We're marking the middle of May with our same old open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the last fragrance you had a dream about, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is IMG_1680 [cropped] by Hetarllen Mumriken at flickr; some rights reserved.
SOTD Bryant Park Bond no 9. I might wear this one all week.
I saw your SotD on perfumeposse and it immediately gave me this ear worm:
https://youtu.be/2COKt6DqSaQ
Whoa! Throw back to something I didn’t know I remembered! ?
I know, right!? I ❤️ the ‘80’s.
My childhood friend of 52 years says that the 80s were the best times of our lives! She and I had a three hour phone conversation last month because it was the first time that we couldn’t get together for my birthday.
Ahahaha!!! You know they did actually use part of my high school to film the movie and several of the senior ballet majors were extras.
Back then Bryant Park was dangerous….drug selling, drug addiction and homelessness…very sad. Now it’s one of my favorite places to visit when I can get into Manhattan.
Very cool!
A dear friend of mine attended H.S. school there, she loved it but yes, that neighborhood was pretty dangerous back then.
Do you remember the years? Wonder if I knew her?
And funnily enough I was 4 foot 9 and 77 lbs when I started High School of Performing Arts. My mom worked in the garment district in Manhattan which was within walking distance. She INSISTED on walking me to school every day.
She’s a couple years younger than I – I think she attended in 86 or 87?
It was the years Jennifer Anniston also attended.
Ah that was after me. By then the school had combined with the High School of Music & Art and had moved up to Lincoln Center. The original High School of Performing Arts was near Times Square.
This has been the best part of my day so far!?
???
From ’81 to ’83 I worked in the Actors’ Equity building on West 46th street, just down the block from the school….those kids would sit out on the cars up and down the block, smoking and dancing….
Ooh, old memories
I’m wearing A ce soir by Pont des Arts and Néroli by Goutal.
Still completely infatuated with Acs, the most gorgeous vanilla.
The Goutal is very good too, I rearranged my Goutals in my fridge and made a table of them, so I can find where they are. ? This sounds mad but I own 43 Goutals. Clearly I need help, hence the table.
Ooooo!! 43? Do tell. AG was the first niche house I fell madly in love with. Bought my first bottle during my first trip to Paris ( eau de Ciel). Then discovered that Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan had buy one get one free on the 100 ml bottles several times a year ( mix and match). I would get two bottles for $90 total. Needless to say I probably had over 20 and thunked them all. I saved the empties but then threw them out one day in a 500 empty bottle purge ( dumb,bI know). Which AGs are your favorites??
Heure Exquise, Songes, Mon Parfum Chéri, Eau du Fier, Sables, Myrrhe Ardente, Musc Nomade, Grand Amour, and Ninfeo Mio. But there are a lot of others that I’m very fond of. HE and Songes are probably my most loved Goutals. I’ve just discovered that it should be 44, not 43. And that is not counting BUB’s.
Wow
I
Am
Speechless ?
What a great variety!!! Enjoy and wear in good health!!
I love that you have BUBs ?
Oh, I remember those days…. I have one bottle remaining from the 1990’s, Eau de Camille. I wish it had better staying power.
I only started collection in 2008 or so. I can’t remember exactly when. I think I got the Goutals mostly in the first few years of my perfumista life.
Quite impressive! Do you have them in older colored bottles or in one of the newer iterations?
My top two favorites from the line are Petite Cherie and Heure Esquise. But I have several more that I like and wear.
The only really new bottle I have is Duel. The rest are in the older bottles. I got loads of them on eBay.
I went though two or three bottles of Petite Chérie and now I cannot wear it anymore, maybe I will after ten years or so
I don’t wear it very often, but I do enjoy it when I do.
Well, I had to go google that perfume. Sounds PERFECT to me. Have you tried Farmacia SS Annunziata dal 1561 Vaniglia? I’m on a (years long) vanilla quest and I still remember this one from a few years ago when I tested it. It’s kind of my HG vanilla, even though I don’t have a bottle. Must rectify that! What your take on the Pont des Arts vanilla?
It’s a slightly boozy, very floral vanilla. It takes the rum and tobacco from Havana Vanille, but it seems softer and more nuanced.
Oh, and I haven’t tried the Farmacia.
Right now I’m wearing Eau de la Tente…as in, last night we camped out for Victoria Day, in our back yard. It made little Ockeghem happy, but the rest of us didn’t get much sleep. But we donated our “camping fees” to the BC CDC. And I determined that if we ever do get to camp in a real campground this summer, we’re going to need a 4-person tent.
Once I finally get moving I’ll have to find something that will work with a rainy May Saturday…probably something with iris.
Sorry you did not get much sleep, but what fun!
I am not a camper, though. We have a 6 person tent and it was not big enough for my family of 3 when my son was little 🙂
Eau de la Tente makes me laugh; tents definitely have a particular smell, don’t they?
Good memories!
I have reservations to go camping this July & August in Quebec, really hoping they open up!
Oh, me too! BC is opening registration for provincial campgrounds on May 25. Fingers crossed for us and for you in Quebec!
I wasn’t sure what I felt like this morning so I went with Kyoto and it’s hitting the spot. I’ve gone from sample to decant to…needing a larger decant, lol. Not ready to commit to a bottle because I need to try the others from the incense line.
I did a good job of procrastinating yesterday and just enjoying the weather. I really need to try and get something accomplished today.?
I have only tried Avignon and I love it.
That is specifically the one I need to try. Urban legend is it’s Morrissey’s scent and given the fact that I am a complete nut for The Smiths, I can’t believe I haven’t tried it yet!
Kyoto is really, really good though.
Morrissey’s fragrance? I thought I loved it before, love has elevated to new heights!
I love Avignon, too, but haven’t tried Kyoto. Need to add it to the list!
I plan on trying Kyoto too!
I second Chocolatemarzipan, Avignon is gorgeous.
Jaisalmer is my favorite. So calming.
Mine too, but I have rarely seen anyone else mention it.
I wear Jaisalmer when I go to the nursing home to visit my mom because that is when I need to be calmed and reminded to behave like a good person. With the quarantine I haven’t been able to go because they are on lockdown so I haven’t worn it.
Love Avignon….might be inspired to pull it out today.
You smell fabulous. Waft some in my direction please!
I’ll put in my two cents – I like all of the Incense series. But I LOVE Kyoto.
I can see Avignon being Morissey’s scent. Jaisalmer was my favorite, but I really liked the whole Incense series, well done and worth sampling.
Now I’m tempted to split a bottle
I’m in SB Incensed today.
Fragrancenet has already shipped my bottle and it will be here Tuesday. A few other things I’ve ordered online 3 weeks ago still haven’t shipped. ?
It’s very summer like here, unfortunately. I can’t wait for fall to come back! ??
Wow! That’s fast shipping.
Very, even in the best of times!
Shipping has always been a thorn in my side with the pandemic going on. Some companies ship fairly quickly but some take forever to even begin to think about maybe shipping an order.
Just got something else in the mail today. I was never notified it shipped, so had no clue it was on its way. Only took about 7 days total, so I need to stop complaining! ?
The Strawberry Hill poticia that I ordered was the same way. Ordered it on a Sunday, was at my doorstep on Wednesday.
And an enabler pin to Dawn! I’ve been wanting to try this since I saw them made on the Great British Baking Show. Too much work to make but here they are! I got the apple walnut cranberry.
I joked with a friend that we will look back on pre-2020 as the golden days of indulgence and immediate gratification.
??
I’ll take your summer! We had a taste of it for a week, and now we’re back to rainy spring for weeks.
Shipping has been crazy for me lately, as well. I ordered something from Hawaii on the first of May. Vancouver is five hours from Hawaii by plane, this shouldn’t take insanely long. However, it appears to have traveled to LA by boat (it took a week), then kicked around various USPS facilities in LA for four days, then they shipped it to Newark (?!@!). I guess next it’ll go to Ottawa and then it’ll take another two weeks for Canada Post to get it across Canada. Sigh.
I ordered a bottle of perfume that finally turned up yesterday, a month after ordering it. (Though it is now at my sister’s in the States, so who knows when I’ll actually get it.) I needed some powder from Sephora, which I ordered back in April and they predict they’ll ship it sometime at the end of May. Crazy times!
When that sale at Sephora was going on, they predicted that it would ship around mid May but I got lucky and got my packages last week. It is annoying that some companies are taking weeks before they ship and others just an extra couple days.
