at the same time I do agree – refined and ladylike is a great description.
I was going to post that it is also VE Day – you beat me to it.
But “the greatest generation” and what they did are important to honor and remember (my Dad and his brother included).
Hats off to your dad and his brother, we owe them so much.
I made a perfume discovery in the wilds of the mall! Yesterday my husband and I were shopping at Banana Republic for him—so we were in the men’s store (in our neck of the woods BR has two stores, sorted by gender). We got to chatting with the clerk, who very kindly handed me a small packet when we left. It was a sample set of new BR fragrances… called the Icon Collection. (I have a weird feeling like I am promoting a huge corporation…groan. I am! So so sorry.) Has anyone else seen these?
Okay. All I want to say if you are near a BR, maybe check out these fragrances. Matched up against niche, they are going to seem ho-hum, but I think they are surprisingly well done, and the prices are great. So I have only tested one from application to dry down (and a recent exposure to L’Occitane’s Terre de Lumière was refreshing upon application, and so sticky drier sheet musky when it dried that it literally made me gag—so test test test)—The “Vintage Green” is definitely a figgy, tea, vetiver scent that tips “masculine,” but I was happy wearing it, and my husband commented that I smelled really nice… the scents are marketed as “unisex,” or at least that is what the clerk told me. I have no idea if they are offered in the women’s dept/store as well. I didn’t find much information about them on the web. I think it is great that BR is promoting the fragrance’s noses on their webpage about them. Here’s the link if you are curious: http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/info.do?cid=1082824 It looks like they launched recently, and I guess without much fanfare?
Great PSA. I will look for those. When at the mall I always stop in Banana Republic to sniff. Haven’t bought a bottle though I agree they all smell well made. I’ve not smelled a single klunker so far.
I wear BR stuff (although THE NAME, Jesus Christ, the name) and their fragrances are actually really solidly done. They are the perfect things to wear to the office, and I don’t mean that in a bad way.
Yeah the name. I remember when they first opened and my late mother’s long and repeated – and 100% correct – tirade.
My poor sons! The “Americans don’t create so-called colonies, we create Banana Republics” lecture… I am guilty of that too. But, ahem, I like to think of it less as a tirade and more as “providing context!”
I agree with you and Ede97005 that it is an unfortunate name for a chain of clothing stores… When GAP bought BR, they should have changed the name to something less politically loaded.
I will wear anything and everything (even if it is drugstore or mainstream) so I appreciate that PSA. I have drained full bottles of Modern as well as an FB and mini of Classic both from Banana Republic. I will keep my eyes out for these new ones.
and thanks for the link
Just looked at it and I will definitely give these a sniff!
My honey got me Modern a few years ago and we both loved it (both his and hers)!
You guys must have smelled really good
I love the sharing of perfume among family members and loved ones!
We share a lot of perfume! He promptly stole 3 of the samples from my OJ discovery set. He’s a total enabler when it comes to my perfume “hobby”.
Gosh, did not know about those at all. Will announce them tomorrow, thanks!
Hey, a couple of those really interest me! Although, I am now nowhere near a BR. Money saved, I guess. But if anyone does sample them, please update. I remember trying a scent in store a couple of years ago that I quite liked. I think it was called Rosewood or something along those lines.
Iris Day! Over the weekend I tested Bruno Fazzolari Feu Secret. Highly recommended to all iris lovers!!!!! Get ye a sample!
SOTD is Zoologist Nightingale, something I didn’t expect to like. It’s fun to be surprised!
Happy chilly Monday! I’m celebrating Iris Day by wearing Chanel No. 19 parfum. I don’t wear this one nearly often enough.
Those are indeed cute sneakers. I can’t wear Cons, either; I tried the Jack Purcells as an alternative to the ubiquitous Chuck Taylors, but they still looked goofy on me and didn’t feel great either. I just ordered a pair of Merrell running/light hiking shoes and am hoping for the best!
