Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, and welcome to September! And a quick PSA: our next swapmeet will be a week from today.
We're kicking off September with our usual open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the fragrance you think you'll wear the most in the coming month, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: the Herend Patchwork Bunny ("Charming combination of raspberry, green and blue fishnet designs on handmade handpainted porcelain figurine.") is $350 at Scully & Scully.
12:18 am I woke up…said rabbit rabbit rabbit and went back to sleep.
Fragrance combining Jo Malone Red Roses and Blackberry & Bay (THUNK to both samples). this is not listed on the website as a recommendation but it should be….a jammy rose and perfect for my trip to the farmers market.
For those wondering about my perfume yesterday (and yes, it is real and not made up)-
https://www.votmperfume.com/fragrance/carthago
It’s an artisanal line out of Brooklyn New York and all natural. The body creams correspond to all perfumes and actually intrigue me even more than the perfumes themselves!
These-
https://www.votmperfume.com/hand-and-body-lotion/
If all four of them (along with the perfume sampler set) fell out of the sky and landed in my lap I would be very happy 🙂
This looks so intriguing! I need to try this line. 🙂
Eventually when I think the herd I might think about those body butters…they look good to me.
thin the herd…..
I actually googled the Villa of the Mysteries perfumes shortly after you posted yesterday.They do look intruiging!
the whole line looks interesting …even the bath and body products.
I really was only kidding!!!
I know !!! I know!!!! LOL!!! But johanob was also interested and I thought some of the NYC folks might be as well because she is a one woman operation out of Brooklyn New York and her stuff looks interesting and is supposedly all natural (and no affiliation! Had I not won this bottle I never would have heard of the company)
I think the story is charming –
https://www.votmperfume.com/about-us-1/
I think Robin sometimes forgets us locals are a bunch of lighthearted people,and we know she knows we know…you know?????????♂️????✌????
Right…wacky sense of humor all around -LOL!
Well you never can tell when you’ve finally pissed somebody off, right? So never hurts to be sure 🙂
No no no!!! you should know by now I was not pissed at all…in fact I thought it was hysterical!!! Like I said above, wacky sense of humor all around 🙂
I said my rabbits at around 1am (before the cats could wake me up and I ended up talking to them instead)! Glad you got back to sleep 🙂
Hope you got back to sleep as well!!!
PSA. There are a few Byredo fragrances and candles on the TK Maxx (UK) website. The Starck fragrances are also on there as well as ELdO Like This and Yes I Do. You’re welcome! 😉
Psa twins????
Wow, nice! I’d probably buy one of the Starcks if I found it at a big enough discount.
In Room 237 one last time before the swapmeet. I’ll be working today and tomorrow, but I hope you’re all having fun! Bummer how many people don’t get Labor Day off. The construction workers at my house are returning Monday ????
Looking ahead to fall, I’m starting to crave particular notes. Wondering, what are your favorite chamomile perfumes? Also, purple grape/plums? (Missed the Poison era; should I explore it?)
Oh, I am a real lover of plum in perfumes, or should I say plummy perfumes? Here are some of my favorites. Not everyone will agree! Plum can make a perfume quite overbearing.
Indult Isvaraya–to die for, very vamp-y
Keiko Mecheri Ume (umé) Japanese plum (not that I’d know the diff)–some find it too sweet, I love it!
And in this category I’d add Parfums Delrae Bois de Paradis–combination of fig and blackberry makes people describe it as jammy, if they’re critical, but what’s to complain about?–just read the ecstasies the Luckyscent people go into in their description of it. (“It might easily be the most gorgeous perfume we know.”)
I’m in the Bois de Paradis fan club, and I think its jamminess is one of the reasons I love it. That and the fact that it smells like someplace I’d want to live forever.
One of my favorite late fall/early winter fragrances is BK Liaisons Dangereures, a beautiful plum-rose by Calice Becker.
Ah, I have that one and like it, too! I forgot to mention it here though–thanks!
Ohnfor dark and plummy my first rec is always Montale Dark Purple!Wonderful spicy plums.
I get plums from Cafe Chantant as well,although it is more a black cherry scent.
Speaking of black cherry,the fruity notes of Aromatics Black cherry also blurs between cherries,plums and rum-soaked figs.
Thanks, some great suggestions for me to seek out!
I recommend Annick Goutal’s Mon Parfum Cheri par Camille, it has a lovely plum note. I’m not sure if it survived the latest Goutal cul but it must be possible to find it online.
Laura Biagotti Venezia is another one. It actually made me realize I*don’t* like plummy perfumes even though I used to always crave them going into fall.
There’s also always Mary Greenwell Plum. And TF Plum Japonais.
Oh – and do try Poison, yes.
Hey all! PSA, zulily has Amouage and Fleur de Chine back again. No affiliation. I went to the Sephora sale today, came close to buying a perfume sample set so I could get Soliel Blanc, but decided I didn’t like it as much as Terracotta. Anyway, off to work for the weekend. Monday will be a paid day off for me. Woohoo!
Oh, and sotd is Black Orchid????
Yummy.
You smell wonderful.
Yay for pay day!!!!
that would be PAID day (off) enjoy it lillyjo!!!
Paid day off = sweeeeet.
I hope your shift flies by!
Enjoy the paid day off! You deserve it!
Robin, you asked me to report on Etro Anice and Bvlgari Eau Parfumee au the bleu shower gels. I got them today! From the bottles, they smell very much like corresponding perfumes: lavender-shiso (Bvlgari) and licorice-anise (Etro). Have not used them in the shower, but quite happy with the scents so far.
Nice, thank you! I am suitably tempted 🙂
Made it through the first week of kindergarten…barely!