I’m sending you summer, STAT! ?
When I was in Arizona, I had something shipped from California. It went all the way to New Jersey first. Maybe Newark New Jersey is the clearing house for the entire North American Hemisphere…?! Crazy is right! ?
It’s not just Canadian shipments, then! 🙂 Oh well, at least my package is getting out and seeing the world, even if I can’t.
My recent experience with The Gap was interesting. Took three weeks to fulfill the order of a t-shirt and khakis. But two-day shipping once it was sent out.
I had that experience not too long ago. I made a Gap order in very early April and didn’t get it until the end of April. I don’t know why Gap needed to take that long.
I lived in Oahu for 2 years and when I went to the Post Office they always asked “fast or slow boat?” I suspect your package went on the dreaded slow boat. It was cheap, but it took weeks.
Kinda bummed if that is the case, as I paid almost as much as the value of the item to ship it to Canada, since I can’t get to the States now.
But that kind of mistake used to happen with shipments between the US and Europe, too. Back in the early ’90s, my dad shipped me my running shoes via USPS and swore he paid for air mail, but they turned up in Germany four months later and clearly had a nice, relaxing cruise across the Atlantic. 🙂
Greetings from the Baltic seaside. We’re staying at my grandma’s this weekend. Yesterday we celebrated her 80th birthday. Don’t worry, we didn’t organize any big party and family members were/are visiting her in ‘shifts mode’
SotD is Prada Amber Pour Homme
You smell great — and hope the rest of the weekend goes great.
Thank you! We went for a walk at the beach and it was very nice.
Happy Belated Birthday to your grandmom. Enjoy the time with your her and the rest of the family!
Thank you and hoping you’re having a decent weekend as well
Happy Birthday to your Grandmother–her birthday is close to yours, no? Hope you all celebrated, save some cake for me!
Please wish your grandmother a happy birthday from me. Enjoy the seaside!!
Happy birthday to your grandmother!! My mother turns 80 in a few months.
Thank you everyone for the wishes!
Granny really appreciates 🙂
Spending a little time with LADDM before I get into the shower. Had to finish up what I needed to do but did forget about Friday. I am thinking of busting open my Chanel no 5 body stuff for today.
Lovely stuff, LADDM. My scent strip from Andy (back at Christmas time) still smells wonderful!
Oooh — you smell great! I ordered the solid version a couple months ago and it’s yet another of the perfumes awaiting me at my sister’s in the States, as he wasn’t shipping to Canada.
SOTD: FM Une Fleur de Cassie.
I read everybody’s comments on the “masks optional” issue yesterday and have to share the following. We buy our milk at a farmer’s shop as the three mile hike there and back makes us feel virtuous, as well as the fact that we take our own containers and support the producer. The farmer is a nice man and has implemented all the recommendations: hand disinfectant at the door, markings on the floor to queue and a rope to keep the customer at least three feet from the wide-ish counter holding yoghurt and cottage cheese. The sales lady standing behind it is wearing a mask. No customer allowed inside the shop without a mask. What happens in real life though, is this. The customers and sales lady can’t hear each other with all this social distancing and mask wearing going on, so the sales lady pulls down her mask over her nose and mouth to ask the customer his/her order, then pulls it back up. The customer pulls down his/her mask to give the order. The sales lady touches all the containers with her contaminated hands, then rings up the purchases, pulls down her mask and gives the total. After that there is an exchange of money as this is a cash store. You really do not need to be an infectious disease expert to see everything wrong with this scenario, yet everybody is very happy and feels completely safe. People touch their faces less when NOT wearing masks and at least they know they should distance themselves. I see even hospital staff pulling down masks the whole time to talk, have a sip of coffee etc. If you’re not putting it on and leaving it on, WITHOUT touching it, you may as well not wear a mask.
This is exactly my beef! I work with people who should know better and it DRIVES. ME. CRAZY!
Put it on, leave it on, keep your hands below your belt. If you take it off, WASH YOUR HANDS, and then put on a NEW mask. If anything kills me during this pandemic, it’s the fact that people are actively choosing ignorance. OMG ?
My Mom is a hospital nurse with 40 years on the job. She complains of exactly the same thing.
God bless your mother! I’m just about over it myself. Don’t know how else to make a living, though. I’m too old and fluffy to be a high class call girl…
Yeah, she’s just trying to make it alive through the next year so she can retire.
Fortunately her hospital has been minimally affected thus far. But, she actually fears the next month will be worse as things open up, people get more complacent, and there are actually more infections out there… sigh. We shall see.
I wish this could be the case at my hospital–we’re still on a “one surgical mask per day” limit for our 12 hour shift. So the mask comes off at lunch and that grungy awful thing goes back on for the rest of the day. At this point it’s “infection control theater” and we’d have been disciplined for this behavior in January/February.
Supposedly the same here- we get the cheapest mask along with a temp check when we enter the hospital. Total joke- putting the ear loop over your ear results in the entire ear piece falling off the mask. The temp checks are a waste of time. “93F, you’re good!” But am I REALLY!?! I don’t think 93F is “good” anyway you slice it. Luckily, the management on the unit I’m currently working has a supply of more durable, hefty surgical masks. This is kept on the down low, and I’m so grateful SOMEONE on this unit cares about nurses enough to do this. What covid had taught me is to be the squeaky wheel, because most of the time I’ll get the PPE I need of I don’t back down. They’re just desperate to shut me up?
Surgical mask as in N95? If yes, as they are harder to come by, my brother said that he puts a regular paper mask over the fitted N95.
Some people in our area are taking it more seriously than others, but I also give less slack to people who should know better. I change from distance glasses for driving to reading glasses to see the prices and “best by” dates on items in stores, but I don’t just wear the mask under my chin. It’s up over my nose and mouth, and I don’t push it up to eat or drink while I have it on.
When I am at work, I have to wear a mask and I find that I am touching my face more with constantly adjusting my mask. It slides all over my face. I noticed that everyone sounds like Kenny from South Park when they talk with a mask
Kenny, ??
When I’ve been going out or to work, I put my (fabric) mask on in the car and don’t remove it until I can put it in the washing machine at home. Some days that’s 8 hours!! I truly only remove it to drink water and even then only touch it by the straps.
My coworkers however seem to think it only needs to cover their lips, or to keep their chins warm. ?
You must work where I work! ?
It’s really hard, if you haven’t been trained, to use all PPE appropriately. I know milk farmers especially know the importance of hygiene, so I’m sure they think they’re still maintaining enough cleanliness. Maybe it isn’t really understood by the counter workers though.
On the other hand, hospitals really already know this, so it’s pretty embarrassing what they are putting their staff through. It’d probably be more effective if patients, or people in the area, called/Facebooked/tweeted to complain because administration might listen to the customers.
And this is why I don’t wear a mask (or gloves).
I agree. It is mostly optics and
I want to write on my mask “The Emperor is Naked!”
I see children with masks on and hope that they can enough oxygen through it.
We are really in a tough spot here. They are mostly ineffective-keeping your distance works far better.
SOTM (and probably all week) is Dryad. Lurve. Luuuurrrrve. ?
Awww, happy New Bottle Love! ?
Thanks Deva! Hope your delayed items show up soon.
Looks like you and CM8 will be “I’m wearing this all week” twins ?
Congratulations SheriG, it’s a beauty. I love it too.
In Tauer L’Eau on this fabulous sunny, warm, breezy day. I was always lukewarm about this Tauer, but I have been enjoying it a lot lately.
My doggy was admitted to the animal hospital last night with severe pancreatitis. He is not doing any good. He may need to stay there for a couple of days. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to visit him due to coronavirus restrictions. The doctor says he is very depressed. I hope he starts to show some improvement soon. Knowing that he is suffering is overwhelming.
I will take a walk outside later and be quiet for the rest of the weekend. I need to rest.
Have a safe and healthy weekend, everyone! ?
I hope your puppy does get better.
??? for Yei.
I am sending out healing thoughts to you and your puppy!
Hope your dog is OK soon!
Happy weekend;??
Sending you peace and comfort for you and your sweet dog.
I’m so sorry that you and your furry friend are going through this. I realize how hard it is for both of you. I hope he gets better soon, and you’ll reunite.
Sorry to hear about your pup, I hope things improve soon.
