Tuesday and Pots de Creme Day. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in Hermès Eau Claire des Merveilles. Tea the moment is Mariage Frères French Breakfast.
Reminder: 8/30 is National Slinky Day. Wear your most frivolous fragrance. Extra points if it's frivolous AND an enduring classic.
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: you can find the 600 ml Ashdene Indigo Blue Metal Infuser Teapot at Kitchenware in Australia.
Love
Can you tell me more? What House are you doing this week? I think I missed it.
Oops sorry! By Kilian! I have been wearing it since Sunday and might stick with it the whole week. I find it oddly comforting. The last mini Marzipan left on Saturday for college for the first time and the house is so eerie and quiet that I have been out of sorts and needing comfort.
That newly vacant nest is unnerving, sending warm thoughts your way, chocolatemarzipan.
Thank you,ringthing. I find that I am channeling my energy into massive cleaning projects which began Saturday as soon as we got home and are still continuing 🤣
I find cleaning very therapeutic too. That and good tunes!
yes it is therapeutic! and now that no one is home I can do it at 4am if I feel like it
That will be me next year, my youngest is in his last year of high school. Actually, it’s a little more quiet than I like now, with one of his sisters back at college and the other moved into her first post-college apartment. Good luck!
By Kilian?
Yes!!!!! 👍👍
Love is sort of trashy but in a genteel way. I really like it and I’ve got a travel spray. I can see that it would be very comforting. The fact that you coped with the departure through cleaning raised a smile
On my skin it reads like fluffy marshmallow, sweet orange blossom and tuberose ( don’t know why because there’s no tuberose in it!). And it sits pretty close to the skin for me. Glad I made you smile 😁. And my productivity and sense of accomplishment made me smile at the end of each day. 😆
It is the best and worst thing when our children launch. Sending positive thoughts your way and mini marzipan’s way.
“Roots to grow and wings to fly”
Thank you!! He’s my third and last one. It’s just strange not having him in the house.
CM
My sister had an unexpected guest last weekend.
Her son came up to the university where she lives without the fam ( DIL, granddaughters) to take a 3 day class. At 49, he is still her baby. Her house is a bit too quiet, too.
That’s beautiful! I bet that made her happy!
I agree,no matter how old they will always be my mini Marzipans.
How nice that she got a visit and had him to herself! I used to visit my mother on my own before she died, and we had some lovely visits.
Hugs!
😍
I’m in Jour d’Hermes, for a very hot jour here today – supposed to get close to 100 degrees this afternoon. Yikes.
Yikes is right! You do smell wonderful though
Thanks! It’s one of my all-time favorites.
That’s just nuts. I heard the PNW was supposed to have a warm, dry winter this year.
No kidding? The Farmers’ Almanac is allegedly predicting frigid temps for Colorado this winter, and they’re not that far from here. I will take warm and dry winter weather any year!
I meant to mention – it’s even in the mid-90s today at the coast. The Oregon coast. The freakin’ Oregon coast! That never happens.
Wow, stay cool!!
Yikes is right! Stay cool!
Luckily (?), it’s freezing in the office. I think the parking spot I chose will be in shade when I leave, but the door handle will still be nearly untouchable. I’ll need a towel or something to get the door open.
Dang! Send some of that eastward!
I’ll blow REALLY hard toward the east, but no promises.
It *has* warmed up since I posted at 1:30, so…
Good luck getting home!
Wow, that is crazy hot for almost September! 🌡🔥
Good morning! Despite a gloomy rainy day, I CHOOSE to have a good day!
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it….
Needed an upbeat happy fragrance to set the mood, so I went with Vera Wang Look. I’m so glad I found this one, thanks to YouTuber BeautyNotes. Check out her spot-on descriptions of scents if you’re looking for a great reviewer to watch….
Smelly miss that was redeemed: I picked up a no-name bottle of “Citrusy Mint” fragrance body mist at Walgreens for a couple of bucks last night, only to get home and find that it smells exactly like mouthwash! I don’t wanna project Scope as my personal scent all day, but I find that it does work perfectly as a bathroom deodorizer in the office bathroom….. HA HA HA Perfume Grinch approves its use for freshening up the shared toilet!
I love how upbeat you are
Your bathroom deodorizer story is cracking me up!
Hey, the perfume grinch is loosening up! Lol! Keep working on him JadainGa, and soon he’ll fall down the rabbit hole! 🐰
I have a couple perfumes-turned- bathroom spray in my arsenal, too. Rituals Hammam and Banana Republic Vintage Green and Neroli Woods. I don’t like them on but like them around, lol.
Haha! I tried Vintage Green and liked it as well, but thought it would make a better room spray than something I’d want to wear. I wound up not buying it since I have a bunch of perfumes that I use that way already–spritzing just once on the curtains in our bedroom on a sunny warm day with the windows open it is funny how many no-go perfumes do just the trick in the sun on fabric.
Vintage Green is my favorite of them all for room scents, especially in the heat! My sister gave me the 15ml versions of both BR scents, so it’s guilt free, lol.
Great idea about the curtains. We don’t have many curtained windows since we’re partly below ground level, so I have little vases of “silk” flowers that I spray.
Did the same with my bottle of Meteorites Home Fragrance lol. I bought it fully intending to wear it as a perfume, but it really is better as a home fragrance.
