Happy National Book Lovers Day! Our community project for today: wear a fragrance inspired by an author or a book or a character in a book.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I'm in Hermès Kelly Caleche Eau de Toilette. Perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena said he was inspired (at least in part) by the Jean Giono novel Jean le Bleu.
Reminder: on 8/16, wear a fragrance by Kerosene, Keiko Mecheri or Kai, if you have one. Partial credit for any other small-ish brand that starts with the letter K.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2019, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Zinniar [rotated & cropped] by Rhonda at flickr; some rights reserved.
In Berdoues Selva do Brazil. Not sure about this scent yet. Pretty weird. Maybe, my nose is not smelling properly today.
Happy Friday everyone!
I like that one…on me it read very sweet from what I remember.
It is indeed very nice, but It just reads too masculine on me. Don’t know why! I am saving that large sample for you ?.
Yes, I could see that…but you already know I do enjoy masculine fragrances! Thank you
Skin chemistry is always interesting! On me, Selva do Brazil was a light fresh perfume. Nothing sweet or masculine about it.
I thought about Vol de Nuit, legendarily inspired by a book, but in the end I went with Olfactive Studios Autoportrait. Its dry-dry iris reminds me of the dusty paper smell of libraries.
Perfect, and the smell of library is one of the best smells in the world.
I agree. Love the smell of a library.
And enabler pin to you SheriG, my 10mls of Le Galion was waiting fir me at the Post Office!
Boy is this a gorgeous Iris!
Fresh, powerful, similar to Le Cri Della Luminere but more straightforward.
I am only in the opening phase but my gosh is this the real deal, not too green no added fanfare or powder just beautiful Iris. Thank You Woman!
SOTD Fueguia 1833 Bibliteca de Bable, inspired by Umberto Eco’s Name of the Rose, probably my favorite “Medieval Murder Mystery set in a Monastery Library with Sean Connery playing the main character in the movie which was ok, but the book is great” book, which has floated to the top of my Re-read occasionally pile, and which I will be starting on this weekend.
The perfume is cedary, occasionally smoky, woody generally, sweet from time to time, sort of a domesticated LADDM, and I like it a lot. I get fair longevity of 5-6 hours from it – some people complain it disappears but it is ok on me. Given the upheavals going on in South America, I guess I need to speed up my consideration of a FB of this, in case Argentina’s inflation rate soars completely out of control.
That sounds really nice!
I know the company is based in Argentina, but are the fragrances actually produced there?
Hard to tell – they started there, but there are retail stores in major cities around the world, and the contact information an address in Milan. Global brand with Agentinian roots, looks like.
Yeah — I figured one of the big F&F companies were doing the production, in which case the inflation rate in Argentina shouldn’t matter. But I don’t know.
I Read this at least three times
After the first time I read it, I dreamed about that library….made an impression on me, for sure. None of his other books have been as engrossing to me, they seemed veering off into too many layers of conspiracy theory nonsense, I guess.
Oh, I love works of art that get into my dreams. OK, added to by Libby list! I have a feeling that list will grow quite a bit today…
I love that scent! You smell great!
I must re-read The Name of the Rose. I read the French translation, having just finished my degree in French, but I think I needed more than a basic degree, it was very heavy going. The movie did help reassure me that I’d roughly followed the plot!
I think this will not be quite so mad a Friday as last week. I couldn’t think of a single book connection this morning so I went with a fragrance with an evocative name: Songe d’un bois d’été. It smells good too.
Have a great weekend everyone!
The most recent book I’ve loved with all my heart was The Likeness, so I’m wearing First Cut, honestly more for the house and the dreamy countryside feel than for any one of the characters. And for the stab wound.
I loooove this perfume and used up the last of my sample today, so I ordered a bottle – so glad they have a 13 ml size! Also getting a sample of Casablanca so I can see what you all are raving about.
First Cut is one of two fragrances that the hubs wears for me because it smells amazing on him!!! I will be curious to hear your take on Casablanca. Use judiciously though. It’s a super potent extrait so don’t bury your nose in it.
YAY for Casablanca!
I hope that you like it, I am going to pull out my sample of First Cut today – it’s getting some serious love here on NST lately. AND then I’m going to download a sample of ‘The Likeness’ on my kindle! NST is one of the best places for book recommendations that I have ever found, who needs the NYT top 50!?
