Happy Holidays! We'll be back on Tuesday.
In the meantime, feel free to talk about whatever you like: what perfume you’re wearing today, what you're cooking (or eating) over the holidays, anything at all.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Christmas cookies and muffins [cropped] by PIVISO at flickr; public domain.
SotD = L’air du desert marocain
The house is quiet, and I’m happily sniffing the dry down of last night’s generous dabbing of this miraculous fragrance. This moment is a gift.
In a few hours the joyous and mad dash to Do All the Things begins in earnest. I will add another layer of L’air du desert marocain as I finish getting dressed for the day, then will carry the little 5 ml bottle with me for frequent top ups.
Wishing happy times for all good perfumistas everywhere in the coming days. Many thank you’s to all who make up this fragrant and welcoming NST community, especially to Robin and the whole NST crew.
Happy holidays, bloggy friends. See you on the flip side.
That’s a great perfume you’re wearing. I’m definitely going to wear PHI on one of the Christmas days. And I wish I had any Reverie au Jardin left…
YOU smell great, merry christmas to you!
Merry Christmas Tiffanie! Enjoy!
Smelling good, Tiffanie! Enjoy the moment of quiet and wishing you a joyful holiday and year ahead.
Wishing you the best of the season, tiffanie!
You smell wonderful! Enjoy your peaceful moments, and all the crazy ones too. Have a safe and happy holiday!
Smelling great today, and thank you for the reminder to enjoy the quiet times one can find during this time of year!
Merry Christmas tiffanie!
Thank you, mayfly! Happy Christmas to you!
Happy Holidays everyone!.
Busy weekend! We will be celebrating Christmas with with my MIL tonight. Dinner and some wine with my husband’s family. I will be wearing Theorema.
Tomorrow, we will spend Christmas Eve with my family at a restaurant. The festive mood is pretty gloomy. Mom especially is having a very hard time coping with the absence of my father. But we will try to make the moment happy to honor and remember him. He used to enjoy the holidays inmensely. Tomorrow, I will be wearing 2 perfumes that he liked: Alahine during the day, because he developed a liking for it on his lasts days(I still have some left thanks to the generosity of some NSTers who made it possible when he was sick), and then for our family gathering Chanel No.19 EdP that he loved all his life on me.
Christmas day I will wear Alahine again. We will be quiet and relaxing at home regaining energy for another busy week at work.
I wish you all a peaceful, loving, happy holiday, especially to the ones who lost a dear one recently and are coping like me with emptiness and sadness, but with loving memories.
Hugs and love to everyone here! ????????♀️????????????????⚘????????
Christmas Day I will wear Alahiiiiiine too! So scent twins for tomorrow
Hi twin! Enjoy!
Enjoy your early Christmas with your MIL tonight and with whole family tomorrow.
It sure is comfortable to go for a Christmas dinner to the restaurant. One of these years my parents want to not cook but just find a wooden chalet in the mountains where everything will be served.
Thank you Lucasai! Enjoy Christmas with your family too. I hope next year we can gather at home like previous years. It is more intimate. This year we just could not do it without dad around. But I agree with you like there is nothing more comfortable and easy than going to a place where everything is served. Who knows and we will repeat it again next year ????.
I hope your parents can celebrate the holidays at a wooden chalet in the mountains at some point as they wish. It is dreamy and for sure very beautiful. Hugs to you and them! ????????
Hugs for you and family – I hope you find joy in the day even if in different ways this year.
Thank you Springpansy! Happy Holidays to you too! ????????????????????
I wish you a peaceful and joyous holiday season, perfumelover67.
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Sending you good thoughts as you remember your father on this first holiday without him. May your good memories of him warm your heart.
Thank you Cazaubon! The same to you!
Those are beautiful sentiments; it’s wonderful to honor his memory. Be well.
Thank you Koyel! You too be well! Enjoy the season!
Warm hugs to you, perfumelover67. May wonderful memories of your Dad get you and your mom and family through the season.
I would be lying if I said it gets easier each year. My family usually celebrates special occasions and holidays at restaurants. For the immediate family, I still sometimes miscount the number of people when making reservations. For the extended family get togethers, eventhough the last of the “older” generation (not counting the ones who married into the family) is gone with the passing of my uncle this past September, the cousins vowed to keep up with our family gatherings at least once a year.
The first anniversary is a hard one, but glad you will have the comfort of your family. And wearing your father’sfavoriteperfumes is a wonderful eay to honor him and bring him to the celebration. Wishing you much peace and joy. Hugs!
Peace and joy to you too Elisa P. Enjoy! Hugs!
Your perfume tributes to your dad are so sweet. My thoughts are with you and your family. I hope you can share your memories and celebrate your dad.
Thank you Sistine. Best to you and yours. Happy Holidays!
Hugs, Perfumelover67. The first holiday after a loved one passes is a difficult one. I’ve been in that situation. I am glad to hear that you are wearing some of your dad’s favorite scents as a remembrance.
Hugs to you too Jalapeno! Love your plans with your husband and our meal sounds wonderful. Happy Holidays!
ahh… perfumlover67, I wish you comfort of good memories of your father.
My dad loved Christmas also and it was hard for 10 years after he died to keep things going for my mom. Now that they are both gone it feels strange. I am not celebrating at all by choice.
My sister has two granddaughters and she will be with them. they are pure joy to her and I am grateful for that. Wouldn’t wish my mom another day though. She was ready. And I am ready for the worst bad terrible year ever to end. My bottle of Hwyl is here but I woke up with a head cold and not going to open it till I can smell properly.
Thank you fragrant friends for always being a place to hang with and for Robin for hosting what is a delicious and delightful group.
Apsara, your post have been very touchy. Thank you! I understand the fact that you do not want to celebrate. I wish I could spend these days at home quiet and away from the holiday noises. I feel once my mom is gone things will not be the same anymore. She is old and sick, so we know she will not be around long.
I wish from the bottom of my heart that 2018 is a much better year for you and that good things come to your life!
I hope you feel better soon from your head cold so you can enjoy in full your bottle of Hwyl.
Sending you hugs, peace and love. ????
Wishing you a wonderful 2018 and I hope you feel better very soon so you can ring in the new year with Hywl.
Wishing you a peaceful Christmas. Hugs and love back to you:)
Hugs and love back to you lillyjo. Have a blessed holiday! ????????
It is such a hard holiday when family matters aren’t going as you hoped for whatever reason. Warm wishes to perfumelover67 and apsara and whoever else is not feeling perfectly joyous this year.
Thank you Robin. Merry Christmas to you and your family.! And thank you for this wonderful blog that gives many of us the possibility to talk not only about perfumes, but also about all our happy and sad personal moments. This is a big family that I treasure dearly. Thank you and enjoy the holidays!.????????
Thanks Robin.
The older we get the more we learn. I count on the gift of grace, both given and received.
I hope u all manage to enjoy you’re Christmas, despite you’re dear dads absence.. merry Christmas to u and all you’re family.
Thank you Mayfly. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones too!
Holidays can be hard. I hope the restaurant dinner helps and smooths the day for you and your family. A quiet Christmas Day sounds lovely.
Thank you LizzieB. I hope you and your husband have a very Merry Christmas with your friends. Enjoy! Hugs! ????
Hope Alahine is treating you well today and that you are finding joy in each fragrant moment.
Thank you Tiffanie. It is really nice and comforting to be wearing Alahine today. Brings lots of warm memories.
You are smelling fantastic in L’air du Desert Marocain. A big favorite of mine. Enjoy the day!
Hey, hey, hey! What a busy day in the kitchen today!
My mom has made a gingerbread cake with rose marmelade and I just finished making a vegetable salad. Granny is preparing mushroom filling for pierogi right now. Christmas is going to be delicious.
I’m wearing Fugit Amor by Jul et Mad today. It’s a festive kind of perfume so it suited yesterday’s theme as well.
Wishing Happy Christmas to all people near & far!
Gingerbread cake with rose marmalade sounds divine! Please, send some here…….????
It’s one of the Christmas traditions here to make it.
I love pierogis !
Enjoy lucasai!
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Great to hear!
Have a ‘bearry’ Christmas!
Thank you lucasai! ????
Merry Christmas!
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Your dinner sounds delicious! Merry Christmas!
Gosh I love gingerbread. I’ve had it in mind since Thanksgiving. It would seem the only way to get some to eat is to bake it myself. Since that ain’t gonna happen, I’ll enjoy it vicariously through you
That gingerbread cake sounds yummy!
