It's Friday, plus the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Our community project for today: wear a perfume with cardamom, if you have one. (You can find several lists of fragrances with cardamom in the comments to last weekend's poll.)
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I'm in the forebear to yesterday's Voyage d'Hermès, Cartier Déclaration. It is making itself known, and might be a bit much for a sleepy Friday morning....it is possible I will switch back to the easier-to-wear Voyage.
Reminder: on 9/18 the topic is Soft spot...wear a perfume that you may or may not wear often, and may or may not really love, but that remains dear to you for some other reason. Suggested by Kanuka.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2020, where I'll try (but frequently fail) to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Rami Malek, Maisie Williams, Willow Smith, Troye Sivan and Jackson Wang for the Cartier Pasha watch, 2020.
I’m wearing Caron l’Impacte de Pour in Homme. Which does not contain any cardemom, so I’ve put a pod in my ear ?
You are smelling wonderful, Robin! Declaration is one of JCE’s best creations.
I am not familiar with your perfume but I’m sure you smell lovely. Hope you get to relax this weekend before the move. Take care and keep us posted!
It’s a lovely vanille lavender or amber lavender. It’s the extrait version of the classic PuH. I’m stille doing ok, washed my car today which was a nice break from packing boxes. Did manage to sqeeze a fee in though
A few
I recognize that Declaration is a masterpiece but I do not always like to have it on my person 🙂
You must smell great, although I only know the original PuH.
It has a very strong presence.
I love Impacte and I wear it a lot.
Hi Austenfan, I hope you manage to find something to brighten your day and box-filled but otherwise forlorn house. Maybe a nice bunch of flowers in a jar, just to add some colour ? Thinking of you.
Thank you, fortunately my back garden still has some phloxes in it. And in a way it helps that this house no longer feels like home, it will be easier to let it go and leave it behind. It’s only a rental. It’s comfortabele enough but I’ve never been top attachés to it. Will miss my lovely neighbours though. How are you yourself? Did you have a nice meeting with Gaynor?
The most challenging thing about this smartphone malarky is the typing. And being visually challenged 😉
I meant to say that I’ve never become too attached to it.
And now I have The Fantasticks’ Never Say No lyrics as an earworm: “Why did the kids put beans in their ears? No one can hear with beans in their ears. After a while the reason appears–they did it cause we said no.”
?
I unknowingly complied with the CP when choosing my bedtime scent last night. I wore (and thunked) Amouage Journey, which, as I found out today, has cardamom.
Today I chose two scents for the CP: Penhaligon’s Malabah and Lush Cardamom Coffee solid. Malabah is a sheer spicy tea scent which fits perfectly this cool and sunny day. Cardamom Coffee has a wonderful earthy, slightly sweet cardamom note. I like these two together, although CC tends to dominate.
Oh, and I sprinkled some cardamom into my cup of coffee.☕
Thanks for reminding me of Journey – that’s what I’ll wear today!
You win ?
Thank you all for your supporting comments and advices yesteday regarding the health of my doggy Yei. I hope he comes out of this crisis again soon.
Wearing L’Aromatica Kulfi. A gorgeous cardamom, vanilla scent.
Beautiful day today! Cool morning after heavy showers last night. I am glad is already Friday.
Have a great day, everyone! ?
I missed your yesterday’s post about your dog. My best wishes for Yei’s recovery.
And your perfume sounds delicious.
Thank you, Glannys! ?
Oh my gosh – I hardly ever hear about other folks wearing Kulfi, and I just love it. Makes me want to eat my arm. You smell delicious, and it’s a good thing I’m not in the same room (see previous eating note).
Thank you, Lisa D! I don’t see in fact people mentioning L’Aromatica at all and is a brand with many pretty scents. I love Kulfi and every time I wear it I usually end up going to a nearby indian store to get some kulfi. It is delicious! ?
I hadn’t heard of them, went to their site “just to look”…and just ordered a sample set of the summer 2020 Kulfi collection. There are five versions of Kulfi, each with an added note, rose, almond, mango, pistachio and orange blossom. I also got a sample of Yellow Rose. So thanks for enabling, in the most delightful way!
I didn’t know they have a Kulfi collection now. When I bought mine 2 years ago they just had plain Kulfi, without those added notes. It would be interesting to explore the rest of the collection. Enjoy!
Hugs from Maggie and me to you and Yei! I hope he’s feeling better today. ?
Uh oh, wrong place. Sorry!
Sending fur baby hugs PL67.
Portia xx
Thank you, Portia! ?
Portia!!!! What are you doing here? ?????
And you cm, glad you’re here! ?
Hey CM,
There was always talk of the Friday Project and last week I decided to check it out. It feels like a wonderful, inclusive, fun, lighthearted place to come and connect. Who doesn’t want to be a part of something like that? So I’m back again this week.
Nice to see you.
Portia xx
Kulfi sounds like a great scent, the name makes me hungry
It is! And no doubts it makes you crave instantly
for kulfi or any other dessert!
Sending you and your puppy hugs!
Thank you, Gail!
Sending heartfelt hugs and well wishes to you and Yei.
Thank you, Laila!
Oooh your perfume sounds delicious!
It is! Hope you have the chance to try it!
Best to you and your pup PL67!
Thank you!
I missed that post, I hope Yei makes a complete recovery.
Thank you!
Crossing ??. Love from my angel to yours.
Thank you Annieperfumes! Sending love back! ??
Happy Friday M!Hugs to Yei.???
Thank you! ?
Cheering Yei on from across the blogosphere!
Thank you, Floragal! ?
You smell yummy. Puppy hugs!
Thank you, Cazaubon!
Spooky kitty and Teflon kitty send well wishes for Yei!
Thank you both! ??. Yei sends love back! ?
So appreciate cardamom as a spice in baking and I’ve got a favorite cardamom cake I like to make in the fall/winter. I’ll be pulling out that recipe soon!
SOTD: Cuir D’Ange
Happy Friday!
I ❤️❤️❤️ cardamom cake! And you smell great!
You smell wonderful Floragal. I love Cuir d’Ange and should wear it more often. Thanks for the reminder!
And it lasts and lasts! Still sniffing myself, lol.
Sampling Mrs. Gloss Lemon Sherbert and Rhubarb & Custard today.
Happy Friday!!! Week 2 of distance learning is almost done!?
I wonder if Rhubarb & Custard is like Aura? I really like the rhubarb/vanilla mix-up there, and there was another rhubarb perfume I tried recently and liked, but it’s not popping into my head.
Parfums de Marly Delina (the original)?
Not Delina (but I was reading about Delina recently)…still thinking…thinking it was not a niche offering. I will have to root around. I tried a note search on Fragrantica but didn’t find it.