Well, clearly I need to read the Likeness.
I haven’t smelled First Cut yet, but I did get to try Casablanca, and I did NOT like it. So. There is a voice of dissent here.
The Likeness is such a good book. Definitely my favorite Tana French. I like your pairing.
Oh darn, it’s only the second one of hers I’ve read and I were hoping there were more this good out there! (I’m still going to read them all.)
The trespasser is very good as well if you haven’t read it
I haven’t! I’m reading them in publication order. Yay!
Me either, my favorite is Into the Woods.
I’m wearing The Body Shop Red Musk (dominant notes: musk & tobacco) for Lesley Stern’s The Smoking Book, which is a collection of beautifully-written vignettes related to cigarettes and smoking. I first read it in my senior year of college, after a recommendation from one of my favorite professors. Somehow I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life – despite having many people in my life who smoke – but this book helped me understand better than anything the experience of smoking and what it’s like to be addicted.
Interesting sounding book!
I need to read that book. Haven’t smoked in years, but it’s an experience that really never leaves you.
I went for something obvious: Parfums MDCI Le Rivage des Syrtes, which is the title of a book by Julien Gracq.
And smells just ravishing!
Santal Majuscule for the “pray” part of Eat, Pray, Love.
Always reminds me of milky rice pudding with rosewater.
That sounds fabulous. I think I need to give SM another sniff.
Yessss. I love Santal Majuscule.
I should have worn Mitsouko, since I believe it was inspired by a character in a book, Instead I went with L’Envol, because I wanted something that I hadn’t worn in a while.
Tell me about l’envol if you have a minute! My brother is a perfume loving pilot and the back story makes it a possible good present
Almost twins, Robin. Cuir d’Ange – same house, same literary reference.
From cafleurebon.com:
“Giono is M. Ellena’s favourite author; they are both soaked in a passion for all things Provençal and in Jean le Bleu, published by Grasset in 1932 there is a passage that reads: ‘I can never pass by a shoemaker’s shop without thinking that my father still exists, somewhere beyond this world, sitting at a spirit table with his blue apron, his shoemakers knife, his waxends, his awls, making shoes of angels’ leather for some thousand legged god’.”
I too am in Cuir d’Ange, from an angelic nst-er who sent a decant to my cousin in England, where I picked it up a couple of weeks ago.
You are the Queen of cross continent and crossing country lines perfume swaps! Love this! And still loving my vintage Reglisse Noire ?
So happy to hear! Yes, I ended up having *three* freebiemeet parcels sent across the herring pond, and was pretty excited since I usually can’t participate eitehr in giving or sending…
???
I love Giono too, thanks for the quote.
Yes! And for one of his scents, he cited Giono’s Horseman on the Roof. He probably just trotted these out for press conferences
I’m going to play this game today because I had such a brilliant idea! When I come back from my yoga class, I’ll wear vintage L’Heure Bleue in honor of “Leaving Mr. Mackenzie” by Jean Rhys. The main character in that book wears that perfume. But also I just love everything Jean Rhys wrote and that was her personal favorite perfume as well. In fact, “Leaving Mr. Mackenzie” was somewhat autobiographical. The writer Ford Maddox Ford played Mr. Mackenzie’s role in her real life.
Awesomeness!
Here, finally, is the last part of Farewell Caution! Robin, you will find yourself mentioned in this part. I’m so grateful for the help you gave us. Hope you enjoy the photo of Anita from Perfume Posse sniffing Donna from Perfume Smellin’ Things because I think it’s the best perfumista photo ever.
In writing this, I tried to do my best by Tama and portray her as a real and genuine person and to let her have her own voice as part of it. Finding the right balance was challenging at times, and I think that’s why it actually took several months to pull this together. https://delusiastic.blogspot.com/2019/08/farewell-caution-part-3.html
Thank you for sharing your writing.It is pure beauty and such a human,loving reflection of Tama.I will wear Carnal Flower today inspired by your writing.
andshewaz, I love it that you’re going to wear Carnal Flower. That is beautiful.
You did something really excellent and human. Thank you for sharing Tama’s story.
You’re welcome! And thanks for taking the time to read it and remember her.
It was very moving, you really made Tama’s personality vivid.
Thanks for letting me know this! I really was aiming to capture Tama as best I could.
