A quick reminder: the next splitmeet will be one week from now, on 17 February.
Meantime, it's Umbrella Day. Do tell us all about your favorite perfume for a rainy day, or for the ever-popular wintry mix, or for sitting under an umbrella by the beach.
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is 133/365 Singing In The Rain [cropped] by Joe Lodge at flickr; some rights reserved.
Well, happy Umbrella Day from a very overcast, but dry Los Angeles, where rain would be more than welcomed. This cusp of rain leads me toward Thirty Three by Ex Idolo, which smells like wet, green-white roses. This is for me one of the freshest roses out there. That it’s even got this dewy facet seems to be perfect for umbrella weather, rain or no.
I’ve read already good things about it but with such a romantic description I want to try this perfume even more now.
I really hope for more rain for our state this spring: we all desperately need it.
Yes, we all need to evoke some rain rituals countrywide.
I will say about the Thirty Three that I get none of the oud, and the other listed notes are definitely not prominent for me. But this is a clear, clear, clean fresh rose. It’s throbbing right now and very lovely.
Last time we did rain dances for y’all it flooded…
I’ll take some anti-rain rituals for my corner of the country, though 😉
I was talking to someone recently about how I never owned an umbrella growing up in LA. If, god forbid, I had to walk 2 blocks or more, I had a raincoat or poncho.
That perfume sounds really nice and I’ve been on a fresh rose quest as of late so will check this one out. How does it compate to SL Sa Majeste…? Thst one smells wet to me, too.
I keep one of those promotional rain ponchos in my bag just-in-case, but in the four years it’s been there I have yet to even ponder opening it up.
You know I’m not very familiar with that Lutens — dare I say I’m regularly not turned on by the line when I return to it — but I’ll have to reconsider now with your suggestion.
I like a couple of the floral and less oriental SLs and this is one of them. It’s maybe boring by SL lover standards since it’s a fairly straightforward fresher rose. I like that the rosiness lasts. A lot of the fresher roses I’ve tried smell great for about 20 minutes and then fall flat.
I’d say definitely try Thirty Three, then. It’s been well over three hours now and it’s still bright and clear.
In Seattle where more sunglasses are sold than umbrellas, I never really used one until recently. And for 10 years or so the only umbrella I had was one I bought in LA. It started pouring just after my plane landed – like, absolute deluge – which seemed like all kinds of wrong.
I am in Ojai…dark skies, here, too. SOTD…my sample of En Passant. Wet smell for a raindance.
Lovely. Lets spare SBCo from anymore rain, though. Ugh. Have friends still digging out over there.
Lovely choice! I’ve bought a small bottle of this a couple of months ago, I’m looking forward to wear it come spring – it’s too cold now here in Europe
Greetings from No Cal. LA is overdue for some rain!!
Hi Clarissa!! Yes, and if it doesn’t come soon I’m going to need a trip to the Bay to take in some cool humidity. 🙂
I’m with you Chris and Clarissa. Born and raised in the Bay Area and spent my entire adult life in L.A. Love both, but when SoCal is this dry for so long, I long for the cool damp of the Bay.
I slept in until 10:45 this morning, because it was so grey outside here in LA. Perfect day for an umbrella perfume. I chose The Elysian Fields from Mirus, which is a gorgeous, very herb-forward fougere. It also has an incredible lasting power—on my first wear, it lasted well over 12 hours on me, and I could still lightly smell it after waking up! But for all that longevity, it isn’t a silage monster in the slightest.
This one might be full-bottle worthy to me.
No worries! Subscribed here. Perfect LA name for a fume, too. Less grey now than the late sleep in. Not familiar with Mirus yet, where did you find it?
Ack! I posted that as a reply to you instead of a stand-alone comment. Mea culpa!
Ironically, it’s been raining here in Houston. I know, shocking!
I’m wearing newish Nahema and it’s perfect. I have some old PdT too and the new EdP is perhaps more legible.
Omg! I grew up in Houston and miss the daily 3pm summer rainstorm. The humidity, while awful for my hair, was so good for my skin. I miss it but don’t miss the daily jack-knifed 18 wheeler on 45 at the 610 loop exit. I also love Nahema. You smell divine.
We will happily take some of your rain if you’d like to regift it to us, however please keep the humidity.
Nahema — beautiful rain choice or the weekend!
Yep, the rain is getting pretty old. ☔️
Yes indeed! I have a small hole in my roof after Harvey and was woken up to th e musical sound of water drips into the bowls I keep over in that corner—ugh— I keep putting off roof repairs because it’s so expensive $$.
Oh, that’s too bad. We have more rain coming this week, unfortunately. Also, it’s still difficult to find decent contractors, I think.
I hope you can get your roof fixed soon.
I am overdue to try this one. Keep forgetting to try it
I know much of the northeast is suffering from wintry mix, etc. but we finally have a blue sky (although quite cool) here in Seattle and I’m celebrating with a dab of Nicolai Eau d’Ete from my sample and pondering a purchase of today’s lemming. We’re also taking a long walk this afternoon to our neighborhood’s brand new ice cream shop – guess who’s ready for summer (and excited about the splitmeet next weekend)!
How was the ice cream?
For spring rain I love Hermes Un Jardin Sur La Nil. I don’t have a favorite “wintry mix” scent because we don’t get much in Central Texas. However, this winter season has been pretty chilly and I’ve worn a lot of Serge Lutens Arabie which coincidentally means I’ve eaten a lot of Indian food this winter because I crave it when wearing that scent.
That’s funny that your perfume affects your food choices! I don’t think that happens to me.
Thankfully, I have thus far avoided the “wintery mix” phenomenon. But, sadly, very familiar with rain and it’s necessities, including but not limited to: umbrellas, windshield wipers flapping back and forth at the speed of light, and super frizzed out hag hair. Yuk!
Today looks like it may just be a straight up “normal day” so I’m going with it. SOTD is Chergui again because I enjoyed it so much yesterday. After spritzing at 530am I was still plenty fragrant at 8pm. You can’t knock that.
I’m headed to an RV show here in town at the fairgrounds today. Specifically looking at the rigs of a Canadian manufacturer which I’ve been interested in for a couple of years, but being a small company, they don’t have widespread distribution in the states.
Hope everyone has a fab weekend!!
Chergui is great! You smell wonderful. 🙂
House Twin! I’m in Arabie.