I am not sure about Aura…I think I sniffed it via a tester but never had a sample.
I get rhubarb, vanilla, tobacco and some lemon from this one…quite interesting. I also just ordered a sample of Creamy Vanilla Crumble. I believe Rhubarb & Custard is 1 part rhubarb to 29 parts of the vanilla fragrance.
“…rhubard, vanillla, tobacco and some lemon” sounds good!
Another thick blanket of smoke ash and fog this morning. Maybe some lush cardamom coffee after I shower. It’s a full 40 degrees cooler than Sunday was.
That’s quite a temp change. Sorry there is still so much smoke!
thanks Robin, I am lucky though. I am not in danger of losing my home.
Good.
Wearing Coco Mademoiselle L’Eau Privée from last night. Love what Olivier Polge has done with this. V pretty skin scent that lasts a decent amount on skin and even longer on clothes. Think I’ll wear it again today though I’m having a hard time getting out of bed. ?
Ooh…I am curious about this one. Would you say the vanilla is plentiful please? 😉
Haha, I can’t detect any vanilla in it.
Hi all!
Robin, I was jealous of your Voyage yesterday. I went through my entire bottle in 6 months when it was released and never replaced it. I adore it still.
I’m in Louve today, which I know wasn’t very popular back in the day but I adore it. The base is so sensual to me.
Stay safe everyone!
I have never owned it, I just collected a lot of samples! So we both need a bottle.
You can find the 15 ml ones pretty easy. I bought the smallest one at the time so the refill bottle seems excessive.
Yes, will get one eventually! But would love to have the nifty real bottle.
I am a louve fan and went through a bottle years ago. I think it was my first Serge Lutens perfume and probably bought it in Melbourne. . It is a softer, snugglier almond than, say, rahat loukoum.
Rahat is so plastic vanilla on me. Louve is exactly what I wanted Rahat to smell like
Hey NST,
It’s bed time here in Sydney. Did some gardening, cleaned the house, had friends over for afternoon tea and spent a lazy evening with my husband till a shocker of a headache attacked. It took a couple of hours to settle. Now off for some ZZZZs.
I’ve just liberally spritzed Ormonde Woman. It’s got cardamom. They call it a chypre but on me it wears like a beautiful riff on the barbershop. If I were choosing something to smell regularly on a friend, colleague or significant other it would be like this.
Hope your Friday is good.
Portia xx
Hi, Portia! I’ve never seen you post on NST before; it’s so wonderful to see you here!
Thanks Koyel,
I love the idea of a Friday Project. Don’t know why I never came and joined such a fun and interesting idea.
Good to see you too.
Portia xx
Hi Portia! So glad to see you here! You had a great day and smelled fantastic! Sending hugs! ?
Hi there PL67,
Thanks
It was a very happy surprise to see you here too. So sorry to read about your fur baby.
Hugs accepted and returned.
Portia xx
PORTIA! So good to read your post. Ormonde Woman is gorgeous, and you smell terrific.
Hope the headache is gone by the time you awake.
Hey LisaD,
Yes, head all better thanks.
The soft remnants of Ormonde Woman smell really good to wake up to too.
Portia xx
Portia my love. I am popping in to say hi ❤️❤️❤️❤️ XO, B.
YAY B,
How nice to see you.
Hearts and hugs back.
Portia xx
Nice to see you Portia!
Just this morning I read your review of Le Lion for Undina’s blog. Thanks to Hajusuuri some of us got to test this beauty recently and I for one cannot wait for it to come to our shores.
Hi Adanst,
Hajusuuri is the best, eh?
CHANEL have been crazy clever with this release. Certainly had us all panting for it. What was you’re wear experience of it?
Portia x
You were right that it brings to mind a combination of Coromandel, Shalimar and Mitza. I’m getting mostly sweet amber, smooth elegant leather, balsam and vanilla. Grateful that the gasoline note I smell in Shalimar is not present or this would be an entirely different experience. It’s an elegant but warm and cuddly perfume to me. As Deva (one of our lovely NST community members) would say, it goes from boudoir to boardroom. I’m in love ?
Ahhhhhh, fabulous. So glad for you it misses the gas vibe.
“it goes from boudoir to boardroom” is an excellent quote.
Portia xx
Portia!!
So good to see you here Turbo Queen!!We miss you!
Hey Johanob,
HA! Thank you.
It’s so good to see so many of you guys here too. How did I not twig that this was a clubhouse?
Portia xx
The only clubhouse that counts,in my opinion!I miss APJ,Olfactoria’s Travels…always think about Val our resident cookie queen,Vero Kern whenever I smell Rubj…Hope to see much more of you over here!(we’re almost in the same timezone,haha!)
And thank you God for Spring coming south.XO
Excellent! I’ll take that advice and stick around. Val! She is doing well and Austria is well out of lockdown now. They were really good there. We all miss Vero a lot, what a bummer.
SPRING! It has definitely spriung around here and I’m loving it too.
Portia xx
Waving from Canberra Portia!
HEY Anne Marie!
WOW! This is a wonderful surprise.
So nice to see you.
You well?
Portia xx
Look at all the love! I’ll add my hello and hug as well. ❤️?
Thanks Nancy,
What a lovely way to greet the day.
Hugs right back,
Portia xx
Nice to see you here! Wishing you a wonderful weekend with no more headaches.
Hi Cazaubon,
Excellent to see you too.
Thanks, I medicated before bed, all better now. It’s a seriously rare thing for me to get a headache so I think I’m a bit of a baby about them.
You OK?
Portia xx
Doing better thanks. Combination of moving and menopausal hormones had me in a bad way for a while, but I’ve managed to shake it.
Moving is AWFUL, I feel your pain. Glad the world feels a bit righter for you. Onwards and upwards eh?
Do menopausal hormones guerrilla attack or is it a constant revolving fluctuation?
Portia x
The menopausal hormones did a guerrilla attack this time, after leaving me in peace for five months. I thought the ordeal was actually over, but no such luck. At 54 I hope I’m close to the end.
Fingers crossed. X
(waves) Hi! Good to see you here as well.
You smell great!
UNDINA! Blog mother, sister, friend! Your avatar always fills me with peaceful joy. So good to see you here.
Portia xx
Hello Portia! I hope that your headache is gone, gone, gone by now.
Thank you Jalapeño,
It is.
How’s life?
Portia xx
Hi Portia! Ooh, OJ Woman! Beautiful. I may have to pull out my sample of that from my OJ Discovery Set. I hope the headache is all gone. Glad to see you here! Thanks for dropping into my Perfume Chat Room too!
HEY THERE OH!