So sad to hear about your dog! I really miss having a dog these days.
Your poor pup has been having a hard time lately! Poor thing, and poor you! I hope things turn around soon. ?
Prayers for your pup.
Oh no, that must be so stressful for you. Sending hugs to you and the biggest healing vibes (and a big belly rub) to your dog.
Hoping for a speedy recovery for your furry friend!
I’m so sorry to hear about your pup! I hope he recovers soon.
Very sorry for you, I hope your dog makes a good and swift recovery!
So sorry your pup isn’t well.
I’m so sorry. My girl has had pancreatitis 3 times. Not during Co-Vid, so I can’t imagine your pain. But, as trying as that was, she came home and can be a spaz still. I watch everything she eats. One French fry on a walk, I couldn’t get quickly enough sent her back in. If you want to reach me, I have experience that I would be happy to share.
My heart goes out to you. Can your vet send a video or picture? I smother.
Thank you! Sure you can contact me. This is his second time and it is getting worse. monica67@aol.com
Aww I’m sorry about your dog. Hope he is better soon.
Oh I hope your sweet doggy pulls through! It’s awful that you can’t visit. Sending prayers/vibes/thoughts/virtual hugs; whatever will work best!
Poor puppy! Hope he pulls through and gets home where he’s happy again soon.
Oh, my darling, I’m so sorry to hear it. I’m always here if you need to talk. I’m sure he’s in good hands & you’ll be cuddling him again by early next week! ????
Love, L.
Thank you dear, I may text or call you depending on how things go. I hope he can come out soon.
He’ll be home soon. I’m here – call anytime. ?
Sending healing vibes to your pet, so difficult and heart breaking for you not being able to visit.
Oh, no! I hope the little guy (or big guy?) feels better soon. It was bad enough to have my kitty get his rabies booster without us going in with him. Having your dog be ill and not being able to visit him — what anxiety.
Oh no, I am so sorry 🙁 sending you and your pup best wishes.
So sorry to hear this. Sending healing vibes.
I am so sorry about your doggie. Hugs to both of you.
So sorry to hear that Yei is in the animal hospital now! Hugs and healing vibes for you both.
So sorry PL67. They should allow you in if he’s showing signs of obvious depression!! That is cruel. Honestly poor guy sick scared and NO COMFORT??
I am pulling for you two. Complain a bunch and see what happens. Be relentless.
It’s absurd.
No scent yet.
We ventured into Central Park early (like left home at 8am early) to see some turtles and then returned home before it got too hot and crowded.
Finally after lunch I went to the farmers market and they had maybe two leaves of spinach left. Everything was gone. Alas, I have to go to the actual grocery store for eggs, produce etc etc. and this for me is a not so pleasant experience.
I keep finding ways to avoid the grocery store….yesterday I found out a local caterer was selling homemade “frozen dinners” and soups, so I ordered on line and picked up without having to even leave my car. Please stay safe out there.
The grocery store is a huge stress for me – I clench my jaw so much while I’m there that my entire head aches for days afterwards. I hope you were able to get in and out quickly.
Turtles? Were they adorable?
Turtle were adorable especially the little ones.
Sistine-you and I are on the same page with the grocery store. I feel like I have to have a glass of wine when I come home.
Also, people should be more aware even with their masks on I can still read their dirty looks.
This is why my Death Stare works ?
HAHAHA
I’m with ya on the grocery store stress. I go every two weeks; can’t push visits out much further than that.
I am so surprised, my farmers market is almost entirely pre-order / pre-pay now.
I have a share in a local organic farm and they sent out there new polices this week….wow, options for prepacked boxes, or shopping one customer at a time with an employee who will handle the produce–point, not pick….this will be interesting. But I must say that I am glad that they are opening soon…fewer trips to the grocery store for me.
They do have that for some vendors, alas, you still have to wait in line to pick it up!
Frustrating for sure.
Sending you hopes for a brighter afternoon.
Hi friends, I smell really tasty in Naomi Goodsir Bois d’Ascèse. Yummy chewy barbecued leather. Maybe we need to get a grill and start using it soon.
Also I made the most spectacular fish sandwiches ever! (Ok, second most spectacular, after the ones I had a decade ago on that small island off the coast of Istanbul.) I baked a focaccia, then gently poached some salt/pepper/home-grown lemon zest-marinated white fish in butter flavored with smashed garlic cloves, thyme, and lemon peel. I sliced and toasted the focaccia, and topped it with sriracha mayo, garden-grown lettuce, salted tomatoes, pan-roasted garlic and buttery lemon zest (from the butter flavoring), and a good squeeze of lemon. Then I swished the top half of the toasted focaccia in the pan juices to top off the sandwich. Let me tell you, it was quite remarkably delicious. I can’t wait to bake more focaccia so I can do it again. It was such a good sandwich that I have been telling everyone about it.
Omg, I’m drooling, and I don’t even like fish, lol.?? And yes, you definitely need a grill!
Hehe. Perhaps you could try it with some feta! Or halloumi! Or chicken!
I so want your sandwich…sounds delish.
*passes you a virtual sandwich* it’s very easy to make! I recommend it very highly.
Yum… want…
I’ll have to bring it to that NST potluck I dream of someday holding 🙂
Pass me a sandwich PLEASE ?
Sending you a virtual sandwich now!
Wow. That sandwich sounds divine.
It was so good that I made it twice and want to make it again 🙂
That sounds unbelievably good.
It was 🙂 I encourage you to make it!
Yummy, that sounds delightful.
It was! And it’s so easy to make. Obviously the focaccia takes some time, but quarantine has made me comfortable with bread-making, so now that step feels easy enough, too.
Yesssssssss.
Gracious.
Now I want to bake focaccia, too. Yum, what a sandwich!
You made everyone here hungry. lol We’ll just blame you when we drool on our computers thanks to that delicious description. 🙂
Fragonard Jasmin Perl’s du Thé today. A nice flowered tea scent just sounded nice.
May have to make another cake today. My husband ate the one I baked the other day. I helped him along. Luckily, it’s easy and I have plenty of fruit.
Sent my sisters a photo of my dad having a vodka martini at our favorite steak place. I was drinking an old fashioned. I loved going there with him. We’d have our cocktails and then enjoy a nice slab of meat. It was two years ago today he passed. So grateful I had him so long.
This last paragraph really choked me up.? Hugs.
These “anniversaries” are so rough. I’m sorry. ?
Sending comforting hugs. ?
What a wonderful dinner to remember. Biggest hugs to you.
Last paragraph ???
I had a wipe sample of Jasmin Perls du The and used it as a hand sanitizer. It smelled glorious. I really DO need to explore this line.
My sister brought this back from France. It basically made me like tea scents.
Beautiful way to honor your father ?.
I saw that picture and felt sad for you. But he did look cute and happy there.
What a great memory, though. I’ll bet he was a fun guy to hang out with.
It’s hard when anniversaries like these come around. I’m so sorry, LizzieB.
Very moved by these memories of your dad.
Hugs to you, LizzieB.
What a wonderful memory. Cheers to him!
Those old photos can be so bittersweet. Hugs.
What a wonderful way to celebrate him LizzieB.
Hugs to you.
DAY 4 of my Stop Smoking campaign…
It’s going fairly well,I am using a low dosage nicotine gum to help with cravings,but I have not had any bad withdrawal symptoms so far.
Givenchy Organza.
Thunked.
Happy Saturday !
X
Quitting smoking only because the goverment banned the sale of tobacco products during lockdown.
I’ve been smoking since I was 16(1992…!!),the only tobacco available now are counterfeit and cheap brands,containing who knows what,so now is as good as any other time to quit…Wish me luck!
Good luck!
As usual, you smell fabulous!
Thank you darling!
Happy Weekend!?
Can you get the nicotine patches to make it easier, johanob?
Either way, good luck! You will feel so much better, and get more out of you perfume, too.
(Sorry, reading in reverse order and now see you have the gum.)
Haha,yes I have both the patches and the gum,but have only been using the less potent gum,and it is working quite well!
All the luck in the world to you, johanob!
Thanks!?
Wishing you very good luck, johanob!
Thank you Gail!
Best of luck – this is so important, Johanob. We want you to be around for a long time – do it!!
Best of luck to you. You can do this!
So much luck!
I smoked two packs a day for some years and then simply stopped. It’s doable, keep on
My husband quit as well, good luck to you! He’s about 6 weeks in.
