As always, answer as many or as few as you like, or just talk about something else altogether.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
2. What's the last fragrance you tested, and what did you think of it?
3. What's the fragrance you've worn the most this summer (or winter, depending on where you are)?
4. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything — good news, a great TV show you binged recently, a delicious new recipe — really, anything.
Note: top image is leafael [tripled] by Davina Ware at flickr; some rights reserved.
My friend, Beverly, sent me a sweet care pkg with 24 Faubourg. I am loving it. I know it’s an oldie, but it’s new to me! I’ve worn the heck out of
Estee Lauder’s Knowing all week last week. Another “new” perfume to me. Who needs new releases….I think I have my hands full with catching up on the 80s-present day!!
My mother in law wears Youth Dew and Estee ..she is also a EL fan! When she over sprays..yawza!
Oh I feel the same way, I am new to perfume and I’m just having so much fun working my way through Estée Lauder – enjoy your weekend!
Twins! 24 Faubourg for me today! ????
Today I am wearing Dusita’s Douceur de Siam, and I’ve been wearing a lot of AG Heure Exquise and 4160 Who Knew? – the latter is about 1/4 gone already and I bought it in May. The last fragrance I tested was a rollerball of Ortigia’s Mandorla, which I expected to be straightforward almond oil, but then later a light, amiable amber pops up.
This week a friend and I had the chef’s supper at Mak n Ming, which was far from inexpensive, but it made us feel quite cossetted, with their unhurried pace and the exquisitely presented courses.
Could you tell us more about Mak n Ming? where is it, what kind of food, what was in your chef’s supper? I’m intrigued!
It’s right near Kits Beach and rather a contrast to the party-hearty burger joints the neighbourhood’s been known for. The cuisine is Japanese and a slight West Coast tinge, with an emphasis on seafood prettily presented in not-large portions.
I have a small decant of Heure Exquise..so gorgeous.
Indeed it is – Bas de Soie and Infusion d’Iris Absolue are in a snit at being so thoroughly ignored.
You smell great. La Douceur de Siam is gorgeous.
I wore that last night! You smell great.
1. Not a popular one on this blog, but I am wearing Tresor today. Left over from yesterday and I haven’t showered it off yet
2. Baccarat Rouge 540, too sweet. I will pass
3. What’s the fragrance you’ve worn the most this summer..hmm…I wonder if anyone could guess?
4. We just finished Justified last night. So long Boyd! Picked up two books from the bookstore recommended on BdJ. Everyone in our household has a summer cold. My nose is running and my ears are starting to hurt. I have been adding Tumeric to everything I eat, and trying to drink lots of water and hot tea. And a spoonful of honey .
I meant to do a Haiku yesterday and forgot..
I could hardly sleep
head in a new york fog
Dreams will wait
A few years ago, I hugged a friend and she smelled beautiful — like violets. When I told her how wonderful she smelled, she said that she was wearing Tresor.
Hope you feel better soon.
#3 Songes!!!!!!!! 🙂
and I loved Tresor..had a full bottle when it first came out.
Yes, you are right…
Tresor is lovely..I know its changed over the years but I appreciate it for what it is now
The sweetness in Baccarat rouge is too much for me. Also, it is on the verge of being nauseous. So weird….
Mmm, I love Tresor.
My grandmother wore Tresor, I spray it when I go to a department store to think of her. I think its a beautiful fragrance!
Feeling a bit icky still this morning but this hot tea will make it better
Sorry about the cold. We’ve struggled to shake off the final dregs of ours over the last couple of weeks.
That last season of Justified made me so tense!
3. I’m newer here, but I know the answer is Songes as well!
I will have to smell Tresor next time I am at Macy’s, I got it as a Christmas gift when I was in college, have not smelled it in a long time. I did get some “diamonds and rubies” at TJ Maxx recently, and I understand it is by the same perfumer, and somewhat reminiscent. I think would appreciate the strength and the roses more now.
Hope you are feeling better today!
Today I am wearing Le Labo Mousse de Chene which is one of the brand new 2017 city exclusives, assorted (nonsensically) with Amsterdam. I discovered it when I visited the fairly new Le Labo boutique in Houston (for locals–it’s on Dunlavy at Westheimer in Montrose, right next to Aesop). I tried both the new ones and this one really knocked me out. I then bought the city sample set which seemed a reasonably good deal @ $120, though they are very small bottles. Anyway, this is quite wonderful and yes it does have oak moss and it does smell like oak moss. (I’m not an expert on this but I do remember oak moss in the real, older, Mitsouko, and it’s so distinctive you can’t mistake it.) It is a soft not rough smell and has some kind of wonderful top note that is rather sweet and floral, though I see nothing floral in the notes list, so perhaps it is the bay that I’m smelling. There are some synthetic notes in it, as listed, but the juice has no synthetic aura to me. I also pick up the pink pepper; there is a spicy dimension. They call it a modern chypre, which seems odd given the lack of a floral element, but that sweet floating top note does make this description make sense. There is a nice depth to the fragrance though it still comes across as “light” not heavy. It has decent longevity. I’m by no means a big Le Labo fan; the only other one I’ve liked this much is Patchouli 24 (the weird rubbery one). This will cost $460 which is more than I’m willing to pay but I’ll definitely go in for a split or a decent-sized sample if they become available somewhere. It’s a very additive scent. I’ve written a lot so will stop now.
The split meet is coming up this fall!
Not much of a Le Labo fan here (well, okay, I liked Aldehyde 44 but not enough to rebuy the 5ml decant I used up… and would probably wear Lys 41 if I weren’t already stocked up with other BWFs), but I also liked Patch 24! Mostly because it smelled like eating a soft-serve vanilla cone inside my grandparents’ smokehouse. A distinctive experience.
Lemming alert! Lemming alert!
I love the vibe of a chypre and that mystery that oak moss often adds to the perfume.
We don’t have Le Labo in Poland at all but I will try my best to find a sample via some swap groups that I know of.
I *think* the standalone boutiques sell 15ml sizes…
And the le labo website will sell 15 ml bottles of the city exclusives in September. I bought 15 ml of Musc 25 that way last fall.
Very good to know!
Oh that sounds amazing!
I am curious about the oak moss: did they use some kind of special oak moss and how much they can have it now with those IFRA restrictions?
Good questions, but I’m afraid I just don’t know the answers.
There is a strong possibility they use oakmoss which has the allergens removed. In that case they can probably use as much as they want/like.
(the restrictions are for the allergens in the oakmoss, not for the oakmoss).
I remember reading somewhere removing the allergens is a costly process (cannot recall where, sorry). So that may explain the very high price of this bottle (or is Le Labo always so expensive?).
Fragrantica page about oakmoss says:
“Guerlain now uses oakmoss that doesn’t have the specific molecule which is not allowed by IFRA regulations. Thanks to the modern chemistry, this new raw material is a 100% pure and natural extract that complies with the amendments of IFRA. Some other perfumers have substituted oakmoss with grassy notes of patchouli and vetiver, while others use a synthetic “mossy woods” note that reproduces the deep forest-like smell.”
(no sources mentioned)
http://www.edenbotanicals.com/oakmoss-absolute.html
I concur…as you can see IFRA approved oakmoss is indeed available and a little goes a long way so it isn’t very expensive either….and as an aside it smells divine on its own but applying is a bit of a challenge as it is thick and sticky and can stain your skin (I have done it anyway for it smells DIVINE!!!!)
Le Labo is expensive cause it can be expensive…folks are willing to pay the high prices 🙂
Ah, so the IFRA approved oakmoss is NOT that expensive. Thanks Chocolatemarzipan!
Now, I always skip the Le Labo counter. Dont know why actually…
but maybe these prices are why….haha 😉
Honestly, I don”t care for Le Labo…the one time I went to their counter in SFA the SA COMPLETELY ignored me…probably because of the way I looked at the time (my attire was very casual)…meanwhile in her misjudgment of me she might have had the potential of selling quite a bit of products as I might have been one of those wealthy women who just dressed down!
Today I am wearing double distilled patchouly oil – from Eden botanicals – thank you chocolatemarzipan8 for the recommendation.
My nose is a little stuffed– but it smells like cloves it to me.
In other perfume news – I think I may have figured out the origin of a perfume stain in my mother’s luggage. She brought three red hard Samsonite suitcases into the marriage from her single life – small, medium & large – the top of the small one was stained brown with perfume – and I loved smelling it.
I wore agent provocateur this week – and looked it up in “the guide”. Tania Sanchez says it is a repeat of Coriandre ( which I have not smelled yet). When I read that, the piece of luggage popped in my head, and when I smelled the agent provocative or I could smell the luggage – going to talk to my mom tonight and see if I can get confirmation.
Do you have lots of Agent Provacateur? I can send you a little (3ml or so) if you want some. I’ve got some other things to send you when my decanting supplies get here.
Thanks Scent Spirit! I think I’m going to buy a whole bottle of AP but thank you so much. I’m still working through the generous package you sent – I really liked Bapteme du feu, it smelled like Christmas to me.
How are you liking the patch? YOu went straight for a heavy hitter-LOL!
What else did you get? I will be curious to hear all of your impressions- good or bad.
I remember Coriandre…that was a beauty…can’t remember the last time I sniffed it….had a good friend back in the day…that was her signature scent.
I love it! It definitely does not smell like my reference of “patchouly” from hippie culture
I got a lot of samples, and still have not smelled most of them – I had to smell galbanum right away, i’m going to have to smell that again – the EOs are so powerful – maybe I will have to mix it with a carrier oil in order to actually smell it more effectively.
