Hump Day, and National Coffee Ice Cream Day! What fragrance are you wearing?
Me, the Netherlands, with my old friend POTL, aka Luctor et Emergo by The People of the Labyrinths.
Reminder: On 9/8 we're doing 'world niche'... wear a fragrance from a niche brand that isn't French, Italian or British.
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: Ellips 1 is a mixed media painting from The People of the Labyrinths, €595
SOTD Chinatown
Wow this is gorgeous!
Thanks to the freebiemeet (Elisa P)
I think I have samples for everyday to do the community project
Tea Pleine Lune
Looking for a drugstore brand red lippy for cool undertones and pale skin if anyone has a suggestion
that’s on my too try list, sounds great!
Are you looking for matte or glossy? If matte, you could try Loreal’s “Devil’s Matte-Vocate” – it’s in a black tube
I am open to matte or glossy.
I am normally afraid of red lippy, but a girlfriend of mine suggested that I would look good in red lip so I thought I would give it a go.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Super cheap drugstore: wet and wild cherry picking. It’s a very cool red/fushia. Depending on your natural lip pigmentation, it can lean more red or more fushia. Long lasting, doesn’t travel, comfortable, and did I mention cheap?????
OK! Will look for this one
Not exactly red, but I think plum, wine or garnet shades look amazing on cool toned skin. (Or do you already have that colour range covered?)
And with the fall season starting, colours like that are everywhere!
I do not have recent firsthand experience with a drugstore brand lipstick but Maybelline always had good quality. L’Oreal as well!
Those sound pretty too. I generally wear pink/rose since I am so pale, but maybe a plum color would do better than red. Let me know if you have any suggestions, even if they are not drug store brands but won’t break the bank
A not too dark plum could work. I have MAC cremesheen Hangup. When lightly applied it leaves more of a stain. It has a very light shimmer and is not totally opaque. Needs some re-applying/adjusting after 4 – 5 hours though.
Oh another very wearable and beautiful red is Chanel Etienne, a raspberry. It is also a bit sheer, not too bold. Great for daily wear. Its expensive though (gifted it to myself when I got a small raise in salary).
But you could check for cheaper dupes!
I often use temptalia.com for that. Its a huge make up review database.
You can check for reviews, dupes or compare shades. No affiliation, but its quite handy!
I use that same website! Thanks for your recommendations
Eating ice-cream and scrolling through our photos of Holland. I have some post vacation blues. You live in such a wonderful country
Glad you had a good time in the Netherlands, enjoy the pictures (and the ice cream of course)!
I think it is a wonderfull country as well.
We could do with slightly warmer weather and some mountains (…I like mountains). But in the EU there are plenty of places who offer that within a day- or two-day-ride. So no complaining.
My gateway drug!
You smell great!!
How come I haven’t smelled this until now? I have been missing out
My favorite pale skin* red lippy is Blake’s Red by L’Oreal (402) if you are blonde-ish with pale cool/warm skin If you are VERY pale and have snow pale skin try Julianne’s Red (401) . If you have pale olive skin try Liya’s Red (407) OR Cherries in the Snow by Revlon (440) , which will look fabulous. Not as cheap as Wet & Wild BUT still drugstore, still affordable and will last forever and a day.
* I have dark skin and wear these and have my pale skinned friends borrow these at the house.
Thanks so much-
I will have fun checking these out
Burts Bees are quite cheap ( under $20 ) with good pigmentation. There is one with sunset in its name that is a nice red. Also, do you get Lipstick Queen/ Poppy King lipsticks? They have good reds.
any your recommend for Lipstick queen..
I rather like Medieval, which is a sheer red. And I am a red lipstick-phobe.
Just looked it up and what a pretty color. Thank you
Yes ditto that
Glad you’re enjoying Chinatown!
I keep trying reds periodically myself but never quite feel quite right in full-on opaque reds so end up giving them away. I do like Maybelline Superstay matte lipsticks and have 2: the truffle which is a shimmery mauve and the chestnut which is a reddish brown. Go on smoothly and not too drying for a matte.
I will take a peak at those!
Chinatown is very nice, thanks again.
So far this week all my samples have been from the surprise sample bag from the freebie meet, thanks again Elisa!
I love POTL; wish I were sitting beside you!
I’m taking it easy in Caleche.
Coffee ice cream? win-win.
Happy Wednesday, peeps!
And you smell great in Caleche. I suggest we meet for coffee ice cream
Coffee ice cream is making me crave Montale Intense Café…
Mostly I am just craving the ice cream!
In our way to the US Open morning session. Rainy day, but we are looking forward to having a nice time. Wearing Chanel No. 19 EdT.
Enjoy!
Thank you!
No. 19 fits perfectly with US Open. Have fun!
Thank you! Looking forward to it!
Have fun! Hope the rain holds off. Your scent choice is perfect.
Thank you!
No 19 will keep you poised in the rain!
I will!
Enjoy! I’v never been. At least it’s not pouring and it’s a good day to sit outdoors since it’s not too hot.
It is nice outside. Cool and breezy. Just drizzling now. At least the Arthur Ashe Stadium has a retractable roof. Very few people so far.
