Happy Unicorn Friday! Our community project for today: wear a perfume you suspect no one else (or almost no one else) on Now Smell This owns, or something that you very rarely see worn or mentioned. Thanks go to Oakland Fresca for the suggestion!
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I considered various rarities in my collection, but then realized one of my newer purchases, Aftelier Candide, probably qualifies? We'll see. Either way, I smell pretty darned fantastic.
Reminder: 3/6 is the The Day of the Dude. Take it easy, man.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2020, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is detail from Virgin and Unicorn (A Virgin with a Unicorn) by Domenichino, 1602 via Wikimedia Commons. Extra reading on unicorns: Fantastically Wrong: The Weird, Kinda Perverted History of the Unicorn at Wired.
There can’t be that many people out there who own Parfum Rare, by Jacomo, 1987 vintage EDT. I mean, it’s right there in the name!
I’m in a big big splash of it right now, and it’s so gorgeous, one of those mid-eighties scents that tries to be all things to all people: bright green and a bit strident up top, but evolving into a floral oriental chypre (heavy on the roses, labdanum, and oakmoss, respectively, with lots of sandalwood and a hefty dose of patchouli to boot). You can still get it on eBay for surprisingly little money (a half ounce of extrait for $50!): I have enough to last me a lifetime, but if you like this sort of thing, it’s out there.
Oh, that sounds wonderful! I will certainly add it to my list! I suspect that will be happening a lot today.
Oh, that sounds lovely! I will be perusing today’s comments for my Unicorn ‘wish list’.
Taking a mental trip to Paris in my Ormaie L’Ivrée Bleue. I have so many unicorns in my closet, but this is the one that called to me today. Happy Friday!
Happy Friday cazaubon! I’m sure you smell fantastic, and a mental trip to Paris is better than none at all
At the moment, a mental trip is probably the most prudent.
So true. My mom is going to Brussels Tuesday and I wish she wasn’t.
I’m sure she will be fine. And Brussels is gorgeous. I fully appreciate your concern and worries, but from all I hear it’s probably only slightly more dangerous than influenza.
I hope she has a wonderful and safe trip!
Today I am wearing La Rose Jaqueminot by Coty. I got a little trio of minis of this and Chypre and Les Muses, mostly because I wanted to smell Chypre… but I ended up liking the other two better. Les Muses is my favorite, a heady white floral. Rose Jaqueminot is a spicy rose, and my mini is so evaporated it pours out like molasses, but still smells great.
I have never smelled that one, but I am sure you smell wonderful.
I’m in a dab of Secret Gardens Sandalwood oil. Not a perfume per se, but something I did wear as a perfume back in the early 90’s. It’s scent memory is tied to grunge, flannel shirts and Birkenstock’s. I still have about half a bottle left and a google search shows that it’s still made! I can’t believe it. My bottle came with a little cork top.
And it’s probably real sandalwood…I’m sure you smell great.
Great scent memory??
How about Nic Cage Raking Leaves on a Brisk October Afternoon fragrance oil by OHWTO (now defunct indie perfumer)? It’s cozy and addictive and definitely unique.
Wow – I think you win the CP.
Ditto!
I love Nic Cage, so I must ask – is it accurate??
What a great name!
Started my day with Norma Kamali Ceremony and have decided to amp things up with her Incense. It’s a bit overpowering, but damn I smell good!
All of her scents were STRONG…loved the incense one. Can’t remember now if I smelled Ceremony.
Oh, anything Norma Kamali (especially the incense) is spectacular!
Loved your unicorn pictures this week, Robin.
Today’s unicorn for me is Lohse Uralt Lavendel. Easy to wear green lavender in a cute green mini bottle.
I’m glad! And of course have never heard of your perfume.
This is something my grandma could have worn….
My Friday unicorn is Shalini. I didn’t buy the Lalique bottle, but it’s still the most expensive perfume I have ever purchased – and no regrets. It’s beautiful. Happy Friday, all!
Yay for no regrets!
I’ve sniffed it longingly.- beautiful scent
My SOTD is Femme by Henry Jacque’s perfumes. Rich green/chypre perfume with loads of oakmoss. My old 30 year old bottle is one of the most treasured in my collection. I managed to find one bottle at Harrods and it was the last one they had. Happy Friday all!
Video below:
https://youtu.be/rW5t4qd9aGc
I forgot to mention, my version is without alcohol, the notes are:
Top: Iris, sage, geranuim
Middle: Rose, jasmine, carnation
Base: Patchouli, musk, oak moss
Wow! Those bottles are something!
I have the Baccarat crystal Lubin Kissing Dolphins bottle as well. See below.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/baccarat-crystal-art-deco-kissing-1815886599
OmG that BOTTLE❣️
The music in this video is beautiful too. You must smell amazing!