And I got some balsam fir that I put in my diffuser last night – it’s just so delicious.
Oh yes, galbanum is a powerhouse that I have only used in miniscule amounts in my blends…definitely combine with a carrier oil…then you can use on your skin…but the patch I have always worn straight up…despite warnings not to use e.o.s undiluted.
as you explore everything please do keep us in the loop!
Oh and the fir balsam if you combine with a carrier oil makes a great body oil to use around the holidays in the winter!
Will do! I’m having a lot of fun with my samples!
Ah, that used to be my signature scent, many years ago!
Oh! Agent provocateur or Coriandre?
Sorry, Coriandre.
And adding … AP is related, but not nearly as green as the original Coriandre was.
Just before my long weekend started I managed to stop by the post office where they had a package waiting for me. Samples from Gallivant arrived & the brand was so generous to put in also 2 samples of fragrances that will be coming in October.
1. I’m wearing Gallivant Istanbul. I like it a lot & I have to admit that all 4 fragrances from this house are pretty interesting.
2. Apart of the Gallivant fragrances I recently tried Armani Prive Iris Celadon. I thought it was gorgeous but knowing its luxury pricing I was happy to discover that it smells almost like Van Cleef & Arpels Moonlight Patchouli that I already have. One perfume less to resist, phew.
3. Because summer here wasn’t super hot so far I was wearing a lot of different fragrances. Probably Atelier Cologne Clementine California would be the one I used more often than others.
4. I finally finished planning my holidays in September. I’ll be off to Milan, Lake Como, Genoa, Pisa and Florence. Super excited.
Have a calm weekend all!
so jealous of your vacation plans….hope your trip is wonderful (how could it not!!) and I want a full report.
It should be awesome and in September it should not be so hot anymore.
Your vacation plans are awesome!!!
I was in Genoa last spring, only for one night though. But i Really enjoyed it.
I dont know if you like ice cream.
But when I was in Florence a few years ago, i had good ice cream in this shop
https://gelaterialapassera.wordpress.com/
Dont know if they are still good, but it is in a lovely area with other small restaurants and coffee bars.
I love ice cream, especially in Italy so I appreciate a sweet point you mentioned.
SOTD – Le Galion Whip.
Last thing I tried – a whole bunch of things yesterday
– Cafe Tuberose. First 5 minutes – very strong shot of espresso followed by Tuberose that does not smell like one. Might be good for people scared of flowers as a way to get over that fear.
– Jo Malone Oak and Hazelnut and Oak and Currant. Pretty but I was not impressed – in usual Jo Malone manner they start interestingly and go away quickly.
– Armani Iris Celadon. LOVE it and will be bringing it to a splitmeet.
– Jo Malone sales person upon hearing that I like stronger fragrances trapped me in Armani area (I was at Neimans) and made me smell all of the fragrances there. Not many things impressed me but he forced a whole bunch of samples to me. We did have a nice 20 minutes chat about fragrances. I think I intimidated him with all the Niche fragrances I have but it was fun.
-Van Cleft and Arpels Bois de Iris. Last swapmeet someone wanted to swap it with me and the fragrance did not resonate with me when I tried it at a store. Yesterday’s experience was different and now it is a love
That’s all folks. Off to a play date with a bunch of little girls
You’re probably first NST person who tried Atelier Cafe Tuberosa.
Thanks for reporting your impressions.
I love a smell of coffee so tre first 5 minutes were awesome. The rest was blah for me 🙁
Armani Iris Celadon goes on my to try list!
The Armani section is a definitely the place to be trapped in! 😉
I was just at Bergdorf and thought I smelled Iris Cadon and it did not wow me. I preferred the Pierre de Lune. I would still gonfor ansmallish split portion at Sitmeet.
The Atier Cologne Cafe Tuberosa smelled pretty y good on paper.
Boo hiss on fat fingers but you all can just correct the typos in your head.
It did smell better on paper!!!
Yay, I will look forward to trying Iris Celadon in the splitmeet hopefully.
I tested Week End (Nicolaï).
Oh man, it was a scrubber 🙁
And it would not go away argh
Soap, make up remover, also alcohol, more soap…nope…
This one should come with a warning label
“white musk alert”
It was meant to evoke a weekend in Normandy
I got Week end at the Laundromat
Oh, so sorry, I know that feeling. I have a zip top plastic bag where I quarantine perfume samples that should have the white musk warning label. Strong white musk is not for me.
LOL at “quarantine”. I just call mine the doghouse.
So that was the answer to 2.
Haha
1. At the moment i am wearing Sarrasins
3. Its probably a tie between French lover, Vetiver blanc, Encre Noire, un jardin en mediterranee, EauDMerv
4. I watch the spiders on my balcony a lot. I am in awe of their skills.
@3. …but in the evenings I wear MAAI, A la nuit, and Nankun Kodo a lot!
It feels like you are a fan Sultan Pasha!!!
🙂
You are on to something. Haha.
Together with Serge Lutens, Sultan Pasha Attars take the no 1 spot in my collection with 3 full bottles.
(though my ‘bottles’ of SPA contain only 1 ml).
But when it comes to ‘most worn’ during past 12 months, I suspect Sarrasins, Fille en Aiguilles and Moon Bloom take top 3.
Would be fun to keep track for a while and Excel everything. I just dont know if I have the discipline…
Haha! I like Weekend!
It started out quite elegant and promising, but the musk quickly became waaaay to much on my skin. I do not even think it is a bad smell, it just irritates me. Like an itch.
I have the same problem with certain types of laundry detergent, when people’s clothes smell strongly the whole day of that (sort of) same musk variety. 🙁
wearing today – 4711 Lavender & Thyme (so good for summer)
recently tested – Mandala (meditative) and MEM (kaleidoscopic)
most worn this summer – a tie between Infusion d’Iris EdT and Infusion d’Amande (equally lovely)
something wonderful – cloudy and cool weather this morning
An unusual Saturday morning for me, I had time to wake slowly while half-listening to Weekend Edition. Scott Simon’s voice reminds me of my father-in-law, their tone and inflection are strikingly similar.
I hope we all enjoy our day, whatever it brings.
Yay for Prada!
Yes! I think every Prada scent I have tried appealed to me in some way. I would not wear all of them, but they all have an aesthetic I enjoy.
I have so many Prada and never get enough
1. Inspired by Waterdragon yesterday, I’m in a bit of J’ai Osé today.
2. I most recently tested Pacifica Himalayan Patchouli Berry. I liked it–which is a bit of a miracle since I’m not really a patchouli person.
3. Hmm, dunno. I think I’ve been distributing my choices fairly evenly.
4. I found some Staedtler pens with a 0.3mm tip at Target the other day. Hallelujah! Whatever inherent tendencies toward pen snobbery I might’ve had were solidified by my brief time as an architecture student. I don’t need something expensive, but I do need something I can actually write with. Having become accustomed to a nice, fine line with fluid ink, the average medium-point ballpoint or gel pen feels (and looks) like a freakin’ crayon to me.
Another pen afficiando (I think I misspelled that, but spellcheck doesn’t know the difference; aficciando?) here. I had no idea Target carried Staedtler pens, and they’re my favorites.
Ooh, have either of you tried some of the super fine line Japanese pens? I’m a devoted fan of Japanese gel ink pens for the lack of smudginess, but I’ll have to keep an eye out at Target now!
I totally understand you!
I have a whole bunch of Copic multiliners and Zebra pocket brush pens for drawing. The smaller ones are also great for writing on the tiny labels I sometimes stick on my sample vials). They are expensive though.
Argh I really should draw more. Its a hobby I am neglecting a bit at the moment. 🙁
Hee, and I prefer the .9mm. The regular .5mm seem flimsy to me. I also did not know Target carried Staedtler pens!
Happy Weekend to all…
Wearing Tauer’s Reverie au Jardin, and have been wearing this a lot this summer. Particularly good as I cut back some overgrown lavender from my front walk.
I want to test Galop but have yet to get my sample.
I have been trying to work through some samples and nearly empty bottles, so this summer has been a really variety plate!
No perfume purchases for me, just bought a new-to-me car and am enjoying the re-furbished “new car smell”
One Day I’m going to invest in a bottle or travel spray of that Tauer. Reverie au Jardin is so underrated.
Congrats on the new to you car! Also, using up samples and bottles – what a sense of accomplishment!
Wearing Eau d’Hadrien for the 4th day straight. It’s one of my top 5 and I’ve gone through too many bottles in my lifetime (edt and edp) than I care to think about. Last scent tested: Zadig & Voltaire’s He Rocks (I think that’s the name). What did I think? I thought it was a nose-piercing, hot buttered mess, composed of precisely two notes: white pepper and ISO E Super. An emphatic “No.” for me.
Succinct review, thanks 🙂
1 & 2: The last fragrance I tested is also my SOTD – Eau de Sens by Diptyque. I keep getting wafts of a beautiful mellow orange blossom when I move my arms. It’s quite lovely.
3: The fragrances I’ve worn the most this summer have been Jasmin et Cigarette and Osmanthus Interdit. I will need a full bottle of Osmanthus Interdit before next summer.
4: Something wonderful? I just got back from buying a birthday present for a good friend. I love having wonderful people in my life and getting a chance to celebrate them. And I was able to spend last week with two of my nieces, which was an amazing luxury.
My bottle of Eau des Sens just arrived. You smell great.
You smell great! Love Eau des Sens!
Eau de sens is so delicious! You smell wonderful.
I’m wearing nothing so far, but I might extend vetiver week another day, as it treated me so nicely, and I didn’t even get to wear Panache–have to fix that today.