Enjoy!
Any interesting food choices?
Ha! Bear, a Philly steak sandwich with a strawberry milk shake was my breakfast. I have my eyes on a super size chilli hot dog with fries and a beer for lunch. Dessert a big coffee ice cream! Junk food in my list, no diet! There is a Korean barbecue stand….. salad and hero stands, lot of Lavazza coffee. Oh well! I hope to survive….
Sounds delicious!
Special events equals deferred calories!
Enjoy it ALL !!
Thanks!
That seems like a perfect scent for the US Open!
Thank you!
So jelly you’re at the Open! And you smell great!
Thank you. We really enjoyed it!
Niche brand. Yes.
Not being frenchbritishitalian, yesss: USA!
Dark horse by Dame
Oh this is good. Really good.
Tried it on my husband a few weeks ago and was impressed (He also liked it) But I like it even more when wearing it myself
And Dame ships rollerball perfumes to my continent. 10 ml for 35 dollar, for such a good scent. Wow, miracles do exist.
(being able to send a spray flacon would be the next miracle, not a big fan of rollerballs)
I wish other American niche brands like SSS were more easily available on mainland Europe. Not that I am complaining about lack of releases or brands here. But I feel there is lot of interesting stuff to discover in American niche.
I am also not fond of rollerballs. I must find a good source for reliable atomizers, perhaps 5 ml size. Then I could do like hajusuuri and change rollerballs into sprays.
Yes that is a solution i was also thinking about! But finding reliable atomisers…the two i tried so far started leaking after a while…
I’d also worry about how to pry open the rollerball part of it. I also wonder if the perfume oil would spray well. (I think Dame’s 10 ml rollerballs are oils, while the sprays are not.)
Yes You are right, those are oils.
I am not wearing but soon will be—- Ormande Jayne is now at Fumerie in Portland (had a lovely visit there this summer). The minute I saw their newsletter yesterday I called and ordered. I thought about it in the past but my calculations with the conversion rate stopped me. Soon Ormande Woman and 3 samples of others!!!!
OJ Woman is GORGEOUS! Did you get to choose the three samples, or are they surprising you?
The man on the phone when I ordered let me choose three.
Who, Andre?
Oh, he is gonna HOOK YOU UP.
The line is also at Luckyscent. Very glad to see it being distributed here.
I was on their site the other day and did not see it but I was just Browsing. Either can be dangerous to the pocket book.
The temperatures are finally cooing here, so I sprayed Cherugi with semi-abandon this AM.
You smell great!
LOLOLOL
Triple strength coffee.
Extra long workout.
Jam – David Bowie Let’s Dance.
World niche.
Incense Extreme Andy Tauer.
Frankincense, black pepper, blue spruce/evergreen.
Reminds me of Christmas.
The flannel shirts are singing their siren songs, but I am resisting.
But temptation is high……..
Seersucker today! !!!!!!
I don’t like coffee ice cream.
Anybody want mine?
Carpe Diem.
Peace.
I love flannel shirts and you smell great!
I don’t like coffee, but I love coffee ice cream.
Humans are a funny bunch.
I’m with you, lillyjo.
we’re Tauer twins
wearing PHI
Yes, I’ll take your coffee-ice cream, thank you
SS after labor day, I contemplated that yesterday, next hot day I will join you!
PHI is the bomb!
I love PHI.
I will need to try this scent, since I like Amber Flash!
Digging both the Incense Extreme and the idea of a cosy flannel shirt.
“Put on your red shoes and dance the blues”… Seersucker and red shoes…*blushes* I do believe I’ve worn that combo to court, but it was NOLA in the 1980s. (I was hell on wheels way back when;) ) Your Incense Extreme is divine!
I’m in Le Temps d’Une Fete in a vain attempt to counteract the smokey, ashy, grey day we’re about to have here.
You smell wonderful.
Sounds very noxious- the smoke and ash, I should clarify! I’m sure you smell fab. Is the ash and smoke the result of more idiot activity in the woods?
Yes – allegedly some idiot teenagers throwing firecrackers in the forest. The very dry forest. Aaaaarrrrrgggghhh. Gigantic fires result. Most of the forest around Multnomah Falls is now GONE. Last I heard they managed to save Multnomah Lodge. I nearly burst into tears listening to the news about it yesterday.
What? That is such a shame!
Hopefully you will get some relief from the smoke and ash soon. I remember that smell!
Fitting in with the theme today in SmellBent Incensed. I have an appointment with the eye guy today so keeping it on the sorta down low.
Did a 4 mile hike yesterday, which sounds like a breeze, right? No! Took me 3.5 hours! An incredibly difficult trail that had me saying words that harkened a newly released Tom Ford perfume! Straight up and then straight down with treacherous footing, not to mention scrambling over boulders on my hands and knees, scooting down steep sections on my behind, and other glamorous positions. T-Rex floated like a butterfly over all of it and got very frustrated with my inability to keep up. Au Dela stayed with me, even though I was sweating profusely. Now that’s my kinda perfume.