It was an excellent wear.
Yes, headache was a memory this morning.
It’s really cool how many people I know in here. Like old home week. A happy surprise to see you here too.
Always a good chat over at https://scentsandsensibilities.co
Hugs,
Portia xx
Good morning and Happy FriYAY!
Smelling warm and cozy in Lush Cardamon Coffee. Easy peasy challenge today!
I wish I‘d bought Cardamom Coffe back when it was still relatively affordable. I checked the Lush website the other day because the cardamom theme reminded me and I do like the scent. They now ask for 190€ for 100ml!! That’s almost Chanel Exclusifs / Hermessence prices. So – lucky you and enjoy it!! ☺️
WOW! You’d never catch me paying that kinda money for it! I paid $12 USD for the solid. I’ve never seen the bottle formulation at my store….
me too. 12 clams.
Yes, here too — the stores carry few of the scents that perfumistas would want. You can order them off the website for CAD 150-200. The solids are still $12.95, but those are mostly only their shower gel scents (Dirty, Rose Jam, etc.). They seem to be trying to diversify into a high-end line and their regular stuff.
Yeah – I‘m not really to prepared to spend that kind of cash on anything other than a splurge. And I don’t do that too often. So not sure if that’s the best strategy, but maybe it will work for them. Who knows.
That does sound good, JadainGA – have you ever compared the Lush to Atelier Cafe Tuberosa? That was in the running for today with me.
Hey there! To my nose the coffee note is way softer in Cardamon Coffee. The Atelier coffee wears a bit loud on me, but it’s a beauty!
I’d agree Ateliers can be loud. I have a travel spray, and passed up buying an FB on a couple of sprees….but I like it a lot too.
Smelling good!
Would actually enjoy some real cardamom coffee right now!
Continuing my noncompliance with the CP, I’m in SSS Voile de Violette–yes, I’m having a bit of an SSS streak; I realized I haven’t been wearing my SSSs at all, but they are all such beautiful and comforting scents, though almost universally reviled by the fiance 🙁 Well, he and I spend almost all day in different rooms, so he will manage. AQI of 200 today, but at least the sky is a normal color again, so…progress? My squash plants bravely soldier on and pop out their beautiful orange blossoms, though sadly I never see any bees pollinating them anymore (smoke, or just the late season?), so I’ll have to go out in a smoke mask and paintbrush later to hand-pollinate.
CP Rebels ™, unite! I am in Mugler Supra Floral, soon to cautiously meet a friendI haven’t met since Before Times for some coffee. Wishing everyone well,
LOL “TM”
Oh, I love Voile de Violette, also, Wood Violet, haven’t worn them in a long time. Sending stay safe wishes your way while you tend your plants.
I didn’t get a chance to try Wood Violet before Laurie closed up shop, and I still haven’t placed an order with the new SSS (if she even revived Wood Violet; I’m not sure). Maybe I’ll get to try that one someday 🙂 and thanks.
Just for grins, I checked the SSS website before replying here, and yes, Wood Violet is still in the Mixed Media Collection.
Hey Koyel,
Is noncompliance a thing?
Yum for SSS.
Good luck out there with the squash plants. Do you make bee buzzing sounds to trick the squash ?
Portia xx
Hahaha, does that help? 🙂 I do tap tap tap my tomato and pepper blossoms to simulate the beating of bees’ wings, but I’ll make sure to bzzzzzzz around the yard the next time I’m pollinating my squash!
I don’t know if it helps but we always did it in the verge patch as kids. Even if it doesn’t work it’s fun to be a fool on purpose.
Good luck with them all.
Portia xx
VEGE! auto correct
I forgot to add yesterday that STC got back to me and is sending me the correct sample. They said that they never thought they would need to check the Serve Lutens carded samples. I wouldn’t has thought to do that either. Woke up in Deneuve and now in some Theorema, tonight will be Lyric. I am so happy that when I get off work today, I will be on vacation. I am so excited for it. Just need to make it through my shift!
Hope you have a great time!
Enjoy your vacation!
Have a relaxing vacation time!
YAY for STC Dawn,
I love that story.
Deneuve, sigh.
Portia xx
Have a wonderful vacation! And glad to know STC is providing the right sample.
Cardamom #5 for the CP project finale is Carner Barcelona Rima XI.
It’s a dominantly spicy perfume and I find cardamom to be in the spotlight here.
I have a bit of this from a Scentbird order. It’s lovely, and you smell wonderful today!
I have a travel size of Rima IX, and I never thought of it for cardamom, but you’re right! I’ll have to pull it out this weekend to refresh my memory.
I was going to do the CP with Mohur Extrait, the only thing I have with cardamom, but I forgot and applied my new sample of Tempte Automne liberally. I love this, and I will be getting a full bottle when I use up the sample I have. Actually, I would consider doing a split of this if some people were interested in this very interesting and well done sandalwood scent by Jacques Fath. I get a steady base of sandalwood with various changes – milky creamy, to sweeter Look it up, and put a comment here if you might consider signing up for a split of this. If there is some interest, I will figure out the details and post it in the split meet tomorrow.
Someone I went to high school with had to evacuate her house in California yesterday, and there is no word if her place has survived. Wear your masks, wash your hands, stay safe and well out there, everyone.
*reaches for the Jacques Fath sample set
P.S. it sounds awful with your friend from California! I do hope your friend and other people in that situation get to safety and hopefully have a home to return to.
I hope your friend’s house will be okay. MeridIfay I think you gave us the good tip about the Fath Sample Set. I have only tried Rosso Epicureo so far, and it brought smiles. I will try Tempte Automne next!
Busy week. Been reading but not commenting much. Enjoying NSTers thoughts, as always, but so disheartened by the wildfires. Praying for friends and family in Berkeley, LA and Portland. And 9/11 is always a difficult day.
Gathering CP points in Amouage Opus 1, one of my desert-island fragrances. Somehow I’ve never bought a FB, must correct the oversight before it disappears.
It’s such a tough time, it’s just overwhelming. Have family near Portland that were evacuated today.
That’s so scary. Prayers just don’t seem like enough.
Oh no! May they be safe and well.
Oh — hope they’re well and their house comes through this okay!
Uh oh. Scary and unsettling times.
Double CP points, layered Penhaligon’s Changing Constance and Lancome Santal Kardamon today. They play very well together!
The Santal Kardamon gets my ultimate nod, the mid and drydown has more depth with sandalwood and resin and a teeny bit of leather, but that tiny hit of pimiento in the opening of Changing Constance is to die for.
Happy Friyay!
There’s a lot of stuff to worry about this year, and some solemn remembrances today and this week (9/11, and Suicide Awareness Day was yesterday) but I hope you can all nonetheless find some joy and comfort in the people in your life and – of course – in your perfume!
