Our twelfth annual holiday gift poll. Here are the three questions:
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
My answers:
Same as last year: probably one of this year's Diptyque holiday candles.
I am wanting some really top notch essential oils (sweet orange, frankincense, etc), maybe from Enfleurage in New York.
Also same as last year: no. Over the past few years we have scaled back gift-giving in my family.
Note: top image is _MG_8328.jpg [cropped] by Sabine Bahr at flickr; some rights reserved.
I love that photo Robin.
I agree on the Diptyque candle, I adore that new gorgeous red Lucky Flowers candle Jessica also wrote about yesterday. The artwork is fabulous.
My un-sniffed fragrance would be Lost in Heaven by Francesca Bianchi.
My one bottle that I desire is Ambre Aurea from Profumum Roma.
Ciao! I have never heard of Francesca Bianchi…looking her up now.
Ciao bella! It’s all Flopper’s fault!
Yes…I am torn between that one and the pine. I do this every year, can’t decide, buy nothing. It is just as well!
I’d like the lost in heaven also ?
SOTD is Winter Palace for a Winter Bomb Cyclone day.
Glad I didn’t leave yesterday, because most of South Dakota is experiencing blizzard conditions. Just started snowing sideways here because this wind is RIDICULOUS! ??❄️
Stay safe and warm this weekend! ??
Mmmm… Winter Palace. I adore!
It’s a good one for sure!
Are you in a hotel/motel? Stay warm! My guess is maybe Bengale Rouge is on your Santa list….
Yes, we’ve been in a hotel for a couple weeks now. It’s too cold unless I have an electric hookup to run the heater, and the State Park here shut down about 3 weeks ago because of flooding, then consistent below freezing temps. Doggo is getting fat because everyone at the check-in desk gives her multiple biscuits every time she passes by. ?
Ack, sideways snow is not good snow. Stay safe and warm!
Not planning on moving until the roads are clear. A quick dash outside, skate across the parking lot, so doggo can find a spot. Then she morphs into a sled dog, pulling me back across the lot in her hurry to get back inside…?
Does T-Rex have a nice sweater or jacket?
Yes, she has A fleece and an insulated rain coat. Wish I could find a hat that she would leave on because she has huge ears and I’m sure they get very cold!
Well, I’m not in a van, and I’m not in South Dakota, but I can relate to the wind problem today. Here on the South Plains of West Texas I think if I stand outside for a minute, all my clothes will blow off.
I’m not in a van right now either. I can imagine the flat lands of Texas can pack a windy punch!
Glad you’re at a hotel!
Ain’t nothin’ between Lubbock and the North Pole ‘cept a barbwire fence.
This made me spew tea 🙂
But sorry for the crap weather!
Just read your comment to my husband & he laughed out loud, as did I when I spotted it last night, so thank you for that! Not that I attempted a Texas accent when I quoted you, but we have dear friends in Oak Ridge North, north of Houston, whom we visit every other year or so, so we can well imagine a local saying it.
Sounds like it was a wise choice not to try to drive in that storm! Much better to stay safe and warm until it clears up, and then you and T-Rex can head south. 🙂
So, are you as completely captivated by it (Winter Palace) as I am? It is the only thing I want to wear right now, and that is bad news, as my decant will not last forever.
Stay warm! About 1/3 of my students were absent on Monday because of weather delays (returning to campus from Thanksgiving).
Happy weekend to everyone! I hope your turkeys were delicious this Thanksgiving 🙂
Today I felt a little bit like Santa myself when I was preparing presents for my friends – one in UK and one in US. These have to be sent in coming days to make it to their recipients on time.
It gotten colder today, just 4*C (compared to 9*C yesterday) and we might even get first snow of the season on Monday.
Today I am wearing Ramon Monegal Ambra di Luna, my long time favorite among ambery fragrances. Now is the best time to use it more frequently.
To answer the poll questions:
I’d say the same as Robin, one of this year’s Diptyque Christmas candles. I never had a Diptyque candle and apparently they are top notch. Even better if I can get a carousel for it.
I’d go with Gucci Tears of Iris or Winter’s Spring from their special range.
Yes, I am giving something fragrant to my 2 friends from abroad but I can’t tell you what it is because they are regular readers here and I don’t want to spoil a surprise 😉
I have not even thought about Christmas gifts yet! Hope your friends like their presents.
Tears of Iris is such a beautiful name. I had not heard of it so you made me look for it. Love the bottle. How is the juice? Are you planning to review it?
I haven’t tried it. Those two Gucci woukd be my unsniffed wish from Santa.
Not really looking to receive anything. Fragrance wise I am happy with what I have at the moment.
Gifting another travel bottle of First Cut to Mr Marzipan. I bought two deeply discounted thanks to cauzabon who alerted me to a fantastic sale a while back. The second one I save for his birthday.
I also made three essential oil blends which I am gifting to our yoga teacher of 11+ years. All three of the mini Marzipans and myself have and continue to study with her. She always used my blends at the end of each class. A few of my close fragrance friends have gotten and will get oils and decants from me as well. One is getting a custom blend of bergamot, Orris butter, benzoin, sandalwood and vanilla bean. I made it exclusively for her. I hope she likes it ?
Is Mr Marzipan as enthusiastic spritzer as you are? I too like to buy gift well ahead of time, although the difficulty is not giving them to people months before their birthday etc.
No. He doesn’t wear anything on a daily basis but wears First Cut for me because it smells amazing on him. One spritz on the chest lasts forever.
It’s good to see you back, cm8! ?