My Sephora order, which contained high-end haircare products from the Iles Formula line, (recommended by therabbitsflower I believe) was cancelled due to being out of stock with the VIB sale going on.
I retaliated by placing an order on Beautyhabit this morning instead…no affiliation to either establishment. I picked up Fragonard Verveine (back in stock) and their Jasmin fragrance too…as well as Lucy B. Tiare Coconut…all blind buys as I am feeling lucky this morning. 😉 I also got a cute Baggu bag. My desire for perfume is insatiable yet try I must to quench it…a la Yoda.
Yesterday I wore Tempo which is so, so good to my nose. No perfume yet…going to the zoo later and may wear Mistral Patchouli.
I’ve got a Beautyhabit order ready to go through. I want that mix of 11 samples! plus I need some things anyway.
Curious about Tuberose in Blue — anyone try this one?
Yes the gift with purchase was highly motivating.
Hey, Verveine is really nice! I ordered it a couple of months ago as a 15ml bottle along with three others in a cute little zip bag.
I need to try Tempo…just picked up a sample of that one yesterday.
Have fun at the zoo!
Looking forward to your thoughts on Tempo.
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, very late.
SOTD = NVC Mohur Extrait
What a beauty! I got a decant before I bought the FB with the serendipitous coupon from LuckyScent (I split from this bottle so a bunch of people were able to benefit from the discount). Anyway, that decant is almost at thunk levels although 2 spritzes so far has lasted 4 hours and will keep going; it will take a while to thunk,
In other news, Nordstrom now carries Les Eaux de Chanel! W00t! I got samples but haven’t tried them yet. Soon!
Barney’s Beauty Bag event is September 5-9, “free” goodie-filled bag with a $200 purchase. I will do mail order this time as the SA I previously worked with lied to me about sending samples so she will never get business from me again.
The great purge continues, slowly…
Haha!I love how you talk about the “Great Purge” and purchases at the same time!Lol!
This side,it is The Great Purge/Capsule Living only,for now.I’ll cave a little bit in December…Lol.
😉
As I commented to Cazaubon yesterday, I have to try to stick to a one in two out policy. ????????
I like that system,but my need for OUT is bigger myself.✌????
Extrait is so special, and lasts forever!
It does last forever!
oh! thank you for the mention of les Eaux!
I hope my local store has them, I walked through Nordstrom a few days ago, only checked out the men’s fragrances. The women’s are on the other side of the store, and I was in a hurry. hmmph!
They’re displayed at the women’s perfume counter and at the Chanel mostly make-up counter.
I’m wearing Amyris from my MFK sampler set that I bought myself as a birthday gift. It’s lemony and rather sweet, but pleasant, and seems to be showing more dimensions as it develops.
Lately I’ve been watching the Swedish TV version of the Wallander series. The episodes in Season 3 are especially good and the acting is quite compelling. It’s on Hulu. I love seeing the beautiful scenes from Sweden in all of the seasons. The mood is very existential and Ingmar Bergman-esque. Don’t watch them if you’re looking to be cheered up.
I wish I had watched those before I saw the Branagh ones, I am sure they are better but have a hard time switching actors. Love the books, and they are bleak too but I think a hair less bleak than the shows.
I liked the Swedish version better than the Branagh.
Same here.
????????????!
SOTD Lush Dirty,in showergel,shaving cream,toothy tabs,body spray and perfume.I do NOT smell dirty at all…Mint-Bomb,And I liiiike it!
First day of Spring so yay for that.Not hot enough for shorts and havaianas yet,but we’re getting there!Can’t wait for barefoot walks on the soft green grass of the estate!!
Happy Weekend All!
I’m probably showing my ignorance, but how come your first day of spring isn’t my first day of fall? And now I’m realizing only 3 weeks of summer left here. Ugh…, I am very happy for you though ????you’ve had a long winter.
Thanks Friend!Definitely glad for Spring arriving!Today it is 29 celcius.Wonderful.White shorts and a coral shweshwe(local artisanal fabric) shirt.✌????
Wow my friend! I am sure you smell terrific!????
Haha!I think I did!Mint is so fresh in Spring weather!Hope you’re having a good weekend!✌????❤️
Happy Weekend!
SOTD – Sampling Parfum d’Empire Azemour Les Oranges after Luca Turin rated it so highly.
Its nice, but I wasn’t really blown away completely (i think I’m too jaded at this point). I think I will just stick to my Mugler Hot Cologne when it comes to citrus scents (although Mugler’s version is not a chypre).
Azemour is for vintage chypre lovers, definitely, and I wouldn’t wear it in August, either.
If you like chypres at all, you might give it another try in fall or spring.
Excited for a good day! Rabbit x3! College football starts today, woo hoo! Went grocery shopping, going to watch my team play, then we are going to dinner to celebrate a girlfriend’s 30th birthday. I’m commando at the moment but will probably be in Shalimar for dinner later….or maybe No. 22. I can’t decide lol.
I had the DVR set but got up in time for College Game Day. Welcome back, old friends….
Shalimar. No. 22. Can’t go wrong.
I’m wearing Sylvaine Delacourt’s Lilylang from the discovery set. The jasmine is really pronounced on my skin, so I am travelling in a lovely scented cloud. Currently my scented cloud is sitting near a J Crew dressing room where my friend is trying on high waisted silk pants covered in beautiful flowers.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
I liked Florentina and Helicriss the best from that set. The Dovana I could barely smell at all.
PSA: Fragrancebuy.com has a good looking sale until Monday .(No affiliation). Since johanob was talking about black cherry above, I am looking at the Mancera Wild Cherry. Any opinions on it?
Sorry, the code is BOGO 15.
I have the Mancera Wild Cherry and I like it. 🙂
And the enabler pin is awarded to cazaubon!
Pity there isn’t time for me to send you a sample before buying. Hope you like it!