Nail clippers? They are improving! 😀
Ha ha! I can just hear you say reporter-like “in a surprising turn of events, …” 😂
Ha! That is exactly what I do with the one million samples of the Exceptional perfume that FragranceNet always includes with any purchase. I always throw them in a small box and when I have enough I pour them in a plastic atomizer and use them as air freshener. Not the best option , but at least they do not get wasted.
How is it that I never get any samples from fragrancenet? LOL!
Consider yourself lucky!
Like pl67, I only get samples of Exceptional, which does indeed smell like air freshener.
Same. But I unceremoniously toss them in the trash.
Ha!!!
Can we sell them? Lol!
You are definitely lucky! No doubts I will send you all I have for you to try! Who knows you end up loving them and ordering a full bottle! 🤣. But no worries you can have a whole life supply from me! 😂
By the way, what free samples do you get from FragranceNet then?
No no… keep freshening your house with them 🤣
Usually I get nothing, occasionally an Emory board that says fragrancenet on it lol 😂
Although now that I think about it the emory board is probably better?
Recently I’ve gotten nail clippers, which are welcome
No, no… keep filling your nails! 😂🤣😂🤣
🙃🙃🙃
💅💅
How is it that I never get any samples from fragrancenet? LOL!
I feel very hurt for rejecting my offer! 😂🤣
Lol…. would you like to trade for the emory board 🤣🤣?
I have some White Citrus EDT from BBW that I spray on one of our rugs to keep the cats from clawing on it.
And it works?
Yeah, it works until it wears off. But there’s still a lot left in the bottle and BBW still carries it!
Kingdom by Alexander McQueen. It’s certainly nice but I have seen some high prices! I don’t get too much cumin, which is a shame. I love the bottle though!
Oh that’s a great perfume! I swapped away my bottle years ago and have regretted it ever since. It used to be such a bargain.
I was recently given a sample of this with one of my perfume orders (can’t remember who from), liked it, and was then blown away by the prices! Not sure why they were sending free samples… weird.
Was looking up the frag and found this offer on eBay, just random fyi
https://www.ebay.com/p/Alexander-McQueen-Kingdom-1-6oz-Womens-Eau-de-Parfum/134397894?iid=372748379614
I am in sous le vent
Tea is Breakfast blend from David’s Tea
Now that I had a good nights sleep even though we are a bit jet lagged I can tell you that we had a wonderful vacation. 3 countries Czech, Croatia and Norway. All different. I am going to stick my neck out like a giraffe and say I liked Prague better than Paris.
What a great trip! I haven’t been to any of these countries. Prague is especially intriguing
My favorite part of the trip was a visit to a small town called Karlovy Vary. Its about 2 hours outside of Prague.
Ah, we went there, it was lovely! But there was another town I wanted to visit and we ran out of time, I think it’s a unesco heritage town now. Forget the name, it will come to me later.
Had to google… Český Krumlov. Next time.
My parents fell hard for Prague when they were there. One of their favorite cities. Ever. And they traveled a LOT!
I don’t see why one would have to like Paris more than Prague. Never been to visit the latter, but apparently it is very beautiful. I have been to Krakau which is supposed to be in a similar style. Good to hear you had a good time. How did you like Norway? I used to travel there a lot as a child. So I have all these images in my head of glaciers, lakes and fjords while I do not remember their names at all. I believe I was around 12 when we went there the last time.
I loved Norway. We were in Oslo which is the furthest North I have been to thus far. Vigland park was breath taking. The statues were so emotional and full of life. The one thing I didn’t like about Norway was the sticker shock. For Americans its very expensive!
It is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. It’s become very rich over the past 30 years or so with their oil, but I remember my parents talking about how expensive things were there in the 70’s.
I don’t remember Oslo at all. Although I know I’ve visited there. I do remember Bergen, very pretty. My strongest memories are of the countryside and all the water.
I loved Bergen…the fish market and visits to some of the houses that survived a fire (I could be wrong, having visited quite a few quaint seaside towns with pastel colored houses.
We went to Krakow because we were told by some friends that it was “the poor man’s Prague”. We were on a tighter budget back then. Beautiful city, did not disappoint!
I likewise had a much better time in Prague than Paris, although it is now many moons ago
Sounds fabulous! How were the kiddos traveling?
They were good! They were troopers in Croatia, with all those stairs. We were gone almost the whole month of August and they enjoyed their time. We also visited with some cousins for a part of the trip and they really had fun playing even though their cousin’s English was not that good. Play is universal !
That’s great! True about play. I remember meeting some non English speaking cousins when I was six and we were fine playing and used a lot of mime!
From the news stories about the tourist glut in Paris, I am guessing the Parisiennes won’t even mind! Your trip sounds fabulous.
I had just seen this the other day:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/25/prague-drunk-tourists-conquer-our-city
So apparently there is a glut everywhere!
I spent a week in Prague two years ago, and loved it. A beautiful old city and very walkable. I wouldn’t be averse to another visit
Sounds like a wonderful trip! I haven’t been to any of those places yet but I’m eager to add them to my list. Like many commenters, I’ve heard so many good things about Prague. I remember my parents going there decades ago; they loved it too.
Went with Mohur today and I smell fresh and rosy and in control – how I aspire to feel
Wonderful way to smell and feel
In the city again today – I’ve been twice in two weeks, it’s getting old! Decided to look for something for the hubby and tried AdP Colonia Sandalo (horrible, synthetic sharp “woods” that stuck through three hand washes and not cheap either) and Byredo Rose Noir, which for some reason also did not float my boat. I have yet to find a Byredo that makes my heart sing. Started the day in Eau de Rochas. Always a class act in my humble opinion.