Keeping my Florida folks in mind, and hoping for the best, which still looks pretty bad☹️
If it’s easy, is it worth doing?
Cheers Deva !
Love incense perfumes.
Ummm, well, sometimes I do like easy…
Have you tried this one? Not as dry as many of the incense perfumes I’ve tried and longer lasting than the CdG incense series.
I’ve never smelled any SmellBent.
I remember loading a cart a few years back, and abandoning it when the one I coveted (cant remember, something to do with the devil or a demon….) was unavailable.
Will have to reinvestigate .
Yes, do!! “Incensed” is described as a “vanilla incense” and then there is “Incensed short fuse” which is described as a spicey incense. Highly recommend adding a few to your cart and checking them out.
Why, that sounds F*&^%ing Fabulous!
Isn’t it just!????
I love the way dogs scramble up rocks and then stand at the top , peering over the edge, looking down on you with a slightly incredulous look on their face, like ”Really???’. Incensed is great outdoors…try it next time you have a camp fire Mmmmmmm.
Haha! For me, it’s always hoping she doesn’t jump. I can see it in her face- Should I? Shouldn’t I? We’ve come close a couple of times on footbridges and ledges. Caution is not in this dog’s book of lingo. “No!” is a frequent word she hears when we hike. I keep her on a lead at all times because she goes barreling through the woods like the Charge of the Light Brigade, and I worry about her meeting a similar outcome.
Ah I like Incensed, and Incensed Short Fuse. But it’s still summer where I am, so they are hiding in a basement.
And Ha, I’ve gone on hikes like that. DH and I are trying to learn not to ask young dudes who work in national parks for their recommendations for hiking trails. We went on one recommended “trail” in Glacier NP which had me standing on a ledge, eyeballing the 4 ft reach to the next ledge, thinking about “what happens if I don’t make it” “that’s a 100ft fall behind me” and deciding nope, that’s it, we’re turning around HERE. If I ever once thought I was immortal, I am well past that now
Well, it’s not being dead that I’d mind, it’s more all he pain and suffering from a long bone crunching, head bashing, cerebral bleed kind of landing I worry about. When I went to the GC there was a sketchy spot I had to step from one ledge to the next. Not quite as bad as the one you confronted, but still, one step and you’re a goner. I had to get very analytical with myself: “It’s POSSIBLE I could fall to my death but it’s not PROBABLE if I’m very careful.” You know, that kind of BS you have to tell yourself sometimes. If it was just me and DH, I would have done exactly the same as you. I still cringe when I think of it.
Andy Tauer PHI
I was kicked off Fragrantica last night for searching too many pages, ha! they thought I was a robot, I was looking for all the perfumes that had AMBER – SANDALWOOD – CORIANDER. It was a good reminder to go to bed.
Congrats!
That is quite the accomplishment, whole lotta searchin’ going on !
You smell good, gotta wear my PHI soon.
It wasn’t easy
Holy Krakatoa Batman! You got booted off? I didn’t even know that was possible, but then I’m ancient. I think you should celebrate this accomplishment with some coffee ice cream ????
great idea!
So did you find anything good?
Well, I was trying to find out why I found SL Ambre Sultan and OJ Woman similar. The 3 common notes (using fragrantica) are amber, sandalwood & coriander. I know that’s not how perfume works all the time, but I though if I found at least a couple of other perfumes with those same ingredients that gave me the same impression – I could understand how those ingredients smell together.
Well, I found quite a few 70’s/80’s/90’s perfumes with all 3 ingredients – but all of those perfumes have like 10+ notes. What was interesting about Ambre Sultan and OJ Woman is that they had those three in common, but also have relatively few notes overall.
Do you know of any “newer” perfumes with less than 10 notes that include amber, sandalwood and coriander?
More of a sandalwood/ floral, but have you ever tried Samsara by Guerlain?
The note lists on Fragrantica are not always accurate at all or directly from the brand. Aroma M Vanilla Hinoki doesn’t even have vanilla as a note option! And my understanding is that most perfumes have dozens of raw materials and that the note lists give an idea of what it might smell like and also is for use in their PR ad copy. So only having a few notes listed doesn’t mean the perfume only has those several ingredients, if that makes sense.
I find the “this perfume reminds me of” feature more helpful.
That being said, if you like foresty scents or medicinal/aromatic ambers,
Sonoma Scent Studio Forest Walk, Amber Incense, and Winter Woods, Maria Candida Gentile Sideris, and Lubin Akkad might appeal to you.
Thank you for these suggestions, I do like foresty scents!
Yeah, I was afraid of that regarding the listed notes, I won’t get those hours of my life back, ha :0
I was specifically wondering why I smelled a compact/lipsticky smell with amber sultan and OJ woman. I heard violets can do that, but then I thought maybe it was that amber, sandalwood, coriander combo…
or maybe it depends on the lunar cycle and how much junk food I have eaten
This!
Ha! Yes, never underestimate the impact of a full moon and chocolate cake ????
It is a problem because “amber” is nearly meaningless as a perfume note. Even sandalwood could be one of several things.