Slept in today after staying up late last night to watch the 80s film Silkwood which, despite Streep’s (always) brilliant acting, could have used a ton more editing. My husband is on a Nora Ephron kick.
Just made us both egg sandwiches with delicious local tomatoes and a sriracha mayo.
Currently, I’m enjoying Charles Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend/BBC. Of course, a great storyline and characters as you’d expect with Mr. Dickens.
SOTD: Vetiver Tonka
Happy Sept.!
Oh, I love Silkwood. Kurt Russell.. total swoon..
You smell great!
Yum. Sriracha on everything for me!
Thanks to chocolatemarzipan8, perfumelover67 and other participants in the Use It Up project summer: I didn’t think I hoarded stuff, but there was a definitely a stockpile of of backup bottles. (Lesson learned – do not buy a bub until the first bottle is almost finished.) There were also items I hadn’t used used because they had been discontinued.
At this point I have finished off two minis , three regular bottles and a bunch of samples, and have even started in on the fancy shampoo and bath gel section as well. It’s definitely makes me feel I now have more room to breathe.
Excellent!!! always great to lighten the load!!! Are you going to start using some of your back ups that you have back ups of?
They are now out of the closet (aka Backup Purgatory) and on my trays, but one thing I found out is that I really don’t like wearing just one perfume day after day. They’ll have wait a bit until they’re up.
even if you rotate them you will finish them eventually 🙂
That’s awesome! I’ve been collecting my emptied decants/samples and taking monthly inventory of them, and reporting here. I’ve found some treasures that I’d forgotten about.
Bet you did better than I did re numbers, and isn’t it nice to rediscover what good taste you had?
I am so glad that you are using all those samples, decants, minis and even full bottles. It feels really good to reduce and have a curated collection with the perfumes we love and enjoy the most. Keep going!
I’m wearing Desarmant today as I run some errands, hit the library, and go to an outdoor art show.
Pruning the perfume cabinet, I should have some good stuff to swap next week.
Desarmant is beautiful.
Trying out the mini of Commodity Bergamot that I grabbed with Sephora points. Spoiler: it smells like bergamot. But a nice (i.e. not cheap) bergamot with maybe a hint of vetiver.
SOTD is The Noir by Le Labo – I like it and it smells a lot like the black tea with lemon we would have back home after eating a heavy meal. But it has a very distinctive synthetic base to my nose – this is the first Le Labo I try so not sure if this base is present in all the fragrances.
I tend to like Le Labo top notes, but not crazy about the later development. This applies to The Noir, for sure.
I’m getting some online grading done today in Amouage Journey. I love the apricot, the spice, the honey and the leather. I’m making friends with the muskiness I encounter at the beginning of the drydown (I sometimes have a hard time with animalic notes, preferring a purr to a growl).
Oh, swap meet. Can’t even think about it right now – too much work to do.
Good luck with the grading, hope it did not use up your whole weekend!
SotM = Atelier Sud Magnolia – NOPE! scrubbed
SotA(1) = Camelia Intrepide – better, smells leathery?
SotA(2) = Philtre Ceylan – that’s nice!
I remembered to rabbit rabbit rabbit when I woke up at 4:30 am. Realized I was hungry, got up and ate some cold cereal out of the box. Went back to bed and slept for 3 hours. Never happened before, hope it never happens again. 😉
I often wake up around that time, get up and get a cool drink, then eventually go back to the deepest most satisfying sleep. 🙂
you know, maybe I was just thirsty. I had a big drink of water after the cereal. thanks for mentioning that! 😉
Maybe someone posted this already, but I think this Fragrantica article on counterfeit niche perfumes is very interesting:
https://www.fragrantica.com/news/How-They-Counterfeit-Niche-Perfumes-11278.html
The first article that I focused on re Russian fakes is this one, which dissuaded me from attempting to hunt down a bottle of Climat like one I had in the 1980s:
https://perfumefountain.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/the-climat-chronicles-fake-vintage-lancome-climat-the-quest-for-the-real-deal/
One has to assume that some of the Russian bottles make their way into other countries, so location of the seller is not always a guarantee.
Personally, though, I feel it’s equally misleading when legitimate brands sell reformulated perfumes that bear little resemblance, if any, to their famous names.
One would hope the regular discounters AND decanters really do scrutinize their supply chain.I’ve been lucky so far in only buying one fake that was labelled as a tester,but doesn’t even remotely smell like the real thing:Dior Homme Parfum.But this was also my own fault:NEVER NEVER EVER buy perfume from the corner lingerie shop,behind the butcher,next to the sextoy shop.Lol.
You made me LOL, johanob!
Omg, LOL!????
????????????
Johanob, that is so, so wrong! ????
I’m kinda wondering about that butcher, too…thanks for the laugh. ????
True story,this,guys!Lol!I even sent some fellow perfumistas there after my “great discovery”!!Never again!Lol????????♂️????????♂️
And my mother always said “location, location, location. . . .”
That’s one of the best articles on Fragrantica (and one of the best ones on fakes). I noticed the Byredo fake Russian perfumes last year. There were several sites selling perfect looking fakes— but I figured they had to be fakes because they were $60-80. At the time I was specifically looking for Bal d Afrique and ended up buying two decants from Fb groups instead. Sadly neither of the decants smelled as glorious as my old Nordstrom sample; the sample was a lemon floral Vetiver. The decants were very very heavy on a fruity bergamot note; similar in theory to sample but the bergamot was so synthetic and overwhelming. Now I’m wondering if both people had fake bottles. I always assumed it was due to reformulation.
I’ve had two fake Kilian bottles I got off Ebay. Fortunately I got a refund on both, but it has put me off buying perfume on Ebay. Authorized retailer only from now on.
