A twist on a community project we did last year. In honor of Pluto Demoted Day, tell us which single "iconic classic" perfume you would demote, and what you'd put it its place instead.
(Possibly an easier way to think of it: if one bottle of Chanel No. 5 is really sold every 30 seconds, is there a fragrance you think is better deserving of that honor? But of course you are also welcome to consider lesser stars in the firmament.)
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is Solar System Diagram Feb 2018 by Stephen at flickr; some rights reserved.
Cuiron Helmut Lang
Wearing SB Tea House, which I didn’t care for when I initially tried a year or so ago. Thought I’d give my 4ml spritzer another go round, and I LIKE it! There is something familiar I just can’t put my finger on, but it’s the same thing (I think) that caused my initial dislike.
Anybody else ever experience this? Is it that my nose and tastes have changed, or that the perfume “settled” a bit over the past year?
Blowy day (and night!) here. The van was shimmying all night long, but I guess there’s some weather headed our way. It’s supposed to get up to 81F today! I know I’m in the minority, but I really wish summer would just die already. Can’t wait for cool 40-70F weather and especially looking forward to fall colors! ??
*ducking to avoid the rotten tomatoes summer lovers are throwing my way*
No tomatoes from me! I like the first hint of warm sun after being cold, then I’m ready for autumn about mid-August.
Same here.
I’m the same way.
I’m over summer too! Probably another 6 weeks in Houston, though.
Alas, so true! I long for cooler weather. Also, I have two air conditioners in my town home (upper and lower stories) and both are on their last legs. I’m just hoping to get by another year before having the expense of replacing them.
I’m going through the same thing with my garage door opener. About once a week it stops working, and I have to open and close the door manually. A real PITA, but apparently not enough of one to warrant installing a new system.
It usually goes the other way for me – a sample that I think is heavenly at first is less so when I order a larger decant (or, sadly, a FB). Also, I’m among those wishing for fall … you’re definitely not alone. 🙂
The same happens to me. Sometimes, I fall crazy in love after trying a scent from a sample. I rush to order a bigger size just to find out that it doesn’t move my heart as much as the first time. Very frustrating!
We are Fall love sisters ??
As to the change in your thoughts about the SB, perhaps your summer travels in the big outdoors affected how you assess perfumes?
We’ve had a lot of heat and humidity here in eastern Pennsylvania and also in New Jersey, as many others in this area will confirm to you. I’m enjoying the cooler, less humid day we’re having today.
Of course, in February I’ll be wanting to go to southern Florida to get away from the cold of winter, but I enjoy the cooler days of autumn, especially when we’ve had a hot and humid summer.
Yes!! I’ve had this happen, too. Field Notes From Paris smells vaguely like the vacuum deodorizing powder we used when I was growing up. And I loved that smell, but initially resisted the idea of smelling like carpet freshener? The second time I tried it, I decided not to fight it, and eventually got a full bottle. ?
100% with you in terms of wanting fall to arrive. I live on the east coast and the humidity and mosquitoes reached their apex (I hope?) this week, and I just can’t deal anymore. I want a good cold spell to knock them out. It’s in the 70s today, and I am so thankful!
**blocks tomatoes*** I couldn’t agree more, I’m done with summer! It’ll be over 100 F here again and I’m just over it.
I know that kind of happened to me with Narciso (white cube). I tried it right as it was released and didn’t like it. There was something harsh to my nose. A year later, I sniffed again and fell in love. Suddenly, I smelled that creaminess everyone else mentioned.
I join you in wanting Fall to arrive. I wish there was a rule. After Labor Day, the weather has to cool down immediately.
No tomatoes thrown from this end! It’s finally coolish here in the DC area and I’m thrilled.
For the last couple of years, I’ve gone hot and cold on scents; back and forth. I bought and loved Joyeuse Tubéreuse, and after a few wearings did a full reverse and didn’t like it anymore. I sold it. Then smelled it again a few weeks back and loved it. And bought it back from the same perfumista friend I sold it to. Now.. um. Well I don’t like it again. I’ve chalked it up to reaching middle age!
No tomatoes from me, and I love summer! I will say that hot & dry weather is much easier for me to handle than hot & wet. Humidity is not my friend.
I’m in 4711 Mandarine & Cardamom from the pixel split, topped off with a spritz of Shalimar edt. I wore Shalimar to bed last night, and it was so comforting.
Anyone care to chime in on comfort scents? Sometimes life needs an arsenal of these.
Cierge de Lune is one of my favorite comfort scents.
I think I have a decant of that one. Will have to dig it up! Thanks. ?
That’s my favorite category of perfume! Apparently, I need a lot of comforting?! Kalemat, Une Rose de Kandahar, Ummagumma, Chergui, Un Bois Vanille, Indochine, Taklamaken, SB Smoked Ambergris, PdN Vetyver, Vetiver of Haiti (7 Virtues)….I could go on forever, but I’ll spare you! ?
Joining you in finding Un Bois Vanille comforting. 🙂 I find many rose scents and lily-of-the-valley (muguet) scents comforting, but for me it’s the soliflore types of those fragrances more than perfumes that are more complex. I like clove/carnation fragrances. I find the scent of cloves calming. I suppose I’d say that for many of the “baking” spices — good associations? 🙂
Later I thought that I should have added that I find patchouli incense and oil comforting to smell. Also I find sandalwood oil a comforting scent. Associations from when I was younger, I guess, though I didn’t grow up in the 1960s, when patchouli oil was a big thing.