And when you say they have relatively few notes overall, what you mean is that they have relatively few LISTED notes overall.
But, I am impressed that you looked so hard they made you stop
Well, looks like I had to learn that lesson the hard way…
Maybe someone behind the controls at Fragrantica took pity on me and pulled the plug on my “research” so I would stop spinning my wheels…
Have you tried L’artisan Ambre Extreme? It doesn’t have coriander but it strikes me as a helpful ‘control’ amber perfume, if you’re trying to figure out notes
Not yet – adding to the list
Wow! I think I search a lot. Too funny!
I could sure use a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz right now! SOTD is No 5 Eau Premiere. Inspired by yesterday – perfect for our wet dreary day.
I have a pint of B&J in my freezer..since the babies are napping..I could just have a little bite…nom nom nom!
Coolish today so wearing Goest Perfume’s Smoke and Violets. I think they’re an L.A. based line. Since I like this one so much, I’m curious about their other scents. Anyone tried any of them? They made this particular scent for a store in Brooklyn and it only comes in a 5ml splash. I’m wanting to write them an email asking them to make a larger size with an atomizer!
which store in Brooklyn?
It’s called Catbird on Bedford in Willyburg. Mostly their thing is jewelry but they have candles and some perfumes-also carry the Astier de Villatte perfumes/candles and the Rodin perfume/skin care.
Glad you are representing my small country Robin!
I’m such an idiot thinking I don’t own any niche other than French, British and Italian, as I have several from bottles from an American niche line and a few from Switzerland.
My SOTD is Bois de Paradis, which is lovely and great for the autumnal weather we are having here today.
BdP is one of my favorites. It’s really beautiful, and you smell amazing.
I figured it was cheating for me to wear DelRae since I live here, but glad you’re wearing it!
Good morning Y’all….
Wearing Atelier Pomelo Paradis and still loving it!
Have a great day everyone!
Elegant and very fresh! You smell great!
Every time I sniff Pomelo Paradis at Sephora I tell everyone around me to smell it. Hands down the best citrus top notes.
Got up so early that I forgot about the challenge and wore Robert Piguet Rose Perfection, even though my cabinet was trying to hint and smelled of Zoologist Bat. Will have to switch later!!
Hey, they might layer well!
I’m in Olympic Orchids Mardi Gras – my sample is almost gone and I think I need more.
Could you describe it, please?
57F and rainy today.
I like it. (But then, I don’t have to be outside in it for extended periods of time. And it’s supposed to be clear and cool tomorrow, my favorite kind of weather.)
SSS Tabac Aurea for yum. And am also burning that Paddywax Pumpkin & Spice candle that smells like spiced tobacco. Is it cozy in here, or is it just me?
The whole scenario sounds great! You are rocking the “Fall” thing in the best possible way: Tabac Aurea + Pumpkin Anything= Home Run!!
A clear and cool day, especially after rain washes everything clean, is a marvelous thing. Light jacket, hat and mittens, and a long walk in the open air would make the day perfect for me.
I had not heard of Paddywax so visited their site. It’s a bit like the le labo of candles, very cool!
Add a good book and it is perfect. Are you still working on your novel?
I’m wearing Divine L’Ame Soeur (does not qualify for poll). 6 or 7 years ago this would have been too aldehydic for me but now it’s just lovely.
I really like that line – very elegant and well crafted.
L’Ame Soeur is lovely.
SOTD is C de G’s Zagorsk. I thought this was my least favourite of the incense series but today it is absolutely hitting the spot. Incense but also pine and cedar and other green things.
oooooh, that sounds good!
and CdG is part of the Surrender to Chance 15% off sale! (adding to cart)
good choice, and good enabling!
I like Zagorsk.
I love Zagorsk because you don’t smell pine too often in perfume. When I do, it’s that Pine-Sol stuff.
Zagorsk is most probably my favorite in the series, but you are right–it needs its perfect mood to be appropriately appreciated. Enjoy your day!
You smell great!
Wow, that sounds amazing. When I come across descriptions like this, I regret my no-buy. But I shall stand firm!
SOTD: Penhaligon’s LP No.9 (for her)
A little sad to see this discontinued and the for him version still for sale and now sitting lonely on the shelf.
Coffee Ice-cream day. Does gelato count? If so, I am going for one (and make that serving large)!
Gelato always counts.
Using the last of my sample of Alien Music Mysterieux. Ugh, I’m glad it’s gone. I’ve gone back and forth with it, and today it’s giving me some weird fisherman’s Warf kind of smell. Idk, I think it’s stupid ambroxen, which I can not unsmell now. Dang it.
SotD = Parfums DelRae Debut (San Francisco), an uplifting scent for Wednesday.
People of the Labyrinths is another reason I’d like to visit Amsterdam. The Ellips 1 painting up top today is startling. I like it. Someone help me out, that is an image of the Buddha, right?
Last night I wore both Ambre Narguile and Cologne du 68. The combination felt familiar, somewhere in the neighborhood of Theorema. It was surprising.
Hope today holds something good for everyone.
House twins!
Hi, house twin!
I’m waving a hello to you across the Atlantic.