That’s good to know. I am a bit apprehensive about ebay myself.
Oh my! I’m glad I’ve only bought Kilians from authorized retailers and so while I usually end up paying full retail (unless I happen to catch a promotion), I feel safer since they’re refillable.
Just curious, how did you know they were fake?
The cap was the wrong colour, the metal label on the front had sharp edges, the weight of the bottle was too light and seemed low quality. I compared them to one of my known authentic bottles and it was obvious.
There is a whole bunch of sellers from Azerbaijan selling a bunch of fakes on Evilbay. Quite a few people on Basenotes caught up to it.
I personally ended up with a fake La Pausa EDT. The seller tried convincing me that she bought the bottle in October of 2017 at one of the boutiques. The label on the bottle was crooked and looked cheap, the etching on the bottle and box was off, but honestly if I have not had other exclusiff bottles, I would not have known.
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit! I’m all packed and ready for my summer adventure in Sicily. Flying there tomorrow.
Sotd is Aedes Cierge de Lune as it got coolish and rainy on this first September day.
See you again on the 19th. Hugs!
Safe travels lucasai!✌????
Thanks
Lucas, you may remember that The Non-Blonde blogger Gaia reviewed some perfume lines and shops she visited in Sicily a few years ago. Might be worth checking if you haven’t already.
I’ll be looking forward to your reviews of any finds, as well.
Sicily sounds fabulous — have a wonderful trip!
I’m going on an organized trip so doubt there would be time for me to search for perfume places
Enjoy!
I sure will
Have fun Lucas!
Enjoy, Lucas…I go on my jaunt to Washington DC right after your return!
Have a blast then come back and tell us all about it! ????
Good morning all. I’m working my way through my latest set of samples from Luckyscent, I love the excitement of getting my nose on things I’ve been reading about. So far, plenty of likes, but no loves, which is all for the best money-wise. I hate to think how much I’ve spent on samples over the last 10 years, but it’s worth to explore so many perfumes I can’t get here.
I’m currently wearing a dab of Parfums d’Empire’s Le Cri de la Lumière, it’s nice, but I’m not blown away. I think the musk is coming through more than I like.
Gaynor, just multiply the cost of the samples by a factor of 30 and think of it as money saved. 😉
That is MUCH better Perfume Math than my “I could have bought a full bottle on what I spent on samples!”
Ha! this is how I usually think!!!
I actually know how much I’ve spent on samples – at least over the last 4 or 5 years – and have successfully trained myself to stop buying them. Which is not to say I buy none, but rather than I can rarely summon up the interest in spending money on them. Though I think I’m also past the phase where I felt a burning passion to smell all the new things…
Happy weekend, everyone! I started out the day in Rosie, from By Rosie Jane. Found it at the big Sephora down in town. It’s a light rose and musk combo that doesn’t veer toward Tide Country on me.
After the gym, I tried Silver Needle from Jo Malone. Very nice, subtle tea scent, but wow, pricey!
Just got a sample of both of these scents. If anyone is in the market for under the radar/wear to the gym type scents, these would do ya!
I completely forgot about those tea Jo Malones. Glad you enjoyed it. Have you tried any of the other By Rosie Jane? I did not know that Sephora has them now.
I paper tested all of them, but most had gardenia, coconut or jasmine notes, and the first two are kinda no goes for me.
They were all very light, though, and all struck me as easy to wear.
I checked the Sephora site…they carry a discovery set for $30, but are sold out. ????
thank you!!! I don’t feel a great urge to try them now 🙂 You have done me a great service!!!
I’m wearing Cap Neroli, which lasts nicely on me and is enjoyable in the warm weather. Watching my team right now and envying the bright blue sky over the stadium.
May walk over to my nearby Sephora…I mainly want a sample of an eye cream to try before the VIB sale ends.
Well, what I had planned to purchase for the VIB sale was completely sold out. As usual. I think I may be amputating Sephora from my life and sticking with Ulta. Better reward system there anyway. I’m a little disgruntaled. ????
I’ve been converted to ULTA for the most part. They’ve done a great job expanding their selection.
That’s frustrating 🙁
I’m wearing Miller Harris La Fumeé Intense, which I found at TJ Maxx yesterday. The store I was at also had La Fumeé Arabie, so I kind of went back and forth on which to get. Based on what I read, they didn’t sound all that different, so I’d be curious to know if anyone else has tried the various La Fumeés and what your impressions were. I almost talked myself out of getting it, but I figure I can justify it as an early birthday present. 🙂
How do some of you find such things at TJMaxx?! All that I see is flankers upon flankers of Brittany Spears stuff…
Me too. No luck. I did discover that Justin Bieber has some perfumes….who knew?
Same here….my TJM has a small collection of celeb scents and the interesting stuff hasn’t shown up in my neck of the woods for months now. (I’m on the west coast.)
Yeah I don’t think I’d seen Miller Harris at TJ Maxx before, but I guess this one must be discontinued, so you never know. It seems like the TJ Maxx and Marshall’s stores around me have reduced the amount of perfume they carry (sometimes pretty drastically), so it can be pretty sad on some visits.
Just rolling out of bed here in my upside down universe. I have seriously disappointed myself by completely forgetting the rabbits (again!) today. No excuse for me as I was wide awake and at work. ????
In happier news, just finished my French toast (is it really of French origin? AND spellcheck turned that into “Fence roast”!!) and sipping some very strong coffee. Ummm!
In the dying wisps of BoE from last night. I smelled SO good. It must be a lucky charm because I had a fabulous night at work! All my patients were so sweet- no one cursed me out, tried to deck me, and everyone was rational. There was a family who “fired” their day nurse (and of course, the issues were told to me in great detail by said family even though it had nothing to do with me ????) , but the patient herself was just a complete doll. It can’t last! ????