No Byredo works for me either. You smell fabulous!
Have you tried 1996? That’s the only one that’s worked for me and I’ve tried quite a few.
There are a couple of shops that carry Byredo, but none of them has 1996. Also not Flowerhead. Maybe one day. There seems to be a rotating roster.
Eau de Rochas is gorgeous. It’s that tiny hint of decay that does it.
SOTD is Bulgari Ashlemah from the Le Gemme collection. I got a small decant during my lavender exploration. It’s much more of an iris/violet. Kind of reminds me of Cuir Ottoman and/or Infusion d’Iris Absolue but deeper and more purple-smelling. Nice but not knocking my socks off.
Ooo…I love that one. I get an Iris vibe too.
It is nice, it just smells like too many other things I’ve smelled. It’s actually also reminding me of AA Lavande Velours which is more violet heavy.
Yes I would agree that it smells vaguely familiar. But then again many things do to my nose these days.😀
I’m in a small spritz of l’Elephant to warm the cockles of my cold, cold heart. It immediately transports me my olfactive happy place.
Finally got the physical done and hoping there are no other issues. Wasn’t even a physical, more of an exercise test. I had to walk, lift weights, squat, bed over for two minutes and various other nonsensical stuff (including carrying 40lbs up/down stairs!).
I’m telling you, nursing has got gotten so ridiculous. I can totally see why no one is staying in bedside nursing. 4-5 years is the average span these days. Maybe robots will take over soon. I’m just about done with it. Everyone wants to be in “management,” so hospital systems are all top heavy- too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
When you see fountains and marble in the lobby, make sure you check out the patient rooms to see where money is really going. It certainly isn’t to patient care, quality supplies and equipment. Nope. It’s going in someone’s pocket. And marble, fountains, and mood lighting in lobbies. Ugh.
Deep breath of l’Elephant! Ahhh!
Good to hear you had the physical done, but sorry that health care is going the way of the dodo.
Such a shame as the job is so important.
And marble in lobbies in hospitals is just obscene.
Right rant over.
You definitely speak the truth about hospitals and health care in general. I’m facing two necessary surgeries over the coming months and am dreading the entire process. You do smell wonderful, and I’m glad your physical is behind you.
Oh, I’m truly sorry to see anyone in the hospital these days. I hope your surgical team takes great care of you! If you have anyone with some medical knowledge, it’s good to keep them close to you while an impatient.
Inpatient* But impatient could apply as well! Lol
Ha! I try not to be an impatient inpatient but nobody’s perfect
My mother is a nurse, going on 40 years in a hospital setting. (She says there are only a handful in her age bracket left.) Everything you say, she says. She spends far less time on actual patient care than she did at the beginning of her career.
Well, I tip my hat to her! Back in the day, when I was a young nurse, there were always older, experienced nurses in lead positions, or on staff in general. A hospital I worked at in Fl had an excellent core staff of educators, managers, floor, and charge nurses. Most of them had started as CNA’s and worked in the hospital their whole career, slowly but surely advancing to positions as their experience and education progressed. Hospital was sold to a “Hospital Corporation” and all those nurses were fired. Their positions were filled by brand new RN’s, just out of school, for a much lower salary. And this is not an unusual story.
Eek!!! My eldest just graduated and is working as a nurse!
I find the same is happening in public education…. too many administrators making loads of money and yet no real results. In our state we have access to their yearly salaries online. State college admins make upwards of 625k per year and many retire with a yearly pension of 475k per year. This is why a state college now costs 30k per year. And the classes are overcrowded and they are cramming students into dorm rooms.
The greed in this world, and in this country, is disgusting. It’s rampant everywhere- in business, in families, in schools. I think I may need another spritz of l’Elephant about now! 😉
I was about to make a comment along the same lines about university/college education. You’re right, CM, and the administrative bloat also means there are fewer actual professors with tenure and benefits and way, way more part-time adjuncts who have low pay and no benefits. Luckily, many of them are actually good teachers, but they’re exploited, and I happen to think actual professors with Ph.D.’s and active research programs can be great educators too, and offer better examples of the life of the mind. But I’m obviously biased that way.
Yes, Calypso.
And sadly in my area it is the same with public schools. Every time I read the Board of Education meeting minutes online there is yet another administration position created and a teacher position lost.
Deva, nurses are my favorite people.
Sick folks get well and go home because of nurses.
Your work, your calling, your mission, no matter when you started or how much the healthcare industry has changed over the years – you and your peers are #1 in my eyes.
What a lovely post apsara.😊
Ditto what midtowngirl said! So very kind of you to say. I’m very happiest when people get to go home. 😍
Very well said!
I have spent a considerable amount of time in hospitals in the last year and a half (six times!) and am fortunate that the one I was in, though it did have lobby marble and fountains, also had truly excellent and committed nurses. I could see, though, how over-worked they were. I needed a serious amount of help since I was bed-ridden awhile and absolutely every one of them was considerate and caring.
I’m so happy you had excellent and compassionate care! What an ordeal for you!
When my mom immigrated to America about 50 years ago, she was given an education in English and in nursing. She went on to become a RN and later became a RN practitioner. I would see her in action and it was hard physical work- IN THE 80s and 90s.
I watched her move and flip patients that were sometimes north of 300 pounds- without any further injury to them. She would was able to prescribe simple meds and did lots of hands on work.