???
I have been popping in when I can.
*waves hello to cm8 and nancy*
Waving back! ??????
Your oils are lovely, I wear mine with pleasure and think of you. Will be pinging you shortly with a question on that topic. 🙂 So happy to have been able to help with the First Cut, may he wear it in good health!
???
Yes, ping me!
And thanks again for that info on First Cut ?
Forgot to say I am wearing Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia. Wore it all week.
I have been doing a lot of reading these days…
I finished The Giver of Stars, Less & Find Me in just a few weeks.
I wanted to share with you the book review of Find Me (the sequel to Call Me By Your Name) because only a perfumista would understand this:
“You can imagine the noise I made when I knifed open a brown package containing André Aciman’s sequel to Call Me By Your Name and found that it came with a tiny bottle of perfume described as the “olfactory translation” of the book — scented with “Italian citrus, ancient gardens in Rome filled with pine trees, and linen bedsheets.” Of course, I drenched myself before cracking open the book; like everyone else, I’m a sucker for a free gift. I’m olfactorily challenged and all perfume smells the same to me (like “perfume”), but I believe I isolated notes of hotel pillow and leafy enclosure.”
Today I started Olive, Again…so far a good read.
I am in Songes today for some sunshine, but my sweater smells like Cristalle because I must of sprayed it on there and I don’t wash my cashmere sweaters that often.
Does anyone have a Chanel foundation they recommend? The one I use it almost empty and I am thinking of re-purchasing the same but wanted other opinions. I don’t use it everyday, so one bottle lasts and lasts..
I have heard good things about Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet.
I will check it out
I like velvet a lot
Feels like nothing on my face. I hate the feeling of foundation.
Jane Iredale has a beautiful new matte but not dry looking foundation out too that I have been sampling courtesy of bluemercury.
I was in Sephora trying some new things yesterday and I think I’m going to get Laura Mercier’s new dewy tinted moisturizer. I used to use her original tinted moisturizer but moved on many years ago for some other brands that have worked well but I really like this new one.
I don’t wear foundation as it’s too heavy for me. I’m sure Chanel does foundation brilliantly, however.
I use LM tinted moisturizer, that is my everyday go-to since I can’t wear foundation everyday. My skin is too reactive.
However there are certain days or occasions I need a good foundation.
I’m a LM tinted moisturizer fan for the last 10 years, and now I’m mourning its discontinuation. I haven’t tried the new formula yet but read multiple complaints on LM’s site that it oxidizes within weeks in a tube and changes color. I’m not sure what I’m going to do once my current tube is finished: over years I tried so many different tinted moisturizers and light foundation – and nothing worked as well as that LM’s one did 🙁
That’s the worst when they go ahead and change up the formula you’ve been doing just fine with for years. It’s happened to me many times, and probably why I jump around so as to not become too dependent on any one item.
If you can wear serum foundations, the Ordinary Beauty Company has some good ones. I can only wear very light foundation and one of theirs works for me. Elf Cosmetics also makes a good one. Both are very affordable!
Hi LTSG,
Thanks for the book titles and sharing the review – made me smile. I like Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua and one bottle lasts me a long time, too.
Have a great weekend!
Dear Springp, that is the one I use also..its good isn’t it?!
Yes, I love it although like you I don’t use it every day.
The Chanel foundation I like is the water fresh tint. It’s sheer coverage. I splurged one time and got the one in the pot with the brush. It was ok, difficult for me to really blend. I also like the Giorgio Armani foundations.
On foundation, I have used Vitalumiere for years and love it. The sunscreen in it is weak (15), but I’m sensitive to a lot of sunscreens and this doesn’t bother my skin at all, plus it doesn’t go on white-ish or lavender-ish like some do, and it’s a nice compromise between sheer and full coverage. And it comes in a pump bottle, so less messy.
Oh, reading thru the foregoing recs, mine is not the Aqua version – you’d probably want to try samples to find the version that works best for you.
I’d like some CdG Concrete, Montale Ristretto Intense Cafe or MFK Oud Satin Mood. None I’ve been able to buy for myself as I already have Plenty, but if one were a gift…
For an unsniffed gift perhaps OJ Vanille d’Iris or VCA Moonlight Patchouli, as I I have good luck with others in the line.
I generally go with bath/lotion fragrances gifts, in roughly the area I know they like, as in rose, citrus, etc.
Fragrancenet was selling decants of Moonlight Patch very inexpensively. I gave one to a friend recently.
Oh my! Or maybe: oh no! Their new decant service is pretty good, but I have already bought stuff in the sales, so will have to do some mulling.
How’d everyone do for black Friday yesterday? I actually headed out to a few stores and took advantage of some great deals and was surprised that the crowds weren’t so bad (hope that’s not an indication that business is off this holiday season). I finally got to spend some time in the new NYC Nordstrom which was fun. Glad to see they do offer self-service sample atomizers for fragrance just as they do in stores outside NYC. Overall it’s a pretty ambitious retail story and hope they do well. The men’s store across the street I give 2 years and if they last past that I’d be very surprised.
Scent related product I expect under the tree every year is the large sized Rose Jam but this year I’m also going to ask for something different such as one of the Chanel Les Eaux’s in body lotion. I need to go resniff them as one I recall really liking.
Nothing comes to mind I’d try unsniffed and I never do scent gifts but for candles and they’re usually Jo Malone.
SOTD: Black Cashmere
I was not aware of self service samples? What is this? I haven’t been to the new Nordies here, I will go one day…
Just a 2ml spray atomizer that are in bowls that you can grab and fill on your own whatever fragrance you’re interested in vs. asking someone to do it for you.