You Can DO IT!
Sending you strength.
Keep busy busy busy.
Atleast you are not out in public where fellow smokers gather…
I am
So proud of you.
(I am A Former smoker who went cold turkey after a good scare- I KNOW you can do this if your mind is made up)
Good luck! You can do it! ?
Hey, best of luck to you quitting! after trying several dozen times to quit, I finally did 11 years ago. I needed both the patches and the gum, and an overwhelming desire to not spend my hard-earned money on it anymore. I had a lot of not-very-nice arguments with my husband though.
And it looks like we are exactly the same age! So that means you can do it, in my completely-illogical mind, lol.
Best of luck!
So glad you are quitting!! Sending love and support, keep it up!
Good luck! I quit smoking almost 20 years ago, and it was hard but sooo worth it.
Best of luck to you! I was smoking in utero and grew up in a home where everyone smoked. So did the neighbors, friends parents, teachers, nurses, doctors…
I think it’s funny how smoking has been vilified to the point that smokers feel like they’ve been excommunicated from society. I quit many times, the last was 11 years ago.
I wish the same cultural swing would happen with alcohol, because people have no clue how they’re pickling their brain.
You CAN quit and STAY quit! The thing that finally did it for me was how cigarettes controlled my life. Kind of like my cell phone now! I was always looking in my purse/pocket to make sure I hadn’t forgotten them. And driving 5 blocks in a blizzard to pick up smokes is ridiculous! And the money- they are ridiculously expensive here. But I did it, knock on wood!
Think of all that extra money…?
One pack of 20 cigarettes costs $35.00 here. I have never smoked …but it seems more expensive than perfume
Ooh, Kanuka, you’re on to something there! Maybe buying oneself a bottle of perfume after, oh, a month of not smoking? Also, will perfume smell better after quitting smoking??
Oh, good point – improved sense of smell!
Sadly, raising the price of cigarettes from $2.00 US to $4.00 US (via state taxes) shocked me enough to finally quit. Also, perfume is a much more enjoyable pursuit.
I am also sure that the 80’s perfumes were so huge because everyone smoked and one needed to cover that up somehow (because even if you didn’t, you *did*, remember ashtrays in the grocery store?)
I bought a nice pair of shoes every moth month after quitting, and I still saved money!
Holy Krakatoa! ?
It is difficult to buy cigarettes, too. They can’t be displayed in shops and customers have to ask for the specific brand they want ( so no browsing ). I think you have to be 18 to buy them and there are not many places where you can smoke, even outside spaces…but the plan is for the country to be smoke free by 2025
Is vaping legal there? I’ve had a couple patients with EVALI and it’s pretty ugly, especially to see this in a predominately young and otherwise healthy group of people.
Vaping from medical dispensaries?
Good luck! I had the same but opposite experience. My parents always smoked, but we would drive several hours to visit relatives, and I would get carsick in a car full of tobacco smoke. That early operant conditioning cured me of ever wanting to smoke!
Good luck to all! Here’s a resource: https://tinyurl.com/y9vh473p There’s also a smoker’s helpline in Canada, as there probably are in other countries. There really can’t be a better time to quite smoking than now…
Quit smoking some 7 years back or so. What helped me were two things:
1 – nicotine addiction is not really physical (as opposed to many other addictions) so, my body doesn’t need it. It’s my mind.
2 – if I can go 1 day without smoking I can go 2. If I can go 2, I can go 3. If I can go a week etc. I stopped counting after about a week.
Well done for not smoking for four days. Hope you achieve your goal.
Smelling great and doing great, Johanob, you’ve got this! I finally quit smoking for good in 1988 by giving myself a whole year to quit. Every week I had my first cigarette later in the day. I got stuck on one a day for almost two months then finally had enough at one every other day. In other words, find what works for you and be sure to plan for a big splurge purchase to celebrate a milestone!
All my best wishes in quitting! I smoked little but consistently for many years. It ramped up due to stress In the year before I quit. I consider my quitting an actual miracle. I got the flu or a really bad cold, so stopped. Not unusual, but I’d usually start up again as soon as I felt better. This time, I didn’t even realize I’d stopped until over a week after I felt better. I simply forgot I smoked. When I remembered, I vividly remember thinking “do I want a cigarette?” Answer was no. The addiction was just gone. Desire never came back. So once it goes, It’s likely gone for good.
Sending strength and good wishes. You’re brave and can do this.
Thank you to everyone for the well wishes and all the advice!
It is going good!I had a minute or so(more and hour…lol) this afternoon of giving in and going out to find a smoke…luckily it passed and I ate a whole slab of 85% cocao dark chocolate to take my mind of smoking…Lol.
Happy Sunday!
Chocolate makes everything better. You can do it, johanob. We’re all rooting for you!
Great to hear that you and trying to kick the habit! Best of luck with it. ?
I am slathered in a rose scented body butter I just got from Natural Grocers. It’s really like rose scented crisco, super greasy but ahh it feels so good on chapped, dry, desert skin. Melts right in. I could see me cookin like a turkey in the sunshine though. Lol.
https://youtu.be/b_zt_FLNRrY
Like this! Lol
Exactly lol. Cooked.
Lillyjo, you have the best memory EVER! Will there ever be another show as good as Seinfeld?
I don’t think so, because as a nation we’ll never all bond over a TV show in that way again. Everybody I knew looked forward to the next week’s episode, everybody talked about it for days afterwards. TV viewing has changed so much since then and so has society.
I don’t think Seinfeld could make it today. It would be deemed offensive, I’m sure.
Deva, if you only knew how much I censor myself from linking every memory you guys conjure up for me. It’s my own head, and I find it annoying, lol! My daughter’s memory is more crazy, we will here a song on the radio and she will say ” I heard this song at target in 2013 mom”
*hear
I’m so envious because I have such a crap memory, especially for details. But, I can see how it could be a bit of a curse, too. Your daughter sounds like pistol! ?
?So surrealist, loved it.
My sample of Hermes Cardamusc Essence de Parfum arrived yesterday, and I can’t stand it!!! The cardamon is an unpleasantly hot cardamon, and the woody musk is one that makes me queasy.
The Black Narcissus noticed an animalic side:
https://theblacknarcissus.com/tag/hermes-musc-pallida-review/
It doesn’t smell animalic to me, but perhaps that’s the accord that I don’t like. Talk about money saved!
Haven’t received Musc Pallida yet. It sounds very different, fortunately or unfortunately.
I believe muscs and woody notes are perceived very differently by different people, and many people love Cardamusc, so you might have better (?) luck.
How sad! I managed to try both of them at a NM a few months ago and was surprised to learn I preferred Musc Pallida. It is a bit animalistic, though as a bit of a cumin/honey/musk aficionado I thought it was pretty tame. Not sure how you would experience it.
We will soon find out, Coumarin, as the IP sample is on its way. I usually like animalic scents, but whatever was in Cardamusc was a synthetic that I don’t like, or maybe it was the combination with cardamom.
(Wait — does cardamom end in M or N? Spellcheck doesn’t seem to care!)
Oh that sounds like a bad perfume experience. It’s cardamom and do report on Pallida when you get it, please.
I’m sorry it wasn’t a winner! Money saved?
$382, sistine!
Woo, that’s a lot of moola!
I tried both at SAKS in the city and could barely smell them.
I remember you or someone else said that. Of course since I didn’t like it, I found it inescapable. Not loud, but persistent.
Ha!
It was me, with my scent devouring skin ?
Is it ok to say yay? Because now I can skip it. Although I guess I was already skipping it. It’s just nice to have more confirmation 😉
Absolutely! I also did not care for the texture, if that helps. ?
Wonder if it is all that dry oil silicone stuff.
Hi all, work was so crazy I haven’t been able to chime in much the last couple of weeks. I can’t keep it up working 10-11 hour days and weekends. Trying to figure out what to do. The one thing I’ve done is block time for some great live online yoga EVERY day.
Anyway, wearing Lancome Mille et Une Roses today. I used to love this, but am feeling that I am not a rose fan after all. For now.
Question for anyone: Have you used Algemarin, the classic German bath/shower gel? I’m in the market for some new gel and I’d love to hear comments on the fragrance.
I haven’t tried the shower gel, but I hope you get a proper break soon. Your schedule sounds brutal.