Gingerbread with rose marmalade! Sounds delicious. I bought a few goodies from the Polish take-out place. No gingerbread, but my favorite rose jam donuts with candied orange peels on top! Have a wonderful holiday.
My grandma used to make the most amazing pirogies and pelmenies!!
Rose marmalade sounds wonderful, as do all the other goodies you will be having for dinner.
Yum yum yum! Your meal sounds incredible. Have a wonderful time with your family.
Yum, what festive treats!
Wow. Delicious.
Christmas at your place sounds yummy. I can smell the pierogis from here.
About to head to the store for last minute groceries. Then yoga and baking = a great day in my book!
Still enjoying the drydown of my Amouage Lyric from yesterday – although I said yesterday that it was beautiful but not me, I can say that the far drydown IS me and I love it. Hmmm.
Happy holidays, all and Robin, thanks for NST and a place to talk perfume among friends!
Happy Holidays to you too! Lyric is gorgeous
I also enjoy the drydown. The body cream might work better for you as it tends to smell more like the base notes. Enjoy your day!
Good to know – thx!!
Yoga and eating something baked by somebody else is my idea of a great day. Have a wonderful holiday!
I woke up this morning and made cranberry sauce, chocolate mouse, stuffing, steamed carrots and now have a cranberry pie in the oven…
Update on the Turkey: they don’t make one that small! LOL
We were thinking to save time to make mashed potatoes tonight as well as sweet potatoes for the sweet potato pie, how is reheating these dishes in the next day work out? Anyone with culinary experience please chime in..
I haven’t even thought about perfume, I am so exhausted already.
For tomorrow I was thinking either Caron Parfum Sacre or SL Sa Majeste la Rose..someone pick for me please..thank you!
Caron Parfume Sacre has my vote!
LOL Chocolate mouse. ????
Not laughing at you, with you. ????
Parfum Sacre.
Deep breaths, and relax as much as possible.
Everything will be glorious.
Cheers!
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Typos! Chocolate Mousse I meant ..hahaha..with some yummy chocolate from France
If you plan to store overnight and reheat the next day, use small enough containers so it cools off quickly in the fridge, this will prevent bacteria growth and food poisoning.
This. The mashed potatoes can be reheated in a double boiler. The sweet potatoes for the pie ought not to need to be reheated, but you’ll probably want to pull them out of the fridge a bit in advance of baking it so they’re not ice cold when the pie goes in the oven. Though if the recipe assumes you’re using piping hot sweet potatoes, you’ll probably want to heat them up.
Thanks for the reminder about proper cooling techniques, cazaubon. We are currently living with my parents and I am forever putting food in the fridge that my mom has set out to “cool.” Her technique is to leave something on the stove with a lid on it (?), or just leave it sitting out for hours and hours. As a former sufferer of IBS-D, this throws me into a bit of a tizzy.
So do make sure those small containers that go into the fridge to cool are uncovered. Once they’re cold, cover them up.
I have the same problem at my parents’ house. Old expired stuff in the fridge, stuff left out on the counter for hours or (shudder) left sitting in the turned-off oven (perfect warm spot for max bacteria growth). As the owner of a dodgy stomach I have to be vigilant.
Ahahaha. My clean-freak mother also lets food cool at room temperature! I’ve tried to tell her about bacteria growing temperatures, but she staunchly says that if it hasn’t caused her problems in her 65 years of life, she doesn’t see why the problems would start now.
I could go on about my mom, who gave all 10 members of my extended family the gift of norovirus one Christmas, but I won’t.
But here’s one for you, Koyel. I was visiting my sister one summer when she was working on her PhD in Phoenix, AZ. For her bday, in late July, she threw a potluck/pool party. At that time of year, it’s about 120 during the day and cools to about 100 degrees at night. Guests arrived in the afternoon with their potluck dishes and set them on a table OUTSIDE, where everyone helped themselves then left the food sitting on the table until the party broke up around midnight. The partygoers split up the leftovers on their way out the door to take home and eat later. I was stunned. The attendees were all PhD students in BIOLOGY.
My son always says it is a proven fact that bacteria doesn’t grow at family reunions.
Kpaint and ScentSpirit, you’re both hilarious
Kpaint, I often think that we life scientists are the worst about these kinds of things. My software engineer boyfriend is much more concerned about food safety than I, the chemist, am. It’s not precisely that I don’t believe in the power of bacteria; it’s simply that we constantly think of so many worse ways to get sick that we also don’t care about (e.g., breathing in benzene or n-hexane, which are carcinogenic and neurotoxic, respectively) that we’re kind of numbed to the idea of food bacteria-borne illness. That’s my theory, anyway 
I also like to buffer my hot-things-stuffed-in-the-fridge things with ice packs from the freezer! Prevents the fridge from warming up too much AND keeps hot food from touching other refrigerated items AND accelerates cooling of the food.
Cranberry pie & chocolate mouse sound lovely. I bet your baking smells diving in whole house.
I like how your wrote mouse too..hehehe..it was suppose to say chocolate mousse…
I’m exhausted just thinking abput all the work you’ve done!
Parfum Sacre is probably more “holiday”. But I do love Sa Majeste…
I would not recommend re-heating mashed potatoes :(. I usually just peel them in advance (and let them sit in the cold water) to save time.
Another vote for Caron Parfum Sacre! Good luck with your feast!
My personal experience is that mashed potatoes taste best when freshly made. YMMV, of course. Then again, I am that person reheating them in the microwave. That might affect the taste and texture.
My vote is Parfum Sacre. I don’t have any input on the potato issue, but I am in awe of the feast you are preparing! I hope you get a chance to sit down and relax tomorrow when your guests arrive.
Potatoes will wait for tomorrow
I am too tired
Parfum Sacre it is..
I am sure I am too late to help anyone, but we’ve been making the cookwise 2 step mashed potato recipe for years, and they allow you to do part of the boiling in advance so the bit at the end is shorter, plus, they’re just fluffier than regular mash. There are all sorts of versions online, here is the first I found on google — these have garlic & shallot, but we don’t use that, just the method:
https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/two-step-mashed-potatoes-with-shallots-and-garlic
Lol about the turkey.
Yes, you can reheat all that stuff! Go for it.
Oops – that was meant for Lovestosmellgood, of course.
And adding a vote for Caron Parfum Sacre, although either would be great.
Great thank you for your input!
Happy Holidays to you!
I am rather slow getting started today, since I have chores to do before driving to my sister’s tomorrow. I am planning to finish off my Smell Bent holiday scent week with December. The temperature has gone from 81 yesterday, to the 40s today. But at least it is a bright, sunshiney day.
What a drastic change in temperatures. Enjoy the holidays!
Hope the weather stays sunny. I’d love some snow for Christmas Eve but forecast says we’ll have +10*C
Have a safe trip and a happy visit at your sisters!
Happy and peaceful Holidays, all!
This morning I spilled about half a dabber sample of Musc Ravageur onto myself. It was a fortunate accident, since this one really benefits from a heavier application than I normally would’ve done. I stink so pretty!
I’m making a 3-hour drive to my parents’ house tomorrow and I’m really, really hoping the weather improves, since I’m a nervous driver even in the best conditions. The roads here are getting pretty slippery today. Stay safe out there!
Have a safe trip home!
Wishing you an empty road home!
I’m a nervous driver as well. Hoping for the best possible conditions for you and a lovely holiday! And you do stink good
I bet your parents are thrilled you’re just a three-hour drive away
Stay safe! (I am also a very, very, very nervous driver, and I live in CA, so I’ve never had to deal with snow.)
Another nervous driver here so I usually hitch a ride. If I have to drive, I am likely to decline invitations or will find a way to somehow avoid the drive.
Have a safe trip Holyneroly. You smell fantastic!
With you on the nervous driving, so I make my husband do all of it, lol. Hooe the conditions are in your favor. And you do stink good ????
Joining you in nervous driving (and riding) wishing you the safest of roads and a Merry Christmas????
I am fortified by all of your well wishes. And it turns out the winter weather advisory doesn’t start until after my trip will be over. Thank you!!
Safe driving, both there and back.
safe travels!!
Ooh, you smell great! I hope your drive is easy and that you listen to some great music on the way. My favorite part about driving for more than 10 minutes is singing along with the tunes.
Merry Christmas to all those celebrating!
Enjoyed a bit of holiday window viewing yesterday and saw the tree plus Saks’ light show which was absolutely amazing. Also had time to stop in Lush and try all their new perfumes (new to USA that is). I was especially interested in Cardamon Coffee and as it turns out it was just OK. Going on I wasn’t impressed but an hour or so later I kept smelling my wrist and finding it quite tasty smelling. So many smells in that shop it was hard to even tell what was what.