I like that idea. 🙂
Yes, they are really nice about that! Nordstrom’s is great. Haven’t been to the one in NYC.
Forgot to add that Barneys, which is going out of business (sniff sniff), is discounting their fragrances and I’m sure they’ll go even lower, just PSA.
The last time I went it was only 10%
Maybe it will go down lower…
You smell wonderful, floragal!
I didn’t leave the house yesterday except to go to the gym, which is fine with me. I was very good, except for placing a small order with STC for a decant of pre-reform Opium. Woo hoo!
I chose to live dangerously and go to the mall yesterday! ? It was bustling, but not crazy. I returned 2 things I had paid full price for, and bought one thing, 25% off. I’ve convinced myself I’m ahead of the game.?
Yes, I would agree that is living dangerously. Do the stores still have lines that form in the wee morning hours on black Friday?
Didn’t see any lines. Small town, but it looks like people overnight at the hotel from outlying areas to get an early jump on the Black Friday Sales. Saw a few people checking out on Saturday with a TON of gifts stuffed in their vehicles.
I didn’t go yesterday, but went this morning around 11am and had no trouble parking. By the time I left at 1pm though it was packed out the doors. The line inside Bath & Body Works was insane but I toughed it out to get my aromatherapy lotions on deep discount.
Ohhhhhhh you smell great
1) Let’s see – how about all the Carthusia Mediterraneo ancillary products – linen spray, soap, candle, body wash. I have the lotion and it’s wonderful, although the scent is fleeting just like the perfume.
2) Unsniffed: Boy Chanel. I’m determined to have one of those amazing Les Exclusifs bottles someday.
3) Maybe a couple of candles, but that’s it for fragrance-related gifts.
Chanel Boy is amazing!
Oh, I will go with your #1 too!
It was a beautiful warm and sunny day here yesterday, the first day that felt properly summery. Today is a lot duller, with rain forecast for later. I’m hoping that holds off for a while, as it’s the annual Thorndon Fair today, where there 100s of craft and food stalls. I don’t usually spend much, but I’m hoping to find things like handmade soaps that make great Christmas presents.
I’m still trying to decide if I really need a perfume for Christmas, I probably do 🙂 It might be one of the Fort and Manle range, I’ve ordered a sample if a new one called Meraki – it’s a limited edition, which is a thing I find deeply annoying!
Isn’t that the one that’s supposed to smell like Nombre Noir? I was underwhelmed by Nombre Noir after all the hype.
This could be beautiful, but don’t expect it to smell like Nombre Noir, which the perfumer says he hasn’t smelt. He apparently has a bottle which he has never opened. He seems to have been “inspired by” the story and the notes. FWIW this is supposed to be predominantly Osmanthus.
Today I’m wearing Mazzolari Vetiver and putting up the outdoor Christmas decorations because we are supposed to get wet weather for the next week. Tomorrow is the annoying “winter mix.” I was looking at the Neiman Marcus website ($50 off $200) and stumbled on their mattress sale. One was $21,000. For a mattress! I only spent a little more for a brand new car. I wonder who buys stuff like that?
Todays poll:
1. I’d really like some Crabtree & Evelyn Mysore Sandalwood, but at $600 on ebay it’s not likely.
2. My track record of success for unsniffed fragrances runs less than 10%, so I’ll pass on this one.
3. I bought the Atelier Advent Calendar for my sister and Macy’s 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar for my best friend. Both of them like trying new things. I may have gotten one of each for me, too. Does Donatella count sample sizes? I think not.
$21,000 for a mattress?! At that price, it better sing me to sleep and give me an all over body massage all night long. Who does buy that stuff!
Bob’s has what you’re looking for for 1/10 the price ?
Exactly! lol.
For a fragrance gift, I’d love a splurge of Bengale Rouge or maybe finally get that bottle of Chanel No. 19 I keep saying I need. But..I don’t expect either and am fine with that. Not giving any fragrance gifts this year, unless I give my husband a Porto scent he likes and is out of. But…he is getting a new iPhone, so that’s our splurge. His is five years old and kind of falling apart. Mine is four years old and pristine.
Wearing Kiss Me Intense because I’m making a butternut squash, sausage and white bean soup and wanted something fairly light and cozy. We are making a glazed ham, scalloped potatoes and green beans tonight. Plus, we have some smoked trout, pâté de campagne with cornichons, sheep’s milk cheese. I think we are set to barricade should the zombie apocalypse break out.
Your soup sounds delicious. I have a butternut squash languishing on my counter and need to do something with it.
Very ambitious cooking! I went to an Italian Deli today (where I had dinner last Saturday) and got take-out Chicken Francaise but I asked for it deconstructed with the chicken, pasta and sauce in separate containers. I think the order taker was confused initially but it was fulfilled properly!
I love the sausage and bean combo – they go together really well.
Yummy food! Enjoy!
I love your whole menu, but what stood out to me was “sheep’s milk cheese.” Various types of that are my favourite! what kind are you having?
Petit Basque….French Basque cheese.
Oh drat I missed dinner!
Yum! Your dinner sounds great!
Hello NST,
1. I’d like some Trayee. Not going to happen, which is just fine. I have plenty and also bought some Fils de Dieu yesterday. PSA: Etat Libre D’orange is having a BOGO offer – if you buy a 30ml, you can pick a free 30 ml of Fils de Dieu, Bijou Romantique or True Lust. I’m sitting on my hands to not buy “Like this” today….Otherland is also having a sale, 20% off, for the candle lovers. I think this one might be over soon.
