It's Tuesday, and it’s World Porridge Day and World Mental Health Day. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Poudrée, by Aurélien Guichard. Tea at the moment is Upton Bond Street English Breakfast with a little cinnamon.
Reminder: on 10/13, wear a fragrance by Aurélien Guichard or Jean Guichard.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2017, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: the Liberty for Anthropologie mugs are are $16 each, and you can read more about the extensive Liberty for Anthropologie collection at Architectural Digest.
I’m in Bond No 9 Chinatown by Aurélien Guichard. Finally I’ve tried it. Starts as gourmand tuberose, later turns into a “sweetchouli” (more sweet than patchouli). It’s definitely pretty but too sweet for me. A kind of scent I would enjoy smelling on someone else.
On me, it is a tuberose bomb, although the body cream is quite sweet to my nose! I love hearing how different scents impact different people’s skin.
I looooved Chinatown! My first “niche” scent. But honestly I haven’t smelled it in so long. All I remember is powdery florals.
regardless, I think you smell wonderful!
I’m participating in So Pretty today (can’t remember now which of the two featured perfumers to credit). It is quite pretty!
That’s the Cartier, Jean Guichard!
Wearing Narciso Rodriguez For Her L’Absolu with the Narcisco Rose Musk Hair Mist ( Thanks to a swap with a friend).
In case I haven’t said it lately, I really enjoy the weekly projects as they get me to expand the scents I wear in the run of a week.
L’absolu is so great, and really layers well. I didn’t know there was a hair mist, I bet it’s nice.
Hey cousin! And glad you enjoy
L’Absolu is my favorite of the NR line.
Wearing Elizabeth Taylor Gardenia. Someone sent me a bottle of this as a goodie from one of the swapmeets and I never tried it until today. Nice, clean and simple but pretty strong. One spray is already too much. Having my second of coffee and a pumpkin bread toast.
I hope NSTers in California are all fine and safe. Please take care and let us know how you are doing.
I was watching a bit of the fire news last night, and join you in hoping everyone is safe — it is pretty scary out there right now.
Not wearing perfume yet but oh I love those cups! I love liberty Tana Lawn fabric which is ridiculously expensive, I imagine the cups will be when I look them up next.
Just ordered not only the cups but a set of sheets! no perfume for me for awhile
Some of the items are very tempting — I did not even see the sheets and now I’ll have to go look. Enjoy your new things!
Those are lovely cups!! So cheerful.
I also love the cups. I may need to stop at Anthropologie on the way some sometime this week.
This is my plan as well. Probably Thursday.
Another summer-like day. Wearing ELDO Jasmin et Cigarette, inspired by Sistine yesterday. Haven’t worn this enough this summer and it’s a warm weather scent to me. Smells like jasmine tea.
Also hoping everyone in NoCal is safe. The footage I’ve seen is pretty scary…
Oh, I wore JeC at bedtime last night – it’s rather nice! I got just a slight hint of cigarette, and the jasmine is a bit tea-like.
I never get anything ashy in it. I think it’s the tobacco and dry hay that registers as tea to me.
I do not get anything ashy either. Just jasmine and tea. I like to wear it more in cooler weather. It might be a good option for tomorrow if the temps really go down.
And I get straight up dirty ashtray from this one. Perhaps because I am an ex-smoker…..
I’m not nor have I been a smoker, but I get dirty ashtray too.
I do too and am a smoker.
A tiny spritz on me is fine, no ashtray, but a generous dousing a few days later….lots of cigarette butts. It’s a no for me.
You smell great! I get only a faint whiff of cigarette smoke – just enough to make me imagine a person who is smoking in a garden, waiting for someone.
Thanks! Smoke or no smoke, it faded down to nothing after about 3 hours. I should’ve sprayed my hair…
You smell awesome!
I wanted to use this as my ‘safe for office’ jasmine (most of my jasmine scents are a bit too much for work), but I read too many comments from folks who get dirty ashtray. So maybe not a swell idea after all?
You need to try a sample really. Oon me it is cigarette tobacco, i.e. the unsmoked cigarette, not the ashtray. :^)
Well, I did try, and I do not get ashtray myself, it’s a lovely fruity and hay-ish jasmine to me but if other people do get cigarette butts…and it means I walk around the office while half of the folks think I just smoked a pack haha erhm is that bad?
I wondered about that too, but I asked my husband and couple of friends if they smelled cigarette smoke and no one did. I do wonder if it was reformulated at some point. My bottle is about 2 years old. I did have a coupke of people tell me that I smelled like cigarette smoke when I sampled LAP Noire Exquise. And I smell ashtray in Stella while no one ever seems to report that so who knows!
Ah yes, the unsmoked tobacco…it think that is what I meant when I said hay
Re: possible formulation
That could be the case. I used to smoke almost a pack a day, so the smell of dirty ashtray is a bit too familiar to me. Not proud of it
Tom Ford Noir Anthracite is y SOTD. ????
That is one nice bottle. How do you like it? I think it has similarities to original Polo, but I know others don’t think so.
SOTD is PG Cuir d’Iris – absolutely lovely on a crisp fall day, which is what we’re supposed to have today (it’s still dark outside right now).
Out of synch with the community project as usual. I really need to get with it. Wearing Smell Bent Incensed, which is nice.
Didn’t realize how bad the Cali sitch was until I go online yesterday to look up the news. So sorry to see how horrendous it is! Hoping a good soaking rain is headed that way!
Those cups are lovely. For some reason, they remind me of Little House on the Prairie. I’m sure Carolyn Ingalls would never have had something so fine. It must be the ditzy print used.
I watched like 4 hours of Little House on the Prairie on tv 2 weeks ago. There was an 8 hours special broadcast. I love it when I was a kid and even these days I feel relax and happy when I watch it. Good times and memories!
Although good, the TV show can’t hold a candle to the books. I read the entire series as a child. I think they are often dismissed by the literary glitterati as Kids Books, but I think they are an incredibly valuable historical document. The books went into great detail regarding the everyday work of the pioneer; from making butter, to the ever present dangers of illness, hunting, and water gathering, to the clash of cultures with the Westward Expansion. They are noticeably free of prejudice. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve re-read them as an adult.