I may wear Chanel again tonight just to try to keep the good juju flowing.
My new (bigger) traveling perfume box has some extra space. Just saying. I have no plans to fill that empty space with more perfume… no plans at all????
I hope tonight is a really good night for you!
I will be making french toast this morning from the homemade milk bread I bought at the farmers market yesterday. there is a bread man that sells there. Everyone lines up 15 minutes before he even opens up and within 15 minutes of opening he is sold out. early this morning I had one of his rose pistachio croissants. It was absolutely delicious. just now I ate the black sesame croissant…equally as good.
A rose pistachio croissant?? Wow. Would love to try that but I’ve never seen them in my town! Great minds think alike — I’ll be making french toast for my crew when they wake up. Our local supermarket’s bakery makes uncut loaves of what they call “English muffin bread”, and I use that because I can cut thick slices.
it was delicious. There is a reason bread man sells out in 15 minutes 🙂
the milk bread is the same…a large loaf that I can cut into very thick slices. I cut the loaf in half to freeze for french toast for next week.
French toast vibes must be in the air – I had not read NST and also made it for breakfast today, with tons of maple syrup. There is also a bakery here that makes pistachio croissants, must get one soon.
I would definitely go with BoE again to keep the good juju going! Stay strong! I am scheduled for my first night this month in over 12 years????. I am dreading it!!
Oh boy, I hope it goes well. My brain loves night, and so does my vampire personality, but my body hates them! I’m hoping your night duties are only for a brief period of time and you are back on a “normal” schedule soon!????????
I’d meant to check in yesterday but never did get around to it. (I had a long-awaited appointment with an endometriosis specialist yesterday, which was rather overwhelming and left me quite exhausted.) At any rate, I participated in YSL Trench. Everyone was so clever with their choices! I could only come up with a couple of options.
Someone recently was asking about relaxing perfumes. I wore Lolita Lempicka L’Eau en Blanc and will add that one to the list. I love the combination of sweet marshmallow fluff and bitter iris root.
I swapped out my first round of summer picks for the ones I don’t want to forget before it’s too late. Today’s choice was Chanel Beige. I tend to worry that this one will be kind of boring/shampoo-y but it was a nice companion today, with surprising sillage an longevity (I sprayed – lots – at least 8 hours ago and it’s still going strong.)
Finally, a question: favorite vanillas? Especially ones that are smoky…
A couple: Vanilla Botanique by Dawn Horowitz and Vanillavile by Soivohle. Sicilian Vanilla (less vanilla more tobacco but vanilla is still there) – but this one is an attar. Vanille 44 by Le Labo. Non-smoky: Vanil-Le by Jacques Zolty, Indult Tihota.
Taking notes – thank you!
Jeffrey Dame’s Black Flower Mexican Vanilla is lovely, though not smoky: https://scentsandsensibilities.co/tag/black-flower-mexican-vanilla/. I recently bought Shalimar Cologne, a lemony vanilla flanker by Thierry Wasser, and it really deserves the love it seems to get online! So very pretty. I’ve liked Yves Rocher’s Vanille Noire when I’ve tried it in store, though I haven’t bought any; and I’ve recently bought Tauerville’s Vanilla Flash but haven’t tried it yet! I’ve been putting that off until the weather cools down here. The Shalimar Cologne is a perfect vanilla for summer, even in hot, humid summer weather when it gets too sticky for another one I usually like, Berdoues’ Vanira Moorea. I wore that a few days ago and the humid heat made it too sweet for me.
I will second the Dame and Berdoues and also add Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee and Pacifica’s Island Vanilla.
I love the Dame but I actually do find it smoky 🙂 Are you referring to this Shalimar Cologne? https://www.incenza.com/12404-large_default/shalimar-cologne-eau-de-toilette.jpg
There have been so many cologne versions of Shalimar over the years…
Yes, that’s it! Came out in 2015, perfumer was Thierry Wasser: https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Guerlain/Shalimar-Cologne-30842.html. It’s really lovely. I also have and like Shalimar Eau de Cologne, it was the first Shalimar I could wear myself. I’m working my way up! But the 2015 Shalimar Cologne is truly beautiful.
Chiming in with votes for Dame and Atelier-which just recently moved it’s way to the top of the list for my most complimented perfumes. I just went thru a 4 ml travel spray and literally every time I wore it, someone complimented me on how good I smelled!
When you say smoky, Rania J’s Amber immediately comes to mind. Not a vanilla (obviously) but has vanilla in it, and smoke- it was actually too smoky for me but I know others love it. Will also second Sicilian Vanilla from Rising Phoenix Perfumery.
I also just got a vanilla sampler set from Sylvaine Delacourte of her 5 new vanillas. $4 for all 5, which is practically free!
Thank you! The Delacourte set has been ordered (what a bargain!) I happen to have a decant of Rania J Ambre Loup but haven’t smelled it yet – I think I got it in spring but set it aside for cooler weather. I’ll keep an eye out for the Rising Phoenix one.
Went back to the SD site and saw that there’s a musc set – bought that one, too.
Have you tried the Musc set? Florentina smells like a beautiful almond Iris Musc. Looking forward to your thoughts on the vanilla collection.
And I still say you need to get a big Atelier!!
I just tried the vanilla sampler yesterday. My favourite was Valkyrie. There is one that reminded me of Vanille Insensée called Vangelis. Virgile is supposed to be aromatic but it smelled smoky to me. Definitely worth a sniff.
Vangelis is definitely a duplicate for vanille insensee
Buying the vanilla!
Casmir is probably my favorite vanilla.
That is on my list to try this winter – thank you!
I love Aftelier Vanilla Smoke extrait. I am wearing it today!
