PSA: I am leaving on vacation this morning. This will (probably) be the last post today, and posting for the next two weeks will be much lighter than usual. At the very least, there will be a scent of the day post every weekday. There will be a damage poll tomorrow (Donatella never sleeps!) and a lazy poll on Saturday, but beyond that, we'll see what I manage.
Meanwhile, Monday! And Franz Kafka's birthday. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing a light spray of Perfumer H Orange Leaf, thanks to a very kind reader. According to the brand's instagram, it is one of their fragrances for Summer 2017: "Orange Valencia, eau de brout abs, petitgrain, basil, angelica seed, elemi, frankincense and cedar wood ... created around the orange tree."
Reminder: on 7/7 we're doing Sports Friday...wear a sports scent! If you just can't go there, wear the sort of fragrance you think one might actually wear while doing something sporty.
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: image shows Warstic bats from a 2013 collaboration with Coach. I don't think you can buy them anymore, but you can still buy Warstic bats.
Robin, have a wonderful vacation. Rest and enjoy!. I am wearing Bobbi Brown Beach. Working until 12pm today and then going to visit my MIL. Pool day! First time that I say TGIM!
Can anyone please tell me the difference between L’Artisan Premier Figuier and Premier Figuier Extreme and which one you prefer? Thank you.
I preffered the Extreme. They are both good and i couldn’t tell a great deal of difference in the actual scent, if any. PF just felt a tad thinner or paler or less of a feast of figs. Extreme had a bit more heft. But even that response might be subject to quantity of application, skin etc etc.
Thank you Kanuka. I remember sampling Premier Figuier many years ago and liking it. I am thinking about getting a FB, but I don’t know if I should get the Extreme instead. I have not tried it before. Based on your comment I think I would like the Extreme better.
It’s a bit creamier
Thank you, and do enjoy your afternoon at the pool!
(Hope someone else will chime in on PF & PFE, because I do not remember.)
Nice! I sniffed BB Beach for the first time yesterday at Nordstrom Rack. There was a cute little Beach gift set that somebody has broken open and uncapped everything. Too bad otherwise I might’ve sprung for it.
Beach is so nice. Perfect for summer and one of my favorites!
I think I will wear Beach also. It’s a good day for that! Enjoy the pool!
Thank you Flopper! You too enjoy Beach and enjoy the day!
Giving Sinner a fresh out of the shower, all day at work test run today. I’m not sure about doing sporty scents this week. I’m incredibly not sporty. Maybe I can find something that goes with watching baseball.
Do whatever you want with the sports theme, there are no rules.
SotD is French Lover
I purchased a FB last friday (knowing my husband likes it and will wear it as well made it somewhat easier haha)…just in time for my confession to Donatella. Oh oh.
I dont have sporty fragrances and I really cannot imagine wearing a scent while doing something sporty (unless you consider yoga or tai chi sporty…).
When I run I dont care that much for scent or wardrobe. I look like hell anyways and a bit of smelly sweaty body parts is all part of the game!
Yoga is my sport. No need to worry about rules here, I know this is not a group likely to own a bunch of sport flankers. If the Olympic Committee is willing to include bridge and chess, I do not see why yoga can’t be a sport. It is true that it is not supposed to be competitive, but in all truth there is often at least “an element of competition” to yoga classes, anyway, plus I am not willing to worry over the “competition” part of the definition of sports. If I go kayaking this week (and I hope to) that is about as sporty as I am likely to get in 2017, so I am going to include it.
Also, googling “is yoga a sport” turns up the helpful info that “Sport” comes from the old French word, desport, meaning “leisure”. So!
And if darts is a sport, then yoga sure as hell is an extreme sport.
There are all kinds of yoga and some of them are as intense as a fitness work out.
I used to do a lot of taichi, I may need to pick it up again.
and I get to see some other parts of the city/country. Apart from these activities I am a lazy couch potato who is much better at WATCHING sports 
But hiking and running also give me peace of mind
Kayaking is the best!
Yoga is my “sport” as well ( and therapy too-LOL!) Thanks for that reminder as it does add more to what I can wear for sport week! Like all of my grounding perfumes!
Oh and “chess” one could wear “En Passant” as that is a chess term!!!
“Also, googling” had me wildly hopeful for a moment there.
Have a wonderful vacation!
LOL!!! Yes, if only that burned calories, I’d be thin as a rail.
And thank you.
I was having a discussion with a friend about this Friday’s theme, because I was having trouble. Her comment was to be creative about what era you were thinking of and how you define sports – croquet at a country estate in 1924 could count, or people watching, or even competitive shopping (because sometimes sales are a full-contact sport). She views board games as sports, so we were trying to come up with the perfect scent for Scrabble.
