Hump Day, plus World Bicycle Day. What fragrance are you wearing?
Before I move on to my own scent of the day, I'd like to pause for a minute and talk about the comment policy. It's been a tough year, and things are quite unsettled at the moment. We can talk about it here, but only in a very limited way: we avoid politics as a rule, and I think everyone would agree that doing so has allowed us to remain a 99% polite and caring community for 15+ years now, regardless of what's happening in the larger world. So, I am asking everyone, including myself, to be extra vigilant. You can mention protests or riots, yes. You can talk about attending, you can talk about how they've affected your daily life. But please, it would be better if you did not add any value judgments about what is happening or the official response to it, and it would be better if I were more vigilant about removing statements that could potentially make someone else uneasy. So I am going to try to do that, and I hope everyone will understand. If you have questions, or if you see a comment that disturbs you, please feel free to email me!
Meanwhile, I am taking points and smelling fabulous in Keiko Mecheri Osmanthus.
Reminder: on 6/5, wear a perfume with osmanthus, if you have one.
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 Poppy (30) [cropped] by lwtt93 at flickr; some rights reserved.
Osmanthus week, day three.
Scent of the morning is Ineke Evening Edged in Gold. For me, this is a scent that smells wonderful from the sample vial but is less impressive on my skin. From the vial it smell like a sweet liqueur, on the skin it immediately loses its richness and disappears. I used the last drops of my sample to scent a cotton glove.
In the afternoon I switched to Memo Inle. Tea/osmantus, fresh and watery. I am still not sure if I like it or not…
Gosh, forgot about Evening Edged in Gold!
I don’t love Memo Inle…I think really I don’t generally love Memo.
I love Tiger’s Nest and Winter Palace, but Inle is just OK.
At least today you are in the osmanthus scent you love. 🙂
Sadly my bottle of Osmanthe Yunnan is in San Diego, and I think it’s my only osmanthus scent. Need to check the database to see if that note is lurking in any of my other perfumes.
Today I am wearing Slumberhouse Ore, which is a yummy cocoa scent. I figured it would go well with my chocolate chip cookie baking project for this rainy day. Chocolate is a balm to the soul and body.
YES it is.
Good morning Cazaubon! I’m sure you smell lovely and those chocolate cookies sound divine.
I will email you regarding Rahele?
I ate a chocolate chunk and sea salt cookie for breakfast thanks to a coworker, so I support all of your chocolate/cocoa today.
Oh that sounds delicious! I use sea salt in my cookies too, it tastes sooo good.
Would love a cookie now
I’ll fax you one. 😉
Chocolate heals.
???
I’m smelling cool and dignified and I gain points in Patou 1000. Thanks to Calypso who wore it earlier this week.
I had been wondering when you would talk about the comment policy. It must be so hard for all the people from the US to refrain from making any kind of (implied) remark about what is happening at the moment.
Don’t know what else to say, I’m just so grateful that things are calm where I am.
I do think it is entirely my fault. I have really been too relaxed lately, and needed some reminders 🙂
And given that it is an election year here, we really have to get back into form!
Hi all, 🙂 My SOTD is Fig Tea by Patricia de Nicolai, very refreshing for another warm SF day. Notes are fig, osmanthus, artemisia, coriander, guaiac wood and amber. I’m down to my last few spritzes, I see *thunk* coming my way soon!
Thank you for reminding us of the comment policy. It’s so difficult to refrain from commenting but in the end, it’s best to keep our tiny corner of the interwebz kind, fun, and friendly. 😀
I really should get one of the little bottles of Fig Tea, it’s so enjoyable.
And yes it is difficult and worth it!
Fig Tea is very good. I’m sure I’ll get a 30 ml bottle some day.
You make an excellent point, I love that PdN perfumes come in 30 ml bottles, I wish more companies would do that.
You smell lovely 🙂 those 30ml bottles are great.
One of the many things I love about PdN! It would be awesome of other perfumers would do 30ml bottles.
Patou 1000 is beautiful. As is Sublime…
In osmanthus with Berdoues Peng Lai, thanks to a generous NSTer from the swapmeet. Bright and cheerful!
Summer has arrived in NY with the next 3 days in the mid 80’s. Yay! ??
Taking my doggie to a follow-up appointment. Let’s see.
A glass of super cold orange juice and on my way out.
Happy Wednesday!
The weather is wonderful!
So good to enjoy some time outside!
We are expecting high 80s today too!
Finally! ?. We had been waiting for it for too long! ?
18 days til the longest day of the year. Soak up the sun????
Oh my! We need to take big advantage of those 18 days, before they start getting shorter! ?☀️?⛱???♀️?♂️?♀️?♀️?♀️?☀️?☀️
Hoping for the best at your vet visit!
I just sampled that Berdoues thanks to the swap meet. It’s a refreshing scent!
Thanks ElisaP. The visit went well. He is apparently doing better from his pancreatitis. The internal vet stopped the anti-nausea and appetite stimulant medications to see how he responds without them. At 16 y.o. we can’t expect much, but I hope he is slowly overcoming this crisis.
Pei Lang is very nice. It becomes a skin scent very fast, but I think for the warm, muggy day we are having is good enough.
So glad to hear he’s doing better. Best wishes to you PL 67!
Thanks, Adanst! ?
Yes, so glad to hear he’s doing a little better!
Good luck at the vet!
Thank you Sistine! ?. See my comment above to Elisa P.
Thanks for the update on Yei! Continued hugs for you both.
Thank you, Jalapeno!?
Beach Walk. I’ve really taken to this. I think I’ve mentioned before that I tried it in Sephora a couple of years ago and thought “meh”. Until a woman sitting next to me on the subway commented. I was in a spendy mood early this year so got a travel spray. It really is all salt air and sand on skin to me. I’ve mentioned before that I get no coconut. Just sweet floral cut with salt.
Thanks for comments reminder Robin. I always need those now and then. NST isn’t full escape from the world, but the emphasis on personal connection and commonality is a solace and refuge.
Speaking of personal… setting up my new phone was not as seamless as I would have thought. Putting it next to my current phone for a transfer failed miserably….just kept working, working. I finally stopped it and did it with my iPad. Oddly, that worked. But what’s really bizarre is it kept asking for my husband’s iCloud account login. No! And then my iPad kept asking if I wanted to enable WiFi calling… over and over. It seems to have settled down this morning.
It’s funny…I’m so unsentimental about these things. My husband kept asking if I loved my new phone. I just looked at him and said, “it’s fine…it’s a phone.”
I’m in your husbands camp- I lurves my phone!
I’ve never done this before because the store has always done it for me and it was quite quick. They had to transfer the SIM card as well, I think….? Realizing all of that could be wrong, do you have the option to take it to a local branch of your carrier?