She did this work for almost 36 years. When I asked her whether she would want me to become a nurse, she said NO.
So when I saw your post, I thought of how hard she worked. She was paid well, but honestly it is a calling and it is a sacrifice.
Your mom steered you right, I think. And hats off to her for all her hard work and caring. 👍🏼
Exercise test? Is this the first place you’ve had to do that?
Yes, usually it’s just a regular physical, drug screen, quantiFERON Gold, and N95 fitting. I’ve never had to lift 40 pounds and go up and down stairs, have my grip tested, amongst various other tests. Glad she didn’t ask me to do jumping jacks because my bladder would not have been happy…🤣
For real? Are they expecting you to stock shelves? My experience with nurses and CNA is through observation of mom’s care at a sub-acute rehab facility and at a not for profit skilled nursing facility. At the sub-acute rehab, we had to hire our own private duty aide for 12 hours a day because mom was not getting the appropriate attention from the overworked staff: the nurses seem to spend most of their time on the computer and the CNAs all want someone else to handle what they’re supposed to do or be prepared to wait at least 30 for them to actually address issues. The not for profit was a whole different story with nurses and CNAs who care and many of them are long-tenured. I’m in the process of appealing insurance coverage denials and want every cent back we paid out of pocket to the sub-acute rehab and then donating the $$$$$s to the not for profit.
Well, I wish you success! If anyone can accomplish it, I know you can. As you say, there is a huge difference between not-for-profit and profit based hospitals, but as reimbursement decreases, the gap is shrinking…
I’ve only worked for non-profit institutions and agencies and found them to be just as greedy and devious- the last non-profit home care agency I worked for ended up owing 35 million to CMS because of insurance fraud that I was asked to participate in, and didn’t, but not passively. I’m on their “do not rehire” list 😉
I think I may on one of those lists, too! Glad to know I’m in good company😀
Good for you! I’d take that as a badge of honor.
Perhaps part of the difference too is 120 beds vs. 50 beds (at the NFP) and run by nuns.
This is absolutely the difference.
Is that kind of physical a thing now?! I can see some discrimination suits coming from that sort of thing…
I don’t think I could work in a hospital doing bedside again unless I had absolutely no other choice. The autonomy I’ve had for the last 10 years would make it hard to go back to an institutional model. So kudos to you for plugging away!
And it’s so true about older nurses disappearing from the bedside. Most of the “fancy” hospitals here have young RNs. The older, community hospitals and state/city hospitals are where I see the older (and more diverse) staff. There’s a notable cancer hospital here where I swear you have to be 25 and blond to work there. It was like a caricature of something.
I worked in a small ICU for about 5 years back home and had great autonomy as well. I left for other reasons, but now generally work (as a traveler) in PCU/Stepdown only, where there is ZERO autonomy. I ordered an EKG once (pt with active CP) and the charge had a meltdown because I hadn’t called for an order first! 🤣😂 It’s been a struggle, but I try to remind myself I’m seeing some great places as I travel, and working a lot less hours throughout the year. So far, the pros outweigh the cons.
Oh, geez. But I hear you. It’s definitely a trade off and you seem to really be making it work! I guess also knowing an assignment is limited helps, too.
I probably should not be horrified but I’ve read that denials of coverage are routine and the companies hope that beneficiaries don’t appeal.
I think the most ridiculous thing is all the non-stop charting that nurses have to do these days. It isn’t even that informative when I am following one of my patients in the hospital (I’m an office-based internist). Charting for doctors isn’t a whole lot better, but when you have to document a care plan for every last thing, it’s just busy work and doesn’t let you do real nursing or take time for meaningful communication in the chart.
Ha! In this modern electronic world, it seems there’s less effective communication than ever before. Care plans have been obsolete for years, but everyone likes to beat a dead horse, apparently.
We had 3 care plan meetings over a 2 month period. When we got to specifics the last time, there were very clear “agreements”, some as simple as supplement with a protein shake. 2x per day I found out that it was like pulling teeth to get the shakes – why does it require a family member to ask for the shake when it should just come with the meals?
“your mom is not eating much”
“What’s her caloric intake?”
There was sheer panic as the nursing director, unit nurse and dietary consultant frantically looked through documents and found zero reference to even a mention of how little she was eating.
When i was anew and unexperienced MD, some experienced nurses saved me from making mistakes. Iwas alwas happy when i worked with older nurses… Keep up your good work!
As with anything, it’s always best to team up and get things done right. I’ve met many wonderful MD’s, especially intensivists, who took the time to explain difficult concepts to me, without degrading my intelligence, because they were excellent doctors, and knew that it takes a team to care for a patient 24/7. The bottom line being their patients had better outcomes because the people at the bedside we’re constantly improving their knowledge base. One of the things I admire most in medical people (and other fields as well) is folks who are generous with their knowledge.
Jacomo Silences today. As much as I’m LOVING this fall-like weather we’re having, I’m not ready to give up my summer perfume rotation just yet.
I’m feeling very distractable this morning. Maybe some caffeine will help me focus…
Go get a good strong cappuccino!
A good strong cup of black tea did the trick! I think a cappuccino would have me bouncing off the walls, lol
Had a hard time choosing but picked En Voyage Zelda today. What a fabulous perfume that like soooo many make me wonder why I don’t wear it more often! Love those scents that change back and forth all day, today it’s almost minty which is lovely because the weather is back to warm and muggy again
Zelda is so mercurial! I love her and you smell fabulous, I’m eaxh and every stage!