2. Unsniffed: Not sure. After browsing the Eldo site excessively yesterday, I’m tempted by afternoon of a faun.
3. I’m giving a bunch of scented gifts: Otherland candles (I have a friend who is a big Old Fashioned fan, so the candle seems like a fun gift), small perfumes for the family’s stockings (Eldo cologne, Stash Unspoken).
Happy Weekend! At my house, kids are sad that their break is almost over.
Just bought a bottle of Bendelirious in the sales yesterday…
Wow, nice sale at ELdO!
I got a Boy Smells candle from twisted lily discount. I’d like Lost In Heaven also but I’m not buying anything for awhile. Enjoying a beautiful day.
Please send some of that beautiful weather my way.?
? coming your way ?
I’m looking forward to seeing your pretty weather tomorrow!
It’s like spring today!
Which candle did you get?
SOTD Shalimar EDT Vintage, SOTE The Attar Collection The Persian Gold (Rose, Powder, Sirup, Vanilla and Patch… much better than i thought).
1) I would love a bottle of MKK, but no chance to get it.
2) cannot think of a unsniffed bottle i would like to buy
3) we quite the Christmas gifts in the middle 80ies, so no gift giving at our home.
Have a good first advent Sunday!
Happy advent to you! My husband wants MKK too, hopefully the discounters will restock soon. We don’t do holiday gifts either, only birthdays and anniversaries.
I’m in Theorema layered over Wowilla body oil. Didn’t last long on me, but then again they are competing with the applesauce cake that just came out of the oven. I’m having a neighbor over for tea a little later, so that’s what I’ll serve.
It’s been nice to get back to a semi normal routine. Hubster had a couple of complications from his hip replacement surgery a little over a week ago. Nothing life threatening, thank goodness, but his recovery will be slower than we expected, and he’s disappointed.
I love the polls! So fun to read.
1. I’d love to have a bottle of Tea for Two, prereformulation. That stuff is hard to find, not to mention expensive. Yum.
2. Unsniffed….I’ll go with Allure Homme Edition Blanche, which someone mentioned recently and described it as peaceful. Yes, I need a peaceful perfume right about now!
3. We are gifting more practical things this year; focusing on the grands and giving fuzzy socks to everyone else. I’ll be trying my hand at mixing up some spice mixes (y’all, vanilla salt is so cool) and gifting them in recycled containers. We’ll see if they are a hit. ?
I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I hope the rest of his recovery goes well!
What is vanilla salt?
Vanilla salt is simple to make. Split a vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with a paring knife and work them into 1/2 cup of flaky salt, with your fingers. Store it in an airtight container. Slice the empty bean up into pieces and bury them in the salt if you’d like.
I sprinkle it on hot cereal, cookies just out of the oven, melon slices, fruit salad, cottage cheese….enjoy!
I do this too, but with sugar. 🙂
I do that as well! Great in cookie recipes.
Okay, so, your fingers are not an ingredient in vanilla salt! ?
Best wishes for your husband!
Thanks flopper!
I hope your husband feels better soon!
Thank you, Petunia!
Speedy recovery to your husband…
Thank you, ltsg! ?
Best wishes for your husbands recovery! My sister had that surgery about a year ago, recovery can be slow. Just as long as it’s steady …
I’m in Glossier You from a small decant I bought trying to decide if I needed a bottle. I don’t.
I ended up making one Black Friday purchase yesterday, and it was plane tickets to Arizona in January!? I’m so excited, I’ve never been. My favorite aunt/godmother and uncle have a winter home there and I’ve been wanting to go for years. I was able to use a promo code yesterday, saved some money AND talked my college daughter into going with me which just makes me even more excited. I’ve been bugging her for weeks and I think I finally wore her down, lol. Flying makes her a bit anxious but I asked her to think of it as a birthday gift to me, as we’ll be flying back on my birthday. It’s just a 3 day weekend but it gives me something to look forward to, to break up that long, cold, dark month.
As for the poll…I’m not really expecting anything scented for Christmas. If somebody insisted on buying something for me I’d probably ask for a bottle of Eau Premiere. I just love that perfume. Definitely in my top 5. Not planning on giving anything scented either. My mom does the bath and body stuff for the kids, so that’s covered.
It’s gray and drizzly here-again! A good day for college football.
psa: my target had 50% off tree lights if you spend over $100. (We will be LED this year.?)
Glossier had their 20% of yesterday, usually they do their sale once a year on cyber Monday but…now that they’re a unicorn I’m sure they’ve got sales pressures to keep their investors happy. The growth of that company is astounding. I didn’t buy anything but I saw that Glossier You is an Allure best product which really shocked me. I suppose for iris lovers it’s a ‘win’ but for me, yuck. I disliked it strongly.
Congrats on your plane ticket and scheduled trip to see family! It is good to have something like that to look forward to. Happy for you 😉
Ooooo I ordered a bottle of You before the discount ? I didn’t think about any deals for Black Friday.
Yay, a trip west with your daughter!
SOTD = Hiram Green Voyage 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5gMNKchxc6/?igshid=527mqa66kaas
I barely started Black Friday shopping but that is what I am doing later today after leaving this comment ?. I tried yesterday, but the Molton Brown site crashed and when it came back up, I got an email immediately saying “We’ve got your bag”…they should have offered something else to compensate for that crash! LuckyScent – I had a few items picked out and will close that out today; was hoping for a 20% code but it’s elusive. I will check out Neiman Marcus l and Saks to see if I can leverage the gift card event. Oh and DSH plus a few artisan websites.