Thank you again for sharing this, Nina. I sincerely appreciate the time and consideration you devoted to writing this story. You certainly did Tama justice, and the tribe that gathered to support and celebrate her as well. The unwavering commitment you all summoned up together is truly extraordinary and heartwarming. I trust that we are all capable of staying engaged and showing up for our friends through thick and thin, but it takes a great heart and a lot of courage to actually do so.
I’m so glad you think I did Tama justice. My experiences with the perfume community have been wonderful in so many ways, I also hoped to portray that and to convey my gratitude for it as well.
Beautiful. Sad.? Amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this wonderful comment!
Gosh, Nina, thanks for sharing this story. It’s so moving. This would all have taken place a year before I joined NST, so I missed all of this, but what a beautiful story of the kindness of the perfume community <3
I’m so glad you were moved by it. And while this was a more dramatic example of the kindness of the perfume community, I think we all have experienced many kind acts from our perfumista friends. It seems like part of the culture in a way, which is a beautiful thing.
You’re definitely right. This community has always been there when I have needed it. You’re making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Thank you Nina! I was moved to tears. Tama’s story and the generosity of the perfume community are priceless and unforgettable!
Thanks for letting me know this <3
Thank you so much for writing this story and for letting us enjoy it. Tama was a remarkable lady and she was lucky to have been surrounded by friends when she most needed them. Isn’t it the greatest of gifts to allow someone to die in the way they want to?
I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. Your comment made me realize that Tama herself created the very circle of friends that later helped to support her. We Bay Area perfumistas still see each other periodically, but now that Tama is gone, we no longer have a “fearless leader.”
What you all did was truly heroic, I am in awe of your commitment and deep compassion. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
At the time, it just seemed like something that had to be done. But I’m glad you liked hearing our story.
I read all three posts and was so moved by what you and everyone else within the community did for Tama
Thank you. It was quite an amazing experience to see everyone come together like that.
Lovely story, and very engaging writing.
Thank you, Jalapeno.
Thank you in advance…still not caught up (thus am only getting to comments at almost midnight) but will read this weekend!
Thank you for sharing this story. Some time ago, I bought TnT (Tama ‘n’ Tuberose) from Paul Kiler’s PK Perfumes, and his website explains briefly that he created it in honor of Tama Blough, who loved tuberose. I’m glad to know the story of kindness that is related to it.
Thank you for that very moving story. It’s great that the circle of perfumista friends were able to support Ms. Blough and that she could stay at home as she wished to.
I am so late that I don’t know if you’ll see this, but adding my thanks for writing about Tama — I did not know the whole story. You guys are angels.
I’m wearing Dead Writers by Immortal Perfumes, which I think fits the theme pretty well. It’s got contrasting elements of black tea and vanilla and heliotrope and reminds me a bit of Bulgari Black.
I gotta find a sample of this one….sounds gorgeous!
That sounds really good!
SOTD is Paul Smith Story, of course. The bottle even looks like a book.
This week has been so crazed at work. Yesterday was so bad that when my husband texted me to ask if I wanted him to pick up anything from the grocery store, I said: yes – need chocolate.
TGIF!!
I hear you on the chocolate! Do you have a retirement date picked out yet?
Uggggggh no. I just can’t decide. Is it this year or next year? For sure it’s next year at the latest.
Every blue moon my hubs will bring me a dark chocolate bar from Aldi (German chocolate!)…..those are some of his best hubby moments! LOL
Good hubby!
At least your hubs offers haha. The grocery store is fully my thing…in my husband’s defense, he does the laundry lol.
I am in charge of the chocolate stash at my house. Every so often, Mr. Jalapeno will ask if he can have some.
Playing the Villanelle character in Baiser de Russie again, because I’m contemplating a decant and want to live in this for a few days….
Gorgeous day today.
Twins! Thanks for giving me a literary reference
Is that from the Killing Eve series?
Yes. The first book is Codename Villanelle. Killing Eve is a pretty loose adaptation.
Good morning, and Happy FriYAY…..what a long week!
Didn’t have the mental RAM or ROM brain space for the challenge today, but I am in the zone with Replica Whispers in the Library. GOOD STUFF. Will be better in the fall and winter (it’s feels like a cold weather scent to me), but this is really lovely. FB worthy at some point!