No fragrance just yet.. will probably wear something close to the skin and simple as we’re heading to the UES to sing carols to nursing home residents. Afterwards we’ll stop in Barnes & Nobles and spend an hour or so there and then do a little food shopping for the holiday. Easy, breezy Christmas this year. Miss being with family but also nice to not have the massive preparations.
Ho, Ho, Ho!
I’d love to see those Christmas window decorations. In the US they do it in much, much bigger way than here in Poland.
I do not take those windows for granted one bit! Amazing creative talent, some very traditional and some far out, but always very fun to behold.
Merry Christmas, floragal! You are living the city life with your beloved!
Merry Christmas to you as well, Hajusuuri! Hope it’s a fun, family day for you!
How beautiful to bring smiles and the holiday spirit to those at a nursing home! Have a peaceful and blessed Christmas Floragal!
Thank you, perfumelover67! You as well. I must confess, it’s not the easiest place to volunteer but once we start singing and I focus on bringing them some Christmas cheer it’s so worth it. We had one guy sing to us this year and do some really good impersonations, and a women who directed us as if she were a choir director. Quite fun!
I forgot to play tourist this year! I did the windows last year and they were pretty great, except for the crowds. Kudos to you for your spreading some cheer to those confined. Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
The crowds really require massive patience and a good attitude. Definitely need to be ready for it.
Happy holidays to you too!
That sounds like a wonderful way to spend the holiday. I hope you have a wonderful, easy breezy celebration.
Thanks, Sistine! Hope it’s a special time of year for you as well.
My closest Lush did not have any of the new scents, in fact they had not even heard of them! I will have to try the Lush in the larger mall, eventually.
Still no Rose Jam perfume
But I’m very well stocked on the shower gel!
I thought the Bergdorf’s windows were amazing this year – so very creative and just a joy to the eye.
And the Lush Cardamom Coffee lingers beautifully. I had the same “keep sniffing my wrist” reaction that you did.
Those Bergdorf windows are stunning!
Triple strength coffee ☕
Extra long workout ????
Getting ready to bake 3 pineapple ???????????????????? upside down cakes. ????
7 fishes dinner ???????????????????????????? @ my Sister’s tomorrow.
???? Somehow a friend finagled luxury box seats for the rescheduled Christmas night EAGLES game. ????????????
Uh-oh, what will happen to my girlish figure? !! ????
Shalimar redux.
Redux.
Redux.
Gonna be my Christmas ???????????? 2017 scent.
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Got a bit weepy a few times this holiday season, but it is cathartic.
I have also laughed remembering the good times.
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Carpe Diem
Peace ✌
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Three pineapple upside down cakes? Be sure to share. :-). Have a great time!
Thanks cazaubon!
The batter is almost better than the cake ! ????????
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Happy Christmas!
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Happy Christmas lucasai and a healthy, joyous New Year!
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What a fabulous holiday you have planned! Enjoy it all! You can save moderation for *after* the new year
Thanks holyneroli !????????
Enjoy your holidays ! ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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3 pineapple upside down cakes? ???????????? Let me know when chow time is ????
1P.M., early this year.
Stretchy ????????????pants required! ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Mangia ! ????
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Bear, you are killing me with all your cooking and baking. Craving a lot!????. But as you said yesterday “Calories don’t count until the New Year!”
You too have a wonderful Christmas day! Enjoy the most! ????????????????????????????
Thank you perfumelover67!
Peace and joyous Christmas and New Year to you and yours. ????????????????????????
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So much talk about baking. I have all the desire and ingredients but, alas, none of the ambition. Maybe tomorrow, if I start gearing up now. Not sure what smells better — all the bakers here or their kitchens! Hope everyone appreciates the results. Cheers to all.
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I enjoy baking, but it is work !????????
Cheers SFguy !☕☕????????
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Pineapple upside down cake was one of my mothers speciaties. Now I’m getting weepy (and hungry) luckily, I’m also laughing at the girlish figure line ???? Merry Christmas ????! ????????☕
Merry Christmas lillyjo! ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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Mother is smiling! ????
My Italian-American colleague was going through the looooong list of all the food she’s making for Christmas. Much admiration for your comittment to gustatory fulfilment! If I make 2 things, I deserve a 3 hour nap ha! ????????????
Merry, merry to you! ????⛄????????????????????
Thank you Elisa P! ????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I think Italians may have invented excess….shh don’t tell my relatives I wrote that! LOLOLOL ????????????????
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So, how many batches of goodies have you made for Xmas? I envy the lucky people you are sharing all that with! ????
5 batches of Anise Biscotti, ???????????????????? and 3 pineapple ????????????upside down cakes ????????????.
Come in, there’s always room for more!
Enjoy your Christmas with your husband, Jalapeno!
Your food sounds delicious! ????????????????????
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I figure I’m just adding more girl to my girlish figure with each holiday treat. I hope you have a wonderful feast with your family. Happy holidays!
Thanks sistine! ????
My bathroom scale has been broken since March and I ain’t sorry! ????????????????????????LOLOLOL
Thanks, and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
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We have our main meal on Christmas Eve and always have, but when I mentioned to my husband the rather smaller & easier meal I was thinking we’d serve on Christmas to out of town guests, he just looked at me and said “the Eagles are playing” as though he could not imagine I meant for him to concern himself with anything else
LOLOLOL! ????????????
Priorities, Robin! ????
Priorities! ✌
Merry Christmas Robin! ????????????
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☕☕☕☕☕ LOLOLOL ????
I may have made quintuple strength coffee today! By accident I swear!
It is strong, even for me. ????
Not hatin’ it though…….LOLOLOL ????????????????????
Workout ????????????
Getting ready to shower with Shalimar ‘sensual gel’, then the PdT. ????????????????????
Celebrate today wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing.
Today is your gift. ????
Carpe Diem
Peace ✌
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Love your seven fish emojis!
Merry Christmas, bear! Hope it’s extra special for you and your family.
Thanks floragal !????????????????????????????
Merry Christmas to you and your family! ????????????????????
Cheers! ☕????????????????????????????
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Baptême du Feu for me today. I plan to do some baking and reading, another lazy day at home, just the way I like it.
Have a relaxing day, cazaubon!
I’m in total agreement, nothing beats a lazy day at home. Enjoy!
Enjoy your relaxing time Cazaubon!
Lazy is the new busy and I’m all for it! Have a great day????
You smell great!!
That sounds wonderful. I hope your day is truly relaxing. Have a peaceful and happy holiday.
I’m planning on a lazy day tomorrow. Hope yours was lovely.
Perfect day!
Happy Holidays all!
SOTD is cookies! Finishing up baking the first of many batches. Tried out the cranberry orange shortbread recipe that Jada linked earlier this week… yummy!
Tomorrow evening will be our traditional feast with a college friend’s family… Dungeness crab and pasta with homemade meatballs & red sauce, and loads of other yummies. I just have to bring salad (spinach, roasted hazelnuts, sliced apples, homemade lemon honey vinaigrette), WINE, and of course cookies.
Sounds fun and delicious!
Sounds great, enjoy!
Yum! It all sounds wonderful!
Have fun Pixel! Enjoy!
Wow, I wish I’d gone to college with you – that meal sounds amazing! Have a healthy and happy holiday.
Your SOTD is just gorgeous, by the way.
Oh, very yummy!
Shortbread sounds delicious too!!
In Who Knew? and for Christmas Day it might be Velvet Rose and Oud, as my hostess is a big Jo Malone fan.
A question to those Down Under: do all Australian Gold sunscreens have that strong, fake-fruit smell? It is supposed to be the best sunscreen, but the smell is so strong, at least at first…
Wow, you are a thoughtful guest! I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Despite the name, I think this is an American product and not available here in Australia.
Hello, you wonderful people! I’m sitting pretty in Incense Rosé today, which was much more of a cardamom blast on my skin today than it usually is. (This is a good thing.) This might be because I am sensitized to cardamom right now; I keep getting gusts of cardamom in the kitchen this weekend. My Indian mother is an amazing chef, and cardamom features heavily in foods both sweet AND savory. Her Indian rice pudding is like the most idealized version of l’Aromatica Kulfi–a spectacular mixture of cream, milk sugars, and cardamom. Anyway, the incense and aldehydes that usually sparkle on my skin from Incense Rosé are much quieter today, but that’s ok. I’m plotting a someday purchase of a Tauer Discovery Set with LADDM and Incense Rosé. (Not sure what would take up that third slot; Lonesome Rider?)