Algemarin – that’s a name from the past. I have a vague recollection of its being in the same general area as Jean Nate and Vitabath products. That’s probably too vague…
These custom masks with the flight chart for a favorite US destination are high quality and attractive:
https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/custom-u-s-aeronautical-chart-face-mask-26319.html
Sorry, replied to the wrong person!
Ugh on your working such long hours! At the onset of work from home I was in a similar boat and had my usual 12 Google meets and was then also expected to do online work and online training and online meetings with administrators. During my first five weeks I was literally working 12-16 hours per day, and no overtime mind you. I decided that this is NOT sustainable and I put my foot down. I truly hope that you can do the same. And yay for maintaining your yoga practice!!!!!
I remember Algemarin!!! Blast from the past! Like AnnieA said, similar to Vitabath. If you want some Vitabath original green gelee let me know. I would be happy to send you some.
I am so glad you put your foot down. I’m thinking of talking to my managers (yes, 3 of them) when I have my review. We’ll see. If I get the Algemarin, we can have a little Algemarin/Vitabath swap!
???
Bah, you and me both. A few weeks back I swore I would turn off my computer and 6pm every weekday, and not work weekends anymore. I’ve managed to stick to it and have really appreciated the increase in sanity 🙂 But it’s supposed to be rainy and miserable for the next 3 days, I bet I will slide back into working too much once I can’t do outdoor stuff….
I am not familiar with the shower gel but I hope you can get a break, springpansy, that is not a sustainable schedule 🙁
Hi all! Just taking it easy today. The day is still young though. Sotd is Violet Blonde. Does anyone have a recommendation for where to order face masks? I’m not a big online shopper and don’t really know where to begin. Thanks!
Hi! You might see if any of your local theaters or other arts groups are selling them online; several in my city are doing that and keeping their costume shops and sewers employed, plus they give backup cloth masks to local healthcare facilities to match their sales. The masks are well made because they’re made by professional sewers, and buying from them helps several good causes.
Excellent suggestion, I know that some theaters in my region are doing this.
Athleta has (or had) masks for sale in 5-packs recently. I ordered one set a week ago, and as far as I know they haven’t shipped yet. But you smell gorgeous, mask or no. 🙂
I’ve bought several here and there from various places and so far, I am happiest with Etsy seller JJCuties; I like the floral ones better than the solids. I also ordered several from other Etsy sellers but they were not as good even though they have the nosebridge wire.
The new ones I got from CustomInk are to be laundered this weekend and I will try them afterwards. Also, as it turned out, the one-ply masks from CustomInk are actually serviceable…I will try them doubled or add the anti eyeglass fogging tissue as another layer.
And finally, I’m waiting for my Brighton Collectibles masks and I’m hoping they will work out because $ and they look nice in pictures.
When I return to the office, which won’t be for a while, I’ll probably end up using 3-5 per day so I need to make sure I have enough to take me to the next laundry cycle (assuming weekly) + another few days’ worth. As you can tell, I’ve overthought this.
Better to over-think than under-think like ?<—-I’m censoring myself to remain on the good side of blog rules.
It’s good to think ahead and plan for the supply you’ll need, especially since you live in an area that was hard-hit by the virus. I think that’s just sensible. 🙂
These custom masks with the flight chart for a favorite US destination are high quality and attractive:
https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/custom-u-s-aeronautical-chart-face-mask-26319.html
I ordered alcohol, hand sanitizer, and nitrile gloves from this optical supply company. I notice they are also offering disposable face masks now:
https://eyeglasssupplystore.com/product-category/personal-protective-equipment/page/1/
I didn’t even think of optical stores…but the prices look to be on the price-gouging level ?
I can only shop online and was so very happy to find an online source of alcohol and that it was packed carefully and arrived safely. There are a lot of scam websites now and I am mainly recommending this company because they delivered the goods.
Below are my online mask findings for anyone interested. I have no affiliation to any of these companies…all found from earnest googling:
I ordered some masks from LA Apparel. The masks fit very securely on the face/head and really stay put…no movement or adjustment needed once you put them on. They come in a variety of colors and there are many reviews on the website and lots of photos from reviewers too. They sell 3 packs for $30 or $10 each.
https://losangelesapparel.net/products/3-pack-cotton-mask?variant=31623516880958
I also ordered some from Swaddle Designs which is a baby blanket place in Seattle making masks now. These haven’t arrived yet but there are good reviews on the website too. Their masks are $9.99 each.
https://www.swaddledesigns.com/collections/cloth-fabric-face-masks
For outside exercise where I can’t handle a proper mask and want something I can move up/down, I bought neck gaiters from this place…I didn’t know what a neck gaiter was previously but I do now. They just arrived and haven’t tried them yet. Kind of pricey but they have good reviews on other sites and I found an online coupon code to use.
https://www.buffusa.com/shop-buff/women/multifunctional-headwear-category/coolnet-uv-plus-family.html
And I found this cheaper, similar option from Amazon I might try too for my not-so-better half who tends to lose things. Quickly. ?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T6XL7LF/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2RZYWKATCGV94&th=1
I have some Buffs. The downside for summer is that they are very warm. I may cut some of them into shorter sections to avoid covering my neck.
I watched Dr. Gupta on CNN show how to make a no-sew mask from a bandanna and hair elastics. I was able to do that, but wanted something better.
I asked a family friend who sews if she could make masks from a pattern in the New York Times. Mrs. L. had used a pattern recommended by the CDC for herself and her daughter, but the elastic loops for the ears didn’t work right. She needed to add another piece of elastic to go around the head.
The NYT pattern recommended tea towels (dish towels) as the fabric, and we had lots of those. Mrs. L. has made several masks for us. She made another mask for herself following that pattern, so apparently she likes it. 🙂
I saw someone above recommend Etsy as a place where people were selling cloth masks. I found a corner of Etsy where seamstresses were selling science fiction and fantasy-themed masks, made from fabrics printed with designs from Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Frozen, from their online shops. Perhaps Dad will get a Dr. Who mask for his birthday. I have friends who would like the fantasy designs, too. Not to be frivolous, but it strikes me as something they’d appreciate.
SOTD is Montale Roses Musk, since I’m blogging about a different rose scent every day of May. I’m calling it my “Roses de Mai Marathon”, as a blog flanker to my past “May Muguet Marathon”, lol! We’re busy today moving one of my two young adult offspring back home this weekend, post college graduation. The other young adult will move home in June, when her apartment lease is up, as she lost all her work this spring; and our high school senior is still at home. So we’ll have a full house again, which is fine by us, but we’ve had to rent one of those storage units to store some of their apartment furniture and whatever we store of our own to make more room. Currently reorganizing my husband’s former home office into a “den” for the three kids to get away from us and hang out if they want. Wish us luck!
Good luck! The kids are lucky to have a great place to return and regroup.
What a fun exercise!
Good luck, OH!!
Have fun with your full house. We had the opposite here as my son was able to move back to his university hall of residence as lockdown eases.
He must be thrilled, I know he barely had a chance to stretch his wings when the pandemic hit.
The Roses of Mai Marathon sounds like a cool project. 🙂 I probably have enough different kinds of rose perfumes one way or another that I could have done that. 🙂 I don’t have that much lily-of-the-valley, but I didn’t choose to put a concerted effort in that direction.
Good luck with the full house of young adults. It’s got to be a strange time for them, too.
Hello! It’s a fairly decent early summer sort of day today. I’ll take it, after all that rain and whatnot we had!
Very early morning scent was CdG Ouarzazate (sp?). I can’t smell it now, but I liked it at the time.
This afternoon I went through my perfume samples and such today to see what I wanted to swap. Also I was finding samples to try myself, since today I have my window open. I found a sample or small decant of Maria Candida Gentile Rrose Selavy. Thank you to the kindly NST person who sent me this. 🙂 I like it.
I did get a list together for the swapmeet — my comment is on that post. It’s mostly samples, with a couple of bottles of inexpensive fragrances. As I said there, it may take me a couple of weeks to get to the post office.
This evening I smell like decanting — citrus and spice from the 4711 AC bottles, and floral mix. Also my room smells like decanting, but I still have my window open. (lol!)
I can’t believe I slept till noon today, made a fantastic apple/walnut pancake for brunch, and am just now catching up with the rest of the day. It is lovely outside, so all the windows are open to the breeze. I am wafting Hermes Pamplemousse Rose and feeling at peace. Wish the same for you…..
