It's Hump Day, and Dorothy L. Sayers' birthday. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in one of several greens on my wish list, Providence Perfume Co Branch & Vine.
Reminder: 6/15 will be Wish List Friday...wear a fragrance that's in the top 5 of your full bottle wish list. Suggested by Katrina.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2018, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Herbaceous Dicot Stem: Tangential Section Bicollateral Vascular Bundle in Cucurbita [cropped] by Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library at flickr; public domain.
Tempo
You smell fantastic! Broke down and bought it a few months ago.????
thank you! I can see why you broke down and bought it. I have a large enough decant that I don’t feel the need for a full bottle. I will wear it until the end of the week and then save the rest for cooler weather.
This and the other new one did not work for me. Glad you like it!
I think it is love or hate with this one…but I happen to really really love patchouli and will wear the essential oil straight up which probably explains why I like it…also, it reminds me of something from my distant past and also it has traces of Mitzah and one of the Fiele fragrances to my nose….I haven’t tried the Peau one….I think Kevin said it was a NO NO….because of the white musk…but I am OK with white musk too….I don’t really have very discriminating taste and will wear just about anything-LOL!
I tried the Peau one and thought it was meh. This from somebody who likes all sorts of musks.
I think that one is also a love it or hate it…I am pretty sure that a few NSTers loved it enough to purchase a full bottle. I will try it one of these days but I am not actively seeking it out.
Sounds like Tempo is a new love for you. ????
It is
In Chanel Bel Respiro EdT. I really regret not grabbing a full bottle before it was discontinued. I sprayed the rest of he sample on me to enjoy it in full. Another one to be missed.
That one was also no my wish list!
I’m quite fond of the Bel Respiro EDP. Have you tried it? Was the EDT much better for you?
I can’t speak for others, but many of the edts wear better for me than the new edp formulation. Fortunately, I’ve stocked up.
I completely agree.
I also liked the edp of Bel Respiro and didn’t find it to be drastically different from the EDT. Maybe a little rounder.
I have not tried the EdP, but based on all the comments about the EdP’s and how much I love the EdT’s, I would prefer to have a full bottle of the old Bel Respiro.
What was the Bel Respiro EdT like?
It is a very green floral. Lots of grass which I really love. I can smell iris and vetiver. Very refteshing and beautiful. The longevity is like the rest of the Les Exclusifs, like 4 to 5 hours max.
Thank you!
I see you’re wearing again from wish list, that’s nice!
I am finishing a sample of Creed Millesime Imperial; it’s ok, but it won’t go on my wishlist. Looking forward to Friday
My wish list is long, I could do this for the next month! But, I won’t be able to figure out which are my top 5. If I could, I’d buy one of them. Not being able to figure it out saves me money
It’s a good plan for saving money
Hermessence Myrrhe Eglantine
Chanel nude lippy
Lapsang Souchong
Went to a debate last night at Albertine bookstore, a former prime minster of France was there and did an excellent job. The debate was on if democracy is dying
perfection – all three of them!
What was the verdict?
Forgot to add that Adam Gopnik from the New Yorker was the moderator and did a fabulous job.
All the speakers agreed that there is a crisis. I think because of the comment policy here on NST that is where I will leave it.
Thank you.
Which former prime minister was there?
Manuel Valls
Wearing Bois d’Armenie today from a 20 official sprayer I was able to obtain.
I would give a great deal to be able to own a full bottle of this lovely scent. <3
What’s a 20 official sprayer?
What is that?
You mean the 20 ml sprayers they sell at the Champs Elysees boutique?
Yes – I was able to snag one full of this beautiful scent.
I’m interested to know also if it’s those 20 ml travel spray from the Paris boutique I’m hearing about and how much it costs.
They were 55Eur this April when I got my own travel spray of Bois d’Armenie in Paris.
It’s actually not just at the Champs-Elysees boutique; they definitely also have them in the shop in the 1er arr. Not sure where else.