I’ll have to shuffle through my samples, I’m sure I have a gentle patch somewhere. Thanks for the tip!
Un Bois Vanille is pure comfort, a cashmere blanket in a bottle. Without question the most accessible and loveable of Serge’s scents.
Oh, I love several of those, Un Bois Vanille and PHI especially. I have the Fazzolari discovery set, so I’ll have to try Ummagumma for night time. Hey, Serge’s 5 o’clock might be a good comfort scent as well. Thanks for the suggestions. ?
?
I can second Chergui as comforting…
Lightly sprayed, but yes! Agreed.
I find Shalimar comforting too. I don’t own much in the gourmand category but I think of vanilla and warm perfumes as comforting, like Barbara Bui and Nicolai Vanille Tonka.
Oh, Barbara Bui is a good one, especially for summer.
Forgot….if you’re looking for warm snuggly, try Fresh Cream Warm Cashmere by Philosophy. It’s wonderful.
My choices are a bit over the place, but TF Tuscan Leather, Anais Anais, and Guerlain Vanille Ylang Ylang are soothing scents.
Those sound wonderful. Thanks, AnnieA!
Angel Muse is total comfort for me.
Note taken, thanks!?
An old comfort fragrance poll if you want more:
https://nstperfume.com/2011/11/19/lazy-weekend-poll-comfort-scents/
I am not sure if we’ve done that as a community project.
Thanks, Robin! Plenty to keep in mind with those recommendations for winter scents! It looks like some of the folks who felt that certain fragrances were very nice for comfort in the winter in 2011 still feel the same way now in 2019. 🙂
I looked at the post and only recognized a handful of posters! I think I may have started posting in 2012, I think, or else I was on vacation and really had no time to post!
Shalimar is a comfort scent for me as well, and I wear it to bed often. Most gourmands, ambers, tonkas or powdery scents make me feel better, especially at night. I love dabbing Kiki on at bed. Mon Guerlain, PG’s Tonkamande & Indochine, No. 5, and Atelier’s Amber Nue.
2nd all of this, and adding vanilla. Roses are comforting as well, and Chanel No 5 is another bedtime favorite of mine. I also find sandalwood soothing and pretty much always wear Bois des Iles when flying.
I can see BOE being helpful on a plane trip!
What a great idea. BdI is one of my very favorites. I have to fly this Thursday (not too thrilled about it). I’ll wear it!
Among others – Cuir Beluga, Bee’s Bliss…
JM Myrrh & Tonka is a comfort scent to me. But I think that one might be better in cooler weather.
Wearing Jacque Fath Green Water today.
We’re expecting a return of African heat in Europe over the next couple of days and I’m not happy about it at all. I’d rather slowly settle into milder temperatures.
I would demote JPG Le Male or Paco Rabanne 1 Million. Chanel Boy would be much better.
“African heat in Europe” is just wrong, any way you look at it. Sounds like you are combating it with an excellent perfume choice??
Ya, that’s crazy. I didn’t realize that’s what was causing the previous heat waves.
I’m all for pro-moting Boy. My H finally used up his 4 ml mini and needs a FB. But those Exclusifs prices – ugh.
The new Gucci Memoire d’une Odeur. I really like this one. It settles nicely, sandalwood maybe? A sample, maybe a FB eventually.
Twins!
I really like the bottle. Is it as nice in person as it is in photos?
It is very nice in person.
Sniffed this one at Sephora yesterday and liked it more than expected. May go for a purse spray.
Me too
I tried the new Gucci Memoire d’Une Odeur today and liked it a lot! It has a lot of green, which always appeals to me. I thought the chamomile note was very interesting and well done.
Demotion Day? I am up for it! Let’s wrest Cool water, Axe, or anything deemed Sport, from the hands of men, and instead give them a bottle of Guerlain L’Instant Pour Homme.
I heartily agree!
I’m with you there, folks. 🙂 Cool Water was *the* popular thing when I was in college. I guess I didn’t notice that too much, or mind it terribly. I remember a male friend complaining about how every young man our age wore it. It did start a trend of those kinds of colognes, though, some of which were not so great.
And I remember being older, and being around teenagers who must have drenched themselves in Axe. I certainly noticed that! I’m not especially a fan of the “Sport” colognes, either.
Yes! Give them al some nice Old Spice! Mmm!
There you go! One of my grandfathers — Mom’s stepfather, so I had three grandfathers — wore that. I have fond memories. Papa D. spoiled my brother and me. He even built a dollhouse for me, much sturdier than the Barbie dollhouses being sold in the 1970s. Fond memories.
I’m wearing Jacomo #08 today and it’s a nice spicy treat, not something for every day as you must be in the mood for it.
I’d demote Angel definitely! Banish it from the face of the earth! Let’s replace it with something truly classy like Amouage Gold.
Oh oh oh – that’s one of my favorites! You smell marvelous.
Same, but I don’t wear it because it’s classy. lol
Totally agree about Angel being replaced by Gold!
I’m not an Angel fan myself. I don’t get the appeal. I know a large number of people love it.
I only wear Angel at home because of it’s strength and how polarizing it is….can I keep mine when you hurl the rest into space?
Sure! All in good fun!
But I’ll put Amouage Gold on my “must sample” list 🙂
I think it might only be polarizing with perfumistas (?) With the rest of the world, it’s generally a compliment-getter, no?
I followed a woman around a store once and summoned up the courage to ask her what fragrance she was wearing, as she smelled amazing. Her answer, “Angel”! That’s one I’ve received compliments as well when I’ve worn it.