O that is a great way to look at this theme. I suddenly see a lot more options.
Horses, hay and leather saddles.
Roses (Kentucky Derby)
Grass (golf)
You can even pick strawberry for Wimbledon.
…and could you come up with the perfect Scrabble scent?
She chose Book by Commodity, and I chose L’heure Bleu.
Brilliant!!!!
Have a fabulous vacation Robin!
No SOTD yet as I’m just getting going. Plan for today is to pick through perfumes and coldly cull the bottles I no longer reach for. Ouch! I may need therapy after!
Thank you so much! And ouch indeed — good luck!
Good luck – stay strong!
Not easy. Good luck!
I NEED to do this. NEEEEEEED.
Bon courage! I am doing that too, making an effort to wear all my neglected bottles and pulling the ones I no longer love.
Deva, I did this for 6 hours last week. ( broken into 2 days, or I never could have done it)
First I got rid off all the boxes except the really cool ones I use for makeup brushes and pencils.
Then I put bottles I don’t use for sale on Ebay.
Then I went through all samples and tossed the one that didn’t appear to be samples of anything any more!
I even found a half bottle of Armani sensai!
Then after I sold a bottle of something I wanted to love but didn’t I bought a new bottle of Parfum Satori @ 15% off!
You can do it!!!
I support you in the culling….every once in a while it is good to go through stuff and recycle, gift or discard…I just went through my two medicine cabinets and was shocked at how many things were past their expiration date!
I hope T-Rex supports you in your time of need.
Good luck, Deva!
SOTD is Pure Turquoise by Ralph Lauren (now discontinued). It’s a soapy floral with woody notes and is a summer staple for me. The faceted bottle is pretty enough to have qualified for last week’s bottle porn theme (and I have the cheaper version, not the one with the real turquoise cap!).
Pure Turquoise sounds very pretty. Yesterday I was thinking about Infusion d’Iris edt and realized I reach for it often because it leans soapy on my skin, very nice after a shower.
And that is a lovely bottle. I have a soft spot in my heart for RL bottles. Lauren was my first perfume purchase from a department store.
Lovely scent and bottle, IMO.
Orange Leaf sounds great. Have a lovely vacation!
In ELDO Remarkable People. The opening is lovely but it lasts about 5 minutes before turning into something musky and nondescript.
I’ve found spraying that in my hair extends the nice opening for a little while longer, though ymmv
That’s a great idea! Thank you
Hope you have a wonderful vacation, Robin! Orange Leaf is lovely, and I’m so grateful to have had the chance to try Perfumer H’s stuff thanks to a generous fairy.
Sporty you say? I’ve got that covered! :
Surfing The Sample Sea, Day 105.
Staying strong, reeking on!
Guys, your week is now sorted!
Reek havoc!
Day 105!
I admire and love your dedication!
Thank you Jiji!
My respects to you!
Thank you perfumelover67!
thank you Holly for that inspiration of “surfing” the sample sea!!! I can do that too!
Yes you can! It’s nice to have company along for the ride.
Wow, Day 105!! Impressive. How’s the Sample Sea looking now?
Well. I was certain I had spotted the shoreline on the horizon until a very generous perfumista who is retiring out of the country arrived bearing gifts. Oh yes! I now remember the phrase “bottomless ocean.”
Have a great vacation Robin! Hope wherever you go there’ll be a nice & pleasant weather (without too much heat)
We’re going to have a cooler summer week with temps around 20*C.
I’m in Atelier des Ors Iris Fauve today.
Thank you Lucas, and so far, so good — looks like for once, we’re going to have reasonable temps all 2 weeks — a little warmer than you, but not that much more.
Two weeks off, yay! That’s a nice, long break. Enjoy!!
I’m going with Carnal Flower today. Just in the mood for tuberose and this fits the bill. Wish I had thought ahead a bit better and took today off but nope, I’m working.
Weather is looking good for the 4th & fireworks!
Joining you in the tuberose mood – I’m wearing Nuit de Tubéreuse.
You smell fantastic! Almost went for CF today. I’m also working, but fortunately it’s a slow day for me.
SOTD is Dior Escale a Portofino. I could definitely do something sporty in this – like go for a hike, or pootle around in a kayak, or something. And I think it’s perfect that “sport” comes from a word meaning “leisure”! Aside from professional athletes, aren’t sports something we all indulge in in our leisure time?
Yes, I am sorry I did not clarify last week that I did mean it had to be a scent with sports in the name, or fit any particular kind of activity.
Yachting is sport, isn’t it?
Robin, your perfume sounds absolutely perfect.
I got up early this morning and put on some Kiehl’s Musk and L’Occitane Lavande oil from a roll-on. The Lavande is lovely but short-lived, so now that it’s worn off, I’ll be spritzing Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli in its place.