Have fun, and very good luck with the RV hunt!
SOTM: leftover Lyric in my hair from yesterday. This one powered me through a seemingly endless Friday with the kids yesterday (spring with 12-13 year-olds, yippee!), and likely I’ll reach for it again. After my workout. (So no one passes out in a cloud of glorious roses).
Chocolate of the Week: Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Chocolate. Yummy, “European” tasting chocolate. Very creamy and rich feeling. Unfortunately, the blocks are really thick (like a cm or more) and the breaks are a crazy diagonal/”random” design, so it’s nearly impossible to break off the “1/4” bar for a serving. Pretty sure I’ve never eaten less than a third of a bar at a time, which is truly more than I need.
I also had a See’s Milk Chocolate bar, which I ate in one sitting, and too fast to remind myself to take notes. Clearly I need to test that variety further. 😛 Although maybe I’ll wait until after this week, so I’m not standing in an endless Valentines line at the mall.
Heh, by the time you’re done with your chocolate experiment (for science!), you can write a how to evaluate chocolate to find the one perfect for you!
A girl’s gotta have a project.
And a spreadsheet.
J/k, I don’t have a spreadsheet. For chocolate.
The other day someone at work brought in a huge container of chocolate they got from Costco. I didn’t pay much attention because my brain went into a catatonic state when I saw I saw chocolate. Vaguely, I remember someone saying “salted caramel.” I didn’t expect too much but OMG! My mouth was so HAPPY! No clue what brand, which is probably a good thing ????
Pretty sure I’ve never eaten a single serving of salted caramel anything. 🙂
Probably Ghirardelli. Yeah, I peruse the chocolate aisle at Target and Walgreens (but rarely buy although one must note there is no standard measurement of “rare”).
Hah! It’s all relative.
It could have been Kirkland brand, Costco’s own line. Someone at my work brought in a tub of rocky road milk chocolate clusters this week. I resisted all day until around 3:30 when I saw how few there were left. OMG they were so amazingly delicious. They made me want to brave anxiety inducing crowds of people to get a tub for myself.
I used to buy Calebaum baking chocolate in blocks of 10-20 lbs. The block is about 2.5 inches thick and would require chisel and hammer to break off the pieces 🙂
I wish I could say I’m not determined, but I totally am! Hammer and chisel, here I come! 🙂
I’ve been curious about the Tony’s brand, which has been popping up all over the place around here recently. Sounds like a yes?
I sometimes forget how good See’s chocolates are. Lately I’ve been a Fran’s devotee, but my recollection is that See’s are as good but much cheaper. I also love the See’s directive to give a free chocolate to anyone who walks in the door 😉
I’ve had a couple Tony’s bars now–Milk Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt–and both are/were good! They remind me of Canadian Cadbury bars in the chocolate–heavier on the cocoa powder than many US milk chocolates, and very creamy in texture. The bars are HUGE, so sticking to a serving (or in my case, apparently, a serving and a third) can be a bit tricky!
There’s also info on the inside of the wrapper about promoting slavery-free chocolate, and they guarantee that their product is ethically harvested, so that’s nice.
I love See’s. I can’t buy their truffles in any quantity, though, as they hit all my happy-neurons in my brain, and I can’t stop eating them once I start. I’ll have a little treat bag now and again, though! YUM!
Okay, so I didn’t know that. All those years of passing by See’s in the mall…all that chocolate I could have had…????
Not only do they offer you a free chocolate for coming in, they actually seem a bit put off if you turn it down!
For Umbrella Day: a photo I took in China two years ago.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/94283635@N00/27364412051/in/photolist-HG6LkM-68gdHy-69pqP6-69BY8o-56L8R4-4AJys4-2x4tEs
They’re all different! Very few black ones. How surprising! I guess that means you can find your own again easily later?
Reminds me when mobile phones first started becoming affordable (1998?) and a friend of mine came back from Asia. He told me that everyone had them — “And you can change your ringer sound so that you know it’s yours when it rings!” I was so blown away by that, and now it seems so quaint that I was.
When you were inside the museum on the second floor looking out, it truly looked like another fabulous art installation!
Cool pic!
Great pic–I need a plaid or striped umbrella!
I have a plaid umbrella and I love it! Lands End, iirc.
Nice! Love the turquoise scalloped edge one on the left. I’ve taken to NOT buying black umbrellas anymore, partly for identification purposes when I drop it in a public umbrella holder. My last (lost) one was pink polka dot and my currents are a green and a blue plaid one.
I’m anti black umbrella, too. Not just because they’re boring and ubiquitous but because it’s an opportunity to carry something bright that “pops” so that you can be seen by drivers in the dark and rain. When people are shrouded in black in the winter, it’s nigh impossible to see them from inside a car.
That said, I bought one of those big clear bubble umbrellas this winter and love it, except that it’s a major PITA to deal with once indoors (it’s huge and doesn’t retract.) I’d love one in a travel size but they don’t seem to exist.
Great picture! I love umbrellas though in the last 5 years I didn’ Get to use them much 🙁
I think Rusty got more use out of the umbrellas!
Love that! Thanks for posting.
What a great picture for a wet and grey weekend! Very cheery.
I am getting **very** excited for my first splitmeet — hoping to host, and planning ahead so that I can do a good job! Today I’m back to iris and back to Le Cru.
Le Cri (sheesh)
Le Cri de la Lumière to be exact.
Hope it is fun!
I always get excited for the splitmeet, whether I’m hosting or not. It’s my 2nd-favorite day of the year, with the swapmeet in #1 place 😀
Same here WRT the swapmeet. I’m filling up my swap bag already.
Good morning everyone! It is a warmish, soggy day here in Houston. In the interest of finishing off samples, I’m in Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir L’eau Exquise. Did ya get all that? It’s a light, clean jasmine that I will not have need to wear once the sample is drained.
Question #1: Can anyone confirm that the 100ml Atelier Colognes Bottles come in the screw tops? I’m considering doing my first split next weekend, and screw tops would make it so much easier.
Question #2: Would anyone be interested in participating in a split of Cedrat Enivrant? It would possibly be a bottle purchased on eBay, so if that factors into your decision, please chime in on that as well.