Since the stores aren’t open, they arranged with my carrier and sent to me. So, I didn’t need to transfer the sim. I’ve done that before. This happened with my husband when he got his in the store. There was a similar transfer issue. It got partway and then was stuck. Amusing it preferred the iPad. I’m good now, except I want to change my unlock code and have to figure that out.
I miss the days when Apple products (for non-techies like myself), were easy to update, navigate, and integrate.
Not so much anymore…
So funny. In my house, ‘It’s fine” is code for “don’t even talk to me right now”.
There were some sharp words exchanged because when I’m focused on something, I tend to get impatient and curt when interrupted. I don’t shift attention quickly so often have a 30-second delay in response time.
In our household we abbreviate that to “FFJF” which is code for “fine, fine, just FINE”. 😀
Borrowing that one!
I’m on your husband’s side. I get emotionally attached to things. This is probably why my personal laptop is seven years old. I can’t bear the thought of replacing it!
Have you seen the episode of Big Bang Theory where Sheldon reveals his storage rental for everything he’s owned and couldn’t bring himself to throw away? That’s my husband.
Hahaha! Ok, he might be a touch worse than I am. Perhaps Marie Kondo can help 🙂
Haha! Maybe he and my husband should be roommates ?
Oh, dear. I don’t understand how transferring from the iPad would work, because I don’t have exactly the same stuff on my iPad as I do on my phone. I’d better be good to the old phone!
Oddly enough, it transferred phone data. Including my wallpaper and apps on my phone not on my iPad. Mysterious.
I did not try Beach Walk, I should, although I already have Aqua Motu & Bronze Goddess so feel like I have “beach” pretty much covered.
And we all need solace and refuge! There are plenty of places online already where you can let off steam and say what you like.
I have an old bottle of Bronze Goddess that I love. This isn’t that different.
Ah, thanks!
I think Beach Walk is great. You smell marvelous.
Oops AustinFan, I didn’t mean to piggy back on your comment with my SOTD! 😯
I rather enjoyed your company, so don’t feel any need to apologise 🙂
Ciao ST,
I decided not to purchase the Alessandro mini. I think I want to save my pennies for that limited edition Shalimar bottle that Robin posted about. Not sure if it will ever come this way, but I will cross my fingers!
I thought of you this morning and I went for a walk/jog not for 4 miles, maybe 2 miles
Good morning Lovestosmell good!
Awesome on the two mile run! When I got back into running, I was very slow, alternating 10 minutes of walking with running to ease into it. It gave my 53-year old body an opportunity to gradually adjust.
If I can find a spray bottle, I’m happy to make a sample for you. Let me see if I can dig one out somewhere… 🙂
As an aside, do you like aromatic, green fragrances?
Well yesterday I wore Gres Quiproquo which is a green fragrance and I enjoy it a lot.
Jogging or some form of exercise is mandatory because
1. I need space away from my husband and kids, 3 mornings a week does the trick.
2. I am still eating toast with peanut butter. Two slices this morning 🙁
Grazie Robin for explaining the comment policy. Lots of things happening here in NYC. We have a curfew here, our first one since World War II era…
On top of that our building has extra security and it locking all both the front and back entrances and there is no food delivery past 8pm.
This makes my little family feel safe.
In other news, I broke in a new pair of jogging shoes this morning, made French press coffee and I am wearing a new stripped skirt.
I am 160 pages away from finished the second book from the Ferrante series, but have to take a break since I am neglecting my Italian homework..
Thanks to a extremely generous NST’er I am in Shalimar Light from a decant.
It is not possible to be grumpy and wear Shalimar, right?
I am pretty sure that personally I am able to be grumpy in anything, even Joy 😉
Don’t neglect the Italian! You need to eventually read the whole Neapolitan series in Italian and tell me if the translation was decent, ha!
That is a great goal for me to aim at!
I think you might like Jhumpa Lahiri’s book “In Other Words.” She’s one of my favorite authors, and this book is about how learning Italian changed her life and her “voice” when writing.
Yes, I own that book!
When I started to study Italian that book was a gift from my neighbor to encourage me…
Oh my, what a wonderful neighbor!
I read a long excerpt from that in NYer. Fascinating, I should read the book.
I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did since I was very attached to her fiction and wanted more of that! I’m glad that I read it, though – it’s very insightful and I discovered that I love her non-fiction writing style as well.
Imagine my surprise when I got a text yesterday afternoon stating my town had a curfew beginning at 8pm! Way up here in the sticks!
Thinking of you and all the people who live right in the middle of the protests/conflicts/upheavals. I’m envious of your jogging energy! And your Shalimar?
I am slow like a turtle but one has to start from somewhere..
This Shalimar is very light, as the name says. Wears like a Aqua Allegoria.
Please stay safe Deva, even if you are in the sticks! Holding you and all of the NST community in my heart…
Shalimar Light is supposed to be lovely (and also discontinued, *raspberries* to you, Guerlain). How are you enjoying it??
it wear likes a acqua allegoria, very light and close to the skin. if you are looking for projection or sillage, this doesn’t have much compared to the regular Shalimar. You can spray with force and not offend anyone. I love it
Ohhhh I’m pretty sure I’ve been grumpy wearing Shalimar, I wear it often and I’m often grumpy ?
I don’t believe you 🙂
Shalimar Light is such a beauty.
You have smelled this one? Its my first try. What did you think?
Yes! I have a bottle of it! It’s so precious to me since it’s discontinued I admit I hoard it and only wear it once or twice a month maybe! I lover that it’s so light and easy compared to the original, which I obviously also love. But sometimes I just want something easier and that’s where Light comes in so handy.
Have you tried the newer cologne version that was released a few years back. I also have a small decant of that.
I should do a side by side comparison
Glad to hear that things are feeling safer for you and your family.
Thank you, stay safe also
Yesterday, when I came into work after a week’s staycation, I found that I had received a few decants and discovery sets. I’m wearing Alkemia Moss Maiden today, which is an aromatic perfume oil.
I moved our couch at Christmas when we were having carpets cleaned and found a sample vial of Moss Maiden under it, who knows how long it had been there but such a pleasant surprise. I gave it a try and really liked i, was going to order it but forgot during the holidays–thanks for reminding me! I need more aromatics in my collection and this one is so interesting.
Couch samples are even better than couch spare change for a perfumista! Love it, this vignette brightened my day.
Side note: my couch find story is that YEARS ago I was trying to stop smoking cigarettes- was never a heavy smoker, but certainly casual- and was using nicotine gum to try and quit. I thought I was out of gum and was young and broke and desperately wanted/needed a piece but didn’t have the money do go buy a pack. My mom was visiting and for whatever reason reached down into my cushions and pulled out a small piece of nicotine gum (they were individually wrapped). She still says to this day she has never seen such excitement and joy on my face since that day hahaha. I’d like to think I’d get as excited over a perfume sample vial, but I’m honestly not sure.
