Now that the Harvest Moon has come and gone, let's talk about gourmands. Tell us...
1. Your absolute favorite gourmand fragrance?
2. A fragrance you'd like if it were a little less sweet?
3. A fragrance you layer to add a gourmand element?
4. Your absolute favorite dessert, or chocolate bar, or other sort of edible treat?
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is Harvest Moon [cropped] by John K Thorne at flickr; some rights reserved.
Happy weekend, NST! I seem to be coming down with the sniffles so I’m thankful that my job is two days away. Commando so far, but here are my poll answers:
1. Your absolute favorite gourmand fragrance?
Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles – smells like a caramel popcorn ball!
2. A fragrance you’d like if it were a little less sweet?
I think I’d like Promesse de L’Aube a bit better if it were a tad less sweet. It’s a gorgeous scent as is, but sometimes it feels just the tiniest bit cloying.
3. A fragrance you layer to add a gourmand element?
I don’t have one. Maybe I should!
4. Your absolute favorite dessert, or chocolate bar, or other sort of edible treat?
Had it last night! Crème brûlée after our anniversary dinner, and it was perfection. Just exactly the right balance of creamy and crunch.
happy anniversary
Thank you, LTSG, and many thanks to everyone who wished Mr. G and me well yesterday. It was a lovely anniversary! 🥳
I haven’t creme brûlée in a very long time, and now you’ve given me a craving!
I agree on creme brulee!
happy anniversary! creme brûlée +1
Absolutely – it’s the best!
Happy anniversary!
Thanks Kelly!
1. Omnia, if that fits the category. Its like a spicy white chocolate chai dessert on me
2. Le Petit Robe Noire
3. I don’t layer
4. Royce Nama Chocolate, Chocolove, Tony’s Chocolony, Maison du Chocolate, any hot chocolate (even the spicy mexican kind) I prefer dark chocolate but I am open sometimes to other kinds.
MR L is traveling so I am holding down the fort. Farmers market this morning, compost, textile recycle .
SOTD Coco
I am almost done with this bottle. Do I need another?
SipOTD Matcha Latte and will do a coffee later when I have to bring these two kiddos to a birthday party.
What’s out in the farmer’s market today? Tomatoes are nearly gone and boy did I enjoy this summer’s bounty. I’ve been thinking lots about caramel apples, really good, homemade ones.
Love Maison du Chocolate but my favorite NYC chocolate is Li-Lac Chocolate
Tomatoes gone here too! Very sad. Peaches still good though.
There is still tomatoes at my market. Right now the plants are resting but there are still some. I prefer the Old Germans and won’t settle for anything else
….ah yes you do. if it’s gone then it’s a loved perfume.
Yay! My wheelhouse!
1. I can’t pick just one, so here are some off the top of my head favorites: Phaedon Dzhari, PG Praline de Santal, Kyse Oui Plus!, Jacomo Art Collection No. 8, Laromatica Kulfi, Les Senteurs Gourmandes Tendre Madeleine.
2. I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question….
3. See item 1.
4. Creme brulee, macarons, fancy schmancy ice cream, and sometimes, there’s nothing as satisfying as forkful after forkful of a really good layer cake with French buttercream frosting.
#2 good one Lisa D.
😊
Definitely your wheelhouse! Do you actually layer to enhance the gourmand-ness of fragrances, or do you just pick gourmands exclusively and have no need to layer?
I don’t layer much, but when I do, it’s either to sweeten up something that is too dry or earthy (like a vetiver or an oudh), or make something simple a bit more complex.
I hear that Number 2!!
Right? In perfume or dessert!
1. A toss-up between BF Ummagumma and PG Indochine.
2. Dior Fève Délicieuse
3. Don’t really layer perfumes.
4. The sticky buns I used to make years ago for Christmas morning or other special occasions.
SOTD FM Vetiver Extraordinaire, which is perfectly balanced, at least to my imperfect nose.
Oh, happy weekend! The last two days I have walked over 20 miles while at work. My old body is really resisting the return to work. 😵
That FM Vetiver made me love Vetiver. You smell gorgeous.
Indochiiiiiiine …. mmmmmmm.
Hope you are well rested by now Deva!
It doesn’t look like I have a lot of gourmands, but I like Lancome Oud Bouquet (a fancy version of Prada Candy) and Guerlain AA Ylang & Vanille (a nice bedtime scent).
Dessert: since it’s still technically summer I am still thinking of pie, such as strawberry and vanilla.
A question: BBW is having a sale and as I have to be downtown anyway today I thought to pop in. Boy they have a lot of scents, and frankly some seem pretty yankee-candley. What would people suggest to smell, to cut down on nose-fatigue?
By the way, thanks to the person here who suggested Watkins Lemon Cream dry oil, which smells just like a lemon tart.
Strawberries and vanilla sounds as perfect as it gets
I am not a big gourmand person. Bought Fils de Dieu which is as gourmand-y as I can tolerate.
Some trivia, for a long while I’ve been seeing Agent Provocateur EDP at my local perfume “corner store”, but dismissed it as in the same league as celebrity fragrances. What I WAS searching for (everywhere) was Grés Cabaret, that I’ve seen mentioned as a nice woody rose. Anyhow, then started seeing references in a couple of spots (Perfumeshrine, Katie Puckrik) that AP is the ‘aunt scent’ of Cabaret and Lady Vengeance. Tried AP today and I really like it. That is, after the first 5 minutes!