I wore Prada L’Eau d’Ambree at bedtime last night (a semi-unicorn), and was planning to wear it again today for the CP but then my gaze fell on my little decant of SMN Eva – a unicorn for sure. It’s wonderful and I’d love to own a FB, but the decant is probably more than I’ll use in this lifetime and I’m trying to be reasonable about perfume acquisition these days. Anyway, Happy Friday to you all!
Sometimes I get tired of trying to be reasonable.
I hate being reasonable about perfume.
I used to love Eva…if they’d made a smaller size I would have bought it.
Wearing Giorgio Beverly Hills. I DON’T HAVE ANY COMMENTS!!! ??. I just hope the day goes by quickly!
My other contender for today was Revlon Charlie, which I may spray on some tonight. Charlie and Gorgio belong to my mother. They have been sitting in a drawer for the past 30+ years, almost untouched. And untouched they will stay forever, unless I want to revisit them for reference only, like now.
Despite not wearing all or most of the classics that I revisited this week, I am glad that I did. It made me appreciate them even more than before, especially when I compare them with the non interesting latest releases in perfumery. I could do another week or so of more classic, but I have to reset my nose and my brain again! ?. It was a great experiment and I don’t regret it!
Happy Friday, everyone!
?? You’re brave! But I looooved Georgio in the 80s. A good high school friend used to wear it. She came from a wealthy family so I thought of it as a rich-person perfume, lol.
Charlie would’ve been a great choice, too. I remember the commercials well!
https://youtu.be/t1WX9znN7CE
Thanks for the video link, Elisa! It was so good to see that commercial again! It brough back many good memories.
It was not easy to make up my mind this morning about wearing Giorgio. I knew it was going to be tough. I am glad it is freezing today, so I can justify the 2 sprays that I had. Charlie would have been easier to wear. I remember stealing few spritzes from that bottle in the 80’s, even though it never appeal too much to me. I wish I could get some day my hands on Revlon Scoundrel with the black cap. Mom wore it a lot and I remember loving it. However, I am sure I would not these days.
I don’t think I know what Scoundrel smells like, but reminds me that I had Revlon Fire and Ice that I got in a secret Santa work party ~ 1995. I liked it, but also not sure I’d like it now.
The original Scoundrel I don’t remember at all how it smelled like. Scoundrel Musk, with the black cap and label was a peachy ambery oriental. Beautiful! Well, beautiful at that time! ?
I not only wore Charlie, I subconsciously thought I was going to be her.
Hilarious!
Loved those!
I tried it once a few years ago and suddenly I could picture my high school locker. I didn’t wear it but it was everywhere when I was in high school. By itself I could like it but high school is decades behind me and I have no need to go back
So many bad and good memories attached to those classics! But sometimes they need to stay in the past where they belong to.
My mother and I drenched ourselves in Giorgio back in the 80’s. I don’t know how my father survived.
OMG! Poor him!!!??
Everybody that wore Giorgio drenched themselves in it as far as I remember
Everybody drenched themselves on the heavy-hitters those days and nobody seemed to complain. The old times!!! ?
I don’t know what you’re talking about…
*Said she with the big hair and shoulder pads*
Did your dad do anything on the regular that you and your mom tolerated? ?
Oh tons, there was and is a lot of tolerating on both sides.
I never wore Giorgio or Charlie, but Je Reviens, Ciara, Inoui and Obsession were loves from back in the day. You did a great job this week!
Thank you!?
I remember Je Reviens and a flanker, Worth. I did not wear them, but many people around did and both were pretty nice!
I actually love (adore!) Giorgio Beverly Hills, Giorgio Red, and Giorgio Wings. I admit, they are dated but if applied with a light hand, they all are quite nice!
Giorgio Red really is gorgeous. I never cared for Wings, but I used to sell a ton of it.
Me too, everyone went nuts for Wings. I have a small bottle for reference but I don’t wear it often.
I do need to replenish my Giorgio Red though.
They are all wonderful classics, but they are very difficult for me to wear these days despite loving most of them.
My primary partner only ever wore Red, and it smelled great on him. He still has some kicking around the house, but doesn’t wear it any more.
Way back when, a shampoo came out that featured the scents of Giorgio, Poison and Opium. I bought the Giorgio one because I thought it would be the least offensive to my mom. I can still hear her yelling at me ?
Oh, I remember those! They were nice-smelling but totally fried my dry / curly hair.
It was hard to find anything for curly hair back then.
LOL! I did not know there were shampoos of those scents!
I wish I could remember the manufacturer. Maybe cm8 will know.
I’m coming out of commenting retirement to comment on this!
I loved Giorgio, but only had magazine strips to scent my drawers. I wore Poison instead, but Giorgio is an instant time machine…
Love your magazine strips memories!
I have enjoyed all the comments this week regarding everybody’s experiences and memories with the classics during those years, no matter if they were bad or good. Very nostalgic, but uplifting for me!