I never read the books, but I think I will get them now as an adult and read them. I am not ashamed of going back to my early years and enjoy simple and beautiful reading.
I read and loved those books as a kid too! I still have the entire set and have passed them down to my girls. The pages have yellowed with age. That series and Where the Sidewalk Ends were some of my favorite reads as a kid.
That’s the best! My mother gave me all of her Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Cherry Ames books when I was a kid. I devoured them and loved the feel, smell, and faint dampness that came with every hard cover. Your daughter is lucky to have a mom who heartily endorses reading.
It’s a great series. I bet some day it’s remade as a ‘straight’ period drama, maybe for Netflicks or somesuch. IIRC, even the language changes as Laura grows up, from the very simple sentences when she is a little girl in Wisconsin through to the most complex when she is teaching school in South Dakota.
De Smet is on my tourist wishlist, although it may never get checked off.
Hey, that’s a great idea and I hope you get there one day.
I loved the books and must read that one then. Id didnt really like the series much since at the time I didnt appreciate the deviations from the book (thankfully Im
more flexible as an adult ????), but it didnt stop me from watching every single episode. A Netflix remake might be wonderful. I really enjoyed the new version of Anne.
Forgot to add: FREEBIES IN THE MAIL! Keep your eyes peeled????
Hi Deva, thanks for your mini-review of the Amber Flush body oil from yesterday! I think you’ve convinced me
Hey, you’re welcome! I hope you like it????
Yep, the print just says “calico.”
I just finished reading “Prairie Fires: The American Dream of Laura Ingalls Wilder.” I never knew just how poor the Ingalls family was; you’re right that Caroline would not have had anything as fine. Fascinating book for anyone who enjoyed Little House – it provides plenty of context for the stories she told (both true and …. what she wanted to be true). And it shows her daughter was a real pill.
Thanks for mentioning the biography. I just googled it and it looks really interesting! I’ve been giving some thought to following the Oregon Trail (as best as it can be followed in modern times) west on my upcoming travels. What fascinates and terrifies me most about that time period is just how vulnerable woman were as they wagon-trained west. If husband or father was injured or died, (cholera was a huge menace) the women were really in a tricky situation. It’s easy to romanticize the past but the reality was continuous hardship, despair, and of course the tremendous courage it took to continue onwards.
I love those mugs. I am in the last of my Atelier Discovery Set, Vetiver Fatal. For the rest of the week I’ll wear Guichard fragrances, and then I’m going to start exploring all of the scents that I’ve purchased in the last couple of months.
Wearing MFK Feminin Pluriel. Lovely for the office, but I was craving something more dramatic. Oh well.
Drinking jasmine lotus green tea. It’s one of those tea balls that unfurl into a ‘flower’ bud in hot water. Pleasing to many senses
Thoseflowering tea balls are so relaxing to watch! They seem like slow motion film.
I love flowering tea balls!!
I’m wearing Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir and drinking a hot cup of black tea.
My love and prayers go out to northern California.
perfect pick for fall!
SOTD Paloma Picasso ETP. At first smell, I instantly pictured a woman bookkeeping in a body shop – definitely reminds me of some sort of motor oil. The dry down is nicer – I have even gotten a compliment, she said it smells “clean”!
I love Liberty of London, thank you for the heads up about Antrhopologie Robin! I see some mugs and throw pillows in my future!
I haven’t smelled Paloma Picasso in years, but I never would consider it “clean” smelling. If I recall correctly, you smell extravagant and fabulous! It really is strange how we can smell the same thing and not be smelling the same thing.
So true!
You smell Gorgeous yes! Clean?
I’d never have thought of that…funny how we all register scents uniquely.
Thanks!
I do not find PP clean at all. It is rich, voluptuous and luxurious. You smell gorgeous!
Agree with you & thanks!
I think the adjective “clean” has been overused for so many years in perfume ad copy that it doesn’t have any meaning. In your case, I’d interpret it as “you smell good.” As has already been said, Paloma Picasso is about as far as you can get from a “clean” fragrance. I think of it as a “kitchen sink” perfume – a whole lotta everything going on in that one
*I recall reading an article some years ago about selling perfume which noted that most women would come in and say they liked and wanted something “clean”. Once SAs took them through a sniffing tour, they’d find “clean” wasn’t what they were looking for at all – they just didn’t have any other vocabulary for perfume.
Sounds like an interesting article, I’m sure I would enjoy it – “clean” is so socially acceptable they even came up with the line devoted to it!
Sotd is Gucci Guilty Black by Aurelien Guichard. 15 sprays because my bottle is almost drained. It’s not very dark smelling, but it’s nice. A little fruity, a little powdery.
I’ve had a sample of that for years that I go back every once in a while and wear. It’s not bad stuff.
Cuir D’Ange Hermes
almost finished my sample but I’m still not sure if I need a bottle, even a 15 ml one
I keep finding in my wardrobe given to me with various makeup purchases in anormous amounts samples of Givenchy Very Irresistible and Dior Addict flankers etc..
What am I supposed to do with those? I an’t ruin my day by actually trying them on =) So I emptied one of the Kenzo World on the floor near the front door. My cat got so worried by that smell, that I was afraid he’d spray something else on top of that
Thankfully he kept himself together eventually.
https://nstperfume.com/2014/04/21/what-to-do-with-all-those-perfume-samples/
Great ideas there! Thank you for posting the link!!
Tam Dao for me today. Haven’t worn this in ages and it is really hitting the spot.
I’m sick of this warm humid weather here and hoping it cools off by the time my new fall/winter samples arrive!
Once I was wearing this one and my colleage told me out of the blue: “I can’t stand it when women wear men’s fragrances”
Tam Dao is great and very refreshing in humid and warm conditions.
Hah, what a comment! To me, Tam Dao is perfectly unisex. It just smells like wood!
Agreed!
Let me guess: was it a man who made that comment?
I’d guess it was a woman.
Either way, why it would raise anyone’s hackles is beyond me.
I tried this from a tester last week and it was gorgeous! I can’t wait to try it on skin.