Santal Cardamom was my choice for the day -but I just couldn’t face it‘s intensity as it’s still fairly warm here and this one speaks to me more in winter.
I get what you say about layering – I like to layer this one with Tam Dao edt as the dryness in Tam Dao cuts through some of the density of santal k.
Fair call! Summer ended quite abruptly where I am so although it’s still 15°C (about 60°F) it feels cooler, and I’m quite cold-blooded so heavier scents are working for me already.
I’m just starting to open up to sandalwood-focused scents – somehow I’ve shied away from them so far, I think I’ve met too many people that use a heavy hand with Santal 33 – and Tam Dao is on my to-try list!
Are there others you’d recommend?
I love Tam Dao, for its prominent cedarwood in contrast with sandalwood. Some other ones I enjoy are
10 Corso Como (spicy),
Hermes Santal Massoia (often mentioned dulce de Leche note pretty much accurately describes the scent, it’s an Hermessences so also has the airiness in common with the rest of the line),
Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau (I don’t find the sandalwood to jump out to me on this one, I enjoy it for it’s odd salty (?) gourmand style but it gets many mentions for its sandalwood note)
Some others that I’ve tried that haven’t really gripped me are Floris Santal, VC&A Santal Blanche (I think, or similar name), Tom Ford’s Santal Blush (although this has many fans), Serge Lutens Santal Blanc.
Further ones on my to try list are Olfactive Studio Lumiere Blanche, Anncik Goutal Sables, Guerlain Samsara and Neela Vermeer Ashoka or Trayee.
My to try list is pretty long generally, not just in relation to sandalwood ?
Oh, forgot to mention Sandalwood Temple from Sana Jardin. This one I really want to like, but every time I spray I get a big dose of plastic (to my nose) in the opening that I’m not able to shake off. But something keeps me coming back to try again.
Santal Massoia is lovely; not something I might have sought out, but I found a travel size in a bargain basket and had to bring it home. I really like it a lot! And I love the travel size packaging, with the little cloth drawstring pouch.
I had planned to wear either Safran Troublant or Lyric today, but fragrance is out of the question given the air quality and its assault on my respiratory system. I do absolutely love the smell of cardamom, though — it was a revelation when I discovered it as a spice in my college years. It reminds me of the scent of a dry, high-elevation forest on a warm summer day. I know it’s woven into many fragrances in a supporting role, but I’d love to find one where it dominates, something closer to a soli-spice, if you will.
Sending warmest thoughts to everyone who is struggling or who is in harm’s way today. We’ll get through this, and only good things can come of all the exercise our inner strength and grace are getting in the face of adversity.
Comforting thoughts back to you and everyone on the west coast dealing with this unbelievably difficult situation.
Hi Isabella, the air is terrible in SF today. I dabbed my perfume SOTD and it seems more wearable and tolerable in today’s smoke.
I hope we all get some relief soon!
The now impossible to find CdG Wood Coffee… I am wearing it in my mind though… So wish I still had my old bottles unused…
Still wondering if they will do another set for the Library Collection? Because that one seems like a contender if they do.
Points for me with SHL Rose de Petra, a very nice dry rose with lots of cardamom and cumin. I would not say no if someone would give me a bottle.
Now at the Greek restaurant and the staff does not wear a mask, although they should. At least we can sit outside
You smell great and you’ve given me a great idea for what to wear today. I’m on my second bottle of Rose de Petra, that’s how much I love it (to be fair, I did split a small portion of it).
Shalimar because that’s what I felt like ? had CP perfumes lined up but ended up going for sth else. Best laid plans of mice and men and perfume lovers.
Shalimar will do that to you! It would not be the one for the desert island choice for me, but it might be second place. And I don’t even wear it that much…
True!
Who could ever fault you for choosing Shalimar Ka_rina? So gorgeous. Portia xx
Gorgeous and always interesting.
My heart goes out to all of you on the West Coast affected by the wildfires. With everything going on in our country, especially on this Day of Remembrance, I can’t imagine what it must be like adding a stressor like this to one’s life. All I can do is send you virtual hugs and positive energies and keep you in my prayers.
Someone did indeed flip a switch this week; it’s been so very cool and rainy I feel like I’ve suddenly stepped into another world, not necessarily a better one, just a different one. My SOTD for today’s cp is Bvlgari Omnia, one of my favorite fall scents and an especially comforting one on this somewhat somber and introspective day. Omnia always reminds me of Deva, so I’m sending a shoutout and good vibes your way, Deva!
The ‘other’ world I’d like to be in this weekend is the annual traditional music festival in the foothills of Appalachia, where we would be this year except that like most everything else it was cancelled. One of the best serendipitous happenings of my life when we accidentally discovered it on our way home from vacation years ago; the beauty of its physical surroundings and the dulcimers, banjos and fiddles introduced us to a world we’d never known before but have revisited many times since. Fortunately, we’ll be able to go there at least virtually with two livestream concerts today and tomorrow, so I am grateful for that. We’ll grab our dulcimer and guitar and join in!
I’ve tried to stay focused on positivity thus week with yoga and these oft-repeated Words of Wisdom:
Observe, but don’t absorb.
Be grateful for what you have, and be grateful for what you’ve escaped.
And, lastly –
What you think you become,
What you feel you attract,
What you imagine you create!
Stay safe, stay well!
I wanted to wear Omnia as well today.Such a beauty,you smell fabulous!
Sending a whiff your way so you, too, can smell fabulous!
A local radio station has been playing repeats of old live concerts, it’s been so nice! I listened to Joe Jackson today.
Hope you enjoy your livestreams!
Absolutely gorgeous sunny last day of vacation. We caught the tail end of sunset by the harbor last night. I’ll post on IG once we are home. Hearing that kitty Agnes has stayed under our friends‘ bed all week except for nighttime eating and litter box. Can’t wait to bring her home.
Since I did CP yesterday, I wore Galop today. And horrifying my husband by drinking a beet and cherry drink.
Hi Lizzieb!
Nice you enjoyed your vacation.
Have a wonderful reunion with Agnes.?
Beets?
Sorry you didn’t have the best weather on your trip but I’m glad you caught a bit of sunset last nite. I enjoyed reading your vacation posts, haven’t been up there for awhile and it took me right back. Hope your hubby enjoyed visiting some of his remembered places.
Thanks. He’s had the best of times. Reconnecting, seeing what had changed and what hadn’t. It is a beautiful place. As beautiful as he told me it would be.
I’m sure Agnes will be so happy to see you! Glad you had a nice vacation.