PSA for the beet lovers: I found a new product, seen at Kroger and Whole Foods this week! It’s called Love Beets, and is a prepared package of cooked, marinated beets, in lots of different flavors . . . honey&ginger, white wine&balsamic vinegar, etc. If you love beets but hate the roasting and peeling process, these are yummy! (I’m not affiliated, I just love beets.)
Y’all have a great weekend!
I have seen those Love Beets and wondered about them. Thanks for the report!
oh, yum! Must check these Love Beets out.
All Atelier Cologne bottles (200, 100 30 ml) have a removable pump spray.
Ahh, thank you for the confirmation.
The 100 mL is a screw top. I have six 100 and 200 mL bottles, won and bought for personal use or splits.
Okay, thanks. If there’s any interest, I will probably host.
I hosted one for Cedrat Enivrant a while back and there was a lot of interest and I was able to split off 130 mLs from a 200 mL bottle. It’s a great, easy to wear perfume!
Ha! Okay, we may have reached the Cedrat saturation point for our NST crew! ????
I’ve been known to enjoy an entire jar of pickled beets. For some reason, beets are really difficult to find here. ????
have you seen Love Beets at HEB? My closest WF is about 20 minutes away on a good day ????
I haven’t looked for them at HEB, but I need to make a run in the next couple of days. Will report back!
Beet need. It’s a thing. ????
You live in a place with no appreciation for beets???? I will send you some.
I’ve tried the Love Beets and they are delicious. There is a restaurant here that offers beet sliders and I was surprised how good they were.
Oooh, beet sliders. That sounds wonderful!
I used to roast beets every weekend, for salads. Once I tried the honey ginger Love Beets, I pretty much stopped doing my own. My WF has had them for ages, possibly years?
Oh, so they’ve been around awhile! I’m glad I finally noticed them, or maybe the stores here just started carrying them. I’m sure it’s cheaper to roast one’s own beets, but . . . they are just so convenient and yummy.
IIRC my WF also carries Melissa’s roasted beets that aren’t seasoned. Not sure if that’s a regional brand or not. And Trader Joe’s carries something similar, too, I think?
Roasted but unseasoned beets, ok, I’m taking notes. Our WF is a little baby store, so I don’t think they carry Melissa’s beets. I’ll keep an eye out for them when I finally make my maiden voyage to TJs, for sure.
All this beet talk is kind of hilarious. ????
Love those Love Beets.
Existential morning: My eternal journey to escape my not-allowed-to-drink-coffee anymore has led me to this very sad juncture: Spoonful of “Kaffree Roma,” spoonful of carob powder, dash of honey, mixed w hot water and a splash of almond milk. What is this concoction? Who is this person drinking this rubbish? Where the hell am I? I want to go baaaaaaack….
Ahem. In that spirit, I guess, I have spritzed my wrists with Traversee du Bosphore.
Love TdB. Sometimes, I can almost convince myself that a waft of sweet perfume makes up for less dessert. Sometimes.
(And I’m on my second cup of java this morning. Sorry. I feel like I’m failing to be supportive. 😉 )
Goodness, no worries. Savor that coffee!!!
I have tried three different times to quit coffee, and only succeeded for a couple of months at a time. It is hard! Maybe you can reward yourself in some way, to make it easier?
I was not able to do it by cutting back on coffee. I had to go cold turkey on all coffee, tea, cocoa, etc., and use increasingly smaller bits of caffeine pills. It wasn’t fun, but I was pretty motivated for health reasons.
Can you drink decaf? I stopped drinking caffeinated coffee years ago once I realized my system just can’t metabolize the caffeine. (I can deal with it in smaller doses, but not caffeinated coffee unless I want to spend the rest of the day doubled-over in pain.)
I hear you on the pain of deprivation, though. I was on a medical diet for 6 months 2 years ago. The list of forbidden foods was a mile long and included Everything Delicious. (Tea, cheese, chocolate, seafood, cured pork products, all the delicious summer fruits that I wait for like strawberries, cherries and raspberries, but also all citrus – Oh, and tomatoes, so no heirlooms from the farmers market… Anyhoo, that’s just getting started – I could go on for pages more.)
I ended up gaining weight because I felt like I deserved some delicious dessert at the end of the day. My choices were really limited, though (since no chocolate, lemon, strawberry, raspberry, etc.) so I learned to appreciate things like Dulce de Leche ice cream, and bread or rice pudding.
A friend of mine went on an elimination diet a few years back, and had the same result–she gained like 15 pounds. I think when we feel deprived, we find ways to treat ourselves in other ways!
That doesn’t sad bad in it’s own right, and if I ever *had* to give up coffee, it sounds decent (like non-dairy sour cream is adequate). Though I’d use cocoa powder for the carob. And coffee for the Kaffree Roma ???? I truly, truly feel for you.
*sound* bad. Freudian slip?
It is sad!
I hope you’t going through this exercise for a legitimate health reasons because otherwise it’s just cruel.
On the other side, you smell great!
Totally agree with the cruel — I don’t know what sounds worse, some legitimate health reason that would force the giving up of coffee, or the giving up of coffee! Either way Oakland Fresca, I feel for you. (I do the same thing with sugar/carbs: I am committed to quitting since I see the near-instant impact on my body, but my brain don’t wanna give it up! Especially when I see comments about See’s on a perfume thread, ugh!)
Sorry?
I realized after I posted that, that it probably came across not like I intended!! I actually **love** See’s and pretty much any chocolate and there’s no problem with sharing the things that we love!! All I meant was that it got me craving stuff that I know that I shouldn’t have! (But the same thing happens to me when I read people talking about PERFUME!! which just says that I’m easily lemming-able for anything yummy and delicious.)
Not your fault at all — I should have said it differently if I was gonna mention it at all. 🙂
No worries. This community is unabashadly hedonic and enabling. Not really a place to be told to hold back on any of life’s pleasures! Glad I didn’t offend. 🙂
Ditto this! It’s statistcally proven coffee in moderation is good for you. Unless it isn’t…????
Exactly ????
My copy of Katherine Graham’s autobiography arrived yesterday and I’m really enjoying it. Are you allowed to substitute wine for coffee?
Enjoy!
Oh no, that sounds horrible. I know it’s to make you healthier, but at what cost?
I admire your dedication. I would have lasted 1 day without coffee.
I’ve never been a coffee drinker. I am a Diet Coke addict in the true sense of the word. I don’t know if I could give it up. I’m sorry, that really stinks for you. I wish you luck.