*in each and every stage 🙄
Wearing Bvlgari au thé vert. One of my favourite Elléna’s. It’s light and refreshing and still interesting which is all I need on this hot day.
In Cuir de Russie today. I don’t have enough Chanel to have a fortnight, but I could maybe swing half a week!
Cuir de Russie is fabulous. Which concentration are you wearing?
EDP from a decant. I could definitely do an FB! Must thunk this first.
You smell GREAT !
It was only through the kindness of my perfume pals that I managed a fortnight of Chanels!
I bought full bottles of my two favorite vetivers, Guerlain Vetiver and Encre Noir. Today I’m wearing Guerlain Vetiver. Love it.
Nice!
Thanks for all the kind comments yesterday. It is very tough not being able to share things with my parents.
I am wearing Solstice Scents Rose Mallow Cream again…supposed to be letting the sample age but I can’t see to put down them down 😉 sweet rose vanilla goodness for this one.
Sounds like a FB is not far off!
Yes, this one is quite nice.
I am enjoying the line. I was initially overwhelmed by their large fragrance list but the Scents have interesting notes which tell real stories with seasonal themes. Perhaps I am also tired of and somewhat jaded by high-end niche samples that over promise and under deliver. Perhaps. 😉
Feeling down in the dumps today and don’t know why right now. Went to Bath and Body Works yesterday and took advantage of the wallflower refill sale. Most of the scents I got were the Heirloom Apple ones, they are not overpowering and don’t smell strange. I think that Chanel no 5 will bring a little comfort.
I hope you feel better
Some days are just like that. My beloved therapist used to tell me- grab a blanket and watch your favorite movies.
this too shall pass.
My dad always uses that phrase when I’m feeling overwhelmed and call him for words of advice.
I miss my dad. But I remember his wonderful smile and his can – do optimism every day.
I’ve learned from my therapist that watching animals, fire (including candle flames), and water (though presumably, like, not a water faucet dripping) has an actual effect of calming and reducing anxiety.
I can attest to the animals part, having intentionally watched bunnies or squirrels play around to see if it works
All 3 of those things increase my anxiety, lol!
So much for the science, then!
But really, looking out at a lake or river stresses you out?
Yeah, pretty much most of the elements stress me out, nature in general. Animals, and crowds, travel. When I said people are nuts to PL67, I was including myself. Lol.
Hope you feel better soon, Dawn!
That is one of my comfort scents as well. Feel better!
Feel better!
I’m sorry you are feeling down in the dumps. Hoping you feel better soon!
I hope Chanel No. 5 did the trick! I stopped at B&BW in Sunday and many of the fall scents smell fab!
Feel better soon!
No.5 can be very comforting. I hope you feel better soon.
Sending you a hug Dawn. I hope it passes soon!
Definitely time for a comfort scent.
Hope your day turned around. I find it so… unnerving when I can’t identify the source of my bad mood. I agree that no 5 is comforting!
I tried out some samples this morning, hoping to pick one for work tonight. I’m now in Coco. Sometimes I get so sidetracked with trying new things, I forget to just wear what I love! Coco forever 🌞🤘
That happens to me too. Have a good day lillyjo!🌞🤘
Another Coco lover here! Hope you have a good working day!
Love Coco! You smell great!
Yes, Coco forever!!
Hi all!
1) It’s gonna be a scorcha, so Clean’s Rain it will be! (97F/36C)
2) I will be drinking water and hiding all day! I might skip work tomorrow and go to the beach!
I cannot believe the temperatures there! It makes me worry for older folks that don’t have a way to escape the heat. Enjoy the beach! 🌝
PSA: Surrender to Chance has a flash sale on today with 30% off on a range of selected items, including some full and partial bottles. I’m looking at some of the Amouage manufacturer’s carded samples. I don’t have any scent on yet today, but this makes me think of reaching for an Amouage, maybe Honour Woman.
Now is my chance! I own not a single fragrance from this House. I really liked Gold for him, I seem to recall. Any recommendations?
Gold for Woman, and I also really like Fate and Honour (the Woman versions). I like Interlude too but it might be more controversial. Many people also like Reflection, for both sexes. Perhaps others will chime in here, as I don’t remember it.
I think Gold for Woman is pretty universally acclaimed.
Seconding Fate for women!
I love Imitation Woman!
Another vote for Gold for Women! Also Memoir, Lyric, and Bracken.
Is there any coupon code for the 30%? I checked the site, but didn’t see anything with that discount.
Do you get a email from them? It’s probably in there. I’d love to check and help you out but I promptly deleted the email 🙄
I also deleted the email without reading it.
“30percent”
Thank you, Hajusuuri!
Yes, just 30percent is the code.
Thank you, Calypso! Checking right away!
I just ordered Gold and Beloved.
Wearing Bath and Body Works One in a Million shower gel and lotion. If you like scrubbed until they shine white florals with a touch of cucumber, really, my nose is getting cucumber today, try it. I purchased it to layer under BWF’s like Estée Lauder Tuberose Gardenia, my perfume for today.
Is it working well as a first layer?
Indeed. Cucumber is not a bad thing. I still think it is really pretty and a good first layer or by itself.
Mmm. Cucumber smells just make me think: cucumber martini, stat!
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
After yesterday’s gloom, the sun is out and the sky is blue. Currently 72 degrees, it is absolutely perfect out! Where do I get this 365?!