Beets, I love them (if they are pickled). My hubby hates them, so we say that if we were in a “Survivor” type competition, I would have to eat the beets and he would have to eat anything seafood.
LOL! Same in our house! I love beets and hate seafood & vice versa.
Hope it’s been a wonderful time for you both! Home sweet home, nothing like it. Enjoy miss Agnes.
Aw, poor Agnes kitty. Hopefully she won’t sulk when you get back.
My husband loathes beets. 🙂
Oh, I have never had such a drink but now I want one! I adore beets, I eat them almost every day.
Jangala for the project. Maybe I should bake something with cardamom this weekend
https://www.eatwell.co.nz/recipe/18099/Coffee-and-cardamom-layer-cake/
I made this coffee cardamon layer cake and it tasted good. Easy too.
SOTD = Parfumerie Generale Indochine 25
✅ Cardamom, wood pudding
✅ Included the whole name
✅ Twee bottle
I am giving myself 3 credits today ?.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFAQF8rhabN/?igshid=823ypp95lkzj
In other news, I joined my uncle’s funeral service via Zoom today. It was beautifully choreographed (but not without some technical stuff going wrong), touching and sad at the same time. He was as I remembered as mentioned by the eulogies – kind and gentle soul was a refrain. There was a pictorial segment that made me tear up as it had many pictures of him and my aunt who pre-deceased him by at least 8 years, if not longer. It also had pictures of other relatives, including my dad so it made me wistful as well. The only thing that I’m not so sure can be arranged in a short time is to allow more than 100 participants. It was at the max pretty much the entire time but some of us were lucky enough to catch it when a connection dropped.
I think you should get three credits because I agree about the bottle. Some forms really do look best in the 30ml – vintage Diorissimo parfum and the new-ish Carven Dans ma bulle – because the bubble cap is outsized, like a good bubble should be!
??
I am sorry for your loss hajusuuri – may his memory be a blessing. I love Indochine – such a beautiful perfume.
Your uncle’s service sounds very cathartic. I hope it provided you with comfort.
Condolences on the loss of your uncle, hope that warm remembrances comfort your heart. His sounds like a life well lived.
I am sorry for your loss. Glad you were able to participate in remembering him though.
I’m glad the funeral service was beautiful, and hope his memory brings you joy and peace <3
I’m sorry for your uncle’s passing, Hajusuuri. I’m glad using Zoom worked out and there were some special moments for you.
My love to you. May the universe grant you and your family solace and warmth in this time.
Sad to hear of your loss, and the exigencies of memorializing online. What a time. Sending hugs.
I am very sorry for your loss. How wonderful technology is in these tough times. Big hugs to you.
I’m sorry about losing your uncle hajusuuri. Photos during services can be very evocative. I’m glad the service mostly went smoothly. Hugs to you, and I hope you get plenty of quiet time this weekend to rest and regroup.
Funerals can be a difficult occasion as it is, and having technology mixed in is dicey. But it sounds like it went smoothly for you, and was a comfort. Hugs.
How wonderful you were able to participate in the memorial, even by Zoom. May his memory be a blessing.
Thank you everyone. It felt like there was closure.
Hugs for losing your uncle Hajusuuri,
Damn! I love Indochine. Maybe I’ll wear it later for some extra credits,
Portia xx
Thanks, Portia. Every time I wear Indochine, I ask why I don’t wear it more often.
I’m sorry you had a sad day. It does sound as if they did a really nice job with the online memorial. What a strange world we currently inhabit.
Thank you. They did a really nice job, complete with a little gong sound to let the next speakers know to be ready if it’s their turn.
SOTD for CP points: Chopard Neroli a la cardomome du Guatemala, from a sample. I really like its staying power. I don’t get much sillage, nor a strong cardamom, but the cardamom seems to pair with and sweeten the wood notes, giving a nice feminine vibe to an overall unisex and dense scent.
That sounds wonderful, although like it would be more wonderful with more cardamom?
It was my first test, and I might not have caught all the nuances that cardamom has. NalcdG *was* wonderful. It: 1. gave no doubt I would like it at first dab 2. after I dabbed, made me decide to decant into a 5ml sprayer (and I was already running late for work) 3. stayed with me all day 4. smelled good on skin and clothes 5. made me wonder if FB’s were around and discounted. 🙂
Ah, that all sounds good!
The Air Quality Index at my house yesterday afternoon was 406, or “Hazardous for Everyone.” It’s 262 now, and projected to be unhealthy until at least Monday. I have the air purifier set to high in the room where I read. It’s awful, worse than last year which was bad. The parks are closed, the library isn’t allowing pickups and I feel so sorry for the mail delivery people and everyone else who has to be outside. The air is brownish-orange with smoke. I’m wearing Safran Troublant, just a small spray.
Thinking of you foxbins.
OMG. Ours is a little over 200, and we were just looking at a map at the areas with >400 and even >500 and thinking about how horribly difficult that must be 🙁
How terrible! I can’t imagine how scary that must be. Good to see the numbers come down at least.
I can’t even begin to Imagine what it’s like for you. I’m just so very sorry.
Yuck! And double yuck!
Yikes! ?
Dreadful. Reminds me of when Mt. Saint Helens erupted. I hope you get relief soon.
406, just wow. Glad you have an air cleaner.
OMG, so sorry foxbins. Mybrother and sister-in-law and I just realized one of my nephews are in the same situation.
Tom Ford Cafe Rose because I wore it earlier this week and needed a reminder again today of how wonderful it really is.Plus I left it at the front of my cupboard,so there’s that.Lol.
Hope everyone is OK there in the US with the fires.
9/11,I’ll never forget the day either.
Hugs and Love and Light to you all!
And perfume.Always perfume.
XO
Perfume is like chocolate.
Always perfume, Johanob! I hope everyone is ok too. It is hard to even watch the news right now.
That front row reachability is definitely a thing johanob, many times I set out to find a specific scent and am derailed by seeing something else within hands reach.
Portia xx
Special thoughts for NSTers on the West Coast, how scary those fires are, hoping you will get respite soon. I find myself compliant with the CP in Un Jardin après la Mousson, one of my very few holiday perfumes, it needs the dry heat of Provence to be truly wonderful.
Thank you from Portland! It’s not good!
But you smell heavenly!
Un Jardin Apres la Mousson was my CP pick too! Love it.
Happy Friday! My SOTD is vintage Shiseido Feminite du Bois extrait.
I’m not walking, and haven’t all week – the air quality is still rated as ‘unhealthy’ so I’m staying indoors and doing a yoga video and band resistance exercises.
I hope everyone has a lovely day!
Oh, you smell absolutely fabulous. Good for you, finding a way to continue to work out when conditions are so bad. Be safe!