Loving all the comments! My m-i-l wore Giorgio; a huge oversprayer. She doesn’t wear much perfume anymore but when I hear ‘Giorgio’ I instantly think of her. I bet I could find a couple bottles if I looked hard enough at their place; I’m sure I bought her 2 or 3.
Those bottle are a treasure. I just wonder how the vintage compares to the current formulation.
ZOMG, you were brave! Even back in the day, I never went near Giorgio. It was just too too much.
Giorgio was always too much. Not even my mother wore it. She sprayed on it very few times and did not dare to keep going.
Since we’re having really warm temperatures these kast couple days here in SoCal it is perfect for wearing
The Ten Party
Jealous! And forgot about The Ten Party.
Ok, I finally found a good unicorn. I’m in Borghese Il Bacio parfum from a mini I bought a number of years ago because I remembered a friend of one of my roommates wore this in the early 90’s. She used to go out with us on Saturday nights and I remember thinking she smelled so good and asked her what she wore. My actual memory of how she smelled is fuzzy, but it’s a nice fruity oriental. Still being sold, I see!
I wore that one back in the day!
I wore it too! I was able to sniff the current version a few years back at Kohls. I could recognize it, but was not the same.
I don’t think I’ve seen it in person, ever! I’d be curious to smell the current version.
Thanking Frida Kahlo for my Dana Emir (https://tinyurl.com/scxaa7b). Also, for Kahlo fans on the West Coast…the Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving exhibit will open at the de Young in SF soon.
Dana Emir is a perfume that I have always wanted to try. It is not so difficult to find, so I may get my hands on some soon.
Hey you — nice pick for today.
That was a great read! Thanks Kevin.
I’m wearing the original 1981 Missoni by Missoni. Personally, I like the 2006 version better, because of its chocolate hazelnut vibe, but this one is nice too. Plus I’ve worn the 2006 version this winter.
SotD = Phenomene Verte
A long ago gift from CaFleureBon and Parfums Lalun. It still smells beautiful.
I wasn’t scheduled to work, but emergenices happen, so I was called in for today. Go, go, go!
Have a wonderful Friday, my perfumed pals!
I wonder if my sample of that has evaporated. I remember liking it
There just don’t seem to be animalic carnation scents wandering around in the wild. I am in my ultimate unicorn, my custom from DSH–Slinky Carnation
That sounds like an odd and potentially good combination…. Is it?
I like it. It is very dense, has real animalics (musk, civet and ambergris) and is kind of old school. Also it was a lot of fun to go to Boulder and work with Dawn in person
Freebie Alert!
Do you love very intensely green fragrances with tons of violet leaf and galbanum? I have 4160 Tuesdays Eat More Flowers perfume to give away. 100 mls! Email me at my user name at me dot com.
Oh dibs! I am so galbanum-hungry!
Wow!!
That sounds delicious!
I will have to check that scent out.
Congratulations, Regina!
There is enough for everybody, please send me your address if you would like some as well!
Oh I would love some! Thank you very much. I am on a violet tear these days. Emailing now.
I am definitely out on today’s CP. I’m not in possession of any scents that would be unknown or not regularly used. Looking forward to seeing what others have chosen, however!
SOTD: Narciso EDP
Same here. Plenty of choices that would qualify as unicorns in any other setting, but nothing even close by NST standards — and I do not mind a bit! I am intrigued by the choices others have made.
There are a lot of things being mentioned that I’ve never tried or even heard of!
Same.
The best I could find was a tiny sample from who knows where of A Lab on Fire’s Messy Sexy Just Rolled Out of Bed. I had no idea what it would smell like, and it turns out to be a very tame skin scent.
I briefly dated a man in law school who took pride in his ability to identify women’s perfumes (he drank Irish Mist and subscribed to Yachting Magazine—I said it was BRIEF). I’d have to let him down gently as I knew that my perfumes by Maître Parfumeur et Gantier, Fragonard, and Annick Goutal were way beyond his brief, although hardly exotic for this crowd!
This makes me think of Yacht Rock!
+1! I even my Narciso @ home so I cannot EVEN do this much in agreement with you. What fun this has been, and STC had some of these beauties on 30% off ( no affiliation).
First twistedlily ( ?that shop) and STC….I hope no other doors are closing up shop. what have I missed?
Last night I tested Serge Lutens’ La Couche Du Diable, and no one was more surprised than myself that I really liked it. The magic ingredient is saffron–not the oud, which at this point just does what it is supposed to do when it avoids smelling like band-aid.
So, still jonesing for saffron this AM, I am wearing the unicorn Rose Opera by Scent on Canvas. Mine is from a decant, but I would sure love an FB if I could find it in the US!
I love love love saffron notes in perfume. I bet you smell gorgeous.
I like them too but I find it very hard to describe this note. Someone was asking me about that too when I mentioned having saffron risotto recently at a fancy restaurant (yum!) and I couldn’t think how to do it. Any suggestions?