Have you tried Noontide Petals, Une Rose Chyprée, PHI Rose de Kandahar and Une Rose Vermeille? Those are other possibilities.
Your mom’s cooking sounds great.
It IS great! The only downside is that I eat so much of it.
I do have a lovely little decant of PHI that might need replacing soon! You know, I once had a sample of Une Rose Vermeille that smelled, oh good heavens, awful. Like the rankest skankiest skin scent. However, I now wonder if that sample hadn’t gone off. (I still need to try Noontide Petals and URC.) Thanks for the suggestions!
Mmm the description of your mom’s rice pudding makes my mouth water…
It is pretty spectacular
It is one of my favorite foods. Sorry to gloat!
You could easily fill that last slot in the next splitmeet. All this talk of LADDM makes me feel like I should have some more of it. I ran through my samples of it, but have a large decant of Au Coeur du Desert that I’ve barely touched so it’s been easy to talk myself out of getting more of the original. Between now and the splitmeet, you could certainly help yourself to one of those adorable Tauer sample tins!
I’m envious of the glorious smells coming from your kitchen and the feast that awaits you! Enjoy the holiday and time with your family!
Oh yes, I don’t think I even need to wait for the splitmeet; a friend of mine who lives < 2 mi away from me has already told me she'll fill that slot if I ever actually go through with the purchase! I've also been eyeing those soaps. I tried the Mandarines Ambrées soap and loved it.
I almost bought some of those soaps and the oils as xmas gifts for women family members/friends this year. In the end I didn’t, as I felt like I might be foisting my own idea of a lovely gift on people who might feel otherwise
Instead, I put together gift bags with my favorite (super affordable) retinoid and night cream which is most definitely foisting my own idea of a great gift on others 
But I’ve wanted to buy those soaps and oils as a gift for someone for ages. Maybe some day!
Would you mind sharing what your favorite and affordable retinoid & night creams are? And do you put both retinoid AND night creams on at the same time? What positive effects do you see from retinoid cream?
I always hesitate to give the uninitiated “expensive” soaps and oils (Tauers aren’t THAT pricy, but $15 soaps are hardly cheap), for fear that they’ll just think I’m giving them standard, cheaper fare.
L ’Aromatica Kukfi is mouthwatering, but I am sure your mom’s indian rice pudding is glorious compared to it. Enjoy Koyel!
It is, perfumelover67! I so wish I could bottle up the precise scent and taste and texture sensation and send it out to you all.
You are killing me with the description of your mother’s rice pudding!
I’m so sorry, Jalapeno
It was pretty mean of me, especially because she makes it better than anything I’ve EVER tasted from ANYONE else, except from her mother (my grandmother), who passed 4.5 years ago. So I can’t even just tell you to try it at a restaurant, because there’s just no comparison.
You smell amazing, and your mom’s kitchen sounds like heaven! Has she taught you how to cook?
Have a wonderful holiday with your family.
Haha, she’s…nearly as bad a cooking teacher as she is a wonderful cook. She gets pretty scattered and stressed while she’s cooking (she’s naturally pretty stressed out all the time), and if she makes a mistake in her cooking, she says it’s because she was talking to me! I did get her to write down a number of recipes for me, after a lot of cajoling. Those are pretty poorly written, too, with steps and ingredients missing here and there. That said, if I spend some time with her recipes and edit them first, I am able to re-create many of her easier masterpieces. I’m proud to say I’ve wowed many friends with those dishes
Her rice pudding, on the other hand, is a very complex, difficult, and INCREDIBLY time consuming recipe that I don’t plan on trying to learn anytime soon.
And I meant to say, thank you and have a wonderful holiday yourself
would like some pudding..thank you..or the recipe..
Merry Christmas everyone. We’re getting ready to drive to Hawke’s Bay to stay with my beloved’s mother for a couple of days. It looks as uf the weather will be nice and sunny, so I’m taking a few light perfumes – quite different to the lovely warms scents most of you are describing. I think I’ll drive up in Jour d’Hermes Absolu – it’s fresh and citrusy.
Have a safe drive Gaynor! Happy Holidays!
Have a safe trip, and a fabulous time with your mother. You smell incredible!
Have a lovely safe trip!
Merry Christmas! Have a great visit!
I’ve got Habanita edp on one wrist and Habanita L’Esprit on the other. I love both. L’Esprit is, IMO, a lovely modern take on the classic – beautiful and easy to wear.
Eventually I will get up and get cooking for tomorrow: Pioneer Woman 9-Hour Burgundy mushrooms, pureed yams, cauliflower gratin and a kale salad. It will go alongside ham and cardamom buns.
Our usually small xmas celebration will be even smaller this year. We lost my grandmother and uncle in February and November, respectively, and my H’s 3-member family who usually join us will be entertaining out-of-town guests. I’ll wear the Christmas-y Memoir Woman.
At some point this weekend I’m hoping my H & I can get away for a Christmas coffee and gift exchange. I got him a bottle of Egoiste Platinum and a couple of mfr samples of Sycomore, a favorite of his. I was going to buy myself a bottle from him to me, but was unable to pull the trigger on a full-price $125 100 ml bottle in the end. I may end up getting it as a Christmas/Bday gift next month. Die hard bargain hunter that I am, I have a really hard time paying full price for anything. And 100 ml of anything just seems ridiculous. But there are some samples I’ve been wanting so maybe I’ll spend Christmas day doing some shopping for myself…
Wait. $125 for 100 mL of Sycomore? Heavens above, send me the link and I WILL BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. It’s normally $200 for 75 mL! Surely I’ve misunderstood you.
Sorry to hear about your grandmother and uncle. I hope you have a wonderful time with the family you still have. Also, 9-hour mushrooms sound fascinating, and I need to investigate cardamom buns right away.
My maternal family is Norwegian and cardamom buns are a holiday tradition. They are delicious! A little bit sweet but still savory.
If I’d found 100 ml of Sycomore for $125, I’d have snapped it up already! I was referring to Nobile 1942 Patchouli Nobile. Part of what’s mentally blocking me from buying it is that it actually comes in a 13 ml travel spray, but the only seller I’ve found is in the Netherlands and europe-to-US shipping costs have become exorbitant.
Maybe hajusuuri will mule it from Spain
*eyebrow waggle* I’ve also considered buying it for the next splitmeet. *hems/haws*
If I happen to come across a boutique, I will mule one back :-). I am more likely to encounter LUSH and Yves Rocher!
Do you have a favorite cardamom bun recipe? I think it would be the perfect thing to make for New Year’s Day breakfast
Sorry about your family’s losts this year. Sending hugs and wishing you a nice and peaceful holiday!
Agreeing with Koyel that the cardamom buns sound delish. ????
I really hope you and your husband get a chance to be alone and exchange gifts. Have a nice time with your family (and those cardamom buns!!) and a lovely holiday.
That meal sounds amazing. I don’t really know much about Scandavian cuisine (unless you count the Ikea cafe, lol). Sounds interesting.
And you smell great! I wear Esprit to bed sometimes. It’s cozy.
You had me at cardamom buns. ????
SOTD = Chanel No.19 EDP
Guys, you have until 11:59PM PST to guess when I will finish my bottle. Just FYI, I could be tricky as my No.19 wearings could have been from my BUB. Anyway, get thee to Undina’s blog to enter a guess.
I was determined to use my free burrito coupon from Chipotle before it expires tomorrow so I braved the mall. I found a primo parking spot as I got there just before 11. I was adjusting something in the back seat for a nanosecond not realizing that a car was waiting to swoop in on my space; at least I didn’t get the finger or worse when the driver realized he was not getting my spot.
I had been eyeing those instant Polaroid cameras since last year, with the only thing holding me back was me complicating things by wanting to find a way to capture the moment, get instant print gratification, and have the ability to keep the photo digitally for posterity. Not that I did much research but such a device does not exist, that is, without attaching all sorts of devices to what is supposed to be a portable, one touch device. Besides, the whole point of a Polaroid picture is to be in the moment! Anyway, all these to say I caved and got the mini. I got accessories and film at Urban Outfitters and my lime green camera will arrive on the 27th, just in time to bring with me to Barcelona. (I don’t think I’ ll care that my blue case and green camera are not matchy-matchy as I was going for cheap).
Christmas Eve will be with friends whose family has a tradition of having a candle-lit Christmas tree. Christmas Day, the family will meet at a Chinese restaurant for lunch, then go to my younger sister’s place to laze the afternoon away. Dad will be missed, as he had been for the past 2 years.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy Holidays.