Same as flopper above but it was someone on the train. I think it’s a flanker of Angel though but hey, at the right dose, on the right person and at drydown, Angel is terrific.
While looking through my decants, I spotted Amouage Gold! So exciting. It is beautiful.
Having a nice, slow weekend for a change. Went to a charity art auction with some girlfriends last night. Worked in the garden today and on impulse decided to give the Lempicka Fleur de Corail another chance. This time the nag champa came through and I really liked it! I have been burning incense sticks (sandalwood and nag champa) and immediately recognized the smell. There is a decidedly ‘artificial’ vibe to the perfume and I think that was what threw me, when I first tried it. But now I know not to spray before breakfast (too chemical). FdC has its virtues. Apologies to Monsieur Roucel for thinking his creation was a scrubber.
I’ve never smelled FdC but I really like L and you had me at nag champa.
I love L, too, as well as the original. And you had me at nag champa and Roucel!
I think sample before you buy or buy a real cheapie floating around. I bought blind and did not like it when I first tried it. I usually go for more natural smelling perfumes. But I think this genre – beachy, driftwood, coconutty – is bound to smell more artificial. On the right day (warm, outdoors) it hits the spot.
I always get Fleur de Corail and L de Lolita mixed up, what with the near-identical bottles. Thus, I was very confused reading about nag champa. Ha!
I happened to wear L de Lolita yesterday (well before breakfast 🙂 ), which smells like salted caramels on me.
I love nag in sticks! Maybe I should look for this one!
I’m with ringthing!
SOTD = Gucci Memoire d’une Odeur
From a Sephora sample:
– first try today was a diffused 12 sprays (walk into the most style which is how I usually apply perfume). Gone in about 20 minutes
– I was at the mall for my haircut and stopped by JCPenny Sephora, sprayed on a paper strip and really couldn’t smell much of anything.
– I stopped at another department store and on the way to my destination, asked to smell it and couldn’t smell anything. If you’re wondering why I keep wanting to smell it — because green bottle
– got home, made lunch and decided to spray on skin to see how long it would last and how it smells.
Verdict: it is pleasant and office safe; smells like minty jasmine musk. If you want the perfume to last, spray on skin in concentration (or dab).
Out of curiosity and having read that it has chamomile, I filched some chamomile tea bags from the office pantry. Indeed, chamomile tea dry in the bag smells minty; the infused tea smells bitter and the drink itself is minty, bitter and earthy.
I would wear it if a bottle fell into my lap. I will buy it once it hits the discounters, primarily for the bottle.
I can’t wear Memoire d’Une Odeur. On my skin something very artificial comes out with a mighty power and dominates the whole thing to the point I felt like vomiting.
Yikes, no more Memoire d’Une Odeur for you!
I detect a plastic smell when I first sprayed, so I wonder if that note/s would cause it?
In hindsight, I detect a bitterness that reminds me of aspartame which smells chemical to me.
interesting! thanks for the mini review. I must admit, that green bottle is speaking to me, too 😀
The bottle is very nice!
Hmm. I get a pleasant floral scent from chamomile. I expect the difference is that I add a good amount of sweetener when I make a cup, enough so it tastes quite sweet. lol.
I usually don’t add anything to tea but when I do, it is usually honey. Naked chamomile tea is very bitter to me.
As to florals, I only get non-unsolicited jasmine. The dry down is a screechy vanilla.
I don’t think of it as a jasmine scent. Interesting how perceptions differ. Some plants in the very large daisy family have sharp or bitter scents, like chrysanthemum, for instance. I use Equal as a sweetener. I get a very bitter aftertaste from other kinds of artificial sweeteners. I don’t think I’ve ever waited for a cup of herbal tea to have a dry down.
Terrible spellcheck on my post!
I meant non-indolic jasmine so not mothbally. The drydown was for Memoire. So thenone spot where I sprayed had the minty jasmine musk smell and then 3 hours in, it stuck to the vanilla drydown.
Ah. Thanks for the explanation below. I figured that “non-unsolicited” was some weird autocorrect blip. And I was like, “Dry down of herbal tea? I must be missing something here.” 🙂
I think of “indolic” as a strong, heavy scent, with some muskiness. My reference flower here is sambac jasmine. And I grew tuberose one year, and it was way too strong for me. I also associate tuberose with “indolic.” Perhaps I should instead be associating jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia” as “white flowers.” I didn’t realize that meant heavy floral fragrances.
Some of the fragrance descriptions are still cryptic to me. Like, “white musk” apparently means a lighter scent than “regular” musks. And “pink freesia” has a certain meaning, apparently, though the freesias I think of all smell the same, regardless of color. I try to sort out what is a poetic flair in one bit of ad copy, and what is more of an accepted description.
A very heavy white floral can be entirely NOT indolic…indolic is essentially the part of white florals that smells almost fecal. In many modern perfumes, that part has been cleaned up. In many older perfumes, that part was AMPED up instead of cleaned up, with various animal byproducts, from musk to ambergris to civet.
Likewise, white musk is a clean smell, rather like detergent, that has little to do with the original musk, from the musk deer. It isn’t necessary that it is lighter, because it can actually be very strong.
Thanks for some clarification, Robin! 🙂 With the actual flowers, it was that indolic aspect I was thinking of for the sambac jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia. I’ve grown other types of jasmines that didn’t have that funky sort of scent. (lol) I don’t associate that with mothballs, though.
So “white musk” is one of those perfume terms that means something to many perfume users and is meaningless to those who don’t use perfume or functional fragrances. That’s what I’m getting with that explanation.