World Bicycle Day! I miss my wheels. ☹️
Just woke up. Made my coffee and toasted some bread while watching a wild turkey cross the pasture behind the cabin. ?
Wearing this today in hopes of finding some peace. Smell well, y’all!
https://instagram.com/stories/vantasticviews/2323070979499945164?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=ckm1alebn2kq
Toast twins..
I was bad and had two hugs slices..with peanut butter
You need protein with all that exercise ??
Those bears are going to looove your cherries!
Woke up in Cormandel EDP this morning. Since I am post shower, I am in a little bit of no 19 EDP. It was crazy at work yesterday. Two customers kind of got into it while I was at work. One lady wasn’t wearing a mask and one wasn’t. The one that was wearing a face mask got in the other’s face about it. At my store, we strongly recommend a face mask but don’t require one for customers but employees are required to wear one.
Yeesh, people. I’m at the point of mask, list organized by aisle and no eye contact. Seems weird to think how, because of my “everybody’s mom or grandma face,” I used to get into conversations with people all the time. Nice conversations, like a young guy who approached me by the meat cooler to ask how to fix pork chops.
I organize my grocery list by aisle too. Makes things so much quicker, as long as I go to the usual Trader Joe’s
today I went to the one in my parents’ neighborhood. Darn it, they keep the cereal and almond milk on the wrong aisle!
Sheesh, that’s so unwise of the masked customer, although I understand being upset about the unmasked person’s lack of consideration.
I hope today went better. Coromandel is one of my top 10.
Footnote: there might be about 100 perfumes in my top 10, since I don’t keep track of these pronouncements. ?
I think that people can’t or won’t realize that they don’t have control over other adults. Getting up in another person’s face isn’t right either.
SotD = Cedre Sambac from a spray sample
yes to Hermes! 😀 I like a little Hermessence to start the morning off right.
Cedre Sambac is a changeling. I can’t quite say what I’m smelling. Something soapy, something dirty, a hit of spiky jasmine, candle wax, woods, and a whiff of, wait, mothballs? Interesting, I’m reminded of walking into a Crabtree & Evelyn shop back in the day. Once I wake up fully I’ll spritz some more.
thank you again to the wonderful swap pals who make me love perfume more every day.
ok, friends, take good care. I’m off, gonna indulge in bike day before the sun warms things up.
Enjoy 🙂
thank u, ringthing! cedre sambac was enjoyed. 😀
I’ve only smelled Cedre Sambac once; someday I will have to seek out a sample to try again. I love almost every Hermessence (I have a pretty strong negative reaction to Cuir d’Ange), so I bet you smell great! I plan to wear Osmanthe Yunnan on Friday, because, as you say, one must say Yes to Hermes!
do try to sample Cedre Sambac again when you have a chance, it’s worth it. I reapplied twice today, something I don’t often do, so I can say it is a compelling little bit of fragrance magic. 😀
I enjoyed all the Hermessences I’ve tried, tho there is one that grates slightly, heh heh, can’t remember which one!
Trying to remember which of those new ones I liked — I believe it was Agar Ebene and Rose Eglantine.
Cedre Sambac sounded promising but wasn’t what I had hoped for. As you’ve observed, it kept changing and was hard to get a fix on. Looking forward to hearing your final verdict.
I swapped out Vetiver Tonka, I know most people rave about that one but I prefer Terre d’Hermes when I want vetiver. I am also interested in Cedre Sambac.
**whispers** Vetiver Tonka is not my favorite vetiver 😉 I like Guerlain’s better.
I love Rose Eglantine! have not had the pleasure of trying Agar Ebene, but it’s on my sniff list.
Cedre Sambac is a fun ride, very memorable, more unusual than the rest of the line that I’ve tried, but still very much of the same spirit. Surprisingly I love the drydown the most. I applied three times today to be sure.
Horay for bicycles! I miss the daily cycle to work (replaced with a daily walk).
SOTD is Silvaine Delacourte Vahina from a sample for my continuing osmanthus education. Enjoyable enough but too rich and sweet for my taste.
PdN Fig Tea today. Pretty for sure but not my fav. I wish I had more Osmanthus Interdite by Parfum d’Empire but alas I drained my decant a while back.
Worked 14 hours yesterday and am super burnt out. Thankful tomorrow is my Friday and it’s going to be another camping weekend. They’ve opened Sequoia NP finally so I’m hoping to go see some giant sequoias.
Wow – 14 hours is awful. Yay for getting outside and camping!
You are getting good use out of your trailer! Curious to know if you were into camping before you bought the trailer? Were you ever a tent camper?
I grew up camping in tents and I took my son tent camping when he was little but I haven’t gone much since he got older. I’ve always loved nature and the outdoors, though. The older I get though I’m less down to sleep on the ground- makes this ol’ lady hurt too bad haha. And frankly, I’m a creature of comfort these days. I like to be outside, but when bedtime comes, I like to be comfortable.
My husband was fortunate to always have campers in his family growing up- his grandparents actually owned a campground in WV- so always knew how to work all of the systems etc. which he is now teaching me. And of course, he has a thing for shiny toys (hello DeLoreans and Airstreams haha) so here we are!
Also, one thing that appeals to me is travel of any kind. I’m a travel nut- both other countries as well as within the US. So it’s nice having a camper right now because it helps me explore California (and hopefully some other states real soon) which is new to me. 🙂
Lucky you! I came into all of this kind of blind, with just a couple tent camping trips in my 20’s. I totally get you on sleeping comfortably. Part of my “van rehab” project is changing my bed set up and getting a different mattress. Happy camping to you and the rest of your crew!
Enjoy your trip!
Have an amazing trip!
Thank you Robin for making this a truly politics-free zone. Many sites say they are but then prove they aren’t. We absolutely need a place to chat that is free from all that noise.
I organized my collection yesterday and found some cheapie rollerballs that have been long neglected. Today I am in Pacifica Island Vanilla, and it is so pretty.
Island vanilla is wonderful. It’s Tihota for people who don’t want to pay Tihota’s price. You smell great.
Well, I am not sure I have done such a great job lately but I appreciate the thanks anyway! And I really do thank everyone for being here and trying to be vigilant about their own speech.
I took today off from work, just because. Went for a six mile walk, will shower and wear La Fin d’un Été. I’m looking forward to sitting down with a book and some ice cream soon.
Wishing everyone a peaceful day!
Enjoy the day off!?
Thank you Lillyjo!
Ice cream! It just started pouring here, which might well call for ice cream.
? I meant to say thank you, again, Robin, for this friendly, happy place!
🙂
You smell stunning! It always warms my heart to see it mentioned here.
I remember my 2 trips to the Astier de Villatte shop so well. Buying Sous les Magnolias the first time round and La Fin the second. Lovely part of Paris as well.