55 Euro doesn’t sound too bad for a 20 mL Guerlain.
Vol de Nuit parfum from a micro sample I got. I absolutely love the parfum, especially in the summer. I’ve been thinking about buying a bottle of it for a long time, honestly.
I adore Vol de Nuit edt. The parfum must be glorious!
It’s honestly such a different experience. It’s almost like wearing a vintage fur, very plush and regal. I would highly suggest trying it if you can!
I put all of my perfume bottles out on a set of shelves – a tall Vittsjo from Ikea, to be exact. I’m living with them like that for a couple of days, to see if I like them out in the open. So far, I like the easy access, but the look isn’t right. Five clusters of bottles on stacked shelves just isn’t that visually appealing.
Bringing them into the light did allow me to re-discover a bottle of night-time juice I made last year, with a strange but alluring combination of vetiver and jasmine (I made it for bed time), which is what I am wearing this morning.
Robin, I love the image – I get all kinds of happy when science and beauty intertwine.
Yay, I love that image too!
And I like those Vittsjo shelving units — did you get black or red?
I got the black – I really like the shelves, just perhaps not the bottles on the shelves. They usually hold a nicely curated collection of books, rocks and other oddments, for which they are well suited.
Still searching for the perfect perfume repository.
Good luck!
I really like those red ones but they wouldn’t fit into my house at all — I’d end up with black too.
Ooh, I just got a sample of Branch and Vine but haven’t tried it yet! Along with some others from a friend who lives in Providence and went because I begged.
Wearing vintage Scandal today. Not on my wish list but probably the fastest I’ve ever bought a FB after my first sniff.
B&V and Samarinda are my favorites from PPC.
And that could be a project too — fastest purchase!
Ha, Jour d’Hermes for me!
Mine was Red Musk from The Body Shop! Sprayed some on, left the store, and was back within 20 minutes.
A layering experiment: Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li and by Kilian Love and Tears. I think, though, that L&T is taking over. Le Jardin is a much lighter scent.
Yeah, Li would seem like a hard one to layer other than with its own body products.
I’m in De Profundis, the longest-tenured of my wish list. I have a bottle on order now thanks to Mr. Koenigsberg’s comment here recently about the likely effect of new tariffs on certain perfume prices, so with any luck this will soon be a wish fulfilled.
De Profundis is wonderful. I was lucky to find a 3/4 full bottle of it on eBay for $175 a couple years ago.
Wow, nice find!
Lovely. That’s my only bell jar, and it’s so lovely to look at, and to wear of course! De Profundis always ‘works’ for me. It’s nice to find scents that never have a snit on you.
It is my only bell jar as well. After going through several decants I broke down and bought it.
It will be my only bell jar too … IF it ever actually ships. It’s been on back order for a while. I’m trying to stay optimistic.
I am not wearing perfume at the moment. I took a couple of days off to go on a few day trips. I am trying to decide what to wear (clothing) and what perfume to wear.
Yay, have fun on your day trips!
Yay, yay for Orchid Soleil!!
That was my sotd cheer.????
Yes, it’s worthy of a cheer!
But is Orchid Soleil your cheery SOTD? ????
I’m wearing Annick Goutal – Eau de Neroli, not because it’s on my wishlist but because I have to finish some of my many full sized bottles to be able to buy off that wishlist! Not sure how you do it, but I barely finish a full size one (100 ml) plus various minis per year, despite my best attempts
It’s great in summer anyway. The wishlist scent that’s closest to it for summer is Eau d’Hadrien .
how is the eau de neroli? i love orange blossom scents but none have the lasting power i crave.
it’s very nice, a warm floral – I think Bois de Jasmin captures it perfectly here https://boisdejasmin.com/2011/04/annick-goutal-neroli-fragrance-review.html
Decent lasting power, on me at least it beats most other summer fragrances (looks disappointed at Atelier Cologne
)
Is your Neroli in the cylindrical bottle or the square bottle?