HA, and giving up Diet Coke was the hardest thing I ever did 🙂
Oof. Have you tried chicoree? The flavor is not unrelated to that of coffee!
I feel your pain, Oakland Fresca. Your cold-turkey approach to the coffee withdrawal is very impressive! I have given up coffee a few times in my life, for 2-3 years each time, mainly because I didn’t want to feel so dependent upon caffeine, despite how much I adore the taste. After the initial deprivation, I loved not needing coffee and truly didn’t miss it. I did drink herbal teas and the hot water/lemon thing when I wanted a warm mug in my hands. Hang in there!
I miss it still and it has been almost 5 months!
Whine!
Ironically, it’s a sunny day here, but for more common precipitation:
Winter: Encens Mythique (the chauffeur will drive around the puddles)
Summer: PC01 (at least it’s not sticky hot)
Office: No. 19 (buck up – you were inside anyway)
Great picks!
Happy weekend!
Speaking of umbrellas, I could not get the theme song – I Will Wait for You – from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg out of my head this week. Hauntingly beautiful, but also so melancholic.
No plans today or tomorrow, which is exactly what I need. Sleep in, cook, bake, longs walks.. all my kind of weekend. Actually getting ready to make one of William Sonoma’s quick bread, a chocolate raspberry bread with extra dark chocolate added!
SOTD is Seville a l`Aube
Sounds like a perfect weekend, and today seems especially good for baking. That bread sounds delicious!
Very moist, and such an interesting flavor with the raspberry added. I actually really enjoy chocolate raspberry coffee too.
So much for the walking with today’s weather. 🙁
That song/music is so… so beautiful! When I was a child, both the film and the song were very popular where I lived but I don’t think I came across it in the last… 20? 25 years. You made me a little bit nostalgic. Thank you for reminding me about it.
It is very moving. Hope you get to listen to it again soon!
TCM is showing the movie in the next couple of weeks for their Oscars month.
Oh good to know! Thanks!
YUM, save me a slice of that bread!
Highly recommend, btw. First time making one of their quick breads (yeah, right — this is cake!), and I’m quite pleased.
Overcast and threatening rain in Boston, but at least it’s 50 degrees F. Cleaning, trying to remove cat fur from the house. Fear I’ve developed an allergy.
Tried a dab of Chanel 19 EdC from a flea market find, and yes, it’s from a flea market and fairly unpleasant. I may reward myself by going out after the cleaning is done to buy a bottle of unmolested juice. Happy weekend all!
Oh, sorry your flea market 19 was a dud!
I deserved it. I knew the vendor and he’s a bit sketchy!
Is the bottle in good condition? I have a collection of “doesn’t smell good but looks great” bottles – minis to FB – on a shelf in my living room
Nebbe, good idea. The bottle is fine. I’ll use it to decorate!
Ugh. Wintery mix in full effect here. Almost bit it on the invisible sheet of ice coating the parking lot at work this morning. I’m consoling myself with Safran Troublant.
*Almost* falling is so scary! That slipping feeling when your stomach lurches…. yes, scary. I’m glad you didn’t!!
It always happens so fast that I do not even have the chance to get scared. Suddenly, I just see myself already on the ground. So horrible!
Blurgh. Glad you didn’t hit the ground! For a change, I haven’t fallen once yet this year. If I make it through the winter, I might need a reward!
LOL! You will get your reward Elisa P. Let’s hope we will all survive this winter without any incidents.
Good to hear nothing serious happened to you Luna Green. Be careful! Nothing more comforting that Safran Troublant!
Yuck on the wintry mix, but yay for not falling on the ice! I hope that your weather today is better than what you were experiencing yesterday.
I continue my iris quest by wearing Atelier Cologne Silver Iris today. This is the kind of iris that I find great for chilling out during weekend. It’s casual or elegant depending on the occasion.
For a rainy umbrella day I would pick Prada Purple Rain and for a beach umbrella why not wear VC&A California Reverie.
You smell awesome!
Thank you
I love your rainy day selection! May I borrow it? 🙂 I planned to wear PR this month but I’ll hold off hoping we’ll get some rain in February – and then it’ll be a perfect combo.
Of course you can! I didn’t know that you have Purple Rain.
I have just a small decant: I had to 😉 after trying a sample you generously shared with me.
Purple Rain is on my agenda this month!
It does fit iris month so well
Galop again. Love it. Have a great weekend!
You smell wonderful. Galop is indeed a perfume to easily fall in love with!
I really enjoy Galop, it’s a happy leather ????
Ooh, have you got one of the bracket bottles? Aren’t they lovely??
Yes the weight of the bottle is really nice!
That one is lovely. I have a carded sample in my purse as EBP as it just always seems right. I hope you’ve had a great weekend, and stayed warm!
I’m lazing around today, which is what grey, drizzly days are for.
I ended up getting a travel spray of Hendley Amora which arrived yesterday. It fits the CP this week as I never would have ordered a sample of this as it all sounded too sweet, and I’m picky about fruity, but he tricked me and added it to my last order and I polished it off pretty fast. It’s a burst of diffetent shades of red and is a good antidote for today’s weather.
I picked up the travel spray at a great price and really like the smoothness of the scent. Might wear it to the ballet this evening.
Yay!???? It’s really a bargain, isn’t it? It is quite smooth, and for all its frootiness, doesn’t smell artificial to me.
It *is* what grey, drizzly days are for, thus it’s easy to make excuses for not getting anything done from October to May (when you live in the PacNW.) And since they’re so rare, it’s also what warm, sunny days are for from June to September. So… lots of lazing around is excused 😉
Ha! Truth be told, I don’t really need an excuse. I’m not that type of person that needs to be busy all the time and I don’t get bored that easily. I’m an expert lazer????
Funny timing for umbrella day because Seattle had just entered a rare period of sunny winter days. I’m wearing Iris Prima. I had to perform perfume surgery this morning on a cute mini of IP that had a broken stopper. It was the 5ml bottle pictured here: https://www.smallflower.com/mobile/products.cfm/id/10079869
The ball at the top broke off a while back and so the plastic stopper was stuck inside. I meant to pull it out with tweezers, but it just disintegrated and feel inside the bottle. Luckily I went in with a syringe and pulled out only the liquid and transferred to a decant bottle. I wasn’t actually intending to wear it today, but was surprised that there was more perfume than would fit in my chosen bottle. So on my skin it went!
