Saturday is Doctors' Day and Pencil Day and Vincent Willem van Gogh's birthday, and Sunday is Eiffel Tower Day and Cesar Chavez Day and a bunch of other birthdays, including Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol and Christopher Walken. (Oh, and a quick reminder that Donatella will be dropping by for a visit on Tuesday.)
We're celebrating it all with our same old open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, your favorite pencil shavings fragrance, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Spiral Delight [cropped] by Ritesh Man Tamrakar at flickr; some rights reserved.
Bois des Iles EDT
**drops mic**
lol
you smell EXCELLENT, Bear.
Mmmm. Lean over and let me get a sniff! ???
Fabulous
Perfect Saturday… (strike that) every day scent!
Smelling great, Bear.
Good morning, everyone! I’m looking so forward to Donatella’s arrival this Tuesday, because I have a very proud number of purchases to report (hint: I’ve held fast to my promises).
No pencil shavings today, just l’Aromatica Bourbon from the swapmeet. I smell fantabulous. I really like l’Aromatica! Someday I’ll have to try out more of their fragrances.
We’ll spend the morning working in a community garden (my first time!) and then going to some kind of…multicultural fair? My life may be small, but it has its delights.
That sounds like a delightful way to spend a Saturday. I’ve been a volunteer gardener at 3 separate campus gardens for the past several summers (as an undergrad, grad student, and now a university staff member) and it’s been very rewarding. Plus, come harvest time, I get to bring home some of the spoils. Hope you enjoy!
It was great fun! And we were able to harvest some things already, since it IS California–some greens, bitter greens, snap peas, broccoli, artichokes, and herbs
Sounds like the next month or so will be planting-heavy, then the summer will be maintenance/fun projects like making infusions and lip balms from the herbs and flowers, then fall will be happy harvesting!
Wow, that sounds great!
Maybe you can list what you’ve resisted?
That’s a really good idea! Hmmm maybe I should
I am a big proponent of living a small life. Enjoy!
Thanks, LizzieB
It sure can be pleasant!
In my 20s, I worked for a nonprofit who ran a community garden. Some of my best summer memories are from that garden, our volunteers, and clients!
I absolutely love L’Aromatica Kulfi. It’s the only one of the line that I’ve tried, but it hits all the right notes for me – it’s spicy with saffron and cardamom, it’s milky, it’s got coconut, and it reminds me of eating Indian sweets.
I had dinner a couple of hours ago, and now I’m hungry again from that description of a perfume that smells like kulfi.
I’m also craving gulab jamun and rasmali now. Too bad the Indian groceries in this area are closed for the night at this hour. They’re open tomorrow, though. 
Hard to believe March is almost gone, it passed so quickly. I hope that along with first days of April I will receive some information about job interview I had earlier this year. At least that’s when they’re supposed to announce the results officially.
My birthday was in February and I still haven’t bought my birthday perfume. I’m waiting to smell Memo Winter Palace and Diptyque Eau de Minthe, I wonder if they’ll be any good. If not then maybe I’ll buy Paris-Deauville when I’ll be in Milan at the end of the month. This treat to myself is sure getting postponed a lot…
I’m wearing Atelier Cologne Silver Iris. I generally think of it as an autumn fragrance but today I thought it’s quite spring-ey as well.
You smell great!
Does your birthday perfume have to be something recent? Or did you just run out of the “wish list” perfumes?
Hi darling!
No, it doesn’t have to anything recent but to be honest… I don’t keep track of perfume I’d like to have. Perhaps if I went through my review archive from last year I would find a couple of perfume I’d happily add to my collection.
Love Silver Iris!
I’m with you on waiting to try Memo Winter Palace, lucasai. I think April is the release?
1st of April is the launch date from what I know.
I love Silver Iris as well. I hope you hear soon regarding the job!
Well happy bday to Christopher Walken~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCDIYvFmgW8
Still thinking on SOTD. Gloomy & not springy today for those of us Lake Michigan-adjacent.
This time of year can be so cruel in the midwest! Strength! ??
Yep I’m downwind of Lake Michigan and it’s definitely dreary. I’m hoping the rain makes the grass green up, March is an ugly month for this part of the country.
East of the lake here, cold gloomy rain.
a dancing Walken makes my day.
Thank you for the link, I enjoyed watching it.
Seconding your birthday wishes for Mr. Walken. Love that video!
Gray and drizzly here on the shore of Lake Erie too. Can’t wait til the daffodils start blooming – I’m so starved for color!
That’s an amazing video–the shooting and location use as well as the dancing. And the last sequence, wow! I’ll take this opportunity to tell of my Christopher Walken experience. A long time ago, I was at a summer NEH philosophy conference at Williams College. He was in town appearing in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. I was returning to campus and crossing a big quad with two philosopher friends when I spotted him walking toward us on the diagonal path. I whispered excitedly, “That’s CHRISTOPHER WALKEN!” and my friends both turned to me and asked out loud, “Who’s Christopher Walken?” just as we passed him. I could see him smiling but I was SO embarrassed.