I tested Grand Bal the other day, and was just in the mood for a sunny orange blossom. In my 5 years-ish of this interest I’ve gone from “NO FLOWERS” to liking several, so.
This summer I wore Kenzo UFO a lot, for its sheerness. It’s also been a hot and hazy one here, so I’ve quite a bit of “get home, spritz some Mugler Cologne or AG Vetiver straight from the fridge, instantly feel less gross.” Other than that, I think I depleted 1-2 samples a week.
A good thing right now is that the piece I’ve been working on for a year plus is finally heading to fruition, and had a great “teaser” last week. So much work to do, still, but nice to finally see some response. Also I watched Okja last night, well worth it.
Oooh. Tell us more about your piece!
Oh thank you for interest, I don’t know how the rules go about self-promotion here, but if you email me, I’ll send a link 😉
LOVE the new avatar!
Thanks, I’ve been in a Hannah Hoch place for a while, just thought I’d make it manifest.
I could almost ditto jepster’s comments. I think the mailman will be bringing my Galop shortly, and I have been wading through samples for most of the summer. I’ve especially enjoyed my Zoologist collection. On the hottest days I douse myself in Vent Vert.
No new car, but I really cared about Svetlana Alexievich’s Secondhand Time, an anecdotal history of Soviet Russia. Terrible as that period was, I was surprised to find that so many preferred its idealism to the capitalistic present. Revealing, tragic, brutal, astonishing.
I thought about reading that but it looked so long. Glad to hear it was a good read, I will add it to my list.
1. Most recently tested: SSS Spiced Citrus Vetiver – too light and too fleeting
2. SOTD: Byredo Oliver Peoples – like Pulp but better, SO long lasting
3. What I’ve worn most this summer: the Aqua Allegorias
4. Something wonderful: two somethings – We are leaving tomorrow for a road trip along the St. Lawrence and whale watching, and MOST WONDERFUL – my daughter called last night to tell me she is pregnant. That means Daughter #2 is due in October with grandchild #6 and Daughter #3 is due in February with Grandchild #7!
Oh wow, what great news for your family! Congratulations to all the expecting parents.
You smell incredible, and your trip sounds amazing. Have a great time!
Congratulations to you and your growing family!
Congrats on new grand babies!
Wow, congrats!
Congratulations on the family additions…how wonderful!
Congratulations on the impending arrival of 2 new grandchildren!
Wearing Amouage Gold (woman) which is great although not ideal when trying other fragrances as most pale in comparison.
Tried Amouage Figment woman, loathed it. One syrupy hot mess. Not a fan. Retried both Myths and Bracken, like both of them but will not pay Amouage prices for these.
I liked Bracken & Myths and loathed Figment as well. Will wait until I find them at a hefty discount.
1. My SOTD is Neela Vermiere Pichola. Love this one a bunch.
2. Yesterday I tested Sultan Pasha Vetiver Blanc (2nd test) and it was wonderful.
3. I’ve been all over the map this summer but have been spending a lot of time having fun with the Sultan Pasha attar samples. Eau Des Merveilles Bleue has really grown on me and have been enjoying Carner Barcelona D600 too.
4. Went walking around downtown in the heat with my nephew yesterday. Had some great bonding time and stopped for some gelato which was spectacular. Almond orange was the flavour and it was terrific!
Oh, you smell lovely, and I want an almond orange gelato now!
Almond orange gelato sounds absolutely wonderful right now. Yum!
Where does this gelato live, and can I have some?
Ha! Just down the street at D’oro gelato ????
Oh dear, that’s a dangerous answer!
1. I am wearing L’Artisan Patchouli Patch. How come this works so well in summer?
2. The last fragrance I properly tested was Tom Ford Vert de Fleur. I think it is a very good, widely available stuff. I am happy to have two large samples of it.
3. Bas de Soie is a good candidate for a fragrance that I’ve frequently worn this summer.
4. I received (from Australia!) Lanolips recommended by NST connoisseurs, and this promises to work very well for my dry lips. Thanks, again!
I’ve finished a decant of L’Air de Rien, wore 24 Faubourg a lot this summer; also my SOTD.
Heeley Bubblegum Chic sample arrived yesterday. From a quick smell I I like it.
Today I cleaned out my closet, and had a delicious oatmeal from Starbucks.
Hooray for cleaned closets! Such a good feeling.
Mmmm. I love Bubblegum Chic!
Mmmm. I love Starbucks oatmeal. I always ask for a packet of nuts and a packet of fruits.
The Bubblegum Chic is really nice isn’t it? My cats certainly are enjoying their new cleaned closet – they both nap in there and it’s hilarious to watch them stumble out after a power nap. Today’s Starbucks oatmeal was perfect-they added the right amount of hot water, and I like the fruit and nuts also!!
Starbucks used to make the best granola ever. It had dried cherries and nuts (almonds? can’t remember now.) This was 25 years ago, long before they became a multinational. They may even have been a local company at that point.
I’m surprised they offer oatmeal with nuts. Good on them for that.
I am sadly pro-nut in an anti-nut world. I went to see a play last week, excited to buy the most delicious spiced nuts ever that are only sold at this particular theater. They have been discontinued and will no longer be sold! Due to objections to people with nut allergies! (?) GRRR.
Had to have another oatmeal today! The nuts are in a sealed cellophane so that’s an optional topping. Too bad they don’t offer that granola – sounds delicious.
I’m not sure how nut allergies come about. Genetics? No one in my extended family, nor my son has any nut allergies, but for some inexplicable reason my daughter is highly allergic to legumes, cashews…but she can have almonds and pecans so it’s really random.
1 and 2) Frapin Orchid Man, I really like this a lot. It’s different from most of what I have on hand and maybe a little elegant in a way.
3) Philosykos, great summer in LA scent
4) good news: I’ve been consistent with working out at least three times a week, and it’s been paying off! More energy, I’m stronger, my clothes fit better, etc
Congratulations to you on #4!
Thumbs up for your consistent work outs!
Accidental layering (note to self: do not organize samples while watching live coverage of Charlottesville). I am errrr very errrr well aromatic in Seyrig AND Shaal Nur. They are equally matched, and NOT blending, so I am getting wafts of both fully actualized at the same time. Interesting. Wouldn’t do this on purpose.
No, do not do anything while watching live coverage of Charlottesville. What a sad, sad day.
Love Shaal Nur, can’t even remember what Seyrig smells like, must go look it up.
Thank you–about Charlottesville. Saying more will never be enough, so I will leave it at that.
after Mysore this morning I took a bath with some Jo Malone bath oil from a mini, and then used Neroli Portofino body oil and perfume. I used the Ouai memory mist for the first time. oh. my. goodness. anyone who likes BWF or tuberose needs to check it out. Most amazing smelling hair product I’ve ever used–(My previous favorites have been from R+Co.)
Oh, wonder if their other hair products have the same scent?
They don’t. I think each one smells different. The dry shampoo foam just smells sort of clean, the texture spray smells different as well, and the mask is also a different scent than all the others.
Thanks!
Have you ever used Lush R&B? It has the most divine jasmine scent. Everyone in my family who’s tried it has fallen in love with both the scent and performance. (It makes my curly hair super soft and manageable.)
1. Heeley Iris de Nuit from a sample. Lovely iris, powdery with a carrot note that is very noticeable. I do not know if it is FB worth since the sample was very small and I finished it all. But, I am enjoying it.
2. Besides, Iris de Nuit today. I think the last I tested and liked a lot was Arielle Shoshana Eau de Parfume. It took a while to grow on me, but finally I got it. If it comes in the next splitmeet I will for sure get the biggest size offered.
3. I have not worn anything the most this summer.
4. Relaxing vacation so far. Yesterday and today at sea. Tomorrow, we will arrive in Orlando where we will all meet friends and family members separately. Tonight we will attend a musical show and keep “an eye” on mom, who will be in the casino $$$ (dangerous!) 😀 :D. Have a great weekend everyone!
You smell great, I love Iris de Nuit! So glad you’ve been enjoying your vacation! Hope the show is good. ????
Iris de Nuit has been a big surprise. After 8 hours I can still smell it very well. It is really beautiful!
Sounds like you’re having fun. I am contemplating doing a split of Arielle Shoshanna…a true split in that I won’t buy the bottle until I get an “interest count”. I have to look at my atomizer stash… I kind of like the 15 mLs a lot.
Great! 15 mls is a good size, but I can take up to 20ml, just in case. I hope someone offers Carner Barcelona D600. My decant is almost over and I like this one a lot!
I might if I get enough interest. I am still figuring out the full list, very indecisive this time around.
Ooh, me too! Interested in A. Shoshanna split.
No scent of the day yet, I’m still lingering over breakfast, but I’m thinking I might scent my supermarket trip with 31 Rue Cambon. That will make a mundane task more interesting.
I tested Atelier des Ors Iris Fauve yesterday, which had just arrived at our only local perfumery. I liked it, but it was not instant love. I’ve also been working my way through lots of sample purchases from Luckyscent and STC. Nothing FBW yet, which is a relief really, but always great to try things.
I’ve worn quite a lot of different things over winter, and I think Mad Madame has had the most outings. Apart from liking the perfume, the name seems so appropriate for those more difficult days at work.
Something delicious – we ate out on Monday evening for a friend’s birthday, and I tried a sago dessert, with coconut cream and plums. I’ve never tried cooking sago, but I’ve since been googling recipes and sago is on the shopping list. I’m planning to experiment this evening.
Yum! Enjoy!
The bubbles in bubble tea remind me of sago, but I know they are not the same thing.