Favorite sweet treats: ice cream, carrot cake.
A good carrot cake is sublime.
I can’t comment on AP’s relationship with those others but I do think it’s worth taking seriously. It’s better than most celebuscents. Instead of the usual crowdpleasing sweetness it has a savoury, almost peppery quality I like. I wear it sometimes as an alternative to Narciso Rodriguez for Her EDP, which is also rose-themed and sensuous, like a silk slip.
Over-applied, AP can be a bit synthetic though. It can wear flat and heavy on me. NR4H is a bit more forgiving of careless over-spraying (I find). Great bargain, there’s always that!
You have a good nose! NR4H is another “niece” mentioned by Perfumeshrine. I’m a 1 or 2 spritz girl, so didn’t pick up on the “big” perfume mentioned in some comments. Did get the spicy start, though.
I’d better re-read that Perfume Shrine piece. I’ve probably seen it before , but I’m intrigued now. 🤔
I just bought a 50mL sample of AP Fatale from Marshall’s for a perfumath free sum of $9.99 (+tax, but it doesn’t count anyway because perfumath free). Still in the shrinkwrap but I may trot it out tomorrow for church 😱
Seems really appropriate cor church … name-wise, anyway. 😈
I was kind of apprehensive about AP original edp, until I smelled that beautiful saffron note (and some other spices – pepper? ) and it completely won me over. The opening is pretty WAHHH, though, I agree!
1. Your absolute favorite gourmand fragrance? Indult Tihota
2. A fragrance you’d like if it were a little less sweet? None, I’m all about the sweet!
3. A fragrance you layer to add a gourmand element? I layer CSP Coco extreme over Dame Chocolate or L’Artisan Figuer Extreme
4. Your absolute favorite dessert, or chocolate bar, or other sort of edible treat? Anything dark chocolate, fruit pies, ice cream!
Oh, I forgot Tihota. That is a good one.
Happy Saturday!
1. Your absolute favorite gourmand fragrance?
PdN Kiss Me Tender. I like a number of gourmands, but that one is all buttery sugar cookie on me, and I love it. Anyone know how much this differs from the new Kiss Me Intense? I’ve read the Fragrantica entries, but trust this community’s opinion more.
2. A fragrance you’d like if it were a little less sweet?
Coromandel EDP. The EDT was a holy grail scent for me, and the EDP is not.
3. A fragrance you layer to add a gourmand element?
I don’t layer much, but occasionally I’ll add Pacifica Coconut to something.
4. Your absolute favorite dessert, or chocolate bar, or other sort of edible treat?
A really good chocolate chip cookie, pretty much any wedding cake, or gelato. I have to eat gluten-free now, so mostly sticking with gelato these days!
I love your number 1. KMT is one of my favorites as well. I’ve never smellef the intense version so I can’t help you there.
You have great taste! 😉
I have Kiss Me Intense. If memory serves of KMT, KMI is less sweet, less vanilla. On me, the bitter almond in KMI is more forward. I think of it as a warm scent in the dry down but not too sweet. There’s a bit of sharpness in the opening.
Thank you, LizzieB! I really, really like almond, so that change doesn’t scare me. Phew! Getting low on my bottle, and I’ve been sweating it. 😂
I don’t think I have ever smelled Coromandel EDT. I do love the EDP. It’s one of my favorite patchouli/chocolate perfume along with Bornéo 1834. Thanks to NST, I just found out about the Perfume version. I am tempted.
What was different between the EDT and EDP in your opinion please ?
1. Orchidée Vanille is the first vanilla I ever liked. So it’s up there. Angel Muse certainly. And Gourmand Coquin, which I always wish had some rose in it.
2. Elie Saab L’Eau Couture. I love the almond, but it’s very sweet. Fresh sweet, but i always notice the sweetness.
3. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to make something more Gourmand. I’m more likely to try and make something more green.
4. Oddly, I moved away from chocolate desserts as I got older. It may be the caffeine avoidance. A good lemon meringue or any form of peach desserts are pretty irresistible.
Gonna be Arancia di Sicilia today as my samples from Indigo arrived.
Oh, do report your thoughts on Arcania di Sicilia after you’ve worn it. I had one hit and one miss from my recent Perris Monte Carlo samples. Love Jasmin de Pays! It’s a big Jasmine for jasmine lovers only. Rose de Mai was my miss but only because I rarely fall for a rose soliflore. I typically enjoy roses best when they’re say a gourmand rose or earthy rose. Rose de Mai is very well done for rose lovers, I think.
Those two are the ones I really want to try, I love rose and jasmine. Was the rose more fresh, or more perfumey/rich?
It was a pretty straightforward fruity, honeyed rose de mai on me. I would call it rich over fresh, and it’s definitely very pretty. It smells expensive. I think of the color pink when I smell it. I think the dry down was quite nice, but I wore it at night a couple hours before bed so I didn’t get to smell the whole dry down.
If you want, I can send you my spray sample when you’re back in the states.
I may have already ordered a sample – but thanks for your review and kind offer!
Hi therabbitsflower,
Thanks for that information, I am curious to try Jasmin de Pays, especially as it is a JCE creation.
Do try it! I think it’s very good.
I was just thinking, while spraying the last bits of A La Nuit on tonight, that I would love to find a new Jasmine soliflore. I also happen to be reading about JCE in that book by Chandler Burr, so it makes me want to check it (well, the rose, too) out pronto.