Ha! I love the Williams College campus. There’s also a regional theatre there that puts out some nice productions.
Yes, it’s very popular for summer theatre; that’s probably where he was appearing.
That’s a great story! hahaha
Too funny, Calypso. Sending healing mojo and hope you’re headed home imminently.
Thank you. It’s going to be awhile, I’m afraid. I’m just resolving to be a Stoic about it and put up with all of the daily indignities.
Excellent!
I’m not particularly prone to be starstruck but I’d probably pass out if I saw Christopher Walken. That Williams summer theater has been the site of some amazing actor encounters!
Unfortunately the production of Uncle Vanya wasn’t that good, and he wasn’t that good in the role, either. I think Chekhov takes some other kind of acting chops.
I enjoyed the video. Thanks for the link!
Thank you for the video! My kids and I enjoyed it a lot!
Classic video! ??
Cool picture!
Coty Wild Woods is pencil-y and great for layering if something needs some oomph, extra woodsiness is always welcome in my perfumes. Tumulte Pour Homme is my favorite cedar scent that I need to just thunk already, there’s a little bit left in the bottle and I hate to finish it because then it will be gone forever. I have too many bottles like this, does anyone else do this too?
I admit I am rationing my Tumulte Pour Homme!
I have an unloved bottle of Tumulte Pour Homme that I listed in the last swap meet (not this one). If either of you are interested, let me know.
No SOTD, yet. . . the sun is shining and it’s “supposed” to be properly warm today. Might have to dig out a proper spring/summer scent to celebrate. Anyone got a favorite that screams “SPRING!” at them?
I usually end up in powdery florals (Lipstick Rose, B. Paris, etc.).
In house news–we walked through the place from last weekend with an inspector Thursday–everything looks really good! The house was a complete remodel, and we left feeling like they did it right rather than just “flipping” the property. The sellers are also builders, and we are asking them to bid on finishing the basement and building a garage. With those two additions, the house would be GREAT! Hope we can afford to do both projects now and to have them DONE. I’m pretty excited!
Thanks, Tiffanie!
Was hoping to hear good news on the new-house front – congratulations! As to perfumes that scream “spring” to me, so many! One of my absolute favorites is De Profundis. Someday I’ll find someone wanting to unload a barely used bell jar of that. (Hah.)
Will have to invite perfume folks over once all is settled. Maybe this summer? It’s located about half a mile north of Perfume House, so perhaps a mile from Fumerie. Not a bad way-station for a sniffing outing!
Oh, meant to ask–De Profundis is lily, right? I’m not sure I’ve had the pleasure to sniff it!
It’s chrysanthemum, with a bit of incense, violet, and miscellaneous green notes. It can seem austere sometimes, but it’s just gorgeous.
Wow! Got that wrong, didn’t I?!
Chrysanthemum sounds like an amazing basis for a perfume. I’ll have to keep an eye out for a chance to give it a sniff!
Austere like classic Chanel fragrances can be? Many of them seem dry and “serious,” to me.
Dry and serious describes De Profundis pretty well, actually.
Chiming in to say that chrysanthemum is a FABULOUS basis for a perfume. I tried to get a bottle while I was in France but THEY WERE ALL OUT and said they didn’t expect to have any in stock for MONTHS. It’s not austere like a Chanel; you could never mistake it for a Chanel. But it is a bit cold and austere at times, and it is gorgeous all of the time.
What a lovely idea – we could walk to both of those!
Yay! Once I’m not living out of boxes, I will do something to make it happen!
Well there’s a big selling point right there – walking distance to two niche perfume shops! I’m coming to visit.
Come ‘on over!
There’s a half-full bell jar for sale on Basenotes!
What?!? Good god – off I go.
Did you get it??
Koyel, no I didn’t. Apparently I have to create an account or something on Basenotes, because the site was telling me I couldn’t post a reply to the seller (which seemed to be the way to begin a purchase). Plus, my browser said the site wasn’t secure, and I’m a big chicken about things like that. So the search continues.
DeProfundis is one of my top favorites too! Good luck SheriG.
I love De Profundis
Good luck, Marjorie Rose!
That’s so exciting!!! Good luck.
That’s exciting and wonderful!
I hope things work out!
I wish you success with your house projects!
There are many spring-themed perfumes (it’s my favorite time of the year), but for some reason I immediatley thought of Goutal Le Chevrefeuille – such a sunny citrus-floral.
That’s fantastic news! Good for you.
Congratulations on the house! You know what they say, ‘location, location, location’. How convenient to be close to some great ‘fume shopping. And good luck with the renovations.
Convenient and potentially problematic. . . “geez, I’m bored, wonder if they have anything new and interesting at Fumerie this week? . . . ” ?
Very beautiful in Virginia today- and I’m wearing a perfect spring scent, Chamade.
You smell so wonderful!
Is Gogol’s birthday coming? Maybe I should re-read Diary of a Madman or another work of his to celebrate.