I went through the car wash and Bob Marley One Love was playing on the radio. I think it’s going to be a good day.😎
Pork roast in the crockpot for carnitas tonight, it’s our traditional Taco Tuesday.
Northern California coast.
I make crockpot carnitas, too, then crisp them under the broiler. Haven’t made them in ages.
And come to think of it, I no longer have a crockpot, so there’s a partial explanation. The pork could be cooked slow & low on the stovetop, though.
Pressure cooker! My husband has become a master at pressure cooking. Too much science for me, lol.
I’ve thought about trying whatever the newfangled version of the crockpot/pressure cooker is (I can’t recall what they’re called atm, but they’re quite trendy right now.) But woo am I kidding – I hardly ever cook anymore.
Lol! Me neither.
Instant pot? Or Instapot? My MIL got one. She likes it.
YES. That one.
The instapot has revolutionized my cooking. Deva got one recently too I think. Worth every penny for me
In Bracken.
Woke up and just new that no other perfume would do today. Still using up a decant, which feels like all I need right now… but I do really like this scent.
It’s very nice. I had a sample bit haven’t seen it around in a while so I must have used it up…
I really like Bracken too. I just went down to the basement to sniff my sample.
I hope your older son is enjoying his collegiate experience and that your younger one is adjusting to him being gone.
The big departure–my husband saying good bye –will be happening any moment. My son will probably be fine, but my husband is going to be wreck. Said son is pretty unhappy about his dorm setting, as he’s not in an area near the freshman dorms–long story. So the dorm building is pretty empty right now, and his roommate, also a sophomore, won’t show up until next week. There is a chance he can switch around in two weeks, but right now he’s feeling a bit cut off.
Younger brother? He is doing just fine, so far.
My eldest was also paired with a sophomore in her freshman year and not happy about it. But her roommate was chock-full of advice and even took care of my daughter ( picking up medicine and soup) when she got really sick. Maybe it will work out for your son having a more seasoned roommate. Whatever the outcome with regard to where he lives I wish him the best. It’s not an easy transition for child or parent.
My bottle is in the basement 🤣
😀
Hey Oakland, I have Persian Boy by Renault on hold at the library. The king must die was not available in book form. So I will start here and keep you posted.
You are so good. I take the lazy but profligate approach buying these type of reads used on Abe Books–just cheap enough that I don’t think too much about it when I hit “pay”. (The King Must Die for $3.40
)
Wait! That’s how much the book is?
Hmmm
Whhhhaaaaahhhaaaaaaa . . . .https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30330075614&searchurl=an%3DMary%2BRenault%26sortby%3D17%26tn%3DThe%2BKing%2BMust%2BDie&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1
I also note that there is a “very good” for $3.60–but again, these are often retired library books, so are in good condition but have all the library stickers on the binding, etc. Still, they are the still cheaper than a latte at Starbucks….
Caveat, the good and the “very good” are often not in good enough shape to resell to a used bookstore. But I just pass them onto friends or leave them in the free library. I also check Abe Books for new books. Sometimes they have bargains on new books, just fyi.
I like Bracken too! Great scent for summer.
Rochas Moustache… I was not a big fan of the lemon-and-ivory-soap opening, but it’s dried down into a very nice honeyed lavender that reminds me of chamomile tea.
That drydown sounds wonderful. Heck, lemon-and-ivory-soap doesn’t sound too bad to me either
I bought some CdG Detrimental aka Floriental samples and tested this morning. It’s a no-go for me so they’ll go up for swap. (I recently bought a bunch o’ new stuff to try out, after a very long hiatus from buying things I’ve never smelled. It’s not so much fun anymore what with my olfactory system going haywire on me.)
So now I’m in Prada Infusions Fleur d’ Oranger.
Most of my perfumes are either packed for my trip or back in their drawers. I’ll be gone for 3 weeks and anticipating a change in seasons upon my return – but hoping for extended summer weather in Cleveland. Fingers crossed. I’m going to be spending a lot of time in Ottawa this fall and winter, and the weather gets right to it once summer is over
It’s like adding extra winter. Winter plus. Bah.
Are you wearing the old Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger or a 2015 reissue?
Whichever it is, both were lovely, so you smell grand.
I have no idea! I didn’t realize there were 2 versions. I’m wearing whatever fragrancenet is selling as a mini
Lol at Detrimental! That would be a good name.
IKR? It was too good to waste my time correcting
33*C at the hottest moment of the day.
This temperature called for nothing else but Neroli Dore.
Much refresh, so cool, much wow
But I managed to take an awesome Instagram perfume shot with our lab plant.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1qCfbpBGGO/
Nice!
Thank you!
You smell perfect. Hermes should start using your pic in their marketing!
That would be a great honor if ANY perfume brand wanted to use my photo in their official materials.
Gorgeous picture!
Very cool picture!
What a beautiful picture. Very artistic!
SOTD = JM Myrrh and Tonka
I know it’s not for everyone but I think it smells fabulous! Myrrh, tonka, vanilla It seems like I picked the right day to wear it as the temps are supposed to go up again starting tomorrow.
Has anyone tried Penhaligon’s Cairo? I got a sample from LuckyScent and I now think I need a FB.
Last of the black Jo Malones I tested was Orris & Sandalwood, just when sales assistant told me it’s going poof off the market and that those were their last pieces.
Heh! I have Orris and Sandalwood as well!
I think it smells fabulous too…. especially on my son 😂
Ha! Did he bring it with him to school? I think you gave him a bottle?