As to the poll, I don’t have anything I am wishing for atm. Unsniffed gift would be April Aromatics Vetiver Couer or perhaps the new Aftelier Forest Bathing. As to gifting scented stuff, I am thinking not this year. I want to simplify gifts and get the same thing for everyone.
You smell great, as you know I love Voyage. 🙂 My husband bought me a belated birthday perfume in October at Neimans that supposedly came with a $50 gift card, but it said it would take eight weeks (!) to receive it. Hope it does show up at some point or they will hear from me. Don’t understand why it should take so long to deliver a (probably electronic) gift card. Sheesh. Their current offer of $50 off $200 is better.
8 weeks! I agree the immediate $s off is much better!
1. I have a long list, maybe Iris Nazarena.
2. Unsniffed that I’m most intrigued now is The Black Knight by Francesca Bianchi.
3. Nothing fragrant, I’ll have to see what my wife desires.
I would like some Iris Nazarena too! And some Copal Azur.
Would love the black and white Baie candle or Flora Fortuna.
Unsniffed I want a few of the new Celines.
Each year I like to give my mom and friends who enjoy fragrances some bottles from my small, yet too much really for one person, collection. It’s a great way to introduce something different while still matching a fragrance to a person and also simplify my wardrobe.
That black & white candle really is tempting.
SOTD is Dhzonka.
1. If anyone in my life understood my perfume fixation AND had any disposable income, I’d hint about wanting OJ Woman or Amouage Fate. I make my own fun, though.
2. Unsniffed? Memo Winter Palace.
3. Utilitarian gifts this year, short list. I may send folks gifts that inspire reducing plastic, like shampoo bars, skin products packaged in metal cans, and homemade produce bags that can be washed and reused.
HA, I make my own fun too.
We do very small presents at the Christmas Eve table in my family (we call them table presents, but they’re sort of like stocking presents) and that is what I gave last year: reusable shopping bags and reusable produce bags.
Well, I succeeded in buying nothing on Black Friday itself, but placed an order for some glassware today (technically still Post-Thanksgiving-Sale-Time) after Mr. G discovered one of our favorite martini glasses had broken. I had to tack on a couple of margarita glasses to get free shipping. 🙂
Anyway, my SOTD is Ummagumma, and my poll answers are: for most-wished-for fragrant gift, an SL bell jar of De Profundis, from someone’s stash of old stock; for unsniffed, ummmmm …. I think maybe a travel spray of Tiger’s Nest; and for gifting to others, I’m not sure yet. Possibly some scented soaps for my mom – does Chanel make either Coco or Coromandel in soap form? I should go check.
The sales keep on keeping on!
I thought I might finish my glassware collection from Williams Sonoma, but they aren’t even on sale. Boo hiss.
I made the mistake of wearing SL Santal Majascule today. I forget that lately, most of the SL frags (with the exception of Douce Amere, which I will love forever) strike me as being slightly harsh and screechy. I’ve just instituted a new system, in which I am going to put any scent that isn’t working for me in a separate box, so that I don’t keep making this mistake.
1. I’d love to get one of those Santa Maria Novella terra cotta pomegranates. I’ve never smelled Melograno, but I love the idea of a scented object like this.
2. I might go with Zoologist Bee. I keep hoping I can wear one of these Z-babies. I’ve loved the opening of all the ones I’ve tried (several, in fact), but the skank that always seems to show up a little later doesn’t work for me.
3. No scented products for gifts this year. For anybody else, that is.
The pomegranates are wonderful
They last a long time so if you do the math of months in closet divided by cost…plus the container is great for makeup brushes.
Did that help???
What’s great about y’all is that I can always count on somebody here to give me a little nudge in the direction that I want to go…..
Well, I just wanted to point out the practical aspects of this potential pomegranate purchase!
Today I’m wearing Ex Nihilo Amber Sky, courtesy of Hajusuuri. It goes on strong and sharp but wow, after about four-five hours, it’s smooth as butter, and SO beautiful–and it lasts for a good 12+ hours!
Here are my answers.
1. Memo Marfa. No one is giving it to me unless “Santa” does, wink.
2. I’m with Lisa D. just above–Zoologist Bee. Very curious about this one.
3. Yes, I usually give my brother some shower gel or cologne from BBW. He’ll tell me what kind he wants. I may give nice scented soaps to various friends. Two of my friends love Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet so that’ll be for them to share. Does catnip in a special new bag for the kitty-cats count? I gather they find that scent quite appealing! 😉
#1 – Assign it to one of the cats
Maybe if they pool their resources, they can afford it, ha ha!
Calypso, I have a Marfa travel spray if you’d like it! With box and pouch. My contact is beas dottt beverly attttt geeemail dot commm
*almost full.
Wow! I’m writing you now! So kind and generous!
I would love to receive Poeticus which I sampled during Sniffapalooza but I’m pretty sure that’s not happening considering how pricey it is. Unsniffed, I think I’d like Zoologist Bee.
Oh, I would take Zoologist Bee too!
OR DSH Maccabees, come to think of it.
I would love a big honking bottle of MFK Grand Soir. Unsniffed, I’d like Bee. My husband is getting Dior Fahrenheit parfum.
As for today’s scent, it’s 4160 Tuesdays Captured by Candlelight.
BIG HONKING BOTTLE! ?