BTW, I remember a question about Parfums d’Empire Tonkin Musc. I speculated on the name referring to location, but it’s actually meant to be a representation of the musk from the Himalayan musk deer that doesn’t use the animal product. Like a reconstruction of the scent, but using plants for the effect instead, I think?
Thanks Hajusuuri- I was hoping a report would appear, it is really getting some air play right now.
I hope our Sephora has it!
They do! And if you have the VIB there’s discounts until the 27th. 15-20% depending on VIB level. And there’s a travel rollerball as well at Sephora.
Whoops I didn’t read your comment correctly. ?
I do, so off I go tomorrow!! Thanks flopper.
SOTD Ineke Idyllwild which is so refreshing and vivifying!
Yes it is, I should wear that next week.
Oh MissGoldSmith you smell fantastic! Love that one.
How is your longevity?
Longevity for me is good. I could still get whiffs after 6 hours, 3 hrs of which were sweaty dance class. Don’t put it to the test much beyond that, though, because I always like to refresh my scent for the drive home. I always have a few samples in my purse to make my commute more interesting! And if I’m at home, LOL, I’m constantly layering before the last thing has faded!
Dreaded drawing Jo Malone Oud & Bergamot from the sample stash this morning since I’m not really an oud fan, but it doesn’t really last long enough to be mad at. It’s just been 2 hours and already press-my-wrist-to-my-face quiet.
And it’s no easy thing to make an oud that’s gone in 2 hours 😉
At least they can call it an accomplishment then, lol
so, this summer I finished two bottles of perfume (Zeste de Soleil by Cartier and some flanker of Burberry’s Britt I got as a present a couple of years ago) and I’m about to finish a third one – Acqua di Parma – Fico d’Amalfi (this, I’m going to repurchase, it’s like a Mediterranean vacation in a bottle, love it). I’m mentioning this just because I haven’t finished a full bottle in like years…and finishing a bottle is a kind of accomplishment around here, right? 😀
btw, wearing said Fico d’Amalfi
Congrats on finishing 3 bottles! ?. That is a huge accomplishment! I always feel happy and relieved every time I empty either a decant of a full bottles and that hasn’t happened for a while.
That’s quite an accomplishment! Finishing a bottle of perfume isn’t easy when you have a lot, I’m that way with cosmetics, too. Enough lipstick to last a lifetime.
It’s so satisfying to finish stuff, congrats!
It is an accomplishment. I feel bad because none of my perfume bottles seems to even have a dent in it. Last night I watched Katie Puckrik’s videos of her collection and all the bottles seemed 90% full to me. I felt so relieved!
Salute! Great job on THUNKING bottles!
Yes! Congratulations! Maybe I’ll finish a couple of bottles by next year. I might finish a 5ml decant this week, so yay!
You smell wonderful! I really like Fico di Amalfi.
Perfume-free so far, as I linger over breakfast on a sunny morning watching birds in the patch of bush near our place. I’m looking out at two kereru, large and beautiful native pigeons. We’re benefiting from a wildlife centre a mile or so away, and the number of birds we see has increased over the last few years.
I’ve been working my way through the Rogue sample set. I like Chypre-Siam the best, but the glorious opening doesn’t last very long on me.
Your morning sounds so peaceful.
Wow. What a beautiful image your morning invokes. I really wanted to love Chypre-Siam, but it turned sour on me pretty quickly.
Started in the morning with morning with AG Petite Cherie, which was my Signature before the rabbit hole,, then replaced it with Pesian Gold from The Attar Collection. This survived even thai massage with tiged balm oil! A nice rose and vanilla on patch with caramel. Not totally my style, but really feminine and NOT tooo sweet.
Turkish red lentil soup with yoghurt for dinner. Now a s spray of EA green tea,for e
For bed, damn autocarrot
???
+1!!!
Lol!
unintended consequences of damning autocorrect….LOL
Turkish red lentil soup is my son’s favourite. We ate at a really nice restaurant yesterday and he had cream of tomato and basil soup for a starter. When I asked him how it was, I got his stock answer: “Not as good as the Turkish soup.”
Trying a sample of Elizabeth Arden White Tea — seems pretty mild to me so far.
I finally got out today and planted the irises I’ve had for a month. I’m glad my back has improved a lot, so I could do some gardening tasks. The irises are too close together, but that’s because I was using a corner of Dad’s vegetable garden that he wasn’t using. I still wouldn’t be able to dig through the clay and shale that make up the unimproved parts of the yard.
I have some chores like that to do as well. I have some Texas star hibiscus that really need to be transplanted, but they need more sun than the beds will provide.
In Ramon Monegal Impossible Iris. Yes, impossible to find the iris in this perfume no matter how many times I tried it. No iris flowers, no iris roots, nothing. It is a nice floral perfume though. Mimosa and Ylang Ylang mostly on me. I enjoyed it for the time it lasted, but not full bottle worthy for me.
Heading to a barbecue in while at my aunt’s house. She is celebrating her 75th birthday and has a small family gathering. Beautiful afternoon to spend it outside. The heat wave is over and we will enjoying temps in the 70’s for a couple of days!
Happy weekend!
If anyone was going to be able to smell iris, it would be you! It’s always a bummer when the names don’t match the scent.
Happy Birthday to your Aunt?
Thank you, Lillyjo! ?.
I was expecting to smell at least a bit of iris from Impossible Iris. So frustrating! But on the positive side “Money saved! ?
Sounds like a fun day! Have a good time and best wishes to your aunt.
Thank you, Nancy! ?