It smells to me like a rich, golden hay.
What are some of your faves? I am contemplating pulling the plug on another StC decant of Rose Opera.
In order of magnificence: Calligraphy Saffron, then Safran Troublant, followed closely by Kulfi (by L’Aromatica, but only if you like gourmands).
Aha, good to know!
Wearing Cuba Prestige Classic EDT for men, by Cuba Paris.
It’s a cheapie (in a tacky looking cigar shaped bottle) I bought from Amazon a few years ago after returning from a trip to Europe where I smelled this on a cab driver. He was so tickled when I asked him what he was wearing and jotted down the name.
Most reviewers seem to agree that it smells like Mugler Angel Men. I have never smelled A* Men but I can say that it smells like a light and pleasant version of Angel (it would not asphyxiate you in an elevator, for sure).
In spite of not having but one unicorn perfume left in my collection, I thought this community project was a great idea.
You guys have brought up so many perfumes this week, some of which I had never heard of and others that I used to wear or smell frequently in my highschool/university years.
Wishing you all a great weekend!
A while back I asked a customer what he was wearing and this was it. It smelled really good!
I think this is available at the NYPenn perfume shop but then again, I don’t know if the shop is still there!
Liquorice Vetiver, by SP parfums
Another I need to try.
I am wearing Vermillion Promise from the Collectionby Phuong Dang
This was a beautiful line of unique complex scents. As far as I can tell it was only sold at Barneys and this was my treat as that store closed
Like many Barney’s items, this line was luxuriously made, exquisitely packaged an luxuriously and exquisitely priced.Hence my purchase during the liquidation sale
The juice has oudhincense
and jasmine
There is an article in WWD this week about the chilling effect Barneys’ departure will have on small beauty brands
Good morning and Happy FriYAY!
Shoutout below if you own this cheapie…..Rampage Blue Eyes. Not sure it’s really an unicorn, because it’s a dupe for D&G Light Blue to my nose. Maybe it’s just a skinny hippo or narwhal trying to pretend to be an unicorn?
Looks like Rampage still makes clothes for department stores, but the standalone stores are a thing of the past…..
Skinny hippo. LOL!
Happy Friday all! I wanted something fun and fizzy for a busy day. So it’s Outramer Cola for me! I think this unicorn likes bubbles. ?
Best kind of unicorn.
I’m wearing a splash of Yuzu Citrus by Artemisia Natural Perfumes, an indie all natural perfume company that I don’t think is around anymore, at least not online. Perfumer Lisa Fong made several beautiful and unique perfumes, including one called Eros, made with real oakmoss and bourbon rose absolute that I really loved, and another one called Ozymandias, a very interesting incense perfume. I wonder if anyone else has worn these scents.
Nope – excellent unicorn candidate…
I’m not wearing a unicorn, just more of my sample of Osmanthus Interdite, since I liked it so much last Friday!
Very much looking forward to the weekend.
Very vernal!
? very clever!
Wearing a spritz of Lola James Harper’s The Woody Office of Daddy. Just double-checked the website, and ah yes, it’s really a home fragrance, which it says in the teensiest of letters at the bottom of the bottle. Super-reasonable as a perfume, stupidly expensive as a room spray.
Great name!
I’m wearing Misha, Mikhail Baryshnikov’s celebrity scent from back in the day. It’s a heavy hitter, chypre floral with cinnamon, peach, carnation and rose. It’s wild that this is what the celebscents you could get at the department store used to smell like. They don’t make ’em like they used to!
I adored Misha, and many other celebrity scents like Uninhibited by Cher, Passion by Liz Taylor, and Deneuve by Catherine Deneuve were among my favorites. They really don’t make em like they used to at all!
He was such a beautiful dancer
PdN Haute Provence, probably not a real unicorn although I can’t remember any mentions here. Lavender, petitgrain and perhaps some musk. I’ve never been to Provence but want to live there if it smells like this. It was impossible to get in the US for years but popped up at Luckyscent a few months ago. My daughter brought a bottle back from a recent trip to Paris. Considered PoTL Luctor et Emergo but too well-known.
It’s been reissued. I’ve got a bottle as well. It’s a really nice cologne.
The real Provence can smell wonderful as well!
Some day I will get there! Thanks, Austenfan.
I’m wearing Mousse au Cafe, a scent by Maison des Reves. Apparently they made three scents that could be layered. I’ve never seen anyone else with this, I got it in a swap. It’s a lovely bitter coffee smell, then milk gets added and it smells like a latte for a while. It ends in a couple of hours with a vaguely coconutty note. Short-lived but nice while it lasts.
Will mention this to s friend who has been searching for the hg coffee scent, although if it’s not readily available it might be more to torment her.
Has she smelled Bond No. 9 New Haarlem?