Think about trying Adidas in the Stan Smith model, too!
Thanks for the suggestion!
Having to skip through and will catch up later.
SOTD is Journey woman which my lovely other half gave me on our 17th wedding anniversary on Saturday. We had a lovely day at Batemans, (Rudyard Kiplings house and gardens) which is in our village. First evening out of the year was at a wonderful country pub a few miles away, it was so lovely to have some grown up time away from the kids.
Sounds like a gorgeous day. Congratulations!
Ooh, great day! Congratulations!
Congratulations! What a great day you had!
Nice gift and congrats!
Thanks guys!
Happy Anniversary and such a wonderful gift!
Happy belated anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy belated anniversary! I had one on Saturday, too!
I hope you are feeling a bit better day by day Robin!
SOTD is Reminiscence Paris’ Ambre, I love the spicy warm amber in this, it’s another perfume with my favorite combos of patchouli, vanilla, Labdanum, benzoin and musk. It’ll bloom nicely as the morning warms up.
Yes, slow but steady, thanks!
Yowza! Pricey sneakers!
I’m commando again today, lined up to get on the ferry back to Cedar Island and then home.
I have three bites on my right forearm and have no clue what bit me. Although I have seen numerous ticks, I haven’t found a single one on me. T-Rex is sporting a Seresto collar, which is working amazing well considering she’s always scruffling about in underbrush.
After I have my much anticipated hot shower I’m going spray myself lavishly with Box of Eels, have an ice cold “Not Your Father’s Root Beer” and call it a day.
Monday’s could be worse! ✌️
If you didn’t see what bit you, and the bites itch worse than a mosquito bite, I’d nominate a no-see-em (aka midge) as the culprit. They also itch for about twice as long as a mosquito bite.
No itching at all! That’s what surprises me. Just three red spots, no induration or anything…????
Well that blows my theory! Hit it with tea tree e.o. – that will take care of whatever it is! (I personally used tea tree very successfully with a brown recluse spider bite – so I know!)
Well, found two more on my very white belly. Same M.O. I think it must be something along the line of a sand flea or something innocuous. I guilty of being a bit paranoid after everything Robin has been through and reading about POW. I did an up close and personal full body check post shower and not a critter to be found. I’ll pick up some tea tree oil tomorrow- thanks for the suggestion ????????
So glad no critters, and yes, I will be paranoid forever now!
In my mind, T-Rex has always been a boy. *ponders*
Me too. I imagined him a boy as well.
She’d consider that a compliment! She’s not into being “ladylike” at ALL????
You’re not far off- she’s a definite Tom Boy????
I wonder if humans can wear those collars? Like bracelets or anklets or something.
I doubt it. Our skins are much thinner so we would absorb too much of whatever is in there at one go. As we live much longer lives than dogs I also wonder whether we would be allowed the same drugs on our bodies as we would have so much longer to accumulate whatever they put into it. I don’t know any of these things for certain, but I wouldn’t wear one of them myself.
Don’t think so. It is a time released drug that is suspended in the plastic collar which must make fairly good contact with the skin in order to be effective. It does get absorbed systemically and lasts for 8 months. My vet recommend it because I had her on Trifexis for heart worm and flea protection and I had a 6 month supply left. I didn’t want to waste it (expensive!) and switch her to an oral agent for tick/flea control, plus seperate one for heart worms. I don’t think they make anything in a single agent that protects against everything.
Box of Eels. You will smell lovely!
I do now! Thanks!
I’m un Tauer Phi Une Rose de Kandahar.
I didn’t know it’s Iris Day today – will celebrate that one tomorrow then
You smell so delicious. Phi is going to be the birthday present to myself this year. Counting the months when a fb is in my hands
Nice bday gift! I got in on a split for a 15 ml bottle last year. But I wouldn’t mind a FB at all. Especially since there’s always the looming threat that it may someday be unavailable…
I hope tha time does not come soon…..