Lovely indeed. I miss it so much…
I wonder if they’ll ever bring back this perfume.
Wow, your day sounds great!
It’s been very good, Jalapeno, I can’t complain.
Hope yours has too ?
Mure et Musc from my solid today. I am really enjoying it. Wish I could have tried the original MetM from back in the day.
Robin, just want to say again how much I appreciate your comment policy. It’s such a relief to have one safe space to just chat without all the political commentary that I am bombarded with all day from all sides.
Thanks springpansy.
Robin you have made this place a refuge of calm and kindness in the midst of all the unsettling events going on. Thank you.
SOTD = La Chasse aux Papillions. I sprayed liberally at 5:50 this morning, and I can still get whiffs when I sniff the back of my hand. I love this linden perfume. I forgot – I was going to wear Wit, for the CP, so I will wear it tomorrow, I think it is my only osmanthus perfume.
Ah, you smell fantastic, and I will be jealous when you are wafting Wit.
Well, yesterday Ta’if was a bit of a bust for me. I picked up whiffs of rose and something vaguely datelike, but mostly pink pepper. Robin said that she sometimes cannot smell much either, and at other times its the bomb.
Woke up craving what I missed yesterday, a dry elegant rose and saffron—Scent on Canvas’ Rose Opera (my usual apb that if anyone knows I can lay my hands on a full bottle, please let me know) is my SOTD.
Was up at 5:30 this morning for no good reason. I’m listening to an online presentation on “staying grounded.” I am finding it so irritating, I will have to sign off at any moment.
I would almost think it is the iso e super, except I generally don’t have such a problem with iso e super? So wondering if that one has 2 musks? I don’t know enough…
Hmmm… I’ve never minded perfumes with iso e super, but maybe that’s because I am anosmic to it? Had not considered that. But, now that I think about it, I really could not get much off of Escentric Molecules 01–supposed to be all i.e.s. Finally gave up trying to figure it out, and passed along my sample to someone else.
So maybe if you can’t smell iso e super, it’s blocking some of the rest of Ta’if. I do personally believe that happens…one molecule you can’t smell masks some of the other molecules, or “clogs your receptors”, or whatever the science term should be.
Well, there I was, thinking that I had an osmanthus-shaped hole in my perfume collection … and then the comments today reminded me that I own Evening Edged in Gold and Nicolai Fig Tea … and then I discover that Flower Bomb has an osmanthus note … so I guess the reality is that I like osmanthus but don’t love it since those are things I don’t reach for regularly. Evening Edged is nice but maybe not complex or nuanced enough? Not sure. Flower Bomb is the signature scent of someone I really can’t stand, so that’s out now. I love Fig Tea but for some reason I just don’t wear it often. Shrug.
Anyway, today I’m in Le Dix EDT, using up a large decant so I can unseal the backup large decant. 🙂 Saving the dregs of the OJ Osmanthus vial in my now-very-old discovery set for Friday. Wishing everyone here mental peace in these difficult days.
S, does your OJ set contain Vanille d’Iris? If so, what do you think of it? I have been telling myself not to buy it blindly, as my batting average has been so very low.
Sadly, no. My discovery set was the “original” one – OJ Man, OJ Woman, Osmanthus, Sampaquita, Champaca (mmmmm), Zizan, Ta’if, etc. Pre-Vanille d’Iris as far as I know, which is too bad because iris is one of my favorite notes and I would have liked to try that one.
I don’t think Vanille d’Iris is a safe blind buy, I was quite underwhelmed by it.
Good to know!
Ditto
I agree. I thought it was just ok.
I had a decant an gladly gave it away, don’t buy it blind!
I agree with cazaubon that it is not a safe blind buy. I found it incomplete, with the iris and the vanilla clashing and screechy together.
Thanks, everyone, going to suppress that lemming…
Thanks for the comments reminder, Robin. I’m wearing Poivre Samarcande today for a little easy goodness.
♥ Poivre Samarcande!
🙂
I love that one more every time I wear it!
hi Hermessence twin! 😀
After some talk of NV Rahele yesterday, I dug out my decant and am wearing it today. I like it although it’s a bit raspy. It’s very perfumey, if that makes sense to anyone lol. It smells to me more like a Chanel than a NV. I think this is actually my first real wearing of it, so I’ll see how I feel about it at the end of the day.
Thank you very much for the reminder about the comment policy, Robin.
🙂
Later in the day update: Rahele is not for me. To the swap box it goes. I think my Pichola decant will join it.
Do any of the NV perfumes work for you? Just curious.
Yes, I love Mohur extrait and really like Mohur EDP and Bombay Bling. I like Trayee and Ashoka. ?
Also, I do like Pichola. It is just so similar to some other Duchaufour perfumes I have, mainly Nuit de Tubereuse and Tuberose Angelica, that it isn’t necessary to keep. All the NV perfumes are well made, but a couple just weren’t quite right for me.
Great picture as usual Robin.
I am on the project with Cuir de Chine yesterday, which I love, and Osmanthe Yunnan today, which . . . not so much.
I usually am a strong supporter of the comment policy, but have to say that right now silence is not an option so I will be logging off for the foreseeable future. You can delete this, with all my respect, Robin, but I felt the need at least to say it.
Or more aptly, silence itself is political.
No need to delete it Amy, you didn’t say anything outside the comment policy.
Just wanted to say I totally agree silence itself is political…but I don’t think that means you can’t carve out places where you don’t discuss political matters. Hope nobody thinks I mean they should not talk politics *anywhere*…personally, I talk politics so much that even for me, this place is a rest and a refuge.
It’s funny, because I know this is what you mean and like I said, I am usually grateful for it as are so many others. Just right now things feel different to me. Many thanks Robin!
I totally 100% get it and respect it. Take care, and hope we see you again Amy!
As someone who herself has skated close to the edge on this policy–I appreciate the reminder as well, as I value the acceptance and kindness here so much. And I cannot tell you how many times I have also been on the other side of this errrr “problem”. In too many zoom meetings to count now I catch myself sniffing my wrist as someone is talking and talking, and making no decisions that will make a difference. I quickly look at the screen to see if anyone noticed, my wrist to nose, and vacant happy look. And there I am looking idiotic. No one has said anything to me about it yet, but it is only time!
You can always say you are taking some cleansing and meditative breaths. Also, you can switch off looking at yourself in a zoom meeting, which I have already done to my great relief.
I turn my camera off all the time.
Amy, I hear you and support you. I am also feeling like silence is not an option, and was debating whether I could continue coming on here for the time being.
I think I have come to the conclusion that if I do something else political in a day–i.e., write to my elected officials, speak out elsewhere, donate, etc.–then I can come and comment/read here. If I don’t do one of those other things, then political silence here feels too much like collusion.
I’m interpreting the “no politics” comment policy of the blog more as a ban on partisanship (in the sense of this what I feel about elected official X or candidate Z or the speech of Y) and less as a blanket regulation of “the political.”