I was just eying In the Library on the Sephora website this morning, it sounds good
My mother was a librarian for many years. For some time they had a gray library cat and its name was Whisper!
In Caron Tabac Blond today. No ideas for CP. Sample just came in, but somehow I didn’t realize this is discontinued. Still listed as In Production on Basenotes and clearly I didn’t google enough… I wouldn’t have sampled if I had, because why tempt myself with something that would become an expensive treasure hunt? Ugh. Of course I do like it.
MissGoldsmith, you can still find it at a reasonable price on Ebay but don’t wait too long.
Thanks! And with that purchase, I’ve made Donatella proud.
I need to take a poll: what’s your biggest FB acquisition count in a day? A week?
Cause I just hit my personal record this week…
I might be joining you…
I guess I will just enjoy my little sample of Tabac Blond and not chase that particular waterfall. I didn’t know it was discontinued either.
It’s not on any of the major sites and isn’t on the Caron site (other than some special edition thing that’s like $2k), so I’ve concluded it’s discontinued. Maybe I’m wrong?
Maybe, but I would come to the same conclusion that you did. I do know that Caron has been really hard to find in the US for quite a while.
Wearing The 7% Solution from En Voyage since it was inspired by Sherlock Holmes
Brilliant!
Nice!
Puredistance Aenotus for me today.
Not book-related really.
But mythology a bit.
Continuing with Dior week…Miss Dior Cherie ???
Last night binge tested Amouage….I won’t tell you how many but they were all divine. Also did massive testing during the day… I was reeking.
That’s the spirit! All in! Did anything stand out from all that? I love Fate, but haven’t been exposed enough to any other Amouage to differentiate them from one another.
They were ALL beautiful!!! Fate, Lyric, Memoir, Braken, Lilac Love, Opus III and Ubar. I also love that fragrancenet is selling travel sprays, minis and full bottles heavily discounted.
Those heavily discounted full bottles, some without boxes, and definitely the way to go! I think they end up being around half price.
Yes they are extraordinaryly inexpensive!!! I have been eyeballing the soaps too!
Soaps also? I do NOT want to know!
??
Amouage soaps?! La la la, I can’t hear you…
Sorry!!
I used to try to set as far away from other passengers when taking the train home from Sniffapooloza, since I was still wearing everything I tested. Oddly enough, sometimes people sat next to me and said they loved what I smelled like. So I guess it is okay to wear twenty perfumes at once.
Ha!! Well I am on a three week staycation and doing lots of outdoor work while home…. several showers a day means I can test lots of perfume!
Well, this could be connected to “Cheri” (which is the male form of Cherie) by Colette. That was perhaps her most famous novella. I’ll give it to you, if you want to claim it
Thank you!!! I will take it!!! ❤️❤️
I love that book!
I am sampling two from Akro…Awake and Night.
Awake is a woody coffee. Reminds me quite a bit of Woodissime.
Night is musky, animalic BO but synthetic/clean BO if you will. ? there is also some rose I think.
No vanilla? Did you find your vanilla HG?
Mississippi Goddam has been my constant companion since yesterday…. Ear worm for the ages. I am lying in bed with a headache and painful cough, interrupted moments ago by a pit bull on the loose who had stuck his face through our open kitchen window to growl at our kitten. My son chased him off and found the dog’s owner. Back in bed, still scentless but thinking that if I do wear anything, it will match RLS’s poem, Land of Counterpane!
Well, that’s scary about the dog, yikes. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Earlier this week, we finished re-watching all of Breaking Bad… I have had Baby Blue in my brain for days. I don’t mind
Best TV series conclusion ever, IMO.
Hope you feel better soon!
Love Nina Simone! Get better!
Eek! What a wonderful son looking out for your kitty and rescuing another little one in the process.
Feel better!
Yikes on the pit bull! Hope you feel better soon.
I hope you are feeling better soon! Kudos to your son for keeping the kitten safe. I wouldn’t be happy about a strange dog in my window at all!
On long road trips we love audio books, and a favorite of ours is ‘Nights of Rain and Stars’ by Maeve Binchy, the story of 4 strangers, two women – one Irish, one German – and two men -one English, the other American – whose lives become entwined as tourists witnessing a tragedy in a seaside Mediterranean village. Not only is the story compelling, but the audio narrator does a remarkable job with all 4 accents and adds so much to the enjoyment of this novel: there is never a doubt as to which character is speaking. I highly recommend the audio version!