I’ve also had a lazy Saturday: slept in and all I’ve done since is drink my coffee, work on a jigsaw puzzle, and read up on nst. Time week spent.
Apple walnut pancake sounds amazing!
what! pancakes?..my kids will be right over.
Sounds like a nice day. 🙂 Now I’m hungry for pancakes. (lol) I enjoyed the nice weather, too. I only went outside for a little bit to see what was blooming — a couple of irises — but it was good to have the windows open and get the fresh air. 🙂
We have a suet feeder we can see from the kitchen windows, and it’s been lively with cardinals and catbirds, and the occasional small woodpecker. Dad and I hear a lot of chirping and the mewing sounds from the catbirds when we go out into the back yard. And we hear a lot of bird song first thing in the morning.
Your Saturday morning sounds wonderful, including the yummy breakfast, and ? for sleeping late.
I’m wearing Wood Sage and Sea Salt today. The bottle is almost done – I’ve been using it as a comforting going to bed perfume. I’ve decided I won’t replace the bottle until I can safely go in person to get one – I just love the ritual of it being wrapped and then boxed. (And with over 80 bottles of perfume I can probably live without it for a good period of time…).
Have a fantastic Saturday. Be safe, healthy and content.
As long as you have another going-to-bed perfume, it sounds like a plan to wait.
I’m sure I can find one.. there are a lot of choices.
If you wear this perfume to bed, maybe you could try their body lotion with the same scent instead? You could use it as a hand cream (neck will also be happy to get some extra moisturizing).
Also, while I understand what you mean about buying in person. But unless you have a friendly (and generous 😉 ) SA you want to support, you could start watching JM site for promotions: they often offer minis (9 ml) of their scents with purchase.
Finishing up some of my leather samples and decants. In Kelly Caleche. It’s not doing anything for me. I definitely don’t get any leather. Maybe as it dries down. Right now it’s just inoffensive citrus floral.
Meanwhile, on the other side of my wrists I’m still enjoying the far drydown of the Hiram Geen Hyde that I slathered on last night.
Same experience with Kelly Caleche over here. Need to try Hyde…
Hyde went from “I hate this on first sniff, it’s going in the discard pile” to “Well, I should retry it since I’m focusing on Leather scents” to “Hmmm. I think I like this” to “Well, now I’ll be confessing to Donatella” in very short course.
I love this! This was my exact trajectory with Cuir Mauresque! The first time I sniffed it, I was REVOLTED! But now, it’s true love. It’s good to see others are affected this way, and I’m not a complete oddball.
Hyde – best barbeque scent I’ve smelled 🙂 Seriously, it does definitely have a “meat sizzling on the grill” stage from about minute 15-45; once you get past that it’s a lovely smokey patchouli leather
I couldn’t get past the barbecued meat stage with Hyde.
Kelly. ale he extrait has leather.
Stupid fat fingers ? but you knew I meant Kelly Caleche, right? ?
Diptyque Oud Palao today from a sample.
Thought ‘oud is not my thing’ so it spent months untested. But I love it. Going to move it from my ‘sampling’ stash to my ‘wearing’ stash.
It’s not super-oud-y. I felt like it had patchouli. I like it a lot too.
SOTD = Chanel Paris-Deauville
I was inspired by mmkinPA and Undina’s Saturday Question “What Chanel Perfume Would You Wear Today?”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQKaZ1hwGg/?igshid=41z54ta3bpw0
I changed my routine today since I had to retrieve a package from the mail service I use – I forgot about a DSH subscription and need to let her know to switch back to my home address. And because Wegmans was in the way home, I decided to stop by — no line, not crowded and I finally found the crab cakes I had been looking for for the past month! I also ended up getting a little side table that matches my turquoise blue Adirondack chair … except I was not charged for it even though I told the cashier I have items in my cart — she got the seltzer water but not the table – not sure how she missed the pop of color. Anyway, I will pay for it the next time I’m there. I suppose I can walk there for exercise since I am about to head out a for a walk.
In other news, my mom got the stimulus check since she was a taxpayer with income that qualified to receive it. I suppose that the IRS and the states don’t communicate. I wonder how many deceased people got checks? In any case, I will be voiding the check and mailing it back per the FAQs.
Did Family Zoom as well (every 2 weeks). My physical therapist niece who was let go from her job about a month ago is starting a new job this Monday at a sub-acute rehab facility. She was uncertain as to the PPE provisioning – I hope she stays safe because you really can’t do PT being 6 feet away the entire time! I am adding her back to the Rosary Brigade prayer list!
And finally, later today, I will post a few items to swap, primarily for your donation to a Feed the Hungry organization. Just hearing about parents doing without and their kids still underfed is making me really sad and angry at the same time and I will leave it at that.
I heard quite a few deceased people received stimulus checks. I’d like to know how many family members of the deceased didn’t do the right thing, and cashed the checks anyway.
I wish the best to your niece, that she stays safe!
Thank you, lillyjo!
You need to get the Paris Deauville Shampoo and body wash. A dear friend gifted it to me last month for my birthday and it is amazing. I use it on my hair too.
I have it … have used about 1/3 of the bottle…it’s very efficient and smells nice!
Happy to hear your niece has another job lined up!
Yes… and we couldn’t emphasize more how important PPEs are for her.
house twins! heading over to Undina’s later. 😀
sorry about the headache over the relief check. my mum helped settle the estates of three of my grandparents. it was surprising how many years it took for the dribs and drabs of mail and paperwork to finally cease. you’re wonderful to take care of it all.
My parents are still getting offers for life insurance…I really do have to go back into checking on next steps on the estate.
You are a better person than I am: while I wouldn’t have cashed the check (that part is clear), I wouldn’t have bothered to return it. I hate doing other people’s job (or fixing them not doing their job properly).
If I have to turn cartwheels, I wouldn’t do it ?
I have a hair appointment this morning! I have never looked forward to one so much. I’ve worn my hair quite short for years, and haven’t had this much hair for a long time.
The salon is taking lots of precautions, which is great. What with masks, gloves and hand sanitiser, it won’t be quite the same pampering experience 🙂
I’m cautiously optimistic about things in New Zealand, we’ve got some good things in place for testing and contact tracing, and there have been no new cases for a few days.
Perfume-wise, it will need to be something hefty to compete with hair products and masks, I’m thinking of a sample from Ys Uzac – Sacre du Printemps. It’s very nice, but wildly expensive, so a bottle will not be gracing my collection.
I bought a bottle of Immortal Beloved last year, and was very impressed with Ys Uzac’s service. I have never before had anything sent to New Zealand with free shipping, and the packaging was beautiful.
I hope your hair looks great after the less than pampered hair experience.
NZ seems to be coping well with the pandemic. Your PM gets mentioned in our press every now and again.
I got a discounted bottle of Ys Uzac Satin Doll a couple of years ago. It’s very nice, and I agree their packaging is very, very pretty.
Enjoy your hair appointment.
Many New Yorkers are jealous of this…
I can only try to imagine what it’s been like in places like New York. We’ve had a very strict lockdown, but it became clear quickly that it was working, so we haven’t had the ongoing illness that is still the case in many parts of the world.
I hope you enjoyed your trip to the hairdresser. Ys-Uzac is great but some are just too expensive. The ink-based perfumes don’t work for me but Satin Doll, Metaboles, Pohadka, Lale and Immortal Beloved were all good. Enjoy your Monday!
Golden Sunday wearing Boucheron. Gosh, I looked at ebay yesterday (out of curiosity) for a bottle of Boucheron Trouble. I haven’t worn it for 15 years and now it is worth more than my car ( an old wreck, but nevertheless).
Eek!!! And I thunked my mini of Trouble. Although I sent a decant of it to hajusuuri ?
And I have to find it!
I had a bottle I gave away after my best friend told me it smelled like root beer, and I couldn’t banish the association.
I gave my bottle away to a friend, too. I recall that the perfume got a scathing review by Luca Turin.
13 weeks to go until retirement! I reminded my boss yesterday, and reminded him that so far nobody has been assigned to pick up any of my tasks. Well, they’ve had 9 months already to make a transition plan; apparently there won’t be one. Should be interesting for the team…
Lovely weather today, but we are supposed to have rain for the next 3 days. I’m going to head out for a walk so I can enjoy a bit of sun.
we should have a NST countdown until your retirement.
yay, pixel! agree with ltsg, we need a countdown so we can all look forward to your happy day. 😀
Fabulous, pixel! This is really something to look forward to!