Good job, doctor! 🙂
I plan to wear IP for this month’s iris project but I need to find my sample first.
You smell very nice.
Why, thank you! I’ve really doused myself in it because I have to apply perfume lightly on the weekdays.
Same here: my current office situation taught me to enjoy tiniest spritz of my favorites – but during the weekend I think I started using more than I used to when I could “evenly” apply my 4-5 sprays every day.
Alahiiiiiiiiiine.
Ahhh… You know. 🙂
You smell faaaaaaaabulous.
I am enjoying this one!
SOTD = Atelier Cologne Silver Iris
One spritz right before my hair cut appointment. Will re—up or choose another scent, perhaps from a decant. I am enjoying Month of Irises and I am trying not to repeat because between FBs, travel sizes, decants and samples, I can probably go 2 months! Did I mention I love iris?
Perfume for rainy days? Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay!
I love colorful umbrellas and if black, something with a pattern. The one I carry during a weekday is black with dots. My weekend tote has a tiny khaki plaid manual umbrella that fits in a quart-sized bag and the other tote has a small rainbow striped one.
We smell great, don’t we?
Wonder if our sotd will accidentally overlap on any more days in February.
Sounds like you are an Iris lover!
Smelling great! I might wear this tomorrow.
I re-upped with Silver Iris!
Yes, I’m trying not to repeat as well because I have more than 28 choices. But I loooove Silver Iris.
Feeling very tired and lazy today. I woke up at 10am had a shower, fed the dog, had breakfast and I am in bed again watching some tv.
I am wearing 10 Corso Como, which always makes me feel very relaxed. Such a beautiful and easy perfume for me to wear. I have so many things to do at home, but they will be postponed for either later today or tomorrow. No plans to go outside at all this weekend.
I have always seen Serge Lutens Gris Clair as a rain or wintry mix perfume. But it also depends in my mood the type of perfume that I wear on those days. It could be something sweet and strong to give me energy (especially if I will be spending most of the day outdoors). Gourmands work pretty good in that case. Or I can wear something light and embracing to give me comfort. Incense perfumes are my favorites then.
Have a wonderful weekend NST!
Oy vey, when your body tells you it needs rest, best to pay heed. I hope you have a relaxing weekend!
Thank you Hajusuuri!
Nothing better than a weekend in bed, snuggled up, with absolutely no plans. Necessary decompression time.✌????
One thing makes it better—staying in bed at home most of the weekend with a pile of kitty-cats on you or near you! That’s me this weekend, staying put with a bad sore throat.
Hope your throat is better by now…
I hope you have a very relaxing day!
I agree with you about Gris Clair – it’s my cold rainy day favorite. So comforting!
enjoy your relaxing day
Please enjoy this rare resting time. You have more than earned it!
Sounds perfect and cozy. Had I not had a dire laundry situation, I’d have done the same!
Thank you all! I am trying my best to relieve the exhaustation and regain some energy. I hope to feel better to start a new week. 🙂
I was happy to read that you were resting up yesterday. Being on “Go” all the time is incredibly draining… my brother has to do that for his job, so I hear about what he has to deal with.
Thank you Jalapeno! I was in bed the whole day yesterday. My body just collapsed. I felt much better today and was able to do things at home. It was a difficult week at work and it will be the same for a while. I hope your brother can find some time to rest. It is always so necessary.
SOTM is Chanel 19 EDT, which is good for any scenario if you ask me. Under an umbrella on a sunny beach? Yep! Under an umbrella while walking in the rain? Definitely! Curled up in one’s favorite chair, avoiding the wintry mix and shopping for umbrellas online? You know it!
🙂
I looked through the comments and I didn’t see it here so I have to go for the gag: you can stand under my umbrella Ella Ella Ella aye aye aye.
Picked Not A Blue Bottle 3.1 and totally regret it. Not for me. Thankfully I have to shower for the ballet later.
Quick question: I got a some samples I will never use…is it allowable to offer these in the Comments section?? Some one should enjoy them right??
Um, if it is okay, I would be interested in them. I can cover the shipping cost if you’d like.
Sure! There are a few Montale along with some other random samples. You can send me an email if you like at slumsden(at)columbus(dot)rr(dot)com. No worries about the shipping.
Thanks so much! I’ll send you an email later today. ????
Ooh baby it’s raining raining.
I didn’t like that HdP and had to quarantine a sample, which I eventually tossed. It has that harsh woody amber, and a lot of it IIRC.
That’s where mine ended up. ????
10 inches of snow on my balcony, so I’m dreaming of beach umbrellas today. To go with it, a generous application of Terracotta. Stay warm, everybody!
OMG!!! the food on your blog!!! I have died and gone to heaven 🙂
<3
Yes! Thanks cm8 for pointing that out.
I’m really hoping we’re done with the snow here in the northeast. It’s only Feb, but I’m still hoping.
This morning I’m sampling En Passant. Love.
Perfect for rainy days
Scent twins.
Fille en Aiguilles today, perfect for our snowy weather.
Questions for all the dog owners here: does anyone have experience with spindle cell tumors? Just found out this week that my dog has a spindle cell tumor on his front right leg. It really sucks having both a husband and a dog with cancer!! We have a surgical consult scheduled for this week, but my vet said that because of the location of this tumor they may be talking amputation. But the info I’ve read on line so far is conflicted. Some vets say that you can be more conservative in excising these cancers, because there is a lower risk of them metastasizing, although a higher risk of them coming back in the same location. Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. I’d rather not have to take the whole leg off.
Sorry to hear about your dog. I think a second opinion from another vet would help you make a better decision. That is what I usually do with my old dog. Hope everything comes out fine.
2nd opinions sounds like a very good idea, thanks.
Hmmm, difficult choice. Is it a front or rear leg? How old is your dog? What grade is the carcinoma? Lots of questions to think about. I recommend writing any questions down and going over them with the surgeon. As difficult as it is, try to leave your emotions at home and bring the rational side of your brain to the appointment. The biggest question for me with my dogs has always been “Is the pain and suffering my dog will experience worth the outcome.” Sorry you are in this situation and hoping for the best possible news from the surgeon.
Front right leg of a nearly 10 year old dog. Don’t know the grade yet – that’s a good question. I’m going to try to write down questions in advance. Just nervous about missing something, since my husband can’t make in to the appointment.