We smell very nice today.
We sure do, Début is another gem!
Yes a Buddha, but maybe a Bodhisattva, not sure which one.
Thank you, it’s good to know I may be close one way or the other.
How weird, would not have expected Theorema!
Agree! It was odd, and a happy accident.
Wednesday!
1) Still smoky in PDX- but thunderstorms are due tomorrow and hopefully will bring much needed rain.
2) SOTD: Philosykos, which is perfect late summer, I think.
3) My friend went out yesterday and picked in my neighborhood: plums, figs, grapes, tomatoes, pears and summer apples. Clever girl!
My next door neighbor has a fig tree that a squirrel raided and proceeded to eat on my back porch railing.
So cute.
And stinky.
And he gifted me a tiny mound of squirrel p@@p.
Even THAT was cute!
Cheers, Ede !
Ha! Stinky squirrel indeed!
Tom Ford should do a scent called Perfume P@@P with notes of fig and squirrel
Philosykos *sighs* you smell gorgeous!
I’ve been lazy all morning, sitting in my pajamas, surfing the web and smelling the dry down of Shalimar. In fact, I am still that way and I should honestly get myself into the shower and change perfumes. I’m thinking that vintage Bal will hit the spot.
Wearing Heliotropia, almost done with the decant that was so generously sent to me. I have a manufacturer’s sample after the decant. And after that…I do think I’d miss not having it around, but I don’t like how if it’s a limited edition/exclusive for a certain store Byredo only offers the big size.
Wearing Tocca’s Colette for a noisy morning – there’s a crew here tearing off my roof. Debating fleeing to Starbucks, but I feel guilty leaving my cats, who are petrified of the noise.
I’m also feeling a lot sympathy for those in Houston and now those in the path of Irma. My roof was damaged in a storm nearly a month ago and the work is finally being done – I shudder to think how long even those with insurance will be waiting after these hurricanes.
Ugh! I had a leak due to snowstorms earlier this year and it took three weeks for the insurance follow up. God help the hurricane victims!
I love Colette. You smell wonderful.
How long are the roofers going to be working on your place?
They finished the repairs on the house roof today – they’ll be back to work on the carport once the permits come through. Now if I could just get rid of the tar smell in the house . . .
Popping up to smell tar! Done right, tar satisfies some cravings.
Well, it’s certainly pungent in here right now. I actually Googled “Is tar smell toxic?” earlier (answer: no).
So you and the cats will get a break from the roofing noise for a bit. That HAD to be really annoying.
Still sticking with American niche brand Phlur for this week’s community project…wearing Hepcat on this rainy cold day…so potent but so good! I like the juxtoposition of a really strong masculine scent on my 93lb body…I am NOT to be reckoned with today -LOL!
Shangri-la, which is Dutch-Canadian. This little sample has lasted a while, but is so delightful in this weird hazy humid heat. And also makes me think of the Kinks song every time I wear it.
OH, I can wear Moon Bloom! Thank you!
After a month of evening scents, I finally have a SoTD again! It’s been so strange not wearing perfume to work, I’m so glad my schedule’s changed a bit so I have a few days to wear scent in the morning.
SoTD: Sud Magnolia, which is refreshing in this humid weather.
I am comparing Woodissime and Rose Royale today which both have osmanthus which I was craving this morning.
What do you think of the Woodissime?
I really like it.
Sweet wood with osmanthus floating through…pretty distinct…does not really remind me of another perfume which gets more and more rare when you sniff as much as we do. ????
Have you tried it?
No, haven’t tried it yet. I’ve been thinking about getting a sample. You’re right about perfumes starting to smell so similar. It gets frustrating. This sounds like it’s worth a sniff. Thanks!
I can send you a sample. I have a partial bottle of this from a lovely NSTer who didn’t love it. I realize it is not on my perfume list I sent you. Le sigh.
You smell so good, Robin. POTL is one of my all time faves…I get happy just thinking about the smell of it.
SOTmoment is LL l’eau en Blanc. I didn’t have time to shower before the school drop off and am hoping this covered my sweat stench sufficiently. I think I have some good American niche for post shower…I may go with Sumberhouse Kiste.
It’s like wearing a warm shawl
And you smell great, I like that one.
Thank you! I did love wearing it today–I think it is wonderful in the heat.
Participating with DS & Durga Coriander. This is coriander seed (not cilantro leaves) and magnolia + some greenery. With everything that I accumulated, I’ll probably never finish this, but I am glad that I have a back up bottle :).
SOTD is the combined smell of sweat (nearly all of the hurricane shutters are put up now) with a smidge of fear. Hard to tell exactly where Irma will go – and still fervently praying it goes out to sea – but since I live on Florida’s central east coast, we are evacuating. We thought about heading to Atlanta, but weren’t sure we’d be able to get gas along the way (all hotels sold out on the way up there), so we’re evacuating to Orlando and hoping for the best. Feeling really badly for people on the Caribbean islands who’ve had to face this.
Oh, gosh! Sending you prayers and good wishes. Yes, feeling the same for the Carribean people. Financial resourses are already scarce for the most part.