Just gotta make it through this workday and then I’ll have tomorrow off for the holiday!
It is pretty darned nice, and I did not always love Miller Harris stuff, so glad to try it.
Hopefully you’re done or nearly done with work by now!
Wishing you a fun and relaxing vacation, Robin
Wearing En Voyage Go Ask Alice today, I forgot the theme of the week as usual. My life is the polar opposite of sporty, I’ll have to get creative for my Friday SOTD.
Thank you!
And do be as creative as you like.
I am wearing Ineke Chemical Bonding. Smells like bad hairspray.
I disliked this one as well, and was surprised by how many people liked it.
Ha! I am one of those who likes it
Oof. Hope it wears off and you can switch to something you enjoy.
I had the same reaction to Chemical Bonding!
Ha – something called Chemical Bonding ought to smell like bad hairspray, in a way!
I’ve been wearing Songes while doing some rather intensive gardening in my small garden. Plants have suffered from the heat and need pampering. I seem to be wearing a lot of Songes, but that may be because of the physical effort of creating some sort of order in nature’s chaos.
Have a wonderful vacation Robin!
We have been so lucky here this year. It’s usually scorching by now, but it’s been relatively mild and we’ve had a lot of rain, so I’m not having to pamper my flower beds as much which is a nice change! And you smell great!
Thank you! And I’m sure the Songes is helping the plants.
Have a wonderful vacation Robin!! I have a sample of Charlotte Tilbury Scent of a Dream that I sprayed on during coffee, and will then change to BB Beach when I get dressed. Scent of a Dream is pleasant, kinda sweet. I was expecting something more intense as I think it has patchouli (?). Ordered the small Narcisco in the white cube bottle and that is my last FB purchase until the fall. I’d like to try the new Gabrielle when that is released and I really need to use up the samples I have. Have a great Fourth of July!
Patchouli is always a fraction now, and is only there to fool you
I hope you have a fantastic vacation. My SOTD is Beige – I really love it in hot weather, because it’s less honey and more flowers. (Although it’s gorgeous at any temperature.). I would wear this scent if I was lucky enough to be going to Wimbledon to watch other people be sporty.
Oh! I have to wear Beige then now that it is hot here. Good to know the flowers are more prominent in warmer temperatures.
I would LOVE to go to Wimbledon!
Beige is a nice one. One of the few Chanel’s I enjoy.
Enjoy the time away, Robin! I’m wearing a purchase inspired by your review: Berdoues Assam of India. It’s so bright and refreshing, and has become a staple for the hottest days of July and August. And the bottle! Who can resist those adorable elephants?
Enjoy Assam of India. Great for hot days indeed!
Assam was the fragrance I wore daily for seven weeks last summer….can’t remember the last time I demonstrated such monogamy with a fragrance…you smell good!
Yay elephants!
I’m continuing with the top to bottom house purge and clean, while also trying to get through part of the endless “house projects” list. Last weekend was devoted to painting the recently stuccoed fireplace, this week is going to be all about converting the upstairs guest bedroom into a meditation/relaxation space. Purging all the while. I’m not going full on KonMari, but I am definitely letting go of a large quantity of STUFF (RIP George Carlin). Feels good.
Started the morning out with Oui Plus, a perfume based on, from the note assortment, S’mores. That doesn’t sound particularly great (especially for those of you who dislike gourmand perfumes), but I wore it yesterday in an attempt to start using more of the stuff in my perfume cabinet, and I now remember just how much I like it. Really sweet, yes, but also grounded in such a way that it doesn’t make me think I’ve been gorging on melted chocolate and marshmallow (hey, there’s an idea). I ordered a sample pack from this line (Perfumes by Terri) a few years back, and I remember liking quite a lot of them. They are definitely in the sweet gourmand category. They are also very reasonably priced, and the sample packs are a bargain. The perfumer, Terri Bozzo, has re-branded her line, and it’s now called Kyse Perfumes (for those of you who fall squarely in the gourmand-lovers category).
Happy Monday, everybody!
I am doing a much needed 2nd purge on clothing and old household goods. They are worn out and need to be trashed. The energy in letting of things that no longer serving you is very freeing.
I am purging as well…today I tackled the bathroom cabinets and closets….also, I have set up a capsule wardrobe which will be what I will attempt to follow for a full year…a little experiment! And I have told younger family members that I no longer want any of their hand-me-downs that either no longer fit them or they don’t like…maybe they will be less inclined to buy new stuff once they realize that their closets are bursting at the seams!
July already? Well, OK-Dokey then!
Just can’t get enough of Atelier Pomelo Paradis….it just works!