I got my bottle when it was first released (in green glass) but I’m running low. I might be needing another bottle or at least a 15 ml travel spray, it’s soooo good
Phi! ????
^_^
You smell dreamy! *leans in and inhales*
Thank you [blushes]
Quite possibly my favourite Tauer. You smell delicious.
It’s definitely a pretty one. Could be my favourite too, next to Reverie au Jardin
PHI is so wonderful. I’m hoarding a 1ml vial sample and would jump on a split of this juice.
I probably wouldn’t resist temptation
Love that one!
Wearing SSS Incense Pure, not so much for the cool weather (although there’s that – in the 30’s this a.m.) but more that I’m in a contemplative, meditative mood. IP is very conducive to that.
30s??? ugh!
Hmmm… there are some SSS I’ve been meaning to buy. Maybe I’ll do that today.
I’ve already decided that a bottle of SSS Citrus Vetiver is going to be my birthday present to myself. A girl’s got to plan ahead!
Interesting! Could a guy wear Citrus Vetiver, Rapple?
yes! it would smell fabulous on a man!
This day started out with grey and gloomy skies, and a few lackluster meetings. Not a very good way to start a busy busy week.
Thankfully Fille en Aiguilles always does a good job lifting my spirits.
If I had known about Iris Day, I would have picked Bois d’Iris (by TDC) or my last drops of Iris Homme…
Good day everybody!
I’m in Angel muse today, and I have a huge lemming on Stella Pop Bluebell that I saw over at Fragrantica.
I’m a bit disappointed in Pop, but Bluebell? So interesting!
I quite like Angel Muse. I really should get a bottle before they tinker w/ the formula.
You smell great.
Thank you!
I love it, one of the few scents I have a backup bottle for. Go for it, you can’t possible be disappointed in it
That was my rationale as well. Might as well get it before it changes.
Some waking thought or other led me to splash on some No 5 edt this morning. It’s so different from the other iterations (and so wearable and perfect in spring and summer.) It’s making me think I should revisit Eau Premiere, which I kind of wrote off when I tested it a couple of years ago.
Lilacs blooming in every yard here (dark purple, white, lilac) reminded me it’s spring (or so the calendar says) and to test the En Passant sample I got earlier in the year.
We are (FINALLY) done moving (almost.) One truckload to our storage unit, plus setting up my printer, and we’ll be there. One of the last projects we finished this weekend was reorganizing the laundry/utility/garbage & recycling “room.” It looks so different now it’s kind of a thrill every time I walk through it (which one has to do to get to the back yard.)
Oh, wait. The garage still isn’t finished. *blargle* SOMEDAY SOON this gargantuan task will be over and done with! *buries nose in No 5*
I keep trying EP and can’t do it. Somethink about Chanel’s vanilla doesn’t work for me and it’s very pronounced to me in EP.
Congrats on getting moved in, kpaint!
I didn’t know it was Iris day today so missed out on that one. But I’m wearing Rossy de Palma, so I think I did okay.
In other news, I’m finally getting my fence fixed! My townhome complex HOA had to go through a bunch of nonsense with the insurance company of the lady who crashed her car into it, but they were finally able to come to an agreement. They are supposed to be starting work today. Yay! It’ll be nice to have an enclosed backyard again.
Yay to the fence repair and Rossy!
Who would dare to question your choice of Eau de Protection?
I’m declaring this ‘spring scent’ week (yeah I know, that boat sailed on NST a few weeks ago, but it was too cold then so I missed it.) Today I’m testing old Chanel Bel Respiro vs new. Boy these are different! The new still has that nice crunchy green thing going on, but much more floral and much less leather. It’s nice but I’m glad I have a FB of the previous version.
See my Exclusifs EDP reformulatiosn stages of grief comment below…
So far I have found all of the new versions quite likeable. I just look at them as new riffs on an old theme. Mind you, I haven’t yet found a new one that I feel compelled to BUY, but who knows, I’ve only tried 4-5 of the new scents.