Thinking of you.
I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts. Please check in as you’re able to let us know you’re ok.
Thinking of you. Praying for the best.
Aparatchick, I’m with you in spirit if not in body. Please take good care, keep your head down, and stay safe. I wish you could have gotten out of Florida all together, but I think Orlando is the safest bet. Sorry you are having to leave your home. It’s so hard not feeling safe in the place that has always meant security.
Oof, best of luck. My thoughts are with you.
Best wishes! My dad lives in New Smyrna Beach. Their condo complex is still fighting the insurance battles over the last hurricane. Hope everyone is spared…
Best of luck with the weather down there.
Thinking of you. Stay safe.
Stay safe! I’m glad to hear that you have a place to go and please check in when you are able to.
Oh so,sorry you have to deal with this. Stay safe!
Too sick and worn out to make decisions about perfume today or yesterday – or enjoy it if I smelled it, probably – but I have so enjoyed reading through the SOTD replies.
Best wishes to everyone dealing with the natural world right now.
Get better…sounds like you need the perfume equivalent of chicken broth
I’m sorry your still sick.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Speedy recovery to you!
Get better soon!
Hope you are feeling better soon and have lots of soothing hot beverages and soup at hand for now!
For my late morning doctor appt., I wore Un Matin d’Orage, a favorite that I have ignored all summer. I knew my doc would be up to it, and I still smell good.
I’ve read so many references to Smell Bent (Deva + others) that I ordered samples of Gypsy and HHH. They have so many choices!!
Big Smell Bent fan here: Florists Fridge (green stalks, fresh florist shop air), Praire Nymph ( spicy rose that tends towards carnation syrup), Dead of winter ( anise veers towards licorice), Smoked ambergis ( exactly that ), Jasmine Tobacco ( good alternative to TF vanilla tobacco). The glasshouse one is also good…I’m not home so can’t recall the name. And Gypsy. And St Tropez smells like orange blossom bronze goddess.
Winter Vixen ( Hazelnut, cocoa, vanilla, and spices) and Gimel a Break ( honey + musk) are also excellent.
Yay! Hope you find something to love. Many choices indeed, but also affordable 4ml spray samples which are a great, not-to-expensive way to give their scents a run for the money.
Wearing Tacit (Australia) which is great in muggy Auckland. I noticed yesterday that all the jasmine is in full bloom…F*^%#+ Fab#%^*+. Had a wonderful time in the museum archives yesterday reading more diaries: two from early (1850/60s) survey parties. Both diaries were heartbreaking as both featured drownings of all party members but one…with that remaining member already semi-starved trying to get to ‘civilisation’ but unable to do so because of high rivers. Tree fern roots were part of explorers’ diet ( learnt from Maori) as well as eels, flightless birds, and damper but these men were too weak…one eats sea anemones, the other has a spoonful of flour in cold water ( the rain pelts down on the coast and he couldn’t keep a fire lit). Last day in Auckland today and I will go to the Chanel boutique and some other perfume places…with wallet closed.
What fascinating reading, Kanuka. Certainly puts things in perspective.
I went with a comfort scent today that complies with the week’s theme: Dame Dark Horse. My favorite Dame, and also a nice hug.
One of my cats, Mayhem, has had cancer for the past 1.5 years. He’s been stable after an operation and continuing chemo drugs, but he’s been losing weight steadily for the past few months. He’s down to ~8.5 lbs from a healthy weight of ~11 lbs. After repeated vet visits, the doctor can’t find anything wrong with him via X-rays and MRIs. The next step would be more invasive procedures that I’m not sure I want to subject my cat to. The vet sounds like she’s starting to lose hope, and it sounds like she’s not expecting him to last for even a year. This doesn’t feel real yet; it seems unimaginable that a year from now, he might not be with us. We also don’t know what will happen to our other cat, Mischief, who is Mayhem’s sister. She’s very attached to him, and we’re worried that if he dies, she’ll go with him.
I know many of you have gone through pet deaths, and it has sounded heartbreaking every time. I’m not sure how we’ll deal with this.
I’m so sorry Koyel, I don’t have pets, but I can imagine how difficult it is to see your pet not doing well.
Thanks, Coin-Op. It’s especially hard because he can’t tell us how he feels or what he wants.
Sorry to hear about Mayhem ????The uncertainty and mystery of what’s wrong certainly doesn’t make it easier. We’ve lost 2 cats, the 2 were sisters but the one survivor lived for many years after the other died-they weren’t particularly attached, though. My brother and sister duo now are very attached and I do think about what would happen to the other should we lose one.
I think there’s no easy way around any of the feelings. Just having support and going through all the feelings is the only way through it all. And focusing on the time you do have with him now. Hugs!
Thanks, Elisa P. I’m sorry to hear about your two cats. What’s troubling in my case now is that Mischief (the healthy one) is much more attached to her brother than he is to her. We think he’d be fine outliving her, but we’re not sure things will work the other way. I am giving him extra tummy rubs and ear scritchies for now.
Koyel, I’m very sorry. I know this is heartbreaking. Hugs to you and kitties.