That is also on my list! Someday during the approaching cold season I’ll spring for some 🙂
I have a few samples I could send you. I will email you tonight-if I remember ????
I have to find them in the sample pile!
I started today in testing a couple of Jul et Mad Samples. Ending in Prada Purple Rain. Tried Jo Malone Honesuckle Davana, thought my opinion of Jo Malone would change – nope, still don’t like majority of the line. No change.
I’m getting a sample of the Dayana from my La Mer SA. What did you think of Purple Rain?
Oy, I meant davaNa!
I like it a lot!! It does require a generous application on me 🙂
Heaven
Did you get your new bottle?!
YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I can spray with reckless abandonment!!!!!!
????????
How are you , by the way? Our house is so quiet without the two marzipans.
I am actually doing pretty good!! Thank you for asking!!
We got back yesterday from dropping madtownteen off and I actually did not shed one tear when we left her. She was so excited and seemed completely at ease that there was no need for it. Her brother will head back to school today or tomorrow. I’m comforted in the fact that they will have each other.
Glad it went “OK”!My friends with kids going to college tells me it is the silence in their houses that gets them the most.For the first week or so.Then JOY at having their lives and their space all to themselves!Lol!(Joy with a little tear every so often,and great memories)
❤️❤️✌????
That’s good news!! My two are also at the same university. It does help to ease your mind , right?
Glad everyone’s drop-offs are going well! Of my three, one is still at the university where I work, one is still in high school, and one just graduated and has moved home to do a year-long theater apprenticeship and save up for a first apartment. Mr. Herbaceous and I are happy to have two offspring in residence; it got a little too quiet last year, when only the youngest was at home. BTW, I love your nicknames for your own offspring! Every time I read about “the marzipans”, it cracks me up! Any suggestions for naming the junior “herbs”?
OH- it must be nice having two at home! I hear you on the house being too quiet when there is only one! An NSTer coined the phrase “mini marzipans” (might have been Deva?) and the name kind of stuck….even on other blogs where I go by another name everyone still refers to them as mini Marzipans and calls us the Marzipan clan. I am open to suggestions for an herb name though 🙂
Yay! Glad you are already enjoying your new bottle of Heaven (I guess it is not a thunk candidate). Any changes since your last bottle?
What does “thunk” mean? I missed the memo. ????
Ha! Hajusuuri came up with that word a while ago. Thunk or Clunck is the wonderful sound we love to hear when we throw a finished sample, decant or full bottle in the garbage can. Some of us here have been trying to concentrate in our huge collections lately before we buy more perfumes again. Use, enjoy and finish as much as we can and keep a more curated collection with perfumes we really love.
The entire summer many of participated in the THUNK IT UP project (started off being called USE IT UP by johanob but then the name got changed to THUNK IT UP).
see my reply in pl67’s spot 🙂
Nope..won’t be thunking this one any time soon. But I do plan on using it as often as I like just because I love it!!!! The original Heaven had a bit of incense in the drydown. I don’t get that from current formulations (I think the switch occurred when they shifted from 4 oz bottles that had a twist off top for easy decanting) to 3.4 oz bottles that don’t open). The drydown is musk but I still love it because the white flowers are very pronounced in the opening. It is just an all around pretty scent.
Commando so far, as most days if not weeks lately because of a serious case of the perfume slums…????. I have considered selling or giving away my collection but will give it some time. This combined with too too busy explains my long absence here and on other blogs. Any suggestions of those having been in these scentless periods are appreciated. I do look forward to April Aromatics new iris perfume, maybe it rekindles my lost love. Hope everyone here is as well as can be!
Slums=dumps
Oh no! Sorry to hear about the dumps, but happy you came by to tell us. Since you asked, I would say don’t do anything radical with your collection. Keep it, even if you step away from it for several months, or pack it away for a while.. You have a lot of time, money, and love invested in your perfumes and I’m betting that your enjoyment will return. Is there anyway you can slow down to regroup? Maybe a bit of a sabbatical?
Keep them in a box in a safe place. If after 6 months you still don’t have interest then think about sending them to new homes or selling but maybe keep a few that have nostalgia attached to them. Also, maybe trying other scented things (body wash, lotion, essential oils). I have done this in the past. One autumn I wore nothing but a body oil I made with apricot kernel and patchouli oil applied every morning all over body after shower. It was easy and comforting and gave me a break.
Sorry to hear you are in the Perfume Dumps!Yup,I went through the same a while back.Too busy with life,and sorting things that I did not allow myself any joy whatsoever,and that included perfumes.At least you are still interested in an upcoming release,that is a good sign!
For now,just breathe.Taking a break is good every now and then.
My love for perfume returned through an unexpected new interest in vintage Hermès scarves.I realized that when my first thoughts were “what perfumes shall I wear with this one?”(It was Bendelirious,and after I sprayed myself lavishly,I remembered the joy I felt wayyy back when I first discovered Bendelirious,and fell madly in love with it all over again-*Return to factory settings*)✌????❤️
Like Jonahob, during a stressful time, I had stopped allowing myself the joy of my perfumes. I did get rid of my entire collection and regretted it. Eventually, I found myself wandering around the mall, and sniffing again. Unfortunately, by then, my collection had been reformulated or had disappeared. My advice is to pack them up, and wait.
I have gone thru periods like that (last time a year ago or so) when I have lost interest in my collection and I have had the same thoughts that you have right now of getting rid of all my perfumes. Sometimes it is due to busy life, stress, personal problems, etc or simply because I do not find any of my perfumes interesting or appealing anymore and the new releases have not solved that situation either. It is good to take a break no matter long it takes, give your nose some rest and just relax about the whole thing. Do not even spend time thinking about it. During that period I cut the amount of blogs that I read or participate in. My suggestion is not to get rid of your collection. You have spent lots of money and time on in. The love will come back sooner or later and probably at that time you can check if there are perfumes that do not appeal much to you anymore and you want to get rid of them or keep everything you have. Believe us, this happens not only once, but many times. It is normal and it is the worst time to get rid of anything, because you might regret it later. Be patience!