I just love big bottles! It comes in a 70ml and a 200ml size. I have the 200ml Cologne pour le Soir and want the big Grand Soir to match. 🙂
Wouldn’t that be heaven!
It would indeed. Husband has been warned it will be on the birthday list for next April.
I wore Vientiane by Providence Perfume today for a sandalwood fix.
I’d most like a bottle of Ganymede by Marc-Antoine Barrois. It’s just beautiful. Maybe next spring…
Unsniffed would Santal Basmati by Affinessence.
I’ll probably give my bestie some scented soaps along with her gift. I met one of my cousins for lunch today and gave her a few bottles that I no longer reach for. She seemed to like them and was happy to take them off my hands.
That’s a beauty. I love Vientiane.
Wearing Jorum Studio Trimerous thanks to our generous Hajusuuri. Love it!!! Such a beautiful iris perfume! Great longevity and perfect sillage. Full bottle worthy!!
My answers:
1. Any iris or incense scent from my endless perfume wish list would be very welcome, but it will not happen.
2. Thanks to Lucasai’s comment above and after reading about it, I would buy Gucci Tears of Iris. Instant lemming!!! The name won my heart, the bottle is gorgeous and the perfume sounds good!
3. I already gifted a couple of perfume bottles to very close friends and I still need to send some scented products to others.
Lemming created re your SOTD!
I know! I am already nursing several lemmings. What’s one more? ?
Oh my!! Is there a vaccine out for protection yet?
Trimeous is amazing! Hope it is available in the US some day.
Psst: Free International Shipping with £140 purchase…
I’m glad you like it ?
I am enjoying it! Thank you! ?
I already checked their website. Thinking about it…
Wow! Wish 4160 Tuesdays would offer free shipping as well.
Tears of iris really is a great name.
A soft and beautiful name!
Gobsmacked, have you seen the official ad yet? It is very cool and truly unusual.
Yes I could blind buy it just for the bottle alone. If there were a Fleur d’lei on it I’d be sunk.
I’m not wishing for or expecting anything specific, but my husband thought it would be fun to pick a perfume for me for Christmas. The results could be questionable, but it’s a charming experiment! I told him not to let a SA talk him into anything that smells like a baked good or drier sheet. He has great taste, though.
I’d ask Santa for Sycomore or Misia
unsniffed. What could go wrong?
Gifting my younger sister Replica Under the Lemon Trees. She has a sample she loves. It’a lovely on her!
Hello! Good luck with the experiment. 🙂
Misia is one of the samples hajusuuri sent me. (Thank you, hajusuuri!) You (irisjasmine) probably live about five miles or less from where I do — we should get together and sniff various fragrances. I have a friend who can’t drive and lives in East Fallowfield, and I go visit her. Finding a place to get together in the Downingtown area shouldn’t be that tough.
As Jalapeno suspected, driving in some Pennsylvania suburbs is a different sort of thing than driving in Philadelphia. I tend to get very lost in Delaware County, but that might be just me. (For those who don’t live in the area, Delaware County is in Pennsylvania. Yes, they did that just to confuse people.)
Yes, we should do this! Maybe in the relative calm of the new year?
I was going to reply that after the first week in December, I wouldn’t be very busy for the rest of the month, but I do have some appointments and commitments scheduled in for the rest of the month. I have the 9th, 10th and 11th of December free if you’d want to meet up at the Exton Sephora, or a place convenient for you. I have the week starting the 15th pretty much free. I don’t have much penciled in yet for 2020. 🙂 We’ll figure it out. 🙂
Nothing will go wrong with Sycomore or Misia, only greatness!
Sycomore is just gorgeous and Misia is an excellent powdery iris.
Both have been on my “to try” list for ages.
Update: I just gifted myself Puredistance Gold unsniffed. Yes, I like to live dangerously. ??. We may have further updates or maybe I’ll just keep my naughtiness to myself.
Woot! We want to hear more! 🙂 At least I do. Feel free to whisper in my ear.
I got Molton Brown hand wash and shower gels. I may give one of the items away as a Christmas gift (see how quickly I change my mind about not giving fragrant gifts and buying everyone the same thing? ?).
Lush – I wanted to get the Lord of Misrule perfume but it was out of stock online. I may try my luck in-store.
LuckyScent – ran out of the sample set so I hit the brakes and will consider other things.
I still need to get to Etsy and DSH…that’s today’s business.
This is how it goes when you are in the zone!
Update: the mall LUSH had Lord of Misrule perfume (check), YogNog Body Spray (check) and then I splurged on a Karma set because I wanted the 15mL perfume so Long with that is Karma soap and Karma body lotion which I may end up giving away.
Wow, good for you! Hope you’ll love it, at that price point ?
Puredistance has been very consistently good for me, so I think it probably is a very good perfume.
The deal I got was pretty good: buy any 17.5mL or higher perfume, get a 5mL travel spray of Gold AND a 10-piece discovery set. I fell short of the free shipping and normally I would find something else to get me there but there was really nothing else I wanted except another travel spray so I just sucked up the €40 shipping – all I can say is it better get to me on a golden chariot ?
I would love to see a golden chariot loaded with your perfumes! Great image.
Have you seen my review before making this dangerous move, my dear?
? I have a lot of catching up to do! It looks like I’m no longer getting emails about your posts which means something went wrong with my WP account.
Of course I quickly read and whew, a good thing you like it! U had no doubts as to the quality of the ingredients!
Yes do tell All!
I wore philosophy warm cashmere body soufflé today. It was rather yummy I must say. For a chilly wet day to Pasadena for hair appointment.
and bought a 5 dollar velvet vetiver candle at Target in a cute green tin which looks pretty good in my guest bathroom.