Also sad about the humidity.
I forgot perfume before I left the house this morning, so I’m wearing what I had in my purse, which is Valentina’s Home Brewed Sweet Dreams oil.
Tea is Twinings English Breakfast. Got an electric kettle for my office yesterday. It’s pretty nice.
I use my electric tea kettle everyday..
I like it so far. I got a cheap one, so I bought a second one for home too. I think I’ll be using them a lot.
I do, too. I have it going all day long, every day. I have the kind where I can set it to whatever temp I want in either F or C, and it has a “hold” feature that keeps it at the set temp for an hour. It was pricey and my H’s idea to buy it. I thought he was out of his mind. But I relented and it’s one of the best purchases we’ve ever made.
I would love to drink more tea but find myself too lazy to boil the water (ok, once I wrote that, I realized how crazy it is to be too lazy to do a simple task such as boil water , but…..)
I actually have an electric tea kettle that I never use, I’m going to pull it out!! Thank you for the inspiration!
I put a mug of water in the microwave if I’m just making something for me.
Good call!
Me too!
“Too lazy to boil water” doesn’t sound crazy to me. Plus you have to go running once it boils to stop the whistling. Then go back again to heat it back up, wait, etc. It’s a PITA. Electric kettles all the way!
FM Dries van Noten today. I was a little worried with the opening, which wasn’t all that pleasant but it has settled nicely into creamy woods. Trying to remember who sent me the decant in a swap from awhile ago…. nice addition to my collection.
you smell fantastic!
Hoping everyone who lives in a fire area. Is safe this morning! Sure hoping y’all get some rain fast.
Woke up to the one day of fall forecasted for this week. We’ll take it! Trying Carnal Flower to see what it’s like in the rain and a sweater.
Olive oil, lemon pepper, scrambled eggs and avacado -and cocoa espresso for breakfast.
Happy fall!
breakfast of champions
IMHO Carnal Flower is gorgeous in all weather.
Vintage Dioressence EdT. Good stuff while it lasts!
I’m having a very lazy Tuesday. Still in pajamas, knitting up a storm for my Halloween costume. Already feeling the crunch.
What are you knitting? I have to make a Super Librarian cape this week.
A top-down sweater. It’s short sleeve and boxy so I think I’ll crank it out in time. Good luck with your cape!!
Pre-shower, I was wearing vintage Bal. Since I am post shower, I’m not wearing anything at the moment but looking into either FdB or De Profundis, it’s just a Serge Day. My mother has handed me her credit card to get Amazon gift cards so I can order her the new Kindle Fire 10 that’s being released tomorrow. She wants gas perks on the household grocery advantage card and her Kindle HDX is almost dead.
At the hair salon waiting for my color to set up… I am going a bit darker than I have been, and the hubs is probably not going to be happy, but with the need for change I’ve been feeling, it was either this or pink streaks!
SOTD is Safari again.
I bet it will look wonderful.
I bet it will be great! I love a new hairdo.
Hair is for changing. It’s never a long-term commitment.
I am in full agreement!
It’s a blustery cool and cloudy day. I want to wear all of my cold weather fragrances, so I’m wearing Cuir de Russie and Coromandel both edps. Yum
Both! So decadent. I bet you smell fantastic. Come over here for a hug!
Thanks! Hugs are the best ????
Wow! Nice combo!
The leather was kinda strong today so thought I’d tame it with coromandel. They’ve both softened so need to reapply.
Ooooo that sounds like a fantastic combo! I think I may have a sample of Coromandel EDT, I’ll have to try that combo, too
I haven’t heard much about CdR edp. Any notes for comparison with the edt?
I have decants of edp and edt. I need to do a side-by-side. I will say that I was a little afraid to try CdR mainly because a review of the edt said it was slightly cow-patty or some such, and I don’t find that with the edp. I’ll report back when I get my decants sorted out. But today there was too much of something with the edp, so the reason why I topped with Coromandel.
That be me with my CdR EDT “review” – barnyard or poopy leather. I have mals on my side!
Wearing Lady Vengeance on this muggy day and wishing it was cool and crisp instead. I’m in a bad headspace today; concerned for California and Puerto Rico, angered by the current political climate, frustrated by Donna Karen’s comments this morning regarding the Harvey Weinstein scandal. It would be nice to be able to break out the hammock and get lost in a book this evening, but it looks like t-storms all afternoon…
Maybe you can find a space to watch the storms – a different way of getting lost than the hammock and book, but still effective.
There’s a lot to be worried about.
I am also very frustrated with Donna Karan’s comments about Weinstein (as well as concerned for California and PR)….
DK’s comments sent me into quite a rant last night.
On the other hand, that’s not broadly been the response (as has almost always been the case in similar instances.) It’s one of those rare cases where, by and large, almost no one has blamed or cast doubts on the women making the allegations. He was fired within days. That rarely happens. So things are moving in the right direction.
A good bit of self-care is important lately, isn’t it?
Comparing a bit of old Iris Ganache to some of the newly related IG available only in Paris that I as lucky enough to get muled back.
As expected, it has been reformulated. The new juice is much lighter than my old decant…even though juice does darken with time there’s considerable difference. The original is stronger and sweeter. The new is lighter and sharper.
The new IG is lighter but still quite nice in my opinion. I will weigh in later to see how it wears.
Wait… I thought Iris Ganache was discontinued some years ago?
It is newly available only in Paris from my understanding.
“Finally, the new Guerlain Parfumeur boutique just next to place Vendôme in Paris carries Thierry Wasser’s Iris Ganache (2007). ”
http://www.monsieurguerlain.com/2015/09/news.html?m=0
So only available in that 1 place?
Meh…
Yes. ????I believe they are only decanting it into the 20 ml travel sprays and the bee bottles.
A 20 ml would be nice, but it’s probably really overpriced.
I need to get on the ball and line up one of those for myself. Fortunately, I never smelled the original
but I’ve been dying to try it for years.
Oh man, that is a bummer about the reform — thank you for the info!