Lol my workplace does the same thing, no transition plan, it’s infuriating. But, that is a whole lot of Not Your Problem.
13 weeks!
As long as it won’t become your problem (e.g., working overtime in the end or having to stay and work longer after 13 weeks, if you don’t feel like doing that), relax and keep counting.
After I retired they hired two people to take my job!!!! I think I left not a moment too soon….best wishes on your countdown and welcome to the happy-to-not-be-in-the-office club.
Their problem, not yours. Don’t even bother leaving breadcrumbs — they won’t appreciate it. As long as you’re not receiving severance, you don’t “owe” being on call to answer questions. Any retirement-related payouts are yours free and clear.
SotD = Chanel Paris-Riviera
hajusuuri’s Chanel sotd reminded me that I planned to wear Paris-Riviera earlier in the week. I can’t remember if I wore it or not, so here I go. It’s lovely. Thank you, hajusuuri, for expanding my perfume world in beautiful ways.
Feeling very unmotivated today, and I’m ok with that. My usual Saturday to do list is waiting. In a moment I’m going to begin a chore sprint, knock out as much as I can in an hour, then assess – do more or reward my industrious self with some indolence? Only time will tell.
Just made a mason jar full of Earl Grey tea. It’s going in the fridge for later, very warm weather today.
Wash hands and waft on, fragrant friends. Hugs to all. 😀
Chanel-Riviera is my favourite of the Les Eaux. It smells like a sunny day with oranges. Haha
oh, that’s perfect! C-R is a sunny day with oranges, and a side order of pretty flowers. Chanel scents are often so agreeable to me, I wish I could look inside their perfume labs. 🙂
oh, lol, that should be P-R not C-R 😉
Waft this way please!
of course! waft waft waft 😀
I’m wearing Pierre Guillame’s Sensuality which I have realized I wear whenever I wear my yellow sweater. It smells yellow.
Love that! I’ll have to notice whether I do that – wear certain clothes or colors with certain fragrances.
I’m wearing Song of Aubrac from a sample, one of the two new St Clair scents. While narcissus is not a favorite note of mine, this is quite beautiful with a lot of complexity and depth. I’m enjoying it and picking out some of the base notes, or trying to. It has an interesting blend of something quite tart or tangy with something more sweet and dappled. Maybe it’s frankincense. I have tried the other new one too but felt a bit dubious as it smelled of pickles. ! On the other hand I used a lot and it felt overwhelming. So I must try tomorrow with a lighter application.
Wondering if the tart is the black currant? The drydown is a gorgeous unctuous honey on my skin
Howdy ho, NST.
I’m wafting 31 Rue Cambon for the second day in a row. I wore it yesterday for the CP but never got around to chiming in. I have a butt-load and a half of chypres in my collection, nearly equaled by floral aldehydes and followed closely by leathers. Now, is 31RC—whatever Chanel says—*really* a chypre, given that it doesn’t have oakmoss??My brain says “no”. My nose, on the other hand, says, “If it smells this glorious, who TF cares!?” Anyway, I can get my oakmoss hit whenever I wear Mitsouko, amirite?
OK, so I have a recurring perfume-themed dream. It’s me trying to find Serge Lutens fragrances to sniff in person—often just trying to get to an appropriate department/fragrance store at the last minute before traveling home from abroad. Clearly, my frustration at not having any local counters with SL or other niche/luxury brands is…significant.??☺️
Be well, all you lovely fragrant people, and have a great weekend!
With the demise of Barney’s and NM bankruptcy, you simply must come to The Perfume House in Portland. All the SL’s except the bell jars. I could be your guide 😀
Deal! If I ever make it to Portland, I’ll hold you to it!?
I’m planning to be passing through Portland in October, will ping you when dates are more precise. I’d love to meet up at Fumerie.
I’d love to see you again!
It’s a plan then. 🙂
Today I wore Anais Anais because it is spring and it has been too long!!!
You smelled great, I still love it.
Wow – Anais Anais was the first scent I ever consciously chose and. wore as a young girl. I still love it.
Happy Saturday, just barely! I’m in Chanel No5 Elixir Sensuel, two little driblets on each arm. I wore this yesterday as well, for the cp. I know this is probably meant to be used more liberally, but it’s hard not to hoard it!
I need to discipline myself to splash this with abandon….maybe?
YOLO!
Hello Robin and team! May I suggest, if you haven’t heard of the brand Maison Balzac, it’s something worth looking into. It’s a beautiful brand set up by a French-Australian lady that sells gorgeous candles, incense and scented waters, in addition to super-chic homewares. What I love about the scents is that they’re quite atypical (to me) and very different to the myriad other companies that make nondescript, saccharine-sweet candles and home fragrances. It has stockists all around the world, including in the US.
Do you have a favourite candle from the range?
Thanks so much Eminere! The candles do look tempting, so I 2nd Kanuka’s question, which were your favorites?
Hello, awesome smelling folks! I did participate yesterday by continuing to wear “Fun in the Sun”, my beachy fragrance family. I wore the queen of those- Bronze Goddess. Goodness I just love it. I kept the theme today with BB Beach.
It’s been a good weekend so far. Errands yesterday- Home Depot and Costco (I got a membership yesterday finally). All with a mask of course. I’ve really tried to limit enclosed spaces but just had to break down and go yesterday. Today I made a strawberry pie and worked in my flower beds a little.
You smelled beachy great in BG. It’s early Sunday morning where I am, I bet your flower beds are looking pretty.
That pie was a masterpiece! Bronze Goddess always is a harbinger of warm weather. I’m liking it more and more every time I wear it. Especially the dry down. Nothing better than working in the ??????
Happy Sunday! Sadly I’m working today… got to.
SOTD: CdG Lily
2nd cup of coffee + pb on toast drizzled with honey
Hope the work day went ok floragal!
Happy Sunday fragrant folks! I’m wearing box of eels today:
https://instagram.com/stories/vantasticviews/2311101558529814143?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=feb3o64f1gcx
Beautiful day today here full of sunshine. A bit more heat than I like but better than rain.
I would have borrowed your heat!
Change of pace this morning in vintage Estee Lauder Alliage. The top notes were very green, and I think the first minute or two smelled exactly like I remember the original Sisley Eau de Campagne. Soon, it transitioned to that delicious, almost chewy green chypre fragrance that can no longer be achieved with what is allowed by IFRA.
Nothing could be better for a cool, damp, cloudy, and very green late spring morning.
Yes! Vintage Aliage is fabulous. Unique.
I cannot believe I waited so long to try it!
I think I’ll join you in wearing EL’s Alliage. 😀
We are approaching critical mass, SmokeToes!
Excellent! 😀
Love Aliage, I wore it back in the day…wish I still had my original bottle.
The reason I got an ebay account in 2009 was to hunt down the my old perfume favorites. I have all but one, and obscure Latvian perfume sold in an eclectic gift shop near the university where I did undergrad. I’ve only seen it once on ebay, and someone else had just bought it. Drives me crazy if I think about it.
I’m wearing lots of En Passant (like 14 sprays) because I remember Robin saying her bottle turned and I’d rather use it up than have it go bad.
So, what’s the scoop with your neighbour? Planting dollar bills to grow money trees? A new way of storing perfume samples? Just likes holes and brushing dirt? When I lived in BAvaria I used to watch a neighbour vacuum leaves with a domestic vacuum cleaner from the pavement outside his apartment-house. Obviously, I failed Germany. I bet you smell so good today.
I haven’t seen him, but I walked past his yard today. We have had daily rain this week, and something has germinated. If I had to guess, I think he planted spring bulbs and then grass seed, so next year he’ll have a lovely display. I have no idea why he brushed the dirt with the cordless drill, though. If I wanted to brush dirt I’d use a broom, but I’m no expert in dirt-brushing.
I knew I shouldn’t have given my old vacuum cleaner to Goodwill…
SOTD (Sunday) is Estee Lauder’s Alliage from an old splash bottle. I intend to stay in bed, sip tea and read all day.
?
I am also sipping tea..which kind are you drinking?
A quiet rainy day here. I’m half watching some movie with Jason Statham in it. He’s such a babe. Thunked my KM Cuir Cordoba sample. It’s such a great floral leather.