Nice! that is a good one! all of the Ateliers are fabulous in hot weather!
Nice! I still need to get a bottle of this. It is sooo nice!
No day off for me, so I’m wearing woodcut turned into a perfume oil (surprisingly nice!) will probably spritz a little vetiver on top…
Panache! That’s the vetiver for today
All the best with your deadlines!
Thank you! Have a good holiday day.
I had such a sporty weekend–Kayaking on the Hudson on Saturday, swimming and tango dancing on Sunday. I like stuff like that, but hate team sports like football, baseball, etc.
Today I’m wearing Sel de Vetiver, which always makes me think of swimming at the beach. Unfortunately I can’t wear it on Friday, since I drained my 5 or 7 mL bottle today! I think this one has to go on the full bottle list. Is there such a thing as too much vetiver for a perfumista?
No, I don’t think “too much vetiver” is even an intelligible phrase.
Definitely envious of your weekend!
Too much is never enough.
I think the universe is telling me I need to seek out salty scents. Sel de Vetiver is the second sel scent I’ve read about today. The first was Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel over at the BdJ June Recommend Me a Perfume thread.
Nope, no such thing. A bottle of Sycomore and another of Vétiver Tonka have been calling out my name for months now.
Have a great time, Robin. I’m in Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay and loving it. I also think my love would really like wearing it. I’d love to smell it on him as well.
I just want to say that you all are really amazing. I received a package from a NSTer on Friday that just made my day. Perfume folks are the most generous group ever and I appreciate you all so very much.
Please send positive vibes my way. My guy has an interview in New Mexico Friday. I am going with him. If they make him a good offer it would mean a move across the country for us (we are in the southeast right now). Lots to think about….I love to travel and do so A LOT but haven’t really ever lived anywhere else other than the southeast and my family is here. So it would be a lot of changes. Just please send positives vibes our way that it all works out how it should.
Best of luck to him! New Mexico is beautiful.
You smell lovely today! And I’m sending positive vibes to you and your man.
The bluest sky I’ve ever seen was in New Mexico during October. NM is a beautiful state. Best wishes for a great interview!!
Oh, good luck to him! They don’t call NM The Land of Enchantment for nothing! It’s gorgeous, although I do understand how you may be feeling conflicted about a move away from friends and family. Hope things turn out just the way they need to????????
Ha! When I read this, I was like Neiman Marcus is the land of enchantment??? Boy oh boy! I’ll just shut up now..????
Lots of good vibes your way!
Sending positive vibes your way and hope things work out for the best! I’ve only lived in 2 places: LA, whete I grew up, and NY for the last 25 years. I find even moving to a new neighborhood stressful, but exciting at the same time.
Yes, sending lots of positive vibes your way!!
Good luck to him!
Positive vibes, coming your way!
Oh, definitely sending those good, positive vibes your way. Wishing hin all the luck in the world. By the way, BlackBerry &Bay is one of my faves! Maybe you should have him dab a bit on his wrists. With a scent like that on your side, he had no choice but to get that job.????
I appreciate it, everyone. I am nervous lol. I am adventurous and would definitely be up for a move, but I am close to my family and that aspect would be hard. And I doubt my son would move out there, he is planning on going to college here locally in the fall and it would be the first time I’ve been so far from him. That’s what they make airplanes for, though, I suppose! Change can be fun and scary and exciting all at once. First things first, though. We will see how it goes after the interview Friday.
Best of luck either way! Which part of NM? I lived in Los Alamos for seven months. It’s not for me, but it is stunningly beautiful.
Albuquerque
I think having your son away from you and vice versa might turn out to be a great thing in terms of fostering independence and self reliance. It will give him a chance to spread his wings which is one of the benefits of going to college away from home
That’s a good perspective. Thank you.
Sending great vibes and positive energy your husband’s way (and yours too)! Neither me nor my husband have lived in the same state (or country in my case) as our immediate family since 2001, and we are still very close to them. FaceTime is a great invention! And New Mexico is a breathtaking place – I imagine you’ll be having a lot of visitors.
Change to me isn’t scary so much as a chance to open new doors. Every time I’ve moved, I’ve ended up either in a place or situation that I hadn’t even realized I needed to be in.
I hope that whatever happens is the right fit for you and your husband.
Sending positive vibes!
Good luck to your guy. What happens after New Mexico? (Rhetorical question). While still many years away, I understand it’s a great place to retire.
That’s a good question! If I never leave the southeast, how will I know where I’d like to retire!? Another good reason to try something new.
Adding more good wishes! I love it out there.
Best of luck for your favored outcome! It’s been a VERY long time since I’ve been to NM. I ought to find my way back there. I’d gorge on green chile everything!