Stay safe SmokeyToes!
Wearing Eris Night Flower today for the CP. The cardamom is used with restraint but is definitely there in the opening. One of my love at first sniff perfumes.
I need to try that one!
The husband is trying to find a perfume gift for me, as I type. My birthday perfume was returned and there is Sephora credit.
Believe it or not, I have no idea what to get!
No cardamon scents. Did find a body butter that just is the bee’s knees for those that can’t wear #5 well.
Sorry, can’t relate. lol
Hope he comes up with something wonderful!
Was there a problem with your birthday perfume?
The present was a perfume I bought years ago, hated and for some strange reason acquired another bottle of it. Now, this time!
Greetings from a very smoky, eeriely orange Portland.
The temp is weird and soot is in the air. I will do some stretching exercise later but air quality is extremely poor and stagnant.
In Oregon, we now have some 500K people under evacuation or pre-evacuation orders. In the Portland Metro Area, Clackamas County (a very large areas) is now under evacuation orders. I live in Multnomah County.
I am drinking cardamom coffee, and am in a tiny dab of Philosophy Soft Suede,
Wishing you all well. Such troubling times .
Big hugs to you. So much to deal with right now and sometimes there are no adequate words.
Be safe, stay safe. My brother and sister-in-law are getting ready to evacuate.
I hope that they are safe!?
Wishing you safety and health! Portland has had more than its share of trials and tribulations.
I think that the air quality is affecting more in Portland than the fire itself. It’s bad.
SOTD is Indochine for a very noisy morning – we’re having our ducts cleaned (first time since we bought the house 15 years ago), and since they’ve been running the A/C and fans on high it’s actually chilly enough in the house that I’m wearing a heavy-ish cable-knit sweater. Between the sweater and the Indochine, I’m feeling quite autumnal – it’s rather nice.
I’m with Ede97005 in Multnomah County, but my office is in Clackamas County and I’m a bit worried … for the office, and for all the people who are having to endure evacuation along with a pandemic. Seems the times we’re living in just get more and more bizarre.
I had NONE of these things on my 2020 Bingo card, that’s for sure! My office is also in Clackamas County (Wilsonville) and I am crossing fingers and toes for everyone in Oregon City and environs!
Heart is breaking over these fires and the ruined landscape, homes and towns not to mention lives lost. Just devastating. Take care!
Indochine is getting some love today! You small marvelous. 😀
Back when I was a kid, my family took a vacation driving thru Oregon. Sad to see the area charred and grey now.
Yep and it is touching both forests and very populated areas.
My brother is in Lake Oswego in Clackamas County. Yesterday, they were at Level One. Level Three means they have to evacuate, if it gets to Level Two, they are packing up and leaving for Seattle.
The City of Lake, Oswego declared a state of emergency today – I hope your brother and his loved ones stay safe.
Thank you.
What an amazing week! Gaynor was down on Monday and we met in a cafe. I was feeling good because I had managed to rummage up 5 sample bottles of mostly Chanel ( given to me by Waterdragon). She reached into her bag and hauled out a ginormous ziplock bag of samples which had been hand delivered to her by a friend of Scentspirit, who I think lives in Canada. My goodness, talk about eyes as big as saucers…about 100-plus samples of perfumes that I would never, ever get to sniff: Arielle Shoshanna, By Killian, J-scent, Tauer, Jule et Mad….. i never really do samples, because of postage. It is so odd, though, because I don’t know 80% of the brands/names and I didn’t ‘order’ these so I have no prior idea what each perfume will be like ( as I haven’t researched the notes). Also the bottles give no clue ..no judging a book by its cover experience…as they are all vials. Today I am in Rousse as I thought it might have cardamon. Definitely cinnamon. Other news: Magnolias!!!!! Everywhere, big blousey flowers against black branches , and cherry blossom! Spring.
How wonderful! Sampling can be great fun, hope you Will enjoy all these fragrant surprises.
I found Cheri par Camille in the bag and wore that and thought of you, as you are a Goutal Gal.
On another note, have you ever read Dangerous Liaisons? I just started it yesterday ( in English). It is taught here in Philosophy papers at the university.
I have, I read it in 1990 when I was travelling by train around Italy and France. I think I finished it in Venice. I loved it. It offers an interesting insight in human relationships
Hoe did you like MPCPC?
The philosophy paper (course) is Why Be Moral? I am not enrolled but got curious when I saw the reading list: Dorian Grey, Crime and Punishment, Dangerous Liaisons, William Elliot from Persuasion, Richard 3 etc.
I thought Therese Raquin would be there.
Anyway, I am enjoying it. My only memory was the movie and Michelle Pfeiffer pronouncing ‘MONsewer.’
I never watched the Malkovich/ Close movie, did watch Valmont with Colin Firth.
Monsewer indeed?
Great story! Perfume people are really so lovely.
Enjoy your new samples and may you find a winner or two!
So far:
Carnal Flower! …amazing.
Squid…I like it. Deep aqua rather than breezy. Like it a lot.
Cheri par Camille…soft spot…Austenfan
Nea , Jule et Mad..bit fruity for me
Tauer Desert Marocain…yes
Tihota…no
Arielle Shosahana (original) …nice and I bet it is great in summer
…and that’s just the first few days!
Carnal Flower is amazing! A fav of mine.
Desert Marocain is genius but a little too much for me.
How fun!
I’m excited for you to get to try so many! Also that you liked Squid! Me too!
I reckon Squid is cool, and pretty colour too. Hope your toe is back to normal, so painful.
How fun! I hope you find some new “loves”. Enjoy the journey.
It’s like christmas, only better!
Life is like a bag of samples? I think it was Waterdragon who passed along to me a pile of samples from Foxbins! The sisterhood of the traveling perfumes. . .
Yes, and I will post the samples on to Waterdragon when I have had a good play with them.
I hooe you are doing okay? It looks so grim over there
Yes! I loaded her up and she wrote that she had passed them on to you.
Happy spring and happy sampling! Sounds like you have many interesting days ahead of you.
Enjoy your serendipitous samples! What fun you’ll have. Ooh, magnolias — the pink ones are one of my favorite flowers and scents. I’ve never found a perfume that captures it.
Sounds like a mountain of fun!
Pressed repeat with Fils de Dieu today. I may be getting a bit of the cardamom today. It’s such a good scent! It’s my hubby’s birthday today but it feels a wrong to be celebrating. We are staying home by ourselves and going to have a quiet day. He picked out some coffee icecream bars for his ‘birthday cake’.
I’m sending out good thoughts to all those in the wake of the Western fires. Everything is just so heartbreaking right now.