Stop the presses! ????As the day has worn on, I’m kind of loving the new version. It is a bit less sweet and more modern than the original and it has bloomed on me in a lovely way. I shall have to wear it on its own again but i have enjoyed it more and more as the day progresses. I only had a small decant of the old stuff and while I liked it I found the sweetness somewhat cloying at times but the new version I find less sweet. Again I will need to wear on its own so I don’t get cross contamination ???? But I have had a turn of heart.
And the saga continues! Can’t wait to hear your future findings!
Thank you so much for the report! Please update us as your thoughts evolve.
And save me some of your sample to smell!
We need to have a SCP meetup before Thanksgiving!
I shall save you some.
Never smelt this one and it will have to wait until I’m in Paris the next time. But if Vetiver pour Elle comes again, ill be on a plane like a shot!
I have some of the Vetiver pour Elle when it was re-released as Carmen Le Bolshoi from STC I think…it is lovely. I think Guerlain is promoting the decanting aspect w/ the travel sprays and bee bottles…so who knows? perhaps other favorites will be resurrected too.
I just got my travel spray of Iris Ganache. Will do my comparison this weekend (maybe).
Doing a weeks of perfumes I got from the swap..
SOTD Beyond Love by Killian
Cup of Inka this morning..
Another hot hot day
Speaking of hot..I am thinking of all those people in the wine country in California. In my mind I am sending you rain!
I am wearing Jul et Mad Mon Seul Desir.
I wasn’t so fond of it the first time I tried it as it somehow hid in the shadow of Fugit Amor that I instantly loved.
But today?? Yes, yes, YES!
Beautifully complex, with warmth, spiciness and sort of resinous booziness too.
A cuddlefluff type of perfume.
Mmmm I have really liked others I’ve tried from Jul et Mad, I’ll have to seek that one out. I love the association with that unicorn tapestry. Spicy, resinous, boozy cuddlefluff – you must smell amazing!
Ack I knew I forgot to try something in Europe, Jul
Y Mad. Top of the list for my December visit!
I’m wearing Escentric 2 – it’s my no-brainer summer scent, and we still most definitely have summer weather.
Very off balance due to all the human news and natural disasters – I love the Napa Valley so much, and I just cannot imagine how scared everyone there is right now. Stay safe!
The fires are really distressing.
I feel like crying every time I read scarce and scary news from my favorite areas
Have you tried Escentric 4 yet? I thought it was really good, perfect warm weather scent.
The pretty mugs inspired me to wear Jacomo Art Collection #08 – straight up chai.
Indeed, it smells just like chai, and sometimes it’s just what I need. You smell nice.
It’s a good one, isn’t it? You smell great.
The Diamondbacks season is over – booooo!!!! But I’ll take being beaten by the best team over an underdog upset any day. I was a bit gutted to see so many Dodgers fans in the stands at Chase field, though — I mean, every time the Dodgers got a run or had a good play there was *significant* cheering. I guess when you live in a town of transplants and snow birds it’s to be expected.
Commando until I (maybe) make it to the gym. SOTD TBD!
Sorry about your team. Spring training is only 4 months away though, and we start fresh again:)
Indeed! And I’m very fortunate that we have spring training right here, it’s so much fun!
They might also have just driven over to watch the game? Was it in Phoenix? Or were just Dodgers fans.
I’m sure there were a lot of people who came to Phoenix for the game, being a very short flight and not a bad drive. However, it didn’t seem there was an equivalent amount of Diamondbacks fans in the stands during the first 2 games that were in LA….that stadium was a sea of blue and white.
Phoenix is kindof funny in this way, I think. I’ve been to Diamondbacks-Cubs games here in Phoenix where there were probably at least as many, if not more, Cubs fans in the stands — not an exaggeration. I think a lot of people move here or spend half their year here but don’t change their team affiliation.
I’ve found that in Seattle, too, though. I think with some iconic teams, there are just a lot of people who adopt them as “their” team even if they have no regional affiliation. I’ve always assumed that when I go to Mariners v Yankees (or Red Sox or whomever) games and the majority of fans are with the other side, it’s not because the stadium is full of NYers or Bostonians – they’re fans of those teams and will be regardless of where they live.
But since your cities are so close, there could also have been a bunch of Angelenos in the stands.
True on all accounts. I didn’t grow up in a sports family so I never developed strong affiliations and the die-hards are a bit of a mystery to me. I’ve always just rooted for the teams of the city/region where I live at the time
I turned off the TV fairly quickly afterward on the off-chance they decided to pull that stunt in the pool again.
In addition to traveling fans, transplants, and bandwagon fans, one of the other factors in the large Dodger fanbase is that there were generations of LA fans here because they were one of the only teams in the west. (There were no Rockies or D-Backs until the ’90s.)
Ugh, yes – the pool party was just shameful. I don’t think it happened again last night – I turned off the TV quickly as well, but haven’t heard or seen anything.
That is such a good point about Phoenicians being Dodgers fans before the Diamondbacks were added in expansion! I had not thought of that!
Go Yankees!
Narciso EDP. I just re-read the review of the Poudree and I really need to try it, sounds nice.
It’s feeling like fall today and I think it’s time to change my sheets to flannel. I’ve already started sleeping with my smartwools on.????
I will be bringing out the heavy comforter this week.
Ditto! In the winter, I have been known to put 2 down comforters on my bed. Lol.
You need a heated mattress pad! I recently got this one and it is totally life-changing: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088AHL1K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Do they make them for one side of the bed?
They have separate controls for each side so one person can leave theirs off if they are hot.
Mine also has 3 “zones” per side so you can control how much heat there is under your feet, legs and head. It is freaking amazing.
My H has touched me a couple of times during the night and freaked out: “What is going on? Why are you all hot? Oh, is it just from that thing?” I.e., he’s never touched my body in bed before and felt anything but ice cold. Seriously – life-changing.
Or you can get one for a twin and just put it on your side which is what I did. Still have two comforters though but then poor isolation and expensive heating here in Chile.
I’ve gotta get one of those things for my husband. He cranks the thermostat up to 75 every winter and I just die from the heat.
Where are you? I could send you a bit.
Ooh! I’m in the US. (Wisconsin)
Send me your address. I’m at luanne dot teall at the gmail dot com.