She has, and it didn’t hit the spot. Nothing has so far, and she hasn’t quite articulated what would be needed to be the Ultimate Coffee Scent.
I read this first as “Mouse Cafe” and that conjured up a funny image!
I am going to wear Anne Boleyn Rose today, purchased at the Hever Castle gift shop last year when I visited. I use it sparingly, because I don’t know if I will get to visit there again. It is described on the Hever Castle website as “a wonderful seductive fragrance containing spices and cocoa that were newly available at the time of Anne Boleyn’s reign.” Then it goes on to say that it is made locally for the castle and only UK delivery.
I just got back from workout, and will spray some right after shower.
Have a great Friday everyone !
Oh well done. And I am little envious!
That scent sounds marvelous!
Wearing a perfume oil from Fortune Cookie Soap called Clever Girl. It’s a dupe for Lush’s Rose Jam.
Nice!
One of my most precious unicorns is the old L’Occitane Neroli. It’s this one: https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/L-Occitane-en-Provence/Neroli-Eau-de-Parfum-2008.html
It’s rich and ambery neroli/orange blossom, and the juice is orange so it’s only appropriate to spray before putting on clothes or when wearing dark clothes. It goes on strong but quiets down a lot after the first hour.
Plus that bottle ?
Oh, that one is simply glorious. I miss that one and Crabtree & Evelyn’s Sandalwood. I used to apply a spritz of each way back in the day. Pretty nice combo!
Yeah that bottle is definitely something else. Wow.
I am in CdG Zagorsk today. I noticed that it’s rarely mentioned on NST. I am working today so no Coco Mademoiselle today but it will be worn over the weekend though. I am still wondering if a 1.2 ounce bottle was enough. I will wear it and see.
I think I wore this last week, but it is not very popular here
Zagorsk is the least mentioned from the incense series and it is a very good one!
It’s my favourite of the incense series.
I used to have a decant of this, and it was weird. Finished the decant though.
Aramis Tobacco Reserve. It’s like a more masculine, rougher take on VC&A Bois d’Iris. Worth a punt if you like that one…
And a better price.
Armani Preve La Femme Bleue. Since it was a very limited edition several years ago, I think it qualifies as a unicorn.
I’m taking a half-day off and going perfume shopping with my friends’ daughter (it’ll be her birthday present).
Have a nice (and quick) Friday, everyone!
Hope it was fun shopping Undina! And that you found a great scent for her.
We’re still in the process, but “getting there”
I’m yet to make a perfumista out of her.
You can do it if anybody can!
I’m just not great with unicorns. I could have worn Nina by Nina Ricci, the original version seems to have some unicorn potential. In stead I’m wearing L’Âme Perdue by Le Galion. It feels like the happy result of a fling between Jubilation 25 and Œillet Bengale.
I’m in France, near Reims. Visited the cathedral this afternoon and did some shopping afterwards. It’s quite wintery here I even saw some real snow driving down here. I will be heading towards Troyes tomorrow. It’s really lovely to be here. And I intend to do no perfume shopping. Although I did try the new Mon Guerlain rose something, which I didn’t like.
Oh, I have such a nice memory of visiting there in the summertime and sitting at a sidewalk cafe with a view of that cathedral sipping delightful champagne! It’s a beautiful place.
I had some Kir royal tonight. Reims cathedral is just stunning. Hard to imagine all it’s been through, but it is still there, still beautiful and still changing. They have replaced some of the old broken stained glass windows with new ones by a German artist, as a token of German-French friendship. Beautiful windows and an even more beautiful symbol. Chagalls windows are now flanked by the German ones.
The weather doesn’t look too good up in northern France & Belgium, but France is always fun.
Thanks for the report on the Mon Guerlain Rose, was it the new edp? What didn’t you like about it? I’m looking to kill my lemming.
No, the weather isn’t great, but it could be worse.
I found it sharp and not at all like the original Mon Guerlain. The lavender and tonka/vanilla were barely detectable.
I’ve just had a great dinner. Best part of it was the hors d’œuvre. It was basically a boiled egg in a cheese sauce. Which does not sound great. However, the cheese was Chaource and that happens to be one of my favourite French cheeses.
My pick today is Karl Lagerfeld KL. I’ve been holding on to a few drops for years, and had decided to thunk it today. I chickened out though, and gave myself a three quarter spray, and put it away again. I know one or two people here have worn it, but it’s hard to come by, and very pricey if you do.
My crazy floor manager had her position eliminated so today is her last day. The plan is for all the full timers to go out with her tonight, but she scheduled me to work. LOL! I’m crushed I can’t go?????
Good riddance, I say!
I knew you would say that!?
and I agree!
Yay for the departure of your crazy manager, and for your KL. I had a bottle of that about 25 years ago, and it’s long gone. It was lovely, and I’m sure I’d recognise it immediately if I sniffed it again.
It is quite memorable.