Yes!!!
I like the name Cairo, but I haven’t smelled it. What’s it like?
Vanilla, saffron, sandalwood, patch, insence, Wood, none of which were dominant, i dabbed and I bet that spraying would probably bring out other aspects. Nothing revolutionary but cozy and office safe. There’s a pinch of brightness I couldn’t identify. I can see wearing this year round.
Sounds nice. Maybe if you don’t want to invest in a FB you can do a split
You smelled fantastic today!
Prada infusion d’iris this week. Feels like Thursday, it’s Tuesday, long weekend coming up, I’ll probably be slightly confused until mid September.
Confused or not, your perfume choice is great.
Ok, it must be catching because all day long I have had to keep looking at the calendar to figure out what day it is.
L’Artisan Drole de Rose.
Facing a challenging week. Working on an urgent project for the next couple of weeks and the lead engineer of the project and I do not like each other a bit. It is quite difficult to keep it professional and polite, but her arrogance ad lack of experience is getting on my nerves every second. Trying my best not to explode which is not easy right now. I hope she decides not to make things more complicated than they already are or try to keep it longer, because hers is not the only project I am handling. I feel this situation is going to end up at my manager’s office sooner than later.
Besides that a couple of hours of ago I was getting ready to attend a meeting and I was already very stressed when the coworker that sits next to me started screaming her lungs out, because she saw a tiny roach crawling on the wall. Instead of killing it, or calling the maintenance office, she slowly walked few inches away from her desk, not only having a face of disgust, but yelling that that was a sign of bad luck and that whoever???? carried that roach from outside???? was not only the dirtiest person ever, but a person carrying bad luck and spreading it to others. She was looking at everybody who sits around her! Ok, I respect everybody’s beliefs, but that huge drama was unacceptable, unnecessary, irritating, childish and it made the already stressful working environment that we are all facing today even worse. I quietly walked to the wall to kill the roach, but it hid in a gap and it became unreachable. She looked at me with so much anger as if it were my fault. Uff! This is not the first time we have issues with her. Something is not right for sure.
I’m so sorry you are surrounded by these stressful people. People are nuts! Plain and simple. I wish you the best on your project. 🌷🌻🌞
Thank you, Lillyjo! 😊
Oh, dear! So sorry about all your work stress. Yeah, I’ve encountered superstitious people but she also just sounds a little off (or a lot off, lol). Also, how does she live in NYC?!?Roaches are not a rarity here.
It is really crazy! There are no roaches in NJ????? She lives there!
Geez, you work with a bunch of nut jobs! Sounds like she needed a good slap to halt the hysteria! (Not that I’m encouraging physical displays of annoyance, but good grief!) I’m wishing you a very calm and relaxing evening. Wish I could wave a magic wand and put those people on MUTE for you🤐
Believe me! What I see here I never ever experienced in my previous jobs. Absolutely nuts!
I think we NEED you here Deva! 😀
Looking forward to the end of the day, have a warm shower and a glass of wine! Hope the day tomorrow is “better”.
Oh dear, hope things get better soon.
And I am agreeing with Elisa P, how can anyone in the city freak out about a roach??
Honestly, I don’t understand anything!
Gracious. Echoing Deva, get some heavy duty noise cancelling headphones!
I just happened to not be wearing them at that precise moment. But I really doubt they had worked with that “out of this world” screaming. It was incredibly shocking and upsetting!
A guy missed the Newark Airport stop because he had the big a$$ noise cancelling headphones and he was very engrossed with his electronic device. When we arrived at the next stop, he perked up all of a sudden and said oh good we’re at the airport and we all looked at him and shook out head and said nope. He couldn’t believe it and asked the conductor. Same answer. I bet he will miss his flight unless he’s like my sister who must be at the airport 5 hours before departure, I kid you not.
🤣
Ha!
😂
That’s just crazy. Sounds like someone who loves drama. I dislike roaches as much as the next person, but that’s just nuts. Makes a good story, though….
I am glad she goes on vacation tomorrow for 2 weeks, just in case the roach shows up again. I hate drama!
People a crazy 😜
🤪
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry. I hate drama as well. Just way too much!
I work in a group of mostly quiet people, except one person. She has to be talking much of the day, usually not work related; or just a running commentary of what she’s doing. And its sometimes just the tone of voice, ugh, drives me nuts! I need to get some noise cancelling headphones just so I can concentrate as the noisy one sits right across from me, facing me (with a thin divider between us).
Hope you can find some peace in your fragrances. You may need to treat yourself!
Those noise cancelling headphones are the best. I used them every day. My office is a bit noisy, so they are a “must have” for me.
This week is going to be so rough and exhausting that I am seriously considering to take advantage of the STC sales. I already have some goodies in the shopping cart! 😉
Sounds like that person has all kinds of issues. As for roaches being in NJ… um, yes they are! I’m thankful that it’s been a while since I’ve seen one.
No wonder she does! Our building even though is old is very well maintained. This is the first roach I have seen this year. Nobody has complained about any pests. She overreacted and if you add to that that she is so superstitious then we have a serious case to deal with.
Oh no. Sorry you had this negative experience. Dealing with crazy people — or just being around them — is exhausting.
Thank you. Looking for a better day today.
Here’s something y’all might enjoy as much as I did :
“Sniffing Out 6 Stories About Smell”
https://youtu.be/GeCSxaNbuqk
A couple of the clips have appeared here before, but Sissel Tolaas’s work is new to me and I find it fascinating!