Hey, twin
Poudre caught my attention to. I need to find a sample.
too…
Oh wow – I am hardcore lemming over the Liberty at Anthro stuff. Most wanted = the Strawberry Thief armchair. My dining room curtains are in that pattern, though in a completely different colorway. I love it so.
SOTD is Safran Troublant
AHHH. Love it.
Almost went with this today. So happy with my new bottle!
You smell great!
That Liberty collection is really good. If it’s still around in November, it’s simplified my Christmas shopping.
SOTD is Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue by Bond No. 9. I have had some confusion over this because I was remembering it as Silver Factory which is a Guichard. NO, this is a different Andy Warhol, the one with all the little shoes on it (old packaging, old bottle). Anyway it’s very pleasant and to my mind quite reminiscent of Chinatown. Sweet, almond, cardamom, peony. I think I’ll try layering it with some Chinatown. (Which also IS a Guichard.) People complain that one is too sweet. I don’t think of it as sweet but as spicy. Must be the cardamom note that is linking these two in my mind. I do smell peony in both too. Peonies are themselves spicy and that makes for a splendid combination.
I gave away my decant of Silver Factory because it just ended up annoying me.
I only have 2 Guichards, so I’m in Coromandel EDT today.
Not exactly a twin, but perhaps a cousin.. I’m in Narciso edp.
Feel like I’ve gotten my life back after the past 2 weeks of work’s insanity. Might even leave today before 6pm!
Hey twin- we smell great!
YAY to both!
Enjoying the fur coat smell of Dzing! on our first chilly day – I should look through my samples and so I can remember the scents I have “for” chilly weather. Very happy to get this bit of autumn!
You smell great!
Cute mugs. I bought a few of the Wrendale mugs that Robin brought to our attendion last year including Bad Hare Day. Thanks Robin!
SOTD is Safran Troublant for Monday-Tuesday; Well, for some of us in the US.
Will stat wearing my Guichard tomorrow when it’s supposed to cool off.
Best of mornings, NST. I’m not doing the challenge today because I feel too untidy in my mind to remember what I have by those two perfumers. Of course, I could look up the list again, but I’m too scattered to do that, even…I’m wearing Sycomore (yes!!!) for a long day broken with all sorts of slightly tricky stuff, including a lecture I didn’t finish writing until 2.00 p.m. yesterday, which may not hit the “student engagement” spot, I fear, and a difficult conversation with a person so tricksy that I’ve been advised not to be alone with her when I have it. !!! I mean, what? WHAT? Surely not? I’m not accustomed to needing a witness to my words. Aren’t people astonishing?
It will be interesting to see how Sycomore stacks up against the stress of the day. I was given a handful of carded samples when I bought the bottle, so I can touch up if I need to, but I’m inclined to use today as a test case for its staying power for a working day. Speaking of work, I seem to have a new lease on my working life: I’m quite energised by the promises that the changes will bring, and I’m very much enjoying the committee work and biiiiiiig conversations that the process entails. It was warming, too, that many people seemed genuinely happy that I’ll be around for a bit longer.
Well, off I trot, wearing strong colours (wow! very strong, now I see them in day light! Oh well…) and neutral make-up. Wish me luck. Be well, all.
Good luck! Especially with the tricky conversation.
I have had a colleague like that where I too had to always have someone present during a conversation, and another one where I could not speak to them at all without first contacting the university lawyers. It’s really no fun. I feel for you and wish you luck! The combination of vivid colors and Sycamore should stand you in good stead!!
Yes, people are amazing, especially the tricksy ones! My brain is just not that convoluted and I’m always completely blindsided by these people. I had a tricksy encounter myself over the weekend, which prompted me to contact the house supervisor. I said not a single word until she was in the room with us. My situation turned out well and I hope yours results in the same way. I bet you look and smell outstanding!????
I’m really glad you had someone tip you off to the tricksy one. And twins with you in Sycomore…or yesterday! ????
SOTD is Memo “Italian Leather”.
Top: tomato leaf, vanilla and leather;
Mid: labdanum, clary sage, galbanum, tomato leaf and orris root;
Base: vanilla, sandalwood, tolu balsam, opoponax, myrrh, benzoin, leather and musk.
It’s nice, especially for a leather (not usually my bag, so to speak). Still reckon African Leather is the Memo for me, if I ever get around to it.
Anyone else spend the day combining mental health day and porridge day by turning their brains to mush? No? Just me then…
Some good news: TOMK and I are finally off to Malaga again at the end of next week, just for 7 nights.
African Leather is wonderful!
Glad to know you will be getting a little vacation.
You smell really wonderful!
Wearing Sultanate of Oman by Roja Dove.
oh and PSA: they have reformulated Gourmand Coquin and I would say that if you’ve smelled the original it’s not worth even bothering with the reformulated. It’s abysmal.
What a shame.
When did they reformulated it?
just recently. my pal who works for the Guerlain counter at Beverly Hills just found out because a customer bought a bottle and when she sprayed it at home was like WHAAAA?! and called to return it. there was no notification from Guerlain that they were reformulating it. I was exchanging a bottle of mine for some other perfumes and I wanted GC. I was lucky enough that there was one full tester left of the old formulation in the basement that one of the workers knew about, and I was able to snag it instead of the new refomulated bottles. They had none of the old formulation left to sell. I think it’s quite ridiculous, and I feel really bad for that customer because GC was the only perfume she wore. If she would have known they were changing it she would have stocked up.
You are fortunate they let you buy the tester. My Macy’s had an old Dior Addict tester. They wouldn’t let me buy it, citing health code issues.
Yes, I am very lucky. Since falling down the rabbit hole, I have made sure to make good relationships with my sales assistants. They are really wonderful, and go the extra mile. In this case, they were only able to sell it because they switched out one of the new formulation bottles to use as a tester (since the current tester was the old formulation and didn’t smell anything like the new bottles they would be selling). Otherwise, they can’t sell testers, (but they can do with them what they want, especially if the said item has been discontinued.
just recently. my pal who works for the Guerlain counter at Beverly Hills just found out because a customer bought a bottle and when she sprayed it at home was like WHAAAA?! and called to return it. there was no notification from Guerlain that they were reformulating it. I was exchanging a bottle of mine for some other perfumes and I wanted GC. I was lucky enough that there was one full tester left of the old formulation in the basement that one of the workers knew about, and I was able to snag it instead of the new reformulated bottles. They had none of the old formulation left to sell. I think it’s quite ridiculous, and I feel really bad for that customer because GC was the only perfume she wore. If she would have known they were changing it she would have stocked up.