I would recommend buying a sample from Indigo Perfumery (I’m not affiliated with them) because they come in spray form. I love being able to sample that way. They also carry the Pont des Arts line that has two very nice Duchaufour(sp?) perfumes.
I’ll add them to my basket, and thanks!
I love Angel Muse! I like the original Angel, but Angel Muse is more my style. Still a lot of personality!
Salome from my new bottle 🥰 smells way more intense, smoky, than my decant. Sample request was Bengale Rouge. Wow! I get a hit of cinnamon right off the bat. It’s beautiful.
Fabulous new addition to your collection! 🙌🏼 Enjoy it. Is BR a rose centric perfume? A spicy rose, considering the cinnamon you get at the forefront..?
Thank you!🙌 I just swiped a little bit of Bengale Rouge, haven’t smelled rose yet. Perhaps when I do put on some more, the Rose will be more noticeable. I do smell sandalwood and vanilla.
Hi Deva, re: Bengal Rouge (you didn’t ask me but if I can answer the question?)
I’m whispering here: 😊 it’s a subtle (foundational) rose and not spicy either as the other ingredients do the big lifting. I do think the perfume would be entirely different (for the worse) without it. I have an unopened dabber I can send you, lmk.
Don’t tell Deva but her package includes some from my bottle 😂
👏❤️
You smell divine!
BR is my new love.
why do I suddenly need to test this?
its sold out at Luckyscent.
Just got an email that Fumerie (no affiliation) has Bengale Rouge in stock. I’m really sitting on my hands. 😬🤗
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it is already sold out at Fumerie. I think they still have samples available though.
Sigh. That was quick. Wonder how many bottles they had?
Oh my
I must investigate further about all this selling out.
I think Indigo still has samples available
favorite gourmand, eh.
Less sweet, Terra Cotta. It gets cloying a few hours in.
Layer all the Chanel Eaux. Use to layer JM grapefruit under things, but what did I know then….
Sticking with the same as last year – NANAIMO BARS – but I am at the 15 pound mark so there is nothing even close to it in my future.
I agree with you on the Terra Cotta. I know there is a lot of love for it here, but it was really just too sweet for me.
And you’ve inspired me to at least start to try to lose weight. I can’t stick to any diet, so have made resolutions: no bread, no sugar, less fruit (a particular weakness of mine), MORE salad and veggies. Lost 1.5 pounds this week and didn’t feel too deprived. This helped: whey powder waffles: 1/2 cup vanilla whey protein powder, one egg, 3 tbs yoghurt/ sour cream, 1 tsp baking powder. It makes four small crisp waffles!
I’m saving that recipe. It sounds fantastic and I’m a breakfast lover. Does it work best with whey, or have you tried it with other protein powders as well?
Hi! I’ve tried it with chocolate flavoured whey powder
-also good.
No, seriously, I think whey will work best, as it has a fine texture. I have pea and hemp protein powder here at home and the texture seems a bit too coarse. You can always play around with the amount of yoghurt added, though.
I went with Nutrisystem ( NO AFFLIATION) for vegetarians. I have no time to cook and I have zero portion control. so far so good and have only been hungry the first week. I have one more food order coming. I told myself I would commit to three months of the system and I should lose the 20 pounds. want to lose total of 30.
the app is great and I record everything I eat.
Twenty pounds in 3 months is quick. You’re doing well.
Thank you!
I have on a skort today that I wouldn’t pack for Africa trip
I feel good!
Congrats on your stick-to-it-ivness! Don’t know what a Nainamo Bar is, but now I want one🤭
https://www.nanaimo.ca/about-nanaimo/nanaimo-bars
they are reason enough to go to Canada.
I had to look them up, and now I really, really, really want some.
Ikr! I am trying to find a website where we can buy them in Canada but no luck thus far. Amazon has tons of cute Nanaimo tee’s but NO product. That’s a first!
Because I didn’t see your link, I googled them and found a site that basically maps out a “Nanaimo Bar Trail” so you can eat your way around Nanaimo and taste all the varieties. This has just gone on my bucket list! 🥰 https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/about-nanaimo/nanaimobartrail.pdf
You’ve enriched my life and expanded my waistband by mentioning these! Thank You!
Sorry not sorry 😎
I make really great Nanaimo Bars and I wish you could all come over and sample them. A Nanaimo Bar/perfume party sounds like heaven to me.
It would be joyous! Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face.
Count me in! I googled them as well and was stoked to find out they don’t require baking. I can totally make these in the van, especially with the cooler weather coming. They’ll keep well in an airtight container in the garage area, which stays a very consistent temperature. 😀
Also, do you share recipes? I would love to have yours if you do…!
Sure, Deva, send me your email. I’m luannedotteall at gee mayle dot com.
amen!
We had a great set of postage stamps that came out this past spring of traditional Canadian desserts:
https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/blogs/collecting/details.page?article=2019/04/17/sweet_canada&cattype=collecting&cat=stamps
I am from the land of Blueberry Grunt! 😈
Those stamps are adorable, and I am shocked to discover so many desserts I have never tried.
1.) Demeter Chocolate Chip Cookie is a favorite. I like Atelier Cologne’s Vanille Insensee and SL Un Bois Vanille.
2.) I’ll let you know if I run into a fragrance that’s too sweet for me.