Hmm interesting, now that I’m a couple of hours into this Bel Respiro smackdown, I’m finding the new and old scents to be much more similar. I wonder if they will end up twins after all….
Please, let us know your final impressions on both versions.
Very similar in the dry-down. The new one is still a bit more floral, a bit less leather. Both have similar projection/ duration. Both nice. So the biggest difference is in the first two hours or so… after that, the differences are fairly small.
If I didn’t already have a FB of the previous version, I’d be tempted by this one.
I tested No 5 extrait from 3 different decades a while back and found the same thing. Different openings, but in the drydown they were more or less indistinguishable. But the point with the edt and edp exclusifs is that they are different perfumes, no?
Everbody agrees about how disappointing the reformulations are. That discourages me greatly to try them. I am scare of just opening the small samples of La Pausa, Gardenia and 31 Rue Cambon that I have.
I don’t agree. To me they’re just different. I’ve found things to like in all the ones I’ve tried so far. Might as well judge them on their own merits…
I think it was Wendysue who told me that the Misia EdP is really nice.
Today I am in Dancing Roses which is from the newish Magic Collection from Viktor and Rolf. I tried Liquid Diamonds and Sparkling Secret and they were both derivative, department store smelling fragrances.
Dancing Roses is better than those two but still not worth $220 for 2.5 oz. This one starts off w/ leafy green rose with some litchi thrown in. Reminds me of an inferior, less interesting Galop.
So many over-priced designer luxury lines putting out meh product…so little time. These appear to be designed for mass consumption and not for true fragrance aficionados. Perhaps I am jaded but at least w/ Chanel and Guerlain, for example, you can get high quality juice.
Sure I am still in my stages of grief w/ Chanel’s Exclusif EDP reformulations and shake my head when I see Guerlain taking yet another old Aqua Allegoria and putting it in a fancier bottle w/ a new name and higher price, but overall their stuff is well done and fairly consistent. TIred of bad designer luxury lines…haven’t tried the Louis Vuitton line yet…have plenty right in front of me to complain about…
It’s cloudy and warm today, and I’m wearing Amouage Lyric Man on the left, and AA Tempted Muse on the right. Both are courtesy of generous NSTers.
Both have quite the long list of notes, but iris is not in either one. Lyric Man is a lovely spicy rose, but I suspect I’ll appreciate it better after more ‘nose-ed’.
Tempted Muse is a BWF, but also sweet and citrusy at the same time. This one would be a slam dunk for those needing a tropical vacation the middle of winter.
I hope everyone is having at least a halfway decent Monday!
Good morning, all. It’s no hardship to me to do aniris day, though strictly speaking, it was my yesterday. I found another sample bottle of La Pausa–Chanel really was generous to me!–and it is, aslways, a joy. A mauve-y grey wittiness of iris and vetiver emanates from my person. I smell perfect. Perfect! Dunno what Chanel would say about the outfit I’m wearing with this delicately forceful perfume (yes, I know that’s oxymoronic, but really, that is how I experience La Pausa). I’m in distressed jeans and workers’ boots that tie in at the ankle, a white shirt and a gilet that somehow looks as though it would be happily at home on a construction site. All I need is a hard hat, and if our office politics get any more nasty and complicated, I will very soon buy one… somehow, La Pausa doesn’t clash with this very workerly outfit. Instead, it all comes together. Soon, full bottle, I am coming for you soon!
You might be surprised how many beautiful and elegant perfumes, like Hermes, Chanel, Guerlain, etc, I wear the days that I have to be in the construction site in jeans, t-shirts and heavy construction boots. They gave me strength and make me feel beautiful and relaxed in the middle of dust, noises and sometimes even rudeness. It is the way to combat the “tough environment”. I hope you can get your fb of La Pausa soon. I really miss the EdT version.