Hey hammamelis, don’t do anything radical to your collection as you had spent years getting it to where it is. Suggestions:
– pull out and display 1-2 pretty bottles and 2-3 perfumes you love
– meet up and go sniffing with fellow perfumistas
Hugs!
Thank you all so much for your kind and useful comments dear perfumistas (small tear running down face). What a wonderful thing that the lovely perfumistas ( all of them) that had such a big part in developing my perfume love come to the rescue when it seems to slip away. So much good and genuine advice, and the overall note (hehe) is clear: no drastic measures like selling my collection. I hope to be back telling you of renewed love and new finds. Mini sabbatical next to impossible but the thought may set things in motion. Hugs to you all.
I have had periods of over a year where I didn’t feel like wearing my perfumes due to hormonal changes or stress. Don’t get rid of anything now, just put it away and don’t think about it for a while. One day you’ll feel like it again and be glad to rediscover your old friends. 🙂
So I found a bottle of SL Cuir Mauresque at Barneys… it’s the new packaging- tall, dark, and just waiting to tip over when a gentle breeze blows by. Did I mention ridiculously expensive? THEN I found a 50ml bottle, old packaging, online in the UK!! I don’t know if they ship to the US and it they do, how much I would have to cough up, so I sent them an email to find out. I’m so excited, I’ve been hunting for a bottle since FOREVER!! ????????
Hope you can get the cheap one!!!
Hope you can get it!
Good luck with that find. Hope it lands in your hands soon!
????????????????????????????????
Good luck and perfect timing since you have room in your perfume box!
Isn’t it serendipitous how that happened? ????
if it’s the bottle on amazon, it’s actually being sold from italy so they should be able to post it to you (it’s next to impossible to ship perfume from the UK out without special fedexy type things going on…)
Uh oh, not amazon…????
SOTD!Dr.Gritti Damascus.I smell positively delicious!Aaaaand Thunk That Sample!
Lazy Sunday afternoon.Love it.Happy warm days are here again.It lifts my mood tremendously.Did I mention I HATE WINTER?!
X
Yay for Thunk and yay for spring ????????????????
Double Yay Totally!!????????????✌????????
Great for another THUNK! ????
I do not remember you saying you HATE WINTER ????. Do not send it to us, please!!!! ????????
Lol!I’ll try my best to NOT send the nasty dark cold mornings your way!✌????☺️????❤️
This. Pl67 and I are on the same page about winter ????
I will be living vicariously through your spring and summer. Spring couldn’t be happening for a better person ????????????????????????????????????????
Awww,thanks my darling friend!I hope you still have a couple of days of Summer left!!
Plus Yay to day Off tomorrow for you!What are your plans?✌????
No real plans, but I am going to do a mini purge of the hall closet. It’s been storming here all weekend, and through tomorrow.
Good luck with that! I love purging!
There’s something wrong with people who *don’t* hate winter. Congrats on making it to spring and enjoy the sun!
I really love winter! ????
HA! You and me both????
Me three! ☃️
In all honesty, I love having all 4 seasons. There is so much beauty in each season.
I think winter is lovely if you don’t have to drive or shovel or work outdoors and enjoy the beauty of the snow.
Plus some folks enjoy the seasons changing and it also makes you appreciate spring more.
I hate winter with a passion but perfume makes it a little better
Last night at work was awful! One customer threw up, one peed in the fitting room, one of the employees found a condom on the floor. Ugh.. one more night to go. I will be wearing No. 19.
Thank goodness you have off tomorrow
I can’t wait!
Oh my! What an awful day you had yesterday! Hope next week is much better for you.
Thank you????
Oh. That IS too much ????????????
It really is. Some nights I can laugh it off, but nights like this, just want to cry, or push someone????
You poor thing, that is just awful. No.19 to the rescue and hooray for a paid day off!
You and I are in the same boat when it comes to witnessing the worst in people! Thank goodness for the good ones we encounter.
I was also going to comment that, I, too, have felt like pushing someone when things get OTT annoying!
All I can say is YIKES ????
Yeah… I’m trying to hold out until a store I really want to work at opens next fall, but I may not make it.
Well, it certainly doesn’t hurt to look while you wait. No one deserves to be stuck in a hostile or disgusting work environment. ????
Holy cow, that’s the kind of *insert poop emoji here* that happens on the regular where I work! ???? Fun times! Sorry you had to deal with that because retail is not the place that those things are supposed to occur. Hoping things turn rightside up after the holiday weekend…
I worked at one hospital for a period of time when EVS kept finding used condoms in the most unlikely places. They never caught who was doing it either…????
You know, I thought of all of the nurses here last night, and felt bad for complaining. You all see this all the time. You would be shocked to know how many people actually use the fitting rooms for bathrooms though. It’s mostly the sheer rudeness of people that gets me down.
Yes, absolutely understand. I have kind of learned to to laugh most things off at my advanced age because life is just too short. The other day I was walking into Walmart, erroneously going in the “out” door, and some kind soul yells at me “this is the out door you stupid **ucking **tch!” Nice, huh? And let’s just consider the toddler on his hip who now thinks this is an appropriate way to talk to other people. I said “Thank You” and waved as he continued to spew nastiness. I feel terribly sorry for that poor kid…????
I do too. ????
Omg, that’s awful.
I probably would have burst into tears, that’s awful! I also feel bad for the child.
That is so awful, I admire you for not walking out immediately. I wouldn’t be able to handle all that.