I haven’t dealt with that particular type of cancer, but we did have a cat who developed fibrosarcoma on his left hind leg, and had to have the leg amputated. He adapted amazingly well to the loss of the limb. As soon as he came back from the clinic, he was up and walking, and within a week of his surgery he was running up and down the stairs. Unfortunately, the cancer was very aggressive and did spread in spite of the surgery. He developed tumors in his lungs and intestines, so we ultimately had to have him put down.
I can’t tell you what you should do–you need to decide that for yourself in consultation with the veterinarian(s), taking into consideration the stage of the cancer, the change of it spreading, the age of the dog, and so on. Just know that our four-legged companions generally do adapt very well to the loss of one limb.
I work at a shelter, and have worked with many tripod dogs and cats, so I know they can easily adjust. I think it will be harder for me to adjust – just because I feel guilty thinking about how I can’t explain any of this to him.
Oh no, I’m so sorry 🙁 That sounds terribly hard, and bad timing, inasmuch as this kind of thing is ever anything but bad timing. My best wishes–I hope they can get it out but keep the leg.
This sounds like a terribly difficult decision, and yes, bad timing ???? I don’t have any experience to share, but just hoping for the best possible outcome for you and your pup!
Is there a veterinary school close to where you live? Some of the universities have incredible facilities for pets with cancer. That would be an excellent resource to have as you make your decision. Best of luck to you and your dog!
No advice, but lots of sympathy for you and your loved ones, human and canine.
The talk of beets has reminded me that I haven’t been to one of my favorite restaurants in a while. There’s an Indian place here that does amazing things with beets and I order them every time I’m there. I should go tonight.
Today I’m off to the animal shelter wearing Panthere de Cartier. The dogs seem to like the musky/civetty scents better than fruit, vanilla, or flowers. MKK was a big hit.
Ooh–where’s your favorite Indian restaurant?
Bollywood Theater–one on Alberta and another on Division, just down from Fumerie.
Yes! I’ve eaten there. Their menu is so playful!
I’ve never had beets at an indian restaurant, but I have had them at a Sri Lankan restaurant in Ottawa (Canada) and they were delicious. Am envious!
Just back from an overnight trip in honor of my husband’s 55th birthday. Spent the night at a favorite B&B and saw a play at the theater next door. The play was “All My Sons”, and all the actors did a tremendous job. Not exactly a pick-me-up, but the theme is still very timely today.
I had thrown my little decant of Amouage Gold Woman (Cristal) into my purse, and it leaked a little. The bad thing is, that little decant is all of have of this version, so I hate to lose any of it. The good thing is, my purse smells really good now.
Timely, but a very sad play!
Happy Birthday to Mr 50 Roses
Happy Birthday to your husband!
Sounds like a fun trip, but sorry about your Gold! Betcha your purse will smell great for a long time, though.
Oh, yes, the perfumed purse. I’ve got many 😉
Belated birthday wishes to Mr. 50 Roses! ????
Belated happy birthday to Mr. 50! (um, Mr. 55…)
Ormande Jayne Rose Ta’if. I love this scent but it fades fast. Going in for a new scent but not sure which I’ll pick. Maybe Sballo which is an entirely different type of Rose scent.
Mmmmm, Ta’if. I might wear that tomorrow.
I read your review of Ta’if today. I would love to buy the small bottle but never end up pulling the trigger due to longevity issues. Would you know if the original had better longevity?
I don’t know when I bought my bottle, but I don’t find Ta’if to be short-lived. It isn’t BIG on me, but I can catch a surprise waft 6-8 hours after application. It might be a quirk of your skin chemistry.
Have you tried the usual longevity tricks–spray clothing/hair in addition to your skin, lotions (or no lotion) on your skin first, etc?
I don’t know, sorry!
I’m wearing Andrea Maack’s Coven from a sample today and it has been perfect for this rainy day!! The bottle has changed and I think it has maybe been reformulated but I never tried the older version so I can’t be sure. At first I didn’t really get any dirt or soil notes from it at all, just dried grass/hay and whiskey and maybe something a bit pine-y…but then I was walking behind a woman who was pleasantly wafting something that could have been an Alien flanker (odd enough that I actually smelled a perfume on another person!) and I caught of whiff of iron-rich soil from my own neck…and the contrast between what we had put on ourselves as scent was so great that I laughed out loud. Anyway, it worked well in this weather…wet blackened tree branches against the sky and all. I’ll also say that scents that are “dark” are really not for me—I generally steer clear of all the noirs and ouds, etc for this reason— but this, despite the name, is not “dark,” per se.
I have an older bottle and that’s what it smells like to me. I don’t get a strong separate dirt smell, but more earthy grassiness, a little booziness, and an ambery base. Agree about it not being particularly dark and actually like it better in the summer since the grassy notes seem more pronounced on me.
Oh, that’s great to know— sounds like what I smell too. Also interesting about the warm weather performance…I think I’d like that more too because I love a good grassy note (that’s what made me interested in this one in the first place)!
I just recently sampled Hendley Mown which is also a grassy/hay/moss perfume. That one has a stronger dirt presence to my nose and is a bit more photorealistic. Also, have you tried Chypre Mousse? Lots of dirt.
I started the day in Infusion d’Iris (the EDT). It smells incredible on my best friend, but smelled flat and polite on me. So after a shower, I switched to Hiris, which is as dynamic and perfect as it could be.
My favorite warm rainy day perfumes (above 60 F): Hiris, Wood Sage and Sea Salt, or Eau des Merveilles. My favorite beach umbrella scents: Eau des Merveilles and Osmanthus Interdite.
Have a safe, healthy, peaceful and fragrant weekend!
It smelled flat and boring on me, too. Someone here (nozknoz maybe?) said the same was true for her due to the specific iris something-or-other in that version. She recommended the Absolu, which I now wear, and is lovely.
I have the same reaction to FM Iris Poudre, but it veers into more unpleasant territory than just snoozefest.
Another shorts day here in NorCal. I know, y’all in the deep freeze are hating me, but if we don’t get some more rain this winter, it’ll be drought time again. Not Good.
Testing some samples from West Third Brand, which are not rocking my world.