Thank you, lillyjo. I will pass your hugs on to both kitties <3 It isn't really heartbreaking just yet; I haven't internalized what losing him soon means. But the visceral understanding will come, I expect.
I am so sorry to hear you are going through this, Koyel. I know how difficult these times can be. Hugs to you.
Thanks, KellyC; I really appreciate this.
Very sorry to hear what you are going thru with your cats, Koyel. I’ve been there, too. Hugs.
Thanks, Jalapeno, and I’m sorry you’ve been through it, too. Actually, one thing that helps is seeing other people who’ve gone through it who are now ok.
Yeah, I’m OK now, but I was a total freaking mess after we had to put our Jinx kitty down several years ago. I adored that cat. And there isn’t really a “right” way to deal with that situation… you just end up doing the best that you can. Sorry if this is sounding like a total downer.
No no–I mean, yes, it is, but these are useful things for me to hear.
Ah, so sorry. It’s hard, and doubly hard trying to decide if you should put them thru more misery (which they can’t understand) in order to find out (maybe) what’s wrong. It feels like there’s no definitely right call, doesn’t it?
One of our first kitty-pairs (a brother and sister) outlived the other by many years. We were worried about the survivor being lonely so after a few months we got two kittens. Well she hated them every day for 5 years
which certainly gave her something to do with her time, anyway. Snort. So much for that cunning plan. We’ve certainly been glad we got them, even though she wasn’t 
Thanks, pixel. I had forgotten that you had told me this story! Haha
I would hate for that to happen to Mischief.
But yeah, the agony of having to decide for Mayhem whether to put him through more pain for what might be a negligible (if even non-zero) payoff is what’s hardest at the moment.
I’m so sorry Koyel. Extra love is good at this time to maybe redirect attachment just a bit? It is heartbreaking.
Thanks, LizzieB–that’s a really good idea! I don’t know if it’ll work–Mischief shows her love for Mayhem more in butt-sniffing than in playing–but it’s certainly worth a shot. At worst, we’ll just cheer up the kittens AND ourselves at the same time.
Oh I am so sorry Koyel. The ailing kitty – or pup – is one of the great heartbreaks. Just as you say, it’s their not being able to tell you what’s wrong or what they might want that makes it so hard. Give pets to the delightfully named pusses for me and take care of yourself too.
Thanks, Amy <3 they have both received snuggles in your name!
Wearing PdN L’Eau Mixte. I haven’t been reading this week, so wasn’t aware of the project and I don’t qualify today but I smell good! Don’t think I’ve worn it at all this summer. Sad to see my decant is almost done.
I went American indie today with Sweet Anthem Sophie. I was digging around in my samples this morning and decided to go with this. I don’t think I like it much, though, and I’m remembering why I never wore this one. I keep getting a whiff of something that makes me think of the drydown of mint oil. Like kind of a stale mint.
I went American niche today with Dame Bergamot, Jasmine & Labdanum.
Best wishes to everyone in Irma’s path–stay safe!!
Today I’m in Sweden, with SOTD “Bal d’Afrique” from Byredo.
Top: bergamot, lemon, neroli, African marigold and bucchu;
Mid: violet, jasmine and cyclamen;
Base: black amber, musk, vetiver and cedar.
I’m not really feeling this – on me, it’s bland and inoffensive.
Yesterday evening I was too busy eating sushi and sashimi and tempura to post. Perfume-wise I was in the USA, wearing “Bass Solo” from Vagabond Prince.
Top: saffron, ginger, lime and cardamom;
Mid: lavender, cedar, fig leaf and birch;
Base: sandalwood, amber, driftwood, musk and opoponax.
There’s a fairly silly ‘concept’ (inspired by Wenge wood, which smells of nothing) but the scent is a decent ‘wood pudding’ for those who like that sort of thing. I think I have that base covered with various Lutens offerings.
Today I was walking between buildings on client site, and the grey sky and gusts of wind blowing brown and golden leaves through the air made any pretence of a lingering Summer impossible. As the Smiths put it, “I’m not happy and I’m not sad”. Later in the Autumn, if I’m still in Germany, every restaurant will have game on the menu – venison and wild boar, mostly. One thing I particularly like about this country is how they observe the seasons and traditions faithfully. :^)
Park the car at the side of the road
You should know
Time’s tide will smother you……………….
Won’t it just? ;^|
I wasn’t crazy about Bal d’Afrique at first but it grew on me quite a bit. I think you smell good!
I had forgotten that Byredo would work. Agonist, too.
For a wet and gloomy Wednesday, I borrowed a couple of things from Bear’s playbook: extra long workout, check. Some rock music, check. Something coffee-flavored, check. Although in my case it was a couple of chocolate mocha Pop-Tarts. SOTD = Amouage Lyric Man, from the sample stash. It is a well behaved rose with some woody notes and a whiff of incense. Kinda quiet, though.
Excellent, Jalapeno !!
The rose in Lyric Man was tea rose to my nose, a once in a blue moon kinda thing for me to wear.
Rock on !!