One of the things I love about this perfume blog is that ppl here have always been able to speak about issues that matter to do them beyond perfume. For example right now I’m thinking alot about allyship and activism and have said as much without my comments being deleted. And I think if I said that I believe black lives should matter just as much as white lives this comment would not be in violation of the policy.
Robin if I’m wrong in this parsing of the no talking about politics policy let me know. It’s a fine line but these are my deductions from being a participant here over the past three years.
Yes, a ban on partisanship, although really that goes way beyond party politics. You can say you want peace and justice. You could absolutely say “I am thinking about allyship and activism”, no problem. You could even say activism against racism — we are not going to entertain the idea that there is a reasonable argument for racism, even if we know that some people think there is.
But these are all very general statements. I think where we get into trouble is when we get specific about what any of those things look like, or what specific things do or don’t constitute racism, or what would constitute justice, or what kinds of activism are ok and what kinds aren’t, because that is where we don’t all agree, and in particular where I think I have been too lax about asking people to tone it down or stop a thread.
And I am really very worried about the coming election…we have made it through a number of elections with minimal problems here, but I think this year’s may end up being more contentious than many.
Two quick things…
Radamisto1 says below that “this is a historical moment that deserves some commentary without being scrubbed clean”, and I get it, but we’ve been here for 15 years, and sorry, but it’s hardly the first “historical moment that deserves some commentary”, and it won’t be the last. So I get wanting commentary and discussion, but people will have to get that someplace else if we want to go on having the sort of community we have. And I hope they DO get it someplace else. Again, I am not suggesting anybody ignore the world in favor of talking about perfume.
And Hajusuuri says below that “I find that the comment policy here makes me think twice regarding how to phrase my thoughts and I’m okay with that.” — well, yes, exactly. Anyone who is not okay with it should probably take a breather from the site, as sad as that makes me.
(Whew, that was long, sorry! Sometimes I don’t notice until I post!)
Thanks Robin for these added clarifications. I appreciate how thoughtful you are being about this space and also your willingness to share your thought process.
Much admiration and respect to you for your grace and resolve. Please feel free to email me if you see this and wish to. I’d love to pick your brain in an offline conversation!
Oops! email pretsky 35 at hot mail
And I’ve decided to temporarily stop posting on my IG account as I’ve seen too many hypocritical and “follow the leader” postings and if this is considered silence, so be it. I, for one, don’t think I have to say or act or be like anyone to show my support of THE cause or any cause and have not and will not judge anyone or any company for speaking out or not, other than telling people not to judge me or any company for not following “expectations”; I did a 24-hour story to this effect and I’m done.
I find that the comment policy here makes me think twice regarding how to phrase my thoughts and I’m okay with that.
Today I’m wearing Wit. In contrast to my usual spray with abandon practices, I’ve found that too much is not better with this one. Three judicious spritzes are lovely.
Gearing up for a trip to the grocery store, which I don’t like doing any more. But in good news, the libraries are opening! Curbside pickup of books on hold begins in two weeks from my branch.
We’re getting curbside too, but no date yet…librarians say they need to get back in the library and get policies in place first.
I have a reverse complaint – the public library told me I had holds to pick up in a paper bag right now, with no warning! I had to cancel them, as I am not yet up to hair-raising transit trips, but glad the library has worked out the logistics.
Library!
I am so so jealous…
I hate grocery shopping. I find myself grinding my teeth..headache induced..uncomfortable
I realized the other day that very time I wear a mask I clench my jaw. I still can’t make myself stop even though at least I now recognize the behavior.
I wore a mask at work for 14 years so I am use to that, its just the whole process of shopping now a days..its awful. Mr L is starting to order more and have some things delivered because he is starting to see how my mood spirals when I am off to the store..I usually have to buy a bottle of prosecco on my way home … 😉
I feel the same way. I used to love to potter and browse and now it’s “get in, get out, go go go!”
I should buy prosecco more often!!!
You should!
I have been making Aperol spritz
I’m probably not going to be borrowing physical books from the library anymore, sadly.
That library news is so exciting!
Today was going to be Osmanthe Yunnan’s day in the sun, but, er, I just found out that the Hermessence bottle I’d finally decided to buy was Vanille Galante! Hmm, will see whether there is anything left in the Fig Tea sample for Friday…
That’s funny you forgot what you bought! But they’re both so good.
They are, aren’t they – I was probably flipping a coin
Robin, thank you for your thoughtful moderation.
I’m in Zoologist Bee today from the swapmeet, and you guys, it smells just as fantastic as you think it does. It’s, like, a more exuberant beeswax than even Slowdive. It’s more cheerful than Slowdive? Brighter, lighter, more early summer-appropriate? I see Slowdive as being an end-of-summer, everything is too hot and sultry and over the hump kind of a beeswax. Bee is beeswax as the fresh, bright greens of spring darken into the first heat of summer.
Ok, maybe I’m getting too descriptive, but it’s great. I will probably not spring for a bottle as long as I have Slowdive? But I might spring for a travel spray.
No, that’s a great description of Bee! That bright, early summer feeling ? I bought a travel spray last month and I absolutely love it, more than anything new that I’ve tried in a long time. And it lasts for ages on skin!
I’m so glad you love it 🙂 It does last really well.
I always think of you when I wear a Zoologist scent.
You make it sound amazing.
It is! If you like beeswax at all, it is worth looking up!
I didn’t like Slowdive at all so I am guessing I won’t like Bee either
On Monday my governor lifted the stay at home order. I’m just waiting to be called back to work this week. We are still not allowed to get a haircut, though. I’m going to color my hair today in the color raspberry jam, by garnier. My sotd is L’ombre dans L’eau, which is a real beauty.
Raspberry jam? Great! I hope it goes well. Now, since I know that we’ll be working from home for the next 3 months, maybe I could pretend to be young again and use some… less conservative color? I’ll think about it 🙂
Do it! It will grow out, lol!
Your hair color sounds so fun!
It is!
I love the raspberry jam hair!
I couldn’t resist the name. Sounds more fun than burgandy.
You smell great, that is such a good summer scent!
Last summer, I thought it was too green for me. This summer it’s just right!
Googled your color, love it, wish it would work on me! I should find a fun haircolor myself though.
I color my hair probably every 6-8 weeks, so the color never comes out as good as on the box. As long as it covers the gray, I don’t mind. Lol. It really helps lift my mood to have “fresh” hair.
You are a lot braver in your hair color than I am. I once dyed my hair the color of a new copper penny, and then promptly freaked out. At least it was only semi-permanent color and faded quickly. This was back in my late 20’s, no less.
SOTD is box of eels – EDP. Why not?
Nobody can stop you apsara!
You are right, Robin. It’s just me and me, with a side of myself all day.