Reminiscent of this experience, my SOTD is AG Les Nuits d’Hadrien – the citrus and cypress and juniper puts me right there in that little Greek village even though I’ve never actually been there. And, it’s a perfect scent for a summer night here at another Friday concert-in-the-park.
Happy weekend to all!
Another book to add to my audio list!
Definitely try the audio version. I marveled at the narrator’s ability to switch accents repeatedly.
+1 !
Interesting! That book is on my list, now.
Can you compare Les Nuits to L’Hadrien?
From what I remember, because I only tested Hadrien once, it’s more of a citrus cologne-type with a pronounced grapefruit note (a note I dislike). The Les Nuits adds a bit of spice and juniper and patchouli to the citrus (sans grapefruit) so it has more depth and staying power and is ‘greener’ to me. That’s just MHO.
Thanks! I love the original.
Thanks for the recommendation! Love audio books!
What I just said to ringthing above. Enjoy!
Couldn’t come up with anything for the CP but wearing Beloved today.
Well that is a strange and powerful novel as well!
Was just about to say that your pick is actually *perfect* for the CP!
Was that a subconscious choice? Because Toni Morrison just died this week and there were lots of articles and programs about her. And “Beloved” was considered by most people to be her most important novel. It is certainly my favorite of those I read of hers.
So you get a gold star from me for this choice!
Shalimar pdt for me today.
“Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.” – Harper Lee, ?? ???? ? ???????????.
Oh, that book makes you just FEEL the heat of an Alabama summer! You smell great
Nailed it KellyC!
Perfecto…
Oh, that’s an awesome connection between the actual scent of a perfume and a literary description of a smell! Very impressive.
Wearing Le Temps d’Une Fete because it reminds me of the “elfin sprite with her slanted glance,” Valancy of The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I could read that book a hundred times just for the nature description.
Oh nice…I keep saying I will try her non-Anne books, and then I forget.
Sympathy for Oakland Fresca’s ailment and earworm. I woke up to Ricky Nelson “Travelin’ Man.” I’m wearing DSH Mata Hari and I am sure there are many books about her but I can’t remember reading any. It bloomed massively after application and it definitely doesn’t mesh with my waffle and maple syrup breakfast. Feeling slightly queasy.
Ah, possible appetite suppressant qualities! Interesting!
I chose Dzing to represent the alluring but horrifying, and ultimately life-changing, carnival that comes to town in Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. About to start the drive to Portland very soon! I have about 20 spray samples packed with me, so I will have plenty of choices. Planning to visit Fumerie for the first time but probably won’t make a purchase. We’ve had a lot of expenses lately. Still looking forward to doing a lot of testing.
Excellent perfume/book pairing!
Have a fun trip!
Happy to see a Bradbury pick here! If I had any smoky perfumes, I’d have matched them with Fahrenheit 451.
Love the Bradbury pick! The story IS creepy.
No CP, wearing BDK Rouge smoking which I haven’t worn in summer yet. Doesn’t disappoint, but better with colder weather. In the mail is a rollerball (I hate rollerballs, but I hate bottles that are too large more….) of D&G Dolce garden. A beachy coconut scent that accually is a perfume and not only a coconut scent. Nice one!!
My fragrance pick represents the character Kerewin in ‘The Bone People’.
This book, among other great ones, is a recommendation from another fellow NST’er a good while ago so ‘shout out’ to you and my apologies for not being certain who it was…. maybe you can shout back at me and let me know?
I have found MANY great reads from all of you!
(Hey that’s an idea for a CP, pick your favorite book recommendation from a NST’er and then select a perfume for either the character OR the most moving plot element that made this particular book your favorite?)
Let me just say that aquatic and marine notes are not my area of expertise or in my general experience, but I was captivated by
Phoenix Botanicals’ Vanilla and the Sea.
So that’s my pick I have one tiny decant remaining.