Love it, payback is a b*tch!
What’s funny is that there was rumers about someone losing their job, and she bad mouthed everyone else, and pointed her finger at them.
Really? Double luck!!
Yep!
Great news! I wish mine was gone too! ?
I wish that for you too!
?
So nice that it’s someone you don’t like, Lillyjo, maybe life at work will get much nicer.
Maybe not easier, but more positive for sure.
Karma at its best! ??
?
Good riddance to a bad boss! I just hope they don’t replace her with someone exactly like that.
They eliminated the whole position so they could hire 2 supervisors to do the work hourly for less money! The new people basically have no experience.
Uh oh. Inexperienced supervisors are Not A Good Thing.
Sorry you’re so crushed ?
I am in Guepard by Guepard!
From 1997,gifted to me by a very dear friend some years back.Orange,geranium,some cinnamon,beautiful amber drydown.
Just lovely.This was my sotd I wqs so excited about on I think Tues or Wed as well.
This week past is a blur.Work is not getting less,and we had stocktake yesterday.
TGIF!!!!!
Love reading about everyone’s unicorns today!!
My other two contenders were Patou Colony(vintage) or my preciousssss Iris Gris(new version,hauled over at some expense by a mule/friend…NOT.CHEAP)
Happy Friday NST!
XO
Never smelled Guépard but it sounds wonderful. TGIF!
Is that the Jacques Fath Iris?
I have a couple of Patou samples, but not Colony.
Today I got out my roll-on of Arquiste x J. Crew No. 31. It was a limited edition, alas! — a rosy, boozy feminine amber.
Really thought they’d do more of those!
I bet you smell wonderful!
Do you know how it compares to the Nose/L’Occitane collaboration Neroli?I had the tiniest bottle sent to me by a lovely NST gal some years back.
I don’t know, sorry. But this one is as much jasmine as neroli.
So this is pretty lame, but I just want to mention my unicorn and not wear it (technically, I also gave the bottle to my daughter two weeks ago although she probably wouldn’t mind if I went to her room and sprayed it) – it’s Aphrodisya by Aqua Flor, which is a perfume store in Florence. I’m mentioning it because when I first started reading/following but not yet posting, someone posted that they went on their honeymoon to Florence and visited Aqua Flor.
Heck, maybe I’ll just go spray on some after all.
If you’re out there reading….say hi!
Did you? ?
no….I just can’t time travel like that today. I have a field trip in a couple of hours and feel the need for a very specific perfume for that purpose (sunny, friendly, professional – Champaca, probably). But smelling it was so familiar!
Hi! Still reading!
I had such a lovely time in that store with my two daughters, who were at the time 6 and barely 4. The owner was great with them. Also, in retrospect, those perfumes were cheap!
It sounds like it was a wonderful trip.
I found a rare unicorn by The Attar Collection, called The Persian Gold.
I smells like Rose Lokhoum, thickly powdered with Vanilla and Musk, but it’s not cloyingly sweet, but feels fresh. A very femme scent, but nice.
That sounds lovely!
SOTD = Shu Uemura Fleur de Rose
This was one of 3 perfumes that launched in 2008 and also ended up being the last perfumes from Shu Uemura. I saw an article in the New York Yimes about this and the recommendation to layer them. This was pre- rabbit hole days and I bought all 3 plus all sorts of make-up brushes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9HAb7aBDa5/?igshid=11godh6y4mzi7
Yes, you can see with your own eyes that I’ve thunked 2 of the 3! I was able to swap for another bottle of Fleur de Source (blue) and promptly thunked that as well. The simplicity of the bottles is very attractive. I’ve also come to appreciate the straight-up lemon rose though I was racking my brain to see what I can layer with it for old time’s sake!
I enjoyed reading about the other unicorns. As I commented earlier this week, unicorns ? are unicorns until someone else comes along and says they have it or have worn it but not commented to this effect.
I think it’s cool you got them pre-rabbit hole. You must have had at least one foot in?
I wouldn’t consider it one foot. .I think my turning point was when I searched for most expensive perfume in the world (at that time Clive Christian something had that dubious honor) which then led me to NST ?
Those bottles are gorgeous!
Aren’t they? Those bottles have been empty for a long time!
I’m wearing my unicorn scent Estee Lauder’s Intuition, which I wore quite steadily back in the early 2000s, so much so that I still have two bottles of it, one older and less full than the other. I still do like it a lot. It’s described as a citrus amber and that’s right on the money. Unfortunately it has become associated in my mind with a painful divorce and so I don’t wear it much, but can’t bear to throw my bottles away. The citrus is more evident in the beginning but then after awhile the amber warms up and is quite lovely. We’re still under a “boil water” directive from the city today after a disastrous water main break yesterday that flooded an entire freeway and shut down water to half of the residents of Houston. It closed numerous restaurants and most of the schools and universities and was a shocking thing. Just when the panic for coronavirus is starting to rev up, we didn’t need a disaster like a flood under clear blue sunny skies! Bottled water flew out from grocery store shelves, and there was a TV station filming when I stopped by my own Kroger store yesterday afternoon.