Off to sit shiva again tomorrow. Another relative has passed away… 2nd in 2 weeks. This time a cousin’s daughter who lost her battle with cystic fibrosis. So very sad when the young ones pass.
That’s so sad. It’s such a devastating illness, and though people are living longer with it, the daily maintenance to manage it is intense. Condolences to you and your family.
Fwiw, since joining nst, I know longer get upset about other people’s good weather.???? I am very sorry for your loss. Peaceful thoughts to your family.
Adding my condolences to you and your family for your recent losses.
So sorry for your family’s loss.
So sorry for your loss. Sending hugs.
So sorry for your loss, pixel. I’ve had a rash of friends’ parents passing, 2 in the last 3 weeks.
So very sorry for your loss, pixel.
So sorry. My condolences to you and your family.
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear of your family’s loss.
How sad to lose a young relative, CF is a tough one to deal with. Baruch dayan haemet.
So sorry to hear about your relative’s passing, Pixel. Please accept my condolences.
You and your family have had a hard time of it the last few weeks… My condolences.
So sorry!
I only own one umbrella, and I never know where it is. Today I’m wearing my love Cuir Impertinent. Down to my last few wearings. A top contender in my upcoming fb purchase. My problem is, do I go for one nice bottle or a couple of discounted bottles, that are still nice, but not loves? Is this a common perfumista problem,? Any thoughts?
I recommend getting the loves. Not always a policy I follow, but I believe in it.
Life is too short for non-loves.
I agree with Calypso – it’s better to get a full bottle of a love – and decants of likes – the problem is that the price of a decanted “like” is closer to price of a full bottle of a discount perfume – this is why I have not gotten diva, tocade, Femme or from or many others on FragranceNet – I just don’t want full bottles of all of it
I have a little mini of some vintage Femme that I think has gone a bit off, but I can send it you if you would like. I think you have my email, but let me know if you don’t.
I say go for “loves”. My “like” bottles don’t always get the attention they should.
Treat yourself, you won’t regret it!
Nothing more rewarding than getting and enjoying the loves to the max!
I suggest getting Cuir Impertinent, split off an amount you’re comfortable with and use the $s you get from the split to get a Scent Bird subscription if you find something you like. The Mugler Les Exceptions are very easy to split because the bottle has a screw top atomizer. I would go in on a split (or we can swap as I have Oriental Express, SupraFloral and Over the Musk).
Splurge on the Loves. I have tons of cheap buys that were easy to justify at the time. It becomes less difficult when they sit in a drawer gathering dust, or are given away. I’ve stopped doing that (knock on wood) and save my perfume $ for Big Love.
Agreeing with the people who are saying “Splurge on the Loves”. Is a cheap bottle of something that is only OK really worth it?
My favorite scent for a hot summer day when it is dry is Demeter’s Thunderstorm. I couldn’t choose one for a rainy day, because so many bloom beautifully in humid weather. Today on a rainy, but quite warm day, I’m wearing Dis Moi, Miroir. Got a compliment on my perfume from a clerk at a store this morning.
Nice!
Accidentally posted this as a reply, but I chose The Elysian Fields from Mirus for an umbrella scent. It’s a gorgeous, very herb-forward fougere. It also has an incredible lasting power—on my first wear, it lasted well over 12 hours on me, and I could still lightly smell it after waking up! But for all that longevity, it isn’t a silage monster in the slightest.
This one might be full-bottle worthy to me.
Reply
SOTM was Black Cashmere for standing out in the cold collecting canned food and donations for Scouting for Food with the two boys. Unfortunately, they used up almost all the hot water, so the anticipated hot shower afterward was lukewarm. SOTE is Shalimar…Mexique for a little cozy Olympics watching.
You are smelling amazing! Sounds like a great night.
No good deed goes unpunished…but you smelled divine in Black Cashmere 😉 I have yet to dig out my bottle this winter- gonna go get it now!
I am wearing vintage Eau d’Hermes that I found today at an antique shop. It is a big edt bottle, and is absolutely beautiful.
Wow, lucky you, enjoy!
Oh, great find!
SotAM = Eau des Merveilles
SotPM = Prada Purple Rain
Forecast = 6 days of cloudy skies, will likely need an umbrella on Wednesday. Colorful umbrellas are my favorite. They are harder to lose.
I was missing my dear EdM. It was a perfect pick-me-up for a dreary day. Purple Rain is extra wonderful after an evening shower + clean warm PJs right out of the clothes dryer.
It was a sweaty, busy day of heavy-duty home care inside and out. High point: I repaired a leaky faucet all by myself. Go me! Flipped the mattresses and applied fresh linens. Hoping for a restorative and deep sleep.
NSTers, you smell fabulous.
Catch you on the flip side.
Go you! Everything plus repairing a leaky faucet? Wow!
Oh man, I need to flip my mattress again. Reminder to self.
Impressive! (and makes me realize what I wimp I am…)
Hey, Tiffanie, congrats on the plumbing job. I spent yesterday learning to repair drywall. Maybe we could trade home services with each other? 😉
Sending gentle hugs to pixel
Bottega Venetta for me today as we headed out to an early movie. 1950s black and white about a kid who runs away to Coney Island. An amazing snapshot of times past.
I have a number of cheap umbrellas and one very pretty pink, black and cream one with a bow pattern. Makes me feel festive when I carry it.
From this place, but they no longer have mine. (No affiliation). http://www.pareumbrella.com/new-products/
By the way… PSA that Twisted Lily has 20% off with code LOVEHURTS20. Ends Sunday night at 11:59 pm ET.
WOW, thank you, I got right on that and ordered my MFK Grand Soir fb and saved $43! Plus Texas state tax. Hurray!
Yay! I’ll wear that pin proudly. I’m trying to resist an Aroma M rollerball, considering I had to buy a new iPad this week. I did get that at $50 off tho…
If it’s Geisha Noire that you were looking at, I’m going to put up a bottle at the splitmeet.
Wait, why did you have to pay TX state tax? When I order online, delivery to NJ, there is no tax.
I checked my last order with Twisted Lily from December, (I also live in Texas), and I wasn’t charged sales tax.
I’m reading this as Calypso also saved TX tax.
And Parfum1 has a 25% off deal going.
Yes and it pays to see if what you want at Twisted Lily is also at Parfum1 for the larger discount.
beautiful umbrellas on the site!