3.) A couple of weeks ago I was experimenting with layering vanilla perfumes over LUSH Cardamom Coffee solid perfume.
4.) I have so many favorite desserts. *So* many. I like Bananas Foster, creme brulee (as mentioned above), red velvet cake, carrot cake, and almost anything involving chocolate. I’ve been known to make “yummy noises” when eating a Godiva dark chocolate bar.
Friday the 13th wasn’t a bad day for me. Mom and I went to the county library for a while in the afternoon, and I like libraries. In the evening, I went to a strip mall with a group from the Y. (Strip mall = lines of stores, but not all under one roof, for those who haven’t encountered the term.) First we went to a burger place, then Bath & Body Works, and then a Barnes & Noble. I didn’t get anything at Bath & Body because I had *so much* in the way of fragrances at home. I didn’t get anything at Barnes & Noble because what I wanted was in e-book format, and I’d just been to the library.
I saw the harvest moon when I was going back to my car. It was big and light yellow, very beautiful. So my Friday was a good one. I got out and socialized.
The moon was still amazing here on Saturday night
Saturday: My brother came for a surprise visit. Scents of the day for me: First, Old Spice cologne (classic). J. said he sometimes wore the Old Spice aftershave I had given him. I don’t know if it reminds him of Papa D. the way it reminds me, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
It turned out that some of the “Pour Homme” colognes I was offering up were flankers of colognes he already wore. Go figure. So J. got those. I hadn’t seen any interest in them over the week. (Sorry if that breaks the rules.)
It occurs to me that perhaps I wasn’t clear when I said “Pour Homme.” I meant colognes that said “Brand Name pour Homme” if they were French brands, or “Brand Name for Him” in English or “Mr. Brand Name” or “Brand Name Man.” Sorry if that was confusing.
I told J. that another one I liked for the fun of it was Demeter Chocolate Chip Cookie. I put that on a while after I’d washed off the Old Spice.
Roja Reckless is as good as a gourmand gets, done in a quiet and exquisite way. Smells like I want to be remembered as smelling like. Comfort, easy, home. All the love.
lovely
1. Angel, but I just got a sample of Keep Glazed by The House of Oud that is a very close second! It smells like an extravagant dessert.
2. Pink Sugar is juuuuust a tad too sweet for me. I have a bottle, but I always use it very sparingly.
3. I don’t layer fragrances…not enough of an expert!
4. Hoosier pie, an Indiana classic! But I no longer live there, so I lost my access. Second favorite…hmmm…I have a serious sweet tooth, so it’s all wonderful to me, but I’ll go with cheesecake.
Love this poll but hard for me to narrow stuff down as I’ve a real sweets gal.
It’s interesting, however, as I’ve gotten away from sweet scents over the last year. I don’t wear as much vanilla as I used to and other scents I’ve enjoyed over the years I’ve run out of and not replaced. I would say currently for sweet I like Jo Malone’s Honey & Crocus which is all almond and on the sweet side. I used to like Feve Delicieuse but no longer. Tonka isn’t not working for me like it used to.
As for sweets I like to eat the list is quite long. My dessert of choice is always chocolate (milk, dark, white!) and I’ll also do lemon meringue, Junior’s cheesecake, high end ice creams but not much interest in pies. On a recent weekend to Lancaster, PA, I bought some fudge that was outstanding so I’ve been enjoying that the past few weeks.
SOTD: Iris Nobile EDT
Feve doesn’t work for me either.
My favorite gourmand at the moment is Felanilla. I love the medicinal iris/banana leaf note with the woody dry vanilla. Yum..
I don’t usually like syrupy/jammy sweet fragrances but I like many sweet fragrances. Insolence, French Kiss, Gourmand Coquin, and jammy roses (with the exception of PHI) don’t work for me.
I tend to layer perfume over scented oils but more resinous or incense scents. I can’t think of any sweet perfumes that I layer.
My favorite dessert is tommysue or tiramisu for non-family members.. 😊
Interesting. This is no gourmand on me. Just a dry powdery vanilla with a medicinal note (saffron?).
Banana and vanilla both smell gourmond to me.
Oops gourmand…
Felanilla is a favorite of mine, too. Along with Gourmand Couquin and Tonka Imperiale.
I’ve never tried Tonka Imperiale but I’ll have to give it a sniff.
Petunia, I have a fb- can send you a sample! Have you tried Gourmand Couquin?
I have tried Gourmand Couquin. I think it’s a boozy gourmand? I have a hard time with boozy scents. I wouldn’t mind trying Tonka Imperiale.
I’m not a big fan of gourmands…I remember back in the day I liked The People of the Labyrinths Luctor et Emergo, it smelled like almonds, and PG’s Aomassai, smelled like burnt caramel.
I also like Angel, in theory, at least. I like it when somebody weating it passes me on the street & I get a whiff of it. Like passing by a cotton candy store. But I definitely couldn’t wear it myself.
To answer the last question – right now, I’d say lava cake? or a nice flourless chocolate cake…or…agrhh, there are too many!!!
Flourless chocolate cake is one of my favorite things in the world.
Don’t like gourmands and sweet fragrances in general, however, Rochas Man answers the first question. Guerlain’s Mon Exclusif answers the second. My dark chocolate for my iron need is Lindt Excellence Lime Zest.
Oh that dark chocolate sounds excellent.
Lime Zest sounds fab
The most gourmand scent i like Fils de Dieu.