The cylindrical bottle, I haven’t tried any of the square ones . The cute ribbons beat the pompoms though
I have the cylindrical bottle too and love it. I’ve read the square bottle is a reformulation but haven’t tried it.
I don’t think I find AG as interesting anymore these days..
We got back home from our New York City trip late last night. I am wearing Hermès Cedre Sambac, one of my souvenirs from NYC ????
Lucky you! That’s on my wish list.
I am really enjoying this scent. The purpose of this New York trip was to attend a wedding. I wore my new bottle of Cedre Sambac to the wedding and reception
I should have typed I wore my new Cedre Sambac perfume from the bottle. I didn’t actually wear the bottle, lol.
We knew
Fancy souvenir! How did you enjoy the city?
We had such a wonderful time !! We did so much in the short time we were there. The first day, we hung in Bryant Park, had lunch at a deli, visited St. Patrick’s and then went to Saks. I think we spent two hours in the fragrance department. Later that night we had pizza and saw “Carousel” on broadway. Such a great time. It went by too fast
!!
Wow, you did do a lot! Nice.
Great choices!
Saks is moving beauty/fragrance to the 2nd floor so you got there just in time. It’s never going to be the same.
i’m wearing minotaure today, doing my own personal theme of skankfest 2018
I like the theme!
Skank on!
FM’s Cologne Indelebile is my SOTD. I will definitely replace my 10ml mini when it is gone but I doubt I will buy a bottle unless I am feeling incredibly flush.
I went to the mall for the first time in ages yesterday & sampled a bunch of Ateliers at Sephora. Both Grand Neroli and Bois Blonds left me cold but I LOVED Trefle Pur.
Trefle Pur is soooo gooood.
I’ve been pleased with myself all week because my bottle list is actually quite short, but it grew by one yesterday . . .
fragrancenet has the 100 ml for $65 right now with coupon. The sprayer unscrews which would make decanting easy….just sayin’
and I cannot remember who here was looking for the d/c Mistral Patchouli but the 200 ml bottle is $99
Enabler pin for you! That is a good price – hmm, when is the next splitmeet?
For that price it is just about free
Decided to try one of my winter scents in summer heat: Dior Cuir Cannage.
Cuir Cannage is sooo good! I did wear it in warmer weather, but not in the hot summer days. Hope it works well for you!
At least we now how summer heat! How’s the Cuir Cannage holding up?
It held up just fine! Wore it layered over Korres jasmine lotion.
I managed to save my tooth. I spent three hours in the dentist’s chair on Monday to do it. In the near future, I have to spend $425 on a crown for said tooth. I am in Vanille Fatale from Tom Ford and not exactly feeling it. After my shower, it will be Noonetide Petals.
SIGH. My recent crown cost about twice that. Glad I have it, though.
I am glad you were able to save your tooth.
Good news that your tooth was saved. Hope that you won’t have to wait too long to get the crown.
I’m wearing Galop for the first time. So far I really love it.
Galop is a love for me. You smell wonderful!
You smell wonderful !
Good day everyone, i sprayed on ciel d’opale today because of a long train ride from Berlin to Bern and didn’t want to bother anyone. The first train broke down and as a result the 2nd train was crazy full – I should have sprayed harder!
Ugh. That’s a pain. Hope the second train was on time, no issues. I’d have been happy to have you waft next to me.
That must be a nice journey. And Bern is lovely.
I’m in Kiehl’s Original Musk from a decant. One of my all-time favorites.
I think my decant is from a limited anniversary edition of the fragrance that is no longer available as an FB, but when it’s gone I’m definitely going to replace with the currently available version.
When I wore that one I got many comments, but I could barely smell it. I must be anosmic to the musk.
Well, this AM I finally drained my sample of Hermes’ Concentre De Pamplemousse Rose, and there are sweet deals for under$60 for FBs on eBay…. very very tempting.