Way back when I was in college, I lived in a house that was owned by a consortium of Protestant sects. One of the ministers suggested that the housemates should try to do some things together, like cook a meal together. I volunteered to do dessert once and decided to cook vanilla custard sago. Well, whatever portion of water I used made the custard and sago inedible. I think we tried the cooking together thing once only as we all got too busy….so my one time time to shine was a fail.
Did you like Iris Fauve? I am a big fan.
1. Today I’m testing Zoologist Hummingbird. It started out strongly as all honey and sweet flowers/fruits and I nearly scrubbed it off. Now it’s a very, very pretty sweet floral with an edge of moss. If I were forty years younger I could see this becoming my “signature scent.” Now I like my fragrances less sweet and dirtier.
2. I tried Nuit de Bakelite at Fumerie last week. It was a nice tuberose at first and then I got a plasticky note that just wasn’t pleasing to me. I remember liking her Iris Cendre but it took dumping on the whole sample vial at once for me to smell it. I think I’m not destined to become enamored of this house.
3. I usually wear a different fragrance every day and rarely have a run of sameness, but I did wear California Reverie, Amyris femme, and Hermes Eau de Rhubarb twice each this month. It was so hot and dry I wanted cool and light fragrances.
4. Retirement continues to be wonderful, as does living with the big dog and Miss Kitty. Since the house is all fixed now, I decided to go to Hawaii in October and I’m thinking about a trip to LA in December.
Wow, that sounds like the greatest retirement!
Morning from lazy Sunday–well, it would be, but that I didn’t do all the housework yesterday because I got a sudden flashing migraine and ended up all little, weak and helpless in bed. I slept away a lot of the afternoon and then for about 10 hours last night, and right now I feel scarily wonderful. My scent today is the gorgeous Oeillet Bengale, which I just adore. I don’t find it has huge longevity, but I don’t much care–I’m happy to reapply, which is easy, because I bought the travel pack of 3x15ml bottles. When I go back to Portland next year and visit Fumerie, I think I’ll buy the same pack again, because it’s so very sensible.
Last scent I tested? I didn’t give them skin time, but I did sniff the new “luxury” range from Boucheron. They were OK. I didn’t hate any; didn’t love any either. I’m not tempted. I have also tried most of the Tom Ford Vert scents. I like them all, but I am satisfied with the very generous samples the TF counter gave me: no purchase there. I will be trying Gabrielle this coming Wednesday: I really want to totally love it and have it as a summer staple, because I don’t have a floral among my summer “go tos”.
And something wonderful? Well, you knew I would say the kittens and Dakkie. I get a lot of joy from watching Eric with the Pink Fur of Destiny, and Alexander with a faceful of knitted mouse, growling fit to bring the ceiling down. I love the Nine O’Clock Riot, when madness enters their blood and they rampage through the apartment. I adore the intense cuddles –“I’m here; love me NOW!”– and I like the arrangement of multi-coloured fur that the sleeping pile produces. I like best that Dakkie, after a short period of being totally affronted, has accepted their energetic, disrespectful presence. He allows them into his hut (well, he couldn’t prevent the invasion, actually); he lets Eric sleep draped on him (Siamese unto Siamese, for sure); he doesn’t growl now when Titus and Alexander take the knitted mice. He still won’t let anyone play with his tail, but that’s OK: everyone has boundaries. Yep. Wonderful.
So. The housework still needs doing. Off I trot. Be well, all.
Love to read your kitty updates 🙂
The last thing I sought out to test was L’AP Histoire d’Orangers. Having read the positive reviews on Bois de Jasmin and Candy Perfume Boy, I was disappointed. It’s not terrible but neither is it four stars to my nose.
I prefer L’AP Seville a l’aube or, for a lighter orange blossom, Astier de Villatte Eau Chic. I know Kevin described it as smelling like milkweed and tuberose (and perhaps it does resemble milkweed), but it’s basically an excellent version of the classic orange blossom cologne.
I haven’t worn anything very consistently this summer, but AG Ninfeo Mio would be the most frequent.
I’ve been reading Orwell and Churchill by Thomas E. Ricks because of this interview:
http://www.npr.org/2017/06/16/530739292/what-churchill-and-orwell-had-in-common-both-could-say-my-side-is-wrong
I would also recommend The Death of Expertise by Tom Nichols. He’s done a ton of interviews about the book including with Chauncey DeVega of Salon, WBUR On Point, the Spy Museum, various NPR stations and book stores around the US, and even some international ones, so I recommend googling around for the interviewer or podcast you like best.
SOTD is a very vintage Shiseido Zen parfum – very incensey and woody in a natural way – mmmm!
That sounds like a great book and I know my mother would love it as a WW2 child of communists in Manchester. Have you ever tried new Zen? I might give it a go. Yay a new book to read.
I haven’t tried any of the newer iterations of Zen. I’ll be interested in your assessment.
Shisedo Zen was on my wishlist for the longest time, then I took it off. I don’t remember why, exactly. It’s certainly one I don’t hear about much, here or elsewhere. I’ve still never smelled it, and I think one of the hurdles to buying some was not being able to tell vintage bottles from new ones.
Any tips?
Poem for the day Novel by Arthur Rimbaud (describes linden) to match the jo Malone lime blossom I tried yesterday. I also tried the Prada infusions and liked the iris, and the oeillet. I also liked SL Fleurs d’orange. I’ve enjoyed the Tv series Search Party. A funny crime thriller with great characters.
Hello happy NST people!
Well, that was a week and a half.
Here’s what I did since I last posted:
Friday 4th SOTD was Acqua di Parma “Colonia Quercia”, for which my one-word review would have been “Hmmm?”. It was an unusual scent, but no better for longevity than its duller siblings. I wore it side-by-side with Baldessarini “Ambre” which also has an oak note listed. Anway as “Quercia” is about oakmoss and not oak (this is what comes of not reading notes properly, folks) and the Baldessarini was too well-blended to pick out the oak wood note, I didn’t learn a lot from the comparison, except that a department store fragrance can hold its own against a poorly-executed niche brand any day.
Last week then was veitiver:
Monday – Brooke & Shoals “Orange flower, amber & vetiver”. B&S does mostly home fragrances and the perfume was nice although not terrifically exciting.
Tuesday – Hermes “Terre d’Hermes”, it was fine but Hermes is probably over-represented in my collection and this one doesn’t make the grade for me.
Wednesday – Yves St Laurent “La Nuit de l’Homme” was enjoyable but despite a rich mix of notes it didn’t last terrifically well. Left to my own devices I wouldn’t have known there was vetiver in it.
Thursday – Robert Piguet “Casbah”. Incense/ pepper/ green notes – finally a green incense I could enjoy. This is the 3rd RP I’ve tried and so far it’s 3 for 3 – I bought Fracas. First Bandit and now Casbah are wait listed. :^)
Friday – Profumum Roma “Fumidus”. (I’ll come back to this one below).
So, on to the weekend questions.
1. SOTD is Christian Lacroix “Tumulte pour Homme” from a decant.
Top: juniper, plum and bay leaf;
Mid: geranium and violet;
Base: cedar, incense, sandalwood and patchouli.
It’s an interesting spicy scent with a hint of incense. Doesn’t last terrifically well and is now discontinued, so I won’t search it out.
2. Most recently tested was Fumidus.
Notes are vetiver, birch and whiskey.
You know,I should have liked it more than I did. The smokiness was a bit rough for me. Later it turns much more vetiver-ish. I might try it again in colder weather. For smokey perfumes I prefer 4160 Tuesdays “A kiss by the fireside” or DS & Durga “Spirit of the Glen”.
3. The fragrance I’ve worn most this Summer is Majda Bekkali “Mon Nom est Rouge”.
Top: elemi, pink pepper, cumin, incense, geranium and rosewood;
Mid: cardamom, rose, cinnamon and ginger;
Base: cedar, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, musk, white tobacco, labdanum, patchouli and tonka.
Next most common have been Jeroboam “Miksado” and Tauer “Lonestar Memories”. I guess common features across the three are a rich mix of notes that make me feel good whatever the circumstances.
4. Something wonderful. Well, this Summer TOMK, who has MS, has been enjoying walking the canals of Birmingham, which form little veins of countryside though the heart of the UK’s second city. The cool thing being his strength and energy have built up wonderfully over the weeks. We had some friends over for last weekend (hence the start of my radio silence) and they were amazed by the difference.
Wonderful to hear the good news for TOMK, thank you for sharing with us. I’m a believer in the health benefits of walking, and walking near water is particularly pleasant.
It really is, isn’t it? Walking near water, that is. My best memories of the island I recently moved from are walking down to the water in summer. It was arduous and hilly but nevertheless soothing.
Oh that is such good news! Happy for both of you!
Wonderful news!
Fantastic news re TOMK!
That is awesome news re TOMK! I hope he can continue his walks… it sounds like they are doing him a world of good.
1. Berdoues Assam of India, which I was resisting buying the full bottle but finally gave in last night when I saw my sample was almost empty and panicked. I think that’s as good of a sign as any that it’s FB worthy, right? 🙂
2. Also from the same coffret: Arz El-Rab, which I was intrigued by, but sadly, did not enjoy at all; it just smelled like Pine-Sol on me:
3. This summer, I’ve gone back to Wood Sage and Sea Salt over and over again. I think it’s probably the closest I would come to naming a “signature scent” for myself.