Best of luck and hope it works out as you hope. I’ve tended to move in my adult life and enjoyed new discoveries and new favorite haunts. And family visits to my new home!! Just as an aide, the food in NM is wonderful.
I’m sampling Gypsy Water this morning. I put it on about an hour ago and there is only the merest trace left on my wrists. Nice but definitely not FBW for me. It’s not sporty, either, but I took a walk while wearing it so maybe it counts a bit.
Robin, have a wonderful vacation. I wish I were going somewhere, but I can’t seem to pick a place, plus I put in central air and new windows this spring. It’s probably best to wait until later this year.
I enjoy Gypsy Water a lot, but it is so fleeting. I use Tocca’s Colette as a substitute!
good to know!
And the Tocca bottles (100ml) are absolutely stunning!!! Very heavy and thick glass which I really like. Did you ever get around to sampling Tocca’s Brigitte? It is my favorite of the line -rhubarb, ginger, saffron, pannetone note and lots of other good stuff…sugar and spice and everything nice!
I have not yet! It is on my excel spreadsheet under the “to try” column! We have Tocca at some of the places here, but I have not seen Brigitte yet, so I will have to order a sample somewhere.
And yes, I love those Tocca bottles!
Yes, I had the same experience. I was surprised to know so many love it.
I think it smells great, but it doesn’t last and for that much money I’m going to need it to last ha!
I had a sample of Gypsy Water and thought that someone had mistakingly put water in it instead of the fragrance. It lasted like a second on me.????
I tried Gypsy Water at Scent Bar, and it was gone before I’d even chosen my second scent to sample. Those 5 minutes were nice, though.
Thank you! And I probably should take fewer vacations and get central air. It is so hard to find a split system that will work with our old stone house that we sort of gave up.
Have a great vacation, Robin!
I’m wearing La Petite Robe Noir today for the first time. The initial 15 minutes or so were not to my liking at all–saccharine, sickly sweet and almost headache inducing. But it’s quieted down to a nice purr of fruitiness that I’m starting to enjoy. For sports day I might just steal a few sprays of one of my boyfriend’s colognes. He’s not particularly athletic either, but a lot of “male” fragrances are advertised as sporty.
Or, think of a sport that would fit Petite Robe.
Inoui today–so wonderfully green!
oh, you smell amazing
SotD = Tocade
It’s cool and cloudy this morning, a perfect time for Tocade’s “pretty, dancing feet.” I thought of Tocade when bottle creator Serge Mansau was highlighted last week. In it’s comical bottle with a conical hat this one is more bottle humor than bottle porn.
Hey, sports fans, you’re smelling great today. Baseball is my dad’s game. Tomorrow we’ll watch the Angels on television.
Bon voyage to Robin and everyone who is traveling. Enjoy your adventures as you round the bases and stay “safe!” on your journey back to home plate.
Aha! Maybe people can match perfumes by name of the sports team, e.g. Angel(s).
Super idea! I have a sample of Angel Muse I could wear tomorrow . . .
My team is the Tigers. Maybe I should find something animalic, or something with a “cat pee” smell. Lol.
Do it for the Tigers!
Maybe someone will wear Panthere this week.
I swear Maharanih smells like cat pee for the first 5 minutes. Then it is wonderful.
I love the segue from sporty to sports team to cat pee.
Went swimming this morning, now after a shower and a dousing of Nuit de Tubéreuse I am off to the open air market to buy more rhubarb before the season is completely over. Have a great vacation Robin!
You smell great!
Thank you! What fantastic thing are you making with the rhubarb?
Pie!
I love rhubarb pie, with vanilla ice cream especially.
I don’t even know I asked, because it was almost certain to be pie and now I want a slice of pie, LOL…
May you have a delightful vacation! Regarding Friday’s project…is reclining upon the sofa while reading Now Smell This a sport? I think it is!
I ❤it! I think it does. Lol!
I am pretty sure it is.
And there is probably a lovely French word for it, too.
Wearing Ferre, the ultimate office scent, even though I am nowhere near an office today…
Which makes it even better!
Bon Vacance, Robin!
1) This weekend was sporty- no house stuff- just lots of biking swimming and hiking up the Larch Mountain Trail by Multnomah Falls!
2) I have today and tomorrow off, so had a lie in and when I dress I will be in 4711. It’s cool and cloudy right now and will warm up later, so I will be doing some cleaning and some much needed tossing of some really old house hold stuff that needs to be- very worn, showing the beginnings of holes and just needs to be trashed.
4711!!!! so good!!!! That is my childhood in a bottle
SOTD Arquiste Ella. Blooms nicely in the heat. Trying to ration my decant as I think it’ll be what I wear to a wedding next month. One of the few things I can manage to plan a month in advance ????