I maybe could like Angel Muse, but in small doses.
No, i would not layed anything to make it sweeter…
Favorite dessert is creme brulee, followed by mousse au chocolat
Interesting. This is no gourmand on me. Just a dry powdery vanilla with a medicinal note (saffron?).
I don’t think of myself as a gourmand fan but, as with any type of fragrance, there will always be something I like. Remember Me by Jovoy is one of those, it’s sweet, but that’s balanced by the spicy notes.
There are so many perfumes that I’d love if they were less sweet. I make brief notes on perfumes I’ve tried, and “… but a bit sweet” is a very common comment. One I’m thinking about now is Dates Delight by The House of Oud, I got a sample from Luckyscent, and my initial note on this is “Sweet and rich, not horrible, but a bit too vanilla. Very long-lasting.” After more sniffing, I’ll delete the “not horrible”.
I don’t layer perfumes, but if I did, I’d be trying to make things less sweet
I couldn’t name an absolute favourite – I might not want to smell like dessert or chocolate, but I certainly like to eat them! However, a particular special occasion treat from childhood comes to mind, a big pavlova nest filled with a chocolate cream. To those not familiar with New Zealand desserts (although Australia claims to have invented the pavlova), a pavlova is a giant meringue.
Had not known it came from either place! Wikipedia has a long, twisted and not definitive explanation of the origins of the pavlova, thanks for sending me down that interesting rabbit hole
Top gourmands right now: Vanitas, Dulcis in Fundo, Ambrosia
Too sweet? Ain’t no such thing.
Layering combo: JPG2 massage oil under Timbuktu, to sweeten it up
Dessert: dark chocolate, cake and artisan ice cream
As you can see I have a massive sweet tooth!
Today I’m wearing Santal Carmin over an Yves Rocher sweet rose lotion.
1. Don’t have much gourmands but I really like the Bois Farine (nutty and doughy!), Sundazed (transparent cotton candy) and Baccarat Rouge 540.
2. Angel?
3. Don’t really layer.
4. A good chocolate chip cookie, Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups.
Yay for Bois Farine!
1. Your absolute favorite gourmand fragrance? I’m don’t have too many on hand, but I really like Tauer’s Wowilla oil. I tried on the ends of my hair, and boy did it smell great! Probably was a bit too powerful for my non-scented work environment so I haven’t done it again. Someone said it smelled like carmel or waffles when I walked by them but they didn’t figure out it was coming from me, lol. I also really like Guerlain Insolence if that one qualifies.
2. A fragrance you’d like if it were a little less sweet? I tried Putain des Palaces. The notes seemed to be right up my alley, but I just couldn’t wear it.
3. A fragrance you layer to add a gourmand element? Sadly, I’m not that creative.
4. Your absolute favorite dessert, or chocolate bar, or other sort of edible treat? Tiramisu. I’ve never made it, but I have friends who can whip this up and it’s fantastic! Or if I make something myself, my favorite is a white chocolate raspberry cookie.
We’re having a strange, gray, humid, but relatively cool day that’s giving me premonitions of fall.
I happened to get out vintage Caron Nuit de Noël to make a decant for a friend whom I don’t see very often. I realized it smells much better now than in cold, dry Christmas weather. So I’m going to wear the heck out of it at this potluck party I’m going to this evening. 😄
(I guess it’s a gourmand in terms of smelling something like a rich spice cake or pan forte.)
I am a day late but hope the pot luck was fun!
Thank you for all your kind comments and support yesterday. I am really touched. And I feel better, so it looks like your healing vibes work.
Without knowing the theme, I actually wore two gourmand scents today: I tested CdG Nomad Tea (from Sweet series) and I am currently wearing Prada Candy.
Nomad Tea turned out to be not particularly sweet – herbal tea with smoky, almost animalic notes. Okay but not memorable. Candy is one of my favorites from Prada – it has a sweet and cheerful top and a sensuous musky base.
My answers to the questions:
1. Your absolute favorite gourmand fragrance?
Botrytis is the closest to absolute favorite in this category. Shalimar, if you can call it gourmand.
2. A fragrance you’d like if it were a little less sweet?
Evening Edged In Gold (Ineke).
3. A fragrance you layer to add a gourmand element?
Sometimes I layer, but I do not have a scent for this particular purpose.
4. Your absolute favorite dessert, or chocolate bar, or other sort of edible treat?
I love milk chocolate with high cocoa content (sometimes called “dark milk chocolate”). You get the best of both worlds: richness of dark chocolate and creaminess of milk one. Sadly, they do not make enough of this kind. Lately I have been enjoying Ritter Sport Peppermint, though I would not say it is my absolute favorite.
I do enjoy me some Ritter Sport
Ditto on the “dark” milk chocolate!
A friend of mine sometimes makes me cookies with the Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts standing in for chocolate chips. The cookies are divine.
Errrr, no, not a gourmand fan. Just the idea of adding something to make a scent more gourmand sends me running for the exits
There are a few hyper sweet scents I do enjoy (Viktoria Minya Hedonist and Eau de Hongrie) but in general, ‘sweet’ gets a scent crossed off my list.
If folks are interested in that new Tauer scent, Luckyscent is offering it in his adorable 5ml mini size as a GWP if you spend more than $100 (promo code TAUER). I’m hoping they don’t run out before filling my order…!
Stinkin hot here today, but temperatures are supposed to drop quickly starting tomorrow and we might even get a little rain this week! What?? Rain in September in California??