I don’t know anything about the specs but my niece has one of those Polaroids and it is so much fun!
I was thinking about candle-lit Christmas trees recently and wondering how many houses went up in flames from them. I wonder what the trick to avoiding that is? Enjoy the holiday and memories of your father.
A well-hydrated tree and lighting the candles while everyone is gathered around and stay lit for two Christmas carols.
It sounds really pretty, though not quite practical?
Enjoy your festivities!
I didn’t know about these new polaroids. I still have an old one in my basement. I might like a new one. I’m such a nervous nelly, I could not be in a house with a candle tree, but I bet it’s beautiful. Merry Christmas ????
What’s old is new again! The vintage camera style (triangular in the On / Open position) is available for those nostaligic. I still remember my grandfather using the camera and the grandchildren gathered around him watching the images come to life. (We seem to gather around him a lot! Watching him drink his beer… and watching the Muppet Show with the grandkids jockeying for position to be closest to the window air conditioning unit when it was hot.)
For the short time that the tree is candle-lit, there is nothing more beautiful.
I agree with you about making things easier for the holidays every year. This is our first time celebrating Christmas at a restaurant, but depending how it goes, which I am sure it will be fine, I would not be surprised if my family decides to do it next year. No complaints from my side! ????.
Merry Christmas to you too Hajusuuri. Your dad will be missed but I am sure good memories will be with you all. Hugs!
I think in the days of candle-lit Christmas trees, the candles were only lit for a short period of time. Such as, 1) light the candles 2) open the parlor doors, let the children in to see the tree and pull the candies and small toys off it 3) everybody ooh and ahh a few times 4) extinguish the candles. Maybe half an hour max.
The tree was nice and moist and there was water and a fire extinguisher nearby!
Scent sibling in No. 19 EdT. I am VERY impressed that you braved the mosh pit that is a mall parking lot today. We forgot a few things on our grocery list yesterday, and we were not at all inclined to go get them. Maybe tomorrow, or maybe they can wait.
My dad had one of those Polaroid cameras way back when they came out in the 1970’s. It was his pride and joy.
Heh, and I saw one of my cousins who was walking in as I was heading out to my car. My other cousin (his sister) was already shopping inside…I bet she made him drop her off and left it to him to find a parking spot!
I love Polaroid cameras! I didn’t know there is a new version.
I bet your burrito was delicious, and I hope you have a fantastic trip.
I hope you have a good time with your friends and family, and I will be thinking of you (and everyone else) who has to deal with loss during the holiday season.
Thanks, Sistine!
Congrats on the new camera! I know it will be fun on your trip. As for the candle-lit tree, I would be petrified, but I’m sure it’s gorgeous.
Have a great holiday and may the happy memories of your dad warm your heart.
I hope it gets here on the 27thmas promised. Thanks.
You are flat out THE best shopper/couponer/GWP/deal maker on this blog. I bow down before Your Majesty! ????????
Hajusuuri is a black-belt shopper.
Too funny!
Ha! I am waiting to pounce on Ummagumma since I missed the Twisted Lily 20% off sale.
Wondering if your No. 19 is still holding out! Can hardly wait to find out when the bottle runs dry. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas.
Happy holidays to you and yours, hope your celebrations feel just right.
My ???????? are sealed ????
I’d love to experience a candle-lit Christmas tree. Sounds beautiful!
As does a trip to Barcelona. I miss visiting Europe, but we’ll get there again before long.
Hope it’s a fantastic trip!
Merry Christmas!
Hmmmm…may have to check out the Polaroids. I was so happy about digital. My husband is a shutterbug, and the film development was getting expensive.
Hello everyone, I am enjoying reading of everyone’s plans, scents, and cooking agendas–MMMM–quite an array! It cooled off a lot here overnight and is now bright and clear but chilly (for Texas), which is fun for me. Thank you again to so many kind people who responded with empathy and encouragement to my tale of woe about trying to deal with my mother and her memory loss. Today things seem brighter and we are both going to a big holiday brunch in her condo building–Texas barbecue with all the proper side dishes. She’s already made special chocolate brownies and later tonight I plan to make my annual cookies, sort of small soft crumbly butter cookies dipped in chopped pecans and then topped with a very tart lemon icing. My grandmother always made them at Christmas. We will make a turkey breast Monday and have stuffing and some nice side dishes including a pretty salad I make with broccoli and red pepper–very Christmasy. Today I am wearing Jubilation 25 for Women, a real favourite and a good one for this weather and for the holiday.
Your cookies sound delicious! Good to hear it’s a brighter day for you. Merry Christmas????
Your cookies sound so good! Enjoy the barbecue and your Christmas meal!
Your cookies and your perfume sound delish! Merry Christmas!
I’m relieved to hear that things are looking better for you today. Enjoy all the delicious brunch goodies!
You are going to eat well! I hope you have a nice holiday and can enjoy this time with your mom. Happy holidays!
Glad things are brighter today and Texas bbq sounds great! Making me hungry.
Big hugs to you as you celebrate with your mom. Merry Christmas!
Enjoy the time with your mom! Merry Christmas!
Sounds lovely! Enjoy!
Day #3! I’m still UmmaGummaGood????????
I might have to pick up a sample of this as a little xmas gift to myself…
Do not delay it! It is really gooooood!
This! I haven’t said much about it because I just haven’t had time or internet access, but it’s wonderful. I knew I would like it when I read the notes, but was expecting a more gourmand fragrance. On me, I get a very brief hit of unsweet chocolate on top and the dry down is all dense woody/incense goodness. I love it. Thanks Bruno!????
Has T-Rex gotten you anything for Christmas?
I hope you have a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday.
Right back at you Sistine! T-Rex gave me a big sloppy kiss and a wagging tail this morning for Christmas (and every morning!). ????
SOTM is PG Cuir d’Iris while I refresh my nail polish and do miscellaneous laundry. Tomorrow we will have brunch with younger son and girlfriend, and on Christmas I’ll probably wear one or the other of my “A” fragrances (Azemour or Alahiiiine), unless Santa brings me something new and irresistable. Unlikely, but you never know!
You smell so good! I hope Santa surprises you. Have a wonderful brunch with your son, and a very happy holiday.
Thank you! You have a lovely holiday too, sistine.
I’ve been on a nail polish kick lately. Doing all kinds of reds, and using this great gel top coat which really makes the manicure last. Enjoy your time with your family!
I’ve been using Seche Vite topcoat for decades and love it, but what is the gel stuff called? I’m always up for trying new and amazing nail polishes.
It’s by Essie. I think it’s a similar idea as the gel polish but just a top coat. Works great!
Currently 1 hour into the 5.5 hour drive to my BIL’s in Rochester, NY.
I spent last night baking and made a grain-free chocolate chip banana bread thanks to an NSTer’s rec. When it was done, I cut a slice out to taste it and my husband said “Hey, I thought we were bringing that to Rick’s!”. I explained that since I’d never made it before, I had to make sure it was good first. We ended up eating half the loaf, so I’d say it was a success! ????
I’m wearing a few spritzes from a rare blind-buy that arrived yesterday: Guerlain Idylle Love Blossom. Dumb name, pretty scent. I wanted something lilac-y and since I like the original edp, thought I’d give this a go and it was <$30 so low-risk. It is pretty, has the original floral heart with the addition of soft lilac that's slightly powdery and maybe a bit of heliotrope? A bit faint, but I can see this as an easy no-brainer.
Wishing everyone joy whatever you might be doing this weekend!
Dumb name, pretty scent should be a Friday Community project ????
Have a great holiday, ElisaP!
Ha! It should ???? Same to you hajusuuri!
That loaf sounds really yummy. I hope your drive is quick and uneventful, and that you have a very happy holiday.
Thanks Sistine and sameto you! Quick it isn’t, still on the road, but, thankfully, uneventful. Last year our tail pipe fell off. That was an ordeal.
Ugh! Hope all goes smoothly this year. And I totally understand about taste-testing a new recipe. I am so paranoid I usually make a test run ahead of time to be sure.
I should have done that but I waited too long and I was trying to accelerate the unripe banana ripening. Ended up putting them in a warm oven for a few hours. It’s all good. Have other treats and I’m sure there’ll be a glut of food anyway. But I do recommend this recipe. Healthier, but still tasty.
Have a safe and fun visit this weekend!
Thanks lillyjo! Hope you enjoy your holiday and I’m sure your kids will be thrilled with their gifts.