4. I accepted a job offer this week! It’s not really a step up from what I’m doing now (I’m a software engineer), but my current office is downsizing significantly, and while I’ve been told repeatedly. by my director that I’m “safe,” the rest of my team will probably be out by the end of the year, and there won’t be any opportunities for advancement for the forseeable future. It’s bittersweet because this new position has a lot of potential for growth, but I really like the team I’m in now. However, not being on call 24/7 will be a huge plus, that’s for sure. 🙂
Congrats on the new position! That does sound bittersweet. Fingers crossed your new team is a good fit 🙂
I really like Wood Sage and Sea Salt, it’s so easy to wear. I love it when layered with Lime Basil and Mandarin.
Congrats on your new job. Good luck!
Yay to a full bottle of Assam and a new job 🙂
Best of luck with your new job. Hopefully you will be able to stay in touch with your current coworkers?
1 & 2 Charlotte Tilbury Scent of a Dream ( i think that’s its name)
It’s okay, kinda sharply floral_sweet at first then smells like dried straw/hay. Not something a plan on purchasing, lol.
3. Been wearing Hermes Jardin Sur le Nil a bunch, probably my most worn. I can get away with it at my frag-free work with one small spray under me shirt.
4. I’ve slowly gained weight over the last 6 years, so that I increased 4 pants sizes, 2 of those in the past 12 months. I’m short, so a couple additional pounds makes a big difference. I joined weight watchers this week, and am really liking it so far. The online community through the app is awesome and inspiring.
My mom has recently lost a bunch using the program, and it is fun to share the journey with her. We can talk points 😉
Feeling good about this choice, and inspired to get my body moving again (thanks, stupid desk job, lol).
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Good for you on number 4! I think having someone who can share and be supportive helps.
I’m short too and know the difference that ten, five, or even just two pounds can make! Good for you, it’s a wonderful feeling to find something that works.
Right now yoga in the morning and walking in the evening help me stay on track.
I have been on keto diet for th last 3 weeks. First two weeks it was nothing and then I have been dropping a pound per day.
another shorty here! Good luck with number 4…I understand that five pounds on those of us shorter in stature is like 10 lbs on an average person…unlike you I have lost weight over the years..I guess I should probably consider myself lucky 🙂
Having someone support you with your lifestyle change is darn near priceless. Good for you!
1. Wearing one of my summer favorites, Ninfeo Mio.
2. I rarely sample any more, but I did recently test Imaginary Authors Saint Julep. Liked it a lot, but it is oh so fleeting on me.
3. I’ve been sticking with a few favorites: the PdN Eaux, anything fig, anything salty-beachy. Jacomo #8 and PdE Wazamba have been getting a lot of play, too.
4. A recent college graduate came into the shelter to adopt a cat. He had just moved into his first apartment and wanted a buddy. He adopted my favorite of our black cats! He took his time, looked at a lot of our cats, and really thought it through, which convinced me that it was a great placement. I’m always happy when that happens, but especially with black cats.
Oh, and not to enable or anything, but The Body Shop has 40% off a lot of things, including a number of their mists, EdTs, and EdPs (also free shipping!).
So nice to read your #4!
Two of the best cats I have had in my life were/are black cats.
1. LeLabo Bergamote 22.
2. Vintage Samsara edp thanks to a generous NSTer. It is lovely, the sandalwood is so smooth. I think I will be looking for my own bottle.
I have also fallen in love with OJ Woman. It’s forest-y-ness (I think it was SheriG that called it that) reminds me of home.
3. See number 1. I am quickly draining my decant of this one and I think it is fbw for me. I’ll take all the complimentary body and hair products too thank you.????
4. My girls are home from camp!???? I’m not gonna lie, I look forward to this little break every summer, but by the time they come home I am always sooo happy to see them. I’ve missed the giggling and they come home with such great camp stories.
My husband and I just watched the first episode of the Netflix series ‘Ozark’ last night. Intense.
Have a great weekend everyone!
We watched the first episode too, and about 10 minutes of the 2nd. First episode too violent for me (I left the room, my husband told me when it was over) but love Laura Linney so we’ll watch a bit more and see if I have to drop out — which is often what happens!
I think episode 1 was the most violent one.
I would describe the rest of the season mostly as a slow paced thriller. They spend a lot of time throwing out new plot lines, introducing new persons and fleshing out a back story.
There are a few violent incidents but not as rough as in episode one.
Okay, there is one scene in one of the last episodes that gets quite bloody, but you can feel it coming.
Ozarks was great. I was impressed with Jason Bateman’s performance – I have only seen him in silly comedies where his talent did not shine. Laura Linney is one of my favorite actresses!!
Thanks Jiji & Clarissa! I’ll keep watching then. Admit I am not as sucked into the plot as I hoped to be, but hopefully it will pick up.
Opardu. After sampling Opardu, I found a 10 ml decant on the bay for a great price but I am burning through it at an alarming pace.
I tested Calypso by Robert Piguet last night. It was a gift from the ever generous and thoughtful ElisaP. It is a lovely and soft powdery rose. It is the perfect fragrance for an evening out when you’ll be close to other people, such as a movie theater or a restaurant.
It’s hard to say but probably Cristalle, Rahele and Opardu.
I’m saw a gorgeous iridescent, turquoise blue bird on my feeder yesterday. I’m not entirely sure but I think it was an Indigo Bunting. I’ve only seen one once before. Also, I’m going to a movie tonight which is perfect chance to Calypso again.
Nice bird observation!
Wearing Cristalle Eau Verte which has been my summer go to all season. Sweet grapefruit with a sharper green undertone – yum.
Recently tried SJP Stash – liked, didn’t love.
Cristalle EV as above, but so many folks have mentioned Ninfeo Meo I need to get that out of the drawer soon!
Have discovered salty butterscotch chocolate courtesy of Morrisons Supermarkets UK.
1. Today I am wearing Serge Lutens’ Vitriol d’Oeillet.
2. That is the most recent fragrance I have tested; I have a sample from Surrender to Chance. I like it a lot but it isn’t really “me” somehow. I like the spices, which I find to be soft, not harsh; I love the smell of carnations. I think I might really love it on my husband.
3. I have been wearing Penhaligon’s Blasted Bloom a lot this summer. It has been a challenging season for me at work and with family this year, and BB somehow helps me stiffen my backbone in a ladylike way. It’s very suitable for an office but also very refreshing, with its notes of cold seawater and wildflowers.
4. Here is my recipe for a “Rosie the Riveter” summer cocktail made with Hendrick’s Gin: https://oldherbaceous.wordpress.com/tag/rosie-the-riveter/. Enjoy!
I think Vitriol is really best for a guy, so that’s worth a try. Where is the fountain with the Chihuly topping on your blog? It makes a great banner!
Thanks! It is at the Atlanta Botanical Garden: http://atlantabg.org/. One of my favorite places to visit! They do at least one wonderful outdoor art installation every year, and usually raise funds to keep some of the pieces permanently. The Chihuly fountain came that way, as did the Earth Goddess mosaiculture. But perhaps my favorite installation was “Forest of Light”: https://oldherbaceous.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/forest-of-light/. Sadly, you can’t really keep pieces of that.
Oh, the Forest of Light photo is lovely! [Insert dreamy sigh here.]
We have A Chihuly sculpture at work. It looks like a ball of psychedelic kelp, and I dig it.
That light installation is magical! If you’re ever in Seattle, there is a Chihuly museum and garden that is worth several hours. But I especially like the combination Chihuly with the classical fountain in your photo.
Ok, I need to find that Rose Lemonade!
I’ve seen it at Cost Plus World Market.
According to a web search I did, some Wegman’s also carry that Rose Lemonade. Hopefully I will be able to check this out soon.
Excellent, I will look there. And thanks Kindcrow — used to have one near me but it closed.
I think your cocktail sounds MAHVELLOUS, DAHLING! I am going to remember that one. I love Hendrick’s. The rose photos you linked to on the blog are gorgeous!
Here’s another article on the three corpse flowers set to bloom in DC within the next week or so.
http://dcist.com/2017/08/a_corpse_flower_is_blooming_again_a.php
I’m going out of town for a few days – I hope I don’t miss them all. It’s no easy matter to see or smell them: last year I waited in line for two hours and was about 10 people from the door when they closed for the night, so I missed out. 🙁
Ugh, that’s awful that you missed it! Hope you get a chance to catch it this year. I will actually be up there next weekend, so I’ll have to make a point of trying to get to the gardens myself.
The gardens are worth a visit in their own right.
I forget if you’ve been to Arielle Shoshana before. If not, and if you have time for perfume shopping, the Arielle Shoshana niche perfume shop is easy to get to: take the Orange Line to Dunn Loring, then hop a cab to the Mosaic District. (Of course, Uber exists, but there is a taxi stand out side the Metro, and I usually walk or call a Red Top cab for my return.)
No I haven’t yet! I actually haven’t been to NoVa in a long time, but will be going out to Sterling to visit a friend, so maybe I can manage a detour to go finally see the shop.
Oh, no! You were so close. I hope that you make it this year. We saw bridal veil stinkhorn mushrooms in Costa Rica. They were covered with two species of flies, so they use the same tactic as the corpse flower.
It was brutal. We get some stinkhorns here but none of the veiled mushrooms. You must have seen a lot of cool things in Costa Rica!
Stinkhorns are so cool. I’ve seen lantern stinkhorns here. I am keeping fingers crossed wishing you success in your corpse flower quest.
Some Costa Rica highlights:
Two species of sloths, poison dart frogs (one of them was in what I think was a wine cup mushroom), eyelash vipers, Baird’s tapir, rhinoceros beetles, elephant beetles, cool mushrooms, and so many hummingbirds (lots of Fiery-throated Hummingbirds), and Resplendent Quetzals.