I really need to try that one, I’m so behind!
Robin , enjoy your vacation!!! and you are smelling fantastic!
A quick stop at the health food store this morning and I sprayed myself silly with Pacifica’s Hawaiian Ruby Guava…this is a sweeter version of the original Calyx and a tamer version of Pulp….and for $15 for a full bottle you can’t go wrong! But I was a good girl and did not buy it! Later I will be sporting PdN L’Eau a la Folie. And tonight , Safran Troublant which has become a night time staple (can anyone compare it to Ariel Shoshana’s EDP? I am wondering how similar they are…any input would be much appreciated).
Cleaning out my bathroom cabinets all morning and I also made a face serum with almond oil, organic sea buckthorn, organic pomegranate seed oil, sandalwood powder, lavender, dark patchouli and Somalian frankincense…smells out of this world and has helped me to use up some of my oils too.
you smell wonderful, and your serum sounds wonderful.
Thank you
Oh I forgot…I also made two body oils with vanilla pods and sweet almond oil…I will let them marinate in the basement until the winter but they are already smelling divine.
oh what a great idea, I have been eying the vanilla pods at Costco, I’ve been trying to curb baked goods – so this might be a good excuse to purchase them.
The cost of bourbon vanilla essential oil and regular vanilla essential oil has gone up dramatically so this is kind of a poor man’s version. I got four pods for eight dollars in total and cut up and added two each to two 2oz dark glass bottles along with sweet almond carrier oil. The key is to have the patience to let the vanilla pods work their magic which means I am letting them sit until at least December.
Ok, that sounds like it will come out delicious, please let me know how you like it! So you are kind of making a pretty concentrated version right? That you can add to other stuff?
Yes, I am looking for heavy concentration and hope it comes out that way..then I can either add other essential oils , wear it straight up, or dilute it for a full body moisturizing oil.
Coin-op, you said you like “churchy” incense fragrances – I assume you have tried the Comme des Garcons Incense series? And can I send you the last drops of Calling All Angels from my sample?
Wow, thank you! That would be lovely Scent Sprit!
I haven’t tried any Comme de garçon, but I am only 2 months into this new hobby/obsession. My first attempts at trying churchy fragrance was buying a “Chrism” scented balm off amazon – no good, but would work as a nice beard moisturizer. And then, “holy water” & “holy smoke” from demeter = no good
Here’s my email: a cal der aio
To the g mail period com
Can I also suggest that you try frankincense essential oil for your “incense” fix? There are plenty of good brands that can be found in a local health food store. But I also like Eden Botanicals Somalian Frankincense which smells very similar to Heeley’s Cardinal…the EB essential oil has a citrus/lemon vibe to it and I like wearing it straight up as a perfume.
http://www.edenbotanicals.com/products/essential-oils-pure-therapeutic-grade/essential-oils-e-g/frankincense-somalia.html
no affiliation to this company
and the sample size of 1 ml. lasts a good long time
That Ruby Guava sounds awesome!!
I’ve recently fell very very hard for Pulp….
X
Hi there!!! always so nice to see your gorgeous self
The Ruby Guava is very tart and sweet but not as “odd” as Pulp….( I happen to like Pulp but it definitely is a “unique” fragrance!)….not sure if anyone carries Pacifica in your part of the world but if you come across it , do give it a try!!!
Googling Pacifica as I type….Lol!
You inspired me to smell the Pacifica line this afternoon! I had Alien on my arm from my previous stop, and put Indian Coconut nectar on top, I think I smell great? Hot sweet & spicy. I almost bought the coconut nectar, but I remembered your discipline.
Pacifica is very inexpensive and loads of fun! If you can get to a store that carries it , definitely worth exploring and sampling the line, even if you don’t buy anything
So imagine if someone took ST, toned the spices in the opening way down and then added a huge, ebullient passion fruit note? That’s sort of what AS is.
Ah!!! Thank you Robin! I think I would like that!
Except, I should add — the dry down is not a dupe of ST. More like a nod to ST? Anyway, if you like ST I think you’ll like the dry down.
Have a wonderful vacation, Robin!
I’m hanging out in my sparser-than-usual office wearing the lovely Pharrell Girl, thanks to the kind Regina. This stuff is surprisingly great. I just like it more and more with each passing hour. I THINK the ~8 ml left in the mini Regina sent me should be enough for me, but I hear it’s nearly free at the discounters, so it’ll take some backbone not to get a bottle. The creepy bottle design helps me stay strong. But if you haven’t yet tried it, do!
yes, fragrancenet sells it for 20 dollars….if you really love it I would get it before it sells out and then becomes ridiculously expensive on ebay.
what does it smell like?