Half watching a Jason Statham movie sounds like a wonderful Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!
? Jason Statham!
My hubby skips shaving for a day, saying it’s his ‘Jason Statham’ look; makes me chuckle!
I love Cuir Cordoba, someday I may have to get a bottle.
Hello, everyone, it’s me again. Yesterday, I did bust out the no 5 body stuff. With the soap and lotion, it didn’t really smell like no 5. But the lotion was really potent and a spray of no 5 would be overkill. Wearing vintage Miss Dior today.
SotD Victorinox Snowflower. I smell like a ginger ale fresh from the ski slopes.
Question for more experienced NSTers:
Mr. Teebear has a lot of minor contact allergens (like nickel) as well as hay fever, oral allergy syndrome for most stone fruits, etc. He’s also prone to chronic eczema/atopic dermatitis on his legs and can get flare ups in other spots, and so we use fragrance-free laundry soap and body wash as well.
With that in mind: should I potentially be cautious about sampling vintage fragrances that aren’t IFRA-compliant?
I’m often away for work 2-3mo at a time so if the eczema were triggered by my current fragrance-wearing I am assuming we would know by now, as his symptoms should recede when I’m away (I should confirm actually, because it’s possible he just hasn’t thought too much about this possibility).
But I worry that fragrance may cause his skin condition to flare up even short of physical contact, if I’m putting on stuff that’s been identified as a common allergenic trigger.
Thoughts? Experiences? Am I being exceedingly cautious, or is this a thing?
I wouldn’t worry about it, if his only contact is you wearing it and you’re not bathing in it. But you could test and see if he reacts.
If you are worried you could keep a notebook/diary of each perfume you wear during the day to help trace the perfume culprit if he gets wheezy, chesty or itchy. I would approach it on an individual perfume by perfume basis as many modern perfumes ( as well as vintage perfumes) contain ingredients that might cause an allergic/ respiratory flare up. You would also have to rule out other non-perfume things like plants he may have touched, food, other chemicals, pollutants, metals, animals, other people wearing perfume…so it might be difficult . Good luck!
Commando at the moment but wore Tam Dao EDT yesterday. Such a calming scent. I think I’ll spray some now.
I’m in its cousin Philosykos right now 🙂
I’ve been in FM Rose & Cuir today. I didn’t think there was much of anything here when I tried it in store, but in the therapeutic dosage range, it’s quite nice, a citrusy, spicy rose. Aaand, sample plinked.
I detail cleaned the kitchen island and range top earlier today, so I’ve had my cleaning in a therapeutic dose as well.
I hope everyone is having a relaxing Sunday. ?
You just reminded me that I was planning on cleaning the stove. Maybe later?
You can do it Lillyjo ?
If stove includes oven, it can wait a loooong time!
A lovely spring weekend, sending this good weather to everyone, currently in Guerlain AA Lys Soleia for the first time this year.
For those among you who are familiar with it, what perfumes are similar to Victoria’s Secret Victoria 1989? I was unable to help someone on ‘Recommend Me a perfume’ on BdJ if you want to answer directly.
Hopefully CM8 can help with that question. I wore and loved it, but honestly can’t think of anything similar. I will be expecting that good weather in a few days?
Thank you Lillyjo. Yes, maybe CM8 will recall something.
Early this morning I put on a theraputic dose of Montale Crystal Flowers.
The lilacs are blooming their heads off this morning after the few days of rain. Everything looks very springy today ??
Lucky you! Our magnolias are blooming, lilacs will be next. But the sun has finally arrived and we have green leaves!!
A couple tiny decants arrived yesterday, so I’m sporting Musc Ravageur on left arm and vintage Bois des Iles on the right.
Has the category “scents that don’t smell like their name” been proposed or already done? Sounds familiar but I don’t specifically remember. Anyhoo, Musc Ravageur would be my submission.
Trying to summon the energy to do something. Had any upsetting phone call with my Dad last night. I finally hung up on him. I’m not interested in being the vessel for your angry ranting. If I can pull the phone away from my ear for one minute, then three, now five, and you don’t even notice? We’re not having a conversation. I’m not your garbage can.
Had a cry and then a chat with my Mom (who divorced him many years ago). Woke up with puffy eyes, ughh. My mood is still really off, which annoys me, because I’ve allowed his sourness to affect me.
Sending you a virtual hug. Sorry for the frustrations with your dad. I’m in better place with my dad than I used to be, but I also find in my phone calls with him that he does 90% of the talking and doesn’t ask a lot of questions about me. That hurts sometimes, but I realize I’m very different than most of my family, and he probably just doesn’t understand me or my interests. Anyway, I hope you can feel better soon and do something fun to take your mind off that phone call. You do smell great!
So sorry about the emotional upset. I hope you are able to soothe yourself and let it go soon.
Sorry. I’m very familiar with self involved parents. There’s no fix for it, except to distance or completely absent yourself from their reach.
This morning I’ve sampled L’Artisan Couleur Vanille and Amouage Love Mimosa. Both are very nice. Maybe one day if the Amouage can be found for about half price, I’ll buy a bottle. The L’Artisan reminds me some other vanillas I’ve tried. I will say this kind of treatment of vanilla is one of my favorites – salty, green, airy. Kinda similar to Vanille Galante minus the lily. Also maybe similar to one of the Sylvainr Delacourte vanillas.
Yesterday, I wore Bois Farine to try and decide if I need more than the 6ml decant I have. Turns out that while I do enjoy it and find it to be really unique, I think my decant is all I need. I didn’t get around to commenting on Thursday or Friday, but I finished off my NSFW week with DSH Rendezvous, a rich floral animalic, and L’air de Rien, which is my precious.
Please tell me more about what you smell in Love Mimosa, it sounds appealing. :-). And the bottle is pretty.
The bottle is gorgeous! I just reapplied my sample to my hand. I get a lot of violet leaf with the mimosa, and it has a salty aspect to it. I think you’ll smell some of that fresh cucumber that comes from both mimosa and violet leaf. I also pick up on heliotrope. Earlier when I had Couleur Vanille on the other hand, I found a little similarity in them, likely from the salty aspects of both.
I also ended up choosing Serge’s Chypre Rouge for my SOTD to accompany me to the grocery. That was only two hours ago, and while CR went on strong, it’s almost entirely faded now. I emptied a little decant – clink!
Thank you for sharing your impressions! I look forward to testing it when things open back up.
Drained my Musc Rav sample and needing more. I love this spicy, vanilla cat spray.
A bit bluesy today because of a person who has become completely self centered and without empathy whatsoever. What to do, you can’t change others, unfortunately..
Still, it leaves me a bit blue..you never really know anyone.
I don’t get much Musc with that one either. Mostly dried spices. I have a bottle at home in my fridge. It’s been two years since I’ve tried it, so looking forward to seeing if i detect any changes when I wear it.
You can’t change people, as you say, but you can decide to limit their emotional power over you. It’s a hard task, but saves a lot of pain in a long run.
I’m so sorry you are blue today.
Yesterday I wore SL El Attarine, today is Maison de la Vanille Vanille Absolu. Today is gloriously sunny, baking oatmeal cookies and then taking the puppy for a walk.
Does your pup actually walk with you? Or do you carry her most of the way? All that vanilla sounds delectable ?
She’s a good walker. 🙂 She likes chasing squirrels too. We smell yummy.
Oh, cookies, and I bet you smell great, the perfume must go really well with the baking; do you have the sampler from MdlV?
Yes, I bought the coffret. They’re all good!
Sounds like a good day!
Spent the day in Weekend à Deauville. It is lovely. I went for a long walk with a friend, first time meeting a friend since the pandemic started. We kept it safe and kept our distance and had a good chat whilst enjoying the sunshine and the Dutch river landscape.
A pandemic milestone, good for you!
Glad you enjoyed the visit with your friend!
Copper for a golden Monday.
Sounds like the perfect choice.
Combo of Saab L’Eau Couture in its sweet almondy goodness, layered With Kiss Me Intense, with its bitter almond goodness.
More raspberry/strawberry buttermilk cake made. New scratching post arrived…so far ignored.
Lol hate that about scratch post pickiness! I tried putting cat nip all over mine that I got but still my cats are like, meh. I want some of that cake!
That cake sounds amazing!
I am in SS Estate Cacao and wish I were at the Cloisters today. ?