1. Today I’m wearing vintage Obsession parfum from a Facebook group purchase. It is fabulous and if it was released today under a niche name, it would be wildly popular.
2. Dame Perfumery Mate, Heliotrope and Patchouli. Big disappointment here, I got a synthetic fruity opening kind of like Skittles and no patchouli. I really want to support Dame Perfumery but I just haven’t found one that really sings.
3. Oddly enough, I’ve worn vintage Habanita the most this summer. To be honest, this summer has been awful. I thought last summer with my husband having a total knee replacement then falling 3 weeks out and needing another surgery that laid him up for months was the worst, but watching my dad die through this spring and summer, then having surgery for a stupid dislocated toe and having to have a ginormous pin hanging out while I have to wear an orthopedic boot is even worse. I can’t wait for this summer to be over.
4. Something good, hmm. Well, I’m pretty thrilled that my dad had enough life insurance that my mom should be well taken care of for the rest of her life, that’s huge. The caretaking part is really getting to me even though I have great help so that’s not so good. I miss my life. But, this is supposed to be positive…..well, all the summer vegetables continue to ripen, and my big cat continues to be a source of joy. Things could be worse.
*hugs* Hope things start to look up soon. Cats are awesome and it sounds like you have a lovely one 🙂
Plus you smell amazingly gorgeous!
So sorry for your loss (((hugs)))
Oh ringthing, so sorry for your loss. One less thing to worry about for your mom with your dad’s planning (mine did too by making smart choices that were favorable to survivors).
I am so sorry for your loss and everything else you have been going thru. I hope things start getting better soon. Sending hugs.
So sorry, ringthing. Hope the fall will be better for you.
(((hug))) I’m so sorry about your loss and your injury.
Hmmm…will have to make a run to Target now. I love pens. My current favorite is in from Muji, simply because it is brown ink. Brown! I’ve never had a brown ink pen before.
I’m so sorry for your loss and the tough times this summer. Hope the fall brings more peace and joy!
Ugh, so sorry about everything you’ve been going through.
On the upside, I totally agree about vintage Obsession. It is amazing stuff. I always list it for swaps and no one ever takes me up on it. Y’all are missing out 😉
I will send you a note. I think I missed your posting in the last swapmeet 🙂
So sorry that you are having a terrible summer. It kind of sounds like the one I had last year. I hope that things start to look up for you as the seasons change. Remember to take a bit of time for some self care, OK?
I do very much hope that things will improve soon for you. That is a LOT to go thru and kudos to you for being there for everyone despite how hard it is. Hugs!!
1. No scent today for me as it was garage sale day. I sold each and every bottle I brought with me. Woohoo!
2. The recent testing was Prada Vetiver, really good so far.
3. We’ve had such a hot summer this year plus forest fires burning non-stop for the last month that my nose is a bit fatigued by the end of the day. Chanel No 19 EDP has been my go to for comfort.
4. Selling my 20+ bottles today (plus related lotions and shower gels). Plus I sold to 1 lady about 10 bottles – a package deal; we bonded at how we young we were when we started this obsession.
Thumbs up in Chanel No. 19 EDP and how awesome that you were able to rehome your unwanted bottles!
Thank you! It was so great to do that. I think it was causing me a bit of angst, the sheer number of bottles. Now that it’s a bit more controlled I can re-focus.
Since many of them I wasn’t wearing, I thought it was time to purge. And they will have new happy owners, the lady who bulk bought said she will share with her girls.
Your garage selling sounds like it was a lot of fun! I need to try that Prada.
You’re in the Vancouver area? I’m downwind of you 😉
It was fun! Lots of great people. I was pretty surprised at the interest in my fragrances but happy to share the love with some real perfume folk as well. It was so liberating too. Now I don’t feel so bad about my vintage Miss Dior on it’s way to me.
I’m about 4 hours east of Vancouver in Kelowna.
1- 3. My answers to 1, 2, and 3 are the same. I tested 10 Corso Como from a Luckyscent sample a little ways back, and loved it. Ordered a bottle, and have been wearing it frequently. It both smells great on me and is really easy to wear, and now I’m wondering how I’ve managed to live a perfumista life without it for all these years…..
4. I finished the bookcase project, and it went so well that I made two additional ones! Emptying several book boxes onto the new bookcases was a sincere pleasure. Lots of familiar, well-loved covers to say hello to, and then shelve properly.
Oh, good for you!!
Congratulations on the shelves!
Fantastic! What a feat! You have proved me wrong with your DIYing! 😉
There was a definite sense of pleasant surprise at the result on my part, as well. 🙂
. today – a rainy and really cold summer day, i’m wearing LYS SOLEIA/GUERLAIN : my liquid sun.
. last test : PETIT MATIN/MFK – looking for something not to pungent for my new job in a hospital. very pretty and softly uplifting
. most worn this season : i have not found my perfect neroli perfume yet so i’ve doused myself with a mix of FLEURS DE CITRONNIERS/SERGE LUTENS + NÉROLI/YVES ROCHER + 4711.
high hopes for HISTOIRE D’ORANGERS/L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR
also waiting for a blind buy of a bottle of NÉROLI(vintage)/ANNICK GOUTAL
. i’ve just begun a kind of perfume blog on tumblr ^^
Can you link to it through your screen name? I would love to read it!
The last fragrances I tested were the Sauf set and I just love them.
The fragrance Ive wore the most this winter has been Spanish Amber, not too sweet, not too dry and just right.
Went snowboarding for the first time in 4 years (been skiing otherwise) and the first time in the Andes here in Santiago. It was brilliant and made me smile!
No fragrance today for that reason. Have a good weekend everybody!
Snowboarding in the Andes sounds like heaven right now, she said, standing right under the A/C vent. 🙂
It was great! But if it helps Santiago generally does not do heating. It exists but is criminally expensive, so on really cold days I dream of summer 🙂
SOTD: Broke out the Philosykos for the first springlike day we’ve had in ages.
Recently Tested: Sycomore EdP and I think it might be love. Smoky nutty grassy gorgeousness. Will be fun to test some more as the weather warms up in coming months.
Worn most this winter: Without doubt Uncle Serge’s Five O’Clock Gingembre
Something wonderful: Will be having fish and chips for lunch near the beach today with family and the weather couldn’t be nicer.
Fish & chips by the beach sounds lovely — and you smell great !
SOTD corso como body oil + SL Santal Majuscule on wrists, Chanel Cristalle EDT on decolletage. The latter was a test; I expected it to be a lot greener and crisper than the EDP but it isn’t that different as far as i can tell. A side by side is due.
This summer I wore a lot of Chanel No 5 l’Eau, No 19, Guerlain Vetiver, and PdE Azemour. I was in a bit of a rut.
Something wonderful: recently my husband and i went on an overnight trip to a riverside town. The weather was beautiful, the historic hotel was a delight, the meals were delicious and the drive was lovely both ways. I can’t wait to go on another simple trip like that.
My recollection is that it’s Cristalle edp that’s crisper and greener. Curious to hear what you think after a side-by-side.
That body oil is divine. Parfum1 has it on amazing deal and I bought a back up for a back up 🙂
SOTD = was commando when I left to go the City to meet up with cazaubon (who is in town for a meetup with some basenotes peeps)…now I smell like a perfume mutt.
I tested a lot of fragrances today Penhaligon’s (World Trade Center), OsswaldNYC, Bergdorf and Barneys. I took the opportunity to scout out possible purchases for the Bergdorf gift card event and the Barneys Beauty Bag event. I got distracted with shiny stuff at the WTC and ended up getting a pair of Rose Gold with diamond huggie earrings (I brazenly asked for a discount and got it), but let’s get back to perfumes :-). I stopped by Penhaligon’s and sniffed around. I ended up liking one of the new Portraits – Clandestine Clara (which I kept calling Clairvoyant Claire) with notes of rum vanilla, cinnamon musk and ambery patchouli but wahhh, $240 (plus tax) for 75 mLs is a lot of money. I asked for a sample and when I was at the counter waiting for the sample, I saw a stack of boxes that looked like sample sets but I was wrong! The boxes were for Travalo travel atomizers at $20 each…kinda expensive when one can probably buy it at half the price elsewhere; however, I bought one anyway because you can ask for it to be filled with the fragrance of your choice! My mama didn’t raise no fool so I asked for it to be filled with Clandestine Clara, one of the most, if not the most expensive fragrance in the Penhaligon’s collection.
Most worn? I don’t keep track but I would have to say No.19 EDP, EdM Bleue and No.5 L’Eau.
Something wonderful:
– I met cazaubon – she’s warm, patient, assertive and Elegant!
– I got a decant of Guerlain Nuit d’ Amour from cazaubon
– I managed to catch an earlier train to get home
– it was a good bring home samples day (L’Atelier de Givenchy Iris Harmonique, Diptyque Eau des Sens, Byredo Velvet Haze, Mancera Wild Leather, Memo Shams Oud, Phaedon Pure Azure, Memo Eau de Memo, By Kilian Good Girl Gone Bad Extreme)
– A bottle of Profumum Roma Vanitas is winging its way to me…this will be a candidate to be split!
What a wonderful day!!
It was! I love meet-ups!
Please weigh in on the Givenchy Iris when you’ve tried it…curious about this one.
Sounds like a wonderful day…I have met cazaubon too and agree with your assessment. ????
Hey She-ra…it is FBW and while I would gladly pay full price for it, I will wait for the 20% off from Sephora to buy it! My mini review is below in a separate comment.