Aptly named then..??. So frustrating is right, though! You are expecting one thing and can’t decipher it at all.
Hope you had a lovely afternoon and Happy Birthday to your Aunt! She’s a fellow Virgo!
Thank you, Gail! We had a very nice time!
Have you tried Impossible Iris? The reviews are mixed regarding the iris note. It looks like I am among the ones not able to smell it.
I haven’t tried it. I almost did get a bottle when I was researching iris frags about a year ago or so. I was looking for a bub of ISM and almost got II instead. Crisis averted, thankfully!
I read a few reviews on Basenotes and changed my mind about II. I did finally get my bub of ISM. (I know, it’s an addiction).
Money saved then! None of the iris perfumes beats the beauty of Iris Silver Mist, at least for the few of us who love it!
Hope your weekend bbq was a lot of fun!
Thank you, Flopper! It was a simple and warm family gathering. We enjoyed it a lot, especially my aunt.
If I had to demote anything from the pantheon, it would be Shalimar: I know it was radically different in its time and I know it has a lot of admirers, but I’ve never, ever liked it — on me, on a strip, or on any person. The pieces just don’t seem to fit together: I find it jarring and discordant. I’ve been trying for decades to get it and I just don’t.
In its place I would put — and I feel like this is a drum I’m beating all the time, sorry for that — Parfum d’Hermes, a great fragrance that should have been recognized as an instant classic and treated like the masterpiece it is, rather than being ignominiously reformulated and renamed, then resurrected in yet another reformulation that doesn’t do it justice at all (and consigned to the boring house bottle). It was one of those kitchen-sink floral orientals that were so popular in the eighties, and it is astounding, the greatest of them all.
Agreed on demoting Shalimar. I want to love it but I just can’t!
First Angel, and now Shalimar? This new world is too full of deprivation 🙁
?
Wow well said Pyramus. I have never smelled Parfum d’Hermes and yet you’ve made me feel very disappointed that we may have missed a great one.
It’s a gorgeous breezy summer day, went out this morning for delicious pastries, now lazing around reading. Mancera Choco Violette is my scent of the day, now it’s cooler.
Well, that sounds like an all around perfect day✌️
I left the project I was on after six months of utter frustration to get anything done – there, I demoted it.
Slept for 12 hours.
SOTD is OJ Rose Ta’if – now that there is an intense one, I suppose OJ has demoted this one.
Have on fall color lip gloss. I love cooler weather.
12 pounds gone. I will see my sister at end of October for a long weekend. I hope to have 20 off by then if I can stay on the path.
Good for you, on every subject in your post. Keep on rocking! Giving you a virtual fist bump! ????
thanks Deva!! the one thing we can’t earn back is time. I wasn’t spending one more minute at another committee meeting.
Good for you! I went into a couple of stores yesterday to look at clothes I want to buy when I’ve gotten closer to my goal. Hoping that keeps me on track….
we can do this, LizzieB!!
Alright! And you smell lovely!
Congrats on both, good for YOU!
I just came across this Twitter account devoted to Tokyo fashion:
https://twitter.com/TokyoFashion
I’ll be back in about 10 years after I catch up…
LOL
Thanks for sharing! Just tore myself away after a spell…
I would demote the modern category of Calone heavy “radiant” florals that all smell alike and replace it with heavy orientals. It would be so great to shop at a department store and smell dark rich perfumes live and in person.
I should note that I have spent a lot of time this summer watching classic movies and reading old fiction so heavy perfume sounds especially appealing right now. I’m so tired of everything smelling “fresh and clean.”
I’ll second that Demotion…
You forgot to sing it ???
Lol ?
I’ll 3rd it!
That’s an interesting thought, ringthing. 🙂 Sounds like you have ideas about skipping some trendy new things that don’t impress you and encouraging people to appreciate some classics.
SOTM was (and is still going strong 3 hours into the afternoon) Memoirs of a Trespasser. My first sampling of it, and I like it very much indeed. There is probably a travel spray of it in my future. On demoting a “classic” … not sure. Chanel No. 5 and Patou’s Joy are both hackneyed by this time for sure, but I’ll bet there are those who still love them and on whom each is divine. That’s probably true of everything, right? I’m wimping out.
You instead suggest something for people who don’t yet have a classic of their own…?
Oh, well – if someone asked me what they might try as a lightly indolic classic floral (replacing No. 5), I’d say Le Temps d’Une Fete. And/or if they wanted a non-indolic but still floral-oriental classic, I’d suggest 24 Faubourg.
Interesting, these are two grand old perfume. I wear No 5 often in EDT and extrait but less so JP Joy. It seems a little dated to me and oppressive in extrait but I time to time I still enjoy the EDT.
* correction: two grand old perfumes
Wearing Lonestar Memories today. It was the first decant I grabbed before I let the house. Forgot to pick up milk and orange juice after work last night. My boss yesterday had said that I have 2 personal days that need to be used before Halloween and 3 vacation days that I need to use before December 16th and I need to get them turned in by August 31st. I knew how much time off that I was entitled to but sheesh.
It’s a good problem to have!
The hardest part is trying to schedule them around other people’s vacations and personal days. Being short staffed makes it harder. Eventually, I will figure it out.
In at least half a dozen things after a lazy afternoon perfume shopping in NYC with friends. They are new to perfume culture and I had fun introducing them to Hermessence at the boutique. vetiver tonka was a hit.
Sprayed again the new Gucci and decided I do like it. Unusual while being wearable.
Oh if I had to demote anything it would be both Shalimar and No 5. Sorry!