Thanks for you kind guidance on comments.
Solstice Scents Lavender Vanilla for these tough days we find ourselves in.
Oh, that sounds yummy. 🙂
Hey hey, you guys! I’ve missed you! I have the very rare free moment and really wanted to check in, and I’m hoping to even comment here and there. I would love to catch up on all the goings-on in your lives.
So Robin, I love the poppies! California poppies are gorgeous too, as are the Himalayan blue poppies (I have a thing for blue flowers.) Thank you for addressing us regarding commenting, it’s greatly appreciated.
I saw this brief video this morning and have to share it in the hopes that it will brighten your day as it did mine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV2W0kY5WRk
I immediately shared it with everyone I know, as it inspires me and gives me great hope for the future and we could all certainly use some of that.
SOTD is Osmanthe Yunnan. Not only do I love it, but it reminds me of a dear friend who loves it as well.
Hey Holly!
I love the blue poppies, have had trouble finding a good shot with a creative commons license. Thank you, all photographers who let me use your images!
And thanks Holly for the video 🙂
And thank you to you for going to the trouble of looking for great shots to post for us!
Hiya Holly! Happy to see you posting… it made my day!
Hi buddy! Happy to see you reply, and it made my day twins!
Just seeing that it’s osmanthus week — I’ll wear some tomorrow. Today I’m in Nicolai pour Homme, for the calming lavender. Dealing with job stress on top of everything else.
One of the best lavenders and just a glorious scent!
Elisa, so sorry for the job stress! Nobody needs more stress right now.
House twins with Koyel in Zoologist Hummingbird, first wear since last summer. Omgoodness, it smells so good; I’m not a fan of the late aughts ubiquitous fruity floral perfumes but Hummingbird is a bright, creamy, delicious and sophisticated fruity floral. I would expect no less from Shelley Waddington, she is one of my very favorite perfumers.
Looking through my perfume cabinet (okay, closet), I’m finding that I’m quite osmanthus deficient. Today I’m in Thé Pour Un Été for the hottest day of the week. This is one of my desert-island summer scents and it always makes me happy.
You smell wonderful! It really is very relaxing and happy smelling.
Why have I never worn this? It sounds lovely.
Robin, thank you. We all need some politics-free zones, for everybody’s sake, no matter which side we take in the events.
Accidentally wearing Alahine. For those who wonders how one might do that: I planned to re-test Oha that I tested yesterday and wasn’t sure whether my sample was off. So, I took a sample from the set, applied, sniffed, told myself that it smelled surprisingly great and absolutely not off… and then realized that I was smelling perfume I know and love. Yep, I took a wrong vial from the set. So, I got out my Alahine bottle and decided to wear it for the day instead of running more tests. It’s going to be a hot day, so it’ll be interesting to see how Alahine works in heat, since usually I wear it in winter.
🙂
Wearing Esprit d’Oscar since I have a ginormous bottle and it was mentioned recently here (which was a good reminder). Think I sprayed 8 or 9 times, then added a couple sprays of vintage Oscar to my wrists.
Just went to check my garden; the arugula and radishes are up. And my mock-orange is starting to open up a bunch of blossoms; it smells heavenly!
Does Espirit smell similar to original Oscar?
It’s close, but not exact. With the vintage, you do get the deeper notes.
I am jealous of your arugula and radishes. I want a house with a garden!
If it’s any consolation, the garden is really tiny; it’s just a raised bed that my hubby cobbled together.
Ugh, ditto!! Used to have two raised beds in the backyard of our apartment but technically the backyard “belongs” to the downstairs tenants, and the most recent ones wanted to take the beds out to sod the backyard for their doggo and make a little deck for socializing. Fair enough, but I miss my herbs and tomatoes!
I will take some of your radishes and arugula 😉
There will be lots judging from what’s popped up; I will be happy to share!
So envious. I planted radishes, but every time they sent up little shoots, the stupid squirrels munched or crushed them down 🙁 Eventually, they gave up.
I’ve also badly wanted a mock orange, but haven’t found one at our nearby nurseries. Maybe next year :-/
We have crazy birds here which will eat anything new and green so we covered the garden with bird netting until things germinate. It lets the sun in but keeps the critters out!
My mock orange was gifted to me by my FIL. We both have a love for plants and gardening. I ‘made’ him buy it a few years ago when we were out buying plants; when they sold their house a couple years ago, he ended up giving it to me to look after!
hallelujah for your Esprit d’Oscar and your mock orange, such beautiful smells.
SOTD = Berdous Assam of India
Because foxbins wore it and because elephants ? ??
On a Zoom call this morning, I was very amused when a senior leader’s cat popped its head out of an afghan that looked like it was just haphazardly thrown on a recliner. I never pegged him to be a cat person and sure enough, a colleague (who reports up through that senior manager’s org), said that he didn’t either and that he doesn’t think he loves the cat. If I was up to having a live pet (and I would never be in that mode), I would take the cat from him.
Why does he think he doesn’t love the cat?
The colleague himself has 2 kittens (probably cats by now). You would think that cat lovers would have something in common to discuss but nada.
If he didn’t love the cat, why he would have it then?
It probably belongs to the wife ?
You never know. My neighbour had a cocker spaniel. She was always so aloof and reserved, she gave off the impression the dog was just like a piece of furniture to her and when he died, we thought that would be that. Lo and behold, nine months later, she got a new puppy. I spoke with her (which I basically never do except to greet hello) and she said how sad and lonely it was in her house without the dog, so she decided to get another one. You can’t tell with some people, they keep their feelings to themselves.
You really never know! I talk to my sister everyday On FaceTime after Rosary Brigade And I always ask to see their tiny Havanese. Last night, my sister said my nephew suggested I should get a dog. I demured.
I feel like men are often socially conditioned to not be cat people as cat-lady is such a thing, and dogs (well, apart from minis) are seen as “rough and tumble”. So a lot of them aren’t necessarily going to admit to how much they love their cat.
We had cats my entire childhood. When I asked my mother about them, she said, “Your sister likes cats.” Fast forward 20 years and they still had cats because the whole time it was my father who really wanted them. 🙂
LOL!
???
That is a great story!
I am loving people’s stories about cats Zoom Bombing!
And there’s a continuation to the story today …
I’m doing the CP in Nuit de Cellophane. Thanks everyone for well wishes for my cat. I’m taking her back in tomorrow morning for an abdominal ultrasound. The vet is worried because she’s lost a lot of weight. Meanwhile, my mom has an eye problem and says she fears she’s losing vision in one eye. I’m going out there today to see her and talk by phone through the glass doorway, and to ask the staff to make sure their doctor looks at her eye. She may need to see a specialist, which will be a nightmare to arrange under current conditions. Needless to say I’m feeling kind of down.
Oh Calypso, what a rough day. Hugs to you.