Vanitas sounds good, count me in for 10 mls plz.
Yes curious about Givenchy Iris as well!!
I keep going back to Vanitas whenever I am at Osswald so I just decided to bite the bullet.
My mini review of Iris Harmonique is below in a separate comment.
What fun!!!!!
did you get a chance to sample the new Jo Malones? I am very curious about those although I still haven’t gotten around to sampling either Orange Bitters or Myrrh & Tonka (one of these days…I am patient!)
thanks for the tidbit on Penhaligon…how many ml do they give you with the atomizer? wondering if it is worth it to buy the atomizer even though it is a bit pricey.
It was fun!
I smelled English Oak & Hazelnut and English Oak & Red Currant. Both fragrances were earthy woody and the other notes were true to the fragrance name. The hazelnut one was quite nutty and the red currant was fruity sparkly. I liked the red currant better than the hazelnut.
As to the Penhaligon’s, the travel atomizer can contain up to 4 mLs. I really wanted more of Clandestine Clara and while I did not check to see what a decant would cost, I just know that the mark-up would be high so I took the plunge. I did the math when I got home. STC did not have the Portraits in their inventory but I extrapolated based on the other fragrances and came to the conclusion that the equivalent amount would cost $28-$30 and even with a 20% discount, it would still be more than what I paid.
oh thank you for all that info!!! IF I end up buying anything (which I am trying very hard NOT to!) you will get an enabler pin 🙂
Wow, you had a fantastic day yesterday!
It was fun! Next time, I’ll check to see if you can make it!
It was very exciting to finally meet you in person as well! As for your impression of me, I’m flattered. I could use the same adjectives to describe you. :-).
The weather is finally cooling a bit here, so I wore Equistrius today in celebration. During our ridiculous hot spell, I wore a LOT of Cristalle EDT … and probably will continue to because I’m deeply in lurve with it. Tested recently …. hmmmm …. well, I tried SSS Nostalgie arm-to-arm with Patou 1000 at bedtime last night. They’re only alike in their retro vibe. I liked them both, but neither is what I would call “easy to wear” and I would probably reserve them both for special occasions.
Cristalle is so lovely in hot weather.
I haven’t posted or commented in a long while…..but do drop in to read the blog fairly faithfully. A trip to London in May required me to visit Ormonde Jayne and I had a wonderful time smelling, and trying a lot of the range. Missed, but then found her new Ambre Royale at Harrod’s and swooned. Didn’t purchase (with some regret) but have now found it at LuckyScent here in the US. Joy! Grabbed a bottle instantly and I’ve been wearing it fairly regularly. Could become a pillar of my collection. Also like wearing it layered with some of Escentual Molecule 02.
A couple of blogs led me to Slumberhouse and I’ve sampled most of their line. My two favorites are Kiste and Ore, however New Sibet is intriguing. I usually go for a scent that eventually opens up in a big way. Kiste and Ore are pretty linear and it lasts and lasts and lasts for hours.
Anyone tried the new Aedes Pelargonium? I quite like it.
Thanks Robin for your wonderful blog!
Thank you for the thanks 🙂
I am so behind on the OJ line, and hope to catch up now that they’re distributed here. Also behind on Slumberhouse! And, well, on everything.
I have spent the last few months moving and then traveling a bit, and have just begun spending time with my perfumes again.
1. Today Seville a l’Aube. Surprised at how quickly it quieted down on me. Now I can’t wait to try AG Neroli which I found marked down a lot and will be receiving soon.
2. I decided that I had to try Aimez Moi after so many readings of Robin’s love for it. Bought it blind and loved it. Thank you, Robin!
3. This summer I have been wearing Aqua Allegoria Anisia Bella more frequently than usual which in turn led me to Etro Anice which I also love. That was kind of the route to the Aimez Moi also. My favorite winter version is 1000 Flowers Reglisse Noire and I love Douce Amere. So there are my anise/licorice scents!
4. I just moved to a more rural area and bought a bird feeder this week. Those goldfinches have turned my veranda into a fast food destination and I love it! Having made the trip from Manhattan to Bergen County to Ocean County, a bird feeder is a really new accoutrement for me.
That’s exciting about your bird feeder and the goldfinches! You might try to put out a birdbath also. My mom has one in her yard (rural northern Indiana) and the visitors are so much fun to watch–she gets lots of bluebirds there.
Nice anise collection, and you’re reminding me to get the Aimez Moi out of the back of the cupboard!
Forgive me, Donnatella, for I have sinned. Since I read the news about Feminite du Bois turning into a non-export scent, I used my Overstock coupon to get a back up bottle when I really needed to get new flannel sheets. Just finished watching the PBS show Manor House on Amazon Prime. I think that PBS tried to do a reality show thing with Manor House. I am about to apply my bed time scent which will be Lyric.
BTW, I asked about my full bottle of Lyric and the consensus seems to be that it might be some stale perfume in the sprayer. I think that I will use the full bottle for the next few days because I haven’t worn Lyric since the first time I noticed that it smelled funny.
Donatella probably would want you to get a backup bottle for your backup bottle!
1. I wore Jasmin de Nuit today but went swimming and the pool chlorine got rid of it all too fast.
2. I tried the TF Verts and enjoyed them all to varying degrees.
3. I haven’t had a favorite this summer really. I am almost done with a decant of Chypre Fatal and am debating a full bottle…please weigh on the current formula if you’re in the know.
4. I have been spraying only forearms with perfume for a the past couple weeks and not spraying my neck and/chest. Pretty much all my fragrances seem stronger and last longer. I think the neck/chest region led to some olfactory fatigue for me and desensitized my sniffer. I am loving this development and wish I had tried this sooner.
Interesting — I only do forearms anyway, maybe that has “protected” me.
1. I’m in Guerlain Black perfecto today. I must confess I bought it blind (because 1. was very curious and couldn’t find it in store anywhere and 2. had voucher) and I think it will be really good in the colder months.
2. Mugler Aura. Really, it’s very strange. I usually love all Muglers scents, but don’t know if I’ll ever wear this again.
3. Maison Margiela Funfair evening is my most worn this summer. It’s a sweet scent with defined layers (toffee apple! Candy floss! Popcorn!) I don’t think it’s very popular amongst the perfumistas, but its great fun.
4. I’ve found Yoga with Adriene on Youtube and now I’m hooked. I’ve done yoga for 36 days straight and plan to keep going it.
looking up that youtube!
Looking that up on YouTube too! And my only lemming, unsniffed, is Black Perfecto. Those strange Guerlain girly scents are not my usual but I love LPRN and Couture every so often, along with Insolence EDP, as my naughty girl scents. (Civet is sophisticated, not naughty…)
Where did you find it? I cannot find any stores in the US that carry it!!
I’m in Sweden, but couldn’t find it anywhere here either. I got it from feelunique.com
Currently wearing Guerlain French Kiss and it’s probably been my most worn scent this summer.
Last thing I tried was Petit Matin which I liked but not enough for a full bottle
Good news–I wrote about it a few days ago but my fiance is giving me the money to go back to school and finish my acupuncture degree and will also be covering my housing and living expenses. Wowza!
That is LOVE and SUPPORT and TRUST!!!!!
He is a keeper!
Wow, so great for you! And, what a nice fiancee!
Really fun yesterday with my sister going to Aftel Archive of Curious Scents. She won tickets, so we went in the morning followed by time wandering in the shops and having lunch. The museum was quite fascinating (despite me being a bit snuffly). My sister bought a book, which Mandy kindly signed.
I can’t say there’s been one scent more than others this summer. I have gravitated more to the tea / Jasmine scent my other sister gave me.
We are off to drive down to Ojai today. Hoping traffic on 5 isn’t too bad.
Have fun in Ojai. It’s so beautiful there.
Also meant to say, lucky you to be able to share your love of perfume with your sisters!
The last perfume convo I had with mine was her telling her kids it’s ridiculous to pay for expensive perfume when you can just wear essential oils and smell like nature.
I stuck my wrist under her nose and said, “But then you couldn’t smell like this!” She said, “Mmm. Acutally, that smells really good. Probably because it’s mixing really well with the natural scent of your skin.” It was EL Sensuous Nude.
That is such an experience. Pixel, Oakland Fresca, Koyel and I went there a few weeks ago and it was very interesting to smell the natural oils as well as some of the antique onces. I also liked smelling all the ingredients for Curious (but was somewhat lukewarm to the final product)
It was really interesting and worth it. Especially to smell the ambergris and civet, etc. Agree about Curious, except that sometime later I thought it had faded away from where I tried it but I was getting something faint and very nice. Made me curious (no pun/joke intended…)
Ugh, work has been brutal brutal brutal this past week. Finishing up 4 projects. No Fun, 15 hour days. Retirement can’t come soon enough.
I did sneak out on Friday to do some sniffing. My local shops still don’t have the new Elizabeth & James scents, will have to keep looking for those. Sniffed Kat Von D Saint and Sinner… verified that I still do not like gourmands 🙂 Picked up my bottle of TF Vert de Fleur from Nordies. An SA recognized me a frequent shopper (that’s a first); so I got a whole pile of samples, yessss. Sniffed a whole bunch of Le Labo’s, including the city exclusives…. Just like ElisaP, I could hardly smell several of them. LL seems to be fond of some aromachemical(s) that I’m anosmic to. Tested my sample of Mousse de Chene yesterday; liked it in the store, not so much at home. $ saved.
What to test today? Decisions, decisions….
I almost went on Friday to Nordies in VF to check out the Le Labos. Ended up going to Neimans due to time constraints. I also have been trying to find the new Elizabeth and James to try. Great minds ….