O_O Thanks for the heads up.
Oh cr*p, I was just going to buy another bottle. Thanks for the warning! Chypre Fatal has been ruined as well. More money saved for something else I guess!
Wonder what else they’ve messed with? Now I’m feeling the urge to buy a Cuir Beluga backup bottle, just in case ????
I bought my back-up bottle (of Cuir Beluga) last year or maybe in 2015 before the switch to the crappy puff atomizer. I hope that means I got the non-reformulated version (if indeed it was reformulated).
SOTD – Khol de Bahrain.
Have any of you guys tried the new Slumberhouse Lanz? Just curious what were your thoughts.
You smell great. I’m curious to know as well!
I have yet to try any of the Bond fragrances, but it is on my list. I did some fragrance combining this morning with two of my JM fragrances. I am wearing Tuberose Angelica with English Pear and Freesia. I have problems wearing the Tuberose alone so I always add a little something to it to freshen it up a bit. Mission accomplished. Have a great Tuesday everyone!
If you try them in a store, the SA’s are very high-pressure and unpleasant, in my experience. You have to be really direct and say “I only want to try these two.” Or whatever. They’ll spray you with stuff and blather on and on about the ingredients and how they can all be layered together. I recommend at least trying Scent of Peace and Chinatown. Silver Factory gets a lot of love. Oh, and the coffee one, New Haarlem.
I have had that experience with their SAs and it is indeed frustrating.
+1 for New Haarlem and annoying Bond Associates
I actually have been dealing with the JM Sales Associayes for over 7 years now, so they are used to me and what I like. Bjt, I can see how they can be pushy. I guess they know when I come I will get something, so they pretty much leave me be. I could probably be the poster child for JM since I usr it so often.
So sorry for all the typos!!!
Well, I feel so out of the loop here. Between starting the new job a few weeks back and then 10 days in Korea, I haven’t checked in much.
I got back from Korea Sunday night late and back at work yesterday. Jet lagged a bit still, but it was an amazing trip and so worth it. I only took decants of Colette and Heure Exquise. I did a lot of sniffing at a huge department store- Gabrielle (not that impressive for me), some Diptyques and Byredos, Acqua di Parmas, etc. Fun times!
Since I was unaware of what the weekly project was, my SOTD is Shalimar. It’s very chilly here in NM today and the Shalimar edp is nice. I’ll try and be on subject the remainder of the week!
It’s nice to be back and “see” you all!
Nice to “see” you too! It’s a shame you didn’t get a day off between coming back and work.
I probably could have but already felt guilty about taking such an extended vacation 3 weeks after starting the new job. :/ I’ll just go to bed early this week and work through it!
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Hope the new job and location are working out for you. ????
I’m loving both, thank you!
Welcome back! It’ll probably be a bit of a shock to your system experiencing a real winter. Hope you’re prepared!
Welcome back, I visited South Korea years ago and I had a blast!
(A little background: I was born there, adopted by Dutch family when I was still a baby. Decided to visit the country after more than three decades to learn more about my roots).
I love Korean food and some of those mountain temples are on ‘my most beautiful places I’d ever seen’-list.
Wish you all the best with your new job!
It was wonderful and yes, I got LOTS of pictures of those mountain temples! So serene! And I love Korean food as well so it was an amazing trip in so many ways!
Wait a sec, you didn’t take Shalimar on the trip??? All the more reason home must feel and smell wonderful
Shocking I know! I only have bottles though and didn’t feel like taking any FBs and was too lazy to decant!
You smell great, natch! I’ve been out of the loop lately too, but welcome back. Glad to hear your trip was good. (I love travel so much just hearing other people talk about it makes me happy.????)
Welcome back, KellyC!
Wearing DSH l’Opera des Rouges after barqs posted about it yesterday. It’s a lovely carnation.
Sounds like I need to get me a sample of this. I will wait for a discount code. I love Oeillet Rouges but the formula seems to gum up atomizers at a rather alarming rate. I am on my third atomizer after the first two failed after two wears!
Also! another PSA. Don’t know if I’m way behind on this, but I thought I’d share just in case I’m not the last to know.
I have seen a lot of Maison Louis Marie, but never sought them out.
Then, the apothecary attached to my salon started carrying the oils so I could play. I found them all to be good quality and dupes for several different perfumes. and the oils are around 50 dollars, so a great deal.
Lime = Jo Malone Lime Basil Mandarin, Cassis = Diptyque L’ombre Dans L’eau, and Bois de Balincourt = Le Labo Santal 33.
My only Guichard is Gucci Guilty. Saving it for later in the week. Wearing Carner Barcelona D600 today, courtesy of Hajusuuri.
Really lemming those cups, but I already have Too Much Stuff and the handles look like they would require hand-washing.
You smell great in D600!
Beautiful perfume!
Glad you’re enjoying it!
This is for Kanuka, in response to her question about what the term “aromatic” would have meant in the 17th and 18th centuries (if I’m remembering the centuries correctly).
The background is that Kanuka has been reading botanical descriptions in documents from that period in New Zealand, and trying to figure out what plants described as having an “aromatic” scent might have smelled like.
I wrote then that one clue would be to look into what eau de colognes from that period smelled like. (I posted links to Perfume Shrine articles on “aromatic notes” and “eau de cologne.”) People used them a lot, for medicinal purposes as well as for freshening up. (I’m referring to the classic 4711 and Johann Maria Fariña family of fragrances, not the EdC concentration.)
I just happened to run across this article on Napoleon’s cologne again:
http://www.mimifroufrou.com/scentedsalamander/2007/12/napoleon_a_saintehelene_lauthe.html
I have a sample and like it. It’s more complex than the usual eau de cologne and seems to have a fair amount of sandalwood after the citrus burns off. Not noticing it so much today, but I thought I detected rosemary the first time I smelled it.