Your comments about Lyric Man yesterday were spot on. So I had to order a sample of Lyric Woman to check it out. Enjoy your new enabler pin!
Yay !!
Enabler bling !!!
Thanks Jalapeno !!!
Commando as I am covered with a very effective non toxic bug repellant, lots of them here in Spain my holiday destination. Chiming in to let you know Robin that your scent is so well chosen, the name Luctor et Emergo is the motto of the Dutch province called Zeeland, which suffered terrible flooding in the 50’s. It means I struggle and emerge. Wishing this for all those affected or about to be affected by natural and man made disasters.
Enjoy Spain! I’ll be in Barcelona again in December.
It’s such a great name!
Late to the party. SOTD is VCA California Reverie. Needed something that always works for me, and this one does. If I ever felt the need for a signature scent, this might be it. Well, this, alternating with Armani Prive Bois d’Encens. And of course Pulp. And… yeah well, ‘signature scent’ is clearly not a thing for me.
Had meetings starting from 7am, too many deadlines rushing up, too many meetings, aaaaarrrrgh!
Off to Costco in a bit. Might wander past their perfume pile. Hmm….
My Costco’s perfume pile was a waste of selling space. It was at an end cap of the health & beauty aisle closer to the snacks than to the pharmacy so that is a prominent spot!
Took the newest cat in my collection (5!) to the vet for check-up, shots, and microchipping. Then I went shopping (for cat food, mostly). Bought two decent sized boxes for my perfume collection, which makes six or seven. I’m trying to get out of cardboard boxes. The two I bought were half-price. SOTD was Gallagher THAT Guy. Not bad. Probably one of the most important things I have learned from NST is that I can wear and enjoy fragrances marketed to men.
Congrats on your latest kitty cat!
Thursday SOTD is Five O’Clock Gingembre. It’s one of my standbys for days I can’t decide; particularly cool days when I can’t decide. I smell spicy
Yum! I haven’t worn mine yet because it’s become humid here again.
Late again today. I went with Cocoa Tuberose by Providence Perfume Company.
I saw a walking stick today on the exterior glass door of my office building. It was still hanging out when I left work so I moved it to a tree. The entry doors weren’t the best place for it as they are constantly moving. It was kind of neat. My area is very rural and I’m lucky if I see one every few years.
Really cool insect sighting with that walking stick!
I know it’s dorky, but it’s the small things.
Not dorky at all in my book! My husband and I were really excited last night to see a preying mantis sitting on our patio’s smoker before the rain came in. Natural pest control!
Wow, I can’t remember the last time I spotted a preying mantis. Lucky you!
Had to read that twice…my brain first went to a cane, and as I imagined you moving a person’s cane to a tree I thought, oh, that can’t be right, start over. Oooohhhh walking stick=insect
I don’t think I have ever seen one! That and lightning bugs. Those are on my bucket list.
Walking sticks aren’t noticed very often because they blend in. As big as this one was, over 3″, I doubt that I would have realized what it was if it was on a shrub or tree. They look just like twigs.
As a child, I used to catch fire flies in a jar on warm summer nights. Not sure if they are the same as lightening bugs? ????
Yes, fire flies! I’m not sure where I got the term lightning bugs. My Grandma was from Missouri and I think maybe she referred to them that way…
Ha! Yeah, I didn’t get it either until I read jalapeno’s comment snd then googled it. That is one cool looking insect!
One of the very few bugs that I don’t mind touching. ????
L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse
Smelling good!
SOTD = Aftelier Vanilla Smoke Extrait
Aftelier Perfume. United States
I scented my hair with Vanilla Smoke and ooh la la…one of my favorite erm umm potent vanillas when enough is applied.
Hurricane Irma – everyone in its path, please take care. So much is still unknown but we are preparing for an extremely potent weather system. Our esteemed CEO got on one of the prep calls to thank the team who worked on (still working on) Harvey and expressed his concerns.
That sounds like an amazing fragrance! Is it in any way similar to Shalimar extrait?
A bit late today but I am busy handing out shiny enabler pins to CM8, Deva, Petunia and Kelly C and hajusuuri as I ordered my Chergui last night. Thanks everyone for your kind birthday wishes and taking time out of your day especially with everything going on lately.
Since I had to pay for international shipping I thought I’d also try the Shalimar body cream and I also went old school with a bottle of Oscar De la Renta. Oscar looks like it should be an older vintage bottle – fingers crossed. My dear high school friend bought me Oscar for a birthday gift years ago, unfortunately we lost touch after University. Hoping it smells the same as I remember!
I’m wearing Prada Oeillet as my SOTE.
Yay! I’m glad you got your Chergui! I bet that Shalimar body cream is great too!
Thank you. When I went to bed last night I sprayed the rest of the sample on. Sooo good.
I’ll report back on the Shalimar!
Enjoy your goodies!
Yay to Chergui but an even bigger yay to Oscar de la Renta!!!! I wore that one in high school …divine!!
So late checking in but was in Byredo Unnamed today. I’m pretty meh about it. Unoffensive but boring to me.
Money saved!
Indeed! I came home and put a little spritz of Ambre Sultan on my arm to make up for it.