On the topic of Hermes VT… I was passing through Bloomingdale’s and noticed quite a large Hermes display. I thought I’d take a chance and ask if they had any of the Hermessences. The SA said no. I then asked if they had Vetiver Tonka, and she said that sure, she could order it for me. I let her know I just wanted to sniff it, and she reached below the counter and pulled the bottle out. I guess sometimes we have to ask! Love love love the Hermessence line. And finally got a bottle of VT!
Huh – yes, definitely pays to just ask. Congrats on your new bottle. Such a lovely, happy scent
Thanks Yasmina! I had a decant of it long ago, which I used up quickly. It has been on my want list for years, but the price was so high. I finally found it at a good price from a fellow perfumista.
I would demote Guerlain’s Nahema. I just don’t get it or enjoy it. What would I put in its place? Hmm, something classic, elegant and lovely, but also within reach of fragrance fans without becoming a drugstore scent. Yes, it will be TIffany & Co.! It comes in a gorgeous, distinctive bottle and it already has excellent flankers (Intense is my favorite). And you just can’t beat that classic Tiffany blue box.
I feel the same way about Coco. But I feel no need to stop others from wearing it. It just doesn’t do anything for me. (And my response to Nahema is the same as yours.)
I agree! Others can wear Nahema to their hearts’ content. And I’ll probably even like it on them! Just not on me.
I was in love with Nahema for years. Now I can’t see what my fuss over it was! I
I may be inclined to demote Joy and replace it with Diptyque’s Volutes edp. I’ll probably change my mind next week, though!
Today I wore 4160 Tuesday’s Ealing Green. Gorgeous green, herbaceous, fresh violet.
Good choice, I love Volutes in edt, I’m sure it’s lovely in edp too.
Love volutes. Cannot find any edt anywhere, only edp.
I’ve noticed that too- the only place I see the edt is on Ebay.
The edp is gorgeous. Both are different enough to me to have a decant of one and a bottle of the other. My favorite Diptyque.
Joy is not doing well today. I think it is somewhat dated.
Even the new Joy is not giving any joy.
🙂
I have both Volutes EDT and EDP and while I prefer the EDT, the EDP can replace Joy any time.
Today is too hot for perfume, I have been enjoying a lovely heliotrope/ylang/vanilla and woods Cath Kidstone handcream, it’s really moisturising, and does the trick after gardening.
My roses smell amazing this morning, but black spot is getting me down, could any body recommend a fungicide, I don’t want to harm any bugs, so need something effective and organic! Thanks!
I’ve got mildew and leaf-eating worm problems! Tried spraying with baking soda water mixture but not much effect so far.
I have been fighting aphids again, they are taking over the yard. I have never had this problem before . Bought nematodes to try and control them but that was before I realized they were everywhere. I fought them desperately in my green house. I need both ladybugs for live ones and nematodes for the ones in the soil. I used neem, in the greenhouse winter time.
thinking dawn soap and water is still the best for larger areas.
I’ve had the best luck with soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray down the roses, then gently wipe the aphids off with paper towels. You may have to do this every few days for about a week. Just keep an eye on the aphid situation. I also have Trounce in my arsenal, if that’s available in your area. Good luck!
Thanks Gail, i will try it!
Same here…aphids everywhere, even on very well established shrubs.
Neem oil is considered safe for pollinators, but you still have to apply it with caution, and it may harm caterpillars who eat treated leaves. Copper-based fungicides used to be considered safe for bees but now that’s being questioned based on newer research. When I’m on top of my gardening, I try to use a mix of strategies, including picking off affected leaves or picking them up from the soil, and disposing of them away from the garden (trash), being careful to water in the morning, etc.
Good to know.
I’m going to demote Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue, and replace it with Bvlgari Au ‘the Bleu.
I’m also retracting my #5 answer from the poll a while back.
Scent of the morning is TF Noir Extreme.
It’s 55 degrees, I really only dislike fall because it turns into winter so quickly here. I do enjoy the colors.
You smell great, Lillyjo! ?
Even though I still wear and appreciate Light Blue (I have a big bottle that seems it will never go down no matter how much I spray on it), I would easily replace it with Bvlgari Au the Bleu, which I love and needs to be in my collection all the time. It so good for any occasion, season and mood. Fantastic!
I tried for a long time to wear Light Blue. My skin turns it to sour milk, every time. I often wondered if my personality plays a role in my skin rejecting certain perfumes. Light Blue seems so carefree to me, which I am the total opposite.
I think personality plays a big role on me too. There are perfumes that I have even fallen in love with and I would like to wear, but they just seem not to match my personality or my mood. Sad and weird, but nothing I can do about it.
Excellent demotion, lillyjo! I used up most of a bottle of Light Blue, and was sick of it towards the end.
That is an excellent idea lillyjo… another vote to do so! Hmmmm, both scents have blue in their name. Has there ever been a project with a “battle of the colours” theme as in “Black Cashmere or Bvlgari Black?”… “Citron noir or Magie Noire”? Someone makes a suggestion and we choose the one we prefer?
Hey, that’s a pretty cool idea!
Great idea!
I think we did. Or something similar, anyway.
Ooh! I like this demotion. Nice replacement!
Thanks!
Totally agree with you on demoting Light Blue!
I also wanted to demote Bright Crystal, but couldn’t think of a replacement. Lol
Commando? ?
14C this morning, fall is definitely coming! JM Orris and Sandalwood for me today.
I would definitely demote Shalimar, always disliked it. Etro Shaal Nur is better on me in that category.