I am wearing Berdoues Assam of India, and I think that I am falling in love with it today.
Assam of India?! Perfection, you smell fantastic.
Thank you!
Shameless self promotion: I have a bit under half a bottle (about 40-45 mls in original bottle or decanted) of Assam of India to swap (via swapmeet or here) if anyone is interested.
Just sayin’ . .
I cannot participate because I am not in the US, but I hope a luck NSTer will get that scent from you.
*lucky
It’s one of my favorites too.I reach for it more spring-summer,but I found it wearable most of the year.
It really has this ‘warm weather’ feel! (And it looks like I am on a citrus/light floral kick now.)
Nicolai Kiss Me Intense. Was walking around Sephora this morning and an SA had to know what I was wearing, even called another one over to sniff. This never happens to me, I’m an undersprayer. So definitely an intense version.
Yay you! You must smell phenomenal!
Wow, that’s nice. Especially coming from an SA who smells a lot of different scents every day.
Oh how cool!
SotD = Chanel No. 5 EdP
Go big, go classic, and go perfume! It’s back to the beginning for me, fragrant folks, and I’m so glad to be here. No. 5 is one of my earliest scent memories, my mother wore the EdT from time to time. She still has the tall slim bottle, she doesn’t wear it tho. Hmmph, I should ask her if it needs a new home.
Many, many, MANY thanks and perfumed hugs to the lovely NSTers who posted comments and encouragement for me yesterday. It made my heart happy as I shed a few tears.
I love you all.
My days are busy as I navigate “the system” to help a family member with chronic mental health challenges. It’s hard but worth it. If you or someone you love needs help, reach out as often as you can.
And remember self-care, whatever that means to you. For me it meant on Thursday I had my first ever fancy salon haircut, paid for by a wonderful benefactor, my own Professor Henry Higgins! The stylist was lovely to me. When I asked about the grays around my temples he cleared his schedule and spent two hours giving me my first highlights.
Now I’m blonde again, my hair looks like it did 20 years ago, and I feel so much lighter. I just washed and air-dryed my hair this morning, no styling tools or products, and my hair looks great. Amazing what an expert cut can do for hair.
Here’s to hoping everyone is enjoying this Saturday! I’m going to tackle my to do list so tonight I can watch the movie Loving Vincent. Then I might look for something with Christopher Walken to enjoy. Is it odd that I had a crush on him when I was in my 20s? He is so graceful.
Good for you! Yes, nothing can brighten up a day more then a nice cut and/or color. Glad you love it and that you felt wrapped in care yourself.
thank you, Kelly Red
hugs to you!
I am so happy for you with your new cut and color
tiffanie!! I’ve missed you. Sending oh so many hugs in your direction. I’ve thought of you a lot lately – my life is also stressful right now, and on the days when fragrance can’t add to the stress I always proclaim “Yes to Hermes”, choose an Hermes fragrance and think fondly of you.
Your hair sounds fabulous! I hope you have a great weekend.
Yes to Hermes! Yay for Eau des Merveilles!
Sistine, I hope your weekend has treated you to some moments of happiness.
Fresh hair, what a joy! I can’t wait for mine to grow out to the length I want so I can finally get it styled properly. Glad to see your joyful posts again!
thank you, and good on you, cazaubon, for having the patience to wait for you hair to grow out. I’ve avoided very short cuts most of my life because growing it out is. just. so. slow!
Love hearing the skip in your step!
la la la! thanks, OF, I’m feeling skippy today.
Woo hoo! I fresh hair cut and highlights are the bomb! Glad you’re easing back and also thinking about self-care!
it’s the bomb indeed! I have to start a “salon fund” on my budget spreadsheet, right under the line for perfume, LOL.
Congratulations on the new cut and color. I’ve always found a good haircut (especially in a new style) is the best pick-me-up. Good luck with navigating the system.
thank u, Sapphire
the ship is steady as she goes navigation-wise. And it is A-MA-Zing what a great hair cut can do!
I was seriously in love with Christopher Walker for quite a long time. ?
I’m confessing to still being seriously in love with James Spader. ?
I confess to being seriously in love with Jon Snow.
??
same!
I have a few things on today. I will settle on one for later on, after a shower. On the left arm, Hermes Eau de Neroli Dore, Panier des Rose Geranium & Prada Infusion d’Iris. On the right arm, Guerlain Idylle, Evyan White Shoulders & Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Ginger Piccante.
Decisions, decisions lol
Wow, what did you end up choosing? It sounds like you smell amazing.
I went with Idylle
I don’t care for pencil shavings, as the smell reminds me of school. I do care for Christopher Walken.
I will be spending time with my grand niece today to visit the Easter bunny. I’m in just one spray of Atelier Silver Iris.
Awww, have a wonderful time with your niece and the Easter Bunny. You smell great!
Thank you!
You smell heavenly! Enjoy your day!
Thanks! It was a great day!
Enjoy the Easter Bunny with your grand niece! I went to the mall last Sunday and the Easter Bunny looked very low energy.