PSA on a book: I mentioned this book over the weekend, but I want to really tell you that I absolutely loved Tayari Jones’ novel, An American Marriage. I finished it last night. It’s a love story, a journey story, even a modern folk tale of sorts, and a Greek prophecy play–in that in the end, of course, all is foretold. But the journey is very human.
And boom! The book is now on my reserve list. I think I’m now maxed out on reserves….
Oh…and Pamplemousse Rose is a favorite. You’ll go through it.
You are not helping my wallet! (But I think you will enjoy the book
)
An American Marriage is sitting on my desk right now, waiting its turn to be read
Nice read!Will look for it myself!
I received a book as a gift which I started reading,Stephen Hawking The Grand Design.Some of it goes over my head,but still an interesting read.
I read A Brief History of Time a billion years ago, which was definitely written more for poets than scientists–I loved it. Let us know your final verdict on Grand Design.
SotD = Il Profvmo Mandarine
Pretty much fizzy candy citrus, and I like it just fine. Makes me happy every time.
A day off work, and a long list of errands is staring at me. I added “sniffing at the mall” to help me out the door this morning. I will check Nordstrom for testers of L’envol edt and Prada L’homme L’eau. Really enjoyed reading Chemist in the Bottle’s review of the second one.
Sniffing at the mall is a great start!
You’re right, floragal. Sniffing lured me out of the house. The to-do list is done.
At Nordstrom I tried Prada L’Homme L’eau (nice!) and L’envol edt (very nice, I got a whiff of honeysuckle and will definitely try it again).
Next sniffed Prada Les Infusions Rose and their Mimosa, too. Both are great scents. The Le Labo counter was unguarded so I sniffed every single tester bottle and then tried the Hinoki body lotion. I liked Rose 31 a lot, and Fleurs d’Oranger 27 is interesting. Another 13 smells good on the blotter but on my arm it smells spikey, Iso-E Super I would guess.
Went to Sephora and doused myself in Bergamote Soleil. I smell to high heaven and back.
Bergamote Soleil is a wonderful citrus. I finished my 8ml tester not so long ago.sniff.
Fun! Sounds like it was a successful visit!
What fun! How was the Hinoki lotion?
Le Labo Hinoki lotion, hmmm, well it wasn’t for me though it definitely smelled of hinoki. It had that cypress woody/citrus balance which is great, but the label said the lotion has almond oil. I like almond oil. But in this case the almond smelled at odds with the hinoki. Hope that makes sense. More lotion for someone else.
Makes perfect sense, and thanks!
SOTD: Black Cashmere
Love.
Indeed.
For some reason, this community project is making me stressed. (Maybe because I just bought a bottle last week that had been on my wishlist for a couple of years? Dunno. It’s nice to find new homes for some bottles I don’t love, and to be able to buy one I really do.)
Anyway, it’s Chypre Week on one of the Facebook perfume groups, so I am wearing DSH Chypre layered with some California Reverie to amp the citrus and florals.
In other news, I found a kombucha flavor that does not, to my surprise, taste like Essence of Twigs: Kevita Lemon Ginger.
‘Essence of Twigs’. Snort. Yeah, pretty much my thoughts on the subject.
Was talking to a friend who drinks a lot of kombucha and it sort of pushed me to try again. The Lemon Ginger was really pretty good! I still don’t think I’ll bother to drink it often. I am taking a probiotic anyway.
To me it tastes like fizzy vinegar marinated with twigs. Beurk.
Pretentious organic home-brewed in small batches – with twigs.
I have tried several lately, but the first one I tasted is still the best – Health-ade Pomegranate. I usually think pomegranate is too tart, but this one tastes great. Still don’t buy it regularly, but will grab some if I see it on sale!
I’ll look for that one!
Ginger and mint are good flavors to tone down the vinegar taste. In Montreal, there is a great brand – RISE with ginger and lemongrass and mint, all great flavors.
When I was living in the US I liked a coconut lime Kevita.