Thanks, not alot of choice when there are bills to be paid.
How terrible. I must be completely naive but it never ever even occurred to me that someone might use the fitting room as a bathroom. I thought the worst that could happen would be clothes left all over the floor…
So sorry and hope things improve greatly with your work situation!
Lot’s of clothes end up on the floor, always wash before you wear. I think sometimes people get confused or just have to go, but I wish they would clean up after themselves or tell us, if they are unable. That’s what I would do.
I wrote in my perfume notebook in 2016 “Best of Show”: Agonist Floralust, Mancera Wild Cherry, and the Different Company Adjatay. I know I am two years late, but has anyone tried any of them? I’m thinking of doing some unsnapped buying.
That was supposed to read “unsniffed”, not “unsnapped”.
I feel like I do a fair amount of unsnapped buying ????????
Me too, Laura, it’s been one of those weeks! ????
I may be in the minority, but I hated Adjatay. Just saying you may want to sniff first.
Good to know, thanks! I am especially interested in the Wild Cherry – don’t have anything that might be similar.
I hated Adjatay as well but of course, I don’t remember why.
I really liked Adjatay, but you have to appreciation for Tuberose. I suggest trying it before you buy it
I thought Adjatay was just okay, I do like Wild Cherry and own it. Haven’t smelled Floralust.
I have a cold so am reluctant to waste perfume I love when I don’t entirely trust my nose. So it may be the cold, but my sampling of Baghari and L’eau Froide did not go well, especially the Serge Lutens— had that feeling like I accidentally got shampoo in my mouth in the shower. Just no.
Oh yuk! Maybe try again after your cold is gone.
Oh darn, I really like L’Eau Froide. Defintely try again and maybe wait a good amount of time to try to avoid a negative association from being sick.
are you still looking for more Stephen Jones even though you found a full bottle?
Summer colds are such a drag. I hope you feel better soon!
Does anyone know if there are any new City Exclusive scents in this year’s Le Labo line? I’ve been combing websites now for awhile and can’t find an answer. All I see is info on how all of them are available for the month of September. I’m wondering if it’s worth a visit to my local LL shop to see if there’s a new one I can try.
In the meantime, I’m wearing Etro Ambra, from way back early in my perfume collecting days, when I thought amber was the bomb. I haven’t sniffed it in years, and it’s actually rather nice, maybe too vanilla-ish. I love Etro’s clothes (can’t afford any); this scent seems way more subtle and simple than those exuberant designs!
I too have a lot of ambers from my early perfume collecting days, and a decant of Etro Ambra is one of them. I do appreciate that it’s not as heavy-handed as some others ambers of that time.
I don’t think there’s any new ones but I haven’t been following super closely.
I think the last one was Mousse de Chene last year.
Getting ready to go to the Baltimore Blues Society Annual Blues Picnic. SOTD is Aedes de Venustas Musc Ensens.
That sounds so fun — hope it is!
Reading the Sunday paper I saw that Linda Ronstadt is appearing here soon, not singing but talking. I think it’s billed as “A Conversation with Linda Ronstadt.” Now I have an earworm of “Heart Like A Wheel.” I’m wearing Stash.
Linda Ronstandt is so awesome.
I agree. I saw an interview with her, and she’s taken her Parkinson’s diagnosis with such strength, grace and good humor. She’s amazing.
Oh no, missed that she has Parkinsons.
Yes, I heard she can’t sing any more due to her Parkinson’s condition. I loved her voice.
So did I; she could sing with so much emotion.
Wearing Prada Amande, which I’ve been holding off wearing since my decanted mini was a few sprays away from thunking. Sprayed with abandon as a new mini arrived in the mail yesterday. I went through 8 ml in a year and figure if I do the same with this one, a FB is probably in order.
I’ve also been wearing the Iris Absolue a lot this summer. It’s one I’ve merely liked in the past, and have actually gone through phases where it didn’t do anything for me, but I’ve really fallen for it. Maybe it’s the climate that makes the difference?
I just got the Prada Amande, nice scent. 🙂 I like Iris Absolue too.
Ylang 49 on this lovely warm summer day!
Lovely! Probably my favorite from this house.
Thank you! It is so lovely.
Sampling Vanille 44 today. I really enjoy it but I don’t think I can stomach the price tag. It has great lasting power on me and it’s a great unisex non-cupcakey vanilla but I can live without it.
Is anyone else having trouble with the Twisted Lily site? They’ve got a 20% off special on select items through Sept 4th with code LABORDAY2018. But the site is very slow and no matter what product I look at I can’t see prices or a way to add to my cart. I’m assuming it’s a glitch, but maybe it’s only me? I haven’t ordered from there before so I don’t know how it should look.
I had some similar issues but not consistently. I wonder if it’s because that particular product is out of stock and the system hasn’t caught up yet? I’ve bought from Twisted Lily before with absolutely no problems.
I just went back to the site; the issue seems to be that it is loading very slowly. When I just let the page “sit” for a minute or two, the price loaded and I was able to add a product to the cart. Good luck!
Thx. I thought I waited a while, but maybe not long enough.
Blackberry & Bay for me today. I couldn’t seem to make a decision, so something familiar it is.
Land’s End is flinging emails at me with photos of fuzzy sherpa jackets. I want one! Even more, I want weather for snuggly sherpa jackets!
There’s a storm east of Florida that may develop into something more serious. Stay safe, southern peeps!
If you like roses I highly recommend pairing it with Jo Malone’s Red Roses…it smells like a delicious jammy rose.
Thanks for the tip! I have a couple of Red Roses samples and will try that combo. ????
Just put on Pacifica Mediterranean Fig,may it rest in peace.It makes me sad that Pacifica is leaving behind many of the scents I love and have used over the years (and candles too).