He was on a break when we got there, so when it was our turn he was bright eyed and bushy tailed! Lol?
Sotd: Chanel’s Pour Monsieur (edt). Understated and elegant. I don’t know why the heck I don’t reach for this more often. To me, it’s perfect. Enjoy the weekend my fellow ‘fumeheads!
hi house twin! go team Chanel
Also chose Chanel PM today, an absolute favorite that I somehow manage to forget about for long stretches. It’s almost as if it’s my taken-for-granted, but awesome, girlfriend. PM is on my very short list of fumes that I find both remarkably easy to wear but also damn interesting. Enjoy your day, Sayitisntso!
I’m wearing Tom Ford Gray Vetiver today, as a relief from all the neroli sweetness of last week. I may need a decant.
I should pull out my Guerlain Vetiver, have not worn it in ages!
Wearing 2 CJ Scents from samples I recently ordered:
Lemonilla smells like soft limoncello and is quite nice, although it seems more a hot weather scent. Definitely not Lemon Pledgy, the vanilla really makes it more wearable.
Titana is a perfect spring scent and I’m seriously tempted to get a larger size. This has iris, chocolate and vanilla. I don’t smell much chocolate which is why spring comes to mind.
A kind soul slipped in a sample of CJ Scent Goddess of Dreams in my freebie and I love that one too! That lead me to the site and 10 samples I’m working my way through.
What is CJ Scents? I googled the site, but there isn’t much information.
She’s an indie perfumer. Her scents are nice. I”ve sampled maybe ten of her scents a few years ago. Lemonilla was nice. It was lemon cake or lemon cookies for me.
http://www.cjscents.com/
No affiliation
Doing some comparative testing with Diptyque Eau Duelle (less sweet, not super green once it dries down) and Guerlain’s Angelique Noir (sweet, but green)!
More recs for green-bitter vanillas?
Give Aroma M Geisha Vanilla Hinoki a try
Will do!
Good suggestion!
Felanilla has green, dry vanilla aa a note.
I was reading about Felanilla and see it has iris. Does that translate into carrots or something else? Does it share any DNA with Indochine?
I’d have to do a side by side comparison. Felanills is dry green medicinal vanilla with iris and a banana leaf note. The iris is not rooty. It’s really hard to dedcribe.
I don’t see (smell) any connection to Indochine.
I’ll track some down!
I’m in Carthusia Mediterraneo this morning, and just ordered a BUB as a belated birthday gift since my little bottle is draining quickly. It’s gorgeous here today, so later on I’ll be in Eau de Back Yard. We had camellia buds by the dozen a couple of weekends ago, so I’m hoping for blooms today.
I’m trying to decide if, no WHEN, I should brave Portland Nursery today. I know it’s gonna be a madhouse, but it’s such a good day to think about gardening! (And I’ll need some large bushes for privacy on the new property.)
Ohhh, “brave” is definitely the word! I’m having the same thoughts about Gardener’s Choice down near King City – it’s my favorite nursery, and I have a gift certificate from there, but madhouse is the word, for sure!
Have you tried Garden Fever at Fremont and NE 24th?It’s a little more low key and the owner is lovely.
No, sounds great though!
My (former) house is pretty far out SE, so even the Division Portland Nursery is a bit of a trek. New abode will be much closer to more options, which will be welcome for sure!
You smell wonderful!
It’s cold and rainy here in Northwest Arkansas this weekend, so am wearing Estee Lauder Amber Ylang Ylang. Have posted an extra to my swaps.
I think you smell just wonderful. Amber Ylang Ylang is so gorgeous. I can’t stop smelling myself every time I wear it.
EL Amber Ylang Ylang is PERFECTION! I am still kicking myself for not buying a bottle when it was available. You smell gorgeuos!!!!
Still undecided between vintage Diorissimo or Prada Infusion d’Iris absolu. We are off soon to a birthday party for my FIL. This is a BIG birthday celebration, so I want to remain under the radar but still smell nice. It is a lovely sunny day today.
Happy Birthday to your Fil! Have a great time!?
I hope the celebration is wonderful. I don’t think you can go wrong with either of those choices.
The neighbor next door has an oak tree that loses its leaves in spring. Last night I had a dream that my patio had no leaves on it and looked freshly washed. Alas, I woke up and the leaves and dirt are still there. I’m making German chocolate cake today and maybe, just maybe, I’ll go clean the patio afterward. SOTD is Sarrasins.
A pox on neighbours with messy trees! We have pine trees on one side dropping sap and needles on our cars and a loquat tree on the other side dropping rotting fruit and leaves on our concrete path and trash bin area. Can’t do anything about either. Grrr.
My (former) house has an Angel of Heaven tree next door, which drops stuff nearly year ’round. Flowers, pollen, leaves, branchlets, and on and on.
AND I love the shade it gave my patio in summer, so I had a cool place to sit and relax outside. I’m happy to put up with the clean up to have that space.