Have my first mammogram this afternoon (ugh, boo!) so I’m in just a few dabs of Eau Sauvage, of which I’d like one of those big 6 oz bottles I see on some of the discounters lol!
Have courage, I never found them so bad. It depends partly on the time of the month (try not to schedule one during or just before your period–I was always more tender then). Also on the skill of the technician. It’s really quick at least. Remember you’re doing the right thing when you do this!
Fingers crossed! Hope it goes fine!
Hang in there, it’ll all be over soon! Really it’s more awkward / annoying than anything. Mine always go pretty quickly, the techs know what they’re doing.
Hope it goes well! I find it super uncomfortable which I think is the case for small and dense. I also have to have the sonogram so it’s usually a long day. But, it will be behind you soon enough!
amen, sister!
Yes — I think it totally depends on what your breast tissue is like. Mine is bad. And usually have to have extra screens, followed by the sonogram. And last time after the sonogram, the radiologist actually came in the room and made them redo the sonogram. All great fun
I distract myself by imagining a similar test/ procedure for testicular cancer…works every time.
I’m sure a cure would be had STAT if that were the required screening????
LOL!
Hope all goes well Kelly!
You smell awesome!
Hope that your mammogram went well, and that you aren’t really sore!
Thanks so much, friends! It wasn’t bad at all, the techs were fast and nice.
Yay!
Smelling yummy today while comparing some 10 years old or so CSP Vanille Extreme to the current version.
The old has more oomph and cake batter accord. ????
I’m very impressed by perfume that lasts well 10 years
the most any of mine made it before changing is 5 years.
Diptyque Eau de Lierre. I felt that a green scent would be good for a visit to the farmers’ market, which is where I am going soon.
Mmm I love that one.
I bet you smell great…I love ivy as a note (it’s fantastic in AG Eau de Camille) and EdL has been compared to Gap Grass which was once a favorite of mine.
Perfect choice for the farmer’s market! You smell just lovely.
Dior Vetiver, which is permanently off my wish list since I discovered it’s still available in Paris and had a bottle muled to me. Or should I say ‘vat’. Yep, it’s still available, but only in the 250ml size. Can’t possibly use that up ever, I suspect.
a bucket of vetiver, family size!
Not doing the CP today and am in PdE Le Cri de la Lumiere. It’s fine, nice, and pleasant but it doesn’t really move me or do much for me. I got a decant in the most recent splitmeet and it’s already evaporating! So I’m trying to put it to us.
That’s pretty much how I felt about it.
I’m wearing Santal Carmin today, this has forever been on my fb list.
Ooh. I had a sample of Santal Carmin a few years ago, before I fell in love with sandalwood. Might need to revisit that one.
I am wearing Bogue Mem from a dabber sample. It’s a nice scent that doesn’t quite work for me. I do like it though. I think it is one of those scents that I prefer to smell on someone else.
There are a lot of scents that I really enjoy on other people.
Yay for MEM! I’ll wear it again soon and waft it towards you.
????
Wearing Moonlight in Heaven and smelling like warm beaches and mango sticky rice.
Well, that sounds delicious! Assumed it was a BK by the name and was right
Need to get a sample of that one!
That one reminded me (or my memory of how I *think* it smelled) of Hanae Mori Magical Moon which I owned and really liked at one point.
Oh that’s a good one!Indrained two samples in no time.It’s a MAYBE on an imaginary wishlist!
I love Moonlight in Heaven. I bought a beautiful atomizer for my mom’s 90th birthday and the kind SA filled it with Moonlight in Heaven as a gift to her from SAKs.
That sounds heavenly!
Wow, that’s a rather tempting scent description!
I love Moonlight in Heaven, such a pretty scent and bottle.
CdG Ouarzazate for a drizzly day. I have a bottle, so not on my wishlist. I can’t see how much is left, but it sounds like it’s getting low (I spray it pretty heavily since it’s light and faded after a couple of hours). I could see replacing it when it’s done since it’s still a love.