You smell lovely!
You smell so wonderful! Love O&S. I would replace Shalimar with Kismet. Similar but more user friendly. ?
Noting here that I got a Crabtree & Evelyn e-mail where they said that they’d delved into their archives and gotten some “cult classics,” which are pretty much what they were selling before they did a big revamp. This includes a number of La Source and Gardener’s products, including in big sizes, for those who like those. “The Archives” collection is on their website now.
Thank you for the info on C&E, Neyronrose, so pleased they are doing this.
I was hoping they’d bring back some of the products they had formerly offered, but I didn’t think it would be that fast. My wish would be to get some of the products they offered a long time ago back in the “Archives,” but I don’t think that will happen. I’m thinking of the rosewater perfume mentioned on the “rose fragrances” list here, and other things like rosewater-scented bar soap and such. I have an old Damask rose perfume from Crabtree & Evelyn. I suspect that was from before the ‘Evelyn Rose’ was introduced. But I’m pleased that they brought some of the more recent favorites back. And you’re quite welcome. I remember the discussions about this, and thought it would be good to do an update.
I forgot to mention that I received a late birthday gift this past week of a basket with various Lush products in it. Very nice–my friend’s teen-aged granddaughter helped her make the selections and she (the girl) even sent along a personalised note telling me all about Lush in general and my gifts in particular. So sweet! There is a roundish soap bar, a shower gel, and a bath bomb. They chose lavender because it’s a fragrance I like. The soap and gel are really nice, haven’t tried the bath bomb yet. I’m not at all familiar with Lush, though I know their products are often mentioned here.
Enjoy yoour Lush gift, Calypso.
That is so nice! Enjoy the LUSH goodies!
I love that she took the time to write you a personal note! Enjoy your Lush goodies.
I find their bath bombs especially decadent. My first Lush products were a Blackberry bath bomb and a Bathos (violet) bath bar. Sadly, they tend to discontinue products quickly, so if you find anything you like then stock up.
Have fun! 🙂
What a neat birthday gift! Enjoy the LUSH goodies!
It seems some classics are not faring well today.
Flying tomorrow to Provence for the next two weeks and will check in only intermittently as I will have only a couple of perfumes to wear.
Enjoy your trip, Aurora!
Thank you pl67, a little bit nervous about flying.
Have a good trip!
Oh thank you, I’m excited.
Lovely! Have a wonderful time.
Thank you kpaint, Provence is my idea of paradise.
Have a super great safe trip!
Thank you lillyjo, once flying is over I will enjoy it, I’m sure.
Have a lovely vacation!
Thank you Gail, I’m looking forward to the fresh produce for delicious meals.
Have a wonderful vacation!
Thank you hajusuuri, the good thing is the weather is perfect at this time of the year.
Safe travels, Aurora! ✈
Thank you Jalapeno, I usually take the Eurostar + speed train to travel there so flying to get there is a bit of a novelty.
Wearing Apoteker Tepe The Peradam. Wow! What an opulent opening! Orris, orris, orris with a beautiful jasmine note. Pretty smokey! Then sandalwood made its great appearance to the point that its creamy aspect started bothering me a lot. Sandalwood is my nemesis, especially when it is so noticeable. After two hours the orris is still present, but I smell mostly jasmine and the sandalwood has quiet down. I am enjoying it! Beautiful perfume! I would get a decant of it if it were not by the sandalwood. Worth trying scent!
What a glorious summer day! Windy, fresh, sunny. Just perfect! I will spend a couple of hours in the park with my dog later this afternoon after finishing some chores at home.
Oh that sounds beautiful!
It is indeed a very beautiful perfume!
I looove The Peradam, such a pity the company has gone out of business, but I managed to stock up before it all ran out.
It was very unfortunate they went out of bussiness. They had many great perfumes. You are lucky to have back ups of The Peradam. It is a fabulous perfume!
Ooooooh, The Peradam sounds like something I would have loved! Enjoy your sample!
It is a great perfume. Sample thunked!
Happy for your great summer day?
?
We’re off to a family birthday gather, and the SOTFBG is Tam Dao layered over lashings of Philosykos. Yummy.
That sounds like an interesting combination! Have fun at the party today!
Enjoy the celebration!
Enjoy the family reunion.
I hope that the family b-day celebration was a lot of fun!
I tried a bit of Jicky this morning, just in time for my folks to come home from church. I washed it off before I went downstairs. Mom and Dad have had respiratory infections lately anyway, so they might well break into coughing fits whether or not I was experimenting with perfume samples. I don’t want them to assume that what I’m doing is aggravating their respiratory issues, though.
Jicky is very different from modern fragrances, but after a few minutes I was getting used to it. I’ll have to try it again sometime when I have time to appreciate it.
Hope your parents feel better soon. My dad was very sensitive to fragrances late in his life so we couldn’t wear anything scents around him. I tried Jicky but didn’t give it much skin time. Might need to try again.
Yes, I’ve seen a few folks here say that a parent became much more sensitive to scent later in life.
For me, it’s worth trying fragrances a couple of times if I’m not sure if I got the proper effect, or full effect, and what I did sense wasn’t objectionable.
The Jicky I enjoy is the EDT, have you tried that one? I prefer it to the EDP.
I checked, and this was the EdP — that must have been the one I noticed on Surrender to Chance that day. I’ve had a *lot* of fun there. I’m eyeing some items in their 8 ml weekend sale.