$5 is exactly how much candles should cost 🙂
The fragrance gift I’d most like to receive is Zoologist Chameleon (call me crazy lol). The unsniffed gift I’d like to receive is either Lost Cherry of F*ing Fabulous (I’m a sucker for Tom). I’ll be giving my mom some Allure edt (she prefers it to the edp, it’s her signature scent) and my favorite aunt the No. 5 body lotion. She always gets perfume but rarely the body products for herself, yet she always loves and uses it when I get it for her.
Been a great Thanksgiving. We got snow Thursday and it was magical and my food was delish! Then yesterday we took my mom to Malibu for her first time to the Pacific. She really enjoyed it and had a great time. Today we just watched college football which is our favorite! My team beat her team- she was a bit salty about it but I enjoyed it thoroughly! ?
Yesterday I wore Shalimar edt with a fab of the parfum on my arm (thanks, Gail!) and today I appropriately wore Arielle Shoshana Saturday. I wore Sunday on Thanksgiving!
I really like Chameleon too, and bought it in the travel spray.
Not crazy! I really like Chameleon, too. Snow in Cali! Are you pretty far inland? Sounds like a nice visit with your mom.
You’ve already been in that California sun too long, snow is not magical, lol?
So glad it’s been a nice visit for you!
(Ha, that is what I was going to say)
I got to sniff both of those Tom Fords this past year and I think you couldn’t go wrong with either – the Cherry one was a hard one to trek down, I think I finally was able to smell it in an airport duty-free, where they kept the bottle hidden away because people were dousing themselves with it, apparently.
Commando perfume-wise today, but I did notice the scent of paperwhite narcissus that Robin mentioned being in the main conservatory of Longwood Gardens. Friends were going there today after they went other places in the morning. I met up with them in the afternoon. As I’d expected, it was a super-busy day there.
We saw a good part of the conservatories, a couple of the tree houses, and many lit-up trees outside. We went to an organ singalong and heard carolers. We got there around 2:30 and were exhausted by 8:30.
I forgot about the poll! I’m sure I’ll give myself presents. LOL
I’m having a hard time thinking about what I’d want to get unsniffed. I’m so used to getting samples of this, that and the other from Sephora, Luckyscent, Surrender to Chance, and those lovely NST folks who want to share the joy of perfumes. 🙂 (Thanks, folks!)
I’ll probably share some things with my brother somewhere in the holiday season, and with those friends I went to Longwood Gardens with. 🙂
Perfume at bedtime: SL A la Nuit. (Thank you, Koyel!) I drifted off on a lovely cloud of jasmine. 🙂
Sunday morning: used a LUSH Amelie Mae washcard when I bathed. It struck me as a nice sugary-sweet rosy floral.
It was raining and not too nice out in general when I went out after that on errands. I stopped at the Sephora on the way home and got a bottle of Fresh Hesperides Grapefruit. I got a ton of various makeup samples, too. I’ll list them out at some point so we can see if someone’s looking for anything in particular.
I sniffed Replica: Under the Lemon Trees on paper, since someone mentioned that and there was a travel spray of it at the local Sephora. I have a *lot* of citrus fragrances, though, including a couple of very nice lemon fragrances.
Hoping everyone affected by these various storms manages to stay safe and warm!
Wow, you are brave going to Longwood on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I bet it was crazy packed! Sounds like you saw way more than we did, I still need to go back one night and see the lights.
My friends’ cousin had arranged it for them, so it was the way she’d timed it. Yes, it was packed. I’ll be back on the 14th with family friends. In that case, the mother is retired, but the daughter works. Mom and I will likely go on a day that isn’t freezing and/or snowing, and that isn’t a blackout day for complimentary tickets, so during the week on a relatively decent day weather-wise. You can contact me with a day/evening that would work for you, if you’d like. neyronrose at gmail dot com
Sunday scent of the evening: trying a sample of L’Artisan Mimosa Pour Moi. I like it.
I have a glass etagere for holding many of my collections, Byredo, Jo Malone, Margiela and Tom Ford. I’d like a second etagere!
Tom Ford Soleil Neige or Comme des Garçons Radish Vetiver
Atelier Cologne Clementine California and Pacific Lime (I couldn’t decide so I bought both!)
I was very sorry I read Kevin’s review of the CdG, I was really excited about Radish Vetiver!
This early morning I’ve just applied vintage Avon Timeless because I didn’t find the time to post Friday, and it’s what I would have chosen. It’s an oakmoss bomb.
1. I would like to receive Parfums de Rosine Majalis
2. I’ve never smelled Coromandel
3. I got a 200ml bottle of vintage Fragonard Santal for my brother with a mini of Roger & Gallet Vetyver
Is your brother a fragrance lover too?
He’s not obsessed like me but he does wear aftershave or eau de toilette every day.
My brother was the same way, until he got married, lol. I still try and get him some fragrant from time to time though.
Spending the morning in Amouage Dia body products from yesterday. I forgot how Dia has the tendency to wear me. After my shower, I will wear Coromandel edt. I have ordered a 10ml decant of the EDP because I want to see what the difference is. I hope that decant tomorrow or Tuesday. I am pretty satisfied with my perfume collection right now. I have scaled back on the gifts the past couple years. I am waiting for the big Bath and Body Works candle sale that’s coming to finish some Christmas shopping for the people who live in Cleveland. My nephews live in California and I am going to wait a week or two before ordering their gift. Today is a get dog food and go to Malley’s Chocolates for some chocolate.