It started out with a very masculine peppery, dry lavender, then warmed into oakmoss-sandalwood rounded out with some honey and patchouli, but most of all LEATHER. Which is funny because leather isn’t listed in the notes. Right now it smells like an MFK on my skin (not sure which one)–still pretty masculine but just lovely. This will definitely get a lot of wear.
On my skin I get a lot of wood notes…sandalwood and patch…starts of a bit screechy but the drydown is GORGEOUS…..
Oh wow, that sounds really interesting. Who knew??? How do you guys find these? Do you search sites for the strangest bottle at the lowest price???
I wait for other NSTers to gush about things for months before I look into them
It’s free so you really should get it. I think you deserve at least that for getting to training @ 6AM!
You do have an EXCELLENT point. I do deserve something for that. BUT if I fritter away ~$25 on this, then that’s $25 I can’t put towards something better! I’ve been thinking about a set of Hermessence travel sprays or a Tauer discovery set for a very, very long time….
I love the bottle, but will add that the smaller size is pretty plain jane. If you can still find it.
The 10-mL mini is the one I was sent
It is very plain, but I quite like it. It’s plain but well designed, I feel.
My SOTD is also the Scent of Yesterday Afternoon: the reformulated Zoologist Panda, which is refusing to quit (I took and a shower and everything). Points for tenacity, even if I don’t like New Panda and more than I liked Old Panda.
Wow! Reformulated already? I thought Zoologist launched last year!
No, I think they have been around since 2014. I know they changed Beaver a bit, but Panda has been turned into a totally different genre of perfume (though it has some things in common with what I recall of the original).
He intentionally reformulated Beaver and Panda in response to customer comments (and low sales).
Have a wonderful vacation Robin!! Do you give your nose a break on vacation, or do you only smell things you like?
I’m wearing Mesmerize, an old Avon, for no other reason than because it was there, and it actually smells pretty nice.
I love love love old Avon perfumes…so many of them smelled fantastic and would be considered up to niche standard, IMHO.
Yay! for Avon. You must smell great. My mum’s Avon lady arrived at our front door regularly throughout my childhood. Some of those scents were really great, and I’m tempted to look for samples of their newer ones.
I did what I usually do: I bring mostly samples, with the idea that I’m going to “catch up” on testing since I’m always so behind. Then, most years, I don’t wear much of anything, or maybe a little bit of bronze goddess cream, and I come back just as behind as I was to begin with.
I’m wearing my go-to for when I’m not feeling particularly inspired by anything and just want something clean and simple, which is Vetiver Tonka.
Fascinating! It’s neither clean nor simple to my nose.
Yum.
Robin, have a well-deserved, fantastic vacation. I’m not really sure what constitutes a “sporty” fragrance, so I will be interested to read the selections in the SOTD this week. Im wearing Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder today. It definitely is a good one for the summer.
Thank you!
I think we’ve decided sporty is “whatever it means to you”
Have a great vacation! My sports scent is bug spray this time of year but I try to go with the natural/essential oils types so they’re not too bad. I remember the cloud of Off! that followed us around as kids and wonder how we survived lol.
Bug spray is good! After having Lyme, I am going to be much more careful myself.
Have a lovely vacation! I’ve just realised I’ve been reading your blog for 10 years, though I hardly ever comment. Thanks for all the information, reviews, good jokes and general perfume-related fun!
I’m wearing Ninfeo Mio on my arms, with a spritz of Philosykos on the back of my neck. Kissing cousins, I suppose you could call them.
Thank you Kately, and so glad you commented to tell me so, that’s very kind!
And funny that I never thought to wear them together — will have to remember to try that when I get home.
Happy 4th July to everyone in the USA and happy holiday Robin! I will wear Blackbird for the sport of tossing pinecones for the dogs during my forest walk….mud, mud and more mud.
Oh, but that sounds like more fun that most sports!
This week I’m testing the 5 scents from Essence of Chi. Their schtick is that there’s a perfume to suit you based on the 5 ancient Chinese elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Well, we’ll see.
SOTD is Essence of Chi “Water”.
Top: black pepper, juniper berries and blackcurrant;
Mid: lavender, violet and clary sage;
Base: ambergris and seaweed.
It’s not bad; fairly fresh and cool smelling. Lasts maybe half a day but a lot of that time the sillage is barely above skin scent. Because it’s a travel bottle rather than a 2ml sample, I didn’t bring it into work and so haven’t been able to re-apply as usual. But based on this perfume, I don’t think Water is my element.
I like the sound of Essence of Chi Water. Does it have the calone/aquatic/melon/cucumber note?
Not as such, but some combination of the notes gives a cold or fresh aspect. :^)
Sounds interesting, thank you!
Those notes are a really interesting take on water!