That’s a shame your unicorn has bad associations.
Our evening news (ABC) had video of the flooding in Houston. That did look bad.
In a cheap thrill unicorn the limited edition Yves Rocher Folies de Saisons Delires d’Automne. Gingers over resins and smells of cream soda, very long lasting too.
That sounds fantastic!
?“Unicorns, I love them. Unicorns, I love them.”?
My unicorn for today’s CP is Amouage Tayyiba attar. (Curse you, forces of discontinuation!!!) Technically, it’s my second choice, but I felt more like wearing it than what I think is the ultimate unicorn in my possession: Laura Ashley Dilys. Maybe tomorrow.
Enjoy your day, and waft on all you fabulous unicorn-keepers!?
That one is rare indeed!
This has been a fascinating CP, there are so many things I’ve never heard of. I still need to catch up on a couple of days of reading.
For once, my geographic isolation is useful, I can be sure that not many people are wearing my choice for today, Celestine by Fragrifert Perfumery. I’ve mentioned Fragrifert before, it’s a small place near where I live, run by someone I worked with 20 years ago. Celestine is a chypre and rather nice. I’ve got a 30ml bottle that I hadn’t worn for ages.
You are right, you are the last unicorn
So many perfumes/brands I have never heard of. I started my day in Tauer Wowilla oil: I have been sick and needed something that smelled good. But inspired by everyone I have sprayed some Blocki This Grand Affair on top. I bought a travel spray at Tigerlily in SF last summer but I rarely hear a mention of the brand. This one is old school, along the lines of Shalimar.
I hope you feel better soon!
Mancera Black Cherry. I don’t think this counts as a unicorn, just a rarely mentioned scent. I think Bob H said he owned/owns it too. I think of it as Lost Cherry Lite.
Sorry, that should be Mancera WILD Cherry.
I think it fits unicorn!
Ganna Walska Perfumes, Inc. of Paris & New York, Gardenia. I work at her Foundation, Lotusland, and found this unicorn on EBAY, it dates from the late 1920s.
I never heard of her before your mention, but what an interesting life she led. And strange how she was such a bad singer, but found her passion and is now considered a good garden designer. Thanks for mentioning her! Have you been to Josephine Baker’s Chateau de Milandes in France? Another beautiful estate.
Fragonard Jasmin Perle de Thé, which I’ve worn here before but don’t see that much Fragonard mentioned. A very nice, light tea scent that I generally wear in warmer weather.
Exhausted… had a very early gig so was on the bus by 5:15 am. Back home by 9:30 am after a stop at Trader Joe’s (much shorter line this time).
Not much sleep because my husband treated me to a belated Valentine gift of a show at the Jazz at Lincoln Center venue, which is quite stunning. Kelani Pe’a, who is a Hawaiian performer. It was lovely. He has a beautiful voice, featured some hula, which is always gorgeous. And caused a tear to roll down my cheek when he did Bring Him Home (is that the right name of the song?) from Les Miserables.
Oops. Kalani Pe’a. Spelled his name wrong.
One of my favorite Hawaiian tunes is Lei Hali’a by Keali’i Reichel. A gorgeous song. Such a beautiful language.
Fragonard used to get more mentions than they do now. I think that’s about distribution — they are not as easy to find in the US as they used to be.
What a lovely Valentine gift!
Haven’t been reading or commenting recently (just a lot going on IRL) but am wearing something today that I don’t normally wear: Carner Barcelona’s Botafumeiro. I really like it!
Love reading about everyone’s unicorns!
You’re a unicorn yourself! I think you win double points! Good to see you pop up!
So true!
(waves to missionista!)
Unicorn SOTD DSH Habibi – Orange Blossom, honey, jasmine and oud – starts off strong and sweet, settled now to a lovely mostly honey skin scent – I like this very much, and I have never seen any discussion of it anywhere. (I got this as a free extra sample when I purchased large samples of extrait Towards the Starry Vault, a sweet chypre….which I saw reviewed here I think, but not seen anyone mentioning wearing either.) DSH scents have a certain ambience which I enjoy.
I can’t remember if I got to try that one, but it sounds lovely.
Hi Meredith, I am not sure if you will read this. It is Sunday and I got your email a couple of minutes ago regarding SevilleL’Aube and the possibility of a swap for Barkhane. I just answered, but all my emails to you are getting bounced from your account since Friday. I don’t know how to communicate with you ?