It wasn’t me, but I did love that book, and read it so long ago that I don’t remember it well so can now read it again
By Kilian Love, which is a love. Got my sample of Silence the Sea. It’s very interesting. TGIF
SotD = Parfums DelRae Panache
Created in honor of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac
https://www.parfumsdelrae.com/shop-1/panache
From just a tiny sample spritz, I smell a big fragrance in the grand French style. Not quite kitchen sink, but in that territory. Musky and woody and peppery, with florals hovering in the background. It will be interesting to sniff all day. I’m enjoying Panache though I would not choose it for myself. It would smell wonderful on the right person. For me that person would be a gentleman like Cyrano, passionate, creative, slightly askew, and bigger than life.
Happy Friday, everyone, may your scented journey be as Cyrano’s:
“To sing, to laugh, to dream, to walk in my own way and be alone, free, with an eye to see things as they are . . . “
Wonderful choice! And it’s good to honor DelRae Roth this week, as it was recently announced that her line went out of business.
I chose Commodity Book. I know, the easy way out. I actually bought it because my father was an avid reader. Book was a blind-buy just to have a perfume that said, Dad. Book to my nose, smells a lot like Wrappings. Which was one of my mother’s signatures. I often hear the similarity to 33 Santal, but never Wrappings. I see both.
My current ? is Animals in Spirit. The spiritual nature and connection with our loving babies is the overarching theme.
It has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf. S. I have a lot of books.
To answer your question from last night, no, I don’t have anything scented coming in the mail. But I will have to tell Donatella about a few things in the next poll! ??
Can’t wait to hear!
Must dig out my decant oder EnVol
A Classic Sci-Fi book , Dune by Frank Herbert und LADDM as an olfactory counterpiece. Smells like Spice to me.
I have Read Dune many times since the 80ies und still like it. The sequels not so much.
Great idea! Now that you’ve put it into my head, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to imagine Spice smelling any other way.
And I just discovered last night that ELDO has a perfume called Spice Must Flow!
OMG! Have to try that
I couldn’t even count how many times I’ve read Dune in the last 30 years. Books 2 and 3 were okay. Things get weird (okay, weird-er) after that.
Hello fragrant friends! I have been MIA at NST lately because I am trying to minimize my screen time in these last weeks of summer but thought I would pop in today as I take a break from swimming.
Didn’t realize it was national book day! For Tana French lovers out there a friend recently recommended Susan Hill mysteries as similarly well-written detective yarns. I’m reading one now and so far so good.
Perfume wise I have been mostly in Coromandel which I love more and more. Today I went with Gucci Bloom which is also nice.
Hope everyone is doing great – I know you are all smelling lovely.
I’ve been trying to cut back too on internet, rather unsuccessfully. Hope you are having a good summer!
It’s hard, isn’t it? But here’s to trying
Yasmina, here are my testing notes on L’Envol:
“A touch of honey plus light wood notes. Little, if any, change in what the scent presents over its lifespan. This stuff is rather tenacious, though… lasted until I showered it off the following day.”
Thanks! I’m super impressed you keep notes!
http://www.katherinemansfieldsociety.org/assets/KM-Stories/A-DILL-PICKLE1917.pdf
One of the writers I keep coming back to is New Zealand born Katherine Mansfield. Like Edith Wharton, she has an ability to articulate the disconnection between the interior voice and exterior behaviour, and the terrible consequences of keeping up appearances. Mansfield’s story, The Dill Pickle has many references to scent: the orange peel, Kew Gardens, marigolds, daffodils etc. so I am matching it with JM Jasmine Sambac and Marigold. The link is to the short story if you have a spare ten minutes.
I’m glad to know about this. I love Edith Wharton.
You smell great.
Will check out the link, thanks.
Anna Karenina might have worn Jolie Madame, a violet scent, demure at first but with the darker raunchier leather underneath.
Right now I am reading The Stranger from the Sea one of the books from the Poldark series by Winston Graham. Not sure what perfume Demelza, a main character, might like, but I am going to guess she might enjoy Penhaligon’s Artemisia, so that is what I am wearing.
Although very much a book lover I’m not playing along today.
SOTD: Iris Nobile EDT by Acqua di Parma
Happy Friday!
Inspired by Meredifay’s reference to The Name of the Rose, I’ll wear Paestum Rose.
A beautiful rose.
The Iowa State Fair is taking place so I am wearing something in its honor; Le Temps de Fete. (The Time of the Festival).
State Fair is both the setting and the star of several films of that name (and probably a book or play).
Le Temps de Fete smells of hay and an idealized bucolic midsummer day.