Might be a live oak. In warmer climates they shed in the spring, and in colder climates they’re essentially “ever green”.
Wearing Gucci Bloom from a new mini bottle. It’s like a tropical vacation on this dreary gray day.
Had a chance to try out L’Occitane Herbae last night. It starts out as a shampooey berry-floral. Then, as it wears, an odd but intriguing herbal-spicy-savory note comes out from behind the florals. Sadly, the drydown is basically nonexistent as the scent fades away into generic floral-musky nothingness. It was fun to try but I didn’t love it.
If any US folks are interested in an Herbae sample (carded, spray, ~2ml), shoot me a message at shelp216 [at] gmail.
Is the mini bottle 10 ml roller ball? I hate rollerballs. I wish they made it in spray at that size
Nope, it’s a 5ml dabber, which I don’t mind
I think I hate dabbers even more then rollerballs. Sigh.
I agree. I have a hard time getting the true scent of a perfume with dabbers.
I started out this morning by putting C.O. Bigelow Lemon Body Cream on my hands, which are very dry again. I dabbed a bit of L’Artisan Parfumeur Seville a l’Aube on my wrists. Sadly, my sense of smell isn’t too good today. I’ll try Seville a l’Aube again when I can get a better idea of what the fragrance is like.
Commando for the afternoon perfume-wise, but the winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) was blooming outside. Also, I planted several kinds of crocuses in the fall. The crocuses are blooming, and the early daffodils are starting to bloom. For one of the last days of March here in southeastern Pennsylvania, we had a warm day. It was nice.
Winter flowering honeysuckle has the most exquisite perfume, we have one in our front garden, it’s so uplifting!
I have so many “favorite” flowers, but the fragrance of winter honeysuckle is right up there for me with the fragrance of lilacs and certain Damask roses. It lifts my heart when I know it’s in bloom.
Oh, and I “very belatedly,” as I said there, made it to the swapmeet post. I’m offering some small bottles and samples of colognes, most of which Dad seems to be allergic to, so they can go to a home where they’ll be properly appreciated.
Commando at the moment! I am thinking Amour Amour later
No blind buys for my birthday, I refrained!
Have a lovely weekend and thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday
A day late happy birthday, lovestosmellgood!
Home from Portland, long week. I took an unopened bottle of JM Cade and Cedarwood and while I have mourned the passing of Black Café Vetiver, like many of you it’s easy to be underwhelmed by most of JM.
Well, to my surprise, this one is lovely. At first I smelled nothing, so added a few sprays and by the time I went to get some breakfast I was delighted. It’s springy but not flowery. Greenish but not bitter. And it has longevity. I wore it everyday and just ordered another bottle since it’s a limited edition.
I am a May baby but my heart is fall and winter. So I am not big on spring or summer scents. Last year Chanel changed that with the Eaux collection and now I have another.
77 days to Africa. Planning on 31 Rue Cambon and a new Box of Eels for duty free. Memo Winter Palace if I can find it. Maybe bell jar of Chergui…it’s wonderful to keep planning my list.
I liked the Cade and Cedarwood as well. It actually smells a lot like JM Black Cedarwood & Juniper to me.
And the bottle is very pretty, also.
77 days to Africa… where are you going? Did I miss the post? So fun to anticipate a trip!
Tanzania on the Serengeti for safari, then over to Zanzibar to enjoy the beach. I have only seen my most beloved sister once in two years, I can hardly wait to put my arms around her when we meet at Atlanta airport and fly on from there.
Wonderful!
I hope you have a knock out time! What an adventure, and sharing it with your sister is the cherry on top!
She is my other half, Deva. We are 17 months apart.
I’m wearing Oliver Peoples for an absolutely relaxing do-nothing Saturday. And soon I will take a nap.
Have a peaceful and refreshing weekend, everyone!
How lovely! Yesterday was taxes here, and today was yard work, so I am very jealous of your nap & relaxation…I will be joining you in that next weekend, I hope.
Back to work tomorrow after my holiday – that will bring reality back with a thump! I think I’m getting back to normal after a good night’s sleep – the night before I woke up at 3am and couldn’t get back to sleep. Going to Europe was fine, coming back is the kicker.
I’m testing samples this morning. I bought two perfumes at Jovoy and they showered me with samples, twelve in total. When I buy a perfume in New Zealand, I’m lucky to get one. Indult’s Tihota is too vanilla for me, and I’m now sniffing Isabey’s Perle de Lys Noir. It’s a nice floral, but rather expensive, so I’ve added the less fancy version of Lys Noir to my list of things to try.
Yay for a good night’s sleep, and hope your first day back at work was tolerable!
SOTD has been Tom Ford “Tobacco Vanille”, one of a very few TF fragrances I have bought (decants) more than once.
Top: tobacco leaf and spicy notes;
Mid: tonka bean, tobacco blossom, vanilla and cacao;
Base: dried fruits and woody notes.
(As an aside: I have this, and Czech & Speake “Cuba” – any other tobacco recommendations?)