My unicorn SOTD is Tru Blooms Chicago, a 2012 release that has been made from local ingredients from the streets, public spaces, neighborhood gardens and urban farms in/around Chicago. The fragrance opens, to paraphrase the back of the box, with sparkling watery fruit accords meant to recreate time spent on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its heart features a lovely melange of rose/lavender/violet (although I don’t smell any rose, per se, just a pretty floral, well-blended) and its base includes blonde woods and musk. A harbinger of spring on a very cold but sunny late winter day!
I also have the 2013 release, Fountain of Roses, a green floral featuring rose, that I enjoy in summer. These appear to be the only two scents in this series and they appear to no longer be available, so I’m glad I scooped them up when I did!
Happy weekend to all, and enjoy the bonus February day!
Your unicorn perfume is a really cool concept!
I’m in Old Spice Amber deodorant because I was running late and forgot perfume.
It’s neither rare or unheard of, so I guess I’m just a common today horses a$$ instead of unicorn.. Still, I smell pretty good if I do a surreptitious duck and sniff an underarm.
Happy friYAY! ?
Deva, you crack me up. Happy Friday to you too!
LOL! Happy Friday, Deva!
? happy FriYay!
Jealous. Good stuff.
I went with Marie Saint Pierre B today and I feel it is a good unicorn. I smell lots of maple when I first put it on and later the sandalwood takes over in the dry down.
I seem to remember it being this grwst caramel on me
Still down for the count with this sinus infection, so I am participating virtually!! If I sprayed today, I would be wearing Fragonard’s RIVIERA RIVIERA…..has been a fave of mine since I picked up a bottle in Grasse after the factory tour (which is just an excuse to funnel everyone into the gift shop!). Lemony, maybe a little mimosa, not too long lasting, but I like and it always reminds me of that fantastic vacation.
So sorry jepster! Get well soon.
Happy Friday everyone!
My unicorn scent is Miss Lentheric edt, a release from 1972. I fond it at an estate sale down the street from my Dad’s house. The houses in the area were built in 1967/68, and I think the estate sale house only had one family that ever lived there.
I’m not a great fan of this; lots of galbanum and something anisic. It makes me think of No19 in a way. I can’t find any info on this one, but did find a short article on the release event. No info on Fragrantica or Basenotes. Does anyone have this?
https://lejardinretrouve.com/blog/en/2019/08/23/launching-miss-lentheric-at-glyndbourne/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9H-vG_hmKr/?igshid=1wsx6ajf0mnff
How neat! I’ve never heard of it.
Can’t help with Miss Lentheric as I’ve never heard of it, but have you every tried Tweed (of course, also by Lentheric)?
I haven’t tried Tweed, but the name came up often when I was researching Miss Lentheric!
It’s fantastic! I remember buying this when I was a young kid (it’s been a life-long addiction).
If you ever see it, don’t hesitate! Just be sure the bottle is marked ‘by Lentheric’.
I’m still on an incense kick, but something different for today. My unicorn bottles of perfume will patiently wait for their turn in the spotlight. ?
SOTD = Josef Statkus EdP, from the sample stash. I think it smells a lot like the original Kate Walsh Boyfriend. So I will use the sample up with no regrets.
Unicorn – never heard of it ?
I stumped you??? ?
?
I have some Josef Statkus-it’s lovely stuff. You smell great!
Thank you!
That was great — I really thought it would get a cult following.
Wearing 2 sprays of Calyx by Prescriptives ?
I got extremely lucky and found a bottle of that shortly after it was discontinued. You smell wonderful!
Lucky you; it’s so good! I even have a bub, believe it or not. I’m set for several lifetimes?
The Clinique version is a shadow of it’s former self, sadly.
Agree with your comment about the Clinique version of Calyx. I ended up with a sample of it and all I could smell was grapefruit, some green notes, and maybe some pale woods in the drydown.
Exactly! When I tried the Clinique version, I kept sniffing my wrist waiting for it to get stronger. It never happened?
Super late today but I went with YSL Champagne. I’ve heard it mentioned here in the past but not often. Especially since YSL changed it’s name to Yrvesse at some point. My bottle is vintage.
Vintage unicorn! You smell great!
Magnificent!
I love Champagne and have a bottle
My unicorn scent is Philosophy Tea from around 2004.It could be purchased alone or in a set with Sugar and Lemon scents.This scent is more of a mint tea rather than a pure black tea.Brings back memories!
I wish Philosophy brings them back or at least a batch appears at my Marshall’s when I’m there to grab them!
SOTD is Hedonist Iris Absolute. The review on lucky scent said “all boss-level Bond villains now wear this” and I was sold on a sample. It would be full bottle worthy if my skin didn’t amplify tobacco notes.
That is a great description!
I didn’t wear any unicorn perfumes on Friday. I made it to a local Macy’s and looked at the mainstream perfumes they had. I asked about the prices of Chanel No. 5 EdP and EdT. I was amazed at how reasonable the prices were compared to some niche perfumes. I ended up getting a small bottle of Chanel No. 5 EdT. I think that must be the anti-unicorn.