Another early cologne is Hungary Water, which is basically alcohol infused with rosemary. The craft version that I had smelled very fresh.
Interesting history, nozknoz. I adore those grand old colognes.
Thank you for the link to mimifroufrou, love her perfume and culture reporting.
Yes, there are some great articles there!
Thanks for that super link. I really enjoyed reading about the boot bottles.
I am pretty certain that the NZ botanists are using “aromatic” in a very general way , either to describe something with a strong scent or something with a pleasant scent. What’s interesting is the variations in response to the same scent: so one botanist will describe a dried moss as strong and overpowering whereas another will describe it as strong and pleasant. The sad thing is that there is no written evidence (as far as I can tell) to how Maori perceived the scents. All the written material is by European males (so far). The smell of shark oil, and its use as a fixative for plant resins/oils, must have appealed to Maori as trade (with sailors) in shark oil appears to have taken off. I imagine shark oil was quite fishy compared to bird oil or rat/pig oil but maybe it took on the plant flavours better? There are some very oily sea birds down here (titi/mutton birds) and seals as well but I can’t find any reference to them. Anyway….interesting. Thank you!
You’re welcome! That’s very interesting about the shark oil. I’d also think it would have to taste fishy. Maybe it doesn’t go rancid as fast or something? Your research on this is so intriguing!
It has decided to be summer here again and with a vengeance.
I stuck a bottle of Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom in the fridge and just have myself a nice cold, lemony spritzing. Nice!
Ooh, nicely done–you smell great!
SOTD is SSS Yin & Ylang, in honor of all those affected by the horrific fire situation in California.
Fall Ball giveth and taketh away. I tip my cap to my D-backs for their great season and now happily say, “Go Cubs!!!”
Cubbies, eh? I’m looking at you with shifty eyes, per my post above hehe
I jest! I haven’t decided who to root for yet, but I’ll probably stick with NL West and go with the Dodgers.
Well, I have a somewhat complicated system that guides who I root for other than the D-backs. Ultimately, though, it boils down to “Anyone But the Dodgers or Nats”–which makes this year pretty easy.????
Hehe! After the home team is out, I’ve been known to root for the team with the best uniforms, or best looking players
Woot woot, Cubbies!
I worked in Napa for fifteen years and I’m so sorry about the fires. My friends are all safe, though choking on the smoke, for which I am profoundly grateful.
After a massage this morning, I came home and put on Roberto Cavalli Oro from that ridiculous bottle. Love the scent, the bottle not so much.
I’m not grateful they’re choking on the smoke, I’m grateful they are safe!
That bottle! It’s such a pain to store anywhere. Love the scent though.
Yes, it feels like a very personal loss. Happy to hear your friends are safe.
sotd is Sarrasins
I am back from my holiday in Bretagne and I miss it already. Though my waistline is probably glad my diet of crêpes and cidre has ended
Not so long ago I commented here that I hardly had encountered fragrances that made me feel queasy. but today I smelled two scents and they both made me feel a bit lightheaded not in a good way. Mandala and Concrete. What is wrong? very different fragrances from very different brands…
ı also noticed differences in familiar fragrances while i was in France. Maybe it was change of weather and/or environment (rural area)…. very interesting.
Mandala has a simultaneous warm/cool feel and high/low pitch. It’s as if there are two perfumes in one. I can imagine how it might feel odd.
… and i just checked the ‘resumes’ of both Guichards and I don’t think I have a fragrance made by them. but its okay I still have a pile of samples to go through and I am going to pay some attention to some bottles I missed while on holiday.
I’ve often pondered one person living in one environment and experiencing a perfume totally differently than I do. I notice major differences in my perfumes depending on the weather. Surely someone living in a tropical environment is smelling something different than I am, living in a cold, damp climate where it doesn’t get hot and isn’t humid.
Then there’s the gender difference: perfume just smells different on men than it does on women. I try to skip men’s perfume reviews as I know their take will be largely irrelevant to me.
Do you think the gender difference is greater than the person-to-person variation? It seems to me like there’s enough variation among women that I wouldn’t be able to say that men fell outside of that statistical circle.
Yes. Any given fragrance will smell different on a man than on a woman, but most fragrances will smell the same on most women.
That is, of course, entirely conjecture on my part.
Fascinating right?!
Example:
Vitrum by Sammarco
I loved it already, a smoky vetiver, that supposedly had rose in it. I wore it at least 10 times and the rose was never that prominent, but while in Bretagne I could smell it suddenly very strongly. In a good way. It really softens the vetiver and makes it more sensual.
I wonder, maybe it was because we had a lake house, lots of water around us, and of course the crêpes&cidre diet changed my skin chemistry… haha
Concrete was also very wrong on me. I had to hide my sample to make sure that I don’t accidentally try to wear it again. I generally like the brand, nothing in the notes looks unappealing, and even the smell of the fragrance doesn’t consciously registers as repulsive. Go figure!
SotD = 4711
Wore 4711 last night, too. Refreshing.
We’re far enough away not to feel threatened, but the smell of smoke and falling ash is a somber reminder of the devastation. So sorry for those who are affected.
I am glad you are far away!
thanks, hajusuuri. It has been surprising that smoke and ash from the Canyon 2 fire has reached us. The hot dry wind that hit yesterday is largely to blame, both here and in northern CA.
Wearing Gourmand Coquin, inspired by my morning tea which has white chocolate in it. Apparently I won’t be asking for a bottle of this for christmas and will instead be chasing down vintage bottles. *sigh* and hat tip to elizabeth.
GC smells like holiday baking to me. Perfect for Thanksgiving. I have an older mfg sample which I save for posterity!
Back to the sample stash for sniffing. SOTD = possibly vintage Lanvin Scandal EdP. One of those Grand Old Perfumes which likely has everything but the kitchen sink it in. It’s working rather well for the summer like weather that is refusing to leave.
Pixel is now not wearing the plastic e-collar and VERY happy about that. Less hissing from the other two cats, but they still are doing some of that. I wonder if it is the medicine Pixel is taking? Maybe it makes her smell different?