Today was another rare sunny day, so TOMK and I went to Delft, not very far from where we are staying in The Hague. A very charming little town with its medieval churches and renaissance town hall, cobbled streets and canals. Also several great record stores to delight The Other Mr. Koenigsberg.
There was one annoying experience; we stopped for lunch and ordered drinks and 2 sandwiches; 45 minutes later still no sandwiches so we asked about them; 15 minutes later we got up and walked. Now I could live with waiting a long time (it happens in Germany due to understaffing, so without knowing if it’s the same in NL I cut them some slack) but when they said they would see what the problem was and then never came back to us, that was just bad.
Anyway, Delft is less than 30 minutes away by tram, so we shall surely be back! :^)
My son would say you got “hangry”.
Hah, maybe! We found a better option just around the corner, but that kind of made the long wait worse, because it felt like a foolish choice in the first place!
Tobacco – Diptyque Volutes EDT or EDP (EDT, which I prefer, is discontinued but you may still be able to find an odd bottle here and there)
Rania J Ambre Loup – no tobacco in the notes but smells like it’s in there
PdE Fougere Bengale. It is my husband’s but in winter, I borrow it too. It has an interesting evolution and a lovely tobacco shop note.
Hirim Green Slowdive is very Tobacco-y to me, with of course, that strong hit of honey to accompany it.
And I always get a lot of tobacco with the rose in Tauer’s PHI: Une Rose de Khandahar, but I don’t know if that one would read as too feminine for you.
As an aside, there’s an Indian restaurant in town that I visited before I moved here. My partner at the time and I were seated and proceeded to sit there over half an hour before we were even brought water. This was during the day, and there were no other seated customers. A few people came and went to get take-out orders, but our waitress never came back after the water eventually showed up. We kept waiting for someone to explain what was going on, and . . . NOTHING. I bet we sat there an hour in complete confusion before we got up and left, walking past the owner, giving him side-eye. Needless to say, I’ve never returned, but I’ve often wondered what the heck was happening!
Reaching into some samples I got years ago (wow they can really languish!) and wearing Relique d’Amour on a gorgeous sunny spring day. I really like this one, smells like a light citrusy incense to me though lemon isn’t listed. Maybe it is pine that I’m mis-smelling?
Sampling a few miscellaneous things, obscure indie stuff. One was a scrubber, the other reminded me of Tauer Incense Rose. Ready to move on to something good. Loree Rodkin Gothic I perfume oil.
Just looked that up on Fragrantica – it reads well! :^)
I confess that I’m curious to learn more about the scrubber. This is probably because I’ve experienced so few outright scrubbers that I’m probably more interested in them than I should be…..
I’d rather not say what it was, as it’s a tiny indie operation. But there was a note in it that just does not work on me. Because it is a scent with high concentrations of very few notes, if one note doesn’t work it is not wearable to me.
I’m in Prada Fleur D’Oranger, one of the “infusion” scents that I just decanted from a small splash into a spray bottle. This is perfect for last week’s CP. It is very pretty but somehow today I need MORE.
In other news, for a range of TMI reasons, I am experimenting with no dairy, gluten, sugar, etc. etc. which meant that this poor old food snob found herself drinking one of those slimy green mystery shakes for breakfast this morning. Oh how distant is the gilded-age of the gourmet ghetto . . . slurp slurp.
My commiserations. TOMK sometimes does that – “I love the smell of spirulina in the morning…” :^o
I did a round of Whole 30 last year- no dairy, gluten, grains, sugar etc. It was TOUGH. Hang in there though, you can do it!
I know Gwyneth Paltrow gets a bad rap for her Goop site, but her cook book It’s All Good has lovely recipes for people on an elimination diet. The only recipes I thought finicky and not great were the “sweet” section, but all the rest is pretty good!
I agree, I picked it up in the charity shop, and love a lot of the recipes in there!
Upon looking around in the back of my perfume storage area (things not in rotation at the moment), I found PdN Eau d’Ete in a small bottle with the dark blue circular object on the top of the cap. I then had to put some on. This one has a couple of citrus notes and it will be good to keep handy as the weather gets warmer.
I love Eau d’Ete, such a refreshing scent, I hardly hear anything about that one anymore.
I have that old bottle!
Gorgeous day here. We finally had a warm day without rain and clouds. It felt awesome! SOTD was Fleur de Peau.
Yay for a warm spring day!
Commando due to my head cold but NOT happy about it. I have so much I want to try from the swapmeet. ? I’m particularly interested in trying Zoologist Chameleon and Dodo. I’m a true sucker for those Zoologist bottles. I’m determined to find one that I love enough to buy lol. I think my next sample order will be of some of theirs. The only other I ever tried was the T Rex and it didn’t work for me.
Zoologist is a tricky line for me. I think the only one i liked was elephant…or was it rhinoceroses?
I thought Civet and Camel were both nice. For me, they were fall/winter scents. I haven’t tried Dragonfly, Nightengale, Hummingbird or either of the scents you mentioned. The bottles are great!