PSA for NYCers: there’s a “meet n greet” of YouTube reviewers at Aedes tomorrow 5-8. I don’t really follow YouTube reviews but might be fun anyway (free champagne, lol). I’m thinking about checking it out if I can motivate to get in a subway.
If you go, report back.
Will do!
You smell lovely! I’ve often debated getting a bottle but can’t decide since I like Jaisalmer as well.
The rain is coming my way. I’m surprised that it hasn’t started yet. Huge gray clouds are hanging overhead. We’re supposed to have a rough evening commute.
I couldn’t decide either so I ended up with both! But I tend to wear this one more. My brother really loves Jaisalmer so I gave him a decant when he was here.
Hope the rain misses you! Though I was hoping for more of a soaker here since the pipe that feeds the hose out back is cracked, probably from the freezes this year. Found out from a leak in our basement “den” ceiling after I watered the plants a couple of weeks ago.
Oh no. Will your landlord/property manager fix it? I know that is something we would address immediately. Especially if it was causing damage. Our well water, unfortunately, is very acidic. We replace fixtures and plumbing with regularity. Luckily, my husbad can handle most repairs himself.
Great idea to buy both!
Our landlord (who also built this building himself about 9 years ago) said he would send over a plumber, but my experience is he has to be reminded several times when things need fixing. He’s due for another reminder!
Love that frag!
Today’s SOTD is Courreges in Blue, by Courreges. Light balsamic powdery scent and a summer favorite. It’s not as crisp as EL’s White Linen but it’s just as refreshing.
Several years ago Courreges en Bleu was a summer staple for me….
I’m kind of doing spray a sample week. Today I’m wearing Rubj Voile d’extrait which I like better than the edp but not as much as the extrait.
I’m a huge fan of Dorothy Sayers detectives. She really was a great writer.
Yet another beauty! I prefer the extrait as well.
Also a big fan of Dorothy L. Sayers. Read her novels many years ago and should revisit. I love that she, in effect, wrote herself into the books in the character of Harriet Vane. I have a copy of her essay “Are Women Human?” which is very sharp, smart and a great read.
Spritzed on En Passant as I headed back to the bank to sign a document that needed correction. Caught other errors while I was there, so took longer than just applying a signature. Not sure En Passant even lasted through the visit, so I have now applied Insolence. Sort of, kind of counts for CP in that I wore samples for a while before pulling the trigger on a small bottle.
Saw Ocean’s 8 yesterday ($5 Tuesday’s!!) and enjoyed it. I’m sure I enjoy movies more, knowing I’m only spending $5. I pretty much spent most of the movie wishing I was built like Cate Blanchett and had her clothes, jewelry.
I love En Passant, but my nickname for it is “In Passing…”
and I love the name En Passant because it is a chess term….
Thanks for the movie review! It looks like a fun movie. And I can imagine Cate Blanchett is fab.
Also a huge fan of Sayers. A scholar. Love Harriet Vane, love Lord Peter. Yes, the books were of a time; they would not be written the same way now, but the language is elegant, the puzzles rewarding (The Nine Tailors), and the characters compelling. I re-read every few years.
My wishlist greens are No 19 and Opus 1. Still don’t have full bottles. Remembering a brief summer in Aliage – loud but so alive it was energizing.
We’re having a little cooldown today when it comes to temperature today but I’m not complaining at all, it felt very comfortable outside.
I wore Atelier Cologne Silver Iris. Magnifique!
One of my cold weather favourites, u smell gorgeous!
Got home and decided to join you in Silver Iris. I had forgotten how divine it is.
Another gloomy wet day in the mist. Damp washing strewn around the living room creating a fug of school socks. I have a native pigeon crammed in the freezer that I have to take to the museum so its feathers can be used ( it flew into the window). Dark and dreary…calls for something kick ass….Mitsouko
Perfection
Dead wild pigeons in the fridge… reminds me of my in-laws house in the south of France.