Hoping that folks in CA are safe. I saw the fires on the news last night and couldn’t believe my eyes. Yes, I grew up where “fire season” was something everyone knew about. What’s out there now far exceeds that. Egads.
“It in”? Crap. Should be “in it”.
It might be the medicine. I think medicines can affect people smells.
I’ll know if it is the medicine in 2 or 3 days. That ought to be enough time for it to clear out of her system.
I’m sure poor Pixel is thrilled to be out of that collar!
Yes! She definitely had a spring in her step after it was taken off.
That’s fantastic, glad she’s feeling better. Your comment made me smile.
Whenever you mention Pixel-kitty with the cone of shame, I think of OUR Pixel-person wearing the same thing
Oh, no! I bet the human equivalent is just as bad…
Jalapeno, I missed the first part of your story about your cast, so I don’t know the background. But it sounds like Nonrecognition Aggression, which is an actual thing with some cats. My daughter has two cats, brothers who have never been separated. But when one goes to the vet, the other is quite aggressive when he comes back home. Lots of theories about why it happens, but most say the cat who was at the vet doesn’t smell “normal” to the other cat who then actually sees it as an intruder.
I’m wearing No.32 from the list of 100 Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try – Demeter Thunderstorm. I thought I had this list covered but it seems I have the ‘other’ to the ones on the list (which somehow doesn’t surprise me at all. So, I’ll get about 6% of the list. Interesting what Robin said yesterday about a “100 fragrances” list for 2017…that it would be pretty random. I think the same would be true of most things, whether books or records or films. There’s just so much choice and far greater emphasis on multiple tastes rather than there being one gold standard of taste (which is a good thing).
It’s simultaneously good and frustrating. I was just thinking how exciting it used to be when a Serge Lutens or a new niche came out. Now it’s so often disappointing or just a blurr. Also, new films by someone like Kubrick were such a bright moment. One had time to affected by it. If I think about it, I also feel anxiety to think that the perfume love of my life could be out there and I would never happen to sample it. Or my the best book, or whatever.
I read somewhere recently that there is more information in a single edition of the Sunday New York Times than the sum total of knowledge that an educated person might learn in his/her entire lifetime in the Middle Ages. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well gosh, now I feel incredibly well-informed and educated
I tend to find the overabundance of choices both frustrating and somewhat illusory. There seems to be a glut of just about everything – most of it crap.
another crazy day at work but was smelling good with frequent re-spritzes of Eau de Campagne (this is the beauty of having a full bottle) to combat the heat…I have used 1/3 of the bottle !!!! But I am loving it so I will continue to spritz with reckless abandonment.
Humid morning as we build up to a thunderstorm. Gorgeous spring scents in the air thiugh and one perfect red rose I passed on the way to the bus stop which smelled divine.
Only Wednesday but it feels like we’ve had a long week already. SOTD: Jo Malone’s Dark Amber & Gingerlily
You smell great!
Wearing L’Artisan L’Eau d’Ambre. I should rename this as my October fragrance, or as the vanilla fragrance that I like.
After I got a shower, I lathered up in a Lemon Sugar Squares lotion I got ages ago at Marshalls, then tried to figure out a perfume to go with it. I ended up with Shalimar Parfum Initial L’eau. It’s a nice combo, but perhaps better for summer. Even though the temps here are still in the 90s
,I like evoking a sense of autumn with my perfume. I’m feeling a bit off because I really hate the scent of an antiperspirant I’m using for the first time. It was one of those “clinical” formulations and thus a bit more expensive ($8) so I suppose I’ll begrudgingly wear it for about 2 weeks – that’s about 60 cents a day so I won’t feel badly about throwing it out at that point.
Just want to say that in this world of craziness, it’s so nice to have a place to be a bit lighthearted, and safely rant about unimportant things like offensive antiperspirant. Thank you, Robin and everyone here at NST!
Freshly showered and enjoying Narciso edp. It is elegant and serene.
Finally reunited with my bottles after a trip and choose Pacificas French Lilac in honor of spring here. But have to check if I have snything to participate in this week.
You smell nice!
Those cups!
SOTD = Guerlain Mon Precieux Nectar
Just because and it was within easy reach and yummo!
California Wildfires! Those of you within sniffing distance, please please stay safe. My ex-boss was in Sonoma for a wedding and had to evacuate at 4AM, leaving who knows what including her ID! We’ve got employees who have LOST their homes. While I was happy that Nate turned out to be nothing, those wildfires are wreaking unpredictable havoc.
Bad elevator habits of otherwise normal (debatable) people:
1. Standing right in front of the doors while waiting for an elevator
2. Standing right in front of the doors while inside the elevator when it is still far from maximum capacity
3. Standing right in front of the doors while inside the elevator (see bad habit no. 2) and immediately stepping out and not watching for bad habit no. 1 or to make sure the elevator actually stopped at a real floor – you could be stepping into a VOID!
Commuting Woes No. 397:
– Must you remove your shoes and prop your feet on the seat in front of you? Disgusting! You have been on your feet all day, sweating into your socks and now you want the whole world to SMELL your DIRTY feet? Why?
– A little thank you would have been nice. I gave up my seat for a woman who came in with her toddler and nary a word of thanks. The guy sitting next to me was shamed into giving up his seat so mother and child can sit next to each other. Because the woman did not even acknowledge the kindness, I will judge her. Why is your toddler still using a pacifier? I know there are varying recommendations but I equate that to you not wanting to interact with your child because you are more interested in interacting with an electronic device.
“Because the woman did not even acknowledge the kindness, I will judge her.”
That. Is. Epic! ????
I could be ornery sometimes
Which is why I love you so much
Hajusuuri, I rode the subway off and on all week in Korea and there were SEVERAL times I thought of you and your commuting woes!
I am shocked. Someone actually took their shoes off??? Oh that’s got to be one of the worst ones yet!! And just plain ugh and blah and blech to the woman who couldn’t utter the simple words of “thank you”. At least her child got to witness a kind act from you, considering the mom’s a real model of politeness.