Happy Birthday to your husband!
Thank you!
You have close birthdays with your husband. You should celebrate the whole week! Happy Birthday to him!
Thank you lillyjo! Yes exactly; it’s weird because we are both Virgos but manage to still get along! lol
I’m also a Virgo very happily married to a Virgo! He and I fuss about different things, though, so it works quite well, lol.
Hiya scent twin!
Hi Jalapeno! Happy Friday!
Happy birthday to your husband! Today is my husband’s parents’ anniversary. Feels a bit odd to celebrate on a day like 9/11 but of course they were married long before that infamous date, just as your husband was born long before. And 2020 has been such a difficult year in so many ways. But it’s good to celebrate the happiness that still exists in the world. 🙂
Thank you! And very true that you should still celebrate despite everything else that is going on.
Happy Anniversary to your inlaws!
Happy birthday to your husband!
Thank you, h!
SotD = Voyage d’Hermes
because cardamom and
because “yes to Hermes!” and
because life is a voyage.
Seeing today’s date always takes my breath away. It makes me stay still for a while. I think about what has happened since, and what is happening now. And I feel gratitude for those who give their lives over to serving others.
Heartfelt virtual hugs to everyone today.
Tiffanie, you always have the best way with words. This is exactly what’s been in my head today, but I couldn’t figure out how to get it out.
Thanks ❤
aw, thank YOU, lillyjo, it’s good that we can share here.
Hugs are always appreciated.
Hugs are always in supply! the more the better IMHO
Completely agree w/ lillyjo…you always say the right thing. 🙂
thanks, She-ra, it’s always a comfort to be here.
Amen.
and amen!
I wish I could have been with you to see the creation of a mandala today.
You have a way with words and sentiment ?. Thank you.
thanks to you too, hajusuuri, for all your kindness. I thought a lot about my northeastern friends and family today.
Hugs right back Tiffanie.
Portia xx
mwah mwah mwah!
xoxo to you, dear Portia
Just applied some Rose Praline from Les Parfums de Rosine. A bit sweet for my taste, but nice and spicy, including the requisite cardamom. I just love the taste of cardamom and rose water in black tea (with milk and honey). Cardamom is the true star of spiced chai anyhow! Also, the John Fluevog shoes I bought during their major Labor Day weekend sale arrived. A fun splurge! Happy weekend to all!
Another Fluevog fan! What shoes did you buy?
These were called Mission Monika buckle shoe. They were made for an Anna Sui fashion show collaboration. Deep discount and seem fun and funky to style for Autumn!
Nice!! I just got the new brocade Derby Swirls:
https://www.fluevog.com/shop/6186-derby-swirl-6-eye-blue-floral?item=23&of=307&anchor=true
Now those are some fun shoes! Love all the colors. Enjoy!
Muttering to myself, don’t fall into this rabbit hole don’t fall into this rabbit hole
Cardamom featured in my afternoon tea! Today wearing two samples of Dusita in each wrist that just came through the post: Splendiris and Melodie de l’amour! Yum.. like massive yet delicate white floral, and nice sweet candied iris. Excited about this brand.
It’s a great brand!
Oh, Splendiris is so beautiful! I was able to try it last year on a trip to London, at Les Senteurs. Sob — no travel this year, had to cancel the plans to go to London and Paris. Well, maybe next summer. You smell marvelous!
One more thing… I know everyone is pretty bummed out about the state of the world and country (U.S.) and especially today about the 9/11 anniversary and terrible fires out West. But, today marks a happy occasion too! It is the 85th birthday of marvelous Estonian composer, Arvo Part. Music is a great solace during tough times, so I’m celebrating!
Pärt is great! Happy 85th birthday to him! Now to go off and listen to some of his music tonight. 😀
Thank you sllat, we always need good news!
Another grey day here, but gloomier than most. Part of that is remembering the events of 19 years ago. I was close enough to smell the smoke from Ground Zero….
SOTD = ELdO’s Fils de Dieu…, from the sample stash. I like the perfume but it isn’t quite right for today. Maybe I should have gone with incense and skipped cardamom?
I hope the sun comes out tomorrow!
Me too. Thanks.
It was gloomy today for sure then turned nicer in the late afternoon!
9-11 is forever etched in my psyche as I was a mere 2.5 blocks away.
Damn that is close. You’re the second person I know who was up close and personal on that day.
Someone watched over me for sure. I took the PATH train as was my usual pattern. It was my first day back after vacation so I got to New York earlier than usual or I would have just skirted the edge of the beginning of the chaos.
Ugh, so glad you emerged safely. I used to work a few blocks away, ten years before 9/11, and it was so dreadful and surreal to see the destruction and devastation. Yesterday was a somber day for sure.
Thank you.
Can’t even imagine. we watched from half a world away. So much has changed since.
Portia x
I’m in Dame Earth Mother today. It’s cooled off just a bit here, with the morning walks pretty bearable for the last couple of days.
Sleep has been difficult, to say the least. Been dreaming of hand washing; washing my hands, my mother’s hands. ?
My heart and hugs go out to those who are sick and sad today. Hugs to the doggies, too.
?
I decided to copy Hajusuuri and thunk my decant of Indochine. I don’t really know what cardamom smells like, but I will take the points.
To me, cardamom smells like a cross between black pepper and lemon peel, which an extra something spicy thrown in. It’s easily the most potent spice I have in my spice cabinet.
Ack! That should be “with an extra something…”
You smell great!
Hey twin! I have a jar of ground cardamom and it is aromatically spicy, not like paprika, some types of which can burn one’s tongue.
Wearing Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom. Until I tried this perfume, I always thought of mimosa as a spring flower/perfume, but cardamom adds season-appropriate warmth, and now I enjoy wearing this mimosa in Fall.
Does it feel like Fall? You smell good regardless!
Well… If you turn off the sun, it suddenly gets cold (who would have thought, right? 😉 ), so paired with gray skies, it totally feels like Fall. A weird one.
Whenever I read the word mimosa I think of you Undina. How cool you’ve found a fall one.
Portia x
Thank you, dear! <3
In Bee, because it seemed to fit my mood–solemn-a bit dirgy. LizzieB gets an enabler pin–yesterday my Fiori di Capri arrived, partially inspired by the 20% off sale at Beautyhabit. Another recent scent purchase was 200 sticks of Morning Star Patchouli incense–which landed in my mailbox in the midst of the smokiest skies on record–so will wait to indulge.