I’m wearing vero kern’s weird and wonderful Onda Edp, definitely on my full bottle list, as is Rubj EdP, I will be waiting along time tho!
Happy Wednesday!
Sooo yesterday I mentioned something that Robin noticed…lol.
YES.When I first started becoming a perfumista,I bought absolutely everything and anything,from vintage L’Heure Bleue to Jeanne en Provence el cheapo whatever-whatever.I’d say 95% were unsniffed,based on reviews.The collection got so big that even now,I’ve not had the chance to actually smell some of my own stuff.Every day I open a cabinet,I can basically shop from my own collection.Lol.Not bragging at all,I have mentioned that I have started to purge my collection,and finally starting to work through a lot of “new discoveries”(Guerlain Colognes…ELdO perfumes I bought because they were discontinued locally….Hermès Hiris….to name a couple)
Don’t ask me why I thought it was a good idea to go MAD back in 2010 and just buy buy buy….Lol.
Thankfully I know that here:no judgment.
SOTD!Don’t laugh!!
1.)Amouage Opus VII on my shirt
2.)Aromatics in Black on my long-johns…sprayed down the legs.lol
3.)Bond No.9 Chez Bond on my wrists and inner elbows.
4.)Byredo Bullion on my socks.
My effort to drain 4 samples.
I reeked havoc,but I succeeded!
Hahahaha!
X
Sorry, I totally laughed at no. 4! I’m spraying my socks tomorrow! ????
and now you don’t laugh but my 81 year old dad sprays his underwear and socks every day…..on top of what he wears on his body….
But you reek havoc in the best possible way
No criticism here, I have tons of backup bottles and a few new bottles that have never been sprayed too. Fortunately the madness has passed.
I wish I could have smelled you today!
Love it! Keep it up Johano.
I think you should start up a perfume-lovers choir… You would then have thirty or more bodies on which to spray , and you could match scents and fragrances…like six months of vintage perfumes with cole porter and marlene dietrich songs
I have been AWOL for many weeks because my sister and I have been cleaning out our mother’s house in preparation for selling it. She is now in a nursing home. I had NO idea how much work this would be. It is a very small two bedroom, two bath house and we held 4 estate sales and filled 3 dumpsters. I learned 2 very important things. First, use the good dishes. My mom had a set of 6 glasses we were never allowed to use because they were for “good”, so we drank out of plastic tumblers. They sold for 50 cents for the entire set. This leads to lesson number two. No one else really wants your stuff, so get rid of everything you don’t use or love, your children will thank you. Oh, and maybe there is a third lesson. You don’t need things to keep your memories. My mom saved every card and gift tag she ever received, as well as the ribbons from the funeral flower arrangements for my grandparents and father. I have a feeling she would have remembered them even without the ribbons!
Anyway, the house will go up for sale next week, we will get our lives back and today I am wearing LDDM because it is hot and humid.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Inwent through this back in 2016 when Mom passed away.I had NO help from any family members,and had to siff through 4 generations’ stuff-everything you just mentioned.I hope you get to spend some awesome quality time with your Mom while she is still around.
X
Glad to see you. I agree with all your lessons learned.
Going through that now myself. There was a time when I wanted my Mom’s crystal glassware from Scotland. Not so much now.
If you have advice or can tell me how the estate sales worked, I’d love to hear about it. We are in dumpster stage right now, but no one in the family wants any of the furniture or other stuff. (If you have time, you can email me at eabrit at gmail dot com.). I hope your mom is doing well in her new abode.
Emailing now.
To all here, and LizzieB, it’s horrible. I’ve been through it with my parents’ stuff and my FiL. If you have any energy, check Insta. Everyone is painting all the old mahogany pieces navy blue and they are selling. Keep at least one set of good china and use it. Put it in the dishwasher. Why not? I loathe plastic so we use the crystal, and if it breaks, oh well. Life goes on. The clothing, on the other hand, can be pure horror. Think 50 bow ties, 30 pairs of run-down shoes, ratty corduroys. Hasten to the dump, the shelter, or Goodwill, and never regret tossing things in the Dumpster.