The Iowa State Fair is a little different.
I don’t know if the Iowa, or other state fairs, are known outside the U.S. The mid-western ones are massive events, for which families sometimes have trailer park sites or cabins that are so prized, that these temporary homesites are handed down through generations. State fairs feature competitions in baking, jam making, and above all livestock. The competition for the best jam is part of the plot of the movie. In real life, The livestock competitions (such as for the biggest pig) often involve family investments in the offspring of a prior winner and daily tending and special feeding routines. They are also famous for extra-ordinary inventiveness in frying foods to sell to fairgoers, usually something on a stick, such as fried Snickers bars and bacon-wrapped anything.
The Iowa fair features an annual life size sculpture of a cow, made entirely of butter. The Iowa state fair is also known for political hucksterism as well as general hucksterism. The leading newspaper, invites candidates to its “soap box” stand to give mini speeches.. In years of Presidential races, candidates to collect meaningless “votes” in the Iowa straw poll, a totally unscientific custom in which candidates basically bribe “voters” with give aways to name them as their “choice” even though there is nothing to prevent the voter from chosing another candidate when the actual selection process takes place months later. Nonetheless, In 2016 one very well known mid-western senator abandoned her presidential campaign because not enough fair goers named her their choice in a totally meaningless “straw poll.” Politicians try to demonstrate their “realness” by being photographed on rides, participating barbecues, etc. Some are better at being folksy then others. The Iowa state fair is where Candidate Romney answered a question about tax reform by telling a fair goer “Corporations are People too” and then getting into an argument when the fair goer disagreed.
Wow! I knew about the cow sculpture but not all the rest!
I know there’s butter sculpture over in Minnesota – heard it from a reliable source…
Guerlain Jicky. I left the house early to attend a funeral for the brother of one our best friends, and just grabbed the bottle of Jicky and sprayed. It is a very comforting scent.
I’m sorry this is a sad time.
My sympathies, Barqs.
It has been a beautiful summer day for me. Dinner was Caprese salad again, this time with fresh basil that Mr. Jalapeno got this week in his CSA box of goodies. My friend in hospital continues to get better.
SOTD = Silences EdP, from the sample stash, plus Wrappings lotion on my shins. I smell like Galadriel, from “The Lord of The Rings” trilogies. Or maybe the forests of Lothlorien.
Yummy!
Thank you!
I join you in having had another caprese for dinner. We got some tomatoes from the farmer’s market that were a cross between Big Boy and Brandywine, and they were the best I’ve had so far this summer.
Caprese? And fresh basil? You can’t go wrong. My basil is growing like the Dickens?.
Wrappings lotion, nice choice. ?
Not quite on track with the CP. I’m wearing Baccarat Rouge 540, which makes me think of casinos and Monte Carlo and hence James Bond. It’s the kind of scent a suave kind of spy would wear at the gambling table but could equally well be worn by his dazzling lady friend. Think Bond with Vesper Lynd, or Cary Grant with Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief. I know, movies, not books. Even though MFK is my favorite house, my mind is not made up about this scent. It’s weird with its combination of metallic and saffron and cedar; not sweet at all to my nose. Yet somehow extravagant and compelling.
I have the travel size of this, and while it doesn’t really fit my life, I can always at least imagine that I am a Bond girl, or villainess.
What is your favourite Kurkdjian?
Grand Soir!!!!
Baccarat the card game is featured in some of the Bond novels. I’d say that’s a pretty good match.
Great!
Chiming in late! I wore Penhaligon’s Blasted Bloom, because it’s a great summer scent without some of the more common notes, and it reminds me of Lady Macbeth, but in a good way: https://scentsandsensibilities.co/2015/12/21/fragrance-friday-blasted-bloom/. I hope everyone is having a good weekend!
Chiming in very late… I’ve been popping in every so often to glance at posts, but haven’t had much in the way of perfume-wearing lately, so haven’t commented for a while.
However, for book day, I wore HdP 1873 — Colette, I think — in the morning, before my bath. Though I haven’t read her writings, I very much like the perfume. In the afternoon and evening I wore 1725 — Casanova. I like that fragrance quite a lot, too.
I’ve been reading a lot of e-books. Some are speculative fiction (science fiction and fantasy), some mysteries, some weird fiction, and of course romances, many of those including paranormal elements.