The AQI here at the moment is hovering between Very Unhealthy and Hazardous. The whole world is covered in light grey ash. Yesterday I heard a loud kerfuffle on the back deck–it was a huge ring-tailed hawk at eye level chasing a squirrel. A colleague thought that perhaps the hawk was having trouble seeing its prey from the sky. I feel pretty desperate for fresh air, to be honest. The silver-lining is that I’ve hardly thought about it being 9/11–normally a day of full blown reflection on my part. Having chest pains and coughing incessantly–am 99.999% certain it is the smoke and nothing else.
It’s amazing how BIG birds of prey are when you get up close to them.
Sounds terrible. I hope the cough and chest pain clear up soon. Silly question, would it help to wear a mask inside the house or have some kind of additional fan to circulate the air more?
Oh dear – can you get an air purifier? That sounds bad.
Hope you stay safe. Can you evacuate?
I’m so sorry for you and others on the West Coast! Another Fiori di Capri lover here — I just got the extrait for my birthday after falling in love with a sample of the eau de parfum.
Re the chest pain and coughing — do you by any chance have one of those home pulse oximeters? They measure your blood oxygen levels and can help you decide if you need to take next steps. Stay well and safe!
Masque Milano Mandala, since I’m attending a Tibetan Buddhist cultural event where a sand mandala is being created. 🙂
Sounds contemplative.
It’s quite impressive. They spend days creating this intricate design of colored sand, then sweep it all into a bowl and dump it into the river to remind us of impermanence.
One of the museums I visited last year had a display of pretend mandalas and a video of the process. They are beautiful!
How long does the mandala creation take cazaubon?
Portia x
Depending on the size and complexity, from days to weeks.
Wonderful! Buddhist monks do this regularly at the university where I work, it’s quite amazing. It takes weeks, during which one can visit their work site and watch, and then there’s the ceremonial walk to the nearest running water. I love the way they will deposit minute grains of colored sand, sometimes with just a breath.
I went with Lubin’s Black Jade today a
Rats .. posted too soon. …because it’s one of my most cardamom heavy perfumes.
I have a card sample of Black Jade which I haven’t tried yet, must pull it out now! I hadn’t realized it was cardamom-heavy.
I never heard of Lubin until I started hanging out here at NST.
Me either!
What Jalapeno said ?
I’m wearing Sunday on Friday, and taking my CP points. 😀
Otherwise, SOTD is smoke. Nothing like Portland or CA, so I am not complaining, but “very high risk” air quality according to Weather Canada. It got better for a few days, but I guess the wind is back from the south. I’ve tried to take a walk to get away from my desk twice now, and each time I start getting wheezy after a few blocks.
Hugs to everyone affected by the fires, and here’s hoping for rain soon.
It sounds terrible. I hope this situation resolves soon!
I actually participated, and nearly forgot to write it down. Scent at bedtime/early Friday: CDG Jaisalmer, which I like quite a lot. Scent this morning: Caron Parfum Sacre. I’m pretty sure some lovely NST person sent me the sample. (Thank you!) I just got incense, but it was on someone’s list of perfumes with cardamom. 🙂
I feel that it’s a solemn day. I remember watching the devastation of 9/11 on TV. I read Garrett Graff’s book The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 this past year, and it brought back a lot of what I’d heard about at the time, and provided information that was learned later. Mr. Graff said he cried during the writing of the book, putting the stories together. I was emotional reading it.
*Hugs*, folks. Still thinking of the West Coast people, and hoping things like air quality get better for you.
I’m kind of surprised you didn’t do Cardamom Coffee again today.
Sometimes I like a change. I had options thanks to my rather large collection of samples. 🙂
There are some rose fragrances that I’d be happy to wear every day for weeks if that were possible in my situation. But I also like to try new things when I can.
Yes, I always feel very somber on 9/11. I used to live and work in NYC, including in the vicinity of the WTC, and still have many friends in that city. Miraculously, no one I knew was killed, but many of my NY friends did lose at least one person. People are still so traumatized by that day. One friend who used to work in the WTC will not go south of 14th Street in Manhattan, even now. I asked him once if he would ever visit the memorial, and he got very agitated and said No, never, it’s a graveyard. So, so sad.
My thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires, in the midst of everything else going on.
Yesterday would have been my father’s 80th birthday. He has been dead for years now and I reflected on how much I miss him.
I was feeling sorry for myself a lot, over truly trivial matters, compared to what many face. I think of those without jobs, families under stress, those who lost loved ones. I had to see a patient with metastatic cancer today and just tried to imagine the fear and despair she faces daily.
I was not able to do the cardamom challenge but enjoy experiencing the choices vicariously. I reached for Estée Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia – last hurrah of summer. Weather is finally cooler and feels great compared to 100 degree days.
I hope for clean air for the west coast.
May your father’s memory be a blessing.
I too have been reflecting on how trivial my stresses and difficulties are compared to the enormity of what others are experiencing, which is leading me to focus on all I have to be grateful for.
Popping in to report I smelled delicious in Lush Cardamom Coffee. Thanks to Deva for the bottle in a previous freebie meet!
I’m very late because I had a day filled with various things. That included wrapping gifts for my mom and going out to visit her early this evening. We had a an outdoor or “sunshine” visit, the first time I’ve seen her in the flesh for six months. It felt very weighty. Things went well and she was so happy and liked all her presents. It made me happy too. The original 9/11 was her 70th birthday and needless to say it was ruined. I had a young Greek student at the time who went to NYC to identify his cousin’s body. And another student was also a firefighter here and he went there to help with search and rescue. It deeply affected so many people, even those far away. My SOTD was Chinatown. I still smell spicy and good.
I’ve been meaning to ask you, but how is your toe?
SO happy you celebrated with your Mother! Did you tell her about your toe – not to be silly, but my Mother never stopped caring about our bumps and bruises and I miss that.
Happy birthday to your mom. She looked really happy in the pictures you shared!
My CP scent yesterday was Un Jardin Apres la Mousson, like a couple of others here. I love that one so much, it is my favorite of the Jardin series (followed closely by Sur le Nil). Then I wore Silences, because I was writing on my own fragrance blog about 9/11, and one of my regulars said something about wanting to wear a scent that was “contemplative” for the day. I thought that sounded just right. Silences worked for me because 1) I love it, it’s familiar; 2) it is contemplative, for me; and 3) the simple black bottle and its name suited the day.
This year, I think I felt 9/11 more than usual, maybe because we have sadly seen so much death and turmoil in 2020. In the US, NYC was especially hard hit, and early, by COVID19, and in fact had lost more than the lives lost on 9/11 by April. In New York City alone. Utterly tragic. And the devastation on the West Coast brought vivid reminders of yet another way tragedy can strike. Praying for peace, safety, and relief for us all …
All the hugs OH.
This century has given the USA some really tough knocks.
Love your choice of Silences.
Portia xx