Congratulations on finishing that big job. You’re right, nobody really wants all that stuff after we’re gone. It’s up to each one of us to enjoy things in the present moment. A few years ago I konmari’d my entire house. This summer I have time off to go at things in the döstädning manner. I don’t want anyone to have to clean up after me someday!
Your mom is fortunate to have you and your sister to help her through this transition. I hope you are breathing a sigh of relief and feeling nicely perfumed to boot. You smell great. I need to try L’air in the heat, I loved it in winter.
Thank you for this excellent advice. While my parents will probably not listen to me, I am going to share it with them.
Congratulations on seeing the end of all this in sight! Now you have the space to breathe again.
Congratulations on completing that herculean task. I am trying to do the same with my own possessions, I gave away a ton of dishes just last month. Each time I read a book I am giving it away. No more clothes are coming in unless some go out. Purses and shoes have been culled. There is still a long way to go but I am getting there.
I’m glad to “see” you. I can only imagine how tedious that is. My grandmother also saved every card, ribbons, etc. I try and live as lean as possible…hoping my son appreciates it one day.
SOTE- Gold Knight (second wearing and now passing it on to my son). Fantastic honey!
Thanks all for the book recs- picked up from my local library- Blackwater, Jar and the Night Stalker based on everyone’s recommendations. Looking forward to getting back to some reading.
Really liking today’s picture, Robin! It would make a great stained glass window.
SOTD = Penhaligon’s Amaranthine, from the sample stash. This has gigantic ylang ylang and carnation notes on me. I wouldn’t mind a bottle, but I know that this one is d’ced.
Has anyone here ever had a scented “ghost” in their sniffing? Over the weekend, I tried a sample that smelled exactly like one of my uncles used to. Since he has been deceased for quite a while, the experience was an unsettling one, and a little creepy. That sample has gone into my “Give” pile.
I’ve never sampled anything from Penhaligon but you make Amaranthine sound very appealing.
I like it very much! However, if you don’t like indoles or BIG BWFs, stay far far away from this one. I definitely got the weird banana note that ylang sometimes does when I smell it.
I blind bought a bottle of perfume, that smelled just like my aunts bath beads. The smell was fine, but the association made it unbearable for me to wear.
It’s like wearing clothes that don’t fit right at all, isn’t it?
It is. It gives you that ” get off me” feeling. Good thing there’s always more to try ????
Just put on a couple sprays of PHI – une Rose de Kandahar. I’ve forgotten how great this one is; it has been on my list for awhile. It’s raining now, and a bit cooler again today so this Phi is fitting in quite nicely.
Looking forward to the weekend when my hubby goes out of town for a golf vacation (for a 5 days) with a group of other “golf-nuts”. Does that sound wrong?
Nope, not at all.
Enjoy your alone time!
I love having the house to myself. Enjoy!
SOTD = Bvlgari Black
I am very off theme as I have a BUB for the back-up of the BUB. I wore it because ???? and it was within easy reach.
I came home to a surprise package of a large decant of The Different Company Bois d’ Iris but no note and no return address. I suppose I can check the tracking to see from which city it was mailed and take a guess. Would the person who sent it to me confess to this gift so I can properly thank you?
Commuting Woes No. 434:
Even skinny people without any bags can take up more than one seat. I usually try to grab a bench seat on a double decker train because the seats are level with the platform and egress easier. On the way home, I saw an open seat next to a guy who was seated at the end of the bench (so no one was crowding him from that side), yet, he took over part of the 2nd seat. I stood in front of the seat and said excuse me. He looked up with a face that exuded annoyance and I gestured at the seat and he reluctantly moved over. WTF! When the conductor came, he pretended to get a phone call and got up to go to the vestibule but I bet he was running away to avoid paying the fare.
Mystery solved on the BdI – it was from the Freebiemeet!