Enjoy your blind buy! Safe travels
Thanks ltsg! I’ll have to give it a better evaluation when I get home. I spritzed and ran and it’s buried under my coat. The drydown, which I can still smell, is unexciting. C’est la vie.
hey! My neighbors flew to Rochester today and will be their for a week. It’s a small world. Hope your weekend has been lovely.
Ha! A baker must always be certain her creations are good enough to share. Glad it’s a success.
SOTD is Angel Muse because I got it at TJ Maxx yesterday.
I got off work early and decided to pop in before I went home. They had the 30ml for $29.99 so I decided it was going to come home with me.
I also saw a bottle of Scherrer 2, and I was intrigued because of what I had read about the original. So I looked it up on my phone and saw some really positive reviews on Fragrantica, but someone I think on Basenotes said it had been reformulated poorly. The box wasn’t wrapped, so I opened it and snuck a spritz to test. Money saved! I didn’t like it. Way too much aldehyde for my taste. But I somebody who *really* likes aldehydes might enjoy it.
I’ve got to get presents wrapped today. Getting together with the fam tomorrow evening and staying over at their house for Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Happy Festivus, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, Happy whatever other holidays I forgot!
Happy Holidays Sweetgrass. Enjoy with the family!
Nice TJ Maxx find, Sweetgrass! Enjoy your holidays!
That’s a heck of a deal! Happy every holiday to you too.
Nice score! Merry, happy to you sweetgrass!
Nice score! Enjoy your holiday!
Nice find, sweetgrass! One has to hit TJMaxx/Marshalls at the right time to find these gems. Merry Christmas!
Nice score!
Good find! I enjoy Angel Muse in cold weather. So cozy.
I’m enjoying hearing about all the wonderful things people have been, or will be baking for Christmas. The gingerbreads and pineapple upside down cake sound especially tempting. ????
Mr. Jalapeno and I are again doing something a little different for the holiday. Instead of turkey, he splurged on a beef roast, and we will be cooking it in the smoker. Side dishes will be simple: roasted baby potatoes with infused olive oil, and roasted Brussels sprouts. We haven’t cooked beef in the smoker before, so here’s hoping that it comes out all right!
SOTD = No. 19 EdT, from the sample stash. If this isn’t on my FB wish list, it ought to be. I should also try the EdP of this someday.
Happy holidays NSTers, whichever one you celebrate!
Smelling good, scent cousin!
Yours and Mr. Jalapeno’s plan sounds wonderful. Merry Christmas!
Your meal sounds absolutely incredible, and you smell beautiful. I hope you and Mr. Jalepeno have a wonderful holiday together.
That sounds really good. We did smoked turkey legs for Thanksgiving but cheated using cedar planks. Enjoy your feast!
Roasted Brussel sprouts sound so good! As does the rest of the menu. Wishing you a great Holiday!
That sounds delicious! (And we always do beef at Christmas, I don’t understand doing turkey for 2 holidays in a row.)
After many years of ham on Christmas, my family switched to roast beef last year. Yours sounds delicious.
Happy holidays!
A good roast can’t be beat. We did ham this year, but we’ve had roast in the past. Sounds excellent.
My pre-Christmas plans (grocery shopping mostly) are all skewed by an unexpectedly broken heater!!! I can’t believe it’s happening: two years ago we had the same problem right before the New Year with relatives from another state visiting and staying with us. Hopefully, the repair man gets here in the next couple of hours and is able to fix it – or it’ll be challenging time – even in our milder climate.
Wearing a drop of SSS Fig Tree on my wrist to remind me of summer/warmer weather. Will wear something more festive later once I know the situation with heater.
Merry Christmas to all fellow-NST’ers who celebrates and wishing the best time possible during this season to everyone. Stay warm, be happy and joyous!
OH NO about the heater! I hope it gets fixed quickly.
Wishing you the merriest Christmas, my friend.
Oh no! Bundle up – I hope it’s fixed extremely quickly and at very little cost. Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday.
Oh no, you too?? Good heavens.
Ugh. Bad timing. Hope it gets fixed ASAP! My BIL’s house is always freezing because they don’t like to use the heat. Last year I had to sleep in my coat and 2 pairs of socks. I came better prepared this year.
Hope you have a warm holiday!
I would bring my own space heater for the bedroom!
I actually thought about bringing the one we have at home, but my hairless cat would be ticked off since it’s hers ( and on 24/7).
Stay warm! I hate being cold when it’s not my choice.
Who doesn’t like to use heat? Do they have a wood stove? Something?
Wow. That’s crazy. Hope you stay warm this year.
Oh noes! Hope it is fixed asap. No heat is no fun.
What terrible timing for your heat to go out!
Here’s hoping that someone gets to fix it soon.
Thank you to everyone for the sympathy and good wishes: for the price of about two (not the most expensive) niche perfume bottles and wasted half of the day, we are back with heat. Yay! Even The cat seems happier.
Yay! Glad you’re warm again.
Oh thank goodness!
Heat is not a luxury. So glad that your situation resolved itself. Happy Holidays!
Geeez. Not a heater issue but my husband decided to play mr plumber and made a mess of our bathroom sink. We are now brushing our teeth in the kitchen until staff is back on tomorrow. Feel your pain.
Just finished wrapping the last gift. Tomorrow after church will be cleaning and baking the pumpkin pie. The apple pie is already made, as are umpteen dozen cookies. On Christmas Day all four of my kids and my 6-and-a-half grandchildren will arrive and there will not be a moment of quiet until nighttime. I am blessed. I do remember the first Christmas we spent after my first husband passed, though, and feel for all of your families with empty chairs at their tables. Today I wore a dab of Blackbird and a dab of Encens Flamboyant – the sacred and the secular.
Yummm – pumpkin pie! Is the half grandkid the one due in Feb/Mar?
Wow! hajusuuri, it blows me away that you remember that! Thank you so much!Yes, “Baby Boy” is due mid February. Baby Isla arrived at the end of October and will be the smallest member of the family at the table this year.
:-). Enjoy your time with the grands!
Your Christmas Day sounds lovely – I bet you’ll be covered in hugs and smooches from all of those grandchildren. I hope your holiday is full of peace, love, hope and joy.
This sounds lovely
Have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family!
Love your scent combo!
Merry Christmas to you ScentSpirit!
Sounds wonderful! Merry Christmas!
I’m nursing a sore throat with some hot tea, and waiting for my brother and his daughter to arrive at my parent’s house. His wife is staying at home to prepare a Russian feast for tomorrow night, which I am super excited to eat. I helped by peeling 4 pounds of beets, which stained my hands the most beautiful ruby.
This normally wouldn’t have bothered me at all, except that when I left their house earlier this afternoon I went to Hermes to buy my gift to myself – a travelled set of Hermessences. My SOTD is Vetiver Tonka – it was a blind buy because they were sold out of Rose Ikebena. I smell divine. Thanks to everyone here who has raved about it, so I knew it was a safe gamble.
My wish for everyone is that every day (not just holidays) is full of love, unexpected small joys, good companionship and great smells. Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday. Thanks for being such a wonderful crew of people.
I hope you recover soon. Caught redhanded at Hermes ???? That’s awesome. Enjoy your gift-to-self and hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Haha
???? Ver clever!
Feel better soon Sistine. Enjoy your beautiful present. Happy Holidays!
Hope you feel better soon! I dip my hands in bleach and scrub with soap to get rid of food stains. I am sure Hermes was happy to sell you perfume even with pink hands though.
You smell great.
Great smells to you too
Feel better soon!
Hope you feel better soon. Have a wonderful Holiday! If possible, report back on that feast.
So sorry they did not have what you wanted, but you do smell fantastic!
I hope your throat doesn’t bother you too much.
Vetiver Tonka is one of my favorites (and Rose Ikebana as well).
Whenever I need to do anything with beets, I make sure to wear gloves. But I’m sure they were more than happy to sell you perfume – regardless of the color of your hands :).
I hope you wake up feeling better in the morning. Enjoy your new scent, you smell lovely!
I’m envious of your ruby hands! Beet juice is such a lovely color????????
Hermessences make a perfect gift to self! So glad you got yours.
And would love to know which scents you chose for your set.
Thanks everyone for the kind and sweet words posted yesterday!
You guys are awesome ????
I wanted to reply to you all, but got distracted by care and hospital issues.
We are making sure my mother is not alone this week, so am spending quite some time in the hospital these days. Weirdest christmas ever. No cooking with the whole family, like we used to do.
But hey, I am glad my mom is still here!