I’m so sorry to hear about your mom & your cat’s health issues. I’m having vision issues too right now but can’t face dealing with the nightmare of trying to see someone. It’s stressful because a friend of mine was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour and the first symptom was vision problems. So of course you imagine the worst. :-/
I know it’s stressful, but please get it checked, it’s worse if you delay a possible therapy!
Thank you, I am trying to rest my eye a lot to see if it gets better, if not I will go see a doctor.
Hugs!
Hope all goes well tomorrow, and something simple will help. I’m sorry you are dealing with everything at once.
✌?
I’m so sorry Calypso. Hugs to you!
So sorry to hear this. Does your mom have eye medication? My mom was very fussy with the timing and manner of application (she used to count the seconds and needed a ticking clock next to her). I think the subacute rehab took a shortcut and either never applied it, or if they did, they did not do it correctly (both timing and application method).
Also, sorry about the cat.
My dad was raised on a farm where dogs worked for the scraps they (maybe) got. My mom was raised with dogs as pets. We had a lot of interesting conversations about dogs when I was growing up. My dad’s contribution usually started with “Those dam* dogs!” But who was the one sneaking them bits off the table? Who was the one curled up on the couch every evening with dachshunds draped all over him? Who was the one who made sure there was a blanket in the crate in winter?
Dad, of course. ?
You do realize this was posted in the wrong spot, right? ???
Oh the joy of having dachshunds draped all over you…
Sorry wrong spot! Meant to add, maybe you should stop demurring and get a kitten? Maybe, deep down, you ARE the cat lady and just haven’t faced this part of your inner hajusuuri yet…?
And I just saw this…I do have 3 kittehs that don’t shed, eat or any bodily function. But they lavish me with gifts.
Well, that’s no FUN! ?
I am so sorry, sending you hugs…
Sending hugs.
So sorry Calypso. So much worry at once. Sending you hugs!
I’m so sorry, that’s a lot to deal with on top of everything else.
I’m so sorry, Calypso. I hope all goes well. Big hug.
Oh my! Sorry to hear about both kitty and mom. Sending healthy wishes!
Sorry Calypso – hang in there
I’m sorry Calypso! That is so very much to deal with all at once; sending you hugs.
So sorry for you Calypso!
Awwwww, so sorry to hear this Calypso. Hugs for you, your kitty, and your mom.
Wishing the best for your mom and kitty!
In Fat Electrician, from the swapmeet. Hottest day of the week here today with a forecasted 105 – vetiver might be the ticket for hot days! Off to checking google flights – I have a father in Berlin who really would like us to come this summer, and I think we’ll need to make a decision soon.
That is crazy hot!
I hear the travel restrictions within the EU will be lifted June 15th. But I don’t think it’s known exactly what air travel will look like after that date. My family is in Europe as well but we’re all having very mixed feelings about seeing one another in the next few months.
Good luck with planning your trip!
Yes, it’s complicated – I also don’t really want to book another flight until after the 15th (we had to cancel all our original flights). I’m having mixed feelings, but I feel these opportunities to see each other become more precious as my father ages. I am fully aware of the irony (not sure if this is the right word!), given the threat of the virus to the elderly!
Couldn’t you arrange for getting tested before visiting your father. Germany has plenty of tests available, although I don’t know whether you would have access to them.
Fat Electrician is a great pick for hot weather. ?
I’m wearing Earth Mother today. I’m in the middle of painting my nails – my school’s graduation ceremony (outdoors and socially distanced) is tomorrow and I want to dress up to honor the seniors. But I’d forgotten how terrible I am at doing my own nails, so I’m currently a bit of a mess. Thank goodness for nail polish remover pens!
I’m wearing Dame’s Earth Mother today. Mmmm. It’s just so perfect sometimes.
Thanks to everyone who makes this a comfortable, civil space.
The good news is no one will be close enough to see the imperfections of your manicure. 😉
Excellent point!
Sistine, so glad there will be a ceremony! I vote with cazaubon on this one…
I’m so glad they are getting a ceremony!
Best wishes for your school’s graduation ceremony tomorrow! ?
In a spritz of Kenzo Jungle from the swapmeet. It reminds me alot of Theorema – which is a good thing!
So many books I want to read that speak to our current circumstances and ways out of it, but my attention bandwidth cant handle long nonfiction right now. Instead I have been learning from the amazing writing of essayists/public intellectuals on racism and injustice and violence over at The Atlantic.
Even after all these years, The Atlantic really retains a great stable of writers.
New Yorker has had some great pieces too.
Slate Magazine reports that a number of anti-racist books have sold out, which is also nice to know.
https://slate.com/culture/2020/06/antiracist-books-sold-out-amazon-george-floyd-protests.html
Thanks for the comment reminders and keeping a safe place.
I don’t think I own any Osmanthus perfumes, and that’s a darn shame. I had my eye on several a few years back, but never pulled the trigger.
Yesterday, I mixed a bunch of Luckyscent samples and it came out to my liking. Of course, I ordered the samples in the first place! This one I’m calling, Patch Hag.?
SOTD: Patch Hag
Hi Annie! Not sure if you are receiving my emails, but things for Yei are improving. Crossing fingers for better days! Hope all is fine with you! ?
Butting in, although very glad to hear about your puppy’s improvement! Go Yei!
Thank you, Gail!
Fantastic!!!! Wow!!!
????
In l’AP Caligna today which is fig and pine needles, great for warm days but after a cloudy day we are finally getting some rain tomorrow, so welcome. And finally almost fully mobile today which means I can go grocery shopping tomorrow, I am out of soya milk.
Aurora, I’ve been trying to give you a rain song for 3 days, but it is very hard to think of one that isn’t sad. I finally remembered this one
https://youtu.be/MtIibcNDQ6o
Enjoy your rain tomorrow!⛆?
I hadn’t heard this one in so long, perfect choice Lillyjo, thank you.
This song seems to attract rain for me, so maybe it will do the same thing for you:
https://youtu.be/-Uu7wd5v048
Ah the 80’s, enjoyed all their hairstyles, thank you for this blast from the past.
I love Caligna! You smell fabulous.
Thank you Sistine. I enjoyed it very much, it’s great in warm temperatures.
In Sana Jardin Berber Blonde from a sample from a swap. I had no expectations but I think this is my new favorite orange blossom. It’s straightforward, but somehow just perfectly balanced and quite beautiful to me.
My friend wears that and smells like she fell straight from heaven. She’s not a perfumista at all, but apparently her sister-in-law saw it mentioned on “Into the Gloss” and decided to buy it for her for Christmas. You smell lovely!
Thank you! I’d like to think I smell like I just fell from heaven, lol! But it does have that perfectly ethereal waft.
Oh boy, orange blossom is my favorite note. It seems that this one is not easy to sample, though.
I think only Osswald carries them in the US and they do sell samples!