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit! ???.
In Atelier Cologne Cafe Tuberosa to keep myself cozy on a cold, rainy day, waiting for the first winter storm of the season. Hope it decides to go somewhere else at the last minute!
December! Hope the storm passes you by!
Hope so too!
I just got dumped on. Hope it runs out of steam before it gets to you. You smell great!?
Thank you! ?
We have had a very light wintry mix so far. We are expecting snow for tomorrow. Crossing fingers for just rain!
I totally forgot the rabbits today!
Looks like I was the only one here who remembered.
I remembered!
I ventured out into the whiteness for lunch and to get some laundry done. Sun is out in full force, but brittle cold.
I’m still in Winter Palace. Maybe I do need a full bottle? I’ve been wearing it consistently and haven’t gotten sick of it yet, so that ticks off one of my “Full Bottle Worthy” bullet points on my check list…
Anyone get a luckyScent coupon yet..? ?
I don’t recall Luckyscent ever having store-wide discounts. I could be wrong, bit usually it’s just perks with purchase.
In any event, Twisted Lily does have 20% off now and they do carry the Memo line…
Yes. They had an offer about one month back. No doubt there were exclusions, of course. Cazabaun alerted me, and I found the discount code under specials— but the perfume I wanted was already sold out or pulled.
Sorry! cazaubon !
Good to know! Sounds like you have to dig around for it :/
I am an idiot. pls see my comment below.
Oh hell’s bells, I am totally mixed up, so extra apologies to Deva too. The 20% off coupon was Beautyhabit… I am sorry. I have been spouting nonsense. Very sorry! Now I will crawl back into my hole!!
Yes, and unlike Luckyscent, you can get 20% off AND free shipping.
You might need not only Winter Palace but Bengal Rouge also……?
I just saw on AJP that Luckyscent is having a 15% off for Cyber-Monday, code CYBERAPJ with a couple of exceptions
What is AJP?
Australian Perfume Junkies
Wow, good to know. Thank you!
Wow, thanks! ?
You rock Annie!! Thank You.
It’s pretty dreary today. I’m in Gris Clair today. Wore PdE Cuir Ottoman last night to a fun event. Was a fundraiser for another Brazilian drumming group and they had a couple of dance classes that were great.
On to the poll:
1) Le Labo Palo Santo candle, which doesn’t quite smell like palo santo, but is a really nice woody scent. I will say that though they seem pricey, I’ve found my Santal candle to be the most economical candle so far. It’s so potent that I only have to burn it for like 1/2 hour to scent a room+. This candle has lasted me 4 years and I still have about 1/4 left!!
2) Unsniffed perfume: Probably Dusita Splendiris since I’ve liked everything I’ve tried from her, and I generally like iris.
I did buy 2 30% off candles unsniffed from Brooklyn Candle Studio in Santa Fe and Kyoto. I hope they’re good!
3) Scented gifts: I plan on getting my niece a Boy Smells candle as an xmas/apt warming gift. Either Cedar Stack or Hinoki Fantome- both of which I have and really like. Hinoki Fantome is more about cardamom than hinoki, but it’s cozy nonetheless.
Ooh, I sniffed Splendiris on my last visit to Les Senteurs and it’s gorgeous!
Testing Sylvaine Delacourte’s Dovana, a floral musky skin scent— very pretty. I think her sample packs are a great price. I bought two of her flights of five, her musks and her orange blossom scents. She also have five organized around vanilla.
I agree, good value. I like the vanillas.
So late! Poll answers:
1. On my want list is Superstious, Angelique Sous la plue, and L’eau D’Hiver.
2. Music for awhile…
I’ve been cheating on TF with FM?
3. I’ve been sniffing around trying to find something inoffensive but nice for my son. About 3 days ago I sprayed Azzaro Wanted on the back of my hand. It is a ambroxan bomb, that wore off just this morning. So I will keep looking/smelling.
Even later than lillyjo! Maybe someone will still be reading at this point. ? It’s been a cold, miserable, rainy day for most of today. I didn’t have to go anywhere, so I didn’t!
Yesterday’s Friendsgiving turned out really well. Lots of laughs and lots of food… so much food that I didn’t feel hungry until sometime this afternoon. Despite the warning stories from some NSTers about overindulgence, I did. I HAVE to learn how to pace myself when someone puts on a spread like that…
Now for the poll answers:
1) This year’s Diptyque holiday candles in the mini set have really intrigued me. They’re all gorgeous.
2) Unsniffed perfumes? Not this time. I’ve been too lucky with some of my latest unsniffed purchases, so I’m not going to press my luck any further.
3) Maybe. I’m considering getting some scented shower gels for a couple of my friends. No family gifting, though. That seems to have fallen by the wayside in recent years.
SOTD = back in Aromatics Elixir today. Saturday’s SOTD was Rihanna Rogue. I didn’t want my perfume to compete with the feast.
I’m glad you had a great friendsgiving!
Friendsgivings are the best! You get an enabler pin Jalapeno because my mom wore Clinique Aromatics and your recent announcements reminded me of this lovely fact. I have her old bottle with maybe 2mls left and it has probably turned so I followed your lead and copied you by purchasing the small bottle to wear this winter.
I’m even later than you, so I won’t bother answering the poll! I love your choice of Aromatics Elixir. Have you tried Clinique’s Wrappings?
OMG! The Morning Show , what a great new show on Apple TV.
I just binged the 1at seven episodes.
It is impossible to stop.
I know…it’s great!