SOTD is (was) a sample of The House of Oud The Time. Quite a nice tea/citrus scent, though gone in a flash as these things tend to do. Quite a crazy price for a FB, even if those are some FBs…. do they look good in person? or tacky?
Dessert! How could I forget to talk about dessert! Pretty much anything with dark chocolate will do. Actually, if it doesn’t have chocolate, it’s really a sad excuse for a dessert, isn’t it?
My favorite fancy chocolate dessert to make is a cake called Chocolate Eminence from Nick Malgieri’s Perfect Cakes cookbook. It’s a flourless chocolate layer cake with chocolate ganache (he says milk chocolate, I say dark) and hazelnut praline on the sides. Mmmmm. Lots of work but so worth it.
Or Pots de Creme au Chocolat (and coffee) from Maida Heatter’s Book of Great Desserts. Pretty easy to make, actually. And another Nick Malgieri recipe, actually.
Thanks pixel! I am looking that one up. I had an incredible recipe that I made for years very similar to this with grand marnier in the filling layer of buttercream before you added the ganache (with added espresso powder) on top. I lent to someone and then mislaid it, so this may help end my search.
I remember really liking Eau de Hongrie. Not sure where my sample went. Maybe a sign that I don’t need anymore perfume. 😬
Personally I think they look tacky and ridiculous.
I am not a gourmand girl, but not opposed to it either. I do have Elixir des Merveilles. I like as Fils de Dieu as well and would own some.
I have fallen for, but don’t own, a few vanilla-y ambers that are simple and elegant.
Dark chocolate is my jam, flourless chocolate cake and ganache frosting, lava cake and now Nanaimo bars untested!!
Mmmm flourless chocolate cake and ganache! Yes!
Fave gourmand..mmm idk…Rahat Loukoum? Not sure. Drawing a blank. I don’t do a lot of gourmand. They are growing on me here and there.
Body Shop had Chocomania which was yummy mmm.
Fave chocolate bar? I am not picky…give me whatever lol. Sees Candy is pretty good..their Blueberry Truffle..mmm. Lol
1. Jo Malone Orange Bitter and Chocolate (limited edition).
2. Philosophy Fresh Cream.
3. I don’t layer.
4. Napoleon Berry cake and Passion Fruit mousse.
I just googled Napoleon Berry cake! How did I not know about this?Looks so good!
And tastes so good!!! 😋😀
1- Hypnotic Poison edt
2- Lancome Iris Dragees, which is pretty but cloying after a few hours.
3- Usually an almond body cream or coconut soap.
4- Can’t narrow down one favorite, but I do go for the cold and creamy. Haagen Dazs Rum Tres Leches has recently moved up the list.
SOTD has been a mix: Potentia Silver Thread then some Tabac Blond this morning.
This afternoon I returned something at Nordies and sampled Labdanum 18 (for the Nth time) and the new Twilly Eau Poivre. I enjoy the original Twilly, but the Poivre one is a total scrubber for me. Some horribly strong woody note in there that turns me off instantly.
Just took a shower and now there’s a spritz of Shalimar on my right wrist (to remind me I don’t need the Le Labo) and JD Jeffrey Dame Labdanum Doux on the left (samples arrived today).
1. Not much for gourmands, so Angel Muse here, unless AC Cafe Tuberosa qualifies (despite the coffee note, I don’t think it does).
2. TF Tobacco Vanille. Sounded great, but when sniffed: sugar bomb. Could say the same of many others.
3. N/a. I don’t.
4. A good chocolate bar. A good coffee or mocha gelato. A good chocolate chocolate chip ice cream (I do like the ubiquitous Hagaan Dazs).
What do you think of the JD Labdanum Doux?
I like it, though it’s not an instant lust or must have. At $38 for 50ml, though, I might re-up once my 2ml perfume oil is thunked.
For me, it’s a dry, mossy, tame chypre, not loud at all. Feels very cozy. The notes really blend together. That said, I don’t get any peach or rose. I get some jasmine in the beginning, but thereafter it’s the benzoin, moss, labdanum leading the way. Very office friendly, almost a skin scent on me.
Some of the fragrantica reviews leave me baffled: 1) I do not get bandaid or latex. 2) “BIG chypre” with exclamation points? Ahh, no. 3) Comparison to Mitsuoko? Don’t get that at all. I own and like Mitsuoko (more than Labdanum Doux). 4) “Challenging”? Not for me. 5) “Indolic offensive bomb…Loud…Overpowering.” Huh? Am I anosmic or something?
The array of different olfactory experiences (and reactions) in the fume-verse is always so fascinating!
I did already order a bottle of his Vanille Farfelue.
SOTD = Aftelier Vanilla Smoke Parfum
It’s a smoky gourmand.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ZglxEBRRs/?igshid=knkhktuc9l9o
For a favorite sweet gourmand, I would say, Indult Tihota, Angel Muse, Gourmand Coquin, oops, I better stop.
Too sweet? Get out of here!
Layering – Indult Tihota or Tom Ford Lost Cherry
Dessert – a well-baked Dark Chocolate Soufflé
In other news, Macy’s is having 15% off beauty until tomorrow (I think). So today, I stopped in and ended up purchasing Gucci Memoire d’Une Odeur. I got the 50mL bottle (I subjected the SA who opined that I should get the 100mL because it is better value with my “it’s not really more cost effective” formula), a cute mini and a 5mL store made travel spray.