Monday!Came and went by rather quick thank goodness.Plus July which means two more months of winter then we are DONE with that ice-queen for 8 months!!Yay!
Lol.
SOTD Mac Cosmetics Ruby Woo.This is what I imagine a handbag/makeup bag smells like in the inside.Wonderful stuff.The accompanying shade of red lipstick is GORGEOUS to say the least!I am impressed.
I was gifted a bottle of JPG Fragile perfume,I cannot express how much joy that gave me!!Also the thoughtfulness behind it,from a friend who has zero interest in perfumes but hunted it down especially for me,after my cries of despair in his ears for years and years!!Lol!
Happy week everyone!
Enjoy your vacay Robin.
I fear the wrath of Donatella tomorrow…..
X
What a special gift, and friend!
I totally agree!
What a a fantastic gift!
I haven’t gotten around to sampling any of the MACs yet but your scent sounds so good
hope you have a very mild winter.
Thanks!
I think the Macs are done very well,I smelled two others that are hovering on the “maybe” list!Let me know what you think if you try them!
P.S your comment a few posts up made me BLUSH!!!Haha!But thanks!X
hey, you look fantastic in your new gravatar picture
…when the perfume room is finished we are all hoping to see pictures of that as well!
What a lovely gift!
And do not worry. Donatella’s mercy is infinite.
I’ve been having a lot of fun over the last week testing Sultan Pasha Attars. Today I’m trying Rayon Vert which is an herbal green. It is reminding me of Silences so far.
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, and lovin’ it.
I’m wearing Lys Mediterrane for my preferred sport of baking raspberry squares.
Morning, all. I’m rather late this morning. Lately, I’m rather late most mornings … I like this new experience called “sleeping all night”, but it’s playing havoc with my routines, and NST is one that is suffering! So, today is a quiet day (I’m building up to the tension of Exam Board on Friday) and I’m wearing a quietly contemplative scent: Dries van Noten. It always strikes me that DvN is kissing cousin to my very own Black Cashmere, but then I do side-by-side wears and find they’re not really all that alike. Anyway, DvN is gorgeous too: warm, thought-provoking and just the tiniest bit heady. I was wearing it the other day and a random bloke in a lift said,”You smell wonderful, madam.” I was charmed by being called “madam”, because these days, I am more prone to getting the patronising ‘
“dear”, as in “Are you all right there, dear?” I’ve never been anyone’s “dear”, or at least, not in that sense: it’s not a personality possibility!
In other news chez Waterdragon, Dakkie has a new knitted mouse because he destroyed four, about 50% of the total population of km while we were away. Its name is O’Hara, and it’s a very dashing red (no surprises there!), with a blue tail and ears. and a very handsome stripe of grey along its back. Dakkie loves it, and is neglecting the his old friends the Browne twins completely in order to devote his time to his new fwend. Small things brighten these days of deep winter…be well, all.
Are you sure the bloke is not hitting on you? I am glad Dakkie cat is back to his old self again. He is showing the kms who’s boss!
I love Dakkie’s stories. So glad he is doing fine.
Started morning in a nice jasmine tea from Fragonard since we were meeting a friend for an early movie. After lunch found I had my OJ frangipani in my purse so that’s the scent of this hot afternoon.
Enjoy your vacation, Robin!
SOTD is Wood Sage and Sea Salt, both the body cream and the cologne. I’ve found that I can get a good six hours without having to re-apply while wearing both (thank you again, hajusuuri!)
I’m really glad it worked out for you!
Oh you are smelling so so so good! I think that is excellent that you are getting six hours…and the creme is divine, isn’t it?
Huh. I have both the perfume and cream, but have always worn separately. I guess it would make sense to put them together for longevity! This Texas heat is doing something to my brain!
SOTD = Prada L’Homme Intense
Iris, amber, leather, patchouli AND tonka bean – what is not to love?
I got the last of my freebie packages out this afternoon and now I can focus on vacation starting next week!
Sporty fragrance? I pretty much avoid any perfume that has the word sport in it. In fact, I cannot think of a single perfume in my FB collection that has the word sport in it. It’s a challenge!
La Parfumerie Moderne No Sport comes to mind.
Bel Respiro’s green for me today to carry me through a cold and wet day of work and on to a cheese and wine tasting event tonight.
Enjoy your event! You may have inspired me to treat myself to a glass of wine this evening
Robin, I hope that you have arrived at your vacation destination safely and are having a great time!
Late! Worth it, though, to have a nice dinner with Mr. Jalapeno. SOTD = SL A la Nuit, from the sample stash. I like it in summer weather, too. So now to try it in fall, if I can wait that long.
Really late posting, my Monday SOTD was Kiehl’s Musk Oil. Have a great vacation Robin!