That’s a great way to use perfume daily to combat work stress! I guess we all do this, but I’ve never really gave it a thought.
The Chanels are the perfume equivalent of elegant Chanel shoes with discreet steel toes.
Vintage Caron Narcisse Blanc parfum, which does have iris in it! My decant, which I purchased about 4 years ago has evaporated so much that I realized I better start wearing it, or I won’t have any left to wear!
Didn’t know it was Iris Day so I’m in OJ Sampaquita. Quite lovely, though not “me” I don’t think, which is just as well since I’ve fallen for several of the others already.
All I knew this morning is that it was Monday again, so today I’m wearing Zoologist Civet.
Hi all, I hope everyone is well. I’ve got a lot of NST to catch up on after nearly three weeks away. Second day back at work after my holiday and it’s a struggle. I’ll perk myself up with Mad Madame, I’m saving my new purchases for when I finally properly awake and recovered from my travels.
Waving hello!
Welcome back!
Glad to see you!
Doing a week of re-tries, which is the nearest I am going to get to learning lessons.
First up is Linari “Fuoco Infernale”.
Top: carnation, myrtle, marjoram, cinnamon, birch and labdanum;
Mid: olibanum and tonka;
Base: Gurjan balsam, cedar, white musk and ambergris.
Lessons to be learned from Fuoco Infernale:
1. Don’t judge a perfume by somebody else’s review unless you know your skin behaves similarly;
2. Test first buy later. And if unsure after testing, test again;
3. It is not enough for a perfume to be gorgeous if it has the lifespan of a soap bubble.
(It’s a very fine scent but disappears so quickly on my skin. I would be frustrated had I bought this one right away on the strengths of Kevin’s great review).
Yes, yes and yes to all your lessons learned!
Did you try spraying like Kevin (8-12 sprays at once)?
SOTD = Etro Shaal Nur, from the sample stash. Not quite sure it has enough oomph to stand up to the slightly chilly weather today.
I’m testing Aeon 001. I like it a lot at first but there is a sweet and powdery note (almost a baby powder musk) that seems to be expanding, and something else is coming up that is almost camphoraceous. It’s an interesting perfume but that musk is wearing out its welcome. This is when I wish I could tweak a perfume to my taste and dial that note right down.
Just as well, since it was a limited edition that is already sold out, and it was on the expensive side.
The animalic part reminds me of Pd’E Tabac Tabou, which I like a lot. They’re not the same – Tabac Tabou does not have that annoying musk note – but it would be worth doing a side by side test to see if there is any other similarity beyond the animalic notes that I believe they have in common.
I can’t deal with that ubiquitous musky drydown nor the ubiquitous woody drydown. I just find them so disappointing, and particularly so when the initial phases seem so promising.
This is kind of a different musk, I’ll say that for it. I am tempted to get another small decant, since it was an LE. Nonetheless, totally agree, it is so frustrating: so many great ideas in the top notes that turn into boring/annoying musks or woods.
Later it seems more camphoraceous and less sweet and powdery. Interesting scent.
So so late to the party and eeeek, a I did not know it’s Iris Day and will make amends the next few days or weeks.
SOTD = Prada Infusion de Rose
I wore this yesterday and today in an attempt to convince myself I need a full bottle. I love it, but it died a quick death on me, even though there were moments when it tried to make a comeback. I partially emptied my mini and wore 4 sprays yesterday and 8 sprays today (probably the equivalent of 2 and 4 sprays, respectively, from a FB. Methinks I need to up this to 12 Aspeays when I wear it next. This is definitely easy to wear and very office-appropriate. Also, it reminds me of Dior La Colle Noire which has a little more oomph. Oy, just like that, I just convinced myself I should get La Colle Noire. Oh boy…
I most definitely don’t know what Aspaeys is (stupid spell check not checking); I meant sprays.
Well, you do have a lot of coupon thingys right? ????