I hope your cold passes quickly!
Chameleon caught my eye as well.
Hope you feel better soon.
Two of my favorite Zoologists are Civet and Nightingale. I could see you enjoying those. I think Camel is another good one to try. Also, try Bat. It’s unique and made by Ellen Covey, my friend and former employer. I can send you a little of Bat if you want.
Oh I’d like that! I’ll email you!
Great!
Damp and dreary day here. Gallivant Istanbul called my name – wish I was there and not here!
I think you sent me a sample of Istanbul. I quite like it but need to test it further.
Yes I did! Do report back from when you are ready
Started my day with Ann Gerard Cuir de Nacre and a cup of coffee. In the afternoon dosed myself with Silences. Ahhh… Soooo good!
Went to the post office to mail my end of the swap and haven’t been outside since- it was raining non-stop from the early hours and now it is SNOWING!
I have no other choice but enjoy a day off with my kids:) Will do couple small chores and watch some videos. MORE COWBELL!!!
Just added Sunday Riley Good Genes to the swap list if anyone is interested:)
Just don’t give the kids cowbells – I promise you, you will NOT enjoy it. ?
Sorry you are snowbound plyushka — or maybe it is gone by now?
I wish! Reeeealy hope it will be gone tomorrow:)
I was still in the mood for citrus blossom, so I’m wearing SL Fleurs de Citronnier. It’s made me realize, and I’m sure I’m in the minority, that I prefer this to Fleurs d’Oranger.
My boyfriend and I are heading over to my friend’s new place for a Mediterranean feast that she’s cooking. It’s the same friend that I helped condo hunt. Pretty excited to go eat because she’s a great cook and baker. Chocolate cake is also on the menu. ?
Yay for homemade chocolate cake! ?
I like both F de C and F d’O and would not want to choose between them. The way I see it, both are great scents, but they are for different moods and weather conditions.
I know what you mean. I’ve found in my orange blossom perfume trying over the years that I prefer a more indolic, rich OB. The SL wears pretty clean on me. I don’t pull any cumin or animalic edge from it. I’m working to pare down my collection, so maybe I’ll try wearing FdO a couple more times this spring and summer. If it’s still just like, not love, then I can swap it with someone who will enjoy it more.
That sounds like so much fun!
Nope, I like Citronnier better too! That said, have no idea what new bottles of either smell like these days.
(And adding, nearly never hear Citronnier mentioned anymore.)
I also don’t know how the new bottles smell. My bottle of Citronnier is at least 7 or 8 years old. I only have about 10ml left, so if I don’t find an older bottle, I may have to take a chance on a new one.
I agree that I almost never hear FdC mentioned anymore. That’s why I think we’re some of the very few who still have a thing for it!
They moved it into that new packaging, with Armoise and some others. (Les Eaux de Politesse)
SOTD = Rising Phoenix Sicilian Vanilla Attar
I went to an Irish pub for dinner tonight. Fish and Chips anyone?
I had a you’ve got to be kidding me moment at the post office this afternoon: I like getting packages scanned at the post office so I can start tracking packages. Since I intended to go to the P.O. anyway, I decided to also drop off a bill payment and a pre-sorted mail from a brokerage firm that was mistakenly included in my mail (probably had a little glue smear and it got stuck under mine from the same company). The PO worker took one look at it and said I need to drop it off at the person’s post office. Huh? WTF? So, hmmm, if the post office mistakenly delivered something to me for someone in California, I have to go to California to drop it off? The woman asked me where I live and she said oh, ok? It does not matter where I live, THEY screwed up and I could have just said oops, but hey, I will recycle it!
My office will get misdelivered mail. We just give back to the mail person and he takes it, no problem. Maybe rural mail carriers are easier to deal with.
The mail person has no problem picking it up but I thought that since I missed her today and I was going to the post office anyway, I would drop it off. But how crazy was it that the person at the post office initially refused to take it?!?
Sounds like lazy-itis to me!
I have a long soapbox speech about the Post Office and the lack of customer service. The short version is basically that they’ve been over-trained in all the nitpicky regulations and undertrained in helping people accomplish the business they want to accomplish in a pleasant manner. I find it a deeply unpleasant place to go.
Completely ridiculous of the PO.
Please tell me more about the Sicilian Vanilla Attar, I’ve heard good reviews on it.
SOTD is Safari for a lovely day with the hubby, lunch and a movie at Japan town (SF). Did a mini-sniffa in the Japantown mall and was tempted by a few boxes of incense but refrained. (Donatella would be proud!).
You smell lovely in Safari, well done on refraining!
thanks! My halo is pinching me…
Today is Mothering Sunday, my family and I went to our village church, and the kids handed out sweet smelling spring bouquets they had made at school on Friday, during the service.
My kids read prayers, which were really sweet, then we came home and had pancakes with caramelised apple, and maple syrup, lemon and berries.
Tea of the day is coffee, but after Sunday lunch we’re going to a local nursery/tea room for tea and cake.