If you’re in the U.S., an NST regular and do not have easy access to places that have this perfume, I would be very happy to send you some. I am giving away two 5mL decants. Please dibs here and send me an email with your mailing address even if you know I already have it.
Wait, no Cuir Beluga on your list?? Maybe it’s not sweet enough 😉
Ha! So it’s possible I need to have my head or nose examined. When I hear “gourmand”, I wouldn’t have thought to classify Cuir Beluga as such. That said, I can’t wait for proper fall to start wearing this again. It will be hot again next week – 🥵
Haven’t been checking in because so busy but I DID wear Avignon for the incense force field yesterday! It worked! I’ve been in Tokyo Milk Dark Excess today.
I really enjoy Angel Muse and Angel eau Croisière, which I tried this week. It was absolutely delicious- juicy and totally “edible” lol. The mango opening was sooo good. I’ve never bought a bottle of any Angel but I’d really like one of that! I have a pretty high “sweet” tolerance so can’t think of anything off the top of my head that was too sweet.
I like an occasional warm, dark chocolate cake or something but otherwise I’m a sucker for fruity deserts (lemon, beach, berry). I also adore macarons!
I agree with that Angel. It’s so juicy, you almost want to drink it!
Isn’t it super good?! That opening is like a delicious cocktail haha
Hope things are going well!
SOTD was Shalimar extrait, with a wee spray of the Shalimar hair mist on my pony tail.
1. Anima Dulcis, Tilda Swinton Like This, and Pralene de Santal are my current favorite gourmands.
2. I want so much to love Terracotta, but it’s just to sweet!
3. I layer things now and again but can never remember what I’ve done.
4. Favorite dessert: Tiramisu with lots of cream and cinnamon. Although Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding would do me in a pinch.
You smell super good!
1. My very favorite gourmand is DSH Chataignes du bois, which is a Chestnut holiday fragrance.
2. Angel is way too sweet for me. also the fig and amber perfumes from L’Artisan.
3. I don’t layer, wish I had the time and collection to do so.
4. Love all desserts but am gluten-free. There is a bakery near me that makes amazing gf cupcakes.
It’s my birthday today and spending the morning in Amouage Lyric. After my shower, I will wear vintage BaV. The new Tauer is ready to be sold on Luckyscent but not on his website. I was looking at maybe getting a bottle of Lonestar Memories but not seeing it on his website. I am thinking that Lonestar Memories has been discontinued but Luckyscent still has it.
Happy Birthday, Dawn! Pixel posted a PSA re: GWP with a $100 purchase. You can snag a mini of the newest Tauer with code TAUER.
LuckyScent 😳
Good to know. Off hand, how long does that promo last? I am waiting for a paycheck before I buy anything. Spent Friday paying those pesky bills.
The GWPs are usually ‘til supplies last. Perhaps you can call them to see if they are willing to set one aside for you until the end of the month?
Happy Birthday. Dawn! And enjoy your new perfume treats!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! 🎁🎂🎉
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Dawn!
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday!🎂
Happy birthday! The new Tauer is available on his site now, it just went live today I think.
Oh, and I see Lonestar Memories there too, it’s under the Classics section.
Happy Scented Birthday Dawn! 🎊🎂💐
Happy birthday!
I had been looking for a seasonal wreath / door decor and finally bought one at Wegmans. Sadly, I had to return it because it covered the peephole. I looked at a few other places and the ones I saw were either too big or too expensive ($20 is my upper limit) or both. Ultimately, I decided to make my own! Here’s a picture:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2b1sO4h1hr/?igshid=1fkbxadd45o05
SOTD = Agent Provocateur Fatale EDP
Generic fruity floral, since doctored up with Dior Poison Girl Unexpected. Now I’m thinking of layering it with one more and settled on Rising Phoenix Sicilian Vanilla to avoid sweet in sweet. Ahhhh.
Nice work on the wreath, H! You may have inspired me. 🌲🍁
Thank you, SheriG! I stopped short of also picking up draw and color in your wooden owl cutout (I may end up with a 3-eyes owl!).
Nice!🖒
Thank you, lillyjo!
That’s beautiful. Love the colors!
Thanks! I had fun picking out the right mix of colors!
Very colorful!
I was surprised at how well the colors turned out in combination.
Wow! So beautiful! 🍁🐿🍂
Thank you!
Very nice. That would look great on my door too!
Thank you. It was actually easier to make than I thought…just need to be patient with looping the garland through the wire and not take short cuts. I had three leaves that fell off while threading the garland through — not bad as that was 30 feet of garland!
Nice job on the wreath!
1. Your absolute favorite gourmand fragrance?
Demeter Tomato Leaf (but wish it had more endurance and heft). Hope the tomato makes it count as a gourmand!
2. A fragrance you’d like if it were a little less sweet?
The Body Shop’s Ananya (think it is disc’td now). Wow, it makes my jowls jitter with sweetness!
3. A fragrance you layer to add a gourmand element?
Any almond cookie-type scent.
4. Your absolute favorite dessert, or chocolate bar, or other sort of edible treat?
Slow baked tart cheesecake. Second best is almost anything with dairy.
I’m similar to Pixel in my genersl aversion to sweets and sweet gourmands.