Something else some of you might enjoy as much as I did is learning about Project Beauty Share. They’re an organization in WA that accepts and distributes used makeup, beauty products and the like and yes, perfume! Over the years here on NST we’ve often discussed the subject of what to do with what we aren’t using. There are so many avenues to choose from, so I’m adding this one for those of you who might be interested in going the donation to a good cause route. I have been so very lucky to have been blessed by the generosity of others here over the years who have shared their perfumes with me, and some have reached out to help me with a couple of projects I have done in nursing homes, assisted living and hospice. So I’m always looking to pay it forward in order to honor their generosity in giving to me and also to those outside their inner circle. If you would like more information about what they accept and who they serve, that info is available on their website. As far as perfume goes, I have confirmed that they accept used bottles, samples and decants woot! (BTW, I have no affiliation with them.)
Unintentional sotd is Shalimar edt since I had to fix the sprayer on a bottle I’m donating, and you know how that can go!
Thank you and love this!
Yay! You’re welcome!
Thank a lot for that information, Holly! So useful! Finally a place where all unwanted beauty products can be donated!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it useful!
Thanks for this info! What a great org!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad I found them!
Perfect! I have a ton to donate — never used but older cosmetics and bath and body products!
Excellent! I figured this would be right up your alley!
Thanks for the info on Project Beauty Share!
You’re welcome!
More signs of spring up in the forest as all the puddles have a thick rime of sulphur-yellow pollen, blown from the pine trees. This is the first winter in my memory where the start of my day has not been disrupted by heavy frost and ice on the roads, or snow. I miss the cold extreme that winter used to bring, it was always invigorating. Wearing Interlude because Calypso mentioned it.
Kanuka, I always love reading your evocative observations about nature and your surroundings where you live. I thought of you when I saw this:
“Haeckels – Wild Fragrances”
https://youtu.be/E7KeH1_7Nx0
In addition to this video, I particularly enjoyed watching the Haeckels videos on their channel about the locales and vision that inspired their line.
Thank you. What a great find. I really enjoyed looking at the videos too, the coastline was so beautiful. Thank you.
You’re welcome. It was those videos that captivated me as well.
No heavy frost or snow all winter, you mean?
It’s definitely got a feeling of spring here too. Still cold, but the days are longer and spring flowers are appearing more and more, not just a few early strays.
I haven’t worn AA Figue and Iris for some time, so that’s my choice for today. Its one of the first perfumes I bought when I started getting seriously interested in perfume.
Yay for more signs of spring!
Went to see Abbadream,a cover band at the open air. They were good and lots of fun. Wore Coriandre for the real 70ies feeling, which was so good in the heat. Had a big chili cheese and some wine from the foodtruck. A great evening!
That sounds so fun!
Loved ABBA and Coriandre….. wow! That’s a fragrance from my distant past!
That sounds so fun! Sounds like a great evening!
That sounds like so much fun! We went to see an ABBA cover band with our kids a few years ago, they loved it.
SL Gris Clair, because it was mentioned the other day and I found a decant while I was looking for En Passant. Really nice lavender.
Adventures in kitty thyroid meds continues… we are now going to try transdermal. Her blood work came back as still high. So irritating. Cats are evil.
I just lost my cat a few weeks back. they thought it was a thyroid problem because his levels were so high but it was a combination of things. Sorry you are going through this!
Thanks. We’ve just had along road with cats the last 18 months. She’s our last one, so I’d like to keep her as long as possible.
Aww, I hope the transdermal is easier on you both. They are evil, lol. My current boy acts like I’m torturing him if I put anything on his ears.
We did the transdermal thyroid med with our old cat and she tolerated it pretty well, but she was 17 at the time so we didn’t schlep her in for regular bloodwork.
Aw, sorry to hear that your kitty’s condition is proving difficult to deal with. I’ve been in that situation, and it can really suck sometimes.
Oh Pots de Creme sounds like the perfect finish to a dinner of Caprese salad. Gotta eat all those tomatoes while they are at their peak! 🍅
SOTD = Soivohle Cuir Beurre Extrait, from the sample stash. Back to trying new things. This starts as a HUGE heavy leather, but calms down over a few hours to a skin scent. Lots of birch tar in this one.
Ooh, birch tar!
It’s worth a sniff! I know you aren’t a fan of dabber samples, but I would be willing to pass mine along to you if you are interested.
Aren’t the tomatoes fantastic this year? We have been using them in our giant dinner salads.
Yes, they are! It’s been a long time since I have eaten tomatoes as good. And since they are heirloom tomatoes, I suspect that they’re even tastier. Not at all pretty, but oh so good! 😋
This was the first night in weeks that I did not have a caprese…bad planning and ran out of basil.
Late today! But in Fat Electrician. The leaves are starting to change already, which I’m not really prepared for…but I DO love Halloween season.
Too early for leaves to be turning for sure!
Back to summer temperatures this week during the day so I grabbed my Love’s Fresh Lemon tonight, judiciously applied like a body spray!
It’s pretty cool in the mornings now, plus it’s so dark when I get up. I want to be in denial of this, but its soon time to start bringing out some heavier frags.
Hello! Technically it’s Wednesday on the East Coast, but noting that I had Pacifica Mediterranean Fig cologne on Tuesday afternoon, from a sample. I had gotten a roller ball when I saw signs at Whole Foods that the fragrance was going to be discontinued, then gave it away.