I wish you all a very merry christmas!!!
????
Thinking of you Jiji…
Being by your mom’s side at this time it is the best holiday present you can give her. And I am also glad she is still with you all. Merry Christmas to you and yours Jiji! Hugs!
Wishing you and your Mother a wonderful Christmas!
Your mom is certainly happy to see you there. Big hugs!
Jiji, I was sorry to hear that your mom is still in hospital. However, her moving out of ICU is a step in the right direction. Hugs and healing thoughts for you.
A very merry Christmas to you and your mom, Jiji.
Best wishes to your entire family and your Mom. In the end, you are an an example of what Christmas is all about: loving people! The cooking and baking is just the icing on top. ????
You’re exactly where you should be. Merry Christmas to you and your mom!
DSH fan club–I have a question.
So, this morning my husband, boys, and I opened our Christmas presents together, since we are driving down to LA tomorrow for my sister in law’s BIG SCOTTISH WEDDING. I have four formal outfits for the affair, and presents for 15 people… (some of you may recall stories about my sister in law) so, we had our happy modest gift giving this AM. Anyway, my husband gave me a 1 oz bottle of Chinchilla (I told him if he was to buy me anything from the site, it should be 10 mls. but there you go…) Apparently, with the bottle came a beautifully wrapped box with a gold seal. I opened the box, which turned out to be “Perfection, a Connoisseur fragrance collection.” (see here: https://www.dshperfumes.com/shop/perfection-connoisseur-fragrances-collection-box/)
The perfumes are lovely! Especially the Cafe Noir and the Parfum de Grasse. But it does seem to be a rather extravagant thing to toss in gratis to a new customer. Do you think she made a mistake? What should I do? I confess I greedily sampled all four of the fragrances. My husband gave me the box first, so at the time I didn’t realize it was something sent along in addition to the item he actually purchased. Thoughts?
Enjoy
I’ve heard she is quite generous.
And in karma terms, think of it as a pre-reward for that way fun wedding you’re headed to….!
Consider yourself lucky and dig in (as you already have). Even if it was a mistake, doubt she’d ask for it back. Good luck at the wedding!
She is quite generous. I have placed orders with her before that have come with beautiful wrapped samples. I do not know how big they are in your case, but I am sure it was not a mistake. Enjoy them and have fun at the weeding.
She is very generous, I got a full bottle of scented lotion with my last order, which was surely less expensive than yours. Enjoy!
On her homepage, there’s a banner ad stating that the sample set you received is being given as a GWP for orders over $100. You are lucky that your husband timed his order so well!
Oooooohhhh. Thank you!!
What a nice surprise! Look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of them.
I’ve loved reading about what everyone is doing for the holidays and all the prep work happening. I’m not doing much this year, just going to an Italian restaurant tomorrow with my boyfriend, uncle, aunt, and aunt’s daughter. On Christmas, my boyfriend and I are going to the movies to watch The Shape of Water and going to a Korean restaurant.
My big event of the weekend happened today. I got my hair cut! About 9 inches came off in the longest layer, and I love my new look. I had let my hair grow for way too long. It previously came to the top of my butt.
SOTD is Bottega Veneta Eau de Velours. It’s a lovely, easy to wear, light plummy floral leather blend. Enjoying the sample that springpansy included in the package she sent a couple weeks ago.
I want to see the movie too..let me know!
Sounds like a greatway to spend your day. Hope you liked the movie. Reoirt back! I loved it.
9 inches!!! Very brave. But sounds like you have a good deal left. I did that last year- from mid-back to neck length A-line bob. It turned out to be too high maintenance since I only liked it straight and my hair is wavy in a disorganized way. So it’s long again.
Velours is very pretty.
Enjoy your holiday plans. Your day sounds very relaxing.
Enjoy your new hair! You smell wonderful.
Wooohhooo. That’s a lot of hair gone! Exciting! I just clipped 4 inches and so happy to have the change. Glad you like it!
How was the movie?
My hair is only about shoulder length, and I am struggling with having it so long….
Well, it snowed last night and we were out in it slipping and sliding around in Seattle’s steep hills. So today we decided to just stay in and be warm and cozy. We’ll go watch the movie soon!
I had a long day at work today, and will be working tomorrow. Sotd was Black Opium, and Christmas Eve I think will be Oud Bouquet. Working in retail, it’s sometimes hard to get into the Christmas spirit. I want to say thank you to Robin, and all of you for being here and reminding me daily how good people can be. This place has truly been a blessing for me. We will be staying home and eating Christmas ham, and traditional sides for dinner. My oven is broken, so no baking. But I have Chocolate pie so it’s all good ???? I think I will join some of you with wearing No.19 on Christmas day. Merry Christmas to everyone who celabtrates!
Ha, I wish my oven was broken! Hope you will get into the spirit at the last minute — chocolate pie should do the trick.
????
Merry Christmas Lillyjo! I hope your day goes fast today and you can have a wonderful Christmas day with your loved ones. Hugs! ????????
I hope that today passes quickly so you can enjoy Christmas with your family.
Modest wearing of No.19 will be my SOTD as well today and tomorrow! Chocolate Pie? I’m ready ????
I empathize with you! Used work retail back a million years ago and the holidays were not very merry at times. Hope Christmas Day gives you a much deserved break for a some quality time with loved ones and a moment to breathe a sigh of relief that the work madness is almost over✌????
Lillyjo, I hope that your Christmas Day will be full of peace and joy!
Enjoy your Christmas day break! I’ve worked retail and it is exhausting especially at this time of year.
Never worked retail, but I have a friend who is a mall manager. She is exhausted this time of year. But her Santa stories are priceless. Who knew Santas were so crazy?
You smell fabulous today.
I like Civet more and more with each wear. So I decided to explore more chypres and Amouage Jubilation 25 came my way. It was really nice and i would have bought it if only the line didn’t have this over the top luxury feel…like Putin wears Amouage Gold or something…ack!
Well, I can see your point about having reservations, but still, if it’s a beautiful scent and you like it, why not just indulge a bit? Since I was wearing Jubilation 25 yesterday I am obviously biased, but I think it’s all right to honor something that exhibits true quality and creativity. And good luck to you in your pursuit of more chypre experiences!!
счастливого Рождества!
Thanks! I see your point! My mom would never read Esenin’s poetry because of his womanizer& alcoholic personality:) and I never understood that:) If poems are great, who cares?
с наступающим!
On a totally unrelated subject, as the festive season is well and truly here, take a read of this Christmas cracker of a rhyme from Roald Dahl!
“Where art thou, Mother Christmas?
I only wish I knew
Why Father should get all the praise
And no one mentions you.
I’ll bet you buy the presents
And wrap them large and small
While all the time that rotten swine
Pretends he’s done it all.
So Hail To Mother Christmas
Who shoulders all the work!
And down with Father Christmas,
That unmitigated jerk!”
+1
Merry Christmas, everyone!!
Is anyone expecting fragrant gifts?
What are you wearing for th big event?
I’m expecting a pb of Chanel 28 La pausa edt (another perfumista agreed to sell me her pb), and I’ll be wearing 31 Rue Cambon edt while celebrating tonight!
I wish you all a joyous holiday!!!!
I am expecting my fb of Corsica Furiosa from my husband. Waiting anxiously for it. I do not know if someone else in my family will give me a fragrant present. Just hoping…
A bottle of 28 La Pausa EdT could not be a better gift. Enjoy it with delight! Merry Christmas!
I got my gift in September when my husband was on business travel – Aedes Oeillet Bengal. I did snitch one wear last month, but I’ve been saving it for the holidays. Enjoy your 28 La Pausa!
Merry Christmas every one! I am still in my pajamas wearing Shalimar Ode a la Vanille. I think that I will switch to Epic after my shower. I was thinking either vintage Bal or Une Rose Vermille for tomorrow. I’m waiting for after Christmas to see about getting an iPod Touch or an Andy Tauer travel set.
Day #4 of smelling UmmaGummaGood! After 3 days of very busy work, I’m finally off and looking forward to catching up on all the comments. I’ve been posting “drive-by” comments due to time limitations, and keen to read about everyone’s scent, food preps/plans/menus, with a little added family drama that I’m sure everyone experiences at holiday get togethers????
Happy Holidays to all From Myself and My Little Bestie, T-Rex????
Exited to try one this Deva. It’s so nice to have a new scent that you love. I hope your holidays are relaxing!
Petunia, I hope you like it! Wafting Holiday Good Wishes your way ????