But I have enjoyed a few gourmand-esque perfumes. The last one I considered the possibility of more than a sample was Lubin Upper Ten for Her which was complex and interesting, plus fun. Nice chocolate note- if it were a few hairs less sweet…
Dries Van Noten is another one that has gourmand elements without smelling edible.
SOTD is Institut Tres Bien Cologne a la Italienne from the last of a Luckscent sample. Really nice for this warm day. It reminds a bit of a couple of linden perfumes- maybe it’s the line note?
Lots of drumming this weekend- heading out to a little Barazilian music event where we’ll be playing. Mostly I’m looking forward to the delicious Brazilian croquettes the place serves up 🤤
Have fun!
Sotd: Volutes
I don’t think I can pick a favorite gourmand at the moment. My least favorite would probably be Pink Sugar. And that is only because dd drenched herself in it years ago. 😷 The only perfume that I like to use for layering is Cuir Beluga. My fav combo is CB and Rose Barbare. As far as desserts go, I can’t think of any I’d turn down. 😉
Love Volutes. Which one did you wear?
Edt!
I love Volutes. I have both concentration. Which one do you prefer ? I have a thing for the EDP. A little more sensuous and gourmand.
I’m wearing the edt. It’s been quite awhile since I tried the edp. I’m sure I’d love to have a bottle of it. But I need to make a bigger dent in my bottle before I consider the edp.
😉
My “little black dress” is Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia. I am wearing it today.
In perfumes, I mostly like two families : floral and oriental, and of course floriental.
1/ If you consider a good vintage version of L’Heure Bleue as a gourmand perfume (bubblegum, marzipan, caramel) , then this is my absolute favorite of all time.
I also love the good chocolate perfumes such as Bornéo 1834, I am home and Coromandel. I also have Anima Dulcis in my collection.
2/Those Turkish delights perfumes (Love by Kilian, Rahat Loukoum, Loukoum eau poudrée) if they were a bit less sweet.
3/ I never do layering !
4/ Jacques Génin’s Paris-Brest and chocolates. But I only find them in my hometown, Paris. Here, in Texas, I love Justin’s peanut butter cups, Lindt dark chocolate (from 85% to 95%).
I am just back from a dōTERRA essential oils presentation. I like aromatherapy in the evening when it does not interact with my perfumes.
1. I am very fond of Angel, the original fragrance. I had a bottle over 10 years ago when I was starting to be interested in perfumes, nowadays I find it a bit loud for how my tastes have evolved but I still find it a “can’t ignore it” perfume. Some people rave about Chanel no.5, but my “aha” moment was with Angel though.
Vanille Exquise from Annick Goutal is lovely, I discovered it via my mother shortly after. Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee is a favorite as well . And I think CdG did a good job both with Sticky Cake and Nomad Tea (although debateable if Tea can be considered really a gourmand).
2. I have a hard time loving (although it’s well executed) Hermessence Vanille Galante … it feels too sweet for some reason and same can be said about Parfums de Nikolai Vanille Tonka . I like Tonka beans per se but this one just comes on too strong.
3. I rarely layer but a sales assistant once layered Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two with their frutier offering of the moment (Mandarin) and found the result utterly charming and mouth watering. Not quite gourmand I guess still.
4. Chocolate anything of course, especially chocolate coffee anything. Black forest cake. Oreo cheesecake. Gelato and artisan icecream. Macarons (although I think Laduree is overrated and I’ll wait for a review of their home fragrance line before even trying). Almond croissants and chocolatine, the classic french desserts (creme brulee, tarte au citron, charlotte, financiers, madeleines, opera cake, creme caramel, chocolate mousse, paris brest – hihihi).
Twix and Bounty bars. Michel Cluizel dark chocolate with orange peel or milk chocolate with hazelnuts. Valhrona dulcey chocolate.
Coconut rolled rahat lokum.
1. Chopard Casmir, Angel EdP, and Alien Essence Absolue.
2. Prada Candy, sometimes. Other times it is just right.
3. Nope. I don’t layer to make things sweeter.
4. Healthy desserts: best of in season fruit, especially raspberries, Rainer cherries, and figs. Dark chocolate bars, especially from Chocolove and Endangered Species. Endangered Species also makes a fantastic “dark milk chocolate” bar.
SOTD = Oriza L. Legrand Chypre Mousse, courtesy of Deva. Believe it or not, no Eau de Crypt today. Instead, I had a noticeable honey note that lasted most of the day hanging out with the deep green notes.
Finally getting to answer the poll questions:
1. I do enjoy gourmands, especially in fall and winter. Some general favorites – Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron and Vanille Gourmand, Smell Bent Hungry Hungry Hippies (chocolate and patchouli), almond perfumes, and I’m into tonka at the moment so Tonka Imperiale and Feve Deliceuse.
2. Miller Harris Noix de Tubereuse was a too-sweet bubblegum tuberose.
3. I really only layer when I need to cover up a perfume I don’t like.
4. Like someone else mentioned, I love Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups. I love so many desserts. I’m very into ice cream and will just about always make room to eat it. A favorite is Salt & Straw’s Chocolate Gooey Brownie.
This weekend I’ve worn the gorgeous Cloon Keen Castana that is leaving me debating a bottle purchase. I think LT was right to give it 5 stars. I also wore Musc Ravageur hair and body oil on my arms last night with Shea Moisture Frankincense and Myrrh on my legs. I love that combo.
Today was spent in Dryad and now the remnants of a sample of MdO Chamarre.