Folks, please let me know your opinions on L’Artisan Dzing!, Mimosa Pour Moi, and Champs des Fleurs. They also have some of the older Guerlain fragrances like Chamade, Chant d’Aromes, Eau de Cologne du Coq, Eau de Cologne Imperiale, Jardins de Bagatelle, and Vol de Nuit. I assume these have been reformulated over the years, but as of 2008, Luca Turin thought highly of most of these.
neyronrose, I have a bottle of Dzing! and Cologne Imperiale. I love both of them. Dzing! Is kind of strange, like hay and outdoor things, but in a very good way. It’s not like anything else I’ve tried.
Cologne Imperiale is a very nice, classic cologne, very refined. You could wear it around your folks easily. I’d be glad to send you a few mls of both. ?
I’m at nlmcook @ sbcglobal dot net if interested!
Thank you for the information and your generous offer, nancyleandros. 🙂 I was going through my samples of various perfumes and colognes, and thinking about how generous folks were with the freebiemeets I’ve participated in, and at other times. Last freebiemeet, from the requests I made, Janice sent quite an assortment of samples, and LunaGrrl sent a wild array of fragrance samples. I’ve been trying some of the samples when I have the opportunity. 🙂 Thanks again, ladies!
Definitely get Vol du Nuit! It’s a truly memorable beautiful scent, better imho than Jardins or Chamade.
Thanks for the recommendation! 🙂
Had *way* too much fun…I decided to try the Champs des Fleurs, and I already knew I liked Seville de l’Aube, so I went for the 8 mls of that, too. I got a few of the Guerlain ones. I’ll have to wear the “woody, spicy, oriental” fragrances when I’m away from home, but they sounded like ones *I* would like. And the colognes sounded good, too. (I’ll e-mail you, Nancy. Thanks!)
I remember smelling Jicky a few years ago and not getting much at all from it. Maybe I can’t smell parts of it? What I did smell was a rather quiet and unassuming fragrance.
I was getting lavender, and a vanilla that was sort of strange to me, and a bit of the Mediterranean herbs combo, but that may just have been me thinking of what to expect. Then again, I have been growing a bunch of Mediterranean herbs in pots not far outside the front door this summer, so those scents are familiar to me. (lol) But I think I did get lavender, and light herbal, and a slightly weird but not unpleasant vanilla scent. I’ll try again sometime.
Tom Ford Noir de Noir from a decant. Beautiful in the heat.
You smell great, I hadn’t been impressed by NdN in the winter and regretted my decant but when I tried it on a warm spring day I was totally reconciled.
Commando yesterday. Was in bed for almost 11 hours last night. Slept only okay, but I guess I needed it….
Eau de Merveilles today as I accomplished four loads of laundry. Heading out for a quick jaunt with my husband before he heads downtown. Not seeing that much of him lately…he’s immersed in various film series going on about town. These things always seem to go in spurts.
Yikes. I hope whatever is ailing you is gonzo!
Thanks. I don’t have a bug or anything. It’s just that I didn’t sleep well Friday night and had to be up at 6 am and was gone all day. So, for some reason I was just more tired than usual.
I’m in Nutmeg & Ginger from Jo Malone. It’s from a slightly syrupy sample that I just dumped on my arm this morning. Even so, it’s nearly gone now.
SOTM: Armani Rose d’Arabie on left wrist and Grossmith Saffron Rose on right.
Yesterday I met a fraghead in the wild! Or rather, an acquaintance and I outed ourselves to each other. I don’t know any other perfumistas IRL. We’ve already discussed going to the scent museum in the East Bay with each other some time. Fun!
Neat! Would love to near how that outing came about! For me, it was someone at work but I kept my online identity from her. We’ve gone sniffing at Twisted Lily and Barneys and I had also i invited her to a very nice event sponsored by a niche perfumery.
Checking in today from Florence, Italy . We toured a vineyard and visited Santa Maria Novella. What a lovely shopping experience there!
Only one more day left to our trip, then it’s back home.
I just took a shower and my fragrance is Etro Relent. This is the smelll of the toiletry products of our hotel. It is such a cozy scent. I will be bringing the leftover products of Relent home.
Glad you’re having a good time! 🙂
Sounds wonderful!
Demote Alien plz..cat peeeeee.
Put any other jasmine in its place. Olene maybe.
Olene???!?!? Ugh!! ?
Any other jasmine? Absolutely any other jasmine?? Ok, then – A la Nuit!!
A La Nuit is fabulous:).
Seconded. 🙂
I would upvote Olene! Sorry kevtronic.
Patchouli 24 by Le labo supplants Chanel No. 5
I’d demote both D&G Light Blue and Chanel No. 5 EdP. I smelled Light Blue twice in the wild today while doing errands, and I gagged both times. My replacements for each would be Calyx and 24 Faubourg.
Had a busy day yesterday with an all-day game day with friends. We’ve been in a 5th edition D&D campaign since 2016. However, the regular DM has had some family with major health issues lately, so one of the other players stepped in yesterday to run a one-shot adventure.
SOTWeekend = Soivohle Paracelsus, from the sample stash. I have fallen fast and hard for this one. So, so, so gorgeous on me! The main notes I get are spices, rose, and patchouli (not a neutered one, but not wet dank basement either.)
Your Caylx replacement is perfect!
I’m glad you got to have a fun day of playing D & D. I did a little of that in my late twenties or so, with players of assorted ages. I probably still have bags of multi-sided dice around, and it’s been a while. lol.
I’ve heard a lot about Light Blue and how popular it is, but I didn’t get the impression it was considered a classic. I guess it was really demote what you want to, though. 🙂