I dont have a favourite fragrance for under an umbrella. ☂️
But the best ‘under an umbrella in the rain smell’ is next to a man or woman in a woolen coat or scarf who wears leather shoes, has a leather bag and has just lit a cigarette (i hate the smell of smokers, but love to catch the whiff of freshly burned tobacco). Also, he or she wears a woody or oriental fragrance.
Rain brings out a certain smell in materials like wool and leather.
“Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other”
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Mine is not the best ever…nothing dramatic, just very tired, minor headache, a bit gloomy. Oh I need a holiday!
And I think we are getting that some of that ‘wintry mix’ here this week.
After my father passed away the one thing I wanted to keep was his tobacco pipe. I have fond memories as a child and early adulthood with him taking me to pick out different flavors of tobacco, my favorite being dark cherry! Love that we share of love for this smell Jiji!
As a kid I used to puzzle my mother by standing near the pipe tobacco display at the drugstore (okay, it was the early 70s and nobody had that stuff under lock and key) just so I could smell it. Mmmmmmm.
When I was a kid I used to open and sniff the boxes and cans where my father kept his tobacco and cigars. One of the best smells ever (cigarettes are not in the same league).
I hardly see him smoking nowadays, which is a good thing and I dont want to encourage him. But its a great scent memory!
You’d love standing next to me in a rainstorm, then. 😀
🙂 please come over this week, according to forecast more rain is on its way
Many people here wear plastic raincoats or those outdoor jackets when rain gets really bad. I may be a bit weird, but I dont like the way those fabrics smell and feel. Even though they are quite practical…
PSA–the sun is shining (for this minute) in the Pacific NW, and my tete-a-tete daffodils are in bloom. All are welcome to come by and enjoy (but travel fast, as a cloud is just about to hide the sun, again)! 😉
Ah, daffodils! If I could teleport myself from East Coast to West, I surely would come by to enjoy them. 🙂
SOTD is Jour d’ Hermes Absolu. Winter is citrus season in Los Angeles, with all the neighborhood trees bearing beautiful yellow and orange fruit. And it’s bone dry here, for days and days, so the grapefruit open and deftly blended white flowers of the Absolu are both complementary and contrasting simultaneously, which makes the sent far more compelling than I find it on a summery day. it
Oh, that sounds wonderful!
Grey and rainy here again. Wearing Salomé to bolster my spirits.
I too received the aforementioned TL 20% off email last night. I may have used it. ????
Hope all those who are dealing with boatloads of snow and wicked cold are all snuggled up, warm and cozy.
Sunday, I love you❤️
C’mon, fess up, whadja buy? 🙂 Donatella forgives all.
See below. Donatell might forgive, but I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t????
Saw your post below????
I got Slowdive. And plan on splitting it. But I’m always open to swap…. Fess up????
Ok, ok, I’ll give it up. Not trying to be coy, but this is the THIRD bottle I bought since November. I’m so ashamed! ????
I would be willing to participate in the slow dive split, so keep me in mind. I will probably be working the split meet weekend and will be very limited in my ability to be online. I bought Oriza Lé Grand (sp?) Chypre Mousse. It’s a bold move on my part because while I have smelled it in the bottle (thanks Foxbins!), I have never actually worn it. It’s quite (ahem) polarizing based on comments here…have you tried it?
Not sure what wintry mix is, but it sounds gross. If I had a favorite rainy day perfume, I’d be wearing it 300 days a year, so all of my fall and winter perfumes qualify. A better question for peeps in my part of the world might be what to wear on a sunny winter day. In my case it was Coromandel yesterday and BFMV today.
I’ve been trying some new-to-me vanillas since the beginning of the year, and I think my faves might be the ones I already had: BFMV and Goutal Vanille Exquise. Circling back around, indeed.
Will get up shortly to make some (white) vegetable lasagna for dinner, and beef & vegetable soup for my H to take for lunch during the week. He recently started a new job where they can’t leave the (construction) site during the day so he has to brown bag it. After 2 weeks of not eating out he’s lost 4 lbs (!!) which seems as good an argument as any for making one’s own lunch. Or a better argument for not eating whatever calorie-laden crap he’d been eating at restaurants on the daily 😉
Trust me, wintry mix is gross!????
Totally exhausted by travel and family outings the last two days so I am relaxing quietly at home – although it would be a lot more relaxing if the neighbour wasn’t running a @#&!* electric sander!
I am wearing Iris Poudre, although it’s hard to keep up with my iris project when all I want to wear right now is HG Slowdive. Big love for that one.
Well, I might have gotten Onda VdE if they carried the Vero line, but they don’t…????
Oops! That was in reaponse to your comment to my post above. Glad you have a Sunday/Funday to relax and de-stress. I’m afraid to try Slow Dive for fear it might be right up my alley. I have several already in this genre, but still…
I sympathize with you over the noisy neighbor. We lived for a number of years in a house next door to a guy who would spend the entire day Saturday running noisy lawn equipment. Mind you, the yards were tiny, but this guy would spend 6 to 8 hours mowing, edging and trimming. Our lawn was the exact same size, and it would take us maybe 20 minutes to mow it. The houses were close together, and the bedroom window faced toward this neighbor’s house, so I seldom got to sleep later than 8 AM on Saturday in warm weather, as I would inevitably be awakened by the neighbor’s lawn care activities.
Watching the Olympics on TV in a wee bit of Amouage Beloved, thanks to MMKinPA. Oh, it smells like a hug for a favorite aunt feels, if that makes any sense. It reads very much as a comfort scent to me. Absolutely lovely. Thank you again!
Looks like there is a break in the rain where I am at. Would love to send it to the folks who need it, because I think the dry spell here is done. I would like to have the grass not squish when I walk on it.
I coped with yesterday’s cold rain in two tiny dabs of Fancy Nights (go ahead, laugh; I can’t abide Tabu, for example, but actually kinda like FN in very small doses).
It was much warmer today so I didn’t mind the rain so much. The only scent I had on was a bit of plumeria lotion until I went by Ulta this afternoon. I wanted to smell SJP Stash Unspoken, but of course they didn’t have a tester out. I tried Alien Eau Sublime and Aura instead. Both are fine, but no threats to my wallet, thank goodness.
Be well, all, and don’t let the thought of Monday get you down!
I won’t laugh at you for wearing Fancy Nights… I can see how that would smell great in cold wet weather.