IT FINALLY RAINED HERE!! So happy. Wearing Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur to celebrate. 😀
Love that one!
Nice way to celebrate!
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
Just sprayed No 22 EDP, which also qualifies for Q2. I bought a decant of the EDT a few years ago, loved it, and ended up buying a lot (as in multiple bottles in an auction) of vintage EDC. Hadn’t tried the EDP, but got the idea that the new versions are quite different from the vintage, and it is. The vintage EDC is smoky/incensy and quite heavy and makes me gag in summer. The EDP lacks the smoke and is lighter, but I think it might still be best in cold weather.
2. What’s the last fragrance you tested, and what did you think of it?
Tested and liked: SHL Taklamakan, Geisha M Vanilla Hinoki, Balmain Vent Vert, Beige edp. I liked Beige enough to buy a FB.
Tested and did not care for: Miller Harris Le Petit Grain, O de Lancome, Coromandel edp. Tested and am neutral toward Berdoues Assam of India.
Tested and need to spend more time with to make an assessment: Heeley Sel Marin, VCA Orchidee Vanille, Bois des Iles edp.
Tested Arielle Shoshana, which I liked quite well, but it wore very lightly on me and didn’t last long.
Tested Hermes Eau des Merveilles, which I absolutely love, but it also wears extremely lightly on me. I had to spray half a mfr sample to get any projection, thus got only 6 wears from the 3 samples I bought. It is a real bummer. I have the same issue with Hiris, which might be my favorite iris. If there were *extreme* versions, I’d buy FBs of both.
3. What’s the fragrance you’ve worn the most this summer (or winter, depending on where you are)?
It’s summer where I am.
I have an excel spreadsheet where I log all things perfume, including a daily diary. It’s not exhaustive (sometimes I forget) but my most worn since June is some version of Shalimar.
2nd runners up, in almost equal measure: Cristalle, Bois des Iles, Beige, Guerlain Vetiver, Eau des Merveilles, Les Senteurs Vanille Chocolat.
I have a question to ask: What are your favorite sandalwood-forward fragrances?
I’ve recently come around to Bois des Iles, have always loved SSS Champagne de Bois, and like (but maybe don’t love? I need to try it again) Samsara. Oh, and I strongly disliked 10 Corso Como. Beyond those, I’ve not smelled a lot of sandalwoods.
In other thoughts, I wore SSS Velvet Rose and Winter Woods this week. Velvet Rose just might be my absolute perfect idealized rose. If I needed an FB rose perfume, which I don’t, I’d need not look any further. Winter Woods is a beauty and I need to try the rest of the SSS woods.
It’s cold and pouring down rain here. Need to find some rain-worthy shoes and outerwear to wear to the farmers’ market, which will be a bit of a challenge. Enjoy what remains of the weekend, all!
I am impressed with your spreadsheet!
Favorite sandalwood is sandalwood absolute essential oil which I used to buy from Eden Botanicals…they no longer stock it. Second runner up is amyris which smells like sandalwood but is a lot cheaper and I like it more. Then it would be Champagne de Bois…don’t get me started on SSS! There are so many I love! But the perfume strength does not seem to last so 85 dollars plus 13 dollars shipping for only one ounce just isn’t cost effective for me 🙁 But I agree, Winter Woods is glorious!!!!
For Sandalwood fragrances, here are some suggestions
diptyque Tam Dao
SL Santal Majuscule
TF Santal Blush – I know it is all synthetic but I adore it.
More recently I have been really liking feel-out, the rising Phoenix and Sultan pasha’s sandalwoods.
SOTD- Burts Bees Mens Sage Deodorant Spray + sweat as I just came in from mowing the lawn! Later I will shower and apply my new e.o. blend I made with my homemade vanilla, lavender, frankincense and dark patchouli….have been using this at night and loving it!
Last fragrance I tested was the new Pacifica Himalayan Berry Patchouli and I liked it.
Most worn fragrance- ha! that should have been the question last summer when I spent seven weeks wearing Assam of India DAILY! This year maybe Bergamot, Jasmine & Labdanum and APLS have gotten the most skin time.
Something good- had a wonderful weekend at the farmers market and met younger family member’s BF for the first time 🙂
Oh you smell great!
Are you able to share your nighttime recipe? How many drops of each or oil do you use? It sounds wonderful!
Absolutely!!! Remember the vanilla oil I made with the vanilla beans and a carrier oil? Well, I used 5ml of that then I added 2ml of the Eden dark patchouli, 51 drops of Now Essentials Lavender and 31 drops of Now Frankincense. it smells very earthy so not everyone may like it but I love it (I am a hippy chic-LOL! so patchouli is my friend!)
Thanks CM8! I’m collecting glass jars in anticipation of making little concoctions – empty Estee Lauder pots etc. going to keep this recipe – I would love to have a nighttime elixir and this sounds marvelous!
Can you remind me of the vanilla bean to carrier oil ratio?
I started with one and a half vanilla bean pods split open to two ounces of carrier oil…now I have marinating five bean pods in a 16 oz carrier oil which will stay that way until the winter….I already smells divine but I want to squeeze out as much vanilla goodness as possible 🙂
Oh and there is a chance that I might be in the city tomorrow so I will be heading to the Sephora on 34th Street in hopes that they have a lot more of a selection than my local one….also, hoping to try the new Jo Malones somewhere depending on the amount of time I have (only four hours)..thinking maybe SAKS? And wondering if I can pop into Malle and AG if I can get uptown in time….and also find a nice tea shop or cafe for coffee and desert with my mom 🙂
I’ve always liked TF Santal Blush, though not enough to go for the FB.
Kpaint – this comment was meant for you.
Oh, thanks! I spritzed that one once at the mall and thought I really liked it, but it was mixing with a melange of other things. I’ll try it again.
Happy last hours of the your weekends, NST. Here, the inevitable has happened, and it’s Monday. I’m only a little bit pleased about that, but I daresay I’ll cope. I’m pootling around in a dress that is somehow strongly reminiscent of a sixties shift dress without actually being at all like one if you analyse its separate features –that’s quite a trick to pull off!–and No. 22, because, why not? I’m going to do a Chanel week, just ‘cos. I smell perfectly feminine and refined, neither of which I am, so this is an illusion perfume. But then, aren’t they all, one way or another? I’m glad of the “cover” today, because I’m something of a reluctant starter today. Sigh.
An ominous crash has just occurred at the other end of the apartment. If it isn’t the outbreak of World War III, I imagine Eric has banged into a lamp while carrying the Pink Fur of Destiny. He can’t really see over the top of PFoD, do he rushes around blind. I had better go and assess the damage. Be well, all.
I hope Eric, the lamp and the PFoD have all come out unscathed 🙂
SOTD = the drydowns of everything that I have been testing over the weekend. It sounds like it would be a hot mess, but it is actually rather nice. Kind of warm, woody in the good way, and spicy.
Last scent tested that made my heart go “pitter-pat”: Nectar of Love from April Aromatics.
Most worn of the summer: samples. Definitely samples. I am trying to evaluate them, but it’s slow going.
Good news: two things. First, some lovely surprises in a package from someone here on NST! Seeing those made my day. Second, a friend is making grand plans for a Significant Birthday. It looks like several of us will be renting a house in Annapolis for the Renaissance Faire in the fall. Looking forward to that.
Will have to go look up Nectar of Love, but don’t really want to fall in love with anything else from AA — too expensive for me!
Monday already *sigh* I swear weekends are zipping past faster all the time.
Fortifying myself with some Enscens Mythique de Orient in the hope it will help me float through my day in a cloud of gorgeousness.
SOTM is Berdoues Somei Yoshino. I’m only an hour in and I like it, but it is very powdery. Hoping the patchouli in the notes shows up to the party to give it some oomph (but so far a no show.)
Does tomorrow really have to be Monday? My husband and I have been doing a minor home reno project all weekend. We are replacing the flooring, wiring, and lighting in our home office (mostly started as just the flooring since our cat ruined the carpet during his UTI a couple of months ago, but we’ve experienced a little bit of “scope creep” :P).
Our house is over 80 years old and so I always cringe whenever we go poking around in the walls because we never know what we’re gonna find. In this case, when we peeled back the carpet, we uncovered The Oldest Linoleum In The World, which has taken me a day and a half to get scraped up. Could be worse, but my back and shoulder sure don’t think so right now!
Hope something good is under the lino? Get some rest!
I don’t remember getting much patch from the Berdoues either…
SOTD = L’Atelier de Givenchy Iris Harmonique
I like it, a lot, but with some reservations. FBW – yes and will likely include in a split (but not until November or December or whenever the VIB 20% off coupon becomes available) because I don’t need 100 mLs of anything (well, there rare exceptions).
It is a slightly sweet powdery floral woody rooty Iris with flecks of leather and dries down to a warm ambery vanilla (actually Tonka but it smells like vanilla to me). Longevity: dabbed, about 6 hours but the last hour or so you need to have your nose right against skin to smell it..sprayed, about 3 hours before drydown. Sillage – miniscule, so miniscule that my mom, whose nose can rival that of a bloodhound, didn’t even detect enough of it to comment (not one peep). It is slightly fizzy on top and I would attribute it to the neroli. I would venture to say this is an almost perfect office scent :-). As soon as I sprayed it, I thought it smelled familiar. And then it hit me – a fuzzier version of Masque Milano L’Attesa, mixed with Papillon Angelique and then lightened to make it a spring, summer and early fall perfume.
Thanks so much for the review…sounds lovely! I shall be happy to participate in your split should I secure a spot.