SOTD: Ormonde Jayne, Taif
Mappy mothering Sunday!
What a lovely morning, mayfly. And, you smell great!
You smell great!
That sounds like a nice day.. Happy mother’s day!
Thanks, it has been a real treat day!
that’s lovely! the love of children is a wonderful thing.
Sunday morning at the rehab center and things are slow. I’m glad to have many pleasant posts to read and am thinking of placing a few perfume sample orders for fun. My bottle of St. Clair Casablanca has gone wonky–the sprayer on the inside became bent, perhaps when my brother was bringing it here, so it’s loose and leaking… It needs some major surgery that I’m not equipped to do here. If I touch it I’ll get pretty coated and it’s too strong (and too valuable) to let it slosh out. I’ll have to request at least one other bottle from home to be brought to me here and am having pleasant fantasies about what to specify. A variation on the “desert island” challenge, I guess.
I love how you’ve taken the broken sprayer as an opportunity to fantasize about other members of your collection. That’s an awesome positive attitude.
Take care of yourself and report back on your next choice.
Do you have your own room? I visted my SIL after her hip operation and she was in a six-bed room (public hospital) that seemed to have acquired the smell of fifty years of mince and boiled vegetables and bed pans.
Oh no, Kanuka! Yes, I have a private room, and it’s mainly a clean smell I think, except for whatever I’ve introduced.
Glad you have some privacy and quiet. I hope you are not experiencing a lot of pain. Maybe lavender based perfumes would be good?
I’m sampling 4160 Tuesday’s Freeway today – I didn’t know it even existed until cazaubon mentioned it the other day. However, I am such a huge sucker for perfumes that are supposed to smell like Southern California that I ordered a sample immediately. It’s nice, but my skin is only amplifying the sweet elements and the dirty freeway bits are missing.
I was trying to figure out why Southern California perfumes are so compelling to me, and finally realized that it’s a memory/ time thing. I lived in Southern California in my mid-20s, just before being an adult stopped being pure glorious freedom and reality began to sink in. I think I’m trying to recapture that sense of optimism and potential, which probably isn’t to be found in a bottle. Oh well, at least I smell great.
“that sense of optimism and potential” oh man…
I have to avoid smells that take me to that point in life…
but I get it.
I totally get it. Rochas Byzance brings me back to that time.
I still feel that way every day when I get in my car and head up PCH.
I open the sun roof and even at 65 I am still humming…long after the boys of summer are gone..
It never really goes away, does it?
Nope lillyjo… it never goes away. Today the sky is big, blue and golden and I can see over to Catalina. I am endlessly 18 in my mind. I have to think about having more time in the rearview mirror than ahead.
The very last time I sat on the edge of the bed with my mother and helped her put on her Oil of Olay because she could not see anymore to open the bottle she said, ” I still feel like a young girl inside”. She was 94.
oh my, apsara, these are such beautiful words. It is such a beautiful day here in southern California, my eyes are filled with tears, and it feels perfect.
Yes, tiffanie, it is all that. I remember when I was a bit too young to see The Graduate and my sister and I went to see it anyway at the movies in NY on the upper east side by Bloomindales and I said to her, ” I will live in California one day.” Little did I know I would live just a few blocks from where some of the movie was shot. It called to me like few things have. California, I’m coming home…
California dreaming is a powerful thing! I also have no willpower when it comes to those kinds of scents.
I had taken a shower using the Amouage Memoir shower gel but forgot to use the body butter that goes along with it. Before I went to lunch, I sprayed Lyric on instead of Memoir. It was interesting and I kind of liked it. Still in Lyric pre shower but thinking either vintage BaV or Feminite du Bois.
I tried to fix my pony tail in the customer shared bathroom and my rubber band went flying and landed in the trash. I’m wearing my hair down now, lol. Sotd is Mad Madame.
I bet your hair looks great!
Thank you!
Mad Madame matches your hair perhaps? sorry you lost your hair band!
April has kicked off with a blustery start, wind stirring the leaves off the trees. The house keeps filling with the seeds off the two huge Silver Birch trees and the air looks like it is filed with golden snow. I picked the cranberries yesterday and the dog got stuck in, tearing them off the branches and eating them like a giraffe…I had to take him inside as I wasn’t sure if they are safe for dogs. I don’t think I even tasted a cranberry until I was about twenty when you coukd suddenly buy a kind of cranberry mush in jars and restaurants started serving steak with cranberry sauce…it was all very exotic. I use ours to stuff the christmas turkey. Minday, bleurgh. Wearing Chanel Jersey as I head up to the forest to throw pinecones and walk the dogs.
Looks like they are safe for dogs, but only in moderation. But raisins are toxic! I never knew that.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-cranberries/
Thanks for the link. Sprocket was just stripping the stems to get to the cranberries but he only does that when I am picking, which is just as well.
I started in Black Jade and added Galop later. I didn’t like Galop when I first tried it but it has grown on me. A good reminder not to get rid of samples too quickly