Happy Holidays to you and T-Rex. Enjoy your time off and keep smelling good in the wonderful Ummagumma!. Like you it is more incense than gourmand on me. Perfect!
Thank you, Perfumelover67! Right back at you! Enjoy your holidays, family and friends. Pretty sure one day we will be UmmaGummaGood Scent Twins✌????
Me too -Ummagumma is ambery incense on me, no chocolate unfortunately.
Happy tail-wagging holidays to you and T-Rex, Deva!
And to you too, Jalapeño!
Happy Holidays, Deva! I hope you’ll catch up not only on reading but on resting as well.
All the best to you and T-rex! ????
And it’s really looking like I’m going to have to sample Ummagumma. ????
I decided to go with Five o’clock au gingembre for Christmas Eve day. Tea and cookies seems appropriate. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to my NST family!
Merry Christmas! You smell great! I’ll probably join you as a house twin and wear the girl in pine needles
I decided to go with Five o’clock au gingembre for Christmas Eve day. Tea and cookies seems appropriate. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to my NST family!
Merry Christmas Petunia! Smelling good on Five o’clock au gingembre.
5 O’Clock is perfect! I had a little decant that I really enjoyed. Happiness and good health to you and yours ✌????
It’s a very warm and muggy Christmas morning and the sun is lighting up the tops of the hills in a streak of gold. We still haven’t decided what we’re ‘doing’ for christmas but I will go out with the dogs soon and have a long walk and then maybe we’ll go to the park or the beach for a paddle. I hope everyone has a happy and peaceful day. Thanks Robin for bringing us all together and searching out so many great perfume articles. I hope you get to spend the day resting and enjoying your son’s company. Big thumbs up to everyone! Wearing Pohadka just now.
Happy Holidays to you! Sending rapid healing vibes your way with hopes for your husbands return to hale and hearty good health! Being pain free and mobile would be a most excellent gift for him, and I so wish I could produce it for you all! Best Balmy Good Wishes flying over the drink to you right now????
And happy days to you and T Rex from me and sprocket the rocket
Sounds lovely, I plan to go out with the dogs tomorrow too. Then we’ll settle in to watch the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Wishing you and Alex a happy christmas and new year!
Greetings of the season to the NST community. Wishing everyone joy, peace, and health. What a gift it is to be able to share in the often humorous, but always thoughtful, sensitive, and intelligent posts.
I’m wearing Jo Malone Whiskey and Cedarwood because it was what I grabbed from a basket of decants. Luckily it’s appropriatly spicy and cozy for the season. It made me think it might be fun to do a “grab bag” community project if we haven’t already.
I have not heard of that JM, but it sounds interesting. Grab bag project would be fun…. or scary, depending on what you get???? Happy Holidays to you!
You smell so nice! The lovely hajusuuri sent me a decant of that JM.
Hey WendySue! When I first read this, I thought you meant some kind of Secret Santa-like swap and then realized the grab bag was to pick your own scent blind! I remember doing a sample grab bag project in the summer of 2014 when I was on vacation; despite it being over 3 years ago, I still have some of the samples in a little cylindrical cotton swab container and I’ve rotated out some of them and added some new ones.
Doing the last minute prep in Angel Muse. Best wishes for safety and good driving for everyone on the roads, patience for everyone dealing with family (thinking of you Oakland Fresca and Calypso), good memories for those feeling sad and lots of love and joy for everyone, whether you are celebrating or not. Thank you all for being such a wonderful and wonderfully-scented community.
Best wishes to you too, ScentSpirit!
I am waiting for my husband to clear out the mess he made in the living room from last-minute wrapping. And I’ll head into the kitchen to prepare a ham to cook slowly while we meet friends at church services. They’ll then join us for dinner.
Since rest of our family is scattered, our Christmas Day tradition is to meet another friend for dinner at a local restaurant we’ve gone to for years. It feels festive yet casual.
Trying to decide on scent for this evening. Possibly Mitsouko again. I think it’s either that or Cuir de Lancôme.
Happy Holidays to all who celebrate!!
Merry Christmas, LizzieB!
Merry Christmas to you! We had a gorgeous Christmas Eve at Central Pres last night. Then home to eat and watch The Bishop’s Wife.
So quiet in the city today. I haven’t heard a single car outside. We could be in the woods for all we know….
Hope you get your sink fixed soon. I can’t imagine my husband’s even trying.
A quiet christmas eve cuddled up with the dogs. Mom, dad, brother and family called a while ago and we had a nice chat. I wore my favourite Angel clone today, Chopard Wish. Tomorrow it will be vintage extrait Nuit de Noel. Peace on earth, good will to all!
A perfect Christmas Eve…peace to you, Cazaubon.
I have almost drained the Note Vanillee and may get more…I am loving it…thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas Cazaubon! Enjoy your relaxing time. You smell fantastic in vintage Nuit de Noel! Peace and love to you.
Health and happiness to you, cazaubon, and something tasty for your dogs – for being a great company and just because.
Merry Christmas everyone!
NST is one of the gifts that gives all year! Thank you for including me in this great community!
SOTD my brand new Chanel 28 la Pausa edt!!
Merry Christmas to you…enjoy that La Pausa.
Merry Christmas!
Waiting for my 4 year old to wake up and go crazy.
So much to be thankful for…especially all the wonderful NSTers!
I am probably going to wear SDV or Tihota today. In terms of vanillas, I have become quite enamored of Note Vanillee which I might cave on get a FB of this week. It is beautiful. Hadn’t tried any of this line but a lovely NSTer saw fit to change all that for me.
Wonder what fragrant gifts are being opened this morning . . . .
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and warm and comforting thoughts for those who don’t or are having a difficult time. We are having a relaxing day- with a teenager it’s all a little calmer, and soon he’ll disappear to the Xbox and his new game. Dinner with family tonight. We have a layer of fresh snow for the first time in several years of Christmases. I have been scenting myself with my DSH holiday sampler over the last few days.
Hope the morning finds everyone well!
I wore Lush Cardamom Coffee on Saturday and kept thinking “this reminds me of something, but what?” Finally realized it reminded me of Ava Luxe Cafe Noir, so yesterday I tried the Lush on one wrist and the Ava Luxe on the other. The AL was sharper, more herbal? woodsier? I like them both, but my nose kept going to the Lush wrist all day long for another sniff. Good stuff.
Happy Christmas all!
Keeping with the Christmas theme:
Sat SOTD was Annick Goutal “Nuit Etoilee”, which I liked although I thought it might be better in Summer.
Christmas Eve was Etro “Messe de Minuit” which I loved. Christmas Eve midnight mass was a thing when I was growing up – apparently it is dying out now. Beforehand there was a carol service with all the old favourites. Afterwards family friends would drop in on their way home for coffee and mince pies, so it might be 02:00 before we got to bed. Some years the clear starry cold nights were just amazing.
SOTD today is Etat Libre d’Orange “Divin’Enfant”, chosen for the name association rather than the scent notes. And just as well, as the scent was meh and performance was not good. SOTE is Parfum d’Empire “Ambre Russe” instead.
Bracing ourselves for flying with Ryanair tomorrow – they’re not as bad as they are made out to be, but a Ryanair flight is still one of the most joyless things known to Mankind. If anyone else had had seats on the route we’d have gone with them instead. And then on Tuesday we sign the papers and a new chapter begins with our apartment in Malaga..
I’ve never been on Ryanair – I hope you got them on a good day. Good luck on the apartment!
You know you don’t have kids or aren’t kids anymore when you don’t open presents or empty stockings until about 2 in the afternoon….
Sprayed on Alamut (which my husband seems to love), and now we are pondering whether or not to keep/cancel our dinner reservations. Our friend had to cancel, and we are soooo comfortable at home. Maybe I’ll load up my Rocket and Groot Pez containers that Santa brought me.
Stay home is my vote – it is too cold to be outside! (Do takeout delivered)
Ended up doing not much of anything today and pretty pleased with it. It snowed in Seattle last night, and it’s been a beautiful white Christmas. I can actually appreciate the snow because I haven’t had to drive in it.
Yesterday we went out for brunch (mulled brandy cider was a highlight), and then joined the crowd of shoppers at a favorite local bookstore. Came home for mid day relaxing and then went out for dinner at an Indian restaurant. I wore vintage Rochas Byzance in the first half of the day and vintage Caleche for the second half.
Today I’ve sampled for the first time Caron Yatagan and Royal Bain de Caron. I’m not a fan of Yatagan, but I like RBdC. After my shower I’ll probably wear Smell Bent Elf-Fulfilling Prophecy. Happy Christmas all!