Thanks, I know! Such a slippery slope, the allure of one expensive sample plus shipping vs several expensive samples for the same shipping. I’ll check to see if they have anything else I’m seriously interested in, and either bite the bullet or wait until they open and spray for free!
I would’ve loved the sample coffret from the line’s web shop, but the $15 shipping cost was enough to squash that itch. I was thinking sbout a sp lo it, just don’t know if I have it in me this week.
Are you in NYC?!
I’m up in Westchester, but am moving to Brooklyn this month woot! I hope that we can meet up once that becomes a possibility.
Thanks for the reminder of comment moderation, Robin. Here we get the opportunity to brighten each other’s day with the mutual appreciation of scent!
Wanted to thunk my decant of Hermes Jardin Après La Mousson but it had thunked itself minus a drop. In Penhaligon’s Changing Constance instead.
Did my workout and may take a walk later to see if the outdoor gym is still off-limits or finally open for use again, as the forecast rain has been changed to clouds.
🙂
Bergamote Soleil today.
I cycled again today to work, so fitting for World cycle day. It’s a commute of 1h15min, so I am tired now. SOTD was Bracken Woman. The boyfriend made a lovely asparagus quiche with tuna for dinner plus a nice bottle of portuguese Alvarinho.
That is quite the bicycle ride, but I always feel so much better afterwards.
You smell good. Bracken is very nice.
Impressive mileage on that bike ride! ?
Scent this morning: A couple of dabs of Parfums d’Empire Osmanthe Interdite. (probably goofed up the spelling and grammar of the brand and name…) I wasn’t catching a strong scent, but just as well. What I could smell was pleasant.
Thank you for the reminder about the comment policy. I’ve been trying to keep my comments mostly to how I feel personally about issues, but it has been a tough time for many people these last few months and weeks. I do have other places, like e-mail, where I can give my political opinions. I’ll keep in mind to stay away from value judgments about politics here. I will likely still stray into commentary about how I believe in modern medicine and science, but to me, comments I make about science are factual observations.
Thank you for making this a safe place to discuss our hobby and aspects of our daily lives. It’s nice to see people supporting each other as individuals. 🙂
Love Osmanthus Interdite!
🙂
I don’t know why this site is so sanitized— it’s like being in a bubble oblivious to what’s happening right now
Well, I guess if you spent 24 hours a day on this site, it would be like being in a bubble oblivious to what’s happening now.
Ditto!
I know you’re trying to keep this site “safe” but blocking comments relating to the current state of affairs is a form of denial. People can still be respectful while airing their views. Sadly, the focus on beautiful perfumery while cancelling out anything disturbing smacks of a “let them eat cake” mentality.
I do not agree with you that it is denial to have a small slice of your life that is free from politics, I do not agree with you that people would remain respectful while airing their views, and I do not agree with you that not talking about politics on a perfume site is evidence of a “let them eat cake” mentality. Nothing about this site implies that you should make perfume the entire focus of your life. For most of us, this is a hobby.
So there you are. If anybody wants a perfume site where there is free discussion of politics, it’s really terribly easy to start one!
I believe we can agree to disagree—I understand what you are expressing however, this is a historical moment that deserves some commentary without being scrubbed clean. Have a great day!
Speaking of denial Did you know that Handel invested in the Royal African Company – i.e. the slave trade.
Still saving my osmanthus until friday.
Today I was wearing Atlante from Sarah Baker Perfume.
It has some odd notes (maybe wet stone or seashells) that immediately smell to me like dirty socks. It then passes, but the bit of disgust remains until the end…
I don’t know why, but your description makes me want to try it!
Gorgeous picture today Robin!
Scary weather here earlier today. Thunderstorms rolled through around lunch time that looked more like a hurricane, complete with 60 mph wind and evil green skies. We lost power here briefly. I’m hoping that there isn’t a repeat later on tonight, or tomorrow.
SOTD = back in Soivohle Fig Black Tea perfume oil. It blooms beautifully in the heat and humidity.
We had a few flickers…but no power loss yet. Fingers crossed.
Well, it seems that my area doesn’t have cell phone service right now. Not entirely surprised… the towers around here really DON’T do well with high winds.
Ugh, sorry!!
Yes, the sky got very dark at noon here, and our lights were flickering. We lit several candles and I put flashlights around for our room without windows (the powder room — very important! lol) and rooms that don’t get much light normally.
I’m still concentrating on trying to have a nice, quiet day. 🙂 Fire engines just went by with sirens on to celebrate the graduation of the seniors at the local high school, but we knew that was coming. Now I just hear birdsong.
Glad to hear that you and your folks are in one piece!
Skies got very dark again a few minutes ago, and we’re hearing the sound of strong winds. It’s raining hard now, but we still have flashlights and candles scattered around in convenient places. 🙂
It got dark here for just a couple of hours and we had some rain, but it wasn’t windy at all. Now is bright, sunny and muggy again.
Sounds like people in the Philadelphia area got the worst of it.
We’re meant to get snow in the next day or so but for the moment it’s just raining…so I don’t need to jump up and walk the dogs. I seem to spend more and more time walking each day and yet cover less and less distance. From space I must look like an insect that zig zags, backtracks, rushes forwrd, stops, turns around, crouches, stands on tip toes. When I walk with Alex I always feel like I am on a forced march, always going forward and turning my head to look is not an option. The dogs are the real bosses, sniffing, peeing ( I need to find out how it is possible to dogs to pee as much as they do during one walk). So, dark, wet, duvet start to the day in Daim Blond.
I always read NST when I first wake up and then turn to the Guardian or the US papers with a feeling of dread to get the latest news. Even though I am far away I am there with you , if you know what I mean.
I know what you mean.❤
I know what you mean too. Thanks for being with us.
Appreciate your solidarity, Kanuka. Thank you.
We love having you here with us, Kanuka!
I know what you mean too and appreciate it.
I am wearing OJ Champaca today from my travel spray set. Pretty but doesn’t last. Met with my boss today to talk about how our preschool year went (great until March!) and what might happen in the fall. I’m not sure I can go back to work wearing a shield and/or mask – I teach music and it doesn’t seem conducive to effective interaction with little kids not to mention the claustrophobic feeling. So not a good day….
Would a mask with clear plastic over the mouth help with interactions you think? In the way they did for the deaf community?
Hugs. Hope there’s a better solution by fall. I think you smelled wonderful today.
Quick PSA for anyone wanting the new Hermes L’ombre Merveilles. Fragrance net has it now, very reasonable price. REN37 should be the best discount code.
Just popping in to say I really appreciate your comment policy, there is a whole big world of political messaging out there and a little respite is something I’m grateful for.
Plus, we are all guests here on your site. Much like being a considerate houseguest, respecting the house rules is the least we can do.
perfectly said, thank you Gi!
Thanks Gi!